Lily Lolo and Kiko Cosmetics - Review

So I had some make up that had been running low recently (why do they always all run out at once?) and decided to take the opportunity to review some new products. 

Lily Lolo are a cruelty free British cosmetic company well known for their mineral foundation - they specialise in mineral make up. So far everything I've tried from them has been great. Kiko is another cruelty free brand I've noticed recently, although they aren't British. They do ship to Britain from their website. Their make-up is not what I'd consider "natural", but I'm not as strict with some products. I doubt eyebrow pencils are going to reawaken my acne.

So today I decided to try out my new products. First Up, Kiko Dark Circle Concealer. I was absolutely convinced in store that I'd picked up this yellow toned version, but sadly when I opened it I saw it was porcelain. Luckily I'd still picked up the lightest shade. I usually opt for all natural and mineral concealers, but I'd seen some bloggers talking about this and wanted to give it a go. If it worked I'd wear it occasionally on nights out, and wouldn't expect little usage to cause any skin problems. 

When I hear "porcelain" I think of a fair, cream whitish tone. This was a darker, salmon tone. I had doubts that it would be light enough for me, but I'd heard that salmon shades are good at cancelling out dark under eyes. Which I have in excess, by the way.

Once blended in it wasn't too dark. I did cover it with Lily Lolo's mineral corrector in PeepO. It's great with purple tones, but as mine are so damn purple I feel it isn't always enough. It did work great over the Kiko concealer, and by the time I had my Honeypie Minerals foundation on the bags were gone! Yes, it took three layers to cover those bad boys.

I skipped the contour today as I left my powder at home in a bid to start wearing less make-up in France. It has worked, as I now only wear it on trips out or to review a new item. Add in the sun exposure I'm getting here and my skin will be glowing when I return to Scotland!

Next up was the Lily Lolo mineral blush in Sunset. Despite my fair skin I always prefer darker blushes. My lips and natural redness are more "rosy" than "pink" anyway, so I always think it looks better.

Here are some swatches I done for comparison. From top to bottom: 

Lily Lolo's  mineral blush in "Sunset". It is described as a demi-matte, but (to me) it has a strong shimmer. I usually go for matte blushes, so decided to try something out of my comfort zone. I love it, but wouldn't want anything any more "shimmery".

Below, for comparison, is Everyday Minerals mineral blush in Tea Rose. This is a light baby pink, which I chose to go with my fair skin. It is a beautiful shade, but again I think I prefer something a little rosier and darker.

At the bottom is my Everyday Minerals All Over Shimmer in Hint. It is so hard to find a good highlighter for pale skin. Seriously, most of them are darker than than my foundation. Everyday Minerals do three shades, aimed to cover all skin tones from light to dark. This one is basically white, and the only highlighter I've used so far that gives me any sort of glow noticeable against my pale skin.

The Kiko Precision Eyebrow Pencil has been praised online, so  I decided to pick it up. At only €5.90 it's pretty cheap. It was very precise, and comes with it's own sharpener. It went on easily and hasn't budged all day. The Eyebrow Designer Gel Mascara was on offer for €2, so I snapped that up too. Again, it's worked very well and hasn't budged all day...

I was so excited to try Lily Lolo's mascara. I've heard a lot of bad things about natural mascaras, yet I've seen this one praised again and again. I'm lucky enough to have natural thick, dark lashes, so I've never been too picky about mascara. The only thing I can't stand is smudging and clumps. This has neither! It definitely helped shape and lengthen my lashes and I haven't had any smudging/irritation all day. 

And so this is the finished look! Apart from the concealer (which is slightly too dark for me) I would definitely repurchase all the products. There's this stigma around mineral make-up that it's too cakey, doesn't offer good coverage and doesn't give a natural finish. I'll let you be the judge of that! Below are my before and after pictures of today.

So this is what I'm wearing. All are cruelty free, to the best of my knowledge.

Kiko dark circle concealer in Porcelain

Honeypie Minerals colour corrector in Green (face)

Lily Lolo colour corrector in PeepO (under eyes)

Honeypie Minerals mineral foundation in Fair

Lily Lolo mineral blush in Sunset

Everyday Minerals all over shimmer in Hint

Kiko precision eyebrow pencil in 05 Brunettes

Kiko eyebrow designer

Lily Lolo mascara in Black

Natures Ingredients lip balm in Vanilla

Barry M lip liner in Russet

I use EcoTools brushes, which are available from Boots, Honeypie Minerals or through their own website.

