Sunshine Blogger Award

Hi Lovelies,



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

Sunshine Blogger Award

My day was definitely brightened when Ruth from Naturally Northern Beauty tagged me in Sunshine Blogger Award post! 

The aim of it is for bloggers to recognize other bloggers whose work they enjoy and admire, and for us all to get to know a little more about each other! It’s something a little bit different to my usual posts, but I hope you enjoy reading all the same!

The rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you for the award, and provide a link to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
• Nominate 11 new bloggers to receive the award.
• Ask your nominees 11 questions.
• List the rules and the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.

Questions I was asked and my answers to them:

What motivates you to write your blog posts?

The thought of helping others to transition to the green side easier. That's my first and foremost goal of my blog - to be helpful to people. I didn't have it easy when I transitioned myself almost a decade ago - nothing natural was to be found locally, and we didn't have online shops back then either, they came on the scene around five years ago. Needless to say I really struggled at the start of my own green beauty/lifestyle journey. One day, fed up with yet another expensive product that did not work, I had a thought " I should blog about it so others wouldn't have to go through the same struggles as me" and that's how my blog was born. I even stopped wearing any make up for a good few years for that reason. Thankfully the green beauty scene exploded since, and not only we have affordable options, but abundance of products too, so now we have the opposite of the problems - sometimes it might feel there's too much choice! And here is where I come in too - people say they find all my reviews helpful, as I am always honest about things - I was told it is rare thing in the blogging word, so I wear it like a badge of honor! And if you follow me for any length of time, you know this is a passion product of mine - it was only last year I introduced affiliate links here and there (only to the products and brands/shops that have my heart) after working for free for 8+ years. I say working, because anyone who tried their hand at blogging would know how much of hard work goes into it. 

What’s your favourite social media platform to use alongside your blog?

That would be Instagram, even with those stupid algorithms and recent censoring (see me talk about it here) - purely because of easy access and the ability to instantly connect to people. And the beautiful images don't hurt either :) I am a sucker for beautiful flatlays!

Which other bloggers/influencers inspire you and why?

So many! All of the green beauty community influence me in some shape or form, whether by beautiful images, to being honest about everything to inspiring me to blog about one thing or another, and I can go on! When it comes to products, I try to not be influenced by what other people use/recommend, as I find the products someone else likes does not automatically translate as my favourite products too - my skin is way too sensitive for most of what green beauty have to offer.

What’s your “can’t-live-without” beauty product at the moment?

Hmm, let me see - if the question is about make up, then I would be pressed hard to choose between concealer and a good mascara, I can't live without those two. The ones I am currently using are Duet Perfecting Concealer by Hynt Beauty and Long Lash mascara by Inika.

Oftentimes when people ask about "beauty favourites" they have skincare in mind, and if that's the case, I would have to choose entire Bella Aura line, as well as Rare Indigo balm by Mahalo.

How do you keep up with trends that are relevant to your blog?

I don't! As someone who is on the wrong side of 30s (ahem ahem) I am way past caring what's trendy, especially when it comes to all things green beauty. Trendy products in skincare? No thanks, I would rather find products that work for my uber sensitive skin! Trends in make up? I would rather buy products that complement my skintone. Purple lipsticks and eye shadows? They can jog on. I know what suits me and have my own style when it comes to fashion as well. It does not mean I am stuck in a rut, far from it - I love fashion and constant evolving.

What are your other hobbies, alongside blogging?

Constantly educating myself by reading, Health & Wellness type of books are my favourites to read, and I started to review them very recently too, posts will be linked down below in the case you are interested. As well as other relevant posts.

Next would be creating things with my hands, be it jewelry making, knitting or crocheting. Unlike with blogging, I can't finish anyth        (get it?)

I also really enjoy traveling (wish I could do that more often), good food, meeting friends, as well as new people, and I could go on. Enjoying life, basically.

What’s your favourite film and why?

Anything based on real stories. Or a good comedy from time to time. 

What’s your favourite book and why?

I don't read much fiction novadays, but I am well into Health & Wellness type of books - give me any of them and I am happy bunny! Too many to list, so I will list my current favourite authors instead - step forward Nadine Artemis & Patrick Holford. Pick up any book of theirs and your life will be changed for the better.

What was the last foreign country you visited?  What did you love about it?

The last country I visited was Crete island, Greece about three years ago - I wish we could travel more often. The food was extraordinary, and I still dream about going back to famous pink beach in Elafonissi - the most beautiful beach I've ever seen.

What’s your favourite thing about yourself?

I like that I am a giving person who sees or tries to see the good in people. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don't stress so much, you don't have to figure  everything out at once. Also, don't bottle emotions, talk to people about your feelings - especially if they are doing something that hurts you emotionally. You don't have to lower yourself for anyone, keep your heels and standards high.


Now, that were some good questions, were they? My turn to think of something equally as good! Let me see. As I see some of my blogger pals were tagged multiple times already, I will mostly take the tag over the pond. In no particular order I tag:

Shannon Marie - Rawdorable

Andrea from Organic Beauty Lover

Green Beauty Project Adriana

Andie from The Green Queen

Julie from Complete Natural Clarity

Cheryl from Free Range Diva

Vita from Vita Lives Free

 Jana from Small Bits of Loveliness

Angie from Whipped Green Girl

Lynda from Wonderlusting

Boriana from 1988 Bori


(find them all tagged in my IG post)


Here are my questions:

How and why did you start blogging/ making Youtube videos?

How do you choose your products? Do you seek the most pure products out there, do you research into a brand first, and so on?

What are the most rewarding aspects of blogging/ vlogging?

