Ezàpè Naturals: Rosemary Body Butter

I received this gorgeous Ezàpè Naturals Rosemary Body Butter in my January Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box and also in January's Natural Beauty Box*. And of course I loved it so much I rushed out to buy full size with the discount code Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box had negotiated.

The products are created by Vanessa, a qualified Beauty Therapist who created the range initially to help soothe her daughters eczema. The products are great for sensitive and dry skin types and are formulated with natural certified organic ingredients where possible, are handmade in small batches with love, care and attention to detail.

I just adore Rosemary Body Butter (25g - £6.50, 150g - £27) which deeply nourishes the skin. It has a subtle rosemary scent and the whipped butter melts easily on warm skin. It's made with just 5 ingredients - Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Rosemary Essential Oil and Vitamin E.

To use: apply generously to your skin after your bath or shower.

*complimentary

Love Lula: Alteya Certified Organic Age Defense Hand Cream

I'm a huge fan of Alteya Organics having tried out a few of their other products in the past. I love hand creams and rose scented products so couldn't resist their great value Age Defense Hand Cream* (£7.25 for 30ml) There is also a larger size available (90ml - £13.25) which I'll definitely pick up!

This hand cream is one of the best I've used. It is seriously rich and buttery and almost edible with a rose otto scent. It helps with the first signs of ageing, age spots and any discoloration as well as firming, rejuvenating, protecting and nourishing the hands and nails.

The brand is NaTrue Certified Organic, Vegan, no parabens, synthetic preservatives, petrochemicals and phthalates are used in formulation.

To use: apply as often as required.

Buy Now

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program. All thoughts are genuine - I just love this hand cream! My post contains a couple of affiliate links

Blog Tour: Dark Game by Rachel Lynch: DI Kelly Porter Book #1

Today I'm on the Blog Tour for the fabulous Dark Game by Rachel Lynch (DI Kelly Porter #1)* which is a fantastic debut.

After a scandal forces DI Kelly Porter out of the Met, she returns to her home turf in the Lake District. Crimes in the Cumbrian constabulary tend to be of the minor sort, but Kelly begins to work on a cold case that shocked the local community - the abduction and brutal murder of ten-year-old Lottie Davies.

Meanwhile, Kelly is also investigating two seemingly straightforward crimes: a case involving an illegal immigrant, and a robbery following the death of local businessman Colin Day. But evidence comes to light that reveals a web of criminal activity beyond anything Kelly imagined. Behind the veneer of sleeply, touristy towns lie a dark and dangerous underworld. As Kelly threatens to expose those with much to lose, she risks paying the ultimate price to get to the truth...

My thoughts?

I absolutely loved this fast paced read and can't wait for book #2. I loved DI Kelly Porter and can't wait to see what crimes she will solve next.

Kelly returns home to work with the local force. She's staying with her mum and has a lot to live up to - her dad was a local well thought of policeman. There's a lot of friction with her sister Nikki who Kelly loves but has nothing in common with these days. 

She's working on a cold case of the death of a ten year old alongside the death of a local businessman and also a case of an illegal immigrant. She uncovers a criminal ring involving human trafficking, prostitution and money laundering. There are connections to people she knew from her past in the current investigations weaved into the story which was very clever. An absolutely un-put-downable read which I loved.

*complimentary e-copy from the publisher via Netgalley

Five Favourites: Bathtime

I decided to resurrect this post Five Favourites. These literally are the five products I keep reaching for again and again! (although the KINN Beauty & Organic Trevarno are relatively new finds!)

I received Organic Trevarno Camomile & Lavender Bath & Body Oil in my Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box in November and totally fell in love with this sleep inducing potion (so had to buy full size). See my review HERE.

I just adore MOA's Fortifying Green Bath Potion which I reviewed HERE. I was delighted to receive one in my January Love Lula Beauty Box (MOA's new bath salts Dreamy are amazing too (review).

