MyPure Natural Christmas Presents and Stocking Fillers #bbloggers #naturalbeauty #organic #review

I flippin' love this time of year.  Planning and buying for Christmas.  Plotting gift ideas for friends, family and of course me!  This month as a MyPure blogger we were encouraged to explore what MyPure.co.uk has on offer that would make a good Christmas gift or stocking filler for someone in your life who deserves a natural or organic treat.

MyPure currently have quite a phenomenal range of Christmas gift packs from natural fragrances to skincare collections for both men and women.  This Acorelle Eau de Toilette Jasmine Allure gift set contains two bottles of natural fragrance - a 50ml bottle for home and a little 15ml atomiser bottle to put into your handbag or take in your hand luggage when travelling.

The Jasmne Allure scent is a very classical scent which starts light and summery with hints of jasmine but finishes with quite an earthy, woody lasting smell - I think it is a perfect autumnal scent.  I'd be over the moon if someone bought me this Acorelle gift set for Christmas and I think it is a total bargain at £12.50.

In the Mellow household, I am the person responsible for provision of all stocking-fillers, even my own.  I chose myself this Madara tinting lip gloss to be a little treat for in my stocking this Christmas.

I have become a big fan of Madara skincare (both for me, and my little ones) but this is the first time I've tried a lipgloss from Madara and I tell you what, it is just as luxurious and heavenly as any facial product I've tried to date from Madara.  This gorgeous muted pink lip gloss sets me up for the day in terms of colour and moisture - it also has just a teeny tiny hint of sparkle.  I loved trying it out so much that I decided not to save it for Christmas!  At £7.50 it is fairly pricey for a lipgloss, even a plant-based one, but it is definitely worth it.

You can find out more about Mypure on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

MYPURE CHRISTMAS DELIVERY DATES
Last date for Standard Delivery (FREE) before Xmas – Order by 2pm Wednesday 17th December
Last date for Premium Delivery (£2.95) before Xmas – Order by 2pm Friday 19th December
Last date for Predict Next Day Courier Delivery (£4.95, free when you spend £60) before Xmas – Order by 2pm Monday 22nd December

Barefoot SOS, Natural Sensitive Skincare Review

Barefoot SOS is a range of natural skincare products specifically designed for people with REALLY sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.  The Barefoot SOS range is available from MyPure and this month I have been trying out a couple of these gorgeous natural skincare products as part of the MyPure blogger programme.

Barefoot is a brand I've known about for some time, one of the biggest names in natural skincare, but for some reason or other I've never tried them before.  Although my skin is far less sensitive than it was a couple of years ago, I've got into the good habit of using natural facial skincare products so the Barefoot SOS range seemed perfect.

The Barefoot SOS Soothing Face & Body Wash is a very light, non-foaming lotion which I use as a daily face wash to cleanse my skin in the minutes after I've woken up each morning.  You can also use it as a gentle all-over body wash and in fact, it is suitable for even the most delicate of skin types so I could use it for the girls as a body wash as they both suffer from eczema.

The Barefoot SOS face wash smells totally heavenly with a mix of zingy lemon tea tree oil and floral geranium scents which is one of the reasons why I enjoy using it in the mornings so much - it makes a good pick me up!  Other active ingredients include evening primrose oil and jojoba oil for their moisturising properties and well as chickweed and burdock for their soothing, calming properties.  The ingredients are 98% natural.

Initially I was a little worried that the face wash would be too liquidy and because it is non-foaming I wasn't sure how effective it would be at cleaning away the night's gungy residue from my face each morning.  But I needn't have worried - I think it is a pretty effective cleanser given that it is a natural product with as few irritants as possible.  I think it makes a great facial wash, especially if you have sensitive skin of any sort.  It costs £16 for 200ml.

Next up is the Barefoot SOS Barrier Hand Cream.  I LOVE this!  They call this hand cream "Safety Gloves" because not only does it sooth dry skin on your hands, but it actively protects them against further damage, just like a pair of gloves!

