PRODUCT REVIEW: HOW TO KEEP HANDS SOFT AND YOUNGER LOOKING WITH ENBACCI SKINCARE

I have all days been addicted to hand creams, as I simply don’t like the feeling of dry hands, and during winter it gets even worse. And it is super easy to forget looking after the hands, and we really should as they are one of the first areas to show signs of ageing. So I love that Enbacci has whole collection dedicated to keeping the hands softer, and more beautiful and younger looking. 

PRODUCT REVIEW: EMBALM SKINCARE HYDRATING HAND AND BODY WASH AND INVIGORATING BODY SCRUB

ANTOPODES NIRVANA HAND AND BODY WASH, HEAVENLY BODY OIL, DELIGHT HAND AND BODY CREAM - NATUAL AND ORGANIC // PRODUCT REVIEW

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT HYGIENE WITH ORGANIC CARE KIDS // PRODUCT REVIEW

PRODUCT REVIEW: NATIO POWDER ROOM NATURALS

Today I'm excited to share with you a new range of gorgeous products for the home, the Natio luxurious new hand care and natural home fragrance range, Powder Room Naturals. 

This new gorgeous range is available in two different aromatic themes, a floral bouquet of Lavender balanced with Mandarin and Lemon or a zesty blend of refreshing Peppermint, Lime and Bergamot to naturally re-energise your senses. As I love anything citrusy, I've put the zesty range to the test. The range includes among others citrus and mint aromas combined with nourishing plant extracts to purify and re-energise your skin.

Let's start with the Refresh Cleansing Bar, which is a soap bar infused with invigorating pieces of citrus peel and leaves, this luxurious cleansing bar combines Sesame, Almond and Jojoba oils to smooth and nourish the skin. I admit that I am not overly fond of soap bars - but mainly because I do find they quickly become a little messy - but thankfully Natio has thought of that as the Cleansing Bar comes in a premium smoky brown plastic container that can be used to store it, and prevent it from leaving a mess on your sink. And I do have to admit that this soap bar is gorgeous, and I really love the refreshing citrus scent, and the fact that it gently cleanses my skin without drying it out.

That said, I am loving the Divine Hand Wash even more. This Divine liquid soap that has been enriched with Apricot Kernel, Jojoba and Sesame to purify and soften hard working hands. It gently washes the hands, and thanks to the added ingredients, the soft lather doesn't dry out your hands, but leaves them soft. I love that pepperminty-citrusy scent is so fresh, I also love that it is a very gender-neutral scent that is perfect to use in your powder room for the whole family to use.

And as we enter the cold winter months where my hands do tend to become a little drier, I do love having a hand cream in my powder room to use throughout the day. And I have been loving the Revitalise Hand Balm. This lovely cream is loaded with among others shea butter, cocoa seed butter, coconut oil, rosehip oil, sweet almond and macadamia oil, and is a non-greasy cream that is fast absorbing leaving the hands so soft and intensely moisturised. The peppermint scent is slightly more dominant in this cream, and a citrus lover, I would have loved it to be a little more citrusy, but regardless, it is a gorgeous scent - and again, one that is perfect even for the males in house. My husband has even commented that he likes it and the fact that it is not girly or floral, which I admit really is a refreshing change.

Finally, there's the Zesty Room Spray, which contains among others essential oils of lime and peppermint. The fresh and zesty spray immediately makes your house smell beautiful, disguising bad smells from for instance cooking, pets, or perhaps in the toilet. Personally, I love using it in the powder room, so I know it always has a pleasant and welcoming smell.

All the Natio Home products come in gorgeous bottles and containers, with black and white labels, which give them a simplistic, yet stunning and classic look. Just how I like it!!

These products are truly gorgeous. They are beautiful to use, smell incredible, look amazing, - and are very affordable too, so I definitely highly recommend that you check these out!


Natio Refresh Cleansing Bar - RRP: $10.95 / 130g
Natio Divine Hand Wash - RRP: $12.95 / 300ml
Natio Revitalise Hand Balm - RRP: $14.95 / 300ml
Natio Zesty Room Spray - RRP: $17.95 / 125ml

Available from Priceline, Myer, David Jones and selected pharmacies

* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: MUSQ CREME FOUNDATION, REPLENISH SERUM, GEL CLEANSER AND HAND WASH

Today I am excited to share with you some products that I've been loving lately from a brand called MUSQ. The MUSQ products are Australian owned and made, and based on a simple philosophy to "keep it clean, kind and simple".

This means that the skincare and makeup products are made without chemicals, but rather made with he best possible natural ingredients. This simplistic philosophy also comes out with their understated, yet super stylish monochrome packaging featuring either black bottles with white writing, or white bottles with black writing - right up my alley, as I never can resist a timeless monochrome design.

I put a selection of products to the test, including the Lemon Myrtle and Mandarin Hand Wash, which became a favourite from the very first use. As well as Lemon Myrtle and Mandarin, it is also enriched with Eucalyptus, Tea and Rosewood to help keep the skin clean and the senses energised, all while being free from soap fillers.

The bottle looks incredible on my powder room, and the zesty and fresh citrus scent is just amazing, I almost make up an excuse to go wash my hands, as I love how the beautiful scent continues to linger on my hands afterwards. I only wish there was a matching hand cream available too.

