Hello! I wanted to blog about a brand that I really love and have been recommending to everyone I know!
I came across this brand randomly whilst looking for natural products. What appealed to me was their ethics, their down-to-earth spirit and of course, their products!
All their products are 100% natural and they're made in small batches to keep them fresher for longer. Unlike other 100% natural products, a lot of these products have a shelf life of 1 year or so.
I've tried:
- Evening Primrose Day Cream
- Distilled Witch Hazel Water
- Sweet Orange Cream Cleanser
- Rose Replenishing Cream
- Organic Rose Toner
- Rose & Marshmallow Beauty Mask
- African Black Soap (currently testing it out)
I would readily say that I heartily recommend ALL these products, I never really find that I like everything from a brand, but so far, there isn't a product I don't like.
I would also recommend these products to any skin type, the creams are more like balms as they don't contain water or anything, so when using them, I would recommend spritzing a toner or mineral spray first and apply them whilst the skin is still slightly damp, this allows it to absorb faster without a greasy after feel.
I also recommend these for people with scarring and marks as I found these products have made my skin CLEAR. If you look at some of the oils in the creams, you'll find Raspberry oil, Hazelnut oil etc and these are very rejuvenating for the skin and renew the skin. Also, if you have eczema, the evening primrose cream is great as it contains anti-inflammatory properties.
The Witch Hazel water is wonderful for congested skin and those that have marks and you will notice how these fade quickly.
I could go on and on about each individual product and their merits but I will end this post now...I will update with a review of the African Black Soap I have recently purchased.
Take care now :) x
http://www.akamuti.co.uk/
P.S. I bought everything myself :)
Saturday 24 July 2010
Saturday 29 May 2010
REVIEW: Sante Soft Cream Foundation
Here's a review for a foundation that I've been using lately, I got it as a freebie but as always its an honest opinion! :)
Sante Soft Cream Foundation
This foundation comes in a 30ml pump top see through bottle. It dispenses an adequate amount and can be controlled which I like, as you do not waste any product. It is also hygienic and mess free.
The texture of the foundation is thick and creamy, more cream-
like than fluid, once you dispense it onto your hand, it does not move around. It has a ‘natural’ smell, it does not smell of chemicals/perfume like many foundations on the market today. Upon reading the ingredients, I can see that it has essential oils in it which is what gives it its fragrance. It blends easily on the skin like a moisturiser would, either with the fingers or a brush.
Sante says: Sante Soft cream foundation with precious mineral pigments for a velvety, especially flawless complexion. Gives your skin a fresh, pleasant feel. With cupuaçu butter, pomegranate extract and valuable organic jojoba oil and now in a bottle with an airless pump. Free of paraffin and silicone oils. All the talc in Sante products has been certified as being free of any asbestos traces and is not nano-refined, so it cannot become airborne or penetrate the skin.
I feel the ingredients in this foundation give is a hydrating feel and in turn, does not dry the skin out or make it uncomfortable as do many other unnatural foundations today due to their chemical ingredients.
I am quite pleased with this foundation as I have normal-dry skin and find that this foundation glides on like a moisturiser, feels hydrating and makes my skin look natural but eradicates my flaws. It lasts well through the day, approximately 6-8 hours which is adequate for me. The shade I was sent was 03 which is a medium shade and matched well for me. The coverage is light-medium, I find if you use a damp sponge it applies more sheer and if you use your hands, you get a light coverage and with a foundation brush, you get a more medium coverage. I find that this sets to a natural/soft matte finish, it does not give a dewy/satin finish. I also liked the fact that I did not break out or get any irritations from this product, which I get from nearly every foundation! That in itself was a feat for me. Overall, I think it is a very good buy at £17, it looks natural and does not upset the skin. I would only recommend this for normal skins or those on the drier side. Those with oily skins may need to powder often.
The pros of this foundation are:
- It is hydrating and moisturising
- Controllable pump, so no wastage
- Looks natural & contains good ingredients
- Smells lovely
The cons are:
- May not be enough coverage for some
This foundation comes in a 30ml pump top see through bottle. It dispenses an adequate amount and can be controlled which I like, as you do not waste any product. It is also hygienic and mess free.
