Sunday 29 November 2015

A Natural Approach to Problem Skin with Living Nature

Problem skin and acne isn’t fun. Since my teens I’ve had to deal with acne, hormonal break outs, a shiny t-zone and there are times when I’ve longed for so called “normal” skin. However, if I’m honest I don’t really believe normal skin exists.

Everyone’s skin has those times, those moments when it has a tantrum, whether that be dryness, redness, greasiness, spots, acne, even boils. So many factors can change the way our skin behaves; the weather, what we eat, hydration levels, our stress levels and emotions, in addition to what we put on it.

Everyone’s skin is unique and learning what makes it tick is key to choosing the right skincare products to keep it at its best.



Since I transitioned to natural and organic skincare, I have seen a significant change to my skin. It is clearer, my pores appear reduced and I no longer have clusters of blackheads in certain areas such as my nose. I still get break outs, oily areas and sadly the scarring on my jaw line is unlikely to ever completely disappear, however I can vouch for the results a much more natural approach to your skincare regime can produce.

I was recently asked if I’d like to try out Living Nature’s skincare range for problem / acne prone skin. I was happy to oblige particularly as many of the reviews I’ve read about Living Nature are very positive.

When it comes to problem skin, Living Nature draws on the curative properties and combined synergistic actions of some of New Zealand’s unique botanicals to provide a natural and effective approach for your skin. Using active Manuka Honey, Manuka Oil, Harakeke, a New Zealand Flax Plant and Halloysite Clay, Living Nature’s gentle yet effective skincare is nature at its best.

Founded in 1987 by Suzanne Hall and inspired by the healing properties of New Zealand’s native plants to remedy her own skin conditions, Living Nature now offer gentle skincare for all skin types in addition to natural cosmetics.

I was sent a 30ml sample set of their purifying cleanser, hydrating toner, balancing day lotion, manuka honey gel and deep cleansing mask.

As always I tested the products for about 4 weeks. I liked the fact that they are almost fragrance free, so no overbearing fragrances to contend with. I enjoyed using the purifying cleanser. I like a facial wash in the morning and this one was gentle yet effective. No stinging eyes and no dryness after using it.

The hydrating toning gel was a unique experience. With harakeke, active manuka honey and larch tree extract this toner is nourishing for the skin, however it took a while to get used to a gel rather than a liquid toner. I enjoy spritzing my face in the morning, so the gel didn’t quite give me that fresh, zingy feeling. However, popped into the fridge in the summer, I imagine it would be super cooling on the skin.

The balancing day lotion was light and non-greasy. You don’t need a lot so this 30ml bottle went a long way. Easily absorbed into the skin, it made a good base for make-up.

The Manuka Honey Gel is for those spots and break outs we all get from time to time. This smells strongly of tea tree, so if this essential oil is not your cup of tea, you’re likely to struggle with it. Sophia tried it on her spots but struggled with the aroma. I can deal with it and it is very effective in soothing red, sore skin.

The Deep Cleansing Mask is a clay mask using purifying Halloysite Clay. It is a drying clay mask so you do get that tightening effect when you use it beyond 10 minutes. It left my skin feeling clean and soft. I just had to avoid smiling whilst it was on !

Living Nature’s skincare range is not the cheapest of ranges with prices starting in the UK at about £11.50 for the 10ml Manuka Gel all the way up to £48.00 for their radiance oil.

I wouldn’t say this is for the teen market, however they do have their sister brand, Natural Being which is aimed at the younger market but still with manuka honey and manuka oil in their formulations. I’ve tried the Manuka Honey Day Cream for oily to normal skin and it is very effective.



If you are keen to know what ingredients are in all the products mentioned above then take a look at each ingredient lists below:

Purifying Cleanser: Aqua (water), Decyl glucoside, Sodium lauroyl glutamate, Glycerin (vegetable glycerin)**, Sclerotium gum, Galactoarabinan (larch tree gum), Glucose, Mel (manuka honey), Pomaderris kumerahou flower/leaf extract, Parfum fragrance)*, Glucose oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil.
*From natural essential oils: Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool.  **Certified organic.

Hydrating Toning Gel: Aqua (water), Glycerin (vegetable glycerin)**, Sclerotium gum, Glucose, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil**, Parfum (fragrance)*, Phormium tenax leaf juice (NZ flax gel), Bisabolol, Zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, Mel (manuka honey), Glucose oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil.
*From natural essential oils: Limonene, Linalool. **Certified organic.

