Health & Lifestyle: Symprove Live & Active Bacteria - Water Based Food Supplement review #GutHealth

 

The season of excess will be soon upon us and whilst Christmas will look very different this year, the latest consumer polls from the nation's supermarkets show that most of the British public will still be indulging in their favourite foods to celebrate the occasion. What does this mean for your gut health though and how can Symprove help?

Gut health has been at the forefront of many health and wellness trends over the past couple of years and it's been a fascinating area of discovery for scientists and nutritionists who haven't properly been able to understand how the gut works in such detail before, nor its important links to our health overall. One thing's for certain - when we look after our gut health with prebiotics and probiotics, it's not only our gut which benefits. It's everything; our mental and physical health and wellbeing are all linked to this interesting 'second brain' in the gut. So what can we do to improve our gut health? This is where Symprove comes in!

What is Symprove?

Symprove is a unique water-based food supplement which helps to support the gut microbiome. In the water-based formula, it carries several strains of beneficial live bacteria straight to your gut, where it then multiples and thrives to establish itself. This healthy bacteria then helps to feed and nourish the good gut bacteria in the microbiome, thus restoring the balance and making both your gut and yourself much healthier overall.

What ingredients are in Symprove?

There are four carefully chosen species of alive and activated bacteria in Symprove which have been rigorously tested for their bioavailability. These are L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, E. faecium and L. acidophilus. As the formula is water-based, it's gluten-free and dairy-free, making it suitable for vegans to use and it contains no added colours. The Symprove formula has been designed to deliver approximately 10 billion colony forming units (CFUs) per cup.

How do I take it?

Shake the bottle gently before use to activate the bacteria, then pour into the cup that it comes with (70ml) and drink it at least 10 minutes before you eat or drink anything else so it's good to incorporate into your morning routine. This allows time for the live bacteria to reach your gut without any interference from any other ingredients. As Symprove is a live product, it needs to be stored in the fridge after use.

What does it taste like?

I tested out the Original flavour which has a sharp and sour, almost vinegary flavour to it. If you're used to fermented drinks like Kombucha, you'll probably be fine with it; if not, it may take some getting used to! I believe Symprove also have a fruity flavour available which you could try instead.

Overall thoughts?

I trialled Symprove over the course of four weeks without taking any other gut health supplements or changing my diet in any way, and I found that it significantly helped to reduce the bloating symptoms that are linked to my IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) after just two weeks of taking it daily. My stomach looked a lot flatter and I felt less 'heavy' and 'full' overall - instead, I was much more balanced. I was very surprised to experience results so quickly as other gut health supplements that I've tried in the past have taken considerably longer to kick in, which leads me to believe that the strains of bacteria in Symprove are perhaps ones that my gut was lacking in to start with. 

It's difficult, of course, to tell for sure without taking medical tests, so I can only comment on the physical results that I felt, but I'm very happy with it and will continue to take Symprove for the foreseeable future to see if my gut health can be further improved over time.

Symprove* (RRP £79 for a 4 week course) is available from thedrug.store

Have you tried Symprove?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - November 2020 review

Packed full of cruelty-free, natural skincare and exciting green beauty brands to discover, this month's LoveLula Beauty Box is worth £67! Curious to find out what's inside? Keep reading below.

Green People Hydrating Calming Serum (RRP £21)

Green People are one of my favourite natural and organic skincare brands so I'm always pleased to see one of their products. Their Hydrating Calming Serum is something that I haven't tried before but it sounds perfect for my fussy winter skin as it's from their scent-free sensitive skin range. It helps to calm irritation, reduce redness, maintain healthy moisture levels and boost collagen production so I'm excited to try it!

Madara Re:Gene Lifting Mask (travel size)

Next up, there's a non-invasive facial treatment mask from Madara which aims to lift, plump and smooth wrinkles for a youthful appearance. It seems to be very much focused on bringing life back to the V-shaped contours of the face which typically lose their fullness as we age. Personally, I'm not entirely confident that a topical face mask like this can achieve these kinds of results as it would essentially replace the need for fillers, but I'm going to look into the science behind it and see how it's formulated to work. Let me know if you've tried this with any success?

