Reflecting on an Amazing Year !

Well Hello there ! I’m back !

                

Yes, I know, I’ve been neglecting you my lovely readers over the past few months. And now the end of this amazing year is upon us once more, I thought it important to at least pop by briefly to finish the year off properly. And what a year it’s been for me.

The past 3-4 months have been spent organising the launch of my online shop (which now runs alongside this blog). And what a busy 3-4 months they have been. Building the site, choosing the products I wanted to stock, going live in November (a little later than I’d initially hoped for) and then all the fabulous build up to Christmas and now New Year’s Eve. And to top it all, today is my youngest daughter’s 3^rd Birthday so it really has been a busy time for us as a family.

It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago I took the plunge to enter the world of blogging and a year on I've launched a small business to run alongside it. The passion I felt when I first started sharing with you back in October last year hasn't waned one bit. If anything I’m hungrier than ever to learn more, experience more and share all this with you my readers. This is an ever evolving, learning journey for me too. And I’ve learnt so much in just a year.

There have been lots of lovely “Highs” to my year. Winning several lovely competitions, two of which stand out: Original Sprout’s competition to win £100 worth of their great hair care products and then winning a stunning hamper of goodies from Bodhi. Oh and how I jumped for joy that day ! And to top it off I had the pleasure of a lovely conversation with Bodhi’s founder, Elijah Choo. If you haven’t experienced Bodhi’s skin and bodycare products you are truly missing out. I will be blogging about them in the New Year. Winning this competition allowed me to indulge in this fabulous product range and then decide that they just had to be included in our product range for Sophia’s Choice online shop.

Another “high” for me was going to my very first trade exhibition in April. I attended the Natural & Organic Products Europe Exhibition and loved connecting with many brands and their founders. It was this exhibition which helped me formulate a plan of who I wanted to include in the shop. Again the New Year will bring many posts of those people I met and their great products.

As I mentioned in my previous “1^st Blogging Birthday” post, I have connected with some amazing people who have given me such support particularly over the past few months. I truly appreciate that support and thank you all for being there for me. You know who you are.

In November the Natural Beauty Yearbook Awards took place. I remember last November picking up on this quite early on in my blogging career. I knew it mattered within the Natural Beauty industry and have followed those mentioned in last year’s awards with interest. Never in a million years did I think my little blog and I would be put forward for inclusion in this year’s edition in the beauty blog section ! I received an invite to the awards night which sadly I couldn’t make, but just to be mentioned was fabulous.  Let’s hope I make it again in 2014 so I can actually go to the party next time J

And the icing on the cake has to be launching my little online shop in mid November and then being accepted into The Good Web Guide too. I’m very proud of her, and all who sale in her. I am truly excited about what 2014 has to bring. I’ll be adding lots more brands to the site over the coming months and attending local Fairs to sell my wares too, so it will be a fun and exciting time for Sophia’s Choice.

The blog will carry on as it always has. I have lots of posts waiting patiently in the wings to be shared with you (I apologise to all those who are waiting for their post to go live! It will happen, I promise) and many more products to be sourced and shared.

And lastly, I would like to thank, you, my readers, for being here and reading my musings. Without you commenting and sharing this blog it wouldn’t feel half as special as it does. I wish you all a wonderful evening bringing in 2014 with those you love and I hope with all my heart that this New Year brings you and those close to you an abundance of love, health, happiness and joy. You deserve it!

A Bientot ! xx

Celebrating Our 1st Blogging Anniversary Today !

Today Sophia’s Choice celebrates its first blogging anniversary! Wow, where has that year gone?

It was a year ago to the day that I jumped into the blogging world feet first and took the plunge to set up my very first blog and wrote this blog post. The concept for Sophia’s Choice had been whirling around my head for years and my husband finally commented that if I didn't do it now I never would. And he was right.

We’d lost my mother 13 months beforehand to lung cancer and it was the day after what would have been her 70th birthday that I finally realised it really was now or never. As the saying goes, “time and tide wait for no man” and if I really wanted to write and share what I had whirring around in my head which was taking up much needed storage space, then I just had to jump straight in and give it a go.

