July Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's time for another mammoth Empties post as I continue to declutter my beauty stash! There are a lot of products here that I'm sad to see go, so let's jump right in.

Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser

I've been meaning to use up some of my travel sizes and I believe I received both of these in beauty subscription boxes. Really enjoyed using this light and balancing face moisturiser which is perfect for combination skin types. A great one to choose for the summer months! Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Lotion* (reviewed here)

Regular readers know how much I adore this so it's no surprise to see it pop up here again. It smells incredible and is such a lovely summery and uplifting floral fragrance. The formula is obviously great too as it's light but very hydrating. Repurchase? Yes.

Fruu Avocado Lip Balm* (reviewed here)

I've used these Fruu Lip Balms before and the Avocado one is probably my favourite. Super moisturising and it's made with only organic, plant-based, sustainable ingredients. Repurchase? Definitely.

REN Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum

Another travel size from a beauty box, I'm a big fan of REN's Evercalm range for sensitive skin and their Anti-Redness Serum is something I like to have on hand for when my skin is being difficult and flaring up. Works a treat! Repurchase? Yes.

Typology Jasmin Néroli Eau de Parfum* (reviewed here)

Typically, I fell in love with this French perfume last year and it's since been discontinued - what a shame! Repurchase? Sadly not.

Puristry Yerba Mate Eye Cream* (featured here)

This was one of the many eye creams that I had the pleasure of testing out as a judge for the Cert Clean Beauty Awards last year, and whilst I really liked the product, the short pump packaging made it very tricky to get the product out so it became difficult to use half-way through and I ended up decanting most it to a different jar. Repurchase? No, simply because of the packaging.

Tropic Whipped Body Velvet* 

If you're looking for a luxury body moisturiser with a buttery, whipped texture, this should be at the top of your shopping list. A real pleasure to use and great for a pampering treat if you have dry skin. Repurchase? Yes.

Typology Organic Peppermint Hydrolate* (reviewed here)

I have to admit that I hadn't used this in a while and only reached for it during the heatwave as it's so wonderfully cooling and refreshing! Definitely works best in hot weather as soothing and refining toner. Repurchase? I've gone back to Dafna's for now but would consider this again in the future.

Handmade Naturals Face Cleansing Lotion* (reviewed here)

I believe this is the second bottle that I've gone through and I love how gentle and nourishing this cleanser is. If you have sensitive or dry skin, it's certainly one to try and doubles up as a great makeup remover too. Repurchase? Yes.

B. Pure Micellar Water* (reviewed here)

My go-to micellar water for perhaps five or six years, it's been one of those amazingly affordable high street beauty gems for such a long time. Sadly, it looks like the B. range is being discontinued so if you love this product as much as I do, now's the time to stock up! Repurchase? I will for as long as I can!

Weleda Citrus Deodorant* 

Last month. you'll have spotted the Wild Rose deodorant in my Empties, and this month, I've finished off the Citrus version. I tend to alternate these two quite a lot and would recommend them for anyone who is working from home and wants a nice, light body spray to freshen up with. Repurchase? Yes.

Gallinée Hair & Scalp Care Mask* (reviewed here)

Another longtime favourite, I always have a tube of this in my bathroom and use it perhaps just once a month to keep my scalp healthy and happy, so it lasts quite a long time for me. Perfect for dandruff control and flaky, itchy scalps. Repurchase? Definitely.

Friction Free Shave Cream* (reviewed here)

Finally, my last empty product is unsurprisingly a shaving cream, and this is one of the best for sensitive skin that I've tried out. I get very little, if any, irritation whenever I use this which makes it a firm summertime staple! Repurchase? Yes.

What have you used up recently?

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Plastic Free July: 6 Easy Plastic-Free Beauty Swaps

 

As Plastic Free July comes to a close for another year, I wanted to share my 6 Easy Beauty Swaps to keep the awareness going and inspire not only everyone reading this to make better, more eco-friendly consumer choices for the planet, but as a personal reminder that there's always more that I can do myself as well.

If you're new to going plastic-free, my advice would be to just start small with one swap and take it from there. It can be rather overwhelming if you try and change everything all at once, not to mention expensive, so use up what you have first and then make your next purchase a plastic-free one. 

I still have an awful amount of plastic in my bathroom and beauty routine as you'll no doubt see from my Empties posts, and I'm going, to be honest here and say that I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to follow a completely plastic-free lifestyle, but making some changes is better than doing nothing!

