PRODUCT REVIEW: THANKYOU BABY SKINCARE

Today I'm going to talk about some baby skincare products from Thankyou. 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. And that's 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 are going! I think we've all heard stories of some aid organisations where the majority of the funds goes towards anything but the cause they're intending to help, so this is brilliant if you ask me.

 

But how do the Thankyou products stack up… here I put some of the baby skincare products to the test, including the Baby Bath Milk, Mums & Bubs Massage Oil and the Baby Lotion..

Let's begin with the Thankyou Baby Bath Milk, which is a milky bath made with goat's milk and gentle plant oils including sunflower oil, chamomile oil, avocado oil and oat extracts. It is so gentle and is perfect for newborns and those little kids with super sensitive skin -so perfect for my two blonde and very fair-skinned boys, who both seem to have sensitive skin. The Bath Milk has a gentle herbal scent, and is to be added to the bath water, to not only gently cleanse their skin as it is PH balanced, but also make it silky soft and smooth. I have long been using bath oils in my little boy's bath, but this is without a doubt a new favourite.

The Thankyou Mums & Bubs Massage Oil is a massage oil that contains natural restoring ingredients including avocado, rosehip and coconut oils, as well as olive oil and calendula flower extract - and as you may notice, it does not contain mineral oils!

It is a light non-greasy oil that is great to massaging into your baby's sensitive skin to help him or her relax - and I wish I'd known about this one earlier while I was pregnant, as it is also intended as a massage oil for pregnant itchy and stretching tummies. It is very concentrated so you only need to use a tiny bit, and it has a lovely gentle scent from the natural ingredients which has been used as fragrance.

Finally, there's the Thankyou Gentle & Soothing Baby Lotion which is a light moisturiser containing among others rosehip, avocado & coconut oils, as well as cocoa seed butter, shea butter, mixed with oat, chamomile and kakadu plum extracts. This baby lotion quickly absorbs into the skin immediately and leaves it very soft and smooth, and without any greasiness or stickiness, and I actually have to admit to having used on myself too, as after using it on my boys I loved the feel of massaging in any leftover cream on my hands. Like the other products it has a lovely gentle scent from the natural ingredients that you can only love.

Also worth mentioning is that these products from Thankyou are all free from chemical nasties including SLS, SLES, EDTA and parabens, 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.

The products come in old style dark brown apocathery plastic bottles with the stunning simplistic black and white Thankyou labels, which also makes these products look fantastic in the bathroom.

So all in all I have really enjoyed using these baby products on my little boys, they are soft and gentle, and leave my boys delicate skin clean and feeling soft and moisturised, and with a delicate natural scent. They 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 for my boys skin, purchasing these particular products from Thankyou will help support a Child and Maternal Health Program in Khotang in Nepal.


Thankyou Milk & Gentle Baby Bath Milk - RRP: $9.99 / 300ml
Thankyou Mums &Bubs Massage Oil - RRP: $9.99 / 125ml
Thankyou Gentle & Soothing Baby Lotion - RRP: $9.99 / 300ml

Available from Baby Bunting, Chemist Warehouse, Priceline & Woolworths as well as online from Thankyou

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

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BRAND FOCUS: ARMOABABY

Today I’d like to put focus on an Australian-made skin care range for babies and pregnant mothers.

The range is rich in certified organic, natural oils and contain no petro-chemicals, added colour (artificial or otherwise), artificial fragrance, animal ingredients, propylene glycol, parabens, sulphates, alcohol, cocoamphodiacetate, talc, herbal extracts , synthetic vitamin e, silicones or vegetable oils, and hence the products are not only super pure, they are also super gentle and suitable for the most sensitive of baby skins. Rather the products contain a certified organic and pesticide free and gmo free pure rosehip oil, natural vitamin e, avocado oil, jojoba, calendula, therapeutic-grade essential oils and more. soothing, certified organic oat and soy powders, edible-grade corn-starch and pure essential oils.


