Sanctum Body Soothe

I came across Sanctum Body Soothe during my stay at a Sydney hotel recently. It's a light lotion that's easily absorbed by my skin and smells strongly of lemon myrtle to my nose. When I checked out the description on the webpage it's supposed to have the natural aroma of vanilla. The ingredients list on the webpage also differ from the tube I have. I'm not sure why. Either the one I have is a version of body soothe that's made especially for hotel use, or they've changed the formulation. Based on the hotel version, I quite like the refreshing scent and the way my skin drinks up the lotion.

Verdict: made from "certified organic and natural ingredients" - I'm sold.

Ingredients: Aqua, Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita matricaria) Flower Extract, Canola Oil, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bentonite, Honeysuckle (Lonicear caprifolium) Flower Extract, Macadamia integrifolia Seed Oil, Honeysuckle (Lanicera japonica) Flower Extract, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Leaf Oil, Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Leaf Extract, Orange (Citrus aurantium dulcis) Oil, limonene, citral.

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%)

Kit Cosmetics Lip Sheen

"Minty shine for soft lips and fresh breath" - that's what it says on my tube of Kit Cosmetics Lip Sheen. I've been on the hunt for a lip balm as my lips have felt dry recently, thanks to full-blown A/C to ward off humidity and heat in Cairns. I also feel hot, hot, hot as a result of being pregnant.

I don't want to use any lip balm that contains rosemary, just being cautious because I've heard that rosemary isn't recommended during pregnancy. Which means all of my favourite lip balms (including Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ) are out of the list. I went around shops for ages trying to find one I like with no avail. Most of the stuffs I saw had mineral oil, rosemary oil, or vit. A/retinol (a huge no-no for pregnant women) on them. It was so frustrating. Too many lip balms on sale, but NONE seem to be what I wanted.

Then, suddenly I remembered: I haven't looked inside my special box where I keep all my brand new/unused cosmetics. That's how I "found" this moisturising lip thing - I got it ages ago, before I left Perth back in 2009.... yup, it has been that long... I haven't even removed the seal from the tube, I've totally forgotten that I have it. Thankfully it's still good (it has the sign "24M" on the tube).

A quick check on the ingredients list reveal no mineral oil, no rosemary, no retinol. Happy me have been using it since. I'm pleased to say that I really love this lip sheen. It's moisturising, it feels slightly thick without being sticky (like Vaseline consistency, sans the mineral oil), it has refreshing minty taste, and it doesn't make me gag (yup, I still feel nauseous even though I'm waaaaaaay over the 1st pregnancy trimester).

Verdict: another best friend for fussy (read: pregnant) me.

I have to add that it feels a little strange talking about lip sheen after what I've been through recently (including surviving cyclone Yasi, but that's another post for another time). And yes, this post feels very trivial compared to the earthquake & tsunami in Japan (I have a friend who works there, thankfully he and his family are ok). However, life goes on. Let's just say I need a little distraction from all the seriousness of life... no offense, I can't risk being stressed out too much when I'm having a little life forming inside me. Like my best friends said, "sometimes you have to be selfish, for your sake".

Ingredients: polybutene, ethyl hexyl palmitate, tricontanyl pvp, beeswax, mentha piperita (peppermint oil), menthol, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), persea gratissima (vocado oil), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba oil), saccharin.

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)

Heavenly Body Scrub

I think I've just found one of the most amazing body scrubs I've ever used.

I have to confess that I didn't fall in love with it on the first whiff. My very first thought was, "Oh no, not another coconut smelling product!" It's not the coconut's fault, really. It reminded me of being on a crowded bus in an unnamed country at the height of summer (38-40C). My nose found the mix of everyone's coconut scented sun lotions and heavy perspiration offensive enough to cause dizziness... shudders... Don't get me wrong, I do like coconut smell and I love cooking with coconut oil, I'm not sure why this particularly bad experience came to my mind...

Anyway, back to the original topic. I should stop trying to judge a product by smelling it alone. Like I said, it's actually a superb product. As it turned out, in the shower it smelled more like an Asian sesame seeds dessert-soup, or like sesame ice cream pictured on the left. Just thinking about the smell makes my mouth waters... yum... :D

The scrub bits are just right: not to gentle and not too rough. I also love the texture of the liquid part of the product.

