A Low Waste Skincare Wishlist

I do wish that I had all the money in the world to spend on sustainable skincare, as half of the stuff I lust after does not come cheap. There are so many sustainable and plastic free alternatives for your skincare favourites that are kind on the planet. I am transitioning my current skincare and makeup items towards being plastic free. First, however, I am using up any old products that are still in my cupboard and then when they run low I shall purchase a kinder alternative. This way nothing gets wasted in the process. Some of my favourite places to shop for low waste items is Lush, with their pot return policy so nothing is thrown away and also Plastic Freedom, a plastic free online website with a great variety of everything you could possibly need without any cruelty involved.

1. Lush Enzymion Cream
Moisturisers are what tends to be the bug bare of my purse as plastic free and sustainable moisturisers don't come cheap. I have scoured the internet looking for an affordable option that also targets oily, spot prone skin. I am yet to come across an affordable one, though on my current wishlist is Lush's Enzymion, a mattifying moisturiser that doesn't skin out on hydrating your skin. the citric juices in the cream help make your skin look fresh and kill off any dead skin cells.

2. Wild Sage + Co Oil Cleanser for Oily Skin
There are so many alternatives to your average facial cleanser that can be kinder to the planet. Finding products that are targeted towards oily skin however I tend to struggle with. Currently on my Wishlist is this product that comes completely plastic free, with a pot return policy also! This natural skincare helps target acne and blackheads to help clear your skin.

3. Cupcake Face Mask
Lush always holds a place in my heart for face masks, I have used them for years. With their pot returning policy they are also kind on the environment and the company themselves stand for great ethics. On my current list is the Cupcake face mask. This used to be a favourite of mine when I was 16 and struggled more with spots. It smells delightful and absorbs excess oil from your face to give you a less oily finish.

4. Lani Tropical Night Serum
An oil isn't something I can use daily as I do have quite oily skin naturally, but when my face is lacking moisture or looking a little tired, I like to use some to liven it up. Only problem being they do not come cheap and so I am saving up to add this product to my skincare routine. Lani Tropical Night Serum restores the moisture in your skin and allows it to maintain its elasticity. Lani is an amazing company to support and are advocates for cruelty free beauty items!

6. Vegan Amazing Mineral Butter Suncream SPF 30
Finding a suncream that protects my fair complexion but that is also kind for the environment has proven harder that you may think. Most do not provide a high enough UV protection for me (a ginger who needs at least SPF 30 on holiday). That is when I found the Amazing Mineral Butter Suncream, plastic free packaging, vegan and a high enough SPF to stop my burning. A perfect product for those who want to stay protected but remain kind to the environment.

It is easier than ever to take the step towards being plastic free and reducing your overall waste. It is becoming an ever more pressing issue that people are considerate about their waste, as oceans become dumping grounds and landfill sites are bursting at the seams. Inconsiderate disposal of waste leads innocent animals lives to be cut short or hindered. There is no time better than now to reduce your waste!

Cruelty Free Skincare Routine

I have been cruelty free for 4 years now and more recently I have been trying to reduce my plastic usage, especially in my day to day skincare routine. Products I would usually buy that are in plastic packaging I have invested time into looking for alternatives in glass or reusable containers. I keep my routine simple and natural trying to steer clear of harsh chemicals on my skin. I use a lot of Lush and always make sure to return my black pots for the store to reuse for future products to save throwing them away.

Morning 
1. I first splash my face with cold water when I wake up and then use the Aqua Marina cleanser from Lush on my face, an all natural cleanser with extracts of seaweed and calamine which helps to reduce excess oil build up meaning it is perfect for oily skin. I then wash this off with a warm face cloth or reusable cotton round.
2. I then follow this up with a facial oil and the one I am currently using is Boots Botanics Organic Facial Oil that does not leave me feeling greasy but hydrated.

