Dr Organic Hand & Nail Creams

I spotted this hand cream set in my local Holland & Barratt for £6 and decided to treat myself.  So far the only other products I have tried from the Dr Organic range are the Manuka Honey face polish (link) and deodorant (link).

The box contains three 20ml tubes of Hand & Nail cream in Manuka Honey, Virgin Olive Oil and Rose Otto.  The set caught my attention as I thought it was a great way to test the products without committing to a full size tube. Also it enables you to sample a variety of fragrances and they are a convenient size for your handbag.

Fragrance is the only difference between the three creams.  All the scents are lovely and it is difficult to choose a favourite but I keep reaching for Manuka Honey. They all perform exactly the same.  The cream sinks into my skin easily, making them great for during the day as they are not left feeling greasy.  My hands feel soft and I have not had any problems with irritation.  My current staple hand cream is Tisserand (link) but these perform exactly the same, I am very impressed and I would happily re-purchase a full size.

As with all Dr Organic products the hand creams are free from parabens, sls, artificial colours, artificial fragrance and preservatives.  They are all suitable for Vegetarians, with exception of the Manuka Honey, they are also suitable for Vegans.  

There are a couple of other travel sets available for the same price.  I spotted a Body Butter set and a Body Lotion set.  Overall, I think the more I try from Dr Organic the more impressed I become. It would appear that this is a great budget friendly, natural skincare line available on your high street.  Probably explains why they have been winning several awards, the Rose Rotto hand cream won Cosmopolitan Beauty 2011.

Have you tried Dr Organic? What did you think?

Sunday Catch Up - Vegan Cookies & Abahna

Most of you will be familiar with the idea that my weekend blog posts are rather random, so I will just jump straight in.

Last weekend I made Banana Everything Cookies from my Vegan Cookie book (previously mentioned here link).  If anyone wants the recipe then let me know.  I did tweak it I added more cinnamon and substituted walnuts for pecans (I dislike walnuts).  I had to use dairy free buttons as I'm not aware of being able to get hold of dairy free chocolate chips.  Also is Canola oil available in UK? I can not find it in Tesco so have been using Vegetable oil instead.

This week I received some products I had ordered online.  I bought a 30ml jar of Mu London White Chocolate Truffle moisturiser (link).  I keep falling in and out of love with the fragrance, it smells delicious in the jar but I think it changes when applied to my skin.  The moisturiser is solid, concentrated and made from my beloved shea butter.  I bought it to use on my face but I have my doubts at this stage.  I think it may be better on my body which is annoying because I have too many body shea butters at the moment, you should not hear me moan about dry skin for some time to come.

I recently discovered Abahna (link) and ordered a mini soap.  I couldn't decide which fragrance I might like so did not want to splash out on their regular sizes. l figured £4 for a 50g solid soap was a reasonable risk to take. I opted for Grapefruit & May Chang.  It smells amazing and very unique.  The great part is they added samples to my order so now I get to try the other fragrances - Mandarin & Sicilian Bergamot, Lilac Rose & Geranium, Frangipani & Orange Blossom.

I also managed to pick up a bargain in my local Tesco.  They still had some Christmas gift sets on sale and I found my favourite Naked Shower Gel.  This set cost me £3.

I wanted to link blog posts that I have really enjoyed reading this week. Firstly, there is Carrie over at Beauty: Not Just Skin Deep.  She wrote about DIY cleanser using Oats (link).  Next is Mary at Pure Makeup for her DIY toner post (link).  Followed by Sarah at BEskincareful for her post raving about the beauty benefits of Coconut Oil (link).  Finally, 24 Hour Party People for her brilliant idea of a Monthly Group Review (link).  The next one isn't blogger related but I found an informative list on a Company website.  The Organic Pharmacy has a guide to Carcinogens in Skin care, I think it is very helpful for people who are are unsure of ingredients in products (link).

Some of you may have noticed I have added another page to my blog.  I decided to create a list of Companies that make natural skincare. Majority of these are UK Companies.  If you see anyone missing then let me know.

