Thursday, July 29, 2010

Review of Weleda Baby Body Cream

Review of Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream
By Nadine D.

Packaging The Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream comes packaged in an orange coloured, metal tube with a white screw top lid. The Weleda logo is printed on the front along with the product name in English and French. There are no application instructions on the tube, so I consulted the Weleda website for directions. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the product had a use by date of over two years. I was looking forward to trying this product as I have used many Weleda products in the past and had always been happy with their results.

Application The instructions online tell you to warm a pea-sized amount of Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream in your hands before applying it to the skin. It recommends applying it to skin before exposure to cold weather and can even be applied to the nappy area. My daughter is a tall three-year old so I did use a lot more than a pea-sized blob. As the cream is quite a think consistency, if it wasn’t warmed enough then it was quite hard to apply and dragged the skin slightly. The fragrance is quite strong, but not offensive in any way. I actually really like the smell, it reminded me of summer gardens and I could not help but chase my daughter around to smell her skin! I also liked the fact that the product allowed the skin to breathe rather than being a barrier cream.

Ingredients The ingredients were not listed on the bottle, so I found the information online. I was very pleased to find that no artificial preservatives or fragrances are used in any of the Weleda baby products. From the list of ingredients, there are no less than six derived from natural essential oils and it is suitable for use by vegetarians. It has also won the Mother & Baby Magazine Gold Award for best skincare range.

Results Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream is very easy to use and my daughter’s skin felt wonderfully soft following application after her nighttime bath and still soft the morning after. My daughter suffers from some dry skin patches behind her knees and below her bottom from where she sweats. I applied the cream every night and the rash has now completely gone. On the downside, she did have quite a nasty grease type spot under her bottom after using for about two weeks (possibly because I used too much), so I now use the cream two to three times per week instead. She has had no further problems. Because of the effect it had on my daughter’s rash, I decided to try the cream on my dry hands. I work for the health service, so I am constantly washing my hands and using alcohol rubs and the tops of my hands are very dry. The cream did leave my hands a little greasy, but it worked wonders on my dry skin. It now travels everywhere in my handbag and once it’s gone I think I will be purchasing a replacement.

Pros:
• Felt confident using Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream on my toddler’s skin as it was natural and did not irritate.
• Excellent for dry skin conditions.
• Lets your skin breathe.
• Wonderful fragrance
• Priced mid-range, I still felt this product was good value for money.

Cons:
• Quite greasy if you use a little too much
• If it’s not warmed in your palms enough, it can drag the skin when applying.

Weleda Baby Calendula Moisturising Body Cream(£6.50) and other Weleda products are available at Naturisimo.com

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Lavera Orange Hand Cream Review

Review Of Lavera Orange Hand Cream
By Catherine G.

Packaging: Lavera Orange hand cream is packaged in a plastic tube and comes is 20ml or 75 ml sizes so the small one is perfect to keep in your handbag or to take on holiday.


Application: Lavera Orange hand cream is very light in texture so is easily absorbed into the skin leaving your hands silky soft with a sweet, fruity fragrance. Used daily it keeps your hands smooth and supple but as it is a very light cream it may not be rich enough for very dry or mature skin.


Ingredients: This is another great natural product from Lavera which includes an array of organic ingredients such as: Orange Flower Water, Jojoba seed oil and Sunflower seed oil. All their products are free from chemical nasties and not tested on animals. Their new orange range also includes a shower gel, bath oil, body scrub and deodorant.


Results: Lavera Orange hand cream is very hydrating for your skin and smells yummy! So if you’re looking for a product to pamper your neglected mitts then I would highly recommend this one.


Pros:

Nice, sweet refreshing aroma

Great small size perfect for your handbag

Leaves hands feeling nice and soft

Totally organic and natural


Cons:

May not be rich enough for particularly dry or mature skin


Lavera Orange Hand Cream (£5.75) And Lavera Products Are Available From Naturisimo.com

Monday, June 21, 2010

Barefoot Botanicals Cleansing Milk Review

Review of Barefoot Botanicals Cleansing Milk
By Louise M.

Packaging: Barefoot Botanicals Cleansing Milk is contained within a very smart pump dispenser. The dispenser has a very clean and fresh appearance, it looks slightly clinical in a stylish sort of way! It is certainly a container worthy of a place at the front of the bathroom shelf. The bottle contains a generous 125ml of product, and the pump facility means that the contents remain uncontaminated.


Application: It takes 3 pumps of the dispenser to create enough of the Barefoot Botanicals Cleansing Milk to cover my entire face which I have then been removing with warm water and a muslin cloth. Although it is described as a cleansing milk it is certainly not thin and watery; rather it feels luxuriously creamy and applies easily to skin.


