Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Melvita Moisturising Care Dry Skin Facial Oil

This was unexpected find in TK Maxx - I know, I promised not to shop, but seriously, how can you leave product this good at this bargain price?? It's 99% organic and 100% ingredients come from natural origin.  Ecocert sertified. Amazing or what? and it's only a tenner for goodness sake, l promised myself to look for more items like this once I'm in TK Maxx, which doesn't happen often.
So, this oil has five softening and revitalising oils in it, which is neroli, rosewood, immortelle, myrrh and carrot oil. Also a trio of skin caring oils - argan, hemp and inca inchi.
As you can see in the photo the oil is orange in colour, and it's not too runny, lovely to use. I use 4-5 drops for my face and 2 drops for the neck. I've had this for about 2-3 weeks, and you can see how little I used, so it will last me a good while, I reckon at least 6 months. You're advised to smooth it over the face with sweeping strokes and massage it in. I also pat it under my eyes instead of eye cream. If you have dry or very dry skin, your skin will love this, but I wouldn't recommend it for oilier gals, as you will probably hate this.
I'll make sure to check out this company as I think it will have tons more of fabulous stuff, and I'll also check out www.cosmetics.ecocert.com as well, this website is printed on the side of the box, so I think it will come in handy searching for organic and natural things :)

So that's all for today, have a lovely day guys :)


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Mini Natural Haul before NO BUY

Mini Natural Haul

Some mini haul to show you, before NO BUY until the end of the year, not to go into details, but I have no income from now on. Sad but true.
Some things I bought in Indian shop in city centre, some i grabbed in Health Shop in Pavillions yesterday.
So a little about each items and first impressions:

Jasmine Hair Oil:
KTC hair oil based in coconut, with jasmine extract, but has mineral oil in it, which I didn't like so probably won't repurchase it. Smells like petrol by-product - hello, mineral oil! - which I didn't like at all. I used this oil in the evening and left it overnight, not the best idea as I even woke up from the bad smell :( cost about 2€, you can get it in Indian shops or Superdrug.com

Amla Jasmine Hair Oil:
After much research I convinced myself I need amla - Indian gooseberry - in my life badly, because it's supposed to help with hair growth, my main reason for getting it. (it has more benefits, if taken as a powder internally it helps to strenghten the immune system and much more). i knew it will have distinctive smell to it, but what I didn't expect that i will get headache from it.. so probably it's a no for me again.

These two oils did strengthen my hair, made it silky and more manageable, so if you don't have a problem with mineral oil, I'd say go ahead with it, but i decided to do my own jasmine hair oil from coconut oil and jasmine essential oil (which I bought too, as you can see in the picture). As for amla, I'll try to get it in the powder form and make my own infusion with almond or Evoo, again, to avoid mineral oil.

Rose Water:
It was a bargain at about 1.25€ but can't give any feedback on it as I didn't open it yet, still using my Atlantic Aromatics Organic Rosewater. will update later.

Neem toothpaste and Clover toothpaste:
These are not pictured, got them from the same Indian shop at around 1.50€ each and I do really like them as both of them do not have fluoride and are more natural than regular toothpastes. Neem one was supposed to whiten my teeth as well as strenghten them, one week later I don't see much difference, but we will see. Clover one is good for gums, which is why I chose it. I will repurchase both of them, but the trouble is my daughter hates the taste of them -well, they're not minty which is why she hates them -and absolutely refuses to use them.

Jasmine Essence Absolute:
It's by Atlantic Aromatics, cost me €7 or so, but I'm disappointed in smell.. the one in KTC hair oil was sooo much better. Nevertheless, I made my own body butter using 5 or 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and about 60 drops of jasmine essential oil. (started with 30 and kept adding more as I couldn't smell much).

Dr.Hauschka Rose Body Oil:
Yay, my first purchase from DrHauschka range! I knew about this range for years but never bought anything because I deemed it too expensive, and my friends were not impressed by it. My original plan was to buy Trilogy organic rose hip oil, but after trying it in store I couldn't bring myself to buy it as thought of using it everyday on my face was off putting - the smell again.. And I am so glad I didn't like it, as for the price of that one bottle I got so much more- this rose body oil and organic neem oil together, a winner. Anyways, I really like this oil and I'll use it as a face oil/serum. The texture is nice, smells nice too, not too grannyish as you'd expect from rose oil.. My only worry is it's limited edition, which probably means by the time I will finish it, it will be gone. I got it in The Health Shop and it cost €8.95 for 30ml.

