Products that relieve allergic itchy skin

Earlier this year, I broke out in hives. I have no idea what triggered it as I never had an allergic reaction before but for 6 weeks everyday, I would develop itchy rashes across my legs, arm and body (thankfully my face was spared).

These weren't your regular rashes either; they were scary itchy and painful mosquito like lumps that bandied together and formed a large raised patch on my body and sometimes my finger tips would be so itchy they swell up and become painful.

My GP prescribed me 1% cortisone cream and put me on antihistamine tablets to control the symptoms. The cortisoid cream only gave temporary relief (15 mins) and antihistamine tablets were the only thing that effectively stopped my rashes from forming until the drug wore off and I need to take the next dose.

However, I didn't want to be dependent on drugs and steroids (which is what the cortisone cream is) all the time and so started looking for alternatives to relieve the itch and pain. I found some in these amazing products to help deal with my on-going skin irritations.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Purpose Dry Oil for Face, Body, Hair 50ml* – RRP $24.95 /A$29.95 (non-shimmer/ shimmer version) 

Dry oil did I hear you say? Yes, dry oil – which means it doesn't leave a sheen that normal oil products do on skin and there is not the slightest greasy feeling at all. In fact, my skin has a smooth velvety feel after the luxurious French oil is absorbed.

This luxurious French oil softens skin and relieves my itching bumps better than the cortisoid cream ever did - I kid you not. Although it also only gives temporary relief (about the same time of 15 minutes), it’s also adding moisturise back to by dry scaly skin and with its pretty gold shimmer particles, imparts a subtle golden flickering as well.

Made from over 95% natural ingredients including a blend of wonderful oils (macadamia, sweet almond, hazelnut, camellia seed, borage, olive, sunflower), rosemary extract and vitamin E, this dry oil is suitable for all skin types on the face, skin and hair (I haven’t tried this on my face yet, only on the neck and I’d only work this into the ends when using it on hair) but who would have thought a natural product fared so much better than a prescription drug – I have Yishan of BeautySwatch to thank for alerting me to try this for my hives.

Available at selected pharmacies and Adore Beauty online.

Ingredients listing for Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR

*

Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Wash 295ml* – RRP $19.99 

I’ve been avoiding all possible skin-irritants so I've been keen to stay away from soap and body washes containing SLS (sodium laureth sulphate) as it is a known skin irritant. I found this soap-free and fragrance-free body wash a soothing addition. With sunflower oil and vitamin E to soften and niacinamide to provide anti-inflamatory properties, it is designed to restore skin's natural barrier and protects it.
I found this body wash very gentle, easy to rinse and moisturised the body, keeping it soft and supple whilst not aggravating problem skin such as eczema and rashes has helped reduced my itching.

Available at pharmacies and Priceline nationally.

Ingredients listing for Cetaphil Restoraderm skin restoring body wash

*

Suvana Paw Paw and Honey Balm 25g – RRP $8.95 

This organic balm is very rich and leaves a greasy feeling on skin so I only use it on the problem skin areas (the actual rash bumps) and don’t work it into my entire body. It provides itch relief as well as soothes the bumps so they settle down faster.

This multi-tasker also works wonders on cracked lips, elbows and heels and also makes a kick-ass lip balm/conditioner that I apply at night for soft chap-free puckers in the morning. It is small enough to carry around everywhere making it handy to keep into the handbag.

Available at Chemists nationally and online

Ingredients listing for Suvana paw paw & honey balm

*

After 2 months, I no longer take any antihistamines to control my symptoms and rarely apply the cortisone cream – I still break out in rashes every few days but thankfully, they subside after an hour or so now and by using these alternative products daily and watching what I eat (alcohol and shellfish seem to bring out the rashes), I’ve managed to keep my conditions under check.


Do you suffer from any allergies – how do you keep it in check? What other products do you recommend?

Products marked * were provided for consideration. Other products were purchased by yours truly. 