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Cucumber Oil (RRP £19)

Next up, I found a full-size Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Cucumber Oil which is another interesting product; I've always enjoyed using cucumber slices over my eyes with a face mask to help depuff them, yet I haven't come across a dedicated 100% Cucumber Oil before! Cold-pressed and highly moisturising, this facial oil is rich in natural Phytosterols which help to support and maintain healthy skin, with lots of soothing antioxidants to further protect the delicate natural barrier.

Skin Alchemists Dirty Chai Soap Bar (RRP £10)

Created exclusively for LoveLula, this Skin Alchemists have crafted two very special Limited Edition fragrances of their luxurious soap bars for the festive season. Dirty Chai not only looks beautifully striking but it also smells incredible with a strong and warming Liquorice based scent. Each soap is hand-poured and cured for eight weeks and they are made from 100% natural raw ingredients of the highest grade.

Madara Infinity Drops Immuno Serum (sample)

To round off the box this month, there's an exciting sample of the new Madara Infinity Drops Immuno Serum for all subscribers to test out. The full-size bottle of this luxury product costs £80 and the serum has been specially formulated with biotechnology to reinforce the skin's natural defence system using unique lactobacillus strain, mushroom beta-glucans, provitamin D and polyphenol essence from the Madara plant. Suitable for all skin types – especially dry, stressed, sensitized, atopic and ageing skin.

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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Sensitive Skincare: Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie and Honey & Oat Cleansing Bar review

If your hands are feeling worse for wear after all that hand sanitiser and extra hand washing, you need the Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie in your life ASAP.

English green beauty brand Odylique has been a favourite of mine for a long time - in fact, they were one of the very first British companies that I discovered when I was looking for natural skincare many years ago! Their Gentle Herb Shampoo is one of the best products that I've ever tried for a sensitive scalp and one that I regularly recommend to family and friends.

Based in Suffolk, Odylique's products are made from natural ingredients, most of which are also certified organic by the Soil Association, and everything is tested by human volunteers who have sensitive skin. This is a great brand for anyone who has dry, sensitive, eczema and psoriasis prone skin as there are no 'nasties' anywhere to be found here - everything is free common irritants and allergens. 

This month, I wanted to shine a spotlight on one of Odylique's hidden bestsellers, their Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie* (60ml, £12, link), a product that really should be raved about more often. This intensely rich and ultra-hydrating hand cream is made from 100% natural ingredients (93% of which are certified organic), and it has a beautiful buttery consistency thanks to lots of plant-based oils and butters such as Coconut Oil, Cocoa Bean Butter and cold-pressed Avocado and Sunflower Oils. 

Surprisingly though, this natural hand cream absorbs into the skin pretty quickly without any lasting greasiness and the moisturising effects are immediate. In addition to the oils and butters, there's Aloe Vera, Calendula and Sea Buckthorn which have been chosen for their healing, soothing and regenerative natural properties, whilst Vanilla, Geranium, Lemon and Lemongrass deliver a fresh and uplifting scent.

If you're struggling with dry hands this winter, Odylique's Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie is the intensive hand cream that you've been searching for and even better, they have 10% off this superstar on their website until the end of November so now's the perfect time to try it for yourselves!

On a side note, I wanted to quickly mention Odylique's Honey & Oat Cleansing Bar* (100g, £6.50, link) pictured in the background in my sustainable PoaPoa Coconut Soap Holder above. This is a very gentle moisturising and exfoliating soap and solid cleanser which you can use for face and body, and it works a treat for sensitive skin that seems to react to everything. Made from just saponified Extra Virgin Olive Oil, saponified Coconut Oil, Oats and Honey, it produces a light lather that leaves skin feeling soft and cared for.

Shop online at odylique.co.uk

Have you tried any products from Odylique?

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Foodie Friday: ZENB - Organic Plant-Based Snacks / Veggie Sticks review #HealthySnacks

 

Need some healthy plant-based snacks to get you through WFH life? These tasty new organic Veggie Sticks from ZENB will help you to get back on the healthy eating wagon and keep the cravings at bay so that you can get on with your work or study without a rumbling tummy.

