To test or not to test? That is the question...

Hello lovelies! 

Today I thought I would talk testing, and no, I don't mean swatches. I'm talking animal testing. I am strictly against animal testing. I'm not naive, and I do realise that a lot of cosmetics do still test on animals, however I do not condone it, and where I can, I always try to go for brands who don't test on animals. I've gotten together a little collection of brands who don't test on bunnies and pooches for you, so without further ado...

(Apologies for the creased sheets! - Oops!)

The Body Shop 

The Body Shop have been against animal testing for as long as I can remember, and are always a safe bet if you want naturally sourced ingredients too! 

Lush 

Not only are Lush against animal testing, they actively fight it, and even have 'against animal testing' printed on their bags. Lush's ingredients are sourced ethically, and are all handmade. They may be a little more pricey, but by paying that little bit more you get so much more in quality. 

Good Things 

Good Things are a brand that are aimed only at young skin, and pride themselves on using no animal ingredients, SLS or parabens. Good stuff, Good Things! 

Sanctuary Spa 

I was actually surprised to find Sanctuary in this list, however when reading the back of a gift set I received for Christmas, there it was in black and white; 'Not tested on animals'. Hurrah!

Sleek
I only own a sirum from Sleek, however since finding out that they are cruelty free, I have my eye on a few blushes! 

Jergens 

Jergens are a new found love for me, I received the Aloe moisturiser for my birthday and love how fresh and clean the scent is, so I was very happy to discover that I can slather this on with no guilt! 

Soap and Glory 

Another brand I was actually very surprised with. Soap and Glory can be found in Boots stores and feature some of the greatest smelling products in the world! 

REN 

Ahh REN, my new love. The 'Invisible Pores Detox Mask' is a firm new favourite of mine, and boasting no nasties as well as no animal testing, my conscience is as squeaky clean as my face! 

Liz Earle

I recently ordered the 'February Favourites' and have to say, I'm seriously Impressed with this range! 

Urban Decay

I'm so happy that I can add Urban Decay to this list. Apparently they were in talks with a company in China about selling the brand, however pulled out as they found that selling would go against their beliefs and morals about testing. Good on yer, UD! 

Rimmel 

I was utterly shocked to hear about Rimmel - I have a feeling it was a recent change with the new laws that have forced this brand to find alternative methods. I may be wrong, but I always presume that make up brands automatically test...I know, I need to move with the times! 

Barry M 

I guess you dont really think about mainly nail polish brands testing, but I guess they have to. Thankfully Barry M have taken a stance against testing on the furry ones and have found other ways! 

Bourjois 

Again, another popular high street brand I'm happy to report are cruelty free!!

Bumble and Bumble
Possibly one of the most hyped brands of 2013, I highly recommend you try them out if you haven't already, especially now you know their products come without a side order of guilt! 

Illamasqua

Finally, Illamasqua. I own one of their blushers, and absolutely love the formula and pigmentation, so i'm over the moon that I can colour my cheeks without thinking about what else might have had a makeover in the process!  

Obviously, this list is only naming a few, as animal testing in Europe has been banned (Yay!), and generally, only brands who's products are made outside of Europe are still tested (MAC, I'm lookin' at you!) But we now have a much wider variety of non tested choices and can now shop safe in the knowledge that no animals were harmed in the making of our appearance! 

Combination/Oily Skincare Saviours.

I had a really lazy skincare day today, and missed out toner and primer from my usual routine. Having to leave the house at 6:20am will do that to you... 

It wasn't until my train journey home when I looked into my compact and realised my whole face was glowing, and not in a good way. I was very oily. Toner and primer are products that I use, but don't really think too much about their effects, and up until today I didn't really think they had much of an effect. Sat on that train, burying my face into my scarf so that nobody could see my greaseball of a face, I thought about all the products made for oily/combination skin that I use, and just how much of a difference it makes when I skip a step or two. 