My skin felt super smooth when I came out from the shower. I'm not sure whether it's the scrubby bits or the moisturising agent (or both) that produces the effect. I do wonder if it contains sesame oil/shea butter/sunflower oil/glycerin/a bit of everything.

Why don't I have the ingredients list? Because this product is still in the development process. I'm testing a little sample of this "Heavenly Body Scrub" (that's what it says on the tester bottle) courtesy of Laura from Evolve. There, the cat is out of the bag. :)

I jumped at the chance to test the body scrub when I read the invitation on their newsletter. Mainly because I've read on their webpage that Evolve products are developed by people who were previously involved with product developments at Nude and Elemis! Most of you know that I'm a huge Elemis fan and I love Nude Cleansing Oil, so I had high hopes for Evolve. Hehehe... Suffice to say this body scrub satisfied my high expectation.

Verdict: my "potential HG body scrub" radar is blinking furiously, I can't wait for it to be on sale! I'm shamelessly in love with this product.

I haven't tried other products from Evolve yet, so I can't tell you more about them. As usual, I'm not being paid to write this post, it's purely out of interest. :D

Around The World in Body Washes

Often other things in life gets in the way of blogging, thus my recent absence. I thank God for small mercies and the little things in life that bring smiles to my face. Amongst those: basking in the morning sunshine, enjoying fresh (and cold) autumn weather, watching cute cows in the field, finishing a good book, munching chocolate wafers while reading the said book, wearing my favourite parfume even when I'm just staying at home, and having a lovely shower gel to wash the cares away at the end of the day. :)

I especially value my "Me Time" in the showers. It's like a no-caffeine coffee boost to me, I can't function without it. That's why I'm quite fussy with shower products. Firstly, they have to smell good. Secondly, I like them to be gentle and not drying my skin, even when I take long showers. Thirdly, I like them to foam well. Most importantly, they shouldn't irritate my sensitive skin.

Amongst the best I've found so far:
1. Sanctuary Spa 12-hour Moisturising Shower Cream from UK -read my review here.
2. Refreshing Body Wash from Living Nature, a New Zealand brand I found when living in Auckland some years ago.
3. Pure Innosense Chamomile and Feijoa Shower Gel - another NZ brand I found when living in Australia.

Since then I haven't really found anything else I like. Until recently.

Yesterday I finished a 225ml bottle of A'kin Sandalwood Body Wash, received courtesy of A'kin, an Australian company. The blurb on the bottle: "A'kin body washes use the finest essential oils known for their aromatherapy benefits, combined with the purest non-drying cleansers which are sulfate & paraben free, to leave your skin thoroughly cleansed & silky soft... Also ideal as a bubble bath, in the spa, washing delicates or at the hand basin. Pure & gentle for babies, children, the elderly, and those with sensitive or fragile skin."

It foams well, doesn't dry nor irritate my skin. The light sandalwood scent reminds me of my trips to Bali. I haven't tried it as a bubble bath and I don't have spa, so I can't verify the claim. I did try it to wash my delicates - cleansed them well, leaving them smelling freshly "sandalwood-ed". :)

If you're a regular reader you'd know that I'm always on the prowl for multi-purpose products that work well as I travel quite a bit. This product fits the description. The fact that it's a "natural" product makes me feel even more virtuous.

Verdict: a gentle body wash that has earned it's place in my "shower hall of fame".

So there you go, my around the world in body washes: from UK to New Zealand to Australia, I've done them all! Hehehe... How about you my dear reader, what's your favourite shower products?

Ingredients: Aqua (purified Australian water), cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (from coconut), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (from palm), disodium cocoamphodiacetate (from coconut), sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (from palm), lauryl glucoside (from coconut, palm & glucose), glyceryl laurate (botanical source), glycerin (botanical source), sorbitol (from GMO free maize), sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn), sodium citrate (botanical source), citric acid (botanical source), fusanus spicatus wood (West Australian sandalwood) oil, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, pogostemon cablin oil, syzygium aromaticum (clove) flower oil, farnesol (from sandalwood oil).

