OCC Lip Tar: Divine

Today is a happy happy day!

After admiring them for so long but never actually getting round to actually ORDERING some, I've finally got my hands on some OCC Lip Tars! They were my little post-exams treat. I haven't bought any new lipsticks since I went Vegan as I find it a bit of a minefield with searching ingredients and can't always tell what's legit and what isn't, but then I was reminded that OCC are completely cruelty free AND vegan and my mind was made up. I needed summer lip colours and I needed them NOW! I ordered a couple of shades but I'm here today to tell you about Divine...

Believe me when I say that these photos don't do this colour justice. It's more in-your-face in the flesh, but not too much so. It's a gorgeous mid-toned summer pink with just a hint of a coral touch to it. I had already heard tales of the pigmentation of the Lip Tars and they were definitely accurate. You only need the slightest blob on the end of the brush for a single application. As someone who isn't used to applying lippy using a brush, it took a little getting used to but I love it. 

As I said before, this colour seems to have mellowed in front of my camera lens. It is a little brighter in the flesh. Quite similar to MAC Viva Glam Nicki, but slightly more peachy. It will be perfect with a summer tan or toned down by mixing with a nude shade for more everyday wear (which I do happen to have and will be featuring in a future post). I'm a bit obsessed with it. I'm finding the Lip Tars to be pretty long lasting too. They take a couple of minutes to truly dry properly but, after that, you're good for a few hours. The finish has a slight sheen to it but isn't glossy. I'll be interested to try their newer matte shades at some point as well. 

I purchased my Lip Tars at cocktailcosmetics.co.uk where they retail for £11.95 each. They also stock a range of OCC brushes, pigments and other cosmetics (all vegan and cruelty free, cos that's how OCC roll). Considering how little product you need, I think the Lip Tars are extremely good value for money. I must have them ALL!

What are your favourite Lip Tar shades?? Are you a fan?? What's your perfect Summer lip colour??

A Few Recent Summer Skincare Changes

Its that time of year again when my skin begins to completely reject my Winter skin routine and demands a fresh start for Summer. Not to mention the fact that Summer skincare is an entirely different kettle of fish to Winter with a whole different set of considerations. Add to that my 2014 switch to Veganism and a commitment to cruelty free products and you get a serious 'Alice in Wonderland' type of scenario. I thought I'd post a few of my recent skincare changes to prep my skin for the warmer months ahead. My skin has been a little unruly of late and can't seem to decide whether it wants to break out or shrivel up so I doubt these will be my only purchases this Summer, but here's the story so far...

Oqibo Purifying Cleanser and Toner* - oqibo.co.uk 

A completely new brand to me, Oqibo were kind enough to send me a huge bottle of their Purifying Cleanser and Toner earlier in the year. I was promised cruelty free and no animal ingredients so I can use this product with absolute confidence. I'll probably do a more in-depth review after I've been using it for a little while longer but this is a lovely, freshening product and does a great job of getting rid of dirt and oil. It's designed to regulate and balance the skin, which is great news for combination girlies like me. It has quite a strong scent of mint and leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed. 

DHC Pore Lotion - dhcuk.co.uk

I'm a huge fan of DHC. I emailed the Japanese-based brand to confirm a few ingredients with them recently and was delighted to discover that none of their ingredients are animal derived so now I adore them even more! I've been particularly enjoying their pore range of products lately as they're really gentle, alcohol free  and are really good for clarifying and minimising pores and creating a smooth canvas for makeup. I use this as I would a toner in between cleansing and moisturising (I also have their Pore Milk which is a lovely, light moisturiser for daytime). 

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream - superdrug.com

It seems that even my beloved Origins Night-a-Mins isn't good enough for my face lately so I'm having a rest from it. I was scratching my head trying to find an affordable, cruelty free substitute (I'm truly skint) and I spotted this in Superdrug and thought it would be well worth a try for £5.99. This cream smells so good! I can't stop sniffing it. It is infused with extracts of kiwi and mulberry with sugar beet and other fruit acids to nourish and resurface skin overnight. For the price I've been very impressed. My skin definitely feels smoother and softer upon waking. 

Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser - organicsurge.com

I've been using this for a little while as a light daytime moisturiser for my combination skin. I suspect I will need something more intensive with SPF as we continue on into Summer but this really has been lovely. Extremely gentle and perfect for normal/combination skin types. It keeps my skin hydrated whilst also keeping oilier areas at bay and sits well under makeup. I also love how it absorbs so quickly. Organic Surge, like Superdrug, are 100% committed to no animal testing and no animal ingredients.

Amie Pure & Natural Beauty 'Spring Clean' Clay Mask - amieskincare.com

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Amie Skincare products!! They've been a favourite for a couple of years now and I've tried most of their products. What I particularly love about them are their natural ingredients and Leaping Bunny certification which means no animal testing and virtually no animal ingredients (except beeswax, which it turns out this product does actually contain - serves me right for assuming - but most of their products are 100% Vegan friendly). This is an old favourite of mine from way back and I've started using it again once a week to purge my skin of any excess oiliness for a really deep clean. It has an gorgeous fresh lime/mint scent and an added bonus of making me closely resemble a White Walker for 10mins a week... HA!!

Those are a handful of my recent skincare switch ups. It's felt a little like I'm fighting a losing battle with my skin recently as it's been so unpredictable. I thought vegans were supposed to have perfect skin?!?! To be fair I was a little neglectful with my skincare routine whilst I was battling my way through exams so that might have something to do with it. Time to get back on it and treat my face right! 

What are your skin saviours?? Do you switch up your routine when the weather gets warmer?? What are your recommendations for Summer skincare??