Mini Review: Skinlix

I was recently sent a couple of samples from a very new brand called Skinlix.

Review: Mel Millis Organic Phytonutrient Skincare

Mel Millis is a British artisan company making truly luxurious skincare. Products are made in micro batches using only the purest, freshest, nutrient rich, sustainably sourced and certified organic ingredients.

I love this line from the website...

Mel Millis works tirelessly together with nature and its science, overseeing every part of the process ourselves. We go beyong organic to ensure our skincare is simply the best available.

Review: Botanicals Face Balm

A couple of months ago, I was sent the Nourishing Face Balm from Botanicals* to try out.

Mini CuteCosmetics Make-Up Haul

Two things happened in October - my eyebrow pencil ran out and 12 months were up on my eyeliner pencils! Joy for me as this meant I got to buy some new ones that I've been after for ages.

Review: Lippy Girl Vegocentric Vegan Lip Stick in Rosey Posey

Lippy Girl was launched by Darcy Diehl in Canada after becoming frustrated with the lack of organic, eco-friendly and animal friendly beauty products available. Their vision is..
... to be more than a makeup company: we aim to be a makeup movement.  Our products prove that chemicals, animal additives and testing are not required and are completely unnecessary for the generation of top quality makeup. 

Freedom Confectionery Vegetarian Mallows

"Dear Jen, Would you like to consider writing a review on our products?"

"Err, like YEAH!" was not quite how I responded (I was much more professional but basically this is what I meant). Like I was going to say no to scoffing (read reviewing, of course) a load of marshmallows.

October Empties

After last months pitiful collection, I have a few more this month!

Review: Living Nature Balancing Day Lotion

After last months review of the Exfoliating Peel from Living Nature, I really wanted to try out more from the New Zealand brand.

I'd been using up samples of moisturiser for about a month so though I'd pick the Living Nature Balancing Day Lotion* RRP £30 for 50ml as my last review for MyPure.

Green Beauties Hit Reading

I love our Green Beauty community and I love it even more when we get together!

Yesterday, thanks to the planning skills of Rach (All Natural Aspirations) and Sarah (Sugarpuffish), some of us were able to meet in Reading for a relaxed shop/eat/chatter with a pretty big surprise.

We had a brilliant day out in Reading. We met at 10.30 in the Oracle and had some time around the shops before heading to Pizza Express for lunch where we revealed the surprise...

Review: Pure & Light Organic Samples

 Pure & Light Organic was created by Anges Donazy after she developed extreme skin sensitivities relating to chemicals. She turned to natural skin care options and was amazed by the results (isn't this the reason we are all on our personal Green Journeys?) Anges is trained as a Naturopath, Herbalist and Aromatherapist and through this began to make her own organic products, with  the philosophy that each ingredient should serve a purpose. Sounds good, eh?

Review: Weleda Arnica Bath Soak & Calendula Massage Oil

A little while ago, I was asked if I'd like to try out Weleda's Calendula Massage Oil* as it's great for easing tense and aching muscles. I mentioned that I am a firm devotee of the Weleda Arnica Oil and was generously sent the brand new Arnica Muscle Soak* too.

Review: The Earth Works Cosmetics Lavender & Sweet Orange Body Oil

My love for body oils is growing at a pretty fast pace and today I'm reviewing an offering from The Earth Works Cosmetics.

Review: Trilogy Everything Balm

Regular readers of mine will know how much I love a multi-use product so It should come as no surprise to you that I got my hands on Trilogy Everything Balm!

September Empties

Usually I'm about a week late when it comes to showcasing my empties but as I'm away for the next week and a bit, I thought I'd get it up before I go.

Review: Living Nature Vitalising Exfoliating Peel

I used up the last of my face mask stash last month so knew that I'd be picking a new one for my My Pure post this month. After a good old trawl through the website, I picked Living Nature Vitalising Exfoliating Peel*.

Review: M&J London English Summer Candle

(source)

My birthday was way back in March and as part of a wishlist I prepared, I said that I would love to open  up a candle - English Summer by M&J London* to be precise.

