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Saturday 27 July 2013

Hands Up For NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream

With samples of NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream to review, I thought immediately of an important member of the family.  Penny is 8¾, suffers from seasonal hay fever and sometimes experiences eczema.  If her hands are allowed to get dry, she gets outbreaks of red dots between her fingers and itchiness.  She was keen to try out NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream.






NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream is made from 98% natural ingredients, which are specially chosen for their rich, nourishing and moisturising properties.  The full ingredients, as listed on the NATorigin website (www.natorigin.co.uk) are:-

Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Isocetyl Stearate, Glycerin, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Organic Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Lactic Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil

As ingredients are subject to change, it's always wise to check the ingredients on the actual product.


Penny gave a very good feedback.  She said that after using a small amount of NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream, her hands immediately felt smooth and comfortable.  The cream absorbed well and didn't leave greasy hands.  Even after washing her hands and not immediately reapplying the cream, they still looked and felt good.  After a few days of using small amounts of the cream, there was a definite improvement.  Her hands were well moisturized and there were certainly no signs of eczema.  Penny's mother agreed with her comments and gave the cream her approval. 

I tried NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream on my rather dry hands.  Just a small application of the cream seemed to result in both an immediate and longer term benefit.  My hands were softer and smoother.  I liked the fresh, lemony fragrance too.

Pricewise, at a retail price of £9.25 for a 60ml tube, NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream initially seems expensive compared to the ordinary, popular hand creams in the shops.  I find, though, that cheaper creams need to be applied liberally, very regularly and always after washing hands but a little bit of NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream goes a long way and gives a lasting benefit. Used over a period of time it is really effective and improves the condition of dry, sensitive hands.  I think that if an excellent, hypoallergenic hand cream containing natural ingredients is required, NATorigin Hand and Nail Cream gives very good value for money.

Monday 22 July 2013

HEATWAVE, HAVAIANAS and the SERPENTINE GALLERY PAVILION

It's been hot, hot, hot here in London!  It's definitely bare feet and sandals and some new Havaianas were needed.

  
These are Slim Logo Metallic Havaianas in a Light Golden and Black colour combination.  I think these are actually elegant flip flops!!!

In this weather, Londoners and tourists head to the parks.  In Kensington Gardens, after so many days without rain, the grass, usually so green, is looking brown and parched.  Not so in the areas where the flower beds are - the sprinklers have been on.  Here the flowers are blooming, the grass is green and the air is fragrant.



Then I walked on through the park to see the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.    Every year, the Serpentine Gallery invites a different architect to design a summer pavilion.  This year, Sou Fujimoto designed a semi-transparent structure of simple cubes made from fine,white steel bars. His inspiration was the concept of blending nature and greenery with a geometric construction.  



Looking through to the interior of the pavilion, it is designed as a multi-purpose social space and includes a café and tables and chairs for visitors.


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The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion will stand until the 20th October.

Today is forecast to be the hottest day so far but we are warned that it's all going to end in a terrible thunderstorm!!!

Monday 15 July 2013

NATorigin LENGTHENING MASCARA AND PENCIL EYE LINER (Hypoallergenic Eye Makeup)

Although I'm not aware of any specific allergies, I have in the past occasionally experienced itchy/dry eyes. My eyes are also sensitive to bright sunlight or early morning light and sometimes water under these conditions. For those reasons I am careful about what I use on my eyes, so the idea of a mascara and eyeliner made from natural and gentle ingredients appealed to me.  I was keen to try the samples I received of NATorigin Lengthening Mascara and NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner, both in Black.

I will begin with NATorigin Lengthening Mascara, which recently won a Bronze in the FreeFrom Skincare Awards.


NATorigin Lengthening Mascara - Black

Made from 98.5% natural ingredients, these include delicious sounding oil extracted from the seeds of arctic raspberries, shea butter and jojoba oil.  Many of the ingredients are known to improve the condition of eyelashes. 

