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CLEAN REGIME: Britanie Faith from Beauty By Britanie

My name is Britanie Faith and I am a Freelance Photographer, Makeup Artist and Skincare Enthusiast Specializing in Non Toxic Products. Creator of Concoctions. Animal Lover. Tea Addict. I am very passionate about Health, Beauty and Photography. I believe in applying and ingesting the least amount of chemicals possible which has lead me to a path of researching and reviewing many organic and non toxic makeup and skincare products.

I have suffered from chronic pain due to Endometriosis, Gastroparesis, and Fibromyalgia. Having these conditions has increased my passion for helping others deal with their own personal health issues in a positive way. I am constantly researching to find natural ways to heal myself and others through herbs, acupuncture, holistic and Chinese medicine, diet, exercise and meditation. I am committed to sharing my experiences, likes and dislikes in regards to everything from day to day life, health and where i get my inspiration and positive outlook on life from beauty of all kinds.

AM

I like to keep it simple in the morning.  If I know I will be wearing makeup on a specific day then I will especially make sure that my skincare routine that day is extra simple as I want my skin to breathe! 

I like to start off by splashing my face with warm water to open up my pores and then I finish with cold water to close the pores.  I will then apply a light serum. For my morning serum I like something not too heavy. My go-to day serum is Osmia Organics Active Gel Nutrient Serum. I love the feel of this serum and it has never felt too heavy and I find it wears perfectly underneath makeup. Last but not least, I always tone and moisturize.  The product I use works both as a toner and a moisturizer in one. I use Heritage Store Rosewater and Glycerin spray. The rosewater serves as a toner and the glycerin works at retaining moisture in the skin. It’s perfect to use before or after makeup as a setting spray. This is all I will usually apply during the day either on it’s own or underneath my makeup for the day. 

PM

Shower

I prefer to take my showers at night so that I can be more relaxed before bed! I also like to get rid of all the toxins that I accumulated throughout the day. 

I start by dry brushing my skin which helps to detoxify the liver and can help fight against cellulite and also gets rid of any dead skin cells and makes your skin extra soft!!

I only use natural soaps to wash my body and my current favorite find is local Goat Soap. I love how it leaves my skin feeling so soft and doesn’t make me feel itchy or dry afterwards which I find a lot of soaps do. When I get out of the shower I always moisturize my skin with lotion or body oil. My favorite body lotion is the Fragrance-Free Moisturizing Lotion For Sensitive Skin by Nature’s Gate and when I need extra moisture (especially in winter months) I use Osmia Organics Body Oil. 

I have tried a number of shampoos and conditioners and I always seem to go back to my beloved Nature’s Gate Herbal Shampoo and Conditioner. They are super affordable and make my hair feel and look its best. I absolutely love the smell of this stuff too. It makes my shower smell like an herbal garden. I love it!! For an added hair treatment I like to use a hair masque once a week. My all-time favorite hair masque is the Intensive Hair Repair Argan Oil Masque by DermOrganic. 

Skincare

It is very important to me to keep my skin super hydrated while I sleep so I am more generous with products and usually up the steps to my routine at night.

First step is removing makeup from throughout the day. For this I like to use Organic Jojoba Oil. It works amazingly well at removing all makeup even the toughest waterproof mascara! It’s cheap and works better than most expensive makeup removers I have tried. Next I use some type of facial scrub or face wash. I tend to use Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub most nights as it is truly my favorite scrub. If my skin is feeling particularly sensitive or I just don’t need that added exfoliant I will use something more gentle like my favorite Rose Clay Facial Soap from Osmia Organics which makes my skin feel velvety soft and thoroughly cleansed. I usually like to use a toner before I apply my serum and moisturizer. Lately at night my favorite toner has been DeVita’s Morrocan Rose Toner. My favorite night time serum is Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum which adds lots of moisture on it’s own so I find on most nights I don’t even need to follow with a moisturizer. I use 100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream to help combat dark circles and I always apply my Hurraw! Lip balm in either Coconut or Vanilla before bed!

