April Empties: Products I've Used Up (+ How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties)

 

Can you believe it's the 1st May already?! It's time for another Empties round-up; a short but sweet little edit of everything I've managed to use up lately, plus some tips on how you can easily recycle your beauty empties.

Truthpaste Peppermint & Wintergreen*

After a disappointing experience of trying to use dental tabs instead of regular toothpaste recently, I decided to switch to this plastic-free Truthpaste instead which I discovered in a zero-waste beauty box. It has a thick, 100% natural, clay-based formula with added Aloe Vera, Neem, and Myrrh and I liked it a lot! It's super minty and refreshing to use first thing in the morning. Repurchase? I'd definitely buy this again, though I do tend to alternate toothpaste as this one doesn't contain any fluoride. 

The Ordinary Squalane Oil*

If your skin is playing up and feeling tight or dry, you can't beat a 100% pure Squalane Oil to help restore the moisture levels in your complexion. This one from The Ordinary is not only a great price, but it has UV protective tinted glass packaging and just seems to last a lot longer than some other brands that I've tried. Repurchase? Yes.

Crazy Rumors Black Cherry Lip Balm*

I love, love, love Crazy Rumors Lip Balms and this Black Cherry flavour is one of my favourites for sure - I must have gone through loads of these over the years! It's cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and very affordable. Repurchase? I don't need to as there was one in last month's LoveLula Beauty Box :D

Green People Forest & Fruit Cypress & Tangerine Shower Gel*

Lovely, fresh and uplifting scent with a good mix of piney Cypress and fruity Tangerine notes, I'm a big fan of this Green People Shower Gel. Perfect to use for morning showers to help put you in a great mood for the day! SLS-free and made with 83% certified organic ingredients. Repurchase? I have a lot of shower gels and body washes to use up at the moment, but I will come back to this at some point in the future I'm sure.

Tropic Smoothing Cleanser*

Last, but not least, I've finished up a favourite cleanser of mine from Tropic. This Smoothing Cleanser has a luxurious, cream texture and doubles up as a make-up remover to gently melt away all traces of makeup and impurities. As it's a cream cleanser, it doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped afterward and it's easy to follow up with the rest of your evening skincare routine. Repurchase? Yes.

P.S - How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties!

• All of the glass and easy-to-recycle plastic PET empties will be put into my council's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme, but for the harder-to-recycle stuff, I will be:-
• Recycling the pumps, lids and atomisers with Neal's Yard Remedies - more info at the bottom of their website here.
• Recycling any other products that my local council doesn't accept at The Body Shop, L'Occitane or with Garnier's Terracycle partnership - more info here.

What have you used up recently?

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Green Beauty: Lovelula Beauty Box - April 2021 review

One of my favourite online retailers, LoveLula, offer a popular monthly subscription box that's packed full of natural, organic and green beauty products from a wide range of brands. If you're looking for something that ticks all of these boxes, check it out! 

Here's what's inside this month's box which is worth £59:-

J.R.Liggett's Mini Shampoo Bar Set (RRP £12.99)

Solid shampoo bars are a great way to reduce the amount of plastic waste in your bathroom and if you haven't found the 'one' just yet, this brilliant Mini Shampoo Bar Set from J.R.Liggett's will be sure to help you find the right one for your hair type. The set contains six different formulas for you to try out or why not share them out with friends and family to encourage them to make the switch?

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Jojoba Oil (RRP £19)

A lovely new product release from Ooh! Oils Of Heaven, this is made from simply 100% natural and organic Jojoba Oil which closely mimics the skin's own sebum. It's perfect for a variety of uses such as a facial oil treatment for acne-prone and oily skin, as well as a hair and scalp treatment to encourage healthy hair growth.

INIKA Long Lash Mascara (RRP £23)

Perhaps one of the bestselling natural and organic mascaras on the market, INIKA's Long Lash Mascara has numerous fans and once you try it for yourself, it's easy to see why! The pure, mineral-enriched formula is ideal for sensitive eyes and coats lashes without any clumping, flaking or smudging. It's suitable for vegans, cruelty-free and works a treat.

Crazy Rumors Black Cherry Lip Balm (RRP £3.99)

The last product in this month's LoveLula Beauty Box is the almost good enough to eat Black Cherry Lip Balm from Crazy Rumors. 100% natural and vegan-friendly, this lip balm is deliciously fruity and super moisturising - in fact, I've just used one up which you'll see in my next Empties round-up.

