Beauty - Ally Aldridge

June 1, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Makeup, Pip Box, Uncategorized

It’s a cruelty free beauty subscription box and contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too. Plus, a 50p donation from the sale of each box goes to an animal friendly charity (Animal Free Research). In addition, you earn loyalty points for each purchase which can then be used for money off future boxes.

Cost: £13.50 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

Refer a friend scheme: Every time you refer three friends, you get a free The Pip Box. If you’d like to sign up, use my friend link: https://www.thepipbox.co.uk/refer/Aliso-SJFXKEDD

What was in my box?

The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.

Conscious Skincare: Shampoo (sheet lists price as £3.99)

Conscious Skincare: Conditioner (sheet lists price as £3.99)

I can’t find either the shampoo or the conditioner on their website so I am assuming that they are new products (there are other scents available though).

The product clearly states that if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor before use! This is a bit alarming but at least they are clear about this rather that hide the information away. As I am currently pregnant, I won’t be trying this product this month. Instead, I plan to put it in my hospital bag to use after delivery as they are both a handy travel size.

MoYou: Nail Plate, Stamp & Scraper (sheet lists price as £9.99)

I am really excited to give this a go. I feel need to buy another colour polish like white or gold to be the print as all my current polishes are very ‘samey’. After pay day, I guess I’ll have to treat myself to a new nail polish.

Bloomtown: Roll on infused oil (sheet lists price as £4.80)

I already have a few products by this brand. They donate 10% of their profits to environmental and social causes. The brand is from Cornwall, UK and started in 2016 and already winning awards for their products.

I had quick sniff and it smells lovely. It reminds me of my favourite Rose perfume by Acorelle (I don’t recommend them for their sun-care products). I love how affordable Bloomtown make their products and how ethical the brand is. I can’t wait to start using this product.

Glo By Glory: Semi Matte Liquid Lipstick (website & sheet lists price as £16.99)

The brand is from America and all the prices are in dollars. One of the first things they say is ‘We are feminine’ but they also say their products are for men. They are vegan and cruelty the free.

The lipstick is available in 4 shades, the shade I have is Sugar Dumpling (described as a dusty rose nude). I’ve tried it on and it is a very dark brown against my pale skin and a bit messy and unforgiving. I’ll keep trying it to see if I get better with practice and looks better with a full face of makeup. I’ll also test how well it stays on.

Reflect on previous box

This is how I got on using the products from my April box:

The Konjac Sponge Co: Body Sponge (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £11.99)

I never would have though to buy a sponge or that I would love it so much but this is the best sponge I have ever used. Even my 4 year old could tell the quality and insist on using this in the shower over his fun character flannels. I plan on buying the whole family one each.

Weleda: Evening Primrose Body Oil (website RRP £24.95 full size, Sheet lists price as £3.99 sample size)

I haven’t used it. I have do have a lot of body oils on the go at the moment and really appreciate the travel size of this sample. I am putting it in my maternity bag for use after my shower in hospital.

FRUU: Colour Balm in Strawberry (website & sheet lists price as £4.99)

I’ve been using this almost every day. It is moisturising and fun to have a pop of colour. The pink-coral shade is a little bright for me but the colour doesn’t last long. I will use it up but if I rebuy, I will try a different shade (there is 8 to choose from).

Balade En Provence: Apple Hand Cream (website & sheet lists price as £9.99)

This smells so good. I haven’t used it much as I neglect caring for my hands. I’m sure that once the baby is here and I’m cleaning my hands after nappy changes, this will be in regular use. I also love the cute apple design of the pot and decided that it would make a lovely gift for my sons key workers at nursery as he graduates this summer and my little boy will start school in September.

Peony Cosmetics: Pink Glow Luminizing Stick (website RRP $22.00, sheet lists price as £16.99)

This product is fine but I have really pale skin and the colour just doesn’t show up on me. I’ve had this problem with other highlighters. I’ve used it a few times as it has a very subtle shimmer on my skin but isn’t light enough to highlight for me. It is friendly to my skin – no irritation or doing weird stuff like flaking – so I think if you have darker skin then this could be great for you.

Would I recommend?

I continue to subscribe to The Pip Box and really like the reward scheme, supporting a charity and discovering more cruelty free brands.

I am disappointed that I cannot use the shampoo and conditioner because I am pregnant but I’ll stick them in my hospital bag as they are a good travel size. I’m most excited this month about trying trying the nail art as I never give my hands any attention – I’ll try to take some pics on how I get on.