Pure Organic Neem Oil by Serendipity:
This was 10€ for 30ml and I grabbed it s soon as I walked into the shop. It says external use only so I'll use it for my skin and hair only, and for internal use I'm still on the look out for neem powder. If you know the place to get it in Dublin let me know, please? Pretty please?
I made a pre-shampoo treatment already, consisting of 50/50 coconut and neem oils, now let's wait for long luscious locks, because it's supposed to be the bomb when it comes to hair.

Cocowel Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:
It's only €6 for 500ml in Dunnes, so go and get some. No, don't go - run! You can thank me later :)
Before I found this, my trusty raw coconut oil was the one from Nourish, Essential Organic, but it costs €14.65 for 690ml. So, do your maths, I am so switching - the new one seems just as good as the old one, organic, raw, all the things I look for in a coconut oil, don't see any differences in texture or otherwise so far, the only thing I can fault is the plastic packaging for Cocowel, but for €6 i am willing to overlook it.

So, to sum things up, i found some new favourites and the things I didn't like only cost two euros, so no big deal.  So far I was always onto new best thing, but now I'll give some love to the things I already own.
 My new motto is - Use The Things You Have.
How about you, any new exciting natural purchases? Tell me below!
Have an awesome day :)






Monday, October 7, 2013

My Dream Collection!!


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Felted soap

My first attempt at wool felting, these two gorgeous soaps, can't wait to try those! Want to felt all the soaps I have in my house and give those for a presents.. hmm not a bad idea, huh?




Let me know did you ever tried something like this? Would you like a tutorial for it? It is so easy, takes 4mins flat :)

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Natural Body & Hair Care Recipes

Hi folks, Here's a few recipes that I am using or planning to use, hope you will find this interesting and helpful :)


 NATURAL UNDER EYE CREAM:
 some coconut oil
a little bit of vit E and/or contents of capsule of evening primrose oil
 Mix well and store in a little jar. Gently pat into under eye area, use minuscule amount. or you can use vit E only, I swear it's way better than shop bought stuff - and with those sky high prices for 15ml, what's the story with that?!


 NATURAL SHAMPOO:
(work in progress so far, will update later as I haven't found my holy grail yet)
1 part coconut milk
1 part Dr Bronners soap
a few drops of essential oil (I use rosemary)
 I mix for 1 or 2 uses only as it keeps for about a week.


 NATURAL MOISTURISER:
1part shea butter
1 part coconut oil
1 part sea buctorn oil


NATURAL HAIR MASK:
1 part raw honey
1 part coconut oil
a few drops of rosemary essential oil
(optional: egg yolk, some olive oil, brandy, greek yogurt or whatever you fancy)
Just eyeball the measurements, keep for 20mins at least. The longer, the better.


TOOTHPASTE:
Coconut oil, himalayan salt, baking powder. You can add peppermint essential oil too, or xylitol powder if you like it sweet tasting. Stevia would work too. Lemon or cinnamon, your choice ;) calcium magnesium powder would be welcome and very beneficial for your teeth health, as per extensive research I found out that teeth an absorb minerals from outside. No, let me repeat it - CAN ABSORB MINERALS FROM OUTSIDE. This is powerful!!


TOOTHPOWDER:
1 part dry ginger
1 part himalayan salt - fine
1 part baking soda.
As per recipe before, you can add your own twist to it - lemon, cinnamon, peppermint flavour, magnesium/calcium powder for extra healthy teeth (I found powdered version in Nourish shop, or you can crush your regular calcium magnesium pill)


SCRUB:
The first thing I started to make years ago was scrub, once my eyes opened that you can make it your own and don't have to spend mega bucks on it..
This is the easiest recipe - go to your cupboard and take .. sugar. Yes, plain ol' sugar will exfoliate your body like no one's business. Eventually you will make your own concoctions, I am sure, but here's my favourite:
Coconut oil
Sugar
Lemon or orange juice
and some zest, if the lemon was unwaxed
your favourite essential oil
or some crushed fresh mint


FACE MASK:
For me it varies, any fruit peels will do, natural yogurt and raw honey are amazing for the skin too. Just go to your fridge and mix something up ;) Here's an example:


RAW CHOCOLATE FACE MASK:
2tbs raw chocolate
2tbs raw honey
1tbs live yogurt
1tbs fine oatmeal

Blend together, apply, leave for 20mins. If you prefer your mask to be moisturising but not exfoliating, leave out the oatmeal.


