Spring Beauty Edit | 5 Products To Take You Into Spring & Beyond

Let's face it, most of us don't need an excuse to have a little splurge and treat ourselves to some shiny new beauty products, but a new season is always a good excuse anyway! Believe it or not, there are practical elements to swapping out and adding in a few different products as well, as we (hopefully) move into the warmer and sunnier months ahead.

Here are five beauty products to take you into Spring and beyond.

Treat Your Skin To A Facial Massage | PMD Gua Sha RQ* (£32, link)

If you haven't tried Gua Sha yet, make Spring the time to give it a go! Gua Sha is the ancient traditional Chinese practice of using a tool, usually a shaped stone, to 'scrape' the skin or body to help stimulate new blood flow to the area, thus boosting cellular repair and collagen production. It may sound a little strange at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to stop doing it, and many people say it helps to lift the contours of the face so it's a good one to try if you want a more naturally sculpted look.

All you need to practice Gua Sha at home is your favourite facial oil and a tool such as the new PMD Gua Sha RQ. Start by adding a few drops of face oil to your skin to provide lubrication and then gently scrape the tool against your face in upward and outward sweeping motions, applying more pressure as you get used to it. There are loads of tutorials on YouTube to help you get started. I particularly like the PMD Gua Sha RQ as it's made from Rose Quartz and has five unique points, edges, and curves to really get a good deep massage into the skin. The rubberised grip in the center is also very well-thought-out to make the tool much easier to use so it's a great choice for beginners.

Swap Your Cleansing Balm For An Oil | Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil* (100ml, £4.99, link)

As the season changes and especially as the weather starts to (slowly) warm-up, you may find that your skin becomes less dry and more oily. This is especially true if you have a combination skin type, and I can usually start to see and feel my complexion begin to change around this time of the year. If you've been using a thick cleansing balm over winter, why not try swapping it for a much lighter cleansing oil? Most skin types will enjoy the change and if you've always been concerned about using an oil-based product because your skin is oily, don't skip this; it's a common misconception and can actually improve your skin instead - win-win!

A fantastic budget-friendly option is Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil which you can pick up on the high street from places such as Boots. This cruelty-free cleanser transforms from an oil into a lightweight milk once you add water, removing all traces of impurities and makeup along the way. The pro-collagen formula contains active Vitamin C to visibly brighten your complexion and the blend of Olive, Grapeseed, and Rosehip Oils ensures that skin is left nourished and not stripped.

Embrace The Relaxing Powers Of CBD Into Your Bathroom | KLORIS CBD Bath Block Melt in Recharge* (140g, £15, link)

These days you'll find CBD in virtually everything from skincare to health drinks, such are its revered natural abilities to help us stressed human beings relax and recover from our busy lives. It's no surprise then to see CBD popping up as a key ingredient in many luxury bath products and these Bath Block Melts from KLORIS are so popular that they frequently sell out as soon as a new fresh batch is released.

Substantially chunky just like a brick, these bad boys are like a supersized bath bomb and are available in a range of different blends such as Recharge, Revive, Relax and Restore. I've had the pleasure of trying all of them and if I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Recharge one. Infused with two of my all-time fave essential oils, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli, each block also contains a whopping 100mg of premium CBD oil and a super luxurious cocktail of Hemp Oil, Coconut Oil, and Cocoa Butter to soften your whole body. Add to a warm bath, watch it fizz, and indulge in some me-time for at least an hour for the full benefits. Pure bliss.

Swap Powder Blush For Cream | Fenty Beauty Freestyle Cheeks Out Cream Blush in Petal Poppin (3g, £21, link)

One of the easiest makeup swaps for Spring is to replace your powder blush with a cream one instead. Why? In bright sunlight, powder blush can look a little too harsh and even glowy ones can start to look a little cakey, whilst cream formulas tend to look much fresher and more youthful. I've always been one to steer mainly clear of cream blushers as most don't tend to last very long on my combination skin, however, after reading a string of positive reviews about the Fenty Beauty Freestyle Cheeks Out Cream Blushers, I felt compelled to pick one up to try out.

I opted for the shade Petal Poppin which is the most gorgeous medium pink shade with a warm undertone that I feel would work really well for a range of skin tones. I love everything about this blush. From the super cute compact to the ultra-lightweight cream formula that blends like a dream, you can't go wrong with the sheer buildable pop of colour that it offers. Non-sticky, non-greasy, and lasts on my skin a good 6-8 hours before a little touchup is required.

Discover A Fresh New Scent | Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist (90ml, £22, link)

My fifth and final top pick for Spring is of course, a fresh new fragrance because who doesn't love changing up their perfume to fit with a new season?! You've no doubt seen this one all over social media so I'll keep this bit relatively short. Since reviewing Sol de Janeiro's Body Washes last month, several people on Instagram recommended their Perfume Mists to me so I obviously had to try one out. 

There are about five or six different fragrances to choose from and the one that I was attracted to the most was the Cheirosa 68 Perfume Mist which is popular as it has some strong Baccarat Rouge vibes (and I really don't hate that). It's a sweet and sexy floral fragrance that reminds me of sunny days with notes of Brazillian Jasmine, Hibiscus, Pink Dragonfruit, Lychee, and creamy Vanilla. 

What's on your Spring beauty shopping list?

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My Top 5 Favourite Scents From Aromatherapy Associates

When it comes to luxury aromatherapy products, British brand Aromatherapy Associates is one name that always comes highly recommended within the industry and is loved by influencers and celebrities alike. 

A cruelty-free and certified B Corporation, I love the wide range of essential oil blends that Aromatherapy Associates are famous for. From their iconic Bath & Shower Oils that will turn every bathroom into its own home spa, to their addictive Rollerballs which can be conveniently popped into every handbag and desk drawer for an immediate moment of calm, it's clear why so many adore their Aromatherapy Associates products.

But where to start if you're new to the brand? Here are my top five favourite AA scents to get you going.

Aromatherapy Associates Morning Bath & Shower Oil in Revive (55ml, £55)

Revive is Aromatherapy Associates' bestselling, award-winning morning bath & shower oil and it's a product that I have personally dubbed a hangover cure. That's right; if you've been out celebrating and partying until the small hours and wake up feeling like death (as you do when you hit your 30's), this is the awakening remedy that you need in your bathroom the next morning.

This energising blend boasts essential oils of Grapefruit, Rosemary, and Juniper Berry which all work together to magically uplift and refresh your weary mind and body. Citrusy and woody, Revive always hits the spot when I need it the most.

The ritual - how to use: warm one capful in your hands and breathe in deeply. Massage into the body before stepping into a bath or shower. You'll get about 20 or so 'well-being moments' from each full-size Bath & Shower Oil which works out at around £2.75 per bath/shower experience.  

Aromatherapy Associates Muscle Bath & Shower Oil in De-Stress (9ml, £12)

Next up, we have De-Stress from the popular Muscle range. Comprising of Lavender, Rosemary, Ginger and Black Pepper, it mixes these warming and energising essential oils together to help your tired muscles recover. I particularly enjoy using De-Stress after doing exercise and it's great for things like soothing sore muscles after pilates and yoga. These smaller 9ml travel-size minis are also brilliant for discovering your favourite fragrance blend before splashing out on the bigger bottle, and you'll get around 3-4 baths from each mini as these formulas are so potent.

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oil in Support Equilibrium (9ml, £12)

Support Equilibrium is a relatively new-to-me fragrance from Aromatherapy Associates and I decided to give it a try after a friend recommended it to me. It also popped up in the recent Naturisimo Go Love Yourself Discovery Box so you can tell it's a popular choice with natural beauty fans! Described as one of the brand's hidden gems, Support Equilibrium is bursting with uplifting Rose, balancing Geranium, and mind-focusing Frankincense essential oils to bring some balance and harmony to your day.

Aromatherapy Associates Rollerball in Support Breathe (10ml, £25)

If you're not a fan of bath & shower oils or prefer something that you can use at your desk or whilst on your commute, the Rollerballs are a fantastic alternative and come in the same fragrance blends. For those times when I'm feeling run down with a cold or suffering from allergies, I like to have Support Breathe in my handbag as this contains Tea Tree, Pine, and Eucalyptus essential oils, AKA all the amazing natural ones that help to decongest and clear your sinuses! Also comes in handy for plane journeys and anywhere where there's a lot of recycled air conditioning like stuffy office spaces.

Aromatherapy Associates Rollerball in Deep Relax (10ml, £25)   

Another favourite for travel is Deep Relax and this blend is really interesting as it was born out of Aromatherapy Associates' co-founder Geraldine Howard's studies in aromatherapy and sleep. Featuring a blend of Chamomile, Sandalwood, and Vetivert, it has a classic tried and tested sleep-inducing formula to help calm, ground and relax you, wherever you are. I personally find it very useful for times when I'm feeling anxious as there's something quite comforting about this scent. 

