Naturally Tribal Skincare

I really enjoy discovering new green beauty brands and when I read the story behind Naturally Tribal Skincare I was keen to know more. Bound to be a favourite among clean and green skincare fans, the natural skincare brand is vegan, ethically sourced and free of synthetic additives. The current range includes body scrubs, polishes and body food - which is a thick, rich body moisturiser with a high-quality Shea butter base. 

I'm fortunate enough to be trying out the IYA Woman's Body Food at the moment and I've got to say my skin is very pleased with it in the aftermath of that intense heatwave we've just had. The Shea butter moisturiser is enriched with Bergamot, which is said to brighten dull skin, and it smells fresh and citrusy. The Shea butter really does melt into the skin and leaves it lightly fragranced. It's quite beautiful. 

Naturally Tribal Skincare products are split up into a few different ranges - Iya is the women's range and also includes an intimate shave oil, Agu is the men's range (and is enriched with cinnamon) and includes a body food and beard oil, Yara is the children's body food that's made from just two ingredients; Shea butter and coconut oil and Iyali is the family body food. The kind of all-rounder cream you'd keep in the bathroom for the whole family to use, Iyali is made from coconut oil and arnica - great for cuts and scrapes on little ones and comfortingly moisturising. I'm thinking of buying a tub of the Iyali body food in preparation for inevitable toddler accidents! The brand also have a lovely sounding range of scrubs and body polishes in their Exotic range including a rather enticing Kola Nut Scrub.

Shea butter is the core ingredient in Naturally Tribal Skincare's products but what makes it really quite special is the fact it's been ethically sourced from the Kingdom of Essan in Nigeria. The founder of the brand, qualified pharmacist Shalom Lloyd started her journey toward Naturally Tribal Skincare following the birth of her twins when one of her babies developed eczema. Adverse to the thought of smothering her child's skin in chemical emollients and steroid creams, Shalom began investigating natural skincare remedies from her African heritage. She experimented by creating natural products with a shea butter base, found the right formulation and within three days her son's skin softened and his discomfort eased. The next step in the journey was finding the right source for her Shea butter, which took Shalom to Nigeria where she now collaborates with the women of Essan by sourcing their ingredients from their community both ethically and sustainably.   The result of this collaboration is Naturally Tribal Skincare and their range of natural, high quality shea butter products. 

There's something quite comforting about knowing exactly where ingredients are sourced from and, quality products aside, I think it will really make people take notice of this brand.
You can find out more about the ethics and purchase the products at Naturally Tribal Skincare.

Hairburst Mulberry Silk Pillowcase - do silk pillowcases really work?

I have always neglected my hair. By that I mean I rarely actually make an effort to do anything with it and it's perpetually either scraped off my face in a half-bun-half-ponytail situation or it's flowing free in all it's un-brushed glory. Now that I have a fringe I sort of look a bit like I've made some kind of effort (isn't it weird how a fringe makes you look marginally sort of 'styled' and 'put together'?)but still, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit my hair is lucky if I even brush it these days. Because of my apparent  reluctance to spend any time doing anything to my hair, I like products that require the least amount of time and effort. Leave in conditioners? Love them. Fast-drying hair turbans? Yes please. Silk Pillowcases? You betcha bottom dollar.
In case you didn't know, silk pillowcases do wonders for your hair (and are pretty good for your skin too) and this one from Hairburst is no exception. 

The Hairburst Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is probably the most luxurious addition to my bedroom at the moment. Made from pure silk, the pillowcase is obviously really smooth (and silky for lack of a better word) and therefore the bed head look I've been rocking since forever has significantly toned down.
The smooth surface of the pillowcase can aid in reducing friction, which can cause damage to the hair and therefore create split ends and exacerbate hair fall.
Reduced friction can also help your blow-dries and heat styled looks looking better for longer. There are really no cons to having a silk pillowcase that I can think of!  Unless you're staunchly vegan because, you know, silk is made by worms.

