So many products coming in, so little time to get through them all! So we’ve picked the ones we liked most and here’s this week’s run down:
The stash
Clockwise, left to right:
ECOVER LAUNDRY TABLETS
Rated 4.9/5 on BigGreenSmile.com? No wonder. These work really well for whites and they’re better for the planet.
(Watch out for our HOW GREEN IS YOUR CLEAN coming soon! To be honest, we do wonder why anyone still uses semi-toxic household cleaning products when there are so many (often) affordable natural alternatives out there – like our new favourite Method’s Clementine Washing Up Liquid – now we’ll never go back to the one beginning with “F”…)
CLARINS 3-DOT LINER (in brown) launches at the end of August at Clarins.co.uk and here’s the Boots beauty video on how to use the black, which has already been out for quite a while WATCH
REN FLASH RINSE 1 MINUTE FACIAL
It’s new, it tones, helps firm and fights that fatigued look – all in one. For the full low down, head over to REN
BIRCH AND BROOK Secret Garden Candle
New candle brand Birch and Brook have absolutely nailed the scent of a British summer garden – this is so pretty. Notes of hyacinth and lily of the valley with mandarin, peony, musk and vetiver are in their organic wax candle – and, very importantly, it’s free from chemicals, palm, paraffin and petroleum. Burn time 40 hours.
If you love a smoky aroma, like a crackling autumn evening Fireside, check out their candle of the same name. Meanwhile, their Library candle is an olfactory work of art – comforting, cosy and elegant but never musty, never too masculine and quite intriguing, it has to be lit to be believed. There are three candles in the range so far, with more in the pipeline (but we’ve been sworn to secrecy about the details!)
The Birch & Brook Secret Garden candle is £32 at www.birchandbrook.co.uk
SANTAVERDE Aloe Vera Shower Gel and Hand Cream
Natural plant-powered brand Santaverde have singled out aloe vera as the star ingredient in one of their ranges and if you’ve ever split open a succulent aloe vera “leaf” (not the right word, but can’t think of the right one, right now!) you’ll know how healing and hydrating its viscous “juice” is.
The Aloe Hand Cream is a good working hand cream and the Aloe Shower Gel is a real keeper so if you love your shower gels pure, clean, green and baby gentle (which leave your skin as soft as a toddler’s) this one’s got your name on it.
Santaverde is at Santaverde.co.uk, Lovelula and other online retailers, as well as at Harvey Nichols.
NEALS YARD REMEDIES Garden Mint & Bergamot Hand Cream
A modern classic, NYR’s rich but never greasy natural Mint and Bergamot Hand Cream smells like a fresh summer morning in Italy. As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, guess what we’ll be keeping by the kitchen window?
YOUNGBLOOD COSMETICS Liquid Mineral Foundation (and black Eyeliner – not shown)
OK, so this particular black eyeliner is probably hiding in “someone’s” handbag as it clearly didn’t make it into this pic! Take it from us, it’s easy to apply, doesn’t rub off yet it does come off when you want it to. We liked it.
As a rule, we still don’t think the more natural formula foundations are technically on a par with the Chanels, Diors and Laura Merciers of the foundation world but if you’re in the market for something on the natural side, this one’s worth a look.
DLUX VITAMIN D SPRAY by Better You
What’s pepperminty, ultra-portable and will make you never want to swallow a horse pellet size capsule again (let alone haul around bottles of them?) and no glass of water needed.
Spray DLux under your tongue daily for a quick fix of 3,000 iu bioavailable Vitamin D.
A healthy little Christmas stocking filler, the 100 sprays will last you a good 3 months. Also pictured is MultiVit – same technology, but no minty taste (it does taste a bit “vitamin-y” – we preferred the DLux which almost doubles as a handy breath freshner). Both DLux and MultiVit deliver your daily dose under-the-tongue (or the inside of your cheek). Award-winning innovation from Better You, this is the way of the future.
No. 7 – THE NEW AUTUMN MAKEUP COLLECTION
There’s more to the whole new No. 7 collection but what we have here is the new glossy “Patent” nail colours in darkest blue (think vintage Jag) and a shiny black; two new Matte Lip Crayons in Raspberry Red and Raspberry Wine; and a new Pop and Go Cream Blush in Watermelon. The whole range is at Boots stores and Boots.com right now.
You might also like? The food, travel and home accessories picks in The Simple Things.
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