Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo

I put a shout out on twitter for a good clarifying shampoo and Ria at NatuRia Beauty suggested this one by Avalon Organics.

I picked it up at Lucy Rose, a fabulous online Organic Beauty Boutique. You can choose 3 samples (more with a bigger spend) with your order and collect loyalty points. The store has a huge range of brands.

The shampoo costs £5.99 (325ml) and is fantastic. I used to use REDKEN's Nature Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo (review) but unfortunately it was discontinued.

It removes build up and restores brightness and shine and smells gorgeous. Containing plant derived cleansers, lemon essential oil, Vitamin E, quinoa protein, aloe and chamomile.

To use: apply to wet hair, massage into a rich lather and rinse. You can then use the matching conditioner if you desire.

Free from parabens, sulphates, synthetics and phthalates. The bottle is made with 100% recyclable materials.

I'm really pleased with the way the shampoo makes my hair feel - clean with lots of volume and shine.

What's your favourite detox shampoo?

Antipodes Delight Hand & Body Cream

 I've been wanting to try Antipodes Delight Hand & Body Cream (120ml - £28.99) like forever! So imagine my delight when I spotted it at Lucy Rose - The Online Organic Beauty Boutique.  

I remember seeing it on Kat's blog way back in December and since then I've been trying to find a UK stockist. (It did come boxed but my postie had flattened it almost completely shoving it though the letterbox and it was in no fit state to be photographed!)

The cream is super rich and creamy and absorbs easily leaving the body and hands deeply moisturised and silky smooth.  The scent is just gorgeous - Vintage Gardenia petals with a hint of green notes.  As lovely as I was expecting!

Antipodes say "lifts you to holiday dreams and makes your spirits sing". I can't think of a better description. It is uplifting and makes me feel happy.

It is stuffed full of good things for the skin - Macadamia Nut Oil, Marigold Flower Oil and Vinanza Grape extract. It's perfect for dry skin and leaves it delicately scented, soft and moisturised.

Antipodes products are sold in 9 countries and in 300 stores throughout New Zealand.  I'm also a fan of their Divine Face Oil.  Lucy Rose is offering a free Joyful Hand Cream when you buy two products (excluding lip balm). See more details here.

Have you used this?  What's your favourite Antipodes product?

February Buys

After #NoBuyJanuary I went a little bit crazy in February! I'm doing this haul post now as I won't be purchasing anything else this month and I'm contemplating another spending ban until my birthday in April....although I know I'll have to pick up a few things like foundation and powder before then.

Content Beauty & Wellbeing offered those of us that had been doing a spending ban in January a little discount and so I bought Lina Hanson's Body Serum - which I'd been lusting over for quite a long time!  You can see my post about my purchase and the samples I picked up from the great sampling service here.

The Global Body Serum is simply gorgeous.  Hand blended in small batches combining ten of the worlds most powerful and exotic superoils. It is scented with Vanilla, Mandarin, Neroli, Frankincense, Palmarosa, Pink Grapefruit and Ylang Ylang essential oils.  A full review coming up!

I also picked up Napiers Alkanet & Organic Elderflower Lip Tint (£5) which I'd wanted in #NoBuyJanuary Week 2.

It moisturises and soothes this lips leaving them with a light red tint. Cute tin too! 

I picked up some trial sizes and samples at Lucy Rose. I'm looking for a new shampoo & Conditioner so picked up these to try.

You can pick up to three samples per order (more if you spend more). I picked up trial sizes of Giovanni Smooth as Silk Shampoo & Conditioner both 60ml. I've tried these a couple of times and so far I'm impressed!

I also treated myself to Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser not only because I love it but also because between 8-14 February they were offering free samples with any purchase! I do love a freebie and so nice to try some more products! I reviewed the Miracle Cleanser and Revitalise & Glow Serum previously - see here.

2ml vial Cell Repair Night Oil, 5ml sachet Miracle Cleanser and 2ml sachets of Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser, Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser and Revitalise & Glow Serum.

As I was buying Lily's dog food for Bess to make postage costs more worthwhile I picked up Dr Bronner's Peppermint Pure Castile Soap from Natures Healthbox. I like using this to clean my make up brushes and love the minty scent.

What have you been treating yourself to this month?

A Pamper for Valentine's Day

I decided to have a little pamper last night in advance of Valentine's Day today! A nice soak in the bath with a beautiful candle lit is one of my favourite ways to relax and unwind.

My candle of choice was the very lovely Amorous Classic Candle* (220g - £28) from Maddi Alexander.  A natural soya wax candle with cotton wick it is scented with Cedarwood, Atlas, Bergamot and Clove and has a lovely warming woody scent.  It helps to relax and soothe the senses.

My soak of choice was The White Company White Lavender Bath Milk which is scented with Lavender, Basil, Sicilian Lemon and Vetivert with Vitamin E to moisture and soften the skin.

I used Giovanni Smooth as Silk Shampoo & Conditioner minis which I picked up recently from Lucy Rose.  I'm a huge fan of the brand and these clean, nourish, calm frizz and add shine.

To moisturise my body I used The Body Shop's best Seller Moringa Body Butter* (200ml - £13) a rich butter enriched with Community Fair Trade Shea Butter and scented with white flowers.  The scent is initially very strong but mellows fairly quickly and lasts all day.  The butter is easily absorbed and very nourishing.  There's something for everyone from the Body Butter Range. There are also some fab gifts ranges from The Body Shop to chose from.

My feet got pampered too!  I used a sample pot of Bloom Remedies Peppermint & Lemongrass Organic Footbalm* (full sizes - 50g - £8.50 and 100g - £13.50). This rich balm (which smells amazing) is packed with Organic butters and beeswax and pampers tired, dry and cracked heels moisturising them deeply as well as refreshing and reviving the feet. 

What products do you use to pamper? Have you tried any of these?

*PR samples