# No Buy January

                                                                                 

 
 
 You may have seen #NoBuyJanuary on various twitter feeds. I am afraid I have the will power of a gnat when it comes to spending, and the nesting qualities of a magpie (come to me my pretties). I am very guilty of amassing a huge stock pile of products that would probably beautify and pamper an entire city for goodness knows how long.

 January is always a time when many of us take stock of where we are at in our lives. This seem a good a time to take action. I already own a lot of beautiful products that are currently going unloved and are in dire need of attention. My bank balance isn't looking to healthy either especially after Christmas. When I saw Paula from Naturally Paula suggest this on twitter I knew I wanted to be part of this. See Paula's post here for suggested guidelines.

 I like not having to give up my beauty box subscriptions as most of them are tied in, I am not ready to go completely cold turkey. I do however need to start making the most of what I already have, other wise what is the point of having it in the first place. Most of my upcoming posts will feature things from the stash. It is also nice from a moral support perspective. It will be good to see bloggers sharing new ideas for posts, after all that is how communities and friendships are built - it isn't always just about the goodies. The new people I have been introduced to is one of the nicest things about having a blog.

                           You are welcome to join us, look out for #NoBuyJanuary on twitter.
                                                         

December 2013 Empties.

                                                                               
 I am sure most of you are feeling the same as I am. Where has 2013 gone? I must be getting old, because everything seems to be passing by so quickly. Here are my empties for December 2013. I haven't used up a full size product this month as I am really trying to tackle my mountain of samples.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm (5ml) is just wonderful, but out of my price range. See my review here This is definitely on my wish list.

RMK Cleansing Balm (15ml) was Ok, but nothing special. It's rather pricey to buy the full size, and for the money I would expect better results. I won't be buying the full size.

Sweet Cecily Almond & Avocado Face Cream (10ml). I loved this little sample from my SoukSouk box. Rich, luxurious and very moisturising without being heavy or greasy. Very affordable products and I will definitely be exploring the brand more in 2014.

Botanicals Rose & Camellia skin tonic (5g). This was from a little try me set, and the whole range is lovely. Another brand I will be looking to try more products from.

 

Ren Neroli and Grapefruit Body Wash and Body Cream (50mls each). I have loved everything I have tried by Ren so far and these were no exception. I loved the light, citrus scent. They are nice and gentle on the skin. Santa has since bought me a gift set with these and the rose fragrance in mini sizes. I am really looking forward to using them.

 

Weleda Skin Food (10ml). This is a much heavier hand cream and you do need to allow longer for it to be absorbed, but it really is worth it. Applied before bed and under cotton gloves this really does transform my hands overnight. Love this and am half way through the full size tube.

 

Dr Hauschka Rose Body Moisturiser and Hand Cream (10mls each) are the last samples I had from a gift set. These are light creams but are very moisturising, they smell beautiful. I will come back to these in the future, but I really need to tackle my stash before I buy anything more.

 

Naturalmente Citrus Shampoo and Fennel and Geranium Intensive Hydrating Treatment (50mls each). I loved these samples and reviewed them here I will be coming back to this brand again.

                                                                                   

 

Rituals Magic Touch Cherry Blossom & Rice Milk (Body Cream, 70mls). This was a sample from a beauty box ages ago and I am not even sure if you can still buy this particular fragrance any more. I enjoyed using this. It is a whipped body cream and so the texture feels super light. I really liked the fragrance too. Would buy other things from the Rituals range in the future.

 

L'Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath (100mls). This was nice but it wasn't anything special in my opinion. I wouldn't buy this again.

 

Molton Brown Ylang-Ylang Body Wash (30ml) another luxury product that was nice to try, but not something I would buy again.

 

Dr Bronner's Magic Soap (50mls). I love these and use them regularly. See my review here The little mini ones are great for work and I have a couple of full size bottles to use at home

Top Five Books of 2013.

                                                             Top Five Books of 2013.

