Scrubs and Masks

I am a very dry skinned person and often have difficulty with itching and flakiness as well as eczema in the past.  My main fight against this has been to find products that don't irritate my skin and improve my general health, but while this has been happening I've been needing products to help pull off the dead skin from my face and body (so lovely).  Obviously I wanted products which more on the natural and definitely that had none of those little, plastic microbeads.

Body scrubs.
It took me a while to find a 'natural' scrub I liked the look of to even think about buying.  I wanted something that was simple and natural enough that there would be a possibility for me to replicate the product later on down the line.

So, the scrub I ended up buying was the Naturally Thinking Body Polish Salt Scrub with Uplifting Bergamot and Circulation Reviving Orange.  This product smells gorgeous and the oils really helped moisturised my skin and put some moisture back in, but the salt granules which are meant to be the exfoliant are a little bit too large for me and I didn't really feel that they did a particularly good job at removing the dead skin on my body.  It also made the bottom of my shower very slippery and definitely stung if I had any cuts or scratches.  However, if you like oil based scrubs, definitely look at what Naturally Thinking has to offer as they have other scents and also have a scrubs that uses ground olives instead of salt.  I am intrigued by their body exfoliate lotion though - so maybe in the future.........

I had started to look for another natural scrub and was also reading about possible scrubs I could make at home when I came across an article about using a body brush to not only remove dead skin, but also help circulation and remove toxins from the body.  So I thought I would give it a go and brought one.  It's quite nice to just spend those few minutes before a shower to brush your body, you don't have to be harsh (it shouldn't hurt), and it has been very effective as removing the dead skin.  In fact, it's been so effective and simple I've stopped looking for anything else.  I then just moisturise after the shower - so thank you Japan for another great idea!

Face scrubs.
Face scrubs are always much harder for me than body scrubs as the skin on my face is more sensitive and can't take as much abrasion.  I had been using the Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It for many years and it's been very effective in removing the dry patches on my face as well as cleaning my pores - in fact I would really recommend it.  But, as with the body, I wanted to find something more 'natural'.  

As I was looking for a body scrub at Naturally Thinking I decided to look at their face scrubs and picked up the Orange, Lemon, & Vitamin C exfoliating face polish.  Though I wasn't keen on the body scrub I do really like this face polish.  The granules are nice and small (made from pumice) and really do a good job of removing the dry patches on my face.  The coconut oil was also very moisturising and my skin felt so soft afterwards.  This is another product I would definitely recommend.

In my research on natural exfoliants I had repeatedly read that if you have dry skin on your face it's not good to use physical exfoliants as they can cause small scratches on the skin.  So I started to looking for something similar to a chemical exfoliant and came across a sample of the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive and loved it so much I brought the full pot.  This can sting a little on your skin when you first put it on and does cause me to flush this a little (apparently that's normal), but it goes away and once you've washed it off your skin is so soft.  It is pretty pricey at around £42, but it lasts for such a long time and is so effective I definitely think it's worth the price.  I also like that this product is in a glass jar, which is much easier to recycle.  I usually try and get this done once a week, and it is really helping keep my skin flake free as well as helping to even out my skin tone.  I did think about getting the full strength peel rather than the sensitive, but this is effective enough for me and I'm not sure my skin would be able to take the stronger strength.

The next product isn't really a face scrub (though it does have some scrubbing action when you remove it), but it has been part of the fight against dryness.  It's the Kae natural clay from Morocco.  Kae does a range of difference clay based on what your needs are and I thought this would be the most suitable for my skin.  It comes dry and I usually either mix it with water or with my face oil.  I definitely notice a difference in my skin with this and the best bit is that it seems to be lasting forever.

So, that's my very short journey to finding scrubs that suit me.  None of it is sponsored by if you're interested the websites I've got these from (other than Boots) are www.naturallythinking.com and www.naturisimo.com .

Mini Film Review: The True Cost

This is definitely a movie to watch if buying shoes and clothes are your thing, you're wanting to give it up and you're finding it difficult.  It's also a good movie to watch if you're trying to go more ethical with your clothing.

It starts by looking at how the fashion has changed from local or home made, long lasting clothes to a whirlwind of cheap, throw away items which change seasonally and are made many miles away.  While this has been cheap and cheerful for us, the cost for other people and the environment has increased dramatically.

