FURTHER SOUTH OF GRANADA

Hyaluronic acid and my 7 day Trial

2016-06-27T12:48:00.000+02:00

I'm trying Evolve Hyaluronic Acid in a 7 day trial, and will report back daily as to the results. I'm keen to reduce my 2 vertical frown lines, which are pretty deep, so no miracles expected!

What's the blurb?

This pure clear serum for normal to dry skin contains 200mg hyaluronic acid per bottle, proven to hydrate skin from within and plump up fine lines and wrinkles. Organic pomegranate extract softens and protects. Delicately fragranced with organic rosewater
HYALURONIC ACID - Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water making it a highly effective component in moisturisers. Hyaluronic acid helps to reduce wrinkles, making the skin look younger with an improved skin tone. . We use lower molecular weight Hylauronic Acid which penetrated deeper and has more effective hydrating properties. It also increases the production of collagen.
POMEGRANATE EXTRACT - Pomegranate is high in ellagic acid which helps to regulate cell turnover and strengthen the cell membrane therefore limiting water loss and free radical damage.

Day 1.
Product has arrived. Brilliantly packed as always, using eco nuts and a recycled cardboard box, so 10/10 already on the eco-front for mypure.
There's a generous 30 ml in the bottle, with a dropper to apply the serum. (Apply to cleansed face)
No strong smell, just a clean unscented whiff. Serum is actually quite gel-like and a bit sticky, clear and easily applied straight form the dropper. Dries fast, and feels as though my skin is tightening. The initial stickiness wears off as the product dries.

Day 2, 3 ,4

No huge difference, apart form the fact my skin feels softer and 'fed'.

Day 5

The biggest day for me so far, my pores are visibly smaller, and my facial scar seems to have blended in more. Some days it feels huge, but today it is barely noticeable. Very happy!

Day 6

Someone (rather rudely I thought!!) noted my deep forehead frown line has lessened - this is looking good!

Day 7

After just one week - and most of the social media response said it wouldn't be long enough - my skin is renewed, softer, and fine lines have melted to soft focus filter. My scar tissue has improved, and is not so angry. After a month I'll do an update, but it's safe to say...Will Buy Again! Here I am with ZERO makeup, just the serum and a moisturiser. (Also my 17 year old daughter, who has no need of such products, if only....!)

From BB to CC, and a natural deodorant from LAVERA

2016-05-09T08:44:00.000+02:00

We've all heard about BB creams, now it's the turn of CC.

What are they?

Colour Corrector Creams. You know, those red patches, uneven skin tone, and pigment spots that make us wish we had Photoshop in our handbags instead of just a bag of make-up. I have a scar just under my nose that's pretty visible, and I like to use a blur cream there to fade it out a little (Rosehip oil helps greatly too).

Last month I gave Lavera 8 in 1 CC cream a try. I found it a little bit drying to be honest, but a decent moisturiser corrected that. Otherwise it did a good job on my scar area, and evened out the redness that appears after the first glass of wine, or a walk in the fresh air. Living in the sun, I'm more than happy with the SPF 6, but only wish it was higher. There's a slight plumping effect as promised, which in turn left my skin feeling firmer. It's anti-ageing - always a great thing.

Would I buy it again? Yes, but the colour is a little dark for lighter skin tones, although perfect for me. £19.90 for 30ml.

The Lavera 8in1 Colour Correction combines anti-ageing care with a touch of foundation for a beautifully flawless finish. The cream moisturises the skin, while evening out the complexion and immediately disguising imperfections. Regular use visibly lightens pigment spots. Skin feels firmer and the appearance of wrinkles is reduced.

SPF 6 protects against ageing of the skin caused by sun exposure.

8in1 effects: - Provides 24-hour moisturisation - Brightens skin - Covers imperfections - Reduces the appearance of pigment spots - Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles - Firms and plumps the skin - Protects against free radicals - SPF 6

100% natural ingredients from organic cultivation.

For all skin types.

NATRUE Certified - True friends of Natural and Organic Cosmetics

Secondly, I tried (well, the whole family had a go) at the new Lavera Organic Orange and Sea Buckthorn Natural Deodorant.

This was the stand out review winner for me this month. Green Tea and Witch Hazel act as the deodorizer agents, and it kept us dry and smelling as fresh as daisies. A pump spray- so no choking aerosol fumes - and a pretty glass bottle. The scent is fresh and fruity, light and not overpowering, this formula WORKS. It smells a little bit like marmalade :)

At just £9.95 it's a steal, it lasts ages, and I cannot wait to try out the other scents in the range. Suitable for everyone, it's neither girly nor masculine, it's just fresh and clean. Love, love, love.

This deodorant with organic orange and organic sea buckthorn provides long-lasting odour protection and freshness all day long. Valuable active ingredients such as green tea and witch hazel form part of the effective deodorising formula..

For normal skin types.

Free of aluminium salts

100% natural ingredients from organic cultivation.

NATRUE Certified - True friends of Natural and Organic Cosmetics

Supple, radiant skin.

2016-04-07T04:25:00.001+02:00

I'm having one of those smug moments that comes with finding a product that does exactly what it says on the tin - or at least, what it claims to do on the website.

For the month of March I reviewed what has become one of my favourite beauty brands of all time, Trilogy.

The product?

Trilogy CoQ10 Age proof Booster Oil.

That claim?

" Intensively nourishing, CoQ10 Booster Oil recharges and revitalises skin at a cellular level, boosting collagen and elastin prodution and protecting against free radical damage.

Tamanu, macadamia and black caraway seed oils plus antioxidant co-enzyme Q10 help feed and renew skin. Glycablend™, a potent blend of chia, blueberry, strawberry and pomegranate oils, keeps skin supple and youthful.

A seriously addictive addition to any skincare regime, this potent formulation assists super-fast skin recovery, giving dull and lacklustre skin a renewed radiance. "

The verdict?

Yes, yes and yes again.

