REVIEW: SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash & Soap...

One of the many beauties of blogging is having a voice - when I find something I absolutely adore, I invariably bang on and on about it because there's a chance of it becoming something that one of you lovelies might love too, especially when it calms, hydrates and soothes the biggest organ of our bodies - skin! I've already posted a WOW article covering some of the products from SheaMoisture (HERE) and there will no doubt be others as I work my way through their range, but today my rave is all about the Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash & Soap, with Frankincense & Myrrh extracts...

My skin is becoming drier and drier by the day - it's inevitable really as oil production slows down with age, and moisture retention becomes an even bigger challenge. To help keep my skin as hydrated as possible, I've been gradually eliminating all the products from my bathing routine that contain SLS, a move that has calmed the itchy patches on my arms, and the cracked and scaly areas on my legs aren't anywhere near as troublesome as they were. But I still need to be careful of what I use, and the next phase of my skin plan was to only use SLS-free cleansers that also replenish what washing takes away - enter SheaMoisture and their Raw Shea Butter range specifically for dry skin ♥ As luck would have it, just before Christmas, they had a special offer of 40% discount, and that plus my "KATS" coupon code of 30% (which you can still use at the checkout) added up to the perfect opportunity to try more from this fabulous brand ♥...

I'll start with the soap as it's my favourite of the two, which is so interesting as my preference shifted right away from soap bars and into body washes and shower gels many MANY moons ago, but this gorgeous chunk of deliciously scented and amazingly hydrating bubbles has converted me right back! It's a massive 230g, and the fragrance is divine - it reminds me of an exxy men's cologne, but still feminine enough for us gals and sufficiently subtle to not be a bother to those with sensitivities. I've been smothering my bod with its creamy and delicately fragrant lather for over a week, and not once have I needed to apply any rehydrating lotions or potions - all over, my skin has stayed soft and supple without even a hint of dryness. Winner! ♥...

The Hydrating Body Wash is equally moisture replenishing. The main ingredient listed on the label is aloe, and as well as the shea butter, frankincense and myrrh extracts, other formula inclusions are coconut oil, carrot seed oil and mango seed butter. With all those skin-kind goodies in the recipe, it's no wonder this bottle of cleansing suds leaves the skin so refreshingly hydrated. I was hoping it would have the same fragrance as the soap and was a tad disappointed to find it has barely any scent at all, but that will no doubt appeal to many of you. It has a very runny consistency, so you'll need to be cautious when dispensing, but the pivot cap makes controlling the flow super easy. I'm loving showering with this too, but because of the minimal scent, my heart belongs to the soap bar ♥...

In summary, both of these products are brilliant for folks dealing with dry skin, and I highly recommend them for replenishing the moisture that cleansing takes out.  And because of the super special deal I scored, I'm giving away one of each to an Aussie follower ♥...

Australian Residents Only! 

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter (please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, you won't be included in the draw!)
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

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This giveaway is now closed  - check back later tonight to see who won

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Ange L. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Ange please respond to the email I've sent you by midnight

Wednesday 30th January to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Ange has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY! - Grahams Natural Anti-Aging Skincare...

Being the skincare fanatic that I am, I was delighted when Grahams Natural contacted me early in June, and sent me their Anti-Aging day and night creams to trial and review. I was not familiar with this Aussie brand at all, but having read the story HERE of how they researched and developed their Calendulis Plus eczema cream and Bath Oil, as well as other treatments for psoriasis & dermatitis, I was confident that they knew their stuff as far as meeting skin hydration needs were concerned. I've been using the Natural Moisturising Cream and Natural Hydrating Night Cream for 2 weeks, loving them both, and wanted to spread the word AND share the love, so I hope you'll keep reading to the end for the giveaway ♥...

The Natural Moisturising Cream with Seaweed Extract comes in a 125ml plastic recyclable pump bottle - no packaging glam here, no frills, no gimmicks. The pump is sturdy, and it's easy as pie to adjust the amount dispensed. The cream is gentle and light but amazingly effective - it spreads effortlessly, has a delicate floral fragrance that dissipates quickly, and makes my skin feel silky soft, like I was born yesterday. Primers and foundations glide on, and I experienced no additional shine or greasiness throughout the day ♥ Note: there's no SPF content, so you'll need to add ray protection. Ingredients include Rice Bran Oil (highest), Shea Butter, Licorice Root Extract, and Bladderwrack (seaweed) Extract (rich in Vitamin C)...

One standard pump is way too much for my particular needs - I find that less than half that is plenty for my face, neck and chest area, and I expect this large bottle to last a good while. And with a price tag of $14.95, my bank manager will be beside him/herself with glee. Absorption rate is high with the right quantity, and although it's too early to tell if there are any anti-aging benefits, I can assure you my face is 100% hydrated, and my complexion looks plumped, becalmed and healthy, and not a flake of dry skin to be seen in my magnifying mirror ♥...

The Natural Hydrating Night Cream is even more potent - you can see below how little I use for such a big area, whoa! At this rate the 50ml jar will last me at least 6 months ♥ Slightly different fragrance and even more delicate, this is such a pleasure to use, and my skin feels like it has been given everything it needs to repair and regenerate while I sleep. The formula is amazingly enriching, and yet there's no excess oil on my T-zone in the morning... 

After purified water, the second highest content is Sweet Almond Oil & Glycerin, and there's also Olive Butter, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Coffee Extract and Thyme Extract. I should imagine that if you are dealing with particularly dry skin, or you are allergic to chemical-based formulas, both of these creams will answer your prayers as far as hydration is concerned. I've used a truckload of face creams throughout my life, but none quite as effective at replenishing moisture as either of these beauties ♥...

There's another BONUS - neither of them clog my pores! Congestion is something I deal with on a regular basis, and particularly when I switch to a new product range, but I've had no such issues with these formulas. By the way none of Grahams Natural products are tested on our furry friends ♥ In summary, if you're dealing with dry skin and you're after maximum hydration with no irritation, then I expect these creams will serve you brilliantly...

I was so impressed with these creams (and the cleanser reviewed last week HERE), I placed an order for some of their other goodies, with multiples of some items as I just KNEW they would be great. Plus the folks at Grahams Natural generously included a few extra products for me to try, and I'll be reviewing them over the coming weeks ♥...

Meanwhile, I'm busting to share this latest product range discovery with you lovelies, so I've put together a giveaway. I haven't tried the soap as yet, and the Rose Mineral Deodorant in the picture below was gifted, but the Herbal one I ordered is brilliant, and if you don't love the 100% edible Raspberry Organic Lip Balm, I'll eat my hat!...

So the giveaway consists of the following items:

• Natural Anti-Aging Moisturising Cream with Seaweed Extract (125ml)
• Mineral Deodorant - Rose (65ml)
• Daily Facial Gel Cleanser with Green Tea, Aloe Vera & Cucumber (125ml)
• Natural Soap with Manuka Honey (100g)
• Organic Lip Balm - Vanilla (4.25g)
• Organic Lip Balm - Raspberry (4.25g)

Apart from the (gifted) deodorant, all products were purchased by me. Total prize value is just under $60, and this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY...

The usual rules apply - one entry per person, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter section, and leave a comment below that answers the question inside the copter...

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Suzanne G. as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Suzanne please respond to the email I've sent you by 

Wednesday 19th July to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Suzanne has claimed her prize

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Best of luck to all who enter! ♥...

Take care of you,

kats xxx

P.S. Linking to Ingrid's always popular Monday Makeup Madness Link Up Party - starts 6:30am ♥...