The Paraben Free Beauty Expert

2013-09-30T16:36:00.002+01:00

Palmer's Cocoa Butter - an old favourite but did you know it's also paraben free?

Cocoa Butter is enriched with Vitamin E and softens and smoothes dry skin. It can also help to smooth and blend unattractive marks and scars so that makes it a good choice if you're trying to hide unsightly stretch marks after a pregnancy. It feels thick and my skin always feels so nourished after using it - can definitely recommend this one!

2013-02-18T12:48:00.003+00:00

Five star reviews from me for products from the Naked Bodycare range - all paraben free and made with 97% natural ingredients. I especially like the Love Me Naked Rose Body Wash. I've been obsessed ever since someone bought this for me as a present and intend to try out the rest of the range.... visit nakedbodycare.co.uk for more information.

2013-02-07T13:20:00.001+00:00

Keep a bottle of Bach's Rescue cream close to help soothe and restore tired and stressed hands. It contains a blend of Rescue Remedy which has therapeutic benefits and helps to heal rough and dry skin. Non-greasy, fragrance-free, paraben free and not tested on animals.

2013-01-23T16:40:00.003+00:00

News today that women look their oldest at 3.30pm on a Wednesday! To comba those wrinkles try Neal Yard's White Tea Enriching Facial Mask. This nurtures dry and sensitive skin, locks in moisture and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines. The white tea contains antioxidants and has anti-ageing properties. You leave it on your skin for ten minutes and then rinse and you're supposed to use it just once or twice a week. Best of all - paraben free and made with 95 per cent organic ingredients. Enjoy!

2012-11-14T13:08:00.000+00:00

I've never used a primer before but it really makes a difference to your final look and helps keep your make up in place all day. Try Sephora's Silicone Free Foundation Primer, which is free of parabens and synthetic fragrances. It's particularly great for oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin.

2012-11-12T16:29:00.001+00:00

For a high end concealer try Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage - £26 in House of Fraser. This conceals any discolorations of the skin, as well as imperfections and redness. It's oil free and the two-tone colours allow you to customise to your needs. It's suitable for all skin types - you're supposed to apply after foundation.

2012-11-06T12:09:00.001+00:00

Desperate to banish bags and those under-eye wrinkles? Try Origins Plantscription anti-ageing eye treatment. It's a bit of a splurge at £36 but the little pot goes a long way and my eyes are looking better already. It contains Anogeissus which helps minimise crow's feet, crepey lids and sagginess around the eye area. Best of all, like all of the Origins range, its paraben free.

2012-10-10T18:02:00.001+01:00

2012-10-03T17:55:00.000+01:00

A great way to freshen up - Dr Organic's Dead Sea Mineral Body Wash. It contains Dead Sea Mineral Salt, aloe vera, thyme flower and wild mint oils to nourish the skin. Paraben and SLS free. Available at Holland and Barrett.

2012-10-02T17:46:00.001+01:00

Soothe, soften and condition skin with Trilogy's Everything Balm. It's suitable for face and body and combines pure plant ingredients for all skin types. It's the ultimate multi purpose cream and of course, paraben free. Dannii Minogue used it on her baby bump! Available at stockists across the UK - visit triologyproducts.com for details.

2012-09-19T18:13:00.000+01:00

To finish your make up, try Laura Mercier's Secret Finish. It's a lightweight gel to put over your foundation - ideal for oily skin. It absorbs excess oil and gives you a nice matte finish. It's translucent, paraben-free, fragrance free and oil-free, so a brilliant choice for break-out prone skin. I'm going to be adding it to my make-up routine!

2012-08-21T16:51:00.001+01:00

Most acne products are really hard on the skin but Oxy's Seaweed Power Fresh Skinwash is suitable for more sensitive skin types. It's paraben, alcohol and SLS free - and even more important, it really works. I'm very prone to break outs but this has really helped to reduce spots. My skin looks clear and even and when I did have a spot, I used the emergency spot treatment gel from the same range, which worked to reduce redness in a matter of hours. It's now a must-have for me.

2012-08-10T12:49:00.001+01:00

Today I'd like to recommend the Clinique Exfoliating Facial Scrub. It's extremely concentrated and paste-like, not like other scrubs that mainly consist of liquid and a few scrub beads. Makes skin feel extremely fresh, clean and free of all dirt and blackheads. Best of all it's paraben free!

