SODA and Co

http://www.sodaandco.com/

Soda & Co natural product's are an amazing new company ive found. They are natural and beautifully presented products from Australia. Also kind enough to send me item's to try for my opinion, plus also introduce the company to my UK reader's.

About us :  

SODA & Co is a fun, fresh and vibrant natural skin care range. Made in Melbourne, Australia, SODA & Co uses only the finest natural ingredients, is proudly nut oil free and never test on animals. SODA & Co believes that being natural doesn't have to mean bland or boring. At SODA & Co colour is everything. Our products are a reflection of all things good for you whilst being fun and upbeat.

Our products contain no - 

~ Sodium Laureth Sulphate

~ Petrochemicals

~ Synthetic fragrances

~ Ammonium Laureth Sulphate

~ Tree Nut or Peanut Oils

~ Mineral oils or Phenoxyethanol

~ Parabens

From placing the order to arrival was a quick a easy process. I kindly was sent a Lip Balm and some Sugar scrub scent's.

-  Lip balm -

SODA & Co Lip Balm with Jojoba will soften and revive lips with sweet and uplifting natural scents. 

~ Pink lemonade ~ 

Presented in a silver tin with beautifully clear labelling. Perfect for any handbag, especially with winter approaching. A balm which you apply with your finger's heat. 

The scent of the balm is delightful, i could firstly smell a rich vanilla cake which would then something fruity entwined. Its hard not to get the urge to eat then balm.

Performance wise this balm :

- doesn't leave a heavy feeling

- Smell is divine 

- Lips feel hydrated for days

- Doesnt need to be constantly applied

- Well packaged 

- No greasey feeling like some balms, which make you want to wipe excess away. 

~ Sugar scrub

Treat your skin to the uplifting goodness of this tantalizing 2 in 1 sugar scrub. Enriched with Jojoba and Vitamin E this scrub will naturally help restore and refresh your skin.

~ Orange Crush ~ 

Not only will it leave your skin smelling sweet - the zesty orange scent will be sure to brighten your day. Is the Quote used to describe Orange Crush and i could not agree more. The smell of orange hits you immediately and i find as a scrub smelling so good makes me want to really relax within the shower. 

~ Pink lemonade ~ 

The fun, fresh & enticing scent of pink lemonade is only one of the benefits of this sugary little gem. The scrubs clean the skin without being too harsh, making it gentle enough for everyday use.

I really love these sugar scrubs, especially the Orange scent. It makes your skin feel cleaner then ever, as the sugar allows you to put as much or as little on.  Depending on your preference. 

I like the feeling of a scrub with my as it does give me better absorbtion, for my serums and moisturisers.NB : I would advise if you have any additional scrubs, not expose them to steam within the bathroom. As it can melt the sugar within the scrub. If this happens i just placed in a cool area or fridge to cool it back down. 

Bomb Cosmetics Lip-balm

Bomb Cosmetics

Bomb cosmetics are a natural and unique brand that offers something a little special. There packaging is fun and colourful, giving a real change to the normal and conventional. It's a brand i would purchase from because of the quirky fun style and impressive flavours. I love to see british brands becoming successful and being natural too. 

They say : 

Bomb Cosmetics is a closely guarded and cherished secret in the cosmetics business. Established over 14 years ago. We launched our bright, natural, fun and affordable handmade product's. Our humble beginnings with just a few lovingly crafted Bath Blasters, we now export a varied product range to over 45 countries. We pride ourselves on making product's, that smell and feel wonderful on your skin.

We carefully select the best ingredients, natural butters and pure essential oils. Minimising our packaging as much as possible, to ensure our little luxuries don’t hurt the planet. Also don’t forget, all of our products come with free extra love. So why not make your beauty regime a little more beautiful?

Bomb Cosmetics - Chilli Mango 

An intensely moisturising and juicy chilli mango lip balm with a delicate shimmer. A vibrant and fruity cocktail of peach schnapps, sweet orange, melon and mango with a twist of chilli.

This is a beautiful lip balm with a fruity scent and light tint. Beautifully presented colourful packaging, for this potted lip balm. It applies like any other potted balm, by slightly warming with body heat. Then taking some on your finger to apply to the lips. Which is highly moisturising and a really good balm. I love the slight shimmer this balm seems to have and the scent last's on the lip's. I like this balm so much that im going to look into more bomb cosmetics items. There range looks very stylish with a cute edge to them. So i look forward to bringing more Bomb cosmetics to my blog. 