The truth is my skin IS getting older, and no one can stop that, but it can be slowed down a little. But realistically it's better to simply take CARE of skin as it ages, prevent against free radicals and the damage they cause. I consistently aim to source products that FEED and NOURISH the skin that I have (I am lucky to have my father's great skin) and this product pulls out all the stops. Love it.

I use it after cleansing and moisturising, a couple of times alone, and the result is soft, smooth and nourished skin.

The smell is fabulous and quite addictive!

The glass dropper ensures there's no wastage on application. The little bottle slips into your handbag or desk drawer. A little goes a long way, making it economical.

The price?

£29.50 for 20 ml with a glass dropper applicator. Available from the guardian angels of natural skincare, Mypure Natural Beauty.

Moisturising with Sukin Skincare

2016-03-07T16:30:00.001+01:00

A review for Sukin Moisture Restoring Night Cream £16.28 and Super Greens Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturiser £9.99 from Mypure Natural Beauty
Really in love with this Sukin range of skincare at the moment. Dry winter skin has been banished with the Night Cream, links above for you to buy. I've given both creams a good 2 week test to ensure a pretty concise review and I adore the result.

"Enriched with rose hip, evening primrose and borage oils to promote elasticity and protect the skin’s moisture barrier.

Suitable for all skin types.

Ideal for hydrating, replenishing, softening, nourishing & revitalising."

Yes, it does exactly what it says on the tin, or rather the blurb. I am a complete sucker for anything with Rosehip in anyway - and the resulting scent is divine, it's also economical and goes really far.

The moisturiser is lighter, and comes in a pump dispenser bottle. At first, I was a bit miffed as too much came out, but I have honed it and I am able to squeeze exactly enough if I go slowly! I think a smaller pump would be better, but notice that it's the same size as the one on the body wash which I reviewed earlier, so the lid/pump is obviously the sustainable, eco and green choice - which is more than fine with me.

Now this is interesting, I wasn't sure whether to apply this moisturiser or eat it (which I guess is the same thing if it's going on your skin) ...just have a read of the list of ingredients:

"Enriching actives of kale, spirulina and parsley, combined with antioxidant rich acai and goji extracts for daily hydration that promotes a healthy glow.

A light weight daily moisturiser enriched with actives of kale, spirulina, chlorella and parsley to promote a healthy looking complexion. Acai and goji berry extracts impart antioxidants to the skin while rose hip, avocado and jojoba lock in moisture.

A burst of cranberry provides an invigorating scent to refresh the senses.

Suitable for ALL skin types.

Perfect for hydrating, replenishing, softening, & nourishing"

Yep, we're happy with all that! Would I recommend it? Probably a little light for me, I need a bit of extra help in winter here in the mountains, but over one of my good organic facial oils it's a dream. (My daughter and her 17 yr old skin love it) Explore the range today, links are at the top - go on, you won't regret it.

Just lovin' Sukin - from Mypure

2015-12-14T14:11:00.002+01:00

Christmas is getting closer - there always to be so much time to buy gifts and then like sand falling through fingers it's upon us - I am a bit of a last minute shopper anyway.

I know some of this will be on the gift list for friends though - it's the super Sukin Bodywash I received to try out last month from mypure.

Showers should be fresh and invigorating, and Sukin Lime and Coconut bodywash from Mypure does the job nicely! Just £13.22 too - it's fantastic value - we've all been using it and there's plenty left, so we'll be ordering more for Christmas stockings :) Looks great on the bathroom shelf too.
Here's the blurb:

Coconut and Lime aromatics combined with jojoba, avocado, and rose hip oils for a refreshing cleanse that will hydrate and soften. A sulphate free cleanser, enriched with refreshing coconut and lime to stimulate the senses in the morning or help revive a tired body.

Contains skin softening jojoba, avocado and rose hip oils to soften, hydrate and purify your skin.

Suitable for ALL skin types.

Have to say it works for us - and it's so nice to have a bodywash suitable for all skin types too, and one that's natural to boot is a bonus.

Sukin is a Melbourne based outfit, dedicated to natural and good for your skin products - you'll find real veggies and other good things in their products - here's an informative blog post about Sukin so have a read and get to now a little bit more about them! You'll be very glad you did - so will your skin.

Vegan lips and smooth hips!

2015-11-02T15:30:00.001+01:00

Well, it rhymed. :)

Last month Issey was itching for that new shade of lipstick, you know the one, between a nude and a paleish pink. It's that BoHo look that matches all the fringed clothes and cute boots around at the moment. I thought maybe a vegan one would be better than all that chemical crap that's for sale on the high street, so opted to review a Lippy Girl Vegan Lip Colour from mypure natural beauty. She duly pocketed it - and it's the perfect size for her super-skinny jeans pocket - a slim black aluminium tube with a twist up shot of that perfect colour. She really likes it, not just the colour, but the lasting effect, the taste (slightly minty) the only drawback being the smell - but, I didn't mind it - so I guess that's just down to personal taste.

We had colour Coral Me Maybe currently on offer at £10.63 for 5g.

This premium line of amazing lipsticks are made with organic and wildcrafted, natural oils and waxes and only natural mineral pigments. 100% vegan, bee-free, gluten free and chemical free! These lippies are made with certified organic Castor Seed Oil, Jojoba seed oil, Carnauba Wax, and Shea Butter for the smoothest, creamiest finish, and super pigmented with natural minerals. Vegocentrics are moisturising and long lasting, and will not bleed!

Plus, Vegocentric Lippies come in a bigger and better size of 5grams, and 100% recyclable aluminium tubes!

The Lippy Girl collection of vegan lipsticks are made with no bees products or polybutene/petroleum.

Back to the smooth hips. I love Trilogy products, and whilst we have baskets of body lotions in the house, I wanted a really decent one. My ski is so dry at the moment, it's essential to moisturise after every shower (A good tip is to leave your skin damp when applying moisturiser, it's more receptive) The Trilogy Firming Body Lotion is such a treat - and the scent is divine - I have been leaving off my day perfume in place of it. Love it - and currently just £13.18 for a big value tube.

