23 January 2022
(Gift PR/prices correct at time of publication)
I've been using Lavera products on and off for probably around twenty years. It's a brand which is reliable and affordable. When it comes to my face and body in recent years I have been opting for creams. Oils are great but when my skin is irritated or on the brink of breaking out with eczema, I think it can respond better to lotions and creams.
Lavera has a Neutral range which is fragrance free for sensitive skin. You will have to check individual product labels if you are looking for Vegan skincare as not all are suitable. I chose the Lavera Neutral Micro Silver Intensive Cream, a body cream suitable for those with sensitive and allergy prone skin.
Even though this product is marketed for the body, I've ended up using as a daily face cream and in my opinion it's suitable for both functions. I'm not sure I'm qualified to comment on whether Silver is a crucial ingredient in your skincare but a quick google search will show you the supposed benefits for reducing inflammation and suitability for skin prone to eczema. It's an interesting ingredient which you may wish to explore further.
So here are my thoughts on the Lavera Neutral Micro Silver Intensive Cream. It has a nice balance on texture. I place it somewhere between not feeling too heavy but providing a good level of moisturisation on dry skin. It's an all round simple cream which comforts my skin and can be used under makeup. At under £20 for 75ml I consider that a reasonable price for a face cream but may not be seen this way if using as intended on the body. Lavera does have a Neutral Face Cream but it isn't suitable for Vegans due to beeswax. The next alternative would be the Neutral Facial Fluid but I would associate the word 'fluid' as having a lighter texture and therefore I wonder if it may suit my very dry skin. Perhaps in the future I will give this a try and report back.
Lavera is a German company. Despite an Austrian grandma and a GCSE in German it doesn't get me very far when trying to read the packaging. Beside the disappointment in myself it may be a problem for others. The front of the box is in English but there isn't an English translation elsewhere or on the tube. I can see how this cuts down on costs but it does present a challenge when understanding how the product should be used and explaining all the other wonderful benefits I'm sure they would like you to know about. You can seek out the information online but I don't recall this situation with other Lavera products so that's why it stands out to me on this occasion.
I think that Lavera Neutral Micro Silver Intensive Cream is worth your consideration if you have sensitive skin. Lavera is a huge brand with many products so even if you don't require fragrance free skincare you can easily find other suitable products.
Love Lula are just one of many online stockists who carry Lavera products. If you missed last month's review for Love Lula here's a link for you - Lucky Cloud Unscented Soap Bar and Terre Verdi ThéBianco Camellia Oil
Sarah x
15 January 2022
Pamoja has featured on my blog a couple of times. Firstly, with an interview with the founder, Sarah and then I reviewed the Restore Multi Purpose Beauty Oil. Now I'm here to offer my thoughts on the Pamoja Reset Cleansing Balm Essential Oil Free which had been on my shopping list for some time.
Cleansing balms have always been an easy choice for me. Over the years I found that reducing the amount of water used when washing my face seems to help with dryness. Splashing my face to rinse off products always leaves me with an ugly tight sensation and I feel desperate for moisturiser.
So what tempted me to Pamoja Reset Cleansing Balm? well for starters the ingredients sound wonderful......
"Murumuru and Mango butter nourish the skin. Moringa, Sacha Inchi, and Safflower Oils gently cleanse while helping to support and protect the skin barrier. Organic Calendula CO2 soothes, and antioxidant Organic Carrot CO2 helps protect skin from environmental stress." - (extract from Pamoja website)
Pamoja Reset Cleansing Balm has a luxurious, silky, buttery feel and something which immediately stands out to me above others. It's a gorgeous texture which fills me with joy. I can't get over how smooth and soft this cleansing balm feels. When you're prone to eczema as I am, often skin feels delicate and tender so it becomes important to take care. In my opinion, this balm is perfect on sensitive skin because you don't have to drag it across your face. It melts almost immediately into a beautiful oil. Pamoja cleansing balm feels like a real treat. A product that you can't wait to use at the end of the day because cleansing doesn't feel like a chore.
I chose to buy the essential oil free version of Pamoja Reset Cleansing Balm due to my allergies. If you prefer fragrance then the scented version will give you the aroma of Rosemary, Geranium Bourbon, Chamomile and Lavender essential oils. I'm sure I've said it before but I love that Pamoja offers the choice. The core ingredients in both remain the same so the overall performance shouldn't be any different.
I'm sure you can tell that Pamoja Reset Cleansing Balm has been a big hit. This review has been written after I have finished up my jar so it's my experience down to the last drop. I'm more than happy to recommend and would encourage you to visit the Pamoja skincare website to explore their products.
Sarah x
3 January 2022
Happy New Year everyone! I thought I would have a look back at 2021 and let you know which products have made a lasting impression.
