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Skincare

Aurelia Natural Probiotic Skin Care – Deodorant, Moisturiser & Miracle Balm – My honest review

I’d never heard of Aurelia before, until I saw Emma Watson in a live Insta video showing the contents of her bag (don’t judge me). She said how much she loved the deodorant so I decided to look myself.

I hadn’t been looking for a new deodorant but getting pretty tired of having to wait for the better ones (in my opinion) to dry before putting clothes on.

Over the last few weeks I’ve tried these 4 products:

  • Aurelia Botanical Cream Deodorant
  • Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser
  • Aurelia Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser
  • Aurelia Refine and Polish Miracle Balm

They are all cruelty-free.

From the Aurelia website 8.2.2010

Aurelia Botanical Cream Deodorant

I Googled & read reviews on multiple sites – Aurelia, Cult Beauty, Google, Amazon and Look Fantastic to name a few. I was blown away from the positivity. After composing myself from seeing the price (£18) I decided to purchase the 50g tub from the Aurelia Skincare website. I got a 10% discount (use discount code WELCOME10) and free sample tub of Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser 20ml. All-in, I spent £16.20 (free delivery when you spend £15+).

I really like how the deodorant includes lots of gorgeous natural goodies, to name a few:

  • Shea butter (gently hydrates)
  • Essential oils: Tea tree, Eucalyptus and Peppermint (antiseptic and antibacterial)
  • A slight whiff of Lavender and Bergamot (bergamot is a plant that produces oil that’s used in medicine)

The Botanical Cream Deodorant is a multi award-winning, natural, aluminium free, uniquely powerful wellbeing revelation that really works.

Quote from the Aurelia website, https://www.aureliaskincare.com/botanical-cream-deodorant-early-release

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare’s Botanical Cream Deodorant offers a highly effective gentle and natural alternative for all those concerned about the effects of aluminium and who may want to avoid this questionable ingredient. Aluminium-based antiperspirants work by using aluminium salts to block and alter sweat ducts. This interferes with our body’s natural response. It has been clinically proven that aluminium is absorbed through the skin but currently there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between aluminium exposure and the augmented risk of developing breast cancer.

Quote from the Aurelia website, https://www.aureliaskincare.com/botanical-cream-deodorant-early-release

My first day of trying the deodorant was my first day in a new job. Not ideal. I was more anxious, nervous (+ sweaty) than usual. By lunchtime I could smell my pits, and not in a good way. Luckily I’d taken wipes and the deodorant (it’s a great size to fit in your bag and doesn’t look like deodorant if anybody spots it) so I cleaned up and re-applied. This seemed to do the trick, I was fresh all afternoon.

The second day was the same; I had to clean up and reapply around lunchtime. The third day however; was the game changer. No smells apart from gorgeous minty freshness. I figured my body needed time to get familiar. Since then, I’ve not noticed any smelly pits and it lasts a full day – 7am until bedtime, around 10pm.

It comes in 2 sizes. I have the smaller size (50g) but they do a larger one – 110g for £30. The size I have (50g) would probably be handier in your bag whereas the larger would be more beneficial to use at home.

When you apply it, you use your fingers and smooth it over your underarm. It goes on as cream but as you rub it in, it feels more like a powder. It dries instantly. I haven’t noticed any issues with the deodorant discolouring my clothes. You don’t have to wait for it to dry; I have put the deodorant on under my clothes and gone about my day!

I am very happy with the Aurelia deodorant. Knowing I’m not putting rubbish on my skin is a huge plus. Also not having to wait for it to dry, but knowing it will keep me dry and smell-free all day is a winner.

I will update this post when it eventually runs out. I’m guessing it’ll last 3 months. The price-y upfront cost does seem steep but considering £16.20 is £5.40 a month (£1.35 pw), I’m more than happy with that.

Update 22.4.2020

I’ve had to stop using the deodorant as it stopped working. It made my pits smell within a few hours even though I’m at home working (lock-down!) without doing anything strenuous!

Update 4.2.2021

Yep! Nearly a year later, I’ve been using this in-between my current hobby of trialing natural deos. It still works! It still takes at least a day to stop smelly pits but it works well once my skin gets used to it. I’m going to try a few, but to be honest, I wouldn’t have much hesitation about buying this again.

Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser

As mentioned above, I received a free 20ml pot when I bought the deodorant. The normal price is £58 for 60ml. This is pricey for me. Especially for a night cream. I usually spend ~£10 on The Ordinary and The Body Shop for a moisturiser.

The Aurelia website states:

This multi award-winning ultra-rich hydrating night cream fuses probiotic ingredients with plant and flower botanicals to hydrate and soothe, transforming the skin’s luminosity. Aurelia’s signature probiotic ingredients continuously protect, restore and balance the skin from within. Probiotics expertly calm the natural immune triggers in your skin which can be overstimulated by pollution and stress and they reduce the damage these immune triggers cause to collagen, elastin and healthy cells.

Supercharged, targeted BioOrganic botanicals include Baobab, which is rich in precious Omegas to revitalise the skin, firming Kigelia Africana, Rosehip and antioxidant-rich Hibiscus to fight oxidative stress. Borage, Mongongo and Avocado oils offer abundant levels of natural fatty acids offering long-lasting hydration and a youthful glow. Deeply nourishing Shea butter and cooling Aloe vera enable this cream to melt delightfully into the skin.

A delicate, relaxing sleep-time essential oil blend of Neroli, Lavender, Rose and Mandarin helps you wind down and prepare for a restful night’s sleep.

Overall I’m very impressed with the night moisturiser. In the morning my skin feels less clogged with oil and is definitely smoother. From using other moisturisers I often have clogged pores full of (the only way to describe) small hard yellow spots (usually on my forehead).

