Thursday, 25 June 2015

Introducing / Naturalmente Haircare




It's no secret that after a pregnancy, women may struggle with their locks; apparently, as a consequence of all the hormones leaving your body, you tend to see an increase in hairloss and I certainly noticed this unpleasant 'side effect'.
For this and other reasons, I have also started to made a conscious choice of using more natural products and when I heard of Naturalmente - an Italian brand - I couldn't pass on the chance to try this line from my home land.

As the name suggests, their products are created using pure essential oils and substances of flowers and plants that are grown organically and protecting the ecosystem; even the energy used to produce comes from wind power generated in Tuscany and with very low CO2 emissions. 
The fragrances also service as Aromatherapy for the soul and  they have banned silicons, parabens, petrochemical oils and by products, artificial colouring and SLS too.
Basically, Naturalmente strongly believes in the respect and nourishment of both the person and the planet.

I was surprised to see such a huge range of products for a (relatively) small and local company and they really cater for every need; you have shampoos and conditioners but also masks, styling products, treatments and colour enhancers.

The first product I'm testing is the Naturalmente Solution-Pac Ricostruttore Multivitaminico Aloe e Sandalo*.
I have never heard of a 'Solution Pac' before which is a protein rebuilder to be used pre-shampoo; it is full of vitamins, minerals and proteins to repair and protect the scalp & hair from environmental and mechanical factors, like heat styling tools.

I've also been trying out the Naturalmente Shampoo Agrumi Volumizzante e Rinforzante* which has a lovely citrusy scent. 
Because of the lack of chemicals, I wasn't expecting any or very little foam, but I actually found that the shampoo lathered  and spread well.
The volumizing effect is real and my hair were left full of body, light and silky to the touch - and because of the impressive result after the first wash, I have no reason to doubt the revitalising benefits in the long run.

In conclusion, I can hearty recommend the Naturalmente range for fast results and ethical approach. You can easily pick up these 50ml sample bottles from http://gentlebeauty.co.uk  for around a fiver each.
 Have you tried this brand yet?

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Maternity / The Things That Noone Tells You About

When you are pregnant, google becomes your best and worst friend. I learned to stick to 'reputable' message boards and NHS endorsed websites, but in any case you will most likely find yourself googling A LOT: a new twitch in your pelvis area or kicks (umm) down there.. and as soon as the mighty line starts auto-populate, you feel relief and that you're not alone.
On your dozen searches a day - kidding (not really!) - you will read A LOT and come across the same stuff/tips all the times... so why the hell was I not prepared for these??!!:

- Growing Spurs: at around 3 weeks, your newborn will want to feed ALL THE TIME! Like that, out of the blue, she started wanting to feed every hour and I was pretty much nursing around the clock. Again, a quick search on the web and you come across the growing spurs... AND WHY NOBODY PREPARED YOU FOR THIS? They are exactly what they sound like: baby growing, hence wanting more food. And rejoy, there are several in the first year - but you will learn to recognise them.

- Wonder Weeks: so your baby is 12 weeks and has become incredibly cranky, doesn't sleep well and putting 2 & 2 together, you realise that he is going through another development leap. These are basically like growing spurs but for the brain where babies learn new skills/reach milestones.

- The 4 month Sleep Regression: (Touch wood) Lara has been having a smooth transition with this change. I don't like the word 'regression' - it's more like a change where the infant starts to sleep in cycles like an adult so having 'light sleep phases'  where she is prone to wake up because she hasn't learnt to self-soothe yet.
And your best defence is the attack: teach your baby to self-soothe from the beginning! It will probably save you a lot of stressful and tearful time when you attempt to sleep training, later on.

TMI ALERT!!! Your first Number 2 after birth... is like giving birth all over again! And I had a c-section, mind you, so it's possible that I may be a tad exaggerating here but - BELIEVE ME - I was kind of glad that I had a caesarean. 
Sure! You may be worried to pull stitches down there but I was also wary to pull my stitches inside and outside (which I really hope it takes more than that!).
 It's not only a psychological block, so if you're still pregnant get your doctor/midwife to give you some Lactulose that is like a sugary syrup and makes all the difference (also safe for breastfeeding). That way you don't need to waste time to the GP once your newborn is here and a million other things to think about. 

Please, be aware that  this is to be viewed like a checklist - Topics that I'd recommend you read about because there are reasons behind your baby suddenly temperament changes. There are plenty of exhaustive information out there and what I found interesting is that, althought very baby is unique, they do follow the same developments/stages in quite a set timeframe... and it's reassuring to know that it is 'normal'!

Sunday, 7 June 2015

New In / Urban Decay Summer 2015 Collection



I know, we have all seen sneak peeks of the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette but there are even more Urban Decay reasons to jubilate this summer!

The star of the collection are the new Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour Powder Blush(es), in my opinion.
Coming in a healthy selection of 12 shades, this powder blush is finely milled - making it foolproof to blend and butter-like on the brush - and you can choose from a matte finish or a glowy look. 
Rapture* is a plummy, berry shade with a hint of golden shimmer. It reminds me of Nars' Sin but the Urban Decay quality is far superior; I find Sin disappointing regarding colour pay-off, whilst Rapture is extremely easy to modulate to the desired intensity.

It feels dreamy on the cheeks - lightweight and soft like a caress - and stays put for the whole day!
The packaging as always doesn't disappointing either: it comes in a gunmetal compact with fishnet detailing that reveals the colour inside; it closes with a magnet (which I also find extremely satisfying!) ;)




Urban Decay Revolution High Color Lip Glosses coat the lips with a generous helping of colour with only one swipe! They are extremely high pigmented and high shine, just as you can see in the tube. They come in 14 shades from neutrals to brights and - as per the blushes - they are now a permanent line of the UD family.
Vice* is a dark purple with cool-toned small glitters that help the teeth look whiter. 
It is very comfortable on the lips and contains Hilurlip™, which hydrates lips while making them look plumper and fuller.
The gunmetal cap and waved design compliment the Revolution Lipsticks and the flat shape is pocket-friendly too! Genius!!!



The collection also includes the Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil - a multitasker to correct mistakes, prevent feathering or fill in fine lines - and 8 new Eyeshadow colours.
Yep, it is time for a summer treat... What are you going to pick up?
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