New to me brand KINN Beauty's bath oil is simply exquisite. The essential oil blend used is absolutely perfection - for me it says "everything's going to be fine". It's the perfect product for some me time, to relax and unwind (Ylang Ylang, Tangerine & Lavender). 

I've loved this Ila Spa Bath Soak for Pure Relaxation for a very long time. It's a beautiful blend of Vetiver and Petitgrain and it calms and relaxes both the body and mind (and costs an absolute bargainous £9.60 for 150ml!)

No bathtime round-up would be complete without Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts. I once said if I could only use one bathtime product it would be these. See my review HERE.

Do we share any favourites?

Siskyn Skincare Oils: Elixir Grapefruit & Sweet Fennel Toning Body Oil

I received this beautiful body oil (30ml) from Siskyn Skincare Oils in my December Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. 

I've been aware of the brand for a while but this is only my third try (and I've loved them all!) I like how they care about every single detail - the glass and cardboard used are recyclable, soy ink is used on the boxes, they donate to charities, their organic cotton & bamboo cleansing cloths are sewn in India by a woman's co-op, they make voluntary carbon offset contributions and are registered by The Vegan Society and are certified cruelty-free with the Leaping Bunny logo.

The ranges are made in small batches in Cornwall with love, care and attention to detail. There is also a cute little travel/try me section where this Elixir - Grapefruit & Sweet Fennel Toning Body Oil comes from (30ml - £9). Full size is 150ml and costs £32.

This unisex blend smells good enough to eat - and is mouthwatering! It's got a citrus-herbal and almost savoury scent, is a blend of 14 pure botanical plant oils which deeply nourishes the skin while toning and firming. Black Cumin Seed helps with moisturisation while Carrot Seed essential oil helps to even skin tone and helps with elasticity.

To use: apply daily at night to help firm and nourish the skin.

I'm adding Organic - Rose & Neroli Day Facial Oil to my wishlist.

Have you used any products by Siskyn before?

LOWTOX Box: January 2018

My lovely LOWTOX Box* arrived the other day. Again, it's stuffed full of beautiful items (see my thoughts on the December box* HERE) - things you can eat or drink, pamper yourself with or use. You can pick up a one off January box for £21.25 plus p&p (& you can get 20% off with code BEAUTYBALM which is valid on the January box, the shop and the soon to be launched themed boxes which will be arriving mid-February).

Nestling on the top layer are these two:

Macacha Plant Protein Energy Vanilla which is a natural, organic and raw plant based protein blend which makes the perfect shake to help which helps with fatigue and gives an energy boost.

From T Plus Drinks there are 4 Vitamin enriched single use tea bags - t+boost with yerba mate, ginseng, green tea and energy releasing Vitamin B, t+detox is formulated with milk thistle, ginger root, dandelion root, green tea and Vitamins B2 and C. T+immunitea contains immune boosting echinacea, ginseng, greent tea and Vitamin C and t+multea contains rosemary, cardamon, spearmint and Vitamins - I'm looking forward to trying these!

WOW - such a great mixture of products!

Peakz - Crunchy Chocolate Squares are simply moreish! The ones inside the box are made with Belgian Dark chocolate and have a crunchy wholegrain core and are seriously yummy. They make the perfect at work afternoon pick-me-up or as a snack on the go.

Also inside is a 250ml can of CocoFuzion 100 Lime naturally sparking coconut water which is delicious (and only has 24kcals).

There are 3 beauty items this month - a sample size tin of Elsa's Organic Skin Food - Ocean Deodorant which smells beautiful. I've heard a lot of good things about these deodorants (I'm also testing out one of their stick deodorants) so I'm looking forward to trying this also.

From new to me brand The Soap Connoisseur is their Nourishing Ylang Ylang & Calendula Serum.  The final beauty item is a Friendly Soap Shampoo Bar with Lavender & Geranium (reviews will follow).

The final two items are a beautiful lined 100% recyclable notebook by Nikki Strange, (printed with natural vegetable inks) which is just the sort of thing I'd choose myself (love it) and Re-Sack Reusable Grocery bags which will be really handy for buying and storing things like potatoes.

