My first time on YouTube

Hi Lovelies,


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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaUGkaCEInk

So, a little while ago I met up with lovely and gorgeous BVGAN - we became friends via YouTube as I was always commenting on her videos, and it kind of went from there - and once she asked me to meet up while she was in Dublin at a time, I jumped at the chance straight away. I mean how cool is to meet your internet friends in real life? Little did I know we both planned to interview each other,  so I ended up being interviewed on the spot, and as much as I was nervous about it, I think it came out to be alright? Please check it out and tell me your thoughts about it? You can turn on the subtitles if you want to, I am a bit hard to understand at a times due to the background noise, we filmed in quite busy cafe. Make sure to subscribe to her channel while you are there. And before you ask, yes, she looks as gorgeous in real life as she is in her YouTube videos! Also stay tuned for her interview on my blog in a few weeks :)


That is all for now, please stay tuned for the first impressions on Jane Iredale next.

Lots of Love,
Renata.

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.

My New Facebook Page & Other Social Media Links

Hi Loves,

I just spent a week building my new freshly-baked Facebook page, so it would mean a lot to me if you went on to like it! Many thanks for doing so in advance :) I wish I could send you real hugs and kisses via some app :)

FOLLOW ME ON:

  BLOGLOVIN

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

PINTEREST

FACEBOOK

YOUTUBE

CHECK OUT MY AMAZON

SEE MY FAVOURITE PRODUCTS

Follow my new blog www.greenlifeindublin.com

And one last word I have to say is:

That is all for now :) See you here again on Monday, that is when I upload blog posts!


Lots of love,
Renata.

DIY make up brush sanitizer cleanser spray

Hello Lovelies,



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

Today I have a super simply DIY for you, and really, what could be easier? Just two ingredients (three if you count the spray bottle) - all you need is rose water and tea tree oil! (Mine happens to be organic, but it does not have to be). If you don't want to or can't use rosewater, you can use any other floral water that is suitable for your skin. Or distilled water. Plain tap water is not suitable because it will go bad in a few days.
How to do it? Well, it is pretty self explanatory, but if you want me to be specific, here's how - fill 200ml bottle with rose water, add 10-20 drops of tea tree (also known as melaleuca) oil and voila, you are done! Tea tree oil is an antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral and many other good things that I won't go into details of, but in this instance it makes it perfect for a purpose of cleaning and disinfecting your make up brushes in between proper washes. I use this spray after every use and clean the brush on the paper towel, and properly wash all the brushes every week. After getting dermatitis on my face I am anal about not getting any bacteria on my brushes or make up for that matter. Why risk infections, right?
One word of caution before you start, please do a patch test to make sure you are not allergic to the tea tree oil, and obviously not use it if you are indeed allergic! If you find the smell too offensive for your sensitive nose, reduce the quantity to 5 drops. I does smell rather strong.
P.s. this doubles up as a refreshing room spray and a deodorant in a pinch (I know I used rose water all over in a sweltering heat in Greece last summer and found myself not needing a deodorant) This would not work for everyday life though. Just wanted to throw the thought out there to make your products work overtime for you :)
And there you have it, your own DIY make up rush cleanser spray! It only costs less than a euro to make and it works great, and now you can ditch those shop bought sprays and save yourself so much money! And spend it where it matters more, for example to buy more make up :)


Please like and share my posts on social media, it really helps to get the green beauty word out - and you will forever have my gratitude! Follow me on my new blog Greenlifeindublin.com, Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube. (someday I will start making YouTube videos, promise!)



Lots of Love,
Renata.

  

What Cosmetics Are In My Travel Carry On Bag?

What's in my travel carry on bag?

Hi my loves, today I wanted to share with you what I took with me for my holidays a little while back. This is my liquids bag as you can see, meagre 15x15cm you can take with you to the plane. I was feeling quite proud of myself of squeezing into such a small bag, until I realised I spilled into my daughter's bag, she ended up carrying my second mascara (because duh, you totally need two mascaras for 10 days trip :) Not!) and Hurraw SPF15 lip balm that I ended up losing on the plane on the way back. So let's get into it, shall we?

From the top left corner: 

Hynt Beauty concealer - star product! I ended up using it every time I did my make up, and more often than not I used it as my face foundation too. To sum things up, you need this in your life! I have a separate review on this product. (Mine is the old packaging so yours will be different).

*You can read a review here.

Four little sample pots of lip and cheek stains from Maias Mineral Galaxy. I didn't touch them a single bit.

BellaPierre lip and cheek stain that I got in a set a while back, l thought it was good opportunity to start using it again, as it sits there unloved in my make up drawer. Yes, you guessed right, I didn't reach for it at all.

Pacifica roller perfume in Blood Orange - this and one more Pacifica roller perfume I own were shelved the minute I got Lucy's B roller perfumes, that's all I can say. I used only LucyB one, so next time I am taking just one perfume with me. Plus I ended up buying two new natural perfumes on my destination, so my plan to use up Pacifica perfume didn't work. Both of Pacifica perfumes will end up in my "disappointing products" post (spoiler alert) and i would advise you to sample them at first - mine were both impulse buys because I liked to top notes, e.g. the way perfume smells at first, but both of them developed into something I didn't like at all after some time. It also extremely short lasting, even though the girls at the shop told me it's a long lasting product.

