Review: Nourish Balance Mini Kit

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the wonderful Nourish Argan Skin Rescue (click to read review), and along with that product, which as I mentioned has now become a nightly staple in my routine, I was also very kindly sent the Nourish Balance Mini Kit* to try out.

This came at a great time for me, as only recently has my skin transformed itself from 'normal' to 'combination' - my t-zone is now quite oily, and as I'm sure you've heard me mention, I've been suffering from breakouts too. So I was really excited to get started with this lovely little set, and see what good it could do for my skin. After putting it to the test for some time, as I find to be necessary with any skincare regime, I now feel ready to share my thoughts with you .

What I love about Nourish is that when creating their skincare ranges, they take into account not only the different skin-types we are all 'blessed' with, but also individual lifestyles and needs. Their natural, anti-ageing range of products aim to optimise skin health around the life that you lead as well as providing all the daily nourishment it needs to keep it in tip-top condition.

There are four different ranges available from Nourish, including 'Radiance' for normal skin, 'Protect' for dry skin, and 'Relax' for sensitive skin. As I said, I was sent the 'Balance' kit, which is aimed at combination skin.

The mini-kit contains 50ml of the Balance Detoxifying Cleanser, 50ml of the Balance Refining Toning Mist, 15ml of the Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum, and 15ml of the Balance Essential Moisturiser, and is available to buy for £24.95 - great for anyone wanting to dip their toe in the water.

Nourish Balance Detoxifying Cleanser*

This is quite a liquidy, lotion-like cream cleanser, containing a balancing blend of emollients and apple extract to leave the skin feeling fresh and clean, as well as helping to restore the skin's natural barrier.

The instructions suggest applying a small amount of this to the face with a cotton wool pad and then rinsing with cool water, but I don't personally enjoy using my cleansers this way, so instead I just massaged it into my face before removing it with a warm flannel/face cloth. When wearing makeup, it's obviously advisable to double cleanse - once to remove it, and then once to deep cleanse. I did find that this removed all traces of makeup after two cleanses, and it has such a lovely, gentle fragrance of green apple that it was a pleasure to use. It always left my skin feeling soft and well-hydrated, ready for the next step in my routine. It's 80% organic., and comes in at a bargainous £9.95 for the full-size 100ml bottle.

Nourish Balance Refining Toning Mist*

Again, this has the pleasant fragrance of apples, and comes in a spray bottle so that it can be spritzed onto the face after cleansing. I'm still going with this one, and find it refreshing in the mornings as well as being a welcome pick-me up throughout the day, so I do, on occasion, pop this one in my handbag for whenever the mood takes me. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this restores the natural pH level of the skin, which is obviously great for helping to balance things out and keep them on a level. It's also 97% organic, and for a full-size 100ml bottle you would pay just £8.95.

Nourish Balance Nutritious Peptide Serum*

This is a really light, hydrating serum which I find leaves my skin looking much brighter after use. Again, it's choc-full of nutritious vitamins and minerals, has the same delightful fragrance and helps to renew the skin's natural surface. For me, one pump is more than enough for the whole face, and I tend to apply it to my neck too. It's strange to think that in the past, I didn't bother with serums, as they are now an integral part of my daily skincare routine. It's 80% organic, and will set you back £16.95 for a full-size 30ml bottle, making it the priciest of the bunch.

Nourish Balance Essential Moisturiser*

I think this is probably my favourite product of the four. It's a light, 89% organic cream complex containing sebum-controlling properties, and sinks easily into the skin upon application, with no greasiness whatsoever. I personally find it really difficult to find suitable moisturising creams that suit both my face and neck, but this one works nicely and doesn't cause any breakouts, which for me is a rarity. The full size comes in at £14.95 for a 50ml jar.

In all, I've really enjoyed using this range, and will definitely be repurchasing. The mini kit is ideal for keeping on hand for weekends away or unexpected road-trips, and there are also full-size gift-sets available for each range, priced at £45 - that's a saving of £5.80 compared to buying each product individually.

I have to say, while I've been having some problems with breakouts and oiliness, I noticed a marked improvement in the condition of my skin within the first couple of days of use - it became much calmer and better balanced, as well as looking a lot fresher and generally healthier. Whatever your skin-type, I'd definitely recommend giving Nourish a try, as with such high levels of lovely, natural ingredients you're bound to be doing yourself a favour.

Nourish is available to buy directly from their website, and also from Feel Unique.

Do you like using natural and organic skincare?

If so, what are your favourite products?

xx

Review: Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

Ever since I first heard about this face mask, I knew it would be right up my street. I had been eager to try natural and organic New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes for such a long time, but due to other skincare needs, adding to my face mask collection got bumped down the list in favour of replacing cleansers (my first foray into Antipodes was with their Grapeseed Butter Cleanser - review here), serums and other daily necessities. So, when my birthday rolled around at the beginning of the month, I already knew what was top of my list, and I finally received the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask.

Antipodes products are vegetarian approved and cruelty free, as well as containing a high level of certified organic ingredients (in order for an entire product to be certified organic it must contain 70-95% organic ingredients, so while only a selection of Antipodes products are able to bear this stamp, the others are not far off at all).

What really drew me in when it comes to the brand is the list of delicious-sounding ingredients their products boast, such as manuka honey, avocado oil and vinanza grape extract - don't they just sound good enough to eat? 

The Aura Manuka Honey Mask is no exception, with the main ingredient being, unsurprisingly, manuka honey. A traditional remedy of New Zealand Maori people, it really packs a punch, drawing moisture to the skin which in turn aids hydration, as well as having powerful anti-bacterial properties which are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to stopping blemishes in their tracks. Also packed with nutrient-rich avocado oil and ruby red pohutukawa bloom, one of nature's finest antioxidants, this multi-tasking marvel promises to cover all the bases. 

The instructions advise smoothing on a thick layer at sunset at least twice a week, although it's gentle enough to be used on a daily basis. You leave it on for fifteen minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Personally, I tend to use this 2-3 times a week, as while I do like to keep my face masks as a treat, this one is just so divine I can't seem to leave it alone, and I really look forward to taking off my makeup, cleansing and popping a layer on when I get home from work. The smell is absolutely incredible, with fragrance of vanilla pod and mandarin, and while quite thick and creamy, a light layer is all that's required to give the skin that much-needed boost. It appears transparent on the skin, and I have to say that the very first time I tried it I was absolutely amazed by its calming, relaxing properties. Antipodes do say that the scent brings peace and balance to the aura, and I couldn't agree more. There is a very slight tingle that lets me know the mask is getting to work, and I really do mean it when I say that the fifteen minutes I leave this on are fifteen minutes of pleasure. It's definitely not one of those masks that has you watching the clock until it's time to take it off, and if anything I find myself leaving it on for longer.

When I remove the mask, my skin feels silky-soft and hydrated, and this has definitely been playing a part in soothing my blemishes and keeping them a bit more under control. I tend to use it straight after the Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Mask, and together they have made a world of difference to my recently un-cooperative skin. Afterwards, my skin looks glowing and healthy, and any redness has been greatly diminished.

 What can I say? This is the most delightful addition to my skincare collection in quite some time, and has shot straight to the top of my list of most-loved face-masks. It's a pleasure to use, and a great multi-tasker. Having only used a  fraction of the tube up, I'm already thinking about re-ordering, as it's quickly become one of those go-to products I don't ever want to find myself without! I absolutely love it, and every application is a real experience for the senses as well as the skin.

The Antipodes Aura Manuka Mask is available from Feel Unique at £21.50 for 75ml.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? If so, what were your thoughts?

Are you a fan of natural skincare brands?

xx

Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

As I'm sure you're very well aware by now, I'm quite into my natural and organic skincare, and Antipodes is a brand I'd been keen to try for quite some time. 

As well as being vegetarian approved and  never being tested on animals, Antipodes products are also free from genetically modified organisms and don't contain any animal bi-products other than honey. Not all of their offerings are certified organic, but those which are not come pretty close (there is a strict criteria  for this, and 70-95% of the ingredients must be certified organic for the product to be considered so, with 100% of them being natural).

Antipodes products are packed with lots of delicious natural ingredients, such as avocado oil, manuka honey, macadamia and goji berry to name but a few, and as a whole they just come across as a really wonderful brand with fantastic ethics and delightful-sounding products.

So, a couple of months ago, when I found myself in need of a new cleanser, I decided to bite the bullet and order myself the Grapeseed Butter Cleanser (certified organic), £24.99 from Feel Unique.

Containing nourishing cacao butter and Vinanza grape antioxidant from New Zealand's Sauvignon Blanc grape seeds, this luxurious butter cleanser aims to soften and moisturise the skin as well as helping to repair free-radical damage, while lavender and chamomile soothe and calm.

The product comes in a sturdy jar with a screw top, and you are also provided with a little spatula with which to remove the amount of product you need. The product itself is a coarse yellow balm in texture, which emulsifies and becomes more like an oil when warmed between the hands. 

