Pure Lakes: Sweet Basil & Orange Shampoo & Conditioner

At The Amazing Blog, we understand the importance of trying to have a good hair day - every day. That’s why we always turn to natural haircare because it works. Pure Lakes is a natural skincare brand that uses the best and most potent plant-derived ingredients, with some products being entirely organic. We’ve had our eye on this brand for a while, especially their haircare which was a recommendation. Today we feature their Sweet Basil & Orange Keratin Silken Shampoo and Conditioner, which offer a naturally moisturising fix and leave hair soft and smelling zesty-fresh.

Pure Lakes Skincare is a multi-award-winning brand made in The English Lake District, now a world heritage site. Originally founded in 2006, the highly successful natural spa and skincare brand that we know today started through a café opened by Sandra and Iain Blackburn in Grasmere. The lack of income from the café inspired Sandra to make her own skincare products. Sandra’s chemistry background, feedback from friends and family, and her love for pure plant-based ingredients allowed her to create handmade, affordable, luxury products that gently care for the skin and planet. Pure Lakes’s first opportunity was supplying eco-friendly skincare products to hotels all over the UK; now, happy hotel guests and affordable, eco-friendly luxury skincare lovers flock to Pure Lakes for the best. The story continues….Previous regular buyers of Pure Lakes, who lived in London before moving to the Lakes shortly afterwards, Claire McKeever, a former actress and salsa dance teacher, and her husband Gareth bought the business in 2016.  Claire is a Lake District lass, and the Mc Keever's and their young family live in Far Sawrey, home to Claire's family for several generations. Keeping it local, its products’ environmentally-friendly packaging is designed by Cactus Creative in Kendal and is further complemented by unique artwork created by Claire McKeever’s late Grandmother, Patricia “Paddy” Naylor. They continue to work closely with Iain and Sandra to ensure the core principles and values of the company are inherent in every decision. Claire told Green Parent, “Four years on and I have completed an apprenticeship with Sandra - she & Iain still work for us, albeit one day a week - and love formulating and making products that I am passionate about. I have long suffered from eczema and being able to make products that help and that are beneficial for the skin, is incredibly fulfilling.”

Gareth and Claire McKeever have their sights fixed firmly on spreading the word about how their products are created ethically and sustainably within the boundaries of the UNESCO-recognised Lake District National Park. In an interview with Cumbria Growth Hubb, Gareth said, “We’ve always had that ethos. What’s changed is the way we communicate it. Everything we do has to have clear environmental benefits. For example, we’ve started using plastic made from sugar for our bottles, which has a smaller carbon footprint than normal plastic made from oil. Consumers ordering online can save £1 by opting for minimal packaging. Our products to hotels come in refillable bottles that can be used time and again.” He added, “Just because our products are environmentally friendly doesn’t mean they can’t look luxurious. We package them in environmentally-friendly materials in keeping with high-end products using high-end ingredients.” The four main pillars of Pure Lakes Skincare are its customers, employees, supplies and owners. They strive for excellence in all products, ensuring customers are always satisfied. If not, a replacement or refund will be issued within a reasonable period, no questions asked. Pure Lakes also believes in sustainable, equal pay careers with flexibility to enjoy the beautiful Pure Lakes and building and maintaining long-lasting relationships with great suppliers for the most traceable, undeniably sustainable, and highest quality ingredients. Once a secondhand bookseller, Claire finds the recycling of pre-loved items very satisfying – especially using a significant number of pre-used padded envelopes and recycled packaging much like Pure Lakes does today. Claire stated, “I believe in the stance Pure Lakes is taking on recycling, with their biopolymer bottles, their reusable and refillable policy and their use of organic products: the team are aware of the company’s impact on the environment and is committed to keeping in the forefront of innovation.” Not forgetting to mention that Pure Lakes are vegan and never tests on animals; they are free from synthetic ingredients, parabens or SLS. They even donate a portion of online orders to young carers, children looking after siblings and/or parents, in collaboration with Honeypot and West Cumbria Carers. Over the past six months, Pure Lakes has donated over £2,000 to young carers.

