Green Beauty: Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Firm & Replenish Body Serum & Botanical Cream Deodorant review

Aurelia are well known for their probiotic-infused skincare, and are a firm favourite amongst beauty editors, skincare gurus and green beauty lovers alike. Having been introduced to their incredible Eye Revitalising Duo (which I featured in my Hayfever post here) recently, I was very keen to try out some of their much-loved body care products, so I've been testing these two in my bathroom for the past couple of weeks.

Try if You Want to Indulge in Some Luxury Pampering: Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Firm & Replenish Body Serum* (250ml, £48, link)

As I have dry skin, I tend to use some kind of body moisturiser every day, and especially after baths and showers. My bathroom cupboard is full of body lotions, butters and balms, but this is perhaps the first time that I've had the pleasure of trying out a body serum.  Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, Aurelia's Firm & Replenish Body Serum is a brilliant luxury product to use if you're showing a bit (or a lot!) of skin this Summer as it's rich in antioxidants and helps to smooth out and firm up the skin's texture. The formula contains some of my favourite ingredients, including Shea and Cocoa Butters, Argan Oil, and Aurelia's signature African botanicals, Baobab and Kigelia, and it has a beautiful spa-like, fresh and clean scent thanks to a blend of steam-distilled essential oils (Mandarin, Angelica Root, Lemongrass, Chamomile, Bergamot and Cedarwood). 

Texture-wise, it's very lightweight and is somewhere between a lotion and a serum in consistency. It sinks in quickly, but leaves a bit of tackiness if you apply too much, so I'd recommend taking your time by using smaller amounts and layering them for a more pampering experience. My skin feels instantly soothed and nourished whenever I use this, and it's also lovely to use as an aftersun product.

Try if You're Looking For a Natural Deodorant for Summer: Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Botanical Cream Deodorant* (50g, £18, link)

I've been using natural deodorants for a couple of years now and I find that the ones which work the best for me often have a cream-to-powder texture, which perfectly sums up this Botanical Cream Deodorant. Having won numerous awards, I was keen to put it to the test over this recent hot spell we've been having in the UK and so far, it's been holding up incredibly well. 

This deodorant is aluminium and parabens free and includes only natural ingredients such as Corn Starch, Shea Butter, Arrowroot, Lavender, Vitamin E, Kaolin, Tea Tree, Peppermint, Orange Peel Oil, Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Rosehip Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil. The ingredients all have their own unique functions such as Arrowroot and Kaolin, which help to keep dry absorb perspiration throughout the day, Shea Butter to moisturise and soothe the delicate underarm area, and essential oils to provide antibacterial properties and a fresh scent to keep you smelling good. It comes packaged in a luxe glass jar and you only need to apply a small amount directly to your underarms, so 50g of product will last longer than you might expect! This is one that I'd definitely recommend if you're on the hunt for a gentle, but effective natural deodorant.

Explore more from Aurelia Probiotic Skincare at aureliaskincare.com

Have you tried anything from Aurelia?

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New In Luxury Skincare: Bodhi & Birch Tomato Seed Cleansing Oil & Super 25 Botanical Serum review #SuperfoodsSeries

One of my favourite luxury British skincare brands, Bodhi & Birch, has launched an exciting new range of skincare called the Superfoods Series.

Described as a "capsule collection of five mixable, multi-use, natural and organic products", each one features skin-friendly, superfood ingredients to deeply nourish the skin, feeding it with a range of essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. I really like this concept as it makes you stop and think about what's in the skincare that you use on a daily basis, and if you eat a healthy diet that's rich in superfoods, why wouldn't you want to harness that same goodness in your skincare products?

As always with Bodhi & Birch, the packaging of this new range is absolutely stunning and they use biophotonic glass recyclable bottles to protect the purity of the ingredients inside. The products are all made by hand in micro-batches, and the 100% natural ingredients are ethically sourced, cruelty-free and suitable for vegans. To boost their green credentials even further, each product contains certified organic content which range from 60% to 90%. Perhaps most interesting though is that the Superfoods Series is entirely essential oil free, making it ideal for those who are pregnant or have skin sensitivities.

I was incredibly honoured to be asked to be part of the testing panel for the Superfoods Series, so I've been testing some of these products since before May. Below are two of my favourites from this new range, which I'm continuing to use the full-sizes of, as part of my current skincare routine.

Bodhi & Birch Tomato Seed Cleansing Oil* (100ml, £55, link)

The first ingredient in this Cleansing Oil comes from its namesake as Tomato Seed Oil is incredibly high in Vitamin E, antioxidants and phytosterols, which are all important for helping to smooth out fine lines and reduce the appearance of age spots. I particularly love this superfood ingredient for its healing abilities though, because it's brilliant for anyone who has acne or blemish scars. 

