Sunday 26 January 2014

Childs Farm: Full of Fun, Frolics & Fabulous Products for Kids

Back in April last year, I popped off to my very first trade show, the Natural Organic Products Europe (NOPE) exhibition at Olympia to have a look at what brands and products were out there for Sophia’s Choice Online Shop. I had a fabulous day and was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of companies all there promoting their wares to the passing public.

I made a list beforehand of who I wanted to have chat to and one of them was Childs Farm. They were a brand I’d not heard of on my natural free-from journey thus far and I was intrigued. I’d had a brief look at their website and was struck by how fun both they and their products appeared.


When I arrived at their stand I was greeted by an array of fabulously colourful bottles with fun horses, pirates and farm escapades slapped all over them. I loved them. And so would my girls I thought. I started chatting to both their founder Joanna Jensen and her assistant Olivia Sims and was struck by just how lovely they both were. Joanna is a passionate and shrewd business woman. She believes strongly in her brand and has managed to make her organic, natural bodycare for children affordable to all. I applaud that. All too often natural and organic products can end up becoming an expensive luxury for many and out of financial reach for most of us. We don’t all have a huge disposable income to spend each month so coming across an organic range of children’s bodycare products that are affordable to all is in my opinion a great find.

Joanna’s initial impertus for starting the company was not being able to find natural or organic products that could deal with her girl’s fine hair. She therefore set out to make a range of toiletries that were fun and appealing to children and their parents from the outside but that were filled on the inside with ingredients that parents could trust and as Childs Farm put it, “combs could cope with!” And with the help of children’s illustrator Emma McCall and their respected manufacturer Medichem International, Childs Farm was born. In case you are interested Childs Farm is named after Joanna's beautiful home and small holding in rural Hampshire, so if you were thinking that an apostrophe is missing in their name, it’s not.

After having a long chat with Joanna I took some samples away with me with further information making a mental note that I was keen to stock them if they passed the test of my girl’s hair.



The range has a shampoo, conditioner, hair and body wash and two bubble baths; one for the boys and one for the girls. You can obviously mix and match as you wish but I love the fact that they have an array of colourful bottles which will appeal to girls and boys alike. The range is predominantly aimed at children of 3-10 years of age. Their products are free from parabens, SLS’, mineral oils and artificial colours. Their hair and body wash and bubble bath do have “parfum” but this is naturally derived, synthetically made. Their products are not tested on animals.

For those of you who are interested in ingredients each product in their range has the following:

Groomed to Perfection Shampoo for Luscious Locks

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Argan Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Parfum, Sucrose Laurate, Alcohol, Mentha Arvensis Organic Peppermint Oil*, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid

Tame the Mane Conditioner for Unruly Hair

Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine HCI, Maltodextrin, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Silica, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Mentha Arvensis (Peppermint) Oil*

Clean, Calm and Collected Bubble Bath for Sweet Dreams

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sucrose Laurate, Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Tocopherol, Citrus Reticulata Peel (Tangerine) Oil*, Citric Acid, Limonene

Bubble Bath for Buccaneers

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sucrose Laurate, Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Parfum, Tocopherol, Citrus Reticulata Peel (Tangerine) Oil*, Citric Acid, Limonene

Caked in Mud Hair & Body wash for Dirty Rascals

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Glycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Argan Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Parfum, Sucrose Laurate, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil* Organic Orange Oil, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Limonene, Amyl Cinnamal

Mini Hand and Body Lotion for Silky Skin

Ingredients: Aqua, Caprylic Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-3 Dicitrate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Theobroma Cacoa (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Pafrum, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Linalool

Their products smell fabulous; strawberry and organic mint, zesty tangerine and sweet orange all feature and I now use their shampoo and conditioner on the girls constantly. It makes hair wash night a joy. No more protests, just clean, lovely smelling hair which really is comb-able. And I have to say that I’ve used the shampoo and conditioner on my own hair too and it really is great.

