19 February 2022
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17 November 2020
Our elegant, conditioning oil serum is fast absorbing and non-greasy. The skin's lipid barrier is protected, improving moisture retention and suppleness. Happy customers say their faces are revitalised, clarified and feel comforted, silky soft and nourished. Suitable for all skin types, even acne-prone and the most sensitive.
'Superfruit' is a trendy term in marketing but there is truth in this buzz word because fruits are 'super' good for us. Fruits are natural sources of antioxidants vitamins which can help protect, repair and rejuvenate the skin. The key ingredients in Baya Beauty Superfruit Priming Oil are raspberry, grape, pomegranate, watermelon, blueberry and kiwi. It's a cocktail of ingredients which hydrate and improve the skin giving that desired glow which we are all seeking. Winter months can be particularly harsh and drying on skin so anything which gives a boost and improves dullness is sure to be a winning product.
I'm a super fan of facial oils so it's no surprise that I have only positive feedback about Baya Beauty Superfruit Priming Oil. It's a delightful serum which provides me with the levels without feeling greasy and my skin easily absorbs this serum. I prefer oils as part of my evening routine but you can use Baya Beauty Superfruit Oil in the mornings before applying your make up. I also love that this serum is free from essential oils so I would recommend to anyone with sensitive skin.
As Baya is a new and growing company, I eagerly await further product launches. For more information, please visit Baya Beauty and show Mandy your support on social media.
Sarah x
20 October 2020
You may recall my interview with Sarah founder of Pamoja Skincare back in lockdown. I had the pleasure to try Restore Multi-purpose Beauty Oil Essential Oil Free through the Free From Skincare Awards. I'm keen to support small business and Sarah's journey to formulating skincare shares similarities to my own struggles. I feels this adds a level of trust which gives a unique selling point over their competitors.
I suffered severe skin sensitivities on my face and contact dermatitis. As a family living with food allergies, we were already conscious of what we were eating and the importance of fully understanding a product label. So, I began a journey to understand better what I was putting on my skin and found a solution in nourishing botanical ingredients jam-packed with nutrients, that would soothe, hydrate and protect my skin - Sarah, Pamoja Skincare
When you live with allergies there are so many hurdles to overcome and your day consists of reading labels. I'm always super excited to discover formulations without essential oil and Pamoja Skincare provide this choice to customers. For those of you lucky enough not to worry about allergies, there is the option to buy a fragranced version of Restore Multi-purpose Beauty Oil.
Restore Beauty Oil (essential oil free) is packed with interesting ingredients which includes Sacha Inchi, Kahai, Sea Buckthorn, Blackcurrant and Pomegranate. It's packed full of fantastic minerals and vitamins including Omega 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 essential fatty acids, vitamin A and E. Restore is a golden oil with a distinct natural earthy aroma similar to fresh cut grass. I've been applying in the evening after cleansing. The key is to apply to slightly damp skin to lock in moisture. My skin absorbs the oil beautifully, feels fresh and hydrated. It can be use in the mornings and would make a good base for makeup. Packaging is simple, effective, nicely branded and practical with a push button pipette dispenser.
Restore is ideal for facial massage, nourishing dry, brittle nails and cuticles, softening elbows and knees, smoothing hair and soothing skin that's spent time in the sun and sea - making it a perfect multitasking holiday companion!
My final thoughts are that Pamoja Restore Multi Purpose Beauty Oil Essential Oil Free is a lovely facial oil which I'm very happy to recommend. I'm sure it would suit many skin types but especially appealing to people with sensitivity and essential oil allergies. If you would like to explore the product range in more detail then please visit Pamoja Skincare.
8 September 2020
3 June 2020
23 April 2020
Last year I once again participated in a judging round for the annual Clean Beauty Awards. A parcel of face serums landed on my doorstep and I set to work looking at formulas and putting products to the test. We're now at the point where the Winners have been announced in all categories and you can locate the full information here - www.cleanbeautyawards.com. The awards were launched by CertClean and recognises the best performing green beauty and personal care products from across the globe. This year there were 21 categories, 127 judges, 371 entrants and 146 finalists. Products were primarily evaluated based on overall performance and ease of use.
I'm delighted to see that two products I handled have succeeded in their category. The Winner of Face Serum is Caldera + Lab The Good. This brand was founded in the US by Stacy and Jared, they decided that there wasn't a green and clean men's beauty brand that stacked up against women's skincare. Their product is formulated with naturally superior ingredients backed by clinically proven results. Caldera + Lab is the first men’s skincare in the USA to be certified by both ECOCERT and MADE SAFE®.The Good is a lightweight all in one treatment designed to restore, nourish and protect the skin.
Runners up in the serum category were Immersion Botanica Rosehip Facial Serum for Dry/Damaged Skin and Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm Sensitive Skin Face Serum (the later was not in my judging parcel). Immersion Botanica was founded by Cydney who is passionate about nature and loves formulating herbal personal care products. The Rosehip serum is packed full of botanical ingredients which replenish and nourish. This is a face serum rich in antioxidants, vitamins and omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids. The clue is in the name with Okanagan, this is a family run farm on which they grow the plants and herbs used in their products. They compliment home grown ingredients with sustainably sourced, organic and Fair Trade oils, butters, essential oils and botanicals.
