Battling Eczema the Natural Way with Eczema Honey Co.

Today's review post will take a bit of a personal turn - let me start by taking you back almost 29 years ago. When I was still a baby, I had really sensitive skin and my parents had to limit themselves with what to wash me, my clothes and they even had to make sure that anything would come in contact my skin was hypoallergenic and as my mum says, it was quite a challenge. 

I even used to get nappy rash and no matter how many nappy brands they tried, the same thing would happen all over again. To top it off, I started suffering from bouts of eczema which would come and go especially during the summer months and with the change of seasons, on different parts of my body - neck, inner elbows and legs. As I progressed to my teenage years, my skin became oilier and the affected areas were limited to just my legs, where my skin is drier.

I switch to an oil-based shower gel during summer to prevent eczema from raising its head but sometimes, my skin flares up just the same. Can you imagine not being able to wear shorts or skirts in a very hot Maltese summer out of shame at how my legs look? They would look really ugly - itchy, flaky, red and I would even get blotchy areas from the constant itching. I used to apply medicated topical creams to the affected areas but they would only work temporarily.

At the end of last month, I was introduced to the Eczema Honey Co., an American company which manufactures an anti-eczema cream from honey and all natural, organic ingredients. I was keen to finally come across a natural product to use on my skin when it isn't on its best behaviour so I accepted to review their products.

They sent me a jar of their original formula of the Eczema Honey and they also sent me the nut free version. The founders themselves are eczema sufferers and they have set up the Eczema Honey Co. to share this little miracle-in-a-jar the world over to relieve the symptoms of eczema. They clearly state that the cream is not meant to cure eczema and they still recommend visiting a doctor to properly diagnose the condition but claim their cream works wonders at reducing flare-ups.

I've put them to the test to see if they would make a difference to my skin and also to see if I noticed anything different between the formulas. The jars contain 120ml (4oz.) of product and they come nicely packaged over yellow crinkled paper and they currently retail for $29.95 per jar (you can get 15% off if you opt for a monthly or bi-monthly subscription too and you can get a discount with my code further down too!). 

I tried the original formula first which has organic pure honey, organic beeswax, organic almond oil, organic sunflower oil and pure spring water as it's ingredients. We have all heard of the ingredients and their benefits when incorporated in a skin care regimen so you know you are getting something good. Moreover, honey has antiseptic properties which provide the ideal barrier against bacteria, the oils act as emollients and help restructure the skin's damaged lipid barrier while the beeswax is there to provide moisture. The spring water on the other hand also provides hydration as well as protection to sensitive skin.

The nut-free version consists of the same ingredients but has grapeseed oil instead of almond oil. It still has the same function and in fact, I didn't perceive any difference in texture or performance between the two formulas. Both formulas are gluten-free to avoid further itching.

I apply the cream on the affected areas twice daily and with eczema, it only took a couple of days for the itching and redness to subside as I caught it right at the beginning. The creams can also be used to heal psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), sunburn, shave burn, rash, acne, boils, inflamed, dry or itchy skin as well as a makeup remover and lip balm.

I have used it as a lip balm, on mosquito bites to relieve the itch, keratosis pilaris and a couple of pimples. The cream has proved to be an effective remedy for each of them by decreasing the effects of dry skin over time. I didn't like using it as a makeup remover though as I found my skin needed a more thorough cleansing, not just the double cleansing which I usually do. Having said that, it is worth mentioning that it didn't burn my eyes because it is all natural. I did like using it as a 20-minute facial mask though. All you need to do is apply a thicker layer and then wipe off with a towel.

Since it is made out of natural ingredients, it is advised to store the jars in a refrigerator or freezer once opened. This will not only ensure your product lasts long, but it will also make for a refreshing, ice-cold treat your skin will thank you for ;)

Should you wish to buy Eczema Honey Co. products, I thought you might want to know that the company offers a 100% refund guarantee. Oh and there's one more thing! If you use the code larahoney at checkout, you get a $2 off every jar too!

