Category Archives: Body oils

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10-in-10: Fushi Revival of Purity Body Oil

You may know that I love a good body oil. And this is so very nearly a good body oil.

It’s the first Fushi oil I’ve tried and it’s not going to be the last. I must confess that I bought it AGES ago and started using it about 3-4 weeks ago when I had a bit of a bathroom audit and realised it was going to be out of date in a couple of months. It’s a nice light oil, although not a dry oil so you will need to leave it for 5 minutes to sink in before getting dressed. It smells light, fresh and slightly sweet.

Did I feel as if my purity had been thoroughly revived? Nearly. The ingredients, while boasting of such intriguing things as Gold of Pleasure oil, also include Butylphenyl methylpropional. It’s a synthetic fragrance ingredient that has been shown to cause irritation and possible allergic reactions. Now, I have fairly sensitive skin and didn’t have any problems at all and I’m sure there are only very small amounts present. But the natural beauty purist in me wishes it wasn’t there at all, particularly when the rest of the ingredients are rather lovely and Fushi have otherwise excellent eco-credentials.

Fortunately, having had a poke around on Fushi’s website, it’s clear that there are plenty of other products in their range that don’t include the synthetic fragrances. The Arnica Sports Massage Oil looks like it contains a very similar blend of base oils, although the fragrance (which appears to be based on essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary and black pepper) will be quite different, if equally nice. Fushi also do a great range of organic base oils including some of my absolute favourites, jojoba, camellia and calendula. So I will be going back, just for slightly different things.

You can buy Fushi’s body oils from their website, and the other stockists listed here. The Revival of Purity Body Oil is £13.22 for 150ml.

Ingredients: Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil (Sweet almond oil), Vitis vinifera seed oil (Grape seed oil), Camelina sativa oil (Gold of pleasure oil), Olea europaea oil (Olive oil), Borago officinalis seed oil (Borage oil), Limnanthes alba seed oil (Meadowfoam oil), Butyrospermum parkii butter extract (Shea extract), Rosa canina fruit oil (Rosehip oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Parfum (Natural Fragrance), *Geraniol, *Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, *Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Linalool, *D-Limonene

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Weleda Birch Body Scrub and Cellulite Oil

Detoxes start the process of getting healthy from the inside. Eventually that healthiness will work its way out, showing up in glowing skin, shiny hair and bright eyes. But you can speed the glowing skin bit along with some body work, via exfoliation and massage.

One of my favourite natural brands, Weleda, has a suite of detox-assisting products in their range. So earlier this month, I bought the Weleda Birch Body Scrub and Birch Cellulite Oil.

Birch leaf extract is used here for its detoxifying properties. According to Weleda, it contains flavonoids, saponines and tannins, which protect  skin cells from damage by free-radicals and help support natural purification. The cellulite oil in particular, combines the birch with essential oils and other plant extracts to help support and stimulate the body’s own regulating and regenerating processes. The promise? An improvement in the texture and smoothness of the skin. Which sounds like a good thing.

I’ve been using the scrub a couple of times a week and the cellulite oil at least once (sometimes twice) a day. The natural plant wax pearls in the scrub are very gentle so fans of the sandblasting approach to exfoliation may be disappointed. I love it and its soft green, piney smell. The cellulite oil has a similar summery greenness about it. You don’t need much and it gives enough slip on the skin for a good 2-3 minutes of gentle massage (little circles in an upwards direction are best). I’ve been targeting my bum, hips and the back of my thighs (cellulite hotspots for many, I reckon).

Now, I’m not a dictator about cellulite. There’s a little bit of it starting to show but I don’t really look at it that often and this is the first time I’ve used a product with ‘cellulite’ in the name. I hate the beauty industry’s obsessive campaign against cellulite, working us up to fever pitch over every little lump or bump and then flogging us products claiming to blitz it away, often at prices that would turn a trust fund manager green at the gills. If a product claims to ‘magic away’ cellulite, put on your ‘I wasn’t born yesterday’ hat and run in the opposite direction. No product alone can do this. It’s just not possible.

