Go Bananas for The Body Shop!

Now that Summer has officially arrived, it's time to get TROPICAL with this 100% Vegan Special Edition Banana Bath & Body Collection by The Body Shop

Not so long ago I posted about the launch of The Body Shop's new range of 100% vegan body yogurts. Well, now they've gone bananas (apologies in advance, the banana wordplay in this post is going to be plentiful) and released a complete fruity Banana collection that is entirely free from animal ingredients. My customers have also fallen in love with this range, and I just had to share my thoughts with you as soon as my delivery arrived...

So, what is it?

- Banana Shower Cream

- Banana Body Butter

-Banana Body Yogurt

- PLUS a range of cute banana gift sets, complete with their own banana washbag

What's in it? 

As part of their Community Trade initiative, The Body Shop sources its organic banana puree from local growers in Ecuador. These farmers are paid a fair price for their harvest, which helps to sustain communities, and provide opportunities and valuable income for local workers. The Body Shop's partner farms are also committed to providing opportunities for more women in the region. Girl Power!!

What appeals to me even more is that The Body Shop always request the 'wonky' bananas, that aren't pretty enough to be shipped out to supermarkets, making this partnership a zero-waste win into the bargain! As well as these gorgeous organic bananas, these products have also been formulated with coconut oils, for even greater hydration and long-lasting moisturisation. 

Is it any good?

Abso-flippin-lutely!!! 

I'm a lifelong fan of The Body Shop Body Butters, and I was so excited when the Body Yogurts were released, as I now have loads more vegan product options to choose from. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Body Yogurts are a very worthy successor for the Body Butters, with a much lighter glide-on formula that absorbs in just 15 seconds and leaves zero residue on the skin. Amazing for anyone in a hurry! With almond milk and hyaluronic acid, the yogurts absorb moisture into the skin like a sponge, and lock it in for up to 48hrs.

I also mentioned further up the post, the Body Butter and Shower Cream in this new collection are also completely vegan-friendly, which is amazing news, as the vegan body butter options in The Body Shop's other core ranges are few - Fuji Green Tea and British Rose. That's about it. The culprit is usually bee byproducts such as honey and beeswax, but there's no trace of either in this new range, with no compromise to the quality and effectiveness of the formula. I've had the Body Butter on my arms all day and I feel super smooth and hydrated and I smell DE-LISH!

If you want more information on this, or any other product range from The Body Shop (vegan or otherwise) UK readers are very welcome to join my Body Shop at Home Group on Facebook. I regularly post exclusive promotions, giveaways and discounts on many of The Body Shop's best-loved ranges and can ship anywhere in the UK. There are a whole host of new product lines just launched for high summer, so there's plenty more to discover! 

Of course you don't have to order through me at all. You can also browse all of the latest product releases over at www.thebodyshop.com

Will you be going bananas for this new collection? What are your favourite vegan and cruelty-free products for smooth summer skin?

5 Reasons to Try... Facial Oils

Women have been using natural facial oils to maintain healthy skin and a youthful complexion for thousands of years. Here's why you should consider adding one to your 21st century skincare regime...

Over the years I've seen the beauty world go crazy for body oils and hair oils... yet so many are still reluctant to add oils into their daily facial skincare routine. I kind of get it - we were told from a young age that an oily face was the devil and excess oil leads to spotty skin and a shiny nose, and it just seems inherently wrong to voluntarily apply an oil to the face - but it turns out oils have many benefits for all kinds of skin types

Natural face oils were used in Ancient Eqypt to help women keep their skin protected and nourished. To this day, many facial oils are still made from similar ingredients, extracted from seeds, flowers, nuts and other plants. Modern favourites include coconut, argan, and rose, and are some of the most pure and natural skincare products available. 

Facial oils are an instant fix for plumping the skin with moisture, without - contrary to popular belief - leaving your face feeling greasy or oily. 

Here's 5 Reasons to try one...