Their bubble bath lathers gently and you can even use their hair and body wash as a bubble bath too if you wish. Their full size bottles are £4.69 each for a 250ml bottle so exceptionally reasonable. They also do an array of gift sets one of which is a Top to Toe Cleaning Kit for Kids (at £9.35) which has 3 smaller 100ml bottles of the shampoo, conditioner and bubble bath so if you wanted to try before you buy this is a great option. Also, good for swim kits too.


They have recently introduced some hair brushes and also a 100ml body lotion to the range too. And if all this wasn’t enough reason for you to buy their range then maybe the fact that 10% of profits from their range go to the Riding for the Disabled which is a charity they are very passionate about and have helped out a lot may persuade you.

If you’d like to find out more about Childs Farm and their products then they have a fun website with an activities section for kids. They are also on Facebook and you can follow them on Twitter.

As well as finding all their product range on their own website, Sophia’s Choice also proudly stock a selection of their range.

So have any of you come across or used Childs Farm for your own children? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until next time xx


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Saturday 25 January 2014

HealGel Intensive – Well I Wasn’t Expecting That !

I thoroughly enjoy writing this blog and sharing a wealth of different products with you. I think I must have around 30 posts waiting in the wings to be written – no joke !

The majority of these are items that I've bought over a period of time but I’m just finding at the moment that there aren't enough hours in a day to do everything I’d like to. Gone are the days when I would go to work and then come home and my evenings were mine to do with as I wished. Since becoming a full-time parent it’s like being constantly on a treadmill of never ending “to dos” which never actually get done. And all I need now is one or both of my little lovelies to fall ill and “kaboom!” bang goes any free-time to indulge in some writing for the blog.

Over the past few months it’s been a run of kiddie illness meaning lots of “no school and nursery”, so blog posts have just started stacking up behind me. I’ve also been ploughing my energies into my shop so it’s been one of those juggling times where you only end up catching half the balls you actually threw up in the first place ! But I’m hopeful that now my youngest is doing more hours at nursery that I can start to see the wood for the trees again and get to grips with my blog post backlog.

This post is an overdue one which has been patiently waiting for its position on the blog since I received it back in September last year. I was asked if I’d like to try out a sample of HealGel Intensive and after my usual visit to a brand’s website to check out whether I feel it would be of value to the blog, I decided to give it a trial run.


What I wasn't expecting was the transformation to a part of my forehead that had been troubling me for quite a while.

Let me explain. Several months after having my youngest daughter, Jessica, I happened to notice a raised blemish on my forehead that hadn't been there before. Now I’m not sure how long it had been there but it wasn't there before I got pregnant for a second time so I can only assume that it was perhaps due to hormone changes. When you are in the throws of early babydom noticing these little things about yourself tends to disappear for a while. Well, it certainly did for me. And I think as we were also focussed to some degree on my mother’s journey with lung cancer, my need to actually do something about my new blemish was shelved for a while.

When I finally decided that it wasn't going anytime soon, I felt that a trip to the doctor was probably in order just to make sure it wasn't anything more sinister than a harmless addition to my face. My doctor had a good look and advised that all was ok, nothing sinister to report but just to keep an eye on it in case it changed in any way. So off I trotted and thought nothing more of it.

However, it was annoying. Every time I touch my forehead I felt it, every time I put on creams, balms etc I felt it and because it was slightly raised I always wanted to fiddle with it and pick at it. Slaps wrist in disgust ! Must leave things alone. I tell my girls that enough times J

When I first received my HealGel Intensive I initially used it on my legs. I tend to be prone to ingrown hairs particularly on the more sensitive inner thigh area. I have scaring there from this and I hate it. The HealGel Intensive started to make a difference and every time I had my legs waxed I started using it to help the skin recover. Any spots which were evident healed quickly and so any ingrown hairs could be located quickly and removed. I also started using it on my jaw line, again an area which has been scarred due to acne as a teenager. It helped here too. So, one day I thought I’d try it on my annoying blemish. Nothing to lose I thought, so after cleansing and before moisturising on it went twice a day.


Now at this stage I should probably tell you a bit about HealGel.

