100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil for dry and distressed skin types.

According to Sukin, this facial oil contains “no less than 70% essential fatty acids”. In addition, vitamins have been added – to soften, hydrate and soothe the skin.

The facial oil claims to help reduce the appearance of scars, to fight the signs of ageing, to reduce redness and dry skin, and to maintain skin health.

How do you use it? You’re supposed to massage 2-3 drops of oil into cleansed skin. Nothing complicated.

I’ve been using this facial oil for almost a month now, and I think it’s average at best.

This facial oil is quite thick, so I always use it in conjunction with 2-3 sprays of face mist, otherwise it’s rather difficult to spread it all across my face and neck.

Despite the thick formula, it’s not as rich as other facial oils that I’ve used in the past.

And yes, I’ve also “watered down” those other facial oils by spraying face mist onto my skin. So I’m using a lot more of the facial oil that what’s recommended on the back of the bottle.

I have an eczema patch and another small area on my face which is healing from a giant spot. No matter how much facial oil I apply at night, I still wake up to scaly skin around those areas. And no matter how much facial oil I apply in the morning, those areas are starting to dry up quickly, so I have to keep applying more oil.

I haven’t seen any other benefits yet. I know I’m just a month into using this facial oil, but it’s not helping with skin healing, and I also dislike its strong smell. It smells like… something you’d mix into salad dessing. I’ve previously had a few products with strong “natural” smells, and it was always a struggle to finish them. I’m not a wasteful person, so I rarely throw stuff away. I’m not binning this facial oil, but I can only continue to use it in conjunction with other scented products, otherwise the smell is just too much.

One more thing – this oil stains! So be careful when you use it!

I know I won’t be buying this product or any other products from Sukin’s Rosehip range again. I’ve now had this rosehip facial oil, the rosehip cleanser and the rosehip day cream, but none of these products wowed me. There is one more product in this range that’s available in the UK – the night cream. But I’m giving that one a pass!

But if you’re interested, Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil for dry and distressed skin types is available as 50ml for £19.95 (Boots). I got this product as part of a £12.99 gift set which contained Sukin products worth over £40.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glow Gentle Cleansing Milk

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glow Gentle Cleansing Milk.

The Naturally Radiant Glow range intends to rebalance the skin and to minimise blemishes and signs of irritation for a calmer, soothed and more healthy looking complexion.

This cleansing milk contains vegan coconut yoghurt and a prebiotic complex which promises to help maintain the skin’s natural microbiome.

How do you use it? Use it as you’d use any other cleansing milk or cleansing cream. Squeeze a bit of product onto a cotton pad, and use it to dissolve and remove your make-up. Then use a toner after and follow with your regular skin care routine.

I’ve been using this product on and off for a few weeks now, and I think it’s quite good. I like the faint yoghurty scent – nice, clean, fresh.

I’m happy to report that this cleansing milk doesn’t smell overly coconutty. This is great because I’m not a fan of coconut flavours and scents.

This cleansing milk also does a reasonable job removing make-up. Granted, I’m not making the biggest effort with eye make-up at the moment, and I mainly wear foundation and lipstick, but this cleansing milk gets rid of almost all traces of make-up. I tried a few different toners to see how much leftover product they’d catch – and it’s always just a hint of beige.

I will continue to use this product, and I would recommend it (as always – just make sure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients). If you’re interested, Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glow Gentle Cleansing Milk is available as 150ml. The price has recently gone up from £6.99 to £7.99. I paid £3.49 (half price offer before the price went up). Keep your eyes peeled for the very frequent Better Than Half Price and Buy One Get One Free promotions on the Naturally Radiant range. Oh, one more thing, this product is vegan and cruelty-free (it carries The Leaping Bunny logo). 😍

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

A’kin Sensitive Calming Day & Night Cream

Hi there! Today’s post is about this A’kin Sensitive Calming Day & Night Cream. This face cream doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylated cleansers, PEGs, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, artificial colours and animal derivatives. According to the manufacturer, this face cream is vegan and cruelty-free. 😍

This face cream promises to nourish the skin and to enhance the skin’s appearance. Infused with chamomile, shea butter and vitamin E, this face cream also promises long lasting hydration that leaves even the most delicate skin feeling great.

I’ve been using this moisturiser on and off for a few weeks, and I don’t like it. Its not necessarily a bad product, but it’s just definitely not right for me. And here’s why. First of all, this moisturiser has a strong scent that reminds me of a kale-based skin care line that I tried (and hated) a long time ago. The scent is definitely botanical, but it’s not the most suitable scent for a cosmetic product.

Then there’s the formula. This face cream leaves white marks all over the face unless you go over it again and again. I would say that it takes about 15 swipes to work the white stuff into my skin. The formula feels overly rich, but it doesn’t seem to penetrate the skin. It just sits on top of the dry patches. Weird.

Lastly, this face cream doesn’t play nice with my foundation. It makes my foundation ball up. I tried to give it longer to absorb, but it didn’t work. I tried extra facial oil – but using facial oil in addition to a rich moisturiser AND an oil-based foundation is just ridiculous.

I think I will continue to use this face cream as a night cream. But since its richness appears to be superficial, I need to dig up the facial oil again. If you’re interested, A’kin Sensitive Calming Day & Night Cream is available as 50ml. The RRP is £24 but I paid £3 (TK Maxx).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Botanical Lab Neem Leaf + Salicylic Acid Anti-Blemish Gentle Face Wash

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Botanical Lab Neem Leaf + Salicylic Acid Anti-Blemish Gentle Face Wash.

This face wash promises to cleanse the skin effectively and to remove impurities and make-up. It’s aimed at people with oily or blemish-prone skin as it’s meant to help reduce breakouts. The formula also contains allantoin and aloe vera which are said to help soothe and hydrate the skin.

I’ve only started to use this face wash about 3 weeks ago, but within 2 days I already knew that it’s so much better than any other in-the-shower facial cleanser I’ve used for a long time. It’s absolutely amazing at removing make-up residue! Alright, let me tell you about my evening routine.

In the evening, I usually use a cleansing cream type of product to dissolve and remove most of my make-up. Immediately after that, I take a shower, and I use a regular face wash to cleanse my face, to remove what’s left of my make-up, and to get rid of the cleansing cream residue.

The final step of my cleansing routine is going over my face with a cotton wool pad drenched in toner – which usually catches quite a bit of beige and grey.

Since I’ve been using this face wash, the toner-drenched cotton wool pad remains almost perfectly clean. I tried 4 different toners, and the results is the same with every single one of them. Using this face wash twice a day has made a huge difference to how clean and clear my face looks and feels. It’s incredible considering this is such a gentle product.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend this face wash to everyone, even people with dry or moody skin types (my skin is very dry and unpredictably moody). But as always, just make sure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients and do a patch test before use.

If you’re interested, Botanical Lab Neem Leaf + Salicylic Acid Anti-Blemish Gentle Face Wash is available as 150ml for £4. I paid £2 (special offer with Tesco Clubcard). Oh, and according to the manufacturer, this product is vegan! 😍

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Essano Rosehip Visible Lift Eye Crème

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Essano Rosehip Visible Lift Eye Crème for all skin types. This eye cream contains shea butter, rosehip and seed jojoba oils, vitamins A, B3 (Niacinamide) and E, as well as pro-vitamin B5. The packaging states that over 97% of the ingredients are of natural origin.

This eye cream promises what most eye creams promise. It says it will soften and smooth fine lines and wrinkles, firm the skin for a visible lift, even out the skin tone and restore a youthful glow. Use it like any other eye cream = simply dab a small amount around the eye contour area.

I’ve been using this eye cream for over a month now, and I think it’s quite alright. It’s a lot better than the eye gel I used before. This eye cream feels rich and nourishing, but it’s not greasy. I haven’t seen any actual youthful glow or a visible lift, but I like the hydration I’m getting from this eye cream. One thing though – this eye cream could smell better! It smells a bit like furniture polish. Fortunately, the scent isn’t strong, and it doesn’t linger.

In any event, I’m happy to continue to use this product. If you’re interested, Essano Rosehip Visible Lift Eye Crème is available as 15ml. I paid a ridiculous £3 (TK Maxx). On another note, according to the manufacturer, this eye cream is vegan and cruelty-free! 😍

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Primark PS… Revitalising Marine Algae + Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Primark PS… Revitalising Marine Algae + Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask. This sheet mask also contains pro-vitamin B5 and extracts of aloe vera leaf, watermelon, bilberry, kelp, etc. This mask promises refreshing hydration.

Simply cleanse your face, put the mask on and leave it on for about 15 minutes, then massage the essence into your skin – and that’s already it.

I’ve given this mask a try, and I think it’s nice. I enjoyed the subtle scent – it’s a green and fresh scent that I can’t describe. But it was pleasant. I also found the mask refreshing and hydrating – just as promised. My skin looked and felt great, and I’d give the mask an extra point for not leaving a sticky film on my skin. Great stuff!

Based on my experience, I’d recommend this sheet mask. Primark PS… Revitalising Marine Algae + Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask is available as a 23g single-use mask for 80p (Primark). This mask is also certified vegan (by The Vegan Society) and cruelty-free (it carries THE Leaping Bunny logo).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Marks & Spencer Alphabet Personalised Beauty Gift Set

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Marks & Spencer Personalised Beauty Gift Set. They had a few random letters left on sale (half price = £6.25), and I opted for J over X or Q. This gift set contains 3 items – a fragrance, a hand cream and a lip balm. All of these products are vegan and certified cruelty-free – they carry the Leaping Bunny logo!

Let’s start with the fragrance which contains the following notes: red berries, pomegranate and musk. On paper, this doesn’t sound bad. However, this fragrance is the stuff of nightmares. They forgot to list one major ingredient – cloves! I’ve never smelled such a disgusting mess of cloves and overly ripe fruit.

I sprayed it once, smelled it, then I washed my arm and threw my cardie in the washing machine. The stink lingered for hours despite the window being open. I couldn’t and wouldn’t gift this to anyone. This fragrance is rubbish!

Onto the next product, the hand cream! The hand cream smells like an extremely watered-down version of the fragrance. Fortunately, the scent is very weak and fleeting, so it doesn’t stink up the room. The formula is very rich and nourishing. However, after the fragrance nightmare, I wasn’t too keen on the hand cream. So my husband is using it as a foot cream – and it works well.

And here’s item number 3 – the lip balm. This is the surprise of the month! Wow, what a beautiful lip balm! It’s very similar to Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Lip Care! This beautiful lip balm has a very subtle vanilla scent, it glides on, it’s very lightweight, and it’s incredibly hydrating. I love it! 😍 One of my favourite products this month!

All in all, whilst the lip balm is the absolute bomb, I had to bin the fragrance and I’m also not using the hand cream. I would hope that M&S will bring back the lip balm next Christmas, or that it will be available to buy on its own!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Superdrug Naturally Radiant Moisturising Facial Oil

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Superdrug Naturally Radiant Moisturising Facial Oil with kiwi fruit and mulberry extracts. This facial oil promises to moisturise, brighten, renew and soften the skin.

The instructions state that you should massage 1-2 drops of facial oil into your skin (after cleansing). For a more intensive moisture boost, you should use the facial oil under your night cream.

I’ve been using this facial oil on and off for about 2 months now, and I’m enjoying it very much. I love how it feels on my skin and that it plays well with my other skin care products and with my foundation. And I love how nourishing the facial oil is. At the moment it’s helping my skin heal after an unpleasant psoriasis flare-up.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend this Superdrug Naturally Radiant Moisturising Facial Oill. It’s available as 30ml for £7.99. I paid £3.99 (half price offer at Superdrug). Also, this facial oil is certified cruelty-free (it carries the Leaping Bunny logo), and it’s suitable for vegans!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Sukin Rosehip Hydrating Day Cream

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Sukin Rosehip Hydrating Day Cream which also contains pomegranate, kakadu plum and a bunch of other botanical ingredients. This day cream promises to help relieve dehydrated skin and fight the signs of ageing.

I’ve been using this day cream for a few weeks now and I think it’s not the best product for my skin type. It’s probably better suited to people with oily skin types. I don’t think someone with normal to dry skin would find this day cream hydrating enough. What I like about this day cream is that plays well with the other facial products I use and that it doesn’t irritate my skin. However, this cream is just not enough for my dry skin, and I often end up using face mist and facial oil as a booster.

If you’re interested, Sukin Rosehip Hydrating Day Cream is available as 120ml for £18.95. I got this product as part of a £12.99 gift set which contained Sukin products worth over £40! So far, the cleanser was disappointing, and this night cream is not suitable for my skin type (even though it says it is). Fingers crossed for the facial oil!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss 06 Soft Almond, Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care Lip Balm, Malibu Sun Lip Care Vanilla Flavour

Hi there! Today’s post is about 3 lip products I’m using at the moment – Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss 06 Soft Almond, Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care Lip Balm which is 100% vegan and cruelt-free, and Malibu Sun Lip Care Vanilla Flavour.

Let’s start with Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss 06 Soft Almond! This is a gorgeous lip gloss. It has a subtle sweet flavour and a sheer brownish tint which is a good match for me (pale ginger with green eyes). I also like that the gloss doesn’t slip. All in all, this is a really good lipgloss! I paid £1 for it (Wilko, sale)

Onto Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care Lip Balm! I’ve been enjoying this lip balm for a few months now, and it’s almost finished. Why is it good? It has a beautiful texture that glides on and provides a real hydration boost. I’ve even used it around my eyes and my nose to heal broken, flaky skin. One word of caution though – this lip balm has a strong ricinus oil scent – if that’s not your cup of tea, you won’t like this lip balm!

If you’re interested, this lip balm is available as a duo pack for £3.49. I paid just over £2 during a Save 1/3 promotion (which Superdrug runs most of the time). Also, this lip balm is vegan and certified cruelty-free as it carries the Leaping Bunny logo!

Malibu Sun Lip Care Vanilla Flavour is a decent lip balm. It has SPF30 – this is great in many ways. However, this also means that the lip balm stings on broken skin. This lip balm is nice for healthy lips, and I would recommend as a summer holiday lip balm. The sweet vanilla flavour is alright too. Malibu Sun Lip Balms are usually available in sets of 3 for about £1.99 (Home Bargains and other bargain stores although the price may be different).

Whilst this post is not a product comparison, let me rate these lip products from best to 3rd best = Essence lipgloss, Superdrug lip balm, Malibu Sun lip balm. But I like them all; there’s not a single stinker amongst these products!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde