Travel Beauty | Nourish London Skincare Minis review #OrganicSeptember

If you're about to go away on a lovely September break, you're probably thinking about what skincare to take with you. Make the packing easy peasy with Nourish London's range of skincare minis and you're ready to go!

Nourish London is a natural, organic, vegan and cruelty-free skincare brand that I've been a huge fan of for many years. A lot of their products are available in handy travel-sizes, but even if you're not lucky enough to be going away, these miraculous minis are a great way to try the brand before deciding if you want to invest in the full-sizes.

Here are four of my favourites to get you started.

Nourish London Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm* (15ml, £13)

This little jar of multi-tasking goodness is perfect for those who are struggling to fit a full skincare routine into their carry-on. You can use this as a deep cleanser, gentle exfoliator, face mask, and an intensive moisturiser. Supercharged with antioxidants and omega-rich plant oils, a tiny amount goes a long way so there's no fear of running out whilst you're on holiday.

Nourish London Antioxidant Peptide Mist* (15ml, £7)

Many friends that I know forget to take a toner/mist with them so make sure to add one of these to your shopping basket before you go. Personally, I love a hydrating facial mist to keep my skin looking fresh and revived, and this Peptide Mist is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Liquorice for a quick and easy instant brightener for any complexion that's not looking its best after being on a plane for several hours!

Nourish London Argan Skin Rescue* (5ml, £10)

Travelling can take its toll on your skin so this suits-all-skin-types Argan Skin Rescue Facial oil is an essential of mine. Just a few drops will transform and boost your skin thanks to a clever formulation of organic Argan Oil, Vitamin C and Abyssinian Oil. Your complexion will feel smoother due its collagen-repairing properties and feel much more hydrated even after the first use.

Nourish London Kale 3D Cleanse* (30ml, £9.50)

With its cool colour changing formula, Nourish's award-winning Kale 3D Cleanse makes short work of all your makeup and sunscreen whilst gently removing impurities for overall clearer skin. Suitable for all skin types, it features key ingredients such as Kale, oxygenating extracts, Hyaluronic Acid and Probiotics. I love using this after a long day of sightseeing to literally take the day off!

Have you tried Nourish London?

Shop the full range at nourishskinrange.com

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Foodie Friday | Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce review

Calling all my fellow hot sauce fans, this post is especially for you! Add lots of flavour and that all-important HEAT to your favourite dishes with these tasty offerings from Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce.

Hot sauce is one of those essentials that you'll always find in my fridge. In fact, you'll always find a mighty fine selection to choose from; I believe at last count, I had at least nine or ten different bottles opened! #sorrynotsorry

If hot sauce also equals life in your household, keep on scrolling to read more about Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce - my latest condiment obsession.

With its bright and colourful packaging and neat small glass bottles, Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce has got their branding on point. Needless to say, these award-winning hot sauces have gone from strength to strength since starting out back in 2013. Handmade with the utmost attention to flavour and that delicious heat, this small brand is based in Berlin and has been a firm favourite at the USA World Hot Sauce Awards and Britain's very own Great Taste Awards.

What sets Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce apart from the competition is the team's passion and dedication to bringing interesting flavour combinations to life, and their mission is to set your tastebuds on fire, one hot sauce at a time! 

With only the best high-quality ingredients and no additives, preservatives or sugar in their sauces, it's easy to see why Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce has grown so much in popularity over the past few years. 

Let's take a closer look at some of their bestselling flavours!

Like all well-rounded hot sauce brands, there is a wide range of flavours and different levels of heat to suit everyone; from those who just like a little kick of the hot stuff on their chips, to the serious chilli connoisseurs, you'll find something that's right for you.

Jalapeño & Date gets the party started with the lowest level of heat and the perfect balance of Jalapeños and Dates to give it a little sweetness. This is the kind of sauce that you can use on pretty much anything and everything. Scoville rating 3,000 SHU

Scotch Bonnet & Caribbean Spices offers a medium heat level with a zesty blend of Scotch Bonnets, Caribbean Spices, Garlic and Ginger. Usually, I'm not the biggest fan of Scotch Bonnets but this sauce is something different and very special from others that I've tried with no bitterness at all. Scoville rating 7,000 SHU

Chipotle & Pineapple is a really unique hot sauce with lots of smoky flavours, ideal for drizzling over grilled meats and veggies. Again, the Pineapple provides just enough sweetness to make it incredibly addictive! Scoville rating 10,000 SHU 

Habanero & Tomatillo is perhaps my personal favourite. This hot sauce is just utterly moreish with a bold flavour profile thanks to Habernero Chillies and ultra tangy Tomatillos. Scoville rating 25,000 SHU