Last month, I received a package through the letterbox from ZENB, an exciting new plant-based snacks brand who are doing their bit for reducing food waste by using as much of a whole vegetable as possible in their Veggie Sticks. 

This means that you'll find more of the vegetable's core, peel, seeds and stem in their snacks so not only will you benefit from consuming the extra fibre and nutrients found in these elements, but you're also preventing food waste at the same time. Win, win!

In fact, the name ZENB is inspired by the Japanese expression for 'whole' which is Zenbu - pretty clever, eh?

What Are They & What's In Them?

ZENB's Veggie Sticks focus on a whole vegetable which is blended with other natural ingredients such as Nuts, Cacao Nibs, Quinoa and Puffed Brown Rice, to add some extra crunch and texture to each bar. There's also some Date Syrup and Agave Syrup to help bind everything together and for a little sweetness too.

I was pleased to see that the ingredients used are certified Organic and that the Veggie Sticks are Gluten-Free, non-GMO, suitable for vegans and of course, have no artificial flavours or preservatives. 

There are four different flavours of Veggie Sticks to try; Red Pepper, Carrot, Pumpkin and Beetroot, and they're available to purchase in boxes of 4, 8 or 16, with variety packs and trial boxes also on offer.

What Do They Taste Like?

When I first opened the wrapper and checked out the ingredients label, I thought that these Veggie Sticks might be similar to other healthy plant-based snacks that I've tried in the past or regularly use such as Nakd, Nine, Trek or maybe even a Cliff Bar. But ZENB's snacks are rather different in the respect that they are much drier in consistency and have a coarser texture overall thanks to those extra 'rougher' ingredients of Nuts, Cacao Nibs and Puffed Brown Rice and Red Quinoa. 

These not only add a satisfying crunch but bring their own flavours to the mix, for example, the Beetroot Stick has Cacao Nibs in it which give the bar subtle coffee-flavoured notes, whilst the Pumpkin Stick has a pinch of Cinnamon for a more autumn/festive flavour. 

ZENB's Veggie Sticks make a welcome change from my usual Nakd bars, although I would recommend having a drink on hand as they are quite dry. Perhaps this is the reason why they are so enjoyable to have with a cup of coffee or tea first thing in the morning to get you prepped for the day ahead?

Room For Improvement?

One slight niggle that I couldn't forget to mention, however, is my disappointment with the plastic packaging of the snacks themselves (the letterbox packaging is wonderfully plastic-free). With such a strong focus on sustainability, it seems odd to me that ZENB has not addressed the obvious plastic elephant in the room - come on guys, how about ditching the plastic for a biodegradable alternative? 

Shop the full range of ZENB snacks at zenb.co.uk

Have you tried any new healthy snacks lately?

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Multipurpose Beauty: Beauty Cleanse Mean Green Superfood Drops & Carrot Algae Marine Drops review #LessIsMore

Multipurpose beauty has always caught my eye and with many consumers shifting their focus to a 'less is more' approach to shopping, it seems that most of us are looking for hardworking products that won't clutter up our bathrooms and vanity tables. So let me introduce you to Beauty Cleanse and their very clever multipurpose skincare drops.

If you haven't heard of Beauty Cleanse before, it might be because they changed their name from 'WhackIt Beauty' last year. This rebrand suits the London based indie company perfectly and gives them a much more sophisticated appeal for the luxury green beauty market. Their products speak for themselves though as they've been shortlisted for numerous industry awards, and a quick scroll through my social media feeds often sees them pop up now and then, so they're certainly a brand that has a buzz about them.

Beauty Cleanse is on a mission to streamline our often confusing and needlessly cluttered skincare routines with simpler but still effective formulas. Their ethos is declared loud and proud on their website; all products are handmade in the UK with 100% natural and organic ingredients, certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly with a strong emphasis on sustainability (all packaging is either 100% recyclable, upcycled or biodegradable).

