tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73425145609615131352024-03-10T05:32:10.779+00:00Naturally Diddy - UK beauty, fashion & lifestyle blogUK Blog - For reviews of all the gorgeous and natural beauty, makeup and cosmetics products I can get my little hands on!Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-7060575984296104632018-07-07T13:38:00.001+01:002018-07-07T14:47:36.927+01:00Who Gives A Crap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I kept trying to think of some witty title for this post that would grab your attention but then I realised the name of this brand does that all on it's own. So there it is. <a href="https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/">Who Gives A Crap</a>.</div>
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And yes, that is the actual name of the brand, but you probably already know that because this brand has been making a seriously big splash (there's a pun in there...) in the sustainable, conscious, plastic free, zero waste etc etc world of late.</div>
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I was actually introduced to Who Gives A Crap through my bf's mum who found them on Facebook (the power of social media, people!) and knew they would be right up my street. And indeed they are.</div>
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Here's the spiel. Who Gives A Crap are a groundbreaking Australian Toilet Paper company. The core ethos of the brand is two fold. Firstly it is about helping those in need. WGAC donate 50% of their profits to build toilets and fund sanitation improvements in developing countries in order to try and reduce the shocking statistic that approximate 40% of the population doesn't have access to a proper toilet and are exposed to life threatening unsanitary conditions. </div>
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The second and arguably just as important USP of the brand is their environmental values. All WGAC paper is made from 100% recycled paper (from office paper waste and books sourced locally from schools and offices near the WGAC production) or from sustainable bamboo (I'm delving a little deeper into this product before I test it), free from chlorine, dyes or inks and scents/fragrances.</div>
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WGAC toilet paper is delivered in a big sassy slogan emblazoned cardboard box (recyclable) straight to your door as frequently and with as many rolls as you've chosen from the available options. There's minimal plastic- just one strip of sellotape on my delivered box and that's it. Each roll is individually wrapped (for sanitary reasons) in funky designed paper jammed with interesting facts, tips on how to re-use the wrapping before you recycle it (yep its full recyclable too) and other nuggets of wisdom. It looks great. It's worth noting that WGAC toilet roll is also very affordable, I wont bore you with the maths, it's all on their website anyway. </div>
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Speaking of the website I wanted to note how refreshingly transparent they are with all the small details on certifications, manufacturing, ethics, shipping, materials and all the reasons, research and calculations behind their decisions. It is well worth sitting down and reading through all the documents, there's a lot to learn and you get the picture that this isn't a 'jumping on the green bandwagon' company, but a company that truly cares and tries to be as positive as possible in all aspects.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuP2vAj1lp9CG-6ulNQ5ZS0A4l57wF-JQzSJqUNRso9OFRws9q7xknGMchkSdVfWr74fw-pQnj5NgkkEfKzWhyphenhyphen3pAtq7sA5GEqJsjrAy_PDtxrG_f7lUZQvfydFYhTSBBWDO8Q0b9E8HM/s1600/IMG_3711.jpg" /></div>
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So, down to my thoughts. Based on what I've researched about the brand itself, I think they are pretty brilliant. I'm waiting on a couple of answers for some minor questions I have but everything else that I want to know is available on the site, including things I hadn't considered. </div>
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The paper itself? I've been using the 3ply recycled version for a few months now and well I mean it's toilet paper, you wipe and go! I've never understood the need for scented- triple velvet- cushioned-extra soft- aloe vera -cooling camomile quilted plush loo roll. It's quite frankly ridiculous. The WGAC toilet roll is 3-ply and yes compared to your typical Andrex or other big name brand it is thinner but place it alongside even big brand recycled toilet roll options and it is much better quality. It is soft just like you need it without being stupidly so! Like most recycled toilet paper the sheets are a fraction smaller than the non recycled counterparts but they are strong and do the job! If I'm looking for a negative then I could say the perforations aren't perfect so when the sheet tears off the roll it always leaves a thin strip from the side of the sheet hanging down. But does it effect the usefulness/ purpose of the paper? No. It annoys my bf but really it's a non-issue.</div>
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WGAC also offer other ranges from tissue to kitchen roll and currently they have a free trial box offer running at the moment too. I'd encourage everyone to give this toilet roll a go. I wont be swapping to any other brand now I've started with them. I'm going to test out the bamboo range soon to see how that fares as well. </div>
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As I said really delve into the website as there is a huge amount that they share with you. </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-23502787053132546572018-06-10T20:54:00.001+01:002018-06-10T20:59:34.075+01:00Funding The Future // Kind Socks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxebVagsZP38cg5HXBhvqgx61_BprkG7j29FRS3YhoDkFoLOh5-AzwvhM06poIMXVxjMOHjugYwsQ7ZpurABGHmBTDKeVDjoRfAyE9OSkr32omaVwnSwqQFQm6jJ9elKSTmh1NU4ETpQ/s1600/judit.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: justify;">(pic credit: Kind Socks)</span></div>
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For a good few years now I've been very quietly using a small amount of my earnings to try and support brands and initiatives that I think will make a difference to our world. I say 'quietly' as I've never addressed it before, much like with donations to charity I've never wanted to shout about it in fear of it being taken as 'Look at ME. Aren't I being GOOD, I'm so great rah rah rah.' </div>
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However, when it is someone within your own circle or community that is doing great things it makes sense to really shout about it and support them as much as you can. </div>
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Over the years I've been hopping onto platforms such as Seedrs, Peoplefund.it and of course Kickstarter to find initiatives and products in development that I want to give a helping hand. Anything from waste and recycling initiatives to eco/ sustainable goods that range from household products like the Cora Ball to fashion companies like the wonderful new <b>Kind Socks</b> brand!</div>
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<b>Kind Socks</b> are an upcoming organic sock brand pioneered in Sweden by<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">Stephen Steele (husband of green beauty </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);">blogger</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(40, 40, 40);"> Sara Steele)</span></span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "maison neue book" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span>and produced in India. Created with fabulous design and sustainability at the heart of their ethos they are offering stylist, funky and on trend socks made from 92% high quality GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton (the other 8% is compromised of 7% polyamide & 1% elastane.) </div>
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What makes these socks stand out from the pack of other organic sock brands is the attention to detail. Firstly the already impressive range of on-trend and also unique designs the socks are available in, offering unisex options that will appeal to a wide range of styles and tastes. Secondly as you explore the brand there's a lot to learn about the craft that goes into them. </div>
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Kind Socks state that they use combed cotton. Combed cotton is where only the long strands of cotton are used and all the cotton fibres are lined up to lay in the same direction. This results in a softer, smoother and more long-lasting fabric. Meaning that these socks will be the softest on the market.</div>
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Furthermore, Kind Socks are also using the latest technology to provide the most comfortable, high quality toe seam, using modern Lonati machines to create a hand-linking technique that produces a flat seam. This technique is usually done by hand and can have detrimental effects to the professional, leading to eye problems. With this technology in place the seam will be created to the same high standard without the negative ethical implications for the workers. All workers are also all ensured fair wages and ethical working conditions in the factory.</div>
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Clearly a brand with a good heart for both the planet and it's inhabitants. I've backed Kind Socks via their current Kickstarter campaign and can't wait to see them succeed, at the point of writing this I believe they have just passed their target goal, but the more backing this brand can get, the better!<br />
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If you're interested in supporting this cool new sustainable sock brand head to their Kickstarter<br />
here: <span style="background-color: #6aa84f;"><span style="background-color: black;"> </span><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; caret-color: rgb(163, 170, 174);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://kck.st/2LAlAHB" style="background-color: black;">https://kck.st/2LAlAHB</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="caret-color: rgb(163, 170, 174);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(ends 18th June!)</span></span></span><br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-79041863251627017382018-04-02T17:14:00.000+01:002018-04-02T17:14:15.757+01:00Getting the Gloss with Root<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Unless you're new here to this patch of sporadic beauty blogging, you'll know I'm a big lipstick fan and in the past year or so this has expanded to encompass lip gloss!<br />
Back in the day (when Freddos still cost 5p) formulas for lip glosses fell into one of two categories, gloopy and sticky or oily and thin. Thankfully the beauty world had progressed greatly since then and I've had the pleasure of finding some great new lip glosses.<br />
My current must have glosses come from the beautiful natural brand <a href="https://www.rootpretty.com/">Root</a>.<br />
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Root hail from the USA but ship worldwide. I was very lucky to work with them recently and received a bundle of beautiful lip products to photograph. Amongst the lippies and balms were these absolute stand-out Pretty Gloss lip glosses. The shades I have are, in picture order L-R: Cora, Chloe, Jama & Lucy.<br />
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Root glosses are 100% natural and 90% organic. They are Vegan, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free and Paraben Free. The tube is also fully recyclable too.<br />
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Obviously the literally good-enough-to-eat ingredients that make up the formula are a huge selling point but what makes these glosses so show stopping for me are the colours and pigment! All of the shades I have have amazing pigment and colour pay off. I have naturally very pigmented lips and even the nude shade, Chloe, covers my natural lip tone and shows it's true colour. Just take a look at theses swatches:<br />
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<a href="https://www.rootpretty.com/collections/pretty-gloss/products/cora-pretty-gloss-100-natural-90-organic-vegan-lip-gloss">Cora</a> // peachy orange - with shimmer<br />
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<a href="https://www.rootpretty.com/collections/pretty-gloss/products/chloe-pretty-gloss-100-natural-90-organic-vegan-lip-gloss-1">Chloe</a> // Nude - with shimmer</div>
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<a href="https://www.rootpretty.com/collections/pretty-gloss/products/copy-of-pretty-gloss-100-natural-90-organic-vegan-lip-gloss">Jama</a> // Hot pink orchid - with shimmer</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq1s1Qn1p53kd42bMnvkhZLQCp8MdLTG4iKo9Kyvnp_hFB4VUMfwJTtCe3huFEz2v9GsiKOj2Jf3xRxIerddGQfHU5qm0vGY3lTzAvUwEX82Ph7y1n-BMHbWvPAm4O5m8BonfSbOKZOo/s1600/IMG_2750.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.rootpretty.com/collections/pretty-gloss/products/lucy-pretty-gloss-100-natural-90-organic-vegan-lip-gloss">Lucy</a> // Rich juicy pillar box red - without shimmer</div>
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The formal also wins point with me as it is so easy to apply, its silky and smooth with no drag or streaking. You can opt for a sheer layer of colour or build it up for a more impactful pop of solid colour. As they are glosses they do shift on the lips and are ever so slightly tacky but there's no stickiness of gloopyiness. You're lips don't stick together with these. They're light weight and feel lovely to wear. They also look great over lipsticks and you can really play with the final colour result by using them as toppers.<br />
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And of course, being the more scent focused of people I am in love with the scent and even the taste, it's just like a fairy cake! Sweet but light. Delicious!<br />
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Root have a heap of other gorgeous Pretty Gloss lip gloss shades, not to mention an amazing array of other makeup from lipsticks to eyeshadows, foundations, mascara and more.<br />
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Over the years it seems that publications of magazines were a dying breed, with everything heading online. Magazines that have survived the digital age seem to be dominated by adverts and have content that appears to be predominantly driven by sales.<br />
Thankfully in the past year or so a new wave of magazines with positive and meaningful content have stepped into fill the breach and it has gladdened my heart to see a resurgence in hard copy magazines again. While the most dominating mainstream magazines may still be heading down the digital route, there has been a boom in hard copy magazines focused on wellness, mindfulness and lifestyle.<br />
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I've been keeping a keen eye on these as they pop up and have been eagerly working my way through exploring them. One particular magazine that I was really drawn to and have found a thought provoking and educating read is <a href="http://www.calmmoment.com/magazines/in-the-moment/">In The Moment Magazine</a>.<br />
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In The Moment Magazine is a positive and educative lifestyle magazine that focuses heavily on mindfulness, creativity and inspiration for women. Released on a monthly basis, each issue is packed with the most interesting stories, projects, initiatives and columns from experts. Topics cover everything from mental health, physical health, travel, culture and every aspect of a woman's life.<br />
It is wonderful how varied the content is and more often than not I find myself grabbing my phone or laptop to google a topic further or check out a recommended site or initiative after reading a column or article.<br />
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Reading the In The Moment magazine has introduced me to so much and really broadened my horizons with new topics as well as fulfilling my current interests, fuelling and expanding them. Unlike other magazines that I pick up and forget, In The Moment holds my attention and I will read it from cover to cover, several times over. Reading content that is passionate and written by people who are invested in the topic, makes each article that much more interesting and I respect the content that much more.<br />
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An important aspect about this magazine for me personally is that it feels like it has integrity, it's not laden with advertising and sponsored content. Yes of course, there is some advertising, that's how magazines survive, but what is there feels thought out, considered and selective. You don't find an advert every other page and when it is included it is not in your face. It's subtle, and you can see there's been careful thought put toward making sure the advert is relevant for the content, and in keeping in with the design of the magazine as a whole too.<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi568kaK2k3DYIBqhvoi6kyCCaKH8s_TV_ejUz8499xk74EPRAnT080h5BoOMEv-dqyboJElGBXl3OxMxqprH4DkuEq68mILn5fNDV_IptJr3CWO6NHMjczVqKvlC4Cnj5cRbrilG3zN94/s1600/IMG_3620.jpg" /></div>
What makes this magazine so special isn't just the thoughtful and diverse written content, but also the physical content included too. Each issue includes a mini A5 pull out magazine with a short story, puzzles and a recipe or two, ideal for your handbag. Alongside that, each issue also has bonus creative additions to tear out, from beautiful designed bookmarks, gift tags, mindful colouring sheets and even int he January issue, a 2018 inspiration board complete with stickers and motivational cards. A lot of these inserts are created and designed by small businesses and creatives, just another way you feel the team of In The Moment have really put thought into the positive messages they are putting out and how they support others.<br />
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Finally, it would be an injustice not to mention the quality and design of ITM.<br />
The entire magazine is made from FSC certified paper and completely recyclable (no glossy, plastic coated and unrecyclable 'paper' here!) I'm collecting mine as I love them so much, and each issue is also available in digital format.<br />
This publication is exquisitely designed, illustrated to perfection with beautiful colour palettes and detailed layouts. Recently ITM have been trailing two cover formats, their traditional illustrated cover and a photo cover. I vote for the illustrated every time, it gives the magazine a unique twist and makes it eye-catching stand out from all the typical 'women interest' magazines that are plastered with celebrities, glossy photos and highlighter headlines. I've had several people see my copy and exclaim over how beautiful the magazine is.<br />
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ITM is available in large supermarkets and newsagents such as large Sainsbury's, WHSmiths and also via their online store and each issue has an RRP of £5.99. Well worth it in my opinion.<br />
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Notes: ITM mag has a sister magazine called Project Calm, a mindfulness magazine curated around creative projects and DIYs. Post on that to come soon. There publications joint website (<a href="http://calmmoment.com/">http://calmmoment.com</a>) is well worth a check out too!</div>