A'kin Pure Emergency Gel

I love multi-purpose products as in my travels I can't take too many products with me. Why take many different products if I can carry one that works the same? Based on this principle, I was delighted when I received A'kin Pure Emergency Gel from the lovely people at A'kin.

The blurb: "With aloe, d panthenol (proVitamin B5) and chamomile this oil free formula helps to cool, calm and soothe fragile skin. Also great as a light everyday moisturiser on sensitive, fragile or oily skins, and as an after shave or waxing balm."

I've been using it for about 3 weeks (the time that skin takes to renew itself) and I can say that I wish I had found this product earlier. Before I continue, I'd like to say that I'm not being paid to write this. Rest assured that yours truly hasn't turned into a sold-out blogger (read my other comments here). Free or not free product, I always do my best to write an honest review. Enough said. :)

Back to the Emergency Gel. To start with, lovely trip as it was, pigging out on clotted cream and fudge in Devon and Cornwall wrecked a havoc on my skin. Some angry pimples came out on my cheeks plus one big hormonal pimples on my chin. My skin felt sore and red. Dr. Alkaitis serum that's supposed to tackle inflammation didn't help either.

In my desperation I started slapping A'kin Emergency gel on my skin. I didn't even do a patch test first, which was unusual for me, as I always approach new product with caution. Thankfully it worked! When I woke up the next morning my skin was noticeably less red and less bumpy, the size of my two biggest pimples were much reduced. My skin felt soothed and smoother. I've been applying it every night ever since.

For those who like scented product, don't expect other scent apart from aloe vera smell as this gel is "unscented". The transparent gel feels a little sticky on application, though it doesn't take long for it to disappear into my skin. As a day moisturiser it doesn't grab my mineral foundation, as long as I leave it to dry first before applying makeup. I still prefer to use it in the evenings as I could slather as much gel as I like. Also, I've just started using another A'kin product in the mornings - watch the space for the review.

Is it a miracle product? Not if you're expecting this gel to vacuum the house, do the dishes, and cook for you. :) I think it does what it says: reduces skin redness, soothes and calms my skin, providing the right amount of moisture for my current skin condition. It's also a great gel to use after plucking my eyebrows.

One word of warning: expect a very slight stinging sensation if applied to broken skin. I had tiny "ouch moments" when I tried applying the gel on the cuts from the bicycle incident. Yeah, I'm a chicken...

Verdict: my wonder gel of the moment has made a new A'kin convert out of me.

Ingredients: Aqua (purified Australian water), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (20%), panthenol (pro Vit B5) (5%), sorbitol (from GMO free maize), glycerin (botanical source), sclerotium gum, mannitol (and) ammonium glycyrrhizate (and) caffeine (and) zinc gluconate (and) aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) extract, sodium ethylhexylglycerin, sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn), chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract.

Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator

I've been using Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator on and off since 2004. It's a product that I always come back to everytime my skin needs gentle exfoliation. It's especially good for those times when my fussy skin turns more sensitive and looks more rubbish than usual.

Let's see, what do I love most about it? The rosy scent, the rounded spheres that exfoliates without scratching my tender skin. I find that it works very well as a morning cleanser, too.

Overall, my experience agree with what Elemis says: "Hydrating Absolute of Moroccan Rose and smooth micro-spherical Jojoba beads very gently exfoliate, leaving skin silky soft to the touch. Gentle enough to be used daily, Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator is a subtly fragranced gel exfoliator, ideal for all complexions, including the most sensitive."

It's always a good thing when a product really does what it says. Needless to say I've re-purchased it numerous times, I can't remember a time living without it. I even took some with me when I lived in New Zealand and Australia (prior to Elemis' launch in OZ). :)

Verdict: my only dependable gentle exfoliator. Another winner from one of my favourite skincare brands.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Jojoba Esters, PEG/PPG-14/4 Dimethicone, Polysorbate 20, Rosa Damascena Flower Absolute, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Carbomer, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Tromethamine, Sodium PCA, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Red 4 (Cl 14700), Methylisothiazolinone.

