July August 2016 Beauty Finds

Happy September!

When it comes to skincare, I have 4 things I look for. No animal testing, no animal ingredients I’m aware of (I eat honey, so honey and beeswax is okay. Bee venom, snail slime, I’ll pass), no SLS, parabens, petrochemicals (these are so sneaky in products) and other nasty ingredients and as natural as possible. With make up the last one can be tricky. My skin tone’s neutral, blue veins making it cool, however hazel eyes and natural strawberry blonde hair makes makes it warm so I go for neutral shades if I can. Skin type, oily combination that likes spots. The last 2 months have had some good finds and some oh god no finds. My love of Korean skincare and cosmetics is still going strong.

Cosrx Oil Free Ultra Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)

I can’t get enough this lotion at the moment. It’s a super lightweight hydrating gel type lotion that sits well under make up and sunscreen. If you have oil combo, acne prone skin, gel lotions are more oily skin friendly. Rather than using water for the hydrating base they use Betula Platyphylla Japonica juice or Birch Sap which helps maintain water more deeply on and under the skin. I haven’t had any real breakouts since using this and my skin feels hydrated for longer. I’m definitely going to purchase it again as a day moisturiser. Plus the scent is heaven. Very similar to Origins’s yummy citrus scent.

Tony Moly I’m Real Sheet Masks

Sadly I’ve since found out that Tony Moly sell in mainland China, which means they may have been subjected to animal testing. Which is a pity as I quite liked these inexpensive (€1.50) sheet masks. My skin looked refreshed and smooth after using them. Some I didn’t like, but these ones were the ones I liked the best out those available in Sephora.

Innisfree Green Tea Sleeping Pack

I really wish Innisfree didn’t sell China and was 100% cruelty free as their website states. It’s the one brand that puts me in a conflicting position as most of their products I’ve tried I’ve liked and have good quaintly ingredients for the price. This sleeping pack was on my not so beauty buys however after using it more regularly my skin looked happier, smoother and fine lines a little less in the mornings. The scent’s a little heavy on application but it soon dissipates.

Sephora Shimmering Bronzing Powder Seychelles Cruise, Light 1

Sephora own brand is another brand I’m weaning myself off. In Europe they’re cruelty free by law, however they selling mainland China. If I want to play with make up and not spend that much, I go for Sephora own as usually the quality’s great for the price. This is shade light. I’m pale, but I’m not the palest alabaster porcelain shade. I’m somewhere in the middle of light shades. I only applied a little which was way too dark for me. Even after blending I was conscious it was to visible. When I swatched it in Sephora it didn’t look that dark on my inner wrist. I also didn’t care for the scent. Kinda plasticity and it felt dry on.

The Face Shop Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam, Acerola

Thankfully this was free gift. As it came out the tube it reminded me of stretched out strawberry refresher bars. I found it didn’t clean very well and left my skin feel unclean and dry.

NYX Mosaic Powder Highlighter MPB01 

It’s all the products I don’t like this month! NYX is a brand that’s cruelty free and quite affordable. Sadly a lot of their products contain petroleum so I skip them (I’ve recently found out that propylene glycol and butylene glycol are like a 2nd cousins twice removed petroleum derivative cosmetic ingredient. Sadly they’re in so so many products. Food too. EWG lists them 1 and 3 out of 10 respectively in toxicity levels and as I can’t escape them they are the only petroleum sources I accept. Closer petroleum ingredients or out right petroleum I avoid). This does however have petroleum in. I kinda over looked that and should have left it on the shelf. If anything it was a de highlighter. When I applied it lightly over a cushion compact it ended up looked cakey with zero highlighting effect! I guess my skin prefers cream versions. 

The Body Shop Twin Ball Revitalising Facial Massager

After watching Chrisellem Lim recommend her Dr Jart facial massager, I was I need one! I thought I’m never going to find on in Spain. Shopping a few days later I decided to pop in The Body Shop which I hardly ever do and they had their own facial massagers!

It’s kinda like a face massager, quick anti fatigue, skin booster, puffy skin reducer, improve blood circulation tool all in one. You’re meant to use it with their facial oils but on the days I can’t do face yoga I do a sheet mask and then run this over my face. The instructions are slightly unclear. Is it 1 set 3 reps, or 3 sets 3 reps? I do 3 sets, 3 reps. I’m not sure if I’ve noticed any less wrinkles, better skin tone/lifitng, but afterwards my face feels refreshed and revitalised! It’s a little expensive ( I think I got 20-25% off as I applied for their free points card) for what it is, but I haven’t seen any others apart from Dr Jarts. Care needs be taken with hair as it can get caught up in it.

Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

Thanks to containing glycolic acid and betaine salicylate this is great for oily combo acne prone skin. I’ve noticed an improvement in the amount of blackheads and it doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped of moisture. The natural AHA and BHA’s clean away dead skin cells (I’d still advise exfoliating and using clay masks regularly) and it contains mineral water as opposed to purified water is meant to be better for you skin. With just 12 ingredients I’m already on my 2nd bottle!

What’s your favourite skincare or beauty product at the moment? Have a great September!