What aspects do you find the most challenging and how do you deal with it?

What are your thoughts on PR products?

What are your thoughts on green beauty as a "trend" that's been portrayed as? Where do you think it will go from here?

What bloggers/ Youtubers do you admire and why do you like them?

How do you deal with haters if you get any?

What makes you happy?

What's the best advice you were given?

What are your favourite products of the moment? (I can't help myself but ask this 😇)

So that's it for today, see you here shortly! Hope you enjoyed this post.

Related posts:

All my reviews to date

2017 Favourite Products

Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting Concealer review

Mahalo Review

Bella Aura Review

Longevity by Cameron Diaz review - Book Corner

Radical Beauty by Deepak Chopra & Kirmberly Snyder review - Book Corner

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 Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube.

Lots of Love,

Renata.

 

Natural Beauty Series - Meet Marie From And The Color Green

Hi Lovelies,



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

I am so buzzing with joy to present my interview with yet another wonderful Natural Beauty, Marie from And The Color Green! We first bonded via Instagram (as you do) talking about products for dry and sensitive skin, and when I discovered she has a Youtube channel, I binge watched all her videos in one day! And I loved them all. She talks about green beauty products, subscription boxes, science 180 about ingredients in such a down to earth and playful manner, you can't help but fall in love with her! I don't know how about you, but reading scientific studies isn't my ideal downtime read, but her's is. And she translates that so well into her videos. I featured her in my Spring 2017 Favourites, and if you don't follow her already, you should - you will love her, I am sure of it. I also admire her for balancing so many plates at the same time, not only is she a mommy to two small kids, but also works at the outpatient clinic, does regular Youtube videos, as well as having a blog, and that is not the end of it, far from it - she has started her own subscription box business! Mary, tell me where are you buying extra time, I want to know :)
Pst, her social media will be linked at the end of this post.

And the Color Green - Marie

💕 Tell us a bit more about yourself?
   
My name is Marie. My mom’s family all have French names so I got Marie! I grew up in Hawaii. I have lived and traveled all over the US. I have also gotten to travel a lot in Europe, Central and South America. My husband and I both love to surf so Hawaii was where we wanted to come back to and settle down. It is also the most diverse place in the US. So it has a unique blend of cultures and traditions that I have always loved and appreciated. I wanted my kids to experience that same environment. 



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

I think choosing to focus on more natural based products makes you more aware of the whole industry of beauty. You start to pay attention to sourcing, production, ingredients and the waste created. It was really out of this interest in how stuff was made that motivated me to start my You Tube channel. 



💕 Three things that make you happy?

My family, surfing and endless cups of coffee.



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

“Live in faith, not in fear”-It was given to me by a friend of mine who truly lives this motto. She embraces life and is patient and trusting that life will play out the way it is meant to. 



💕 What people inspire you?

Big wave surfers and mountain climbers! They train physically and mentally for months to interact and conquer the scary side of nature. It inspires me to see people utilize their bodies strength and mental fortitude. 



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

Current loves: Mun Anarose toner, Honua Olena oil, Osmia Organics Purely simple face cream.

Marie from And The Color Green

💕 Your best DIY recipe?

1/2 raw honey, 1/2 olive oil, + 1/2 dairy or vegan yogurt. It combines so many great nutrients, exfoliates and softens skin.



💕 What do you like and dislike about yourself?

I have always liked that I was born with tons of energy. They used to call me busy bee when I was a kid. I was always making crafts or roller skating. Over the years, I have come to dislike it at times because occasionally I exhaust myself with all my projects. 



💕 Your proudest achievement?

My kids! 



💕 What food do you like to cook/eat?

I really love to roast vegetables in olive oil. I mean roasted broccoli tastes better than pizza! I always have to make triple the amount I think we will need for a family of four (meaning the pan is over-flowing!). There is never any left at the end of the night. 



💕 I really like your Mask Hacking videos, how are you coming up with them?

Well, I love to break down ingredients and figure out how stuff works. So breaking down what was inside face masks has always been fun for me. I eventually turned that into a subscription box called Face Mask Alchemy.

Face Mask Alchemy

💕 Your guilty pleasure?

Italian food. I could eat carbs covered in tomatoes all day. 



💕  What scents excite you?

I learned the word for my favorite smell from Jess of Stark Skincare. It is called petrichor. It is the scent of fresh rain after a long dry period.



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

The Korean skincare invention of the 7 Toner method. It revolves around applying topical humectants to add hydration to skin. It seems to work well for all skin types. 



💕 3 resources every girl needs..

A moisturizer, a wifi signal, and a good pair of sturdy walking shoes. 



💕 Once a week for my health…

FACE MASK! My mom recently told me that she wished she could mask more but she didn’t have the time. I replied, “You make the time”. My personal masking mantra is to do a clay mask once a week followed by sheet mask. Setting time aside for yourself to practice a simple self care ritual is more than just a face mask. It is a moment to breathe. It is a moment to reflect. For some, setting aside this time comes naturally. For others, we have to consciously choose to value ourselves and set aside that time. 



💕 What do you do to de-stress?

Crossfit! I love lifting heavy weights. It makes me feel so satisfied and relaxed afterwards. 



💕 Last thing you do at night?

Check that the doors are locked! 



💕 Tell us a secret!

I hate it when other peoples feet touch me. . . . Ewwwwwwwww



💕  A few words to Green Life In Dublin readers?

I would love to come and visit Ireland and face mask with Renata!
(You are welcome to my house any time Marie! I would love that! R.)


