So my last blog post was specifically on the subject of supplements. As I was curating it, I kept coming up with more and more items that I wanted to include, but that didn't strictly fit into the 'supplement' category. So this post is going to cover all of those absolute faves.
Eye drops
These can be an incredible addition to your regimen if you suffer with hayfever and allergies, or are noticing that you're getting dry or irritated eyes perhaps from screen use, or relation to hormonal changes. The Pollinosan is for hayfever and the moisturising range has a regular and extra-moisturising variety.
SPF
I am a huge advocate for a good SPF. Having done a lot of legwork on this, I discovered the brand Attitude which does a range of sun sticks: perfect if you have children who dislike cream or need to reapply it themselves at school during the day. I've got the sensitive version, which is great for my own SPF top-ups and sits in my handbag really well! It's a mineral sunscreen, and it's unscented and enriched with oat extract to help soothe dry skin. The packaging is also cardboard and recyclable too. Win win!
Daylight Lamp (SAD lamp)
I do have a fair few patients who find that they benefit from the use of a SAD lamp in the darker months. This little light by Save The Day is about the size of a popular electronic book reader, deliverys 10,000 LUX light which is pretty powerful for an impressive investment of under £20!
Always looking for ways to reduce waste, this was quite a find! This great silicone sheet by ecoLiving can be used in the same way you'd use baking paper to avoid things sticking when baking in the oven. After use, just wash, dry and reuse next time. I'm not sure it can be used to line cake tins unfortunately, but for that you could use the If You Care brand baking parchment which is compostable after use!
Hair & Body Care
This is potentially a huge section and not an easy one to navigate in the past, so I'll try and keep it brief: I've always found it difficult, trying to balance cost, sustainability and products with minimal elements which might impact health or interefere with hormones. It's become easier over the years, with brands recognising the need for such products and really upping their game! I'm a big fan of products like this shampoo and the matching conditioner by Faith In Nature, body lotions by Urtekram, and these amazing refillable shower gels from Wild. I really like these as they also come with a pump case, which is great for folks who might struggle with mobility or dexterity. Wild also do refillable lip balms which is pretty awesome (how many of those tubes do you get through a year?!) and deodorant. Using my code JO at Wild, saves you 20% too, which helps with the cost element!
If you're wanting to try something indulgent or giftable, then Neal's Yard Remedies is always a good shout too. My absolute favourite is the Aromatic Foaming Bath.
As an aside - if you have young children in the home and are in 'nit territotry' then this Neem Shampoo is a firm fave: Neem is thought to help prevent nits, and the shampoo also contains rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils which nits are thought to dislike (hurrah) plus it leaves your hair really nourished and sleek (double hurrah!).
Period Products
For disposable period products, I've found the &Sisters brand to be really good, as well as TOTM, who have a subscription service. For washables, WUKA come very highly recommended too.
Nail Products
Being a bit obsessed with nail polish, I was thrilled to see these at The Natural Dispensary! Benecos have a range of nail products which are free from 20 potentially harmful ingredients and is totally plant based! They have a few lovely products for nail repair and strength which are water and air permeable, so really help to support long term nail health and growth.
Bone Broth
I touched upon collagen in the supplements blog, but this technically constitutes a food so it's coming in here too! The benefits of bone broth are often mentioned in blogs and articles, and this really handy bone broth powder means you get all the benefits with none of the faff of making your own! If you have time and capacity for that, then that's wonderful, but if you don't then all is not lost! You can still reap all the benefits without having to spend hours cooking. I use the original with garlic and onion, which I add into soups, stews, casseroles and sauces - they can be mixed with hot water and drank as they are, but as they're in powder form, they can clump, which is why I tend to put them into foods which cook down in time and come out clump-free! They also have other varieties, including golden turmeric and black pepper which weould also be a great addition to soups and stews!
Water Filter
I get asked about water filters a lot, and to be honest there is SO much choice out there that it can be really overwhelming. I finally settled on this lovely jug by Tapp Water. It's stylish and has the bonus of being glass, so minimising plastic use which I'm a big fan of. This also leaves essential minerals in the water, which is really important for electrolyte balance. It's proven popular in this house so far, so a big thumbs up from me!
These organic bites are AMAZING! I can't recommend these highly enough. A fantastic sweet treat using only maple syrup for sweetness. Really delicious and definitely worth adding to basket...
Now, full disclosure - I haven't used this at all, but I've seen folks using them on social media and they look AMAZING, and get great feedback - so I'm adding it here because maybe it's worth a look if it's also on your radar?!
If you use my code JMF010 then you get 10% off all of all of the links to The Natural Dispensary above.
Forage Botanicals
Forage Botanicals 'Premenstrual Me Time' is also an absolute must for some well needed relaxation in the bath! This beautifully crafted set 'Tranquil Tides' contains the bath salts, the adaptogenic latte blend 'Rested Resilience' and herbal drops 'Premenstrual Peace' which despite the name, are excellent at all times of the month. The code JO5 gives you a 5% discount at Forage Botanicals, so you can indulge yourself too! I'd highly recommend all of these products and a set with all three is just a dreamy treat!
Scent
Scent is hugely important to me: not only do I like a space to smell pleasant (don't we all?!) but I love the impact that using aromatherapy can have on my mood and energy levels. I'm also incredibly picky, so if I'm using scent in the home then I'm looking for natural options. When I was introduced to Holistic Kitchen, I really struck gold! My favourites are Stolen Focus and Peace & Calm Pure Blends - but take a look for yourself and enjoy £10 off when you use my referral link above :)
Skincare
I do love a bit of skincare tech! I love my silicone cleansing device and Foreo is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to skincare issues: next on my wishlist is an LED mask! code JOFARREN gets you an additional 10% off here :)
Reading Lamps
I discovered this brand through Amrita Nutrition, when I was looking for something entirely different! Once I'd found this brand, and specifically this amazing reading lamp, I was totally thrilled at my accidental discovery. This is a great way of minimising blue light exposure during the evening, without being too overwhelming a place to begin. If you're researching the brand, then they have a range of other optoins, from motion sensor lamps to lightbulbs and they're definitely worth exploring. If you're shopping with Amrita, you'll need to create an account and use my code for a discount - HXEU9M.
A bit of a random addition, but honestly this has been a game changer for our family! I came across these when I was trying to find a way to encourage my youngest two children to stay in bed until 6am! The yoto is a screen-free audiobook player, but it's also so much more than that! You can use it with Yoto cards (books) and digital downloads, or record your own voice reading stories.
It has its own built-in Yoto Radio, podcasts, sleep sounds like white noise and there are timers for toothbrushing, tidying up and homework - plus it's also a clock and it's a nightlight. Controlled by a parental app, you can put it on a timer to shut off after a specific time, set 'night' and 'morning' time and put a volume limit, too. It's portable and you can buy accessories like wireless headphones for travel. It's such a good way to encourage the love of books and time away from screens - hurrah!
Is there anything on this list that you'd like to see and feel needs a spot? Or are there any specific products that you really can't find a good recommendation for or would like some guidance on?
Comment below or send me a message and I'll add it to the list!
If you'd like to discuss some bespoke support for your health and wellbeing, please do book in for a discovery call to talk through your options.
Links and codes above may be affiliate links/codes for clarity, however these are all things which I use and love.
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