Multimasking - Featuring Plant apothecary and Elde

The festive season, wonderful as it is, can really take a toll on your skin. As someone who doesn't usually drink, that prosecco on Christmas day has been awful for my skin. Dry flaky patches and a little bit dull looking, not a great look. 

Happy Holidays - See you in the New Year!

I can't believe how quickly Christmas Eve has come round this year, it has been a total whirlwind and so busy and exciting.

New in: Yogi Tea Turmeric Chai #GoldenMoments

**This post is sponsored by Yogi Tea**

At this time of year we are all a little bit frazzled from the lead up to the holiday season and our immune system needs a warming boost. It is also the perfect time to reflect on the year, all the good things and what we are looking forward to for the year ahead.

Budget beauty: Burt's Bees lip product review

I often get asked for affordable natural make up recommendations and Burt's Bees is one of my go to brands for accessible products that won't break the bank. The brand is widely available across the US and Europe, I can find these products on the high-street and they also have a nice range of shades and finishes. 

Boxwalla - A Brief History of Timeless Things

My December Boxwalla box arrived a couple of days ago and I had to go and get it from the sorting office yesterday. I am always really excited to receive these boxes, they are so beautifully put together, with interesting brands and products. 

Beatitude Peace Pillow Spray

I think most people would agree that the name Peace is perfect for a pillow spray like this one from aromatherapy brand beatitude, after all I think we could all do with an extra dose of peace, especially at this time of year. 

Five lessons blogging taught me about skincare

I have been writing this blog consistently for well over five years now, in that time I have tried hundreds if not thousands of products and whilst I would never consider myself an expert I have definitely learnt some lessons about skincare in that time. I am expecting next year to be a year where I learn a lot more, but I thought it would be interesting to reflect on some of the key things I have learnt so far. 

The Benefits of Rosehip oil - Featuring Rio Rosa Mosqueta discovery set (sponsored)

**This post is  sponsored by Rio Rosa Mosqueta**

Rosehip oil is one of my favourite plant oils for use on my skin. Packed with omega fatty acids and antioxidants, it helps repair, protect and replenish the skin. It's an ingredient that has been used centuries across different civilisations, including by the Egyptians. 

Holland and Barrett becomes the first retailer to ban microplastics

I have been watching the evolution of natural beauty on the high street for some time and it has become more obvious to me that stores are either wholeheartedly embracing the changes in the consumer tide or lagging behind.

Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton range review

Now that I have been writing about beauty consistently for over five years, it is always fun to go back and revisit brands I have spoken about previously. In this case the brand Beauty Kitchen which I reviewed shortly after it first launched. Beauty Kitchen have gone from strength to strength in the last few years, securing a presence on the British high-street with their partnership with Holland and Barrett. 

Wonderoos cloth nappy review: Real Easy and V3 Pocket nappy

We have been testing a few nappies from Wonderoos for last six months now, so it's definitely time I weighed in with my thoughts. We absolutely love testing new cloth nappy options and use reusable nappies full time, day and night. Having a longer testing period means I can weigh in on longevity and how well the nappies last, something important when making an investment in reusables.

Neek skin organics vegan lipstick review

Neek is a vegan and natural range based in Australia that was founded by Angelique, her nickname as a child was Neek, because for a toddler Angelique is a bit of a mouthful. Angelique also had an allergy to parabens, so she started exploring making her own products and so Neek was born. The range is a relatively small one, but it has some skincare and a range of natural and vegan lipsticks. 

New in: AS Apothecary Wild Beauty Balm Concentrate

It has been a while since I have spoken about AS Apothecary and a lot has happened for the brand since my last review. AS Apothecary was founded by Amanda Saurin, with a background working with homeopathy and herbal remedies, the brand is an extension of Amanda's years of knowledge and experience creating a unique small batch distillery, making balms, creams, lotions and fragrance.

Tropic Skincare Lip Glaze review

If you love a gloss, I have some very pretty shades to share with you from Tropic skincare. I have written about Tropic before quite a few times, the brand is all cruelty free and vegan but also uses a lot of natural ingredients. If you don't know anything about the brand, it was founded my Susan Ma, a former Apprentice contestant who grew up in Australia, inspiring her love for botanicals and plant actives. 

