Oct 22 2014

For Mum & Baby: Thea Skincare Baby Naturals Review

Posted on October 22, 2014 by admin

I take my family’s skincare regime seriously and love reviewing nutrient-rich organic skincare for my Superbabies. Yet my quest continues for something truly amazing for Dex. His skin doesn’t require the same level of care as his baby sister’s (hers is prone to hypersensitivity and eczema), yet it is still some way from structural maturity. Like all toddlers, at age 2 he has a high turnover rate of skin cells compared to adult skin, and the ability to shed and renew dead skin cells quickly. His skin is also two-thirds thinner than ours leaving it susceptible to allergens, UV and other unwanted external influences.

I’m looking for something really nourishing and crammed full of nutrients that will simulate the role of collagen in mature skin. In other words, something that will keep him hydrated, even oily to touch, and act as an buffer whilst his skin is building up a resistance to the world.

So when Thea Skincare asked if I wanted to review a selection of their products, I did my research. I regularly turn down reviews when they don’t offer something new, and skincare is something I’m traditionally very fussy with. But I was intrigued by the fact Thea are 2 time winners of The Green Parent Beauty Awards and also have a Skinmatters Gold Award in their trophy cabinet. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

Who are they?

Thea Skincare is the eponymous range of natural and organic skincare products created by Althea Giscombe. Science graduate and former Avon Cosmetics Manager she had something of an epiphany when traveling in Africa in 2008. Whilst visiting a village on the Lake Malawi, she observed the locals using the natural resources around them as part of their beauty regime; using grains of salt that lined the banks to exfoliate their skin, and the rocks and stones to remove hard skin off of their feet.

A passion for ‘hard performing natural ingredients’ grew and at age 50, Althea funneled all her pension into creating and developing her range. Launched in 2011 it’s quickly gained momentum and a cult following of beauty pundits.

In order to reflect her core values all Thea products are free from sulphates, parabens, artificial fragrances, are cruelty-free and suitable for vegans.

What did I receive?

I received four samples in a dinky hessian travel bag (an early hint as to their eco credentials); Aloe & Rosehip 2 in 1 Calming Bath & Baby Wash, Jojoba & Chamomile 2 in 1 Baby Shampoo, Coconut and Lavender Soothing Top to Toe Baby Lotion and a treat for mummy, the rather blandly named Cellulite Body Butter. There was also a letter from Thea outlining the history of the brand and Thea’s charitable aspirations. It’s difficult not to fall in love with a brand with such demonstrable values and certainly makes you feel less guilty when you whip out the credit card.

What did I make of it?

Coconut and Lavender Soothing Top to Toe Baby Lotion (200mls / £8.95)

Immediately you’re struck by the lavender scent making it perfect for bedtime massages (especially if bath times are part of your little ones night time ritual). The scent lasts for a good hour too so will promote a restful and prolonged sleep.

In fact, massage is the key here. The trick to using a lotion (as opposed to a cream; heavier and will give deeper hydration over an extended period) is to apply liberally whilst the skin is still wet, then quickly dress baby to lock in the moisture. Don’t be tempted to wait for the lotion to dry before dressing. This little lotion packs a punch - having used this for over a week now, Dexter’s skin is still moist in the morning. Perfect.

Part of it’s staying power lies in its viscosity - once warmed this baby lotion takes on the consistency of massage oil making it easy to apply and enabling it to deliver more intensive moisturisation.

I would definitely buy this for Dexie, but would be hesitant to use it on Heidi, or any other newborn. At 78% organic and heavily scented (albeit naturally), I would more inclined opt for a fragrance-free lotion for tiny ones.

Aloe & Rosehip 2 in 1 Calming Bath & Baby Wash (200mls /£8.95)

The calming tag is spot on. The rosehip and essential oils really shine through especially with the natural steam from the bath water. If your child has been hit hard this cold and flu season, this will help unblock their airways and give them some respite.

