Brushd ecofriendly dental review and giveaway

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

I started trying to address the amount of plastic in the bathroom earlier this year including dental products, but it did feel a little hit and miss regarding where to locate alternative products and would I like them. For instance the first plastic-free toothpaste I purchased, a Georganics jar of paste tasted horrid. So I was pleased to discover the dental care brand Brushd via the Ethical Influencers network, as they seem to have a wide choice of eco-friendly oral care products. Brushd are aiming to help reduce plastic pollution without compromising on good oral health, and they are dentist approved.

So I received the following products free to review.

1. Bamboo toothbrush with charcoal infused bristles.
2. Toothpaste Tablets (Fluoride-free)
3. Dental Supplements
4. Mouthwash tablets
5. Interdental Brushes
6. Electric toothbrush heads.
7. Natural Corn Dental Floss

The charcoal bamboo toothbrush was fine. The bamboo handle is biodegradable and can be composted or put in your food waste bin, but you would have to break off the bristles first. I won’t know how easy or difficult that is until the toothbrush comes to the end of its life. And Brushd do say that they are working on a solution for the bristles. But I do have a question. I couldn’t find any mention of why the bristles are charcoal infused. I’d love to know what benefits does that give?

Toothpaste tablets is a swap that I successfully made earlier this year. These are the third type of toothpaste tablets that I have tried, but I have to say unfortunately these are the ones I like least. A toothpaste tablet works on the principle of you chewing the tablet before brushing. These had a rather unpleasant taste as I chewed, although less noticeable once brushing. A shame as I have really enjoyed using toothpaste tablets until now. I don’t know if it is because these fluoride free and I have always chosen to purchase ones containing fluoride. Brushd do also sell a fluoride version, but I didn’t receive this. There are 62 tablets in the jar which is a nice touch, since it means there is enough for a 31 day month. This product was almost entirely plastic free apart from a “sealed for your protection” disc inside the lid. I’m not convinced that this was entirely necessary as the similar mouthwash tablet jar did not have one. And there was also one of these discs inside the dental supplements jar too.

Which brings me on to discussing the dental supplements. Do you know that although I’ve taken multi-vitamins for years, I never realised that you could purchase vitamins and minerals specifically targeted at healthier teeth and gums, which is the purpose of these daily dental supplements. They are suitable for vegans and contain calcium and potassium along with vitamins A, C, D3 and K. Simply take one a day with water. Perfect. 60 tablets in the jar.

Mouthwash tablets is a swap that I successfully made back in January. And these ones were just as good. In fact, they seemed to dissolve even better than my existing brand. Just pop a tablet in about 20ml of water at the start of your dental routine and it will be dissolved by the time you reach the mouthwash stage. Then gargle for about 30 seconds before spitting out. Easy. 120 tablets in the jar.

The Interdental brushes come in packets of 5. The ones I received were 1mm brush width, but they also come in a 0.8mm size. Personally I would like to see some even narrower widths added to the range, as although this size was great for my back teeth, I struggled to insert the brush between my front teeth, which are very tight together. Perhaps down to 0.6mm would be good. However I was very pleased with the short handle length and how flexible the brush head was, making it much easier to reach the inside of my teeth. The handles are bamboo, but I’m not sure whether the bristles are still plastic. I assume they are. Also personally I do like a little paste on an interdental brush which I haven’t come up with a solution for yet. Since swapping to toothpaste tablets, I’ve been using the kids toothpaste for this purpose, as they have refused to give tablets a try. The box states that these are recommended by dentists, are BPA-free, vegan and 100% recyclable. However it doesn’t say how to recycle them, as presumably it will be different for the bristles to the handle? I would like to see more information on how to recycle them. Also this product is not suitable for children under 8, but I think you would be hard-pressed to get kids to do more than just brush their teeth anyhow.