So if you're looking to change to a cruelty free beauty routine I'd definitely recommend each of these brands. Honeypie Minerals, Lily Lolo, Everyday Minerals and Barefaced Beauty (not mentioned here) all do great make-up. Kiko is good if you're not into minerals but still want to go cruelty free. All brands are on the lower end of the price scale and pretty affordable.

10 Hours in Paris - What You Can Fit in a Day

Ah, Paris. Is there a way to say that without thinking of great food, cute boutiques, high-end fashion and, of course, the many world famous landmarks? 

I currently live a while outside of Paris, but I plan to visit as much as I can. At the time of writing that is currently three times (disregarding the day I arrived at the airport). Paris has so much going on that you can easily fill half a day doing many different things. So here is how I spent 10 hours in Paris:

I awoke at 5:30am to leave at 6am for the train. Why so early? Because I can get a lift to the train station that way. I was in Paris bright and early for 7am. I started the day with a hot chocolate and a croissant (could I be any more predictable?) and a wander round some streets. Almost every building is just pleasant to look at. 

Seriously, every corner you turn there's something impressive -big and small. So I started to plan my day, and firstly headed off to the Bastille monument.

Despite the clouds it was very bright. I struggled to get a good photo. I went a walk round some nearby streets and ended up outside a pretty impressive building. 

As I said, there's something interesting around every corner. I'm still not too sure what this building was... Next I headed to Musee d'Orsay. 

Of course I snapped some more pictures in the streets on the way there. Someone may have been playing "spot the tourist"!

Musee d'Orsay is the top rated museum in Paris according to Trip Advisor- even beating the Louvre! It was wonderful, and I haven't even checked out every floor yet. They just have everything in there - sculptures, classics, impressionism, graphic art, sketch books, architectural art, photography, caricatures, upholstery, even a mini model of Paris you can walk over! And I'm sure there's much more I've yet to see.  

Next up, the "Tour Eiffel". My Gran and Grandpa once visited France. When my Gran reached the base of the Eiffel Tower and looked up she said her legs went to jelly. It's a pretty accurate description of how it feels. I recently discovered that I have a fear of heights (after going to the top of the tallest building in Poland) so I definitely got shivers. It's one of those buildings that look a lot taller in person. It dwarfed everything. I've still to go to the top, but I'm waiting on my mum visiting. I'll need someone to clutch onto and remind me that I'm not going to die. 

Afterwards I headed back to Bastille to do a spot of shopping on one of the nearby streets. I chose there just because it had a "Lush". For followers of my skincare posts, you'll know it's a brand I'm pretty obsessed with. I left with a new body lotion, face scrub and shower gel tester. You always need to get a tester in Lush.

I then met with another lovely au pair for some lunch. We decided to head out to see the Sacré Coeur. There were lots of narrow, cobbled streets and cute cafés in the area. Not only did the streets climb uphill, but we had to climb around 270 steps to reach the landmark, but it was worth it.

Again, as you'de expect, Sacré Coeur was beautiful. There was a "no photo" policy inside (although I didn't see it being enforced!) so I will respect their wishes and only show the exterior here. The white stone walls shone in the sun, and although it's not as big as other places I've visited like Saint Peters or Basilica di San Giovanni, it certainly wasn't petit.

So we decided to pay €6  (main entry is free) to climb another 300 steps to the 272 foot high dome. For someone with a fear of heights, I'd say that was pretty brave! The views were astounding, sadly my phone camera is not. You could see a lot of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Opera House, the Pompidou centre and I think someone even spotted the Arc de Triomphe (although I never). It really puts the scale of Paris in perspective. Does it ever end? Sadly, yes, yes it does.

I'd love to say that my day ended enjoying this chocolate covered monster of a crepe piled with cream. Sadly I really ended the day sprinting through the Gare de Lyon underground trying to find my way from the metro to the train. Seriously, every line and hall was signposted apart from mine! Thankfully I did make it in time and I hopefully won't have to repeat that fiasco again.Oh, and the crepe was delicious - or at least the half of it I managed to eat was.

So there it is, my 10 hours in Paris. Paris is bursting with places to see, restaurants to dine in and things to do. Whether you're there for half a day, half a week or half a year, there will always be things to do. It's definitely a place to check of your bucket list - perhaps more than once.

French Phrases to Learn for Au Pairs

When most people decide to au pair somewhere, it's usually somewhere where they have little to no knowledge of the language. The whole point of au pairing is, for me, to completely immerse yourself in a different country and learn the local language. So it's fair to say that most au pairs will move abroad with initially little language skills.   