Next up is the MUSQ Replenish Serum which is an oil serum made from among others sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil, camellia seed oil, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, soybean oil, lemon myrtle oil, as well as rosemary leaf extract, CoEnzyme Q10 and Vitamin, to help boost the skin's natural rejuvenation process and help it promote rapid healing and repair, and prevent and repair free radical damage by strengthening skin cells.

The serum is so concentrated that just a few drops morning and night is all that is needed before using your usual moisturiser and makeup. Unfortunately my skin is on the greasy side, so I did find this too rich to use under makeup, but have been using it at night, where my skin as enjoyed the extra boost. But I do wake in the morning with a skin that is soft, smooth and glowing, and clearly enjoying the overnight treatment. I also love the fresh citrus scent that no doubt comes from the added lemon myrtle oil.

Then there's the MUSQ Gel Cleanser, which contains among others chamomile, cucumber eucalyptus leaf oil and lilly pilli fruit extract and is designed to gently clean even the most sensitive of skins. It has a gorgeous natural scent and creates a soft later that cleanses away my makeup (although struggling with my eye makeup, but then again, most cleansers do and a waterproof one is required!), and it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth, and without being stripped from essential oils.

Finally, there's the MUSQ Crème Foundation, which comes in a stylish round black compact with a large internal mirror. It is again made without unnecessary chemicals, and has a light consistency, so it feels light on the skin, yet it still gives a medium coverage, easily covering pigmentation, redness, bags under my eyes and blemishes, and even on my slightly greasy skin, it manages to stay put all day, without settling into lines or sliding off my face, though at mid-day powder touch up is required to take the shine off my t-zone, but that's pretty standard for most foundations on my skin. The compact makes it easy to apply with either a sponge or a brush, though personally I prefer a brush, as it really does give a nice even and almost invisible, yet healthy look. This foundation is sure to become one of my favourites, and because if it, I am now very keen on getting my little fingers onto other of the MUSQ makeup products including the blush or the coloured correctors.

So all in all very impressed with these products from MUSQ - they not only look incredible in their monochrome packaging, but they are so lovely to use too - I'm very likely to repurchase especially the foundation and hand soap, and again very keen on exploring other products from their range too, and I highly recommend that you do too.

MUSQ Hand Wash - RRP: $19.95 / 200ml
MUSQ Replenish Serum - RRP: $16.00 / 20ml
MUSQ Gel Cleanser - RRP: $39.95 / 200ml
MUSQ Crème Foundation - RRP: $46.00 / 15g

Available from MUSQ and The Beauty Drawers

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.


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PRODUCT REVIEW: THANKYOU LIME AND CORIANDER HAND WASH AND LOTION AND HAND SANITISER

You may recall that I've recently raved about the products from Thankyou (you can check out my previous posts via the labels or product directory). I mean, why wouldn’t you rave about them, as the products are not only great, they are also very ethical in that 100% of their profits from their products to helping people in need.

Today I'm going to talk about some of the newer products including the Thankyou Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Wash and Hand Lotion, the Antibacterial Lemon Lime Hand Sanitiser, and the Lime & Black Pepper Nut Bar.

To ensure that people are aware of which specific projects, the Thankyou products are supporting, each and every product has a unique tracker ID number, which you can enter online or via a special Thankyou app, so that you can see exactly where the profits from the product you’ve purchased is going! Now how amazing is that!

The products that I've got in front of me, are thus supporting;

Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Wash - a hygiene and sanitation program in Bangladesh
Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Lotion - a hygiene and sanitation program in Bangladesh
Antibacterial Lemon Lime Hand Sanitiser - a primary school in Tanzania
Lime & Black Pepper Nut Bar - food distribution in Kenya as well as agricultural program in Cambodia

I also love the fact that these products are locally made here Australia, and are free from chemical nasties including SLS, SLES, EDTA and parabens, and they do not contain any synthetic fragrances or colours, palm oils or harsh detergents, and they are PH balanced and suitable for even the most sensitive skin and they have all been dermatologically tested. And of course they have not been tested on animals!!

The Thankyou Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Wash is a gentle hand wash made with ingredients derived from nature. It contains natural oils and botanical extracts from Chamomile Flower Extract, Lavender, Eucalyptus, and bergamot oil, while lime, grapefuit and orange as well as coriander oil give is the most beautiful fresh scent.

The matching Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Lotion is a light lotion that is light, and absorbs into the hands quickly and without any greasy residue, yet it is very moisturising and leaves the hands feeling very soft. It is loaded with among others Sunflower Seed Oil, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Cacao Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Kakadu Plum Fruit Extract, and again the lime, grapefuit and orange as well as coriander oil to give it the fresh citrus scent.

I absolutely love this hand wash and lotion combination - I wash my hands a lot during the day thanks to two toddlers in nappies, but with this combo by the sink, my hands are quickly clean again, and smelling divine - and the lotion keeps them from drying out.

Even my husband loves them - he is usually not too fond of over-fragranced hand creams, and often find them too girlie, but is a great option, suitable for the whole family. I also love that they both come in easy to use pump bottles and they look stylish by the sink.

When I am out and about, sometimes you just haven't got access to water and soap and that's when its handy to have a bottle of Antibacterial Lemon Lime Hand Sanitiser in the handbag or car. This small bottle kills 99.9% of all germs, but just rubbing a bit into your hands until it has absorbed. Usually hand sanitisers dry out the skin, and leave behind an alcoholic smell - but not this one which also contains aloe vera and vitamin E, it leaves the skin feeling soft and clean as it is also pH balanced. And the added Lemon Lime makes it smell refreshing and very clean too.

