shea butter

31 July 2019

Review Urtekram No Perfume Hand Cream
I've been on the lookout for a budget friendly, vegan and linalool free hand cream in what felt like forever. I had previously been using Balmonds (they re-branded from Pure Potions) it's a great product but I was curious to see what other options were out there. I eventually came up with Urtekram No Perfume Hand Cream.

25 February 2016

Review Heavenly Organics Skincare Unscented Body Butter and Hand Balm
Heavenly Organics* is owned and run by Mary-Anne, who is a vegan living an organic lifestyle. This range of handmade products has you covered from head to toe with unscented and scented options. 

18 November 2015

Review Lulu & Boo Shea Butter and Jojoba Deep Hair Treatment
It has been a long time since I featured a Lulu & Boo product on my blog but despite this I have much love for them. They recently launched a Chocolate Orange Cleansing oil which I am sure is delightful but sadly I am unable to review for allergy reasons. Lulu & Boo were kind enough to send me an alternative product so today I shall be writing about the *Shea Butter and Jojoba Deep Hair Treatment.

24 August 2015

Review PHB Ethical Beauty Gentle Moisturiser with Shea Butter and Apricot
Sometimes you read the blurb on a moisturiser and expect unicorns and rainbows to come leaping out of the jar when you lift the lid. I like my facial cream to hydrate my skin and contain good honest ingredients, I don't need it to promise me the world and then some. This is why I gravitate towards brands with good ethics and simple packaging. PHB's products have been a winner for me for a while now.

I have been using daily (morning & evenings) PHB's Gentle Moisturiser with Shea Butter and Apricot. This cream won a Bronze Award for the Free From Skincare Awards 2015. As the name suggest, this moisturiser is fragrance free and ideal for sensitive skin. It contains a good selection of ingredients such as aloe, apricot kernel oil and shea butter which offer great benefits to delicate skin. The Gentle Moisturiser has a gel like texture which is likely due to the aloe vera content (it's top of the ingredient list). I find I only need the smallest amount but if I am a little over zealous, it's not the end of the world, it just takes a bit longer to absorb. My skin is always left feeling soft and smooth with zero sign of irritation or flare up. 

PHB have five moisturisers in their range (including this one) so there is a product for every skin type. I have sampled the Anti-aging Moisturiser with Monoï Oil and Gardenia and that too is a delightful product with a desert island fragrance. I don't think you can grumble at the prices either £16.95 - £18.95 for a 50ml jar. The brand is suitable for Vegans and free from those "undesirable" ingredients I am always banging on about! You can buy direct from their website PHB Ethical Beauty and I have also spotted in Holland & Barrett. As you can tell this is a winner for me and I am confident to recommend to others. 

Let me know if you tried any products from PHB Ethical Beauty. I'd love to know which are your favourite.

Sarah x

16 March 2015

Gerlinde Naturals Face Cleansing Oil
I first mentioned Gerlinde Naturals in my post about Vegan natural and organic skincare. They are a small artisan vegan business based in the South of England. I accepted an offer from Gerlinde, the founder, to try some products. She went above and beyond for me sending cleansing oil and whipped shea butter formulated without essential oils. That right there is why I love handmade skincare and smaller brands because their owners listen to customer needs and have the ability to adapt their products.

The key ingredients for the cleansing oil* are coconut, hemp, jojoba, apricot and caster oil (complete list is available on the website). It is slightly heavier than others I have in my collection but just as effective and a pleasure to use. My cleanser came with a Washi cloth and I was pleased to see Gerlinde had this partnership. It does make a pleasant change to the usual muslin cloths. Washi cloths first featured on my blog in 2012 but for those not aware they are similar to a traditional flannel but slightly thinner. 

Gerlinde Naturals Vegan Skincare Whipped Shea Butter
Anyone who has been following this blog for a while will know that I love shea butter. For me, it is perfect for my naturally dry skin and works well on mild eczema patches to maintain moisture levels. The Gerlinde Natural shea butter*(face & body cream) is whipped which makes it light and fluffy to the touch. No need to dig into the jar with a spatula this one is easy to scoop out with your fingers. Mine is missing the essential oils but it does contain calendula, evening primrose and vitamin E which are excellent ingredients for sensitive skin. 

