essential oil

30 June 2020

Get a good night sleep with natural aromatherapy room and pillow mists
(this is not sponsored)

Everyone has a lot on their minds and you might be struggling with sleeping just as I am. There are many suggestions for sleep aids but I've always been a fan of pillow mists. On the whole my allergic self can tolerate them in my room and on my bed linen. Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to soothing the mind, body and spirit. Essential oils are used for many different ailments and a pillow mist may help ease stress, agitation and anxiety. No one can promise a miracle but it's worth a trying a pillow mist for yourself.

31 May 2016

ten 10 summer holiday essentials vacation
I am looking forward to my Summer holiday and whilst chatting about it with Amber of Amber's Beauty Talk, we decided to write a collab piece on our summer holiday essentials. Here are my ten picks for your suitcase this summer.

1. Suncream
We all know the importance of using SPF but in the past I have found some natural formulations too heavy or sticky and ended up with prickly heat rash. Saying that I have found over the years natural SPF formulations are improving and I often use Lavera

2. Lip Balm
Sometimes we forget to protect the smaller areas of our bodies like mouth, ears and bottom of our feet. The latter are worth protecting when dangling them over the edge of a boat on a sailing trip. For lips I’d suggest Hurraw Sun Lip Balm which is vegan and uses non nano zinc oxide for sun protection. 

3. Hair care
Sunshine, swimming pools and the beach can often have a negative effect on my hair so I like to protect my colour and limit the frizz. I find hair oil is a great way to add softness and moisture. I’m currently loving Evolve Nourishing Hair Elixir which is available in two sizes – 30 ml & 10ml – the smaller size is handy for travel and airport security. 

4. Skincare - Facial
Tinted moisturisers are great for summer days and warm evenings. There are plenty of natural and organic options with or without SPF. I like the Madara Moon Flower Tinted Fluid but if you want a product with SPF then I know the Green People Age Defy SPF15 DD Tinted Moisturiser is popular. 

5. Skincare – Body
If you have spent time in the sun your skin should receive some extra pampering and an aftersun product is essential. Your favourite body butter or lotion is a great place to start but if you have caught the sun and need soothing then the old faithful aloe vera is a must have. You might like to try Sukin Aloe Vera Gel.

6. Travel stress
Some of us find travelling stressful and at times like this I rely on aromatherapy products. I am never without my Bloom Remedies Serenity Slumber Pillow Mist which also comes in a pulse point roll on which is pocket/purse friendly. Check out the Bloom Remedies Wellness Therapy range which also includes Peaceful Mind, Clear Vitality and Deep Release.

7. Insect repellent 
Exotic locations might mean you have to protect yourself against pesky little biters. Try Odylique Mosimix a body oil with a lemony aroma or Intelligent Nutrients Bug Repellent Serum.

8. Nails
I don’t know about you but flip flops need some glamorous toes to shimmer and sparkle at the pool. Little Ondine is a firm favourite. I love the fact that you can change up your look quickly because these polishes simply peel off (also one less product to carry as you don’t need nail polish remover). Use my *code ASC10 to receive 10% discount on orders.

9. Wet Wipes
I always have a pack of wet wipes to hand. They are great for sticky fingers and freshening up at the beach. I discovered the Yes To range on my last trip when I grabbed a travel pack in the airport. Even though these are facial cleansing wipes I have used to clean my hands. Yes To’s ingredients were a better choice in a Boots store when compared to other brands available.

10. Hair removal
If you are someone who opts to shave rather than wax then Bathing Beauty And Personal Ladies Shave Oil contains calendula and hypericum to calm and soothe the skin when shaving. For the men there is the Up Close shave oil. 

Sarah x

10 May 2016

Review Petits Rituels Provence Candle Natural Wax Essential Oil
(GIFTED PR)

If you read my review of Petits Rituels Minty Bonbon you will already know that I think these luxurious candles are a superb investment and awesome gift. Petits Rituels natural aromatherapy candles and melts are handcrafted in England with 100% natural waxes and Certified Organic essential oils.

30 April 2014

Reading labels on food and skincare is part of my daily life because there are many ingredients I either need to or chose to avoid. I want to impart some of my knowledge to readers because there are laws in place to protect consumer safety and a small number of cosmetic manufacturers are failing to comply. I currently have four products in my collection with labelling that does not meet the standards set out by The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008. Obviously, government regulations are lengthy and complex but there are three labelling requirements which I wish to draw your attention to - INCI, allergens in essential oils and best before dates.

