Tag: beauty

Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Beauty Finds: Bar Body Soaps

by natjtan2 Comments on Beauty Finds: Bar Body Soaps

Welcome to another Beauty Finds! This edition is soap. More specifically body soap. One of the first things I switched out when I started wanting to use less plastic was shower gel. Its alternative being soap. An old fashioned bar of soap which I think now is having a huge comeback as people leave plastic bottles behind.

And not just any soap! Firstly it has to be cruelty free, plastic packaging free, palm oil and it’s derivatives free and petrochemical and it’s derivatives free along with being free of a host of other nasty ingredients. With most of my beauty products I try to think about the environment after products have been washed or flushed down the drain. Just like all my other beauty products, in addition to being cruelty free, palm oil and petrochemical and their derives free (I might allow 4th or 5th generation petrochemical) I do my best to avoid parabens, phthalates, SLS, PEGS and a load of other nasty ingredients. I choose to avoid palm oil as I prefer orangutans. Its alias like petroleum can be tricky. I try if possible not to go coconut oil as it’s crops can be just as bad as palm oil crops. If I can I prefer to use sustainable palm and coconut oil. With skincare it’s bit more tricky so I go for cruelty free and try to avoid some nasty ingredients. My skin type is oily, sensitive, acne and now those wrinkles! Body skin type dry. 

Outlaw Soaps Home On the Range Soap 

I was sad when I finished using this as I know I won’t be able to get it again. It was a USA find earlier this year on holiday from Wholefoods. Blackberry scented but not if you get me. It’s a little more musky than I go for but I liked it nonetheless. It didn’t irritate my skin, it left my skin hydrated, I liked it’s creamy texture and it didn’t leave scum marks in the shower that are a bugger to clean off. It’s scent so strong that between uses it lingered in and around the bathroom. Even the packaging I saved to write it up still has its scent. As for the packaging, I like it for what it is. Undyed cardboard to fit its rustic feel. The only cons I have are: the colourings as it what they are, is it vegetable colouring, is it natural, is it environmental friendly and the fragrance oil: what is it in case of reactions. Would I repurchase? Yes if I could get it in Europe. 

The soap swirls are cool! Mona Lisa here
Dog or cat here.
The surprises inside the packaging added to the soap! The horse reminds me of ballon horses!

Sappo Hill Almond Soap

Another USA find I was sad to finish. I found this in a weird organic, super health food shop in Oahu. An expensive health food shop. But it is on an island with prices higher due to import. There’s nothing fancy about Sappo Hill’s packaging. Only plastic the price sticker. It comes in a display box which you select from. It was also the cheapest cruelty free soap I found in the USA and for now in Europe that’s plastic packaging free.

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Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle

Beauty Finds: Frank Body, Blossom Jeju and Olivarriel, Controlling Cystic Acne and is Hyaluronic Acid Vegan?

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Beauty Finds: Frank Body, Blossom Jeju and Olivarriel, Controlling Cystic Acne and is Hyaluronic Acid Vegan?

Welcome back to another Beauty Finds! This edition I tried and tested, Frank Body Creamy Face Scrub and Anti-Make Up Cleansing Oil, Blossom Jeju Pink Camellia Soombi Blooming Vitamin Radiance Booster and Pink Camellia Soombi Blooming Essence Facial Oil and Olivarriel Skin Barrier Emollient Cleansing Bar. 

As always I look for cruelty free, vegan if possible, natural, clean ingredients. I eat honey so depending on the product and if I think the honey source is good I use some products with honey in. Another other animal derived ingredient is out and that now includes hyualauric acid (see Blossom Jeju Pink Camellia Soombi Blooming Vitamin Radiance Booster review). I do my best to avoid palm oil as I prefer orangutans, petrochemicals and their aliases (3rd or 4th gerneration derivates maybe), parabens, phtalates, SLS, silicones and other nasty ingredients. With skincare it’s a lot easier. With make up I go for cruelty free products. My skin type is oily, sensitive, acne and now anti aging. 

Frank Body Creamy Face Scrub Now Original Face Scrub*

For babes that have one minute to get their glow on, I’m the guy for the job. I’m a targeted exfoliator that cleans pores, buffs away dry skin, and keeps skin clear thanks to my blend of coffee, bamboo, and walnut. Your skin will look glowing and even from the moment you rinse me off. For best results use me 2-3 times a week after cleansing. Acne and blemishes don’t stand a chance.