Gerlinde Naturals gets my seal of approval. These are honest products with good ingredients and certainly what I look for when choosing skincare.

Sarah x

Disclaimer - *PR samples, links are not affiliated

9 October 2014

Chilly B Mint & Rosemary Restoring Foot Butter
UPDATE: 2017 - Chilly B rebranded & are now known as Love to B

I am preparing my feet for winter. My dry skin battles during cold weather are never ending so I want a head start before the frost and snow arrives. I mentioned in my September Favourites that I had purchased Chilly B (now known as Love to B) Mint & Rosemary Restoring Foot Butter. It has been working out great for me so I wanted to share a review with my readers. 

As the name suggests this is a rich butter packed with fabulous ingredients which should help keep tooties smelling fresh and feeling soft. Ingredients: Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E, Peppermint, Vanilla, Rosemary, Eucalyptus. This is definitely a product that needs applying in the evening before heading off to the land of nod. I often will treat myself and recreate a spa pedicure by simply adding bath salts into a bowl, soaking my feet and then apply a generous layer of foot butter. This extra attention makes all the difference for me and hopefully I'll survive winter without my feet snagging my tights and socks (oh yes I went there).

Chilly B products are handmade in Dorset and free from undesirable ingredients. I think prices are affordable, the foot butter will last you a long time and costs £7.50 (50ml jar). I think it's fair to say that Chilly B is fast becoming one of my favourite brands.

If you looking for other recommendations, check out my recent Chilly B bath soak review.

Sarah x

Disclaimer - I paid for the foot butter but Chilly B have sent other products free of charge, my own opinions from testing, no affiliated links

20 March 2014

Toulou Organics Avocado Butter Creme
"Toulou Organics source certified organic ingredients from around the globe. Where organic is not an option we use cold-pressed and wild-crafted ingredients because they retain their vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals etc; after harvest."

Most days you will find me at my desk with a salad sandwich packed full of avocado. They are considered one of the healthiest foods because they are full of vitamins and minerals. If you are not a fan of eating avocados (my Mum says they are remind her of soap!) then I would recommend making sure your skincare contains this mighty green fruit and TouLou Organics Avocado Butter Crème may be a good place to start. 

Tou Lou's cream is packed full of ingredients I enjoy using on my skin, shea butter, avocado, cocoa and macadamia. I would describe this as body butter with a luxurious thickness that is soft and easy to massage into skin. I am not a massive fan of the fragrance but it is natural and derived from the contents. I have an abundance of lavender based shea butters so I think that’s why I find this one a little different. The oils in this product can separate on the surface but you just need to give it a stir. 

Overall, I would say this is a nice rich cream which would be of benefit to anyone with dry skin. I like to make readers aware that products are preserved using Phenoxyethanol. The 120g jar retails for £16 and full ingredients are available on the website. Other body butters/crèmes are available along with products for face and hair so have a browse around the site.

Have you heard of Tou Lou or tried any of their products? Do you like avocado in your skincare or in your sandwiches?.

Sarah x

Disclaimer - PR sample, 100% my own opinions from testing, links are not affiliated

4 March 2014

review Ruth Romano Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Dana of Hearty Habits gave a glowing review of Ruth Romano bath salts so when I was asked to test a lip balm I jumped at the offer. I am sure by now you know nothing gets onto this blog unless it meets my natural ethics and I am happy to report Ruth Romano gets a tick in the box. Products are formulated without synthetic ingredients such as DEA, parabens, perfume, phthalates, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and they are fragranced with essential oils. According to the website “None of our products or the ingredients used in them have been tested on animals”

There are four balms available, Cocoa Butter (which I have), Sweet Orange, Lime and Honey. The ingredients are olive oil, almond oil, organic cocoa, beeswax, organic shea butter and vitamin E. I find the consistency easy to work with, it’s that middle ground between being too soft and solid. It melts under the warmth of a finger and I can transfer to my lips. I have had balms that are so hard they do not melt easily so you feel as if you have nothing on your finger to apply.