Antipodes recommend that this is used both morning and evening, and is suitable for all skin types. You need the tiniest amount of this, as a little goes a long way. I massaged this in circular motions over my face and neck, and found that it was great for removing makeup, literally melting it all off. Personally, I would always go in for a second, deeper cleanse afterwards, and spend a good couple of minutes really massaging it in and getting it down into my pores for a really deep down clean.

While it did leave my skin feeling soft and nourished, I also noticed that it left an oily film residue on my skin, which didn't exactly thrill me, and wasn't ideal in the mornings when makeup application follows skincare, so I began using it only in the evenings.

This cleanser was a pleasure to use, with a vaguely menthol aroma, and felt like a really luxurious product, but unfortunately for me, not long after I began using it I began breaking out pretty badly! This is unusual for me, as I have been lucky enough to get this far with pretty normal skin, with just the odd minor hormonal breakout on my chin area. But this time, I had some quite awful blemishes on my chin, as well as a couple scattered over my nose, forehead and (I never get them here) cheeks.

The problem with natural and organic products is that, while it's fantastic that they don't contain any chemical nasties, many natural ingredients and essential oils can be comedogenic, blocking pores and causing breakouts. Different people react differently though, so what gives one person blemishes mightn't cause another any problems at all.

Upon further research, I discovered that as well as containing cacao butter, it also lists coconut oil in the ingredients - both of which are known comedogenics. I'm quite sure that the coconut oil was to blame, in my case, as I once used coconut oil as a body moisturiser and it broke me out terrible on my back and chest.

So unfortunately, while this is a lovely product, this particular cleanser wasn't for me, but it hasn't put me off Antipodes as a brand at all - I just need to be a bit more careful with investigating ingredients before I buy anything in future. In fact, I've already ordered the Aura Manuka Honey Mask, and I really can't wait to try that. I've also got my eye on their Divine Oil, which sounds...well, divine!

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? If so, what did you think?

xx

Tropic Pure Plant Skincare: Organic Hot Bamboo Smoothing Cleanser

Unless you've been living under a rock, there's no way you haven't heard me talk about my love for organic and natural skincare, so it'll come as no surprise to hear how delighted I was to be given the opportunity to try the Tropic Organic Hot Bamboo Smoothing Cleanser*.

Tropic Pure Plant Skincare is the brainchild of Apprentice 2011 contestant, Susan Ma, who despite not winning, managed to impress business tycoon Lord Alan Sugar - so much so, that he went on to invest in Tropic and is now a 50/50 partner.

Tropic products are derived from 100% pure plant extracts, with their three main principles being to create pure, honest and effective skincare.

The Smoothing Cleanser is priced at £15.00 for 125ml, and comes complete with a 100% organic bamboo face cloth.

The product itself is a thick cream cleanser, which instantly appealed to me, as not only do I love hot cloth cleansers, but I feel that creams do a far better job at removing every last scrap of makeup than anything else I've tried.

With extracts of green tea (packed with anti-oxidants) and Eucalyptus to clarify and brighten the complexion,  the cleanser boasts yet more goodies, such as jojoba, avocado and vitamin E, all of which are super-hydrating and nourishing and aim to leave the skin plump and soft.

To use on my 'normal' skin, I apply two pumps to a dry face and neck, and massage in for about a minute or so, really giving it the chance to dissolve any debris and impurities. I then soak the bamboo cloth provided in hot water, and gently polish away the product, taking all the unwanted dirt with it.

If I have a full face of makeup on before use, I tend to massage a pump or so in before hand, rinsing with warm water, as suggested by Tropic. However, if I'm just wearing tinted moisturiser and light eye makeup then I don't find this to be a necessary step, as the cleanser is really thorough and removes every last trace of grime!

The product smells wonderfully herbal, but it's not a strong or over-powering scent. If anything, it adds to the sense of cleanliness, and is really rather pleasant, the dominant note I can pick out being that of eucalyptus.

I can honestly say that I have absolutely loved using this cleanser, and will continue to use it on a daily basis, as it has left my skin feeling so incredibly soft, smooth, hydrated and plump (yes, I'm a beauty blogger, so I will undoubtedly try other cleansers if they tickle my fancy, but this is one to always keep on hand). When I started using it, I had been a bit erratic with my skincare for the past few days, and it was showing, with blemishes and redness blighting my appearance. However, after just a couple of uses, this had already made a huge impact on my skin, and while I was a little bit sceptical as to whether that would continue, it really has done, leaving it soft, smooth and blemish free. This only serves to re-enforce my believe that my skin responds better to organic and natural ingredients, and I have definitely got my eye on some of the other products in the Tropic range.