Nightime
1. If I have been wearing makeup that day I tend to remove it using plain old coconut oil that you can buy from regular supermarkets. I grab a bit and rub it on my face, then take a reusable cotton round to rub off the excess makeup.
2. I then go in with a gentle scrub, my favourite for years now has been the Ocean Salt by Lush. This again is great for oily skin, with sea salt, seaweed and avocado extracts helping to buff away the dead skin whilst still leaving your skin feeling nourished.
3. Sometimes (if I remember) I will do a face-mask, this is usually once or twice a week. I tend to go for a Lush one, like Cup O' Coffee mainly because I love the smell. But I also love how it leaves my skin feeling and looking rejuvenated.
4. I will finish up with some form of a night moisturiser to make sure my skin is kept hydrated overnight. I again tend to go for a more natural one that is not to harsh on my skin, and often find myself using the Sukin Moisture Restoring Night Cream that I can find in TKMaxx a lot of the time.

High End Cruelty Free Brands | 2019

Yes I will admit it, I am more into my affordable beauty bits being a student, however there are times when I like to splash out and treat myself to the slightly better quality products. So I thought I would put together a list of cruelty free brands that are a little more on the pricey side to use when those student loans come in. Now, even though I cannot say that I have actually used the majority of these brands (mainly because of their price tag), they are some of the most sought after brands in the cruelty free market. The ones marked with an * are brands that themselves do not test on animals, however are owned by a parent company that does such as l'oreal. I do still believe that by purchasing from these companies you are supporting the cruelty free protest, as you are showing these parent companies that you want your money going to those that do not support animal testing rather than buying directly from brands that do test.  The List  Two Faced*  Kat Von D Pixi Zoeva  Illimasque By Terry Sonia Kashuk Becca* Charlotte Tilbury Lime Crime Anastasia Cover FX Tarte* Hourglass Urban Decay*

Affordable Cruelty Free Brands | 2019

As I am still vegan it is still important to me to make sure my products are cruelty free, and by being student who doesn't have a whole lot of spare cash lying around at the minute it is also important to make sure these products are affordable. Hence, why I am always on the lookout for high street finds minus the cruelty. I have put together a list of some of my favourite brands which I have been tried and tested by me so I would recommend to my fellow cruelty free lovers for both their quality and price tag.

The List
Lush
B by Superdrug
Source of Nature at Sainsburys
Collection
Natural Collection
Barry M
Colour Pop
Palmers
Sleek
Elf
Wet and Wild
Superdrug
Original Source
Makeup Revolution
Bastiste
Yes to

Not to mention a lot of supermarkets own brands are also cruelty free these days, they do not just do  beauty items but also cruelty free cleaning products as well. The majority of these brands I use within my daily routine and I even used them before I went cruelty free. Making the switch to cruelty free beauty products does not always have to cost an arm and a leg and this list proves that it is easier than ever to make that step.

Vegan Skincare Routine

I never used to be that into skincare, I was more into my makeup. But as time has progressed I wear less makeup and spend more of my time looking at skincare in shops that I do eyeliners and mascaras. I think it is all about growing up and finding what you truly feel comfortable in and for me that is quite minimal makeup most of the time. Because I got more into skincare I have been doing more and more research on the products that are best suited to me and found the benefits of using more natural products opposed to cleansers filled with parabens and chemicals that are not great for the skin and have been linked to skin cancers. So,  after a lot of product switches I have finally fine-tuned my skincare routine to what works best for me, with all of the products containing mostly natural ingredients and of course being vegan and cruelty free.

Cleanser
The first step is cleansing and in the morning the cleanser I have been using for many months now is the Safa Cleansing Milk. It is a lovely gentle cleanser that I use every morning to wash away any residue that may have gathered over night. It doesn't dry out the skin as there are no harsh chemicals in it, I have found it one of the few cleansers I have tried that does not break me out either!

Scrub
In the night time I like to use a scrub and my scrub of choice is Lush's Ocean Salt, this may be no surprise to you if you read my Lush Vegan Favourites post. I adore this scrub with its natural ingredients packed full of benefits for your skin. The salt crystals exfoliate your skin leaving it feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. This is a definite top recommendation of mine.

Toner
After washing my face I use a toner, again no surprise here that the toner I use is Lush's Tea Tree Toning Water. This again is a lovely natural toner that refreshes the skin and helps to combat any spots you have with its antibacterial properties.

