Review of John Masters Organic Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Washby Caroline S.
Packaging: the bottle is a rather classy frosted plastic which looks expensive and is appealing to both men and women.
Application: I've always been tempted by John Masters Organics products but I've never actually tried any until now - so I was genuinely excited when I opened the bottle for the first time.
Don't be put off by your first sniff of the body wash in the bottle. It may seem rather strong and sweet - but this is because it is very concentrated and the vanilla is what hits you first.
When you actually lather up in the heat and steam of the shower, you quickly discover that the foam of the body wash is as far removed from sickly sweet as you can imagine. The vanilla undertones do come through but the main blast of the fragrance is pure, fresh orange. I say "blast" because that is truly what it is. A full assault on your senses of exquisite, juicy, organic orange - the sharpness of the citrus really wakes you up, as though someone has decided to peel an orange right under your nose!
Personally, I love the smell of orange but I generally am not the biggest fan of oranges for actually for eating. However, using this John Masters body wash genuinely made me crave a big, juicy orange to bite into! My mouth was watering! I've never yet tried any orange-scented body wash/bath foam that smells so genuine - and I've been using natural products for years. If you are coming to this straight from regular use of synthetic soaps, then you are in for the biggest surprise of your life!
The vanilla lingers underneath as a gentle, soothing fragrance and takes the edge off the citric tang. It has the effect of making you feel as though you are being wrapped in a huge, soft, fluffy, warm towel. The gel and lather feel very silky and luxurious on the skin and you really do get a sense of indulgence - so it is perfect for grabbing a bit of "me" time, even when you are in a rush!
The only problem I had was that the gel is very thick and concentrated and was difficult to squeeze from the bottle. I would have preferred a pump dispenser - or even a more easily squeezable bottle. I also found that the best way to create a really foamy lather was with a puff - when you apply straight onto the body, the wash slides smoothly over the skin but does not really foam. The end result is the same, however I found that I used far more product when I didn't use a shower puff, so it is not as cost-effective this way.
Ingredients: The key ingredients are: blood orange, bourbon vanilla, pink grapefruit and milk thistle. Blood orange and pink grapefruit are known for their stimulating properties and vanilla is claimed to be soothing and comforting to the senses. Milk thistle is widely used in detoxification. The cleansing agents in the John Masters body wash are derived from corn and coconut - and so are creamy and gentle on the skin, without stripping any natural oils. It does not contain parabens, SLS, DEA's, MEA's or TEA's, artifical colours or GMOs. Certified organic by EcoCert/QAI with no ingredients tested on animals.
Results: Not only did this organic body wash leave me feeling mentally and emotionally uplifted, it also made my skin feel thoroughly cleansed and fresh. It is difficult to get the right balance between moisturising and feeling squeaky clean - but this does both brilliantly. Safe for use even on babies, it is suitable for washing intimate areas and also for use after shaving and on delicate skin - it does not sting at all. It leaves your skin soft, smooth and moisturised but without any greasy/oily residue. I didn't find that the smell lingered on my skin particularly, so it wouldn't interfere with the smell of your perfume etc - unless you specifically wanted to layer the fragrance by using the accompanying John Masters Blood Orange and Vanilla body milk.
Pros:
The smell is truly uplifting and refreshing
It leaves skin feeling clean and soft
Is suitable even for sensitive skins
It is a very concentrated formula
A small amount goes a long way if used with a puff
Suitable for use on the face
Cons:
The very thick gel can be difficult to squeeze from the bottle. This product would really benefit from a pump dispenser
It doesn't lather easily
It may be too expensive for everyday use.
Review of Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Rejuvenating Masque.by Nicky B.
Packaging
The Rosa Fina Rejuvenating Masque comes in a white plastic tube with a flip top lid. With its black, pink and silver lettering it looks fresh and expensive!
Application
The Rosa Fina masque felt creamy and fresh on my face and even though I had applied a fair amount within 15 minutes it had nearly all absorbed into my skin. It felt incredibly moisturizing, non-sticky and smelt glorious – a gentle hint of sensual frankincense, one of those rich relaxing essential oils that I love. I didn’t know quite what to expect and I can tell you I was so pleased it didn’t turn into one of those masques that you have to peel off. My experience of these is that lots of ‘bits’ get left behind and you end up more stressed than when you started.