Now, isn't she adorable? I am linking her Youtube channel here and her Instagram here, because supporting my fellow green beauty sisters is kind of a priority for me! Go follow her and say hello from me while you are there 😉


If you want to, you can check out all my other Natural Beauty interviews I've done to date. And just a quick note, I will be posting these interviews on a random basis from now on, as opposed to every six weeks I'd done previously, as truth to be told, they come back to me at different times, when it is convenient for them, and I don't want to place any pressure on them or myself. This a blog after all, not a published magazine where I would have time frames and deadlines, so let's just enjoy these interviews as they come, shall we?

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.

Green Beauty Blog, Green Life In Dublin

Enjoy my content? Any contribution to my PayPal Tip Jar -  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 :)

Lily Lolo Mascara Review

Hello Lovelies,


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

Lily Lolo mascara

Now that my kid is settled into preschool well I can finally relax and start blogging more, something I intended to do for a while now, but was never able to do. Roll on the blog posts I say :)


Ok, Lily Lolo! Even though I already have my all the time favourite mascara (which is 100%Pure Maracuja oil mascara, click here to see my review), I simply had to try this mascara for review purposes and to compare the two, and of course I was curious to try it as it is making waves in the green beauty world, so naturally I had to see what the fuss is all about. The fuss about this mascara gathered speed after it was included in some green beauty box or another (well played, Lily Lolo, well played) and after that it appeared in many monthly favourites blog posts and YouTube videos. It was the best mascara ever the bloggers said! The only one I use and recommend the organic bunnies shouted! It performs so well I never want to be without it, and the ingredients are all totally natural, Youtubers gushed. Well, yes, the ingredients are totally natural, I have to give them that, and yes, it does gives great volume for a natural mascara, so that are the great things about this mascara, but with a heavy heart I have to say I won't be repurchasing this mascara, and let me explain myself why.  I gave it a fair shot testing it for around 4 months, so I think that is sufficient time to test the product and form my final opinion on it.

As you can see, I expected big things from this mascara when I purchased it, I wanted it to be my holy grail mascara, because I wanted volume, great ingredients and good performance. Plus, this mascara is cheaper than my beloved 100%Pure one and as it is made in the UK, it is closer to home, (At that time UK was still in the EU, so I could escape those dreaded custom charges, not so much now, but the problem sorted itself out = no future purchases, no extra taxes).
Let's get back to the mascara. I was so excited to try it once I got it, one swipe, it was good, two layers, it was real good! It gave me lots of volume and some length, something I look for in the mascara. The formula is on the dry side, and you can pick up good amount of product to build the lashes up to your desired effect. It also layers well, either on it's own or with other mascaras, so you can do two or three layers and get that dramatic look if you want to.With my short and invisible lashes that is exactly what I need, if the mascara is described s "natural looking" "everyday mascara" that is how I instantly know it is not for me. And what's wrong with a volume for everyday? It does get a bit clumpy on the lashes for me and I need to comb them out though. So I was really happy with the mascara for a about a week, until it started flaking. Flaking just after a week is not a good sign for me, but I continued with it, because this is such a good mascara, with a cult following in the green beauty community, surely I can put up with a bit of flaking, no big deal I told myself. But as the days went by, the flaking was worse and worse (as you would expect) and started irritating my eyes, as when I looked in the mirror I could see the bits of mascara on the eyeball, and if I tried to remove it, it would make my eye go bloodshot red. Not a good look if you can guess. Even with this, I stuck through for the next few weeks, but I was beginning to wonder why is everyone raving about it? Maybe I got one from a bad batch I wondered, and I raised my question on Instagram. I got a ton of response, but the majority of people who came forward said that they had no such problems whatsoever and they are really happy with it. By then I was approaching week five, and the straw that broke camel's back was the mascara going foul on me in the sixth week. It wasn't your average mascara-getting-old a bit sour smell, it was full blown foul you-instantly-want-to-turn-your-nose-away smell. A bit puzzled by all this I emailed the brand, because if you pay full price (plus shipping) you would expect your mascara be good for at least standard three months, no?  The brand was extremely understanding and sent me a replacement immediately, so brownie points for awesome customer service, Lily Lolo!
I told myself I will start anew with my second tube of mascara, I won't hold anything against it and will treat it as a completely new unfamiliar-to-me mascara. What do you think? The exact same stuff happened, from flaking in the first couple of weeks, to irritating bits in my eyes, and I was constantly told I have mascara bits on my cheeks. I persevered until week six to see if it will go bad on me around that time mark, and it didn't, but instead it dried out on me on week eight.
Hmm, that is not a very positive experience, isn't it? Now that I look back on it, I can't believe I bothered that long, because any other sane woman would toss that second tube aside and get herself a decent mascara, right? (Esp as I have a tube of 100%Pure waiting to be opened). But as I am must-test-products-thoroughly-blogger, aka not-so-sane woman, I persevered for four months to give you my honest opinion on it. Sorry, Lily Lolo, I wanted to love your product, but I just can't. It would cost me too much to repurchase it every four weeks or so, and my stance is that a decent mascara should last me three months before it changes. Flaking on the first week and the irritated eyes are a deal breaker for me. I am sure Lily Lolo has many great products, but this mascara and I part ways here and now. My beloved 100%Pure one is initially more expensive but it lasts me at least six months without any crumbling or irritation whatsoever. I toss mine after it hits 6 months period for hygienic reasons, but I know a few Youtubers and green beauty bloggers have used it for 9 months to a year without a bother. And instead of irritating my eyes it makes my eyelashes grow! So I will stick to it, thank you very much!