Organic Beauty Week with Pinks Boutique Try Me Set - Lemongrass Facial

I'd not tried anything from Pinks Boutique before, so when I received an email asking if I'd like to pick a "Try Me Set" of some of their products, I jumped.

I picked the Lemongrass Facial* set as it sounded ideal for my oily/combination skin.

August Empties

Only a week late with this one but here are last months empties!

Review: Green People Cell Enrich Facial Oil

At the end of July, the lovely folks over at Green People asked me if I would like to try out their award winning (Gold award winner in the Best Oils & Serums category in the Free From Awards, dontcha know!) Age Defy+ Cell Enrich Facial Oil*.

The Starting Over Tag

I was tagged by Rach of All Natural Aspirations to come up with my own Starting Over list. The idea of The Starting Over tag is to imagine that all of your cosmetic and personal care items are gone (lost, stolen, whatever) and you can replace/repurchase only 16 of them... which would you choose?

Review: Balance Me BB Cream with SPF25

My review this month for the online natural beauty shop MyPure, is the BalanceMe BB Natural Perfection with SF25 cream with a colour tint*.

Wedding make up

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll have noticed I've been very distant lately due to a pretty big event happening on Friday 22nd August. My sister is getting married!

Review: bodhi & birch Lime Blossom Protecting Hand Serum

Back at the beginning of May, one of my favourite natural brands, bodhi, went through a re-branding to bodhi & birch. With the new name came a lovely new website, a huge sale and the launch of the Lime Blossom Protecting Hand Serum.

Review: Heartwood Candle Company

 I've long had my eye on Heartwood Candle Co and Laura very kindly offered to send me one that had been on my wishlist a few months ago - Rosemary, Lemon & Frankincense*.

Review: Kadalys Nutritive Oil

A little while ago, A Beautiful World asked people on Twitter to tweet them an item from their wish list and maybe, just maybe, someone's dreams would come true.
Guess what? I won! Thanks ABW!
I'd picked something that I'd had my eye on for a while, the Nutritive Oil* from Kadalys RRP £26 for 50ml.

Review: Lovea Pure Argan Oil

I've been looking at getting a bottle of Argan oil for a couple of months now and ever late to the party, picked the Lovea Pure Argan Oil* from MyPure for this months review.

The use of Argan oil has exploded in cosmetic use over the last couple of years and can be found as a key ingredient in everything from shampoos to body moisturisers. Boasting many benefits to the skin and hair as it's rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E. Argan oil increases skin elasticity, nourishes and helps smooth the surface of the skin. I was particularly interested in it's use as a hair treatment as it helps bring life back to dull hair.

My #FieldTripTour Experience & Haul

On Saturday, I found myself in natural beauty heaven. How? I was part of the #FieldTripTour organised by the brilliant blogging duo Mayah and Sabrina from Call It Vanity.

16 green bloggers travelled to London form across the UK with a very dedicated Liz from Smells Like A Green Spirit who travelled from Brussels! We were separated into two groups - Group A with Mayah at the helm and Group B with Sabrina taking the lead. 

I was in Group A along with Rach, Sarah, Hephzibah, Tania, Liz and Katie who were just the best! These girls made a great day even better.

June Empties

It's the start of a new month so naturally that means I'll be looking back on what I've used up in the previous month.

Review: Acorelle Essential Oil Blends

My pick for this months My Pure post are two essential oil blends from French brand Acorelle.

Recent Make-Up Haul

I don't know what's gotten into me lately but I made three orders for make up within a week and I'm not really a make-up kinda gal.

I think I've turned to make up because I'm trying not to buy anything new skincare-wise before going on a field trip to London in a couple of weeks.

Anyway, I thought I would share with you what I've been ordering!

Shiro Cosmetics - The Seven Kingdom Collection

Back in the beginning of April, I read a post that changed my feelings towards eyeshadow. Bold statement, I know!

I'd loved my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette but since starting my green journey, I just haven't really been impressed with anything that I've used *cough Neal's Yard Remedies cough* so actually just avoided using them all together.

