Cruelty Free.

My new housemate said to me the night before last “Oh, I don’t really pay attention to things like that. I can’t be bothered…” - sadly, she was talking about Animal Testing. 

When I began to list the numbers of animals that are killed and grossly mistreated for the cosmetics industry alone, she said “But I don’t care about mice or rats - kill them.”

How do I explain to her, without coming across preachy, that she is completely and utterly, without a shadow of a doubt, wrong?
I will be completely honest and say that not all of the cosmetics and things in my life are considered animal friendly, but I buy responsibly and ethically where I can and if I know of an animal friendly alternative to something I currently use I will most definitely give that option a try first. 

Working at Lush, one of the things that I hear the most is “Do you really fight animal testing?’/ “Are all your products really animal friendly?” The Queen of Sarcasm inside me is dying to give them the most direct stare and say “No, we don’t. We just thought it would be a good thing to print on the side of our bags and throw into the marketing mix…” purely for the reaction. 

It’s so easy to do a little research and figure out who does what in the world of animal testing now, it seems lazy and arrogant not to do so. Seeing as I’m sure not everyone is as in the loop as they should be, here’s a couple of websites to get you going. All you have to do is click the links below, it’s not that tricky;
The Vegetarian Site.

The Cruelty Free Kitty.
Superdrug: Cruelty Free Cosmetics

Any item or product that sports this leaping bunny logo is approved as Cruelty-Free which is what you’re looking for whilst browsing the aisles at your local supermarkets.
Whilst most brands who are Cruelty-Free are fairly outspoken about it (Lush for example), the brands who aren’t are  a little more shady about it. The Body Shop for example, have always been outwardly cruelty-free and proud, but then they were bought by L’Oreal who are anything but cruelty free, so what does that mean for The Body Shop’s animal friendly ethics? 

It’s sad that animal testing, especially in the cosmetics world, is swept under the carpet so often. I would have much more respect for a company if they openly said “Yes, we do currently test on animals, but we are collaborating with X and channelling £Y into finding ways to make the entirety of our brand cruelty free.” If companies like Lush, Illamasqua, Aesop and Barry M can go about their day to day business without torturing and killing/maiming animals why can’t everyone? Here’s looking at you; MAC Cosmetics, Sephora, Benefit, Clinique, YSL, Dior… the list goes on. 

Through my own research, it would seem that quite a lot of cruelty-free cosmetics are a lot cheaper than drugstore, let alone high-end, make up brands. Why spend £20 on a lipstick that’s been tested on rabbits and has God knows what thrown into the ingredients, when you can spend a lot less and make a more moral, ethical choice with your cosmetics?

If you’re like me and you believe that you’re animal friendly wherever you can be, you’ll be glad to hear that my housemate, after visiting me at work (Lush Southampton) declared “I think I’ll use up all the stuff I have at home, and then just buy this stuff next time…” So whether I managed to change her mind on the policies regarding animal testing, or whether she just fell in love with Lush like so many have, I’m not complaining. 

If you’re still not convinced that you should be on the look out for that little leaping bunny (not only are you an asshole) but here’s some information for you to mull over next time you’re pursuing your local beauty counter… 

I’m not asking you to be perfect, because god knows I’m not, but I am asking you to be considerate.

Lush: Skincare Secrets

In the world of blogging and vlogging and hauling along with not only high street hauls but also high end hauls and drug store hauls it’s time to go back to basics. 

As wonderful as I’m sure Liz Earle and Sunday Riley are with their Micellar Water, Hot Cloth Cleansers and various Face Polishes (?) I prefer the basics; basic packaging, basic ingredients with the best results. 

It’s very easy to get lost in all the science talk of collagen this and plumping, rejuvenating, hydrating that but at the end of the day, I find that products that promise too much let me down a lot because they’re too focussed on trying to do everything, they can’t achieve the one thing they’re really meant to. 

In the morning and evening, I clean my face (the best way I know how) with Lush products.
First things first, the make-up comes off. 

Ultrabland Facial Cleanser:
Described as “beautifully simple and very effective” the cream to oil cleanser works wonders for me. This kind of formula is really popular at the moment but Lush sometimes gets overlooked for skincare because of all of the exciting bath products.
“Almond oil, rose water, beeswax and honey” make this product one of the simplest yet also the most highly effective on my skin. Sadly, the beeswax and honey mean it’s a no-go for you Vegans out there. Ultrabland removes dirt without “stripping away the skins natural defences” because almond oil is used as a ‘carrier’; it mimics the skins natural oil; sebum. This makes it easier for the skin to absorb the soothing rose water and moisturising honey.
Although I was initially wary of rubbing oils into my skin, I have never regretted using this cleanser. Because of the skin-clearing, moisture balancing effects of Ultrabland it feels like a high-end cleanser, without the high-end price tag. 