Again, it's an absolutely brilliant box! Remember you can pick it up as a one-off box with 20% off using code BEAUTYBALM (you can also use the code for other items in the shop).

What do you think of the contents this month?

*complimentary

Naturisimo: Self Love Discovery Box

You'll know I'm a huge fan of Naturisimo's Discovery Boxes and I couldn't resist their Valentine edition. Costing only £17.95 and worth £57 it's stuffed full of gorgeousness!

Inside the little branded box you'll find:

And for a closer look:

The first thing that jumped out at me (after the MantraBand which is worth £25) was that small pot of gorgeousness which is Lola's Apothecary Delicate Romance Balancing Body Souffle (30ml) which is seriously divine (it melts onto warm skin and leaves it scented with rose - absolute perfection) and so now I want full size!

From Jurlique there is their Rose Moisture Plus Cream (11ml), REN's latest bath care range, Atlantic Kelp & Microalgae Anti-Fatigue Bath Oil (10ml), Green People's Damask Rose Facial Oil (10ml) and three sachets from Madara - Brightening AHA Peel Mask (5ml), Daily Defence Ultra Rich Balm (2ml) and Cleansing Milk (5ml).  The final items is a Pukka Love Tea Bag.

It's a great collection. Did you pick one up?

UK Giveaway: Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box: Love Yourself February Edition - it's Over!

I've got a really exciting UK Giveaway for one of my readers to win February's Skin Organic Clean Beauty Box "Love Yourself". The box will be packed with gorgeous green beauty items (it normally costs £21 plus £3.95 p&p) but one of my lucky readers will win one of their very own!

Paula always gives one sneak peek of an item nestling inside...

Enter via the Rafflecopter below & good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box has very kindly donated a box for my giveaway

Review: Guiltless Skin

I've recently been trying some products from Guiltless Skin, which is certified Organic by The Soil Association. 

The range is hand made in small batches in Essex by founder, Rupa who sources ingredients from companies which have taken steps to demonstrate sustainable practice. The range is 100% Vegan, they are registered with the Vegan Society and PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies Programme. They also support the work of volunteers at the Essex Wildlife Trust and Save the Rhino Trust.

Since I've been testing the packaging/sizing has changed for the cleansing gel (into an airless pump) and the serum into a (bottle with a pipette).

Charcoal Orange Cleansing Gel (£20 - 100g)* is just a fantastic product. It comes out the bottle black! It's ideal to use for daily detoxifying and is super gentle on the skin (it's also got a delicious orange scent). Active charcoal draws out dirt and impurities leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh.

To use: apply a few drops to damp palm and massage over the skin before rinsing (I like to use this in my morning shower).

Hydrate Moisture Serum with Hyaluronic Acid (currently out of stock)* give the skin a "hydrating drink". The serum contains organic Rose Water, 1% Hyaluronic Acid and organic cucumber acid. It firms, plumps and helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

To use: apply two pumps to cleansed skin. Follow with Face Oil of choice.

Newest product is Revive Organic Face Oil (£30 - 30ml)* and is 100% organic. It's the ultimate powerhouse product for mature, tired and dry skin types and will help to restore radiance and vitality to the skin.

It's packed full of beautiful oils which care and nurture the skin - Prickly Pear, Sacha Inchi, Nigella, Perilla Seed and Pomegranate Seed. It will help to address loss of elasticity, dryness and redness. 

The oil (which is unscented, so to be useful to all skin types) has an earthy type of scent absorbs quickly leaving the skin feeling comfortable, soothed and cared for.

To use: apply a few drops to the skin, massaging lightly. This is best used as a daytime oil.

I've been pretty impressed with all three products I've tried and would recommend them. Have you tried any products by Guiltless Skin?

*complimentary

The Natural Beauty Box: CLARITY - Mind, Body, Soul

January's The Natural Beauty Box theme was CLARITY - Mind, Body & Soul* and inside are products which clear your mind, give you an energy boost and rejuvenate both the skin and the senses. 