Disappointing Products - A'Kin

 These three products were in my stocking from Father Christmas this year and I was so happy to see them as I had been keen to try more from A'Kin.

Orange Blossom Body Wash, Lavender & Geranium Body Moisturiser and an Unscented Intensive Hand, Nail & Cuticle Treatment. The first two are the focus of my post today.

Review: Therapi Gel Cleanser & Moisturiser

At the beginning of April, I received an unexpected (but totally welcome) parcel from Therapi Honey Skincare. 

I have read a few reviews on their products so the brand had been on my radar for a while. Therapi's star ingredient in everything they make is honey. Honey honey honey!

On the website, the company aims are simple: "to create the best natural and organic honey skincare products, which benefit not only the user but also the natural world in all its diversity and splendour."

The three ranges from Therapi are Rose Otto for Normal/Dry skin, Orange Blossom for Normal Skin and Lemon Myrtle for Oily/Combination skin. Each range has a cleanser, toner and moisturiser but the Rose Otto range also has a Propolis+ Ultra Radiance Cream.
The packaging is beautifully elegant; from the thick textured outer packaging to the heavy, white glass containers with minimalistic labelling, these products look very good on the vanity table. Not that this should matter but lets be honest, sometimes first impressions really do count.

I was kindly sent two products from the Lemon Myrtle range, for oily/combination skin. The Lemon Myrtle Honey Gel Cleanser* and the Lemon Myrtle Honey Moisturiser*
This range contains honey, purifying extracts of citrus, witchhazel and antibacterial lemon myrtle to regulate oiliness and condition the skin. 

I've been using both of these every day for a few months now, as I really wanted to be able to fully review how I've found the products.
And this is how I got on...

The Honey Gel Cleanser* RRP £25 for 50ml is made from 90% Organic ingredients and jam packed with organic honey, yucca extract, lemon myrtle and grapefruit essential oils.
I haven't used a gel cleanser before as I tend to stick to washes in the mornings and balms in the evenings. I know some of you love gel cleansers but I'm afraid it just isn't for me. The gel was fairly runny and I had to use 3-4 pumps just to feel like it wash actually washing my face. My skin feels clean afterwards, yes, but since using this I've found I've had to exfoliate more frequently. It doesn't feel like its working on the deeper layers of my skin and that it is only just about managing to work on the top layer. I certainly wouldn't use this as part of my evening routine as it is just too wishy-washy for me.
I'm sorry Therapi, but I'm not a fan of your gel cleanser.

Now as for the Honey Moisturiser* RRP £30 for 50ml, I can honestly say that it it feels like a dream to use. It can be used both morning and night so it cuts down on needing two different creams. I find I use just a small amount in the morning, applied to the face and neck but use more in the evening to really condition the skin.
The texture is light so it absorbs quickly without feeling heavy or like it is just sat on the top of the skin.
For about 4 months before starting to use this, I'd been furiously using up the many, many samples and trial sized moisturisers that I'd somehow managed to accumulate and hadn't really found a winner. I was tired of trying so many without being able to see any lasting results.
I've been using this morning and night since I received it back in April and I really like it. My skin is looking really healthy at the moment, with less afternoon shiny t-zone (historically the bane of my existence!) and more glow and radiance.
I can't say that it has been down to this cream alone, I think that regularly using the same products has given my skin a chance to settle and I'm back using my beloved Bodhi & Birch Neroli Luce but I do think that it has made a difference.
Also, after 8 weeks of twice-daily use, I've hardly made a dent in the pot so it'll last me a good few months which I'm really happy about.

You can buy both these products and more over at the Therapi Honey Skincare website here.

Have you used anything from Therapi before? What did you think?

*PR samples provided for review. Opinions are all my own based on my experience using them.

May Empties

I could almost title this months empties as Bodhi & Birch Empties! 

These are pretty much the last of my smaller sized products which means hopefully, my empties posts wont be so epic going forward!