I moved to France with a basic knowledge of the language, although most of the words/phrases I've learnt through self-study haven't been used by me once. I can recite the French alphabet, count in French and name every colour on the rainbow. I can talk about food, animals, clothing, family and numerous other things. But could I explain to a four year old that he had to stop waking me up in the middle of the night? Could I let people know how I was feeling? Could I shout the kids down for dinner? No, when I first arrived here, I could not.

So, seeing as France is a particularly popular destination for au pairs, I decided to put a quick list of phrases together that have came in useful for watching children. These are phrases I already knew (but hadn't properly used) or picked up in the first few days of being here. I use everything on this list several time a day, and so do most others in the household. Please note that this list is for people who plan to au pair/stay with children. If you're not moving to France to do any of those things this list may not be as useful. So, as new au pairs are generally starting out fresh with the language, I'll start with the basics.

Oui et non - Yes and no

Basic, but essential. Luckily most people already know this in French.

Salut/Bonjour - Hello (informal/formal)

If you don't learn anything else, at least make sure you can greet someone. Another fun way to greet friends is "coucou".

Au revoir - Goodbye

If you learn hello you should learn goodbye.

S'il vous plaît? - Please

Manners cost nothing!

Merci beaucoup - Thank you very much

Sometimes a plain "thanks" isn't enough.

De rien - You're welcome 

A reply to "Thank You", although d'accord seems to be the most popular reply. Don't confuse this with bienvenue - a welcome greeting.

D'accord - Okay/Agreed

Most French people understand "okay", but it's nice to use the proper language. 

Pardon - Pardon/Sorry

Useful for when you're navigating the busy Paris metro.

Attention - Be careful/Pay attention 

I had no idea of the fiascos young children get themselves into. I'm constantly warning the young one to stay safe, and I've found myself using this one a lot.

Regarde - Look

I usually use this alongside attention when I'm trying to point out something potentially "dangerous". A car, a steep fall, a big tub of paint on the edge of a table... It's also nice if you want to point out the dead bird in the garden that the family pet killed so they can begin to organise it's burial and service.

Arrêtez - Stop/Stop that 

Ah yes, this one comes in useful. Children love to throw things around during tantrums. 

Bonjour, Bonsoir, Bonne Nuit - Good morning, Good evening, Goodnight 

I usually use bonne nuit as a way to say"go to bed" when I'm being woken up in the middle of the night for the third time. 

Manger - Eat

When meals are ready the family just tend to shout "manger". As I cook the meals it's an easy way for me to let others know it's ready until my vocabulary improves. It's also good for fussy children who need convincing to eat.

Avec moi - (come) With me

Usually used when playing with children (or yelling at them franticly to turn their bike around before they leave the quiet road).

Tres Bein! - Very Good! 

Make sure you know how to praise kids. Especially when they draw you pictures or learn how to ride a bike.

Je ne sais pas - I don't know

For when you do understand the children's questions and simply don't know the answer.

Pourquoi - Why 

"Why do you want in the cupboard? Why do you want my computer? Why are you in a huff? Why are you waking me up again at 4am?". You can see why this comes in handy with children.

Quoi - What

Children mumble. It's not the best for us newbies who are already struggling with a new language.

Je ne comprends pas - I don't understand

Although young children realise you don't speak their language, it won't stop them talking away to you as if you understand. This is a good thing as it helps you learn. What's not good is when there's no one else around and they're asking you to do something for them, and you can not decipher what they are asking at all. Whatever you do, don't say non in these situations! They'll go away upset and angry, and will let you know about it. Sometimes they were just looking for some chocolate or a teddy!

Je suis - I am

This is useful for when you start building up some French and want to start communicating: Je suis occupé /I am busy, Je suis fatigue/I am tired (the later is  great for explaining to the four year old why he can't have a fifth piggyback ride round the huge garden).

Just be aware that "je suis" isn't always the exact correct way to say "I am". Never say "Je suis chaude" when you are hot. It is understood as "I am horny". And yes, I have made that mistake. 

Comment allez-vous//Comment vas-tu/Comment ça va - How are you?

Yes, that's a lot of ways to say the same thing. They are listed from most to least formal. I won't get into the difference between "vous" and "tu" here. Lets just say vous is respectful and should be used with elders/bosses/strangers etc. Tu should be used with children/young people/people at "your level". "Comment ça va" can be used with family/friends. Don't know what one to use? Go with "vous".