I was very excited about the idea of recyclable electric toothbrush heads, as I expect that a large proportion of the population, myself included, already possess an electric toothbrush. I was envisaging that this would also be bamboo, but sadly not. Also there is no indication of whether they have perhaps been made from recycled plastic, so I’m guessing not. It seems to just be that they have their own recycling scheme, so not really any different from TerraCycle. The heads are compatible with OralB electric toothbrushes but not with Colgate ones. It also mentions that the bristles are charcoal infused, but as already mentioned I have no idea what that does. But why have the toothbrush heads got individual plastic covers over each one? Those seem totally unnecessary. I’ve certainly never seen anything similar previously. And apparently every order comes with a pre-paid compostable mailer bag so that when the brushes come to the end of their life, they can be sent back for recycling. Sounds great but I didn’t receive one of these bags, so can’t comment further. Again not suitable for children under 8.

The corn dental floss is 100% biodegradable so can go in your home compost. It does seem slightly thicker than standard floss, so although it was perfect for my back teeth, again I did find it a struggle to get between my tightly packed front teeth. This meant it did seem to break more easily too. It comes in a handy jar, but there doesn’t seem to be an option to purchase a refill. That would be a logical addition to the range in my opinion.

Oral hygiene is very important. So it was great to read that not only are Brushd focussed on helping to reduce plastic pollution, but that each time you buy a toothbrush from them, they gift one to someone in need on your behalf. This is via two charities – A Reason To Smile and Dentaid.

And I also read that they plant a tree for every subscription via Tree-Nation. I’ll be investigating this site myself, as I wish to offset CO2. By subscribing, you would save 25-30% on tablets and toothbrushes. The products would be sent to you every 4 months.

It would be fabulous to see these products in my local zero waste store, but I can’t find any mention of stockists on the website. A great range and hopefully they will address my few concerns.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition courtesy of Brushd to giveaway 6 months supply of toothpaste tablets to one lucky winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear what is your favourite product from Brushd or your suggestions for additions to the range. I’d particularly like to see them branch out from just dental supplements to a much broader range of vitamins. For instance I’m still searching for a plastic-free multi-vitamin and mineral tablet including iron.

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Guest post: Coconut Oil – Miracle House Hold Remedy

Coconut oil has several uses that make it a super household item that you must always keep it in your home. It can be used in food for better health, in skin and hair care products and as a natural treatment for certain diseases in certain medicines. If you are unaware of benefits coconut oil, this blog is dedicated to you.

Coconut Oil and Weight Loss:

Coconut oil has magnificent health benefits for you. Coconut oil contains High-density lipoprotein cholesterol that is healthy cholesterol which helps in elimination of fat lipids from the body by carrying them to the liver. In addition to this, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that fight against harmful microbes in your body and maintain the balance between healthy and unhealthy bacteria. This keeps your gut flora healthy and as a result, your digestive system improves. Similarly, there are two reasons behind weight gain either it is the weak immune system or weak digestive system. Taking coconut oil resolves both of these issues. In addition to this, the saturated fatty acid in coconut oil reduces your appetite naturally and helps to maintain sugar level. All these benefits aid in weight loss. You can cook your meal in coconut oil or just eat a tablespoon of coconut oil in the morning.

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/coconut-oil-oil-white-glass-jar-2535968/

Coconut Oil and Hair Care:

Shampooing and conditioning are not all that your hair requires for thickness and shine. You owe to show some extra love to your hairs by taking advantage of nature’s gifts to keep your hairs healthy. One of these is coconut oil. Do you know why people living in Tropical coastal areas have thick and shiny hairs? The most suitable answer is that they use naturally extracted coconut oil on their hairs. Coconut oil contains a chain of fatty acids such as capric acid and lauric acid that behaves as an antifungal and anti-bacterial that kills the bacteria and detoxifies the scalp. In addition to this, Coconut oil also contains vitamin E that helps to protect the skin cells on the scalp, reduces oxidative stress in the scalp and improves blood flow which results in better hair health. According to Home Remedies for Life, Coconut oil is among best oils that can be used for better hair growth. However, using extra virgin coconut oil is a better option as compared to other commercially available coconut oil as they also contain mineral oils that reduce its efficiency.

