Cruelty Free Skincare Holiday Essentials

Hey All

As I've just got back from holiday there will definitely be a few holiday based posts coming up. I'll be sharing what I got up to soon but as well took over 2500 photos across 4 cameras there are a lot of photos to sort through.

This was my first holiday since moving to cruelty free beauty so I knew I needed to pick up a few bits and find substitutes for old favourites.

2014: Favourite Products of the Year

Well it isn't long until the big day now is it?! 

I've been having an enjoyable time looking over some of my posts from the last year and trying to decide which products have been my favourite. Some months it was easy to pick one out, others it was difficult to choose between some and I did end up listing a few!

So without waffling on any longer here are my favourite products from the last year, if you click on the product name it will take you straight to the original review.

January

The Tangle Teezer was a present that i told my brother to buy me when I had no pennies left and my hairdresser recommended it to me. It was a winner and I need more of them, one for my gym bag, a mini for my handbag...the list is endless! You really do need one.

February

The Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask has been raved about for a while and it took me a few months to get my hands on it but it has solved so many skin problems varying from dehydration to breakouts that it's a necessary product in my cabinet now.

March

As an avid Origins fan I love it at Christmas time when they bring out their sets. Last year's Origins Morning to Midnight Set was my first chance to try the popular Night A Mins and Ginzing moisturiser. All I need to tell you is that I've already picked up this year's version, they're so great for value and it comes with a make up bag this year too!

April

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Naked Basics was something I bought at the Electric Palette product showcase. The 24/7 pencils are awesome and I wanted more variety of every day colours to add to my make up bag; this one matches my Basics palette and has been used quite a lot throughout the year for a subtly lined eye for work.

May

I'll start by telling you now that Urban Decay have taken a large amount of cash from me this year so expect to be bombarded with pictures. Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation is a gorgeous lightweight foundation that really does look like a second skin; though I find it doesn't cover enough on those bad skin days that crop up.

After my successful purchase of the Naked Basics eye pencil when I saw the Triple Threat set with 3 of the most used colours I knew I had to have it. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil Triple Threat set contains Perversion which I now find I have 3 of in my make up bag; it really is as good as everyone says and I wouldn't use anything else.

June

I bought a palette last year to put all of my MAC pan eye shadows into but am yet to complete a side of it. It was my plan to buy more but clearly I've been side tracked throughout the year... I did pick up MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe after many recommendations and can say it's another worthy of the reviews. It blends out super easily for day and can be applied heavier for night for a smoky eye.

July

With all of my new 24/7 pencils it was only time before I picked up the Urban Decay 24/7 Blending Brush It's a must for those who like a blended and smoky line on the eyes and like the blend multiple colours too. I haven't seen many brushes like this either and the quality is great. I use it daily.

August

Good Things Manuka Honey Cream Cleanser was a random purchase but one I loved; I've since been back to try more from the range and am yet to be disappointed. No nasty chemicals, products that work and all for an affordable price! No brainer.

September 

Urban Decay have killed it this year with their new products; the Pulp Fiction collection was no different. The eyeshadow palette and the lipstick and liner were very welcome additions to my life - note the happy face wearing it all below!

Not to mention also their Perversion and Subversion mascara and lash primer. The mascara is fab on its own but the lash primer really makes your lashes thicker and longer; I save this for my nights out for a false lash effect.

Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm was kindly given to me to review after a NYR Organic Beauty party. It was a lovely and fun event and I've been using this multi functional wonder product ever since. The 10th Year anniversary design is gorgeous and gives you an inkling of how loved the product is; 10 years is a brilliant achievement!

October

Not much needs to be said about this one if you've seen it. Benefit's Cheeky Sweet Spot is their first ever palette containing a variety of blushes from the Box O Powder product extraordinaires. Get it before it sells out!

