Luscious lashes from Lady Green

Ask any of my closest friends, mascara is my no.1 ally. In fact I recall many a school break time spent applying umpteen coats, attempting to give 'spider eyes' a whole new meaning! How we live and learn, eh.  

My madness for mascara lead to a recent impulse buy, Lady Green's Divine Mascarade, now before getting into it, I have to scream about the packaging - it's SO JOLI! A gorgeous floral printed cardboard tube, which could easily be up-cycled into a fab pencil case. 

What Lady Green says: an enhancing mascara which creates intense and dramatic eyes, lengthens, coats and gives volume. The marula seed oil and orchid extract will nourish, moisturise and soften lashes.  Beeswax and vegetable waxes add volume and shine, while sunflower oil will protect and restructure the hair fibre.

ECOCERT approved and ophthalmologist tested, this mascara is free from parabens, phenoxyethanol, GMO, PEG, synthetic colours and fragrances and not tested on animals. 

What Greener Beauty says: impressed by the pigment, it's the blackest of blacks. The brush creates dramatic length and holds onto to the lashes from root to tip, but it doesn't produce quite enough volume for my liking. (But I'm a two mascaras applier, having never found an all-rounder that does both jobs well). You find there isn't too much product on the brush, which means you're not in danger of clumping. I'm impressed by it's wear ability, minimal smudging. Overall, I'm pretty damn chuffed and will continue to use this product, although I'm not sure I will certify my allegiance just yet.

Probably the most impressive aspect of this mascara, it's ingredients!  

The ingredients: aqua (water), Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, ci 77499 (iron oxides), jojoba esters, isostearic acid, glyceryl behenate, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, rubus ideaus (raspberry) fruit water*, alcohol, acacia senegal gum*, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax*, sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, dendrobium phalaenopsis flower extract, glyceryl caprylate, sodium, hydroxyde, xanthan gum, benzyl alcohol, tocopherol, phospholipids, citric acid, sodium phytate, dehydroacetic acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate. 

*Ingredients from Organic Farming

98% of the total ingredients are from natural origin.

19% of the total ingredients are from organic farming.

Lady Green Divine Mascarade mascara is available from Whole Foods stores, I took advantage of the 20% offer in conjunction with #OrganicBeauty week, paying a little over £13 (normal RRP £17). Bargain.

:)

Five Favourites from Organic Beauty Week (so far!)

Offer:15% Off at Sophia's Choice

Interview: Glossybox talks with 

 Pai Skincare's founder Sarah Brown 

Blog: Amber's Beauty Talk, On a Budget (Under a £10!)

Offer: Herbfarmacy

Video: From The Wholefood Dude

Thusday's Thrifty Finds

Today I had a little splurge and treated myself to some goodies that were at a price too good to ignore:

Neil's Yard Remedies, Bee Lovely to your hands Hand Cream (RRP £10, paid £6.66 at Waitrose)

Beautifully packaged, this hand cream is made with 'moisturising organic honey, blended with energising orange essential oil to nourish the skin and lift the spirits.' Having already applied a broad bean sized amount (I've particularly dry hands!), my skin and cuticles are noticeably looking less desperate - it seems instantly nourishing without being uncomfortably greasy. I've faith that it will continuing to impress, what with the Soil Association's stamp of approval, it's got to be good. 

So Eco, Finishing Brush (RRP £8.99, paid £4.99 TK MAXX)

This may sound a tad melodramatic, but this purchase filled me with guilt somewhat, feeling that I was betraying my beloved Eco Tools brush set (I'd safely go as far to say they're as good, if not better than the likes of Real Technique or MAC brushes). 

However, this Finishing Brush from So Eco caught my eye...purely as it was such a bargain at £4.99! The brush is made from sustainable and recycled materials - compostable and biodegradable - the handle is made from bamboo (an ecologically sustainable material) and the aluminium ferule also had a former life. Sadly, it doesn't state anywhere (packaging or on the web) what the bristles are made from, but it does state that it's a cruelty free product. 

I shall be putting these treats to the test over the coming days and will be back with a full review! 

:)

Also remember to check out the fab events & offers going on this week as part of the Soil Association's #OrganicBeauty campaign.

Certified mojo boost from SkinnyDip

Quite recently I read an article about how plastic microbeads in facial scrubs and exfoliators are entering our food chain and damaging our ecosystem - in my view a crime to both skincare and the environment.