Bodhi & Birch Pep Noir Body Moisturiser and Shower & Bath Therapy travel size- I was unsure if I would like this particular scent as I was worried it might be too manly. I was pleasantly surprised though and really liked them both. 

Bodhi & Birch Galangal Spice Shower & Bath Therapy travel size- I really, really like this and have added the full size to my wishlist. It comes in at a very close second to my love of Mint Thé!

Bodhi & Birch Desert Rose Facial Oil* full size - I won this is a competition at the end of February and starting using it straight away. I have still to do a full review of this so I won't say too much at the moment other than Neroli Lucé is still my number 1.

Bloom Remedies Daily Balance Moisturiser full size - This came in my first SoukSouk box last summer and it just wasn't suited to my skin. I ended up using it as a body lotion. The cream was a bit to heavy for me, even in the winter.

Marble & Milkweed Spring Tonic Facial Serum sample - This was just too small to be able to see any difference to my skin. Texture was nice but I don't think I'll be looking to buy a full size.

Urban Veda Purifying Day Cream sample - This lasted a surprising amount of time. I took it away with me for my holiday in April and I was still using it a good two weeks later. I do want to try more from Urban Veda but I don't think I'll be starting with this day cream.

Apivita Moisturising Hand Cream with Aloe & Honey full size - Wouldn't buy this again. It was runny and could leave my hands feeling sticky.

REN BB Cream* sample - REN kindly sent this sample to me to try and I have since bought a larger version. Easy to use, blends well and offers me SPF. I thought it might have provided a bit more coverage but I prefer the minimal look.

There we have it. 

What have you been using this month?

Spring/Summer Green Beauty Swap with Annmarie from The Small but Mighty Ramblings of a Redhead

My swap partner this time was Annmarie from The Small but Mighty Ramblings of a Redhead. 

This was the first time Annmarie has done a swap and she's out-done herself! I was excited to be paired with her because she's just starting her Green Journey and it meant I had a pretty clean slate on what I could buy her. It also meant that I was keen to make sure she tried lots of different products and included some of my favourites and one particular thing that I hope Annmarie will really love. You can read all about what I sent Annmarie here.

But onto what I received. Annmarie had taken the time to write cute messages on tags for each of the items which I loved reading! My Postman arrived Thursday morning with not one, but two boxes full of treats and this is what was inside...

Box 1!

Salt of the Earth Deodorant Spray scented with Lavender & Vanilla - 

"I'm natural, soothing & effective plus I smell great too! Spray me"

I love my Salt of the Earth deodorant and while I've seen it sold in a spray, I've never see it scented before. I'm so happy with this as Lavender and Vanilla are two of my favourites.

Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub - 

"I'm a wee busy bee scrubbing away! Apply Me"

This smells like Christmas Pudding haha. Another great pick as I've not used this before and sometimes, I just need to have a good old scrub. I have keratosis pilaris on my upper arms and think this scrub would be great to use for this too.

MooGoo Tail-Swat Body Spray -

"I'm moogood for keeping midges & flies away! Spray Me"

I've never heard of MooGoo before and now I have three items from them! I'm looking forward to find out more about the company. As for this Tail-Swat Body Spray, MooGoo say that the noticed that people are less attractive to mossies when using the spray. Here's hoping for some warmer weather to put this to the test.

MooGoo Strawberry Tinted Lip Balm - 

"I'm moolicious on the lips (and totally bug free!). Pout & Eat away"

This cute lip balm comes in cardboard packaging that looks like a pint of milk! I love little details like this. The packaging says "Made from edible ingredients because what goes on the lips gets eaten." So true and I'm glad it says this because the balm smells lush so I'll be licking my lips get get a taste haha.

MooGoo Cover-Up Buttercup Natural Moisturiser with SPF 15 - 

"I'm an extra treat from an udderly goo-d company. Moo-chus grass-ias"

This is a really good sized sample so I'll be able to get a good amount of use from it. Cover-Up Buttercup is an all natural SPF 15 mouisturiser using just natural Zinc.

