My Beauty Bundle Review

What could be a better fit for Mellow mummy than the rather scrumptious combination of pregnancy and new mum products with natural and organic luxury skincare? Well, My beauty Bundle do just that - little monthly bundles of smellies designed specifically for your stage of pregnancy or motherhood.

You can buy a subscription to My Beauty Bundle from £15 a month for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months and each month you will receive a little pampering package of 4 to 5 products tailored to your stage. For me, I like the idea of trying out lots of products I wouldn't normally have heard about and the convenience of having these delivered to me, rather than having to go shopping for them myself.



In my bundle I received a Bourjois quick-drying nail varnish, Lavera foot balm, Green Baby one-size baby hat and sample sizes of two luxury products - Madara's ecoface organic deep moisturising fluid and Primavera's rose & pomegranate revitalising cream. I had never tried a Lavera product before and the footbalm is so cooling and rejuvenating that since receiving my bundle I have been out and bought more products from the Lavera range. You can also buy full-size versions of the individual products on the My Beauty Bundle shop if you try out something in your bundle that you turn out to love.

I will admit to feeling a little disappointed when I opened my bundle to find the size of the package and some of the samples inside. I know some of the products are seriously expensive but personally I'd prefer to receive a full-sized product of a lower value than a single-use sample of a pricey skincare product. Saying that, I'd probably be even more disappointed if I received a full-sized product that I didn't enjoy using, or wasn't suitable for me so I guess it works out better in the long run and leaves me with the decision about whether to buy more.

Despite this, I think the monthly pregnancy beauty bundle concept is perfect, particularly as a gift (so, if any of my male readers have got this far through the review then consider this a hint to buy your other halves a subscription when the time is right). My Beauty Bundle features some of my favourite natural skincare brands such as Madara and Weleda and the quality of all of the products is high.

Liz Earle Facial at the John Lewis Retreat, Reading

Tucked away beneath the hustle and bustle of Reading town centre is a little oasis of calm; the brand new John Lewis Beauty Retreat. The basement of John Lewis in Reading, previously home to consumer electronics, has been given the feminine touch with a nail bar for Jessica nails and a Blink eyebrow bar alongside a series of treatment rooms from my three favourite skincare brands on the planet - Decleor, Elemis and Liz Earle so that now, as well as popping into John Lewis to top up my skincare supplies I can experience these products at their best with a professional treatment.

Last week I was lucky enough to be treated to a 60 minute Liz Earle Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial in the new John Lewis Beauty Retreat in Reading. At £65 I think it is the best value facial on offer at the retreat and is one of the best facials I have ever enjoyed - a very welcome treat in these later stages of pregnancy (most facials are unsuitable for pregnant women during their first trimester).

The Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial is a prescriptive facial where your beauty consultant will adapt the products they choose to suit your skin. After a really welcome gentle cleanse and exfoliation with the Gentle Face Exfoliator, I was treated to a long, indulging facial massage with the heady scent of neroli oil. The facial massage included focussed on key areas including the neck and decolletage.

Towards the end of the facial my skin was treated with the intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask - a very light yet deeply hydrating mask. Small areas of my skin were also treated with the Deep Cleansing Mask and then, as the masks did their work, my consultant tried her very best to wrestle the stress and strain of a busy computer programmer's life from my neck and shoulders!

There was a large massage element to the facial but that didn't mean I felt starved of my fair share of gorgeous natural products - the Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial is a great introduction to the entire Liz Earle Naturally Active range.

I loved my facial and am still loving its effects now. My only negative point of the whole experience was the noise - I think that the treatment room in question is being worked on in the very near future to reduce the sound of the footsteps above. Actually, I didn't find the noise too much of a disturbance but I was certainly aware of the gentle clump of thousands of busy shoppers above me. I would also say that the sounds of people talking and walking are very noticeable in the main reception area where some of the non-facial treatments take place.

You can contact the Beauty Retreat for John Lewis, Reading on 0118 952 5947 for appointments and details of treatments.

The Sunday Review – Clearing A baby's Blocked Nose with Sterimar Baby Nasal Spray

It wasn't until Lara got her first cold that I even stopped to think about how you blow a baby's nose! When you see the misery of a baby with a blocked nose you'll try every contraption available in order to ease the suffering. We tried two different snot-sucking contraptions and also Karvol and a home-made aromatherapy oil blend in order to help Lara breathe more easily. We've recently been using Sterimar Baby nasal spray about which I had my doubts at first...

When Lara was about 9 months old she had a really bad cold which caused her to lose her appetite (a common indicator of a blocked nose) and her nose gunk got rubbed into her eyes which gave her conjunctivitis. It was miserable. I wouldn't usually take Lara (or myself) to the Doctor for a common cold but I didn't know what else I could do for her. The Doctor prescribed a very simple saline (salt water) solution which we had to drip into her nose to help clear her passageways before a meal. It sounded like a great idea and really did work very effectively but it caused so many tears trying to get those drops into her nose from a tiny bottle that I felt guilty asking the childminders to go through that stress during the day.

Sterimar Baby is a salt water solution too and, when I first heard about it, I was unsure why I would pay for a branded product that is essentially the same as the product the Doctor prescribed Lara for free.

