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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Christmas Gift Guide 2020: Ethical & Sustainable Stocking Fillers & Gifts under £20 #ShopSmall

Show independent businesses some love this Christmas by choosing to #ShopSmall, and discover a vast range of ethical and sustainable products that you may not have come across before.

The Spiritual/Hippy Lifestyle Gift: Sacred Elephant Pure Luxury Incense Sticks in Frankie & Myrrh* (£3.95 each, link)

For a stocking filler gift with a difference that's perfect for a spiritual/hippy friend, why not consider a box of Pure Luxury Incense Sticks from Sacred Elephant? Ethically produced and handcrafted in India using only natural ingredients and the highest quality pure essential oils, these vegan-friendly incense sticks have an impressive scent throw and feature plastic-free packaging. There's a specially curated range of scents to choose from including these two traditional ones, Myrrh and Frankie.

The Eco-Friendly Beauty Gift: Kind2 Fragrance-Free Sensitive Shampoo Bar* (80g, £12.50, link)

Give the gift of plastic-free beauty with one of the easiest products that they can change their routine with, a shampoo bar! Kind2 have won a New Business Award this year with their range of natural Shampoo Bars. Made from plant-based ingredients with no sulphates, these vegan-friendly Shampoo Bars replace 2 x 250ml plastic shampoo bottles, and the clever formulas are pH balanced and colour safe. I really like 'The Sensitive One' which is fragrance-free and ideal for dry and flaky scalps.

The Inclusive Beauty Gift: Nylah Moisture Retention Leave-In Cream* (200ml, £16, link)

Specially formulated for afro and curly hair, Nylah Moisture Retention Leave-In Cream is an award-winning, vegan, cruelty-free and hydrating leave-in curl cream. Packed full of carefully chosen botanical ingredients such as Davina Flower, Jojoba Oil and Ginger Oil, and with no synthetic fragrance, parabens, mineral oil, petrochemicals or formaldehydes, this ultra-nourishing hair treatment gives afro and curly hair all the essential moisture that it needs and deserves to look it's best and most beautiful. 

The Sustainable Beauty Gift: Tweezerfile The Original Tweezer Sharpener* (£19.99, link)

For the makeup lover that has everything and the eco-conscious friend who wants to reduce their carbon footprint, this genius unique gift is sure to please! Tweezerfile is described as The Original Tweezer Sharpener which has saved countless dull and blunt tweezers from ending up in landfill sites around the world. Diamond plated with a stainless steel blade and an easy to hold contoured handle, Tweezerfile is one of those brilliant practical products that will make you wonder how you lived without one! Available in blue or coral shades.

The Natural Vegan Candle Gift: Heaven Scent Natural Plant Wax Candle Tin in Winter Scent* (£8.99, link)

It wouldn't be a Christmas Gift Guide without a candle of course and for this edit, I was truly spoilt for choice as there are so many amazing independent small businesses and individuals who make candles from their home these days. In the end, I decided to throw a spotlight on Heaven Scent, an independent company whose candles are all handmade in Wiltshire without any paraffin or animal-derived ingredients. Instead, they use a blend of high-quality plant-based waxes and essential oils and I was completely won over by how beautiful this Winter Scent Candle Tin smells with its mix of festive Spices and warm Orange notes.

The Organic Beauty Pamper Gift: Bumi Naturals Organic Lavender Bath Melts* (£15, link)

To round off this gift guide, I have the pleasure of featuring these most beautiful Organic Lavender Bath Melts from Bumi Naturals. Inside the plastic-free box, your recipient will discover 10 small heart-shaped bath melts which are made from unrefined Organic Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil, and then blended with Lavender essential oil and dried Lavender pieces for a truly relaxing and pampering bathtime experience. A pinch of Himalayan Salt is also added to the melts to help draw out toxins from the body and only one melt is needed per bath. Skin is left feeling soft and nourished afterwards - pure bliss! Available from Blommabeauty. 

