Organic Wednesday - Elemental Herbology

A couple of months ago, I was lucky enough to meet with, and have a facial from, the lovely Madhvi at Elemental Herbology, and I was delighted by the results at the time.  I was so delighted that I've been trying to replicate the results ever since with this little kit here.

About the company:

"Elemental Herbology was founded by Kristy Goodger, a spa consultant with over 10 years of practical, ‘hands-on’ experience in treating clients, developing spa treatments and operating and designing spas. Combining her outstanding knowledge of herbal medicine with Oriental physiology and pathology, Kristy worked with a leading cosmetic laboratory to develop Elemental Herbology."

In a nutshell, Elemental Herbology believe that as the seasons change, so should your skincare, and, to that end, they provide both a "cooling, calming" summer range of facial and body products, and a "repairing, hydrating" of winter products.  I do, very often find myself having to switch moisturisers once or twice throughout the year, and sometimes, I find the switching of brands irritates my stupidly sensitive skin, and it's nice to know there's a brand out there that's thought of this too.

About the kit:

The Facial Ritual kit contains three of the brands best selling skin masks:

Facial Glow: which is a radiance peel to remove dead skin, brighten the complexion, and improve skin texture,
Facial Detox: which is a purifying facial mask, based on Amazonian Clay to resolve congestion and blackheads.
Biodynamic Facial Soufflé: an intensive hydration and repair mask designed to provides instant hydration and repair the skin whilst nourishing it.

Alongside these three masks, you also get a muslin cloth and a full set of instructions.


How it works:

Once a week, you cleanse your face with your cleanser of choice, and then use the masks in the order as above,  Facial Glow for four minutes, Facial Detox for up to ten minutes, and you leave the Biodynamic Facial Soufflé on overnight.  In between each of these, you give yourself a little steam treatment with the muslin cloth.

The Verdict

This, whilst fairly time consuming, is a real pleasure to use.  Many times, I've given myself a home facial (and, to be honest, I've had some professional facials that have done this too) and been left a reddened, inflamed, and somewhat greasy-faced monster.  What I like about these products is that they actually do what they say they will, and yet aren't overly chemical-laden or irritating to the skin.

To take the products in order, the Facial Glow is a beautifully citrus-scented mask with some exfoliation beads in it, whilst it was on my skin it made it feel a little cooler, which was an odd sensation.  Once it was rinsed off though, my skin very definitely felt smoother, and it felt a lot more velvety than usual.

The Facial Detox is far more familiar to use, as it's a clay-based mask that Elemental Herbology recommend you use only on your "congested" areas.  I smeared a thick layer on my forehead, chin, and around my nose (classic T-zone application, really) and I found it definitely tingled a bit.  In fact it tingled so much that I rinsed mine off after only six minutes, but it didn't seem to harm the overall facial at all.

The Biodynamic Facial Soufflé applies like a light moisturiser, but it's very matte, and doesn't absorb very quickly, which is why I think you're supposed to leave it on overnight.  It was very refreshing not to have something greasy to apply after the other masks, and it smelt a little more flowery than the other two products.

Immediately afterwards my skin wasn't at all reddened, itchy or inflamed, it felt cool and velvety, and I liked the feeling very much.  When I woke up next day, it was even better, the soufflé had totally been absorbed into my skin, and my skin was SO soft, and SO much smoother than it's been in a long time, it was amazing!  The effects have lasted several days now too, and I'm very impressed.  Best thing: no breakouts!  I estimate with the tube size, you'd get at least four - possibly more - full treatments out of this kit.  It says it's to be used weekly, but I think I'll be saving it as a monthly treat for my face.

I'm definitely going to try other products from this brand, the cell food moisturiser and the cleanser are most likely the things I'll purchase next.  I got my kit from Space NK and it cost £40.

Organic Wednesday - Dr Organic

 

Or ... "Tell 'em about the hunny, mummy ..."

