Currently Loving: Naturisimo - The Ultimate Makeup Discovery Box review

 

Earlier this week, the online beauty retailer Naturisimo, released The Ultimate Makeup Discovery Box which, unsurprisingly, sold out very quickly. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one and it's the best beauty bargain of the year so far!

The Ultimate Makeup Discovery Box is a special one-off 8-piece clean makeup edit which features some of the biggest brand names in the industry such as Kjaer Weis, Jillian Dempsey, ILIA, RMS Beauty and more. With four full-size products, the box is worth a whopping £161 and cost just £22 to purchase from Naturisimo.

I'm sure you'll all like to find out more about the contents and I've included some swatches of the main items as well - enjoy!

RMS Beauty Re Evolve Radiance Locking Primer (travel size)

First up, every great makeup look requires a good primer base and this travel size of RMS Beauty Re Evolve Radiance Locking Primer ticks all the right boxes. It has an innovative, weightless formula which not only helps to grip makeup and keep it in place all day long, but also locks in essential moisture. 

Pai Skincare The Impossible Glow in Champagne (travel size)

I'm a sucker for a gorgeous liquid highlighter and they don't come much more gorgeous than Pai's The Impossible Glow. For the most beautiful dewy glow, simply mix a few drops into your moisturiser, or add directly to the skin for a more intense highlight. This golden champagne shade is universally flattering and perfect for the upcoming party season!

Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Peach (full size)

Jillian Dempsey is a celebrity makeup artist that I've come across many times, yet this is the first opportunity that I've had to try one of her products. These Lid Tints have something of a cult following and are packed full of organic ingredients. A peach shade is great for busy mornings when you just want a quick finger-swipe of colour across the lids, and given the creamy compact nature, I'm wondering if this will translate well as a lip and cheek product too?

Ere Perez Jojoba Oil Eye Pencil in Black (full size)

It may not be the most exciting item in this box, but you can't go wrong with a straight up black eyeliner pencil, nor can you ever have too many of them, can you? I've had the pleasure of trying out many Ere Perez products over the years and they are always fantastic quality. This eyeliner pencil is infused with Jojoba Oil for a creamy and easy application that doesn't drag on the delicate eye area.

ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara (travel size)

You guys know that I'm a massive mascara junkie so I was of course delighted to discover a travel size tube of ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara. ILIA are another clean makeup brand that I can't get enough of (their Lipsticks are particularly beautiful) and I have high hopes for this mascara which promises to lentghen, curl and volume, without flaking.

Kjaer Weis Flush & Glow Duo in Sunlit Glow (full size)

The star of the box is without a doubt the full-size Kjaer Weis Flush & Glow Duo which is worth £40 on its own! If you haven't held one of Kjaer Weis' weighty metal compacts in your hand, then I urge you to add it to your Christmas wishlist; they are true works of art and refillable so you can treasure them forever. Back to this product which features a cream blush and bronzer in Sunlit Glow, this compact is super easy to work with and blends like a dream.

Vapour Beauty Lip Nectar in Tempest (full size)

A makeup discovery box is not complete without a lipstick and wow, what a beauty this one is! Vapour Lip Nectar is a moisture-rich lippy packed full of nourishing organic ingredients so it glides on effortlessly and feels wonderfully hydrated; a fab choice for Winter. The shade Tempest looks quite dark in the bullet, but it's actually very light and buildable as you can see in the swatches below.

Swatches! From top to bottom: Pai The Impossible Glow in Champagne, Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Peach, Ere Perez Jojoba Oil Eye Pencil in Black, Kjaer Weis Flush & Glow Duo in Sunlit Glow and Vapour Beauty Lip Nectar in Tempest

SBTRCT Makeup Melt (travel size)

A new-to-me brand, SBTRCT specialise in solid, plastic-free skincare and their Makeup Melt is a gentle but effective bar that melts away all traces of makeup when you add a little warm water to it. I love the smell of this and will definitely be checking out more from this interesting brand in the near future.