But I like these Weleda products very much. Not because they’ve blitzed my fledgling cellulite. They haven’t. But they’ve done exactly what they promised to do – improve the tone and appearance of my skin. And although this could just as easily be down to the massage, I like the Birch range for the sense of ritual added to my morning routine, their natural credentials and the way they make me feel.

If you don’t like a bit of your body, it’s tempting to ignore it. I don’t hate my bumpy bits, but I don’t give them much love either. With my 2-3 minutes of daily massage, that’s now changed and I do feel better as a result. My skin is a little smoother, a little clearer and quite a bit softer. And a bit more loved.

Birch Body Scrub, £9.50, available from Weleda online and Naturisimo (where it’s currently priced £7.95 delivered)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Coco-Glucoside, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Alcohol, Disodium Cocoyl Glumate, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Betula Alba Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Limonene*, Linalool*, Citral*. *from natural essential oils (i.e. naturally present in the essential oils)

Birch Cellulite Oil, £19.95, available from Weleda online and Naturisimo (where it’s currently priced £16.95 delivered)

Ingredients: Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Betula Alba (Birch) Leaf Extract, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Limonene*, Linalool*, Geranol*, Citral*. *from natural essential oils.

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Skin prep for summer, part 3 – body moisturisers

So you’ve brushed, you’ve scrubbed, you’ve huffed and you’ve puffed. You are now the proud owner of glowy, well-exfoliated and probably slightly pink skin. It’s time for the icing on the cake. The final step to make sure that all that physical effort isn’t wasted.

Adding a layer of moisturiser to your skin will primarily help to hold onto the moisture within it. There’s a limit to how much moisture it can realistically add back though, so a couple of things are worth remembering. [Adopts annoying lecturer-type voice] Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet rich in a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables [Lecturey voice ends], and TIMING is key.

When you are fresh out of the shower, your skin will be slightly warm and slightly damp after towel drying. This is the perfect time to lather on your moisturiser of choice. The longer you wait, the more the moisture in your skin will have begun to evaporate. If you can apply a protective layer within 2-3 minutes of drying off, you’ll reap maximum benefit from the product you use.

So what to use? There are three main choices – lotions, creams and oils. Lotions are lighter and usually water based. They’re wonderfully cooling in the summer, absorb quickly and are a good option if you have normal skin that needs just a hint of extra moisture. However, if you have dry skin they might not be enough to see you through the whole day. Creams (and/or body butters) are thicker, richer and usually oil based, providing a heftier, longer lasting moisturising effect. Natural oils – my personal favourite – are the most in tune with the composition of our own skin and can provide long-lasting hydration without heaviness or greasiness if you find the right one for you.

A quick note here about mineral oils (paraffinum liquidum in the ingredients list). Many moisturisers contain MOs – petrochemically-derived oils which don’t have the same benefits as natural oils. They are barrier oils, meaning they sit on the surface of the skin and ‘trap’ the moisture within. This works, in crude terms, but they don’t have the breathability of natural oils, nor do they work in harmony with the skin. They can be comodogenic, causing spots, blocked pores and congestion, and may also feel ‘tacky’ or sticky to the touch. My advice would be to avoid them if possible and to stick to natural formulations based on natural oils such as jojoba, grapeseed, sweet almond or apricot kernel and natural fats like cocoa or shea butter.

Here are some of my favourite body moisturisers:

For a lightweight, virtually fragrance-free option, I love Dead Sea Spa Magik’s Silky Smooth Body Lotion. I say fragrance-free; it’s actually got a light, fresh, sea-spray sort of smell but very inoffensive and unlikely to compete with any fragrance you might want to wear over the top. This is a very easily absorbed lotion which I worried might not be quite robust enough but it has a long-lasting hydrating effect, even in more extreme weather. Retails at around £6 and available at Boots, John Lewis and Waitrose.

