Every two weeks we share all the stuff we’ve recently enjoyed – from the latest TV shows to must-try foods, gorgeous makeup products and the most exciting spots to visit in New Zealand.
Mia Belle Haircare
We love hearing about successful women who have overcome their own challenges and successfully grown their businesses.
Auckland mum-of-four Catherine Sanvictores is one of these amazing women. While on her own journey of recovery from trauma, post-natal depression and PTSD, Cath has built two successful businesses which have given her an outlet to channel some of the things she is passionate about – mental health, self-care, mindful living, slowing down and reminding others of how crucial this is.
Cath is the founder of Mia Belle, a family business that handcrafts eco-friendly skin and hair care products in small batches – such is the quality and ethos of her brand that it has been noticed by the Japanese. This month, Mia Belle launches in Japan.
We were sent the top three sellers in the Mia Belle shampoo and conditioner range to try out – Cocolime (Coconut Lime), Beloved (Vanilla, Jasmine and Sandalwood – to induce tranquillity) and Epic (a blend of citrus and peppermint so that you can start the day with a boost).
The hair care bars are solid shampoo and conditioners and formulated using only premium natural, organic elements. There are no nasties, they are also eco-friendly and cruelty-free and there’s a bar for every hair type – fine, medium, thick, curly, and even dreadlocks.
We’ve been using the products for three weeks now and absolutely love them. Each bar lasts for ages – evidently up to 100 washes per bar – which is a big bonus.
Dee: “My hair is very temperamental – it can be dry one day and frizzy the next – but I am really happy with the results I am getting from these blocks. I love the fact that there’s no plastic or nasties and the blocks last a really long time – a good saving on the household budget, that’s for sure!”
Blue Royal Blueberries
Great news for blueberry lovers – yes, that’s us – a brand new premium brand of high quality, super-sized blueberries is available in the fresh produce section of supermarkets now, and they are divine!
The berries have been cultivated to be bigger, have more flavour, are firmer and stay fresher for longer in comparison to other varieties previously available.
“Our growers are some of Aotearoa’s most experienced horticulturists,” says Blue Royal Global Marketing Manager, Mel Auld. “You’ll be able to discern a Blue Royal from other blueberries… as each berry is consistently the same large size, plump and their deep blue colour makes them distinct from the rest.”
Blueberries are a nutritious everyday treat that supply a high dose of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre – something we all need to keep our immunity strong.
We’re off to eat some more of these delicious berries ☺
Emma Lewisham Skincare
This gorgeous skincare range is adding a much-needed glow to our beauty routine and their latest product, the Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème, is a winner.
For some time, ardent fans of the brand had been requesting a day cream without SPF so the Emma Lewisham team set to work and after rigorous research, testing and development, created the Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème.
In keeping with Emma Lewisham’s ethos of 100 percent natural yet scientifically backed skincare, the Crème helps rebuild the skin’s natural collagen production synthesis at a cellular level. This is so important as collagen naturally decreases as we age and is what gives our skin strength, elasticity and that youthful ‘plumpness’ that we all desire.
The beautifully packaged Crème comes in two parts – a detachable circular refill pod and the pump itself. Through the Emma Lewisham Beauty Circle, customers have the option to send back empty pods for sterilisation and repurposing which is an idea we rather like.
We’ve been using the Illuminating range which includes the Oil Cleanser, Exfoliant and Crème for almost four weeks now and love its lightweight formula and luxurious feel.
The Illuminating Oil Cleanser feels silky on application and turns into a milky emulsion when you add a bit of water. It’s gentle on your skin and removes makeup quite easily, and it doesn’t leave any residue, which is a big plus for us.
We also used the lightly scented Illuminating Exfoliator once a week and the luxurious, lightweight Crème on a daily basis.
Dee: “Initially I was concerned that the cleanser and exfoliant might dry out my skin but was pleasantly surprised when my skin felt soft and nurtured. The luxurious, lightweight Crème, which is applied under sunscreen and makeup, was fabulous and I am really happy with the results.”
Sarah: “This range of skincare will definitely be in my long-term arsenal. Totally happy with the results – my husband even commented on my glowing skin, which was a win.”
The Day Crème gives the skin a beautiful glow which is attributed to Acerola and Kakadu Plum which are both powerful natural vitamin C extracts and important for skin health.
We concur that all three products in the Emma Lewisham Illuminating skincare range are super-effective and can see why the brand is in such demand. The fact that the products are safe for everyone to use is a big plus. We’re sure you’re going to love this range as much as we do.
Wet n Wild Eyeliner
Wet n Wild has just launched their Breakup Proof Eyeliner range in either liquid or retractable form. These beauties are smudge-proof, humidity-proof, flake-proof and cry-proof. Although we haven’t done any crying recently, these eyeliners certainly delivered on their promise of being smudge proof.
The liquid eyeliner features an ultra-fine brush-tip that can be used for thin applications or for something bold and dramatic. As with all eyeliners, they do require a bit of practice but they do glide on smoothly and easily.
The retractable eyeliner is available in three shades – Blackest Black, Black or Black Brown – and also glides on easily.
Both products are available to purchase from Farmers stores.
