Health & Beauty: A (Bull)dog is for life, not just for xmas!

At La Luminata we’ve long been fans of the Bulldog for men range, and can now confirm that their products stand the test of time. ‘‘Literally the best shaving gel I have ever come across…’’, claims La Luminata’s David, ‘‘…keeps the bear-face at bay’’. It’s a good job David doesn’t write the slogans for bulldog.

So this is Christmas. Here’s the present solution for your dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, grandad, uncle and father in law. All men secretly love good quality grooming products, with top notch ingredients, especially when they’re presented in such straight forward terms. Bulldog’s Christmas package can be purchased exclusively at Sainsbury's.

Health & Beauty: Afterglow Organic Lipstick

It's the party season! And we have been trying out Afterglow's organic mineral lipstick in 'Kiss'.

Apparantly, the average woman ingests up to 4 pounds of lipstick in a lifetime. Luckily Afterglow lipsticks are full of certified organic ingredients, avoiding using commonly used ingredients such as carmine, FD&C/Lake dyes and petro-chemicals that may dry out your lips or be harmful to your body.

With 15 gorgeous shades to choose from, these subtle moisturizing lipsticks create a wash of colour rather than an overtly strong pigmented shade. Perfect for creating a glossy daytime look and healthy enough to wear everyday. Put this on your Christmas list!

Health & Beauty: NHR ORGANIC ESSENTIAL OIL GIFTS

NHR Organic Oils create the purest essential oils in the world. Certified by the Soil Association, they're literally good enough to eat - check out the Christmassy organic aromatherapy chocolates flavoured with exotic oils of frankincense and myrrh!

Their website is crammed with goodies, including gift boxes (currently up to 40% off), essential oils and blends, massage oils, shampoos and soaps. In January 2010 an organic mother and baby range launches.

I loved the Organic Rose Gift Box. Forget any memories of rose-scented products you might have tried in the past, these luxurious products smell and feel amazing. Inside there's an organic rose moisturiser, essential oil 5% blend, floral water (with atomiser) and soap, plus a free aromatherapy book, Essential Health, written by NHR founder Kolinka Zinovieff.

To really get in the festive mood, burn some uplifting Organic Christmas Spice essential oil blend. Amongst the ingredients are organic orange, nutmeg, clove bud and cinnamon.

The last date for Christmas orders is the 21st December 2009.

Jane Lee

Health & Beauty: Coconut Candy Scrub

Essential Care's new organic Coconut Candy Bodyscrub is literally delicious.

The heavenly aroma of gorgeous sweet coconut mixed with sugar cane for exfoliation really makes you feel pampered. This scrub really is the nicest treat to use once or twice a week, to slough away dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling fresh, clean, moisturised and smelling totally amazing whilst the oils are sinking in.

This product is also Winner of The Green Beauty Bible award for the Best Body Scrubs. Buy this as a special indulgent treat for yourself.

Health & Beauty: Every Girl Needs a Halo

We tried out Halo light moisturizing cream with vitamin E, Aloe vera and sweet almond oil. The cream is halal certified and approved by the Vegetarian Society. Suitable for all skin types, it will please those who like their products fragrance free.

Indeed this cream smells of nothing at all, while its colour and texture reminds slightly of aqueous cream. It is much lighter though...using it made us wish that summer was here again, since this cream could pass as a base before applying sun cream.

Personally I found it too light for 30-something skin or on very dry patches. Also, I would love to smell the sweet almond or shea butter ingredients, as well as see a naturally occouring colour. Therefore I have to say that I would not buy this cream but can recommend it as a solution for very young skin.

Halo Skincareʼs Halo Light Moisturising Cream with Vitamin E has 
once again been shortlisted by the Vegetarian Society as ʻBest Beauty Productʼ in 
their 2009 Awards.

In these economically challenging times, Halo
 Skincare provides a perfect balance between 
offering people a high quality, ethically 
produced product, which wonʼt break the bank.

The Halo Light Moisturising Cream retails at 
£6.99 for 100ml and is available online.

Heike

Health & Beauty: Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Milk

We have been trying out the new John Master's Blood Orange & Vanilla body milk over the last wintery month. Much to our delight, this product is a big thumbs up...containing milk thistle, aloe vera and essential oils of blood orange and vanilla, the invigorating fragrance will wake up even the sleepiest of you in the morning!

Luckily the body milk is super fast to absorb and therefore makes the transition from shower, to moisturiser, to clothes that much quicker and easier. Leaving the skin soft and smooth, this would make a perfect christmas present for almost anyone. It should be noted that my boyfriend helped himself to this on a regular basis (and he is ultra fussy about using my products) and could be found wafting around the house smelling rather wonderful, which means that this is a great buy for women AND men out there!

Health & Beauty: REHYDRATE YOUR SKIN

[A’kin]’s range of skincare products are made from 100% natural botanical aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing. Over the last couple of weeks I have been indulging my skin with their White Tea & Aloe Vital Hydration Gel Crème. The crème is light and smooth to apply and rapidly sinks into your skin leaving it refreshed and replenished all day long. Enriched with Olive Extract and Vitamin B5 and E, this is a great crème to rehydrate tired skin against the harsh elements of winter.

Carly Gordon