Ghost Pepper & Mango leads the way to the hotter end of the chilli spectrum. Made with Bhut Jolokia Ghost Chillies and juicy Mangoes, it will add some serious heat to your favourite dishes and truly packs a punch! Scoville rating 30,000 SHU

Trinidad Scorpion & Clementine is one of the most unusual hot sauces that I have ever tried. Crafted with fiery Trinidad Scorpion Chillies and sweet Clementines, it's another great example of how to make a hot sauce that's tasty and complex, but without any bitterness or weird aftertaste. Scoville rating 50,000 SHU

Carolina Reaper & Blueberry is described as a 'flavour bomb' and well, that sums it up perfectly! Made with the world's hottest Carolina Reaper chilli peppers, the touch of Blueberries helps to balance out the flavour and surprisingly, it works beautifully. Scoville rating 65,000 SHU

Superhot Naga, not recommended for the faint of heart, this fermented creation is one of three different 'superhot' flavours which represent the brand's 'hottest ever sauces'. They're certainly not joking either. Made with a hell of a lot of Naga Bhut Jolokia Chillies, you'll also find White Wine Vinegar, Ginger, Garlic, Onion Powder, Madras Curry Powder and a touch of Salt in this complex but tasty blend. Add a little to your homemade curries/stir-fries/stews when you want to feel the burn! Scoville rating 250,000 SHU

Discover the full range at crazybsauce.co.uk

Do you love hot sauces?

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Health & Lifestyle | Optibac Every Day, Adult Gummies & Intimate Flora For Women Probiotics review

There's not a day that seems to go past without someone mentioning how they are improving their Gut Health on social media, and this post is yet another reminder of how important it is to look after your gut. In addition to eating a wide variety of different foods, taking probiotic supplements can also help to boost the number of friendly bacteria that live in your gut, thus helping to revitalise your overall health in the process.

What Are Probiotics?

First things first though, what exactly are probiotics? Probiotics are the name for the numerous strains of live bacteria and yeasts that live in your body. They can be found in lots of different foods that are mainly fermented or cultured in some way such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh, and certain types of yogurts. If you eat a healthy plant-based diet, you're probably already consuming a lot of these! 

Why Do We Need Probiotics?

Probiotics are essential to supporting a healthy digestive system; one easy way to remember them is to think of them as the 'good guys' as they are the friendly bacteria that we need to keep our gut nice and balanced. Unfortunately, many of us don't eat a varied diet in the Western world, and things like alcohol and junk/ultra-processed foods can upset the delicate balance of the good versus bad bacteria in the gut. This imbalance can lead to digestive problems such as IBS and 'leaky gut' (where your body finds it difficult to retain essential vitamins and minerals), as well as issues with your immunity. 

On top of this, stress and antibiotics also cause gut imbalances, so much so, that countries such as Germany and Sweden often provide a course of probiotics when you're given a prescription of antibiotics to counterbalance the side effects on your gut. It's also a useful reminder to only take antibiotics when you absolutely have to. 

How Do Supplements Help?

Probiotic supplements can be a very useful way to top up the friendly good bacteria that your body needs but not all supplements are created equally, so make sure you read the label before purchasing. Brands such as Optibac offer expert advice online to help you to choose the formula that's right for your individual needs, and with a good range to choose from, there's something to suit everyone. Here are just three examples of what they have to offer your gut health, all of which are packaged in glass jars or compostable pouches. And for everyone who has a vagina, there's a specialist supplement just for you at the end of this post!

Optibac Every Day* (£12.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

For a good all-rounder that will suit most people, Optibac Every Day is an excellent choice. This daily supplement contains six highly researched strains of friendly bacteria which have been proven to survive the acidity of the stomach so that you can properly reap the health rewards. These strains are Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11®, Lactobacillus acidophilus/helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175, Lactococcus lactis Rosell-1058, Bifidobacterium breve Rosell-70, and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71. Optibac has also added FOS fibres which are scientifically proven to increase your natural gut bacteria. 

With five billion live cultures in each capsule, this supplement is vegetarian-friendly, yeast and gluten-free, contains no added sugars, is free from artificial colours, and is safe to consume during pregnancy. I've tried many probiotic supplements over the years from various brands and you really can't beat the price point vs quality from Optibac, making them the most affordable in the market.  

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, ideally with breakfast. Can be increased to two capsules a day if professionally recommended and is suitable for ongoing use.

 

Optibac Adult Gummies* (£12.99, 30 gummies, one month supply, link)

If you're not keen on taking capsules or have difficulty swallowing them, the Optibac Adult Gummies are a brilliant alternative. These gummies have a delicious mixed berry flavour, are gluten-free, contain no added sugar and have no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives. They are also Vegan approved so there's no nasty gelatine. This formula contains the scientifically proven strain Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 and is combined with FOS fibres, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Calcium to provide a gut and immune health supplement all in one. Each gummy has five billion live cultures of the good stuff.

