Amira Arasteh, Author at mamabella

What hair colour suits me? Hollywood stylist Paul Edmonds reveals the key rule you need to know

Amira Arasteh — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:22:24 +0000

We’re spoiled for choice nowadays when it comes to changing our hair colour style. We can have it any shade we want, from a box or at a salon, and gone are the days when certain people couldn’t get away with blonde locks or becoming a redhead because there are literally hundreds of shades and tones to choose from.

That doesn’t mean that you should go all-in on a brand new hair colour without doing a little bit of due diligence. The important thing, according to hairstylist Paul Edmonds, is that you colour your hair according to the natural base rule.

Paul has styled the likes of Julie Walters, Christina Hendricks and Sam Smith and he was the colourist behind Margot Robbie’s red hairdo for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots.

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What hair colour suits me? quiz
Hair colour change apps

READ NEXT: How to make your hair grow faster

What hair colour suits me?

According to Paul Edmonds, the hair colour that suits you the most is determined by your natural base hair colour and eye colour. The general rule of thumb is:

If you have brown eyes, your natural base is dark
If you have hazel eyes, your natural base is medium
If you have blue eyes, your natural base is light

Beyond that, standard hair colours levels are then defined on a scale of 1 to 10. If you’ve ever bought a box of hair dye – and you can read more about how to find the best hair dye in our Best Buys guide – you’ll be familiar with the numbers that appear on the packaging. The first number tells you what natural base level the hair dye is.

Hair colour base levels

Level 1: Black
Level 2: Darkest brown (almost black)
Level 3: Very dark brown
Level 4: Dark brown
Level 5: Brown
Level 6: Light brown
Level 7: Dark blonde
Level 8: Medium blonde
Level 9: Blonde
Level 10: Light blonde

Platinum-blonde tends to be referred to as level 11 and higher.

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Hair colour tone

The second number refers to the tone.

Hair tone, like skin tone, is divided into three main categories – warm, cool or neutral. Typically, if you have warm skin undertones, it’s best to opt for cool hair tones and vice versa. If you have neutral skin tones, you can get away with having warm or cool hair tones. If you’re unsure what your skin tone is, check out our How to find your perfect foundation match article.

On a hair dye box, the tone number comes after the decimal point and each tone is given a number from .1 to .9. These range from neutral tones up to blue.

0 – Neutral (all skin tones)
1 – Ash (cool skin tones)
2 – Matte (cool)
3 – Gold (warm)
4 – Red (warm)
5 – Mahogany (cool)
6 – Violet (cool)
7 – Brown (all)
8 – Blue (cool)

On a box, such as Garnier’s Light Chocolate Brown hair dye, the number is shown as 6.35.

The 6 refers to the fact it’s a brown on the natural hair base level scale, the 3 represents the major tone, which is Gold/golden, and the 5 represents the minor tone, which is mahogany. This means that the hair colour will particularly suit people with warm skin tones whose hair is already dark brown to medium blonde. The mahogany minor tone also suits cool skin, so this hair colour may also be good for neutral tones which sit somewhere in between.

By determining your base hair level, and then the tone, you can find the best hair dye to suit you.

It also comes down to colour theory. On the colour wheel – as you can read in our colour theory makeup guide – colours that sit opposite each other are what’s known as complementary colours. Red and green are complementary colours, for instance, as are orange and blue.

iStock

When two complementary colours are placed side-by-side they create contrast and accentuate your features. This is the reason why Charlotte Tilbury recently released her Eye Colour Magic palettes, each one aimed at enhancing our different eye colours.

The Copper Charge palette, which is full of warm orange hues, bring out the blue in blue eyes. Meanwhile, the Mesmerising Maroon palette is perfect for green eyes.

Alternatively, when two complementary colours are mixed, they cancel each other out or at least help to neutralise the strength of the other. When it comes to hair, the latter is particularly important. As you can read in our What is hair toner? guide, putting purple shampoo on blonde hair helps reduce the yellow tones. While blue hair toning products work better for brunettes, as the blue balances the orange tones in the hair.

Changing your hair colour style

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To boost the health of your dye job, buy products that help repair your hair’s bonds.

We highly recommend the Olaplex range because it can repair your split ends by relinking broken bonds in your damaged hair.

You can read more in our best conditioner list.

For those looking to make an extreme colour change, the impact will be stronger if the natural base and eye colour don’t follow this rule.

For example, people with blue eyes going for a hair dye with a dark natural base. Put simply, the further you move away from your natural hair colour, the more dramatic the results, but also the more work that goes into moving you from one base to another.

If you want a more natural look, but one that still makes a strong impact, Paul Edmonds recommends you expose the natural base at the root and around the face.

Changing your eyebrow colour also helps. For low-maintenance hair colour changes, it’s advised that you stick within two levels of your natural hair colour.