What I didn’t anticipate was gaining a loyal following of readers, and finding a circle of like-minded individuals and fellow bloggers to share with, some of whom I now call my friends. I have had an immense amount of fun and have learnt so much too.

When you first begin your blogging journey you really aren’t aware of the vast Bloggersphere that awaits you. It’s only when you start connecting with people and realise that many of them are indeed reading your posts (and sometimes even commenting!) that you understand that this blogging malarkey actually carries a level of responsibility with it too. What you put out there matters and I’ve come to respect a great many of my fellow bloggers particularly in the area of Green Beauty and parenting.

I’d like to do a little shout out to those bloggers who have helped me in my first year of blogging for Sophia’s Choice and whose blogs I have come to enjoy reading, respect and learn from. The first person is Sarah from Sugarpuffish. I love Sarah’s no nonsense approach to what she writes and tweets. I also love the fact that Sarah’s specialist subject relates to free-from skincare for those like herself who suffer with eczema. If is a fabulous resource, and Sarah also writes a few posts on free-from food too. She has been involved with the Skins Matter Free-from Awards as a stage 2 judge last year and it was then that I found out she knew Alex Gazzola, one of my tutors on my Writers Bureau course which still lies unfinished ! What a small world it is.

Then I met the lovely Ana Green who writes the beauty and lifestyle blog, Ana Goes Green. Again this has been a great source of information for me but more than that I have forged a great friendship with Ana and would class her now as a friend more than an acquaintance. She is a prolific blogger and I wonder how she finds the time to write so many blog posts. I’m lucky if I get one written for you every 2 weeks so I take my hat off to this Mum who is able to blog at that intensity.

After some months of blogging I then met the gorgeous Danny Stokes from Holistic Green Beauty and the beautiful Galina Achkasova-Portianoi, who writes the fabulous Lifestyle blog, A Curious Russian in London. A wealth of information is imparted from these lovely people; Danny was recently referred to as an encyclopedia on natural skincare and beauty and he truly is a wealth of trusted information who also happens to write a great blog too.

And Galina, who like me, is slightly more diverse in the subjects she writes about but who also covers natural, free-from skincare and beauty. This is one lady I definitely now call a friend. I love reading her diverse blog which covers everything from culture and fashion to travel and women’s issues. You really must take a look at this lady’s musings.

All the above bloggers have been a fabulous sounding board for me particularly with regards to Sophia’s Choice becoming an online retail shop. I never imagined that just one year on I’d be launching a business on the back of this blog and I feel I have acquired some great friends in the process. How blessed am I?

I would also like to mention the brands that I connected with almost a year ago, who even from the beginning trusted in me enough to link a competition giveaway to my musings about them and their products, not really knowing who this Charlie from Sophia’s Choice was at first; Green People, Shea Mooti, John Crane Toys, BecoThings, BabyCalm, Calming Colic, Sotto e Sopra, Orico London, EllaPure London. It means a lot that you took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to try out and review your great products.

There have been many other brands and PRs (Tracey from Vert PR and Louise from Babushka Communications) who have given me opportunities to try out products for review that I may not have found otherwise. I would like to thank you all for getting in touch. Aside from what we as a family buy ourselves, without other relevant opportunities coming my way this blog would be far less diverse than it is.

And lastly I’d like to thank my Mum. Without her belief in me and what I felt I had to share, this blog would probably never have materialised. It was her and my husband who championed my idea and it is her that I dedicate this post to today. It would have been her 71^st birthday yesterday, so Mum, Thank you and Happy Birthday. I hope I’ve made you proud xx

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I truly hope you have enjoyed reading my musings so far and fingers crossed you will stay with me for another year. I think I worked out that I have enough bits on my blog list to write a post once or twice a week for the next year ! I think I better get myself organised if I’m going to get them all on the blog. Have a lovely weekend my lovelies. Until next time x

Aime Natural Skincare Range - Review

Back in August I was given the opportunity to try out a couple of products from the Aime Natural Skincare range. I had briefly come across them via Twitter and remember thinking when I looked at their website how pretty their packaging was.