You will see from the labels pictured above, these companies fail to comply with regulations because ingredients are listed in English and they should be in INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients). For example, water should be listed as Aqua, Jojoba oil as Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil and Shea Butter as Butyrospermum Parkii. When an ingredient cannot be identified in this way then other classifications are used (chemical name, European Pharmacopoeia name, International Non-proprietary name (INN) as recommended by the World Health Organisation, EINECS, ELINCS or CAS identification reference or colour index number). As a side note, ingredients in concentrations of less than 1% may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of more than 1%. If a product is small or an odd shape and labelling it would prove tricky, then ingredients must be shown elsewhere, perhaps on an a leaflet, outer box or a tag.

I approached the companies about lack of INCI and received the following responses. FYI when I shop for products I very rarely give indication that I am a blogger. I do this because I want my shopping experience to be authentic and do not wish to receive special treatment. 

"Yes we are in the process of updating all of our labelling to be in line with the new legislation. As a small family run business that has only recently started selling generally, we do not have the budget of large conglomerates so bare with us as we update the labels."

"And so sorry for a wrong label, not sure how did I get it. I only can guess - As I design, print, cut my labels myself and I normally keep different designs on one product on one sheet of artwork."

"Thanks for the heads up and many apologies, our labels have recently been changed to comply with INCI but an old version must have been stuck on your jar."

Whilst I am willing to give companies the benefit of the doubt, isn't it funny how two of them practically came up with the same "excuse". 

The most alarming part to one response was "I was not aware that allergens for essential oils were a requirement for labels but we will definitely get on the case with that one!" From my own research via Google, I understand that on March 11, 2003, the EU published the 7th Amendment to its Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC. Among the changes was the addition of the 26 popular fragrance ingredients to the Annex III. In order to explain what that means for the consumer the following paragraph offers clarification.

"There are 26 fragrance ingredients that are considered more likely to cause reactions in susceptible people. These must be indicated in the list of ingredients, in addition to the word ‘parfum’, if their concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products (e.g. a moisturiser) and 0.01% in rinse-off products (e.g. a shampoo). This way of labelling cosmetics was introduced in 2005 to help people to make informed choices about what they buy, particularly if they have a diagnosed allergy to a specific fragrance ingredient." (source link)

Fragrance allergens are identified at the end of the ingredient lists, you may be familiar with seeing components such as Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol (*further reading).

Lastly, lets address the issue of minimum durability dates which I think is pretty straightforward to understand. The regulation states -

12a) the date of minimum durability
(i)indicated by the words: ‘best used before the end of’ followed by either the date itself, or details of where it appears on the packaging;
(ii)clearly expressed and consisting of either the month and year or the day, month and year in that order
(iii)supplemented, if necessary, by an indication of the conditions which must be satisfied to guarantee the stated durability;
except where the cosmetic product has a minimum durability of more than 30 months, in which case it is not mandatory to indicate the date of durability, but such a product shall have an indication of the period of time after opening for which the product can be used without any harm to the consumer. This information shall be indicated by the symbol given in Part 2 of Schedule 8 followed by the period in months or years or both months and years. (source)

One of the companies I contacted (quoted above) mentioned "new legislation". I can only assume they are referring to Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, a new directive that came into force July 2013. Rather than bore you with further explanations of recent changes, the infographic below does the job for me.

Two of the products I have in my possession were bought on the basis of reviews I had read. I can not say whether the labels were incorrect for those Bloggers. I love and support cottage industries but can not ignore failures to comply with the law. My most recent cosmetic purchase prompted me to write this blog post because they were the worst offenders. I spent £11 on a cleansing balm that I will not be using. Ingredients are listed in English, which I can forgive but the product contains essential oils and gives no indication of allergens. I worry because this product is from the company that informed me they were not aware allergens had to be listed on the label. As it stands, if the essential oils are above 0.01% (which I have no way of knowing) then this company is breaking the law by not declaring them. Effort has been made to include for a "best before" date as there is a space on label but it hasn't been written in so I have no idea of minimum durability or period for which product is safe after opening. I also spotted lack of a batch code which is required under Regulation 12(1)(d). As a customer with sensitive skin, the risk of allergic reaction is too high.

Countries outside of the EU will comply with different regulations laid out by their governing bodies, however, if they intend to sell to Europe they would be expected to comply with EU laws. If you are not happy with a cosmetic label, I would challenge the company that manufactured the product. If the answer you receive is not satisfactory, you would be within your rights to report your concerns to Trading Standards.