Ingredients: Barefoot Botanicals have used organic ingredients wherever possible in this cleansing milk, and it certainly feels like a high-quality product. The active ingredient in this case is rosa mosqueta oil which is renowned for its skin smoothing properties and would make this product an excellent choice for mature, dry or sensitive skins. The wonderful rose fragrance is an added bonus.


Results: This is one of my favorite ever natural beauty products. It instantly left my dry, red and angry skin feeling squeaky clean, but softer and suppler too. Although the ingredients suggest that the product should also have toning properties, at no point did it ever make my skin feel taught and uncomfortable the way some toners do. It even removed stubborn mascara whilst being extremely gentle to the eye area.

Pros:

Removes stubborn makeup whilst remaining gentle and not stripping the skin of moisture

Smells like a rose garden

Cons:

Perhaps less suited for extremely oily skin, better for sensitive or mature skin


Barefoot Botanicals
Rosa Fina Nourishing Cleansing Milk (19.95) and Barefoot Botanicals Products Are Available From Naturisimo.com

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Trevarno Organic Day Cream Reviews

Review of Trevarno Organic Day Cream
By Catherine G.
Packaging :Trevarno Organic Day Cream comes packaged in a pretty, frosted pink glass pot with a silver screw top lid and is available in a choice of 30ml or 60 ml sizes.
Application :Being such a light cream it seems to just melt into your skin so is great for use under make-up. This is perfect for the summer when you don’t want to use anything too heavy on your skin. Even the smell reminds you of summer, with the strong scent of lavender leaping out the pot as soon as you open it! This is a concentrated product so a little goes a long way!
Ingredients
Trevarno are based in Cornwall and all their products are certified organic and handmade which is a rarity these days! This product is crammed with yummy organic ingredients such as essential oils of Lavender, Geranium & Palmerosa, jojoba oil, St Johns wort and Beeswax so it’s very unlikely to cause any reaction with your skin even for those with the most sensitive skin. Remember though like most totally natural products this should be used within a few months of opening – I guess if you buy the 30ml pot that wouldn’t be a problem anyway if you use the Trevarno Organic Day Cream every day.

Results

Applied after cleansing and toning Trevarno Organic Day Cream leaves your skin with a lovely dewy glow and it smells gorgeous too! It’s also available with an spf15 sunscreen which would be great for the summer giving your face that little extra protection.

Pros:
Lovely lavender aroma
Light moisturizer which leaves the skin feeling soft and supple
Suitable for all skin types

Cons:
None – it’s a great product and very well priced too!!

Trevarno Organic Day Cream (£12.14) and Trevarno products are available from Naturisimo.com

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Barefoot Botanicals SOS Cream Reviews

Review of Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S Face and Body Cream
By Irene M.

Packaging: Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S. face and body cream is attractively presented in a free standing white plastic tube with a silver logo. All the product information is very clearly printed in black on the tube.

Application: The thick and creamy texture of Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S face and body cream is a delight to apply. 100% natural and therapeutic, omega-rich and steroid-free, it is rapidly absorbed, leaving skin feeling deeply moisturized and lightly scented.

Ingredients: A wonderful blend of omega-rich borage oil, shea butter and evening primrose oil forms the basis of this ultra creamy formula, suitable for people who may be prone to eczema and psoriasis. To soothe any irritation and rehydrate seriously parched skin, potent herbal extracts including calendula, burdock and mahonia are included, and French lavender, chamomile and orange blossom provide a calming aroma. All ingredients are 100% ethically-sourced and plant-derived.

Results: Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S cream I cannot praise highly enough. It’s definitely my best discovery yet for my mature, ridiculously dry, and eczema prone skin. My skin simply laps it up, and even though scented products frequently give me an instant headache, I have absolutely no problem at all with the gorgeous scent of this genius product.

Pros: A fantastic moisturizer for rehydrating ultra dry skin, including skin prone to eczema and psoriasis.
Rapidly absorbed.
Gorgeously scented.

Cons: Absolutely none!

Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S Face and Body Cream (£17.95) and other Barefoot Botanicals products are available at naturisimo.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Barefoot Botanicals Foot Balm Reviews

Review of Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm
By Shona B.

Packaging Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm is a clean, simple white squirty tube with a flip top lid so no chance of loosing it. The flip top is easy to use without being lose so I’d be confident about throwing it in a suitcase without the product going everywhere. The tube stands on the lid so that you can get that last bit out easily. The only potential issue is that all BB products look exactly the same so when you’re half asleep in the morning you may end up accidentally putting your foot cream on your face (not that I’ve ever done that of course!) but given all their products contain “kind” ingredients I doubt it would cause any harm. I’m not sure that all areas recycle this type of plastic.