Lastly, I want to give my view point on a sensitive topic.  I see a lot of bloggers complain about not trusting those who review large amounts of PR freebies. Recently my blog has attracted a lot of attention and I have been offered products to review (as you will have noticed).  It is very flattering when a Company approaches you.  I would like to maintain a balance on my blog between items I have purchased and PR samples.  I have turned down Companies for the following reasons - 

• do not fit my ethos of 100% natural.  
• I would not be able to afford with my own money.  
• I refuse to regurgitate press releases. I always research Companies for myself and write my own words. 
• I will not allow a Company to Guest Post on my blog.  
• I never guarantee a review on my blog

I have never been asked to give a positive review nor have I been paid for my reviews.  If someone did ask me for a positive review then I would never agree to it.  If I do not like a product I have either not written about it or I try to give constructive criticism and focus on why it does not work for me. From a personal perspective, I am being approach by companies I may not have discovered for myself so I like the idea of sharing them with others.  I have said this before but when you are dealing with natural products, from my own experience, it is very rare that I find a product I dislike.  Many of these Companies are small cottage industries with an owner who suffers from skin conditions similar to my own.  Their products are tailored to my needs and since they do not contain mainstream chemicals they are going to perform well. 

At the end of the day, all I want to do is try and help people with eczema or sensitive skin because I have struggled for many years.  The flip side is I want to educate others as to why natural is better than high street.  I appreciate every one of my followers here on my blog and on Twitter.  If you are not happy with something then please ask me about it, you can email me if you do not want to leave a public comment.  


If any of you are sceptical about my eczema then here is a picture.  Now I would like to have taken a picture that proves this is my body but that would involve me being naked (yikes!).  Currently, I have eczema across my boobs and down my tummy. My camera isn't the greatest but I hope this can help you gage an idea of what I deal with on a daily basis.

Hopefully I didn't end this post on a grumpy note? I wish everyone a fantastic weekend.  Let me know what you have been doing or any new purchases you have made.

Miss Starling's Handmade Body Oil

Come on admit it who likes to use Baby Oil after a bath or shower? Many of you big babies love the stuff (my sister included). I personally have a love hate relationship with oils. It stems back to the years of bathing in bucket loads of Oliatum bath oil. The very same company that has a cult following in blog-land something which I always find rather odd as I associate it with eczema.

As I was preparing to write this review, I was tweeted by Fleurie Amorette @sugarpuffish As you like things natural, have you tried Bio-Oil? The simple answer is NO.  Why? it contains Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) as well as a few other suspect ingredients like artificial colours. Bio-oil is another one of those companies who's advertising really makes me grumpy.  They happily promote the natural ingredients but do not openly share with you that those lovely plant extracts are suspended in oil made up of chemical nasties.  Let's not single out Bio-oil, in general your average high street baby/body oil will  contain petrochemicals. You all know I discourage you from applying petroleum to your delicate skin. If you missed my previous post  "Why you should not use petroleum jelly" then click here.

If you are a lover of body oil let me suggest a natural alternative.  I was approached by Miss Starling's (link) and accepted an offer to try their Sunflower & Jasmine Body Oil.  This is a handmade natural product containing Almond Oil, Sunflower Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Wheatgerm oil, Vitamin E and Jasmine Absolute.  Jasmine is used in aromatherapy for sensitive skins, muscular complaints and stress related conditions.  Let me be honest, if you do not love the scent of Jasmine then this will not be the product for you. The oil is a dry oil, it absorbs quickly into your skin without leaving a greasy residue. Given time the natural ingredients and their fabulous qualities are sure to improve your skin.

Let me share a little tip with you, I apply the oil to my legs prior to shaving. I leave it to sink in for a minute and then shave as normal.  In my mind, I think the oil protects my dry skin and is a preventative measure against irritation and additional dryness from shaving creams/gels. I still use moisturiser or re-apply oil after shaving.


Miss Starling's body oil is a great product.  I still adore my shea butters but this does make a nice addition to my beauty routine.  If you would like to buy this oil head over to Miss Starling's website www.misstarlings.com a 50ml bottle is priced at £11.