Coconut Oil for Skin Care:

Coconut oil is one of the perfect moisturizers you can apply to your skin. As mentioned previously coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties, not only this it is also a natural coolant. Therefore, if coconut oil is applied to the skin it can help in reducing sunburn, itching or burning. In addition to this, the mono-saturated fats present in coconut oil promote collagen growth that makes the cell wall stronger and Vitamin K aids new cell production that helps in reducing stretch marks. Coconut oil can be used to get rid of skin conditions such as rashes or eczema as it fights against bacteria and nourishes your skin.

You can also use coconut oil to prevent bacteria enter your dead skin. Coconut oil also contains healing properties. You can apply it on wounds and the Multi-Chain fatty acids will boost up the healing process.

DIY Coconut Oil and Sugar Scrub:

Coconut oil is used in various skin care products however these products are filled with harsh chemicals. Therefore, we are sharing a recipe to make exfoliator at home. You will require:

1. ½ cup of Sugar
2. ½ cup of coconut oil
3. Few drops of essential oil or Lemon juice.

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/skincare-coconut-oil-therapy-exotic-2357980/

Mix all the three ingredients and use once a week. Sugar granules will remove the dead skin that will help coconut oil penetrate in the skin easily which will nourish your skin. You can use this scrub on dark patches on your body to reduce them.

Coconut oil for Dental Health:

Oil pulling is a method used for dental health as coconut oil has antimicrobial properties performing oil pulling with coconut oil can help in preventing tooth decay and tooth loss. However, on the other hand, multi-chain fatty acids will make gum stronger that will result in less gum bleeding.

Coconut Oil as Makeup Remover:

You can use coconut oil as a makeup remover; it will also hydrate your skin and will keep it moisturized without any side effects.

Author Bio:

Jane Scott is currently working as a nutritionist at a renowned firm. With an experience of more than a decade, she is considered as a go-to person in her field of work. She also writes blogs for her website Home Remedies for Life.

Guest post by Jane Scott

Keeping the bugs away plus giveaway

At this time of year, I find that I can be plagued by mosquitos and other biting insects whether walking through the woods, having a picnic near a lake or just in my own garden, so I was pleased to be offered a selection of natural insect repellent or relief products free to review.

Whilst waiting for them to arrive, I heard that familiar whirring buzz of a mosquito whilst trying to go to sleep. Luckily it didn’t bite, but it brought back memories of tropical holidays pre-kids with citronella candles and sleeping under mosquito nets.

I received the following four products, although I had been expecting Mosquitan patches rather than spray.

Bug Balm
Zap-It
Vie Mosquito Repellent
Mosquitan Spray

So obviously the first ones to try out were the repellents to ward off the bugs before they got in biting distance. I started with the Vie spray. It is all natural, DEET-free and suitable for all ages including babies. Easy to apply and does the job as no bites. This is available in 100 ml size currently at £7.95 from Vie healthcare.

Then the next day I tried the Mosquitan spray. This was a very similar product to the Vie spray and equally effective at keeping the bugs away. Also simple to apply. Again it is a natural DEET-free product suitable for all the family. This is available in 100 ml size currently at £8.95 also from Vie healthcare.

The Zap-It wasn’t required until I was actually bitten, so I had to take a pause from applying the repellents in order to reluctantly get a bite. This is a small handheld device which you press against a bite, then squeeze the button, which causes it to emit a safe electrical discharge. I found about 2-3 clicks were needed. The idea behind this product is that this inhibits histamine release, which means less itching and swelling.  But I found that you therefore do need to use it asap after being bitten to improve how effective it will be. It is available in several different colours from selected health stores, pharmacies, garden centres, Asda, Lloyds Pharmacy, Superdrug and Amazon, and currently retails from £5.95. One Zap-It is sufficient for up to 1000 bites, based on 5 clicks per bite.