Lip Smackers Lip balm

LipSmakers UK Website

Firstly an american household brand that is known for its huge range of flavours. So coming to the Uk its taken on some of our favourite and most loved classics. If you want something fun and also available in presentation gift tins. These lip balms will give you more then the balm, they also offer a little bit of retro flashback to your youth. So how are the actual balms at hydrating your lips ?

They say :

In Our World we Explore flavour, colour and design trends to innovate delicious flavours. Develop new flavours and formulas in our lip gloss lab where samples are tasted for authenticity. Design logos, patterns, layouts and labels in our creative studio. 

Since 1973, we have put smiles on lips around the globe. We hope our authentic flavour and colourfully designed products make you happy.

 The colourful, collectable tubes put a smile on every face. We are passionate about making you smile, with high quality products that you love and love to use

LipSmacker Walls Ice Cream Trio Pack 

Taste Walls Ice Cream Retro Ice Creams ideal for party bag pressies or a gift for the girl that loves lip balms. Cult US beauty brand LipSmackers offer the authentic taste of your favorite Walls Ice-cream brands in a lip balm that's good for your lips and tastes even better.  The delicious flavours of Feast, Twister and Starship on your lips. Tastes just like the real thing too.

Flavours include: 

Feast : Brown coloured lip balm with no pigment on application. Has a rich chocolate smell, is like most universal chocolate scents. Can not distinguish the light chocolate from the dark centre, however it does give the scent and doesn't leave quickly like most chocolate balms. 

Twister : Pink tinted balm. Rich fruity scent of the Twister mainly the pink strawberry centre scent is present, as it settles the creamy scent of the ice-cream comes through and mixes with this. Beautifully moisturising and tinted lightly to give a lovely pinch of colour to the lips. 

Starship 4 : Lightly lilac tinted balm which gives no pigment when applied. Smells like mixed berry fruit and has a hint of sherbet/popping candy also. Lovely smelling balm and moisturising. Leaves a nice sheen to the lips. 

Comes packaged within a traditional twist up tube. 

Bubble gum : Comes in a Pink tube with a pink tinted balm. Probably the oddest flavour as i expected the pink bubblegum smell, like candy floss and sweet. This however was minty and smelled like eucalyptus, with that scent of a chewing gum rather then a sweet scent. Very confusing to the senses but this may be what bubblegum colour is in the USA. I liked this but i prefer sweet scents when using lip balm, this would be fantastic for winter when you need this scent to unblock you. 

Essential for the cold weather is a Lip balm. Nothing feels better then moisturised lips as cracked lips do hurt. So when picking a lip balm now that there are so many choices on the market, I'm looking to find one that gives me the most hydration to my lips. The balm's are fabulous for having in your bag,they give instant relief to dry lip's. It's fantastic for all ages and something fun to bring back memories. 

Nivea - Moisturisers and Lip butters

Nivea Website

Nivea is a well loved and trusted brand. Known for there affordable yet high quality skincare. Its become the must have product during the winter for dry skin. Or if your like myself, then its a daily essential no matter the time of year. I have some amazing new additions to show you. 

The moisturising formula of NIVEA Lip Butter with Hydra IQ contains Shea Butter and Almond Oil and provides intense moisture and long-lasting care. The indulgent formula creates sensationally soft lips.

Flavours :

Raspberry Rose

Vanilla & Macadamia 

Lip Butter Original 

Blueberry blush

Beautifully presented tins of lip balm. Perfect for on the go and keeping within your handbag or pocket. They are a creamy balm on apperance. The little body heat in your finger, will melt this butter quick and lightly. Smooth and non grainy, perfect for lip preparation before lipstick application. Also helps keep lips supple and prevention of cracking. This is the holy grail of lip butter's.

When it comes to the scents, I found that they are so unique.

- Original : is a clear and fragrance free balm. Perfect unisex lip balm. 

- Blueberry blush : is just the most amazing  lipbalm that smells divine. I usually pick up the Vanilla and macadamia tin. However this will be a really hard choice now to pick from now on. 