Moisturiser
I tend to switch between two moisturizers, the Yes to Tomatoes Daily Balancing and the Sukin Oil Balancing, Mattyifying one, which is a recent purchase. Both are made up of mostly natural ingredients without SLS, Parabens and other harsh chemicals. I prefer to go for a moisturizer targeted for my oily skin but these brands do offer other alternatives for different skin types.

Tea Tree
This is the only product I ever use to treat my spots. It's natural and simple which is the best approach to take when it comes to your skin. I also find it is very effective in reducing the redness on my skin, which is what tea tree is best suited for as it is a great anti inflammatory and anti bacterial, making it perfect for spot treatment.

Oil
Sometimes before I moisturise I use an oil and my favourite is the Rejuvenating Coconut Body Oil by ArgaNaturals. I do this about once to twice a week when I want my skin to have that extra little boost.

Mask
My favourite face mask to use is an old favourite of mine and one of the first Lush products I purchased. It's Lush's Cupcake, that is targeted towards problematic skin. I use this up to three times a week when I feel that my skin needs it and apply it after I have cleansed my skin.

Makeup Remover
To remove my makeup at the end of the day I use coconut oil or Superdrug's B Micellar Water. They both do a really great job, but if I am feeling lazy I will often just use the Micellar Water, as then I may skip my scrub and just go straight into my toner and moisturiser.

SPF
It is really important to protect your skin every day against harmful UV rays. This is my last step before putting on makeup and at the moment I use the Safa Organic Sun Lotion. This is good for protection and is affordable but it can sometimes be hard to rub into the skin without leaving little white balls but all in all it is a great sunscreen to go for.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my current skincare routine that works for me. I would love to do more vegan routines, such as my haircare bodycare, so keep a look out for those coming soon!

Posts You Might Like

Lush Vegan Favourites
Natural Cruelty Free Skincare

Lush Vegan Favourites

I love Lush products, I mean what is not to like? A company that protests against animal cruelty very openly. If I am honest, initially I thought that a lot of, if not all Lush's products were vegan but after looking in store at the ingredients I found this wasn't the case. So I thought I would share with you my favourite Lush products that are vegan and that I use on a daily basis. Even though not all Lush products are vegan, a lot actually are and where they can they do substitute the animal products for alternatives. But milk and honey are still in some of their products. You can find the vegan products on Lush's website here

Tea Tree Toning Water
I use this toner religiously twice a day. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and also helps to combat spots by calming down any redness with its antibacterial properties.

Cupcake
I used to love the Mask of Magniminty by Lush but after finding it wasn't vegan I was on the hunt for a new face mask. I remembered when I first started getting spots when I was 12 I used cupcake and loved how it made my skin feel. After trying it again I have fallen back in love with it. It's cooling on the skin due to the mint and also after removing the mask my skin is left feeling moisturized and clean.

The Comforter
This has been my top favourite Lush product for a while now. When I first got into Lush this was the first item that I bought and I have just kept on buying it throughout the years. The smell of this product is amazing, it reminds me of Vimto or Ribena so it makes me feel quite nostalgic!

Dragons Egg
This is another old favourite of mine. The scent of this is very refreshing and citrusy from the lemons, so it is a great one to wake up to in the morning.

Avobath
This is my favourite bath bomb by Lush. Again it is a very invigorating scent with the lemongrass that makes it another bath bomb that is great to use in the morning. I love using avobath when my skin is feeling dry as the avocado and oils leave my skin feeling smooth and hydrated after I get out of the bath.

Floating Island
This is a great Lush product if you are suffering from dry, tight skin. It's a bath oil that will melt in the bath and sink into your skin leaving it feeling nourished. I love the sweet scent of floating island and I find it really relaxes me when I'm in the bath.

Rock Star
I don't often use the Lush soaps but when I do it is often this one. I mainly picked this one because of the gorgeous scent it has, but Lush soaps are lovely and gentle on the skin so don't leave it feeling tight or dry after use.

Mechanic
Another soap, however what is different about this is that it is cold pressed. Mechanic has the scent of godmother if you are familiar with that. The benefits of the cold pressed soap is that none of the nutrients are lost like they usually are when the soaps are heated and also it is a great exfoliant for the skin.