Sterimar Baby is an isotonic sea water solution that contains sea minerals. It's a 100% natural medical device and comes in an aerosol canister with a simple pump that you press down to release the spray. The pump is really cleverly designed so that it can work whatever angle you hold the can at. The genius of this needs re-emphasising. If you've ever tried applying nasal spray to a baby or toddler (or if you've ever tried giving eye drops to a cat) then you'll know why the multi-angle aerosol should feature top of the world's greatest inventions. Babies move, especially when they've worked out that there is a mad woman with a salt-water spray coming in their direction. Sterimar Baby certainly makes the process of application a lot easier.

The salt water comes out as a very fine spray. I'll admit that I tried it on myself out of curiosity and the sensation is very weird (but actually it did help unblock my nose!). Sterimar Baby is recommended for babies up to 2 years old and can be used upto 6 times a day to clear a blocked nose. They also recommend it for daily cleansing of the nose (something Sterimar seem quite big on for allergy prevention and general nasal hygiene). There are some tips on their website of how to apply it to a baby or child.

Sterimar Baby is effective. There is no doubt about that. But, would I pay for a product that is (a) just sea water and (b) available free on the NHS? Yes, I would. That applicator pump is worth every penny for a clear nose and a de-stressed baby. I wish I had known about Sterimar Baby this time last year.

Sterimar Baby can be bought from Boots, Superdrug and other phramacies.

The Sunday Review – Boots Protect & Perfect Serum

Just before Christmas I went to a beauty blogger event and discovered that most of the people there considered themselves more as make-up bloggers than skincare bloggers. I was totally astounded to hear that some of them had never tried Boots Protect & Perfect serum! Here's why I think it is an essential beauty item.

When the Boots Protect and Perfect range was launched there were waiting lists for their serum, it was so popular. The reason why is easy – it was the only facial skincare product ever to be proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A number of other products have come along since and I'm sure they're all equally as effective but I have a soft spot for the Boots Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum.

The serum is a very light lotion dispensed by a pump. It is ever-so-slightly greasy in a way that leaves your skin feeling silky to touch. You use a tiny amount on your face, particularly around the sides of the eyes and the mouth and then you put your normal moisturiser on over the top. You don't need to be old and crusty to use an anti-ageing product like this. I've used anti-ageing products since my mid-twenties as a preventative action! And anyway, the effect of the Protect & Perfect serum is more than just line-reducing, its a general improvement in appearence.

When I first used the serum, I noticed the effect after a matter of days but the label suggests it could be more like 4 weeks before people start to notice. The effect that I notice is a levelling of the skin – a general evenness that is absent without it. There are times when I don't own a bottle of Protect & Perfect and then, I really do miss it. I've no idea how I could ever measure whether the lines on my face were less when I'm using this product, but I do know that I notice a difference. I don't care if other people don't notice – it's about me feeling good.

In the mornings, if I've used the serum over night, then I can still feel that silkiness when I wake. If I use it in the mornings before I go to work (which, actually, I rarely do), then I can feel the 'goodness' all through the morning.

I've tried some of the other products in the Boots Protect and Perfect range. I quite like their night cream but I wouldn't say that it was world-beating (which I would of their serum).

A 30ml bottle of serum costs around £21 currently at Boots.com

10 Tips to Beauty on a Budget

Hi I am Becky and I blog at Baby Budgeting. I have guest post swapped with Emma so you’ll find her over at Baby Budgeting, my blog for thrifty creative family living with under 5’s. As you know Emma is well up on her health and beauty so I thought I would bring you some health and beauty on a budget.

As your baby get s older you start to think again about that all-important but easily forgotten person – you. If you’re like many women who treat themselves by shopping, you’ll have to get creative, because for mums on a budget retail therapy is not always possible.

Instead why not try one or more of my top 5 tips to make the most of your looks without breaking the bank.

RECIPROCAL MANICURES – A manicure can easily cost £20 or more, so save yourself some money but still treat your nails to a bit of tlc. Have a friend do your nails, then when your nail varnish is dry, you can do hers in return. You will both feel a million dollars but won’t have spent a single penny. Men, too, have been known to do a great paint job on nails, so ask your partner or husband if he has some free time. To survive looking after a baby, you’re best off with clear polish and short tidy nails. But your toes can be transformed in a trice (and they don’t get scuffed through nappy changes) and you’ll feel über glamorous in no time.

A SKILL SWAP – Do you have a friend who cuts or colours hair? Perhaps if you’re lucky enough to have such a friend, she can do your hair and you can babysit for her in return, or even do her ironing?

GO MOBILE – If hairdresser friends are few and far between, then you can save money by switching from a salon to a mobile hairdresser. Of course, you could always dye your own hair. I have a friend who went back to her natural hair colour after having her baby so she could more easily dye it herself: her locks looked luscious and she saved an absolute fortune. Mobile hairdressers can fit in well with your children, particularly if you are a full-time mum. I always have my hair ‘done’ as my birthday, Christmas and Mother’s day gifts from my husband. It is pricey but it makes me feel fabulous.

GET INTO SHAPE – When you’re feeling tired, it’s so easy to reach for the biscuit tin, jump in the car instead of walking and flop down on the sofa whenever you get a moment. Try to resist the urge to lounge about, if you feel overweight and unfit this will just make you feel worse. What’s stopping you? Running up the stairs, skipping in the garden, riding a bike and walking to the shops and park are all free – plus, you’ll look and feel better for some endorphin-releasing activity.