Jane Iredale Facial Blotting Papers - 

"I'm a wee oil buster! Use me"

So pleased to have this as I always have blotting tissues with me, just in case, and these Jane Iredale come in a sleek case that'll look great in my bag.

Balm Balm Lip Balm -

"I'm balm balm not pebbles! Pucker up"

One of my favourites and one that I always give to friends and family to stop them using Vaselline! I picked this for Annmarie's box too :)

Lastly in this box, a good old bar of Go*Do organic dark chocolate 60% in espresso coffee. "I'm a wee sweet treat just for you. Enjoy me" Oh I will, Annmarie, I will!

Now onto Box 2 - Annmarie works for A.Vogel and was so generous as to send another box with some brilliant A.Vogel products in. I had said to Annmarie that I suffer with Hayfever so sent sent me some goodies to help with that too!

This was inside...

Molkosan Vitality - instant whey drink.

Echinaforce Echinacea Drops - for the symptomatic relief of colds & flu

Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets - to relieve the symptoms of hayfever

And to top it all off, a fantastic book called The Nature Doctor by Alfred Vogel. 

I love that I've got a whole box of things I've not tired before AND a whole box of things that will help me feel good from the inside too! I can't wait to find out more about MooGoo and I'm really really looking forward to getting my teeth into The Nature Doctor.

Thank you Annmarie for all your thoughtful pickings!

Annmarie can be found over on her blog The Small but Mighty Ramblings of a Redhead or on Twitter @smallmightyred1

Review: Lovea Hair Mask & SPF 15 Sunscreen Spray

Lovea is a French company that I saw loads of in supermarkets whist on my holidays last month. I hadn't seen them over here before until I spotted them on the MyPure site.

I'd been intrigued by the company and found that, like a lot of the brands I use, their formulas contain no parabens, phenoxyethanol, silicone, colourings or synthetic fragrances. Their ingredients are natural and wherever possible organically produced and meet EcoCert standards. The packaging is recyclable and they do not test on animals.

I picked two products from the Lovea range - Burkina Shea Moisturising Hair Mask* and a Natural Sunscreen Spray SPF15*.

The Burkina Shea Moisturising Hair Mask* costs £7.99 for a 300ml tub and was created for those of us with dry and damaged hair.  Packed with Shea Butter, this mask is designed to restore damaged hair shafts and prevent split ends.

To be used after washing and conditioning on towel dried hair and left for up to 30 minutes before rinsing out. Lovea suggest wrapping a towel around the hair for best results.
The directions are very vague on the actual packaging and I had to go back onto the MyPure site to look up what needed to be done. Sounds silly but I've used masks that need to be used on dry hair before shampooing and others that are used instead of a conditioner. I didn't appreciate having to go looking for this information but perhaps I should have checked before hand.

The mask is very thick and creamy but I was still able to cover my long thick hair easily with the help of a wide tooth comb. That, and the delicious scent, is about the only positive thing I can say about it.
My plan was to use it once a week as an intensive treatment and apart from loving the amazing smell (seriously, it smells incredible) I don't love the actual mask. I've tried three times now and to be honest, I'm really struggling what to say about it because it did nothing for me or my hair. I found that it left my ends dryer than usual and a little, well, crunchy. Instead of smoothing my split ends, it looks like it exaggerated them.

I really wanted to enjoy this hair mask but I was completely underwhelmed by it and that has made me a little sad.

Onto the Natural Sunscreen Spray SPF15* RRP £12.99 for 125ml . Now that the sun has been out for at least 2 days in a row, I think we can safely say that the English summer is here... for a little while anyway.
This natural sunscreen from Lovea is certified organic and they have a good range of SPF to suit all skin types - 15, 30 & 50 with options for fragerance free and SPF for the face. As they are made from natural ingredients, they feed your skin with goodness while protecting you from harmful rays. They also have a range of aftersun products and tanning oils (shudder).
I went for an SPF15 as I tend not to stay out in the sun too long and I'm really impressed with the formula of the cream. Essential oils have been blended into the formula to create a lovely light fragrance and the spray comes out in little squirts so I've found it easier to spray into my hands and then apply, however it covers the skin evenly without leaving a heavy feeling behind. Waterproof, non greasy and so far I've found it leaves no white traces behind. That may be because I tend to use it straight after I apply body lotion though.
I'm really pleased with this sunscreen and can't wait for the sun to be out again!

