DR BRONNER's MAGIC SOAPS

I absolutely love multi purpose products and I love it even more if the product uses organic ingredients.  When the postman arrived with these little beauties I was intrigued by the claims and was up for the challenge of finding a few new uses for the magic soaps.

What they say......

Word is spreading in the UK about Dr Bronner's Magic Soap, currently the USA's No 1 selling natural soap brand and the leader in Organic and Fair Trade skin care.  This soap is lathering it's way into British homes and hearts with it philosophical labels and  certified Fair Trade and Organic ingredients.

Make up artist Bobbi Brown championed Dr Bronner's on the Oprah Show 'it's probably the finest soap in the universe.  I'm obsessed with it.  I cannot get enough of it'.

The magic of Dr Bronner's is it's affordability and versatility, with 18 uses from 1 bottle of liquid soap at £4.99 per 236ml bottle.  Best used with a cloth, towel, loofah or sponge you can use it to clean your body, your mouth and teeth, your fruit and vegetables, your bathroom and kitchen, your clothes and even your pets!  Available in 8 varieties, peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Citrus, Almond, Rose, Unscented Baby Mild and Tea Tree.  They contain no synthetic foaming agents, thickeners, preservatives, fragrances, dyes or whiteners and use 100% (PCR) cylinder bottles and paper labels.  Completely biodegradable, the soaps are made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic ingredients sourced from India, Ghana, Palestine and Sri Lanka.

What I say......

So I used the Almond liquid soap as a handwash, a face wash, a body wash, I washed my hair with it but there was no way I was cleaning my teeth with it!  This smells absolutely beautiful, it has a very subtle almond smell that is quite long lasting,  There is no dryness and tightness on the skin after use, it was an absolute pleasure to use and quite addictive.  I also used this to wash my make-up brushes and sponges and it worked a treat.  I used it when I washed my towels and face clothes and they smelt lovely after they were washed and dried.  I have even bathed my 8 week old Miniature Jack Russell, Tallulah with this soap and she smelt like a Bakewell Tart afterwards.  I would imagine there are so many other uses for this soap.

With the holiday and festival season nearly upon us a bottle of Magic Soap in your suitcase would replace several other products like shower gel, cleanser, shampoo, laundry detergent, bubble bath etc, hence leaving more space in your case for that all important duty free shopping.  If going on holiday with kids you could use the Tea Tree soap to keep the mosquitoes away and also bathe any cuts and grazes.

The bars of soap I have are the Rose and Lavender soaps and I can't pick a favourite as they are both lovely.  I will definitely be re-purchasing this multi purpose product.

RRP 18-in-1 Hemp Pure Castile Soap 8fl oz £4.99, Travel Size 2fl oz £1.69, Solid Bars £3.50

You can find out more about the full range of Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps HERE

You can find your nearest stockist HERE or call 0845 072 5825



FYI these products were provided by PR.

HANDBAG ESSENTIALS FROM IMPULSE & BARRY M

Your favourite fragrance, Impulse, has teamed up with Barry M, the UK's number one fashion cosmetics company, to create three limited edition handbag essentials pack.  The two top brands have paired a luscious lip gloss with a much loved Impulse fragrance and they are available together for a limited period only.

These two must-have items for every gorgeous girl are available in three exclusive packs.  Into Glamour, Very Pink and Tease, so there is something to suit every mood and occasion.  The Very Pink fragrance comes complete with a sumptuous strawberry scented and flavoured pale pink lip gloss.  Into Glamour comes with a velvety vanilla crystal clear lip gloss and lastly Tease completes the collection with a nude lip gloss in a delicious caramel flavour.

I was sent the Very Pink  pack to try.  The fragrance is lovely, a blend of pink grapefruit and vanilla.  The fragrance is not overpowering but is quite long lasting,  lovely to spritz on during the day when it is as warm as it has been lately.  The lip gloss is a baby pink colour with a hint of sparkle added, it smells and tastes like a strawberry smoothie.  The lip gloss looks very pretty on it's own but it also looks really nice over a lipstick.  I have never tried the Barry M lip glosses before and I was pleasantly surprised by this one, there is virtually no stickiness at all, which means no hair sticking to your lips.  I'm going to stock up on a few of these packs and put them away for Christmas stocking fillers for my sisters and nieces.


The fabulous range of limited edition Barry M lip glosses are only available from 26th April - 11th June.  Get your hands on the must have beauty accessories for 2011 for the unbelievable price of £3 (RRP).  Available in Boots (20th April - 17th May) Superdrug and Tesco (9th May - 6th June).

FYI this product was provided by PR.

MADARA DECO FACE TINTING FLUID

Tinted moisturiser and me have had a love hate relationship over the years.  I think the problem is that I use a long wearing, full coverage foundation during the autumn and winter months and then when I try to switch to something lighter in the spring and summer I just feel naked.  I also find that tinted moisturisers tend to have a real orange glow about them.  I read a review for Madara Tinting Fluid over at Beautyswot and left a comment, then I was offered the opportunity to try the product for myself.

