yarok feed your volume shampoo and conditioner review

In this post I shall be reviewing  the Yarok feed your volume shampoo and conditioner, this is a combinaiton that I have been using solely for almost a year now.

The Reality 
I have to say that I do really like these Yarok products. They leave my hair feeling clean, fresh and shiny. My hair feels soft and silky. But not artificially silky, like you get with products containing silicone.

Since I have started using this combination I have also had people asking me what shampoo I use because my hair looks really good and smells really nice, so I always take that as a good sign!

I love the brand's values, all the products are cruelty free and vegan, as well as being free of alcohol, parabens and sulphates. In addition also donate 3% of their profits to the panchama alliance, a non-profit that works to preserve the amazon rain-forest.

The only drawback to these Yarok shampoo and conditioner are that after almost a year of solely using these products I have found that my scalp has gotten somewhat dry and can feel itchy at times.

At £19 a bottle they are rather on the steep side, but overall I think worth the money.

The Ingredients

Shampoo Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucose and Lauryl Glucose, Coco Protein, Seaweed Extract, Organic Herbal Infusions of Coltsfoot and Marshmallow Root, Calendula Blossoms and Chamomile Flowers, Chickweed, Horsetail, Slippery Elm, Comfrey Root and Sea Buckthorn CO2, Nettles and Oatstraw, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Lavender, Atlas Cedar, Red Mandarin, Sweet ORange & Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Extract. 

Conditioner Ingredients: Purified water, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Organic Herbal Infusions of Coltsfoot, Chickweed, Nettles, Horsetail, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, Comfrey Root, Calendula Blossoms, Chamomile Flowers & Oatstraw, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Seaweed Extract, Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Calendula CO2, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Sweet Orange, Rosemary & Vetiver, Vitamin C, Sage & Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Geranium, Teat Tree, Lavendar, Ravensara Aromatica, Rosemary & Lemon, Sage & Rosemary Antioxidants, Grapefruit Seed Extract. 

The Packaging 

The shampoo and conditioner both come packaged in a plastic bottles. I do feel the packaging appears a bit cheap for what you are paying for the product. However all the packaging is environmentally friendly material which is more important.

The Price 

A Beautiful World: £19 each for 8.5oz

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes - in fact I already have repurchased! 

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried this shampoo and conditioner from Yarok? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

dr bronner's magic organic lavender coconut lotion review

I love that Dr Bronner's is an organic, fair trade and cruelty-free company and hence I was keen to try their products. The organic lavender coconut lotion is the first lotion I've tried in their line and i'm writing this review after using up the whole bottle!

The Claims 
Certified to National Organic Standards our lotions are based on pure organic oils free of petrochemically modified ingredients and preservatives. Organic jojoba oil moisturizes dry skin exceptionally well due to its unique similarity to the skin's natural oil. Organic coconut oil assists absorption while organic hemp and avocado oils help keep skin smooth and supple. Organic grain alcohol (ethanol) is used as a natural preservative at a level that helps absorption without being drying. Only the finest organic essential oils are used for fragrance. 

The Reality 

The lotion is thin and slightly sticky in consistency. It works like a lotion but I suspect because of the mixture of oils does take a little longer to absorb into the skin than a normal lotion, but not as long as an oil. If you use too much then it can be somewhat greasy.

Personally during the winter time I don't find the lotion to be as moisturising as I would like, my skin tends to veer towards the dry side and I need something a bit heavier. However I think this lotion would be perfect for the summer.

The scent is light and pleasant, it seems to disappear after around half an hour of applying the lotion.

Overall I really like the ingredients, the price is reasonable, the packaging is practical and I think this will be my lotion of choice during the summer months.

The Ingredients
Aqua, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Ethanol, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil – (* Certified Fair Trade by IMO)

The Packaging 

I like that the lotions is packaged in a pump bottle, making it easy and mess free to use! 

The Price 

Dr Bronner's: £8.29

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes - in fact I already have repurchased this lotion but in the peppermint scent! 

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried any of the Dr Bronner's lotions? Which is your favorite scent? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

small natural beauty haul

Hi Guys!

A post to share a few products we picked up from feel unique.