May 24, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty

Tropic Opportunity Night

Opportunity Night

My local ambassador for the brand posted on Facebook that Tropic was holding an event nearby for everyone to get together and learn more about the brand (there would be freebies). I decided that as the venue was easy to get to, it would be fun to do something grown up and for me. Together with a friend, on Tuesday, 15 May 2018, we attended to hear about how Tropics began.

The story

Susie Ma (the founder and creator) has quite a humble beginning. She moved to the UK and as a teen, she’d help out her mum at Camden market selling toys. Her family came from Australia and enjoyed creating their own beauty recipes with natural products.

One day, Susie bought some jam jars to market and mixed up a batch of her moisturiser and sold it at the stall for £20 a pot (this was a few decades ago and even for London that isn’t cheap) and they sold out fast! Susie and her family realised that she was onto something and she had to make more. Susie kept selling her jar until she had enough to help her mum buy her first home.

One of her friends told her about a TV show called The Apprentice where you pitch your product to sponsors. Susie got on the show but didn’t win. However, Lord Alan Sugar’s wife was so taken by the cream he was encouraged to reach out to her to work on a deal.

Most retail products have to be filled with certain chemicals to retain their shelf life. Susie didn’t want to do this as she wished to keep the products clear. This caused a problem and they had to find another way to market the brand without retail. Susie then went with a social selling platform.

She didn’t want her ambassadors to feel pressured into sales as she was confident her products would sell themselves. She allows her employees to work flexibly – they can work as much or as little as they want or are able to. This is very appealing to people with other commitments (like parents or carers) or those that wish to wind down but can’t get their state pension because the government have upped the age. It also appeals to those that love beauty and want to support an ethical brand.

Susie likes to reward all her ambassadors and there are prizes for her team at whatever level they are at. The ambassadors who came to the event shared with us their experience of the Glammies, free holidays and other perks for hitting a target. All of them spoke about how they don’t feel pressured or tied in.

We were told Susie is in the process of revamping the makeup to give it a new look. There are lots of people speculating that her next project will be a baby and child range. Although, many guests shared what products they already use on their kids (for example, the Frangipani body wash).

Reflecting

I must admit, after hearing the heartwarming story of how Tropics began and Susie’s values, I love the brand even more. I was very tempted to sign up as an ambassador but I am about to go on maternity leave so I think it is best I simply continue as a loyal customer for now.

If you have the ‘Think Dirty’ app, you will see that this Vegan, Organic and Cruelty-Free brand’s products are rated ‘0’ (the lowest) toxic level.

If you haven’t tried Tropic yet, you really should check them out.

My story with Tropic

If you follow my blog then you’ll be aware that I do love Tropics Organics. My first purchase was the Tropic Travel Essentials Set. This set came with:

Smoothing cleanser (50ml)
Vitamin toner (30ml)
Skin revive (15ml)
Organic elixir (10ml)
Lip love balm (10ml)
Bamboo face cloth

All the items fit in the little travel cotton bag that comes with the set. RRP £28

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWP46JJhSb9/?taken-by=redfae

I went on to buy the full-size versions of the cleaners, toner and moisturiser. When I placed the order, my local ambassador had a deal on. Everyone who placed an order that week got added to a raffle and they got 10% of all orders placed off their bill. This resulted in my getting most of my order for free!

My husband stole the moisturiser (RRP £22) and when it ran out he had the cheek to ask me to buy more. So, when I placed my order, I decided to treat myself to the Soothe The Senses body oil (RRP £28). My wedding flower was Frangipani so I’ve had my eye on this for a little while. Once again, my local ambassador had a deal on! When I received my order, I had a travel size version of the Wild Mint, Lime and Pineapple body wash and body puff.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgwfDwZBFmy/?taken-by=redfae

My husband and I fought over who the body wash belongs to (friendly banter) and when it ran out my husband placed his own order for the full-size version (RRP £10) and treated himself to the Awaken Your Senses body oil!

My next purchases will likely be one (or more) of the following:

Mini Body Wash Collection – RRP £14
Frangipani, Star Anise and Tiare Flower Body Wash – RRP £10
Mini Tamanu Balm – RRP £16
Clear Skin Blemish Fighting Mask – RRP £16

May 4, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Makeup, Pip Box, Uncategorized

Review: The Pip Box (April)

What is The Pip Box?

