Chol Fable: Health & Beauty

Showing posts with label Health & Beauty. Show all posts

I have tried quite a few different natural deodorants and I have to say I really like these. They don't leave super obvious white marks like some natural deodorants do and they defiantly do what they are suppose to! Of course as they are a natural deodorant, they tend to sit on the skin rather then drying on the skin but I don't have a big problem with these rubbing off onto clothing. I find you don't have to use much at all and they last a good amount of time before you would need to reapply. They are also aluminum, paraben, phthalates and propylene glycol free. So far I have used the unscented and lavender ones but there are plenty more scents in the range and I hope to eventually try all of them.

Unscented Naturally Fresh (for women)

This has a very mild neutral smell. Some natural deodorants can have a very strong herbal smell which can put a lot of people off trying them. This however smells a lot fresher and subtler. Fantastic for sensitive skin as it is unscented.

ingredients: Propanediol, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Stearate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender Oil), Allantoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Alcohol

Calming Lavender

I absolutely adore lavender scented things and this is no acception. I was a little dubious about buying it because I do have extremely sensitive skin and scented products can cause rashes. However I have had absolutely no problems whatsoever. I have a feeling that this is going to be my favorite scent from the range but I am looking forward to trying the others.

ingredients: Propanediol, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Stearate, Zinc Ricinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender Oil), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract,Allantoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sucrose Cocoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum)

As I've previously mentioned, I absolutely love Lavera! I've been using their sensitive skincare products for about three years now. I have very sensitive skin that can break out in a rash easily and have had absolutely no problems with these products.

There are a lot more products in the Basis Sensitiv range, but i'm only covering a selection of their skin care products in this post.

2-in-1 Cleansing Milk with organic jojoba & organic shea butter - 125ml

I absolutely love this cleanser! It has a really lovely fresh scent and works really well. This is definitely one of my favorite cleansers that I've ever tried. It has a perfect consistency; not too thick and not too runny. It also makes a wonderful make up remover and you don't need to use a lot of product at once. Retails at £7.65.

Cleansing Gel with organic lemon balm & organic mallow - 125ml

While this is a good cleanser and does the job, I think the cleansing milk is a much better product and is only 46p more. The scent is stronger then the cleansing milk but is still very fresh smelling. I've personally never been a big fan of gel cleansers, but if you do like gel cleansers I would recommend giving this one a go. It defiantly does what its meant to and is a very good price. Retails at £7.19.

Moisturizing Cream with organic jojoba, organic aloe vera & coenzyme - 50ml

This is a perfect lightweight moisturizer for the warmer months. It gets absorbed very quickly and does not sit on the skin. I was a little dubious of this when I first bought it because I have used products that contained aloe vera in the past and they have caused a massive rash on my face. Luckily I have had absolutely no problems at all. I use this mainly in the summer. This is the most expensive of the products here however I really do think its worth it. I've had this for maybe about two years and there is still around two fifths of the pot left. You really only need a very small amount at once. I have very dry skin naturally and a tiny amount does wonders! It contains zero parabens, paraffins, silicone or synthetic preservatives and of course is cruelty free vegan! Retails at £12.99.

All-Round Cream with organic shea butter & organic almond 150ml

This is such an amazing moisturizer. It is an all over cream but I mainly use it as a face moisturizer. I don't use it in the summer months as it is a bit too heavy to wear in the heat. But it is great for the rest of the year, especially in winter. Keep in mind though that I have a very dry skin type and it may be a bit to heavy for people with oilier skin.
I have talked about this product before in my skincare routine post. I have changed a lot of products I use since then but I still use this moisturizer. Not only is it a wonderfully smelling, highly moisturizing cream, it is also very gentle and is really good value for money. The size of the tin is huge! Considering I use this every day for approximately 7-9 months of the year, It took me around two and a half to three years to get through one tin. I haven't had any problems with the product going off either. Retails at £7.15

I just want to make clear that I haven't been sent any of these products, I bought them all with my own money and just genuinely love the brand. The Basis Sensitiv range is amazing quality and such good value for money, especially for natural products. There are a few skincare products in the range that I haven't tried yet but I plan to in the near future.
The Lavera brand can be found at most Holland & Barrett stores and they are even doing a 'buy one get one half price' deal on them at the moment.

So I've been "no poo" for over a year and a half now. I will go into my full routine of how I wash and take care of my hair in another post, but I thought I'd share my experience with some shampoo bars I have been using. They are all made by a small UK business called Actually Naturally. All products have been bought with my own money and I'm not being payed to review.

