MyPure Choice – Alva Caffeine Shampoo and Conditioner

If you remember my Christmas Wish List, I was after some new hair care products… I picked caffeine shampoo and conditioner for thinning hair from Alva to satisfy my need for something new.

Alva Naturkosmetik is a range of certified organic skin care products made in Osnabrück, Germany. Alva was established in 1988 and is now one of Europe’s leading natural skin care brands. The Alva range is split into several categories offering skin care items such as deodorant, shower gel, body lotion, hair care products as well as make up and a whole range of anti-ageing skin care, products for sensitive skin and acne prone skin. Their range is extensive and I am sure everyone would be able to pick something to suit their needs.

As an introduction to the brand I picked the Alva Caffeine Shampoo and Conditioner for Thinning Hair. Both these products are formulated with organic caffeine to stimulate circulation to the scalp, helping to strengthen both the roots and the hair follicles. Both, shampoo and conditioner are:

• Natural product
• Certified organic product
• Not tested on animals
• Suitable for vegetarian
• Suitable for vegans
• Paraben Free

Now let’s take a closer look at them.

Alva Caffeine Shampoo for Thinning Hair with Organic Caffeine

Ingredients: aloe vera, aqua, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, cocamidopropyl betaine (plant derived surfactants), citrus aurantium dulcis (orange fruit) water, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (plant derived emulsifier), caffeine, fragrance (natural), sodium hydroxide (pH regulator), citric acid, sodium phytate (antioxidants), limonene, linalool

Price: £15.00; currently on special at £13.50

Packaging: 250ml plastic bottle shaped container with top opening. The open-close mechanism is very secure and it doesn’t open as easy as one might want. I personally like it as it means that someone must really want to open it in order to get to the contents, but I can imagine this being a problem for elderly people especially those with arthritis. The bottle contains all relevant information including product description, direction for use, ingredients, manufacturer, measurements and best before date.

In use: I must admit it is totally different to all my previous shampoos. Alva Caffeine Shampoo comes in the form of a see-through watery like liquid. It is very runny and its texture is more like water than a gel, which I would expect from the shampoo. On the first wash it does lather, on the second wash it lathers slightly. Intellectually I know that less lathering means less chemicals in the product, so I am totally fine with this lack of “foam”. The shampoo must be left for 2 minutes before rinsing, which is not a problem but it helps to read the instructions 😉

Final thoughts: Water like texture takes a little time to get used to. I like the gentle orange fragrance, which doesn’t stay on your hair for long but does make the whole bathroom smell lovely when the shampoo is in use. The two minute leave in time possibly makes it unsuitable for that quick morning shower routine. It is however perfect for an evening bath time routine, when you really want to pamper yourself.

Alva Caffeine Conditioner for Thinning Hair with Organic Caffeine

Ingredients: aloe vera, aqua, citrus medica limonum (lemon fruit) water, jojoba oil, cetearyl alcohol (stabilizer), fragrance (natural), glyceryl stearate citrate (plant derived emulsifier, caffeine, galactoarabinan (larch extract), xanthan gum, pca glyceryl oleate (plant derived conditioning agent), citric cid, limonene, linalool

Price: £14.35; currently on special at £12.92

Packaging: 250ml plastic bottle shaped container with bottom opening. It is the same style of bottle that the shampoo is sold in but this time it stands upside down. This is actually very clever as the conditioner has a much thicker texture and the upright position helps with getting the contents near the exit thus helping with the dispensing of it. The bottle has the same secure open-close mechanism and it contains all the relevant information including product description, direction for use, ingredients, manufacturer, measurements and best before date.

In use: Again, something different to what I was expecting. The conditioner comes in the form of a pure while gel (it really reminds me of an old style toothpaste) but with one key difference – it is extremely light. It is a pure pleasure to use. I am not really sure how to describe it… maybe Jojoba Oil or Aloe Vera gives it this “magic” texture… whatever it is, I really like it.

Final thoughts: I am unable to fault it in any way. It spreads with ease, it smells lovely and it leaves my hair well nourished and smooth (which isn’t the case with every conditioner). Again it has to stay on your hair for 2 minutes but I would expect that from a “healing” conditioner.

So would I buy it again?

Yes. I would definitely buy both shampoo and conditioner. As a team this products work really well. I remember feeling the difference after just one use. My hair felt somehow stronger and they had much more life in them. After weeks of using it (which actually amounts to 6 uses, as with my dry hair I do not have a need for daily wash) I can see less shedding for sure. My brush doesn’t pick up so many “loose” hairs and my pillow is no longer covered with them in the morning.

