Pietro Simone 100% Pure Himalayan Salt Paddle

 (sample)

 I’ve written about a Pietro Simone product before and loved the unapologetically luxe vibe of it (you can read my review of that product here) so I was looking forward to trying one of the brand’s equally unapologetically luxe tools; the 100% Pure Himalayan Salt Paddle.

As the name states, the paddle is made from 100% pure Himalayan Salt. The idea is that this pink salt helps to maintain an electrolyte balance, aid hydration levels, promote microcirculation and absorb dirt and ‘toxins’ whilst being naturally antibacterial. Himalayan Salt contains up to 84 minerals and salts that, in this case, Pietro Simone harness to nourish the body and skin.

Essentially, this is an exfoliation tool for the body. It’s rough to the touch, in the best way possible, because you can just tell it’s going to give a satisfyingly good scrub. To use, start upwards from the ankles, in a gentle oval-shaped motion, all over the body.

 If you’re someone who partakes in dry body brushing, the body paddle will probably interest you but it actually has a few different uses when used in conjunction with other Pietro Simone products:

• To Refine the skin, apply Pietro Simone’s Multi-Dynamic Body Refining Cleanser on damp skin, then use the paddle, applying gentle to medium pressure.
• For Mineralizing and Regenerating, apply the Pietro Simone Fierce Body Infusion on wet skin, then use medium to firm pressure with the paddle.
• For a Pro-Aging action, apply the Fierce Body Oil to dry skin and start from the ankles upwards.
• For help with cellulite, apply the Pietro Simon Body Oil and the Fierce Body Infusion, then use the salt paddle at medium to firm pressure in a circular motion where cellulite appears (or just ignore the cellulite).

I like the holistic idea of this product and I’m interested in the concept of salt used in a beauty regime. I don’t own the products mentioned above, however I have used the paddle with other oils and lotions and can confirm it is a lovely ritual, if you have the time for a little extra self care (and if you don't already have the time, try to make some!). While I don’t care so much for trying to rid my body of cellulite, I understand that it’s something that bothers some people, so fair play to them if they want to give it a go – if individuals see results from dry body brushing then they’d almost certainly see results with the salt paddle too.

The Pietro Simone 100% Pure Himalayan Salt Paddle is £29 at Pietro Simone.

 

New Nourish London Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower

(post contains sample) 

Nourish London Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower is a new launch that arrived with me just in time. At the risk of sounding self-pitying, my 4 year old and 12 week old have me perpetually sleep-deprived and I’ve had cold after cold since my son started back at school. So something that promises to soothe aching muscles and tired bodies is appreciated right now more than ever.

In a fully recycled and recyclable PCR bottle, the light gel formula contains an uplifting and revitalising blend of essential oils including Pine, Lemon, Juniper and Lavender. The oils combine to create the most refreshing scent that I imagine would be appreciated by the whole family – it really is a lovely, herbal, clean sort of fragrance. Epsom Salts are in the mix as they’re renowned for that naturally soothing effect.

The Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower is also designed to give you a boost when you’re feeling overtired (yes please!) and is perfect for after sports, especially when used in a hot shower. Looking for a few moments of relaxation? Add a few capfuls to the bath as it runs and sink in.

With warming extracts of Turmeric and Ginger along with Aloe Leaf Juice, the Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower has a Coco-Glucoside and Lauryl-Glucoside base which are natural, gentle cleansers derived from fruit sugars. The gentle formula makes this an ideal product for all skin types but obviously do a patch test if you are sensitive to essential oils.

As a side note, I am loving the leafy design on the label. It’s quite Australiana and reminds me of the 'Gumnut Babies' books I read as a child. It also makes the bottle pretty enough for Christmas gifting with no need to wrap - just pop it in a stocking or add some ribbon and you're good to go!

As with all Nourish products, the Nourish London Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower is completely vegan and cruelty free and made with natural organic ingredients. 