DITCH THE JUNK FOOD – Eat simple, healthy meals and shun the sugar-filled nibbles – not only are they sending your blood sugar on a rollercoaster ride, they’re expensive too.

NATURE’S PLAYGROUND – Get lots of fresh air: it does wonders for your skin and makes you feel energised; what’s more, if you take baby along too, the daylight exposure can help them sleep well at night. (It’s easy to remember your baby’s SPF and easy to forget yours, choose an SPF of 15 or more.)

SORT THOSE HAIRS OUT – Someone’s got to say it! Your bikini line may well have been abandoned during pregnancy but now you can see it again you really should do something about it. While you’re there, tidy up your eyebrows and sort out any hairy armpits or legs. These looks may be low maintenance but, if you took care of these areas before and don’t now, you could end up feeling untidy and possibly unsexy. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with embracing the hairy look if
it’s one you love.

GET SOME EXCELLENT BASICS – You won’t be able to spend money on clothes like you used to, and now practicality is key. But, whatever you wear, you can still be clean and stylish. Jeans and a plain white long sleeved t-shirt always look good, with comfy but hardwearing shoes (I live in my Converse – they’re worth every penny and wash well too).Once you’ve found the jeans for you, you can wear them
endlessly – dressed down or up. Accessories update your look – a new bag or hairband in this season’s colours can make you look bang on trend for little cost.

A GOOD SKIN CARE ROUTINE – It’s all too easy to neglect your
own skin care when you are a busy mum with someone else’s face to wash, teeth to clean, etc. So, at the least, aim to cleanse and moisturise your skin once a day. Having a good skin care routine combined with fresh air, eating well and drinking water are all key components to looking good. (If you want a little extra help a tube of lip gloss can go a long way, takes mere seconds to apply and
can cost very little. I always keep one in my bag!)

THE MAGICAL POT OF VASELINE – If you are going to buy one beauty item, make sure it’s Vaseline. You can style your eyebrows with it, put it on your cheekbones, use it as a hand and foot cream and, of course, as lip gloss. Vaseline is cheap, cheerful and the small pots fit in your handbag(and can even double as nappy cream). Give your cheeks a pinch for some colour and use an old toothbrush to brush those eyebrows. Tell yourself loud and proud: you are gorgeous!

Ultimately, I know none of the above matters; being happy and healthy is most important in life. But it is true that looking good can make you feel good, and when it’s affordable, why not?

Becky xx

The Sunday Review - Alva Sanddorn Cleanser & Toner

At my stage in life, I look to anti-ageing products for prevention, rather than cure, of the signs of age. I've little experience with anti-ageing products but now is the time to learn! Over the past month I have been using the Alva Sanddorn range of anti-ageing natural beauty products and I've enjoyed it.

I was going to write you a review all about how I was having trouble identifying the scent of the Alva Sanddorn anti-ageing products but I've just looked it up - it's Sea Buckthorn! Sea Buckthorn plants produce small orange berries that are citrussy in flavour, I tried some sweets flavoured with them earlier this year (eeeeew euuurch). Who would have thought that they would also be great as a skincare ingredient? Sea Buckthorn is high in provitamin A, vitamin E and fatty acids - prefect!

The scent is fascinating. Every time I use the Alva Sanddorn Cleansing Milk, I pour the pale orange liquid onto a cotton pad and for a few brief seconds I enjoy that almost-peachy smell but then it warps... and turns into a musty, unpleasant aroma so I hurry up and get on with the cleansing process.



The Alva Sanddorn cleansing milk is a very light lotion that feels great on the skin. I find it refreshing, even before I wash it off. It seems (from the amount of gunk of the cotton pad afterwards) very effective at cleansing and I do find it quite moisturising. I know that if I forget to moisturise before I leave the house in the morning then my skin will feel fine without.

The algae extracts, organic jojoba oil and shea butter all add to the moisturising qualities and the Sea Buckthorn protects against UV rays. Alva Sanddorn products are all pthalate, paraben and sulfate-free.



The cleanser is good but the toner is great. The Alva Sanddorn Facial Tonic comes in a small glass bottle. It is alcohol free, so great for my slightly sensitive skin and after use, I can feel my face is clean and clear, my pores are open and my skin is ready for action. The smell is a lot less overpowering than the cleanser. I really enjoy using this tonic as it makes my face feel bright and tight. As with the other Sanddorn products, it delivers great moisturising properties too.

Alva Sanddorn products are available to buy from mypure who have a wonderful range of organic and natural beauty products.

Images courtesy of mypure.co.uk

The Sunday Review - Living Nature Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner

Images courtesy of mypure.co.uk

I can't say that I'm at all impressed with my latest hair care goodies from mypure.co.uk. I really haven't got on with the Balancing Natural Shampoo and Balancing Natural Conditioner.

My first impressions of the packaging were good. They look like the kind of brand that you would see in a salon - smart and understated. At £14.99 a bottle, they are the same price as I pay for my current brand of shampoo and conditioner at the salon and so I expected the same level of pampering and the same level of effectiveness but with the satisfaction of knowing that Living Nature products are sulfate, phthalate and paraben free. I was disappointed.

