Sinensis Skincare, Agave Gold Refining Toner - Review

Sinensis Skincare are a new beauty brand emerging in the UK market. With so many skin care brands out there today it can be overwhelming when trying to find the perfect fit for your skin. Ingredient lists can be scary and it's hard to tell where to draw the line between natural and non natural products. Personally I'm a fan of researching products on SkinDeep, but not all ingredients have been tested enough for accurate ratings. I therefore like to focus on products that are a little more natural.

Sinensis combine science with traditional Chinese herb wisdom when creating their products in order to get the "best of both worlds". The thing I love about Sinensis is that they have 20 banned ingredients that they will not use in any of their products. These are ingredients that have been proven or are potentially toxic. You can read through their banned 20 here. They are also cruelty free which is a must for my skin care. I was kindly offered a product of their to review, and so I chose their Agave Gold Refining Toner.

I haven't actually used toner in quite a while, apart from a little spray of rosewater to set my makeup in the morning. I was curious to see what a toner may do for me. I have been using the toner for a little over two weeks now and I have been pleasantly surprised.

I use this toner morning and evening after cleansing and before my facial oil. It's between a water and gel like consistency - which is unusual - but smooths over the skin and sinks in easily. Immediately after using it my skin feels soft and hydrated. Over the next two weeks I felt that my skin looked brighter and had more of a natural glow to it and my redness has decreased. There are a lot of wonderful ingredients in there, such as Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera Gel (two of my personal favourites!). There's also grapeseed and witch hazel, which I've heard are good for acne. You can read up on more of the ingredients on their website - every product has a list of them and their properties on its page.

Overall I have loved this product and have recommended it to others. I also tried a sample of both the day and night creams. I loved them, but there wasn't enough there to see the effect on my skin. I may have to try them out in future! They do a small range of other products, such as creams, serums, cleansers and hair care for men and women. I also tried out some tester pots of their day and night creams and they were super hydrating.

If you're in the midst of changing your skin care, are switching to cruelty-free, or want to find purer products for your skin, give this brand a try! If the rest of the products are anything like the toner, they won't dissapoint.

NYX HD Concealer - Review

I was quite late to the NYX makeup craze and only first tried out one of their products a few weeks ago - the matte lip creams. After trying and loving the product I thought I'd give something else a go to see what I thought. I'm constantly complaining of my dark under-eye circles, which seem to be caused by both my pale skin and sinus problems (totally not a lack of sleep!). So I picked up the NYX HD Concealer Wand in yellow.

The formula reminds me of the Nars Creamy Concealer and I think the skin tone shades would make a great dupe! I chose yellow because it's perfect for hiding those dark under eyes on paler skin. If you have a warm or darker skin tone, a orange concealer would be better for you.

I don't actually wear this everyday as it is not an all natural product, but it has never broke me out. I wear it on nights out when I wear slightly heavier makeup. It lasts well and never creases my under eyes. If you have tried and liked Nars Creamy Concealer and want a cheap dupe, I'd definitely try this out! NYX are cruelty free too, like every product I review.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil - Review

A few weeks ago I was invited to a brilliant bloggers event by The Body Shop where we were given some great goodies to try out. One of these was their Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil.

I absolutely love using oils in my skincare routine, and regularly write about the benefits of using them and DIY-ing yourself stuff. However, not everyone is able to or wants to make their own skin care, and that's okay! There are many brands out there that have great products, it's just a matter of finding the correct ones.

The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing oil is part of their Camomile range for sensitive skin - it's even suitable for contact wearers (like myself!). Even if you don't have sensitive skin, there's nothing wrong with using products for that. Even if damage doesn't show, you don't know what some products may be doing to your skin.

I use this in the evenings if I've been wearing makeup to cleanse. I simply massage a little all over my face then stick a cloth under hot water and remove it with that. I always use a cloth to remove my cleanser now, as I don't find water itself to be that effective when trying to rinse away oil.

I've found this to be very effective and I'd recommend it to anyone who's interesting in cleansing oils.

Ps. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

Lush Rose Jam Solid Perfume - Review

Solid Perfume is one of those products most people would first turn their nose up at - I know I did. Perfume, to me, wasn't something found in little tins. Perfume came in beautiful glass bottles to sit out on the dressing table and look pretty. I couldn't imagine using perfume any other way than spraying it delicately on my wrists, inner elbows and throats quickly in the morning. Yet now I find myself reaching for my solid varieties more often than the sprays. Why? 

