Dr Bronner's 18-in-1 Cherry Blossom Pure Castile Soap RRP £8.49 sample review

 

A few years back I was sent this product but in the Eucalyptus fragrance. I only had it for about a month before I gifted it to my mother - she loved it, as did I. Before I give my review on why I like it, here's a little background on the company.  Founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, who's German-Jewish family were soap-makers. His message, that is still written across the packaging of the products is that 'We Are All One or None'. 

Indeed the packaging and what is written is part of the brands unique selling point, and the fact that there are so many uses to the soap!

Making up the liquid soap is a cocktail of ingredients made from pure organic oils such as:-

• Coconut Oil - helps with inflammation, hydrates the skin and is repairing. 
• Palm Kernal Oil - moisturising, nourishing and helps promote healthy cell renewal. 
• Olive Oil - rich in anti-oxidants, helps protect the skin from UV rays, is anti-aging and skin regenerating.
• Jojoba Oil - anti-bacterial and healing, ideal for skin inflammation and acne prone skin.
• Sunflower Oil - contains naturally fatty acids, is non-comedogenic - doesn't block pores so ideal if you have blackheads.

So this isn't just any soap, this liquid soap has so many uses other than just washing in! Use it to:-

• Wash your clothes in, ideal as a travel soap.
• Add a couple of dashes onto a towel, wring in hot water and apply to your face, for a steaming facial.
• Use as a hair wash, shave gel, shower wash.
• Use as an environmentally friendly detergent to clean your work surfaces. 
• Use as a dog shampoo
• You can even use it for brushing your teeth!

This multi-purpose liquid soap is one that every household should have, and of course it smells wonderfully light and refreshing, and a little like a Cherry Bakewell Tart! Not only is it vegan, fair trade, cruelty free etc it also saves an awful lot on the pennies! Something we all need whilst this energy crisis is going on!

You can purchase Dr Bronner's here at www.drbronner.co.uk

Yardley London Sample Review

 

There is no other description that I can think of, or that gives Yardley the respect it deserves, than quintessentially English. Yardley, made in good old Great Britain is probably the most recognised name in the beauty industry, claiming it's fame as one of the longest standing brands, in fact it's been around for 250 years. Where other brands come and go, Yardley has stood the test of time and it's not hard to see why.

If you haven't visited Yardley for a while then I would urge you to do so. Whilst for many it maybe reminiscent of what our grandmothers used, the scents themselves have been leaders in the fragrance market. You only have to look at more recent brands to see that the floral, kitsch packaging has been copied, as has the trend for singular perfume notes.

For Mothers Day, or any other day, be it gifting yourself or someone who needs a little a cheering up, here's a selection.

English Lavender Perfumed Talc £7.99 200ml

Made from 96% naturally derived ingredients, this divine fragranced talc contains notes of geranium, chamomile and eucalyptus. These essential oils are known to be balancing, comforting and refreshing so ideal if you need a little pampering. The talc is super fine and leaves skin feeling silky soft, whilst the fragrance itself is subtle and not over-powering. Suitable for vegans and cruelty free. 

Blossom & Peach Moisturising Body Mist £6.99 200ml

Again made from mostly naturally derived ingredients, this sparkling, juicy body mist is an instant pick-me-up. The gorgeous scent is flirty, floral and has top notes of blossom and pink pepper, middle notes of rose, peach, lilac and geranium and woody base notes of patchouli and musk. It contains sweet almond oil to leave skin feeling nourished and moisturised.  The scent is enough so that you don't need to layer on perfume, and is ideal for spritzing in the morning after your shower, before a night out or even in your hair to freshen it up after a night out! Vegan and cruelty free.

Luxury Soap Collection £6.50 for 3

These soaps can be split into 3 and gifted as 3 different presents, or make wonderful hand soaps to keep by your bathroom sink. Containing 3 soaps 1 English Lavender, 1 English rose and 1 Lily of the Valley.  They smell utterly divine and leave hands feeling soft. I'm gifting one of these each to my dog walking friends (who've been helping me whilst I recuperate from my broken ankle).  Again vegan and cruelty free.