Ingredients: Harmonised Water(TM)* (Aqua, Maris Sal), Isopropyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate(1), Glycerin(2), Cetanol(1), Cetearyl Alcohol(1), Sodium Cocoyl Sulfate(1), Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate(1), 1,2-Hexanediol, 1,2-Octanediol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Parfum (Fragrance)**, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract***, Tilia Vulgaris (Linden Blossom) Flower Extract***, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract***, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract***, Lactic Acid. Source: (1)Coconut Oil, (2)Vegetable.
*Special de-ionised water with pure Dead Sea Minerals: Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Sodium as Bromides, Chlorides and Sulphates.
**Allergen-free blend with essential oils.
*** Certified as organic according to the EEC council regulation No. 2029/91.

Another option for a lighter formulation is Dr Organic’s range of Skin Lotions. I’ve been using the Organic Manuka Honey Skin Lotion (£7.19) for its skin repairing properties but I also rate the Aloe Vera and Vitamin E Skin Lotions (£6.29), particularly if you want something with less of a fragrance. There’s also an Aloe Vera Body Butter (£9.29) if you want something a bit richer. All available at Holland & Barrett, online and in stores.

 Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, aqua, caprylic/capric triglyceride, polyglyceryl-3, methyglucose distearate, glycerin, isocetyl palmitate, cetearyl alcohol, myristyl myristate, olea europea (olive) oil, unsaponifiables, honey extract (manuka extract), theobroma cacao seed butter, butyrospermum parkii butter, glyceryl caprylate, tocopherol, helianthus annus seed oil, glycyrrhetinic acid, retinyl palmitate, chondrus crispus extract, xanthan gum, aroma, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium phytate, citric acid.

 

 

One I’m including for the smell (as well as because it’s easily absorbed, moisturising and soothing) is Australian Organic’s Moisturising Body Lotion. It includes patchouli, sweet orange and ylang ylang essential oils in an evening primrose oil base. Really lovely and excellent value at just £4.29 for 200ml from Holland & Barrett. Also available at John Lewis and Big Green Smile.

 Ingredients: Aqueous Extracts of Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile), Tillia Cordata (Lime Blosson) and Betula Alba (Birch) (Certified Organic), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Cananga Odorate (Ylang Ylang) Oil.

 

 

A richer lotion, with a really pampering feel, is Liz Earle’s Nourishing Botanical Body Cream which contains shea butter, avocado oil as well as orange, lavender and rose-scented geranium essential oils. It retails at £15.85 for a 200ml tube and is available from John Lewis and the Liz Earle website. If you want  an even richer treat, with additional anti-ageing benefits, try the Superskin Body Cream. It’s formulated with shea butter, scented with neroli and boasts the antioxidant properties of rosehip, cranberry seed and pomegranate oils. It’s quite a bit pricer at £28.10 for 200ml but it’s nice to have at least one luxury item for the occasional pampering session, even if you, like me, can’t quite stretch to everyday use! Again, available at John Lewis or on the Liz Earle website.

Ingredients (Nourishing Botanical Body Cream): Aqua (water), PEG-20 stearate, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Glycerin, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Talc, Cetearyl alcohol, Echinacea purpurea (echinacea) extract, Sodium lactate, Panthenol, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Humulus lupulus (hops) extract, Parfum (fragrance), Beta-carotene, Lactic acid, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Tree moss absolute, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl biguanide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients (Superskin Body Cream): Aqua (water), Vitellaria paradoxa nilotica (shea butter), Rosa canina (rosehip) seed oil, Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil, Glycerin, Borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, Vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Glyceryl stearate, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Cetearyl alcohol, Pentaerythrityl distearate, Citrus aurantium amara (neroli) flower oil, Anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Punica granatum (pomegranate) fruit extract, Xanthan gum, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Glyceryl caprylate, Sodium polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid, Citric acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool.

 

 

 

 

Finally, a quick summary of other faves that I’ve already spoken about on the blog.

For Jason Cocoa Body Butter, see here.

For Holland & Barrett’s Wonder Oil, see here.

And for The Lavender Lady’s Lavender Bath and Body Oil, see here.

Finally, finally if you missed part 1 and 2 of the ‘skin prep for summer’ series, see below.

