Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor oil - Empty bottles

I am going through the phase at the moment, trying to finish all my carrier oils while they are in dates. First oil to run out is the Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil. 

I used this oil in some of my DIY Beauty recipes in the past. Personally I prefer Castor oil as an ingredient, than on its own. Castor oil usually has thick and sticky consistency and woody scent to it. The oil is perfect as an overnight hair treatment and worked magic on my hair along with 1ml of Argan oil.

A little bit about Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil. It has a medium consistency, a light ashy aroma and a high ash content, ideal for regrowing damaged, dry or fading hair. Sunny Isle's organic castor seeds are roasted and ground by a manual grinder and then the crushed beans are boiled to extract the 100% pure, dark brown, organic oil.

Benefits of Castor oil.

I wanted to use this opportunity and share some beauty benefits of Castor oil. 

The oil is widely famous for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Oils is used in various cosmetics, soaps and massage oils owing to the fact that it has plenty of benefits for your hair and skin.

Hair benefits. Castor oil stimulates hair growth for all hair type thanks to omega-9 essential fatty acids. Oil helps to reduce split ends and hair breakage, it has conditioning and moisturising properties to promote overall hair health. Along with hair thickness, Castor oil helps to return hair shine and gloss.

Due to its properties Castor oil is great for eye lashes and eyebrows.

Castor oil can help to eliminate minor scalp conditions, like itchy scalp and dandruff due to its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Skin benefits. Castor oil is able to penetrate deep into the skin, soften and hydrate it. The oil also helps to promote the production of elastin and collagen, which helps to delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Castor oil is a wonderful ingredient to add into your cleansing oil mixes. It will not just remove all impurities and make-up, but also will nourish and moisturise your skin. This oil is perfect for dry or sun skin due to its soothing properties.

Do you use Castor oil in your beauty routines?

Marija

PS: this is not an advertisement, product bought with my own finance. Just a personal thought on the product. Always do an allergy patch test whenever you trying something new to avoid allergy reaction.

Read more:

- Natural hair oil mix

- Hair oil mix with Shea butter

Beauty haul - MyChelle skin care

MyChelle Dermaceuticals is one of my recent beauty discoveries. I came across the brand on my search for the night and eye creams.

Here are few words about the brand itself. MyChelle is a natural skin care brand which was founded in 2000. MyChelle products, according to the brand PR, deliver fast, powerful, visible results without nasty ingredients or toxic chemicals. Company experts scoured the world for the most potent natural ingredients and put them to work in their skin-saving formulas that calm, nourish, treat and love the skin to its most beautiful.

A lovely promise, beautiful website, nice looking packaging along with good ingredient lists. Here are all my skin care treats from MyChelle.

1. MyChelle Deep Repair Cream for the dry skin type. I plan to use it as a day cream later on. This cream contains Kombuchka Black Tea Ferment which improves skin smoothness, EGF Peptides which increases cellular regeneration, Algae-derived Venuceane which protects collagen and prevents moisture loss and nourishing Shea Butter which restores moisture while improving skin's texture and youthfulness along other active ingredients.

Cream comes in the small glass jar. Can be used morning and evening. Doesn't contain SPF, so if it used in the morning, it is advisable to apply an SPF. I am looking forward to try it out and as usual will keep you posted with the review.

2. MyChelle Perfect C Serum for all skin types. I always wanted to try a C serum for its antioxidant properties. This serum has an advanced formula to protect skin's health while combating the signs of ageing. A Potent 17% dose of clinically proven L-Ascorbic Acid helps to strengthen collagen and improve skin texture. Serum contains Buddleja Plant Stem Cell which protects against photo-damage and oxidative stress through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

I plan to use this serum in the evening along with my night cream. 