NOURISH, SMOOTH AND FIRM

Certified natural lotion

Everyday moisturiser with firming action

Non-greasy, leaves skin soft and supple

Moisturise, firm and improve skin's elasticity and texture while enjoying the Trilogy signature fragrance of lavender, frankincense and rose geranium. Quickly absorbed and offering long lasting softness, your skin will feel firmer while maintaining suppleness all day long.

Omega-rich evening primrose and certified organic rosehip oils nourish and replenish. Jojoba and almond oils condition for soft supple skin. Caffeine from green coffee and plant-derived hyaluronic acid help to firm while vitamin packed avocado oil helps prevent the skin from drying.

Autumn sunshine with Mypure

2015-10-05T16:18:00.002+02:00

Here in the south of Spain, the nights are getting chillier - we even had the fire on 2 nights last week - but the daytime temperatures are still high, and even higher when we wind our way down our mountain to the coast below us. As we often do - and a sudden blast of hot sun can still burn so we try and remember to keep an SPF spray in the car - remembering it back at home doesn't seem to work when you have just put a jumper on!

So my latest order for mypure natural beauty was one of their newest additions to the suncare range, Acorelle SPF 50 from the kids range - one to suit all of us and our fairer skin. Hey, also just a tenner at the moment if you're fast.

It comes in a pump spray, better for the environment than the aerosols that are currently flooding the market. A light spray is dispensed, with good coverage and is easily absorbed It's not sticky either so you won't adhere to a sandy beach! At this time of year here, one application is enough for a couple of hours, and so it's also economical. Will definitely purchase this one again from Mypure.

I also ordered Naturtint Hair Mask which I wanted to try out for a while now as I colour/bleach my hair. I love the conditioners you get with a box of colour, but haven't found one to buy separately, until now. It's an intense protection that works from the inside out to protect the hair shaft and cuticle. The result? Soft and shiny hair. Love it.

Hair and skin - protected by those guardians of natural cosmetics - Mypure Natural Beauty.

Your Place in the Sun?

2015-10-03T11:22:00.003+02:00

UPDATE APRIL 2016****SOLD STC****

Take advantage of the current favourable currency rate and invest in your place in the sun. Seek solace in solitude? Looking to escape to your own perfect idyll?
Then browse these details for five minutes, and consider a cortijo under the Andalucían sun.

Speak to Cara at Sunshine Property for more information

Much more than Almonds and olives! Price 195,000 Euros

Converted Old Water Mill set in a green valley with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
It is not easy to describe this beautiful farm in just a few sentences. It is situated in a sheltered valley above a little river which flows all year. It was originally a water mill and has been renovated tastefully. The house is approximately 120m2 with a large 100m2 terrace around it. There is a large fitted kitchen with dining area and a big lounge and a large hall. There are two bedrooms and a third small bedroom which at present is used as a walk in pantry. It has an array of solar panels which provide electricity and heat the water.
There is also a guest house which consists of a big caravan with a wooden structure around it containing a fitted kitchen and shower room. It will sleep 4. In front of it is a garden with palm trees and a green lawn! There is a ruin of about 40m2 next to the house which is roofed and could be renovated and attached to the house. There is a large garage and a big cellar with 4 rooms for storage and for making wine. There is mains domestic water and also drinking water is available from a spring on the terrace. There is also a well. The land around the property is of level farming terraces and mountain slopes. The terraces have fruit trees of all sorts and there is an orangery next to the house. There is an irrigation system with water available from the river one day a week. There is also a water reservoir which holds 50,000litres of water. There are many vines, olive trees and almonds.
In the orangery is a working grape and /or olive press. It can also be used as a picnic table.This could be an ideal property for people who would like to grow their own produce or just relax in a beautiful place.

Lavender Blue

2015-08-05T13:38:00.000+02:00

I love Lavender. Simple as that. Far from it being the Old Lady choice of fragrance, to me it epitomises France, fresh fragrance, cleanliness, and is reminiscent of relaxing times - after all, what's a massage without Lavender oil?

So I was delighted to review two different Lavender infused body washes in July for Mypure, the natural beauty experts.

When can Lavender be improved? When it's in a natural, organic and Paraben-free product!

What did I order?

The products

1. A'kin Lavender Body Wash. Buy it here. Currently on offer for £12.60

A'kin Aromatherapy Lavender Body Wash - Lavender has been used since Roman times as a relaxing, neutralising and healing aromatic oil. The name is derived from the latin 'lavare' meaning to wash. This pure certified organic lavender is combined with the gentlest and purest skin cleansers to ensure your skin and mind will be refreshed.

2. Le Savoinnier Marseillais Body Wash with Lavender Oil. By it here. Also currently on offer for £11.25

Olive oil Savon Noir soap,regenerating ancestral care, used for centuries.

Natural shower with saponified soap made in a cauldron with olive oil, very gentle for the skin. 500ml bottle with dispenser pump cap making it easy to use and avoids waste. Lather, rinse and enjoy the pleasure of a Hammam bath, as though you were there! Creamy foam with exfoliating and nourishing properties for your skin.

Dermatologically tested

100% natural ingredients

Vegetable based

Suitable for all skin types

The Test

The Marseillais comes in a good 500ml round pump bottle. Looks great on the bathroom shelf too. The olive oil makes it a very rich wash, dark in colour with a good natural Lavender scent. It did lather up quite well, despite having no chemicals. It leaves skin quite squeaky clean, if a little on the dry side.

The A'kin body wash is in a pretty tall and round bottle, again not one to be hidden away! A softer fragrance, good lather and great feeling on the skin, we all loved this one (You have to remember everyone wants to try these products, not just me!) It's a firm favourite in the shower, and is lovely and relaxing with our night time showers, especially in this Spanish heat lately.

The Verdict

If I had to choose....then it would be the A'kin every time. The scent doesn't last as long on the skin, but it is super lovely to use, and leaves skin so soft and moisturised - a clear winner for me.

Marseillais comes in a close second - but I think I prefer it as a hand wash.

