No Pong deodorant paste, I love this natural deodorant. I’ve been using original No Pong for quite a while and now that they have come out with the new bicarbonate free No Pong, I'm even more impressed.

This new bicarb free deodorant is designed for people who are sensitive to bicarbonate in deodorants.  This is also low fragrance, so  it's really great for those with super sensitive skin.

A few of the reasons I love this deodorant are - It doesn’t sting after shaving. It lasts all day long, through an enormous amount of racing around at work and all the way through to yoga class in the evening.   I even think it would last longer than that, but I haven’t tested an all nighter yet!  It also doesn’t stain my clothes.  I've been wearing it heading into this hot Gold Coast weather, have worn it for a swim in the ocean and it's kept me dry, No Pong is also water resistant!

One of the key ingredients to keep your pits dry in the bicarb free formula is diatomaceous earth and it really works!   Diatomaceous earth is almost perfectly pH neutral, meaning it won't irritate skin that is sensitive to acidic or alkaline levels. It also has odour eliminating properties, I can vouch for that!

The main reason I stopped using mainstream deodorants was because of the extremely toxic ingredients such as mercury, which has been linked to alzheimers disease and parabens, which have been linked to breast cancer. Not to mention a few other dangerous ingredients - PEG 20, propylene glycol and triclosan. This is also very important for pregnant and breast feeding mothers, as these toxins are passed through into the bloodstream, into the breastmilk and to the baby.    

The founders of No Pong, Chris Caley and Melanie McVean have spent a lot of time researching and developing, what I think is the perfect natural deodorant.   You can read more in my interview with them here.

I love the packaging, it’s a cool looking recyclable tin.  The paste is easy to apply, just a small dot on fingers and it smooths onto skin easily.   

Here are the full ingredients, as you can see, all completely natural, certified organic and good for you - 

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Magnesium Hydroxide, Diatomaceous Earth, Beeswax, a reduced concentration of fresh, gender neutral, proprietary blend of 100% pure, certified organic essential oils consisting of Orange Sweet, Vanilla, Lemongrass, Cedarwood Atlas, Bergamot, Lime, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Geranium.

Proudly Australian made and suitable for all members of the family.  It allows skin to breathe and sweat naturally, at the same time keeping you smelling sweet.

No Pong is available online.
​

Enbacci Skincare are an international skincare brand from Melbourne. Their lovely and effective products use fruit stem cells to improve skin growth and regeneration. Skin stem cells are found in the epidermal layer of skin, ultraviolet radiation affects the ability of skin stem cells to regenerate skin, this is where Enbacci comes in to save the day (or your skin), by utilising fruit stem cells to counteract the skins ageing process.

The 3 step Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating system use grape stem cells.  The grape stem cells are extracted from a cultivated grape of the Gamay family (the type used in red wine), sourced in France. This variety of grape was selected, as they are very high in anthocyanin, which are powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers.    

Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser

The Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser is a gentle and mild cleanser which effectively removed the oil from my skin, leaving it feeling squeaky clean.   I use cleansers twice a day and was pleased with the balance it gave to my combination skin.  It also smells very refreshing.    

Containing camelia flower (green tea), which is full of antioxidants and also contains nourishing moisturising properties.   Apparently it was a secret beauty ingredient of the Geishas!  
​
Also containing the wonderfully healing aloe vera plant and grape stem cells.

​

Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Essence 

I love the scent of this essence, it uses a fine mist dispenser to disperse the essence and to me it smells like fresh cucumbers, which I love.   I don't think it contains this ingredient, maybe it's the green tea which makes it smell so good, but I love it, it's so cool and refreshing.

A natural astringent, which is alcohol free.   It tones and balances skin.  It left my skin feeling very smooth.  I just sprayed in on and let it sink in.  It helped to remove impurities and minimise the appearance of lines.  It kept my skin from looking and feeling tired.  It  also preps skin for better absorption of the Enbacci creme.

Containing witch hazel (one of my favourite natural astringents), soothing aloe and green tea leaf extract and grape stem cells.

​Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating Essential Crème

This creme rehydrates and replenishes skin.   The consistency is nice and light, but very effective in moisturising my skin.  I don't really like thick facial moisturisers, so this one is perfect for me. It's oil free and glides on smoothly. 

Containing aloe and green tea and grape stem cells.  Also full of vitamin C to promote collagen. 

It left my skin feeling silky smooth and smelling like a dream. 

 By: Neve 

So, conventional wisdom (and the movies) had you believing that you'd glow during pregnancy; that you would be shining radiantly as you blissfully glided about your day. Instead, however, you're feeling bloated and nauseous, you are constipated and have hemorrhoids, and your skin, far from glowing, is itchy, dry and may have developed a 16-year-old's acne.

What gives?
 
If you have all the icky pregnancy side-effects just listed, then poor you! You're having an uncommonly tough pregnancy. What's not unusual, though, is developing sore or uncomfortable skin.
 
Fear not.
 
Here come five super-easy, natural tips to manage your skin and keep it comfortable.

Demand a Daily Massage - 

​Prolonged stress is intimately connected to many of our bodily functions, often in negative ways. For example, cortisol, the 'stress hormone' may increase the amount of oil produced by your skin, leading to acne. Other skin conditions are caused by autoimmune problems which, again, can be triggered by stress.
 
Karen Mallin, PsyD, of the University of Miami, is a lecturer in psychiatry and dermatology. She notes that "The mind and skin are connected on many different levels ...  Psychodermatogy is a [growing] field that addresses the impact of an individual's emotion as it relates to the skin."
 
You've got a strong case, so convince your partner to whip out the organic coconut oil and give you a daily back rub.
 
Maximise Your Sleep - ​

​​Blood flow to your skin increases as you snooze. Get a good sleep and you're more likely to wake up with a healthy complexion. The problem is you can never guarantee eight hours sleep during pregnancy. Those pesky trips to the toilet, or the sheer awkwardness of getting comfortable despite your bump, make it a bit hit-and-miss.
 
To give yourself a fighting chance, try burning some lavender essential oil. Don't go for the cheap stuff which is often just perfume. Instead, treat yourself to some pure, organic lavender oil.
 
Next, invest in a decent pregnancy pillow. This can be a lifesaver. Even if you previously tried and didn't get along with one, take another look. There are many different shapes and sizes, so it's worth finding one that works best for you and your bump. I've written a whole guide on pregnancy pillows and how to choose the right one if you'd like to learn more!

Drink plenty of water - 

​Yup, you knew this one was coming! And, no doubt, you are well aware that during pregnancy it's important to stay hydrated. I won't labor the point here (excuse the pun), but will quickly mention that our skin is about 65% water and, put simply, skin cells function best when they are properly hydrated. This leads to healthier-looking skin. Another reason to keep on top of your fluid intake during pregnancy.

Stretch marks -

​As your boobs and belly grow, you may find that you develop stretch marks. Try not to worry too much. Firstly, if you read around, you'll soon discover that most guys don't mind them. More than that, many men find them sexy. (Not that I'm advocating self-esteem and body image based on what men think!) There are also lots of natural ways to reduce or avoid stretch marks altogether.
 
If you're into DIY, then try mixing organic coconut oil, coconut butter and shea butter together. You'll need to warm them up first. Then add a few drops of Vitamin E and organic lavender oil. (Heck, if you make enough of this, then you can use it for your daily massage, too.)
 
If, on the other hand, you want to save time and keep it simple, then there are some conscientious companies making decent organic stretch mark creams.

Eat Dark Leafy Greens -
​
​These wonder foods contain beta-carotene along with lutein, potassium, fiber and folate. This is great for all sorts of things, but in terms of your skin, the folate is an important nutrient for repairing DNA. This helps to keep your skin looking great.
​
There You Have It. Pregnancy is a wonderful time but comes with some niggling side-effects. Give these five tips a shot and, hopefully, bad skin won't be one of them. In fact, with a little help from your surging hormones, you may even attain that elusive "pregnancy glow".
 
Neve blogs at WeTheParents.org where she seeks to bring out the humour in parenting and gets nerdy researching and reviewing the gear that mums and dads (apparently) need. You can also catch her on Facebook and Twitter.
​

Clean & Pure lip balms are exactly as they say, clean and pure. They are beautifully nourishing and are 100 percent natural.
 
It can be hard to find a lip blam which is completely natural, but still keeps lips soft and hydrated.    The problem with most commercial lip balms is they can contain some very nasty ingredients. I for one don’t want to be placing these toxins on my lips and ingesting them, especially when there are wonderful alternatives like Clean & Pure, which contain only natural and unprocessed Australian ingredients.   These natural ingredients are also alot more effective as they contain skin-loving enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins.
 
The founders of Clean & Pure, Mark and Melanie Chapman, created their range of natural products after Melanie experienced excema, so they set out to find healthy alternatives.  After using only natural and pure ingredients on herself, the excema disappeared.     

All lip balms in the range contain 6 ingredients or less and are made locally in Queensland. 

The current range includes -   Vanilla, Pawpaw, Manuka Honey, Tinted Rose, Peppermint and Cocoa Butter.

Clean & Pure Manuka Honey Lip Balm
 
Manuka honey is renowned for it’s healing qualities. When I’m feeling under the weather I put manuka honey in my tea. It's a natural antiseptic and is wonderful at healing dry lips.    

This lip balm combines manuka honey with beeswax, olive oil and vitamin E.   It’s very nourishing to dry skin and helps to heal.  The extra virgin olive oil is derived from the first press of the olive and makes it ultra hydrating.

Full ingredients are - 

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Manuka Bees Wax
• Manuka Honey
• Vitamin E Oil

 ​

I'm very happy I've come across these lip balms.  I found them to be smooth and long lasting and the ingredients are of a high quality, I know I'm doing my lips a favour.

They also taste delicious and are very affordable.

​Available at Clean & Pure.