PRODUCT REVIEW: STRATAMARK STRETCH MARKS

I don't think I know of a single female in our group of friends, including mother's group, who does not complain about unsightly stretchmarks. Now, stretchmarks come for a lot of different reason, but one of them is rapid weight loss or gain - and hence many get these during pregnancies, and sadly, they often don't disappear again. I've been fairly lucky in that I've gone through two pregnancies, where I each time gained over 16kgs, that I didn't really get any major stretchmarks. I am not sure if its in my genes, or because I vigorously applied fatty moisturisers, especially onto y tummy several times a day -not actually to prevent stretchmarks, but more to try to calm the frustrating itchiness. 

 

That said I did get a few tiny tiny ones on my thighs - now, I am really not that bothered about them, firstly because they are that small, (if they were bigger and deeper, I'm sure I wouldn't be happy), but I guess that I've just accepted that it is just one of those things that happens when you have children.

Anyway, I was offered to trial Stratamark, so I happily accepted...

When the tube arrived in the mail, I was a little chocked. That tiny 20g tube! Seriously. And here I was slathering creams on my body during my pregnancy by the handfuls, surely this tiny wouldn't even cover one application, but I was very wrong. While it does come in a larger 50g tube as well, the smaller 20g tube can last you a couple of months, or at least a month if you are at the latter stages of pregnancy.

And yes, it is also suitable for use during pregnancy, lactation or for those with very sensitive skin. The stratamark is a gel that has been designed to prevent and treat stretchmarks, helping to soften and flatten them, as well as reduce redness and discolouration, and relieve any itching and discomfort. 

The gel is clear and has no scent, and it is also very light, and because of its formula, only the tiniest amount is needed, and hence why the small tube will last a very long time. When it is dry, it forms a think, flexible and protective layer on the skin, which is gas permeable and waterproof, and which allows the skin to normalise the collagen synthesis cycle, while hydrating and protecting it.

After having used the Stratamark Stretch Marks on my stretchmarks I am very pleased to say that they definitely appear less visible, and far smaller and not as deep in size. The were never red or discoloured, so I cannot comment on that, but overall I am very impressed. Again, I need to reinstate that my stretchmarks were very small to begin with, but if you have larger and more prominent stretchmarks, I'd highly recommend that you try Stratamark, as really, you've got nothing to lose!


Stratamark Stretch Marks - RRP: $49.95 / 20g - $89.95 / 50g

Available from Select Pharmacies Or for more information visit Stratamark Online 
  

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

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

THE HEALTHY MUMMY PREGNANCY SMOOTHIE & HEALTHY PREGNANCY EATING & EXERCISE PLAN

I have to admit that I am usually a fairly healthy eater, also throughout my first pregnancy. But with this pregnancy it wasn’t quite as easy, as this time I didn’t just have myself to look after, but also an active 2 year old. So I simply couldn’t just take a nap or relax whenever I wanted, but rather I was on the go constantly chasing after him or up and down from the floor playing with him. And that certainly took its toll, and consequently, when I was getting too drained and tired, but unable to rest, I’d reach for a snack – anything sweet that would give me a quick fix burst of much needed energy. And even well knowing that it would be short lived, but with the pantry only so far away, soon after I was back again for seconds, and back again…

Then I was asked to trial the Pregnancy Smoothie and Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan from The Healthy Mummy. The Smoothie is in short a convenient and easy supplementary food, designed to complement your existing pregnancy vitamins or supplements, to help you meet the extra requirements during your pregnancy, while the Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan is the ideal book to help give you guidelines on how to be as healthy as can be while you’re pregnant.

The Pregnancy Smoothie has been cleverly designed to provide all the extra nutrients and calories are needed in pregnancy to support the mum and the baby, including protein, calcium, Vitamin B, Folate, Iodine, zinc and iron to help keep you full for longer, and give you energy when you’re feeling exhausted. It is also free from free from all chemicals, fillers and artificial ingredients, has no fructose in, no added sugar.

The Pregnancy Smoothie comes in three varieties, Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry, and I tried the Vanilla one, which I actually preferred – not that I don’t like chocolate or strawberry, but because the vanilla one can easily be flavoured with any fruit combination you decide to add.

The smoothie can either be mixed with low-fat milk alone, or it can be mixed with fruit or veggie, or even nuts or seeds for extra flavor and nutritional value and energy.

The Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan book has several different suggestions, including adding chia seeds, which contains magnesium that will help combat the dreaded nightly leg cramps, or adding fresh ginger to help relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. You can also add thing like tahini which contains protein to help baby’s growth or flaxseeds which contains omega-3 to help the development of baby’s brain.

The Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan book also gives you a full run down on the calories, protein and sugar contents of the smoothies, depending on what type of milk you use, and some of the added ingredients as mentioned above.

The book also gives you exercise suggestions, and tells you which foods you should avoid while pregnant, how to stay active, and gives you delicious recipes for meals, snacks and treats. The book includes a 7-day meal plan, as well as options for healthy snacks and treats. Some of my picks are the Chicken & Mango Salad, the Tuna Salad Pockets, and the No-Bake Choc Berry Tart.

My favorite smoothie suggestion from the book is the iron boosting smoothie that contains the smoothie mix, and has added frozen strawberries and raspberries, baby spinach, chia seeds, almond meal and almond milk – it is simply delicious – almost like a dessert – yet healthy and very filling at the same time, so it’s the perfect pick-me-up snack alternative – both because it gives you more energy, but also because you can get through until your next main meal without constantly feeling hungry.

I so wish that I’ come across this this Pregnancy Smoothe and The Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan book as then I might now have gained 15kgs during my pregnancy!!

The Pregnancy Smoothie has an RRP of $49.95 (500g/makes 16 smoothies), while The Healthy Pregnancy Eating & Exercise Plan book has an RRP of $39.95 (currently on special for $19.95!) – Available from The Healthy Mummy

But The Healthy Mummy also has a range of smoothies, cookbooks and exercise plans designed to help a new mum lose that baby weight, which I might check out in my quest to lose the last 5-kgs to get me back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and hopefully back in my old clothes again…

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


Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

IT'S.....ANOTHER BOY!!!

After a very long and stressful journey trying to get pregnant with our first boy Oliver, (which you can read about here), and we were just about to embark on a new round of IVF in the hope of giving Oliver sibling when we realised that I was in fact 7 weeks pregnant! Naturally! Cannot say what a relief that was not having to go through all the hormone treatments, not sure how I would have coped with that along with the countless hospital visits, all while looking after a toddler as well. And not to mention, of course also very happy to save a bucket load of money too!

The first couple of months of the pregnancy, I was really plagued by morning sickness, or rather all day sickness, as that is what I was. Hardly a day went by where I wasn’t sick, so it was so nice when I finally got better around Christmas time.

I was then very lucky that the rest of my pregnancy was easy and smooth without any issues – except by the time I was 36 weeks, I started developing an itchy and burning rash all over my body, also called pregnancy rash, or PUPP. As the days ticked on, it got worse and worse, and nothing seemed to make it better. And as it kept me awake most nights and drained me so much, eventually my obstetrician decided it was time to induce me at 39 weeks, at the hope that the rash would subside soon after birth as the hormones in my body started to level out – so on the 25th May or little boy, Jake arrived.

My water was broken not long after 8am, and hereafter labour was short, but very sharp and intense, and at 12.45 our little boy arrived, weighing a healthy 3.45kgs and 50cm long. And ok, I may be a touch biased, but we think he is absolutely beautiful and gorgeous. He is almost a spitting image of big brother when he was born (check it out here), so it will be interesting to see if Jake grows into a blonde blue eyed boy like his brother Oliver.

Friday morning we were about to go home, when it was decided to do a final jaundice check on Jake – Oliver was quite jaundiced when he was born, and in the days following Jake’s birth, I was suspecting he was too. So over the course of the week he was checked several times, but levels were ok. However, the blood test Friday morning was borderline, so we were told that we could go home, but to come back Saturday morning for a new blood test.
So we enjoyed a lovely Friday afternoon, evening and night at home and unfortunately the blood test Saturday morning showed the jaundice levels had increased, so we had to stay in hospital overnight so that he could be treated in the phototherapy light box. Luckily new tests on Sunday morning were better, and finally, at 6pm Sunday evening we could go home, although we still had to go back to the hospital for a check-up on Tuesday just to make sure that he was beating the jaundice.