When it comes to exfoliating, I usually find a sponge and one of my go to face washes, such as Odylique’s Lemon & Tea Tree Purifying Wash, does a mighty fine job. However, I’d heard very good things about the exfoliating facial cleanser from SkinnyDip, Jojo Mojo (RRP £8.00), and what with SkinnyDip being a natural skincare brand based in my hometown, I’m all for supporting local independents.

Made from avocado oil, shea butter and containing natural jojoba grains (NOT plastic nastiness), the combination gently cleanses and exfoliates the skin. Packaged in a bright orange glass jar, the product itself is rich and creamy, making it easy to apply and with a very mild scent of mandarin and frankincense it's quite heavenly. 

You can really feel the tiny jojoba beads giving your skin a deep and intense clean, without it being too abrasive or harsh, which you can often find with exfoliators. In fact it’s that gentle, SkinnyDip claim it can be used twice daily! 

Moving the cream in small circles around my face and neck, it was easy to work into the skin and as the cream dissolved only the jojoba grains remained to be washed off, which was a straight forward process using a warm wet muslin cloth. It was actually so easy to remove that I was shocked to find no sign of residue was left on my skin. 

The results...

‘Oh hello!’ were the actual words that left my mouth. Granted I’d used this product before going to bed, but waking up to a smooth, clear and moisturised complexion, the results not only remained for the rest of the day, but the entire week! Thank you Jojo for giving my skin its mojo back.

:)

SkinnyDip creams facts:

· Over 99% natural

· Made using organic, ecologically farmed and FAIRTRADE ingredients

· Totally free from parabens, SLS, mineral oils & artificial fragrances

· Definitely not tested on animals

· Especially suitable for sensitive skin

Jojo Mojo Ingredients: Malvern spring water (Aqua), Avocado oil (Persea gratissima), Thistle oil (Carthamus tinctorius), Vegetable-based emulsifier 6% (Sodium stearoyl lactylate, Glyceryl stearate, Cetyl alcohol), Shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Hydrogenated jojoba oil exfoliating grains (Simmondsia chinensis), Glycerin, Preservative 1% (Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerine), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Frankincense oil (Boswellia carterii), Mandarin oil (Citrus reticulata).

Weleda's Wild Rose Wonder

I was first introduced to Weleda by my dear Mum, she’d been using the Calendula Weather Protection Cream (which is actually in the Baby range!) to shield her skin from the elements when out horse riding. That was seven years ago, since then our love and collection of Weleda products has continued to grow.

My most recent discovery is the Wild Rose Oil (£19.95 RRP)...and oh my what a wonder product this is! The combination of jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, rosa moschata seed oil, rosa and damascena flower oil, produces revitalising properties which leave skin feeling smooth and plump. And when I say plump, I honestly mean it, I noticed a more elasticity look and feel after just three applications. It's no surprise really, as Wild Rose oil contains vitamin A & E - both of which are known for their powerful moisturising and protecting capabilities.

To apply, I use straight after showering/bathing when skin is still damp, making it easier to move and spread the oil evenly on skin - also locking in moisture. The oil doesn’t completely absorb into the skin straight away, but it’s not the heavy greasy feeling you’d expect, a much more light silky feel giving the skin an instant glow - perfect for legs that are about to make a debut!

Like most Weleda products, I find a little goes along way and made with natural essential oils, you can be assured that the product is free of synthetic fragrances, colours, preservatives and raw materials derived from minerals oils.

Have you tried the any of the other Weleda Body Oils? If so, which are your favourites?

:)

“Weleda sources the Wild Rose species of Rosa moschata, Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa damascene from partners in Latin America, Germany and Turkey. Operating a fair trade policy, Weleda has long term commitments to ensure a sustainable harvest and safeguard suppliers and their local communities.” (http://www.weleda.co.uk/page/wildrose)

Organic Beauty Week

Soil Association's Organic Beauty Week 8 - 14 September 2014

Hurray, #OrganicBeauty week has begun! 

As part of #OrganicSeptember - an entire month dedicated to celebrating and recognising the importance of everything organic - the Soil Association has launched a week long beauty campaign. Teaming up with the fantastic organic beauty brands which carry the prestigious Soil Association label, there are oodles of offers to be found at www.soilassociation.org/organicbeautyweek.

Classing myself as a bit of an advocate for ethical and sustainable beauty, the ethos of the campaign - small changes, big difference - is something that mirrors my own journey, as I continue to adopt a more ethical lifestyle and beauty regime. It's therefore no coincidence I've decided to launch my green beauty blog in the same week as #OrganicBeauty kicks off.

So I urge you to go and check out the goodness on offer this week by following @SoilAssociation on Twitter and learn more about the importance of treating our skin to organic. Also I hope to see you back here to share our findings! 


:)