Facial Moisturiser Review: Amie Morning Dew matte finish moisturiser

Brand: Amie      

Price: £4.95 (for 100ml)
Skin Type: Mainly Oily/Combination

THIS SMELLS AMAZING. I don't really know how to describe the smell...but I think it's lovely. It makes me think of dew droplets on newly bloomed elderflower...and marshmallows. Something like that. It's not deeply moisturising for very dry skin types like mine but still sufficient enough for an everyday cream in the summer. I can imagine this would be perfect for oily/combination types all year round. Okay so the price is good for how much you get, but the only thing I have to say I don't agree with is some of the ingredients. It says it has about 90% natural ingredients (and the usual; free from parabens, mineral-oils, petrochemicals, SLS, suitable for vegans and no animal testing) BUT it seems in that other 10% they have some added colourings, which I think is totally unnecessary. Although that being said, I didn't get any bad skin reaction either...maybe some itchiness once or twice but not enough for me to relate it to the cream. Other than that, I would say this is my favorite smelling face cream and it lives up to its name giving you a dewy matte finish.

Ratings (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Scent: 5
Effectiveness: 4-5
Value for money: 5

You can buy this in John Lewis or on the Amie website here:

http://amieskincare.com/buy-online/

Facial Moisturiser Review: Barefoot Botanicals S.O.S rescue face and body cream

Brand: Barefoot Botanticals

                          Price: £10.50 (for 50ml)                               

 Skin Type: Dry and Sensitive

      

I wasn't a fan of this one, despite it's many good reviews online. It smells like an old medicinal cupboard. The cream itself worked well, but no different than most creams so I don't see why it is so expensive. It was good for my sensitive skin in the sense that I had no bad reactions, but I'm sure I can find a cream that works just as well for half the price. Although many people with problem skin (eczema etc) say this works perfectly for their skin compared to most creams out there, so this might be better for problem skins. If you just have a dry/sensitive skin type, don't waste you're money.

Rating  (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Scent: 1
Effectiveness: 4
Value for money: 1

Facial Moisturiser Review: Young & Pure moisturising face cream

Brand: Young & Pure

Price: £5.49 (for 60ml)

Skin Type: Teenage skin

This cream has a subtle fresh scent, something similar to limes I think. I think it's best for normal to combination and oily skin types. It was good for my sensitive skin, had no bad reactions but my skin is also very dry and it just doesn't do the job in that sense. Although I suppose it also depends on what time of year it is. Would be sufficient for an everyday cream in the summer if you have dry skin, but not for the winter. But I suppose 'teenage skin' generally does mean combination/oily so I think this is the right product for those types.

Ratings (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Scent: 4
Effectiveness: 4
Value for money: 4

You can buy this and view the full ingredients here:

http://www.mypure.co.uk/young-pure-b80/moisturising-face-cream-p453

Deodorant Review: Alva Naturkosmetik Daily Care Vanilla & Orange

Brand: Alva Naturkosmetik

Scent: Vanilla & Orange

Price: £7.50 (for 50ml)

THE BEST NATURAL DEODORANT EVARR! Lasts ages (24 hours roughly) so only have to apply once in the mornings (but don't do it RIGHT after a shower/shaving, as with all deos that's going to sting a little), doesn't stain clothes or leave a white residue on the skin, doesn't dry the skin out or cause irritations and isn't sticky either, and smells really good! Smells mainly of vanilla, I personally can't really smell the orange at all but that's a good thing for me. And it's not a sickly overpowering smell that you get tiered of. Have been using this for over a year now, and absolutely no skin irritations (and I have REALLY sensitive skin). It has never failed me, even in SUPER hot weather on holiday, and running/exercising loads (you will still sweat obviously, but never smell!). Basically, BUY THIS. Okay so the only thing I can criticize is the price, yes it is expensive when comparing to a normal £2 deo.....but you have to remember the majority of natural deodorants are around this price. And I think paying extra for something natural that really works is worth it.

One thing I would recommend though to people who are switching to a natural deodorant for the first time: Allow your body to detox. If you can, once you have thrown away your aluminum and paraben ridden antiperspirant/deodorant don't put any product on your under arms for a few days (I guess the best time to do this is when you have a few days off work!). I myself noticed that after using aluminum deos for such a long time, even if I skipped a day or two without using any I would not sweat or smell AT ALL. Which made me realize to what extent they really clog your pores and sweat glands. After a few days on not using anything, then start using the natural deodorant. But another thing I would say, is give it a good week or two. I found that in the first week to two weeks (this applies to all the natural deos I have tried) they didn't seem to work in the slightest, as my body had to adjust. But if you are to give only one of the deodorants a chance, it should be this one!

I have smelled the coconut and lime version, which also smells really nice. Although I have not tired it, I assume it works just as well (seems the only difference is the scent).

Rating (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Value for money:  4-5
Scent: 5
Long lasting: 5


You can buy this deodorant and check out the full list of ingredients here:

http://www.mypure.co.uk/alva-naturkosmetik-b148/daily-care-vanilla-orange-deodorant-p1197

Deodorant Review: Acorelle Special Care

Brand: Acorelle Skin Care

Scent: Rose

Price: £9.49 (for 50ml)

I would say this is the second best natural deodorant I have tried. It smells really good (subtle floral/rose scent), it doesn't stain clothes, it's very long lasting (24 hours), and it's not sticky. I used this for months until for some reason, as with what happened with the other natural deodorants I tried....I started to get a really bad skin reaction and had to stop using. The same old very red, very itchy and sore crappy reaction. Which sucks because I really loved this one (obsessed with rose scented things, plus it worked so well!). And again I couldn't really figure out what it was that was causing it. Other than that I would definitely recommend it, so if your blessed with normal skin BUY IT.

Rating (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Value for money: 3-4
Scent: 5
Long lasting: 5


You can buy this deodorant here:

http://www.mypure.co.uk/acorelle-skin-care-b160/roll-on-deodorant-special-care-p1399

Deodorant Review: Alva Naturkosmetik Crystal Intensive

Brand: Alva Naturkosmetik

Scent: labelled unscented, but has an ever so slight herbal smell (in a good way)

Price: £7.50 (for 50ml)

Again this has many good reviews online, and I agree with most of them. Not too sure how to describe the scent, it is very subtle anyway so I can't see it being much of a problem to anyone. It doesn't stain clothes or leave any white residue on the skin, takes a little while to dry after application but at least it's not too sticky. I would add though, that it is rather watery so you need to be careful when applying otherwise too much will come out. It's a good long lasting deodorant (one application in the morning would last me roughly 24 hours). Unfortunately, after a few months of use it started to cause my skin to have a very bad reaction. I would always get SO itchy and made the skin red and swollen so once again I had to stop using and look for something else. I don't know what it could have been as unlike the Biologika, this deo was alcohol free. So if you have super sensitive skin it might be best to try something else OR you can try their sensitive version (but I don't know how effective it is).

To conclude; if you haven't got REALLY sensitive skin, then its worth trying (likelihood is, you will like it and it will work well). Always bare in mind though, everyone will be different.

Rating (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Value for money: 4
Scent: 3
Long lasting: 4

You can buy this deodorant and check out the full list of ingredients here:

http://www.mypure.co.uk/alva-naturkosmetik-b148/crystal-deodorant-intensive-roll-on-p1189

Deodorant Review: Organic Formulations Biologika Lemon Kiss

Brand: Organic Formulations Biologika

Scent: Lemon Kiss

Price: £7.99 (for 70ml)

This was the first natural deodorant I tried after deciding to go all natural and organic. It has many good reviews online (which is why I chose to buy it), but personally I would say it's the worst natural deodorant I have tried. The only good thing about it is its smell, sweet and lemony. Although, after a while of using it the smell became a little sickly for me. It stained my clothes (washed them, scrubbed with lemon and baking soda, soaked over night, and STILL stained!), and feels rather sticky on application. Also stung sometimes when putting it on. Didn't quite agree with my skin in general I suppose, eventually after about 2 weeks of using it it started to give me a little rash and made me itchy. I don't know what it could have been, because all the ingredients seem great (pretty much all organic extracts and essential oils). The only thing I can imagine it to be would be the 'organic ethanol'. I guess before I bought it my eyes glazed over that particular ingredient simply because it has the word 'organic' in front of it. If you have super sensitive skin like me, get a deodorant without alcohol. I don't sweat much yet it still couldn't do the job, and for that reason I would say it really failed in terms of being a deodorant. But maybe that's because I had previously been using deodorants with aluminium and parabens for so many years my body finally had a chance to start releasing those toxins...I don't know! Despite it being a waste of money for me, it might work very well for others.
All in all I would say; if you haven't got really sensitive skin, don't wear white clothes often, like a very sweet lemon smell and are happy to re-apply 3 times a day, then give this a go. Otherwise go for something else, there is much better out there. Although that being said, everyone's body will react differently so I guess it's also just about finding something your body agrees with. It's a shame mine is so fussy.

Rating (1=terrible, 2=poor, 3=reasonable, 4=good, 5=excellent)
Value for money: 3 (most natural/organic deos are this price for 50ml, here you get 70ml)
Scent: 3/4
Long lasting: 1

You can buy this deodorant and check out the full list of ingredients here:
http://www.mypure.co.uk/organic-formulations-b84/biologika-lemon-kiss-deodorant-p82