You can sign up for February's box HERE (a month by month subscription costs £24.95 with free p&p (there are discounts if you sign up for a 3 or 6 month subscription by prepayment). Every quarter the company donate to charity for each box sold - which is a nice touch. February's box will ship on the 20th.  

So what's inside January's box:

Doesn't it all look lovely. And now for a closer look..

I'm already a huge fan of Optiat and their The Hungover Coffee Scrub in Potent Peppermint (£6.99) is my favourite from the range. See my review HERE.

Excited face, from new to me Scottish brand Nurturing Soul is their Clarity Aromatherapy Perfume rollerball 10ml (£7.99) which smells heavenly. It contains a blend of oils which will help you stay calm and collected in times of stress and when extra concentration is required. I love this and I'll review it more fully soon.

Buff Natural Skincare is a brand I discovered recently via Pure Natural Box. I loved their NAKED Sea Salt Body Scrub Lovers' Blend. See my review HERE. I'm excited to try the Buff Up Morning Blend Massage Oil 100ml (£12.50). Again, a review will follow.

I tried Organdle recently and inside this box is their Health Living Focus & Clarity Candle (£13) which is scented with a blend of rosemary, cardamon and lime which I'm looking forward to lighting.

I'd been aware of Ezàpè Naturals but hadn't tried it before receiving it recently in a beauty box. Inside is their Rosemary Body Butter 25g (£6.50). I adore this rich and luxurious butter and again a review will follow.

Rounding up this fabulous box is MOA's 10ml shot of their amazing Fortifying Green Bath Potion. See my review HERE.

What are your thoughts on the contents of January's The Natural Beauty Box? Or are you already a subscriber?

*complimentary

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Here are some small gift ideas for Valentine's Day:

I'm a huge, huge fan of the gorgeous Award Winning Special Edition Velvet Matte Lipstick* in Damask Rose it really is the perfect nude-rose shade which applies easily to the lips leaving them with a matte pop of colour. It's a suit everyone shade too. Pick yours up at Green People (£16.50).

Tropic Skincare's Lip Fudge Plumping Lip Conditioner* (£12) is a pot of goodness. Rich and almost edible (tastes like mint fudge) the conditioner deeply nourishes the lips leaving them feeling soft, silky smooth and kissable (a full review of this is to come).

From Botanicals I've been testing out their fabulous Nourish Facial Oil* which is scented with roses (making it perfect for Valentine's Day). It deeply nourishes dry and dehydrated skins helping to restore radiance and vitality. Again, I'll be reviewing this in fuller detail.

I can't resist a rose scented perfume and Diptyque's Eau Rose Roll on is near perfection. See my review HERE.

My final pick is Henné Organics incredible Lip Exfoliator Rose Diamonds which I absolutely adore. See my review HERE.

What do you think of my picks? Are there any here which appeal to you?

*complimentary

January Books Roundup

Here's what I've been reading in January (I'm also trying to do Penguin's Your Classic Books Reading Challenge 2018 but alas I've not finished January's read yet - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde) so I'll let you know my thoughts in my February roundup.

Follow the Dead - Rhona MacLeod #12 by Lin Anderson - I'm a huge fan of the series and raced through this fast paced read.  When on a weekend away with Sean, Rhona joins the local mountain rescue team on the Cairngorm summit.

A plane has crashed and the whereabouts of its occupant or occupants are unclear, three young people have mysteriously died and the fourth is missing. DS McNab is involved in a raid in the city centre club and there are more questions than answers. It seems like the cases could be connected and in turn connected with Norway... as always a great read and brilliant to catch up with the familiar faces we love so well - Rhona, Sean, McNab and Chrissy. Roll on book #13.

Shadow Man by Margaret Kirk - I really enjoyed this debut crime novel. The setting is Inverness and Detective Inspector Lukas Mahler is thrown in at the deep end on his return to town. His boss tells him he is in charge of two murder investigations which will take up a lot of his time (he also wants to keep an eye on his frail and mentally ill mother, the main reason he returned north).

