Herbal Tea Love

Apologies for being rather M.I.A this week, but unfortunately work has been tiring me out so bad that by the time I get home, the last thing I want to do is look at a computer screen for another couple hours! One of my favourite ways to wind down at the end of a long work day is with a lovely big cup of herbal tea. I'm really not a fan of traditional black tea but when it comes to alternative herbals, I've never found one that I do not enjoy.

The basis for a good tea in my books is liquorice. I like my teas to be naturally sweet and that's definitely what you get with this ingredient! My absolute favourite tea is Teapigs Liquorice and Peppermint. For lack of better words, it basically tastes like boiled aniseed sweets with a refreshing kick. Yum yum! This really satisfies my sweet tooth when I'm craving something naughty after dinner. It's super duper pricey but every now and then I just cannot resist! Pukka do a slightly cheaper version but Teapigs' offering is of much superior quality and you just cannot beat it. Another source of  my daily liquorice fix comes from Yogi Tea. I adore this completely organic tea brand and they offer a massive variety of tea flavours. Another of my favourites from them is the Detox tea with dandelion, anise and - you guessed it - liquorice!

Finally, a venture in to the world of fruitier teas. I've never been one for fruit teas but Clipper's Organic Blackcurrant and Acai is the absolute BOMB. I could easily sit and go through a box in a sitting. I'd liken it to hot Ribena (even though I hate Ribena) and something about it is strangely comforting. The acai gives it an almost chalky taste but surprisingly it works. I bet I'm selling this amazingly right now. Marketing is definitely not my forte. Clipper is also my green tea provider of choice so definitely worth a look in for all your tea-like needs! In fact, all these tea brands are really top notch.

Have you tried any teas from Teapigs, Yogi Tea or Clipper?

Intro to The All Natural Face

I think that The All Natural Face may be a rite of passage for anyone looking in to greener makeup. The brand is the brain child of a lovely lady named Crystal and is probably one of the most popular independent beauty brands available. The sheer variety of products that is offered astounds, from makeup to (ahem) lubricants, and everything is 100% natural and vegan.

I recently picked up two of their most popular products and it was instant love. I was most excited about the Vegan Cream Blushes of which I chose two shades, Bubblegum and Peachy Rose. The names are pretty self-explanatory with Bubblegum being a bright pop of pink, and Peachy Rose, more of a muted dark peach with a hint of - you guessed it - rose. I've fallen head over heels with the formula of these blushes. They are smooth, creamy, easy to blend and apply flawlessly. They are gorgeously pigmented and with a heavy swatch, would appear just as bright as they are in the pan. The staying power is impressive for such a clean product and I love taking them with me when staying at the boyfriends as you could apply them with your eyes closed. However, there is a handy little mirror in the lid if you're a little inept in blind makeup application! 

Another well-hyped product is the Vegan Cream Foundation/Concealer and I'm in the shade Porcelain Kissed By Honey which is the palest neutral shade. I spent a good hour trying to work out my colour is the online references aren't great and there's enough shades to suit anyone, ranging from pale to dark in neutral, olive and tan undertones. Luckily I chose correctly and this colour blends in wonderfully with my skin tone. The texture is something to get used to though as it can be a bit gritty. Nevertheless, don't turn your back just yet as this is normal for products containing natural waxes and it will quickly melt in to your skin upon application. I find it to be light coverage but if you properly went for it (and your skin isn't too dry), I reckon you could build this up to whatever coverage you desire without any caking whatsoever. Because of my oily skin type, the texture of the foundation really works and appears to be one with my skin, becoming completely undetectable.

I'm definitely itching to try some more products from TANF. There's so many gorgeous cream blush shades and ya'know...you gotta catch em' all. 

Review: Pai Echium and Argan Gentle Eye Cream

Some would say that I'm too young to be using eye cream. However, I'm 19 next week and I'm loving this product more than ever. Eye cream was never really a common occurrence in my skincare routine before now. I had an extremely mediocre offering from Green People floating about my bedroom but I never felt any need to use it. Then there was the polar vortex. 