The ingredient list on this scrub I like. No nasties and all natural. It’s not vegan as it contains honey, but I eat honey (from good sources) so sometimes depending on the brand I’ll buy products with it in. My skin felt smooth afterwards but it wasn’t a scrub I reached for often. This could be because I prefer Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask. It’s quite liquidly and the walnut granules take some time to rinse off. I found it better to rinse off in the shower with a face cloth than just the sink and face cloth. If I’m honest as I use Frank Body body scrubs if I haven’t used the Kora Organics exfoliating mask before showering I’ll the use the body scrub on my face as I feel I get better results. Would I buy again. No. I’d prefer to just use sugar in my face cleanser or Kora Organics Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask.

Frank Body Anti-Make Up Cleansing Oil*

I’m a natural cleansing oil that takes your second face off. My combination of coffee, grapeseed oil and vitamin E dissolve dirt, helps acne, makeup and all your attempts at winged-eyeliner. It’s a wipe-free makeup remover that starts oily then evolves into a creamy, milky liquid when mixed with water. Leaves your skin clear, bright and panda-eye free.

Again I liked the ingredient list as it’s all natural however I felt it just didn’t remove make up especially eye make well or leave my skin feeling cleansed even with a foam cleanser afterwards. I also didn’t like the packaging. Way too much plastic used. Would I repurchase? No.

* The only Frank Body products I use now are their body scrubs. I stopped drinking coffee a few years ago switching to hot lemon in the mornings and more green tea. After a month I noticed a huge change in my acne or rather cystic acne. I was however still using until last year Frank Body Caffeinated Face Moisturiser which has coffee in. When I stopped using it while I had still had at that time of the month mild cystic acne, I noticed after switching to products not containing any coffee my acne improved especially that time of the month cystic acne. I know cystic acne is also hormone related, but since I’ve stopped using coffee products on my face I rarely get any now, only when a little stressed.

Blossom Jeju Pink Camellia Soombi Blooming Vitamin Radiance Booster

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Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle

Beauty Finds: Makeup Sponges: Beautyblender vs Fenty Beauty vs Tarte Cosmetics

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Beauty Finds: Makeup Sponges: Beautyblender vs Fenty Beauty vs Tarte Cosmetics

The battle of a few cruelty free makeup sponges!

I’m in no way a full face of makeup girl. I use a makeup sponge to apply BB cream or tinted moisturiser and concealer. Just like all the products I use I try to make sure all the beauty tools I use are also from cruelty free, clean ingredient, vegan if possible brands. I know the last 2 aren’t always possible with cosmetics. I also try to go for the lesser plastic packaging brand to help keep my plastic consumption down. I know I could use my fingers to apply products, it’s best I don’t. Brushes I find I don’t get a smooth blended finish and I’m there all day trying to get it streakless.

Beautyblender

I’d been using a Beautyblender for a few years until last year I started not being happy with it and wanting change. I’m not sure if they changed the formula or me using a different product it wasn’t working the same as before. I use makeup sponges damp and leave to air dry. The last 2 Beautyblenders I used weren’t air drying as quickly. I know that towards the end of a foundation or BB cream it doesn’t apply as well but this was happening mid way through a tube with regular cleaning of the sponge. Usually I could get 3 months use out of one until it needs replacing as it seems damp all the time product doesn’t apply as good. I noticed it needed replacing after 2 months. I also noticed as it wasn’t drying as quickly it got faint dark spots I wasn’t sure if were mould or part of the sponge. Also the first few washes so much pink dye came out! Imagine what that dye does to your face and the water system. It also seemed to eat/absorb a lot of product taking forever to wash out. 

Here you can see the fade after about a month of weekly cleaning

As for application I can’t remember. It was okay but I never liked that I couldn’t always get a smooth finish for undereye coverage. Two other reasons why I wanted to switch were it was getting more expensive in Sephora and the packaging for the original pink version went on steroids. Would I buy again, probably no now I know there are others out there. sephora.es €14.95

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Precision Makeup Sponge

I wanted to try Fenty Beauty Precision Makeup Sponge for one for two reasons. The price, about €2 cheaper than Beautyblender, it has lesser plastic packaging and I was intrigued by its flat side and top. Would it make a different? Yes! It makes applying and blending or tapping product so much easier! 

