Goodbye dry hands with Yes Nurse

So trawling my beloved Twitter the other day i came across a another brand spanking new product called Yes Nurse!

Yes Nurse is the brainchild of Antonio Steven who is a pediatrics nurse. She has spent over 2 years developing a hand cream to help combat dry, cracked and sore skin often suffered by busy nurses, mums and sensitive types!!

The formula consists of lots of yummy natural ingredients which help protect and hydrate the skin. These include:

• Active Manuka Honey
• Aloe Vera
• Pomegranate Seed Oil
• Passion Fruit Seed Oil
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• White Willow Bark Extract
• Vitamin E & Vitamin B5

The formula is ideal for those that continually hand wash, use drying antiseptic gels, have sensitive skin etc. It stops dryness, soreness and makes them feel like new again!!

That's not all, the difference with this brand is it offers a subscription service on either a monthly or bi monthly basis. So running out of your hand saviour will never be a problem.

So what exactly does the product look like.....well the packaging is just as fantastic as the product itself. When it arrives through the post it comes in its own little box as below:

The box opens to reveal the tube and 2 internal flaps which hold a small and very quirky little info booklet. The inside flap also has a cute graphic of a nurse and all their special qualities.

The info sheet contains ingredients, how to use and some free vouchers of which you can give to your friends.

So to the cream itself, well that's rather fab too...both myself and my other half have been trailing it, my other half more so as he's a policeman and just constantly uses antiseptic gel, which just zaps the moisture from your hands. He likes it so much he's nabbed the bottle for himself. The cream works really well, leaves my hands feeling smooth and healthy...and the feeling lasts as well.

I really really like this product, not just because it works, but because of the quirkiness of the brand, the niche targeting of nurses, the subscription option...a fresh approach which gives it an edge in the huge hand cream market.

If you work in any sort of service industry that causes issues with your hands then this could be the perfect product for you.

If you fancy trying the product for yourself, Yes Nurse has promised me voucher codes for free bottles. If you would like one just comment below, i will then come back to you shortly with the code which you simply enter at the website www.yesnurse.co.uk

For info and updates you can also follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/yesnursehqPin It

Natural U - Handmade with love.....

So firstly apologies for not blogging lately as iv been away....but whilst away iv been trialing a couple of fab organic skincare products from a lovely little company called Natural U.

Natural u is the brainchild of 2 ladies Catherine & Nicola. Both of them suffered with dry, sore and itchy hands and had found nothing they bought ever truly solved the problem. So after 2 and half years research they came up with a formula and made the creams for friends and family. Results were amazing...and after years of suffering, the creams actually worked for both of them....so Natural U was born!!

Natural U produce 2 main products which are an All Purpose Balm and a Daily Body Rub. Ingredients is 100% natural and is Soil Association Certified.

So firstly the All Purpose Balm

So to the science bit...what goodies does it contain, well there's Shea butter, bees wax, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, calendula oil, chamomile, lavender and manuka. Due to the gentle ingredients, the balm is suitable for all ages groups, skin types and symptoms from baby upwards. Think nappy rash, eczema, cracked skin, sun burn, dry lips...it can be used for all of them...but does it work??

Well i suffer from dry skin on my feet...and after using this balm for a few days the difference is amazing...feet feel moisturised and the dry skin is close to disappearing all together.....it works, really well...simple as!!! The amazing thing is you only need to use a small amount so this small pot will last a long time. Iv used it on my lips, face..anywhere that needs a moisture injection.....love it!!!

The balm is available in either a 30g (£9.99) or 50g pot (£15.99) and you can buy it direct from the online shop  http://b-natural.co.uk/ushop/

So then onto the Daily Body Rub

Brimming full of natural goodness, includes Shea butter, sunflower seed oil, beeswax,olive oil, calendula oil, sweet almond oil, ravensara, eucalyptus,Tea tree and infused with a delicate aroma of peppermint!!