Police informant Kevin Ramsay and popular TV Presenter, Morven Murray are both found dead. Morven is found by her estranged sister Anna on her wedding morning. Both Anna and Morven's fiance Ross have argued with her and DI Mahler believes they aren't telling the truth.. there are connections and truths interwoven in the story from the past and present and some will take your breath away. Can't wait for book #2.

Dark Game - DI Kelly Porter #1 by Rachel Lynch* - I'm taking part in the blog tour for this exciting debut novel in February. So I'll include the link to my review in my February roundup.

Still Me by Jojo Moyes* - oh how I loved meeting up with Lou again! This is a fantastic read which I highly recommend (it's the third instalment in the me before you trilogy). 

Lou Clarke is having her big adventure and going to work in New York for a year. She's working for the filthy rich Gopniks who live in a huge apartment near Central Park. She's looking after Mr Gopik's younger second wife, Agnes who seems nice but Lou needs to remember she's just paid help.

The other characters in the story who I loved reading about were Ashok, the porter of the apartment block and his ballsy wife, Ilaria the grumpy housekeeper and Mrs de Witt and her snappy little dog who bring the story to life. They are real people with real lives.

Lou's missing her Paramedic boyfriend Sam (but he's coming to visit soon!) She's worried about his new female partner at work who seems too friendly and familiar with him. She meets Josh, who looks very like Will and that in turn brings it's own problems.  Things change for Lou and she takes a new direction which brings new friendships, a new job and a very different way of life. I absolutely loved it! (and might very well read it again!)

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot - I loved the descriptions of Orkney, the scenery, wildlife, landscapes, weather and way of life of its people. Amy returns home after more than a decade in London to the Outrun and the farm she grew up on.  She's come home to heal, recover from her addiction and rediscover herself. The story contains flashbacks to her life before. I found it an interesting read.

The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless - I found this book very interesting and enjoyed reading about the different essential oils. But having picked a kindle edition I couldn't flip back or forward easily.

What have you been reading this month?

*complimentary copy from the publisher via netgalley

Willow & White Candle Co: Sea Salt & Wood Sage Candle Melts

Scottish based, Willow & White Candle Co have a great range of candles (from travel votives to three wick candles), diffusers (at a very affordable £19.50) and soy wax melts. Founders and creators, sisters Susie and Linda wanted to create luxurious handcrafted candles at affordable prices with pretty but minimal packaging. There are twelve scents in the range - Pomegranate, Eucalyptus, Lemon & Mint, Blackberry & Bay, Winter, Lemongrass & Ginger, Lime, Basil & Mandarin, Nutmeg & Ginger, Sea Salt & Wood Sage, Pear & Freesia, Amber & Lavender, Pomelo and Basil & Neroli Blossom.

A while back I bought a pack of their Sea Salt & Wood Sage Candle Melts - £4.75 for 6 (which I think is very good value). I've found them to melt evenly and the scent is beautiful (and similar to the Jo Malone perfume of the same name). It has notes of grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, sea breeze, seaweed and minerals with base notes of musk, amber and cedarwood. I've been burning them in my dining kitchen and the sea inspired aroma beautifully scents the room - highly recommend!

Have you tried any products from Willow & White?

Review: nknaturals London

I discovered nknaturals via Wonderlusting Lynda - her instagram FEED is always full of such wonderful things (so I blame her for enabling me - ha!).

Founder and formulator, Nicola has been making her own skincare since she was a model some 30 years ago. While living in Lanzarote in 2011 she created her skincare line and started selling at local markets.  She moved back to London after 6 years to enable a wider range of people to be able to try and use the brand. You can buy online HERE.

The range is handcrafted with love using natural ingredients and I love that if you send back your packaging for reuse you'll get 20% off your next order - such a smart and eco friendly idea!

I bought 2 items - beautiful healing cleansing balm and raspberry lip balm and Nicola very kindly popped in two for me to try - life restoration mist* and a sample pot of delicate healing cleansing balm*.

