Tuesday T. Bryan: August 2014

Sunday, 31 August 2014

Herbal Harmony; Natural handmade skin products from the stunning Dorset coast.

Herbal Harmony produces a wide range of natural skincare products and cosmetics, all of which are handmade in Dorset. The founder of this all-natural brand is Catherine Marshall (Medical Herbalist, MNIMH & BSc). Each of her products is free from nasty ingredients including parabens, synthetic fragrance, and SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), all of which can be damaging (but are still widely used by many big commercial brands). Omitting these potentially harmful substances from product recipes means they are kinder to the skin and so much less likely to cause reactions. With such a broad range of gentle beauty products on offer, you’re bound to find something to suit you!

I happen to be mad about make up, and I love with the Herbal Harmony Natural Lipgloss. There are seven gorgeous shades currently available, and I have three of them, my current favourite being “Marshmallow” (a shimmering pale pink). They’re completely natural and suitable for vegans, and they contain skin-loving ingredients such as Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil to help keep the lips in tip-top condition. These highly-pigmented glosses not only look great, but they also smell fantastic!

Here are my thoughts on the three shades I've tried and my photos:

- Marshmallow: A soft, pale pink with delicate shimmer and a sheer finish. A sure winner for light Spring / Summer make up, and a great "go-to" lip colour for any occasion. A versatile shade suitable for almost any skin tone an also provides moisture an protection. A make up bag must-have.

- Hibiscus: Shimmering bronze with a sheer finish. If you have tanned or Olive skin this bronze lip colour will complete the sun-kissed look. A perfect match for golden summer skin. Light catches the shimmery light-reflecting particles making this shade even more eye-catching in the sun. Natural formula helps hydrate the lips.

- Cranberry: A rich berry shade with a metallic sheer finish. A great choice for adding a warm kiss of colour to Autumn / Winter make up. Ideal for the party season. Moisturising ingredients help prevent lips from drying out in the harsh English winter air. Suits most skin tones.

There is also a collection of scented Herbal Harmony Lip Balms on offer, all of which have a unique fresh fragrance. These balms have a soft, buttery consistency which melts onto the lips and leaves them feeling wonderfully hydrated and healthy. I apply mine throughout the day to keep my lips in top condition. A little goes a long way, so you’ll only need a touch! I’m the proud owner of the “Cinnamon & Orange” balm. The orange provides a sweet citrus scent and the spicy cinnamon gives warmth – a delicious winning combination.

Herbal Harmony also produces a wide selection of caring creams and balms to help protect and restore the skin from head-to-toe, and I want to focus on the hands. Our hard-working hands are put through a lot of stress on a daily basis, so it’s no surprise that suffering from dry skin on the hands is so common. To help repair the skin and prevent dryness reoccurring it’s important to keep the hands hydrated with a moisturiser, but you shouldn't just slap any old product on your skin (especially when it’s damaged). Do a little research into products free from nasty chemicals, and many substances can cause side-effects, allergic reactions, and even make the problem worse. Herbal Harmony Rose Otto Hand Cream is an all-natural alternative to those chemical-packed commercial products. It has a luxuriously rich and creamy consistency that can be absorbed quickly and easily. It also has a lovely fresh fragrance and is presented in a stylish, understated glass jar which is fully recyclable.

I also had the pleasure of trying some Herbal Harmony Shower Gels. This range of natural, handmade shower gels is completely free from SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate), parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Each one also contains a unique blend of essential oils which provide different benefits and fragrances, as well as softening Marshmallow Infusion to care for the skin. The Lavender Shower Gel is infused with Lavender essential oil, a natural product well-known for the relaxing effect it can have on the mind and body (it also has an unmistakeable calming herbal fragrance). The Patchouli & Orange Shower Gel is my personal favourite. It contains a refreshing blend of oils which give of a warm and spicy fragrance, which I love! Ideal for awakening the senses, the Mint Shower Gel contains a blend of cool, fresh Spearmint and Peppermint essential oils.
Aimed at gardeners, the Gardener’s Hand Wash contains lavender, sage, and rosemary essential oils, which are natural antiseptics, as well as softening Marshmallow Infusion. Why not team it with the Herbal Harmony Gardener’s Soap to make an ideal gift for your green-fingered friends and family?

   For a relaxing bath time treat, bath melts are a must! Those little extras make all the difference, and Herbal Harmony sell a tempting selection of handmade Bath Melts to transform boring baths into a soothing spa-like experience. The range includes relaxing Lavender, spicy Cinnamon & Orange, floral Geranium, warming Patchouli & Orange, and invigorating Eucalyptus & Mint. My cute heart-shaped Geranium Bath Melts are packaged in a pretty pastel pink organza bag – they’d make a lovely little gift for the ladies (especially on Valentine’s Day!). Can’t choose just one? Why not opt for the Bath Melt Selection of Fragrances? Simply tell Catherine which three you’d like to try and she’ll make you a personalised pack. Also available is an eye-catching collection of six Mini Lavender Bath Melts, each topped with delicate pressed flowers and perfectly packaged.

