Help For the Switch to Natural Beauty - Moisturisers

So we've been getting some work done at the house this week and I haven't had WiFi access for my laptop, so my blog has been quiet... but I'm back! Continuing with my "Help for the Switch" series, I will be looking at moisturisers today.

Personally, I think moisturiser (along with make-up) is what affects your skin the most. As we tend to moisturise day and night the stuff spends a lot of time on your skin.When using the right stuff to moisturise it can really help, but when using bad stuff it can really damage your skin. Do you know what's in your moisturiser? That's a question I only started asking myself last year. Take a look at your moisturisers ingredient list and search them up on Skin Deep, have a look at exactly what is going on your skin every day.

Now there are hundreds of moisturisers out there. I used to feel lost in stores like Boots and Superdrug when searching for new moisturisers -because whatever brand I'd used before was never working.

Before I started using more natural moisturisers my skin would feel tight after washing. I'd moisturise right after washing my face to prevent this, thinking the product was working. Honestly, it wasn't. Now that I use better products, my skin is soft and silky before applying anything. That's how I know my stuff is working.

So where do you find the best moisturiser? Well there are a ton of great cruelty free and natural brands out there. It can be overwhelming at first, especially when you're just trying to find them. So I'm going to list some of the best moisturisers I've came across and what I think they are best for:

Arran Aromatics Feel Good Formulas Jojoba & Vitamin E All Weather Moisturiser

What a mouthful! While this moisturiser does not have the purest ingredient list, I have researched the stuff on Skin Deep and everything had a "low hazard" rating. I love wearing this under make up as it is light, primes the skin and still moisturises. And any followers of this blog will know how much I love Jojoba Oil. I've wrote more about this product here.

The Caurnie Soaperie Nettle Moisturiser 

This is my holy grail when it comes to eczema. I have had this clear up small eczema breakouts in less than a day. I'd never go back to the steroid creams from the doctor, which just thinned my skin anyway. Even for those who don't suffer from eczema it is a wonderful moisturiser. I'd say it's best for the body and moisturising dry patches. I personally didn't use it on my face a lot as it is heavy, although I do use it overnight sometimes when my skin is feeling dry.

Pai Skincare Geranium & Thistle Rebalancing Day Cream

I was first introduced to this whilst reading Kate's review on it on wildorganicbeauty* (one of my favourite blogs by the way, check it out!). She wrote a great post on it that will describe it better than I can. It's great for sensitive skin and it is another moisturiser that primes the skin perfectly for make up.

Lush Magical Moringa

I've loved every Lush moisturiser I've tried. Vanishing Cream was great for a light cream in the morning to prime before make up. Skin Drink was great at tackling dryness and healing my skin. But Magical Moringa is a different story. It's more a "balm" than a "cream" and feels unlike any other moisturiser I've tried. It also makes my skin look and feel amazing. Once absorbed I find it is great under powder/mineral make up. I'm not so sure with liquids because it contains cornflour. I think this is best for no make up days or when you want something that feels luxurious on your skin.

Facial Oils

These are my absolute favourite products for moisturising. Many brands do facial oils, but I tend to mix my own because I can switch up the ingredients to suit my skin's needs throughout the year. Many people are sceptical when I recommend facial oil to them. They either believe oil to be "dirty", they think it will make their skin more oily, or they tried some brand's facial oil from the chemist that was loaded up with awful ingredients that broke them out.

When you buy or make a good oil it is amazing for skin. My skin has actually stopped being so "oily" since I started using oils. Whenever my mix runs out I can look at my skin's current needs and make a unique blend that targets everything I need at that time. I do not have perfect skin - I have years spent using nasty products from the chemist to thank for that - but it has never been as good as it is using these products. My facial oils have finally got rid of my acne, they have decreased my redness, smoothed my skins texture and made it feel "good" again. If I had to recommend one product to anyone it would be Jojoba Oil, but there are so many great oils out there I think it really is worth looking for blends that will help your skin. I've been making custom blends for friends and family and so far they have been working!

There are many other brands out there that do great moisturisers, but unfortunately I've only sampled a small few myself. My blog isn't so popular (yet) that I get free samples to try, so everything I do try has been products I've used from start to finish out my own pocket. I still think facial oils are the best, but I understand how many people are more comfortable with a cream. So good luck in finding that perfect moisturiser and I hope this post has helped those of you looking to switch.  :)

*since I've made this post my favourite blog has actually disappeared! So I've had to remove all the links as they are broken.