I've Found My HG Hair Conditioner!

I know I'm on to a very good thing when I managed to finish up a 500ml bottle of product AND used it consistently for 9 months straight without switching to other brand. It's an impressive feat for a product because I normally like to try different products to make sure I'm not missing out on anything out there. :)

It's even more impressive because it's a "natural" product that's "vegan, using certified organic ingredients where possible, 100% natural botanical aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing."

So here it is: my long hair is loving Al'chemy Macadamia & Wheat Protein Treatment Conditioner. It's supposed to be for "damaged hair & split ends or intensive care". My hair is fairly normal with only a tiny bit of split ends, I use the conditioner every time I wash my hair (2-3 times/week) - I suppose it counts as intensive care in that matter.

Personally I find that this conditioner does everything it says on this blurb: "The ultimate deeply repairing hair treatment combining cold pressed Australian macadamia oil to nourish the scalp and hair. The conditioner contains 2% wheat protein to help repair hair follicles and eliminate tangles. Your hair retains moisture, is revitalized and silky smooth."

I love the practical pump bottle as I don't like fiddling around with bottle tops in the shower. The yummy cardamom smell enhances my hair washing experience immensely.

Overall I'm very pleased with this beautiful find from my previous life in OZ. Thankfully it's also available in UK (as A'kin, not Al'chemy - not sure why) so I don't need to have withdrawal symptoms. :)

Verdict: I think I've found my Holy Grail hair conditioner! Enough said.

Ingredients: Aqua (purified Australian water), glycerin (botanical source), behentrimonium methosulfate (from GMO free rapeseed) (and) cetearyl alcohol (botanical source), hydrolyzed wheat protein (GMO free), macadamia ternifolia seed oil (cold pressed Australian grown), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil (cold pressed Australian grown), soy lecithin (GMO free), glyceryl laurate (botanical source), sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn), potassium sorbate, citric acid (botanical source), fusanus spicatus wood (West Australian sandalwood) oil, cedrus atlantica (cedarwood) bark oil, lecithin (and) tocopherol (and) ascorbyl palmitate (and) hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate, elettaria cardamomum seed oil, syzygium atomaticum (clove) flower oil.

GROWN Damask Rose, Black Pepper & Sage Shampoo

GROWN Damask Rose, Black Pepper & Sage Shampoo is another fabulous buy from my OZ stint. I've been using it for about 8 months now.

I almost gave this shampoo away as the first few times of using it I didn't like it, I couldn't get the shampoo to foam properly. I'm glad I decided to keep it. After trials and errors, I discovered that applying it on very wet hair produces plenty of foam.

Here's how I would normally use it: use 2 pumps to begin with, gently massaging it into the hair and scalp, rinse well, then repeat with another 2 pumps before rinsing everything away. My hair feel much softer and lighter when I do it this way.

I also use it to wash my makeup brushes to keep the natural hair soft. I have to remember not to use too much shampoo, otherwise my brushes feel too soft! :)

The gorgeous geranium scent reminds me of it's "sister" from the same brand: Geranium leaf, Bergamot and Rose-bud facial cleanser. The chic pump bottle is recyclable - LOVE!

Verdict: a good organic shampoo that keeps my hair soft, making my hair (and the bathroom) smelling gorgeous afterwards.

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract (and) Matricaria Recutita (Camomile) Flower Extract (and) Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (and) Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract (and) Solanum Centrale (Bush Tomato) Fruit Extract (and) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Vegetable), Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Rosa Damascena (Rose Absolute) Flower Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20 (Vegetable), Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil, Salvi Sclrea (Clary Sage) Oil, Phenoxyethanol Citral (Vegetable), Geraniol (Vegetable), Citronellol (Vegetble), Linlool, Limonene (Vegetable), Sodium Hydroxymethyglycinate (Vegetable), Caramel (Vegetable).