It does have a perfume smell but it’s not overpowering. The pot is lasting quite long actually so I’m impressed. I’ll more than likely buy this when it runs out (check out the discount codes I’ve found at the end of this article).

Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser

After buying the deodorant where I got the free night moisturiser which I was very impressed with, I decided to fork out for the day moisturiser. I have acne-prone skin which is very oily. I emailed the Aurelia team to ask what product they would suggest I try. They suggested this, so I looked around for the best price.

I found it on Look Fantastic – 20ml is £22. I saved money on this price though using discounts – see my hacks below.

I use this moisturiser before makeup. Although it isn’t a primer, it keeps my makeup on all day. It smells gorgeous (although some reviewers aren’t keen).

Inspiring a radiant, dewy complexion, the intelligent moisturiser combines concentrated BioOrganic 100% pure botanicals with probiotic and peptide technologies to soothe, hydrate and revitalise the skin’s surface. Its dose of fatty acid-rich Borage oil locks in moisture; Kigelia Africana and Hibiscus botanicals deliver a firming and soothing effect and help combat oxidative stress; and Baobab expertly revitalises with its rich source of omega 3, 6 and 9.

Infused with a fragrant essential oil blend of Jasmine, Plumeria, Tuberose and Mandarin, the antioxidant-packed moisturiser will leave skin soft, hydrated and radiant. Doubles as a perfect makeup primer due to its potent peptides that hydrate the skin’s surface for a smooth, flawless finish.

Free from synthetic fragrances, colourants, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO, PEGs, TEA, DEA, MI, formaldehyde, urea, mercury, lead and bee venom.

Refine & Polish Miracle Balm

This is my favourite out of all of them and I believe it’s what has made the best difference to my skin (although the moisturisers are also likely to be making a difference!) The miracle balm can be used daily as an exfoliator or 3ish times a week for 5 mins as a face mask. I do both. I love it so much.

Suitable for all skin types, the Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine and Polish Miracle Balm works to combat dull, rough and congested complexions.

Fortified with the brand’s unique Probiotic and Peptide complexes, the innovative treatment rebalances and revitalises skin, whilst natural Rice Bran beads deliver a mild exfoliating action to gently buff away dead, dry skin cells for a brighter, smoother and more refined appearance.

Transforming into a milky fluid upon contact with water, the balm boosts circulation when massaged into skin to leave it clear, purified and glowing with a luxurious fragrance of Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Bergamot Essential Oils. Can be used as a five-minute mask or instant exfoliator.

I use a thumbnail-sized amount, first rubbing it together using my fingers then gently all over my face. It goes from being gooey to a milky texture when you add water to it.

I’ve used it every day and my skin has never been as bright. I haven’t had dry skin around my nose since using this either.

Discount deals to cut the costs

On the Aurelia website, you can complete their Skincare tool questionnaire to get £10 off your next purchase. I got the discount code after I’d finished it. The tool itself is pretty handy for suggesting products based on your answers.

Like I’ve mentioned above, I bought:

  • Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Revitalise Day Moisturiser 20ml
  • Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Refine and Polish Miracle Balm 75ml

… from Look Fantastic. They had a 20% off code available so I used that, plus free next day delivery as I spent over £55. I spent £22 on the moisturiser and £57 on the balm, totalling £63.20 with the 20% off. Use my referral link where we both get discounts (I don’t know how much) but just remember to look around their site for any available codes. LF20 (on LookFantastic) is a popular one.

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Skincare

Function of Beauty – Personalised Vegan and Cruelty-Free Subscription Hair Care – My honest review

function of beauty - shampoo and conditioner review
function of beauty - shampoo and conditioner review

Personalised shampoo & conditioner tailored to you and your hair care needs, delivered right to your door – what’s not to like?

They are called Function of Beauty and they are based in New York. Since I’ve bought off them back in 2019, they’ve expanded the range to include serums, masks, purple shampoo and more. I’ve used them on and off for years now – only stopping to give my hair a ‘break’ every few months, to stop my hair getting familiar with the ingredients and therefore the formula stopping working so well.

What I like is how the products are personalised and tailored to me. The bottles even have my name written on the side. I was able to choose the colours and smells I want. This is the first time I’ve ever tried personalised hair care, especially for this price (which is 100% worth it).

How does it work? It’s pretty simple. You put in your hair care concerns, and they ship your personalised products to you. You get a subscription, so you’re able to choose whether you receive new products in 3 months, 4, 5 etc but they remind you closer to the time, so you don’t get any surprise charges. You’re able to bring forward your delivery date, or push it back.

I personally choose different colours each time, to change things up a bit! I buy 3 sets a year, so 3x shampoo and 3x conditioner – you’ll see from my below photos that they both last months and months. It’s pretty pricey at first glance, but don’t let that put you off – once you divide down to how much it costs per use, it’s similar to what the cheap drugstore shampoos cost (but with tons better quality ingredients used in Function of Beauty!).

I have a “friends and family” code where we both get £5 off. Feel free to use mine here.

1. Choose your hair concerns – frizzy? Anti-aging?

A screen grab of FoB homepage

These are what I entered as my hair care concerns:

+ anti-frizz
+ volumize
+ fix split ends
+ lengthen
+ replenish hair

I wanted to give my hair some love and attention (and to get rid of the frizz underneath) I’m also having a lot of hair fall out, especially during and after a shower, so I thought giving my hair a boost would help. I’ve never bothered with buying expensive hair products before but I spend a lot on products for my face so I thought why not?

2. Personalise your bottles

You can choose your bottle colours, and choose what they smell like!

I chose blue for my shampoo and purple for my conditioner. I chose ‘peach’ as the smell and I can confirm they smell amazing – fresh but not overwhelming. The smell lasts the next day following a clean.

function of beauty - fragrance strength
function of beauty – you can choose the fragrance strength
My bottles personalised with my name ‘rach’ on the outside. I also got that cute little mirror as a welcome gift
Choose your shampoo and conditioner colours
Lots of fragrances to choose from – I usually go with peach

The final (but cutest) last bit of personalisation is your name. They ask for it in the account and print this on the sides of each bottle. I love this!