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 26px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1696px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 26px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 1696px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-69499598031026962942017-11-11T13:37:00.001+00:002017-11-11T13:38:27.866+00:00Yellow Nails For All Seasons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvGEjXjlDt7y5jpfQaJsG467tbgzQSJPrEWVJ9gwokL2JLdvMHtnrAZz0brzFIFdXTYn1ZdLTTOZKtI6i50K1DC4u27GbcOmSV3gtY8cid7Sac0uiWyNjm209D1mGTE0SdSSRLwU8vAM/s1600/IMG_3280.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypI0QUpFWE8t9qCVGz3r7nsOC06c-X6xcbS6vXTqsGxeRwXNF2ajK6YtuMsPFfhFxyT2NmQejOsj4-jK-rxIsLwU9qanNIztoWXlK99Rs65ya1NjHizHyvD2pEZ8fOBqiBVgvr-EzoyU/s1600/LO.png" /></div>
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As I've mentioned before, one of the things I like about Autumn and Winter are all the colours; the reds, oranges and the yellows.</div>
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Yellow is a colour that has always appealed to me and I love how you can adapt it to any season.</div>
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Back in the summer I was feeling bold and chose this amazing bright yellow shade Afternoon Delight* by Little Ondine. This shade has a very deep earthy hue to it which is why, while it looked great in the Summer, it looks even better in the Autumn and Winter months. </div>
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Yes it's bright but it's also has a very mellow dimension to it also. It doesn't have any neon or fluorescent hints to it, making it a noticeable colour but not too in your face. It's the perfect shade to transition through all the seasons so you can wear it all year round.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUngbERUNvSgbkxZmFqso-52bTIe8KymjWJHwowj8wFAE9vQb4jYZPlbtr5Qo4VHjdS20MNJk9QJ1yAcm3et-aRuxtW0WxYg0CVAW-iOqqPZNB6SKwMAppfFZ4bfjJETB7WWgMwOSgYNE/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg" /></div>
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I'm a big fan of the Little Ondine polishes and find them so easy to use. As long as you prep your nails properly they will last a good few days while still being easy to peel off when you want to change your colour.</div>
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The best part about the polishes is that they apply ridiculously easily, even I barely make that many mistakes when apply them and even if i do it's very easy to fix quickly when it's wet or even dry. Afternoon Delight is no exception to the rule and like many of the other shades I've tried the pigment and colour is very strong. </div>
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However, with this shade I did find it was very streaky on first application. As it dries it does settle a little smoother but I always have to apply a second coat. Lucky it dries fast.</div>
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This polish also requires the second coat to reduce chipping and making removing easier. It is almost as if one coat is too thin to remove all in one go and to stand up to any chipping. So always double up.</div>
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Despite the coverage not being perfect the end results are still magnificent, opaque, bold and glossy.</div>
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I'm very glad I took the chance on such a vivid shade. I reckon this colour would be pretty flattering on most skin tones, especially darker skin tones. I usually avoid yellows due to my warmer and more olive-yellow undertones but It's surprisingly flattering.</div>
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I've been wearing this on my short nails and can't wait for them to grow as I think on longer nails this shade will really pop!</div>
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Little Ondine is made from water, resin and natural colour pigments. I've done a full break down of the ingredients etc on <a href="http://www.naturallydiddy.com/2015/04/little-ondine-water-based-nail-polish.html">this post</a> and you can check out a few other shades in that post too.</div>
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NB: I got this from LoveLula back in the Summer, but since then the brand seems to have been removed from the site for a while (which I am gutted about). It is alternatively available on Little Ondine's own website <a href="https://uk.littleondine.com/products/100000000000017-afternoon-delight">here</a>.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Y20nqGGjwor7BRoao91FUQwdmJ4ua6EiuYMqhLKXpHyKSO2nn3wOJB_OXQ8gjRplXFbU3t8q5n2Uy5EhFZpd7yCRDej8a-zoyOouSj65MhoPQ73yFTCnUvOSr4g3ycLMMlZVY-e9Js/s1600/IMG_3282.jpg" /></div>
<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 26px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 26px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 18px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-53936518624982887952017-10-30T21:37:00.001+00:002017-10-30T21:37:28.484+00:00Discovering a Brand //Forest & Shore ~ Hallelujah Hair Oil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SdHvU8KAtPXJGa1miMa8ihzpCSXbRiRoVD3pndUGrE0n6yqpgkAie5PmIvCxHeoApMIDRD-tSCWiWj1gG7RIEhU_O_vdnqzlsTiw6FxRpCg1dml0CQ-qDlBo4elAcPkfEI6sXIlYu1U/s1600/IMG_3269.jpg" /></div>
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My mum once gave me a sign that said: </div>
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<i><b>'You can't control everything. Your hair was put on your head to remind you of that.' </b></i><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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How true that is. I'm not one for trying to overly fuss about my hair. It's healthy and strong but I do hate having to tackle the frizz and I always love a little bit of shine.</div>
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Now, you've probably all seen that a new brand has popped up - <a href="https://forestandshore.co.uk/">Forest & Shore</a> and they debuted with their first products the <a href="https://forestandshore.co.uk/products/hallelujah-hair-oil">Hallelujah Hair Oil</a>*. </div>
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I'm very lucky to have been able to test this new brand and product out. </div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFeRjCYiQszB3WFFNXwKVBxq28HOPyYzXJq9N54cbmV9a2aprk_zCVqz7pR1n7sCPcE7iXZ8B6EJFC4BJerhfSUmzv6nIxSBZA43KPzfbgdLpshKD70phVFf6ABtl8ufzo5ZJafcpVkQ/s1600/IMG_3271.jpg" /></div>
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Formulated with a blend of oils including Rosemary, Coconut, Olive, Lavender and most interestingly Sesame and Arnica, the aim of the Hallelujah Hair Oil is to repair damaged hair and restore hydration and vitality to dry hair. My hair, while in pretty good condition, has been dyed a lot and after my holiday in the sun my tips are a fair bit bleached.</div>
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The first thing I noticed about the oil is the beautiful scent. The dominant fragrance to come through for me is the Rosemary which is light and very calming. The second thing I noticed is that despite the combination of the oils, the final result is a very light oil, a rich yellow in colour but lightweight and quite delicate.</div>
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I always worry that oils will be too heavy on my hair and make it greasy and leave an unpleasant residue, however the delicate nature of the Hallelujah Hair Oil means that it is quite the opposite. The usage guidance is to use 2-5 drops to damp washed hair, applying it to the mid lengths . I've kept my usage to about 3 drops and only not he very tips of my hair as I just don't feel my mid lengths need it. The oil is easy to distribute and doesn't make my hair feel slick at all. I can't say that i feel my hair is being 'repaired' but it does seem to have made the ends softer and smoother.</div>
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Another way I've been testing this oil out is by dabbing it along my hairline where my scalp and get a little dry and flakey and although this isn't a recommended use its been working wonders for me. Just one or two drops every now and then and I've definitely seen improvement, I even think my baby hairs are growing a bit more due to it, but I can't be certain.</div>
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The second method of using the Hallelujah Hair Oil that is recommended is the Intense Hair Reboot. The method requires two to three full pipettes worth of oil to be applied to the hair and left overnight. I'll admit that this seemed a little scary to me, I really thought it would be hard to wash out the next day but surprisingly it was quite easy to remove with my regular shampoo. This method hasn't grabbed me, while my hair felt very silky afterwards and has that lovely shine I like it was also a little flat and hard to style. I definitely prefer the less full on approach with this oil.</div>
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I'm going to continue to experiment with this oil, so far I've enjoyed it and haven't had any major problems with it and the added shine and delicate fragrance on my hair is definitely a bonus.</div>
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I think for a brands first product, it is quite the triumph especially as it is also 100% organic certified by not only Soil Association but COSMOS Organic also! That is pretty impressive.</div>
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You can tell a lot of time and thought and care has been put into Forest & Shore as a brand, the Hallelujah Hair Oil is very high quality and at £10 for 50ml (£14 100ml) it is very affordable. The packaging is beautifully done, decorative and modern without any wasteful filling or gimmicks, using recyclable cardboard and glass. </div>
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I'm pretty interested to see what product Forest & Shore launch next!</div>
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The Forest and Shore Hallelujah Hair Oil is free from: Parabens, Sulphates, Mineral Oils, EDTA, Silicones and Synthetic Fragrances and Colours. Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly and Not Tested on Animals.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-39360866180325560282017-10-07T16:23:00.003+01:002017-10-07T16:23:56.982+01:00The Perfect Autumnal EyeShadow Palette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUKlpVeSdYPipnraHoy181PA1wjDknIO2bHNbeKCmZiJww3ziNVOlh3VeL-KoVdlAXKwdeZbEMoM60AJUhfo-cEzivAUqaImhic4XLHEFzoCeAseI-RbMSNF3CZJO2Uwz_t7ErmLdSqU/s1600/IMG_2919.jpg" /></div>
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If like me you're more a spring/summer person than a autumn/winter person and the dark mornings and evenings don't fill you with glee, you'll understand that you have to find little glimpses of joy anywhere you can. Even in your makeup. </div>
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Now, there are a few things I do like about autumn, and one of them is the colours. The warm earthy natural tones with pops of red, golds and oranges. Nothing serves up these colours better than the new Bellapierre Go Natural XII Eyeshadow Palette*</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNrKtHICl8PGg9iSAXPKS7TVv95aj_hbe0oLGfGXkiNzzSZkLqzo-qhTM1wtG4bULs-01mS_A3Cj0Z7W-tBbL8b2Bxbfzr_lgFp18Grsvl-qACQ-7PcGnSvBh5kYUbgfkVafQ3U7d5hU/s1600/IMG_2917.jpg" /></div>
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Do you see those colours? Gorgeous! Everything you need for creating the perfect warm autumnal makeup look with a cheeky purple in there for good measure. I fell in love with this palette as soon as I saw it. I have both of the other Bellapierre Go Natural palettes and knew I had to have this to complete the set. I've been pretty impressed with the formula and pigmentation of the other shadows in those palettes and I was hoping this one would be just as good.</div>
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Right off the bat I will say it's mixed results.</div>
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Lets start with the actual colour selection. It's perfect. Totally spot on. There's every shade I could possibly ask for ranging from yellow undertone shades to pinky undertone shades. The colours also offer a balanced range between light and dark shades with some some mid-tones too.</div>
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Of the 12 eyeshadows only three are matte. Personally I adore shimmer shades but I would like a palette with more matte shades.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkyBRmSEOj2BQ5jonlCO2GHD0xl2Zj42_9vvYBmvBOPFXGimYZHamPCFVu3vGHhwSN29fchCQH9zay-_glKpHrj5FAOnLqDyJln6lZU38mqnbzN25sO_mdx1mX-7NySXiMT8HDUOI_bw/s1600/IMG_2924.jpg" /></div>
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Top to bottom:</div>
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<b>Snowflake</b>:</div>
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A brilliant white with a hint of shimmer to it. The colour apples as a crispy clean white without any other colour reflects in it. The colour payoff is excellent and the fallout is minimal. This feels quite creamy in texture. It applies easily and blends perfectly. </div>
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<b>Buttercup:</b></div>
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The first of the matte shades. The colour is a beautiful rich warm dark cream colour/ pale apricot- the colour isn't dissimilar from some of my concealer shades. Again the formula feels buttery and smooth but the pay off is so weak. I had to do three layers applied with a wet brush to get the swatch above so it would even show up on my camera. As the payoff is weak, blending this shadow even a little makes it all but disappear. This is definitely the least used shade in the palette for me. </div>
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<b>Champagne</b>:</div>
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A stunning highly shimmery shade that almost has flecks of gold in it. The name champagne sums up the colour perfectly. this shade is right up my street, not too gold toned but not too pink toned either. Minimal fallout and excellent pigmentation and payoff both wet and dry. Blending shifts the colour a bit, so it does need a bit of topping up for a stronger effect.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67_Ts-j7zRVC5xKPQd2qHM3-pz8V8sXybhxi7xeer_nF3f6ZtvmN3arGUC4mCrT7fbgs7gFQszgq_6_hawSYAk6FcIzGBL2It2BE4Xc2PdoPPchUCMPjL6KTFw5N7ejFjU5S1DyII2hs/s1600/IMG_2929.jpg" /></div>
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<b>Celebration:</b></div>
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A sensational bold and rich copper. This has a great earthy orange undertone and is what I call a true copper shade. The finish is more metallic than shimmer and looks gorgeous blended out or really boldly packed on. Fallout is bit more with this one, but it's not terrible. While it does blend easily it is great at staying put and doesn't crease and clump. </div>
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<b>Beige:</b></div>
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Why this is called 'beige' I have no idea. Never would I describe this shade as a beige. This is actually (to me) a deep dusky rose colour. Like Celebration, the finish looks more metallic than shimmery. This is a very creamy shade and you need to work it a bit when blending as it can bunch a little. Blending also fades the colour a touch, so a top up can be needed for a more dramatic look.</div>
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<b>Sepia:</b></div>
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The second matte shade in the palette. Again this is a weak colour from the selection. In the pan the shade looks fab, but it falls flat on application. You have to really work to build it up and even in the swatch (three layers with a wet brush) you can see sections where the colour has gathered. It's a shame as if the pigment was good then it would be wonderful. The colour works well for a soft smokey eye and along the lash line where it doesn't require too much blending and you can really pack it on.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyrwtovb8eJ6hAbb0AUYkhd_rHYxkvYWh0UBU-3PmmaI73nRXLLGXcbhxgmiSTl7k9hAf97RLUveh2O263ghfVuEmNOTXdMjMNKEGGV8IgIvb5is1Xh_lhC-megcMh7Wj9T3jqPA9x_k/s1600/IMG_2932.jpg" /></div>
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<b>Harmony</b>:</div>
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The shade harmony is like Beige's big sister. It's another rose toned shade but with a huskier more brown undertone. In the pan the difference shows as more brown but on the skin it has a slight copper mixed in. I have no complaints about the pigment or payoff of this shade, it's superb. I'd even go so far to say this is the best shade in performance terms of the whole palette.</div>
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<b>Lava</b>:</div>
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Lava is a chocolatey dark brown that it is amazingly pigmented and the payoff on application is beyond impressive. Very impactful shade. Surprisingly there's almost zero fallout on this shade. A good all-rounder shade that's good for a bit of everything, smokey eye, crease, transition colour etc.</div>
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<b>Cinnabar:</b></div>
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Is it silly to say this was the reason I bought this palette? It's true. This velvety shimmery cranberry/ red wine/burgundy hue is what dreams are made of. A little goes a long way with this colour, so a light hand is needed. If you pack on the colour it is a lovely red wine shade, but blending gives it a smokey paprika orange hue. Drooling. This is the creamiest of all the shades and therefore has next to no fallout.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ5cZlgztuITQxMr14eVt-e-NYP5abcIjr8IX51e1cXfq5a2JZIJYNro1V9m5c757-e6Y-09D0mvfidv-3Nm4xn2SnzuXRrpz7vVCaWIw-jQRkXJ-R4Iy1pzYAzXJ9ji0wZPJKkdsDsI/s1600/IMG_2938.jpg" /></div>
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Top to bottom:</div>
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<b>Auburn:</b></div>
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The final matte shade in the palette. This is a much darker and redder toned brown than Sepia. Out of all the matte shades this one is the best, not great but much better than the others. The payoff is much stronger but still requires careful blending so as not to weaken the pigment too much. As a colour I really like it, it's unusual and a much warmer brown than most palettes offer.</div>
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<b>Lust:</b></div>
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A cheeky little purple aubergine shade. I love this surprising shade they've added in, it seems random but it actually works every well as a compliment to the other shades. This is another successful shade, a good amount of shimmer without it being glittery and the colour is bold and pretty true to pan. Creamy and blends well.</div>
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<b>Noir:</b></div>
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Last but not least. You can't have a good palette without a truly dark colour. This is a super graphite black. It's a strong black and while it has shimmer it doesn't have any inflections of other colours such as green and blue (which often pop up in other black shadows) which makes it the perfect partner for bolding up the other shades. This shade is pretty strong and doesn't budget so blending is a fair bit tricky. It takes some practice.</div>