I have learned to expect my hair to be a bit rubbish when I first move to a new shampoo and conditioner but even after several uses, the lank heavy feeling didn't go away. The blurb about the balancing shampoo suggests that it is clarifying and helps to restore my hair's natural oil balance but all I have felt is that my hair is heavy and greasy.

The conditioner is a little better. It is a relatively light conditioner but it doesn't seem to help me reduce tangles which, after all, is the main reason why I use a conditioner.

As you can see, I am STILL on the lookout for my perfect shampoo and conditioner. Ho hum.

My Beauty Staples

As a health & beauty reviewer, I tend to spend a lot of time telling you about the fact that I am still searching for my ideal moisturiser and my perfect shampoo. Sometime I review products I really love, but I simply can't justify the price tag. Other times I find products which seem great but I just don't love enough to go back to for a repeat purchase. So, for a change, I thought I would tell you about the products that I do go back to time and again.

These products are my staples. The things I simply can't do without. They haven't always been this way, but currently they are my favourites and in most cases they have been for some time. To me, they all represent good value for money but they have become so much part of the furniture for me that they probably don't merit a product review of their own!



Decleor Cleanser & Toner
I love Decleor products. They are luxurious, plant-based and they smell great. Many of them are out of my normal budget but I am more than happy to splurge on a good quality cleanser and toner. These days I never have any problem with my skin not feeling clean, fresh and vibrant. I tend to alternate my Decleor daily care products with Clarins ones so that my skin doesn't grow too used to one thing but if I had to choose one brand, it would be Decleor for their floral fragrances and gentle cleaning.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
I'm lazy in the mornings. I use this really gentle exfoliating face wash on a daily basis to avoid me having to faff around with cleansers and toners. It leaves my face feeling clean and awakened, ready for the day.



Dove Deodorant
It took me many years to find a deodorant with which I'm happy but for the past 5 years or so I have been using Dove stick deodorants. The Invisible Dry deodorant is (just about) black-dress approved! Now Dove just need to sort out their palm oil issues and I'll be happy.



Maybelline MascaraWhenever I try a mascara made by anyone other than Maybelline I am disappointed. They're not the most expensive brand available but for me they are the most reliable, whatever type of look you are going for. I have yet to find a brand that can beat Maybelline on water-resistant mascaras – most others I have tried either lack water resistance, or else won't even come off with industrial cleaners. My make-up bag is never devoid of a Maybelline mascara.



Tweezerman Tweezers
If you have not tried Tweezerman tweezers then you do not know what you're missing. Once you have, you will never look back. At around £15-£20 they are very pricey but they are worth every penny and they come with a lifetime guarantee so if at any point you are unhappy with their pointy-ness you can send them back and have them sharpened or replaced. I always feel handicapped if I try and use any other tweezers these days.

Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub for a New Skin
On special occasions, or just before I go on holiday, I splash out on a bottle of Calrin's smoothing body scrub. It is a gently exfoliating body scrub made with bamboo and it is a godsend for dull looking or slightly bobbly skin!

Bio Sculpture Nail Varnish
I always keep a single bottle of my favourite Bio Sculpture nail polish for topping up my manicure/pedicure. With my Bio Sculpture polish it is hard for me to make a mess and I always get a good few days out of my nails, even if I don't use a top coat to protect them.

Molton Brown Warming Eucalptus Bath & Shower Therapy
Ah, it relaxes me just thinking about this! Mr. B. often buys me Molton Brown goodies as he knows I love them. The Warming Eucalyptus shower gel / body wash is my favourite as it is refreshing and zingy in summer and wintery and warming in winter. It will forever remind me of trying to wash away the hangover on the morning following my wedding!

All images courtesy of amazon.co.uk

Meet My Salon – The Retreat, Wokingham

The Retreat in Wokingham is home to my hair salon, and my beauty salon. Although I hate to admit it, I spend most of my hard-earned cash there but it's worth it! I attribute most of my mellow state of mind to The Retreat! Since becoming a mummy, my visits have become less frequent due to financial strains and the desire to spend as many waking moments with my daughter as I possibly can. However, it is important to me that I maintain some semblance of normality (i.e. non-mummy time); The time I spend at the hair salon and the beauty salon is my me-time.

I discovered The Retreat on Denmark Street, Wokingham nearly 6 years ago when I first moved to Berkshire. After a disastrous haircut at a salon in Bracknell I HAD to find something better. I googled hairdressers in Berkshire, found The Retreat and never looked back. I don't live in Wokingham (yet... watch this space) but the 4 mile drive every few weeks is worth it.

I have had my hair cut by the same person for the past 6 years. This is a record for me. I trust her and have done ever since day one. Kathryn, my stylist has been with me through tangled tresses, long sumptious highlights and a short dark-brown bob! Like all the hair dressers at The Retreat, she has been trained to understand the customer's needs. She has learned that I like to chill out and that I'm not so bothered about conversation – whereas the next client she has may want to chat all afternoon.

As a hair-salon The Retreat stands out for me for a number of reasons. The atmosphere is buzzy yet relaxed so that it appeals to clients of ALL ages and sexes (Mr. B. is a regular). The staff don't fit the 'hairdresser' stereotype. They are all, on the whole, polite, efficient and focussed on their role. The Retreat is also at the forefront of salon innovation – as I have my hair-washed and my head massaged I am treated to on-screen travel-advice and pop-quizzes although I'm not so sure how important it is to me that I can buy shampoo for my pet while I'm there!



