Banish Dry Winter Skin with ISUN Herbal Shea Butter

Hi Lovelies,

Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 

ISUN Skincare Herbal Shea Butter Review

Today I wanted to talk with you about some wonderful product from the ISUN Skincare UK, the Herbal Shea Butter. I am truly enamored with this brand to no end, and this herbal shea butter will be your best friend this winter! I suggest you make it a part of your winter routine too, and you can thank me later :)

But let's start from the beginning, shall we? ISUN is amazing brand with a core intention to produce a skincare range that generates a positive influence on our mind, body and spirit. ISUN was created with the intent that every product has the potential of offering a ‘quantum healing effect’. Through the powerful quality of the products, the sensory receptors of our skin, our organs, tissues and cells that make up our bodies and ultimately our total being, can potentially be impacted through the regular use of ISUN Skincare.

This can only be fulfilled when their products meet rigorous criteria:

They are created from inception with positive, clear intentions. ISUN basic principles have been kept in perspective from the start. They have a clear eco-consciousness, giving back to the earth, for us, is a way of life. The foundation of all products is living plants, unrefined plant oils and essential oils. The brand avoids using harsh chemicals that may upset the balance in our soil or in our environment and strictly no animal testing is conducted.

Products are made from pure, unadulterated, life and health giving ingredients. Sourced via the most ethical and sustainablepractices, ISUN skincare range is made with the purest, natural, wildcrafted ingredients. Untouched by humankind,wildcrafted produce is the most natural form of plant, with all the natural healing properties for your skin, body and mind. So therefore these ingredients work in harmony with our skin to effectively repair, regenerate, balance and protect.

All ISUN products are made with living, high life-force ingredients. Living plants are bursting with powerful energy; they contain regenerating nutrients and life-force energy from the sun as they transform light into life. The light emitted by living cells in our body and in plant life is called biophotons. Biophotons are key to communication between plant cells and our body. Our natural ingredients will not only benefit your skin, but they will also leave you feeling rejuvenated due to theiraromatherapeutic benefits. Their calming effects will relieve stress, awaken and inspire your senses and help to eliminate andneutralise released toxins in your body with their holistic properties. These are the ultimate high vibrational products people!

All this is certainly true when it comes to this wonderful Herbal Shea Butter - you can really tell it's quality is second to none, and I can honestly say this is the most luxurious shea butter I've used in my life. The ingredients certainly made my heart sing, so let's look closely at some of them, shall we? Later on I will also list all the ways I use this shea butter, because if you know me, you know I love making my products work harder and am constantly coming up with a new ways to use them. This body butter is raw, vegan, organic and wildcrafted, and it is intended for dry, normal and sensitive skin, but I can honestly say anybody with any skin type can use it, and not only for the body, but on the face too, as I've done numerous times to protect my skin from these Arctic type of winds we have here lately.

Ingredients:

 Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter; Caprylic/Capric triglyceride (MCT coconut oil), Lavandula intermedia (lavender) flower extract, Calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, Helichrysum arenarium (helichrysum) flower extract; Butyrospermumparkii (shea) oil; Cera alba (beeswax); Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil; Tocopherols (vitamin E); Rosmarinus officinalis(rosemary) extract.

As you can see, the ingredients are minimal, that's what I like about them! I am doing the happy dance when the product has ingredients list that you can understand without a chemist degree, and this is your ultimate natural product. Plus you know everything is the best quality there can be, as it is always a case with every ISUN product. Shea butter and coconut oil are two of my favourite ingredients ever, and if they are infused with all these wonderful flowers, so much better! Coconut oil is a wonderful addition, that actually facilitates the better absorption of the butter. Not that you have to worry about it, it melts on your skin upon contact. As I already mentioned, this is the most luxurious body butter I've had to date, and I simply love that it not only protects my skin from harsh elements, but also turns simple showering routine into spa like experience. I am now looking forward to my showers actually, simply so I could use this wonderful product. It is so pure that it is safe for pregnant women, infants and babies. Shea butter is a wonderful all rounder for the skin, with a numerous benefits:

Shea Butter Benefits

Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils.

Reduces inflammation: a study has found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.

Skin smoothing: Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenicacids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.

Coconut Oil Benefits 

As we all know, coconut oil is wonderful for us humans, and there are so man reasons why. Let's leave the benefits of taking it internally for another time and another post, and let's look at the benefits of applying it externally for this time. It is rich in medium chain fatty acids or triglycerides. When applied on the skin, they keep it smooth to the touch. Due to the presence of these fats, coconut oil also retains the moisture content of the skin, as the fats eliminate moisture loss through the pores on the skin. Capric /Caprylic/Lauric acid - these three fatty acids have strong disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. As a result, when applied to the skin, coconut oil protects from microbial infections.