Have you tried a natural body oil or are you using a high street brand? Have you considered switching? I would love to get your feedback on this topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.  Also, I hope Fleurie is not upset I picked on her, she has a great blog go check it out fleuriefm.wordpress.com

Disclaimer – I was sent this product free of charge, all opinions are my own and I am not being paid to do this review or to promote the website/product. Full disclaimer is available on page tab below blog header. 

Discover Melvita

Sometimes my Boyfriend actually pays attention to the hints I drop around my birthday and Christmas. He scored brownie points on Christmas day when he gave me a Melvita Discovery Kit. For those not familiar with Melvita, it is one of France’s leading natural and organic cosmetic brands. Natural beauty lovers will be pleased to hear that Melvita products do not contain paraffin, silicone, PEG (polyethylene glycol), PPG (polypropylene glycol), ethoxylated products, parabens, phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, chlorine derivatives, synthetic fragrances or colouring agent, di-ethyl phthalate, nitromusk. 

The Delicate Skin Discover kit (link) contains - Cleansing Micellar Water 35 ml, Rose Nectar Day Cream 15 ml and Nectar Night Cream 15 ml. 

All the products have a delicate hint of fragrance and feel gentle and soothing on the skin. If you prefer cleansing water then I highly recommend this one. Whilst it is not my preferred method of cleansing, I still have enjoyed using it. It is refreshing, soothing and does not leave skin feeling tight. I adore the creams. They are the perfect consistency (not runny or heavy) and my skin absorbs them easily. Even though the products are trial size there is ample for a week, in fact I may have got two weeks out of the creams (I wasn't monitoring).  

Overall, I am very impressed and would like to try more Melvita products. This Kit retails for £12.50 (other sets are available link).  If I was to purchase regular sizes of the products the Micellar Water is £13 (200ml), Day cream £24 (50ml) & Night cream £26 (50ml). I do not incorporate a night cream into my current routine as I find them expensive.  If you decided to invest in full sizes, I feel as if these products are interchangeable so do not feel obliged to purchase them together.

Have you tried Melvita? What did you think?

In the Kitchen with Sugarpuffish

Vintage Makeup has suggested I feature more cooking posts.  I always hesitate a little since this is a beauty blog and you always hear bloggers saying "stick to your theme".  Then again, it is my blog so surely I can do as I please? Anyway, it was nice of Vintage to give me feedback so this post is for her (and anyone else who's interested).

When you have allergies cooking from scratch is always your best option but you don’t necessarily need free from cookbooks.  I will look at any recipe, use it for guidance and substitute where necessary. I am in full time employment so generally during the week I like easy, one pot meals that take about 30 minutes to cook.  

One of my regular favourites is creating a dish loosely based on paella. Here’s the original recipe I use, serves 4 & is from an Ainsley Harriott Marks & Spencer cookbook.

Easy-peasy Prawn Paella

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion sliced

1 red pepper seeded & diced

1 garlic clove peeled & crushed

200g (7oz) long grain rice

175g (6oz) smoked ham diced

900ml (1½ pints) chicken or vegetable stock

½ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon turmeric

175g (6oz) large prawns thawed if frozen

100g (4oz) peas

Method – Heat oil and cook onion for 3-4 minutes until soft & golden. Add red pepper, garlic and rice and stir fry for 1 minute.  Add ham, stock, paprika, turmeric then bring to boil and simmer for 12 minutes.  Stir in prawns and cook for further 3-4 minutes until rice & vegetables are tender.

Now for my changes and suggestions, so you can create something similar to the picture below.