1) Intense hydration and nourishment

Facial oils are lipophilic (ie. they're drawn to fat) and are able to pass through the fatty layer of the skin's surface much faster and more effectively than a regular moisturiser. This not only provides an instant hit of moisture to thirsty skin, but also helps your skin retain that moisture more effectively throughout the day/night.

2) Help Minimise Pores

The best thing to shift oil and grease from pretty much anything is to... yep... apply more oil. Science can't be wrong! Facial oils effectively pull grime, dirt and fats out of pores, helping to minimise their appearance.

3) Anti Inflammatory

As well as being a soothing and hydrating treatment on sore or irritated skin, the natural ingredients in facial oils - such as rose or seed oils - can actually calm the skin and help bring down redness and irritation, while re-plumping it with moisture. Great for sufferers of eczema, rosacea, and other uncomfortable skin conditions.

4) They make a great primer

Because facial oils absorb into the skin so quickly, they make the perfect base for makeup and promote a smoother complexion.

5) Younger Looking Skin

By helping the skin retain moisture, facial oils make the skin appear more youthful and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

How to use facial oils

- Apply to damp skin to really lock in moisture

- Introduce them into your routine gradually, by adding a couple of drops to your regular moisturiser

- For a more intensive treatment, massage a couple of drops into your face after toning, before applying your moisturiser

- Massage the oil into your face in circular motions, paying attention to the direction of your jawline and cheekbones - this promotes circulation and absorption and helps contour the skin.

If you're unsure about using a pure oil straight away, why not start by trying one of the many fantastic oil-based cleansers that are now available? Personal favourites of mine are The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil and Superdrug Vitamin E Dual-Phase Cleansing Oil. These grab all of the dirt, grease, and makeup from your skin before emulsifying into a milk which is then rinsed away completely, leaving skin feeling wonderfully soft and ready for toner and moisturiser. 

3 Facial Oils for your Wishlist...

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil - £30 for 30ml

Enriched with 3 precious Community Trade seed oils - Camellia Seed, Rosehip Seed, and Black Cumin Seed. High in omega 3 and 6, as well as antioxidants, and naturally rich in oleic acid. Full review on this coming soon!

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil - £9 for 30ml

Rich in linoleic (omega 6) and linolenic (omega 3) acids, alongside pro-vitamin A, the oil targets signs of photo-ageing and boosts the skin’s overall health for a radiant result.

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil - £45 for 15ml

This natural blend of highly concentrated plant-based superfoods deeply nourishes and hydrates. Anti-oxidant and omega-rich Broccoli, Flax Seed and Daikon Radish feed the skin for a healthy, radiant glow.

Do you use facial oils? If not... what's stopping you?

First Impressions - The Body Shop Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurts

What's new in Vegan Beauty? Everything you need to know about The Body Shop's Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurts

On 1st May, 2018, The Body Shop launched its much-anticipated new range of vegan body moisturisers. Being a recent recruit to The Body Shop at Home* team (and a vegan), I've been looking forward to the release of The Body Shop's Body Yogurts since I first heard about it in the new year, and didn't hesitate to snap some up for my kit (and my bathroom shelf) immediately. 

About: The Body Shop Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurt

- Lightweight, non-sticky, non-greasy texture

- Can be used on wet or dry skin

- Absorbs in 15 seconds

- 100% Vegan

- with hyaluronic acid, which acts like a sponge to seal moisture into the skin

- 48hr hydration

- Made with Community Trade Almond Milk

- Leaves no residue on the skin

Who is going to love it?

This product has already received so much buzz in the media! As well as being The Body Shop's first 100% vegan body moisturiser, this new range will be fantastic for busy mums, holiday-goers, active people, gym bunnies... basically anyone who wants unbeatable moisturisation without a heavy, cloying texture. This product is absorbed into the skin in 15 SECONDS, making it ideal for anyone in a hurry. You can apply it straight from the shower and dress IMMEDIATELY - it even passes the skinny jeans test with no yanking or stickiness!

So, is it any good?

Short answer... HELL YES! 