The ritual - how to use: apply directly to your pulse points such as your wrists, close your eyes, and breathe in deeply. Apply as often as needed.

Shop the full range at aromatherapyassociates.com

What are your favourite essential oils?

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Cruelty-Free Makeup: Top 5 Best Natural Concealers

 

Concealers are an essential in many people's makeup bags, yet it can be notoriously difficult to find 'the one'. I've tested out a lot of concealers over the years and wanted to share a quick post on my current Top 5 Best Natural Concealers which are all from cruelty-free brands.

Finding Your Perfect Concealer

Finding your perfect concealer can be tricky and my main advice would be to opt for a format that you like as a starting point. Many concealers come in liquid tubes with an applicator wand or have a convenient twist-up mechanism which makes them quick and easy to apply (ideal if you're always in a rush in the morning!). Other concealers come in more solid set formats in a pot or jar, and quite a few from the green beauty world are loose mineral powders. Bear in mind your skin type as well, for example, drier skins will need more hydrating formulas that won't crease into fine lines, whilst oilier types usually require something lighter with a good setting powder to keep it in place.

Next, you want to choose your shade and I'd recommend finding out what your undertone is first to get the right match - this video is brilliant for explaining the differences between warm, neutral, and cool undertones and you'll find this info helpful when you're choosing foundation shades as well.

Why You Might Need More Than One Concealer

Whilst some concealers promise to conceal every single imperfection on your face, in my experience, it's rare to find one that truly does it all (though I have included one below!). When I'm applying makeup, I tend to want a lighter, more reflective concealer for banishing dark circles and a slightly thicker concealer for making blemishes disappear. You might also want to try using a salmony-pink coloured concealer as an undereye corrector and then apply a light reflective concealer over the top if you have particularly dark circles that you want to get rid of (again, more on this below).

My Top 5 Best Natural Concealers

1 - Mádara The Concealer* (4ml, £20, link)

Organic, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly, Mádara's bestselling The Concealer is a multi-tasking superstar and by far the best natural concealer that I've ever tried for handling both dark circles and blemishes. The success of this concealer lies in its innovative perfecting and illuminating formula which is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and simply glides on beautifully, blending seamlessly for a 'my skin but better' finish. I'd say it's suitable for all skin types.

2 - The Organic Pharmacy Luminous Perfecting Concealer* (5ml, £19, link)

Best for dry and more mature skin types, The Organic Pharmacy Luminous Perfecting Concealer is an ultra-moisturising concealer so if you find your under eyes are very dry, this is the one for you. That said, it's not the most pigmented, but the Medium shade is the perfect salmony-pink colour to really help correct dark circles so I like to use this underneath my undereye concealer for the most flawless results. 

3 - Dr. Hauschka Light Reflecting Concealer* (2.5g, £18.25, link)

Many people have asked me on social if I know of a natural dupe to the infamous YSL Touche Eclat concealer and perhaps the most similar one that I've tried to match it is Dr. Hauschka's Light Reflecting Concealer. I particularly love their Transulent shade as it brightens and illuminates dark under eyes without looking cakey or creasing into fine lines. A lovely light, hydrating, silky feeling liquid concealer that's suitable for sensitive skin.

4 - Emani HD Corrective Concealer* (4g, £20, link)

For those who prefer a solid compact concealer, Emani HD Corrective Concealer offers a highly pigmented coverage and in my opinion, is best suited for covering up blemishes and marks. It has added Vitamin C and works incredibly well for uneven skin tones. Super easy to work with and blend, I'd say it's great for acne-prone and troublesome skin types the most.

5 - RMS Beauty Un Cover Up* (5.6g, £34, link)

I couldn't do a Top 5 Best Natural Concealers post and not feature this absolute gem from RMS Beauty. Their Un Cover Up is by far one of the most well loved products, and it's adored by A-list actresses, celebrity makeup artists and conscious beauty consumers alike. I've been using it for years and always have it in my stash. Best for blemishes and imperfections, this clever concealer is thick and creamy so you can really layer it on if desired for more coverage. Also doubles up as a foundation so you get more bang for your buck and it comes in the widest shade range.