 I thought for today's post I would do something a little different. Much as I am obsessed with beauty products, there are other things in my life. Like many of you I love reading. I have always been a bit nervous of book reviews as it is quite hard to balance describing a book without ruining the plot. After seeing Wendy at Blush and Barbells top 5 I thought I would follow suit. You can see what Wendy's were in the link .
                                                                       
                                                               

 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is the book I just finished reading and was recommended to me by a friend. This is the story of a husband and wife. In this novel the wife disappears, and the story is told through the eyes of the husband and the wife. This isn't your average "missing" story, with a happy ever ending. It is clever and complicated, and I really enjoyed reading this. The characters aren't quite what you first think they are, they are players in a game created by the wife.

                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                     

 The Game of Thrones series by George R.R Martin have to be amongst my all time favourite books. I am sure many of you will have seen the TV series, but the books really are worth reading. This is one of the few programmes which have stayed true to the original books. The Game of Thrones series are of course pure fantasy, and tell the story of an epic power struggle between various houses or families. It is full of twists and turns, double crossing and treachery. Will good overcome the bad? Who will be the ultimate ruler? No-one knows, it has not yet been completed. I can't wait to find out how this unfolds.


                                                                   
                                                                          
 Brain Dead by Eileen Dreyer is the story of a nurse working in a hospital who comes to realise their are a lot of unexplained deaths in the local community and in particular the local care home. Of course as she begins to voice these concerns she herself becomes under threat. This was another really good read. Very well written and really quite humorous at times, but then again you have to remember that most nurses develop a sense of black humour.

                                                               

 Avenging Annabelle by Mandy White is the story of an ordinary family who's youngest daughter disappears. After time the finger of suspicion is pointed at the father, who has always had a close relationship with Annabelle. Whilst Annabelle is missing, the father is haunted by dreams where he feels his daughter is pleading with him to find her. This isn't a straight forward story of a missing child, there are some really good twists that I didn't quite see coming. I really enjoyed this book.

                                                              
                                                                               
My final choice is The Butterfly Forest by Tom Lowe. This is the story of a college student who releases some rare butterflies into an American Forest. In doing so, she unwittingly captures evidence of something which puts her in grave danger. There are a lot of red herrings in this book, so the plot wasn't easy to figure out. It kept me guessing, and I really didn't want to put this book down.

 What have you enjoyed reading this year? I am always looking for recommendations.
                                                                                

Merry Christmas.

                                                                Merry Christmas.      
                                                                   

 I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each person who has stopped by, followed and commented on my little blog. Your time means so much to me and I am truly grateful.

 All that remains to be said on Christmas Eve is Merry Christmas to you. I hope that what ever you are doing brings you happiness and joy.

                                                         Much love to you all.

                                                                       Karen xxx

Green Beauty Characters Tag.

                                                   Green Beauty Characters Tag.    

  A few weeks ago I was tagged by the lovely Chrissy at herban adventures to do the Green Beauty Characters Tag. If  you aren't already following Chrissy, her blog is well worth a read. I am especially jealous of Homegrown Collective Subscription Box.

 This tag  was initially created by Sonja at Life In Blush, another green beauty blogger worth looking into.

So without further ado .....

1). On my nightstand you'll find:-
 My kindle. I love to read especially before bed. I like a good thriller, I am far too cynical to like anything too mushy.
There is always hand cream of some description. You have been warned on numerous occasions how obsessed I am with hand cream.
Cotton gloves to help make the most of my hand cream.
Lip balm.
Bedside lamp, house phone and alarm clock/docking station for ipod.

2). The Literary Character I am most like (via quiz found here )

                                        

According to the quiz I am most like Juliet from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This made me laugh. I am a grumpy devil, I don't consider myself to be overly romantic. However, most of us want our happy ever after, and I am certainly strong minded.

3). I am Currently Obsessed With:-
I would have to say beauty box subscriptions. I love trying new things.


4. My Favourite Super Hero is:-

                                             

 I am not quite sure if Robin Hood is classed as a super hero or not, but I admire the notion of standing up for those less fortunate than ourselves. There is a lot of inequality in our society, and whilst I don't advocate outright robbery, more needs to be done to address that inequality. Sherwood Forest (the home of Robin Hood) is not a million miles from me too.

