3 Face Masks Worth Trying

This post kind of follows up from my previous post about my skincare routine, and lets be honest, who doesn't love a good face mask?! 

Botanicals Balancing Detox Mask

This is perhaps my all time favourite mask and I've nearly used it up!! Boo!! Anyway, it's the perfect mask for my combination skin. Unlike some masks, this doesn't dry my skin out or make it feel too tight. Instead my skin feels very clean, soft and bright. I also love that it's not too thick and the clay almost melts on the skin!

Madara SOS Hydra Mask

This mask is great if you have very dry skin or just need a bit of a pick me up. My skin feels so hydrated, soft and smooth after using this mask. If you're into luxurious products then I would definitely recommend it! 

Dr Organic Dead Sea Mud Mask

First of all, I would not recommend this mask if you have sensitive skin. It does make my skin 'sting' when first applied but after a couple of minutes that sensation stops. Apart from that I love this mask and feel it really cleans my skin properly. I also think it's a great dupe for The Body Shop Seaweed Clay Mask. The only difference is that this one doesn't dry on the skin unlike the Body Shop alternative. 

Empties | January/February 2017

I always tell myself that I'll stop hoarding all my empty products but that never seems to happen. I actually really like to be able to see what I've used up, so I guess the empties posts will keep on coming! I'm trying to eliminate plastic packaging from the products that I buy, but I still have a lot unfortunately that are made from plastic. All of the plastic packaging here will be recycled and the glass items I will keep and re-use. 

To make this post somewhat easier, the only products that I would repurchase are the Balm Balm Rose water and the Dr Organic Tea Tree Oil. Now that doesn't mean that I didn't like the other products or that there's something wrong with them, it's just the fact I'm still trying to reduce the amount of products I use and actually need. I use rose water and tea tree in my DIY facial wash, hence why I need them and would buy them again. 

If you have any specific questions on any of the products shown, then  comment below and I'll get back to you :) 

Natural and Minimal Skincare Routine

I've been trying to cut down on the amount of skincare products I use over the past few months, and even from my last skincare routine post, it's become more minimalistic. I'm sure as I use products up it'll change, but for now, here's what I use pretty much every day!

AM

In the morning I'll wash my face with my DIY facial wash and then use the PHB Tea Tree Toner. I'll then put a tiny bit of PHB Brightening Eye Gel underneath my eyes. That's literally all I do! 

PM

In the evening I'll take my make up off with the Barefoot SOS Cleansing Cream, wash my face with my DIY facial wash and tone with the PHB Tea Tree Toner. I'll then apply the PHB Brightening Eye Gel like I did in the morning. My two favourite facial oils that I like to alternate between are Argan Oil and Baobab Rejuvenating Face Oil. So overall it's pretty straight forward! 

5 Ways To Practice Self Care

Self care/love is being talked about a lot on social media at the moment and it's great to see more people realising how important it is. Now I realise self care/love goes way beyond taking a bubble bath and reading a book, but I also believe in the little things making a big difference. I've recently discovered just how important self love and finding happiness from within is. I still have a long journey to go but at least now I'm a step in the right direction! 

1) Pamper evening - you've probably seen this a million times in these self love posts, but honestly a nice bath and pamper evening makes me feel so good! I also believe that using natural and organic products is a really important part of self care. What's the point of soaking in a bath and using products that could potentially harm you? I particularly love using the JOIK Relaxing bath salt with lavender essential oil in my bath, which is 100% natural and is so relaxing. 

2) Meditate - I try and meditate for around half an hour before I go to bed every day, although this can be tricky when I have a lot of uni work to do or I just want to go to bed. I particularly love guided meditations and they make me feel so calm and light (if that makes sense). There are so many great books out there that talk about different ways you can meditate and the health benefits of doing so. Sometimes it's nice just to switch off from my thoughts and just be still and breathe. 

3) Me time - I am a very sensitive person and find that sometimes I just need to switch off completely and be on my own. Step back from other peoples problems and negativity, and focus entirely on yourself, even if it's just for a couple of hours. Also turn off your phone, computer etc and just be free from the outside world for a bit. I like to turn on my diffuser, put in 4 drops of grapefruit and lavender essential oils and read my book or write in my journal for the evening.  

4) Stop comparing - I find myself doing this without even meaning to and it can be such a bad habit. I compare what other people my age are doing and have achieved and then panic that I'm doing something wrong! In reality I'm exactly where I need to be at the moment and that's okay. One tip to break out of this habit is to just write how you feel down and get it all out. Once it's all written down in front of you, let it go. It's now on paper so it doesn't have to clog up your mind and thought process. 

5) Connect with nature - this sounds super corny but for me I swear by it! I have a lot of plants in my room and they bring me so much happiness, as does going for a walk over the fields. Connecting with nature can be as simple as sitting in your garden and watching the birds or buying a bunch of flowers. You don't have to go on a 4 hour hike in the mountains to benefit from the wonders of nature. 