Ingredients
I haven’t used any Barefoot Botanicals products before as I’ve previously thought they were quite expensive. However on closer inspection I see that the ingredients of the Rosa Fina mask actually include a whole range of wonderful and I’m sure quite pricey ingredients including essential oils, mowrah butter (from the seeds of two species of the Indian Madhuca or Butter tree), kokum (obtained from the seeds of the Indian Garcinia indicia tree) and rosa moschata (musk rose) – its origins are thought to lie in the western Himalayas. There are no ‘chemical nasties’ in this masque, it is ‘cruelty free’ and ‘suitable for vegans’. The ingredients are 100% ethically-sourced plant derived. Fabulous!
Results
My skin (and I) certainly felt in need of a bit of rejuvenation so I had high hopes for this organic facial mask. I have very sensitive skin and sensitive eyes and my eyes did tingle a little when I first applied the masque, but this sensation immediately disappeared and they felt fine. My skin felt nourished and pampered. I’m going to use the Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina masque to brighten up my complexion before an evening out next time.
Pros:
Smells wonderful and full of lovely exotic ethically sourced ingredients
My skin felt rejuvenated and pampered
It is apparently good for many different types of skin e.g. combination, sensitive, blemished and mature
Cons:
· It is quite expensive but the quality ingredients are the reason why.
Review of Living Nature Clear Lights Tinted Moisturiser
by Louise M. 
Packaging
Living Nature Clear Lights Tinted Moisturiser comes in a sleek black flip-top dispenser which can easily be stood upright and is recyclable. The packaging feels very robust, and I would put this in my handbag confident that it wouldn’t explode everywhere!
Application
I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of the Living Nature Tinted Moisturiser, which felt thick enough to be moisturising, but thin enough to glide over the skin without dragging the tinted colour and leaving streaks. It absorbed quickly without irritating my skin which can sometimes be very sensitive after my morning shower. I do have very dry skin however, and the product sunk in so quickly that I found I needed to apply my usual moisturiser, wait for 5 minutes and then apply the Living Nature Tinted Moisturiser over the top. This formula worked really well for me, but would not be necessary for anyone with a normal/combination skin.
Ingredients
I have already tried some of the other products from this New Zealand company and have always been impressed by the quality of their ingredients. Living Nature Clear Lights Tinted Moisturiser does not contain any parabens, mineral oils, irrigated, genetically modified, pesticide-treated, synthetic or animal ingredients, and has not been tested on animals. Instead, the active ingredients in this natural tinted moisturiser are macadamia nut oil and manuka honey which are both very nourishing; and although these are all natural ingredients the 50ml tube has a shelf life of 18 months. As well as the beautiful flora I am sure some New Zealand sunshine finds its way into every bottle!
Results
I was pleased with the colour-match of this product for my fair skin tone, but on balance I found it too thin to be sufficiently moisturising on its own and it has very sheer coverage. I ended up mixing a little with my usual concealer to provide more coverage where needed and this worked well.
Pros:
· It suited even my very sensitive and inflamed skin;
· The colour was a good match and did not streak;
· It is made from high quality ingredients.
Cons:
· The coverage was too sheer for my uneven skin tone;
· The light geranium smell may irritate some people;
· I needed to use an additional moisturiser for my problem areas.
Review of Green People Organic Aloe Vera Shower Bathby Kelly B.Packaging
The packaging for the Green People Aloe Vera Shower Bath is very simple, being a white plastic tube with ‘Shower Bath’ highlighted in a bold green colour. I feel the packaging is unisex making it suitable for men too. I would prefer a pump action or a shower gel container that can be hung upside down to make dispensing the product a little easier whilst showering.
Application
The Green People Shower Bath has a lovely smooth and silky texture. It is very concentrated; a little goes a long way with this product. My skin felt extremely silky soft immediately and this organic shower gel was so gentle and calming on my sensitive skin. It is fantastic for shaving my legs with, they felt beautifully smooth afterwards. It is great for shaving the bikini line and under arms too as although these areas can be more sensitive the gentle soothing formula of the Green People Shower Bath means absolutely no sign of irritation or redness. If you love a smooth body and shave daily this is the product for you! What I also loved was that it foamed so little which meant that it was easy to see was I doing whilst shaving my legs. Since this product is so soothing I feel it would be great on sunburnt skin, so ideal for holidays.
The fragrance is really gentle and pleasant. I feel it resembles a mixture of citrus freshness with orange blossom. This scent smells unisex.
Ingredients
Green People Organic Shower Bath is chemical preservative free. So you can feel assured that your body will not be exposed to cancer causing parabens which are present in many commercial shower gels. It is also free from colorants, lauryl sulphate, alcohol, synthetic preservatives and fragrances. A truly gentle product free from potential irritants that can be both drying and toxic to your skin. It is great to know that such a gentle formula can be so effective.
