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Health + Beauty Haul.

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Ohhhh boy! I’ve been shopping.

Yep, it happened. Not all at once, this is perhaps spread out over 2 months, but I got some really nice things and wanted to share them with you!

First up we have a few foodie health bits which are all from Amazon. I’ve wanted to try nutritional yeast for so long now, but nowhere near me stocks it and believe me I looked everywhere. Amazon now have that annoying thing where you have to spend £20 to be able to buy certain items, the nutritional yeast included so I just HAD to buy a couple other items 😉 The nutritional yeast though? Pleasantly surprised it comes in such a massive tub and actually, it’s pretty tasty!

The Keep It Vegan cookbook by Aine Carlin. This had such good reviews and was only £4.99. I’m so glad I got this! It’s a beautiful little book and there are a tonne of recipes that I’m really excited to make including; crusty no-knead carrot and courgette bread; pea and lemon risotto; breakfast brownie with a strawberry bottom and vegetable rosti with a smoky salsa. There is nothing fancy or overly complicated about the recipes, and it doesn’t preach clean eating like a religion.

I also added some cacao powder as I ran out months ago and have been missing baking anything with chocolate! So of course, the moment it arrived I was straight into the kitchen and baking some black bean brownies (a minimalist baker recipe) that were utterly heaven. I snapchatted the whole thing and was terrified of beans in my baking, but hello, I’ll be making those again asap. I ate the whole batch to myself in 3 days.

Finally I purchased the Viridian Beauty Oil to add to my smoothies. This is cheaper than their clear skin omega oil so I thought I would give it a go, it contains less flax oil and more hemp, but is still omega rich and good for getting those healthy fats in for your skin.

Now onto the good stuff, a little beauty!

Yes that is May Lindstrom, yes I did lose my mind and no I don’t regret it. The Jasmine Garden is the most beautifully scented toner I’ve used so far, I’m going to end up using it up way too quickly because I go overboard with the spritzing just so I can breathe in the scent. Delish. If the scent thing worries you then I would suggest ordering the sample kit first! Then you get to try everything anyway, bonus!

I ended up ordering the Couleur Caramel Green Concealer because I’ve been so interested in the idea of colour correcting! I have a lot of redness and blemishes to cover, so something neutralising is helpful to cover. I really like the thin and creamy formula of the concealer too, I may end up ordering a regular shade for my everyday concealing!

I haven’t bought any new makeup brushes in so long that it was quite a shock to find two new ones in my little collection! Luckily they’re both fantastic and have been getting a lot of use. The first is a fancy little Zoeva number, the 231 Bamboo Petit Crease Brush, this is such a pretty brush with the gold detailing a bamboo handle and it’s fantastic quality too, I really would like a few more so it’s not lonely! 😉 The other brush I bought is a cheap eBay one, because I just had to know what all the fuss was about for these funny oval shaped brushes! Well hype CONFIRMED! This is amazing. And it was a whopping £1.17. I’ve been using this for foundation and holy smokes it blends in 3 seconds flat and everything looks SO good!

My June Beauty Heroes also arrived at the beginning of the month. This month was all about Modern Minerals makeup, a new to me brand. The box contained 4 full-size products worth $96 including 2 lip glosses, a mineral eyeshadow and cream highlighter. The highlighter is my favourite from the box for sure and was the only reason it wasn’t a total dud for me (as I’m really not a fan of lipgloss). The next box though I *think* is going to be skincare! maybe even an SPF? That would be fab. Sign up here.

I also repurchased the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads again. I should buy the larger pot but the smaller size is travel-friendly and I would hate for the pads to dry out before I used them all in the larger one.

Finally, I ordered a lot of samples from various sites. I’m looking for a new foundation and have been at a loss of what to choose. From Content I ordered samples of the W3ll People Narcissist foundation stick in a different shade to what I have previously used, the new W3ll People concealer (love love love!) and the Jane Iredale Circle Delete. From Amazingy I ordered 2 samples each of the palest shades of the Gressa Minimalist Serum Foundation and they were SO generous, I still have 2 completely unopened (this is looking like the winner for shade and finish). I also ordered samples of Living Nature, Zao, and Couleur Caramel foundations from Glow Organic, but none were for me. So the quest continues!

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Summer Transitional Skincare.