Kio Kio Natural Body Care

For most of us, even if we love experimenting with new products, we tend to stick to products from brands we have used before. After all, nothing is more powerful than the trust that we have built up for a brand through extensive use and familiarity.

Luckily for me as a beauty blogger, I have the privilege of trying out new products from new and established brands and letting you know whether a new brand or product is worth embracing and making it into your loved and trusted list.

And let me tell you, readers, I don’t take this responsibility lightly. I know the power of advocacy and the trust you bestow on me, and for that I’m very grateful and humbled. I always avoid using my influence to paint a positive picture for a product unless it is deserving of it.

So today, I want to showcase a brand that desrerves to make it to that list. Let me give you a little introduction to it.

Kio Kio is a natural bodycare range conceived in the pure lands of New Zealand and uses organic filtered spring waters and oils and native bioactive botanical extracts to give it a unique scent, luxurious texture and feel. There is nothing synthetic in its ingredients and no chemicals that you wouldn’t want absorbed into your skin. There are four unique fragrance range from Kio Kio and each fragrance range features a body lotion, body cream, body mist, shower wash, body soap and hand cream.

With Names such as Citrus petal and Tarata, Pacific Tiare & Ti Kauka,  Rainforest & Koromiko, Frangipani & Puriri, they are sure to tempt any exotic scent lover.

I was able to road test a couple of products from their various fragrance range to get a nose of their scent and see how well the products performed.

Kio Kio Rainforest & Koromiko Body Cream 200g – NZ $49 

This light and indulgence cream is like a whipped gel and is instantly cooling on skin. It has a delicate clean and fresh scent with a hint of green tea that reminds me of a running stream in a rainforest. It also contains the Koromiko flower which is a native plant and has skin healing properties.
As a moisturiser, it is hydrating and softening on skin and suitable for those who have normal to dry skin. Very dry skin types will need something more heavy duty than this jar of whipped goodness. There is no sticky residue and you get a nice sheen on skin afterwards. I like applying this after shower and allowing it to quickly absorb into the skin before wearing clothes.

Ingredients listing: Aqua (organic water)*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Glycerin (sugar alcohol), Cetearyl Glucoside (coconut wax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetyl Esters (coconut wax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Cetearyl Alcohol (coconut alcohol), Glyceryl Stearate (coconut oil emulsifier), Phenoxyethanol (aromatic ether), Vitamin E, Perfume, essential oils & botanical native NZ extract, Potassium Sorbate. *denotes organic ingredient. Not tested on animals.

Kio Kio Citrus petal & Tarata Body Wash 240ml – NZ $29

By far my favourite of the bunch I’ve tried, this shower gel is soft and unlike other citrus shower gel is can be strong and over powering, it has more of a floral and powdery base which must the Tarata flower’s influence. It is both relaxing and soothing to use and leaves my skin incredibly soft without dry it out. It’s the perfect shower prep for application of the body cream. Of course it cleanses too and does a good job of degreasing my skin, especially my back which can get quite oily during the day.

Ingredients listing: Aqua (organic)*Cocamidopropyl Betaine (coconut oil source), Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate, Decyl Glucoside (coconut oil source), Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (coconut oil source), Cocamide MIPA (coconut acid)Disodium Laureth Sulphosuccinate, Coco-Glucoside (coconut source), Glycerol Oleate (vegetable oil extract), Glycerin (sugar alcohol), Polysorbate 20 (coconut oil source), Phenoxyethanol (aromatic ether), Perfume, essential oils & botanical native NZ extract, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate. *denotes organic ingredient. Not tested on animals.

Kio Kio Pacific Tiare & Ti Kauka Hand Cream 50g – NZ $29

This has to be my favourite scent of the range. It is sparkling, floral and powdery soft orange blossom scent– much like the lighter version of the Daphne flower in the evening that immediately captivates me.