COLOUR 

I love makeup and I love to do glamorous looks but on a daily basis I do not wear a lot of makeup at all. I like to keep it natural unless it’s a special occasion or I just feel like being fancy with my makeup! On most days I have been wearing Jane Iredale’s Glow Time Full Coverage BB Cream. It is full coverage but doesn’t feel or look too heavy, It gives me the perfect coverage and glow. For dark circles I apply a tiny amount of Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer in ‘010’ and it helps to get rid of any darkness under my eyes. It also works well for covering blemishes or redness around the nose or face. I always add a bit of blush to liven up my face! Vapour Organic Beauty in the color ‘Courtesan’ is the perfect rose and adds a beautiful natural flush to my face which I love. I like to add a bit of color to my lips as well and my current favorite lipstick is the color ‘Galaxy’ by Zuzu Luxe. I then apply a tiny bit of Sante Eyeshadow Stick in the color ‘Pearl’ to the inner part of my eyes to add an illuminating effect and help further combat my stubborn dark circles! I always comb and darken my brows up a bit using Sante Brow Pencil and last but not least I apply two coats of Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara and voila! I’m ready to go!

EXTRAS

I like to create my own face mask which consists of Indian Healing Clay and Raw Manuka Honey. I mix a tablespoon of the Honey and a teaspoon of the clay and stir it in a tiny bowl. Once it is all melted together I apply it all over my face and neck and leave it on for about 20 minutes. I do this once a week and my skin has never looked and felt clearer! It is super affordable and fun to apply!

I love collecting perfumes and essential oils. My favorite scents are Vanilla, Coconut, Rose, Amber, Sandalwood and Almond. Applying scents to my wrists and neck just make me feel luxurious and the essential oils calm my senses. It gives me a boost of confidence to smell delicious!’

Connect with Britanie:

CLEAN REGIME: Jessica from Stark Skincare

Jessica Lafleur is a  girl after my own heart. A self-confessed skincare rebel, she set out to create a brand that is 

… obsessively natural, simple without being boring, luxurious without being over-the-top, loves to educate, and made specifically for the needs of a city-dweller’s skin (and aesthetic).  

Stark Skincare ticks all the boxes: squeaky clean & hard working ingredients (loaded with antioxidants to combat city living) combined with iconic apothecary style packaging, to create products that both look good and do good. The cleansing balm, green tea detox mask and perfecting tonic have firmly established themselves as staples in my own clean regime (full reviews to come), so I am delighted to share with you Jessica’s clean regime:

AM 

‘I keep things simple as a general rule of thumb for life in general, and my summertime self care routine follows suit. In fact, it may be the simplest it’s ever been, and I love it! First off, I do think that the most important part of any summertime health and beauty regime is drinking a TON of water. In fact, this is an any-season rule.  My cleansing regime consists of Manuka honey that a friend of mine sends from New Zealand. I use it as straight-up cleanser on its own, or I mix it with Stark’s Green Tea Mask, with a drop of water. It’s fabulous, but also a man repellent (sticky mud!) I do that 2-3 times a week in hot weather which keeps me completely pimple-free. Next, I’ve been using Yes to Carrots Nourishing Shampoo for some time, and loved it up until recently. Just as I was taking these pictures, my hair was really acting up and my scalp was ITCHY, so clearly I needed to make some changes. That’s where the Savon D’Alep comes in…. but we’ll get to that!  I also try to dry brush several times a week before showering, which leaves my skin soft, smooth and a healthy I swear I just exercisedpink. I brush towards my heart at all times to encourage good circulation.

PM

I use my Grapefruit Cleanse + Hydrate Balm by my company Stark morning and night, but ESPECIALLY at night, as it gently removes all manner of city gunk and grime and makeup off my face. Also, I like to add a little to my hair for the fresh scent, and a few extra dabs on any bits of skin that are quite dry. It’s multi-purpose but also just feels really indulgent, so I love that (that’s why I made it!). It also gives skin a nice glow.

The Savon D’Alep, which I am caught kissing in this picture (you guys do that too, right?) is a staple for me. I found this for a steal at a health food store, and it comes from Syria, via France. Alleppo soap is a Castille soap made of Olive and Laurel oil, and in this case Argan as well. I LOVE it. I had first used this type of soap in the  Middle East, but in bar form, and loved how rustic it smells and feels. It leaves your skin feeling clean, a little goes a long way, and what’s best, my hair absolutely adores it. So yes, I use the same soap on my body (mostly feet and parts I want extra clean since I don’t feel I need soap all over my body….too drying!) AND my hair. It’s liquid, so it’s not too, you know, awkward or anything. I no longer use conditioner, which my fine wavy hair seems to agree with. That slimy slick feeling that most conditioners give my hair just seems to not do it any justice.