   I love the Herbal Harmony range, and trying Catherine’s products has been a delightful experience. There is so much more available from her website including “Make Your Own kits” and even teas! All of her products are available online, and a list of stockists can be found on her website (visit http://www.thedorsetherbalist.co.uk/page19.htm for stockists). She even runs workshops and consultations, and she often pops with her products up at events (see http://www.thedorsetherbalist.co.uk/page12.htm for a full list of her upcoming events).
   To find out more and shop Herbal Harmony products visit the website at www.thedorsetherbalist.co.uk. You can also find her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dorsetherbalist and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HerbalHarmony.

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By Tuesday T. Bryan.

http://tuesdaytbryan.blogspot.com/

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography

DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material

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Herbal Harmony contact information:

Web: http://www.thedorsetherbalist.co.uk/

Email: herbalharmony@hotmail.co.uk

Address: 19 Stanley Green Road, Poole, Dorset, BS15 3AA, UK.Tel: 07929 740815

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HerbalHarmony

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorsetherbalist

Image source: Tuesday T. Bryan Instagram / http://instagram.com/tuesdaytbryan

Here I am wearing Herbal Harmony Natural Lipgloss in "Marshmallow".
Image source: Tuesday T. Bryan Instagram / http://instagram.com/tuesdaytbryan

Sunday, 17 August 2014

PHB Ethical Beauty; Natural and organic pioneering products handmade in the UK.

Image source: www.phbethicalbeauty.co.uk

It’s not easy to find cosmetics that are completely natural, organic, and suitable for all skin types, so this week I’d like to introduce you to a relatively new business selling nothing but 100% ethical beauty products. Founded by Rose Brown, PHB Ethical Beauty launched their all-natural collection in 2012. The versatile range includes all kinds of amazing award-winning beauty, hair care, and skincare products for men and women, as well as gift sets and starter kits, all of which is handmade in the UK. Needless to say, PHB are against animal testing and all of their products are completely cruelty-free, but their products are also free from any animal products whatsoever and the company is registered with The Vegan Society UK. Their products are also free from alcohol, Parabens, SLS, and GM ingredients. Great care has even been taken in ensuring that the packaging is completely eco-friendly. Their products have won numerous awards, and the company has even been dubbed “The New Body Shop”. This truly is a caring-company!

Image source: www.phbethicalbeauty.co.uk

I happen to be a complete beauty-addict (no surprise there), especially when it comes to make up. It’s not at all uncommon to have reactions to cosmetic products, especially if our skin is sensitive or we suffer from skin conditions. Did you know that up to 60% of what we put on our skin can be absorbed into the blood stream? Commercial products tend to be packed with synthetic substances and nasty chemicals, so it’s no surprise that unpleasant skin reaction occur so frequently when we apply them. If you’re concerned about the effects that commercial concoctions may be having on your skin, why not switch to something more natural? PHB Ethical Beauty sells everything you could possibly need to transform your mass-produced make up collection into a skin-loving beauty bliss (including cleansers and brushes).

If, like me, you’re a lover of mineral make up, I’d definitely recommend considering PHB’s Mineral Miracles collection. Everything in this range is free from dyes, chemicals, animal ingredients, alcohol, preservatives, gluten, fillers, oils, talc, and GM ingredients. It also contains sun protection and zinc oxide (a natural product which is great for treating acne), and is Vegan and Halal Certified.

I was lucky enough to try out one of PHB’s best-sellers, the All-In-One Natural Mascara. It’s available in two shades, black and brown (I went for black). This award-winning product is a great “go-to mascara” as it combines the benefits of lengthening and volume-boosting mascaras into one. It’s also kind to the eyes and waterproof - an excellent choice if you suffer from sensitive peepers! The fact that it rolls all these advantages into one product also makes it a great space-saver, so it’s ideal if you’re going travelling or just want to clean out your make up bag. It can also save you money, as you’ll just need the one mascara to achieve all the results! I like to wear two coats of mascara for extra length, volume, and drama. Some products flake and clump when you apply multiple coats, but I had no issues with this one! I found it to be quick-drying, clump and flake-free, easy to build up, smudge-proof, long-lasting, and the jet black colour is great beautifully defining the eyes.

I've added some photos below to show off the results that I achieved after applying two coats of PHB All-In-One Natural Mascara in Black.

Photos - above and right: Here I am wearing two coats of PHB Ethical Beauty All-In-One Natural Mascara in Black. My eyeshadows are from Barry M and Helen E. My lip colour (right) is from e.l.f.