Organic Christmas goodies now at Neal's Yard Remedies
At Shiny Towers, we're lucky enough to work just round the corner from Neal's Yard, so there are oodles of yummy scented Neal's Yard Remedies on offer. I recently had a chance to have a look around after hours and check out the Christmas gift sets. I quickly discovered that the big watchword at NYR is still "organic". The products are not yet all 100% certified, but every bottle and jar carries a percentage to tell you what the proportion of organic ingredients is. The aim, I was assured, is to use the success and expansion of the company to invest in more sourcing of organic ingredients. And, as ever, the company doesn't use controversial commercially used chemicals or fragrances, basing everything on pure essential oils.
The Christmas gifts are themed sets ranging from a brilliantly budget £7.50 to £60 including the rose-based Gift of Delight (£25), which I'm totally in love with as I have dry, relatively sensitive skin and the Rose Facial Mask leaves it peachy soft. Little extras like a soft cloth or scented candle are often included. I have sometimes found the powerful oil-based scents of NYR products a little overwhelming, but I'm developing a real liking for some of the more subtle ranges.
Packed up in elegant shades of light and dark blue the Christmas sets really do reinvent the gift of bath salts! Or you could drop into a store, let the staff know your budget and the skin type and age of the person you're shopping for, and they'll help you make up an indiviual gift. They also sell the essential oils by the drop and have a bespoke mixing service so you could give a special someone a really personalised and thoughtful gift; that was a service I'd never been aware of before. If you are a skincare practitioner you might apply for wholesale discounts from the essential oils range, so do ask in store.