The hand cream itself comes in a pump container and my problem is that it squirts a such tiny amounts that I need quite a few pumps to get enough product to use (it’s far too fiddly for an impatient person like me - I’m used to hand creams in tubes that dispenses more product at a given time).

The product itself is light and quickly absorbed. It is a good hand cream but I personally feel I need something more intensive for my dry and roughened fingers, a by-product of not wearing gloves when doing chores. Because of this I usually use this hand cream at work when I’m at my desk and don’t want my hands too greasy but still hydrated enough. Given the divine scent ,I’m definitely keen to try out more from the Pacific Taire & Ti Kauka range.

Ingredients listing: AQUA (organic water)*, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (Sweet Almond) Oil, GLYCERIN (sugar alcohol), CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (coconut wax), CETEARYL ALCOHOL (coconut alcohol), COCO-CAPRYLATE (coconut oil), SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (Jojoba) Seed Oil, CETYL ESTERS (coconut wax), PERSEA AMERICANA (avocado) oil*, ORGANIC CYATHEA MEDULARIS, (Mamaku) water, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (Shea) Butter*, GLYCERYL STEARATE (coconut oil), TOCOPHEROL (Vitamin E), FRAGRANCE/PARFUM, CORDYLINE AUSTRALIS (Ti Kauka) extract, CITRUS LEMONUM (lemon) oil, CITRUS RETICULATA (mandarin) oil, PHENOXYETHANOL (aromatic ether), POTASSIUM SORBATE.
*denotes organic ingredient. Not tested on animals.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to have discover Kio Kio. It’s definitely a brand with unique and amazing delicate scent and natural quality ingredients found only in a unique region of the world. Kio Kio products that is not only indulgent, uplifting and pampering in its everyday use but also gives peace of mind that its ingredients are organic and natural based are sustainably sourced. It definitely is deserving to be added to the list of brands that everyone should try and no doubt love.

Kio Kio products can be purchased online (with worldwide delivery) or at selected boutiques in Australia and New Zealand. Selected Kio Kio products can also be purchased at Amazon.
These featured products were provided for consideration.

Aum Organics for Gentle Effective Results

It’s often said that no one beats mother nature at her own game of producing the best products so in today’s skincare series, we go back to nature.

Aum Anti-age Organics

Aum is a brand I’ve only recently been acquainted to but I’m glad I was introduced to it. It is one of the few Australian brands that is entirely organic and nature based and has received certification from EcoCert for its entire product range.

The most exciting release from Aum was its new line of anti-aging product launched last September.

The line comes with 4 products – a daily facial cleanser, a firming eye cream, a  brightening face balm and a line minimising cream, all of which has been scented with a warm earthy ylang ylang and sandalwood oil.

The star ingredient of this new line is marine complex from seaweed which contains an active called Fucoidans. The process of bio-fermenting the marine complex enriches it with antioxidants and vitamins with the resulting brew full of boosted actives that help inhibit and slow down the skin’s degrading process by preventing the break down of elastin and hylaouric acid while promoting the production of collagen.

Gentle Facial Foam Cleanser - 125ml RRP A$19.95

• Not so foamy, I class this watery gel cleanser in the low foaming category. It is indeed gentle on skin and doesn’t strip off moisture from the wash or leave a tight feeling afterwards. 
• Contains aloe juice with papaya and pomegranate extract to help keep skin smooth and soft.
• The only thing I didn’t like about this product was that I found the scent of ylang ylang / sandalwood a bit overbearing (I'm more a floral scent girl), especially in the morning. Thankfully, the scent rinses off straight away.  Other than that, I like the gel texture and see this cleanser being suitable for all skin types, but those with dryer skin benefiting most from the hydrating formula