Stretched to the Limit Massage Oil for Pregnancy and Postnatal

This body oil has been designed to care for the skin during pregnancy and beyond when the skin is stretching. It helps moisture and nurture the skin, thanks to containing ingredients from cold pressed, organic avocado, jojoba, rosehip, sesame and evening primrose oils. The massage oil helps to soothe dry, irritated or rough skin, and can help encourage muscle tone and prevent stretchmarks on thighs, hips, buttocks, breast and the stomach, if used throughout the pregnancy and continued for a few months after giving birth. The light oil comes in an easy to use pump bottle, and has a slightly odd scent, which no doubt comes from the natural ingredients. But luckily it disappears rather quickly once the oil has absorbed into the skin. The oil does take a little while absorb into the skin, but once it has, it leaves the skin feeling soft and supple. As it is a little greasy, I like massaging it into my itchy tummy as I sit and watch TV at night, as that way it has plenty of time to absorb into my skin. 

RRP: $24.95 (125ml) – Available from AromaBaby



Organic Aromabath Powder

This bath powder has been made from certified organic oatmeal, organic lavender flowers and a blend of certified organic pure essential oils to help relieve and soothe itchy, irritated and dry skin. It can be used both postnatal for Mum, or even for your baby’s bath, which proves just how gentle it is. The bath powder is very concentrated, and you only use to use about 2 teaspoons, or even less if for your baby, so the large tub will last you for a while. My little boy is at the age where he does love his bubble bath, and luckily his skin is not dry so it can tolerate it. However, I can feel that when I’ve used the bath powder instead of the usual bubble bath, his skin is super soft, and smells so lovely too! The Aromabath can also be used to relieve itching and soothe redness associated with stings, bites, chickenpox and sunburn, but luckily we are yet to have a need for that!

RRP: $24.95 (150g) – Available from AromaBaby



Baby Bath Gel

This Bath gel is extremely gentle and is also sulphate-free, so it is perfect for babies and toddlers. It contains certified organic pure essential oils of French lavender and German chamomile work together to relax baby and help soothe and care for delicate skin, as well as it also contains vitamin E to help add moisture to the skin. Thanks to the essential oils it has the most gorgeous gentle scent. Because it is sulphate free, it doesn’t foam up as easily as ‘standard’ bath gels containing sulphate, but don’t be fooled, it still cleanses your skin, leaving it soft and smooth, and with the lovely scent of chamomile and lavender lingering on the skin.

RRP: $12.95 (125ml) – Available from AromaBaby



Pure Hair Cleanse

This Hair Cleanse is another extremely mild product, free from sulphates. I contains certified organic geranium and sweet orange pure essential oils, and it has a beautiful mild orangey scent that I really love. It is intended to help with scalp dryness, while gently cleansing the without stripping the hair and scalp from essential oils. It leaves my little boy’s fine blonde hair feeling soft and looking so shiny and healthy. It can of course also be used by adults with dry and irritated scalp.

RRP: $10.95 (125ml) – Available from AromaBaby



Moisturising Nappy Change Cream

This Nappy Change Cream has been enriched with cold pressed pure sweet almond oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E, and also contains essential oils of chamomile and neroli. It not only helps clean and moisturise the baby’s skin, it also helps soothe and calm irritated. My little boy has luckily never been affected by any nappy rash irritations in the nappy area, but I am also always making sure to care for his sensitive skin as best as I can. And applying just a small amount of this Nappy Change Cream to the nappy area after each nappy change, keeps his skin soft and smooth and protected from skin irritations, and smelling beautifully too – in fact so beautiful that I find myself using a tad more than I really need to massage it into my own hands! Yep, that’s right, this cream is multi-functional so it can in fact also be used as a hand and nail cream or even as a makeup remover! How brilliant is that!

