The Spark Company - Ethical Clothing That Makes a Statement

(affiliate)

 Have you heard of The Spark Company? They're a very cool female -founded, female-run fashion company creating fun, statement making, comfy and ethical pieces designed for everyone. At The Spark Company you'll find fabulous feminist prints and LGBTQ positive pieces.

I've linked the pieces in the above image here if you're keen for a look! 

Saint Dolly T-Shirt

Queen of Hearts Embroidered T-Shirt

I am F*cking Radiant T-Shirt

They Can't Burn Us All T-Shirt

Petrify the Patriarchy T-Shirt

Sounds Gay I'm In Socks

They mainly produce t shirts, vests and hoodies- in size 6 to 26 - made to fit every person.
I own a t-shirt in a design that's no longer available but I can confirm that it's made with soft, light and comfortable material with just the right amount of stretch. Often, printed t shirts are sort of stiff or scratchy and feel a bit cheap, but not these! The length on the Tee I have is excellent too as I have quite a long torso and it fits perfectly. With a T Rex illustration with Eat The Patriarchy wording beneath, this top certainly makes people do a double take as at first glance it could be the logo for what's probably the most famous dinosaur film in existence. As an alternative, you can currently purchase the Petrify the Patriarchy tee with an illustration of Medusa.

The products are created ethically and sustainably, with designs printed using vegan dyes. Items are reasonably priced too, with T-shirts at around £22. Keep an eye out for new customer discount codes and sales.

To sweeten the deal of purchasing from The Spark Company, you can sleep well at night knowing that your new buy helps the company to donate sanitary supplies (tampons, pads, liners) to shelters and drop-in centres for those in need. Anyone who has ever experienced a period will be well aware that this time of the month can be hard enough as it is, so the added stress of not being able to afford what so many of us take for granted must be pretty horrifying. 

I may only own one piece from The Spark Company right now but I can definitely see my collection growing, starting with this gem:

The Hold On, Let Me Overthink This T-Shirt is just saying what most of us are thinking...or over-thinking.

Travel Skincare from Nourish London

 (post features samples)

 If you’re fortunate enough to be jetting off to somewhere a little less dreary this summer, you’re probably thinking about the beauty bits you’re going to take with you. So many of us travel with hand luggage only these days, so we’re unlikely to be taking our full-sized favourites with us. With that in mind, Nourish London have us all covered with their range of beauty minis – perfectly portable and ideal for popping in your zip lock bag before you head through security.

Not only do Nourish have ready-made skincare kits packed with mini versions of some bestsellers, but they also offer a great selection of travel minis. If you’re a frequent reader you’ll know that I’ve tried a lot of the range over the years, so here are my picks.

Argan Skin Renew Moisturiser – Travel Size (15ml)

Designed to soothe and quench dry and dehydrated skin, this moisturiser is perfect for use after sun exposure. Omega-rich Argan Oil is the star of this cream, with Tripeptides to boost collagen and antioxidant Vitamin E also in the mix. It contains Frankincense, Myrrh (no gold though unfortunately), Borage and Rose of Jericho, and you can really smell the Frankincense on application, though this dissipates quite quickly so don’t fear if you’re not a fan of that scent. I like this cream at every time of year but particularly during summer and when winter dries my skin out and I need some relief.

Shop the Travel Size Argan Skin Renew Moisturiser for £11

Kale 3D Cleanse – Travel Size (30ml)

I’ve actually just finished a full sized bottle of this cleanser so I’m very much prepared to sing its praises! Kale 3D Cleanse is unique in that it changes colour as you cleanse, which adds a touch of novelty to the whole experience. My son in particular likes the fact that it turns green, Hulk style! The 70% organic cleanser is gentle yet effective, with Kale, Griffonia (a touch of shrub) Hyaluronic Acid, Probiotics and oxygenating ingredients leaving the skin feeling fresh, clean and comfortable. I really like using this cleanser for my second cleanse.