I've decided to put together a little post of my current rotation of combo/oily skincare items, and give my two cents on them.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

This is the first primer I tried. Primer was a new concept to me in 2013. Before that I used to just slap foundation onto my skin and didn't really think about it. I'm lucky that my skin isn't overly blemish prone or blotchy so longevity was never a big issue for me. As I've gotten more into make up and skincare, I've taken more care over my choices, and primer was introduced into my routine. I have to say I love it. The tea tree really helps to keep any blemishes at bay. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference n the size of my pores, however it does smooth out my skin, making foundation easier to apply, and keeps any shine from peeping through for at least 3-4 hours more. 

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner

Specially formulated for oily/combo skin, this little baby is amazing. I use it every morning, and this is my second bottle of the stuff. I've used toner for years, but this one has a special place in my heart for keeping shine at bay. 

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser

This cream claims to mattify your face, and again is targeted to us oily skinned girls. It has extracts of blackcurrant and goji berry which are quickly absorbed by the skin, and absorb any excess oil, leaving your skin with more of a matte finish. Good things pride themselves on being free from parabens, SLS, mineral oils and animal ingredients, and also aren't tested on animals.

REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel
This has been my first foray into REN, I got this and the Invisible Pores Detox Mask for Christmas. so far, I love it! I always use a balm/hot cloth cleanser for taking make up off and deep cleansing in the evening, but I like to have something refreshing and light to use in the morning. This is also aimed at reducing excess oil production in the T-Zone. Definitely a thumbs up from me!

REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask
A REN wishlist wouldn't be complete without this bad boy, and it thus far lives up to the hype completely. I have only used it once, however it blew all other clay masks that I have used out of the water. My skin felt so squeaky clean and soft, but not dried out and tight, like some clay masks are prone to doing. I'm planning on a full review of both REN products so I won't say too much more!

Lush Coalface Cleanser
I went in for the herbalism cleanser, and was somehow talked into buying this lump of black soaplike stuff. At the time I almost felt like I had been tricked....until I tried it. It's full of charcoal and other impurity soaking goodness. Using this in the morning, or evening, or any time of day really completely mattifies my skin and keeps oil at bay. The great thing about this is that you can cut off little bits to use as and when you want. This block only cost me around £4, but has lasted me since last May of fairly regular use, and I still have loads!

I'd love to know if anyone has any recommendations for me that they use so pop a comment below and let me know!

Gem. Xx 

Lush 'So White' Bath Ballistic.

Hey lovelies! 

I hope you've all been indulging in too much chocolate during the festivities like me and pretty much feel like you may literally roll into the new year! It's the way Christmas was intended! 

Anyway, today's post is a review of one of the many lush items I received for Christmas. The 'So White' bath ballistic wa a gift from one of my sisters... She knows me so well... 

I've never tried this bath bomb, but I had heard about it and knew that the 'white' part didn't last for long...oh lush you playful little thing! It definitely did not disappoint. 

The first thing to mention is the scent. This bomb smells just like crisp apples, it's amazing! Even long after it has fizzled away, the scent of apples lingers in my bathroom! It's definitely one of lush's more refreshing scents, up there with avobath, which is gorgeous as well! 

 Once plopped into the water it gets to work straight away, fizzing it's appley goodness around the bath. I must say it's  by no means a spectacle to watch, it's definitely a gentle fizzer, but it lasts AGES! It took almost 15-20 minutes to completely dissolve, which isn't bad at all and definitely gets your money's worth! 

 As you can see from the image above, soon after it starts to dissolve you see glimpses of pink start to emerge, it's a subtle change, and at first I didn't even think it was going to turn the water pink, as I had heard it does, however soon enough, I started to see swirls of a gorgeous rose pink start to grace the tub, and I was soon stepping into a very pink bath indeed! 