The Sweet Basil & Orange Keratin Silken Shampoo is a natural shampoo with a gentle lather giving cleansed and nourished hair, with the essential oils of sweet & bitter orange, sweet basil, geranium and lemongrass. On the one hand, sweet & bitter orange oil is abundant in vitamin C, promoting collagen production and reducing hair breakage. Whereas in contrast, sweet basil oil is exceptionally beneficial for hair growth by improving scalp circulation, stimulating hair follicles and promoting the production of new healthy hair. The basil plant has an astonishing 120 varieties, and the sweet basil variety is known to retain its potent properties even in high temperatures, making it a better choice for use in cosmetics. The geranium oil balances secretions around the hair follicles, effectively stimulating hair growth. And the lemongrass oil’s astringent and antiseptic properties strengthen hair follicles, control hair loss, and leave hair shiny.

Other key ingredients start with organic aloe vera, an excellent pain reliever, antiseptic and healing agent ideal for eczema, burns, sunburn and cuts – making it highly soothing for the scalp and hair. It’s followed by cocamidopropyl betaine, and decylglucoside, both amphoteric detergent that produces a fine foam and makes products gentle on the skin. There’s organic jojoba, a scentless liquid wax easily absorbed by the skin that functions as a moisturiser and protectant to the scalp and skin, safe for all skin types and a great hair oil. Organic sunflower oil, a dry oil rich in omega 3 for soft and silky hair; D-panthenol, a nutrient from vitamin B for managing oxidative stress on the scalp and skin; and vitamin E (tocopherol), an antioxidant that prevents fat and oils from going rancid; Meanwhile, a combination of phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol and potassium sorbate, are antibacterial agents that form the most gentle and eco-friendly preservative, along with citric acid, an acidity and pH regulator, also make its way into the formula.

These plant-based ingredients only enhanced our hair, as the shampoo is light and natural, and yet it left a beautiful zesty lemongrass scent on our hair. It didn’t dry the scalp, or make hair tangly; instead, it left our hair soft and clean.

Followed by the Sweet Basil & Orange Keratin Silken Conditioner, which is equally zesty and naturally moisturising. Each bottle contains plant keratin and a pleasant blend of essential oils like sweet basil and orange. You will find similar ingredients as the shampoo, plus each bottle contains glyceryl monostearate, cetyl alcohol and isoamyl laurate for emulsification that leads to soft and silky hair, along with isoamyl cocoate, a light, natural emollient with low viscosity for quick absorption of formulas. Also, there are hydrolysed corn, wheat and soy proteins, that maintain hair elasticity by controlling the loss of humidity, reducing breakage, improving traction of hair fibres, and increasing collagen production for moisturised, nourished, shiny hair. Avocado oil is a mild, nourishing, semi-fatty oil that is rich in vitamins and perfect for treating damaged hair cuticles; cetearyl glycoside, an emulsifier that won’t clog scalp pores; and lastly, coconut butter, a butter rich in essential proteins to nourish, repair and condition dull, damaged hair and can even be beneficial for dandruff when massaged into the scalp.

Again, we found the conditioner light on the hair, much like the shampoo, and it did its due diligence in leaving hair soft and silky. We suggest letting the conditioner sit for a few minutes to give it time to hydrate hair and scalp, and then in our case, follow with a wide tooth comb and rinse. The Shampoo and Conditioner work perfectly in tandem for a lightweight summer haircare - we used it twice a week to keep hair clean, shiny and smelling fresh. Suitable for all hair types, including our long fine curly hair, although with the essential oil content and the lively scent, we’d caution those who have flaky or sensitive scalps to do a patch test first. Another of our #amazingfinds, thanks to this dynamic duo, you don’t have to think twice about your next good hair day!

Both products are free from alcohol, lanolin, petroleum jelly MI, gluten, and artificial perfumes or colours. To top it off, they even have refills available see here. For a 250ml bottle of Pure Lakes’ Sweet Basil & Orange Keratin Silken Shampoo for £14.50, click here; and the 250ml bottle of Pure Lakes’ Sweet Basil & Orange Keratin Silken Conditioner for £14.50, click here.

Josie Rose : The Josie Dream Mask

It’s been a while since we featured a face mask on The Amazing Blog, and this Josie Dream Mask caught our eye. It’s an overnight facial mask by Josie Rose, lightweight and gentle, yet hydrating enough to work overnight boosting the complexion.

Anna Daniels founded science-based skincare Josie Rose in 2019, following her successful career as an award-winning dietitian. Growing up in Australia and UK gave her focus on the positive effects of antioxidants in food science, nutrition and viticulture, thus gaining extensive knowledge about the role they play before she started her skincare. “I knew how to nourish skin from the inside, and I wanted to develop a way to do it from the outside too.” With her understanding of nutrition and positive lifestyles, she decided to add to her offerings by creating a skincare product that would become a ritual in her clients' daily routine. The 'gut-skin-mind' ethos gives the brand a completely new and holistic approach. In The Harrowgate Advertiser, Anna said, "Whilst I knew that certain active ingredients benefitted the skin, they were also very drying and could be harsh. My aim was to create a skincare product that was effective and could be used across the age ranges with a simple goal: to improve the health of the skin.” She went on to say, "It was important to create a product where every drop in the formula had a direct benefit on the skin." Based in Harrowgate, the local theme is reflected in her logo with the Yorkshire Rose and microalgae in the centre and petals representing hydration droplets - are a homage to the renowned Harrowgate spring water and the key ingredients. Anna believes that using fewer products reduces the waste in our ecosystem - hence she currently has just one multifunctional product, the hydrating retinol-based Josie Dream Mask. As an overnight mask, it can repair and alleviate the skin from aggressors and environmental damage. Plus, skin cell renewal and turnover increase when the body is in a deep sleep. Her products are natural, recyclable, and cruelty-free. As an example of the clean ingredients, Josie Rose sources the microalgae grown in clean, filtered seawater, and the rose water from organic farming. Anna is in product development with a unique SPF serum, and on a more personal level, Anna has a special love for whales and dolphins, where Josie Rose supports Whales & Dolphins Conservation pledging to donate 1% of all profits.

The multitasking Josie Dream Mask has a total of 38 Ingredients, 23 of which are natural and sustainably sourced with active nutrients and antioxidants. It is water-based and intensely moisturises the skin leaving it more hydrated with fine lines plumped up. Applied as an overnight mask, it can replace, or work with regular nighttime skincare. We think it’s better used alone to get the full benefits of all these natural activities. Usually, we would go into each ingredient in detail, but on this occasion, we’ll leave you to look at their ingredients section for a full explanation. We’ve picked out a few of the key ingredients below:

It is packed with 20% actives and has a potent combination of 5% micro-encapsulated retinol (1% pure) and 1% bakuchiol with stable vitamin C. The micro-encapsulated retinol is what sets it apart. It contains the highest level of retinol you can get over the counter, as it’s micro-encapsulated, which means it works at a deeper level without any irritation. Their small molecule size allows them to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, improving fine lines and increasing collagen and elastin production. Bakuchiol extract is from the psoralea corylifolia (babchi) plant's leaves and seeds. It is a compound recognised as a phyto-retinol and a natural alternative to synthetic retinol. It works the same way as retinol but is also an anti-inflammatory. Vitamin C is known to stabilise retinol, and is a powerful antioxidant, offering protection from oxidative stress. Also, it has a biodegradable delivery system which delivers lipophilic active agents, including fat-soluble vitamins and botanicals, into the outer layers of the skin.

The Australian botanicals are kangaroo paw and Tasmanian pepperberry (both of which we’ve featured before). The kangaroo paw is full of fatty acids, which encourage cell growth. The ferulic acid in the flower offers keratinocytes, fibroblasts, collagen and elastin to enhance the skin. It also acts as a photoprotective agent from harmful UV rays. The Tasmanian pepperberry comes from a shrub found in south-eastern Australia. It reduces inflammation, redness and sensitivity and consists of the powerful active polygodial, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The ultra-nourishing ‘Natural Moisturising Factors’ (NMFs as Anna refers to them) are a blend of humectants and emollients with ectoin, hyaluronic acid, lecithin, plant squalane and urea. When combined, they hydrate the skin, helping it maintain a dewy, plumped up, smooth texture.

There’s also a blend of super active microalgae, rose stem cells, fermented honey and cold-pressed plant oils like papaya, melon and cucumber seed. These give optimum skin hydration, keep the skin cells regenerating, and protect the epidermal barrier.

The Josie Dream mask is housed in a recyclable plastic-free sea green glass cylinder with an airless pump to ensure stability and efficiency. Once a product is exposed to light and air, any active ingredients will lose their potency. It’s designed to be used 2-3 times per week depending on skin type or concerns. We used it solo and with a serum - which honestly wasn’t needed, with the plethora of goodies here to feed the skin. As we have sensitive skin we were a little cautious given the high retinol content. However, our concerns were unfounded, it was gentle enough to use around the eye area, with no skin tingling and was very light and easy to apply. A big plus is that it has no added fragrance, and a thin layer felt more like a cream than a mask. We loved how it left our skin hydrated and glowing in the morning. What a bonus! It's another of our #amazingfinds and one we’d like to recommend. Forget your regular night cream and make this your investment overnight skincare, as it’s worth every penny. To purchase this 30ml Josie Dream Mask for £68.00, see here.

INCLUSEV : Powdered Handwash Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil

As regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know, new beauty and wellbeing discoveries are very much our thing…. And today, we take a look at the British indie and sustainable brand INCLUSEV with their ‘ADD AQUA COLLECTION’ Powder Handwash. It’s a waterless beauty brand that offers natural products with a high concentration of actives and longer shelf life. It also means smaller amounts are used, so you get ‘more bang for your buck’.

Monica Chandak started INCLUSEV after a 13-year career in the cosmetic industry. She has copious experience within the beauty industry, working as a cosmetic chemist in full R&D, manufacturing and quality control, and has created over 600 different cosmetic formulations. Monica wanted to develop her own anhydrous formulations (waterless) cosmetic brand; this took three years to achieve, with over 150 trials before INCLUSEV was launched. She has produced a range called ‘ADD AQUA’, which provides a complete waterless cleansing routine with four key products: Handwash, Facewash, Bodywash, and Shampoo. As Monica says, “We’re changing the beauty industry one product at a time, with concentrated powder formulas that eliminate waste. Our high-performance products are backed by science, with water-activated formulas that offer powder-to-foam power for a new look of beauty for you and the planet.” The brand focuses on sustainability and transparency with this vegan waterless powder-to-foam collection. All products have 100% active ingredients, making them less wasteful, and more cost-effective than other liquid products, usually made using around 80% water and only 20% actives. INCLUSEV doesn’t use fillers, sulphates, phthalates, synthetic colours, fragrances, or parabens. Plus, they’re cruelty-free and not tested on animals. Their packaging is sustainable using biopolymer, made from sugarcane fibre and is 100% recyclable. It’s also a gender-neutral skincare formulated and produced in small batches here in the UK.

This natural condensed Powdered Handwash, which we tried has a science-based formula and only uses clean, plant-based, and organic ingredients. It comes in two different scents: ‘Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil’ or ‘Coriander, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Oil’.

We received the ‘Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil’. The active ingredients are: Sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, both derived from coconut, giving the Handwash its foaming capabilities. The coconut milk powder helps to lock in hydration and nourish the skin. Kaolin is a clay and offers a silkiness and creaminess to the soap, and lactic acid is here to balance the skin's pH level. Thyme oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, offering protection, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate is added during saponification to prevent the powder from producing scum.

Whereas the eight organic ingredients are: Zea mays starch which acts as an absorbent. Oryza sativa (Asian rice) starch and distarch phosphate (derived from vegetable starch) are both texturising agents. Tapioca starch is a natural deodoriser and helps to soften the skin. Inulin is a type of prebiotic and natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin. Pyrus malus fruit extract (from apples) is high in antioxidants to protect skin from free radicals, and its AHAs - malic acid has the added benefit of mildly exfoliating the skin. Aloe conditions the skin and is excellent for soothing any dryness or irritation. The citrus limon juice powder is another ingredient that also banishes soap scum, and prevents oxidation in oils to help extend shelf life. The lemon peel oil is part of the relaxing and refreshing scent.

This concentrated powder gives the Powdered Handwash 4 x times the number of washes as its liquid counterpart. So, a 50g product should provide up to an astonishing 125 washes! What we like is that it doesn’t contain water or any questionable additives and is simple to use. All you do is add water to a couple of powder sprinkles which activates the handwash into a slightly foamy lather. The smell? A hint of herby thyme with undertones of vanilla, then top citrus notes, give it an overall garden freshness. Our hands were left naturally scented, hydrated and squeaky clean. There are two different size options, 25g and 50g, which can be packed away neatly for travel, and are very convenient for those on the go. With festival season in full swing, this Powdered Handwash is a must-have for hassle-free hygiene, i.e. when the portaloos run out of soap!

We applaud the brand for being so forward-thinking and planet-friendly with their waterless products, which we predict are the way of the future. To purchase the 25g Powdered Handwash for £13.00 or the 50g Handwash for £24.00, see here 

Little Butterfly London : Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel

Even in this unprecedented heat,  at The Amazing Blog, we’ve been running around on our feet all day. It’s easy to forget self-care for tired legs, which is why we’re thrilled to have found a cooling and energising gel that helps lift and nurture swollen, heavy-feeling legs and feet. Meet Little Butterfly London’s organic-certified, vegan and cruelty-free Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel, which leaves legs and feet feeling rejuvenated. Although aimed at mothers, we think it’s ideal for anyone with achy limbs and feet. Yet another one of our #Amazingfinds, this hero gel was also recently awarded Winner of ‘Best Therapy for Tired Feet and/or Legs’ at the 2022 Mama & Baby Awards.

Growing up in a family of hoteliers in Austria, founder Gudrun Wurm always had the entrepreneurship bug. Combine that with her love for cosmetics, skincare and luxury design from a young age, and her frustration and inability to find a baby skincare range with organic purity, natural formulations and elegant packaging, she launched Little Butterfly London. “I could not find a range which ticked all my boxes,” said Gudrun, “I was looking for an organic luxury range which would be absolutely safe and gentle, yet highly effective to care for even newborns and susceptible, irritation-prone skin, made of generous formulas using precious ingredients. Essentially products I would love to pamper my own son with. This is how it started. Eventually, the idea took shape, and the brand was born.“ Little Butterfly London has authentic, natural and organic ingredients, and is free from any harmful irritants – making it perfect for fostering delicate, sensitive, reactive or eczema-prone skin. Ingredients like mineral oil, paraffin, parabens, SLS, silicones, DEA, TEA, PEGs and MIs (methylisothiazolinone) never make the cut, nor do synthetics and strong essential oils. Instead, gentle organic actives at a low level are utilised. The brand is eco-friendly, treading lightly with the planet in mind and in everything they do. All products are packaged with recyclable materials, and only trusted suppliers with sustainable and responsible production methods, and environmental accreditations are used, like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). As if it couldn’t get any better, the range is pregnancy safe during breastfeeding, dermatologist-approved for sensitive newborn and eczema-prone skin, and vegetarian society-approved. Last but not least, Little Butterfly London is made in the UK and approved by Vegan Society, Ecocert and Cruelty-Free International. The brand is also committed to carefully crafting its mother and baby skincare range with five values: purity, excellence, pleasure, beauty and grace.

Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel comprises of 98.7% of the ingredients of natural origin, and 95% of the total plant ingredients that originate from organic farming.

You can find anti-inflammatory properties like ginger root, arnica flower and horse chestnut, boosting circulation and reducing puffiness. Next to these are nourishing oils of sweet almond, peach, passionflower and cucumber packed with an abundance of vitamins and fatty acids – locking in moisture and strengthening the skin’s resilience and elasticity. On the other hand, antioxidant-rich green tea, grape juice and aloe vera neutralize free radicals and protect the skin at a cellular level.

The sweet almond oil keeps skin looking healthy and protects from UV radiation through its richness in vitamin E for smooth, soft, youthful-looking skin. Additionally, peach kernel oil is filled with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, carrying moisture deep into the skin for plump, hydrated skin. At the same time, Irish moss powder is lavishly hydrating and non-comedogenic, and peppermint oil soothes inflammation, itchiness and irritation. Among the ingredients listed above, aloe vera, peach kernel oil, peppermint oil, grapeseed oil and green tea are farmed entirely organically. 

Several other ingredients that you might not be too familiar with and ones to mention are sodium phytate, which stabilises cosmetic products, and potassium sorbate, which acts as a preservative. Denat (denatured alcohol) makes products spread and absorb easily while also acting as a preservative. Dicaprylyl carbonate is a skin-conditioning agent to enhance the absorption of other ingredients. Cetearyl glucoside, a blend of cetearyl alcohol and glucose to emulsify ingredients, and glyceryl stearate, an emollient responsible for keeping products blended.

As cooling leg gels go, this one for us is unmatched. Easy to apply, using gentle upward sweeping movements from toes to above the knees, it absorbs quickly. Our top tip is to keep it in the fridge to use on those blisteringly hot days - it’s heaven! As mentioned, the opaque gel is full of skin hydrating goodies as well as a subtle minty-fresh scent. It’s a lifesaver during the heat and works brilliantly on swollen legs after a flight (AKA ‘gravitational oedema’ from sitting down too long). It doesn’t dry out the skin; instead, you get hydrated and smooth legs. Hence, we recommend using the Cooling Leg Gel liberally, even in the colder months, if you need some leg pampering. See here to purchase a 100ml tube of Little Butterfly London’s Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel at £22.

Lilly Be Organics : Be Energized Essential Oil Perfume

We love the power of fragrance, and how it can influence our mood, it’s something we all tend to underestimate. Perfume oils, have been our No.1 go-to scent for a while, and today at The Amazing Blog we want to talk about a new and award-winning essential oil perfume Be Energized by Lilly Be Organics.

Founder Lissette Monzon was a clinical master aromatherapist before starting Lilly Be. She’d already earned two master's degrees in education and worked as a teacher for 11 years. As much as Lissette enjoyed teaching, she longed to know more about plants and oils since the first time Lissette's mother introduced her to an aromatherapy kit at age 15. Even though she is a certified clinical master aromatherapist, she didn't put her skills to work for over ten years. As a stay-at-home mother, this was when she started selling her organic products at local farmers' markets, "To me, I was simply making ends meet. But, my beautiful customers and a series of serendipitous events revealed otherwise." And this is when Lilly Be, a US-based organic aromatherapy and skincare brand came to life. All of the products start with "BE", as in "to be" or "becoming" who you indeed are. Her priority is always to inspire positivity and target individuals in a holistic manner. "We look to nature as our original medicine and as a true example of what it means to simply BE." Lilly Be has 20 organic products from skincare, body care, perfumes, essential oils and wellness. Lissette told Voyage Mia in an interview that she chooses to work with organic, nature-based ingredients, to create synergy within the mind and body. Lilly Be also gives back to Sofias Hope, which fights childhood cancer. Together, Lilly Be and Sofias Hope produced "Be Hope", a rollerball perfume that promotes courage, peace, and optimism while pushing aside fear. She donates 20% of the proceeds throughout the year and 50% during September – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Not only did Lilly Be win Editor's Choice for the ‘Be Energised Essential Oil Perfume’ and ‘Be Dreamy Pillow Mist’ at The 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards, but also ‘Be Clear Daily Face Wash’, and ‘Be Refreshed Ultra Quenching After Sun Care’ in the Beauty section. The products are all made in the USA, produced organically, GMO-free, with sundried instead of chemically altered clays and salts, synthetic, paraben, dyes, and fragrance-free. They are also cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified.

We’ve been looking forward to reviewing this Be Energized Essential Oil Perfume; these rollerball essential oil perfumes come in six different scents: Be Hope, Be Energized, Be Refreshed, Be Prosperous, Be Love, and Be Your Dream.

Be Energized contains only four blended organic essential oils: Peppermint provides mental clarity, and helps relieve stress and headaches, and rosemary, helps improve memory. Ginger which increases energy levels; and grapefruit, which provides a bright aroma that helps to stimulate the senses. The base carrier oil is jojoba oil and vitamin E, which moisturises skin and absorbs quickly with no greasy residue. Jojoba oil has a slower evaporation rate than most oils, helping perfume last longer. These combined ingredients are designed to inspire positive energy and mindset. As Lissette says, this perfume is "Nature's energy – bottled."

Lilly Be's glass rollers are stylishly packaged in natural bamboo. Each rollerball has the product name engraved into the bamboo - so no chance of muddling them up if you have more than one... What we like about rollerball perfumes is that they are less harmful to the environment; a spritz of spray perfume may contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) that react with sunlight and other chemicals in the atmosphere resulting in ozone pollution.

Given the choice of wearing perfume oils or an Eau de Parfum, it’d be perfume oil every time for us. Why? Did you know that perfume oil is more concentrated? With over 20% of fragrance concentration in the oil, this gives the wearer up to eight hours of scent, and even then, it still deliciously lingers. Whereas Eau de Parfum (EDP) contains about 12% fragrance concentration in alcohol, which evaporates after approximately four hours, leaving the wearer needing a reapplication. Plus, most spray perfumes have an alcohol base which can be extremely drying to the skin.

Lissette recommends you use the rollerball on your pulse points as often as you choose. We applied it first thing, and again when we were flagging at our desks; it certainly helped to give a much-needed burst of energy during the day. Anointing the pulse points, especially the wrists, rub a little to warm up the oil, and then take deep breaths; it also helped to soothe the mind, uplift the spirits and gave us our own little piece of calm. An uplifting scent with the top notes of peppermint following through with grapefruit and a tiny touch of ginger and rosemary - they all blend together extremely well. Lilly Be's Essential Oil Perfumes are among another of our #amazingfinds. To purchase this handy pocket-sized Be Energized Essential Oil Perfume at $20 (£15.85) see here.