Neom Complete Bliss Hand Cream

As a new Mum you wash your hands several times a day, before/after feeds, before/after bathroom breaks (to prevent cross infection), as well as hot soapy water to wash feeding bottle. Your hands really do suffer, they get drier, itchy and all the cuticles get cracked. My gorgeous pregnancy nails were a thing of the past (pictured here with Essie's For The Twill of It on), I was left with short flakey below par nails.

I had got this 50ml size in one of British Beauty Blogger's infamous blog boxes, and have been using it an intense evening treatment. Neom is more known for it candle ranges and me being naive, was surpised that they did more than that in their range.

Complete Bliss main ingrediant is Moroccan Rose, which is aromatherapy is used for drier skins as well as soothing, it also contains vitamin A&E packed Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, Rosemary Leaf & Pomegranate for noisturent. Pnnk pepper and lime give the scent an uplifting, fresher tone that stops the rose from over powering the product. The constitancy is rich but still sinks in without resdue.

Neom only sell this in a 250ml pump bottle for £18.00 (this is 7p per a 1 ml) through their website. However I have spotted some going for £13.00 so its worth having a search for. This would make a luxury present for a new mum and like me I'm sure they would appreciate a little luxury after a long day with a newborn.

Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil

 

 

I will tell you this now, I am now a huge fan of Weleda, but it wasn't an instant love affair. I have previously reviewed one of their body oils before (Weleda's Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil ).

When I announced my pregnancy they did send me a mum-to-be package (which included this and the soon to be used Calendula Face Cream 50ml) to help me over the next few months. Weleda is a certified natural producer, and have been producing medicines and cosmetic products for skin since 1921. There is a huge amount of experience and knowledge in their products.

The base blend has Sweet Almond Oil (light source of fatty acids, perfect for dry skin), Jojoba Oil (close to natural oils in the skin), and Wheatgerm Oil (contains high level of Vitamin E). To this base blend they add Arnica Montana Flower Extract which eases tightness of the stretched skin.

This results in a thick, rich oil with a slight delicate nutty scent. I found on my skin it sunk in easily without leaving any residue behind, but still hefty enough to be used as a massage oil. My skin felt softer afterwards and any dry patches that I has been having were now no bother at all. I found I used this more in the evening as an extra rich, warming treatment before bed or at time where my skin felt it was being stretched out.

For 100ml it is £15.95, it is on the higher end of the price scale per a ml. I have found that a little 10p pence size amount can cover a large area easily.

Bloom Remedies Mama-Tum Pregnancy Tummy Oil

Bloom Remedies is a little independent ran aromatherapy business from Cornwall. They believe in a back to basics approach, utilising what nature has provided and being inspired by the Cornish landscape around them. Their products are made in small batches so they do not waste away on shelves which can make the product least effective.

From my own aromatherapy back ground, when a company say they are 'aromatherapy' based I must admit I get a little twitchy. The term is thrown around so much these days, a lot of 'essential oils' can be synthetic and really down not harness the philosophy of aromatherapy.

I am very happy to say that after doing a little research on the website it exceeded my expectations, all the information I was looking for was present (from manufacturing to storage). The customer service when I had questions I could not fault, the product even came with a hand written note with apologies being late sent out to me. This is why I do love an independent company. This was even before I tried the product.

Mama-Tum Pregnancy Tummy Oil is a blended oil with Rosehip and Apricot kernel oil as it's base which is nourishing to the skin and helps with healing. This then had Vetiver, Frankincense, Lavender & Sweet Orange essential oils added for their relaxing and skin healing qualities.

This is my favourite oil for bonding time with my bump, it is deep in colour and thick that a little goes a long way when massaging. The scent is soothing and relaxing, you can smell it but it gently wafts rather than slaps round the face. I quite happily smell my hands after massage and breath it in for a while afterwards.

