Christmas gift packs

It’s less than a week till Christmas, and I still haven’t written any posts about Christmas. How very un-festive of me! If you’re stuck for gift ideas, there’s a few nice gift packs out from some great NZ brands. Living Nature has five Natural Christmas Gift Packs, each $39.95, each in a Living Nature Fabric Tote Bag. They are:

Christmas Skin Essentials for Oily Skin - 50ml Purifying Cleanser, 50ml Hydrating Toning Gel, 50ml Balancing Day Lotion, 2ml Firming Flax Serum, 2ml Balancing Night Gel
Christmas Skin Essentials for Normal Skin - 50ml Vitalising Cleanser, 50ml Hydrating Toning Gel, 50ml Nourishing Day Cream, 2ml Firming Flax Serum, 2ml Nourishing Night Cream
Christmas Skin Essentials for Dry Skin - 50ml Vitalising Cleanser, 50ml Extra Hydrating Toning Gel, 50ml Rich Day Cream, 2ml Firming Flax Serum, 2ml Nourishing Night Cream
Christmas Skin Essentials for Men - 50ml Gentle Cleansing Shaving Gel, 50ml Soothing Plant Moisturiser, 50ml Soothing After Shave Gel
Christmas Body Essentials - 50ml Nourishing Body Wash, 50ml Nourishing Hand and Body Cream, 50ml Balancing Shampoo, 50ml Balancing Conditioner

Trilogy has Body Treats, $34.99, containing Botanical Body Wash 200ml and Nourishing Body Lotion 200ml. Or try Evolu Sun Set, $49.99, containing Day Cream SPF15, Protective Hand Cream SPF15, Lip Treatment SPF15, Body Lotion and an Inflatable Towelling Beach Pillow.

For every budget: Moisturising shampoos

For dry hair, a moisturising shampoo is essential.

Low-cost: Ecostore Shampoo for dry/damaged hair 220ml $10.95, 1L $35.95 , and 5L $175








Mid-range: Living Nature Nourishing Shampoo 200ml $27.50





High-end: Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo 200ml $63, and 473ml $113

New Living Nature Hand Cream

Living Nature has a new product, Nourishing Hand Cream, $21.95 for 100ml, containing Manuka honey, larch tree extract, and Manuka oil.

For every budget – Lip colours

Colour your lips, whatever amount you choose to spend.

Low-cost: Alba Botanica Terra Tints Tinted Lip Balm with SPF $8.99 – available in six shades




Mid-range: Living Nature Lipstick $38 – available in ten shades










High-end: Aveda Uruku Lip Pigment $44 – available in six shades

For every budget: Clay masks

Clay masks are great for oily, combination and acne-prone skin.

Low-cost: Natio Spa with Organics Detoxifying Clay Face and Body Mask 210ml $23

Mid-range: Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask 50ml (10 5ml sachets) $42

High-end: Ren Multi-Mineral Detox Facial Mask 50ml $74

Super hydrators for winter

The cold weather can really dry out your skin and hair. To add some extra moisture, try these super-hydrating products.

- For face: A’kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One 225ml $26.90, Living Nature Rich Day Cream 100ml $59, Comvita Huni Intensive Hydrating Mask 75g $45

- For eyes: Antipodes Kiwi Seed Eye Cream 30ml $48, Comvita Huni Every Day Eye Cream 15g $39, Pacifica Organics Eye Cream 20ml $34.99

- For lips: Weleda Everon Lip Balm 4.8g $11, Blue Earth Lip Balm 15ml $11 (available in Lime and Sweet Fennell), Pacifica Organics Lip Balm $11.99

- For body: Living Nature Nourishing Body Wash 200ml $27.50, Sukin Body Lotion, $15.50 for 250ml, and $23.99 for 500ml, Antipodes Jubilation Ultra Nourishing Body Cream 200ml $48