My skin has never been dry as such, but there's one problem area that always reacts to the harsh weather... my eyes. They become tight and sore, yearning for some gentle hydration that offers a bit more than your bog standard day cream for oily skin. Obviously, Pai is my go-to brand at the moment and their Echium and Argan Gentle Eye Cream has really been the ticket for my winter eye woes. Using this morning and night has eradicated the dreaded tired eye feeling and has significantly diminished concealer creasing that can come from dehydrated peepers. I really enjoy the ritual of application and I've found that the best way to use is by pumping a tiny amount on to a ring finger, rubbing it between both ring fingers, and then tapping along your orbital bone, allowing natural body heat to send the nutrients upwards. Your eyes will feel instantly refreshed and you can positively feel those dark circles cowering away... One thing to note though, the pump is very sensitive and it isn't hard to accidentally release enough product to cover your whole face!

The packaging may say 'Age Confidence' but believe me when I say this beauty offers way more than the promise to be wrinkle free (I'll report back in 30 years or so on that claim).

The beautiful ingredients that I've come to expect from Pai:

Aqua, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil*, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, carthamus tinctorius (thistle) seed oil*, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, cetearyl glucoside, echium plantagineum seed oil, rosa canina seed extract*, pelargonium graveolens oil*, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil*, jasminum grandiflorum flower extract*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, tocopherol, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, sodium lauroyl lactylate, glyceryl stearate citrate, lactic acid.

Naturally occurring in essential oils: citronellol*, d-limonene*, geraniol*, linalool*.

*Certified Organic by the Soil Association (Organically produced 74% of product). Contains Nut Oil.

My Favourite Brushes

As much of a "get your hands dirty" advocate I am, I cannot deny the perfect convenience that comes with a good makeup brush. Whether it's blending out foundation, applying eyebrow powder or blending an eyeshadow, you really can't beat them. I thought it'd be handy to pick out some of my favourites as when it comes to buying your first brushes, there's a lot of choice and that can be daunting. I actively seek out cruelty-free synthetic brushes and all of the above - bar one that was bought along time ago but is still synthetic - come under that category. I personally do not consider The Body Shop as being cruelty free but I know that some people don't take parent companies in to account (they're owned by Loreal).

Real Techniques: Popular among the blogging community, Real Techniques brushes really can't do any wrong. There is one for every task and they also offer a variety of brushes in really cute sets for a reasonable price. These are widely available in Boots stores. Some of my favourites include the big and fluffy Blush Brush which I actually use for light contouring; the Expert Face Brush which is perfect for applying liquid foundation or cream products; the Fluffy Shadow Brush which is ideal for blending out eyeshadow; and finally the Detailer Brush which I find perfect for spot concealing.

Eco Tools: Probably the next popular brush brand among the green beauty community, Eco Tools brushes are as earth-friendly as can be and all products come in 100% recycled packaging and have beautiful bamboo handles. My most used brush is the Angled Eyeliner Brush which is the perfect size and density for applying brow powders. The angle allows you to create an arch with precision. My newest acquisition would be the Retractable Kabuki which I adore for applying my powder foundations from Honeybee Gardens and Lily Lolo. I don't use it particularly for travel but the handbag-friendly nature of the brush comes in handy for touch ups.

The Body Shop: As mentioned before, I do not consider The Body Shop to be cruelty free as they are owned by Loreal but if parent companies are not an issue for you, they offer some really nice and high quality synthetic brushes. The only one I own is the Eyebrow and Lash brush but it's worth noting that it's the only one I have ever owned that hasn't fallen apart after cleaning!

Have you tried any brushes from these brands?

Recent Empties #1

Using up products has never been my forte. I'm notoriously fickle when it comes to beauty products and even I was surprised when I realised I had finished up two cleansers... what has gotten in to me?

