Lush Deep Sleep Magnesium Massage Bar £10 Deep Sleep Bath Bomb £6

 

If you are like me and you struggle with your sleep, then these products are most definitely what you need. Just from opening the packaging sent me into an instant shoulder drop, as the heavenly lavender reduced my stress levels. 

We struggle with our sleep for many reasons, hormones, menopause, stress, anxiety, change, grief, seasonal weather, illness, dietary and lifestyle habits and also we lack in vitamins and minerals. 

I suffer with a chronic nerve condition which means, I am often awake with severe restless legs (and arms), and have often written in the press about the importance of magnesium and the role it plays in our well-being. 

Lush Deep Sleep Magnesium Massage Bar £10 65g

This bar has been designed to use for ease of application, no messy bottles and no spillage. It’s packed full of moisturising and active ingredients that prepare the mind for a deep sleep such as:-

• Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter - contains essential fatty acids that help hydrate and nourish dry skin, and improve elasticity. The essential fats create a barrier on the skin so it holds in moisture and prevents dehydrated skin. The organic Fair Trade Cocoa Butter in the massage bars comes from communities living on the edge of the Gola Rainforest in Sierra Leone, home to Pygmy hippos! 
• Calamine Powder - helps soothe dry, irritated skin types and can help with pigmentation. 
• Fair Trade Shea Butter - again creates a natural barrier to protect the skin, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties that helps calm irritated skin. 
• Organic Illipe Butter - a repairing butter that helps with premature aging, it restores elasticity so skin looks smoother. High in Vitamins A and E, this hydrating butter is protective against environmental aggressors. 
• Magnesium Chloride - regulates cell regeneration and repairs dry cracked skin. It also helps with sleep as can slow down sensory overload, and winds down an active mind prepping it for sleep. 
• Organic Cold Pressed Passion Seed Oil - firms saggy skin and prevents the formation of stretch marks. 
• Chamomile Oil - a natural sedative, this oil is rich in angelic and tiglic acids that help promote a feeling of tranquility. It also helps with dry skin and its anti-bacterial qualities help with wound healing and preventing infections. 
• Lavender Absolute - anti-inflammatory, this reduces redness and inflammation from conditions such as eczema. The fragrance is also known to induce a deep sleep. 
• Neroli Oil - an oil that is both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, so helps prevent infections. It’s also excellent at soothing an active mind, helping those who suffer with insomnia and anxiety. 

To use, simply warm the bar up between your hands. 

Once slightly melted apply all over the body or, to wherever you are holding tension or need to relax. I used it on my shoulders and pressed it gently into my temples. 

As it does melt once warmed up, it’s best to keep in a soap tin or store away from any heat. 

Deep Sleep Bath Bomb £6 180g

The best way to get magnesium is by using it in a warm bath, as magnesium is ‘transdermal’ so enters into the blood stream through our pores. It’s actually more effective than using oral tablets. Epsom Salt is a compound of magnesium and sulphate, and is often used to help relax muscles after sports or if you’ve been on your feet all day. 

This cube contains just the right amount for a bath. This is important as if you over-use Epsom Salts it can make you feel unwell.  The Bath Bomb Cube also contains the sleep inducing essential oils as mentioned above, and prepared the mind and body for a deep slumber.

To begin your ritual, simply run a warm bath and place under the taps, as the cube dissolves you’re left with a bath that will take you on a relaxing, sensory journey of unwind and escape. 

They make an ideal gift for Christmas, new mum, teacher, those who are suffering from poor mental health. The price makes them a very reasonable gift to send for a ‘thinking of you’. 

The products are vegan, cruelty free and have all five star reviews. They can be purchased by clicking the link HERE

Blueberry Siberica by Natura Siberica Review

 

As a Beauty Editor I have tested hundreds of skincare ranges spanning a range of price brackets and quality. The one brand that I always recommend is Natura Siberica, it’s one of the reasons why I often go back to reviewing their products. Not only are the ingredients excellent but the cost of value is excellent.

The Blueberry Siberica range is one of my favourite ranges, I have tested a couple of the products from this range and I can tell you now it not only made my skin feel amazing but it smells utterly divine. 

