PandaVita Organic Baobab Powder - Review & Recipe

A couple of weeks ago I was very kindly been sent a packet of Organic Baobab Powder by the brand PandaVita. I'n not extremely familiar with superfood powders but this gave me the perfect reason to experiment with my smoothie whilst adding nutrients to them.

What is Baobab Powder?

Baobab powder is a 100% natural & organic superfood from the fruit of the magnificent African baobab tree.

Benefits of Baobab Powder

It has an excellent source of Vitamin C (six times more then oranges), is packed with Antioxidants and is full of Fibre. It will give you a natural energy boost (great for those long days) and will also help improve your mood, digestion and immune system.

How to use

You can use the Baobab Powder in a number of ways:

• As a tonic, 2sp of powder with water
• Scatter over cereal or oats (great on porridge)
• Add 1 - 2 tsp in smoothies (see my recipe below)
• Add to salad dressing and marinades

To make this smoothie I used two plums, eight dried peaches, one banana, one teaspoon of chia seeds and one teaspoon of organic baobab powder. I put all of this in my blender and mixed it with one cup of apple juice.

This is a really filling smoothie and adding the Baobab Powder just helps to gain even more nutritional value. The powder only adds sweetness to the taste of my smoothie which is an added bonus!

I'm really enjoying this superfood powder and cannot wait to try it in more recipes, keep your eyes peeled!

Thanks for reading and I hope you give this Baobab Powder a go!

Poppy x

Garnier The Sleek Perfecter Oil Review

Hi there,

I've been using this Garnier ultimate blends The sleek protector oil for about two months now. I've been focusing on keeping my hair in a better condition and this has definitely helped me along the way. 

I use it after I have washed my hair, just applying 3/4 drops all through the ends and whatever is left on my hands onto the roots. I know it sounds like a lot of product but I have seriously thick hair, which is also getting pretty long now! I also use just a couple of drops if I feel my hair has become frizzy and needs a bit of taming. It definitely helps add shine too.

The packaging is just a simple tear shaped brown plastic bottle but I really like it, the pump means you can easily control the amount of product you get, plus it's great for travelling. 

This is just one new step I have added to try and start more of a hair care routine. So far this product has only exceeded my expectations and I am yet to use it for all of it purposes like for protection against heat.

What hair care products do you recommend? 

Thanks for reading, 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisturise Lotion Review

It's come to that time of year again when my skin gets ridiculously dry. I have been making sure to make changes and try to get my skin in the best condition it can be this winter.

Starting with a good moisturiser. I don't have many big shops where I live, which means I don't have a big choice in beauty counters for me to pop in and ask questions. The first one that sprung to mind was The Body Shop, something that I have used before and loved and I'm also more than happy to use because of their ethical background.

I ended up buying the Vitamin E Moisturise Lotion SPF 15. Vitamin E has many benefits for the skin including; protection from environmental pollution, protection against UV radiation, it works as a power anti-inflammatory and has excellent wound healing properties.

This has been a great edition to my skincare routine. It has a really smooth texture and you only need a little, so this isn't going to run out any time soon. The lotion does sink into my skin really quickly too, unlike any moisturiser I've had before.

It retails at £13 which made me really reconsider my purchase, but I've needed something like this for a long time and looking after your skin really is important. I'm very glad I took the plunge and I'll definitely be looking more at The Body Shop more in the future.

Thanks for reading,

Chapped Lips - The Worse Part Of Winter

I dread winter because my lips become a sore mess. It's not pleasant and we can all experience it for different reasons.

I've spent years looking for a great lip balm and I've never come across one that has done the job. Until now... although let me warn you it's not a lip balm.

Yeah, weird right?

Well I never knew what this was until a couple of months ago, I had a scab/burn that wouldn't heal and this worked wonders over night. I grew up using Sudocreme and I find this to be a stronger version.

The instructions say that it can be used for "chapped or rough skin". I did a quick Google search and people have recommended this for chapped lips to others elsewhere, so my idea wasn't completely bonkers.

It's quite a tacky consistency but is easy to rub into the lips. It dries quickly but if you apply too much it can be a bit tacky, but it still absorbs after a while.

This works wonders.

I've never been so happy to find a product that works. My lips have never stayed soft for so long and you only need to apply a little to revive them.

Germolene retails for £2.19 and the tube makes it a great on the go product.

I cannot recommend this enough!

What is your go to lip balm?

Piercings & Tattoos, Part 1

I've been asked a lot (mostly on Instagram) about my new nose piercing and if I have any other piercing/tattoos. So I thought I would do a post and if I ever do add to my collection I could share it with you guys.

To start with I'm 17, so unfortunately I'm still to young to get any tattoo's, but I will definitely be getting one (or more) when I turn 18. The piercings I already have are my first and second lobes (both sides) and my helix (on my left). I also have my navel and now my nose. Piercings are pretty easy to look after they just take patience. You just have to use a mixture of boiled water and rock salt applied to the area twice a day, or/and do salt soaks.

The worst experience and pain I have endured is when I first had my nose piercing done (since that I've had it re-pierced). I went to someone other than my usual piercer as I was kind of desperate to get it done last summer. The piercer ended up piercing my nose with a needle three time and then finally with a gun, she blamed this on not being able to pull the jewellery through because my nostril was too small. This was the worst experience ever, a whole lot of blood and tears. I did get a full refund, but because of all the fuss on the piercing in the first place it didn't heal properly and became infected so I removed it. The best experience were my lobes. They are so easy and I was only six but I remember the pain being minor. 

Thank you,

Poppy x