My coconut oil. My love! I use this same brand (but NOT the same jar!) for both cooking and for my body/hair. This is a local Quebecois brand, although I assume the coconuts are not from around here, called Maison d’Orphée, which smells, tastes and absorbs like a dream. This one is organic, unrefined and virgin, which is super important if you want to use your coconut oil for your body. Actually, this is important for cooking, too. The refined stuff is garbage, frankly.  I use this as a night time hair conditioner, as my body oil, as a massage oil, as a mouth rinse (yup! Look it up!) and pretty much anything else that strikes my fancy.

EXTRAS

 

The fun stuff. On my face, before I head out into the world, I use 2 drops of Stark’s Cypress Purity + Defense Oil, which helps my skin defend itself against environmental damage. I also use Organic Wear tinted moisturizer and their mascara, which is the easiest clean makeup brand to find in Montreal. For the price, it’s good. I love love love love Vapour Organics. It’s what makeup should be, to a T. I use their blush called Torch, and it’s easy to apply and feels nice on skin. I can’t stand makeup that feels bad, and since I’m not used to wearing it (yes, almost 31… still not used to it!), I love that I can apply this easily and forget it’s there, and it makes me look fresh. Also, the ingredients are phenomenal. I also love my eyelash curler. This is a cheap one, but now that I know that I love them and how much of a difference curled eyelashes make, I will invest in a fancy one. I also use Hurraw’s Black Cherry Tinted Lip Balm, as it adds just a little gloss and enough colour to make me happy’. 

SIX PICKS: Winter Skincare

I love winter. I love the crisp clean mornings, layers of woolly clothes, and excuse to carbo-load. I don’t, however, love winter skin - strange dry patches, red & reactive skin that can’t cope with going from hot to cold environments, and the lack of glow that comes from too many days hiding indoors under blankets. Thankfully, there are some lovely products that I have discovered that have helped enormously and are like a big glass of orange juice for my skin: 

  1. Stark Skincare Grapefruit Cleanse + Hydrate Balm: The ultimate winter cleanser. So hydrating that it doubles as both a cleanser and moisturiser, packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut & sweet almond oil and vitamin e, and with a zingy citrus fragrance to boot, this is a delight to cleanse with on cold winter nights. 
  2. Stark Skincare White Willowbark Perfecting Tonic: another sweet offering from Stark Skincare. This is the only thing that gets me out of a hot shower - a refreshing spritz of this is great at keeping pimples at bay whilst soothing and toning skin. 
  3. Trilogy Everything Balm: For, er, everything, but particularly great to massage into dry flaky patches and to keep the soles of feet soft and smooth. I keep a pot next to my bed to massage into problem areas. 
  4. Nourish Balance Refining Toning Mist: Another toner - which is a product that I don’t usually use, but which I am finding great to use in winter to wake up skin. This one by Nourish has a zesty apple scent and is great for oilier skin. 
  5. RMS Lip2Cheek in Modest: Because even if it’s too cold to exercise outside, I can still have the same pretty flush of colour on cheeks.
  6. RMS Living Luminizer: An old favourite. Nothing gives skin as good a glow as this does, and the subtle sheen is perfect for winter’s changeable light when more glittery highlighters can look obvious and jarring. 

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CLEAN REGIME: Kimberly from Kimberlyloc.com

Photo By Denene Brox Photography

Kimberlyloc.com has the perfect recipe for a blog: one part natural beauty reviews, a pinch of outfit inspiration and wardrobe snaps, mixed with recipe ideas and the occasional cupcake! As a similarly minded clean beauty aficionado, I couldn’t wait to read Kimberly’s skincare and makeup picks. Read on to discover this stylish media superstar’s clean regime…     

Also head over to Kimberly’s blog to check out my guest post on my favourite clean beauty picks!

AM

Morning Shower

 I’ve got my shower routine down pat, but as a beauty blogger, it’s normal for me to rotate products on a regular basis. Here’s what I’ve been using and loving for the past few weeks or longer.

And, for full disclosure, I did receive most of these products as press samples. Those that are starred are ones I purchased myself.