Meanwhile nutrients are delivered to baby’s skin via Vitamins B5 & E. It feels like you’re giving a wet massage when you rub it in; very oily so a little goes a long way. It does lather although takes some working up in your hands, but foaming action is overrated in my opinion; I’d much rather his skin gets a thorough cleanse yet isn’t stripped of its natural oil & sebum.

This also works fabulously as a bath oil and leaves your baby’s skin nice and hydrated post-bath. Dexter smelt divine after his bath and ready for a relaxing massage with the accompanying lotion.

Jojoba & Chamomile 2 in 1 Baby Shampoo (200mls / £8.95)

This lathers up surprisingly well and Dexter’s hair still smells heavenly the next day. It’s tough enough to wash away all the tomato sauce, gravy, melted chocolate and other unpleasantness your toddler has taken it upon himself to ‘save for later’, yet mild enough not to cause itching. Dexter sweats a great deal in the night as he suffers from night terrors so I needed a shampoo that is gentle enough to deal with excess sebum without causing greasiness- this definitely fits the bill.

I can’t comment as to it’s efficiency of soothing away cradle cap as Dexie is a fully fledged toddler now, but once again, I’d be cautious about popping anything too heavily scented on early skin.

Once again, this definitely passes the sniff test too - there’s still a pleasant lavender scent from the blend of essentials oils making it a great product for night time bathing.

Cellulite Body Butter (200mls / £8.95)

I was always going to struggle to review this one as I’ve already found the best stretchmark butter on the planet. However I should flag up that this is one of the best firming creams I’ve used in a long time. It sinks in immediately and your skin feels visibly tighter after just one application.

Perfect for hips, bums, arms and breasts, this has slotted neatly into my beauty regime given I’m currently losing weight. The essential oils blend of Neroli, Rose, Jasmine, Geranium, Sandalwood, Chamomile, Fennel, Carrot Seed, Lemon, Lavender & Frankincense Essential Oils invigorate and increase circulation, and elasticity is improved via a combination of 4 rich butters (Organic Shea, Cocoa, Kokum & Mango Butter).

The scent of this one is far more subtle with the butters drowning out the essential oils. As it sinks in so quickly it’s perfect for a nighttime treat before diving under the covers.

The consistency of typical of body butters and you end up prodding it without actually getting any on your fingers. Best advice is to delves in as £24.95 is a bargain for 200mls.

Additional thoughts…

Don’t expect to be seduced by the packaging. Whilst mine are samples, the full sized bottles are no sexier. But then looks aren’t everything, for all we know Brad Pitt could be a real pain to live with.

Whilst reading other reviews I was a little taken aback to see so many people balking at the prices. I pay anywhere between £8 and £25 for Dexter & Heidi’s basic essentials (shampoo, body wash and body lotion) so at £8.95 for a healthy 200mls, these products seem bang on the money.

Finally, I suspect Thea Skincare will be jostling for position among the big boys in organic baby skincare (Lasinoh’s Earth Friendly Babies, The Green People’s Organic Babies, Burt’s Bees, … and newbies Cowshed’s Cow Baby, Lulu & Boo, Odylique, and Miamoo… I could go on). Yet parents have really embraced organic skincare for their little people and there is plenty of room for everyone (and plenty of space left on my bathroom shelf!). I’ll be watching this brand with interest to see where they go next.

To check out this fab range for yourself (including their brightening and anti-aging formulations), head to TheaSkincare.com. You can also stay in touch via Twitter and Facebook.

Jul 4 2014

Baby soft skin with Hannah and Hugh

Posted on July 4, 2014 by admin

When Dexter was Heidi’s age, I can’t remember any incidences of dry skin at all. You can therefore imagine the panic then when I stripped Heidi down a few weeks ago to find her skin peeling away en masse. Fighting the urge to pop Heidi in her car seat and get her in front of a GP, I Googled it. It seems that overdue babies are especially prone to it - just like when we spend too long in the bath submerged in water, the transition from my tummy to air can cause the skin to become dry and shed. The recommendation was to limit baths and massage a little sunflower / grapeseed oil into their skin, and sure enough Heidi’s skin is now beautifully soft once again.