The Retreat beauty salon is my haven! Situated just a little further down Denmark Street, the beauty salon is housed in a gorgeous wooden-beamed property with creaky staircases and wonky floors! The treatment rooms are well-equipped with several of them offering showers for treatments that require them. The olde worlde building really adds to the luxurious atmosphere but it does mean that they struggle with hot water supplies from time to time!

The Retreat offers all the standard treatments along with facial treatments from Decleor and La Biosthetique. I enjoy turning up early for my appointments so that I can sit in a comfy chair, enjoy a hot drink from their extensive 'menu' and try out the Decleor samples on display. It is peaceful and welcoming and I find the staff just as courteous and enthusiastic with new customers as with regular clients.



Over the past few years I have, on occasion, tried other beauty salons and have been disappointed. The Retreat ranks up alongside the treatment rooms at the major spas such as Nirvana spa, or Aqua Sana at Center Parcs (and I think it beats the treatment rooms at Champneys hands-down). The rooms at The Retreat could be more comfortable, they could be more standardised between consultants and they could be better sound-proofed (It's not nice hearing someone else experience a Brazillian for the first time) but there are few other salons I have tried who can beat The Retreat for the friendliness of their staff, for the consistent quality of their facial, waxing or nail treatments and definitely no-one comes close at customer service.

I would recommend The Retreat for Hair and Beauty treatments in Berkshire without hesitation. The Retreat has been with me since myself and Mr. B. first moved in together; they helped prepare me for my wedding, to keep me healthy and sane during pregnancy (my first Braxton hicks happened while lying on a massage table having a Decleor mother-to-be treatment!) and this week, not only will they be responsible for Lara's first ever hair-cut but The Retreat will be the last place I visit before heading off on my trip down to Bognor Regis for the glamorous MADs award ceremony!

If you would like to give your salon a shout out, I'd love to hear about them. Please post your review in the linky below and I'll enjoy reading your reviews and who knows, I may even visit if I'm in your area.

All images courtesy of The Retreat.

The Sunday Review – Olay Total Effects Wake Up Wonder

Regular readers of Mellow Mummy will know that I am still on the lookout for a moisturiser I can fall in love with. In my entire adult life I think I have only been back to buy another bottle of a moisturiser brand on two occasions – I’m not brand loyal when it comes to moisturiser. For the past fortnight I have been using the new Olay Total Effects Wake Up Wonder; I’m not going to jump the gun and say that this IS the moisturiser I have been looking for all these years but yes, things are looking promising.

On the first day, I was wowed by the light texture and the zingy, minty freshness of the fragrance. When I put it on my face, my skin said “aaah”. It felt and smelt just like the feeling you get after having a really powerful shower with expensive shower gel at a posh hotel the night after a few too many drinks. Refreshing and rejuvenating.

Things went a bit downhill from there though. Every time I used it, my skin felt great for about 15 minutes but within an hour it started releasing grease by the bucket-load. It felt gross. After 3 days of use I was ready to give up the trial but I stuck to it. I guess it must just have been my skin responding to a change in product because on day 4 my skin didn’t turn greasy and my face felt firm, clean, smooth and generally fabulous.

Having used the product for a fortnight, I really can see some changes to the 7 signs of ageing that Olay boast about. I certainly have more even skin tone after just two short weeks and my skin feels smoother and more refined but I think I shall have to wait to see if there are more significant changes to the appearance of pores and small lines.

I’m really loving my Olay Total Effects Wake Up Wonder and I hope that the honeymoon period doesn’t wear off for me.

The Sunday Review – A'Kin Hand, Nail & Cuticle Cream

Image courtesy of mypure.co.uk

A'Kin make two different Hand, Nail & Cuticle creams. One is an unfragranced intensive moisturiser, the other is a heavenly scented cream made with Lavender, Geranium and Jojoba oils.

I love this hand cream because it is effective (I firmly believe that you shouldn't notice how good a hand-cream is until you stop using it! If you realise your hands are dry and crispy when you stop, then you know it was doing its job well!).

The A'Kin hand cream isn't oily or greasy. It is easily absorbed into my hands and with essential oils and added vitamin B5 and E, it really does help to protect your hands from signs of age.

It's two biggest plus points though are the same things that I rave about every time I try a new A'Kin product. Number 1, it is all natural so no chemical nasties. Number 2, the truly amazing scent that makes me mellow every time I use it.

A'Kin hand creams are available from mypure.co.uk which is full of organic and natural goodies of all types.

The Sunday Review - Tiddley Pom Natural Baby Spa

Oh I'm a sucker for smellies. I'm sure Lara would be too if she knew how to be a sucker for anything... until she does, I shall do it on her behalf. These past few weeks Lara has been being pampered with the organic baby wash from Tiddley Pom. It has been heavenly, but definitely not your every day kind of baby wash!

A baby wash has got to be incredibly good to be worth £9.99 a bottle. I just don't think I would ever choose to buy a baby product that expensive unless I had tried it before and KNEW it was worth it. However, I would like to think that nice people would buy something like Tiddley Pom as a gift for my baby. I guess it's the same as with my favourite smellies – I would never spend a fortune on a bubble bath or skincare products for me, but I always like to receive them as presents.