The texture of the foundation is thick and creamy, more cream-
like than fluid, once you dispense it onto your hand, it does not move around. It has a ‘natural’ smell, it does not smell of chemicals/perfume like many foundations on the market today. Upon reading the ingredients, I can see that it has essential oils in it which is what gives it its fragrance. It blends easily on the skin like a moisturiser would, either with the fingers or a brush.Sante says: Sante Soft cream foundation with precious mineral pigments for a velvety, especially flawless complexion. Gives your skin a fresh, pleasant feel. With cupuaçu butter, pomegranate extract and valuable organic jojoba oil and now in a bottle with an airless pump. Free of paraffin and silicone oils. All the talc in Sante products has been certified as being free of any asbestos traces and is not nano-refined, so it cannot become airborne or penetrate the skin.
I feel the ingredients in this foundation give is a hydrating feel and in turn, does not dry the skin out or make it uncomfortable as do many other unnatural foundations today due to their chemical ingredients.
I am quite pleased with this foundation as I have normal-dry skin and find that this foundation glides on like a moisturiser, feels hydrating and makes my skin look natural but eradicates my flaws. It lasts well through the day, approximately 6-8 hours which is adequate for me. The shade I was sent was 03 which is a medium shade and matched well for me. The coverage is light-medium, I find if you use a damp sponge it applies more sheer and if you use your hands, you get a light coverage and with a foundation brush, you get a more medium coverage. I find that this sets to a natural/soft matte finish, it does not give a dewy/satin finish. I also liked the fact that I did not break out or get any irritations from this product, which I get from nearly every foundation! That in itself was a feat for me. Overall, I think it is a very good buy at £17, it looks natural and does not upset the skin. I would only recommend this for normal skins or those on the drier side. Those with oily skins may need to powder often.
The pros of this foundation are:
- It is hydrating and moisturising
- Controllable pump, so no wastage
- Looks natural & contains good ingredients
- Smells lovely
The cons are:
- May not be enough coverage for some
Thursday 11 March 2010
REVIEW: Huni Everyday Moisturiser
This moisturiser comes in a yellow pump top bottle, it is a 50ml size and retails for £25. I like that it comes with a pump bottle as I find this is more hygienic than using your fingers in a jar, the only problem I had was when I was nearing the end of the bottle, the pump was not as effective and I had to unscrew the top to get the moisturiser out and there was still a lot left.
The texture of the moisturiser is lovely in my opinion, it is a cream/slightly yellowish coloured gel type cream, it is a bit thicker than a gel but less thick than a cream. It is smooth and light feeling on the skin and has a wonderfully sweet honeyish smell, it does not smell at all perfume-like but the smell is strong and lasts for a while.
Huni says: Huni Every Day Moisturiser with UMF20+ Manuka honey blended with Galacteric acid, a natural substance derived from the pectin of apples, lemons and beetroot pulp that has the ability to mop up free radicals created by the natural process of aging and sped up by pollution. Huni day cream also contains Sodium hyaluronate, a natural derivative of wheat and one of the most powerful moisturisers as well as Kawakawa extract, traditionally used by the Maori to soothe the skin and eyes.
One of the main ingredients in this moisturiser is Manuka honey known for its anti-bacterial properties aswell as its ability to soothe so I feel that these are extra benefits this particular brand in general provides and would be helpful in a variety of skin conditions.
I was very pleased with this moisturiser as it actually hydrates my skin without feeling oily or greasy in anyway. It absorbed really quickly into the skin and felt as though it quenched the thirst of my skin in a sense. It feels like a pleasure to use as I like the scent of it and the lightness of the texture. I also used it on my toddler when her skin was dry and found that her dry areas were revitalised within a day or two. I also found due to some of the ingredients in this moisturiser, it left my skin radiant and healthy looking. I would imagine that most skin types could use this as it seems like a versatile moisturiser.
The pros of this moisturiser are:
- It is suitable for all skin types
- Light and easily absorbing texture
- No greasy after feel
- Very effective at hydrating the skin
- Smells lovely
The cons are:
- I feel as though it is expensive for an everyday moisturiser
DISCLAIMER: I was this product by a company to review and was not paid for the review, my review is also published on their own blog.
The texture of the moisturiser is lovely in my opinion, it is a cream/slightly yellowish coloured gel type cream, it is a bit thicker than a gel but less thick than a cream. It is smooth and light feeling on the skin and has a wonderfully sweet honeyish smell, it does not smell at all perfume-like but the smell is strong and lasts for a while.