• The recipe serves 4 and I only cook for 2 so I reduce quantities. Generally I find 50-60g of rice per person is ample.
• You can use any rice you choose, swap Long Grain for Arborio/Risotto rice and the end result will be a creamy consistency.
• The amount of stock you use will depend mainly on the type of rice you are using and other ingredients in the dish.  My rule of thumb is for 100-120g of rice use 1 pint of stock.  The key is to add the liquid at regularly intervals.  Once you have made it a few times you will get the idea how much liquid you require. 
• The recipe says 12 minutes to cook but I always find it’s more like 20 – 30 minutes.
• I choose to make mine vegetarian so substitute the prawns and ham for a variety of vegetables.  There are no rules add as many veggies as you like.  My favourites are broccoli, sweetcorn, edamame beans (soya beans), red peppers, courgettes (zucchini)
• Play around with herbs and spices sometimes I leave out the paprika & turmeric and simply add Italian herbs.  I also cheat with the garlic and use garlic granules.
• If you are using a stock cube I find you do not need to add any salt to season.  From experience, often shop bought stock cubes can be quite salty.
• If you are not a veggie use meats or fish that suit your palette.

Comments or suggestions are welcome, let me know how you get on if you give this a try.  

Heavenly Frangipani Body Butter

My favourite type of body moisturiser is shea butter.  Blogging is the perfect excuse to tempt me out of my comfort zone.  I have put aside my beloved Brown Earth (link) and experimented with other brands.  First there was Pure Thoughts (link) which quickly became a firm favourite.  When this ran out I decided to try Miss Polly's Frangipani Organic Body Butter (link).

KEY INGREDIENTS: Organic shea butter, Rice bran oil, Meadowfoam oil, Organic virgin coconut oil, Cocoa butter, Frangipani absolute, Vitamin E

My other shea butters are very different to Miss Polly's.  Brown Earth is soft and Pure Thoughts is whipped whereas Miss Polly's is solid.  Despite being solid and requiring a spatula to scoop it from the jar, it does melt easily on contact with warm skin.  Frangipani is a beautiful, rich floral fragrance and it lingers a little which I like because since I can not wear perfume, this makes a nice alternative.  My sensitive skin seems happy to accept the fragrance with no signs of irritation which is a relief since this can be a problem for me.  As with all shea butters this is luxurious, heavy and fantastic for overly dry skin.  It leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.  It is perfect for all year round but particularly ideal for the winter months.  I always find that I do not need to moisturise daily when using a shea butter cream, you can skip a day or two.  Also, it is perfect for keeping your legs in tip top condition especially if you shave regularly.

All Miss Polly products are handmade and free from parabens, sls and other nasties.  I was lucky to grab this body butter for a reduce price during a special offer period but it's regular price is £8.95 (45g).  If Frangipani does not appeal to you then there is also a Grapefruit version.  Go check out the rest of Miss Polly's products as she also makes lip balm, foot cream, soap, facial serum & gift sets (website link).


Feel free to leave a comment below regarding Miss Polly's skincare or shea butter or anything else beauty related.

Mini Product Review

I thought I would do a quick mini review of the products I picked up at the end of last year in TK Maxx. (link)

Lamas Beauty Pumpkin Spice Polish 3 in 1 Instant Facial – The only thing I like about this scrub is it smells amazing and reminds me of cookies.  The grains are small and suspended in a gel.  I felt like I was getting a deep down skin scrub but without the feeling of attacking my skin with a scourer pad. However after washing this off, my face became dry very quickly and I had to apply more moisturiser than usual.  I definitely prefer the scrubs I have from Dr Organic and Tropic. 

Naturaleve Rejuvenating Balm – Another item I dislike.  Firstly the scent is very bland for a product containing rose geranium and pomegranate. It is completely different to my other balms (Balmology & Natural U) because this one is a liquid.  As you rub into your skin it turns into a consistency that reminds me of a lubricant (yuck!). After using this I did wake up feeling like it had clogged up my skin and I noticed over time I developed pimples.  My spots could be as a result of using this product but equally it may be down to hormones or the two new cleansers I have been testing.

Tisserand Renewing Cream Body Wash in Wild Rose & Lemon Leaf – This produces a creamy lather, leaves my skin feeling soft and I have not seen any signs of dryness.  Fragrance is always something personal and I don't dislike the scent but neither do I love it.  