RMS Beauty Re Evolve Natural Finish Foundation Sample Card

As an added bonus, there's an RMS Beauty Re Evolve Natural Finish Foundation Sample Card where you can try four shades of their latest foundation - 22 looks like my ideal shade!

Keep an eye out for future Discovery Boxes exclusively at naturisimo.com

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Organic September: 4 Skincare Products To Try From Nourish London

 

As Organic September draws to a close, I thought I'd do a special feature on one of my favorite British skincare brands, Nourish London. Dedicated to producing clean, natural, vegan, cruelty-free, organic skincare with the most effective formulas, they have been part of my routine for many years.

Here are just four of their bestsellers that I highly recommend trying if you're new to organic skincare - you won't be disappointed!

Nourish London Kale Enzymatic Exfoliator* (50ml, £19)

The potent antioxidant properties naturally found in Kale, make it one of Nourish's most popular ingredients in their skincare; in fact they have a whole range dedicated to this amazing superfood. My top pick from this particular range is the Kale Enzymatic Exfoliator which is gentle enough to be used as an everyday cleanser if you have congested and uneven skin. 

Although it's described as an exfoliator, it's really a multi-tasking superhero as it cleanses, exfoliates and nourishes the skin all in one convenient treatment. Key ingredients include phyto-active Pomegranate enzymes, Jojoba beads, Probiotics and of course, that vitamin-rich Kale extract, to remove dull dead skin cells and to protect against environmental aggressors. If you're looking for an exfoliator that does it all without damaging your natural skin barrier, this is for you!

Nourish Antioxidant Peptide Mist* (100ml, £22)

Toning mists are quite understated in the organic skincare world as many brands just focus on having a beautiful, but dare I say, 'boring' floral toner to tick that spritz box. However, Nourish has developed the Antioxidant Peptide Mist which will definitely put some 'pep' into your daily skincare routine.

Boasting 91% certified organic ingredients, this luxury spritz contains a specific blend of skin-friendly peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, and carefully chosen soothing essential oils, to help your skin look revitalised, whilst protecting it against the elements of pollution and daily life. Rich in antioxidants, it's the ideal pick-me-up for tired, stressed, and dull skin.

Nourish Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm* (50ml, £34)

Speaking of antioxidants, my skin absolutely adores Nourish's bestselling Antioxidant Multi Tasking Super Balm and this hardworking product is a real gem in the brand's range. Super gentle but highly effective, this balm can be used as a daily facial polish, a 'takes everything off' cleansing balm, and a nourishing intensive night moisturiser for dry skin types.

Key ingredients in this superstar balm include a clinically proven anti-ageing Marine Algae, lots of antioxidants and high performing natural plant oils and extracts such as Rosehip Oil, Pumpkin Oil and Kale extract. I mainly like to use this as a cleansing balm because it's great for removing all traces of daily impurities for a super clean feeling.

Nourish Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask (30ml, £25)

Last but not least, I couldn't forget to mention the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask, which has been a staple in my skincare stash since it launched a few years ago. In fact, I'm currently half-way through a tube when the replacement above was sent out to me.

The key ingredient in this award-winning facial treatment is Magnesium which helps to address and soothe any inflammation in the dermis. In conjunction, there are also other essential minerals in the formula such as Zinc, Copper and Iron, alongside more common natural ingredients like Damask Rose and Lavender. This is a brilliant mask for all skin types to try and best of all, it gets to work in just five minutes - how's that for quick and easy?!

Shop the full range of organic skincare at nourishskinrange.com

Have you tried anything from Nourish London?

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Judging CertClean's Clean Beauty Awards 2021: The Body Care Finalists #CleanBeautyAwards

 

Over the years, I have been invited to be a judge on several independent beauty panels for various awards, and this year, I'm very excited to be working with CertClean again for their Clean Beauty Awards 2021.

What Are The Clean Beauty Awards?