The focal ingredient in this range, is Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit - otherwise known as Bilberry or European Blueberry. Rich in vitamin A, this helps boost collagen, is soothing and anti-inflammatory, improves circulation and helps calm acne prone skin types. It’s a good all rounder for anyone suffering with hormonal skin changes, as well as being skin brightening, so helps with dull, dehyrated skin types. 

I’ve been very lucky to be sent a selection from the range to review.

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Cream to Foam Face Cleanser £9 100ml

Starting with the Cream-To-Foam Cleanser, this is the perfect cleanser to ‘wake up’ your skin in the morning. Whilst it’s excellent as a makeup remover, the creamy formula is a good way to massage into the skin and drain sinuses, especially when you’ve been lying down all night.

A vegan formula this contains:-

• Vaccinium Vulcanorum Fruit Extract - helps reduce wrinkles, smoothes the skin and evens out skin tone. 
• Rubus Arcticus Fruit Extract - contains antioxidants that help brighten the skin, gives radiance to dull skin. 
• Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract - rich in antioxidants which help protect the skin against environmental pollution and UV rays. Its antimicrobial properties help not only protect the skin against pollution but also bacteria. 
• Allentoin - a humectant that draws water to the skin, so helps hydration and keeping the skin feeling soft. 
• Sodium Hyaluronate - again attracts moisture so helps keep the skin hydrated, as well as reducing inflammation. 

You only need a small amount of this cleanser, massaged onto wet skin. It lathers into a gentle foam that helps remove all dirt and makeup. Skin is left feeling soft, and not ‘stripped’ like some harsh cleansers can feel. It preps the skin for other skin products. 

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Peeling Face Pads £11 for 20 pads

These face pads are ideal for exfoliating the skin, getting rid of grime that may cling to the skin. They prep the skin for application of masks and serums, so that the ingredients can penetrate further into the dermis. The gentle AHAs exfoliate without stripping the skin and make sure that our sebum (the skin’s natural oil) is balanced.

As well as the benefit of Blueberry, the formula also contains. 

• Schisandra Chinensis ExtractWH - this plant is native to Northern China, it helps calm the skin and restores dull skin types. It has many anti-oxidants that help protect the skin from pollution. 
• Rives Nigrum Leaf Extract - contains natural AHAs which gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it looking brighter, whilst also stimulating cell renewal. 
• Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract - otherwise known as Blackcurrant, in skincare this deeply hydrates the skin as well as injecting it with powerful antioxidants that help protect the skin from aging. 
• Bidens Tripartita Flower/Leaf/Stem WaterWH - the oil from this plant is an antiseptic oil that helps reduce acne, psoriasis and eczema. 

Use after cleansing, swipe one pad over your skin to instantly brighten the complexion. 

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Super-Hydrating Eye Patch-Effect Mask £9 30ml

This eye mask, is the perfect rescue remedy for anyone who is lacking sleep, has dark circles, puffiness and fine lines. Gently apply a thin layer to your eye area and leave for 15 minutes before wiping off any excess. 

It’s been formulated with gentle, non irritating ingredients that inject a cocktail of hydrating ingredients such as:-

• Glycerin - helps get rid of dark circles, puffiness and fine lines. Is incredibly moisturising and safe to use around the eye area (it’s often also used as an ingredient in eye drops to relieve dry eyes). 
• Hydroxyethylcellulose - whilst a thickening agent, this ingredient is non-comedogenic so does’t block the pores. 
• Hydrolyzed Rice Protein - helps keep the under eye firm by locking in moisture. 
• Aralia Mandshurica Leaf/Stem Extract - restores elasticity and helps soften fine lines and wrinkles. 

Wild-Ox Wild Blueberry Moisturising Fae Mist Toner £10 100ml

This moisturising toner, is ideal to use after cleansing (before moisturising) and also to use when you need to freshen up. Not just a ‘toner’ it has ingredients that help deliver moisture to the skin, so is ideal if you work in a hospital, if you’ve been on a flight or any time when you feel you need to ‘wake up’. I like to keep one in my bathroom but also one next to my computer. 

Ingredients are similar to the other products but it also has Panthenol, a humectant that binds water to the skin, so the skin is left very hydrated. It also works as an emollient so helps soothe dry, irritated skin types. 