- Vanilla & Macadamia : is like i said my favourite lip balm from Nivea. My handbag holy grail lip balm. I will be rotating my blueberry blush with vanilla & macadamia. Using vanilla & macadamia in the autumn and Blueberry blush for the spring and summer months. 

- Raspberry rose : is a lovely mix of fruity and slight floral. Taking from a beautiful spring fresh smells. 

Rich nourishing body moisturiser

We know that dry skin needs extra care, we developed this enriched formula containing Almond Oil. Too intensively moisturise and care for your skin. What does it do: Restores and replenishes lost moisture, enhances the skin's natural protective layer. The result : For best results apply daily, for a noticeable long-lasting improvement to your dry skin.

This has been a staple in my skincare routine. Its fantastic for the whole body and does enrich your skin. Eluminating dryness i found on my legs and face, especially after a shower. My legs can become rough, so after a final buffing away of the dead skin. I apply this moisturiser, where it absobs quickly. It gives a long lasting hydration and i havent experienced any side effects. So its become my go to trusted moisturiser.

Express Hydration body lotion 

We believe that it is good to care for your skin everyday, so we have developed  this sensationally light feeling formula containing Sea Minerals and blue lotus scent. Best results : apply daily, absorbs in seconds, moisturises for hours. - Provides fast absorbing long-lasting moisture,  Gives a fresh feeling and scent all day long, 24 hour moisturisation

Is a beautiful addition to Nivea's product range. I used this for when i needed a boost during the day. So areas like your elbows or knees etc, where the skin is constantly being in motion. This can offer  a instant boost to the skin and in my case, reduce the risk of my skin cracking.  Definatly fantastic for when your skin needs, a hydrating and quick absorbing cream. I would use this cream for my travel bag, as this will allow me to give boosts of hydration to my skin. Its quickly absorbed which allows me to apply some cream,so when in hospital i can see an area becoming dry due to the conditions. Again this is an addition from Nivea that will help me hugely. In maintaining soft skin within an enviroment i have no control over. 

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Smooth nourishing hand cream

A fast absorbing hand and nail cream that keeps hands beautifully smooth and soft. How? The improved formula with Hydra IQ supports the skin's own moisture supply, whilst Macadamia Nut Oil helps strengthen the skin's protection barrier. Proven result: Noticeably smoother, softer hands for longer.

Hand cream is lovely and gave my hands softness. Plus my nails improved vastly, as have my cuticule's. My nails have been stronger and its been in my handbag. My nails and first to be affected by the cold. So to have this on the go, is an essential. 

Irresistibly smooth body lotion : Dry skin shea butter  

For beautifully soft and silky skin. Regular use ensures that your skin feels smoother and softer. Longer lasting smoothness with hydra-IQ , gives a deep moisture and a long lasting feeling.  This smells beautiful and i found that it was best used after the shower. As when the pores are open it absorbs so well into my skin. It really does give a lovely long lasting feeling that your skin stays soft and hydrated. With no lingering stickiness and a calming aroma that gives your skin an amazing layer of hydration. Really helped on days where my skin needed more help.

Summer essentials

So summer is finally here (touch-wood) and whilst i spent last week hooked to a drip i had my essentials in my bag with me and well i will show you what i will be taking with my in hospital during my surgery. As while yes i wont be doing makeup as i know i wont have hands free to hold a brush or rub in foundation i will have essentials with me. 

So my makeup babies will have to stay home without me :O( 

So my first essential is my personal made bag that i adore and she comes with me everywhere now.

She is always packed with my iPhone, cosmetic bag with girls essentials, clothes and just boredom killers. In my case thats books, puzzles and iPhone check-ins with Facebook and twitter. 

Second essentials for summer are defiantly books, lip-balm and colour .

I love to read historical books, lip balms as i get such dry lips and colour of summer just makes everyone so happy and the moods lifted so high. The heat might not be for everyone but just enjoy with what ever you can and family BBQ's where possible.  

Summer calls for a bit of colour to my iphone 4s so i jazzed them up with these bird cute earphones for when I'm out and cannot wear earrings. These certainly make a talking point when I'm on my way to my appointments.

So enjoy the summer everyone and the beauty of London. 

NUXE Review - Creme fraiche de beaute

A parisian award winning company, NUXE is by far the most interesting companies to watch in terms of exciting innovation. Within there company the strive to get the best of what nature can offer and believe it holds properties in which we can help build and improve upon the health of our skin.