Finally, something a little different, the Thankyou Lime & Black Pepper Nut Bars, which are just so delicious. I love their slight citrusy tanginess, and while I am not usually too fond of black pepper, and initially didn't think I'd like these for that reason, they've got just the right amount of pepper to just give them a nice touch of spiciness. There are enough sweet muesli bars on the market, so it is a refreshing chance that these are savoury. Definitely a must try. I've found a new favourite!


So all in all, yet again some incredible products from Thankyou, which are very well priced too, and in addition helps support some great cause.


Thankyou Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Wash - $7.59 / 500ml
Thankyou Botanical Lime & Coriander Hand Lotion - $8.99 / 500ml
Thankyou Antibacterial Lemon Lime Hand Sanitiser - $4.65 / 50ml
Thankyou Lime & Black Pepper Nut Bar

Available from Chemist Warehouse, Coles, Priceline & Woolworths

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: THANKYOU HAND WASH, HAND LOTION SANITISER AND COFFEE BODY SCRUB



A little while ago I talked about a beautiful range of baby products from the Australian brand Thankyou (which you can read all about here), and today I'm going to introduce you to a few more of their products which I've been enjoying lately…

 

If you're not familiar with the brand Thankyou, they're a very unique social enterprise, as they believe they can help end global poverty in this lifetime, and hence they give 100% of their profits from their products to helping people in need. 100%!! And what's even more amazing, is that each Thankyou product comes with a unique tracker ID number, which you can enter online or via a special Thankyou app, so that you can see exactly where the profits from the product you’ve purchased is going! Now how amazing is that!

What also amazing is that these products are made here in Australia, and they are completely free from chemical nasties including SLS, SLES, EDTA and parabens, and they do not contain any synthetic fragrances or colours, palm oils or harsh detergents, and they are PH balanced and suitable for even the most sensitive skin and they have all been dermatologically tested. And of course they have not been tested on animals!!

The Thankyou Botanical Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Wash is a super gentle hand wash made with ingredients derived from nature. It contains natural oils and botanical extracts from Chamomile Flower Extract, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Sandalwood, while Patchouli and Vanilla leaves it smelling beautiful. The Hand Wash gentle cleans your hands, without drying them out, and the gorgeous scent lingers both in the air and on your hands.

The matching Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Lotion is a nourishing yet super light hand cream. It is made without palm oil, but contains rich ingredients such as Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Plant Derived Glycerin, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Cacao Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Kakadu Plum Fruit Extract, Lavender Oil, as well as of course the Patchouli Oil, and Vanilla to give it its beautiful scent. It absorbs super fast into the skin, which I really like, and has it doesn't leave the hands feeling greasy I can immediately get on the day. Like the Hand Wash, the Hand Lotion comes in a convenient, and large, pump bottle, that also looks super stylish in the bathroom.

Then there's the Thankyou Antibacterial Grapefruit Sanitiser. With our little boy having been so sick and not having an immune system, we’ve relied on antibacterial sanitisers to keep germs at bay in order to protect him from any infection or illness as much as possible, and the Thankyou Antibacterial Grapefruit Sanitiser is one of the nicest ones I've come across. Often I find that antibacterial sanitisers are very 'alcoholic' but not this one - there's absolutely no alcohol smell in sight, but rather it has the most beautiful uplifting zesty and refreshing scent from the grapefruit, but I also love that it kills 99.9% of germs. And as it is pH balanced, it doesn't irritate or dry out the hands. But instead the gel, which quickly absorbs into the skin, still leaves your hands soft thanks to the added Aloe Vera leaf juice and Vitamin E.

For the body, I've been loving the Thankyou Coffee Body Scrub with Botanical Geranium and Rosewood. As a coffee addict, I love the smell of this scrub made with coffee grounds which is rich in antioxidants along with cold-pressed macadamia oil. The coffee grounds are gentle on the skin, yet super efficient, and used on the damp skin and left on for a few minutes so the skin can absorb all the natural hydrating ingredients, this scrub leaves the skin so incredibly soft and smooth, and smelling gorgeous too - just like my bathroom, which smells almost like a coffee shop. As anyone loving coffee scrubs will know, it does leave a bit of a mess behind, but if you ask me, its worth it, and the perfect kick start in the morning too.


All the products come in old style dark brown apothecary plastic bottles and jars with the stunning a simplistic Thankyou labels, which also makes these products look fantastic out on display. 

So all in all I have again really enjoyed using these products from Thankyou. The products are exceptionally well priced, in fact I was surprised at their low price, so I will definitely be purchasing these again, as well as looking into more products from the large Thankyou product range.

And I love knowing that while I care my skin, purchasing these particular products from Thankyou will help support various programs;

Thankyou Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Wash - a hygiene and sanitation program in Bangladesh
Thankyou Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Lotion - a hygiene and sanitation program in Bangladesh
Thankyou Coffee Body Scrub - a hygiene and sanitation program in Tanzania
Thankyou Antibacterial Grapefruit Sanitiser - a hygiene and sanitation program in Bangladesh

Thankyou Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Wash - $7.59 / 500ml
Thankyou Patchouli & Vanilla Hand Lotion - $8.99 / 500ml
Thankyou Antibacterial Grapefruit Sanitiser - $12.99 / 500ml
Thankyou Coffee Body Scrub w/Geranium and Rosewood - RRP: $14.95 / 300g

Available from Chemist Warehouse, Coles, Priceline & Woolworths

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: EVODIA VICTORIA ROSE COLLECTION

A little while ago I talked about a beautiful Australian brand called Evodia (which you can read all about here). What makes Evodia unique is that the products are made from floral, fruit and bush extracts, vitamins and essential oils sourced from the Australian environment, and the products are beautiful, which you can read all about here. And today I'm excited to share with you Evodia's new scent, the Victoria Rose Collection.

