Who needs three hand creams?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has more than one hand cream on the go at any one point. 

I never used to be a big hand-cream-user but over the last year or so I've notice the skin on my hands drying out more than before so I've taken up hand creams and never looked back!

I've got three on the go at the moment. I keep Nourish Protect Smoothing Hand Lotion at work, Yes To Carrots Nourishing Intense Repair Hand Cream by my bed and Apivita Moisturising Hand Cream with Aloe and Honey in my handbag.

Nourish Protect Smoothing Hand Lotion £12 for 100ml- I received this in a SoukSouk box (September?) last year. Initially I thought it was too light to really work for me at home so I brought it into work where it has stayed, faithfully, by my side ever since. 

This is a light lotion that absorbs really quickly, perfect for applying and then quickly turning back to the keyboard. It has a gorgeous scent, orange and mandarin, that I've found uplifting to my mood.

I'm almost at the end of this now; it's gotten to that spluttering stage as the pump tries to find the last dregs of lotion to dispense! I'd quite happily buy this again. 

Yes To Carrots Nourishing Intense Softening Hand Cream £7.99 for 85g - This was a Christmas pressie from my neice and her husband. I've reviewed the Exfoliating Body Scrub and Body Butter here. This lives on my bedside table and is used as part of my bedtime routine. It's a rich cream that takes longer to absorb but because of this it works at a deeper lever, really nourishing my hands from within rather than just on the surface. I've got quite a lot left of this so I won't be looking for a replacement any time soon.

Apivita Moisturising Hand Cream with Aloe and Honey £7 for 50ml - My handbag cream. It's light, fresh and well, actually kinda runny. It takes a bit of time to soak in and I find it sometimes leaves me with sticky hands. This isn't a problem if I'm sat at the cinema but really is if I'm about to drive or eat! 

I won't be buying this again, even though it smells lush! I've probably got a couple of months of use left in it so once that's gone I'll be moving on.

What hand creams do you use? What would you recommend?

Salcura - Bath Oil, Body Hydrator, Hand Hydrator

Salcura was launched just over a decade ago with a range of products for those wanting an effective, natural alternative to chemical based products. Salcura offer ranges for specific areas of problem skin - including Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis. In their statement regarding ingredients, Salcura use no artificial chemicals, cortisones, peroxides, parabens or paraffins. They choose their ingredients based on their scientifically proven ability to deal with infection, inflammation and tissue damage. 

They state that:

They never test on animals

Go Organic where they can

All products are suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans

They only use naturally sourced preservatives

None of the ingredients are genetically modified or engineered

I was contacted at the end of November by Salcura to see if I would be interested in trying out some of their range. I hadn't hear of the brand before this so I went and had a look at their website. After seeing that their ranges were primarily aimed at people with skin conditions, I responded and said that I didn't actually suffer with any skin complaints but that my husband did and would they be interested in sending something through for him to review on my behalf. 

The company actually sent me through 5 full sized products - two specifically for my husband to review (post will be up in about a week) and three for me. These included a Bath Oil*, Body Hydrator* and Hand Hydrator*.

Bath Oil* 225ml for £12.99 - Rich in Omega 3,6, 7 & 9 with Safflower, Olive, Borage, Wheatgerm, Flax Seed, Cumin Seed and Sea Buckthorn Oils. This oil works perfectly well as both a treat for a moisturising bath or applied directly to the skin. I found it to be light and easily absorbed into the skin with a very faint earthy scent.

My skin was left feeling rehydrated and my dry elbows feel less like sandpaper now!

Body Hydrator* 200ml for £12.99 - Another Omega rich formula that is quickly absorbed, non greasy and deeply moisturising. Ingredients include Sea Buckthorn, Avocado, Safflower, Lavender, Wheatgerm and fractionated Coconut Oil. This has become my daily moisturiser of choice after my morning shower as it is so nourishing without feeling heavy and I can get dressed straight away without having to wait for it to be absorbed. I have been trying to figure out what this smells like and the best I can describe it as a spicy coconut! 