It is a beauty subscription box with a selection of cruelty free products. The box contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too.A donation from the cost of the box goes to an animal friendly charity (This month is Animal Free Research). In addition, you earn loyalty points for each purchase which can then be used for money off future boxes.

Cost: £13.50 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

View this post on Instagram
April’s The Pip Box unboxing ?
A post shared by Author Ally Aldridge (@redfae) on Apr 24, 2018 at 1:51pm PDT

What was in my box?

The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.

The Konjac Sponge Co: Body Sponge (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £11.99)

This wasn’t an easy product to photograph. It’s also a product you would not expect to have won so many awards but this sponge has!

It 100% natural, biodegradable and despite being gentle it is able to deliver a deep cleanse and boost circulation.

This sounds amazing and I’m putting it in my shower right away.

Weleda: Evening Primrose Body Oil (website RRP £24.95 full size, Sheet lists price as £3.99 sample size)

I really like this brand as they’ve been creating natural products for a long time now.

It’s described as being ideal for dry/mature skin. I’m hoping that it’s going to prove beneficial for a growing pregnant tummy. I don’t suffer with stretch marks but I am living oils at the moment as a precaution.

FRUU: Colour Balm in Strawberry (website & sheet lists price as £4.99)

Wow, I wasn’t expecting the balm to be so pigmented. It’s like a lipstick but really soothing, nourishing and smells delicious.

I love the colour but saw there are more shades to try on their site! This is a brand I’ve not heard of before and pleased to discover.

Balade En Provence: Apple Hand Cream (website & sheet lists price as £9.99)

This is another new brand to me. That produce vegan skincare with natural ingredients. I think they are relatively new as there is currently only two products.

I love the cute ’apple’ shaped jar the hand cream comes in. The other product they do is a pear hand cream in a pear jar. I’m excited to try this product to see if it is as good as not looks and I want to leave it out somewhere so I can show it off to guests.

Peony Cosmetics: Pink Glow Luminizing Stick (website RRP $22.00, sheet lists price as £16.99)

It uses natural ingredients (92%), gluten free, paraben free and cruelty free.

The product had fallen out the tube when I first got it out the box. I pushed it back in the shaft and it fixed it. *phew*

The only highlighter I currently have is my RMS one and it’s almost run out. This will be a useful addition to my makeup. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Reflect on previous box

This is how I got on using the products from my March box:

Dr Botanicals: Tropical Invigorating Cream (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £44.00)

This really light moisturizer has been a joy to use on those really hot days. I do find I have to be ever so careful squeezing the tube as the gentlest touch will release a generous amount – either that or I am very heavy handed. I still can’t get over how beautiful it is. I love seeing this tube in bathroom cabinet.

Saturated Colour: Make Me Matt (website and sheet RRP £8.00) and Moisturising Lipstick – Naked Pink (website and sheet RRP £7.00)

I’ve found the ‘Make Me Matt’ quite dry so I haven’t really used it much. It is a useful product to hang onto for any occasion when I need to make a lipstick have a matt lip. However, I have been wearing the lipstick on its own, most days. I really like the colour. It is a strong pink and very pretty.

Okko Skincare: ‘Try me’ Natural foot balm stick (£21.00 RRP for 50g on the website, £3 on the sheet for 4.5g ‘try me’ size)

I don’t really suffer with cracked heels so I haven’t felt the need to use this product much but it was a lovely treat. I still think I have another use left in the ‘try me’ size, I will use it again.

Raw-Ganic: Refreshing Aloe and Green Tea Facial Wipes (£2.99 on the sheet and website)

I was planning to save these for my maternity bag but I really like it. Especially, when I am tired at the long day and can’t be bothered to spend ages in the bathroom – I just want to go to bed. These are so quick and easy and have a nice gentle smell. I will be buying this product again.

Would I recommend?

I am a regular subscriber to The Pip Box and never been disappointed by the contents. I really like the new reward scheme, supporting a charity and discovering more cruelty free brands.

The hand cream looks really cute. I’ve tried the highlighter and lip balm and they are beautiful universal colours that would suit most people. I can see myself using all these products. I am really happy with what I got.

April 26, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Skin Organics Box, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: Skin Organics Beauty Box

What is it?

Skin Organics Clean Beauty is a subscription box with a selection of non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and natural products. These may be skincare, body care or beauty products. Their aim is to help you discover clean, green and cruelty-free products and brands. They dispatch on 20th of the month.

