1 October 2019

Being Organic Vegan Clothing
I want to buy ethical clothing but often I feel excluded for having a larger body as eco-friendly brands often do not cater for people bigger than a UK size 16 (I'm 18/20). On the odd occasion a garment is suitable then I have to be mindful of my budget. Eco-friendly and sustainable clothing comes at a premium and of course I understand why that is but I wish it would change as it often what holds me back. I do my part where I can and try to avoid fast fashions stores and I'm wearing my clothes to the point they become threadbare and holey.

Back in March, I saw this Being milk carton t-shirt on Instagram and promptly purchased it. I've loved wearing it and often get comments on the design. Let me tell you a little bit about Being clothing. Their t- shirts  are 100% cotton, PETA Approved and climate neutral (produced using solar and wind power). The designs are hand drawn and screen printed with inks that are vegan and accredited by the Soil Association. They are backed by the Fair Wear Foundation, which ensures workers are paid a fair wage.

The quality of my t-shirt is really lovely, nice and soft and a good weight to the cotton. It has washed and worn well over the months, with no sign of fading, shrinking or deterioration in the print. I'm very happy that my £18 has been well spent. Choosing a size was a little tricky but I ended up measuring a pre-owned t-shirt for comparison and opted for a large. It's a nice fit, a little snug and if I ordered again and wanted a looser fit I'd try the extra large.

I'm honestly very happy with my purchase and thought it was about time to share it with you. As I said I'd like to start expanding my wardrobe beyond ethical t-shirts but for now it's a great starting point.

Sarah x



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

17 September 2019

Review Myroo Super Boost Drops Brightening Blackberry, Protective Buriti and Calming Marula
(Gifted/Unpaid)

UPDATE 2022 - SADLY MYROO ARE NO LONGER TRADING, SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE TRY BYBI BOOSTERS

Myroo is a brand I’ve supported and trusted for several years. My faith in them goes as far as to use them in the run up to my wedding, that's how much I trust them to look after my skin. Myroo is suitable for everyone but they also focus on customers with allergies so this puts them top of my list for anyone who is struggling with sensitive skin. I have existing favourites from the product range which includes the Gentle Cleanser (fragrance free version) and Superfood Balm.

Myroo recently expanded their line and launched Super Boost Drops which includes Brightening Blackberry, Protective Buriti and Calming Marula. These are cold pressed oils which can be used individually or together. I've been championing the brilliance of oils for years and truly believe that most people would benefit from using them as part of a skincare routine. Speaking as someone with dry skin, oils can boost hydration and improve the appearance of my skin. I'm already familiar with Marula and Buriti so I focused my attention to Blackberry. 

It’s my understanding that Blackberry is packed with antioxidants, nutrients and a rich source of Vitamin C. This oil may improve, repair and heal skin making it ideal for all but could be most beneficial if you are prone to itchy skin and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Blackberry also contains anthocyanins which have been shown to promote collagen synthesis and prevent sagging skin. 

I’m really enjoying using this Blackberry serum as part of my evening routine. I can tell that it's an emollient that nourishes and hydrates skin. It doesn’t feel heavy or greasy and tackles overall appearance and dryness. Currently I don’t have eczema on my face but it will probably return in the winter weather. If it does return then I look forward to putting Blackberry oil to my ultimate test and I'm confident it would be up to the task. You can of course use the Super Boost Drops individually but you could also add the drops into other products such as face masks or moisturisers. For instance, if you have a face mask that feels drying or a cream that is too light, pimp it up with a few drops of oil on application. By doing this you may benefit from additional hydration to compliment your skincare routine.

I am more than happy to recommend Myroo Super Boost Drops and I would pay out of my own pocket to replace once empty. If you are struggling with your skin and need a little boost then definitely give Myroo your consideration.

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

13 August 2019

Winners announced in Free From Skincare Awards 2019
Weleda’s Skin Food Body Butter has triumphed in the eighth annual Free From Skincare Awards, winning the Overall Award for Best Free From Skincare Product. “Fulfils its promise to banish dehydrated skin with ease,” enthused one tester. “My body is now a dry-free zone of silky moisturised skin. A beautiful formula and a pleasure to use.”

First-time participants from Finland, Laponie of Scandinavia, took the prestigious Best Free From Brand Award, while their Face Cream, jointly with Lyonsleaf’s Calendula and Marshmallow Cream, bagged the all-important Free From Achievement Award.

Free from synthetic ingredients, food allergens, and animal ingredients, Weleda’s Skin Food Body Butter beat stiff competition from 14 other category winners, including products by debutants Casa Mencarelli, NATHEO, and Bloom & Blossom, who were runners-up. 

“This year we opened up the Awards to all European brands, and the standard of entries from countries such as Spain, Greece, Finland, Bulgaria and Germany was impressive,” said Awards Co-ordinator, Alex Gazzola. “Judges and testers were excited to discover products that they wouldn’t ordinarily be able to try. Hopefully some of these brands can soon secure wider distribution across the UK.”

As you may or not know I had the pleasure of judging for my 7th year. I'm always amazed by the number of entrants and the quality of products. Aside from the task of judging I'm also keep my eye out for products that are of personal interest. Listed below, I've selected from the winners & medallists products that do not contain essential oil allergens.

Apothaka® Comforting oil booster
Fiini Naturally Oat shea butter
Fiini Naturally Oat Seabuckthorne oil serum
Honey Bee Beautiful, Sensitive Bee Face Cream
Joanna Naturals Harmony Facial Oil
Just Be Natural Be Natural Intensive Lip Balm
Laponie of Scandinavia Face Oil
Laponie of Scandinavia All-Around Balm
Laponie of Scandinavia Face Cream
Lyonsleaf Zinc and Calendula Cream
Lyonsleaf Calendula and Marshmallow Balm
Lucy Bee Fragrance Free Natural Soap
Odylique Coconut Candy Scrub
PHB Ethical Beauty Hand & Body Moisturiser with Mango & Shea Butter Scent Free
Tildas Tribe Honey & Oatmeal Goats Milk Soap

If you would like to view ALL Gold, Silver and Bronze winners then visit www.freefromskincareawards.co.uk

Sarah x

6 August 2019

Tincture London Eco Friendly Cleaning Products for around the home
I've been using eco friendly products around my home for years and I have some firm favourites on repeat purchase. I shall place links to my reviews at the end of this article. For me, one of the most common causes of allergic reactions has been household cleaning products. My allergy diagnosis to MI (Methylisothiazolinone) came much later in life but it certainly helped shed light on past situations. I'd reached the point where I had to ban the office cleaner from using their products on my desk due to experiencing itchy skin on my arms.

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.

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