December is just one sleep away and we are all getting geared up for Christmas cheer and shopping. However, as November draws to a close I thought we'd give an extra cheer for all of the guys who've been sporting tashes for a month in support for Movember; raising funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

Now all the lovely ladies whose boyfriends, friends, brothers or fathers have spent a month cultivating a moustache, why not give them a pre-Christmas treat in the form of green shaving products. To make things easier, with the help of Jay Clarke, Hippyshopper has tested four of the best natural shaving creams on the market. (pssst - they are also great as stocking fillers!)

OSMIUM® Age Defend Shave (£12 for 125ml)

A deluxe plant-rich non-foaming shaving cream, the Age Defend Shave contains ingredients to protect, soften and soothe skins while ensuring an ultra-close shave. The shaving cream is free from sulphates and contains Siberian ginseng and juniper, aloe vera, chamomile and eucalyptus oil. This non-drying and calming formula is said to reduce irritation and minimise redness.

Formulated specifically for men, the OSMIUM® range is rich in plant actives, vitamins and minerals, is more than 93% natural and 99% preservative free. Developed in the UK, the products are prepared by experts in natural treatments under the highest quality standards, each product is said to be non-greasy, fast-absorbing and easy to use.

What Jay thought:
While the name sounds like three point military procedure, the name doesn't mask it from being a decent, if not overwhelming product. It does an excellent job at soothing and preventing irritation or redness which is crucial when shaving. The shaving cream also leaves a pleasant freshness after it is rinsed off. One of the more costly products tested, my only gripe is that I was expecting something special, special aromas that will linger in my memory and long to smell again. While a good product that does everything it says on the box, it unfortunately didn't blow me away.

Where to buy: www.osmiumformen.com

Trilogy Smooth Shave Cream (£10.00 for 150ml)

The Smooth Shave Cream by Trilogy, is a high glide and conditioning cream that contains a unique balance of natural shave primers and skin softening emollients from pure plant oils including avocado, olive, marula and wheat germ. The added benefit of aloe vera and green tea soothes as facial hair is lifted for a comfortable, close and even shave.

Trilogy Natural Actives for Men is produced with a unique combination of zinc, copper and magnesium - minerals known for their beneficial impact of the skin, and essential plant oils that assist in supporting healthier, firmer and younger looking skin.

What Jay thought:
My expectations were high: expensive looking packaging and luxurious sounding ingredients. The first thing I noticed upon applying the cream was its thickness. Like skin-friendly Tip-Ex, it forms a thick shield protecting your face, which feels soft and comforting. The aloe vera sooths and relaxes the face before shaving begins. However upon shaving I realised that it was if anything, slightly too thick, somewhat impeding the razor. I was underwhelmed by the smell, or lack thereof, for a shaving cream containing so many exotic ingredients it smelt bland. It did however do an excellent job at preventing irritation and redness, which is a major benefit of a shaving cream over a shaving gel. Overall, Trilogy shaving cream feels better on your face than it smells. As the shaving cream is part of a skincare series, I expect it to work better with the whole range. For instance, the Trilogy Post Shave Balm provides a plethora of wonderful aroma when opened. Ginger, lemon, orange - dare I say it, Cointreau Liqueur. By the time I'd massaged it into my shaven face I was eager for an edible version. It felt refreshing and is a beautifully complete product. The post shave balm is not cheap at £16, but it is a price worth paying. This is the balm for me; a fantastic product.

Where to buy: www.trilogyproducts.com

Organic Homme Wash and Shave (£11.95 for 125ml)

This two in one active-packed face wash and shaving gel from Organic Homme promises the ultimate close shave. The gel lifts the hair shafts to help prevent 'razor burn' and nicks and cuts. The organic aloe vera soothes, conditions and protects the skin, while plant proteins and seaweed keep the skin smooth and supple.

Organic Homme's natural and organic products are suitable for all men including those with sensitive skin and those prone to eczema, psoriasis, acne and skin blemishes. Made without any chemical nasties, the products are based on 100% natural, organic and fairly traded ingredients.

What Jay thought:
Organic Homme's Wash and Shave is another wonderfully citrus effort that I instinctively want to drink rather than rub over my face, perhaps doing both would be an acceptable compromise? From its sweet masculine scent to its minimalistic packaging, this product oozes sophistication. I like it a lot. As it also leaves your skin moisturised it is perfect for the cold winter months.

Where to buy: www.organichomme.com

Bulldog Organic Shave Gel (£3.49 for 175ml)

The UK's first and largest natural skincare brand for men, all Bulldog products are body friendly and don't contain any artificial nasties, like parabens and sulphates, artificial colours or synthetic fragrances. The products are loaded with essentials oils and natural actives.