Cost: £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

This is my second subscription to this box.

I have created a video to go with this post but it’s my first attempt and I think it needs a little edit before putting on YouTube. My plan is to figure out ‘how’ this weekend and update my post then. Sorry for the delay. Here is my written first impressions:

What was in my box?

Radiance

This months theme is Radiance. Inside the box was seven products!

The card has details about all the products and discount codes if you decide to buy.

Mono Naturoils

There were two products by this brand. Their products are cruelty free, vegan, zero waste, and the purest ingredients from the earth. The ingredients are botanical and infused with energy from crystals. For customers they have a loyalty program and free shipping.

Rose & Cucumber Cleansing Oil (website & sheet lists price as £20.00)

I’ve always wanted to try a cleansing oil as I’ve heard that contrary to logic that it can be good for acne prone skin. However, I’ve never got around to putting the theory to the test.

Since receiving the oil I’ve switched to give it a try and so far I like it.

Facial Steam (This trial size is a gift from the founder of Mono. No price is given.)

I haven’t tried this yet but I do get clogged skin so I think a steam will be really good for my face. I’m looking forward to giving this a go soon.

Wildsource Apothecary

Built on an understanding of aromatherapy, these botanical products use natural ingredients. The website hosted a number of interesting looking products that are very tempting.

Radiance Mask (website RRP £24.00 & sheet lists price as £15.00)

I almost tried this after my bath but I must confess, I am not great at mixing my own masks. I tend to get inpatient with adding water and then make them too runny. I will try and do it this month and share my thoughts.

Naissance

This brand provides ingredients to make your own organic beauty products (and sets to get your started). These oils come with a card with three uses and one is a serum recipe.

Certified Organic Rosehip Oil (website & sheet list price as £8.99)

I already have an Oil by this brand and found it to be of good quality. It smells just like an oil so I think they honestly don’t add anything to it – you really are getting what you pay for.

Green People

For a long time I’ve wanted to try this brand but never got around to buying it. They are all organic and worked with soil association to create a recognised standard for other brands to aspire to. They are ethical and support charities. Cruelty free.

Quinoa & Calendula Shower Gel (website RRP £9.99 (100ml), 4.00 on the sheet for sample size)

I haven’t yet used this as I wanted to get some nice pics before jumping in the shower with it. It is SLS free (as are all their products), paraben free and a whole list of free from synthetic ingredients. The natural ingredients are all added for a reason such as Quinoa to lock in moisture.

Anita Grant

There were two generous sample size products in this box. The brand is….

Vanilla Cocoa Body Butter Sample (website & sheet RRP £3.45 for 15g sample size)

This body butter is sensitive enough to use on babies and suitable for pregnant women to treat stretch marks.

It has a very strong rich chocolate smell. The body butter is very moisturising and becomes oil like when it warms up. I really liked the texture but found the smell a little much for me. I’d be interested in trying it again with another scent.

Coconut Rosewood Dry Oil (website & sheet RRP £2.99 for 15ml)

The dried rose floating inside makes it feel special and pretty. This is suitable for combination and dry skin. It also can be used on your hair. I really like the smell. It’s early days but so far I’m very fond of this product and have been using it on my face to treat problem areas.

Would I recommend?

Once again this is another great box, introducing the sort of brands I want to know and use. Everything feels like good quality and was beautifully wrapped.

All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you.

Reflect on previous box

I’m going to include a new part to my article where I look back at the previous months box to see how I got on with the contents. I hope you find it useful.

This is how I got on using the products from my March box:

Apothaka: Rejuvenating face oil – normal/combination skin (website RRP £19.50, Sheet lists price as £19.95)

I haven’t used this as much as I though I would. It’s been so hot, I’ve wanted something lighter than an oil.

NKnaturals London: Delicate – Healing Cleansing Balm (website RRP £25.00 for 60ml, Sheet lists price as £15.00 for 30ml)

This was being used every day and my skin loves it. I only stopped when it got so hot and I desired a lighter cleanser (a gel one). I am still using it to remove eye makeup as it is so gentle on my skin. I like the strong honey and lemon smell.

The Salt Parlour: Calm – Salt and Sulphur Scrub (Rose and Shea Butter) (£15.00 RRP for 200g on the website, £5.90 on the sheet for 60g tin)

I keep forgetting I have this but when I did use it I was really impressed. I don’t usually like scrubs but this is the best one I’ve ever used.

