Review: Alison Claire Remarkable: Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion + Lemongrass Shower Gel



I love being introduced to new brands, especially all-natural ones! There was a time where I refused to use anything unless it was all natural, and now I am ashamed to say that I have relaxed that rule as i've became more interested in beauty products. However, I am always on the look out for innovative brands that are able to deliver excellent results with their all-natural products, enabling me to get back to being even more eco-friendly than I already am.

Alison Claire Remarkable is a bio-natural skincare company, that have developed products targetted at sensitive skin using irritant free and hypoallergenic ingredients. There is no reason for having harsh chemicals in beauty products, and Alison Claire have recognised this, creating a brand that prides itself in being all natural.

The Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion* and Lemongrass Shower Gel* are just two of the body essentials that Alison Claire have released. I already have an overflowing drawer of body lotions and gels (Many of which are full of harsh chemicals therefore they sit and gather dust at the bottom!), but these two went straight to the top of my 'To Try' list.

Lavender and chamomile have to be two of my favourite ingredients in skincare products (Bath products especially!) as they have such a soothing fragrance that takes me back to when my younger sister was a baby and I used to sit in the bathroom and go through all of her baby bath products, smelling them and trying them out. I also suffer from extremely senstive skin on my legs, so anything to calm the constant irritation is great for me. I found that the product wasn't quite as thick as other lotions, meaning that it was easy to cover my body and absorbed quickly. It left my skin feeling lovely and soft, but no softer than any other lotion i've tried. However, the scent that went along with it is what makes this product so great in my books, very indulgent as well as the ingredients being rich in antioxidents to protect your skin against irritation. You can purchase the Lavender & Chamomile Body Lotion here.

Lemongrass is not an ingredient that has caught my eye in the past, however I always welcome citrus-y products in the morning to give me that much-needed boost. I found that this  product lathered quite well, and left a slight fragrance on my skin that wasnt too overpowering. It also had a quite spicy undertone to it due to the inclusion of witch hazel and white willow bark, which made the product stand out against the other citrus-y shower products I own, as it really compiments the 'all-natural' element to the product.  You can purchase the Lemongrass Shower Gel here.

I had a lot of fun trying out these products, purely because I didn't feel that familiar twinge of guilt when I use soimething that isn't as environmentally friendly as it could be. I'm definitely interested in purchasing more from the Alison Claire range (I have my eye on the Vanilla and Coconut Shampoo next!) as being able to endulge in quality skincare without the guilt is something we should all enjoy doing! The only downside is that practically each product is priced at £12, which could be considered quite steep for a shampoo or hand cream. However, if you don't mind paying that little bit extra for something that's all-natural and most probably better for you than what you're using, i'd definitely recommend it!

You can purchase Alison Claire skincare from their website here.

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Review: The Body Shop Earth Lovers 100% Biodegradeable Shower Gel!

The environment has always been a big concern for me, and now that i'm more interested in beauty than I ever was it has become more important than ever that I am still as committed to doing my bit for the planet.

Therefore, when there is an eco-friendly option...for anything really, I definitely take it! Which is exactly why I decided to try The Body Shop's Earth Lovers 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel.
The Body Shop have always prided themselves in being against animal testing, encouraging and supporting fair trade and protecting the planet, but this product is by far their most eco-friendly yet.

The Earth Lovers body cleansing range comes in six different scents:

• Lemon & Thyme
• Pear & Lemongrass
• Apricot & Basil
• Watermelon & Eucalyptus
• Cucumber & Mint
• Unscented (So it's actually 5 scents!)

 As you can see, even the scents are all natural, including herbs which I found quite strange at first. I've smelt each one in the shop, and they smell gorgeous. Not riddled with chemicals or overpowering, just a fresh subtle scent. I decided to try the Lemon & Thyme, only because I was feeling quite citrus-y that day, but I have also tried the watermelon & Eucalyptus and cucumber & mint.

 I love that there is no colour, it only emphasises the fact that the shower gel isn't harmful and you aren't washing your body with chemicals.
The product doesn't contain sulphates, parabens, colourants and is soap free, but it does contain lots of cleansing agents so your skin does have the same outcome. I found that because of this, it doesn't lather up as well as other shower gels, so you have to be a bit more vigorous with the scrubbing in order to create a lather. However, the gorgeous scent is strong enough to linger on your skin way after drying off, but it certainly isn't overpowering.

An added bonus is that because it's quite difficult to lather and 100% biodegradable, the suds disappear quickly from the bottom of the shower, making it easier to clean up at the end - it's also good to know that the suds aren't poisoning the ocean by being riddled with harmful chemicals that cannot be broken down and essentially ruins the sealife.
The lack of chemicals means it doesn't irritate the skin, and can be used on anyone with even the most sensitive skin. I suffer from bad rashes on my legs, and when I used the cooling cucumber & mint, I found that it reduced the redness and soothed my sore skin. You can even use it on babies and small children, because it's so gentle on skin.
After use, you can pop the bottle into the recycling knowing that it will be re-used again and again which is excellent, as many beauty products are simply thrown into a landfill.

It's amazing that you can be contributing so greatly to the protection of the natural environment just by switching to another shower gel, costing just £5 for 250ml.
It is a perfect product for anyone who is concerned for what they use on their skin, and for anyone who simply cares about the future of our environment. Either way, this is a top-quality product without the nasty chemicals.

Review: 'I love...Juiced up blackcurrent' bubble bath & shower creme!

I love... Cosmetics are a budget brand of fruit fragranced products that range from bubble bath to scented candles.
Since their creation in 2008, I love...  are internationally renowned for their delicious scents and bright colours that aim to "generate a pure feel good factor and a sense of pure happiness".
That is precisely why I was so excited to try their newest addition: Limited Edition I love...juiced up blackcurrant bubble bath & shower creme.

Not only does it contain one of my favourite scents, it's also my favourite colour which is an added bonus:

I cannot get enough of this packaging. The bottle is a gorgeous shape, and the transparency shows off a luxurious purple colour. It's simple, concise and I love the description!

As I have said before, I love... products are reasonably inexpensive and this limited edition bottle is no exception. You can buy 500ml for only £2.05 - What a bargain!

What I think is great about this product is that it is both a bubble bath and shower creme, so there's even more value for money! As i've had a pretty hectic schedule lately, I decided to try it out as a shower creme. I found that I only needed a small amount, and lathered up extremely easily when using a shower puff. Literally as soon as I opened the bottle I was hit with a sweet smelling scent of blackcurrent's (Which is as close to fruit as i've been for a long time due to my student shopping budget!) and got out of the shower smelling like a Rowntree's Fruit Pastille!

If you're like me and a sucker for something with a strong scent, this is definitely for you. It's excellent value for the amount .. my mouths watering just thinking about it! A must buy for anyone who wants their day brightened as soon as they step into the shower - and it looks great on your bathroom shelf!