  • Shampoo - Seaweed Bath Co. Natural Seaweed Argan Shampoo in Citrus: This shampoo doesn’t lather like a typical, conventional shampoo, but it has enough suds to give you that placebo effect of “clean” without overdrying.
  • Conditioner - Seaweed Bath Co. Natural Seaweed Argan Conditioner in Citrus: Because I’m still testing Seaweed Bath Co. products, I’m using the companion conditioner to complement the shampoo. I condition just the ends of my mane (I’ve got a naturally oily scalp). I let the conditioner sit in my hair for a couple of minutes while I wash my face, and then I make sure to rake a wide-toothed comb throughout my hair to distribute the conditioner throughout, but without concentrating it on my scalp.
  • Face Cleanser - *Primavera Moisturizing Cream Cleanser: I choose cleansing creams in the morning just to add a bit more moisture since my face is essentially clean anyway (if I was good and washed the night before!). I really love the milky texture and fresh smell of this particular cream cleanser.
  • Body Wash - Kiss My Face Peace Soap: I prefer “energizing” body washes in the morning, like ones made with peppermint, tea tree or a citrus fruit, to help awaken my senses. This 100 percent castile soap is really slippery on the skin and a little goes a long way. I use a loofah to help it lather (natural lather thanks to coconut oil!) and give my body a good scrub and rinse. I also make sure to get the conditioner residue off my back to avoid bacne.

 

Morning Prep 

  • Body Oil - Zoe Organics Love My Body Oil: I’m the biggest body oil fan out there. I stockpile the stuff, and I always get so many compliments on how soft my skin is from my boyfriend and my best friends. Oil is the secret sauce! This is definitely a calming ritual straight out of the shower.
  • Toner - Cecilia Wong Skincare Rejuvenating Toner Mist: Toner seems like it’s one of those unnecessary products, but with the right toner with the right ingredients, you will notice a difference. I like Cecilia Wong’s toner because of its amazing smell and top-notch natural ingredients, like chamomile, lemon, lavender and rosemary. The spray bottle shoots out the perfect, most-fine mist that lightly covers your entire face in just a couple sprays.
  • Sunscreen - Sunday Riley Cashmere SPF 30: I committed to wearing sunscreen every day a few years ago, and it’s just become a ritual for me to massage in my daily protection pre-makeup. I go back and forth between Badger Balm’s Damascus Rose SPF 16 Face Sunscreen Lotion and Sunday Riley Cashmere SPF 30, but Sunday Riley usually wins because it has a higher SPF. Both products smell lovely, though, and do well under makeup.
  • Lip Balm - *John Masters Organics Lip Calm & Dr. Hauschka Lip Balm: I’m kind of ridiculous when it comes to lip balm. I tend to just grab whatever’s on top of my lip balm bowl, but I do gravitate toward John Masters Organics when my pout just needs a boost. If I’m extra dry that morning, I choose something a bit thicker, like Dr. Hauschka, for a more healing effect.

 

PM

  • Eye Makeup Remover - *Trader Joe’s 100% Pure Jojoba Oil: I don’t spend money on traditionally marketed eye makeup remover. As I mentioned earlier, oil is the secret sauce for pretty much any need you may have. I use jojoba oil to remove my eye makeup as well as the makeup from the day.
  • Face Wash - Jurlique Purely White Skin Brightening Cleanser: I like the smell and extras that this cleanser packs: the promise of a more-even skin tone and a gentle exfoliation. I use this one at night so that the antioxidants can help my skin overnight.
  • Face Serum - La Bella Figura Barbary Fig Seed Renewal Serum: I can’t stop singing the praises of plant oils, but barbary fig seed oil really takes the cake. It puts argan oil to shame (sorry, shampoo and conditioner!) with its massive amounts of healing vitamin E and omega 6. The smell of this serum is sweet yet understated, and I love that it doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. I let this soak in for about 10 minutes before I hit the sack so I don’t waste any of this precious oil on my pillow!
  • Eye Serum - La Bella Figura Decouverte Under Eye Repair Serum: I stay up way too late reading, writing and wasting time on the Internet. To keep my eyes from giving me away in the morning, I use Decouverte on those especially late nights to combat dark circles. It’s packed with vitamin K, which has been shown to help reduce dark circles, and a little of this roller-ball product goes a long way!
  • Blemish Treatment - *Desert Essence 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil & *Trader Joe’s 100% Pure Jojoba Oil: Now that I’m in my later-20s, I don’t have to worry about acne as much, but I do still get breakouts here and there that motivate me to keep jojoba oil and tea tree oil on hand. I spot-treat pimples with a dab of tea tree oil mixed with jojoba (you’ve got to be careful about using straight essential oils if you have sensitive skin!) to help calm blemishes.