Application Applied like a body lotion for feet, the Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm is white and thick without being gloopy or greasy. It soaks in reasonably quickly so you’re not left unable to move for ten minutes or risk wiping it all off when you put your socks on. Despite containing peppermint and grapefruit it has a very subtle fragrance so won’t deodorize trainer feet, but thankfully, it also won’t make your feet tingle unpleasantly and is suitable for night time use when you want to relax rather than be over stimulated.

Ingredients Full of goodies like shea butter, olives, jojoba, tea tree and witch hazel Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm calms to leave skin soft and soothed and also tackle bacteria and germs.

Results Bad genes (thanks Mum!), a liking for stupid shoes (again, thanks Mum!) and lots of walking in said stupid shoes mean I have a tendency towards rhino feet and they need regular, major intervention to be presentable. Whilst this cream was pleasant to use after a pedicure and on a daily basis it didn’t make much of a difference with my hard skin or sore spots. Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm didn’t keep rough skin at bay or make it any better but it did stop that tight, itchy feeling after a day of pinching shoes if applied regularly. I couldn’t reduce my regular maintenance because of this cream but it made a pleasant addition.

Pros: Pleasurable to use
Non-irritating with very little fragrance
Soaks in fast
No over-powering fragrance
Doesn’t make feet tingle

Cons: Made very little difference by itself
· Dulled nail polish

Best For: People who are lucky enough to have soft feet (either through good genetics or because they are more sensible than me) or those who want something to finish a pedicure.

Barefoot Botanicals SOS Foot Balm (£13.95) and other Barefoot Botanicals products are available at naturisimo.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Pai Camelia Cleanser Reviews

Review of Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser
By Catherine G.

Packaging Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser comes packaged in a lovely 125 ml bottle with a handy pump dispenser with the “Pai” logo on the front.

Application To get the best out of this product you should really use this Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser with a muslin cloth which gives a gentle exfoliating action. Simply massage the cleanser into your face and neck and then rinse the cloth in warm water and using a gentle circular motion remove the cream. If you don’t have a muslin cloth simply use a clean flannel or damp cotton wool. I tried both methods but definitely preferred using the cloth, it made my skin feel really fresh and deeply cleansed.

Ingredients Pai only use naturally derived ingredients which are approved by the soil association and as well as this most packaging is made from recycled materials. No products or ingredients are tested on animals so they really are a truly ethical company.
The two core ingredients in Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser are Rose which helps lock in moisture and also rejuvenates the skin and Camelia which is packed with Omega 3 and vitamins A, B, C and E. There are also a whole host of other scrummy ingredients included such as shea butter, manuka oil, rosemary extract, lavender oil and geranium oil so you can see why this is such a moisturizing cleanser!

Results This cleanser is rich and delicately scented. It removed every last trace of make-up and left my skin feeling very soft and silky.

Pros: Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser only contains natural and organic ingredients
Very gentle so great for sensitive or dry skin
Can even be used around the eye area
Leaves skin soft and smooth

Cons: As with most natural products - You must remember these products have a shorter shelf life as they have no preservatives – Pai suggest 6-9 months and that the product should be stored away from direct heat and light. (there is a sell-by date stamped on the bottle).

Pai Camelia & Rose Cleanser (£20.00) and other Pai products are available at naturisimo.com

Friday, April 16, 2010

Barefoot Botanicals Hand Cream Reviews

Review of Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream
By Sue B.


Packaging Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream comes in a compact, 50 ml, handbag size plastic tube. The black text on a white background makes it easy to read, albeit, the writing is quite small. The back of the tube has symbols and text that clearly state that there are no chemical nasties, it’s cruelty free and suitable for vegans so, at a glance, important information is boldly available. Should you want to find out more about this and/or other Barefoot Botanicals products the website, mailing address and telephone number are all present.

Application The rich, yet not too thick, cream is absorbed quickly but does leave a slightly greasy film. This isn’t something that I like the feel of, so I generally apply my hand cream at night, then put on a pair of cotton gloves to help the cream get maximum absorption. I found the fresh aroma of Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream calming and relaxing, especially when applied at night. Then, on waking, your hands are luxuriously soft and moisturised ready for the day ahead.

Ingredients Not all the ingredients in Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream are listed on the tube, so I went to the website to find out more. There are a good combination of moisturising oils and herbal extracts that work specifically to soften, soothe and create a barrier to protect sensitive hands. Although not organic, the ingredients are 100% ethically-sourced. Lavender, chamomile, vertivert, frankincense and neroli give Barefoot botanicals S.O.S. barrier cream a wonderfully calming, relaxing aroma.

