New Skincare - New Skin Hopes - New Arrivals Featuring MuLondon and Melvita

My epic and ever-growing skincare collection has welcomed a significant amount of new hopeful products in the past month or so. Some of these are re-purchases and essential in my beauty routine as is the case with the MuLondon Organic Skincare while others were impulse purchases and gifts from the people in my life that enable my cosmetic addiction quite regularly.

The fact that most of these new-additions are natural and organic in nature is no coincidence since I have been making a gallant effort to transition most of my personal care towards a cleaner ingredient direction. As a matter of fact this change has been translated in other areas of my life as well, in an effort to improve my health and lifestyle in general. There are a lot of things to consider and pay attention to during these alterations but at the end of the day this kind of diligence and determination will and already is proving to be worthwhile. The expression "no pain - no gain" often comes to mind!

The change of seasons can do a number on your skin if precautions and appropriate skincare isn't utilized (see here!), which coupled with over-reactive, sensitive skin types can cause all kinds of trouble for the complexion. Whenever my skin "freaks out" my natural impulse always points me in the new purchase direction, meaning that my haulage can sometimes get out of hand due to desperation alone. Seeing how this time I had a clear cut goal to natural skincare options I was forced to consider, research and think through the new candidates a little bit more, resulting in smarter and more appropriate selections.

My MuLondon purchase was a no brainer! I have fallen in love with the Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer ($25.00 for 2 oz) (see review here!) which needed to be re-purchased so I took advantage of that instance and invested in a few other skincare products I had been lusting over. I truly believe in Boris and his vision so its my personal goal to spread his genius and his products to anyone who cares to listen (or read!). 

As a huge fan of true rose scents I knew that I wanted to try the Organic Rose Collection which led me to order the MuLondon Organic Rose Foaming Face Cleanser ($27.00 for 5 oz) and the MuLondon Organic Rose, Rosehip & Rosemary Moisturizer ($20.00 for 1 oz). The moisturizer is made with 100% organic Rose otto oil, Rosehip Extract and Rosemary Antioxidant and the fragrance itself is true to its origin completely. You will not smell a more genuine rose scent anywhere else! Both the cleanser and the cream are recommended for dry, irritated and sensitive skin so in theory this should fit my needs perfectly. 

Boris was kind enough to include the MuLondon Organic Marigold, Frankincense & Myrrh Moisturizer ($15.00 for 1 oz) with my order but that particular jar was already confiscated by my mother. Not surprisingly she hasn't stopped raving about it ever since! 

My devotion to the Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer meant that ordering the MuLondon LE Organic White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heal Cream ($32.00 for 2 oz) was pretty much a given, especially since colder, drier weather is approaching and my dry skin will be in need of some major pampering and care very soon. Once again the scent has me intoxicated with its realness - there is absolutely nothing artificial about the White Chocolate fragrance! 

Melvita is yet another French organic skincare company that has been on my radar for a little while now so receiving the Melvita Foaming Facial Scrub ($27.00 for 2.5 oz) and Melvita Essential Oil - Soothing Care ($48.00 for 1 oz) as a birthday gift was especially delightful. The French are well known for their skincare (as evident on this blog) and Melvita is no exception to that statement. I have only used the products a few times so its too early to be specific about the yielded results however I can already tell that the Soothing Care Oil is a definite standout! Full reviews will follow once I have a chance to properly test them out for at least a few weeks.   

I first discovered the Organic Surge Skincare lineup through my love of various UK Beauty Blogs where their products receive huge rave reviews not just for their efficiency and ingredients but also for their reasonable prices as well. I was pretty bummed out to discover that they weren't available in Canada and that online orders were the only means of me getting my hands on their genius formulas. Imagine my surprise when I spotted the Organic Surge First Class Face Mask ($15.00 for 1.66 oz) at my local Winners - Homesense store. I snatched it up without even a second thought and seeing how masks are huge when it comes to my skincare routines I am very excited to see how Organic Surge Skincare compares to the masks I already have in my arsenal. 

I am very happy with all the additions to my overflowing skincare cabinet and for once I can say that my choices this time around were a little more calculated and useful this time around. The fact that its all more or less in the nature department makes me even happier :-)

Have you tried any of these products? What was you last skincare haul?

Thank you reading

XOXO

ANJA

Turning On the Light - Mastering the Dewy-Glowy Radiant Look

Even the most hard-core makeup lovers sometimes crave a natural, fresh look that emphasizes natural beauty and a softer everyday youthful feel to your overall appearance.

