Dr Organic Pomegranate Anti Ageing Cream

Last time I blogged about Dr Organic Laura of Laura Blogs Beauty (link) left me a comment telling me how much she loves the Manuka Honey face cream. A few weeks back Holland & Barrett had a Buy One Get One Half Price offer so I took advantage of the deal. I replaced my beloved Manuka face scrub and a little voice (probably Laura’s ha ha) told me to try out a face cream. 

Dr Organic cream is available in Aloe Vera, Pomegranate, Vitamin E, Manuka Honey, Royal Jelly and Otto Rose. Now I did not get to read the labels on all of them but I imagine they each cater towards different skin types and skin concerns. I love Manuka but it was not available so I picked Pomegranate.

I personally do not believe in Anti-Ageing products. I honestly think we should all embrace the wrinkles, it is part of life. The reason I say this is because the Dr Organic Pomegranate cream is marketed as Anti-Ageing. The packaging tells me this cream helps “reduce fine lines and wrinkles, promote cell regeneration, boost collagen stability, reduces age spot formation”. At the end of the day, if this cream does as it claims then I shall not grumble but I am sceptical. I will report back to you when I am 70 and let you know how my wrinkles are doing :)

Up until this point the face creams I rave about are from Tropic Pure Plant Skincare and Borealis Organics. This cream is on a par with these brands. Laura is right the Dr Organic cream is “hands down the best cream ever invented”. 

The consistency is perfect for me, somewhere between thick and thin. It sinks into my skin easily, leaves it soft, smooth and free of dry patches. My makeup sits nicely on top and it hydrates throughout the day. A little goes a long way and I use it morning and night. If you prefer a dedicated night cream Dr Organic do have some in the range. The fragrance is pleasant, not sweet but a hint of sharpness which I do not object to. Best of all this retails for £8.19 for a 50ml jar. A bargain price and if I am wrinkle free in 10 years time it will be money well spent. The cherry on top is that the Dr Organic range is organic and free from paraben, sls, artificial colours, harsh chemicals, fragrance and preservatives. Dr Organic is against animal testing and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. 

Overall, this is most definitely 100% going to be a repurchase item for me. Dr Organic is fast becoming a beloved brand and I will continue to work my way through the entire range. 

Anyone else tried products from Dr Organic? Feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations in the comment section below.

If you would like to read reviews for the other products mentioned in this post then here are links - 

Dr Organic Hand Cream, Dr Organic Manuka Face Scrub, Borealis Face Cream, Tropic Face Cream

PG Organics Natural Organic Perfume

I was contacted by PG Organics and accepted an offer to sample their natural organic perfume. In April 2011 PG Organics launched their debut fragrance Embrace. It contains 100% natural ingredients of which 97.05% are certified organic, is not tested on animals and does not contain any animal derived ingredients. 

Embrace is described as "a chypre with oriental influence underlined by subtle spices. Exotic amber and musk notes envelope and protect the delicate floral notes of neroli, mimosa, rose, ylang ylang and iris." 

I have mentioned before that I rarely wear fragrance because it irritates my skin and nose. I knew I stood a better chance of being able to wear Embrace as the ingredients are natural. I can happily report I have not experienced any problems. PG Organics did mention that they have customers who suffer from allergies, eczema and asthma. 

What I find interesting about this perfume is it works in harmony with the wearer’s own body chemistry.  It will always smell different per individual, something which I personally do not notice with main stream fragrance. Initially the scent is strong but it does settle and develop. I found it lasted about 5-6 hours on my skin. 

If you prefer a sophisticated, exotic, musky, sexy scent then I think you will like this perfume. It can be purchase direct from the website (link) and 30ml Eau de Parfum costs £58.  Currently PG Organics have one fragrance but they hope to launch another for 2013.

Disclaimer - I was sent this sample, all opinions are 100% my own, I am not being paid & links are not affiliated.

Livpurely Organics Coconut Oil Review

Coconut oil has been getting a lot of attention in natural beauty circles due to its amazing health and beauty benefits.  The Livpurely Organics Coconut Oil Moisturizer with Vanilla (pictured above) was part of my beauty swap with Mary of Pure Makeup. This product is free from chemicals, preservatives, alcohol and solvent. The ingredients are simply coconut oil and vanilla, nothing else. 