So that's my most commonly used phrases when living with a family and minding children. I know every family is different, but I use these all often on a daily basis and I think it would be useful for other au pairs who are moving to France. I am in no way an expert in French, so if I have made any mistakes I apologise and would love if they could be pointed out and corrected.

Some Help for the Switch to Natural Beauty

Since I've switched to a cruelty free, natural skin care routine my skin has thanked me immensely. No longer are the days of hormonal breakouts and insufferable redness - although my skin is still not perfect it's came a long way.  All the products I currently use are either DIY, completely natural or mostly natural, with a few safe ingredients I've researched on Skin Deep.

Anyone who knows me will know how much I rave about natural skin care and its benefits. Yet it is hard to make that switch to natural beauty. People become loyal to companies and their products. People may not be willing to experiment around with new products and brands to find the right fit for their skin. So, what I've decided to do is dedicate a few blog posts to help the switch to natural beauty. I will try to focus on one or two products/brands each post, and hopefully it will come in useful for those making the switch! So, as this is my first post, I would like to list some of my all time favourite cruelty-free and natural* beauty brands:

Arran Aromatics - a cruelty free brand made in Scotland. I love their products. I rave about their "Feel Good Formulas" collection. So affordable and effective!

The Caurnie Soaperie - this is a smaller company who specialise in natural soaps/haircare for those with eczema/psoriasis. Saying that, their products are wonderful and I'd recommend them to anyone. You can order online but I sometimes spy them in farmer's markets. Their Nettle Shampoo and Conditioner does wonders for my hair, and its SLS free! And yes, that's the best picture I could find.

Lush - from bath bombs, to tooth powder, to toners and moisturisers they really do have everything.

Neals Yard Remedies - A well known brand, Neals Yard Remedies stock many oils for DIY skincare. They also stock teas (good for the skin), make up and their own skin care range. I've heard great things about them.

Woodland Herbs - okay, this is more a shop than a brand, but it's my first stop for ingredients for DIY skincare. They have a great selections of oils, waters, herbs, bottles and various other ingredients. They also stock natural skin care brands for those who don't like to mess about in the kitchen. The shop is based in Glasgow, but they do deliver online.

If you're interested in health and skin care I'd recommend a look around their website. It may be a little confusing to navigate at first but they stock a wide range of products, have lots of great information on topics like health and wellbeing/aromatherapy and they even have a blog. Get it bookmarked.

Here are some brands I've not tried personally, but that I've heard great things about:

Balm Balm - 100% Natural Skincare. A brand I've seen bloggers rave about, and they also do free delivery for orders over £10! They specialise in - you guessed it - balms.

GreenPeople - Another brand that a lot of bloggers rave about. They stock a wide range of products online, from skin care, to toothpaste, to sun care.

LiveNative - another Scottish brand, they market themselves as "raw, vegan, organic". I've had a look at their products and they do look good, and I've seen people praise them online.

Pai Skincare - They have a great selection of products. I see many people praise the "Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil". They also have free delivery on all orders too.

I've made up some tables to show which brands do which products, and how affordable they all are. I've priced the products by average price per 100ml/g.

£       =  £0 - £10
££     =  £10 - £20
£££   =  £20 - £30
££££ =  £30+

First up, skincare:

Next, hair care:

Lastly, body/other:

Remember it is the price per 100ml, so don't get put off. For example, the Arran Aromatics eye gel is £3.50 per 15ml. Although it is cheap, it is listed as £££ as 100ml would be £23.33. I thought by showing the price this way it would be easier to compare the affordability of each brand.

You may look at this list and think "Woah, do I need so many products?". The answer is - no! Although I believe skin care is important, less can be more. For example, on an average day I use two products on my face: a cleanser and my DIY facial oil.

It all depends on your skin, your preference and your day. If I'm wearing make up I tend to switch my facial oil for an eye gel and moisturiser instead, as they absorb fast and prime my face. If it's a sunny day I'll use an SPF powder on my face. When I'm having a "bad skin" day I'll also use a face mask and a mix of essential oils on my face.

I hope these tables help anyone who is interested in making the switch to better skin care. I plan to do a few more posts looking at certain products, so if you liked this please watch out for them. As usual these brands are all cruelty free. Information gathered for each brand was taken from the linked website.

*not all brand products are 100% natural, which is why I use Skin Deep to research ingredients.