Anyone out there who loves Lush as much as me undoubtedly knows of their great range of interesting perfumes. It can be quite the struggle to find cruelty-free perfumes, so I'm always glad to have Lush's range to fall back on. It was when in store one day that I noticed the unusual small little colour filled pots lying at the perfume isle, and soon a member of staff was rubbing them in turn on my wrists for me to have a sniff.

Well what do you know? Solid perfume wasn't all that bad, and it certainly could hold a scent. The first solid perfume I picked up was Lust, in case it wasn't apparent by the almost illegible scratched surface as I've used it for so long. Not everyone seems to like this scent, as it does smell strongly of Jasmine, but I love it. The perfume is red tinted, but after it's been rubbed in for a while you can't see anything - just be watchful if you're wearing light clothes. 

The second solid perfume I purchased was Rose Jam. Rose Jam is my absolute favourite Lush scent to date, and I first discovered it with their Rose Jam shower gel. I was lucky enough to snap up this exclusive perfume from the Lush kitchen earlier this year and I adore it! I'm not looking forward to the day it runs out.

So why do I love the solid variety of perfumes instead of the fragrance? Well, firstly they're so easy to pop into your bag when you're out. There's nothing worse than finding out that your favourite, expensive perfume has leaked all over your bag. I don't have to worry about that with these, and they take up far less room which is great if you're on a night out with a teeny tiny clutch bag.

Secondly, I actually feel like these smell stronger. Although in store I was advised to use their normal perfume in the morning and top up with these during the day, I actually feel like these perform better. Usually when I spray perfume I don't really smell it most of the day, but with these I enjoy catching whiffs of my favourite scents occasionally throughout the day.

And lastly, they last for ages. I don't know about you, but I seem to go through a bottle of perfume pretty quickly. With these I only need a little bit and they last much longer.

Perfume is a pretty personal thing and the "best" formula is entirely up to preference, but if you haven't tried a solid perfume yet why not consider giving one a go? Or at least a sniff in your local Lush store!

Ps. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Review

For a while now I've been admiring NYX makeup from afar. It's cruelty free, budget friendly and has great reviews - what more can you want? So when an NYX makeup stand opened up in Boots, Glasgow (Buchanan Galleries) I knew I had to visit soon. 

I do love a matte lip and so far I've been recreating them with mineral pigment (you can see me doing this here!). However, sometimes you just need something you can slap on and stick in your bag for later touch ups. 

I picked up the shade "San Paulo" and, although it's lovely, I've found myself wishing that I picked up something a little darker. I currently have my eye on "Budapest", but can never seem to find it in store!

The lasting power is good, but I do have to have a little touch up after I eat. The pigmentation is great for such an affordable product, but I'd recommend using this with a lip liner if you're not great at lining your lips with the brush (as I'm not!).

Overall I would recommend this product as I am planning on buying another myself!

Ps. Keep up with me on Instagram here. 

The Body Shop Drops of Youth - Review

At a recent blogging event I was given some cruelty-free goodies to try by The Body Shop, one of which was the "Drops of Youth" youth concentrate. I've been using it on my skin day and night for the last week and I am pleasantly surprised.

For those of you who keep up with my blog, you'll know my love for my DIY facial oil. I struggled to put it aside for a week to test this out, but once I tried it I realised I need not worry.

This products has 99% of ingredients from natural origin and it is certified organic. Although it is designed with mature skin in mind you can never start protecting your skin to early. I gasp whenever someone tells me they don't moisturise!

The concentrate itself smells wonderful - it's a light, fruity/floral scent that is uplifting. The formula feels somewhere between an oil and a gel. Not too runny, not too sticky, but somewhere nice in between. It softens the skin and makes it feel full and plump.

The whole time I've been using it I've had no skin complaints and I actually feel like it has made my skin look brighter! I may have to tweak my own facial oil after this. I used this day and night and it was fine under make up once I let it dry in. If you've been looking for an oil or serum to add into your skin care routine I definitely recommend trying this out.

Ps. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free at an event. This was not in exchange for a post but I was encouraged to write about my experience with the product. All my reviews are completely honest and I would never recommend something I wouldn't use on my own skin.

The Body Shop, Down To Earth Eye Palette - Review

Last night I attended a bloggers event at The Body Shop's Sauchiehall street store, Glasgow. It was the perfect opportunity for me to find out more about their new "Down To Earth" eye palettes I've had my eye on.

