I’ll be honest, it wasn’t really on my radar as a serious beauty contender. But that’s changed. While the brand continues to represent all that’s youthful, it’s also home to some fabulous finds. Whether it’s catering to the younger consumer, or just a general skincare savvy, there’s a great offering for those with sensitive skin, including:

Angels on Bare Skin:

This all natural preservative-free cleanser combines almond milk (for toning and brightening), soothing lavender flowers and softening glycerine with kaolin, the wonder clay that wicks away grease and gently cleanses the skin. It comes in a solid form – with a texture more akin to a handmade exfoliator – that transforms to a milk on contact with water. It smells great and leaves the complexion brilliantly balanced.

£6.25 for 100g

Celestial:

Dear Lush, I love this beautiful facial moisturiser and am utterly sold on the use of almond oil-steeped fresh dove orchid petals in my skincare, but please lose the parabens! You only need look at the Buff Beauty Brand Directory to find many an awesome paraben-free brand. Otherwise, there’s not a grumble that I can make about the whipped texture and whispery hint of cocoa and vanilla.

£11.75 for 45g

Buffy:

This is my ultimate Lush find and I’m rather despondent to have used my last slither yesterday. Cue a little trip to the Bath store tomorrow! As a booty obsessive I love the back story of Lush founder Rowena seeing Brazilian girls keeping their bum-bums (the Brazilian word for bottom, really!) buffed with sand from the beach. I also love that suntan lotion and sunshine forms the inspiration behind the gentle fragrance. All this has been translated into an exfoliating massage bar with ground rice, almonds and aduki beans and cocoa and shea butters, that you rub onto damp skin and shower off. So simple. So effective! Plus it’s called Buffy, made for Buff Beauties – surely?

£5.95 for 90g / £10.25 for 200g

Dream Cream:

The oat milk, rose water, olive oil and cocoa butter combo ensures the most refreshing and soothing results: a true dream in a hand and body lotion, but why do we have to wake up and realise it contains parabens? Please Lush, I’m asking so nicely! This is Lush’s bestselling product and a great find for those with eczema. Let’s hope a little product development finds a way around those preservatives.

£10.95 for 240g

See, there’s a lot more to Lush than bath bombs, though they still pack a colourful punch that’s worth a little dip down memory lane. Meanwhile, check out the steamer tabs, which also come personally recommended.

Who else is loving Lush? And is there anything from the range that you think I should be trying?

Find your nearest store or buy online: lush.co.uk

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On the 14th March I confessed my sugary sins and promised you I’d ditch the ‘junk sugar’ for a full 31 days. Natural sugars were allowed in moderation, but it was a flat out goodbye to my dearest frenemy cake (along with chocolate, biscuits and all other naughties)!

So, did you do it?

Well yes Buff Beauty, I’m thrilled to say I did! And it was in no small thanks down to many of you who commented, emailed and tweeted throughout the process, whether showing your support or joining me on your own ‘sugar break’ for days, weeks or the longer journey.

Twitter mentions must now be made to the wonderful ladies @healthy_jane, @bikinifling, @Sabahlalalala, @emmaquenby, @thalassa7, @micacarr, @beatthebinge and @NatBeautCabinet who proved such stars throughout. Really sorry if I’ve missed anyone, but ‘#sugarbreak’ was amazingly abuzz at the time!

And if you’ve only just stumbled upon these posts, please don’t feel it’s too late to join in. This is only start of the process for me and I’d be honoured to do it together.

Well, how was it?

31 days doesn’t sound like much, but with sugar forming such a ritualistic part of my lifestyle it certainly felt like a challenge.

My biggest fear in the first week was that I’d gobble a banned item without thinking of it. The cravings gently fluctuated and towards the end of the week I was surprised at how positive I felt.

Day 8 featured a cinema date: traditionally a good excuse to pile up the sweets. Instead, I allowed myself a ‘treat’ in the form of a Nakd Wholefoods bar in Cocoa Orange. They only contain natural sugars in the form of dates, cashews, raisins and cocoa. I enjoyed it with a green tea and felt just as indulged as usual. It was the only such treat of the whole break, as I wanted to feel I’d really done it and not just substituted one sugary item for a healthier alternative.