The Organic Shave Gel, contains seven essential oils to give a smooth and moisturising shave every time: aloe vera, jojoba and konjac mannan. The shave gel is best used with liberal amounts of warm water, or better still, in a steam shower. It softens stubbornly hard facial hairs, and is formulated to work with your razor to achieve the right amount of glide to deliver a perfectly smooth shave.

What Jay thought:
I like Bulldog, the value for money is good, the packaging looks lovely, and the gel smells amazing! A cool cascade of menthol eucalyptus, ginger and aloe vera sooths your face, relaxing and silky yet firm and fit for purpose. As mentioned on the packaging, I recommend mixing warm water with the gel as it is quite thick, yet this is no bad thing. The razor glides through it seamlessly, giving a nice smooth, close shave. And best of all, it leaves a lovely cooling, refreshing after-fragrance.

The best of the shaving gels/creams here, and that's before you factor in that it's available at a fraction of the price of the others. This is the shaving product to have!

Where to buy: meetthebulldog.com

Want a moisturiser that hasn't been tested on animals? Bulldog has become the UK's first cruelty-free male grooming brand to be recognised and approved by BUAV (British Union for Abolition of Vivisection) under their Humane Cosmetics Standard.

Born out of frustration that there were no options available for switched-on men who wanted to reduce the number of man-made chemicals in their bathrooms, Bulldog's products also don't contain controversial man-made chemicals such as parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, artificial colours, or synthetic fragrances.

Bulldog Co-Founder, Simon Duffy, said: "I'm delighted that Bulldog is the first male grooming brand to be recognised by the BUAV. Consumers deserve to know that the products that they use are cruelty free." Bulldog is now calling on other brands such as L'Oreal Men Expert, Nivea For Men and Gillette to follow its example and make their own positions clear. Via Brandish.tv

www.meetthebulldog.com

As a bit of a newbie to nail-painting and long-time animal lover and vegetarian, I was really looking forward to trying out the nail polish range from the original bunny-friendly brand Beauty Without Cruelty.

Having been established since long before the term 'cruelty-free' was even widely understood, BWC has racked up quite an impressive range of colours and nowhere is this more apparent than in its nails range, where you'll find heaps of variations on your favourite shades. I tried a pink, three different coral shades and a hot red. The 'pink whisper' worked a treat on my toenails while I went in for full on red for my fingers. The formula is silky-smooth and shimmers like a dream in the summer sunshine!

Priced at just £4.84 you can buy the entire range at the Ultra Glow shop
and also via local stockists - call for information 01473 271500

Sarah Fisher writes:

Recycling and cosmetics - it sounds an unlikely combination. But UK aromatherapist Andrea Garland has brought both passions together with her all-natural range. Her one-off beauty items are bursting with vintage chic. A selection of balms and creams are supplied in tins, compacts and pots from the household staples of the last century, from sewing kits to travel sweets. They're all completely unique, and best of all, you can return your tin to have it refilled with your favourite balm.

Read on for more eco-retro delights

Here's a quick tip if your feet are giving you gyp in the heat this week: Burts' Bees have put together a selection of pampering potions and lotions that really help with the blisters, the unsightly bulges and (yes) the pong. The natural peppermint oil in their foot lotion is so strong that it'll obliterate the most offensive stinky feet, and leaves skin feeling soft and silky, ready to be seen in sandals and on the beach.

Burts' are a hippyshopper favourite, due to their commitment to using natural ingredients which they list clearly and honestly. In this product, you'll get the benefit of peppermint, witch hazel, sweet orange oil and (of course) beeswax! Pick up a pack from Look Fantastic

Related: Lip-crack away: pick of the best natural lip balms for summer | Review: Burt's Bees' naturally ageless

If you go in for a loud, glam and glitter-encrusted makeup look, then the odds are you'll already know about Barry M cosmetics, who've cornered the market in neon nail varnish and dazzle dust. But what you probably didn't know is that the brand has never tested on animals - despite having been around in the early eighties when almost everyone did.

To let the world know that they are an original cruelty-free brand, Barry M have brought in Cookie the bunny, an adorable message on four short, stumpy legs. You can watch Cookie all day long on the Bunny Cam, where she drinks water, shuffles, sleeps and does other day-to-day bunny stuff. Excellent stress relief!

Related: Guide to cruelty free cosmetics online | Urban Decay surreal skin mineral makeup

Whether you're looking for an effective, non-toxic sun cream or a natural alternative to botox, the place to be right now is Puresha -- and we've teamed up with the site to offer you some fantastic prizes!

One lucky winner will get a personal consultation with a member of Puresha's team of natural beauty experts as well as a tailored skincare regime worth around £200. There's also a great discount for hippyshopper readers on the revolutionary new range by Marie Véronique Organics, pioneer of the Yoga Facelift. Sounds good so far? Read on to find out more.

If your body is an organic temple, into which you insist on only putting organic substances, then the benefits of this new Soil Association certified intimate lubricant will be obvious - score one! But its good points don't end there: unlike the commonly-found lubes branded by condom companies, this one doesn't scream 'sex!' with its packaging, and comes instead in a subtle and sleek bottle that won't cause any blushes if found.

The closest hint you'll find on a tube of 'Yes' as to what it's used for is a URL and the words 'water based' on the back of the bottle. Hence, no embarrassment if you leave it lying around- unless everyone had read this of course...

I'm welll aware that I might be about to write the most 'TMI' post on hippyshopper ever, but in the spirit of investigative journalism, I'm going to give this a go, and to provide you with all the details you'll need if you're planning to try the latest incarnation of the menstrual cup.

Like the Mooncup (see our review here), Diva cup and various other 'cups' that probably didn't make it into ladies' loos common parlance, the Femmecup is a re-usable female hygeine product that is worn internally and obliterates the need for tampons or sanitary towels - along with the waste they produce. You can use the same Femmecup for many years, it can be worn during all manner of sporting activities and it poses a lower risk of the dreaded Toxic Shock Syndrome than tampons...

So how did I get on?

If you're offended by talk of menstruation, I suggest you don't follow the jump to find out!

Eco cosmetics brand Elysambre has taken inspiration from the flamboyant colours seen on the catwalks of New York, London and Milan this season for its new spring collection and turbo-charged its palette with a range of bright block colour eyeshadows, nail varnishes and lipsticks.

'Warhol brights' such as fuchsia and egg yolk yellow feature heavily here, making for a great little selection for anyone who wants to create striking and sharp contrast in their makeup look - what a departure from the label's previous, ultra-natural tones! But don't be fooled by the crazy colours; Elysambre remains committed to its earth-loving roots and is as cruelty-free, natrual and organic as ever.

Elysambre is stocked in health food stores, boutiques and pharmacies nation-wide

Related: Eco chic outfit and makeup for spring | Budget organic makeup. Does it exist?

Winter has not been kind to my skin. It's pale and sensitive at the best of times but after four months of constant battering from wind, rain and lack of sunlight, it's far from looking its best right now, so this is an ideal time to crack out the tinted moisturiser.

Many people are a bit wary of anything with the word 'tinted' in the title, as it can conjure up images of orange, blotchy skin. But a decent one won't do that, and I'm happy to say that Madara's Moon Flower qualifies as decent in my book! What it does do is gently tints and illuminates the skin with a very balanced and subtle result. I found I didn't even need to spend time rubbing it in, as a quick smoothing over got the desired result.

Read on over the jump to find out what's green about Madara's Moon Flower and where to buy

Related: Fight of the foaming cleansers: Philosophy's Purity High Foaming Cleanser vs Madara Purifying Floral Foam

If you've ever shared space with someone with a hairdryer habit, you'll probably already be painfully aware of how much juice these things get through.They're notorious for over-heating and shorting out electricity circuits too, so if they could only invent one that wasn't so power-hungry that would be a good thing for all concerned.

Babyliss claim to have done just that with their new 'eco' hairdryer, which uses around half the electricity of a standard model. Most dryers use around 95 per cent energy for heat and 5 per cent for air flow, but this model uses a new type of motor that optimises air flow. In other words, it boosts the least energy-intensive way of drying your hair. £19.95 from Ethical Superstore

Now the excesses of the new year are well and truly behind us, it's time to start cultivating a more fresh-faced and natural look that's as free of toxins as possible. Natural, organic and mild skincare products are bursting on to the shelves at the moment at lower prices than ever, so there's no better time to de-junk your skin!

Follow the jump for my pick of the best fresh and simple beauty essentials that will make your skin feel fab

It's almost the end of January which also, of course, means the end of the January sales. But don't dispair; there are plenty hanging on right up to the end of the month.

Puresha is one of my favourite spots for finding natrual beauty products, as it brought me Duchess Marden facial oil, Tsi-La organic perfume and Jo Wood bath oil. To see what's still left in the sale, and grab some great discounts for yourself, check out the selection here. It'll all be over by the end of the month...

Heads up, Lushies! If your Christmas supply of Lush goodies has already disappeared in a puff of patchouli-scented glitter (or is getting past its use-by date - damn the downsides of paraben-free cosmetics!) then you might want to head down to your local branch today. They're having their traditional 'grab bag day', which sees all remaining Christmas stock stuffed into bags and sold off super-cheap.

Related: Lush introduces popcorn packaging | Lush and Sea Shepherd want you to save our sharks