I was sent their Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash and their Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser to try out.

Aime was created by leading beauty expert and ex-Estee Lauder executive, Fiona Parkhouse and was created initially for her own daughter, Samantha. As most teenagers find out extra-oiliness and breakouts on their skin are common place and Samantha was experiencing these concerns along with sensitive skin. Not wanting to aggravate this with products that stripped the skin and made it dry and itchy, Fiona worked with leading dermatologist, Dr Susan Mayou to create an effective  natural solution which became Aime.

Although initially created for young skin, Aime have found that women of all ages have benefited from their range. Just because we aren’t still in our teenage years doesn’t mean we don’t get breakouts or spots and oily areas. I can vouch for that having had oily / combination skin since my teenage years. I think that’s why I have a passion for finding effective natural skincare for this age group that works. Your teenage years can be stressful enough without feeling the need to hide your face away from the world too. And now I’m heading towards my menopausal years, hormones will start to rear their ugly head once more to test my resolve, so skincare ranges like Aime can be welcome relief to those of us who still suffer from those annoying oily t-zones.

Aime’s products are made using 95% natural ingredients and are pH balanced and dermatologically tested. Their skincare range does not use parabens, mineral oils, petrochemicals, SLS, GMOs. They do not test their products on animals and do not use any animal ingredients. All their products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

So, what did I think of the products which I was sent to try out?

Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash

This cleanser comes in cute pink packaging which will definitely appeal to the teenage market. It has harmonising natural extracts of orange blossom, mayblossom, elderflower and raspberry. The facial wash is a cream facial wash cleanser rather than a gel. It doesn’t foam in any way. You add water and massage into the skin, then rinse off. It left my skin feeling lovely and clean, with a slightly matt feel to it. Over a period of weeks I noticed my pores were clean and smaller. Overall it was good but I wasn’t sure of the fragrance. I will go into this subject a little later on in this post.

Ingredients:

Aqua (water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Theobroma Cacoa (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Elthylhexyglycerin, Parfum (fragrance), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Betaine, Panthenol, Citrus Auranthium Amara (Bitter Orange), Flower Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Crataegus Monogina Fruit Extract, Benzophenon-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sorbic Acid, CI 15510 (Orange 4), Cl 17200 (Red 33).

Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser

This moisturiser comes in lemon packaging and again is very appealing. If you buy with your eyes as well as other factors, then I think you will be drawn to this range. It uses harmonising natural extracts of vitamin E, bilberry and rosehip.

Ingredients:

Aqua (water), Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Myristyl Myristate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Nylon-12, Parfum (Fragrance), Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Biosaccharide-Gum-1, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzophenone-4, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitonellal, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylproppinal, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDRA, Cl 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 15510 (Orange 4).

Now for the purpose of this review I used this moisturiser for a few weeks, but I found it hard. I am not a big fan of synthetic fragrance (parfum) and I have a nose which can pick it up a mile off. Before I transitioned to natural and organic skincare, I used the ‘Simple’ range because I found most of the other mainstream ranges too overpowering with their scents.

Sadly the fragrance used in this moisturiser did not agree with me (the one in the facial wash was less overpowering) and because it was on my face, the aroma lingered. However, it’s all about preference and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. The moisturiser itself was effective and left my skin with a nice matte finish. It was a good base for my foundation and on that point I cannot fault it.

I asked Aime about the ‘parfum’ issue and also about the fact that they use colour in their products. I personally don’t see a need to have colour in skincare products. For me how they feel and smell is more important. Also, it’s about how they nourish my skin above all else which is key.

Aime explained that where they do use colour it is Food, Drug & Cosmetics approved colours.  With regards to their fragrance, they have relied either on the natural fragrance of their plant, fruit and botanical ingredients, or else used very low levels of fragrance, each hand-picked to have as few potential allergens as possible. Amie believe that synthetic fragrances are safer for sensitive skin as they contain the least amount of potential allergens (citronellol, limonene, linalool, etc) as all other fragrance types carry a risk of allergic reaction.