Opulent Rose Eau De Toilette £15.99 125ml

The epitome of an English summer time garden, this is, as the name suggests simply Opulent Rose. It's rich velvet notes, easily compete with the high end perfumes of rose notes, and if you know someone who loves a floral fragrance then this would make a perfect gift. The base notes of white musk, amber and patchouli give the lasting fragrance a lend towards middle eastern scents. The glass pink bottle, sits elegantly on a dressing table - and is not so bulky that you can't put it in your handbag.

At the moment there is an amazing offer on at Boots whereby many of the products are up to 1/3 off and many 50% off gift sets. Buy now here at www.boots.com

Sanctuary Spa Jar Of Treats RRP £12.50 Sample Review

 

Sanctuary Spa is one of the brands that I always like to revisit. The original fragrance evokes comforting, pampering memories and is so unique that it's instantly recognisable. Every year they do amazing gift sets for most occasions such as Christmas, Valentines and of course Mothers Day. I always look forward to reviewing them, not just because I like the products but because the value for money in these gift sets are brilliant. 

The products themselves are vegan, cruelty free,  eco friendly (plastic free) and you can always re-use the packaging. This year I'm reviewing a couple of their gift sets, which I will do separate reviews on as both are, in my opinion worthy of my time (I don't get paid for reviews)!

You can see the contents here and the sizes are decent 'travel' sizes so are perfect for introducing you to the products, or for a long weekend of pampering. The jar is of course re-usable, I recently put my daughter's makeup sponges in one and she loved it! 

Of course with Sanctuary Spa it's not just about the fragrance and the packaging. Many of the products include active ingredients such as:-

• Shea Butter - the Body Lotion contains this wonderfully rich ingredient that helps nourish and moisturise the skin. 
• Aloe Vera - good for calming down redness and inflammation.
• Sesame Seed Oil - known for containing vitamin E that helps protect the skin against UV rays, pollution etc. 
• The Salt Scrub contains oils of  Sweet Almond, Coconut and Wheat Germ, oils that really condition the skin and act as a barrier to protect the skin. These oils also contain an abundance of vitamins and essential fatty acids to help moisturise cracked, dry skin.
• Camelina Sativa Seed Oil is one of the main ingredients in the Shower Oil, and is a rich source of omega-3 known to help with inflammation.

You can purchase this at www.amazon.com however, last time I looked it was available at an incredible £6.50 from www.boots.com although best to hurry up as it will sell out quickly!

Naturtint Hair Food Goji Revitalizing Mask £6.99 150ml

 

My hair is in need of a good drench of hydration, and so recently I've been testing hair masks. I have used Naturtint products before and am always impressed by the quality of ingredients. This one contains:-

• Goji - an ingredient used in hair care to help promote a healthy scalp. Anti-inflammatory properties soothes flaky, itchy scalps.
• Shea Butter - hydrating, nourishing, conditioning, an ingredient that smooths the cuticle shaft and lends itself to making hair feel and look in better condition. 
• Baobab Proteins - harvested from the 'Tree of Life', this ingredient is full of saturated fats and helps revive and strengthen weak hair strands. It also protects the hair from damage caused by pollution/UV rays.
• Milk Thistle - a strengthening ingredient that can reduce hair loss. 

My before picture shows that my hair is naturally dry, flyaway and looks dry...

I applied it after shampooing and whilst still in the shower. It only takes 4 minutes to work so that's a bonus for busy mums like myself, or those who have broken ankles and can't stand in the shower for long, like myself. It smells absolutely scrumptious, fruity and berry and whilst it says to 'apply generously' all over the hair, I simply applied mid-lengths to the ends. 

Here's the results without use of any serums, dried naturally and brushed through like my photo above - sometimes a photo speaks volumes and on this occasion you can see for yourself the great results!

You can purchase the Goji Revitalising Mask here at www.naturtint.co.uk oh and before I sign off, it's vegan and 99% naturally derived ingredients!

St. Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse £5.99 200ml

 

Having recently tested the Fast Tan Water from St. Moriz, I wasn't expecting too much of a difference - I was wrong, there is. 

