Dr Jackson's 03 Face Oil - Vitamin Rich Revitalising Concentrate

I used to be a chemical girl... I mean for my skin...but since adopting a (mostly) clean living lifestyle, I have started to feel that my skincare routine needs to represent, and reflect this.

You are what you eat. Ok, we know that. But if you eat clean and then put harmful chemicals onto your skin, it kind of negates the whole ethos of being healthy, which is not only damaging to you, but also to the environment. I realised this when I was nutribulleting all day, detoxing, and then putting the most chemically, and heavy scented night cream on which made my eyes water. All I could think about was the factory it was made in. Probably China, and also containing ingredients that aren't real, or ethical. Since then, I have moved towards a more natural approach... not completely, as I still love my Chanel, and Dior ... But it's a step in the right direction. 

I'm fascinated by nature, and the healing properties of natural ingredients. They not only smell and feel amazing, they feel like they feed your skin with goodness as soon as they are applied. As natural beauty is a thing, it is still quite difficult to find the right product as there is so much choice out there. I have a few favourite brands I always use, but I have recently discovered the amazing and inspirational company called Dr Jackson's who make 100% natural products.

With 21 years of experience treating skin conditions for patients with Cancer, Dr Jackson decided to create an anti ageing skincare line for the mass market using the best from nature, and techniques which mimic the ways that natural ingredients use to treat skin disorders. The products are all ethical - natural, not tested on animals, very low and practically no carbon footprint, and supports indigenous and local communities by creating sustainable jobs and eduction programmes. 

That's amazing right? Finally, mix all of the above with a few years of living in East London and you have a super cool brand that is so luxurious, it puts the hip back in hippie! 

The 03 Face Oil comes in a really cool small brown chemistry bottle, with a minimal label. You only need a few drops for complete coverage of the face. It's super powerful, comforting, and feels quite heavy on the skin making it perfect for the winter and nighttime. I wouldn't wear it under makeup. As it's been so cold lately my skin has taken a battering with the wind, and freezing temperatures. Also my recurring flu like symptoms have dulled my skin, and I'm always in pain. Since using the Dr Jackson Face Oil, I have noticed a difference in radiance, and softness. It's like glamorous medicine. I can't really tell if it's anti ageing yet, as it's only been a month, and I don't have any scars, but my complexion has definitely improved. I have seriously felt so drained and tired lately but I never look it and everyone has been asking me what I use on my skin. Below are the ingredients and the amazing healing properties of this magical youth elixir. Did I mention it smells incredible too? It's insane how amazing it smells, I have been tempted to wear it as a perfume. It's pure alchemy, you have to try it.

£30 (25ml)

Available from Liberty 

* Please note, not only hippies use ethical, natural products ;) 

The Face oil contains -

A blend of oleic acid and linoleic acid

Baobab oil to improve skin tone and elasticity while minimising scarring

Marula oil to deeply moisturising 

Calendula which is an anti inflamatory and reduces redness

Arnica, typically used for bruising, has potent healing properties that repair damaged tissue. 


- Ingredients - 

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Citral+, Geraniol+, Citronellol+, Limonene+, Linalool+ (+ naturally occurs in essential oils)

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF30

Always in a hurry? Me too. If your approach to applying makeup is pretty low maintainance, yet you like to deliver a high impact result, I have found the prefect product for you - NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint. 

It's an instant beauty fix for all  you Insta Beauty Babes.  

Insta beauty babes are the kind of girls like me who have 5 minutes each morning to do their makeup. I'm serious. My makeup is always perfect, and no one believes me when I tell them that it takes roughly around ten minutes max to apply. I could probably do my entire face with my eyes closed - Primer - foundation - powder - eyebrows - mascara - lipstick - done! I actually do the rest on the tube. Sorry, I am sometimes that girl, but only a quick lipstick and eyeliner touch up as it saves me a couple of minutes each morning, and I have a super long commute so I have nothing better to do.  

