26 December 2022
As 2022 draws to a close I thought it might be interesting to look back on my first year of blogging. It all began in May 2011 and I was curious to see how many of those early posts had stood the test of time. Sadly there a several brands that no longer exist but there are some products that remain staples in my home.
3 November 2022
On our recent trip to Italy we travelled with only cabin allowance luggage and that meant a limit to the volume of liquids we could take with us. In an effort to cut back on toiletries I was looking for waterless products and decided to order a couple of skincare minis from Ethique.
The range from Ethqiue has you covered from top to toe. They specialised in solid bars ranging from shampoo, conditioners, cleansers, solid lotions, balms and deodorants. I was pleased to discover a handful of products that are fragrance free/unscented so I ordered the Mini Bliss Bar™ Gentle Solid Face Cleanser and Unscented Solid Cream Body Cleanser.
Ethique face and body cleanser bars are super easy to use. You simply need to rub in the palm of your hands to create a creamy lather. I will say that they are both of these bars are similar in their formulations with key ingredients of coconut butter, kaolin clay and vegetable glycerine.
The Solid Cream Body Cleanser was just like using any traditional soap bar. I did find it gentle on my skin and didn't notice any dryness. I'd be more than happy to switch out my body wash for this one.
I was happy to use the Gentle Solid Face cleanser for the duration of our holiday. I didn't find it overly drying or disruptive to my skin but I must admit that I did miss my balm cleanser. As a long term skincare swap I don't think it would be for me but I find it perfectly acceptable for short periods. I know it's frown upon to wash your face in the shower but I do enjoy using it in this way for an early morning cleanse. I don't wear much makeup, it's limited to sunscreen and CC cream and for my evening cleanse I used the bar in conjunction with a cloth to make sure I'm thoroughly removing grime.
To round this post up I was very happy to have tried these Ethique bars and they left me with a great first impression. I would be comfortable recommending to others and I'm thinking of gifting to family now that Christmas is on the way. Visit the Ethique website where you can find background information about the business and read up about their environmental ethics.
Sarah x
3 September 2022
20 May 2022
(Gifted/PR)
Good Bubble aim their packaging to children with bright colours and cartoon characters. It's adorable. The bottle is made from 50% recycled plastic and is fully recyclable. The range includes body wash, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, bubble bath, hand gel and coconut oil in a selection of aromas. I view the price point of products to be family friendly.
When it comes down to it Good Bubble Bish Bash Bosh! Hair and Body Wash with Dragon Fruit Extract performs as expected. Using a konjac sponge I can create a lovely lather. The fragrance is delightful and I don't have to worry about the presence of linalool as it's allergen free (aka no essential oils). I haven't experienced any noticeable issues with my skin whilst using this body wash.
I am happy to suggest trying out Good Bubble on you and your family. Always patch test first but I have comfortably tolerated with daily use. If you are buying for a child then Good Bubble have some cute gift sets which include a bath mitt.
Sarah x
26 March 2022
19 December 2021
24 October 2021
8 August 2021
16 May 2021
3 November 2020
When you plant a tree, you commit to a long term vision of how beautiful that tree could be in decades to come. Sometimes even centuries. Starting Faith In Nature back in 1974 was a bit like that. It was a vision of what could be possible one day. A belief that the best companies could be ethical. That natural could be affordable. That doing right by the planet and its people was not only a choice, but our duty. Change doesn't always come quickly. But that's exactly why Faith matters so much.
I'm only a few years younger than this brand but it's great to see Faith in Nature has stood the test of time. I've seen it go through many changes over the years from branding to product range but you can rely on their quality and affordability. Currently the range includes hair care, body washes, soaps and hand washes and refill options.
Faith in Nature does have fragrance free options but I went for Grapefruit and Orange as it doesn't contain linalool (Citral and Limonene are present on the label). I love a citrus scent so it was a winner straight away. It doesn't feel drying on skin and foams up well making it easy to use. I'm not a fan of the bottle cap as you need to pour onto hands but that is easily resolved by decanting into a soap dispenser.
Faith in Nature is an affordable product to have in the home and suitable for all the family. You can purchase directly from their website but you'll also see them on the shelves of independent retailers, Holland & Barrett, Boots and Sainsbury's.
25 August 2020
Sarah x
4 August 2020
19 May 2020
Nature's Kitchen Chocolate & Vanilla Face and Body Milk Smoothie is a new addition to the product range. The fun and novelty factor is sure to win over everyone. Packaging is super cute and recyclable, it also comes with a smoothie recipe. I will say I am always cautious of large glass jars in the bathroom so I am mindful of this as you don't want to drop it. Nature's Kitchen Milk Smoothie is for use in the shower and use it as you would a body wash. It took me a couple of shakes to get the smoothie out of the jar as it's a thick 'milkshake' consistency. The aroma is pleasant and not overpowering with gentle hints of cocoa and vanilla. I found this product was best applied with my hands as it didn't work quite so well with a sponge. The smoothie feels silky smooth and washes off easily.
18 February 2020
14 January 2020
My April review featured Jason and Organii and whilst I did not go on to purchase these particular products again, I did explore product range for the brands. Jason Smoothing Coconut Body Wash has been a staple in our shower which both myself and my husband have been using. The giant 887ml bottle is very economical and it's nice to have found something which we can share as it was getting a little cluttered having separate bottles. Organii liquid soaps and shower gels are a firm favourite and I've re-purchased plenty of times. I generally have the fragrance free hand wash and shea butter body wash in my home but I will mix it up from time to time.
2 April 2019
22 January 2019
If you missed my December reviews then here's a link for you - Silvan Skincare, Benecos, The Handmade Soap Co
25 September 2018
Benecos ticks a number of boxes for me. Products are suitable for Vegans and certified Natural with BDIH. They offer five fragrances of shower gel and I opted for the Apricot and Elderflower which is free from linalool (worth noting so is the Pomegranate and Rose). Benecos Apricot and Elderflower Shower Gel has a really delightful fruity fragrance which is delicate and not overpowering. For my fellow ingredient geeks, Benecos are using the surfactants/foaming agents sodium coco-sulfate, coco-glucoside and lauryl glucoside. I use shower gels in conjunction with a Konjac Body Sponge, not only is it gentle on my skin but it helps the product go further and generate a good lather. Benecos gets a thumbs up from me so far this shower gel hasn't caused noticeable irritations and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or dehydrated.
10 July 2018
What are your travel essentials? Are there any beauty products you can't be without on your holiday?
Sarah x
12 June 2018
Hello, I’m Rebecca Martin, founder of Conscious Skincare, a multi-award-winning organic skincare and body care company, based on the gorgeous west Wales coastline.
Like many of you, I live with a couple of health issues, asthma and an under-active thyroid, which mean I have to be careful about what I put on my skin and what I expose myself to. In fact, it was a severe allergic reaction that my husband experienced that kick-started Conscious Skincare in the first place. My husband got some wood stain on his skin and didn’t realise. It got into his system and he became very ill and hypo-allergenic to just about everything so I scrambled around, going through all my notes to come up with products he could use safely. It was a very scary time in our lives.
Day to day, an under-active thyroid means very dry skin, random pains for no reason at all, fatigue, anxiety and intense feelings of being ‘overwhelmed’. I have learned over the years to manage the anxiety with yoga, exercise, breathing and meditation but this anxious state means higher levels of cortisol in my body which can lead to burn out and worse still, organ damage so keeping an eye on how stressed I’m feeling is key!
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