Winter Skincare from Barefoot SOS: For Sensitive, Eczema & Psoriasis prone skin

Winter can be an especially difficult time if you're struggling with irritating dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, but help is on hand from a number of specialist natural brands, including Barefoot SOS.

I've spoken about my personal problems with eczema on a number of occasions. I've had it since I was a child and I've tried virtually every product available, from prescribed steroid treatments to natural based formulas and remedies. In recent years, I've finally found a trusty handful of products which I can rely upon when I'm experiencing a flare-up, and this trio from Barefoot SOS are amongst them.

The Barefoot SOS Dry & Sensitive range has been expertly developed by natural healthcare experts and their specialised formulas are brilliant for anyone who has eczema, psoriasis or any other dry/sensitive/easily irritated skin conditions. Everything in the range contains a special complex of natural ingredients and active botanical extracts to care for difficult skin, so they're all free from things like mineral oil, parabens, sulphates, artificial fragrances, colours and steroids, plus it's suitable for vegans as there's no lanolin (something that can be a potential allergic irritant for those with sensitive skin).

The three skincare heroes in this range are:-

Barefoot SOS Soothing Face & Body Wash* (200ml, £16, link)

Finding a good quality cleanser for sensitive skin can be tricky, but this one is super gentle and mild with a light, creamy, non-foaming texture. It's 98% natural and features soothing key ingredients such as Evening Primrose Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin B5, Chickweed and Burdock extracts. I like to use this on my face if it's feeling particularly dry and irritated, or if I've tried a new face mask and my skin hasn't gotten on with it as this cleanser really helps to calm down any redness and inflammation. It removes all traces of daily grime (not makeup though - try the Barefoot SOS Cleansing Cream instead) without stripping the skin, and doubles up as a great body wash to use in the shower as well. A little goes a long way and you get a massive tube!

Barefoot SOS Daily Rich Body Lotion* (100ml, £11, link)

For all over dry skin relief, the Daily Rich Body Lotion is the ideal body moisturiser for you, especially if you hate thick or sticky formulas. Instead, this one's surprisingly light and absorbs into the skin quickly so it's a really good one to try if you need that extra hydration after you've had a bath or shower. Packed full of nourishing natural ingredients like Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil, Macadamia Oil and botanical extracts, this will give keep your skin feeling wonderfully soft and pampered. 

Barefoot SOS Face & Body Rescue Cream* (50ml, £10.50, link)

If you're after a more targeted treatment, this 98% natural, award-winning multi-purpose cream can be used anywhere and everywhere. It's slightly thicker than the Daily Rich Body Lotion but still feels much lighter than similar creams of this nature, and it doesn't feel greasy or sticky which is always a big bonus in my book! I find this one particularly effective for my face as it doesn't clog my pores, and the smaller 50ml sized tube is handy to carry around in my bag for easy on-the-go application.

Have you tried anything from Barefoot SOS?

 Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

Health & Lifestyle: Pukka Clean Me Green Wellbeing Kit review

Last month, I took part in a 14-day wellbeing programme which involved this handy kit from one of my favourite organic tea brands, Pukka. 

I've long been a fan of Pukka's delicious organic herbal teas (that Three Mint blend they do is amazing!), but I wasn't aware that they had a healthy lifestyle range of supplements and superfoods also available until this wellbeing kit arrived in the post.

Pukka's Clean Me Green Wellbeing Kit is aimed at people who would like to 'clean their body green' with natural, organic herbs through a range of teas and drinkable superfoods. The kit has been specially curated by Pukka's master herbsmith to help you feel like a new person in just 14 days. Unlike other tea 'detox' programmes, this one's different as you drink the teas alongside a healthy diet (it's not a weight loss programme!). It's really more about improving your overall wellbeing and re-balancing your body, as well as your mind.

 Inside the kit, I found:-

• 14 x Clean Greens Superblend sachets
• 14 x Clean Matcha Green teabags
• 14 x Detox teabags
• Information booklet including easy to follow tips and general advice for getting the most out of the wellbeing programme over the two weeks.

I was curious to try the wellbeing kit as I've been struggling with a lot of stress and anxiety in my life over the last few months, and I wanted to just press pause on everything and see if I could re-balance a few things. It's very easy to feel 'out-of-sorts' when you've got too much on your plate and your lifestyle just seems to get busier and busier, so I think following something like this for just 14 days is a good way to help you to refocus and reflect, without it disrupting your normal routine. Also, I've been slacking on the health-front which hasn't been helping, so I was looking forward to getting some goodness back inside me!

