Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Wash and Hand Repair - Review

Bonjour!

I've used the Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Wash and Hand Repair on and off  for a while - these two came as part of a QVC kit - which made them very cost effective ...!

First up the Orange Flower Hand Wash -  formulated with foaming agents derived from corn and coconut and including ingredients such as organic oats, rose-scented geranium, natural vitamin E and sweet orange essential oils. It is one of the most gentle and non-drying hand washes I've used - like washing your hands in liquid silk, completely non-drying and comforting, even when the old eczema is rearing it's ugly head. I don't feel the need to immediately smother my hands in cream and the delicate sweet orange aroma hangs around so I have to stop myself from constantly sniffing my hands - people would think I'm weird!

The Hand Repair contains echinacea, hops, beta-carotene and natural vitamin E plus a cocktail of essential oils including lavender, neroli and chamomile.  It's always been comforting on the old hands - even on 'sore days' and is great for daytime use - you can just stick it on with no excess rubbing and run out the door without any sticky or greasy residue. The lovely fresh lavender scent comes through and lingers so it's another 'hand sniffing' product!

The Orange Flower Hand Wash comes in at £10.75/200ml bottle and the Hand Repair is around £15.75/100ml pump so I don't consider either to be super-cheap. I'd accept both with open arms as part of a kit (as I have in the past!) and maybe re-purchase the Hand Wash as I find it so soothing - plus you don't need a to use a load of product. However, even though it's a lovely hand cream, I have to use rather more of the Hand Repair than I'd like when my hands are at their most dry, so probably wouldn't buy alone - if that makes sense!

Have you used the Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Wash or Liz Earle Hand Repair? What are your staple 'handcare' products?

Jen x

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion - Review

Bonjour!

The Aveeno range has been on offer (25% off) at Sainsbury's over the last week or so. I took the opportunity to stock up on one of my favourites - the Aveeno Skin Relief Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion.  My current 200ml tube has finished so I went for the 300ml pump bottle (and then went back a few days later and bought another to put away for a rainy day - I don't like to run out of this product!).

I don't use this as a body lotion unless I'm having one of my extra itchy, irritated skin episodes - it's kept in the kitchen/dining room and used as a hand cream.  It performs just as well, if not better, than many 'proper handcreams' I've used.  Although it's described as a lotion it has a creamy texture and is not at all thin or runny but still easily absorbed  - as you may be able to see from the above blob (every time I hear the word 'blob' I just think of Blackadder!) and speaking of 'blobs' that one up there is all I need for my hands in one go!

At times when my eczema has been playing up or when my hands are very dry and cracked from over-washing or stress this is one of the products which I know I can count on to soothe and rehydrate with no greasy residue. It's like locking in a protective layer of moisture on your hands - something I always crave - especially during the winter months.  There is no fragrance or fancy packaging but if you want a paraben free product that is extremely gentle and highly effective then this is a good place to start I reckon.  You can read about the naturally active ingredients included in Aveeno products on their own website here.

I have used and repurchased both the Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion and also the Daily Moisturising Lotion, which is a little lighter, for a while now. The Daily Moisturising Lotion was included in my Rescue Products post which you can see here. Both work well for me in place of the Aveeno 'official' hand cream (which I always seemed to get through in no time at all) and are very cost effective (especially when on offer) as they last for ages.  This 300ml pump of Skin Relief Lotion at £3.56 after discount was cheaper than the 200ml tube - not sure why but who's complaining?

Have you used any products from Aveeno? Which is your favourite?

Jen x

What the Haul.....? #1

Morning!

So where does this 'haul' thing come from I wonder - I mean - who was the first blogger to use the term and why - was it because they purchased so many items that they had to 'haul' them all home...?

Anyway ... just thought I'd share a few goodies recently purchased...

Took advantage of the recent MUA offer - bought my £8.00 worth of product (actually all came to £8.50 but who's complaining?)

MUA Nail Varnish in Frozen Yogurt - £1.00
MUA Extreme Volume Mascara in Black - £2.00
MUA 3 in 1 Contour Pen in Gunmetal - £1.50
MUA 12 Shade 'Undressed' Eye Shadow Palette - £4.00

I've been wanting to get hold of the 'Undressed' palette for a while but it's always sold out in my local Superdrug, looking forward to using this, it's a firm favourite with many bloggers - some lovely soft colours in there.  Swatches and reviews to follow (I won't be opening the mascara for a while yet - I don't think I need explain further...!).

And with the above products received a free 24 shade Immaculate Collection palette. Not that I need any more eye shadows but it was just too good an offer to resist! Some really lovely colours in this palette too - I imagine something for almost every occasion.  I really need to get back into my singing again and organise a few gigs - then I could really go to town ...smokey eyes, shimmery eyes, the world could be my eye make-up oyster.....!

Anyway - back to life/back to reality and a couple of offers on in my local Sainsburys  -

Dirty Works Bye Bye Dark Circles under-eye concealer - this was on offer in my local store - reduced from £4.99 to £3.32 so I grabbed it.  Not used it yet - but I always need a bit of help with dark-circles so let's see how I go on - will report back in due course.

Dirty Works You Soft Touch Hand Cream - selected Dirty Works products appear to be on offer at half price both instore and online so this was reduced from £2.99 to £1.49. I've not tried this hand cream before - the ingredients include Cocoa Butter and Jojoba Oil - it rubs in really easily and leaves hands feeling soft and conditioned but not greasy and with a very subtle cocoa butter scent. Now that the colder weather is here I'll be going through hand cream like cold water, so think I'll try and get another of these whilst it's on offer.

And how could I resist?  On offer at '3 for £12.00' - it would have been rude to ignore this lot...!

What would be your preference - red, white or rose?  Think I prefer white or rose but I do like a glass of red with selected meals!  Of course my hubby isn't nearly as fussy - good job seen as he ends up drinking most of  everything we get in!

So...any thoughts on the origins of the 'haul' type thing?  Who drinks the most in your house?


Jen x