Participating in the awards process is always a delight. The awards are open to International brands but I think the large majority are based in USA and Canada so may not offer shipping to Europe and UK. If you have allergies please be mindful that labelling regulations are different outside of Europe. The biggest issue I personally come up against is many overseas brands are not detailing fragrance allergens however I saw an improvement on previous years when it came to INCI labels.
Congratulations everyone and I look forward to seeing what next year brings for the Clean Beauty Awards.
Sarah x
6 April 2020
18 December 2019
It has been a while since I talked about my skincare routine and I thought it might be a nice way to round off the year. For anyone who is new to my blog for reference my skin is mature (I'm over 40) dry, sensitive, allergic and prone to eczema. I keep things very simple because I feel some times using too many products at once can contribute to eczema flare ups. I choose to avoid linalool (present in some essential oils) so many of the cosmetics I use are fragrance free.
I'm still very much a fan of cream cleansers and have switched back to Handmade Naturals Unscented Plum & Avocado Face Cleanser. It's a budget friendly option which I find effective and gentle on my delicate skin. It isn't scented with essential oils but has a lovely aroma from plum kernel oil. When I want to switch over to oil cleanser I generally opt for Handmade Naturals Cleansing Oil. I'm not currently using a toner, it's often the first item I skip when tightening the purse strings and it's also one of the hardest products to find without my allergens. My day cream is currently Green People Neutral Scent Free Anti-Ageing 24 Hour Cream. I recently ran out and repurchased so that should indicate how much I enjoy using this product. I feel it has been keeping my skin hydrated and soft throughout the day. In the evenings I switch over to a facial oil and I currently have two products on rotation, it really just depends on what mood. Myroo Super Boost Brightening Blackberry feels like a nice treat and a little different for me since I've never used Blackberry as a stand alone ingredient. I've also been reaching for Apothaka Comforting oil booster which I picked up in the Summer when judging for the Free From Skincare Awards. The ingredient blend includes cucumber, jojoba, macadamia, seabuckthorn, calendula and co-enzyme Q10. Both products are free from essential oils and helps maintain the balance to avoid further dryness.
I have some firm favourites when it comes to body products. Urtekram No Perfume Hand Cream currently lives in my handbag as the winter chill plays havoc with my hands and I'm battling constant dryness. On my bedside table I have Nature's Kitchen Gentle Therapy Rescue Cream to use at bedtime. Since my original review back in September I have continued to repurchase Organii Organic Shea Butter Shower Gel and team it with my Konjac Pink Clay Bath Sponge. My shampoo is still Odylique Gentle Herb and I'm working my way through a trio of Giovanni 2Chic Conditioners. I'm forever changing my mind on which one I prefer the most and it's a toss up between the Ultra-Moist and Repairing Conditioner. Before styling I'm still using the Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir and it takes me about a year to get through the bottle as you need very little.
I recently bought in TK Maxx Alba Botanica Very Emollient Shave Cream (Coconut Lime) and I wish I had discovered it a lot sooner. My legs are super flaky in the winter and shaving can become an issue because my skin bleeds however the Alba emollient shave cream helps to prevent this from happening. Keeping my legs and body moisturised feels like a full time job during Winter but Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream helps make the task a little more bearable and is effective at hydrating my skin. Regular applications are worthwhile to keep on top of flaky skin issues. If I want to target a specific patch of eczema my go to is Ere Perez SOS Marmalade balm, it's very soothing and quickly calms redness.
I hope you have found this article of interest and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Sarah x
15 October 2019
4. Bodhi & Birch Avo Bao Cleansing Balm - just one favourite from the amazing Superfoods series, totally free from essential oils but magically scented with the natural formulations, luxurious and beautiful.
Sarah x
4 June 2019
I never know if anyone cares about a back story to products but circa 2011, I regularly used Giovanni hair care and my review for Giovanni 2 Chic Ultra-Sleek Flat Iron Styling Mist remains one of my most popular blog posts. As new conditioners came to my attention I moved on from Giovanni and for the past two years I've been happily using Madara Colour & Shine Conditioner but I fancied a changed. Long story short it's one of the last remaining products I use which contains linalool. I decided to re-visit the brand and try Giovanni 2Chic Repairing Conditioner.
If you missed my last review then follow this link - Jason Organic Soothing Aloe Vera Hand Soap & Organii Cream Soap Almond
Sarah x
26 February 2019
S5 Skincare is the sister company to Evolve, products are vegan, cruelty free, suitable for sensitive skin and free from fragrance allergens. Products are formulated to care for skin suffering from the effects of modern living and provide effective solutions for five specific skin concerns: blemishes, sensitive skin, ageing hyperpigmentation and dry skin. For the daytime, I'm currently enjoy using the S5 Serenity Cream which is designed to calm and hydrate sensitive skin prone to redness with ingredients of Prickly Pear and Hyaluronic Acid. The texture of this cream is similar to my favourite from Evolve and I certainly benefit from the hydration it appears to offer. I am prone to redness and can see improvements with time. In the evenings I like to switch things up and use Bodhi & Birch Super25 Botanical Serum which is an amazing blend of 25 super seed, fruit, nut and berry oils. Super25 is luxurious oil and it’s been amazing at balancing my skin. I’m almost certain it has helped clear up my dermatitis. Bodhi & Birch products are a serious investment and it’s been an absolute pleasure to experience. I will genuinely miss this serum when the bottle is empty.
Have you tried any of the products featured here? What does your skincare routine look like?
Sarah x
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