See my bottle photo where you can see my name!

Where do they stand ethically?

I’ll let Function of Beauty do the explaining. They are vegan and cruelty-free.

Taken from the FoB homepage. Don’t let the “Made in America” put you off – I wasn’t charged any import fees/taxes

How much are they?

I purchased both bottles, 1x shampoo + 1x conditioner, at 473mL/16oz each for £31.20 £28 each (shampoo & conditioner totals £56) including delivery providing you’re taking out the subscription.

Initially I thought “no way am I spending over 30 quid for shampoo”. Then I thought about it. £30 (just over) for 3 months…. £10 a month…. £2.50 a week to have my hair looking and feeling its best. Hmmm. I would happily spend £30 on a face moisturiser which would last about the same time. I’d also buy a pair of leggings for that price without much thought. Why wouldn’t I spend that on my hair?

My hair deserves some love, like the rest of my body. #fistpump

I have a “friends and family” code where we both get £5 off. Feel free to use mine here.

Is it any good?

I can honestly say I’ve never had so many compliments.

It’s embarrassing how shiny my hair is.

Me

These 2 pictures are after blow drying (no straightening). It’s normally a frizzy mess underneath but has been tamed by the Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioner.

My hair is quicker to dry and style. When I wave my hair, the waves stay in longer and are bouncier.

Still a little frizzy but massively reduced
Function of Beauty- the result on my hair is shine overload
couldn’t find this pic on my phone so a screenshot of my Insta will have to do – look at that shine after curling!!

How long do the bottles last?

The bottles in total lasted me between 3-4 months! I received my order on 8 June 2019. When they arrived, I thought I’d smash through them within a few weeks. I wash my hair 3-6 times a week.

Here are the bottles exactly 1 month after arriving. I’ve used a third of the shampoo and slightly less conditioner.

8 July 2019: I’ve used just under 1/3 in just over 1 month (I’m on a 3-month subscription)

I use 3-4 pumps of the shampoo and 4 of the conditioner in every shower. I use the shampoo on my roots and the conditioner on my hair ends only. I have long hair, so I do use quite a lot of conditioner.

Hopefully by the time I finish the bottles, after 3 months, my new ones should arrive.

UPDATE: 1st Sept 2019 – after 3 months

I’ve used quite a bit more shampoo than conditioner. You can see they are far from finished – even though I’ve been using them both for 3 months.

3 months later – my 3-month subscription has covered me since June and there’s still plenty left!

UPDATE: 2nd Oct 2019 – 4 months later

I’ve just finished the shampoo. It has lasted me since 8 June, so in total just under 4 months. I never thought it would last this long. The expensive up-front cost is definitely worth it, considering how often I’ve washed my hair.

2 Oct’19: the shampoo has lasted just under 4 months!! I did NOT expect that

UPDATE: 18th Oct 2019 – 4.5 months later

I lasted as long as I could, but the conditioner has finally come to an end. Chuffed it has lasted over 4 months!

18 Oct’19 – the conditioner has finally come to an end – just over 4 months after being received!

Final thoughts after my first 3-month subscription has ended

I can’t believe how long they’ve lasted. The shampoo lasted just shy of 4 months; the conditioner lasted 4 months + 1 week. I never thought from using both 4-6 times per week they’d last this long.

I received my second subscription at the start of September which includes the same as above. I was given the choice via email a few weeks prior to change anything about my order – colours, smells, hair goals.

Due to not using up either within the 3 months, I’ve now set my subscription to be a little longer – 4 monthly to be exact. I’ve done this so I haven’t got bottles sat waiting for me at home; I can give my hair a break from Function (I don’t want my hair getting “used to” the formula so it stops working so well) and use other brands in-between.

Function of Beauty Benefits

I have a “friends and family” code where we both get £5 off. Feel free to use mine here. Remember to check out their website and social media before ordering because they often have freebies/discounts. I’ve used it with a work colleague and it works (she loves it).

UPDATE: 12 March 2021

I’ve just re-ordered. I like to switch what I use on my hair up every once in a while, so it doesn’t stop being effective.

UPDATE: 23 Jan 2022

Just re-ordered again! This time blue shampoo and light blue conditioner. Love to try the different colours.

UPDATE: 14 June 2023

Just reordered again! 🙂 I’ve noticed they’ve increased the price so I’ve updated that section above.

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Skincare

Look Fantastic Beauty Box – March 2019

Look Fantastic Beauty Box - March 2019

What’s in the box?

  • 6 products
  • Elle magazine
  • Beauty magazine detailing the products in the box

As usual there are some amazing products in this months box; only some cruelty-free/vegan which I list below. I got this box as part of a 6-monthly package I bought with Look Fantastic. I pay £13.75 per month and the box is delivered at the start of each month.

Rituals of Sakura hand balm, 70ml

A great size, it smells absolutely gorgeous. It’s a big size which will keep me going for months! Can’t quite believe I got this from Look Fantastic just because I only paid £13.75 for the whole box & this alone is worth £9.50.

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - Rituals of Sakura Hand Balm

I can’t find anything regarding if the brand is cruelty-free or vegan on their website, and they don’t come up on Peta’s cruelty-free list so unfortunately I can only presume they are NOT cruelty-free. 

Omorovicza Cleansing Foam

This foam has great reviews – it’s good for removing makeup and impurities. It’s vegan! They aren’t on either Peta or Leaping Bunny for being cruelty-free though.

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - Omorovicza Cleansing Foam

Morphe High Impact Highlighter

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - Morphe Highlighter

Feels expensive, even the case feels solid! I’ll definitely be using this. It glides on my skin. I might even see how it is as an eye shadow. Watch this space. 