Something I've particularly noticed since slipping the pillowcase over my favourite pillow (we all have one) is that my hair fall has significantly reduced. I had pretty dire post-partum hair loss which has only really eased up in the past few months and I've noticed that there are not nearly as many hairs on my pillow in the morning since I've had the silk case. True story. It makes sense that the hair fall would decrease during the night because of the lack of friction -hair sort of glides over the silk- so if you're currently experiencing postpartum hair fall or hair loss of any kind I'd really recommend one of these pillowcases. Of course it won't stop your hair falling out, it'll just make mornings a little more pleasant as you probably won't wake up with yourself/partner/baby covered in strands.
It's worth mentioning that a lot of people invest in silk pillowcases for skincare reasons too. Silk doesn't absorb moisture like cotton does so your nightly skincare routine stays on your face rather than ending up soaked into your pillow case. Pretty cool, yes?
It's also been claimed that silk pillowcases can help to reduce wrinkles and sleep creases due to their smooth surfaces. I guess every little helps if you're concerned that your current pillowcase is ageing you!

While I don't think I can give a fair comment on the skincare claims (though I do think there is something to those), I do think it's made a definite difference to the feel and condition of my hair.
The Hairburst Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is £34.99 and is available at Hairburst.

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition

If you're already a Jurlique fan you'll know just how gorgeous the brand's rose scents are. Equally, if you've never tried anything from their range, now is the time because this hand cream is simply beautiful. Rich and emollient, Jurlique Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition has the most stunning true rose scent. After rubbing it in and having that initial sniff, the first image that came to my mind was roses in the spring after a bit of rain. Earthy and sweet and real, the way roses should smell!

The secret to the limited edition cream is that the organic roses used are picked by hand at first bloom at the Jurlique farm in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia.
Interestingly, according to the World Health Organisation, the Adelaide Hills is home to some of the 'purest' air in the whole world. That is, pollution levels are significantly low, so in turn, crops and flowers that grow within the area are of superior quality. First bloom is the optimum time to harvest the roses as this is when the hydrating properties of the flowers are at their peak. The petals are then turned into a potent extract that can only be found in the Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition. This makes it a pretty exclusive and rather luxurious addition to any handbag or bedside table really! If you like rose scents and you're hands could do with a little TLC you're going to LOVE this. You can find the limited edition cream online at Jurlique.

Complementing the launch of Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition, Jurlique are offering two limited edition treatments at their flagship London store on Oxford Street.
Handpicked Express Rose Treatment (5 minutes) Enjoy a relaxing massage with the new Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition that will leave your skin feeling velvety soft and smelling divine. Your Beauty Expert will complete your experience with the iconic Rosewater Balancing Mist to refresh your skin and indulge your senses.
Handpicked Luxury Rose Treatment (15 minutes)
Treat your hands to the ultimate softness with this indulgent experience. Relax and enjoy as your Beauty Expert shows you how to deeply nourish your hands with the Exfoliating Hand Treatment, Nail and Cuticle Treatment Oil, and luxurious new Rose Hand Cream Handpicked Limited Edition.
 Available from 2nd July for a limited time only in store at Jurlique, 489 Oxford Street, London W1C 2AU.

Scent Addict by The Fragrance Shop

I've enjoyed wearing fragrance for as long as I can remember but it occurred to me in recent years that I don't really have a favourite scent. In my twenties I was all about the Gourmands and enjoyed walking around smelling more like something you'd find in a bakery but as I've matured, so has my taste in fragrance. While I've spritized and sprayed my way through quite a few bottles over the years I'm yet to find my signature scent.
If, like me, you don't have a favourite fragrance or you just really enjoy trying a variety of different ones, ScentAddict by The Fragrance Shop is the perfect solution.

Beauty subscriptions have been popular for almost a decade now (can you believe it?!) but ScentAddict is a little different because it's allll about fragrance. The concept of ScentAddict is to allow you to 'date' a choice of fragrances before settling on The One. To do this, they send you a month's worth of fragrance in a refillable 8ml atomiser (approximately 100 sprays) and then post you out a new 8ml vial every following month, depending on how long you choose to subscribe for. The subscription is a measley £12 per month (and you can cancel anytime) and there are over 250 designer Eau de toilettes, perfumes and aftershaves to choose from, including some covetable high end offerings from brands such as Tom Ford, Chanel and Viktor and Rolf. The atomiser is chic, unisex and easily popped into your handbag or jacket pocket which is obviously much more convenient than traipsing around with a heavy glass perfume bottle.