Swatches - from top to bottom: Mádara The Concealer in 25, The Organic Pharmacy Luminious Perfecting Concealer in Medium, Dr. Hauschka Light Reflecting Concealer in 00 Translucent, Emani HD Corrective Concealer in Neutral and RMS Beauty Un Cover Up in 22.

What's your favourite natural concealer?

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Top 5 Frizz Fighting Products for Unruly Summer Hair

Summer is without a doubt my favourite season of the year (I wish I could live somewhere sunny all year round, I really do!) but all that humidity can wreak havoc with your hair.  So if your hair is currently re-enacting that scene with Monica from Friends, this is the post for you.

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#5 Amazing Things To Do This Summer

Summer always feels like the shortest of the seasons in the UK, perhaps due to the crazy weather or maybe because so many of us associate it with those six weeks of school holidays (remember those? Oh, weren't they glorious!).  Either way, I think it's important to make the most of this brief feeling season, so grab a pen and paper (or your tablet/laptop/phone) and maybe brainstorm some fun things to do.  Here are my top five suggestions.

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How To: Getting the most out of your Hair Masks & Treatments

If you like to keep your hair in tip top condition and/or you're just plagued with problematic hair like I am, then this post is for you.  Here are my top five pieces of advice for getting the most out of your hair masks and treatments.

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TOP 5: Xmas Party Glitter Nail Polishes

From L-R: OPI - Teenage Dream (NOTD), Essence - Disco Disco (NOTD), Barry M - 150 Red Glitter, China Glaze - Luxe And Lush (NOTD) and Revlon - Facets Of Fuchsia (NOTD).

What are your favourite glitter nail polishes?

P.S: The winner of my German beauty giveaway is Daniella!  Congrats!

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5 Autumn/Fall Nail Polishes

From L-R:
Zoya - Petra (NOTD), China Glaze - Dress Me Up (NOTD), Zoya - Dree (NOTD), Nails Inc - Savile Row (NOTD) and Barry M - Mushroom (NOTD)

Let's face it, Autumn is a dreary, wet and miserable season if you live in the UK.  Summer is over, the nights are drawing in, it's time to put the heating on, and it seems like forever until xmas!  However, out of this misery, I do enjoy the traditional autumnal shades that come around every year, especially for nails.  Above, I have chosen five of my favourite autumn-friendly nail polish shades which reflect the changing season well and will match the current A/W trends that are everywhere right now.

Are you a fan of Autumn/Fall shades?  Which are your favourites?

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Top 5: Most Reached for Summer Products

I've been enjoying watching the 'Most Worn Summer Items' videos on Youtube recently and decided to compile my own top 5 'Best of Summer' post for today.  Sadly we haven't had much of a summer in England this year (again!), but on the occasional hot sunny days, I have been reaching for these products.

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Top 5: Revlon Colorbust Lip Butters

I'm sure you're all bored to death of hearing about Revlon Colorbust Lip Butters, so I thought I'd bore you just a tiny bit more and compile a quick top five of my favourite shades.  I know that the US have a lot more shades in their range, but out of the 14 or so which are available to purchase in the UK, here are my top five (going from L-R with the photo above):-

Candy Apple -  If you've been wary of red lipsticks in the past, but have always wanted to try out a red lip, then Candy Apple is an easy wearable choice to go for.  As the name suggests, this is pretty much the exact colour you would imagine a perfect candied apple to be.  In a nutshell, it's a fab warm toned orangey-red that is more opaque that some of the other shades.

Tutti Frutti - For some reason this was one of the hardest shades for me to get hold of.  It was constantly sold out every time I wanted to get it!  Tutti Frutti is the colour I would wear constantly on a sunny holiday.  It's a lovely bright orange-coral that brightens up my face.

Peach Parfait - This is my absolute favourite of the bunch.  A gorgeous super shimmery peachy pink, that I can see myself wearing a lot of over the summer.  If you're not a fan of glitter, then give this one a miss, but if you do like your lips quite shimmery, then you'll no doubt love it.

Strawberry Shortcake - I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do, because I generally don't suit cool, blue toned pinks at all, but Strawberry Shortcake seems to be glossy enough for me to pull off.  It's very creamy and more opaque than some of the other shades.  Great for those looking for a barbie-esque pink without any glitter.

Berry Smoothie - My first Lip Butter that started off my buying craze (thanks again to Sandra for sending it to me!).  Berry Smoothie is a medium-pink with some shimmer that shows up as a bright juicy berry shade on me. 

Which ones are your favourite shades?

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