RRP: $12.95 (125ml) – Available from AromaBaby



Barrier Balm

Finally, the Barrier Balm is an intensive cream that has been formulated to provide a barrier on the baby’s skin in the nappy area to protect from any irritations. I always, without fail, use a barrier cream on my little boy’s bum after changing his nappies, and it has proven worthwhile as his skin is so soft and smooth, and has never had any irritations. I love that this one contains no chemical nasties, but rather is enriched with natural evening primrose, vitamin e and calendula, to soothe the skin and moisturise at the same time. And it is so gentle that it can also be used on sensitive skin affected by eczema, or even on your lips as a lip nourishing lipbalm. The jar is tiny, but the cream is very concentrated so you only need to use a tiny amount.

RRP: $15.95 (25g) - Available from AromaBaby


So there you go, a selection of skincare products from AromaBaby. The products are all amazing and I love how gentle they are on my little boy’s skin, and how beautiful they smell – the scents are so natural coming from the natural ingredients, which is a refreshing change from the artificial scents that you usually find in skincare products. If you have a baby or toddler, or you are pregnant, - or if you suffer from sensitive skin, then I can highly recommend that you check out the AromaBaby product range, you won’t be disappointed! 

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.


Have you ever heard of AromaBaby? Which skincare products do you use on your baby/toddler? And during your pregnancy?


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PRODUCT REVIEW: L'OCCITANE AROMACHOLOGIE RELAXING RANGE

As you are probably aware, I am pregnant. Just over 25 weeks to be exact, so well over half way, yet still a long way to go! So far all is going well, and I am keeping well…. Well, except for the constant tiredness, that is not helped by having a 20 month old boy that often wakes numerous times during the night – and add to that that my squished bladder usually tells me to get up in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, and that I just generally do wake a few times during the night myself, mainly as it is getting more and more difficult to toss and turn due to the growing bump.

This means that usually I am so tired at night that I fall asleep pretty quickly – except when I start to think too much about things. And those days where I am just tired and drained and find it hard wind down and relax when I get to bed at night. But thanks to L’Occitane, I received a lovely delivery of some of their newest products from their Aromachologie Relaxing range, the Relaxing Perfumed Sachets, Pillow Mist and Massage Body Oil;


What They Say:

Relaxing Perfumed Sachets: Filled with dried lavender and beads scented with essential oils, these sachets release a relaxing fragrance, making them ideal for bedtime.

RRP: $20 (2x25g) – Available from L’Occitane from 25th March 2015


Relaxing Pillow Mist: Made with essential oils, this mist can be sprayed in your bedroom to create a calming atmosphere that promotes relaxation and well-being.

RRP: $30 (100ml) – Available from L’Occitane from 25th March 2015


Relaxing Massage Body Oil: This rich massage oil helps to relax the senses and ease away tension. Made with sweet almond oil from Provence, it leaves the skin supple and satiny.

RRP: $35 (100ml) – Available from L’Occitane from 25th March 2015


What I Say:

These Relaxing Perfumed Sachets have the typical lavender potpourri scent, and they look so cute in the little bags and instantly make the room smell nice from lavender – and I have even only put one on my bedside table, and not one on my husband’s bedside table as well. He suffers from bad hay fever pretty much all the time, so the strong scent of lavender would be enough to get him sniffling. So I have put hung the other one on a hook in my walk-in robe, and it makes it smell so nice in there too!

I have never tried a pillow spray, but I instantly fell in love with it. It simply smells incredible with its combination of essential oil blend of lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium. I have so been enjoying spritzing it on both my pillow just before going to bed (making sure not getting too close to my husband’s), and enjoy the scent surrounding me as I drift off to sleep. It does have a rather strong scent, and as it is so concentrated, you only need a spray or two, otherwise it may get a little too overwhelming. This also means that the large 100ml bottle will last you quite a while too.