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Overall I think as a collection the colours are great, they work well separately and in combination with each other. The matte shades really do let the palette down but the bold colours like Cinnabar and Lust redeem it. The formula for all the shades (even the mattes) is impressively smooth and buttery which means the fallout is minimal which I'm very impressed with.</div>
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Other notes to add. The packaging is amazing quality. This is the first palette to feature the metal tin design and I think it really makes the palette look that much more luxe and inline with traditional brands such as the Urban Decay ones. The mirror is also huge although as with a lot of palettes it tends to be a tad bit warping almost like it magnifies a little- maybe it's meant to be like that. </div>
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The biggest surprise in this palette is the brush. Normally I will leave the brush to one side knowing it's not worth the time, BUT I'm as shocked as anyone to find the brush is actually very good! Both the flat and fluffy ends are perfect for the job and do make working with the shadows much easier. The fluffy end is now my blending brush of choice. Who would've thunk it?!</div>
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You can grab your own <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-limited-edition-xii-eye-shadow-palette-go-natural-15g">Bellapierre Go Natural XII Eye Shadow Palette here for £39</a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-37534509480059015932017-09-23T18:24:00.004+01:002017-09-23T18:24:28.921+01:00Makeup Look // The Upside-Down Eye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXvxOd_XeVKKkYEwUNrl8GDj4qx59x_Gp1I-ylk1roNISxvzkGcwahVCtQq_J8-V2zNRSVqzxkFW8RYHRr4q-8nn1tZLnqJHBYRndMI_6yEu1FIH0gEOaK_k__EW7qDI7rxWJy0R9R5A/s1600/IMG_3115.jpg" /></div>
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Lately I've been seeing a lot of makeup looks pop up that embrace the 'Upside-Down Eye' with a subtle smokey lid and a pop of colour of the bottom waterline. All the attention is on the lower part of the eye.</div>
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Naturally I wanted to get on board with this myself. Out of all the combos I've seen around, I was really drawn to the pairing of bronze with purple. </div>
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So I gathered together a few products in my stash and tried my hand at creating a daytime friendly 'Upside-Down Eye' and this was the outcome.<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_DqrD8Ok3Fgxfz-ZjWK60fbrMVdwEegaoGwMaL1SAf6YBZtN7qz7JkiLg4KovQdxn4Iqmvaq5qv8NJQpF8GxWlAl8df8TcyuFhKupEWaisOldgIrgFlQSkaMX0QE9PhYBsT6hThe6Dk/s1600/IMG_2528.jpg" /></div>
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To create this look I used a mix of old products from my collection and a few newer additions. It gave me the perfect opportunity to reassess my feelings about some products and have a play with some new ones.</div>
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Base:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999;"> <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/inika-certified-organic-bb-cream-foundation-30ml">INIKA BB CREAM FOUNDATION - CREAM*</a> </span></div>
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Hands down one of the best foundation discoveries I've made in the past year or so. I find foundations incredibly hard to get right with not only my skin tone, but also my combination skin and my skin texture. This foundation has the lightweight feeling of a BB Cream but the coverage and build-ability of a foundation. The colour match is pretty great too. Initially this does feel a little tacky on the skin as you apply but it sinks in rather than sitting on top of the skin and blends beautifully leaving a lovely velvety texture. It's not cakey, doesn't look overly matte or enhance the appearance of my pores etc. Definitely one I'll be purchasing when is is used up.</div>
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Eyes:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999;"> <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/soultree-kajal-copper-tint-009-3g">SOULTREE KAJAL - COPPER TINT (009)*</a> </span></div>
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I'm growing quite the collection of these kajals. I usually adore them but unfortunately I found this one didn't wow me like the others I've tried. I expected this to be a lot more orange toned as a copper colour, however I found it to be much more of rich brown with a hint of copper shimmer to it (see the swatch above). The shimmer in it is genuinely beautiful but the brown base overpowers the effect and when blended, even slightly, it loses all of it's pigment and colour definition. Definitely one that should be used purely as a bold solid liner. For this look I kept it predominantly to the outer wing of my eye to deepen the look in that area.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999;"> <a href="https://www.contentbeautywellbeing.com/products/rms-beauty-eye-polish?variant=24683724487">RMS CREAM EYE POLISH - SOLAR</a> </span></div>
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As the SoulTree kajal wasn't working out I decided to give my RMS solar cream eyeshadow another whirl. This will not be a popular opinion but I've never got along all that well with these. I found they crease badly on my eyes. However there is no denying the colour is sensational. Popping this on top of the copper kajal looks really gorgeous, the dark colour underneath gives it real depth. Still not won over by it as a formula, I find it shifts on my eyes too much during application and creases no matter how much or little I use, though the pigment remains amazing no matter how much you work it.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999;"> <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/natorigin-pencil-eye-liner-lilac-1-dot-1g">NATORIGIN LINER - LILAC*</a> </span></div>
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Pretty much the reason I wanted to try this eye look. I'm always drawn to purple and this eyeliner was no exception. This liner is a lot more deep purple than it looks online, but I was actually pleased by this. The colour is so gorgeous, the swatch doesn't do it justice, it's more cool toned than it looks in the photo. Yet while the colour is amazing, I was not that impressed with the formula, it was very hard and waxy, like a kids crayon and the pigment bunches and clumps. If the formula was softer and creamer it would be a dream. On the positive side the pigment is strong and the payoff is good so you get the impression of consistent colour but up close it's a bit patchy. Over all it's a bit hard to work with, doesn't sit well on the waterline and requires too much pressure on your upper lid. Although despite the hardness it does blend pretty well and i was able to work it into the outer wing of my eye a little better than I expected. Mixed bag. </div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999;"> <a href="https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/shop/by-product/organic-make-up/organic-mascara-products/volumising-mascara-black-7ml">GREEN PEOPLE VOLUMISING MASCARA - BLACK*</a> </span></div>
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This has become a staple in my mascara arsenal. I can't fault this mascara at all. The formula is perfect, volumising and lengthening. A true black that doesn't flake, smudge or crumble. The brush is one of the spikey plastic ones rather than bristles and it does a great job of separating my lashes and coating each one without any clumping. A must have mascara - I understand why this has had a fair bit of hype around it.</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-42401718966928688792017-08-14T07:00:00.000+01:002017-08-14T07:00:33.659+01:00Beauty Chore // Cleaning Makeup Brushes<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Cleaning makeup brushes. What a blooming chore. What a necessity though. Like everyone else out there, I hate washing my makeup brushes, it takes so long and it's hardly exciting stuff. As a result I'm guilty of using brushes that are dirty. Dirty brushes mean bad skin, increased bacteria on my face and in my makeup and poor makeup application, even damaged brushes. Nightmare.</div>
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It's been my mission of late to improve my brush cleaning system and get a routine going. I wanted to find ways that are quicker, easier, more eco friendly and dare I say it, more fun!</div>
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Here's some of the ways I've been dealing with the brush cleaning situation.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrb6z2QAnIJZUCi_6QEljK7kKWYz2DwbOkDkks250FYVXJvLWDG94BvgZhpRX7jWn472tmQSCTTnCysfn27BP4OkE9CvOy7uwTcn-_SDdwOFAZ8WD5a07vUw0pKQsag8KbHVe8fOmU068/s1600/IMG_2663.jpg" /></div>
<b>THE QUICKIE RUN-&-GO CLEAN</b></div>
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Sometimes I really need a dirty brush straight away. Sure I could use another brush but sometimes there's just that one brush in your collection that is so specific and perfect, another just wont do. This is where I end up reaching for my Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths. </div>
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Essentially these are like face wipes for your brushes. They're pre-moistend cloths that you can use to wipe the makeup residue off your brushes. As expected they don't provide a thorough clean but they get the excess buildup off the outside of the brushes and provide a cleaner brush than you would have before. They handle all my makeup really well from oil based to powder and foundation. They even can tackle the hard to budge Bellapierre Kiss Proof Lip Cremes. As the brush hasn't been soaked it dries very quickly and you can use it almost straightaway. It's good to note that these wipes don't leave any oil or other noticeable residue on the brushes either. </div>
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I chose the Ecotools brand because in terms of green and eco-friendly standards they beat the rest of main stream brand options out there. These cloths are mades from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified material (I can't find what material though, I'm assuming a cotton blend?) and they are cruelty free. </div>
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Ingredients-wise they are free from parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, phthalates and sulphates. As a whole the ingredients are surprisingly 'clean' with only one ingredient (Phenoxyethanol - a preservative) (rating 4 on EWG Skin-deep) making me pause on using them. However this ingredient is third to last on the ingredients list so I'm not over troubled by its presence. These cloths are also Dermatologist tested.</div>
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FIND IT: <a href="http://www.boots.com/eco-tools-makeup-brush-cleansing-cloths-10213274">Boots (£6.99)</a> / <a href="https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Make-Up-Accessories/Make-Up-Brush-Cleaners/EcoTools-Brush-Cleansing-Cloths/p/734352">Superdrug (£3.99)</a> - clearly well worth shopping around!</div>
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<b>THE SPEED DEEP CLEAN</b></div>
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Earlier I mentioned trying to make brush cleaning more 'fun' and you might be thinking 'Impossible!' However, I treated myself to a much reviewed StylPro and I can assure you that while brush cleaning still isn't the highlight of my week, this little machine has certainly added a bit of fun to the process.</div>
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The StylPro is a little machine that rapidly spins your brushes to deeply clean them and then rapidly dry them in literally less than a minute. The set contains a dinky washing bowl, eight different sized rubber brush holder attachments, the spinner (I don't know what it's officially called so I'm rolling with this) and two sachets of cleaning cleanser solution. All you do is pop the solution, or your own mix of water and cleanser in the bowl, pop your brush into one of the holders, attach the spinner, dunk the brush in the bowl, spin for about 10 seconds then remove from the solution, spin for about 10 seconds again and boom. Clean and dry. Epic no? Yes, yes it is. </div>
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The rapid spinning forces the bristles outwards so the solution can clean deep into the brush and similarly the moisture is wicked away from deep inside the brush while drying. I was concerned that the bristles may end up wonky on my brushes, but so far these fears haven't come to pass so all is good. I would say not to mash the brush about too much while spinning as that can cause the bristles to tangle a little.</div>
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This really does deeply clean my brushes - even the really nasty clogged ones. The cleanser that comes with it is also really great. It is vegan, paraben, sulphate and alcohol free and the ingredients are minimal and very clean, mainly comprised of different oils. Eco-wise, this definitely saves on how much water I use while cleaning as I'm not constantly running a tap and you use minimal water in the bowl.</div>
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I think this little gadget needs a full in-depth review of it's own so if you want one, let me know in comments as there's a lot more I could cover on it.</div>
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FIND IT: <a href="http://www.feelunique.com/p/StylPro-Makeup-Brush-Cleaner-and-Dryer">Feelunique</a> / <a href="http://www.boots.com/stylpro-makeup-brush-cleaner-and-dryer-10224940">Boots</a> (£49.99) - you'll have to save your pennies for this as it's a luxury /wishlist item (but worth it!)</div>
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<b>THE SLOW DEEP CLEAN </b></div>
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I don't know about you but sometimes, just sometimes I can find cleaning quite therapeutic. On these rare occasions I sometimes wash my least used brushes, and the brushes that can't be cleaned in my StylPro such as my oval brushes where the brush sits at a right angle to the handle.</div>
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For these I whip out my silicone textured cleaning mat. You can find these everywhere in every shape, colour and size. Mine provides a variety of different textures to use to scrub your brush into and get your brushes clean. Mine also has a dip in the shape to fit around the plug hole. </div>
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The obvious drawbacks are that washing this way uses a lot of water and is laborious and tiring. Not to mention the fact that brushes take at least 12 hours to dry if not longer. However, sometimes it's just got to be done. </div>
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To get the job done efficiently I have been trialling another Ecotools product, their Makeup Brush Shampoo. Like with their cleaning cloths, this shampoo is cruelty free and free from, parabens, petroleum based ingredients and phthalates. The bottle is also make from 40% post-consumer recycled plastic. Again the ingredients are impressively 'clean' with the exception of the Phenoxyethanol and potentially the undisclosed 'Fragrance' (Parfum). It does smell pretty great though! Like the wipes this shampoo is Dermatologist tested. It is also Hypoallergenic.</div>
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So far this has been working very well. It claims to remove about 90% of all makeup and I would say that was a fair claim to make. Makeup of all types is removed but not all of it. It isn't as powerful as the main stream brand cleaners but I'm happy to use a touch more elbow grease to avoid the less desirable ingredients from the other main brand cleaners. This leaves my brushes lovely and soft an not overly fragranced.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">FIND IT: Shampoo ~ </span><a href="https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Make-Up-Accessories/Make-Up-Brush-Cleaners/EcoTools-Brush-Cleansing-Shampoo/p/734341" style="text-align: start;">Superdrug (£5.99)</a><span style="text-align: start;"> Mat ~ anywhere/any price!</span></div>
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And that pretty much sums up my 'greener' choices to washing makeup brushes in your hand. I'd love to know any suggestions for any other cleansers or shampoos to try out.</div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-26860230980439876212017-07-29T17:54:00.002+01:002017-07-29T17:56:53.003+01:00The Power of Lipstick // National Lipstick Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XEAqR1h0liLXoTGQshoACHDs5WmFgqEKZJrlJVhy8Gj8U_9kcK1-UylHkxoa9AcggFgYuGkhdp7EkhDbLSN6Arr6cZoZSmbnPAz2aynxPJX8VjiD4WJv6NTcxiNTVaoH0rV5G45HqL8/s1600/lip+day.jpg" /></div>
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Happy National Lipstick day! </div>
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Lipstick has become a large positive aspect of my life and it may seem strange but it's improved so much for me that I realised that lipstick has a power of it's own. And I wanted to share that.</div>
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If you follow my Instagram you'll have noticed that this passed year I have developed quite a love of lipsticks. </div>
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I always admired lipstick on other people and wore it a lot at university (often it was a wobbly learning curve) , but over the years my confidence wearing it slipped away a bit and I stopped wearing it as much. With larger lips becoming such a popularity it has given me more confidence with my own lips and I started to gain back my confidence and comfortableness with showing them off with lipstick. The trend of matte lipsticks and liquid lipsticks certainly fuelled the fire and before I knew it my lipstick collection had grown rapidly.</div>
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Along with my collection, I found a new love for swatching and creating my own lip imagery. It was all a fluke and very much a path of discovery. I'd spent ages trying to photo my lipstick in different ways, even roping in my best chummy to try and take photos for me. Then one day with the Bellapierre Fierce lipstick I found a way of doing it that was fun, easy, reflective of my style and something that wasn't really done in the natural beauty community, something that I could shine in and I became hooked. Add in amazing support and comments from you guys and it's become quite a passion.</div>
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I remember being nervous about putting up the first swatches of the Fierce lipstick but after a wonderful response from everyone I knew it was something I could keep doing. Now I feel confident enough to play around with my own crazy colour mixes and blends and share them simply for fun.</div>
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You wouldn't think a tube of colour could change the way you feel about your body or give you confidence in your own appearance, but playing with lipstick has done that for me. Wearing a bold red matte liquid lipstick gives me major confidence. A pop of pink makes me feel happy and motivated, a nude makes me feel comfortable and 'put together' even if the rest of me is a bit of a mess. It's amazing how colour can change your mindset. </div>