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Animal Kingdom, Beauty and Skin Care, Fitness, Lifestyle, Nature, Weekend Friday Favourites

Weekend Friday Favourites

by natjtan1 Comment on Weekend Friday Favourites

I hope you’re having a great weekend!

Just as Spain is getting used to the ‘new normal’, the Catalan regional government announced this past Friday that the Barcelona metropolitan area is going into a 15 day voluntary lockdown due to spike in covid-19 infections. Most gyms have been ordered to close although the city council is appealing to keep them open and most are keeping open until further notice. Cinemas, amusement parks, nightclubs are closed. Bars and restaurants have gone to back to 50% capacity. For now the beaches are open and we’re allowed to exercise outside. Face masks are now mandatory outside at all times even if we can social distance. Exceptions under 6’s, breathing difficulties and for exercise. Police can set stop motorists and advise them to return home but can’t fine. 

Anyways, a short and sweet Weekend Friday Favourites this week. The week’s gone a in blur leaving me scratching my head where it went. 

Jade Eye Mask

An Instagram rabbit hole a few months ago lead me to an esthetician’s page where in one of her clients facials she used a jade eye mask. I was thinking it could help when I have migraines. When I get one usually the only thing that will provide pressure release is a dark room with a t-shirt folded lengthways and placed over my eyes like an eye mask. It gives enough weight to kinda press out the pressure. The head spider massager also helps. 

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Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle, Recycle Less

Beauty Finds: DIY Cocoa Butter and Avocado Oil Body Butter

by natjtan1 Comment on Beauty Finds: DIY Cocoa Butter and Avocado Oil Body Butter

I mentioned a few weeks ago in a Weekend Friday Favourites I was trying out a DIY body butter and would share the recipe and results. I’m trying to reduce my plastic consumption and am also looking for a more hydrating body lotion. 

Please scroll down for the recipe if you want to skip skin history and the why’s I tried DIY

While I have oily skin, my body always feels dry unless it’s moisturised. I’m not sure if this is because it’s eczema prone so is maybe drier or it’s so used to daily lotion it knows when it needs more. 

I’ve always gone for cocoa butter based lotions due to cocoa butter hydration properties. It’s good against stretch marks and cellulite. For years I used Palmers Cocoa Butter with no issues. I stopped using it as it contains palm oil I try to avoid as I prefer happy orangutangs in rainforests and petroleum or paraffin which I also avoid. Some of the brands other products use shark oil. Being vegan, that’s a no. I used Alba Botanica Hand and Body Lotion Cocoa Butter (now discontinued) until iherb.com stopped shipping to Spain. When they resumed I didn’t want to spend as much on shipping. It’s hard to find in Spain good cocoa butter based lotion so I’ve been compromising. The Body Shop is too expensive for what I get through. I found a great band The Organic Shop and currently use their Bourbon Vanilla Body Mousse, a shea based lotion (ingredients are listed incorrect). However they’re not the same as cocoa butter lotions and I messed my skin up last year with mineral sunscreens. I also find that sometimes The Organic Shop just sits on my skin no matter how much massaging in and feels dry later on. If it’s humid after a shower, it doesn’t seem to massage in at all. In the winter after showering I change back in PJ bottoms for 15 minutes for the lotion to absorb, not my leggings absorbing any. 

By now you guessed I care for the environment. I wanted a reef friendly sunscreen and most are mineral based of zinc or titanium dioxide. After going through several brands, my skin can’t deal with lots of zinc. It’s hard to wash off and it dries my skin out to the point it cracks and is painful. I thought I found one last year that worked with my skin, Freshly Cosmetics Healthy Protection Sunscreen Body Lotion however after using it since May, it’s started to dry my skin out. I thought I found a way to remove mineral sunscreen effectively as soap, coffee and sugar scrubs, dry brushing don’t, with a pumice stone. It does but you have to be careful using it. Back story over, I needed something that would help my skin back to happy. 

The Recipe From A Beautiful Mess

1 cup or 225 grams of cocoa butter

1/2 cup or 64 grams of avocado oil 

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