Price wise for an aromatherapy product it is perfect £8.00 for 100ml (unfortunately Frankincense is an expensive per a ml product). You can purchase them online at http://www.bloomremedies.co.uk/

*PR Sample

Miracle Bump - Bump Butter and Oil

 

Miracle Bump is 99% natural company who believe in being as close to nature as possible as well as keeping bodies beautiful. The oil contains Argan and Jojoba oil in a pump bottle while the butter has Organic Shea Butter and Vitamin E, this comes in a glass tub.

 

This is pure luxury to use, you need to melt the butter to you body temperature before massing it into the areas you want to use. The scent is a delicate cocoa butter smell from the Shea butter, reminds me very much of white chocolate (just a reminder this is not edible). The oil has a slight nuttier smell that isn't overwhelming or unpleasant, if this not to your taste it would make a great base oil to add essential oils to that are baby friendly.

 

It did keep my skin soft and supple, I combined the two to extend the life of the two products (a small pea size bit of butter with 1/2 pumps of oil). My main stumbling block with this range is the price point: The Butter is £50 for 200ml and the oil is £45 for 100ml. I am not denying that this range is beautiful and the quality exceeds expectations; It would make a wonderful baby shower present. If you are on a budget like myself then there are products who preform just as well for a lower price point.

 

*PR Sample

 



Pregnancy Stretch Marks - An Introduction

Via NHS Website

Apart from labour the other thing that scared me when I found our I was pregnant was stretch marks. I had previously had them for a dramatic weight increase so I knew I wasn't completely immune to them.

Stretch marks are lines that develop on the skin when the skin is stretched quicker than it can regenerate showing the dermis (or middle) layer skin through. They start off as red/purple and then fade into silvery white colour.

You can never fully prevent them from coming (it is predicted that 9 out of 10 pregnant women will get them in some way), but there are products and treatments that help support the skin in healing from them. You can also help by:

• Not eating for two - you will only need an extra 200 calories a day in the last trimester. You will naturally put on weight as your baby grows, if you are concerned speak to your midwife or doctor.
• Keep Hydrated - Sipping on water throughout will keep the skin hydrated which will help with it elasticity.
• Gentle exercise - Not only will help with balancing weight gain but also make you feel better about your developing body.

There is a huge market in oils and creams that can help with the fading of the marks and over the next week we are going to looking at the different products on the market from the budget to the high end as well as musket to the independents. Creams and oils are great not only for the reduction but for another stretch mark side effect - itching.

I have been using them myself over the course of 5 months, (just after my first trimester was complete). With any products please read the label before use and if you get nay reactions please stop using straight away.

B. Replenished Facial Oil

 

I spotted this on British Beauty Blogger early September and being already obsessed with Antipodes Organic Avocado Oil & Rosehip I was looking forward to getting my hands on this which I was very vocal about on Twitter - this lead to only getting a preview bottle but an invite to the press day which you can read about here.

Suitable for all skin types, the thing that appealed to me most is that it was said that it is lightweight. I find with combination and hormonal skin I cannot now have anything really thick on my skin or it just sits on the top. It has a combination of Rosehip, Argan and Crambe seed oil, really good replenishment ingredients for battered skin.

I used 3 drops pattered over the skin, day and night for the initial week to give my skin an extra boost. I woke up in the morning with smoothed and even skin, even the slightly red patches around my cheeks and nose where gone. You put a moisturiser on top, and I found that after letting it sink in for a few minutes that if my skin had drunk it in I would add the moisturiser.

I am very impressed that an own brand company are producing a product that rivals more established brands. Since B.Skincare (and Make up) has launched it has gone strength to strength, this is my first product from them, with Micellar water now being my second after hearing the rave reviews.

Retails at £13.99 (Is on offer exclusively online at the moment at £9.99) at Superdrug stores where if you purchase 3 items you not only get 3 for 2 but a wonderful introduction to B. free gift until 30th December. Please be quick, my local store had already nearly sold out when I went in Saturday!

 

N-SPA Mum-to-be Range

 



I wouldn't of have had this in my life without Danielle from Beauty in Japan pointing them in my direction when they were looking for a pregnant beauty blogger to work with (my huge thanks to  everyone who has done this, I have found some amazing hidden gems thanks to this).