How to use: take one gummy per day, with or without food, do not exceed this recommended daily dosage. Can be used on an ongoing basis, but please consult with your GP/medical professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a serious medical condition before consuming.

Optibac Intimate Flora For Women* (£19.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

Lastly, I wanted to feature the Optibac Intimate Flora For Women because I have personally found these so useful for helping me to lessen the number of UTIs (and to recover more quickly from) that I used to experience. If you have a vagina, you need to try these! This is a very specific and specially formulated supplement that contains friendly bacteria strains which are naturally found in the vagina and urinary tract; all of which have been scientifically researched and proven to reach the vagina, with over 30 years of research to back up this all-important formula to support the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. So to recap, this isn't one for your gut!

Each capsule boasts three strains; Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® with 2.5 billion live cultures. As the bacteria in the vagina is different from the gut, it makes sense to support it with a specialist supplement, so you can take this alongside one of the other gut formulas above. These are vegan-friendly, gluten & yeast free, and suitable to take during pregnancy.

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, preferably with breakfast. You can take these on an ongoing basis or intensively to help rebalance your vaginal health if you have a UTI (if the latter, I would recommend increasing to two capsules per day which is what I have done in the past - and it worked really well for me!).

Shop the full range of Optibac supplements and take advantage of 15% discounts when you subscribe and save: optibacprobiotics.com/uk/

Have you tried any probiotics?

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Bedtime Routine with Nourish London | Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask & Sleepy Pillow Mist review

These two additions to my bedtime beauty routine from Nourish London make an excellent team for getting a good night's sleep and gorgeous glowing skin come the morning. Now if only they could stop the alarm clock from going off so early...

Regular readers will know how much of a fan I am of Nourish, and guess what? These two featured products are actually a re-discovery of old favourities from the brand. For those who are new to these parts, Nourish is a particularly lovely natural and organic skincare brand based in London with vegan and cruelty-free accreditations.  There's a lot to love from this company so feel free to check out my previous reviews and feature on Nourish here. 

For now, though, let's take a closer look at two of their bestsellers that you can add to your bedtime beauty routine; the Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask and Sleepy Pillow Mist.

Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask* (30ml, £26, link)

When I'm winding down for the evening and have some spare time on my hands, I love to indulge in a proper pampering skincare session. Think of a deep cleanse, a good facial massage, and of course, a luxury treatment to really get those relaxing spa-at-home vibes going. 

Nourish's Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask is a nutrient-rich, anti-aging face mask that delivers all the probiotic minerals that your skin needs to help repair itself and to support a healthy skin barrier against the elements. This award-winning treatment boasts ingredients such as Magnesium to calm down any inflammation and redness, whilst Zinc, Copper, and Iron helps to further repair and protect. Damask Rose and Lavender are also included to boost collagen, restore firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The inbuilt pump makes applying this mask super easy and I like to apply a generous layer all over, avoiding the eye area. This mask gets to work in just five minutes before it's rinsed off with a warm flannel and it doubles up as an intensive overnight treatment that you can leave on while you sleep if your skin requires more TLC.

 

Nourish London Sleepy Pillow Mist* (100ml, £20, link)

As a chronic insomniac, I'm a bit addicted to pillow sprays and always have to use one to help me to drift off to sleep. I've tried pretty much every one out there on the market and often come back to Nourish's Sleepy Pillow Mist as it's very effective. 

This is a beautiful aromatherapy blend of nine carefully chosen essential oils, all famed for their calming and soothing properties such as Frankincense, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Geranium, and of course, the most famous sleepy essential oil of them all, Lavender. There's also the addition of Epsom Salts which are rich in Magnesium; great for reducing stress, all wrapped up in an alcohol-free mist.

To use, simply spritz a few times over your pillow and bedding before going to sleep and breathe in the relaxing scent to help you to unwind.

Discover more at nourishskinrange.com

What products are in your bedtime beauty routine?

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Bank Holiday Treats | 4 Products To Try This Month from Suntribe, PMD, Upcircle & Wunder Workshop

If you're feeling spendy and fancy treating yourself over the long weekend, here are four products that I've been loving lately from Suntribe, PMD, Upcircle, and Wunder Workshop. Why not give one of them a try?

Suntribe Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50* (100ml, £19.99, link)

Sunscreen is an obvious skincare staple at this time of the year but if you've been struggling to find one that's 100% natural, Suntribe is here to help. The Swedish brand have recently released a brand new addition to their range; the Active Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 and this ticks a lot of boxes that I tend to look out for. 

