Neal's Yard Remedies Give-away

I was very excited to find out that I would be receiving an orange flower skin care kit as part of a social media give-away. I don't actually tend to use anything on my face apart from moisturiser and mineral power so have always been reluctant to start  using face washes and toners etc. I have very dry, sensitive skin that is pretty happy to be left alone. The problem for me is dry skin and peeling skin on my face so was super excited when I found out this skincare set is specifically for helping with dry skin.

The set came in a really cute cotton bag which has been very useful as storage for this set and also all my other Neal's Yard oils. The picture above shows the bag with the moisturiser, facial wash, toner and facial oil. 

Facial Wash and Toner

This was all new to me. I've never used toner before in my life and occasionally face wash when I was at high school. The best thing was that they were both very light products. The facial wash didn't leave any residue and wasn't at all 'slimey or soapy'. I didn't get that tight skin feeling that a lot of people with sensitive skin get with normal soaps or washes.

The wash only had a light orange fragrance but the toner was more fragrant and it was very refreshing. I read on their site that Neal's Yard get the orange flowers from the Atlas Mountains. I really recognised the smell as orange flower is a key in most Moroccan pharmacies that produce oils and skin care products. I have visited Morocco three times and it really took me back to the smells of those pharmacies.

Moisturiser

The moisturiser was very light and easily absorbed after the toner. It didn't lave my face feeling oily or sticky, just smooth and soft.

I normally go for thick moisturisers because my skin is so dry and light moisturisers have no effect. However I did feel like this worked well especially if the oil is also used.

Facial Oil

The oil just smells amazing. Like I said earlier it took me straight back to the smells of Morocco. It's not a sticky fruity orange kind of smell, more subtle and floral (probably because the flowers are used and not the fruit!).

The oil was definitely my favourite thing and probably the one I am most likely to buy. I can imagine it being very good in winter at preventing and soothing dry skin.

This set has been lovely to use and I am pleasantly surprised that my skin hasn't become irritated or more dry after using it. It actually did the job! Also the ingredients are all natural and are organic and it's vegan, eco-friendly and cruelty free. The main thing is I don't feel like I need to wear make up on my skin because the set has worked so well. So thank you Neal's Yard!

Eco-Friendly Aromatherapy

After getting a spa day treat after my exams last year I became a bit obsessed with everything 'spa'. I did a google search of aromatherapy and was introduced to the world of essential oil diffusers. I came across a sustainably sourced, low energy diffuser from madebyzen.

It's made from hand picked bamboo in a sustainable way so that the shoots keep growing. This has the least impact on wildlife. I couldn't resist getting it as having a diffuser is the easiest way of bringing a bit of spa back home with you. The diffuser also has a LED lamp option which makes a dim, warm glow that I've always found relaxing if I've struggled to sleep. 

The essential oils I chose are from Neal's Yard which are mostly organic and are made in England. I was really happy to hear that you can bring empty bottles back to the store and they re-use them. 

The oils that I have at the moment are women's balance and fennel. I find the women's balance really calming and the smell reminds me of being in a spa. I'm addicted to everything that smells or tastes like fennel so I couldn't resist getting the fennel oil. I found my experience in the Neal's Yard shop really friendly and they can give so much information on all the different oils and products. I'm going to try a new oil when one of these runs and give back the bottle!