The Clean Beauty Awards have been created by CertClean who is North America's leading certification for safer skincare. Although many of the products that I've tested out below fall into typical areas of green, vegan, natural and organic beauty, the general idea behind the awards isn't about how natural or organic a product is, it's about the overall safety of that product instead (in particular, CertClean focuses on products which are free from over 1400+ potentially harmful chemicals).

It's worth noting that all of the entries into the Clean Beauty Awards MUST be free of the following nasties; Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Siloxanes, Petro-based Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl, Urea, Methenamine, Quaternium-15, Parabens, Petro-based PEG compounds, and Triclosan.

Which products have I been judging?

This year, I have been judging the finalists for the Best Body Care category so I've been testing out the following which have all been new-to-me brands:-

• Farmer's Daughter Lavender Hand and Body Lotion
• Flora's Bare Baoban & Lemon Hand Cream
• Puur Ingrid Ultra Body Oil
• Leaf People Nourishing Body Oil
• Pevonia Age Defying Body Cream

How have I been testing them out?

I've been trying out one different product each week and making notes on the ingredients, application, texture, scent, packaging, and of course, how my skin feels after using them.

When will the winners be announced?

Judging ends on 25th June 2021 and I will be announcing the winners on my social media pages as soon as all of the results have been compiled. You can also keep an eye on certcleanbeautyawards.com and reviews.certclean.com for all the updates.

Big thanks to Cert Clean for asking me to be part of their judging panel for the fourth year in a row! 

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Spring Beauty Picks: 3 Products To Try This Month

Need a Spring Beauty pick-me-up? Pop one of these products into your next online basket and try something new this month.

The Multipurpose Product That Can Be Used For Almost Everything: PHB Ethical Beauty Lavender Hero Gel* (150ml, £18, link)

PHB Ethical Beauty have been busy with a whole host of brand new releases and one that's caught my eye is this latest Lavender Hero Gel. Regular readers will know how much I love a good quality multi-purpose product and Hero Gel has SO many uses! This clever organic and natural gel moisturiser has a light texture that sinks in quickly and with active ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Lavender, Neem and Arnica, it's a soothing multi-tasking wonder. Use it to calm down any form of skin irritation including eczema and psoriasis flareups, as well as taking the sting and redness out of pesky insect bites. New mums can apply it on their baby's bottoms to soothe nappy rash, and makeup fans will love it as a smoothing face primer and oil-free moisturiser. You can also dab a little onto blemishes to help them heal faster, and you can slather it all over your body as an instant cooling hydrator for dry or sunburnt skin. 

It's not just for skincare purposes either though - Hero Gel lends itself to a multitude of haircare uses such as a treatment for irritated scalps, adding definition to curls, sealing split ends, taming flyaways and as a hydrating leave-in conditioner for dry and damaged hair. What a superstar!

The New Microbiome Friendly Toner: Gallinée Face Vinegar* (200ml, £23, link)

OK, so the name Face Vinegar doesn't exactly sound the most appealing, but stick with me for a minute because you'll want to add this 97.5% natural toner into your Spring skincare routine ASAP. Formulated by the French brand Gallinée who are famous for their pre and probiotic infused skincare, their Face Vinegar has been specially developed to help support your microbiome by purifying, soothing and repairing the skin's natural barrier. 

It contains Actibiome, a novel prebiotic that instantly calms stressed skin and a host of postbiotics which work together to boost the beneficial bacteria that live on your complexion. So where's the vinegar? Well, this actually comes from the Hibiscus Flower which is rich in Acetic Acid and AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) that has natural astringent properties so it's brilliant for getting rid of impurities, leaving the skin super smooth and looking clearer than before.

Gallinée's Face Vinegar is light and refreshing to use which makes it perfect for the warmer months ahead, and it's gentle enough for even sensitive skin (always patch test first though!).

The Most Soothing Natural Shampoo You'll Ever Try: Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo* (200ml, £12, link)

The arrival of Spring often brings with it the onset of many seasonal allergies and it's quite common for eczema and psoriasis flareups to also occur at this time of the year. As the body's inflammatory response system is linked throughout, it's no surprise that the skin might feel drier and itchier overall and that your scalp can feel particularly sore or irritated as well. 

