Currently Loving: Summer Beauty Favourites from Bloomtown, RMS Beauty, John Masters Organics & The Organic Pharmacy

I think it's finally safe to say that Summer is perhaps here to stay now in the UK, so before the sun goes in and it starts raining, I thought I'd put together a little edit of some of my current Summer Beauty Favourites.

Bloomtown Glide-On Deodorant Bar in Lemongrass & Peppermint* (50g, £10, link)

If you're looking to make the switch to a natural deodorant, these Bloomtown Glide-On Deodorant Bars are a great place to start. I'm a huge fan of this lovely British brand and find that their natural deos are seriously underrated! With absolutely no aluminum, baking soda or parabens, they're ideal for sensitive skin to try out and currently come in two scents, a floral Lavender and Rose Geranium, and a fresh Lemongrass & Peppermint. I opted for the latter and love the uplifting fragrance! I found this worked well for for everyday wear and effectively kept the body odour at bay which is what you want a deodorant to do!

Just a heads up if you're new to these - natural deodorants are not antiperspirants so they won't stop you from sweating. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to use antiperspirants all the time as blocking your natural perspiration function isn't healthy in my view, so be prepared for a bit of 'wetness' during the summer months or if you're exercising etc when using these.

RMS Beauty Back2Brow Brow Powder in Dark* (3.5g, £21, link)

I was looking for a new brow product and I always opt for a powder when the weather gets warmer because they seem to be able to stick around for a lot longer throughout the day. This Back2Brow Brow Powder from RMS Beauty is exactly what I was looking for. Within the compact square is a finely milled powder, rich in natural pigment and minerals that's super easy to blend and work with. It gives a good dimensional look to the brows which helps them to look instantly thicker and fuller, as well as much more natural, and the Dark shade suited me perfectly. A fabulous find!

John Masters Organics Hair Milk* (118ml, £29, link) & Lip Calm Pomegranate* (4g, £7, link)

Throughout the pandemic, I have to admit that I haven't been paying much attention to my hair thanks to WFH life, and it's been in some dire need of TLC. I've used this John Masters Organics Hair Milk in the past and felt it was time to step up to the full size as it's such a useful product to have in your beauty stash, plus it lasts forever! If you haven't heard of it before, it's basically a lightweight leave-in conditioner and styling treatment. Free from silicones, it's a good one to pick up if you have fine and very dry hair like mine as it won't weigh it down or make it look greasy, but it will deliver all the essential moisture that your hair needs to look its best. Perfect for adding shine and making your locks sleek and frizz-free.

Whilst I'm mentioning JMO, I thought I'd sneak in a cheeky shoutout for their brilliant Lip Calm Pomegranate which is a new release and based on their bestselling, original Lip Calm formula. I actually like this one more as I love the Pomegranate flavour which adds a fruity twist to their classic balm!

The Organic Pharmacy Luminous Perfecting Concealer in Medium* (5ml, £19, link)

The last product that I wanted to mention is the incredible Luminous Perfecting Concealer from The Organic Pharmacy. This Medium shade that you can see above is the perfect salmony pink colour for counteracting and brightening up dark circles. A really lovely hydrating formula that doesn't settle into those pesky fine lines and can be easily set matte with a light touch of banana powder. I'd definitely recommend this concealer more for the undereyes, rather than for concealing blemishes as it's not quite heavy duty enough to cover acne etc, so do bear that in mind, but it's OK for the odd spot here and there if you did want to double up.

What are your summer beauty favourites this year?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - June 2021

This month's LoveLula Beauty Box boasts a mix of organic and natural skincare and haircare from five different brands - have you tried any of these before? Here's a rundown of the contents.

Balm Balm Fragrance-Free Face Balm (RRP £9.50)

Exclusive to LoveLula, Balm Balm's Fragrance-Free Face Balm is made from a blend of Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Jojoba, and Calendula Oils. This hard-working balm is multi-purpose and gently melts into the skin to soothe, moisturise and nourish any areas that need some extra TLC. It's safe to say that a little goes a long way so this jar will last a long time!

