Late to the Party

  Annabelle Minerals     Who? Annabelle Minerals is a Polish brand whose products contain just four ingredients - Mica - to illuminate; Zinc Oxide - gives a matte effect; Titanium Oxide - for perfect coverage and also providing UVA/UVB protection with SPF value of 15 and iron oxide - ultramarine colouring. Their products are 100% Organic; paraben-free, silicone-free and don't contain any preservatives, parfum or phthalates. They are not tested on animals and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.   Where to buy After recently receiving some samples of Annabelle Minerals matte powder foundation, it absolutely changed the previously held views I had about powder/mineral foundations! I had wrongly assumed that they would just sit on top of my skin making me look all powdery and cakey - but it's definitely always worth challenging your own (often erroneous) views and trying something before you jump to conclusions. I'm really so glad that I go...

I make a weekly pilgrimage to T.K Maxx as they always have some great skincare items. Over the past few months, the brands seem to be getting more impressive too - from bigger high end names to many, many international natural skincare and beauty brands, plus a good dollop of K Beauty too!   But I think I've been pretty restrained in the past few months. There once was a time when I'd snap up anything that even remotely caught my interest. But after coming to terms with my extra large skincare inventory, I've held myself in check. Asking myself, "Do I need it?", "Will I use it?" and telling myself "This is going to make your skinventory numbers go up when you're supposed to be reducing them"!   BUT...   I kind of fell off the wagon in the past couple of weeks - there have been several items that were just too good to pass by. These are the items that I've picked up in the past couple of weeks:     See, it's not ...

  It doesn't seem possible that we are already nearly through the first month of the year! I don't like to wish my time away, but I'm really not a fan of change - and starting a new year always makes feel slightly anxious and a bit low, although I wish I could be one of those people who embrace change and charge at it head on, full of the excitement and anticipation of a new challenge.   I'm obviously not alone with those who suffer from the January blues, the (apparently) most depressing day of the year has even been given it's own title 'Blue Monday'. So what better, on the actual Blue Monday, that the postman knocks on your door and delivers this month's Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box? (Answer: There's nothing better!) The Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box is a monthly subscription service offering a selection of five full/deluxe sample sized natural beauty, skincare and makeup products.   100% natural, organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly...

Following on from my post in December about a few of our amazing home-grown skincare brands, I thought I'd make it a regular feature. There are so, so many more brands that I'd love to try or have tried some products and been excited by them enough to want to try more! Lime & Lilac        Shop HERE   I'm guessing that I've made it pretty obvious by now how much I love my Lime & Lilac Light Facial Oil (see my recent review HERE )! It was one of, if not the top, stand-out products for me in 2018. Lisa/Lime & Lilac has so far put all of her dedication into a capsule collection of products (The Light Facial Oil and the Vespa and Capri Body Oils ). But she recently announced that she had been working on introducing a new product to her range - an Emulsifying Cleansing Oil with Mandarin & Neroli . Whoop Whoop! I've seen some videos of her cleansing oil in action and it looks as superb as her other products. When water is added, it turns...

It's that time of year again - a bi-annual skinventory where I show off my stash and see what I need to use up! See also: Jan 2018 Skinventory June 2018 Skinventory My skin type: Normal/Combination; mature(ish!); prone to redness; not generally prone to break-outs and not particularly sensitive. First Cleanse     Totals: 15 5 Cream/Milk Cleansers (4 full size - 1 Mini) 1 Micellar Water 7 Cleansing Balms (2 full size - 5 mini) 2 Cleansing Oils (2 mini) This is my favourite category and one that I don't mind being a bit larger as I love variety. I'm also very fickle and tend not to repeat purchase too many products as there's always something new to try. However, in saying that, the A.Florence Skincare balm cleanser is a definite keeper! My favourite first cleansers are cleansing balms and oils, so my goal is to use up the cleansing milks and the mini sizes, especially ones that have been in my stash for the longest. I don't use a dedicate...