Hunger was unsurprisingly a key craving trigger. Lunchtime outings to Waitrose had me salivating, particularly over the double chocolate muffins. I mentioned them in the last post, clearly they’ve struck some sort of emotional chord with me?! Of course, I also managed to time the break over Easter, which meant I was surrounded by beautifully wrapped temptations.

From the outset I knew I couldn’t avoid all sight of sugar and if I changed my lifestyle and shied away from my usual haunts, I’d only be worse on my return. So, I made sure to visit coffee shops and could happily sit while others munched their cake. And I do mean happily.

I even managed a day which included a National Trust visit, restaurant lunch and coffee stop; usually at least one of which would have centred around a slice of something sweet.

For some reason week three hit me hardest – perhaps knowing I was almost there, but not – and I couldn’t stop thinking of everything sugar. That said, week four was amazing. Part way through I realised it had hardly entered my thoughts.

Any changes?

I’d love to tell you I was bounding with energy, my IBS vanished and my skin had an angelic glow, but disappointingly I can’t. The main difference, and still a pretty good one, was the fact that I didn’t have the dreadful sugar invoked highs or their gruesome crashes. It also felt great to know that I could only be doing my body some good.

Perhaps if I’d further reduced my natural sugar intake I would have seen more of a difference.

I definitely noticed a stronger leaning towards salt and cheese, which could’ve been my tastebuds adapting to the change. Or my body trying to develop a replacement sin…

And since?

Well this is where the true challenge sets in. I kept my promise, but can I use it to truly break my habit? The point I’m personally trying to get to is where I can enjoy an occasional spot of cake, without the overwhelming cravings or health concerns.

I can not lie, my first piece of cake post sugar break was absolutely delicious. It was my favourite (a meringue topped rhubarb sponge) baked by the delectable Annemette Brice. Usually I’d have seconds, or even thirds, but – and with a spot of help – I managed to resist!

The idea was that I’d then stay off the sugar until my birthday, six days later. I almost did, but a day of hormonal nausea had me reaching for a mini can of ginger ale and the day before my birthday I ‘found myself’ tucking into a sugar packed popcorn cereal bar.

I was then positively spoilt with home baked beauties for my birthday, which along with the office take-in-a-cake ritual and a bottle of break-banned red grape juice (another favourite) meant I had at least one sugary treat for 6 days in a row. Certainly not virtuous and the cravings returned with an all too familiar vengeance.

What now?

It’s time to get back on track. Today marks day five of six of a mini sugar break. It’s going to be on/off for a while, consciously banning myself for particular periods until it becomes second nature. I’ll make sure to update you along the way, and will be back with recipes and tips.

To get started…

* If you’re going to try your own break, make it public! It’s easier to cheat yourself than others, so announce it to your friends, on here, on Twitter – wherever you please.

* Don’t hide away: to conquer your weakness you actually have to face them. Don’t change your routine, just don’t eat the sugar!

* Try not to over-substitute with natural sugars. If you switch cake for an endless supply of fruit your body won’t thank you. Instead, try good quality proteins to keep hunger and cravings at bay: almonds are a great source.

On/done your own sugar break? I’d really love to hear from you!

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Above is the mythical tale behind the Black Chicken Remedies brand name and I just love it! For those looking for a skin or body beauty boost, I strongly recommend consulting Black Chicken for yourself with merely a click of the mouse and a browse of this small – but rather perfectly formed – Aussie collection.

Each of the products has a sensory experience at its base, with ‘tropical and deep surf notes’ offering a reassuring scent that strikes a brilliantly beachy and ultimately unisex note.

I’ve been trying…

Balm of Ages

Described as an ‘all purpose remedy’ this balm has been created to hydrate the skin and seal in the moisture for long-lasting gain. It proved a winter must for me and will long be a favourite for keep cuticles and rough patches in check. But it’s not just for the hands, it works on all areas of dryness, eczema, burns, scrapes and rashes, can be used as a cleanser and even massaged into your scalp and hair. A beauty bag saviour!