So a good and a bad review from Lovea today. I really was disappointed with the hair mask and will be passing it on to someone else. The sunscreen however is lovely to use and does what it says - protects my skin from the sun!

Both products can be bought from MyPure.co.uk.

*Products sent to me as part of the MyPure Blogger Programme. Opinions are all my own!

Review: Lulu & Boo Seaweed Purifying Mask & Lavender and Lemon Toner

About a month ago, Lulu & Boo tweeted that they were looking for bloggers to review some of their products and to get in touch with them. 

I'd not long since read a wonderful review with the founder of Lulu & Boo, Claire Edmunds, and Annie from Hello Purple Clouds (do have a read of Claire's story here) so I was really keen to get in contact and start my journey of discovery!

I was kindly sent two full sized products, the Seaweed Purifying Mask* and a Lavender and Lemon Toner*, both from the Oily/Combination skin range. I want to say straight off that I love the packaging. The frosted, heavy glass bottles and jars, along with the labels add something special to the experience of using the products. 

Firstly to the Lavender and Lemon Toner* RRP £14.95 for 100ml. The ingredients in this had me nodding and mhmm-ing with each one I read and I could feel my skin agreeing with me. 

Aloe Vera to soothe, Witch Hazel Extract for its astringent properties, Melissa Water (lemon balm!) with it's anti-inflammatory goodness, Lemon Water to add radiance, Lavender Water to promote rapid healing and Rosemary Water to balance sebum production and tighten pores.

The toner comes with both a screw cap lid and a spray pump, which I think is great as this gives me the option to use it as a mist during the day. It also means I can travel with the screw cap on and not have to worry about leaks.
The toner smells a bit apple-cider-vinegary to me but this quickly fades without leaving any scent on the skin. As for improvements to my skin? I'm not sure if I can pin my clearer skin down on the toner alone, but my skin has been glowing lately. I feel like this toner is certainly helping in my current skin care routine and I think the astringent properties of the toner are working at keeping oiliness at bay. I'll do a full post on what I'm currently using soon.

The Seaweed Purifying Mask* for Promblem and Oily skin RRP £21 for 50ml is the real hero of this post.
I've been using it weekly now for about 5 weeks and I love how it makes my skin look and feel.
With organic Seaweed to oxygenate, tone and revitalise, Papaya & Apple extracts to help loosen and remove dead skin cells, mineral rich Green Clay to stimulate circulation and draw out impurities and Propolis Extract for its natural anti-bacterial, antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

I use a flat foundation brush to apply a small amount of clay to my face after cleansing and leave it for around 15 minutes. I find it dries quite quickly so I actually spray the Lavender and Lemon Toner a couple of times to keep it moist.
On removing the mask my skin is brighter, smoother and generally looks healthier.

I'm really thrilled that I've been able to try some things from Lulu & Boo and I'll certainly be making orders for the Seaweed Purifying Mask again when I use this up. As for the toner, I'm sure it's making a difference but I wonder how much straight up ACV would work in comparison. One to try out I suppose!

Have you tried anything from Lulu & Boo before? What do you like the look of?

*These products were kindly sent to me for review. Opinions are my own based on my experience with them.

ABW S/S 14 Samples Box

My alarm goes off at about 6am most mornings and I begrudgingly drag myself up and out of bed. There are a few exceptions to this throughout the year and two of these belong to the A Beautiful World Sample Box which are released in May and October. The Sample Box costs £20 plus £3.95 P&P.

So when my alarm went off at 6am on Thursday 8th May, I knew what had to be done.... get onto the abw site quick sharp and order a box before they sell out!

My box arrived yesterday and this is what was in mine...