This Victoria Rose collection is a very feminine and romantic collection, reminding you of a summer garden in full bloom.

The products contain:

• Top Notes: Cassis, Bergamot, Lemon, Pomegranate
• Middle Notes: Rose, Peony, Coconut, Patchouli, Raspberry, Jasmine, Lemon Blossom
• Base Notes: Musk, Amber, Sandalwood

The products come packaged in simplistic white bottles and tubes, which come with pale pink rose decorated labels, illustrated by Australian botanical artist Edith Rewa.

The Evodia Victoria Rose Collection includes Hand & Body Wash, Hand & Body Lotion, Hand Cream, Body Mist, and Fragrance Roll-On.

While the Hand & Body Wash and Hand & Body Lotion would be perfect in the bathroom, to use in and after the shower, I have been enjoying them as hand wash and hand lotion in my down stairs bath room - simply because I find that the bottle are super pretty, and that way I get to enjoy looking them throughout the day, and of course smell the gorgeous scent too.

The wash gently cleanses the skin thanks to soothing aloe vera, and as the wash is also PH balanced, there's no need o worry that it will dry out or irritate your hands, something I find that fragranced soaps often do. And when following with a small pump of the Victoria Rose Hand & Body Lotion, which is enriched with cocoa butter, grape seed oil and sweet almond oil, my hands are left soft and moisturised. And because of the light consistency, this cream also absorbs quickly into my hands, and without any greasiness, so I can get on with my day.

I also love that both the Hand & Body Wash and the Hand & Body Lotion come in pump bottle which makes them so easy to use, plus the large 400ml bottles will last you forever too.

When I feel my hands need a little extra care, I've been reaching for the Evodia Hand Cream, which is enriched with Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba and Avocado Oils as well as Cocoa Butter. It is a thick and rich hand cream, which naturally takes a few moments longer to absorb into the skin than the lighter Hand & Body Lotion, but the wait is worthwhile as is super nourishing and moisturising, and leaves you hands silky soft for hours.

Then there's the Evodia Victoria Rose Body Mist, which is made with fine fragrance. Being a Body Mist, it is naturally not as strong as an actual perfume or even an eau de toilette, but it is perfect if you just want a touch of a scent, so it is also ideal on a spring or summers day. And because it comes in a large 200ml bottle you can continue to reapply during the day as needed.

But should you want a stronger fragrance, then you can always reach for the Evodia Victoria Rose Fragrance Roll-On, which is even more concentrated than the Body Mist. This little roll on great for rolling onto pulse points, and is so small its perfect for popping into your handbag for touch-ups throughout the day.

Common for all the products is that the scent continues to linger on your skin (and in the air) for long after you've used then, and of course, by using several products such as the Hand & Body Wash, Hand & Body Lotion or Hand Cream, and the Body Mist or Fragrance Roll-On, you also build up the intensity of the scent, making it last even longer on the skin.

Overall this is a really gorgeous new range from Evodia, and the scent is divine. I am not usually a big fan of pure rose scents as I find it a little 'old' and 'grandma'ish", but Evodia has with the combination of rose, citrus, musk and sandalwood, along with jasmine and patchouli, and not to mention pomegranate and raspberry, managed to create a more refreshing and youthful fruity rose version, that you can only fall in love with. And of course, you can only applaud that these Australian made products are all free from harsh chemicals including parabens and petrochemicals, and that they are cruelty free and vegan friendly too.


Evodia Roll On Fragrance - RRP: $12.95 / 15ml
Evodia Body Mist - RRP: $200ml / 25.95
Evodia Hand & Body Wash - RRP: $18.95 / 400ml
Evodia Hand & Body Lotion - RRP: $18.95 / 400ml
Evodia Hand Cream - RRP: $17.95 / 100ml

Available from Myer stores, selected pharmacies, gift and home wares stores and from Evodia online.

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

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BRAND FOCUS: EVODIA

Today I'd like to talk about a band called Evodia. Evodia products are Australian owned and made from floral, fruit and bush extracts, vitamins and essential oils sourced from the Australian environment.

The Evodia products are also enriched with ingredients like lemon myrtle, Kakadu plum, Tasmanian lavender, jasmine, mango, lime and coconut to name a few. As well as using naturally derived ingredients, the products are also made using purified water, and with no marsh chemicals or preservatives in sight. The brand has been around for over 25 years, and prides themselves in making affordable, yet luxurious products at the highest quality, with the range including bath, body, fragrance and home lifestyle products. Today I'd like to put focus on a selection of the Evodia products..


But first, let me just run you through all the fragrance collections in the Evodia range; 

• Whitsunday Coconut & Lime
• Byron Bay Frangipani
• Adelaide Hills Jasmine
• Tasmanian Lavender
• Daintree Mango & Pink Grapefruit
• Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose
• Australian Bush Lemon Myrtle

 

As a lover of all citrus products, the ranges that immediately caught my eyes, was the Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose range and the Australian Bush Lemon Myrtle.