Shop the Travel Size Kale 3D Cleanse for £9.50hop the Travel Size Kale 3D Cleanse for £9.50

Argan Skin Rescue – Travel Size (5ml)

Skin Rescue is my current post-retinol skin treat. This is a thick, nourishing oil treatment formulated with Argan Oil, Abyssinian and Neroli Oil to improve the skin’s suppleness, elasticity and hydration levels. It’s designed to soothe and repair stressed out skin, enhance collagen and protect from future damage. This stuff is like a fire blanket for your skin – instantly calming and comforting. It’s very rich, so you only need the tiniest amount for your whole face, making the £10 price point very much worth it.

Shop the Travel Size Argan Skin Rescue for £10

Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm – Travel Size (15ml)

One of my favourite beauty products. Seriously. I’ve been through pots of the Super Balm since I was introduced to Nourish years ago, which is a pretty good indication that it’s one of my personal ride or dies. I can almost guarantee that if you try the travel size you’ll have the full size ordered and waiting at your doorstep for when you’re back from holiday. With natural plant oils and extracts, antioxidants and Marine Algae, this omega-rich balm does it all. Use it as a cleanser, paired with a flannel or muslin to exfoliate, as a really nourishing overnight mask, as a makeup primer, highlighter, dewy moisturiser and much more.

Shop the Antioxidant Multi-Tasking Super Balm for £13

 

B'Kate Brow Dip

 (samples)

I've written about B'Kate brow products before (you can read that post here) and today I'm revisiting the vegan beauty brand to show you a new brow product. B'Kate Brow Dip is a pomade designed to shape, define and shade the brows and I've been really enjoying testing it out.

First and foremost I have to say that this stuff stays put! If you live here in the UK you've probably noticed the rather sweaty weather we've been having, which has given me a great opportunity to truly test the staying power of the Brow Dip. From application at 8am through to my return home at 8:45pm, via quite a lot of walking in the sun and one very sweaty tube train, my brows remained intact. In fact, they only budged when I used a balm cleanser, during which the formula rinsed away beautifully with minimal effort. See, I love a stay-put product but I equally detest beauty formulas that are hard work to remove. You know how there are some mascaras that stay on all day but then also refuse to leave your lashes when you actually want them to? That. This, in my opinion is therefore perfect - it stays on when you want it to but then comes off when you want it to as well.

I've used the Brow Dip with the B'Kate Angled Brush and a spoolie brush, and both methods work for me, though I do prefer using the spoolie. I have bushy brows, so even though the angled brush is easy to work with, I like to comb product through my brows, therefore a spoolie is my first choice.

The pomade is soft and creamy, not dry or cakey. |It's worth mentioning that a little goes a very, very long way too so be sure to use a light hand when trying it out.

I chose the shade Ash Brown, which is always my go-to colour when choosing brow products and this one is no exception. It's extremely richly pigmented so you need to use a light hand when picking up the product on your brush or spoolie. That said, if you overdo it, the product is easily wiped away before it sets.

The B'Kate Brow Dip is £12.80 and Angled Brush is £8.95 at Everlasting Atelier.

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream

 Tatcha has been readily available in the UK via Space NK for a little while now but I've only just got around to dipping my toe into the brand via The Dewy Skin Cream.

I purchased a travel size of this while I was away for a few days and had somehow managed to forget my usual moisturiser - an excellent excuse to buy and try something new, right?

This little introduction to Tatcha has definitely made me keen to try more from the brand. From the beautiful packaging to the texture, scent and effects of the cream, this is one product I wouldn't hesitate to purchase again. Here's why.

Formulated with Japanese Purple Rice, the Dewy Skin Cream is designed to perform a number of actions, including to hydrate and plump the skin and protect against pollution and stress. But above all it’s the dewy finish it imparts that got me really interested!

Thick yet somehow light at the same time, the dewy cream melts into the skin on application and leaves a gorgeous glow. It can be used both during the day and at night and while I am loving it as my PM post-retinol moisturiser, it seems a shame to waste the gorgeous dewy glow effect!

