What's In My Shower

 I LOVE reading these types of posts as I'm so nosy and am always intrigued about what products people use. All of the products I use in my shower are of course cruelty free and contain natural ingredients. 

Seascape Island Apothecary Body Wash 

This body wash smells great and the large bottle means it'll last a long time. I don't normally use or even buy shower gel and prefer bars of soap, but if you are looking for a shower gel then this one is brilliant. 

DIY Facial Wash 

I use this morning and evening and will never go back to a 'normal' facial wash. I've linked the blog post about this facial wash if you're interested in making your own as well! 

Balm Balm Rose Geranium Organic Face Balm

This is technically a face balm but I've been using it as a full body balm after I shower. It works totally fine so why not! 

Laidbare For Richer For Porer 'Miracle' Mask

I've only used this a couple of times and so far it's not doing much for my skin, but I'll continue to use it of course. 

PHB Ethical Beauty Balancing Exfoliator

I use this once a week and love it! I feel it really cleans my face well and my skin feels and looks great afterwards. 

Skin Blossom Shampoo 

I've literally just used this up which is a shame but I would definitely repurchase it! I've actually made my own shampoo so I'll be trying that out and will put up a blog post if it's successful.

*contains affiliate links*

What's In My Bag? | Rice Love Bags

Before I jump into the actual post about what's in my bag, I thought I'd share a bit about the bag that I'm currently using from Rice Love Bags. I'm so happy to be part of their rep program (you can get 20% off with the code 'CHARWBEAUTY'). I know a lot of people get annoyed by bloggers going on about affiliate codes and all that, but this is such a good cause and I will definitely be spreading the word as much as possible. And no, I wasn't sent the bag for free or anything like that, and would still be promoting this company even if I didn't have an affiliate code. 

First of all, the actual design is very unique and quirky, and is handmade from used jute rice bags which would otherwise have gone into landfill. It cost $36 and shipping to the UK was around $20, and amazingly it arrived in 5 days and I had no custom charges. It's available to buy here. 

More importantly, purchasing a bag provides 1 kilo of rice to a family in India AND provides women with jobs, which is absolutely incredible. When I received my bag I was given a unique code that actually showed the family that purchasing my bag had helped (see below). I think it's wonderful that you can actually see the people that you're helping as the whole process becomes so much more personal. 

So, what's actually in my bag? 

First of all I have this make up bag/pouch from Urban Outfitters that I keep personal bits in and just random crap that I don't want loose in my bag. 

I then have my phone which is a Samsung S6 and the case is from Etsy. My keys have random key rings that I've collected from Virginia, Washington DC and Vancouver. I also have a reusable shopping bag because plastic bags are BAD. 

Next I have my purse which (obviously) came from Whistler, Canada. It's made from vegan materials and I just adore the design. Lastly I have some hand gel because I'm a germs freak and a packet of tissues. 

So overall pretty simple! I tend to avoid receipts when I can and like to carry around only the bare essentials.

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. 

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. 

Jumping on the Minimalism Train

Do you ever get the feeling that something is just not right in your life? Because same. For some time now I've been buying things to try and make me feel happy, and I do for a short period of time, but it's never long lasting. For example, I have a ridiculous amount of make up just sitting in my drawers not getting used because I got SO much of it in order to try and feel 'happy'. But in reality, it just didn't bring anything positive to my life. 

Now you've probably heard of this whole minimalism thing. So many bloggers are decluttering their homes and making a lifestyle change to something more simple, which I personally think is great. I actually tried to start living a more minimal lifestyle back in June of last year, and while I've definitely reduced the amount of crap I buy, I'm still holding onto a lot of stuff and feel it's time to make some bigger changes. Go big or go home right?! 

There are different definitions of minimalism out there, and whilst it's not all just about decluttering, for me that's a good start. We live in a society where we're sold this fake idea that buying a new phone or the latest eyeshadow palette will make us happy, but in reality, those feelings will always be temporary. Happiness has to come from within and not from materialistic things. My goal is to find happiness that doesn't rely on buying things or from someone else. So it's time to stop buying 'unnecessary stuff' and declutter all the 'unnecessary stuff' that's already in my life. 