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Renewing Face Serum £9 30ml

Formulated to treat tired, dull looking skin, this serum is a ‘rescue remedy’ for skin that needs radiance. The ‘energising’ serum contains many ingredients as mentioned above, including:-

• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil - aka Sweet Almond Oil, often used to help soothe dry, sensitive skin types. It has a high concentration of fatty acids that help firm the skin and improve cell regeneration. 
• Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil - otherwise known as Sea Buckthorn, which is a powerful plant as it has natural UV protection. It’s anti-inflammatory so aids in calming the skin from conditions such as eczema, as well as improving skin tone.

Just a couple of drops in the morning after cleansing, is all you need to protect your skin from environmental aggressors. You can also use it in the evening as this is when cells regenerate overnight. 

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Awakening Face Day Cream £11 50ml

The Awakening Day Cream is all about protecting the skin from aging and UV rays. It has an SPF20 and again has all the anti-oxidants and benefits from Blueberries as well as many other ingredients. 

It also has Niacinamide, otherwise known as Vitamin B3. In skincare this ingredient helps minimise large pores, tightens the skin and also protects the skin’s barrier. It’s also healing and repairing, gives moisture to the skin and helps even out discolouration and uneven skin tone. It’s a wonder ingredient often used in skincare as has so many benefits. This added with all the other plant extracts, make this a fantastic day cream for every skin type and condition.

Anti-Ox Wild Blueberry Overnight Renew Face Cream-Mask £11 50ml

As mentioned above when we sleep, this is when our skin is most active in repairing itself. It therefore makes sense that we have a night-time product to deliver ingredients when our skin is most active, and this is just what this mask does.

Applied on to the face (don’t worry it sinks in, so you’re not left with residue on the pillow), the Overnight Renew Face Cream-Mask starts to work. 

It’s primarily a moisturiser, and this comes in the form of Butyrospermum Parkii Butter otherwise known as Shea Butter. It contains Vitamins A and E, so really helps give radiance as well as reducing blemishes and helping reduce hyperpigmentation. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated skin types. When you wake up your skin will look refreshed and feel more supple. 

It also contains Rosa Davurica Leaf Extract, which is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, again both of which give radiance to dull skin and give that natural glow.

It goes without saying the whole range is fantastic value for money, but more importantly, smells utterly incredible and is a delight to use.

The products are all vegan and many of the ingredients are organic and wild harvested. You can check out the five star reviews of all the products on their website (every review is 5 star). You can purchase by clicking on the link HERE

Earthy Nail Polish Review

 

I have reviewed this brand before and so was excited to review some of their more autumnally colours. Earthy is an award winning brand that is passionate about bridging sustainability, natural, ethically sourced nail colour that actually treats the nail rather than just add colour.

The formula in the nail varnish contains Magnesium and Calcium. Magnesium helps prevent nails ridges and can also promote nail growth, whilst Calcium prevents brittle nails, weak and splitting nails and again encourages a healthy nail growth.

I tested a few colours all priced at £7.99. Goa is a sunset, light terracotta shot through with shimmering gold. For each of these photos I have only applied one coat, this shimmering glitter looks amazing with a single coat or applied over other colours to add a 3 dimensional look. 

Fire Cracker is just that, a bright glowing Vermillion, not quite red or orange this is the colour you will see on autumnal leaves. It looks classy, incredibly glossy almost patented in its effect.

Lastly I tested Ruby Red, a deep Cinnamon red which crosses between Auburn and light Chestnut. Again incredibly glossy this is a stunning colour and needs only one coat.

The Earthy Cuticle Oil £8.99 is your first step to a healthy nail bed. You only need a few drops to deeply nourish the cuticles. It has a whole host of ingredients to help improve the condition and encourage nail growth such as:-

• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil) - rich in Vitamins E and B, as well as magnesium and zinc. Helps strengthen the nails and is incredibly nourishing to dry and brittle nails. 
• Citrus Limon (Lemon Peel Oil) - helps strengthen soft nails, especially if they suffer from flaking. Lemon Oil can also help with staining that you may get from wearing regular dark nail colours. 
• Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E, this ingredient not only helps with nail health but also prevents against infections.