The Castilian Soap Company Natural Liquid Soap (RRP £8)

Another multi-purpose wonder is this Natural Castilian Liquid Soap which can be used for so many different things such as hand-washing, cleaning makeup brushes, and even as a natural floor cleaner. The organic castile soap base is blended with Peppermint Essential Oil for a refreshing and purifying experience, whatever you're using it with.

Ayumi Facial Day Cream (RRP £6.99)

Next up, there's another full-size product, this time from the Ayurvedic-inspired natural skincare brand, Ayumi. Their Facial Day Cream helps to bring back radiance to tired and lackluster complexions, so if your skin is looking dull and needs a pick me up, this is a brilliant moisturiser to use first thing in the morning. It's also ideal for those who have hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and an uneven skin tone.

Lamazuna Solid Shampoo Bar (RRP £8.99)

Moving onto haircare, zero waste fans will absolutely love this Solid Shampoo Bar from the eco-friendly French brand Lamazuna. This brand has been on my radar for a while now, so I'm very excited to try out this shampoo bar which has been formulated for oily hair types - it's perfect for me! I also love the really fresh and slightly herbal scent it has.

Dr Hauschka Soothing Day Lotion (sample)

To round off June's LoveLula Beauty Box, subscribers can try out a sample of Dr Hauschka's bestselling Soothing Day Lotion to bring peace and calm to irritated skin.

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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Tried & Tested: Nourish London Anti-Ageing Kale Skincare Range - T.S.L Neck Elixir, Eye Cream & Hand Cream review

Ageing well and looking your best has never been easier with the helping hand of natural skincare brands such as Nourish London. Their Anti-Ageing range incorporates superfood ingredient Kale with a whole host of plant-based actives to smooth, tone and soften where's needed, without the use of any harmful 'nasties' or undesirable ingredients.

Although the term 'anti-ageing seems to be something of a hot topic within the beauty industry right, I still get a lot of searches for it here on my blog, so I thought I'd post about Nourish's Anti-Ageing range which I feel can be beneficial for those in their mid-30s onwards. As I've recently joined the mid-30s club, I can definitely say it's better to start using more advanced skincare formulas earlier, rather than later, to see the most positive results.

Below, I've tested out three products from Nourish London; their T.S.L Tighten, Sculpt and Lift Neck Elixir, Kale Anti-Ageing Eye Cream and Kale Anti-Ageing Hand Cream, which individually target the most noticeable early signs of ageing. 

All products are certified by the Vegan Society and Cruelty-Free International, as well as the Soil Association for the organic ingredients used.

Nourish London T.S.L Tighten, Sculpt and Lift Neck Elixir* (30ml, £23.50, link)

Featuring a brand new self-locking smart pump that eliminates the need for a plastic cap, Nourish's bestselling T.S.L Neck Elixir is a specialist 3-in-1 product that aims to lift, firm, and smooth the neck and decolletage area. Using a combination of antioxidant rich bioactives and peptides, this clever cream helps to stimulate healthy collagen production, whilst vitamin and mineral-rich plant extracts such as Kale and Griffonia protect against further environmental stress and damage. It's, strangely enough, a real pleasure to use and sinks into this delicate area beautifully where the skin is thinnest, making it an essential part of your evening skincare routine.

Nourish London Kale Anti-Ageing Eye Cream* (10ml, £30, link)

Eye creams are often very hit and miss, but I'm pleased to say this Kale Anti-Ageing Eye Cream is an award-winner and a definite hit! It's one of those rare few that actually delivers noticeable results and features a supercharged anti-ageing formula that is bursting with biomimetic peptides and vitamin-rich Kale extract to seriously reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I'm a big fan of this and have used it many times in the past - it's wonderfully light, refreshing, and slightly cooling to use so try it first thing in the morning to wake up tired and puffy peepers.

Nourish London Kale Anti-Ageing Hand Cream* (50ml, £12.50, link)

Regardless of your age, I feel that everyone who has lived through this awful pandemic could benefit from using Nourish's Kale Anti-Ageing Hand Cream to help restore weary and over-washed dry hands. Not only does it instantly transform the driest and cracked hands back to their soft and supple former glory, but the super-rich and hydrating formula is scientifically proven to improve skin texture and protect against the ageing effects of pollution thanks to several key ingredients such as Kale extract, Rose of Jericho, Hyaluronic Acid and bioactive peptides. 