P.s. I am testing Alverde Maximize Volume Lashes mascara at the moment that I got form Germany in a green beauty swap, and it is very comparable in terms of finish and wear, and it costs €3.75! Just letting you know in the case you are looking for cheap natural mascara. It does flake too, so just letting you know in advance.

Ingredients of the Lily Lolo mascara:
AQUA (WATER), MYRICA PUBESCENS FRUIT CERA (MYRICA PUBESCENS FRUIT WAX), PROPANEDIOL, COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX), POLYGLYCERYL-6 DISTEARATE, SUCROSE STEARATE, ACACIA SENEGAL GUM, GLYCERYL DIBEHENATE, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED CERA (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED WAX), LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT BIS-OCTYLDODECYL DIMER DILINOLEATE/PROPANEDIOL COPOLYMER, POLYGLYCERYL-10 MYRISTATE, ORYZA SATIVA BRAN CERA (ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN WAX), GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, ROSA CANINA FRUIT OIL, ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL, XANTHAN GUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE, GLYCERYL UNDECYLENATE, [MAY CONTAIN CI 77499 (IRON OXIDES)]



So there it is, my two cents, aka review of this cult mascara. Have you tried it? Loved it? Hated it? Please share with me :)


Lots of love,
Renata.


Disclaimer, aka the Boring Bit I Have To Say:
This blog post features items bought with my own money and the replacement sent by brand. It may contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase via my link, it will be at no additional cost to you and I would highly appreciate the support for my blog. So far I am yet to make any money, but here's hoping :) Thanks for being eagle eyed and reading the boring bits too :) Take care.

Natural Empties Spring 2016

Hello Loves,

While we are still enjoying the last 5 minutes of spring, I hurry up to present you the natural empties post, this is everything I used and finishes in the last three to six months behind the scenes. Some of these products appeared on my Instagram feed, some didn't, some will be repurchased, some won't. I love doing these types of posts, and it seems to be one of the most popular with you too, so let's keep this tradition, shall we? Oh, and if you are wondering why I don't have a shampoo or deodorant in these posts, is because I am still working my way through 1 litre of my beloved Dermorganics shampoo (although I recently aquired Josh Rosebrook and 100%Pure shampoos and conditioners, stay tuned for reviews of those too). Dermorganics is my fave shampoo for the third year running and yet it dawned on me that I never reviewed it, doh! And as per deodorant, I am using my own DIY which works better than any of the shop bought one I have tried. I have a recipe post here on my blog, so just search for ir in the search box.

RMS Uncoverup in 11 and Smile (Lip2Cheek) samples
I purchased a sample of it to try out, because you simply have to try out this cult beauty product if you are into green beauty, and especially if you are a blogger! But let me tell you, l am so glad l didn't jump in with both feet like I tend to do, as in purchasing full size of the product. As you can guess, l am not getting full size of it, for two simple reasons - as a concealer it tends to last one hour on me, and as a full face foundation, it broke me out. The product is very pigmented so you really need the teeny tiny amount of it and it has really clean ingredients, l have to give them that, but it looks really good on me for five minutes (the fresh dewy bright look you see in the magazines) and it is completely gone within one hour, no matter if I set it or not. (It also creases like crazy if set). I know this is contravertial as soooo many green bloggers and Youtubers love it, but it is not a product for me. Breakouts are never nice, and my face can't handle the coconut oil, even though I love it for my body. I also own the sample of Smile, which is lip to cheek product which I really liked at the beginning and was gong to get full size of, but again, breakouts plus not lasting performance of the product (these tend to last a bit better, maybe 3hrs on the cheeks) made me change my mind. Plus I made my own DIY multiple, which is just so good! I will link it here.
A repurchase? Sadly no.

100%Pure Vanilla Body Butter 
I really wanted to check this product out to compare to other body butters that I’ve used over time, but I am not repurchasing this or any other body butters from 100%Pure for a couple of reasons - firstly you get very little product for the price ( plus I risk the damn custom fees every time I order from them), secondly mine came brownish greying purple tinge colour, not the white you see in the webshop, for some reason I didn't think of contacting them about it, so just used it up. After three months or so it developed a gummy texture like you were trying to rub in a rubber into your skin, so I had to leave it there and then. I am guessing I got an old product, but it seriously underwhelmed me.
A repurchase? No. But I will try their body lotions sometime.

Almond Oil (infused with camomile)
I use it to remove my eye make up and/or for oil cleansing sometimes, as well as for hair oiling, there are a million ways to use it, so it tends to go really fast in my house. Everything is better infused with calming chamomile, right?
A repurchase? Yes. It is a staple.

Lily Lolo BB Cream in Light 
Got a sample of it via Naturisimo and got hooked line and sink from the first use! I will have a full review very soon, so stay tuned for that, but let’s just say this is a first BB (or CC or DD for that matter) that I invested in a full size of. Spoiler allert.
A repurchase? Yes. Already did.

Rose Water x3
This is a staple in my house and I think I blogged about it already, so let's just say it has a multiple uses and I repurchased it many times over.

Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap x2 bottles (just one pictured).
The reason I was able to finish the whole 1 little bottle of it is because I use it as laundry detergent, and tge smaller one stays in the kitchen for hands and dish washing. Truly great all natural organic product that I never want to be without.
A repurchase? Yes yes yes!

Korres Wild Rose Eye Cream SPF 15
This didn't do anything to me, apart from giving me milia (I used to suffer from it a lot when I used creams for my under eyes. All of disappeared over time when l switched to gels and oil. That's my theory and l am sticking to it - millia is caused by creams).
It sat in my bathroom cabinet for ages, until l very recently, l tried to use it up as a hand cream, but it changed texture aka got old on me, so into the bin it goes.
A repurchase? No.