The hand cream is a really nice thick texture, and despite forming a "barrier" over your skin, it doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy, in fact, you can feel it getting to work straight away moisturising the backs of your hands.

As with all products in the Barefoot SOS range, the barrier hand cream is suitable for really sensitive skin conditions.  It is made with shea butter for helping to create that barrier against irritants and against drying agents but also with macadamia, sunflower and jojoba oils for extra moisturisation.

When I first used the Barefoot SOS hand cream I couldn't quite put my finger on the scent.  It isn't floral but then again it isn't really musky... to me it smelled of "plant"!  In fact, the pure essential oils that give it the sent are frankincense and lavender which are both for soothing and restorative properties for both the skin and nails.  The Barefoot SOS Barrier Hand Cream costs £13 for 50ml.

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Madara Cleansing Milk and Clarifying Toner Review - from MyPure #bbloggers #naturalbeauty #organic #review

Long time readers of Mellow Mummy will know quite how strongly I believe in my daily ritual of cleansing, toning and moisturising.  To me, a good cleansing milk and matching toner are two beauty staples that every mellow mummy should have in their armoury of beauty products.  And, likewise, loyal readers probably know that when it comes to skincare products I like to sing the praises of brands that (a) actually work and (b) offer a natural or organic alternative to the big high street names.  Madara skincare products tick both of these boxes for me.

Madara Clarifying Toner and Madara Cleansing Milk

Madara cosmetics are entirely natural cosmetics certified by ECOCERT. ECOCERT prohibits the use of synthetic perfumes and preservatives like parabens, mineral oil and propylene glycol. We have used Madara baby shampoo in the past and loved it but thanks to Mypure, this is my first opportunity to try out the facial skinscare range from Madara for adults.

Madara Cleansing Milk

I love this cleanser!

This Madara Cleansing Milk left my skin feeling fabulous after use.  It is thick, but not so thick it feels gloppy - it comes in a pump dispenser which worked well (often they don't!).  I applied the cleanser with my fingers and wiped off using cotton pads and I found it worked particularly well when finished off with the toner and my skin felt fabulously clean.

The active ingredients of the Madara cleansing milk include oat kernel extract and linden flower extract which are both known for their soothing properties and calendula which is not only soothing but cleansing too.  I thought the scent was gentle and refreshing which adds to the feeling of cleanliness.

The Madara Cleansing Milk costs £15 for 200ml at Mypure.

Madara Clarifying Toner and Madara Cleansing Milk

Madara Clarifying Toner

To me, a good toner has to be refreshing and zingy yet soothing - it has to leave my skin feeling clean and ready for action. The Madara clarifying toner is a nice and gentle lotion that definitely achieves my"refreshing" and "soothing" goals.

I found the product easy to dispense onto a cotton pad but it smelled a bit too much like witch hazel to me to meet my "zingy" expectations.  Interestingly the ingredients don't seem to include witch hazel but instead has active ingredients such as rose flower water, cucumber extract and oak bark.  Admittedly, I had to look the ingredients up online on the Mypure website as the text on the bottle was printed in the same colour as the green lotion inside so I couldn't read it!!!

The Madara Clarifying Toner costs £12 for 200ml at Mypure.

You can find out more about Mypure on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

Naked Mini Knee High De-Tangling Shampoo Review

Here in the Mellow household we love our natural and organic skincare and bodycare products for both Mummy and baby so we were excited to find out about Naked Mini. I've known about Naked skincare and bodycare products for a while but until recently I didn't know that they made a range of products specifically for babies and young children - Naked Mini.

Holly and Lara have been trying out the Naked Mini Knee High De-Tangler Shampoo. Naked make products using active natural ingredients instead of harsh cosmetics - their products are all free from parabens, sulphates and petrochemicals. It is an approach to skincare and body care that we are very familiar with in the Mellow household and for the girls, it is the most sensible option as they both suffer a lot from dry and sensitive skin so I have to be extra cautious about what products I use on their skin. I always look for products for them which are free from parabens and SLS - it is a choice I made very early on and I'm glad to say that this is the Naked Mini mantra too.