There are currently six of these palettes out: five quads and one larger palette with eight shades. The five quads come in Smoky Brown (pictured above), Smoky Plum, Smoky Gold, Smoky Grey and Smoky Black and are £15 each. The larger palette seems to be a mixture of  the above and is £22. These eye shadows are vegan and, like all of The Body Shop's products, cruelty free. The eye shadows also pop out of the casing so you can mix and match the colours. I've also heard that they will be releasing these eye shadows as singles in the future too - perfect if you want your own custom palette.

At first glance the shades are beautiful. Smoky Brown caught my eye right away, but I would describe it as more of a nude-pink palette than brown. The colours looked very wearable and offered that subtle pop of colour that could take you from day to night. Think Urban Decay's naked palettes.

One of the lovely assistants at the store event quickly used this palette on my eyes to show me what it could do. I was sold right away. These eye shadows are a lot more pigmented than The Body Shop's current range of singles and are easy to build and blend for your desired look. When I commented on how these shades reminded me of Urban Decay's naked palettes I was told they're made by the same people - exciting.

From top to bottom: Oregon Sunstone, Peru Clay, Sienna Dust, Idaho Jasper

Today I decided to try them out for myself. I am by no means an expert at makeup and eye shadow is something I really struggle with. Saying that, I found these eye shadows great to work with. They can be built up easily, blended easily, and they still look good right now after a few hours of wear. So if you're like me and struggle with the eyes, don't be scared to try these out!

Overall I would definitely recommend these eye shadows. Not only are they cruelty free and vegan, they're great value, great to work with and have good lasting power.

In the picture above I am wearing:

Aloe Vera Gel - primer

Everyday Minerals Colour Corrector in Green - Face

Everyday Minerals Colour Corrector in Yellow - Undereyes

Everyday Minerals Foundation in Fair - Face

Everyday Minerals Blusher in Tea Rose - Cheeks

Everyday Minerals All Over Shimmer in Hint - Highlight

The Body Shop Down to Earth Eye Palette in Smoky Brown - Eyes

Barry M Blink Precision Eyeliner - Eyes

Lily Lolo Natural Mascara - Lashes

Bare Minerals Loose Eye shadow in Taupe - Brows

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick in French Flirt - Lips

Natural Rosewater - Setting Spray

PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

Lily Lolo Natural Lipstick, Berry Crush - Review

I've wrote about my love for Lily Lolo's natural lipsticks before, but after purchasing a new shade recently I had to do another post.

When on holiday recently my mum decided to pinch my lipstick in "Rose Gold" (it suited her better anyway), and promised to buy my another lipstick in replacement. I decided to go for the deep, purple shade "Berry Crush".

I thought a bold berry shade would be perfect for the colder months coming in. Like my other Lily Lolo lipsticks it's strongly pigmented and feels great to apply. Here are some swatches to compare:

From top to bottom (natural light): Berry Crush, French Flirt, Rose Gold.

From top to bottom (flash): Berry Crush, French Flirt, Rose Gold.

I'd describe the finish as satin. Not quite glossy, but it has a sheen in the light. I sometimes apply a little colourless balm on top if I want a glossy lip.

Here is the finished look with the lipstick. As it is such a bold shade I imagine it would go with most, if not all, skin tones. Lily Lolo's natural lipsticks are my favourite lip products, and I can see myself picking up a few more shades in future. If you're interested in these lipsticks check out my more in-depth review here.

Here is a list of what I'm wearing in the above photo:

Honeypie Minerals colour corrector in Green (face)

Honeypie Minerals colour corrector in Yellow (under eyes)

Honeypie Minerals mineral foundation in Fair 

Lily Lolo mineral blush in Sunset

Everyday Minerals all over shimmer in Hint (highlight)

Mineral Powder in dark brown (Eyebrows) - It's an old tub so I don't have the brand!

Lily Lolo mascara in Black

Lily Lolo natural lipstick in Berry Crush.

And a little colourless lip balm for a bit of gloss! 

I prime my makeup with aloe vera gel.

I set my makeup with this rosewater spray.

PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

Pukka Organic Herbal Tea - Review

Although I've been aware of the benefits of drinking tea for a few years, I've never been a big tea drinker. My experience with tea was gulping down some green tea and peppermint at 8:30 in the morning to keep myself awake at work (and it does!). Recently I decided to start exploring herbal teas to hopefully discover some flavours I enjoy. If it too helps my skin along the way I'll be sure to blog about it.