Tiddley Pom claim to be the first UK company to offer a holistic spa range for babies. Their approach is a sensory one – pampering babies through touch, smell and sound. Alongside their range of baby massage oil, body lotion, baby wash and nappy balm, Tiddley Pom also have a set of calming music CDs to accompany your baby massage, settle your baby to sleep or just as a good excuse for cuddles.

Tiddley Pom was founded by Emma Nash. As an expert in natural cosmetics for the skincare and spa industry, she was perfectly placed to develop a range suitable for her baby daughter who had sensitive skin prone to eczema, just like Lara does. Tiddley Pom products are made in the UK using natural ingredients. They contain no parabens, mineral oils, SLS or other nasties which is perfect for sensitive skin.

We tried the Tiddley Pom organic baby wash which comes in a pump bottle. You need just a few drops in a small bath (although you need quite a lot to get a foam going in a full-sized bath). The product smells lovely – a very gentle and not-over-powering scent of lavender and chamomile. Additionally made with Aloe and Xantham Gum, it is well targeted to the healing of dry or damaged skin. We loved the smell – it really does remind me of the gentle, aromatic surroundings of some of the best spas and salons I have been to. When used the baby wash in large quantities, we found it made a great hair and body wash as it lathered quite easily (which is surprising for an SLS-free product).

We have also been listening to the Tiddley Pom 'Baby Cuddles' CD. It is a long and incredibly mellow set of instrumental tracks ideal for playing during a relaxing baby massage or as a way of settling down before bed. Lara found it very peaceful but I found it, much like the music they play in my own beauty salon, extremely reviving – I am more than happy to have it playing in the background during my day to help me chill out!

If you use it sparingly, as a special treat, I don't see why Tiddley Pom products can't be considered good value for money. But I do think that a smaller bottle at a smaller price would be more appealing, and perhaps a small glass (recycled/recyclable) bottle would make the product feel even more luxurious.

The Tiddley Pom organic baby wash costs around £9.99 for 200ml. You can find their products in Harrods or online at http://tiddley-pom.com/shop. Their 'Baby's First Spa Experience' boxed set looks like an amazingly luxurious gift for any new baby.

All Images courtesy of Fuse Communications

The Sunday Review – Earth Friendly Baby

Earth Friendly Baby is a brand of organic, eco-friendly, natural toiletries and baby essentials. You can see some of their products in the big supermarkets and at Boots but you can also buy online at many of the eco-baby websites such as So Organic Ltd.

All of their products (from baby wipes to body lotions) are simple, yet fun. The packaging is bright, without being garish and their scents are tangy and strong without being artificial.

We recently tried the Earth Friendly Baby Organic Chamomile Bubblebath (£5.99). It is very runny for a bubble bath because it it made from natural ingredients. This means that it is quite hard to be sparing with it but you soon learn that a little goes a long way. We live in an area of very hard water and normally, natural bath products struggle to produce a lather (because of their lack of chemical nasties). Surprisingly, we found that the Earth Friendly Baby Bubblebath produced the most impressive bubbles of any baby bath we have used to date; and, as a bonus, it left a fresh scent in the bathroom after use.

We also tried the Organic Calendula Daily Care Cream (£5.49). Until now, we have been using the Weleda Calendula Lotion (£7.50) on Lara's body; it is runny and, after months of using it, I've found, quite frankly, that it is ineffective at anything other than making Lara (a)smell scrumptious and (b)a bit slippery. In contrast, the Earth Friendly Baby Daily Care Cream is thick (thickened with vegetable oil and beeswax) and easy to apply. Designed as a nappy barrier cream, it also makes a great moisturiser for sensitive skin such as Lara's because it makes a protective barrier over the skin. It is the first body cream I have used on Lara which seems to prevent, rather than just relieve her dry skin.

We have also won one of the Shampoo & Bodywash products from the Earth Friendly Kids range from Mummy's Busy World. The 'zingy citrus' range is so zingy and citrussy that myself and Mr. B. stole it off Lara! Great fun for all the family.

Images courtesy of Sparkle PR

The Sunday Review – Mama Baby Bliss

Mama Baby Bliss is more than a retail website. Its a way of life – a pampering, nurturing approach to maternity and motherhood. The founder, Justina, is an expert in her field; providing holistic, natural support to mums through pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood.

A little while ago I was sent a Mama Baby Bliss Stick to try out. The Bliss Stick is an aromatherapy oil blend in a roll-on applicator designed to slip into your changing bag or handbag to provide a little uplifting boost at times of stress. The oil's amazing scent is a mixture of lime oil, geranium oil and bergamot – three essential oils for an energising pick-me-up when applied to the pulse points on the wrists or forehead. I have used my Bliss Stick at work to help me get through those long afternoons, and at home to fight off headaches.

I was impressed by the Bliss Stick so I checked out the Mama Baby Bliss online store at their website. There is a small range of products available which are all beautifully packaged natural pampering products. For a friend of mine who is very shortly due her second baby, I bought a bottle of “Oooh..” Bath Soak and some “Aaah...” Soothing Balm from the 'New Mums' section of the website. The Bath Soak is a heavenly mix of lavender, calendula, aloe vera and geranium – the ideal combination for post natal healing. The Soothing Balm is a mix of Sunflower oil, beeswax, shea butter, mango butter and vitamin E and is designed to relieve chapped skin, particularly cracked nipples.