Results This winter, despite the freezing weather, I’ve not been particularly troubled with dry, chapped hands. Maybe I’ve been taking more care of them generally. Prevention is better than cure, so I expect regular use of Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream has left my hands soothed, smooth, softened and moisturised. I’ll continue using it as I begin to prepare the garden for the spring and summer to fully test its ability. As this product is suitable for people prone to eczema and psoriasis I shall be recommending it to my daughter who often has sore hands. I noticed on the website that Barefoot Botanicals offer a 100% money back guarantee, so you’ve nothing to lose in trying this product.

Pros: Lots of information on the tube with easy to read text.
Can be used by men and women.
Suitable for eczema and psoriasis sufferers.
100% natural products.


Cons: Slightly greasy after application.
Not a full list of ingredients on the tube - I assume they are on the box.
No indication on the tube of its use by life.
At £12.95 for 50ml it’s not the cheapest hand cream on the market but, in my opinion, it’s worth paying more for a product that does what it says.


Barefoot Botanicals SOS Barrier Hand Cream (£12.95) and other Barefoot Botanicals products are available at Naturisimo.com

A'kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo Reviews

Review of A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo for Coloured Hair
By Louise M.

Packaging This A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo is packaged in a slimline and very smart racing green coloured plastic bottle. The flip dispenser allows you to release as much or as little product as you like and the whole bottle is recyclable.

Application The opaque bottle meant that I could not at first see what the shampoo looked like and I was surprised to discover that it has the texture of a clear gel. It is much ‘gloopier’ than many other shampoos I have used but this also means is feels wonderfully nourishing when massaged into the hair. A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo lathers well and rises out easily. The most striking thing about applying this shampoo however is its wonderful woody, spicy fragrance which I loved. It makes a change from the usual fruity or floral scents and made my morning shower feel really invigorating!

Ingredients Like all of the other products in the A’kin line this shampoo is free from chemical nasties – in particular it is free from parabens and sulphates which can be found in so many other shampoos. Consequently this product didn’t irritate my eyes or the skin on my face at all and they are usually very sensitive. The active ingredient in this shampoo is coconut glutamate to help soften the hair and I can certainly vouch for its effectiveness!

Results When I started using this A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo I had just returned from a two-week holiday which had left my coloured hair a bit straw-like. Since I have been using the A’kin Ylang Ylang shampoo my hair has certainly become a lot softer and more manageable. My hair is particularly fine though, and whilst this shampoo has made my hair soft and shiny I still require my usual volumising products to give it some lift. Overall however I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this product to others with coloured, permed or sun-damaged hair, especially to those with very thick or slightly dry hair. I could not say that it has helped my hair to hold its colour, although perhaps with a few more months use I would begin to see results.

Pros: Wonderful exotic spicy fragrance makes using A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo feel really invigorating
Has certainly delivered on its promises for softer and more manageable hair
No chemical nasties makes it a mild shampoo for sensitive scalps, eyes and even children

Cons: Those with fine hair may find they still need additional products to create volume

A’kin Ylang Ylang Shampoo (£7.49) and other A’kin products are available at Naturisimo.com

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing Reviews

Review of Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing
By Sandra C.

Packaging This Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing comes in aluminium tube with clear instruction on it. However, as most aluminium packaging has the same problem, this one is no exception! The tube cracked after I have squeezed it for few times and caused a lot of mess and it was not fun while your hands are wet and slippery.

Application The texture of Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing is a bit like toothpaste but it is easy to spread. I hate runny conditioner as most of the time it drips on the bath tub and leave the bath floor really slippery and it could be quite dangerous. Rub the conditioner on both hands and then apply it evenly throughout hair, then massage your scalp at the same time and you will feel refreshed coming out of shower.

Scent When I choose hair products, the first priority has got to be the scent. The selling point of all Suki’s products is definitely the smell! The scent of
Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing is so uplifting that at first I thought it was lemongrass but then it is very calming as well and I found it was actually lavender. The scent is so relaxing that I wish my bath products were the same line.

Ingredients Key ingredients of Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing are organic yerba protein, organic rosemary and organic jojoba help to calm and nourish your scalp, restore the natural shine without leaving hair greasy. There is no harsh chemicals as well so you don’t have to worry it might clog the pores in your scalp.

Result I like Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing but a 30ml travel size is just not enough to test whether it really helps to improve my hair. Overall, I like it not only because of the heavenly scent but also the fact that the texture is excellent without adding weight to my hair.

Pros: The scent is heaven.
The texture is excellent and does not leave my hair and scalp feeling greasy.

Cons: It is very expensive as a daily hair conditioner.

Suki Daily Conditioner Revitalizing (£27.10) and other Suki products are available at Naturisimo.com