Plantae is a certified natural and organic skincare brand from New Zealand,  inspired by nature and based on vigorous scientific research on skin care, raw materials, plants and their  therapeutic properties.

All products contain 95% or more certified organic ingredients and are sourced from local ingredients where possible in NZ from sustainable and certified farms.

Certified organic by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certifying authority.

Formulated by lab technician Carol Priest and turned into a sustainable business with her three daughters.

Chikii have sent me the Balance range,  suitable for all skin types.     

All products are very reasonably priced and contain high quality organic ingredients.  

Purchase here with Free shipping from Chikii, just add FREEORGANIC at checkout.   

 

Certified Organic 


Balance Phyto-Nutrient


Day Cream


I couldn't wait to try the phyto-nutrient day creme as I noticed one of the ingredients was Vinanza Grape – a superfruit extract made from Sauvignon Blanc Grape Seeds, I thought this sounded interesting and was curious to see the effects on my skin.

This is a lush, velvety creme, which contains the exotic oils Myrrh, Jasmine Sambac, Bitter Orange and Vanilla Fruit extract.  Also contains evening primrose oil, proven to keep skin looking youthful due to the omega oil properties.   

The consistency is just right – not too thick, but creamy enough to know that it's properties are penetrating and doing their job.  I always use moisturisers on my decollatege as well as my face, a good test for me as this is where I see aging first.  

This is where the Vinanza Grape came into action, keeping the elasticy and firmness in my skin and smoothing fine lines, I'm so glad I've come across this ingredient in organic skin care.  Combined with the essential oils (especially Myrrh which prevents skin degeneration), this is a pleasure to apply and use every day to keep wrinkles at bay.

Balance Extra Gentle & Revitalising

Cleansing Milk

Another reason I wanted to try the Balance collection is becuase I love Bergamot, the uplifting scent always seems to lower my stress levels and Bergamot oil is very good for my acne prone skin, evening out and brightening a dull complexion.   

The other key ingredient is the amazing Sauvignon Blanc Grape Seeds extract, loaded with anti-oxidants.    

It has a creamy texture which doesn't lather up (this a good thing, it means there are no nasty chemicals).   It leaves a moist, supple feel to my skin
and cleanses my skin of all dirt.   

Certified Organic

Balance Refresh & Refine

Alcohol-Free Toner 



I'm a big fan of spray mist toner's, the pump bottle makes it so much easier and quicker to apply and leaves a refreshing feel.

Contaning Bitter Orange oil which has an earthy and green scent very similar to Neroli, it smells soft and sweet and is the perfect pick me up, it's also a very good natural astringent which doesn't feel harsh on my skin and reduces swelling.

The other key ingredient is the skin firming Sauvignon Blanc Grape Seeds extract.     This is the perfect toner before moisturising.  

I used it any time I felt my skin and senses needed a quick lift, a mist of this felt lovely to use on hot days.     

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.

http://chikii.com.au/product/la-mav-anti-dark-circle-ultra-firm-eye-gel/?affiliates=e4da3b7fbbce2345d7772b0674a318d5">Chikii</a>

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.

Free shipping offers don't come along very often, except if you're an Organic Beauty Trends fan shopping at Chikii!
All you need to do is place the 'freeorganic' code at checkout.    
They stock a large range of organic and natural  beauty products for men, women and babies.    
Treat yourself to an organic perfume or a luxurious organic facial scrub.    Have a browse at Chikii and see which products stand out for you.   

 















Chikii mineral cosmetics are 100% Australian made and owned, the entire range is toxic free and only contain pure natural minerals and certified organic ingredients.

With products to choose from such as loose mineral powders, cream compact powders, mineral blush colours and concealer and mineral bronzer colours, you're sure to find a product to suit your skin.

Organic Beauty Trends readers will receive a 10% discount on all orders.  
 
Click on the image above to place your order with Chikii. 
Use the code organictrend at checkout  to receive your special discount.

Thanks to Chiiki, I have received some wonderful organic perfumes to try by Aura-soma.   The fragrance range is called Pegasus.

The range consists of eight different fragrances in numbered bottles in an assortment of stunning colours, presented in beautiful unique vintage style bottles. 
The bottle numbers are- 

No 11 "Pink Lotus"
No 30 "Oudh Incense"
No 39 "Liquid Elixir"
No 44 "Iris Florentina"
No 56 "Violet Powder"
No 58 "Aquatic Flowers"
No 75 "Frangipani"
No 80 "Datura"

The fragrances are created using the purest of essential oils, so you can be assured that you are wearing a fragrance completely natural and free from chemicals.  Aura-soma states that you are encouraged to choose the one that suits you personally.  You choose the perfume based on the colour of the bottle rather than the smell and through your colour choice you’re naturally drawn to the scent that likely suits you best. Although I did it the other way around and chose the fragrance first, the fragrance still matched up with the colours I would have chosen.    
I was really impressed with these perfumes, they don't smell cheap and the scent lasts for a very long time, something which can be difficult to find in organic perfumes.  
Eco-friendly, cruelty free and against animal testing.    
Whether you like soft florals or earthy scents, I think you are bound to find a perfume in this range which you will be attracted to.   
When I changed to organic skin care,  perfumes were what I missed the most, I have tried some natural perfumes whose scent lingered for around one hour at the most, but pegasus are quite the opposite.   I've decided to review - 

 
No 30 "Oudh Incense"

As a patchouli and incense lover, I was drawn to this scent.   An exquisite blend of Woody and Oriental oils and herbal extracts.
The patchouli isn't the strong 60's style of patchouli (although I love that type of patchouli too) . This is a gentle, soft patchouli layered underneath Amber, Musk (vegan friendly), Vanilla and Jasmine.
These were the scents which stood out as I first applied it.  As the day wore on and it settled onto my skin, the scents of cedarwood and vetiver started coming through.   
This perfume is connected with spirituality and peace of mind.  It gave me a very relaxed feeling, similar to when you burn incense.  It's warm and sensual and I found it lasted a very long time on my skin.   Knowing that this is all natural and free of synthetics makes this even better.   The dark red and blue glass perfume bottle is my favourite bottle out of the pegasus range, a thoughtful and deep colour which I think resonates well with the oudh incense perfume.  
The patchouli isn't the strong 60's style of patchouli (although I love that type of patchouli too) . This is a gentle, soft patchouli layered underneath Amber, Musk (vegan friendly), Vanilla and Jasmine,
As the day wore on and it settled onto my skin, the scents of cedarwood and vetiver started coming through.   
This perfume is connected with spirituality and peace of mind.  It gave me a very relaxed feeling, similar to when you burn incense.  It's warm and sensual and I found it lasted a very long time on my skin.   Knowing that this is all natural and free of synthetics makes this even better.   The dark red and blue glass perfume bottle is my favourite bottle out of the pegasus range, a thoughtful and deep colour which I think resonates well with the oudh incense perfume.   

Pegasus perfumes can be purchased at Chiiki.

Intro to Pegasus perfumes/ Samantha Sample
 and 
GUEST BLOG /Annette Christy/Chikii 

Words  from Samantha Sample founder of Be Genki 
“Many years ago when starting my deep dive in to the world of natural skincare, personal care and all-things-organic, the first thing I threw out from my bathroom cabinet was the bottle of perfume, vowing never to use conventional fragrances ever again. Reason being, I was horrified by the effect that synthetic fragrances and fixatives had on my health, and wondered how on earth it was possible for companies to legally sell such poison and why it wasn’t common knowledge.

The Environmental Working Group’s SKIN DEEP Cosmetic Safety Database is recognized as a world authority on ingredient listings and state that many synthetic fragrances pose a wide range of immediate and long-term health hazards, with links to:

 ~ immunotoxicity, or harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissues in the body

 ~ neurotoxicity, or harm to the brain and nervous system, a class of health problems that can range from subtle developmental delays to chronic nerve degeneration diseases.

 Doesn’t sound like much fun does it?!

So, I am now jumping with joy to be able to use and make available to you the new Pegasus Parfum range, made with love and intention by Aura-Soma®, and created using only natural and organic essential oils extracted from plants and flowers. The alcohol, which is used as the fragrance carrier, is certified organic by the Soil Association and fermented from pure organic grain. By using organic grade materials you can be sure that the ingredients are not exposed to pollution or pesticides.

 Hooray!!! Perfume guaranteed free from petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and preservatives!!! and just in time for the party season!!! “

Guest post Annette Christy at chikii.com.au

At Chikii, we are very aware of what the dangers of Synthetic Fragrances and Phthalates are to our health and our babies, and we only look for pure therapeutic and certified organic essential oils in our perfumes and body products.

We know that the sweet, smelling air fresheners, reed diffusers, body sprays, scented shampoos are made with synthetic fragrances and yes they are bad for you…. especially children and pregnant women. These contain phthalates which are chemicals known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems. There is a lot of evidence also that artificially scented products may also trigger migraine headaches, allergies and asthma attacks. When synthetic fragrances are burned, they produce toxic fluoro-carbons and other polluting by-products. . Fragrances that are synthetically-derived are, for the most part, derived from petroleum sources. The chief motive for using synthetic fragrances is the price, which means bigger profits! According to the EWG, there are potentially hundreds of chemicals in a single product’s secret fragrance mixture.

Anyway, we are not going to bore you with endless information on the list of dangers, instead we are going to list a few points on how to protect yourself from these nasties and provide useful information to help you evaluate products in order for you to choose safe alternatives.

1. Avoid air fresheners. They are made with synthetic fragrances, containing phthalates.

2. Watch for any product that lists “fragrance” or “parfum” on the label.

3. Products that claim to be “fragrance free” or “unscented” could contain masking agents that give off a neutral odour, so it is best if the word “fragrance” does not appear on the label at all.

4. Look for scents that are naturally derived or are plant-based or labelled as 100% pure or therapeutic essential oils. These are not the same thing as fragrance oils which are artificially created and contain synthetic chemicals.

5. If a product says “Made with…” it can mean as little as 1 percent of the ingredients in the bottle.

6. For scented candles, try those made from soy, coconut, olive or beeswax, and make sure their fragrance is made from 100% therapeutic essential oils.

7. To clear the air use a non-aerosol citrus spray containing only citrus peel extracts, which are effective at dissolving airborne odours, instead of scented aerosol sprays, liquids that emit a continuous scent, or solid air fresheners.

8. Labels that claim a product is “natural” or “biodegradable” do not mean that it is necessarily free of synthetic fragrances or other chemicals

9. Certified Organic products do not contain synthetic fragrances.

It just makes sense to educate yourself and the people you care about….who wants to be breathing in synthetic chemicals and petroleum….YUCK!