When it comes to scents I am definitely attracted to food smells.  I adore Coconut and Vanilla so it has been instant love with this product. The scent is not overpowering but it does make me hungry.  I love the Caribbean cupcake scent (that's how I describe the fragrance).  For me it lifts my spirits and I can not stop sniffing my skin.

This is coconut oil so it is packaged in a bottle with a pouring spout but it also comes with a spatula. When I first received this I placed the bottle in some warm water to turn it back into an oil.  I had assume it had solidified in transit, after all it had just travelled on a plane from USA. Trouble is it does not stay liquid for very long (less than 24 hours).  Since I have been unable to keep this product in oil form it currently remains solid and I simply use the spatula to dig it out of the bottle.  If you rub the product in between your palms, it melts easily and can then be applied to your body. The bottle does say to store in a cool dry place and warns that it may solidify. 

I love this moisturiser. When I first used it I was very surprised how light and non greasy it feels on my skin. It leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. Although this is suitable for face and body, I prefer this on my body. 

If you do not like vanilla you can choose from coconut oil with blood orange, or lemon or lime, alternatively there is a plain coconut. This retails for $13.50 USD (website link).

Who else love coconut oil?  What do you use it for?

Giveaway Winner

Thank you for everyone who entered my giveaway and for following my blog

I had 9 entrants and I numbered you in order of comment left.

The winner is ALIBUNN

Sunday Catch Up (11) - Vegan Mac & Cheese

Happy Sunday Sugarpuffettes wow, can you believe it is Sunday again, that week certainly went fast. It has been a week of ups and downs for me. I have felt a bit emotional about everything this week, my job, my health and my friends. Thank goodness for my blog and twitter it certainly helps pull you out of a funky mood!  Anyway enough of that stuff.  For me April is full of birthdays including my sister, so here is what I picked up for her.

How cute? As you know my parents have two adorable dogs so we all love dogs. I could not resist this. The brand is Jellycat Catseye and I brought it at a local garden centre (surprising how good garden centres are for funky gifts it's not all about plants these days).  I have found the range online if you want to check it out (link).

My favourite snack of the week has been Nakd Infused Raisins (link). They are available in a variety of flavours - cherry, pineapple, cola, lemon, orange, lime. I am unable to try the citrus fruits as it is one of my allergies but cherry and pineapple work for me (cherry is my top favourite). These are sold in supermarkets and health food stores.

I have experimented in the kitchen this week.  I had a sudden desire to try and make dairy free macaroni and cheese.  I realised I could not recall ever having mac n cheese, even prior to having my allergies diagnosed.  My Grandma would make us Macaroni and Breadcrumbs, sounds weird but I have fond childhood memories, it is certainly where my love for cinnamon comes from.  Anyway, I browsed the web for vegan mac n cheese recipes but could not settle on one I liked the look of. In the end I got creative. I decided to make a white sauce, you know the kind you find in lasagne.  A white sauce is made using butter, flour and milk (obviously I used my dairy free substitutes for butter & milk). When the sauce was complete I stirred in lots of finely grated dairy free cheese, pepper and paprika. Then I added cooked macaroni to the cheese white sauce, gave it a stir then transferred to an over proof dish.  I topped it with a handful of grated cheese and a sprinkle of paprika.  Next I baked in the oven for about 15 minutes.  I took it out the oven when the top was crispy and I could see the sauce bubbling.  Hey Presto I had made tasty dairy free mac n cheese.

Now to change the subject to Beauty.  If you are looking for a new website to stock up on your favourite natural beauty goodies then go check out O.N.G (link). O.N.G is a new business run by Rachel (beauty obsessed) and Andrew (has skin problems). The site stocks some of my favourite brands - Akin, Lily Lolo, BM Beauty, Dr Bronner, Pai, Evolve, Faith in Nature, Badger Balm, Antipodes, Green People, Jason. Best of all O.N.G offer free standard delivery on all orders.

Also go check out some new launches which are listed and linked over at Skins Matter (link).  Finally, today is the last day to enter my giveaway, if you would like to enter click here.