Little Known box review

The last beauty box review for the year and this time it is all about cruelty free subscription service Little Known box. The aims showcasing new, emerging and Indie brands including those that are natural, organic and with free-from credentials. Little Known Box also launched their first vegan edition in October too. 

Brand Overview - Pai Skincare the sensitive skin experts

I have a new brand overview for you, this time from one of my all time favourite skincare brands Pai Skincare. I discovered Pai shortly after I started exploring natural and organic beauty brands, before this blog began and it has easily been one of my most repurchased over the years. 

New in: Willowberry Skincare

There have been some fantastic new launches lately and Willowberry skincare is definitely one of my favourites. I have known Jenni, the founder of Willowberry for some time now through her work in the beauty industry and I was both surprised and excited to receive an email letting me know she had created her own line. 

Cowley Manor C-Side Spa launch new pregnancy and postnatal treatments

Cowley Manor is a stunning Hotel and Spa based in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. Last week saw the award winning C-Side spa launch a new treatment menu designed specifically for pregnancy and the post-natal period and I was kindly invited to the launch to experience the treatments for myself.

The Yogi Tea #7Minuteschallenge (Sponsored)

**This post is sponsored by Yogi Tea**

Life is hectic and it can be a challenge to find time for ourselves. As a busy, work from home mum, I try to incorporate short moments in to my day to rest, focus or even pamper myself. These small moments of calm have become even more important since I had my second child, life with a toddler can be full on, so I need to find small ways to reset and unwind. For this reason I am delighted to team up with Ayurvedic tea brand Yogi Tea to bring you one of my favourite pamper routines in their #7Minuteschallenge. Read all about the challenge on the Yogi Tea Blog. 

Christmas Gift guide - Gift sets, stocking fillers and home fragrance

It's that time of year again when we all start to think about which Christmas jumper to wear, what drink to have with our Christmas dinner and what to buy for Grandma who has absolutely everything. I loving putting the annual gift guides together, they are really fun to do and I hope you find some ideas for things to buy for others or to buy for yourself. My favourite part of these gift guides is showcasing natural and ethical brands, there is an amazing amount of choice and it means you can  choose something that not everyone will have. 

Aromatherapy Associates Miniature bath and shower oil collection

When I think of Aromatherapy brands, Aromatherapy Associates is one of the pioneering names that springs to mind. With a great variety of blends and classic packaging. 

New in: Ezápé Naturals

A new brand that has come my way is Ezápé naturals. Launched by Vanessa, a beauty therapist and Mum with a passion for health and beauty, Vanessa started formulating products to help her little girl with her eczema. The products are simple formulas made with high quality natural and organic ingredients lists. 

The Formula Botanica conference 2017

Last weekend I was invited to attend the Formula Botanica conference in central London. Formula Botanica is an online accredited organic cosmetic science school run by Director Lorraine Dallmeier. I have known Lorraine online for some time and last year she kindly invited me to be a speaker at the conference, talking to the students and graduates about beauty blogging and how to work with bloggers, which was a fantastic experience.

Gift ideas with UncommonGoods (Sponsored)

(This post is kindly sponsored by UncommonGoods)

Finding ethical gifts isn't always easy. That's why I am really pleased to have discovered UncommonGoods, a website dedicated to making gifting more sustainable.

Weleda Wild Rose creamy body wash and Cream bath

Usually at this time of year I turn to my favourite Weleda scent which is Pomegranate. Pomegranate has a slight warm undertone to the scent, think vanilla and blood oranges, comforting but still fresh and fruity. But lately I have also been reaching for Wild Rose, slightly more delicate, floral but with a gorgeous slightly spicy undertone.

Brand Focus: Inika mineral make up, vegan, cruelty free and organic

Inika is one of my absolute favourite organic, mineral make up brands. I have been a customer for around eight years and many of their products are make up bag favourites. Inika is one of the best mineral make up brands I have found with gorgeous clean ingredients lists and impeccable quality, they are also certified vegan, cruelty free, halal and organic. Recently the brand has been bringing out lots of new products and they have also had a bit of a make over so I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about my collection!