  

The Barossa Grapefruit an Tuberose range has the following ingredients;  

• Top Notes: Pepper, Grapefruit, Lemon, Passionfruit 
• Middle Notes: Water Lily, Ylang Ylang, Tuberose
• Base Notes: Musk, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Amber

  

 

 

 

The Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose Nourishing Soap Bar also contains Gippsland Goats Milk & Organic Shea Butter, and comes wrapped in tissue paper inside a beautiful oval shaped tin box with a pinky-red lid. It smells absolutely divine, but I do have to admit to not being a huge fan of soap bars as I do find that they quickly become quite messy - so for now I've left it out on display, where it looks absolutely stunning in my powder room!

  

Next to it, I've got the Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose Hand Cream, which is also enriched with Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba and Avocado Oils as well as Cocoa Butter. This thick and rich hand cream is absolutely divine, and you can instantly feel its nourishing properties as it absorbs into the skin, leaving your hands feeling so silky and smooth, without any greasiness. And it has that same refreshingly divine Grapefruit and Tuberose scent that lingers on the skin for a long time afterwards, which I really love, although it does mean that I can't stop smelling my hands.

 

Then there's the Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose Hand & Body Lotion, which comes in a very handy pump bottle, that makes it so easy to use in the bathroom. It is enriched with cocoa butter, grape seed oil and sweet almond oil, and yet it bears the same beautiful beautiful lasting scent. The consistency of the Hand & Body Lotion is somewhat thinner than the Hand Cream, but it still feels very moisturising on the skin, and I do not feel the need to reapply during the day.

  

Next there's the Australian Bush Lemon Myrtle Hand & Body Wash. This range has;

 

• Top Notes: Lemon, Orange, Lime 
• Middle Notes: Geranium
• Base Notes: Fresh Green Watermelon

 

And this range is so fresh, clean and zesty, and absolutely lovely, and hence the Hand & Body Wash from this range is the perfect body wash to use in the morning for the ultimate kick-start. The wash contains soothing aloe vera and gently cleanses the skin, without drying it out or irritating it, as it also protects the skin's natural PH balance. I also love the fact that this gorgeous scent spreads through my bathroom after my shower, and that I can just detect the beautiful scent on my skin, when I've dried.  

 

 

 

  

 

The Body Mist from the Australian Bush Lemon Myrtle Range is body mist that contains fine fragrance making it perfect to use as a perfume on a warm summers day as it is so energising and refreshing. As can be expected, it doesn't last all day on the skin, but it comes in a huge 200ml bottle, so you got enough to reapply during the day as you want.

 

Finally, there's the Fragrance Roll-On from the Byron Bay Frangipani range. I absolutely love frangipanis, but sadly, after a couple of attempts, I've come to realise that I just cannot get a tree to grow in chilly Melbourne. This range contains;  

• Top Notes: Lemon, Ylang Ylang 
• Middle Notes: Jasmine, Frangipani 
• Base Notes: Blackcurrant, Cinnamon

 

Like the rest of the ranges, this little Roll-On Fragrance has a beautiful floral frangipani scent. The cute Roll-On is the perfect perfume to pop into the handbag so you can reapply during the day, not that it is really needed as it actually, surprisingly, lasts quite well throughout the day. I think it is possibly just the frangipani scent, but it is actually quite strong smelling, so I've found that you only need to apply a tiny bit, otherwise I found it to be too overwhelming, but the fact that it is so concentrated is only a positive, so the small bottle will last you longer.

 

 

Overall I am really impressed with these products from Evodia. They feel so lovely to use and I love that the beautiful scents continue to linger on my skin and in my house after I've used them. The products also look beautiful in their white bottles and tunes with varying colours and floral designs depending on the ingredients range, so they also look fabulous on display in the bathroom and by the powder room sink, and are the perfect present too.

 

Personally I'm particularly loving the Hand & Body Wash, the Hand & Body Lotion and the Hand Cream, and I am very keen to get my hands on a Australian Bush Lemon Myrtle Hand & Body Lotion to pair with my Hand &Body Wash, as well as a Barossa Grapefruit & Tuberose Hand & Body Wash, so I can use the matching sets together without mixing different scents.

 

So all in all these products from Evodia really are lovely, and with so many different scents, there really also is something for every taste and preference, so definitely worth checking them out

 

 

Evodia Roll On Fragrance - RRP: $12.95 / 15ml 

Evodia Body Mist - RRP: $200ml / 25.95 

Evodia Soap Bar - RRP: $13.95 / 180g 

Evodia Hand & Body Wash - RRP: $18.95 / 400ml

Evodia Hand & Body Lotion - RRP: $18.95 / 400ml 

Evodia Hand Cream - RRP: $17.95 / 100ml

 

 

Available from Myer stores, selected pharmacies, gift and homeware stores and from Evodia online.

 

 

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: DR ROEBUCK'S POLISH, EYE REGENERATION CREAM AND BODY AND HAND WASH

I love it when I across new brands, so today I'm excited to share with you some products from Dr. Roebuck's. The brand was started way back in 1978 when Dr. Roebuck created his original formula PURE to treat the eczema of his newborn twin daughters. These creams were pure, as he understood the importance of excluding unnecessary fillers, colours, scents and chemicals, but only use the absolute necessary ingredients.