Heathcote & Ivory Bath & Body Handwash in Blueberry & White Tea – Out of all the items I bought this is the one I like the most.  I have been using this as a handwash.  I love the fragrance; it is fruity and makes me smile.  I often struggle with hand soaps because of my sensitive skin but so far this is not causing any irritation or dryness so that makes me happy.

Overall, this latest haul was a big disappointment.  The only item I would re-purchase would be the Heathcote & Ivory liquid soap.  Have you tried any of these skin care products? What did you think? Leave a comment below.

Competition Time - Natural Being Cleanser

Listen up Followers I have decided to do another Lucky Dip draw.  


The way this works is GFC & Twitter Followers who have left a comment on my blog, during the month of January (2012), will be entered into a draw and a winner will be chosen at random.

If you have commented more than twice you will automatically get a second entry.

 The prize is Natural Being Manuka Cleanser (Normal to Dry Skin).  This product is a personal favourite which I have reviewed here on my blog (link).

Here's the small print

ONLY GFC or Twitter Followers will be entered 
(If you follow me via another social site it is harder for me to verify that it is you that follows as these sites don't put a face to the numbers!)


If you are a new follower wanting to enter, at the end of your comment, please let me know whether you are following via GFC or Twitter so I can verify you

Comments must be genuine & specific to the post it was left on. I will disqualify from the draw spam or links with "follow me I follow you" or "Enter Me" etc. 

Only comments left between 1st January 2012 - midnight (GMT) on 31st January 2012 will be entered into the draw.

Winner will be announced at the beginning of February.  If they do not reply within 72 hours then another winner will be chosen.


Under 18's must have permission from parent/guardian to enter as the winner will need to provide me with a postal address

Good Luck Everyone & keep commenting on my blog posts.

Disclaimer - the prize has been funded by me, this is not sponsored.

Sunday Catch Up - Empty Jars

This post is a going to be a mixture of random items which I hope will be interesting to you.  I am starting off with the products I have recently used up.  This was inspired by Vintage Makeup who regularly writes these types of blog posts. The links below will take you to my original reviews. My opinions have not changed, I have loved all these products from start to finish and I would re-purchase.

Tropic Pure Plant Skincare Moisturiser (link), Borealis Organics Moisturiser (link), Pure Thoughts Whipped Shea Butter (link)

Do you remember the Tashodi Three Butter Body Cream which I bought at TK Maxx?  (link).  Unfortunately it irritated my skin, particularly my legs so I have abandon using it.


I see from your blogs that many of you made New Years resolutions.  I only made one and that was to get back in the Kitchen and start cooking again.  I became incredibly lazy in 2011 and got out of the habit.  So far the plan is working with no major disasters.  I will not bore you with pictures of my meals but if you do not mind I will show you the Peanut Butter Blondies I made.

The recipe came from Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero Vegan Cookies Invade your cookie jar.  My lovely friend gave me this cookbook for Christmas.(Amazon link)

I do not know about you but I love browsing the World Food aisle in Tesco.  I'm not sure if "World Food" is how Tesco refer to it but basically I mean the aisle with imported foods.  I frequent this particular aisle because in my store it is also where the Free From foods is located.  Despite my allergies I have an adventurous palette.  When I am on holiday I will indulge in the local cuisine.  I like to think that I don't have typical British taste buds thanks to my grandmother who is Austrian.  Anyway I digress, let me share with you this yummy drink I discovered.  I have no idea which country this comes from but I am totally hooked.  There are a variety of flavours but the one I like is coconut, pineapple, banana and lychee.

Finally, I wanted to give a shout out to a couple of bloggers.  This week the increase in traffic to my blog was largely down to The Flaxen Owl.  I am really glad I checked my stats as I was not aware of Hayley's lovely blog.  I am now a follower and I'd like to thank her for putting me on her blog roll.  My next shout out goes to The Veg Pot.  If you are looking for Vegetarian meal ideas then head over to Sophie's blog as she has some yummy meal suggestions.

