Tag Archives: beauty

Tried & Tested: Alteya Mists.

 
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I don’t want to sound like a broken record but I really love toners and facial mists. Uplifting, refreshing, cooling, hydrating – there’s nothing they can’t do. I’ve tried so many, from homemade to high-end luxury and everything in between.

The Alteya brand was unknown to me before discovering them on LoveLula. I was particularly interested to learn that they have their own rose and lavender fields, distillery and skin care manufacturing facility in the heart of The Rose Valley in Bulgaria. Nearly everything is grown and made in-house by the brand, ensuring freshness and quality, and best of all, the prices are really affordable for products that are organic!

I have been using two mists; the Organic Bulgarian Rose Water Spray, £7.20 for 100ml, and the Organic Melissa Water Spray, £7.20 for 100ml.

I picked up the rosewater first as I really like the soothing one ingredient wonder that is Rose. I use this morning and night as a toner, after mineral makeup application to stop it looking powdery and I also mix it with powdered masks. Fun fact: Alteya rose water is food grade and you can add it to any recipes that use rose! It does all that it’s supposed to and smells beautiful, a true soft rose scent that isn’t overpowering or artificial. The 100ml bottle has also lasted me several months with regular use, winning!

Rose has so many wonderful benefits for our skin and also our overall wellbeing. It’s:

  • Therapeutic 
  • Anti-inflammatory and acne-preventing 
  • Balancing 
  • Anti-ageing and moisturising  
  • Rejuvenating, stimulating and harmonizing
  • Digestion-stimulating and antiseptic.

Now for the Melissa water (AKA Lemon Balm), according to Alteya this mist helps awaken and tone up dull skin. It is also useful for troublesome skin and helps against skin irritation and inflammation. Perfect! My skin is oily, troublesome and always irritated in some way or another, I blame my hormones and a lack of sleep. 

This mist smells very strong, to me it smells like tomato juice, slightly acidic and, well, like tomatoes, not lemons. But does it work? 

… Maybe? I use this on days when I think my skin is acting up a little more than usual, and by the end of a long day I have no idea if my skin is less oily than it would have been without the mist, I just cleanse my skin, mist again and slap on some moisturiser then fall into bed. 

I actually got a compliment on how much my skin is improving from my boyfriend the other day, so I must be doing something right! 

xo

The Ultimate Guide to Natural + Vegan Deodorant.

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Need some new deodorant in this heatwave??

Vegan deodorant is not that difficult to find and neither is deodorant that uses clean natural ingredients. But when you combine the two you narrow your search pool even further as a lot of natural deo’s are balms that use beeswax. I was worried there wouldn’t be too many options on the market, but to my surprise there are loads! So many in fact that I struggled to narrow this guide down to just 6. I easily could have bought 10 more to try and include, but with 6 deodorants on the go this past couple of months things were getting out of hand!


The Roll-On’s 

Neal’s Yard Peppermint & Lime Roll-On Deodorant / £8


One of my most used simply because of the ease! It’s a roll on! No melting a solid stick or sticking your fingers into a pot. The scent I chose isn’t my favourite, the lime & mint combination smells a little like citronella. I would choose the rose & geranium if I could go back in time.


In terms of doing its job? It promises 24hr protection but I think it begins to falter before a full morning to evening’s wear time is up. And obviously, it’s not an antiperspirant so you will sweat (which is healthy and normal!), but it does contain some moisture absorbing ingredients, not that I’ve ever noted them working.. 6/10

Benecos Apricot & Elderflower Roll-On Deodorant / £5.95


The least expensive and my least favourite, unfortunately. The scent is delicious and so fruity and fresh, it’s a real shame that the scent doesn’t linger and the deodorant really doesn’t work that well, especially in this summer heat. Reapplication is needed, but even then, you just sort of feel tacky and body odor lingers. Lovely. 2/10

The Unusual One & The Plastic Free One

Pacifica Deodorant Wipes / £7.99


I bought these oh so many moons ago to take with me to the hospital when I had Oliver. My thoughts were if I ended up stuck in bed for some time, these could freshen me up! And I actually did use them, just once, but still. I’ve used them a couple of times since then, they’re just handy for sweaty moments that catch you off guard, but they’re not essential, and you can’t really keep them in your bag or anything because the pack is pretty large! 5/10

Ben & Anna Natural Soda Deodorant – Vanilla Orchid / £9.95


Deodorant in a card tube! I love that it means there’s no waste at all, the packaging does get grubby and greasy over time but it’s deodorant, it’s not a fancy bottle of perfume you keep on display. This is the most expensive but does work quite well to keep you dry for awhile thanks to the arrowroot and starch combo. My one dislike is that the stick isn’t the easiest to use – it doesn’t really melt into the skin, you have to rub it under your arms to deposit some of the cream and then rub it into the skin yourself as it’s so thick (winter application would be a pain I imagine!). I do love the vanilla scent and it lingers for quite a while, but there’s a whole host of other scents if you’re interested. 7/10