Don't get me wrong, as a beauty blogger and a lifetime cosmetics fan, I appreciate the variety makeup experimentation can bring to the table and what fun we can have with the transformations resulting from such play time, however I admit there are days and occasions where the non-makeup look is just easier and perhaps even more appropriate. There are beauty queens that can pull off bold, glamorous looks every single day and I have to admire their dedication but for me personally that simply isn't feasible to accomplish. I might over-complicate my beauty routines from time to time but even I have days when I just can't be bothered to follow through with all my essential "steps". 

The "natural" makeup look sounds deceptively simple and easy to preform but even such minimalist presentation needs a variety of products, time and technique to execute and perfect. Replicating the "no-makeup" look ironically requires a combination of both good skincare and you guessed it...makeup products!

The best way to get the dewy look is to have a good base to start with. What I mean by that is that having good skin in the first place, increases your odds of getting things right when it comes to this makeup style. It makes sense, if your skin is dry, uneven, dehydrated and lack-luster to begin with, you'll have much harder time accomplishing any makeup goal and this is no exception to that rule. If anything good skin condition is the most important for the "natural" look because the whole point is to use sheer cover-up products in order to allow your natural glow to shine through. 

Your regular skincare routine, including gentle cleansing, exfoliation factors and sufficient moisture levels are major players throughout that process. 

Beauties with already oily skin may have a hard time with this makeup effect for the simple reason that adding additional "glow" or "dew" to such skin types can only exasperate the "grease" problem. The silver lining for oily skin is that their skin cells produce an abundance of natural oils that can be tamed through the use (but on over-use) of oil-absorbing, mattifying products that will allow some natural dewiness to shine through and amplify the radiance everyone else is working so hard to get. 

STEP 1 - SKINCARE 

As i already mentioned, a good skincare routine created through the use of appropriate skin-loving products is going to be your best friend in developing long-term complexion radiance. Healthy skin is your best starting point but if that's not a possibility there are a few things you can do and products you can use to give your skin a boost and fake some glowy smoothness prior to actual makeup application. 

Replacing your usual, daily cleanser with a cleansing balm will allow you to gently remove skin impurities and add skin-plumping hydration just by washing your face. The ones that never let me down are the Antipodes Certified Organic Grapeseed Butter Cleanser ($42.00) and the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($70.00).

Good skin preparation following the cleansing step should include a radiance & hydration boosting serum topped by a nourishing moisturizer that will smooth out your complexion canvas and get it ready for additional products. My current favorite serums are the REN Radiance Perfection Serum ($66.00) and the Jurlique Purely Bright Radiance Serum ($72.00), which I follow with the MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer ($25.00) almost daily. Taking a few extra minutes to massage these potions into your skin will stimulate the circulation and elevate the natural radiance factor as well. 

Using a light exfoliator before preparing this "no-makeup look" such as the Melvita Foaming Facial Scrub ($30.00) can also increase your natural radiance exponentially. When I am feeling especially productive I like to use the LUSH Bubble Gum Lip Scrub ($9.95), following it immediately with my beloved By Terry Baume de Rose ($60.00) to pamper and plump up the pout. 

STEP 2 -  FACE MAKEUP 

After completing your skincare routine you can focus on completing and perfecting the makeup steps of this transformation process. I am sure many of you will be surprised just how many products I consider useful and necessary to achieve this seemingly basic "no-makeup look"! However keep in mind that even though the number of beauty items may be high, the application technique and time needed is significantly reduced so once you master the steps the look itself will be easy to replicate each time. 

Depending on your coloring, skin tone and skin condition the type of products you end up choosing will differ but as long as the "sheer" theme is the main attribute of the choices you make, the basis of your personalized natural look should remain universal. The texture and feel of your makeup base needs to be sheer and light, with the goal being a satin-like glowy, real-skin finish in order to achieve the youthful, fresh look we are pursuing. 

The first product I start with is a radiance-boosting primer, typically looking for a formula with light-reflecting particles included in the medium itself. Some excellent primers I have used in the past are Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow Primer ($32.00), BECCA Radiance Primer ($55.00) and Elizabeth Arden Let There Be Light Radiant Skin ($19.99). I find that using a radiance boosting formula primer can add glow to the complexion in a lot more subtle way than most highlighters and since the natural look is all about subtlety and natural lights a product like that can really pull the entire look in the right direction. 