I received two full sized products in  my box, the first of them Nature's Beauty Bee Venon Eye Serum which costs £25 on the site. This is an anti-aging eye serum which instantly tightens the skin. Best used morning and night for full results.

My second full size product in the MuLondon White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heel Cream which costs £19. This products has been raved about and has been reviewed by so many of the blogs I follow that I feel so slow in not trying it before! An intensely rich cream for those neglected areas that smells heavenly thanks to the white chocolate.

I'm looking forward to using Chocolate Suns Cocoa Glow for a natural, organic self tan, on my legs for a wedding at the end of the month. 

I'm also excited to try The Body Deli Radiance Enzyme Peel as I've read so many positive reviews on this company. I think I'll use this tonight to refresh my skin for the coming week.

Two bits from Marble & Milkweed, Rose & Chamomile White Tea (which is lovely) and a tiny sample of Spring Tonic Serum. I'll be using this before my nightcream for an extra boost.

Next up is a sample of Bee Yummy Skinfood, a live and organic moisturiser that feeds the skin. 

Lastly, no Sample Box would be the same without a Tili Bag and a Collagen Mask Pack.

There are a few variations between boxes, which is stated when purchasing, but I think I've got a really great value box here with my two full size products adding up to £44. 

I'll be signing up for the A/W 14 box without a doubt!

What did you get in yours?

April Empties

Nourish Refining Toning Mist – A toner to balance oily/combination skin. Worked fairly well unfortunately the combination of apple and pear extracts made it smell like baby food to me so not one that I will be using again.

Yes to Carrots Body Butter – A super rich body cream that uses carrot extract to smooth and soothe dry skin. Worked for me during the Winter but would not be suitable for my skin during the warmer months. Detailed review here.

Collagen Mask Pack x2 – My last two masks! It feels like I've been using these weekly (trying to, anyway!) for about 5 months. I love how refreshed my face feels after, a real boost of hydration.

Dr.Organics Moroccan Argan Oil Restorative Treatment – I've been trying to use this up since August last year. I'm not sure how I feel about the ingredients but I can’t fault how soft and manageable it made my hair. Not one to buy again though.

Avril Mascara – This is my second Avril mascara and I have already got another one ready to take over.  I think this mascara is brilliant. It’s got a great brush and while I don’t get too much length, it is perfect for day time and can be layered for volume for occasions.

Savonnerie French Lavender Body Lotion – I feel like this lotion lasted months as I only needed a small amount. Beautifully scented with French Lavender, Geranium and Bergamot. A winning combination in my books. Would happily use this again. Full review here.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash* – A nice enough body wash but I didn't feel any of the toning benefits. I wouldn't rush to use this again.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Cream* – While I didn't feel that it toned my skin, this was only a small size. I think using a full sized cream though, for longer, it might actually live up to the toning claims. My review of both these Balance Me products can be found here.

Bodhi Rosemary Chi Body Moisturiser - I wasn't really keen on the scent to be honest. I've used it up though and as a moisturiser it worked well. I'm not sure what it was about the scent but it wasn't for me. Sadly not one that I would buy again. 

Bodhi Ylang-Ylang Body Moisturiser – This on the other hand, was lovely to use. I will have to pick up the full size and body wash too as I loved this scent.

Moa The Green Balm – A great little multi-purpose balm that I mainly used for removing eye make-up. I love balms but I have a few to use up before I buy any more.

Urban Veda Facial Polish – I really liked using this facial polish and Urban Veda is a brand I must try more from. This was from the oily/combo skin range (perfect for me) and I am currently using a sample of the day cream, also from the same range. Both were from a SoukSouk box.

REN Day Cream – Another day cream that I wasn't really overwhelmed with. I just don’t think it suited my skin as while using it my face got shinier as the day went on. This didn't happen as much before or after using this product.

I love reading your empties post so send me your links!

*Products sent for review

Review: Fresh Therapies Eden - A Natural Nail Polish Remover?

I was recently contacted by Tracy from VertPR to see if I would be interested in reviewing Fresh Therapies Eden Nail Polish Remover*.

