#alocalrose

About four months ago I travelled to LA for business and was invited to stay with my friend - the incredible designer, activist, freedom-fighter and muse, Cheyann Benedict. Whilst staying at her gorgeous home in the Hollywood Hills, I was introduced to the beautiful, inspiring and thoroughly delightful, Shiva Rose. Shiva is best known for her exceptional blog, www.thelocalrose.com, where she imparts her extensive knowledge in the area of wellness and spiritual pursuits, to empower each of her readers to a life filled with health, self-acceptance and beauty. 

It was a meeting written in the stars, such was our instant connection and intuitive sense of each other. As we conducted the usual party small talk, the conversation quickly turned to spirituality, holistic practices and our mutual love of beauty. Shiva let me know that she was in the process of creating her own natural beauty collection centered around the healing properties of rose. As we talked back and forth we exchanged ideas,visions for what the brand would come to represent and the importance of following one’s instincts. I left LA secure in the understanding that what Shiva would create would be a true reflection of her own inner spirit; authentic, unique, pure, nourishing and vital. 

Last week, Shiva sent me a box containing three exquisite products; the Shiva Rose Radiant Rose Water, Face Oil and Glow Face Balm. The beautiful white packaging accented with gold and the signature rose motif is one of the loveliest I have seen, with a timeless quality that has been missing in beauty for a very long time. 

Before opening up each box, I knew that what I was about to experience were three products conceived with passion, developed with the spirit of an artist and finished with love. I first opened the Rose Water; presented in a gorgeous glass bottle, the water is unlike any I have smelled before. As the water hits the skin, the light texture is instantly absorbed leaving behind a lingering scent of turkish rose, thick and full, billowing like the rosiest cloud. Skin instantly feels plumped, hydrated and fatigue is replaced with an energized glow. Described as a tonic, toner and face mist in one, the Rose Water’s effects are bolstered with the additions of Aloe and gotu kola for anti-aging, sea minerals, vitamin C and comfrey to sooth and nourish and jasmine and Camellia to moisturize and hydrate.

Next in the collection is the Face Oil. Hand blended, the Rose Face Oil is toxin free and made with organic oils that reduce inflammation and,  as Shiva points out, opens the heart chakra. Ingredients include organic Jojoba oil, Rosehip Seed oil, Kukui Nut oil, Argan oil, Camelina oil, essential Persian rose oil, Sea Buckthorn oil and Vitamin E oil that replenishes, rehydrates and rebalances the skin. I used three drops, while my face was still damp from the Rose Water, and the oil spread easily over the contours of my face and immediately soothed areas of irritation from sunburn and past blemishes. And the smell of the oil is mouthwatering; with a velvet texture the skin feels hugged and I actually found myself take a deeper, slower breath. 

That night, after a long day at the office, I washed my face and followed the two steps again. I still had one more product to try.  Presented in the most charming round white ceramic jar, the Glow Face Balm has the texture of whipped gold, and is the most perfect emollient. If I loved the smell of the previous two products, the scent of the balm, blew me away. The smell is utterly divine, as though the whole room is filled with rose petals, creamy and smooth it glides onto the skin, leaving a protective barrier that literally makes the skin...well....glow. 

With nourishing Shea butter, Coconut oil and Rosehip seed - full of essential fatty acids, Argan oil to fight wrinkles, Camellia oil, the live benefits of Beeswax, Holy Frankincense, Rose and Ylang Ylang, this is a product for me that I can no longer live without. I might be accused of using too much, as is my total obsession with this wonder balm. I use it for my lips, to fight inflammation from zits and as an all over night cream. The little jar goes everywhere with me and without it, the feeling is not too dissimilar to leaving the house without my wallet or phone. 

Since using each of the products in combination I have been able to cut down my summer skincare routine to these three products and my skin can’t get enough. Congratulations Shiva on your brilliant collection and for following your gut, listening to your instincts and for being an inspiration to us all!