Pregnant and carrying a 12kg toddler around does take its toll on neck, shoulders and back and in particularly my lower back, and I would so love nothing more than a good relaxing back massage – but sadly the tummy is in the way and I cannot lie on it anymore. But I do persuade him to give me a good neck massage from time to time, and with the Relaxing Massage Body Oil it is just pure bliss. It contains sweet almond oil and a combination of essential oils from lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange and geranium and it has a warm fruity and floral scent that smells absolutely heavenly. I don’t get massages that often – often I am simply too tense to want one, if that makes sense, so the 100ml bottle is going to last forever. But I’ve found another use for the massage oil – I simply love giving myself a bit of a hand massage at night as I watch telly, making sure to rub it into my dry cuticles too – it leaves my hands so soft and my cuticles looking a lot healthier, only problem is just I cannot stop smelling my hands afterwards as they smell so lovely!


Overall this is such a lovely range, and I’d love to keep these at hand at all times, to help me relax. And if you struggle relaxing at night and are a fan or lavender scented products, then I highly recommend that you look into this new range from L’Occitane when it becomes available in March. 

*Product was kindly provided for consideration, and has reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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Product Review: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Nymphea Micro-Emulsified massage Oil Anti-Stress

Today I’d like to share with you a review of a product that I’ve been enjoying lately, the *Pevonia Botanica Ligne Nymphea Micro-Emulsified Massage Oil Anti-Stress;

 

 

What They Say:

"Exhale and De-stress! Enjoy a relaxing massage any time…anywhere. Elegantly creamy, Micro-Emulsion Massage Oil Anti-Stress releases pent up tension and fatigue as it easily glides onto your skin. Delightfully aromatic, nourishing Safflower, Geranium, and Orange Oils blend to activate circulation, replenish elasticity and hydration while relieving dryness."

RRP: $61 (150ml) – Available from Pevonia Botanica

 

What I Say:

When I first received the Pevonia Micro-Emulsified massage Oil Anti-Stress, I was expecting a massage oil. I mean, it is after all called massage oil! So I was surprised to see that this in fact has the consistency of a moisturiser! It would have been a little more fitting calling it a massage cream! But as Pevonia puts it, as you massage it into the skin “your skin’s own warmth promotes the oil’s release and helps it become increasingly silkier”, which hence justifies the name.

It comes in the white soft touch bottle with a modern shape unique to Pevonia. It has a clear blue screw lid and has been designed to stand on its lid, which I like as the cream drops down in the bottle as I use it, making it easy to use every last bit in the bottle.

 

 

 

The cream has a light lotion consistency, and once applied, it does leave the skin feeling a little greasy for a little while, but when you remember that this is in fact a ‘massage oil’, that makes perfect sense. Yet the greasiness is not so bad that I don’t feel I can use this as a body moisturiser, it is just not suitable to use as a hand cream as it will mean you will leave some greasy fingerprints behind.

I don’t have particularly dry skin on my body, but still I can instantly feel how the cream is hydrating my skin, making it feel so silky soft, smooth and moisturised throughout the day, leaving the skin with a nice sheen, yet without making the skin feel congested or clogged from too much moisture.

The cream is supposed to also help with tension and fatigue, but unless you’ve got someone else at hand to help massage the cream into tensioned shoulders, I am not sure it is really helping me de-stress. But in saying that, when I have the time, I love pampering myself, and using such a lovely cream as the Pevonia Micro-Emulsified massage Oil Anti-Stress, in itself is an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

 

The cream has a lovely gentle fruity yet floral scent, no doubt coming from the included orange, safflower and geranium, and this scent lingers on the skin for quite a while, which I really like.

At $61 for a 150ml tube, this is not a cheap massage cream, but it is very concentrated so a little goes a long way.

What I Like:

• It makes my skin feel silky soft and smooth
• It has a gorgeous scent
• It feels so luxurious to use

What I Don’t Like:

• The price

 

Overall, this is a lovely massage cream, and I love using it when I come out of the shower as I love how soft and smooth it makes my skin feel, and not to mention the gorgeous scent it leaves behind. It may be a bit expensive, but to me it is worth it for the pleasure I have of using it, it is such a treat, that it is completely worth it!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the products from Pevonia Botanica? Do you use massage oils?