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I love how it can also change up my look so easily, if i'm feeling pale I'll pop on a warmer toned lipstick and my face brightens up, if I'm conscious of my teeth one day I'll wear my most blue toned red to make them appear a little whiter. And on and on. Lipstick is powerful stuff. I've notice when I wear a red lipstick, people (especially bus drivers and shop assistants etc) make eye contact with me more and I get a lot more smiles and dialogue from people. I guess the brightness draws their eye and makes them connect with you rather than being in their own world, my face just another among the many. </div>
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I now appreciate my lips a lot more. Even though when I'm looking at them close up & scrutinising my lips from every angle and now am highly aware of their 'flaws' and the 'flaws' on the rest of my face, I'm not worried about it so much. In fact it's just more fun to play and see how I can make them look different, bigger, smaller, thinner, plumper, more even, more uneven etc. Embracing flaws as a means of more diverse play. </div>
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Lipstick has given me a creative outlet that gives me drive, motivation, passion and excitement. When I don't feel like writing, or drawing and painting in the traditional sense, I can sit down and paint my lips. My final results are never perfect like the lip art you see on Instagram and neither do I want it to be. I'm not airbrushing or using special lighting, I'm not editing and tweaking them and changing their shape digitally, just adding brightness and contrast. It's not talented whizz kid amazing stuff, but for me it's an outlet for expression, it teaches me to be patient, to try new colours, techniques, applications etc. I'm learning as I go. Who would have thought lipstick would teach me more about how to balance my hand or use a brush in a certain way? I didn't, but it is and I LOVE that. Lately I've even opened my mind and expanded my tastes to loving lipgloss, something that I used to hate! Look at me stepping out of my comfort zone and broadening my horizons. Sure it's 'only makeup' and not grounding breaking stuff, but on a personal level it's huge. It's even opening up some other avenues in my life that I'm excited to start working on both personally and professionally.</div>
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Lipstick has given me so much and I'm pretty excited to see what else will come from it in the future. So here's to The Power of Lipstick! I'd love to know why you guys love lipstick so much, let me know!</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-17360816352802820042017-07-26T06:30:00.000+01:002017-07-26T06:30:22.736+01:00Skincare for Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX2bi1SupcrRDRtIUvo8r_woKKe-SJ79k6UHUyRpBlGwXSV1D-ktKIDZblx08kQk3c8SmiZ1cRvxVOnpxAM9-G6pjnHxZD2glb3GbTXFVIwb8gntutKuQSqBMP7gBn90DsuwMEztLPMQ/s1600/IMG_2439.jpg" /></div>
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Over the years I have found that my skin likes simplicity. Complex skincare routines with multiple steps and layers of product after product just do not work for me. As a result I don't often play around with different skincare. I had a sample of this <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/madara-time-miracle-cellular-repair-serum-30ml">Madara Time Miracle Cellular Repair Serum</a>* from somewhere and used it without paying much attention. After the first use I thought, 'this is nice' and used it a few times more, after a week it had become my one and only product and I was trying hard to use it sparingly to make it last longer.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk0KOTFlII8D5JCf7CYFf2LYB8D8-hL0TLtLVi7zcebXcBZVa-k2uZtUgpDqIMnn9YtQdSNS9vefnAkU5oHPsV0acApo4DfV0DPtSE2uIk3ii_LmzbRl5Ktmd3pnBNIMbNrhfqn68s1Q/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" /></div>
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Thankfully I got hold of a full 30ml size and my skin has never been happier. </div>
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This serum does everything for my skin. It plumps and firms, it brightens and tackles dark circles. It's incredible at helping heal and fade hyper-pigmentation and scaring from blemishes that I've had in the past. Using this, I almost never get spots now, even if my diet is awful. One or two tiny little ones may pop up if I've eaten a lot of sugar but even around my period my hormonal spots are mostly kept at bay and I really do credit that to this serum. </div>
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One of my main facial skin struggles is uneven pigmentation, I have very pale cheeks and then dark olive pigmentation all around my mouth, across the bridge of my nose and my forehead. It can look really weird and is heightened after being exposed to the sun, even with high level SPF on. While it is still a feature of my face, using this serum has evened it out a lot. It didn't happen straight away but I'd say after about three months of using this daily there's been a definite improvement. </div>
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Another issue it has had big impact on is one I'm super surprised about. I had a very large pore on my nose from about 10 years ago when I had the mother of all acne on my nose. This one area of acne lasted weeks and one particular spot was huge, swollen and painful, inflamed and just horrendous. If it wasn't bad enough being prominently sticking out on the tip of my nose, I was left with a very scarred and over enlarged open and loose pore. Nothing would fix this thing, even when it was fully healed you could genuinely slide a pin into it without it hurting, it was that big and open. I used to literally pack concealer into it to hide it. Now, I still have this pore, but it is A) no longer a gaping hole, it's more like a small dimple and B) it's a third of the size. Obviously, over time and after 10 years it will have gone through a lot of healing itself but I honestly believe that the serum has had a big impact on making this pore 10 times better than it has ever been. Most of the time people don't even notice my pore anymore. It's been a big confidence boost having it improve so dramatically.</div>
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All of this improvement I put down to the fact that this serum is 'clinically proven' to 'boost the cellular re-newal cycle and 'recharge' the skin with it's Bio-Complex. The ingredients list is as long as my arm and packed with natural ingredients I've not come across before along with some favourites and olden goldies. I apply this serum once a day after I've washed my face right before bed. It's very light, non-greasy and sinks in like a dream. I'll even smooth it over my lips to help them if they are chapped. If my skin is particularly dry in the morning I might pop some on but I rarely need to.</div>
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The pump provides the perfect amount of serum so you don't over load your skin with product and I never need more. Oh and it's ECOCERT certified too. Couldn't be more perfect.</div>
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I honestly can't rave about this enough. When they call it 'miracle' it truly is a miracle product for my skin. These results come with a £40 price tag for a tiny 30ml but it is worth every single penny. I will be re-purchasing this for the rest of my life. In general I've been wowed by every single Madara product I've ever tried, so if you haven't explored the range yet, you really must.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-22729002826136137432017-07-24T07:00:00.000+01:002017-07-24T07:00:07.377+01:00Hair Removal // Top to Toe<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n1INwVSiygGjrY3dkfwrR5KoUR3WnjIRODpPhi5YfuZEQr5Mvt5SB8TgX2zl5RiPSbmAtv2wGlILrDF0frDuCviyETCr0MYo1gAVYBcTlSZirztqb32PrTSLxTBtZc7eQqynAJTHzRg/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" /></div>
Summer is here. My favourite season of all time, I love almost everything that comes with summer from the longer days to the sunshine. I say 'almost everything' because something I do not love is the constant grooming that the summer months require.</div>
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Now if you are a 'let it all grow free and wild' kinda girl than more power to you. Personally I do prefer on myself a lot less hair than my natural state. This means a lot of hair removal is required. A while back I discovered that along with my already known-about hairy upper lip, I have also got a very hairy lower lip- in fact blogging makeup photos has shown me how very very hairy my whole face is. </div>
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In my quest to de-fuzz myself I've tried and tested out a fair few hair removal products. From top to toe here's a little over view of some of the ways I've been trialling with a focus on my natural or eco options.<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-wyhcxao7A8jHNOgLxMPt2WG_rFO-Zq2S4LEM9cEY29mf0AynCQdTieohoTyCc555F_q0rRvjki7COdwfCNn3jodo7_0KbVuskYrP2pd6DD5eqw2jPRqrskbjjw7USFDmi590oDrg64/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" /></div>
<b>Facial Epilator</b><br />
(The thing that looks like a pink catapult)</div>
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The cheapest little gizmo that you can pick up just abut anywhere on the internet. This device has curved springs that when rolled over the skin, grasp and pluck out even the tiniest and finest hairs. Sounds painful, and at first it is a little eye watering especially around the tip lip but after a while you actually get used to it and dare I admit it, it's quite addictive. Both my sister and I have found it very compulsive to do. This can be tricky to master but once you've got the angle and pressure just right then it works like a dream for me. Word of warning make sure you cleanser and exfoliate for face a little while before depilating. If you don't then you will get loads of very tiny spots all over the area where you epilated. the lovely Amy Saunders (Amy SkynTherapy) advised me of this and the one time I forgot to follow her advice, I regretted it. Amy knows her stuff!<br />
Obviously made from plastic this isn't a very eco option so I'm currently trying to hunt for one that is more sustainable. I've not been overly successful.</div>
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<b>Eyebrow Threading</b><br />
I love threading, obviously I don't do this myself but I do pop down the shops to get it done on occasion. My eyebrows aren't too unruly so I only need a good threading sesh once in a while. I like threading because it's quick, uses minimal products (I ask them not to use the aloe vera if it's from a natural brand) and the pain is over quickly. I also get my top lip done if I've got a special occasion or heading on holiday. </div>
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<b>Silk-Skin</b><br />
(The pink paddle and black abrasive sheets)</div>
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I'll just jump right on in and say this was the biggest waste of money. All I can say in my defence is that I was having a lovely day at the Love Natural, Love You show last year, I was caught up in all the excitement. Flush with my new purchases and willing to give anything a go. On the day I was impressed. After a couple of uses myself back at home over a few days it started slowly dawning on me that in actual fact this 'wonder' product was pretty pants. Well, at least it is for me. </div>
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The 'theory' behind it is that it 'lifts' hairs out gently from your pore without pain and buffs away the dead skin cells. Really all it does is simply sand away the top of the hair and your top layer of skin leaving the root, so while initially it looks and feels smoother, the next day your little hair has already poked its head back up leaving you looking and feeling like stubbly mcstubble all over again. The results are the same as shaving except for you get a cheeky exfoliation in there too. Oh and it's bloody time consuming, knackering and messy (lots of skin dust flying about. Gross). Also forget about trying this if you like to keep your tan, real or fake because this baby sands everything away. Nil Poi for this.</div>
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<b>Sugar StripEase Waxing</b><br />
My new favourite form of hair removal. Back in the day I used to buy those cheap prewaxed strips and just the thought of them makes my skin pucker. Once I swapped to cleaner beauty choices those were never used again. Thankfully after a long time searching and some dodgy sugar wax diy recipes later <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/sugar-stripease-hair-removal-kit">Sugar StripEase*</a> popped up and made my waxing life much easier. As the name suggests sugar wax is made from, you guessed it, Sugar (Sucrose) and a touch of water (Aqua). So no extra chemical additives here. I personally don't find sugar waxing overly painful at all. A short sharp 'zing' and then it's all over. This sugar wax is so easy to use, it heats up quickly, applies smoothly and is the easiest wax to clean up after ever! The strips are also excellent as you can wash and reuse them (top points for reducing waster. the pot is also recyclable). It's also pretty affordable at about £7 for a 250g pot that lasts ages (for about £10 for a kit). Results are very smooth and it picks up even the finest hairs. Sure getting the back of your legs can be a bit of flexibility test but you soon get the hang of it. Also I use this for bikini line, armpits and even my top lip. Sugar StripEase is certified Made in Britain, certified Cruelty Free and certified Vegan. I'm mega impressed with everything about this product. I'm keen on finding a salon that uses it to see what a salon waxing experience is like also.</div>
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<b>Shaving</b> </div>
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Shaving is pretty standard. So this one is no revelation and I don't really need to go into much detail- we all know the general gist of it. However, I've been trying to make sure my shaving activities have much more green/eco bent on them by using much more environmentally friendly razor options. Currently I'm using these <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/preserve-recycled-plastic-eco-friendly-triple-razor">Preserve Recycled Plastic Eco Friendly Triple Razors*</a>. While still plastic, the handles of these razors are made from 100% recycled yoghurt pots (only using No.5 plastic and BPA free) which can be recycled again after use. Likewise the packaging these razor come in is recyclable. The razors are sharp, work well and the hands is comfortable to use. You can also buy replacement razor heads and it's compatible with other brands of razor heads too. The only thing that I'm not 100% settled on with these is that they have a lubrication strip which depending on where you buy it, has little to no information on what ingredient and materials this is made from. So far I have learnt that they are infused with Vitamin E and Aloe. </div>
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<b>Lotions & Potions</b><br />
Not technically 'hair-removal' but I've been trialling the <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/hair-today-gone-tomorrow-hair-minimising-cream-125ml">Laidbare Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow Hair Minimising Moisturiser</a>* to see if some of my hair can be kept a little bit at bay. According to the blurb the formula is supposed to slow down hair growth and re-growth by 'maintaining the hair cells in their growth stage, with inhibiting effect.' Hmm honestly I don't know if this works really at all, it's pretty hard to test. I still think my hair grows pretty fast but I'm persevering and I like the idea that it might be helping my wax results last a little longer. Who knows. I have to say I don't find this particularly moisturising either, however it smells incredible and feels lovely when you apply it. The tubes are recyclable also so that's a packaging plus. I'll keep using this in hopes it's doing something that I can't see. Being made with natural ingredients I reason it can't hurt to keep trying.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-36642359991798403572017-07-22T11:13:00.001+01:002017-07-22T11:13:51.296+01:00The Highlight of my Makeup stash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7QClsp1xbgCG3q5QQq_G5Fm3-alQajGOE5BhEqaMDKGOcwa7RWV6LUsejikurE6FHC5gyBNI8LT3LVc-dTL3ND4Kd4Ab2QLnXSFmI9vEdlLeab_UdyYh1qklT-3YKqKe1NOOgNjhoYk/s1600/IMG_1308.jpg" /></div>
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Highlighter is another one of the trends everyone in the beauty world is obsessed over lately. For me it's another trend I'm happy is sticking around. I have loved highlighter since my uni days (we're talking a good 7-8 years ago folks!) when I first discovered it. I cringe at the thought of this now but I had a highlighter palette from Primark back in the day when they were first dabbling in makeup. It was a bright pink square palette with 5 stripes of varying white to pink and bronze highlight shades. The pigment was strong and being a 19 year old I whacked it on and was a bright pink glowing bauble. I LOVED it (and actually a lot of other people did too!) and now I just look at photos and laugh!</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_lP7yaOhginU180doKoKEkUogVpa9A-7MyaKqtNfknXEwcvIgoYgj3CZP803USibmFXPGyORx2PYXYat1Jh8zhC07HNYxocQgCV-7x4F8WT-pfu_-9uedbupsI5Mgrn0nDCJzedaar8/s1600/glow.png" /></div>
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Thankfully since then formulas have improved and so has my tastes and choices in brands. I've been slowly collecting highlighters, illuminators and glow like there is no tomorrow. Among my stash there's one serious standout ~ the Bellapierre Glowing Palette!</div>
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The Glowing Palette comes in a stunning gold tray with a magnetic base so you can swap about the individual pans of glow. There are six shades: Moonshine (mauve undertones baby pink), Stellar (peachy toned bright pink), Glimmer (taupe pale bronze), Beam (gold toned champagne), Amorous (dusky pink with hints of brown) & last but not least Gilt (warm copper).</div>
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All the shades are stunning and I use all of them daily but Glimmer and Beam tend to get the most use. I use them on my high points like normal but I also love them on the eyes and over lipsticks to add a hint of shimmer to my hippie colour. They are so versatile. The range of shades available also means that there is something for every skin tone from the fairest/palest to the darkest. Warm and cool tones all accounted for.</div>
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The pigment of these is subtle but very buildable. On the skin all the glows are pretty true to their colour in the pan and apply like a dream. These work great with a variety of brushes and for super glow a beauty sponge makes them really pop. It's worth saying that these are not the most blinding glows, they are a bit more day to day subtle than 'full glam' but they all catch the light amazingly and look flawless with the rest of your makeup. The least glowy of the bunch is probably Amorous with Moonshine and Beam compete for the glowy top spot.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkGbjnJglyTiN_wDxHoiA3nQwPxH0rN8Fx4eBPN0XPmvTfClMfUBxxkeY3B9vEQRWaICsDLl8VC13soG0altGmI3QoeGw2eYle_-xOzBozg88gyLu_gwHzR9LsZORUWBoKwfUe5C0Plk/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" /></div>
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Glow shades Top to Bottoms: Moonshine, Stellar & Glimmer </div>
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(NB I did two coats for each swatch to show colours effectively)</div>
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Glow shades Top to Bottoms: Beam, Amorous & Gilt </div>
