PREGNANCY

Using natural products during pregnancy is especially important. Here is our pick of the best best bath product

WINNER DAWN HUNTER TRIED Vital Touch Body and Bath Oil, £8.25, vitaltouch.com “This was nice in the bath leaving my skin feeling silky and smooth afterwards. It also worked well for massage, although a pump dispenser would have been better to avoid spillage. There are some good instructions on self-massage on their website which is useful if you can’t find anyone willing to help! Effectiveness 4, Value for Money 4, Packaging 4

HIGHLY COMMENDED TESSA STUCKLY TRIED Happy Mama Body Wash, £8.95, earthmamaangelbaby.com “I love the smell of this. Sinking into a warm bath felt like a real indulgent treat at the end of a busy day. If used in the first three months of pregnancy this will also help to relieve morning sickness. In my 2nd trimester it just smelt divine and left skin very soft indeed! I will definitely buy this again.” Effectiveness 4, Value for Money 4, Packaging 4

HIGHLY COMMENDED LAURA GONZALEZ PEREZ TRIED Green Grocery Body and Bath Oil, £9.29, green-grocery.co.uk “Very concentrated – a small capful was sufficient for a deep bath. Smell is intense when used as a neat body oil, but lovely in a bath and left the skin feeling smooth and moisturised. Effectiveness 4, Value for Money 4, Packaging 4

stretch mark oil

WINNER TESSA STUCKLY TRIED JASON Vitamin E Oil, £7.99, jasonnaturalcare.co.uk “This is gorgeous – a beauty oil made from avocado and vitamin E that is so packed with nutrients, it feels super nourishing to the skin. It comes with a slightly weird applicator which felt funny against my belly. But all in all, this is a brilliant product for use during pregnancy and beyond.” Effectiveness 5, Value for Money 4, Packaging 5

HIGHLY COMMENDED LYDIA BERRY TRIED Living Nature - ‘Kekemama’ rosehip beautiful belly oil, £16.35, livingnature. co.uk “Smelt fantastic like a spa treatment. Was easy to apply although you needed a lot more drops than the directions implied. The oil absorbed very well and didn’t leave the skin feeling greasy but rather made it feel supple.” Effectiveness 5, Value for Money 4, Packaging 4

“If used in the first three months of pregnancy this will also help to relieve morning sickness”

Happy Mama Body Wash

HIGHLY COMMENDED GILLIAN BROWN TRIED Trilogy Rosehip Oil, £13, lovetrilogy.co.uk “Gorgeous product that left my dry skin feeling really soft. This product can be used everywhere but I did have to use more than the recommended 2-3 drops, especially if using on larger skin blemishes. I found this product easier to apply after bathing, which seemed to absorb better. I liked the use of the dropper, which meant no spillages or oily mess everywhere.” Effectiveness 4, Value for Money 4, Packaging 4

best massage oil

WINNER DAWN HUNTER TRIED The Organic Pharmacy Massage Oil, £17.50, theorganicpharmacy.com “We liked this product a lot. The pump dispenser made it easy to apply without the danger of spillage. It went on easily without being too greasy and smelt lovely. It does seem quite expensive although a little does go a long way and with the dispenser it’s difficult to apply too much unwittingly.” Effectiveness 5, Value for Money 4, Packaging 5

HIGHLY COMMENDED GILLIAN BROWN TRIED Balance Me Super Nourishing Oil, £24.50, balanceme.co.uk “Nice product that had a lovely scent. I used this product after bathing, according to instructions but found that it took quite a while to absorb, meaning I had to wait longer than normal to get dressed for fear of oiling my clothes. It did leave my skin silky soft however, and would continue to use this pregnant or not!” Effectiveness 4, Value for Money 3, Packaging 4

16 The Green Parent Natural Beauty Guide 2011