Today the twin daughters, Zoe and Kim have taken over, and developed Dr Roebuck's, which is now available around the globe, but still with the same great philosophy, to keep the products free from petrochemicals, sulphates, no TEA/ DEA, Glycols, Silicas, PEGS, and synthetic fragrances and colours. And I love that it is still Australian owned and products made in Sydney.

I have tried one of their bestsellers, the Dr. Roebuck's Polish, the Body & Hand Wash, as well as the newly launched Eye Regeneration Cream. 

Let's start with the Dr. Roebuck's Polish, which is a unique two-in-one formula that combines a face mask with an exfoliant. It is a deep cleansing and purifying, non-abrasive facial scrub and mask gently removes dead skin cells leaving the skin revitalised and beautifully radiant.

It contains among others natural jojoba beads, peppermint and grapefruit to exfoliate and deep cleanse, as well as kaolin clay to draw out impurities, excess sebum and toxins from the skin. It also contains vitamin E to regenerate and create a healthier skin, as well as White Tea extracts and Macadamia Oil to neutralise any nasty free radicals.

To use, you simply apply a generous layer to the face and leave for a few minutes to allow the kaolin to draw out impurities, before you start to massage it into the skin, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. It doesn't harden up like many clay masks, but it does dry a little, but without leaving the skin with that tight feeling. The Polish has a lovely cooling feeling on the skin thanks to containing peppermint, which also makes it smell divine. And afterwards my skin is so soft and smooth, and without any dryness or irritation, but rather with a lovely radiant glow. The actual scrub has a nice light texture, and just the right amount of grains, gentle, yet still very effective.

Then there's the just launched Dr. Roebuck's Eye Regeneration Cream, which has been designed to prevent premature ageing and rejuvenating vitalise damaged skin around the eye area. The cream contains; 

• Coconut Oil to deeply moisturise and hydrate to prevent premature ageing and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles
• Caffeine to reduce dark circles and bags around the eyes
• Rosehip Seed Oil to regenerate skin to diminish wrinkles while soothing and softening the skin
• Arnica Montana Flower to aid reducing dark rings around the eye area
• Vitamin E Oil an antioxidant that works deep in the dermis to repair damaged skin
• Lecithin to naturally moisturise while allowing active ingredient to penetrate the dermis
• Sodium PCA, an effective natural amino acid that retains moisture in the skin to enhance skin elasticity

This eye cream is a rather thick and rich cream, and hence it does take a bit to absorb fully into the skin, so unless you've got time to wait, I do suggest using it as a night eye cream only, which is what I've been doing, also because I feel it leaves the skin feeling slightly sticky afterwards. But that said, I really don't mind as it is so concentrated and intensely moisturising, which my eye area is clearly enjoying. After just a few weeks use (again, night only), I do feel that my eye area looks slightly smoother and the skin more plump, and consequently, some fine lines seem to have diminished in size too. The skin also feels very soft, but I am sadly yet to see any major difference in the size and appearance of dark circles and bags under my eyes, but with two small kids, who seem to take turns waking me several times throughout the night, and I am consequently slightly sleep-deprived, the cream is also fighting an almost impossible battle at the moment. But apart from that, I am really enjoying this cream, and the effects from using it.

In the jar it looks like the cream has some tiny grains throughout it, but interestingly, it hasn't got a grainy fee at all. It has a slightly odd scent, but knowing that it doesn't contain unnecessary added fragrance, I really don't mind at all.

Both the Polish and the Eye Cream comes in gorgeous orangy-red see-through plastic jars with silver writing, which are unique and just stunning.

Finally, the Dr. Roebuck's Hand & Body Wash, which has been made specifically for sensitive skin, free from petrochemicals, sulfates and parabens. It has been infused with neroli petitgrain from France as well as thyme and basil to soothe and calm irritated sensitive skin, as well as they have a soothing effect on the nervous system and assist in relieving anxiety and tension.

This soap is extremely gentle, and leaves the skin clean without drying it out, and has a beautiful natural herbal scent that you can only love.

It comes in an old-school brown plastic bottle with a convenient pump, which I personally really like, so I have to admit that I have predominantly used it as a hand wash in our powder room, as I simply find the bottle too nice to stash away in our ensuite shower for nobody to see.


I've really enjoyed using both products, the Polish has quickly become a favourite, that I can see myself purchasing again and again, and the Eye Cream is really perfect as a more intensive night eye cream. And finally, I really like the Body & Hand Wash for its gentle properties and clean natural herbal scent, so I can see that one becoming a regular hand wash in our house too.

If you are serious about skincare without all the chemical nasties, then I can highly recommend that you check out the Dr. Roebuck's range.


Dr. Roebuck's Polish - RRP: $39.95 / 50ml
Dr. Roebuck's Eye Regeneration Cream - RRP: $39.95 / 15ml
Dr. Roebuck's Body & Handwash - RRP: $18.95 / 250ml

Available from Dr. Roebuck's, SkincareStore, as well as select outlets worldwide!