£34.50 for 75g

Love Your Face Serum

This oil based serum is bliss to apply with that trademark scent making you want to linger for longer on the application. It can be used both day and night, even on delicate complexions. It’s another multipurpose treatment product, replenishing the skin to leave it plumper, dewier and generally more youthful. The freshness takes immediate effect, so it’s a great way to pep up the face before a night out.

£55 for 30ml

Love Your Body Oil

As you can tell, I’m pretty taken with Black Chicken Remedies, but this might just be my favourite product. There are an awful lot of body oils out there, but few that deliver this balance of nourishment and sheen, without stick or grease. I also love the aroma, which omits the need for an additional fragrance. One of Biteable Beauty’s 2012/13 award-winners and I can see why.

£45 for 100ml

I’ve got my eye on…

Love Your Body Polish: combining the Love Your Body Oil with Himalayan pink salt. Sounds wonderful!

Retailed internationally: blackchicken.com.au

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Bees have been making a regular appearance in our media over recent years and with good reason. As humans we’re reliant on bees for the pollination of plants and that goes way beyond the pretty blooms in our gardens. The little workers contribute to a whopping 75% of our crop and food production; so imagine the financial and health implications if they disappeared. And that’s the trouble, the bee population is in crisis.

This is why Melvita, the popular French organic beauty brand, has teamed up with Friends of the Earth’s ‘The Bee Cause.’ The plan is to create 20 bee havens in urban spots in London and across the UK. Sounds fantastic.

Don’t just sit there, get involved!

1. First, join me in signing this petition to ask Mr Cameron and co to take action towards the protection of bees.

2. Next up, turn your green fingers a richer shade of emerald and ditch the use of pesticides in your garden. Of course if you have a veggie patch, you’ll also reduce your own intake of such chemicals.

3. Don’t forget to make your garden a bee playground by planting an array of welcoming plants. For inspiration, check out the RHS’s downloadable plant lists featuring an incredible 400 options.

And finally, treat yourself while contributing to the cause:

I love my Melvita The Bee Cause Wild Flower Tote, which contains:

• Full size (200ml) Melvita Apicosma Body Milk – it’s divine!

• A sweet Melvita hexagonal mini soap (25g)

• A pretty (and environmentally-friendly) bee notebook designed for Friends of the Earth by Emma Bennett

• And a lovely organic cotton bee tea towel designed by Stuart Gardiner

All for £35.00 with 10% of each sale donated to The Bee Cause.

Buy yours from the Melvita website.

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Back in January I introduced you to Zaggora with a brief mention of a special guest reviewer trialling the upper body range. Well that special guest is none other than one of my dearest friends, who (rather luckily for me) also happens to be my mother…Sheena Parfitt!

Mum took on Zaggora’s 2 Week Challenge (wearing the HotTop and/or Full Body Blazer for 30-60 mins daily for 14 days) with what is best described as an amused enthusiasm. In the past mum has dabbled with yoga and tennis in amongst a lot of walking. In fact the noise of her heels speedily clipping along is a remarked upon sound on my home road.

While mum’s still walking regularly, she’s not currently following any specific exercise regime. However, she’s keen to trim her size 10-12 figure to more of the former than the latter (she’s petite at 5’2”…or am I being a bit generous with your height there mum?!)

So here’s what she did…

• Day 1: 53 mins (Body Blazer): sorting bags of rubbish & 45 minutes of walking including the 119 steps up to the Salisbury Downs.

• Day 2: 60 mins (Body Blazer): defrosting chest freezer and repeat of Day 1′s walk.

• Day 3: 58 mins (Body Blazer): several brisk walks, including carrying shopping.

• Day 4: 50 mins (Body Blazer): sorting utility area in preparation for insulation. Quite strenuous!

• Day 5: 60 mins (Body Blazer): cleaning windows and vacuuming.