Huni says: Huni Every Day Moisturiser with UMF20+ Manuka honey blended with Galacteric acid, a natural substance derived from the pectin of apples, lemons and beetroot pulp that has the ability to mop up free radicals created by the natural process of aging and sped up by pollution. Huni day cream also contains Sodium hyaluronate, a natural derivative of wheat and one of the most powerful moisturisers as well as Kawakawa extract, traditionally used by the Maori to soothe the skin and eyes.
One of the main ingredients in this moisturiser is Manuka honey known for its anti-bacterial properties aswell as its ability to soothe so I feel that these are extra benefits this particular brand in general provides and would be helpful in a variety of skin conditions.
I was very pleased with this moisturiser as it actually hydrates my skin without feeling oily or greasy in anyway. It absorbed really quickly into the skin and felt as though it quenched the thirst of my skin in a sense. It feels like a pleasure to use as I like the scent of it and the lightness of the texture. I also used it on my toddler when her skin was dry and found that her dry areas were revitalised within a day or two. I also found due to some of the ingredients in this moisturiser, it left my skin radiant and healthy looking. I would imagine that most skin types could use this as it seems like a versatile moisturiser.
The pros of this moisturiser are:
- It is suitable for all skin types
- Light and easily absorbing texture
- No greasy after feel
- Very effective at hydrating the skin
- Smells lovely
The cons are:
- I feel as though it is expensive for an everyday moisturiser
DISCLAIMER: I was this product by a company to review and was not paid for the review, my review is also published on their own blog.
Saturday 30 January 2010
Back to blogging!
Hi guys, I apologise for the extremely long absence! I guess life took over and blogging went down on the list of priorities.
I've changed the layout of my blog together with sorting out the comments feature which the lovely Sarah kindly pointed out to me wasn't working.
I've been trying out various products over the past few months and will be posting reviews etc soon.
Take care all and much love x :)
I've changed the layout of my blog together with sorting out the comments feature which the lovely Sarah kindly pointed out to me wasn't working.
I've been trying out various products over the past few months and will be posting reviews etc soon.
Take care all and much love x :)
Tuesday 8 September 2009
REVIEW: A'kin Pure Radiance Organic Rosehip Oil
I've used this oil for a couple of weeks now and felt it was the best time to review it now. My skin is sensitive and is normal-dry most of the time, I've got an uneven skintone with some slight scarring around the chin and cheek so I was looking for something that would help eliminate those imperfections but also boost the hydration levels in my skin too.
Moving onto the oil, I have to say this is like a miracle oil! It truly gives results, results that I haven't achieved with other products. A'kin says: A'kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil, uses only 100% certified organic rosa canina seed oil. Rich in bio-available trans-retinoic acid (vitamin A), Vitamin E & omega 9 (oleic acid), 3 (alpha linolenic acid) & 6 (linoleic acid) essential fatty acids. Your skin will be comforted, deeply moisturised, look vibrant, and feel smooth and soft. Suitable for all skin types including oily!
Rosehip oil is an excellent tonic for mature skin. It is renowned for fading age spots and reversing sun damage.
This product has really made a huge difference to my skin, my skin feels hydrated all day long, scars and uneveness are fading noticeably and overall, my skin just looks radiant and glowing. I apply 2-3 drops of it in the morning before moisturising and in the night after cleansing and toning. There are days when I don't even need to put moisturiser on top afterwards as this hydrates my skin pretty well.
I bought this from http://www.mypure.co.uk and they have a duo pack for £20.50 which is totally worth it because the cost of one bottle is £14.99.
I highly recommend this oil for anyone looking for extra hydration, reduce scarring and other marks and to help prevent wrinkles. It is just amazing and it has become a staple for me! 10/10
Moving onto the oil, I have to say this is like a miracle oil! It truly gives results, results that I haven't achieved with other products. A'kin says: A'kin Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil, uses only 100% certified organic rosa canina seed oil. Rich in bio-available trans-retinoic acid (vitamin A), Vitamin E & omega 9 (oleic acid), 3 (alpha linolenic acid) & 6 (linoleic acid) essential fatty acids. Your skin will be comforted, deeply moisturised, look vibrant, and feel smooth and soft. Suitable for all skin types including oily!