Luckily, help is on hand with Odylique's award-winning Gentle Herb Shampoo. I always have a bottle of this in my bathroom and have used it for several years now - I honestly can't recommend it enough! Not only is it made from 100% natural ingredients (of which 70% are certified organic by the Soil Association), but this ultra-gentle, SLS-free shampoo features some of my favourite ingredients that work like magic to soothe irritated skin such as Aloe Vera juice, Coconut Oil, Nettle, Horsetail and Rosemary extracts. If you've been suffering with an irritated, dry and flaky scalp, please give this shampoo a go and I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.

What are your favourite Spring Beauty products?

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Plastic-Free Haircare: Biovène Barcelona Moisture Volume Solid Shampoo & Conditioner review #ZeroWaste

You may be well aware of solid bars of shampoo, which are fast becoming the norm in eco-conscious households, but did you know that solid hair conditioners are a thing too?! Meet Biovéne Barcelona - the easy way to become completely plastic-free for all your daily hair care needs.

There's rarely a week that goes by when I don't come across a new plastic-free beauty brand, and my latest find is Biovène Barcelona. This award-winning, socially conscious company hails from Barcelona, Spain which is one of my favourite cities in the whole world thanks to its diversity, architecture, and the countless amazing restaurants where you can find a gourmet veggie burger at 4am! 

Biovène Barcelona embraces this unique inclusivity from its homeland, and has created a range of completely plastic-free haircare which feels premium, yet is accessible and affordable - everything is priced at just £5.99. They also readily champion the Clean Beauty movement with transparent formulas which are free from a long list of 'nasties' such as Sulfates, SLS, SLES, Parabens, Formaldehyde, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Palm Oil, Oxybenzone, Hydroquinone, Triclosan and Triclocarban, and there's less than 1% synthetic fragrance in their products. 

I love these clear statements on the side of their packaging (see above) - it makes it so much easier for consumers to shop for proper green beauty when a brand is so proud of what they make!

Biovène Barcelona currently has five different sets of pH balanced Solid Shampoos and Conditioners available to suit all hair types and concerns, and I have recently been testing out the Moisture Volume duo which is formulated for normal, fine and oily hair types.

Biovène Barcelona Moisture Volume Solid Shampoo* (40g, £5.99)

I find that many solid shampoos I've tried in the past have a tendency to weigh down my fine hair, so I was curious to try this Moisture Volume Solid Shampoo to see if it would buck the trend. With key natural ingredients such as Apple Cider Vinegar, Biotin, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Macadamia Oil and Vitamin E, this light green coloured solid bar promises to volumise fine hair, giving it extra strength and resilience, whilst keeping it hydrated and preventing product build-up. To use it, I simply added water to the bar to create a light lather and then massaged the lather into wet hair. It smells really fresh and left my hair thoroughly clean without feeling 'squeaky' or dry afterwards. I didn't notice any extra volume though.

Biovène Barcelona Moisture Volume Solid Conditioner* (40g, £5.99)

After enjoying a positive experience with the shampoo, I followed up with the matching Solid Conditioner with high hopes but sadly, I was left disappointed. The Conditioner has similar ingredients to the shampoo - there's Biotin, Apple Cider Vinegar, Shea Butter, Beeswax and Macadamia Oil etc, however, it just felt a bit waxy and sticky in consistency. I followed the instructions and applied the bar directly to my hair, smoothing it over and leaving it on for 5 minutes before rinsing. After rinsing, my hair unfortunately felt very tangled and sticky, which didn't improve after I got out of the shower and left it to air dry. I tried a couple of different methods after that, including wetting the bar between my hands and then smoothing the conditioner onto my hair, but the results proved to be much the same with my hair feeling dry with a waxy residue left on it, despite numerous rinses.

Overall thoughts?