Unable to find out anything on their website regarding their cruelty-free/vegan stance, but Crueltyfreekitty.com [https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/is-morphe-cruelty-free/] asked them to confirm which they did – they are cruelty-free! Hey guys, add this to your website. It’ll probably increase sales. 

EOS Lip Balm

I’m not keen on this! I hate being negative but I really don’t like the smell or the packaging. Not practical for carrying with me in particular on a night out when my bag space is limited. I haven’t found anything online about them being either cruelty-free or vegan. 

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - EOS lip balm

The Ordinary – Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid B5

For the quality of the product I still can’t get over products from The Ordinary are. To buy, this is £5.90.  I can’t quite find out exactly what it does for skin – something about surface hydration? Either way, the reviews speak for themselves.

Vegan and cruelty-free (confirmed on their website) hurrah!! [https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml]

Madara Smart Anti-Pollution Charcoal and Mud

After using this my skin felt itchy but I think I left it on a few minutes too long. That night, my skin glowed!

Look Fantastic Beauty Box March 2019 - Madara Smart Charcoal Mud Repair Mask

The company IS cruelty-free! Some of their products are vegan including (from what I can tell in their FAQs) this one. [https://www.madaracosmetics.com/en/faq]

Where to buy & discounts

If you decide to buy, feel free to use my ‘friends and family’ code for £5 off (if you’re a new customer) I get £5 off too. Here is my referral link: https://www.lookfantastic.com/referrals.list?applyCode=RACHAEL-RBAF

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Make up Skincare

Removing make up with Chloe Morello’s Face Halo reusable face pad – honest review

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter

I’ve followed Chloe Morello for a while and noticed her promotions for Face Halo makeup remover that you can use only with water. They are kind on skin as they are made of white fibre strands,

“100 times finer than human hair to remove and trap makeup”.

Around the edge they have a black rim made of satin which is soft to touch.

Pricing

At $22 for a pack of 3, initially I thought they were expensive. But then I thought about it and considering makeup remover wipes are £2-3 for 20/30, is it really?

Considering you get “200 washes” out of each pad, not only is it better for the environment, it’s actually a cost-saving. It cost me £15.60 in total, so each one cost £5.20. You only need buy 3 packs of wipes and you’ve already gone over the price of 1 Face Halo. (That’s £0.26p per wash)  

The Body Shop cleansing butter is £10. They nearly always have discounts on their website. I got my latest batch with 25% off + free delivery.

My skin has improved

When I use this on my face, it feels lavish and like I’m actually treating my face each time. It doesn’t feel like it’s pulling on my skin and I never get any redness afterwards, proving how soft it is on my skin. Considering the skin around the eye is so delicate, this was really important to me. Especially as I’m moving into my 30’s, I need to take even more care of those soon-to-be wrinkles.

My skin has genuinely improved since using Face Halo. It’s so much smoother and looks fresher.

After-care

I don’t know what I expected, but considering I’ve been using them since the start of August, they are now looking – if being honest – quite gross. Every 2nd use I put them in the wash with my clothes then in the tumble dryer. I’ve never let the makeup sit on the Halo; I’ve always rinsed it after use. They are now stained which really puts me off using them.  The Face Halo website says:

If you give it a very quick hand wash right after using with warm water and soap the makeup will release easily.  If you leave it for a couple of days before washing it will take a little bit more time to release all the makeup.  In this case we like to rub two Face Halo’s together under warm water with some good soap (even a natural dish soap for heavier makeup), then throw into the washing machine!  

I have been doing this but they have still stained so I mustn’t have been doing it thoroughly enough. Maybe this is why they’ve bought out completely black Face Halos?

Overall

This will be my routine for a while. I absolutely love it. They go so well together. My face feels so clean I’ve actually stopped using moisturisers because my face doesn’t look like it needs it!

Update: 28 April 2019

I read up online how other fellow people are cleaning their Face Halos. From this advice I now:

  • clean after EVERY use – making sure it’s wet, I rub soap into the Face Halo. I rub the sides together to make a lather then after 30 seconds, I rinse. You’d be surprised at how much rubbish comes out.
  • I leave them on the radiator to dry in-between uses throughout the week
  • clean thoroughly in the main wash every week – I throw all 3 into my clothes wash each week.
  • I still use The Body Shop’s camomile on all my face but use a biodegradable wet wipe on my face and Face Halo on my eyes.

After a few months of getting a LOT of spots, I’ve stopped using Face Halo’s on my face. I just use them on my eyes, to remove mascara. After washing them with soap, I leave them on the radiator to dry. As it’s been warm, they haven’t been on, so they’ve been sitting there damp for a few days. This isn’t good, as bacteria loves damp conditions which could have been irritating my skin.

I’m not blaming these causing my spots, but since I’ve stopped using them on my face, I’ve noticed a small improvement. I still clean them as above, but I clean them much more thoroughly now.

Read about how I’m improving my spots and skin health.

Update: 16 February 2020

I’m still using (and loving) Face Halo – I got new ones for Christmas as I stopped using my previous ones due to their state! I’m being more rigorous now with my cleaning, making sure after each daily use I’m getting as much mascara out with soap as possible.

I was using The Body Shop’s Camomile cleansing butter with my Face Halo, due to reducing down the number of products I’m currently using on my skin, in an attempt to calm down my spots/acne. If you’d like to read more about other tips I’m doing to calm my skin, I’ve made a blog about it here. Face Halo gets rid of all my makeup without the need for the Camomile so it was an easy decision. I don’t have anything against the Camomile; it’s a great product, just not needed.

Update: 12 March 2021

Still using the same as above – using the pad on my whole face and the Body Shop camomile on my eyes only. I wash & re-use each pad once with soap (leaving on a radiator to dry in-between), then throw in the washing machine along with clothes. I clean my face with the pad first, then use it to get off mascara. I don’t use it on my eyes first as I don’t want to rub mascara all over my face!

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Crafting or DIY

What is the difference between vegan and cruelty-free makeup?

There’s a difference in Vegan and Cruelty-Free products:

  • Vegan is when a product doesn’t contain any animal ingredients
  • Cruelty-free is when the product hasn’t been tested on animals

Facts about China

With the amazing efforts of the Humaine Society International, China changed their laws in 2014 to the following:

  • Foreign imported ordinary cosmetics – still require animal testing
  • Domestically produced ordinary* cosmetics – animal testing no longer an absolute requirement
  • Both foreign imported and domestically produced ‘special use’** cosmetics – still require animal testing
  • Domestically produced ordinary cosmetics for foreign export only – have never required animal testing
  • Any cosmetic bought in China via a foreign e-commerce website – has never required animal testing.

*‘Ordinary’ cosmetics include make-up, fragrances, skin, hair and nail care products. 
** ‘Special-use’ cosmetics include hair dyes, perms and hair growth products, deodorants, sunscreens, skin-whitening creams, and other products that make a functional claim on the label.

Read the full article on hsi.org.

This means if a brand who is cruelty-free in the UK starts selling and importing products to sell in China, they are then tested on animals so the company is no longer Cruelty-Free. This happened to the brand Nars.  

Brands who test on animals

This list is from the Peta website dated 16.05.2018. It includes big brands such as:

  • Air Wick
  • Arm & Hammer
  • Aussie
  • Aveeno
  • Avon Products
  • Balenciaga
  • Benefit Cosmetics
  • Bobbi Brown
  • Braun
  • Burberry
  • Calgon
  • Calvin Klein
  • Caudalie
  • Chloe
  • Clearasil
  • Clinique
  • Diesel
  • Dior
  • Dove now cruelty-free!
  • Durex
  • Elizabeth Ardon
  • Estee Lauder
  • Febreeze
  • Fendi
  • Garnier
  • GLAMGLOW
  • Galo
  • Hugo Boss
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Kiehl’s
  • L’Oreal
  • Lancome
  • Listerine
  • MAC Cosmetics
  • Max Factor
  • Maybelline
  • Michael Kors
  • Miu miu
  • Nars Cosmetics (they used to be Cruelty-Free but started selling in China)
  • Neutrogena
  • Nice and Easy
  • Nivea
  • Olay
  • Oomph!
  • Origins
  • Pampers
  • Pantene
  • Revlon
  • Schwarzkopf
  • St. Ives
  • Tresemme
  • Vaseline
  • Veet
  • Viktor & Rolf
  • Wella

The list goes on. For the full list, check out Peta’s website. Do the right thing and don’t buy from these brands. There’s no reason good enough for putting animals through harm and suffering.

Check which brands you use are Cruelty-Free on the Leaping Bunny website. 

Brands who DO NOT test on animals (hurrah!)

I’m chuffed to say this list is a LOT bigger than the previous one. Here are a few popular brands featured on the PETA website, but you can see the full list here.

  • Acure
  • Adaline & Co
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills
  • BareFace Cosmetics
  • Barefaced Beauty
  • Basic Bitch Cosmetics (gorgeous Lucy from Made in Chelsea!)
  • Bath Bomb Babes
  • The Bodyshop
  • Botanical Skin Works
  • Burt’s Bees
  • Chi Chi Cosmetics
  • Dermalogica
  • Dove – new! hurrah! See their statement here
  • Dr Roebuck’s
  • Dr PAWPAW
  • Iconic London
  • Illamasqua
  • LUSH Cosmetics
  • Mabel & Meg
  • Makeup Geek
  • ModelCo
  • MUA Makeup Academy
  • Ted Baker
  • The Honest Company
  • The Organic Skin Co
  • The Ordinary

High-Street Vegan and Cruelty-Free makeup

  • The Body Shop – Vegan and they do NOT test on animals. Everything ‘beauty’ you can think of including make-up, moisturisers, perfume.
  • B. Cosmetics (look in Superdrug) – Makeup including concealers, foundation, bronzer, primer, brows, blush, mascara, etc.
  • Barry M – the majority of their products are Vegan. A small number contain beeswax. They do NOT test on animals. Look in Superdrug – they sell a range of makeup including highlighter, foundation, concealer, mascara, primer, eyeshadow, nail varnish, etc.
  • HUDA Beauty – Most products are vegan. They do NOT test on animals. Products include mascara, eyeshadow, lipsticks, makeup brushes, etc.
  • GOSH – Some products are vegan and the list is here. They do NOT test on animals.
  • Dove – cruelty-free – can’t find info relating to if they are vegan
  • Kat Von D – Vegan and they do NOT test on animals
  • Optimum – Eye and face creams – check out their products on Superdrug 
  • Revolution Beauty / I Heart Revolution – Cruelty-Free. Not all products are vegan but some are – check out the Vegan section on their website for a full list
  • Solaite – Sun creams are vegan, see Superdrug’s website for details
  • Superdrug’s own branding has several vegan products (see their website filter here) – such as body spray, toothpaste, cleansing wipes, hair conditioner, shampoo, beard oil, pre-shampoo treatment, facial spritz and deodorant.
  • Too Faced – Cruelty-Free. Not all products are vegan but some are – see their vegan-friendly range here which includes the very popular ‘Born This Way’ foundation, mascara, bronzer, eyeliner, primer, etc.
  • Urban Decay – Vegan and they do NOT test on animals – see their cruelty-free makeup here which includes setting spray, foundation, concealer, mascara, lip gloss, etc.