They key point is, don’t expect a miracle; changing your hair colour is going to take time and things like colour removal, hair being pre-pigmented and colour application means it can be a long-winded process, if you want to get it right.

Your hairdresser, when they open again, will most likely want to carry out a strand and elasticity test. This is to determine how suitable your hair is for an extreme colour alteration; if the strand of hair breaks with little to no stretching when wet, your hair is not getting enough moisture.

Home hair care treatments are not to be underestimated either: the best hair masks, specifically designed for coloured hair, work wonders.

What hair colour suits me? quiz

Madison Reed

If you’ve read all of this and are still none-the-wiser about what hair colour suits you, there is a number of online quizzes that can guide you through. The most accurate and useful one we’ve found is from Madison Reed.

Madison Reed is an American beauty company that specialises in hair dyes. Its quiz ultimately guides you towards buying its own products, but it’s a great way to get a feel of the types of tones and colours that will suit you if you do want to buy elsewhere.

It starts by asking for your hair type – curly, wave, straight, and coily – before asking you for your hair goals. This is because Madison Reed sells a range of dyes designed to boost shine, protect against damage and so on.

The quiz then asks you what eye colour you have, your skin tone (on a scale of light to dark), what colour you usually choose and if you want to go lighter or darker. At the end of the quiz, which takes around three minutes, you’ll be shown your “perfect match.”

Take the quiz

Hair colour change apps

Our favourite hair colour changing app online is the Redken Virtual Hair Colour Try On (see screenshot below). It seems to present the widest number of options, and make the transition look more natural than some we’ve tried.

If you’re still struggling to know which hair colour suits you, try a hair colour change app. Available as apps for phones, or via your browser on a computer, you can upload photos and test out a variety of colour options to see which is best.

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In terms of apps, L’Oreal and Garnier both produce AR-powered hair colour change apps. The L’Oreal StyleMyHair app gives you the option to apply colour changes to your photos or see what the colours look like superimposed onto your live image.

The Garnier Color Match app does the latter but doesn’t work with existing selfies, but the app does come with a questionnaire to help you find your perfect shade – from the Garnier product range, of course – and you can then see what that particular shade looks like on a live image.

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Amira Arasteh

Amira Arasteh is a freelance journalist and content creator. Find her making sense of beauty trends, tips and topics – when she’s not stuffing her face with the best food in London or travelling the globe

The post What hair colour suits me? Hollywood stylist Paul Edmonds reveals the key rule you need to know appeared first on mamabella.

Best eyelash growth serums: Strengthen and lengthen your lashes and brows with these eyelash serums

Amira Arasteh — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 08:00:08 +0000

Unlock longer, thicker and fuller lashes with our pick of the best eyelash growth serums – and some can be used for brows too

UPDATE: Since we tested the best eyelash growth serums and published our top five below, Olaplex has teased the launch of its own lash serum believed to be called the Olaplex LashBond Building Serum.

We don’t know much beyond this at the moment. The only thing we do know is that it’s set to costs £64. Given that this is such a high price for a lash serum, and because Olaplex also owns the trademark BrowBond, this price may also include a brow serum.

Plus, after rumours about the launch have been doing the rounds since Olaplex filed its LashBond trademark in April 2022, Olaplex finally sent an email seemingly confirming it.

The emails to subscribers had the subject header: “[Eye] spy something new…” Olaplex called it its biggest launch and its “newest innovation.” It then had a link where you can go to be notified when pre-orders for the supposed LashBond serum open.

We’ll be updating our Olaplex LashBond page as and when we know more, and we’ll update this best eyelash growth serums guide when we’ve had time to test it properly.

Join the LashBond Waitlist

Original best eyelash growth serums article continues below

If you constantly bemoan your short, straight lashes, or your eyebrows took a hit in the 1990s when it was en vogue to have them pencil thin, buying the best eyelash serum could be your saviour.

The best eyebrow growth serums contain peptides, vitamins and amino acids that claim to stimulate hair growth, as well as nutrients for thicker, longer hair. Brushing your eyelashes – and your eyebrows – once or twice a day is said to give you longer lashes and brows if used for a number of months.

Do they actually work though? The science in the bottle says there’s no reason why they shouldn’t; if you were using hair products with these ingredients on the hair on your head, there’d be little dispute. The success, however, depends on how often you use them and how much of a difference you’re after.

They’re not a miracle solution and if your lashes are particularly short, growth serums aren’t going to give you the length and curl you get from falsies, but they may make them thicker and more visible. They’re also great for stemming hair loss as we get older, which can cause our eyelashes and brows to become thinner.

There’s a variety of eyelash serums to choose from, from expensive, specialist products by brands such as RapidLash and RapidBrow, to serums from makeup and skincare brands so we’ve put the best ones to the test to discover which are worth your time, and which are a waste.