Part 1 – Dry skin brushing

Part 2 – Body scrubs

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Body Shop Honey Bronze make-up

It’s not escaped my attention that every couple of days we’re getting a bit of summer. I’m not a sun worshipper – my beach wear is more huge hat, huge sunglasses and kaftan than tiny bikini and the gentle sizzle of grilling flesh – but I love the fizzy positivity of sunshine and I do, like many English roses, enjoy the opportunity to get into bronzers and shimmering body oils when I’m getting my milk bottle limbs out in public.

I noticed that the Body Shop had recently launched their new Honey Bronze make-up range and opted for the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil and the Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face.

The story is a little Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The Shimmering Dry Oil is very nice but it’s perhaps a little bit too fair. I have pretty pale skin, particularly on my legs, and I didn’t notice the hugest difference in colour. What I did notice was a very attractive sheen, a layer of healthiness if you like, easy application and a light, tropical floral fragance that wasn’t cloying or overpowering (or at all ‘self-tanny’). The oil is very light in texture so wasn’t too heavy over my usual body moisturiser or oil and it contains gold-flecked, light-reflecting shimmer particles for a healthy glow. If you want the effects of a tan, you’ll need a bronzing product underneath but this is like the statement necklace that you add to your outfit for the finishing touch.

The Bronzing Gel for Face was initially offputting as it seemed much too dark. I’m too fair to apply this neat, even as a shader. But it comes into its own when mixed with moisturiser or, better still, an SPF cream. Many of the greener physical sun screens out there, utilising titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, still cause that ‘white-out’ effect, leaving an ashy tint on the skin. I started mixing the Honey Bronze Gel with one of my current facial sunscreens (Korres Watermelon Sunscreen SPF30) and found that I could create a healthy, slightly bronzed glow and avoid the ‘seen a ghost’ ashy effect altogether. Meaning I’m less likely to scrimp on the SPF and will have better overall protection.

Now, the Body Shop are particularly good at promoting fair trade and supporting small-scale community producers – these products contain fair trade honey and beeswax – but they are now a little behind the curve when it comes to their ingredients policy. These products are no exception. There aren’t as many truly natural ingredients on the list here and I could have done without the inclusion of parfum and silica. For occasional use, these are just about ok and the price is reasonable, but I’ll be continuing my hunt for a slightly more natural range.

Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil (£16) and the Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face (£11) are both available in Body Shop stores and at thebodyshop.co.uk.

Ingredients (Shimmering Dry Oil): Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Isononyl Isononanoate (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Mica (Opacifier), Silica (Absorbent), Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil (Emollient), Persea Gratissima Oil (Emollient), Parfum (Fragrance), Cera Alba (Emulsifier/Emollient), Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Mel (Natural Additive), Amyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Eugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), CI 77491 (Colour), CI 77891 (Colour), CI 77499 (Colour).

Ingredients (Bronzing Gel): Aqua (Solvent/Diluent), Ethylhexyl Palmitate (Skin Conditioning Agent), Dimethicone (Skin Conditioning Agent), Phenyl Trimethicone (Emollient/Hair Conditioner), Glycerin (Humectant), Steareth-2 (Emulsifier), Steareth-21 (Emulsifier), Mica (Opacifier), Caprylyl Glycol (Skin Conditioning Agent), Cera Alba (Emulsifier/Emollient), Mel (Natural Additive), Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (Emulsion Stabiliser), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Viscosity Modifier), Phenethyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Cetyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin Conditioning Agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Polysorbate 80 (Surfactant), Caprylhydroxamic Acid (Chelating Agent), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Sorbitan Oleate (Emulsifier), Sodium Hyaluronate (Humectant), CI 77492 (Colour), CI 77491 (Colour), CI 77891 (Colour), CI 77499 (Colour).

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Introducing The Lavender Lady

Today, I’m really pleased to introduce The Lavender Lady, or Viv Trusler as she is otherwise known. Viv is an excellent example of what I was hoping would happen when I got into beauty blogging. She is a small-scale manufacturer, in full control of her production process and with a friendly and holistic approach to her products and customers. Plus she has an email “open door” and was kind enough to respond to my messages and to agree to an email interview to accompany this post, which you can see below.