Nars entered my life at this point for the very first time. Cue lots of rave reviews from myself including Orgasm Blush and the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

November

Another of my first Nars purchases, the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Hyde Park has become a firm favourite in my handbag as the satin finish allows it to be worn for a variety of occasions and the colour is a beautiful berry colour perfect for the Autumn Winter season.

December

It was a tough call for the December favourite but luckily for me there weren't a lot of products to choose from as the reviews were replaced with yearly round ups and lifestyle posts. The infamous UD have brought out another corker of a Christmas gift set in the form of the Urban Decay Black Magic 24/7 Double Ended Pencils. You need this if you love eyeliners, if you love the 24/7 pencils, if you love darker liners or if you travel and like to carry a variety of colours with you at one time.

Special mention also goes to Nip and Fab generally seeing as I've purchased pretty much their entire range this year, and also to the Nars Virtual Domination palette which I haven't yet reviewed and am totally in love with, plus the UD TEN 24/7 eyeliner set which is another staple for a coloured liner fan like myself. Cue lots of party looks coming my way!

What have been your favourite products of the year?

L xxx

Tangle Teezer

Hey All

A few weeks back it was my birthday and I was spoiled with some lovely gifts. When my brother's wife asked me what I wanted I instantly thought of the tangle teezer. It's something I've been meaning to get for ages but just never got around to buying! L got one for Christmas and you can read her review here.

I got the purple and pink one. I wasn't fussed on colour so didn't ask for one in particular. I'd heard so much about them but I'm someone who doesn't usually brush there hair much in between washes. I know I'm lush ha!

As soon as I got it I couldn't wait to rip it out of the packet to try it out and started brushing my hair straight away. Since dying it lots it's really dry but the tangle teezer just smoothed through my hair with ease. The biggest difference I've noticed over the past few weeks of using it is that I actually brush my hair a lot now. The tangle teezer feels good against the scalp and I can't stop brushing it.

It says you can also use them on wet hair. Again I was intrigued. I was always told you should only ever comb wet hair. When my housemate was struggling to de knot her hair after the shower she tested it out and it breezed through her hair too. It's like a little de tangling wizard.

The two lengths of teeth seem to just smooth all hair. I also tested it out on my nieces at the weekend. It de tangled their hair without hurting them and made brushing their hair easier.

I also find it makes my hair softer, smoother and makes it look healthier!!

I'm a total hair brush convert already and can't imagine not having one! The only downside it the sound it makes! When I brush my hair it does almost sound like it's ripping through it!

Are you a tangle teezer fan?

Love M

xxx

What I Couldn't Live Without

Hey!

I was thinking the other day about my rather large stash and how well I'm going through it. I've been doing good but could do better. Then it got me thinking about which products I really couldn't live without now that I've found them and as I've mentioned before, I'm a bit of a list lover. So basically, without any more babble, here's my list of the products I couldn't live without at the moment!

1) Coconut Oil

I love cooking with coconut oil but it is fast becoming a staple in my beauty regime too. Not only is it a great moisturiser for your skin, but its also useful as a cuticle oil, hair mask, for hands and feet and as a lip balm. I tend to smother it all over before bed as a treat but this can take some time to get the oil to warm up. Still worth it tho!

Tangle Teezer

Hi all!

I don't know about you, but as well as healthy shiny hair I also want long hair. Mine is pretty long and I'm lucky to have it so long naturally but it does break easily after it gets to a certain length and with exercising and washing it so much I do get worried it will make it worse.

My hairdresser suggested I purchase a Tangle Teezer. I have to admit I've heard of them for a while and thought they were a fad but I have heard lots of rave reviews.

My brother told me he needed an idea for an extra present for Christmas so I asked him to get me one of these to try!

He got me the original one, obviously in bright pink! It was the obvious choice, but there are also aqua blue/pink, navy/pink, black, and orange/yellow.

To look at it, quite honestly I'd describe it as a female alien hedgehog. You heard.

I wondered how something like this could brush through my knotted and tangled long hair as easily as I've seen it go through others.

