upcycled

13 November 2021

12 Christmas Gift Ideas including sustainable stocking fillers and secret Santa gifts
(Unpaid/previously gifted items included/from Press Release or my own research)

Butterwhips Christmas Gift Set (Purple)
A duo of balms to help you relax and unwind. Warmly Relaxing is aromatic with bergamot and lavender to relax the body and Planted Feet contains peppermint and black spruce to ease tired feet and soften skin.

3 x Caroboo bars packaged in a bright cracker cardboard case. A treat for all but especially those with dietary requirements as these carob bars are gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

A luxury brand with results driven skincare using ethically sourced and organic ingredients. The recyclable Miron glass packaging looks beautiful but also protects the integrity of the ingredients. The range consists of two facial oils, an eye elixir, powder-to-foam cleanser and a facial steam. I personally can recommend the Soothe Facial Elixir as I've tested it for myself, it has been formulated for dry, sensitive and inflamed skin.

A new conditioner bar to complement the fragrance free shampoo bar, The Sensitive One. It can be purchased full size, as part of a gift set (with the shampoo bar) or discovery size (30g - great for a stocking filler). Kind2 bars are vegan, plastic free, palm free, UK made and they plant a tree with every order.

Nourish have launched a beautiful new collection of gift sets. I have choosen to mention The Antioxidant Duo caught. This set contains Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm a cleanser, mask and intensive moisturiser and Antioxidant Peptide Mist, a make-up primer, hydrating skin protector and night-time soothing skin repair boost. Products are presented in a reusable fair trade organic cotton bag from Freeset.

As a skincare enthusiast with sensitivity to perfumes I'm often told I'm tricky to buy for, well not any more, it seems people forget that Fragrance Free is always an alternative option. This Body Care gift contains Fragrance Free Body Butter and 2 x 65g Oatmeal Handcrafted Soap slices

An adorable stocking filler and plastic free alternative to Kinder Surprise. Each box contains organic chocolate (which is vegan, dairy, nut and gluten free) plus a 3D puzzle and fun facts card to play with, learn with and collect. You can also purchase their chocolate separately if buying for older children and adults. I'm happy to recommend as I had a free sample at a Vegan Fair, the 'milk' chocolate is delicious and creamy.

A range of gift sets are available from Pure Thoughts. I've picked out the Peaceful Moments Gift Box which comprises of a Peace Meditation Candle, Lavender & Lemon Natural Handmade Soap and Lavender & Sweet Orange Mineral Bath Soak. This set offers a calming blend of essential oils to help soothe a tired mind and body.

The range includes Bamboo Cutlery Set, Bamboo Straw Set and Bamboo Toothbrush. The cutlery and straw sets come with cotton carry pouches available in 8 designs. A total of 20p from every purchase is donated to 100 Tons of Plastic, a charity aiming to remove plastic waste from shores and seas while raising awareness about plastic pollution globally. Bamboo products are BPA-Free, sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable and compostable. A perfect gift for anyone interested in living a sustainable lifestyle.

Formulated with gentle hydrosols rather than essential oils which makes Seilich more suitable for sensitive skin. Over 80% of the ingredients are grown in their wildflower meadow in Scotland, in addition to having Wildlife Friendly Certification. Several gift options are available and I've selected the Treatment Set containing three products which work together - a meadow face mask, meadow face oil and a seasonal hydrosol.

A present that fits through the letterbox is ideal for long distance gifting. The Self Care set contains Bath Salts in a kraft pouch enough for 2-3 baths, lip butter, fragrant wax melts, a Pukka tea bag and Green and Black Dark Chocolate

A discovery I made this year was the Bright Spark Enzyme Oil and it made a long lasting impression. It's a lightweight facial serum to help soothe and balance skin. A brilliant element to Wildefruit formulations is they use upcycled ingredients. This oil includes papaya, strawberry and blackcurrant seeds from jam and juice production that would otherwise go to waste.

Sarah x

25 August 2020

eview Nature's Kitchen Summer Skin Box, PoaPoa Soap Dish, Skinlove Shower Gel
(gifted)

It's a mix bunch this month so lets jump straight in and tell you about these 'new to me' products that I've been testing.

Nature's Kitchen Go Glow Summer Skin Box 
This gift set contains Summer Skin Cooling Spray and Summer Skin After Sun Lotion, both are fragrance free. Aloe Vera is the key ingredient to both products and I can say that during the recent heatwave the Cooling Spray was a delightful addition to warm days. The After Sun Lotion has a pleasant texture which feels hydrating on skin but doesn't feel sticky, an important factor for me in the high temperatures. The presentation box is a nice touch for gifting. It works well general sun exposure and if we ever get to go on Summer Holidays again I can see this as a nice addition for the beach or pool.

