Monday 29 February 2016

Dr Jackson's 03 Face Oil - Vitamin Rich Revitalising Concentrate


used to be a chemical girl... I mean for my skin...but since adopting a (mostly) clean living lifestyle, I have started to feel that my skincare routine needs to represent, and reflect this.

You are what you eat. Ok, we know that. But if you eat clean and then put harmful chemicals onto your skin, it kind of negates the whole ethos of being healthy, which is not only damaging to you, but also to the environment. I realised this when I was nutribulleting all day, detoxing, and then putting the most chemically, and heavy scented night cream on which made my eyes water. All I could think about was the factory it was made in. Probably China, and also containing ingredients that aren't real, or ethical. Since then, I have moved towards a more natural approach... not completely, as I still love my Chanel, and Dior ... But it's a step in the right direction. 

I'm fascinated by nature, and the healing properties of natural ingredients. They not only smell and feel amazing, they feel like they feed your skin with goodness as soon as they are applied. As natural beauty is a thing, it is still quite difficult to find the right product as there is so much choice out there. I have a few favourite brands I always use, but I have recently discovered the amazing and inspirational company called Dr Jackson's who make 100% natural products.


With 21 years of experience treating skin conditions for patients with Cancer, Dr Jackson decided to create an anti ageing skincare line for the mass market using the best from nature, and techniques which mimic the ways that natural ingredients use to treat skin disorders. The products are all ethical - natural, not tested on animals, very low and practically no carbon footprint, and supports indigenous and local communities by creating sustainable jobs and eduction programmes. 

That's amazing right? Finally, mix all of the above with a few years of living in East London and you have a super cool brand that is so luxurious, it puts the hip back in hippie! 


The 03 Face Oil comes in a really cool small brown chemistry bottle, with a minimal label. You only need a few drops for complete coverage of the face. It's super powerful, comforting, and feels quite heavy on the skin making it perfect for the winter and nighttime. I wouldn't wear it under makeup. As it's been so cold lately my skin has taken a battering with the wind, and freezing temperatures. Also my recurring flu like symptoms have dulled my skin, and I'm always in pain. Since using the Dr Jackson Face Oil, I have noticed a difference in radiance, and softness. It's like glamorous medicine. I can't really tell if it's anti ageing yet, as it's only been a month, and I don't have any scars, but my complexion has definitely improved. I have seriously felt so drained and tired lately but I never look it and everyone has been asking me what I use on my skin. Below are the ingredients and the amazing healing properties of this magical youth elixir. Did I mention it smells incredible too? It's insane how amazing it smells, I have been tempted to wear it as a perfume. It's pure alchemy, you have to try it.
£30 (25ml)

Available from Liberty 

* Please note, not only hippies use ethical, natural products ;) 

The Face oil contains -
A blend of oleic acid and linoleic acid
Baobab oil to improve skin tone and elasticity while minimising scarring
Marula oil to deeply moisturising 
Calendula which is an anti inflamatory and reduces redness
Arnica, typically used for bruising, has potent healing properties that repair damaged tissue. 


- Ingredients - 

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Citral+, Geraniol+, Citronellol+, Limonene+, Linalool+ (+ naturally occurs in essential oils)

Wednesday 24 February 2016

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF30


Always in a hurry? Me too. If your approach to applying makeup is pretty low maintainance, yet you like to deliver a high impact result, I have found the prefect product for you - NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint

It's an instant beauty fix for all  you Insta Beauty Babes.  

Insta beauty babes are the kind of girls like me who have 5 minutes each morning to do their makeup. I'm serious. My makeup is always perfect, and no one believes me when I tell them that it takes roughly around ten minutes max to apply. I could probably do my entire face with my eyes closed - Primer - foundation - powder - eyebrows - mascara - lipstick - done! I actually do the rest on the tube. Sorry, I am sometimes that girl, but only a quick lipstick and eyeliner touch up as it saves me a couple of minutes each morning, and I have a super long commute so I have nothing better to do.  

Foundation is the most important and time consuming part of my routine, and I am obsessed with NARS Sheer Glow, and All Day Luminous Weightless Flawless Foundation. To minimise time, I have even ditched my foundation brush, and now apply it with my fingers.




When I heard about the new NARS Vetvet Matte Skin Tint which provides maximum results with minimum effort I was super excited...I can get out of the house even faster! It's a tinted moisturiser with benefits as it contains an SPF, Vitamins C, E, and also Rose Fruit Extract which minimises the appearance of pores over time. It was also created using an innovative Velvet Illusion Complex technology and Transparent blurring powders to not only soften, but instantly enhance the look of skin, making it look flawless, yet natural. The unique spherical shape of the transparent blurring powders compress like a cushion, delivering a velvety feel that doesn't look flat, masked or chalky. 