HealGel was created by a team of leading British plastic and cosmetic surgeons with the help of a renowned dermatological biochemist and a well known actor. They initially wanted to produce a product which they could use in their work as plastic surgeons and to also provide reassurance of a genuinely effective skincare.

What they developed was a unique skin rescue formula cleverly designed with nano-technological elements (liposomes containing the key ingredients) to deliver a power house of active ingredients to the depths of the skin’s layers where it was needed most. HealGel uses silicones known to allow optimal healing for scar treatment which seals in the active ingredients including Arnica and Madecassoside. It contains powerful peptides to increase collagen production and has anti-inflammatory ingredients too.

Their website has a wealth of information including a full ingredient list of all the 3 products they have; HealGel Intensive, HealGel Face and HealGelEye. All HealGel products are free from parabens, petroleum, phthalates, SLS’, colourants, synthetic fragrance and xenoestrogen. They are suitable for vegetarians and vegans and haven’t been tested on animals.

The HealGel Intensive I used has the following ingredient list:

Aqua(Water), Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Glycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Madecassoside, Olea Europea (olive oil) Fruit Oil, Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Phospholipids, Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (jojoba) Oil, Glutamylamidoethyl Indole, Oryza Sativa Extract, Hexapeptide-9, Hexapeptide-3, Parfum (Fragrance), Linalool, Limonene, Steareth-20, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhxylglycerin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.

So, back to my annoying blemish. It’s fair to say that initially there was no change but then one day I noticed that the blemish had actually shrunk slightly. Hooray ! This was good and moving in the right direction. Then nothing more. Mmm slightly disappointing. But then one day I noticed that the top layer of the raised blemish was peeling away. Underneath was a more pink area of skin. At this point I didn’t know whether to panic and run off to the doctors but I stayed calm, persevered and about a month later the layers of skin shed and one morning I noticed that it had completely gone except for a very slight discolouration of the skin where it had been, which if I'm honest you can hardly see. Wow, I was astonished. And my forehead has stayed that way ever since. I’m chuffed.



I've hunted through my pictures and managed to find one I can use of a before piccie. I didn't think to take a before picture as I never anticipated any change. I’ll learn in future to make sure I take pictures.

Anyway, I’m really impressed by HealGel Intensive and would definitely repurchase. The jury’s out on the other products for me. Whilst I understand the logic in this gel being used to help heal the skin, I’m not sure I’d want to use the face or eye gel everyday on a long term basis with a silicone base to it. But that’s me and my preference. I can however understand the short-term benefit of using the face gel for acne and skin which needs real help in the healing process.

HealGel Intensive is £37.50 for a 30ml pump tube. It is a light gel which absorbs quickly into the skin. At present HealGel’s website have run out of stock of HealGel Intensive but you can get it from Victoria Health.

If you want to know more you can visit HealGel’s website, they are on Facebook and you can follow them on Twitter.

So tell me, have any of you heard of or used any of HealGel’s products? And have you a success story to tell? I’d love to know your thoughts so please leave them. Until next time xx



Disclaimer: I was given a 30ml pump tube of HealGel Intensive to try out for review on the blog. All opinions, thoughts and feelings are my own and no one esle’s.


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Mendill Organic Towelettes - The Future of Wet Wipes?

As a busy Mum of 2 energetic girls who love to live life to the full, I find that wet wipes have and still do play a big part of my life ! Since Sophia first arrived over 7 years ago and little Jess 4 years later, the car, kitchen table, bathroom, change bag, and my handbag haven’t been without a pack of wipes to help mop up spills, wipe mucky mouths and hands, and get me out of many a tricky child related situation.

Wipes vary a great deal. I always like to purchase more natural, fragrance free brands without the chemicals more mainstream brands have. However, my one bug bear with packs of wipes is that they normally come in a relatively big pack and often part way through the pack they start to stick together ! There is nothing more frustrating as a Mum or Dad, or even a grandparent when you have a wipe emergency and you can’t get the bl**dy wipes out of the packet ! It drives me insane sometimes. You need about 3 pairs of hands to not only hold your little one still to stop whatever wipe emergency you have getting any worse (damage limitation), another pair to fight with the packet to actually get the wipes out and then the last pair to administer a clean-up operation whilst your little one wriggles around and protests ! I exaggerate to some degree perhaps, but it can feel at times like a battle of the wipes.