READ NEXT: What’s mascara made of?

Best eyelash growth serums

Editor’s Pick: Shiseido Full Lash Serum – £42
Best Bargain Buy: No7 Lash Impact Lash Serum – £16
Best Luxury Buy: Revitalash Advanced – From £89
Best growth serum for short lashes: Rapid Brow & Rapid Lash Serum Duo – £65
Best serum for both lashes and brows: Rodial Lash & Brow Booster – £40

1. Editor’s Pick: Shiseido Full Lash Serum

£37 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Shiseido

Why we love it: This lightweight serum from Shiseido coats your individual lashes and brow hairs with a swipe of keratin, while also being enriched with the amino acid arginine to promote growth in the hair follicles.

This serum hydrates and moisturises the lashes and brows and not only does this create more voluminous and denser lashes and brows, but it also means you don’t have to worry about them thinning out.

Fast-absorbing, this serum additionally repairs damage caused by heavy mascara usage, extensions and false lashes.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

2. Best Bargain Buy: No7 Lash Impact Lash Serum

£16 | Buy now from Boots

No7

Why we love it: Give yourself visibly thicker and darker lashes and eyebrows over the course of eight weeks with this serum from No7.

Its blend of ingredients stimulates the hair follicles for a fuller look and can be used on both eyelashes and eyebrows.

At £16 it’s the cheapest in our list of best eyelash growth serums – by quite some margin –but contains similar ingredients such as arginine, glycerin and proline.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

3. Best Luxury Buy: Revitalash Advanced

From £89 | Buy now

Revitalash

Why we love it: Founded by Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff as a way to help his wife as she was recovering from her cancer treatments, this lash and brow serum worked so well that the full product range was launched shortly after its debut use and success.

The serums contain a mixture of peptides and botanical extracts that work together to strengthen each hair follicle, promoting the speedy growth of your lashes and brow hairs. The blend also works to prevent hairs from becoming sparse and falling out in these areas, too.

None of the advanced products in the Revitalash range is cheap but they are the most effective we’ve used, and you’ll see results quicker than eight weeks in most cases. They also last a long time so are good value.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

4. Rodial Lash & Brow Booster

From £40 | Buy now

Rodial

Why we love it: Rodial’s entire product range is one of our favourite, go-to brands and its lash and brow booster doesn’t disappoint.

It has a lightweight formula with glycerin, for locking in moisture and hydration, as well as castor oil to encourage hair follicles to grow.

This cult lash and brow booster also includes proteins from wheat. With an ultra-fine brush applicator, you’re sure to apply the serum precisely and are able to target any area on your lash line or brows.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

5. Rapid Brow & Rapid Lash Serum Duo

From £69.30 | Buy now

Rapidlash

Why we love it: This dynamic duo work together to create thicker lashes and fuller-looking eyebrows, while ensuring they’re both left feeling nourished and hydrated.

They contain a potent blend of ingredients including the company’s trademarked Hexatein 2 Complex. This complex contains keratin, sweet almond extract and polypeptides to prevent hair follicle breakage in the brows.

The lash serum contains Hexatein 1, which contains peptides, biotin, amino acids and panthenol to gradually add length and volume.

This brand’s products are ideal for lighter and thinner eyebrows and shorter lashes but are perfect for anyone trying these out for the first time.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

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Amira Arasteh

The post Best eyelash growth serums: Strengthen and lengthen your lashes and brows with these eyelash serums appeared first on mamabella.

The best gender-neutral beauty brands designed to suit everyone

Amira Arasteh — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 07:34:24 +0000

Gender-neutral skincare and makeup may have been a long time coming, but the industry has most definitely reached a turning point in 2022.

Instead of differentiating products based on binary gender, new brands are cropping up offering products based on what they do and how they work. Regardless of who is using them. There are also established brands looking to make their marketing and packaging more neutral.

This is largely because most products will work the same on all skin, so it seems unnecessary to design separate packaging and market to one particular group when you don’t need to. From a consumer point of view, it’s also likely to make choosing skincare and makeup less overwhelming, not to mention the fact that we’ll all pay the same price whether we’re male, female, or anywhere in between.

If you’re looking to shop more neutrally, we’ve picked our favourite genderless beauty brands below.

FURTHER READING: From Fenty Beauty to Thrive Causmetics, here are the makeup and skincare brands making beauty more inclusive

Gender-neutral beauty brands

These aren’t the only gender-neutral brands in this space, so if you have any that you particularly recommend then please let us know. We’ve also previously picked the best sustainable beauty brands, and which brands are championing inclusivity across the board.

︎ Fenty Skin

Fenty Skin

A pioneering moment in the gender-neutral beauty space happened last year when Rihanna’s Fenty Skin released a video featuring Rihanna, fellow female celebs, singers, and models, as well as male rappers including A$AP Rocky and Lil Nas X.