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Summer is almost here! Well, sort-of. The temperatures are rising but it’s England so let’s be honest, it’s rainy, cloudy and breezy most of the time. This funny time of year is often tricky on the skin front, the heat and humidity can do awful things to the complexion, suddenly there’s a new wave of oil and spots, dry patches and a face that doesn’t know if it wants every treatment you have or just to be left well alone. Lovely.
When this happens I tend to stick to skincare that I already know, perhaps using it in a new way by mixing products together to get the results I’m looking for.

The Glow Duo

It’s taken me quite a long time to fall for the Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream (SPF30), but now I feel like my skin is finally in the right place (a little dry and a bit spotty) to be able to fully accept and work with this cream. It gives a lush glow without any grease and offers protection from the sun, win win! Combine this with the Oskia Get Up & Glow serum (full review here) for some extra skin smoothing, glow giving benefits and we have a great daytime under-makeup match. I simply mix equal amounts of each together with my fingertips and apply to toner damp skin.

I am currently testing the Gressa foundation and mixing the foundation directly into this duo is my current favourite way of applying it to avoid it looking dry and clingy. (I would love any tips on how you apply this foundation!)
Pick up the Tinted Nutrient Day Cream UK / US or Get Up & Glow here.

Oil-Free & Calming

There are some nights when I just really don’t want to slather my skin in layers of oils and creams, it’s just too warm and suffocating enough already without feeling something sitting on my skin. No thanks. For those nights, I reach for two trusty serums, the Dr. Hauschka Night Serum, an incredibly simple but effective gel-serum that works wonders on my skin, especially when it’s oily and spotty. By the time morning arrives everything looks calm again, like my skin has had a moment to catch its breath and reboot. Secondly, the classic Dr. Alkaitis (so many wonderful skin doctors) Organic Soothing Gel is also fantastic. You really cannot go wrong with this soothing, antibacterial and hydrating serum. It is very thin in consistency and can be applied with a cotton pad or quickly patted onto skin with fingers – it’s also great mixed with richer oils to help them sink in.
Dr. Hauschka Night Serum here and Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel UK / US

The Moisture Boosters

For a serious moisture boost on days when my skin is feeling parched, there are three products I turn to. For eyes it has to be the True Botanicals Eye Serum, a new launch from the brand and as always deliciously silky, potent and nourishing. It brightens, firms and reduces puffiness and dark circles, a perfect treatment for eyes that are itchy and sore during hayfever weather. For the rest of my face I like a combo of oil + water-based serum. Skin needs both water and oil to stay perfectly balanced and hydrated, so the Evolve Hyaluronic Serum 200 and Vedani Botanicals Silky Moisturiser No32 are perfect together. I layer on the serum first and then apply the oil with a push and press technique. If you have read my full review of this oil, there’s no need to say anymore, it’s perfect in every way.
Get the TB Eye Serum here, Evolve Serum here and Vedani No32 available here.
Do you switch up your skincare for summer?

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Duck & Dry – When Salon Haircare Meets Eco Ingredients.

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I wasn’t familiar with Duck & Dry at all before being introduced just a few weeks ago, and with good reason, I don’t live in London. Duck & Dry is a LDN based blow dry bar that specializes in the perfect blow dry and signature up-do styles. D&D have recently expanded their nest and launched a fledgling range of products (the bird puns just keep’a comin’) designed to help give you professional blow dry results at home.

I have been testing the first two products to be released (another four will launch soon) and have been very impressed. I think haircare is often as hard to get right as skincare, there is so much to take into consideration… oily scalp, coloured, thin, course, dry, damaged, sensitive, short, long… so. much. Whilst there are quite a few good options for natural haircare available, especially shampoo and conditioner, I am often left disappointed overall because the performance and technology is lagging behind when compared to makeup and skincare. There are so few new releases for haircare in the green industry, maybe three or four good ones a year compared to the weekly launches of new lip shines and face oils. This makes it all the more exciting when a new brand joins the family, and it helps that this time, technology is in play and these products work.