I have to say that I’m not sure I agree with Aime on the fragrance issue here particularly for sensitive skin. So we will have to agree to disagree on that one. I prefer harnessing nature’s own fragrance through essential oils where possible. I understand that not everyone can use products with them in, and personally I would therefore go for a range which was either fragrance free or used other gentle botanicals, like Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Starflower range for sensitive skin.

However, I think if you are looking for a range of skincare to transition yourself from mainstream products to a more natural range then Aime is a good place to start particularly if you like the more typical synthetic fragrance mainstream products have. It will also appeal to the teenage market because of the very appealing packaging. On this one Aime score highly. I love the fresh, colourful feel of the range.

If you’d like to find out more about Aime’s skincare range then you can pop across to their website, follow them on Twitter or find them on Facebook.

Have any of you used Aime’s range of skincare and if so, what has been your experience. I’d love to know your thoughts.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time x

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Disclaimer: I was given a 150ml tube of Morning Dew Facial Wash and a 100ml tube of Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser to use and review for this post. All views, thoughts and feelings are my own and no one else’s.

The Joy of Music and Dance for Your Little Ones

It’s my belief that music is food for the Soul.

It’s always been important to me. Every since I was a child and particularly as a teenager I used music to escape from the difficult times life often deals us. I was a bit of a loner and music was my solace. I used different types of music for different moods and it helped me to cope in an often confusing world. I've always loved to dance and wish that I’d pursued this further when I was younger. 

So when I had Sophia I wanted to encourage her to embrace music in all its forms. She was a shy toddler who lacked confidence and through Sing and Sign and Jo Jingles classes her confidence grew and she looked forward to our weekly music and dance classes.

For Jess, my youngest we again attended Sing and Sign classes but this time we tried out Kindermusik with Magdelena Atkinson whose passion for music and dance was evident from the moment I met her. 

So rather than me share with you what we thought of Kindermusik and Magdelena’s music classes, I thought it would be nice for Magdelena to ‘Guest Post’ on Sophia’s Choice and share with you herself the positive effects music and dance have on our babies and children. Enjoy x

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"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and lends to all that is good and just and beautiful.” – Plato

Since 2005 as a qualified music teacher I've offered music and movement classes for children in the Dorchester area. Until now I have been supporting myself and my families with the programme called KINDERMUSIK. It gave me and my families’ wings to enjoy music, create new songs, make friends, move more freely and have amazing fun! The benefits are endless.

So when to start and why?

Baby Class

Research shows that singing and swaying during pregnancy has already had an impact on the musicality of a baby. She will recognize voices around her, especially the mother’s voice. So as soon as the baby is born and the mum feels happy to be out and about, then it is good to consider starting classes. I started to bring each of my 3 children one by one at the age of 3 months. In a baby class you strengthen those early parent-child bonds, and heavily focus on child development and communication with your baby, using sign language and reading the clues from each other’s faces. You and your baby will enjoy instrument play, dance, exploration time, and together time - and you’ll get expert advice and parenting resources based on the most recent research in baby development.

Toddler Class

When the child gets older, his needs change slightly, the urge to move gets stronger, so the whole dynamics of the class change from a more mellow baby class to a more active toddler class. With more movement and action songs, I pay strong attention to the needs of relaxation at the end, teaching children to enjoy quieter time and letting go of stimulations. At that age children start to interact more with each other, they are ready for a more complex approach to learning. We sing, dance, play instruments, read stories, create sounds, share and deal with our emotions in the most safe and friendly environment.

Preschoolers

The next age group enjoys more independence, play with language, deepening of the imagination in so many lovely and surprising ways. Here we go for music adventure to search for sounds, clues, and movements reflecting our topics.

The Structure

The classes take 45 minutes; babies and toddlers are accompanied by their caregivers. Often siblings are welcome so the experience can be for the whole family! Monthly or half termly topics give us the tools and ideas to enjoy the songs and activities around different subjects, from the world outside, to feelings and daily routines. As a musician and a singer, I also compose the songs and bring different instruments to the session, my guitar, a ukulele, a dulcimer or a variety of shakers, bells, drums, sticks, etc. Each session is different but connected to the previous and the next one.

