Green Life in Dublin: February 2018

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Love Lula Beauty Box February 2018

Hi Lovelies,

Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Love Lula Beauty Box 2018

I am excited to share with you my second Love Lula beauty box this year from the same online green beauty store. They ship worldwide, and the price is 13.95£ monthly recurring for UK customers, and for us international gals there are two options of three months (52.50£) or a year (210£) including post and packaging. Green beauty boxes are a great way to discover new items you might have missed otherwise, and I love that anything coming from LoveLula is cruelty free and guaranteed not to have any toxic ingredients - they have very strict criteria for any product they accept, and that is taking the guesswork off your shoulders.

So let's see what's in our second 2018 box? By the way, don't forget to check out my interview with the owner and co-founder Sonia White as a part of my Natural Beauties segment here. I still can't believe Sonia said yes!

Psst, I will tell you one secret - after a couple of weeks of releasing their Beauty Boxes, Love Lula is giving them away for free with any orders above £60, so keep your eyes peeled! Also know that you can buy their previous month's boxes at a very reasonable prices - you will see them under "Special Offers" tab on the website. But I am getting a little ahead of myself here :)

So, shall we take a look at what's in this month's box? I thought you would never ask!

Madara Efoliating Scrub

One of the three full sized products for this month, and this product alone retails for over 24£ - so the box is well worth getting, isn't it? We are getting a lot of Madara products in the beauty boxes, and as someone who is always excited to test new green beauty brands and products, I am glad. I have collected quite a number of Madara products, both via beauty box and bought with my own money, so expect a review coming your way soon. Fingers crossed everything will suit me, I would be happy to support this Latvian brand.

Ingredients:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin***, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Aqua, Sucrose Laurate Esters, Sucrose Palmitate, Ethano, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Aroma, Tocopherol (VitaminE), Talc, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oïl*, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil*, CI77019 (Mica)****, CI77499. CI77491,CI77492 (Iron Oxides)****, CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide)****, Linalool**, Limonene** * Ingredients from organic farming ** Natural Essential Oils *** Made using organic ingredients **** Pure mineral pigments

Urban Veda Reviving Hydrating Toner

That's second full sized product in this box. I've got Reviving one, but I know some other people got Radiance, Soothing, Purifying ones. I have had this in the past, and unfortunately it was too harsh on my sensitive skin. I have tried four full sized products from this brand before, and none suited my sensitive skin. I passed them all to my daughter, who has normal skin, and she didn't like any of the products too, saying they dried out her skin too much. I think the products have too much alcohol for us to handle, so for that reason I will pass on this brand. Be my guest if your skin is different, but be mindful if you are sensitive like me. I know many people who love and enjoy Urban Veda, but I am not one of them, so this toner is going into "pass it on" basket. It does not mean it's a bad product, it simply means it's not for me.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Terminalia Arjuna Bark Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense (Goji berry) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Pogostemom Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Coriandrum Sativum (Coriander) Seed Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark (Cedar) Oil, Tagetes Minuta Flower (Marigold) Oil, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Alpha-isomethyl Ionone.

Ooh Avocado facial oil

Ingredients: 100% Persea Gratissima Oil. Duh!

Ooh brand came out with this brand new oil and the beauty box subscribers get to try it first! And we goet full size of it. This retails for 19£ on it's own, so you are doubling and tripling the value you paid for this box. Cool, or what? What's makes it different from other oils is that it is pressed from cold pressed from the Avocado pulp. Organic Avocado oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E and can thus provide your skin with deep hydration and protection. And it is organic too! I have used and loved avocado oil in the past, so I know this will be put to good use, if not for my face, then for my hair and body too, diluted in some other oils.

Pure & Light Essential Face cream

This was on my Love Lula wishlist, so I am really happy to get a chance to try this, as this deluxe sample size will provide enough product to see if it's for me. The official blurb: containing a ground-breaking 27 active certified organic ingredients and naturally rich in vitamins and antioxidants, Pure & Light Organic's Essential Face Cream deeply penetrates the skin to enhance blood circulation, support oxygenation and collagen production and promote supple younger looking skin.

Rich in anti-oxidants, flavonoids and Vitamins A, B, C and E, Pure & Light Organic's Essential Face Cream works to harmonise oil production, calm redness and irritation, improve skin's moisture retention, regenerate skin damage by harsh UV rays and actively counter fine lines, wrinkles and the early signs of ageing.

Benefits: •Deeply penetrating •Enhances micro-blood circulation which promotes the skins natural collagen production •Promotes skin cell renewal •Naturalises free radicals •Promotes skin moisture retention •Softens and nourishes the skin •Balances oil production of the skin •Rich in anti-oxidants, flavonoids and Vitamins A, B, C and E •Reduces sunlight photo-ageing effects on the skin •Promotes firmer, smoother, more youthful skin •Prevents fine lines and wrinkles •Rich in natural, plant minerals •Rich in essential fatty acids, Omega 3 and 6 •Deeply penetrating anti-inflammatory and soothing properties

Skin types and concerns: Dry and Flaky Skin, Early lines and wrinkles, Sensitive skin, Oily and Problem skin, Mixed skin, Dull skin, Dehydrated skin, Irritation and Redness, Oxygenation and collagen production enhancement.

Ingredients:

Spring water (Aqua), Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)*, Glyceryl Monostearate, Vegetable Gyceryne*, Sweet Almond (Prunus amygdalus)*, Apricot-Kernel (Prunus armeniaca)*, Cetyl Alcohol, Olive (Olea europea)*, Shea Butter (Butyrospernum Parkii)*, Cocoa butter (Cocos nucifera)*, Vitamin E*, Phenoxyethanol-ethylhexyglycerin, Distillates of Orange Blossom (Citrus Aurantium Fleur)*, Rose Damask (Rosa Damascena)*, Geranium (Pelargonium Asperum)*, Ylang-Ylang (Canaga Odara Extra)*, Palmorosa (Cymbopogon Martinii)*. Frankincense (Bosweilia Carterii)*, Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)*, Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum)*, Evening primrose (Oenothora biennis)*, Avocado (Persea gratissima)*, Macadamia (Macadamia tetraphylla)*, Argan (Argania Spinosa)*, Borage (Borago officinalis)*, GrapeSeed (Vitis Vini)*, Carrot Seed (Daucus Carota) Extract, Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum)*, Rosehip (Rosa Rubiginosa)*, Orange Blossom (Citrus Aurantium Fleur)*, Rose Damask (Rosa damascena)* *certified organic ingredients.

I have to say I am excited for this! As I mentioned, this was on my wishlist anyway, so I was chuffed to see it in this box. For now it is going into my fridge, as I am testing Bella Aura products (working on a review), and my skin protests wildly if I mix too many products at once. I want to give this my undivided attention when the time comes, not to mix it in too many products at once. A lot of other products from this line are on my wishlist, so I will keep you posted. I plan to do a brand overview and a few products review some time in the future.

So, all in all I am happy with this month's box - this provided us with three full size products, so you are more than tripling your money here - this box is worth whopping 65£! Even if I can't use one of the products myself, I'll take that. One of my girlfriends surely will be up for it. Let's not forget there is always 20% off coupon for the brands featured that month, so that gives you substantial additional savings too.

I think this is a great way to switch your products to clean products without spending a fortune if you are only starting out your green beauty journey. Even if you are advanced in it, it is always fun to discover something new, isn't it? I know I still love getting new products, nearly ten years in into my green beauty journey I still get excited getting boxes in the mail. What about you?

If you are interested, you can sign up here.

Can't wait, won't wait? Shop here!

My Love Lula Must Haves

So that is all for now, see you here shortly! Please make my day and subscribe and share this or any of my blog posts on social media. Thank You! It really helps to get the green beauty word out.

Follow me on my new blog Greenlifeindublin.com, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube.

Ta ta & Lots of Love,
Renata.

Green beauty blog

Love Lula related posts You might enjoy:

Disclaimer I: You can't use any part of my content, text or pictures, without my permission first.

Disclaimer II: the beauty box is part of LLABP program, and the thoughts are always my own. I treat every products equally, no matter what way it came to me.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Natural Beauty Series - meet Julie from Complete Natural Clarity

Hi Lovelies,

Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Julie from Complete Natural Clarity

Today I wanted to introduce you to someone special - Julie from Complete Natural Clarity. We connected over Instagram, and I was immediately drawn to her warm personality. We enjoyed talking green beauty brands and products, and I soon learned about the multiple health struggles this lady faces (seriously, my dermatitis is nothing compared to what she has!) but even with so many odds stacked against her, she remains to be a ray of sunshine in the green beauty community. I don't even know how she does that, I feel I wouldn't have so much strength in me? Please go and read any caption on her IG posts - and you will immediately know what I mean, she has so much passion and knowledge that she shares, but she does that in a way that is non judgmental, very warm and real, and you won't be able to resist to connect with her. Her inner beauty and the light she shares with the world really shines through. No masks or "social media persona" here - this lady is not only internet REAL, she is REAL REAL! Genuine and real to the core.

And her blog rocks too - you will find the links at the end of this post. So sit back, relax and enjoy this interview with her. And grab a coffee or matcha latte, it is a long one :)

💕 Please introduce Yourself to those who might not know You?

Hi! I'm Julie, a green lifestyle blogger at completenaturalclarity.com. I've always been a person who I felt is sort of good at many things, but not particularly spectacular at anything... The one thing that's always been my driving force in life is creative writing.. And books.. 📖📖📖 Reading is my natural Xanax 🤗 About 12 years ago, I started devouring books on green beauty/lifestyle, health, and wellness. I'm also a mother of a sweet baby boy and a licensed counselor with a masters degree. To put all of this together: my love of writing creatively, learning about and sharing all things Green Living, and the magical realm of holistic wellness, my blog became my sacred space to combine all of the above into one treasure trove of natural beauty, in all its many forms. 🏵️

💕 How has going natural and non toxic in your beauty regimen changed your overall health and beauty?

I've always been fascinated by delving into topics and figuring out how things work, what makes people do/feel/think a certain way, and finding the root cause of problems....pretty much everything that western medicine isn't! 9 years ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (an underactive Thyroid) after I started slowly gaining weight and feeling incredibly lethargic/exhausted. Doctors only wanted to treat the numbers on my blood tests and refused to listen to me when I complained that all of my original symptoms were still ruining my quality of life. One doctor flat out told me to get used to it and that I would feel awful the rest of my life! It took 9 years of researching diet, nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, and how the Thyroid works in the body and responds to medications for me to finally realize what was going on. After having my son, I became pre-diabetic and have full blown hoshimotos disease (Hypothyroidism becomes an Autoimmune disease over time, despite medication). I went to specialist after specialist and asked about Reverse T3 playing a role. Traditional doctors won't even look at Reverse T3 and I was told to find a "different type of doctor in NYC". I did my research and called over a dozen doctors trying to find one that would test my Reverse T3 levels and help me treat it. I found ONE GP (not even an Endocrinologist!) who was willing to listen to me and it turns out my Reverse T3 levels were through the roof, despite the rest of my lab results being normal!! We added T3 to my medication to balance the way my thyroid is breaking down hormones and... 5 months later, I'm down 25 pounds without changing my routine in any other way! (I've been exercising 5-6 days a week for years and my diet has always been mindful and in moderation).

I say all this because Green Living is about being as informed and educated as possible... It's not easy and a lot of times it's overwhelming and despairing trying to stand up for oneself and push forward. Doctors are people just like you and me... They make mistakes and they're most certainly not all-knowing! Going green has a lot of detective work involved as we try to attain answers to questions our society has been ignoring for so long.
Going natural and living as non-toxic as possible has taught me to not give up easily. This lifestyle has also taught me to honor my body, be grateful for everything my body does for me each and every day, and to nourish the skin I'm in. I'm definitely healthier, happier, and so much more informed since my green beauty journey began!

💕 Three things that make You happy?

Fairy tales, music, and books. 📖🌈 oh... And makeup, of course! 💄😃

💕 What is the best advice You've been given?

Nothing in life worth having is easy. Love yourself before you can truly and wholeheartedly love another. In the end, love is all there is. We're all living this life as one. Lift each other up and everyone will flourish!

Secondly, I've finally learned what it means when people say happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey.... The root of happiness lies in what we tell ourselves each day; the thoughts we carry with us through life affect every aspect of our lives. Be positive, persevere, and keep moving forward! Doors will open, and possibilities are all around you. 🌠

💕 What people inspire You?

Honestly, I have been so incredibly inspired by the women in the Green Beauty Community... I didn't know what I was getting into when I first started my blog, as I've never been much of a social media person. I created my first Instagram account when I started my blog a little over 2 years ago. The women in this community are so empowering and empathetic on a level that is genuine and real at its core. I love scrolling through my feed and reading all of your positive words of encouragement, educated facts about toxins and nontoxic products, and inspirational quotes that motivate me when I'm struggling at my core. I absolutely love that! I feel that once people make the switch to using natural products and to live a mindfully healthy lifestyle, people naturally start looking within to being the best version of themselves. The positive energy is literally contagious!

Complete Natural Clarity favourite products

💕 What are Your three (or five) can't-live-without-it green beauty products?

Root's Pearl Powder Foundation (HG, full coverage mineral foundation). Silk Naturals Blur Tinted Oil Control Setting Powder (every person with oily skin will rejoice at this glorious setting powder!). Tinted lip balm from Silk Naturals or Root & Kari Gran lip whip in Tinted (HG night balm).... And because I can't just have those, I absolutely adore Chai Love You lipstick by Red Apple Lipstick and Root's blushing Bronze in Sophie. Maracuja oil is my favorite skincare oil for acne prone skin!

Julie from Complete Natural Clarity wearing her green beauty favourites

💕 Your best DIY recipe?

Pure Activated Charcoal can be used in so many ways! It comes in powder form and you can simply mix it with water to form a paste for spot treatments for blemishes, an all over face mask to detox the pores, and as an all natural teeth whitening paste! Just sprinkle some on your Toothbrush for a super quick teeth whitening rinse.

💕 What do You like and dislike about yourself?

I dislike that I can get overwhelmed easily and that I'm prone to anxiety and depression. It feels like a constant battle at times. I like that I'm always trying to improve myself each day in some way. Learning never ends, no matter how old we get! I don't mind getting older and for each birthday that passes, rather than focusing on being another year older, I like to focus on what I've learned that year and how I've grown as a human being. 🌈

💕 Your proudest achievement?

I've never actually admitted this publicly, but due to the eye condition that I was born with, my vision is not fully correctable with glasses, so I was never able to see the chalk board in school. Despite being visually impaired my whole life, I completed a master's degree in Counseling, as well as a certification in Wellness Coaching. There were many, many times I wanted to give up. There was a strength inside me that propelled me forward, despite all odds being against me. I've never had anything come easily to me in life; I've had to work harder than most people to get where I am. It's taken many years to be truly grateful for everything that I am, rather than resenting everything that I'm not. Truly coming to terms with that is hands down my greatest accomplishment! 🙏

💕 What are You currently reading?

I'm always reading 1 nonfiction book and 1 fiction book. My mind really wants to be reading a dozen books at once, but I've finally trained myself to narrow it down to two at a time. I've found this is the best way to fully absorb the content and/or storyline. Right now, I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights after I found a beautiful antique copy that captivated my heart. I'm also reading The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael T. Murray, N.D., and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
(I am taking notes! ~ Renata)

💕 If You were to formulate a natural skincare or beauty product, what it would be?

A natural acne-fighting product that actually works! I have yet to find one that truly, truly stops active breakouts in their tracks. I've found some options that heal acne that's already on the mend, but never something that has stopped a blemish from getting out of control once it formed. Fighting acne at the source is a tricky matter, but the green beauty scene really, really needs to invent a topical concoction that works in a similar way that copious amounts of benzoyl peroxide does (minus all the havoc benzoyl peroxide causes on the skin, as well as internally). I know, I know... That might be impossible. Tea tree oil is recommended as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide, and in theory they may hold similar properties, but in actuality tea tree oil does absolutely nothing to treat, prevent, or heal acne for me. In fact, it seems to break me out even more in deep, painful cysts 🤔. Tea Tree oil and argan oil have been the most widely recommended products to me in treating active acne on the skin with claims that these products alone cured other's acne... I don't know what kind of acne those people had and I know everyone is different so I'm not saying it's impossible... But, after many years of research and trial and error using myself as a Guinea pig, I've come to the firm conclusion that it's highly unlikely that any oil alone is the cure to acne. And I feel that these unrealistic claims cause acne-prone people to inevitably give up on trying to use natural products on their skin. This breaks my heart and is why I'm sharing this with you! It's not hopeless! It's just more complicated.

I digress, though... 😂 In sum, I'd create my HG, 100% Natural Acne-fighting regimen. And if I ever do, I guarantee that tea tree oil and argan oil probably won't be high up on the ingredients list, if at all. 😊

💕 Your guilty pleasure?

Binge-watching TV shows on Netflix... When I'm feeling completely emotionally drained and too physically exhausted to read or exercise, I really do love a good show and movie to relax and recharge!

💕 Your top tips for being healthy and happy?

Move your body!! Our bodies were designed to move. When we have stagnant energy that can't flow freely, we become more aggressive, angry, and bitter (not just towards others, also towards our perception of ourselves). Exercise is not only incredibly important for our physical health for our heart and detoxification, it's also vital for our mental health and well-being. Exercise helps release feel good neurotransmitters in the brain, causing us to combat depression and anxiety in a completely natural way!

Secondly, try not to let other's perception of you change the way you feel about yourself. We give other people entirely too much power over our feelings of self worth. We can never make everyone happy and the best thing we can do for the entire world is to be the best possible version of ourselves. This means we have to utilize a lot of self care practices and honor the body we're in! 💞

💕 What scents excite You?

I love Grounding scents with a hint of spice and feminine elements... Musky scents, Jasmine, lavender, Sandalwood, Clove, vanilla, cinnamon... Tiny, tiny amounts of patchouli here and there.

💕 What is Your mantra in life?

"As you realize the world evolves" - Ravi Sing

💕 Favorite affirmation if You have one?

"I am balanced, I am strong"
"Let love guide your way"

💕 What's Your favorite beauty trend at the moment?

I'm a big fan of the magical, unicorn-like elements in beauty with different highlighter shades in pastel tones with glowy, healthy, radiant skin! I love adding elements of Magic in my makeup looks, while still creating super-wearable looks! My favorite highlighter of all time is Root's illuminator in Sarah, which is an absolutely gorgeous lavender! It's pure magic and it makes me so, so happy just looking at it!

💕 3 resources every girl needs..

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin 📖 Skin Deep database at EWG.org✨ and The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield 📖

💕 Once an week for my health...

Make time to recharge doing something I truly, truly love and being mindfully present the entire time..no interruptions and no distractions!

💕 Crazy health idea that actually works?

Oil pulling! It's tough, especially after my son was born, to do this regularly, but when I do, oil pulling does make me feel better, in general! I swish around extra virgin coconut oil for at least 10 minutes (make sure to spit it out in the garbage and not your sink! Oil isn't kind to pipes in the house).

💕 What do You do to de-stress?

Bellyfit workouts (dance, yoga, meditation, stretching), read a book, journal, watch a favorite movie, listen to music, apply makeup for some zen time.

💕 Last thing you do at night?

Apply my Kari Gran lip whip as I think about everything I'm grateful for each day.

💕 Tell us a secret!

Hmm.... I used to be very goth in High School 😂. I still love me some good ol' rock n roll!! 🎶🎸🎶

💕 A few words to Green Life In Dublin readers?

Don't ever let another person's perception of you change the way that you feel about or see yourself. Let love be your driving force in life and never give up! Keep believing in fairy tales and let magic find its way into your world with open arms and an open mind! Love and light. 🙏🌈✨💞😘

Complete Natural Clarity family

Julie
*Green Beauty/Lifestyle & Wellness Blogger*
Licensed Counselor, MA
Certified Wellness Coach
IG: @completenaturalclarity

Blog: completenaturalclarity.com

So, that's my post for this Monday, I hope you enjoyed it! If you want to check out more Natural Beauty interviews, click on the links below, there are some good ones. And I have more of them coming :)

Marie from And The Color Green

Sonia White from Love Lula

Jana from Small Bits Of Loveliness

Janey Lee Grace from Imperfectly Natural Woman

Modesta from Grozio Gurmane

Sasha from Balanced Beauty Bristol

Vita from Vita Lives Free

Michele from BVGAN

Andie from Andie the Green Queen

Andrea from Organic Beauty Lover

and last but not least, Linda or Lindalu19.

P.s. Please make my day and subscribe & share this or any of my blog posts on social media - it helps to get the green beauty word out and for that I Thank You! Follow me on my new blog Greenlifeindublin.com, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube.

Lots of Love,

Renata.

Enjoy my content? I would appreciate any contribution to my PayPal Tip Jar - any donation will get You my eternal gratitude and more awesome green beauty reviews Your way! I weed out all the greenwashing products so You won't have to.

Monday, February 19, 2018

My Love Lula Must Haves

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome back! And welcome if you are new here 💕💕💕

my Love Lula must haves

How are all of you? I hope you are well?
Today I am coming at you with the best products from Love Lula that I've tried to date. I can really recommend them - tried and tested by willing human bunny, aka me :) Most of them have separate reviews, but not all, so I will make sure to explain why I like them, and I will link the reviews back to this post once I will publish them. Shall we get started? In no particular order here are my best products from Love Lula:

Rahua Voluminous Shampoo

💕 Rahua Voluminous Shampoo

This was the first thing I chose when I joined LLABP blogger family, and I am so glad I did! You see, this shampoo and brand were on my radar for the longest time ever, but I was hesitant to try this due it's high price tag. Oh boy, how wrong I was - for the six months I had it (yes it lasts that long) I had a shiny bouncy hair, with zero flakiness or itching so many other shampoos give me. I am finally out of it, and went on to try some other shampoo that everybody in the green beauty community seems to love, but my scalp is having none of it - so Rahua it is for me! I have a full review on it here and I am looking forward to having Rahua back into my life. As long as I hide it from my family, I am good. What? It is parenting done right as far as I am concerned! I give them everything, can I have just one thing for myself? Besides, doesn't every household have that "Pricy Mom's Shampoo That You Can't Touch"? Yep, that's what I am talking about! Besides all four of us have different hair and there is no shampoo that would suit us all, so I don't feel too bad having it all to myself. Good hair days, here I come :)

DrHauschka Rose Day Cream

💕 Dr.Hauschka Rose Day Cream

My skin absolutely adores this face cream! So much that I repurchased it five times in the last year alone, so let this be the testament of how much I love it. My skin is always happy, plump and supple when I use it, not to mention protected from harsh weather in the autumn and winter, due to the nourishing butters and oils in it. It takes quite a while to sink in, so it is not your average apply-n-go moisturizer, but I am putting up with it, because I know full well my skin will look and feel amazing afterwards. I have a review of it here, and I can highly recommend it to anyone with dry and dermatitis prone skin - I know my breakouts are far and in between when I use it. It makes me want to stick with this product forever and not to test any more products in the future. Coming from a blogger, that's huge, trust me :)

💕 Living Nature Manuka Honey Gel

After using only tea tree oil on all kinds of skin boo-boos, I finally upgraded to this wonderful product, which has manuka honey and tea tree oil in it. While tea tree oil is wonderfully antiseptic and antimicrobial too, it must not be applied on the skin around pimple, because it burns. This product is way better than tea tree oil alone, as manuka honey has a myriad of healing properties to it too, so it makes the perfect marriage between the two. And, before you ask, no, it is not sticky at all - it has sort of jelly texture, that dries down and protects the skin throughout the day. Pricy, so I treat it like gold and hide it from Mr. Green Life In Dublin, who uses stuff at blink-and-you-will-miss-it rate. What? We share everything, can I have just two products all for myself, please? (that would be this and Rahua shampoo).

Dudu Osun African Black Soap

💕 Dudu Osun African Soap

This is really natural bar of soap that my whole family loves. Let me tell you why - it is made from sustainable ingredients (shea butter and ash from cocoa pods, anyone?), it works really well and does not dry out the skin; it lasts well, even when used by four people; and it is packaged in only cardboard box, which means it is a zero waste product. Fabulous or what? A re-purchase in my house over and over again, for sure. Review can be found here.

💕 Inika Highlighting Creme

I have to admit this wasn't a love at first sign. You see, despite the huge highlighting trend that's happening for a few years now, I didn't get into it until the last couple of years or so. So when I received it among some other Inika products for a review, it had to wait it's turn to get my attention. Boy, how I minced my words - it makes any make up look ten times more fabulous! Not too pink and not too golden in undertone, just the right balance between the two. Does not have chunky glitter in it, just a slight shimmer when you look at it straight from the tube, but, it looks beautiful on the skin. You look glowing, lit-from-within kind of glow. What I like the most about it, is that stays on all day on me - you have to blend fast, as it dries quite quickly, but when it does, it does not move all day, until you are ready to take it off at the end of the day. And did I mention you need the tiniest amount of it?

💕 Inika Long Lash Mascara

I am on my third tube, and that's what I used for the last six to nine months to date. It is amazing! Great ingredients, vegan, does not smudge or flake on me, which is big pet peeves in mascara for me; gives great length - what's not to like? I wish Inika would come out with volume mascara, but for now I am content with this and I don't plan to change a thing for a foreseeable future.

💕 Inika Mineral Bronzer in Sunkissed

Um, can you see how much I love Inika as a brand? I really ought to review it soon! I have quite a number of things, but for my Top Three Best I chose the ones you see here, including this bronzer, simply because that's what I use most frequently, not because other product's aren't good. Just like Inika's blushes, the bronzer is very pigmented, so you definitely need very little of it. This is my second favourite bronzer of all times, and I was so happy to score it for free when Love Lula had an amazing deal on Inika a while ago - you got a free full size bronzer with an Inika purchase over 25£. Sweet or what? I suggest you keep an eye for that, as they frequently have deals like that. And I love the fact that you can get everything you want from one stop shop, Love Lula. The only I wish they would carry again is Peachy Keen blush, which was one of my first ever green beauty buys from Love Lula back in 2014, but sadly it is not a part of the stock when Inika came back to Love Lula. It is a gorgeous natural Nars Orgasm dupe type of blush, and it is also probably my most favourite green beauty product ever! Seriously, it makes me smile every time I wear it :) Don't forget to check out my 20+ natural dupes for Nars Orgasm post (here).

Walden A Different Drummer Natural Perfume

💕 Walden A Different Drummer Natural Perfume

Oh, what a happy day it was when the delivery guy handed me a box with this perfume. I didn't know it back then, but it was the day I discovered one of three my favourite natural perfumes! Made from only the finest natural absolutes, resins and essential oils Walden Perfumes are named after Henry David Thoreau’s seminal work Walden. The book - part meditation, part handbook for simple living in natural surroundings - has inspired countless readers and Walden Natural Perfumes are proud to walk in his footsteps. And I am really sure this A Different Drummer Perfume will be featured as my favourite for many years to come. With notes of sandalwood, tobacco, vanilla and black pepper, how can it not be? I will let you know into one little secret - I am one of that rare breed of females who loves wearing men's perfume, and often layer two different scents. A Different Drummer is perfect unisex scent, so you can safely gift is to any man in your life too. If you aren't too sure, Walden has a sampler set. And if you want to read more, here's my review on it.

💕 Hurraw Moon Lip Balm

All Hurraw lip balms are favourites in Green Life In Dublin Casa for the last six or seven years, and I have tried every single one except cherry, because that kind of tint wouldn't suit me. I chose Moon balm over any other of them, because that is the one balm I have to have every single night, no matter what season it is. It has a different texture than the rest of Hurraw balms, and also better staying power, and lovely vanilla scent to it. In winter this becomes my day lip balm, because I find it great at protecting my lips from harsh environment, while all the other Hurraw balms are on heavy rotation for the rest of the year. I also suggest you get their Sun Protection SPF15 Lip Balm too. So often we forget to put SPF product on our lips, when in fact that is one of the thinnest parts of your skin. Take care of it.

💕 Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Organic Facial Moisturiser - SPF30

Despite no proper review on this product yet, this is a third tube of it I am getting. I find it works great, but please bear in mind we haven't got nice and hot summers for the last few years here in Ireland, so I haven't got a chance to test it's SPF claims properly, and that is the reason I haven't reviewed it yet. So here is a short version of it here - it is not a sunblock, it is a moisturizer with SPF in it, so I wouldn't rely on it for the beach holiday or when I would know I would be out in the sun all day. But I do find it great as "city SPF product" where it gives me enough protection for every day. Bear in mind I always wear a hat, no matter what. The reason I have repurchased it over and over again is because that is the only SPF product that does not leave dreaded whitecast nor breaks me out. A miracle product in that sense. Despite seemingly high price tag, it is also a good value for money, because you get a huge bottle of it that will easily last you a whole year. For those reasons it gets my seal of approval.

So, that are my top picks from Love Lula! All of the products were featured in my favourites posts multiple times, and all of them made it into my 2017 Best Products post. These are also the same products I recommend on Love Lula Bloggers Recommend page. It's good to be consistent, you know?

Love Lula blogger recommendations - Green Life In Dublin

What about you, what are your favourite tried and tested Love Lula products? Please share, I would love to know!

Shop this post (if you want to)

Love Lula Blogger Recommendations

That is all for now, see you here again very shortly.

Ta ta!

Lots of Love,
Renata.

green life in dublin

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