PoaPoa Coconut Soap Holder 
A soap dish upcycled from coconut shells and handmade by skilled artisans in Ghana. Poa Poa use coconut oil in their soaps so these dishes use up leftover shells after extraction of ingredients. A unique soap dish that serves it's purpose and gives back. It has draining slots in the base so you will find yourself having to wipe over your sink from day to day. Stylish and eco-friendly, what more could you ask for.

Skinlove Invigorating Shower Gel Grapefruit, Lime & Ginger
A pleasant body wash that produces a soft creamy lather but for me it lacks the promise of an invigorating scent as I find the fragrance mild. I chose this shower gel because it doesn't list linalool in the ingredients (one of my allergies!). It doesn't feel drying or stripping of moisture, an important point for me having eczema prone skin. Performance is as you would expect from this type of product it's just the scent which has let me down.

If you missed last months reviews then hop across via this link - Green People Deodorant, Lavera Shampoo, Ooh Oils of Heaven Face Oil

Sarah x

10 November 2014

Sugarpuffish Eco Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas 2014
I love researching for my Christmas Gift Guides (this year I have planned 3 posts) but my favourite is the Eco Friendly theme. It's really great to find unique products which are made from recycled and upcycled materials. I also look for items which support charities or fairtrade programs. I mention it every year but you really can find some hidden gems from around the world on Etsy plus Folksy and Not On The High Street are good for supporting UK sellers.

Girl With Beads sells recycled fashion gifts from bags, pencil cases, cushions and jewellery. The item which I first spotted from this company was the Recycled Flat Cap Bag. It's a unique gift which any girl with an eco-conscious or vintage fashion sense is going to love. (www.girlwithbeads.co.uk)

My next pick was inspired by my Mum. For anyone who loves sewing I thought bundles of recycled and vintage fabrics was a lovely gift idea. Cupboard Love put together collections from their own crafting. Jane also sells other items, handmade keyrings, purses and cushions (folksy.com/shops/CUPBOARDLOVE)

Who remembers vinyl records and tapes? I know my collection is gathering dust in the loft. When the Musics Over make Home Accessories and Jewellery From Vintage Vinyl Records and Tapes. It was the notebooks that initially caught my eye but they also have clocks, cake stands, book ends, letter racks and jewellery (folksy.com/shops/WhenTheMusicsOver)

I chose the pink heart ring because it's adorable and colourful. However, the cherry on top was the discovery that Sesh handcraft jewellery and art from recycled skateboards. I think that definitely scores you brownie points for a unique gift. (etsy.com/uk/shop/SESHNOTSTIGMA)

Lastly, I could not resist the cute children’s hats. They are made from reclaimed wool clothing. (notonthehighstreet.com/greentulip)

Sarah x

Disclaimer - I will not receive any commission should you purchase from companies mentioned in my gift guides. This is not a sponsored post.

10 November 2013

Eco Friendly Christmas Gift Guide 2013
I've searched the interwebs and selected some eco friendly gifts for around the home. When creating these lists I always go for items I would be happy to receive so I hope you feel the same about my choices.

Below are the links, working left to right, top to bottom through the pictures above, none of which are sponsored or affiliated links. 

I spotted Fi's Made By Me shop over on Folksy. I loved the idea of upcycling old cutlery and I feel as if any gardener would like these plant labels

Sticking with the theme of gardening Kabloom Seedbom caught my eye. According to the blurb you can fling these into the garden and let nature do the rest.

I came across a number of sites selling recycled glassware with serving dishes from old wine bottles and tumblers made from beer bottles.

A favourite website of mine is Not On The High Street. On this site I discovered a tableware collection by Mocha made from sustainable bamboo , some gorgeous organic cotton shopping bags printed using non toxic dyes and a cute notebook made with 100% recycled paper and vegetable oil based inks.

My next pick was one for the kiddies with these fair trade jute storage bags. I also thought they could double up as Santa's gift bag under the tree. ethicalsuperstore.com

Lastly, I selected a vintage inspired print which has been upcycled from books. I've seen these on several websites and there are lots of different designs. "You're My Cup of Tea" was the one that caught my attention on protecttheplanet.co.uk

Sarah x

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