Elemento Mineral Black Clay Soap

I need to send Rossana from Elemento Mineral a huge apology, I owe her two reviews for the products she sent me when I was pregnant (that was over 2 years ago now!!!). There were too many things happening in my life that made it impossible for me to blog for a looooong time.

 

The first product is a mini Black Clay Soap. The website says it "has high concentrations of rare minerals that help in cell renewal and improve skin tone. Its delicious fragrance is composed of essential oils of Lavender, Vetiver, Patchouli, Orange and Labdanum. Provides soothing sensation and is anti-stress."

I remember that I was in love with it the moment I opened the package & inhaled the beautiful scent. Totally gorgeous! Bear in mind that at that time I was pregnant, having 24/7 morning sickness & couldn't stand the scent of a lot of thing. When I say it was a beautiful scent, it was really beautiful, it made me feel as if I was in a posh spa retreat in an exotic country. At that time I couldn't find many soap/product scents that didn't make me throw up - I really didn't enjoy being pregnant, it was a dreadful experience!!! Don't even get me started on the labour & birth stories, I literally almost bled to death... but that's another story for another time... 

 

Back to the topic. I think the essential oils made it nose-friendly. The soap itself felt really soft, nicely foamed without drying my skin, lasted ages. It did work as a little soothing relief during what was one of the most trying times of my life.

 

Verdict: highly recommended. In fact, I'm googling for stockists as I'm typing this, I want to order some for myself. In need of a calorie-less stress relief at the moment....

 

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate (Palm Kernelate Sodium, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide), Tetrassodium EDTA (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, BHT, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Black Clay (Montmorillonite, Kaolin, Mica), Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulces Peel Oil, Oil Citrus Ladaniferus, Pogostermon Cablin Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract. 

 

Billy Goat Soap: Milk & Honey

Last year I had to change most of my skincare & bodycare products due to pregnancy. I was so sick I was stuck at home for 4 months. Hubby tried to get me some "non-perfumed" soaps. Unfortunately according to my super-sensitive nose they still stink badly. (Don't tell me about Simple soap bars, I retched whenever I smelled them!!!!) The only option was for me to go out with him during my better days (which was really rare!), to choose something that has "acceptable" smell to me. 

One of those that has smell that didn't make me sick was Billy Goat Soap Milk & Honey. The blurb on the webpage: "Made using the same recipe and care as our famous plain bar, our Milk & Honey bar also uses fresh honey from Queensland. This bar is made from fresh Australian goat's milk, Australian olive oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil and palm oil. It can be used all over the body, including the face."

The soap is softer than other bar soaps, it "melts" in water so I have to make sure I put it in a soap dish with good drainage. It lathers reasonably well and doesn't dry my skin. I never tried it on the face, just because I didn't want to risk irritating my already more sensitive facial skin. The bar ran out very quickly, so it isn't that economical. Also, after using it for sometime, I discovered that somehow it made the inner sides of my feet felt itchy and looked drier than the rest of me. The problem solved after I changed to other soap. Disappointing considering I quite like the smell and the idea of using a "natural" soap...

Verdict: I might buy it for other people, but staying away from it until after I've given birth.

Ingredients: saponified olive oil (olea europaea), fresh goat's milk, saponified sweet almond oil (prunus amygdalus dulscis), saponified palm oil (elaeis guinnesis), saponified castor oil (ricinus communis), saponified grapeseed oil (vitis vinifera), beeswax, fragrant oil, fresh honey and gold colouring (gold mica - less than 1%)

The Aromatherapy Company Tuberose Essential Soap Bar

Meet my new love: The Aromatherapy Company Tuberose Essential Soap Bar . This gorgeous smelling triple-milled soap is made in New Zealand. The packaging said, "This blend contains the Essential Oil of Rose Geranium, Tuberose (calming and soothing), Organic Manuka Honey and Organic Avocado Oil to nourish & soothe sensitive skin."

The claim must be true, it doesn't irritate the excema patch I have on my leg. Which is quite a good thing, considering most bar soaps dries out my skin. This big bar of soap (145gr) seems to be gentle and lasts a long time - I've been using it in the shower for at least 3 months.

I don't remember seeing the soap anywhere else, so I suspect that this particular scent has been discontinued. A quick trip to the website confirms my suspicion.

Blurb on the website: "The Aromatherapy Company products are 100% pure & natural. We use no sodium laurel sulphates, no artificial fragrance, no dyes, no parabens and no mineral oils. We do not test on animals and our packaging is 85% totally recyclable."

Verdict: Doesn't dry my skin + doesn't irritate excema + value for money = LOVE.

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate (PALM OIL), Sodium Cocoate (COCONUT OIL), Water, Sodium Chloride (SALT), Glycerin, Bran, Organic Manuka Honey, Organic Avocado Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Etidronate, Rose Geranium Essential Oil blend, Hydroxyisohexene Carbozidehyde*, Linalool* (*Natural ingredients of essential oils)