N-PSA in using professional spa inspired formulations but that are affordable for the high street. I know this brand has cause ripples since hitting the beauty blogger scene and I am not honestly surprised. Let's break it down.

Relaxing Bath & Shower Crème £3.50

Rosehip oil, Vitamin E, Shea butter and sweet almond oil are combined to give skin that is soft, clean and delicately fragranced. The best way I can describe the fragrance is a gentle powder scent that doesn't over power which is great when scents make your stomach swirl.

Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil £6.00

This has a combination of Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil Vitamin A and E. It is a lightweight oil that I have found sinks in quickly and leaves no residue behind. I use this twice a day, morning and night, all over bump, bust and thighs. At the moment at week 26, I have had no marks on my skin (this in combination that I have made sure that weight I have put on is steady) for the price I'm impressed by this the most.

Moisturising Bump Butter £6.00

Shea Butter, Rosehip Oil, and vitamin E in a thick butter, I use this once a day in the evening after the Noursing Stretch Mark Oil. Smells like white chocolate which is great when I'm having my chocolate craving. My skin drinks it in, leaving it really soft and more elasticated.

Cooling Leg and Foot Gel £4.00

Peppermint in a Aloe Vera base that soothes hot legs and feet. This was my saviour over the Summer months, as well as having my feet in the air I had this smoothed over my legs/feet. The combination of the two was the biggest relief, and now as I head towards third trimester I'm digging it back out as the swelling has retuned.

I really like this range not only for the price point but because it smells beautiful without making my stomach swirl (certain smells in pregnancy can do that, there have been certain products I've had to giveaway just because the smell was too much). There has not been a range in a while that has lived up to hype around it but is also affordable. I now want to try the rest of the skin care especially the Melting Cleansing Gel.

Macadamia Natural Oil's Deep Repair Masque

One of the things you do get told about being pregnant is that your body will change, and then they will go on about the 'glow' you will get after your 3 months are over. This can be lie for some people, I didn't really get a glow until about 18 weeks, before then my skin looked dull and my hair looked life had left it.

I had tried this previously from another event I went to (got this one in my goodie bag from London Meet Up), so I knew it would already re-kick the recovery of my poor hair. The hair mask uses a combination of macadamia and argan oil infused with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts. You put onto clean, damp hair for 5-10 minutes and then wash off with warm water, dry and style as normal.

It is a thick pale coloured cream and found that because I know has shorter hair (down to my jaw line), I could split the sachet into two uses in one week to give it a full recovery programme. After the first use it felt significantly softer, that kind of soft where you cannot stop touching your hair. It looked glossy and moisturised. After the second weekly use, it had looked like I had been at a salon and had treatment done, it looked more improved than the beginning.

For 100ml tube it starts from £12.50, which if I have worked this out correctly, for my length hair will give you about 7 uses at £1.79 each (my hairdresser tries to sell me their treatment at £4.79 each time). There is 250ml (£26.95) and 500ml (£36.75) available.

Read more about Macadamia hair range here

Apivita Anti Wrinkle Grape Face Mask

Apivita is a Marks & Spencer exclusive beauty brand, and what brilliant brand for them to have. Apivita started as a pharmacy in Athens in 1979 by husband and wife, Nikos and Niki Koutsianas, following the philosophy of of Hippocrates (a Greek who started the modern medicine movement and believed in treating the body and the mind).

For me the representive that I met at London Meet Up sold the brand for me, sun drenched fields and vineyards, I was already mentally booking my tickets there. However, I will have to settle with my grape in the face mask for now.

The mask has grape and the combination of A and E vitamins which is reported to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines while offering skin unique softness and revitalisation. Olive and sunflower natural plant oils have moisturising properties and enhance skin's elasticity and firmness.
You apply to clean skin for 10 minutes and rinse off (as I do with my a majority of my face masks I use a face cloth to wash off).