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Testing Out Natural Shampoos

I'm always on the lookout for a great natural shampoo, but finding one that works can be a bit of a challenge. I've tried countless organic shampoos over the past year including shampoo bars (which did not work for my hair at all). 

For today's post I have two natural and organic shampoos that vary in price to talk about that I've been using recently. 

John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair £5.50 for 60ml or £17 for 237ml

I have the travel size version of this which is quite expensive, but John Masters Organics is a higher end luxury brand so that's to be expected. First of all, I do really like this shampoo and my hair feels very soft and healthy after using it. One thing I've noticed is that you don't need much product to build up a good lather, which is great since this shampoo is more pricey. I'm not that keen on the smell but once you're actually washing your hair it's not an issue. If you're into luxurious shampoos and have dry hair then I would definitely recommend this. I wish I had discovered this product a few years ago when I had bleach blonde hair!

Skin Blossom HydraVitality Shampoo £ 6.95 for 300ml

Out of the two shampoos, I definitely preferred this one. It smells amazing and my hair felt very healthy, soft and hydrated after using it. I also really like the pump bottle and the fact that it's bigger than your average sized shampoo bottle. It's great value for money and is vegan friendly, so a big plus! It also lathers up really well, which can be a challenge to find in natural and organic products. 

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LoveLula February 2017 Beauty Box

LoveLula's February Beauty Box arrived the other day and as always I am very excited to be sharing what's inside! I'm particularly impressed with the contents of this months box and I know for certain that I'll get use out of everything. There are two full sized products, two travel/mini sized and one 10ml sample. The total value of this box is £37, so it's incredible value when you're paying just £12.50! You can sign up for March's box here. 

Greenfrog Botanic Body wash - mini - Neroli & Lime 100ml - £3.90 (vegan)

I'm so tempted to keep this body wash for my holiday in August as it's the perfect size for travelling with. I've never used anything from the brand before so I'm really excited to try this out (whenever that may be). I'm also very happy to see that all of their products are 'entirely biodegradable and have minimal ecological impact'. It's also vegan, paraben and sls free, and contains no palm oil. 

Madara Micellar Water 100ml - £12 (vegan) 

I've actually been wanting to try out this product for quite some time now after seeing some amazing reviews, so I was so happy to see it in this months box! I'm also on the hunt for a decent make up remover that doesn't involve make up wipes. I will be uploading a full review soon after I've tried it properly! 

Ooh! - Oils of Heaven Natural Marula Replenishing Face Oil Travel Size 15ml - £9.50 (vegan) 

Ohh! Oils are by my favourite brand when it comes to facial oils. You cannot beat them for their quality of product and ethical values. This oil is actually new and exclusive to LoveLula which is very exciting. 'Marula Oil is fast absorbing and full of valuable nutrients including Vitamins E (Tocopherol) and C as well as anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids. Our Marula oil is cold-pressed and sourced from ethical sources. It is suitable for all skin types including sensitive and oily skin.'

Maggie Anne Nail Polish Jasper - £10.50 (vegan)

Another product that I cannot wait to use! I'm actually in the process of decluttering my nail polishes and replacing some of my Barry M ones with chemical free alternatives. This nail polish will be the perfect addition! 'All Maggie Anne gel effect polishes are not only made without the 3 common chemicals found in nail polishes (Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde), but also without 3 other very dangerous chemicals (Formaldehyde Resin ,Camphor and THTP).'

Weleda Skin Food 10ml sample (vegetarian)

First of all, I absolutely love the green packaging! Secondly, this product sounds perfect to use at the moment as my skin is so dry. This claims to 'protect and repair skin, ideal for winter skin protection, use on hands, feet, body and face.' The sample size is also perfect for travelling with or just throwing in your handbag for when you're on the go! 

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Letting Go of 'Stuff'

What defines 'stuff'? For me, it's just objects and items that I have in my home. They're just there, whether they have a purpose and meaning or not. 

One thing I particularly struggle to let go of are sentimental items and 'what if I need this in the future' items. I seem to have this attachment to things from my previous relationship, even though they serve me no purpose and do not make me feel anything other than thinking about that relationship... which I don't want. The other week I made the decision to gather everything from that time and put it in one big pile. I've now nearly thrown out or donated everything and it feels like I've finally managed to let go. This is just an example of actual 'stuff' managing to clutter your mind and the sense of freedom once it's gone is simply brilliant. 

Now in order to let go of this 'stuff' (or anything else I've recently decluttered), I asked myself; does it make me happy? Do I really need it and does it have a purpose? If the answer is no, then it's time to let go.

Remind yourself that you don't need a whole load of 'stuff' to make you happy. For example, I used to buy make up to make me 'happy' when I was having issues in my personal life. Those feelings were never long lasting and now I have a bloody massive amount of make up that I don't use. 

You might also think 'but what if I need it?' and there's always the possibility that you might, but realistically if you haven't used something or needed it in the past 6 months to a year, then it's probably time to let it go. 

Remember that your possessions do not define you and they won't bring you long term happiness. We live in a society that puts so much emphasis on spending our disposable income on 'stuff' that we don't actually need. 

DIY Facial Toner Water | Zero Waste

I've been using my DIY facial wash since September and I definitely will not be going back to buying one. It works so well for my skin and I have also saved money and produced less waste in the process. It's been such a success that I thought why make my own toner?! 

It's been a struggle to find one that I really like and also contains very few ingredients. I used to really like the LUSH water toners, but unfortunately they contain parabens so that's a no go zone for me. However, looking at the ingredients they basically use water, essential oils and parabens in their toners, so take away the parabens and it's actually a very simple product to make. 

So for this DIY you will need:

Filtered water

Essential oils (I chose grapefruit, tea tree and lavender)

A glass spray bottle (preferably one you've reused and can continue to reuse) 

I filled my bottle up with water and then added 20 drops of tea tree, 10 drops of lavender and 10 drops of grapefruit. Don't forget to give it a good shake before using it!!

Grapefruit essential oil  - good for oily skin, it also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties so is great for acne or blemish prone skin. 

Tea tree - another great oil for fighting blemishes, it also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties and I swear by this stuff for getting rid of spots!

Lavender - can help calm irritated skin, is very soothing and a great oil for all skin types. Plus I am obsessed with anything lavender so of course this was going to be in my toner!! 

Let me know if you give this a try!!

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Bedroom Diaries | Feb 2017

I love the way my room looks at the moment, so I thought I would share some of my favourite parts of it with you guys.

My desk area where I spend most of my time. 

Obsessed with this candle and the packaging. 

Plants and a little drawing I did. 

My pens and pencils featuring a painting that I got from Canada. 

I love these prints from Urban Outfitters, they really finish my room off nicely. 

My favourite cushion from H&M.

Dressing table details and my two baby spider plants. 

Obey print. 

My dressing table doubles up as my bedside table. It's overrun by plants. 

Essential Oils

I was lucky enough to get this gorgeous bamboo diffuser for Christmas, and ever since I've really got into using essential oils for a whole variety of things. I have quite a few essential oils now thanks to the amazing offers on at Holland and Barrett, including the penny sale and I had a £10 voucher to spend. I tend to put about 5 drops into my diffuser, depending on what mood I'm in. There's a load of information available on the internet about what each essential oil can be used for. I'd definitely recommend doing some research before you dive in! 

Three of my favourites and most used oils include:

Tea Tree - an old favourite of mine. I use this whenever I have break outs and have sworn by it for years now. I'll put a tiny bit on any pesky spots and by morning it will have gone down. 

Lavender - if you read my blog then you'll probably know that I'm obsessed with anything lavender! I love putting about 4 or 5 drops into my bath when I'm feeling particularly stressed. 

Peppermint - this is probably my favourite oil EVER. Not only do I love adding it to my bath, (especially when I have a headache) I have also added it to a little pot of almond oil and whenever my stomach feels unsettled (thanks anxiety), I rub it on. If you do have ibs or a sensitive stomach, peppermint tea is also great for settling the stomach!

Obviously I'm not an essential oil expert, and you should always be careful when trying new oils out! 

Simplifying Your Make Up | Eyeshadows

I did a post way back in October about simplifying your beauty products, so I thought I'd do a whole series on simplifying other products and different parts of your life. I guess it kind of fits in with my minimalism journey, as well as transitioning over to natural and organic make up.

I have quite a large eyeshadow palette collection that is slowly shrinking as I declutter my make up collection. My end goal is to have a small collection of products that contain only natural and organic ingredients. 

Whilst sorting out my make up, I got together some of my favourite natural eyeshadows to share with you. These shadows featured in this post could create a whole variety of different looks, and would be a great collection to have for someone starting out with natural make up products. These shadows contain no parabens, mineral oils, talc and any other harsh ingredients, and they are also vegan friendly. I have done reviews on all of these products which I will link below, so if you want to know my first impressions of them, then you can check them out. 

I feel very strongly about simplifying the products that we put on our skin every single day, and it's so important to know the truth about what really goes into popular make up products. I feel that as a society we are sold this false idea that using certain items will make us look and feel better, but in reality they are most likely doing more harm than good. If I can help spread this message to even just a few people, then it's a good start!!

Avril Cosmetics Nude Eyeshadow Palette - review here

Living Nature's eyeshadows in the shades Pebble and Slate - blog post here 

PHB single eyeshadow in Forest - first impression here 

Avril Cosmetics single eyeshadows in the shade Marécage and Terre.