 

COLOUR

  • Concealer - Jing Ai Masquerade Concealer in Indian Princess: This concealer has great coverage and a thick consistency — perfect for covering up blemishes and under eye circles (not that I have those because I use Decouverte! :)). The packaging is really cute and the concealer contains organic champagne grape oil…makes me feel luxurious.
  • Powder/Foundation - *Aveda Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation in Honey: I like this because it’s a pressed mineral foundation (I don’t do well with loose powders) and you can really control the coverage you want — light, medium, heavy — based on what kind of brush or applicator you use.
  • Blush - Mia Mariu Mineral Blush: I like that this blush has vitamins A, C and E in it, and it’s a good replacement for the NARS blush I used to swear by.
  • Mascara - *Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!: I haven’t found the perfect natural mascara, but this one is pretty good for lengthening. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect fit, so please shoot me some ideas! And I would be a cheat if I didn’t mention that I do use a conventional mascara in between my natural mascara product hits and misses.
  • Lips - ILIA Lipstick, Mia Mariu Hydrating Stick Gloss, Clark’s Botanicals Lip Treatment, Hurraw! Black Cherry Lip Balm, *Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster: I pretty much always have between 5-10 lip products in my bag at all times. I’m obsessed with ILIA lipsticks as well as Mia Mariu’s Hydrating Stick Glosses. I also love Clark’s Botanicals’ glosses as well as Hurraw! Tinted Lip Balm, and I just picked up Tarte’s version of the chubby stick lipstick trend.
  • Eyelash Curler - *Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler: I have stick-straight, Asian eyelashes, so if I had to choose between mascara and an eyelash curler, an eyelash curler would win! I use Shu Uemura’s eyelash curler.

 

EXTRAS

Nail Polish

  • SpaRitual ‘Ebb & Flow’
  • OPI ‘A Roll in the Hague’
  • Butter London ‘Yummy Mummy’
  • *Zoya ‘Kimmy’
  • China Glaze ‘Gaga for Green’
  • Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’

 

I love everything that Zoya, Butter London, SpaRitual, Essie and OPI release. I definitely treat nail polish as an accessory!

Some of these brands are more natural than others, but I do appreciate that they are all at least three-free. 

For spring/summer, I’m loving these colors: SpaRitual ‘Ebb & Flow,’, OPI ‘A Roll in the Hague’, Butter London ‘Yummy Mummy’, Zoya ‘Kimmy’, China Glaze ‘Gaga for Green’, and Essie ‘Bikini So Teeny’. 

Face Mask

 

 

Once a week I like to treat myself to a spa day at home. I use different masks every week depending on my needs, but I definitely have repeat visits with this one. 

My aesthetician also loaded me up with several samples of Eminence’s Clear Skin Probiotic Masque, so I save those for when my skin is feeling rebellious. 

 

CLEAN REGIME: Sabrina from Flora Organica

After a decade of champagne, parties, and general unhealthy living, ex-Parisian showgirl and model Sabrina Jacquier Parr was physically , mentally and spiritually exhausted. Embracing yoga and the holistic healthy lifestyle it promoted changed Sabrina’s idea of what she thought it was to be a ‘healthy beautiful’ person, which led to her founding Flora Organica: 

Flora Organica has been a labor of love, sharing my knowledge on natural & organic beauty whilst supporting an emerging green beauty industry.  I have searched the world for exciting cult & niche products not readily available in Australia from companies truly dedicated to our inner and outer beauty.