No, I haven't (yet) lost my marbles, but there are two products to review this week, and the above  quote will make sense when I get to the second one.  I hope!

The Background:

The company says:

"Dr Organic utilise only the finest natural and organic raw materials wherever possible. Sourced from around the world, every single active ingredient is rigorously tested to ensure it conforms to our strict quality guidelines. Combined with the latest scientific methods of extraction, Dr Organic products ensure that active compounds are retained to create products that are truly functional."  

They also go on to promise no parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), perfumes or artificial fragrances, no animal ingredients (except honey) and no animal testing.

Dr Organic have a complete range of body products including everything from toothpaste to deodorant to body butters, in a range that utilises everything from lavender to manuka honey to tea-tree oil, so there's really something for everybody here.

The Products: 

 From their Pomegranate range, I tried the toothpaste:

The Blurb Says:

"This triple action toothpaste is formulated with Organic Pomegranate, Arnica, Silica, Aloe Vera, Icelandic Moss, Horse Chestnut and Tea Tree. Regular brushing with this fresh flavoured toothpaste helps protect against bacteria, one of the main causes of plaque and tartar, whilst leaving the mouth feeling fresh and clean."  

Lippie Says: 

It's toothpaste.  Toothpaste that's packed with the same Icelandic moss that Boots put in their eye makeup remover - that moss sure does get around, I have to say. There's not a huge amount else I can really say about this though, aside from noting my MASSIVE disappointment that it's actually a minty gel, rather than a fruity paste (obviously, I'd totally missed the BIG mention of mint on the packaging, as I'm a dingbat) but it gets my teeth clean enough in the mornings and I've not had any issues with bleeding gums or anything since I started using it, so as toothpastes go, it's not a bad one.

Having mentioned that I was disappointed that it doesn't taste of pomegranate, there is a slightly odd sour-sweet taste under the intense mintiness that I'm not entirely sure I like, certainly it's there and it's been noticeable every time I've used it.  I'm not sure it's something I'd buy a again to be honest. Mine cost £3.99 from Holland & Barret.

And, from their Manuka Honey range, I tried their Body Butter:

The Blurb Says: 

"A luxurious, deeply hydrating natural butter containing a delicate blend of Organic Manuka Honey, Aloe Vera, Shea butter, Jojoba oil, Sunflower oil and Vitamin E. This light textured butter, which is easily absorbed, restores and nourishes dry skin areas; it brings silky softness to the skin by attracting and retaining moisture and gives it a supple softer, firmer, younger looking feel. It helps improve elasticity and promotes a healthier skin tone and smooth natural glow."

Lippie Says:

Now, a big confession for me, I don't actually believe in body lotion  - I'm not alone, India Knight doesn't either.  My skin, in all honesty, doesn't appear to need it, and I only use it for it's intended moisturising purpose when I'm having one of my increasingly rare scaly days after shaving my legs.  So, I tend to use body lotion as an extension of my perfume, and to that end, I do actually own quite a few, but they're all chosen for their scents rather than their moisturising properties, to be honest.

With that in mind, I was asked to review this product and I was in two minds about it, to be honest. I'm not a big fan of honey at all, and the one and only other time I tried a manuka honey-based moisturiser, the smell of it made me vomit!  It smelled like a fungal infection, and using it in the first place was like trying to rub cheese into my face, so it's not my happiest of beauty memories, I have to admit. The product will remain nameless to protect the guilty ...

Anyhoo, this turned up, and it smells just like a jar of honey, I mean, really, really, really like a jar of honey.  And it's a strong smell.  I trialled a bit on my arm, and it smelled just the same on my skin as it did in the jar, so I guess how much you like this cream will depend a great deal on how you find the smell of honey.  When I used it properly for the first time, MrLippie came into the room, immediately commented on the very sweet smell, and he didn't much like it, I'm afraid.