Men and women. In the same skincare campaign. While this shouldn’t be so pioneering, it’s rarely seen and according to Rihanna, this was because: “Fenty Skin was designed for everyone – all skin tones, skin types, genders. I really wanted to make skincare that was approachable and uncomplicated, but also fun and sexy and uplifting.”

The brand has been leading the gender-neutral beauty game for years and in addition to more neutral packaging, its social channels regularly interact with, and promote, male customers using its products, across its Fenty Beauty makeup collection, as well as the Fenty Skin range. The brand is keen to demonstrate inclusion and equality, with its mission statement being “Beauty For All”.

FURTHER READING: Fenty Skin UK: Rihanna’s Fenty Skin is finally on sale at Boots and Harvey Nichols

Shop Fenty Beauty

︎ SamFarmer Skincare

Sam Farmer

SamFarmer Skincare is a product range developed primarily with teenagers in mind, developed by a Dad called Sam Farmer who wanted to create products for every young person’s skin. Regardless of their gender.

Each product in the SamFarmer collection has been designed in gender-neutral colours and is labelled with just the letter of the product. The shampoo is emblazoned with a large S, for instance, while the conditioner is branded with a large C and so on.

Sam Farmer underwent training to make sure that his formulations would suit his children’s skin, and he’s created a range that’s affordable, accessible, and fun. You can read more about the individual SamFarmer Skincare UK products here.

Shop SamFarmer

︎ Fluide

Fluide

Our new favourite vegan, cruelty-free and gender-neutral brand on the block, Fluide, is also on an inclusive mission.

Aimed at all gender expressions, identities and skin tones, the brand’s focus is that no-one should be left out of expressing themselves and having fun with makeup.

Fluide offers a platform to showcase queer beauty and aims to inspire others to create their own identities, as well as broaden mindsets related to self-expression.

The brand champions bright glosses, crayons, lipsticks, and nail polishes, staying true to its concept of making makeup fun. It also donates 5% of sales to LGBTQ health and advocacy organisations.

Sadly, for those of us in the UK, Fluide only currently ships to the US and Canada but as soon as it’s available to buy over here, we’ll let you know.

FURTHER READING: Crayola teams up with makeup artists to launch Colors of the World skin tone crayons

Shop Fluide (US only)

︎ Illamasqua

Illamasqua

Illamasqua may not be seen in the same way as the likes of Fenty Beauty when it comes to championing inclusivity but that’s purely because it just doesn’t shout about it. It just gets on with it by making sure it’s ingrained in its whole brand ethos.

As a result, Illamasqua has long been a pioneer of the inclusive movement within the beauty industry, having always wanted people to express their individuality with their products and feel empowered from it.

When Munroe Bergdorf was dropped by L’Oréal, Illamasqua was waiting in the wings to snap up the transgender model for its campaigns. Prior to lockdown, Illasmasqua stores and counters offered tutorials on how to apply makeup as a transitioning customer, as well as promoting gender inclusivity across its social media among many other initiatives.

We’re big fans of the brand’s Director of Artistry, Pablo Rodriguez on Instagram, he’s a superb makeup artist but also champions the use of gender-neutral makeup and beauty.

FURTHER READING: Our pick of the best makeup and beauty products of 2021

Shop Fluide (US only)

︎ BE PLAIN

BE PLAIN

Even Korean beauty is supporting the genderless movement: BE PLAIN is a new brand on the market with an eco-friendly agenda.

Showcasing simple skincare, products from this brand neither cost the Earth nor do they damage it.

Available to shop on Stylevana and Skin Library, popular products include the Cicaful Ampoule (serum) and the Chamomile pH Balanced Lotion. The packaging of the brand is minimalistic and gender-neutral, linking back to the brand’s focus on simplicity within skincare, sustainability and gender-neutral beauty.

FURTHER READING: Best K-beauty brands: Where to buy the best Korean beauty makeup and skincare in the UK

Shop BE PLAIN

︎ Humanrace

Humanrace

Another celebrity skincare line, Humanrace is the brainchild of Pharrell Williams, with assistance from Dr. Elena Jones, the dermatologist behind Pharrell’s youthful-looking skin. The brand expresses a dedication to wellbeing, believing that every individual – regardless of gender, or anything else – has the right and ability to wake up feeling positive and empowered.

The collection includes a three-step routine, including a rice powder cleanser, natural exfoliator, and nourishing moisturiser. After all, who doesn’t want skin like Pharrell’s?

Shying away from any colour that could potentially speak to a particular gender more, the packaging is a bold green, which also represents the sustainable ethos that’s at the heart of Humanrace. As the name suggests, Pharrell has said that the brand is inclusive of all human beings – regardless of race or gender.

You can read more about Humanrace on our sister site, MBman.