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(NB I did two coats for each swatch to show colours effectively)</div>
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Notes worth mentioning: This palette does contain some Dimethicone and also Carmine. So if you're vegan or not fond of Dimethicone then this one is a skip for you.</div>
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I got my palettes (yes I bought two because I liked it so much!) from TK Maxx but seeing as TK Maxx is so touch and go with what's in stock in each store you can also get this palette on LoveLula for £40 and potentially other websites too. If I lost my palette(s) would I pay the full £40 price tag? Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. For six amazing shades that can be used as highlighter, eyeshadow, lip toppers etc at £40, that works out at just under £7 a highlighter, not a bad price when you break it down like that.</div>
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Now are you ready to GLOW?! I am!</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-11821246041016215592017-07-01T14:25:00.000+01:002017-07-01T14:25:04.823+01:00FOUR FAVOURITES // LIQUID EYELINER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyznF8VlL-Nf1I5QOkGwIm0rKHzu1z65mBMELWETOSa8hRqhUrfIIdKyd2xEsbX4gpzPZztmp35ln7VUaqPFO80DmQG3LObbQhemnRgLdBaJXha4rGaJH-WtZteAM1VlH56Slplpur5So/s1600/IMG_1342.jpg" /></div>
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Eyeliner has been my constant makeup companion since first dabbling in the world of makeup. From my early years watching my mum apply it in pencil form and copying everything from the technique to the brand and product she used, to becoming a teenager and experimenting with bold colours on my upper lash line that I found in her old makeup stash and copying from looks in Sugar magazine. I've always loved eyeliner.</div>
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Probably the biggest and most significant makeup revolution for me through everything was discovering liquid eyeliner.</div>
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I can still remember buying my first one and wondering if I would ever get the hang of using it. Little would I know that a few years down the line it would be my 'trademark' amongst friends and a day wouldn't go by without wearing it. Brands and products changed, the line varying between huge and bold to small and flicked and everything in between, and through it all I became addicted. Addicted to the point where I couldn't go out without it on (I've since worked on this and can now enjoy a liner free day) so imagine when I transitioned to green/natural makeup and found the liquid eyeliner market woefully lacking. The horrors. Thankfully in the 7 or so years since then, the industry has come a long way. I'm still on the hunt for my perfect liner but here a my current top four favourites:</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmDrRVJz0wERRqRbKUw6pw0Y1eYcBmdbzmi0NjvySLReS8bQV-5VRwXb5T8PJ5d55LVMitnGRBbsoWlrUY-x6aKU4QmAuycOzabyIWR2dUb6fiBeLgCnhK3TupJiFkn_-BTJFNMAHsoM/s1600/IMG_2079.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.contentbeautywellbeing.com/products/jane-iredale-liquid-eye-liner?variant=25894349191"><b>JANE IREDALE LIQUID EYELINER</b></a></div>
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<b>Colour:</b> Black. This dries down to a true cool toned black.</div>
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<b>Consistency:</b> Creamy but to too thick or watery</div>
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<b>Opacity/Pigment: </b>10/10 - no patches or streaks & doesn't need a second coat.</div>
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<b>Finish: </b>This dries down to a matte finish with no shimmer or shine.</div>
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<b>Dry Time: </b>10/10 - super quick</div>
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<b>Longevity/Durability:</b> 9/10 - long-lasting with a little wear /smudging on wing tips by the end of the day. </div>
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<b>Application/Brush: </b>Medium width, flexible but sturdy brush. Easy to create thin and thick lines. Comfortable to hold and has a very short brush stem which is great for control.</div>
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<b>Removal: </b>Easy to remove with more oil based cleansers</div>
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<b>Additional Notes:</b> Doesn't have a bad scent.</div>
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Price: £19.95</div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/phb-100-pure-liquid-eyeliner-black-4-5ml"><b>PHB NATURAL EYELINER*</b></a></div>
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<b>Colour: </b>Black, but dries down to a charcoal grey. I would prefer it to be darker.</div>
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<b>Consistency:</b> Very fluid, not too wet but thinner than a gel</div>
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<b>Opacity/Pigment: </b>7/10 this is slightly sheer and does require two coats for truly defined line.</div>
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<b>Finish: </b>Very shimmery up close which sort of makes it look slightly wet from a distance. Pretty.</div>
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<b>Dry Time: </b>8/10 a slightly watery formula and take a little longer to dry, have to be careful about blinking or getting it on lashes.</div>
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<b>Longevity/Durability: </b>7.5/10 -on the lids it lasts well but on wings it crumbles and can be brushed away like powder after a few hours.</div>
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<b>Application/Brush: </b>Great brush much like the JI one, good length, sturdy but flexible. Easy to use and adapt to desired line width. the stem is long but just shy of being too long. Gentle on the eyes.</div>
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<b>Removal: </b>This comes off with anything, even just water.</div>
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<b>Additional Notes: </b>Love the design of the lid as it gives you perfect shape for a steady grip when applying. </div>
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Price: £12.95</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.dr.hauschka.com/en_GB/products/liquid-eyeliner/">DR. HAUSCHKA EYELINER</a> </b><br />
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<b>Colour: </b>Black - a true black.</div>
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<b>Consistency</b>: Thick, almost like a gel, can clump</div>
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<b>Opacity/Pigment: </b>10/10 only needs one coat but two coats is amazing for extra dramatic looks</div>
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<b>Finish: </b>Matte but with an ever-so slightly waxy look.</div>
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<b>Dry Time: </b>9/10 - this dries fast initially but has room for deliberate smudging if you want to work with the product.</div>
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<b>Longevity/Durability: </b>10/10 this sticks around all day, it can cope with tears, rain and sweat. Wing tips say pretty strong unless you really rub your eyes.</div>
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<b>Application/Brush: </b>For me, the worst brush. It's whisker thin, too flexible and requires a lot of pressure to get a medium line. The brush stem is much too long so you lose a little control on creating detail. Great for think thin details. Requires more time to build up line width.</div>
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<b>Removal: </b>Stick to an oil cleanser or balm to really work on this one.</div>
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<b>Additional Notes:</b> The bottle funnels like a mascara bottle does, helping to reduce product overload which is a great design feature as this can clump if you use too much product.</div>
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Price: £19</div>
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<i>NB:Along with the rest of the Dr. Hauschka makeup range this product has had a packaging overhaul. I'm not sure if the formula is the same but the brush looks the same.</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.gloworganicbrighton.co.uk/"><b>ZAO EYE LINER</b></a></div>
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<b>Colour: </b>The perfect black- really deep rich black.</div>
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<b>Consistency: </b>Super watery and fluid - yet it doesn't run when applying do need to be careful of getting it on lashes as if you blink it's everywhere. Only one coat needed.</div>
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<b>Opacity/Pigment: </b>10/10 -despite the wateriness the pigment is perfect and the opacity is the best of all mentioned.</div>
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<b>Finish: </b>Quite a thick, satin to almost gloss finish.</div>
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<b>Dry Time: </b>5/10 this take forever to dry and I would give it a lower score BUT the final results are so worth the wait!</div>
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<b>Longevity/Durability: </b>10/10 the best of the bunch. no crumbling, shifting, smearing or flaking.</div>
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<b>Application/Brush: </b>Very similar to JI and PHB. Easier to create thicker lines than thin, but a steady hand and less product get around that. Good brush stem length for control and movability.</div>
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<b>Removal:</b> Easy despite the durability of it, this washes away easily with oil and non oils cleansers/removers.</div>
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<b>Additional Notes: </b>Has a slightly odd scent and the large lid makes it a little clunky to use.</div>
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Price: £16.95</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-56265610089419361022017-06-19T07:00:00.000+01:002017-06-19T07:00:22.249+01:00SUPERMOOD // BEAUTY SLEEP OIL RITUAL FACE WASH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZ7AOTi89FNAGiXClFWE9r3RY5VEVTFwKJgMryt_POsMtRlCmHp9_6ESqaCohj93T6jGXySSKv-oqWvjYM45cmcWeATTa7BglwMKODVHLE7JMsOFKC89ojNuPe-93SfdnyAbYIOvTJrM/s1600/IMG_2040.jpg" /></div>
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It's not often I blog about skincare, I like to keep my 'routine' (if you can even call it that) as minimal as possible. In the past I've tried to follow the 'blogger skincare routines' and used a whole bunch of products, cleansing, double cleansing, exfoliating, toner, serum, moisturiser, eye cream and so on and so forth. It does not work for me at all. </div>
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I'm also pretty picky when it comes to what I use and tend to stick to the same 'holy-grail' tried and tested products, but every now and then a product comes along that peaks my interest.</div>
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The brand <a href="https://www.gloworganicbrighton.co.uk/collections/supermood">Supermood</a> certainly caught my eye when Mel from GlowOrganic first introduced me to them. </div>
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7LPpBC9vpz7iukGhPfpdYXOkN44rte4d-cQyLY85Yw5J3Zm7kcU28qJaqJRTLpEy8YpGkH6SujrFyY8TSwDUJIN0A-Hz84rxIfdA6Xm67DD-cKekPGZE_HFRXX3cqP_KD9g91bj-4Tg/s1600/IMG_2041.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.naturallydiddy.com/p/specs-key.html"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJ-2x6GWwNWD8-wj1_w0tJuRlywZfLPDE2h7E8yIbgTBNmOzOl55lXOzV5F0NPCJ8v9slXRwjvq42PGum7S7CcCVcxx-PZggho2Y8_oD3o3oaRDkGCVGAz0QRnvg9yZxS8OTo_TcOsq4/s1600/SUPERMOOD.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.gloworganicbrighton.co.uk/collections/supermood">Supermood</a> is a new holistic beauty brand from Finland. They formulate products that are not only great for the skin but also your general wellbeing also. The products are designed and aim to work around your mood alongside the traditional concepts of skin type and age. </div>
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I was lucky enough to test out their <a href="https://www.gloworganicbrighton.co.uk/collections/supermood/products/supermood-beauty-sleep-oil-ritual-face-wash-100ml">Oil Ritual Face Wash*</a> from the Beauty Sleep range. The idea of the beauty Sleep range is based around wanting to look youthful and well rested. </div>
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This Oil Ritual Face Wash is designed as a powerful but gentle cleanser. It's formulated with a blend of different oils including Sunflower oil, Pomegranate Oil, Coconut Oil and Castor Oil along with other ingredients.</div>
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With the high concentration of oils, this wash works to break down even the most resistant makeup, this can remove liquid lipsticks in a flash without the need for scrubbing!</div>
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This oil cleanser is extremely easy and quick to use, a massive plus in my book. With the varying blend of oils, this formula settles into two layers, the heavier oils and the lighter ones, so it is essential that it is missed thoroughly before using. This was a mistake I learnt quickly as the second time I used it i forgot to mix it and while it still worked it was nearly as effective as it is when mixed. It's also important to get the oils blended as they have different purposes, for example the Castor oil is more of a strong cleanser oil, while the Sunflower oil is a more hydrating oil to stop the skin from being stripped of all it's moisture and nutrients. </div>
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As I said this oil cleanser is amazingly powerful, easy and super quick to use. I simply splash my face with water, shake the mixture, pop a small amount in the palm of my hands and then massage into my face. I wipe the makeup residue away with a damp warm muslin cloth, massage any remaining oil in followed by another rinse with the muslin. Then I'm done. </div>
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My makeup is gone in seconds, my skin feels very clean, without feeling tight or stripped. Nor does it feel even remotely oily, just supple and soft. I've used this cleanser near on every single evening since early April and never once has it broken me out, not matter what time of month it is. The scent is pretty great too.</div>
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Now you know I love packaging and I have to admit I have a love hate relationship with the packaging of this Oils Ritual Face Wash. </div>
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One one hand the outer packaging is gorgeous! Stunningly designed on the inside and outside, it's pretty and bright and so detailed (I'm sorry I don't have a photo- the box has gone walk about, you'll have to just trust me on this - or look on the website) and I think it shows a great deal of care in the products. However, I hate to say I'm disappointed with the bottle the oil actually comes in. Great effort has been made to make it look lovely- and it certainly does with lovely pink writing and a chic silver collar. Yet it doesn't function well at all. This may just be my bottle but boy does it leak. At first I thought oil must have been trapped in the lid after I used it so I cleaned it out, but then I found that whenever I tipped the bottle it leaks from under the bottom of the lid no matter how tight I keep it. You can't lay this flat or take it travelling with you which is a big shame. Also the collar of my bottle has come off as the oil that has leaked has broken down all the glue that was holding it onto the main bottle lid. Such a shame, but I'm sure these things can be easily fixed. </div>
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While I do think this is an excellent oil and I understand that some of the ingredients are organic (although not certified due to some ingredients used that can't be certified) I do think this is very expensive at £54 for 100ml. It has lasted me a long time as you don't need a lot to remove a full face of makeup and I though I would definitely use this permanently as my sole and only cleanser, it is still hard to imagine parting with that much money just to wash my face. I might have to though as I really do love using it and feel quite attached to it as it really suits my skin.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-58207887878577170452017-06-12T22:49:00.003+01:002017-06-12T22:49:42.889+01:00Trying a Trend // Liquid Lipsticks ~ Bellápierre Kiss Proof Lip Crème<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">There are two things that feature strongly on my blog and those are; lipsticks and the brand Bell</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">á</span><span style="text-align: justify;">pierre.</span><br />
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I have been a big Bell<span style="text-align: start;">á</span>pierre fan for years and always thought it is such an underrated brand. A good 50% of my makeup collection is Bell<span style="text-align: start;">á</span>pierre and the day I found out that the beautiful Ailish (the Glow Getter) was also a fan was a happy day indeed, finally someone who understood my love for them!</div>
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A happier day came a couple of weeks ago when I saw that LoveLula had finally brought Bell<span style="text-align: start;">á</span>pierre products to their site, and not just that, but the range featured the new Kiss Poof Lip Cr<span style="font-family: inherit;">è</span>mes that I have been coveting & stalking on Instagram for months! I'd been saving to purchase some and then as if by magic they were suddenly available on LL. Awesome.</div>
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Liquid lipsticks are THE hottest trend that has hit the beauty market in a long time, just about everyone and their mum has some. There's not a brand out there that doesn't have their own range. Unfortunately the green world is always a little behind, but lately a few brands have been coming through on this trend and bringing out cleaner alternatives. Bell<span style="text-align: start;">á</span>pierre's answer to liquid lipsticks are these Kiss Proof Lip Crèmes. Currently there are <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/t/brands/bellapierre">four shades of Bellápierre Kiss Proof Lip Crème* on LoveLula</a> and I scooped up my three favourites. </div>
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Get ready for liquid lipstick swatch central- this is a photo heavy post!:</div>
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Bell<span style="text-align: start;">á</span>pierre Kiss Proof Lip Crème Shades - Top to bottom: <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-coral-stone-3-8g">Coral Stone</a>, <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-antique-pink-3-8g">Antique Pink</a>, <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-hibiscious-3-8g">Hibiscus</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-antique-pink-3-8g">Antique Pink</a> <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-coral-stone-3-8g">Coral Stone</a> <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-hibiscious-3-8g">Hibiscus</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-hibiscious-3-8g"><img border="0" data-original-height="93" data-original-width="328" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFdyo7qSZtOBpr_zWQbZumDJxwqjCYyof3M9NvuhrnkOVPbFYvap82m9JUhNJZ1GpKdDtQdfXTkurMJLk1KvKxGmGqzyTpcnmd061L-hHM8uiImls7kCVK-FqwmzT1JapYPZwtlAqNbE/s200/hibiscus.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-hibiscious-3-8g">Hibiscus</a>, for me, is the MOST PERFECT red that I could ever get. Red is hard for me to wear due to my skin tone, but this one is very flattering. In the tube Hibiscus has a more magenta red tone to it, on the lips it comes out a little darker and more of a pillar box red with blue undertones. Not only does this suit my skin tone (in my humble opinion) but it also makes my teeth look whiter. Bonus!</div>