• Day 6: 0 mins: whoops!

• Day 7: 55 mins (Body Blazer): several brisk walks, including carrying shopping bags.

• Day 8: 30 mins (HotTop): own exercises including skipping, running up stairs, sit-ups, leg lifts and a brisk walk, including the 119 steps.

• Day 9: 38 mins (HotTop): a few own exercises and general housework.

• Day 10: 40 mins (Body Blazer): brisk walk, including going up and down the steps.

• Day 11: 30 mins (HotTop): a few own exercises and general housework.

• Day 12: 55 mins (HotTop & Body Blazer): brisk walking in town.

• Day 13: 40 mins (Body Blazer): bitterly cold so wore blazer under winter jacket, fast walk.

• Day 14: 35 mins (Body Blazer): fast walking.

And here’s how she got on…

I must say I’m impressed that mum has seen results without drastically altering her fitness or dietary habits and would be interested to see the impact if she decides to amp up her regime. She now has her own pair of Capri pants, so I’m sure we’ll see her a svelte 10 in no time.

Thanks so much Mum for taking on the challenge! I’d love to hear who else has been using Zaggora, or any other fab fitness products, to whip them into shape for spring.

HotTop: £50.00
Full Body Blazer: £80.00

Full product range: zaggora.com

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Well, it’s on to another confessional. Who knew blogging could be so cathartic? I haven’t found 2013 to be the easiest of years so far. Thank goodness we’re only in March and there’s plenty of time for things to change.

In my last post I mentioned I’m having acupuncture and while my blues didn’t send me there, I’m hoping it’ll help me towards a sense of balance. Meanwhile, my natural leanings have me seeking solace and joy in the form of beautiful fragrances and long soothing baths.

My happiness ‘toolkit’ includes…

1. At the end of a tough day: Kneipp’s Pure Bliss Mineral Bath Salt

   Pour these crystals into the tub and you might wonder how the ominously bright (and suspiciously crime scene-esque) colour could soothe the soul, but it really is quite wonderful. Oils from poppy seeds and hemp provide a warm, deeply relaxing scent and the thermal salts – evaporated from pure and ancient underground sea water – help you to absorb those nourishing oils, leaving you velvety to the touch and peaceful of mind.

   £1.95 for 60g sachet: victoriahealth.com

2. For perking up before the party: Weleda’s Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk

   This clever little number instils a sense of calm, while offering a great wake up. It’s been my remedy for tougher afternoons and evenings when I (sadly) can’t just hibernate and could do with an injection of energy. Rosemary is quite the stimulating tonic and this blend hasn’t failed to perk me up yet. Weleda also recommends it as a foot soak to reduce perspiration and boost circulation. I shall certainly be giving it a go!

   £11.95 for 200ml: weleda.co.uk

3. An at your desk wake up call: Suti’s Peppermint Water Organic Facial Toner

   Well it’s hard to have a bath at the office – unless your ‘office’ is a spa, I suppose – so it’s good to have a little desk-side remedy. I’m particularly enamoured with this spritz toner, which offers the win-win of being a skin beautifier with wellness properties. The peppermint fragrance wakes the mind and lifts the spirits, while calming the complexion. It’s particularly beneficial for oilier or blemish prone skin tones for its balancing effect. It can be spritzed over make-up, instantly freshening the face without spoiling its finish.

   £18.50 for 100ml: suti.co.uk

4. In your handbag and on the run: Badger’s Cheerful Mind Balm

   As its name denotes this is a little (well, quite generously sized) tin of comfort. Sweet orange and spearmint are mixed with citrus, cinnamon, rosemary and ylang ylang to form a balm that can be dabbed onto the skin to aromatherapeutic effect. I find I get most benefit from massaging behind the ears and its summery fragrance really is a cheery antidote to drearier days.

   £5.99 for 28g: bathandunwind.com

Toolkit total: £38.39

If you have any top tricks for whisking away the blues, I’d really love to hear them (though please steer clear of anything that involves cake or chocolate as I’m still on sugar break..!)

