Natural, Cruelty-Free and Organic Beauty Haul

Some of you may know that I've been trying to purchase beauty products that have more natural ingredients and that are organic. Also Holland and Barrett have had a lot of special offers on recently so I've taken full advantage of that! 

The Dr Organic Dead Sea Face Wash is actually a repurchase as I've nearly used my other one up! I couldn't stand the smell at first but it doesn't bother me at all now. I also picked up the Dr Organic Dead Sea Bath Salts to try out instead of using bubble bath. I've been loving the Dr Organic Aloe Vera toothpaste so I thought I would try out the mouthwash in the same range. So far I really like it! Another item from Holland and Barrett that I got was the Vegan Multivitamin. 

I also got some new skincare products to try out from Holland and Barrett and some that were sent to me! 

I picked up the Andalou Naturals Willow Bark Pure Pore Serum to replace my Superdrug serum. This is Non-GMO, paraben and sulfate free and is of course cruelty free and vegan! It's also made from certified organic ingredients. Next I got the Safa Daily Moisturiser which is again made with organic ingredients, cruelty free, vegan and alcohol free. Next I got the Laidbare Pack Your Bags Eye Cream. This again doesn't have  any nasty chemicals in it and only contains natural ingredients. The lovely people at Ooh! - Oils of Heaven sent me their new Natural Cacay Anti-Aging Face Oil which I am so excited to try out! It's made from 100% Caryodendron Orinocense seed oil and claims to contain 50% more vitamin E and twice the amount of Linoleic Acid than Argan Oil! 

 

I also received the Balm Balm Rose Geranium Face Balm and two Lip Balms (tea tree and fragrance free). These are made from 100% organic and natural ingredients which is incredible. Their products are also very reasonably priced and they offer free delivery! 

Last but not least MooGoo sent me their SPF 15 Natural Moisturiser and their Gradual Tanning Cream. I haven't used the tanner yet but I've been using the moisturiser when I go out in the sun and I love it! It's not sticky or greasy like a standard suncream and it is fragrance free. Now these are obviously not vegan as they contain milk protein which would unfortunately put me off of buying any of their other products. 

e.l.f. Endless Eyes Eyeshadow Palette | Swatches

I was sorting out my make up collection the other day and came across this e.l.f palette! I haven't used it in quite some time and I was so happy that I had rediscovered it. I believe that it's still available to buy on the e.l.f website and I would really recommend it if you can find it! 

It's cruelty free AND vegan which is something that I've struggled to find with drugstore eyeshadows. The eyeshadows themselves are actually really pigmented and good quality. Some of the darker shades applied quite patchy and also had a fair bit of fallout, but that's not uncommon with really dark shades. I absolutely love the shades in the first and second rows, especially the beautiful coppery colours as seen below! 

Natural Deodorants | Do They Work?

If you didn't already know, your standard drugstore deodorant contains ingredients that are linked to breast cancer and can also disrupt the hormonal balance. Not ideal right? Now I'm definitely not an expert on the whole dangerous ingredients fiasco, but I wanted to share my experience with natural deodorants and hopefully encourage awareness. Aluminum chlorohydrate and parabens in particular, both have links to breast cancer. Now check your deodorant, does it contain any of those ingredients? If they do, you should probably ditch it and try one of these out instead! 

Crystal Spring Salt of the Earth Spray Deodorant - £3.99

To begin with, I've tested all three of these deodorants out when I've been on walks and when I've been at work all day. It's also been quite humid here recently so I'm really glad these have all worked!!

So, this Salt of the Earth spray deodorant claims to give long lasting protection, leave no white marks and have no fragrance.  It also doesn't contain aluminum chlorohydrate, parabens, triclosan, alcohol or CFCs. Oh and it's cruelty free and vegan. Sounds perfect right?! Well, it pretty much is! 

This honestly really does work! Even after a long day out or at work it's still effective. It's also a spray rather than an aerosol, so it's a lot better for you AND the environment! You essentially still 'sweat' but it's odourless and a better alternative compared to an anti-perspirant, which stops you perspiring altogether. 

Faith in Nature Green Tea & Aloe Vera Deodorant - £3.99

Another cruelty free, vegan and natural deodorant, except this one is a roll on alternative. I personally prefer a spray but putting that aside, this works just as well as the other one. It contains no aluminum chlorohydrate, parabens, SLS or alcohol. It's also made from organic ingredients and has an eco conscious refill available. 

Unlike the others, this deodorant is not fragrance free. However it smells very fresh and subtle which I really like. If you're not comfortable with a fragrance free deodorant then I would definitely recommend this one! 

