Tag Archives: Natural products

DEET free mosquito repellent

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I discovered this mosquito repellent when I was pregnant and heading to a part of France that I knew was rife with mozzies. Realising I couldn’t use standard repellents I was desperate for a product that didn’t contain DEET, which isn’t recommended for use by pregnant women or infants under two.incognito anti mosquito

incognito is 100% natural, meets UK safety and efficacy standards, and is repellent to ALL insects. It’s even safe for babies and those with sensitive skin (they suggest a patch test first, just in case).

The incognito website makes some fantastic claims as to its potency against insects. I can’t vouch for all the claims but it is easily as efficient as any other product I have used. Normally I am a beacon for mosquitos and I had read that pregnancy hormones would make me even more desirable, but on said holiday I was the only one out of a group of twenty who didn’t get bitten. I’ve used it ever since.

The smell – a lovely citrusy scent with a tinge of eucalyptus – means it doubles up as a summery perfume and is far less stinky than its more toxic competitors.

Incognito anti-mosquito: £9.55 for 100ml (product has a 24 month shelf life once open too)

Natural credentials: 100% natural ingredients; free from parabens, SLS and DEET

Available from: Holland & Barrett and the incognito website.

natracare feminine hygiene products*

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Whilst you’re carefully scanning the ingredients and chemicals in your food and beauty products there may be one area you’re not paying as much attention to.
natracare organic tampons and towels
natracare produce organic 100% cotton tampons, towels and related products, which are free from chlorine, plastics and nasty additives.

“natracare organic cotton tampons and organic and natural pads were developed as a direct response to health and environmental concerns about dioxin pollution caused by chlorine bleaching, the extensive use of pesticide spraying on conventionally grown cotton, and the use of rayon and other synthetics in feminine hygiene.” (source: natracare website)

I’ve been using natracare for years and would rate them just as highly for absorbency and comfort as other brands. And if you are genuinely concerned as to what you put into your body then I’d say they’re a must.

My only bugbear with these is availability. Waitrose used to stock them but now only carry the liners and you won’t find them in Boots. I’ve now started stockpiling them from organic fruit and veg delivery company Abel and Cole (treat yourself to some yummy organic food at the same time!). For more information on stockists check out the natracare website:

natracare – where to buy

Price: from £1.79 for pantiliners (30 per pack) to £2.79 for tampons (20 per pack)

Natural credentials: 100% organic cotton; chlorine and plastic free; biodegradable

Available from: In the UK from Abel and Cole, Waitrose, Ocado, Amazon. Full worldwide stockists listed here: natracare – where to buy

*I hate the term ‘feminine hygiene products’ but am lacking a suitable alternative 😉

Moroccan retreat in SW1

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If there was one thing I badly needed last week it was a bit of pampering. And fortunately for me I live just around the corner from The Spa at Dolphin Square, a Moroccan inspired haven with a traditional hammam and rhassoul, and a range of treatments.

Once we had changed into the dressing gowns and slippers provided we took part in the traditional Moroccan hand washing ceremony before chilling in the relaxation room with mint tea, dates and almonds.

I had booked in for the Argan Facial, which uses La Sultane de Saba products. La Sultane de Saba take their inspiration from beauty secrets from far-flung places. As a result they smell AMAZING! (The Spa told me the brand uses only natural ingredients but I haven’t been able to check myself. They are paraben-free, according to the website.)

For the next 55 minutes I was treated to a supremely relaxing facial. As my face was ‘steamed’ Monica, my therapist, massaged my feet and during the face mask I was given a head massage. A facial, reflexology session and an Indian head massage in one treatment! At the end Monica left me to rest for a bit before taking me back to the relaxation room. Bliss. There was no hard sell on the products afterwards either. Just a friendly recommendation to use lavender oil on any spots to clear them up quickly and safely.

I’ve had a few treatments at The Spa and none have disappointed; the therapists are highly knowledgeable and very friendly to boot. What I particularly love is the way you feel like you’ve been transported to a genuine Moroccan retreat when you go in. Everything from the lighting to the decor lets you slip away from the hectic pace outside. Well worth a visit.

Argan Facial, £75 for 55 minutes, The Spa at Dolphin Square.

