More info on the Karen Murell range

Karen Murrell sent me her awesome new range of products in January, and I have been having fun trying them out. You may remember me

mentioning this range a few months ago. Karen launched Skinfood in 2002, and this new range late last year. The products are certified by Ecocert (the first New Zealand brand to have this certification), and the Organic Food Chain. The boxes, tubes and bottles all have the percentage of organic ingredients printed on them. The packaging is pretty cool – the boxes, bottles, and squeezy tubes are recyclable, (the boxes are made from recyclable, renewable paper using soy inks) and the lipstick and lip balm tubes are biodegradable – you bury them. That’s cool, and not something I’ve come across before. The packaging is also very stylish and eye-catching, with funky artwork on the boxes.

They are available at Farmers stores, as well as some other stores. For more information on stockists, as well as more information about the products, check out http://www.karenmurrell.com/.

I think this new range is great. It’s hard for me to pick a favourite out of all the products, but if I had to pick one, it would be the moisturiser. More on it (and all the other products) below).

Here’s the lowdown on the products:

Pure Honesty Cleansing Gel
Size: 100ml
Price: $34
Packaging: A recyclable (HDPE 2) squeezy tube inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: It’s gentle, but cleanses thoroughly. I only need to use a little bit, so I can see the tube lasting for a long time. Any skin type could use it, but it contains seaweed and witch hazel, which are both beneficial to oily and combination skin. Using it in combination with the moisturiser has helped my skin clear up (I had previously been getting a few pimples). It smells nice and fresh.

Absolute Luxury Face Moisturiser
Size: 50ml
Price: $45
Packaging: A recyclable (PETE 1) pump-top bottle inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: A nice, light moisturiser with a lovely scent. It moisturises well, but doesn’t clog pores, and I find I only need to use a small amount. I have combination skin, and it’s good to have a moisturiser that is non pore-clogging, but still, well, moisturises! It contains tamanu oil, a ‘miracle ingredient’ which accelerates new tissue growth.

Aqua River Face Cream for Men
Size: 50ml
Price: $36
Packaging: A recyclable (PETE 1) pump-top bottle inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: I gave this to my brother-in-law, and he likes it. This also contains tamanu oil.

True Miracle Intense Balm
Size: 50ml
Price: $39
Packaging: A recyclable (HDPE 2) squeezy tube inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: This is really good for dry cuticles, lips, or dry skin, really. Smells and tastes great too. Ingredients include cocoa butter.

Nature’s Essense Body Scrub
Size: 200ml
Price: $45
Packaging: A recyclable (HDPE 2) squeezy tube inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: This is a great moisturising scrub, ideal for using before applying fake tan. Contains tamanu oil, salt and oat flakes.

Moisture Stick Lip Balm
Size: 4g
Price: $24.99
Packaging: A biodegradable tube inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: A good, nourishing lip balm that smells great, thanks to the sweet orange essential oil. I find that I don’t need to apply it all that often. Contains jojoba and castor oil.

Lipstick
Size: 4g
Price: $24.99
Packaging: A biodegradable tube inside a recyclable two-piece cardboard box.
The verdict: The lipstick is available in four shades: Cordovan Natural (beige nude), pink starlet (bright pink), Red Shimmer (bright red), Violet Mousse (nudey pink). The shades are fairly matte, but the lipsticks are moisturising, including ingredients such as jojoba and castor oil. The lipsticks smell really amazing, probably due to the cinnamon oil in them. I really like all the colours, but my favourite is Violet Mousse.

I very much recommend the Karen Murrell range, it’s good to have another great New Zealand natural skincare range available.

Karen Murrell range

A new brand has popped up at Farmers recently – Karen Murrell. I’m not sure if this is the same Karen Murrell who founded the Skinfood brand (there is an Auckland address on the bottom of the product boxes, so it’s therefore a New Zealand brand, and could well be the same Karen), but the products look pretty good. They are:

Nature’s Essense Body Scrub 200ml $45
Pure Honesty Cleansing Gel 100ml $34
Absolute Luxury Moisturiser 50ml $45
True Miracle Moisture Balm 50ml $39
Aqua River Face Cream for Men 50ml $36
Moisture Stick Lip Balm $24.99
Lipstick in four shades $24.99

All the products are 99.5% natural, and have EcoCert certification and environmentally friendly packaging. Nice!

Stuff that smells like orange

I really like citrus scents, particularly orange, which smells sweet and refreshing.

Akin Sandalwood and Sweet Orange Invigorating Body Scrub 200ml $24.50

Blue Earth Carrot & Orange Cake Soap, $5.50 for med and $9 for large

Organic Surge Orange Blossom Hand Lotion 250ml $20

For every budget: Body scrubs

Body scrubs are great for smoothing out your skin, especially before applying fake tan.

Low-cost: Organic Surge Body Scrub 200ml $20, available in Tropical Bergamot and Fresh Ocean

Mid-range: Evolu Exfoliating Body Polish 200ml $40

High-end: Aveda Smoothing Body Polish 250g $73

Body scrubs

Body scrubs are great for keeping your skin smooth, preventing ingrown hairs, and preparing for fake tan. I like Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sugar Cane Body Polish, $24.75 for 200g. I also like Upper Canada Naturally Coarse Salt Scrub, $20 for 300g. I have it Sweet Vanilla Fig. It smells and looks like a yummy dessert (but it probably doesn't taste like one!). It also comes in Cranberry Moro Orange, Wild Lime Mint, Pressed Olive Avacodo, and Red Tea Grape. For a scrub that combines salt and sugar, try Linden Leaves Salt Sugar Scrub, $24 for 200g.

Some other options:

$25 and under: Alba Botanica Sea Salt Body Scrub 200g $24.75

$30 and under: A'kin Sandalwood & Sweet Orange Invigorating Body Scrub 200ml $28.50, Trilogy Exfoliating Body Polish 150ml $26

$35 and under: Pure Fiji Coconut Creme Body Scrub 250ml $35 (available in Coconut, Frangipani, White Gingerlily, Mango, Pineapple, Passionflower, and Starfruit), Giovanni Cool Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub 300g $35

$40 and under: Evolu Exfoliating Body Polish 250ml $40

$65 and under: Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub 470ml $65 (available in Coconut, Frangipani, White Gingerlily, Mango, Pineapple, Passionflower, and Starfruit)

Stuff that smells like chocolate

Chocolate is awesome. For a calorie-free treat, try these chocolate-scented products.

Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub
Just like a hot chocolate, only...scrubby. And you probably shouldn't drink it. $35 for 260g, available at Farmers and Hardy's stores.

Wychenwood Chocolate Marble Soap
Pretty, and it smells great. $4.50, available at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre in Upper Hutt, or buy online at http://www.wychenwood.co.nz/ .

Lush Soft Couer (The Honeymooner) Massage Bar
It has a centre of chocolate and honey...messy, but yummy! $14.50 for 30g. Buy at Lush stores, or online at http://www.lushnz.com/ .