I've put Beauty Cleanse's only two releases to the test; the Mean Green Superfood Drops and Carrot Algae Marine Drops.

Beauty Cleanse Mean Green Superfood Drops* (20ml, £45, link)

Suitable for all skin and hair types, Mean Green Superfood Drops are a gender-neutral 'serum-in-oil, with the name taking inspiration from the popular green juice which is at the core of many health and wellness circles. The INCI list reads like a power smoothie menu with Organic Broccoli Seed Oil forming the base, which is then blended with the likes of Organic Rosehip Oil, Olive Squalane Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Organic Tamanu Seed Oil, Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil, Organic Chia Seed, Organic Macadamia Nut Oil and Vitamin E.

The result is a super-rich and nutritious product which is absolutely packed with antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids (Omegas 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 are present) that are capable of delivering some serious hydration and protection for both skin and hair. And being a 'serum-in-oil' means the formula is surprisingly lightweight and non-greasy so it can easily balance troublesome oily skin types, whilst keeping dry and more mature skin happy and healthy at the same time.

How To Use?

You can use this as a Makeup Primer, Facial Oil (AM or PM or both), Nail & Cuticle Oil, Hair Styling and Leave-in Treatment and it can be added directly to your favourite moisturisers to give them an extra boost. I've tested it out as all of the above and can say that it does work incredibly well as a Facial Oil treatment, a Nail & Cuticle Oil and as a Hair Oil Treatment. I found it also combat flyaways and frizz the same as any other hair oil does, but I still prefer using a separate Makeup Primer as I personally find cream-based textures give my oily/combination skin a better finish overall. 

Beauty Cleanse Carrot Algae Marine Drops* (20ml, £45, link)

Whilst the Mean Green Superfood Drops can be used to replace both skin and haircare products, the Carrot Algae Marine Drops are much better suited for just skincare purposes and its innovative formula is targeted at addressing the first signs of ageing in particular. If like me, you enjoy spending time doing home facial massages, I feel that you'll definitely love the Carrot Algae Marine Drops.

In addition to the anti-ageing benefits, this serum-in-oil has been developed using COSMOS certified glucocorticoid technology with Marine Plankton extract which helps to block the effects of the stress hormone, cortisol, wreaking havoc on your skin. Those who have undergone a stressful time in their life will be able to appreciate this more because if you've ever looked in the mirror and suddenly seen lots of extra fine lines and wrinkles show up after a difficult period, you'll know what I mean!

Elsewhere in the formula, there are natural alternatives to synthethic Retinol found in the wild-harvested, cold-pressed Carrot and Rosehip Oils, and skincare favourites Squalene and Camellia Seed Oils help to boost elasticity and firmness. All of the ingredients have been carefully chosen to be suitable for sensitive skin types including for eczema and rosacea, so if you find that you can't use synthethic anti-ageing facial oils, this is a wonderful natural alternative to try instead.

How To Use?

Carrot Algae Marine Drops can be used as an intensive Night Serum, for Facial and Neck massages, as an anti-ageing Eye Serum and it can be added to your favourite morning moisturiser to give an extra boost of protection against the harsh winter elements. I'm pleased to say that it worked well in all the above methods and could easily be used as an all-in-one anti-ageing treatment.

I would happily recommend both products to anyone who wants to streamline their bathroom cabinet and although the initial cost is expensive, they are great value for money in the long term as a little goes a long way as the formulas are so concentrated.

Use code BeautyWolfGirl15 to get 15% off your order! 

Are you a fan of multipurpose beauty products?

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Currently Loving: Autumn Skincare Favourites from Evolve Organic Beauty, Tropic Skincare, Balade en Provence & NeuroSkinFeeds

 

A round-up of the new Autumn Skincare Favourites which I've been loving lately, from a range of brands such as Evolve Organic Beauty, Tropic Skincare, Balade en Provence and NeuroSkinFeeds.