I know this is a lot of information to digest but I am curious, how many of you were aware of the regulations? Are you checking labels in the same way I do? If you find incorrect labels do you raise your concerns with the manufacturer?

Sarah x

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9 April 2014

Steamcream
Updated 2021

Back in 2014 when I wrote my original post Streamcream was trending amongst the beauty blogger community. At the time I felt the marketing behind Steamcream was greenwashing consumers because it claimed "All in One Natural Moisturiser" but from my viewpoint the ingredient list told a different story. 

Here we are in 2021 and Steamcream has made a return. I'm pleased to say that full ingredients are available on their website and they are looking more appealing than before.

"Ground oats (colloidal oatmeal) are rich in amino acids with highly moisturising properties, almond oil and jojoba oil have fatty acids similar to sebum, and cocoa butter is rich in oleic acid, an acid abundant in human sebum."

Sadly, this cream isn't suitable for anyone with fragrance and essential oil allergens as currently you'll spot Farnesol, Eugenol, Coumarin, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol and Geraniol on the ingredients list.

Steamcream is unique in comparison to other moisturisers because it is handmade by craftsmen in Japan using a steam emulsification method. They still produce the same colourful artistic designed aluminium tins which are very attractive but also environmentally friendly as they can be recycled. Also Steamcream make the following statement on their website -

"All our STEAMCREAM products are 100% vegan and have not been tested on animals. We also only use cruelty-free ingredients, and never use animal-derived ingredients."

I've never tried Steamcream so I can't personally recommend but I felt it was only fair that I should update my original blog post. For further information on this product, please visit www.steamcream.com

Sarah 

3 December 2013

Home Fragrance with Natural Soy Wax Candles
Bloggers love candles but every time I see someone mention Yankee Candles my heart sinks. I believe that mainstream candles are full of undesirable ingredients. There are claims that soot from paraffin wax releases carcinogenic fumes. If you suffer from respiratory problems like asthma you may be better off steering clear of these types of candles. Synthetic fragrances are known irritants and may trigger allergies.

A better choice for home fragrance are candles made with a soy base and fragrance with essential oils. It is easier than you think to find eco-friendly alternatives and I have compiled a list of personal favourites, recommendations and a couple that popped up in a Google search.

Hobo + Co - Simple and classic in design to complement your home, making any room feel cosy & relaxed.

Soap Daze - different fragrance options available, Barefoot is a fresh scent that is balanced beautifully with the soft and warm fragrance of sandalwood.

Pure Thoughts - Hand-poured in apothecary style amber glass that creates a rich and inviting glow. The Soy Wax Meditation Candles have been created to enhance your practice without overwhelming your senses.

The Botanical Candle Co - different options available, Late Summer captures the scent of those last weeks of heat and sunshine before the autumn closes in.

Love to B - natural aromatherapy candle using a cotton wick, soy wax and essential oils which are poured into a recycled tin

Made by Coopers - Made from a special blend of Coconut and Rapeseed wax, they are now more sustainable than other waxes on the market and produces a cleaner burn.

Sarah x

28 March 2013

Boujies London Candles
I enjoyed using natural candles and reed diffusers to scent my home. It is important that they do not contain toxic ingredients because of my allergies. An overly fragrance product can make me feel like I have a cold, giving me a block nose and sneezing. A couple of years ago I discovered Boujies candles and when I came across them again at the Spirit of Christmas show, I stocked up. I ended up giving away a couple as Christmas presents but I held onto one.

Boujies candles are hand poured in England, using soy wax and scented with essential oils. I adore the packaging for these candles, it is unique and stylish. There are a couple of candle collections with a large range of fragrances. My Cranberry & Nutmeg candle is from the Maison Vive Collection and costs £12.

I'm not good at describing fragrance but I am sure you can imagine the fruity spicy scent this candle gives. "Succulent red fruits with the sharp hint of tart cranberry blended with seasonal spices of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, drowned in sweet orange and with a hint of creamy vanilla." I think this gives off a nice strong fragrance that is not over powering but a very noticeable scent in the room.

Definitely check out the website www.boujies.com and have a browse of the other fragrances. Candles from the Maison Noir Collection cost £36 and I would describe the aromas as sophisticated whereas the Maison Vive Collection is fun and fruity.

Have you tried Boujies candles? What fragrances do you enjoy?

Sarah x

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