Rosehip oil is an excellent tonic for mature skin. It is renowned for fading age spots and reversing sun damage.
This product has really made a huge difference to my skin, my skin feels hydrated all day long, scars and uneveness are fading noticeably and overall, my skin just looks radiant and glowing. I apply 2-3 drops of it in the morning before moisturising and in the night after cleansing and toning. There are days when I don't even need to put moisturiser on top afterwards as this hydrates my skin pretty well.
I bought this from http://www.mypure.co.uk and they have a duo pack for £20.50 which is totally worth it because the cost of one bottle is £14.99.
I highly recommend this oil for anyone looking for extra hydration, reduce scarring and other marks and to help prevent wrinkles. It is just amazing and it has become a staple for me! 10/10
Friday 21 August 2009
Need or Want?
For a while now I've been struggling to figure out how I got into this whole "flawless face" obsession. I never used to wear any kind of face base till last year when I had my daughter. Hormones caused havoc in my skin and I had unsightly blemishes/scars left behind and was unsure what to do.
I tried countless number of tinted moisturisers and foundations over this past year only to find they messed up my skin more by either drying it out or causing breakouts, not only that, I've wasted a lot of money in search for something that works for me. Today I was thinking how I got into this obsession of trying to make my skin as flawless as possible? What happened to being happy in my own skin or just using whatever 'did the job'?
I don't know but I'm happy to have realised that this has got to stop! Foundation for me, is just making my skin worse over time and I'm going to wear it occasionally now and if I need anything on my face then I'll just a bit of concealer where needed and set lightly.
I am DONE! I think, for the most part, we magnify our flaws 10x more than they are and really, we do look great without all that slap!
I tried countless number of tinted moisturisers and foundations over this past year only to find they messed up my skin more by either drying it out or causing breakouts, not only that, I've wasted a lot of money in search for something that works for me. Today I was thinking how I got into this obsession of trying to make my skin as flawless as possible? What happened to being happy in my own skin or just using whatever 'did the job'?
I don't know but I'm happy to have realised that this has got to stop! Foundation for me, is just making my skin worse over time and I'm going to wear it occasionally now and if I need anything on my face then I'll just a bit of concealer where needed and set lightly.
I am DONE! I think, for the most part, we magnify our flaws 10x more than they are and really, we do look great without all that slap!
Wednesday 19 August 2009
Some accessible cruelty-free options
For today's recessionista, money can be an issue and sometimes you may have to compromise your ethics in order to save money. I'm constantly on the lookout for cruelty free that are affordable and here are some that may help you look beautiful without any compromise :)
MAKE-UP
*Barry M (also free from animal by products)
*Revlon
*Prestige Cosmetics
*Boots' own No7 / 17/ Natural Collection
*E.L.F (eyeslipsface)
*Soap & Glory
*NYX cosmetics
*Bourjois
SKINCARE
*Boots Botanics & Botanics Organic (free from animal by products also)
*Superdrug's own brand skincare
*Original Source
*Naked
*Jergens Naturals
*Soap & Glory
*The Sanctuary
These brands can be found at Boots and Superdrug except for NYX which is only available for us in the UK through EBay.
Other brands that can be found mainly online and are affordable (or cheaper than other all-natural brands at least) 100 % natural are;
*Weleda
*Lavera
*Avalon Organics
*Faith in Nature
*Bentley Organics
These can be found at various e-tailers such as: http://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk / http://www.naturisimo.com
MAKE-UP
*Barry M (also free from animal by products)
*Revlon
*Prestige Cosmetics
*Boots' own No7 / 17/ Natural Collection
*E.L.F (eyeslipsface)
*Soap & Glory
*NYX cosmetics
*Bourjois
SKINCARE
*Boots Botanics & Botanics Organic (free from animal by products also)
*Superdrug's own brand skincare
*Original Source
*Naked
*Jergens Naturals
*Soap & Glory
*The Sanctuary
These brands can be found at Boots and Superdrug except for NYX which is only available for us in the UK through EBay.
Other brands that can be found mainly online and are affordable (or cheaper than other all-natural brands at least) 100 % natural are;
*Weleda
*Lavera
*Avalon Organics
*Faith in Nature
*Bentley Organics
These can be found at various e-tailers such as: http://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk / http://www.naturisimo.com