Showing posts with label organic beauty. Show all posts

Spiezia Restorative Body Balm and Softening Body Oil Review

It's time to talk in greater detail about a brand that employs the sun and the moon in their process to deliver natural products - it's Spiezia Organics. This was an exciting Christmas present - I unwrapped the Body Softening Oil and Restorative Body Balm. After a month I have now nearly run out of both products. Here are my thoughts.




RESTORATIVE BODY BALM

This product literally melted on contact with skin, smelled of refreshing lemon peel with herbal under notes. Strong but very pleasant, naturally derived aroma indeed. Although it had rich texture of soft cream, it sank into skin quickly leaving a subtle sheen. Application itself got me slightly worried as I didn't feel my skin was being moisturised enough judging by the product's fast absorbing action. I was wrong thinking that and realised Spiezia Body Balm actually keeps the skin's moisture levels for hours. I used it all over my body, including my feet, I applied it regularly on my hands too. I think I went through my 120ml jar way too quickly to see long term benefits of using this organic body balm.



I liked the formula that included yarrow flower, gotu cola, carrot root, horsetail leaf and nettle leaf extracts, all of which contribute to skin restoring and healing benefits. Please see picture below for a full list of organic ingredients.


















BODY SOFTENING OIL

Spiezia Softening Body Oil had a slightly different scent to body balm even though I would classify both as citrusy fresh type. I preferred this aroma as on top of its lemon top note it had subtle nutty sweet middle notes. I am only guessing but this could be because of addition of highly moisturising Apricot Kernel Oil that naturally gives off caramel fragrance. I liked how my skin felt after application, Spiezia Body Oil did exactly what it promised - it nourished dry areas leaving noticeably softening effect. My precious 100ml bottle didn't last long but this was only because I usually tend to splash way more than the required amount. I also used this oil to massage achy muscles and it resulted in mild soothing effect. 













You can find more Spiezia Natural Products by following link HERE

Moroccan Black Soap Review - Body Cleansing the Traditional Way

 The modern world wants free from synthetics, traditionally made soap. Natural bars cleanse the skin thoroughly and have many more additional benefits so I decided to check for  myself.


I chose Moroccan Black Soap made from virgin olive oil as opposed to African Black Soap that is crafted using raw Shea Butter. Black Soap is said to have impressive exfoliating powers, is deeply nourishing and gentle enough to be used on irritated or acne prone skin.

The texture and scent




Deep green plasticine like paste was tricky to apply to wet skin as it slid off my fingers on a few occasions so it took some practice before I managed to really work some lather. After I had covered myself with decent amount of foam I continued to massage it into my skin for a few seconds using my bamboo cloth as didn't have a Kessa Glove which is usually recommended with that type of product. The natural aroma of pressed olives, hash and soil didn't particularly appeal to me but it didn't put me off either. 

The results after first use

After washing the lather off my skin felt refreshed and clean. I didn't notice much difference in regards with softness of my skin. There must have been some kind of dead skin cells removal taking place as I spot unusual bits of dirt in the rinse water.


The results after regular use

I can see my skin absorbing body creams much quicker now, especially body oils that sink in easily and keep the dryness prone areas like shins, knees and elbows hydrated. 
This was my previous concern of not getting the most out of my organic body products that would sit on the surface, nourishing my skin only until I'd put some clothes on which would then be rubbed into the fabric. My skin stays soft and glowing for the whole day and its general condition is visibly better. A very positive outcome after all.

My conclusions

1. Black soap worked perfectly as an every day cleansing product
2. It helped me making another step towards switching to organic and natural beauty regime
3. It improved my skin's general condition and it assisted with other beauty products absorption 
4. I would buy this product again as I can see my skin's health benefits with continued use


I got my Beaute Marrakech Savon Noir jar as a gift which was bought in Poland. You can buy this product from an online shop - CLICK HERE

Summer natural beauty must haves to enjoy the sun and prevent ageing

This summer we are spoiled by lots of sunshine and high temperatures, let's have a look what beauty products can help us enjoy beautiful tan with minimal skin damage. Please bare in mind I am featuring products that I have tried and tested in hot weather,  they are my personal preference and if you have a very dry skin prone to redness like myself, you should read this post.