Each product comes with informative notes about the product - which I think is a nice touch.

beautiful healing cleansing balm is gorgeous! It nurtures, soothes and regenerates the skin, cleansing and healing (it was great when I fainted over Christmas time, bashing my nose - it soothed my grazes!) It's also good at helping to fade scars, balance the skin, use as a luxe face mask overnight, use on eyebrows and lashes to help growth and condition, use on nails, cuticles, elbows and feet and to tame flyaways - you know I adore a multi-use product!

To use as a cleansing balm: apply a small amount to the skin, massaging in to remove make up and daily grime. Remove with warm damp muslin cloth and follow with a spritz of life restoration mist.

As it's preservative free it should be stored in a cool dry place. The balm is made with skin loving ingredients including Jojoba and Cacay oils, raw organic beeswax from local bee farmer, Sea Buckthorn, Sunflower Oil, Rosemary, Fragonia and Amber resin. Made in a batch of approximately 10 pots.

life restoration mist* can be used on the face and body providing instant relief from dry, taught sensitive skin. It calms, refreshes, soothes and hydrates. 

To use: spritz directly onto the skin, apply to cotton pads before swiping over the skin after cleansing or spray onto cotton pads and apply to the eyes for a soothing treat.

Inside you'll find Frankincense hydrosol, Chamomile hydrosol, lupine peptides, Frangipani, Petitgrain, Benzoin and Witch Hazel Glycerol. It's a lovely product and would be great to pack for your summer holidays. I've currently been enjoying using it spritzed on my skin after cleansing.

Raspberry Lip Balm deeply nourishes the lips. It contains a high level of mineral sun protection. Use on it's own or with lipstick and before bed for an intensive treat. It contains Fair Trade Raw Organic Shea Butter, Vanilla, Titanium dioxide, freeze dried raspberry powder and Oat Kernel flour. 

The balm is lovely to use but it only has a whisper of raspberry. I'd personally prefer a stronger scent.

delicate healing cleansing balm (sample pot)* - gently healing and cleansing the balm is good for calming sensitive skins. It's perfect for those prone to eczema, psoriasis and rosacea when the balm is massaged onto the affected area.

To use: cleansing - apply a small amount onto the skin, massaging in before removing with a warm damp muslin cloth, massage onto nails and cuticles and use on the ends of the hair to condition and calm frizz.

The balm is formulated with Coconut oil, raw organic beeswax, Oat Kernel oil, blue Chamomile, Alpine Lavender and Palmarosa.

I've really enjoyed the using the whole range but I'd say my favourite is beautiful healing cleansing balm. Have you tried nknaturals?

*complimentary

January Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here are my January empties:

Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel & Foam Bath 100ml - this came in the Holland & Barrett Advent Calendar and I really liked it's zesty freshness. It was great for a wake up call in my morning shower. Would buy full size.

Buff Natural Body Care NAKED Sea Salt Body Scrub Lovers' Blend 60ml - I absolutely loved this beautiful scented scrub which had the perfect amount of scrubbiness. See my review HERE. Sure to pick this up again.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion 100ml - is one of my favourite bath time products. Luckily, just received another in January's Love Lula Beauty Box. See my review HERE.

Ishga Invigorating Body Oil 100ml* - I absolutely loved this! See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy at some point when my body oil stash reduces a bit.

AA Skincare Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes - I don't use wipes very often but find them great to use after a night out or on holiday. I found these ones very gentle and I'll pick them up again.

Organic Trevarno Camomile & Lavender Bath & Body Oil 30ml which came in November's Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. I loved it so much I rushed out and bought full size. See my thoughts HERE. I'll pick it up again as I love it!

And...I finished two perfumes this month:

Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent EdP 50ml - which I simply love. I picked up a mini in their sale but I'll definitely buy full size soon (it's up there in my top 5). 

And another favourite Shay & Blue's Dandelion Fig 30ml (both hubby and friend Julie picked me up bottles for Christmas so I'm well stocked up - thanks both!) See my mini review HERE.

What have you been using up this month? 

*complimentary