Solyvia is an organic roll-on line, made with high quality essential oils and herbs to soothe and heal physical and emotional ailments such as headaches, skin blemishes and stress relief.

This handy little pack of 3 is a remedy kit you can take with you anywhere.
Certified organic by Ecocert, completely natural and not tested on animals.   

You can purchase this kit via The French Organic Company.   
 
The City Box  contains Head 'Ake,  Skin tune and Take It Easy, I've managed to make good use of all 3.  Very economical at only $28.00 for the pack or $10.95 separately.   

Head 'Ake  contains a combination of Macadamia nut oil and Borage with Lavender, Chamomile, Wintergreen, Peppermint and Clove essential oils.    I do get the occasional headache and it's usually in my temples, I applied this oil, trying not to expect too much, as some of my headaches are hard to budge,  but it really did help.   The formula they use in this is very soothing, I placed the bottle in the fridge, so when I applied it with the roll on, it was such a nice cooling feeling.  If you do get heachaches, espcecially tension, before popping a pain killer,  you should give this a go.   
Can also be used to help with motion sickness (sea, car or plane travel).  

Skin Tune - I applied this morning and night when I had a pimple, mine are usually hormonal, not only did it help to clear the pimple, but it made the skin heal alot more quickly.
It reduces redness, which is really important, especially when you're getting ready in the morninngs and you're trying to cover up imperfections in a hurry!  A combination of Muscat Rose with Tea Tree, Juniper, Lavender and Rosemary essential oils.  
This can also be used for rosacea and other skin irritations.   

Take It Easy -  I applied this before bed to relax my mind.  The scent is earthy and relaxing,  l like it, it's not the usual flowery type of smell, it contains St.Johns Wort and Black Cumin Oil with Marjoram, Chamomile , Mandarin and Ylang Ylang essential oils.
For a restful sleep I applied this under the arches of my feet and on my wrists.   The big difference between this and other aromatherapy treatments are the herbs, specifically the St. Johns Wort which can calm down a busy and stressed mind.   

La Mav's Skin Brightening products are a wonderful and safe alternative to toxic products which lighten your skin, but contain nasty chemicals that cause harm by being absorbed into your bloodstream.  If you want to even out and brighten your complexion, you don't need to use these harsh products.    
La Mav's range of chemical free brightening products are a safer way to go.  
After my reviews, please keep on reading through to Annette Christy's article on Organic Skin Brightening products, containing some really helpful info on natural skin lightening ingredients.   
La Mav products are certified organic, contain scientifically proven bio-actives.  They are Australian made and cruelty free.   
These product's can be purchased at Chikii.
Enter the code FREEORGANIC at checkout to receive free shipping! 

                                       Rumex Advanced Lightening Day Creme 

La Mav's velvety day creme works to reduce discolouration and pigmentation.   Formulated with Licorice root, Rumex Occidentalis and Marine Extracts to deliver intensive lightening and brightening benefits. Rumex is a plant extract which inhibits the formation of tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the reddish-brown pigmentation of the human skin.  Licorice root also has a similar effect and contains anti-inflammatory properties.   

I like cremes which feel like they are doing a great job on my skin without feeling heavy, this is very light and fresh.   
I have oily skin, so this creme worked very well for me, giving it the right amount of moisture.  I think it would also work well with dry skin as it contains jojoba oil and vitamin E.  Vitamin C is another ingredient which has strong anti-aging action.

Applying this in the morning gave me a nice little pick me up, it's very good for tired and stressed skin.  
I have been using this for one month and and I can say that my complexion has lightened out and the red marks are fading.  This would be extremely beneficial for acne scarring and age spots.   I feel as though it has taken the ruddiness out of my complexion and made my skin feel dewey and younger, which is always a good thing!   

It comes in a handy pump bottle which dispenses evenly.

The natural licorice scent is beautiful, almost good enough to eat.

Anti Dark-Circle and Ultra Anti -Firm Eye Gel

A cooling gel to revive and lighten the delicate eye area. Formulated with Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C to reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. 

I don't think there is a woman on earth who hasn't had a problem with dark circles or puffiness at some stage.   Applying this gel is very soothing, it firms and tightens my skin.  Puffiness is my main problem, especially in the mornings and this reduces puffiness significantly.   I have mild dark circles and this also seemed to lighten the area, I can see with further use the ingredients used will really help to keep the dark circles at bay.       