I love being able to speak directly to the creator of a brand. I have nothing whatsoever against big brands – they’re usually big and successful for a reason. But nothing beats one-to-one communication with the heart and mind behind the products, whether it’s to ask a question, seek advice or recommendations, or just to satisfy my own curiosity about something I find interesting or inspirational. It makes the beauty industry seem like a warmer and more collaborative place to be.

And in the way of the blogosphere, I found out about The Lavender Lady through a good natural-beauty blog which I also recommend you check out – www.healingbeauty.com

The Lavender Lady, aka Viv, is based in Devon, where her products are handmade using simple, natural ingredients. No prizes for guessing that the core ingredient is….<drum roll please>…lavender. And since I wholeheartedly share Viv’s passion for this little, fragrant purple cloud of a plant, I think that’s an excellent choice. I could waffle at length here about the various benefits of lavender but Viv does that much more succinctly in her interview.

So onto the products themselves. The Lavender Lady’s range is simple but well balanced encompassing products for bath, body and the home. I’ve been testing out the Lavender lip balm, Lavender bath salts, Lavender bath and body oil and the Lavender body butter.

The lip balm is a hard, waxy balm that you can soften with your finger to melt slightly before application. It smells divine (of course) and is soothing and smoothing without being overly greasy. This makes it perfect for repeat application (if you want a quick hit of the aroma) or as a base applied 1-2 minutes before your lipstick. It’s even become part of my ‘last thing before lights out’ beauty ritual; the smell is the perfect pre-sleep soother.

I’ve used the bath salts on a couple of occasions now and I think they’re a really nice and refreshingly simple idea. The salts combine dead sea salts with lavender essential oil. Dead sea salts have been shown to help aid sleep and to soothe dry, itchy or problem skin. Add that to the healing and relaxing properties of the lavender and you’ve got a really effective combined sleep and skin aid.

I think my favourite product has been the Lavender bath and body oil. Given that I was also using the bath salts, I stuck to using this as a body moisturiser and it’s probably the best way to get a really concentrated hit of the fragrance. Again, the ingredients are so simple, combining the lavender with grapeseed oil. I’m a big fan of using oils in place of body lotion and grapeseed is a great option – it’s very high in polyunsaturated fatty acids which makes it very light and easily absorbed. I could even detect a faint, warm trace of the aroma on my skin at the end of the day.

Finally the Lavender body butter. This is a light-textured lotion with a gentle lavender fragrance. It was really easily absorbed and left my skin feeling soft. While it probably wouldn’t be quite rich enough if my skin was very dry, it could actually be layered over a light film of body oil for a real moisturising double-whammy.

You can buy the full range at The Lavender Lady’s website: http://www.thelavenderlady.co.uk/default.htm

Everything is very reasonably priced with the lip butter at £2.50, the bath salts at £5 for 250g and £9 for 500g, £5 for 100ml of body oil and the body butter starting at £3.50 for 60ml.

A lovely starting place might be the gift set, priced at £15.

With 60g of the body butter, soap, 100ml of bath/body oil, lip balm and a lavender candle with an 18hr burn time, it’s a complete pamper evening in a box. Or it would make a lovely present.

And now, enough of me. Over to The Lavender Lady, in her own words:

Why did you choose Lavender?

I have always had a love of gardening and herbs, and this has developed into a passion for lavender, which has been used for centuries because of its healing, soothing and relaxing properties. Years ago I had a small business/cottage industry in Wiltshire which was called ‘Vivienne Trusler Herb Gardens’ where I grew and sold herbs mostly in containers. I initially grew just culinary herbs but gradually expanded into a number of beautifully aromatic herbs as well, including lavender. It was a successful business but rather seasonal!

What gave you the idea for The Lavender Lady and what were you doing before?

