A few weeks ago I shared this app that tells you how toxic or not your cosmetics, toiletries and kids toiletries are simply by typing in the name on the label. I have been addicted to the app ever since and as a result have decided to switch quite a few of my products including the kids products I use on Anya.
One of the first things I ditched was my deodorant because even the one I was using was considered relatively toxic. But of course I needed a replacement quickly! I searched around and I liked the sound of the 100% healthy Lavanila’s pure vanilla deodorant. Naturally I checked it out on my app and it got a score of 0 which means no nasties whatsoever.
While I do love a bit of a beauty splurge, there are some high-street skincare products that I cannot live without. I’ve always envied the Americans because they have such a great range of drugstore skincare and beauty products that don’t cost the earth. We may not have quite the same variety here but we do have some gems that I swear by. I’m not normally brand loyal when it comes to skincare but I can definitely say that these five products have been a part of my life for years and will be for many more years to come. You may have come across some of them but I thought I would still share them here and tell you what I love each one most for:
1. Soap & Glory Hand Dream – If you can overlook the bright pink packaging then this is the best hand cream I have used. I have tried many, many, many and most have been far more expensive. I have found that most hand creams are either too greasy or the non-greasy ones don’t moisturise effectively enough. But this Hand Dream cream does both – moisturises really well and you have none of that greasy film on your hands after.
2. Carmex moisture-plus lip balm – This lip balm is a lip balm with a hint of colour. You can get sheer peach, sheer pink or berry. This lives in my handbag as it’s not only a great little lip moisturiser but it also adds that hint of colour to your lips when you don’t want to wear full on lipstick. It’s my go to subtle lip colour especially for the school run. Also, I prefer lip balms like this one that you apply like lipstick – no sticky fingers!
3. Bio Oil – I’m sure bio oil isn’t new to many of you but I still wanted to include it because I think it’s such a useful oil for so many reasons. A friend recommended bio oil to me when I was pregnant and I used it religiously on my tummy – I didn’t get a single stretch mark. It could be luck but I swear by it. I also love it for any really dry patches of skin especially in the Winter months and it even makes a great face moisturiser, again when the weather is particularly dry and harsh.
4. Tea tree oil – tea tree oil is a great natural anti-septic with so many uses. What I love it most for though is acne. While I don’t suffer from adult acne, I do get the odd spot. As soon as I can feel it coming, I put a little tea tree oil on it a few times a day and before I know it the spot goes away and never really appears. I’ve also heard that it’s great for naturally preventing lice in kids – all you have to do is add a couple of drops to the shampoo and then shampoo as normal. We’ve only recently started doing this and no lice so far. (Always remember to buy 100% pure tea tree oil.)
5. Vaseline lip therapy – for the best lip balm that works, nothing beats these little tins of vaseline. But I especially love it as a base for my lipstick. It just makes my lipstick go on smoother and it looks better applied and I also find it makes my lipstick last longer. These tins come in five flavours – cocoa butter, aloe vera, rose, original and they also have a sun protection lip balm. The cocoa butter one is my favourite.
All of these skincare products cost less than a tenner but they really deliver great results. I couldn’t live without them! Do you have some high-street skin care favourites? Please do share.
Last weekend I treated myself to a new make-up remover and cleanser in one. I decided to try something new as I wasn’t crazy about the one I was using. With my old one I had to clean my face about 3-4 times to get all the traces of make-up off and another couple of times to ensure that all eye make-up was gone too. One of the last things I do at night is remove my make-up – I force myself to do this even though the temptation is to just go to bed especially knowing that that school day alarm will go off, no matter, what at 6:30am. With my last makeup remover this annoying end to the day was taking so long that occasionally I wouldn’t bother to completely remove my make-up. I’d have a quick swipe and leave it at that. Not a good idea so I decided that I needed to try something different that would hopefully be a lot quicker and easier to use.
I’ve used Ren products before and have liked them so decided to try their express all-in-one makeup remover. I think I’ve found what I was looking for. This creamy cleanser removes make-up so well and quickly. I did have to cleanse a couple of times to remove all traces of my mascara and eye-liner but that was it – no going back several times. I love the feel of this cleanser too – it’s really smooth and silky and made my skin feel soft and clean after using it. And Ren use mostly natural products in their skin care range so there are no nasties like parabens, sulphates and other harsh chemicals. I also love that Ren feels like a luxury brand but doesn’t cost the earth. Anything that makes my beauty routine easier and quicker without compromising on my skin makes me happy and this Ren express make-up remover does just that. So if you’re looking for quick make-up removal then this could be the answer for you too.
I should add that this isn’t a sponsored post – I bought the product and liked it so I thought you might enjoy hearing about it too.
A few weeks ago, I went for a make-up consultation with Fre-ya Barker at Fenwicks Bond St. I wanted to try a few new beauty products so rather than go from counter to counter at a department store, I thought it would be so much easier to go to one place where you are not restricted to any one brand. Fre-ya is an independent make-up artist who is not tied to any brand and so she uses a very broad range. She creates a look for you based on what you’re looking for and her entire fee (£50) is redeemable against products.
I got to try a whole lot of make-up some of which was fantastic but the stand-out product of the day for me was this Stila 10-in-1 illuminating beauty balm. Applied over clean , moisturised skin, the second I had it on I noticed a very visible difference in my skin. My skin tone was more even, my skin looked brighter and fresher and overall I was very impressed. Even though the balm is coloured, it doesn’t have any colour once applied to the skin. It can be used on its own or under foundation/tinted moisturiser. This is my new go to product for when I need a very quick fix and don’t have time to layer on loads of make-up.
As I mentioned a while ago, I’m not heavily in to make-up on a daily basis but I do love a product that really works, saves me time and makes me look and feel good. In the mornings, especially during school time, like every other mum I’m busy getting life organised so I don’t have bags of time to spend on make-up. Now I see myself applying this each morning with a dash of blush and spot of lip gloss for the school run. All done in under three minutes. This Stila illuminating beauty balm is just the thing for me and any mum who needs a quick skin brightner especially when time is of the essence.
While I’ve never been much of a make-up junkie, I have always had a weak spot for nice smelling creams and lotions as well as pretty clothes. Ever since I became a mum, my focus though has been Anya. Especially since I started this blog, I am always looking out for beautiful kids things and kind of tend to forget about myself. Last weekend while visiting Borough Market, I walked in to the Aesop store and this reminded me of how much I miss indulging myself and finding nice things for myself.
The store itself was a real experience, so stylish in a minimalist way and the service I got was nothing short of outstanding. Anya was with me and they even pampered her by sitting her down and putting some cream on her hands which delighted her no end. I ended up buying a face cream which smells divine but it wasn’t just the purchase that I enjoyed; it was the whole experience of doing something for myself and discovering this little gem of a store. I’ve since had a look at their stores around the world and beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe them.
Being a mum means very little time for yourself. But I feel it’s important to find a little time to do what you love doing. I want to try and focus on getting my mojo back by seeking out beautiful clothes, beauty products and experiences for me like I used to. And when I find something worthwhile like this experience, I will share it here with you mamas. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, are you good at finding a little time to indulge yourself in doing it? Or do you forget about yourself like me? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Have a wonderful and indulgent weekend! x
{top photo by Aesop, bottom by ebabee}
About
Ebabee Likes is a style guide for babies, kids, teens and their mamas. It’s all about inspiration, ideas and indulging yourself and your brood. It’s written by me ~ Nomita ~ a style loving girl from Mumbai who now live’s in London. Read More...