As mentioned this cream contains Japanese Purple Rice as a hero ingredient. This rice is nutrient-rich and high in the antioxidant Anthocyanin which aids in protecting against stress and pollution, in turn promoting a healthier looking skin. The base of the cream is also made up of humectant Glycerin and Squalane.

Also in the formula is a special Okinawa Algae and Hyaluronic Acid blend. We know by now that Hyaluronic Acid retains moisture and this blend is responsible for leaving the skin feeling soft and nourished. This special blend also helps to create the smoothing and plumping effect that this cream creates.

A range of botanical extracts and oils round off the formula, including Ginseng, Wild Thyme and Sweet Marjoram. These are included to nourish and moisturise and add to the dewy effect of the cream.

On first application I noticed the cream has a light, really calming scent which is what made me think it would be good as a night cream. I thought it was lavender oil until now when I’m looking at the ingredients list and can’t actually see lavender listed – it does contain parfum/fragrance right down the end though. At the end of the ingredients is also Mica, Tin Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (which would give the cream that aesthetic sheen/glow) and also the colour Violet 2. I imagine the Purple Rice used in the formula may have offered a bit of colour but not quite enough!

In case it’s important to you, I also want to mention that the cream is formulated without mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, sulfates, parabens, urea, DEA, TEA and phthalates.

According to the brand’s website, Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is recommended for people with dry to mature skin and combo skin – people with oily skin types might find this a little too rich for day time but I think it would suit anyone as a comforting night cream, just be sure to double check the ingredients if you are sensitive to certain essential oils.

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream is available right now at a few retailers including Space NK where you can find the travel size too if you want to try it for a few weeks before committing to the full size. Find it here.

How to Achieve an Insta-Worthy Makeup Look

 (Collaborative Post)

 In the era of social media, capturing picture-perfect looks and moments has certainly become a trend. If you want to be able to create gorgeous and glamorous selfies or you want a close-up shot of your perfect makeup, you’ll need to know precisely what to do to achieve the look you want. You won’t want to post anything less than perfect on Instagram, and although we all know that the reality is often different from the perception, it’s still fun to get involved. 

If you’re wondering how to produce Instagram-worth makeup, keep reading. We’ll take you through the steps you need to ensure you look exactly as intended in every image. Read on to find out more.

Prep The Canvas 

It might sound strange to talk about your face as a canvas, but when you consider that makeup is art, it actually makes sense. And just as an artist will always prep their canvas to achieve the best final result, you’ll need to do the same. 

To begin with, make sure you have a clean face. Remove any dirt and excess oil because otherwise the makeup won’t look flawless and smooth, and it might not even stay on your face for very long, ruining the look well before you’re ready to take a photo of it. 

Once you have washed your face, you need to apply moisturiser to keep it well-hydrated and then follow this with some primer. This helps to minimise the appearance of pores and is another useful tool to ensure your makeup stays in place all day. 

Choose The Right Foundation 

The first element of your makeup that you need to apply once your face is clean is your foundation. This will make your face neutral and make your skin tone all one colour. This will help you when you come to apply other makeup over the top. 

It’s crucial that you pick the right shade of foundation so that it matches your skin, otherwise it will look strange if other areas of your skin - such as your neck - are visible and there is a clear difference. The best place to test the colour is along your jawbone. Once you have applied it, blend it on your face using a clean, damp makeup sponge or brush. This will give you a natural finish without any harsh lines. 

Enhance Your Features 

Once the base is ready, you can move on to the makeup itself. The best thing to do is to pick products that will enhance your features. Beautiful lashes from BELO Lash could be just the thing to enhance your eyes, for example, whereas a deep-coloured lipstick might be the ideal choice for your lips. 

This is where you can really go to town and make your own look, so don’t be afraid to experiment. If you don’t like something, just take it off and try something else. As long as the individual elements look good and make your best features stand out, the rest will easily fall into place, and your Instagram photos will look fantastic every time.