The Latest

Showing posts with label liz earle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liz earle. Show all posts


Ages back I was requested to do this post by a reader on ask.fm, so whoever that was - thank-you for the great idea! Here I have compiled a list of my 10 favourite cruelty-free (of course) budget beauty products ranging from skincare to make-up bits and pieces. Enjoy!




I've had this blusher for years and somehow still haven't hit pan. Talk about value for money! It's a universally wearable colour as it's such a beautiful, natural shade. It's perfectly pigmented and I'd recommend to all!





This has to be the only face wash that I've used that I can tell has properly cleaned my face. Because the muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is white, and because the cleanser is white too, you can really see all the crap come off your face. It's disgusting but sooo satisfying at the same time. Not to mention it's super gentle on your skin, which is always a bonus. I've mentioned it previously in my 'How To: Care For Your Skin' post that you can have a little read of here.





This stuff comes in super handy. If I'm feeling lazy (which is very often) I can use this to clean my face, and not feel guilty about it. It gives your face a great deep clean, getting out any traces of dirt from the day. Not to mention, it's a great make-up remover! My only problem is that I have to be careful taking my eye make-up off with it, as it's not quite as sensitive as it should be.





I started using this foundation when I was about 15 and I loved it, but at the time I didn't know how to properly apply foundation and concealer, and therefore the coverage wasn't great. Now that I know how to get the most out of a product, I can use the HMF to it's full potential, And despite it not being full coverage like I would usually opt for, it's great when applied on top of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.





This is probably my favourite nail polish of all time. And I've literally had hundreds of different polishes, but this one tops them all. It gives you a shiny, pigmented finish that can even trick the professionals themselves into thinking you've had a gel manicure. Forget going to the beauticians - just nip to Boots!





If you have trouble applying eyeliner, you need this. This liner has helped me create the perfect eye look on so many occasions, at one point causing a shop assistant at Miss Selfridge to compliment me and ask where my eyeliner was from. Safe to say she was pretty shocked when I said Collection, I think she was expecting me to say MAC or something! Because it's a felt tip, the nip is fairly stiff (stop it) and therefore makes for easier application. It's now a staple in my make-up bag as it doesn't flake or dry out quickly like many others I've tried.





These lipsticks are amazing. They're pigmented, creamy and long-lasting. What else could you want in a lipstick?! The packaging is sleek and classic too, which is always a huge bonus. The only issue is that once you get one, you're gonna wanna get them all...



excuse the chipped nail polish... *cringe*


Everyone and their dog seems to rave on about this stuff, but it really is fab. There are many people out there that dismiss 'cheap' make-up because they believe it's not going to be good. Yet brands like Collection are there to prove them wrong. If you're looking for a medium-to-full coverage liquid concealer, give this one a try. My only main concern is the small colour range, especially for those like me who have pale yet neutral/warm skin.





I've loved their lip balm since around 2010 when I first purchased their limited edition Christmas Spiced Vanilla. Quickly after, I purchased the Cranberry Joy flavour in the range and then the next year, added Candied Ginger to my collection. Sadly, they no longer do them exact lip balms anymore. Two Christmases ago, I went into the Body Shop to see if they had any, but they were replaced by these domed lip balms that were no where near as good, they weren't even creamy like the old ones! I think TBS must've gotten a few requests to bring the old lip balms back as last Christmas they donned a similar formula, and I obviously had to snag one. This time, in the Glazed Apple flavour. Sadly but obviously, these only come around at Christmastime. Therefore, you can either wait or you can get their good-but-not-as-good Lip Butters. I have a bunch of these and I do love them, but they're just not quite the same.





If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll be sick and tired of me raving on about this powder. For the price, it's bloody fab. Yeah the coverage is non-existent but it sets my makeup perfectly. And for just under £2, it's worth a try. I guess that's why I felt it was worth the coveted No.1 place!



What are your favourite budget beauty buys?
~requested~

"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognise it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace." - Albert Schweitzer 
♥


I understand that it's July now and March and April seem like forever ago, but I enjoy writing empties posts as it reminds me that although I buy a lot of products, I do actually use them up too. That's my excuse whenever I step into Boots, anyway.

In the space of these two months I used up a lot more products than I usually would, so this is gonna be a pretty hefty post! I've decided that I'm going to split all the products up into different categories, to make it a little more structured. Everything is better when it's organised. God, I'm starting to sound like my mother...