- For hands: Sukin Cleansing Hand Wash, $10.99 for 250ml, and $26.99 for 1L, A'kin Lavender, Geranium & Jojoba Hand, Nail & Cuticle Creme 75ml $15.50, Evolu Nourishing Hand and Cuticle Cream 125ml $23

- For feet: Lush Running to the Embassy Body Butter (it’s a foot scrub bar thing) 95g $16, The Body Collection Plane Sense Foot Lotion 100ml $8.50, Weleda Heel Balm 36ml $25

- For hair: Living Nature Nourishing Shampoo 200ml $27.50, Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner for damaged hair 250ml $19.95, Trilogy Botanical Moisture Masque for Dry Hair 95ml $29.95

Five grey eye shadows

I am a big fan of grey eye shadow. I have blue eyes, and grey shadow enhances my eyes nicely, but it suits all eye colours. Here are some nice grey eye shadows:

ChiChi Eye Shadow Dust in Shopaholic, $18.90 – Super-affordable, this has a slight mauve hint to it.

Almay Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Steel, $20 – A pressed powder shadow in a cute little compact which closes magnetically. It’s a pale grey shade, perfect for everyday wear.

The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Eye Colour in Radiant Graphite, $25 – It has flecks of gold in it, which gives it some warmth.

Couleur Caramel Eye Shadow in Pearly Anthracite Grey, $26.99 – Another pressed powder shadow.

Living Nature Eye Shadow Duo in Clouds, $44 – A light grey and a dark grey, pressed powder. Each one is great alone, and they look great together as well.

Mothers’ Day!

It’s Mother’s Day in New Zealand this Sunday, so here are a few gift ideas.

Blue Earth Lavishly Lavender Soap, $5.50 for Medium, $9.00 for large – I got this for my mum for Mothers’ Day last year, and she really liked it. It smells great!

Living Nature Just for You Gift Pack, $24.90 – Contains Nourishing Hand & Body Cream 50ml, Nourishing Body Wash 50ml, and Manuka Honey & Calendula Petal Soap 70g

Trilogy Rose Hand Cream, $15.90 for 50ml, and $27.00 for 100ml – It’s got evening primrose, rosehip, jojoba and almond oils in it to keep hands soft

To all you mums, happy Mothers’ Day for Sunday!

Products for new mums

I know a lot of women who have recently given birth, or are just about to, and it’s all very exciting! I don’t speak from personal experience here (I don’t have kids), but having a baby has a major effect on your body (obviously). Luckily, there are a number of great products specifically designed to help with the after effects of childbirth.

Earth Mama Angel Baby has a number of products to soothe post-birth soreness. Try Earth Mama Bottom Balm, $25.50 for 60ml, Earth Mama New Mama Bottom Spray, $24.50 for 120ml, and Earth Mama Postpartum Bath Herbs, $16.50 for 112g. If you have had a Caesarean birth, try the Earth Mama C-Mama Healing Salve, $55 for 30ml.

If you want to use more eco-friendly maternity pads, try Natracare New Mother Maternity Pads, $14.60 for a box of 10. They are free from chlorine, plastic, latex, and perfume, and are biodegradable.

For tired legs, rub on some Living Nature ‘Kekemama Soothing Leg Gel, $30 for 100ml. To soothe tired feet, try Egg Essential Care Cooling Foot Rub, $23.90 for 175ml. Or use a foot soak like Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Happy Feet, $13.50 for 140gm. For aching muscles, get someone to give you a massage with Egg Essential Care Bath & Body Oil, $27.90 for 175ml, or add it to a warm bath.

To help fade stretch marks, try an anti-stretch mark product like: This Works Stretch Mark Oil, $108 for 120ml; Egg Essential Care Belly Butter, $19.90 for 100gm, or Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Stretch Oil, $41 for 129ml. There are some more suggestions for anti-stretch mark products on the post about products for pregnant women.