Shop Humanrace

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Amira Arasteh

The post The best gender-neutral beauty brands designed to suit everyone appeared first on mamabella.

How to make hair grow faster: Expert tips, advice and what NOT to do

Amira Arasteh — Fri, 06 May 2022 09:00:21 +0000

If you’re looking for how to make hair grow faster, we’ve rounded up the best expert advice, hair care products and supplements that should help

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Click the links below to jump to the relevant section:

How fast does hair grow

How to make hair grow faster

Best hair growth supplements

Best food for hair growth

Science-led products to help your hair grow faster

What’s the saying, that crusts make your hair grow faster, or is it thicker? Curlier? For every hair tip that turns out to be a myth, there are dozens of products – both homemade and shop-bought – that promise to give you thicker, longer, and faster-growing locks.

Below we’ve outlined a number of hair growth tips from the experts (and of course, feel free to scroll down to read them) but we begin by explaining a bit more about the science of how to make your hair grow faster.

This is because knowing exactly how your hair grows means you know exactly what you need to do to help it grow faster, without spending a fortune on products that don’t do as promised.

How fast does hair grow?

How fast hair grows depends on a number of factors, from lifestyle to genetics but, on average, hair grows half a millimetre a day, half an inch a month and around six inches a year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

As we explain in our What does conditioner do to your hair? article, hair is largely made up of three main components – protein, mainly a kind called keratin, along with natural oils that keep hair flexible, and water. It grows from the bottom of follicles, called roots, which consist of cell proteins.

The shape of these follicles is determined by your genetics, and this shape is ultimately what causes your hair to be curly or straight, or how well it grows. Oval-shaped follicles make hair grow curly; circular follicles make hair grow straight and so on, while it really is true that some people’s hair just won’t grow past a certain length because of these follicle shapes and their genetics. Sadly!

Blood vessels across your scalp are involved in helping to produce these cells, which ultimately help the hair to grow through the skin. Once the hair is long enough to pass through the oil gland, and your scalp’s skin, it’s dead which is why it’s not painful to cut your hair, and why looking after your scalp and these follicles – rather than the hair itself – is key when looking to make your hair grow faster.

FURTHER READING: Best hair oil: The best hair oils for thinning hair, boosting hair growth, frizz and more

How to make hair grow faster

The number one way to help make your hair grow faster has nothing to do with the actual hair itself – you have to look after your scalp.

︎ Look after your scalp like you’d look after your face

Robin Parker, Technical Director of Acheson & Acheson told mamabella that when it comes to trying to grow your hair, the bottom line is taking care of your scalp.

Having worked on Grow Gorgeous’ rebrand and the focus on the Intelligent Haircare campaign, he told us “hair starts its relatively long life in the scalp and remains attached to it throughout, so it makes sense that looking after your scalp will help lead to healthy-looking hair.”

Parker explained that there is a rising trend toward using serious skincare active ingredients, such as ceramides in hair care and this is great news. “Ceramides have been shown to help improve the barrier function of skin and hence lead to a more moisturised, less flaky scalp,” he explained.

Washing your hair thoroughly is essential to remove dead skin cells, sweat, and other pollutive effects of the environment, he continued and he recommends caffeine as a stimulant of the scalp, stating “it can potentially help with hair development” and that by combining these types of ingredients, “hair care formulations have never been so effective.”

︎ Perfect your scalp routine

Monpure London recently went a step further and released a step-by-step guide for the “perfect scalp routine”, with Judy Murray OBE and celebrity hairstylist Kieron Lavine. You can find out more in the video below.

According to the scalp experts, there are six steps to improving the condition of your scalp and, in turn, helping your hair grow faster.

These include using:

hair density serum
clarifying scrub
strengthening shampoo
strengthening conditioner
scalp mask
soothing serum

Of course, Monpure recommends its own products throughout this video demonstration – and, having used a number of them we do rate them highly. However, you could use cheaper alternatives for these steps where possible. For instance, we love the Briogeo Scalp Revival treatment, which starts at £12. We’re also big fans of the BAMBeautiful scalp tonic, as featured in our list of the best scalp tonics.

︎ Get more nutrients from your diet

We bang this drum quite a lot on mamabella but the best way to solve so many beauty woes is through your lifestyle and diet. It’s boring – and we don’t always follow our own advice while tucking into cheese on a Saturday night – but if you can make a few tweaks to your diet we promise you, you’ll see the benefits.

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If you’re struggling to get nutrients from your diet, try supplements.

We recommend the VidaGlow Beauty Powders (around £35), and the cheaper Bioglan Superfoods Beauty Protein powders (£12.99).

Trichologist Anabel Kingsley recommends her brand’s PK4 Soya Protein Boost supplement, as well as its Tricho Complex supplement.