I didn’t need to try the bug balm until I unfortunately succumbed to another bite, which I didn’t then zap in time. The balm  was easy to apply and soothing for the itchiness, which is great as it is important to try to avoid scratching bites. I did need to reapply over the next couple of days until the swelling disappeared. This product came in a small 30g tin, so a nice size for keeping in your bag and it currently retails at £7.95 from Skinshop. And it is 100% natural, containing a concentrated extract of liquorice root. Suitable for adults and children.

So in summary, I was very happy with all these products, although I would have liked the opportunity to also try the patches, as I don’t need two sprays. They are definitely all travel essentials with peak holiday season upon us. Also I’m glad that my review is now complete, so that I don’t have to deliberately wait to get bitten. I hadn’t realised quite how dedicated I was to my blog! But at least now I’m ready, if I get bitten again.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition to giveaway a Zap-It to one lucky winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear your top tips for avoiding or dealing with insect bites.

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Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

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More HelloSkin treats

Regular readers of my blog may remember that I reviewed a trio of products from HelloSkin earlier this year. Well I’ve now received a further selection of goodies free to review.

HelloSkin is an online store selling skincare products suitable for those people with psoriasis, eczema, acne and dry skin conditions. The site has been designed so that you can easily shop by need, type or ingredient. Alternatively there is a product finder which is refinable by age group, body part, symptom, need and when to use.

I chose the following three items.
Oilatum Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo also for itchy, flaking scalps – 150ml
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Bath and Shower Oil for dry and sensitive skin – 300ml
EVY Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30 – 150ml

Plus I also received a couple of surprise gifts. How nice!
Relivio Dry Skin Body Lotion – 500ml
Relivio Dry Skin Body Cream – 200ml

The first product I tried was the Oilatum Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo also for itchy, flaking scalps – 150ml. I frequently get a flare up of flaky scalp. Currently retailing at £9.99 for a 150ml bottle, this was a more expensive brand than the Neutrogena T/Gel 2-in-1 Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner that I tested last time. However I would say it was equally effective, no better or no worse, although it didn’t particularly lather up much. With both, I don’t end up scratching my scalp afterwards causing soreness and flakiness like with some less skin-friendly products. On that basis, I continue to prefer the Neutrogena T/Gel product, both on price and on being a combined shampoo and conditioner, which is always my preference. But equally happy with the quality of this product. It does advise you to leave on for 3-5 minutes for best results.

Next up is the EVY Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30 – 150ml. This was a real winner for me, as in a mousse format, it was easy to apply, wasn’t sticky and felt nice on my skin. And best of all, it is long-lasting and I didn’t burn. I’ll certainly be buying this again in the future. Of course, the real test will come when I get an opportunity to try it out in a sand and salt environment, as that is when I usually get very itchy and uncomfortable. It currently retails at £16.95 for 150ml. This is also available in SPF 10, 20 and 50 variants, plus a kids version.

And finally the Aveeno Daily Moisturising Bath and Shower Oil for dry and sensitive skin – 300ml. This smelt nice and worked excellently in the shower on my very dry skin. However I wasn’t convinced. I think this is because I am a shower creme person through and through. I don’t think I want to swap to an oil. For me, oils are reserved for massage. Perhaps I should have opted to try the Aveeno body wash instead. But it does contain oatmeal, which has a high reputation in skincare, so definitely worth a try for those who have a more serious skin condition than myself. This product currently retails at £7.99 for a 300ml bottle.

I will certainly be visiting the HelloSkin website in the future.

Also I have an offer to pass on to my readers – 10% off your next purchase at HelloSkin with discount code: “HELLOCLAIRE”. This offer is valid once per customer.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition to giveaway HelloSkin products to three lucky winners. The first winner drawn will win an EVY Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30 – 150ml. The second winner drawn will win a bottle of Oilatum Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo also for itchy, flaking scalps – 150ml. And the third winner drawn will win a bottle of Aveeno Daily Moisturising Bath and Shower Oil for dry and sensitive skin – 300ml.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear your top skincare tips.

You can find HelloSkin on social media as follows:-
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

HelloSkin skincare plus giveaway

I was very pleased to be offered the chance to choose a selection of 3 products from HelloSkin free to review. The lady at HelloSkin had seen that I have previously blogged about Flexitol footcare products which is a line they stock.