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Of the three shades that I currently have, this shade applies the best. Colour payoff is perfect, and it is opaque on first swipe, very little filling in is needed. The formula is soft and creamy and glides on. Dry time is very fast with very little sticky residue, except for in the very inner corners of my lips. This shade dries down to a super matte finish and is just perfect. Despite being so matte I don't find this shade drying of the lips at all and it doesn't enhance dry or chapped patches too much. Longevity is as you would expect, phenomenal. It survives drinking and eating and lasts for hours. This only starts to wear off after a few hours and mainly on the bottom lip. Taking it off can be tricky but an oil cleanser gets this off easily and wonderfully it doesn't stain. In a pinch a lip balm also works well as a remover. 10/10 - this ticks ALL boxes. I have had so many compliments on both the lipstick and how it looks on when ever I wear this. </div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-coral-stone-3-8g"><img border="0" data-original-height="105" data-original-width="440" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEiy4YMtuiQalpOFXoatRPIiuZ580jft4TavPuCNrsAgk1Wj_ABEeGNZBYs4nUftpb-GCRAHjs-4PcG8b_b6UbCnJUBqketkRogIProH5bWKFl_aqnZjKhF1Cpputl16c9SMXBsg9eUs/s320/coral+stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-coral-stone-3-8g">Coral Stone</a> is probably my least favourite of the three Kiss Proof Lip Crèmes that I have. The colour is a beautiful dusky peach. With my skin tone I personally don't think it is the most flattering shade, but I'm still happy to wear it and feel confident.</div>
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For application this one was the trickiest, as the colour is less bold it is harder to get a more definite edge or outline round the lips and i feel you loose a little definition around the cupids bow. This finish of Coral Stone is still very matte, bit it can develop a slight silky look at high points of the lips which also stop the outline looking quite as crisp as I like. Again the colour is truly opaque, but this one requires a few swipes to get perfect, sometimes if you have to do several coast the lipstick can tend to shift under the swipe, nothing major just requires a bit more attention. Like Hibiscus this shade last for ages on the lips, it does wear away a little fast on the more inner rim of the bottom lip, but still lasts for hours and survives eating and drinking. This doesn't dry out my lips or feel tight on them at all, but it can enhance dry patches a little bit so a good lip scrub before using this one is advised. 8/10 it is beautiful but not as perfect as Hibiscus.</div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-antique-pink-3-8g"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="524" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIypXggxtYxHUmHFu7TC1pz_K-2f_1x_hGTrj4Rf0x6Ne9DqRd2q6BN6BOzZtiJGOm_6YD_MiSliLLrsltZp_VnBs2FkdsCHrS2PA-h6F64BVbKVEOT9GNaGSoc3XnS43DQ26AzU3RVU/s320/antique+pink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/bellapierre-kiss-proof-lip-creme-shade-antique-pink-3-8g">Antique Pink</a> is the third in my Kiss Proof Lip Crème collection. This is my second favourite our of the three. The colour is a very unique mauve toned dusky dark pink. the colour seems to sit well with my skin tone without washing me out. Ideal for making the teeth looking whiter and adding a bold pop to your look without looking too vibrant. The formula of this one is much closer to Hibiscus, creamy and opaque with very little touching up needed. This one doesn't shift when applying like Coral Stone does. The finish of this one is again super matte and doesn't have the silky finish that Coral Stone gets either. With this shade I find that it can get a little sticky in the inner corners if you over apply it, so go easy on those areas. I haven't experienced any particular dryness of my lips from wearing this and it is much more forgiving on any chapped or dry areas than Coral Stone is. It goes without saying that this lasts as along as the others and can be removed with an oil cleanser just as easily without any staining. Oh and I should also mention that this like the other has a very subtle fruity scent, but zero taste on the lips. 9/10 a very pretty shade that works for everyday looks.</div>
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As a product I think these Kiss Proof Lip Crèmes are incredible. They are exactly what you would want. Great colours, opaque, fully matte and ridiculously hardy and long lasting. They're easy to apply and don't require too much practice. A steady hand is useful and the more you do it the better you get at outlining - as you can see mine are far from perfect but as I get more confident it improves with each time I wear them. You might get quite aware of the shape of your lips, I've noticed how lopsided mine are since wearing these, but that just means I have more fun playing with making the shape more even. In true Bellápierre form they perform exactly as they are markets too and the packaging is beautiful too (I'm a sucker for good packaging). I would love to have some lipliners in these shades to accompany these liquid lipsticks. I tried a few of my own and they worked well, but there would be nothing better than a perfect match lipliner to make a real combo.</div>
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The Bellápierre Kiss Proof Lip Crèmes are available on LoveLula and retail at £20 each which isn't too bad for a liquid lipstick. These are cruelty free but they are NOT vegan. </div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-41498028060709486432017-05-23T21:24:00.001+01:002017-05-31T19:14:52.715+01:00Trend Testing // Purple Lipstick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhFiptrKwijYdJ27yGslTO7Ing90JCagS4156KMIZpPxobyehl4OuOFTlC92pLOHpiyGtC9V5NMf19fPOFH0U_upkUdA3v6Fiac6vzHORY5ieL-sg2LuvaEAbJj10qh4sr7nJe0v84FU/s1600/IMG_0656.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqaTQGTXttF4WrAt2q7tPotokXQZqYHsaRwIRv1nONmBSaxB7SyF_LYJ9vv4pukjhDWvvRIs0Qoq0oaFMRXC8W6c7ldZC5ze7sfhm3Zs3FPCleSqR3vEzc8Vetl_Xdl1FKjEQJoHl9uU/s1600/IMG_0663+copy.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturallydiddy.com/p/specs-key.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VVmMRfzJV6ekOEhtcEfEVmDM-mSSabZGvirKL6sSAMFocC4ZJ1gK8dqORcDjlD3GK3cBMKhfDUYRMVOF_mTA-qWNtFEF9mZTxa_uLO9FeT_t_wF_RZlIdXXLOSNwqV7oWKlWPV2NS0s/s1600/abaca-bam.png" /></a></div>
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You know by now I'm not immune to a trend or two, combine this with a lipstick obsession and you get quite the adventurous mix. I've been on the hunt for the perfect natural purple lipstick and boy oh boy has it been a long road. </div>
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I've been searching, testing and trialling a few different lippies and one lipstick that has stood out is this beautiful shade called <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/lippy-girl-vegocentric-vegan-lipstick-abraca-bam-5g#">Abraca-Bam by Lippy Girl</a>*. Now I'll say right off, this isn't my perfect purple- but it is insanely beautiful nonetheless!</div>
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The purple I'm aiming for is a very cool blue toned purple and it's tricky to find. Most natural purple lipsticks tend to be more of the pink or red undertone shades. Abraca-Bam is the closest I have got to my dream colour.</div>
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In the pot it looks spot on, exactly what I want, however I guess due to my skin tone and lip pigment it comes out a little more pink toned. When I look at it on me in real life it looks just like the shade in the tube, but snap a photo of it and it looks more pinky purple. Yet a photo of it in the tube shows the true colour- frustrating! And trust me, I've played around with a thousand lighting options. Despite this there is no denying that the final colour is pretty sensational! It definitely does have the 'bam!' factor that the name implies. Just take a look!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VmRv-qfXZOIy0FqE0UW1vjcNSUSUfv_nceE_7jobUPnjnIqIpPL-lnR4H1Ggr8O2j2jgC-Wfkz0cP6tDloLWJ9_VUtCGBZ43582DeYMT4IwiMSCBgZMvTUdjuiEcwbeb7hVdnrAydoY/s1600/IMG_1149.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKpGOWIMqMQL7MFK3p_KlkpYvOe6cfpeHZBvNzlKDXJluveSWGDCYUTixDHP060-sLeUr14ajF8DUrk0rBTVDsuL2HQAW5UNbfdxnK0Ca01AAYU2wpYhKhIOPeKZo2oOdZ4nd03EJVhw/s1600/IMG_1150.jpg" /></div>
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Pretty lush right? It's not just the colour that is gorgeous, the formula itself is great too. This lipstick has a very creamy smooth texture, it's not matte at all but it's not too glossy either - just the right balance between the two. The creaminess is down to the blend of oils in the formula such as Jojoba oil and Castor Oil as well as Shea Butter which all combine to make it lovely and moisturising.</div>
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The coverage and colour payoff are both good. In real life the effect is a little more full coverage but in the photos it show up a little more sheer, but the effect is still very powerful, especially as you can build up the colour a bit. This lipstick works really well when used with a power and a second layer. As for longevity, the lipstick stays put for a decent amount of time, it does transfer to cups etc but that is to be expected and much the norm for all lipsticks- natural or not. Thankfully this lipstick doesn't tend to smudge too much and I haven't experienced too much lipstick on my teeth when wearing this which is a huge bonus. </div>
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Taste and scent- barely a hint of either which is absolutely fine by me!</div>
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This is a 100% vegan lipstick so its suitable for everyone's ethics! Price wise it's in the mid price range, not a affordable as some brands but not as eye-wateringly expensive as others. With the colour and the formula I think it is well worth the price.</div>
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This isn't quite the perfect shade of my dreams, but it comes close! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWwJAsWRHVUy0dFHxtrUAiksOemElsl55WMJybTvzJOHaFHdiEHLAqYvqtmpZYFEge0kyN8ilyAu1eW_qXu-zH04lR_gbOafiCE-jNKbF7zOr9W3e4h9v-8rZD6WOjwEaMFGV_t1AZNc/s1600/IMG_1202.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiom_gPNciNHUPcsnG4krSksYLz4Lr_LJcZAVBxVslM8YtJLvFEhqZ_AwTBY0O487977UezLqOZj_C0pacK9wP1Cs_w4w8MI_bVttIqkm4N3-BsiWeYRx7E-hxAtN5QAcT-rwEv9tyOU/s1600/IMG_1152.jpg" /></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-33060535849625243262017-05-01T13:12:00.001+01:002017-05-01T13:12:23.512+01:00MakeUp// Mermaid Vibes, Mermaid Eyes<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUEvdERF-RuAc-rxDlgk9yTeQj3sNn2fJP8aryu7mOlecG3KHTfMKCtQTuxGAMZCQZMHTzaqKIy-iRBttidRN1pZjNlJq21TqBmfE4dsyz664Cw2tXQfbDgPP6teA63uzxKRe9n9JEUc/s1600/IMG_1092.jpg" /></div>
The Look:<br />
Everyone seems to be obsessed with mermaids and unicorns lately. While I'm not as hooked on the trend as others, I do love the colour palettes associated with the trend. The pastel greens, pinks and purples and heaps of iridescence, metallic shine and pearlescent finishes.</div>
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I want to keep pushing myself to try new looks so I grabbed a few pretty colours and experimented with a eye look inspired with mermaidesque vibes. I'm also keen to start using up some products that I barely touch so I'm a little less wasteful. I was just playing around with this look and it's the quickest one I've created so far, but despite it's rough edges I still think it's quite pretty. The eyes you could certainly tone down a little for the day time, but the lips a pretty wild and more suited to a festival type of scene!<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNuqQBoBmFScu4qU8XfXjWFQg_AuwICZ4nvB0ikqNst7mAYA0HBvdxW0Cf1j4NXvJgPFvRcbIE0b3wFEu6MOPNSOQFf7A0SZ0ysdThXSHleZAxnI8h0MBd-9ZfY1m1ZbCygHTXdo6Mkc/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQbkXuA_4WwUfe4_KVPNeareFc2AM9oEsUQsrTvzngQCkle__wrUgYAq7BUi9p3JePmtaXF0G8SP6WYr6mwtcFfoi6PnK84dbSPsnTUoRqHdWcsnagRsxna8isNo8RZZSdPkUW1e9sQM/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" /></div>
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The Products:</div>
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<b><u><a href="https://www.naturisimo.com/products.cfm?id=5672&nme=pac">Pacifica Solar Palette</a></u></b> // I've had this palette for a long time now and as you can see some of it is very well used and much loved and other parts are less so. I've always loved the look of the turquoise eyeshadow but never in a million years considered using it for a makeup look. These shadows are very pigmented but you can keep them subtle with lots of blending. To ease myself into the vibrant turquoise shade which is appropriately named -Mermaid Aqua - I applied with a dry brush and blended well for a more sheer smokey colour. From this palette I also chose the shade - Glow - which is a pink champagne white, perfect for a bit of inner corner highlight. This shade has a pink tone to it which helps add extra depth and a smooth transition into the lilac.</div>
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<b><u><a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/phb-ethical-beauty-pressed-amethyst-mineral-eyeshadow-3g">PHB Eyeshadow in Amethyst*</a></u></b> // This eyeshadow has proved to be an absolute favourite due to it's fantastic formula, strong pigment and versatility. When I previously used this in a makeup look I blended it with a more aubergine, red undertoned purple to create a darker more moody purple, but for this look I wanted the blue undertones of this shadow to shine through and compliment the hints of blue in the Pacifica Mermaid Aqua shadow. I love this colour combo.</div>
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And yes, I did pop this on my lips too. I wanted a mermaidesque iridescent colour that matched perfectly and what better way than to use the exact same colour that I used on my eyes. I've been experimenting with making different blends to create a perfect lip colour but for this I simply used my least glossy balm and mixed in the shadow into a paste and applied with a lipliner brush. It's not perfect but I liked the bold effect and the metallic, pearly sheen it created.</div>
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<a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/pacifica-smolder-eyeliner"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Pacifica Smolder Eye Lining Gel in Midnight*</u> </a>// Not wanting to waste products I've been trying to find a use for this eyeliner. As a gel liner, it does not work for me in any way at all. Personally I just think it doesn't provide anything that I would expect it too. The formula is too creamy for a liner, I wouldn't class it as a gel at all. Also this is a lot more navy toned than I was expecting and i find the colour doesn't suit my skin tone on its own. However as much as a disaster it is as a liner for me, I have found it to be an awesome eyeshadow base or cream shadow. The creamy sheer consistency and colour payoff makes it really easy to blend and add subtle colour. I used this on the very outer wing of my eye to blend the lilac and turquoise into a smokier more blue transition. The addition of this isn't overly obvious but it ties the look together nicely, without it this eye look looks quite different.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-54653410251915760072017-04-16T18:59:00.000+01:002017-04-16T19:46:11.790+01:00Self-Care Sunday // Meditation ~ Mindspo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have anxiety. Easy enough for me to type/ say that now but all my life it's been something that I've had to battle with right from a very small child. I didn't 'know about anxiety' or realise I had it until my early twenties. Up until then I thought I was just... I dunno I just thought I was not good at life like everyone else was. I have also always had OCD tendencies and nervous habits/ticks. In my mid-teens I went on the pill as we thought it was my hormones, and it 'seemed' to help. But by the time I was in 6th form college (about 17yrs) it was full blown and I was hiding it from everyone which made it worse. Despite several meltdowns at school I still never 'understood' what was wrong. I knew it wasn't right as no-one else seemed to be that way but I just thought I was weird and a big scaredy cat! In fact I'm pretty sure all my family thought I was just a very nervous and odd child. I was an odd child. It's a family joke, my brother always say he doesn't know how I've turned out so well given how odd I was.</div>
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I think despite still struggling with anxiety regularly, I have turned out well, because I've been working at it so so hard, everyday. </div>
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Every. Single. Day. </div>
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Week after week, month after month, year after year. I could write a thousand blog posts on how I've been working on controlling, tackling, managing, coping with, preventing and healing (etc etc) my anxiety, OCD, nervous habits and everything that comes with it. But today I want to focus on the newest aspect of my life that has helped me make the biggest and best leap in my life. The one that has been the quickest, easiest and most comfortable method for me - Meditation. </div>
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In particular a programme called <a href="https://mindspo.com/">MINDSPO</a>.</div>
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I've dabbled in plenty of meditation in the past, but I never felt comfortable with it. Didn't think I 'could do it', didn't 'get it'. Now I know I just hadn't found the right programme for me. I came across <a href="https://mindspo.com/">MINDSPO</a> after following the gorgeous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/afoxthatmeows">YouTuber Rochelle Fox</a>. As someone who struggles with anxiety etc, her channel is all about positivity and health, and being real, open and honest which I love. Not long after she started videos regularly she started talking about meditation. Talking about it in a way I connected with. No cliches, just a very modern, easy approach. First came a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vmg2VPKXFc&list=PLY626cVmjJppKvOm_BHiD85liUvTy30ko&index=4">5 minute video </a>which I watched and practiced over and over again and realised the potential of meditation for me. And then Rochelle along with her partner Chris, launched <a href="https://mindspo.com/meditation/">MINDSPO as a full course</a> and I signed up the day it launched. </div>
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MINDSPO is a very modern and cool and fun and accepting course that runs over a month. You get heaps of information videos and 4 weeks of meditation guides that start you from the very beginning to progress from 5 mins to 10 mins, 15 and eventually the optimum 20 minute meditation session. Rochelle narrates and guides you through every video, from the info videos to the actual meditation sessions. Once you've bought the course, you have it for life and can even download the audio files onto your phone etc so you can meditate anywhere anytime, which I've done and found invaluable.</div>