Nude Skincare

My review of Nude Skincare is based on my short-term experience in using 3ml size sent by the kind people at Nude. As usual, clicking on the product name will bring you straight to the relevant webpage, which also has the ingredients list. :)

Cleansing Facial Oil - This nicely scented facial oil works well to dissolve all my make-up, including waterproof mascara, so it gets a thumbs up from me. It's very easy to use: "Warm between hands and massage onto dry face. Apply warm water to form a light milk and rinse clean." See what I mean, it's easier to use than Bloom's Nuts About You. My combination/oily skin seems to like it though it's supposed to be "For normal to dry skins." My skin is acne-prone, so after cleansing with the oil I would do another cleansing with my normal facial cleanser, in case the oil residue stays on and cause acne.

Cleansing Facial Wash - This foaming facial wash is supposed to "effectively removes make-up and pollution leaving skin immaculately clean." I have to say it didn't remove all my make-up completely even when I double-cleansed. So I ended up using it as the 2nd part double-cleansing (after cleansing my face with the facial oil) and as a morning cleanser on it's own. The texture and scent reminded me so much of She Cleanser (my old HG cleanser). The difference: my skin felt a little tight after using Nude facial wash, that's why I'm not really in love with it.

Clarifying Water - The instruction says that it's "not suitable for very sensitive skins." I really wanted the to work for me as it contains rosa damascena flower water, so I tried it anyway. Unfortunately my skin reacted to it, perhaps my skin doesn't like the "BHA from willow bark". So this product is probably more suitable for people with less sensitive skin.

Deep Cleansing Mask - This mask comes in the form of mousse with tiny grains (organic burity?) in it. "Smooth onto cleansed, dry skin twice a week, after 10 minutes, remove by massaging gently with warm water." My skin felt smoother after application, possibly due to the glycerin and shea butter. I wasn't so keen on the scent though.

Hibiscus Monoi - The gorgeous scent of this Hibiscus scented coconut oil reminds me so much of my old-time favourite Elemis Monoi Melt. In my opinion Nude Hibiscus Monoi wins hands down as the oil is lighter and more easily absorbed by my skin. It worked well as a body moisturiser, keeping my skin nice and smooth. I enjoyed the lingering scent of the oil, as if I was wearing a perfumed body lotion. The oil has the tendency to solidify in cooler weather, just like normal coconut oil. Which isn't a problem as it turns into liquid again on direct contact with the skin.

Verdict: Hibiscus Monoi and Cleansing Facial Oil are on my must-have list now.

Unfortunately the moisturiser dried up in it's packaging, so I can't tell you much about it apart from the lovely scent I could smell when I cut the packaging open. :)

The CrazySticks: Solid Perfume in A Stick

Being on the move quite a bit doesn't always go well with my love of perfumes. Especially after airlines started to limit your on-board liquid allowance, I'm always in a dilemma as to which perfumes I'd take with me. Granted I have travel size/miniature bottles of my most favourites (Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, Lancome Magnifique, and Bvlgary). Like all liquids, leaking is always a possibility. Sure, I can always take solid perfumes, but they're quite difficult to find as not everyone does them. Currently I have none, nil, zilch, nada solid ones in my possession.

So I'm overjoyed when I found out that Crazylibellule has "Crazy Stick: Solid Perfume in A Stick". What a good idea! I can carry one (or two, or perhaps three?) in my handbag. I mean, if some girls are carrying more than one lip product in their bag, surely I'm allowed to carry more than one perfume sticks with me. Not being a lip-addict = more perfume space in the bag. :)

Take a look at pictures of the pretty packaging I've stucked all-over this post, aren't they chic!

No paraben? I like! The next time I'm in the big smoke (= London) I'm going to Fenwick to check the scents out! :)

Edit: since I wrote this I found out that apparently they contain petrolatum and paraffin, which might be of concern to some people. I'm not a die-hard "naturalist" and I'm still not sure about my stand with petrolatum as I've read many conflicting things written about it. For now if the scent is good enough I'd still be interested to try it, petrolatum or non-petrolatum. Sadly I didn't have time to go to Fenwick on my last trip to the big smoke. (20/09/09)

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I've been using Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream on and off in the past year. Sometimes I forget to use it and only run to it when my cuticles starting to look "thirsty". This non-greasy cream works wonders for my cuticles, it even softens and moisturises the thick and dry cuticles on my feet!