I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend and I look forward to your lovely comments :)

Blogger Interview - L Loves

I have another interview for you this week, my guest is Lauren from L Loves, make sure you pop over to her blog and check it out (link).  

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am a 21 year old Fashion buying Graduate from North Wales. 

2. Why did you decide to start your blog?
I started my blog while in university while blogging for Collage Fashionista. I thought it would be fun to start my own blog to write about anything fashion related that came my way.

3. How would you describe your blogging style?
When i first started my blog I wanted to keep almost anonymous I was a little bit worried about people judging me or my writing style but the more i blogged i grew in confidence. I began to have people commenting on how they would like to know more about me, I have recently started making the blog a lot more personal inc Outfit Posts and my day to day life as well as interviews and product reviews.

4. What do you think is the best thing about blogging?
I really like that blogging has a community. I get really excited when a blogger comments on my posts and love taking part of the fblogger and bbloggers chats on twitter.

5. What inspires you when it comes to your blog?

Anything really, a new designer, new trends, new products, something I have recently brought and other blogs.

6. What do you find most challenging when blogging about your topic?

I dont really blog about one thing in particular, I like that my blog is a bit of a mash up of different posts. I think the thing i find most challenging is getting good photographs (As i use a simple point and shoot camera) and the time to write posts.

7. Where are your favourite places to shop? (high street or online)

Oh gosh! I love Topshop, Zara, Primark and Urban Outfitters on the high street. I also really love Vintage shops, particularly ones in manchester. I like to hunt down unique brands online and am always looking at independent labels on Asos Marketplace.

8. Has blogging changed the way you make purchasing decisions?

Yeah I think so, I always used to be a bit of a bargain hunter and loved Fast fashion, not feeling guilty about never wearing something again. Since blogging i think more about the longevity of clothes, fun different ways I can style them and if they are worth the investment.

9. What is your all time favourite brand? (cosmetic, clothing or anything else)
I really dont think I can pick one Brand. I think I might have to be boring and say Topshop as if i am struggling to find something for an occasion I know I can pop in and 9 times out of 10 find something.

10. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

One thing I would like to change is preventing people from bringing one another down, as a blogger I have been lucky enough to not yet recieve negative comment but I do know quite a few who receive them, particularly on YouTube. The world would be so much nicer if we could accept people for how they are.

EOS Hand Lotion Review

EOS (evolutionofsmooth.com) is a brand that I think bloggers are familiar with, especially those in the US. You are probably familiar with their sphere lip balms but did you know they make hand lotion? 

It is clear that packaging design is an important element to the brand. The pebble shape is fun and ergonomical, it fits nicely into the palm of your hand. This cream is light, absorbs quickly and does not leave behind a greasy residue. There are three fragrances and I chose Berry Blossom which is a pleasant fragrance.  As the name suggests it is a fruity floral which is not overpowering but does gently linger. 

For me, the downside to this hand lotion is some of the ingredients.

Ingredients - Water (Eau), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Cocoglycerides, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Fragrance (Parfum), Carbomer, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide. Patent Pending. 

To quote EOS this cream is 97% natural formula, Paraben-free, Phthalate-free, Lanolin-free, Dye-free, Dermatologist tested, Hypoallergenic, not tested on animals and contains no animal by-products.  I admit it was not until I experience mild irritation that I took a closer look at the ingredients. I doubt the fragrance is natural as "parfum" is listed with no explanation of the origin. I noticed that the lid logo indicates a 36 months open shelf life, this immediately triggers a concern that the product contains some serious preservatives. I have checked the EWG's database to find Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone have been associated with allergic reactions. There were two other ingredients that I think are cause for concern.

DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself and its decomposition products. In the U.S., approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe. (source link)

Retinyl palmitate is an ingredient composed of palmitic acid and retinol (Vitamin A). When exposed to UV light, retinol compounds break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause gene mutations, a precursor to cancer. Recently available data from an FDA study indicate that retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. FDA also raised a concern that extensive, daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman's body a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to the developing foetus. (source link)

I will let you make up your own mind whether to buy this product.  I do advise that if you have eczema on your hands be cautious and patch test (you should do this with all products). Despite my disappointment regarding the ingredients, this is a nice lotion and it does the job I want it to do. I brought this from cutecosmetics.co.uk and paid £7 for 44ml (anyone else think that is expensive?).  In future I will continue to use Dr Organic (review link) and Tisserand (review link) hand creams. 