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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Christmas Gift Guide 2020: The LoveLula.com Edit - Green Beauty & Lifestyle Gifts Under £25

The countdown to Christmas is fast approaching, so why not stay safe and cosy at home by shopping online at LoveLula.com? Here are my favourite green beauty and lifestyle picks, with all gifts retailing under £25!

 

The Plastic-Free Stocking Filler: Mádara Ocean Love Polishing Scrub Soap Bar* (90g, £6.90, link)

Presented in beautiful Limited Edition artwork packaging, Mádara's Ocean Love Polishing Scrub Soap Bar is a gorgeous contemporary product to gift, without any additional wrapping needed. Suitable for vegans and made with ocean-friendly natural ingredients that won't cause any harm to the environment, this Soap Bar contains black Volcanic Sand to give the skin a gentle scrub. It's also delicately scented with uplifting Cedar and Lime essential oils to boost the senses.

The Luxury Hand Cream: Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream* (50ml, £10, link)

Our hands have been through a lot this year so everyone deserves to find a luxury hand cream under the tree! One of my all-time favourites is Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream, which I've been been a fan of since it first launched back in 2013. I'm still utterly in love with its juicy Orange and sweet Honey scent, and the formula is wonderfully moisturising without any greasiness. Even better, Neal's Yard Remedies donates 3% of the profits from their Bee Lovely range to the Save The Bees campaign.

The Vegan Lip Balm That Everyone Will Love: Crazy Rumors Zodiac Lip Balm in Gemini* (4g, £4.49, link)

Lip balms make excellent little stocking fillers in my opinion, as everyone's lips always feel dry and chapped in winter due to the cold weather. This year, Crazy Rumors have released an exciting new range of their vegan and natural lip balms which are inspired by the constellations and the elements. Simply shop by finding the zodiac sign that you're after and put in your order! Gemini is mine which is a sweet and airy blend of Vanilla Cream, Fresh Berries and Botanical Lavender. A bargain for less than a fiver.

The Health & Wellbeing Gift: Alteya Organics Essential Oil Pure Gratitude Gift Set* (£14.95, link)

Fans of essential oils will simply love this Pure Gratitude Gift Set from Alteya Organics. Comprising of four essential oils which are ready to use thanks to their Apricot Kernel Oil bases, the scents have been carefully chosen to help lift the spirits and soothe the mind (something that we could all use during the busy festive season!). The set features 5ml bottles of Lavender Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Orange Oil and Lemongrass Oil.

The Luxury Happy Mood Pamper Kit: Kathleen Natural Christmas Special Mini Citrus Cheer Duo* (£23, link)

Spread some Christmas cheer this year with Kathleen Natural's lovely Christmas Special Mini Citrus Cheer Duo. Inside, there are two bestselling minis to enjoy; the Citrus Cheer Bath & Shower Gel (50ml) and a Citrus Cheer Roll-On Oil (10ml). I've used both of these in the past and absolutely love them - the natural fragrance of Citrus Cheer is a stunning blend of zesty Lemon, warming Rosewood notes and floral Geranium. Both products are suitable for vegans and of course, cruelty-free.

The Winter Treat For Hands & Feet: Natura Siberica Oblepikha Spa Therapy Gift Set* (£11.99, link)

Treat dry hands and feet to their very own gift set from Natura Siberica. Inside the Spa Therapy Gift Set, your recipient will discover two of the brand's superstar products, a Hand Cream and a Foot Cream (both 75ml sizes) which feature an ultra-nourishing plant-based blend of Organic Oblepikha Hydrolate and organic botanicals, many of which are wild-harvested in their native Siberia. 

The Multi-Purpose Balm: Trilogy Everything Balm* (45ml, £13.50, link)

For the person who seems to have literally everything, you can't go wrong with Trilogy's Everything Balm. This award-winning, multi-purpose balm is loved by skincare gurus and makeup artists alike, thanks to its intense healing, repairing and skin-conditioning properties. You can apply this anywhere and everywhere as the name suggests; it's great for dry lips, rough elbows, tired feet, flaky cuticles, weak nails, the list goes on. A practical dry skin saviour that everyone can use and without any nasty mineral oil or petrochemicals in sight!

The Beautiful Soy Wax Candle: JOIK Vanille Et Noisette Candle* (145g, £13.50, link)

I love giving and receiving candles as gifts, especially at Christmas when we naturally spend more time indoors and need the extra cosy effects of a warming scented candle in our living spaces. My top pick this year comes once again from JOIK as I adore their hand-poured soy wax candles which have a clean burn and an excellent scent throw. The Vanille Et Noisette Candle has the hallmarks of a traditional creamy Vanilla fragrance with added layers of sweet Caramel, rich Maple and roasted Chestnuts.