Would I change anything?

If I could, I would make both products smell the same. I know that this might not be an option as they aren’t made from the same ingredients but I like harmony and different fragrant are not ideal for my nose.

Would I recommend it?

Yes. If you experiencing increased hair loss due to thinning hair this duo might be perfect for you. Their price isn’t outrageous and in my humble opinion they really work well, so it is worth paying.

Have you ever used any Alva products?

Do you have any experience with hair care products designed to strengthen your hair?

I would love to hear about any other recommendations you might have.

* Products featured in this post were provided for free by MyPure for review purpose.

RockFace taking care of your man – Review and Giveaway

If you like to look good and smell great with a minimum of effort and fuss leaving you more time to work hard and play hard, then Rockface is the range for you.

RockFace is a brand designed for a real man. All their products have the same citrusy woody fragrance so you can streamline your grooming and fragrance regime in one easy step.

Currently there are 8 products in the range:

• Shave gel – priced: £3.95 for 200ml
• Shave butter – priced £4.99 for 75ml
• Post shave balm – priced £4.95 for 100ml
• Moisturiser – priced £5.49 for 100ml
• Shower wash – priced £3.95 for 100ml
• Face and body scrub – priced £4.99 for 150ml
• Deodorant spray – priced £3.45 for 150ml
• Active body spray – priced £3.49 for 150ml

Recently Mark was kindly sent a range to try out. I must admit I was a little surprised by his reaction to this giant gift packet.

Normally he is a quite fussy “client” when it comes to skin care – he has a few products he likes and it is not easy to even get him to try something new. I think it is all about the fragrance – yet he liked RockFace and he was more than happy to give them a try, including the face and body scrub… which I tried to make him use for years with no positive outcome.

So what were Marks findings: “Good selection of useful products though I still haven’t figured out the need for an active body spray. The fragrance is indeed very attractive and I like the green colour of some products; not sure why but using them makes me happy”.

From my point of view I wanted to check if a “male” version of a face and body scrub is any different to the girly ones I know, so I tried it. To my giant surprise it was an amazing experience. This is one of the best scrubs I’ve used. It is quite gentle yet does its job perfectly well and it leaves your skin unbelievable smooth… no wonder Mark’s forehead doesn’t feel like a sheet of a sand pepper any more.

Mark likes it, I liked it, therefore with some confidence I can say I am sure you would like it too.

Now there is only one question left: when is the after shave or a perfume with the same scent coming out to complete the routine?

Now Rockface whose generosity has no bounds has very kindly offered 3 products to one of my lucky readers. The winner will be able to pick what they fancy to try out and if they are fast, it should arrive just before Christmas, so you will have one gift less to worry about.

To be in chance of winning the three RockFace products of your choice please follow me and RockFace on Twitter and RT the following tweet:

https://twitter.com/AgataPokutycka/status/542377631220793344

Good Luck!

T&C:
1. Open to UK readers only.
2. One obligatory entry per reader – follow me and RockFace on Twitter and RT the tweet as stated above. Any extra RT will be counted as an additional entry.
3. There will be 1 winner in total.
4. The winner will receive a bundle of 3 RockFace products of their choice. The prize will be provided by RockFace.
5. Winner will be picked at random and informed within 7 working days via Twitter.
6. Winner will have 7 working days to claim the prize, after this time, a new winner will be selected.
7. Closing date is Wednesday 17-12-2014 at 23:59pm, any entry made after this time will not be counted.

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions
Loquax – Home of The Lucky Duck
SuperLucky Blog Giveaways Linky

***

20/12 WINNER UPDATE

Well done Laura ‏@LAFhusky

MyPure Choice – Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Day and Night Cream

Natural Being is a new range of affordable natural skin care from New Zealand. Natural Being uses only natural ingredients and each product in the range has been certified natural by BDIH. There are 9 natural skin care products to choose from, these include cleansers, face cream, eye cream & body cream. They feature some great active natural ingredients including manuka oil & manuka honey. As with all the brands they stock at MypPure Natural Being is not tested on animals.

This is the brand description from the MyPure website.

I liked it, so I decided to give Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Day and Night Cream a go.