Toothpaste

  • The Co-operative sell their own-branded toothpaste – both Vegan and Cruelty-Free
  • Sainsburys and Tesco sell their own branded Vegan toothpaste (unable to find info if it’s Cruelty-Free too)
  • Advanced Pro have some toothpaste Vegan and Cruelty-Free

Products I’d recommend

The Body Shop fresh nude foundation 
It stays on all day (even on my forehead which is oily) It isn’t heavy but can be if you apply a few coats.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver
I use as a primer before I put my makeup on. It helps my skin look more awake.

The Body Shop Vitamin C and BB Cream for moisturiser

Dermalogica clay cleanser (for oily skin)
I use as a facemask but also as a 2/3 times-weekly to give my skin a good clean.

Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum 
I can’t rate this product highly enough. The company is Vegan & Cruelty-Free. Check out my article where I share the benefits I’ve found

Mabel and Meg Lumilixir Serum

The Ordinary
I bought these 3 beauties from LookFantastic for a HUGE grand total of…. £17.60. Seriously, I paid £17.60 for 3 bottles, all 30ml each. Absolute bargain. I use the Lactic Acid twice a week; and the other 2 I use 1 or 2 drops each before bed. My skin has never looked so fresh or plump.

Thank you to Michelle at BeautyEditor for her awesome review which helped me decide what to buy.

Need to check a brand/product?

First, try finding the company on Peta’s list. If you don’t get any joy, visit the brands’ website or do a Google search “Brand vegan” and I’m sure you’ll get the answer.

Check which brands you use are Cruelty-Free on the Leaping Bunny website. 

Making the change

It can be hard changing over to Vegan/Cruelty-free products. It feels like a minefield at first especially if you have certain products you’ve used forever and absolutely love.

Hopefully, this list has helped you understand there’s still a lot to do, and knowledge to share to make more people aware of what they’re putting on their skin.

What should you do if you’ve got products to use up?

My advice would be to use up everything you have. Use this time wisely to get to know the products you’ll replace them with.

Update: 17th February 2020

I’ve been using Aurelia products and absolutely love them. They are of course cruelty-free and some are vegan. One of the products I’ve been using is their botanical cream deodorant which is vegan (hurrah). See the vegetarian/vegan confirmation on the Aurelia website.

Dove are now cruelty-free! Hurrah! I have updated the lists above.

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How I protected and nourished my hair on the beach with coconut oil

My hair is up all the time on holiday. It’s never down and I never bother to straighten it. I’m also, always in the sea, so by the end of the day, my hair not only looks like rat tails, it feels horrible.

I bought coconut oil before I went which I’d heard was good at keeping hair nourished during beach holidays. I used it daily throughout my holiday and thought I’d share my very happy experience with you.

After swimming in the sea, you should take a shower. Salt water not only dries out your skin and hair, it leaves a sticky residue behind (gross). After each swim, I took my hair down so it was loose. I stood under the shower nearby and let the fresh water wash all over my hair. I didn’t shampoo it or anything. After a few minutes, I went back to my seat and brushed it until it was lug-free.

Taking about a pea-sized amount (I have long hair), I warmed it up in my hands. I then ran my fingers through the top and ends of my hair – being careful to avoid the roots as it can make roots greasy.

Once done, I scooped it up and put it in a french plait down my back. I like the French plait because it keeps hair in but it isn’t tight on my head, like a ponytail. When I undid it later in the day, it gave me lovely wavy hair.

Here’s a pic of me in the evening, back from the beach. This is after I’d had my hair covered in coconut oil all day. It was SO smooth, smelt amazing and was really conditioned. I hadn’t even washed it; this is when the coconut oil was still in my hair. All I did was brush it and put it up in a ponytail. It had dried on the beach with the coconut oil in it.

Not only am I using it but my Husband started too. He used it once after he’d been in the sea to de-fluff his hair. Guess what? Yep. He started using it in the evenings too instead of hair gel, and continued to use it even now we’re back from holiday.

I’ve used it as leave-in-conditioner a few times since I’ve been back, to give my hair a boost after being out in 35 degree heat for 2 weeks. It looks really shiny and moisturised.

As long as you don’t use too much, it makes styling hair so much easier. I sometimes wave my hair with straighteners. I’ve done it with coconut oil in my hair and the waves have never been as bouncy or as long-lasting. From the reviews on the Superdrug website, some ladies use it for their bleached-hair to keep it from drying out.

The coconut oil is solid in the container, so you need to pick it out with a nail.

I bought the coconut oil from Superdrug for £1.65. It’s cruelty-free and vegan, which makes this my new favourite product.

I’d definitely recommend it, especially as it’s cruelty-free! If you use it, drop me a comment and let me know how you get on.

More uses for coconut oil – further reading

Not just for beauty but potential nutritional value too. Check out FocusPerformance’s article | Coconut oil, Good or bad? 

Could coconut oil be used for hair growth? Hairguard.com discuss the benefits, side effects and uses – worth a read if you’re worried about losing your hair.

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Birchbox ‘Cath Kidston’ Beauty Box April 2018

4/5 cruelty-free products this month from Birchbox!

This months box consisted of 5 products:

  1. ModelCo Baked Highlighter in Moonshine
  2. Beautaniq Beauty – Fill and Tame Brow Gel
  3. Cath Kidston Hand Cream
  4. Whish Shave Cream
  5. Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow

Within the box, I got a 25% off leaflet to spend at Cath Kidston.

ModelCo Baked Highlighter

It’s obvious I like a product when I don’t put it back in the Birchbox ready to look at it another day. That product this month is the highlighter by ModelCo. I got to choose out of 2 shades which I’d prefer – and I got my chosen one, ‘Moonshine’. I don’t know if it’s a sample size or full size but at 1.5g/0.05 oz, you don’t get much. Not a problem – who uses that much highlighter anyways? (hello Kardashians) It’s super shiny and goes on like a dream. I used an eyeshadow brush to apply it on my cheekbones (with a few strokes). It stayed on all day too.