In addition to the Organic Tomato Seed Oil, there's also Organic Plum Kernel Oil which is rich in oleic acid, linoleic acid and Vitamins E, B, and B5 - it's a wonderful moisturising and super nourishing oil; Organic Rosehip Oil which my skin loves anyway as it's loaded with essential fatty acids and vitamins; Organic Pomegranate Oil that contains punicic acid, a unique omega 5 fatty acid, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties and does a brilliant job of fighting off free radicals; Organic Cranberry Seed Oil which is high in Vitamins A, C, E, and K - this is a great anti-ageing oil and helps to keep the skin healthy overall, and Organic Camellia Oil, a moisturing and nutrient packed oil full of Omega 3, 6 and 9 EFAs, Vitamin E and polyphenols.

Despite the range being essential oil free, this Cleansing Oil is still quite aromatic due to the natural ingredients inside, and it has a really interesting scent that a bit like a sweet, berryish marzipan with subtle spicy notes. The oil is a beautiful bright orange, but be warned - this can stain lighter fabrics, so it's best used with dark coloured flannels.  Applying it feels so luxurious, and after I've massaged 4-6 pumps into my dry skin, all of my makeup has dissolved, leaving my skin perfectly clean and feeling silky soft afterwards. Beautiful! 

Bodhi & Birch Super 25 Botanical Serum* (30ml, £75, link)

I've had the pleasure of trying many luxury face serums since I started blogging, and I can honestly say that this Super 25 Botanical Serum is up there with the best (Tata Harper, The Organic Pharmacy and Sunday Riley immediately spring to mind). It's even on a par with Vintner's Daughter and is something that I would recommend to those who found VD too essential-oil heavy for their skin type. So what makes Super 25 Botanical Serum so special?

The nutrient-dense formula boasts an impressive 100% natural, 75.5% organic, blend of 25 superfood botanicals which are all naturally derived from seeds, fruits, nuts and berry oils. Some of the key actives include Organic Plum Kernel Oil, Organic Baobab Oil (rich in Vitamins A, D, E and K and including all three Omegas), cold-pressed Blueberry Seed Oil (packed full of tocopherols, carotenoids and powerful antioxidants that act synergistically together), Organic Cranberry Seed Oil, Green Coffee Oil (high in chlorogenic acid which helps to tone and tighten the skin temporarily), Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil (contains over 88% Vitamin E to deeply nourish and plump up the skin), Organic Maracuja Seed Oil (has impressive anti-inflammatory properties), Organic Macadamia Oil (super regenerating and replenishing), Organic Marula Oil (naturally rich in Omegas 6 and 9), Olive Squalane (derived from olives, it contains a unique antioxidant that protects skin from free-radical damage), and Co-Enzyme Q10 (helps restore the lipid barrier of the skin alongside Vitamin E). The full list of ingredients can be found here. 

Getting the right balance of all of these superfoods and putting them into a formula that works for the skin so exceptionally well is what's most impressive about this product, and whilst I was expecting it to feel really heavy in texture, it's actually a lot lighter than I expected. There's a lot of richness to this serum though and I'd suggest allowing your skin to have a couple of minutes of absorption before applying your moisturiser to fully reap all of the rewards that it has to give. 

Since using this serum, I've noticed that my skin feels much more balanced (for reference I have an oily/combination skin type), nourished, plumped up and it just looks 'fresher' and brighter overall. I'd recommend Super 25 for most skin types, but feel that it would particularly benefit mature skin and skin that's starting to show those first signs of ageing. 

Explore the full range of Bodhi & Birch's Superfoods Skincare Series via bodhiandbirch.com

Does this range appeal to you?

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Summer Makeup: Phase Zero Liquid Coconut & Metal Veil Eyeshadows - Gilded, Simmer, Romance & Foxy - Review & Swatches

The latest wave of new makeup goodness has dropped from Phase Zero and these liquid eyeshadows are a Summer must-have! 

Available exclusively online from Love Me Beauty, Phase Zero has been causing something of a stir amongst makeup gurus and Youtube stars alike for a number of reasons. Firstly, everything from Phase Zero is cruelty-free which is always a big tick in my book, and secondly, it's super affordable thanks to their exclusive membership which allows makeup fans to pay a small monthly subscription fee of £5, in order to access massive discounts on all Phase Zero products. And we're talking up to 77% off the RRP, so there are some incredible bargains to be had. 