The Charcoal Ones

Native Unearthed Activated Charcoal Natural Deodorant Balm / £6.99


My new favourite! The balm is really creamy and easy to use, it melts between your fingers and under your arms really easily and I love the scent – it’s fresh and a little lavender-y. Like every other, it doesn’t really stop you sweating, but after walking to and from work, a day in the office and then cooking tea in a kitchen that gets the evening sun and quickly turns into a furnace in this mega heatwave, I was hot and bothered, sure, but not a hint of any stink could be detected. (Also worth noting that mine is a smaller size pot!). I don’t like deo’s in pots, but this is a good ‘un! Does charcoal make it better, though? I really couldn’t say… 8/10

Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox Charcoal Deodorant  / $10


I really wanted to like this deodorant, and I tried really hard as I’ve used it for aaaaaages (this is a sample size that just won’t quit) but the scent is meh and it doesn’t last very long in terms of B.O. and sweat suppression. Luckily you can’t get this in the UK as there are better out there. It’s one redeeming quality? The solid stick melts quite easily into the skin so you don’t have to wait around holding it under your arms. Oh and, it’s baking soda free. 3/10

Got any recommendations for me once I finish all of these? 


xo

Magical Masks.

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You can never have too many face masks.

Feeling stressed? Face mask.

Want to indulge? Face mask.

Dry skin, spotty skin, dull skin? Face mask.

I’ve used countless, I’ve loved loads, and yet I know there will always be more to try. I suppose that’s one small benefit of having problem skin, you know when you’re using a really good mask because the results are extra visible. 

I’ve been using the two masks pictured in a rotation for a couple of months now, and finally, have the time to document my thoughts.

Kimberly Sayer Deep Cleaning French Green Clay Mask. 

I feel like Kimberly Sayer is a bit of a secretive cult brand. There’s not a lot of talk about them online. They have a very clinical and professional sort of look and for quite some time this put me off trying the brand as, typical me, I’m drawn to pretty packaging. 

This clay mask sounds like it should be incredibly harsh and drying, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth if you catch a glimpse of the ingredients list.


Safflower seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, vegetable glycerin, lavender water, oat beta glucan… It reads more like a creamy moisturising mask. And it does feel creamy to apply, it doesn’t make your skin feel tight of painful as it slowly dries, honestly, I forget I even have it on sometimes.

All of this sounds dreamy, and you wouldn’t think it would pack such a punch after all of that, but it really lives up to the term deep cleansing as this always brings any gunk to the surface and clears up my skin. 


Isla Apothecary Refine Radiate Beautifying Face Mask.


With just three luxurious ingredients, the Refine Radiate mask has been created to “soothe, restore moisture, and nurture even the most sensitive skin types to greater resiliency.” It does this with coconut milk powder, turmeric and sandalwood powder, and as you can see from the incredible orange shade, it looks pretty potent.


I was initially drawn to this mask because of the sandalwood powder, said to be wonderful for oily skin it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties to combat breakouts. It’s not an ingredient I had come across before and I was keen to try it out!

Because of the coconut milk powder, I reach for this mask whenever my skin is irritated or dry. It really does soothe and leave my skin soft, bright and calm. And maybe a little yellow tinted. You can remove the staining with a cotton pad and some toner but I try to leave the residue on overnight and just apply some moisturiser, as I’m sure I read once that the benefits of the Tumeric can work their magic better if you leave it.

This is my favourite mask of the two for sure, I love the benefits, I love mixing my own mask up with some water and I love the way my skin looks the day after!

£22.00 for 120g here.

Look beautiful naturally with LoveLula, the world's natural beauty shop. Free delivery over £15. Shop now!

Until next time, xo

Loving Lavera…

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My love for Lavera Shampoo started with a hunt for a bargain. I don’t like paying a lot for shampoo, I mean I totally will if I’ve tried everything else and nothing is working for me, or I’m sold on the swishy ingredients list and marketing lingo, but I’ll always try something cheaper if I can.


We’ve gone through a lot of shampoo in this house, both myself and Michael have fussy scalps that get itchy and sore if we use anything harsh (usually if it’s not natural) and we’ve tried a lot of shampoo labelled specifically for a sensitive scalp that works for one or two bottles and then the pain returns and we need to move on. Hair does actually get used to products, so switching it up is no bad thing at all. We’ve been using Lavera (the blue bottle) for just over a year, and it’s just now that I’m starting to need something new.