Faith in Nature Crystal Stick Deodorant - £3.85

Finally we have another Faith in Nature deodorant, but this one is a crystal stick, rather than a roll on or spray. It's very similar to a roll on, it just doesn't roll, lol. 

I know a lot of people don't like crystal deodorants but honestly this one is worth trying out. Again I didn't smell at all after being out all day, even though it's fragrance free! It doesn't block your pores and allows you to perspire naturally without the body odour. It of course doesn't contain any of the horrible ingredients, in fact the only ingredient is a mineral salt! 

To make this work, I would wet the stick first and then apply it straight after coming out the bath. It works so well that I didn't have to reapply in the morning! It's also incredible value for money as I can't see myself running out of it anytime soon! 

How to Get a Better Nights Sleep!

As a former insomniac, I know how utterly horrible it is to have countless sleepless nights. If you do feel you're suffering from insomnia, then I would really recommend going to your doctor.

 Putting that aside, today's post is all about my tips on getting a better nights sleep generally. It is so important to get enough sleep every night; for both your mental and physical health.

1) Sleep in a dark room
For me this is so important, especially with the lighter mornings this time of year. I can't sleep at all without my night mask. Any hint of light is a no no for me! Mine is from Eco Tools, but there are so many out there or have a look online. If you don't like sleeping with a mask on, then invest in some black out curtains and hide any electronic items that contribute to the light in your room.

2)Write any worries down
I used to find that I'd lay awake at night going over all of my worries for the next day. My therapist told me to write down all of these thoughts and tackle them in the morning.

3)Meditate
Another way to reduce stress and to clear the mind is to meditate. I like to meditate for 10-15 minutes before I go to bed everyday. I find this really improves the quality of my sleep.

4)Yoga
I also like to do a couple of evening yoga sequences before I go to bed as well as meditate. This again helps to reduce stress and aid digestion, therefore making you sleep better.

5) Turn off and read
I used to have a bad habit of texting and using my phone just before I went to sleep. I would find that the light from the screen would make me feel really awake, rather than feeling sleepy. If you don't feel ready to go to sleep, instead of playing on your phone, read a book or magazine to help wind down.

6) Have a warm bath or shower
Having a warm bath before bed really helps to make me feel relaxed. Adding lavender oil or bubble bath also adds to the whole relaxation vibes!

7) Lavender
Another tip of mine is to invest in a lavender sleep mist. I got this one from Holland and Barrett and I like to spray it around my pillow. This creates a really calming and soothing atmosphere.

8) Limit caffeine and eating too late
I'm actually quite sensitive to caffeine and always have caffeine-free green tea or peppermint tea. I also try and not eat after 8 so that my body isn't trying to digest everything when I'm asleep! Try switching over to de-caff coffee or herbal teas if you feel it's caffeine keeping you awake at night.

I think I've covered pretty much all of my tips for a better nights sleep! If you're a light sleeper then maybe invest in some ear plugs to cut out any noises. I'm quite a heavy sleeper so noise doesn't bother me. My hamster doesn't keep me up so that's saying something!

5 Summer Lip Products

Today's post is all about my 5 favourite lip products for the summer months! I typically go for pinky nudes and glosses for this time of the year, rather than darker, matte lip products. I will definitely be taking a couple of these on holiday with me!

Left to right: Barry M Lipstick Just Peachy, NYX Butter Gloss Peaches and Cream, Saturated Colour Lipstick Naked Pink, Soap and Glory Gloss Stick Pink Punch and Too Faced Melted Metallic Peony

Barry M Lipstick in the shade Just Peachy

This is a creamy, peachy nude lipstick that looks very pretty yet subtle on the lips. At £4.49 it's very affordable and is available at both Boots and Superdrug. It also doesn't dry my lips out! Unfortunately it's not vegan.

NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream 

Another pretty peachy nude shade! Saying that, it does have more of a coral vibe to it, and is of course a gloss. At £5.00 it's again very affordable and surprisingly for a gloss, is long lasting. It contains bees wax so isn't vegan.

Saturated Colour Lipstick in the shade Naked Pink

Now personally, this lipstick would be more of an all year round product. It's a beautiful berry toned mauve shade that's still light enough to use in the summer months. At £7 it's still of course affordable and is longer lasting than the Barry M lipstick. It has a semi-matte finish but isn't drying and applies beautifully. It's also vegan friendly!

Soap and Glory Gloss Stick in the shade Pink Punch 

At £3.50 this gloss stick is the cheapest lip product featured (woop). When swatched it appears quite bright but it's definitely more subtle on the lips. It applies very smoothly and is actually quite moisturising! It's not vegan unfortunately. 