Foundation is the most important and time consuming part of my routine, and I am obsessed with NARS Sheer Glow, and All Day Luminous Weightless Flawless Foundation. To minimise time, I have even ditched my foundation brush, and now apply it with my fingers.

When I heard about the new NARS Vetvet Matte Skin Tint which provides maximum results with minimum effort I was super excited...I can get out of the house even faster! It's a tinted moisturiser with benefits as it contains an SPF, Vitamins C, E, and also Rose Fruit Extract which minimises the appearance of pores over time. It was also created using an innovative Velvet Illusion Complex technology and Transparent blurring powders to not only soften, but instantly enhance the look of skin, making it look flawless, yet natural. The unique spherical shape of the transparent blurring powders compress like a cushion, delivering a velvety feel that doesn't look flat, masked or chalky. 

The liquid itself is quite rich and creamy. It glides onto skin really easily, leaving a velvety, yet soft, and natural finish. It's amazing. The coverage is medium, and you will notice that even though the makeup lasts all day, you might want to touch it up in the afternoon. It's actually a small price to pay considering how easy it is to use. All you do is apply it like a moisturiser, and you're ready. Simple and Perfect. Instant gratifation for the Insta Beauty Babe.

Due to its lack of coverage compared to the NARS foundations, I'm saving my skin tint for the summer where I need less makeup and more help to keep my skin matte. I can't wait. I'm taking it to the beach too as it contains an SPF.

Available in 12 shades from Space NK and NARS

£30

Dr Organic - Hemp Oil Shampoo & Conditioner 2 in 1

 Hemp is cool again, and yes people, it's not just for smoking! 

Okay, bad joke... Hemp comes from the Cannabis plant, but it's not the same as marijuana, its crazy cousin, which it is often confused with. It's a natural product used to make all sorts of products from clothing, furniture, health food, and skincare. It has a long history of use in Eastern culture as a multipurpose natural remedy so it seems a no brainer to add it to beauty products. Over the years, the stigma attached to plant has started to disappear as the remarkable health benefits linked to the plant have become a bit of a phenomena.  

Hemp is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and Omega 3, 6 and 9, essential for healthy looking hair and skin, and is described as ‘nature’s most perfectly balanced oil'. Due to its high content in Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, it has a composition similar to skin lipids which makes it an excellent natural emollient and moisturiser. Hemp Oil has been shown to produce beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as helping to support dry skin, hair and nails.

I have been using the Hemp Oil Shampoo & Conditioner - 2 in 1 from Dr Organics, for a couple of weeks now and it has made my hair not only super soft, but surprisingly super volumised. I thought the combined shampoo and conditioner together would weigh my hair down, but it has had opposite effect - my hair is soft yet bouncy and strong. It's a great shampoo but I wouldn't use it without a condtioner. I have dry, damaged hair so It would not tame and moisturise alone, so unless you have naturally oily hair, you would need a conditioner. The shampoo itself is so divine, I love using it. I was a little weary of what it was going to smell and feel like due to the bottle colour, but when I first used it I was so shocked by how incredible it smells. It smells like a really expensive body wash you would use in a spa.  This is because it contains other bioactive and organic extracts such as Bilberry Extract and a blend of Amino Acids to further soften the hair.

If you like this, try the other Hemp hair and skin products from Dr Organics. 

Available from Holland & Barrett and Dr Organic

£6.99

Show Fizzness - NUDE Skincare Detox Gentle Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

 

The winter and being sick AGAIN is really taking its toll on my skin lately. When I'm not feeling great, my energy is low, and the light within me seems to fade. I know I sound like a drama queen, but the last few months my golden glow seems to have faded.

Last week I discovered a super fun product that not only made my dull skin sparkle, it actually made me feel happy and excited about the next time I was going to use it.