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I need to share a problem with you. In this post (to be followed up at a later date) I’ll give you the back story and bring you right up-to-date. If you relate to any degree I urge you to join me in recovery!

On the whole my lifestyle toes a close line to the Clean & Lean – I’m active (walking at least 50 miles a month to and from work alone and doing regular toning workouts), I don’t smoke, I don’t drink (bar the toasts at a wedding…it feels only polite) and I eat a wholesome diet complete with plenty of veggies, salad, good fats and protein. But I am a sugar addict.

And it really is a problem. Turn to page 20 in your Clean & Lean Diet bible and you’ll understand why. The drug like effect on the brain, the energy crash that follows that heady sugar high, the risk of weight gain and premature ageing, the strain on your kidneys and pancreas and the greatly increased possibility of developing diabetes…nice!

Its author James Duigan cleverly explores the emotional connection and the way we mistakenly use sugar as a reward, lured in by its tempting prettiness.

So, let’s go back to the beginning…

Before we start pointing any fingers, I wasn’t overfed sugar as a child, nor was I completely deprived of it. However, as with most children, I was won over pretty quickly. My first taste of milk buttons led to me closing my eyes, rocking back and forth (a clear sign of danger, I hear you say!) while going ‘Mmmmm.’ I can remember birthday parties where I worked my way through all the fondant fancies and those little iced biscuit rings. But we didn’t have drawers of junk in the house, it truly was more of an occasional treat.

In my teens things gradually developed. I started college with a morning Slush Puppy and began a two sticks of fudge a day habit. Coffee shops really came into trend and I loved nothing better than a gossip over a panettone with friends.

Onto my old retail days and the quantity markedly increased. Chocolate bars made for a quick and easy snack and a double chocolate Waitrose muffin an indulgent way to end a lunch break before sloping back to the shop floor. It wasn’t long before the daily indulgence became twice or even, shamefully, thrice daily.

The effects:

I’m certain I can see the effects on my complexion. What’s more, I was diagnosed with IBS at the age of 16 and the older I’ve got the more I’ve noticed the link between flare ups and my sugar intake. I also have a tendency towards being hyperactive and anxious and am definitely familiar with that post-high come down. I clearly remember one day where, following excessive indulgence, I felt completely breathless at work, went home with the jitters and had to lie in silence in a warm bath until my heart stopped racing. Cripes, the more I write, the worse I realise things are…

To the present:

I have been working on things for a little while, certainly reducing my intake, but still consuming a little sugary something daily and usually a big old slab of cake or two each week. Sure Mr Duigan would not be best impressed with my supposed ‘progress’.

I’m now a handful of sessions into a course of acupuncture for a mix of ailments (including my IBS, anxiety and circulation) and my acupuncturist strongly believes that my sugar intake is having a huge impact on each of my issues. In Chinese medicine terms I’m way too Yang and in Western terms my autonomic nervous system is severely malfunctioning. HELP!

There’s an app for that:

I’m a Twenty-First century gal, so naturally I turned to Twitter for advice. I wanted an app to accurately measure my sugar intake and was recommended the general calorie counting, nutritional breakdown recording, myfitnesspal. It’s great, I see my sugar intake by the very gram. I see that I’m completely over my daily limit. And I keep on eating…

So what next?

Well tonight lovely Buff Beauty reader (actually ‘tonight’ was the 12th March), I made that very important decision of change. I can’t turn up to my acupuncturist grumbling of my ailments if I can’t quit my toxic habit. I also can’t spend my life fearing diabetes or clogged arteries for a love of cake. SO, I’m going to start by cutting out ‘junk sugar’ at least until the 13th April and I’d love it if you’d join me. That’s a month, not long you might think, but have you read any of the above?!