Well I think that's all folks.  I hope you are all having a great weekend?  Feel free to leave a comment below, I love hearing your thoughts on my posts.

Herbfarmacy Cleansing Mousse & 27 Skincare Oil Cleanser

Today I wanted to do a mini review for two cleansers I have been testing. The downside of having sensitive skin and being a guinea pig for your blog is causing break outs. I have recently broken my own rules of sticking to a regular cleansing routine. My pimple explosion could be down to the PH balance of the cleanser not being suitable for me (Thanks Sarah beskincareful for the tip). Equally it could be due to hormonal imbalance or simply being run down from my recent cold. I have had to abandon testing these cleansers for the time being but still wanted to mention the products. 

The first product is from Herbfarmacy and is their Wash Off Cleansing Mousse (link).  I have been testing this cleanser for about 3-4 weeks.  This is described as - "A deep cleansing mousse containing soothing Chamomile and Marshmallow and essential oils of Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang. This wonderful cleanser is effective even when removing face and eye make-up and leaves the skin beautifully refreshed. Simply massage onto a dry face and rinse off with warm water." 

Seems a bit daft to point out the obvious but this is similar to mousse. It has an air whipped texture when you scoop from the pot and feels thick and creamy when applied to your skin. The ingredients make it ideal for sensitive types and I certainly have not experienced any irritation. I like the concept of this cleanser but there are elements I dislike. Fragrance is subject to individual tastes and for me this one is awful. I am struggling to explain it but the words that popped into my head are musty and cardboard. I have also found that compared to balm cleansers my skin feels slightly tight and dry immediately after removing. I don’t feel stripped of moisture just mildly drier than what is normal for me. This product is nice but it does not wow me in any way or appear to offer me that “glow” I get from other cleansers. I purchased from Ophelia Organics for £8.99 50ml jar (link).  If you purchase direct from Herbfarmacy it costs £11.75 

The second cleanser (which I have only had for a couple of weeks) is from 27 Skincare (link). I had not heard of this company until it appeared on my Twitter Who to Follow List. 27 Skincare offers a Lavender & Chamomile Oil-Gel Cleanser which they describe as “A mild, antioxidant oil-gel that gently cleanses, calms, soothes, and nourishes without leaving an oily film. Also an effective eye make-up remover.” 

This cleanser comes in a bottle with a pump dispenser. One pump is more than sufficient for the entire face. The product starts as a liquid but when massaged into skin transforms into a balm. I love the fragrance; it’s a light floral scent of lavender and chamomile, two ingredients which are known for their suitability on sensitive skins. I remove the cleanser with a damp muslin cloth and my skin is left feeling soft and moisturised. I love the packaging it looks smart and feels expensive. I have enjoyed using this cleanser and I will come back to it in the future. I recommend you check out the website as other skincare products are available. I paid £8.49 for a 60ml bottle which I think is very inexpensive for the quality. 

Both these companies offer natural skin care that is free from SLS and Parabens (check individual websites for further ingredient information).  Has anyone else tried these brands?  What did you think? Leave a comment below

Intensive Moisturiser from Elizabeth's Daughter

Back at the beginning of December, I started following Elizabeth’s Daughter on Twitter. I was contacted and ask if they could send me their Intensive Moisturiser and I accepted the offer. 

I only discovered the company because it popped up on my “Who to Follow” list so I checked out the website. I learnt that their products are 95% natural and free from parabens, SLS and petrochemicals. The concept behind the brand is unique. The idea is that Mothers and Daughters can share the products. 

Elizabeth (the founder) explained to me how the products came about - “I have had acne and rosacea for most of my life. About 6 years ago when my skin was really bad, I couldn't find products that suited my skin, most of the so-called natural products irritated my skin and as I also have a daughter I decided to produce my own range (I have a background in cosmetics and skincare).” The Intensive Moisturiser was developed for sensitive, irritated and dry skin. Elizabeth said that a number of her customers with psoriasis use the product. As an eczema sufferer this is always good to hear. 