Have you tried this? What did you think?

Deep Steep Body Mist Review

I recently discovered Deep Steep (link). It is a brand I came across whilst browsing the Organic section on Feelunique.com (link). The entire product range is free from Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Artificial Fragrances, Chemical Preservatives plus not Tested On Animals and Vegan. (Hooray and do a little happy dance). It was the Body Mist that caught my attention in particular Honeydew Spearmint. My stupid allergies and eczema make it almost impossible for me to wear fragrance (most likely caused by the unwanted chemicals in many high street brands).

Deep Steep Honeydew Spearmint Body Mist is delightful and refreshing.  To state the obvious, it smells exactly of Melon and Spearmint.  Sadly, it is not a fragrance that lingers for hours but I do not care because it does not make me sneeze or itch.  I will happily spritz myself as and when I feel like it.  It is not cheap compared to the high street I paid £8.95 at Feelunique (177ml) but for me it is worth every single penny.

The body mist is also available in Lavender Camomile, Grapefruit Bergamont, Rosemary Mint.  Other products in these fragrances (plus one other - Tangerine Melon) include Body Butter, Body Lotion, Moisture Stick, Body Wash, Bubble Bath and Hand wash.  There is also a Candy Mint foot range and I just purchase the foot stick so will report back at later stage.

How cute is their logo?  Is anyone else a fan of this brand? What are your favourite products or fragrances from the range?

Giveaway CLOSED

Hello Sugarpuffettes it is Giveaway time

The prize is a bottle of Take Care Naked Orange Blossom Body Wash

Naked Body Washes are a personal favourite (review link)


THE RULES

Unfortunately due to the weight of the prize entrants must be UK residents (apologies to my overseas followers postage for this item is very expensive)

You must be a follower of my blog via GFC or Hellocotton or Twitter

You must leave me a comment below telling me why you should win this Body Wash
Remember to tell me how to contact you e.g. email or twitter

The winner will be selected by random.org & the Giveaway ends on Sunday 22nd April 2012 at Midnight GMT

Good Luck everyone

Disclaimer - the prize has been purchased with my own money, I am not affiliated to this brand simply a loyal customer. If the winner does not contact me within 48 hours of me announcing a winner another will be selected.

Sunday Catch Up (10)

Let me share with you a few things that have made me smile this week. The Easter weekend I spent with my parents.  Mum and I went shopping but it was a bit of a fail.  Mum had promised me a treat but I could not find clothes or shoes to fit (*insert sad face!*).  Instead I was treated to lunch at Wagamama my favourite place they are always so lovely about allergies.  I feel in love with some trinkets in Paperchase I could not resist Panda highlighters and a cute money box (he just makes me smile with his happy face who can resist).

One of my friends is expecting a baby girl any day now.  I think nappy cakes are a perfect gift (handy & cute).  I purchased the Giraffe Beanie cake (pictured above) via Ebay from a seller called Priceless Moments in Time (link).  

You have probably figured out that my second passion in life is food (my first is beauty).  My boyfriend picked up Princes Baked Beans sandwich filling, slightly weird idea but I was intrigued.  I discovered a new variety of Hales & Hearty flapjacks.  These are date & chocolate flavour which are wheat free, gluten free and vegan and more importantly taste delicious (bad news for my waist line).  I have noticed coconut water is trending at the moment.  I see Vita Coco is the brand of choice for most but I picked up Icoco at Waitrose.  I could not resist the temptation of cherry vanilla.  One of my loves is Alfalfa Sprouts but they are so hard to get hold of.  Sometimes I spot them at Sainsburys but they sell out fast.  In my opinion they complete a salad sandwich.  Alfalfa sprouts are full of vitamins and nutrients (protein, calcium, carotene, iron, zinc and vitamins A, B1, C, E and K).