Check out Eczema Honey Co. on their website as well as Facebook and Instagram to learn more about this natural miracle worker! If only you were around 29 years ago! Thank you Eczema Honey Co., from one very satisfied customer!

PR Samples. Since the products are shipped from the US, you might incur a minimal duty charge on delivery to Malta.

Raise Your Legs for Erba Vita Sollievo Venis Gel!

We all know the feeling after getting home from a hard day's work - all we want to do is just kick back, relax and raise our legs. My job requires standing for long periods of time and more often than not, I end up with heavy, swollen legs at the end of the day; so much so, that I tend to avoid wearing short skirts if I'm going out afterwards.

Thankfully, Erba Vita have come to my rescue once again with their Sollievo Venis Gel and let me tell you, I am not the only fan in the house! Life happens and currently, me and my better half are going through a very busy yet exciting time in our life - he is taking care of construction works at our new house and his full time work while I manage the one we are currently living in, wedding plans, my job and of course this blog and all the glitz that comes with it; and well, our legs have definitely felt the strain.

We tried the Erba Vita Sollievo Venis Gel for the first time after a full day of manual work for him and a 12 hour shift for me. Let me tell you more about the product and our experience using it.

The gel is presented in a box with contains a 150ml tube of gel of course and an information leaflet. As with other Erba Vita products, the gel is composed of mainly natural ingredients and herbal extracts which aim to restore swollen, heavy legs to normality in no time. If we have a look at the ingredients, you will notice there are no PEG's, petroleum or parabens. The main ingredients are Aloe Gel, Vite Rossa, Centella, dried extracts of horse chestnut as well as mint, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils and enriched with avocado oil to name a few.

Mint has quite a predominant scent and you can actually smell it as soon as you open the box. The gel is a clear yellow in colour and is meant to be massaged morning and night to ensure the well being of our legs. When I first applied the gel, (in upwards, circular motions), I couldn't feel anything and honestly thought it doesn't work but after a minute or so, a very welcome, cooling sensation kicked in and I could feel my legs coming back to normal as time went by. The morning after, I applied it again before going to work for another 12 hour shift and well, in the evening, my legs weren't as swollen as the day before. As for my fiancé, he applied the gel after a though day at our new house and he could immediately feel a tingling, cooling sensation that offered almost instantaneous relief from any pain.

I have been using the gel in the morning before work and in the evening to minimize swelling after a day of standing on my legs and this has greatly improved how my legs feel after work or a weekend of wearing heels. As for my significant other, he really enjoys the cooling effect of the gel and his legs feel a lot lighter after applying it. One thing to note is that unlike other cooling gels I have tried in the past, this one doesn't feel sticky on the sticky and the cooling effect kicks in after a couple of seconds rather than immediately upon application.

Tempted? You can try your luck and take part in the giveaway on my Facebook page where you can win your very own Sollievo Venis from Erba Vita! Alternatively you can pick it up from pharmacies for just €12.

PR Sample

Introducing Human+Kind Natural Skin Care

It seems that nowadays, everyone and their mother are more aware of the benefits of eating natural, unprocessed foods and this holds true even for cosmetics - most of the time, natural is best! Today I am introducing you to Human+Kind, one of the latest brands to join the Paloma Cosmetics Portfolio.

Part of the Human+Kind product range at Roseberry

About Human+Kind

Human+Kind is an Irish skin-care brand which as its name implies, it is Human in providing effective, natural skin care solutions, + Kind with its no animal testing policy and environment-friendly approach. The brand saw it's inception in 2011 in Cork, Ireland and was distributed to a few select countries at first and gradually expanded to more markets. Their original and still a best selling product is the Family Remedy cream which individuals who suffer from psoriasis and eczema continually sing their praises for. All products from Human+Kind are free from parabens or petrochemicals.

