Natura Siberica Organic Sophora Khakassia Hydrolate Sample Review

 

Natura Siberica was introduced to me a few years ago and has since been a firm favourite skincare brand of mine. I am forever impressed by their range of organic ingredients, sustainability and ethical sourcing. The company use only top quality ingredients and yet, still manage to keep the products at a competitive price rate.

As we approach the hot summer months, and especially with the humidity we’ve been having of late here in the UK, our skin can dramatically change its condition. Often we may lack water and so become more dehydrated however, with more sweat, bacteria clinging to us, we may find our skin needs something a little stronger to deep clean and get rid of excess oil. Oily skin maybe a result of hormones, especially in teens and over productive oil glands however, most definitely the weather and our environment can also play a part in feeling a little sticky.

The range I’ve been testing this week is targeted for those with oily and combination skin types. You may find that your makeup slides off your face in this weather, that you suffer with blackheads and breakouts, or that you have the typical T zone of shiny nose, chin and centre of the forehead only, which is common with combination skin types. 

Organic Certified Balancing Day Face Cream-Gel 50ml £9.99

This face cream is for anyone who suffers with oily skin or combination skin types. As mentioned it can be caused by humidity, stress, hormones, genetics and you just need a face cream that will help these aggressors. This cream will help control excess sebum levels alongside clarifying, toning and deep cleansing the skin.

The light weight gel is easy to apply, you only need a small amount and contains ingredients such as:-

• Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Juice - Aloe Vera, cooling, clarifying, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and soothes inflamed skin, especially when suffering from acne.
• Sophora Flavescens Water - this wondrous shrub has often been used in medicine. It is anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and wards off skin infections. It soothes conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis. 
• Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil - aka Wheat Germ, full of vitamin E that helps protect the skin from environmental pollutions and sun damage. It’s repairing and restorative. 
• Pinus Siberica Seed Oil - this nourishing oil is antibacterial and again used to treat conditions such as psoriasis. 

Organic Certified Deep Cleansing Clay Face Mask 75ml £3.75

I actually have just looked at the price of this (it’s currently 49% off the current RRP), and was astonished. The Deep Cleansing Clay Face Mask is so much more than your average clay based mask. The ingredient list is full of herbs and plants that really get to work on deep cleansing your skin.

• Melilotus Albus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract - this plant acts as an astringent so helps tighten pores, is anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. It’s a herb that helps improve cell function too and increases circulation to the skin, so ideal for anyone with dull looking skin.
• Kaolin - this is your basic clay ingredient, and is often used as the base for face masks. Not only does it remove dirt and impurities, but it also targets excess oil, reduces blackheads and helps detoxify the skin. 
• Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract - aka Sage, whilst ideal for use in menopause (it helps with hot sweats), applied topically this reduces acne, helps with skin regeneration and purifies the skin.

The mask has a lovely texture, and you only need about half a teaspoon as it spreads easily over the face. You can feel it working straight away as it dries into the skin and pulls out all the dirt. 

I only needed to leave on for 5 minutes for it to dry, and what I most liked is that it doesn’t dry to a crumbly hard texture, that other clay based masks often do. Whilst colour is irrelevant it did seem very ‘salon’ like with its slight metallic charcoal finish. 

My skin literally glowed after removing. It removed all impurities and left it feeling really clean. I had previously been testing sun cream, and my face had been out in the sun and felt rather sticky and yuk. One application of this face mask drew out all the oil without leaving my skin feeling tight. 

The list of ingredients in this range are huge (I don’t have time to list them all), but I will give you a taste of why I’m impressed with this range. They use ‘Adaptogens’

‘Adaptogens are unique plants survived -50ºC and severe Siberian winds. As a result, they possess rare qualities that are used therapeutically and are renowned to deliver miracle natural skin care benefits and beauty presenting properties. 

The range is vegan, made with wild harvested Siberian herbs and use organic farming. You can check out the rest of the range, and as always the five star reviews HERE

The Body Shop Summer Fragrance Review

 

During my youth I was always a bit of a fragrance snob, bypassing most scents unless adorned by a nice bottle and a designer name. Since becoming a single parent, and in recent years struggling with the rising inflation rates, I’ve not treated myself to a perfume of previous tastes. However, I’ve been lucky enough to receive some for sampling, albeit not always to my personal taste.

