Green People Foaming Face Wash.

£10.95 for 100ml.

It's no secret that I have been endeavouring to use more and more natural, cruelty free and organic skincare products. It's an interesting process, with some good and bad surprises along the way! I don't think that my face will ever be 100% cruelty free but I am a believer that every bit makes a difference.

I found this in my local independant health food shop and thought I'd give it a go. At just over a tenner it is good value for money in terms of amount of product you get, not cheap yet not expensive- a happy middleground in terms of price. Affordable.
The term 'foaming face wash' had me assuming that the product would foam up, once massaged into the face with water. Infact, this product comes out of the dispenser as foam, something I've not had to work with before! I found this initially, and still, quite disappointing. I would much rather this came out in liquid form and foamed up once wet as it would feel like a more thorough cleanse. It also made me worry I would experience tightness or dryness in my skin, as foaming washes are often famed for.

I've been using this for both my morning and evening cleanse for about three weeks and not noticed any negative side effects. I haven't experienced dryness, tightness that I had worried about. My skin feels balanced and looks healthy, I've had the odd hormonal induced spot here and there but nothing severe. It does a good job at removing any left over makeup that I have missed with my micellar water, though I wouldn't advise using this as your soul makeup remover as it does struggle a little with mascara.

Getting used to the foam has been quite a strain, as at times I feel the product didn't coat my face enough. The cleanse just didn't feel indepth or thorough, which took away from the enjoyable experience that I normally find cleansing to be. However it must be doing a good job, as I said before- my skin feels balanced and I've not experienced any nasty outbreaks or problems.

This cleanser claims to be suitable for all skin types (though I would suggest it would be best for combination or oily skin types due to it's foam consistency), it contains 96% organic ingredients, many of them fair trade. It is worth noting that it contains salicylic acid- a favourite of mine for clearing out blocked pores. It's is alcohol and soap free, therefore ideal for sensitive skin, the product is not tested on animals and does not contain any nasties such as SLS (unusual for a foaming product), parabens, lanolin etc and last but not least they donate 10% of their profits to charity. Talk about ethical! Perfect for anyone concerned about using harsh chemicals in their skincare, vegans/vegetarians, or who favour a foam for their face wash.

This isn't and won't be my 'holy grail' cleanser, there are many more on the market for me to discover and test. That said, I would recommend this. The ingredients and the company ethos is fantastic and faultless. The brand 'Green People' have all to offer; including toothpaste, a cosmetics range and lovely products to cater especially for babies and children. I will definitely be looking into them more in the future, but I don't think that I'll repurchase this particular product.

Thanks for reading,

E.

Midweek Post: Another SLS free shower gel.

Burt's Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint and Rosemary Body Wash, £9.99 for 350ml.

This is the third post in my sort-of mini series about SLS and paraben- free shower products. Natural bathing products interest me and feel so much more indulgent than those that are not, because I know that they aren't full of cheap chemicals. If you missed my post about these naughty ingredients, you can catch up on it here.

In comparison to the L'occitane Almond Shower Oil that I featured last time, this one is a bit more purse friendly, costing £9.99 for 350ml compared to the former at £17.50 for 250ml. This lathers up so well, it is so foamy and rich with a gorgeous scent of peppermint with a hint of herb (that would be the rosemary, but it in no way has an overpowering influence, it's all about the mint here.)

There's also other 'flavours' in the same range that I am keen to try. My discovery of the Burt's Bees body washes was a nice surprise, I wasn't aware that they were SLS and paraben free until I looked at the ingredients list when I was browsing in store one day. It is nice that I managed to find a body wash in Boots that ticked all the boxes. In terms of my skin, I have noticed a small decrease in the irritation/itching I would get after washing, but knowing my shower gels are chemical free help put my mind at ease rather than anything else.

I would completely recommend this, it's a perfect morning shower gel because it is so freshly scented and lathers up just as well as any shower gel packed with SLS.

Thanks for reading,

E.

Botanics Cleansing Balm

Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, £8.99 for 65ml.

I'm on a budget at the moment, and it has hit me hardest when trying to buy skincare. I've got enough makeup to last me years, but skincare inevitably runs out and needs to be replaced. 
When I spotted a budget cleansing balm, claiming to be 97% organic I thought it sounded promising. From Botanics, Boots' own range of affordable skincare with a nod to the natural, this cleansing balm contains ingredients such as jojoba oil, almond oil and shea butter and comes in a 65ml tub.

Similarly to other cleansing balms I have used, the product is a stiff substance, that massaged into the palms of your hands under warm running water remains thick in consistency but semi melts, ready to massage into the face. It has quite a 'natural' scent that is difficult to describe, not overwhelming like the Emma Hardie balm, that although delicious, smelt too strong for my liking. It is a deep yellow, almost green in colour and comes with a large muslin cloth.

For reviews sake, I tried using this without a muslin cloth. It is so thick that it is near impossible to remove with hands and water, a residue remains. The cloth is essential as the muslin grips and removes the product with ease. My skin feels soft and hydrated after using this, but no matter how hard I try it always ends up in my eyes and although it doesn't sting or feel uncomfortable, it makes my vision cloudy for about ten minutes! 
I still use this every evening, it is nice to use and I would probably repurchase as it is gentle and makes my skin feel supple. Plus it is free from nasty ingredients and is paraben free which is always a bonus in my eyes.