I think this is a brilliant concept and is actually excellent value, especially if you choose to try a Tom Ford! Incidentally, in my first month I'm trying Tom Ford Neroli Portofino which is a scent I've wanted to properly try forever (spraying some on in John Lewis doesn't always cut it) but was not prepared to splash the cash on if I didn't really love it. And do you know what? I don't love it. I do like it in general but after trying it for a few days I came to the conclusion that I don't really like it on me if you know what I mean? If I hadn't given it a fair run and tried it properly via this service I would probably have been none the wiser though so it's actually made me appreciate the concept even more.
An added bonus of ScentAddict is that the £12 monthly subscription fee is redeemable against the full sized bottle of the fragrance if you do happen to fall in love with it. So in a way, if you find a scent you love you've gained an extra 8ml of your favourite smell for free ;).
ScentAddict was designed for everyone so it's not just women's fragrances on offer- they have over 100 men's scents to choose from too, which I think is brilliant. You can find out more and sign yourself up online at ScentAddict.

Aurelia 3-Step Probiotic Discovery Kit

I've got a lot of love for pro-biotic skincare brand Aurelia so I had to share this little kit because it really is amazing value. Aurelia is a luxury green beauty brand so the £10 price point of this little kit is surprising to say the least. The Aurelia 3-Step Discovery Kit features the brand's 3 step regime in handy travel sizes that should last you over a week when used twice a day. 

Worth £45, the kit includes: 

Miracle Cleanser 15ml and Bamboo Muslin Cloth 

Revitalise and Glow Serum 4ml 

Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser 20ml 

Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser 20ml 

As you can see, the samples are pretty generous and all of the items are contained in glass jars and bottles with proper labels, so they retain the luxury feel of Aurelia's full sized items.

I raved about the Miracle Cleanser years ago on Instagram- it's a gorgeous cream formula with the most refreshing scent. The aromatic cleanser contains eucalyptus, bergamot, chamomile and rosemary oils so it really awakens the senses and is absolutely brilliant if you've got a cold or hayfever and are feeling a little congested.

I feel like the cleanser alone at this size is worth the ten quid but the serum and day and night moisturisers are just as lovely. I have used all of these products before and dipped in and out of them when I've felt my skin needed some TLC.
The Revitalise and Glow Serum is lightweight with a milky sort of texture that absorbs beautifully. Containing the brand's highest concentration of probiotics, the serum performs the double duty of creating instantly radiant and dewy skin while also working to revitalise and firm. The serum is packed with BioOrganic botanicals including Baobab, which is rich in omegas, Kigelia Africana to firm the skin and Hibiscus which is rich in antioxidants. It really is a lovely serum which preps the skin perfectly for the next step - either the Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser or Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser.

The Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser has an interesting texture - it's lightly whipped and luxurious and feels beautifully light and refreshing on the skin. It sort of melts into the complexion and would work in any sort of weather - I'm revisiting it at the moment during this heatwave and it's certainly not feeling heavy or cloying on my face. The award-winning moisturiser contains hydrating and soothing plant and flower botanicals and Mongongo and Argan oils that work together to create soft, smooth and radiant skin. The cream contains essential oils of Jasmine, Plumeria, Tuberose and Mandarin so it smells as gorgeous as it feels.

The Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser is ultra-rich and comforting, making it a beautiful product to complete your evening routine with. The cream contains Shea Butter and Aloe Vera to nourish and cool the skin and is enriched with a special blend of sleep-friendly essential oils including Neroli, Mandarin, Rose and Lavender so you get a nice hit of olfactory goodness while a long list of BioOrganic ingredients get on with calming and hydrating while you snooze.
At £10, this really is a brilliant kit to either get yourself acquainted with a beautiful brand and the travel sized products are perfect for taking away on holiday.
You can find the 3-Step Probiotic Discovery Kit online at Aurelia.