Nourish London Soothing Muscle Bath & Shower is £16 for 300ml and is available right now at Nourish.

Top Products for Dry Winter Skin

Collaborative Post

It might be a massive cliché but January really is a pretty gloomy month isn't it? Christmas is over and done with, payday feels like it's years away and it usually starts to get really, really cold.

With the cold comes dry skin that needs a little extra love and I have a few favourite products I use to keep the skin on my body happy and hydrated.  A scrub with cult status, some lovely Aromatherapy body oils, pampering lotions and an OG bath bomb all feature. Read on to find out more about the bits I use on my body for a little less gloom and a lot more glow!

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish is my ultimate body scrub. Thinking back to a few years ago, I remember seeing this on US beauty blogs and feeling extremely left out! Fresh wasn't available in the UK at the time and I thought I'd never get to try the scrub for myself. Fast forward to present day and we have Fresh at our fingertips and their original product does not disappoint. Made with brown sugar crystals (a natural humectant), the body scrub smoothes and softens with a blend of evening primrose, sweet almond, apricot kernel and jojoba oil. Citrus oils are in the mix too and give the scrub that signature Fresh scent. Blissful.

Speaking of exfoliating, I have to mention Italy Towels. If you're not familiar, an Italy Towel (not pictured) is basically a textured, reusable mitt that you slip over your hand and scrub your body with. You can use an Italy Towel either with or without soap or shower gel and they're most effective after you've soaked in the bath for a while or when used towards the end of your shower. I really like mine and have found that a very light touch is enough (in other words, don't scrub too hard!) because these things are quite abrasive. Italy Towels are a Korean Beauty staple and are named as such because they're made from viscose rayon, which was originally imported from Italy. That's what the internet has told me anyway. They are truly excellent at smoothing the skin and getting rid of flaky bits so I imagine they'd be brilliant for pre-fake tanning sessions and equally as good at removing old tan. I found mine on Amazon where a pack of 4 is under a fiver.

Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum has been a favourite of mine for years. It's a bit of a spendy body lotion but a bottle lasts me a good while as I only use it on the upper part of my body. This stuff is fanstastic for keeping dry, flakey skin at bay because it contains gentle exfoliating ingredients including a pre-retinol and Wintergreen extract. It also has a sort of gel/lotion texture that means it sinks in quickly so you can get dressed pretty much straight after applying without feeling tacky or sticky. You can read my post dedicated to Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum here 

I'd settle for any of the Aromathery Associates body oils to be honest but the De-Stress Body Oil is one of the standouts for me. With arnica, rosemary and ginger, it feels incredibly soothing on aching or tense muscles and the coconut, peach kernel and jojoba oil base is neeply nourishing. I really rate the De-Stress Muscle Gel too. Heaven when massaged into an aching lower back. 

I came across Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Lotion with Pistachio Cream and Magnolia in Boots quite recently. I'm borderline obsessed with pistachio scented things ever since I fell in love with the Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Body Souffle without knowing it was limited edition! I've been looking for something similar ever since, and while this doesn't quite have the same luxury gourmand scent, I'd say it's a pretty good dupe. The fact that it's incredibly affordable is a bonus too. Aesop Geranium Leaf Hydrating Body Treatment was given to me last Mother's Day and it's still going strong so it's safe to say a little goes a long way. Geranium is my favourite Aesop collection (the body cleanser in particular is gloriously refreshing) with geranium leaf, mandarin and bergamot rind. The Hydrating Body Treatment blends skin-softening macadamia and sweet almond oils with antioxidant Vitamin E to leave skin glowing and subtly scented. 

Is there anything more comforting than a Lush Butterball Bath Bomb? One of the originals and one of the best, this little fizzer brings me so much joy. I'm not really a 'bath person' to be honest (give me a steamy shower please) but when I do soak in the tub, I always wish I had one of these in there with me! Packed with cocoa butter and featuring a comforting musk and ylang ylang scent, the Butterball Bath Bomb satisfyingly fizzes away to leave buttery, chocolate scented bathwater that leaves my skin smelling sweet and feeling moisturised enough to skip and after-bath lotions.