I was kindly given two products from the range - the Watermelon Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream and the Apple & Herbs Sensitive Conditioner. The packaging of each product is without a doubt striking and very appealing - they have such colourful motifs, they are sure to brighten up your bathroom! Let's have a look at the products individually.

Human+Kind Watermelon Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream - €7.95 for 50ml

First up is the Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream and I have the one that smells of Watermelon, yumm! The smell reminds me so much of summer which is precisely why I like to apply this cream before going to bed - I can go to sleep with happy thoughts on my mind, plus I wake up with baby-soft hands in the morning :) I make sure to use just a little bit though because otherwise, it doesn't get absorbed and just sits on your skin for quite a while. It works equally good on the heels and elbows and contributes to softer skin especially as far as our driest skin points go.

The key natural ingredients that make this product so effective are, Aloe Vera extract, Shea Butter, Marigold Oil, Centella asiatica extract, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil and Cocoa Seed Oil. All of these ingredients are known for their richness and hydration properties as well as their ability in boosting circulation and promoting skin regeneration among other benefits.

Human+Kind Apple & Herbs Sensitive Conditioner - €9.95 for 200ml

Next I have the Human+Kind Apple & Herbs Sensitive Hair Conditioner. My hair is very fine yet it tangles easily and if I dare not condition it, it just doesn't look good. I found this particular conditioner to be a little thicker than my usual ones but it hasn't altered the oil levels in my hair so that's good. It smells nice and leaves my hair looking glossy and feeling soft so this definitely gets a full 5 stars from me! It is marketed as a 2-in-1 product for it soothes sensitive skins and it gently nourishes the hair. The key ingredients are Aloe extract and Marshmallow root/leaf extract which helps alleviate skin irritations.

I think Human+Kind is a promising brand and I am looking into buying the Family Remedy Cream to treat a minor eczema outbreak I currently have.

Human+Kind is available at Roseberry, Valletta and Melita Health and Beauty, St.Julian's.

PR Samples

Review | The Body Shop Early-Harvest Raspberry Body Scrub

In last month's favourites, I have included this body scrub by The Body Shop. Most of you know I swear by their Coconut scrub which is my all time favourite but I decided to give this one a go in one of my last trips to their newly opened shop in Paola.

 

Packaging is the same as for all other scrubs by the eco-conscious brand and I quite like it in all its simplicity. The jelly-like consistency is what reeled me in and when I opened the tester to take a whiff, I was transported to a candy shop thanks to the scrub's sweet smell.

 

 

The Early-Harvest Raspberry Body Scrub is obviously mostly composed of the fruit's extract and the seeds are the main exfoliating ingredient. Although it is pink in colour, it does not stain the skin and since it is much less abrasive than some of the other varieties, I would recommend this for people with not so dry skin types and those with more sensitive skin.

 

I use the scrub twice weekly and like the other Body Shop scrubs I have tried, this one leaves my skin soft, smooth and radiant and the raspberry scent lingers on for quite some time without being overpowering.

 

As a concluding remark, I will definitely add this scrub to my list of favourites from The Body Shop and will gladly repurchase!

 

The Body Shop Early-Harvest Raspberry Body Scrub is available from all The Body Shop outlets across Malta & Gozo and retails for €12.50 for 200ml.

Review: e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Colors

Finally I got my hands on these last month after waiting ages for e.l.f. UK to stock them! Out of the four available shades, I got three, Coral, Tea Rose and Natural.  Praline looked too dark for me so I skipped it.  I have been wearing these lip colours everyday since I got them so I think I am able to provide a thorough review on them. 

Let's start with the packaging!  Each individual crayon comes in a sleek, black, carton box typical of the e.l.f. Studio Line and you get the name and a swatch of the colour on the bottom and top parts of the box.