Boxwalla beauty box - Recap and favourites

Recently I have been a little out sync with posting the reviews of the Boxwalla beauty boxes, even though I have been posting about them on social media, I wanted to recap the boxes I have received in the last six months and some of my favourite discoveries from the boxes. For anyone new to Boxwalla it is a bi-monthly subscription service covering, food, film, books and beauty (you choose which one you would like) that is based in the USA. Each of the boxes is themed and sneak previews are posted on the Boxwalla social media channels, so if you are curious I highly recommend following them, especially on Instagram.

Tisserand Collaborates with CoppaFeel

I spotted this charity collaboration from one of my favourite brands Tisserand and I felt it was definitely worthy of a share. The brand has developed the Support range in collaboration with the breast cancer charity CoppaFeel.

New in: A'kin Weightless Rosehip oil

Australian brands have a history of doing natural very well indeed and A'kin is a fantastic example of this. A'kin provide a great selection, consistent quality and value for money. It is also a brand I have used for a long time and have bit of a fondness for, their recent rebrand brings the look bang up to date but they are still providing the same great formulas we know and love.

Best of Beauty Advent calendars 2017

I have to confess I love the idea of beauty advent calendars, just like beauty boxes, the excitement of opening up a daily treat in the run up to Christmas really appeals to me. This year there is a really interesting selection of advent calendars on the market, so I have chosen some of my favourites to share with you, in case you want to indulge!

New in: Tisserand Essential oils

I am big fan of using aromatherapy oils in my home, whether it's for scent, their therapeutic properties or in my beauty routine. I have my diffuser on most days and I love trying different essential oils blends with different brands as I do find this is one area where choosing a good quality, trusted brand pays off. Essential oils can be adulterated and sold as the real thing, so it is important to shop wisely. 

Herbfarmacy Enriching body oil - The perfect Winter skin treat

If you have dry skin and struggle to find body products that are heavy duty enough to tackle it, then this post has something of a hidden gem for you. I have written many times about my love for Herbfarmacy as a brand, their home-grown, organic formulas are perfect for natural beauty lovers and the effectiveness and quality keeps me coming back to them time after time.

New In: ByBi Beauty (By Beauty Insiders)

Today's brand is one to watch in the natural beauty space, ByBi Beauty, which stands for By Beauty Insiders is brought to you by Elsie and Dominika who are also founders of Clean Beauty Co, authors and co-organisers of Clean Cult. I have had the pleasure of meeting Elsie and Dominika on several occasions and I am always impressed by just how much they seem to cram in to their schedule!

Ere Perez Versatile Vanilla Higlighter

I think there has been lot's of great natural and organic skincare options for sometime, but the most exciting developments are happening in make up which has always been a little bit behind the mainstream beauty market. Ere Perez is a brand I have mentioned previously and I have been really impressed with the quality of the products on offer, the Rice powder blush is one of my favourites, such a pretty colour (See it reviewed here).

Neal's Yard remedies Wild Rose hand cream

Although October in the UK has been quite unseasonably warm, winter is most definitely on its way and with that comes dry and chapped skin. A good gentle hand cream is a year round staple for me, my hands have a tendency to be irritated and dry so keeping the skin supple and nourished is a priority. This time of year it becomes even more important. 

Lavera Skincare and Make up review

When I think of the pioneers of natural beauty Lavera is one of the names of that instantly springs to mind. The brand has been creating natural beauty products for over twenty five years and was founded by Thomas Haase in Germany. The Lavera line is quite extensive and covers skincare, body care and make up. Similar to another natural beauty staple Weleda, Lavera also hold the NATRUE symbol on it's products certifying them to natural and/or organic standards. I have written before about the NATRUE symbol (here) and it is a certification that I actively look for on my products.

New in: Scienea natural serums (Sponsored)

(This post is kindly sponsored by Scienea)

I have an exciting new brand to share with you today. Scienea has recently launched on to the  natural beauty market and is brought to you by Amphora Aromatics, specialists in aromatherapy products and botanical ingredients.

Big business and the ethical brand buyouts - Bad news for ethical consumers?

The trend for larger corporations buying up smaller, independent businesses has created something of a social media storm in recent months and it is a shift that shows no signs of slowing down. In an era where customers can have a visible and direct conversation with brands through social media platforms such as Facebook, this is resulting in a lot of unhappy feedback, some of it incredibly vocal. It would seem that for many consumers who are driven by company ethics, this is an unwelcome development.