Au Pair - My First Week Living In The French Country

Or rather, my first week and a half in the French country. I'm incredibly lucky to say it's all I'd hoped for and more. Just look at those blue skies (they were dull and grey back in Scotland that day - I checked).

Most au pairs seem to try and get a placement in the city when they come to Paris. Many people online had warned against living outside the city. It would be "inconvenient", "lonely" and "boring". The city life and the country life will both have their pros and cons, but the country life here is far from a disaster.

It is very peaceful out here - perfect for alone time. Whether unwinding with a book, in a bath, or doing some yoga, I'm never interrupted. There's also a greater sense of community. People here all seem to know their neighbours, and I already have my eye on some weekly local events to check out.

Thanks to the many quiet roads and the peaceful farmland I've been running a lot more. It feels great in the morning, the sun shining in the fresh new sky amidst a sea of green. I'm not saying the city is ugly, but these are sights I'd favour over streets and buildings any day. It's also great motivation knowing that it's unlikely for anyone to catch you all red-faced and sweaty when you've just begun!

Living in the country has also forced me to look for stuff I want to do on days out, as I can't just walk out of my city apartment and visit the closest shop or café. So when I go out, I'm doing as much things as I can and visiting the best places possible. Such as local tourist spots such as Chateau de Fontainbleau...

... Famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower...

... and cute coffee shops for French crepes.The one above was done with pear, chocolate and cream. Try as I may, I couldn't finish the beast.

So my first "week and a half" has been great. I've settled in really well and love this new country lifestyle, If anyone reading this is considering working as an au pair, I urge you to just do it! So far the experience has been amazing for me and it;s only the beginning. Just make sure you do your research and find a family you get along with. It's been a long day for me so to everyone out there - Bonne Nuit!

The First Day as an Au Pair - France

So at the end of March I decided to pack up my bags and fly off to France to spend 6 months as an Au Pair. I've always wanted to travel and I'm at the perfect age for doing just that.

There are things I love about home in Scotland, but it is just not where I want to live out my life. It still amazes me that, with just a quick google search and sign up to "Au Pair World", I was already on the track to finding a placement abroad. And here I am! Currently in a little hamlet outside a countryside village, cosied upstairs in my new room in the converted farmhouse. It all seems to good to be true, I'm still waiting on the catch!

The night before I left I still didn't feel like I was going. It was going to fall through, I was sure of it. I'd receive an email notifying me that I was no longer needed. I'd be questioned at airport security and find out I actually did need a visa. I'd chicken out and return home.  As excited as I was the nerves were getting to me. I was nervous, doubtful, afraid... It continued until I left my family at the airport and finally stepped onto the plane. It was a bittersweet morning.

The night before I shed some tears at the thought of leaving my family and pets behind. I'd never been away from either for more than a week and a half, and now I wouldn't see them for another 6 months. I admit that I almost backed out a few times.

The next day I arrived in Paris. I received a warm welcome at the airport from the family, who'd arrived to drive me to their village. I'd expected as much as I'd spoken to the family on Skype before - something I recommend to every future au pair. It is important to make sure you get along with the family and it avoids awkwardness when you first meet in person.

I was driven round the neighbourhood when I arrived to my new home, which consists of many rustic French villages and hamlets. I know little French at the moment, but enough to get by. I explored the place, unpacked, bonded with the cat. I was reminded of how uncontrollable toddlers are and how pets love to claim your bed as their own (we're sharing now).

French food is something I was very curious about, and so I've been helping with the meals and going along on shopping trips. Soon I will be cooking the weekday meals myself, so I wanted to get an idea of what is commonly used here and what the family enjoy. I couldn't resist snapping the above picture to send home to my mum. Just look at that fresh fish! And that's only a little. We picked up prawns, mussels and a meaty, white fish with a name I can't remember, or pronounce.

                 

Everything was lovely - especially the mussels.

So I've settled in well and can't wait to see more of France. I'd heard that the first few weeks of au pairing were awkward as you tried to fit in amongst another family. This seemed logical to me and was what I expected, but I can honestly say that (so far) it hasn't been awkward at all. Of course no where will ever be the same as home, but I have been welcomed and accepted just like a member of the family. To any future Au Pair's out there, I'd like to stress the importance of choosing the right family. Ask them questions, talk about yourself, arrange video chats. It pays off.

As for me, I have been instructed by my own family to take plenty of pictures, so I have decided to start blogging about my life as an au pair alongside my cruelty free beauty. Enjoy!