Balancing Day Lotion: Aqua (water), Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Squalane (vegetable squalane), Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Parfum (fragrance)*, Glucose, Mel (manuka honey), Phormium tenax leaf juice (NZ flax gel), Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Sclerotium gum, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter**, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Totarol**, Glucose oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil**, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil. *From natural essential oils: Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool. **Certified organic.

Manuka Honey Gel: Aqua (water), Mel (manuka honey), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil, Xanthan gum, Phormium tenax extract (NZ flax gel), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E).

Deep Cleansing Mask:  Aqua (water), Kaolin (Halloysite clay), Macadamia ternifolia seed oil, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (almond) oil, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Mel (manuka honey), Cetearyl wheat straw glycosides, Cetearyl alcohol, Citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, Zinc oxide, Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, Sclerotium gum, Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil**, Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil, Citrus medica limonum (lemon) oil*, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil, Backhousia citriodora (lemon myrtle) oil*, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, Totarol**.
*From natural essential oils: Citral, Limonene. **Certified organic.

All in all, I enjoyed my first experience of Living Nature’s natural skincare.  I have one of their Gentle Make-up Removers and some of their make-up which was in the goody bag from the Gorgeously Green Gathering. I have yet to use them, but if they’re as good as what I’ve tried so far, I’m sure they’ll be a hit.

Have any of you tried Living Nature’s Natural Skincare? Do leave me a comment if you have.

Until next time x


 ********

If you want to connect, then you’ll find me here:



Disclaimer: I was kindly sent a sample set of Living Nature's Natural Skincare for problem and acne prone skin for review. All opinions and views are honest and my own.


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Can Green Clean? Review of Ecover’s New and Improved Washing-up Liquid

Washing up. Not the most fun activity, however one that needs doing if you don’t use a dishwasher for everything. We hand wash most of our glasses, the children’s cups, our chef's knives and anything else which doesn’t survive a dishwasher.

I’ve always tried to choose eco alternatives to your mainstream options when it comes to washing-up liquid. However, there are times when the alternative hasn’t always come up to my cleaning standards.

Ecover recently launched their new and improved washing-up liquid and asked if I’d like to try it out. I was sent a pack with their new and improved Lemon & Aloe Vera washing up liquid, a recycled washing-up brush made from Plantplastic® derived from sugarcane and recycled plastic, a super sized tea towel, some healthy recipe cards and their washing-up tips for getting your plates sparkling.


We took our new and improved Ecover on holiday with us. We normally holiday in our trusty caravan in Cornwall, and wash up every day. Using an eco-friendly washing-up liquid is really important whilst camping or caravanning, so we were really able to put Ecover’s washing-up liquid through its paces.

Their original offering was OK, however this new and improved version was excellent. It claims to wash 40% more plates and contains 20% more plant-based content resulting in a powerful clean which is 98.8% plant based. I really liked this new formula. It created more bubbles and you needed less of it than its predecessor. I know bubbles have nothing to do with its cleaning power, however psychologically it made me happy to see more bubbles. I know, I’m sad !

Ecover have looked to nature and used plant based ingredients such as sugar and coconut oil instead of petro-chemical additives.

As Tom Domen, Innovation Manager for Ecover said, “Ecover has been on a journey to not only make products even less harmful to the environment, but to ensure they match the performance of conventional cleaners, which is good for our customers and the planet. Going forward we’ll continue to look to nature to create the ecologically powerful cleaning products for the home and for busy lives. It’s our commitment to lessening the burden on the earth’s resources.”



Ecover also sent me their top tips for getting the most out of your Ecover washing-up liquid to ensure your plates and glassware look sparkly clean:
  • Clean the sink before you start. Make sure you wipe down the draining board too as this is where nasties like limescale and bacteria build up.
  • For burnt on and tough stains on cookware, sprinkle them with baking soda to absorb grease and dissolve grime. Leave for 30 minutes and then wash to return your kitchenware to its former glory.
  • For an easy clean, pre-treat tea and coffee stained mugs with lemon juice before washing up.
  • After washing each item, rinse them in clean hot water under the tap
  • Dry dishes with a clean cloth or tea towel.
  • Rinse your washing up tools regularly and keep dry when not in use to prolong their life.
  • Read the instructions on the back of your Ecover bottle and only used the recommended amount. One squeeze is enough for a sink full of dirty dishes.
I really liked this new improved Ecover washing-up liquid. The bottle lasted 2 months with us washing up several times a day for the first week whilst we were away on our caravanning holiday and then about once a day until the bottle was finished. You needed far less to get the same if not better cleaning power than the old version. I’ve purchased another bottle since and will continue to do so.