Sophisticated
Lush's cream eyeshadows are some of the best I have tried. Often cream eyeshadows crease on me after a few hours but these ones from Lush stay put all day. Admittedly I have only tried sophisticated but it is a gorgeous, everyday champagne/gold colour. It is super easy to use as you just apply it onto your lids and blend it a little with your finger and you are good to go!

Ocean Salt
You know how I said that the comforter was my favourite Lush product, well this is a VERY close second. Ocean salt is another old favourite of mine that initially my mum used, which got me into using it later on. At first I thought it was too abrasive for my skin but less is more with this product. It is a great exfoiliant for anywhere on your body and leaves your skin feeling rejuvenated and refreshed after using it, not dry at all because of the coconut oils and shea butter that are within the scrub.

Sakura
I can't really explain the scent of this bath bomb but it contains jasmine oil along with mimosa and lemon oil, I guess I am a fan of citrus scents. I love this little bath bomb and when I use it in the bath I feel uplifted and relaxed.

Rub Rub Rub
The purchase of this product was initially inspired by my mum, again, who uses this religiously. You can use this scrub anywhere, even in your hair! (I haven't tried this yet). When I first used Rub Rub Rub, I found it a little weird because when you put it onto dry skin it is quite an abrasive scrub however step into the shower and it melts into your skin leaving it feel nourished and beautifully smooth.

Dream Cream
Last but certainly not least of my Lush vegan favourites is a moisturiser. I don't often buy Dream Cream because I do feel like it is a little pricey for a moisturiser but it does wonders for my skin, oh the struggles! I suffer from KP on my arms and this really helps to combat that by reducing the redness and it being anti inflammatory from the chamomile oil. It also feels lovely and cooling on the skin, so I use this product sparingly.

That's it! I know it was a long list but I just so happen to love a lot of Lush's products. When it comes to it I would much rather spend my money on products from a company who support the same message as I do rather than someone who supports cruelty. It is your money and where you spend it that makes the true difference.

Posts you might like

Lush Dream Cream Review
Lush Dark Angels Review
Cruelty Free Brands
Vegan Dupes

Lush Dark Angles Review

I was on the look out for a new cleanser that I could really feel cleaning my skin. There are those cleansers out there that you can't feel doing anything. But, after doing some research I found that Lush's Dark Angles may just be what I was looking for. It is a mix between a cleanser and an exfoliant and because of that it is great at brightening up your skin and removing any dead skin cells without being too abrasive.

As you know all of Lush's products are natural provide your skin with amazing benefits compared to cleansers packed with chemicals. The little beads of sugar and charcoal really help to exfoliate you skin and when I first used it I noticed a dramatic difference in how bright my skin looked the next day. Like I said before this is one of those products you can really feel working on your skin as you use it. Unlike so many other cleansers after using it my skin didn't feel tight or dry, instead it felt nourished and moisturized even though I was yet to apply my moisturiser, that is from the essential oils that Lush always has in it's products to soothe your skin after using the cleanser. One of the main ingredients in Dark Angels is charcoal. Charcoal is great at deep cleansing the skin and also helps to combat spots and other impuritities on your skin. I really noticed a difference in my skin after using this product for a few days. My skin looked brighter, I found that I had less spots so I was really impressed with the overall look of my skin and would recommend Dark Angels if you suffer with blocked pores or tired looking skin.

One downside I will say to this amazing product is that be careful when you are using it. I have found that when I use the cleanser the black charcoal tends to stain my face and requires a tough rub with a facial cloth to get it off. That is my only negative though as it can be an inconvenience.

Have you tried Lush's Dark Angels and have you suffered the same issue I have? I hope you enjoyed reading this post and  maybe even sparked a little trip into your local Lush.

Vegan Dupes

There are so many products out there that aren't by cruelty free brands or that contain unnecessary animal products. I am constantly on the look out for vegan/cruelty free dupes for some of my favourite products, so I thought I would share some of my current favourites that I have found. Not only are these dupes cruelty free and vegan but a lot of them are highly affordable. A lot of these dupes are Mac eyeshadows or lipsticks because they are such great products however do come with the downside of animal cruelty.