First up, it's 100% natural, cruelty-free, water resistant, and reef-safe, so it's a positive choice to opt for if you love swimming in the sea as much as I do. The certified broad-spectrum, mineral-based formula protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays meaning that you're fully protected, and it features an innovative combination of these mineral UV filters and Pongamia Glabra Seed Oil which helps to reduce the annoying 'white cast' that sunscreen can give off. To top it off, this sunscreen is packaged in a plastic-free 100% biobased sugar cane tube too - is there any box that it doesn't tick?! 

PMD Clean Acne* (£209, link)

This next product is certainly an investment piece, however, I've been putting it to the test for nearly six weeks now and I can say it's definitely worth the money. If you have acne/and or blemish breakouts, the PMD Clean Acne is a must-try. 

This smart facial cleansing device uses PMD's trademarked SonicGlow technology to deliver a really deep cleanse on one side (first photo with the silicone head), and on the reverse, you'll find its medical-grade Blue Light Therapy Spot Treatment side (as shown above), which helps to treat mild to moderate cases of acne and blemishes. I'm a big fan of the PMD Clean range and feel this product really steps up the mark with such a clever 2-in-1 device that you can add to your daily skincare routine. It's super easy to use and comes with everything that you need (a USB charger, goggles to wear when using the Blue Light side, and a handy travel case). 

Upcircle Face Mask* (60ml, £20.99, link)

Face masks are a great way to give your skin some TLC, especially during a long Bank Holiday weekend and I've been particularly enjoying using this one from Upcircle. This is a truly lovely brand to look into if you haven't heard of them before as everything that they produce is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and sustainable. They use key ingredients that are by-products from the food industry that would normally go to waste which is brilliant to see, plus I love the luxe glass jar packaging.

It's not surprising then to hear that this Face Mask has won a number of awards in the revered green beauty world and was also a finalist in the prestigious Vogue Beauty Awards back in 2020. With a Kaolin Clay base and natural ingredients such as Olive Powder (made by finely grinding discarded olive stones that are a product of the olive oil industry), this is a fantastic detoxifying treatment for all skin types, but is especially useful for oily and combination complexions which are prone to breakouts.

Wunder Workshop Organic Golden Tumeric Tea* (70g, £7.50, link)

Lastly, I have a new healthy tea favourite to share with you all from Wunder Workshop which does a fabulous line of ethically sourced well-being teas and health supplements, all of which are packaged so beautifully. 

Their Organic Golden Turmeric Tea is a wonderfully restorative Ayurvedic loose-leaf blend featuring Turmeric, Ginger, Lemongrass, and Ceylon Cinnamon. Naturally caffeine-free, this refreshing herbal infusion has a delicious earthy sweetness to it which I find quite addictive and it makes for a lovely post-dinner cuppa. 

What products have you treated yourself to?

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Summer Beauty | Bondi Sands Face Tinted SPF 50+ & Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ review

It might not feel very warm outside right now, but the UV is already hitting those medium levels here in the UK.  It's time to slap on that sunscreen if you haven't been doing so already! Why not try these two from Bondi Sands?

You may be more familiar with Bondi Sands' excellent self-tanning range (I'm a big fan of their self-tanning foams in particular), however, everyone's favourite Aussie brand also does sunscreen products which makes absolute sense when you think about it! 

Did you also know that Australia has much stricter regulations when it comes to producing sunscreen formulas? Again, this makes a lot of sense given their sunny proximity on the globe, and is perhaps one of the reasons why so many skincare gurus highly recommend using Australian-made sunscreen products.

Both of the Bondi Sands sunscreens below are certified cruelty-free, reef-friendly, fragrance-free, and suitable for sensitive skin types. They are also broad-spectrum sunscreens meaning that they fully protect against both harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Bondi Sands Face SPF 50+ Tinted* (75ml, £8.99)

Facial sunscreens are something that I wear all year round, regardless of how sunny it is outside, and this is mainly because sunscreens are the best form of anti-aging protection. You can use a million different types of expensive serums and fancy face maks, but if you're not wearing sunscreen, you're not properly protecting your skin!

Bondi Sands has a great range of facial sunscreens to choose from and my go-to is their SPF 50+ Tinted version. I personally find most facial sunscreens to be very 'white' for my skin tone, so a tinted version erases this issue and layers so much nicer underneath my foundation/base product. Plus on days when I don't want to wear a full face of makeup, it adds a little colour to my complexion. Not only is this a budget-friendly steal at less than £10, but it blends in easily and feels hydrating too without any stickiness.

Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ (150ml, £10.99)

For the body, there's the Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ which I've recommended countless times to friends and family. Usually, I prefer a classic tropical/coconut-scented sunscreen to use on my body, but this one is a fantastic fragrance-free alternative and comes in really handy if I'm experiencing an eczema flare-up and can't use any scented products. 

It features a 4-hour water-resistant formula with a plant-based hydration complex with ethically sourced algae which is a godsend for dry skin. Once applied to the skin, it sinks in quickly and is invisible, whilst also being non-greasy. A real winner! 

Bondi Sands is available from numerous stockists including Boots where it's currently on a buy one, get one half price offer.

What are your favourite sunscreens?

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Foodie Friday | Lazy Day Rocky Road & Salted Caramel Crispies review | Vegan & Gluten Free Treats

TGIF anyone?! It feels like it's been such a long week, so it's no wonder that I've been craving a little sweet treat to kickstart the weekend with. These vegan and gluten-free goodies from Lazy Day have arrived at just the right time!

Whether you have specific food allergies or a certain intolerance to a common ingredient such as milk or gluten, you can rest assured that Lazy Day has got your back. Hand-baked with love in their very own dedicated allergen-friendly bakery, Lazy Day is one of the most trusted brands on the free from market when you want a delicious treat.

Lazy Day's yummy baked delights are gluten-free, egg-free, milk-free, vegan-friendly, and produced in a nut-free site. I was delighted to try out two of their popular tray-bake style bites; Rocky Road and Salted Caramel Crispies.

Lazy Day Rocky Road* (150g, 5 slices, £2.65)

Rocky Road is such a childhood classic snack of mine, and it's something that I enjoy making myself when I have a free Saturday morning. However, as life has been super busy lately, it's been so convenient to find a tasty ready-made version that I can easily pick up from the supermarket - win-win! 

Lazy Day's Rocky Road is an indulgent treat that's made with a luscious Belgian dark chocolate ganache base. It features the classic chunky pieces of shortbread that you'd expect, coupled together with crispy puffed rice which adds an interesting texture, and topped with squishy pink mini marshmallows. Yum! This is a great little snack to have with a cup of tea or coffee.

Lazy Day Salted Caramel Crispies* (150g, 5 slices, £2.65)

I'm a big fan of anything that's Salted Caramel flavoured and I just love crispy rice squares so naturally, I knew that I was going to enjoy these moreish Salted Caramel Crispies when I saw the box. Like the Rocky Road, you'll find five individually portioned slices/pieces inside which keep well in an airtight container if you're not sharing them out in the office. Coincidentally, if you are bringing these to the office, you're going to need a couple of packs minimum, just saying!

These have a bit of a Millionaire vibe going on, but instead of shortbread at the bottom, there's a crunchy base of sticky rice crispies which I love. On top of that is a thick layer of gooey caramel, followed by a generous coating of real dark Belgian chocolate to finish it off. I found these to be very, very sweet so one piece was plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth, but they are incredibly moreish and addictive.

Available from various stockists including Sainsbury's and Waitrose. Shop the full range at lazydayfoods.com

Have you tried any of the vegan and gluten-free sweet snacks from Lazy Day?

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Budget Beauty | Boots 17 Makeup | Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara, Glow Is Everything CC Cream & Second Skin Enhancing Concealer review

When it comes to budget-friendly makeup, you can't beat a trip to Boots to see what's on offer. These days, it's easier than ever to choose cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics that won't break the bank. As I've been feeling nostalgic this month, I thought I'd try out some of the bestsellers from the popular 17 makeup range.

If you grew up as a young girl in England, you're probably quite familiar with the Boots 17 brand. Like many teenagers, some of my very first makeup purchases were from this range (if I remember correctly, it was a bright pink lipstick and a lilac single eyeshadow with lots of glitter), so it's been an interesting experience to pick up a couple of products to try out and see how they feel as a mid-30's millennial. The brand has had a much-hyped revival after being discontinued in 2018 and there are plenty of new treats to discover with everything costing £5 or under!

I've played it safe and chosen some everyday makeup staples to see how they compare to what I generally use on a day-to-day basis, which may help those who are seeking some cheaper alternatives due to the cost of living crisis. 

17 Extreme Extension Lengthening Mascara in Black (12ml, £4 or £3 with a Boots Advantage Card)

I'll have to admit that it's been a while since I've used a mascara that cost less than a fiver so I didn't have high expectations. 17 has a couple of different mascara formulas on offer and Extreme Extension sounded like the ideal one for me as I typically look for lots of length and definition. The packaging is very basic and quite chunky, but the rubberized flexible wand looked promising. 

First coat on and I really loved the results; it definitely adds noticeable length to my short lashes, defines them nicely, and has great pigmentation. The second coat, however, caused my lashes to stick and clump together so it didn't work for me as a buildable mascara. That said, for a one-coat, everyday mascara, it stays put for a good 8 hours and doesn't flake or smudge which is £4 well spent in my opinion!

17 Glow Is Everything CC Cream (30ml, £4)

Packaged in a cute squeezy tube, I'd seen the Glow Is Everything CC Cream raved about on various socials so this one was an obvious choice for me to try out. Having been pre-warned about the very limited shade range (this CC Cream is available in only four shades), I picked up the oddly named 003P which looked like a standard beige colour online and IRL this was a decent match for my light-medium skin tone. 

Upon squeezing a little of the product out, I noticed a slight chemical/plastic smell but it wasn't too off-putting so I grabbed a beauty blender sponge and cracked on. The light coverage looked surprisingly good with a subtle dewy/glowy finish and lasted well for 7-8 hours of wear. Again, this would be great for every day and those fresh 'no makeup makeup' looks. I did find that it oxidized later on in the day, turning a little orangey on my skin, but I felt that I could maybe get away with it when my complexion is a bit more tanned in the summer months. Not bad at all for the price point. 

17 Second Skin Enhancing Concealer (£2)

The most talked about product was the 17 Second Skin Enhancing Concealer which retails for the bargain price of just two pounds. Two quid! I couldn't believe my eyes! Into the basket it went, although straight off the bat, the shade range is again very limited with just ten colours on offer. 

001P looked like my best bet which is suitable for light-medium skin tones. The texture and consistency of this concealer is amazing. It blends so easily and definitely delivers a natural skin-like finish which feels velvety smooth! The coverage is also pretty decent; it won't fully conceal dark circles but with a corrector underneath, it achieves a lovely flawless effect that didn't crease into my fine lines and feels creamy and hydrating. I'd say this worked better for my under eyes than a blemish concealer. Like the CC Cream, it does oxidize a little throughout the day so I'd recommend picking a lighter shade. This is currently my best budget buy of the year so far!

Swatches: 17 Glow Is Everything CC Cream in 003P (top) and 17 Second Skin Enhancing Concealer in 001P (bottom)

17 Makeup Summary

Pros:

- Amazing value for money, everything is under £5

- Cruelty-free

- Everything is vegan-friendly

- Great for everyday wear

- Easy products to apply & blend

Cons:

- Very, very limited shade range

- CC and Concealer do oxidise

- Packaging does feel cheap & basic

- Products have a slight chemical/plastic scent

Have you revisited 17 Makeup as an adult?

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Organic Beauty | Conscious Skincare | Make Up Melt, Sweet Orange & Frangipani Body Butter and Hydrolat Tea Tree review

As a beauty blogger and a self-confessed skincare addict, I'm constantly bombarded with emails about the 'latest must-have'. Whether it's a trend or a new product, my inbox is always full of everything that's 'new, new, new!'. So it's been a pleasant change to sit back and revisit some old green beauty favourites from Conscious Skincare instead.

I was first introduced to Conscious Skincare around ten years ago when I featured one of the brand's body butters in a post called 'Cold Weather Proofing the Beauty Routine'. Since then, I have used their products sporadically over the years and recommended certain items to friends and family who are into natural skincare.

For those new to Conscious Skincare, they are an established indie organic, vegan, and natural skincare company based in Wales. All of their products are cruelty-free, lovingly handmade, produced in small fresh batches, and packaged as eco-friendly and plastic-free as possible. 

Below you'll discover three of the brand's bestsellers; Make Up Melt, Sweet Orange & Frangipani Body Butter, and Hydrolat Tea Tree.

Conscious Skincare Make Up Melt* (100ml, £16 with pump, link)

Made with just five natural and organic ingredients, Make Up Melt is an award-winning makeup remover that's wonderfully simple, but very effective. Composed of a blend of cold-pressed Sesame and Castor Oils, this product quite literally breaks down and 'melts' away all traces of makeup, leaving your skin perfectly clean and nourished without feeling stripped. The addition of Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Myrtle essential oils have each been carefully chosen for their natural benefits. Rosemary helps to rejuvenate the skin, Eucalyptus is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and Myrtle has some impressive balancing and astringent qualities.

How to use: I apply a pump's worth to a reusable cotton pad and gently wipe it across my face. For stubborn waterproof mascara/liquid eyeliner, I'll hold the pad over closed eyes for a minute or so to allow the oil to fully dissolve the waterproof formula. After that, I rinse my face with warm water and follow up with my regular evening skincare routine.

For those wanting an entirely plastic-free option, you can purchase the Makeup Melt without a pump for £15, and there are also makeup pad bundles and refills available.

Conscious Skincare Sweet Orange & Frangipani Body Butter* (250ml, £15, link)

Dry skin will simply adore Conscious Skincare's Body Butters which come in three different formulas; two fragranced and one fragrance-free. Packed full of nature's best nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E, and fairtrade Cocoa Butter, this version I have is also beautifully fragranced with uplifting Sweet Orange, Sandalwood, and heady Frangipani essential oils. The water-free formula means there are no additives or preservatives either.

What I love the most about this body butter is how intensely thick and rich the texture is, yet it melts and sinks into the skin easily once you massage it in. If you're yearning for baby-soft, silky skin, this is the body butter for you.

Conscious Skincare Organic Hydrolat Tea Tree* (100ml, £13 with pump, link)

As we move into the warmer months of the year, my combination skin always gets a bit more oily so I've been looking forward to trying out this tea tree toner which is especially suited to oily and blemish-prone skin types. A properly pure and natural product, this hydrolat contains just 100% organic tea tree water and that's it - nice and simple! 

You can use this in your skincare routine morning and/or night depending on your skin type, and it's recommended to use it on freshly cleansed skin for the best results. Tea Tree is famed for its natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties which help to keep your complexion toned and clear, so if you've been struggling with breakouts, definitely give it a try.

Shop these products and more at conscious-skincare.com

Have you fallen back in love with any old skincare favourites lately?

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Health & Lifestyle | Cytoplan Vegan Beauty Bundle Supplements | Hair, Skin & Nails, Vitamin C and Vegan Collagen review

Give your skin (and health) a boost from the inside with Cytoplan's vegan-friendly Beauty Bundle of supplements. Expertly formulated, this nature-meets-science brand, has everything that you need to look and feel your best as we embrace the new season.

It should come as no surprise to learn that our diet and lifestyle plays an important factor in the overall health and appearance of our skin, and no amount of fancy expensive skincare products will be able to hide the damaging effects of negative lifestyle factors such as smoking and not getting enough sleep regularly. As they say, beauty is skin deep, and what's going on inside, is just as important (if not more so!), than what's happening on the outside.

This is where Cytoplan comes in with their bestselling Beauty Bundle to help to support and nourish skin, hair, and nails from within. Comprising of three carefully chosen premium supplements, this handy bundle covers all bases and offers excellent value for money at the same time. These supplements are free from GMOs, gluten, dairy, wheat, added sugar, flavourings, and colourings.

Cytoplan Hair, Skin & Nails (60 capsules)

First things first, let's start with the Hair, Skin & Nails supplement which is a well-rounded multi-nutrient, that works in synergy with an antioxidant complex. Here you can find the usual suspects of essential vitamins and minerals like Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin C, Biotin, Zinc, and Selenium that you expect to find in any Hair, Skin & Nails capsule. 

However, what sets this one apart is the addition of a wide range of skin-friendly ingredients with proven antioxidant and protective qualities. These include Cocoa Extract, MSM, Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Bilberry Extract, Lycopene, Lutein, and Astaxanthin; all expertly blended into a convenient one-a-day capsule. 

Cytoplan Vitamin C 1000mg (60 capsules)

We all know and love Vitamin C as a key ingredient in our skincare routines due to its amazing propensity to brighten the skin and boost radiance. In fact, a quick glance at some of my favourite everyday skincare products confirms this, and it's a particularly useful ingredient to have in your serum or moisturiser. So it makes perfect sense to take a Vitamin C supplement to get all the benefits from the inside out, plus if you're lacking certain fruit and veg in your diet, it can help to address any deficiencies there too to keep your immune system in better shape.

This one from Cytoplan provides a high potency dose of 1000mg in each daily capsule, alongside a 50mg boost of Bioflavonoids to protect against environmental aggressors that can cause premature skin aging. The latter naturally accompanies Vitamin C found in fruit and veg and helps to retain this essential nutrient in the body. 

Cytoplan Vegan Collagen (120 capsules)

Collagen supplements are everywhere and I'm pretty certain that there isn't a skincare guru/actress/celebrity on the planet that doesn't take one every day! Sadly though, the vast majority of collagen products are made from animal ingredients (usually bovine or marine), however, Cytoplan has recently launched their brand new Vegan Collagen supplements which will help to offer more choice to those seeking a cruelty-free alternative.

These new kids on the supplement block feature an entirely unique and innovative 100% plant-based 'Vollagen Complex' that's exclusive to Cytoplan, and two capsules a day yield 1000mg. This provides the same amino acids as human collagen in the exact desired ratio to help to support healthy skin, hair, nails, ligaments, and tendons in the body. 

Cytoplan Vegan Beauty Bundle* retails for £56.10 via cytoplan.co.uk

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Trending | Waterless Beauty - 5 Products To Try #EcoFriendly

Waterless beauty is a trend that's been popular within green beauty circles for a long time, and it's one that has now firmly crossed over into the mainstream, as consumers shop more sustainably than they ever have before (yay!). If you haven't heard of the concept before, here's a quick post to get you up to speed and five tried and tested product recommendations to help you on your way.

What Is Waterless Beauty?

Waterless beauty are products that have been made without any water. So think of things like solid, concentrated, and powdered formulas like shampoo bars, exfoliating powders, multipurpose balms, eco-friendly deodorants, etc.  

Why Is Waterless Beauty Trending?

It can be difficult to think of water shortages in our everyday lives when you live in the UK, especially with heavy rain and flooding being so commonplace here, but for the rest of the world, water shortages are a massively growing problem due to climate change and overpopulation. Waterless beauty has become a topic of conversation because beauty is the second biggest industry globally that consumes the most water, after agriculture. This is largely because most beauty products contain water; have a look at the products that you use every day and you'll start to see the size of the problem, as 'aqua' is often the first ingredient that's listed.

Not only is the quantity of water used within the beauty industry a cause for concern, but there's also the packaging and transport of all of these products to factor in as well. A standard plastic bottle of shampoo uses a huge amount of water to manufacture than a plastic-free solid shampoo bar for example. This is why most waterless beauty products are packaged in an eco-friendly manner to reduce the need for water at every opportunity. For sustainable consumers, it makes sense because we can easily add water from our own taps to a product, so by purchasing waterless beauty products, you're generally cutting out all those extra CO2 emissions that come from transporting a heavy bottle of shampoo to the shop.

Waterless Beauty Means Less or No Preservatives

In addition, waterless formulas require little or no preservatives to be added. This is because you usually have to add some kind of preservative to a product if it contains water because bacteria grows so quickly in it.

Here are five water-free beauty product recommendations that I've tried out.

Swap One: Marley's Pure & Natural Shampoo with Eucalyptus & Green Clay* (50g, €11.25)

Shampoo bars are the obvious choice when it comes to swapping your regular bottle of shampoo for a waterless alternative, however, they don't always work for everyone and it can be a case of trial and error to find the one that does work for your hair type. Shampoo flakes, on the other hand, seem to be something that more people report having greater success with, and the best that I've tried is Marley's Pure & Natural Shampoo with Eucalyptus & Green Clay. Here you have a pouch of solid shampoo flakes which you add to hot water and then refrigerate overnight, before using as you would any other liquid shampoo - genius stuff! It's a Dutch brand but there are a fair few UK stockists knocking about - I pick it up from my local independent health store; one pouch replaces a large 400ml plastic bottle of shampoo.

Swap Two: Trilogy Everything Balm* (45ml, £15.50, link)

Regular readers know how much I love multi-purpose balms and in fact, I have a stash of them floating around somewhere, usually in every desk drawer, on every bedside table, and in every handbag. You could say I'm a bit obsessed! The Trilogy Everything Balm is one that I've been using for years and this large tin will last you absolutely ages. Packed with skin-quenching ingredients such as Sweet Almond Oil, Beeswax, Marula Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Coconut Oil, and Vitamin E, this hard-working skincare hero can be applied to dry lips, cracked cuticles, and anywhere else that requires some immediate soothing moisture. 

Swap Three: Beauty Pro Tumeric Infused Sheet Mask* (£5, link)

OK, so this one is a little controversial as it's a single-use product, but hear me out! I wanted to include it as an alternative option for those who still love using sheet masks (and I'm partial to using one myself every now and then, especially when traveling). Beauty Pro's Plant-Based Sheet Mask range ticks a lot of good boxes including being certified cruelty-free, vegan, and made from 100% plant origins. It's also water-free, and the sheet mask itself is plastic-free. Instead, it's made from biodegradable bamboo which is fully compostable in your garden waste bin. Pretty neat, huh? This Tumeric Infused mask is great for brightening the skin and gets to work in just 15 minutes.

Swap Four: Dust & Glow Powder-Based Bodywash in Coconut Ginger* (45g, link)

Powdered formulas are definitely on the rise and lots of brands are producing some amazing products in this area. I'm a big fan of powdered body washes because they are so easy to use; just sprinkle a small amount into wet hands and watch as it lathers up into a foam that you can then use all over your body in the shower. This means that the packaging is a much smaller bottle as the powder is concentrated, and being a powder, it's super lightweight which makes it brilliant for traveling with, especially if you just have a carry-on with you. Dust & Glow is a New Zealand brand (some London-based eco-shops stock them), but if you have trouble finding it, you can try the British brand Inclusev instead which has a great range of powder beauty products.

Swap Five: Elsa's Detox Natural Deodorant* (£14, link)
 

Mainstream deodorant sticks and roll-ons almost always contain water as their first ingredient so it makes sense to switch to a natural deodorant that's better for your body as well. There are lots to choose from as this sector of the beauty industry has had a massive boom in recent years so shoppers are truly spoilt for choice! One of my top picks would be Elsa's Detox Natural Deodorant which is something that I often recommend to those who are new to using a natural deodorant as it's a pretty strong and powerful formula and makes the switch less daunting! With ingredients such as Activated Charcoal, Bentonite Clay, and Magnesium, it's an easy natural way to keep body odour at bay.

Have you made any water-free swaps this year?

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