Ruth Romano lip balm keeps my lips feeling soft and tackles any dry patches. I like the simple but effective ingredients and having an unscented fragrance free choice is ideal for those with allergies. Balms in tins don’t bother me too much but I know some people would feel differently. 

I recommend you hop across to Ruth Romano website and have a look at the lip balms and other products available.


Sarah x

Disclaimer - PR sample, 100% my own opinions, links are not affiliated

19 January 2014


collection of natural and organic skincare

If you haven't been following my blog from the beginning there are probably product reviews within the archives that you don't realise exist. It got me thinking what was lurking on here that I don't talk about as often as I should. Here's what I re-discovered. Apologies for bad photos on these posts, my old camera was rubbish.

Handmade Naturals - a little company I discovered many years ago, before blogging and when I first turned to non toxic skincare. I've dipped in and out of their products over the years, whilst I may not use on a regular basis I always recommend to others. I particularly like the cleansing oil with Japanese Camellia & Rice Bran.

Cupcake Organics - part of the attraction to these moisturisers is the cute packaging and coloured glass jars but the creams are also rather nice.

Suti - Both my sister and I fell in love with Suti products. The cleansing balm is always on my sister's wish list for Birthday and Christmas. I sadly didn't go back because I decided to cut out orange oil from my skincare but this is a product I highly recommend.

Balmology - For the most part, Comfort Balm has been wonderful for calming and soothing my eczema. Every balm I test has to live up to this one otherwise it doesn't get a recommendation from me. 

Konjac Sponges - all of a sudden Konjac sponges are everywhere. I first discovered these in 2011. I enjoyed using the sponge but I didn't buy another one as I went back to using cloths. I still think it's a great product and worth considering. 

Miss Polly - I first tried the frangipani shea butter in 2011/2012 and was sad when Miss Polly closed up shop. The good news is she is back in business and at some point I need to re-visit this old favourite.

Brown Earth - before I started blogging, this was the only shea butter I would use on my skin. These days it's a little bit harder to get hold of so I must admit I haven't purchased in recent years. 

Peachykeen Organics - a lovely little company that I introduced my sister to and she became a loyal customer. As for me, I have been distracted by other brands but Peachykeen still goes on my recommendation list especially the rosehip oil.

Sarah x

16 January 2014

Pure Thoughts Kukui & Shea Butter Lip Balm
UPDATE 2020: this lip balm has been discontinued but Pure Thoughts are still trading, the new product range includes soap, bath & body and candles 

I have observed other bloggers grow to like Pure Thoughts as much as I do and it is nice to see. Sometimes, I get distracted by searching for new products that I neglect brands that I have known and loved for quite some time. I was very happy to receive a gift basket for Christmas, full of Pure Thoughts soaps, lip balm and my favourite Lavender & Jojoba whipped shea body butter.

On Christmas day, I delved into the basket and immediately started using the Kukui & Shea Butter Lip Balm. I had been suffering from a weird dry and flakey patch on my bottom lip. Many of you know, I am passionate about using natural skincare and avoiding mineral oils. Using a lip balm which is made from plant derived ingredients is a completely different experience to the mainstream brands. If you struggle with dry lips, I honestly believe ditching the high street ones can be beneficial in the long term. The Pure Thoughts lip balm contains nourishing and soothing ingredients - Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Macadamia Oil and Kukui Nut Oil. It is not flavoured or scented which is ideal for anyone who has this type of sensitivity.

So does it work? Yes, I managed to restore my lips so they are now soft and kissable so I believe in this little product. 

Sarah x

1 December 2013

Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm, Body Butter & Healing Blend Cream
(Gifted/Lyonsleaf affiliate link)

You may remember a while back I introduced you to Lyonsleaf. The range is 100% natural plus packed full of ingredients I love and my skin adores. I have been testing three of their products - Body Butter, Healing Blend Calendula Cream and Beauty Balm. Lets start with the Body Butter. It contains shea butter, coconut, avocado, almond and vitamin E which are known for repairing and conditioning the skin. I am a body butter addict so it will not be a surprise to hear I enjoy using this product. Body butters help keep my skin in good condition as I can experience flaky skin during colder weather, especially on my legs and face.