Make-up



No7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Eyeliner in Black - £8
This was the first felt tip liner I used (I think...) and it helped me achieve the ideal 'perfect eyeliner look' pretty much every day. I didn't like this product too much as I thought that it was kinda pricey for the quality but it was super-easy to use and it was a rarity that I ended up with uneven eyeliner, something that I (and pretty much everyone else) hate.


Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Cool x 4 - £1.99 each
I bet you're all sick of me talking about this powder but I adore it so much! Like I've said in the past the coverage is virtually non-existent but it sets my foundation brilliantly and that's all that really matters to me in a setting powder. And for £1.99 I can almost justify using four of them in the space of two months. Almost.


Autograph Ultimate Wear Long-Lasting Foundation in Ivory - £12.50
I got this a year or so ago and I recall liking it but absolutely hating (using bold shows just how much I hated it, adds a nice dramatic effect. Although I am not dramatic. At all. Hahahahaha.) the smell. It smelt like I had smeared oil all over my face. It was awful. Despite the not-so-pretty memory of this foundation, I thought to give it another chance. Still. Hated. It. The smell was even worse than what I remembered! I can usually deal with bad-scented products if the rest of it is good quality but after about 2 minutes of having the foundation on my face I had to get it off. It's such a shame really 'cause I'd used it quite a few times when I'd first got it, and thought that maybe it was just my bottle that had the oily smell. I looked on the M&S website at the reviews and there was no mention of the scent. I then popped into M&S (something that I seem to be doing every week now) and smelt the ones on the stand, and they smelt just like mine. All oily. Oh well, £12.50 is kinda expensive for me anyways. At least my purse is happy!


17 Clear Definition Mascara - £4.69
I used this for longer than I care to admit, hence the cute orange-tinge. There's nothing amazing about this product to be honest. I use clear mascara to set my brows, and this didn't do a very good job of it. It was okay, and it helped 'clean' my brows of powder, but it had very little setting ability. I much prefer the Natural Collection LashCare Mascara - it does the job and it's cheap!


Pro Blender Sponge - £2.20 (pack of 4)
I got these about a year ago from Amazon as I wanted a Beauty Blender but wasn't willing to pay the ridiculous price of £16 for a freaking sponge. And after a while of scouring, I found this pack of 4. I loved these sponges, for the price they were pretty impressive and a great dupe for the BB. But sadly, when I was cleaning the blue one, I didn't rinse the soap off properly and it ended up going all weird and gooey. I'm not too bothered though as it only cost 55p, and it's lasted pretty well before I ruined it!



Skincare



Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - £5.50 (30ml tube)
I got this as a freebie when I bought the full skincare set once, and although I'd usually save it for my holidays, I'd ran out of the full-sized HCC and so I ended up using this mini instead. Not much to say about this cleanser except that I love it. But if you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll have read my post on how to look after your skin here and already know that. I love shamelessly plugging my own posts.


Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser - £19.25 (50ml pump)
Like Liz Earle's HCC, I adore her Light Moisturiser too. It's not greasy, and it sinks into my skin beautifully, leaving it silky soft like a baby's botty!



Hair Products



Lee Stafford Hair Growth Conditioner - £6.99
I love the Hair Growth range from Lee Stafford, and this conditioner is no exception. Because I have so much hair, I go through this stuff super-fast, which makes makes my hair happy but my purse not so much.


Nature's Origin Shampoo & Conditioner
Mum got me this set from Home Bargains for my holiday to Lanzarote back in February, and although it did the job of cleaning my hair, I did find it quite drying. Despite this, the conditioner did a good job of putting moisture back into my hair, but not enough as was needed.


Batiste Dry Shampoo a Hint of Colour in Medium & Brunette - £3.99
I'm trying to wash my hair less nowadays as the amount of shampoo and conditioner I go through is pretty excessive, and it's not exactly cheap. I used to wash my hair every single day, but now I wash it every other day and therefore need something to stop it looking greasy in between those days. That's where Batiste comes in. Before, I couldn't use them as they would make my hair look grey, but luckily enough for the dark-haired girls of the world, they brought out coloured dry shampoo. Brilliant!



Other



Ted Baker Candle in Set My World Alight (from the Holy Smoke set)
I got this candle as part of a set for Christmas from my Mum and Dad. It smells amazing, which isn't exactly surprising from Ted Baker. I do wish they weren't just a holiday thing as I would definitely repurchase them.