So I was delighted when The Body Shop sent me 2 of their Summer fragrances.  Usually I’m a citrus girl however, I do love a good single note floral and as such have fallen in love with their Eau De Parfum Full Rose!

It is, as the name suggests a powerful heart of heady roses. It epitomises an English rose garden and, it is by far nicer than the more expensive Jo Malone Red Roses. Not only is it, in my opinion a truer rose fragrance but for 75ml and costing £39 it’s half the price. The fragrance mixes in rose absolute, geranium leaf and cardamom, so leaves a slightly spicy base base note, and as such is a fragrance that is suitable for both men and women.

It has, of course got only 5 star reviews on their website, with comments such as ‘long lasting, vegan, beautiful fragrance, compliments’. I absolutely love it, it’s incredibly sophisticated and will be keeping this one for myself!

The other fragrance sent to me in Eau De Toilette was the Glowing Cherry Blossom 75ml £20. This is a revamp of the very successful line Japanese Cherry Blossom. It’s a delicate, sweet and sparkling fragrance that is, as you would expect very fruity. 

Customer reviews say it’s not the exact same as the original fragrance however, there are lots of 5 star reviews giving glowing reviews of this fruity and oriental fragrance.

It combines notes of Japanese Cherry Blossom with Osmanthus Flower (Sweet Olive), and Sandalwood to give it a woody base note, to stop it being too sweet.

Whilst it’s an Eau De Toilette and so has a weaker staying power than the Eau De Parfum, it still lasted several hours on me.  I also like that I can spritz into my hair for a gentle fragrance.

Both fragrances are vegan, cruelty free and mostly made up of natural origins. You can purchase both HERE

L’Occitane En Provence Verbena Carrot Flower Limited Addition Sample Review

 

This is just what is needed in this sticky, warm weather. Whilst I love the sun, I do not love humidity unless I am next to a swimming pool, I’m in menopause and so suffer with the effects of heat as it is. Every night I’ve been showering off dust, pollen and sweat however, within minutes I feel hot and bothered.

This new range from L’Occitane is simply freshness bottled. It has the delicate and uplifting scent of Verbena lemon however, the limited edition Verbena Carrot Flower has, as you can guess Carrot Flower seeds!

Eau De Toilette 100ml £56

The scent lends itself to sparkling, citrus, refreshing top notes of lemon however, it shies away from being sweet and turns itself to a base of gentle woody notes. This makes it a universal, diverse scent that is suitable for everyone.

The fragrance contains:-

• Lippizaner Citriodora Leaf Extract - aka Lemon Verbena, known for being anti inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial. It’s healing and cooling and makes the perfect summer scent as also repels mosquitos!
• Caucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil - this has many benefits such as fighting bacteria, protecting the skin against the damage of UV rays and can also help pigmentation.

Whilst every fragrance lends its own unique notes and USP, I can safely say that this has rivalled if not topped ‘the 3 times the price, Tom Ford Neroli Portifino!

Shower Gel 250ml £17.50 / Body Lotion 250ml £17.50

The Shower Gel is your first step to feeling renewed and revitalised. Just a small amount on a body puff, lathers into an oasis of lemon groves that will instantly wash away all the pollution, grime and sweat as well as leaving your mind feeling clearer. It’s an instant shoulder drop and gets rid of tension and will leave you feeling incredibly relaxed.

With the benefits of similar ingredients to the Eau De Toilette, the Body Lotion contains skin softening Sunflower Seed Oil. This ingredient is often used in moisturisers as it’s incredibly nourishing and helps renew dehydrated skin. The lotion glides on and sinks in without leaving any greasy residue, just softly scented skin that feels invigorated.

Hand Cream 30ml £9 Solidarity Balm £5

New to the L’Occitane range is the Solidarity Balm. This little tin is filled with Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil, Verbena and Beeswax. It’s a wonderful addition to any travel kit, hand luggage, car compartment and medicine cabinet as has so many multi purpose uses. Apply anywhere on your body where skin is dry, apply to dehydrated lips, dry split nails, anywhere that needs a moisture injection. I also used it to give my dry hair some much needed definition and moisture after spending the day in the sun!