The rub is designed to ease aching muscles but can also work well on headaches and tiredness when rubbed on the temples. Again you only need a small amount, but what surprised me was how long i was able to massage for....it lasts for ages, doesn't dry out and the gentle smell of peppermint is lovely and soooo relaxing, my other half is a convert as well....the pot now a permanent fixture in our lounge for when he wants that evening neck or foot rub!!!

Again it comes in a 30g (£10.50) and 50g pot (£16.50) ...and his stuff will last you ages!!

Proof you don't need any fancy chemicals to create a wonder cream.....these are gentle, natural and simply work. A fantastic company with 2 fab products...all handmade with love.

If you fancy trying out the products for yourself they sell small 5g trial pots for just £2.99. Just grab one.......you will not be disappointed!!!Pin It

Major bubble alert with Balance me..Body wash

So this year i ventured off to the Clothes Show live....i have tons of stuff to write about but firstly i needed to write about a fabulous freebie i had in one of my gift bags!!

Balance me are a natural skincare company that started out about 5 years ago. Their ethos is that all their ingredients are naturally derived and in no way synthetic. They contain:

• No Parabens
• No Sulphates
• No Petroleum
• No mineral oils
• No silicone's
• No dea
• No pegs
• No propylene glycol
• And no artificial colours or fragrances

Pretty damn impressive. They have ranges for skincare, bath and body but the one i bagged was the Rose Otto Body Wash.

This is a gorgeously yummy scented body wash ideal for very sensitive or dry skin. It contains Rose otto, palma rose and rose geranium oils..but the best thing about this wash is when you use it........literally you only need to use a small amount as boy does this stuff lather up....i was covered from head to toe in bubbles galore...it was glorious...in fact iv never come across a body wash that lathers so damn well. Felt great on my skin, and left it soft and smelling adorable!!

I'm totally hooked.....if you haven't tried it yet, head over to the site here and bag yourself one.....the price ranges from £3.50 for 55ml up to £12.25 for 260ml.Pin It

Review: Rio Rosa Mosqueta Anti Ageing Day & Night Cream

So firstly...who are Rio Rosa Mosqueta. Well Rosa Mosqueta is actually a wild rose that grows in the Chilean Andes. It is said to have amazing skin rejuvenating and anti ageing properties which South American women have known about for years. The rosehip oil they use is pure and unscented and free from chemicals and is the natural alternative for fading scars and blemishes. The oil is a rich source of fatty acids which are essential for skin rejuvenation. It is also free from parabens and paraffin.

At the moment Rio Rosa sell 4 products - 500mg capsules, 20ml and 50 ml bottle of the pure oil and their newest product of which I'm reviewing, their 50ml Day & Night Cream.

The Packaging of the product is lovely...cute sliding box top which is packed full of information about the product....the benefits of using the product and also how to use it. The cream itself comes in a lovely glass jar.

Highlighted on the box it states the cream is 100% certified organic ingredients, protects the skin from harmful UVA rays, helps prevent signs of ageing and improves moisture levels....basically everything you could want in a cream!!

The cream itself is quite thick, barely any fragrance...on application the cream feels incredibly rich and heavy ...it covers really well and sinks into the skin with ease...your skin feels instantly replenished and soft!! It felt like a luxury cream!!

I'm continuing to use it each day so its hard to comment on what long term use will do at the moment but first impressions are great so far.

For me i preferred using this as a night time cream as i prefer using a lighter moisturiser during the day..but i love the way it makes my skin feel!

It does say on he box 'for best results use the oil first'....so would be interesting to see how the combination of the 2 products work.

All in all a lovely well made cream, natural ingredients and feels great on your skin!! If you fancy trying the cream for yourself it currently retails for just £14.99 - to find stockists of the products check out their website: http://www.riorosa.co.uk/where-to-buyPin It

Lucy Russell Organics

Lucy Russell Organics are the award winning brainchild of facialist and aromatherapist Lucy Russell. She creates organic and totally handmade skincare with ingredients sourced from all over the world. Lucy has formulated every product herself with no animal testing and by using only the finest organic ingredients she can find.