HelloSkin is an online store selling skincare products suitable for those people with psoriasis, eczema, acne and dry skin conditions. The site has been designed so that you can easily shop by need, type or ingredient. Alternatively there is a product finder which is refinable by age group, body part, symptom, need and when to use.

I initially chose the following three products
DermaTherapy Fitted Sheet
Moisturising Cotton Sleep Socks
Neutrogena T/Gel 2-in-1 Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner

But as my first choice of socks were out of stock at the time, I swapped to
Jasmine 100% Silk Moisturising Socks for dry and cracked skin

The products were dispatched on a next day service and arrived well-packed. I spotted that they also offer a free standard delivery service, which I always appreciate.

So I’ll start with the DermaTherapy Fitted Sheet which is billed as being the first clinically proven Therapeutic Bedding. I chose this in a king size which currently retails for £84.95 but it is also available in single and double sizes. The fabric feels amazingly smooth compared to standard sheets, but to really understand this, you should look at the zoomed in image of the weave. The HelloSkin website focusses on the benefits for those with sensitive skin conditions, but the packaging also indicates that it is ideal for those undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pity I hadn’t heard about it a few years earlier, as when son1 was diagnosed with leukaemia, I thought I was making the right choice to buy best quality pure Egyptian cotton bedsheets for him.

They also stock duvet covers, pillow case, flat sheets and sleep sacs. I tend to often wake up sweaty in the middle of the night and I found that this sheet is very effective at wicking away heat and moisture. Now I just need the rest of the range, as my ordinary duvet meant I was still sweaty above, although much more comfortable underneath. Significantly more expensive than standard bedding, but definitely worth the investment for those that it helps to a much better night’s sleep in my opinion. It is 50% polyester and 50% polyamide and is so easy to fit on your mattress compared to most sheets. I actually had to double check the packet to make sure I hadn’t accidentally got super-king rather than king size. I washed it on a 60 degree cycle and tumble-dried it on low. It came out almost crease-free, so I didn’t even need to iron. And the packaging indicates that it will withstand washing upto 90 degrees.

Next the socks, which fit size 3-7. I’ve been planning to get a pair of moisturising socks for ages, but had never got round to it. The idea behind moisturising socks is to apply your usual footcare product and then the socks will help the absorption whilst you sleep. I’m loving these. I can definitely say they work. I’ve blogged before about how dry and cracked my feet are, as per image on left. Well I’ve seen a marked improvement in the mornings since I started wearing the socks, as per image on right. At £7.99 for a pair, they are great value in my opinion. Wish I’d got some sooner. Although the socks are silk, they can still be machine washed on a low 30 degree setting, but I chose to hand-wash them.

And finally the shampoo. I frequently get a flare up of flaky scalp and have tried many different brands of anti-dandruff shampoo, but this is the first time, I’ve tried this brand. At the time of testing, I only had a very mild case of dandruff (as per top left image), which I’m happy to say it treated. I do prefer using combined shampoo and conditioner like this rather than two separate products. This shampoo lathered up well and also had a nice fragrance and my hair felt soft and tangle-free afterwards. This was the 125ml size which currently retails for £3.99 and it is also available in a 250ml size. More expensive than most shampoo at the supermarket but competitive with salon brands.

So in summary, I was very happy with all three products and will certainly be using this site in the future.

Also I have an offer to pass on to my readers – 10% off your next purchase at HelloSkin with discount code: “HELLOCLAIRE”. This offer is valid once per customer.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition to giveaway HelloSkin products to three lucky winners. The first winner drawn will win a DermaTherapy fitted sheet in their preferred choice of size. The second winner drawn will win a pair of Jasmine Silk Moisturising Socks. And the third winner drawn will win a bottle of  Neutrogena T/Gel 2-in-1 Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear your top skincare tips.