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At first meditation can be hard to get to grips with, you're always thinking 'am i doing this right?' but that's the beauty of MINDSPO, Rochelle talks openly about that and so many other things that you might be struggling with. There is no 'perfection', no 'right or wrong', it's an open and accepting course that lets you just do it without any worry and soon enough you find you're meditating for 20 mins and it feels like the most refreshing moment of your life.</div>
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Meditating 'with' Rochelle/MINDSPO has helped me in so many many ways. My anxiety is dramatically less frequent and less intense when it does occur. My mind is always so much clearer and more centred. It doesn't seem to buzz and hum and whiz about so much in a bundle of stress. When I have a stressful situation I find I can more easily step back from the situation or simply be calmer and more rational during it than before. Previously my mind would freak, I would sweat, tears would come to my eyes and I'd breath too heavily and occasionally have full blown panic attacks. FYI I haven't had one single panic attack since meditating daily. Honest truth. </div>
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My OCD is well under control, I can identify it so easily now. I used to have lulls and be fine then get stressed (whether I knew I was stressed or not) and it would trigger my habits to full scale. Now I can identify those feelings, that need for control and accept it but also accept that it isn't necessary. I'm not saying I'm 'perfect' or 'cured' but I'm in control and I'm ok with it. </div>
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That's a huge change that meditation has brought to me - acceptance. Part of my internal stress with anxiety etc came from myself. Hating myself because I didn't think I was 'normal', thought I was stupid, pathetic, weak, weird. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I would mentally beat myself up over and over and over. That obviously would make my situation worse, but the worse I was the worse I beat myself up. A vicious circle. Meditation made me realise that I am none of those things. Made me realise that in actual fact, the very fact that I have got through so much in my life despite my anxiety, despite not knowing what the hell was going on in my mind and why it was, I still got through it, sometimes I blooming exceeded despite everything. Meditation has taught me to be kind to myself, accepting of myself and more open and honest with others. This in itself has taken away a huge chunk of stress. Meditation has taught me control, and the fact that I can have control, without being over the top about it. At the same time it's taught me that I don't always have to have that control over some things, I will be just fine letting things flow.<br />
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With meditation I sleep better, enjoy moment sin life more, don't over analyse situations before and after they happen. I laugh more and pretend to be 'ok' less. i'm more open and free to saying 'yes' to things. I'm also so much braver about things like being personal on this blog. I could go on and on about the positive effects but I think you get the picture...the benefits are HUGE & ENDLESS!</div>
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MINDSPO and meditation has taught me so much already and I know I still have A LONG WAY TO GO but the change in me is pretty profound and I know that I always have MINDSPO as my guide. I know it sounds strange to credit so much to a course that on the surface doesn't seem to 'have much to it' other than sitting and 'not thinking' but honestly it is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. A million trillion times more than that. It both gives you so much and helps you take away so much. The only way to understand is to try it yourself, commit, be open minded and try.<br />
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I've written the post purely motivated by my experience and have no affiliation with Rochelle or MINDSPO at all, other than the fact that I LOVE the course. I paid for the course myself with my own money and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't managed to find a meditation course that they have clicked with yet. The latest MINDSPO course is now open to sign up to and I believe there is even a cheeky discount available, so take advantage. MINSPO is not expensive at all but every penny helps.<br />
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Check out MINDSPO: website- <a href="https://mindspo.com/">https://mindspo.com</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mindspo/">Instagram</a> & <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mindspo/">Facebook</a> -@mindspo #mindspo<br />
Check out Rochelle: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rochelle_fox/">Instagram</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/Rochelle_Fox">Twitter</a> - @rochelle_fox<br />
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I want to do another post on meditation that looks into it a bit more about techniques I've learnt etc so let me know if you'd be interested in that too. Happy meditating!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-65423240449443220002017-04-08T19:36:00.003+01:002017-04-08T19:36:48.564+01:00Greening up my beauty routine // Cotton Buds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Personally when I first started exploring natural beauty it was for purely selfish reasons. I didn't want to be pumping crap into my body. Over time though I realised that often what was bad for me was also bad for the environment. I think due to my upbringing I've always been quite an eco-minded person, but this has definitely become more of focus and conscious aspect of my life since I made the switch. In the industry as well there is certainly more of a focus on making products that are both less toxic for humans and for our earth, which makes everything that much easier. More and more these days packaging is becoming more eco friendly, more paper and glass and less of the 'beast' in beauty - plastic. </div>
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The 'war on plastic' is doing wonders, most plastic used these day in green/natural beauty products is recyclable and often made from recycled plastic, as are products such as razors and toothbrushes. Plastic windows in packaging are being swapped for biodegradable veggie cellulose windows and brush handles made with sustainably sourced bamboo or cork (research on these is key as it's not always sustainable) Plastic micro-beads are being given the boot. Heck even bikinis these days are being made out of recycled plastic. But there's still some areas where plastic creeps in and gets over-looked. Cotton buds, Q-tips, Baby Gays, Cotton Swabs - whatever you call them we all know what they are and use them for a large variety of reasons, beauty, cleaning, personal hygiene etc etc. But often we don't consider that those tiny sticks of plastic can be adding up to cause big trouble for our environment, polluting our rivers and seas, poisoning wildlife and ending up back in our food. Scary. </div>
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For a long time now I've made a conscious effort to recycle my cotton bud sticks (a task both time consuming & a bit gross), only to find out a few months ago that they are non-recyclable! Genuinely you can't recycle them. Doh! Clearly I wasn't as green as I thought & I wasted time and effort for nothing. So to clean up my act I went a few months without using any cotton buds at all - I figured that I could easily get by without them. Unfortunately I realised that without them I was more wasteful in other ways, overusing and wasting cotton wool and tissues. </div>
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My salvation came in the form of <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/organyc-100-organic-cotton-buds">Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Buds*</a>. As the name suggests the buds are made from 100% certified (by GOTS & ECOCERT) organic cotton which is one of the most environmentally friendly option out there for cotton. The stems are made from recyclable cardboard as is all the of the external packaging. What isn't recyclable is biodegradable. How do these compare to other cotton buds in terms of use? They are exactly the same! They do the exact same thing as traditional cotton buds do, the buds feel just as soft and the stems just as sturdy. It's a win win situation, they perform just as well while being better for the environment and potentially ourselves was well as there's been no contact with pesticides or bleach/chlorine.</div>
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Since making more of a conscious effort with my cotton buds I've come across two great UK projects that focus on tackling the plastic cotton bud situation. The first project I came across was <a href="http://www.cottonbudproject.org.uk/">The Cotton Bud Project</a> and most recently the <a href="http://www.switchthestick.org/">#SwitchTheStick</a> campaign. Both want to tackle the problem of the plastic stick, firstly to stop people flushing cotton buds down the loo (I didn't even think people did this, so that was an eye-opener for me!) and second to get manufacturers to make all cotton buds from cardboard instead of plastic. Both schemes are well worth checking out! Thanks to these schemes, (in association with <a href="http://www.fidra.org.uk/projects/cotton-buds/">FIDRA</a>) a large number of major brands and retailers including Waitrose, M&S, Co-op, Aldi, The Body Shop, Johnson & Johnson, Tesco and Sainsburys (plus more) are all switching or have switched over to recyclable cardboard stems. Most may not be organic, but it's a huge step in the right direction! </div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-66870294985371801392017-04-01T15:24:00.000+01:002017-04-01T15:24:54.786+01:00HEART TO HEART // It's not easy being green<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Time to heart to heart.</div>
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Let's face it, being green and clean is not easy. Sure the market is booming, more people are getting interested and wising up in the industry. More shops are selling natural alternatives to traditional offerings and online websites are abundant, but it still isn't something you can do without thinking. </div>
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With traditional beauty, lifestyle, fashion etc etc you simply walk into a shop or hop on a website and your only tough decisions boil down to the most simple aspects. Colour/pattern/fabric, scent/taste, size/fit and price are top of the list, every individual will have other personal preferences but these sum up the vast majority of areas to debate during purchasing.</div>
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In the green/clean 'world' it just isn't that straightforward. Heck we can't even agree on the terms, words, phrases and names to use for it. There's a whole lists of terminology out there that are used and often abused and we're all trying to find one that fits just right, but there isn't one. </div>
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Why? </div>
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Because like with everything else in life it breaks down to being about personal preference. Never in a million years will everyone ever agree full heartedly on the exact same thing. </div>
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Then add into the mix; brands, ingredients, do's and don'ts, research/new research/old research, application techniques, ethics, environment, humanity, trends, experts, bloggers, opinions, facts, opinions, research, studies, opinions, facts....aaaaaarrgh. One day, one research study says ABC about a topic of choice the next month a new study says XYZ about the same thing! It's enough to make you question every. single. little. thing. And that ain't easy.</div>
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Step in blogging for newbies. So you've jumped on this, lets be real, MAMMOTH journey of exploring and transitioning to natural living and if it wasn't tough enough you've decided to blog all your successes and all your pitfalls and everyone will be reading and having their opinions on your opinions. Well.....when you think of it like, as the phrase goes; shit just got real. </div>
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Over time you feel confidence grow, you get to grips with all those long complex ingredient names, can trot out facts and figures to anyone asking. You merrily blog away until out of the blue something, or nothing as can sometimes be the case, comes up and makes you start to question everything you thought you knew or your decisions, your choices, your ethics. All of a sudden you feel like the newbie on the block again. What a sucker punch to the gut that feeling is.</div>
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So this is where I find myself again. After years and years of blogging I seem to have come full circle again and feel like I'm back where I started on the natural journey. I'm talking most specifically about beauty as that is my strongest area of focus for my blog. I've felt lately I've really found my niche and my passion with makeup, I've always loved it and gaining the confidence to really bring it to my blog has been amazing. However, along with this I've started to now question and struggle with my choices, molehills becoming mountains. Should I be/do/say/choose this? Should I be/say/do/choose that? I've had this in my head for a while and feel it's only honest to share on my blog. As I say my blog is about successes and failures and I've never claimed to try and be perfect, so this is real and honest. I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing right now! I'm wading through options and feeling torn in so many directions. That's the honest truth.</div>
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I feel like I can write this now because I've finally settled in my mind what I want to do about my 'inner turmoil' and that is to except the fact that there is no perfect, there are no rules, things are always going to be changing, conflicting and that is just part of it all. It's part of the journey and I'm going to try and incorporate that in my blog a lot more. I always wanted to find a set guideline in my own mind of strict rules that I follow, but with the ever changing industry, new ingredients and research popping up daily, having a set guideline or rules in my head isn't realistic. So my new personal mind project is about flexibility and COMPROMISE. Not being scared to compromise, to make choices, to choose a 'lesser of two evils' approach if I just don't want to give something up completely.</div>
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And so leads me on to my next lengthy heart and soul searching, slightly ranty post, about 'compromise'. But that is for another blog post, another day.</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-42597921424540512132017-03-26T20:14:00.001+01:002017-03-26T20:20:37.528+01:00Trying a trend - Velvet Matte Lipstick // Green People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here it is, my review of THE HOTTEST bit of makeup on the green beauty circuit at the moment. I've got to say there's been plenty of hype over products in the past but never one to this scale. <a href="https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/">Green People</a> have just seriously upped the green makeup stakes, and it is awesome. </div>
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As this was so hyped about I avoided reading reviews prior to trying the lipstick and reviewing it so that I wouldn't be biased but it was hard to miss all the positive messages on social. So, a green makeup product that is bang on trend - while the trend is still going strong no less - and one that actually performance and lives up to it's promises. Let's see shall we? </div>
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So as you probably know by now Green People are celebrating their 20th anniversary this spring and to mark the occasion they are bringing out two new special edition collections, Damask Rose and Orange Blossom. This gorgeous looking lipstick is their new <a href="https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/velvet-matte-lipstick-damask-rose">Velvet Matte Lipstick in Damask Rose</a><span id="goog_1200871933"></span><span id="goog_1200871934"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>*.</div>
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Yes- a MATTE lipstick. I've tried other lipsticks claiming to be matte but often in the description they slip in the semi-matte term and you find that they still have a sheen to them. On the other hand I've had some that are so matte that its pretty much like putting colourful chalk on your lips. With Green People's Velvet Matte formula it is neither of these - it's near on perfect!<br />
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This lipstick glides on smoothly with a creamy texture and gives, as promised, a true matte finish. The pigmentation is strong and the coverage is opaque. As it is a matte finish it can tend to make your dry patches show more, but a quick lip scrub before applying helps reduce this a lot. The formula of the lipstick feels very lightweight on the lips and despite being matte is not at all drying. This lipstick actually feels quite nourishing as you wear it thanks to the added benefits of the two waxes used -sustainable beeswax and organic Carnauba wax and of course the added Vitamin E as well as the blend of oils such as sunflower and castor.<br />
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For staying power this lipstick surprisingly holds up quite well. As I mentioned it is quite a creamy formula but its not 'wet', it is a touch on the more dry side and that really helps the longevity of it as it doesn't shift and slide off your lips. Like all lipsticks it does transfer a little onto cups etc but nothing out of the ordinary. </div>
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Now lets talk about the colour- Damask Rose. The shade is described as a nude-rose and I would tend to agree with this description. It is a beautiful blend of pinky and slightly peachy tones, creating a very warm toned nude. This is a little lighter than my natural lip colour but it is very flattering. The warm tones seem to suit my skin tone very nicely and the lipstick tends to show more on the peachy side than on the pink, which is definitely my preference. I'm not sure it would work with <i>all</i> skin tones as they say, but I think as nudes go it's a very adaptable colour for most people. On my lips the shade is quite true to the shade as it is in stick formula.</div>
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Another great aspect of this lipstick that really makes it stand out is that it doesn't smell or taste bad. I've previously used other 'matte' green/natural lipsticks and often they can taste and smell very peculiar - a little like crayons. Not so with this one from GP. To me it smells and tastes slightly fruity- I can't quite put my finger on it and the ingredients only list it as 'Aroma' so it's hard to say what it is, but I really like it.</div>
