Review: Inika Ultimate Lip Tint in 'Cosmic'

If I'm honest, I've not really tried much from Inika. Despite being a pretty 'mainstream' vegan/natural make-up brand, I've only ever tried an eyeshadow from them. Therefore, I was rather excited when I noticed MyPure were stocking one of their newest releases, the Ultimate Lip Tints*. I decided to give the shade 'Cosmic' a go, which is a sheer burnt orange-red.

My very first impressions about the product were definitely wrapped up in the gorgeous packaging. Along with Inika's trademark black & gold, the lip tints come in sleek, thin bullets which are really easy to apply, and are surprisingly cleaner than traditional lipstick packaging. I would definitely say that these longer tubes are my preference when it comes to lip products. They also have a very satisfying click when closing. Don't you just love that? Packaging may be beautiful, but let’s get on to what really matters… what’s inside.

Formula-wise, it's really lovely. I was a bit skeptical at first, but upon testing I was glad to find that the product applies smoothly, and with a consistent colour. It is worth noting however that this product is most definitely a sheer tint, so don't be expecting any major pigmentation. But, as I said, the colour that it does have applies really evenly. This sheerness does actually work really well with the burnt orange-red colour, and the very slight shimmer really brightens the face. I'm not at all a shimmery lip kind of person, so don't worry - it is indeed slight and in no way garish. However, I'm still not sure if this shade is really for me and it would probably look better on someone with a slightly warmer skin tone. The other colours available look really lovely, I have my eye on 'Cherish' - a super glossy purple. Purple lips are my current vice. The ingredients are also really decent, being of course vegan, a high percentage organic, halal, and - most importantly for lip products - dye-free. Peppermint oil is also included, to give the products a really delicious minty taste and smell.

Overall, I am really impressed with my second dip in to Inika. However, I would say that the price is a downside. The RRP is £15.50, which I would consider a little steep for a lip tint. Saying that, you can find these on MyPure slightly discounted at £13.95.

Ingredients:

Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) oil*, Euphorbia cerifera (Candelilla) wax, Ricinus communis (Castor) oil*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil*, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) wax*, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter*, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Mentha piperita (Peppermint) oil*, Natural flavours, Tocopherol, Silicon Dioxide, Mica 77019, Titanium Dioxide 77891, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77499. *Certified organic ingredient. Certified Organic, Cruelty-Free, Vegan and Halal.

Two Natural Brands to STOP Using

This post could have been a lot longer. However, I want to focus on the two - what I perceive as - unethical natural brands that I see floating around the most. I regularly see fellow bloggers reviewing/using products by these brands, and it breaks my heart as unknowingly, they are contributing to the perpetuation of barbaric, unneeded animal testing.

As a disclaimer, this is not an attack on said bloggers or brands, I would just like to raise a little awareness.

MELVITA:

• Melvita as a company is Leaping Bunny certified, however the company they are owned by - L’Occitane - is not.
• L’Occitane originally boasted an animal-testing free policy, but they ditched this in favour of making more profit by selling in China, where testing is mandatory. Other companies who ditched being ethical for money, include Yves Rocher & Caudalie.
• Parent companies receive a percentage of the profit that their owned companies make. This means, when you buy a Melvita product, you are indirectly funding L’Occitane’s animal testing.

BURT’S BEES:

• Once again, Burt’s Bees is certified but their owning company, Clorox, is not.
• Clorox claim to test when required by law, e.g. for selling in China.
• In fact, Clorox’s buyout of Burt’s Bees was kept out of the news, as they were wary of the backlash from fans and environmentalists. I.e. they were scared of hurting their image...
• Clorox continue to use barbaric methods such as dropping products in to animal’s eyes and feeding them potentially harmful ingredients, as well as final products. Buying Burt’s Bees’ products, funds Clorox to continue with these methods.
• In addition, Burt’s Bees is what I would consider a ‘green-washed’ brand, as they continue to use ingredients such as lanolin and others that I would NOT consider ‘green’. If you would like more info on green-washed brands, check out this wonderful video from Brianna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5mvkO1i1_4.