DIY LASH SERUM:
1 part castor oil
1 part aloe vera gel
2 parts vit E oil


ROSEMARY HAIR RINSE:
 take some rosemary, a handful if dried, two if fresh, boil for 20 mins on low heat. Cool down and use as a final rinse. I'm like obsessed with rosemary now as I feel my hair has thinned, never paid any attention to it before, but it's my best friend now ;)


LIGHTENING HAIR TREATMENT:
Raw honey,
Cinnamon
Olive oil
These two apparently activate the peroxide in the honey, Mix well, leave for 1hr to activate peroxide. Apply on the hair and leave it as long as you can, 20 mins at least.
It will not bleach or visibly lighten your hair, but it will take down a shade or two if you stick with it for 6 treatments at least.



So that's it, my natural treatments revealed, let me know what do you do? Please share your recipes and experiences below. Have a nice day guys :) :) :)
 


 



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The Health Show

So, visited the Health Show in RDS last Sunday with friends. Spent way too much money than intended, but it's all good :) Didn't know what to expect as it was my first time, but reaaaaly happy with my purchases and decided to save for next time already, because I stopped myself of buying matcha (the best, I know, but so expensive!) and natural cosmetics (not using any at the moment. plus I'll replace the ones I have once I run out. You know, replace one by one.) They're by Benecos, and I need to research them more before I buy. I bought some Nakd bars - the new ones are soooo good :) some essential oils, manuka honey (always good), lavera kids tooth gel without flouride - after my bid kid got flourosis I'll never get regular toothpaste for my little one!! Damn Irish water with added fluoride, why?? The purchase I was most excited about was Dr.Bronner's soap - after extensive research I chose it as a purest soap with million uses for it. I got a big bottle of it for 12€ so saved myself a few quid there. Once I got home I brushed my teeth with it (soappy but fine) and washing my hair with it (couldn't even put the brush in it) I knew it would be drying, but this? I didn't give up on it as a shampoo yet - I'll try a few more combos with this soap, like mixing it with coconut milk, aloe vera gel and even with regular shampoo if everything else fails. I also made a concoction for cleaning - one part H2O, one part my homemade vinegar with lemon and half the amount of Dr.Bronners. Works well, natural, what more could you want?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Amazing Coconut Oil

Right, i have to start with this.. I looooooooove love love coconut oil! So glad it came into my life :) It literally has a million and one use for it, it has replaced many products in my house, I use it for everything, sometimes I even forget it is food and I can eat it. Mainly I use it as a body moisturiser, it has spf4 too, helps with sun damage too. shaving cream (and nothing soothes the skin after shaving than this!) hair conditioner, hand and cuticles cream, you can take of your make up with it as it melts everything off, even waterproof mascara.. You can brush teeth with it (alone or mixed with baking soda). I know of it's uses as a deodorant but l didn't used it yet that way. It helps with baby's nappy rashes like nobody's business, helps with skin iritations too. I am putting a spoonfull of it into her bath since birth, her skin is oh-so-soft and you won't need any Johnson's oils (that stuff is nasty, stay away from it! made from oil by products and works by closing pores, why would you ever want to touch it?? ) I started putting a teaspoon of it into baby's morning porridge and her hair doubled in volume in two weeks I kid you not! I'll start taking it internally too, I want luschious hair too :) I am taking raw unrefined kind, it retails about €16 for 690ml or you can get a tub of it for a fiver if you don't need superb quality, KTC brand used to be very cheap now it's €5 for half a litre but it will last you for months if you'll use it for bodycare only. So guys, are you using it too? Tell me your expierences with it, are you as happy as I am? and share your recipes below :) Thanks and have a nice day :)

Monday, September 9, 2013

Natural You

Right, let's go back to business :) After long hiatus I'm back. This time around we will embrace the journey to green living. Join me! Together we will discover new exciting natural and non toxic products, natural baby stuff, natural beauty, kitchen pharmacy, clean eating and juicing recipes, natural vitamins & supplements, new ways to clean our houses etc etc. Plus I will link my favourite natural gurus via youtube, books and other blogs. All I've learned I will share with you :)