5). Favourite Beauty Product of 2013:-
This is such a hard one to decide, but after much pondering I have decided upon my trusty old Konjac Sponge. It really has made such a difference to my skin care routine.

6). If I could have Dinner with anyone Dead or Alive it would be:-
This has taken me ages to decide upon, and my answer is Slash (guitarist). As a teenager Guns N Roses were my favourite band, and I still love their music today. I certainly think it would make for an interesting conversation.

7). Winter is Coming - How do you Prep your Skin for Battle?:-
By  layering products, serums under a day cream, an oil under a night cream. I definitely look for richer formulas, as well as balms and oils.

8). My Perfect Date Night Make-up Consists of:-
Much as I love beauty products, I never feel comfortable with a huge amount of make up on my face. I love liquid eyeliner to create a cat eye and lashings of mascara, a little blusher and a red lip and I am good to go.

9). My Go-To Skin-Beautifying Snack/Drink is:-
I have such a sweet tooth, it is my biggest weakness. I love a smoothie made with fresh fruit.

10). My tv boyfriend is:-
I am going to be a party pooper and pass on this one. I have been married for 11 years and this feels a little disrespectful to my husband.

11). If my Evening Clutch could only hold one Beauty item it would be:-
Easy one this, red lipstick. Without a shadow of a doubt.

12). One Beauty Tip I would pass on to my daughter is:-
Be yourself and be comfortable with who you are. It might sound a cliché but beauty comes from within. There is far too much pressure on children, to look a certain way, be a certain size. It is no wonder rates of eating disorders, stress and anxiety are sky rocketing in our children.

13). The Most Nostalgic Item from my Childhood is:-
I have a little Goldilocks and the three bears night lamp from being a child. When my daughter was tiny, she had it in her room too.

14). My Favourite TV show of the Moment is:-
                                       
                                                                                     
 I loved reading the books and I am really pleased to see the series is in keeping with the original books. It really annoys me when a book is adapted for TV and then they change the story completely. Why bother?

15). My Favourite Quote is:-
It is better to regret something you did rather than regret something you didn't do. Life is precious and you only get one shot at it. You can only try and give it your best shot. You may not always get it right, but it is better than being left with "what ifs".

               House Rules
 * Tag other bloggers.
 * Title your post as I have done.
 * Mention the tag started by Life In Blush.

  Have you done this fun tag yet. If not, I tag you x

My Love Lula Wishlist.

                                                             My Love Lula Wishlist.

When I opened my e-mails this morning, I saw a very exciting e-mail from Love Lula. It is the chance of winning your wish list, up to a very generous budget of  £150. To be in with a chance simply sign in to your account, click on the heart below the picture of your chosen item to add it to your wish list. Once you have done e-mail your list to a friend. The winner will be chosen on 23RD DECEMBER  2013, so be quick if you want to enter.

        
                              Here is a quick run down on what is on my wish list.

 

                                                                   

                                                  Bodhi Essential Skin Care Gift Set

                                                        

  I have been admiring Bodhi from afar for quite some time, and I am determined that 2014 is the year they will become mine. This beautiful set contains two travel sized shower gels, moisturiser, mini facial oil and a bamboo pad. I think this would be a lovely introduction to the brand.      

 

                                                           

                                         Dr Bronner's Patchouli and Lime Body Lotion 236ml           

 

I love Dr Bronner's soaps and I am really curious to see what their body lotions are like. I love the smell of both patchouli and lime, so this seems the perfect combination.

 

                                                            

                                    Santaverde Light Aloe Vera Cream 30ml            

 

I had a sample of this in September's beauty box and I love how it makes my skin look so radiant. I wish I had of bought it when there was the beauty box discount on it.                                               

                                                                             

 

                                                                                                                                                                

                                          Lavera Beautiful Lips Natural Lipstick - Deep Red 04 and  

                                           Lavera Intense Volumising Mascara - Black (13ml)      

 

I love Lavera skin care and I really want to try their makeup. This red lippie is the perfect shade for me, and I am always looking for something to add volume to my sparse eye lashes.                           

    

                                                        

 

                                                       UNE Universal Eye Palette P02

 

I have heard so many good things Une, and I love the look of this neutral palette. Another brand I really want to explore. 

 

                                                        

                                                         

 

                               Lucy Annabella Organics Argan & Frankincense Treatment Oil 125ml 

 

 I had a sample of the Argan and Bergamot oil and loved it. Frankincense is one of my favourite essential oils and feels very Christmassy. Would love to try this.

 

Love Lula have such a wide range of products on their website and I have always found their delivery to be really quick too. What would you put on your wish list?

 

 

Favourites From My 2013 Love Lula Boxes.

   

                                          Favourites From My 2013 LoveLula Boxes. 
                                                                         

 

                                                                     
 As it is coming to the end of the year, I thought I would take a look through my beauty boxes and share with you some of my favourite products. This was harder than I thought it would be, with so many good things to choose from. Here are my favourites from Love Lula.

1) Ren's Satin Perfection BB Cream. I was always a bit suspicious of the BB Cream craze, as finding things to suit my skin tone is always difficult. This is a lovely product and matches my skin perfectly, thanks to it's clever skin adapting technology. It gives good coverage and I am impressed with it's staying power. I like this a lot.
                                    
2) Herbfarmacy Mallow Beauty Balm. This is intended to be used as a serum rather than a cleansing balm. I intended to review this shortly so I won't drone on too much. My skin has really been loving this underneath my moisturiser. It seems to be doing a great job of keeping away sore patches on my face that I would usually have had appear by this time of year. I love the smell of it too.

3) Ila Bath Soak For Pure Relaxation. This was a lovely rich and luxurious bath soak. It filled my bathroom with the most amazing fragrance. I love the smell of vetivert, it gives a real depth and always makes me feel very ground. Perfect at the end of a stressful day, as I did find this very calming and relaxing.

4) AD Skin Synergy Night Treatment for The Face. This is from the most recent Love Lula box and I really been enjoying using this. Again I intend to review it properly soon, but I am really impressed with the way my skin looks the next morning. This is a fantastic product.

5) One Love Organics Skin Saviour Balm. Balm's are the perfect product for this time of year for soothing dry skin. This smells amazing. A little warmed into my hands and wrists helps with how sore they are at the moment. I use a smidge on the ends of my hair when it is still wet and it makes my hair lovely and soft. It is also great just as a lip balm. At the risk of sounding a very mean mummy, I guard this product as it mysteriously found it's way into my little girls bedroom.

6) Lucy Annabelle Treatment Oil with Argan and Bergamot. Another product that was a joy to use. I loved it's rich and uplifting aroma. Such a happy oil. This feels light but very moisturising on my skin. I was sad when it was all used up.

 For me the purpose of a beauty box is to discover new products and brands. I have had some fantastic products from my Love Lula boxes this year. There has been a nice mixture of brands I was familiar with and new discoveries. I can't wait to see what 2014 brings.     

                                                      

SoukSoukBox December 2013.

                                                        SoukSoukBox December 2013.  
                                                                       

 

The postie brought my SoukSouk box this morning and this is yet another box that I am really pleased with. Here are the goodies subscribers received this month.

 

A full size Salt of the Earth Natural Crystal Deodorant (90g). I have seen this on one or two beauty blogs, and have heard good things about it. I am really curious to try this. Very happy to give this one a go.

 

 

 Skin Blossom Age Resist Face Moisturiser (50ml). This is another full size product, and I think it is fantastic to have a full size moisturiser in a beauty box. This contains Argan oil, shea, cocoa and jojoba butters and is certified organic by the Soil Association. This sounds as though it is going to be worth it's weight in gold in the coming months.

                       

                                               

Inner Soul Organics Skin Oil (30ml). I have heard of Inner Soul, but have not tried anything by the brand before. This body oil contains a mixture of jojoba, sweet almond and sesame oil and is fragranced with geranium and rosemary. This smells gorgeous and I am looking forward to trying it.