Just like with skincare for your face, adopting a healthy diet will help the skin on your head be healthy, too. Anabel Kingsley, one of the lead trichologists at Philip Kingsley told mamabella that both protein and carbohydrates are essential for growing your hair. That doesn’t mean a burger and chips – it means lean meats, beans, eggs, fish and pasta which each contain biotin and cysteine.

Biotin helps turn food into energy and is largely found in almonds, eggs, milk and cheese, pork, salmon and sardines, and avocado and cauliflower.

Cysteine is an amino acid that helps to make your hair grow faster and is found in poultry, eggs, red peppers, garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts, yogurt, oatmeal, and broccoli.

It’s important to eat “at least a palm-sized portion of protein at breakfast and lunch to help ensure that your hair is receiving enough energy for growth”, Anabel explained, emphasising that “hair cells are the second-fastest-growing cells the body produces.”

It is also important to keep up Vitamin C, D and E levels – as well as iron and zinc.

It is important to note that too much vitamin A can lead to hair loss – the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve!

︎ Massage your scalp

In the same way that massaging your face helps improve your skin quality and firmness, massaging your scalp equally helps to increase blood flow which, in turn, helps get those all-important nutrients to your hair follicles faster. This then increases cell production, which boosts hair health and growth creating a virtuous cycle.

Experts suggest massaging natural oils into your scalp for a least five minutes at least once a week. Some either suggest doing it while your head is upside down to increase blood flow even further because your heart is higher than your head.

︎ Avoid hot showers

Having long and hot showers can damage your skin’s natural functions, ZO Skin Health UK told mamabella, particularly your skin’s ability to act as a protective barrier. Hot showers can even loosen natural oils from the surface and strip hair of its own protective oils by opening the skin’s pores.

Try, instead, to wash your hair with lukewarm water to close your pores and reduce the damage. Rinsing it with cold water also helps close these pores and protects your scalp from dirt and grease. When your pores stay closed, your hair is stronger and this should mean it grows better and you lose less.

︎ Invest in science-based hair products

There are hundreds of hair care products on the market, ranging in price but the best we’ve used are those from Grow Gorgeous and Monpure. Philip Kingsley also recently released a new range called Density that we’ve got our eye on and plan to put to the test soon.

Grow Gorgeous

The Grow Gorgeous brand and its products are run by skincare and hair care scientists and specialists and its Original Hair Growth Serum should be a shelf staple in the bathroom for anyone wanting to grow their hair faster.

The full range of products includes serums that mix the brand’s signature complex with a blend of wheat sprouts, soy, and Chinese Skullcap. These serums reinvigorate hair roots and improve the hair’s overall condition which will eventually lead to longer, healthier hair.

Sadly, they are not cheap. A 60ml bottle of the Original Hair Growth Serum comes in at a whopping £45 – so it will be an investment for many people – but you use so little of it each time that it will last a while and we really did notice a huge difference in a matter of weeks. It smells lush too!

Monpure

Another expensive (but in our opinion worth it) brand is Monpure. The brand specialises in scalp care, which in turn means they’re experts in hair growth and hair loss. You can read more about their recent campaign in our guide on trichotillomania.

Philip Kingsley

According to independent trials of the recently launched Density range from Philip Kingsley, three out of four users reported that their hair was “visibly denser” and the Density Preserving Scalp Drops were clinically proven to slow hair loss and reduce shedding after three months of use.

Users also reported that the thickening product increased hair volume by around 25%.

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Amira Arasteh

The post How to make hair grow faster: Expert tips, advice and what NOT to do appeared first on mamabella.

Milk Makeup UK: The best products from the cult classic beauty brand

Amira Arasteh — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:01:56 +0000

One of an increasing number of beauty brands with a cult following, Milk Makeup UK is turning heads with its extensive range of vegan, cruelty-free and paraben-free makeup and skincare products.

Since launch, we’ve been shining a light on brands that represent and align with what we stand for at mamabella – brands that offer great products at low prices; brands that champion inclusivity and diversity; clean, sustainable and ethical beauty brands, and brands that are challenging the beauty industry hierarchy.

We’ve previously taken a look at The Ordinary and Carbon Theory, both affordable but science-led skincare brands offering fantastic products. Elsewhere, we’ve taken a look at makeup brands e.l.f, Revolution, NYX, Benefit and Sleek MakeUP. You can read them all on our Brand Spotlight page.

Milk Makeup UK: A brief history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhFiIAKBtAo

Founded by husband and wife duo Mazdack Rassi and Zanna Roberts Rassi, this vegan brand was created in Milk Studios in New York.

The brand gained a lot of attention when it released a cannabis oil-infused mascara – the ingredient was included as a lash conditioner – which kickstarted the KUSH range.

This was before the recent CBD trend took hold. This range now features cannabis oil across its line.

READ NEXT: What is CBD?