Give this a go if you are interested in cleansing balm or if you are into organic products :-)

Thanks for reading,

E.

Midweek Post: Goe Oil

Jao 'Goe Oil', £30 for 85g.

Jao are a company committed to producing 100% natural, multipurpose products. When I saw Goe Oil on a stand in London Liberty's with the words 'oil' 'multipurpose' and 'natural' I knew I had to have it. A quick whiff of it's Tahitian Monoi scent (to me this smells like sweet lemon) and it was sold!

The ingredients:

Goe Oil contains 28 different natural plant oils and butters including Jojoba, Avocado, Chamomile, Rose Hip and Mango butter. It's completely free from any naughties such as parabenns, mineral oils/petroleum and artifical perfumes.
It contains a very high concentration of Jojoba Oil which is likened to human sebum. Sebum naturally protects our skin and hair, so by including a natural equivelant this product actually replaces the oils and sebum that we lose through age and environmental stressors, keeping our skin healthy and plump!

The uses:

Jao describe their product as a 'lifesaver'. Here are some of the uses that they believe Goe Oil is perfect for-  softening cuticles and rough skin such as elbows and feet, hair styling, to soften freshly shaved legs, eye makeup remover (this I am yet to try). chapped skin and to make bald heads shiny (again, not one I can comment on.)

I can't use this every day because the absorbing process is lengthly, I have to allow around 40 minutes for this to soak in to a point where I can then get on with my day without feeling oily or sticky! It's thicker than other oils I have used, it comes out of the tube a solid butter but melts to oil when it is warmed on the skin. Once it has soaked in, my skin feels unbelievably soft and the beneficial effects can be felt days later. I'm currently using this once a week, and topping my skin up with lighter oils inbetween (at the moment I am using The Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil)

So far so good?

So far, so completely good. I love the feeling of applying this product to my skin. I love the smell and it's softening, nourishing effects. I'm going to continue using it and I think I'll do an update post in about three months time to let you know how I am finding it and if my skin has improved.

If you're interested in Jao's story you can read about it here. If you wanted to buy Goe Oil but aren't local to Liberty then I have seen this available on Amazon.

Do you use Goe Oil, or would you be tempted to by this? What are your favourite oils?

.....Finally, a review! MAC Fix+

MAC Fix+, £13.50 for 100ml.

It has taken me until I am spritzing the last drops of this bottle onto my face to really formulate an opinion on MAC Fix+, but it is a positive opinion and one I wanted to share with you all.

It's sold as a setting spray that is used to prolong the wear of makeup as well as freshen up any makeup look. It contains ingredients such as green tea and chamomile which are also meant to benefit the skin.

Whilst I haven't noticed any particular skin benefits, nor do I notice my makeup staying put for longer (DoubleWear foundation ensures that happens anyway!) I find that Fix+ achieves that natural, dewy look that I strive to achieve everyday.

Gone are the days where I liked to look ultra matte, but whilst I remain to use powder to set my foundation it is hard to get the appearance that your makeup is your skin. In other words, Fix+ breaks down that powdery, synthetic finish that powder creates on your base, and turns it into looking like part of your skin, that you naturally look that healthy and that you naturally have that even skin tone. Who wouldn't want that, eh? It takes about twenty minutes after being sprayed to truley show it's effects, but for those of you who like that no effort, natural makeup look but still want to be able to use a foundation and a powder, then this is for you.

My love for this product has been a slow burner but I do think I would repurchase. I don't use it everyday and the bottle has lasted me quite a few months, so I'm not too concerned about paying out for it. 

Do you use Mac Fix+?

P.S. I'M ENGAGED!!!!

Vichy Thermal Spa Water

Vichy 'Eau Thermale', Thermal Spa Water, £7 for 150g.

Hello lovelies! Today I thought I'd let you all know how I've found this product so far!

A litle dubious of a product that is 100% water I gave into the fact that the water is from Vichy in France, the spring water from this town was recognised by medical bodies for having a large amount of minerals (15 to be precise) and fortifying properties.

Sprayed onto a bare face I always notice how quickly this water sinks into the skin, leaving it feel fresh and awakened. As it is pure water, it contains no scent which is a plus for me, and does seem to have helped soothe my skin, which is OK overall but suffers from irritated areas. It's hard to pin point exactly, but it seems to make my skin feel a bit plumper, and all round healthier and softer. I am currently enjoying using it in conjunction with my skincare essentials (Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish teamed with Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair are going to remain staples in my routine for a long time to come.)

Sprayed on top of makeup, I've found no negative effects. Although I'm not sure it necessarily sets or prolongs the wear of makeup (I don't think it claims to do this), it does freshen up the overall look and still manages to absorb into the skin well. Unless I was to spray too generously, droplets don't run down the face which could otherwise affect the look of makeup.

I would recommend this product but would warn not to expect a miracle worker (a mistake I always make when buying new skincare!). It's a lovely addition, either to spritz after cleansing, during work, or to keep in the car for those long, hot drives. I believe with regular use it has benefited my skin and a definite plus for me is that it doesn't affect my makeup. I'd imagine (though haven't tested it yet) that it could help soothe holiday issues such as sun burn and bites, but don't hold me to that! It is also recommended for sensitive skin and the Boots website tells me that it is hypoallergenic.

Have you used this water spray? Do you believe that water spray will benefit your skin?