In keeping with the cocoa butter theme, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula will forever be a reliable treat for my skin when it's feeling a bit dry. It's affordable, effective and deliciously scented, though there are unscented variations of Palmer's products available. When a product is this iconic and so universally adored, it must be decent right? 

So those are just a few of my favourite products for dry winter skin. All perfect for the beginning of the year when skin needs some extra attention. Any favourites of your own you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments.

*Paid collaborative post

CeraVe Comes to the UK

(Samples/Affiliate Links) CeraVe already has a huge following on its home shores of the US and now the Dermatologist-developed skincare brand is making a name for itself in the UK thanks to its gentle, effective products. I have been trying three different products from CeraVe; the Hydrating Cleanser, Facial Moisturising Lotion for PM and the Daily Moisturising Cream.

Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser Review

The Hydrating Facial Cleanser has already achieved cult status this side of the pond thanks to its gel formula rich in Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid. This particular cleanser was developed for 'normal' to dry skin (there are cleansers for other skin types available) and is described as being fragrance-free, non-irritating and non-comedogenic. The Ceramides in the formula work to protect and restore the skin's natural barrier while Hyaluronic Acid does it thing as a humectant by attracting hydration to the skin. Something I have found with this cleanser is that sometimes it ever so slightly 'stings' my skin during use. I couldn't figure out why sometimes it did this and sometimes it was perfectly fine and soothing until I looked at other products I was using. Basically I have used anything very active the night before (exfoliating acids, retinol products etc), this will sting a little bit! I know for a fact that many, many people get on extremely well with this and the sensation I experience when using after actives doesn't take away from the fact that it's a very well known, well loved product.

Cerave Facial Moisturising Lotion for PM Review

The Facial Moisturising Lotion for the PM however is a whole different story. I really like it as a light but effective moisturiser (and not just at night either). Packaged in a tube with a convenient pump, the moisturising lotion features Ceramides, Niacinamide, Glycerin and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, which is an antioxidant consisting of coconut oil and glycerin. As forementioned, Ceramides work to protect and restore the natural barrier function of the skin while Niacinamide (Vit B3) improves fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tone and dullness. Glycerin, which is second on the list of ingredients after Purified Water, is also a humectant that works to keep the skin shielded and hydrated. A very nice night cream that feels much more luxurious than it looks. ETA I have linked above to the lotion available at Boots - though it doesn't say PM on the tube, it seems to have the same ingredients!

Cerave Moisturising Cream Review

The Moisturising Cream for Dry to Very Dry Skin is designed for use on both the face and the body (which are words that usually frighten me a bit for no particular reason) contains 3 different Ceramides as well as Hyaluronic Acid to attract hydration to the skin and keep it locked in. This is a very nice, very inoffensive, very decent product that I imagine pretty much everyone would like. Because it doesn't really smell like anything at all (except, maybe a bit like...water? Does water smell like anything??), absorbs quickly and leaves skin suitably soft and smooth, it seems to me that it's a one-size-fits-all sort of moisturiser that you'd have in your bath and body stash ready for when you don't want anything fancy or scented but just crave a decent hit of moisture and don't want to wait an age before you can get dressed. By happy coincidence it just so happens that the Daily Moisturising Lotion is recommended by various pro fake tanners as an excellent aftercare moisturiser. It was great timing when this arrived because I was literally sitting there in a fresh layer of fake tanning foam in preparation for our holiday when the Postman turned up. The reason it's praised for its faux-tan maintaining powers is because the formula doesn't contain any of the oils that usually break down the colour.

One of the main selling points of the products is that they are affordable yet effective with the cleanser on sale for £9.50, the facial moisturiser at £13 and the moisturising cream coming in at £9. CeraVe products are available at Boots.