I purchased a couple of beauty products this week from Feelunique.  I am loving my Deep Steep body mist (review to come) so I ordered the Candy Mint Foot Stick.  First impressions are good and  the smell is delicious.  Sadly, the Ecotints mineral-tinted lip balm (Rose Quartz) is a disappointment.  It barely imparts any pigmentation on the lips, there is a subtle sheer shimmer but I feel a little mislead by the colour chart (link). 


I think that sums up this week.  Hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for reading.  Leave a comment below if you wish :)

Sugarpuffish Vegan Pasta Bake

I think many people are curious what I eat due to my multiple allergies. I thought I would share with you another one of my favourite meals. I don’t have a recipe for this one because I have adapted it to my own taste but it is based on a pasta bake.

The quantities that follow are roughly what I use if I am making this for myself.  Here is what you need - 

• Pasta (30-40g) – I only ever use Dove Farm pasta, I personally believe it is the best wheat, gluten, egg and dairy free pasta on supermarket shelves
• Sausages (x2) – I love Linda McCartney sausages, a good vegan sausage is very hard to find and in my opinion these are the best.
• Pasta Sauce (half a large jar) – use whatever pasta sauce you prefer there are no rules. I often stick to Tesco as it is free from my allergens.   In case anyone was wondering I know there are sauces marketed specially for Pasta Bakes but they are not Sugarpuffish friendly.
• Vegetables (handful) – optional, I like to add broccoli or edamame beans
• Cheese (handful) – optional, Tesco dairy free medium cheese is my current favourite.

I cook the sausages, pasta and veggies as instructed on the packets. When they are cooked I drain the pasta and veggies and chop up the sausages to bite size portions. Next I mix the pasta, veggies and sausages together and stir in the pasta sauce. 

Put everything into an oven proof dish and sprinkle cheese on the top. Then pop the dish into the oven for about 15 mins, enough time to heat the sauce and melt the cheese as everything else is cooked.  This is extremely simple meal but I think it is very yummy.

Getting Personal - Girl Talk

I am never sure how personal I should get on my blog.  It is MY blog but do people really want to know the boring details of my daily life or my inner most personal thoughts? So what lead me to begin to write this post? I've hit a cross roads, I don't know where to turn and perhaps there is someone out there in a similar position.

Firstly, lets start with a disclaimer, this post is about female health so men may wish to look away now!  

To cut a long story short since December 2011 completely out of the blue I have developed a troublesome monthly cycle and period.  Everything I know about my body is completely the opposite to what I have always experienced since puberty. After several months of Doctors poking and prodding I have been told nothing is wrong with me on the inside.  Blood tests are normal, no abnormalities and lady parts are functioning as they should.  It's very weird to me, I was positive they would say I had anaemia or endometriosis or early menopause.  My Mum has a history of these problems and I have symptoms for all three.

For the past two months I have been prescribed Tranexamic Acid and Codeine. I had to start with this in order not to affect any test results.  Moving forward I have been told I can continue with current medication or try a Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), the Pill or Surgery (Endometrial ablation or Hysterectomy).

I am still trying to decide how to tackle this problem.  There are pros and cons with the treatments available.  I rejected prescriptive creams for my eczema so I ask myself can I treat this naturally? I was wondering whether anyone out there manages Mother Nature with alternative treatments. Perhaps you like to use aromatherapy, reflexology or homeopathy. Can you share any tips/advice?  If you are not comfortable leaving a public comment please email me - sugarpuffish (at) yahoo (dot) com


Thanks for reading :)

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-heavy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Madara Deep Comfort Toner Review

Before I went on holiday in March I ran out of my Handmade Naturals Toner (review link).  I do like this toner but you know what it is like as a Blogger you are a fickle customer and always giving new things a try.  

I decided to purchase Madara's Ecoface Organic Deep Comfort Facial Toner (link).  Madara have three toners and the Comfort toner is for dry to very dry skin.  If you have normal to combination or oily to combination you should take a look at their other toners (link).

I am familiar with Madara, I have previously tried a travel kit (link) so I knew what to expect in terms of quality and ingredient policy.  I have now been using this toner for a month and I like it a lot.  It does not have a strong fragrance like the Handmade Naturals one, I find the scent extremely light, a hint of rose and camomile.  The ingredients are beautifully simple and organic - Aqua, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate, Anthemis Nobilis (Camomile) Flower Water, Glycerin.