Following the programme was very easy as it consisted of just three main steps which you add to your everyday routine:-

The 3-Step Programme

1. Start everyday with a Clean Me Green Smoothie using the Clean Greens Superblend or drink this with just water, fruit juice or aloe vera juice.
2. Late morning, drink a cup of Clean Matcha Green tea.
3. Early afternoon, drink a cup of Detox tea.

That's it! In addition to the above, I also reduced my alcohol consumption and put myself on a coffee ban for the 14 days, and I practised some basic meditation and breathing techniques that I found on Youtube. It didn't take long until I started to feel more awake and clear-headed. The teas were all delicious, although it took some getting used to the taste of the Clean Greens Superblend!

 Step 1: Clean Greens Superblend

Every morning, I made a Clean Me Green Smoothie, following the recipe in the information booklet that came with the wellbeing kit. It basically consisted of a handful of Spinach leaves, handful of fresh Mint leaves, a squeeze of Lime or Lemon juice, half a ripe Avocado, 250ml water or Apple Juice and one sachet of Clean Greens Superblend.

The Clean Greens Superblend is a superfood powder made from 100% organic ingredients. It's a blend of 11 super-rich green foods which includes Wheat Grass, Nettle, Spirulina, Seaweed, Kale and Peppermint to name a few. Packed full of essential fatty acids, minerals, iodine and chlorophyll, it helps to boost skin health, makes you feel healthy overall, and ready to start the day.  

The taste of Wheat Grass is very strong in this, so I ended up using more Apple Juice than stated to make it more palatable. I stuck with it for the 14 days, but I think I would just take the Clean Greens capsules in the future!

 Step 2: Clean Matcha Green Tea

Although I've tried some of Pukka's tea blends, I hand't tried this Clean Matcha Green Tea before and I was plesantly surprised by how good it tastes. Comprised of Sencha Green Tea, Sweet Fennel Seed, Dandelion Root, Licorice Root, Nettle Leaf, Lemon, Tumeric, Lemom Myrtle Leaf, and Matcha powder, it's a lovely uplifting tea to enjoy late morning when you start to have a bit of an energy slump.

It's a great alternative to reaching for a sugary or carb-laden snack as it helps to keep you going until lunchtime and keeps your mind focused on your morning tasks. If you typically don't like green teas, give this one a go because it tastes so refreshing different with a more lemon than green tea flavour. 

Step 3: Detox Tea

For late afternoon, I enjoyed a mug of the Detox tea which I've used many times before in the past (in fact, I already had a box in my tea drawer when this kit arrived). Pukka's Detox is described as a 'clean infusion of organic Aniseed, Fennel and Cardamom', and it's an ideal tea to reach for to help aid digestion after lunch. It's strong on the aniseed, but the other flavours do come through when you're drinking it after it's been brewed for a full 5 minutes.

Overall thoughts?

I'm really happy that I took part in the 14 day wellbeing programme with Pukka's kit, as I do feel significantly healthier in myself and slightly less stressed than I was when I began it, which for me is a really big improvement! I'll definitely continue with drinking the Detox and Clean Matcha Green teas, and I'll be picking up some of Pukka's Clean Green capsules to incorportate into my supplements routine.

Pukka Clean Me Green Wellbeing Kit* is priced at £19.99 and is available from various stockists including pukkaherbs.com / For more information on the 14 wellbeing programme and to receive regular hints, tips and updates visit here.

Would you be interested in trying something like this?

 Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

January Beauty Favourites

A short but sweet selection of beauty favourites that I've been enjoying lately, which includes some skincare, budget friendly makeup accessories and a fantastic hair mask.

 KISS Blooming Lash in Lily* (1 pair including glue, £5.99, link)

Ardell and Eylure are usually my failsafe go-to brands for false lashes, so much so, that I don't often give any other brands a second look. However, I recently saw some photos of a friend of mine who wore these ones from KISS to her wedding, and I was smitten! These lashes are so pretty; they're super fluttery, lightweight, and natural looking (kinda like 'my lashes but better, fuller and longer!'). Easy to apply and take off too, plus the glue is as good as Eylure's if not better. Will definitely be checking out some more lashes from this brand!

Tropic Skincare Good Skin Day Resurfacing Serum* (30ml, £42, link)

Exfoliating treatments and serums that use fruit acids and enzymes instead of manual 'scrubby bits', are fast becoming a staple in many people's skincare routines. This newbie from Tropic is made from 100% naturally derived ingredients and features 4.2% AHAs (derived from Australian Lime Pearl Extract and Fruit Acids), and 1.5% BHAs (from Willow Bark Extract). I really like the mix of AHAs and BHAs because they both have different exfoliating purposes, so you get the best of both worlds! In addition to those, there's also Coconut Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Papaya Enzymes and Probiotics to boost your skin's health further, and keep it plump and hydrated at the same time. This serum has a lovely silky texture and gives you a tiny tingle (oo-er!) when you apply it, but it soon disappears, and overall I haven't had any problems with it irritating my sometimes sensitive skin (but always patch test first as everyone's skin is different). Instead, my skin looks brighter and feels smoother - good skin day indeed!