 

Peppy Galore Diva Cleansing Oil (45g). I have had a couple of samples of Peppy Galore products recently and I was really impressed with them. The cleansing oil contains sweet almond, macadamia, evening primrose, calendula and vitamin e oils. This sounds like it is going to fantastic over Winter.

 

The final product is a tin of Peppy Galore Nurse Peppy Healing Balm. Firstly, how cute is the packaging?  This looks to be another incredibly moisturising product. It is made with macadamia and rosehip oils as well as mango butter and vitamin e. This is a great size to pop in your handbag too.

 

I think this is the perfect Winter skin care box and I will get a lot of use out of all this month's products. It contains really generous product sizes, which will allow me to test them properly. I really am impressed with December's box. 

Three Face Masks To Restore Your Inner Glow.

                                            Three Face Masks To Restore Your Inner Glow.
                      
                                                                                                                         
 Winter is probably the time of year when most of us are upping our skin care regimes. The combination of cold weather, and central heating is not the kindest to our skins. It can leave the skin dry and looking drab and dreary. With that in mind I though I would share 3 of my favourite masks for restoring radiance.

 My first choice is Balance Me Radiance Face Mask. This is a good all round multi-tasker. It contains rosemary, palma rosa, lavender and roman chamomile, kaolin clay and ground walnut shells. Apply to clean skin, using circular movements, leave for 5 minutes and then wash off.

I love the smell of this. Despite it's exfoliating properties I find it really gentle to use, the ground walnut shells do not feel harsh at all. I haven't experienced any tightness on my skin at all, which is sometimes an issue for me with kaolin clay. This is perfect for a mid week pick me up and always makes my skin look brighter. This can of course be used as a face wash.

You can find it here

 These Collagen Mask Pack's by Naisture contain 5 paper masks that you simply unfold and apply to your face and leave for 10 -15 minutes. These are packed with moisturising ingredients including vegetable and marine collagen, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and jojoba oil. This is a lovely rich mask and it feels very soothing on the skin. Perfect for days when my skin feels wind chapped, tight and sore. Any remaining mask can simply be massaged into the skin after.

 I like to apply this mask at the end of the day, to allow my skin to fully absorb all the ingredients overnight. The next day my skin feels lovely and soft, deeply hydrated and looks so much fresher. I think these masks are really good value for money as they are priced at £10 for 5. I like the paper mask application as is just so quick and easy, although you do look rather scary when wearing it.
 
                                                           They are available here

Pai's Rosehip Biogenerate Face Mask is part of a limited edition gift set which also contains the equally amazing Rosehip Regenerate Oil (Review coming soon). Pai are an organic skin care company (certified by the Soil Association) which produce products with those who have sensitive skin or are allergy prone specifically in mind.

As the name of the face mask implies it contains rosehip oil and shea butter amongst it's ingredients, and is suitable for vegans. This mask is a little different in that you apply a layer of the mask first, then soak a muslin cloth, squeeze it out and then apply the cloth to your layer of mask. Pai recommend leaving the mask on for 5-8 minutes and then removing with the muslin cloth.

Pai's Rosehip Biogenerate Face Mask is the most recent addition to my collection and I can't tell you how impressed I am with it. It is very rich and luxurious. It feels very comforting on the skin, especially on these horribly cold nights. The most important thing of course is the results. I can't believe how plumped this makes my skin look. It looks like I have been to have a facial all from the comfort of my own home. My skin looks clearer and brighter. Wonderful stuff, I just hope that Pai make this a permanent part of their range.

You can currently buy yours here

Dr Bronner 18-in-1 Pure Castille Soap.

                                                 Dr Bronner 18-in-1 Pure Castille Soap.
                                                                 

                                                                    
 Dr Bronner have been producing soaps since 1948. Their 18-in-1 Pure Castille Soap are one of my favourite all round beauty staples. All their products are certified organic and certified fair trade. You would be forgiven for thinking this is just another liquid soap. In reality this is nothing like any other soap I have ever tried.

Dr Bronner combine pure essential oils with extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils. The result is an incredibly gentle soap, that leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturised. You literally only need a few drop of the soap to get a rich lather, which is very effective cleanser.