Keeping with the sheerness theme my primary choice for coverage are usually tinted moisturizers, BB creams and very sheer, lightweight foundation formulations. To keep the finish natural I apply the base with my fingers or a damp sponge making sure to blend and buff everything in to perfection. The final result should be satin-like, sheer perfecting evenness that glows and gives the illusion of a healthy radiance. The one that's been getting the most play time on my vanity lately has been the Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer ($46.00) which has been making me glow for weeks - people actually noticed! 

To amplify the dewiness even more I sometimes apply a liquid or cream highlighter to the cheekbones, brow-bones and Cupid's bow, once again making sure to blend and smooth the targeted areas. My choice for subtle, light reflecting highlighters include: Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic ($67.00), Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up! ($36.00) and Illamasqua Intrigue ($32.00). 

Using a concealer where needed will add polish to your complexion, covering and neutralizing any redness or minor imperfections that the lightweight coverage of the tinted base was unable to deal with. Once again reaching for a creamy, illuminating concealer formula is your best bet and the cult classics NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30.00) and BECCA Radiant Skin Creamy Concealer ($39.00) will deal with just about anything. The hybrid formulas such as the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch ($50.00) and its budget dupe L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Concealer ($12.99) will do miracles around the eye area, illuminating and contouring all in one step. It takes some practice but with the right touch the results can be quite flattering. 

Light layer of translucent powder to set everything painstakingly applied completes the makeup base and ensures that the achieved results will last the day without smudging, melting or uneven fading. Keep in mind that the powder dust needs to be applied with a very light touch because too much product can just end up mattifying the dewy glow you were aiming for in the first place. Powders that haven't let me down and are still going strong in my stash are: Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Quartet ($60.00), Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder ($72.00) and the trusty bareMinerals Mineral Veil ($25.00)

STEP 3 - MAKEUP BROWNIE POINTS 

Perfecting the "natural look" complexion is the key when achieving this particular makeup look because skin is where most of your radiance comes from however adding a few extra steps to just finely enhance the rest of your features can elevate your look from plain and boring to polished and youthful. 

Sheer colour, glowy blushes can add a very healthy flush to your cheeks and if applied correctly actually imitate the outdoorsy, cheeky radiance. I personally prefer cream-based blush formulas because they blend in easier than their powder counterparts and just look more natural on my face. One of my most recent discoveries are the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blushes ($31.00) and they are perfect for faking naturally flushed cheeks. 

To maintain the no-makeup vibe the eyes can be enhanced with just a sheer wash of colour with a neutral, taupe or champagne low-shimmer shade while the lashes retain the natural look (try Benefit Cosmetics Velvet Eyeshadow, $18.00)with just a light coat of brown or clear mascara (try Sephora Collection Clear Defining Mascara, $15.00). 

Going the natural look route doesnt mean that you have to underplay your pout. Applying a sheer lip stain like the Buxom Full-On Lip Tarnish ($23.00) or a sheer balm like the L'Oreal Colour Riche Lip Balm ($7.99) will keep your look low key but still give you a believable sheer colour to draw some attention to your lips without the stickiness of a lip gloss. 

If you have bronzer experience adding a light layer to the the areas of your face where the sun naturally hits, can chisel and emphasize your features through expert contouring. That particular step is lost on me - my limited skills just end up making me look muddy and no matter how much I want to get the natural sun-kissed look every attempt fails miserably. But I am practicing with my Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel! 

The general consensus for this natural, no-makeup, radiant, glowy look is the sheerness of everything you use. This is not about strong colors, seductive smoky eyes, bronzed goddess like cheekbones, foundation masks or statement-making red lipstick. This look is about enhancing and bringing attention to our own natural beauty - spotlighting our own uniqueness and best features all the while celebrating the youthful spirit that resides in all of us. 

Sure, makeup makeovers can be extremely fun and empowering and sometimes even the most confident girl can have trouble taking the mask off BUT stripping the artificiality of it all gives us a chance to experiment on the opposite end of the spectrum and no-makeup look is still a makeup look regardless... 

Its just softer and prettier...for me anyways!

What do you prefer - nature or glamour? 

Thank you for reading 

XOXO 

ANJA

Skin Care Jack Pot - MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer

I think this blog and the sheer amount of skincare posts illustrate the fact that I take my beauty products quite seriously. My reviews are lengthy, precise and hopefully helpful to those of you researching your next beauty endeavor. I take my time with testing things out and if I like something I can be quite vocal about it.