You can find HelloSkin on social media as follows:-
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Flexitol footcare plus giveaway

It’s been a while since I last talked about footcare on the blog, but I’m always keen to try new products on my feet, as they do look ugly with callouses, heel cracks and bunions when they are forced to come out of hiding in the summer. So I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to review a couple of products from Flexitol for free.

In order to test both products in parallel, I tried one on each foot. Both were simple to apply.

Firstly there is the heel balm for which the packaging indicates visible results in 3 days. This is a medically proven treatment for dry and cracked feet, which I certainly suffer from. And look at the photos showing before and after 3 days. They are spot on. You can see that yes I did get visible results in 3 days. I highly recommend this product and I’ll certainly be continuing to use it.

And secondly the Moisturising Foot Cream, which I tried on the other foot for comparison. The packaging indicates that this is intensive hydration for very dry feet and legs. I was pleased with this product, but think I would be more inclined to use it on my legs which always need loads of moisturising, and stick to the heel balm for my feet. Or alternatively treat both feet with heel balm initially until rehydrated and then continue to moisturise with the foot cream.

Flexitol products are stocked at most leading pharmacies and supermarkets. A 56g tube of heel balm currently retails at around £4.75 and an 85g tube of moisturising foot cream at around £5.69. And the heel balm also indicates that it is suitable for diabetics.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition to giveaway a bundle of Flexitol products to one lucky winner. This comprises Heel Balm and Moisturising Foot Cream as per my review plus Heel Magic and Hard Skin & Callus balm. And five runners up will receive a Heel Magic Stick.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear your top footcare tips.

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

Balance Active Formula Spray Body Lotions Review and giveaway

I took an extended break from reviews over Christmas, which also explains the lack of giveaways on my blog recently. However those of my followers who love a giveaway will be pleased to see I’m back with the first for 2016. And there are more to follow shortly.

This time I have received two Balance Active Formula spray body lotions free to review.

Firstly the one with the red lid. This is a Nourishing Spray Body Lotion which is infused with Argan Oil and a snake venom-like peptide Syn®-Ake to intensely moisturise and target anti-aging skin.

Secondly the one with the turquoise lid. This is a Hydrating Spray Body Lotion which is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Coconut Oil to deeply hydrate dry skin.

To test them out, I used the Nourishing Body Lotion on my lower left leg and the Hydrating Body Lotion on my lower right leg, whilst leaving my upper legs unmoisturised for comparison over a period of several days. I liked the spray functionality and you then just massage it into your skin. I found it was easily absorbed and didn’t feel greasy. My lower legs are usually drier than my upper legs but instead my lower legs both felt much softer and smoother than my upper legs, right from the first application.

The packaging indicates that these products are Paraben and Phthalate free.

These body lotions are available to purchase from Beauty & the Bunch, currently priced at £5.49 each for 200ml, a very reasonable price in my opinion. I loved them both equally and highly recommend them.

And I’m hosting a rafflecopter competition to giveaway a pair of these body lotions courtesy of Balance Active Formula to one lucky winner. A lovely pampering prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway – Please click on the link to enter.

And you may see my other giveaways here.

I’d love to hear your beauty skincare tips?

Visit Yet Another Blogging Mummy on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

ORGANii Mouthwash Review

Oral hygiene is very important. Most people will get gum health issues at some point and a lot of us are unaware that it is the biggest cause of tooth loss. Each time I visit the dentist now I get told that my gums are starting to recede and that I may be prone to gum disease. Brushing alone only cleans 25% of your mouth and I get reminded about flossing and mouthwash, both of which I’ve been doing for years.

So I was certainly up for trying a different brand of mouthwash to my usual. I’ve been sent a free bottle of citrus flavour ORGANii mouthwash to review.

ORGANii mouthwashes are currently priced at £5.95 for a 500 ml bottle and come in two flavours (citrus and eucalyptus).

ORGANii is not a brand I had come across previously, but all its products are organic. The mouthwash is formulated with organic aloe vera juice, which made me more interested to try it, as I’ve heard a lot of good things about aloe vera juice recently.