 There are a variety of scents, but my favourites are the almond and the citrus versions. I have them in dispensers in the kitchen and the bathroom and I have a couple of mini bottles that are perfect to go in my uniform pocket. I much prefer to have one of these mini's stashed in my pocket than having to rely on what I am offered in someone else's home ( I am a community nurse, and there are some things you don't want to wash your hands with).
 
 These soaps are also fantastic to clean your make up brushes with, so much better than baby shampoo. I really can't imagine using anything else to clean my makeup brushes with.

LoveMeBeauty Box December 2013

                                                  LoveMeBeauty Box December 2013.
                                                                         

 Today my LoveMeBeauty box arrived and I have to say I have been really looking forward to it coming. I chose menu 2, so here is a look at what is in it..

                                                                                   
   A 15ml sample of sample of Rodial Glamtox Day. Rodial is a premium brand and I am really excited to be able to try this. It contains hyaluronic spheres and Myrhh extract and is designed to reduce the appearance of expression lines and Rodial say it makes a great primer underneath makeup.

 A full size Lord and Berry Lipstick in Glazed Pink. I would describe this as a nude shade and unfortunately nude lip colours look awful on me. This is a really good quality lipstick, just not the right shade for me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                             

 A 15ml sample of S5 Restore Cream. This is another product I am really looking forward to trying. A couple of friends rave over their serums so I can't wait to see what their moisturiser is like. It contains amongst other things natural proteins to increase skin hydration by up to 30 %. This will make a very welcome addition to my Winter skincare routine.

 

As an added bonus LoveMeBeauty have included A BalmBalm Indulge Bath & Shower Oil. I loved the one we received a few months ago and am really pleased to have another.

 

 

A full size Headline Colours Nail Polish in Quicksand which is a chocolate shade. I have used Headline Colours before and think this is a really good quality polish.  A welcome addition to my nail polish collection.

 

The last item is a full sized Lord and Berry Lip Pencil in Romantica. This pink shade is much kinder to my skin tone and I really like this colour. It has a really matte finish, but doesn't feel drying on the lips. Lord and Berry also say this is a waterproof formula.

 

As you may have gathered I am really pleased with this box. Ok, so the lipstick isn't quite the right shade for me, but that is just luck of the draw. I feel that the rest of the box more than makes up for it and I will use everything apart from the nude lipstick.

                                                                          

LoveLula Box December 2013.

                                                         LoveLula Box December 2013.

 My LoveLula beauty box was delivered this morning, and yet again it is a box that I am really pleased with. It contains some products that I have tried and enjoyed previously and some new brands to explore. This is what I received today.

 

 A Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash (50ml). I had a sample of this in last month's LoveMeBeauty

box and liked it. I am more than happy to have a replacement.

 

 

A full size Mox Botanicals Lip Butter. This is a new brand and is perfect for the colder months. This has a lovely refreshing peppermint scent and feels lovely on the lips. I am very pleased with this.

 

A mini MOA Green Balm. I have the full size of this already and I really like it. This is a good multi purpose product that is great as a cleanser, or for soothing sore skin, burns or bites. Perfect size to pop in my handbag or even to keep in the first aid kit.

 

AD Skin Energy Nourishing Night Treatment for the Face (5ml). This is another new brand for me. I am really looking forward to trying this. Anything which promises to restore radiance  and tackle wrinkles is worth trying in my opinion.

Sachets of  Kimberley Sayer Face Cleanser and Restore Anti-Aging Cream. Sachets are not enough to get a proper feel for a product, but I feel the rest of the box makes up for the size of these. More than happy to try these.

 

The final product is a 15ml sample One Love Organics Skin Saviour Balm. I have been admiring this brand from afar for quite some time, so I am really pleased to get my hands on this. Another multi tasking product, it can be used as cleanser, to moisturise or to tame hair. This smells amazing. I have  little on my hands and it has made them feel lovely and soft. I am really looking forward to trying this properly.