Mac Velvet Teddy - Wet and Wild Bare it all
Mac Whirl - Wet and Wild Mochaliscious (not vegan) - Elf Praline
Mac Retro - Wet and Wild Spiked with Rum
Mac Cyber - Wet and Wild Vamp it up
Mac Soar - Colourpop Brink
Mac Shroom - Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma
Candy K - Wet and Wild Bare it all
Mac Satin Taupe - Makeup Geek Prom Night
Mac Tempting - Makeup Geek Pretentious
Revlon Stay Matte - The Balm Sexy Mama Powder
Benefit They're Real - Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

I hope this post will help you to make better decisions when it comes to choosing where your products come from, especially perhaps your favourite Mac lipstick.

Cruelty Free Brands 2016

It has been a while since I posted a blogpost on here, blame my exams. But now I am finally exam free (almost) I thought for my first post back I would do an updated cruelty free brand list with 100% cruelty free brands.

I have been doing a lot more research on different brands and their animal testing policies. In my opinion I don't want to buy products from companies that are owned by parent companies who test on animals as I feel that a portion of my money is therefore going to that industry. The choice is up to you however. In these lists I have included 100% cruelty free brands and those owned by parent companies who test on animals.

Cruelty Free Brands

The Balm
Two Faced
Lush
Original Source
Natural Collection
Barry M
Gosh
Wet and Wild
Colourpop
Make up Geek
Charlotte Tilbury
Cover FX
OCC
B. By Superdrug
Becca
First Aid Beauty
Inika
Lime Crime
Milani
Paul Mitchel
Physicians Formula
PIXI
Zoeva
Yes To
Sleek
Alba Botanica
DR Organic
BH Cosmetics
ELF
Illamasqua
Hourglass
Soap and Glory

Parent Company Tests

Kat Von D (Kendo owns brands who aren't cruelty free)
Urban Decay (Loreal)
Body Shop (Loreal)
Nars (Shiseido)
Tarte (KOSE)
NYX (Loreal)

The brands I have included in this list I have researched and this is up to date as of June 2016. If you have any updates for me they would be appreciated. But I hope that this list will help you be more conscious of the brands you are giving your money to in regards of sponsoring animal cruelty. There are many brands as seen above that are much better options that the testing companies. Always keep checking for updates by just searching in google or visiting Cruelty Free Kitty

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Cruelty Free Body Scrubs

As a sufferer of KP or more commonly known as chicken skin on the tops of my arms, I am a religious user of scrubs. For me when it comes to body products the more natural the better because it is the naturaly moisturizing ingredients that benefit your skin the most. The natural ingredients help to boost your skins natural glow after removing the dead cells. In todays post I wanted to share with you my favourite natural, cruelty free scrubs that each have their own benfits.

Scrub Love Coffee Scrub

This cruelty free, vegan coffee scrub is great for improving the circulation of your skin. Using coffee scrubs help to illuminate cellulite and also give your skin a gorgeous glow afterwards. If you are a lover of coffee you will relish in this product. It's great to use in the morning to really give your skin that boost and wake you up with the added caffeine. This is a great product and definitely one of my favourites to use on my skin to help combat my KP.

Yes To Coconuts

This featured in my favourite cruelty free products. I honestly love how this scrub makes my skin feel, after using it my skin feels rejuvenated and smooth. The added coconut ingredients really help to moisturize your skin, but at the same time the scrub is coarse enough to remove the dead skin cells. This is yet another cruelty free product with 98% natural ingredients that would benefit your skin.

What are your favourite cruelty free scrubs to help combat your rough skin?

Natural Cruelty Free Skincare Routine

After attempting to become cruelty free for a few weeks now I have finally accumulated a number of  cruelty free skincare items but most of which are almost 100% natural. Some people say that it is hard to find cruelty free products but you just have to know the right places to look. My favourite places are Holland and Barret, Amazon, Lush and Tk Maxx. Also sites like Peta are good for lists of cruelty free brands and that is really how I started out.