 

I will warn you know, it is a fluid mask so it can come out quicker than expected. It also has little particles of red in them so I would assume this is parts of the grape as I cannot find any information anywhere on what they are. I did like the softer touch to my skin afterwards, it felt much plumper and look liked I have had a night's rest.

 

Doing my research on the Marks & Spencer's website, they also have 20% off Beauty and Fragrance until 26th August (That's Bank Holiday Monday). The set of two sachets of masks would cost £2.40 instead of £3.00, not the biggest reduction, however if this is a sample of the rest of the range it's well worth a treat (or two).

Antipodes Organic Avocado Oil & Rosehip

After trying the Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ and falling in love with it, I was determined to try and investigate facial oils more. I had always dismissed them as I think, like others, that if you add oil to oily skin it would make it oiler. I was very wrong, after trying Trilogy out for a week it improved my skin without adding any other oil to it.

How did I come to Antipodes? That would be the influence of other beauty bloggers, there are bevy of them who adore good skin care and this product came up time and time again.

I took to Google and searched out the product online, the first thing I was impressed with was the price £19 compared to Triogy's £29 for the same amount, and second was the ingredients list that got my aromatherapy side twitching. Base oils of Avocado, Macadamia Nut, Jojoba and Rosehip oil - all filled with fatty acids (great for scar healing), vitamin A, B1, B2, C and D as well as Omegas 3 and 9. These will help skin healing, neutralize free radicals that lead to aging, and helps skin look less stressed. Essentials oils of Ylang-Ylang, Sandalwood and Jasmine give a delicate fragrance but contribute to the psychological effect of feeling less stressed and soothes rattled nerves.

I got my bottle when I went to the London Bloggers Meet Up in April from Selfridges, and every blogger that saw in my bag said it was the best purchase I could of made that day. I got this just as the right time because my normal moisturiser has just ran out, I patted 3 drops over my face with the option of putting a cream over the top if you feel you need a bit more moisture to the skin. After a week the redness I have on my sensitive cheeks has reduced, my skin did look a lot smoother and more refreshed. When my skin started to get more blemishes (which I didn't realise at the time where the result of my pregnancy), it even helped with the healing of these.

Do I love this? A whole hearted yes, and I recommend it to everyone who wants a good value facial oil that still delivers the results of the higher value. I am already eyeing the skin masks in the range, which is great timing as one of my favourite natural websites Nature's Healthbox have announced they are stocking it so I do not have to wait for my next Selfridges trip.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+

I do have really sensitive skin, on my cheeks they are very dry and always seemed red (it does however save me on buying blushers). I had mentioned recently that my skin has also been full of blemishes which is now, thankfully under control.

I had noticed this appear on other bloggers site saying how great it was, I did a little research on the ingredients and well it sounded like a dream for my skin. I ordered this 7 day sample from latestinbeauty.com for £1.50 (excluding P&P). I managed to stretch this out to about 9 days morning and evening, as I used about dropper full patted over the face each day.

For me straight away the more notable thing is that the redness in my cheeks had gone down to a soft pink. I could foundation on and actually have a blank canvas to work with rather than having to correct the colouring. Secondly, foundation also went on smoother and looked a lot more even.

The rosehip is full of antioxidants and fatty acids that help the skin heal and fight against the signs of ageing. You use it on it's own or alongside another moisturiser, I preferred it on it's on as it seemed to be working with my dry/combination without much more help.

It retails for a 30ml at between £23 - £30 and it would be repurchase if I hadn't already fallen for another oil, Antipodes Avocado and Rosehip at the same size but for £19.



Garnier Oila Permanant Hair Dye - Deep Violet

I have briefly touched before on my history on dying my hair here as well as my experience using Boots own brand, which since I have been using since as the colour of choice. Why the change? First of all dying dries out my hair, I probably use more conditioner than I should (I do thoroughly wash afterwards). Secondly, I want to change my colour from a deep brown to more of a violet tint which a lot of the own brands do.