BB brush and natural mascara review

2015-07-12T10:55:00.002+02:00

How many chemicals are in your skincare or make up?
Really - have you looked?

If it's not safe to eat - it's not safe to put on your skin.

Make up is no exception. Big brand names and pretty packaging (not to mention expensive advertising) delude us all into parting with our cash - to end up adding chemicals into our bodies, by hook or by crook.

Mascara has always been a careful buy for me. I only use it occasionally, and am really sensitive around the eye area - what seems like perfect make up usually ends up in Panda eyes by the end of the night and red ones the next morning.

I also have fair eyebrows, so black mascara makes me look like a 60's cabaret act.

Brown or brownish black it was then, when I placed a blogging order for last month at mypure.

I went for the Living Nature Thickening Mascara based on the blurb:

Subtle blackened brown for plump lashes and beautifully natural eyes. Living Nature thickening mascara uses halloysite clay to thicken lashes for impact without clumps or chemicals. Highly acclaimed mascara in the 2010 2008 editions of the Green Beauty Bible.

It's not cheap at £21.00 a pop - I will say that. But then again, how often do you buy mascara? And, yes, it's good. Nice little black tube with 10g of product, a really good brush. Not thick, no clumps, and no irritation. Even when I've indulged a little too heavily and forgotten to remove it before bed :)

Isobel likes it too - so I know where to find it. Now that does irritate me.

Second product up for review was a BB brush from Eco Tools - my new favourite obsession.

Created by Alicia Silverstone, these are soft bristle, recycled bamboo handled cruelty free brushes that ooze quality. They make application so easy, are washable and come in their own reusable pouches. I love 'em.

The BB brush (£6.99 - bargain) is brand new, and a joy to use, applying foundation or BB cream into the contours of your face easily with the specially angled head. It'll be around a long time.

Blushing...with Inika and Mypure

2015-06-06T11:16:00.001+02:00

Yes...it's that time of year in Spain when a few hours outside make all the difference to skin. Vitamin D is freely available during daylight hours - and we have been making the most of it, whether down at the coast or simply enjoying a long lunch in our tiny flower-filled garden.

And there's nothing like a healthy sun-kissed glow. As I found out on a recent trip 'home' to the wet Emerald Isle, they all looked so pale!

So, evenings out (read a G&T at the local bar!) mean sliding all that make-up into a drawer marked winter. All I need is a great moisturiser, a quick sweep of mascara, lipgloss, and a decent bronzer.

Hey - I was all OUT, luckily it was time to choose something to review from the lovely folk over at Mypure Natural Beauty...

Inika bronzer comes in 4 shades to choose from. Now I'm a healthy colour, my skin is pretty tanned but I don't want to look like David Dickinson so I chose the lightest IK3010 Sunkissed. I was glad I did - it's perfect. It's way too dark for my lighter skinned daughter, so if you're pale - this is not for you. Unless you do really want to look like David Dickinson.

For me, Sunkissed is just right, and makes the difference between no make-up and a little touch of something, you know, when people say you look really well and you think, awww, thanks Mypure!

One more thing, it's £20.50 for a wee pot of 8g, but goes a long, long way. One dip covers all my face - so it's tiny enough to fit in my jeans pocket or a slim clutch-bag, and also very economical. Win, win.

To apply, I also reviewed the Eco Tools Powder Brush which is probably the best brush I have ever owned. Designed by Alicia Silverstone, completely cruelty-free bristles, soft and lightweight, this brush glides over skin and applies my bronzer perfectly. Only snag is I keep having to retrieve it from my daughter's make-up box :).

They also do a designated bronzer brush but I (personally) prefer a smaller one.

Tempted to invest in more of the Eco-Tools range, so impressed am I...

Repair and Renew

2015-05-06T16:52:00.001+02:00

Repair & Renew is based on the anti-ageing and skin-regenerating powers of Rosa Mosqueta, a super nourishing Rosehip Oil pressed from the seeds of a rose from the Chilean Andes. This precious ingredient has beneficial effects on skin tone and elasticity, helping to improve the appearance of wrinkles thanks to its antioxidant and fatty acid content. These products are suitable for all skin types, especially mature or dry skin.

So, they got me! See the words I have highlighted? Honestly, I speed read and scan ingredients to find any of these. All of them? I had to have it!
Mypure Natural Beauty sent me some as part of my blogging order to try, and subsequently review, so here I am, telling you to get over there now and buy it. Be quick, here's the link: Buy it Here.
It's £21 for a nice little glass pot of 30ml, not the cheapest but quite concentrated cream. It goes onto the skin a s a light and fondant creme, the smell is rosy and divine, not overpowering.
You'll see after a months daily use - morning and night - I'm barely a third down the pot too, so I reckon another 10 weeks worth is left, actually good value for money.

An intensively moisturising & toning cream to help firm the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines & protect against the damaging effects of UV.

Enriched with skin-regenerating Rosa Mosqueta Oil, nourishing Argan & Borage Oils & Vitamins A & E for a smoother, rejuvenated complexion.

It is. It does. I love it. The UV part is valuable to me too, living under the Spanish sun. The best bit? We had fiesta last week, and Toni, who I hadn't seen for ages, asked me how on earth I kept my skin looking so good. :) I told her, and I'm telling you now. You're welcome :)

Second product was one for my 16 yr old daughter, her of the hormonal spots. Laidbare Spot the Difference is a topical treatment with Chrysanthemum extract and Fennel extract.

Spot the Difference in your skin, banish blemishes and prevent breakouts. This treatment cream blends Caffeine - a valuable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, Horse Chestnut Oil to care for and soothe sensitive skin while fennel calms irritation and Chrysanthemum reduces lumps and bumps. This cream will not strip your skin of essential oils and hydration but will help to reduce shine.

Now at just £6.99 for a 30 ml tube we weren't holding out hope for any miracles. But despite an heavy period, a weekend of non stop fiesta and a visit from her boyfriend (guaranteed to bring out the big gun spots) this was perfect. Light, non drying, and really calmed her skin. The tube went into her pocket for emergency top ups, just the right size for skinny jeans! She said it reduced her shiny forehead too - an all round winner.