What they say...........

Tints, illuminates and lightly moisturisers the skin of the face and neck.  Evens out skin tone.  Gives the skin freshness and radiance.  Disguises imperfections and fine lines.  A lighter alternative to foundation.  Like daisy petals shimmering in the moonlight.  Contains Baltic Algae, Chamomile, Plantain, Calendula and St John's Wort.  Colour and shimmer are obtained from natural minerals.

What I say...........

I was sent Moon Flower, which is for fair skin, if you are darker skinned then you will need Sun Flower.

I love the packaging and the fact that it has a pump, very unusual for a tinted moisturiser.  The product has a lovely fresh aroma.  I am also pleased to say that it is not orangey at all and has more of a peach tint to it.  The coverage is very impressive, although I have to confess for the first couple of days that I used it I mixed a little of my normal foundation with it, just so that I could get used to a more sheer look.  The thing that I love most about this product is the beautiful sheen that it gives the skin, skin literally glows.

Sadly I could not get the lighting right to show you the true sheen of this product.

The product also has good staying power, I wore this today for a shopping trip with my daughter to Birmingham, when I arrived home at 6pm this evening my skin looked fresh and I still had that lovely sheen.  I am really pleased with the performance of this product and I think my love hate relationship with tinted moisturisers is about to turn into a long term relationship.

This product has also won the prestigious Natural Health Best Buy 2011

For more information about this product and other products in the range please visit the Madara Website

*FYI this product was provided by PR.

BODHI BATH & SHOWER GELS

I was recently sent some Bath & Shower Gels from Bodhi, I was excited to try them out as I had never heard of this brand before and I love trying new brands.

What they say......

Bodhi was born out of nature, born out of sheer passion and with 3 years of research, development and evolution, it culminated in Bodhi....enlightenment.

Bodhi means 'enlightenment'.  Directly translated, it is 'to awaken' or 'to understand.  The Bodhi Tree, also known as The Sacred Fig is the Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life.

Ingredients are ethically sourced from sustainable origins.  Their products are free from parabens and sulphates and they are tested on humans, not animals.

What I say......

I was sent the most gorgeous gift box, which contained a full size Palmarosa Verde and 2 smaller bottles of Jasmine Falls and Ylang-Ylang Incensa.

Palmarosa Verde is clarifying, balancing and uplifting both on the skin and on the senses.  This is lovely to use in the morning.  I found the smell to be quite unisex and not at all girly.  This did not dry out my skin at all and it really gives you a wide awake feeling.

Jasmine Falls is to de-stress, soothe the mind and produce a sense of well-being.  This is perfect after a stressful day and really helps to relax you.  The smell is beautiful and I would say that this is one for the girls.

Ylang-Ylang Incensa is stimulating yet relaxing and helps to keep skin sebum level healthy and balanced.  This was my favourite of the three.  Ylang-Ylang is my favourite aromatherapy oil.  This smells wonderful and because of the Patchouli Oil it doesn't smell too feminine.  This is a great one to use when you have time for a long, hot soak in the bath.

I have thoroughly enjoyed using these products and will definitely be using them again in the future.  They would make great gifts for males or females.

For more information on these products and the rest of the Bodhi range, please visit their WEBSITE 

FYI this product was provided by PR.

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES DE-STRESS MUSCLE BATH OIL

As you may or may not know I am a recent fan of Aromatherapy Associates products.  I have loved everything that I have tried from this range, the De-stress Muscle Bath Oil is no exception.  Having recently embarked on a new fitness plan this Oil has been a life saver to ease my aching newly discovered muscles.

What they say......

Highly effective and powerful blend, with therapeutic levels of Lavender, Rosemary and Ginger Essential Oils.

Expertly blended natural oils, pure, natural with nothing added.

Helps your body relax in a warm bath or shower.

Use to ease everyday physical strains, such as back and neck ache, shoulder ache and muscle pains.

Can help to recharge your batteries, a warming and invigorating treat to help bring relief to tired and heavy limbs.

A feast for all the senses, experience the goodness of nature as it works to help release stiffness and discomfort in muscles and joints.

What I say......

An absolute miracle worker.  As I said I have recently discovered muscles I didn't know I had and oh my goodness the pain was unbearable, I could barely lift my arms.  But after a couple of baths with this oil my poor aching muscles felt much better.  The aroma is lovely and fills the whole house. 

If you are training for the London Marathon or one of the many charity runs this year then this oil is a must for you.

If like me you are just trying to get a bit fitter for the summer, then this oil will help your poor muscles recover.

This oil is also perfect after a girly day out when you've shopped til you've dropped.

For more information about this oil and other products visit  Aromatherapy Associates

FYI this product was provided by PR.