I found the cream very rich, but very easily absorbed, which I think is down to it having an aloe vera rather than an emulsified water base.  It's actually a pleasure to use, even if it does come in a pot (my own particular peculiar bugbear when it comes to beauty products, I hate tubs!  I want tubes!), and if it is slightly like slathering yourself in a Greek hotel breakfast at times, then at least it's a luxurious one ...

The odd thing about this body butter is the effect it has on other people when you're wearing it.  People will get closer to you than normal, and they'll - at least if you know them well enough - keep sniffing you., trying to figure out what the "lovely smell" is. MrLippie, for all his complaining that it was too sweet when it was first applied couldn't stop smelling any random body parts that came his way for an entire day.  This smell lasts! Everyone seems to adore the scent of this stuff, even I like it, and I don't like honey!  Or body lotion.  You may find people subconsciously doing impressions of the Honey Monster when you wander past though, I certainly did ...

So, if you want to get closer to people, buy it. You'll have nice skin, and you won't be short of company!   Several people keep trying to take this tub off me - one of my housemates threatened to mug me for it the other day - but they can bugger off  go away. This one's mine, and I'm keeping it. It may be the product to eventually change my mind about body lotion.  Maybe ...

If you do want a tub of your own it costs £8.99, and it's available from Holland and Barrett. You can read more about the range here

Organic Wednesday - Tisserand

I'm reviewing several products this week, a handwash, a shower gel, and a shampoo.

The background:

Tisserand has been making SLS-, paraben-, synthetic perfume-, animal product- and mineral oil-free products since 1985, Robert Tisserand has been practising as an aromatherapist since the late 1960's and is still involved with the company helping them to put together formulations for their products.  Currently they have a range that includes everything from body oils to shampoo to aromatherapy oil blends to perfume and deodorants.

I've used a great many products from Tisserand over the years, and I've found their handcreams to be really lovely, especially the "Essential Oil Rich" one.  The lavender deodorant I didn't love so much, but it was nice as a complementary scent to Guerlain's Jicky!


The Reviews:

Tisserand Lavender and Mint Moisturisng Shampoo:

I have dry, colour-processed and curly hair, and if you've read my Cloud Nine review, you'll know it's the bane of my existence occasionally a bit difficult to handle.  I used this shampoo alongside my regular conditioner for a week, and it's basically an okay shampoo.  I don't love it,  though I do adore the smell in the shower, it's wonderfully floral and uplifting, even if you can't really smell the mint.  I found that before using conditioner it made my hair feel a bit dry after rinsing, but after conditioner and drying, my hair feels nice and soft, and with a faint flowery scent.

To be fair, the product doesn't offer a miracle cure for hair issues, so it doesn't deliver any, but as a mid-price shampoo (mine cost £4.95) it's a very nice one, if your hair doesn't have any particular special requirements.

Tisserand Wild Rose and Lemon Leaf Hand Wash

According to the blurb on the back, this is a non-drying, soap-free handwash containing rose, rose geranium, pink grapefruit and linden flower extracts.  As a result of these this smells absolutely edible, and it's a little like washing your hands in liquid turkish delight.   I love this stuff, and it really does deliver what it says on the tin, hands aren't dried out, and the scent lingers just long enough to keep you happy.  It lasts for ages, as well.  There are four people living chez Lippie, and our bottle is only a third gone after month in the house!

My bottle cost £2.99 on special offer at Wholefoods, but it usually retails around £5.95.

Essential Oil Rich Rejuvenating Shower & Bath Wash

(Pictured at top of post)

The problem with looking at lots of organic products is that because they're based on essential oils and a lot of essential oils come from flowers means that the products occasionally smell a bit "same-y", and they can be decidedly girly and floral.  Not this stuff, it has a deep rich, and herbal, almost musky, smell, which is quite unlike anything else.  I love the scent, and so does MrLippie, it's nice to find some products men can use too, for once!  As a shower gel it's pretty much of a muchness with any other gel you'll use, but the smell is lovely and refreshing (and slightly redolent of freshly sliced lemons once it's lathered up).  The product contains oils of lemongrass, yarrow and may chang (known as the "oil of tranquility" for it's calming properties), and extracts of bilberry and linden flower.  I love to use this stuff in the mornings, as it sets you up for the day quite nicely.