I hope to document the journey on my blog and hopefully inspire others to make the change! 

Crystal Collection

I've been trying to live a more minimal lifestyle recently, but there's one thing I will never stop collecting or declutter, and that is crystals! I'm not going to name each individual crystal, but if you do have any specific questions then please just comment below. I have purchased these from all over the place, from Vancouver Island to NYC to a local crystal shop and online sites such as etsy. I use my crystals for decoration and healing purposes. I also cleanse them under the full moon once a month, although it's not always possible to put them outside when the weather's particularly bad. I'm definitely not a crystal expert and am still learning! But anyway, here's my collection...  

Zero Waste Starter Kit

I've been trying to reduce the amount of waste I produce and attempt to live a zero waste lifestyle! One of the most important things for me is reducing the amount of plastic I throw away, which all starts with buying plastic alternatives.

So far I've switched over to using stainless steel straws, bamboo toothbrushes, replaced disposable cotton pads with reusable ones, started using a shampoo and soap bar, and switched from tampons to a menstrual cup!

Buying in bulk and making my own products has also reduced the amount of waste I produce, and of course getting a sturdy reusable shopping bag is a must!

Summer Boho Inspired Home Decor | Budget Friendly

I love changing the decor around in my room and I'm always on the look out for new bits and pieces! My favourite homeware shops are of course Urban Outfitters and H&M. They do some amazing homeware stuff without breaking the bank. 

This Green Market wooden tray was from H&M and was only about £8. I love the whole rustic and natural look is gives to my room, and it's great for displaying plants on!

Introducing house plants into your home is a great way to add a splash of colour without spending a fortune. This one was from my local garden centre, but you can even buy them from Tescos for a couple of quid!  

I bloody love cushions! They're a great way to change up the feel to any room. The more the merrier right?! The two at the back were from Next and the elephant cushion was from B&Q for £8. 

The pyramid glass box was £4 and the trinket tray was also £4 from Urban Outfitters. They're both great ways to display your favourite crystals. 

The faux ivy vine was only 99p from Thing-Me-Bobs, and is a great alternative to the real thing if you're not keen on ivy! It gives a very urban-jungle vibe to any room. 

If you are a fan of ivy, a great way to display it is by hanging it from your ceiling. Plant hangers can be quite expensive so I made this one instead. I can do a DIY post if anyone's interested! 

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!

Updated Make Up Collection | Spring 2016

I'm always changing my make up around and re-organising my collection, along with purchasing new ways to store my make up, so I thought I would do an updated make up collection post. 

Firstly I use this acrylic storage from Ebay to display my pretty rose gold products and to also store some of my lip products. 

On the top I display make up products that have rose gold packaging or that look luxurious. I also have displayed a couple of boxes from Soap and Glory and Too Faced because they're too pretty to throw away! 

I keep all of my NYX lip products in the bottom drawer and luckily they all fit! 

In the middle drawer I keep some of my Make Up Revolution lipsticks and other various liquid lipsticks and lip glosses. 

All of my Soap and Glory lip products are kept in the top drawer along with a couple of random lip products from Barry M and Make Up Revolution. 

On the other side of my vanity, I keep all of my high end eye shadow palettes in this letter rack from Debenhams, which fits them perfectly! 

I then keep my most used palettes in this shabby-chic inspired letter organiser from Store 21. I'm very tempted to get more of these as it was only £3! 

I store the majority of my single eye shadows in this Ted Baker box, which just stays on top of my vanity so I remember to actually use them!

On the top shelf underneath my desk I keep my larger palettes that won't fit anywhere else and other random palettes that I don't use as much. 

I keep my non-cruelty free make up and spare products on the middle shelf and on the bottom shelf I have some make up brushes that I don't use that often. 

In the top drawer of my vanity I store my foundations, primers, concealers, eyebrow products, eye liners and mascaras. My collection of face products has significantly shrunk since turning cruelty free, so I will just have to buy more! 

In the middle drawer I keep all of my bronzers, powders, blushers, highlighters and face palettes.

Last but not least in the bottom drawer I store make up that I don't use every day, such as nail polish and lip liners. I also keep the rest of my single eye shadows in here and the remainder of my lip sticks! 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!