Firming Eye Cream - 15ml RRP A$26.95

• This has to be my favourite product from the range. 
• It is light cream in a dropper bottle that quickly absorbs into the skin on the eye area and you can feel it working away with a tightening effect felt straight afterwards without being too greasy but still emollient enough to moisturise.
• The scent again was quite strong but surprisingly, after a few days use, I got used to it and hardly notice it unless I’m focusing on it.  The other good news about the overpowering scent is that it does fade off over 20 minutes time.
• After 2 weeks use, I start to see that skin is firmer and more taut, fine lines are lighter and less pronounced. I can only conclude that the extracts from okra which are meant to act as a natural botox by inhibiting the muscle contraction is really working! The only results that is missing is the brightness factor (which is made up by the brightening face balm below) and the rate of improvement is not as dramatic over a space of 2-3 weeks but if you persist with using the eye cream, you will get results in the longer run.

Brightening Face Balm - 50ml RRP A$24.95

• Another favourite of mine, this light emollient cream instantly re-hydrates and smooth skin without stickiness or greasiness. 
• The vitamin c from Acerola cherry is added to brighten skin, fight pigmentation and act as a natural sun protectant (vitamin c gives SPF 2 protection) whilst ginseng is included to help boost blood circulation to give an even complexion.
• Again it was only after 2 weeks use that I saw some visible results of overall improvement to skintone and new blemish scars fading faster than usual. I think this is a great maintenance product to use (especially if you are trying to stretch out the use of other more expensive treatment products) as you get a glow in skin after 3-4 weeks use and long term use will see the vitamin c help skin slowly repairs any existing pigmentation damage.

Line Minimising Cream - 30ml RRP A$29.95

• The cream also contain matki, a super lentil full of antioxidants and vitamins to boost skin renewal and has similar effects to retinol without the associated irritations.
• When applied first on skin without any other product, this non-greasy cream gave me a skin tightening sensation. Others may like that feeling but I found it  uncomfortable and so always layer this on top of the brightening balm to eliminate that tight feeling. 
• After10 days use, skin is supple, yet firm and I found it really did help in maintaining good skin elasticity over time. Expression lines were minimised as skin’s hydration level increased so that skin appeared plump and younger looking.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the results from Aum. They do take a bit longer to give results but you can be assured that products contain no synthetic chemicals and not only natural based but are of organic origins where possible. If you are making the conscious decision to choose natural and still want visible improvements to skin tones and  texture as well as fine lines, then there is no more affordable choice than Aum.

Available at selected Myer department stores and organic health retailers. For  stockist information visit Aum Beauty online.
This range of products was provided for consideration.

Review: Skincare by The Jojoba Company

Fact: Did you know that jojoba oil is not an oil but rather a liquid wax ester and it has the same properties as skin's natural sebum so is the perfect natural moisturiser for young supple skin?

I've always been a fan of using jojoba (pronounced ho-ho-ba) oil having used it as a base oil for my rosehip oil mixes for anti-ageing and healing properties and to apply directly to skin to keep scaly and dehydrated skin moist and supple.

Now when I heard about The Jojoba Company, an Australian company who have based an entire skincare range for the face and body from cleansers to serums on jojoba oil, I know I wanted to find out more about them and their products.

• Australian owned and made natural skin care range based entirely on the qualities of pure Australian golden jojoba. 
• Philosophy of producing sustainable products that are environmentally green and has doesnt' leave a carbon footprint or harm any cute bunnies or mice with its no animal testing policy.
• All products are made from organically grown jojoba in the Riverina district in south-western New South Wales. The company gently cold presses the plants to yield the glorious golden jojoba ester which contain antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, hypo-allergenic, analgesic properites and powerful antioxidants, Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E.

It was very fortunate that the company was generous enough to send me some full and sample-sized products to road-test, and I've been diligently putting them to work for the past 3 weeks. So now the results are in, and here's the low-down.