I’m hoping that Ecover are planning to upgrade all their products. If their washing-up liquid is anything to go by then we can expect to see a great new range of eco-friendly products for the home.

Have any of you tried the new, improved Ecover washing-up liquid? What are your thoughts?


Until next time x

********

If you want to connect, then you’ll find me here:



Disclaimer: I was kindly sent Ecover's new & improved washing-up pack for review. All opinions and views are honest and my own.


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Sunday 18 October 2015

A Morning of Relaxation with OV Naturals

Earlier this year, I was kindly invited by Lucy Stevens of OV Naturals in Somerset to experience one of her Aromatherapy treatments. I don’t often get the opportunity to indulge in this sort of thing so when one does present itself, I don’t need much persuasion. I opted for a bespoke aromatherapy facial and looked forward to chilling out for an hour. Bliss !
I have a great love of massage and Lucy offers massage treatments in addition to her facials. You can find out more here. She’s also developed a beautiful capsule collection of facial & body oils which are 100% natural and use 99.5% Soil Association certified ingredients. I will chat about those beautiful facial oils in another post, but for now I’ll tell you more about my fabulous treatment.

Lucy has been a professional Aromatherapist since 2006 and has recently furthered her expertise by studying natural perfumery with Marina Barcenilla and furthering her aromatherapy knowledge with Robert Tisserand.

Lucy is one of those people who instantly puts you at ease. She is softly spoken and her presence creates an instant calm. When I arrived, I was offered a drink and we then went through a consultation noting any health issues, allergies etc I may have. Once this was complete, I was left to settle down on the couch and await my bespoke facial.


Now it’s worth noting that although I don’t normally have reactions to facial products (I’m one of the lucky ones), I did on this day. Lucy uses her own blends and makes her own soothing hydrosols, however she does also use other natural skincare brands as part of her treatments and it was one of those which set my skin off. Surprisingly it was a Herfarmacy cleanser and although we contacted them to find out what it may have been, we just couldn’t hone down the ingredient(s) which were to blame.

Lucy was amazing when this happened and calmed the flare up with her beautifully soothing hydrosol.  A professional through and through, Lucy never panicked and decided to invite me back again with a view to the facial being a touch more successful second time around. Fingers crossed my face would behave itself this time!

I returned several weeks later and Lucy used Green People’s Cream Cleanser on my face instead which I didn’t react to – yay! She then used Botanical’s gentle facial scrub and facial mask which I adored along with her beautiful bespoke hydrosols, and facial oils.


I have to say that I felt so relaxed during the treatment that I almost fell asleep. You know those moments when you are nodding off in the chair, on the edge of sleep and you wake yourself up with one of those crosses between a snore and a snuffle? Well, I embarrassed myself with one of those during my treatment and woke myself up again – LOL! I suppose it’s a complement to Lucy’s skills as a therapist however I was slightly more mindful of making sure that it didn’t happen again through the rest of the facial.

I was treated to an amazing natural facial massage as part of the treatment, which promotes a natural face lift. And after being thoroughly pampered, I was left for a few minutes of contemplation whilst I composed myself again for my return to the real world.
Image Courtesy of OV Naturals

I was sent off with a couple of Lucy’s facial oil samples and I will report back in another post about those. They really are lovely.

If you are in the area and fancy booking yourself a treatment of your own then pop across to Lucy’s website for more information. I will certainly be back for an aromatherapy back massage. Lucy comes highly recommended and I’m glad that I've found someone close by to where I live where I can indulge every once in a while with my love of natural therapies.

Do any of you indulge in natural facials or holistic treatments? Or have you had one of Lucy’s fabulous bespoke treatments? Do let me know in the comments below.

Until next time x

********

If you want to connect, then you’ll find me here:



Disclaimer: I was kindly given a bespoke aromatherapy facial for free by Lucy Stevens of OV Naturals. I was under no obligation to write about my experience on my blog. I thoroughly enjoyed my treatment and would definitely return again.


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Celebrating 3 Years of Blogging !