Unfortunately, staying home was short lived as Wednesday morning as I got up for an early feed I fainted. Luckily I didn't yet have my little boy in my arms, I didn't hit my head or anything, and my husband found me rather quickly. But then I fainted a further three times, so he called an ambulance.
I then spent the following days until Saturday being prodded and probed as they were trying to work out why my blood pressure was exceptionally low, I had a fever and where the infection in my body they could see from the blood tests was coming from. X-Rays, Ultrasounds, CT Scan, you name it - and can you believe it, they even did a pregnancy test, and it came up positive - and they were fully aware that I was 10 days postpartum, and the hormones still present in my body would give a positive result, LOL!!
They never really came up with any answers, but eventually put it down to mastitis, and started treating me accordingly.


From Thursday evening I was able to have little Jake stay with me so I could continue breastfeeding. And so finally Saturday afternoon we got home again, relaxing, and catching up on some much needed sleep, and simply enjoying having our little boy home.

I am starting to feel better, although still tired, and sadly the pregnancy rash still hasn't gone yet. But here's hoping that after a very bumpy two weeks it will be nothing but smooth sailing here.

And as for Oliver, he absolutely adores his little brother, and wants to kiss and cuddle him all the time.

Finally, I’d just like to thank you all for all your well wishes, and for all the beautiful care packages that have arrived, it means the world to me. And thanks so much for sticking around for the past two weeks while I’ve been completely MIA!!

To all brands and PR, I am so sorry for the delay with promised features and posts, and generally for the lack of replies to both emails and comments on Instagram and Facebook, I'll do my very best to get up to speed as soon as possible. And while I can’t quite promise that I’m yet to return to my previous blogging schedule of a daily post, as looking after a newborn and an almost 2 year old active boy will sure have its challenges, I will certainly do my best to post a little more regularly.
Until then, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook where I do tend to post a little more frequently.

Karina xx
Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

PRODUCT REVIEW: MAMA BODY TEA

Today I’d like to put focus on a selection of organic teas, which has been developed to assist pregnant women, and those with new babies, there are teas to help target morning sickness, digestive issues, pelvic support for birth, breastfeeding and assisting upset babies. I have always been a big coffee drinker, but being pregnant, I have completely cut out coffee, and instead reaching for various teas, so I was excited with the opportunity to trial these special Pregnancy teas. Here are my thoughts on the Digestive Tea and the Raspberry Leaf Tea from Mama Body Tea;

How cute is my little Flower Pot Tea Infuser..

What They Say:

Digestive Tea: Bloating? Indigestion? Discomfort? These are typical pregnancy complaints… Ease uninvited digestive discomfort and find relief with mama’s aromatic Digestion Tea goodness.

Raspberry Leaf Tea: We recommend drinking Mamas specially formulated Raspberry Leaf blend regularly throughout your third trimester of pregnancy. Traditional used to strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus to minimise the duration of labour, and recovery of the uterus after birth. Mama Body Tea Raspberry leaf blend contains a rich source of iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium, vitamins B1, B3 and E which supports your health during this physical challenging time.

RRP: 14.95/each – Available from Mama Body Tea


What I Say:

First up is the Digestive Tea. If you’ve been pregnant, you’d know how uncomfortable the inevitable bloating and constipation can be. Personally I’ve found that being healthy, drinking sufficient water, and eating plenty of fruit is a great help, but sometimes just not quite enough. The Digestive Tea contains among others Peppermint leaf, Ginger root, Fennel seed, Rosehips and Marshmallow root.

The tea is best infused for about 7-10 minutes, and can be drunk both after meal as well as anytime during the day (or night), and no need to worry about it keeping you awake as it contains absolutely no caffeine!

I’ve always been a huge fan of peppermint tea, so I naturally love the taste of this tea, with the dominant flavour being peppermint. I am not personally a big fan of the ginger taste, but luckily it is not very strong.

In terms of effectiveness, it is always hard to tell, as symptoms come and go, probably depending on what you’ve had to eat the previous day too. However, I do believe that it has definitely not matters any worse. 


The Raspberry Leaf Tea has been developed to help strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus to minimise the duration of labour, as well as help recovery of the uterus after birth. It is recommended to drink the tea regularly throughout the third trimester of the pregnancy, and it is recommended to avoid the tea during the first trimester.

The Raspberry leaf contains, apart from naturally Raspberry Leaf, also Peppermint and Nettle leaf, and yet again, I love that I can detect the taster of peppermint.

The tea needs to infuse in hot water for 10-15 minutes, and it is recommended that you drink 1-2 cups a day from the start of your first trimester, and increase to 3 cups per day in the last month of pregnancy.