This also comes in a pump bottle, the gel seems to squirt out rather quickly, but that's ok, as you only need one pump and the right amount gets absorbed into the skin quite nicely.
It leaves the delicate under eye skin feeling smooth, with no sticky or heavy residue. 

The gel has a mild natural sweet orange scent, reminds of getting a facial in an organic beauty salon, very nice and refreshing.

Organic Skin Brightening Products
by
Annette Christy/Chikii

                                                                               Enjoy our article using organic skin care to battle hyper pigmentation, and to tone and brighten the skin.
Having an even skin tone and getting rid of dark spots caused by sun damage, aging and acne scars is a goal worth achieving. When you are young your skin is smooth and has a uniform texture, age spots are the first signs that we are not as young as we once were. They usually appear first on the back of our hands and on our faces – which are the areas that are most exposed to the sun and are obvious signs of aging.
It is important to be very wary of skin bleaching or lightening products. They contain particularly nasty chemicals such as hydroquinone, which is believed to be a carcinogen and is banned in many countries. Instead of hiding behind concealers and makeup, people are seeking to remove these all too obvious signs of aging and getting rid of the problem naturally with ingredients that are gentle and safe to use and are free of harmful bleaches.
Brown age spots or hyper pigmentations are caused by an increased production of melanin, a dark pigment excreted by cells called melanocytes in the skin to protect its deeper layers. If you have spent time in the sun in your younger years, it is a fair chance that you will have developed age spots which are areas of hyper-pigmentation where excess melanin has formed. Brown age spots usually develop over years of sun exposure; they are an indication of how much sun exposure you’ve had. We also recommend that you have your skin checked on a regular basis, as some age spots can look like skin cancers, or if you notice a spot on your skin changing colour or shape please see your doctor.
To prevent the appearance of hyper pigmentations, you need to start early in life and use a safe sun block such as non-toxic zinc oxide. Apply it daily on your face, chest, back of hands and anywhere else you are exposed and pretty much use it for the rest of your life. Wearing a high quality mineral make-up also gives good sun protection as it provides a physical barrier from the sun’s rays.To prevent new age spots forming, minimize your sun exposure, cover up and wear a hat and sunglasses.
The benefits of using natural organic ingredients to promote lighter and evenly toned skin is that they are totally safe and cost effective, and are very effective in lightening the skin without leaving any side effects, especially for those with sensitive skin and allergies. Below are a few ingredients and products that we have at our Chikii store to look for when purchasing an Organic Brightening beauty product that can help to clarify and restore, battle hyper-pigmentation, help in reducing melanin synthesis and sun damage.
Bearberry Extract – An ingredient that is perfect for those who want to treat freckles and age spots, is has powerful lightening effects.
Chlorophyll – A brilliant source of Vitamin K used in cosmetics to fade uneven, blotchy skin tones & discolouration.
Licorice Root- The ingredient responsible for giving licorice its skin lightening effects is Glabradin. Glabradin prevents hyper pigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme responsible for the chemical production of melanin. If you stop it from activating, you can prevent further discolouration Studies have shown that the ingredient’s gentle, non-toxic nature is ideal for providing a brightening effect safely. Licorice extract is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Lactic Acid- Lactic acid works similarly to Glycolic acid but is typically better suited for people with sensitive skin. Lactic acid removes dead skin cells to reveal new healthy cells underneath. As a result, the dry flaky skin disappears and skin becomes smoother, fairer and brighter with a youthful glow. Lactic acid in buttermilk is said to help fade age spots, so try rubbing some on to the spots each day. You should exfoliate your skin at least twice a week for removing dead skin cells which helps in boosting the skin cell turnover and metabolism process.
Papaya – Papaya is one of the most important components of many skin brightening products and one can get incredible results, it is intended to be used long-term to gradually lighten the skin. The ingredient responsible for this purported effect is papain, a natural enzyme known promote skin and cell turnover with extra exfoliation. Papaya also contains vitamins A and C, the latter also known to help with lightening skin, and is considered a natural alpha hydroxy acid.
Rose hip oil is famous for its properties that delay the aging process. It is very rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. Deficiency of antioxidants and vitamin C increases the skin’s aging process. This leads to age spots, hormonal hyper pigmentation, and uneven skin tone.
Rumex Occidentalis Extract – This plant extract is capable of inhibiting the production of melanin and blocking melanin synthesis.
Oryza sativa – Oryza sativa regulates melanin production and has been used in far eastern cultures for years to help brighten and lighten the complexion. Rice bran extract also contains lipoic acid, an antioxidant, and vitamin B5 (niacin) to help improve cellular circulation.
The list is of natural ingredients are endless, below is some other natural remedies.
Rub Aloe Vera gel onto the age spots twice a day.
Honey and yoghurt is a natural skin bleach. Mix a teaspoon of natural yoghurt with a teaspoon of honey, rub it onto your age spots, let it dry and wash it off after 30 minutes. If you do this once a day, your age spots should start to lighten.
Lemon juice – rubbing it in each day, the citric acid can help fade age spots.
Use a brightening formula with Vitamin C.

The French Organic Company are introducing Australia to some of the finest French organic cosmetics and perfumes on the market today.     

France are one of the leaders in the world in regards to producing organic cosmetics, adhering to very strict guidelines. 

These organic products are certified by Ecocert in the EU and Cosmebio in France, on top of this they have won the reputable Victoire de la Beaute Award and Beyond Beauty Paris award.

Not only are these products non-toxic and petro chemical free, but they are also fully recycable, follow strong environmental ethics and are against animal testing.  

Currently The French Organic Company are keeping an eye out for new stockists in QLD, if you would like to be part of selling these great products, please contact them for a chat.

I'll be reviewing ZAO make-up in this post, followed by the brands Acorelle and Solyvia in future posts.   

The following products can be purchased via the French Organic Company website and at selected stockists.



ZAO PREMIUM ORGANIC CERTIFIED MAKE-UP
What really stood out for me is is the eco-friendly bamboo refillable packaging used in the ZAO collection.
ZAO have developed 100% natural formulas enriched with active organic ingredients. 
Long lasting with stunning colours.   
An innovative product presented in botanical material: bamboo.

Refillable lipstick/Pearly Pink

Moistuirzing and soft with a smooth texture.   The pearly pink lipstick is a big hit with the women in my family, it's the perfect shade of pink for daytime work or evening wear.  This is such a pretty shade of pink, not too bright and lightens up a dull complexion.  Two of the ingredients which I think makes this lipstick feel so silky is pomergerante and cocoa butter.

The cocoa butter helps with dry skin and pomegerante helps prevent fine lines, as it assists in the production of collagen.   

There are a myriad of oil and plant extracts to keep lips feeling hydrated and full of colour.   For me the colour stayed on for quite a long time, only needing a couple of touch ups during the day.   

This lipstick also smells gorgeous, like an expensive lipstick, but without the chemicals and without the hefty price tag.   

Now for the bamboo packaging, I love it, it's classy and eco-friendly and comes in a cute little cotton pouch.  The best part is that the packaging is refillable, making this very economical, as you can swap and change different colours. The lipsticks also come in matte shades.   




  

Refillable Pearly Eyeshadow/Pearly White

The pearly white is a great base to wear over the entire eyelid and to layer other colours on top.   I don't have big eyes, so the shimmer in these shadows brings out my eyes.

The powder applies smoothly, blends very easily and isn't over-powering or heavy.   They come in many other colours to suit everyones tastes, from subtle and matte to pearly and bright.  

The shadow comes in refillable bamboo containers and also comes with it's own cotton pouch.    

These are some of the key ingredients in the eye-shadow, Bamboo stem powder - composed of silica and used in oriental medicine, necessary to replenish skin's elasticity,  rice powder - elimiates fat from skin withough clogging pores  and micronised silver powder - a natural preservative and anti-septic, keeping your product and skin safe from bacteria.  

I can't wait to try out the other colours in this range, I've been using this every day as a base to my eyeshadows.  

Refillable Mineral Cooked Powder/Bronze Copper 

Being as pale as I am, I love a good bronzer, but not one that will make me look orange.   This powder is perfect for my skin, as it's light texture makes it easy to apply and the colour gives me a summery light tanned looked.  I applied on the contours of my face and decollatage.   

Containing bamboo stem powder, siberian ginseng, micronised silver powder and silica.       Not only does it make you look good, but it makes you feel good, knowing that you're treating your skin to nourishing organic ingredients.   

Made with real clay with a slight shimmer and cooked in an oven.   A very natural looking powder which adds a nice sun-kissed glow.  

This also comes in the refillable bamboo packaging with cotton pouch, which I love.