Posts about makeup, skincare and haircare that I love or reviewed. Often include beauty subscription boxes, cruelty free products, and products with organic ingredients and sustainable ethics.
It’s been a tough three weeks without a bathroom. Luckily we have been able to stay overnight at my mother-in-law’s and there are people with bigger problems so I don’t want to complain.
My son has been really good about keeping out of the workers’ way and not complaining about the noise, mess or disruption – it hasn’t been easy for him. He would have loved to have given them a hand but it was too dangerous.
I felt he deserved a treat and when I saw Good Bubble had released a new Gruffalo range, I knew it would be the perfect treat.
https://instagram.com/p/Bf1IVlLBs_o/
He was really happy when he saw his new products sporting the Gruffalo, one of his favourite storybook characters.
The Review
Here is what I thought of the new line and the yummy fruity prickly pear scent.
Bubbly Gruffalo Bubble Bath (£3.99): The bubble bath made a decent amount of bubbles and smelt delicious. We have had the bubble bath before in Dragon Fruit and CloudBerry.
Grubby Gruffalo Hair & body wash (£3.69): It was easy to get a lather and my little boy was confidently by washing himself. We have had the wash before in Dragon Fruit and CloudBerry.
Little Softy Moisturiser (£3.99): This is new to the brand and an excellent addition. My little boy loved having his first body moisturiser. At first, he thought it was a hand cream until I encouraged him that he could apply it all over. This was easier for him to use than their Organic Coconut oil (£7.99).
Grizzly Mane Detangler (£3.99): He doesn’t have long hair that tangles but he does get flyaways so I decided to give this a go to see if it helped tame the problem. I think it has worked. It smells really good and can be used on dry hair so we are using it to freshen up between hair washes.
Dragon Fruit was my favourite but now it is the Gruffalo prickly pear. We will, definitely, be buying this again.
I was only able to get this range direct from their site but I’m hoping Sainsbury, Ocado and Holland & Barratt will get some in stock soon as they sell the rest of the range.
It is a monthly subscription box full of cruelty free beauty products. If that’s not enough to make you feel good, they also donate a portion of their profit to Animal Free Research UK from each box sold.
This product claims to improve the appearance of skin whilst providing nourishment. The main active ingredients are Kale (vitamin C & E) and Cocoa Butter.
Review: I’ve found this cream to be light. It doesn’t have a scent. It dries fast so I can put makeup on immediately afterwards. It is a small tube so I’m not sure how long this will last but the product cost is the price of the subscription fee so I’ve already got my money back with this one item.
This brand prides themselves on being diverse and creating a brand everyone can use to express themselves (reminded me of Illamasqca). The shade Tainted Cupcake is a champagne pink with rose gold. It can be applied dry or wet for a more intense pop of colour.
Review: The eyeshadow has a shimmer to it so if you are not into that this then the shade is not for you. The shade chosen is a safe choice for most people but if you fancy something more daring they have some bolder colours on their website. It also came with a free brush which I really like.
RRP $15.00 (about £10.86 by exchange rate on 4 March 2018)
Above is just a snippet of all the goodness this brand delivers. One of the first The Pip Boxes I received contained the ‘Green Clay’ face mask, I then went on to buy more products by the brand (a body oil and their petroleum free jelly).
Review: I haven’t had a chance to test this yet but I have previously used their green clay version. It is a power mask and you have to mix it with water to create a paste. If you enjoy making your masks then you will love this.
I prefer my masks already made so I wouldn’t have chosen this for myself but I am looking forward to trying it out because I know this brand always delivers and the mask will be effective. You mix up what you need and there is enough that you will get plenty of uses out of the pot making it very cost effective.
I struggled to find the product on their website but other oils in the same packaging were the organic certified oils. I expect they have just not updated the product images yet on the site and this is new packaging. There was a wide range of products on their site and gift sets for people who like making beauty products like bath bombs etc.
Review: My skin really does love organic oils. Since receiving this, I have been putting it on before bed. You only need a little bit to cover your face and it dries quick. There were also instructions on how you can use the oil for your hair or mix it to make a serum. I’m not keen on the smell of the product – it smells like cooking oil.
I will use it up but not sure I’ll re-buy. I am interested in trying their bath salts…
This brand is difficult to get in the UK but not impossible, however, I had trouble finding a supplier that sells all the shades of lip paint yet so this is possibly a new line. The product is a liquid lipstick with a matt finish and stays on all day.
Review: The shade Cowgirl is not for me. I put it on and it is a pale nude colour that made my lips look like they had no colour and I am a red lip girl. However, I couldn’t get it off and realised I was stuck with the shade all day unless I wanted to start my make-up over. I went out in it. It did last all day.
I am very tempted to get this matt lip paint in another colour because I love the fact you can put it on and forget about it and as a busy mum, doing my makeup once is about all the time I’ve got.
RRP $12.00 (about £8.69 by exchange rate on 4 March 2018)
JOM stands for ‘Just One More’ and the brand is appropriately named.
Review: So, I opened the packet to show the sweets and tried one. Before I had even uploaded the pic to Instagram, the contents was gone. Honestly, I meant to share them with my husband and son but they really were moreish. I highly recommend!
I can’t wait to order some more of these and try other flavours.
RRP £1.25
Share to social media
Currently, boxes contain a card encouraging consumers to share pics of their box and contents on social media and how to tag to enter the monthly raffle. If your pic is chosen, you win your next box free. It’s rewarding that this support and loyalty is recognised by The Pip Box.
I take pics every month because I love my The Pip Box. I then use my images on my blog. This month, I won! So, my March box will be free and the contents will be worth £65!
I’m no professional photographer. I just took pics with my mobile. This shows anyone can win. So, if you buy The Pip Box, don’t hesitate to share your joy with pics. Do it, tag it, and you may just win it.
With my birthday money, I decided to treat myself to a facial. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found someone in my small local seaside town that uses all organic natural products. I booked in and went to be pampered on 23 December 2017.
I had a facial (using Neal’s Yard Products) and a manicure (using Zoya polish in shade Blair).
The brand started a month after I was born in London. They believe beauty should be natural and are transparent about all the ingredients that go into their products so you know exactly what you are putting onto your skin. They were one of the first brands to challenge the synthetic market.
What products did the beautician use on me?
She did a skin analysis and identified the best products to use on my skin. For my facial she cleansed my skin and gave me a massage – everything you’d expect.
Afterwards, she recommend products for my:
Daily skin routine:
Cleanser: Wild Rose Beauty Balm
Toner: Rose Toner
Facial Oil: Frankenscense oil
Moisturizer: Yarrow and Comfrey
Eye Care: Toning eye gel
Weekly routine:
Face mask: Rose Formula Antioxidant
Samples
The beautician was amazing and even offered me samples of products to try at home. She gave me:
Yarrow and Comfrey moisturizer: so I could continue using it at home.
Lavender oil: to treat my breakouts.
Review
The facial was a very relaxing experience and my skin did feel great afterwards. The products I took away with me feel of good quality too. The only draw back I have had is they do have a strong smell and I have found it a little over whelming.
I will return for another facial but I don’t think I will use the products everyday in my beauty routine.
Zoya is a quality brand that prides themselves on healthy products with natural ingredients. They are famous for creating the first fast drying topcoat and longest wearing, toxin free natural nail polish.
I am incredibly clumsy and I managed to smudge my nails before I even got to my car. Sadly, there is no picture of my pretty nails.
Blair the shade
Blair is a beautiful burgundy shade with a subtle shimmer. Zoya describe the shade as “a blackened red wine with a satiny smooth metallic shimmer. This cool-toned, vampy shade has a undeniably mesmerizing depth!”
I’ve had my eye on this shade for a long while and I wasn’t disappointed. I shall invest in this polish in the near future.
Review
I would recommend this polish and when I buy it I won’t have to worry about my clumsiness as i’ll be able to repaint my nails as needed. I have bought Zoya polishes before and think they are great quality.
It’s been a busy couple of days but I’ll leave that for another post. Due to my schedule, I did struggle to have time this week to film my Pip Box unboxing and take photos of the content.
What was in the box?
As usual, Pip did not disappoint. They had a good range of different products and most by brands I have not tried before. Here is what I got:
This is powder face mask that you mix with water to use. The size in the box is a small sample size. I’ve tried it before in Balm Balm’s Starter Kit (£15.50). This was the first organic skincare brand I ever tried because I loved how affordable and effective it is and it initiated my love for organic products.
I’ve always wanted to try their Frankincense and Tea Tree range. They also have a mother & baby range.
This is a new brand for me. I love the sliding tin with the lip balm and it smells delicious – vanilla is one of my favourite smells. Their site offers free deliver on all UK Orders and they have a lot of other very desirable products that now have me tempted.
This body wash smells lush but on top of that it scores all the goodness points for being organic, vegan, cruelty free and doesn’t contain any of the bad stuff. It’s sustainable and 100% biodegradable. Their products uses Ayurvedic ingredients suitable for treating a range of sensitive skin conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis.
Medusa Make-up, Witch Lash Mascara: RRP £25.49 (converted from US Dollars $36)
The mascara has a simple brush that is easy to use. I’ve had no issues with this smuging or flaking – it stays on all day. This is a vegan cruelty free brand that have a vast range of beauty products. I addition, the brand do their own subscription box where for about $15 you can recieve three to five full size products. This is a great way to expand your make-up collection if you are venturing into Vegan or Cruelty Free products. They have some beautiful metallic shades.
Optiat, The Hungover Coffee Scrub (Potent Peppermint): RRP £9.99
The scrub is dark brown (almost black) in colour which surprised me – I guess its the coffee. The minty scent was refreshing. Sadly, this one is not for me… I have a friend that loves body scrubs that I am going to give this him. Scrubs just aren’t my thing.
The brand name stands for “One Persons Trash Is Another’s Treasure” and was inspired by the coffee waste filling landfills and wanting to find a solution – a natural beauty product. If you want an environmentally friendly brand then this is a good one for you to consider.
Pip is a cruelty free beauty subscription box. The boxes contain a range of products from makeup, skincare and body care that are all not tested on animals. In addition, they donate 50p from every box sold to an Animal Friendly Charity.
It’s a great way to discover new brands and new products in an affordable way. The contents is always worth more than the subscription an contains a varied assortment.
For my birthday (in November), my husband treated me to a lipstick and a lip crayon by organic beauty brand Axicology and I loved them. Working off his previous success, he bought me another lipstick for Christmas.
I thought it only fair that I share these with you so you too can discover this brilliant brand.
Axiology is a brand that makes natural organic lipsticks that are vegan friendly and cruelty free. Their packaging is from recycled paper and made by women in Bali giving them employment opportunities. Plus, they donate a portion of their profits to charities that support the welfare of animals like PETA and Orangutan Foundation (so it’s ginger friendly).
By buying their lipsticks you are helping reduce pollution and support women in Bali and raising funds to support animal friendly charities. Wearing lipstick has never felt so good.
Lip Crayon
Bliss is a lip crayon.
Bliss: Is a summery coral so I haven’t worn it much yet. I have found the crayon more drying than the lipsticks but I’ll probably wear it in the summer. It costs £23
Lipsticks
Goodness and Fundamental are both lipsticks. It costs £24
Goodness: This is a nude colour and very natural. It has a hint of gold shimmer to it and is very hydrating. You could easily wear this colour everyday but if you wanted to make a statement the colour would be too subtle.
Fundamental: The first time I wore this colour to work, I got so many compliments. It was great. It is a darker and more daring shade than I’d usually wear but I’m so glad I braved it because it is now my favourite.
The case
I have never been so impressed by a lipstick case. The outside has a brushed gold affect. You push the base and then it ‘pops’ and your lipstick unlocks, you slide the top off to reveal the beautiful polished gold lipstick inner tube. I made a little video on Instagram to show it off because I love it so much. Please check it out below to see what I’m talking about.
I’ve now had the products two weeks and had a chance to try all but one of them them. Here is my review:
Benecos – natural eyeshadow (rose gold): As always Pip are brilliant at picking colours – I don’t know how they do it! They sent me the shade Rose Gold which is a really pretty shade. This is a great eye shadow. It will become a staple in my make-up bag. I would recommend it and I would buy it again.
This product was from from Pravera Direct. This is the first time I have seen Pip recommend a store (rather than the brand directly). I love discovering new ethical beauty shops so I’m really pleased.
It costs only£4.95.
Tisserand Aromatheraphy – bath soak (rose & geranium leaf): This is the second time Pip has sent me a Tisserand product (last time I got a hand cream). I prefer the smell of this product. It has an earthy rose smell to it. It alsogffelt really rich and moisturizing in the bath, almost like an oil. I really enjoyed this and I’m certain it will get all used up in no time.
It costs £10.95.
Bloomtown -100% Natural & Vegan Lip Balm (red & berried): This is a winter life saver. It had prevented cracked lips and kept them hydrated whilst in out in the cold. An added bonus is that it has a subtle red tint to it and smells delicious.
It costs £4.80.
Raven Chocolate – Mini Coconut Milk Bar: This is the first time I got something to eat in my Pip box and I generously offered to share it with my 4 year old. OMG, I wish I had recorded our reactions. We DID NOT like this! We are clearly not ready for vegan, dairy free, sugar free chocolate. YUCK! I’m glad we got to try it as it enabled me to learn this is not for me.
A 25g bar costs £1.95
Still to try
Freyaluna Skincare – nourishing face steam (fennel & rose): When opening my box I had a stuffy nose so I was most excited to use this product. I had dreams of resolving my nasal congestion and getting a facial at the same time. Sadly, I got sick and then was rushed by Christmas and visiting family and I’ve just not had any time – aghhh! I am still super keen to review this product properly soon.
You can get a small 5g packet to try for £2.00 or buy a 30g jar for £11.00
The Pip Box Review
I love my Pip Box so much that I’ve decided to cancel my Birch Box subscription. I prefer the products I get and I end up using them all up (no waste). It’s great value and I’ve discovered some brilliant new products and brands to love. I highly recommend subscribing.
Make your own Advent calendar If you are making an advent calendar then you could fill it up with miniature beauty products. Here’s my top list: Jane Iredale You can buy minature products to trial before buying the full size products. These mini products RRP £2.50. I bought mine from Skin Maze. You can get: […]