With this in mind, I brought this from Superdrug for the full price of £6.99. I did do a patch test, however a little research on twitter it was interesting to see that the amount of people don't. I won't give a lecture, but it is still important to make sure you get no reactions that can harm you or your body.

Box with a snippet of the finished colour in the bottom left corner

You mix both developer and cream together in the tear drop bottle, shake and put into the hair (not the bathroom, floor, etc). by splitting into sections and work thoroughly. Leave for the allocated time, wash and condition. Hair dye done.

To me the colour came out well, it completely covered the grey, with my previous dye it seemed to struggle to cover the whitest ones. The colour as you you can see has more of the tint of violet, with the box looking it would be deeper in colour, I can accept that it is that my hair is dark already to start with.

I am now on week 3 since I've done it and the violet is less strong and my natural deep brown is starting to come through.There is no signs of any dye coming away from the hair, looks naturally and the whites still look unnoticeable. The conditioner supplied is still moisturising without being heavy, but didn't really wow me.

I would get this again but more when it's on offer.

How My Mum Influenced My Own Beauty Routine

My mum is now in mature years, but I tell you to look at her she doesn't look it.

She is loyal to her skincare, for as long as I could remember she has always used Boots No.7 skincare care for her dry skin. She always one to promote the cleanse, tone and moisturiser routine. I've tried to give her more premium skincare, I was given Estee Lauder's Resilience Lift Extreme and she never touched it. I remember when they changed the cleansing products and I made sure I gave my mum good enough warning, she stocked up before it went.

The one thing I have taken from my mum is her bath routine, which I've now adapted to a shower routine. After a shower I run a flannel over the skin so it's damp rather than wet, use oil over the skin (my mum uses baby oil, but I use my Weleda Pomegranate Body Oil) and then moisturise. Recently, I have been complaining of itchy skin because of the dryness and my mum gave me Nivea's lotion for very dry skin (£3.79 in Boots). It is thick enough to give good moisturise but light enough to sink in without trace.

I still like the fact that even now I'm older and married, she never stops mothering.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, mothers-to-be and the mothers-in-waiting.

Say 'Hello' to Nature's Healthbox

Part of being of holistic therapist that specialises in Aromatherapy, you do get frustrated with companies that use the term very loosely and have products that really don't hold the values of aromatherapy truly (That is a rant for another blog entry!).

I approached Nature's Healthbox when they asked people to help review items from their shop, after reading their email I was more than eager to help a like minded company. It was started by three colleagues who worked in the pharmacy industry, but all have a passion and experience in using products that are as stripped back to their natural roots as possible.

They road test as many products as possible (as well as roping in friends and family), as well as research that each of their range is eco-friendly and organic (each product has the percentage of organic materials in the descriptions) but does the job.

Saying I had more of an interest in Beauty, I was sent Weleda's Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash 200ml (£8.99) and Weleda's Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil 100ml (£19.89). The cream wash is thick and moisturising as it has sunflower and sesame seed oil in. The body oil is a blended (Jojoba, sesame, wheatgerm and sunflower) oil that is moisturising without being heavy on the skin, it actually has opposite effect and my skin seems to drink it.

An extra positive is that the oil comes in a a dark bottle with a dropper dispenser, the dark bottle ensurers that oils are kept in the best condition and protected from deterioration. The droppers means that when you pour the oil out it controls the amount does not flow too quickly.

 

From the delivery time of a few days to the friendly and helpful staff, I have been really impressed. You can also give them a tweet to say hello, they like that too!

 

After browsing, for maybe a bit too long, on the newly launched Nature's Healthbox website. The following wish list has emerged;

 

 

1. Burt's Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream £8.99

2. Avalon Organics Shine Ylang Ylang Shampoo and conditioner £5.99 each

3. Badger Balm Stress Soother £6.09

4. Weleda Lavender Creamy Body wash 200ml £7.89

5. Green People Eco Lipstick Cherry 4.5g £10.99

6. Teapigs Chocolate Flake Tea 15 Temples £3.99 - Chocolate tea!

 

From Monday 14th to the end January use the code BLOGTASTIC2013 at the checkout and get 10% of any purchases and can be used in conjunction with these offers:

25% off Salcura (amazing treatments for eczema, psoriasis, dry and irritable skin)
15% off A.Vogel (a vast range of remedies and tinctures extracted from plants- I cannot recommend the echinacea products highly enough)
20% off Amy's Kitchen (Seriously delicious soups with no nasties)

 

Natures Healthbox launches today www.natureshealthbox.co.uk and I wish them all the best in their new adventure. I'll be putting my next order in soon.