Dr Bronner's Magic Organic Peppermint Lotion: £8.29

Fushi Organic Rosehip Oil: £12.85

Balm Balm 100% Organic Pure Tea Tree Oil: £5.75

We have done a little more shopping during the winter sale so there will be one or two more haul posts coming up soon!

Have you tried any new products recently? Any recommendations for us to try out?  

Sita & Radha xoxo 

the buddha beauty company apple, avocado & aloe clay mask

In today's post I shall be reviewing the Buddha Beauty Company Apple, Avocado & Aloe Clay Mask.

The Claims 
' Our organic face mask has a wonderful smooth consistency! We have taken two of the best clays out there and blended them to create this unique mask; Bentonite and kaolin clay have been chosen for their abilities to absorb toxins from the skin and these with the antioxidant properties of the Apple, Aloe and Avocado make this a great treat for the skin'

The Reality 
What immediately attracted me to this apple avocado and aloe clay mask was the scent. I think it's the apples that make this mask smell absolutely delicious!

Being a clay mask the mask dries and tightens on your skin, I do like masks that tighten as then I feel like it's doing something to my skin...hopefully sucking out impurities!

After washing off the mask my skin feels tighter and softer. I want to say more brighter also but this tends to be straight after I wash the mask off, the feeling doesn't seem to last. The mask doesn't perform miracles and makes spots vanish however I do find that it helps to dry up spots.

I do like the principles of the Buddha Beauty Company, the company is cruelty-free and carries the leaping bunny logo, it is suitable for vegans and the products are free from parabens and SLS.

However looking through the ingredients list, and building my own product report on the EWG Skindeep website, which scored 5 (moderately hazardous), personally I would prefer something that is rated less hazardous so I won't be repurchasing.

The Ingredients 

Aqua, Kaolin, Bentonit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol ,Glycerin ,Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol denat, Diazolidinyl Urea, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, CI 77288

The Packaging 

I like that the mask comes in the a tub making it easy for you to get the amount of product you require. 

The Price 

The Buddha Beauty Company: £12 for 100ml 

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

No 

The Overall Score: 3/5 

Have you tried this face mask? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

yarok haircare products

Hello guys!

These pictures must have gotten lost within the realm of my memory card. I actually bought these back at the end of November but then completely forgot to do a haul post.

If you recall I received a yarok in my a beautiful world autumn/winter sampler box, this was the first time that I had tried anything from the brand and I was so impressed that I subsequently decided to try out the yarok shampoo and conditioner.

The reason why I remembered about this today is that I've just placed another order from a beautiful world. The is currently a #pinkfriday flash sale going on with up to 50% of all products and 10% off proceeds going to breast cancer charities. So definitely go over and have a a browse...

Full product reviews will be up soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sita xoxo 

organic surge super-intensive daily moisturiser

Claims 
'Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser nourishes, conditions and rehydrates dry skin. For skin that needs an extra surge of moisture this intensely hydrating cream is packed with natural humectants for the ultimate boost to restore dryness. Organic rose geranium essential oil is key to restoring skin balance and reviving a dull complexion. With the additional benefits of Aloe Vera to repair, sooth and moisturise, skin will feel and look super soft'

The Reality 
The Organic Surge Super Intensive Daily Moisturiser is very rich and thick in consistency. It feels almost balm like, very luxurious and moisturising, but melts into the skin easily without leaving a greasy feeling. The saying a little goes a long way really does run true with this cream. Only a tiny amount is sufficient for the whole of your face which means it last a long time.

The addition of the Rose Gernium Essential Oil gives the cream a light and fresh fragrance without being overpowering.

As it is rather rich, I find it to heavy to use during the daytime for my normalish type skin, I prefer to use at night-time. I think it could work brilliantly for dry skin however for those of you with oily skin you may find this cream too heavy.

I tend to find that natural/organic products tend to be priced on the more expensive side. However the organic surge cream, at £8.99 a tub is affordable and great value for money. I would highly recommend waiting for a promotion as I managed to pick it up for £2.25 during a sale, and there seems to be promotions running every so often on the website.

This face cream is certified organic by Ecocert and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. For those of you interested I did run the product ingredients on the EWG skin deep website and the score was 3.