The New Luxury Organic Hand Wash: Evolve Organic Beauty Pomegranate and Goji Berry Aromatic Wash* (250ml, £14, link)

Let's face it, washing your hands a million times a day is a boring but essential part of our daily lives, so why not treat yourself this new luxury Pomegranate and Goji Berry Aromatic Wash from Evolve Organic Beauty? Handmade by artisans in Evolve's very own eco-run studio, this vegan-friendly and cruelty-free hand wash is bursting full of fresh and uplifting fruity notes such as Pomegranate, Peach, Pear, Raspberry and mixed Citrus Fruits. 

The gentle SLS-free formula is enriched with soothing Aloe Vera and there's even added Quinoa extract to help lock-in moisture which is great if your hands are feeling a bit rough and dry at the moment. It's the kind of hand wash that you'll actually look forward to using, and it's currently on offer on the Evolve website for £11.90 so now's the perfect time to try it for yourselves. 

The Extra TLC Eye Serum: Tropic Skincare Eye Work Rejuvenating Serum* (10ml, £28, link)

2020 has been a tough year for most of us, and if you've looked in the mirror lately and felt like you've aged an extra 10 years, fret not because help for your tired peepers is on hand. Tropic Skincare's Eye Work Rejuvenating Serum is an innovative formula which targets all of those bothersome concerns we have about our eyes looking older than our actual age. It helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles, combat puffiness and also helps to lighten up age-related pigmentation so it's pretty much a superstar product to have in your anti-ageing skincare routine. 

Packed with brightening Vitamin C, firming Hibiscus Peptides and de-puffing Coffee Cherry extract, this clever vegan and cruelty-free serum is packaged in an elegant twist-up tube, which has a ceramic tip that feels oh-so-soothing when you gently massage it around the eye area first thing in the morning.

The New Zero Waste Night Moisturiser: Balade en Provence Solid Night Cream* (40g, £12.50, link)

You regularly use bars of soap and you've switched over to shampoo bars too, but did you know that there's now a brand new night cream that comes in a solid bar format? Introducing Balade en Provence Solid Night Cream, this entirely plastic-free creation is handmade by French artisans and is certified vegan, organic and cruelty-free. It's also palm-oil free, plus the card box that it's packaged in is fully compostable and printed with biodegradable vegetable ink, making it a serious win-win for the planet! 

Even better, the Solid Night Cream bar is composed of just four natural ingredients; Cacao Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil and Carnauba Wax, which results in an ultra-nourishing, hydrating and soothing moisturiser for your skin. To use it, simply warm the bar in your hands so that it melts and creates a balm texture that you can smooth onto the face - it's amazing to use for an evening facial massage as well. 100% natural and fragrance-free, I recommend it for dry and sensitive skin types.

The Multi-Functional Face Oil: NSF (NeuroSkinFeeds) The MicroOil* (50ml, £49, link)

Multi-functional skincare that boasts benefits for your skin and your mind are becoming more and more popular these days and one of my recent discoveries has been the wonderful NSF The MicroOil from NeuroSkinFeeds. On the one hand, this facial oil is rich in plant-based antioxidants and fatty acids with high levels coming from Squalene Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Camelina Sativa Seed Oil which are also high in Vitamin E, essential for healthy skin maintenance. These oils work hard to calm irritation and redness, boost elasticity and firmness, smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, support the skin's natural barrier and maintain moisture levels for a softer and more hydrated complexion.

On the other hand, these plant oils also double up to have a positive effect on mental wellbeing thanks to their Omega 3 rich levels and the natural properties of Tryptophan, an important precursor for Serotonin AKA the 'happy' hormone'. Given the stress of this year, I'll use as much as possible!

Have you discovered any new skincare products this Autumn?

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Introducing: Plenaire Skincare - Rose Jelly Makeup Remover + Tripler 3-in-1 Exfoliating Clay review

 

Plenaire Skincare is a luxury, London based clean beauty brand who I was introduced to recently via TheDrug.Store. This independent online health and wellness retailer has a dedicated team which vets each and every product that they sell to make sure that it matches up to their high standards of sustainability, ethics and efficacy, so consumers can be assured that they're buying only the best products for their needs.