Ojon Vs L'oreal in Oil Wars

In March in my Harrods GlossyBox I got Ojon's Damage Reverse Restorative Treatment Serum. It is much of an oil like texture that has their Ojon Oil complex in. I loved the fact that it was lghter than my serum but I also needed the smallest amount to get the benefits. The current bottle I have (in the photo) I've been using since early April and only a quarter is gone (please note my hair is shoulder length at it's longest.) The a few weeks ago my Latestinbeauty In-flight box had L'Oreal's additction to the hair oil market - Mythic Oil.

Mythic Oil is a blend of grapeseed and avocardo oil, and is promoted as a hair nouriser. This is true grapeseed is a wonderful base oil in massage because it's lightweight consistancy and it's is scentless. Avocardo oil can then be added in a smalled pecentage,
this is because it is a thicker oil, but full of fatty acids and vitamin E.

Ojon oil is a bit more of mystery, it says on their website that it was discovered in Central America and that it comes from the Ojon palm nut that grows on the tree. This had been used by the Tawira tribe for centuries and now have been tested to prove it rejenitating effects on hair. A tree will produce 800 nuts on where that would produce 3 cups of the oil.

As I said the first time I used Ojon I was really happy with the results it gave, my slightly dry and frizzy hair was more under control. The curls that I had were more defined, and the roasted nut scent was pleasent without being over powering. For the 25ml bottle I got it is £16 (there is a 50ml for £22), and it is lasting well, with an investment into the rest of the range.
With my first try of Mythical Oil I was impressed with the almost water light texture compared to the Ojon. The scent was more towards typical hair product/coconut smell, but same again it isn't unpleasent or overpowering. It still tamed my frizzy hair, normally with the Ojon if I apply too much it can go greasy, with the Mythical I found that if I need more after drying I could with this happening. You do also get more for your money - 250ml for RRP £15.95 (however I have found it for £12.55 on feelunique.com).
While I love my Ojon, realistly I cannot warrant spending that amount of money on 25ml when I can spend less and get more on L'Oreals offering. Sorry Ojon.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner

It now is a documented fact that due to mother nature, that I dye my hair, this mixed with the fact that I have natural fine frizzy hair means that it suffers greatly. It hates humidity and needs regular cutting it turns into a style that's based on The Muppet's Animal (especially if I've decided on going red).

I am currently loving all the hair oils that are coming out, my hair seems to lovingly drink them and is starting to behave better between cuts. I am currently using the Ojon range that to be honest costs an arm and a leg, which was a 30th birthday present to myself. As you can gather an affordable alternative is always an attractive thing.

Dove had been offering samples of it's new Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner. Blurb is that it is a daily one minute treatment for dry/frizzy hair that has a mixture of Argan, coconut and almond oil that has vitamin E and F to help hair. It says that it is 3 times more nourishing than a 'normal' conditioner.

I washed my hair last night and needed a little more than normal decided to give it a try. I squeezed a 1p sized amount for my shoulder length hair, the first thing to notice is that it comes like toothpaste, a white part with yellow stripes that you rub together before applying. Comb Through with a wide toothed comb, leave then wash off, not exactly brain surgery.

After drying (I put hair oil on my hair when damp - currently Ojon Restorative Oil), I honestly couldn't stop touching it, because i felt really soft. It had a soft nutty smell from the nut oils which I really like and complimented the rest of the products I used. Even now the morning after it's even feeling soft, and the curls look more defined with very little frizz.