So there we go. I hope everyone takes these points in to consideration. Once again, as a disclaimer, I am not intending this post as an 'attack' of any kind, just some friendly pointers. Also, the image on this post is totally unrelated :-)

Reading & Beauty Goals

Reading Goals

• Complete my Ten Books to Read in 2015.
• End the year with owning zero unread books.
• Keep up with my university reading.
• Use the library more.
• Read everyday.
• Read 100 books in 2015 (13 down, 87 to go).

Health/Beauty Goals

• Drink more water (like I always plan to).
• Get back in to drinking green tea.
• Exercise at least three times a week (even if it's only yoga).
• Finish all non-natural/non-vegan products by the end of 2015.
• Pack food/snacks for Uni rather than buying while there.
• Complete the 30 Days of Yoga (even if it's not consecutive).
• Keep up with taking supplements.

10 Books to Read in 2015

Hello everyone! Another book post for you today... I'm sharing ten books that I would like to have read by the end of 2015. Most of these are classics that I'm frankly embarrassed  that I haven't read - and some of them are books that have been sitting on my shelf for way to long.

This year I'm concentrating on reading through the books that I already own, rather than consistently buying new books. I'm casually taking part in the Read Five Buy One challenge, in which you can only buy a single book after having read five that you already own. I've hoping that this will steadily reduce my owned-not-read shelf, which is currently sitting at 46 books.

• Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
• Dracula - Bram Stoker
• The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
• A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
• Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
• Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
• The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson
• Burial Rites - Hannah Kent
• The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
• Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

So... I better get started with the challenge! If you would like to follow my progress, you can add me as a friend on Goodreads, here.

Review: Lily Lolo Natural Mascara

This review has been a long-time coming. I've managed to keep the excitement under wraps but it has all got too much and I just need to tell you all about this mascara. We all know that the world of natural mascaras is both a minefield and generally full of disappointments. Personally, I've been pretty lucky so far - my first foray, the Ilia mascara, was a big hit and I loved it until the final drop. However, it's damn pricey and since then I've been looking for a cheaper replacement. This is where the new, reformulated Lily Lolo Mascara comes in. Similar in effect, it just ticks all the boxes where my previous love was lacking.

Following the huge rebrand of Lily Lolo, a lot of their products were reworked and reformulated. This included the previously-so-so Lash Alert Mascara. I never got to try its predecessor, but the new formulation has caught my heart firmly in its grasp. This new formulation is truly a masterpiece - for me anyway. If you're a fan of huge voluminous lashes then this is possibly not for you. However, if you're like me and you like; a little volume; a deep black colour; fluttery separation; length and just general prettiness... you've got to try it. The website describes it as creating a 'doe-eyed look', and I would most definitely agree.

It works wonderfully even with my slightly oily eyelids, being both smudge and flake-free. I wouldn't call it waterproof, but it doesn't seem to transfer or run, while still being super easy to remove at the end of the day. It's of course 100% vegan, which makes the formula (lacking in the usual beeswax), even more impressive in terms of staying power. In comparison to the Ilia mascara, the major difference is that Lily Lolo's formula is slightly drier, making application a whole lot cleaner. Also, at £10.99, it's a whole lot cheaper.

Ingredients-wise, everything is pretty low-level (0-2) on Skin Deep, however it is worth noting that the preservative used is potassium sorbate, which some people can react to (it scores a 3 on SD). I personally, have noticed no reaction, and I have experienced absolutely no itchy eyes while using this product. Which is great, because that always seemed to be a side effect of mascara for me.

Overall, I am super impressed with this product - and the price-point is just a happy addition to it's lovely formula (and gorgeous packaging!). I highly suggest that everyone gives it a go!

EDIT: I am no longer choosing to buy from Lily Lolo due to their continued sale of products containing carmine and lanolin. I am now endeavouring to solely support brands that are 100% vegetarian.

