Here’s some of the exciting things we tried, saw and loved over the past two weeks!
Organic Tomato Ketchup and Probiotic Easy Oats, Chantal Organics
Did you know that certain foods put you at more risk for pesticide ingestion than others? The ‘Dirty Dozen’ refers to the 12 produce items that are usually farmed with loads of pesticides and tomatoes are usually on this list!
So, naturally we were delighted to try Chantal Organics Tomato Ketchup which, apart from being organic, is gluten and GMO free, has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Besides absorbing less pesticides, research has shown that organic tomatoes contain higher levels of phenolic compounds which reduce the risk of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases and some types of cancer.
Ketchup, as you can imagine, is made by cooking down loads and loads of tomatoes until they create a sauce so by choosing an organic brand such as Chantal Organics, you’re avoiding ingesting all those pesticides and toxins.
The Chantal Organics Tomato Ketchup is beautifully thick and richly flavoured and comes in a convenient upside down squeeze bottle. Free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, this ketchup is our go-to choice for hot chips or burgers. Delicious!
Another recently launched product from Chantal Organics is their single-serve Probiotic Easy Oats in a recyclable cup. Made in New Zealand, these super-convenient cups are a tasty blend of wholegrain oats, oat bran and hemp seeds and come in three different all-natural flavours: Maple & Maca, Spiced Apple & Maca, and Plum & Hemp Seeds. Each single-serve contains 1 billion CFU (the number of live cells in each serving) probiotics (healthy bacteria) which are so good for your gut.
If you’re in a hurry in the mornings, these are ideal to pop into your bag and enjoy at work. Just add boiling water, stir and enjoy. They are a good portion size and all three flavours are delicious.
Available from New World, Pak’nSave, Four Square, Huckleberry and health food stores across New Zealand.
Soy Candles, Glasshouse Fragrances
We love candles, especially if they’re beautifully scented. They just give a room a cosy ambience and spa-like feel to it.
Two new soy candle releases from Glasshouse Fragrances – Heavy Petal and Scarlet Nights – have been given our stamp of approval.
Heavy Petal has top notes of geranium, tulip petals, black pepper and lemon leaves; middle notes of smoked lavender, oregano, cream and Indian Spices; and base notes of sandalwood, charcoal and patchouli.
Dee: “I would say this is my favourite Glasshouse Fragrances candle to date. Once lit, the fragrance fills the room. Nothing too heady – just beautiful.”
Scarlet Nights has top notes of black cherry, apple and rum; middle notes of almond, plum, rose and tobacco and base notes of sandalwood, amber and vetiver.
When you light this candle, Glasshouse Fragrances say: “You’ll find yourself sitting in a 1920s bar wrapped in velvet holding a cut crystal glass with the rich and mysterious scent of Black Cherry, toasty Tobacco, Rose, Rum and Vetiver.” Need we say more?
The candles contain no parabens, silicons or PEGS (polyethylene glycols which are petroleum-based compounds) and are made from the highest quality non-toxic soy blend wax with lead-free cotton wicks.
GOOPGLOW, goop beauty
Goop is a lifestyle and wellness brand founded in 2008 by the actress Gwyneth Paltrow. It started off as a weekly email newsletter and has since expanded into e-commerce, wellness summits, a magazine, podcast and a docuseries on Netflix.
Mecca Beauty NZ stocks a good range of Goop products including the recently released GOOPGLOW Flower Acids Resurfacing Toner which we got to review.
This toner is the easiest way to refine skin texture and supercharge your skincare results. Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skins, the two-in-one daily treatment toner gently resurfaces, hydrates and leaves your skin glowing in one easy step.
The secret to this skincare is the combination of flower acids – hibiscus and prickly pear flowers in particular – mixed into a moisturising aloe vera juice base with tamarind-sugar molecules and glycerine. So, whilst your skin is being gently exfoliated, it’s being hydrated at the same time too.
Tracey: “I love this toner. My skin didn’t get irritated by it which is a huge plus for me. My skin also didn’t feel stripped of any moisture and there’s no sticky residue. Just beautifully cleansed and hydrated skin that’s ready for the rest of my skincare routine.”
Made without parabens, petroleum, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and other nasties, this toner hydrates, soothes, seals in moisture and freshens up your skin.