 

I think this is another really good box. A nice selection of familiar and new brands, and products which are all appropriate to the time of year. Big thumbs up LoveLula.

Inika Liquid Mineral Foundation.

                                                        

Inika Liquid Mineral Foundation.

 
 As much as I love beauty products and own way too many things, there is always one thing that I really struggle with. That thorn in my side is foundation. It is just so hard to get right. Being on the pale side a lot of products are simply too dark, or just completely the wrong skin tone. Either too yellow, or make me look ghostly pale.

 Then comes coverage. I find a lot of foundations too heavy. I want my skin to be able to breathe, and I don't like looking like I am wearing a huge amount of makeup. Consequently I rarely wear foundation, and own only one or two samples.

 The foundation I do really like is by Inika. It is their Liquid Mineral Foundation. Inika describe themselves as a luxury natural cosmetic brand, who use only natural mineral, oils and butters in their products. Liquid Mineral Foundation is certified organic and comes in four shades.
                                                                                  

 The shade I have is cream and is the lightest of the shades. I have found it to be a really good match for my skin tone. I love the natural finish it gives and how healthy it makes my skin look. It really doesn't feel like I am wearing anything on my skin, and most importantly my skin my still breathe. It covers most imperfections well. Although it doesn't hide my dark under eye circles completely, it covers them well enough for me not to feel self conscious about them. I am really pleased with the wear time of this foundation too, it stays put for the whole day, and this has served me well for several all day and night weddings.

Inika are currently selling 6ml samples of their foundation for £1 (not including postage) and you all know how much I love a site that has sample sized products.

You can find them here

Naturalmente Citrus Shampoo and Fennel and Geranium Intensive Hydrating Treatment.

 Naturalmente Citrus Shampoo and Fennel and Geranium Intensive Hydrating Treatment.

 

Naturalmente is an Italian eco-friendly brand who use only sustainable and renewable ingredients in their products. Their range does not contain any petrochemicals, animal substances, synthetic perfumes, sodium lauryl sulphates or parabens. Instead they use pure essential oils and fragrances from the botanical kingdom. They take great care to source their ingredients from the country of origin and use organic and biodynamic farming methods. Nauralmente are certified organic by the  Reale Qualita (Italy).

 

Naturalmente sell a range of hair shampoos and conditioners with something to suit most needs. They also sell sample sizes of their products for £2.60 (50ml) size. The full size of 250ml sells for £9, which I think is very reasonable given the quality of the ingredients.

 

The samples that I bought are the Citrus Shampoo and the Fennel and Geranium Intensive Hydrating Treatment.

 

 

Let me start by telling you a little about my hair type. I have really long, baby fine hair. It drives me to distraction. My roots become greasy really quickly and I need to wash my hair daily. Because of how fine my hair is and the fact that I have a lot of hair it generally lacks volume and I am prone to the dreaded split ends. It is really hard to find a product which can tackle my greasy roots without frying my ends.

 

The Citrus Shampoo appealed to me as it promises to give volume as well as shine. It contains essential oils of Orange, Lemon, Bergamot, Chamomile and Lavender and has a gorgeous up lifting fragrance. As with most organic shampoos, it doesn't give an awful lot of lather, but this in no way affects the performance. If you want more lather, this can be achieved by shampooing twice. I have to say I am really impressed with this shampoo. It has most definitely given my hair more volume. It makes my hair look really shiny and feels softer too. 

 I am equally impressed with the Fennel and Geranium Intensive Hydrating Treatment too. As the name suggests it contains essential oils of Fennel and Geranium, as well as Lavender, Soy proteins and Grapefruit extract. I only ever use conditioner on the last few inches of my hair, and this is how I have used this treatment. I really like the subtle aniseed fragrance the fennel gives. This is a wonderfully moisturising conditioner. It feels very thick and luxurious. It has made my dead ends feel a lot softer and they are much less noticeable. Overall it leaves my hair much easier to brush, and I am very pleased with the results.

 I have really enjoyed using these samples and I will be trying more from them in the future. Naturalmente products are sold in the UK by Gentle Beauty and can be bought online here