New organic range from Nuxe

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Nuxe is a staple in the bathroom of many French women. Its Huile Prodigieuse has long been the go-to for adding shimmer to a Mediterranean tan and I’m very excited that they’ve recently launched a fragrance version. In general, I’m a big fan.Bio Beaute 24HR Moisturizing Emulsion

So when I hit the Paris pharmacies to pick up a face cream their new Bio Beauté range caught my eye (bio being French for organic). I decided that the Bio Beauté Smoothing and 24HR Moisturizing Light Emulsion with clementine cells was for me. And I was very taken in by the packaging promises:

  • 98.8% of the total ingredients are from natural origin
  • 72.4% of the total ingredients are from organic farming
  • 87% of testers said their skin was more supple, 90% said more velvety, and 86% said smoother

I was also taken in by the big box which actually holds a rather small 40ml tube!

The cream, sorry, ’emulsion’, smells amazingly tangy (so avoid if you’re not a fan of citrus scents). Designed for normal to combination skin it strikes just the right balance of lightweight versus hydration, which some natural creams definitely struggle with. Great if you don’t like greasy creams or for use in the summer (especially under a natural UV cream). I like my face creams super rich so I will probably go for their dry skin version next time. But my skin feels very soft. I didn’t use it religiously day and night as suggested, but I would highly rate this as a natural face cream. And my face smells delicious!

Unfortunately you won’t find this on Nuxe’s UK website yet, but it is available on the French pharmacy website cocooncenter.co.uk (along with Weleda’s cold cream, which I highly recommended a while back). Delivery is €9.90 which is about £8 so might be worth it if you felt like stocking up. I’ve got a feeling the Nuxe Bio Beauté brand might have some real pearls amongst its products and I’ll definitely be picking up their emulsion for dry skin on my next trip (or asking my mother in law to bring some over!). I’ll chase them to see if there are any plans to introduce this to the UK market and update you here.

Bio Beauté Smoothing and 24HR Moisturizing Light Emulsion: Approx €16.90 for 40ml

Natural credentials: Clementine cells and poppy petals to moisturise along with pear seeds to smooth lines. 98.8% of the total ingredients are from natural origin and 72.4% are organic.

Available from: cocooncenter.co.uk

Soothing eye balm with calendula

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Indie Lee Eye BalmIf you’re looking for a rich and deeply soothing eye product then Indie Lee’s Calendula Eye Balm is worth trying. I’ve been using this little wonder balm for about a month now and it’s just as healing on chapped lips and other problem areas as it is around the eyes.

As with all Indie Lee products it’s entirely natural: mango seed butter to reduce dark circles and calendula oil, beeswax and lavender oil to aid skin elasticity (calendula is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties).

I’d recommend applying about 15 minutes before you put on eye make up as it does leave a bit of a sheen, as you’d expect with all those natural oils.

I’ve got very sensitive skin and it’s cleared up a bit of ezcema I had on my eyelids. And, despite having a young baby, people keep telling me how fresh I look so it must be good! It’s not cheap but a little goes a long way.

Indie Lee Calendula Eye Balm: £26 for 0.5oz

Natural credentials: 100% natural with mango seed butter, calendula oil, beeswax, and lavender oil.

Available from: abeautifulworld.com

Nivea face cream for thirsty winter skin

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At this time of year my skin starts crying out for more moisturiser. For me, a rich face cream is essential and one I always keep on my bathroom shelf is Nivea’s Pure and Natural Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream. 95% of its ingredients are of natural origin and it easily matches up to any regular face cream I’ve used.

Nivea

Rich enough for use day and night, it’s made with extracts of argan oil and burdock fruit, which has been touted for its powerful anti-ageing properties. It’s not got SPF but what it lacks in UV protection it makes up for in skin thirst quenching punch.

Nivea Visage Pure and Natural Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream: £4.99 for 50ml

Natural credentials: 95% natural with extracts of argan oil and burdock fruit.

Available from: Boots, currently at the reduced price of £4.99 (normally £8.90).

Tease those tangles out!

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It’s a bit outside the remit of what I’d normally review but this is such a great product that I’m making an exception.
Photo
The Tangle Teezer has been around for a while but since I only tackle my mop when I wash it the craze sort of passed me by. But now Tangle Teezer has released Aqua Splash, designed for the shower. I’ve never used a brush like it; it (mostly) glided through my knots in a fraction of the time a standard comb or brush would take. Use it with your conditioner and you’ll feel like you’ve had a treatment. It could be a coincidence, but I also lost less hair than usual.

Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash: from £10.25-£13.99

Available from: The cheapest one I found was on Amazon (search for Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash) but Boots, Tangle Teezer and Feel Unique are all stockists.

Luscious locks with almond oil

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A few weeks ago I was extolling the virtues of almond oil as a bathroom must have in my review of budget body moisturisers. And now I’ve discovered its stellar hair styling capabilities!

I’d run out of my expensive hair oil and I thought, “why not give the almond oil a go?” The results were fabulous (see shameless selfie below). I used a 50 pence sized dollop and ran it through my hair with my fingers, staying clear of the roots to avoid greasiness. Same sort of principle as applying a frizz serum…almond-hair

Imagine the packing space I will save on holiday with a moisturiser, make-up remover and hair oil all in one product! Not to mention the pennies. Try it!

Miaroma Sweet Almond Oil: £6.99 for 200ml

Natural credentials: Pure almond oil with added vitamin E.

Available from: Holland & Barrett, both in-store and online.

Free Ren products with InStyle

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Ciao! At the airport on my way to Italy I spotted November’s issue of InStyle which comes with three mini Ren treats: Gentle Cleansing Milk, Active 7 Eye Gel and Global Protection Day Cream.
Ren
Not only are these three the perfect travel size but they’re nasties-free and jam-packed with natural goodies to cleanse, soothe, protect and smooth your skin. Here’s the Joli Naturellement review…

The cleanser felt calming but, if I’m honest, I’m not sure it would stand up to removing heavy make-up. Probably a good one for sensitive skins or to gently wake up your skin in the morning.

The day cream, with extract of chamomile, is a great, nourishing, everyday moisturiser and smelt delicious. My skin felt hydrated for hours afterwards without a hint of greasiness.

But my favourite had to be Ren’s Active 7 Eye Gel. It’s incredibly cooling and definitely took out some of the baggage I was hauling around under my peepers! Tired eyes will love this.

The November issue of InStyle is on sale for the bargain price of £2 (normal price £3.90).

Full sized versions of these Ren products, costs and stockists are listed below.

Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk: £16.00 for 150ml

Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream: £27.00 for 50ml

Active 7 Eye Gel: £20 for 15ml

Natural credentials: Ren pride themselves on using only 100% plant and mineral derived ingredients and avoid anything synthetic.

Available from: In the UK, stockists include John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Space NK. More info on Ren’s website: http://www.renskincare.com/AboutREN/WhereToFindUs.aspx

Budget body moisturisers

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Baby, it’s (getting) cold(er) outside. So, here are a couple of moisturisers you might like to add to your bathroom cabinet to keep your skin summer soft all winter.

First on the list is almond oil. A good bathroom staple for all the family — it’s even suitable for newborn babies — I’ve been totally wowed by how soft it’s left my skin, especially my elbows which were going though some nasty scaly phase before I started using it. Almond Oil and Coco de Mer Body ButterIt’s speedy to apply and because it’s a vegetable oil it doesn’t sit on the skin like some oils (Bio Oil stains on clothes, anyone?). It’s unscented, so it won’t clash with your perfume, and you can combine it with your favourite essential oil for a bit of added luxe (it’s also a great massage oil). I’ve even used it to remove make-up and it makes a good pre-shampoo hair treatment (just rub into hair and leave for 30 minutes before washing out). A fabulous all-rounder.

Miaroma Sweet Almond Oil: £6.99 for 200ml

Natural credentials: Pure almond oil with added vitamin E.

Available from: Holland & Barrett, both in-store and online.

If you’re not a fan of oils then try Naked’s Coco de Mer Body Butter. It combines coconut oil, shea butter and passion flower oil to create a rich, buttery cream that smells sensational. It glides on and smooths even really dry skin instantly. A fantastic budget body cream.

Naked 24 Hour Coco de Mer Body Butter: £5.45 for 300ml online at Boots or £4.99 for 300ml on the Naked website.

Natural credentials: Claims to be 97% natural and is free from parabens, petrochemicals and sulphates.

Available from: Online only from Boots and Naked’s own website.