M&J Ethical Luxury Larkin candle

If like me to are clinging on helplessly to the thought of summer, this candle from M&J Ethical luxury is the perfect scent to take you seamlessly in to the cooler months whilst still reminiscing of warmer times.

Antipodes Lipstick review

Antipodes are a natural beauty brand that has been around for some time, well known for it's effective products that offer great value for money. The brand comes from New Zealand and founder Elizabeth Barbalich uses the tag line "Scientifically validated skincare" to describe the brands natural led approach that focuses on achieving results.

Natural Beauty Box - Queen of the Nile edition

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know I have long been a fan of natural beauty boxes. They are a fun way to discover new products and expand your beauty horizons. When it comes to beauty boxes with a natural focus, there are a small handful on the market that fit the bill and today I am bringing you a review of the July Natural Beauty box which had a theme of Queen of the Nile, which was perfect for summer.

New in: W3LL People Nudist multi-use duo

I have bought a few make up items lately that I wanted to share with you. I find myself reaching more and more for items that are as easy as possible, I got out of the habit of wearing make up after having baby number two but it's something I am trying to change and get back in to a more normal routine.

Beauty Basics: Trevarno Rose and Jojoba soap

Bar soaps were once thought of as a little old fashioned, but with more people paying attention to packaging waste and looking for gentle options on the skin soap is very much making a comeback.

Ingredients focus: Cucumber in natural beauty

I distinctly remember my first proper skincare routine and skincare purchases. I was around the age of fourteen and my mum took me to the Body Shop and bought me a cucumber cleanser and toner. I remember the large green plastic bottles and the fact that the sales assistant did a little mini demonstration telling me how use them, including telling me to wipe off the cleanser with a cotton pad. I laugh now at the cotton pad advice but my Mum was never a beauty enthusiast the way I am, she slept in her make up and wasn't fussy about products, so no one taught me how to cleanse properly. In fact that is something I didn't really start doing consistently until I started blogging.

Interview with Lorraine Dallmeier of Formula Botanica

The natural and organic beauty industry is thriving, with natural brands now sold in major retailers and being featured in glossy magazines such as Vogue. What started out as a niche movement has developed real traction over the last few years, with consumers taking a real interest in botanical ingredients. The rapid growth of the industry means that it is more important than ever to seek out trusted voices for information.

New in: Hynt Beauty Duet perfecting Concealer review

When it comes to natural and organic make up products I feel that overall there is still a lot of catching up to do with skincare. Make up is much harder to formulate without silicones, mineral oils and other synthetics, that's not to say there aren't good products, but we are still a long way behind the industry in general. I have been a fan of mineral powder formulas for years, they work well for me, but I do get excited when I find a cream formula that is well made and stands up to some of it's conventional counterparts.

Tried and tested: Beauty Bust Oil by Laboratoire du Haut-Segala

I usually don't buy in to body treatments that are targeting a specific area, instead choosing multi-purpose nourishing products that can be used wherever needed, but there are some exceptions. After two babies and many months of breastfeeding, I have noticed that my bust and chest area was looking a little more dry than usual and with some fine lines starting to form. Having never tried a product specifically formulated for the bust area, I thought it was certainly worth investigating.

Family Fun: The Just So Festival

A weekend packed full of fun, mystery and a touch of magic. That is the Just So Festival, a family friendly weekend held at Rode Hall in Cheshire. The festival is ran by Wild Rumpus, a not-for-profit community interest programme dedicated to supporting the arts. This is our second year attending the festival and we loved every minute of it.

Tried and tested - Weleda natural spray and roll on deodorants

One of the products I get asked about more than any other is deodorant. For many people finding a natural deodorant that works well for them is a struggle. Something I always disliked about most deodorants found on supermarket shelves was the scents, they tend to be largely synthetic and not all that pleasant, so personally I find natural deodorants much more pleasant to use.

The simplicity of one ingredient with SW Basics

I deeply admire anyone who can successfully grow their beauty business with a less is more approach. In today's market where there are a huge amount of brands constantly fighting for our attention it's refreshing to see a brand stick to a back to basics philosophy and not deviate from their ethos.