Hand Hydrator* 75ml for £10.99 - This has a very slightly different formula to the Body Hydrator, with more focus on Wheatgerm, Sunflower, Marigold and Jojoba Oils. The Hand Hydrator soothes and restores sensitive and dry skin. I've kept this in my bathroom so I can apply after washing by hands. It does a lovely job of moisturising my hands and again, is really quickly absorbed.

I must add that I am a frequent visitor to Sarah from Sugarpuffish "Ingredients to Avoid" page as I feel this is a brilliant resource for those pesky chemicals. I checked each of the products I have sampled above against this list was happy to find that none of them were on it.

You can find the Bath Oil, Body Hydrator and Hand Hydrator on the Salcura website here.

*PR Samples

Some of my favourite minis from this month

Over the last month, I have been working my way through my trail and sample stash that all of a sudden went from manageable to out of control. I've not bought anything new and I'm trying to use up what I have rather than saving things up. 

It's been great going through and discovering new products and these have been some of my favourites.

Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Shampoo & Conditioner - I have been loving using these two. The shampoo lathers really well and leaves my hair squeaky clean and the conditioner is thick enough to, well, condition my ends! The scent is incredible, a mix of spearmint, peppermint, rosemary, cinnamon and cardamom oils. I have really fallen in love with this duo.

VMV Hypoallergenics Know-It-Oil 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil - I have used the super oil for everything - from post-shave moisturiser to face balm and to help combat the dark skin under my arms. I have used coconut oil before but I have never had the same results (not even close) than I have with this brand. I will be buying a full size as soon as I have scooped out every last bit!

001 Precious Finds Pure Active Peel - I had to break this bad boy open after reading review after review of this; I'm so glad I did! The mixture is a little strange to apply, being more grainy than anything I have used before. Once lightly massaged across the skin though, it stays put. I have used this a few times now and my skin has never looked better. I've followed it each time with....

Indie Lee - 100% Squaline Oil - Another item that I had to open. I have loved using this wonderfully light oil after my face peel. I am sure they work fantastically on their own but together my skin has cleared up and my fine forehead wrinkles (shhhh, don't tell anyone) have noticeably reduced. 

Gwdihw Hand Balm - A deeply moisturising balm that has been a night-time saviour. Coconut oil, olive oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, calendula and lemon essential oil make this a really zesty treat. I have been applying this before bed and wake up with soft hands and nourished nails. 

What minis have you been using lately?

Samples: Peppy Galore

Peppy Galore have been on my radar for a while since reading a post from Ana Goes Green on their DIVA range (see here) so when they recently posted on Twitter how to get a few sneaky free samples, I headed over to their website and signed up.

You have to fill our a form to subscribe to their mailing list, then you get to pick three samples to try out. One moisturiser, one body mousse and one 'Nurse Peppy' - either a hand cream or a healing balm.

I picked the DIVA Face Moisturiser - a moisturiser aimed at sensitive skin which brings together Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Sunflower Oil with Vitamin E, Calendula Extract, Vanilla Extract. This is such a light cream but it gives great coverage and gives enough moisture to last the day.

For my body mousse option I had to go with their Herbs de Provence. Rosemary, lavender and peppermint on a mango and avocado oil base? YES PLEASE! This mousse it so airy and light and like the facial moisutiser, a little goes a long way. Heavens above, I am in love with this mousse. I don't suffer from dry skin so I often find body moisturisers to be too rich and only need a light lotion. Who'd have thought a mousse would do the trick! I used up this sample over the weekend but already wish I had more so I will be buying a full sized pot in the near future.

Lastly, I went for a hand cream over the healing balm. Again, another winner for me. Aloe Vera, Roship Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Calendula Oil, May Chang Oil, Grapefruit Oil work so well together to provide a deeply nourishing hand cream. I need this in my life!

You can sign up to Peppy Galore's mailing list here and I really do suggest that you do so!

Peppy Galore. I love you.