free from Methylisothiazolinone (MI)

11 August 2020

Ocean Saver All Purpose Floor Cleaner Eco Drop Rhubarb Coral
(I paid for this product, price correct at time of publication)

I've remained loyal to the same household cleaning products for years. I've been using a combination of Bio-D, Tincture LondonGreenscents and I have a favourite product from each brand. During lockdown and with the loss of my job I was seeking accessible and budget friendly options. I thought that might be mission impossible but I'm pleased to say I found Ocean Saver.

7 February 2020

2020 Free From Skincare Awards opens 3rd February
(photo from 2019 FFSA judging panel)

Time has flown by and here I am announcing that the ninth annual Free From Skincare Awards are NOW open for entrants. I think I say this every year but I love these awards as they celebrate the best cosmetic products which happen to also be free from some of the allergens and other ingredients many consumers now wish to or need to avoid. *jumps up and down, waves hands* People like me are their intended target audience. My long list of allergies (to include Linalool and Methylisothiazolinone) and throw in living with Atopic eczema, Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and Urticaria are what lead me to explore the world of natural and organic skincare. I had a period in my life where I felt I was reacting to every mainstream brand and sometimes prescription creams.

26 September 2019

Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream
(Gifted)

You might already be familiar with Balmonds under their former branding of Purepotions. I've been a fan of their products for some time now having previously reviewed their hand cream which quickly became one of my top recommendations. It's a hero product for me especially during the winter months when I'm prone to eczema breakouts. I wanted to explore more of the product range and I was looking for a new body cream so Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream seems like a suitable choice.

As a brand, Balmonds is marketed towards customers with dry and sensitive skin which may also be prone to conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. The Daily Moisturising Cream is fragrance free which is great for people like me with a sensitivity to fragrance allergens. Many natural ointments marketed towards eczema contain beeswax so it's nice of Balmonds to offer a vegan friendly alternative. Overall the formulation is well considered and contains fantastic soothing and hydrating ingredients such as shea butter, hemp seed, chickweed, chamomile and calendula.

The Daily Moisturising Cream is multi-purpose so you can use it on any areas of the body but it's especially good for targeting dry patches and keeping skin hydrated. I've mainly been using this cream on my legs as they are going through a stubborn phrase and I'm battling dryness. This moisturiser is super hydrating but I like how it doesn't feel heavy or greasy and it disappears fairly quickly. I've also trialled this cream on my face and I was super happy with the results. I can see The Daily Moisturising Cream coming in handy for the winter weather when I usually switch from my lighter summer products. I really think this could be a good all-rounder for the entire family. Only the other day I was also considering how handy this would to take on holiday as you could cut down on products. It would be easy to ditch hand, face and body cream bottles for this one cream.

I think it's fair to say Balmonds Daily Moisturising Cream could easily become a permanent part of my skincare routine and I would happily buy myself another tube when this one runs out.  Have you tried Balmonds? Which product would you recommend?

If you missed my last review then follow this link Giovanni 2Chic Conditioners

Sarah x

20 August 2019

Review for Love Lula Giovanni 2Chic Conditioners
(gifted/unpaid)

Caring for my hair has been a battle over the years because of a sensitive scalp and eczema prone skin. I've been using Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo consistently for over six years but I like to pair it with a conditioner. My hair is fine but dry as I colour regularly and use heat styling tools so it needs a little extra TLC. Around two years ago I settled on using Madara Colour and Shine conditioner but it's one of the last products in my bathroom that contains linalool (I'm sensitive to this ingredient). I'm not in a hurry to stop using Madara but I decided to start experimenting and re-visit a brand I knew and liked.

Following on from my review of Giovanni 2Chic Repairing Conditioner back in June, I decided to try Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Moist Conditioner and Giovanni 2Chic Ultra-Sleek Conditioner. To be honest I find all three have similar qualities so the differences between them are fairly minor. If I was to rank them in order Giovanni 2Chic Repairing Conditioner is bottom of the list. As I mentioned in my previous review it misses the mark with detangling during application stage. To explain further, I like a conditioner that gives "slip" to the hair. I experience knots after shampooing so a good conditioner can help make brushing a little easier. I'm not sure if static can be a side effect of conditioners but it is odd how I have more issues after using this product, that's a real puzzler for me.

By a small margin I think I'd say the 2Chic Ultra-Moist Conditioner is top of my list and the winning factor over the 2Chic Ultra-Sleek Conditioner is how my hair feels on the day after washing. I achieve the smoothness I need for brushing and enjoy how my hair feels after styling. It still doesn't perform as well when comparing to Madara but side by side against the other Giovanni 2Chics, for me, it's the best of the bunch. Don't get me wrong the Ultra-Sleek is still a good conditioner, it's giving me the smoothness however it's a delicate balance with finding the correct amount to use. On a few occasions I'm left with that lank, weighed down feeling which doesn't work for me. It's simply a case of too much treatment for my fine hair and that's a common problem I've faced time and time again with hair care products.

I'm happy to recommend Giovanni 2Chic conditioners and suggest they are worth trying for yourself. I think it's fair to say that it's just a case of finding the right one to suit your needs. Overall Giovanni is a brand I enjoying using, I often refer to them as having similarities to salon brands just minus certain ingredients on my avoid list. They are cruelty free and many of their products are suitable for Vegans.

If you missed last months review then follow this link - Nature's Kitchen Oat Milk Cleanser & Makeup Remover

Sarah x

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