This normally retails at £5.95, but my bottle came as part of a package sent to me for review purposes.

Have you tried any Tisserand?

Organic Wednesday - Green People Deodorant

Just a quick Organic Wednesday mention this week, as I'm ill with labrynthitis (truly, the most useless and pathetic disease ever) and the monitor is making me feel slightly nauseous ...

Anyhoo, I've been testing this Green People deodorant for the last couple of weeks, and I've been pleasantly surprised!

The Blurb:

Green People say: "This natural deodorant is made without pore-clogging Aluminium, Parabens, ethyl alcohol and artificial fragrances to bring you the purest deodorant that nature can offer."

Lippie Says:

I usually prefer my deodorants scented - I'm a big fan of  Vaseline Deodorant Cream ordinarily, as I love the scent of it, but it's gettting harder and harder to find in supermarkets these days - and I usually like an element of anti-perspirant too, it's the belt'n'braces approach to personal hygiene really.  This rolls on smoothly, doesn't take an age to dry, and, I've found that it really seems to work.  Yes, if you're a sweaty betty, then it won't really suit you, it contains nothing that will stop you perspiring, but it  really does seem to inhibit any whiffs.  I've worn it to work, and out on several  social occasions - I do leave the safety of the house and computer sometimes, I swear! - including a gig, a party and a rave (it was an accident), and no troublesome smells.


I was sceptical, I have to admit, but I tried it, I liked it, and I'll be continuing to use it till it runs out.  My deodorant came from Wholefoods (whom I'm currently boycotting - more about that later) and cost £7.50.

Organic Wednesday - John Masters Organics

Today I'm going to review two John Masters products: Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender and John Masters Organics Hibiscus & Honey Hair Reconstructor

The Background:

John Masters is a NY hair stylist, famous for his colouring abilities and commitment to natural products. He's been experimenting with organic products for nearly 20 years, and is pioneering "clean air" salons, meaning that his salons only offer herbal and ammonia-free treatments, thereby avoiding those terrible chemical smells.

The Blurb

All John Masters Organics products must meet the following guidelines:

No SLS, parabens, No GMO's, no petrochemicals, no animal testing, no artificial colour, fragrances or fillers, all plant extracts and oils must be organic, fairtrade, proven to be beneficial, and  packaging is to be biodegradeable.

All of which is pretty impressive, no?  Very admirable but by gosh, it makes the JMO experience a pretty expensive one ...


Review 1 - Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender


The product says:
"Spray on and get that extra body and wave that you love at the ocean.  Essential oil of lavender helps protect the hair from natural drying effects of sea salt. Spray desired amount on wet or dry hair.  Style as desired".

Lippie says:
I found that a bit vague (and there's at least one too many "desired"s there, let's face it). What is the "desired" amount? I realise everyone's hair is different, but the first time you use a product, it's at least slightly helpful for a product to make some suggestions as to how to use the product properly.

Anyhoo, I spritzed my hair liberally (I can do vague too) and left my hair to air dry.  I do like how my hair looks at the beach, that kind of wavy and slightly matte texture, so I was really looking forward to using this.  However, I'd overlooked the word BODY in the blurb.  Those of you who read my Cloud Nine review may already have figured out how this review is going to end ...

Oh man.  My hair already expands to fill any available space at any opportunity unless it's regularly beaten into submission styled with straighteners, so using this product was a massive - and I mean that literally - mistake.  The bouffant candyfloss confection I ended up with would have made Barbara Cartlands heart skip a beat.  I got complaints from the neighbours about blocking out the sunshine.  On the plus side, I didn't need a crash helmet for a few days, so it wasn't all bad.