This product contains organically grown vegan ingredients the main one being Aloe Vera, which accounts for the soothing results.
Results
The Green People Shower Bath is so soothing it seems to take away any minor irritations on the skin. In addition it appears to prevent any irritation that may occur from shaving. It appears to seal in moisture and create a barrier as you shave. It is so gentle I feel it is suitable for the whole family. It cleans very effectively in such a soothing way. I highly recommend this product!
Pros:
• Extremely soothing and gentle
• Excellent for shaving your legs
• Gentle refreshing scent
• Unisex
• Suitable for the whole family
• Leaves skin silky smooth
Cons:
• Container would be better if it was a pump action
• If you prefer a foaming showing gel you may not like the lack of foamThe Green People Aloe Vera Shower Bath and the Green People products range is available from Naturisimo.com
This month we bring you Essential Care, an award-winning range with cult status. This organic skincare classic line is certified to Soil Association organic standards and hand-made in Suffolk with pure plant oils and biodynamic herbs.
This complete range is well-known among eczema sufferers and it offers products suitable for different skin types, extensive body and hair care lines and specialist baby and sensitive skin products.
One of the top sellers is the Essential Care Organic Rose Moisturiser (£18.50). Top 3 in the Soil Association Organic Beauty Awards 2007 and recommended by top beauty journalists Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey plus actress Denise van Outen says she "can't live without it!" 
This week I have been using the Essential Care Coconut Cleanser (£14.00). This is a deliciously scented, vegan and organic cleanser is mild yet very effective. The test coincided with a particularly dry patch for my skin. Generally, I would not try a new product at this time to avoid an itchy flare but this cleanser is suitable for dry and sensitive skin. My veredict is that this Coconut Cleanser is one of the most gentle and soothing cleansers I have ever tried. Most cleansers cause some stinging or residual dryness to dry skin but this cleaned my skin safely, dealing with my foundation and mascara effectively. Taking into account the ingredients are a mild and a totally vegan blend of skin-conditioning coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and essential oils including clary sage is not bad. The cleanser has a fresh, delicate scent that is entirely a product of these oils, so there is no need for stingy, artificial fragrances.
If your prefer a face wash or have oily or acne-prone sensitive skin, then the Essential Care Lemon & Tea Tree Facial Wash (£14.00) may be preferable and leaves skin scrupulously clean smooth and refreshed.
A special mention goes to the Essential Care 2 in 1 Purifying Mint Mask (£20.00), the first ever product to be both Organic and Fairtrade UK certified!
The full range of Essential Care products is available from Naturisimo.
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Interested in trying free organic beauty products? Naturisimo.com, UK’s leading organic beauty store, is looking for people who love organic skincare and cosmetics to write product reviews. Currently our editorial team is inundated every month with new natural eco-friendly cosmetics and we are looking to improve our expert product analysis with a wider variety of views.
If you are passionate about organic beauty, willing to try new products and have good english grammar, the Naturisimo Editorial team will offer you free beauty products, insider views on all the latest natural and ethical beauty trends and the prestige of being part of the Naturisimo Editorial team.
So if you are interested, please contact us today. Simply enter your details and ‘Editorial Team’ as the subject of your email. We apologize in advance if we are not able to respond to all emails once our vacancies are filled.
Thanks everyone!
It has been in my radar for the last couple of years, appearing when I was looking for completely toxin-free natural nail polish (not so easy to find!) and eventually ticking all the right boxes for natural and cruelty free cosmetics. And finally this month, Honeybee Gardens has arrived to the UK to join our fabulous organic makeup collection and as always completely free of animal testing.
This remarkable natural makeup range was created in 1995 by herbalist Melissa J. Hertzler. Honeybee cosmetic products are made from only the finest organic ingredients, offered at reasonable prices and never tested on animals.
Honeybee nail polish and renowed nail polish remover are entirely natural and free from toluene, formaldehyde and other toxic solvent-based chemicals usually found in conventional products. Honeybee French Manicure Kit (£16.99) really is fantastic. It contains everything you need to create in only three easy steps, a sophisticated, natural French manicure and it’s completely toxin free!
Another favourite is Honeybee Truly Natural Mascara (£10.99) which allows you to create either a lovely natural look or, thanks to its non-clumping formula, more dramatic sophisticated looks by simply re-applying it. Its weightless light base boasts zero clumping due to the absence of clay in the superior lash-conditioning formula. 
Honeybee cosmetics are now available from Naturisimo.com. Naturisimo is offering a FREE Honeybee Lipgloss in Hollywood worth £9.99 with product spend of £40 or over at Naturisimo before 31st July 2009. Enter code HONEY4 at checkout. Terms & Conditions apply.