Marks & Spencer Floral Collection Anti-Perspirant Deodorant in Rose - £2
I don't really have much to say for this except it does the job, it's cheap, and it's cruelty-free!


The Body Shop Earth Lovers Shower Gel in Lemon & Thyme
I adore these shower gels. I got a bunch for my birthday ages ago and just got around to using them. Sadly, they've been discontinued for some unknown reason, but they were great. I especially loved this lemon and thyme one - the only way I can describe the scent is that it smells like a hot guy. And therefore it made me smell like a hot guy. Not something a girly-girl like me should look for in a fragrance, but it just smelt sooooooo good.

What have you used up recently?
♥

So this is my first ever empties post and I've been meaning to do one for aaages. My main concern is that I don't finish enough products to do one, but it wasn't until I started putting all my empties in a box for this post did I realise that I actually do! Me being me wrote this a little late, mainly because I had other posts planned but I've finally got around to it. Now I can't remember which order they were used up in so I'll just do them at random.


Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner
By far my favourite shampoo and conditioner, ever. This stuff is absolutely fabulous and I can see myself using it for years to come. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you may know that I'm a huge fan of Lee Stafford's hair care and styling range, I can't get enough! I rave about his products to anyone that'll listen, they're the best and I ain't just saying that. I go through these two products so quickly though because my hair is so long and I have so much of it, and as the products aren't exactly cheap my mum kindly gets them for me (hi mum!) as I can't afford them myself. Sigh.



The Body Shop Earth Lovers Apricot & Basil 100% Biodegradable Shower Gel
A friend of my mum's bought me a bunch of these Earth Lovers shower gels a couple years ago in different scents for my birthday and I just got around to using them, and I must say, they smell soooooo good. You wouldn't think that apricot and basil would work, but it really does. It's hard to explain the scent but it smells a little like them fruit salad chewy sweets. Consistency-wise, it's not as thick as average shower gels, it's actually pretty watery. But because I use all shower gels with one of them scrunchy, net-like thingymajigys (I am so good at explaining stuff) it doesn't bother me, although I have noticed that this one has lathered more than average shower gels. I would've happily bought it again if they hadn't have been discontinued *sad face*.




Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Ah, Liz Earle. My favourite skincare brand by far. This is the first tonic that I haven't found to make my skin drying or tight, which just shows how good it is for my skin. It leaves my skin silky-soft and it smells so clean and slightly floral...a bit like a meadow on an early morning in spring, but not overpowering. The perfect toner for all skin types!



Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray
This is the kind of product that I love, but would prefer to find a cheaper alternative to. It's good n'all, and I have bought a replacement, but at £20 for 118ml, I'm debating whether it's worth it. It makes my make-up look more 'skin like' after I've applied powder and the bottle lasts ages, which are both a plus but it just doesn't seem to keep oil at bay as much as I would like it to. I'm gonna search around for a cheaper alternative to compare it to, as I feel for the price it should have a lot more going for it.



No7 Stay Perfect Smoothing & Brightening Eye Base
I do like this product, and I could see myself buying it again as it keeps my eyeshadow in place, but it creases. It's annoying because I find it so much easier to use than Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and to be honest creasing doesn't actually bother me that much but it is £7 for a little pot so if I needed a cheap(ish) eye base, I'd probably go for this one.




Soap & Glory Trick & Treatment Concealer
I got this about 4 years ago and only just found it again, and no, I didn't use it...not after I'd smelt it anyway. I used to absolutely adore this concealer, I'm so annoyed at myself for letting it go off as I used to swear by it. I can't remember if it's actually as good as I thought it was, but I'll definitely be buying it again! I know it's not empty but I was gonna throw it away anyway and wanted to share that with you all because I'm strange.



I'm gonna start doing empties posts more if you guys are interested in them, as I quite enjoyed going through the stuff I've used up. Plus, I'm trying harder to use up older products before new ones, and this is a good incentive to help me!


What have you used up recently?
♥
I often get asked my favourite skincare products from many different people. Now, I'm all for telling you guys, as it is my job as a beauty blogger after all, but sometimes I can't help but wonder that what if you have dry skin, and your copying my skincare regime and then surprised when it's making your skin worse. I don't want do that! So instead, I've written this 'guide' if you will, to help you understand your skin type and discover the products that will make it look - and feel - fabulous.