The cute tin is handy, perfect for handbag or on the (already crowded) bedside table. The instruction says to "massage into and around nails nightly". Personally I use it anytime I like, doesn't have to be before bed time.

I love the strong lemon scent, the moisturising property, and the fact that Burt's Bees products state how many percent of the ingredients are naturally derived. It's also Natural Products Association Certified. Needless to say I included a tin of this cuticle cream in a gift parcel I sent to my sister on her last birthday.

The only thing I don't love: the cream makes my toes itched whenever I use too much of it. To avoid this problem, I find that the key is to use it sparingly. If I just run my index finger over the balm, this amount is enough to cover 5 fingers (or 5 toes) in a go.

Verdict: a trusty cuticle cream.

Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, beeswax, lemon oil, cocoa butter, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), candelilla wax, sunflower oil, rosemary leaf extract, tocopherol (vitamin E), beta carotene, vegetable oil.

* I'm not sure why the ingredients list on my tin is different from the one on their webpage here.

Badger Balm Sore Muscle Rub

It must have been an inspired moment when I bought Badger Balm Sore Muscle Rub (Original Blend) before I contracted Swine Flu.

I've never used this particular muscle rub before, so I was a little disappointed when I didn't feel a strong heat on my skin right after I apply it. The warmth came out slower as a comforting heat that doesn't give stinging sensations on my skin. Despite my initial reservations, I'm happy to say that it has been working well to soothe my sore muscles.

I love the exotic scent of this balm, reminds me of my travels in the Far East. I have to confess that the particular smell of cardamom and lemongrass made me feel a bit hungry at times. :)

I love the fact it's USDA Certified Organic. The cute graphic on the tin makes me love it even more.

Verdict: it's definitely a keeper.

Ingredients: Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor Oil), Cera Alba (Beeswax), Capsicum Frutescens (Cayenne) Extract, Essential Oils of Zingiber Officinale (Ginger), Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom), Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass), Rosmarinus Officanalis (Rosemary), Thymus Mustichina (Wild Marjoram), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) and CO2 Extracts of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) & Rosa Canina (Rosehip).

GROWN Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream

I've joined GQ in trying to finish up "old" products first before buying a new one. Amongst other things, I've nearly finished my tube of GROWN Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream.

So far I don't have anything I don't like from this hand cream.

Here are my thoughts on it:

- LOVE the subtly refreshing orange scent. I can't stop smelling my hands everytime I use it.

- It's non-greasy (like it said on the packaging) = I could go back to whatever I'm doing as soon as I've finished applying the cream. In fact, I'm using the hand cream as I'm typing this. :)

- It makes my hands & cuticles feel softer and moisturised for longer than other brands I've tried. IMO it's even better than my favourite L'Occitane hand creams.

- If you look at the ingredients list, it contains so many different natural oils = I like!

- The packaging reminds me so much of Aesop = chic packaging.

Verdict: It's positively my HG hand cream. When I've finished this tube, can someone in OZ please send me some more? Please? PLEASE?!

Here's the blurb on the tube: "This non-greasy formulation of moisturising active botanicals, naturally soothes and softens dry undernourished hands and cuticles. Bio Active Ingredients: Antioxidants from grape seed, wheatgerm and rose hip oil protect against free radical damage and boost the skin’s natural protective function. Rose Hip and Camellia Seed Oil increase the skin’s lipid content which helps to restore moisture levels & enhances the skin’s natural moisture retaining capability."

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Extract, Prunis Amygdulis Dulcis (Sweet Almod) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol (Vegetable), Ceteareth-20 (Vegetable), Glycerin (Vegetable), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Camellia Sinensis (Camellia) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Seed) Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed (Grapeseed Oil), Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil, Rosa Moschata (Rose Hips) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheatgerm) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (Vegetable), Glycine Soka (Soyabean) Oil, Sesamum Indicumm (Sesame) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota (Carrot) Root Extract, Tocopherol (Vegetable), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn Berry) Oil, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Vegetable), Phenoxyethanol Lactic Acid (Nature Identical), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Absolute, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Vanilin (Vegetable), Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Oil, Limonene (Vegetable), Linalool (Vegetable), Citronellol (Vegetable), Geraniol (Vegetable).

Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub

It has been about three years since I last used the Sanctuary Spa Body Scrub. I couldn't remember exactly what the scrub was like. Suffice to say I felt obliged to get it for "research" purposes. :)

"A gentle, exfoliating gel body scrub that can be used daily to rejuvenate, refine and smooth skin. Fragrant Patchouli, Orange Oil and natural Pumice work together to leave skin awakened, invigorated and sublimely soft with a natural glow."

The pumice grains (from "frothy volcanic rock") are gentle but effective enough to get rid of dead skin. It leaves my skin softer, though I can't see any "natural glow".

Like the rest of my favourite Sanctuary Spa products, it leaves a lingering gorgeous scent on my skin AND in the bathroom - very Spa-at-home feel.

Verdict: a lightly scented body scrub that does it's job. I'm happy with it, though it might be too gentle for people who are more used to a "rougher" body scrub.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Sodium laureth sulfate, Glycerin, Polyethylene, Pumice, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Triethylene glycol, Benzyl alcohol, Propylene glycol, Magnesium nitrate, Magnesium chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Hexyl cinnamal, Benzyl benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl salicylate, Cl 15985 (Yellow 6), Cl 16035 (Red 40)

Sanctuary Spa Body Milk Spray

"This refreshingly light milk spray quickly soothes and hydrates dry skin and leaves it delicately scented. Softening Milk Proteins are infused with nourishing Rosehip Seed and Sunflower Oils, calming Chamomile and protective Vitamin E for an instant all over moisturising boost."

The above blurb sucked me to buy Sanctuary Spa Body Milk Spray, hoping it would help to soothe my AC skin.

I love spray version of anything! This one makes it easier to moisturise the harder to reach parts of my body. After spraying I just have to massage my skin in circular motions to make sure everything is properly absorbed.

It's quite a good moisturising product, keeping the dryness at bay. Like mentioned before, I love the classic Sanctuary Spa scent anyway, so I love the scent. I don't really like the slightly greasy feel on my skin right after application. Thankfully the oily feel subsided as time goes by.

Verdict: lovely product, though I wish it could feel less oily upon application. Perhaps the oil needs a little time to be absorbed into the skin

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Coco-caprylate/caprate, Glyceryl stearate, Ceteareth-20, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium lactate, Cetyl palmitate, Cetearyl alcohol, Ceteareth-12, Phenoxyethanol Rosa canina (Rosehip) fruit oil, Tocopheryl acetate, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylenen glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Lactic acid, Glucose, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) flower extract, Butylenen glycol, Hydrolyzed milk protein, Sodium hydroxide, Caramel, Sodium benzoate, Sodium citrate, Glycine, Potassium sorbate, Bisabolol, Hexyl cinnamal, Benzyl benzoate, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl salicylate, Coumarin, Citral.

Sanctuary Spa 12 - Hour Moisturising Shower Cream

Some Christmases ago I received a big bag full of Sanctuary Spa goodies from hubby. Since then I've been a big fan. I even "smuggled" some amongst our household goods shipment when we moved to NZ and OZ. Now that we're back in UK I've started collecting/using them again. So far I'm sticking to their classic fragrance as it was my favourite. I might try their other fragrances once I've finished my current "loot" (hubby's word for my skincare/beauty stuffs).

12 - Hour Moisturising Shower Cream is supposed to "Cleanse, soften and lock in moisture for 12 hours with nourishing shea butter, softening sunflower oil and protective vitamin E".

At the moment it's my most favourite shower cream. Firstly, because it doesn't irritate nor dry out my AC skin (yup: After Chickenpox still...). Secondly, because I love the beautiful scent - reminds me of spa treatments on exotic holidays. Thirdly, because even though it contains sunflower seed oil and shea butter, it doesn't leave a messy/oily gloop allover the bath after I've had my shower. Fourthly, because it's an affordable luxurious treat, perfect for credit crunch time. :)

Verdict: it's no. 1 on my list of "favourite shower things". Fussy me is still in love with Sanctuary Spa products, definitely!