And yes I know it’s not just us parents who use wipes either. They are truly useful and versatile for all. However, there are times when having just one or two to hand in your handbag, pocket, car glove box, wallet etc would be great don’t you think?

Mixed Box of Mendill Organic Towelettes
Well may I introduce you then to “Mendill”. Now there is a chance that you may have already heard of these wipes before. There has been a real buzz about them in the Beauty Blog arena. I’ve read lots of posts on them and I personally started chatting to Mendill on Twitter last October as they lent themselves really well to my online shop. They offered to send me a sample box to try and what arrived was a mixed box of individually wrapped organic wet towelettes.

These wipes are truly unique and the team behind them is exceptionally passionate about what they do and so they should be. Mendill are based in Ankara, Turkey and have a fabulous team of 7 people “dedicated to promoting a pure, healthy lifestyle and the desire to form an inspiring organisation with sustainability at its heart.” And having been in correspondence with them over the past few months, this passion and heart shines through. They are a team of individuals who deserve to succeed.

Mendill wipes are made with 100% certified essential oils and organic cotton. They are boxed in 100% recycled content cartons. They are free from parabens, chemical preservatives and fragrances and are not tested on animals. Mendill are also a member of 1% for the Planet, which is a growing movement of companies who donate 1% of their sales to support the environment.

Their wipes can be used for babies, children, teens, adults – in short everyone. They come in 5 fragrances with individual properties:



Organic Tangerine – This wonderfully sweet, fresh and citrusy oil is thought to promote happiness, and help nervousness and anxiety. Also antiseptic and calming.

Organic Eucalyptus – With anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, eucalyptus can act as a disinfectant. It is well known for giving relief from sinus infections, blocked noses, common colds, bronchitis and flu.

Organic Lemon – Detoxifying, antiseptic, a disinfectant, with antifungal properties, lemon oil is rich in vitamin C.

Organic Orange – Has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Orange oil promotes joy and happiness. Its natural antiseptic properties make it great for cleaning and treating scratches.

Organic Lavender – A natural antiseptic, antibacterial which encourages healing and cleansing. Lavender helps to purify the body and spirit with its aroma and is very calming and soothing too.

What I love about these wipes it that they are so handy and versatile. As a family we have used them a lot. They have been put into handbags, the car, pockets (coat, jeans, work wear) and if you were going off to the gym and wanted to freshen up afterwards they would lend themselves well to being in your gym bag too.

We have used them on long car journeys to help with car sickness with the girls, on walks to the beach when a wipe in a back pocket can be invaluable, they are a staple in my handbag now for those “just in case” moments. They really do lend themselves to so many situations.

Now how much do they cost I hear you cry. Well, they currently come in boxes of 20 in each individual fragrance. I would actually like to see a mixed box as standard as I believe this would be very popular. They are £10 for a box of 20 and although this makes them 50p each I personally think they are worth it. These are not wipes you use lots of on a daily basis. They are to be used on an “as and when” basis when a individually wrapped wipe is really needed, and also when something with other healing properties like being antiseptic, antibacterial for example is really important too. In my change bag for the girls I’ve always had plasters, cotton wool, tea tree and calendula creams, homeopathic remedies all at hand in case of an emergency. Mendill wipes now feature in this little lot too.

You can currently purchase Mendill wipes from Love Lula  and also This Is Beauty Mart (Lavender & Eucalyptus only), but let’s just say there may just be another online outlet selling these fabulous wipes very soon. Watch this space !

If you’d like to find out more about Mendill you can pop across to their website, they also have a FB Page and you can follow them on Twitter: @puremendill

So, have any of you heard of Mendill before and have you used their 100% organic towelettes? Let me know if you have. Until next time xx




Disclaimer: I was sent a mixed box of Mendill Organic Towelettes to try out with regards to Sophia's Choice Online Shop. All views and opinions are all my own, honest and true.