Shop all of these gifts and more at LoveLula.com

What will Santa be bringing you this Christmas?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - February 2019 review

February is drawing to a close, so it's time to recap on the LoveLula Beauty Box which arrived earlier in the month. I've particularly enjoyed trying out these products and as always, the variety included is fantastic value for money with the overall contents being worth £60!

Here are the beauty treats inside this month's LoveLula Beauty Box.

Seascape Island Apothecary Soothe Sleep Oil (full size, RRP £8)

You guys know how much I love anything that helps to promote a better night's sleep as an I'm a terrible sleeper and this little rollerball is a handy product to have on your bedside table. Described as a 'true lullaby in a bottle', Seascape's Soothe Sleep Oil features a blend of calming Lavender, Bitter Orange Flower and Mandarin Orange Peel Essential Oils to relax and balance the mind. Just swipe it across your pulse points before bedtime and breathe in the gorgeous fragrance for the best results. I do find it rather relaxing so I think it does help!

Balm Balm Fragrance-Free Face Balm (full size, RRP £9.50)

If you have dry and sensitive skin like I do, you'll find this next product to be a particularly useful addition to your skincare/self-care routine. 100% organic and natural, this is the fragrance-free version of Balm Balm's bestselling Face Balm which is a multi-purpose treatment that can be used everywhere and anywhere - not just for the face! I like using a little bit of this on my cuticles if they're cracked to instantly soothe and hydrate, and it's also great for lips, feet, elbows and hands.

Crazy Rumors Hot Cocoa Lip Balm (full size, RRP £3.99)

I'm a lip balm addict and Crazy Rumors are one of my favourite lip balm brands - all of their products are cruelty-free and 100% natural, plus they have a massive range of different flavours so there's lots to try out from them. I've used the Hot Cocoa Lip Balm before and loved it, so I'm very happy to have it back in my life! It tastes and smells delicious, and keeps my lips moisturised for longer.

PHB Ethical Beauty Gentle Moisturiser (full size, RRP £16.95)

Next up, I found a full-size bottle of PHB Ethical Beauty Gentle Moisturiser which is perfect for very sensitive skin types including eczema and psoriasis (though I always recommend that you check the ingredients and patch test first if you suffer from either of these skin conditions). I've been enjoying the texture of this 100% natural, fragrance-free moisturiser, which sinks into the skin quickly and provides a nice smooth base for makeup so it's a good one to try as your morning moisturiser. Key ingredients include Organic Aloe Vera Extract and Organic Shea Butter to thoroughly hydrate your complexion, so if you struggle to find moisturisers that work for your sensitive skin, you should definitely try it.

Walden Natural Perfume Oil in Gentle Rain (10ml, RRP £17)

The last product is a beautiful Natural Perfume Oil from Walden, a brand who are exclusive to LoveLula. I've tried out many of their fragrances in the past (check out my previous reviews here), and was excited to see this new addition called Gentle Rain which is their latest scent. Described as a blend of Oak Moss, Labdanum and Patchouli, it's a fresh, woody and luxurious fragrance that's completely different to anything else that I currently own and it will certainly appeal to those who are seeking out more unusual natural scents.

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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April Empties / Products I've Used Up

A new month already?!  I've gathered up all of my empties, so here are the products that I've finished up recently, my overall thoughts on them and whether I'll be repurchasing or not.

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Beauty Roundup: The Best of 2013

I'm a little late posting this but here we go!  This is my beauty roundup of the past year, showcasing the creme de la creme of the products that I fell in love with during 2013.   

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Currently Loving: Crazy Rumors Gingerbread Lip Balm review - Limited Edition flavour & now in the UK!

Back in October, I raved about my first ever Crazy Rumors Lip Balm (the Amaretto flavour, so damn yummy) and how much I loved it so.  A few people were asking where you can buy these in the UK and I had to direct them to various online places as they're a US brand.  But now Crazy Rumors have been launched in Holland and Barrett - hooray!

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Cold Weather Proofing the Beauty Routine

I chop and change the products that I use in my beauty routine all year round, but I take matters more seriously when it starts to get cold.  My skin, like my general self, does not like cold weather and would much prefer it if it was moved to a pleasantly mild and sunny destination right about now.  Sadly, that's not on the cards for the immediate future, so it's time to suck it up and get down to the business of protecting it from the evil, dehydrating, coldness that's rapidly approaching.

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October Favourites

Another month is over, so it's time to recap on those beauty favourites that have been keeping me happy recently:-

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