BigGreenSmile - Weleda Birch Body Scrub Review

BigGreenSmile.com stock every one of my favourite ranges of natural cosmetics, and many that I've never heard or tried before.  I'm a big fan of Weleda's natural baby cosmetics range and recently, BigGreenSmile.com gave me the chance to try out another one of Weleda's natural skincare ranges - their Birch oil range which is designed to help soothe.

I chose this Birch Body Scrub which is an in-shower exfoliant for the whole body.  The very first thing that struck me was the scent - it is out of this world.  The scent has citrus notes and it reminds me of lemongrass oil.  Put it this way, you come out of the shower feeling fresh and invigourated!  

The body scrub features very small particles which provide the exfoliant.  It is a very gentle scrub so although you can feel the particles on your skin, it doesn't feel like a whole layer of skin has been sloughed off.  In fact, the creamy lotion that holds the particles is ever so slightly foaming and you can use it as a regular shower cream.

The addition of birch oil means that the exfoliating nature of this body scrub is balanced well with the soothing and moisturising elements.  I use the body scrub regularly on my legs which have been recently suffering with ingrowing hairs and this really helps to lift the hairs from the surface of the skin and encourages a better skin tone on my legs.

I love the scent of this exfoliant and I am now desperate to try out more of the Weleda Birch range from BigGreenSmile.

The Weleda Birch Body Scrub usually costs £9.50 at BigGreenSmile.com but is currently on offer at 20% off.

Neom Luxury Organics Tranquility Bath Foam

About an hour ago I had a bath. OK, so thats nothing new (I'm not that stinky) but on a Thursday that bath is the one thing that drives me to get through the day. Thursday is my day off work. My day off should be relaxing... but it isn't! I spend a Thursday morning taking my toddler and preschooler to swimming lessons. In the afternoon I take Holly out and about then come home to finish of the weeks chores. By the time Mr. B. gets home from work I am totally worn out... I hand off both girls to him and disappear for that short half-hour of me time. The bath. Mellow Time.

Today's bath was made all the more mellow by the addition of my latest find - Neom Luxury Organic Tranquility Bath Foam.

Tranquility Bath Foam

The Tranquility bath foam is perfect for the run-up to bedtime because the blend of organic essential oils is calming and relaxing... it helps me in the wind-down period and is a perfect way to recover from the stresses of the day. the philosophy behind Neom Luxury Organics is exactly my mantra - natural and organic cosmetics don't have to sacrifice quality, luxury or incredible fragrances. Natural oils make some of the most amazing scents on the planet and I have been known to sit on the edge of the bath sniffing the bottle while my bath runs!

The scents which contribute to the mellowness are a blend of English Lavender, Jasmine and Sweet Basil. I did find though that the scent quickly fades once you have run the bath. But actually, I don't think that really matters. Once I'm in the bath I look for a non-oily mix but which doesn't dry the skin and the Neom luxury Organics bath foam does just that. Afterwards my skin feels as relaxed as I am and I'm sure this is to do with the active ingredients of Aloe Leaf, Marshmallow, Sweet Almond and Coconut.

At £20 for a 200ml bottle, the Tranquility Bath Foam is certainly an indulgence but my, oh my, does it feel good at the end of a Thursday evening! I do love it though and if the scent lasted that little longer once I was in the bath then I think it would have a permanent role in my Thursday evening ritual.

Alison Claire Natural Cosmetics Review

When I first discovered Alison Claire natural beauty on twitter I was instantly taken by their products - they are just my kind of thing; naturally sourced ingredients for gorgeous-smelling yet effective skincare. Mellow Mummy has been somewhat focussed on the newborn baby element of motherhood recently so, when Alison Claire asked me to review their range, I thought it was an ideal opportunity to bring the focus back to mummies... for a little while at least.

I was in need of a new body lotion and, having been feeling a bit envious of Holly's gorgeous rose geranium scented nappy cream (!) I opted for the much more grown up Alison Claire Rose Geranium Body Lotion which costs £12 for 200ml. The body lotion smells divine - I now no longer have nappy cream envy!

The Alison Claire body lotion comes in a nifty screw-top bottle with a small opening at the top. The lotion is not too thick and not too thin. I find it doesn't absorb well into my skin and feels, for lack of a better word, soapy (I know it isn't soap because all Alison Claire products are SLS and paraben free). This feeling comes from the natural emolliants used in the Alsion Claire body lotion; apricot oil, radish root extract, coconut extracts and some natural antioxidants including vitamins E, B12, and white willow.

I have been using the body lotion all over but particularly concentrating on my arms (which go weirdly dry and bobbly after childbirth it seems) and I'm not wowed by the body lotion's moisturising effects but I do absolutely love the natural fragrance which makes me feel summery.

I have also been trying out the Orange and Patchouli Hand cream. Patchouli is another natural scent that I have always loved - it is a heady and intense fragrance which combined with the zingy orange makes a fabulous earthy smell.

The hand cream is light and instantly absorbed and with active ingredients such as jojoba, cocoa butter and coconut extract it takes care of the skin on the backs of my hands and wrists with gentle natural moisturisers. The orange and patchouli hand cream costs £7.99.

The favourite of the products I tried from Alison Claire has to be the Peppermint Shower Gel (£12). It is fabulously invigorating. With natural peppermint oil and peppermint water it has a clean, crisp smell and leaves your body with a refreshing tingly feeling all over. After showering I feel like I'm lighter (I'm not that grubby!... I just feel all floaty and energised) and I feel like I'm breathing cleaner air! Awesome.

Image credit: AlisonClaireNaturalBeauty.com

Comvita Anti-Ageing Daily Spa Body Wash Review

For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I rarely think about anti-ageing products for my body - I've used Comvita anti-ageing skincare on my face before, but never body. The Daily Spa Body Wash by Comvita is a luxurious yet gentle body wash suitable for daily use because its natural ingredients won't dry out your skin.

For me, the beauty of this product is it's non-drying cleansing effect. I love a good shower gel or body wash but sometimes I have to sacrifice my skin for a nice-smelling or luxurious feeling gel. With this one, theoretically I get the best of both world. The Daily Spa Body Wash comes in a great pump-action dispenser which looks really smart on my bathroom shelf and the body wash itself is a lovely texture... light and silky and yet it provides a good level of foam (given that it is SLS free).

Comvita products generally feature their special Huni-XA manuka honey as an active ingredient that offers anti-ageing properties such as increased elasticity to the skin and this body wash is no different. It also features kumarahou flower extract. The scent is very light indeed, and not as floral or sweet as I had hoped for, but still quite pleasant.

I'm enjoying using this body wash, especially at a point in my pregnancy where I need products which are as gentle on my skin as possible. It leaves my skin feeling soft after use but not 'pampered'; I think it is the lack of a strong scent really that makes me think that way more than the feel of my skin.

You can buy the Comvita Anti-Ageing Daily Spa Body Wash from mypure.co.uk for around £17.