With more and more celebrities becoming devotees of natural and organic skin care (including these to name a few), I can't help but wonder, if the rich and famous are opting out of using chemical-based skin care – and they receive the most up-to-date knowledge and secrets on the most expensive cosmetics that claim to offer the best results – why am I subjecting my skin to harmful toxins? Especially when there are products available that are just as – if not more – effective, and provide the skin with vital nutrients?
The market for natural products is growing, and research must be adding up, at least according to Marks & Spencer, with the company recently releasing its capsule natural and eco-friendly range, Pure.
The line uses British-grown ingredients scented with 100% essential oils, and is 100% free from artificial colours, paragons and mineral oils (NB more and more studies are being done on the effects that these chemicals are having on the rise in allergies, skin complaints such as eczema and even some cancers).
Prices range from £6 to £9.50. As well as the above, products available in the line include a hot cloth cleanser, moisturisers, body cream, shower milk and face serums. What are your thoughts on going natural? Have you tried any products in Marks & Spencer's Pure range?
So, Christmas is 19 days away today, or 16 if you're going by how many doors are left to open on my advent calendar... After countless hours browsing the net looking for potential gift ideas, my list is finally complete. Once I know what I'm getting, however, I much prefer to do my Christmas shopping manually rather than electronically (unless, of course, there is just a too-good-to-miss offer online).
While selflessly shopping for my nearest and dearest, I couldn't help but notice a few little goodies that I wouldn't be too unhappy about if they just happened to make their way under my tree...
Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil, £27 plus free delivery, is the infamous oil recommended by Victoria Beckham for super silky, luscious skin. Light oil is my go-to body luxury at the moment as opposed to creams.
Love Heart tea lights, £6 for a set of six, will look adorable on my dressing table while pampering for festive nights out.
Xen Tan Dark Lotion, 236ml, £29.50 plus free delivery, is the tan-of-the moment, recommended by beauty bloggers the world over.
Moroccan Oil treatment for all hair types, £30.45 for 100ml plus free delivery. One of my aims in life is to get super glossy locks ala Nicole Scherzinger, and this will put me on the right path.
With Christmas officially 60 days away today, and the DFS Christmas ad on the tele, I still have no intention of starting my gift shopping yet. For me, it's all about the last minute, whether it's packing for a holiday a few hours before setting off for the airport or tidying the house ten minutes before guests are due to arrive. And that goes for Christmas shopping too... and anyway, there's nothing better than rushing around getting the perfect presents for your loved ones in the seasonal hustle and bustle. However, I did get preparation envy when I heard one of my insanely organised friends started her Christmas shopping back in March – no "where the hell am I gonna find the money to pay for Christmas" worries for her. "It's all about spreading the costs," apparently. As if I didn't know.
So for those of you who, like me, vow every year to start your shopping earlier, you might like to know that The Body Shop has launched early bird, limited edition ranges for Christmas. The collections, comprising Candied Ginger; Cranberry Joy, Scrub & Moisture; White Musk Libertine Shower, Moisture and Spritz gift set; and the Fruit and Nut Body Butter Trio, are available now – a great way of ticking some names off your Christmas list who you weren't sure what to get. After all, who doesn't love The Body Shop?
I'm such a big fan of Palmer's products and I'm absolutely in love with its Cocoa Butter Formula, not least for the scrumptious good-enough-to-eat smell. So fellow fans I'm sure will be pleased to know the brand's signature chocolately smell now also exists in the form of its body scrub.
As you beauties know, a good body scrub is a necessity. Along with helping to rid our skin of dead and dry skin, it's especially needed when prepping for and coming to the end of wearing of fake tan(!) I sometimes find some products flare up the odd patch of eczema I'm prone to on my arms, so I like products that are gentle as well as being good at doing their job. So when I spotted this newby on the shelf, it quickly found its way into my basket.
As you may be able to tell from the picture above, it's of quite thick consistency. This surprised me actually, but once scooped out of the tub, it quickly softens in your hands. The cocoa beans gently exfoliated my skin, leaving it extremely smooth (great for eliminating those stubborn dry patches pre-tanning) and, as it also contains moisturising ingredients, it was left feeling super soft, too. And the smell? Y-um-mmyyy!
Get you hands (and body) on some sharpish. Available here.
I love a good recommendation, whether it's a stunning hotel, a delicious recipe or an hours-of-fun iPhone App (Horse Frenzy in case you were wondering - thank me later). This time, however, it was a must-have beauty product. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs to be precise.