Saving face...

2015-04-07T09:11:00.000+02:00

Breakouts and spring are synonymous with teen skin, so my Mypure Natural Beauty blogging order last month was handed straight to Issey - whose face reacts to even a planned visit to see the novio - her Spanish boyfriend.

She worries like crazy about her skin, which makes it worse of course - bring on the Spanish summer and days under the sunshine to clear it up...and give my ears a rest.

But until then, we have more miracles from Mypure. Emollients and quick fixes for those weekend dates - another couple of wonder-discoveries for her - note to self, must re-stock for my nephew who is battling the same skin issues. Who'd be a teenager, eh?

We recommend for your angst-filled teen the following mood-lifters:

Alva Rhassoul Balance Cream at £11.52. (Currently on offer) Soothing and regulating, it did exactly what it said on the label, and reduced all the redness and irritation. Best applied AFTER a topical treatment like the Balance Me serum as reviewed below.

And the deal breaker - the one she LOVED was Balance Me Congested Skin Serum currently on offer for £14.40. (We love anything from this brand in our house) This soothed and calmed, but amazingly didn't dry out her skin at all - she used up the whole thing in record time so I guess it's an order from me...worth it for the instant results and happy kid. Honestly, BUY it today - it's a wee miracle.

Time flies - and how it changes!

2015-03-17T14:42:00.001+01:00

Hey, happy St Patrick's Day to you - wherever you sit reading this. The sun is shining here in Andalucia despite the forecast to the contrary - mind you, it's often wrong.

A holiday in Ireland, that day of parades and wearing the green, a day of release from Lenten alcohol abstinence- was that only us? Did we make that up to suit ourselves? Anyway, there'll be a river of Guinness gargled today, and the damp parades in Dublin will party on regardless of the weather.

Here at home in Murtas, I'll escape for a quiet drink tonight at the bar - it's also Patricio the owner's Feast day - an auspicious day all round.

For today, it's a bit manic - a ream of writing, and cleaning and cooking before the weekend, when Issey's many friends come to stay (think In-Betweeners boys with ferocious appetites). Monday sees Josh home from uni for Easter. *Must buy more food.

Stan is painting and spring cleaning - a far cry from the days when decorating meant a swan around Monsoon while a couple of tuneless-whistling men transformed the house. Now it's definitely DIY :)

A new job tomorrow too (wish me luck) hopefully the training and trial period will be successful, perhaps today's luck of the Irish might rub off on me, eh?

And lucky we are indeed, we have good fortune, if you consider fortune to be happiness and health, and everything to look forward to.

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit.

Steve Hall's 90 Day tour of Spain

2015-03-08T13:33:00.005+01:00

Steve's tour continues, with a quick trip to the Alpujarra. I thought I'd show him around. Let's take the tour.

Balance Me? BB!

2015-02-16T11:45:00.002+01:00

BB creams have been around a while now. I was keen to try a natural one, and jumped at the chance to review this one for Mypure Natural Beauty last month.

What does a BB cream do?

I like to be foundation free if it's midweek, but as I get older (happens to all of us!) I need something light, just to balance out those skin imperfections; redness, lines, bumpy skin after an indulgent weekend.

A good BB cream will do just that - it's worth paying a little more for a better product - and so I chose to review Balance Me Natural Perfection Face Cream SPF25.

Firstly the cost. It rocks in at £26.00 - which is slightly expensive for me, but it's natural, chemical free, and it goes a really long way so on balance it's good value.

The clincher for me was the SPF as I live in the sun, and even cold winter days have strong enough sunshine to require UVA protection.

*I still needed my regular moisturiser underneath, I have dry skin in winter, at the moment I'm using a fabulous oil which was kindly sent to me as a gift from Sophyto - I love it and never apply sparingly! Great for the neck area too...

Back to the BB cream, I was impressed by the toning down of my redness. I have a tendency to flare up in overheated spaces, eating spicy food, or after a glass of red wine - something I have suffered with for years and hate. It was cooling too, and tinted with good enough coverage to not bother with a foundation.

It is scented, but not overpowering. The slim tube looks good too. It contains Rosehip - which personally I think is a miracle ingredient. Did it live up to the blurb? Yes, overall I loved this product, and would buy again. Thumbs up from me. You can try it here.

Here's what it promises:

Smooth away imperfections, address uneven skin tone and give your skin a flawless finish with our illuminating, plumping and radiance-enhancing BB cream with a naturally anti-ageing SPF25 to protect against UVA and UVB and anti-oxidant care.

BB cream is a high-tech formula designed to create a naturally active daily skin perfector that leaves skin radiant and glowing, thanks to our sophisticated mineral-based tint. To support the structure of your skin and to smooth away signs of daily wear and tear, our SPF 25 BB cream contains an innovative natural titanium dioxide-based sun filter to block out both UVA and UVB rays. Our hand-picked ingredients were chosen to both enhance the activity of our sun filter and boost complexions. Blended Abyssinian and rosehip oils with anti-oxidant rich, collagen and elastin-boosting blackberry leaf extract to help firm and smooth the surface of the skin; the purest grade of hyaluronic acid to help plump and bind in moisture; spruce knot, lotus flower and violet seed extracts to help calm any redness to give you a beautifully even skin tone.

New year, new skin.....

2015-01-08T11:32:00.001+01:00

Scraping back a layer and renewing sounds more like a surgical procedure, conjuring thoughts of Harley street and going under the knife. Yikes. But today there are many products which will give you a chance to banish dead skin cells and enjoy a new skin glow. Naturally.

As a regular reviewer for the top natural beauty company Mypure, I was interested to see they were exclusively stocking Sophyto, and keen to try some of this brand out.

Who are Sophyto?

Founder Karen Sinclair Drake is a skin health expert who pioneered the concept of using functional medical principles in skincare to optimise natural skin functions. SOPHYTO skincare actively transforms the skin with pH optimised, nutrient dense formulations for a more even, youthful appearance. It reduces sensitivity and bacterial overgrowth, regulates moisture, tightens follicles, reduces pore size and wrinkle depth and firms skin.