Whether you are new to cream cleansers or a die-hard fan of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and fancy an organic alternative, this one is for you, and it comes highly recommended from me.

Where to find Tropic:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Have you tried anything from Tropic Pure Plant Skincare? If so, what did you think?

xx

Beauty Comes From Within...

I love trying out new beauty products, whether we are talking makeup, skincare or haircare. But something I really believe is that you also need to look after yourself on the inside in order to make the most of yourself.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am no saint. I do not live in the gym, and I like nibbling chocolate in front of the TV and going out for a few cheeky cocktails as much as the next girl. But I do like to do some things to try and counteract all those naughty little things I do to myself, and to just generally feel good, as well as benefitting my hair, skin and nails.


Green Tea

I drink absolutely buckets of this stuff. I used to drink a lot of coffee, but I went through a stage of having panic attacks and found that caffeine tended to set me off a bit, so I swapped it for green tea. Now, I only have a coffee every once in a while. I have always liked green tea, and find it to have a pretty neutral, refreshing taste on it's own, but it's available in lots of flavours. My favourite is this Orange and Lotus Flower flavour, from Twinings.

So, why drink green tea? Well, it's full of anti-oxidants, for a start. On top of this, drinking three to five cups a day is said to speed up the metablolism - whoopee! Well, it can't hurt, can it?

Other benefits are that it apparently helps to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diease and cancers, slows down signs of aging and boosts the immune system.

What's not to love?

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Word on the street is that Organic Coconut oil is great for your hair and skin, helps to fight off a number of health conditions, keeps your blood sugar stable and your metabolism running high. In fact, this delicious-tasting stuff is an all round good egg, because it also improves digestion and provides a quick source of energy, as well as a whole host of other things. And there are A LOT. If you would like to see the full list, then you can do so here.

I usually take a couple of tablespoons of this each day, more often than not at breakfast time. It actually tastes really pleasant, so I just take it on it's own, but you could also use it for cooking by exchanging it with your usual cooking oil, or you can put it on salads or in smoothies. You can also rub this stuff into your nails and it will help to lock in moisture, making them lovely and strong and healthy.

Your call. If you are still thinking that this is not really your bag, then here are some celebrities who love the stuff:

Angelina Jolie

Denise Richards

Gisele Bundchen

Miranda Kerr.

You can get your hands on some of this stuff by going to a health food shop, such as Holland and Barrett. You can also find it in big supermarkets, but just make sure it's organic.

Chia Seeds and Linseed

These bad boys are both packed with Omega 3, and let's face it, we could all do with a bit more of that. Omega 3 helps keep the brain and heart healthy, as well as helping with weight maintenance and giving us glowing skin, strong,shiny hair and healthy nails!

Both are also great sources of slow-release energy, and Chia seeds, when wet, swell and form a kind of 'gel'. Imagine them doing that in your stomach and it's easy to see why they keep you fuller for longer.

I usually have about two teaspoons of Chia and one of Linseed in my morning yoghurt.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix this with honey and you've got an energising tonic as well as a healing Elixir.

Personally, I take two cap-fulls diluted in a glass of water every day, usually after lunch. You can put a teaspoon of honey in to sweeten it if you can't stand the taste, and remember to clean your teeth after finishing this drink to get rid of any excess acid hanging around in your mouth, as it could damage your teeth otherwise.

Apple Cider Vinegar helps with digestion and keeps blood sugar stable, and it's loaded with Potassium, to help treat brittle nails, teeth and hair. It also has properties which counteract free radicals and help to break down fat. Again, though, you must go organic to get the full health benefits.

The lovely Alex over at The Wallflower also recently shared a hair conditioning tip with me, which is to spritz the hair with Apple Cider Vinegar and leave it for a couple of minutes before washing. I am looking forward to giving that one a try this week, and hope it goes better than the time when I was ten and rinsed my hair with Malt Vinegar. I smelled of the stuff for a week!

Now, I know there will be a lot of skeptics out there, and I have to admit that even I am not sure if these things really 'do what they say on the tin', as most of the work goes on inside the body, where we can't see it. But I do know it makes me feel better to think that I am trying to do something positive for my body, and I generally feel better in myself and more uplifted when using these products. I don't know about you guys, but I would rather go for a natural product over a chemical one any day of the week, having seen first hand what terrible things those chemicals can do to us. I lost a family member due to a blood disorder triggered by strong antibiotics, and since then, I am very reluctant to take any medication unless I have to. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, or I feel a bit sick, I reach straight for the herbal remedies. Yes, ok, I love my makeup and hair/skincare products and couldn't go without them, but ingesting something is another thing.

Hope everyone is having a delightful day!

xx