Pacifica lip butter in brown colour, I used it maybe twice, so again, lesson learned is to take ONLY cosmetics that I really love to begin with! I also took loads of sample baggies of mineral eyeshaddows in hopes that I might do more colourful make up looks, what was I thinking? I find myself doing less and less eyeshaddows in my day to day life, so my holiday looks ended up no different, I only tried one of the samples, and it didn't work as I'd hoped, my hubby asked why I had bloodshot eyes! Not a compliment at all :)

Black Cherry lip balm by Crazy Rumours - again, this was taken to use it up, I got a bunch of Crazy Rumours lip balms once they came out, but none of them impressed me much, they might have cute names and a bunch of different flavours, but I found them not moisturising and not lasting at all. I have a new favourite - Hurraw balms, so move over, Crazy Rumours.

Bottom row from left to right:

Juice Beauty CC Cream with SPF30 - the high SPF factor was the sole reason I got this tiny sample from Naturisimo prior to my holidays, as i wanted to test drive it, but truth to be told I forgot all about it until the last two days, so I don't have firm opinion on it yet. It did work as a face SPF cream, that's for sure, but don't expect any coverage from it, it's very slightly tinted, and all the colour disappears once you put it on your face, so keep that in mind. And as for anti-aging claims, I can't confirm or deny it as I didn't use it enough to see any difference. But I plan to get full size of it for the next summer maybe? We will see :)

PurMinerals pink lip gloss -  again, used once or twice, as l found myself not doing any make up for most of the time. 

Two mini samples from The Organic Pharmacy - Double Rose Rejuvenating face cream and a Rose Facial Cleansing Gel - i really liked those two products and would get full sizes of them! They were very gentle and didn't irritate my skin in the slightest, and as usual with The Organic Pharmacy, great ingredients.

Highlighter by PurMinerals - while I love the idea of glowing goddess make up, I can't go all out with my dermatitis scars on my face, I mean you don't want to highlights your problem areas, right? so I used it very minimal-y, mainly in the inner corners of my eyes. I was also disappointed to see dimethicone in the ingredients list, I don't want silicones on my face, thank you very much!

Jane Iredale multiple in Clarity - I liked the idea of natural version of Nars Orgasm and this my first shot at natural multiples, but while this is beautiful colour, it does not work on my cheeks (again, damn dermatitis scars) as it highlights what I don't want people to see, and it does not last on the lips at all. I will find a ways to use it, not to worry.

100%Pure mascara - I didn't like it at all once I first got it, as the formula was too wet and it didn't do anything to my invisible lashes, but now that it dried up a bit and I can build it up quite a bit, I really like it! This is lengthening formula, and I can testify it does that beautifully :) I also appreciate pure ingredients, so it is likely to be a repurchase once I am out.  

*Update many months later - read my review here.

So that is all for now :) What do you take with you for your travels? Please share with me :)

Lots of Love,

Renata.

How To Remove Skin Tags Naturally

Hello my lovely ladies and gentlemen,

Today i am coming at you with yet more natural discovery, or DIY if you will, I discovered that my beloved Tea Tree Oil can remove skin tags naturally! Yay or what? 
So I've developed a skin tag on my neck and it started to bother me because it was catching on collars and bag straps and it was quite painful/uncomfortable at a times. I poked around the internet and google told me that l can get it freezed/cut off at my doctors office or can get special kits from chemists which retails for about 15-20euros a pop. So I was like, no thank you, and poked around the internet some more, and what did l find? that l can use tea tree oil for the very same purpose! And it is something l always have in my house (you can use it for so many things!) so I grabbed a bottle and started applying tea tree oil on the skin tag in the morning and night, and lo behold, on the day five it fell off! I used the oil straight up with no diluting because l knew that my skin can tolerate it, but for many people it can cause sensitivities/irritation, so proceed with caution! And before you ask, you can use any brand tea tree oil, it does not have to be the same as mine. Mine happens to be organic, but you don't have to go for organic if you don't want to either, just make sure it's 100% pure with no additives to it.
I would suggest you apply small bandage on top to speed things up, at first i wasn't doing that and not much was happening but it fell off after the very first time I used a plaster on it, so you might not even have to wait for five days. Just one little tip, make sure that the tea tree oil touches skin tag only and not the skin around it, as not to get any irritations.
So there you go, hope this post helps someone and saves you money too :)


*And disclaimer, because you absolutely have to these days : I will not be held responsible for what you will do with this information. I am not telling you to do it, l am simply sharing what worked for me. Consult with your doctor before proceeding and always do a patch test before trying new product on your skin first.*

*Update a few years later - I no longer use the brand pictured, I moved onto Neals Yard Remedies & Living Libations - the cleanest and the most transparent brands in my humble opinion.

More posts in this FB album

FOLLOW ME ON:

BLOGLOVIN

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

YOUTUBE

PINTEREST

and my new blog Greenlifeindublin.com

So that is all for now.
Much love,
Renata.