To help reduce the swelling associated with breastfeeding, try Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Booby Tubes, $39.50. Booby Tubes are a gel-free breast pack made with a 100% organic cotton shell and filled with all-natural flaxseed. They can be used warm or cold, heated or frozen. To support healthy milk production, drink Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Milkmaid Tea, $22.95 for 112g of loose tea leaves, or Weleda Nursing Tea, $18.50 for 40g (20 teabags).

For sore, cracked nipples, use a nipple cream like Earth Mama Angel Baby Earth Mama Nipple Butter, $24.50 for 60ml, Living Nature ‘Kekemama Nipple Ease Balm, $17.50 for 12ml, Weleda Nipple Care Cream, $11 for 10ml, or Mahu Nipple Cream, $8.95 for 50ml, and $16.95 for 100ml.

I know I’ve mentioned Earth Mama Angel Baby a lot in this post – they have such a great range of products! They also have a range of products for women who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. I’m not sure if this range is available in New Zealand, but check it out here.

Shimmer products

There are quite a few shimmery mineral eye shadows around, like The Body Shop Nature’s Minerals Eye Colour, $25 (available in six colours), e.l.f Mineral Makeup Eye Shadow, $12.99 (available in twelve colours), and ChiChi Eye Dust, $18.99 (available in fifteen colours). Or try SHE Australia Dusting Powder, $12.99, available in eight colours. I think they would look great on eyes, but they can be used on the face and body as well.

To add shimmer to your face, try e.l.f Mineral Glow in Shimmer, $29.95, or Almay Pure Blends Loose Finishing Powder in Translucent Shimmer, $33 for 7.9g. For a shimmery body, use Linden Leaves Gold Shimmer Dust, $23.50 for 7g, Lush Glitterbug Iridescent, $14.50 for 30g, or Lush Shimmy Shimmy, $14.50 for 30g.

If you want to use a more subtle illuminating product, try Australis Perfection Brush On Mineral Illuminating Wand, $20.90, or Living Nature Illuminating Tint, $52.

Facial oils

It may sound odd to put oils on your face, especially if you have oily or combination skin, but there are a lot of oil blends that are specifically designed for the face, like The Herb Farm Intensive Facial Oil, $31.80 for 15ml. It contains calendula, rosehip and tamanu oils and lavender essential oil.

To balance oily skin, try Dr Hauschka’s Normalising Day Oil, $57 for 30ml. It contains healing ingredients such as Carrot, Anthyllis, St.John's Wort and Wheat Germ oil. For a night treatment, try Nude Night Replenishing Oil, $132 for 15ml, which is a blend of omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9.

Some other options:

$30 and under: Bod Organic Morroccan Rose Face Oil 20ml $29.90

$40 and under: Antipodes Certified Organic Divine Face Oil 25ml $36.90

$80 and under: This Works Active Oil 30ml $85, Living Nature Radiance Night Oil 10ml $90

$95 and under: Hema Millennium Face and Body Oil 125ml $95

Night creams

I have never used a night cream myself, but there are a lot of them, for all different skin types.

People with oily or combination skin could try Living Nature Balancing Night Gel, $65 for 50ml.

Those with normal to combination skin could use Evolu Replenishing Moisturiser Nutrient Enriched, $47 for 75ml.

Dry skin would benefit from using Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream, $42 for 60ml, Comvita Huni Every Night Moisturiser, $49 for 50ml, Living Nature Nourishing Night Cream, $65 for 50ml, or Evolu Restorative Night Treatment, $47 for 75ml (also suitable for sensitive skin).

If you are looking to combat signs of aging, try Trilogy Replenishing Night Cream $58.99 for 60g.

I just realised that all the brands I’ve mentioned are New Zealand brands. I feel so patriotic right now.

Body Oils

If you prefer an oil rather than a cream, lotion or butter to nourish your body, there are plenty out there, like Trilogy Aromatic Body Treatment Oil, $35 for 100ml, Antipodes Heavenly Body Oil, $38 for 100ml, and Dr Hauschka Rose Body Oil, $49 for 100ml, to name a few.