Kypris Antioxidant Dew
Again, this is going to be controversial as it is loved in the green beauty community, and I really wanted to try it as as pricy as it is, it is one of the cheapest things from the brand. Again, this did nothing for me apart from giving me big juicy pimples. I noticed zero difference in my skin or its hydration levels. Also I am kinda dissatisfied with the first two ingredients in the list (meaning they make the bulk of the product). It is water and glycerin. Well, I don't know about you, but if I pay 60-70€ for a product I would love to get actual active ingredients instead of water and glycerin. I hope you won’t take offence if you happen to love this product, we are all different and all we need different products to suit our needs.
A repurchase? No. But I am intrigued by their Moonlight Catalyst serum.

2x roller perfumes from Paris.
These are years old and I am giving those away instead of binning because they still work and smell good. I am downsizing my perfume collection The reason l kept it for so long is sentimental, l bought them in the Eiffel tower..
A repurchase? Err, we will see! My daughter (who is the owner of them now) demanded that we go back for more :)
If l will figure out how to squeeze a trip to Paris for 4 on a shoestring budget, l will let you know.

No Name Solid Perfume.
I got it in a trinket shops with chinese fans, cups, incense etc. The reason l called it no name is because I forgot a name of what I got, l used it maybe twice, and like four months later I can't smell anything at all, no it goes to the bin never to be repurchased again.
A repurchase? No. And I am kind of done with cheap natural perfumes. They never last and always end up disappointing me.

Tisserand DeStress roll on
It did do anything at all for my stress levels, and I didn't like the scent, two main reasons I am not getting it again. I tried to add sandalwood and frankincense essential oils to it, didn't work.
A repurchase? No.

PurMinerals liquid eyeliner
Tthis goes to my daughter as it is still technically good, but the reason I won’t use it again is because it dried out my eyelids like crazy - oddest feeling ever! I have never experienced it with any other eye liners. Once I used it really thich, Amy Winehouse style and it hurt to blink! Bizzare, l took it off within the half an hour.
A repurchase? No.

Symprove.
It’s my current probiotics, blog post review to come, stay tuned.
A repurchase? Still have three bottles to go
.
Weleda Stretch Marks Massage Oil
This was sent for me to review like two years ago, with a girl insisting it will help my stretch marks, despite me telling her they are years old and it won't work. I was right, it did nothing at all for my stretch marks, so l used it up as a regular body oil. Maybe it would help if you are preggo and trying to prevent stretch marks from appearing in the first place, but it will do next to nothing if you have them already.
A repurchase? Not this, but l will happily repurchase Weleda’s Sea Buckthorn oil which is gorgeous and very luxurious.

100%Pure Blood Orange hand buttercream
This is good product, and smells gorgeous too! It still has a two weeks of product left, but l wanted to include it here so l could bin it once l am done. It is more like a night time cream, creamy texture more on the thicker side.
A repurchase? Yes, l loved it. Not right now, as l have two other hand creams to finish up, but some day for sure.

Viridian Organic Milk Thistle Tincture
 It lasts for a long time, l used it to help my liver detox. Did it help? Hard to tell. I will include this in my upcoming vitamins and supplements post where l will talk more in depth about it.
A repurchase? Yes.

NYR Bee Lovely hand cream (76% organic)
This is a lovely product, a bit runny in consistency, but it sinks in fast, so you could do anything you wanted soon after the application, as in drive a car, handle the documents, etc and you don't have to rub your hands together waiting for it to sink in, which can be a problem sometimes. This is a perfect day time hand cream.
A repurchase? Yes, l have bought it already.

Atlantic aromatics Carrot Seed Oil
I bought this essential oil because its healing properties to the skin, as well as high SPF factor. At that time l had my dermatitis really bad and it did help, but it also went really fast. It also has an earthy woody type of smell, which a lot of people don't like. I don't mind it.
A repurchase? Yes
.
Secret Natural Ippocratis Cream
I bought in Crete, Greece. Really natural ingredients and it has beeswax, propolis, honey, Chios Mastic gum and seven herbs and six oils. This turned out good for calming the dermatitis, plus l happily used it as my face cream too. I really wanted to repurchase it and searched high and low for it online, where it's nowhere to be found. When l finally tracked down its makers and emailed them about international order  it took them a month to get back to me with a €60 price tag, which really puzzled me as l paid 8€ for it in the shop, and when l inquired further about the high price they told me the skipping to Ireland costs them 23€ and the rest is for a couple of creams, because they think it is “no good” for me to get just one. And they wouldn't budge on the shipping cost, despite me telling them similar creams from Greece ship for 4€ in etsy.
A repurchase? Not sure. It is a fabulous cream, but I won't pay 60€ for it either. I might try similar cream from etsy with chios mastic first. Or go back to Crete for it, haha!

Nyr Frankincense Hydrating Cream
I used it until my poor skin reacted badly to it, After my dermatitis was gone I think I might have overloaded my skin trying on all these gorgeous products I had and could not use, including this cream. I noticed straight away that it made my dermatitis patch much redder, so I used it on the whole face apart that place, but after some time my skin stopped liking it and it got irritated every time l used it, and it was a clear sign to put it away. I still have a half of the jar left, I will give it away to one of my friends as it would be a shame to bin such a gorgeous product. I would suggest trying a sample first if your skin is sensitive and easily irritated.
A repurchase? No, but l will try some cream from their sensitive skin line.