1. Bentley Organics Bodywash with Olive, Tea Tree And  Eucalyptus




This Organic Bio Shower Gel has become my favourite since hot temperatures settled in the area I live, it deep cleanses my skin without over drying it, it has mild antibacterial properties thanks to Tea Tree and Eucalyptus which doesn't smell like a medicament, in fact,  it has a well balanced scent. With its texture of a thick gel,  it lathers well, even though it doesn't contain any of the harsh ingredients that are usually responsible for a good amount of foam. I bought it for a humble £2.50 at discounted price in my local health store, which is an absolute bargain, plus you only need a thumb size blob to clean the whole body - consider trying it if you like refreshing, re-energising body washes that don't strip your natural moisture layers already compromised by excess sun exposure.


2. Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm and Lyonsleaf Body Butter



These two truly work wonders for my skin. They are award winning products (FreeFrom Award 2014) NO ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE, COLOUR, CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES OR EMULSIFIERS.   Behind Lyonsleaf brand there are passionate people who grow and hand harvest some of the ingredients, like Calendula Flowers. All of the actives are carefully selected and mixed together to create naturally nourishing, regenerating and balancing products for all skin types.

Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm has a texture of a soft butter, on contact with skin it melts immediately and glides all over my face with ease. I have used it regularly for three weeks now - every morning and the results are fantastic. My skin feels softer and smoother on my forehead and under my eyes (I use it on that delicate area too), all the  wrinkles due to dryness have disappeared completely and the skin looks glowing and plump. I use it even under my makeup and it works beautifully. This cream gave me a healthier luminous and lasting look, I am less prone to skin redness in my chin area. Palmarosa, Clary Sage, Patchouli and Rosemary essential oils contribute to sensual, mind relaxing moments on application.
What's more, I spend hours in the sun playing tennis and I can see significant protective effects of using Lyonsleaf face cream. (must be thanks to Babassu and Jojoba Oils, Organic Raw Shea Butter, Macadamia and Sweet Almond Butters) For me it is a  Beauty Balm indeed.

Lyonsleaf Body Butter has a similar texture to Beauty Balm, it is formulated with my favourite natural ingredients like Coconut and Avocado Oils, plus a very exciting Black Pepper essential oil which I have never come across before. The results after just one single application are immense, my skin is deeply moisturised, soft and it is naturally scented with...what I'd classify as lightly sweet, milky herbal fragrance, absolutely not too overpowering, but strong enough to be smelled for a few hours after use. 
Again, I feel this body butter gives me a lot of protection against the sun damage, be it before or after sunbathing. It soothes my skin, and it never fails to amaze me how little I need to be covered from top to toe. It is very rich and leaves a tiny layer of skin moisture sealing oils but within ten minutes form application I am ready to get dressed. I am so lucky I can include these wonderful, natural creams in my summer beauty regime.

3. Tropic Organic Hot Bamboo Face Smoothing Cleanser



Yet another Free From 2014 winner that has actually initiated my very first fascinations in organic and natural beauty department, (see my full review HERE ) and that became a staple in my face cleansing routine since. Not only does it purify, cleanse and exfoliate the face and neck in the most gentle way possible but it also delivers powerful relaxing moments on application. It is formulated with Avocado, Vitamin E, Golden Jojoba, Grapefruit, Camomile and Green Tea Extracts to combine nourishing and cleansing properties, and to just like it says on the bottle "...melt away all makeup and impurities to promote clear (...) complexion". It is perfect for hot summer months, luxurious spa treatment, exfoliator and makeup remover all in one.