Ordering was easy. Payment was even easier – payment is made online through Paypal. Despite opting for the 'Super Saver' delivery (which was FREE), my items were delivered within 48 hours in a box packed full of beautiful wrapping and a gift card with a personalised message. The products are more expensive than anything similar you would find on the highstreet but they are all natural and make a special treat for a new mum who needs all the pampering she can get.

Mama Baby Bliss also offer weight loss, breastfeeding, yoga and massage classes, tips and advice for new mums and mums to be.

Images courtesy of peekaboocoms.co.uk

The Sunday Review -Lovea Tahitian Monoi Body Lotion

I recently read a review of the Lovea Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Body Lotion that said the product worked really well, but that the smell was unpleasant. Well, I think I shall turn that on its head with this review. I guess that a body lotion is a very personal preference and what works well for one person, might not work well for someone else's skin type – we're all different.

I have totally fallen in love (ha, ha) with my Lovea shampoo so I had high hopes of their body lotion. The moisturising lotion, like all of Lovea's products, is made from organic plant-based products and is free from sulfates, parabens and pthalates so I was hoping that it would be kind to the stressed and bonkers skin on my arms and legs.

I found the body lotion to be quite thin, but this means it is very refreshing and almost instantly absorbed (or is that just my dehydrated and unloved skin?). I have been using it for three weeks now on my arms and legs and have noticed no lasting difference so I'm not wowed.

I do however find the smell totally and utterly scrumptious. The smell of the Tahitian flowers is tropical, summery and light. It reminds me of my childhood in Hong Kong and is a relaxing smell to help me relax in the evening before I go to bed.

Lovea Tahitian Monoi Body Lotion is available from mypure.co.uk and is suitable for normal skin types.

The Sunday Review – A'Kin Conditioner

I've been experimenting with shampoos and conditioners again. My hair needs a lot of conditioning – it is coloured and it is just at that length where it knots and tangles incredibly easily despite being generally greasy. Many are the days when I feel like I should resort to a pair of scissors rather than trying to detangle my tresses.

Having enjoyed my A'Kin facial mist last month, I was more than happy to try out one of their range of conditioners. I have been using their Jojoba and Lavender Conditioner which smells totally and utterly fabulous. Using it is like having a full-on aromatherapy head massage!

Image courtesy of mypure.co.uk

A'Kin products are all made from Australian organic, plant-based products so they are free from sulphates, parabens and pthalates – one of the other advantages to A'Kin products is that they never use mineral oils in their hair care products which is fab, given that I am allergic to them (this can often limit my choice of cosmetics).

The conditioner is described as 'light'. It is a very thin consistency and you really only need an extremely tiny amount to do the job. I found it hard to get used to how little I needed and so the first few times I used it, I overdid it a little and found my hair to be sticky and heavy. My hairdresser is always telling me how little conditioner I need so I reduced the quantities and very soon found that my hair improved in texture. Now, after I have used it, my hair feels clean and manageable.

I haven't noticed any considerable improvement in the knotted-ness and tangly-ness of my hair, but it does feel and look healthier than before. Unfortunately, that amazing smell of A'Kin Jojoba and Lavender Conditioner doesn't linger (Boo).

The Sunday Review – [A'kin] Pure Rose Hydrating Facial Mist

A facial mist is such a summery thing. Light, refreshing and relaxing.

I have been using the [A'kin] Pure Rose Hydrating Facial Mist for a few weeks. It is like summer in a bottle. The lingering scent of roses it leaves reminds me of warm summer afternoons in the front garden of my childhood home.

I use my [A'kin] Facial Mist at work to refresh my tired face and eyes and get me through the day – it's moisturising qualities are a great way of combating the drying effects of the air-conditioning in my office.

I use it on hot spring days to cool my face and body down.

Image courtesy of mypure.co.uk

I'm planning on taking it in my hand-luggage to New York later this month (in a sealed plastic bag of course) so that I can keep myself cool and well-moisturised during the flight. I'm also hoping for great weather while we're there so a summery spritz of this should help to cool me down.

My one gripe with this product is that it claims to be anti-ageing. It achieves this through use of hyaluronic acid which is widely recognised as a great natural anti-ageing ingredient in small levels but I know some people feel strongly about it's use so I think it is a shame to have it hidden in the list of ingredients among some harmless, beautiful plant extracts such as dog rose, aloe barbadensis and Austrailian bush flowers.

[A'kin] products are high in natural ingredients and use organic ingredients where possible. You can find them in the UK at mypure.co.uk.

The Sunday Review - Lovea Shampoo aka My Shampoo Snobbery

In the first of two reviews today, I'm going to tell you about my shampoo snobbery. I'm really fussy about shampoo. In my entire life I have tried about a gazillion different brands but have found only 3 shampoos that I like enough to go back to. One of them stops hair loss so was really only useful after I stopped breast feeding, one of them costs far too much for it to be my every day shampoo and the other... well... given my general leaning towards all things natural and kind to your skin, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit, is Pantene.

So, when I was recently asked to try Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo, the green, natural-cosmetics-loving side of me thought, “ooh”, while the practical, shampoo-snob in me though “bah”. I was prepared to give it a try.

Lovea is a French brand of certified organic hair and body products. Lovea has been recently launched in the UK by mypure.