Long answer... As a vegan, this product makes me extremely happy. While The Body Shop does have a couple of vegan options in their iconic Body Butter range (Fuji Green Tea and British Rose, in case you were wondering), it's amazing to finally be able to have a wider choice in fragrances. 

Regarding the formula, it absolutely does what it says on the tub. This product is a lovely, light formula, that applies quickly and easily onto the skin, and sinks in in a flash. I recently returned from my first holiday in 9 years (more on that in another post), and am very keen to preserve my Gran Canaria glow, so have been using these daily in the morning. I've been really impressed with it overall. Any of you who know me from old, you'll know that I'm usually reluctant to buy into hype, and prefer to wait for results before I rave about something, but it's well deserved in this case. 

I'll definitely be continuing to use these daily. I've found I like to use them in the morning when I'm half asleep and in a hurry, then following with Green Tea Body Butter or a Spa cream in the evening.

If I had to pick a favourite, surprisingly, I'd choose Almond Milk. While the Mango Yogurt smells just like my favourite fruit smoothie (I call it summer in a tub), there's something very comforting about the Almond Milk. which is also suitable for sensitive skin types. It's like Baby Lotion for grown-ups. 

Also available in: Coconut, Strawberry, Moringa, and British Rose.

RRP £8.50 for 6.98oz

I wish Instagram had smell-o-vision right now! This #Mango Body Yogurt smells just like a fruit smoothie 💚 . #thebodyshop #thebodyshopathome #tbsah #bodyyogurt #vegan #veganbeauty #skincare #bodycare #new #hydration #smoothie #donoteat

A post shared by TBSAH by Lisa Clare (@tbsah_bylisa) on May 2, 2018 at 10:06am PDT

*DISCLAIMER!

As I mentioned up top, I joined The Body Shop at Home in December - as an extra hobby-job to earn a bit of extra gin money, but also because I've been so excited about The Body Shop's new collaboration with Natura and I want to support a business with great ethics that is moving in a more vegan direction. While I now work with the Body Shop, I am very strict about only offering praise for a product when it is deserved. If it's not worth your time or money, I will always say so. I don't love it because I sell it, I sell it because I love it!

I don't expect any of my readers to purchase products from me - I mainly want to spread the word about amazing, cruelty-free and VEGAN products - but if you'd like to keep up to date with new products and news from The Body Shop, or get advice from a plant-based consultant, any UK readers are welcome to join my Facebook Group. I'd be happy to have you, and I'm running some really exciting competitions in May!

What are your favourite cruelty-free body care products? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Top 5 Products for Glowing Winter Skin

Ack, doesn't Winter really take it out of your skin?! It seems that, every year, as soon as the air gets colder and the wind picks up a bit, my skin begins to turn to stone. Dull, rough skin isn't a good look in any weather and I refuse to spend the festive party season looking and feeling like sandpaper so I've done something about it. Next week I'll be sharing with you my ultimate winter skincare picks, but today I'm feeling all festive so I thought I'd share with you 5 favourite products of mine for a glowing winter complexion, for face and body. 

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads

Words cannot express my everlasting love for this product. I've been using it since it first launched. This is an exfoliating product designed to even out the skin's texture as well as brighten skin tone. I tend to pair it with my Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant a couple of times a week to really smooth things over but, after cleansing, I always swoosh one of these badboys around my face before toning, moisturising and applying makeup. Makes for a super smooth base. 

Superdrug Vitamin E Sugar & Oil Scrub

Superdrug's own branded products are regular in my routine now, and have been ever since I became vegan (almost) 2 years ago. Their Vitamin E range is a particular favourite of mine. In the past I've stuck religiously to Soap & Glory scrubs, and I still do use them, but this is a fantastic budget option. It's grainy, silky and really gets the job done. My skin feels glorious after I've used it and it really helps buff away that nasty, dull layer to make way for...

Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil*

New favourite fake tan alert! Confession; I've had this product for ages, but never actually got around to using it regularly until the last couple of months, due to a seriously busy year of exams, graduations and moving house. This product just refuses to streak... ever. It's an oil so it smooths on really easily and gets into all those awkward bits with little effort. It's also really quick to sink in. It's made up of a blend of organic, eco-certified oils and gives a wonderful subtle glow after a single application. Totally buildable though, if you desire a deeper colour. For me, it just takes off that pasty winter tinge. Usually I'd prefer a more olive toned product, while this one is more gold, but I find that nowadays I don't desire such a deep colour. Perhaps I'm getting old. 

GOSH Cosmetics Giant Sun Powder

I'd be nothing without this huge compact. Can you believe that I've managed to use one up already? My favourite way to use it is to dust it over my shoulders, chest and legs (if I've dared to expose my pins, that is) ready for a night out. Great for when you haven't had time to tan and gives off a lovely, subtle shimmer. I also like to use it on my cheeks if I'm going for a more bronzed look (which is usually the case for me, I love my gold and brown tones). On darker skintones it would also make a brilliant highlight. 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

I'm sooooo late to the Too Faced party. I've heard cruelty-free bloggers across the board rave about this bronzer so I gave in a purchased it a couple of weeks ago. No word of a lie, I've used it almost every day since (well, the days I've dared brave the weather and venture outside, that is). It's the most amazing, blendable contour shade but it's also great for dusting over foundation and powder for a deeper colour. Because it's matte, its lovely for daytime wear, when you don't really want too much of a shimmer. My guess is I'm preaching to the converted here so I'll leave it there. 

For a more thorough round-up of my Winter skincare essentials, stay tuned for next week's post. With everyone gearing up for the Christmas party season, I thought we could all use some extra glow this week. I also wanted to officially give the finger to this nasty stormy weather we're currently having in the UK. Desmond can officially do one. My skin is armed and ready! 

What are your top products for the perfect winter glow? Do you reach for the bronze when the weather gets rough?

A Few Daily Beauty Essentials

Happy Weekend Everyone! 

Whilst I was streamlining my makeup bag the other day I got to considering what my absolute essential beauty items are and which products I am constantly pulling out every day, regardless of where I'm going. I must admit, I don't wear makeup every single day. Now that I'm self-employed and working mostly from home, I'm not constantly showing my face off to the world. Still, when I do venture out I definitely have my favourite go-to products, so I thought I'd share them with you. 

Superdrug B. Pure Micellar Water 

I first reviewed this product last year (check it out) and it's become an essential part of my daily routine. It freshens my face in the morning and does a great job of removing makeup at night. At night I'll use it alongside another, more intensive, cleanser such as my beloved Elemis Lime Blossom Cleanser or, more recently, Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser (more on that in a future post.) It's reasonably priced and super-handy and it's always on special offer.

Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner*

I never used to understand the purpose of toners, but I wouldn't be without one now, especially as we move into summer. It's been a revelation! I'm currently using this multi-active toner by Dermalogica and I love how it enhances the performance of my moisturiser. I'm not going to say too much as I'd really like to do a full review of this at some point. I also adore Elemis' Lavender Toner, but this one definitely gives it a run for its money. 

Amie Skincare Hydrating Daily Moisturiser

I cannot praise this product enough. At the moment I'm using it day and night, despite it being a day cream. As a rule, I have combination skin, however, I have hydration issues in some areas and this cream offers instant relief. I love it under makeup and it leaves my skin feeling so smooth. I'm a huge fan of Amie products as they are BUAV approved cruelty-free and almost all of their products are free of animal ingredients. 

Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation - Shade 9

I tend to use high-end foundations sparingly due to budget issues (sigh) but, during the summertime, I find that a lot of drugstore foundations just can't stand the heat so I have repurchased this old favourite. I love Skinbase because you can get an exact match due to the extensive shade range. It also has similar properties to a BB cream so you get a lovely coverage without having to use a lot of product. Exactly what I need now that the weather is hotting up a bit. I've also gone a shade darker, because tan. 