Check out her wonderful website here (I’m loving the Konjac sponge and Sans Ceauticals Baobab Regenerating Body Cream at the moment!) and keep reading to find out about Sabrina’s clean regime…

Read More

CLEAN REGIME: Jessica Ainscough aka The Wellness Warrior

I’m excited and humbled to introduce you to the wonderful, inspirational, cancer-kicker Jess Ainscough for today’s Clean Regime. Jess Ainscough is a writer, holistic health coach, and the creator of the health and wellness website, The Wellness Warrior. Via her e-books, daily blog posts, and videos, Jess’ goal is to empower people to take control of their health and show that the quality of our lives is directly linked to how we treat our body and mind. Her transformation from champagne-guzzling, Lean Cuisine-loving magazine writer to all-out nutrition nerd was made after she was diagnosed with a rare, ‘incurable’ cancer back in 2008. Deciding she wasn’t having a bar of that ‘incurable’ nonsense, Jess took responsibility for her condition and healed herself with two years of Gerson Therapy. Along the way, Jess developed a obsession with passing on all of her newly learnt wellness wisdom to anyone who was parked in front of her for long enough to listen. 

After reading Jess’s clean regime, might I suggest making yourself a cup of herbal tea or a green juice, checking out her blog, and reading her brilliant eBook, Make Peace With Your Plate. If there was ever a poster girl for the old adage ‘beauty comes from the inside’, Jess is that gal. 

AM 

‘My first order of beauty business is dry body brushing for five minutes before stepping in the shower. I dry brush to get my lymphatic system moving, but as an added benefit it sloughs off dry skin, and helps to get rid of cellulite.

In the shower I cleanse my face with a tiny amount of Mukti’s gentle foaming cleanser, and wipe off with a bamboo face washer. Every second morning I will wash my hair with Mukti shampoo and conditioner.

Out of the shower, I use a tiny amount of Mukti (can you see a pattern?) balancing facial moisturiser and I’m good to go.

I love Mukti stuff because it’s one of the only beauty brands I’ve found that is totally clean, certified organic, and actually works on my skin. It’s also local to the Sunshine Coast, where I am from. 

PM

At night I cleanse my face again with Mukti’s gentle foaming cleanser. Out of the shower, I wipe my face over with 3% hydrogen peroxide to help remove blackheads, and then I moisturise my face with organic coconut oil (mostly around the eyes and forehead).

COLOUR

I don’t wear make-up very often, but if I need to go somewhere that calls for a bit of prettying up I use INIKA mineral powder foundation, bronzer, eyeliner, mascara and eye shadow. I don’t wear anything on my lips besides a bit of Aubrey Organics raspberry lip balm. It’s so yummy, and it’s so clean you could probably eat it.

 

EXTRAS

About once a week I have a bath with two cups of organic apple cider vinegar added to my bath water. This not only detoxifies the body through the skin, but it also leaves you feeling so silky smooth. And the vinegar smell doesn’t stick around long.

Also about once a week I will apply a natural clay facemask, followed by a Mukti facial scrub.

To lighten my hair, every now and then I will spray it with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Because this can dry it out, I will then put coconut oil through my hair as a deep nourishing mask.

I used to feel naked without perfume, but these days I very rarely wear it. If I do, it’s only a bit of essential oil or some Pegasus perfume made from essential oils.

Now that we are coming into the cooler months, I may need to moisturise my skin a bit more, so I will just add coconut oil to my body as well as my face.

We also always have aloe vera in the garden, so if I’m out there I will break off a bit and rub it into any dry spots and my cancer scars’.

Connect with Jess on …

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JessAinscough

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewellnesswarrior

Website: http://www.thewellnesswarrior.com.au


CLEAN REGIME: My Holiday Skincare

I have to admit that, with sun, sand & Singapore Slings at the front of my mind, skincare was somewhere around number 143 on my list of priorities whilst I was away. Nevertheless, as someone with skin that likes to surprise me (dry! no, sensitive! wait… oily! and here’s a pimple!), I took a few products with me to keep my skin in check and, most importantly, protected from the sun’s rays.

The one product that I used every day was the Invisible Zinc Environmental Skin Protector 30+. As a zinc based sunscreen it physically blocks the sun’s rays (rather than filtering them through chemicals), and this kept my face perfectly protected. It goes on a little white at first but quickly disappears into skin. The only quasi-downside is that it does such a good job that my face is now a shade lighter than the rest of my body, but this is easily resolved with a bit of liquid bronzer mixed in with my foundation. On the few days when I dragged myself from the pool or beach to do strenuous things like eat out or go shopping, I combined my sun protection with coverage by using the Invisible Zinc UV Silk Shield Foundation. I was a bit scared about using a stick foundation but it blended really easily, had excellent coverage (it doubles as a concealer). and had a nice natural finish. It says it is water resistant, and seems to hold up quite well, but it became a little more obvious after swimming and needed to be ‘re-blended’ into skin.