There are some familiar ingredients in this cream – Apricot Kernel Oil, Mango Butter, Argan Oil, Coconut. There are others that are new to me – Sacha Inchi Oil, Tahitian Monoi and Kakadu Plum (which apparently is high in Vitamin C, equivalent to 10 Oranges).  

So what do I think? The moisturiser can be used on the face and body which is appealing, definitely helps cut down on an already overcrowded bathroom cabinet. Having a multipurpose cream is also ideal for those who travel regularly and want to save space in their luggage. The first thing that caught my attention is the fragrance, it is lovely and not like anything else I have been using. This is a heavy fragrance that lingers and I can see that it may not be to everyone’s liking.  There are days when I wake up and my nose is feeling sensitive, I sneeze at my deodorant or make up, on those days I tend to avoid applying to my face because of the scent.  

Often creams developed for dry skins can be very heavy and take longer for the skin to absorb. I was surprised that this moisturiser has a light texture, sinking into my skin quickly and easily. It leaves skin feeling silky and soft. I have tested on my face and body and I have not had any problems with irritation or dry patches. I have mention before I have super hyper sensitive legs after shaving so this is the place where I put products through their paces. I am pleased to say it did not cause burning or redness. 

The moisturiser comes in a sturdy plastic pump bottle. So far I have not had any major issues with the pump. I find the amount dispensed from one pump is enough for the face and I find one or two pumps is sufficient per arm or leg.  

This really is a lovely cream which I will be recommending to friends and family (as well as you guys!). Definitely check out the website to learn more about the brand and to discover the rest of the range. I note that there is a Starter Set which would be an ideal way to try products (link).  The Intensive Moisturiser can be purchase direct from the website and costs £22 for 100ml (link).

Let me know in the comment section below your thoughts on my review.  Have you hear of or tried Elizabeth's Daughter products?

Disclaimer – I was sent these products free of charge, all opinions are my own and I am not being paid to do this review or to promote the website/product. Full disclaimer is available on page tab below blog header.

Have you tried Giovanni Conditioner?

I finished up my Organic Surge conditioner (link) and decided I would like to try something different.  I like Organic Surge but I am fickle.  I had seen good reviews for Giovanni 50/50 Balanced Hair Remoisturizer (link) so decided to give it a try.

Giovanni hair care is Organic, Vegan and free from SLS, SLES, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances and not tested on animals.  This particular conditioner is recommended for normal to dry/coloured hair. 

I like the fragrance, it is a gentle fresh slightly citrus scent.  The product is rich with a medium thick consistency and I only need a small amount on my short hair.  It took a couple of washes to figure out the right amount for me, about the size of a 10p seems to be ample.  I do find if I use too much it will weigh down my fine hair and I quickly get greasy roots.  This is a traditional rinse  out conditioner.  When I first tried the product I was amazed how my damp hair instantly felt silky smooth and de-tangled.  Once blow dried and straightened (I do use a heat protecting lotion) my hair feels soft and hydrated with improvement to dry ends.  Over the Christmas holidays I was away from home and switched to a travel size bottle of Living Nature’s Balancing Conditioner (link).  I did not like it at all and I was really pleased to get back to my Giovanni.  This easily gives my salon brands a run for their money.  It also works well as an intensive treatment, simply leave on hair for 5 – 10 minutes and then rinse out.


I really love this conditioner and the only negative I have is with the packaging.  The product is thick and the bottle is not a traditional shape.  As I use up the conditioner what remains gets stuck at the bottom of the bottle.  I need to shake in order to loosen the contents so I can squeeze out the product.  It is a little pet peeve but it wouldn't stop me from re-purchasing.


I have mentioned before my hair tends to rebel against natural hair care but this has impressed me.  In comparison to Organic Surge I think Giovanni (by a small margin) works well at taming my dry ends.  I purchased this from Love Lula for £7.99 (250ml bottle).  Some may see this as expensive but in comparison to the brands I regularly purchase I think it is a good price.  I use such a small amount that the bottle has lasted months and I am nowhere near the end.