Overall I think this face cream works well and is a great option if your looking for something containing more natural and organic ingredients, without wanting to break the bank.

The Ingredients 

Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycerin**, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Linalool, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.*naturally-derived ingredient. **made using organic ingredients.

The Packaging 

The super-intensive daily moisturiser comes packaged in a glass tub, making it easy for you to get the amount of product you require. 

The Price 

Organic Surge: £8.99 for 50ml 

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes  

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried the Organic Surge super-intensive daily moisturiser? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo 

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

small feel unique haul

Hello Guys!

Following my empties post I had a few products that I needed to replace or in the case of the deodorant will soon need to replace so I picked up a few items from feel unique.

Dr Bronner's Organic Lotion in Lavender Coconut 
I was in need of a new body lotion and I liked that Dr Bronner's is certified fair trade and USDA organic, the products aren't tested on animals and that the ingredient list was chemical free. I went with the lavender coconut scent as I love coconut scents and as I tend to moisturise at night just before bed the lavender would help me fall a sleep.

Bull Dog Original Deodorant 
Bull Dog is actually a Men's natural skincare company, they're products are free from parabens, sodium laurath sulphate, artificial colours and synthetic fragrances, they do not test on animals and have the BUAV leaping bunny logo. The products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. I know they are a men's skincare company and I'm not a man but at the end of the day it's deodorant, it doesn't bother me whether it's being marketed towards men or women.

Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps 18-in-1 Hemp Green Tea Pure Castile Soap 
Another Dr Bronner's product, I was intrigued by the 18 different uses, my original intention was to use this as a shampoo as I had finished the last of my shampoos as shown in my last empties post. However after using the product twice as a shampoo I think I may need to re-evaluate that plan. However there are still 17 other uses I need to test out!

I hope you enjoyed this little haul post. What items have you bought recently? Any product recommendations?

Sita xoxo

a beautiful world autumn/winter beauty box

Hi guys!

I received my A Beautiful World's Autumn/Winter Beauty Box and I wanted to share with you my initial impressions.

After spotting posts on various blogs on the spring/summer sampler box and the gorgeous goodie's inside I knew I had to get my name on the waiting list for the autumn/winter box. And let me tell you I am not disappointed that I did, because this box is jam packed full of full size and sample products that I am eager to try out. I've actually never tried products from any of these companies which is great because this will be a great opportunity to discover new brands.

I have to mention I was rather impressed with the service, I ordered the box on Wednesday morning and the same evening I received a text informing me that the box would be in my hand son Thursday morning.

Anyway without further rambling lets get into the products...

The Konjac Sponge (due to go on sale soon) 
This is a 100% natural vegetable fibre sponge with nourishing rich french pink clay. Thi sproducts sounds interesting,you can use the sponge to cleanse and exfoliate the skin as well as to remove makeup. I've had my eye on this product for a while so it was definitely the product I'm most excited about!

Naisture Collagen Paper Mask Pack ( 5 packs retail for £10)
I've never tried a paper face mask so this will definitely be one of the first products to be tried. The mask contains vegetable collagen from carrots to help strengthen the skin as well getting to the skin to look more radiant. With the colder whether my skin has started to look a but dull so hopefully this mask will it give it a much needed boost!

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-in Conditioner and Heat Protection Spray 2oz (8oz retails for £19)
I love that this company makes products that are 100% vegan, free of gluten, alcohol, parabens and sulphates, as well as cruelty-free. My heat protection spray is towards it's last legs so this will make the perfect replacement.

VMV Hypo-allergenic Know-It-Oil 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 50ml (125ml retails for £26)
I love to use coconut oil as a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. Coconut oil has mainly uses and is a great little multi-tasker to have handy.

S.W. Basics Shea Butter Cream 1oz (3.75oz retails for £26)
This cream is made of only 3 ingredients fairtrade shea butter, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil. I'm thinking that this will be a great little skin rescuer during the winter.

S.W. Basics Cocoa Lip Balm 0.15oz (4 lipbalms for £12)
As with the Shea butter cream the lip balm is also only made with 3 ingredients, I love that this company makes products with minimal ingredients and are chemical free.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vermis in Primrose Hill Picnic Full Size (£11) 
I was excited to see a full sized nail varnish within the products. The shade is similar to something I already have and more summer than autumn-winter so I would have preferred another colour. However I have never tried Butter London products before and I love that their polish's are free from formaldehyde, DBP and toluene.

Indie Lee Squalene Facial Oil (1oz £22)
I have to admit squalene oil is not something I have heard of but I'm definitely intrigued. Believe it or not my night cream is nearly finished, I feel like this box somehow knew just exactly what I was in need off.

Marble & Milkweed Nourishing Body Oil 3.7ml (118ml retails for £29)
This nourishing body oil is a blend of rose, cardomom and sandalwood oils, it smells absolutely heavenly. And I know it's going to make a great treat for my skin.

Marble and Milkweed Modern Chai Tea Number 2 (2oz retails for £9)
I have to admit I'm not a tea drinker so this product will be passed on.

001 Intense Elixir Precious Finds 10ml (due to go on sale soon)
001 is niche botanical skincare brand which new to a beautiful world and due to go on sale soon. This is a facial oil which smells absolutely gorgeous and with its blend of sandalwood, patchouli, rose, frankinscense and vitamin E sounds absolutely luxurious.

Tili bag (12 pack retails for £6.50) 
To be honest this is just a glammed up version of plain zip lock freezer bag. I wouldn't buy it but seeing as it's come in the box I guess it adds a extra bit of cuteness rather than using a plain bag for your liquid items whilst travelling.

Last but not least there's a handy A Beautiful World Pink Tote bag!

I have to say overall this is an amazing box, well worth the 20 quid I spent on it! I can't wait to have a play with the products and I'll definitely be following up with some reviews.

The box sure was super popular as it is already out of stock, however you can sign up to get on the waiting list to be emailed when the Spring/Summer box is released by clicking here.

Did you manage to get your hands on a box? What were your thoughts?

Sita xoxo

P.S I am still on my buy nothing new for a year challenge however if you read my original post personal hygiene items are excluded. 

organic surge fresh ocean light body lotion review

I am back with a review post of the Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion.

The Claims
Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion glides onto the skin and absorbs quickly for an instant burst of soothing rehydration. Aloe Vera combines with naturally nourishing shea and cocoa butters to condition the skin, while the refreshing blend of rosemary and citrus essential oils work to rebalance oils and dry skin areas. With its invigorating, natural fragrance and lightweight, non-greasy texture it makes skin feel soft, supple and rejuvenated.

The Reality
The Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion absorbs into the skin well. It is light to medium in consistency but don't let that fool you because it leaves the skin feeling hydrated and moisturised. A little goes a long way and it leaves no greasiness.

I like that the lotion is free from SLS, parabens, synthetic fragrances and colourants. It is certified organic by ECOCERT, The product is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The main thing I don't like about this body is lotion is that scent. When it comes to a body lotion I do prefer to use something that I love the scent off because its something I'm using all all over and the scent tends to linger. Although this particular scent isn't too my taste there are a few other body lotion options that I would like to try out.

The Ingredients
Aqua/Water, Aloe Barbadensis Extract*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-Dicitrate/Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil*, Cymbopogon Martinii (Palmarosa) Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool. *ingredient from organic farming. Naturally occurring within essential oils.

The Packaging

I always prefer packaging that you don't have to dip your fingers into as I think it is more hygienic. However the bottle packaging isn't ideal as you can't get all the product out, I think a squeezy tube would have been a better option.

The Price 

Organic Surge: £5.99

The Ultimate Question: Would I Repurchase?

Yes

The Overall Score: 4/5

Have you tried any of the Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion? What are your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

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july empties

In this post I'm sharing with you the products I've used up during the second half of July. I can't quite believe that we're in August already! This year seems to be whizzing by! Anyway let's get into the empties...