3. MyChelle Fabulous Eye Cream for all skin types. Another advanced formula beauty product by MyChelle. This eye cream promises to nourish the delicate eye area while minimising the look of fine lines. Fabulous Eye Cream contains Edelweiss Plant Stem Cells which inhibits collagen breakdown and are clinically proven to reduce wrinkle depth by 15% after only twenty days of use. Can't wait to test this out and will let you know. Eye cream contains Hyaluronic acid which binds moisture within the skin, smoothing and firming the eye area. Can be used around the lips to smooth lines. 

4. MyChelle Revitalizing Night Cream for the dry skin type. This is a nutrient-rich cream which works overnight to restore skin's youthful radiance and firmness. Revitalizing Night Cream contains ChroNOLine Peptide which is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by 16% in just 28 days. Another key ingredient is Monk's Pepper which noticeably reduces line depth, increases hydration and improves skin firmness. Cream comes in the small glass jar.

I will post full reviews for each MyChelle products I bought as I go. Keep tuned in my empties' posts.

Have you tried any products from above or do you have your favourites in MyChelle range. Share in the comments bellow.

Marija

PS: This is not an advertisement. All beauty products featured bought with my own money and for my personal use.  

Empty bottles - Super Facialist by Una Brennan

Another empty beauty tube to review - Super Facialist By Una Brennan Neroli Firming Eye Cream to review. 

Came across it on my continuing search for a perfect eye cream. It isn't the one I am afraid, but this little tube is worth another look and possibly a try. Eye cream has Hyaluronic Acid and Shea Butter for deep hydration; plus Caffeine extract to reduce puffiness and refresh the under eye skin.

Here is the full ingredient list for you to have a look:

Aqua (Water), Cetearyl alcohol, Ethylhexyl stearate, Vitis vinifera (Grape) seed oil, Glyceryl stearate SE, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Pentaerythrityl distearate, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Caffeine, Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange), flower water, Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) seed oil, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) leaf juice, Glycerin, Pullulan, Sodium polyacrylate, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Benzoic acid, Butylene glycol, Malus domestica fruit cell culture, Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyaminopropyl biguanide, Xanthan gum, Hibiscus sabdariffa (Hibiscus) flower extract, Lecithin, Tetrapeptide-21, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Citric acid.

Neroli Firming Eye Cream has a beautiful texture and it is fragrance free. I haven't noticed any reduction in my fine lines, but cream left my under eyes skin soft and well hydrated. If I wanted to rate the eye cream from 1 to 5 points, I would give Super Facialist By Una Brennan Neroli Firming Eye Cream 4 points. It is formulated with natural ingredients, hydrating, has a soft consistency and fragrance free, but I haven't noticed its firming qualities in action. Overall it is a good and affordable eye cream for 30+.

My search for the perfect eye cream continues.

Have you found yours?

Marija

Empty bottles - Royal Apothic and Crabtree&Evelyn

I have two empty tubes of cream to review today for you. I used both as a hand cream. Royal Apothis Cream came in the Glossybox few months ago in the small size, so it lived in my hand bag ever since. Crabtree&Evelyn I have since the New Year, and Somerset Meadow is the first to run out from the set of six. Lets I tell you in more details about each one.

1. Royal Apothic Venetian Grove Cream Creme. This is a deeply hydrating body cream, which provides a mild exfoliation due to Lactic Acid from Milk Proteins and deep hydration thanks to Olive Oil and Vitamins A and E.

My first impression and love went to the texture and the most delicious scent I had in a body cream. Venetian Grove is creamy, soft, absorbs fast and without any residues; plus it has fresh, floral and romantic scent to it.

I could't find full ingredient list and sadly didn't keep the box it came in to share it with you. I would give Royal Apothic Venetian Grove Cream Creme 5 points out of 5. It is the best body/hand cream I have tried so far and I would like to buy it again. Another keeper beauty item for me. This cream was great during cooler months, it kept my skin soft and well nourished.

2. Crabtree&Evelyn Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy. This is a light, but creamy hand therapy cream which is infused with Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil and has fresh, fruity-floral scent. Another cream with lovely texture and consistency. 