I'd really recommend this one if you haven't used 'So White' before, and definitely if you're a fan of crisp, fresh scents. I've actually just looked to find the price, however it isn't on lush's website so it might be limited edition, but I've seen it a few times so hopefully it will come back soon... I for one shall be stocking up on a few of these little gems!

Have you been lushing it up over the holiday? What are your favourites?

Gem Xx 

Empties | August

Hey! 

This August has officially been known by me as 'project use up'. I move out (again) tomorrow to start my final year as a student, and I had so many half used products that I made a vow to myself to use up as many as possible so that I wouldn't be taking as many almost empty bottles and tubs with me. I've managed to create quite the collection of empties which even includes make up which never happens! 

Fructis Big Volume Flexible Hold Volume XXL Hairspray: This hairspray is just perfect for me. I'm never usually loyal to hair products, but the fact I've already repurchased this says a lot for me. It doesn't feel sticky or make my hair crispy, it simply holds whilst giving me volume, yet still leaves my hair feeling soft. 

Would I repurchase? Already have done

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo: I will quite happily rave about this dry shampoo until the cows come home. I love it! It's the perfect summer pick me up for days when you can't be bothered to do much with your hair. This not only absorbs excess oil, it creates volume and texture too, and smells incredible! 

Would I Repurchase? Already had a can on standby! 

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo: Oh Aussie. Oh, oh Aussie. If I could only use one hair brand for the rest of my days, I have a feeling Aussie would be right up there in the top choices! I find that all of their products smell incredible and do a great job of making my hair feel squeaky clean and soft. I wouldn't really say that that did an awful lot on the volume front, but I can never really tell as my hair is quite wavy and volumous naturally.. 

Would I Repurchase? Yes

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour: I have had this for ages, and truth be told, my colour has mostly grown out now, and i'm sporting more of an ombre look, so I'm not sure I'm using it for it's intended purpose, however, like I've previously said, it doesn't really matter which of these products you use, they will still do amazing things for your hair, and as a 3 minute intensive treatment, it does an amazing job of making my locks feel lovely and soft without weighing them down. 

Would I repurchase? If I coloured my hair again, yes. 

Lush H'suan Wen Hua Hair Moisturiser: I've spoken about this before, and I'm actually quite upset. This tub was the last in my stash. If you can get past the unappealing smell, this moisturiser is amazing! It leaves hair softer than any other deep conditioning treatment I've ever tried. 

Would I repurchase? I might try some others from the range, but I'd definitely revisit H'suan Wen Hua. 

Boots Honey & Jojoba Intensive Hair Mask: I feel like I've had this in my life for longer than I should. I don't know why I've not finished this up sooner, I just tend to use other hair masks over this one. It's fine, and for how cheap it was, there isn't really anything wrong with it, I just have a bit of a 'meh' attitude towards it. 

Would I Repurchase? Probably not. 

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub: This range from S&G is not to everybody's taste, but I love it. It's incredibly sweet, but undercut with lime to give a bit of sharpness. The scrub itself is fairly abrasive, and really gives a good amount of scrub, without being scratchy. 

Would I Repurchase? Yes. 

The Body Shop Mango Sugar Scrub: I'm very undecided with this scrub, I really liked it when I first got it, but as time's gone on, I'm not sure I like the gloopy, oily residue left behind. Although it does moisturise my skin nicely if left to soak in, lately I've been very impatient and want products that sink into the skin quickly so I've been unimpressed with it in the past few weeks. 

Would I Repurchase? Maybe in the winter months for some extra moisture. 

Garnier Summer Body: I love this. There isn't anything more to say. I'm gutted I've ran out to be honest, as I've promised myself I won't buy any more moisturisers until I've made my way through my stash. It sinks into the skin quickly, leaving a no streaks, no fuss gradual tan with a gorgeous apricot fragrance. 

Would I Repurchase? In a heartbeat. 

Lush Mask Of Magnaminty: Another of Lush's offerings that I always seem to have on standby is Mask of Magnaminty. I find that this doubles as an exfoliant and the minty fragrance makes my skin just feel so fresh and cleansed. 