The St. Moriz Fast Tan Mousse from testing is definitely darker and gives a much more deeper tan in just over an hour than the 'water' version.  As always I've taken a before photo (above) and you can see the results below. As always I didn't have time to exfoliate, shave etc and I didn't wear gloves .... anyway here's my review....

The foam is incredibly easy to apply, personally I prefer a tinted colour as it helps show where you've applied the tan - the downside is, of course, it gets very messy. However, this was easy to massage into skin, took little effort and in fact took me less than 5 minutes to do my whole body - the foam consistency meant it didn't fall onto the floor/sink etc. As you can see below I should've probably worn gloves however, I simply washed my hands immediately after use and the tan came out. (To do the back of the hands simply apply in the middle and massage hands back to back - I usually apply moisturiser to my knuckles as tan can cling to this area).

Looks scary but this washed off immediately! The tan contains Aloe Vera, an ingredient that helps calm the skin and inflammation, so ideal if you've over-done it in the sun. Vitamin E helps minimise the look of scarring albeit nothing helps more than an application of tan, which is why I love fake tan!

In as little as over an hour the tan started to develop, I left it on for 3 hours and after showering off was left with a beautiful deep olive glow. For the price this is definitely one of my favourites, especially as I have a naturally light olive skin. You can purchase it here at www.superdrug.com

Natura Siberica Tonic Shower Gel £4.95 Anti-Stress Shower Gel £4.95 400ml Sample Review

 

Having just seen the consultant for my broken ankle, and waited for 90 minutes due to over run appointments, it's safe to say I'm feeling pretty stressed out and in need of a tonic! Especially as I've been told I am not allowed to drive for another 2-3 weeks......

Thankfully I've got some nice shower gels to review and as I'm pretty much up to being 'as useful as a chocolate teapot' to my dog, kids etc I've got the time to do such reviews (it's taking me a lot longer to stand in the shower on one foot)!

Natura Siberica, as you can tell from my posts, is one of my favourite ranges due to the quality of ingredients, the packaging and the price (very reasonable). In fact I had my physio last week rooting through my study cupboard and asking me where she could purchase the products from, as was likewise very impressed.  Anyway in line with how I'm feeling and what I need my first review is of the Tonic Shower Gel.

This gentle uplifting shower gel is filled with active organic ingredients, not just a shower gel that smells nice but one that actually has proven extracts to help balance the mood and also treat a variety of skin issues. Such ingredients include:-

• Organic Rhodiola Rosea - alleviates dry, itchy skin conditions. 
• Siberian Rocket - anti-inflammatory and calming. 
• Organic Mint - toning, refreshing and helps with circulation. 
• Wild Siberian Geranium - balancing and good for menopausal conditions, de-stresses. 
• Organic Camellia Extract - rich in vitamins, repairing and helps with blemishes and scarring. 

Ideal for busy, stressed out humans that need to just switch off and relax. The fragrance is an instant deep breather and makes showering a ritual. Take a few moments to breathe in the fragrance upon lathering, and just feel your shoulders drop. Ingredients include:-

• Achillea Asiatica Flower Extract - used for conditioning the skin, moisturising and nourishing. 
• Organic Sage - ideal for eczema and psoriasis, has astringent properties. 
• Organic Melissa - ideal for blackheads, helps treat the skin sympathetically so ideal for sensitive skin types. 
• Organic Lemon - helps regulate oily skin, good for acne prone skin types and inflammation.
• Verbena - skin soothing and healing, as well as refreshingly citrus.
• Abies Sibirica Needle Extract - Pine needle, known for it's use in skincare for being anti-inflammatory. 

Both the shower gels, lathered up beautifully and created a soft foam, only a small amount was needed on my body puff. Also worth mentioning that not only do they have rave reviews on the internet, but Natura Sibera is an  award winning brand in the category of 'Best of Green Beauty' Cosmopolitan Italy!