Image courtesy of mypure.co.uk

It took me a while to work out that Argan is actually an ingredient, and not just a groovy-sounding name! Argan oil is a traditional Moroccan ingredient used to bring hair and skin back to life. This shampoo is specifically designed to wake up previously dull and lifeless hair. At present, it is 8 weeks since I had my hair cut and several months since I last had it coloured. My hair is definitely dull and lifeless but I'm waiting until just before our holiday to have it done. In the meantime, I shall perk my hair up a bit with Lovea.

The shampoo smells great and produces a good lather (something that is very rare in paraben-free cosmetics). I found that it left my hair with that wonderful feeling of being TOTALLY clean. I pay good money for that feeling at the hairdressers, and when I buy my salon shampoo products so it is great to be able to reproduce it with something less damaging to me, my hair and the environment. My hair feels a lot lighter and cleaner after using it than it does with my trusty Pantene.

Lovea shampoos are not expensive (they're not cheap either... just above normal really at about £4!). As an organic, natural alternative to supermarket and salon brands I think its great value and I'm happy to add it to my list of Emma-approved shampoos!

The Sunday Review – Kosmea Facial Serum

I have recently discovered mypure.co.uk . It is just my kind of place. They sell high-end natural and organic skin care, hair care and body care products for women, men, kids and babies. Everything sold by mypure is sulfate free, paraben free & phthalate free.

One of the new brands of products recently introduced at mypure is Kosmea. Kosmea is an Australian brand known for their 100% organic rose-hip oil products.

Image courtesy of mypure.co.uk

Kosmea Revitalising Facial Serum features their 'Eighth Natural Wonder' all-natural anti-wrinkle technology. Sounds impressive, but does it work? I have been using this product twice a day for a week and I know that isn't enough to prove the anti-ageing technology, but it's certaily long enough for me to know that I enjoy the feel of my skin after I use this product.

The serum is incredibly light and is instantly absorbed into my skin. It is designed to give your skin an instant lift and it certainly does. When I use it in the morning before work I put a little on just before my normal moisturiser, my face feels tight, bright and at its best. At night I don't need to use anything else – I just put some serum on and let it get to work.

In its practical application, and its effectiveness as an anti-ageing serum, Kosmea facial serum is incredibly similar to the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum that I recently reviewed. The difference is that the ingredients in Kosmea are all natural. As well as the rose-hip oil, you are treated to Vitamin e and to Hibiscus.

My absolute favourite feature of the product is the smell. The gentle hint of rose is supplemented with the relaxing, summery scent of geranium oil. The smell, combined with the light texture of this serum means that it has become an instant favourite of mine.

Kosmea Facial Serum is available from mypure.co.uk from £25. Postage is incredibly reasonable at £1.49 or free if you spend over £35.

The Sunday Review – Perfectil Skin, Hair & Nails Supplement

I wouldn't normally recommend a food supplement because there really is no substitute for a healthy balanced diet. But... I wanted to let you know about Perfectil (which I discovered by accident) because I have been using it for a month and I'm really happy with the effect it has had in countering the loss of 'mummy glow' I experienced when I gave up breastfeeding in January.

Before I fell pregnant, I was taking a multi-vitamin. I do eat a very healthy, generally balanced diet but there are gaps that I try to fill. I hate drinking milk and until very recently, I have not eaten any fish at all. Sometimes, my body just needs a bit of a boost.

I stopped taking my multi-vitamin when I became pregnant to ensure that there wasn't too much of any one thing in my system. After I had Lara, there was a big tub of cheap multi-vitamins and a random packet of Perfectil (I have no idea where it came from, probably a prize?) sitting in my bathroom cupboard, looking unloved. Obviously, during breastfeeding I couldn't start taking a supplement again (however drained I felt) but I did briefly trial the Pregnacare breastfeeding supplement for the Mother & Baby awards last summer shortly after Lara was born. It is hard to measure the effectiveness of a food supplement designed to give your baby the best start in life... I'll get back to you in about 16 years and tell you whether it delivered on its promises!

In January I gave up breastfeeding. Within one week all of my finger nails had broken. Within two weeks my hair had dulled and I had started to moult more than the blimmin' cat. Within one month of giving up breastfeeding I had developed dry skin and a rash on my arms having never ever suffered from dry skin before in my life. And so, I raided the bathroom cupboard for that box of Perfectil.

Image courtesy of Vitabiotics

Perfectil is a nutritional supplement for skin, hair and nails. You take a tablet each day with your main meal. The tablet contains 22 nutrients designed to help you gain a clear complexion, glossy hair and strong nails. It provides antioxidant carotenoids to protect skin tissues; plant extracts such as grape seed extract for a healthy complexion and vitamins and minerals for blood circulation and tissue formation.

It took a couple of weeks but I did soon notice a change to my finger nails. They are back the way they should be – strong, long and healthily gorgeous. I love my finger nails! I have now been taking Perfectil for a month. My hair may not be the shiny flowing locks they were during pregnancy but I'm certainly not shedding it any more and it doesn't look flat and miserable – just normal. I can't see a significant change in my skin but I'm prepared to wait a while and see what happens.

Perfectil is made by Vitabiotics can be found at most major retailers or online for around £8.50 for a month's supply . I've found it to be a great way of re-balancing my skin, my hair and most definitely my nails after the enormous changes that motherhood brings.