Likewise the Hand Cream is the ideal size and travel companion. It has an abundance of ingredients to soften and protect the hands such as:-

• Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil - helps protect the skin from environmental damage. Is excellent for aiding in reducing redness in acne, is a powerful antioxidant and incredibly nourishing.
• Jojoba Esters - helps firm sagging skin, smoothes dry, rough hands and is anti-aging.

The whole range makes a wonderful gift, to treat yourself or for teachers presents. It’s a limited edition, so if you love the citrus scents I’d snap it up now. The ingredients are organic and, as a company L’Occitane support their producers who work with all traceable products, so you can be rest assured that the ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced. You can check out the range HERE

Murad Exasoothe Range Sample Review

 

There are many reasons why we suffer from dry and itchy skin conditions. You may find that you’re naturally dispositioned for dry skin, which is often classed as a ‘type’ and often genetics play a huge part. However, often tight and irritated skin is a result of environmental factors such as too much sun, allergens and changes in hormones. You may find that when you were younger your skin type was oily, but in later years it has changed texture. You may find that changes happen seasonally, post menopause and during pregnancy. This is why it’s always good to change your skincare to suit your specific needs at any time.

This range has been developed to target inflammation, itchy, red and dry skin. The products can be used all over the face including the eyes (avoid getting directly in the eyes). It’s based on a 3 step ritual of ‘cleanse, treat and hydrate’.

Soothing Oat and Peptide Cleanser 200ml RRP £42

This cleanser is formulated with skin soothing ingredients, to help wash away impurities without leaving the skin feeling tight. It dissolves all makeup without using any harsh ingredients. It’s a light creamy consistency that once added to water turns into a slightly milky texture.

 

Ingredients include:-

• Squalane - helps soothe inflammatory skin conditions including eczema and acne, as well as being skin softening. It can also help fade dark spots and improve the appearance of pigmentation. 
• Butyrospermum Parkin (Shea Butter) - moisturising and skin nourishing, contains fatty acids that help protect the skin from environmental pollutions.
• Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernal - helps remove impurities, declogs pores, exfoliates and gives skin a smooth appearance.

Quick Relief Moisture Treatment 50ml RRP £46

You only need a tiny amount of this ‘serum’ to give immediate relief to tight skin.  A thin veil can be applied up to 3 times a day if you are suffering from skin flare ups from eczema or itching.

It contains some ingredients similar to the Soothing Oat and Peptide Cleanser, such as oats but also contains:-

• Musa Sapientum (Banana) Leaf/Trunk Extract - antibacterial and contains antioxidants that help prevent wrinkles and fine lines. This wonder ingredient is also anti microbial so prevents infection whilst also relieving the symptoms of psoriasis and tight skin.
• Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice - contains high doses of Vitamin C and A, acting as a decongestant so ideal for clogged and dull skin.
• Albatrellus Confluens (Mushroom) Extract - often used in high end skincare to help prevent acne, soothe the skin and is especially good if you are suffering with hormonal changes.

It’s fragrance free and ideal to keep not just part of your skincare regime but in your medicine cabinet for when you’ve had too much sun!

Daily Defense Cream 50ml RRP £54

The Daily Defense Cream is the last step for intense restoration of dry and itchy skin. Again, it is fragrance free and relieves the symptoms of itchy skin conditions. Used morning and evening you only need a small amount to cover the face and neck.

Whilst you can use all the products around the eye area, do avoid getting directly into the eyes.

Formulated with high doses of oat lipids that contain fatty acids and so help to soothe acne and dry skin, they also help strengthen the skins barrier which, in turn protects against free radicals and pollution. 

Some of the other ingredients include:-

• Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract - an antiseptic that aids healing of skin conditions, as well as being rich in antioxidants, that soothe skin irritation and redness.
• Niacinamide - controls excess sebum (oil), brightens the skin and helps protect the skin as it contains high levels of Vitamin B3.

This addition to the Murad range is a must for anyone who needs comfort, but also as mentioned above I would suggest keeping the Quick Relief Moisture Treatment in every bathroom cabinet as an SOS medical treatment for instant relief.