For instance I have a friend who has been drinking aloe vera juice for the last couple of months. Her skin complexion is noticeably clearer, although she does admit that it doesn’t taste very nice.

So forewarned about the taste of aloe vera juice, I gave the mouthwash a try. Result – no problem with the taste at all. I found the citrus flavour very refreshing. Admittedly I was only having a capful at a time and not drinking it. Which brings me on to my next comment. The bottle says to pour a small amount into the lid, then swill around mouth. That makes me shudder at the thought of potential mouth germs multiplying on the lid for over a month. I would much prefer it to say pour into lid, then into a glass for hygiene reasons.

Note it says on the bottle that the product is not suitable for children under 6, however I’m not ready to offer my older children mouthwash yet. Also on this point, I think it should really have a childproof cap, even though it does warn you to keep out of reach of children. Toddlers could easily attempt to drink the bottle if they succeeded in getting hold of it whilst your back was turned, especially if they have watched the parent putting the product in their own mouth.

However putting these concerns aside, it is very competitively priced, has a great flavour and doesn’t contain any controversial nasties like artificial preservatives and added colourants that may be present in other brands.

I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now and haven’t noticed any difference in plaque and tartar build-up from my usual brand. But I am impressed how natural it is, so I would be very happy to buy this product.

ORGANii products are available at independent health stores nationwide and online at www.ORGANii.co.uk

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Disclosure.  This post is a review of a product I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.

A hamper of goodies from Superdrug

Hot on the heels of Katherine de Riera winning my recent Superdrug footcare products giveaway, I’ve now received a free hamper of goodies from Superdrug including yet more items to pamper my feet.

So let me tell you about some of the goodies that I discovered inside my lovely hamper.

Scholl luxury pedicure set

The item that immediately got my attention was the Scholl Luxury Pedicure Set. Having never used anything more sophisticated than a pumice stone, I couldn’t wait to try this out. It consisted of a Velvet Smooth Express Pedi Electronic Foot File and a Velvet Smooth Intense Serum. The foot file was amazing. The roller just glides over the feet, really working well on my unsightly callouses. How I wish that I had discovered a product like this years ago. My feet already are starting to look much better. I highly recommend it. The roller head is easy to remove for washing. And the serum, which I applied after using the foot file felt nice too. This set currently retails at Superdrug for £29.99, reduced from £44.99.

Bare Foot products

Then there was a selection of products from the Bare Foot range. Two travel size products and two full size products of Foot Scrub and Foot Balm. I haven’t had time to try them all yet, as I’ve  been too busy with the Scholl roller. But I have tried both the travel size ones. They work well and smell divine. But I do have one little bugbear with the travel size sachets. Once they are open, you have no way to close the packets. I had assumed they would be individual use, but no at 15ml, there was more product than I needed for one application. I would have preferred them to be in a tube or pot. The travel size versions currently retail at Superdrug for 99p and the full size 150 ml at £4.25.

Next up the Detox Smoothie. There were two of these, so my other half and I had one each. I added 200 ml of cold water and mixed it up in a jug using my electric hand mixer, as my liquidiser broke several months ago and I haven’t replaced it yet. It mixed well, but sorry neither of us particularly liked it, even if it is branded as a superfood. I thought the taste was bearable but my other half hated it. The main ingredients are pineapple, banana and apple. I much prefer the ready-made smoothie cartons that I regularly buy at the supermarket. This currently retails at Superdrug for £1.99 for a single 45g sachet.

Then the Apple & Cinnamon Barebar, a gluten, wheat and dairy free snack from Leader, the same brand as the Detox Smoothie. I cut the first bar into 4 pieces so we could all try it. We all loved the taste of this and the boys argued over should have the second one. This 40g snack bar currently retails at Superdrug for £1.29 and also comes in Orange & Chocolate and Red Berries flavours. I want to buy the other two flavours to see which is my favourite.