Both creams are:

• A natural product
• A vegetarian product
• Not tested on animals

Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Day Cream – Normal to dry skin

What to expect: Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Day Cream is a nourishing cream which prevents dehydration and roughness, while enhancing suppleness and clarity. A highly effective blend of botanical oils and Vit E gently enriches the skin and fights free radical damage to keep the first signs of ageing at bay.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Cetyl palmitate, Sorbitan palmitate, Glycerin (vegetable glycerin), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil**, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter**, Squalane, Glucose, Mel (manuka honey), fragrance (natural essential oils), Xanthan gum, Glucose oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil, Citronellol*, Eugenol*, Limonene*, Linalool

Packaging: The cream comes in a tube like container with a security seal on the opening, so you can be sure it is new and never opened before. It is packed in the box containing all the relevant information including: name and description of the product, instructions on how to use it, full ingredients list, manufacturer details and use by date.

In use: The day cream is very light, despite being called rich. It spreads with ease and leaves my skin smooth and well moisturised. It doesn’t leave me with that “heavy” feeling some “rich” creams do. It is white in colour and has quite a light and runny texture. The fragrance was a nice surprise. Most of the natural products I have tried do not have the best of fragrance out there; however Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Day Cream actually smells very nice. It is very gentle and almost none existent but it is there. I was wondering if after some time the fragrance would change, but it didn’t.

Final thoughts: Fantastic day cream which will not break your bank balance. With a RRP of £12 it is a great buy. It leaves my skin soft and it doesn’t cause any irritations. It absorbs well without being greasy or leaving oily patches. Well worth it and I have no objection in recommending it.

Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Night Cream – Normal to dry skin

What to expect: Natural Being Manuka Honey Rich Night Cream is a deeply nourishing cream formulated to replenish moisture lost during the day. Enriched with Active Manuka Honey, anti-microbial Manuka Oil and botanical emollients, it works while you sleep to improve suppleness and help the skin repair and renew itself.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Vitis Vinifera (grape) seed oil, Cetyl palmitate, Sorbitan palmitate, Glycerin (vegetable glycerin), Squalane, Cetearyl alcohol, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Daucus carota (carrot) extract, Glucose, Mel (manuka honey), fragrance (natural essential oils), Sclerotium gum, Glucose oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Liptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil, Citronellol*, Eugenol*, Limonene*, Linalool*

Packaging: Same as the day cream, the night version comes in a tube like container with a security seal on the opening, so you can be sure it is new and never been opened before. It is packed in the box containing all the relevant information including: name and description of the product, instructions on how to use it, full ingredients list, manufacturer details and use by date.

In use: The night cream is a bit thicker than the day cream version. It is also a bit more yellowy in colour. These are the only two differences I can spot really. Again, it absorbs well and it nourishes my skin during the night. After a week or so, I’ve notice that the dry flaky skin on my forehead going away – I am not sure if it was the night cream that did it or the day cream or a combination of the two. It also has the same gentle fragrance as the day cream.

Final thoughts: I am not able to fault it in any way. With an RRP of £14 it is still a great buy and I would be happy to purchase it again.

There are more products in the Natural Being range. I think that an eye cream would be a perfect addition to my current routine… and a cleanser and a tonic gel… oh well… it looks like I will have to buy them all 🙂

Have you ever used any of the Natural Being products or any other manuka honey based skin care?

*From natural essential oils
**Certified organic

Products featured in this post were provided for free by MyPure for review purpose.

My Personal Beauty Wish List

As a blogger from time to time I get to try something nice… and all is good in the world but then comes the time when I want to try a bit more… or maybe try them all… or even try a slightly different variation…

Last week as it was Black Friday I was browsing various websites in search of the perfect “something” for myself and thus I bookmarked a few things that I would really love to try.

So with no further delay, in no particular order, this is my very own Personal Beauty Wish List!

This might be considered a little bit greedy but I would as I said really love them all! I was lucky once enough to try some Botanicals Balm and I totally loved it… now I am hooked and want them all. So lucky for me, they have a special Christmas gift selection, which I think actually represents good value for money; especially with their current special offer of “Purchase any two gift collections and get a facial collection for free”.

To make the offer complete there is also the Footcare Trio and Handcare Essentials set 🙂

Next on my list is a Madara set. In the past I’ve tried a few face cleansers from this brand and I was very pleased with them. I would really like to try the whole dry skin range; I wonder if I used all the products together if it will make a major difference.

Natural perfumes? I’ve never tried any, so I am intrigued and would love to give them a go. I like the patchouli scent so Pure Patchouli from Acorelle seems to me like a good starting point for a journey into natural perfumes.

