Introducing: Wild Pharmacy - Skincare Review

 

There is a wealth of natural beauty brands to discover from the Nordic countries, and I've recently been trialling several products from the Finish brand, Wild Pharmacy.

Adding a pop of contemporary colour to my vanity table, Wild Pharmacy are a mid-priced, cruelty-free skincare company from Finland that specialises in wild foraged natural and organic ingredients. 

They also have a whole ethos about encouraging individuals to see themselves as whole, and they promote mental health awareness with positive quotes on their packaging to help build self-confidence. In addition, the brand supports campaigns and projects related to anti-bullying, particularly cyberbullying of young people, with a Gen Z focus on health and mental wellbeing.

I was delighted to receive a package of their products to test out from LoveLula who stock Wild Pharmacy on their website, making them readily available to UK consumers - yay!

Wild Pharmacy Good Things Happen Superfood Vital Mask* (50ml, £19, link)

I'm an avid face mask fan so let's start with the Good Things Happen Superfood Vital Mask. Suitable for all skin types, this cream-based face mask helps to rejuvenate and brighten the complexion, reducing redness and irritation, whilst generating a smoother finish. Packed full of antioxidants, it protects against free radicals, maintains moisture levels and boosts elasticity - I love it! Best of all, it's a quick and easy 15-minute treatment - apply to clean skin and then rinse off.

Wild Pharmacy Clear & Glowing Gentle Face Cleanser* (150ml, £17.50, link)

If you're in the market for a gentle, soothing gel cleanser, this needs to be added to your shopping list ASAP. The Clear & Glowing Gentle Face Cleanser does what it says on the bottle, removing all traces of dirt and impurities, without stripping or drying out the skin. It feels very refreshing to use and I'd definitely recommend it as a morning cleanser to wake up your skin.

Wild Pharmacy Rock Star Mild Facial Peeling Gel* (50ml, £19, link)

With finely milled Walnut Shell and Activated Charcoal powder, this Rock Star Mild Facial Peeling Gel offers a gentle exfoliation in a soothing gel base of Aloe Vera juice and Peach Kernel Oil. Great for clogged pores, the charcoal element acts like a magnet to draw out and absorb impurities, so you get smoother, clearer looking skin after just the first use. 

Wild Pharmacy Healing Meditation Calming Serum* (30ml, £19.50, link)

A high quality calming serum is a staple in my skincare routine and I've been really enjoying using the Healing Meditation Calming Serum which ticks all the right boxes. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, it has an ultra-soothing formula of well known calming natural extracts such as  Chamomile and Calendula to quickly bring down any inflammation or redness in the skin. 

Wild Pharmacy Cool And Calm Hydrating Face Mist* (150ml, £17.50, link)

Who doesn't love a refreshing cooling face mist?! Although we haven't been blessed with much of a summer this year, this Cool And Calm Hydrating Face Mist is still a very useful purchase for anyone who has sensitive, reactive or oily skin and can, of course, be used all year round. Not only does this toner revitalise tired skin, but it also hydrates and rebalances for a happier complexion overall.

Shop the Wild Pharmacy range in the UK at LoveLula.com

Have you tried anything from Wild Pharmacy?

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August Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

The end of the month is rolling around yet again, so it's time for another Empties post! Like last month, I've been trying to declutter some more travel-size products, alongside some familiar everyday items.

Kiss The Moon Love After Dark Pillow Mist* (travel size)

Everything from Kiss The Moon smells incredible and it was a real pleasure to use this pillow mist which has a blend of rose, frankincense, and ylang ylang essential oils to help you unwind. Heavenly! Repurchase? I'm using one from Neals Yard Remedies at the moment, but I have no doubt I'll return to this in the near future.

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo

Since Covid happened, I haven't been using much dry shampoo at all thanks to WFH life, so this has lasted me probably about two years. I believe Aveda has repackaged/renamed it since then, however, the formula remains the same and it's one of the best that I've ever tried. Repurchase? Yes.

Laidbare Butter Me Up Body Butter*

Another product that has taken me a long time to finish up has been this big tub of body butter from Laidbare. I love the rich and heady fragrance, and the light texture just sinks into the skin quickly. Perfect to use after a long soak in the bath. Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash* (travel size)

If you have dry skin, you must try these body washes from Weleda because they are SO good! I've used them for years the Wild Rose scent is still one of my favourites. Repurchase? Will do.

Salcura Bioskin Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser

Ideal for skin that's prone to eczema, dermatitis, and/or psoriasis, I highly recommend the Salcura range if you're looking to avoid harsh chemicals like steroids as most of their range is 97-99% natural. This is another product that I always have in my skincare stash for when my eczema flareups and it still works a treat after all these years. Repurchase? Already have!

Tropic Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream SPF50 in Light/Medium*

I haven't been wearing much makeup over the past year, so for sunny days, I've just been slapping on this as an easy, fuss-free base. It gives a good light coverage and doesn't make me look super shiny, plus it's a proper facial sunscreen with the tint added to the water-resistant formula, rather than a tinted moisturiser with a teeny bit of sunscreen thrown in. Repurchase? Definitely will next Summer.

Omorovicza Cleansing Foam (travel size)

Despite it being a famous cult cleanser, I wasn't too keen on this and felt like it left my skin feeling a bit sticky/tacky afterwards, no matter how much I rinsed the residue away with a flannel. Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (travel size)

The Omorovicza cleansing mask is a completely different story though - I loved it! Although the sample pot was for only one use, it made my complexion look and feel instantly clearer and smoother. Repurchase? Definitely on my shopping list.