These don't just make lovely additions to your bathroom, but one wrapped up in tissue paper and gifted to someone who needs a little pep me up, makes a wonderful treat. In fact I'm gifting one of these to my amazing friend, who has walked my dog for me 3 times a week, and waited in the hospital car park for me this morning!  Check out the range here at www.naturasiberica.co.uk

Eylure London Line & Lash RRP £5.99 Sample Review /Eylure Most Wanted False Lash £9.95

 

When it comes to the beauty industry my skills are focussed on editorial/journalism writing etc. Whilst I've had to hand over the last 25 years top make-up artists, hairdressers etc my job was to write about the products, not be skilled in the application - I'm not trained up in that area. This is evident in my Instagram reels where I don't follow the 'influencer' rules and show the product in it's real life state. The same as when I wrote for the press - there was no point exaggerating about a product as quite simply, people know where I live and reputation is everything!

So when I was sent samples of the Eylure collection of lashes, I was expecting to be yelled at by my eldest (lash queen), that I wasn't doing it correctly. I was, and am still expecting people to say on Instagram 'omg look how she's applying those lashes'. However, my job as I mentioned isn't to make a social media post look amazing - it's to report on the ease of use and results of a product! So I was rather expecting to get my 'eyelashes in a twist' when it came to writing a review on lashes - how wrong was I! Welcome to my life Eylure Line & Lash. 

The Line & Lash glue is literally a sleek pen that you apply like liquid eyeliner to your top lash line. After applying the glue (I applied 2 layers), you just press down your choice of lash and away you go. It comes in black or clear - I tested the clear. (I really do want to test the black as I can imagine it means no need for applying liner)!

However, as the glue is clear you don't have to worry about any mistakes showing (good thing as my hands are not the steadiest), and it's not scarily 'sticky'. I was concerned I'd feel like I had glue on my lashes however, it simply leaves a light, tacky line. Make sure you shake the bottle before use, and apply the glue all the way along the length of the lash line, so that the lashes you apply adhere fully.

You can see that I'm not blessed with lashes of the 'any' variety, my lashes are light, sparse and pretty much don't exist. So I chose to apply the Eylure Most Wanted Indulge Me 3/4 Length lashes. They come with the glue included however, I wanted to use the Line & Lash (it can be used with any lashes). Now my daughter will tell me that I have to trim the lashes, apply with a special tool etc but for this post I just wanted to 'press them on and go'. Most of us don't have the time to flaff around with tools etc and want to be able to have a dramatic effect in seconds. These gave just that!

They took less than 30 seconds to apply and (as you will see on my little Insta reel), I pulled them and they were staying put! If I was going out I probably would apply mascara to my natural lashes as well, to blend them out better but I am so super impressed with how good the glue is and how easy the lashes are to apply. My eldest will be gifted these - she's been an angel looking after her younger brother whilst my broken ankle very slowly heals. Thank you Eylure! 

To view a very large, extensive range of lashes and other eye products visit www.eylure.com to purchase visit www.boots.com / www.amazon.com / www.ASOS.com / www.superdrug.com

St. Moriz Advanced Express Tan Foaming Water £10.99 200ml

 

I'm a huge advocate of fake tan, and thankfully formulas have come a long way since I first applied tinted lotion with cotton wool, at my first school disco in the early 80s! Back then sunbeds were all the range, as was cooking oneself at any glimpse of sun, whilst smelling like balsamic dressing. Back then we really did use pure olive olive mixed with vinegar in the hope of catching a tan. Horrifying I know!

Having been a beauty editor for over 25 years, I now know the dangers that UV rays cause - and that sunbeds cause cancer. There are no ifs, ands or buts sunbeds should be banned - I'm not a medical professional but ask anyone who is and they will agree.

Introducing fake tanning to the market was the best thing our beauty industry has done and thankfully most of the tanning brands do cater for all skin types, shades etc.  One of my favourite brands is St. Moriz, they have a wealth of knowledge in the tanning industry and are always top of the game with new formulas.

The Express Foaming Water was one I'd not tested before and so balancing on my good ankle (the other one is broken), I shut myself in the bathroom and began to apply.

Now usually I would of course, shave, exfoliate the day before but as I mentioned I have a broken ankle and am rather unbalanced. Heck I didn't even use a tanning mitt, or moisturise my knees, elbows and ankles - in fact all tanning application 'rules' went out the window'. This was a slap on and see experiment.