Product Review: Sukin Wellness Body Oil

Once upon a time I avoided all oil skin care products. You see, I have combination skin, prone to breakouts, so the last think I wanted to add to my skin was more oil. But then I realised that most of these oils actually do not make the skin greasy, and since then I’ve been in love! Here are my thoughts on the Sukin Wellness Body Oil;               

 

What They Say:

"This 100% natural and luxurious blend of botanical oils helps to soothe the body and mind. Rose hip oil offers the skin instant hydration, promoting skin elasticity and radiance, while Marula seed oil is antioxidant rich to soothe skin and help improve skin texture. Soybean oil, rich in EFA's (essential fatty acids) for deep skin conditioning, along with calendula flower extract, rich in beta-carotene to soothe skin help regenerate damaged skin, leaving it soft & silky. This multi-use  body oil is ideal for massage or for use as a bath oil, post shaving or waxing and as a hand or foot treatment to soothe the skin, leaving no oily residue."

RRP: $19.95(100ml) – Available from Priceline, select pharmacies and Sukin Online

 

What I Say:

This Wellness Body Oil from Sukin contains among others Soybena Oil, Marula Seed Oil, Rose Hip Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, and claims to not only hydrate the skin, but also improve skin texture and help regenerate
damaged skin.

The oil is Australian own and made, and is free from all the chemical nasties including SLS, SLES, synthetic fragrances, detergents, propylene glycol, artificial colours, mineral oils, EDTA and parabens, as well as it is 100% vegan, 100% carbon neutral and not tested on animals. Massive bonus points all around!

 

 

The Body oil has a nice natural fruity scent of orange, no doubt coming from mandarin orange and tangerine peel oils included – and being a lover of anything citrus scented, this is a winner for me.

It comes in a brown glass bottle with a pump, which I really like as it makes it so easy to use, without getting too much oil. I also like the glass bottle, although it means that you have to be a little more careful not to drop it on the bathroom floor, as well as it is not very practical when travelling.

 

 

I simply apply a few sprays on my body after I come out of the shower while my skin is still damp, and smooth massage it in with my hands. And you can instantly feel its caring moisturising properties, as my skin is left so soft and smooth, and with a nice sheen and healthy glow. There is absolutely no greasiness to be felt on my skin. And the beautiful scent keeps lingering around for a while too, which I really love.

I also love that this body oil has multiple uses, as it can also be used as a massage oil, as a bath oil, as foot and hand treatment also caring for dry cuticles, - and after I’ve applied it to my body, I run my fingers through my hair, so my dry ends can also benefit from the moisturising properties.

And don’t be fooled and think the 100ml bottle is small compared to the usual 250-300ml body lotions, as the oil is very concentrated so it will last you just as long, which also makes the $19.95 price tag very reasonable.

What I Like:

• It comes in a pump bottle that is easy to use
• It is well priced
• It is very concentrated
• It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin soft and thoroughly and without feeling greasy
• It leaves the skin with a nice sheen and a healthy glow
• It has a nice gentle and natural orange scent

What I Don’t Like:

• While I do like the glass bottle, I also find it a little impractical, as with oily fingers there is an increased risk of dropping it on the bathroom floor.

Overall, this is such a lovely body oil, and I love everything from its scent, to how nice and soft it makes my skin feel and not to mention how glowingly healthy it looks. I will definitely be purchasing this again!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

Have you ever tried any of the products from Sukin? Do you use body oils? Which one would you recommend?

Our Must-Have Baby Skincare Products

I can’t believe it, but it has now been six weeks since we welcomed our little boy into this world. Six weeks. How time has flown. And I cannot believe how much he has grown already, already weighing over 5 kilos, and that was in spite of being sick with the jaundice as well as spending a night in hospital with an infection. He is now too big for his newborn clothes and has jumped up a clothes size!