Tropic Illuma Light Diffusing Concealer in Brûlee*

For a natural, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly undereye concealer, Tropic's Illuma Light Diffusing Concealers are simply amazing. They conceal dark circles beautifully without creasing into fine lines and always make me look much more awake than I actually am - a great 'cheat' product when you haven't had much sleep. Repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream (travel size)

Last, but not least, I finished up a mini hand cream from L'Occitane. I used to use these all the time but sadly there is the issue of L'Occitane no longer being cruelty-free due to selling in China, so I'm just using up what I have left. Repurchase? No.

What have you used up recently?

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Foodie Friday: Making Cacao Boost Porridge Squares & Superberries Parfait with Bioglan Superfoods

The Bank Holiday weekend has arrived, and I've teamed up with Bioglan Superfoods to make two of their super easy-to-follow recipes for some tasty healthy treats that you can share with your friends and family.

Superfood Powder Blends

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I love making things like smoothies and baking healthy sweet treats, and you guys know how much I love a good superfood blend! Bioglan Superfoods have an impressive range to choose from, and their superfood powder blends are so versatile and easy to add to any recipe for a big health boost.

They kindly sent me two vegan-friendly blends to try out recently; Cacao Boost and Superberries, and let me tell you - these are delicious!

Bioglan Superfoods Cacao Boost* (70g, £9.99, link)

Cacao Boost is for all you chocolate fans out there. Featuring an organic mix of Cacao Powder, Lucuma Powder, Hemp Protein Powder, and Maca Powder, each 10g serving gives you a good source of Copper, Manganese, and Magnesium, to help reduce tiredness and fatigue. It has a sweet malty, chocolatey caramel flavour so it lends itself well to baking and can be used as a healthy substitute for cocoa powder in things like muffins, brownies and cupcakes. Yum!

Cacao Boost Portable Porridge Squares (makes 12)

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 50g hazelnuts or almonds, chopped
• 375ml almond or oat milk
• 225g oats
• 60ml maple syrup
• 4 tablespoons Bioglan Superfoods Cacao Boost

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas Mark 4 and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
• Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined and pour into the tray.
• Place in the oven for 15 minutes until set and allow to cool.
• Once cool, slice into squares - enjoy!

Bioglan Superfoods Superberries* (70g, £9.99, link)

For a fruity treat, you can't beat awesome Superberries. Specially formulated to support your immune system, this blend has a superstar lineup of berries such as Goji, Açai, Blueberry, Acerola Cherry, Strawberry, Redcurrant, Montmorency Cherry, Pomegranate and Bilberry, plus Beetroot for even more antioxidants. Needless to say, each 10g serving contains a whopping 80% of your RDA of Vitamin C and 25% each of Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Magnesium, and Manganese. 

Superberries tastes a little tart which means it's great in smoothies or added to pancake batter and fruity breakfast muffins. You can also try it in this delicious Parfait recipe.

Superberries Parfait (serves 10)

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1.5kg Greek yoghurt or a dairy-free alternative
• 330g frozen mixed berries
• 4 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp Bioglan Superfoods Superberries

Method

• Line a loaf tin with cling film.
• Add the mashed bananas to a large bowl and then stir in the yoghurt with the maple syrup. 
• Add the frozen berries and Superberries powder, stirring until combined.
• Pour into the loaf tin, cover with cling film and freeze for at least 6 hours until set.
• Before serving, leave the parfait out to stand for 15-20 mins, remove from the tin and peel off the cling film.
• Top with fresh berries if desired, slice and serve - enjoy!

Shop the full range of Bioglan Superfoods online at bioglansuperfoods.co.uk

Have you tried any superfood blends?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - August 2021 review

This month's LoveLula Beauty Box is worth a whopping £71 and features a mix of high-end, green beauty brands. I always love the variation in these subscription boxes! Curious to find out more? Here's a rundown of all the products inside.

Terre Verdi Balancing Mist (RRP £9)

A refreshing facial mist is always a winner during the summer months and they don't come much more revitalizing than this Balancing Mist from Terre Verdi. It contains lots of lovely skin-calming anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which makes it a handy skincare hero for problematic complexions.

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Blackcurrant Face Oil (RRP £19)

Another useful skin soother is this wonderful Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Blackcurrant Face Oil. I imagine most skin types will love this, but it's particularly beneficial for helping with uneven skin tones and for reducing any inflammation or flare-ups. A clever miracle worker thanks to the high antioxidant content of those superstar blackcurrants.

Butterwhips Warmly Relaxing Body Butter (RRP £18)

I'm a big fan of Butterwhips, having previously reviewed them a few months ago, so I was really happy to discover a big tin of their bestselling Warmly Relaxing Body Butter. The texture of this body butter has a lovely thick, rich, typically whipped allure that simply melts into the skin, delivering intense moisture. I'll be saving this to use during winter when my body feels drier as it's very moisturising!

INIKA Lip & Cheek Cream in Morning (RRP £25)

The star of this month's box for me personally is this gorgeous INIKA Lip & Cheek Cream in the shade Morning. It has a silky-soft formula that blends easily into cheeks for a healthy flush of colour and adds a simple dewy finish to lips. Fuss-free makeup at its finest and excellent quality as always from INIKA. 

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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