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick and Liner - Review

I've heard a lot of good things about Lily Lolo's lipstick, so I decided to add a couple into my most recent order from them. Lily Lolo are one of my favourite brands, and they've yet to disappoint me. I also picked up an eye pencil, nail polish and a mascara (for my mum) and I've loved them all.

It's pretty much agreed throughout the blogging community that Lily Lolo has lovely packaging. It's modern, it's cute, it looks nice in your collection. I must admit that I've never been one to spend a lot on lipstick. My current collection is made up of £3.99 Barry M lippies mixed with various higher end brands I'd received as gifts. Although they've performed well enough for me, they will now be getting chucked out (sorry Barry M!) to make way for my new Lily Lolo shades. And at £8.99 they're still in budget!

Lily Lolo describe their lipsticks as "creamy", promising a "burst of radiant colour for beautiful and nourished lips". They felt luxurious on my lips, I've never tried a lipstick like it. If you're looking for a nourishing lipstick, you've found it. I purchased the shades "Rose Gold" (Left) and "French Flirt" (Right). I also purchased their Natural Lip Pencil in "Soft Nude". 

From top to bottom:

Lily Lolo's Natural Lip Pencil in "Soft Nude". It is a pigmented nude colour, although it doesn't look anywhere near as dark on my lips as it does against my skin. It works great alone or with nude toned lipstick.

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick in "Rose Gold".

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick in "French Flirt".

"Rose Gold" is a golden beige/nude tone, although it's debatable what "nude" actually is. My nude lips are a warm pink, so the shade still looks pink on me. You can always build the colour up with a few layers of course. I'm wearing this along with the "Soft Nude" lip pencil.

I think it seems a versatile, subtle shade and can see myself wearing this a lot.

"French Flirt" is probably closer to my "nude" lip colour. Its described as a warm, mid-toned red. Great for when you want a flush of colour, but perhaps not if you want a statement, berry lip. I have my eye on Scarlet Red, Desire and Berry Crush for that.

The thing I love about red toned lipsticks is that they always make my teeth look whiter. I never seem to suit corals and pinks too much (despite my fair skin), and perhaps that is why.

Overall I think these lipsticks are fantastic. The formula is moisturising and feels lovely to apply. They don't have a huge range of colours, but their current thirteen shades cover all the staples most people like to own. They layer well and last quite long if you're not eating or drinking. I know some people like lipsticks that don't budge, but I don't mind reapplying when needed. I did only have to reapply this once, after lunch, I would like to see their range of colours expanded, such as some darker nudes for darker skin tones.

I recommend them. Thanks again Lily Lolo x

Help for the Switch to Natural Beauty: Men

To the men out there that take care of their skin/body/hair, I applaud you. It seems to be something a lot of men shy away from, because it's not (as they'd describe) "manly". Sigh...

Anyway, although all of the products I review can be used by males or females, I thought a post tailored specifically to men would be helpful. Think shaving products, beard wash, hair wax... You get the idea.

Shaving

Still using that cheap foam from the supermarket to shave? Really? It's hard to find shaving products that are cruelty free, but luckily I've rounded up some of the best here. I think that men need thicker gels and creams for shaving, as they tend to have thicker and coarser hair, so that's what I've focused on.

Arran Aromatics do a great range of shaving products. It's tailored towards men, but I've tried some stuff and loved it. They do shaving cream, shaving gel, shaving soap and even a brush and soap bowl. Definitely better than supermarket brand foam! I'd recommend the cream for men, as I don't think gel would be best for facial hair.

Lush also have several options for shaving, including D'Fluff - a pink, strawberry scented shaving cream! If you're going to shave with anything, why not with strawberries?

For the less adventurous they also have Dirty Shaving Cream, part of their well loved "Dirty" range. This is good option for skin that is sensitive easily irritated,

Another good option from Lush for men would be Five O'Clock Whistle. It's another thick formula that's good for facial hair.

Hair

So we've took care of shaving, what about the hair that's still left?

If you're the type that jumps in and out the shower for a quick wash, try a Hair and Body Wash from Arran Aromatics. They currently have seven scents: After the Rain, Bay Citrus, Citrus Shores, Driftwood, Eydis, Island Spa and Velvet Isle. 