Next we have the Calendula Cream. It is similar to the body butter in that it contains shea butter but there are some other interesting ingredients like juniper, lavender and frankincense. I do feel like this product was made for me. I like to use calendula for treating my eczema and I have a recurrent patch on my chest. I can apply this and I find it soothing. It also helps keep my skin hydrates so it does not crack or flake.

Lastly, the Beauty Balm is rich and you only need to dab on the smallest amount but it does a brilliant job of keeping my skin looking fresh and soft. I am comfortable using this both day and night. I do not find it greasy but as someone prone to eczema, I have to moisturise in order to compensate for what my skin struggles to do naturally. I was reading the website and learnt that you can use this for cleansing. Not something I would have thought of doing but I gave it a whirl and I like it. The cream melts into an oil so it is easy to work across the face and then remove with a damp cloth. I love how this is a multipurpose product.
Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm, Body Butter & Healing Blend Cream
The fragrances of all three products are enjoyable, somewhat herbal and nutty but not offensive to my nose. The jars are a generous size and a little goes a long way so don’t expect to see these in an empties post any time soon. I think the price of each product is good. Anyone who battles with flaky dry skin during the winter months should definitely try Lyonsleaf and full ingredients are listed on the site.

Sarah x

19 November 2013

You are probably getting bored of me talking about shea butter. I am feeling like I am becoming a bit repetitive because I've yet to find one that I dislike. Since I mention it a fair bit I often get approached for reviews and I can not help it, I have a problem and I need to start turning them down ;-)

I was sent a pot of Pure Body Butters Shea Butter & Apricot Oil Daily Moisturiser. The Pure Body Butters range is small but perfectly formed, it also includes two cocoa butter based moisturisers and gift set. These are 100% natural and cruelty free products without additives. My Vegan readers should select the Cocoa Shea Ultimate Moisturiser as the other two contain beeswax.

Purely based on personal preference, I would not use this on my face but it’s perfect for my body. I have been using this on my feet to tackle my dry heels something which I am prone to in the colder weather. There are no essential oils in these products so ideal for those with sensitivities. If you want a simple natural product for dry skin then I am happy to point you in the direction of Pure Body Butters. My only critic is the jar size (24g). At first I thought it was a sample but this is the size advertised on the website. It's a good size for carrying around in pockets and handbags but I am a little confused. I know shea butter goes a long way but body creams are generally packaged in larger jars.

If you are interested in seeing my shea butter collection and learning more about the ingredient, please click here

Sarah x

Disclaimer - PR sample, 100% my own opinion from testing product, links are not affiliated

14 November 2013

shea butter body butters


I am always promoting my love of shea butter products but I haven't explained in any detail about this ingredient. Shea butter is derived from the fruit of the African karite tree. The shea nut is crushed and boiled to extract the oil that is the shea butter. 

The reason why I like Shea butter is for the benefits it can offer the skin (and hair). It is rich in vitamins which promote cell repair making it great for dry, sensitive and cracked skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties so one of the reasons I think it works well on my eczema. As soon as the weather turns cold and the heating goes on, my skin becomes flaky, I cannot get through the winter without shea butter creams. It is also very economical because you only need the smallest amount compared to a lotion. In its raw state it kind of looks like white chocolate, well that's what I think of (food on the brain!). Depending on the quality and other ingredients in a product I have found the consistency varies between brands. Some shea butters are whipped which makes them airy and light, some are a creamy consistency and others are solid which requires you to scoop from the jar and melt in the warmth of your hands. I recommend buying shea butter skincare from a natural company that source quality ingredients. Shea butter which has been refined will lose its natural colour, scent, and effectiveness. I buy products where shea butter is top of the ingredient list. You can of course buy in its raw state from a supplier.

It is my understanding that if you have a nut or latex allergy you should avoid shea butter. When looking at product ingredients the INCI reference is Butryospermum parkii.