Too Faced Melted Metallic Lipstick in the shade Peony

This is possibly my favourite summer shade ever! It's an absolutely stunning metallic light pink shade with a hint of gold maybe?! Whatever it is I am in love. At £19 it is quite expensive but it's definitely worth it in my opinion. This is going to be my go to lip product for when I'm in New York! Oh and it's vegan friendly! 

Left to right: Barry M Lipstick Just Peachy, NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream, Saturated Colour Lipstick in Naked Pink, Soap and Glory Gloss Stick in Pink Punch and Too Faced Melted Metallic Peony

A quick disclaimer: whilst I now only buy vegan beauty products, I'm still going to use the products in my collection that are not vegan. I just wouldn't repurchase them. 

My Everyday Make Up | Cruelty Free and Vegan!

Today's post is all about my everyday cruelty free and vegan make up routine! I have checked each product and as far as I'm aware they are vegan. If you think they're not then please let me know!

To begin with, I prime my face using the B. Prepared Makeup Primer. I absolutely love this and it's the only cruelty free primer I've found that works for me! Next I use the Barry M Flawless Matte Finish foundation. This has quite a light coverage which I like at the moment. I then put the B. Radiant Concealer under my eyes to brighten up that area and on any imperfections. Finally I set my entire face using the B. Set Pressed powder. 

To warm up my face I use the Medusa's Make Up bronzer in the shade Sun-Kissed. To contour I use The Balm's Bahama Mama and of course to highlight I use their Mary-Lou Manizer. Then for blusher I like a pale pink natural finish so I use the B.Cheeky Blusher in the shade Macaroon. 

Moving on to eyes, first of all I prime my eyelids using the ELF Eye Primer. For the crease I use Make Up Geek's Creme Brulee and Latte which gives the eye more dimension. On the lower lash line I use MUG's Roulette. I then put the three lightest shades as seen above from the Pixi Copper Peach palette on my eyelid. 

For my eyebrows I use the B. Eyebrow pencil to lightly fill them in and then I set them using the wax on the other end. I then line my waterline and lower lash line using the ELF Eyeliner and Shadow Stick. If I'm not in a rush then I line my top lid using the Barry M Liquid Eyeliner. Finally I curl my lashes and put a generous coat of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara! 

5 Ways to De-Stress

For today's post I thought I would share my top 5 tips for de-stressing! Now I have a very bad habit of getting myself ridiculously stressed out and worked up over the tiniest of things. Stress has been known to trigger migraines and my IBS, increase my anxiety and god knows what else. Recently I have been doing a lot of soul searching and have finally figured out ways to be more at peace with myself and to de-stress efficiently. These tips have all been tried and tested, and for me personally they really do work!

1) Switch off

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love social media but at times I feel I just need a break from it. It can also add to my stress levels when in reality, that could easily be avoided. I do the majority of my uni work on my computer so of course it's difficult for me to switch off completely. However instead of checking instagram and facebook when I'm in bed, I'll read a book or magazine instead. Sometimes a social media detox is just what is needed!

2) Meditate/Breathe

I recently ordered Emma Mildon's 'The Soul Searcher's Handbook' and my goodness it has changed my life! I meditate before I go to bed every night now and if I feel particularly stressed, I'll spend 10 minutes just sitting down with my eyes closed, focusing on my breathing. Meditation has so many health benefits and practicing mindfulness can really change your outlook on life.

3) Get shit done!

Hands up if you're a serial procrastinator? Yup same. I tend to have so much work to do that I sit there scrolling through Instagram instead. Not exactly productive. I now have a weekly desk planner where I write down what I want to achieve each day and any deadlines. I also plan my blog posts and create to do lists, so I can see everything that I need to do. It is so rewarding ticking everything off my lists!

4) Go for a walk

It probably sounds cliche but simply going for a walk can really clear your mind and reduce your stress levels. I'm lucky that I live near fields, but even if you live in a city, going for a stroll around your local park will be equally as beneficial! I'm personally not big on exercising, but I do go on a lot of walks. Find what works best for you!

5) The power of positivity

Ah yes, the ultimate cliche, 'think positive and it'll all be fine'. Whilst it won't fix all of your problems, it may help you solve them in the best way possible and reduce your stress levels in the process. Also thinking positive thoughts about yourself and looking after yourself can help you deal with stress. Personally, my positive motivation is to think back to how I felt when I was suffering from depression. I am determined to never get into such a dark place ever again. At the end of the day, stressing or worrying about something is never going to solve or prevent it. 

May Empties

For months I have been hoarding beauty products in my cupboard and never actually using them. They've just sat there looking pretty. 