If you're not that type and really want to treat your hair, try some solid shampoo bars from Lush. These things are great; inexpensive, long-lasting and there's so many choices. Try something like Honey I Washed My Hair or Jason and the Argon Oil if you're looking for moisture and softness. Seanik is great for volume. Soak and Float is a good choice for problem scalps with dandruff, psoriasis and eczema. If you're just looking for a good all rounder, try New. I'm pretty sure that's their best seller. Lush shampoo bars are better for hair because of the way they are used. Read more about them here.

If you're picky and want something free of SLS, try Nettle Shampoo and Nettle Conditioner from The Caurnie Soaperie. The shampoo is my absolute favourite. After using it for a while my hair became so healthy and started to change back to it's natural texture - it doesn't happen overnight but it helps you get there. If you don't know what shampoo to pick from what I've listed, pick this.

Styling

I know I keep going on about Lush - that's how good their stuff is - and they have a great selection of styling products. Dirty Styling Cream, another product from the beloved "Dirty" range, is probably the closest you'll get to a generic styling cream. Jojo and Queen Bee styling wax are also options for those of you who need a little more hold.

Veerappan Moustache Wax is also another great product. It can be used, obviously, as a moustache wax, but also to condition and scent the ends of your hair.

Although you can use it dry, Mr Dandy's Hair Candy is a better choice for those who like to style with wet hair.

For those of you who may not share my love of Lush. Green People also do a styling gel.

Cleansing 

Acne and other skin problems can be tough to get rid off, especially with the amount of products in stores claiming to help. Again, these products can be used by males or females, but I just thought I'd recommend some good products to help narrow down the search.

Now, the best thing to help is a good skin care routine. It doesn't have to be intricate or time consuming, just make sure you cleanse your skin morning and night to get rid of any dirt or bacteria. Lush Facial Soaps Coalface and Fresh Farmacy are both easy to use and last a long time. Coalface is better for oily skin and Fresh Farmacy is good for sensitive skin.  

If you want a little exfoliation, Angels on Bare Skin is a good all rounder. It comes in a paste formula, so just pinch a little out the tub, mix with warm water in your palm and then massage into your face. Lush have a few paste cleansers - try Dark Angels for oily skin or Let The Good Times Roll for dry skin.

If none of the above is what you're looking for, check out my post on cleansing here.

Also, pay attention to what you sleep on! Bacteria gathers on cotton pillowcases, so make sure to wash and change them regularly. 

If face masks are your thing, try Mask of Magnaminty Self Preserving from Lush or Sea Mud Mask from Arran Aromatics. Both are good all rounders. I reccomend the self preserving version of the Lush mask as it's loaded with honey which is great for the skin. It also doesn't have to be kept in the fridge like most of their masks.

When you first start using masks you may feel like they are counter-productive by drawings spots from your skin. Stick with it, as it helps keep skin clean and clear in the long run. 

Moisturiser 

So you've shaved, you've cleansed, what's next? No, you're not finished yet. It's time to moisturise.

If you just want something simple, try some Jojoba Oil. This stuff is great for the skin. I buy mine local from Woodland Herbs. Add in a little essential oil and you can personalise it to your own needs. For example, a little lavender or tea tree oil is great for fighting acne.

If messing about making oils isn't your thing, Neal's Yard Remedies do several of their own facial oil formulas.

If you'd rather stick with a cream, Lush have a great selection. Cosmetic Lad is aimed at men as it's for "calming razor-sore skin".

Magical Moringa is another favourite of mine. It is more of a balm than a cream, but is wonderfully soft on skin and makes it look great.

Million Dollar Moisturiser is another one I'd recommend to men. I find that men (in my experience) care less about sun care, whereas women tend to protect their skin with products and make-up with SPF. This cream has an SPF of 30, so keeps skin protected from those harmful rays. 

Vaseline is a product I see a lot of guys using - for nails, lips, dry skin... I'm not a fan of Vaseline, it's not cruelty free and I don't think it's very good for skin. Instead, try Ultrabalm from lush - a natural, cruelty free alternative and it only has three ingredients! 

If you're looking for even more moisture, try Elbow Grease. I've heard it's great for everything from dry skin to brightening tattoos.

