Review on Lush BBSeaweed Mask

A Fresh Face Mask

A couple of weeks ago I actually went to a Lush store, ( I usually shop via their website) with my mum and baby. One of the great things abut Lush is that if a customer brings back 5 clean black pots back to the store then they get a Fresh Face Mask for free! Well, I had been saving these pots for over a year now and I finally reached five pots so I had to make the hour long trip to my nearest Lush store to claim my free face mask. Much to the disgust of my one year old daughter who HATES long car trips. Oh yes, I am that dedicated. 

Now, I have tried the Lush Oatfix Mask and to be honest it didn't do anything for me and it kind of got left in the fridge for months. When I was due for a free mask I did my research and I loved the look of the Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask and the BBSeaweed Fresh Face Mask. Thankfully one of them was in stock!

This mask is doing wonders for my skin, when I remove it my skin looks a lot lighter and kind of glowing. I don't know how a whole bunch of ingredients can make skin glow, but this is working! My complexion looks instantly brighter and my skin feels cleaner and softer. I tend to get a lot of oil build up near my T-Zone but this mask seems to soak it all up which is fantastic. The mixture is a bit chunky and it can be messy to apply, so don't be sporting your favourite shirt while wearing this mask because some bits can drop off your face while walking around with this on. The BBSeaweed Mask contains aloe vera and rose absolute which calm the skin, honey is a great antiseptic and also seaweed which is very cleansing. All in all I will be scraping the last bits of this mask out of the jar and using it all up during the next couple of weeks!

I also picked up a few other things from Lush while I was there. If you want to see what else I got just let me know in the comments below.

Have Fun!

Renee x

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway here!

It's Giveaway Time!!

Dr. Hauschka Face Care Kit

Everybody likes a good Giveaway, so when I saw the Dr. Hauschka Face Care Kit for sensitive, normal and dry skin I thought this would be a great opportunity to let my readers try some of thier products that I hark on about so often.

This Face care kit Contains:

10ml Cleansing Cream 
10ml Soothing Cleansing Milk 
10ml Facial Toner 
5ml Revitalising Day Cream (formerly Moisturising Day Cream)
5ml Quince Day Cream 
5ml Rose Day Cream

This little beauty is a perfect introduction to Dr. Hauschkas natural and organic skin care. These are handy little trial size creams so that you can experience the diffrent cleansers and moisturisers that Dr. Hauschka has to offer with high quality, natural, organic or wild harvested ingredience.

Also these sizes are great for travelling and make a wonderful gift for that someone special.

If you want to find out more about some of the products I did a review on the Rose Day Cream that you can read here. If your wanting a bit more information on the products themselves visit the Helios website Here

RRP: $42.00

This competition is International so I hope you all enjoy!

This comp closes 18/08/2014 at 12 AM Perth Time

The winner will be notified via Facebook or Twitter 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Renee x

It's A Coconut Revolution!

Coconut Revolution Coconut Scrub and Coconut Body Cream

On all the health food websites I hear of  the massive benefits of Coconut; Eating Coconut, drinking Coconut and of course using Coconut on the skin. 

But what does Coconut actually do for the body and how does Coconut Revolution play into that? Coconut has well-known benefits to the body such as protecting against heart disease and it helps to prevent strokes as well as numerous other qualities, but what does it do for the skin? Coconut Oil can be used to hydrate, cleanse, soften and moisturise your skin!

Scrub (left) and Moisturiser (right)

This pair here is a fantastic team that work really well together! I use the scrub on wet skin, scrub, scrub then step back into the shower to wash it off and it makes my skin feel so soft. The smell is an exotic coconut scent that whisks me away to a tropical paradise for a few minutes a day. 

I finish off with the Coconut Body Cream, which makes my skin feel softer still! The moisturiser is a cream but the consistancy is a bit gel-like, meaning that is wobbles a bit in the tub like a gel. This cream has a really silky feel to it and it glides on my skin effortlessly and sinks in really quickly. I love that when I use the scrub and the moisturiser together the scent of Coconut lasts all day!

I plan on saving a little in the tub for when Spring hits because that's when I really want to smell 'coconutty' and feel like I have been on a tropical island for a week.

Have you tried any Coconut Revolution Products? What do you think?

Have Fun!

Renee x

These item we sent to me for consideration, however my opinions are 100% honest and genuine.

Brand Focus: *Bomb Cosmetics* + Free Shipping!

Handmade Soaps Galore!

So here I am again with another brand of handmade soap and candles that I am experimenting with and enjoying.

Bob Cosmetics is an English brand but has a diributor right here in Australia. I was very curious to try out these fasinating looking soap and shower gel bars that I just dove right in a made a small order. Everybody needs soap, right?

