liz earle

With April and May being the height of hay fever season, I know I can't be the only one suffering from itchy eyes, puffiness, and spotty skin. What happens when histamines enter the air is that your lymphatic system doesn't drain properly and your skin has a physical reaction. The result is blocked pores, dark circles under the eyes and full glands that cause puffiness and overall congestion. Below are three product picks to help you combat allergy season gracefully.

Products that contain rosemary, like Phyto 58 Rejuvenation Treatment Cream from YonKa (£39) help to bring down swelling in the skin. It will also help detox the skin and tissues to help clear up the breakout problem.

For skin that's just feeling puffy, this Eyebright Soothing Lotion from Liz Early (£9.70 for 150ml) helps to stimulate drainage. Use it morning or night with a cotton wool pad before you cleanse. It's not oily so it won't look or leave you feeling greasy.

For dark eye circles, try Neal's Yard White Tea Toning Eye Gel (£22.50). It's cooling and soothing to help de-puff and tone the colour of your skin. If you don't like this product, I do suggest trying to find one that suits you. Since your immune system is already being taxed, if you already have dark circles, they will only get worse.

I've been excited about Liz Earle's new natural haircare range ever since there were whispers she'd be venturing in to this area of the market. And finally, the wait is over! This month the company launched its first four-part collection of completely plant based shampoo and conditioners, dubbed Botanical Shine (£7.50). It's in store now and already is generating buzz! Botanical Shine is six years in the making for the brand, and was inspired after a customer survey saw a staggering 20,000 customers write to say that natural hair care was something they desperately wanted. The result, as you can see below, is pretty impressive.

To see my review, just keep reading

As deals go, this is pretty mega! Liz Earle sold her natural beauty label to US cosmetics giant Avon yesterday and in the process became one of the richest women in the world. No-one has said how much it was bought for, but apparently the company generates £40-60 million a year, so it won't have been pocket change. The brand's co-founders Liz Earle and Kim Buckland will continue to direct the brand from their headquarters in Ryde in the Isle of Wight.

I've been a fan of Liz Earle's products for a while now. They're fantastic quality and naturally scented, so they're great for those with sensitive skin. Liz is a former beauty journalist who has written several books on beauty and lifestyle. She set up the Liz Earle brand 15 years ago when she got frustrated about not being able to find natural beauty products on the market. Since then her business has blossomed with a new spa, and a huge product range including suncare, fragrances and essential oil treatments.

A lot has changed since she first launched. People are really waking up to natural and organic beauty products now and there's a ton of great products on the market. This sale is a sign that big businesses are starting to notice. Go Liz!

It's no secret that I'm a huge Liz Earle fan. Besides adorning her face, bath and body products, I often turn to her books for at home remedies and advice on essential oils. So when I heard that she was launching her first ever fragrance after three years in development called Botanical Essence No. 1, I could hardly wait to get my hands on some.

If I'm being totally honest, at first, I found the scent to be a little green, meaning not quite fully developed. It reminded me of Charlie by Revlon, something I wore as a kid. However, if you give it some time, you can appreciate the floral center and crisp, unique dry-down.

This warm and definitely sensuous Eau de Parfum was inspired by Liz's Instant Boost Skin Tonic and is a culmination of 98% natural botanicals grown in France, Turkey, Italy and Indonesia. It contains notes of lavender, bergamot, rose, patchouli, mandarin, bitter orange, lemon, cardamom, geranium, coriander, nutmeg, cedar, vetiver and tonka bean, and is currently available in a 50 ml bottle for £39.50.

In my opinion, the only drawback is the initial heaviness, but I really like the end result and the price-point is more than fair for an Eau de Parfum. Does your favourite skincare brand make a fragrance too?