First of all, I have oily, acne-prone skin. It sucks. A lot. I've been to the doctors about it, been put on antibiotics which made me very ill, a cream that brought me out in a rash so bad that I was 99% sure my face was on fire and then of course, I tried it my own way with various lotions and potions that promised the world to no avail.

In this post I'm gonna help you discover your skin type and how to care for it. I'm not a dermatologist and don't have any professional knowledge in the field, but I'm going to tell you what I know from experience and compile as much as I can from the internet. I've tried to include many skincare essentials like toners, moisturisers and scrubs, but I've also added masks, oils and facial peels as I thought that it would be good to recommend products that you may have never tried before but may work wonders on your skin! Also, I tried to aim for different budgets, whether they be little or big. Please note that skincare products usually are fairly pricey, but often that is the case for the more promising products.

The one thing that I will recommend to all skin types is Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (£13.25 for 100ml pump). It's brilliant, and when teamed with the muslin cloth it gives gentle daily exfoliation. To be honest, I've used countless LE products and not one of them has disappointed, it's by far my favourite skin care brand, and although there are plenty of LE recommendations below, I've included other brands' popular products too.

Sensitive

Your skin can react easily to products. They may bring you out in a rash, cause flaky skin or general inflammation. All skin types can have this.

Now, I haven't compiled a list of products for sensitive skin. Instead, I labelled the products for each of the skin types if they were suitable for sensitive skin. That way, if you're combination-sensitive, for example, you know which products you would be able to use. If that makes sense...


Normal

You're the luckiest of them all, obviously. You have no 'extreme' signs like the others but your skin can sometimes feel tight and your t-zone a little shiny. Generally you have no problems with your skin. Just because you have good skin doesn't mean you shouldn't look after it though!




- philosophy the microdelivery peel in-home vitamin c/peptide peel (2pc) - £59 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator (70ml) - £14
- Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum (30ml) - £28.50 (suitable for sensitive skin)

Oily

Your skin is shiny all over and are prone to breakouts, more-so on the t-zone but can get them anywhere. Also likely to have large pores and blackheads.

- Nose pore strips. Now these are pretty amazing, they get out all the dirt and gunk (cute) outta your nose, leaving it clean and less-prone to blackheads. The only thing about the strips is that you should never over-use them otherwise you can be left with massive pores. Not a good look. I generally use them once a fortnight, or longer if my nose is looking blackhead-free. I use Marks & Spencer's Nose Pore Strips (£3 for a pack of 6). On the back of the box it says you're meant to use them twice a week but DON'T. Three days doesn't allow enough time for your skin to rejuvenate, and that's how you can end up with large pores. Always make sure you moisturise after using them, too.
- Don't do what I used to do and strip your face of oil by just applying toner and leaving it. It makes your oil levels sky-rocket as your skin detects that there is none there. Therefore, you end up with even oilier skin, which means whenever you apply a toner, always apply moisturiser afterwards.




- Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Face Scrub (150ml) - £3.79
- The Body Shop Seaweed Day Cream (50ml) - £10
- Molton Brown Pink Toronja Refining Toner (200ml) - £25
- Montagne Jeunesse Shine Control Face Mask (sachet) - £1.49
- philosophy when hope is not enough hydrating antioxidant serum (30ml) - £34 (suitable for sensitive skin)

Combination

Similar to normal, but more extreme. Your skin can be tight and flaky but around your t-zone it's fairly oily. You're prone to breakouts, too.

- With combination skin, you have to be careful. You can't use products for oily skin, as it dries out the outer half of your face, and you can't use products for dry skin, as it puts your oil production on your t-zone into overdrive. It's like you're fighting a losing battle. That's why you always need to go for products specially designed for combination skin. There are loads, I promise.




(I know a lot of you will be wondering why I recommended aftersun. Basically, when my skin gets a little dry, I use the Soltan Aftersun and it works wonders. Plus, the aloe vera in it helps clear spots. It's amazing, and well worth a try for the price!)

- Boots Soltan Aftersun Hydrating Lotion (400ml) - £8 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Face Mask (sachet) - £1 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ (30ml) - £26.50
- Soap & Glory The Fab Pore 2-in-1 Facial Pore Purifying Mask & Peel (50ml) - £10
- Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner (100ml) - £17.50

Dry

Your skin often feels tight and can be flaky. It's likely that your pores are on the smaller side, too.