I feel really ashamed in my next confession. I didn’t feel able to quit without one last taste of cake. I used writing this feature as a ‘research’ excuse and bought a box of orange and lemon mini loaf cakes from Waitrose to share with Dan in a farewell ceremony. He YouTubed ‘Sad Violin’ music and we ate cake and laughed at my weakness. I loved every bite – the thick icing, fluffy sponge and lemony tang – but if I’d written this feature in advance, I don’t think I would have bought it or chuckled at eating it.

Before we continue, it’s important to note I’ve booked a Doctor’s appointment to check that my sugar cravings don’t come from anything more sinister than a self-inflicted habit. If you’re struggling with similar issues, I urge you to do the same.

I’m going to read the sugar section of my Clean & Lean book over and over and over again! I’m going to heed James’s advice: instantly removing all cake/chocs/biscuits and obvious sugars from my life and also work to gradually reduce my intake of natural sugars so that my body’s more balanced (while you want to be eating your 5-a-day, the majority should be coming from veggies, which give wonderful vits without the sugar spikes).

I’ve treated myself to the latest Zest magazine with its inspiring images and words of health. I find reading positive health messages instantly boosts my resolve. For the same reason the impeccably smooth-bottomed Irina Shayk is both the wallpaper of my phone and computer.

I’ve blitzed up some Green smoothies as sugar busting ammo. In starting the day with a low sugar, highly nutritious, breakfast you definitely feel satisfied for longer, softening those aching cravings.

GET INVOLVED!

Please get involved. I need your top tips to stop the cravings or to fight them when they come and I need you to rugby tackle me if you witness me attempting to buy cake! On second thoughts, perhaps just speak to me nicely. But all the more, I hope any of you struggling to break free of the sugar trap will join me in my mission (and if you do, don’t forget to update me on your progress below, by email and/or Twitter).

We can do this beauties!

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This post has been an awful long time coming. I excitedly received my Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil Blend just before moving house in November. Knowing that once opened the oil is to be kept refrigerated – and not knowing quite when my fridge would actually arrive – I thought I’d better hold off.

You know how house moves with their broken boilers and endless boxes are not conducive to normal routines? Well needless to say the ‘to-be-tested’ pile somewhat stacked up. But we’re here now and Udo’s Choice has found itself a fond spot in my fridge.

To give you a little background, the company was founded by Udo Erasmus whose personal experience of pesticide poisoning (and lack of help through conventional medicine) led him on the path to becoming a professional, PhD holding, nutritionist.

Now a world expert in healthy fats, Udo created this very blend to provide an essential balance of Omegas 3, 6 and 9 (in the ideal ratio of 2:1:1). The blend, full of organic and unrefined ingredients, contais flaxseed, sunflower seed, sesame seed, coconut, evening primrose, rice bran, rice germ, oat bran and oat germ oils. Essentially a lot of health and beauty booty for your buck!

What it should do for you:

So, how do you use it?

Well it’s nice and simple, as per the opening, you pop it in the fridge. Each day drizzle, dash or pour onto muesli, into smoothies and soups, onto salads, fish, pasta. Whatever you please. For optimum benefit it’s recommended to consume 1-3 tablespoons daily.

The one thing you can’t do is cook with this oil, because the heat will destroy its nutritional value. That said, it’s quite fine to finish a warm dish with a quick glug.

The bottles arrived with a fantastic mini recipe guide full of inspiration. I’d like to say I’ve whipped up a few of them, but four months into the house and I’m afraid we’re still not managing to be very adventurous in the kitchen (note to self: must improve)!

And the texture and taste?

It’s a finer oil than say a conventional olive oil, which makes for quite a light dressing. Udo describes the blend as ‘mild and nutty’. It’s certainly mild, but my tastebuds seem to hone in on the coconut. But this could just be me as my husband didn’t find that at all!

The light texture and flavour definitely adds to the versatility of the product and while we’ve tended use Udo’s choice on savoury dishes I can see how it would complement the sweet.

A final word (or a few)…

You might have spotted a familiar face above in Jemma Kidd (former model & revered make-up artist), a keen Udo’s Choice advocate, who describes the Ultimate Oil Blend as her ‘ultimate skin secret.’ Now that’s a good endorsement and there’s a great beauty basics video featuring Jemma over on the website. (For another awesome endorsement check out septuagenerian Udo who could easily be mistaken for being in his fifties!)