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil, Sodium trideceth sulfate, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Glycerin, Sodium chloride, Sodium lauroamphoacetate, Cocamide MEA, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopheryl acetate, Guar gum, Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Citric acid, Benzyl salicylate, Linalool, Benzyl benzoate, Hexyl cinnamal, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium nitrate, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium chloride.

GROWN Geranium Leaf, Bergamot & Rose-bud Facial Cleanser

Recently I've been missing Australia in a big way.

Amongst many things, I miss:

- my friends.

- breathing fresh air tinged with Eucalyptus scents in Perth.

- Vegemite: it's better than Marmite, without a doubt! :)

- walking around Swan River and King's Park.

- firework displays on Swan River.

- the carefree lifestyle.

- the fabulous range of natural products available for sale there.

The other day hubby found a bottle of GROWN Geranium Leaf, Bergamot and Rose-bud Facial Cleanser in one of our many boxes in the storage place. I was so excited, it was like finding a long lost treasure! (Well, almost...)

Not only it's gentle to my AC skin (After Chickenpox, in case you forget. Hehe...), the beautiful scent helps me to relax and forget about my trouble for a moment. The instruction on the bottle says to "gently rubs between hands, massage onto face". Most of the time I apply the cleanser neat onto my face, with a tiny bit of water to make massaging easier. Adding more water creates more foams. I always do double cleansing to make sure that all traces of my mineral powder all gone from my face.

Verdict: it's gentle, it smells gorgeous, it works. What more do I want? (Magically being flown back to OZ... LOL... )

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betain (Vegetable), Decyl Glucoside (Vegetable), PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate (Vegetable), Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate (Vegetable), Phenoxyethanol Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Rosa Damascena (Rose Absolute) Flower Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Oil, Polysorbate 20 (Vegetable), Citral (Vegetable), Geraniol (Vegetable), Citronellol (Vegetable), Linalool (Vegetable), Limonene (Vegetable), Caramel (Vegetable).

Bloom Nuts About You

I try to eat and use more "natural" products whenever possible, within reason. Now that I'm recovering from chicken pox I'm trying to use more gentle products so as not to irritate my tender skin.

I've heard good things about Bloom, one of Australian brands I encountered while living in OZ. Some people thought their products are all "natural". I have to say that I didn't find this to be the case when I spent some time looking at the ingredients lists. For example, Bloom's sunscreen contains "chemicals" that aren't "natural".

From the ingredients list I could say that Bloom Nuts About You is one of their more "natural" products. I'm not sure why on the bottle it's called "Sweet Almond Cleansing Oil" when the first ingredient is actually Safflower Seed Oil. There are more expensive cleansers from other brands that contain Safflower Oil (supposed to be a very good cleansing oil), so I was quite happy to use this more affordable option.

The subtext said: "Farewell make-up and cleanse skin with one smooth swipe of this natural nutty oil." I find that it removes eye makeup and sunscreen easily enough. But it doesn't work well enough to remove mineral powder and waterproof mascaras, I need to work extra hard to remove them.

I love the gorgeous scent: orange, tangerine, and lavender oil lend a luxury feel to this oil cleanser.

The bottle I have looks slightly different than the picture here. Mine has white pump on top of the silver bit, twisting the pump to the left and right opens and closes the bottle: very convenient. Though I still put mine inside ziplock bag when I'm travelling, in case it leaks - which happened once. And if anyone is curious, yes, I'm still living out of a suitcase at the moment...

Anyway, here's the directions on the bottle: "Pour a small amount of oil into the palm of your hand and apply all over your face including the eye area. Using a damp cloth or cotton pad, wipe away make-up. Rinse with warm water and pat dry for an amazing finish."

I find that using too much of this oil cleanser could cause break outs on my face, so use sparingly if you have combination-acne prone skin like me.

Verdict: a good oil cleanser with yummy scent, to be used sparingly if your skin type is similar to mine.

For the benefit of my OZ readers, this cleanser is "Made in Australia from local and imported products".

Ingredients: Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (Prunus Dulcis), Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil (Citrus Dulcis), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower.