Metta Skincare Must-haves!

Good Evening Beauties!

After quite a long hiatus, I am back on the blog! If you don't follow me on social media, I had a baby girl in August, and have taken some time to settle in and just enjoy her. Her name is Addison, and she is my fifth bubba! She is three months old now and is an absolute delight!

I was sent these two beautiful products from the Australian brand Metta Skincare toward the end of my pregnancy, and they have taken up residence on my bedside table ever since. Handmade with gorgeous nourishing ingredients, the Body Butter and Hand Balm have not only moisturised and cared for my skin, they have also been instrumental in helping me to relax and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

If you would like to know a little bit more about these two lovely products, then please read on!

Handmade in Melbourne, Australia, using certified organic ingredients, it is obvious that much thought, love and care has gone into these formulations. The Body Butter is available in two scents... Vanilla, and Lavender. I was sent the lavender Body Butter, and I adore it. It contains only six ingredients, Shea Butter, Grapeseed Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, and Lavender essential oil. Its whipped, fluffy texture is a delight to apply...it melts luxuriously into the skin, and a little definitely goes a long way. 

Now, being a butter, it is quite rich and protective, which is why I like to apply it after my evening shower. You have time to really massage it into the skin, whilst enjoying the gorgeous aroma. Having said that, it does absorb really nicely, and does not leave your skin feeling sticky or tacky. For me, there is just the right amount of lavender oil. It is bright and refreshing, not overly pungent or too floral, and lavender oil has a long history of being known to assist in feelings of relaxation and reducing stress. 

Butters, in my humble opinion, are not meant to be "light" or rapidly absorbed...they are designed to nourish and protect and feed the skin. Apply it mindfully, with intention, giving yourself some time to breathe and fill up your tank. I am now close to halfway through this rather large jar which contains a hefty 135gm product. Although I love it, I kind of want to try the Vanilla one too! It's on my list! Oils and balms are my jam...I simply have to try them all!

The beautiful Hand Balm is equally loved. It lends itself perfectly to the bedside table, and has been religiously applied to my cuticles, hands and feet for many months. Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on your feet, and mine would ache terribly, particularly in the third trimester. A good massage with some of this balm would provide me with relief, and also helped to prevent my skin from cracking around my heels ( bit gross, sorry ). It is surprising how much tension is carried in our hands, if you have ever had a hand massage you would know what I mean...it feels so good! I also apply a good blob of balm to each cuticle and massage it into the skin and nail bed. If you are short on time, take a tiny bit of balm, rub it between your hands and then place them close to your face, inhaling the gorgeous aroma. I will often do this during the day if I am feeling a little stretched trying to meet the needs of my family! 

The Hand Balm has also been used numerous times on my children. It soothes and takes the itch out of mozzy bites, and gets rubbed into any part of them that feels a bit sore! If they are having trouble settling of an evening I'll massage a little onto the back of their necks and shoulders. It really is a great all-purpose balm to have in your cupboard.

This luscious balm contains Olive Fruit Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Calendula Flowers and Lavender essential oil, and all ingredients are certified organic. Its' fragrance is just as lovely as the Body Butter.



You can find out more about Metta on their website here, including stockists. The Metta range also
includes a Lip Balm, Face Balm and a Body Oil...and yeah I pretty much want them too!


If you fancy heading to the online market Good Spender here, you will find the Metta Hand Balm for $24.00 AUD, and the Body Butter for $34.00 AUD. I think these are amazing prices for such beautiful products that will certainly last you a long time! They would also make a beautiful Christmas gift for someone special, and that includes you! You can also read about how Metta chooses to use a portion of its profit for a very good cause. Good Spender is a great place to shop online consciously, especially with Christmas so close now!




Have you tried any of Metta's products? Do you have a favourite body butter or balm that you think I should try? Do let me know in the comments below!






Thanks so much for stopping by!



Blessings,



Lou xo

Disclaimer; Products were sent for consideration/review. This is not a sponsored post. I am not affiliated with any brands or business mentioned in the above post. Always patch test products before use, and check with your doctor before using products containing essential oils during pregnancy.  Cheers xo.

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Bath Time with The Beauty Vine | Sanctuary Spa

There is nothing I enjoy more as the weather turns cold than a good ol' soak in the bath. I have very clear memories of loving baths as a child, and as a teenager I can distinctly recall my family's frustration at my lengthly soaking soirées...

I do all my thinking in the shower, but the bath is where I do my 'switching off' . On most occasions it will be in the evening, after my children are in bed, and my husband is firmly attached to the lounge cradling the remote control. I try for at least once a week, twice if I can.

This is a little bit of time for me...

I will always have a bath by candlelight, because the low light helps me to relax. I also make sure I have clean, fresh pyjamas and a fresh towel. I know that might sound a little retentive, but these small things all contribute to making it more of an occasion. You would always have a clean robe and soft, clean towels at a day spa would you not? You deserve them at home too.

Now, I must confess to having rather an extensive variety of bath products, and I have decided to make this a little series, aptly named "Bath Time with The Beauty Vine". Each post will aim to bring  thoughts and reviews of the plethora of bathing products in my possession, with a 'one-brand' focus.

Today, it is all about some lovely products from Sanctuary Spa, a well known brand from the UK that has been available for quite some time in Priceline Pharmacies in Australia. I have been using two of these products for around 18 months, and have repurchased both of them in that time. The other is a more recent purchase, one of their newly released products. I adore the scent of these Sanctuary Spa products. They smell clean and soapy, warm and sweet, with a hint of spice and musk, somewhat reminiscent of men's cologne. Love.

The range is affordable, and they offer a nice variety of products. I have also noticed some newly released scents and formulas on the shelves of my local Priceline... so far I have resisted!

So, grab your PJ's and your fluffy towel, light your candle, and start running the bath...

Bath Time with The Beauty Vine - Sanctuary Spa

Sanctuary Spa Foaming Bath Soak

As the bath is filling I add a generous squeeze or two of the Foaming Bath Soak. The signature Sanctuary Spa scent fills my bathroom. As the name suggest, it produces a nice amount of bubbles, softens the water, and feels moisturising on the skin. As I write this, I am unable to find this specific product on the Priceline website. I am not sure if it has been discontinued, however I can warmly recommend the 2 Day Moisture Shower Oil as an alternative. I have gone through a bottle of it already, and find it works equally well in both the shower and the bath. There are a few less bubbles when used in the bath, however the formula of the shower oil is slightly more moisturising. They are both lovely products.

Sanctuary Spa 4 Day Moisture Oil Scrub RRP $17.99 AUD

The 4 Day Moisture Oil Scrub is my most recent purchase, and is part of the Long-Lasting Moisture line of products that have been released in the last few months. This is a very fine salt scrub in a  thick oil/balm base. A little goes a long way with this product. After soaking for about 5-10 minutes, I warm a good dollop of the scrub in my palms first, just to help soften and melt the oils a little. There is a good amount of finely milled salt, so you definitely get a really effective scrub without feeling like you are scratching your skin. Be gone those barnacles on my bottom! 

Being a thick balm, it definitely leaves an oily residue on the skin. I am a fan of oil based scrubs, and love the feeling of the oils on my skin. If you do not, this may not be the scrub for you. Whilst I cannot be sure of the claim of 4 days of moisture, I certainly find that it helps to keep my skin feeling moisturised and soft until I have my shower the next evening. Winter brings with it extremely dry, and often itchy skin for me, so a daily slathering of lotion/oils/butters is a must. This scrub leaves my skin soft, smooth and plump. Love.

Sanctuary Spa Body Butter  RRP $14.99 AUD

After a little more time soaking, ( my bath time is often accompanied by a glass of red wine ), I'll hop out,  dry off, and slather on some  Body Butter. Whilst my skin already feels soft and lovely after the soak and the scrub, I like to add another layer of moisture to lock it all in. 

Rich in Cocoa and Shea butters, Sweet Almond oil and Macadamia oil, this award winning body butter has a surprisingly lightweight formula, and smooths over the skin quickly and easily. When I'm having my 'bath night', I make sure to moisturise my whole body. No being lazy now... you are normally nice and warm from the bath, and it only takes a couple of minutes to massage in some cream/lotion, no excuses! I try not to rush too much, because I have to rush so many things in my life! The whole idea of this time, is to actually not be aware of the time for once, and just slow down. 

Ok...fresh, clean pyjamas on, I ceremoniously throw back any remaining vino, and head downstairs to make myself a cup of tea. Without a doubt, I always feel so much better after a bath ( and shower too! ). There is something about feeling clean, being warm, smelling delightful, and mentally giving yourself that little bit of time out. Self care is very important, and putting aside time to do something for yourself to help to fill up your tank is invaluable.  It is something that I have  learnt  to  prioritise, particularly after the birth of my children and suffering post-natal depression and anxiety.  

It is something I warmly encourage all of you to do too, regardless of your own personal circumstances. 

Do share with me what you like to do to help you to relax and de-stress! Do you have any favourite bath products that I might need to know about? Do leave a comment below, or feel free to email me with any questions, or if you feel like a chat.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

Lou xo

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