I hope this post has helped any men (or women) out there with their search for cruelty free beauty products. I've tried to think or and cover the problems men may have here, but if any of my readers out there have a question that's not covered please let me know.

* Photos sourced from brand websites and pixabay.com

Help for the Switch to Natural Beauty: Cleansers

Cleansers are crucial to good skin. A bad cleanser can completely mess up your skin, whereas a good cleanser can soothe, heal and rescue your skin so it is at its best. When using a cleanser we first wash our face with warm water to open the pores, so it is important to make sure you are using safe ingredients. Have you looked at the ingredients list on your cleanser recently? If not, I urge you to do so. Many cleansers out there bought from supermarkets and pharmacies are full of horrible, toxic ingredients. That's not what you're wanting to put on your skin! 

Let me explain why a more natural beauty routine is better. Lots of companies make skincare products full of stuff that is not good for your skin. Ingredient lists will be full of stuff we've never heard of, and if you researched into some of this stuff you would not be impressed (Try researching some ingredients here). You may be using non-natural products just now and think they're working, but they're not. What I've found with these kind of products is that your skin becomes dependant on them. They work against your skin rather than with it.

For example, whenever I used to wash my face I would have to moisturise quite quickly or my skin would become tight and sore. When I used the (non natural) moisturisers and felt my skin becoming soft and plump, I felt they were working. They weren't! My skin was dependant on these products: cleansers that stripped my skin of it's natural oils, moisturisers full of irritable ingredients... you get the idea. When you switch to natural products you have to give it time to adjust. I had overly oily skin for a while, a few breakouts, some redness. Now it's all calmed down and when I wash my face it feels plump and soft even before moisturising. 

So to continue with my "Help for the Switch to Natural Beauty" series I will be focusing on cleansing. I will list both branded cleansers and some of my favourite DIY cleansing ingredients.

I have made a table of cleansers from some of my favourite brands below. Highlighted areas in green show what each product is best for, using information gathered from their websites. Please note that this isn't gospel and that products work differently with different people's skin. Just because "Acne" isn't highlighted as that cleansers main benefit doesn't mean it won't help! It's always best to do your own research and try things out for yourself, but I hope this will help as a guide for where to start.

I've priced the products by average price per 100 ml/g.
£       =  £0 - £10
££     =  £10 - £20
£££   =  £20 - £30
££££ =  £30+

*I have visited the Caurnie Soaperie and have been advised that the Nettle Shower Gel is also suitable as a facial cleanser.

DIY facial cleansers are also a great alternative, especially if you're on a budget. When you DIY a product you know exactly what goes into it and you are able to personalise it exactly to your skin's needs. Here are some of my favourite ingredients for DIY cleansers.

Honey

Honey feels luxurious on skin. It is very soothing and leaves skin feeling like velvet. It is great as a cleanser or face mask even on it's own, but what I wouldn't use it for is removing make-up. Try to buy organic, as many brands add unnecessary stuff into their honey.

Oil

Yes, I never stop going on about oil. I use Olive Oil to take of my make-up and it works wonderfully. It catches on to everything and wipes it all away. It does leave skin greasy, so follow up with something else to get rid of the oil.

You can also make blends made up of oils if you want something a little more complex. Use a carrier oil like Jojoba, Olive or Castor oil and add a few drops of essential oils. For example, oils like Tea Tree and Lavender are great for acne. When working with essential oils please be careful and use the correct dilutions. I personally don't use an oil blend for cleansing make-up, as plain olive oil is cheaper. I keep my blends for moisturising.

Oats

Oats are an effective natural exfoliator. Simply take a small amount in your hand, add a little hot water, and make a paste. Massage it into dampened skin. Make sure to wait for the oats to soften before using, as the sharp edges may damage skin. Some people suggest sugar and salt for exfoliating your face. Again I prefer to avoid these for the facial area, as they are harsh and can damage skin. I do like to use them on my body, especially on rough areas like kneecaps.

Milk

Yes milk, although maybe not like this. Milk, Rice and Almond powders all work well to cleanse the face. Simply mix with some warm water (or some rose or hazel water if you're feeling fancy) and use to cleanse your face.

There are many more ingredients out there, but these are some of the simplest and best.

I hope this post helps with all of you out there who are interested in or are transitioning to a better skin care routine. Stick in there - it's for the best and your skin will thank you.

** Photos sourced from pixabay.com

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.