Browsing the options available, I chose the Revitalising Duo Treatment, retailing at £25.00 - a lot cheaper than a salon trip!

Why? Well, I was keen to sluice off the dead skin cells, and see what difference a treatment with this product would make. The blurb sounded spot-on:

Helps to effectively dissolve dead skin cells with a mildly acidic combination of precious amethyst powder, acerola cherry and pineapple enzymes.

Key actives - Pineapple & acerola cherry, Amethyst powder, Chlorella extract.

88% Organic

Gluten Free

So, I gave it a go, following the instructions carefully. I thought it might be a bit abrasive, given the nature of the product, but found it quite kind. To be honest I had to repeat the procedure 3 times over 2 weeks to see the effect, and it did make a difference, sluicing away dead cells and resulting in a far brighter complexion, and a more even skintone. My skin feels firmer, pore size in problem areas reduced visibly.

The product suggests using as part of the collection, of course, but I found it worked fine with my regular Mádara cleanser and moisturiser - neither of which I'm ready to swap! I always finish the day with some organic A'kin rosehip oil too, which has reduced the visibility of a facial scar. Would I buy this product? Yes, I think so, as a bi monthly treatment I think, to counteract seasonal change and as a renewal treatment. Have you tried any of the Sophyto range? What do you think?

Making up...

2014-12-01T16:18:00.001+01:00

To win the heart of a teenage girl is not difficult - it's simply called bribery.

Isobel is not easily bribed though - it has to be something special that she really, really wants.

Thank you Mypure :)

At almost 16 (tomorrow!) she loves 1D, Ed Sheeran, cake, her friends - and make-up. She's getting pretty artful with the eye liner and likes a light coverage of a base foundation that's not too heavy, she only likes to have her cake and eat it, not have it covering her face.

So, in order to ensure those Instagram selfies are camera ready, it's got to be good stuff.
As her mother, I want her to use natural and organic make-up, and especially when it comes to the question of Kohl or Kajal, if it's going inside her eye line, I like to know it's not something pumped full of chemicals and nasties.

So, I handed her my review parcel this month. Here's what she got, and what she thought, over to Isobel:
Alva baked foundation in Light as I am quite pale.
Alva Kajal in Black of course!

I was excited when Mum said she would order me the make-up and eyeliner, I was already out of foundation and wanted some for the weekend :) When the box came, I loved the packaging of the make-up, a little black box perfect for my pocket or bag.It has a little silver elastic to keep it closed and stop it going all over your bag. It's kind of like between a liquid and a powder, it says baked powder foundation and goes on really easy. It covers well, and has a nice sheen, great for parties, but not heavy at all, I couldn't feel it on my face. The liner was great too, flowed easily on, I don't have to press it or go over it, it lasts really well. It doesn't make my eyes sting like some of the other ones I have used. Better than the London look ;)
One thing I would have liked better, would be a thicker sponge applicator in the make-up box, I used my own instead of the one that came with it.
Overall, I loved both of the products and think they would make really nice presents for Christmas or stocking fillers for someone my age especially, you can never have too much makeup in your stash. :)
Issey. Follow me on http://instagram.com/isahappily :)

Rummaging at the Rastro

2014-10-20T11:36:00.000+02:00

There's an element of the Irish tinker about me, for sure. I love a rummage at a boot-fair, rastro, market, or charity shop. Nothing fills me with excitement more than a skip - and I have been known to dive into one whilst dressed to go out for the evening. Heels off - head first.

I embarrass the kids on many an occasion, but indeed have turned up the odd treasure or ten.

And then sometimes, okay mostly, I just buy junk. But it's always something I like the look of, and from first admiring glance I can picture where it will live in the house, and be loved.

We look out for books, old maps, lamps, music, interesting objet d'art, china, porcelain, ethnic finds.

We regularly visit Almunecar and Nerja (Sunday mornings) but this week strayed off course to Adra, where there's a rastro on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

So, yesterday's haul. What do you think? Trash or treasure?

1. A mirror cobbled together from woven esparto, wood, glass and leather. The seller recognised Stan from his season ticket seat at UD ALMERIA, and wished him good luck for the match last night. That didn't work very well! Love this though.

2. What the heck are these? Giant Mussel shells (?!) The mug is there to give some idea of size. Love these - they had to come home. Bargained so hard the seller asked me to go away and not look at anything else. He said of course they were Spanish, as everything in Spain is bigger. He was about 5' 2". :)

3. 50 classical CD's for a bargain price, all in excellent condition.

4. A pair of German silver antique earrings with screw backs. A gift for my mother, so she can close her eyes and be reminded of her of her glamorous past and nights out....I doubt whether she will wear them, but she will enjoy owning them.

Balmy days have disappeared

2014-10-14T10:51:00.001+02:00

Here, life up-mountain has undergone that seasonal change again. The God of Spanish Mountain Weather has flicked the switch and balmy days and warm evenings are banished in a puff of fog and a breath of cold air, made to whistle around corners and through gaps in old chestnut doors.

Mats and rugs will be unfurled and aired next weekend, curtains hung, wood stacked.
The slow cooker is looking once again attractive, and salad shopping is firmly stopped.

Beauty too. Skin is looking different. Sun kissed blush replaced by drier areas around the nose, cracked lips and rough knees are all delights to look forward to.
But, Granny said prevention is better than cure so with that in mind I ordered some preventative measures in the form of Mypure Natural Beauty to blog about this month.

For Stan, a daytime moisturiser (which, yes, I'll have to keep nagging him to remember to use) Pacific Daily Moisturiser was the right choice, a light and easily absorbed burst of moisturiser to keep from looking like some of the weathered locals around here :) It's also suitable post-shave for less beardy blokes and a big plus is that it's fragrance free. It's on special offer too at the moment, just £7.19 for 89ml and free UK delivery - remember that a little goes a long way. Stocking filler idea??