The current range contains 5 products and they are currently available by mailorder or via her website http://www.lucyrussellorganics.co.uk/ 

Her brand ethos is all about natural and green, no chemicals, no modified ingredients, recyclable packaging - the products are all 98% organic or above and she is one of the few skin care companies to be certified by the Soil Association.

So onto the products themselves - as i mentioned she has 5 products currently available, which all arrive in the gorgeous gift box below!!

The Facial Serum
The serum is an oil based product which contains Rosehip seed oil, Borage oil and Candula oil and combined with essential oils such as sweet orange and Neroli flower it sounds divin even before trying it.

The serum is designed for all skin types including you sensitive types and can be used as a daily moisturser, a night time fix or a facial massage oil.

The serum itself is fairly thick and i did worry at first that coverege wouldnt be easy...however i was wrong..went on the skin easily..didnt leave a greasy residue or anything and sinked into the skin. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft and totally replenished.

The full size version is available for £28 for 30ml here

The Rose Toner
This is a delicate toner fused with Rosewater and rare organic Persian Rose essential oil. Aagain suitable for all skin types  but especially for dry, sensitive and mature types.

It has a lovely subtle rose scent that sent me back to being a child playing with my mums perfumes..really lovely!! The toner is cooling to apply and left my skin feeling fresh.

The full size version is £18 for 100ml here

The Cleansing Balm
My favourite of the lot, this is a rich cleansing balm designed to remover make up and balance dry and oily skin. It contains Jojoba seed oil, candual flower oil and coconut oil along with the yummy essential oils of lemon, orange and May Chang.

The balm comes in a solid state which on contact with the skin melts in and releases a smell of lemons. Coverage was easy and if removed using a muslin cloth (which they also sell) - the muslin helps to polish the skin and remove impurities leaving behind totally clean and refreshed skin. I was completely surprised by this product...my skin felt amazingly soft..so much so i didnt feel the need to use moisturiser.

The full size version is £24 for 60ml here

The Super Balm
Iv fallen in love with these super balms ever since i reviewed 'All for Eves' version a while back..and again this one does not disappoint. The balm is designed for multi purpose use so you can use on your face, feet, nails, hands, lips...basically anywhere that needs a little bit of nourishing TLC.

This balm contains a multitude of flower oils from Rosehip seed oil to Roman Chamomile Flower oil. Again it comes in a solid state...and a little goes a long way so a small pot will last you ages.It provides a fast instant fix to dry skin - you can even use this stuff on split ends!!

Iv used this for dry skin on my face and feet...and it works wonders.....this little pot will last me ages - if you havent yet discovered Super Balm give it a go...tis fabulous!!

This is available at £26 for 50ml and £10 for 15ml here

The Super Scrub
The super scrub is designed for all over body use. It contains a blend of brown sugar, coconut oil and cocoa and shea butters. Now i find with some scrubs they only contain a small amount of scrubbing bits and generally turn out quite disappointing - this you can literally see from looking at it is packed with ample scrubbing properties - the scrub is thick and very grainy, i felt perhaps a little too thick but it did cover well...It has quite a strong lemony fragrance which i wasn't overly keen on but the best thing about this product is the feeling of your skin after - zingy clean and soft....again no need for moisturiser!! fantastic!!

This is available at £27 for 200ml here

Conclusion
Lucy Russell has produced a fantastic little range of products here and its great to know exactly what your putting on your skin.... ie no nasties just natural ingredients!!

The pricing is at the higher end of the scale, however when you realise how much work goes into these products you can thoroughly understand the pricing point - the products scream quality, and with the gorgeous packaging would make an ideal gift.

I love the fact that everything is handmade and not created in a lab - its like your getting a little bit of Lucy with every product.

Most definately a cult brand in the making and will be interesting to see what products she develops in the future - Miss Russell should be very proud of herself!!Pin It

Racoon Hair Extensions

Hair extension...they can either look really really bad......(naming no names).....or absolutely damn fabulous!!