Have you tried Giovanni hair care?  What did you think?  Let me know in a comment below.

Ingredients - Aqua (Purified Water), *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, *Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, *Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, *Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, *Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Leaf Extract, *Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, *Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Flower Extract, *Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, *Equisetum Arvense Extract, *Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance With Essential Oils.

Amy's Kitchen

Regular followers will know that between the beauty reviews I throw in the occasional Free From food review/purchase, so this latest post should not surprise you!

As you know I have had a cold so I have been lazy at meal times.  When I get sick I can't bear the thought of slaving over the cooker.  I purchased from Holland & Barratt Amy's Kitchen Indian Vegetable Korma (link) which is a frozen ready meal.  It is Vegan and Kosher plus free from Dairy, Gluten, Lactose, Tree Nuts and Soy.  Ready meals never look that appealing when cooked but this was not too bad it did bear some resemblance to the picture on the box.  So what did I think?  I really enjoyed my dinner it was mild in spices (which I like) lots of chunky recognisable vegetables and overall had a good flavour.

I also purchased (from Waitrose £1.45) Amy’s Kitchen soup (link).  I opted for Lentil Vegetable from the choices available.  It is a hearty thick soup which is what I prefer.  I like a soup that fills up my tummy.  The flavour was good. It could benefit from a little more seasoning but that may be down to my taste buds being affected by my cold.  

This soup is Vegan and Low Fat as well as being free from Dairy, Gluten, Lactose, Tree Nuts and Soy.  I do prefer to cook my own soups but the tin varieties do offer convenience.  There are very few dairy free soups in the supermarkets so it is nice to discover Amy’s Kitchen Soups. 


I mainly pick up Amy’s Kitchen products in Holland & Barratt.  If you are lucky your local Sainsbury's may stock some of the frozen foods.  However the variety at Holland & Barratt is better because my Sainsbury's does not stock the Vegan items only the Vegetarian ones that are loaded with cheese (I am allergic to milk).

Has anyone else tried Amy's Kitchen products? What did you think? I also love their Bean Burritos (link).

Spotlight Blogger

Today in my spotlight is Grace from Grace & Beauty.  The first thing I love about Grace's blog is she describes it as "a place where women can get together and not be bitchy".  Her blog is a mixture of reviews, fashion, beauty and giveaways.  I always find something interesting to read on Grace's blog and for me it stands out from the crowded world of blogging.

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I feel like I can express myself more through writing than any other form of communication. Writing has always been a passion of mine. I needed an outlet for my thoughts and love of beauty and fashion, so blogging seemed like the best venue. 

Did you follow any blogs before creating yours?

Very few, actually! One of my favorite blogs I've been following for a while  is Laura's shopping blog, buynowbloglater.com. She's so glamorous and classy. 

What is your favourite time of the day to write posts?

I love to write at night, while my thoughts are churning and I'm reflecting on the day's events. 

What do you think is the best thing about blogging?

Being able to communicate with individuals who share a similar passion is the best part about blogging. 

What inspires you when it comes to your blog?

I'm inspired by other bloggers, photography, sparkly things.. I am currently obsessed with the photography on pinterest.com; so many of the photos inspire me to try out different DIY projects, hairstyles, and recipes to showcase on my blog. 

Where are your favourite places to shop?

The Unclaimed Baggage Center is high on my list of favorite shopping destinations, partly because of the excellent deals, but also because I love a good treasure hunt. Additionally, I enjoy shopping at Sephora, French Connection, and JCrew. 

Has blogging changed the way you make purchasing decisions?

I am more aware of what I buy and my spending habits. Although, I do feel an ever-present need to buy more, so I can have material to blog about.

What is your all time favourite brand? (Cosmetic, clothing or anything else)

For cosmetics, I am crazy about  mark. and Urban Decay. For clothing, I adore Madewell and JCrew. 

What is your favourite time of year and why?

I love autumn. The weather is so nice, and the new fashion trends are exciting. 

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

I want the world to be a safer, happier, and greener place to live.




Thank you Grace for taking part & Happy New Year to you!