On the 18th October 2012, I tentatively dipped my toes into the world of blogging. You can read my very first blog post here. Three years on and rather than a fresh faced newbie I well & truly feel like a seasoned oldie!

During those three years I’ve seen lots of new blogs popping up all over the place and sadly some fade away. One thing I’ve learnt with blogging is that it’s very time consuming! I’ve often wondered if I should carry on. My girls have learnt now that they must wait before trying anything new as Mummy may need to photograph it for her blog. Poor things. They’ll end up scarred for sure – LOL!

I’ve been lucky to write about a range of products and topics during my three years of blogging.  From hypnobirthing and baby signing, to natural skincare and crafting for children. It’s been a fun and interesting journey and continues to be so.

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Saturday 26 September 2015

An Inspirational Day at Blog Camp River Cottage

A picture of River Cottage HQ in Axminster, Devon, UK


I was recently one of the lucky bloggers whose name was pulled out of a hat to take one of the remaining Foodies100 places for a fun filled day to River Cottage HQ near Axminster in Devon and Wednesday was the day it all happened.

To say I was excited was an understatement! I’ve been blogging for almost 3 years and it’s only now that I’ve the “child free” time available to experience blogging events and not worry about childcare arrangements. My first was a couple of weeks ago in Swindon for the Gorgeously Green Gathering and this was my second.

And boy, my River Cottage experience didn’t disappoint. As blogger events go, it was organised to perfection and I came away the most inspired I’ve felt in a long time.

Like many of you, I’m no stranger to River Cottage. I’ve watched pretty much all the programmes from the very humble beginnings of Hugh’s journey and we used to live just up the way from the original River Cottage and would pass it on our walks with the girls. As a family we have attended one of their half day River Cottage experiences and also went to their Summer Fair about 4 years ago. Hubby has attended one of their bread making courses with his father (lucky thing), so I couldn’t wait to see how things had developed since I’d last been and also what was planned for the day.

Picture of River Cottage's Blue Tractor Trailer


There was a mixture of Food, Lifestyle and Parenting Bloggers at the event and we all started our day with a rather bumpy tractor trailer ride down to River Cottage HQ from the car park. The anticipation from everyone was palpable and the hum of excited chitter chatter filled the trailer as we bounced our way down the track.

Picture of River Cottage Outside Yurt

Picture of River Cottage Yurt with Log Burning Fire


Once we’d all safely disembarked, we were taken into a Yurt with a beautiful log burning fire and given a breakdown from Jason of what the day had in store for us. We were divided into 3 groups and I was in the red group. I was excited to see that I was in the same group as Annie Spratt from Mammasaurus and, as I later found out, Chris Mosler from Thinly Spread. It was like being with blogger royalty!

Picture of Bloggers socialising at Blog Camp River Cottage


We were then offered refreshments and some very delicious mini pain au chocolat and omelette canapés. This gave us all a chance to chat, and for some to catch up with old blogging friends.

Picture of omelette canapes served at Blog Camp River Cottage

Picture of Mini Pain Au Chocolat at Blog Camp River Cottage


Our group had ‘Food Styling’ first with the lovely Lucy from ‘Capture by Lucy’. I have to say that I felt completely out of my depth with this session, but I took away so many tips and tricks which inspired me to really try harder with my photography. I love taking photos however at the moment I only have my iPhone and my Sony Compact Automatic which is very limited on what it can really do. Seeing so many of my fellow bloggers with “proper” SLR cameras made me realise that I really need to update mine if I intend to take my passion further.




Lucy imparted such a wealth of tips and advice; what books to source for inspiration, useful apps, how to use the colour wheel when choosing props to compliment the food we photograph, how to use stones, Lego or Bluetack to make a tea cup rim appear straight and how to create the effect of steam using a tampon. Yes, a tampon!




I came away from this session a touch shell shocked if I’m honest and wondered if I was worthy of being there with all these seasoned food photographers, however to have that level of expertise coming my way was fabulous and it made me think harder about what I was photographing throughout the rest of the day.

Our second session was with the wonderful Will Livingstone, Head Gardener at River Cottage HQ. Will is a long standing member of the River Cottage team and his passion for what he does is infectious. I think what hit me more than anything about the whole day was the passion and commitment all the staff have in making River Cottage HQ what it is. There’s an energy there which sweeps you along. We were encouraged to try things from the working gardens and really experience what River Cottage had to offer. Nothing was off limits and we were encouraged to ask questions and really immerse ourselves in the experience.