North-burN: Revive – Luxury Bathing Salts (Orange, Lavender and Palmarosa (£4.00 on the sheet)

I still have not used this product as I am saving it for after I have my baby (in August) as salt baths are a great way of healing after labour.

Beauty Kubes – Organic shampoo for normal to dry hair (£1.00 on the sheet)

They now have a video on their website showing you how to use these kubes. I think they are a really affordable and eco-friendly way of shampooing your hair and will think about repurchasing them in future.

April 20, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Skincare

Holland and Barratt – shop

Early last month, I got some products from Holland & Barratt and have been waiting to have a chance to use them to write about what I got.

Yes To – Sleep Mask (RRP £2.99)

Coconut – moisturising (RRP £1.99)
Tomatoes – detoxifying (RRP £1.99)
Grapefruit – vitamin C Boosting (RRP £1.99)
Cucumbers – calming (RRP £1.99)

These masks were on offer, enabling me to buy them a pound less that the usual RRP £2.99.

I bought these because I wanted a mess free and quick method to give myself a facial. These certainly lived up to the claim.

You apply the mask before bed. It feels like a thick intense moisturiser. The product dries but didn’t feel crusty, more tacky. As you sleep, you skin absorbs the product. In the morning you wash your face as normal and you can feel it coming off as it becomes slimey once you add water to your skin.

I was pleased with the product and would consider buying again. I’m keen to try the brands sheet masks and more of the detoxifying tomato range.

Yes To is an organic and cruelty free skincare brand that produce affordable products available in many high street shops.

Salt of the earth – deodorant (RRP £5.99)

This is a popular organic deodorant as it was one of the first to go mainstream. Some time ago, I got the original version in a travel size and kept it in my handbag. I always intended to buy it again and seeing this scent tempted me.

I wasn’t sure I would like the smell as I’m not a fan of Lavender but it did smell lovely and lasted all day. You ought to know, that when you first spray it on, it makes your pit wet. You do need to give it a moment to dry before getting dressed. It didn’t irritate my skin and I felt good I wasn’t putting chemicals somewhere so sensitive.

Salt of the Earth have won awards for their vegan friendly deodorant. It lasts all day, doesn’t leave white marks and is 100% natural.

Dr Organic – Tea Tree Blemish Stick (RRP £4.99)

I have tried other Dr Organic products in the past and found then to be good quality, however, I wasn’t a fan of this. It worked to some degree but it didn’t feel hygienic. I wonder if the tea tree kills any bacteria on the application roller ball… I found the thought off putting.

Dr Organic aim to use organic or natural ingredients. Their products are suitable for vegetarian (some are not vegan, i.e. honey or snail slime). They don’t use mineral oils, harsh chemicals of GMs.

Good Bubble – Body care

Bubble bath – Dragon Fruit (RRP £3.99)
Hair & Body wash – Dragon Fruit (RRP £3.69)

This was a repurchase as I’m a big fan of Good Bubbles. My son loves it and I secretly steal it. The whole range is awesome – I’ve tried it all.

Click here for my Gruffalo Prickly Pear range review.

Click here for my Dragon Fruit range review

Good Bubble is a body care brand aimed at babies and children using gentle and organic ingredients. It is cruelty free.

April 12, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care

Review: Tropic Skincare

About Tropic Skincare

Tropic is a natural, vegan and cruelty free skincare brand. Like Avon, the brand enables people to become reps and sell the products from the comfort of their home enabling them to earn whilst juggling other commitments like raising a young family.

I’ve been a fan of Tropic for a while and this isn’t my first or second purchase. I’ve befriended one of the product representatives on Facebook called Sabrina Ward and follow her on Instagram (@Tropic_Luna). This enables me to keep up with the latest offers.

What did I get?

https://instagram.com/p/BgwfDwZBFmy/

My husband has stolen my Skin Revive moisturizer and had the cheek to ask me to buy him some more! I decided this was a good excuse to spoil myself with the body oil I’ve had my eye on for a while now. I saw a free gift offer was running.

Body oil – Soothe Your Senses RRP £28

Although, Tropic do parties (like Ann Summers), I just don’t have the social circle to have one so buying this oil was a gamble as I had never sampled it. What captured my attention was the ingredient ‘frangipani’ which was my wedding flower.

The oil has not disappointed. It is really beautiful with a flower floating inside the bottle. The oil smells amazing with a tropical floral scent that is very relaxing. It rubs in quickly.

Moisturising Cream – Skin Revive Nourishing Cream Concentrate RRP £22

I originally bought this as part of a skincare set (Travel Essentials) and found it to be really good. I then re-bought but recently I have been trying out some other moisturisers from my subscription boxes and I guess it gave my husband the change to try it.

It is a light day cream and works well under make-up. My husband likes it because it isn’t tacky feeling. You can read my original review of the product and the others in the travel essential kit by clicking here.

Body wash (free gift) – Wild mint, lime and pineapple RRP £10

The deal was that if you spent £50 you would get a free gift – so I had to get my oil ;)

My free gift was this wild, mint and pineapple body wash which has a lovely zesty smell that is great to use to wake you up in the morning. My husband and I have been arguing over who the free gift belongs too (me). It also came free with a pouf puff.

April 6, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Makeup, Pip Box, Skincare

Review: The Pip Box (March)

What is it?

The Pip Box is a beauty subscription box with a selection of cruelty free products. A donation from the cost of the box goes to an animal friendly charity (This month is Animal Free Research). The box contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too.

Cost: £13.50 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

View this post on Instagram
The Pip Box (March) Unboxing ?
A post shared by Author Ally Aldridge (@redfae) on Mar 28, 2018 at 12:38pm PDT

How to get a free box?

In each box is a card encouraging consumers to share their pictures on social media. They then choose a winner to get their next box free. Last month, they chose my February pictures and I got my March box free.

View this post on Instagram
Thank you @thepipbox, I’m so pleased you liked my pics & I’m so excited to use the contents of this box!
A post shared by Author Ally Aldridge (@redfae) on Mar 24, 2018 at 5:02am PDT

What was in my box?

The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.

Dr Botanicals: Tropical Invigorating Cream (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £44.00)

Dr Botanicals is a London based vegan skincare brand and made from pure natural ingredients, paraben-free and no harmful preservatives. They pride themselves on their products being kind to your skin and animals.

The cream is really light but moisturising and sinks in fast. The tropical smell isn’t strong and reminds me of grapefruit but that’s not listed as an active ingredient. These are:

Elderflower: to protect the skin from free radical damage
Chamomile Flower Extract: to heal and soothe irritated and damaged skin
Tiara Flower Extract: to deeply nourish and purify the skin

I’m still really enjoying their day cream from last months edit too – click here to read.

Saturated Colour: Make Me Matt (website and sheet RRP £8.00) and Moisturising Lipstick – Naked Pink (website and sheet RRP £7.00)

This month I got two products by Saturated Colour. This is a UK brand (Essex), cruelty free and vegan friendly. The brand is affordable and they products have great colour and some clever ideas.

The Naked Pink lipstick is a gorgeous colour that would suit almost anyone. It is a daytime pink and you could wear it to work. The ‘make me matt’ is a clever product that can turn any lipstick matt. If you have an old favourite that is the perfect shade but want it to be matt, then this is for you. I think it is genius.

Her are some pics and swatches of the lipstick, Make It Matt and Lip Lock (another Saturated Colour product for longer lasting lip colour).

Top pic: Make it Matt (over lipstick)

Middle pic (L to R): swatch of lipstick alone, lipstick with Make it Matt, lipstick with Lip Lock, lipstick with Make it Matt & Lip Lock

Bottom pic: Naked Pink Lipstick

Okko Skincare: ‘Try me’ Natural foot balm stick (£21.00 RRP for 50g on the website, £3 on the sheet for 4.5g ‘try me’ size)

Okko Skincare use natural and organic ingredients in their products. They are proud of their balms in a stick format as this enables you to throw it in your bag without the risk of spills.

I was impressed go easily the stick was to apply to my foot. It instantly turned into an oil. I used it straight out my morning shower but think this would be better before bed to allow the oil more time to penetrate. It has a nice smell and I’d be interested in trying more of their sticks.

Raw-Ganic: Refreshing Aloe and Green Tea Facial Wipes (£2.99 on the sheet and website)

Raw-Ganic is an English brand (Oxford). The brand uses natural and organic ingredients that are environmentally sustainable and affordable. It is vegan and cruelty free.

I like these wipes. I’ve used them to remove Make-up before bed and in the morning. I also tested them on removing the searches from my arm and it came off easily, even the swatches with Lip Lock. I’m thinking of putting them away in my overnight bag or next to my bed for when I’m too tired to take my makeup off with a full cleanse.

Would I recommend?

I am a regular subscriber to The Pip Box and never been disappointed by the contents. It was really rewarding to get my box for free and goes to show that the company really do care about their customers.

I’m starting to grow a nice collection of Saturated Colour and Dr Botanics products and I am interested in buying more. I like being introduced to new brands I may not have discovered otherwise like Okko Skincare and Raw-Ganic both organic brands with great ethics.

March 28, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Skin Organics Box, Skincare

Review: Skin Organics Beauty Box (March)

What is it?

Cost: £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

I decided to try them out since the products that they are promoting are by the sort of brands I really want to use more of.

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Unboxing my first Skin Organic Box ?
A post shared by Author Ally Aldridge (@redfae) on Mar 26, 2018 at 12:36pm PDT

What was in my box?

The box came with a piece of paper with ‘Rebalance’ on it. I’m wondering if this is the theme of the box but as I’ve not had one before I’m not sure if there is always a sheet of paper with ‘Rebalance’ written on it. On the other side, it has details about the products inside and discount codes.

Apothaka: Rejuvenating face oil – normal/combination skin (website RRP £19.50, Sheet lists price as £19.95)

This oil has been shortlisted for the Beauty Awards 2017 and featured in Vogue. It arrived in a blue organza bag and a personalized card from the owner of Apothaka. I have normal to combination skin so this oil is perfect for me. It is very moisturizing and I’ve only tried it before bed – I’m not sure my make up will stay on it. It reminds me of Antipodes Divine Face Oil – which is one of the best face oils I have ever used. I really like this oil. I’m going to continue to use it and see how my skin gets on.

NKnaturals London: Delicate – Healing Cleansing Balm (website RRP £25.00 for 60ml, Sheet lists price as £15.00 for 30ml)

This balm arrived in a black box but as soon as I saw it I was excited to use it. It reminded me of my Moa Balm and has a similar texture and colour. However, this seems more ‘delicate’. I have used it for removing my eye makeup and it is so gentle it hasn’t irritated my eyes at all. My skin has never felt so soft after cleansing. I’m going to see how my skin reacts to this as I use the pot up but on first impressions, I’m won over!

It smells like honey and lemon.

The Salt Parlour: Calm – Salt and Sulphur Scrub (Rose and Shea Butter) (£15.00 RRP for 200g on the website, £5.90 on the sheet for 60g tin)

This tin looks lovely but as I am not a fan of scrubs I thought about giving it to my husband’s best friend who loves scrub and the anchor theme makes it a little more masculine as you think of the marines and sailors but… I don’t think he’s going to get this one.

As soon as I opened the box, the delicious scent of this scrub caught. I had to sniff everything in the box to figure out what smelt so good. I decided to give it a go and found that it doesn’t scratch the skin, it scrubs and melts. It’s full of nourishing ingredient so my skin didn’t feel dry. This scrub is for keeps!

It’s a beauty shortlist winner and the wooden spoon that came with the box is for scooping it out so you don’t need to use your fingers. It also has tiny rose petals in it and you can see all the natural ingredients. I’m not sure my photo has captured how beautiful this product is.

North-burN: Revive – Luxury Bathing Salts (Orange, Lavender and Palmarosa (£4.00 on the sheet)

I thought the wooden spoon was for the bath salts but it was for the scrub. I haven’t had a chance to use the bath salts yet but I was looking to buy some so I am really pleased this was in my package and I will keep it ready to try in my cupboard for a special occasion.

Beauty Kubes – Organic shampoo for normal to dry hair (£1.00 on the sheet)

The ‘Kubes’ are about the size of a sugar cube. You crumble them in your hand to make a powder, add water to make a paste and then rub it into your hair to form a lather.

I’m not a massive fan of products that I have to make up myself – I’m lazy. So, I never would have bought it myself. However, I actually found it incredibly simple, fun and it lathered up quickly. At first, it felt a little crumbly on my head so perhaps I didn’t get the paste quite right but it soon worked into a lather and didn’t matter.

Would I recommend?

I am really pleased with the contents of the box. I can see myself using up all the products. I am considering repurchasing the cleansing balm, facial oil and even the scrub! The Kube was fun but I’m not sure it is my thing and I’ve not yet tried the bath salts.

All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you. I’m going to continue my subscription; I think that says it all.

March 25, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty

NUI Cosmetics Beauty Review

My husband spoilt me and Christmas and bought this foundation and lipstick from my wish list. I’ve used the foundation every day since and I’m now waiting for payday so I can buy some more.

About the brand

https://instagram.com/p/Bgf6Y-9jAGc/

Nui cosmetics are from Berlin, Germany. They produce natural and organic beauty products that are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

My products were purchased from Glow Organic (Brighton, England). This is my go-to online store for organic makeup.

About the foundation

Name: Natural liquid foundation
Shade: Intense Kanapa
Cost: £38

The foundation isn’t the cheapest I’ve bought but it is well worth its price tag.

It is the perfect shade for me and I love how I can build it up where I need it. It goes on easily like a liquid foundation but dries with the longevity of a Matt foundation. It doesn’t sit in creases and looks very natural. It has a sweet scent to it making it a joy to use.

I apply with my fingers or a sponge. I like the little cap (lid) that clicks on to prevent the foundation coming out when not in use.

About the lipstick

Name: Natural Lipstick
Cost: £23
Shade: Aroha

You need to be confident to wear this lipstick every day as it is a daring colour. True red is a tricky colour to find in organic brands but Nui has done it!

It’s quite a nourishing lipstick and feels lovely on your lips, however, this means it doesn’t last long and needs to be reapplied during the day.

Repurchase

The only downside of the foundation is I didn’t know I was about to run out until it did. ?

As I had already been on a hefty shopping spree this month (probably the biggest in a decade), I had no budget left to repurchase. I had to wait until payday. ??

Surprise: Luckily, my husband knew it would make me very happy to surprise me with my favourite foundation. Upon seeing me trying to use up samples I had, he ordered it without me knowing. ?

https://instagram.com/p/BglArNrj60S/

March 20, 2018 Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Uncategorized

Spring clean, Going green

I didn’t grow up with makeup and, traditionally, I would only wear mascara and tinted lip balm at the weekend. At college, I started experimenting with colours and wearing the palest foundation I could afford, but was still a tad orange for me.

A love of make up

I was twenty and in my second job when I visited a Lancome counter for the first time. The woman did my make-up and I was amazed at the transformation. I promptly bought as much as I could and vowed to return. Their foundation was the closest match to pale skin and their skincare felt amazing; plus, they had deals giving away free stuff with purchases or big discounts.

For years, Lancome was my counter of choice and occasionally I would try other brands like Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown or YSL.

Changing thoughts

I read an article about an ingredient in lipstick that causes cancer. I checked my tubes of Lancome and discovered it was present. I searched for reassurance that in small amounts it would cause no harm – this was the start of me questioning my products.

The next occasion was a girl at work who was very vocal on raising awareness of animal cruelty. She’d share horrific pictures and stories of what the beauty industry and meat industry does to animals. I started paying attention to whether brands I bought were cruelty-free and discovered many leading brands sell in China – they have a law enforcing products must be tested on animals. Sadly, many of my favourite brands were trading in China and I realized they must have allowed this to happen in order to sell there.

The final change was when I discovered my toddler sitting among a cracked pallet of eyeshadow by Pixi Beauty, finger holes in my Bobbi Brown foundation and a red-smeared face covered in Benefit’s Benetint (I suspect he had tried eating it). I was in a blind panic that he could be poisoned by my make up. I cleaned him up and realised it was time to clean up my beauty choices.

Hanging onto the baddies

Changing to clean beauty products wasn’t going to be an overnight transformation. On maternity pay (then returning to work on part-time hours), I didn’t have the funds to overhaul my makeup or skincare in one go. It was a slow gradual process.

To start, I held onto all my products. There was some trial and error in finding what worked for me as many brands are online so ordering them was a gamble. More brands are now offering affordable samples making it more cost effective to experiment. With my successes, my old brands started to get replace and the old products relocated to a box for emergencies – I was still scared to throw them out.

https://instagram.com/p/BfBWXfDhRNs/

https://instagram.com/p/BfDaJPyBayK/

Fresh start

We recently got our bathroom refitted. I had to clear everything out for the workmen to rip out our old suite and put in our new bathroom.

This finally gave me the push to say goodbye to my baddies that we’re gathering dust and out of date. I only put back the products I use that are cruelty-free and most are chemical free too.

Now, I open my bathroom cabinet and smile…

https://instagram.com/p/Bgj2bnrjP5s/