On first use I was actually amazed, whoever came up with this design is a GENIUS.

You can read the blurb on the insert from the product above; basically the teeth are the clever little things that help the brush glide through your hair and deliver 'speedy and gentle results'.

I took a few close up photos below where you can see how the sizes differ, some are longer and some are shorter. I don't quite understand how this has such a massive impact on how it moves through your hair but trust me, this glided through each strand without getting tangled on a knot....not even once.

It was really a revolutionary thing for me!

I've wanted to help my hair stop from breaking and getting knotted together for a while as I just want it to grow a little bit more and felt it was stopping it. However this will definitely help my hair and fingers crossed over time it will grow that extra 2 inches I was hoping for!

In the range there are also Aqua Splash for use in the shower, Salon Elite which is curved for a more professional brushstroke (is this even real?), a Compact Styler in a smaller size for your handbag which can be pushed in/pulled out when needed and comes in a range of colours including chrome and funky leopard print patterns.

They also have a childs range which is really cute and perfect for those who hate having knots in their hair!

I'm super impressed with the Tangle Teezer and would definitely consider another purchase of one for my gym bag and a miniature for my handbag. Everyone should have one! I would fully recommend this for anyone who wants to help the condition of their hair, full thumbs up for me!

L xxx

April Wishlist

I can't believe it's April already, this year is speeding by. In my March Favourites found here coloured skinny jeans made an appearance for the second month running. I still don't have any yet, this month I've had a bit of a fat month so for April I'm planning to work out and then will treat myself to a pair. I find jeans a real struggle to fit, I'm very much a pair shape and have a big bum, finding jeans that fit my bum, waist and legs is usually an effort. Where do you ladies get your jeans from?

As for the Revlon lip butters, I went and swatched them yesterday, I wanted to try them before I bought them and I'm glad I did. For me I think they are pretty colours, but for the price I'd rather buy a proper lipstick as I think I would use those up a lot quicker. Are you loving the lip butters or not decided on them?

I'm still going to get the Revlon foundation but after my MAC haul where I picked up a foundation I loved it didn't seem necessary. I also finally got my MAC lipsticks, not the one from my February wishlist as it was unfortunately limited addition, if any of you see flamingo for sell anywhere please let me know. 

Anyway sorry for the ramble onto April wishlist. Today's wishlist required lots of thought as I've already been spending lots this month.

Accessories

Purses

My current purse I love but it's getting pretty old now. It's from River Island and is a purse I always go back to. I have a couple of Ollie & Nic ones I love but the size of them annoys me. I carry a lot of stuff in a purse. My current purse was a cream floral vintage pattern and got tatty looking quick so I want to be sensible and get black but that's boring. Here are a few I like the best. Where do you get your purses from? Any where you think I should look?

These are my four favourites from River Island at the moment. My least favourite is the third one due to the pattern but it's the same design as my current one which I love. Which is your favourite?

Bags

Claireabella bags, if your on twitter I expect you've seen these, some love them some hate. I've wanted an Original since about Sept but they sell out in seconds. Last time they went up on the website I got one in my bag but I wasn't quick enough! They are cute jute bags with a glamourised version of the owner painted on, you can design how you want it to look. They can be purchased from toxic fox as well but they are from a set of 9 pre designed outfits.

Make Up

As I'm now a MAC addict I'm eyeing up the next lipstick I want. At the moment I'm loving the look of fanfare, I need to go and swatch this in person as online it looks such a gorgeous shade, to me it looks a peachy pink nude. Mac describes this one as a mid tone yellow pink, I think it's one of those shades that just makes your lips look pretty and natural. Have any of you tried it? What colours would you recommend? 

Hair

The final item on my April Wishlist is a Tangle Teezer, I've only heard good things about these and I definitely think it's time to invest now I have long hair. Do you have one? I think it'll get the pink or the leopard print compact one. 

That's my April wishlist. What are you really wanting this month? Are any of you getting anything the same as me?

Love M

xxx