The foam is clear and as you can see from photo doesn't give a guide colour, usually I would prefer a guide colour however, this meant it was a very mess-free application. The foam almost evaporated into my skin, and whilst you're supposed to wait a few minutes I found it dried almost instantly, which meant I could chuck my dressing gown on straight away.  Without a guide colour I was concerned I may end up blotchy but here's the magic thing - I didn't. As the foam consistency is so easy to spread, it evenly covered my skin.

Then I sat back and waited......the photo below is before I applied any tan....

I decided to give it 3 hours for a medium tan, the product is designed so that it develops in 1 hour for a light tan, and the longer you leave it the darker the result.  I wanted to feel brighter and lightly glowing rather than a deep tan...and this was the result.

It's a very natural light olive colour that has given me that few days in the sun. It's exactly the shade I wanted to achieve, no orange, no streaking nada. It's made my balayage blonde hair stand out, my teeth slightly whiter and I just look well (even though I feel lousy). 

I'm going to get my eldest to test the darker shades of St. Moriz but for anyone who loves a natural tan - 100% recommend! You can get step-by-step instructions on how to apply fake tan and  purchase St. Moriz here at www.stmoriz.co.uk 

The Hair Boss by Lisa Shepherd 'The Colour Enhancing Gloss Golden Balayage' £14.99 sample review

 

Anything that promises me shiny locks is an instant sell to me. Having put my hair through copious amounts of bleach, tint etc since I first discovered Shaders and Toners in the 1980's, it does often lack that swishy salon effect. Currently my hair is a golden balayage, darker at the roots with ascending shades of caramel through to light blonde. I usually have to visit my hairdresser every few months to top up the greys however, this time round I've missed my appointment due to my broken ankle. 

So I was rather delighted to be sent the new Colour Enhancing Gloss by Lisa Shepherd. It comes in a range of colours from Clear Shine, Cool Brunette Gloss, Warm Brunette, Golden Balayage and White Blonde. 

I wasn't sure what to expect - in the past I've had various glossing treatments for press review such as Kerasilk and Olaplex. This was an off the shelf, at home experience to enhance your colour whilst wrapping each individual strand with a formulation to smooth the cuticle, thus eliminating frizz. It's very safe, is vegan friendly and the brand has one 'The Queens Awards for Enterprise'. 

As you can see from the photo above, my hair before the treatment is frizzy - I had just brushed it and as you can see it's a rather dull looking blonde.

After shampooing my hair (I used Head and Shoulders to make sure there wasn't any previous build up of serum etc - I want to get the real result), I towel dried and saturated my hair with the orange tinted gel. Due to the formula it's worth noting that it didn't drip everywhere and was easy to apply with the long nozzle bottle. After 20 minutes I simply rinsed off, applied the Conditioning Milk provided, massaged in and rinsed off once more. 

I didn't use any serums, just gave my hair a blast of my hair dryer until dry and gave a quick brush through. The conditioner contains Almond, Avocado and Argan oil as well as Shea Butter so is incredibly nourishing, hydrating and full of vitamins to aid hair health.

I've used the same lighting in the first photo (as my before pic) and daylight lighting in the second photo - I do not and will not use filters etc. I could immediately tell the difference, aside from the fact my hair felt in much better condition it actually has blended the colour slightly together. It doesn't give a colour change it simply has exaggerated the blondeness in places. What you can't see from the photo is that it has added a luminosity almost slightly shimmering effect, it's given it a freshen up and my hair looks so much more healthier.

The semi-permanent gloss lasts up to 6 washes, like all colour depositing products you must do a patch test first. You can purchase The Colour Enhancing Gloss here at www.superdrug.com

EYLURE London Dybrow Permanent Tint For Brows Dark Brown £7.50 Sample Review

 

In the aesthetics world it's always been a rule that eyebrows frame the face, and I tend to agree that they do.  The correct shape and colour can transform a face and knock years off too. Often as we get older a too heavy brow can age and, as our eyebrows can lift/droop when we are older, well it's one of the reasons I have steered clear of having any permanent eyebrow tattooing. So I have to rely on eyebrow pencils, waxes or dyes.

Thankfully eyebrow dye is incredibly easy to use. My favourite has always been the Eylure and so I wanted to review it for my readers. Now whilst I know I am fine with Eylure, I would always suggest patch testing first. You can see on the back of the instructions it also advises you to do this. Both my daughter and I have reacted to lash glue from semi-permanent lashes, and it frustrates me when salons don't do a patch test!