This is a refreshing, soothing and non drying toner making it ideal for sensitive skin.  I highly recommend.  Madara is available from various online retailers.  I purchased mine from Lush Duck, a site that offers free UK postage (link). I paid £12 for a 200ml bottle.  If anyone is interested when you compare ml for ml this works out to a similar price to Handmade Natural's toner.

Easter Weekend In Pictures

Home with my Parents and our doggies

Alpro Pouring Yoghurt

Popcorn maker

Pretty Sandals

Strange Llama shaped crackers (very tasty)

Mum's homemade Hot Cross Buns

Mum's homemade Ginger biscuits

Sleepy doggie

Funny garden ornaments

Fruit Softies

Blogger Interview - Just Tiffeny

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi there :) I'm Tiffeny (blog link) 24 years old and living in the north-east of England. I'm engaged to an amazing guy, but we're both still currently living with parents due to lack of funds! I love animals and have a doggy, kitty cat and hamster :) I'm obsessed with hello kitty! I'm a qualified beauty therapist, but not working at the moment due to personal reasons. I write a blog that is mainly about beauty, but with other bits and bobs thrown in! I love all things pretty, pink n girly and I'm currently addicted to playing hangman!

2. Why did you decide to start your blog?

After I was accepted into More Magazine's beauty hot 100 I saw that a lot of the other girls write blogs. It looked like fun, so I decided to give it a go :)

3. How would you describe your blogging style?

Random!

4. What do you think is the best thing about blogging?

Meeting new people and making friends definitely :)

5. What inspires you when it comes to your blog?

Anything and everything really! Other blogs, websites, magazines, my family and friends, celebrities ...

6. What do you find most challenging when blogging about your topic?

I find it hard taking great pictures. Even if I had the best camera ever I would probably still struggle. I'm not that hot when it comes to photography.

7. Where are your favourite places to shop? (high street or online)

I don't really do a lot of online shopping, so my favourite high street shops would probably be Primark, New Look, Superdrug and Lush at the moment :)

8. Has blogging changed the way you make purchasing decisions?

Yeah totally. If I'm thinking about buying a new product I always have a look at my favourite blogs to see if they have done a review before I part with my cash!

9. What is your all time favourite brand? (cosmetic, clothing or anything else)

I think I would have to say Avon. I have used their products for so many years now and love them :)

10. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

I'd stop animal cruelty.

Betty Buff Tropical Sugarscrub Review

Betty Buff (link) asked if I would like to sample a Tropical Sugarscrub for review. I accepted the offer because this brand promises exfoliation that is gentle on sensitive skin and free from colours, fragrances, chemicals and preservatives. Each scrub sounds delicious – Totally Oatly (suitable for vegans, diabetics & chronic dry skin), Besty Zesty, Tropical, Lime & Ginger, Peppermint, Morning Coffee and Scrummy Choco. Betty Buff even has a Shea Souffle Moisturiser perfect for applying after exfoliation. 

So what do I think? Firstly the smell of the Tropical scrub reminds me of Pina Coladas (pineapple & coconut). The fragrance did not appear to transfer onto my skin but was still a pleasure to breathe in during application. The scrub is soft and easy to scoop from the container. This is not a fine scrub the sugar particles are large as Betty Buff use granulated sugar. I would prefer more oil in the product as I found the product slightly uncomfortable on my skin especially on my face. I normally go for a finer scrub with particles suspended in cream or large quantities of oil (e.g. Dr Organic (link) and Tropic Skincare (link)). I did apply the scrub to damp skin but without oil or a cream base I found that you lose some product down the plug hole, it does not stick easily to the skin. 

I do recommend this product especially for those who fake tan and use a body scrub on a regular basis. My advice would be that sensitive skins need to be careful and perhaps Totally Oatly would be the better option. Ellie (the owner & maker of these scrubs) does have eczema so she is aware of the condition. However, I think eczema varies greatly between people and you need to use common sense as you know your skin best. I can say my skin did feel polished after use. The scrub does have some oil content so my skin was left feeling soft and not dry or tight. 