If you have a baby or a young child, I hope that you will consider joining our sessions or invite a friend for a free trial!

Testimonials:

 “The first time I saw Magdalena talking about her work with children and music she spoke with such fun and yet so much passion I was really keen to experience her classes with my son. My goodness she did not disappoint! Her creative spin coupled with her obvious talent and great connection with children means my son and I really enjoy our Kindermusik sessions and cherish them as special time together. I love that he comes home singing her songs. If you ever get the chance to meet Magdalena make sure you do. She is a wonderful lady with a great deal to offer”.

Lucy, mother of Ru

“We have been coming to Kindermusik sessions with Magdalena for nearly 3 years and our time there has been fantastic. We have enjoyed the Babies and now the Toddler sessions and have found them both engaging, friendly and fun!! It has been a great opportunity to explore the world of music and movement with the children and Magdalena has been an enthusiastic and supportive guide! My children love Kindermusik!” 

Catherine, James (3 years old) & Elizabeth (2 Years old - nearly!)

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If you would like to find out more about Magdelena’s music classes for babies and toddlers in the Dorchester and Charlton Down area of Dorset, you can connect with her on her website or on Facebook. 

If you are not in the Dorset area but are interested in finding out more about Kindermusik and their classes for babies and toddlers then you can find out more here and on Facebook.

UPDATE: MAGDELENA IS SADLY NO LONGER OFFERING HER MUSIC CLASSES.

Naturya Power Foods – Helping you stay healthy from the inside out

I've always had a keen interest in health and nutrition and this interest grew when I trained to become a Holistic Therapist. Nutrition was certainly covered in part on these courses but my interest for this subject has never really waned, so I recently decided to enroll onto a Nutrition diploma course and will begin this exciting new journey from October. It will give me the opportunity to really learn in depth how what we eat affects our health both in body and mind.

When I gave birth to my eldest daughter, I never anticipated that I would suffer with PND. I was very against taking anti-depressants and in the end a large part of my recovery came when I looked very closely at my diet and competed a 12 week alkaline course (with Energise for Life) followed by a 7 day juice detox (with Jason Vale Juice Master). If you’re interested you can read my journey here. I also wrote about my most recent Jason Vale Juice Detox too which you can read here.

This was when I was first introduced to super or power foods. I’d never really come across them before and this new world of how to get nutrient dense foods into my body was fascinating. I fell in love with juices and smoothies of the green variety and my body actually began to crave them after several months. They tended to include wheatgrass, spirulina, and maca amongst others. So when the opportunity to try out some great power foods from Naturya became available whilst I was looking for brands to stock in my Online Retail Shop, I jumped at the chance.

Naturya was founded in 2009 and evolved quickly as a result of two close friends who came together, pooled their skills and qualities to develop an honest, dynamic and professionally run company that is both ethical and respectful to the environment and mindful of their carbon footprint. Their range of power foods include 10 products; Chia Seeds, Wheatgrass Powder, Spirulina Powder, Hemp Protein Powder, Lucuma Powder, Maca Powder, Acai Powder, Barleygrass powder, Chlorella Powder, and Cocoa Nibs. All their products are high quality at fair prices and they also have Soil Association accreditation. They donate a portion of their profits to third world charitable organisations that focus on providing nourishment for those who are less fortunate that us.

Kate from Naturya kindly sent me a pack of Chia Seeds, Wheatgrass and Spirulina powders to try out and my first impression was how big the bags were. I was expecting small pouch bags but they are a good size reinforcing their value for money. The bags are re-sealable and stand up nicely in the cupboard.

When I first started juicing and having green smoothies I used a range of different brands of wheatgrass and spirulina and it’s fair to say that not all brands are made equal. Naturya pride themselves on the purity of their power foods and both the spirulina and wheatgrass taste lovely (the wheatgrass having a subtle sweetness to it) and are not in any way gritty as I’ve experienced with other some brands.

