As soon as I'd decided I wanted to go cruelty-free my jumping off point was by immediately replacing my basic make-up products with CF ones as soon as I could. Before I'd learnt too much about CF and non-CF brands my first port of call was The Body Shop, especially since at the time they had a 3 for 2 offer on! Plus I've always experienced their staff to be really helpful, friendly and happy to spend their time with you helping to find what you need; perfect if you're very socially anxious like myself! So here are my picks that set me off on my cruelty-free journey.

This is actually a fairly recent purchase and I've only used it a handful of times but I'm already in love with it. I've never really been one for the lure of BB creams, but I really wanted something to use on those days where I didn't want to put any make-up on but wanted to cover up any breakouts & blemishes in order to feel more confident. This product does that so perfectly, instantly covers redness and as a bonus the tea tree treats spots whilst you're wearing it! Plus the fact a little really does go a long way, the consistency doesn't dry out your skin or make it greasy and if the shade isn't perfect straight away just give it a a minute, it adjusts to your skin tone. I've also noticed that The Body Shop have recently changed all the packaging for their skincare products and I absolutely adore it. I can't be the only one who likes having products that not only do the job but also look good sitting around the house, right? I've honestly never before had a BB cream that covers so well & still looks natural (hence never purchasing one before) but I heard good things from Laura over at Life Beauty Lens so I decided to take the plunge and I'm very grateful that to her that I did! 

As I've said before, I'm a big fan of the dewy look and think it's the best way to go for my skin. Naturally I wanted a moisturising liquid foundation that isn't too runny and ideally has sun protection; 3 big ticks for this product! Although I'm very pale, the very kind lady who helped me pick out my make-up products recommended that I go a shade up to add some colour to my face which was actually a great tip (as long as it still looks natural on you of course). Again with most of The Body Shop's products a little goes a long way, I bought their new foundation brush to apply this with which I think is a big help and I feel that this foundation keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day whilst still looking fresh and natural. 

Now from my experience and having previously been a big fan of it, I feel that this concealer is The Body Shop's version of YSL's Touche Éclat concealer, but with a better mechanism than the push button; winding definitely saves time and frustration. I feel it does everything that YSL's does for a fraction of the price. It conceals really well and also brightens at the same time, great for under eyes and getting a head start on highlighting the top of your cheekbones. There's not much else to say other than the fact this concealer does everything it claims to do and blends really well into your foundation.

I'm one of these people who doesn't really see the point in a mascara that doesn't completely voluminize your lashes although I've definitely calmed down in comparison to how I used to be (try about 4-5 coats of the thickest, clumpiest mascara I could find) and I'm much happier with a more natural yet enhanced look. What's great about this mascara is that I can achieve that in just one coat and for the time that saves me I'm very thankful. I would say that this mascara can take a little while to dry but the formula isn't particularly wet, and albeit it's not waterproof it doesn't budge that easily. One thing I do notice too is that it comes off really easily with make-up remover and doesn't drag out any lashes, usually I would always lose about 5-7 lashes on my make-up pad with other mascaras! 

I cannot praise this highly enough! I was always a girl who wore waterproof mascara but I've grown out of this habit because the formulas were so tough that they were destroying my lashes. So naturally panic set in when I chose to buy the mascara above, which isn't waterproof. I'd seen good things about this gel and the reviews were great so I thought why not take the plunge. This for me personally is a holy grail product. The formula is absolutely incredible, one coat on my lashes and they don't flake or drip off (watery eyes happens all too often for me) and of course it does the same for my brows, keeps them in place all day with no touch ups needed! My only issue with this and other clear products I've had in my time is the fact that they don't stay clear for long after collecting mascara/brow pomade on the brush over time. If anyone has any tips to reduce this happening then please let me know! 

Albeit I've not been wearing eyeliner much lately I still had to have one in for those times when I fancy going that extra mile with my make-up. There's not much to say about this other than the fact it does everything that I want it to, plus I find felt tip style eyeliners easier to use. It's really simple to control, the nib is nice and thin, the staying power is solid and doesn't budge with watery eyes. And it's super black in pigment which I adore! One of the best eyeliners I've used to date.

This was the first lipstick to start me on my coral coloured lips addiction. I was searching around the stand wondering what colours to buy and thought actually maybe I should be more adventurous, after all I'm not really a classic red lip kinda girl but my recent love for the colour orange is what sparked the purchase of this beautiful colour. There isn't much else to say other than it's a stunning shade that seems to work well with any look, but I do love pairing it with an orangey/gold smoky eye! 