Superdrug B. Blusher - Golden Peach

I think it's pretty obvious (despite it being out of focus - fail) that I've got a crush on this product - I've hit pan! You'll find this on my cheeks most days at the moment, whether it be nipping to the shops or on a night out. I find it very similar to my old favourite MAC Melba (but with a touch of added sparkle). I need to try more from the B. makeup range. I'm a huge fan of their skincare. 

OCC Lip Tars - Interlace and Hush

I'll confess something to you now... I am still using up a lot of my old, pre-vegan lipsticks. I refuse to waste makeup and I have enough to open a store. However, for daily wear I prefer to use something that is 100% cruelty-free and OCC Lip Tars are the best around in my opinion. They last all day with minimal retouches. On the surface these shades may look identical but Hush (bottom) has a lovely, dusky pink hue to it, whereas Interlace (top) is just a great all-round peachy nude. I'm developing a Lip-Tar habit. I get mine from cutECOsmetics.co.uk.

MUA Cosmetics Matte Palette

I praised this palette in my previous post. Luckily the one pictured here was a more recent repurchase (my previous palette was too 'loved' to be photographed.) It's just the most perfect palette for neutral, everyday looks, but also gives a decent smokey eye should the need arise. I keep a spare at my parents house as well in case of emergencies. At £4 it's an absolute essential for me. 

GOSH Amazing Length & Build Mascara

Y'know, it's pretty difficult to come by a decent, cruelty-free drugstore mascara, mainly because there are only a few to choose from. This is the only one in the GOSH range that is suitable for vegans. Luckily I really rather love it. Most of the time I don't go for liner if it's just a normal day but, if I'm feeling fancy or have somewhere to go, I'll team this with my Illamasqua Precision Ink. 

Those are my most-loved, can't-live-without products. Don't get me wrong, I love to switch it up depending on my outfit or where I'm going on a particular day, but everyone has those fail-safe products that they fall back on time and time again. I will probably follow this post up with an everyday FOTD-type post (once I grow a pair and get my eyebrows sorted out). 

What are your everyday beauty essentials? 

Dermalogica Team with Sodastream for Sparkling Skin

Greetings Earthlings! Guess I should say Happy New Year, really... I haven't been able to update this blog since before Christmas due to an unfathomable level of final year University stress. I'm now happy to inform you that I'm DONE and free to chatter about all things beauty with you once again. It feels so good! I'm here today to tell you all about an exciting new brand collaboration between skincare gurus Dermalogica and retro drinks experts SodaStream. With summer fast approaching, the new skincare buzzword is hydration and Dermalogica want to spread the message that hydrating your body also works wonders for your skin. 

This week I popped along to see both brands at the One New Change shopping centre near St Paul's for a spot of face-mapping and to learn the importance of hydration from both inside and out. Research has shown that we Brits aren't the best at getting our recommended daily dose of H2O, yet we spend hundreds on skincare products. Dermalogica believe that great skincare products can be even greater and more effective when teamed with optimum hydration, and so an alliance was made and SodaStream stepped up to help educate the nation on the importance of hydration, regardless of your skin type.

The brands have put their heads together and come up with the ultimate Sparkling Skin Package, which includes:

- SodaStream Source sparkling water maker
- MultiActive Toner
- Skin Hydrating Booster
- Intensive eye Repair
- Skin Hydrating Masque

On top of this they recommend at least 2 litres of water a day and, thanks to SodaStream, getting that amount needn't feel like a chore. At the event I sipped on refreshing sparking water with a good squeeze of lime and other delicious fruits. I could get used to that! My face-mapping session with a Dermalogica specialist proved that I definitely have areas which could use some extra hydration. I now have all the products I need so expect some reviews coming up on this blog in the very near future. I'm already incorporating the products into my daily routine.

The Sparkling Skin package will be available from sodastream.co.uk from June 2015 and will retail at £89.

It's a great opportunity to sample some amazing products whilst also having great fun with water. Here's to a summer of Sparkling Skin! 