The Lavera Basis Sensitiv Moisture & Care Shampoo, £6.95, is that perfect blend of cleansing with no build up or greasy residue, but leaves my hair so soft, shiny and conditioned that I rarely needed conditioner. Made with almond milk, aloe vera and avocado it sounds like a fancy green smoothie. It kept my scalp in perfect condition and my hair feeling healthy bottle after bottle (I think I’ve gone through 5 or 6!). What I also love about this shampoo and the other Lavera shampoos that I’ve been using, is that they foam up. I can’t be dealing with a shampoo that has no bubbles, I never feel like my hair is clean!

The green Freshness and Balance Shampoo, £6.95, was a purchase for Michael who’s hair gets oily quicker than mine, but I’ve been using this too if I’ve used a little too much dry shampoo or hair oil. It removes residue with ease and leaves hair feeling clean, a little squeaky perhaps but not super stripped or dry. I do always follow up with a little conditioner though.

Lastly, I purchased the Volume & Strength Shampoo, £6.95, most recently because postpartum hair loss is real, guys. I feel like I might be bald soon at this rate! 😉 I can’t say I’ve noticed a difference in hair loss slowing down yet, but I do like how it makes my hair feel. The formula contains Vitamin C and Green Tea to strengthen those all-important roots. Perhaps I need to use this exclusively to see a major difference because I still like to use the Moisture & Care most often.

I’m now on the lookout and ready to try a few new brands and products in the bathroom because I think my hair is used to these now. Michael is starting to complain about his hair too… maybe it’s the warmer weather!


I did just see that they have a new 2-in-1 Deep Care & Repair Shampoo and Conditioner which sounds diiiiivine! Perhaps I’ll pick up a bottle of that for testing purposes, of course 😉

Have you tried any Lavera haircare? See the full range here (Note that they are all vegan except for the pale pink Gloss & Bounce range)


Glowing All Winter Long.

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It seems oddly inappropriate with this freakish snowstorm that we’re currently having to be talking about showing some skin – and tanned skin at that. But, seeing as spring still feels an eternity away, I think we all deserve a little self-care and self-love in the form of glowy golden skin, even if you’re the only one who sees it. A tan cheers me up. It makes me feel a little more confident. It puts a spring in my step.

After being stuck indoors with a brand new little human for the past 3 months, I am so READY for spring and summer adventures. but until then, I can shop online and apply gradual tan to my heart’s content. I’ve been using two products for this, one for face and one for body. They’re equally fantastic and work a treat at turning my vitamin D lacking pallor into something a little more healthy.

Face

The Tropic Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum is a booster serum that you add to your regular daily moisturiser to instantly give a little warmth and glow whilst gradually tanning the skin over several days.


The serum is incredibly intense and a little scary at first glance, but don’t be afraid like I was! It dilutes right into your everyday moisturiser and application is as easy as pie. Suitable for tanning pros and first-timers alike.

Tropic say to use 2-3 drops for a subtle tint, or 4-6 drops for a more sun-kissed glow. I only ever use 2 drops at a time to go slow with the gradual tan developing. I have used this at most for three days in a row so far and I really loved the colour it gave to my skin, it evened out redness and made blemish marks seem less harsh. I don’t wear makeup regularly at the moment, so this has been great for making me feel a bit better when I catch myself in the mirror after being up 4 times in the night 😉

Ingredients:

Aloe Vera Juice, Coconut Water, Sugar Beet DHA Skin Tanner, Plant Allo-Melanin, Plant Derived Humectant, Vegetable Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Plant Erythrulose, Caramel, Radish Root Extract, Passion Fruit Extract, Corn Sugar Derived Gum, Gentle Preservatives from Basil and Star Anise, Lactic Acid, Phytic Acid

Body

For lacklustre limbs, we have the Eco by Sonya Winter Skin Gradual Tanning Moisturiser. I’ve been using this on and off for ages now and the bottle is still going strong, so that’s a huge win right off the bat.


I originally bought this in September last year to apply it a couple of times before our holiday so that I wouldn’t be so shockingly pale next to all the gloriously tanned Spanish folk and of course the crispy brown Britons who sunbathe from sunrise until sunset. You know the ones. Upon first use, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the moisturiser is, in fact, more of a thin lotion consistency that makes application quick and easy, no spreading a thick cream over the skin and massaging it in for half an hour only for it to gather at your ankles and turn them 5 shades darker. It sinks in quickly and you’re free to get dressed and go about your day, or evening, without feeling sticky.

The colour transformation is subtle and does take a good few days to build up to that ‘beautiful honey complexion’ mentioned on the bottle, but I like that! It’s much less scary waking up in the morning to a subtle tan rather than a patchy orange disaster.

At the moment I only use this once a week, during the 15 minutes or so every 168 hours that I get to myself to have a mini pamper routine; apply a face mask, moisturise, and maybe even brush my hair. Glorious. The boost in colour lasts a few days, even after showering, and like I said before, it’s not necessary for winter really, but it makes me feel good, so screw it!