The two cleansers in question are the Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser and the REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. The latter was my in-shower cleanser of choice as I found it a little messy for everyday use. Although my skin isn't perfect, I'd also see using a blemish-fighting cleanser twice a day as a little excessive. It was nice, but nothing special and I wouldn't repurchase. The Alpha-H cleanser on the other hand is my (dirty) holy grail. Containing aloe vera, this offering kept my skin happy and was my absolute go-to when I needed to strip my skincare back to basics. It claims to be pH neutral - overcoming the need for toner - but I did still experience some oil slick action almost immediately after cleansing which is a sign of unbalanced skin. Despite how much I love the product, I wouldn't repurchase as I'd like to try some greener alternatives.

Keeping with the skincare theme, I finally used up my teeny bottle of Caudalie's Eau de Beaute. Boy is this an over-hyped product if there ever was one. If I'm honest, this is just fancy water that smells nice. However, it was useful for refreshing my makeup in situations when everything was getting a bit cakey.

Another product that seems to have lasted forever, is the L'Occitane Shower Oil. Previously, this was my shaving emollient of choice. The premise of this product is lovely, a lightly foaming oil that is wonderful for keeping skin soft and smooth. However, this came with a price. The price of a hefty amount of sulfates. L'Occitane is a good example of a green-washed brand and I'm happy to finally see the back of this product.

I'll admit that my last two empties aren't exactly... empty. In fact, they're practically full but I just don't want to use them. The Green People Rejuvenating Eye Cream was okay don't get me wrong, but I just didn't feel it doing anything. It was super cheap and a bit of a disappointment. The Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon is actually a pretty popular product and it is a really gorgeous shade but I've probably lost count of how many years I've owned this. The fact that it's water-based means that it's more than likely gone off and I don't exactly want to be putting it anywhere near my mouth which is how I wore it in the past. I'm sad to see it go but I won't be repurchasing as it isn't the cleanest of products.

Looking back, I haven't used up a great deal of products but I have managed to rid myself of some that have been hanging around for way too long. Here's to hoping that my next empties post is a little bigger! 

Current Favourites #2

This month has truly been the month of Pai (Will I ever shut up about the brand?) and my top product has to be the BioRegenerate Oil. A beautiful mix of rosehip fruit and seed oils, this blend will leave you glowing. It has been doing wonders for my lack-lustre winter skin and is truly a miracle worker when it comes to giving your skin that extra boost ready for spring. 

Another body part of mine that always seems to suffer in the colder weather is my elbows. And what have I been using to keep them healthy and smooth? Hand cream. Duh. Soap and Glory's Hand Food is a bit of a cult classic as it sinks in almost instantly and smells absolutely divine. I've had my eye on some hand creams from Deep Steep and what better way to use up this one by slathering it absolutely everywhere except my hands? 

When it comes to lip care, I'm a big fan of the tinted lip balm. A dirty Maybelline Baby Lips featured in my last Current Favourites and this time round I'm all about Hurraw, a brand offerring 100% raw and vegan lip balms in a variety of flavours and tints. This one is 'Black Cherry' and tastes of you guessed it... cherries, while imparting your lips with the most gorgeous "just eat some raspberries" stain.

On the makeup front, I've continued my exploration in to mineral makeup. An eyeshadow I've been loving lately is 'Hodor' by Shiro Cosmetics, a soft grey-taupe with subtle silver shimmer. Named after the loveable Stark servant in Game of Thrones, this shade is perfect for the coveted one-step smokey eye that I just adore. I picked up quite a few shades from Shiro's GoT collection because really, who can resist?

Finally, we have this Pressed Powder from Honeybee Gardens. Marketed as a foundation, this is a highly pigmented powder that can be layered to achieve any desired level of coverage. It's surprisingly mattifying and has a really good shade range. I have the lightest shade, Geisha. The packaging is 100% no frills, but you can buy a compact for it if you're willing to shell out a few extra pennies. I've really been enjoying this as an alternative to my much loved S&G powder.

What products have you been loving lately? 

Going Green Tag

The 'Going Green Tag' (started by the lovely Rachel of All Natural Aspirations) seems to have taken the green blogging/vlogging world by storm and I really feel like I'm the last one to hop on board! Nevertheless, let's not leave it any longer...