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It is not often that the Naturisimo office gets really excited about a natural shaving range. However, that is what happened when the new luxury shaving and body range from Whish landed in our shelves.
Shaving my legs isn't so top on my priority list. Plus the boring task of shaving generally ends with some blood stains and dry, itchy skin. However, my shaving experience totally improved when I tried Whish Shave Cream in Pomegranate. It has a thick cream consistency and spreads well over the skin, providing a close shave and left my legs quite moisturised, a feat for any shaving product. Then there is the aroma. The scent of pomegranate is subtle, yet distinct, twisting the notes of fresh fruit with the intense sweet-tart fragrance of the seeds. In short, this is a great product. Don’t take my word for it and try the FREE Whish samples available at Naturisimo.com. 
Whish offers us a luscious line of all-natural and organic shave creams, washes, scrubs and butters to pamper you from head to toe. Whish products do not contain any parabens, sulphates, TEA, DEA and petrochemicals and are a truly natural and luxury shaving experience for the ultimate wet shave.
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The high temperatures of the last few weeks meant that I have needed to use a lighter moisturiser so it was the ideal chance to use the Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel (£44.05), a product I have wanted to try for a while. And what a fantastic product! This restorative botanical concentrate is wonderfully light so ideal for summer. It has the most delicate revitalising scent with herbal and precious flower aromas and its hydrating serum-like silky texture feels completely oil free. It left my thirsty skin completely nourished and refreshed. I simply love this product!
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel and its counterpart for sensitive skin, Jurlique Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel (£44.05) are not only potent effective moisturizers ideal for warm climates but also antiageing concentrates to help minimize the visible signs of aging with daily use so they can be used as treatments to bring out your skin's most youthful glow. Now this is a potent concentrate so if your skin is delicate or very sensitive you may need to use the Jurlique Soothing Recovery Gel and in extreme cases, even that can prove too potent to some. Other than that, there is no faulting Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel as a skin treatment or moisturiser. Jurlique skincare range is available at Naturisimo.com. Naturisimo is offering a completely FREE Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel (15m) worth £22.50 when you spend £60 in any products at Naturisimo before 31st July 2009.
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Spiezia is back!
This week it is a pleasure to welcome back one of our favorite brands. After an absence of over 2 years, the newly re-launched Spiezia is back on our shelves. Spiezia is the ultimate organic skincare brand. Unlike many others, it offers a truly 100% organic and natural experience to such an extent that their products are actually edible. Using only certified ingredients, unique maceration formulas and hand-made in harmony with the lunar cycle on a farm in Cornwall, Spiezia Organics was the first to be accredited 100% organic by the Soil Association.
The Spiezia Organic Gentle Cleanser (£21.55) is still one my all-time favourites. This 100% Organic Cleanser was voted 10/10 by The Times and one of the top 25 skincare products. This deliciously scented cleanser melts away every trace of dirt and leaves skin incredibly clean and soft.
One of its latest additions of the range is the Spiezia Rose & Chamomile Gentle Face Scrub (£19.10), which benefits from a luxurious oil base. Thanks to the tiny pieces of organic chamomile stamen, skin is buffed so gently it's suitable for sensitive skins too.
The full newly launched Spiezia Organics is now available at Naturisimo.com.
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Natural Makeup Update - Summer 09.Green goddesses, it’s time to have a close look at your make-up as the new Summer 09 season is officially here and it’s the ideal time for a makeup update. We have been searching for the ultimate trends and testing the latest organic beauty products to help you choose only the best for this season. And here we go….
Bold lips are the biggest makeup trend this season. Winter was all about eyes and this season is about lips. If there’s one thing you do this season, it is to load your lips with colour. Statement lips were all over the catwalks with brilliant shades from tangerine and orange, to glossy corals and reds to dark rich chocolate browns.
Our natural lipsticks contain nourishing oils like jojoba, minerals and vitamins that make blending easy and replace artificial preservatives and petrochemicals. The latest formulas have a staying powder to rival that of its conventional counterparts. We love Suki Color Lip & Cheek Stain (£21.49) in Vermillion which is very durable and is best applied with a brush. For strong color with easy application, the Elysambre Organic Lipstick (£13.61) in Matte Carmine Pink Red is just perfect for summer.
If you are a lip gloss fan, you can still be on trend by choosing playful pinks, coral, raspberry red or strong fuchsia. We love the pigment-rich and hot pink gloss of Nvey Eco Lip Lustre (£15.95) in Temptress. For everyday shine, Living Nature Lipgloss in Berry Essence will give you lips a hint of delicious burgundy colour.