The highlighter is NOT cruelty-free, so I personally wouldn’t buy it again – however, ModelCo is slowly going the cruelty-free way, as they have a Vegan section on their website….. check it out here: https://www.modelcocosmetics.com/shop/vegan/

Cath Kidston Hand Cream

After much Googling, I do believe this hand cream is cruelty-free. Fab fab fab!

The smell is beautiful and fresh; it made my hands feel extremely moisturized. Took about a minute to dry which isn’t a bad thing seeing as though I’m typing this after applying. A little seems to go a looooong way and the one I got is 30ml.

Beautaniq Beauty fill and tame brow gel

“Nourishing tinted brow gel”
This looks promising but I use Wunderbrow so I don’t think I’ll use this #soz (unless I run out ofc)

It has an icon on the tube which says cruelty-free – hurrah!

It looks like it’d be useful for those lazy days when I can’t be bothered to perfect my brows but want them styled, shaped and tinted.

Whish Shave Cream

Smells lush; smoothes on the skin like a dream and has a moisturizing effect; it’s slightly shimmery too. I got 22ml which, to be honest with my long legs and big thighs didn’t go far.

On the tube, it says, “tested on us, not animals” – another cruelty-free product! Amazing!

Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow

This illuminator is too dark for my skin but has amazing reviews online from ladies saying it, “enhanced my skin” and “gave me a fab healthy glow”. It can be used as a primer, which is handy as well as a moisturizer.

Even though it’s too dark for me, I gave it a whirl by adding it to some other white moisturizer (it helped dilute the colour making it lighter) and I could definitely see a glow. I only put it on my cheeks (as I have an oily forehead) and it made them look plump and fresh.

Cruelty-free again as confirmed on their website https://www.marcelle.com/en/faq

 

Sign up and save £5 on your first box

Use my referral link (https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/ahoydesigns) to sign up, and get a fiver off your first box. You are welcome!

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How does Birchbox Beauty Box work?

I decided to start trialing Birchbox beauty box after using Look Fantastic’s beauty box for a little while. I was getting fed up of receiving moisturisers and face oils when I hadn’t even used up the ones from the previous month.

There are loads of beauty boxes around but Birchbox has an awesome looking website and that’s why I decided to go with them.

Personalised

They ask for your details when you sign up, such as your skin type, so they can help tailor the products they send you. This is a BIG winner for me – I don’t want moisturiser for sensitive skin because I don’t have it – nor do I want frizz ease hair product because I don’t have frizzy hair. I want products tailored to me.

How does it work?

You buy the box each month and you get 5 products. The products can either be full or a smaller size. For each the products each month, you get these benefits:

  • 10% off full-size products sampled in your current and last months’ boxes (say you get a small size product in your box and use it up, you have time to purchase the full size from their shop and get a discount)
  • if you buy from their online shop there are usually discounts on other products or freebies to be had – make sure you check the site
  • if you review each item in your box within a time-frame, you get free delivery on your next box
  • if you sign up for 6 months you become a VIP which entitles you to more benefits (see below)

For all the benefits, check out here: https://www.birchbox.co.uk/birchbox-benefits

Here’s a photo from the Birchbox website detailing the benefits (there are lots to be had!!)

You get a discount if you review what’s in your box, so the awesomeness of that is because soooo many people have tried the products, there are plenty of reviews to read before you reach for your purse. You can use the site to buy products too even if you aren’t signed up to get the Beauty box.

I’ve had 3 boxes so far and I’ve found a handful of gorgeous products I’d happily buy.

Price

Prices (at time of writing this post) are £10 per month plus £2.95 delivery for each Birchbox. For me this is a no-brainer – you get to try out products you wouldn’t normally; have them delivered to your door; get them tailored to you; get discounts if you find one you love; get other freebies if you review your box. The list of benefits is huge and a big winner as to why I signed up (and stayed) joined up!

I haven’t (unfortunately) been paid or received any goodies for this review. It’s from my own experience so you can believe it’s 100% honest. Whilst that’s 100% true, because I have an account with Birchbox they do ‘recommend a friend’ – sign up using this link and we BOTH get £5 off our box https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/5xf1n

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Look Fantastic Beauty Box – October 2017

Look Fantastic beauty box - October 2017

Indulge Me #LFbeautybox

In this month’s beauty box I got 6 products – ranging from ModelCo concealer, firming face oil, to coffee bean body scrub! At only £14.50, it’s an absolute steal… I also got a free handbag-sized Elle magazine, which alone is worth £3-4.

Look Fantastic beauty box - October 2017
Look Fantastic - October 2017

In this month’s box…..

  • Bean Body – coconut coffee body scrub
  • Ciate wonderwand – mascara
  • Lancer – the method polish
  • ModelCo – instant radiance concealer
  • Monu Skin – firming fiji facial oil
  • Skimono – beauty mask

Bean Body – coconut coffee body scrub

I’ve used this scrub in the shower (it’s messy) to help reduce my cellulite. It’s made my skin extremely smooth and reduced my cellulite a bit – using it often I hope to massively reduce it.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free as confirmed on their website.


Ciate wonderwand – mascara

Look Fantastic - Ciate Mascara

Lancer Skincare – the method polish

You use this on your face as a scrub to get rid of dead skin cells. It’s got amazing reviews. I’ve tried it and it’s great for leaving my skin smooth. I unfortunately wouldn’t buy it because it isn’t vegan, as so confirmed on their website (search for “vegan”). They are cruelty-free though (search “cruelty”) in their FAQs.

ModelCo – instant radiance concealer

Look Fantastic - ModelCo concealer

It’s the wrong colour for me so I was unfortunately unable to test this. I would say it went on my skin smooth and blended well.

I’ve been unable to find it on their website. It does however, say that everything they sell is vegan and cruelty-free.