So let’s look at each one individually:

Chia Seeds

Naturya’s Chia Seeds are cultivated on the sierras of South America where they have been grown for thousands of years and once formed an integral part of the Aztec and Mayan diets. Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help to protect the body against heart disease and improve the body’s cholesterol levels. Chia Seeds are high in fibre, antioxidants, calcium and protein. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals; vitamin A, B3, iron and magnesium.

If you Google the internet you will find a whole range of recipes using Chia seeds from Chia gel to their use in porridge and smoothies. They can also be used in bread products like loaves, tortillas and dough balls. Naturya’s website has a “Recipes” page where you can experiment using all the power foods they produce.

Spirulina

Spirulina is an ancient blue-green algae and Naturya’s is sustainably cultivated in outdoor ponds. It is rich in a natural form of protein, vitamins and minerals including B2, vitamin E and high levels of iron.

Spirulina can be mixed into water although I prefer it as a great addition to juices, smoothies and it can also be mixed into dips, salsa or with pasta.

Wheatgrass

Naturya’s wheatgrass is grown organically outdoors, where the combination of natural sunlight and rich, fertile soil promote the assimilation of nutrients in the developing shoots. It is packed with vitamins and chlorophyll and is a vibrant green once dried onto a powder.

Many people take wheatgrass by juicing the grass itself but for the majority the ease of using a powder along with its more affordable cost means this is a great way to add this power food to your diet. Wheatgrass is rich in vitamin A, C, E and K along with the B vitamins. These help to strengthen the immune system. Wheatgrass is also a good source of iron and magnesium.

Like spirulina you can mix wheatgrass neat into water and drink but I prefer it in my juices and smoothies. It can also be included in soups, jams, energy bars, salad dressings and dip. I think with many of these power foods it’s only your imagination which will stop you coming up with great ideas for their use.

There are a range of different branded super or power foods on the market these days but I feel that Naturya are one well worth considering. Their power foods have been confirmed by the Vegan Society as suitable for vegans, they are gluten free, have no additives, fillers or binders and their Chia Seeds, Hemp Protein powder, Lucuma powder and Maca powder are all raw (where the temperature involved in the processing must not go above 45 degrees C). The other 6 products are only briefly heated during processing.

If you’d like further information on the power foods Naturya produce then they have a good website with full product information, recipes, & FAQs. You can also link up with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Have any of you used power foods in your daily routine? And have you used Naturya before. I’d love you to share your experience of how power foods have worked for you. They've certainly helped me in getting my health back on track again.

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Disclaimer: I was sent a 300g bag of Chia Seeds, and 200g bags of Wheatgrass and Spirulina Powder as part of my research for brands to stock in my online retail shop. It also gave me the opportunity to try them out for review on Sophia’s Choice. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, honest feelings no one else’s.

Pinks Boutique Celebrate Organic September with their Organic Beauty Festival

For those of you who aren't aware, this month is Organic September and we are half way through this great celebration of all things organic from the Soil Association. This initiative is about asking people to make small changes in their lives which in turn will make a big difference.

Many natural skincare brands are taking part in this fabulous initiative and you can find out more about what is happening for the rest of the month by visiting their website.

Pinks Boutique, the natural luxury spa brand are one of those who are making the most of this and they've launched their Organic Beauty Festival throughout September with 20% off all luxury organic products. Many spas and salons around the country who use Pinks Boutique in their spa treatments will be joining in providing a range of offerings including information on the science and benefits of organic skincare for the skin, organic spa treatment packages and offers on treatments, organic tea and cake tasting, organic skincare consultations and organic advice and much more. 

Kirstie from Pinks Boutique kindly sent me one of their gorgeous Hand Balms and a pot of their Rose Crystal Bath Soak to try out. I returned from my holiday in Cornwall to find the most beautiful box with gorgeous brown glass jars in surrounded by little pink rose buds. The smell escaping from the box was divine and I couldn't wait to try out the hand balm straight away.