Shop the full range of products at nourishskinrange.com

What are your favourite anti-ageing products?

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Health & Lifestyle: Plastic-Free Vegan Life Supplements from Naturopathica #PlantBased

Looking for some vegan-friendly supplements to help give your overall health a boost? Look no further, Naturopathica's Vegan Life range has everything that you need and it's all plastic-free too!

Plant-based diets are on the rise and following one, or simply not eating meat and dairy every day, helps to reduce your impact on the planet significantly. Many vegans that I know also take daily supplements to make sure that they're getting absolutely everything that their body needs to thrive and be its best, so I wanted to introduce a brilliant range of vegan-friendly supplements that I've recently discovered called Vegan Life from Naturopathica.

The Vegan Life range offers five unique blends in easy-to-swallow daily capsules which are made from the highest quality botanicals, herbs, vitamins, and minerals to keep your health in tip-top shape - and everything is certified by The Vegan Society.

Eco-Friendly Plastic Free Packaging 

Walk into any health food store and you'll find bottles and bottles of supplements but these days, there's really no need to use plastic packaging at all when there are so many eco-friendly alternatives out there.

All of Naturopathica's Vegan Life products use plastic-free, compostable packaging. The resealable pouches still keep the supplements nice and fresh, however, they're made from reclaimed agriculture waste (things like stems and leaves) using a production method that utilises 100% green energy for CO2 neutral production. This innovative manufacturing means the environmental impact of this packaging is 47% lower than using paper made from trees, and 29% lower than using recycled paper - how awesome is that?!

With this in mind, I wanted to recommend two of their supplements which you are great for incorporating into your everyday routine for optimal health, regardless of whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or a flexitarian.

Naturopathica Vegan Life Beauty Glow* (30 capsules - 1 month supply - £14.09, link)

I always take a high-quality beauty-based supplement every day and Vegan Life's Beauty Glow features a unique blend of natural plant extracts to support healthy hair growth, stronger nails, and firmer skin. Each daily capsule provides Vitamin C (50% RDA), Biotin (100%), Zinc (30%), Silica (200mg), Acai Berry extract (100mg), Rosehip extract (95mg) and Grape Seed extract (50mg). 

This is a great all-rounder beauty supplement that keeps those key essential vitamins and minerals that are needed for healthy skin, hair, and nails in check.

Naturopathica Vegan Life Immune Multi-Vit* (30 capsules - 1 month supply - £14.99, link)

If you're new to veganism or perhaps don't have the healthiest diet just yet, you can't go wrong with Immune Multi-Vit to help support your health whilst you make changes to your diet, or as daily maintenance so your body gets everything that it needs.  This one from Vegan Life is another brilliant all-rounder supplement to try out as it contains your 10 key nutrients plus extras which are targeted specifically for plant-based diets.

Each daily capsule delivers Vitamin A (30%), Vitamin D3 (40%), Vitamin E (30%), Vitamin K (50%), Vitamin C (30%), Folic Acid (50%), Vitamin B12 (100%), Pantothenic Acid (30%), Zinc (50%), Iodine (50%), Spirliuna (250mg) and Maca Powder (100mg). 

As always, remember that supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle, but they can be incredibly useful as a daily top-up.

Shop the full range of Naturopathica Vegan Life Supplements on Amazon

Do you take supplements?

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Make Your Own Natural Beauty Products: Aromantic At Home Pamper Kit review #AD

Have you ever wanted to make your own natural beauty products, but didn't know where to start? With Aromantic's At Home Pamper Kit, you can enjoy a luxury spa experience at home and discover how easy it is to make your very own natural skincare!

Enjoy Knowing Exactly What Goes Into Your Natural Beauty Products

There are many benefits to making your own natural beauty products, but the main one is that you will know exactly what is going into the products that you're using on your skin. This is also incredibly important if you have any allergies or skin sensitivities as you can control and monitor all of the ingredients that you choose to use. No more looking at long labels on bottles in the shops and worrying about what all those strange ingredients are!

