A BRITISH HOME & LIFESTYLE BLOG

Beauty

Natural Skincare with Lyonsleaf

For me skincare is an essential part of my self care routine {and lets face it, being a Mum of two relatively young children, the time I have to spend on myself is limited}. My skincare system has to be simple, affordable and more importantly quick to apply!

Having oily/combination skin, I have always battled with balancing my skin so that it doesn’t produce an excessive amount of oil throughout the day, which can leave me with very shiny skin. Since learning a little more about skincare, I have realised that starving oily skin, like mine, of moisture can in fact worsen the over production of this sebum; so its essential to add not only a moisturiser but often an oil too.

Lyonleaf kindly gifted me some products for review and as always, Im here to offer you an unbiased opinion {Im not a skincare specialist, I just provide you with a personal review}

Beauty Balm

This award winning cleanser is an ‘all in one cleanser and moisturiser’. Designed to rebalance dry oily and combination skin. So in theory, covers all bases. The product has  a ‘like dissolves like’ approach, the idea being, that a waxy thick product will respond to dirty excess sebum, using its plant oils and will dissolve make-up {even waterproof mascara}. So, no need for cleansers, soaps, or anything else which could strip the skins natural oils.

I have been using this product for around three weeks now, applying morning and evening as a cleanser and a moisturiser. It does remove my makeup effectively. For me, I have found the balm a little rich, especially when using for both a cleanser and moisturiser {I rub all over the face and remove with a hot cloth when cleansing}. I do feel that in comparison to other products I have used, the balm hasn’t reduced the excess sebum/oiliness quite as much as I would have hoped. My opinion is that the balm is best suited to those with a dryer skin type, looking for an increase in moisture.

Soften & Rejuvenate Facial Oil

Containing pure plant oils, home grown herbs and obsoloutely nothing else. Pretty appealing? A completely ‘free from’ product, this facial oil is naturally scented {contrary from is marshmallow name!} and is designed to soften. I have tried a number of facial oils and this one is certainly one that I would use again. Its light and easily absorbed, but rich enough to feel that its making a difference. I only ever use facial oils in the evening, as I find daytime they are a little too oily under make-up. I really enjoyed, not only the scent and texture of this oil, but my skin really did feel softer in the morning. A really lovely oil that I would use again.

100% Natural Body Butter

This award winning body butter is designed to intensely hydrate and neutralise free radicals. It works with the skins balance of natural oils and water, in order to maintain the balance more harmoniously. Unlike many high street water-based moisturisers, this undiluted balm is focusing on repairing the skin barrier more effectively and naturally.

I really enjoyed using this product, a little goes a long way, due to the consistency of the balm and the skin remains soft and hydrated all day. The balm has a natural but pleasant smell and is amazing just after the bath or shower; it soaks in gloriously and feels very indulgent. A great product that I would certainly use again.

For more information and to buy the full range of Lyonsleaf products click here

Have a great evening,

Emily x

 

 

Beauty

Young Skin care {OY!} with Green People

Did you know that 80% of teens are affected by acne, not just physically, emotionally the scars can almost be worse. Recently the British skin foundation published that 3 in 5 teens surveyed said that having acne was the biggest negative impact on their self confidence.

I remember vividly the feeling of having ‘problem skin’. Im not sure it was even classified as acne, but it certainly affected my self esteem hugely. That feeling of desperation, to just find products that actually work but don’t break the bank.

With a strapline of clear skin confidence, Green People have delveloped this three step skin care regime, aimed at teens as an extension from their other award winning skincare treatments.

My daughter, who is ten, was so impressed by the packaging; she was eager to try the products. She has used high street skin care products before, as I have always been keen to encourage good skin care from a young age. I have always been responsible enough to provide her with products that are as natural as possible, but she certainly hasn’t used anything thats packed with SO many gorgeous ingredients as OY!

Crammed with botanicals (and spot zapping ingredients) such as willow bark (fights bacteria, regulates sebum and is rich in natural salicin to calm sensitive skin), Green Tea (soothes sore, red blemishes, naturally anti-inflammatory and a strong antioxidant) Prebiotics (Supports the skins good bacteria and naturally fights the bad bacteria that encourages spots) and Tea Tree (Highly concentrated to control the bacteria that lead to spots and acne). These products certainly were exciting (and something that I might secretly borrow when a break out occurs!)

Keeping skincare as simple as possible is really important, certainly with young skin. The three step system includes;

Clear Skin Foaming Face Wash

Removing the days dirt and excess sebum build-up and removes impurities that encourage spots. Super easy to just, one pump covers the face well and rinsing with water, leaving your face fresh and clean. My daughter loved this was, especially as it was foaming as it felt a lot lighter on her face and non-cloggy.

Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser

That common myth YES you do still need to moisturise oily skin. Something that I wish I knew as a teen. I spent years under moisturising believing it would irradiate my oily skin. Balance is key. I now realise that a lot of high street products use ethyl alcohol (or ethanol) to reduce oiliness, especially in acne prone skin, something which I absolutely would not encourage my daughter to use. The moisturiser however is rich in purifying actives for sensitive and acne prone skin including willow bark, green tea and prebiotics. These support the healthy bacteria. Rosehip helps reduce scarring too. This moisturiser is gorgeous, so light, glides on so easily and you only require a very small amount as it goes a long way.

Clear Skin Purifying Serum

Serums are huge in the beauty industry currently, providing  the extra nutrients that the skin requires. This lovely serum helps clear spots quickly and the anti-blemish properties help balance the skin.

So the verdict, I would absolutely buy this product, with a  RRP of £30 I think its inexpensive for the quality of the ingredients it provides. It’s easy (and rather lovely) to use, it isn’t over perfumed -yet smells fresh and inviting. The packaging is young and certainly lends itself well to the teen market. Also, my daughter is hooked! She’s already asking about face masks (and cucumbers of course!)

You can shop the range here

Well done Green People UK!

Feel free to ask any questions….

Have a great evening,

Emily x

 

Beauty

Organic Sun Care with Green People

For me, sun care for my family and I is super important. When I was younger (and jet setting across the globe as cabin crew) believe it or not, I took very little care of my skin, intent on just getting the best tan possible. These days my approach is very different, choosing to self tan way above sitting in direct sunlight for hours on end to achieve that perfect glow.

Recently, Green People sent me a selection of their organic sun lotion to review, for both myself and my little people.

Firstly, what I didn’t realise, is that the SPF of a sun lotion, only indicates the level of protection against the harmful UVB radiation. It does not tell you anything about the protection it offers against the dangerous UVA light. Now, this is news to me. So, in a nutshell, just because a product has a high SPF, it does not guarantee it is offering the same level of protection against the UVA rays (this encompasses premature ageing)

What I love about these products, is that not only do they offer an excellent level of protection, they are also suitable for sensitive skin, including eczema and skin allergies (so zero nasties). I tested this on my young nephew, at 3 years old, he has eczema which is medically treated with creams on a daily basis. After a few weeks of use, I have had amazing feedback. My sister loves the way the product glides on and sinks in quickly, its thick, but not so think that you can rub it in (isn’t that always a complete nightmare!) and more importantly, absolutely no reaction apparent. In the past, so many products have irritated his sensitive skin.

Did you know that children are more prone to prickly heat, when using waterproof sun lotions? I certainly didn’t. The award wining organic formulas are chemical free, so prickly heat and irritations will be a thing of the past. “Yippee” I hear you say!

When I read through all of the selling points of these wonder lotions, its astonishing. The ingredients list alone had me jumping for joy; beeswax and berry wax, to repeal water, without blocking the sweat glands, aloe vera, myrrh and chamomile to calm and sooth inflammation. Avocado, Myrrh, Green Tea and rosemary extract providing antioxidant and skin vitamins for excellent cell protection, and Pure earth minerals, edelweiss extract and uv derived from cinnamon ester acid, creating a synergistic blend; offering broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Honestly, the list is endless, across all products in the sun care range, protecting the skin so throughly.

The product which I found probably the most intriguing, was the ‘Natural Tan Accelerator’ now I wouldn’t usually opt for a factor as low as SPF 15, but the product claims to speed up your body’s ability to tan and then locks in your tan for longer. This active ingredient is Inositol, a naturally occurring nutrient from the fruits of the carob tree, which acts as a stimulation for the formation of melanin. AMAZING, is the only word I have for this product! Not only does it do what it says on the tin (it speeds up tanning, it increases the depth of the tan and so far, my tan DOES seem to be lasting longer) It effectively increases the bodies own defences against the damage caused by sun exposure, which I think is pretty incredible. Still packed with all the goodness you would want from a sun lotion and protection from the ever crucial premature ageing, this for me, is a fabulous product.

So, to round-up these products, if you are looking for a lotion, whatever age and skin type, to be a seriously good protector, with a fierce caring nature for allergies and skin irritation, that glides on smoothly and sinks in quickly, that extends that ethical and nurturing element across their entire range, Green People sun lotions are for you!  To access the range click here

After all, those balmy summer days are our favourite right?

Emily x

 

 

Beauty

Organic Skincare with Green People

Celebrating 20 years of organic beauty, Green people have launched their special edition Orange Blossom collection. Collaborating with leading aromatherapists and essential oil experts, they have developed a collection which has a beautifully unique fusion of ingredients.