Would I buy it again?  Heck no!  Smells lovely, but it's hellishly expensive for what is basically a bottle of salty water with some essential oil in it (mine cost £16 from Debenhams).  Might work wonderfully on someone with finer hair than mine though, and it would be great for someone with oily hair to help keep that under control, but for me, it's a big fat zero.

Review 2 - Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor.

The product says:
"A super-intense conditioning treatment that helps revitalise and restore hair.  Using the same essential fatty acids found naturally in younger hair, it's the perfect conditioner for the very dry or damaged hair.  May be used after each shampoo, or as a weekly treatment as needed.  Apply to wet hair.  Leave in 2-4 minutes (or longer). Rinse"


Lippie says:
This is a gloriously-smelling product that's just a delight to use.  I was convinced this was going to be rubbish, but I've used this three or four times since I bought it and it leaves my hair shiny, sleek and lovely.  I hesitate to say it's worth every penny of the £28 I paid for it, but it is a very good product indeed.  I'd recommend it for anyone with coloured, dry or damaged hair.

Organic Wednesday - Plant Love II: The Review

I already said a fair bit about Plant Love during the makeover part of Organic Wednesday, so this won't be a long post!  I've tried a few ranges of organic colour cosmetics recently, and I have to say that Plant Love is definitely a cut above as far as I'm concerned.  The colours in the eyeshadows are strongly pigmented, they're easy to apply and blend plus the colour selection is wider than the usual round of sludge colours you get in some organic/natural ranges. Genna has stated that the Parakeet e/s is one that she's going to use on a regular basis, she liked it so much!

I like the easy to apply lipsticks too, the one we had  (Joshua Tree) was shimmery without being frosted which is spectacularly difficult to pull off, staying power seemed about average, it had to be reapplied after a couple of hours, but we didn't have any issues with dryness.

For me though, the stand out product has to the Natural Baked Illuminator.  There are three of these in the range: Earth, Wind and Fire.  Earth is a selection of bronzing shades, Wind has a hint of subtle pink blush with the bronze and Fire has a gorgeous bright pink blush in there.  I have Wind (if you'll pardon the pun) and I've used it every single day since it arrived, it's perfectly pigmented, and makes your skin just glow, I adore it, and it's now a makeup staple of my very own.  Just swirl your blusher brush over the marbled powder and either use it as you would your blusher, or use as you would a bronzer (for Earth and Wind) for a brightening effect.

I do have to say that I think the packaging is a bit of a misfire, I love the fact that it's all vegetable based and compostable, but these are actually serious cosmetic products, and whilst the pink packaging is pretty, it's a little too "girly" and makes the items look cheap.  That said, I'll be investing in at least the other two illuminators, and a couple more of the lipsticks, pretty soon.  I've discovered that blusher is a lot more important to my make up bag than I ever previously suspected!  The range starts from £10 and is exclusively available from Puresha

Organic Wednesday - Makeover Special!

So, something a little different this week.  As promised, every Wednesday I'll be seeking out and reviewing organic beauty goodies, but this week I'm bringing you a makeover first, and a full review later.

I've heard a fair bit about Plant Love over the last few weeks, and when Puresha offered to send me some of their range of cosmetics to try in a makeover, I jumped at the chance!  Plant Love is vegan, free from paraben, phthalates, petro-chemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances.  I love the fact that all the packaging is compostable, and is manufactured under carbon-neutral conditions, it makes my inner hippy happy.  I don't let my inner hippy out much, she tends to disagree with my inner control freak, but I'm digressing a bit here.  So, on with the makeover!

Meet Genna:

Genna's been offering to sit for a makeover session for weeks, but as she's a vegan I've been waiting for the right opportunity to come along, Plant Love seemed like an ideal fit.  Genna already has an excellent beauty regime of her own, but when we were planning this session one idea kept coming up: "California Beach Babe", and as that's what she wanted, that's what she got ...