Soulful Body Inc Pitta Balancing Body Massage oil
This is a fabulous holistic company from US that uses only the best qualify oils and other ingredients. I really liked it, and l am fortunate enough to own their chakra balacing oil, which I can't get enough of.
A repurchase? No, because I have too many body oils and lotions to finish first before I will allow myself to buy anything new.

Weleda Wild Rose Body Oil and Creamy Body Wash
I bought these tiny samples because they were heavily reduced in Holand and Barrett post Christmas, and I am so glad I did, turns out I don't like rose scented oils and the white creamy wash l wasn't a fan of either, l was as bit weirded out by it, too used to my clear soaps and shower gels l guess?
A repurchase? Weleda has many fabulous things for me to try instead, so it's a no for these two products from me.

A packet of Himalayan salts
Again, l used it for a detox bath, and l paid mere 75 cents for it. I don't think l will ever splash out for a posh jar of the same stuff, it is more likely to cost around 20€ if it is marketed as a “detox” salts, but they all work the same. I prefer to DIY with my bath salts and scrubs and spend the money elsewhere where I see more value.
A repurchase? Yes, this is the only salt l use for cooking, so l always have it.

Hurraw vatta lip balm.
Gorgeous lip balms that quickly became favourites.
A repurchase? Yes!

English Mineral Make Up Fairy Godmother sample
This is a fab product that can be used both before and after make up, and can be used as a night treatment! Full review to come
A repurchase? Well, I do own the full size now, because they sent it to me.

100%Pure Coconut and Honey Almond body creams (samples)
I liked them both than body butter, so yes, l am likely to purchase them.

Kimberly Sayer Ultra Light Facial Moisturiser SPF 30
This l wanted to try to see if it will be suitable for a facial moisturiser. I liked it, but as a facial.moisturiser it is drying for my dry and sensitive skin. I get around it by adding raspberry seed oil, which also has SPF30-50. I already have a full size thanks to green beauty swap with CleanShelf, so it will see me through this summer, and we will see about it later on. You gals with oily skin would love this!
A repurchase? I do own a full size thanks to a swap.

Naturkosmetik Speick Thermalsensitiv body lotion
This German brand uses pure thermal water and concentrated algae extract for their products, and the ingredients are natural in this, so if l will come across it in the future, l will get it.
A repurchase? Likely.

Green People Age Defy Tinted SPF 15 DD Cream in Light
This l hated at the first sight, there’s product left for at least three uses, but it goes into the bin. This has zero tint to it, and as soon as you try to apply a second layer, it starts rolling away in weird rolls, you know, when you apply too much of a cream and trying to rub in more and your skin just won't take it and the products starts rolling away in these tiny pieces? This has happened with it, And coupled with too light of SPF is the reason l won’t get it.
A repurchase? No way.

Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Gel for sensitive skin
This I had since Christmas, and although I have a weeks or two product still left in it, l wanted to include into this post in order not to keep it for the next three months waiting for the next empties post. This I like, works just fine, didn't irritate my sensitive skin in the slightest, it is free of any harsh irritants. It makes my skin a tad dry afterwards, but then again. I am yet to meet a cleanser that does not, so it is ok. I like Ren products in general.
A repurchase? Yes, but not straight away, l have NYR facial cleanser to be opened.

Kjaer Weis blush in Sun Touched
Again, this came from Clean Shelf in a swap, l knew I had zero intentions of buying it in a full size, I just wanted to try. I tried, and now it is time to say goodbye to it.

A repurchase? No.

And a couple products I said goodbye to and sent to CleanShelf (check her out via Instagram!) in a #greenbeautyswap - and none of these will be repurchased, because we swapped what didn't work for us. These might be perfect products for somebody else, but for me they didn't work.

Sukin Chia Oil

I was really intrigued by chia oil and I kinda had a good talk with myself looking for a reason to get this, as I had two other facial oils at that time. Sadly all those efforts were in vain. as this oil did absolutely nothing for me. I used it for a week or two max, and noticed zero effect on my skin, my skin wasn't moisturised or nourished, far from it - it actually begged for moisture mid day. Yep, didn't work out. It has many gorgeous oils blended together plus kale and some other extracts, the ingredients list of it reminds me of a salad ingredients list. If you have oily to normal skin, you would love it! Dry skin girls, leave it.

NYR Beauty Sleep Body Lotion

This actually came with my NYR consultant kit, but as I am not a fan of lavender, I didn't use it, and neither did any member of my family, so it sat there collecting dust until this swap offer came along, and I gladly sent it off.

100%Pure Brightening serum

It was a gift with purchase a little while back, and as the previous product, I couldn't use it for some other reasons, so it went unused until I swapped.

DrOrganic Rose Otto Eye Serum

It did nothing for my under eyes except for giving me milia, I will repeat my theory here - milia is caused by creams. It all disappeared once I switched to oils and balms.

And a few NYR samples as well as Egyptian Magic Balm sample.

What have you loved and finished recently? Please share with me :)


So that is all for today, see you here again next Monday!
Lots of Love,
Renata.

100% Pure Collection and Review

Hi my loves!


Today I am coming at you with my 100%Pure collection and the mini reviews of all the products that I have from this brand, so if you are interested, please keep on reading :)
100%Pure is a really clean US brand that does skincare and make up, the latter being coloured with the fruit and veg pigments, black tea and stuff like that, how awesome is that, right? You can take any of their products and looking at the ingredients list you can understand EVERYTHING that is in it, without needing a chemist's degree. This company has been on my radar for around 6 years and the only thing that held me back was the steep prices. They never had any sales or any sort of deals until one or two years ago - I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the first deal popped into my inbox - if you were to buy stuff for 40€, you got a make up bag full of goodies valued for around 120€ and that's when I made my first purchase and got hooked for good! I have had many orders since, and plan at least two more splurges this year - they will have another deal similar to what I mentioned late July/early August, and I am already saving up for their Black Friday sale, hoping to pick up some awesome goodies! By some miracle their Black Friday deals are available on EU website too (that's not always the case, often US website has amazing offers that are not available to us, and they have Purist Perks system where you collect points and get free stuff only available in the US too) Not really fair if you ask me, but nothing I can do about it. I am still a happy bunny, I mean a customer, but I have to admit I shop there only when there are deals available, call it cheap or call it clever, your choice. That way I can justify my spending, plus us EU girls have to pay shipping and risk getting extra customs tax, and that increases the prices threefold, part of the reason I watch their deals like a hawk! Want to know when the sales are happening? Subscribe to their email newsletter or follow me on Instagram, I will let you know :)

So without further ado, let's dive in! I will keep my reviews short in order to not to bore you too much, not everything has worked out for me, so I won't be repurchasing everything you see here, but one thing I will always buy from them is the make up, with the exception of the liquid foundation. There are two major drawbacks for me, but I will reveal those at the end of my post, as well as my top picks, so stay tuned.

My 100%Pure haul & review

100% Pure haul

100%Pure powder blushes

Let's start with my favourites, shall we? Those are blushes in Chiffon and Mimosa and luminizer - I just adore these products and always reach for them! They retail for 31€ a piece, but do not let that scare you, as you get nine grams of product - three times the usual amount! I picked up Chiffon for 10€ during their Black Friday sale, and when I bought Mimosa along with something else I got a make up bag full of goodies including luminizer, so there are ways around it if you watch their deals.
The photos are taken in direct sunlight and are not retouched in any way, so you see what they really look like. They look gorgeous on the skin, are really pigmented and do last all day! See them included in Natural Nars Orgasm Dupes post here.

Mimosa, Living Luminizer and Chiffon swatched once

Luminizer and Mimosa, swatched twice

100%Pure Luminzer review

Eyeliner - it is great in a way that it lasts all day, but I have to be honest and say that it smudges and transfers to the upper lids, I don't mind it, but if you do, it is probably not the product for you.

Liquid foundation - I am still not sure if this is the perfect foundation for me, as at first when l got it I really couldn't get it to work for me, but since getting the luminous primer l am happy with it, as it really helps the foundation to stay on and not to cling to dry patches. I feel it would work perfectly to young ladies, say under 25, but for us ladies over that, you would need a help of a primer. Having perfect smooth skin helps of course, but if your skin is less than perfect like mine, I would suggest exfoliate first and then apply emollient moisturiser or a facial oil before using this. Oh, and I have used it when my dermatitis was at it's worst and had zero reaction, so keep that in mind if you suffer from dermatitis or eczema like me. Try to get a sample first to see if it will suit you though.

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Powder foundation - again, not repurchasing, it does not have nowhere near enough coverage for me, and it is somewhat drying to my dry and sensitive skin, I don't even know why did I buy it? It might work for somebody else, but not for me.

Top row: Lip butter in Peach, Lip & Cheek stain in Pink Grapefruit, Lip Butter in Pomegranate
Bottom row: Anti-aging lipstick in Poppy and Lip Glaze in Watermellon

Lip butters- these do last on the lips as a stains, but they are not moisturising at all, I expected them to be like tinted lip balm, but the texture is much drier, and you would have to use something else underneath it for moisturization as well. These do work on the cheeks too (trust me to try it, ha!) and as they are twice cheaper than the stick stains, you can go for this option instead and save yourself a bit of money! Last all day too.

 Lip glaze in Watermelon -not my ideal shade, but I do like this lip glaze a lot and will be using the heck out of it come spring and summer, it glides smoothly, lasts a decent amount of time, it does not bleed into the fine lines around the mouth (looks like their lip caramels do, check their IG page and judge for yourself) and the packaging is gorgeous, I adore those sleek silver bullets, swoon! I am happy with it and will be picking this product again, just in the different shades.

Anti-aging lipstick in Poppy - although the package looks smaller than your average lippie tube, you are actually getting more product! The vibrant red shade is the brightest shade I own, but it is good to step out of our comfort zones, isn't it? I like it just as much as the lip glaze, not so much a fan of the packaging, but will be picking up more of them as the time goes on, have my eyes on Calendula and some more of them. I didn't notice any anti-aging benefits, but I can feel good it has good ingredients.

100%Pure lip butters in Peach and Pomegranate

Lip balms - I have two, one is your standard one in cherry, and the other one is lysine balm that is perfect natural dupe for Carmex! Definitely a repurchase :)

100%Pure Lip Balms

100%Pure Mascaras

 Fruit Pigmented and Maracuja mascaras - at first I tried Fruit Pigmented mascara and it did nothing for me, I was really disappointed and thanks God I tried their new Maracuja mascara when it came out. It is a thousand times better than the original one, so if you are thinking which one to get first, I highly suggest the latter- it lengthens, volumises, does everything you want in a mascara, and did I mentioned it is gluten free? Even He Who Notices Nothing said that my eyelashes look great, and trust me, they do look great! This mascara will also make your eyelashes grow, and I know it's this, I haven't been using any eyelash serums, no castor oil, nuffink! (Full review to come)

100%Pure Mascaras

Maracuja Mascara at the top, their original Fruit Pigmented one at the bottom

Some of my 100%Pure hauls

This photo of mine is featured on 100%Pure Instagram page :)

100%Pure Lysine & Herbs Lip Balm - natural Carmex Alternative

My last 100% Pure haul

Pretty Naked palette - not a hit with me, as the colours didn't suit me, my eyes looked tired when using eyes shadows from this palette and the blush makes me look muddy. The eye shadows are not pigmented too, also lasting power isn't great. Not a happy bunny with this. Not sure why it didn't work for me, I know some other bloggers love it, maybe it does not work for older skin?