As I was using a fairly heavy duty sunscreen it was important to cleanse skin thoroughly at the end of the day, so I took along Planet Eve Organics Cleansing Oil. This was perfect for travel, as although it’s quite a tall bottle, it’s incredibly lightweight, and easily removes sunscreen & makeup. I also took MV Organics Gentle Cream Cleanser - one of my favourite cleansers- for when I wanted a deeper & more refreshing clean. 

At night I either used Pai Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream, Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex, or a combination of both. The Pai day cream is fine to use at night as it doesn’t have SPF and is a good general purpose moisturiser. I used the Tata Harper serum when I wanted a little more hydration, and it was also great to apply on its own under makeup, as it kept skin looking fresh & glowy and didn’t melt off in the heat. The serum is fantastic for travel as it comes in a little tube with a rollerball applicator - so no risk of spillage! 

I must have been feeling a bit indulgent when I threw in a sample pack of the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Cellular Repair Mask, as I tend to be very lazy with my skincare when I’m away from home. I’m glad I did though - I was averaging about 3 cocktails a night, so I popped this on once or twice when I felt my skin needed a bit of a pep up. It’s another excellent travel product, as it is a powder that you add water to. You could easily fill a teeny container with some and pop it into your makeup bag when travelling. 

Moving on from the face, the rest of the so-called regime was fairly relaxed. I took a sample bottle of Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Shower Gel with me, which is basically a sexy tropical holiday in a bottle. It’s a delicious smokey & spicy floral fragrance, and the scent lingers on skin. For hair I just used hotel shampoo & conditioner (as I was swimming each day I didn’t think there was much point in getting hair perfect), but I did take Evo Happy Campers Hard Working Moisturiser as a leave in treatment and all-round grooming product.     

And that’s it! I need another holiday after writing all that… Would love to hear about any of your holiday or travel skincare tips! 

CLEAN REGIME: Faye from Natural Beauty Cabinet

I am very excited to introduce a new feature on The Clean Beauty Blog - ‘Clean Regimes’ - which takes a peek into the makeup bags and skincare stashes of other clean beauties, and Faye from the website Natural Beauty Cabinet is up first!

Faye describes Natural Beauty Cabinet as ”about taking positive control of my health and the products that I use by learning more about the ingredients that work in harmony with our bodies.” It’s a brilliant resource, with thorough reviews and dissections of product ingredients, and a very helpful ‘Website, bargains & samples’ page which is an excellent resource to help you get the best value for money when you shop for natural and organic products. So without further ado I will shut up and let Faye do the talking!

AM

I am a frustrated morning person. Which means I want desperately to be one of those wide-eyed, bushy-tailed morning folks, but I’m just not. I’m puffy-eyed, grumpy and sluggish. Beauty needs to be quick, easy and targeted and the way something smells is pretty important.

I keep cleansing simple using a cotton pad soaked with Bioderma or a quick wipe with a Konjac sponge (neat, i.e. no additional cleanser). I rarely tone. I mostly use spritzers but more often in summer for cooling and soothing. Raw Gaia’s Chamomile Floral Water is a nice option if you’re still suffering with rosacea in the winter months.

In autumn/winter hydration is key. I’m more than a little obsessed with Raw Gaia’s MSM Beauty Cream which isn’t a cream at all, more of a balm that melts down into a rich oil. I first tried this back in the summer, but it’s really come into its own for winter skin. It is so hydrating and leaves my skin cashmere soft. For best results, warm a little in your hands and pat over your face. You can always add more afterwards to really dry areas.

For puffy, itchy, tired eyes I LOVE Liz Earle’s Eyebright Soothing Eye lotion. Just soak a couple of cotton pads, place them over your eyes, kick back and go ‘aaaaaahhhh’. I’m also using Trilogy’s Age Proof Eye Recovery Concentrate. I think it’s helped with the tone of my under-eye skin over time.

I use Neal’s Yard Wild Rose Daily Moisture SPF30 when I’m going to be outside all day. SPF is a year round thing, but I just don’t think you need SPF50+ every day in the winter months.