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GP kindly also popped over the <a href="https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/shop/by-product/organic-make-up/organic-lipstick-products/natural-lip-primer">Lip Primer</a>* to try with the lipstick. This is great to use under the lipstick if you want much more sheer look and to make the matte finish more of a satin effect. Personally for me I found I much prefer the Damask Rose on its own to give it its full effect, but I've been popping on the primer like a balm since getting it and it works wonders on my very dry chapped lips.</div>
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What I do think would work well with this would be a lipliner in the same shade. With nude lipsticks it can be hard to keep your lip outline well defined especially around your cupids bow. I popped on a nude lipliner I had just along my cupids bow and that really helped the colour on my lips have a more distinct shape. It wasn't quite the perfect colour match though so fingers crossed one will be in the pipeline for future launches!</div>
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The Velvet Matte Lipstick in Damask Rose will be available from Tuesday 28th March on pre-order (officially avail 4th April). Also for all you lovely readers there's a 15% discount code which you can use on any platform. This code offers 15% off Velvet Matte Lipstick in Damask Rose (+Free UK delivery). Valid right up until 31st April 2017. </div>
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The code: <b>NUDEOBSESSION</b></div>
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<b>Price</b>: £15</div>
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#yournudeobsession</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-58144867513154928812017-03-20T21:44:00.001+00:002017-03-20T21:44:14.048+00:00The Bathroom Shelf Edit // Dental Care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My bathroom shelf goes through cycles, sometimes it's full of products I love, sometimes it's there to force me to use up products I'm not keen on but can't palm off to other people. Other times it's my place of experimentation, a platform for trying new things. Sometimes with great results, and sometimes not. Now is one of those times.<br />
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Lately, I've been quite fixated on my teeth. I hate them. There, I've said it. I think they are awful but aside from having expensive work done, there isn't a huge deal I can do about them so I decided to turn my shallow focus on them towards a more healthy avenue and make sure they are as healthy as can be. Step in three new products that I've added to my routine with mixed results:<br />
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<a href="http://www.weleda.co.uk/dental/ratanhia-toothpaste-75ml/invt/101002"><b>WELEDA RATANIA TOOTHPASTE</b></a><br />
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A product that has been sitting in my toothpaste collection (yes I have a collection) for a while. I was finding that using my good old fav - Jason Powersmile, while great for my teeth was starting to make my gums sore. So I sought out this Ratania toothpaste from Weleda that promises to care for the gums as well as doing all the other jobs a good toothpaste should. I would one hundred percent say my gums have improved, less soreness and less receding. My gums very rarely bleed now which is terrific. I'm not sure I can really say it 'tightens gum texture', I mean <i>what does that even really mean?</i> But none the less my gums are looking and feeling in much better condition. As for the other aspects of the toothpaste, the texture is good, not too gritty or chalky and the mint flavour is subtle but refreshing. Teeth feel clean and my breath is freshened. All good stuff. It also amuses me that it is such a bizarre colour - a pinky toned mauve. The bf still finds it a tad bit disconcerting...wait til he sees the charcoal one I've got in my stash! Would I recommend this toothpaste? Absolutely. Will I repurchase? Certainly. At just under £5 it's pretty pricey but then most natural toothpastes are so I'm not up in arms about it.</div>
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<a href="http://www.naturallydiddy.com/p/specs-key.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs269dbYNcMiYdN9XdBHrR_dl_Ut-NquzeQg6ipAkaeajj2p1fqo3tN6Mb9CHbIyfSv5gxknRO9KY0_drZMorMz287ptwOXVEnVoxUQZcYaND-TSsuDpMbE79RYdBbDdkJq3Xz25r0NIk/s1600/ratan.png" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/radius-scuba-toothbrush-soft-right-handed">RADIUS SCUBA TOOTHBRUSH*</a></b><br />
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This is one of those products where the theory is sound, but in practicality terms it just doesn't work out. This bizarre and very intriguing looking toothbrush is the Scuba Toothbrush from the brand Radius. I was totally intrigued and thought it sounded brilliant with all it's fancy technical jargon. The brush head is huge! it's about twice the size of a standard toothbrush head and is completely oval. According to the marketing it has over 300% more bristles than a regular toothbrush which helps you not only reach and cover more tooth surface but also evenly distribute pressure and avoid damaging your teeth. Sounds great, expect it is too big to fit in your mouth comfortably. If like me you don't have the largest of gobs then your pretty much stuffed because you simply cannot reach the back teeth without contorting your mouth into extreme shapes and having to wedge it in tight spaces. It's uncomfortable and unpleasant. I thought the size would make it perfect for cleaning my tongue, however the 45degree angle of the handle may be great for using on the front surface of the teeth but it stops you being able to give you tongue a good scrub without smashing your front teeth with the handle. Without being TMI my gag reflex has never been more active than when trying and failing to clean my tongue with this. The handle is also very very short, however the design (mine is a right-handed one) does make it very comfortable, so that is one good thing I can say about it. I also find that the bristles are so dense that it makes it hard to clean and toothpaste gets clogged in it no matter how clean and careful you are. I wish I could be complimentary about this as it really is a great <i>idea </i>sadly it just is not practical. It's also deathly expensive, almost £13- for a toothbrush!</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/organii-aloe-mouthwash-citrus-500ml">ORGANII ALOE MOUTHWASH</a>*</b></div>
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On to better things! This is a great product. </div>
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I've been using natural mouthwashes for a good few years and flittered between a few different ones and I've always struggled with the taste of them. Thankfully that issue has been resolved with this Organii Mouthwash in the Citrus flavour. It is citrusy but not overpoweringly so, but enough to mask any typical mouthwash flavour. This doesn't burn my mouth at all (I'm assuming thanks to the aloe vera) and leaves it feeling super clean and fresh. You know sometimes you chuck the shot of mouthwash a bit too far and choke on it a bit? Well, that's not so bad with this one because the taste doesn't make me gag and it doesn't have the alcohol edge to it like other mouthwashes do despite the fact is does contain ethyl alcohol. Other top notch factors include the fact that it is certified organic by <a href="http://www.icea.info/en/">ICEA</a>. Plus the packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic and is completely recyclable after use. </div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-41999120124172635702017-03-18T21:12:00.000+00:002017-03-18T21:18:38.367+00:00Spring Makeup Look // Purple Crocus<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Spring has arrived and I'm feeling inspired. I'm a summer baby and the sunshine is always on my mind. Nothing has cheered me more than seeing the days grow lighter and flowers and blossom trees burst into colour! This makeup look was sort of inspired by the purple/ lilac crocus that have been popping up lately, the way the petals blend from white into an ombre of purples. It's such a pretty colour transition. So that is what I was trying to replicate for this look.<br />
This look as always seems a little more subtle on screen but in real life it's quite bright as the purple hues catch the light.<br />
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To create this look I immediately went for two PHB Ethical Beauty pressed mineral eyeshadows because I'm so impressed by them. They have a good colour selection, the formula is beautiful and the pigment and colour pay-off is strong. They have a little fall out but nothing to cry over. The two shades I chose to create this look were <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/phb-ethical-beauty-pressed-acai-berry-mineral-eyeshadow-3g">Acai Berry</a>* - a deep dark velvety aubergine, and <a href="https://www.lovelula.com/products/phb-ethical-beauty-pressed-amethyst-mineral-eyeshadow-3g">Amethyst</a>* - a blue toned lilac/ lavender shade.<br />
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I began with a neutral base topped with Amethyst. I swept this over the whole lid on a dry fluffy brush. Like all the PHB pressed mineral shadows this shade is very shimmery and I found that in the light the blue undertones really shone through more than the lilac that I wanted. To add back in the pale purple hues I topped the eyeshadow with another colour from <a href="http://www.biggreensmile.com/products/alva-green-equinox-mineral-make-up-purples-pinks/alvaeqnxpurppink.aspx?productid=alvaeqnxpurppink">Alva called Li-La-Lilac</a>, a pinky toned mauve lilac. I concentrated this colour in the centre of the eye. This is the first time I've tried Alva and again i'm very impressed by the pigment of these loose shadows, applied both dry and wet the colour payoff is great. They pack a lot of product into the pot so it can be a struggle to get out but once you do it's worth it. This shadow blends like a dream and is a lot less shimmery than the PHB which is a good option to have for a more textured look. This little pot was only £7.50 and is going to last a lifetime!<br />
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To complete the ombre purple effect I focused Acai Berry on the very outer wing of the eye to replicate the crocus petal shape a little. I kept it darker towards the furthest points of the eye and along the lash line and faded it towards the centre to blend with the the Li-La-Lilac shade. Finally I took my favourite eyeshadow <a href="http://www.bellapierre.com/uk/shimmer-powders.html#80=314">Snowflake by Bellapierre</a> and heavily concentrated it on the inner corner extending into the centre to fuse with the lilac and purples. I popped on a few coats of <a href="https://www.pravera.co.uk/shop/lavera-cosmetics/natural-make-up/organic-mascara/new-lavera-butterfly-effect-organic-mascara-beautiful-black-11ml">Lavera's Butterfly Effect Mascara</a>, and then I made a mistake. I wanted to go a little glam with this look so I tried out some new lashes from EcoTools. I chose the lashes 1259 and I what a mistake. I've worn a lot of lashes in my time and these were just not good. The band is much too thick, straight and stiff and the effect is clunky and chunky even after I trimmed them down a lot. These were meant to be soft and natural looking lashes. I don't mind the dramatic look at all but I do mind the band showing and constantly becoming unstuck. Like I said I'm no falsies newbie and I could not get the band to fit my eye at all. As a result you can see that big gap where the lashes have come away even when filled in with eyeliner. Oh well. Live and learn. I don't think they ruined the overall look too much.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7342514560961513135.post-37120300071151425882017-03-13T21:29:00.002+00:002017-03-14T18:38:46.473+00:00Mother's Day for Mother Nature // Ethical Flowers<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Mother's day is coming up fast. Whether you are a pre-planner or a last minute purchaser, the chances are that the majority of you guys will buy your mum or mother-like loved one flowers for the big day. Sure there are plenty of people who buy gift vouchers, spa breaks, books and the like, but when it comes to Mother's day, flowers rule the roost. Just check out some of these stats that I found:<br />
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Pretty impressive statistics don't you think? But are you thinking about the impact of these? Where do these flowers come from, how are they grown? Organic or not? Are they ethically grown and sourced, are they fair trade etc etc. Here are some more stats to think about:<br />
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Most people tend to forget about the biggest mother of all - Mother Nature during Mother's Day, but that can change!</div>
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I've found a few great places that have made a conscious effort to keep Mother Nature and Mother Earth in mind when they provide flowers for Mother's Day and other special occasions. And there are gazillions more out there so it's worthing taking the time to do a little bit of research to find the perfect eco flowers for her!<br />
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<b><i>British Flowers:</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.organicblooms.co.uk/"><img border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyiRMHsDAoZ7sDbLlmwOmB4o6NU4pMIpHKNxg1DajOmV2fyL9V_gyzf0huDyqSNJIaM7EbqP4GxFlpa2X_QA6YTKuQrGB4js59wfVxegiXJ9y329AC-PUKVUUHgxRFF41ocUG5cGI1-k/s400/ORGBLOOM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
A British company that is actually a social enterprise to help the local community and work with people disabilities. Organic Blooms grows most of it's own flowers right here in the UK and what is more they focus on growing their plants organically. When they outsource their flowers they do so from reputable growers within the UK. They also have workshops, courses and gift vouchers to give the best floral experience around.<br />
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<a href="http://greatbritishflorist.co.uk/"><img border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LFL75h_fN3WSuwyJBfoxsd_169A1DTaHaB-KiPQ4jYCJDtSnVSFAUzKljstXcjdDCSniWLrd7TE7rAZUv88KKj3v9kNgm22p5R9ae43dtD2ZkrebzfUpr87R1PDyCvCz705-DoeR1eQ/s400/GBF.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Part of the Wiggly Wigglers natural gardening company, the Great British Florist are another company that focus on British flowers. This company goes beyond sustainability with there flowers but also for the whole farm that they have. They focus on biodiversity, crop rotation, recycling and sustainability for flowers, crops, cattle and more. They are also campaigning to establish a proper </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">British Flowers Quality Assurance Mark to help the cause of #GrownNotFlown flowers.</span></div>
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<b><i>British and International Flowers:</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.wildandwondrousflowers.co.uk/"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFoYen3daYCD1oFauWXDRgBBQGjdokL8OCk7_YthFHdehEhn4zim9WLfHR7VoOq7j8VzuVqkTOOjYQb7yQWubyAzCgt62v4-ujpKf36LeQX7FLWa3GOBkkWrLKcvv7Ac8WIzTVhtCLQw/s400/WILD+AND.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Wild & Wondrous Flowers are another online retailer of flowers and plants. W&WF's USP is that their main focus is on selling UK native and British grown flowers to keep down the carbon footprint of flower production as much as possible. When they do provide flowers that need to be imported they make sure they are ethically sourced. Again they support many of the sustainability initiative and certification bodies such as <b><u><a href="http://www.florverde.org/">Florverde</a></u></b> and <a href="http://www.fairflowersfairplants.com/home-en.aspx" style="font-weight: bold;">Fair Flowers, Fair Plants</a> as well as:<br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.scsglobalservices.com/es/veriflora-certified-sustainably-grown" style="font-weight: bold;">Veriflora</a> - top certification body for sustainability in floriculture and horticulture </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/">Rainforest Alliance</a></u></b> - an organisation working to biodiversity and promote sustainability practices.</li>
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W&WF also use as much biodegradable packaging as possible avoiding cellophanes and plastic. They also source their wrap and packaging from the UK to keep their carbon foot print low.</div>
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<a href="https://www.bunches.co.uk/ethical-flowers"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgqSC3vQ3h90kPLlz380cGv6S_kOnjjcAah-bBD23I6xL7hS4K-OOkLDiS1gq81OZLvhPBVhG2cvpchLQcouM5ThsH4xvmTQrfAYpo7418kwKjS7rxvfdmxwpEDiVnyQgzFaaupUy3ac/s400/BUNCHES-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Bunches are an online floral service that are dedicated to making sure that they stock flowers and plants that are good for the environment and people. You can check out their entire ethos on their <a href="https://www.bunches.co.uk/ethical-flowers"><b>website here</b></a>, but I've broken it down in a nut shell:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><a href="http://www.florverde.org/">Florverde</a></u></b> - Bunches.co.uk source their carnations from Columbian farms that are part of Florverde, an initiative that strives to produces organic flowers in the most sustainable way. The also promote fair pay for all their workers.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><a href="http://www.fairflowersfairplants.com/home-en.aspx">Fair Flowers, Fair Plants</a></u></b> - another initiative that promotes sustainability in flower products from start to finish along with ethical working conditions for employees.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Recycling</u></b> - Newly <a href="http://www.british-assessment.co.uk/services/iso-certification/iso-14001-certification/?gclid=CKeFsLz40NICFRBmGwodJZUNFg">certified ISO 14001</a> and their packaging is 100% recyclable.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Charity</u></b> - 10% off their profits are donated to charities with the UK and the rest for the world</li>
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There are many more sites to check out. It's also worth noting that if you do have to buy through sites such as Interflora etc then check out to see if they have a <a href="http://www.interflora.co.uk/content/about-fairtrade-flowers/">FairTrade section</a>- which many of them do and choose from that selection so that you know that the flowers you buy will be improving conditions of the workers within the flower production.<br />
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<b><u>Buying Instore?</u></b><br />
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<b><i>Buying in store?</i></b> Look for native British flowers and plants or flowers that are labelled as grown in the UK or that have a certification or accreditation logo testifying to their sustainability and ethics if they are from international countries. The flowers in my photo are British Begonias, grown in the UK and being pot plant will last for many months if looked after carefully. You can scoop up plants like this in all major supermarkets and garden centres. </div>
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LOGOS TO LOOK FOR:</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading! Don't forget to follow me!</div>Mavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08785532502112347689noreply@blogger.com0