AromaWorks Serenity Body Oil

Life is busy and it can be exhausting and stressful at times so every now and then you need to take some time out just for you.

My favourite thing to do to relax is to indulge in a warm, deep bubble bath and slather myself in a beautiful body oil.

AromaWorks Serenity Body Oil (£32.50) is currently my go-to oil for when I need a special pampering.

This rich yet light oil contains an aromatic blend of Lemongrass, Neroli & Geranium wrapped in organic coconut oil to help restore your emotions and leave your skin nourished and feeling silky smooth.

Warm and citrusy lemongrass combined with exotic neroli and soft, sweet geranium create the most wonderful and relaxing aroma while organic evening primrose oil works to nourish your skin.

The oil literally radiates joy right out of its bottle with its sunny shade of yellow and this sense of happiness and wellbeing is definitely transferred upon application!

The rich but non greasy oil is quickly absorbed, leaving behind a beautiful, delicate and relaxing aroma that stays with you for hours. 

It couldn’t be a more aptly named product with the power of the four essential oils working in unison to free your mind from the stresses of the day and uplifting your spirits to provide a wonderfully serene experience. 

AromaWorks Serenity Body Oil is available now and costs £32.50.

Yes To Cucumbers Shampoo & Conditioner

I’ve gotta say, when it comes to my beauty regime the one area that often gets neglected is my hair.

I never have time to style it to perfection on a daily basis and when it comes to choosing a shampoo and conditioner I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I generally just buy whatever is on offer at Boots. 

I recently came across a brand on Twitter called Yes To and was intrigued by their range of products named Yes To Carrots, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Grapefruit and Blueberries.

The brand create products that are 95% natural and that are free from parabens, phthalates, SLS and are also made with recyclable materials.

That’s not all, they are also committed to giving back a portion of their profits to the YES TO Seed Fund, whose goal is to inspire kids to lead healthier, more positive lives which is a rather nice sentiment I feel.

Now, I’ve never had a great relationship with other paraben and SLS free shampoo’s and conditioners in the past but I figured I owed it to my hair and conscience to try this brand out.

I opted for their Yes to Cucumbers Volumising Shampoo (around £8.99) and Conditioner (around £5) for normal to fine hair in the hope it could inject a bit of va-va-voom into my locks.

Firstly, they smell gorgeous! Naturally there is a delicate hint of cucumber but the overall scent is deliciously fresh and light and dare I say, natural smelling as opposed to many other shampoos that smell synthetic and strong. 

The shampoo is a thick gel and as recommended I used quite a bit on my hair (but then my hair is super long).

I was VERY impressed at how it lathered into soft bubbles and when I rinsed it out my hair literally squeaked it was so clean!

I followed the shampoo with the conditioner from the same range which was relatively light in texture, so as not to weigh down your hair and contained the same delicate scent.

As soon as I rinsed the product out I could tell that my hair felt soft already and indeed I didn’t struggle too much to get my Tangle Teezer through it all!

On a whole I’m really impressed with these products. They smell beautiful and do a great job of cleansing my hair but I would say that I didn’t notice any difference in its volume. I’m neither surprised nor fussed about this though as I’ve yet to come across a shampoo that can actually boost my hair!

I’m definitely hooked and trying to decide what products I want to try from their range next, I’m thinking Yes to Tomatoes which are formulated to reduce the appearance of blemishes and help keep skin clear without over-drying.

I’ve good a feeling they will be equally great!

You can get your hands on the Yes To range of products from Boots, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett, ASOS, Feel Unique and Beauty Bay among loads other which you can check on their website.

Mallow & White

Mallow and White is a brand new beauty brand that launched on September 1^st this year and if you’re a fan of organic, natural skincare then you’re going to want to read on.

Check out their aim;

My aim is simple, to deliver the finest organic skincare using minimal carefully selected ingredients to bring maximum benefit to your skin. I care about the big picture, and that means saying no to excess packaging, yes to giving 10% away to charity and always committing to 100% natural organic ingredients.

I like the sound of them already.

 

Basically, they believe in the beauty of simplicity by saying no to hundreds of ingredients so they can say yes to a few 100% natural potent botanicals that will bring maximum benefits to your skin.

 

Their products are handcrafted rather than mass produced and 10% of all their profits go to Kiva, a charity empowering people around the world to alleviate them from poverty

Talk about beauty with a conscience.

Now, their collection is  compact and features three separate ranges; Restore for normal/dry skin, Revitalise for mature skin and Soothe for sensitive skin.

I opted to try out the two products from their Soothe range as my skin is both sensitive and temperamental!

Sticking with the theme of simple beauty the range comprises of just a Face Mask (£20) and a Facial Oil (£36) but both of these products are very special.

The face mask contains just four ingredients. That’s right, FOUR. This super soft powder contains just White Clay, Organic Marshmallow Root Powder, Organic Cornstarch and Organic Lavender Essential Oil. 

That’s it, nothing else, but the ingredients all play an important part of this product.

The mineral rich White clay offers gentle yet deep cleansing and the Organic Marshmallow root powder, contains strong, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties can help treat skin conditions such as rosacea and help promote healthy cell growth.

 Organic Cornstarch is a gentle cleanser and skin softener and Organic Lavender essential oil helps to soothe inflammatory conditions and promote the growth of new cells.

This powder can actually be used as both a mask and an exfoliator, simply add 1-2 teaspoons of the powder to 1-2 teaspoons of water to create a paste which you gently massage over your face before washing off to leave your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated.

To use as a mask, create the paste in the same way as above then it can be customised by adding 2 drops of the Soothe facial oil, 1 teaspoon of moisturising honey and 1-2 teaspoons of natural yogurt for extra moisturising nourishment.

Alternatively, 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar can be used to replace the water in the paste mix to help break up dead skin cells and unclog pores. Then apply onto a damp face, avoiding the eye area and leave for 3 - 5 minutes before rinsing off.

 There is something very satisfying with knowing exactly what you’re putting on your face and also knowing that it contains no chemicals, especially if you do suffer with sensitive skin.

Next is their facial oil which contains only 5 ingredients; Organic Jojoba oil, Organic Apricot Kernal oil, Kukui nut oil, Chamomile essential oil and Organic Lavender essential oil.

This calming, soothing and nourishing oil has a very delicate aroma of lavender and chamomile, not at all over powering and is far less greasy than I thought it might be.

It’s a bit of a hero product in my house now as it can be used in so many different ways. 

Normally, I add 2 drops of it to my normal moisturiser for an added nourishing boost as well as using it alone after cleansing of an evening when I feel my skin is in need of an extra pick-me-up.

As mentioned earlier it can also be used within the face mask and I’ve found it does a great job of keeping my nails and cuticles in tip top condition too!

I have to say I think there’s something very special about this brand and while the range may be pretty small (for now) they have definitely got the products they do have absolutely spot on.

Find out more about Mallow and White over on their website now where you can also purchase their Face Mask’s and Facial Oils.