The Blow Dry In A Bottle Mega Volume Spray has been heaven for my flat and heavy bob. I have quite a lot of hair that always needs thinning and cutting into a hell of a lot, and it’s been quite a while since my last cut now so things are getting a little overgrown and heavy once more. A spritz of the Mega Volume Spray through my roots after washing, plus a quick blast of heat and we’re looking bouncy and fresh once more. I love using this when I know I’m going to curl my hair the next day as it also adds a bit of texture too – all without feeling crispy or greasy. White nettle, honey locust and ginseng work to boost volume and combat oil product without the need for any harsh ingredients, too. Plus it smells real good, exactly like the hairdressers.

The Instant TLC Leave-In Weightless Conditioner is another gem. I don’t use conditioner in the shower these days as it just weighs down my locks, instead I apply some leave in conditioner afterwards to lightly condition and smooth, add shine and detangle. I have been really pleasantly surprised with the Instant TLC, it’s incredibly light and works really well for me. I think the packaging has a big role to play here as the spray is very fine and it distributes the product perfectly. The conditioner seems quite thick (it contains shea butter and coconut oil), at least too thick for the spray so it does get a little clogged sometimes, but without the fine mist it just wouldn’t work as well so it’s a small price to pay.

I’m quite smitten with my two new Duck & Dry haircare additions and can’t wait to see the rest of the range now. Are you intrigued?

Mega Volume Spray Ingredients:
Aqua, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Alcohol Denat, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin (Vegetable), VP/VA Copolymer, Sodium PCA, Sorbitol, Diheptyl Succinate, Gleditsia Australis (Gleditsia) Seed Extract, Lamium Album (White Nettle) Flower Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Viola Odorata (Violet) Leaf Extract, *Juniperus Virginiana (Cedarwood) Wood Oil, *Tilia Cordata (Linden) Flower Oil, *Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, *Rosa Centifolia (Rose Absolute) Flower Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Farnesol, Coumarin. *Natural essential oils.


Instant TLC Ingredients:

Aqua, Isoamyl Cocoate, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin (Vegetable), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (***Shea) Butter, Coco Caprylate, *Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, *Michelia Alba (Champaca Magnolia) Flower Oil, *Rosa Centifolia (Rose Absolute) Oil, *Tilia Cordata (Linden) Flower Oil, *Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-98, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Sorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sorbitol, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol Cetrimonium Chloride, Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Parfum, **Limonene, **Linalool, **Geraniol, **Benzyl Benzoate, **Farnesol, **Benzyl Salicylate, **Coumarin, **Hexyl Cinnamal, **Hydroxycitronellal.
*natural essential oils **potential allergens ***certified organic ingredients

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10 Ways To Use Charcoal In Your Beauty Routine.

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I recently got a big bag of activated coconut charcoal powder and have found myself using it for anything and everything that I can. It’s some seriously good stuff and incredibly beneficial for the body.

Here are 10 ways to incorporate this super ingredient into your routine!

1. Charcoal face mask

The most obvious of the lot. Charcoal can work with every skin type and removes impurities, blemishes and blackheads without drying out the skin. Mix it up with water or with other clays and powders to get fancy or just mix half a teaspoon with a ready made mask.

2. Detox bath soak

Add 1/4 cup of charcoal powder to your bath (sorry, you will have to clean the tub afterwards but it doesn’t stain) with your usual bubbles, salts and what have you. It looks crazy cool bathing in black water, like something from a horror movie, and does ya good too.

3. Full body mask and/or scrub

Great for back acne, ingrown hairs and patchy tan! Mix a tablespoon with your usual body scrub (or make your own with sugar and coconut oil), or make a huge batch of face mask and find someone willing to paint your back.

4. Scalp detox spray

Keep your scalp free of product build-up and dandruff with charcoal. Find a DIY here.

5. Teeth whitener

More horror movie inspiration for you here so get brushing to reveal pearly whites! I’ve tried this, it’s shocking, hilarious and feels weird at first – but you get used to it. Charcoal has no taste at all but you can work your way up to using it neat by using it with toothpaste at first.

6. Gentle creamy face cleanser.

Mix ground oats with a little charcoal and water to form a creamy paste and then wash your face, this is an ideal cleanser for very sensitive or dry skin as oats are calming and softening.

7. Charcoal soap

If you’re feeling extra crafty, purchase a plain soap base (as good quality as possible) and add charcoal before pouring out the soap to set!