River Cottage HQ is set in approximately 90 acres and is certified organic by the Soil Association. As we’re currently in #OrganicSeptember being somewhere such as River Cottage felt very fitting and brought home the amazing possibilities with “going organic”. River Cottage’s Soil Association certification is their benchmark, however as Will imparted, they try hard to go beyond these standards which is amazing.

They have ewes, beef cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and guinea fowl. They also have bees which produce their own honey for them. As River Cottage has grown they are no longer completely self-sufficient, however what they can’t grow or produce onsite they source locally from small producers within a 30 mile radius. This is the same for their cafés too.

They are fully sustainable with a well for their water, wind turbine to generate electricity and a reed bed sewage system for the toilets.



The kitchen garden is Victorian style with a 4 bed system. This enables them to rotate crops, which in turn reduces pests and disease in the soil. Their 4 beds contain Legumes, Brassicas, Roots & Onions and Others. To give an example of their crop rotation, they may plant peas and beans as they produce nitrogen, then they would rotate and plant brassicas next as they need nitrogen in the soil to grow well and so on. It’s all very clever yet very simple too.



I tasted my first Nasturtium Flower which Will encouraged me to eat in one. I did and it was quite peppery in taste almost like watercress. These later featured in our cookery session in the afternoon. I was also able to taste some of the delicious ‘All Gold’ Raspberries which were growing in the fruit garden. I had only the day before been chatting to my youngest daughter about whether yellow raspberries existed. She was watching a programme on television whilst I busied myself with other things, and asked me if yellow raspberries were real. I said “no, they are pinky red. You know that”. However, she was having none of it and told me to rewind the programme (oh the joys of modern TV eh?) and low and behold there on the screen were yellow raspberries. That was me told!


To then be up close and personal with those very same raspberries the following day made me chuckle. And boy do they taste good. They are less tart and have a mild sweet taste. According to Will these are a good choice for gardeners as birds don’t think they’ve ripened due to the colour and leave them alone. Clever gardening indeed.



We then met the pigs and chickens and saw what the poly tunnels grow throughout the year. I could chat so much more about this part of the day, but with so much more to tell you, I must move on.



We came back after our tour to the aromatic smells of lunch wafting from the kitchens. And what a delight this was. Gelf Alderson one of the Head Chefs stood at the front of the dining hall and made our mouths water as he told us what we were to experience. We had homemade wholemeal ravioli made with Dexter beef which had been aged for 5 weeks and then slow cooked over a 36 hour period. This was then served with a tasty ragu, freshly baked bread and the most scrumptious corn on the cob I’ve ever eaten. I was in need of a tooth pick afterwards and the lovely Jason gallantly found me a wooden skewer which did the job perfectly! Thanks Jason; you saved the day. Nothing worse than sweetcorn stuck in your teeth!




 Desert was a sumptuous delight; fennel flower meringue, served with vanilla and coffee infused ice cream with salted caramel and damsons from the garden. It was a taste explosion in the mouth and each flavour complemented the next perfectly. I’m not a coffee drinker myself however I happily lapped this offering up. Delicious.




After lunch our last session of the day was with Group Head Chef, Gill Meller, who taught us all how to make butter from double cream and then soda bread using the butter milk we’d created from the butter making process. I never realised butter was quite so easy to make and I loved that we were able to add in leaves and flowers from the garden to create a work of art. I found the whole process really therapeutic and had forgotten how much I love being in the kitchen creating on my own without little people to direct.









To flavour our soda bread we foraged for blackberries which really tested our skills, as most of them had been picked by the earlier two groups. We all managed to find enough for our bread and we added in apple, herbs and cheese to make a tasty bread to take home with us and eat with our butter.






By this stage of the day I was buzzing with all the things we’d done. We headed back to the dining area for refreshments and more chat and were able to buy some goodies from the River Cottage shop if we wished.



Sadly our day had to come to an end and we all piled onto the trailer again and headed back up the bumpy track to the car park. Reality hit once more as I got into my car, however I was left completely inspired from my day out.

I had an amazing day, met some great bloggers and came away with a renewed passion in taking my love of food, cooking and nutrition further.

If you get the chance to visit River Cottage HQ, do it. It doesn’t disappoint. Dare I say it, for me it’s a magical place and one I’m keen to revisit sooner rather than later.