Caffeine mask- this is one of the best things from this brand - I am working on a separate review on them, so stay tuned! All I can say is - AMAZING!

100%Pure Caffeine Sheet Masks

100%Pure Luminous Primer

Luminous primer - this is great, it is my first ever primer, and I am really happy that I got it, before that my thinking was that the foundations should work on their own without the crutch of a primer, I didn't want to add another step in my routine, that sort of thing. But this beauty really does work, it fixes the shortcomings of natural foundations, in a way that they last better and don't collect in patches on my face, and it does give that luminous effect that I really like! I haven't worn it for more than 6 hours, so I am not sure if it would withstand more than that. When I got it I couldn't get a pump to work and I opened it to see what the problem was and was a bit freaked out when I saw separated product inside, so I shake it really vigorously each time now. I will be using the heck out of it come spring and summer and then kissing it goodbye, because it will be expired by then, but more on it later.

100%Pure products

Dark spot remover -haven't used it as it went into the care package for my mum, so I can't comment on it, sorry folks.

Brightening serum and sun damage corrective cream - I can't comment on these either, purely because I haven't used them enough to form an opinion - you see, I had dermatitis when I got it, so I couldn't use them for months, and now when I reached for them, they changed consistency and smell funny, so I think they are expired by now. A bit of a shame, really.

Green tea SPF30 moisturiser - terrible product, it is chalky, hard to spread, you are white as a ghost after applying it and it is super runny, don't even think about opening it if the tip is facing down or you will lose a lot of product, it is not a cream consistency, it is runny yogurt consistency. Not buying again. I found organic SPF products for half the price, so will move on to trying them.

Algae hair mask - this I only used once or twice, so I will update this post once I will test it some more, but it seems really good at softening the hair, they were silky smooth afterwards.

100%Pure Hair Mask

Coconut body scrub - this is a great product, and I really wanted to try it as that's how I discovered 100%Pure all those years ago, so I have been curious ever since. This originally has a ridiculous price tag of 31€ and I stopped using sugar scrubs a while ago, because sugar feeds the bacteria on your skin (so be careful to not overdo it, alternate with salt and other scrubs) and while I would never pay that much for something I could easily make at home, but the curiosity got better of me and I got it as soon as I spotted it for 10€ at the Black Friday sale.This is a great product, like I mentioned, smells like real coconut (the same smell when you crack open a fresh coconut) and as it has an oil in the ingredients list, you won't be needing a moisturiser after using it.

100%Pure Coconut Body Scrub

Blood Orange hand cream - this I am really enjoy using, probably will repurchase either in the same or different scent. It really moisturises and nourishes your hands and the smell is to die for.

100%Pure Blood Orange Hand Buttercream

Vanilla body butter - I wanted to try it and I am glad I did, but not repurchasing, firstly the jar is tiny, and the butter itself is brownish/purplish in color, not white that you see on their website, but it didn't occur to me to email them this, and now it's too late. It also developed this gummy texture after a couple of months and that put me off for good - I also make DIY whipped body butter and it didn't change in any way for a year!

100%Pure Vanilla Bean Whipped Body Butter

So what do I like and don't like about the brand and products? I really like the brand as a whole, who wouldn't want purest possible products, right? The prices are steep, but I think you got the idea about ways around it, look out for the deals like I do, and you will be fine, that way I can justify my spendings. Like in everything in life, there are hits and misses, and some of the things I don't like about them, like the fact that they sneakily use Japanese Honeysuckle in many of their products, and although it is a natural ingredient from a natural source, it still behaves like a paraben in the body - meaning it might wreak havoc disrupting endocrine system! Another thing I don't like and am kind of puzzled about - all of their products have a shelf life of only six months after opening! I mean I haven't come across such a short shelf life for products at all, so I am wondering what is the deal about it, there are many more natural brands who do skincare and make up, and their stuff is good for solid 12 to 18 months depending on the company, and here you only get six mere months? I have come to realise that even though I built nice little collection here, I better start using al of that everyday if I don't want my products to expire on me, thus wasting money! Also I don't get why their products are marked black if they have clean ingredients? Black marking means chemical s###storm so is there something the company isn't telling us?

I would suggest only getting products from them that you plan to use everyday (and I will do the same from now on) so you would get your money's worth and wouldn't feel too bad if they will end up going off on you, and if you will plan on getting eye cream, definitely go for travel size, I have had their caffeine eye cream samples and they last for months!

Let's end the post on a good note, I will let you know my Holy Grail products from 100%Pure, and these are //drum roll please//
1. Caffeine mask (does incredible things to your skin)
2. Maracuja Mascara (I thought I liked others until I came across it) no longer swear by it, see reasons on my IG here.
3. Powder blushes (really pigmented)
4. Luminous Primer (does work and has great ingredients apart from JH)
5. Lip Glaze (love this, and this comes from non lover of lipsticks)

*Update many weeks later - their gemmed lip glosses are to die for! Find my review here.




Have you tried this brand? What products do you like and don't like? Please share, I would love to know :)

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That is all for now,
Lots of love,
Renata.