Je t’aime Hayr—aka the Green Queen—is a New Zealand-based beauty editor whose not-so-secret passion is the more holistic side of the industry she knows like the back of her hand cream packaging. Throughout 2011, HowBigIsYourEco will publish highlights from her fab blog (this gal knows her stuff). To begin… Je t’aime gets re-acquainted with Living Nature, a kiwi brand that has been doing the natural thing for over 23 years…
In my student days, I used the Living Nature range and really liked the results, but over the years I moved on to trying other ranges and when beauty editing I tried anything and everything. For whatever reason, it’s been a jolly long time since I used Living Nature.
I always trial a product for at least a couple of weeks before writing a review to give my skin a chance to let me know what it’s really thinking. (What kind of blogger would I be if I got sent something and immediately gave it top marks without fair game?) Anyhoo, so far my skin is thinking nothing but happy, happy thoughts.
While I have no doubt the formulations have involved many years of research and development, from a user perspective Living Nature skincare is neither complicated nor fussy—and that’s actually really refreshing. The Vitalising Cleanser seems to leave my skin’s PH well alone, so after cleansing my face feels fresh but not dry. I’m not sure how it would tackle long lasting makeup but this doesn’t worry me as I don’t wear much foundation and I’m happy with my oil cleanser for makeup removal.
The Hydrating Toning Gel was always one of my fave products so I’m chuffed to try it again. I adore the cooling sensation and the fact it’s absorbed so rapidly into the skin—now you see it,now you don’t—leaving no greasy residue. Nourishing Day Cream is also quite the little spunk and does a disappearing act after it’s rubbed in. In its place is soft, comfortable skin—it’s ideal for under makeup.
A small pea-sized amount of each product is all you need to cover your face and neck. So, this convenient travel pack (gorgeous gift for travellers and holidaymakers) is more than just a summer holiday fling. To digress from this review for just a mo, it is my pet peeve when a product’s instructions are to ‘apply a couple of drops to the whole face’, and in reality, even with damp skin, said product only goes so far as your nose. Is this how companies justify tiny little bottles of so called magic potions for huge amounts of money!? And since when does your skincare stop at your face? Errr, hello… neck and décolletage awaiting some love as well. So thanks for the ’spreadability’, Living Nature—we beauty girls don’t like wasting products.
Admittedly, I’m a sucker for floral essential oils, so I’m not the biggest fan of Living Nature’s plant smells, but I quickly got used to the ‘morning dew in the field’ scents and they fade quickly. I’ve had no adverse skincare reactions to the products at all, which is rare for me, and I have been getting compliments on my skin. My skin seems to be more settled, the oil levels have normalised and breakouts are less. It’s too soon to tell if the Firming Flax Serum is doing anything for my fine lines, but my overall appearance is more hydrated, so this girl lives in hope!
And design aficionados will love that the packaging is super style and user friendly. It’s important that things look pretty in the bathroom y’all!
Welcome back into my routine old pal, long time no see! It’s good to have you back.
Click here for Living Nature stockist details or shop online.
Je t’aime Hayr is a passionate advocate of holistic health and beauty, believing that a healthy diet feeds the skin from within, while contributing to your overall health and wellbeing. Visit her blog at www.greenqueen.co.nz for health and beauty product reviews and recipes.
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