Complete your look but keeping eye makeup to a minimum. Define lashes lightly with soft eyeliner and mascara so attention is only brought to your lips. Lavera Natural Mascara (£10.70) and Lavera Natural Eyeliner Pencil (£6.12) are gentle on your eyes and are available on a number of shades to suit your complexion.
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Suki Spa launches at Naturisimo.
It's amazing how quickly Suki Spa products have gone from being just an exciting new organic skincare range to one of my favourite skincare lines. Despite the price tag, when you start using Suki Spa on your skin, its pure natural feel and immediate effectiveness, makes you want to get the complete Sukispa range into your skincare routine.
Not only the packaging screams luxury but the soft creamy textures inside are just as good as they look ... smooth, creamy and light with the most incredible soothing smells and more importantly, visible results. Seeing Suki herself and her luminous, completely blemish-free and even skin, is enough to convince anyone she knows what she is doing when she formulates her Suki products.
I particularly love the Suki Spa Facial Lift Firming Cream (£125.95), Suki's most advanced combination of proven active ingredients to combat visible signs of ageing. This ground-breaking treatment formula protects and heals skin and feels firming and deeply nourishing. It contains a unique tetrapeptide complex to firm skin and high performance antioxidants such as olive leaf, green tea (10x more potent than vitamin e) & resveratrol (exceptional free radical scavenger) to protect skin from the ravages of stress, sun & environmental aggressors.
I was also very interested in testing the performance of the Suki Spa targeted bio-brightening face serum (£62.95) as my skin is slightly over pigmented due to excessive sun exposure while I was growing up in Spain. This highly concentrated, oil-free serum is specifically designe
d to brighten & diminish the appearance of hyper-pigmentation, scars, spots & redness for a more overall radiant, even complexion and it certainly delivered. My skin appeared more luminous and even after just one application. It contains bio natural arbutin, rare songyi mushroom & licorice root (safe alternatives to hydroquinone & other toxic bleachers) to help correct & prevent unwanted discolorations while ime-released vitamin c glucoside targets unwanted spots & hyper-pigmentation and prevents future pigmentation triggers.
Overall I am truly impressed with the entire Sukispa product line. This high-end pure and organic skin care is certainly able to complete with conventional high performance skin products but without any of the toxic and risky ingredients. I am loving this range so expect to see an update from me on more Suki Spa soon.
Suki Spa skincare products and Suki Spa samples are now available at Naturisimo.com:
- suki SPA facial lift ultimate firming cream
- suki SPA targeted bio brightening face serum
- suki SPA renewal bio resurfacing facial peel
- suki SPA bio C 10% formula face serum
- suki SPA bio active purifying face serum
Jurlique launches at Naturisimo.com.
We are absolutely delighted to welcome the newly relaunched Jurlique, new formulations, new packaging and new design.
With a vast array of products to choose from, Jurlique facial range is clearly divided in four main categories, created to target specific skin needs:
* Jurlique Soothing Products for Sensitive Skin.
* Jurlique Purifying Products for Oily skin
* Jurlique Balancing Products for Normal and Combination Skin
* Jurlique Replenishing Products for Dry and Mature Skin. 
Plus the Jurlique Biodynamic and Herbal Recovery products address specific skin needs.
The new Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty skin care line is formulated to renew skin by harnessing the biodynamic potency of nature to the maximum. Jurlique products feature proprietary blends of biodynamic and organic herbs and flowers combined with potent, naturally-derived ingredients that soften the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and discolorations while helping to renew and strengthen skin.
On the other hand, the Jurlique Herbal Recovery range offers potent botanical concentrate, infused with a rich blend of herbs and precious plant oils to restore, firm, hydrate and revitalise the skin, helping to minimise the visible signs of ageing with daily use.
Jurlique is now available at naturisimo.com and Jurlique samples are also available.
Logona Wrinkle Therapy Fluid (7.5ml) worth £7 with product purchases of £35 or over at Naturisimo.com. Simply enter code LOGONA35 at checkout. Logona is available at naturisimo.
One offer and item per order. Cannot be used in conjuction with any other offer. Valid until stocks. Ts&Cs apply.
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Suki Sensitive Cleansing Bar worth £6.30 with product purchases of £50 or over at Naturisimo.com. Simply enter code SUK5 at checkout. The full range of Suki Skin and Suki Spa is available at naturisimo.
One offer and item per order. Cannot be used in conjuction with any other offer. Valid until stocks. Ts&Cs apply.
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Packaging: the bottle is a rather classy frosted plastic which looks expensive and is appealing to both men and women.