A lot of body oils have purposes beyond simply moisturising the skin, for example Living Nature Body Oil, $25 for 100ml, is good for warming up muscles before exercising, or for relaxing muscles after exercise, and Evolu Little Bottle of Silk, $47.95 for 60ml, is designed to refine the texture of the skin.

Some other options:

$25 and under:
Natralia Nourish Skin Oil 60ml $21 – Improves the appearance of damaged skin
Living Nature Tranquility Body Oil 100ml $25 – For relaxation and release
Living Nature Body Form Oil 100ml $25 – Helps skin feel fresh and smooth, promotes circulation

$50 and under:
Evolu Little Bottle of Calm 60ml $47.95 – Rescues skin from discomfort and soothes sensitivities
Evolu Little Bottle of Dew 60ml $47.95 – Revives moisture
Dr Hauschka Moor Lavender Body Oil 100ml $49 – Protects the skin from external stresses
Dr Hauschka Rosemary Body Oil 100ml $49 – Supports the body’s heat regulation
Dr Hauschka St John’s Wort Body Oil 100ml $49 – Calms and relaxes sensitive, irritated skin

Products for pregnant women

Pregnancy, from what I hear (I have never been pregnant myself), can have quite a major effect on the skin. Fortunately, there are a lot of natural products which are designed to help with the effects of pregnancy upon the skin.

To prevent stretch marks, try an oil like Weleda Pregnancy Body Oil, $25.90 for 100ml, Living Nature Beautiful Belly Oil, $30 for 100ml, Natralia Nourish Skin Oil, $21 for 60ml, or Dr Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil, $39 for 100ml. The Nourish Skin Oil and the Blackthorn Body Oil aren’t specifically intended for pregnant women, but I hear they are good for preventing stretch marks.

Alternatively, try a lotion like Earth Mama Angel Body Butter, $59.95 for 240ml, or Mahu Stretch Mark Lotion, $14.95 for 50ml, and $24.95 for 200ml.

Mahu also makes a Facial Balancing Lotion for pregnant women, $16.95 for 50ml, and $29.95 for 100ml.

Massage products

If you like to massage people (or be massaged), there are a lot good massage products available. Lush has a wide range of massage bars, including Amazonian, $19.90 for 200g, Each Peach (And Two’s a Pear), $17.90 for 65g, and Therapy, $17.90 for 65g.

Tui Balmes have a range of ten massage waxes, including Lavender, Unscented, and Herbal Lift. They are $5.85 for 50g, 8.21 for 100g, $20.25 for 300g, and $27 for 500g.

If you prefer massage oils, try Living Nature Body Form Oil, $25 for 100ml, or Tranquillity Body Oil, $25 for 100ml.

After Shave Products

For all the guys out there, here are some suggestions for aftershave products:

$30 and under: Weleda After Shave Balm 100ml $27.50

$35 and under: Living Nature Soothing Aftershave Gel 100ml $35

$45 and under: Aveda Men After-Shave Balm 100ml $44

Shaving products

I shave my legs, cos I can’t handle the pain of waxing, or the bother of growing the hair for six weeks. I like Primal Earth Shaving Gel, $8.99 for 175ml, which I have in Extra Sensitive. It’s intended for men, but there’s no reason why women can’t use it. It is also available in Aloe Hydrate and Menthol Cool, but they both contain artificial colours and fragrances, whereas Extra Sensitive doesn’t. Primal Earth Shave Gels are available at New World, Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets, and the price varies depending on which supermarket you buy it at.

I also like Avalon Organics Cream Shave, $12.90 for 225ml, available in Aloe Unscented, Lavender, and Peppermint. I have tried in Aloe Unscented. I assume it’s a unisex product, because it doesn’t state whether it is for men or women. Skinfood Shave Gel, $9.99 for 100ml, is unisex, and it is quite good, but I find the tube runs out quite quickly.