Here is a video demonstration of me using the Tropical Scrub. It is a silent movie as I was camera shy and I do think the product is self explanatory!  Big thanks to my Boyfriend who was rather bemused at my request to have him film me using this product.  However, I think he had fun editing this movie, it is all his handy work but I did stop him from applying a Dr Who soundtrack (yes he's a Sci Fi geek!)

Check out Betty Buff’s website (link) and support a small up and coming UK business. The scrubs retail for a very reasonable £8 (plus P&P 250ml jar). The ingredients for the Tropical Scrub – fresh Pineapple & Coconut, Granulated Sugar, Honey, Evening Primrose Oil, Glycerine.  Be aware that because the product contains no preservatives it has a shorter shelf life, the jar I was sent has a best before date of 30 April 2012.

Has anyone else tried Betty Buff? Do you like using a body scrub? Do you have any other scrub recommendations?

Disclaimer - I was sent this product, all opinions are 100% my own, I am not being paid to write this & links are not affiliated

Funky Fresh Minerals Review

I wanted to share with you a recent Ebay discovery. You may have seen me give this company a mention on here or on Twitter. Who am I talking about? Well that would be Funky Fresh Natural Skincare.  This is a brand free from bismuth oxychloride, talc, preservatives, fragrances and animal products. Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans.  It suits all skin types including sensitive skin, rosacea and acne prone.

A while ago I purchased a sample pack (link) of finishing powders and I have been working my way through them. I have experimented with the powders individually or by combining two or more.  My favourites are Golden Glow and Silk Veil. Golden Glow is lovely on its own or combined with another colour. On top of my (now fading) tan I have loved the radiance it gives my skin. I really feel it boosts the colour of my tan and evens out my complexion. However, I decided to purchase a full size Silk Veil because I felt it was practical for everyday use. 

With my orders I have received free samples of foundation. 

Pictured above are the foundations Soft Glow (Fair), Almond (04) and Toffee (09).  There are a few reasons why I have never tried a mineral powder foundation.  I was not sure how much coverage they would give, how would the powder sit on my dry skin, how would I chose a suitable colour as most companies sell online.  Here is what I have discovered whilst experimenting with these samples.

I have pigmentation and eczema scaring on my chin and I always apply concealer to this area of my face. I was stunned by the coverage the mineral foundation gave me. I hardly need any concealer, just a couple of touch up dots. In fact after a few days I had the confidence not to apply concealer under the powder.  I had heard that coverage was buildable and I found this very true.  The key to applying is to buff thin layers into the skin. Hopefully you can see the effects in the pictures below. The picture on the left is my natural blemished/pigmented skin after cleansing and moisturising. The picture on the right is after applying the foundation Almond. I don’t use any fancy brushes to apply the foundation just a standard Boots/Superdrug powder brush. 

One thing I will say is for dry skin sufferers you definitely need a good skin care routine and moisturiser. It is probably stating the obvious but without a decent moisturiser the powder will emphasise dry patches. Many of you are probably keen to know how long it lasts.  I work a nine hour day and my foundation did not budge.  I felt it looked just as good in the morning as it did at home time.  I did not need to touch up during the day so I was impressed with the lasting power.  Funky Fresh do claim the products are "highly water resistant and humidity resistant".  

I know I am late to the party when it comes to mineral powder foundations. I hang my head in shame as a natural blogger that I never tried it sooner. That being said sometimes the price of larger brands has put me off. When I finish my liquid foundation I am seriously going to consider switching to this brand. If you struggle with shade matching the sample packs are an inexpensive way to experiment and find your perfect colour.

Funky Fresh Minerals currently does not appear to have a website so all sales are via Ebay (link at start of this review).  The sample pack contains 8 samples and I paid £1.99 + 89p postage.   The full size finishing powder is 10g of powder in a 30g sifter jar and I paid £7.99 + £1.69 postage.

Overall I highly recommend these mineral powders.  I had previously been repeat purchasing BM Beauty Finishing Powder (review link).  Both brands are equal in terms of price point and performance but Funky Fresh is offering variety with their finishing powders.