I have now pretty much used up all of my non cruelty free products which I'm super happy about! Below I have divided my empties into cruelty free but not repurchasing, cruelty free and repurchasing and non cruelty free and obvs not repurchasing! 

Cruelty Free But Not Repurchasing 

My main reason for not repurchasing these products is simply because I want to switch to products that are more natural, vegan and do not contain nasty ingredients. Plus I'm kind of over the whole Zoella beauty thing (sorry). Soap and Glory are a wonderful brand but again they're not approved by Logical Harmony and I'm unsure whether these products are vegan. 

Cruelty Free and Would Repurchase 

All of the above products (unsure about the NYX brow pencil) are cruelty free and vegan! I loved all of these products and would potentially repurchase them in the future if I felt the need to. That being said the Simply Pure toner and Facial Wipes have already been repurchased!

Not Cruelty Free 

Most of these products were sent to me before I went cruelty free, but even if I had purchased them myself, I definitely would not buy them again. 

NYX Single Eyeshadows | Swatches

Some of you may know that NYX used to be one of my all time favourite make up brands. I still love them but their lack of information regarding which products are vegan has kind of put me off. Putting that aside, if you're perhaps new to cruelty free brands then they're a great company to start with! 

The NYX single eyeshadows are only £3.50 each and are available in Boots and online. They can easily be depotted as well if you want to save space which is always handy! They are super pigmented as you can see from the swatches below and blend beautifully. 

Left to right: LOL, Heat, Wild Orchid and Bad Seed. 

Left to right: LOL, Heat, Wild Orchid and Bad Seed. 

Left to right: Zen, Damage Control and Taupe 

Left to right: Zen, Damage Control and Taupe 

If anyone has any information regarding which products are vegan from NYX then please let me know! 

Make Up Declutter & Using Products Up

Over the past few months I've been trying to declutter my life as much as possible. My first step has been to donate a lot of 'stuff' that I never use to charity and to also give a lot of make up away to family. This really all started when I transitioned to cruelty free back in February and recently I've realised that I simply do not need such a large make up collection. Crazy right?! 

Anyway, so today's post is a quick overview of the products I'm giving away and trying to use up. 

Please note some of the products shown are NOT cruelty free, hence why I'm either getting rid of or using them up. 

Giving Away/Bin Pile

Some of these products such as the mascara and the lipstick I'm going to bin because they're really old and blurgh now. The others are products that I simply never use or they didn't work for me, so I'm going to give them away. 

I'm not 100% what to do with these brushes to be honest. They are all made from animal hair such as goat and badger, plus they shed really bad. Either way I definitely won't be using them again that's for sure!

Using Up Pile

As you can see the majority of these products are from brands that test or are either from brands that I'm not 100% convinced that they are cruelty free. 

The Maybelline and Clinique mascaras are very close to being used up, along with the Sleek eyebrow gel. The Maybelline eyeliner and eyeshadows are about half empty so not too far off! The MAC foundation is also half empty and the LA Girl concealer is practically empty. As for the S&G One Heck of a Blot primer, it's okay but not amazing so I want to use it up. 

I own waaaay too many body sprays and perfumes so I'm using the top three at the moment with the view to finishing them up. They are also not cruelty free or I'm unsure about their policies. 

I'm trying to switch over to more natural skincare products so the S&G face mask is being used up, along with the Body Shop day cream. I also own soooo many body butters so I'm slowly working my way through them! 

May Favourites

It's that time of the month again to round up my monthly favourites! 

A lot happened in May and as a result my life has changed in more ways than one. Whilst some of those events are private, the biggest one is my transition to a vegetarian diet and then to a vegan diet. I've also become more aware of chemicals in every day beauty products and decided to only purchase 100% vegan products. I've also just realised I've bought hardly any make up in May as well, so a big change! 

Make Up Favourites

At the beginning of May the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette was released online in the UK, along with the Sweet Tea bronzer and the Sparkling Bellini blush. I have been obsessed with these three products all month, especially the bronzer! 

Another make up favourite has been the Saturated Colour lipstick in the shade 1st Base. This is the perfect dark nude shade and can be worn day or night!

Random Favourites

As I mentioned earlier I transitioned over to a vegan diet recently which of course meant doing a lot of research. I found Vegan Life magazine in WHsmith and it has been my go to read recently. If you lead or want to lead a vegan lifestyle, then I would 100% recommend picking up a copy! 

A skincare favourite has been the Superdrug Simply Pure toner. It's fragrance free and contains no nasty ingredients, plus it's ridiculously affordable! 

Lastly, my two favourite make up brushes have been the Blush Brush from Tere Mere and the powder brush from Eco Tools. Both are incredibly soft and have replaced my Morphe brushes.