The Best Vegan Beauty of 2014

 

I know, it's late. Nethertheless, I'm finally going to let you all in on my top vegan beauty products of the year 2014. So let's not diddle-daddle, here's the list. In no particular order...

MuLondon White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heel Cream

This one is a no-brainer. This product saved my feet during a particularly bad flare up of dermatitis. Unfortunately, we're back to the bad skin days but once again my feet are feeling soothed and smoothed. I've done a full review of this product here.

Skin & Tonic Calm Balm

This is a relatively new discovery, having only made the purchase towards the end of the year. However, this product has quickly shot to the top of my 'holy grails' list and I now use it every single day. Marketed as a multi-use aromatic balm, I actually use this product as a moisturiser. My skin seems to love this particular blend of Shea butter and essential oils. I consistently wake up with skin that seems to have healed magically overnight. Big love for this. Full review soon.

Andalou Naturals Un-tinted BB Cream

This is another product that I talk about all the time, my staple moisturiser/primer for the warmer months. Full review here.

One Love Organics Morning Glory

On to the oils. This is my favourite oil for the daytime. It's a well-loved item among the green beauty community, hailed as a brilliant primer (correct) and an equally as brilliant complexion brightener (correct). Haven't done a review for this one yet, but stay tuned.

Pai BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil

Ah. I would consider this product one of those gateway natural items. It's high quality, not too pricey, and it works true wonders. The first time I used this, I almost fell off my chair. Again, no idea why I haven't done a review for this yet...

Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation

This is definitely up there with my favourite finds of 2014. I've always known that mineral foundations existed, but I always wrote them off as old-fashioned, cakey and drying. Oh boy was I pleasantly surprised by this little gem. You can read my full thoughts here.

RMS Beauty Un-Powder

So, there isn't much to say about this wonder. Apart from the fact that it has made its way on to multiple wish lists, favourites lists etc. It's brilliant. Not just any old setting powder, the Un-Powder is made from 100% finely-milled silica that gently blurs out imperfections and any lingering oil. Just try it.

The All Natural Face Cream Blushes
The cream blushes from TANF have been one of my favourite natural makeup discoveries this year. Not only are they amazingly priced, they are long-lasting, super smooth to apply, and come in a variety of beautiful shades. Pictured here is my favourite, Dusky Rose (they also work for the lips!).

Lily Lolo Mascara
My new favourite mascara, this offering from Lily Lolo has blown my Ilia mascara right out of the water. Similar in formula and effect, Lily Lolo's just has to win in terms of price-point. A full review will be going live next week, along with demo pictures.

Silk Naturals Slick Stick in Sea Breeze
Silk Naturals' vegan lipgloss/lipstick hybrid sticks are just my favourite lip products ever. Sea Breeze is a bright coral - that sings of summer - but continues to be beautiful on the lips all year round. It's super moisturising, highly pigmented and fades throughout the day in to a wonderful stain. Highly suggest you give these a go! Find a full review here.

So that's it! My favourite vegan beauty products of 2014. Any listed above that haven't had full reviews, will be featured over the coming weeks. What did you fall in love with last year?

Bout of Books 12.0

For those of you that haven't been following me on Twitter, last week I took part in Bout of Books 12.0. Bout of Books is a four-times-yearly read-a-thon that takes place over Twitter, YouTube and the book blog world. I had tons of fun taking part and if you want to hear about the books that I managed to read within the week window, watch my above video. Yay reading!

http://www.boutofbooks.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/boutofbooks

Vegans On Instagram #1

A quick post today... here our my favourite vegans on Instagram for beauty and/or food. Some are brands, some are people. You should be following all of them.

1. @petitvour - Beautiful beauty set ups, photography and food from the vegan beauty box.

2. @bestofvegan - The very best collection of vegan Instagram creations from various users.

3. @katarinalari - Food, beauty & cats from Europe.

4. @thevegankind - The very best in beauty, UK food and vegan humour from the TVK team.

5. @cleanbodyfreshstart - Australian wonderlust, yoga and lots of fruit.