Purifying Citrus Foaming Cleanser 175ml

• This looks like a serious skincare contender on the bathroom shelf with the glorious luxe red packaging and silver trim lid that I'm totally smitten with. 
• Although foaming, this isn't the frothy lather that you get from cream cleansers, instead its gentle lathering actions will leave your skin feeling refreshed and soft,  and gives a velvety softening feel thanks to the aloe vera extract without any tight feelings at all. 
• has a citrusy orange scent thanks to the grapefruit seed oil and with calendula, bilberry extract and vitamin e and B5, skin is soothed and nourished during the wash while the jojoba rich formula balance excess oil and help unclog pores. 
• Great for normal to oily skin types. 

In a nutshell: my go-to face wash during the evening when I want to add moisture back into skin after a long day and stripping it of moisture from taking off all the makeup. 

RRP A$32.95

Jojoba Bead + Bamboo Facial Exfoliant 80ml

• A gritty texture clay based exfoliant that can double up as a mask for some intense rejuvenation.
• As a daily exfoliant, I found the jojoba exfoliating beads or bamboo powder (not sure which of the 2 it's due to) not to be as fine as other exfoliants I'm used to (eg. Grown's facial exfoliant). As a mask, it works a treat while the clay draws out impurities, detoxify and absorbs excess oil while the jojoba and shea butter hydrates and nourish. It also contains enzymes of papaya and melon fruit extract to chemically exfoliate and speed up the cell renewal process. 
• leaves face cleansed, flake free and skintone more even and radiant free with regular use. 
• Although suitable for all skin types, sensitive skins need to avoid rubbing to hard so as to not over-abrase the skin. 

In a nutshell: I prefer this as a weekly mask treatment than a daily exfoliant as I like my exfoliating beads to be super fine grained. 

RRP A$39.95

Hydrating Day Creme 40ml 

• Light, almost lotion like in texture, this cream just sinks straight into skin to keep it hydrated and supple for hours on end. 
• With a gentle rose scent, there's no greasy feeling here either after it's absorb, just a slight sheen on the face that look like its radiating a healthy glow. 
• Contains anti-oxidant rich ginseng root powder, green tea powder, olive leaf extract and silk amino acids to protect and restore moisture back into skin in our dry harsh climate. 

In a nutshell: a light, non-greasy hydrating moisturiser that gives all day protection from free radicals while giving enough moisture to calm and sooth dry sensitive skin. 

RRP A$27.95

Intense Overnight Renewal Creme - 50ml 

• In my 7 day sample, I found my skin plump, velvety soft and silky after use, readily absorbed into skin looks smooth and even and well hydrated. 
• I'm amazed that despite a majority of the ingredients being nourishing oils and butter, there is not even a hint of  grease or oil after using this delightful cream. Also contains marine collagen, CoQ10, wild yam, and hyaluronic acid to plump up the moisture level and boost the cell renewal process and the beta glucan will do its best to reduce the depth and serverity of fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Also works amazing well on the eye area and did I mention that light rose scent - I'm a sucker for that rose scent that is both calming and tantalising to my senses.  

In a nutshell: a truly luxurious cream that packs as much punch as serums in terms of rejuvenating and renewal properties. 

RRP A$59.95

Aqua (water), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin, stearic acid, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Ceteareth-20, sodium hyaluronate , tocopherol (vitamin E), Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Citrullus vulgaris (watermelon) seed oil, Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) root extract, ubiquinone (CoQ10), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), panthenol (vitamin B5), Rosa damascena (rose maroc) flower oil, hydrolyzed collagen, beta-glucan, Chondrus crispus powder, xanthan gum, butylene, glycol, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, citric acid, alcohol, eugenol, geraniol, citral.

Intense Recovery Balm 85ml

• An anti-inflamatory and anti-oxidant balmy gel, this is the kind of stuff you want to slap on your face if you've had a bit too much sun and need to cool it down and restore moisture to it while. It's also good for days when your skin is just acting up when the texture is dry and flakey and just going errghh!
• Containing soothing cucumber , aloe vera, green tea and lavender and peppermint essential oils, this stuff has some great line up of botanicals to care for stressed skin.
• It could also work as a great leave-in gel mask by applying a thick layer and leave on skin for 15 minutes, then rubbing the product in and wiping any excess off with a tissue for deeply hydrated and soothed skin. 