About three years ago, I started my present home-based business here in the depths of Devon. With my grandmother’s sewing machine, a few yards of fabric and some dried lavender, I started to make lavender bags which became very popular and, by attending a number of local fairs and markets, I soon became known as The Lavender Lady! After a couple of years my small business developed to include my own range of bath and body products, all containing natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals.

What’s your skin care philosophy?

Regards skin care, I believe that this starts from within –  a good healthy diet, with fresh fruit and vegetables and lots of water to drink, together with regular exercise and a good night’s sleep. I also believe in regular and thorough moisturising with natural products – all over the body including one’s feet ! My body butter, with the added lavender pure essential oil, is ideal. Lavender has antiseptic and anti-fungal properties and it is beneficial for treating acne, psoriasis and eczema. If my body butter is applied to the skin at night, it will help promote sleep because the lavender calms the nerves and relaxes the muscles.  

I’m really inspired by people who set up their own enterprises. What has been the hardest and the most rewarding aspect of having your own brand?

I am not sure about the hardest aspect of having my own brand but the most rewarding aspect is having my customers return to buy more of my products because they are appreciating the quality and the affordability! I have only been selling these bath and body products for the last twelve months but they are proving to be extremely popular down here in the West Country. My new website www.thelavenderlady.co.uk emphasises this – ‘Natural, handmade in Devon’.

 I sell at various local weekly and monthly markets and at fairs, fetes and shows throughout the year, which I thoroughly enjoy. I get very enthusiastic, I love the atmosphere and I love meeting and chatting with all my customers. In fact, I love everything about my business and I find great satisfaction in the popularity of my products! My website has only been up and running for the last month but I hope that it will soon attract new customers from further afield!  

What are your tips for growing lavender?

Lavender is a wonderfully aromatic perennial shrub and has a host of benefits. In ancient times, sprigs were thrown into baths to perfume the water. It is easy to grow and found in abundance on the Mediterranean. It can be grown from seed, root division or from cuttings. It thrives in full sunshine and in well-drained soil. It is important to cut the lavender plant hard back after it has flowered (which will be by the end of August) to prevent the bush becoming straggly. This also encourages new growth the following year. Some of the smaller species of lavender grow very well in pots – positioned on the patio or terrace, they give out a beautiful aroma as one passes. The flowers can be collected to be dried for lavender bags, sachets and pot-pourris and this should be done when the flowers are showing colour but before opening.

What are your ideas for new products/launches?

At the moment, I do not have any new products or launches in mind. My latest product, which came out four months ago, was the Lavender Pillow Spray, which comes in the most beautiful glass bottle. It can be used to freshen your linen or laundry or used on your pillow at night to help you sleep. It has the most wonderful fresh lavender aroma and could easily also be used as a room spray. I simply love it!

Disclosure: Viv was kind enough to send me samples of the products trialled for this review. However, in keeping with my own policy, I’m writing about them here because I like them and would happily recommend them to others. If I hadn’t liked them, you wouldn’t be reading about them.

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06-12th June – Aromatherapy Awareness Week

This week is Aromatherapy Awareness Week (AAW). I discovered this after some focused online searching because I knew it was coming up at roughly this time. It’s interesting that there isn’t really any actual information out there about it, though. Not even the IFA (International Federation of Aromatherapists) has published any details of what it might be for or how people can get involved. No sign of any special events happening locally or nationally, which is a shame. So I’ve had free rein to decide for myself what I want it to mean.

Let’s start with a definition and a confession.

By definition, aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants to alleviate physical and psychological disorders, usually through massage or inhalation. (Thanks Microsoft Word Dictionary!)

Now the confession. Despite my keen interest in aromatherapy and the fact that I’m enrolled on a course to study it from September, I have never visited an aromatherapist. I don’t mean an aromatherapy massage in a spa. I’ve had those and right lovely they are too. No, I mean a visit to a licensed professional, trained in aromatherapy and accredited by the IFA, the nationally recognised body. While it’s a direct result of a lack of time and funds, it’s still a pretty poor show. So in the spirit of AAW, I’m making a commitment to visit an aromatherapist sometime in the next few months. BEFORE my course starts on Sept 3rd. But the fact that I’ve never been to a licensed professional doesn’t prevent aromatherapy from making a difference in my daily life.

