Review The Handmade Soap Company, Santaverde and Organii
(Disclaimer – I'm part of the Love Lula Blogger Programme and can select PR samples each month, I am not obligated to review and all opinions are my own. Prices correct at time of publication)
Organii Gentle Care Hand Cream for Sensitive Skin (75ml) - Vegan
I have firm favourites when it comes to hand creams but winter is the perfect time for me to test out new ones because my skin is at its worst. I’m prone to eczema breakouts, cracking skin and visible dryness. Organii hand cream is a nice product but I would describe it as a lotion because it has a runny consistency. It will temporarily hydrate my skin but once I go outside or wash my hands, dryness is visible again and I no longer feel protected. I personally think that Organii hand cream would be better suited to my skin during the summer when I do not encounter extreme dryness. If you don’t mind regularly re-applying it does disappears quickly without stickiness so in that respect it's good for those of us who are always at a keyboard. I’ve always known Organii to be an affordable brand but I must admit for £2.95 you certainly can't grumble about that price!
Organii Gentle Care Hand Cream for Sensitive Skin (75ml) - Vegan
I have firm favourites when it comes to hand creams but winter is the perfect time for me to test out new ones because my skin is at its worst. I’m prone to eczema breakouts, cracking skin and visible dryness. Organii hand cream is a nice product but I would describe it as a lotion because it has a runny consistency. It will temporarily hydrate my skin but once I go outside or wash my hands, dryness is visible again and I no longer feel protected. I personally think that Organii hand cream would be better suited to my skin during the summer when I do not encounter extreme dryness. If you don’t mind regularly re-applying it does disappears quickly without stickiness so in that respect it's good for those of us who are always at a keyboard. I’ve always known Organii to be an affordable brand but I must admit for £2.95 you certainly can't grumble about that price!
Santaverde Medium Aloe Vera Cream Fragrance Free (30ml) - Vegan
When I chose this cream from Santaverde I was unfamiliar with the brand and was drawn in because they are a Vegan certified with fragrance free options. I’ve learnt that Santaverde are aloe vera based which is different to many other products that start their formulations with water. This moisturiser is available in three variations – Light (Normal, combined and oily skin), Medium (Dry, normal and combined skin) and Rich (Mature, demanding, dry and stressed skin). Medium suits me perfectly and feels nourishing but without being too heavy or greasy. Products without fragrance tend to have a natural scent from the ingredients. This Santaverde cream is a little funky on aroma but it disappears relatively quickly. I also note that the price ml for ml is higher than my favourite face cream. Thumbs up for being an interesting brand with options for those of us who need to avoid essential oils.
When I chose this cream from Santaverde I was unfamiliar with the brand and was drawn in because they are a Vegan certified with fragrance free options. I’ve learnt that Santaverde are aloe vera based which is different to many other products that start their formulations with water. This moisturiser is available in three variations – Light (Normal, combined and oily skin), Medium (Dry, normal and combined skin) and Rich (Mature, demanding, dry and stressed skin). Medium suits me perfectly and feels nourishing but without being too heavy or greasy. Products without fragrance tend to have a natural scent from the ingredients. This Santaverde cream is a little funky on aroma but it disappears relatively quickly. I also note that the price ml for ml is higher than my favourite face cream. Thumbs up for being an interesting brand with options for those of us who need to avoid essential oils.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a reed diffuser as it can be hard to find ones that are scented with essential oils rather than artificial fragrance. It is also important to me to have a product that is cruelty free and the Handmade Soap Co promise to never tested on animals. Deciding on a fragrance is just as tricky as picking the correct colour in makeup so I went with a combination which was most familiar to me. The minor flaw with natural fragrance is you don’t get the same scent pay off so whilst I can smell the diffuser from time to time it isn’t overpowering. This doesn’t bother me too much because anything stronger could trigger sensitivities but if you’re switching from a mainstream brand it might come as a disappointment. I find rotating the reeds on a regular basis can help. I think it’s fair to say that packaging is important with diffusers and the sturdy glass jar and black reeds looks elegant and stylish. I also like that refills are available.
If you missed my January reviews then follow this link - Elsa's Organic Skinfoods, Madara, Sukin & Stop the Water
Sarah x