Summer of Skincare

This post was supposed to be a July Favourites... but when I got to picking out the products, they turned out to ALL be skincare. So now it has evolved into yet another summer skincare round-up. I posted a summer skincare post a little while ago with a few new products I'd acquired, but my skin is being so evil just lately that I seem to have switched everything up again. I've discovered even more new products and repurchased a couple of older favourites. I think I'm finally onto something here as my skin is finally starting to behave itself again! 

Amie Skincare 'Morning Light' Hydrating Moisturiser

Whenever Amie bring out a new moisturiser I just have to have it and, as this one is a hydrating day cream, I knew I had to give it a whirl. I'm a huge fan of their mattifying moisturiser as well as their Skin Shield. This one doesn't have the SPF that Skin Shield has but my skin has been so smooth and touchable (without getting greasy) when I've used it, that I can forgive it. Amie products are affordable, cruelty free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Full review coming soon!

Superdrug 5-in-1 Skin Perfecting BB Cream - Medium

If you're a long time reader of this blog you'll know that I go bonkers for BB creams during the summer months when I can't be doing with a heavy foundation that's going to melt off my face as soon as the weather heats up. This Superdrug budget version is fantastic and contains vitamin c, hyaluronic acid and caffeine with mineral pigments and SPF15. There is also an Anti-Age SPF30 version in the range. 

Indeed Labs Hydraluron

You have my permission to scold me. I've only just got around to discovering the magic of Hydraluron. What kind of a blogger am I?? Hydration is a huge issue for me, even though I have combination skin, and I need products that will quench my thirsty face without turning my t-zone into an oil slick. This product acts as a supercharger for any moisturiser you team it with, allowing the skin to retain the moisture more effectively. I NEED to get my hands on their new Moisture Jelly to go along with it because it's LOVE! This product is currently a third off at Boots.

Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner

I posted about this product and the Lime Blossom cleanser that goes along with it quite a while ago now. I can't believe I've only just got around to repurchasing it! It's been a godsend while the weather has been warmer. I've been keeping it in the fridge and spritzing my face with it and it feels soooooo good!! The lavender fragrance won't be for everyone but I particularly enjoy it at the end of the day, after removing my makeup just to freshen my skin up and prep my skin for moisturiser. It's very soothing.

Una Brennan Superfacialist Neroli Brightening Cleanser

This popped up in my last skincare post as another product that I'd forgotten I loved and I'm loving it again for very similar reasons to the Elemis toner. It's just wonderfully freshening with a floral scent and leaves my skin feeling firmed up and smooth. I mainly use this product in the morning before I've put on any makeup to wake my skin up. 

White Rabbit Skincare Lime and Coconut Cleansing Water

I received this product in my The Vegan Kind Beauty Box last month and it was instant love. This product is completely handmade using spring water, orange blossom water, coconut oil and lime essential oil. The scent is out of this world! It's milkier in texture than your usual micellar-type cleansing waters, and I'd go easy around the eyes with this one (lime oil - yikes) but it does an amazing job of removing makeup whilst cleansing the skin. The lime and orange blossom are also great antibacterial ingredients and the coconut oil helps to smooth. 

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins

Last but not least... I loved this product to death in the new year and the latter half of Winter, but my skin seemed to get sick of it after a while so it has been sat in my stash waiting for another chance to shine. It got that chance a couple of weeks ago after I felt that the Superdrug cream I'd been using was starting to leave me a little oily. Sure enough my skin welcomed it back with open arms and they are friends once more. Read my original review here.

*****

Those were my current summer skincare crushes. I'm hoping this love affair will carry on into Autumn/Winter as the harsh elements seem to take it out of my skin every bit as much as the summer sun. I haven't felt great about my skincare routine for a little while now so it's great to finally have a winning set of products... until the next time my face gets bored and demands something else. I guess we shall see. 

What are your skincare must haves?? Is hydration an issue for you?? What products can't you live without during the summer months??

#TVK Does Beauty!

Yes, yes, I know. Slap my wrist, I've been a bad blogger. 