Explore the full Milk range

Best Milk Makeup UK products

Milk Hydro Grip Primer – From £13
Milk Makeup Cooling Water – £21
Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek – £20.50
KUSH High Volume Mascara – From £13
Vegan Milk moisturiser – £35
KUSH Lip Glaze – £15

︎ Milk Hydro Grip primer

£13 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup UK

Why we love it: Milk’s Hydro Grip is hands-down the best primer if you’re on a budget because it hydrates the skin more than any primer we’ve used. It takes seconds to be absorbed in your skin but it holds makeup all day.

Thanks to the addition of aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin B, this primer technically doubles up as part of your skincare routine.

This primer was recently joined in the Hydro Grip range by the Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray (£17) and the Hydro Grip Eye Primer (£22).

This setting spray has blue and green layers – the ‘grip phase’ and ‘glow phase’ – designed to act as a magnet for makeup, while delivering hyaluronic acid, aloe, and niacinamide (Vitamin B3). Milk claims this setting spray will keep you looking flawless for 12 hours but can be used to freshen up or revitalise your skin, if need be.

Meanwhile, the Eye Primer uses a similar formula to the original skin primer listed above (and in our best primer makeup guide) but is designed to be used specifically on your eyes.

It can be used on your eyelids, and under the eye to prevent creasing, stop your eyeliner or mascara smudging, and keep pigment in place. It has a 90% natural formula infused with hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and hyaluronic acid, both of which boost moisture in an area that can often become dry and cakey.

FURTHER READING: What does primer do? An expert explains the one rule you MUST follow if you want flawless makeup

Buy now from Cult Beauty

︎ Milk Makeup Cooling Water

£20.50 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup UK

Why we love it: We don’t know about you but we definitely don’t get enough sleep.

Whether it’s Netflix or the kids keeping you up, this little pot of goodness has been coined ‘sleep in a stick’ and we now know why.

The Milk Makeup UK Cooling Water’s gel formula contains caffeine which is great for brightening your eyes and getting rid of puffiness.

After gliding this stick on your skin, the moisture will be locked in and you can expect to see an energised and refreshed glow about your eye area.

You can read more about why caffeine works so well in our guide to the acids in your skincare.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek

£16.50 | Buy now from Selfridges

Milk Makeup UK

Why we love it: Hands up if you’ve ever used lipstick as blush? We’ve all been there! So kudos to Milk Makeup UK for creating a product that is actually designed to suit both your lips and cheeks. Use it to bring your cheeks alive and then use the same stick to add a pop of colour to your lips.

The beauty of this, excuse the pun, is that this also means you get the same colour and tone. This Lip + Cheek stick contains avocado oil, mango butter and peach nectar, and has a beautifully soft texture. You can read more about it in our Best multi-purpose makeup guide.

This colour stick collection was recently joined by the Milk Makeup Color Chalk (£14). These are sticks of pigment that come in a variety of nude tones designed to be used on your cheeks, lips, and even as eyeshadows.

It uses vegan plant-derived collagen to moisturise and improve the appearance of skin texture, elasticity, and firmness while jojoba oil nourishes and comforts.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

KUSH High Volume Mascara

From £13 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup

Why we love it: Priced fairly for a cult-favourite mascara, in our opinion, Milk’s KUSH mascara contains cannabis oil for lash conditioning.

This might make you uneasy at first but it’s all plant-based so entirely natural and you can read more about the benefits of cannabis oil, or CBD, in our What is CBD guide.

This mascara secures thickness, volume, and hydration – all in one – and don’t even get us started on length.

Grow your lashes in a defined and clump-free manner and layer on the mascara to make them more voluminous and intense.

If you’re still not sure, this mascara came out on top of our list of the best mascara for short lashes. Read more in our review here.

FURTHER READING: Best mascara

Buy now from Cult Beauty

Vegan Milk Moisturiser

£35 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup UK

Why we love it: One of Milk Makeup UK’s co-founder Zanna Roberts Rassi’s must-have products that reportedly gets her through fashion weeks, this moisturiser is unlike many others.

It contains four vegan milks (oat, desert, fig and argan), as well as ingredients such as kalahari melon, baobab, jojoba and aloe vera.

It also contains shea butter so that’s quite the cocktail to keep the skin soft, smooth and soothed.

Grapeseed oil additionally helps lock in the moisture and provide antioxidant protection – it’s a super cream that hydrates, nourishes and replenishes the skin and then some.

FURTHER READING: The science of moisturiser: Which ingredients actually work and which are marketing BS?

Buy now from Cult Beauty

KUSH Lip Glaze

£15 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Milk Makeup UK

Why we love it: Another one of Zanna’s holy-grail go-tos is the KUSH Lip Glaze.

