Tag Archives: Neroli

Dr. Dulcamara Orange Flower: Victorian Inspired Beauty | Review

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We get sent a lot of stuff to review but this Victorian inspired Orange Flower collection from Dr. Dulcamara really caught our eye. It is both original and stunning. It looks so beautiful on the bathroom shelf you almost don’t want to use it. But use it you must. It smells divine and just looking at it creates happiness.

We reviewed the hand cream, which leaves the hands silky soft and smelling great. It is a really good cream, rubs in well and works. The bath essence looks like a magic potion and sitting in the bath just sniffing it is a potential hazard to look out for. It makes bathing even more enjoyable and is good to the skin.

We really loved the Orange Flower collection from Dr. Dulcamara and already have a few people in mind who will be getting these as a Christmas present. Frost loves….

Dr Dulcamare, lotions and potions, beauty, beauty review

Orange flowers are the source of neroli, an essential oil distilled from the freshly picked blossoms of the bitter orange tree. Neroli is named after the Italian city of Neroli, where it was used to ward off a plague in the 17th Century. Today, the oil is mostly produced in the South of France and in Italy.

The rich flower-scented aroma has long been regarded as a symbol of purity and eternal love, and was a great favourite of Marie Antoinette.The oil is also used frequently in Middle Eastern recipes to add fragrance to food, water and tea.

Neroli oil has a reputation for its calming, relaxing properties, and is regarded as a mild sedative.

www.potsandpotions.com

Liz Earle’s Mother’s Day tips

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Mother’s Day Tips

Liz EarleFor Mum with Love from Liz Earle

 

Liz Earle, co-founder of the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Company, is passionate about beauty, natural health and wellbeing. She juggles her professional life with bringing up a family of five children, with her husband Patrick, living on a thriving organic farm in the West Country.

 

Here, Liz shares her top tips to make your mum feel extra special this Mothers Day, ensuring she is taken care of from the inside and out.

 

Liz Earle’s Mothers Day Tips

 

Treat your mum to some simple, pampering beauty treats with these deliciously good-for-you snacks, the best pick-me-up tonics and a little bit of bathtime bliss. Mix and match the ideas here – or create the perfect health and beauty hamper by adding all together for the ultimate wellbeing treat. I would love my children to give me this!

 

Beauty-Boost Truffles

 

These choc-free truffles are the packed with omega-goodness from nuts and seeds as well as healthy oils to help make skin strong and clear. Best of all, they are very easy to make and taste delicious!

 

You will need:

50g each of dates, dried apricots and sunflower seeds

100g raisins

100g porridge oats

50g wheatgerm or oatmeal

20g linseeds

Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons cold-pressed rapeseed or sunflower oil

 

Simply whizz all of the ingredients in a food processor until they form a firm dough ball.  Roll into individual truffle-sized balls and put into the fridge to ‘set’. Place in cellophane bags tied with ribbon or pretty tissue-lined boxes for the perfect Mother’s Day treat. Keep cool and they’ll stay fresh for several weeks.

 

Pick-me-up Tonics

 

Putting together a small basket of pick-me-up vitamins, teas and tonics is a thoughtful way of reviving a busy mum with lasting benefits. B-Complex vitamins are some of the best stress-busters as they support the central nervous system and can help reduce tension and irritability. Choose a formula that contains all the B’s, including B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12.

 

Floradix tonic is one of my all-time favourites as it is rich in absorbable organic iron to reduce tiredness. It’s ideal deal for anyone feeling run-down or in need of an

energy boost. Choose the yeast and gluten-free version and keep in the fridge once opened.

 

Ginseng tea is a traditional energy tonic and recommended by herbalists to increase alertness and mental agility. Some studies suggest it may also boost the immune system and improve digestion. Red (Panax) ginseng is thought to have more health benefits than the white variety.

 

Message in a bottle

 

Tiny bottles of pure essential oil are very versatile beautifiers that improve mood and wellbeing. Look for the words “pure essential oil” on the label as some aromatherapy blends are cheaper dilutions of the real thing. Treat your mum to my all-time top three essential oils and print out this handy guide on how to use them for year-long benefits.

 

Lavender – the classic fragrant mood-restorer to relax and de-stress. Proven to help ‘switch-off’ a busy mind and calm the senses. Has a mildly sedative effect.

 

Neroli – a gorgeously delicate scent from orange blossom flowers, its beautifully fragrant aroma is guaranteed to uplift and cheer.

 

Rose-scented geranium – a fabulously feminine oil extracted from scented pelargonium leaves. So-called as it smells of real roses – without the hefty price tag.

 

Top Tips:

 

Sprinkle a few drops of pure lavender oil onto a pillow to encourage a good night’s sleep.

Add a drop each of neroli and rose-scented geranium to a basin of water to scent the hands after washing.

 

Make a reviving massage oil blend by mixing 10 drops lavender, 6 drops neroli and 4 drops rose-scented geranium to 50ml cold-pressed grapeseed or almond oil.

 

Add 3 drops of each to a pre-run warm bath (don’t sprinkle under the hot tap as this destroys the scents), lie back and soak all stresses away.

 

All the above ingredients and products are available from good chemists and health food shops or on-line suppliers such as Revital and Victoria Health.

 

Follow @LizEarleMe on Twitter for more tips on wellbeing

SuperFacialist Neroli Firming Daily Brightening Cleanser by Una Brennan | Beauty Review

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I have been using Una Brennan’s SuperFacialist Neroli Firming Daily Brightening Cleanser for months now and I really love it. It smells divine, feels amazing and really cleanses my skin. It has a refreshing gel texture that I really love. Like most cleansers, a little goes a long way and it lasts for quite a while. Especially as the tub is a generous 150ml.

This was the first product I used from the SuperFacialist range and I am a fan now. It says on the bottle that it melts away make-up and impurities for younger looking skin. Does it live up to this claim? Yes. While most cleansers don’t really take your make-up off, this one does. Although I have heard other beauty writers disagree so maybe if you wear a lot of make-up you might have to double cleanse. I don’t wear a lot and there was no waking up with mascara all over the pillow, looking like a panda.

This cleanser is definitely a keeper. I got it in a London Fashion Week goodie bag but I would definitely continue to use it in the future. It has mango seed oil and hibiscus extract. This cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and is very gentle. Top marks.

SuperFacialist Neroli Firming Daily Brightening Cleanser is only £7.99 from Boots. A complete bargain for something so good.