Do you love shea butter as much as I do? 

Sarah x

Disclaimer - *PR Samples 

17 April 2013

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm Vegan
Petroleum is one ingredient that I truly hate with a passion. I spent most of my childhood smothered in the stuff so we do not see eye to eye. I have previously written about why I hate it (click here) but let me recap. 

1. Petroleum can also be referred to as mineral oil, liquidum paraffinum, paraffin oil, paraffin wax and petrolatum 
2. Initially leaves your skin feeling silky smooth but your skin does not absorb petroleum so the results are superficial. 
3. Does not heal damaged skin, it creates a barrier 
4. It is a cheaper filler ingredient 
5. I don’t want to ingest this ingredient in lip balms

I would love to persuade everyone to throw out Vaseline by tempting you with natural balms. It may surprise you that there are natural brands available on the high street, such as Figs & Rouge, Balm Balm and Dr Organic. My list of favourite balms is growing and includes Badger Balm, Sweet Cecily’s, Savonnaire London, Gwdihw and Crazy Rumors. All these lip balms contain similar ingredients so their performance is practically identical it just boils down to what flavour takes your fancy. The one brand that stands out to me has to be Crazy Rumors. 

Crazy Rumors is a USA brand (hence the spelling!). Their lip balms are 100% natural, organic, cruelty free and Vegan. These lips balms contain moisturising ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil. The flavours are naturally derived and taste amazing. I currently own Amaretto and Red Velvet but the flavour choices are endless – Candy Canes, Desserts, Bubble Gums, Sodas, Ice Creams, Tea, Coffee and more. I am not sure how many UK websites sell Crazy Rumors but I have purchased mine from cutecosmetics.co.uk (which is an all round awesome website). On this site these lip balms retail for £3.25. 

What do you think Sugarpuffettes, have I tempted you to treat your lips with a natural balm? Do you already have a favourite natural lip balm or use Crazy Rumors? 

Sarah x

26 March 2013

Mimi's Miracle Natural Skincare
I went to the Vitality Show on Saturday. I'm not going to talk much about it because it tends to be a popular blogging topic. I think this was the fourth year I have visited but I did feel it was not as good as previous years.

You all know I like Niki's Organic Balms. She was at the show so I popped by for a chat. Niki pointed me in the direction of Mimi's Miracle and I decided I'd like to share this discovery with you. As you know I love to support small natural brands and Mimi's ticks all the boxes for me. The story behind the products is a familiar one. Mimi and her family suffer from eczema, allergies and psoriasis. After a recommended brand product flared up Mimi's skin her mother created the products as she saw a need for natural ointments for her family. Products are 100% natural and free from SLS, SLES, alcohol, parabens, lanolin, perfume and petrochemicals. They also do not contain nut derived ingredients as the family have first hand experience of this allergy. 

The range includes body butters, scrubs for face, body and feet, soaps and facial oils. Prices are fantastic value for money everything is under £8. I ended up buying the foot balm and I can not wait to start pampering my feet as the cold weather has left them in a terrible condition. Most of the creams are shea butter based and you all know I love my shea butter!

If you would like to learn more about Mimi's Miracle or buy products, please visit Mimi's website and Facebook page.

Sarah x

18 March 2013

Love to B bath bombs and salts
Bath bombs and melts are little luxuries which I use when I want to feel relaxed and pampered, creating a home spa. I choose to avoid Lush so need to turn my attention to alternative brands. I had been using a product called a "bath creamer" a cross between a bomb and melt, it fizzes like a bath bomb but leaves the water silky from shea and cocoa butter. The oil element is a nice treat to help moisturise skin but without being overly greasy. The company that made the bath creamers stopped trading so I'm editing this post to suggest alternative pampering bath products.