Next the Skin Beauty vitamin / mineral tablets and oil capsules which the box says are exclusively sold through Superdrug in the UK. Basically there are three types and you take one of each daily at meal times. They are conveniently labelled by day. It wasn’t specific as to whether you take all three at the same meal or one each at breakfast, lunch and tea, so I’ve been taking all three at the same meal instead of my usual multi-vitamin tablet. I’ve only taken them for three days so far, so too early to notice any effect. These currently retail at Superdrug for £14.99 for a 28 day packet.

And finally there were several LighterLife Fast products, namely 5:2 LighterLife Fast Chocolate Shake Pack X4, 5:2 LighterLife Fast Chocolate Peanut Bar and 5:2 LighterLife Fast Chocolate Raisin Bar. I am lucky as I have never needed to diet, so I hadn’t come across LighterLife Fast before. Again the packaging indicates that this range is excusively sold at Superdrug. I had a look at the LighterLife Fast website and the idea is that in a week you fast for two days and eat normally for the other five days, hence the 5:2 in the branding. On your fast days, it is not that you are having nothing. Instead you may eat four Lighter Life products, plus you may still have tea or coffee with a splash of milk. I decided to give a fast day a whirl.

First I made up one of the chocolate shakes for a late breakfast, using 220 ml cold water as recommended. However I made the mistake of initially trying to mix it with my electric hand mixer in a mug and it went everywhere. So after cleaning up, I swapped to using a fork, which left the remainder rather lumpy. But the taste was still nice. Then I had the chocolate peanut bar for lunch. Pleasant enough but I much preferred the chocolate raisin bar which I had at about 5pm. Finally I had another of the chocolate shakes, but hot this time. I preferred the cold version.

And I can definitely say I did feel hungry. Glad I don’t diet usually. Also I think i would have preferred to try one of the savoury products in the range rather than just eating sweet products, but there wasn’t one in the hamper. Currently the 56g meal replacement bars retail at Superdrug for £2.49 each and the packet of 4 shakes for £8.49. Also there is currently a buy 6, get 1 free promotion on some of the LighterLife products including the bars, but not the shakes.

So what a nice interesting selection of products in my hamper. I understand that Superdrug is the only UK stockist for these products although some are sold independently on the brands’ own websites.

And I’d love to hear what is your favourite product from Superdrug?

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own. I did receive two additional adult items in the hamper, but i have agreed with the PR not to review those on my family-friendly blog.

Yves Rocher hair products review

I have just received two free hair care products to review from Yves Rocher.

First up we have the Delicate Cleansing Cream, a low shampoo with organic hawthorn. It says that the non-foaming formula protects the integrity of the hair fibre even when used daily. Apparently inspired by the ‘no shampoo’ method seen in the US, something I haven’t heard of.  I found it quite strange washing my hair with a product which didn’t foam up. It felt a bit like I was trying to wash it with conditioner. The tube didn’t indicate how much to use, so I started with a handful. Without the foaming, I wasn’t convinced whether I had used enough, so I repeated with a bit extra.

A handful of delicate cleansing cream

Look, no foam!

Following up with the raspberry-scented Rinsing Vinegar which it says will eliminate limescale and mineral build up, leaving your hair ultra shiny and smooth. The word vinegar is slightly off-putting, as you think of fish and chips. But don’t worry this product smelt fantastic and the raspberry aroma lingers. However it is a liquid and tends to start running between your fingers if you try to pour into your hand. Second attempt, I got round this by pouring into the lid instead before tipping onto my hair before the final rinse. Again I didn’t know how much of the product to use, so I went for two capfuls, as it is a very small cap.

A capful of Rinsing Vinegar

Both products are silicone, paraben and sulphate free and are composed of 98% natural ingredients. Once my hair was dry, it did look nice, so I was pleased with both these products and recommend them. However I would have appreciated guidance on how much to use.

Soft and silky results

The Delicate Cleansing Cream currently retails at £3.45 for 200 ml, reduced by 50% from £6.90 whilst the Rinsing Vinegar currently retails at £5.65 for 150 ml, reduced by 50% from £11.30.

This is my second Yves Rocher review. You can read my previous review of Comme Une Evidence perfume here.

Disclosure.  This post is a review of products I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.