Makeup Remover
To remove my eye makeup I have been using coconut oil. I rub it between my hands until it dissolves and becomes an oil and then massage it around my eyes and it remove all of my eye makeup. It even removes my waterproof makeup and also it moisturizes your eye lashes. To remove my face makeup I used the Safa Cleansing Milk. I massage it into my skin and then use a flannel to remove the excess. Its lovely and gentle on the skin.

Scrub
At night I like to use a gentle scrub on my face, the one I am currently using is the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Scrub. Again it is really gentle on your skin and contains almost 100% natural ingredients. Its great at removing any excess makeup and residue from the day.

Cleanser
For my morning cleanser I like to use the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Gel Cleanser. I had previously never used a gel cleanser before but I quite like it. The consistency is a little odd at first but you get used to it and it leaves your skin feeling clean without being left tight.

Mask
I couldn't do this skincare routine without mentioning a Lush product. I think Mask of Magniminty is my all time favourite Lush product! I love how it leaves my skin looking illuminated. It also calms any spots that I may have on my skin without being too harsh.

Toner
I recently picked up the Lush Tea Tree Toner as I know it is great for spot prone skin. In the morning it leaves my skin feeling rejuvenated and awake and at night I feel like it is really cleansing my skin deeply and removing any left over dirt.

Oil
This way a recent find in Tk Maxx and it is a Argannaturals Argan Body Facial Coconut Oil. It's an all natural product and I like to use it several times a week to give my skin that little bit extra moisture boost. Often I find that oils tend to break me out but this one leaves my skin feeling glowy and also I have noticed helps to reduce scarring. I apply it before moisturizer to really make sure that it sinks into the skin.

Moisturizer
This is an old favourite of mine. I have been using the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturizer before I even considered becoming cruelty free. Its a great moisturizer if you suffer with oily skin and leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day.

Spot Treatment
I don't really go all out with spot treatment. What I find works best is just plain old tea tree oil. It works great at targeting spots and scarring. I am not sure if this one is cruelty free, I was just using up what I had but there are many cruelty free ones out there.

Are you cruelty free or trying to incorporate more natural products into your skin care routine? Let me know some of your favourites?

 

My Top Cruetly Free Brands

 

 

In my recent attempts to become more cruelty free I have been scouring the web looking for what bands are cruelty free ad what isn't. Those people that say if you are cruelty free you can't use any products are wrong. There are many great brands that are cruelty free that I actually found I already use.

 

Yes To

I love this brand and I already used the moisturizer in my skincare routine. I have now started using the shampoo and conditioner, as well as their cleaner and scrub. Their products are lovely and are made out of up to 98% natural ingredients. Yes to is a great affordable cruelty free option that you can find online or in Boots.

 

Two Faced

I was surprised to find that such a highly acclaimed makeup brand was cruelty free and although I have never used any of their products I thought it would be worth a mention because so many people do love it.

 

Barry M

This is another great affordable brand and are renowned for their nail polish.

 

Lush

This has to be one of my favourite brands. I love their products and how they are completely natural. They stand by their morals to be cruelty free and are amazing quality.

 

Alba Botanics

This is another brand that I haven't tried out yet but it is a great alternative for cruelty free, natural skincare. You can find their products in Holland and Barrett and also online.

 

Original Source

I love this brand for their body washes. They are natural and smell amazing! Not to mention their products are also vegan.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills

This is another brand I was surprised with and again I'm yet to try out their products. These are a great high end makeup option if you are trying to be cruelty free.

 

Eco Tools

This brand is my favourite for makeup brushes and I previously used them before I realised they were cruelty free. They use synthetic bristles so are also vegan!

 

Palmers

I've spoken about this brand so many times before on my blog and I love them. They have amazing quality moisturizers that leave your skin feeling nourished, lovely and soft.

 

Real Techniques

These are another great alternative for makeup brushes. They do every brush you could possible need so you wouldn't even need to use a animal hair brush again.

 

Dr Organic

I've seen their products on the shelves of Holland and Barrett and have been really intrigued to try them out. They offer a range of different skin care items that are tailored to a wide range of skin types.

 

I hope this post as helped you out if you are trying to become cruelty free or are interested in trying more natural products.