As well as minimise duration of labour, the tea also promises to help nourish the uterine muscles, assist in strengthening the pelvic floor, calm cramping of the uterus, help stop excessive bleeding after birth, help soothe and prevent bleeding gums, promote milk supply and relieve sore throats, cold, flu, and diarrhoea. Wow, that sounds impressive!

At about 35 weeks pregnant at the time of writing this, I obviously cannot vouch for any of these claims. But I do know that the length of the labour when I gave birth to our little boy almost two years ago was very long, so any improvement this time around will be very welcome. I am aware that second time mums generally do give birth a lot quicker the second time around, so again, it will be difficult to actually measure the effects.

But what I can say is that I do enjoy drinking this tea – and even more so now that the weather is getting colder – and if there is just the slightest chance that I will have a shorter labour, then it is all worth it. Oh, and when I forget to drink it while it’s hot, I just drink it cold, which is pretty nice too. The flavour is ok, (I always drink my tea black with no sugar) although I do definitely prefer the taste of the Digestive tea.

Also available from the Mama Body Tea Range is a Morning Sickness Tea (Oh how I wish I’d heard of that one when I was constantly sick during the first trimester!!), a Nursing Tea to help increase breast milk supply and quality as well as a Baby Bliss Tea to help relax restless babies. NOTE - Common for both teas, is that they are herbal infusions and not a remedy or drug. Mama Body Tea also recommends consult a healthcare professional before using these products if you are pregnant or lactating and have any concerns.

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

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

PRODUCT REVIEW: BUMP BABES PREGNANCY BARS

When you’re pregnant, being healthy getting the right nutrition is vital for the pregnancy, and thanks to Bump Babes Pregnancy Bars, it is a whole lot easier. Here are my thoughts;

What They Say:

Bump Babe pregnancy bars provide a healthy and convenient nutritional boost to pregnant women in the form of a 50g health bar. Sound nutrition during pregnancy is the cornerstone of a healthy pregnancy and birth. Truly, even more than that, it is the foundation of a lifetime of good health, healthy communities, a healthy country and a healthy world!

RRP: $3.95 (50g) - Available from Select Retailers
What I Say:
The Bump Babes Pregnancy Bars are available for each trimester with targeted ingredients for maximum benefit during your pregnancy. They have been made from raw ingredients that are high quality proteins and fruits rich in antioxidants, and contain no artificial or added vitamins or minerals–perfectly safe for women to consume on a regular basis as well as consuming their pre-natal vitamins.

Common for three different bars is that they all contain the following ingredients; 

• Chia seeds: Some little facts about these tiny little wonders, they contain almost 5X the amount of calcium in milk & fatty acids essential for a baby’s brain development
• Acai: can naturally help defend the body against harmful free radicals & removes toxic waste from the body
• Pumpkin seeds: packs a punch of protein, iron, omega-3s, magnesium, and zinc to boost the immune system & more
• Dates: pack a power supply of protein & amino acids which have been shown to help with dilation during labour for some women
• Sunflower seeds: can assist in keeping your heart healthy as you prepare to bring your little one into to the world!

First trimester - T1 Bar – Strawberry & Ginger-Nut

This bar has been developed to help combat morning sickness and fatigue. It contains strawberries, which are naturally rich in folates which have been proven to help reduce premature births & birth defects. It also contains Ginger, which contains all natural anti-nausea properties that can help reduce vomiting, as well as Almonds, which are naturally high in iron and may help prevent anemia & fatigue.

Unfortunately I was well into my second trimester when I came across these Bump Babes Bars, so I cannot really say how effective they were in combatting morning sickness and fatigue – a shame as I was really plagued by both for a couple of months starting when I was about 8 weeks pregnant.

However, regardless, the bar has a lovely strawberry taste, and luckily for me, the strawberry flavor does dominate so the ginger-nut is not so prominent, as that is otherwise not high on my list - but I actually really loved this flavour!



Second Trimester – T2 – Apricot & Coconut

 

These bars have been designed to boost tissue and cellular development and defend against anemia. They contain Apricots, which are known to contain iron that can help prevent anemia as well as dietary fibres that can help fight constipation. They also contain Coconut, which is rich in anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that can help prevent colds, flu and other viruses. This can help strengthen the immune system of the pregnant mum and her unborn baby. Coconut can also improve blood circulation and the cellular development of the baby, the placenta, amniotic tissues, maternal tissues and new blood cells

One thing that plagued me every so often in the second trimester was the occasional constipation, and I believe that it is an issue for most pregnant women, so I do love that the dietary fibres in the form of the apricots have been included. In saying that, I am not sure that just one bar a day would be sufficient to ‘fix the issue’ so I have always made sure to drink plenty of water and eat lots of fresh fruit as well.