In a nutshell: for skin that needs quick TLC, this botannical intensive balm (or gel as I tend to think balms are sticky and thick in texture) will leave you feeling soothed of irritations. 

RRP A$39.95

Aqua (water), glycerin, Chamomilla recutita (German chamomile) flower extract, Portulaca oleracea (portulaca) extract, Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf powder, Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, tocopherol (vitamin E), Cucumis sativus (cucumber) oil, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) oil, Punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, Chamomilla recutita (German chamomile) flower oil, carbomer, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, alcohol, potassium sorbate, xanthan gum, sodium hydroxide, citric acid, disodium EDTA.

Pure Australian Golden Jojoba 30ml 

• I've used my fair share of pure jojoba oil but this would have to be the cream of the crop in terms of organic jojoba oil. You'll notice the slight nutty scent that just reminds you of how fresh the contents in the bottle is. 
• Being closest in properties to skin's own nature oil, I use this neat, as a cuticle oil to keep those ragged rough edges at bay, on my scaly legs for all seasons but would also add this to my next rosehip oil mix to restore moisture and maintain skin's elasticity.

RRP A$18.95

Having tried these hero products, I can give The Jojoba Company 2 thumbs up for coming up with products that are well suited to our dry harsh climates but don't compromise on great texture and is non-greasy or sticky which puts them squarely on the must-try category in my books. The Jojoba Company has done a fabulous job to come up with such a comprehensive range and you can use their skin compatibility chart to see which product suits your skin type.

The Jojoba Company product range is available at all good health shops and selected pharmacies. Check here to find your nearest stocklist.

Products featured in this post were provided for consideration. 

Grown Skincare: Facial Exfoliant, Facial Masque, Facial Moisturiser

Grown is an Australian skincare company that prides itself in bringing botanical beauty products to everyday life. For those who aren't familiar with the brand, here's a quick low-down.

• Home-grown Aussie owned and made organic bio active products across its entire range. 
• Being an organic alchemist company, all their ingredients in their products are naturally derived and pass all the stringent requirements to be able to be certified organic. 
• Produce products that are free from sensitivity causing additives such as lauryl sulfates, glycols, petrochemicals, artificial fragrances, synthetic colours, silcones and parabens or animal derivatives.
• Against Animal Testing and instead opt for clinical trials to show proven results of the harmonious marriage of nature and biological chemistry.
• Dermatologically tested to avoid skin reactions. 
• Use environmentally-friendly and recyclable packaging that is also created to protect the delicate ingredients inside. The amber glass bottle designs harks back to the early 20th alchemist ears and are used to guard against UV oxidation of the product  and aluminium tube to prevent air getting into creams and lotions and spoiling it or decreasing its potency. 

I recently had the opportunity to road test their balancing facial moisturiser and 2 other items from their limited edition Winter Repair Kit RRP A$99 (A$142 value) which includes a facial exfoliant 75ml, a masque 65ml and a serum 25ml all boxed in gold and ready to gift or spoil yourself with.

Facial Exfoliant: Peppermint, juniper berry & jojoba 75ml A$44

• This refreshing facial scrub has the finest jojoba micro-beads to gently exfoliate skin and move along those dry patches dulling skin - a saviour for my flaky winter skin due to use of retin-A and Jen's Idebenone/NAG serum.
• Contains refreshing peppermint out which is cooling but be careful using this when you have broken skin as it can sting a little. Pink Grapefuit and juniper berry oils in this exfoliating cleanser helps to detoxify and sooth the face. 
• I like how this cleanser doesn't leave a residue and none of that too tight over drying feel and preps skin for the moisturising step. 

In a nutshell: Very gentle yet effective exfoliator that keeps flaky skin under control.

Exfoliant Ingredients 

Facial Mask: Deep purifying wheatgerm ginkgo & Cranberry 65ml RRP A$39

• Clay based masque for deep cleansing and detoxifying.
• Star ingredients of antioxidants cranberry seeds, ginkgo and pro-vitamin B5 to protect against cellular stress and help purify the skin, and wheatgerm oil which is essential fatty acid rich with vitamins A,D,E helps replenish moisture back into skin. 
• instantly cools and calms skin when this is applied onto skin. I detect a whiff or fresh geranium roses and some sort of essential oil when applied to skin. 
• Left for 10 minutes before washing off with warm water, it left skin feeling soft clean and velvety smooth. There was no drying effects usually associated with clay masks thank to the moisture rich shea and cocoa butter formula while absorbing excess sebum to give you oil control. 
• I didn't notice a firm or lifted feeling but did experience refined pores and brighter, more even skintone were immediately evident. 

In a nutshell: Just the perfect masque for a midweek detox or weekend purfication session.

Masque ingredients

Facial Moisturiser: Matte Acai-berry and Borago 40ml RRP $59

• This light gel-light moisturiser is non-greasy and goes on skin like silk, leaves it matte without a hint of oil and is a great base of makeup. 
• The balancing formula contains acai-berry essential fatty acids and vitamins to protect, lycopeins from tomatoes and aloe to ward off free-radicals and promote healthy collagen production and sesame oil for sebum control.
• Does an amazing job of mattifying my normal/combo skin and kept the shinies at bay all day long -very impressed. If this also had SPF I think it could be elevated to HG status for me.

In a nutshell: Provides good hydration and excellent sebum control all day long. It's my current favourite daytime moisturiser.

Moisturiser ingredients

If you are interested, the Grown Winter Repair kit RRP A$99 (valued at $142) is a valued packed kit which is still available at your local stores.

Available nationally through David Jones, selected MYER stores (city stores), and selected beauty salons, and pharmacies or online at Grown.com.

These products were provided for consideration.

Review: Kora Organic Rich Body Lotion

Most times, when I hear of celebrities launching a skincare or cosmetics line, I take a skeptical view of its launch and move on without giving it much thought. This is due to past experience of well marketed campaigns with sadly not so substantive products and the general impression that most celebrities only have a passing interest in their latest venture given it's not their normal area of expertise.

I'm sure I'm not the only cynic thinking that it's just another marketing avenue for them to flog their name given the number of celebrities clamouring to put out a product with their name on it. Whilst this experience have been fairly consistent, I think I have to re-assess my blanket view after trying the latest celebrity product from Victoria Secrets Angel, Miranda Kerr.

KORA Organics

• Kora is an organic line recently released by Ms Kerr the expectant Mrs. Bloom that features only organic ingredients in its product lines.
• The Kora line is a result of 3 years of product development and trails by Miranda and a team of formulation experts as well as a slew of product trialers over the years.
• All Kora products feature star ingredients: antioxidant noni berry juice, vitamin C, E and roship oils, known for the healing, and regenerative properties.

KORA Organic Rich Body Lotion

• Suitable for all skin types, this is a rich yet light cream that is pale lemon in colour; it's quickly absorbed into skin without feeling the slightest bit greasy afterwards. In fact I'm really impressed by the silky texture it leaves skin immediately after application which is something associated with silicone based products and there is certainly none of that here. 
• Contains moisturising jojoba, cocoa butter and macademia oil to add essential fatty acids back into skin and helps to soften and protect and hyaluronic acid keeps skin hydrated. 
• Citrusy tangerine and warm sandalwood scent that exemplifies its earthly and organic origins of its ingredients.
• I love the fact that its hydrates and softens equally well on my dry legs or arms and hands and cuticles. 
• The big 200ml tube packaging is easy to use and means it will last a long time, which is great since it isn't the cheapest body product out there so am glad that you get alot of the price you pay. 