8. Water purifier

Water is the best ingredient for skin health so it makes sense to keep that water as pure as possible. Get yourself a stick of charcoal and add it to a bit bottle of water to keep in the fridge. The charcoal will absorb any chemicals from the water and won’t infuse any colour or taste, either.

9. Black ‘lemonade’

Charcoal juices are a big trend, but why pay their extortionate prices when you can make your own detox drink for pennies? A 1/4 teaspoon of charcoal and a squeeze of lemon into a full glass of water does the job. Drink an hour before eating food to avoid the charcoal messing with nutrient absorption. Charcoal is meant to be great for bloating, hangovers and so much more, but of course consume charcoal with caution!

10. Cleansing balm.

Mix 1 tablespoon of charcoal with 2-4 tablespoons of coconut oil, 2-4 tablespoons of a carrier oil (such as avocado, grapeseed, jojoba) and store in a small jar. You can customise with essentials oils such as tea tree, rosemary, lavender or rose, and if you live in a warmer climate where your coconut oil is always liquid (lucky!) add 1-2 tablespoons of melted candelilla (plant) wax to the mixture to help it remain balmy. Adding the wax is also a good addition if you have very dry skin too!
Pick up your activated charcoal here if you’re in the USA, or here if in the UK!
Have you used charcoal for any of these DIY’s before?

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Like A Green Juice For Your Face.

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For super healthy skin you really need to pay close attention to both what you eat and what you apply topically. Well, with the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask you’re getting the best of both worlds. The ingredients list is pure as pure can be, with everything sounding as at home in a salad or fresh juice as it does now in a face mask.
The Universal Mask is for skin that’s dry, sensitive, inflamed or feeling irritated. It’s also a good one for when you just need to perk up your skin with a mask session, so really, it’s for everyone. I really prefer masks in powder form these days as I like to customise how I mix them; plain water, floral waters, oils, honey, yogurt or even mixed in with a cleanser. It’s up to you. This particular mask really shines when mixed with yogurt, some oil & water, or a cream cleanser. The powder is really easy to manipulate – it’s isn’t scrubby, gritty or hard to mix (some clay masks can be a pain to get just right) just a few drops of water turns the powder into a silky cream type of formula that spreads easily on your skin. And yes, it does turn you an attractive pea green.

To keep the ingredients active on the skin Dr. Alkaitis recommend not letting this mask dry, so if you do use water to mix just keep a mist handy to spritz every few minutes. If you’re using something like honey then this isn’t necessary as it won’t dry!
After 10-20 minutes I like to press a steamy hot cloth to my skin for a few seconds before wiping the mask away, then following up with a swipe of toner on a cotton pad to get any last green residue. I don’t know if anyone else has this issue when masking but my flannels or muslin cloths can never really get every last scrap, I always find my cotton pad has some mask on it afterwards.
Once removed my skin feels soft and calm, this isn’t a super active going to pull out every spot and reveal your brightest glow kinda mask. It’s calming, soothing, a little rejuvenating and very softening, like a chill pill for the skin. I reach for this after a detox or exfoliating mask, or when I don’t know what else to use. It’s reliable, comforting and feels like it’s doing some good.
Ingredients:

Dr Alkaitis’ Grass Juice Complex (kamut grass*. alfalfa*, oat grass* and wheat grass*), oat Buds*. Dr. Alkaitis’ Sea Vegetable Complex (chlorellaº, dulseº, spirulinaº, sea palmº and sea willowº) Dr. Alkaitis’ Vegetable Protein blend (brown rice*, quinoa* and amaranth*) Dr. Alkaitis’ Vegetable Complex (carrots*, cabbage, sweet potato*, kale*, broccoli*, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cucumber, ginger*, onions, cauliflower, beets*, tomatoes* and parsley*). Dr. Alkaitis’ Seed Complex (pumpkin*, sesame*, amaranth*, flax*, soy*, oats*, rye*, buckwheat*, millet*, barley*, brown rice* and sunflower*)

* certified organically grown
º ethically wild-crafted

You can pick up the Dr. Alkaitis Universal Mask here (£48) and get yourself 15% OFF with the code ‘ANNABEL15’ at Alyaka. I would also really recommend the Dr. Alkaitis Travel Kit (£56) too, which has 7 very generously sized different products for you to sample from the range – it would last you aaaages! A good one for a gift or travelling, or just trying something new.

Have you tried this mask or brand?

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