The Detox Gentle Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash is the new exfoliating face wash from natural skincare brand NUDE which transforms lacklusture skin luminous. It's like a nitribullet for the skin, meaning you get all your superfoods with minimum effort, yet delivering maximum results. 

The fizzy face wash which is a powder, contains a custom blend of enzymes, and vitamin C, which are blended delicately to lift away dull skin and impurities, and also Acerola extract, sourced from Brazil to smooth skin and help to defend from free radicals. Each grain of powder is finally enveloped in omega rich acai berry, inca gold, and virgin coconut oils for an intensely nourishing experience.

This effervescent brightening and refining face wash is really amazing. All you do is put a small amount on your hand, add a few drops of water until it starts to fizz, and then smooth into a creamy paste and rub on to face. You're meant to do it for a minute but I don't have time for that, so I do it for 30 seconds and rinse. Skin feels instantly smoother and tighter. The first time I used it I broke out. Don't be alarmed by this, it's just your skin detoxing. After a few uses, you will really start noticing how soft your skin is and miss that feeling the days you don't use it. I use mine three times a week as instructed, but I'm sure it can be used every other day. It's really one of the best new products I've used in a while.

£38
Available from Space NK

Contains:

Multiple sources of Vitamin C

Ace role Extract

Acari Berry (Omega 3, 6, 9)

Inca Gold Oil (Omega 3)

Coconut Oil

Bilberry and Lingonberry extracts (Antioxidents)

California Dreaming - Chanel L.A Sunrise Collection - Spring 2016

Hello.

It's me.  Im in California dreaming, about the way we used to be...

Yes summer, I'm talking about you. January is tough right? It's even worse when it suddenly became cold last week, just on time for Blue Monday. Even New York is covered in thick snow. The only way to get through it is by manifesting positive thoughts and visualisation...

California dreaming, on such a winters day...

Or, you can try the new Limited Edition L.A Sunrise collection from Chanel which will not bring you the sun, but it will at least make you glow like you're from the sunshine state.

Chanel Sunrise Collection.  Spring 2016

Anyone who knows me will know that I'm obsessed with the sunrise, and sunset. It's a miracle that happens once a day, every day, yet never gets boring. I was super excited to see that the makeup is inspired by this very magical moment, in one of the worlds most exciting cities. The collection consists of eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushers, and mascaras to reflect and capture the flamboyant and overflowing energy of California, especially at sunrise. I'm talking about the glowy, romantic, ombré colours, that glisten the ocean and nature, fused with the vibrancy of LA's famous architecture. 

I think my visualisation is working... I can already see Chateau Marmont on the horizon... Cocktail in hand of course!

Here's are a few of my favourites

Sunset Trip Nail Polish - £18.00

Not exactly blue, or purple. Les Vernis Nail Gloss Sunrise Trip shows off a glossy shine that shimmers in the sunlight. Like an Amerhis with an enigmatic aura. The bottom image is what it looks like with one coat, and the top, two coats. It's quite inky and dark with two coats, so if you want to go for the unusual blue/purple tone, I would only apply one.

Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner - £19.00

These colours captivate the energy of the West Coast. The Feverent Blue rides the crest of the waves with the surfers. We all like a surfer don't we? I seriously can't wait to try these out on the beach, and did I mention they were waterproof? Also available in Pacific Green and Purple Choc. 

Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadow - Absolute Light - £25.00

These amazing eyeshadows are transformed under the sun. This Ocean Light is explosive. Intense and the pigment is so strong it doesn't fade. The one above is Griffin Green, and it's insanely glittery, and even looks better as it fades. Apply with the brush or fingers. I prefer fingers. Also available in Moonlight Pink, and Ocean Light. 

Rouge Coco Shine Lipshine - £25.00

These lipsticks glisten with the LA sun. They are hydrating and weightless on the lips yet pigmented strong enough to last for hours. This lipstick is called Shipshape, but make sure you try out Energy and Mighty. Like all Chanel lipsticks, they do not disappoint, the look and smell amazing, and last al day.