Eau Roma Toner Water:
After the cleansing comes the toning and I’ve chosen Lush’s light and floral toning water for the task. “Rose water to help soothe redness whilst lavender water will balance the skin” and it does exactly what it says on the recycled black plastic bottle. This toner hydrates the skin effectively, whilst soothing at the same time and clears the skin of any leftover traces of cleanser.
Because I have major frustration with any breakouts on my face, I struggle to find the right cleansing routine. Previously, I have over used products that have been too harsh, such as The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Toner because I thought my skin was bad enough to need it; the standard over emotional, over dramatic reaction. The Tea Tree toner from The Body Shop was too strong for me which meant my skin cleared initially and then proceeded to break out far worse than it had before – my mistake.
Eau Roma is gentle enough to look after my skin, whilst the ingredients are effective enough to get the job done. 

Grease Lightening:
After all my make-up has been removed, I like to apply a little Grease Lightening to any breakouts or problem areas. “Nip any breakouts in the bud without upsetting the skin around the area” which, again, is exactly what it does. One thing that I really love about Lush (among many) is that they don’t make any over compensating promises. Their ingredients do the work for them because they are effective; that’s all that matters. This spot treatment is antibacterial and antiseptic with ingredients like rosemary, thyme and tea tree as well as being rich in antioxidants from grape juice and witch hazel (which is also an anti-inflammatory and astringent).
It’s light enough to be applied in your morning cleansing routine, during the day if needed, and at night post-cleanse.
I don’t like products that claim to be the be-all and end-all when it comes to clearing breakouts but I’ve never felt better in my skin than now that I have a stable routine in place. 

Enzymion:
With one whole lemon in each pot (fact, not scientific jargon to confuse you) this facial cream smells lemony fresh without smelling like bleach which some beauty products somehow manage.  Fresh fruit contains enzymes and “alphahydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells” and brighten complexion which is definitely apparent when using Enzymion; one of my biggest moans about my skin, especially in winter, is that I feel like my skin is very dull and almost translucent. Enzymions zesty ingredients brighten my skin and make me feel happier to go about my day. It sinks in really, really well and doesn’t feel heavy on my skin. I tend to have quite an oily T-zone, but the mattifying properties in Enzymion work wonders and I feel just that much more confident. Usually winter calls for a more heavy duty moisturiser but my skin doesn’t call for it. I can imagine that most people would find Enzymion most useful during the summer months.
I don’t tend to heap the cream on, either, a little goes a long way with this cream which makes it even better value for money.
It comes in a standard Lush ‘black pot’ and counts for your ‘5 black pots’ free face mask which is always a winner!

(For those who don’t know – if you bring back 5 CLEAN black pots to your local Lush, you can choose a free fresh face mask to say thank you for recycling!)

It may sound materialistic and vain to go on and on about skincare and how it makes me feel, but for most people the first thing you see in the morning is yourself in the mirror. If you can’t find any good points in the reflection, then it doesn’t start the day as well as it could. It’s nicer to wake up to clearer skin. Clearer skin = happier days.

Overall, taking into consideration the balance of effectiveness with money spent the best product will usually always come out as a Lush product. You can find all the information about the products above by clicking on the links above, or on the Lush website. Also, anything in those sexy little italics, is direct from Lush. 

Here's an article from Lush that you might find interesting too, it's all about their definitive guide to cleansing! I can also give a thumbs up to products mentioned here, especially Mask of Mag, Oatifix and Angels on Bare Skin.

All of the Lush online channels are listed here;
Lush UK Online

Lush Kitchen Online
Lush UK Twitter
Lush UK (Southampton) Twitter
Instagram – LushLTD
Instagram – LushSouthampton

Lush's Next Big Thing: The Unicorn Horn #TheyDoExist

Every Season at Lush it would seem that a front runner emerges from the pack of limited edition seasonal products, and leads the way forward for sales target smashing and selling out left-right and centre. For Christmas, is was obviously the returning favourite Snow Fairy. 

For Valentines, the award looks like it’s going to... The Unicorn Horn.

At £3.25 each, The Unicorn Horn bubble bar looks like a slightly elongated version of the Christmas favourite runner-up Candy Mountain; think slightly longer and slightly pointier.
Crumble this bad boy up under hot running water and Lush promises a “magical bath filled with beautiful neroli and lavender essential oils, colourful candy stars, sparkling lustre, rainbows and dreams.” – What else would you expect from a dissolvable Unicorn Horn?

The lustre featured on the horn (?!) is very similar to the fine shimmer that covered The Candy Mountain, but the scent is far more similar to the treasured all-year-long product the Twilight Bath Bomb. If Lush Cocktailing takes your fancy, I would definitely recommend using a Twilight bath bomb along with the Unicorn Horn; as Twilight dissolves your water will transform from a pearlescent pink to a moody, shimmering deep purple night sky.
With added lustre from the bubble bar there will be a million stars in your sky tonight. The endless amount of bubbles that come from the valentine’s edition Bubble Bar is surprising, so I would suggest if you do decide to get some cocktails going you cut your horn down.

Both products heavily feature Lavender which is the perfect soothing, mind-clearing and relaxing fragrance to soothe you into your evening – I’ve never slept better after an hour in the bath with these two and then off to bed.  Whilst Twilight has quite a floral, romantic Lavender scent to it, it’s complimented (not copied) by The Unicorn Horn which Lavender is more herbal but equally as enchanting.

But why is The Unicorn Horn so popular, you ask? Well, it’s beautiful for one. The second reason is that most of the noted reviewers on YouTube received one in their press samples and as you can tell from this sample image; it was very well received. (Sprinkle of Glitter permitted the internetty circulation of this particular image.)

The popularity of some Lush products astounds me – similarly to Snow Fairy at Christmas, there was also Northern Lights just before and Sparkler before that. All of the afore mentioned products sold so well that every time we emptied one box onto the shelf, we needed to open another – the never ending replenishment of Snow Fairy did not teach me however, that I would grow to like the scent (love the scent) and now in February, I look at the sliver of Snow Fairy left in my 100g bottle and I curse myself for not seeing this coming; for not buying more when I had the chance. I completely understand the obsession with favourite products.

With ten days to go until Valentines, and realistically only eleven days of possible Unicorn Horn buying time, I recommend you go now – go forth Lushies and stock up those haul cupboards. I certainly will be.

Mangaminty-ify your Skin!

Good evening and welcome back. If there is one shop that I can smell a mile off, it’s Lush. You know that smell - the sweet, telling smell that a Lush store is nearby?  I am a homing pigeon for Lush stores. 

I will always be a massive fan for Lush’s KARMA range; the perfume stick, the atomiser, the soap, the bubble bar...the list is endless and so is my love for this signature scent. My boyfriend always says, anyone wearing or whenever he smells KARMA, it smells like me. And I’m okay with that. The patchouli and orange blossom perfume has become ‘my smell’ and I couldn’t have chosen better – a great scent at a great price!
However, this birthday I had an extra little cash so I decided to branch out and see what else I might enjoy. (After picking up a few KARMA necessities, obviously!) Firstly, was DIRTY; the soap for men for James; he loves the smell and it always makes you feel so tingly-clean. Then I reached the fresh face masks...

Restore your radiance with a fresh concoction of fruits, butters , clays and essential oils.

Yes, yes that’s what I need. I’ve been so stressed recently with post-University worries that my skin has been breaking out left right and centre. The stress of needing to find a new house, moving into that new house, affording rent, trying to get a new job, dealing with housemates, receiving all final grades etc is taking its toll on my face and that’s making me even more stressed, so I needed a fix.

“A multipurpose mask with a mixture of gentle yet effective ingredients to clean, calm and clear the skin – now in a self-preserving formula!”

MASK OF MAGNAMINTY does exactly what it says on the tin. Having bought it on Thursday, I’ve used it three times since and the skin on my face is near enough clear; so much better. Having clearer skin is such a weight off my shoulders, I don’t have to think about it when I’m putting make up on in the morning or throughout the day when I’m worrying if my make-up has rubbed off and everyone can see how bad my skin was. If you feel panicky about your skin during the day, MAGNAMINTY is the answer. This version is the self-preserving edition which means some of the ingredients are different so that Lush don’t have to add in any harsher preservatives which wouldn’t be any good for the skin. 

Easy to apply, the mask is branded as a ‘face and back pack’ as it can be smoothed over the skin anywhere you like. On my first use,  I applied quite a generous amount over my full face and a little on the backs of my shoulders where I’ve been getting a few little breakouts – since then I’ve applied it twice more to my t-zone and fully across my forehead and my skin has thanked me for it. I feel more comfortable in my skin and that makes the day easier. I know you might think that sounds silly, but when you start the day by having to pile on the war paint to hide blemishes on your face it can take a toll on your mindset – waking up with clearer skin just starts the day off right for me!

The mask is made with peppermint oil to stimulate and cool, along with marigold oil and chlorophyllin (which gives it that greeny-healthy colour) to treat the skin. Evening Primrose seeds and aduki beans gently exfoliate the skin when you remove it, which in my case has been after my skin has soaked up as much goodness from the mask as it can. Usually I apply mine and then get in the bath, after about 20 minutes I wash it off. According to the Lush website, there’s also “mineral rich Kaolin to nourish and antibacterial honey” to stimulate the blood cells just under the surface of your skin to leave it looking bright and refreshed. 

My skin looks clearer and feels smoother and with a layer of light moisturiser before bed (after cleansing and toning) and the regular application of this facemask, I believe I’ll be having completely healthy, clear skin in no time. 

Don’t let the colour put you off –  think about all those green juices and how good they are for you. Green is good!

Mask of Magnaminty - Buy It Here!
Next time, I think I'll try: Cosmetic Warrior, Brazened Honey or Love Lettuce. 

Til next time, stay safe. 
BarGirl. ♥