2012-07-09T18:05:00.001+01:00

Eyes are sensitive, so it's great to choose a paraben free and hypoallergenic eye liner. Try the Autograph Soft Kohl eyeliner at M&S. It's only £6 and comes in four colours, black, brown, charcoal and dark blue. Lots of pencils I've used tend to smudge and disappear - even from top end brands, but this is the best. I use an eye primer and it stays in place all day.

2012-06-19T15:38:00.001+01:00

If you're looking for a paraben free hair range you can find in a supermarket then look no further than the Sainsbury's Happy Hair Days range. The intensive mask is currently on offer for only £3.32. The normal retail price is £4.99. It's a gentle, intensive conditioning mask without parabens. Coconut oil, pear extract and a proven vegetable protein nourish and soften hair from roots to ends without weighing it down, whilst the coconut and marshmallow aroma smells devine.

2012-06-15T14:02:00.000+01:00

Many deodorants contain paraben preservatives which have been linked to breast cancer. Organic deodorants don't contain parabens. Try Green People Aloe Vera Organic Deodorant. It's £7.95 but as well as being chemical free, it is also fragranced using essential oils which can benefit the skin rather than synthetic ingredients which can irritate. Modern antiperspirants suppress the body’s vital function of perspiration, by blocking pores with aluminium salts such as aluminium chlorohydrate. This one does not.

2012-06-12T15:01:00.002+01:00

Here's one for the mums to be amongst you. Katharine Botanicals Stretch Mark cream is hypo-allergenic and helps your skin retain moisture during pregnancy. It provides seaweed collagen and helps to alleviate any tissue damage or scarring. It also contains Calendula, an antioxidant and antiflammatory so it will help detoxify your body and smooth any irritated skin. They also do a nipple cream which can help with cracking.

2012-06-06T17:27:00.000+01:00

For a bargain, try Marks and Spencer's Limited Collection Lipstick. It's only £5 and comes in 22 different shades. It's hypoallergenic, paraben free and contains Vitamin E to keep the lips soft and moisturised.

2012-06-05T14:59:00.001+01:00

If you're looking for a good product to help fight the signs of ageing that isn't filled with chemicals, try REN's new Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Concentrate. It contains Vitamin A and 100 per cent natural retinoid that will helps combat wrinkles, imperfections and age spots and leave the skin looking smoother and brighter without the irritating effects of synthetic Retinol that is used in so many anti-ageing products. You just need to warm five drops in the palm of your hand and then gently pat over the face and neck and you'll be glowing in no time.

2012-06-01T11:51:00.001+01:00

If you fancy something special to mark the Jubilee weekend, then Neal's Yard are offering a special Jubilee Garden Mint and Bergamot Hand wash. It's organic and has the lovely scent of freshly picked garden mint and zesty Sicilian bergamot. It's £11.65 for 200ml and there's a matching hand cream.

2012-05-29T18:32:00.001+01:00

We've had lovely weather here in the UK so if it continues don't forget to use sunscreen - all natural of course. Try the Caribbean Blue all-natural range. It contains only pure, natural ingredients chosen specially for you by naturopathic doctors. It's easy to rub in and has SPF protection. Available at thenaturalskincarecompany.co.uk

2012-05-28T12:13:00.001+01:00

Liz Earle's Superbalm is a modern wonder. It's described as an emergency skin salve that can rescue and soothe skin. It can be used on the face, lips, hands, heels, elbows, nails... you name it. It's made from pure plant oils and natural waxes and it gently softens and calms sore or dry skin. If you look at the reviews on the official website, lots of people are saying how wonderful it is for all sorts of ailments includinge eczema.
Warm it in the palms of your hands before applying to the spots needed. Better still, it doesn't contain any preservatives.

2012-05-16T15:50:00.001+01:00

If you're looking for a good paraben free foundation, then try Mac's Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. It's an all in one that gives good coverage. It contains silica to absorb excess oil on the skin and gives a nice matt finish. The talc has been milled to a microscopic size to provide a beautiful texture while allowing the skin to breathe. It is available in a wide range of colours and can be applied with a brush, sponge, or a powder puff. Enjoy!

2012-05-09T12:31:00.001+01:00

Today I'd like to recommend Bobbi Brown's hydrating rich cream cleanser which gets rid of all traces of make up and dirt without stripping moisture from the skin. It smells of the lovely avocado butter and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and supple. It's good for all skin types and paraben free!

2012-05-02T15:57:00.002+01:00

Nspa is a value for money, paraben-free range created by experts at Nirvana Spa and on sale at Asda. I like the 5 minute magic mask with ginseng and Vitamin E to improve the texture of the skin. You put it on and then relax for five minutes while it works its magic - the perfect product for busy people who need quick results.