In my opinion, aromatherapy can be of benefit in two distinct ways. There’s the aforementioned professional route, encompassing therapeutic treatments at spas and the specialised, holistic care you’ll receive from a trained aromatherapist. Then there’s the dabblings of the enthusiastic amateur as practised by me at home, no less significant or effective for my lack of formal training.

Here the emphasis is very much on wellbeing. I use essential oils to help with my physical, mental and emotional balance. I use them to aid relaxation, stimulate my energy levels, lift my spirits, smoothe and protect my skin and even to help tackle cellulite. Inhalaing a favourite aroma can help transform a blah morning.

Don’t get me wrong. If I’m really sick, I’m going to a doctor. End of. But paying attention to my wellbeing and how I feel makes me less likely to pick up the sort of niggling, seasonal illnesses that sap your energy.

Armed with a couple of good books (the Essential Oils Handbook by Jennie Harding in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Essentially Oils Ltd in Oxon is a pocket bible) and a small wooden case containing a small selection of core oils, I’ve already picked up a lot. Here are a few of the things I’ve collected along the way and some of my regular habits and tricks.

  • Mix a few drops of lavender essential oil in a water mister and use as a pillow spray to help aid restful sleep.
  • A blend of grapefruit, angelica root and juniper berry can help to improve the appearance of cellulite. Mix 2-3 drops of each in a carrier oil, such as the lighter grapeseed, and massage vigorously into affected areas. Keeping your carrier oil light will mean you can then apply your normal body lotion over the top.
  • Anti-ageing oils such as rosehip or frankincense make great, intensive facial treatments.

Rosehip is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids. A few drops applied as a night treatment, under a moisturiser can help to smoothe fine lines, restore glow and deeply nourish the skin. Trilogy do a very highly-rated rosehip oil (currently on offer for £13.23 for 20ml on Amazon – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trilogy-TRO-Rosehip-Oil/dp/B000N94XPQ) that, while I haven’t yet tried, is on my list for the future.

Frankincense is another skin saver with excellent rejuvenating and healing properties. It must be diluted in a carrier oil, such as the richly hydrating borage seed oil, which used alone can help to replenish dry, dehydrated or ageing skin. Add 3-4 drops of frankincense oil to 20ml of borage seed oil and you’ve got a turbo-charged treatment. If you don’t want to mix your own, Neal’s Yard offer the excellent Frankincense Nourishing Cream (£20 for 50g – http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/Frankincense-Nourishing-Cream), which I have tried and can personally recommend for the plumping, smoothing, pillowy effect it had on my face.

  • Try blending oils in a burner to enhance your mood. Just add a few drops of each oil to a little water and vaporise for 15-20 mins.

To energise and uplift: 2 drops Cinnamon, 4 drops Sweet Orange (this one’s a bit Christmassy!) OR 3 drops Lime and 3 drops Bergamot.

To soothe and relax: 2 drops of Sandalwood and 4 drops of Lavender

One of my favourites for creating a sanctuary after a rubbish day at work is 2 drops of Jasmine, 2 drops Sandalwood and 2 drops Sweet Orange.

  • To ease sore post-gym/gardening/long-day-hauling-around-the-shops muscles, try wallowing in a bath with a few drops of ginger, lemongrass or cypress oils.
  • Pre-blended roller applicators offer a quick fix on the go. I’ve used and loved The National Trust’s Sweet Orange and Lavender roll-on (reviewed here: http://naturalbeautycabinet.com/2011/04/25/a-smell-for-the-holidays/) and Tisserand’s Travel Ease roller ball (£5.25 for 10ml – http://www.tisserand.com/shop/index.phptravel-ease-roller-ball-10ml-p-5373.html) which I actually didn’t use for travelling at all but found particularly great when hungover…!
  • Finally, if you really don’t want to spend anything at all, you could just wander out and smell the flowers. And if you haven’t got any of your own to hand, find a park, public garden, friend’s garden or the nearest available green space. Just a few lungfuls of clean, fresh, green air can do wonders!