1. No7 Total Renewal Microdermabrasion Body Exfoliator 
This is an okay exfoliator, however I'm not a fan of the texture. I prefer exfoliators that are more moisturising and leave that thin oily residue behind. If however you don't like that then this exfoliator may be for you!
Cruelty-Free: No 
Repurchase: No 

2. The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water 
This toner worked okay. It did not break me out or irritate my skin, however it did not perform any miracles. Sometimes I feel like toners don't really do much and if I left it out of my skincare routine there would be no difference.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

3. The Body Shop Pomegranate Hydrating Body Spray 
I really enjoyed using this pomegranate spray, I loved the scent and I liked using this as an alternative to body lotion on hot sticky days! This product is also cooling and refreshing perfect to spray over yourself after a day out in the sun. I have reused the bottle and made my own natural version of the body spray.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

4. Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy 
I enjoyed using this hand cream. The cream is a lovely consistently and absorbs into the skin well without leaving it greasy. It feels rich and luxurious to use. Although I have to say I'm not a big fan of the packaging as it gets rather disfigured as you use the product up.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

5. D&G 6 Perfume Sample 
I have numerous perfume samples to get through and I am glad to have one less. This one smelt quite pleasant and did it's job although I'm in no hurry to rush out and purchase it.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

6. Aveeno Positively Luminous Eye Cream 
This eye cream kept my under eye area hydrated, however I did not notice it make any different on my dark circles. I won't be repurchasing.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7. BareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper 
I have had this product sitting around for ages, it came in my Bare Minerals foundation started kit. So I am glad to have used it up. It did not break me out but I don't think it made much difference to my skin either.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Shiseido who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

8. Cowshed Baby Organics Milky Body Lotion 
This baby lotion kept my skin moisturised my skin although I was not a fan of the scent. I am however interested to try other cowshed products. I like that the products are free from parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates and artificial colours. I also like that the product is suitable for vegetarians.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 114

New Skincare Total:  106

Previous Makeup Total: 162

New Makeup Total: 162

What products did you get through this month? If you did an empties post this month share it in the comments below :) 

Sita xoxo

mid-july empties video

This is a video featuring all the products I've used up during the first half of July! If you prefer reading blog posts to watching a video then you can find the accompanying blog post here.

Sita xoxo

mid-july empties

1. Soap & Glory Hand Cream 
A lot of people rave about this handcream but I don't see why. I loved the soap and glory scent originally but then it got too sickeningly sweet for me. I feel that the handcream is not particularly moisturising as I have to reapply during the day. This product is suitable for vegans. I have a full review here.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

2. The Body Shop Deep Sleep Comforting Milk Bath Float
This is a lovely to use for a night time bath. It's rather rich and heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for day time.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

3. Korres Wild Rose 24h Mositurising and Brightening Cream
This is a nice cream day cream. It kept me feeling moisturised all day without feeling greasy. It absorbs into the skin quickly and did not break me out. You can read the blog post with the full review here.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

4.Vaseline Rosy Lips Lip Therapy 
The smell of roses is one of my favourite scents and so I love the smell of this lip balm. The combination with the almond oil makes it moisturising. It also give your lips a natural light tint. However I won't be repurchasing because Vaseline are not cruelty-free.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

5. ELF Lip Liner and Blending Brush in Natural
I enjoyed using this lip liner, its a nice natural pink colour. I liked that it came with a brush, which is very handy to take with you on the go. The fact that it has a lid on it makes it even better because it's kept nice and clean!
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: Maybe once I've got through using up all my lip products! 

6. Nivea Pure and Natural Cleansing Lotion
If you read my makeup purge post you'll know that I threw away the toner to this product last month because my skin had been breaking out and the cleanser and toner were the only new items. Stopping them hasn't really made any difference so I think its the hotter weather an dmy skin being oily that is the reason for the breakouts. The Cleanser was okay.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7. Organic Surge Kiss and Makeup Cleansing Wipes
These cleansing wipes are past the expiry date so I'm using them as cleaning wipes! I bought them last month online as they had been reduced to 88p but when they arrived I noticed that the expiry date was July 2013.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

8. Benefit Pore-fessional
This primer worked well and really did minimise my pores. It smoothed out my skin providing a nice base for foundation, and helped my makeup last all day long. For the small size it is the product lasts a very long time so a little goes a long way. I have another one of these to get through but after that I won't repurchase as benefit are not cruelty free.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

9. D&G No 3 Perfume Sample
I liked this fragrance, it was citrussy and fresh. Lovely for the summer.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

10. The Body Shop Lipstick 
Unfortunately I did not use this product up but I'm throwing it away because it has gotten all hard and started to smell a little funky!
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 121

New Skincare Total:  114

Previous Makeup Total: 165

New Makeup Total: 162

As you know I  am trying to use up products for two reasons, firstly to transition to cruelty-free, veggie and natural cosmetics and secondly to downsize my cosmetics collection. Are you on a similar project? how are you getting on with your project? 

Sita xoxo

makeup purge youtube video

Hope your having a lovely weekend. The sun is out and the weather is absolutely gorgeous where I am which always puts me in a good mood!

Just wanted to share with you guys my accompanying video to the Makeup Purge Post I did yesterday!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sita xoxo 

june empties youtube video

Hi guys!

A few days ago I posted my first youtube video explaining my project to go cruelty-free, vegan and natural. I have followed that up with a June empties video and am aiming to make regular update videos!

I thought I would share this with you all in case anyone was interested in watching.

This project tie's in with the blog, however is a separate project I'm doing on my own. Radha and I will continue to post on the blog as normal!

Sita xoxo  

sukin natural deodorant review

In this post I shall be reviewing the Sukin Natural Deodorant. I bought this product at the Bristol VegFest and have been using it for just under a month now. 

The Claims

This aluminium free and paraben free deodorant eliminates the bacteria that causes odour without using harsh ingredients. A delicate blend of tangerine, mandarin and lavender oils, combined with vanilla extract will leave you smelling and feeling fresh and clean.

The Ingredients
Aqua, Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Juice, Alcohol, Sinc Phenosulphate, Ceteareth-20, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Articum Lappa (Burdock) Extract, Euisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Citrue Tangerina (Tangerin) Peel Oil, Ctrus Nobolis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavendar) Oil, Vanillin, Vanilla Planifolia Extract, Linalool*, Limonene*
*Natural component of essential oils. 

The Reality

Deodorant was the one thing that I was rather apprehensive about when making the transition to cruelty-free, vegan and natural cosmetics.The Sukin Natural Deodorant has quickly dismissed my concerns.

I've never said this about a deodorant before but this deodorant smells just gorgeous. The blend blend of tangerine, mandarin, vanilla and lavender is so fresh, without being overpowering. Furthermore it keeps me odour free. On a cold day I can get away with just one application in the morning, on a warmer day I do need to reapply at least once if not twice dependent on my activities.

At first I wasn't sure how much to apply, so going with the logical more is better approach sprayed about ten sprays only to find that the liquid was rolling down my underarms. So just a heads up a few sprays is enough!

After application you do need to wait for a few minutes for the product to dry and absorb into your skin, as initially it can feel a bit sticky.

I had no issues with the Sukin natural deodorant transferring onto my clothes..No white marks!

The deodorant does not irritate my skin at all, even after shaving. As a side note this product does contain essential oils which can irritate or cause a reaction on some people, so I would avoid this product if this happens to you. Another precaution is if you are pregnant then some essential oils are best avoided so seek advice on this before using this product.

It has to be said, the price is rather on the high side. For someone that usually pay's £1.50 for a deodorant you can see how £8.12 can be considered a bit steep!

I did input all the info for this deodorant into the EWG skin deep report builder, and the product scores a 4. This is a moderate hazard rating. I'm personally okay with this as compared to my previous toxin filled deodorant this is much better.

Although just out of curiosity I would like to try out other products and see what's out there...who knows I may find something better! If not then I will definitely repurchase the Sukin Natural Deodorant.

The Packaging
I like that this deodorant comes in a spray bottle because I do prefer spray deodorants to roll ons.

The Price
Cress UK: £8.12

The Ultimate Question: Would I Repurchase?
Yes

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried the Sukin Natural Deodorant? What are your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

hello + update

A Picture From My Bristol Trip 

Hi guys

I hope you guys are keeping well. You may or may not have noticed that we've been lacking on the blog post front recently.

Sometimes a full time job, life and sickness can get in the way of writing posts. I unfortunately have the flu and am sniffling my way through typing this post.

The frequent readers amongst you may know that we are transitioning to cruelty free/veggie/natural cosmetics.

It has been a month and half since we made this decision but I still feel as inspired as ever and become more and more inspired everyday to make this transition through watching/reading some amazing cruelty-free/veggie/natural beauty YouTube videos/blogs.

I am more than 100% happy with my decision. The only thing that makes me inpatient is having to use up all the products I have, sometimes I just feel like throwing everything in the trash and starting afresh. For now I am restraining myself and just working at using up my products.

So far the area that I am completely cruelty free/veggie/natural is deodorant! This may sound totally ridiculous to you but this makes me want to jump for joy. I know that this transition is going to take some time and so you have take the small achievements.

I have discovered a few great websites that have been aiding me along my journey, which I wanted to share with you guys.

The first one being the Environmental Working Group Website. This website offers a skin deep guide to cosmetics, a resource which is truly invaluable. You are able to search products to find their hazard rating. Furthermore they offer a function to input ingredients from any cosmetics not listed and they will create a hazard report for you based on the ingredients.

Another useful resource is the 100 cosmetic ingredients to avoid free download from The Green Beauty Guide Blog. There are also some great posts to read to.

As always the BUAV and PETA sites are a handy resource.

Feel free to share any other helpful websites so that we can all learn and benefit in the comments :)

I'll leave you with a quote: 

"No nation is truly free until the animal, man’s younger brother, is free and happy.” Sadhu T. L Vaswani

Sita xoxo 

vegan beauty haul: organic surge

Organic Surge Haul 

Organic Surge Million Dollar Brown Sugar Body Polish £8 (Usually £32) 

Organic Surge Super -Intensive Daily Moisturiser £2.25 (Usually £8.99) 

Organic Surge Lemon & Honey Happy Soap £0.88 (Usually £3.50) 

Organic Surge Daily Care Face Wash £2.74 (Usually £5.49)
Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion £3 (Usually £5.99) 

Organic Surge Kiss and Make-up Cleansing Wipes £0.87 (Usually £3.49) 

Today we have a haul post for you from Organic Surge. We saw that they were holding a 75% of sale and we may have gone just a tad overboard.

This is the first time we have purchased any products from Organic Surge so we are excited to try out the brand.

In terms of delivery, our order took 7 days to arrive (bearing in mind that we did the place the order on a bank holiday). Aside from the Brown Sugar Body Polish which has completely melted and had leaked slightly the rest of the order was intact. They are wrapped it up in its own plastic bag and then bubble wrap so the leakage was thankfully contained.

We decided to stock up on the cleansing wipes whilst they were on offer, but annoyingly the expiry date is July! So that plan backfired!

Organic Surge products are 100% free of harsh chemicals – no parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, no artificial fragrances or colourants and no genetically modified ingredients

All of the products that we purchased are free from animal derived ingredients and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. 

Have you tried any of these products or any other products from Organic Surge? What are your thoughts? 

Sita & Radha xoxo 

vegan beauty haul: the buddha beauty company

The Buddha Beauty Company Apple Avocado & Aloe Clay Mask £12

The Buddha Beauty Company Massage Candles 3 for £10 

One of the brands we discovered at the Bristol Vegfest was The Buddha Beauty Company. Described by themselves as a British Brand with a love of the Far East.

Their products are:

- Paraben Free

- SLS Free

- Organic

- Cruelty Free

- Naturally Derived

The company is approved by the BUAV and the Vegan Society.

We were on the hunt for a new face mask and this Apple, Avacado & Aloe Clay Mask smelt absolutely delicious, just like fresh apples, and claimed to leave our skin glowing, so we couldn't leave without it.

In addition to the face mask we bought a few of The Buddha Beauty Company's 100% Organic Soy Wax Candles. These lovely candles not only give a off a lovely fragrance but the melted wax can be used as a massage oil. You can see this being demo'd on Radha in the pictures above. We bought three of the small sized candles in Serenity, May Chung and Tranquilty to sample a few of the different scents

We're super-excited to try out our new products! A girl's spa night in already planned! 

As always we will review the products in full once we've had a chance to get our teeth into them. 

Have you tried any products from the Buddha Beauty Company? What are your thoughts?

If you missed the pictures from our day at the Bristol Vegfest you can click here. 

Sita & Radha xoxo