Here are some suggestions for you - 

Bramblewood Soap Co - luxury bath fizzies and bath teas

LJ Naturals - indulgent bath melts, made with six plant oils and butters

Love to B - a range of mineral bath salts and bath bombs

Pure Thoughts - mineral bath salts

Quintessentially English - a collection of bath bombs, fizzies, bath cupcakes, salts, milks and oils

Sarah x

11 February 2013

My Current Skincare Routine featuring Antipodes, Badger, Crazy Rumors, Pai
I thought I would give you a quick look into my current skin care routine. Since drafting this post I have finished up my Pai Cleanser and haven't brought a new one as I'm using up some samples.

Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser - I wrote a review the other day for this cleanser so I  won't bore you all again. 

Antipodes Ananda Antioxidant-Rich Gentle Toner - I picked this up in the January Sales. I normally would use the Resurrect toner but decided to give this a try. It's fantastic and I'm completely in love with it.

Livpurely Coconut & Vanilla Moisturiser - as much as I love my Dr Organic Pomegranate cream the cold weather has been too harsh so I dug this product back out of my stash. I am loving this as a facial moisturiser. The bottle pictured is empty as I transferred the contents into a pot for ease  of use.

Lip Balms - I have a stash of lip balms, all of which I love and think are fantastic. I like having a variety of flavours to suit my moods. I only use 100% natural lip balms. 

Sprout Shea Butter - this is what I use on my body and eczema, it does a great job of keeping my skin in tip top condition. 

Dr Organics Manuka Hand Cream - despite having many hand creams dotted around my home, this is the one that works best for me in the current cold temperatures.

As you can see I keep things very simple. I don't believe in using lots of products it's not appropriate for my skin type. I also like to stick to one product until it runs out and then I either decide to repurchase or try something new. Having several specific products on the go at once, e.g. moisturisers or cleansers, sends my skin bonkers.

Have you tried any of the products I am using? 

Sarah x

7 September 2012

SW Basics (formerly Sprout) Shea Butter
UPDATE 2018 - SW Basics is no longer available at the website listed below, you can find it at A Beautiful World

CutECOmetics got in touch and asked me if I would like to try a product from the Sprout skincare line which they have started stocking. Sprout is a US company making products that are 100% truly natural using five ingredients or less. They are also Fair Trade, ethically sourced and organic. Sounds awesome and totally up my street hence why I accepted the offer to test a product. 

I have been using the Sprout cream which is made from Wildcrafted unrefined shea butter, Extra-virgin coconut oil and Extra-virgin olive oil.  You know me I am forever harping on about the amazing benefits of shea butter and coconut oil.  It would be pretty hard for me to not to like this cream.  It smells delicious for starters.  It has a soft butter consistency which transforms to oil when it comes in contact with body heat.  This is a cream suitable for the face and body which leaves skin silky smooth and soft.  In my opinion, it is the simplicity of this cream which makes it so wonderful.  It goes to show you do not need synthetic fillers. I can not be without shea butter so I would be more than happy to purchase this product. 

The rest of the range is small but perfectly formed and includes cleanser, toner, makeup remover, exfoliant, body scrub and lip balms.  

Sarah x

Disclaimer - PR sample, 100% my own opinions, links are not affiliated

22 August 2012

Fushi Organic Virgin Unrefined Shea Butter
I have removed my orignal review for Rococochichi shea butter because they have ceased trading. Here are some links for alternative recommendations -







29 January 2012

MuLondon White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser
I recently purchased a 30ml jar of Mu London White Chocolate Truffle moisturiser. If you are not familiar with the brand, products are award winning and certified organic (Soil Association) Cruelty Free (Leaping Bunny) and Vegan (Vegan Society). The formulations are inspired by traditional herbalism using essential oils and herbal extracts.

The White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser contains luxurious ingredients - shea butter, coconut butter, jojoba, vanilla, cocoa extract, rosemary and sunflower. I keep falling in and out of love with the fragrance, it smells delicious in the jar but I think it changes when applied to my skin. I bought it to use on my face but I have my doubts at this stage because it's very rich and thick and may not be suitable for me.  I think it will work better as a body butter as I know shea butter is the ideal ingredient for my dry legs.

I look forward to putting this product to the test and will report back at a later date to let you know how I'm getting on with it.

Sarah x

Instagram

Sugarpuffish. Theme by STS.