First off, we used Genna's normal foundation as a base - looking tanned and glowing doesn't necessarily mean looking like a tangerine, then started straight in using PL's eyeshadow in Parakeet:

It's a lovely coppery shade, that makes Genna's blue eyes a lot brighter.

 

Once that was in place, we defined Genna's top lid with PL's eyeshadow in Sparrow:

 

Then we added a layer of eyeliner in bronze to her lower lids:

A layer of Genna's usual mascara (sadly, the Plant Love line doesn't carry a mascara, which is a real shame judging by the quality of the rest of the products), and we also added a little definition to Genna's eyebrows:

Genna's eyes were now finished, and we were ready to add more colour.  Using Plant Love's Natural Baked Illuminator in "Wind", which is a bronzer, blush and highlighter in one, I used it on Genna's cheekbones and temples, then added just a touch to her nose and chin for a bronzed effect:

Naturally, no look is complete without lipstick so we added a (very light) layer.  For this look we had chosen Joshua Tree which is a lovely shimmery pinky-brown:

And we're done!  Here's the finished look:

Subtle, simple, and softly glowing, I think it looks great.  Have a look at the before'n'after:

If you click on any of the pictures, you can see an enlarged version of them, please do! I'd like to thank Genna for being so patient, Puresha for being so generous, and the lovely Neville Fenn for taking today's wonderful pictures.

Full reviews of the products used will appear tomorrow, but I can let slip that both Genna and I have adopted at least one of these products as new daily staples, they're great!

Organic Wednesday - Organic Surge

The Background:

A couple of weeks ago, I was one of the lucky winners of a competition run by the lovely people at Organic Surge.  The prize was a girly night out at an exclusive screening of Sex and the City, and, alongside plying us with wine and popcorn, we also all received a goody bag filled with their range of skincare treats.

The Blurb:

I had a great time, it was lovely to meet some of the people behind the brand, and chat to them about how excited and positive they are about the company and what they're trying to do.  The competition was to celebrate Organic Surge's nationwide launch at Boots, which they're very happy about, rather unsurprisingly!   Founder Alan McKenzie told us that it was his dream to produce a range of ethical skincare products untouched by "harmful" chemicals at an affordable price, and that for every product sold a proportion of the proceeds are used to support the Kenya Children's Home and Watoto charities.

What really interested me was that this is a budget range, and yet every product is free of

• Parabens, SLS, sulphates
• Synthetic perfume
• Chemical antioxidants mineral oils, petroleum, propylene glycol
• Aggressive foaming agents

All of which is more than good enough for me to introduce them as my first review for my Organic Wednesday review!  And yes, I know it's not Wednesday, but there have been some refurbishment issues here at Lippie HQ ...

 

The Review:

In my goody bag, I received (full size!) samples of their Eye Gel and Daily Cleansing Wash alongside a jar of their Blissful Daily Moisturiser for Normal skin, which is what I'll be reviewing today.

For what is basically a cheaper brand, the packing of all their products is surprisingly sturdy, the moisturiser comes in a decent size glass jar, which was a pleasant surprise.  Once you open it up, you're greeted with the cheery and uplifting smells of rosemary and lemon oils which is a nice way to start your day.

The cream, in the pot, appears thick and rich, but on application it's actually pleasantly light and is very easily absorbed (in my case, possibly a little too easily absorbed, about which more later).  It disappears readily into the skin, and doesn't leave an oily residue, which is nice.  I also found it had a slight mattifying effect on my skin which I think will be welcomed by some oilier skinned people.  The scent doesn't linger too long after application, which is good, there's not a lot worse than being able to smell your skin care products all day.

The Rating: 7/10 

It's cheap (currently £7.99 at Boots), does what it says it will, and smells lovely.  As a basic moisturiser, albeit one without SPF, it's a very nice one.  I have quite dry and sensitive skin, so I found that it wasn't quite moisturising enough for me, but I'd very happily buy the Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser version of it instead.  I've been using it now for three weeks, and haven't had any issues with sensitivity or spots, so I'm sold!