I do have a legitimate excuse for my absence. Interning has had to take priority over the last couple of months. I've spent so much time researching and drafting for the PETA UK blog that I've been totally zapped for inspiration for my own! However, my time there has now come to an end (sad face) so maybe I can find some focus and crack on with more personal projects. I'm here today to bring you an exciting new box by the lovely people at The Vegan Kind... They've only gone and done a BEAUTY BOX!!! 

The Vegan Kind, who have been providing me with such wonderful, yummy vegan treats for the last few months have gone one better and brought out a one-off TVK Beauty Box! Needless to say I was all over it. My own quest for quality cruelty free, vegan cosmetics has had its ups and downs, to say the least, and I was hoping that TVK could help point me in the right direction. 

Here's a little peep at what's inside...

My Thoughts....

I'm thoroughly delighted with everything in this box. So many wonderful, natural and organic ingredients and everything, as always, is 100% cruelty free and vegan. I'm particularly taken with the Furless stippling brush by Furless Cosmetics. It's super soft and I can't wait to try it out. I have a feeling it will be perfect for powder. Another product that has got me excited is the Lime and Coconut Cleansing Water by White Rabbit Skincare. It smells so lovely and fresh and mixes spring water, coconut oil and orange blossom water with essential oils which sooth both skin and mind.

Inika are a brand that beauty box devotees will be familiar with, but did you know that as well as being organic they are also cruelty free and vegan friendly? I'm still using up the dregs of my pre-vegan eyeliner stash (seriously I have loads) but it's great to know that I have a trusty cruelty free option to fall back on. Beautiful Movements are a completely new brand to me but apparently they also sell in Holland and Barrett. Their loose mineral eyeshadows are free from parabens, synthetic dyes and animal products and come in a variety of beautiful colours. According to the product list there should have been two shades in this box, but I only found one, Adobe Brick, which is a lovely muted golden shade. Not that I'm complaining. TVK can't do much wrong by me at the moment.

Last up is a great sized Orange Cocoa bath melt by Simply Soaps. This bar has the freshest citrus orange scent and is made with raw cocoa butter and essential oils. I'll have to keep reminding myself not to eat it. TVK promise me that it will make my skin feel silky soft as well as leaving me with that pampered feeling.
*****

TVK keep consistently wowing me with their monthly offerings. To read my thoughts on their July #TVK9 box head over to my other blog Thirty-Something Vegan. It really was a BELTER! Ever heard of Coconut BACON??? This Beauty Box is currently just a one off, but for £10 a month (plus P&P) you can subscribe to receive monthly vegan treats, which also include cosmetics and toiletries. They've never managed to disappoint me yet! You also get discount codes and monthly vegan recipes.

For more information on TVK and to subscribe visit
thevegankind.com

Holiday Beauty Favourites: June 2014

I'm completely failing as a blogger just lately aren't I...

I guess there isn't a simple explanation for my absence. I'm spending so much time on blogging and social media for work that I've let myself slip a little. Being painfully skint really doesn't help matters either but I'm doing my best! Hopefully I can get back to a more regular posting shedule once my internship is over and I can focus more on personal projects. 

I've spent the last 10 days, however, taking a well deserved break in the Peak District with my family. I suppose my parents' house isn't really the most exotic and exciting of destinations but to me it was definitely a holiday. I spent a lot of time out in the sunshine, strolling along the river and eating ALL of the food (for a taste of my holiday food diary see my other blog). I thought I'd pop this post up today in honour of a few lovely products that I've really enjoyed while I've been away.

Una Brennan Super Facialist: Neroli Firming Cleanser

I've been using this product on and off for a little while and this is my second tube. If I'm honest its never been my No1 go-to cleanser and I've tended to favour Elemis and my Micellar waters over it in the past but, for some reason, it's been a hero product this last week and a half. It smells so fresh, gets rid of makeup and leaves my skin feeling really clean and supple. I think a full review will be on the cards soon. 

GOSH  Pressed Powder in Warm Sand

My other powder compact managed to get smashed during the journey to Derbyshire so this was an emergency Superdrug purchase on arrival, but one I've been very impressed with. I don't usually rave too much about powders as I don't always use them and find them a bit unremarkable but this one has a lovely, soft finish and sets my foundation really well. 

Sleek Powder Blush in Life's a Peach

This blush is well established on this blog but, for some reason, it got a bit lost during my last house move and I only found it again recently so thought I'd take it away with me. It gives the most gorgeous, warm, peachy glow which is perfect for sunshiny days. 

MUA Velvet Touch Lip Lacquer in Halcyon

I'm loving the recent trend for matte lip colours and you really can't go wrong with the MUA offering at £3! I actually have ALL of the shades (which will be coming to you in a swatchfest post very soon). I find this particular shade extremely versatile and a great day-to-night colour. 

Lavera Cosmetics Quattro Eyeshadow in 01 Oriental Brown

I only discovered that Lavera did cosmetics very recently. I'd seen their skincare in Holland & Barrett but wasn't aware of them other than that. Their range is organic and gluten-free. This palette is a great combo to take away on holiday as you can go as subtle or as smokey as you like. I especially love the deep green shade. 

Superdrug Solait Wear Off Bronzing Mousse (Medium/Dark)

Couldn't not include a couple of Superdrug staples, could I. I love their Solait tanning lotion so I grabbed this mousse version to take away with me as it said it was longer lasting. I only had to apply it twice over the course of the week and it dried really evenly. Great colour pay-off too so I'd definitely recommend this as an affordable product to top up your holiday tan. 

Superdrug Caring Coconut and Sweet Almond Shampoo/Conditioner (Dry Hair)

I hate coconutty scented things as a rule. Hate hate HATE! My heart sank when I found that Superdrug's offering for dry hair was a coconut scent but.... guess what.... It's really not all that bad! The almond seems to bring it down a bit. This was another emergency purchase as I arrived at my parents' to find that I didn't have any shampoo there (I usually leave some there so I don't have to cart it around in my suitcase). It did leave my hair lovely and soft with a shine to it. 

*****

Those were a handful of products that I've loved while I've been away. It's nice to be able to mix old favourites with new finds and rediscover products that I hadn't appreciated fully until now. 

What are your holiday beauty staples?? 

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??

Skincare Saturday! Superdrug B. Pure Micellar Water

I'm developing a serious crush on Superdrug's own brands just lately. I love that almost everything is cruelty free and animal friendly. As I've been loving Micellar waters for cleansing lately, I just had to pick up this one. I had been previously using the LOreal version, however, I've fallen out with them regarding their sketchy animal testing policy and would prefer not to repurchase until I can find out a bit more. The B. Micellar water, on the other hand, is Leaping Bunny approved and marked suitable for Vegans so I'm entirely confident to use it. 

B. Pure Micellar Water - £2.47 for 150ml superdrug.com

Cleanses - Removes impurities and makeup.

Tones - Restores pH balance whilst keeping the skin supple.

Refreshes - with cucumber juice extract.

Ophthalmically approved.

Dermatologically approved.

This is a thoroughly decent little product. It's not as big a bottle as the LOreal version but, for the price, you can't grumble. I always felt like the product was dispensed too quickly from the bottle with the LOreal so I'm sure there was wastage there. Not the case here thankfully. I'm sure most micellar waters are used in the same way so I'll not bore you by commenting on application. This product really does the job and even had my mascara off in a flash without much effort. I tend to use micellar waters mainly for getting my makeup off prior to using another cleanser such as my Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser but this one works fine on its own for when I'm having a lazy day. I normally follow it up with a Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix exfoliating pad and an appropriate moisturiser.

Once again I'm really impressed with the quality of a Superdrug product as well as their prices. The B. range is slightly fancier than their regular own branded skincare and I've heard great things about the entire range. I may well dabble with their day/night creams once I've done with my current choices (I'm not going to be able to afford my Origins Night-a-Mins every time after all).

The B. range by Superdrug is well worth investigating. They have a wide range of skincare and makeup items to choose from. You can view the full range at superdrug.com or check them out instore.

Do you love Micellar Water for cleansing?? Do you have a favourite brand?? Have you tried the B. range yet??