Would I Repurchase? I have a stash so not at the moment. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara: I'm glad to see the back of this mascara. I don't know if I got a dud or not, but it seemed dry and clumpy from word go, and just made my eyes look awful. The brush, a huge bushy number, I imagine would be great if the formula wasn't so dry. Definitely not my cup of tea.

Would I Repurchase? Definitely not. 

Avon Summer Shimmer Lip Care: I bought this under false pretences. I thought the words 'summer' and 'lip care' meant an SPF lip balm, however this balm has no SPF whatsoever, and felt like it as doing anything but 'care' for my lips. I haven't actually finished this, but enough is enough, and I'm throwing it away. 

Would I Repurchase? No. 

What have you used up recently? 

May Empties.

Hey there lovelies! 

It's Friday!! I have a lovely weekend of chilling in the sun in store for me, and hope you all have something equally as relaxing to keep you occupied on these few days of freedom before the dreaded Monday comes around once again! 

Today's post is my May Empties! So without further ado, here are the products I've used up during the month of May.. 

Garnier Mineral Anti White Marks 48 Hour Deodorant: OK, so nothing too special here, just deodorant. Garnier is a brand I have recently fallen in love with for their amazing body lotions and I have to say this deodorant did not disappoint either! I'm usually one for picking up whatever's on offer, but I definitely will be repurchasing this in the future - offer or not. It smells really nice and fresh, and does a good job of deodorising too! 

Soft & Gentle Extra Fresh Lotus and Watermelon Deodorant: I have repurchased this a few times, however usually because this brand are on offer a lot! I don't find anything particularly amazing about this, it does the job, but that's about it. 

Lush Herbalism Fresh Cleanser: This has been my morning cleanser since January, so to only run out of it in May is really amazing and value for money - I think it cost around £6. It's a solid cleanser - basically you take a pea-sized amount and mix it with water to create a paste, which you then use to cleanse your face. I have really enjoyed using this, and the fresh, herby ingredients have really helped to keep my skin clear. I'm currently using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Facial Wash and hate it, so I imagine a repurchase of this, or another from Lush's range may be on the cards for me very soon. 

Champneys Conditioning Cleansing Milk: This has been my nighttime cleanser for the past 2 or so months. It's a thick, milky cream, and although not so great for removing mascara, especially that stubborn Benefit They're Real, it's a nice gentle cleanser which left my skin feeling lovely and soft. It's a good little cleanser, and I'd be happy to use it again, however it doesn't beat my current No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser! 

Avon Skin So Soft Hand Cream: I suffer from quite dry hands so hand cream is a necessity in my life. I've been using this tube, and it's lasted me a long time, however I haven't been too impressed with this. It's a little thin for my liking, so sinks in too quickly leaving my hands feeling dry still. I need something thicker in texture so unfortunately, I won't be repurchasing. 

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter: As with all TBS body butters, the formula is amazing, and really provides deep moisturising. The mango version is no exception. Not only does it have a gorgeously fruity scent, it really does a great job of giving my skin the moisture it needs. 

Kate Moss 'Kate' Perfume: Finishing perfumes are like waiting for buses, they all finish at once. I have 2 or 3 other perfumes also almost empty! I'm rubbish at describing scents but here goes: it's almost a deep floral scent, however somehow has fresh, fruity notes. It's one of my go-to fragrances when I don't feel like a heavy perfume. 

Herbal Essences Ignite My Colour Shampoo: Herbal essences will always be one of my go-to brands for everyday haircare. I have my hair highlighted every so often to perk up my natural blonde, which, although I try to stay away from bleach nowadays, still puts my locks through quite the ordeal. It's important to look after your hair, whether it be dyed or natural, and I find that Herbal Essences is a brand I trust, and also a brand which does what it says on the tin! 

What did you use up this month? 

Toodles!