This time of year I like woody, spicy smells. Balance Me’s Petitgrain & Green Myrtle body wash is gorgeous. I also love Faith in Nature’s body wash with organic chocolate. It makes me and my inner child so happy. For body scrubs, keep it simple with olive oil and sea salt (or sugar for a gentler version). But Good Works Good Karma body scrub with its blend of rose, cedarwood and jasmine essential oils smells lovely.

A guilty hair secret is my love for Klorane shampoos and conditioners. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is second on the ingredients list, which is bad. But they just work so well. I don’t know what it is. I can’t quite give them up. I’ve used the gorgeously gentle oatmilk range in the past but at the moment I’m using the Mango Butter range which is formulated for drier hair.

Post shower, body moisturising is vital. Dr Organic make a great range of simple, bargain body lotions (I like the less fragranced options – olive oil, tea tree, vitamin E and aloe vera). I usually layer an oil underneath at this time of year, particularly on my shins. I’ve been using the Sanctuary’s Stretch Mark Oil. Which is only a stretch mark oil if you use it on stretch marks. Otherwise it’s a lovely, light blend of natural oils, including rosehip which is great for blemishes and scarring. For something a bit more indulgent, I’ve loved using Peachykeen’s Ginger Softening Body Butter.

PM

At night I always do a fuller cleanse with a bit of facial massage to really get the blood flowing to the area. It’ll carry nutrients to the skin and is well worth doing. At the moment, I’m using Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and Evolve’s Gentle Cleansing Melt, depending on whether I can bothered to break out the face cloths or not. I usually take off eye-make-up first – Bioderma again. And when moisturising, it’s Raw Gaia’s MSM Beauty Cream again (I’ve even used it on evil winter scaly shins!).

I try to be really disciplined and take off my ‘face’ as soon as I get in. If I do it last thing before bed, my moisturiser won’t have time to properly sink in and half of it will end up in the pillowcase.

COLOUR

I’m not really a make-up person but I do love a nice, even-toned face and a slightly defined eye. Liz Earle’s Sheer Skin Tint for an even, dewy skin tone and a bit of SPF protection on days when I’ll mostly be indoors is fab.

I also use Benefit’s mascara in plum (nice for green eyes and not too heavy), Neal’s Yard’s eye liner in Oak and Pixi’s nude palette for a range of 18 lovely, neutral (i.e. non-threatening!) eye shadows.

I also have a guilty make-up secret – the Body Shop’s Vitamin C skin reviver. It’s meant to be applied over moisturiser so I’d say it’s more of a primer. It scores a very non-natural 7 on Skin Deep’s beauty index (I usually try and avoid anything rated over a 3…) but it gives the most amazing silky base for make-up. I’m on almost constant alert for a greener, more natural alternative.

EXTRAS

I always keep a couple of balms to hand in winter. You never know when dry skin will strike. Figs and Rouge do fab, portable 100% organic multi-purpose balms. Herbfarmacy’s Skin Rescue Balm in its big, glass pot sits on my bedside table.

Once or twice a week, I’ll do a mini facial. Liz Earle’s Gentle Facial Exfoliator is my favourite exfoliator so far because it really is very gentle indeed. If something feels scratchy, DON’T use it on your face. If I’ve plenty of time and am going to be sitting in the bath or in my sofa nest for a while, I’ll use Liz Earle’s Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask for a good hydrating hit. If I’m pushed for time, I’ll get the whole exfoliating/nourishing bit done with a quick fix mask – I’m currently using Balance Me’s Radiance Face Mask.

Baths are indulgent and essential on tired or blue days. I often add essential oils (lavender, vetiver and frankincense are great relaxing sleep aids). Don’t add them neat; put 6-10 drops into a carrier. This could be an oil like olive or coconut oil, or you can use a teaspoonful of honey or even full fat milk. I also use Magnesium salts because they’re aMAzing for irritated skin, eczema or psoriasis.

And one final tip. Always have pure aloe vera gel to hand. It is good for everything but particularly for soothing hot, irritated skin. This may sound like a summer problem, but as a year-round eczema sufferer, I assure you it’s not.

Lisa Marie Fernandez

Lisa Marie Fernandez

The Clean Beauty Blog likes Lisa Marie Fernandez’s beauty routine (as told to Into the Gloss). Our clean picks: