Product Review: Cover FX Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation 30ml (N100), Cover FX cream concealer 10ml (N-X deep) & Matte Setting Powder (dark)

My search for non-toxic make-up continues and can I just say it's been a difficult one! I first came across the Cover FX brand when my friend tried it and it looked flawless on her! I'd been meaning to look for new make up especially as the one that I currently use has toxic ingredients, I've just been procrastinating from the whole thing because I was really comfortable with my foundation; the colour and the coverage was perfect for me! Anyway, so I finally made my mind up to try it, I trotted off to House of Fraser really excited to be starting this new journey (I've been using the same foundation for 5 years now!).

I got the make-up artist at the counter to test different shades on me and voilà we found the best shade for my skin- it was between a slightly lighter (N100) and slightly darker shade so I went for the lighter one as that brightened up my face and it served as the perfect base. I got matched for their concealer too and we found one so everything seemed to be running smoothly! I also asked for a finishing powder. After a while of looking in different mirrors and at different angles, I was happy with the products and went to the cashier to pay for them- school boy error! I really don’t know what I was thinking and this is not how you buy foundation; always, always, always ask for samples! I cannot stress that enough. Take it home and have a deeper look. Anyway, happy with my purchase at the time I took it home and started my journey.

Cover FX Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation 30ml, Colour: N100

Cover FX cream concealer 10ml Colour: N-X deep

Matte Setting Powder. Colour: dark

Overall, to cut a long story short I used the foundation and concealer combo about 7 times and I wasn't happy with it. I didn't like how it looked on my skin personally. Let’s start with the pros…

PROs:

• Great brand values
• Vegan and cruelty free
• Great for sensitive skin
• Free of the Inflammatory 5: parabens, fragrance, gluten, mineral oil and talc.
• Great colour range with 31 available and different options for black skin tones
• Blends well into the skin

CONs:  

• Didn't like the finish of the foundation and the concealer, it was way too oily and shiny finish for me (even though it is Natural Finish Oil-Free Foundation)
• When I tried to blot it all with the finishing powder, it didn’t work very well
• Wasn’t very long lasting, my make-up looked patchy after 5/6 hours

Great brand however, not a good pick for my skin and I didn't like the finish, so it’s back to the drawing board! This was my skin’s experience of it, so it may not be the same for yours. One thing that has been reiterated from this experience is to find out what looks best and works for you. Just because it looks great on the make-up artist on Instagram doesn't mean that it’s the best fit for you so really think before you buy! I was very quick to buy on this occasion which is very out of character; I think it’s because of all the great benefits of the foundation.

Cover FX was created and founded as an Ontario Corporation in 2000. It was created based on the need for products that would offer therapeutic benefits and environmental protection while being free of all irritants and suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

#Know your brands

Let me know if you have any question.

XO Verified Bueaty

Tuesday Ten: 10 ways to start 2016 right!

2016 is fast approaching and we are forming new habits and aiming to be the be the best version of ourselves, here are some of the ways you can too...

1. Simplify.  As humans you can’t do everything, that’s the reality. You can’t be in two places at once so you need to simplify and prioritise. What are the things that matter the most to you and at this season of your life. There is a season for everything we must focus and make the best use of it

2. Identify your values, what are your current roles and responsibilities, what is expected of you and what do you hope to have achieved by the end of your life. Take time to listen to those who have gone before you. Forget material things, what actually matters in your life? 

3. Set Goals and write down how you intend on achieving them, if you don’t know, do some research to find out. Set review dates.

4. Prepare, prepare, and prepare some more: The will to prepare is even more important than the will to succeed. It is preparation that gets things done. Plan everything from your schedule, to the bag you are using the next day. Remember tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it.

5. Change your perspective, change your mind-set, and change your habits. Some habits will go out kicking and screaming but remember it takes courage, strength and choice to face a new thing.

6. Don’t put things off!

7. Cultivate the excellence that is within you. The enemy of best is often good

8. Change the way you view problems, always see them as opportunities to build character and experience

9. Remember this: by saying YES to something you are saying NO to something else

10. Lastly practice gratitude…find out how here

XO Verified Beauty

Photo Credits: Pinterest

Product Review: Shea Moisture Jamaican black castor oil strengthen and restore shampoo

When it comes to my hair, I've been quite relaxed about it recently which is not great since I am currently on a natural hair journey. I haven’t been strictly sticking to my regimen and since my hair is always in a protective style it is easy to get so consumed with other things and neglect it. So my hair regimen has changed and I now wash and deep condition my hair every two weeks (well this is what I’m supposed to do).  I will be changing this in the new year as I will be embarking on a 6 month hair growth challenge (eek)!

Currently I am using the Shea Moisture Jamaican black castor oil strengthen and restore shampoo and I must say I am absolutely loving it and so does my hair. So I purchased it back in September when I was in Chicago way before it was so easily available in Boots! I used to be an avid fan of co-washing however; I did find that my scalp was in desperate need of clarifying so I started the hunt for a non-toxic, sulphate-free, paraben-free shampoo. There are quite a few on the market (not the easiest to get hold of but hey!). I’ve wanted to try the brand for a while so when I went over to the US and saw the new castor oil range I had to try it and I think I made a pretty good choice too.

I absolutely love most (not all) of ingredients in this shampoo (Shea Butter, Apple cider vinegar and Caster oil…favesss) and they seem to agree with my scalp and hair. When it comes to shampooing, a little tip I’ve learnt on this journey is to only wash your scalp and not your actual hair. I divide my hair into two sections and wash one side at a time. A little goes a long way and it lathers quite instantly but at a really good soft consistency. It leaves my scalp feeling clean but moisturised and not dry, I can go two even 3 weeks without putting anything on my scalp (BTW how do you guys feels about the whole oiling/not oiling your scalp?). It really does what it says on this tin- which is:  Encourages hair to grow longer by nourishing and strengthening damaged or chemically processed hair, reduces the appearance of breakage and shedding and regulates and balances pH levels on the scalp, while softening hair to promote enhanced growth. Any cons? Yes this product contains fragrance- parfum which could mean a variety of oils or synthetic fragrances.

Overall my scalp and I have had issues and misunderstandings in the past but I really think I'm onto something here! Oh and lastly! The smell? It's pleasant!

The shampoo doesn't come with a complementing conditioner but also in the Jamaican castor oil range comes a strengthening mask and a leave-in conditioner. All are available at Boots UK.

Verdict: YAY

Overall VB verdict: 4/5

Ingredients:

Water, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Fragrance (Parfum), Glycerin (Vegetable), Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed, Keratin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter***, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Yeast Extract, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Tocopherol, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vinegar, Butylene Glycol, Niacin, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Dextran, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Caramel"

Know your brands:

Brand statement: We are natural, organic, sustainably-produced goodness. Made with love for you and your body. Pioneering fair trade through Community Commerce at home and abroad. We strive to be sulfate free, paraben free, and more, whenever possible. Tested on our family for four generations. Never on animals.(Taken from ww.sheamoisture.com)

#knowyourbrands

XO Verified Beauty

Tuesday Ten: Ways to practice gratitude

As we are coming to the end of the year, this Tuesday ten is all about ways to practice gratitude; after all thankful people are the happiest people!

1.   Set time aside from your schedule every day, 10 minutes every morning and evening would be a great place to start to practice gratitude.

2.   Make a note of all the things that you are grateful for in your life, if you can’t think of anything you can start with the gift of life. Make a note of all the talents, gifts, abilities and the things that make you who you are.

3.   Make a list of all the amazing people and resources that you have around you, including those people that have helped you at any point in your life.

4.   Stop stalking and comparing your life to others and stop believing that you would be happier with someone else’s life. Respect yourself enough not to be so consumed with the lives of others that you neglect yourself. Take steps to practically do this e.g. taking a break from social media

5.   Decide to sharpen one of those skills, talents or gifts that you made a note of

6.   Endeavour to contact one of the amazing people you listed, say thank you and tell them that you appreciate them

7.   See every obstacle, setback or disappointment as an opportunity to grow and learn

8.   Once you have cultivated a sense of gratitude within you then it is time give back, take time out to help someone, serve and think about other people more

9.   Keep a gratitude journal to focus on the positive things in your life, writing down all the little and big things that you enjoyed that day. Get to a point where you elaborate in depth about why you are grateful for it.

10.  Train yourself to practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is present moment awareness, not being too caught up and anxious about your future or ruminating about something in your past but being present enough to recognise the priceless things in life and being grateful for those things and moments. Stop waiting for something to happen for you to be happy. Identify and focus on the important things in life such as love, giving, kindness and serving and not the material things. Mindfulness is a way of life, take in your environment, take time-out to notice your breathing, the flavours in your favourite food or being in great company. (Here’s a short video on mindfulness going into a little more depth: What is mindfulness video =)



XO Verified beauty

The Triple T: Introducing the Turmeric Tamarind Tonic

WHAT IS A TONIC?

Anything that enlivens or strengthens. An invigorating, refreshing, or restorative agent or influence. A classification of herbs proven to target a multitude of systems aimed at increasing overall vitality and longevity.

TURMERIC TAMARIND TONIC

The tonic is a herbal healing drink from Indonesia, known locally as jamu. Jamu is the Indonesian system of traditional medicine. A daily glass of jamu is used by Indonesians of all ages for its purifying, healing and beautifying powers. It's made in small batches for maximum freshness and taste, using native south-east Asian herbs and spices that are freshly ground and brewed to fully activate their nourishing properties, producing a vibrant gold liquid.

NATIVE INGREDIENTS 

We use herbs and spices because there’s more to healthy than just fruit and veg. Not only do they add flavour and depth to our food, but they also contain many medicinal properties to help maintain whole body health and happy digestion. All our spices and ingredients are fresh - never dried. 

HOW TO USE

Drink it neat first thing in the morning. A shot or more. Or on the rocks with a squeeze of lemon to restore your natural energy throughout the day. There are 4 50ml servings in each bottle. 

Taken from http://www.jamukitchen.co.uk/turmeric-tamarind-tonic/

When I first heard about the Turmeric tamarind on the content-beauty instagram page it immediately caught my attention, I'm a huge fan of turmeric and it's fantastic benefits. When I also read that the maker of this tonic was was holding a tasting session that weekend, I knew I had to be there. I was quite apprehensive about what the tonic was going to taste like when I arrived at the content beauty store. Lets be honest the benefits of this drink are amazing so surely it couldn't taste great as well, right? The lovely maker did exactly as it says on their website and gave me a shot of the tonic and to my surprise it was actually pleasant, my first thought was oh my gosh this tastes like Asian food (it really took me back to my trip to south-east asia *dreams*). It was a pleasure to talk to the maker as well who was inspired by her trip to Indonesia and spending time with the locals. I loved her passion for the drink, which really showed! 

I managed to get myself a free bottle being one of the first customers to come in to try the tonic, although the price of the tonic on that day was £5. So my tonic and I went home ready to start a new week together. The tonic is made in small batches so the quality is preserved and a bottle lasts for up to seven days (if stored in the fridge) so you can get the potency of all the ingredients. I did as instructed and took a shot in the morning and the evening (except on the occasions when I forgot!). It was a great light shot to start my mornings with although the taste was quite strong first thing in the morning! Like I said early it tasted like a good meal and connotations of yummy Asian food flowed through my thoughts. Not great in the AM when you're about to eat your not-so-exotic porridge! But yes, I had a great week with my Turmeric Tamarind but as with anything you need to be taking it in consistently in order to see the full effect! I would definitely repurchase and incorporate it in my diet! As of now the tonic is available at Daylesford Notting Hill, Daylesford Pimlico, 26 Grains, Counter Albion, Tiosk, Druid St Market oooh and also "As nature intended" in Marble Arch!

Go and give it a try!

XO Verified Beauty

Oh yes and here is a recipe for you lovely people...

Chai spiced turmeric tamarind milk.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of Turmeric Tamarind Tonic
• ½ Cinnamon Pod
• 1 Green Cardamom
• 2 Cloves
• 1 Star Anise
• 100ml Coconut Milk (or other milk of choice)

Method:

1. Empty our tonic into a saucepan, add the cinnamon pod, cardamom, star anise and cloves and warm gently.
2. Once warm, add the milk, and pour into a large mug.
3. Enjoy it warm!

Tuesday Ten: My top Carrier Oils and essential oils

Welcome to another Tuesday Ten: Today we are looking at carrier and essential oils. These are staples in any woman's (and man) beauty regimen! Oils have amazing properties and are so beneficial for the skin. When you put an oil onto your skin it creates a natural barrier on your skin which keeps you hydrated for much longer. It stops moisture from leaving your skin keeping your skin hydrated for longer which equals healthy and better looking skin. It also stops any damage from getting in.

Note: Remember oils are for all skin types, it is just a case of trial and error to find which one works best for your individual skin type! Using oil if you have oily skin will not make your skin greasy. Oil combats oil. When you have naturally oily skin, the natural oils in your skin are being stripped which causes your skin to go into oil creation overproduction, maybe because of harsh products that are being used on the skin. Overproduction of oil can also be caused by hormones so it is important to identify what is causing it. adding essential oils to your skin, which our skin loves causes it to balance the oil in your skin by tricking your skin not to go into oil overproduction. This gets rid of that excess oil.

If you have acne prone skin it is usually caused by bacteria, lots of oils such as tea tree, peppermint and lavender have anti- bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which are a great natural alternative to treating acne.

Remember to patch test all oils on your skin and jawline before putting it all over your face, we all have different skin types and may have allergies to certain things. This does not mean that the oil is bad but it just doesn't sit well with your skin personally. Also remember that the skin on your face is more sensitive to the skin on your body, so it your facial skin doesn't like the oil you can try it on your body. Especially those of you who are allergic to nut be sure to research into each oil to make sure they have no nut origins.

Carrier oils are oils that carry essential oils to the skin. They are base oils that are used to dilute essential oils before adding them to the skin as essential oils are more potent.

My top 5 Carrier Oils 

1. Coconut Oil

2. Olive oil

3.  Tamanu Oil

4. Almond Oil

5. Jojoba Oil


My top Essential Oils

1. Tea tree

2. Peppermint

3. Lavender

4. Camomile

5. Frankincense



As always make sure all your oils are organic, cold pressed and do not have any additives or fillers!



XO Verified Beauty



Image source: Pinterest

Friday Favourites

Today I bring you Friday favourites on a Friday (Last week it was on a Saturday) Yay! My five favourites for the week! Here goes...

Fitness Fave: Loving the gym and exercising atm, when I do home workouts I use 'fitness blender' on YouTube

Make up Fave: Loving 90's inspired make up this week and look how well it suits Tash Oakley, loving that 90's supermodel look.

Wedding Deco Faves: Absolutely loving!

Fave Scripture: Psalm 91- Stick with God, he has your back. The greatest experience of peace you can ever experience

Fave Beverage: The turmeric tamarind tonic- Review coming tomorrow...

Fave Quote: I dare you to give without expecting anything back...

Hope your week has been amazing, have a blessed weekend!

XO Verified Beauty

Photo Credits: www.toneitup.com, instagram and my own