- Moisturise. Moisturise. Moisturise. I can't stress this enough. Being lazy on a night-time and not using any can mean that you wake up with skin that feels tight and possibly painful. It's not worth it! Get into a routine of washing your face, using toner and then applying moisturiser.
- If you have especially dry skin, try a facial oil, like the philosophy one recommended below. They not only put moisture back into the skin but they also plump the skin out, helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. They're sometimes dubbed miracle-workers, and it makes sense why...




- philosophy when hope is not enough omega 3.6.9 replenishing oil (0.85oz) - £34 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Face Exfoliator (75ml) - £11 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- The Body Shop Hemp Face Protector (50ml) - £8 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask (50ml) - £14 (suitable for sensitive skin)
- Molton Brown Tamarind Fruit Refining Toner (200ml) - £25


What's your skin type?
~requested~
♥
Ok, so I've been a vegetarian for around 7 years now. A lot of people ask me why, and my usual response is 'I've never really liked meat' but I guess it's more than that. I've always been a huge animal lover and I became a vegetarian after I found out that animals were killed for meat (I thought they died naturally - how naive) and I can easily say I'll never go back. Because of my passion for animals and their welfare, I began researching animal rights and came across the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website. For some of you that may not know, PETA is an animal rights charity based in America, and they basically fight for animal rights and reveal the raw truth about what really happens to animals behind closed doors. On their homepage there was a link to their 'Companies that test' and 'Companies that don't test' lists, and as I was an intrigued 11-year-old I decided to check them out. I didn't know up until then what went on in laboratories. I didn't know what animals went through just so someone could have a tube of mascara. It's fair to say I was in complete shock. I went on several of their other posts about animal testing and actually saw what happened to the monkeys and the kittens. I recall just sitting there and crying for hours, I just couldn't understand how anyone could ever do that to a defenceless animal! Luckily, as I was only young I'd only ever used mum's Marks & Spencer's make-up which was - and still is - cruelty free. I decided from then on that whatever make-up I purchased would NOT be tested on animals, and I trusted in PETA's 'Companies that don't test' list for guidance. Sorry for the long intro, but here it is, my top 10 cruelty-free make-up brands!


10. Natural Collection - Cheap & Great Quality
One of my favourite face powders is the NC Pressed Powder. It helps keep shine at bay, it's perfect for my porcelain skin and most importantly it's a mere (drum roll) £1.99. Yes, you read it right. I'm pretty in love with the powders, they aren't super pigmented, which you kinda expect from something so cheap,  but I don't use powders for coverage, I use them just to set my foundation and prevent oil attacking it, and it does it for me.


9. Lee Stafford - Soft & Shiny results
I have a fairly big collection of Lee Stafford products, one of my favourites being his Hair Growth range. All his products are encased in the famous pink packaging which makes it a stylish addition to your dressing table, a bonus on his already great quality products. Even though it's a high-quality brand, it's affordable. If it's slightly out of your price range, Boots often do a 3 for 2 offer on the Lee Stafford range, making it that much more appealing. If you're like me and fall for products just by sniffing them, you'll fall in love with these products, guaranteed.


8. Liz Earle Skincare - Natural & Really Works
I've got really bad scarring from having acne and I've tried all the skincare sets that are meant to help me, like Clinique's Anti Blemish range and Manuka Doctor's apiclear. But none of it really worked... I mean they might've made a slight improvement but not enough for me to notice. I tried Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser set a few months back and i've really loved it. I'm not sure if it's this or the weather or me not wearing makeup so much but my skin has vastly improved. My scarring has reduced dramatically and I can see a major difference in my skin. I was so sceptical about it seen as the Clinique and Manuka Doctor ranges didn't work for me, so I'm really hoping that these results are down to Liz Earle. One thing I have noticed is that my skin seems 'happier' because of the set. As in, my face doesn't get oily as quick after I've washed it, the toner doesn't make my skin feel tight like the others did and the moisturiser leaves my skin reeeally soft. Fingers crossed that by this time next year my scarring has completely gone, go on Liz, work your magic!!


7. ghd - Elite & Professional
When it comes to styling, ghd is THE company. It's world-renowned status has made it notorious for it's array of straighteners and more recently, hair products and the ghd air. I own the air myself, alongside the Pink Orchid styler and several products including the Final Fix Hairspray (I wrote a review for it here), the Heat Protect Spray and the Straight & Smooth Spray. The quality of ghd's products are phenomenal, there's a reason why they are so famous! ghd can be pricey, but boy is it worth it.


6. Soap & Glory - Vintage & Kooky
I am a huuuge Soap & Glory fan. When it's Christmastime and Boots do their 3 for 2's I can't help myself but buy almost all of their sets. I know, I know I don't need it all but when it's on offer and the packaging is that cute and it all smells so gooood I just can't help myself. I am not sorry. Some of my favourite S&G products include their Arch De Triumph eyebrow pencil, Kick Ass Concealer and Sugar Crush body wash (you just need to smell it)!


5. Bourjois - Colourful & Pigmented *NO LONGER CRUELTY FREE*
Bourjois are famous for their eyeshadows (which I happen to be selling here and here) and blushers, but one thing I love about Bourjois are their Rouge Edition Lipsticks (will be doing a review on these at some point probably). My current tally is at 5 and counting with my favourite being Fraise Remix which is a beautiful bright pink, perfect for going out but tame enough for a work environment. Another Bourjois product I love is their Healthy Mix Concealer, which I use as a 'base' concealer underneath my foundation if I need super full coverage. I'm determined to collect all their Little Round Pot eyeshadows, I only have 8 at the moment but they are so luxuriously pigmented and affordable that I just can't help myself!


4. No.7 - Sleek & Flawless
I have a major love for No7's Beautifully Matte foundation, which I wrote a review of here. Not only is their match-made service revolutionary, their range of foundations, concealers and powders is wide enough for any skin tone or type. Besides my fave foundation, I also adore their felt-tip liner, it makes lining your upper lashes so much easier due to the nib being fairly stiff so you don't end up with black all over. Plus, their brush cleanser is a must-have!


3. Real Techniques - Vegan & Affordable
These brushes are sososo soft, and they're made using synthetic hairs! Sam Chapman is the lady behind these phenominal brushes that promise to give you a flawless finish without spending an arm and a leg! I'm obsessed with them, I only have 8 in my collection at the moment but I intend on buying them all, they've changed the way my makeup looks completely. I didn't realise before but it wasn't until I made my first purchase on their Stippling Brush that it was so easy to create an airbrushed look, before I settled with blotchy - not good.


2. Barry M - Cheap & Cheerful
I've only used Barry M's lip paints, lip crayons and nail paints but they are some of the best i've ever come across, especially the Paints. As you may have seen in a previous post on the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints i'm a little in love. The Gellys are my ultimate fave when it comes to the polishes but I also have the textured paint in Kingsland Road, the special Christmas gold edition paint, the sequin paint in Pink and the neon paint in Fuschia (amazing colour)! I'm adament to collect all the Lip Paints, they're so creamy and long-lasting, and for £4.49 you can't really go wrong, plus the green one that changes colour to the alkaline level on your lips is so freaking cool, and I managed to nab it after months of searching!


1. Urban Decay - Luxury & Ridiculously Pigmented
And finally, at number one it has to be the exquisite Urban Decay. The pigmentation of Urban Decay's eyeshadows are astounding, although they are quite pricey they're definitely worth it - I use mine for occasions, not daily use as I'm quite worried about hitting pan! Despite this, I find that no other eyeshadow can even compare to that of UD's. I currently have the Naked, Naked2, BYOP Rock, BYOP Melt, Glinda and Theodora palettes, and I still feel like I need more! I use their b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray and their De-Slick Setting Spray daily, it makes such an impact on the longevity of my makeup, thus saving more makeup in the long run. I'm also a big fan of their Super Saturated Lip Crayons, SuperCurl Curling Mascara, all their brushes, and their powders. Not only are their products commendable, but so is their attitude to animal welfare. Urban Decay is recognised as being one of the biggest cruelty-free brands, with a wide vegan range. When they were considering expanding to China, I was furious. I sent emails begging them to not lose their morals just so their makeup could be sold in a big country. Luckily, UD listened to the thousands of us and decided not to sell in China, thus keeping them cruelty-free. YAY YAY URBAN DECAY!


p.s. i'm sorry the post is a day late - Celebrity Big Brother finished last night and I couldn't miss it for the world (shut up that is not sad, Charlotte & Mario needed me okay)


What's your favourite cruelty-free brand?!
♥