Bomb Cosmetics

Big Softee Solid Shower Gel

This solid bar bubbles up amazingly well under running water. Such a fantastic and easy way to have a strawberry scented shower with a bubbly loofah or I just get the bubbles started with my hands. This is a real sweet smelling bar with real strawberries and mandarin essential oils.

Lime & Dandy Soap

This soap caught my eye because it looks so cool! The scent is zesty and a bit sour because it has Lime, Lemon and Grapefruit. My husband seemed to like his scent more than I did but I am partial to floral smelling things.These are surprisingly moisturising and mild soaps and they foam up really well.

Fruit Diamond Soap

I much Prefer this scent to the Lime & Dandy soap because it has a sweeter edge to it. Grapefruit and Tangerine make this a very refreshing scent to wake up to in the morning, especially in winter when it has been nothing but grey clouds outside for days. And this soap is very mild and moisturising as well and didn't dry my skin out.

Hanami Candle

Bomb Cosmetics make their candles with pure essential oils and I could tell! They have a nicer smell to them than candles that have artificial fragrance in them. This candle has a cute little yellow heart near the wick which makes it that extra special. I liked how the candle burnt nice and evenly. I picked the Hanami Candle which is Magnolia and Jasmine mixed together to create a calming effect. Aaaah.

Stress Less Bath Creamer.

Lately I have become a massive fan of bath bombs and this is just a beautiful fizzy ball to pop in the bath. This has got to be my favourite purchase out of this lot. As it slowly fizzes in the bath this bath creamer lets out the most gorgeous zesty Lemons, orange blossom and spicy cardamom scent up my nose I couldn't help but relax as the bicarb softened my skin to perfection.

So that's my purchases of Bomb Cosmetics and I am still looking forward to trying out a few of their other gorgeous looking bath fizzers and body lotions. And yes I have done a quick comparison and they are cheaper than Lush. 

So for my readers I am allowed to give you an offer from Get Drenched, the Australian distributors of Bomb Cosmetics, for Free Shipping this Weekend

Code for Free Shipping:

 RELAX 

(put this in the Apply Coupon bar)

This promo is valid from the 18-20 July 2014)

Have Fun!

Renee x

Lust Have It! *Winter Eco Box* Unboxing 2014

Winter Is Here!

Hello! It's been a few days since I have blogged because I have been on holidays with my husband and baby, but I'm back now with an Unboxing of the Winter Eco Box from Lust Have It*

So let's get into it.
I have noticed that the Eco Box Doesn't have a separate box the the mailing packaging, I'm guessing because its more Eco friendly to just use one box. I actually like that system because even though its nice to get lovely boxes with pretty prints every month, I know that I wont use them and they will end up in the recycling anyway.

All the items in my Eco Box for Winter 2014

I have used Billie Goat Soap before receiving this one and I really liked it. Goats milk soap it really moisturising and I am always on the hunt for good quality soaps that don't dry my skin out. Billie Goat Soap is Eco concious as well, using sustainable Palm Oil as well as moisturising Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil and Castor Oil. This soap has a bit of a milky smell to it but that doesn't bother me and I am really looking forward to getting stuck into this!

I am really curious to give this The Jojoba Company 100% Natural Australian Jojoba oil a try. I have heard about this company from other bloggers but have never had a chance to try it out. According to 'the card' it moisturises pretty much everything, from the face to the lips to hair to nails. I would love to try this on my hair! This is a really light oil and I think it would last ages. One pump seems to be enough to cover my face and neck. Jojoba oil is really good for problem skin such as psoriasis, acne, cradelcap, rosacea, dermatitis and nappy rash. Goodness the list goes on! I may do a review on the product after I have used it for a while so let me know in the comments if that interests you.

I am a major fan of Sukin Products. I have the Nourishing Lip Treatment in my bag which I LOVE and bub is using the Eddie Energy Saver Bath + Body Wash in the bath every night. I have also used the Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser for a while last year. I found it really good for making my skin feel squeaky clean, and I also dabbled with the Sukin Cream Cleanser for a while, so naturally I was pretty happy to see a travel size cleanser in this seasons Eco box. Sukin uses chamomile, Aloe Vera, witch hazel, Macadamia and green tea to balance the skin and make it looking fresh. On my holiday I found myself without a cleanser so I will pop this straight in my suitcase for the next adventure!

It's always nice to receive a make-up item when it is unsure if one will be included or not.  I will use this Natural Glamour 2 Glo powder a lot more during Summer because that's the only time of year I really wear bronzer. This is a surprisingly light and easily bendable loose powder. As you can see from the swatch on my wrist it is quiet a dark bronzer for me so I will have to use it sparingly. I like the packaging though because there is a mesh cover where the powder comes out so it doesn't come out everywhere. The powder comes in two shades Summer (dark) and Winter (light.)