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Thursday 16 January 2014

Apivita Bring Together their Love of Hippocrates, Greek Nature and their Native Bees to Create an Inspiring Beauty Range

I spend quite a bit of my time on Twitter now and it’s a fabulous place to while away far too much time finding natural, organic and free-from skincare and bodycare ranges which I have yet to try or know about.

It’s even better when a brand finds me and approaches me about their products. This happened with Apivita. I had a lovely email from Anna Matrinou from Apivita who asked if I’d like to try out their natural skincare products. Following a quick browse of their website I replied saying “I’d love to”. I was also quite surprised I’d not found them before.


Apivita sprung to life in 1979 when pharmacists Nikos and Niki Koutsianias met and discovered their shared passion for nature. They married in that same pharmacy and together created their first natural cosmetic products using bee products and Greek herbs. 

Apivita has been built on very firm natural and green foundations. This is a company who has built their success by working with nature, having integrity and a very clear vision. For Apivita ‘nature is the most dominant ruler of all’ and they have been inspired by the philosophies and holistic approach of Hippocrates, their love and respect of their native bees and their deep knowledge in Greek herbs to develop a range of products which covers everything from skincare, bodycare, and hair care to a children’s range, essential oils, sun creams and honey. Their products range is vast with over 300 beauty care products. 

The name APIVITA is taken from two Latin words; “Apis” meaning bee and ”Vita” meaning life. Therefore Apivita means “the life of the bee”. Their logo is inspired by the Bees of Malia, a rare piece of Minoan jewellery from the 17th-18th century BC. The two bees together form a union symbolizing fertility and harmony. They are surrounded by an open circle which represents the lyre of Apollo, symbolising devotion, sustainable development and belief in ancient Greek culture. This is a company who are steeped in their own country’s ancient roots, who also respect their country’s bee population and native herbs, flora and fauna. I found their “Our Story” video a great watch and would recommend you put aside 10 minutes to see what Apivita have created from very humble beginnings.

Their products are made with natural ingredients:
  • Greek and Mediterranean plants
  • Plant and herb extracts, plant oils, infusions instead of water
  • 100% pure essential oils
  • Bee products including propolis, beeswax, honey, and Royal jelly
  • Active plant and herb Ingredients: resveratrol, lycopene, polyphenols, bioflavonoids plus many more
  • Safe preservatives
  • Mild, surfactants which are biodegradable

And, are made without:
  • SLS, ALES, ALS
  • Parabens, MIT, BHT
  • Petrochemicals (Mineral and Paraffin Oils)
  • Synthetic Perfumes (Phthalates, PCM)
  • GMOs
  • Animal Derivatives (excluding bees)
  • Animal Testing
  • Radiation
  • Silicones
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Synthetic Colours

You can find APIVITA products in thousands of pharmacies throughout Greece. They also have a presence in 11 countries worldwide: Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, USA. In the UK you can find Apivita in Marks and Spencer.

So, on to the lovely products which Anna kindly sent me:

Apivita’s Cleansing Gel for oily / combination skin

Aqua Vita 24 hours moisturising cream gel for oily / combination skin

Lip Care with Propolis lip balm stick

Kids Hair and Bodywash which is suitable from 1 year upwards.


Firstly, the Cleansing Gel Wash. I really enjoyed using this. I love using water in the mornings to get that freshly washed feeling only water can produce. As I have oily / combination skin I don’t like using creams or oils at the beginning of the day. They tend to leave my skin too shiny. I leave these until the end of my day where they can do the job of moisturising and balancing my skin without my having to worry about a shiny T-zone. The gel wash smells fresh and a touch fruity (with citrus essential oils) but in no way over powering or sickly. It has a lovely gentle foaming action and leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh with a slightly mattified feel. I haven’t much left in the bottle (which is in a handy pump bottle) and would definitely repurchase. If you like a facial wash and have oily / combination skin, then I think you’d enjoy this one.

Ingredients:

Aqua**, Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocopolyglucose Tartrate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 20, Bisabolol, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Glycerin, Propolis, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Capryloyl Glycine, Allantoin, Camelia Sinensis Leaf* , Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Oil*, Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil*, Juniperus Communis Oil, Butylene Glycol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool

**Camelia Sinensis* Leaf Aqueous Infusion = Green tea water
* Certified organic cultivations


 Their Aqua Vita 24hr Moisturising Cream Gel for oily / combination skin was again a joy to use. It isn’t really a gel but the description cream gel is probably a good way to describe it as it’s a lighter cream. It isn’t rich or thick in consistency which oilier skins do not need. It is light, easily absorbed and leaves the skin well hydrated but without the sticky, greasier feeling thicker creams would leave for someone with my skin type. It’s slightly thicker than a lotion if that makes sense. It smells yummy, more herbal / floral but again not overpowering. It smells like nature in a pot and I’d happily repurchase.


Ingredients:

Aqua (Water)**, Dicaprylyl Ether, Propanediol Dicaprylate, Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Propolis Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf* Extract, Xanthan Gum, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Capry‎lyl Glycol, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Olus Oil (Vegetable Oil), Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil*, Sorbitan Oleate, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Carbomer, PEG-100 Stearate, Lecithin, Sodium Phytate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Cyclodextrin, Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf*, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Farnesol, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol

**Camelia Sinensis* Leaf Aqueous Infusion = Green tea water
* Certified organic cultivations


I loved using the Lip Balm with Propolis. Call me old fashioned but there’s nothing quite like a twizzle stick lip salve to make a girl happy. Little lip balm pots are all well and good but have you noticed how difficult they are to apply when you’re outside, it’s cold, you’re wrapped up in hat, scarf and gloves but desperately need to apply some lip balm? Step forward Apivita’s Lip Care Stick. You can take the top off, twist the stick to the required height and apply to lips. Fabulous ! It smells yummy and has organic beeswax, organic olive oil, organic shea butter and vitamins to nourish those dry, chapped lips. It’s stayed permanently in my coat pocket since the colder weather appeared although the girls keep trying to steal it from me when I’m not looking. I think we’re going to need to buy a couple more so we all have one each. Mummy is not giving up hers anytime soon.

Ingredients:

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Oleyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera Wax), Jojoba Esters, Glyceryl Abietate, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Tricaprylin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Carnauba Wax), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cetyl Esters, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Cetyl Esters, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Propolis Extract, Aroma (Flavor), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Phytosterols, Hypericum Perforatum Flower/Leaf/Stem* Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Coumarin.

* Certified organic cultivation


And lastly, the Kids Hair and Bodywash with calendula, wheat, honey and orange essential oil. This was great, not a huge lather action which you would expect from a natural product. I love it but would have preferred a stronger orange fragrance but this is purely a personal thing. Also, I’m well aware that for children as young as 1 year old a high concentration of essential oils in products is not advisable. The girls loved using it and I loved the gorgeous, quirky Greek children’s images on the bottle and box.

Ingredients

Aqua** (Water**), Aqua (Water), Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Polyquaternium-47, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel* Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower* Extract, Mel* (Honey*) Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Calendula Officinalis Flower*, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal.

*Certified organic cultivation
**Calendula* Leaf Aqueous Infusion = Calendula infusion


All in all, I was very impressed with the Apivita range and would definitely like to try more of their products. As you know finding natural hair care products which can cope with my thick locks always poses a huge problem for me so I may just have to give one of Apivita’s hair care range a go. I’m very pleased to have found Apivita and glad they found me too !

If you’d like to find out more about Apivita’s wide range of natural and organic products then they have a very comprehensive website, you can follow them on Twitter and also give them a Like on their Facebook Page.

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Have any of you tried Apivita’s range of natural beauty products? I’d love to hear your views / comments on this lovely Greek range.



Disclaimer: I was sent a 50ml pot of Apivita Aqua Vita 24 hr Cream Gel Moisturiser, a 200ml bottle of Cleansing Gel Wash., a 15oz Lip Care with Propolis lip salve and a 200ml Kids Hair & Bodywash to try out. All opinions are my own and no one else's.


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