What gifts are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

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Christmas Gift Guide 2020: Tropic Skincare - Cruelty-Free & Vegan Beauty Gifts Under £30

 

'Tis the season for gorgeous cruelty-free and vegan beauty gifts, and with so many different gift sets and bundles on offer from Tropic Skincare this year, there's something to suit everyone's budget this Christmas. 

Tropic Skincare is one of my favourite British natural skincare brands and I was delighted to take part in their Christmas blogger event via Zoom a few weeks ago, where several of their new gifts were showcased by founder Susie Ma. As many of you may already know, everything from Tropic is certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly, and they have a huge range of products to discover, including everything from haircare, skincare, body care, makeup, sun care and more!

Tropic also has a keen focus on sustainability and I was pleased to hear of both their current and future efforts to ensure that the brand is produced as sustainably as possible. One reflection of this is that all of their Christmas packaging is plastic-free and made from materials which can be easily recycled such as cardboard.

Here are three top gift picks from Tropic which are all under £30 to get you started with your shopping list:-

The Relaxing Gift: Tropic Joy Drum Unwind Me Set* (£28, link, pictured above)

It's been a stressful year, to say the least, so I can imagine that Tropic's Joy Drum Unwind Me Set will be a bestseller that's found under many Christmas trees later this month! This set contains everything that you need to gently soothe and relax your mind, so it's a great gift for those who struggle to sleep. There are three mini treats to enjoy; the So Sleepy Luxury Bath Foam (100ml), So Sleepy Whipped Body Velvet (50ml) and So Sleepy Temple Roll-On (10ml), plus a mini Bamboo Spatula to use with the body butter.

The Skincare Gift: Tropic Your Best Skin Bauble in Clear* (£28, link)

Give the gift of skin confidence with Tropic's range of Your Best Skin Baubles. There are three different baubles to choose from; Clear, Nourish and Glow so that you can find the right one for yourself or your recipient. With the season of indulgence in full swing during December, I often find that my skin gets congested quickly and has a tendency to break out so I was delighted to receive the Clear Bauble which is packed full of Tropic skincare minis that are formulated to keep pesky blemishes at bay. 

The set contains Clear Skies (18g), an exfoliating powder that you can add to your cleanser to gently buff away dull dead skin cells for a brighter and more oil-free complexion; Pure Lagoon (5ml), a blemish prevention serum, Super Greens (5ml), a nutrient boosting facial oil, Clear Skin (15ml), an amazing blemish-fighting, clay-based face mask (check out my review here), and a super soft Bamboo Face Cloth.

The Coffee Lover Gift (With A Twist!): Tropic Little Cracker Of Joy The Butterbalm Collection* (£24, link)

Many of us have had to miss out on lots of life's little luxuries this year, especially at the start of the first lockdown when nearly every shop was forced to close. For commuters and busy morning people, that little luxury may have been the daily indulgence of a takeaway coffee, so this gift is perfect for those people and also for anyone who wants to give their skin some extra TLC this Winter after a long year.

Packaged in a charming recyclable cracker, inside you'll discover The Butterbalm Collection; three mini glass pots of joy (25ml each) featuring a deliciously thick and buttery-balm treat in three different flavours; Almond Matcha Latte, Coffee Hazelnut Latte and White Chocolate Coconut Latte. These smell amazing and they are super hydrating on the skin - simply apply anywhere that needs some extra moisture - a little goes a long way with these Butterbalms! A mini Bamboo Spatula is also included for easy application.

Shop the full range of Tropic Skincare Christmas Gifts at tropicskincare.com

Will you be gifting any of these this year?

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November Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

Another month has passed us by so it's time to have a recap of all the beauty products that I've used up recently - here are my November Empties!

Skin & Tonic Peppermint Lip Balm* (review) 

Lip balm season is well and truly here so no surprises to see I've finished off a longtime favourite of mine from Skin & Tonic. Their Peppermint Lip Balm is a lovely hydrating blend of just four natural and organic ingredients which help to keep chapped lips at bay. Repurchase? Yes.

Alima Pure Lip Tint in Petal (review)

If you want an easy to use, non-fussy tinted lip balm, Alima Pure's Lip Tints are a brilliant handbag staple. They're moisturising with a nice pop of colour. Petal is a very pretty soft-pink nude which is great for everyday wear. Repurchase? Yes.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion* (review)

I had an awful cold at the start of the month and immediately reached for this from MOA. Their Fortifying Green Bath Potion is a strong and herbal concoction with extracts of Peppermint and Fennel to help revive the sinuses. You definitely feel better after a bath with this! Repurchase? Already have :)

Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Masque*

If you have a fussy dry scalp that's prone to dandruff, I can't recommend this Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Masque enough. It's vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, and it's the most soothing treatment I've found for when my scalp feels sore and itchy. Works in just 10 minutes and leaves the rest of your hair feeling soft and moisturised. Repurchase? Definitely.

Mádara Plum Plum Lip Perfection Balm* (review)

Another lip balm empty, this time from Mádara. The Plum Plum Lip Perfection Balm is a gorgeous luxury lip balm with a sweet and natural fruity scent. Very hydrating, though you sometimes need to give the tube a hard squeeze if it's been caught out in the cold. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some others first.

Rabot 1745 Liquid Chocolate Body Mask* (review)

Earlier in the year, I had the pleasure of working with Rabot 1745 on creating a 'Luxury Spa Experience At Home' and their Liquid Chocolate Body Mask was one of my favourite products from that campaign. It's as decadent and indulgent as it sounds and great fun to use, if a little messy! Repurchase? On my xmas list.

Antipodes Worship Skin Defence Antioxidant Serum* (review)

It wouldn't be an Empties post without something from Antipodes being featured and my latest empty from them is the glorious Worship Skin Defence Antioxidant Serum which I've used many times in the past. If you're looking for a water-based serum with anti-ageing properties, this is definitely one to try. Repurchase? Yes.

Hello My Bio Monoi Soap*

A beautiful artisan & organic French soap that I was kindly gifted by a dear friend during the first lockdown. I absolutely love anything that has Monoi in it (the scent is just heavenly) so I thoroughly enjoyed using this. Repurchase? If I can find it in the UK, I will.

Tropic Skincare Deep Hydration Cooling Mask* (review)

Regular readers will no doubt already know how much I love this Tropic Deep Hydrating Cooling Mask - this must be the third pot that I've gone through this year alone! I regularly double-mask with it, using it straight after a clay mask to put moisture back into the skin and it always works a treat. Repurchase? Definitely.

Màdara Infusion Blanc Supreme Hydration Body Lotion*

Although I really liked the calming fresh scent of this Màdara body lotion, I have to admit that I just didn't find it as hydrating as other body lotions of a similar price point. The overall texture is also a little annoying as it takes a while to sink into the skin when applied. Repurchase? No.

Organii Argan Shower Gel* (review)

You can't beat the affordable Organii Shower Gels when you're shopping for green beauty staples on a budget and their Argan scent is one of my faves. These are fantastic for anyone who has dry skin. Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant* 

Another long time favourite, I've used so many of these over the years that I've lost count. If you like fresh and floral rose scents, you will love this light and alluring natural deodorant from Weleda. It's not a heavy-duty deo though so if you sweat a lot or run a lot of errands in the day, you'll probably need to layer it with something else. But for current WFH life, it's perfect! Repurchase? Already have.

NUXE Rêve De Miel Nourishing Body Scrub

Sadly, I'm wrapping up this Empties post with a disappointing product, but this NUXE Rêve De Miel Nourishing Body Scrub sample that I received in a recent beauty subscription box needed to be included so that no-one is tempted to purchase the full size! The scrubby bits are just so small and useless that they don't do the job, which is such a shame because I generally really like the Rêve De Miel range.

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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