The range is vegan and you can also return the empty bottles and caps back to their Head Office (see link). The 11ml bottles have sustainable bamboo caps (rather than plastic) and so environmentally friendly. To purchase and see the huge list of shades click HERE 

Lab by Natura Siberica Biome Phyto Retina Anti-Puff & Dark Circles Eye Cream 30ml RRP £12

 

The last year has been a tough one for me, with my back operation came a huge reduction in sleep and that was without throwing menopause into the mix. As such I have noticed a big difference with my eyes, by way of dark circles and puffiness. Something I never used to suffer from, was the lack of sleep but now I am lucky enough if I get 4-6 hours broken sleep. 

I was searching through my products when I realised that I hadn’t reviewed the Lab Biome Anti-Puff & Dark Circles Eye Cream. Natura Siberica is one of my favourite brands due to the quality of ingredients and the price!

Whilst I have written about Biome before, here is a quick re-cap. Microbiome is basically the organisms that live on and inside your skin such as bacteria, fungi etc. So the purpose of the Biome products is to balance and maintain a healthy skin.

There are several active ingredients in the product that help de puff and improve circulation under the eyes, as well as protecting the delicate eye area. Such ingredients (and yes, there are a lot more) include:-

• Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - Sunflower Seed Oil, this plant extract contains many fatty acids that help dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Lactobacillus Ferment - helps protect against environmental aggressors such as pollution, smoke and heating. 
• Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate - a 3 amino peptide that targets wrinkles. 
• Biotin - contains B vitamins that help nourish the delicate skin area, giving hydration. 
• Folic Acid - firms the area under the eyes and helps prevent sagging, as well as protecting the delicate skin barrier function. 
• Cyanocobalamin - vitamin B12 helps promote healthy cell growth and provides essential nutrients for collagen production. 
• Niacinamide - reduces wrinkles, brightens the skin and improves the appearance of dark circles. 
• Pantothenic Acid - contains vitamin B5, which is antibacterial and again helps with hyperpigmentation and dark circles. 
• Pyridoxine - vitamin B6 helps with regulating oil production.
• Riboflavin - vitamin B2 helps improve skin tone and gives radiance. 
• Thiamine - vitamin B1 helps with the production of collagen, so prevents the onset of wrinkles and fine lines. 
• Angelica Archangelica Root Extract - skin brightening, reduces patchiness. 
• Aralia Mandshurica Leaf/Stem Extract - rejuvenates and strengthens the under eye area, helps prevent those fine, crepey lines by restoring the skins elasticity. 

Here’s a before of my eyes, you can see that I have puffiness and dark circles, caused by lack of sleep and illness.

I have applied the eye cream to just my left eye, and wasn’t expecting an ‘immediate’ difference. The eye gel was easy to press lightly into my under eye area and disappeared without the need to apply any pressure.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the results were instantaneous. 

There is a remarkable difference with lightness and brightness to the left of my eye. I will continue to use this over the next month, as the 30ml tube really does go along way!

As always with this fabulous brand, many of the ingredients are wild harvested and organic. The product is vegan friendly and you can purchase it by clicking the link HERE

Nioxin® Pro Clinical Sample Review

When it comes to hair thinning, hair loss, scalp health then there is one brand that is continuously recommended and that is Nioxin®. You only have to go on to Google and type in Nioxin® reviews to find hundreds of satisfied customers. These reviews are not just online in stores, but also on community addresses such as Quora and larger shopping sites such as Amazon. The reviews predominantly are all five star ratings and that’s simply because the products work.

However, this is where it gets a little difficult for me reviewing these products and so I have to take ‘the word of mouth’ and online reviews as they are. I have coloured hair and the system I have been sent to review (and test as I always test products), is for ‘Natural/Untreated Hair’. So my findings as a Beauty Writer will be based upon the active ingredients.

Scalp Care & Hair Thickening System 2 RRP £67

Firstly, the system itself contains 3 products each designed to help with hair that is thinning. This could be due to hormones, illness, age, medicines etc but they’re designed not for volume but for those that are seeing more hair loss be it when washing or brushing. 

The products can be purchased in 4 systems, depending on your hair health. 

Number 1 is for hair that lacks volume, that is flat, lank and the strands are fine, it’s designed for those who have natural hair, so not chemically treated with solution or colour.

Number 2 is for hair that is progressively thinning, those that, as mentioned above, are noticing more hair loss.

Number 3 is for hair that lacks volume but is chemically treated (dye, perm solution etc).