Having always had long/ish hair its something iv never really dabbled in ...guess i always worried they would end up looking fake, so coming across Racoon i found myself pleasantly surprised..who knows they may even tempt me to dabble!!

They specialise in natural hair extensions..so instead of taking over your head they blend in with your natural hair leaving the viewer non the wiser of your little secret!!

Racoon extensions are easy to manage, come in a limitless amount of colours, can create avant garde styles or natural enhancements - your choosing. Fancy instant glossy, full bodied hair then they can in the space of a few hours!!...i have to admit even I'm slightly won over!!

If you go on their website there is a huge gallery giving you an idea of the kind of styles they can create. So if you fancy going for the plunge you will need to contact your local Racoon appointed salon which also can be found on the website here.

So will you be seeing me in extensions anytime soon....mmm well...I'm not too sure yet....think i still need a bit of convincing, but they are definitely somewhere id look to if i did!!

PICTURE CREDITS, Hair: Tim Hartley (the bob) and Sean Dawson (the clown) for Racoon International, Make-up: Jo Sugar, Styling: Joseph Anthony Toronka, Photography: John Rawson.

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Shhhhh...the secret of Betty Hula

I love discovering new products and Twitter provides an amazing platform to do that...I came across Betty Hula on there....and being the design hoare i am, immediately fell in love with the colour pop almost traditional looking packaging along with their ethos of 'Honest Natural Beauty'. I contacted them via Twitter and they were lovely enough to send me a couple of samples as below!!

  
Firstly their Champagne & Spice Shea Butter Moisturising Cream. The cream is packed full of all sorts of goodies such as Shea Butter, Coconut oil, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter - immediately you know this cream is going to be good. On opening the pot you are immediately greeted by this gorgeous scent, slightly sweet with a hint of spice. The consistency is almost like thick whipped cream, non greasy..... the cream literally melts into the skin...its an absolute dream to put on. It envelopes your skin in this delicate fragrance that is just so inviting..i literally kept smelling my arms it was so nice. 

My skin felt hydrated and soft and used everyday i did notice a difference. Using natural ingredients this cream is perfect for all skin types including those sensitive souls out there!! 

I think my only negative i would say at this point is the price....you can currently get a 120ml pot for £14.99, which may be a little high for some just discovering the brand - however they are packaged attractively and give the air of a high quality product..and i think as the product list grows (they currently only do 4 products) this could turn into a bit of a cult brand.

Now onto the other sample which is The Secret Anti Ageing Oil which has had quite a bit of press in certain beauty mags etc. It claims to:

• Work in Harmony with your skin
• Repair damaged and tired cells
• Combat dryness
• Reduce wrinkles

The oil can be used on both your face and body and contains more yummy stuff such as grape seed oil, avocado oil, vitamin E and jojoba oil!!.  On opening it has quite a delicate scent which i can only describe as a sweet tea tree oil...and not too overpowering which is good. Now being an oil,  a little goes a long way. I was expecting it to be fairly greasy but surprisingly it wasn't. Now i cant really comment on the anti ageing properties as thankfully i haven't got loads of wrinkles as yet to test it on....but with regards to its dry skin busting properties it does seem to work quite well. Iv also heard that this oil works well on stretch marks...helps to fade the lines..so would be interesting to hear from anyone who has used this for that purpose!!


Again the price tag i think is a little high £15.99 for 50ml. But this will last you absolutely ages.


All in all I'm liking what iv seen and tried so far. Its a eye catching product that would immediately grab me if I was walking past it on the shelf. As i said before, they currently only have 4 products in the range, the 2 above along with 2 other creams...Kiwi & Lime and Rum & Blackcurrant. 


Fancy trying them yourself...they currently stock the range at selected Sainsbury's stores along with a few online retailers..most notably Feel Unique  and also Fragrance Direct where i should add, are discounting between £5 - £6.49 on the product - now that's what i call a bargain.

If you want to discover more about the brand you can check out their website here or follow them on Twitter.
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