Thursday 19 January 2017

New Year, New Skincare


What better way to kick off a new year than to shake up your current skincare regime!? 

I have to admit that over December and at the start of 2017 I really let my skincare slip, mainly due to being so busy and having so many late nights, and I consequently really don't feel very good for it. My skin thankfully hasn't suffered too much from what I can see but it's made me realise that taking a bit of time to care for my skin on a daily basis is a positive act of self care and it does ultimately help me to feel good about myself.

As a cruelty free beauty blogger I am obviously sent a wide range of different products to try out and before I know it I can feel a bit overwhelmed as to what to use on my skin. I tend to therefore go through periods of trying different products and if it turns out to be a product I love I will usually buy it again for myself.

In this blog post I wanted to share with you some of my favourite cruelty free and vegan friendly beauty products from the last month or so and encourage you all to try something new as it really can make a difference. 



This little pot of green goodness by Tropic really caught my attention as prior to this I don't think I have ever used a green skincare product and obviously as a vegan I am automatically attracted to all things green!

This Nutrient Boost Serum is packed full of healthy greens that help to boost your skins natural defences. 


When I first used this product I wasn't too sure what to expect but I was pleased to discover that it has an oil based consistency. Over the past few months I have come to really enjoy using oils and serums as regular moisturisers and have found them to be extremely nourishing on my skin. I think I always avoided them because I was worried they would leave me with greasy skin but, take it from me, they don't! In fact I would go as far to say that my skin seems to absorb oils quicker and more effectively than it does creams.  

So what are the secret ingredients of this serum I hear you ask. Well, it has chlorophyll, kale and maca root extracts which provide essential vitamins to your skin along with marula and kendo oils which calm down any skin irritation and redness. There's also some green coffee and tamanu oils which are said to help accelerate your skins repair. 


To smell this product it does indeed smell very green and herbal like which initially put me off a little but actually once it's absorbed into your skin it no longer smells and the benefits of using such a product far outweigh this one minor downfall for me. 

I'd recommend this to anyone who struggles with skin flare ups, particularly eczema which I hear it's especially effective at helping. I'd also suggest it to anyone who may be looking for a more natural and vitamin enriched moisturiser which is kinder on your skin. 



I have tried and tested quite a few different products in the past by B.  and I have always been impressed by their skincare range especially. I think they are a really great affordable, cruelty free and vegan brand which is readily available at your local Superdrug store.

When I was sent this Contouring Cream by B. to try out I was immediately intrigued as i'd never heard of a contouring cream before and I was excited to find out what it could do for me. Contouring makeup was such a huge trend in 2016, I guess it was only a matter of time before it hit the skincare aisle too!


So what can this cream do for you? Well, it's designed to deliver an instant tightening effect on your skin which leaves it feeling more firm. It helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles producing a more youthful appearance in just four weeks. It also contains an ingredient which has been proven to help your skins own production of collagen and elastin. 


Having used this cream for about 3-4 weeks now I can say with conviction that it certainly makes your skin feel firmer and tighter. I apply it twice a day before my day and night cream as directed and i've really felt a difference to how my skin feels. As for looking younger - you'll have to ask my husband! 



If you've followed my blog for some time you will know that I have always been a big fan of e.l.f since my very first days of transitioning over to as vegan and cruelty free lifestyle. However, until now I had never tried any of their skincare range.

During their 'Black Friday' / 'Cyber Monday' promotions I placed a bulk order with them and stocked up on some of my old favourites and whilst I was there I decided that the time had come to try a skincare product. As I tend use up regular daily moisturisers the most quickly I thought it best to give their Daily Hydration Moisturizer a try. 


As you will have probably guessed by it's name, this moisturiser has been designed to help to hydrate your skin and is therefore particularly good for anyone who struggles with dry skin. It's infused with nourishing ingredients such as jojoba, aloe, vitamin E, and cucumber. It's also rich in antioxidants like shea butter, grape, and orange.


When trying out this moisturiser I was really pleased to find that it's really lightweight and has a slight fragrance to it which I really enjoy. I find that it applies to my skin really well and sinks in quite quickly with no leftover residue.

If you watched my Vlogmas series in December then you will remember that B. sent me over a 'blind blogger challenge' in the post which involved me testing out two mystery cleansers to see which one worked the best (You can catch that episode here!). Thankfully I guessed correctly and the most effective cleanser was indeed B's new Stubborn Makeup Remover. 

This makeup remover has been designed to dissolve all traces of long wearing and waterproof makeup. It's suitable for all skin types and despite it's mighty abilities it's actually a really gentle formula.


When I tried this out for the first time I was impressed by how well it worked! Also, as I am mainly used to using a creamy makeup remover on a regular basis (Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser) I surprised myself by just how much I enjoyed using a different and more water based product. 

This product is still quite new to me as I only received it last week but I felt it worthwhile to include it within this post as it's quite different to all the other products featured. Although i've only been able to use it a few times I can already see that it does a really great job of giving your skin a fresh feeling boost, perfect for January! If like me you've been feeling a little run down in the new year, or suffered with the 'Queen's cough', then I think you'll especially like this product. 

As it's name would suggest, the serum does resurface your skin. Ok that sounds a bit scary but it's actually very satisfying, especially if your skin is feeling a bit grey and tired. As directed I have been using it after cleansing and no more than 3 times in one week. Once applied to your skin it starts to tingle, which is the fruity acids working their magic!


After using my skin has felt as soft as a babies bottom and I just love the idea that it is resurfacing the top layer of my skin to reveal a more brighter and youthful me hidden away underneath. 

I'm looking forward to using this more over the coming weeks and keep an eye on my YouTube channel as it may end up being featured over there on my Cruelty Free Faves!

Have you tried any of these great products yet?    
* Some of the products featured within this review were sent to me by the brand. 
All views and opinions expressed within the post are completely my own. 
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10 comments

  1. Such a great post; I'm planning to transition to veganism/cruelty-free so this is so helpful for me! The resurfacing serum sounds amazing, I'm seriously in need of that! x

    willow-tea.com

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    1. Me too, I am starting to look that way too, there is so many options out there that I initially didn't realise!

      Elle xx
      http://labeaute.org

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  2. Fab cruelty faves blog, and beautiful photography!Massive fan of the B. Stubborn makeup remover since I viewed your blind testing vlog, and keen to try a few of these new products too - especially the contour cream & resurfacing serum :)

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  3. might look for this super green serum; always wanting a better product for my skin. Lovely post and thank you for sharing.

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  4. Thanks for sharing these :) I'm awful with skin care and make up, I do nothing with my skin except wash my face with water and a flannel! Occasionally I use a cleanser in the shower, I moisturise when I remember, and sometimes take my make up off, if i was even wearing any! I do want to try more products though, as I think it might be a case of not finding the right ones. I've never tried Tropics before, or elf, so maybe I'll give those brands a go soon :)

    Amber Love Blog

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  5. I'm a big fan of Tropic products after being introduced to them nearly 2 years ago. I was suffering with regular breakouts at the time & my usual shop bought products made it worse. I noticed a big difference in my skin within a month & I haven't looked back since! I haven't tried the products in this blog though as they are quite new, but after reading this I'm going to put an order in. Thanks!

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  6. I've converted to Tropic the skincare range is amazing. I haven't tried the makeup yet but will be very soon x

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  7. Skincare is all about making your skin younger and more wrinkle free, but sometimes it the products don't work Find here

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  8. I used the makeup remover along with the dermology cream to make my skin soft and nourished. It completely removed my makeup completely.

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