These bars taste so lovely, a little tropical if you like, from the combination of the apricot and coconut.



Third Trimester – T3 – Banana, Macadamia & Caramel

These bars for the third trimester have been developed to promote formation of muscles, bones, blood cells & more. They contain among others Bananas, which contain potassium which is known to help maintain regular blood pressure (especially important during the 3rd trimester when some women are at risk of preeclampsia). The bars also contain Macadamias, which are protein rich, and its all been mixed with caramel.

I am lucky that my blood pressure in both my previous pregnancy as well as this one so far, has been perfect. In saying that, I love that its been developed to help nurture and grow your unborn baby.

Of the three bars, the T3 bar is without a doubt my favourite, as the flavor is so delicious with the combination of banana and macadamia and a little fudgy too thanks to added caramel.

However, in general, each of the three bars are so full of flavor and taste great, and I found them all to very filling – so much so that they stopped me from constantly going to the fridge or pantry for another snack. I also love that they are a healthy snack alternative, perfect for in between meals or when you are on the go.

So overall I wish I’d come across these earlier, and if you are pregnant and looking for a healthy snack, then I highly recommend that you try the Bump Babes Bars to nurture your growing bump!

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

 Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

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?


Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

PREGNANCY SKINCARE

I have never had particularly sensitive skin, but for some reason that all changes when I’m pregnant. It happened last time, and it is happening again. My skin is simply itchy for no reason. So I am doing what I can to use pregnancy friendly and gentle skincare products. And then there is of course also the growing bump, and as the skin stretches more and more, that too gets horribly itcy, and not to mention very prone to stretchmarks also due to the increase in weight. I got through my last pregnancy and a weight gain of over 14 kgs without any stretchmarks worth mentioning, and I am adamant that I’ll do what I can to avoid them again. Here’s a selection of skincare products that I’m using to get me through this pregnancy;

GAIA Nipple Balm*

When I had my little boy I was close to giving up breastfeeding within the first week as my nipples were simply in such a bad state. But I persevered with the pain, and with the assistance of various creams and some medical guidance, eventually things worked out, and I actually ended up breastfeeding him for a year. Now 24 weeks pregnant, I am already starting to feel the ‘pain’ in my nipples, and the GAIA Nipple Balm is already proving a good aid. The organic balm has been designed to moisturise, soothe and protect sore, cracked nipples, and as it is made with pure, edible organic oils such as sunflower and avocado, and does not contain any lanolin, petrochemicals, mineral oil, parabens, propylene glycol or artificial fragrances or pure essential oils so you don’t have to wash it off before breastfeeding. Any residue is perfectly fine for baby to suck off. The thick cream is initially a little difficult to massage in, but once warmed between your fingers it’s a lot easier. And the good thing is that any residue on your fingers doubles as a lipbalm or even massaged into dry cuticles.

RRP: $12.95 – Available from Priceline, select pharmacies and baby stores, and GAIA Online


Vanessa Megan Mummy’s Tummy Pregnancy Oil*


 

I was very lucky that I was very well during my first pregnancy, and apart from bad morning sickness that has now luckily disappeared, so far all is also going well this time. But as the weeks tick on, and my tummy is growing, I can already now feel the itchiness increasing. And again, wanting to do anything to prevent those stretchmarks, I have been slathering my tummy with Mummy’s Pregnancy Oil from Vanessa Megan as I sit in the couch and relax at night.

The Tummy Oil is certified organic and is made using essential oil dilutions at 1%, so it is safe to use during pregnancy. It contains among others jojoba oil, coconut oil, rosehip oil, vitamin E, essential oils of grapseed, tangerine, lavender and neroli – ingredients which combined help support the elasticity of the skin during pregnancy by promoting collagen production. It not only helps provide the skin with intense moisture without making the skin feel greasy or tacky, it also helps to strengthen under lying tissue, tone and tighten the skin, and improve sun damaged skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles and stretch. All while having a having a soothing and calming effect, thanks to the lavender. Then oil is very concentrated so the large bottle will last you quite a while, especially if you as me, only use it on your tummy, and not use it all over your body – which admittedly can be very tempting as it smells divine with its natural fresh floral lavender scent that lingers on the skin for a while.

RRP: $59.95 (200ml) – Available from Vanessa Megan



Elemis Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend*

Another body oil that is incredible is this Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend from Elemis. It is free from chemical nasties and contains no parabens, SLS or SLES, DEA, mineral oil, artificial colours or silicones, it is perfectly suitable for use during pregnancy. It has the most divine scent from the camellia and it is a true multi-tasking aromatherapy oil that is not only good for the body keeping the skin soft and moisturised and for helping to reduce the appearance of scars and assist in the prevention of stretch marks, it is also suitable for a lot of other things including caring for your nails and cuticles, to taming and adding moisture to hair and scalp.

During pregnancy during a time you have to give up on so many other things - think anti-ageing products containing retinol, and believe me, most of them do, and not to mention all the foods that are not safe to eat – so it is a nice treat to use such a beautifully oil that leaves a divine scent behind for hours. And besides, the gorgeous red glass bottle looks stunning in the bathroom too!

RRP: $62 (100ml) – Available from FacialCo
 


Sukin BioNatural Skin Oil*

If you are on a tighter budget, then you cannot go past this Skin Oil from Sukin. I have previously declared my love for the Australian budget brand, and you won’t be disappointed with this oil either. The Oil contains Tamanu, Carrot Seed and Rose Hip Oils offer a unique blend of essential fatty acids and antioxidants to help nourish and improve the skin’s appearance including the appearance of scars, stretchmarks and ageing skin. It also contains Vitamins C and F as well as avocado, calendula and vitamin E to hydrate and soften and brighten the skin. It comes in a convenient little pump bottle that makes it convenient and easy to use. And just a few pumps is all that is required if you use it on your tummy only, whereas of course, a little more is needed if you use it all over your body. It starts out a little greasy but absorbs easily leaving the skin feel soft, and with a lovely fruity scent.

RRP: $14.95 (60ml) – Available from Priceline, Select Pharmacies and Sukin Online
 

 Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion*

Aveeno is another one of those budget brand that you just cannot fault. The products are so effective, in spite of the low prices, and that includes this Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion. The thick cream has been formulated with natural colloidal oatmeal and cooling menthol to relieve and protect itchy, dry skin. The cream does take a while to absorb into the skin, but once it has, it is well worth the effort as it leaves the skin so soft and deeply nourished, with no need to reapply, so I like to use it in the mornings after my shower. It has a lovely cooling sensation thanks to the menthol which is lovely when your skin is itchy. I also love the mild and gentle menthol that it leaves behind on the skin.

RRP: $9.95 (225ml) – Available from Priceline, supermarkets and pharmacies




Vanessa Megan Garden Wonderland - Pregnancy Perfume / Morning Sickness Spray*
 

Also from Vanessa Megan is this natural perfume that also doubles as a morning sickness spray. I am a bit of a perfume junkie, and usually wear perfume every day, even when I’m ‘just’ at home, but during my pregnancies I have opted to only use them on very special occasions due to all the chemicals they contain. But this perfume from Vanessa Megan contains no alcohol that can dry out the skin, but is all natural containing a blend of natural essential oils that are considered safe to use during pregnancy. It among others contains essential oils of lavender that has a soothing and calming effect on the nerves, mandarin and lemon myrtle that gives it uplifting qualities, spearmint and peppermint essential oil which stimulate the mind it is great for mental fatigue, as well as ginger that is to help with morning sickness and nausea.


I did start using the perfume towards the end of the period I was suffering badly with morning sickness so it is difficult to say how it performed in that way. However, I do love the fresh uplifting citrusy scent – in fact I absolutely love fresh citrusy scents, so I already know that I will continue to use it even after giving birth!! It doesn’t last quite as well on the skin as ‘normal’ perfumes, but as it smells so lovely, I don’t mind reapplying in the middle of the day anyway! I also love that it is not synthetic but rather made from 100% natural ingredients.

RRP: $29.95 (100ml) – Available from Vanessa Megan

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


So there you go, these are some of the products that I am currently enjoying using during my pregnancy.

Do you have children? Which products did you swear to during your pregnancy?


Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

PRODUCT REVIEW: AROMA BABY ORGANIC BABY CLOTHING

I am now over 23 weeks pregnant, which means well over half-way, although it still seems like the final approx. 17 weeks is a very long time to wait until we finally meet our new addition to the family. I guess it also feels like long as the weeks go by and my tubby get bigger and bigger, it does get harder and harder to move around and get about doing daily things – or sit on the floor and play with our little boy (it is getting harder and harder to get up again), and what pains me the most, that I am starting to struggle lifting him for longer periods of time.  Anyway, thanks to the lovely people at AromaBaby, today I’d like to introduce you to the AromaBaby Organic Baby Clothing range*;

 

 

The kimono style wrap to is so cute. It comes in a natural cream colour that is suitable for both boys and girls. It is made from organic soft-touch organic cotton, and it has a waffle style design, that is very simple, yet very stylish at the same time.

The cross-over button design, makes it easier to pull over the baby’s head as the opening is so large, and I also love that it has inbuilt mittens, so your little one wont scratch him or herself.

It also comes with a matching hat that has a cute little knot on top, that again is very unisex.

The quality of this clothing is absolutely fantastic, and the cotton is so soft that it is perfect to use on a sensitive newborn, as there will be no risk of irritation. And at just $22.95 for the Kimono Wrap top and $9.95 for the little hat, it is extremely well priced too. There are a few other items in the range including a Sleeveless Tops and Nappy Over-Pant, and a Cuddle Wrap that I already have my eyes on.  The limited items available are key items, but I would love to see the range extended to also include items such as standard long and short sleeved tops, leggings, pants and jumpsuits, as that would complement the range very well, and no doubt prove very popular too.

And stay tuned for my review of the AromaBaby skincare range coming soon..

And for now, all I can do is count down the days and weeks until I get to see our little bub in these cute clothes…

The Organic Baby Clothing is available from AromaBaby Online, as well as through select retailers

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

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

BRAND FOCUS: PALMER'S COCOA BUTTER FORUMLA - PREGNANCY FRIENDLY BODY CARE

As you are probably all aware, I am pregnant with our second child. If you’ve missed you can read all about it here.

I am currently almost 20 weeks pregnant, and already doing what I can do avoid unsightly stretchmarks. I managed to get through my first pregnancy, in spite of gaining what I felt was a whopping 14 kilos without any stretchmarks. And I am determined to do what I can to avoid any from popping up this time!

Some of the products that helped me through my first pregnancy where some great products from Palmer’s, which again, not only helped in the fight against stretchmarks, but also as my tummy stretched and grew, against that annoying itchiness that you get. So I was very pleasantly surprised when a lovely pregnancy care package arrived for me from the lovely people at Palmer’s. 



Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula All Over Body Firming Lotion

 The Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion is so thick and creamy and so moisturising so perfect for dry skin. It has furthermore been designed to tone and tighten the skin with its contents of cocoa butter, collagen, elastin, sweet almond oil, argan oil and shea butter, while ginseng and vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10 have been added to help smooth and revitalise the skin. This makes it not only perfect for treating the dry and stretching skin during pregnancy, but also afterwards to get the skin on legs, thighs and stomach and back to normal again. Because it is so thick, it is also very concentrated so it only takes a little. It does take a little while to absorb into the skin, and leaves it feeling a little greasy for a few moments, but shortly after you’re left with soft and smooth skin. $7.39 (250ml)



Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream for Stretch Marks

This massage cream is super thick, and very concentrated containing cocoa butter, vitamin E, collagen and elastin, designed to help keep the skin moisturised and elastic to help prevent the stretchmarks from forming. It can be used on all problem areas such as legs, thighs, bum, stomach and breast. I personally I like to use particularly on my stomach, where I massage it in as I watch telly on the couch at night, as it also takes away that itchy feeling, and stops me from scratching my skin to bits during the night.



Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks

 

If you feel the Massage Cream is a little too thick and heavy, of if you are in a hurry and need to apply it quickly, then you cannot go past the Massage Lotion. It has a more lightweight consistency, and hence is easier to smooth over the skin as well as it absorbs quicker too. It contains cocoa butter, vitamin E, collagen, sweet almond oil, argan oil and elastin, and shea butter and helps keep the skin soft and deeply moisturised, and will hence help the elasticity of the skin, as well as help prevent the appearance of stretchmarks. It comes in a convenient pump bottle that makes it easier to dispense. $15.99 (250ml)



Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Spray Lotion for Stretch Marks

 

Of the different Stretch Mark formulations, this Spray Lotion is by far the lightest one in consistency. It is a spray-on lotion that like the lotion and cream contains pure cocoa, shea butter, vitamin E, collagen, sweet almond oil and argan oil and elastin to deeply moisturise and protect the skin. Even though it is thinner, it still moisturises the skin for up to 24 hours! And the fact that it is a spray and that it is thinner, means that it absorbs super quick, and without any greasy residue, so if you are truly in a hurry, this is the one for you, only you do need to be careful not to get too much of the spray on the floor under you as it can make it very greasy and slippery! RRP: $15.99 (200g)


Common to all of the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter products is that they are free from parabens and phthalates, which can potentially be harmful to the unborn baby. All the products have the same cocoa butter scent that is typical for most Palmer’s products. This scent can be a little strong at first (maybe because when you’re pregnant your sense of smell seems to be stronger), but luckily this scent does fade rather quickly.

The products are all reasonably priced, and come in large bottles all at very budget friendly prices, conveniently available from Priceline and supermarkets. And as they are all so concentrated, they will last you quite a while too. Definitely must-have products both during pregnancy, after giving birth, but also if you just generally wish to tone your body and prevent those unattractive stretchmarks.

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

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |

YAY - WE'RE PREGNANT

If you are a regular reader of my blog, I am sure you may have noticed that something has been up at the Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter blog since my recent trip to Europe…. The daily postings have slipped from time to time over the last few months, actually rather frequently...

Our now 18 month old boy can be blamed for a lot – he simply takes a lot of my time during the day, and as he rarely takes a nap that is much longer than an hour, it leaves me with very little time to myself (and to much-needed housework!), and consequently also to blog! I do try to get ahead over the weekends and prepare a few extra posts, take photos etc., but you can only do so much when you also have other commitments and when you also want to spend some quality time with your family!

But my little boy is not to blame for everything – there is another reason – I have not been feeling that well for the past two months – quite frankly, I’ve been feeling pretty average - you see, I’m pregnant – yep, that is right, just over 18 weeks now! And this time around, I have been really hit hard with the morning sickness that has struck at all times of the day – which has made it hard to also look after a toddler – and has left me so drained that I have simply slept during the day when he has been down for his nap = absolutely no personal time to blog!


You may recall that my story about how we were struggling to fall pregnant the first time and had to go through rounds and rounds of IVF and miscarriage too (If not, you can read all about it here) – so we were happy having just one happy healthy boy, but had made the arrangement to start IVF again once I returned from my Europe trip, and just give it a few goes and see what happened.


And then, I found out that I was pregnant, au natural! Needless to say that we are both extremely happy. It is an absolute miracle that we never thought would be possible. And what a relief not having to go through countless hormones injections, hospital visits, days of stressing, feeling average from the medication, and of course not having to fork out the almost $4000 for each IVF round after your Medicare rebates! (just imagine all the lipsticks and shoes you could buy for that money!)

I actually realised that I was pregnant while I was in Europe when I was starting to feel a little unwell, but didn’t get tested until I got back to Melbourne, and then found out that I was in fact 7 weeks pregnant – so I had already been 3 weeks pregnant when I flew over to Europe, I just never knew, although I was suspecting it for the last two weeks in Europe! Luckily the morning sickness is has more or less gone now, and I have not been sick for over two week now, wooohooo, so fingers crossed that will be it, and I can start to gain some much needed energy again.


So what does this mean for the Beauty & Lifestyle Hunter blog…. Well it will continue on, but at some stage, daily posting may be reduced to posting just a few times a week depending on how things are going. I thoroughly enjoy my little space on the web, and love all the positive feedback, and just as importantly all the friends including both fellow bloggers, readers, brands and PRs, that I’ve made through the past 2+ years of blogging, and I would hate to give that up.


However, I will start to make some slight changes, and bring in some more baby and parenting contents, including pregnancy and baby products, baby clothing and toys, and you never know, maybe even a picture or two or a growing bump.. here's one when I was about 16 weeks pregnant, and already showing a fair bit (and a lot more than I did with my little boy at that stage), although this picture and the top I am wearing does make me look even bigger than I really was at the time.

We plan to find out at my 20 week scan in the middle of January if we are having another boy or if it is a girl – but I may just keep that to myself until baby arrives in the end of May 2015….


But still I’d love to hear your thoughts – do you think I’m having a boy or a girl? Do you believe in the old wives tale that extreme morning sickness means it is a girl? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear...


Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram |