Travel Size Beauty: Plastic-Free Minis from Antipodes (Get 20% off at Feel Unique & Beauty Bay)

Lucky enough to be getting some Winter Sun this month? If you're jetting off to sunnier climes, make sure to pop these brilliant plastic-free beauty minis from Antipodes into your carry-on.

As regular readers will know, I absolutely love Antipodes natural and organic skincare, and I was pleased to discover recently that their range of minis is virtually plastic-free - yay! Instead, the main element of packaging comes in either glass or aluminium tubes, both of which can be easily recycled after use.

So if you're stocking up on your beauty minis for your travels this year, why not check these out? They're also perfect for anyone who wants to try out the products before committing to purchasing the full-sizes and I have three of the brand's bestsellers for travellers below:-

 Antipodes Hosanna H20 Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum* (10ml, £12.49)

Travelling can really suck all of the moisture out of your skin, especially if you're flying, so make sure you're prepared with an intensive hydrating serum such as Hosanna. This incredible oil-free serum is beautifully lightweight and easily absorbed to help improve the skin's overall appearance for a more youthful and plumped up glow. Key ingredients include Vinanza Grape which helps to boost elasticity, firmness and prevents moisture loss, Mamaku Black Fern to further firm up and protect the skin's natural barrier and Waiwera Artesian Water which delivers essential nutrients and antioxidants to the skin's epidermal layer for a healthier-looking complexion.

Antipodes Worship Skin Defence Antioxidant Serum* (10ml, £12.49)

For skin that's fighting the early signs of ageing, Worship is a fantastic antioxidant-rich serum that works as a preventative against future free radical damage. Boasting an interesting superfruit complex called Vinanza Oxifend Plus which is made up of potent extracts of Boysenberry, Blackcurrant, Kiwifruit and Vinanza Grape, this serum acts as your secret weapon to keep skin looking younger and more vibrant for longer. I'd recommend it for all skin types and ages over 30+.

Antipodes Avocado Pear Nourishing Night Cream* (15ml, £11.95)

To compliment your serum, a rich nourishing night cream can definitely help to lock in all of that goodness, whilst providing additional skincare benefits of its own as Avocado Pear clearly demonstrates. This luxurious feeling nighttime moisturiser is packed full of hydrating heroes such as Avocado Oil, Manuka Honey and Vinanza Grape, and it helps to stimulate collagen production by up to 92%. A wonderful all-rounder for those who are looking for an evening skincare routine which does more!

Shop Antipodes minis at Feel Unique and Beauty Bay currently with 20% off for a limited time

Are you a fan of Antipodes?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

Introducing: Spark Beauty by Feel Unique - Discovering Luxury Indie Beauty Brands from the USA

I love to support indie beauty brands so I was over the moon when I found out that Feel Unique have a new dedicated section on their website showcasing a range of luxury indie brands from the USA - how exciting!

With so many amazing places to shop for makeup and skincare online these days, it can be all too easy to skip past the smaller, niche brands (or not even find them to start with), so it's fantastic that Feel Unique have launched Spark Beauty - an easy one-stop shop for discovering the best high-end indie brands from the States. 

There are currently twelve brands listed which include skincare, body care, fragrance and makeup, and I imagine many more are on their way soon. To give you a little taster, here are some of the most coveted products that are available from Spark Beauty to whet your appetite. 

 Try If You Love Luxury Organic Skincare: Ogee Sculpted Lip Oil* (3g, £18, link)

Ogee are a high-end organic and natural, cruelty-free skincare brand whose products have some pretty luxury price tags attached to them (their Seeds Of Youth Serum is around the £120 mark to give an example). Their products feature high percentages of certified organic ingredients, are free from a long list of 'nasties' such as parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetic fragrances and artificial colours, and they are proud supporters of OFRF, the Organic Farming Research Foundation, which fosters widespread adoption and improvement of organic farming systems.

Ogee's Sculpted Lip Oil is a chunky lip balm crayon and contains 95% organic ingredients which include Olive Fruit Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Sunflower Seed Oil. It also has a little Peppermint Oil so it feels hydrating, cooling and instantly refreshing on the lips. I love applying this before lipsticks, especially matte formulas, so it's a useful product to have in my makeup kit.

 Try If You Have A Big Budget For Clean & Organic Skincare: O'o Hawaii Bird Bath Antioxidant Cleanser* (sample shown, full size is 100g for £110, link)

Another exciting luxury organic brand to check out if you have a large budget for skincare is O'o Hawaii. Their products are seriously high-end though with prices starting from £100-£158, and the high-performance formulas use an array of anti-ageing and antioxidant-rich superfoods, many of which are sourced from Hawaii. The brand is cruelty-free, and everything is strictly free from Wheat, Gluten, Palm Oil, Soy, with no unnecessary fillers of artificial fragrance in any of their products.

I've had the pleasure of trying out a sample of their Bird Bath Antioxidant Cleanser which is a rich, thick cleansing balm that removes all traces of makeup, including waterproof, and provides a deep and thorough cleanse for the skin. Key ingredients include Sea Buckthorn oil, Coffeeberry Extract, Hawaiian Red Algae, Hawaiian Strawberry Guava, Tamanu Oil, Murumuru and Cupuaco Seed Butter, Need Oil, Pineapple Enzymes, Green Tea, Papaya Seed Oil and Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil, and it smells really uplifting and fresh.

 Try If You Want Luxury Cruelty-Free & Vegan Makeup: Clove + Hallow Lip Velvet in Fiesta* (5g, £30, link)

If you're searching for luxury cruelty-free and vegan-friendly makeup, Clove + Hallow is a brand that is starting to build up a cult following, especially after Allure magazine called it its '2018 Valentine' earlier in the year. Their bestsellers are the Lip Velvets and these are seriously amazing. There's a limited shade range at the moment, but the colours that they do have are absolutely gorgeous. These include nudes, everyday pinks and brights, plus one or two more 'out there' shades including a dark midnight blue, so there's already something for everyone.

I have the shade Fiesta which is a killer bright red. The pigmentation of this liquid lipstick is incredible and the Lip Velvet formula boasts a creamy, kissable and comfortable smudge-proof matte finish. It does take a little longer than some other brands to completely dry down, but once it has, it's not going anywhere! The Clove + Hallow formula is also called 'Clean 15' so it's free from fifteen undesirable ingredients such as parabens, talc, animal by-products, synthetic fragrance and artificial flavours. 

Try If You Enjoy High-End Indie Makeup: RealHer Highlighter in The Spotlight Is On Me* (link)

California is home to a plethora of emerging indie beauty brands and RealHer are one of the brands making a name for itself. Although it's not natural or organic like the brands above, it is cruelty-free and there are no parabens, gluten or sulphates in their cosmetics.

RealHer are most well known for their Lip Kits and Palettes, but this standalone Highlighter is a real beauty gem that demands to have some attention thrown at it. Packaged in a sleek black compact with a large mirror, this shade is called The Spotlight Is On Me and it's a gorgeous gold that looks flattering on a range of skin tones for some instant glow wherever you want to apply it. I've had so many compliments from friends recently when I've been wearing this and it lasts well throughout the day or night!

Shop Spark Beauty exclusively at FeelUnique.com

Have you bought anything from Spark Beauty yet?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

New In Beauty: Noughty Haircare at Feel Unique + Wave Hello Set Instagram Giveaway!

Have you heard the latest beauty news? Noughty Haircare are now available on Feel Unique - hooray! To celebrate, you can win a set of their popular Wave Hello range over on my Instagram page.

When it comes to affordable haircare that's both cruelty-free and vegan-friendly, Noughty Haircare is your hair's BFF. This budget-friendly brand has products which are 97% natural and everything from them is free from a range of common 'nasties' such as Petrochemicals, Parabens, Sulphates and Silicones. I've been using SLS-free haircare for many years now and it's been one of the best things that I've done for my sensitive scalp, so seeing a brand like this, that has effective products which won't break the bank, is definitely worth looking into if you're wanting to make the switch to a more natural alternative with your hair care.

Noughty Haircare Wave Hello range

Like most haircare brands, Noughty have different ranges to suit different hair types and styles, so you'll find something for everyone. One of their most popular ranges is called Wave Hello which has been specially formulated for curly and wavy hair. Its main aim is to help define your curls and enhance any natural wave texture to your hair, whilst also softening and adding essential moisture. My hair is naturally wavy and very frizzy when left to its own devices, so I was interested to try out the range to see if it would work for me.

Noughty Haircare Wave Hello Curl Defining Shampoo* (250ml, £6.99, link)

As I mentioned earlier, this shampoo is SLS-free and instead contains SLMI (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate which is naturally derived from coconuts. It provides a much more gentle and subtle cleansing lather, but it still does a great job of cleaning your hair, although you may need to use a little more product than what you normally would with a regular shampoo. It smells very fresh and also contains vitamin-rich Avocado Oil to strengthen, Sea Kelp extract to soothe sensitive scalps (which is brilliant for mine) and Chlorella extract which contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals to replenish the overall health of your hair. 

Noughty Haircare Wave Hello Curl Defining Conditioner* (250ml, £6.99, link)

The matching conditioner is just as good as the shampoo and shares the same ocean fresh scent which I love. In addition to Avocado Oil, this conditioner also boasts a range of other plant-based oils that work their magic on dry, frizzy locks, whilst Sea Fennel extract is included to further hydrate and smooth the delicate hair cuticle and Irish Moss helps to replenish and lock in moisture. Combined with the shampoo, this duo leaves my hair much softer and sleeker, with a noticeable definition to my natural wave texture so it gets a thumbs up from me, plus the price is fantastic as you get a lot of bang for your buck!

Noughty Haircare Wave Hello Curl Defining Taming Cream* (150ml, £6.99, link)

To complete the Wave Hello range, there's a Taming Cream which acts as an additional anti-frizz treatment so that your hair stays sleeker for longer. Packed full of Wheat extract to detangle, Camelia Oil and Linoleic Acids to keep the hair moisturised all day long and pesky flyaways at bay, and Mango Butter to deeply hydrate and soften, this product can be used every day without any worry about buildup problems. A little goes a long way with this leave-in cream and it's great to use as the last step in your styling routine.

Giveaway & How To Enter

Head on over to my Instagram page here to enter to win a set of Noughty's Wave Hello products, as featured above, worth £20.97. Simply follow me, Noughty Haircare and Feel Unique and tag one of your best friends - easy! Giveaway ends on 25th September 2018 - good luck!

Shop Noughty Haircare at FeelUnique.com

Have you tried any haircare from Noughty?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

Budget Beauty: 3 Makeup Essentials From E.L.F - Review & Swatches

Heads up makeup fans! Everyone's favourite affordable, cruelty-free and vegan makeup brand, e.l.f, just launched on Feel Unique - yay! If you haven't tried e.l.f yet or are looking to pick up some new makeup for school/college/Uni etc, here are three essentials from them that you shouldn't miss.

e.l.f stands for Eyes, Lips, Face and they were actually one of the very first makeup brands that I reviewed when I started blogging because they're so cheap and cheerful. I used a lot of their products when I was a cash-strapped student at college many years ago, and now that I'm a cash-strapped Uni student, they're still a brand that appeals to me! I also love that their whole range is cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. 

They have an enormous array of products and are constantly coming out with new stuff, so below are just three essentials that I'd recommend checking out.

 e.l.f Beautifully Bare Natural Glow Lotion* (25ml, £9, link)

Gorgeous glowy skin will always be on-trend, but if your complexion needs a helping hand, this Beautifully Bare Natural Glow Lotion is a quick and easy way to get your glow on without looking OTT or like an extra from Twilight. Instead, this product feels more like a facial moisturiser-meets-primer as it's light and easily absorbed without any greasy or stickiness.  The lotion is infused with Micro-Shimmering Pearls, Vitamin E, Orange, Lemon and Grape extracts, and feels hydrating on so it makes a particularly great base for dry skin. 

Once rubbed in, your skin is transformed with a subtle glowy finish that brightens and illuminates a dull complexion within seconds. I love reaching for this for nights out, and it's also perfect for the day after if you know what I mean! You can also use this Natural Glow Lotion on the décolletage, arms and shoulders, as well as on bare legs for a little sexy shimmer, wherever you want to draw some attention to.

 e.l.f Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow in Rose Gold* (2.6g, £5, link)

One of the biggest makeup trends this year has been metallic liquid eyeshadows and this new generation of formulas are much lighter than anything that you may have tried in the past. If you haven't experimented with this trend yet, e.l.f have three beautiful metallic shades in their Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow range and this one in Rose Gold is an absolute stunner as you can see above.

They have a doe-foot applicator and are super easy to apply, blend out and generally work with. The pigmentation is fantastic and although the formula is infused with purified water, they have a decent amount of staying power, especially when applied over an eyeshadow primer. Depending on which shade you go for, these could easily double up as super pretty liquid highlighters too.

e.l.f Matte Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Fiji* (8.4g, £5, link)

For the ultimate 2-in-1 makeup bag essential, you absolutely have to pick up e.l.f's bestselling Matte Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder duo. This sleek black compact comes with a mirror for easy touch-ups on the go and features two large pans of product; a beautiful dusky rose blusher on the left and a sunkissed bronzer that would work well for light-medium skin tones on the right. 

Both of these powders are soft, finely milled, and apply like a dream. The matte textures allow you to sculpt and contour with the bronzer, whilst the blusher gives a really natural looking flush of colour to the cheeks that brightens up the whole face. I love this duo so much and often reach for it over some of my high-end products because the quality is so good. It's a steal at just £5!

Shop the full range of e.l.f cosmetics at FeelUnique.com

Have you tried anything from e.l.f?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

Summer Beauty: Zelens Body Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 review

Zelens are well known for their innovative skincare formulas, but did you know that they have some rather clever sunscreens in their range as well?

Considering that the man behind Zelens, Dr Marko Lens, is a specialist in skin cancer (he's your go-to-guy if you're a celebrity that's concerned about a mole), it should come as no surprise to discover that his sunscreens are some of the most advanced on the market. Forget sticky, greasy, pore-clogging, thick sun creams and instead, get ready to embrace something completely different!

I was incredibly excited when the Zelens Body Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 arrived a couple of weeks ago from Feel Unique because this is the first time that I've tried a sunscreen which is an oil, so I couldn't wait to see how it performed during one of the hottest days on record in the UK recently.

Zelens Body Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 is truly like no other sunscreen that I've used before. This silky oil formula is enriched with Vitamin E, Squalene (derived from Mediterranean Olive Oil), Sesame and Grape Seed Oils, which deeply nourishes and moisturises parched and dry skin, whilst also helping to promote elasticity. In addition, there's a vast range of plant extracts included to further heal and protect the skin, making it stronger and more resilient against the elements. 

The sunscreen protection is SPF 30 and it's broad spectrum so it protects against both harmful UVA and UVB rays, but the real magic is in the way that this is delivered. Using an innovative formula which utilises silica-encapsulated organic sun filters, this helps to create an invisible 'force field' between the skin and the sun's damaging rays so that free radicals are deflected, preventing you from getting burnt and fighting against the formation of wrinkles and fine lines at the same time. Having tested it on the hottest day of the year (and since records began!), I can say with 100% confidence that it works.

Aside from the formula, what I like the most about this sunscreen is that it's super lightweight, easily absorbed and it's basically invisible once applied to the skin. It doesn't have any of the problems that people typically hate about sunscreens (it's not greasy, sticky etc) and you can even use it on your hair as a protective sun oil. If you have the cash to splash and you hate thick sun creams with a passion, this is the sun protection for you. It's completely different, does what it says on the bottle and makes your skin feel incredible. What's not to love?!

Zelens Body Defence Sunscreen SPF 30* (125ml, £55) - shop Zelens at feelunique.com

Have you tried any sunscreens like this before?

Follow me on: BlogLovin' | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Read more

Budget Beauty: You Beauty Box - December 2016 review

December's You Beauty box has arrived, and I cheekily decided to upgrade to the Gold membership thanks to an awesome shortlist of products being featured this month.

Read more