Sourcing the finest natural ingredients and refraining from the use of mineral oil, animal products and parabens, they take a sustainable approach to the production of there products.

Plus they also support the campaign, A home for Bees.

They say 

A natural company with the influence in that plants are therapeutic and building upon the philosophy of 5 natural points and a philosophy of Beauty by Nature.

• Nature as my inspiration. As an inexhaustible source of effectiveness and creativity, it is key to my vision of cosmetics.
• Innovation as a motor. Since its creation, NUXE has had its very own R&D laboratory. Today, there are 37 patents in submission and others are being studied.
• Evaluation as standard. A product is only launched if its safety and effectiveness are proven through rigorous testing and objectives carried out under dermatological supervision.
• Accessibility as a major focus. The most effective treatments are not always the most expensive. I therefore strive to offer consumers high-performance products at the right price.
• Sensoriality as a foundation. In order to blend effectiveness and regularity of use, I am very conscious of creating delightful textures, delicate fragrances and enchanting names.

Leading in the field of cosmetic research and holding a record of 70 awards, you can trust the NUXE has taken the time and really gone the distance with each product it releases. 

I was kindly sent the new "Creme Fraiche de Beaute" to review, described as a botanical milkshake to moisturise and Sooth the skin for 24hours. Which is what my skin is in need of now that its the end of the dry period winter had plagued upon me. I can use NUXE to replenish the skin in hopes that the 24 hour system rings true. As it will save me time in having to reapply during the day.

Creme Fraiche de Beaute Light - 24 hour soothing Emulsion 

Quenches and Matifies for Combination Sensitive Skins

Main points 

Light formula for combination skin, stays matte all day 

Use morning or evening after cleansing

Ideal makeup base 

Contains rice powder to soak up excess oils

This light formula is aimed at combination skin however I'm a drier skin, i think its a lovely product , it stays matte so i find that i can use it as a moisturiser and double up on my priming. As this makes sure i have moisture and is ideal as a base too which will suit me more for summer months. The rice powder it has contained makes it ideal for oily skins, as it will soak up excess and your makeup won't slide during the day. Plus i found it to absorb so well on application , that i used it in the evening when we have been getting the odd humid night to just moisturise my skin intensely. Its a gel like consistency and you only need a little for it to cover the face evenly. Plus it doesn't take ages to absorb.
Then when absorbed i know my face will be protected. Im loving its a multi-use product and i just love having it on my dresser. The ability to if i want a light brush of makeup i can use this as a primer as its so weightless on the skin, then also as a hydrator for night time after i cleanse.

Creme Fraiche de Beaute / Normal - Sensitive skins 

Moisturising cream 

So the claims are that with Active ingredients, mostly being 8 plant milks plus

aloe vera sap, you know from the addition of milk and aloe alone this is for hydrating. I used to use aloe for my sunburns. So that being said plus the claims it will reinforce the skins moisture levels, I was interested to see if this was actually true. The texture is a very light, plus absorbed quickly on application. This was very evident on my skin, however being if a dry category. I can read a good cream by its absorption and if it leaves a residue from just sitting there instead. 

So it did leave my skin feeling moisturised. As will lock this in and soak up, without being uncomfortable or feeling a residue. The scent you might think will bring you out in a rash or breakout, however on reading the ingredients, I found the scent was intact the oils contained in the cream. The almond is not so prominent but the light hit if orange is, without being over-powering. 

With all these natural ingredients being merged to form the best cream to cater women and men who love natural products that work. I can find allergy season to be just as challenging with itchy skin, It's reduced my irritation fully. I'm already a good halfway into my tub from constant use this week. 

x Holy Grail Item from Tara's Treats x

Rive de Miel - Lip moisturising stick

for dry chapped lips

Now this wasn't sent for a review, but i did want to show you that this lip balm is my holy grail.

Now this is my makeup staple I wanted to show you. I buy this every winter as it really moisturises and feels amazing on the lips. It's made with Argan oil, Shea butter, nut oils and loads of natural goodness.

