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TOP beauty brands have donated a staggering £1million-worth of products to Fabulous’ NHS Care Package campaign.

After we launched the initiative last month, more than 60 companies have given tens of thousands of much-needed toiletries for frontline workers.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

 Nursem founder Jonny Philip is among those donating toiletries to the cause
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Nursem founder Jonny Philip is among those donating toiletries to the causeCredit: Supplied

We were shocked by pictures of NHS staff showing their skin damaged by lack of sleep, using hand sanitiser non-stop and having to wear PPE all day, every day - so Fabulous wanted to do what it could to help.

To do so, we teamed up with We C U 2020, a local initiative started by our magazine’s former Beauty Editor, Lauren Ezekiel.

Since The Sun helped take it nationwide last month, top brands have sent in items including 30,000 body moisturisers, 24,000 lip balms and 11,000 hand creams.

Fabulous readers and healthcare workers requested goody bags, sending in hundreds of moving emails, along with pictures of their bruised and dry skin.

One of them, Lindsay King, from the Copeland Community Nursing team in Cumbria, got in touch to say that district nurses often don’t feel appreciated for their hard work.

“We are the nurses going into the care homes to look after the Coronavirus patients. Sadly we feel that we don’t get the recognition we deserve,” she says.

Lindsay was thrilled to receive care packages for her team: “It’s amazing to get the lovely gifts. Thank you.”

 Twin sisters Lindsay (left) and Michelle King are delighted with their gifts
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Twin sisters Lindsay (left) and Michelle King are delighted with their gifts
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Paramedic Ami Walters, wrote in to request care packages for her team at the ambulance station in Worthing.

She said that they were battling covid 19 on the frontline but that it was a “pleasure to do what we do.”

Ami was delighted when the goodies turned up: “It’s amazing, thank you. We shared everything out between us.”
Cosmetic and toiletry companies have been incredibly supportive of our campaign and for some, the reasons for getting involved are deeply personal.

Here, some of them share why they were inspired to help.

 Paramedic Ami was chuffed to be sent bags for her team
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Paramedic Ami was chuffed to be sent bags for her teamCredit: Ami Walters

'NHS staff saved my baby's life'

Clare Price, founder of Guava and Gold, says: “I chose to support The Fabulous NHS Care Package because fantastic NHS staff have always been there for my family - from when I gave birth to my children to emergency surgery at 9pm on a Saturday for my daughter when she was 18 months old to caring for my parents at the end of their lives. This was Guava & Gold’s opportunity to give back to them.”

 Lindsay King with her team of community nurses
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Lindsay King with her team of community nurses

'My selfless sister is an intensive care doctor'

Beauty brand 7th Heaven has donated hand treatments and face masks.

“My sister is an anaesthetic and intensive care doctor and I feel an extreme sense of pride at how selfless she is being, putting herself at risk on the frontline,” says Product Manager Nichelle Sehmby.

“Her passion and determination for patient care is what gets her through the day. As a brand we wanted to make sure that we can offer any support, in the same way they have been supporting us, even if it is just 20 minutes of pamper time to themselves after a day of saving lives.”

'My sore hands from washing forced me to take sick leave'

Paediatric nurse, Antonia Philip, and her husband Jonny, launched Nursem in 2018 on Crowdfunder, after she suffered with sore, cracked and bleeding hands as a result of handwashing, which forced her to take sick leave.

She says: “Almost 90 per cent of UK nurses suffer from contact dermatitis as a result of excessive hand washing – which is estimated to cost the NHS up to £9m each year."

Jonny says: “Now more than ever we need to do all we can to give back to our NHS heroes – our lives are quite literally in their hands."

 Antonia had to take time off with dermatitis because of washing her hands
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Antonia had to take time off with dermatitis because of washing her handsCredit: Supplied

'We wanted to soothe their skin'

"We are delighted to be working with WE C U 2020 and Fabulous, donating over 24,000 bottles of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion," says Paul Johns, Managing Director of ET Browne UK.

“We wanted to give the nursing staff some moisturising cream that would soothe their skin, and particularly their hands, to help alleviate the soreness from washing their hands so much.

"This donation was given to show our deep appreciation for everything that the nurses and front line staff our doing in our hospitals up and down the country, day in, and day out, as we battle this horrible virus. It is our way of saying thank you and giving them some well deserved comfort."

 Crates of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion ready to be distributed to nurses
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Crates of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion ready to be distributed to nursesCredit: Supplied

'We hope to make their lives a bit easier'

Wilkinson Sword kindly donated thousands of razors to the cause.

“We were inspired by the outstanding and selfless care provided by the NHS and wanted to show our gratitude to them,” says a spokesman.

“We hope that our donation makes their life a bit easier as they work tirelessly during these unprecedented times.

“We are all eternally thankful and grateful for all the sacrifices they are making for the welfare of women, men and children in the UK.”

Thank you

Big thanks to all the brands that have donated:

7th Heaven, Alpha-H, Argentum Apothecary, Baylis & Harding, Bioré, Bondi Sands, British Airways, Bubu Skincare, Bulldog, Burt’s Bees, Cetraben, Coco & Eve, Coty, Crabtree & Evelyn, Crazy Angel, Curaprox, Dermalogica, Dove, Dr Hauschka, Dr Pawpaw, Egyptian Magic, Elizabeth Arden, Emma Hardie, EOS, Essence, Floral Street, Fudge Professional, Guava & Gold, Hask, Hawaiian Tropic, Impulse, Institut Esthederm, John Frieda, Kate Somerville, Lacura, Latest In Beauty, L’Occitane, Lynx, MegRhythm, Mitchum, Molton Brown, Monat, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Neom, Nessa Organic, Nspa, Nursem, OGX, Ouai, Palmer’s, Percy & Reed, Philosophy, Polished London, Proto-col, Ren, Salcura, Tan Luxe, Tan Truth, Ted Baker, Toni & Guy, Tracie Giles, Wilkinson Sword, XO Balm.

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