Exploring skincare for babies has been a complete new ballgame for me. Where do you start with so many different things and brands to choose from, what do you need, and what is just not necessary! Here are some of the baby skincare products that we’ve enjoyed using for the past six weeks;

Gaia Natural Baby Starter Kit

This Gaia Baby Starter Kit contains absolutely everything you need, with a 50ml bottle of each of the Baby Bath & Body Wash, Baby Shampoo, Baby Moisturiser, Skin Soothing Lotion and Baby Massage Oil.

 

I brought this pack with me to hospital when he was born, knowing I then wouldn’t have to worry about anything else in terms of skincare for our little boy. (Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but I am still so surprised that you have to bring your own baby skincare products, baby wipes and nappies for the few days you are in hospital after birth – even at a private hospital!!) But on the positive, at least I felt confident that only the best products were being used on our little boy.

The Gaia products are natural and organic and contain certified organic ingredients including wheat germ oil, evening primrose oil, shea butter, lavender, camomile, aloe vera leaf extract, calendula and avocado oil. The products are formulated especially for delicate baby skin, and are suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitivities and irritations, making them eczema friendly.

The products are free from all the chemical nasties such as artificial fragrances, soap, sulphates, petrochemicals, mineral oils, lanolin, paraben preservatives, propylene glycol or phthalates, which I really like as these ingredients can often trigger dryness and irritations in baby skin.

And due to all the natural ingredients the products smell absolutely amazing, yet so gentle and far from overpowering.

At $19.95 for the small pack, you may think that it is a little expensive for such small bottles –but we have been using nothing but these products for 6 weeks now, and you can hardly see that the products have been used, that’s how concentrated they are, so definitely worth the money. I will definitely be buying these in full sized products when we run out.

While we love all the products, we particularly love the massage oil, which has a nice calming lavender scent, and the Bath and Body Wash which has the most gorgeous scent of orange.

RRP: $19.95 (5 x 50ml) – Available from Priceline and select pharmacies, supermarkets and health stores.

 

WotNot Biodegradable Baby Wipes

These baby wipes are natural and organic and contain Australian certified organic aloe vera to soothe delicate baby skin, as well as vitamin E to help heal and protect. The wipes have a generous large size and has just the right amount of wetness, not too dry and not too wet, and they are slightly thicker than most other wipes too. They are unscented, so perfect for the sensitive baby skin, as well as they are free from chlorine, sulphates, petrochemicals, parabens, caustics, glycols and artificial fragrances. The wipes come in a plastic pack with a resealable lid to ensure the wipes do not dry out.

 

I love the fact that these wipes are so gentle on my little boy’s bottom, and that they are not filled with chemical nasties. They are a little more expensive than other baby wipes available, and considering how many nappy changes you do during a day with a newborn, you do go through a pack of wipes rather quickly. But while he is still so little and his skin so sensitive, they are worth every cent.

RRP: $7.95 (80 wipes) – available from Eco Direct, select health stores and pharmacies

Sudocrem

Being pregnant you get a so-called Bounty Bag which is full of samples, magazines and helpful brochures. And when you have given birth, you get a second one tailored to a new parent. Trying the samples in these bags is a great way of trying new products without having to buy them all. One of the samples in the Bounty Bags was a small tub of Sudocrem, which is a cream to help nappy rash. Being admitted to hospital and having antibiotics intravenously, and following having antibiotics at home three times a day, clearly affected our little boy’s tummy, but still he never developed nappy rash, and I am convinced that it is due to the Sudacrem, which simply creates an invisible layer on the skin protecting it. This thick white cream has next to no scent, and in spite of being so thick is actually quite easy to rub in. It is very concentrated so only a little is used. Ok, I was lucky to get a few of these tiny tubs, but we’ve only just started using the second tub, which proves just how concentrated it is. Definitely a must have on the change table. I’ve already put it on the shopping list, definitely don’t want to run out of this stuff!!

RRP: $4.95 (30g), $8.53 (125g), $18.15 (250g) – Available from pharmacies and supermarkets

 

So there you have it, these are the products that we are so far enjoying using.

What about you, have you tried any of these products? And can you recommend others worth trying?