Me and the girls went to the races for the day recently to celebrate me being on the wrong side of 25. For me, a dress was the only answer to a sunny day out at a smart event, but with it came the slight horror of my still-in-winter-hibernation legs being on show. Fake tan's a great way to combat the fear, but it never seems to look right on my legs, meaning I can get away with using it on a night out but not through the day. Enter Airbrush Legs. My colleague mentioned she'd used it a while back, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
The result? Bloody fantastic, until the sun hit my legs. While I was inside, and even sometimes outside, the coverage looked amazing - it's a light formula that really creates what it says on the tin - flawless yet natural airbrushed legs. When the sun shone, however, so did my legs, with a sparkling glow. Apparently it's a new take on the original product but, after reading a few reviews, there seems to be a lot of hope Sally Hansen will revert back to its previous formula. I agree, but it won't stop me using it, I still think it's genius. My friend was so impressed she asked me what I used and went out and got it to wear on a hen do, so the shimmer won't put everyone off.
I'm a shower girl through and through, but sometimes there isn't anything nicer than having a bubble overloaded soak. So off I went in search of the perfect bath treat and, after mulling over a few, I settled on The Sanctuary Bath Relaxer. And... wow. This baby really is what it says on the bottle, and more. I do love a good bath but, admittedly, I get bored after a while. This time, however, I didn't want to get out. No lie. Containing Evening Primrose Oil, Almond Oil and Jojoba Oil, it's no wonder that, not only did it completely relax me, but it also left my skin feeling as if I'd just massaged in a luxe body oil. Try it!
As I've probably mentioned before, I love reading magazines. I even set out with every intention of going clothes shopping yesterday morning, and what did I come back with... Elle magazine and a pasta pot from Boots (which, while I'm on the subject, is doing great food at the mo). Basically, give me some food and a mag and I'm happy. It even broke my heart a little the other week when I decided to have a big bedroom clearout and begrudgingly edited my magazine collection down to just one draw rather than a big stack on my dressing table.
Anyway, the point of this post is to explain my joy that
Marie Claire and In Style are offering two of my favourite beauty products with their June issues. The Body Shop body butter with Marie Claire and Nails Inc nail polish with In Style. But the hard part is deciding which scent and shade to pick. I'm leaning towards the Mango butter and the Fashion Fawn polish. What did you pick?
Last week I posted about Fair Naturally launching a range for Fairtrade Fortnight (28 February – 13 March). Well now its Lush's turn.
I became a huge fan of the handmade cosmetics brand after receiving the Gingerbread House gift box for Christmas, so I love to hear about any new products they're launching. This time its the Fairtrade Foot Lotion (pictured above), which contains high quality Fairtrade organic cocoa butter, almond oil, spearmint and peppermint essential oils and glycerin and lanolin – all helping to soften and moisturise the skin and relieve aches and pains.
And look at the yummy pink colour it comes in... my feet are screaming for some!
I don't know about anyone else, but Lush products seemed to be a popular choice of present amongst family and friends this Christmas, with myself also being a lucky recipient of one of its scrumptious smelling gift boxes, the Gingerbread House.
Usually, when buying bathroom goodies – bubble bath, shower creams and so on, I gravitate towards Boots. I must point out that I LOVE products (hence Lost in Beauty), but I'd much rather shop for them under one roof (hence Boots). This is partly because I'm a lazy shopper and partly because the shopping centre is closer to my house than the city centre, which means I have Boots, Superdrug and Debenhams to choose from, which is also the reason I've never, until the Gingerbread House, tried Lush.
And what a treat it's been. Creating huge bubbles and a GORGEOUS aroma that I could smell from downstairs, I thought they were going to be all smell and no action. But they were surprisingly moisturising and relaxing.
All in all, a big hit. I would, however, like to keep Lush as a treat for special occasions. But when I say special occasions, I mean nights out, not just Christmas from now on!
With the cold snap now upon us, the time has come to invest in a rich body lotion to keep dry skin at bay. I've always been a big cocoa butter fan and have always relied on my trusty Palmers Cocoa Butter to get me through winter. But, with celeb favourite Jergens Naturals Cocoa Butter Lotion now on the map, I've been tempted to see if there's a lot of difference between the two brands.
I became familiar with Jergens Naturals a few months back after reading Lauren Conrad was a fan. Then, after reading a posts by fellow blogger London Beauty Queen, I knew it was about time I discovered what the fuss was about.
So, after failing to find it in Boots (I wanted my Advantage points), I ventured over to Superdrug. And, as I love all things cocoa butter, it wasn't difficult for me to choose it from Jergens' four other types on the shelf. There was just one question... was it going to beat my old cocoa butter favourite by Palmers?
Yes and no. Not only did the cream sink into my skin super fast, it also kept it hydrated and smelling lovely all day. I find with Palmers that although it smells gorgeous, it takes a while longer to soak into the skin. On the other hand, you do get more for your money.
And, to be honest, if it's good enough for Miss Conrad, it's certainly good enough for Lost in Beauty, and I'll definitely be trying the other body lotions in the Jergens range.
Which do you prefer?
*I've linked these products to the Superdrug website as it seems to be the cheapest place I have found them. Happy trying! x