Swatch of Natural Glamour 2Glo Mineral Bronzing Powder in Winter

It's a bit messy but I accidentally dropped it. oops

Of course we got a few sachets included in our box, I'll start from the left. I received the Karpati Bio Intelligent Eye Essence Mask. I am a bit iffy about this company because I cant seem to find much information on them or their animal testing policy. Every other product here so far is cruelty free but Karpati hold big ??? over their name. hmm

I also received the Weleda Oat Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner which I will pass on or put in my travel stash for emergencies.  Also in a cute little plastic jar is a sample of the La Mav Bio-A7 Firming Eye Cream. I am looking forward to trying this out because it looks fantastic. I will wait until my Dr Hauschka Eye cream has finished first.

 Last but not least is the $30 Hello Fresh Gift Card that was added this season. Wow. I am so excited to pick out a box of food and start cooking with the recipes that they suggest. I will do a review when I make my order!

Final Thought: This was definitely an interesting combo of tried and true products- the Billie Goat Soap and Sukin Foaming Cleanser, new finds - the Natural Glamour Bronzer and Jojoba Oil and even more things to come ( hello fresh voucher.) So I really enjoyed this box and I think I have a few more in depth reviews to post up on a couple of these items soon.

In the mean time...


Have Fun!

Renee x




* This product was sent to me for consideration, however my opinions are 100% genuine and honest.

**First Impressions - Lush Toothy Tabs**

With the Environmental Toothbrush

I was surprised to hear that Australians use and discard over 30 milliion toothbrushes each year. This is approximately 1000 tonnes of plastic to landfill. Some hard plastics can take approx 1000 years to break down!

 I actually learnt this after I discovered the Environmental Toothbrush, and at $36.00 for a pack of 12 (that's $3.00 each, if you don't like maths) they are completely affordable! The Environmental Toothbrush is made from MOSO Bamboo, an environmentally sustainable timber and the bristles are also environmentally friendly and will quickly decompose back into the earth. 

I received mine and my husbands toothbrush in the mail today, and I thought that I could finally try the Lush toothy tabs that I have been hoarding for this occasion.

 So this morning I tried the Atomic Toothy Tabs which are coffee, clove and ginger. I crumbled one up between my front teeth - a little bit fell out into the bathroom sink so I suppose that will take some practice - and wet my new toothbrush and started brushing.

Exciting so far, right?

I noticed two things pretty quickly about the toothy tabs. One ; they foam up nicely and two; they got quiet a bit of a spicy kick to them! It kind of tastes like I was brushing with raw Ginger, but in a nice refreshing way. It may take me a couple of goes to get used to the ginger shock but honestly my mouth felt super fresh after using these. 

What can I say about the Environmental Toothbrush after using it? I liked it a lot. I ordered the soft bristles and they were soft enough. One thing that I will have to get used to is that the bristles are all one length and its very different to my previous toothbrush where the bristles are all cut to different lengths to brush the gums and the teeth. 

Will I use these again? Yes and Yes! I love the fact that I have found a cruelty free toothpaste/tab to use and it tastes really different to anything I have used before. The Environmental toothbrush is gentle, better for the environment and I think it looks so cool!

Miss E. getting into everything!

Have Fun!

Renee x

Banana Milo Smoothie

A Special Treat

The other day I was really wanting something sweet so I whipped this smoothie up and it is absolutely delicious!

1 Medium Banana

2 Tablespoons of Milo

3 Tablespoons of Greek Yoghurt

1/2 Cup of Soy Milk

Blend the ingredients all together and top with some frozen berries if you like. This is such a yummy chocolaty drink. The Greek yoghurt makes it really smooth and creamy.  Its great for a midday treat!

Let me know what you think of it.

Have Fun!

Renee x

Pulling out the Duck Down Doona?

Brrr It's Cold In Here!

The nights are getting colder and the doonas are coming out of hiding. You may even be thinking about purchasing a new quilt. Nice, feathery and soft. You may want to think again. Duck down quilts are very popular and it's highly likely that the doona on your bed contains duck down. What is Duck Down? Well simply put its duck feathers, nice soft Duck feathers, that usually come off the duck breast. Why is Duck down used in quilts? Because it is fluffy and oh so warm! 
But, being mindless consumers that we are trained to be in this world, have we ever thought about the pain and agony that happens while producing these Winter warmers? No?
Only very recently were my eyes opened to this horrendous practice of acquiring Duck Down. 