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

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THREE OF A KIND: GREEN BODY WASHES

Today I am starting a new series of posts on the blog, Three of a Kind, where I will be exploring thee different products which all have something in common, be it the type of product, or maybe the scent that is used. And I’ve got some great ones lined up, including products for all tastes and budgets. But let’s start with some body washes - nothing beats a nice hot shower in the morning, and especially when you use some favourite pampering products. Here’s a rundown on some great green body washes;

Anatomicals Grapefruit and Lemongrass Body Cleanser*

 

This brand was recently – and finally launched in Australia, and if you haven’t already tried out the products, you really should – and they are really purse friendly too, with all products under $10. I recently tested the Grapefruit and Lemongrass Body Cleanser (check out my full review here), and I absolutely love the fresh zesty lemon scent and the gorgeous lime green pump bottle that looks ever so funky in the bathroom. The shower gel leaves your skin clean and feeling soft, and I like that it has been formulated without parabens.

RRP: $8.99 (300ml) - Available from Target, Priceline and Chemist Warehouse.

 

Premium Spa Body Wash with Tangerine & Lime Zest*

Another favourite of mine is the Australian Made Premium Spa Body Wash with Tangerine & Lime Zest (check out my full review here). It is one of the zestiest body washes around, thanks to the tangerine and lemon oil and lime zest used, which makes it smell absolutely divine, and it is sure to give me a much needed wake-up call in the morning, after yet another poor night’s sleep due to a teething toddler. The body wash is not only formulated with certified organic aloe vera to help soothe and heal the skin and calendula extracts to help calm the skin, but it also doesn’t contain any chemical nasties including parabens, SLS or mineral oils. Unfortunately – for me – my husband has really taken a liking to this one, so it’s used up twice as fast, I’ve had to repurchase a new bottle, so it’s lucky that it comes at such a great price.

RRP: $9.95 (300ml) – Available from Priceline, Big W and selected pharmacies

ELEVEN Australia Wash Me All Over Hand & Body Wash*

 

If you’ve got a few extra dollars to spare, you cannot go past this two-in-one Hand and Body Wash from ELEVEN. ELEVEN has previously been known for their haircare products (check out my reviews of the Shampoo & Conditioner and the Miracle Treatment). The soap is not only PH balanced so it is very gentle, but it is also SLS free. It is infused with natural oils including papaya extract and almond oil to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, and orange, lavender and coconut oils to provide the skin with hydration and repair. And it has added jojoba oil which helps keep the skin soft and hydrated. The soap comes a simple yet modern pump bottle that is easy to use and which will look great in any bathroom, and it has a divine gentle refreshing scent making it perfect for the whole family. 

RRP $19.95 (500ml) - Available from ELEVEN Australia and select stockists

 

So there you have it, a three different green body washes, each gorgeous in its own right.

*Products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

What do you think of these green body washes? Tried any of them? Keen on trying? What’s your preferred scent in body washes?

 

Brand Focus: Ausganica – Plus INTERNATINAL GIVEAWAY

As a beauty blogger and lover of all beauty products, I love it when I come across new brands, and hence I was quite excited when I was recently contacted by Ausganica.

Ausganica is an Australian maker of certified organic skincare, haircare, and cosmetics. The story began in 1997 with group of aroma-therapists, organic farmers, and cosmeceutical experts who all shared the dream of healthy natural personal care.

Grown from one of the world’s largest certified organic farms, with nearly 500 acres, certified Grade A by OGA (Organic Growers Australia), and also certified by HACCP. The manufacturing is certified by both ACO (Australian Certified Organic), and the OFC (Organic Food Chain).

Organic botanical essences form the core of Ausganica, where they follow the ancient methods of hand picking fresh plants, infusing them with organic grain alcohol, allowing them to steep for 28-30 days, then extracting. This is to ensure a complete and diverse nutrient content in the actives and preserve their ultimate vitality.


In order to achieve premium quality, Ausganica insists on only organic, natural and expressly allowed ingredients according to certified organic and eco/green standards. We don’t use synthetic fragrances, synthetic minerals, synthetic colours, sulphates, parabens and other harsh ingredients.. And we never do any animal testing, or use animal-tested source ingredients, or animal-derived ingredients.


I was lucky to be able to try a couple of products, including the lavender range, which includes shampoo, conditioner, body & hand wash and body lotion. The products are exceptionally gentle, and all have gorgeous, yet subtle lavender scent. Personally, when I think of the lavender scent, it reminds me of something I’d smell at my grandma’s place, and a bit of an old person’s scent, but that is far from the case, it is so fresh, natural and lovely that I might have to revise my thoughts on the lavender scent!


The shampoo, which contains gentle botanical cleansers soap nut, and coconut water blended in a ph neutral formula to calm and soothe a sensitive scalp, really does cleanse the hair very gently, and in just one wash removing all build up from styling products.

I follow with the conditioner, which is enriched with pure active botanicals including calendula, chamomile, argan, and Australian daisy flower to lock in moisture and soothes sensitive scalps. The conditioner is easy to rinse out without feeling there is residue left behind, and it leaves my hair easy to comb. Once my hair has dried naturally it feels so light, and is so soft and smooth.

The hand and body wash is 100% plant based foaming wash and enriched with valeriana, comfrey, and Australian daisy flower to deliver the ultimate calming effect to the skin while English chamomile, blue German chamomile, and calendula oils help skin to regain its comfortness. And it cleanses the skin so gently, leaving it feeling silky soft and without drying out the skin.


Regardless, I still follow with the Body lotion which is made with calendula, chamomile, frankincense oils, and nourishing shea nut butter, coconut and argan oils. The lotion is quite runny in formula, but don’t be fooled, it still instantly provides intense moisture to the skin, absorbing immediately without leaving the skin feeling greasy or tacky. It even manages to provide sufficient moisture to those very dry ares such as my shins and elbows, with no need to reapply during the day.