Naked Mini products are for people who want a little more cleaning power for their baby's skin and hair than just plain old water (which is as natural as you can get!). The De-Tangler Shampoo contains aloe vera extract to help keep your baby's scalp soft and avoid cradle cap - we found it to leave Holly's hair and face feeling beautifully soft. The Shampoo does lather, despite being SLS-free and so we are able to use it on our big girl's hair too which is so long that it needs lots of love and attention these days.  We loved the very gentle lavender scent (I can find lavender very overpowering sometimes).

In the space of the last month Holly has reached the age where she has started to moan about getting water and shampoo in her eyes (as her big sister did at exactly the same age). Because the origins of the ingredients in the Naked Mini Knee High Shampoo are all natural there is less chance of irritation so I know that if either of the girls complains about sore eyes, it is almost certainly them just playing up.

I didn't really understand the 'knee high' reference in the product name (OK, Holly is knee-high on me... but so?) but I thought that the Knee-High De-Tangler Shampoo was a good product at an attractive price compared to other natural baby products (currently £2.99 for 250ml on the Naked website). Having used this shampoo I will certainly be looking at the Naked for Kids range for my older daughter too.

The Naked Mini range also includes Go Ga-Ga Gentle Body Wash, My First Butter and Cute as a Button Bath Foam. You can buy the baby bath and bodycare products from Boots and online at www.boots.com and www.nakedbodycare.co.uk.

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.

Fairtrade baby loveliness from Organic Monkey

Today marks the end of Fairtrade fortnight and to celebrate, Holly and I have been using some of the gorgeous products from Organic Monkey who specialise in fairtrade and organic skincare products for babies.

As big fans of the Organic Monkey cheek rub oil we were excited to try out some of the other fairtrade and organic products. I was all the more excited when I realised that their signature baby massage oil is called "Hello Mellow Organic Massage Oil" !

These days Holly doesn't often stay still for long enough for me to massage her but occasionally when she is in the right mood to zone out I do still perform a little baby massage on her legs, chest and arms.  This massage oil is a beautiful scent (although Organic Monkey do also make an unscented version) which is an uplifting mix of citrus with soothing chamomile and lavender.  I found the mix of the oil to be quite light which means it is very easy to apply and you don't need to use very much of it.  I thought the introduction of sweet orange oil was a great idea as it makes the scent that little bit out of the ordinary.  All of the base ingredients that are farmed to make Organic Monkey's balms and oils are bought through fairtrade arrangements.

We also tried out the Organic Monkey Bumfluff Nappy Balm.  The blend of oils is quite similar, but without the citrus zing.  The balm is made with a mix of essential oils and fairly-traded shea butter to help smooth and soften skin and is intended to prevent the conditions which encourage nappy rash.  Holly suffers immensely from nappy rash so we tend to use a lot of nappy balm as a preventative measure.  I would say that this balm  didn't seem to prevent the rash but once it was there, it definitely soothed.  Holly is beginning to be able to communicate with me and it is very clear when the nappy rash causes her pain... with the bumfluff balm she seems happy and comfortable.  The nappy balm is very very light and once again you just need a thin film of it - I use the balm all over the bottom, not just in the areas which suffer from redness.

Organic Surge Gentle Meadow Body Lotion Review

Now that Holly is no longer a tiny newborn baby, I am increasingly finding that I have a little bit more time for myself to get back into my skincare and bodycare regimes again and it is nice to have some new smellies to make me feel like me again. I have been using Organic Surge's Gentle Meadow Body Lotion which is particularly recommended for expectant and new mums because it is great for nourishing stressed, stretched skin.