Like coconuts themselves, coconut oil is rich in many proteins. These proteins keep skin healthy and rejuvenated, both internally and externally. Proteins also contribute to the cellular health and tissue repair, along with a wide range of other essential activities within the body.

Coconut oil is wonderful as a face cleanser, moisturizer and low SPF sun screen, but also it can treat many skin disorders. The fatty acids (caprylic and lauric) in coconut oil reduce inflammation internally and externally and moisturize, making them a great solution for all types of skin conditions. It protects the skin and has many antioxidants that make it ideal for healing the skin. In addition, the antimicrobial properties balance out the candida or fungal sources that can cause many skin conditions. There’s so much unrefined coconut oil can do for skin.

Now for the ways this herbal shea butter can be used:

• as a body butter
• instead of the face balm to protect you from harsh elements
• as a hand cream and cuticle cream too
• as a lip balm or a mask (slather it on and leave overnight)
• for babies bottoms to treat rashes
• to soothe irritated skin (I have dermatitis and I can attest to that)
• for pregnant ladies to avoid stretch marks
• as a foot cream
• rub a bit on your palms and smooth flyways and frizzy hair (use small amount though) and on the ends of your hair
• after sun exposure to calm and soothe the skin (that's right, I use shea body butters in the summer too, it is not only for winter)
• on sore/raw noses during flu
• this is unusual, but I use it as an eye shadow primer - it is wonderful to make the shadows stick!
• on scars to make them heal quicker
• it also makes a great hair mask and scalp mask

So, all in all, I am in love with the product and can't recommend it highly enough. Really luxurious, gives you that ultimate I've just been to a spa" feeling. Melts upon contact and sinks into the skin without any greasy residue, what's not to love?The ingredients are so pure that it is safe for babies and pregnant women, no less.  It also gives me a peace of mind, as I know my skin is protected from harsh elements. Not only that, it helps heal the skin too, and as someone with dry skin and occasional dermatitis breakouts, I can attest to that. I wish I had an endless supply of it!

It retails for 48£ for 100ml, and comes in a luxurious Miron glass jar. Get it via ISUN Skincare UK here or in Dutch Health Store here.

And now, if you will excuse moi, I have to take a shower. Aka any excuse to use this product, haha!

Have a great day and upcoming Christmas!

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* source for the shea butter studies.

Lots of Love,

Renata.

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Flying Wild Balms Review - Irish Series

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

I am starting a new series in the blog, solely dedicated to Irish brands, and what better way to start than with my new favourite balms from Flying Wild? Flying Wild is a company started by lovely Arno, the brand owner and formulator. He moved back to his birthplace a few years looking for simpler life, more outdoors life and it resulted in this business. Arno keeps 60 bee hives of very happy bees and is using fresh honey to make his products. Other (certified organic, no less) ingredients in products are hemp, coconut, olive, soya and castor oils, shea butter, vitamin E, essential oils of frankincense and may chang. Super simple and minimal list of ingredients, exactly what I like, and all of them are good for you and nourishing to the skin. (Sorry vegan friends, this post is not for you, please feel free to check out my other posts). I am really loving the company's ethos too, they say if the ingredient does not add anything to the product, it is not included. Every product is made by hand in small batches, fresh from scratch every time, no fillers or pre-made bases – every ingredient is natural, has a specific purpose and delivers results. Quality of the products speak for themselves. How can you not love this?

There are four products in the line, three balms for the body, hands and feet, and a lip balm. I got a chance to test them all and I can't choose my favourite, they are all that good!

The Lip Balm

Is second to only Hurraw lip balms, and it is way better than anything l used in the last few years, way better than Burt’s Bees, Crazy Rumours, Eos and multiple other balms. It is super nourishing, lasts for hours and smells of honey and rosemary. I am stocking up on these babies come autumn! I am the sort of person who has to have multiple lip balms everywhere, next to the computer, bed, in the handbag, bathroom, car, you name it. The only tiny thing l dislike about it is the packaging, it is forest green tube, and the colour reminds me of a school uniform, aka my least favourite colour (and not so good memories perhaps) but the balm is so good that l am willing to put up with it. Here’s hoping the brand will come out with more variations in the flavours and packaging?

Certified Organic Ingredients: grapeseed oil, beeswax, honey, rosemary oil, vitamin E.