Trilogy Everything Balm seemed to have a name to cover it all - so when the pretty little tin arrived we (as Isobel is at the age where 'what's mine is hers' ) opened it up to find a solid balm encased, with a pleasant smell too. It's fab, lips, heels, knees, elbows, it works a treat. It melts upon contact with a warm hand. Night-time slathering of heels results in feet less trotter-like and more human by morning. Wish I had discovered this in time for sandal season - there's always next year....if I can find it - I have a feeling Girl Teen's room is the pace to look!

Price: Just £20.50 with free UK delivery and it lasts and lasts.

The blurb says:

Use me everywhere.........nourishing and protecting for face and body........soothing dry, chapped skin..........softening, smoothing and moisturising.........lip conditioning........cuticle care.........melting massage oil..........ideal for the whole family.........perfect for travel...........the possibilities are endless!!!

Skin loving rosehip, marula, coconut and jojoba oils nourish. Manuka honey, pawpaw and echinacea promote healing while antioxidant vitamin E helps to protect.

Roses are red...

2014-09-16T07:34:00.000+02:00

No, you haven't stumbled across an out of date Valentine's post, and I'm not about to tell you of a grand love affair - well, actually...maybe I am.

I'm extremely privileged to receive a pack of natural and organic beauty each month to review and tell you all about it, and this month I'm shouting about the power of Rosehip oil - even though I am really late in doing so!

A busy time

Mad month here, with No 1 son off to University tomorrow - the whole thing has been arranged in less than 1 week. Months of research squeezed into yet another Byrne Johnston deadline: it seems to be the way we handle most things best. So, whilst he is off on the next and best stage of his future - I have quietly and with no dignity aged at least another 10 years.

So, my rescue remedy is 5 minutes morning and night for 'me' time. Or, to be exact, me and a little brown bottle - no, banish that thought - containing a magic ingredient.

It has taken me years to discover the benefits of Rosehip Oil - and I won't be letting it go anytime soon.

What did I order?

The Rosehip Collection

Well, to be truthful,the sample I received is out of stock, but the good news is it has since been returned to the Mypure shelves, and the contents added to. So today you can purchase The Rosehip Collection I tested - but with the added advantage of their Hydrating Mist Toner.

What they say

Here's the blurb that tempted me in:

Experience Trilogy. The Rosehip Collection contains natural skincare for beautiful, healthy skin.The perfect size for travel, the perfect set to try and the perfect gift for someone you treasure.

This pack contains

Cream cleanser 30ml
Rosehip oil antioxidant + 5ml
Vital moisturising cream 20ml
Hydrating mist toner 20ml

I tried the cream cleanser and moisturiser first on their own, and they were everything you'd expect from Trilogy as a natural beauty brand. A soft an fluffy, almost whipped, texture, delicately scented and easily absorbed - I found them to most advantageous at night time , when they had a chance to do their work overnight.

Oil

The big bonus in the pack for me, was the oil. Do you use an oil?
I say, if not, then do. If your skin is anyway dry, tired, or just needs a boost - it's the answer.
You can purchase Trilogy Rosehip Oil on it's own if you wish.

Certified Organic, and 100% natural. Apply it directly, massaging gently to cleansed skin at night. Or use the handy dropper to dispense 2 or 3 drops to a blob of moisturiser in the morning, under make-up or, as I do, alone.

Skin is visibly brightened, refreshed, and the power of Rosehip delivers a firm kick to oxidants and tired skin.
**Psst - grab a bonus lip gloss if you order the oil on it's own through this link...

Want proof?

PROVEN RESULTS

Independent clinical studies show Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + improves -

~ Brightening and skin tone by 75%

~ Fine lines and wrinkles by 33%

~ Elasticity and firmness by 25%

Give it a go. Tell me what you think.

August - walkin' on sunshine...with Lovea

2014-08-13T11:58:00.002+02:00

August in Andalucia. If you plan to get anything done, or see to any official business, forget it. If you plan to have fun and party like there's no tomorrow - you're in the right place!

Everything stops for August - and the postie was extra late with my review package too, normally received with lightening speed from the good folk over at Mypure Natural Beauty.

Between the events of cultural week, and the extra guests floating in and out of our house (thinking of a revolving door to make things easier) there was a lot of clearing up and cooking ahead to be done.

The kids did what kids do - and folded up their towels, then duly took off up the village hill to the pool to spend long summer days splashing and swimming, playing cards and taking endless selfie shots...a hard life, eh?

Luckily for them, my review package included Lovea sunscreen, in factors 30 and 15. They are already deeply tanned, but never go out without their sunscreen - prevention now to help ensure a safe future for their skin. Natural and no chemicals too - standard procedure from Mypure. My only regret is not going natural years ago, particularly with sun protection.

Here's what we tried out:

Lovea Organic SPF 15 Spray

Lovea Organic Sun Care Spray SPF 15 is an Ecocert certified organic sunscreen. This SPF 15 cream is lightly scented with natural essential oils and provides MEDIUM UVA & UVB protection. The formula is water resistant, non greasy and applies without white traces.

Lovea Organic SPF 30 Spray

This SPF 30 cream is lightly scented with natural essential oils and provides HIGH UVA & UVB protection. The formula is water resistant, non greasy and applies without white traces.

Worth noting, if you plan to swim in the sea this year, is that Lovea is coral safe and contains natural mineral sun blocks combined with certified organic, bio-degradable plant extracts. It does not contain any chemicals which can damage coral reefs...

There's a higher SPF of 50 for kids too...for younger skin or first days under a foreign sun.

The kids loved the handy sprays, which never clogged and were light and easy on their skin, and judging by the amount left in the bottles their friends loved them too :)

Price? The Lovea suncare range starts at under £10 and goes up to £17.99 - a small price to pay for protecting your family skin - naturally. Buy your sun protection at Mypure Natural Beauty - don't leave home without it!

Flaming June

2014-07-02T14:34:00.003+02:00

Choosing words carefully

Well, flaming wasn't the first adjective that came to mind, but it did begin and end with the same amount of letters.