Image Sourced

There are two ways Duck Down is obtained. Either the feathers are plucked from the dead animal before it is sold for meat or the birds are in factories and are alive when the plucking happens. In my ignorance I thought that every duck down quilts were from the meat industry and all birds were dead before plucking begins. Nope. Several countries in the European Union have banned live plucking and the USA don't do it often but it's not Illegal (really!?). What is most disturbing is that the largest exporters of down- China, Hungary and Poland -have not banned live plucking. 

Image Sourced

Live plucking is not a term, it's a fact. Workers pin the animal down and rip the feathers out of a struggling Duck. Bleeding is common and these animals are in agony. If the skin is torn open then they are stitched up with a needle and thread on the plucking floor without painkillers. In this video from PETA you can hear the screams of these tortured and terrified animals as their feathered are being torn from their skin. 
This only happens once before the animal is slaughtered for meat? No! It is common for a bird to be plucked alive up to three times a year before being transported to its death.

When purchasing down, attempts to avoid live-plucked down are largely futile, because the feathers from different farms are put together by middle men who then sell to the large manufacturers. The percentage of down that is live-plucked is unclear, but even if the two types of down could be purchased separately, the cruelty-free solution is to avoid all down and other animal products. 

From http://animalrights.about.com/

My Personal Thoughts:

I'm going to be completely transparent here and admit that I do own a down quilt from China, It has got to be around ten years old. So in a way I can use childish ignorance as an excuse for me owning one but never will I buy one again. Nor will I buy any Mohair products or products that claim to be fake fur, because a lot of the time it isn't fake fur at all (I'll save that for another blog post.)
And on another angle of transparency, as a Christian I find this treatment of Gods creatures totally unacceptable! Yes animals were intended for our pleasure but not like this! Animals are not on this earth to be mindlessly tortured, even if they do make nice quilts. I believe animals should be dead first before being skinned or plucked. Common sense right?

Image Sourced

What are the alternatives?

Great question, you smart thing! There are a few alternatives like man-made polyester or rayon, cotton and wool are also popular choices. I don't have a problem with using wool because it is shaven off ( who knows, my views may change in the future). These are generally cheaper as well.  It is said that Duck down is warmer and softer than synthetic materials, however there is an increasing push in the market to manufacture more eco-friendly quits that also don't have the risk of allergies that duck down has. Modern technology is being used to make softer and more fluffy quilts without using Duck Down.

Ready to go Shopping? Of course!

Tontine- Feels Like Down Quilt Starting at $94.97 at Myer
Heritage-Polyester Quilt With Dacron Duralife Fibrefill Starting at $65.97 at Myer
Australian Wool Quit Rating 2 Staring at $76.00 On Sale now at Target
Deluxe Wool Quilt Starting at $216.97 at Sheridan
MYSA STRÅ Warmth Rating 3 Starting at $29.99 at IKEA

Have Fun!
Renee x

**NEW** Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream

 Trialling Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream

Recently I was sent the Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream for reviewing purposes. This is a new formulation to the original Rose Day Cream where an increased amount of Rose Essenial Oil (nurturing maturing skin) has been added as well as Carnauba Wax ( allows smooth appplication) and Rose Flower Hydrosol (Rose Water) to modernise the mixture. 

Avaliable 5th August

I'm on a bit of a see-saw with this cream. I can tell from a lot of experience with different creams that this is a really well made lotion. There is no greasiness, it's a really nice thick consistency and it doesn't have a synthetic smell to it. However for me personally, It was a bit too rich for my liking and initially I broke out in a couple of little white bumps on my T-Zone. I also made the mistake of rubbing it into my skin and finding that it doesn't work like that. The cream must be dabbed onto the skin and waiting to let it soak in, I don't mind that. I probably should read instructions more often. When its first applied my skin was shiny, shiny because it takes a few minutes to soak it. But once it did soak in there was no visible evidence of a moisturising cream and it didn't leave my skin tacky. This cream also smells amazingly natural,  just like I stuck my face in a Rose garden all day.

I found that this day cream works well on my cheeks, where my skin doesn't get as sensitive. It was quiet moisturising, it didn't make my cheeks oily at the end of the day, but it's not the most moisturising lotion I have ever used. Having said that, if Dr Hauschka was to market this as not a moisturising cream but a brilliant make up base it would get sold out in seconds! 

Because of the way the product has to be applied (dab,dab) there is plenty of time to spread liquid foundations on without dragging it across the skin. It also leaves foundation looking like it is dewy and pretty. 

So, all-in-all I'm not really that fussed on this day cream, mainly because it broke me out but knowing that roses are really good for sensitive skin and reducing redness I might stay on the bandwagon for a bit longer. My white bumps are clearing even though I have continued to use this cream, so maybe it was my skins initial reaction to something good.

Have Fun!

Renee x