Aromantic At Home Pamper Kit - buy it here

I've always enjoyed experimenting and making my own products so I was thrilled to receive one of Aromantic's At Home Pamper Kits to test out. Aromantic was founded back in 1997 and is one of the UK's recognised and trusted leaders in organic beauty and natural skincare. This second-generation family-run business is incredibly passionate about natural ingredients and they offer a wide range of high-quality products and services so that you too can benefit from the very best that nature has to offer.

The Pamper Kit is ideal for beginners and contains everything that you need to create four natural skincare products (Salt Body Scrub, Body Butter, Massage Oil and Peel-Off Mask), with three ready-to-use products (Cleansing Lotion, Base Lotion, and Organic Rose Hydrolat) that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. 

The kit also contains a set of simple instructions on how to make the products, as well as a handy measuring beaker, measuring spoon, and two empty container pots.

Himalayan Salt Body Scrub

The first product that I made was the Himalayan Salt Body Scrub and this was super easy to do. You simply measure all of the ingredients, pour them into one of the provided container pots and stir until everything is mixed well. Made from Himalayan Salt, Apricot Kernel Oil, Rosemix Essential Oil, and a small amount of Lumorol K to help the scrub emulsify, this is a brilliant body scrub to use in the shower for silky soft skin.

Body Butter

The Body Butter was even easier to make as it's simply created from just three natural ingredients; Organic Coconut Butter, Apricot Kernel Oil and Rosemix Essential Oil. As the weather has been so warm lately, the Coconut Butter was easy to blend with a spoon with the other ingredients to create a rich, luxurious whipped texture that sinks into the skin and it smells amazing.

As I've recently had laser eye surgery, I was unable to try out the Peel Off Olive Mask but follow me on Instagram and I'll do a special DIY Beauty post on this in my IG Stories soon!

Ready To Use Products 

The three 'ready-to-use products in the Pamper Kit are a natural Cleansing Lotion that you can use morning and night to remove all traces of dirt, impurities, sunscreen, and make-up. It has a typical light cream feel to it and doesn't leave skin feeling stripped or dry afterward. There's also an Organic Rose Hydrolat which is beautifully refreshing to use after the cleanser, and a Base Lotion that's described as Aromantic's in-house luxury body lotion - it feels very silky and is a lovely product to use to complete the pampering/spa-like experience!

Aromantic At Home Pamper Kit* retails for £46.20 and can be purchased online via aromantic.co.uk

Have you tried to make your own natural beauty products before?

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May Empties: Products I've Used Up (+ How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties)

A little later than usual but here are my recent Beauty Empties, plus some tips on how you can recycle them.

Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream* (reviewed here)

I love all of Antipodes Hand & Body Creams but Joyful is definitely my favourite. Not only does it transform dry skin into silky smoothness virtually overnight, but the natural fragrance is just heavenly with a divine fruity floral scent. As this is pretty pricey, I save it for my hands! Repurchase? Yes.

Odacité Black Mint Cleanser* (reviewed here)

I feel that Odacité is such an underrated luxury natural skincare brand, however, their bestselling Black Mint Cleanser is certainly popular for a reason. This is one of the best purifying cleansers that I've tried for oily/combination skin and it's so refreshing to use first thing in the morning. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some other cleansers first.

REN Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash* (reviewed here)

If you're in the market for a truly uplifting and fresh luxury Body Wash for your morning showers, you can't go wrong with this hidden gem from REN. Infused with Magnesium to give your energy levels a boost, it makes a real difference to how I feel when I'm tired or under the weather. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream* (reviewed here)

Quite possibly my all-time favourite Eye Cream ever, I've used Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream on and off for years now and keep coming back to it - it's that good. Perfect for those who have dry and sensitive eyes, if you've been struggling to find an eye cream that actually makes a difference, try this. Repurchase? I'm using up a few others at the moment but I'm sure I'll come back to this in the near future.

Seascape Island Apothecary Sleep Oil* (reviewed here)

I'm a terrible sleeper (thanks insomnia!) so I rely on a range of aromatherapy products to help me count those sheep at bedtime. Whilst I enjoyed using this one from Seascape Island Apothecary and found it relaxing, I thought the essential oil blend was not as potent as some other brands that I've tried. Repurchase? Probably not.

P.S - How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties!