Whilst on holiday last week I came across a cosy wee wholefoods shop in Armadale, the Isle of Skye. It turned out to be part of "Skye Forest Garden", an eco camping and woodland walk area. It was here I came across Pukka tea, and I decided to pick some up to try. I chose "Elderberry & Echinacea", and also picked up a sample of their "Womankind" blend. The Elderberry tea is organic, vegan and dairy/wheat/gluten/caffeine free. I love the strong fruity and herbal taste from this tea and I find it quite comforting to drink. It makes a welcome change from the plainer taste of green tea.

After having a nosey around their website, I'm impressed at the range of teas they offer. Unless you can't stand tea, I'd say there's a flavour there for everyone.

The "womankind" blend was also lovely and I picked that up just because it contained rose. Unfortunately they didn't have a box of it on sale that day.

What's your favourite herbal tea blend? I'd love some suggestions to try! 

PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

Lily Lolo Nail Polish - Review

So I've recently arrived home from a short trip to Paris and, admittedly, my blog has been a little neglected. So to get things back on track I decided to review one of Lily Lolo's new products, their 8-free nail polish.

Lily Lolo have impressed me with their new releases recently, although I haven't been able to try them all as my budget can't keep up! I've unfortunately found myself unemployed after my Au Pair family sadly cancelled our contract early due to their personal circumstances. Visiting Paris again made me miss the french countryside.

So what is 8-free nail polish? It just means it's free of 8 of the "nasty" ingredients usually found in nail polish. Not everyone will agree on what exactly is too nasty for nails, so I'll leave that up to debate. I ordered the nail polish in "soft coral", a wearable, everyday shade of light pink.

I don't paint my nails often anymore. Most of my time is spent drawing, typing or on my hands and knees playing with my rabbits. Groomed nails can get in the way and are the least of my concerns. As I've previously said,  most days I'll only wear a little makeup and brush through my hair (if I leave the house, that is). Why am I blabbering on about this? Just to let you know that I'm not too good at painting my nails.

That being said, the nail polish went on lovely. It wasn't "gloopy" as I expected - probably because it was 8-free. The formula actually didn't seem any different from other nail brands I've tried, such as Barry M or Nails INC (that's about how far I've ventured into nail polish). Again I'm no expert, but the formula gets a thumbs up from me.

I hate waiting on nail polish to dry, but I decided it was worth it for my friends wedding last month. When applying the first coat I was doubting whether it would work - it was very light and looked streaky. After the first coat dried the streaks disappeared, and after a second coat the colour was nice and solid. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures for my blog.

I'd say the polish lasts for 5-7 days, perhaps with some small chips if you're as clumsy as I am. I'm currently on day 10 and I probably should have taken it off by now. Maybe tomorrow...

So to my readers out there, would you consider trying this cruelty free, 8-free nail polish? Or do you have another favourite cruelty free brand for your nails? I'd love to hear about it!

PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.

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

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.

Nettle cream, The Caurnie Soaperie - Review

My eczema was terrible as a child, but now it only seems to flare up for a month or two a every year. I have no idea what causes it, so it always manages to sneak up on me. I just have to grin and bear it until it decides to leave again, but that doesn't mean I can't make its visit more pleasant. 

Last year I discovered this Nettle Moisturiser cream at a local farmers market, specially designed for eczema sufferers by The Caurnie Soaperie. It soothed my itchy, dry skin and set my skin back on the road to recovery. The cream is thick, and for the two months of near constant use I still hadn't finished the small jar I had. 

For those who have never suffered from eczema or similar skin conditions it can be painful and, for me, extremely itchy. Products from the pharmacist and doctors barely seem to help, and can be dangerous as too much can sometimes irritate or thin the skin (so they warn). I can use as much of this cream as I want with no ill effect, and my brother even picked up the full size jar to use himself.

I checked the ingredient list on Skin Deep and they all had great scores.

It may seem ironic, or implausible, that a plant that causes rashes can be used to treat them, but nettle is the exact reason these products work so great. Nettle is packed with minerals and vitamins, is anti-inflammatory, astringent (helps tighten the skin) and bactericidal (kills bacteria). 

Even if you don't suffer from eczema the cream is wonderfully soothing. It's great for when your skin needs a little extra moisture, or a helping hand with some healing. I finished it off as a night cream and would recommend it.