The Gentle Meadow body lotion smells just like .... err... a gentle meadow??? Well, yes! The lotion is made from natural ingredients and is scented with a blend of lavender and geranium which make it a truely heavenly smelling body lotion that chills me out as soon as I open the lid. Lavender is particularly good for relaxation and de-stressing and calming me down at the end of a busy day with two cheeky monkies.

Unlike some natural and organic body lotions that I have tried in recent months, the Organic Surge Gentle Meadow Body Lotion does seem to hydrate my skin - I notice this most on my lower legs and upper arms. It is quite a nice thick lotion but still easy to squeeze out of the bottle and apply. It is just oily enough to coat the skin but not so greasy that it sits there for hours.

Organic Surge Gentle Meadow body lotion is suitable for even the most sensitive skin during and after pregnancy (and whenever you feel like being pampered... you don't need to be a new mummy to enjoy it!). It is SLS and paraben free and doesn't have any man-made fragrance or colour in it.

I have really been enjoying using this body lotion and I think, given that I have noticed Organic Surge products popping up in my local Waitrose, it may well be a product that I continue using for some time to come.

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Bath & Shower Gel Review

When I was pregnant with Holly, I asked the wise people of twitter for recommendations on pampering products for me to enjoy as a new mum and almost everyone replied to recommend Neal's Yard Remedies. I bought a couple of bubble baths and then this month I was asked to review the new family range of Bee Lovely products by Neal's Yard Remedies.

The Bee Lovely range is made with organic bee-friendly honey to highlight the alarming decline in UK bee population of britain. The range features organic essential oils from orange peel and mandarin and is suitable for young children all the way through to adulthood because of its mild formulations.

We tried out the Bee Lovely Bath & Shower Gel. Neal's Yard aren't wrong when they say the shower gel is "light". It is a very fluid, transparent gel which foams a little, and reading through the ingredient list I'd have no problems using it on Lara's sensitive skin.

The scent is awesome. Properly mind blowing. The combination of sweet honey with zingy orange peel and the lighter hints of mandarin is like nothing I have ever come across before. The smell alone leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for action. The honey is intended to offer moisturising qualities. I bliming LOVE this shower gel but I don't want to share it with my family... I want to keep it all to myself.

The plight of bees is a topic close to the Mellow family heart. In the past 4 months since Holly was born, Lara has watched the movie "Bee Movie" over two million times (it feels like it). Interestingly Lara has taken away something useful from the movie... without bees doing what bees do best, our wild spaces change and honey would have to be brought in from elsewhere. Bees are important and we have to maintain their habitats if we are to maintain bee populations.

You can join the campaign to save Britain's bees with Neal's Yard Remedies by signing their online petition on their Facebook app or following the #BeeLovely tag on twitter.

Big Green Smile - Pure Beginnings Baby Cosmetics Review

I LOVE a good set of baby cosmetics! And, as you have probably gathered by now, I'm a huge fan of organic and natural cosmetics in the first instance, especially for young skin. Eco shopping website Big Green Smile is just my kind of website and they asked Holly (and me) to review one of their new ranges of baby skincare products - Pure Beginnings.

Pure Beginnings is a family business from South Africa who make organic and natural cosmetics for babies. Pure Beginnings specialise combine herbal botanical ingredients with plant ingredients, many of which are unique to Africa. They also pride themselves on the fact that they contribute to the welfare of South Africa's rural communities and protect its biodiversity.

Our favourite product from the range was the Pure Beginnings Baby Bum Cream which has a self-explanatory name! We don't use a lot of nappy cream (no need if you have good cloth nappies!) but in the warm weather the nappies have become a bit clammy and Holly has needed a barrier cream applied. The cream is a really nice buttery texture - not too runny, not too thick and, when I apply it, it makes a visible barrier on the skin.

The Pure Beginnings baby bum cream contains baobab extract which improves skin elasticity and is packed full of anti-oxidants. It also contains olive, lavender and tea tree oil which make the cream naturally anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral; It can also be used to soothe insect bites and stings as baobab has anti-inflammatory properties. The scent of the cream is really floral - to me it is the organic geranium oil that is most distinctive in its scent.