     

My Top Eye Brushes

 

 

I wouldn't say that I am the type of girl who would go out and spend ridiculous amounts on makeup brushes. Yes the quality has to be good, but there are many drugstore brushes you can find that in my opinion are just the ticket to the perfect brush. I thought I would share with you my top eye brushes in my collection that I use every time I wear makeup.

 

Real Techniques Base Shadow**

This brush is perfect for applying your eyeshadow. I either use it as a blending brush for my crease, as it is quite fluffy, or I use it to messily apply my base colour when I want to create a more laid back eye look. This brush is so versatile and you can use it to create an array of eye looks.

 

Amazon Random Brush

I was on the look out for a really fluffy blending brush that didn't cost an arm or a leg, so headed over to Amazon. I found a set of these brushes for a good price but didn't think they would succumb to much, however upon their arrival I was taken back by their quality! These brushes are some of the best quality I have tried! They don't shed and blend eye shadow beautifully. Unfortunately, I don't have the link but just search makeup brushes and I'm sure something similar will come up.

 

So Eco Angled Eyeliner**

Me being the rebel that I am bought this brush but don't use it for its chosen task. I don't use gel  eyeliner and so don't need the brush for it. However, this brush is great for your eyebrows when filling them in with eyeshadow. The thin brush allows you to be precise whilst keeping the shape of your eyebrows with the angled effect. Such an affordable brush that I use almost everyday!

 

Real Techniques Accent Brush**

When I am creating an eye look I love bringing down the shadow to my lower lash line and this is the brush I use for that. As it is so tiny it is perfect for creating a slight smokey effect with your eyeshadow. Also, because it is quite a dense brush it is perfect for packing on the eyeshadow to areas that you want to focus it.

 

EcoTools Base Shadow**

This is a brand of brushes that I love. There bristles are so soft and good quality you don't have to worry about shedding. I use this brush when I want a more focussed eye look on the base. It works great at packing on the colour and can also double up as a blending brush if you don't have one.

 

**These brushes marked with a double asterisk are cruelty free, using synthetic bristles.

 

 

Palmers Body Lotion | Review Revisited

Hello everyone! I have previously talked about Palmers over on my blog. But I thought I would revisit the topic of body lotion after using this particular product for almost a year now. I was head over heels in love with this lotion in my previous post and I will say that this has not changed, if anything my love for this lotion has grown even more and now I can safely say that it is my favourite body lotion I have tried.

I would say I have have quite sensitive skin and I usually cannot wear scented products as they leave me with red spots on my skin. When looking for body products I tend to turn to natural products as that is what works best with my skin. This body lotion contains pure cocoa butter and vitamin e extracts which are known to be great nourishing agents. I did try the fragrance free version out first as initially the scent of this product is quite strong and I thought it would react with my skin. However, after trying the normal version I had no problems with it! I have tried a lot of moisturizers and none of them have managed to keep my skin feeling nourished all day. In the winter time I have problems with dry skin around my hands and elbows and amazingly this moisturizer seems to combat these issues. When I apply it, I slather it all over my body, let me say I don't do it half halfheartedly. If you are not the type of person who likes the scent of chocolate in your moisturizer then I would recommend you give this one a miss. I end up smelling like a glorious chocolate factory and my pajamas smell exactly the same the next morning. I apply it after I get out of the bath or shower when my skin feels tight, immediately after applying this product my skin feels instantly moisturized and it sinks into your skin straight away, even though it is a very thick, heavy duty moisturizer so you know it is doing its job.

Palmers products claim to help with scarring and stretch marks and they definitely do help. I have had scars on my legs from when I was a toddler and after using this moisturizer and nothing else for the past year I have noticed the scars are less noticeable. If you suffer with scarring or stretch marks I recommend you try Palmers out. It is a great fix for the quality and affordability.

Okay, I think I have justified my love for this moisturizer. I think it is one of the best affordable body lotion out there, so if it sounds like it might appeal to you I recommend you pick it up.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush | Review

 

I'm not the type of girl to usually use face brushes when applying my concealer or bb bream, when  it ones to makeup I am much more low maintenance. It's for that reason I have never really experimented with any other face brushes other than my powder and contour brush, I just used to use my hands when it came to the liquid products. However I was browsing my local TKMaxx in the beauty section and saw that they were stocking Real Techniques makeup brushes. Okay, granted the price difference wasn't great, but for my past experiences of Real Techniques brushes and the comparison in price to other makeup brushes I thought it was worth the £7.99. So, after hearing so many people talk of the expert face brush I thought I would pick it up after loving the eye brushes.