You make your own luck, that's my mantra. Smile, look on the bright side, you'll be happy. Look for work, you'll find it. Get a streak of good luck, then pay it forward. Karma, yup, it's there, watch out. But by God I must have been bad in a previous life. At least so June tried to tell me....

An official signed for letter at the beginning of the month meant a depletion of the coffers, another one from the delightful office of Hacienda came to one of my employers, so any plans of hooting it up for my birthday were washed away.

Just a number?

Ah yes, the big 5-0. Actually, it really is just a number, I'm sure I'm only 23, and I figured that as long as the people who really knew me didn't send me cards with that half century red flag all over them, I'd be grand.

Cue the entire stock of Hallmark 50-emblazoned cards, delivered directly to me. I'll just sit and wait for the Saga offers.

Cankle

Then Anklegate. A small - sober - sprain, a mere twist of my Father's inherited double joint, not even a decent fall, and I was immobilised - for FOUR weeks. An X- Ray, a malicious manipulation of my cankle by a mincing medic at the health centre that doubles as an interrogation centre, and no bones broken...the fecker still crippled me yanking and twisting the foot around.

Go and get plastered he instructed.

Following his advice to the letter, I bought a bottle of Beefeater and went home. We postponed the longed-for coastal weekend away.

My MIL arrived for a week. To be honest, she was no trouble - and she reads this. :P

Sadness

Then the saddest part of all - our Trixie, rescued and spoiled madly for the past 6 lovely years, died after an operation. She was old I know, but of all the things that June brought, I really wasn't ready for that. I know, I know, there are worse things, but sometimes it really doesn't feel that way. In her few golden years here, she gave us more pleasure and loyalty than any 2 legged or 4 legged creature I have ever known. Undershot, crooked legs, yellow hair the same shade as mine (!) and a heavy snore - all missed so badly. Thanks to permission from Cliff, she now lies under the shade of an orange tree on his land, buried with mingled snot and tears, but with the best views on the Contraviesa, and I can still have a chat as I weed and water the Huerto.

Do you know the way...?

We had the postponed San José weekend, and now July is here: deep breath, tear away the last month with relish from the calender - moving on up...and wishing you all luck and love for the hot Spanish summer ahead. <3 br="" nbsp=""> Glossary:
Huerto - market garden
Hacienda - robbing feckers

Deep cleaning with Mypure

2014-07-01T10:14:00.001+02:00

Cleaning up

No, no, I haven't turned over a new leaf and decided to become housewife of the year, come on, is that really likely?!

This time of year, with lazy days on the beach looming around that lovely corner, I decided to order up a deep cleansing masque from Living Nature via Mypure Natural Beauty.

Ordering is fuss-free, with a confirmation email in minutes, and an easy to negotiate website, which looks great on any device as it does on your home PC.

Living Nature

I chose Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask, and always one for a bulk buy, this one has 10 individual sachets for just £27.50, so 10 times the treatment should last 2-3 months.

Application is easy, just smooth onto clean skin, the blurb on the site is just about spot on. When dry rub it off with an upwards sweep of the hands and rinse of with clean water.

Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask combines Halloysite Clay with Manuka essential oils and Totara Extract to deeply cleanse and refine pores, leaving skin balanced and wonderfully soft.

Spots?

Did I mention spots? This is perfect for anyone with acne prone skin too. so Issy tried it out on her back and shoulders, which suffer in the winter and spring with outbreaks. It cleared things up nicely. Friends Lynne (Dry skin) and Lester (Oily to Combo skin) each took home a sachet, so I'll let you know at a later date what they thought of the mask and the results! A multi use packet - robbed yet again!

Free gift

If you buy it now, there's a special offer of a Gift with Purchase, I received a Living Nature Manuka Honey Lip Balm as a welcome and lovely gift, just right for packing onto my pocket for the beach, and will help to allay the drying effects of the sea breeze and salty air. Up in the mountains where we live too - dry mountain air is great for Jamón Serrano but not so good on the lips! The balm retails for £11.00.

Coming up..

Next month I'll be reviewing sun creams - natural and organic ones from Mypure of course, have you looked at what is in yours? Sometimes a lot of chemicals as well as SPF - look again, you're better off with organic and natural from Mypure Natural Beauty.

Madara Magic at Mypure

2014-05-26T08:09:00.001+02:00

May madness

Whew, that last month flew in! Literally for me, with a quick break to Ireland and a surprise visit from the grandchildren for my newly octogenarian mother. We had a lovely time and squeezed as much as possible from the short days.

Packing is always light, we rarely travel with any more than hand baggage (but dress like onions, layered up against the Ryanair levies and regulations :)

Making up

I'm not one for make up - so that little clear plastic bag going through x ray will instead be loaded up with cleansers, moisturisers, balms, a lipstick and a mascara, that's it for me. But approaching a horribly large birthday myself, and under the critical eye of mother, sometimes I need a little extra help! So a tinting fluid was the my choice to review from Mypure this month, and I wisely chose from their extensive and award winning Madara range.

The product:

Madara Tinting Fluid in Sunflower Golden Beige. Moonflower is the other shade, they're currently reduced for a short period, so be quick.

50ml pump bottle.

Tints, illuminates and evens out your skin tone. Northern Rose Hip extract and natural pigments instantly hydrate and perfect the skin’s appearance. Masks imperfections and fine lines, leaving skin fresh and radiant with the look of a summer tan. A lighter alternative to foundation.

Review time

What did I think? Hmmm. That should read 'we'.

I was lucky to get away with any of it - my cousins, decades apart that they are - all loved it. My Mum tried to steal it. My daughter aged 15 sported it. I'm currently squeezing out the remainder, so addicted am I to the coverage, which is light yet even and feels like nothing on the skin. It's more like a tinted moisturiser, a sun kissed coverage of a soft veil in a bottle. And organic, natural, kind. I say buy it. It contains magic - well, put it this way - my mother didn't criticise me :) But on the downside, I have had to purchase another one for her...!! Luckily, Mypure deliver internationally.