To conclude, I love that I’m getting so many good fats in one bottle and while I’m not sure I’ve seen a great change in the mirror I do feel I’m injecting my body with goodness. I also trust in the brand with its high quality nutritional science and user-friendly product. Not quite sure which of Udo’s creations I’m most itching to try next… Beyond Greens, the Digestive Enzymes or Super 8 Microbiotics?

Who’s tried Udo’s Choice and who’s going to?

£19.99 for 500ml: www.udoschoice.co.uk

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Some websites just capture you and for me Marble & Milkweed is one of them. I love the whole feel of it: organic, handmade and utterly chic in an inherently bohemian way. It’s all in the details. The flower on the typewriter, the fonts, the simple but prettily designed images and packaging.

It was through New York beauty blog A Green Beauty that I first discovered the brand, also created in New York.

I was immediately eager to learn of any UK stockists and swiftly received a reply from Marble & Milkweed’s founder the lovely Briar Winters – I know, such a fitting name! – who explained she’s not currently retailing in the UK, making all of her products to order to ensure peak freshness. How wonderful! The Marble & Milkweed Twitter feed describes this concept as ‘Analog Beauty.’

I’ve just discovered the Marble & Milkweed is on Etsy and it looks like it’s possibly now available in the UK, so I’ll check this out and update you. Meanwhile, I thought I’d dedicate this post to all the Buff Beauties in the US who will definitely be able to enjoy Briar’s artisanal creations.

What’s on offer: skincare, bathing salts and bath nectar, balms and butters, serums, solid perfumes and perfume serums, a glass teapot and tea decanter and himalayan quartz drinking crystals. Essentially all that you could need for some serious bath time.

A little bit of everything…

Rose & chamomile mini facial set: comprising of facial scrub, cleansing nectar, cleansing grains and facial tonic: an awesome little set for trial or travels, these products make your skin look as fabulous as they sound. The beauty lies in the simplicity: ingredients lists are short containing just what’s needed to pamper the skin. My pick of the pack is the cleansing grains, which multitask as a great deep cleansing mask.

Rose & cardamom bathing salts: if you’re not already eating or bathing in Himalayan pink salt, I hazard a guess you soon will be for its abundant mineral content. Here it is warmed with organic cardamom and rose otto essential oils to create quite the hedonistic bath.

Bath nectar: those who like things a touch sweeter will love the raw honey base which, combined with organic coconut and sesame oils and non-GMO vitamin E, lends itself well to a creamy cleansing bath wash. How completely indulgent it feels to wash with honey!

Spring tonic serum: originally created for spring time, but now sold throughout the year, this serum renews the complexion with a blend of organic oils: notably jojoba, sweet almond and cold-pressed evening primrose. Neroli and chamomile also feature in this wonderful pick me up to be dabbed on the face (even – and especially – under the eyes) and onto neck and hands.

Nourishing serum: the most concentrated of Marble & Milkweed’s oils, it features a whole host of ingredients that promise to hydrate and replenish the skin. Rose otto is one of my favourite ingredients for its restorative powers: both physical and sensory.

Perfume serums 1, 2 & 3: these perfume serums feel wonderful to apply, leaving a soft scent with enough of a linger. Number 1 is a heady spicy-sweet floral with jasmine and a touch of vanilla and smoked black tea. Number 2 airs on the exotic with neroli, sandalwood and ginger. Number 3 ups the warmth with cardamom, pink pepper and Himalayan cedarwood as top notes. Can’t decide? Handy sample files are available.

Simple lip balm: I rarely get on with new lip balms finding most disappear far too quickly, but this cardamom and beeswax creation has become a mainstay of my handbag being carried to desk, back to bag and basically everywhere I go! Coconut oil, sesame seed oil and vitamin E perfectly soothe while cardamom adds a kiss of warmth.