How about picking just one thing to try this AAW? And do let me know how you get on. I’d love to hear your feedback.

by

Wonder Oil: What’s in a name?

I was browsing in Holland & Barrett a week or so ago (am I the only one who lurks in there just to feel more healthy sometimes) and I discovered a product called ‘Wonder Oil’. Which was like an open invitation. Really? Wonder Oil?? That’s a bold claim and just crying out to be rigorously questioned under a piercing spotlight in a dark room.

I love to use body oils as moisturisers. I increasingly find them more pleasant to use than creams and if you apply a thin layer (there’s really no need to overdo an oil) to just washed, slightly-warm skin, they absorb beautifully and moisturise for longer without any stickiness. I really hate it when products make my skin sticky. So I was genuinely keen to try Wonder Oil. But I’m a tub-thumping Bio Oil fanatic so Wonder Oil had some big (and oily) shoes to fill.

My first thought was ‘there are a lot of ingredients in this oil’. Nice, natural-sounding ingredients. But a LOT of them. For someone with sensitive skin, lengthy ingredients lists can mean more potential allergens. To my surprise, the first time I used the oil after showering, there was no sensitivity at all. No prickling or tingling. The oil applied really easily and was lovely and light. I could get dressed within 5 minutes. It gave my skin a healthy sheen but wasn’t heavy or clogging. It smelt beautiful – it contains a number of citrus oils for fragrance including grapefruit peel, lemon peel and orange peel oil. A number of people I’ve spoken to in the past about Bio Oil haven’t been keen on the smell. So that’s one in the net for Wonder Oil.

According to the instructions on the bottle, the oil was recommended for use on my cuticles and hair as well. Rubbed into cuticles, it does a great job. I found it less successful as a hair oil. Having followed the instructions to the letter one evening, rubbing it into my scalp and rinsing with water, I felt a wee bit too greasy for comfort and ended up shampooing it again the following morning. However, after that second wash with my usual shampoo and conditioner my hair felt a bit more lustrous than usual. Perhaps next time I’ll avoid the roots and stick to the lengths only.

A big plus point for Wonder Oil is the price. It retails at £10.79 for 237ml, compared to about £17 for 200ml of Bio Oil (when it’s not under offer somewhere on the web).

So what’s in a name? Quite a lot as it turns out. I’m not sure this is a Wonder Oil. It didn’t miraculously cure my eczema, negate for evermore the tedious thrice weekly blow-dry or transform my slightly bumpy, pallid winter legs into slender, golden appendages. But it did make my dry, rough skin plumper and softer and that moisturising effect lasted right through the day. I guess ‘Beautifully fragrant, light-textured, easily absorbed multi-purpose oil’ didn’t fit on the label.

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Wheat GermOil (Triticum vulgare), Citrus Blend [Grapefruit Peel Oil (Citrus grandis), Lemon Peel Oil (Citrus medica limonum), Orange Peel Oil (Citrus aurantium dulcis)], Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus amygdalus), Sesame Oil, Herbal Extract Blend in Safflower Oil [Burdock Root Extract (Arctium lappa), AlfalfaExtract (Medicago sativa), Chamomile Extract (Chamomilla recutita flower), Wild Cherry Bark Extract (Prunus serotina), Hyssop Extract (Hyssopus officinalis), Sage Leaf Extract(Salvia offinialis), Black Walnut Leaf Extract (Juglans nigra), Goldenseal Root Extract (Hydrastis canadensis), Henna Extract (Lawsonia inermis), Jaborandi Leaf Extract (Pilocarpus pennatifolius), Slippery Elm BarkExtract (Ulmus fulva), Sheep Sorrel Extract (Rumex acetosella), Wheat Germ Extract (Triticum vulgare), Yarrow Extract (Achillea millefolium)], Jojoba Oil (Buxus chinensis), Vitamin E (as Mixed Tocopherols), Alpha Bisabolol, Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinusofficinalis), Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D.

Available from Holland & Barrett, £10.79, 237ml