All bars sold by this brand are cruelty free and free of nasties like sulfate. They also contain a fair amount of organic ingredients. Although they don't test on animals, some of their soaps do contain animal products like goats milk. Also the packaging is super simple which I love and is also recyclable.

Neem, Shikakai & Amla - 3oz / 85g

This was the first shampoo bar I ever used and is still one of my favorites. It smells lovely and cleans the roots really well. It has a slight gritty texture to it which I really like as I find it helps scrub away the dirt and excess oil from the scalp easier. This tiny bar lasted me about six months. Small bars retail for £3.75

I am currently using a Rhassoul Clay, Rosemary & Lavender bar by the same brand which also has a gritty texture to it. I wouldn't have expected a clay to be any good as a shampoo ingredient but I absolutely love it!

Herbal Babassu & Jojoba - 6oz / 170g

I was expecting to like this more then the neem soap, which is why I bought a bigger bar, but I actually prefer the neem one. That's not to say this isn't a good shampoo bar though. It smells wonderful and contains some great ingredients like jojoba. But this is a much smoother soap and does not contain the slight grittiness which I really love about the other bar. This large soap lasted absolutely ages and I had no problems with it going off or anything like that. Large bars retail for £6.99.
I more recently tried their Cedarwood and Ylang Ylang one which was very similar. They both worked equally as good, the texture was about the same but the scent was different. They both smell super good so it just depends what you personally prefer.

I love Lavera, its one of my favorite skincare brands. A little while ago they released a couple of organic hair care products. I new I had to try them and as they were fairly priced at £6.95 each I bought them straight away. As usual, I completely used all of the product from both bottles before reviewing.

The containers is great. Really simple, strong and no unnecessary packaging. Both containers are recyclable too.

Express Care Leave-in Spray with organic orange and green tea

This spray has a very strong sickly orange smell to it. I really don't like the smell at all, but as soon as it sets on your hair the smell isn't too noticeable. I can't say I really liked this spray too much if i'm honest. I found it to be more drying then moisturizing like it claims to be, and considering alcohol is second on the ingredients list, its not too surprising why.
On the plus side it is silicone free, vegan and does contain a few organic ingredients. Its also not too badly priced for a product like this and retails at £6.95.

Repair & Care Hair Serum with organic rose and plant keratin

I actually quite liked this serum. Its a good consistency and you only need a small amount as a little goes a long way. It has a rose scent which I didn't like at first but I really like the smell now. I found it useful during winter months as it would coat my ends and protect them a little from the weather. It isn't really that moisturizing though. Again alcohol is second on the ingredients list. This is why I will not be buying it again. My hair is naturally very dry so I really have to be careful with alcohol and other drying ingredients.

Considering its meant to prevent damaged hair, its a shame that it contains alcohol. I feel that with prolonged use it could possibly do the opposite. However it does not contain any horrible silicone and is also vegan like the spray. If they changed the formula to contain no alcohol I would defiantly buy it again.

I don't really get breakouts that often but I do like to have something to help when I do get them. I've been trying this Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick out for quite a while now and just finished the tube up so I think I have used it enough to give a fair review. The photos contain product as I took them a few months ago before the tube was empty.

This is the older version of the packaging with Burt's face. The new version looks like this. The older version is 99.90% natural. For a while the newer versions had been changed to 100% natural which I was pleased about. But sadly it appears on their website that they have changed the ingredients again.

The formula itself is good, the rollerball makes it easy to apply and it also drys very fast. I didn't have the problem with the liquid running down my chin like I've heard others have. You really don't need to apply very much as once. I have had this stick for about 2-3 years and have only just used it up.

As for clearing blemishes, I don't think it does an awful lot. I like it due to the antibacterial ingredients and I would say it definitely helps prevent spots from becoming infected. But it won't dramatically speed up the healing time of a blemish.

The packaging is great. The sleeve that it comes in is made using recycled materials and it is also recyclable. The tube is a tough glass with a plastic screw on top. I've had this in my bag and bashed it about a bit and there is absolutely no damage. There are zero cracks in the plastic lid and even the text on the side of the tube has remained completely in tact and has not rubbed off.
While I would say this is a good little product and great to keep in the handbag, I don't really think I would buy it again as it is essentially just alcohol mixed with oils. I have a large bottle of pure tea tree oil which I find works just as well and is completely natural.

I've had the Sleek i-Divine storm palette for quite a while now and use it regularly. The colours are fantastic and great value for money. Sleek palettes retail at £7.99 and contain 12 eye shadows.

The eye shadows come in a 140 mm x 70 mm slim matte black palette with cardboard sleeve.

The colours don't actually have individual names and aren't available to buy as single eye shadows.

The following swatches are in the same order as they appear in the palette from the top left to the bottom right.

This is a great palette for both day and night looks. They are also very long lasting, especially for the price. I would recommend using a good eye primer to get the most out of the colours.

Shade 1 - a shimmery light brown with a hint of gold

Shade 2 - a shimmery light cream. It is a little more yellow toned then the photo shows

Shade 3 - light matte brown. A great base shade for medium to light skin tones

Shade 4 - light gold shimmer

Shade 5 - light shimmery rose colour

Shade 6 - a metallic dusky rose, with a slight brownish tint

Shade 7 - shimmery brown with a slight terracotta tone

Shade 8 - light shimmery blue toned grey

Shade 9 - a lovely shimmery emerald green

Shade 10 - a shimmery midnight blue

Shade 11 - a medium matte brown

Shade 12 - a dark matte black

I really like these eye shadows, the pigmentation is great, they stay on very well and the colours are very versatile. I'm personally very pale but I think these would work well on a wide selection of skin tones. The Sleek palettes cost £7.99 RRP and you can even get 3 for 2 at Superdrug at the moment.

The lovely Cat from Cut Out + Keep contacted me a little while ago and invited me to take part in the new Makeover Monday feature on their site. I was given the task of creating two makeup looks; one of Lana Del Rey's classic looks and one of a makeover that I would give her. Head over too Cut Out + Keep to see the finished looks and the tutorials.

I haven't used high street deodorants for about a year now due to their rubbish ingredients. I did intend on trying Salt of the Earth's natural deodorants first, however when I did a little more research on them I decided against them due to their aluminium content. So I thought I would stick with a brand I was more familiar with; Burt's Bees.

Currently I'm actually distancing myself from Burt's Bees products because they often contain animal products like milk and beeswax. However unless I'm misreading the ingredients lists of these two products, they appear to be vegan.

It is important to note that natural deodorants often don't actually block your skin from producing sweat. They defiantly help odor control I used to get quite painful red spots on my underarms when using regular deodorants which have completely healed since changing.

The Burt's Bees Outdoor deodorant was the first natural deodorant I ever used. This is a spray that contains plant extracts. It has quite a strong herbal smell once sprayed, however once the product has settled on the skin the smell becomes a lot less pungent. I found this to work quite well. The initial smell can be a little overpowering at first. I don't think I would buy this again for general use, but I would buy it again if I were planning on going on a camping trip.

Now I know this says "for men" but they don't seem to sell one aimed at females. Plus its only a deodorant, the only difference it would have is the fragrance. I was expecting this to have either a very strong musky smell or a strong herbal smell like the spray deodorant. However its not as strong as I had imagined. It does have a musky smell but its not over powering. I found this deodorant to be long lasting and easy to apply. It has a nice smooth texture and I would rarely need to reapply. I'm currently trying different brands of natural deodorants out, but I would defiantly buy this one again.

I haven't done a DIY in a little while and thought the blog was due for another one. This is one of many easy home made eye masks that I use on a regular basis. The ingredients can help moisturize the delicate under-eye skin and reduce puffiness while giving your skin a good dose of vitamins.

What you will need:

- Banana

- Potato

- Green Tea (any kind)

- Circular Cotton Pads

Step 1:

Place the potato and half of the banana in a bowl and mash them together to create a paste.

Step 2:

Add the green tea to a cup of boiling water and leave to cool down. I've used organic gunpowder green tea but you can use what ever type you want. Once cool pour the tea into the banana and potato mixture. It doesn't really matter if you drain the tea or not.

Step 3:

Cut the cotton pads in half and place them in the bowl for a few minuets to let them soak the mixture up.

And you're done!

Place the pads under the eyes for about 20 mins and let them do their work. The moisture of them should keep them on your face without you having to hold them on. You can make a fair amount of them at once and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. I wouldn't store them for too long though as they may start to go off.

I hope you found this helpful. If you decide to give this a go I'd love to know how yours turned out! Thanks for reading :)

Haven't done a post in a while. I suddenly felt really motivated to do some artwork and decided to make the most of it. Luckily I think the motivation is here to stay so I will try and balance out my time a bit better so I can do more blog posts. Thought i'd get back into the swing of things by doing a simple skincare routine post. All products have been bought by myself.

I've been using Lavera's organic lemon balm and mallow cleansing gel each morning along with Liz Earle's pure muslin cloths to wash the product off. Every Sunday however I substitute the cleansing gel for Burt's Bees 100% natural peach and willowbark deep pore scrub. This scrub is amazing! Smells great and makes my skin feel amazing. I have very dry, sensitive skin that reacts badly to a lot of products but I have had absolutely no problems with this one. I wouldn't use it more then once a week though as it could graze the skin slightly if overused.

I love Botanics products! I have used them for years but have recently stopped as I've been converting to natural products. When I found out they did a 100% organic toner I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! The spritz bottle makes it really easy to apply without wasting the product. I use a cotton wool ball immediately after applying the product to gently smooth it over the face and neck and remove any excess. I find if I don't do this it can start to peel off when applying makeup.

As winter is coming and my skin has already started to feel dry, I am using Lavera's organic shea butter and almond all-round cream. It is a very thick cream so not great for all year round but fantastic for the Autumn/winter months if you are prone to dry patches like myself. You get a lot of product for your money and I can not recommend it enough! I've also been using Burt's Bees Radiance eye cream. Although this is a little expensive it is a fantastic eye cream. I've had mine for over a year and still have plenty left. You need such a small amount and a little goes a long way. I've used cheaper eye creams in the past but needed a lot more product per application so in the long run they were more expensive.

Lastly I coat my lips with Burt's Bees natural beeswax lip balm. This is one of my favorite products of all time. It can feel a little tingly when first applied but you soon get used to it with regular use. It moisturizes dry lips in no time and the tin lasts ages.

I have been experimenting the past year and a half making a stimulating hair growth recipe. I wanted to make it with ingredients that won't leave a greasy residue on your hair after being washed out and that were completely natural. After trying various combinations I think this is the most effective recipe.

What you will need:

- Castor oil

- Cayenne pepper

- Biotin capsule

-Emu oil (optional)

- Empty storage pot, preferably an applicator bottle

- Mixing bowl and teaspoon

Step 1:

Add two teaspoons of Cayenne Pepper to your mixing bowl

Step 2:

Next add 3-4 teaspoons of castor oil to the mixing bowl and mix well. I used a chopstick instead of a spoon to mix mine as there is less surface area for the mixture to cling to.

Step 3:

Add 1-2 capsules of Biotin. I use Swanson personally but any brand will do as long as it's in capsule form. I also added two teaspoons of Emu oil. Emu oil is a great from preventing fallout. I will however only use it until my current bottle has run out as I'm also trying to stop using animal products in my skin and hair care.

Pour mixture into a storage pot. I used an applicator bottle as it is perfect for applying the oil to your scalp.

And you're done!

Simply apply the mixture by rubbing it into your scalp, leave in for at least an hour and then wash out. I wouldn't use this particular mixture on the rest of your hair as the ingredients have specifically been chosen for stimulating the scalp rather then conditioning the hair. I will however be blogging recipes for natural DIY conditioning treatments soon.

I hope you found this helpful. If you decide to give this a go I'd love to know how yours turned out! Thanks for reading :)

I have been really excited to share this recipe with you all. I'm not one to use hairspray a whole lot as I'm not a fan of aerosols and I don't wash my hair often enough to avoid the crusty residue you're left with the day after. However I do on occasion use it and once I found out it was possible to make a natural substitute, I was straight on it!

What you will need:

- Empty spray bottle.

- 14 fl. oz of water

- 4-12 teaspoons of Sugar

- Chamomile

- Green Tea

Step 1:

Heat the water over a stove and add a handful of chamomile.

Step 2:

Add a small amount of green tea, roughly the amount you get in a tea bag. Bring the mixture to boil.

Step 3:

Once hot enough, add four teaspoons of sugar. This will create a loose natural hold. The more sugar you add the more hold the spray will have. Make sure the sugar is completely mixed.

Step 4:

Remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool down completely. Then drain the mixture.

Step 5:

Lastly, simply pour the finished product into a spray bottle. It is important to use a bottle that expels a fine mist. Bottles with tops like this work best.

And you're done!

I hope you find this useful and would love to know how yours turns out if you decide to give it a try. Thanks for reading! :)

Jason Pure Natural Deodorant Stick

Lavera Basis Sensitive Skin Care Range

Actually Naturally No Poo Shampoo Bars

Lavera Express Care Leave-in Conditioner and Repair & Care Hair Serum

Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick With Tea Tree Oil

Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette Swatches

Cut Out + Keep: Lana Del Rey Makeup

BURT'S BEES NATURAL DEODORANT REVIEW

DIY 100% NATURAL VEGAN BANANA EYE MASK

MY CURRENT NATURAL SKINCARE ROUTINE

DIY: 100% NATURAL STIMULATING HAIR GROWTH OIL

DIY: HOW TO MAKE 100% NATURAL HOMEMADE HAIR SPRAY

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