Infused with Orange Blossom oil, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Lavender, Rose and base notes of Black Pepper and Cypress. The range offers the ultimate natural, chemical free experience.

The set, beautifully presented in a gift box, contains Orange Blossom Cleanser 50ml, Orange Blossom Exfoliator 50ml and Orange Blossom Moisturiser 50ml.

The cleanser is beautiful, applied to a dry face, you can feel all makeup products lift and its just thick enough, once adding a little water, to work a lather. The scent is so fresh and uplifting, with a real luxury feel. On rinsing you feel thoroughly satisfied that your skin is makeup free, looking fresh and clean.

The exfoliator is the real winner, for me. With ultra fine Bamboo particles, it really buffed my skin; well enough for my face to feel, and look clear, but not too much that I feel red and exposed, like some of the other more grainier exfoliators. The Hibiscus really does make your skin feel firmer and more youthful.

Finally the moisturiser. Having oily and dry combination skin, this is often where skin care brands fall down for me. I want a moisturiser that offers me night time moisture, but day time a base, to remain shine free for as long as possible under makeup. This antioxidant-rich day cream seems to strike that ideal balance. Tailored for normal/oily skin, the balancing Pre-biotics and Willow bark work hard to maintain normality.

The fragrance of this collection is truly exquisite, at £50, compared to other leading vegan/organic skincare brands, I think its fairly priced. Offering a 90% natural/organic, 100% vegetarian and 100% cruelty free skincare system, I am not only VERY happy with the results its given me, but also have the peace of mind that I am treating my face with the very best of natural treatments.

Emily x

www.greenpeople.co.uk

@greenpeopleuk

Beauty

Remedying oily skin with Elemis

I’ve alway envied those with beautiful skin, I suppose if there is one thing I could change about myself it would be to have ‘simple skin’; skin that is just ‘normal’. Now as a 30, ahem, plus year old, my skin is definitely my priority. My skin is of the oily type, the type that produces way too much oil than is necessary, but also, as the seasons change, drys out rapidly.

As teenager, with so little knowledge, I went for the ‘ less is more’ approach on moisturiser, well skin care in general really, believing that the more moisture I apply the more out of control the oiliness would become. I remember sometimes going as much as three days without applying cream, in the hope to just counteract the oiliness. My skin at this time would dip from crazy oiliness to extreme dryness. A complete nightmare to live with.

In basic terms, the science behind the oil is an excess supply of sebum on the face. Most people with oily skin will notice the ‘T Zone’ to be the most troublesome, this is because the sebaceous glands are located in this area. The summer will always be the worst time for me as our bodies generally are warmer which intensifies the problem.

Over the years I have tried A LOT of products, and have had some really bad advice. I remember one beauty professional telling me to exfoliate everyday to balance my skin. I have since learnt this is a BIG no, no. As tempting as it is the remove the layer of skin that is causing the issue! This really does not work, if anything it definitely intensifies the problem.

I now know that, working in harmony with my skin by cleansing twice daily, NEVER over cleaning and exfoliating, using a good, non-striping toner that is soft and gentle and MOISTURISING, never be afraid to add moisture. But, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is, ‘oil on oil’ works! The thought of using an oil years ago would have horrified me, surely this will feed the problem? I was wrong. Using an oil has been my saviour.

In a generation of being so conscious of what we feed our bodies, isn’t it just as important to feed our faces?

This is why the Elemis Superfood Facial Oil has taken pride of place on my dressing table. Jam packed with highly concentrated plant-based superfoods, antioxidants and omega, I’ve found this ‘wonder’ oil to be extremely lightweight and such a delight to add to my skin. It provides me with the right level of hydration and I wake up with my skin feeling nourished and refreshed.

I use the oil as part of my night-time routine, applying 2/3 drops with my finger tips gently after cleansing and toning, dabbing it all over the face and neck, avoiding my eye area. It smells AMAZING, and feels such an indulgence, I couldn’t imagine bedtimes without it. I then finish off with my moisturiser. I love the thought of giving my skin a good serving of omega rich broccoli, flax-seed and daikon radish, things that we would put into a juice or smoothie for the inside. I wake up with my skin feeling plumper and glowing. I do exfoliate and do a mask twice a week for a pamper.

As much as its been incredible for me, and really has helped ‘balance’ my skin, I do still at times get excess oil, but its manageable. Thank goodness I have found a product that I can ‘feed’ my skin with that actually WORKS.

I’m not a beauty specialist, nor is this an ad, this certainly isn’t professional advice and one system doesn’t work for all, but for me; it’s a WINNER!

Thanks again Elemis!

Emily  x

 

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