The liquid itself is quite rich and creamy. It glides onto skin really easily, leaving a velvety, yet soft, and natural finish. It's amazing. The coverage is medium, and you will notice that even though the makeup lasts all day, you might want to touch it up in the afternoon. It's actually a small price to pay considering how easy it is to use. All you do is apply it like a moisturiser, and you're ready. Simple and Perfect. Instant gratifation for the Insta Beauty Babe.

Due to its lack of coverage compared to the NARS foundations, I'm saving my skin tint for the summer where I need less makeup and more help to keep my skin matte. I can't wait. I'm taking it to the beach too as it contains an SPF.

Available in 12 shades from Space NK and NARS

£30



Thursday 18 February 2016

Dr Organic - Hemp Oil Shampoo & Conditioner 2 in 1


 Hemp is cool again, and yes people, it's not just for smoking! 

Okay, bad joke... Hemp comes from the Cannabis plant, but it's not the same as marijuana, its crazy cousin, which it is often confused with. It's a natural product used to make all sorts of products from clothing, furniture, health food, and skincare. It has a long history of use in Eastern culture as a multipurpose natural remedy so it seems a no brainer to add it to beauty products. Over the years, the stigma attached to plant has started to disappear as the remarkable health benefits linked to the plant have become a bit of a phenomena.  

Hemp is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and Omega 3, 6 and 9, essential for healthy looking hair and skin, and is described as ‘nature’s most perfectly balanced oil'. Due to its high content in Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, it has a composition similar to skin lipids which makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturiser. Hemp Oil has been shown to produce beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as helping to support dry skin, hair and nails.

I have been using the Hemp Oil Shampoo & Conditioner - 2 in 1 from Dr Organics, for a couple of weeks now and it has made my hair not only super soft, but surprisingly super volumised. I thought the combined shampoo and conditioner together would weigh my hair down, but it has had opposite effect - my hair is soft yet bouncy and strong. It's a great shampoo but I wouldn't use it without a condtioner. I have dry, damaged hair so It would not tame and moisturise alone, so unless you have naturally oily hair, you would need a conditioner. The shampoo itself is so divine, I love using it. I was a little weary of what it was going to smell and feel like due to the bottle colour, but when I first used it I was so shocked by how incredible it smells. It smells like a really expensive body wash you would use in a spa.  This is because it contains other bioactive and organic extracts such as Bilberry Extract and a blend of Amino Acids to further soften the hair.

If you like this, try the other Hemp hair and skin products from Dr Organics. 

Available from Holland & Barrett and Dr Organic
£6.99

Monday 15 February 2016

Show Fizzness - NUDE Skincare Detox Gentle Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

 

The winter and being sick AGAIN is really taking its toll on my skin lately. When I'm not feeling great, my energy is low, and the light within me seems to fade. I know I sound like a drama queen, but the last few months my golden glow seems to have faded.

Last week I discovered a super fun product that not only made my dull skin sparkle, it actually made me feel happy and excited about the next time I was going to use it.

The Detox Gentle Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash is the new exfoliating face wash from natural skincare brand NUDE which transforms lacklusture skin luminous. It's like a nitribullet for the skin, meaning you get all your superfoods with minimum effort, yet delivering maximum results. 

The fizzy face wash which is a powder, contains a custom blend of enzymes, and vitamin C, which are blended delicately to lift away dull skin and impurities, and also Acerola extract, sourced from Brazil to smooth skin and help to defend from free radicals. Each grain of powder is finally enveloped in omega rich acai berry, inca gold, and virgin coconut oils for an intensely nourishing experience.


This effervescent brightening and refining face wash is really amazing. All you do is put a small amount on your hand, add a few drops of water until it starts to fizz, and then smooth into a creamy paste and rub on to face. You're meant to do it for a minute but I don't have time for that, so I do it for 30 seconds and rinse. Skin feels instantly smoother and tighter. The first time I used it I broke out. Don't be alarmed by this, it's just your skin detoxing. After a few uses, you will really start noticing how soft your skin is and miss that feeling the days you don't use it. I use mine three times a week as instructed, but I'm sure it can be used every other day. It's really one of the best new products I've used in a while.

£38
Available from Space NK

Contains:
Multiple sources of Vitamin C
Ace role Extract
Acari Berry (Omega 3, 6, 9)
Inca Gold Oil (Omega 3)
Coconut Oil
Bilberry and Lingonberry extracts (Antioxidents)