It's smells of honey lightly and has Vitamin E. I use this as its fantastic to apply a little before adding your makeup, as when it comes time to add your lipstick. The lips will be moist and make the application of your lip colours easier. Especially with a Matte formula lipsticks, as I find matte does enficise the dryness. You might think I'm a little mad but it lasts age, doesn't coat the lips so you feel it sitting uncomfortably. It just soaks in and when you rub your lips, that's when you can feel it still there. 

So no need to keep on and on, applying through the day. 

So there you have it, I love NUXE as its facial oil and Lip balm make my winter skin so much happier, but these new products just take me to a whole new realm of exploration. I cannot wait to try some more of these collections, as its becoming clear that my skin does love them. 

Soap and Glory - Lip products

So with the Powders i purchased i was kindly sent some lip products to review and I'm very thankful to Soap and Glory for allowing me to review for them. As I've really been torn on what to try as they all look so good. I adore the packaging so much as its so classic and chic, I'm drawn to that vintage feel in all products i own. 

So i have done separate reviews as to give a proper opinion on each set of products that apply to certain areas, so in the lip section i have the "A great kisser " Lip balm in cherry chocolate, "Sexy mother pucker " Gloss stick in nudist, "Super fabulip stick " Lipstick in Perfect day and "Sexy mother pucker extreme plump " Lip plumper in How nude. 

A Great kisser Lip-Balm in cherry chocolate

This lip balm wow firstly, smells amazing. It reminds me of a black forest gateau almost with the cherry red lip balm infused with the hinty smell of chocolate. This lip balm is quite solid and will melt down with the heat on your finger, it is one of those balms the more you work it the more it moves. So its not a loose consistency on the lip and has a good staying power as it is a thicker formula. This i feel is a really good winter/cold weather balm as the layer is so good at giving you that barrier protection you look for in winter, if you can resist licking it off as it does smell to darn tasty. Plus i must admit its got a sweet taste and not a balmy one so you very well might end up just licking it off without realising. I really do like this balm and think its just a wonderful addition to my handbag.

Super colour fabulip stick in Perfect day

Now i must admit I'm a dubious being when it comes to lipsticks released by brands as i love smooth lipstick that offers hydration as i am not keen on glosses, i find its like sticking glue on my lips. So i very rarely will venture to something new unless i do a lot of research. I can honestly say this is my favourite product in the lip series as wow it is like pure velvet and creamy, plus the pigmentation on these really stunned me. I was just not expecting them to have such great colour payoff. I will be purchasing more of these, as for me they offer such lovely moisturising feeling on my lips. Im going to use this lipstick in my next look post as i need to show you how brilliant the colour payoff is, but i have included a swatch for now so you can see the consistency and pigment.

Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss stick in Nudist

Now i have one of these and i really like it, they are comparable to the super saturated chubby sticks urban decay do. Just as hydrating and slight tint to the lip which enhances the colour without being too over bearing. I like this as i find it so hard to come across more nude and natural tones without them coming across like I'm lip-less. So if your on the hunt for a new hydrating product thats not heavy nor is it a consistency that you will not feel is making your lips stick together. 

Swatches

So as you can see the colour is quite sheer and not over powering.

Sexy Mother pucker Extreme plump in How nude 

Now this was the only product i cant say i would purchase and only for personal reasons because as much as i like a good bit of chocolate, I'm not over keen on chocolate smelling products. If you do this will be right up your alley as it is a rich scented product, it is a chocolate smell.  Now I'm not sure if its just this shade or the others smell of different things as the colour is like a liquid chocolate. However i would air on the side of applying this very sparingly so its not as thick as the swatch below, as the plumping element of this product is a quite obvious tingling sensation. I tried this and its not unpleasant but it defiantly does something to bring the blood to the lips to engorge them and give them a plumper appearance.

So if that is something your looking for then maybe see if this works for you. The colour payoff is great for a lip gloss as the swatch shows.

Swatches

So overall im really impressed with the range offered by Soap and glory in the Lip section. There products offer high pigmentation, hydration and something to cater for everyone. I would happily purchase more of these products for my collection. They certainly offer me a range of more natural colours that suit me personally and I'm happy with the fact they also leave my lips feeling like they are being hydrated for a very long time. They have a good lasting power and  offer great pigmentation. The  packaging is the usual lovely Soap and glory style with a real woman feel to it. So again thank you Soap and Glory.

Do you own any Soap and Glory lip products ?