I'd rarely used hand sanitiser before the pandemic because it can be very unkind to delicate, eczema prone skin due to the high alcohol content and fragrance allergens. Needs must over the past couple of years and I was grateful that one of my favourite budget brands launched a sanitising gel which was free from linalool. Since my initial review back in January you can guess we've been through several bottles of Organii Purifying Hand Gel.
In March it was Silvan Skincare Pure Face Cream that was a hit. I recall a lovely whipped texture with ingredients that are calming on sensitive skin. Finding a decent fragrance free moisturiser has been a mission for many years and this is up there with my favourites.
Since April I've been through several jars of Maison Meunier Skincare Gentle Cleansing Gel Balm. I like this cleanser because it's an balm-oil to milk formulation. It has a beautiful golden syrup like texture which feels great massaged into my delicate skin and can be easily removed with water or damp cloth.
Over the summer Lily & Rabbit added to their product range with a vegan soap bar collection. The Coconut soap has been a pleasure to use and the bar recently came to an end. I've been impressed with how well it lasted and of course how gentle it has been on my skin.
I'd always been a fan of Odylique Repair Lotion but it can back into my life in last year and has been here to stay. I use it top to toe including on my face. Despite the name it's not a watery, runny product and is very much a light but rich cream. I've been using it as a general moisturiser but it is perfect on itchy eczema patches.
I was on a huge cleanser kick in 2021 and the next product to win me over was Adaptology Red Avert Cleanser. I loved the beautiful and unusual blue colouration from Blue Tansy with an aroma that reminded me of candy. As I mentioned balm-oil textures are one of my favourites and this one did not disappoint.
In November I wrote about Nudge Boutique Whipped Body Butter and it has been a joy to use. I've seen a lot of body butters over the years but this one stands out. Not only do I enjoy the coconut aroma but it rarely feels greasy on my skin. I've always had a sensory aversion to heavy products and I think it stems back to years of eczema emollients. It is probably a odd thing to mention but my skin doesn't feel overwhelmed or suffocated by this product.
I rounded off the year with a review of Terre Verdi ThéBianco Camellia Oil. I think it beautifully sums up my love of simplicity. Skincare doesn't have to feel complicated and there is joy to be found in stand alone ingredients.
I don't know about you but I'm already excited to see what I discover in 2022.
Sarah x
19 December 2021
Long time readers will know that my quest for unscented, free from essential oil skincare products is never ending. I am always trying to seek out the best natural products for people like me that experience allergies. With that in mind let me introduce to you a couple of new items that I've been testing.
Lucky Cloud Clean & Pure Unscented Natural Soap Bar
This is another company who I am very familiar with and have gifted their products to friends and family. I thought it was time to try out their soap bars so naturally I gravitated towards the Unscented one (fragranced versions are available). Lucky Cloud handcraft their soap bars in Edinburgh and package the product in recycled sustainably sourced kraft boxes and print with eco-friendly toners.
Not only does this Lucky Cloud soap look beautiful with it's swirled edge, neutral colour tone and brand stamp but it performs well. Soap bars aren't exactly the most thrilling of skincare products. What I am looking for is a bar that holds its shape, remains sold throughout use (aka doesn't go mushy) and most importantly doesn't dry out my skin. Lucky Cloud ticks all these boxes and for those reasons becomes an easy recommendation to everyone.
I've known Terre Verdi since 2015 and Alessandra, the founder, participated in an event I co-hosted in 2016. This is a luxurious brand that is certified by Soil Association COSMOS, vegan and cruelty free approved. When I selected ThéBianco Camellia Oil, I was drawn to it because it stands out from the crowd in terms of an ingredient that offers something a bit different. According to the product write up this ingredient has been....
Apparently this oil is suitable during pregnancy and can be used on babies and children so I knew it was going to be perfect for my delicate skin type. It's rich in fatty acids and vitamins and good for all (dry, mature, acne prone and oily skins).
Terre Verdi ThéBianco Camellia Oil can be used across the body, face and hair. I would describe this oil as dry and by this I mean it disappears quickly without leaving a greasy feeling to your skin. It really is a beautiful ingredient which I enjoy using on my face and body. Personally the simplicity of using a stand alone ingredient has always been appealing due to my reactive skin type. I am comfortable applying to delicate and sensitive areas of my body.
If you are interested in trying Terre Verdi ThéBianco Camellia Oil and Lucky Cloud Unscented Soap Bar, both products can be purchased from Love Lula.
Sarah x
Did you miss November review for Love Lula? Catch up here - Hydrate sensitive skin with Green People Scent Free Hydrating Calming Serum and Odylique Repair Lotion
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