What started it all off for you?

I've always been in to all things 'green' and 'eco' but I'd never got round to applying it to my beauty regime. I was always more attracted to natural-ish skincare but never paid too much attention to ingredients. My first introduction to green beauty was through Annabel of Fragmented Splendour. Through her blog, I followed her journey to going green and was introduced to a world of wonderful brands and wonderful ingredients. The other lady responsible has to be Brianna/iluvjesse444 on YouTube who is a true inspiration to us all! She's as clean as clean can be. Also, I've been vegan for about a year now so I see it as a natural progression (heh heh).

What was the first thing to go? (Ingredient or product)

I've always avoided parabens (apart from the occasional Japanese Honeysuckle) so I could say that was the first batch of ingredients to be phased out. SLS in my shampoo/conditioner would be second. I still have a few sulfate-laden shower gels to use up however.

What are you/did you struggle to let go off?

In the beginning, the idea of giving up my makeup collection really freaked me out... sad I know. But recently I've really been embracing cleaner brands of slap and I'm currently loving offerings from The All Natural Face and Honeybee Gardens. I'm yet to try any green mascaras so I can see that being a bit of a tiresome journey.

What has been your best find or change? (i.e. a green product or tip that you're really glad you've found/learnt)

Number one best find would have to be Pai Skincare. I knew about them before, but I've recently fallen head over heels with the brand and can seem them being a long-time favourite. In terms of a 'tip' I'd say shaving with coconut oil. Just try it.

What has been the worst thing about going green? What has been the hardest to transition or find an adequate green replacement of?

I haven't really come across any serious challenges as of yet. Good quality natural and vegan makeup is a real bugger to find though. It's very disheartening seeing all these beautiful products that contain beeswax or carmine (ick). You have to be careful as a lot of natural brands do still contain animal-derived ingredients. Also, just because a brand carries some vegan-friendly products, doesn't mean every product they offer are. Check the ingredients on every individual item.

Anything else to add? Any tips or tricks to pass on?

I haven't been doing this very long so I wouldn't take much advice from me! I'd say the best thing to do is to keep an open mind and stay true to your own personal standards and values. Also, iHerb is your best friend.

Most people I would have tagged have already contributed so... I tag everyone who hasn't!

The Love Affair with Pai Skincare

Let's just start this by saying that Pai Skincare is heavenly and possibly my favourite skincare brand at this present moment. The products they offer are just so perfect in terms of ingredients, packaging, morals... everything that I care about! The brand comes with such a lovely back story as well. Started by Sarah Brown in 2007 after a long struggle with skin allergies, the products are geared towards those with sensitive and allergy-prone skin. 

Pai exclude so many controversial ingredients that are usually overlooked by other 'natural' brands such as phenoxyethanol; all parabens including Japanese honeysuckle and alcohol in all its guises (find out more here). They also refrain from using beeswax in their creams. This is a great plus for us vegans but also a plus for non-vegans as beeswax is a known comedogenic and is not well absorbed by the skin. However, note that not all products are vegan so do check the packaging as approved products are stamped with the Vegan Society logo. Pai is also accredited by the Soil Association which is the trade association which regulates organic beauty accreditation in the UK. This is a lengthy and costly process which requires 70% of non-water ingredients to be organically grown and harvested.

My top products from this awesome company include the much coveted Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil, a gorgeous blend of rosehip seed and fruit oils. It's a deep orange colour which doesn't only look pretty but means it's bursting with antioxidants! However, I wouldn't suggest keeping this out on your dressing table as sunlight can damage the wonderful ingredients. This is the first oil which has battled with my combination complexion and it's battered any misconceptions I had about oil for oily skin! I use it in the evening and wake up positively glowing. New additions include the Camellia and Rose Hydrating Cleanser - which I haven't used much yet - the Echium and Argan Gentle Eye Cream which is doing a great job of keeping my sore eyes in check (more on these later!) and finally a wee sample of the Geranium and Thistle Day Cream which is looking good so far!

Have you tried any Pai Skincare products recently?