On Lara I have tried out the Pure Beginnings Baby Lotion to soothe her dry skin on her arms and legs. It smells divine, the same rose hint. Baobab is also a key ingredient in the baby lotion along with moisturising shea butter. It is lovely to apply and having also used it on myself, I can vouch for the fact that it is both refreshing and soothing.

Also in the range is a two-in-one baby bath and shampoo. I haven't yet used anything other than water on Holly's skin in the bath (a lesson I learned from last time was not to introduce cleansers to the skin too early in life) but for Lara, the shampoo seems to be a success. Once again, I've fallen in love with this product for its scent - the organic rose geranium oil is such a summery smell and leaves Lara smelling scrumptious! Baobab and rosemary are also key ingredients in this body wash and shampoo. It seems like a good all-round baby product and I look forward to using it on Holly in the coming months.

Big Green Smile also sell the toothpaste and bubble bath from the Pure Beginnings range for slightly older children than Holly.

Nourish Skincare Range Review

The Nourish skincare range is a range of natural cosmetics designed to gently target the signs of age using plant-based (and where appropriate, organic) ingredients. There are four key areas of products in the range to suit different skin types - Protect (for dry skin), Relax (for sensitive skin), Balance (for combination skin) and Radiance (for mature skin). I have been using some of the products from the Nourish Relax range over the past few weeks to see whether a natural moisturiser can be as effective at producing anti-ageing benefits as other products I have tried.



The Nourish Relax Face Moisturiser is an incredibly simple product. The cream is made from a sunflower seed and glycerin base which makes it a very thick cream and it reminds me of the simple base creams you can buy to mix your own at-home cosmetics. The active ingredients are lavender oil, borage oil and shea butter.

The lavender oil definitely contributes to a feeling of relaxation when I use the moisturiser. When I was younger, I used to find the smell of pure lavender oil overwhelming but these days I appreciate it's ability to calm not just me, but my skin - it has natural anti-inflammatory qualities. The scent is balanced somewhat with some gentle citrussy notes from other organic essential oils. I enjoy using the Nourish Face Moisturiser for it's soothing and calming effect but I don't feel an immediate return on investment or a long-term benefit to my skin when I use it.



The Nourish Relax Face Gel Serum has made my mornings that little bit more pleasurable! It is a very light facial serum that has a tingly, cooling feeling on the skin. As with the other products in the Relax range, the serum gel features Lavender as the primary active ingredient to help calm the skin and Aloe Vera to hydrate. It additionally features hyaluronic acid to help visibly smoothe the skin - I can't say I'm wholly comfortable with HA as a key ingredient as I know that it is frowned upon by some... but there is no denying that the effect of the serum on my skin each morning is definitely smoothing so I have mixed feelings about it.

I think the Nourish Relax facial gel serum is the perfect way to start the day as it makes my skin feel refreshed and ready to take on the day as well as providing a smooth starting point for my face.

One of the things I really like about the nourish brand is that the products look less serious than organic and natural cosmetics often do. The bright colours and bold graphics make the brand stand out - the products look fun and appealing.

You can follow Nourish Skin on Twitter or Facebook.

Tiddley Pom Organic Massage Oil Review

i have decided to get myself well-prepared for baby massage for when baby number two arrives. With Lara, I feel like I started too late and she had already made up her mind about what she did/did not like by the time I first tried baby massage on her. We regularly treat her skin with massage oil, but it never really turned out to be the relaxing, bonding experience that baby massage can be. For that reason I have lifted out my Tiddley Pom 'Baby Cuddles' CD that I first used some time ago and a bottle of Tiddley Pom organic massage oil that we were sent.

The Tiddley Pom massage oil is designed specifically for relaxing baby massage and is part of their 4-step relaxation routine (wash, massage, hydrate... bottom balm if you want a very simplified explanation of the process!). Here are a few of the reasons why I flipping LOVE this massage oil:-

• Although it is officially unscented, one of the key ingredients is blackcurrant oil which gives it just a tiny bit of tang along with the naturally strong aroma of argan oil. It also contains coconut oil and kukui oil in the blend.
• The bottle comes with a handy spray-dispenser so that you don't (as I have in the past) ruin an entire carpet by having to pour oil out onto your hand.
• It is gentle enough to be suitable on both the body and face so you can use it for an all-over massage.
• The blend of vegetable oils is chosen to offer natural vitamins including gamma linoleic acid, omega 6 and other fatty acids essential for healthy skin. I'm hoping this bodes well for baby number two's skin - here's hoping they don't suffer as much as Lara did.
• Although the blend of oils doesn't absorb instantly (you wouldn't want it to for a massage), it doesn't leave the skin feeling icky for ages afterwards. It just adds a light shine to the skin and certainly doesn't leave Lara and myself smelling of chip-pans.

I think that this Tiddley Pom massage oil, combined with a relaxing body wash and a mellow room scent is going to help make a great bedtime routine for the new baby.

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.

Gwdihw (Goody Hoo) Twinkle Toes Foot Balm Review

Gwdihw (pronounced Goody Hoo) is a welsh brand of skincare balms and remedies that can be found at mypure.co.uk.



Made in northern Wales from locally grown herbs, each balm has a different benefit and use. I chose to try the Twinkle Toes Foot Balm because I know that in the late stages of pregnancy I will be looking for anything I can lay my hands on to relieve my achey swollen feet and offer them that little lift.

The Gwdihw Twinkle Toes Foot Balm is recommended for relief of dry feet - not something I massively suffer with but they do get dry around the edges so I like to give them a nourishing treat occasionally. The balm seemed very hard and took quite a lot of rubbing and warming to become pliable enough to apply easily. The balm is primarily made with beeswax, olive oil and coconut oil but key active ingredients include marigold flowers and lavender essential oils during the infusing process which give the balm a gentle, natural scent.

The balm doesn't have a big impact like some of the salon brands of foot lotion I've tried but it does leave a lasting feeling of relief. One night after work I tried it on one foot only and the difference in feeling between the two feet was really noticeable.. the one on which I had applied the balm felt alive and ready to take on a whole new day. This is good news for those last days of pregnancy! I have yet to notice any improvement in the dry skin around the edges of my feet though.

The Twinkle Toes Foot Balm from Gwdihw costs £4.49. You can find out more about Gwdihw on their own website.

The Sunday Review – Lovea Bio Body Care

A little while back I discovered Lovea Bio organic shampoo with argan oil so I was really excited to get the chance to try out some of their body care products.



The Lovea Bio Burkina Shea Nourishing Body Balm costs £6.49 from mypure.co.uk and is a sizable tub. The body cream is quite rich so you don't need to use very much. The balm is wobbly to touch but kind of melts into your skin upon use so it absorbs well and doesn't leave me feeling sticky. The smell of shea butter is very strong yet comforting.

For an organic, paraben-free body lotion, I'm quite impressed. It is the first paraben-free body lotion that I've tried for adults (I've tried plenty for Lara). In terms of its effectiveness as a moisturising body balm, I'm still undecided about whether I would buy this product again.



The Lovea Bio Argan Oil Cell Renewal Body Scrub is scrumptious. I love the effect of the Argan oil on both my hair and body – it leaves me feeling silky and soft! This body scrub is incredibly effective, and rates up there with my current favourite (non organic, non paraben-free) Clarins bamboo scrub. The scrub is made with small pieces of sugar and orange peel which makes for a great exfoliant for use a couple of times a week.

My only complain with this product is that I struggle to get it out of the tube! The chunky bits get stuck in the opening which means you have to squeeze REALLY hard to get any out. Next time you try, the opening is unblocked and it takes you by surprise, causing it to squirt all over the bathroom. Note to self... don't point the tube towards your face when trying to remove the blockage. The Lovea Bio Argan Oil Cell Renewal Body Scrub costs £7.49 from mypure.

The Sunday Review - Alva Coleur Make Up

During the Christmas party season, I thought I would try out a new brand of make-up. Until now, it hadn't really mattered to me whether or not my make-up was organic, but organic cosmetics are becoming increasingly more available so I gave Alva COLEUR a whirl!

I tried out a very dashing slightly sparkly purple liquid eyeshadow from mypure. I can't say that I am totally won over by the concept of liquid eyeshadow - one of the things I love most about eye shadows is the ability to make some very subtle blends of shades across the eyelid but with a liquid eyeshadow it is hard to blend colours and the whole effect seems a bit flat. The sparkliness of the Alva COLEUR liquid eyeshadow does compensate for this a bit and I must admit that it does offer good coverage of the eye and the liquid dried surprisingly quickly.



I really liked the colours available for the liquid eyeshadows. The lilac in particular is a colour which can be bright and snazzy when you need it to be, but pastley and girly at other times.

I also tried out the Alva COLEUR Baked Foundation Powder. After my recent makeover experience in London, I decided to give founation another chance. I've never been a big fan - partly because I don't have much to cover (I like my own face as my base) and partly because I don't like the cakey, cloying feeling of having my whole face covered in powder.



Thankfully, after wearing this foundation powder all night, my face wasn't cakey, or cloyey! In fact, I had totally forgotten I was wearing it and my face wasn't shiny at all, it was still smooth and matt. I was astonished!

I found the Baked foundation powder quite firm and hard to loosen enough to be able to put onto a brush or sponge pad but perhaps that it is a good thing - it means you use less of it. It comes with its own separate compartment for a sponge pad. I found it easy to blend and incredibly subtle in colour (which is just what I was looking for)

The Alva COLEUR baked foundation powder is made from all sorts of natural goodies such as Macadamia nut oil and evening primrose oil so is also suitable for sensitive skin. I still don't think I love it enough to wear foundation regularly but for special occasions such as parties, I think that this brand is just my kind of thing.

The Baked Foundation powder costs £16.60 from mypure.co.uk and the liquid eyeshadow costs £9.70.

The Sunday Review - A'kin Baby Care

In my latest delivery of organic skincare goodies from mypure.co.uk I decided to treat Lara to some organic pampering. As I have enjoyed my A'Kin facial mist and A'Kin hand cream so much in the past, I ordered Lara some moisturiser and some body wash all of her own.

We have been using the A'Kin Baby Bath Wash and Shampoo at bath time. I think it is perfect for Lara as it is sulfate, paraben and pthalate free. It is colour free and is a totally clear liquid made with natuural plant-based moisturisers such as cornflower which are great for soothin delicate baby skin on both the body and scalp.

We loved the fact that it came in a hand-pump dispenser. Being able to pump the liquid into my hand means that I always have a spare hand to keep control of Lara in the bath and I don't have to worry about putting lids back on bottles before I carry on with Lara's bath. I was also really happy with the level of foam it generated when I rubbed it into Lara's skin - enough to get Lara really clean but not the type of foam that comes from harmful chemicals.

After her bath (and every morning), I use a moisturiser on Lara to combat her dry skin and ezcema. The A'Kin Baby Nurturing Natural Moisturiser smells divine - just like my A'Kin hand cream. It is a light, ever so slightly oily texture and is absorbed very quickly into Lara's skin. Lara has been enjoying rubbing it into her own arms and legs.

I can't say that I am that impressed by the moisturisation of the cream - her skin seems as dry as when I use no moisturiser at all (but the eczema isn't there). It is a shame because the smell is that much nicer than any of the other products I have tried - a blend of essential oils which have a wonderfully calming effect on both mother and baby.

Images courtesy of mypure.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 - 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!