The full ingredients, as listed on the NATorigin website, (www.natorigin.co.uk) are:-

Aqua (Water), Sorbitol, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Ford Oil Copolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum Extract, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycerin, Tribehenin, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Hull Powder, Glyceryl Behenate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Propolis Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Organic Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol.

May contain ±: CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77499 (Black Iron Oxides), CI 19140:1 (Yellow 5 Aluminium Lake), CI 77491 (Red Iron Oxides), CI77492 (Yellow Iron Oxides)

As ingredients can be subject to change, I would suggest checking the ingredients shown on the actual product.


MY THOUGHTS ON NATorigin LENGTHENING MASCARA (BLACK)

This mascara is easy to apply smoothly and the brush supplied is good too.  There is no clogging and the result is lovely.  I really think it makes my lashes look longer, luxuriant and very black.

Out and about, there is no discomfort, no running or smudging below the eyes and removal afterwards is simple and clean.

From a style and colour point of view, this mascara is also made in Brown, Blue and Green and competes well with high fashion brands.

The price of this product on the NATorigin website is £14.50.   Compared to non-hypoallergenic mascaras, it is approximately £6 more than a cheap brand and £10 less than an expensive designer mascara.  I consider it to be an excellent mascara and with the added benefit of its hypoallergenic and natural qualities, I think NATorigin Lengthening Mascara gives very good value for money.

Moving on to NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner, which won a Silver in the FreeFrom Skincare Awards.


NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner - Black

The pencil is made from 100% natural ingredients, which include beeswax, oily extract of arctic raspberry seeds and shea butter.

The full ingredients, as listed on the NATorigin website, (www.natorigin.co.uk) are:-


Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Cetyl Laurate, Talc, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Stearic Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Organic Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil.

May Contain ±: CI 77499 – CI 77491 – CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake)



As with the mascara, the ingredients can be subject to change and I would suggest checking the ingredients shown on the actual product.


WHAT I THINK ABOUT NATorigin PENCIL EYE LINER (BLACK)


I am able to easily draw a good line around my eyes with this pencil and I think the effect is soft, black and velvety.  I find that it also works well on the eyebrows. 

It's comfortable to wear and I don't find bits appearing in the corners of the eyes or smudging below.  It stays on well, even in the current hot weather, but is easy to remove later.  Another important point is that this pencil sharpens well without difficulty.

I'm impressed that it also comes in Brown, Blue, Green, Grey and Lilac. 

The price of this product on the NATorigin website is £7.25.  Compared to non-hypoallergenic pencil eye liners, it is approximately £4 more than a cheaper brand and £10 less than an expensive designer brand.  An excellent pencil eye liner, with the added benefit of its hypoallergenic and natural qualities, I think NATorigin Pencil Eye Liner is very good value for the money.


I really like both NATorigin Lengthening Mascara and Pencil Eye Liner in Black.  I think that together they make a really good pair.

Monday 1 July 2013

NATorigin MAKEUP ........GETTING CLOSER TO NATURE

It's July now and the weather is warming up.  The sales are going strong and fashion wise it's between season in the shops.  I think it's time to think summer and be outside more, getting closer to nature.

Enjoying the great outdoors is not the only way to embrace nature.  I was reminded of this when a lovely little packet of natural and organic makeup and skincare products arrived in the post from NATorigin for my review.  I became interested in these products following my recent visit to the Free From Show at Olympia in London (see my post "Hypoallergenic Makeup", dated 11th June).    



The products to be reviewed, shown in the photograph above (clockwise) are:-

Samples of Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Lengthening Mascara - Black
Samples of Hand and Nail Cream
Lipstick - Lychee (52)
Loose Powder Foundation - Beige (13)
Pencil Eyeliner - Black

NATorigin cosmetics and skincare products are all made from at least 97% naturally sourced ingredients.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to try them out and write a series of reviews on them, so look out for them!  It will be my summer project.