The products are PETA approved and you can check out the rest of the range HERE

Aussie Bouncy Curls sample review prices from RRP £4.50

 

I have type 2a waves just a gentle hint of a wave, and so it’s often difficult to test products that are meant for curlier hair.  The new Aussie range is marketed for type 2b up to 3b type curls however, I have always been a huge fan of their 3 Minute Miracle and so wanted to test this range.

As you would expect from the products they smell utterly delicious and sweetly scented, without being to over powering.  There’s a whole host of products catering from Shampoo, Deep Conditioner, Hair Mask, Conditioner and Leave-In-Treatment.

Before I review I always like to look at the ingredients of the products.

The range is targeted to treat frizz, create curls and more defined waves with volume. Some of the ingredients include:-

• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice - an ingredient in the Leave-In-Conditioner, Aloe helps strengthen weak fragile hair as well as deep cleansing oily hair. 
• Ecklonia Radiata Extract - again in the Leave-In- Conditioner, this wonder Australian Sea Kelp helps to condition and hydrate dry hair.
• Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil - found in the Shampoo, Macademia helps smooth frizzy hair and adds moisture to dry hair.
• Jojoba Oil - The Hair Mask has a high concentration of Jojoba Oil that has huge benefits for wavy and curly hair. Not only does it strengthen weak hair strands but also contains an abundance of vitamins that help protect the hair from environmental pollutions such as smoke and sun damage. It also acts as anti fungal and so aids in healing of scalp conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
• Coconut Oil - a key ingredient in the conditioners contains fatty acids that again protect the hair but also helps prevent dandruff, and restores chemically damaged and dehydrated hair.

 

I wanted to try out the Leave-In-Conditioner both on my damp and dry hair. As you can see from the photo, my hair is basically a frizzy mess. I had just got back from walking my dog and hadn’t had time to wash etc. 

I only needed a small amount and scrunched it through my hair to give immediate definition and wave (more so than using a curling styling product). I did add a small amount of water to scrunch through and you can see it encouraged my natural wave.

On slightly damp hair once dried it gave shine, definition and definitely more bounce! What I also love is that the Hair Mask and Deep Conditioner can both be used this way. Either as a rinse out or left in all day to give beachy gorgeous, smelling waves. One way to use this is to apply before the gym or before work and simply rinse out that evening. It doesn’t give lank, greasy curls and I can guarantee everyone will comment on how gorgeous it smells,

The range is vegan and cruelty free and prices start from just £4.50 - £9.99. You can purchase from Boots HERE

Living Proof® Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo RRP £38

As one of my favourite hair brands and having never been disappointed with their products, I was holding out high expectations for this product, and once again I was proved right. 

Launching in June, the newly jumbo sized Perfect Hair Day, is a decent 355ml size that will last months. However, unlike other dry shampoos on the market, this doesn't just eliminate greasy roots and superficially give oomph with various fillers, oh no this actually CLEANS the hair eliminating sweat, lingering smells etc. It's the perfect hair companion for your gym bag, work bag and also gives incredible softness and volume too!

Above is my before shot, as always I test as I would use myself, and so here I have literally come out the gym, walked the dog, not brushed my hair. It feels yucky with sweat, I probably have a lot of dust from the woods in it, oh and I haven't washed it for 2 days - as you can tell.

You only need a burst of product in between roots, wait 30 seconds, give a massage and a shake of the hair to get rid of the excess. Each spray delivers a cocktail of ingredients such as:-

• Zea Mays (Corn) Starch - adds serious volume to fine, lank hair without weighing it down.
• Tetraselmis Suecica Extract - known to reduce greasy roots by reducing the sebum (oil) from glands.
• Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract - a red algae, known for it's hydrating and conditioning properties so helps smooth and combats dry, dehydrated hair.

The results speak for themselves. Instant volume, my fine hair had more thickness than a salon blow dry. I didn't even brush it out for the after photo! I was so super impressed, especially as my hair is coloured and I often have to leave it unwashed to maintain the toners used. This is the perfect answer for not just in-between hair wash days, but if you are going from work, gym out to dinner! It's also ideal for wedding hair, if you are using grips, hair accessories etc as gives hair a lot of staying power. 

It's safe to use on all hair types, chemically treated, coloured hair and gives a very light neutral scent. 

You can purchase HERE