Ever since then, I’ve paid special attention to Heidi’s skin. Baby massage was something I didn’t really embrace with Dex, so it’s lovely to have that time bonding with Heidi now. So when new brand Hannah and Hugh offered to send me something natural and safe to use on her skin, I jumped at the chance. The next day, a huge pot of Rosehip and Calendula cream landed on my welcome mat.

Hannah and Hugh was born out of one parents journey to find something natural and effective to use on her daughter’s dry skin. There are currently three products in the range Rosehip & Calendula Baby Cream, Nappy Balm and Hair & Body Wash. All three products are free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, PEGS, petrochemicals, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances and other nasties. The range is also suitable for vegans too as it hasn’t been tested on animals.

I’ve been chuffed to bits with this cream. Not only does it help Heidi relax, her skin (and my hands) are lovely and soft. It’s gentle enough to be used on face and body from birth and we’ve found it really helps with her mild cradle cap. At £12.99 for a massive 200ml pot, it’s good value for money if you find your baby needs a little extra hydration.

The cream is rich and thick yet isn’t at all greasy and sinks in beautifully. Straight after a massage, I’ll pop Heidi in a baby gro and she’ll stay perfectly soft all night. I’ve also used it on my legs after shaving and they stay hydrated throughout the entire day with a light sheen which looks fabulous when the sun is out! The smell is mild and not too overpowering too.

Hannah and Hugh hope to expand their range over time, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops. They’ve certainly hit the nail on the head with their baby cream, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the other two products. You can buy direct from the website hannahandhugh.com, or find out more on Twitter and Facebook.

Dec 17 2013

A Halos N Horns Love Affair

Posted on December 17, 2013 by admin

We’re big Halos N Horns fans in this house. Wayyyy back in the heady days of August 2012, when Dexter was just 4 months old, I won a blogger competition and received the entire range. The bottles were nearly as big as him!

We started with the baby range (baby bath and lotion) and were seriously impressed with how gentle they were on Dexter’s skin. We had to bin all our equivalents from Johnsons’ Baby as they dried his skin out and left him blotchy. Halos n Horns were gentle, hydrating and smelt heavenly. One bottle of baby bath lasted us nearly 8 months so at just £3.00 (ish) a bottle from ASDA we’re talking exceptional value for money.

Even at 19 months, we still lather his skin with the baby lotion as it leaves his skin peachy smooth. I’ve also been known to pinch the odd bit after shaving my legs as it stops them drying out. We’ve had the odd disaster though and I certainly wouldn’t recommend using the bottles as a distraction tool for bum changes… (tee hee).

Now he’s older, he’s started using the body washes, shampoos and detanglers. The entire range smells good enough to eat and the scent lasts for ages on Dexter’s hair. If I haven’t had a chance to wash his hair in a few days, I can still bury my face in his mop!

When I heard it on the grapevine that Halos N Horns have recently improved their Zingy Orange Hair & Body Wash - I couldn’t wait to give it go. I’m not disappointed (but then I never was!) - it smells of freshly squeezed oranges and those retro favourites, Refreshers! It goes without saying that the formula still holds true to the Halos N Horns values and contains no allergens , SLS or parabens. This makes it gentle on eyes, sensitive skin and eczema sufferers.

Here at Halos N Horns, we believe that you wash your little angels to get rid of nasties, not put more on. That’s why we’re committed to removing as many of those dubious chemicals as we can.

The only thing that could make these products any better at all would be to see them stocked in Tesco. I’m assuming there isn’t an exclusivity clause with ASDA as Ocado and most leading pharmacists stock them - so come on Tesco pull your finger out!

Here’s to another 5 years (or so) of Dexter smelling amazing, and raising another Halos N Horns newborn!

If you;d like to know more, head over to the website for the Halos N Horns backstory, stockists, fun stuff for kids, and some great help sheets on baby massage, hair washing and toothbrushing. They’re on Facebook and Twitter too so why not head on over and say hello.