I have always had a problem when it comes to base makeup, it always seems to grip to the dry patches on my skin or where I have tiny hairs. I felt that it didn't make my makeup look that great and I found that it always went patchy throughout the day. So after many months, I decided to loose my face brush virginity and give it a try. I firstly placed my bb cream onto my face and then went from there. I blended it in using the face brush in circular motions and noticed a difference immediately. My bb cream went on so much smoother and more evenly, it blended into my skin so much quicker than previously. I was quite sceptical of using a face brush as I expected it to leave my base looking streaky, but was I wrong. My face makeup had never looked better, it was so much more even and didn't grip onto the dry patches. I also noticed that my makeup lasted a lot longer before it started going downhill which is always a plus.

I think it is safe to say that I am converted to using face brushes. Once again I was not disappointed by the affordability and quality of the Real Techniques brushes. What are your views on face brushes? Do you love them or loathe them?

Mac Nudes

Top // Whirl
Bottom // Twig
Middle // Velvet Teddy

The trend of dark nude lipsticks doesn't seem to be going away any time soon, and 'the' place to go seems to be Mac. So I thought I would share with you my three most worn nude Mac shades that I think are very fitting for this worldwide trend.

Whirl
This is a more recent addition to my nude Mac collection and it is a little different from my other two shades as it is a lot more of a bolder option for a lip colour. It is more of a berry nude shade that looks gorgeous when applied with a little bit of liner and a simple makeup look. I love this shade and it is the perfect nude if you want that something a little extra to add to your makeup but you're not really a fan of very deep berry or red shades. It is the lip colour to get if you want your fair share of a bold lip.

Twig
This nude shade is similar to 'Whirl' as it is more of a berry, red toned nude. This was my first deep nude and I will admittedly say that I don't wear this particular colour enough because I do wear the other two a lot more often as I feel that the suit my skin tone a little better. Nevertheless, do not be mistaken that this is a gorgeous nude, but I think it is a little more suited to darker skin tones than mine.

Velvet Teddy
The cult favourite Mac nude. I took my time getting my hands on this because it was always sold out in store, so in the end I had to order it online. This is the famous 'Kylie Jenner' colour. Compared to my other two shades it is more into the brown spectrum of nude lipsticks. 'Velvet Teddy' is my favourite nude shade and it is a lipstick I wear almost everyday that I wear makeup. I love the way it looks with my skin tone and think that it would suit any complexion. It is such a versatile shade that can be kept neutral or build up to an intense colour, either way it looks lovely paired with any kind of eye look both simple and bold.

Everyday Look | Winter

 

 

 

Makeup Used
Mac 'Bare Study' Paint Pot
Stila 'Kitten'
Mac 'Sable'
Maybelline Fit Me '15'
Natural Collection Duo 'Mocha/Latte'
Benefit Roller Lash

Hello everyone! So seen as my makeup monthly for last year has ended, I have decided to keep the series going but by doing it seasonal. I have recently been less into experimenting with my makeup as I am comfortable with and like the products I use, so I thought I would save you the repetitive notion of the posts.

I have been loving creating a glittery eye look, even though the holiday months are over. A current staple in my everyday makeup routine has become my Stila 'Kitten' eye shadow, it is a beautiful iridescent champagne shade that looks lovely when it catches the light and I couldn't recommend it more. Even though people may say that shimmer upon glitter isn't a good pairing, I wanted to keep the holiday spirit alive through my makeup as I mourn it being over. I gently applied 'Sable' by Mac into my crease and blended it out to create an effortless nude shimmery look. I find that when I have been wearing eye shadow I have not been wearing my usual lipsticks and often just end up throwing on a lip balm, then I'm ready to hop out of the door.

That is my super quick everyday makeup look for the winter months that I have currently been loving. It's one of those looks that appear like you have spent time on your makeup when in reality it took less than 10 minutes.