The tubes are also very sleek and professional looking and the bottom part is coloured accordingly.  Once you pull off the cap, you just have to twist the upper part to get some product out to apply it.  This eliminates the need to sharpen the product.  However, since the product doesn't go all the way down the tube when you twist it back in, this may cause the product to nick when you are putting the cap back on so be careful for that.  The smallish size of these also makes them great to carry around in purses and smaller bags.  You also get quite a good amount of product.

With regards texture, you would expect matte lip colours to feel quite dry and actually dry your lips while you're wearing them.  Well, this is surely not the case with these ones from elf as they feel wonderfully comfortable to wear and not drying at all.  I wouldn't say they moisturize your lips like glossy lipsticks do, but they are just the right amount of creamy to glide on easily without tugging and feel nice on your lips.  They are also insanely pigmented and stay true to their name by staying matte.  They also contain Vitamins A,C & E.  On me, these last for quite a long time so they are definitely keepers in my collection.  Here's a swatch of each of the colours:

Studio Matte Lip Colors: Tea Rose, Coral & Natural

Out of them, Natural is my favourite and the one I wear the most.  I would describe it as a pink-based my-lips-but-better shade that give the lips a boost of colour yet still look natural!

Tea Rose is more of a mauve-purple shade which on me looks darker than Natural but I still like to wear it especially in the evenings.

Originally I wasn't planning on getting Coral but I'm so glad I did! It's the perfect coral for summer and I like how it brightens up a natural make-up look.

I think that is all I have to say about these Matte Lip Colors! I will definitely re-purchase once I run out and maybe elf can come up with more shades! These retail for €4/£3.50 from the e.l.f. cosmetics website.

Have you tried these ladies?

Review: Revlon Beyond Natural Eyelashes in Natural Defining

A couple of months ago, Revlon sent me some items for reviewing and amongst them, were two pairs of eyelashes. I have only got round to try out the first pair last weekend and today, I am going share my views about it with you :)

Since it was my first time wearing falsies (which the bf didn't approve of as he hates anything fake), I decided to go with the natural pair, which the company names as Natural Defining. Here's what the package looks like:

The packaging is quite flimsy since is made of that glossy plastic but on the back it says 'Eco-Friendly Packaging' so thumbs up for that! Another thumbs up for the black and pink colour of the little box. I am really drawn to black packaging when it comes to cosmetics as I think it gives a professional feel; as for the pink... I'll leave that to your imagination (clue: it won't be hard to figure out why hehe :P).

The contents of the pack are one pair of false lashes and an instruction leaflet, but on the back of the pack, there are the instructions in pictures which I think are more explanatory for a first-time user like me. For more tips and tricks on how to apply falsies, please check out this other post :).

As you correctly understood, the glue isn't provided but a sticker on the front suggests to use Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive (I will review the glue in my next post as it was also sent to me as part of the review package). I am not aware of other companies who don't include the glue with the falsies (like I said, I am a bit green in the subject) so if you know of any, please don't hesitate to include their names with your comments below.

Let's see if the lashes pass the test...

When removing them from the pack, I found it really easy to peel off and I managed not to ruin them! Application was also a lot easier than I thought. I found that sitting at my desk with a magnifying mirror made the application easier than standing in front of my bigger mirror. I think looking down rather than straight ahead helps you control more where the lashes go.

I do agree with the 'Ultra Lightweight' written on the pack as when I wore these I didn't experience that 'giant butterfly just landed on my lashes' feeling. I think I owe that to the thinness of the lashes. I did feel like I was wearing something I am not used to though; then again this only lasted a couple of minutes. I used a lash comb to blend them in with my natural lashes and they didn't feel harsh against the comb and also the falsies didn't even fall off whilst I was combing them.

With regards wear longevity of the lashes, they lasted all night and I was really happy with that, but like I said earlier on, I will talk about that in more detail in my lash adhesive review. However, they easily come off when I applied just a few dabs of eye make up remover. Here's a pic of me wearing the falsies (sry but it was the only good one I have):

Have you ever tried these or another brand's falsies? Do you think they will be big this season?

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