Tea: I’m beyond fond of herbal tea, relishing those precious few minutes sipping a cup of something warm and fragrant. Marble & Milkweed’s are just perfect for this, offering something more glamorous and sumptuous than the usual fare. While I enjoyed the spice of both Modern Chais 1 and 2, for me the most memorable has to be Fleurs and Cacao. What a combination of flavours!

OK, so that’s enough of my Marble & Milkweed love-in. As you can tell I’m a little besotted!

Let me know what’s captured you…

www.marbleandmilkweed.com

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Cavorting in the season’s hottest heels is not always conducive to pretty feet. Even fashion mavens such as VB have yet to find a way of escaping the damage. And it’s not just the stilettos that can cause problems: running in hot trainers and squeezing into pinchy pumps also take their toll on your toes.

While I don’t have any tricks for beautifying bunions (prevention is always better than cure), I do urge you to say ‘sorry’ to your feet with a good, regular, pamper.

Below you’ll find Buff Beauty’s answer to the perfect home pedicure, which can be repeated once a week or less often as things improve.

You will need:

and the foot care essentials…

PREP: remove old nail polish, trim or file nails as needed and wash your feet using a small amount of Dr Bronner’s Peppermint Soap.

SOAK: run a shallow bath or fill a bowl with warm – not steaming – water, adding a good dash of the Peppermint liquid soap (yes: same again, this product is the ultimate in multi-purpose beauty genie with shaving soap and face mask another two of its 18 identified uses).

Now let the blissful bit commence: sit back and relax. Leaf through that magazine and enjoy the minty scent and the fresh zing on your feet and ankles.

10 to (preferably) 20 minutes later…

SCRUB: break off a small piece of Lush’s Stepping Stone and massage one foot at a time. Concentrate on those pesky rough bits as you work in circular movements. As the scrub dissolves the pumice pieces will take on any dryness, while the jojoba will keep the moisture balance in check. You’ll feel the difference immediately.

It’s another zesty product, with super calming Lemongrass Oil filling the room. It’s also rather colourful: watch as the water transforms into a fabulous tropical green!

BUFF: rinse feet and pat dry. Now grab your foot file (using the finest part, if it’s double-sided) and gently buff over your feet for the smoothest finish. Avoid filing vertically, as it can leave a ‘ridge’ of tough skin.

HYDRATE: liberally apply B-Line’s Feet Treat, again concentrating on those areas most prone to dryness. It’s a gorgeous cream, possibly the best I’ve found, highly concentrated and bursting with soothing goodies including Sunflower Seed Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter and Lavender. I particularly enjoy the Tea Tree Oil, which has such a clean fragrance.

Pop on your Eco Tools socks and prepare to relax again. I know, such a hardship! They feel cool and light to wear and really help to lock in that moisture. Also great to be used overnight, or under thick socks on a cold day.

Leave on for as long as you can…

FINISH: when you’re ready, it’s time to get to work on those nails. While the cream is still fresh, use your cuticle stick to gently push each cuticle back to reveal a neat nail bed. Dip a cotton bud into a small amount of polish remover and swipe over each nail to remove any traces of cream. Then get polishing!

For the hardiest, glossiest, finish, a clear base coat, two coats of colour and a clear top coat are recommended. If you’re going to skip any, I’d suggest the base. Wait at least several minutes between coats, preferably longer. Use a damp cotton bud to lift away any colour that’s found its way onto cuticles or toes.

Colour wise, I can’t get enough of Korres’ Nail Colour in Watermelon – a cheeky, vibrant pink. Get the little ladies in your life in on the pedi action using their own non-toxic, wash off colour from Little BU (it washes away at bath time with soap and warm water). My favourite shades are Cecilia, the sheer glittery pink, and Stella, a pearly magenta.

Ladies leave those toes to set for a good 40 minutes and always check a corner before putting on socks or shoes!

Upkeep: throughout the week regularly buff skin lightly with a pumice or foot file and apply a layer of Feet Treat daily.

Enjoy and let me know how you get on/what you’re using!

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