Sun kissed Ribbon Exclusive Creation Blusher - £44.00

When the sun peaks it's head over the Californian Ocean, ribbons of colour are traces in the sky in a multitude of shades. The Sunkiss Ribbon reproduces this in a multitude of shades - fuschua pink, soft coral, and copper beige which all blend magically to mimic the sky and illuminate the skin. It creates a warm tone on the skin, giving the completion a subtle tan and natural glow. 

I hope this made you feel excited, happy and glowy, inside and out?

Available January 29th from Chanel concessions, Nationwide.

New Thick & Curly Tangle Teezer

One of my first blog posts was about the amazing Tangle Teezer which changed my life forever.  If you don't already know about this revolutionary plastic hairbrush which detangles the wildest birds nests of barnets, it was featured on TV show Dragons Den, and failed to make it through. Designed by hair stylist Shaun Pulfrey, it is the most successful product to ever come out of the show.  

I have coloured hair which is in fairly okay condition, but when I wash my hair, it is impossible to comb out using a normal hairbrush. It looks like I have back combed whilst dragging myself through a field backwards, its ridiculous. I have had incidents where I have accidently left my Tangle Teezer at home, and yes, there have been tears.

So when I thought it couldn't get any better, the new 'Thick & Curly' for yes, thick, curly and afro hair, has taken detangling to another level.  

I dont have an afro, but my hair had got a lot blonder over the years, so the dreads I get after washing have been even worse to comb out. I seriously dread it... 

The new Thick and Curly takes the brilliance of the original, but with longer, and stronger teeth using firm flex technology so it grips the hair and detangles in one go. I have been using it for a few days now and it has made a huge difference.  Its faster, stronger, and doesn't pull out and break my hair. I really think its one of the best products ever inveted. 

Liberate your locks!

Available from 1st February Topshop and Boots.

Dr Jackson Detox Tea

 

It's the new year and this is my first post of 2016! Happy New Year everyone...I hope this year will be wonderful and magicical for you all!

My 2016 so far has been super fun...mostly because I have been so bad, and doing all of the naughty things I wouldn't have dreamed of doing at the end of last year, such as late nights, partying, drinking, and eating bread and sugar.  I was really sick before Christmas and really bored which made me realise I needed to get some fun out of (or in) my system, even if it was in January when the rest of the population hit the gym and the nutribullet.  The last week has been amazing, and I have been extremely happy.

Unfortunately, I seriously cannot maintain this lifestyle, and as it's nearly mid Jan (already) it's time to get back to reality and detox. I've finished off my last Pierre Herme Macaroon, and replacing it with a rice cake! Back to normal life of salad, fruit, and vegtables...Snore... This will not be easy, but the benefits will do wonders for my skin.

One easy way of detoxing and cleansing the body is by drinking tea.  Its not tiring, and it tasted pretty good.  The Detox Tea by Dr Jackson is one of Liberty London's fastest selling products.  Its amazing. It contains ingredients with ntural ingredients and medicinal properties, such as digestion boosting Fennel, Aniseed, Elderflower, and Senna Fruits, to de bloat, and detox. Also, the Spanish liquorice, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, gives the tea a sweet taste due to its natural glycyrrhizin content.

I have really got into tea over Christmas, so I am really excited about trying this cult product out. The tea is to be enjoyed every morning and once in the evening over a 4-5 day period, however, if you suffer from a weak stomach, I would take it only in the evening.  Use like any other tea, bags, or loose, and let it brew for 3-5 minutes.

Enjoy, and good luck! Happy detox January :)

£15

Available from Liberty.

*Available loose and Tea Bags

Benefits

- Detoxifies, cleanses and purifies the body

- The perfect antidote to over-indulgence

- 100% natural, each jar provides a 2 week supply

- With regular use, this tea will improve the skin and physical health through the flushing out of toxins