Lately I have been having some problems with my sleep pattern… again… I have had some Deep Sleep Dream Cream before and I really liked it, so the whole collection of therapeutic products, designed to enhance a peaceful sleep sounds perfect to me right now.

Finally…I need something for my hair. They are still dry and I am still looking for the perfect “something”. Until last Friday I didn’t even know that a company like Rahua existed, but I really liked the description and now would love to try it. 100%, free from gluten, synthetics, parabens and sulphates – sounds perfect on paper.

Have you tried any of these products?

What’s on your beauty wish list?

Do you have winter-challenged skin? Botanicals to the rescue!

With my dry skin I have to be very careful what I buy and of course what I use. I try to opt for natural products in order to protect my already sensitive skin and not cause any more damage to it. Natural products are great but most of the time they share one big downsize – they smell awful. When I was offered to try Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm Rose & Camellia my first thought was “I wonder if it will smell like roses”.

To my huge surprise yes, it does!

It smells divine. Normally I prefer fragrant free face care products but this one smells truly amazing.

Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm Rose & Camellia is 100% natural and made from 89% organic ingredients. If you want to know what’s inside you can find the full ingredients list here.

It comes in a dark brown jar-like glass container. Again not my ideal form of packaging for a face cream but due to the texture it is the only option for it.

So what is so different about the texture?

Well, did you ever use cold pressed coconut oil? I bought some for doing baby massages and it looks very similar to that. Basically it looks like a solid white fatty mass. You can’t just scoop it with the tip of your finger; I use my long nails to lift a little bit from the jar. So, then you have this solid hard mass on your finger nail but as soon as it touches your skin it starts to melt, just like a snowball kept in your hand for too long.

Once melted it turns into liquid oil which is just amazing! In liquid form the aroma is even more intense and it spreads with ease. Because it becomes so runny you only need a little tiny bit of it. When I tried it for the first time I scooped more or less the same amount as I would do with my usual face cream and I actually had enough to apply into my face, hands, neck and my lower legs…I was simply running out of skin to put it on, it is so efficient.

Despite the things (smell and a packaging) which would normally be a minus for me, when talking about face care products, I totally love Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm Rose & Camellia. It is perfect in every way and it does wonders to my skin. It leaves it soft, well moisturized and feeling extremely luxurious. Despite its oil like texture it absorbs quickly into the skin. If I had some sort of rating system I would give it 10/10 easily!

Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm Rose & Camellia is priced at £27.95 for a 50g jar. If you wish to order one there is a special £5 off offer for all orders placed in November. Just type NOVOFFER (case sensitive) once you get to the check-out stage.

What do you think?

Does it sound like something you would like to try?

MyPure Choice – A’kin Body Wash

For the last month I have been indulging myself during bath and shower time with some lovely A’kin body wash.

I picked two totally different scents – orange blossom and sandalwood – to give myself either a fresh start to the day or a calming bedtime chill-out.

If you have never heard about A’kin this is what the MyPure website states about them:

A’kin is made from the finest natural ingredients, chosen for their purity and skin friendly compatibility. A’kin does not contain: sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.

A’kin body wash is:

• Cruelty free
• Natural – they use certified organic ingredients where possible
• Suitable for vegans – certified by the Australian Vegan Society
• Suitable for vegetarians – they have been formulated without any animal ingredients
• Halal Certified

A’kin body wash comes in a 500ml bottle with a pump, which makes it the ideal packaging in my eyes. They are prices at £14 (currently on special offer at £12.60), which makes them a bit on the high side – price wise – but like with everything else, good quality products always cost more. However they do go a long way as you only need a little bit to actually wash yourself.

A’kin Orange Blossom Body Wash

I found it to be a perfect body wash to start my day with. It delivers a fresh fragrant aroma bursting with energy. It leaves my skin nicely moisturised and I feel ready to face the day ahead.

A’kin Orange Blossom Body Wash comes in the form of a see-through gel like texture. It is easy to use and it spreads very well. It doesn’t foam a great deal but for me this isn’t a problem. It leaves a gentle fragrant smell on the skin after a good rinse. But don’t you worry, it doesn’t last long, so it will not interfere with any perfumes you might want to use.

A’kin Sandalwood Body Wash

If you love the scent of sandalwood this one is truly for you. The scent is amazing – very woody and calming with those lovely hints of something oriental. It is an ideal body wash before bedtime as it’s really puts you into a calm, relaxed dream like state.