Until next time x

********

A heartfelt, “Thank You”, to Sally & Lindy of Foodies 100, and the whole team at River Cottage HQ. You made a group of bloggers very, very happy and I for one will be heading back as soon as possible to experience one of the many River Cottage cookery courses on offer x

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Saturday 19 September 2015

Gorgeously Green Gathering 2015

It’s hard to believe that a week ago tomorrow I was getting up at 6.00am on a Sunday to make the 2 hour journey to Swindon for the much anticipated ‘Gorgeously Green Gathering’ organised by Rach (All Natural Aspirations), Sarah (Sugarpuffish) and Jen (Jen’s Green Skincare).



For me, this was my first official blogger event and my first green beauty one too. I was excited and nervous about the day. You spend so much time reading people’s blogs, watching You Tube videos, and tweeting behind your computer that it can seem a touch surreal to be finally meeting everyone face to face for the first time.

I needn’t have worried though, as everyone was just so lovely. I’ve met Kim from Botanical Brands and Elijah from Bodhi & Birch before so it was great to catch up with them both again. It was also good to make new contacts with Rachael of MyRoo and Olga of The Rose Tree. Both these smaller artisan brands are new to me. I’ve read about them on other green beauty blogs but never tried their products. Finally Caroline, a Weleda Wellbeing Advisor came and spoke to us on behalf of Weleda.



I truly love to find out more about how a brand began. Having launched my own online boutique I know that we all have our own personal story to tell, about why we took our passion for green beauty that one step further. Each and every one is different and I think it’s that which came across on Sunday. Each brand is so unique because the founder’s personal journey is so different. I found it inspiring to hear of other’s journeys and unwavering determination to make their brand a success in what is now a very competitive marketplace.



I also enjoyed finding out more about the essence of Weleda. I use their products and have always wanted to attend one of their Insight Days. As a Holistic Therapist I really resonate with the length they go to in making their products. It’s not just about the ingredients; it’s also about the people too. Weleda is about the energy vibration that goes into each and every one of their products. Now to some that may sound a touch “hippy” or “out there”, however for me, it makes my connection to the brand that much stronger. So thank you Caroline for making me fall in love with the brand just a little bit more than I already did x



In the afternoon, we were all given an informative make up tutorial from Ailish (The Glow Getter) using make-up from Living Nature and Lippy Girl using Bathing Beauty’s beautiful new make-up brushes. Amber (Amber’s Beauty Talk) was Ailish’s model and whilst watching, it made me realise that I could really do with a one-to-one make up tutorial all of my own! I’m rubbish when it comes to make up – probably why I don’t wear much of it – so watching tricks and tips of how to make your eyes “pop” or defining your cheek bones was really worthwhile. Thanks Ailish.


We were also let loose on a box of Living Nature & Lippy Girl make-up on each table. Alex from The Greener Beauty Blog make me giggle with her enthusiasm for getting stuck into the goodies – see picture. It was great to see the joy natural make up can bring to a table of women!




Rach, Sarah and Jen had organised a raffle in aid of the charity Facing the World. They raised a fabulous £165 and I was lucky enough to win some of Living Nature’s make up – yay! Prizes were generously given by the brands who attended the day so a huge “thank you” to them.


We had a networking session at the end where we could chat and connect with the Brands and I’d say that this was the part of the day I wish had been longer. There didn’t seem to be enough time to chat and connect with fellow bloggers and the brands, so if I had one recommendation for next time (if there is one), then this would be it.

We were sent home with fabulous goody bags, so a huge “thank you” to the brands for these and also to The Primal Pantry, Consider It and Essential Trading for the yummy foodie additions to the bag. Yummy scrum.


I had a fabulous day and was absolutely knackered by the time I returned home. I imagine that Rach, Sarah and Jen collapsed in happy heaps when they got home after all the hard work which went into making the day such a success. Thank you all.

I hope there’ll be another Gorgeously Green Gathering next year. I think it was a lovely way to bring green bloggers together in one space so we could all network and chat. I’m looking forward to trying out my skincare goodies particularly the brands I’ve not tried before.

Thanks again guys. Until next time x

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If you’re interested in seeing a video of the day, then check out Rach’s You Tube Video here. You can also see other pictures and blogposts from other bloggers at the event in this Twitter feed.


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