As you can see from the photo below, the box contains Activator 10ml, Cream Colour 5ml, plastic container with well for mixing and an eyebrow brush. 

Simply put 1cm of cream colour into the well with 3 drops of activator and mix together. 

The consistency shouldn't be runny just creamy enough to grab hold onto the brush. Don't worry about the light brown colour, this is not the shade your eyebrows will end up! Whilst the instructions advise to wear gloves, I personally don't worry too much as if any goes near the skin as it can be swiftly removed with cleanser/soap. See below for step-by-step instructions:-

• Start by cleaning the face but make sure there isn't any greasy residue - I use cotton wool and warm water to just wipe over my brow. 
• Make sure you are wearing an old towel around your shoulders that you don't mind ruining if dye gets on it. 
• Apply petroleum jelly around the eye but avoid the eyebrow hair  (this is if you don't have a steady hand) however, any residue can be wiped off with a little makeup remover before it sets.
• Grab a little product onto the brush and simply brush through, making sure you comb your eyebrow hair upwards and across to the side.
• Wait 5-10 minutes then wipe off with a damp cotton wool bud. (I leave mine on for about 15 minutes as my eyebrow hair is so fine). Don't be alarmed when you see the dye darkening, this is not the end result!

As you can see the results are very natural, the colour just clings to the eyebrow hair and voila - saving yourself at least £15 from the salon and it takes literally 15 minutes to do!  My colour usually lasts a week however, this is as I am constantly testing cleansers etc. The average person can expect the colour to last a lot longer.

There are a few hints to making the colour last longer - ones that I didn't know until I'd read the back of the box! Keep the dye at room temperature 22 degrees, too hot or cold will have an effect on the end result. Make sure you leave the colour on long enough - a minimum of 5 minutes if you have very fair hair.

It really is so simply and makes a huge difference and I guarantee once you have tried it you won't look back! 

You can purchase the product here at www.boots.com / www.superdrug.com / www.amazon.co.uk

Natura Siberica BB Correcting Cream £8.99 Sample Review

 

As we get older and fine lines and wrinkles develop, we should step away from the heavy foundation. Whilst good for a photo-shoot, in natural daylight they emphasise those lines and end up 'caking' around the face. 

To retain that glow of youthfulness we should instead be looking out for lighter radiance creams, that give that an inner glow to the skin, a plumpness and this is where 'BB' creams come in to play. So what does the BB stand for? BB is a beauty balm, one of the first to hit the markets was Clarins Beauty Flash Balm and since then most brands have brought out their own version. Different from CC creams that are more corrective, BB creams aim is to just give a veil of colour, almost to blur out imperfections but not cover them over. However, unlike a foundation many come armed with active ingredients to promote good skin health.

Natura Siberica BB Correcting Cream is full of ingredients that make it just as much of a skin treatment, as a skin cosmetic. Ingredients include:-

• Pinus Siberica Seed oil -  extracted from the Siberian pine tree, this oil is regenerative, helps promote cellular skin turnover, repairs and nourishes dehydrated skin. 
• Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract - ant-bacterial and anti-fungal, often used to help calm redness and treat eczema. 
• Aralia Mandshurica Leaf/Stem Extract - skin toning, contains vitamin C that aids as an anti-inflammatory. 
• Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract - Sage leaf extract, this helps tone the skin and can minimise the look of large pores. 

The cream contains many more active ingredients however, it's how it feels on the skin that's important. I suffer with dehydrated and dry skin, this sunk in and left it lightly moisturised but with that radiance. It's not a highlighter, nor a shimmer but just gives it that gentle glow (as you can see from the photo).

It immediately gave that light blurring effect, almost like placing a filter on the face. It left no greasy residue but as you can see by my cheeks just gives that dewy finish. You can mix it with your foundation too however, I liked it simply on it's own. Sometimes these creams fail to give enough hydration but for me, this was perfect as gave just the right amount of moisture. 

For under £10 it easily rivals other high end brands on the market. Check it out here at www.naturasiberica.co.uk