Review / Living Nature Fragrance Free Thickening Mascara

I think we all agree that mascara is one of those beauty steps that you can't skip; even when you are short on time, you may pay less attention to a flawless complexion or perfectly blended eyeshadows but nothing will make you look more 'done' than a few coats of mascara.

... now, having said that - I also have sensitive eyes  that can react badly to some chemicals and don't thank me for the make-up removing sessions at the end of the day.

The new improved Living Nature Thickening Mascara* is now also fragrance-free and one step closer to nature!

It is completely free from synthetic and animal derivates and Lavender Oil which can be a trigger for sensitivity.

It includes halloyside clay to amplify the glance, candelilla and carnauba waxes, jojoba esters, manuka honey and Vitamin E to provide a smooth application and nourish and protect the lashes.

It is available in Jet Black - for an more intense effect - or Blackened Brown - or a nude look.

I like the long and 'old-school' fat wand that coats the lashes with one swipe and it's also impressively lengthening; the formulation is not too wet - just how I like it - and doesn't leave any clumps. Personally, I found that even after few coats it gives a natural effect, with separation and holding the curl all day... but most importantly NO MORE compromises between itchy, streaming and torturing eyes or wearing eye make up! Yay!

Have you tried Living Nature before? Do you also have sensitive eyes?

Introducing / Sprout p.2

Sprout Cleanser*

This cleanser is as simple as it gets: organic rosewater, organic vegetable glycerin, organic tea tree oil.

Did you notice the organic list? Yep and because it's also soap-free and alcohol-free, it's not drying... and no parabens, of course!

I've been using it in the morning - I spritz it on a cotton wool pad and wipe all over my face to get rid of the possible make up residue of the night before.

It's ideal for both sensitive skin and problematic, where the tea tree oil comes in handy.

Sprout Toner*

I think the toner could be the most controversial of the lot; it contains raw apple cider vinegar - giving it a strong vinegar smell - which may not be for everybody.

Myself - well I love vinegar and I could easily drink it so the smell doesn't bother me.

I have also learned that you're supposed to pat your face dry, after using a toner, otherwise the atmosphere will pull moisture away from your skin, leaving it dehydrated. Did you know that?

Sprout Exfoliant*

This is the face exfoliant of the line and contains a mix of almonds, oats and sea salt. They are finely milled and comes in a velvety powder.

You need to add few drops of water in the palm of your hands and then work it into the face; it leaves the skin soft and glowing... just be careful to keep the product dry inside the jar.

Sprout Lip Balm*

This wee tube is my favourite, definitely! I love smothering my lips with this indulgent stick. It's very soft and not sticky and leaves my lips super soft and smelling (and tasting) like cocoa.

There are also cinnamon, citrus, peppermint and vegan versions available... I want them all!!!

You can argue that the ingredient list is so minimal that you could try and make these yourself but when I think about beauty, I think about treating myself, pampering myself and I find comfort in knowing that somebody else has gone through the trouble of resourcing the best raw materials and all I need to do is buy and enjoy them!

You can check the bodycare reviews here.

You can buy Sprout on the official website www.sproutskincare.com and - for the Uk - is also available on www.cutecosmetics.co.uk

Introducing / Sprout p.1

I'm so excited to be talking about this brand today - Sprout.

Lately, I've been trying to go more natural with my skincare/beauty products so I've been researching the web for the latest offerings; I got to say, I've been often disappointed as some brands seem to associate natural with boring, unfortunately!

When I came across Sprout for the first time, the packaging caught my eye at first - loved the blackboard style labels and also the actual jars and bottles have got that je ne sais quoi... simple yet cool!

The lovely Adina - founder of Sprout Skincare - kindly offered to send me a samples from the whole line to try, straight from Brooklyn New York.

Sprout Body Scrub*

This product is simply made with demerara sugar, organic shredded coconut and organic coconut oil; the instruction literally says to 'apply to wet skin. Lick your hands'. Great! I do love a multi-use product. ;)

But seriously, I wanna eat this considering I'm totally obsessed with coconut... in the kitchen and in the bath!

It's the perfect consistency for a body scrub - quite rough at first but on contact with the wet skin, it doesn't scratch at all and the oil leaves a nourishing film.

Sprout Cream*

Apparently, this is the mother of all Sprout products.

The base is wild-harvested shea butter sourced from the Fair Trade Women's Cooperative in Ghana; the shea butter is then whipped with extra-virgin coconut and olive oil.

I would call this more a body butter as it's very rich in consistency and literally sinks deep into the skin, like melted butter; personally, I found it ideal for my dry areas as heels, knees and elbows but it's suitable for the face, too.

Guys!!! Again this smells divine and I would happily just spread it on a slice of toast!

What do you think... are these products that may interest you?

Check back tomorrow when I'll be talking about the skincare items, too.

Thank you for reading!!! :)

xxx