B. Effective Stubborn Makeup Remover* (100ml, £7.99, link)

Just before Christmas, I took part in a blogger challenge blind test to try out this new release from B., and I was so impressed with the results that I couldn't wait to get my hands on a full-size bottle when it launched this month. This is a fantastic budget and cruelty-free dupe for Lancome's Bi-Facil Makeup Remover, as it works in the same manner and gave me almost identical results for half the price. This bad boy makes short work of waterproof mascara and you can also use it as an all-over makeup remover for any long-wearing foundation/concealer etc formulas. Highly recommend giving it a go.

Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Hair Masque* (326ml, £12.99, link)

Winter has not been kind to my hair as both the cold and subsequent central heating has been drying my poor tresses out, so I've been treating it to some deep conditioning masks to put the moisture back in. My current favourite is this one from Shea Moisture which is from their Superfruit Complex range. It claims to be a multi-beneficial masque and I'd say it definitely lives up to its name as I imagine most hair types will happily get on with it, especially if your hair is dry or damaged. Great for adding shine, calming frizz and strengthening weakened hair as well. Colour safe and suitable for vegans.  

Browtician The Stylist Brow System* (£7.99, link)

Another new budget friendly discovery for me has been finally finding a decent dupe for Tweezerman's cult tweezers, which I've used for years. This Browtician set comes with a pair of stainless steel slant tweezers which are very similar to my travel-sized Tweezerman ones, and they allow you to get a great grip on those pesky shorter and finer hairs. Alongside the tweezers, you'll also find a double ended brush with a spoolie, making this a handy set to pop into handbags and travel bags.

Which beauty products have you been lovely recently?

 Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

January Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's time for the first Empties post of the year and I seem to have used up a bit of everything! There are some amazing holy grail favourites in this little lot too, so let's get stuck in!

Yves Rocher Delicate Cleansing Cream Low Shampoo

There's a tiny amount still left in the tube, but it's just stopped working for my hair so I'm giving it an early retirement. I purchased this last year in a sale when I was trying out some 'no poo' products, and it started off well, but it gradually started to make my hair look greasy the more I used it, which is never a good thing! Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Aveda Stress-Fix Soaking Salts*

Loved, loved, loved these! If you're a massive stress head like me, you seriously need to try these. They are in my top three favourite bath products of all time, and they do what they say on the tin. Whenever I've had a crappy day, I can always count on these to help me to relax and unwind. They're expensive, however, you do get a big tub that lasts for months. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

I've spoken about this face mask on numerous occasions, and it's one of a small handful that I always have to have in my skincare stash. Really gentle, but wonderfully effective for healing blemishes and breakouts without any harsh ingredients. I had to get the trusty old tube wringer out to make sure I got every last bit! Repurchase? Already have. 

Dr Organic Snail Gel Facial Serum

A really great affordable serum that I imagine would suit most skin types. Lightweight and sinks right in, whilst smoothing out the skin, keeping it soft and nicely hydrated. I think this is my second bottle, and I'm a big fan of this Snail Gel range. Repurchase? Yes. 

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

Another firm favourite. I've been through loads of these over the years and despite having a mountain of lip balms to get through, I always seem to return to this one. This is the classic peppermint scented formula and it gets the job done! Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion

This travel size mini was from a gift set that my sister bought me for Christmas and it's no surprise that I've used it up already. I absolutely adore the natural Sea Buckthorn fragrance of this range - so fresh and uplifting, and the body lotion is light in texture, but still very hydrating. Repurchase? Yes.

Herbfarmacy Skin Rescue Balm*

My skin has been horribly dry all throughout Winter, but rest assured, this amazing balm has been like a knight in shining armour! I've been slathering it on everywhere; on my feet, elbows, cuticles, hands, eczema areas, everywhere. If you have any dry skin problems, this is the multi-purpose balm for you! Repurchase? Yes.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac AR Intense Serum*

I've had a lot of redness on my cheeks and around my nose recently, and whilst this has been helping to some degree (it's a specialised anti-redness serum, mainly for people who have rosacea), I feel like there are other similar products that I prefer more, so I was happy to use this up. Repurchase? Probably not.

Suki Transformative Purifying Masque

I had high hopes for this after seeing some online raves for it, but I'm glad that I tried out some samples first because I didn't see any difference in my skin after using it. It felt nice on, but that was about it. It didn't do anything to treat blemishes for me. Repurchase? No.

What beauty products have you used up recently?

Have you tried any of these?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more