I can definitely recommend the Moisture Volume Solid Shampoo, but my hair just didn't like the Solid Conditioner sadly! I may be tempted to try some of the other conditioners in the future to see how different the formulas are though - fingers crossed.

Shop the full range of Biovène Barcelona plastic-free haircare at LoveLula.com

Have you tried plastic-free haircare?

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Introducing: Aromatica - Clean & Vegan Beauty Products from Korea

It's always exciting to receive packages from abroad, especially when it comes to discovering ethical beauty brands who are leading the way in sustainability and clean beauty values in their home countries and beyond. This week, I'd like to introduce you to Aromatica from Korea.

Aromatica prides itself on offering a wide range of cruelty-free and vegan-friendly products that covers, well, everything! From haircare and skincare to body care and items for the home, Aromatica has something for everyone. Born in 2004, it is involved in researching cosmetic ingredient safety campaigns for Korea and works alongside the EWG (Environmental Working Group) to help educate consumers who are concerned about the impact of certain ingredients on their health and the environment. 

Needless to say, all of Aromatica's products are certified by ECOCERT & COSMOS, Vegan, EWG VERIFIED™ and follow the company's own strict standards when new formulas are tested and developed. I was kindly sent a selection of Aromatica's bestsellers to try out to give you an example of what they have to offer.

 Aromatica Rosemary Scalp Scaling Shampoo* (400ml, $26, link)

The colder months can often spell trouble for those who have sensitive and dry scalps, and they can even trigger symptoms in people who generally don't have any problems throughout the year. If your scalp is feeling itchy, irritated or you're suffering from dandruff, give this Rosemary Scalp Scaling Shampoo a go.

Free from silicones and sulphates, as well as a vast range of other potentially irritating known ingredients, this shampoo produces a light lather when plenty of water is added to it and it has a pleasantly fresh and herbal scent. The 97% natural ingredient formula does an excellent job of gently cleansing the hair and scalp, but like many shampoos of this nature, it did leave my hair feeling a little drier than usual afterwards, so a good quality conditioner is a must to use alongside it. On the plus side, it's great for clearing up dandruff!

 Aromatica Organic Jojoba Golden Barrier Oil* (30ml, $36, link)

If you're a fan of aromatherapy, you'll be all too familiar with the concept of barrier oils and these multi-purpose oils are a great way to customise a skincare routine. This one features quite simply a high quality, 100% natural and organic cold-pressed Jojoba Seed Oil, without nothing else added to it for the ultimate purity. The luxurious glass bottle comes with an inbuilt dropper dispenser and you can use this in so many different ways.

Create your own facial, bath or body oil by mixing it with your favourite essential oils, or simply just apply it on its own to reap the natural moisturising properties of this liquid gold.

Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum* (130ml, $44, link)

Perhaps one of Aromatica's most popular products is the Rose Absolute First Serum and this may be partly due to the Korean beauty trend of including an essence in their famous multiple-step skincare routines. This highly concentrated treatment triples up as a toner, essence and serum, all-in-one and it boasts a formula which is 97.3% natural and 80.4% organic.

Perfect for dry and mature skin types, the serum has a thick but easily absorbed consistency with the unmistakable scent of fresh roses. It helps to balance and brighten the skin, boosting hydration levels and smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, so if you're looking for an all-round anti-ageing skincare product to add to your Christmas gift list, this is definitely one to try!

Aromatica Organic Aloe Vera Gel* (300ml, $14, link)

I also want to give a special mention to this Organic Aloe Vera Gel because I've been using it on a regular basis to soothe my dry skin for the past month or so. Made from 99.5% natural ingredients, 96.5% of which are certified organic, this is a wonderful multi-purpose gel which will appeal to those who don't like using heavy or sticky body creams or butters. Instead, this lightweight gel sinks quickly into the skin and it helps to calm down and reduce any irritation. A pleasure to use on the face and body, it's also ideal as an after-sun treatment to combat sunburn.

Shop the full range at thearomatica.co with free shipping over $100

What are your favourite natural Korean beauty brands?

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