Same as with the Orange Blossom, the Sandalwood body wash comes in a see-through gel like texture. Again, you will not experience a great deal of foaming from it but it will leave a nice very gentle scent on your skin.

In general I am very pleased with my choice. I think A’kin offers some fantastic products which are good for your skin and a pure pleasure to use.

Did you ever use any of A’kin products?

* Products featured in this post were provided for free by MyPure for review purpose.

Typical Causes of Hair Loss

No one is immune to hair loss and it can take place when you are having your morning shower, when you are drying your hair with a blow dryer or even when you give your hair that daily brush or comb. On average, a person disposes of between fifty and hundred hairs each day! Fortunately, for most of us what we lose is soon replaced. This is not always the case and sometimes hair loss is not natural but due to other issues which include telogen effluvium and hereditary hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia an alopecia areata.

Baldness caused by unnatural stress

Telogen effluvium takes place following pregnancy, after major surgery, after substantial weight loss, or as a result of undue stress. In any of these four situations a large amount of hair may be lost, especially whilst shampooing, brushing or styling. In certain circumstances it can be due to an after effect of particular medications which include antidepressants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blockers.
When inflicted with telogen effluvium, the hair moves faster than it usually does from its growing stage to what is called its “resting” stage, before it begins to fall out. This condition generally affects women more than men. Hair loss begins 6 weeks to about 3 months following a stressful event. When it is at its peak, handfuls of hair maybe lost.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle. It can result in the temporary or permanent loss of hair in men and women. When the infection has been treated, if the hair does not grow back naturally, it may be because the hair follicles have been damaged too severely and hair transplants can be considered.

Inherited male pattern baldness

There is another reason for hair loss and that is androgenetic alopecia and this is due to an inherited gene originating from your mother. This type of baldness almost only affects men. It is quite possible for a woman to go bald as a result of inheriting the genes for baldness, but it is much rarer. She would have to inherit a gene from both her mother and her father. Also, the baldness is typically due to a sensitivity of the hair follicles to male sex hormone, which is much less common, although not absent, in women.
Temporary baldness can be caused when the immune system lets the body down
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition which can cause hair loss. Normally if an infection is present the immune system controls it is but with alopecia areata it causes damage to the hair follicles. Usually, this is not permanent but it can result in temporary hair loss. It is likely to be more common and permanent in people who already suffer from another type of autoimmune disorder.

Cancer treatment and baldness

Some types of cancer treatment may cause temporary or even permanent baldness. The loss of hair is not really the main worry for the cancer patient, but it can be an added negative change that can affect the patient emotionally as they struggle to cope with their affliction. Not all cancer treatment leads to hair loss. It may be more common with certain chemotherapy treatment. If the cancer is beaten, then the hair may grow back again naturally. Otherwise, hair transplants will be considered by the NHS for free surgery.

Find out more @anyclinics

* Guest post in collaboration with AnyClinics.

Review – Silicea Direct by Hübner – Beauty in the box

What is Silicea Direct?

Silicea is a food supplement that can help maintain healthy skin, hair and strong nails, preventing (to a degree) the signs of ageing and it keeps hair, skin and nails looking beautiful. It can also play a role in the maintenance of healthy muscles and bones.

What’s inside the pack?

Silicic Acid gel (90%), fruit mix from fruit concentrates: Grape, Elderberry, Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Raspberry; Fructose, Thickening agent; Pectin, Xanthan gum; Acidifier Malic acid, Natural Flavour, Selenium and Biotin.

This means that the product is 100% natural. Silicea contains silica, one of the body’s essential nutrients, which is used by all the connective tissue. Our body uses up silica on a daily basis as flakes of skin, hair and nails are discarded, so this is an easy and convenient way of replacing it. Silica is one of our most valuable minerals and one of the most important ‘beauty’ nutrients: it helps to support the formation of collagen and elastin which strengthens skin, hair and nails by encouraging the body to hold on to water and other vital nutrients.

And what’s inside the pack for real?

The answer is still the same; just as above 😉 It comes in the form of delicious red berry ‘smoothie’ shots that are providing mineral silica in a highly available form for better absorption. Hübner’s convenient silica shots provide a measured dosage in a sachet form and because they do not require refrigeration, are ideal for people on the move.