The Body Balm

It comes in a pump tube, which l like very much, very sanitary, no diping germy fingers into a pot and contaminating product with bacteria. All balms come in the same packaging. It has great ingredients (duh, obviously!) and is a joy to use, plus l have to mention the smell, your bathroom will smell amazing for hours!! It is also amazingly softening, your skin will feel like a baby’s skin for a couple of days. You can mix it with other body lotion if you don’t want to run out too soon, and that is exactly what I am doing and savouring every moment of it! It has runny honey consistency, it is not a hard balm, and it leaves a bit of a film in your skin if you don't rub it in well, so make sure to do that. (But if you like thin consistency lotions that rub in quickly and leave no trace of any product on the skin, this might be not a product for you). As l am more of a body oil or butter type of girl, l am loving it! Formulated for normal to dry skin.

Certified Organic Ingredients: Soya oil, vegetable glycerine, castor oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil, honey, vitamin E, may chang oil, olive oil peg-7 esters*, frankincense oil. * non-organic plant based emulsifyer.

The Hand Balm

Same amount of product, same packaging, same gorgeous smell! I keep reaching for this hand balm non stop, and after a little while l noticed l didn't touch any of my hand creams for a week! So it quickly took over as my favourite hand product too. Definitely repurchasing once I am out, l don't want to be without this product ever again! Just like a  body balm, it leaves a film on the hands, so l use it at night. I only use the hand creams at night anyways. If you are someone who uses hand creams multiple times daily, maybe try it on the backs of the hands?

Certified Organic Ingredients: Flaxseed oil, vegetable glycerine, castor oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, calendula oil, beeswax, coconut oil, honey, vitamin E, may chang oil, olive oil peg-7 esters*, frankincense oil. * non-organic plant based emulsifyer.

The Foot Balm

The Foot Balm has a much stronger scent than the hand and body balms. The reason for this is that the foot balm also includes neem oil (very good and powerfully anti-bacterial and anti-fungal - but has the downside of being pretty smelly) and lemon eucalyptus and tea tree. It is what makes it very powerful in healing feet. For this I will include the official blurb:

"Repair, heal and protect your feet with this nutrient rich Foot Balm. Pure natural oils of organically grown Soya, Flaxseed, Neem, Olive, Hemp, and Castor deeply nourish and moisturise your dry and damaged skin. Essential oils of Frankincense, May Chang, Tea Tree and Lemon Eucalyptus leave your feet feeling refreshed, renewed and protected under a layer of organic Beeswax. This balm has been specially formulated to help your skin fight bacterial and fungal invasion and to soothe, cool and enliven your tired, aching feet and heels."

I have to agree on all counts! My feet are definitely softer and more smooth after just a few uses! It is really nice to treat your feet with such a fabulous balm as most of us are neglecting them, let's be honest. Yes I take care of them and they look fine, not rough, but l rarely if ever buy specific product for feet, but that is about to change. I planned to use my hubby as a test bunny for this balm, as his feet could do with some healing (standing up all day with steel toe boots, anyone?) but pinning him down for some testing proved more difficult than l thought, so let's just say this is a work in progress and I will get back to you with the results shortly. My own feet are very grateful for this product however, and the smell of this and the hand balm are wonderful to lull yourself into sleep. I really enjoy them.

Certified Organic Ingredients

Flaxseed oil, soya oil, castor oil, neem oil, vegetable glycerine, beeswax, coconut oil, olive oil, honey, vitamin E, may chang oil, tea tree oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, olive oil peg-7 esters*, frankincense oil.

All of these body balms come in a pump packaging and house 75ml of the product. The lip balm is 5gr of product, slightly bigger than your average lip balm. It retails for 5.99€ whereas the body balms retail for 14.99€ with a free shipping to Ireland. I think this is very good and fair price point, and you all know I am a big fan of a free shipping, haha! Speaking of shipping, Flying Wild ships worlwide via their website and Etsy and Ebay shops. You can also find these products in selected shops and pharmacies in Ireland.

Do I love and recommend these products? Yes and yes! Even though I wasn't expecting much when I first received them, I would repurchase every single product from them, and there are very few brands that I can say that about. Take it as a very high praise and Green Life In Dublin stamp of approval!

Want to try these products? Hint hint, there might be a giveaway in the works! So stay tuned and follow my and Flying Wild Instagram pages.

That is all for now, see you again next Monday!

Lots of Love,

Renata.

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*Disclaimer, these products were sent to me. All opinions are my own and I am not paid to review this in a nice fashion. I am also not the girl who likes everything, far from it, just wait till you see my disappointing products post! Meow!