Here are 6 Easy Beauty Swaps you can try to reduce your plastic waste:-

1 - Swap Your Morning Cleanser For A Konjac Sponge with The Korean Konjac Facial Sponge* (£9.99, link)

Suitable for even sensitive skin, Konjac Sponges have been popular across Asia for decades and have in recent years started to pop up in sustainable bathrooms in the west thanks to their completely natural and biodegradable nature. Made from the Konjac plant, these sponges appear hard at first, but once submerged in water, they soften and expand. Their unique structure gently cleanses the skin and you'll find many Konjac sponges are infused with Red or Green Clay (such as above) to help absorb oil, dirt, and impurities. They're designed to be used on their own with just water for a refreshing morning cleanse, though you can add a tiny amount of your favourite cleanser to them if you wish.

Konjac sponges last around 2-3 months, after which they can be composted. If you try this and like it, there are also larger Body Sponges that you can replace plastic loofahs with for another easy swap!

2 - Swap Your Aerosol or Plastic Roll-On Deodorant For Ben & Anna Natural Deodorant* (60g, £9.95, link)

The natural deodorant market has literally exploded with more choice than ever before so swapping to a natural deodorant in eco-friendly packaging is one of the easiest swaps to make these days. I've reviewed so many over the years (check out some of my reviews here) and I often chop and change between different brands. 

My current favourite for summer has been this Ben & Anna Natural Deodorant in Persian Lime which has such a beautiful zesty and fresh citrusy scent. It comes packaged in a handy twist-up cardboard tube that's easy to recycle afterwards, and each purchase helps to support ocean cleaning projects around the world.

3 & 4 - Swap Your Toothpaste & Floss To Ben & Anna Natural Toothpaste* (100ml, £8.95, link) and Georganics Natural Activated Charcoal Floss* (£4.90, link)

I've talked about plastic-free dental routines in the past, and again, the market for these products has grown enormously due to consumer demand which is very encouraging to see. There are lots and lots of natural toothpaste to choose from and I have another favourite from Ben & Anna here who do a brilliant range of fluoride and fluoride-free options so you can pick the one to suit your personal needs. All of their toothpaste is packaged in glass jars with an aluminium lid and come with a little wooden spatula that you can use to dispense the paste straight onto your brush.

Don't stop with just toothpaste though! Dentists recommend that we should all be flossing at least once a day for optimal gum and mouth health so grab one of these Georganics Natural Activated Charcoal Floss that comes in a reusable glass jar and buy the refills whenever you run out.

4 - Swap Your Plastic Shampoo Bottle for Marley's Pure & Natural Shampoo* (50g, £11.50, link)

Natural shampoos are perhaps the trickiest swap so save this one for last if you're new to this as I have personally found them to be a bit of a journey to find ones that work for your hair. However, I'm currently enjoying Marley's sustainable Pure & Natural Shampoo in Euclayltpus and Green Clay which is specially formulated for oily/greasy hair types.

This is quite different from the usual natural shampoo bars that you see people using, as inside the plastic-free bag are natural shampoo flakes. To use it, you simply add hot water to the bag, leave for 30 minutes to dissolve and once cool, transfer it to a reusable bottle (this could be your previous plastic shampoo bottle). Pop the bottle into the fridge overnight to rest and come the morning, it's ready to use! This is a good one to try if you haven't had much luck with traditional shampoo bars, and instead prefer a liquid-based shampoo.

6 - Swap Your Hand & Body Wash For A Soap Bar* (100g, £2.49, link)

We've all been washing our hands like crazy during the pandemic and unfortunately, all of that plastic waste that's generated from hand wash bottles is adding up, so if you only do one of these swaps, make it this one. I've loved seeing old-school bars of soap come back into fashion again! Versatile to have next to every sink in your home, you can choose your favourite natural ingredients and scent and enjoy a truly plastic-free, zero-waste alternative. Once you've swapped your hand washes, why not try using a bar or two in the shower instead of shower gel? Another easy plastic-free swap!

What are your favourite plastic-free beauty swaps?

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Summer Skincare with Nourish London: 4 Favourites To Try

 

Nourish London are one of my favourite British natural and organic skincare brands and they have a whole host of products that could be included in a Summer Skincare feature. It was so hard to put this little edit together, but here are my top four to try.

If haven't heard of Nourish London before, check out my previous reviews here and all of their products are certified cruelty-free and vegan.

The Repairing Facial Treatment: Nourish London Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask* (30ml, £23.50, link)

With lockdown restrictions lifting and socialising back on the cards, you may be finding yourself spending a lot more time than usual out and about enjoying the sun and running errands in your favourite city. This is the time of the year when a facial treatment like Nourish's Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask comes in really handy to keep your skin protected against environmental aggressors such as pollution and free radicals.

Packed full of beneficial nutrients and minerals that have been formulated to make this face mask from a rather clever probiotic fermentation process, this repairing treatment does just that. It helps to boost collagen, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and restore firmness, for healthier, more supple skin. Key actives include Magnesium, Lavender and Damask Rose, with optimised Zinc, Copper and Iron all playing their part in this award-winning face mask.