Well, I honestly can't be loud enough about this product - MuLondon's Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer just might be the single best skincare product I have ever had the pleasure of using. Everything about this moisturizer is beyond impressive and testing it out has gotten me so excited about everything else they have to offer so much so that I have been stalking their for website days plotting what is sure to be a huge order.  

In the world of cosmetics there is a lot to be said about the new crop of so-called natural and organic brands swept up by the rising need for good for-you products that are kind both to the body and the environment. The success stories are there and need to be celebrated but recognition needs to be given to the best of the best, those companies that deliver the natural products they promise without sacrificing functionality, feel and results. 

Let's just say that something being natural doesn't always translate into a good beauty product, which is why I believe in giving credit and recognizing this feat when someone gets it right. MuLondon doesn't just get it right, they bang it out of the park and present a product that not only outperforms moisturizers that cost 4x as much and promise a heck of a lot more than this lovely concoction even touches on.

Before I introduce you to what is probably the best moisturizer I have ever used I think its important to introduce the company and the man behind this seemingly unassuming brand that is bound to become a household name among natural beauty connoisseurs very soon.
MuLondon is an award-winning UK based cosmetics brand, specializing in natural, organic and almost entirely hand-made skincare products. In fact the founder of MuLondon, Boris, is their head hand-whipper! That fact alone makes their products sound wholesome and freshly inspiring!
The brand credentials and philosophy is completely committed to the natural, organic (where possible), pure and vegan lifestyles, guaranteeing absolutely no artificiality and complete transparency when it comes to ingredients and resulting product formulations. Basically there are absolutely no qualms and reservations with anything they make!

The Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer was my first MuLondon product and as you can see I am a huge fan already.

Official Description;
Delicious, decadent Organic White Chocolate Truffle face moisturiser. Indulge your skin and your senses in this luxury spread for your face and your body.
Contains organic Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil and rich, yummy & fragrant extracts of Cocoa and pure Bourbon Vanilla - to spoil, pamper and excite.
Added certified organic Rosemary Antioxidant helps replenish and revive the skin.

Ingredients;

Vitellaria Paradoxa (Shea Butter)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Butter)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil)*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Extract)*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla Extract)*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Extract)

The first thing that blew me away with this face cream is the scent itself - this is decadent, luscious, rich and absolutely true to its description real white chocolate. There is no artificiality or cloying interference whatsoever, which means that while the fragrance is definitively sweet it doesn't have the overly sugar undertone usually associated with gourmand-like products. I loved it so much that if they ever decided to bottle this as an EDP I would be first in line to purchase the jumbo size. You can't go wrong with real bourbon vanilla! 

Since this is a rich, concentrated moisturizer with the emollient trifecta - Shea Butter, Cocoa and Jojoba Oil, the texture is quite thick and needs to be used sparingly to achieve the proper moisture balance. The fact that its hand-whipped allows the thickness to melt and glide easily on the skin surface, making it ideal for a very spa-like facial massage experience. The combination of scent and this creaminess elevates the simple act of moisturizing by engaging all of your senses at once and making your entire skincare routine feel just a little more special than usual. 

The key ingredients, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Coconut Butter, make this cream ideal for anyone with sensitive, reactive, and dry skin, because all of those target and alleviate the symptoms of the irritated epidermal layers. Anyone suffering from eczema, psoriasis and similar skin conditions would definitively benefit from this, meaning that if all you have to deal with is dry patches then this amazing moisturizer will work like a charm. You really can't argue with results! 

I have used the MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer almost exclusively for the past few months and it has become one of my all-time favorite skincare products to date. Everything Boris and his team promise, this cream absolutely delivers and has surpassed every single expectation I have when it comes to facial moisturizers. 

In a world where big beauty companies make outrageous claims with equally outrageous "unclean" ingredients it is so refreshing to come across something like this that simply delivers and doesn't require a Masters in Organic Chemistry to decipher. 

The fact that the MuLondon products are also very affordable only further drives my point that they are awesome. 

My new favorite moisturizer is available in 30 ml for $15.00 and 60 ml for $25.00 here, proving that natural skincare doesn't have to cost an obscene amount in order to be amazing. 

I am almost out and this is going to be a definite repurchase :)

Have you tried the MuLondon products? What is your favorite natural brand? 

I hope this was helpful!

XOXO

ANJA