Plenaire are an interesting brand as they're very much 'back-to-basics', something that you don't often see these days in the crazy world of beauty and its seemingly bottomless pit of new releases! Instead, Plenaire has focused on developing just four skincare staples, all of which are cruelty-free, vegan-friendly and free from the most common 'nasties' that us green beauty fans like to avoid.  

To trial them out, I was kindly sent two bestsellers from Plenaire to put to the test, their Rose Jelly Makeup Remover and the Tripler 3-in-1 Exfoliating Clay.

Plenaire Rose Jelly Makeup Remover* (30ml, £16, link)

I adore anything rose based in my skincare, so I had an inkling that I was going to love this Rose Jelly Makeup Remover from the get-go and I wasn't wrong! The light gel-like jelly texture contains Sugar-based actives and pure distilled Rosewater which gently combine to form a milky cleanser once it's emulsified with a little water, effectively dissolving makeup as you massage it in. Whilst it made short work of my long-wear liquid foundation and the rest of my makeup, it did struggle a little with waterproof mascara so I would recommend using a dedicated eye makeup remover with it if you wear a lot of really stubborn mascara formulas. That said, it removed all traces of natural and mineral-based mascaras and eyeliners, and it didn't leave my skin feeling stripped or dry afterwards.

Perhaps the only downside is that towards the end of the INCI, you will find Benzyl Alcohol and Parfum (Fragrance) listed so I would advise doing a patch test first if you have sensitive skin. I also feel that this product is quite expensive for what it is as there are no organic or fairtrade certifications with regards to the ingredients to justify the price tag, but there's no denying that this is a lovely makeup remover to indulge in if you have the cash to splash.

Plenaire Tripler 3-in-1 Exfoliating Clay* (30ml, £18, link)

I was excited to try the Tripler 3-in-1 Exfoliating Clay as multipurpose skincare products are always a lot of fun to test out and this little beauty can be used as a face mask, cleanser and exfoliator so it's perfect for weekends away and holidays when travel resumes again. I actually want to book a trip just so that I can pop this sleekly designed tube in my carry-on! So how does it work? Using a blend of mineral-rich French Clay and Blackcurrant Fruit Powder, it delivers a gentle cleansing and exfoliating experience which feels purifying and refreshing. I don't tend to reach for manual exfoliators much these days but the Blackcurrant Fruit Powder doesn't feel scratchy on the skin, quite the opposite in fact, so it mildly buffs away dead skin cells for a smoother and clearer complexion.

If you have oily skin, you could easily use this as a daily cleanser and exfoliator.  For more combination types like mine, I personally prefer to use it as a weekly face mask treatment when my skin feels congested (I leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off). Like the Rose Jelly Makeup Remover above, it does also contain a small amount of Benzyl Alcohol and Parfum (Fragrance) so a patch test is a must if you have sensitive skin, and again, I do feel it's quite pricey, even though I've thoroughly enjoyed using it!

Shop the full range of Plenaire Skincare at TheDrug.Store

Have you tried anything from Plenaire?

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October Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

Take a break from refreshing that news button and catch up with my latest Empties instead! Here's everything that I've managed to finish up recently and which ones I'll be repurchasing again.

Odacité Black Mint Cleanser* (review)

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have no doubt spotted this Black Mint gel cleanser in my skincare routines over on IG stories over the past 2-3 years - I've gone through a few of these! It's one of the only cleansers that I've used which has charcoal in it that doesn't strip or dry out my skin, and I love how cooling and refreshing it is so it's absolutely perfect to use first thing in the morning! I highly recommend it for oily/combination skin that's prone to breakouts. Repurchase? Already have.

Hairy Jayne Floral Hair Perfume & Heat Protector Spray* (review)

It's been a weird year and I've found that I've hardly reached for certain beauty products that I used to see as a regular essential due to working from home. One such product is this beautiful Hair Perfume & Heat Protector Spray from Hairy Jayne, a brand that I've used for years. This is a great 2-in-1 product for anyone who wants to quickly refresh their hair whilst they're styling it, and this floral scent is just gorgeous. Repurchase? Will do when normal life resumes as it's taken me nearly a year to just finish this one bottle!

Aurelia Botanical Cream Deodorant* (review)

An award-winning deodorant for many reasons, if you have struggled to find a natural deo that works for you, try this! It has a lovely fresh and herbal-like fragrance but most importantly, it works a treat. I mainly used it during summer when I wanted a harder-working deodorant to keep me fresh all day. Expensive yes, but so worth it and it lasts a good while too. Repurchase? Yes.

Ben & Anna Natural Toothpaste White Fluoride* (review)

Looking for a plastic free toothpaste? This ethical and natural toothpaste is packaged in a fully recyclable glass jar with a metal lid and works in pretty much the same manner as a regular toothpaste - all you're doing differently is applying from a jar instead of squeezing it out from a tube. I like this one as it's free from SLS but still has fluoride in it, though Ben & Anna do make fluoride-free toothpastes if you prefer trying one of those instead. Repurchase? Yes.

Friendly Soap Hair & Body Bar in Lavender & Geranium (travel size)

I don't remember where this came from, perhaps a beauty box? I'm glad I discovered it anyway as it's such a lovely soap and I really enjoyed the relaxing Lavender & Geranium fragrance. Repurchase? Yes, I'll definitely look more into this brand.

Natura Siberica Strengthening Nail & Hand Cream 

My hands need all the help they can get these days and Natura Siberica's Strengthening Nail & Hand Cream ticks all the right boxes. It's very moisturising without feeling greasy or sticky and does seem to help strengthen my nails which is always a winner in my book. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some of my other hand creams first.

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum (travel size)

The 'maskne' struggle continues but luckily this Congested Skin Serum from Balance Me helps to drastically reduce the size of blemishes before they erupt into a bigger mess, making them much more manageable and easier to get rid of. If you don't have maskne, it will work just as well on any congested areas, especially oilier T-zones and foreheads, basically anywhere that's prone to spots. Repurchase? Yes.

Nature's Notes Lambada Soap* (review)

A new favourite indie soap company that I discovered earlier in the year, I was very sad to use up the last of their Lambada Soap in the shower the other day! With a blend of Sweet Orange, Patchouli & Ginger, it smelt amazing and left my skin feeling soft and cared for. Definitely check them out if you're looking for wonderful palm-oil free soaps. Repurchase? Already working my way through another one!

Ermana Comfort Balm* (review)

It's that time of year again when the temperature drops and I'm reaching for all of my multipurpose balms to help save my skin. This one from Ermana is a great choice as it soothes and hydrates quickly so you can use it on any area that needs some extra TLC. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some other similar products first.

Trilogy Very Gentle Cleansing Cream* (review)

By far, one of the best cream cleansers that I've ever tried for sensitive skin, I've used Trilogy's Very Gentle Cleansing Cream for a few years now and always go back to it whenever my skin is playing up. In fact, it's one of those staples that I always have in my bathroom cabinet as it reduces irritation and redness fast and adds essential moisture at the same time. Repurchase? Already have!

Tropic Beauty Booster Sheer Foundation in Warm Beige* (review)

A summer favourite of mine, Tropic's Beauty Booster Sheer Foundation is perfect for anyone who likes a light coverage that doesn't feel like you're wearing any makeup, but still delivers a 'my skin but better' finish. I've recommended it so many times to family and friends and it has the added bonus of SPF 35. Repurchase? Will do next summer.

Balm Balm Ylang Ylang Eau De Parfum* (travel size, review)

For a fuss-free natural and organic fragrance, you can't go wrong with the beautiful single note perfumes from Balm Balm. I've had the pleasure of trying out the whole range over the years and Ylang Ylang is still a firm fave, especially for evenings out and long summer nights. Repurchase? Yes.

P.S - How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties!

All of the glass and easy-to-recycle plastic PET empties will be put into my council's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme, but for the harder-to-recycle stuff, I will be:-

• Recycling the pumps, lids and atomisers with Neal's Yard Remedies - more info at the bottom of their website here.
• Recycling any other products that my local council doesn't accept at The Body Shop, L'Occitane or with Garnier's Terracycle partnership - more info here.

What have you used up recently?

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