Monu Skin – firming fiji facial oil

Look Fantastic - Monu skin oil

This oil has been amazing for my skin. I don’t use it on my forehead as that’s really oily anyway and I wouldn’t want to make it worse. I put it on overnight and by morning, my skin is super-smooth.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free! Confirmed on their website.


Skimono – beauty mask

Look Fantastic - Skimono mask

Inside the packet was 2 hand masks. They left my hands super smooth. I wouldn’t purchase these as unfortunately I can find no information relating to if they are either vegan or cruelty free on their website, https://skimono.com/pages/faqs.

Where to buy & discounts

If you decide to buy, feel free to use my ‘friends and family’ code for £5 off (if you’re a new customer) I get £5 off too. Here is my referral link: https://www.lookfantastic.com/referrals.list?applyCode=RACHAEL-RBAF

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Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum review

Mabel Meg Lumilixir Serum review

I first found Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum through a beauty blogger on Instagram. She put a few blobs on her makeup brush, along with her foundation, and began sweeping it across her face. It seemed to blend perfectly and gave her a dewy glow. I can’t remember who she was, but she was really happy and posted a fab review (not to mention, a bloody gorgeous selfie).

Now I’m not sure about you, but I always think…. “do you REALLY think that….. or are you being PAID to think that?” so I decided to buy some for myself.

Mabel Meg Lumilixir Serum review

When I looked into and read the reviews, it seems it’s not just a primer. It helps to (from their website):

  • Plumps and hydrates skin
  • Smooths complexion
  • Brightens skin
  • Paraben free
  • Oil free & non-comedogenic
  • Fragrance-free
  • Absolutely no animal testing (hurrah!)

It’s described as something you can use as part of your morning and evening routine, applied over a cleansed and toned face. You can moisturise beforehand, but you need to wait for it to absorb before applying.

It’s vegan and cruelty-free 😀

Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum – How do you use it?

It comes in a bottle with a dropper, so you can control how much you’re using (and it looks really professional). I use 3 drops on my fingers or makeup brush, then rub lightly all over my face. Once done and it’s still slightly wet, I apply my foundation. I use The Body Shop Fresh Nude foundation which glides on amazingly even. I then add concealer & blusher.

What are your results from using it then?

My skin looks fresher and dewy. I have an oily T zone, which has continued to be oily, so it hasn’t helped it (or made worse) It makes my face feel light, clean and brightened. My makeup also stays on all day, which didn’t before using this.

I get spots on my forehead and chin but since started using this, they’ve reduced massively. I still get them, but they’re tiny and not as noticeable. If I do get a breakout of bigger spots, I use this twice a day (once before makeup and once before bed) and the day after, they’re almost nothing.

Let’s get down to brass tax…

The bottles come in 20ml or 30ml, starting from £29 up to £39 for the 30ml. For me this is very expensive – my foundation and concealer comes to £50 so spending this on top makes me think “jeez, is it really worth it?”. So there’s only 1 way to find out…. coughing up £29 for the smaller bottle!

Mabel Meg Lumilixir Serum

I bought directly from their website, with £4 shipping fees. I’ve since bought it from Cult Beauty where I paid no shipping (over £40 though).

#TipAlert

If you buy from Cult Beauty make sure you first go through Top Cash Back – at the time of writing, “new online customers” can get 8% back. I’ve used it for years and I’ve had thousands back from it. It’s a cashback site – you visit Top Cash Back and find the brand you want to buy from. You click on it and find out what the cash back available is. You usually get a lower % if you’re already an existing customer of that brand. It takes ages to get paid out but you will eventually get it.

This is a screenshot of my Cult Beauty payout of £3.33 in my Top Cash Back account:

Cult Beauty payout from Top Cash Back

#TipAlert

If you choose to buy it from MabelandMeg.com, look out for the popups where you can get 10% off if you sign up for their newsletter.

Is it worth the money??

Honestly….. I’ll continue to buy Mabel + Meg Lumilixir Serum until I need the money elsewhere. £39 is pricey, so I’ll buy as and when – maybe a couple a year. 3 drops a day will last a good month… or 2. I don’t do as per the instructions and apply in the morning and evening – it wouldn’t last as long (unless I have spots, see above!) and I only want it to help glide on makeup. If I wanted it to stretch, I’d go down to 1-2 drops and only use a few times a week, or on nights out.

If you wanted to use it as a moisturiser then applying morning and evenings would be good for improving your complexion quick, even though you’d use it up faster. Even if it lasted a month, a month’s worth of high-quality moisturiser is well worth it.

UPDATE: 9th March 2019

I still use Mabel and Meg to this day. I usually buy in bulk as that’s when you can get the discount. I still use just 2 drops each morning after I’ve moisturised and before my makeup. It keeps my skin looking fresh, helps reduce spots and keeps my makeup on all day. I love it.

UPDATE: 17th February 2020

Yep… still using it. Had a few months off towards the end of 2019 whilst I was using other things (blogs to come; Beauty Pie, Aurelia probiotic to name a few) but I’m back to using this. It really is absolutely amazing at keeping my makeup on all day. I still get spots during my period week (NOTHING has helped with this, argh) but my oily forehead definitely is better after I use this. I still only use 2 small drops per day. I give it 10 mins to settle on my skin before I put make up on. Love this stuff. Don’t forget to find discount codes from my above tips if you decide to buy! Oh one last thing, the price is still the same – no increase!

I haven’t (unfortunately) been paid or received any goodies for this review. It’s from my own experience so you can believe it’s 100% honest.

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My photo, hi I'm Rachael

Hi, I'm Rachael.

This is my beauty website where I review lots of different products, from make up, to CBD coffee and vegan moisturiser. I've been using products for over 20 years, so I hope I've gathered some tips and tricks to share, plus I'm always learning so I'll be sharing them too. I have oily-skin, that's acne prone, so join me as I navigate this new age being a millennial!