Some other options:

$15 and under: Weleda Shaving Cream 75ml $11.50

$35 and under: Living Nature Soothing Shaving Cream 100ml $35

$45 and under: Aveda Men Shave Cream 250g $44

Lip gloss

I really like lip gloss. I have tried Dr Hauschka Novum Lip Gloss, $37, available in two shades, and Living Nature Lip Gloss, $36, available in six shades. I had the Dr Hauschka one in Rose Quartz, and the Living Nature one in Pink Whisper. They are both cool pink colours.

I found the Dr Hauschka one had a slightly weird smell, and wore off quite quickly. The tube also didn’t last very long. The Living Nature one smelled better, and the tube lasted longer, but it still wore off quickly. They also both have quite a thin texture.

The best natural lip gloss I have tried is Alba Botanica Terragloss, which I bought in Australia. I haven’t seen it over here, and I’m not sure where you can order it. I have it in Blaze, a bright pinkish red.

Some other options:

$15 and under: SHE Australia Tube Lip Gloss $12.99, available in ten shades

$40 and under: Couleur Caramel Lip Gloss $38.99, available in six shades

$45 and under: Aveda Lip Glaze $44, available in ten shades, Aveda Lip Shine $44, available in six shades, Bare Escentuals Wearable Lip Gloss $45, available in five shades

The Aveda and SHE Australia glosses are not as natural as the other ones – they contain artificial flavourings, and some artificial colours, but still, they are much better options than a lot of other lip glosses.

Lipstick

I prefer lip gloss and tinted lip balm to lipstick, but I still like lipstick. I like Living Nature Lipstick, $38, available in ten shades, which I have in Summer Rain (bright-ish dark pink), and Aveda Uruku Lip Pigment $44, available in twelve shades (six sheer, and six full colour), which I have in Sheer Ochre (browny/pinky nude). They are both fairly intense colours (and the Aveda one is supposed to be sheer – what are the full colour shades like, I wonder?), and pretty matte, so I put lip balm on before applying them, or put clear lip gloss over the top.

I tend to prefer more sheer lipsticks, and I like Aveda Lip Color Sheer, , which I had in Sheer Clover (warm, natural-looking pink), but it’s now run out. Lip Color Sheer has now been replaced by Nourish-Mint Sheer Mineral Lip Colour $44, available in seven shades, and there is a Sheer Clover shade. I assume it's a similar product.

Some other options:

$40 and under: Dr Hauschka Lipstick Novum $37, available in four shades, Couleur Caramel Lipstick $38.99, available in twenty-four shades (eight matte, fifteen pearly, and one glittery)

$50 and under: Aveda Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Colour $44, available in twenty-one shades, Bare Escentuals Lipstick $45, available in twenty-six shades, Dr Hauschka Lipstick $47, available in eight shades

Mascara

Mascaras are great for defining your lashes, and, depending on the formula and brush shape, for volumising, thickening, and/or lengthening. I really like Dr Hauschka Volume Mascara, $45, available in three shades. I have it in black, and it’s really good for defining my lashes, and giving them some volume.

I have also used Living Nature Thickening Mascara, $38, available in two shades. I had it in Jet Black, and it’s a decent mascara, but not as volumising as the Dr Hauschka one, and it tends to dry out more quickly, and therefore not last as long before it needs to be replaced (yes, I know you’re supposed to replace your mascara every three months, but for me it tends to be more like four to six months, because I’m cheap). Anyway...

Some other options:

$40 and under: Living Nature Conditioning Mascara $38, available in two shades

$45 and under: Couleur Caramel Eyelashes Mascara Long $41.99, available in four shades, Couleur Caramel Eyelashes Mascara Short $41.99, available in four shades, Dr Hauschka Mascara $43, available in three shades, Bare Escentuals Magic Wand Brushless Mascara $43, available in two shades

$55 and under: Aveda Mosscara $51, available in two shades, Aveda Mascara Plus Rose $51, available in two shades