Pale yellow, light in texture, non-greasy and not much sheen when rubbed in as seen on the right side of hand

This is my favourite body cream to date and is getting all my love this month. I'd be repurchasing another tube when this big baby runs out and am keen to try the other Kora products Miranda has put out to see if the entire line is as good as this. If it is, I may have to kill that default celebrity product skepticism for good. 

Rating: 10/10. RRP A$44.95 at David Jones stores or Kora Online.
This product was received at the MBBE event.
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Review: Organic Rosehip Oil (rosa rubiginosa)

In my last post, I wrote about my love for rosehip oil (RHO) but found that most of the commercial brands sold rosehip oil in small bottles of 15 to 25ml at $20 - $25 a pop. This eventually ends up being costly as I use it as a treatment serum on my face and for stretchmarks as well as a moisturising treatment on my arms and legs and use up the small bottle within 2 weeks.

So in search for bulk quantities at more affordable prices, I embarked on some research to find out more on rosehip oil.

Rosehip oil facts

Rose hip seeds

• rosehip oil is made from rose hip seeds - that's the red seeds of roses after it has finished flowering
• is a dry oil and has a high absorbption rate through the skin
• a natural remedy for treating common colds and flu, scurvy and even diarrhea
• contains linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, giving it antiseptic and astringent properties, which makes rosehip seed oil an effective treatment for many skin conditions including burns, boils, varicose veins and acne
• helps with regeneration and repair of of skin cells and skin tissue. Made of 80% fatty acids, it assists with the production of collagen and elastin to rebuild skin
• high in vitamin C - a skin brightening agent, vitamin A & Beta-carotene - great for fine line and wrinkle smoothing and sun damaged skin
• helps fades scars and reduce skin pigmentations
• reduce appearance of stretchmarks

Fresh wholesale quantities
Through my search, I met the lovely Jacqui of Tassie based Essential Oils & Soap, who stocks 100% organic and unrefined Rosa Rubiginosa from Chile at A$18 for 100ml bottle (she actually fills it to the brim and it is labelled as 110ml). She's saved my wallet and my skin with her lovely products selling natural soaps and other oils as well.

Organic cold pressed rosehip oil

• has a slightly smokey tea leaf scent when applied undiluted
• has all the qualities I love of the SHE rosehip oil but without the price tag to go with it. I'm converted and so is my mum, who often steals my bottle of RHO to use.
• to speed up the already quick oil absorption, use after showering so skin just soaks the oil up
• cold pressed rosa rubiginosa (aka rosa mosqueta) is the higher quality rose hip oil and is sourced from Chile. Rosa Canina, another type of rosehip oil and can be sourced from various parts around the world and has similar essential fatty acid and vitamin properties as rosa rubiginosa. If the choice is there - always buy rosa rubiginosa
• cold pressed rosehip oil has a shelf life of approximately and should really be stored refrigerated. After that the oil goes rancid and may not have as many benefits as fresh oil do
• Companies usually add in vitamin E (natural anit-oxidant) to stabilise rosehip oils. Add some vitamin E by breaking a capsule or two into your oil mix to make sure it stays fresh and good

Tip: if you find the natural smokey tea scent a bit too strong for your liking on the face, mix 2 part rosehip oil with 1 part jojoba oil (a great non-greasy oil that has properties like skin's natural sebum) and a few drops of your favourite essential oil (eg. lavender) to give skin its moisturising needs while the rosehip does the hard work to heal/renew the skin.

So if you are also looking for affordable RHO, do give this organic and fresh version a try. Your skin will thank you for using the best quality product available while keeping your wallet happy (so you can buy more beauty items to try).

Rating: 10/10. Definitely a must have oil for in my daily skincare routine for refining and firming of skin. 

Pure Rosa Rubiginosa oil RRP $A7.70/$A18 for 25ml/100ml at Essential Oils & Soap.