All in all, I really love the fact that these products are of such high quality. They smell amazing thanks to the essential oils and best of all, they are certified organic! This gorgeous travel pack with Lavender products, is the perfect to trial several products from Ausganica, and of course, it is perfect for both travelling and for popping into the gym bag. And trialling these lovely lavender products has definitely made me want to try more from Ausganica.


If you want to know more about Ausganica or purchase some of their products, check out the Ausganica website and make sure to follow them on facebook too.


GIVEAWAY


And here’s the good news, thanks to the nice and generous people of Ausganica, TEN lucky readers of The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter will have a chance to each win an Ausganica Lavender travel pack containing Shampoo, Conditioner, Hand/Body Wash and Hand/Body Lotion (30ml each).

And this is an International Giveaway. Yep, that is right, this giveaway is open to all my lovely followers from both Australia, but also from around the big wide world.

Here are the rules of the giveaway, so please read them:

The giveaway begins today, the 30th March 2014, and ends on the 18th April 2014.

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.

You MUST follow The Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter by GFC or Bloglovin’, and you will get extra entries for following me on both.

You can also get additional entries by following the options in the Rafflecopter form

You will be banned from this and future giveaways if you're only following my blog on GFC, Facebook, Bloglovin, or SheSaidBeauty, because of the giveaways on my blog and un-follow straight after. So if you have previously been following my blog, unfollowed, and now wish to follow again, you are not eligible to enter this giveaway.

Giveaway blogs that solely posts about giveaways/competitions are excluded from entering this giveaway.

The winners will be selected from random using Rafflecopter.

You must be 18 or older to enter. If you are under 18 years of age, please get permission from your parent(s), as I will need your postal address if you're chosen as a winner.

From contacted, the winner has 48 hours to respond with their address details. Failure to respond within this timeframe will result in a new winner being drawn.

I or Ausganica will not be held accountable for any custom/import fees or taxes that may incur.

Also note that Ausganica will send the prizes directly to the lucky winners, and I take no responsibility for lost, misdirected or damaged mail.

I reserve the right to modify anything about this giveaway.


Good Luck everyone – and thanks again for all your support!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: Best Budget Beauty Buys - December 2013

It has been a while since I did my last Best Beauty Budget Buys – I have simply been busy. Insanely busy. Having a baby, selling your house and looking for a new one has just taken up a lot of my time lately, so I have been a little side tracked. Anyway, here my most recent suggestions for Best Beauty Budget Buys;

Palmolive Heavenly Hands Foaming Hand Wash*

 

Since Palmolive launched the foaming hand washes in 2012 I have been in love with these. With just a single pump, the liquid transfers into a soft creamy form, that gently washes the hands, without drying them out, and leaving behind a gorgeous scent. And now two new additions have just been launched; Jasmine and Passionfruit. Both smell absolutely amazing and are suitable for the whole family, while the Passionfruit version is also antibacterial, specifically formulated to kill germs, so it is perfect to keep by the kitchen sink.

RRP $3.29 (250mL Pump), and RRP $5.49 (500mL Refill) - available from supermarkets and selected pharmacies.

 

Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment Shaver*

 

Summer is upon us, so it’s time to bare the legs, which also means time to defuzz… And for that, the new Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment Shaver is perfect. The shaver has four blades for a close shave, so you don’t have to shave quite as often, and it has a strip with coconut and almond milk at the end of the blade which means that you don’t have to use shave gel, soap or body wash when shaving, which is great as I always run out of my shaving gel, and dry shaving is not a good idea!

The Coconut Milk and Almond Oil strip lathers up when used on wet skin, leaving the skin moisturised and incredibly soft afterwards. The shaver comes with two replacement blades and also a nifty little holder so you can keep it in the shower.

 

Garnier Fructis Nutri-Repair 3 Miraculous Oil

 

The last few years I’ve become addicted to hair oils. I use them daily. But some hair oils can be rather expensive – but not this relatively new baby from Garnier. The oil is enriched with argan oil and promises to condition and repair dry, damaged and dull hair, and provide protection from heat styling. I use this oil after I wash my hair to add moisture, after I’ve styled it to get rid of any frizz, and on days I don’t wash it to give my hair added shine. It has a lovely fruity scent, and it very concentrated, just 2-3 pumps is all it takes in my long thick hair, so the generous 150ml bottle will last you a long time. An absolute bargain!

RRP: $11.95 (150ml) – available from Priceline, select pharmacies, and supermarkets

 

Colour Theory Lipgloss*

 

Colour Theory is a new brand that has been developed with four simple and low price points, $4, $6, $8 and $10. This lipgloss in the colour Strawberry Sorbet is a pale pink colour that is perfect to use on its own for a casual day time look or it can be used on top of your lipstick as a finishing touch.

It has a nice glossy finish with lovely subtle golden shimmers throughout, yet without being over the top shimmery. It is easy to apply and has a nice moisturising feeling on the lips, without being sticky or tacky. It is available in 8 beautiful shades, and come at an absolute bargain price!

RRP: $8 (3ml) – Available from Amcal and Guardian Pharmacies 

*These products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

So there you go, these are my most recent suggestions Best Budget Beauty Buys? Have you tried any of these products? Or keen to?