Fresh Therapies is an Award Winning natural, vegan nail polish remover and in March was published in The Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible, scoring the highest mark for a nail polish remover with an amazing 8.69 out of 10. 

The remover is crystal clear and is made from "biodegradable food grade and plant-based ingredients that are non­ toxic and non-carcinogenic, making it safe for children, pregnant women and those undergoing treatment for illness" 

It has a wonderful lime fragrance which is such a pleasant experience after using regular headache inducing ones for years. 

I'll be honest, I have used the sample service from Fresh Therapies before (99p for a sample!) but I made the mistake of trying to remove layer upon layer of red polish in the same way I would with 'normal' remover - up, down, around and around. Well - this didn't work out so well for me. I ended up with stained red fingertips; not a good look!

Please don't be put off by my foolish first experience though!

Since receiving some more of the remover, I've had to re-train myself on how to remove my nail polish.

I've found this remover requires a more gentle touch- soak a cotton pad in the remover and let it rest of the nail for a few moments to allow the product to work through all layers of polish, before slowly working the pad around the nail to make sure all your polish has gone. Considering I'm usually a bit more gung-ho when using a remover, I just had to learn to slow it down!

The remover itself is packaged in a sleek 50ml glass bottle so you can see just how clear it is! I think they look really chic, rather than the conventional plastic bottles that live in the bathroom cabinet. 

Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover works. Sure, it takes longer than the average but think about what your are trading in. Toxic chemical vs a bit of time? For me, it's a no brainer.

You can buy Fresh Therapies Eden Nail Polish Remover for £8.99 directly from their website here , from LoveLula here or Sophia's Choice here.

Have you tried Eden Nail Polish Remover before?

*This product was sent to me for review. All opinions are my own, based on my experience.

Review: Balance Me - Exfoliating Body Polish

One of the things I'm really rubbish at remembering to do is exfoliate. I don't know why this is as I remember to do my face but rarely do I do my body. Now that we are inching closer to the summer months, I want to get my skin in tip-top condition so I'm starting early this year.

I've had my eye on a few different scrubs recently but opted for the Balance Me Exfoliating Body Polish*. At £15 for a 220g tub, I thought this was a good value one to try. 

The first thing I will say about this is that on opening the box, I could smell the spearmint straight off. I didn't even need to open the lid to know that this really was a minty treat!

Now, although the Exfoliating Body Polish can be used on wet and dry skin, I found that my skin needed to be damp to really work for my skin. I suppose the water helped to move the scrub around the skin a bit easier.
 I've been using this in the shower once or twice a week for the last few weeks now. I've found that the scrub is a really good consistency. The sea salt isn't too harsh that you feel you are loosing an inch of skin but equally it isn't underwhelming, leaving you wondering if you had even used a scrub at all.
The sea salt is blended with sweet almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter and spearmint oil.
The spearmint oil is so lovely and really filled my bathroom with it's fresh and zingy scent - it even lasts once I've finished in bathroom for about an hour. Great for clearing the head first thing in the morning and invigorating you for the day to come.

This leaves my skin with a lovely finish, smooth and moisturised before I'd even stepped out of the shower! No need to use an additional moisturiser after either, which is a great time saver if I've been a bit rushed.

While I've been enjoying using the Balance Me Body Polish, I haven't really been enjoying cleaning the bath after using it. The Scrub is really rich with oils and while that is great for my skin, I've found that as I'm washing the scrub from my body all those nourishing oils are sticking straight to the bath creating a slippery surface and one that requires not just a wipe after use, but a real clean with a cleaning product. I also worry a little about those oils & butters clogging the drain too.

Cleaning the bath aside though, I'm still really enjoying using this Body Polish from Balance Me and think my skin looks brighter for the added attention, especially around my knees and elbows.
Come on Summer, I'm ready for you!

Have you tried the Balance Me Exfoliating Body Polish? Which exfoliators do you use?

You can buy the Balance Me Exfoliating Body Polish from MyPure.co.uk for £15 and free UK delivery.

*This product was provided for me to review by mypure.co.uk. All opinions are my own.