Thirdly though, all of the makeup that I've tried so far has been exceptionally good, and you can check out my reviews of their Liquid Lipsticks here, and their Eyeshadows and Build Your Own Palette deal here.

As Phase Zero are a new makeup brand, they are in the process of bringing out exciting products every month, and their latest additions are these amazing Liquid Eyeshadows which come in two different formulas; Coconut and Metal Veil. There are currently four shades in the Coconut range and seven in the Metal Veil range, and they are available to buy individually, or you can purchase them in complete sets. 

The Coconut Liquid Eyeshadows are infused with actual Coconut Water, and they have a much runnier and thinner consistency which requires a good shake-up before you use them. I wasn't expecting to like these at first, but they certainly surprised me! They're beautifully pigmented, insanely shimmery and quite versatile as you can blend them out whilst they're wet, but once they're dry, they set perfectly so you have a long-lasting, smudge-proof finish. 

In comparison, the Metal Veil Liquid Eyeshadows are a lot thicker texture wise and feel more like a traditional liquid or cream eyeshadow. These have an amazing colour payoff with an opaque level of coverage in one swipe, and come in a range of killer metallic shades that would look stunning for festival, party and holiday looks. They dry and set quicker than the Coconuts though, so you don't have a lot of time to work with them, but I found them pretty easy to apply, and once dry, they're also smudge-proof and last all day/night without creasing.

I've managed to get my hands on four of these beauties, so here are some swatches!

From top to bottom:-

Foxy Metal Veil Eyeshadow - Beautiful warm, metallic burnt orange. Completely different to anything that I currently have in my makeup collection and a very dramatic shade.

Romance Coconut Eyeshadow - A stunning classic pink champagne colour with lots of shimmer. Incredibly easy to wear as you can just swipe it on and you're done. I imagine this is going to be one the most popular shades!

Simmer Metal Veil Eyeshadow - This is an interesting burnt red shade that's very vampy and warm. Definitely a colour that's out of my comfort zone, but I found it quite flattering on.

Gilded Coconut Eyeshadow - Warm-toned, metallic golden copper. I really like this one underneath the bottom lashline for a pop of smouldering gold which looks amazing on tanned skin.

Phase Zero* is available exclusively online at lovemebeauty.com

Exclusive reader discount code: use EVELYN5 to get 90 days free membership and £5 off your first purchase (min spend £5, not incl p&p).

What do you think of Phase Zero? Will you be subscribing?

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Currently Loving: Sacet Lujia Perched Butterfly Necklace review #EthicalJewellery

Taking pride in your jewellery purchases and investing in some beautiful, ethically made pieces that you'll cherish for years to come, needn't be as expensive as you may think. The latest addition to my collection is this stunning, yet simple piece from Sacet. 

If you think ethical jewellery looks too 'hippy' for your liking, Sacet will definitely help to change your mind! Sacet brings together a wealth of designers and talented craftspeople who are committed to transforming the designer jewellery industry by focusing on bringing a more sustainable approach to people, profits and the planet. This means that everything you purchase from Sacet is ethically and consciously crafted; the people making your jewellery are paid fairly for their work, their communities and livelihoods are supported, and all the materials used are ethically sourced. 

To help spread the word about what they're doing, Sacet very kindly asked me to review one of their pieces and I had the pleasure of choosing the Lujia Perched Butterfly Necklace, which immediately caught my eye when I was browsing their website.

Packaged in an elegant, eco-friendly (made from recycled materials) white gift box, this necklace has been designed by Meng Zhang, a London based designer who holds a MA in Jewellery Design from the prestigious Central Saint Martins. She's won numerous awards and has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, as well as being shortlisted in a design competition for the luxury Parisian brand, Chaumet.

The Lujia Perched Butterfly Necklace is a beautifully simple and timeless design which features an abstract perched butterfly on a delicate chain, or it can be turned around and presented as a classic heart. This interchanging design is something that definitely drew me to the piece because it's almost like having two necklaces in one! I've lost count of how many compliments I've received from friends and family since it arrived, and I love how it pairs so well with so many of my outfits, especially this vintage wine-red lace dress.

Made from recycled sterling silver, this necklace is available in three different chain lengths (16, 18 or 20 inch) and comes in three colours; Silver (as shown), Gold (18k Gold Vermeil on Sterling Silver) and Rose Gold (18k Rose Gold on Sterling Silver). 

 Sacet Lujia Perched Butterfly Necklace in Silver* retails for £59 and is available from sacet.com

Have you purchased anything from Sacet?

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