Another new favourite colour of mine along with coral is deep brown/purple tones on your lips. Maybe I'm eager for Autumn already but I really feel like this hue suits my skin tone much more than pinks and pillar box reds (which tend to make me look washed out). I absolutely love popping this on with a dark eyeshadow look, I think it compliments it perfectly; but it works just as well with only your brows done and a coat of mascara! 

I wouldn't really describe this as a true coral colour, its much more toned down than the other and I suppose I'd class it as a more neutral red if that makes sense? I feel like this colour is one that enhances your natural lip colour so as someone with naturally 'blush' lips this lipstick works great with a more natural/barely there make-up look. 

What are your basics & where are they from? Lets get nattering!

Stay curious

Hey cats!

Yes that is a mouthful, but I can't contain my excitement. As an acne sufferer I've gotten used to using full coverage cakey make-up and lashing on much more than I probably need. Since I've started college again which includes a very early start, I don't exactly have the time in the morning to put on a full face of make-up, nor do I have the sleep to lose. So I've been on a search piecing together a perfect little kit of products that can get me feeling much more confident in much less time, and eureka! Now don't get me wrong, it isn't at all anywhere near having a 'full face' on, but I find it better than tackling a long day completely bare faced on only five hours sleep. I also have options where I can build up how much product I use depending on how much time I have in the morning.

If you have a tad extra time the MUA bronzer (find here) is great to pop on as it's like a blusher and a bronzer in one, giving you a nice, healthy glow. Another product worth mentioning is Magic Minerals (find here) because it's great to put on over foundation, it looks natural but gives that extra bit of coverage. It's also fab to use if you literally have only two minutes, just blend this on using the brush provided and it smooths and evens out any imperfections. Plus it's a nice size to pop in your handbag in case you need a top up! Lastly, if you prefer a darker more striking brow above anything else, MUA do a great brow mascara (find here), just slick it on and let it dry or for even more definition add a coat of shadow too.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of the products mentioned or what your go-to products are!

After over-bleaching and a perming disaster killing my hair a few years ago I've been scared to go back to blonde despite really wanting to. But I found this and gave it a go and I'm really glad I did. It's super easy to use and comes with everything you need to bleach your hair at home, you just mix up all the sachets and away you go. What put me at ease with this product is it urges you to do a strand test to see if the dye breaks your hair or not, which I think is great. Only downside is these dyes don't always go far, at the time I had collarbone length hair and two packs of this only just covered all of my hair. But in my opinion they're worth it because it's quite a gentle bleach and leaves your hair shiny and soft after using which I haven't found with any other bleach.

With being quite petite both in height (5ft) and build (size 6-8) it's never really been my thing to want high leg boots, mainly because they either make me look even smaller or they don't fit properly around my leg and I'm not a fan of it being baggy. However, the weather here has been horrendous and I was finding that I didn't really have monsoon weather appropriate shoes. Cue these little beauties from Asda. A lot of my purchases are whims, they tend to jump out at me from nowhere. I saw these and liked them because they were leather upper and looked more like a biker boot. I tried them and they fit my tiny size 3's like a glove! They are so so sooo comfy! Really warm, really weatherproof and not at any point of me wearing them have they rubbed or hurt my feet, and they fit great around the calf. What I love is that they are such a versatile boot, they go with dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans, you name it; they find a way to mesh wonderfully into any outfit. They also do a tan version which I may have to consider going forward into Spring.

I've got a bit of a thing for coconut lately and these are both just divine, not to mention amazing value. They both smell absolutely fantastic, coconut-y but not sickly, I just feel like I'm on a tropical island when I use these. They're also great quality, the shampoo lathers up beautifully leaving your hair squeaky clean and the conditioner makes your hair silky soft. Did I mention they both leave your hair smelling amazing too? Like a tropical goddess. Also, if you're a fan of dyeing your hair all the colours of the rainbow, the conditioner is great to use as a mixer with dyes (E.g Directions by La Riche) if you want to tone down a bright colour to a more pastel shade. Last point to mention is that neither product is tested on animals.

As you may be able to tell with the inclusion of a home bleaching kit, I am indeed battling with being blonde. The main goal is to eventually go white/silver and this is such a helpful product. I've used this in the past when I'd previously been bleach blonde and it really does banish the brassiness after one use! I like to use a range of their products because I think they all compliment each other well. Naturally because its a toner if you leave it in for longer than it states, or just use this as your shampoo every time you wash your hair, it really makes the difference on that quest for silver hair. Already after just under a months use I can see silvery/lilac tones shimmering through. So if you're looking to have lovely blonde locks without the yellow streaks, or if you're on a journey for silver hair without using dye I highly recommend this shampoo!

Here's to a Happy February!