The film travels around the world showing the stark difference between the glittering, glamorous, shiny world of the catwalks to the slums and working conditions of those who actually produce the products.  There are interviews with leading individuals in the fashion industry, fashion journalists, individuals who run the sweatshops, those most affected by the negative impact it's having and the individuals who are trying to make a difference.  While I was aware of these issues before, seeing them in this way helped solidify in my mind that I was wanting to take a more ethical choice with my clothing.

The only slightly negative thing I would say about this documentary is that, while it does talk about the impact the fashion industry is having on our environment, it looks at it from a very human context without showing the impact it also has on the local ecosystems in their own right.  However, I completely understand this route as it's likely to have the most impact for the most number of people.

This movie is available on Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, and Netflix so it's easy to find and watch and it's a good little reminder, every time you pick up an item to buy, to ask 'where does the true cost of this product lie?'

Paying Carbon Taxes

If you have been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I am working towards reducing my carbon footprint and making my life much more sustainable.  Whether it's the food I eating, the products I buy or how I get around, but I've been feeling that, obviously, there's so much more I could be doing.  While I'm finding out how I can keep improving I wanted to do something that not only helps 'cover' the carbon dioxide I am still producing but also highlighted how important I think this is.

First I wanted to check what my carbon footprint actually was, so I started with WWF footprint calculator (mainly due to the simplicity of the questions - no accurate meter readings needed).  After answering all the questions it worked out my carbon footprint to be 8.1 tonnes per annum.  This number includes 3.6 tonnes for the Government's expenditure (so my personal total is 4.5 tonnes) and, while it's lower than the British average, it's higher than the world average and quite a bit higher than the target of 2 tonnes of carbon per person needed to keep us from experiencing the worse of climate change.

The WWF calculator was great in it's ease of use and I liked the advice it provided at the end as well as adding on the Government's footprint (an incentive to keep pestering them to improve).  However, I wanted to check a few other sites to get a more rounded idea of what my carbon footprint actually is.  First, I tried the Carbon Independant calculator, which still asks quite basic questions but does ask for a little bit more information.  For this calculator I was given a carbon footprint of 6.09 tonnes. 

I then tried the website Carbon Footprint.  I literally found this through searching on google, but it turns out to be a website that not only advises you on what your footprint is, but also how to reduce it and how to offset it - exactly what I was looking for.  So I answered all the usual questions (which were a little more indepth than the other websites) and got a footprint of 5.57 tonnes.  

Which I was then able to offset with different options, from UK tree planting to community projects.  This time I decided to just go for the Global Portfolio as this seems to cover a range of projects, but next time I might pick a more specific project.

The best bit for me is that I can go back after I've made some changes and see if it's made any difference to dent I'm putting into our planet, and then offset accordingly.  While I would hope to get my footprint down to the 2 tonnes needed to ensure the worst of climate change doesn't occur, I know I can use this to help me reduce my impact.  And, by showing that I am happy to pay my carbon tax I have the right to then ask it of others and to push the Government to bring the carbon tax forward as a way of helping us save our planet.

Project Pan for 2017

As last year's project pan went pretty well and helped me get rid of a number of items I really don't need I decided to do it again in 2017.  This year there are 24 products I want to use up, which seems a little more realistic, and in some of the areas I should be able to add to the items as the year goes on.

So, starting with the eyes:

Natural Collection in Sable

Natural Collection in Sea Shell

The Body Shop in Coconut About You eye shadow

The pink / purple eyeshadow from a H&M palette

Max Factor in Untamed Green

The gold eyeshadow from a H&M palette

A The Body Shop purple eyeshadow, but I can't remember the name it's so old - ops

Urban Decay Naked 1 palette - am counting this as one product for now

Barbara Day Eye Primer in Vanilla (Tescos)

e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder in Sheer

Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl Waterproof Eyeliner in Superblack

For the face and lips I have:

• Bourjois Color Boost in Orange Punch
• NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee
• Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (travel size)
• Makeup Academy Pressed Powder in Shade 4
• Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher in Cendre De Rose Brune

For nails I have the roll over nail polishes from last years Project Pan:

• Barry M in Cyan
• Barry M in Black
• Barry M in Bright Red
• Max Factor Glossfinity in Raspberry Blush 

Hair, face, and body:

• Jean Paul Gaultier Eau De Parfum in Classique
• Wella System Professional Polish Cream
• Faith in Nature Replenishing Aloe Vera Eye Gel
• This Work Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

This should be a good selection of products that will be easy to get through and those that I'm expecting to take the whole year to ensure I keep my motivation going.  It will also mean that I will have gotten rid of all the non-cruelty free products I have left in my home. 

As usual I will keep a note of my progress.

Project Pan Update #12 and Other Products

Well that's 2016 over and done with, and the end of the year has been quite busy and I haven't had a lot of free time.  Our adopted dog is lovely, but does have some issues which we've been working a lot on so that we have a healthier, happier dog.

And now for my last project pan update of 2016 (and I will apologies now for the quality of the photos - it's so dark at the moment and I had trouble getting the lighting right).  I had put in a number of products in 2016 projects that I knew I probably couldn't get through, but I wanted to push myself to try and get through as much as possible.  Out of the 35 products I picked I managed to use up 26 - yay me 😁.  

So, let's start with the eyeshadow.  One of the eye shadows, the Sephora dark brown, just fell out of the pan.  I'm not entirely sure how as I don't remember dropping my z-palette, but I opened palette and the pan was empty.  As that was no longer available I started using the Maybelline dark grey shadow as a crease colour.  I'm not sure if it's just the age of the shadow, but this hasn't been particularly easy to work with and I'm happy to just get rid of it without reaching pan as I don't want to keep anything that I have to put work into using.  I have been working through the other eyeshadows at the same rate as always and I'm happy to let go of all of them apart from the pink / purple shadow from the H&M eyeshadow palette.  I haven't reached enough of a pan of this to be happy to throw it away and so I'm going to add it to my next project pan, along with the other eyeshadows I didn't even get to start on.  I won't be buying any of these again as none of the products are cruelty free.

I've finally got through the purple Elf eyeliner.  I thought I wasn't going to finish this by the end of the year, but I started using it as a lip liner as well to add some darkness to my lip colours. I thought I had one more use to get out of it, but it's gotten stuck in the lid and I can't get it out anymore.  I don't think you can get this colour anymore from Elf and I think I will stick with black or brown eyeliners from now on.  However, Elf is cruelty free and I will have a look at the website again once I need to get a new liner.

The Mac Cremesheen lipstick in Creme Cup is also finished.  The colour didn't really suit me, but I liked the texture and scent of this lipstick.  However, I didn't like them enough to justify the price of these lipsticks, and Mac no longer has it's cruelty free status so I won't be buying anymore of these product even with a range of colour selections they have.

The Sinful Colors nail varnish in Rich in Heart was also another product that I thought I wasn't going to get to finish by the end of the year.  But I actually put on the last coat on New Year's Eve.  There is a little bit left, but I'm counting this as finished as it's become too gloopy to use.  While I like the colour, Sinful Colors is not a cruelty free company and I won't be buying from them again.  The other nail varnish colours that were in my 2016 project pan will be added into this year's project pan along with the Tesco's brought Barbara eye primer.

The last project pan product is the Wella Polish Cream.  This hasn't moved very much during this year, but, to be honest, I kept forgetting to use it.  I did think about getting rid of it, but have decided to move it into this year's project pan and use it up completely.  If I remember to use it at least twice a week I should be able to do that.

The last products I've used up this year are the Bourjois 150th Anniversary powder, the Natural Collection lip liner in Mulberry, and the Urban Decay / Gwen Stefani lipstick tester in 714.  The Bourjois powder is a good powder to use for the price of it and smelt lovely, but not overpowering.  It was easy to work into my skin and Bourjois is cruelty free, but I'm not much of a fan of loose powder and the colour was a little bit too pink for me.  I'm a big fan of Natural Collection and Barry M lip liners as the colours are great and good quality.  This Mulberry colour was a lovely colour and the pigment was good enough to change the colour of the lipsticks I was wearing.  I don't need a lipliner at the moment, but I will look at Natural Collection again when I next do.  The Urban Decay lipstick tester in 714 is a lovely matte red  which reminds me of a vintage lipstick in colour, and I really enjoyed wearing it.  It does dry your lips a little, but nothing a bit of exfoliation and moisturising doesn't fix.  I actually have this in the full size.  Urban Decay is a cruelty free company.

To see my previous project pan updates click below:

• Introduction
• Project Pan Update #1
• Project Pan Update #2
• Project Pan Update #3
• Project Pan Update #4
• Project Pan Update #5
• Project Pan Update #6
• Project Pan Update #7
• Project Pan Update #8
• Project Pan Update #9
• Project Pan Update #10
• Project Pan Update #11