Natural Beauty Gift Ideas

As the festive season approaches I wanted to spotlight a couple of really beautiful natural beauty brands!

First up is Lilith Natural Beauty - this brand creates ethical and vegan skincare handmade with natural ingredients. I am increasingly aware that what we put onto our skin is absorbed into our body, so appreciate that there are no harmful chemicals in this range.

Possibly my favourite item is the Cocoa and Peppermint Hand and Foot Cream which is possibly the best thing l've ever smelled! I also bought a Rose Geranium candle, Peppermint Lip Roller, and Eye Lash and Brow Serum. All of these would make gorgeous gifts.

Secondly we have The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company who make natural products that are never tested on animals, free of petrochemicals, phthalates and SLS, that are sold in eco friendly packaging. I'm a big fan of this Symmetry Anti Ageing Serum for the face. Rich in all kinds of beneficial oils and a high Jasmine content; this anti-ageing face serum is deeply moisturising and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types. This would be perfect for someone who really deserves a treat, who loves luxury skincare products.

If you know someone you want to treat to an amazing gift that's ethical, vegan, natural and kind to your body and the planet, why not pick up something from these wonderful brands for a holiday gift? Let me know your favourite natural beauty brands in the comments!

My favourite pregnancy/birth books

During my three pregnancies I've read a lot of pregnancy books (yes, even re reading in subsequent pregnancies - you forget so much!) I wanted to share my top three.

 How to Grow A Baby by Natalie Meddings - my lovely hypnobirthing teacher Sarah passed this on to me as part of her course and I am SO pleased to have read it before I birth this baby. There are so many labouring scenarios I relate to in this book and wonder if I'd read it last time if I'd have responded differently. While it addresses birth scenarios and interventions I'd say it's still leaning on the holistic side so it's maybe one to skip if you know from the get go you'll be having an elective. Highlights include the concept of "the two rooms" of birth (aka. not jumping the gun and how to relax and take your time at the start of a very long labour), statistic based discussion on birth choices and coping mechanisms, and the importance of cake (seriously!)

 The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hills - this is the book I'd recommend everybody reads as it's going to appeal to the most people - it walks you through what labour "feels like" including lots of accounts from different birth givers, talks about different outcomes, and again gives you the tools you would need to make a positive birth far more likely. Knowledge is power and this really covers scenarios that may crop up while giving birth. For me the two above books work fantastically in conjunction with each other: one offering a no nonsense insight to birth, and How To Grow A Baby for a fresh point of view and plenty of relaxing and empowering choices, the two having a joint motive to make your birth sail as smoothly as possible.

 The Kind Mama by Alicia Silverstone - This one is for the crunchy, earth conscious hippie mama who wants to grow her baby on a plant based diet. Although there is a labour and birth section, I found the pregnancy and postnatal parts of the book most informative and empowering. Straight up, this book is not for everybody - it's very health focused and I GET it if you don't want somebody telling you to deep dive into the sugar cravings. Personally I found this empowering and motivating to get past my beige food stage (still acknowledged during this book!) and I've gone back to it with each pregnancy. It's not an essential but when I was pregnant for the first time and a little anxious about there being NO vegan pregnancy resources available in the UK, this gave me the confidence to grow my beautiful baby on plants (and to do so again another two times!) Highlights include her section on placenta capsules (doooo it) and the excellent nutritional information and inspiration.

Have you read any of these books? How do you like to get informed about pregnancy and birth?

Warming teas for the festive season

This post is in collaboration with The Tea Makers of London.

 Best Warming Teas for the Festive Season

This time of year, the chilly days and bitterly cold evenings call for a truly warming brew that will have you feeling like you are sitting beside the fire, wrapped up in your cosiest blanket watching your favourite Christmas movie.

The run up to Christmas can be a stressful one, trying to fit in time for buying presents, seeing friends and family, wrapping up those last things at work before the big day. With all of this going on it’s important to make time for yourself to unwind and reset. This selection of teas is the perfect combination for winding down in a winter evening. 

Wrap up with your favourite jumper, and pop on your favourite brew because we have the best selection of warming, loose-leaf winter teas to make the next top spot on your favourites list.

No.107 Chai of Madagascar

Chai of Madagascar is the perfect blend of tender green South African honey bush leaves, juicy chunks of ambrosial orange, fragrant bits of cocoa and delicious authentic Indian spices. This mouth-watering infusion is ideal for enjoying during cold winter evenings and is a fruitier twist on a traditional chai cup, and being naturally caffeine free can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

Teas for good quality sleep

This post is in collaboration with The Tea Makers of London

 

We know that getting the little ones to bed is hard enough, then feeling like you can’t nod off added on top can leave you feeling a little hopeless, and constantly fatigued by the time morning comes.

If you’re finding it difficult to get to sleep a deliciously soothing bedtime tea could be the answer to your sleeping problems.

From calming Chamomile to Organic Rooibos these naturally caffeine-free Herbal blends contain the perfect mix of healthy ingredients to help aid your sleep, calm your thoughts and get your bedtime routine back on track.

Prepare a warm cup of your favourite bedtime tea an hour or so before you hit the hay and enjoy a longer, better quality night’s sleep, without being left feeling drowsy like some sleep aiding products.

Are you having trouble nodding off? Read on to discover The Tea Makers of London’s Top 5 Teas To Aid Sleep

Sleepgoddess Shower Mists + Luxury Scrunchies

*This post contains PR samples.

I'll be honest - at 37 weeks pregnant, sleep is a sensitive subject for me right now. I'm uncomfortable with all the extra weight of pregnancy and sleeping in certain positions, I'm still regularly co-sleeping with our toddler (don't ask how it's going to work when baby arrives), and our household has just been struck down with colds (yes, in July.) I need all the help I can get when it comes to sleep because I'm exhausted now, and with an imminent newborn arrival I'm not sure it's going to get better anytime soon!

Enter Sleepgoddess: their products are vegan, cruelty-free and British-made, making them a go-to for ethical beauty sleep purchases. I was immediately intrigued by their faux-silk pillow case covers (SUCH a smart design, not to mention that it's so hard to find hair-friendly pillowcases that are vegan!) from a beauty perspective but they have so much else to offer...