Here is the ingredient list for you to have a look:

Water (Aqua)(EAU). Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil. Zea Mays (Corn) Starch. Hydroxyethyl UREA. Stearic Acid. Emulsifying Wax NF. Cetyl Alcohol Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. Isoprobyl Myristate Saccharide Isomerate. Fragrance (Parfum). Hedera Helix (IVY) Leaf/Stem Extract. Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetearyl Alcohol Sucrose Stearate. Ardinine Glycerin. Dimethicone. Sucrose Tristearate. Behentrimonium Methosulfate. Caprylyl Methicone. Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate. Pentaerythrityltetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. Disodium EDTA. Polysorbate 20. Ethylhexyglycerin. Glycereth-2 Coxoate. Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract. Ceramide 3. Butylene Glycol Cholesterol Ceramide 6 II. Phytosphingosine Carbomer. Xanthan Gum. Citric Acid. Lecithin. Caprylyl Glycol. Hyaluronic Acid. Hydrolyzed Soy Protein. Hexylene Glycol. Ascorbyl Glucoside. Tocotrienols. Tocopherol Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) oil. Ceramide 1. Squalane. Lemonene Linalool. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde Geraniol. Benzyl Salicyate. Butylphenyl. Methylpropional. Citronellol. Phenoxyethanol. Benzoic Acid. Potassium Sorbate. Sodium Benzonate.

A very long ingredient list, but my reservations only with the results. I like the texture, scent is lovely, but it isn't enough nourishing and hydrating for my hands. I have few dry patches in between fingers. That isn't a good sign for me, if I am using a hand cream often during the day. It could be the change of season or something else my skin is lacking at the moment. I will play and use other creams from the set and will keep you up to date with the results.

I would give Crabtree&Evelyn Somerset Meadow Hand Therapy 4 points out of 5, due to my reservations. It is a lovely cream, but not good enough for me.

Have you tried any from above?

Marija

Recent Reads - The Four Agreements

I came across this book by chance. It was the cover which catch my eyes. This book is beautiful inside out along with it's words and meaning. The Four Agreements is a practical guide to personal freedom. It partly represents the Toltec wisdom along with the author's philosophy on personal freedom.

If you ever wondered on your life dissatisfaction, even when you have everything you want; or you felt like you live in a big open space prison full of rules and strange agreements, you might like the book and will find it refreshing. 

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a little treasure on your library shelf, a source of inspiration and it simplifies a lot, making the life itself so much easier and enjoyable.

According to the book you can live happy, be satisfied with yourself and your life, and find your personal freedom, if you follow these four agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your word.

2. Don't take anything personally.

3. Don't make assumptions.

4. Always do your best.

Simple four agreements, but if to think about them not that easy to achieve. According to Don Miguel Ruiz philosophy and the fourth agreement (always do your best) thwill help you to change your life forever.

Here are few quotes which found resonance with my mind and I think worth sharing.

 - “Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “If you live in a past dream, you don't enjoy what is happening right now because you will always wish it to be different than it is. There is no time to miss anyone or anything because you are alive. Not enjoying what is happening right now is living in the past and being only half alive. This leads to self pity, suffering and tears.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “Whatever happens around you, don't take it personally... Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “Whenever we hear an opinion and believe it, we make an agreement, and it becomes part of our belief system.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “Humans punish themselves endlessly for not being what they believe

they should be. They become very self-abusive, and they use other people to abuse themselves as well.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

- “That is why humans resist life. To be alive is the biggest fear humans have. Death is not the biggest

fear we have; our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive — the risk to be alive and express what we

really are. Just being ourselves is the biggest fear of humans. We have learned to live our lives trying

to satisfy other people’s demands. We have learned to live by other people’s points of view because of

the fear of not being accepted and of not being good enough for someone else.”

by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

The Four Agreements is a beautiful, inspirational read. It made me see the world and myself in the new light, explained me a lot I couldn't comprehend before and gave me an idea how to improve my personal freedom heaven. An amazing book, I am so glad to discover.

Marija