By Andrea McVeigh.

Small is beautiful - as an unpretentious little firm specialising in hand-made organic 'skin foods' has proved. And if you're looking for an eco-friendly Christmas gift for an eco friend, Live Native goodies will fit the bill.

For those of use who believe that you shouldn't put anything on your skin that would wouldn't put in your mouth, raw or 'living' beauty products are the next big thing in skincare.

Live Native is a collection of seven premium quality, hand made skin foods that harness nature's proven, moisturising and skin care agents - coconut oil, shea butter and aloe vera juice.

Each product has been specifically created to address a particular skin and hair care need, for men and women, mums and babies - there's even an everyday moisturiser and a sex lubricant too!

The products are all hand-made on the Isle of Skye by young partners Vicky Ewbank and Ian Ryder.

They believe in keeping their products ‘nature intact' - in other words, the ingredients are used in the form that nature provided, so there's no messing with chemicals or meddling with formulas here.

The creams are 'raw-blended' (without heat) to create exceptionally rich, ‘live' recipes of naturally occurring enzymes, phytonutrients, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and active healing plant phytochemicals.

The organic, vegan and Fair Traded ingredients are unrefined or unpasturised and carefully sourced for either their raw extraction or low temperature processing methods.

And no animal products (or testing), mineral oils, hydrogenated oils, colourings, parabens or petroleum by-products, alcohol, or unnatural stabilisers have been used in any of the products.

There's simply no better, more natural products to put on your skin.

And, because it behaves more like food than ordinary cosmetics, it's best to keep it in the fridge or in a cool area in your bathroom, although, if it does solidify or turn too liquidy, that's easily remedied.

That's also why it comes in an anti-UV brown glass to protect it from UV light

The range features comprises Every Body Every Day - a gentle, all-over body low-allergenic skin food for all the family - as well as Head To Toe for Men, a premium, spicy moisturiser.

Fresh Feet is a readily-absorbed, aroma-therapeutic revitalising balm that's naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

Pure Natal is a gently soothing pre and post-natal moisturiser for delicate and irritated skin while Love Lube is a seductively aromatic sex lubricant that's free from preservatives.

At Sugahfix, we tried the fabulous Deep Hair Repair - a deeply conditioning coconut oil treatment that revitalises hair and restores softness and shine as well as the Essential Woman with Frangipani - a super absorbent moisturiser for all-over face and body conditioning. And we'll definitely be buying more in the months to come.

Finding products that are made with care and love isn't easy these days, so long live Live Native!

Essential Woman with frangipani = £34.99 for 120ml (£17.99 for 30ml and £10.99 for 15ml).
 
Deep Hair Repair = £15.85 for 30ml (£9.99 for 15ml). 

You can buy online at

www.livenative.co.uk

www.fresh-network.com/acatalog/live-native