Suitability:

• 100% natural
• Dairy, lactose, wheat and gluten free
• No preservatives
• GM free
• Not tested on animals
• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

Directions:

Take one sachet (15ml) daily between main meals.

Treatment Time:

The recommended treatment time is 3 months at least twice a year.

It might sound like a long term project, but one finger nail needs around 6 months until it is fully re-grown, skin needs around 28 days to regenerate and hair grows just over one centimetre per month… so no rush there…

Price:

£12.95 for 15 x 15ml sachets

Availability:

Hübner Silicea Direct is available to buy from health stores nationwide and at Healthy2U online.

My thoughts:

Interesting product, this was the first thought that came to my mind. I know there is a huge range of beauty supplements sold as pills or tablets or even a powder which you mix with water but I’ve never seen or tried anything in the form of a gel. If I had to describe the product in just one word it would be weird. You might ask if it is a good weird or a bad weird … Actually neither…it is just weird. The reason for this is the texture. It is a bit like watery jam, but what is the weirdest part is that not all of the shot has the same consistency; so some portions within one sachet are thicker than others. It really is quite surreal experience. Taste wise it is fruity and you can’t miss the berry flavour but it also has quite strong metallic taste. I guess this is how silica tastes 😉

As I received only one pack and used it for just over two weeks I can’t really comment as to the visible benefits of it.

As food supplements go, I like the idea of this one. I think helping our skin, hair and nails from the inside are important. I will get myself a bigger pack for a longer test but I think I will try the capsule version. Yes, they have it in a capsule version too.

Did you ever try Silicea Direct or any silica based products?

* I received one pack of Silicea Direct for free for review purpose. All opinions about the product are honest and my own.

MyPure Choice – Rich Day Cream by Living Nature

This month MyPure Choice was a Rich Day Cream by Living Nature, something I really wanted to try for a quite some time now.

Living Nature is a New Zealand brand, who have been making natural products for over 25 years. My Rich Day Cream is certified natural and it ONLY contains ingredients created by nature and it is both synthesis and animal free. From the packaging: This cream combines Active Manuka Honey to draw in moisture, botanical emollients for deep nourishment and native Totara Extract to help neutralise skin-aging free radicals. This Rich Day Cream by Living Nature is perfect for both dry and mature skin.

In case you are interested and can understand it better than me… here is the full ingredients list:  Aqua (water), Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Cetearyl olivate (from olive oil), Sorbitan olivate (from olive oil), Macadamia ternifolia seed oil, Squalane (vegetable squalane), Jojoba esters (from jojoba oil), Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter**, Caryocar brasiliense (pequi) fruit oil, Glucose (plant sugar), Mel (manuka honey), Orbignya oleifera (babassu) seed oil**, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Parfum (natural fragrance)*, Sclerotium gum, Rosa canina (rosehip) fruit oil**, Olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, Glucose oxidase (from milk), Lactoperoxidase (from milk), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Totarol (totara extract), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil, Benzyl benzoate*, Benzyl salicylate*, Citronellol*, Geraniol*, Limonene*, Linalool* * From natural essential oils ** Certified organic

Rich Day Cream by Living Nature comes in a 50ml tube and is priced at £32. It might seem like a lot, but is it really? You are getting natural, an organic certified and cruelty free product, which is good for vegetarian too 😉 Considering this I don’t think that the price tag is too high.

The outer packaging a.k.a. the box contains all your basic information; everything you might need and want to know about the product is there: the name, who is it for, what it does, how to use it, ingredients list, how to store it, manufacturer details as well as the use by date. I don’t think they missed a thing.

The tube itself doesn’t contain all the information but you get the basics, which is more than efficient. Rich Day Cream by Living Nature comes securely sealed with a metal “cap”; once opened it should be used within 6 months (tick tock, tick tock…)

Now let’s talk about the cream itself.

Rich Day Cream by Living Nature like most creams is white / white-ish in colour. It has the texture of a thick cream, I would say. It spreads extremely easily and it goes a long way. When I opened it the first time I squeezed my standard amount out… it was way too much… I’ve had enough to “cream” my face, neck, bust line and both palms… it really does go a long way. After use feeling – first thing which comes to mind is softness. It really leaves your skin feeling amazing… soft and smooth. It is not greasy and it doesn’t give you that heavy feeling…. but… hey ho there is always a “but” with me… it has a strong herbal smell. For someone who likes my creams fragrant free this was quite a shock when I first used it. The fragrance is not subtle, it is strong, you can’t miss it and it is in your face – hey, look at me… I am here! I really thought that the initial try will be the last one for me, but something strange happened… this strong, one would say quite overpowering smell, is very soothing. After a few minutes despite it still being there, it didn’t bother me any longer. I wish I could tell you what it smells like but I really can’t put my finger on it. I studied the ingredients list but I can’t pick the “smelly” one out of the list. Maybe it isn’t just the one… maybe it is a combination of them all or some of them… not sure about that one.