Number 4 is for hair that is progressively thinning but again chemically treated.

Now this is where I like to look at the ingredients to see just what makes this product work. The system includes Scalp & Hair Shampoo 300ml / Scalp & Hair Conditioner 300ml and Scalp & Hair Treatment 100ml.

Let’s look at the shampoo first.

Ingredients include:-

• Cocamide MEA - naturally derived from coconuts, this helps give foam to the shampoo but without drying hair out. 
• Salicylic Acid - a natural exfoliator that helps get rid of flaky scalp, dandruff. 
• Menthol Arvensis Leaf Oil - stimulant that encourages blood circulation to the scalp. 
• Menthol Piperita (Peppermint) Oil - again stimulating so encourages healthy hair growth.
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - aka Green Tea, the caffeine in this helps promote stronger, thicker hair, as well as protecting the hair from environmental aggressors such as pollution. 
• Niacinamide - reduces hair loss by boosting blood circulation to the scalp, it also locks in moisture and boosts keratin (protein) production. 
• Panthenol - contains B5 a vitamin that is often found lacking if you are suffering with hair loss. 
• Biotin - an essential vitamin that helps with the production of keratin. 
• Lecithin - a lipid that conditions the scalp and gives hair a healthy shine. 
• Urticaria Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract - helps alleviate an itchy, dry scalp and prevents hair loss by soothing the scalp. 
• Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Flower Extract - helps remove dandruff and also regulates sebum (oil). It also helps weakened hair growth. Is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial so wards off bacteria and soothes eczema etc. 
• Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Extract - this antioxidant helps remove unwanted product residue such as mousse, hairspray etc. 
• Acre Saccarum (Sugar Maple) Extract - helps regulate sebum production as contains zinc and manganese, both known to aid in scalp health. 
• Yeast Extract - contains protein to help with the building blocks of hair strengthening. 

Whilst this isn’t for my hair type, I did test it and it smells utterly amazing (menthol), it also leaves your scalp tingling and feeling deeply cleansed. 

The Conditioner also contains several active ingredients similar to the shampoo. It’s designed to be left on for up to 1-3 minutes, then rinsed off. Whilst several active ingredients are similar (Biotin, Niacinamide), some of the conditioning properties come from ingredients such as:-

• Quaternium-18 - used for its detangling effects. 
• Stearamidoopropyl Dimethylamine - anti-static, helps with flyaway hair. 
• Hydroxypropyl Guar - increases hydration.

The Conditioner has a similar menthol fragrance that again stimulates the scalp. The final part of the system is the hair treatment, which is a leave in treatment,

Again this has similar active ingredients to that of the shampoo and conditioner. 

You do need to apply to the whole head after shampooing and conditioning. It contains a high amount of Caffeine, that is prominently used in hair care to encourage blood stimulation, thus in term encouraging hair growth. It also contains Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, an active ingredient that protects the hair and scalp from UV rays. The formula is enriched with B3 which helps fortify and strengthen hair strands. 

Results are apparent within 30 days, and it’s imperative you use it as instructed to allow the ingredients to penetrate into the hair follicles. The shampoo must be massaged into the hair for 2 minutes as massage also helps encourage hair growth.

As mentioned above you only need to Google to see that there are many satisfied customers, as well as statistics online that state 

Ultimate Power Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo 240ml RRP £27

Finally, there is the recently launched Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo, that again like the system has been clinically proven in reducing hair loss. It contains many similar ingredients to the system above, and results for stronger, more resilient hair are within 3 months. It’s designed to be used in place of your regular shampoo to get rid of product build up, impurities etc. 

It does have many of the key active ingredients in the 3 part system however, it also contains Sandalore™ which whilst often used in products for the scent of Sandalwood, in hair care the scent actually helps with hair growth and length increase. Breaking the jargon down, our scalp contains protein receptors which bind with odour molecules hence, they bind with Sandalore, which then activates a growth pathway. Sandalore also helps with inflammation so can help with scalp conditions such as eczema, itchy scalp and dermatitis. Again it smells minty and fresh due to the menthol ingredients.

The whole system is clinically and dermatologically tested and designed to use over 30 days. Owned by Wella who do not test on animals. 

You can purchase at Boots in store or online or Look Fantastic by clicking the link HERE