You only need a pea sized amount of the hand balm, so a little goes a very long way indeed with this 50g pot. The balm works into the skin well and is luxuriously rich. For me it is too rich to use as a daily hand balm but for someone who has dry to very dry hands this is a must have item. I used this at night when the balm could do its work whilst I slept. I then awoke to beautifully smooth, soft hands ready for the day. The smell of this balm is almost intoxicating. It’s one of those products that you keep smelling and re-smelling because it enlivens all your senses. The balm is made with rich organic shea butter, sweet orange, neroli and vitamin E to promote cell regeneration and is very moisturising.

Ingredients:

86.5% Organic Ingredients. Shea butter (butyrospermum parki) - organic sunflower oil (helianthus annus) - organic apricot kernel (prunus armeniaca) - vegetable wax (cetyl alcohol) - organic jojoba oil (buxus chinensis) - vegetable glycerine - natural vitamen E (tocopherol) - essential oils of sweet orange ( citrus sinensis) - patchouli (pogostemon cablin) - ylang ylang (cananga odorata) - neroli ( citrus aurantium) - corn starch (zea mays). NATURALLY OCCURING; linalool - limonene - benzyl benzoate - benzyl salicylate - eugenol - farneso.

I was also given a pot of Pinks Boutiques Rose Crystal Bath Soak with beautiful pink rose buds included. The attention to detail with this range is wonderful. It creates a real experience rather than just a skin and bodycare range.

Made with Himalayan crystal rock salt which contains 84 of the 92 trace minerals known to man, more than any other natural or man-made salt, this soak is infused with rose essential oils and smells delicious. For this Mum it made having a long, quiet soak in the bath (which might I add rarely happens these days!) a fabulously relaxing experience. I’ll have to hide the pot from the girls or they’ll be sure to add some to their bath time ritual at bedtime!

As Pinks Boutique explain on their website:

“Along with Dead Sea Salts, Epsom salts and our relaxing Rose blend of essential oils the soak will:

• A Help relax and promote sound sleep
• Assist with skin healing and softening
• Help prevent muscle cramps
• Assists the skin and body to detoxify and the skin to store moisture
• Help to balance the pH of our skin and entire body
• 100% Natural, kind to sensitive skins, SLS free.
• No petrochemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, colour or parabens”

Ingredients:

100% natural ingredients. Ingredients: Sodium chloride (Himalayan mineral crystal), maris sal (Dead Sea salt), magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt), pelargonium graveolens flower oil*, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil*, cymbopogon martinii flower oil*, cananga odorata flower oil*, rosa centifloia (rose) flower oil*, geraniol**, citronellol**, limonene**, linalool**, farnesol**, citral**, benzyl benzoate**, benzyl salicylate** (**Natural constituents of essential oils.) (*Certified organic. **Natural constituents of essential oils.)

Kirstie also very kindly popped a small sample pot of their Ocha & Rosehip moisturiser into the box for me to try. This smells lovely and sinks well into the skin. It is ideal for normal to dry skin with Rosehip being renowned for its ability to reduce wrinkles, photo-ageing sun damage and scar tissue. What I like about Pinks Boutique is that they do “Try Me” kits for both their skincare ranges so you can really get an idea of the products before investing in full size jars.

I’m very impressed with what I've seen of Pinks Boutique so far and would definitely love to try out more of their range particularly their face care range. They have an informative website with some great videos for you to watch too. It’s a shame that I don’t have a participating spa just down the road from me taking part in their Organic Beauty Festival or I’d be escaping from the chaos of being Mum to relax and recharge my batteries.

Have any of you experienced Pink Boutiques spa treatments or range of natural, organic skincare? I’d love to know if you have and what products you’ve tried or recommend. Enjoy the rest of Organic September and don’t forget that small changes make a big difference xx

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Disclaimer: I was given a 50g pot of Hand Balm, a 50g pot of Rose Crystal Bath Soak and a sample pot of Ocha & Rosehip moisturiser to try out for this review. All opinions, thoughts and feelings on these products are my own and no one else’s. I am genuinely impressed with this lovely range of natural, organic products.