Rich Day Cream by Living Nature is supposed to work on wrinkles. To be honest I didn’t notice any improvement but in fairness I have only been using it for the last 10 days so maybe it needs more time.

In general I am very pleased with my choice. I think if you have dry skin and are on the wrong side of your teen years this cream might be a perfect choice for you.

Pluses:

• Good price for the quality of product
• Nice texture and easy application
• Very nourishing
• Very moisturising
• Very absorbent
• Extremely efficient
• Leaves your skin soft and smooth
• Not greasy

Minuses:

• Strong, overpowering herbal fragrant… but you just get used to it 🙂

Did you ever use any of the Living Nature products?

What’s your opinion about them?

* Product featured in this post was provided for free by MyPure for review purpose.

MyPure Choice – Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner

This month MyPure choice was Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner by Grahams.

They are suitable for normal to dry hair but particularly developed for those with a sensitive skin. A gentle blend of organic and natural ingredients it is supposed to relieve and protect a dry and sensitive scalp.

Both, shampoo and conditioner are hypo-allergenic, sodium lauryl sulphate and propolene glycol free and they both contain no petrochemicals or mineral oils. They come in a 250ml / 8.4 Fl oz bottle and are manufactured in Australia.

Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner can be purchased from MyPure at a cost of £14.99 each.

I do not suffer from dry hair. I would classify my hair as normal, but I do suffer from dry skin. Sometimes, especially close to the hairline it’s getting extremely dry to the point of flaking (no it is not dandruff if you are wondering). I chose this product as I wanted to test if they can help with this problem and to my pleasant surprise they did… a bit too fast if you ask me as I wasn’t able to take any pictures of my dry hairline before I used the product… I just wasn’t expecting that they would clear it up after just two uses.

Both shampoo and conditioner are green in colour; the conditioner being a bit thicker as you would expect. They both have a wonderful coconut scent, which is not overpowering but you are not able to miss it.

So how are these products in use?

Hmmm, they are different to your standard shop bought shampoo and conditioner. If I was to compare them to most superstore shampoos they wouldn’t get a great review but I shouldn’t really do this as Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner are not your standard superstore products, so I will just tell you about my feeling whilst using them.

First step: shampoo… as per directions: massage into the hair and scalp working into a lather… and here is where I hit the wall… no matter how much and how long I was working it in it didn’t want to lather on the first wash, it wasn’t budging at all… on the second wash it lathers, a little. I hear that this is a good sign as too much lathering isn’t really needed. However the point is it is not so easy to get it to lather at all. After you rinse thoroughly your hair is left feeling soft but messy… at this point I couldn’t imagine not using a conditioner or I would never get a comb through it.

Step two: conditioner… as per instructions: massage well through scalp and hair ends; leave for 1 minute; rinse thoroughly. No problems here. I am able to follow all instructions without hitting the wall, but… after I rinse it thoroughly my hair aren’t left smooth and silky… they are still a tangled mess… I am still feeling like a need a conditioner to finish the process, but apparently I have already used it 😦

So you see, this is why I stated that they shouldn’t be compared to a supermarket product. Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner will take care of your problem (aka dry scalp) but they might just leave you in a bit of a disappointed state as to the final condition of your hair.

I resolved this problem by applying a leave in conditioner afterwards.

Will I repurchase this product?

I would, but only because Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner took care of my flaky dry skin on the hairline. I have struggled for a long time to find a product which will “cure” it. I have tried using a cream to make my skin moisturized but this just made my hair look greasy, I have tried several shampoos and conditioners for dry hair but they didn’t seem to work either… Grahams Manuka Honey Shampoo and Conditioner did the job, and did the job well.

I did find something which doesn’t match up and it is bothering me… the box states that the product is suitable for all hair types whilst the bottle itself states “for normal to dry hair”… so which one is it? Or it doesn’t really make any difference?

Do you have any hair must haves product, you would recommend?

*Products featured in this post were provided for free by MyPure for review purpose.