We all have our favourite products, magic little items that we couldn’t do without. I’ve listed my top ‘if-this-stops-being-produced-I’ll-never-survive’ products below. All products I use are cruelty-free, non-animal tested and sourced from ethical companies. Are any of my essentials the same as yours?
Such a simple little product but it’s the rock in my day to day routine. I use it on my lips every morning before I do my makeup, it creates the perfect smooth lip base whilst hydrating and nourishing. I haven’t had a single chap, crack or dry lip experience in more than 8 years and it’s all thanks to this wonderful ointment. I first got acquainted with this product when I was a little kid. I got stung by a hornet dozens of times because I was trying to rescue the spider it was attacking (FYI: I love spiders!) and my beautiful Nanna got out her tub of Lucas’ Papaw ointment and smothered me in it. All the swelling and pain went away within hours. Ever since then I’ve used it for everything. Got a cut? I’ll get the papaw. Grazed yourself? Have some papaw. Burnt your face with your hair straightener? Better slap some papaw on it. I use it everyday for my lips, and sometimes I mix a bit of pinkish colour pigment with it turn it into a soft lip-gloss. If you get flakey skin rub some of this in before you do your foundation. If your boyfriend cuts himself shaving, put a dollop of this on the cut to stop bleeding AND stop a great big scab from forming.
2. Body Spritz International Crystal Wash
Here I am rubbing the product against my face, that’s how much I love it. Ever since purchasing this at the end of last year I have had, hands-down, the BEST skin. The sort of skin I would dream of. I use a teeny drop of this to wash my face, it removes every last trace of makeup and never leaves my skin feeling tight, dry or uncomfortable. *Click Here* to watch my skincare products video and read my recipe for the perfect face scrub you can make at home (out of 2 ingredients!, no mess, no fuss, just amazing skin). This crystal wash is soap-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial which makes it amazing for those of you who are blemish prone, this bad boy is perfect for all skin types and conditions (even utlra-sensitive, or super dry and red). Get your mitts on some! I use it all over my body, not just my face for glowing, even toned skin from head to toe.
3. Eye of Horus Goddess Mascara
Image taken from Eye of Horus, click to be taken through to their website
Do you hate mascara shopping? Sick of searching for the ultimate mascara? Does your mascara flake? Run Smudge? Leave little black specks under your eyes? Rip your eyelashes off when you try to remove it? Clump? Leave your lashes brittle? Well, let me introduce you to the holy-grail of mascaras! I’d heard a lot about Eye of Horus, I thought the reviews were too good to be true. Aside from being touted as one of the best mascara’s in existence, all Eye of Horus products are paraben-free, cruelty-free and non-animal tested. After using this mascara for one week my lashes were thicker than they’ve ever been. I’ve been using this mascara everyday for at least 2 months now and I’m never touching another mascara again… Unless it’s made by Eye of Horus. Click *here* and *here* to see my reviews on their gorgeous products and have a little look at the mascara in action. Try Eye of Horus out for yourself and receive 15% off your total order when you use the code “Review” at checkout *click here to be taken to their online store with FREE shipping*
Can’t half tell I’m head over heels for this product, it’s not remotely obvious… The Eye of Horus pencil sharpener is a bit of a star too, you know how some makeup pencils are just that bit too big, or bit too small to be sharpened properly? Well this sharpener is magic because there’s not a pencil too large, or too thin, it can’t sharpen to perfection.
Image taken from Lush website, click to be taken through to their store
If you have blonde hair, whether it’s natural, highlighted or bleached all over, you might want to give Lush’s Daddy O shampoo a whirl. I decided to try this on a whim, I was in the market for a new shampoo for blondes (that met my cruelty-free, ethical criteria) and Lush was having a sale so I bought a bottle. This tones your hair, won’t leave it blue and, unlike most silver shampoos, doesn’t dry your hair out! It’s also called ‘Daddy O’, I mean, the name alone is a good enough reason to try it. I won’t be without this shampoo now, it’s the holy grail of blonde shampoos and will leave your mane beautifully toned. Say good-bye to brassy, dull blonde tones and hello to white, glossy, glorious hair!
5. Sukin Organic Pure Cold-Pressed Rose-hip Oil
Image from Sukin Organics site. Click to be taken through to their online store
Every night I wash my face, dry face brush then apply a layer of Sukin’s Rose-hip oil all over my face, neck and chest. It doesn’t matter if you’re extremely oily or extremely dry, this oil is going to do wonders for your skin. Any pure, organic rose-hip oil will do, I use Sukin because it’s the most readily available where I live. Make sure you check the ingredients list when you’re buying rose-hip oil, the only ingredient you want to see is pure organic cold-pressed rose-hip oil. If you see jojoba or any other oils in there, don’t buy it! I’d be bummed out of existence if I couldn’t get my hands on pure rose-hip oil. Not only is this stuff affordable but it gives skin the most amazing glow. Try it for yourself and let me know how you go!
6. Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation
Image taken from Illamasqua. Click to go to their website
How many ways can one little human love a foundation? A zillion. That’s how many. It’s hard to explain just how amazing this foundation is. You really need to try it, so if you’re near an Illamasqua counter go and get yourself a sample! It imparts a medium coverage that can be blended out to sheer or built up to full, whichever way you choose to wear it, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve never achieved such a flawless finish with no effort until I started using this foundation. I’m a bit of a shocker when it comes to foundation, I’ll buys something, like it for a few days, realise I don’t like it, buy something else, and the cycle continues. I bought this, I haven’t bought anything else for months and months, I’ll repurchase this when I run out! Perfect for all skin types and conditions, I was most impressed with the vast array of different shades this foundation comes in, there is definately a match for everyone. To see this foundation in action (along with Illamasqua’s Hydra Veil) in my ‘How I apply foundation’ tutorial, *click here*.
7. Pilates by Lisa Online Studio
Click to go straight to Pilates by Lisa’s website
Where do I start? I’ve been DREAMING of the day Lisa would start her online studio! She’s my dearest friend and the sweetest of all sweethearts. This online studio is something else, it’s only just started and she’s got 40 workouts up with 2 new workouts released each week. It ranges from classic Pilates all the way to Pilates with weights, resistance bands and magic circles. Each exercise can be adjusted to suit your individual fitness level and physical ability so there are no excuses not to try! Seriously, she’s only charging $25 a month for full access, that’s less than the cost of one Pilates class! I’m addicted, I’ve got a whole new wave of motivation and my obliques are starting to look pretty nice. Looking after yourself and moving is the most essential aspect to beauty, there’s no better way to do it than with Lisa, just look at the girl!
Do you have any of the products I mentioned? Let me know if you give any of these a try and what you think. Join me on Facebook and YouTube for more cruelty-free makeup and beauty goodness, I would love that!
Peace & Love
Veruska xox
Peace, Love and Make-Up 