Neal's Yard Remedies Organic Eye Make-up Remover

I am particularly bad at using a designated eye make-up remover to take off any eye make-up at the end of the day (this served as inspiration for my other Twitter handle @eyeslikepandas). I don't not take it off but I do tend to rely on the goodwill of my other cleansing products to do the job for me... There are however occasions when an eye make-up remover is the answer and there is no getting away from it.

Organic Beauty Week Event

In celebration of Organic Beauty Week, the Soil Association recently organised an exclusive Beauty event at Wholefoods in Kensington. The event was held in order to promote organic beauty and highlight the Soil Associations Campaign For Clarity; in which the Soil Association are calling for the beauty industry to be clearer in their claims and to stop misleading consumers.

Eye Shadow Brush from NYR

 I'm feeling a little fraudulent titling this an eyeshadow brush post, because it's really not. The brush is named thus but I would never consider using it to apply eyeshadow - so apologies in advance for any confusion...

Top Five: In Flight Essentials

As Summer rapidly approaches, thoughts are turning into dreams of distant shores and holidays. Sadly I won't be leaving the UK this summer however my easter trip to Sardinia inspired me to put together something that will hopefully help put pay to those long distance travel woes...

My Holiday Bag 2

I am on holiday!! I am on the beautiful, beautiful island of Sardinia, so you read this I am (with any luck) taking a relaxing stroll around the streets of the local town, exploring the beautiful Sardinian countryside or devouring exquisite local cuisine (I am a real foodie) in a little family run trattoria... *Sigh*...

As I am away, I thought I would share with you the contents of my make-up bag.

I have a tendency to pack light when I go away. I am not one for loads of make-up on a day to day basis anyhow and holidays are more often than not spent bare-faced and my focus is very much on skincare. That said this particular trip is very much a family one and the OMUA household are joined by my parents (AKA the babysitters) and that may (fingers crossed) mean that myself and Mr OMUA may just get a night out, so I am prepared for just such an eventuality...

Travel and sample sized products are a great way to keep help holiday luggage light and so I have raided my drawer of spare skin/hair/body care items for more portable alternatives to my full sized products - a great way to try out some products I have been holding off on too!!

So here we are...

Skincare

I've opted for a dual purpose cleanser/make-up remover with the Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm (and muslin cloth) to save space (leaving my much loved [and slightly less practically shaped bottle] Beyond Organic Radiance Cleanser at home). I love this as it makes my skin feel amazing after use and the small exfoliating particles don't make my skin feel over

My must-have facial oil of the moment is the Beyond Organic Rejuvinating Serum. I am slathering this on night and day and although it doesn't quite match up to the Age Defying Serum (which I am sure you are aware I utterly adore) in terms of it's age-reducing qualities, my skin is super happy with it - despite the fact it is designed for combination skins - mine is pretty dehydrated and sensitive with a tendency towards dryness.

I am topping off the serum with a sample pot of The Body Deli Creme De La Rose Regenerative Moisturiser - a sample I have just opened and am thoroughly enjoying using.

My eyes are being cared for with a tube of Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. A lightweight triple action eye cream to help minimise fine lines and ward off any puffiness or dark shadows whilst I am away.

SPF protection comes in the form of Jason's Facial Sunscreen. Not the cleanest of all natural sunscreens but it is one that doesn't irritate my face as I find many natural and organic facial sun creams too thick and heavy and in turn this brings my face up in heat bumps - you can't win!!

Surprise surprise, I have included a tube of my beloved Hurraw! Lip Balm (I had to get one in somewhere ;). This one is Grapefruit. I plan on liberal lashings on the plane to help combat dehydrated lips.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Oil (this will obviously be decanted into a smaller, plastic bottle to save space/weight) will be covering my body on a daily basis. I am a complete convert to body oils and the Weleda ones are fabulous! I have just finished working my way through a fifth bottle of citrus and thought I should probably try another one - this I purchased at Weleda HQ last year during my trip to the gardens.

Make-up

I don't plan on wearing make-up everyday but it may be called for on occasion so I have packed a few basics...

My go-to base for easy application and minimal fuss is Madara Moonflower Tinting Fluid. I mix in a little facial sunscreen or apply over the top to protect my face.

Couleur Carmel Concealer will hid any dark shadows or blemishes which may occur during the holiday. Although the colour spectrum isn't that great, this is a lovely concealer that is easy to build up where necessary.

As much as I wanted to take a couple of Kjaer Weis shadow compacts, practical thinking came into play so instead I have packed Lavera Eyeshadow Quad in Purple Fantasy. Lightweight and perfect for mixing and matching to create anything from a smokey eye to a nude wash of colour. I have also packed an Lavera Eyeliner Pencil (although it seems to be camera shy in the image above).

Lashes will be coated with Jane Iredale Lash Extender and Conditioner (a product I can no longer live without) and then covered with a couple of coats of the last of my Neal's Yard Remedies Lengthening Mascara.

Finally, my lips have the treat of my new best friend Rhubarb from Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil. This is such a versatile colour and it looks great for day and evening wear. Either apply directly from the crayon for full impact or dot a little on your finger for a lower-key look.

And thats it.

If you want to keep up with my adventures on this stunning island, I will endeavour to update my (non Organic Make-up Artist) Instagram account, so check it out :)

Main Image: Natasha Mileshina via Flickr

Body Images: Laura Jane Sessions - Organic Make-up Artist

Neal's Yard Remedies Lengthening Mascara

As you probably know I am on a day-to-day basis a blue lash kinda girl and it takes a special mascara for me to put down my midnight or navy tinted wand for any real length of time, however in recent months I have been trying doggedly to work my way through an almost excessive stockpile of clean black mascaras. Some have gone by the wayside pretty quickly but there have been one or two that have stuck around and this is one of the few that I have actually repurchased - twice!

My Festival Beauty Essentials

The sun is (currently) shining and the wellies are on standby. It can only mean one thing. Festival time!

Love: NYR Frankincense Facial Oil

Having always been perfectly content with using a moisturiser, I didn't feel the need to use anything else until recently but this month I am in love with a product that has revolutionised my skincare regime (I use the word loosely as it very much varies on a day to day basis) in recent months; Rejuvinating Frankincense Facial Oil from Neals Yard Remedies.