Bittersweet Beauty & A Sugar Rush

The people at Lush cosmetics have a unique perspective on beauty. Not only do they reject animal testing, excessive packaging for products and any other form of environmental cruelty; they also have the creative ability to knock up quality merchandise from ingredients in your kitchen fridge.

I had the pleasure of sampling their latest bittersweet combination of shower cleansers that smell almost good enough to eat. (Fight the temptation though; after all they are beauty products)!

If your skin is lacking that extra shine and has dulled in the winter weather, Lemslip shower butter cream could be the refreshing treat you've been waiting for. Capturing the astringent properties of natural lemon, the new-improved and more solid version is easier to use in the shower and needs less packaging (enabling you to cleanse and tone the ethical way). Containing fresh lemon juice, lime oil and sweet orange oil, the smell alone had me hooked.

Lemslip doesn't work up much of a lather, but it is a pleasure to use in the shower. With a touch of cocoa butter and extra virgin coconut oil to moisturise, this lemony treat s lips over the skin in a symphony of citrus silk (now try saying that with a lemon in your mouth).

Always one to take the rough with the smooth, Sugar Babe naturally had to be my next stop. This stimulating sugar scrub has a rough outer layer that banishes nasty dead skin cells down the drain, and a coconut oil centre designed to smooth and moisturise the skin.

Sugar is a fantastic natural exfoliator, but I found these granules quite abrasive and, when too wet, the product crumbled away to an anti-climactic sludge that didn't really add much to my shower experience. Sorry babe. Smaller grains might help to make this product a little gentler on the skin and longer-lasting. That said, I found it worked best on the soles of my feet. However, courtesy of mimosa and ylang ylang, the scent is deliciously sweet and lingers long after showering. I think the ‘Sugababes' just found another new member!

To find out more about these and many more ethical, cruelty free cosmetics visit www.lush.co.uk

By Lauren Ashi

Bioactive Protein Clinically Proven To Beat Acne

Acne has been the bane of many youngsters' lives since the moment they got their first pimple. They almost appear invincible and just about every remedy has been talked up or talked down.

Help: Clear skin, food supplement, is a new wonder product that promises to eradicate acne from within.

Produced by the Works with Water Company, a company which commits to develop products in which the consumer can have complete confidence in their proven effectiveness

Works with Water Nutraceuticals is the UK's first company to develop this range of soluble food supplements containing ingredient that are clinically proven to have a direct impact on health problems such as blood pressure, acne and cholesterol.

Its active ingredient, Praventin, is a bioactive protein, rich in lactoferrin which is a globular multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity, and clinically proven to reduce both the inflammation of acne blemishes and the bacteria that cause them. Clinical trials showed that 44% of people tested found their blemishes reduced within two weeks, rising to 71% in week four and 95% by week eight.

The product is free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives sweetener and Gluten. It also contains Aloe Vera, which has an antimicrobial and nourishing affect on the skin, and Oligofructose which is a natural source of fibre.

The product is available in flavourless 4g sachets with only 7 calories, which can be added to any hot or cold drink, or soft food (yoghurts, cereals, etc) of choice.

Help: clear skin is priced at £11.99 RRP for a trial pack, £49.99 (RRP) for 60 sachets, and £1.29 per 500ml bottle. For stockiest details, visit www.workswithwater.co.uk

By Tatjana Koshewnikow