Best of all, you only need 5 minutes to use it for a quick and easy pick-me-up or leave it on overnight for a more restorative treatment once a week.

The Supercharged Calming Mist: Nourish London Antioxidant Peptide Mist* (100ml, £22, link)

There's nothing better than a refreshing toner to spritz liberally all over the face when it's a hot and sticky day, so why not choose one hydrates, brightens, protects and calms your complexion at the same time? This Antioxidant Peptide Mist is a real hidden gem in Nourish's range and contains antioxidants such as Turmeric, Probiotic minerals, Hyaluronic Acid and plenty of anti-ageing Peptides to make a real difference to look and feel of your skin (with regular use of course!).

There's also a beautiful soothing blend of essential oils included in the mix to instantly help to calm both skin and the mind when you're having a busy or stressful day. Use day and night to enjoy the benefits.

The Glow Getter: Nourish London Illuminating Face Shimmer* (30ml, £18, link)

Gorgeous glowy skin can still be difficult to achieve during the summer months, but help is on hand with Nourish's Illuminating Face Shimmer which is one of my absolute summer-must-haves - I simply love this! Now newly packaged with a nifty self-locking smart pump that eliminates the need for a plastic cap, the Illuminating Face Shimmer is a versatile cream-based liquid highlighter. 

With a moisturising and collagen-boosting base of Hyaluronic Acid, Tripeptides, Argan Oil, extract of Tonka Bean and Shea Butter, this shimmer gets its name from the golden mineral particles which are suspended within the cream. To use it, simply dab a little onto fingertips and apply directly to the high points of the face to add light and luminosity, or you can apply it all over before or after your moisturiser for a radiant, sun-kissed glow.

The Multi-Tasking Hero: Nourish London Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm* (50ml, £32, link)

Whilst Summer is undoubtedly my favourite season, sometimes it doesn't like me all that much! Too much sun can lead to dryness or sunburn, and spending lots of time in busy cities with a lot of pollution can cause clogged skin and breakouts. Not to worry! You just need a huge pot of this amazing Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm in your skincare arsenal.

Made from a pure and natural potent blend of omega-rich plant oils and carefully chosen anti-ageing extracts like Marine Algae, this Super Balm really does work wonders on the skin and can be used in so many different ways. My favourites are as a rich balm cleanser to give a really deep clean; as a moisturising post-sun mask (leave on for around 20 minutes, then wipe away), and as a TLC balm for any particularly dry areas such as sunburn, chapped lips, rough feet and dry cuticles.

Shop the full range of products at nourishskinrange.com

What are your favourite natural summer skincare products?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - July 2021 review

Featuring excellent value for money every single month, the LoveLula Beauty Boxes are a great way to treat yourself or a loved one to an exciting selection of green beauty goodies. I've been receiving these boxes for a few years now and they still do not disappoint!

Curious to find out more? Check out my previous LoveLula Beauty Box reviews here and below, you'll find a rundown of what's inside this month's box which is worth £58.

Soul Tree Kajal in Pure Black (RRP £14.20)

Made from an Ayurvedic traditional recipe that uses a 3000-year-old process, Soul Tree's Kajal's have a smooth and creamy texture which makes them glide on effortlessly without any dragging or pulling. Cruelty-free and free from a long list of 'nasties', this kajal instead uses natural pigments and ingredients such as Ghee, Camphor, and Organic Almond Oil to deliver a true alternative eyeliner. Amazing! Be sure to follow my Instagram Stories for a quick tutorial on how I use this.

Gallinée Probiotic Eye Contour Cream (RRP £22)

One of the original French natural beauty brands that were at the forefront of probiotic skincare, Gallinée's bestselling Eye Contour Cream has been specially formulated for the most sensitive and reactive eyes. It smoothes, protects, and soothes the delicate eye area and is just what I need after my recent laser eye surgery!

Bloomtown Lemongrass & Peppermint Deodorant Bar (RRP £10)

I featured this recently in my Summer Beauty Favourites so I'm thrilled to see it in this month's LoveLula beauty box as so many of you were asking about it on Instagram! This is one my favourite natural deodorants and has a bicarbonate-free formula that makes it suitable for sensitive pits.

Skin Alchemists Equilibrium Artisan Soap Bar (RRP £10)

Celebrate Plastic Free July with this gorgeous luxury Soap Bar from Skin Alchemists. I've tried one of their soaps before and I loved it so it's great to have another one back in my bathroom. The Equilibrium Bar has a beautifully fragrant blend of Lavender, Lime, Vetiver and Cedarwood and a lovely moisturising formula to keep hands nice and soft.

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

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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