• All of the glass and easy-to-recycle plastic PET empties will be put into my council's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme, but for the harder-to-recycle stuff, I will be:-
• Recycling the pumps, lids and atomisers with Neal's Yard Remedies - more info at the bottom of their website here.
• Recycling any other products that my local council doesn't accept at The Body Shop, L'Occitane or with Garnier's Terracycle partnership - more info here.

What have you used up recently?

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Currently Loving: New Skincare, Bodycare and Wellbeing Favourites from Green People, The Somerset Toiletry Co, OSEA & Nudge Boutique

Here's my latest roundup of beauty favourites that have been winning me over recently from a lovely mix of established and independent brands. Have you tried any of these?

The New Wellbeing & Aromatherapy Range: Alexandra Kay for Green People - Time To Relax Essential Oil Blend* (10ml, £20, link)

I always get excited when there's a new Green People range launching and their latest release comes from the founder's daughter Alexandra Kay. This 100% natural, clean and eco-friendly line of pure Essential Oil Blends have been expertly blended by Alexandra and keeping with Green People's ethics, are also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. 

There are three different blends to choose from to help your wellbeing and I was drawn to the Time To Relax blend which is composed of 10 carefully chosen essential oils to put you in a serene and tranquil mood. Top notes include Lemongrass, Sweet Orange, Bergamot and Lemon, with middle notes of calming Lavender, Basil and Geranium, all layered over a base of soothing Vetivert, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and Frankincense. It's wonderfully relaxing with a sweet floral aroma and can be used in diffusers, in the bath or why not create your own bedtime sleep spray with it?

The Alexandra Kay range donates 10% of net profits to The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK. The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK (EDS UK) is a small UK charity whose work improves the quality of life for people living with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) – a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the whole body.

The New Affordable Luxury Treat: The Somerset Toiletry Co Naturally European Verbena Luxury Hand Wash* (500ml, £7.95, link)

Last month, I had the pleasure of being introduced to The Somerset Toiletry Co. Although not strictly a natural beauty brand, they are certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly so I wanted to include them as an affordable alternative to the kinds of brands that I usually feature on here. 

I absolutely love the fresh and uplifting fragrance of their Naturally European Verbena Luxury Hand Wash which comes in a huge 500ml pump bottle and looks rather stylish next to the bathroom sink. Not only is it infused with Lemon Peel and Verbena Leaf extracts, but it also feels moisturising so you can give your hands a little TLC every time you wash them without worrying about them becoming dry or chapped later on.

The New Anti-Ageing/Stretchmarks Body Oil: OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil* (150ml, $48, link)

If you haven't heard of OSEA before, they are a luxury natural and organic skincare brand based in sunny Malibu, USA. This Californian family-run business has been up and running since 1996 and have quickly established itself as a coveted clean, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free company that specialise in skin and body care that's inspired by the sea. 

I was delighted to try out their bestselling Undaria Algae Body Oil which is a truly one-of-a-kind type of product thanks to the addition of its key ingredient, Undaria Seaweed. This seaweed is hand-harvested and left to soak in barrels of oil for up to six months before it's turned into this sublime Body Oil. Blended with Acai, Babassu, Passionfruit, and Seasame Oils, this is a seriously luxurious pampering treat that helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and improve the overall elasticity for firmer, smoother, and more supple skin. A summertime essential!

The New Plastic & Palm Oil-Free Cleanser: Nudge Boutique Cocoa & Avocado Facial Cleansing Bar* (38g, £12.50, link)

Handmade in Norfolk, Nudge Boutique has been a lovely new discovery for me and I was lucky enough to win one of their popular Cocoa & Avocado Facial Cleansing Bars in an Instagram giveaway - yay! This vegan-friendly solid cleanser is made from just six natural ingredients and includes the likes of Avocado Oil and Cocoa Butter to create a gorgeous fragrance-free cleanser that transforms from a solid to an oil and finally to a milk texture once water is added. 

I like to warm the bar in my hands to create a light oil which I then massage into dry skin before adding a few splashes of warm water to emulsify. It's great for removing sunscreen and all traces of daily grime and impurities, plus as it's so moisturising, it won't leave your skin feeling stripped or dry afterwards. 

What are your latest beauty favourites?

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