Milk Makeup’s lip treatment contains hemp-derived cannabis oil for maximum hydration. Other ingredients include shea, cocoa and mango butters which are instantly absorbed into the skin, and jojoba and olive oils to protect your lips against the environment.

It’s got a slightly odd metal applicator, which takes some time getting used to, but this helps cool and refresh the skin on your lips and we now love how it feels.

The lip collection was recently joined by the Electric Glossy Lip Plumper (£21) which uses Sichuan pepper to make your lips tingle and swell, giving you the appearance of a fuller pout.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

Other Milk Makeup UK essentials

Rise Mascara: Milk Makeup claims its Rise Mascara – the latest addition to the Milk Makeup range – contains something called Lash-Wrap Technology. This ‘technology’ is actually a blend of four vegan waxes that bind together to coat each lash while making sure they stay curled. It’s also said to have a “blacker-than-black formula” that we’ll be putting to the test soon.

Sunshine Oil: It took us a while to understand what this Sunshine Oil (£39) is used for, but it appears to be for moisturising and brightening dark spots and areas of dullness. It contains a blend of natural oils including rapeseed, avocado, mandarin, grapefruit, tangerine, and lemon oils to give dry areas a targeted dose of hydration.

Highlighter: Joining the wider Milk Makeup sticks range, this highlighter (£12) is available in shades called Flash (golden bronze), Lit (champagne pearl), or Turnt (white gold with pink pearl) and each one is a creamy highlighter designed for light, medium and darker skin tones. Each one contains coconut oil, mango butter, and avocado oil to offer all-day hydration.

Sunshine Under Eye Tint + Brighten: The Sunshine Under Eye Tint + Brighten (£26) is part make up, part skin care. Vitamin C brightens dark circles, hyaluronic acid and squalene help moisturises, and then there are seven sheer shades to help conceal.

Bionic Blush: Available in four shades – called Infinity, Teleport, Fly and Beyond, the liquid formula of the Bionic Blush blusher (£19) is designed to be buildable and contains hyaluronic acid, with snow and reishi mushrooms to soothe and seal in moisture.

You can buy all of these products at Cult Beauty.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

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Amira Arasteh

The post Milk Makeup UK: The best products from the cult classic beauty brand appeared first on mamabella.

How to try makeup on online: We review the best virtual try on tools from MAC, Maybelline, NYX and more

Amira Arasteh — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:41:32 +0000

It seems like only yesterday we were able to freely peruse makeup counters, hunting for a particular product or just having fun examining different brands.

Trying on makeup before you buy is imperative; firstly to see how it looks on your skin, but also to get a ‘feel’ for it. You could happen upon the perfect foundation match online, for example, before realising the consistency is too thick.

Makeup is expensive – unless you’re shopping with some of the best cheap makeup brands that we highly recommend! – and nobody wants to spend £35 on a bottle of foundation they hate after one application.

Unfortunately, we can’t solve the problem of being able to feel the product – unless you’re able to get a sample from the brand’s website – but we can at least help you find your perfect lipstick shade or discover a foundation shade that works for you, through the use of good old technology. That way you can tick one of the boxes before treating yourself.

FURTHER READING: Find your perfect foundation match online

How to try makeup on online

Many brands now have virtual makeup counters, allowing you to see which products suit you and your skin tone before making a purchase and we’ve put the best ones to the test.

For each of the sites, we tried to virtually experiment with products we either own, or have used, in real life. That way, we could tell just how accurate (or not) the different makeup tools are.

︎ Estée Lauder Virtual Try-On

Estee Lauder

We’re unsure if this going to be a permanent addition to Snapchat, but you can currently trial Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Foundation via a Snap Lens. At the time of writing, the Lens appears automatically in the row of Lenses at the bottom of the screen. Select the Lens and you’ll be guided through virtually applying primer, the foundation in a range of shades, and a lipstick. The animations are a little lame and we’re not hugely convinced at the accuracy of the colour but it’s a fun way to at least rule out shades.

Alternatively, when you visit the Estee Lauder website on a mobile device, you’ll be given the option to virtually Try On the foundation via the iMatch Service – accessed via here or via the foundation product page.

Estee Lauder offers a number of digital tools, in addition to these Try On tools. These include its Lip Service tool, which lets you virtually try on lipstick shades. It then has a skincare quiz, to help you find an ideal skincare routine for your skin type or concerns. You can also book 1-2-1 virtual appointments with beauty experts, and Estée Lauder consultants are even available on Live Chat and via WhatsApp.

Read our full Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation review

Try Estée Lauder makeup online

︎ Chanel Virtual Try-On

Amira Arasteh

If you’re going to try on various makeup products, where best to go than Chanel’s makeup range. The luxury French makeup brand’s virtual try on tool lets you experiment with a variety of lipsticks, eyeshadows and eyeliner.

The good thing about the online tool is that you can build your makeup; so starting off with your lips, you can match your eyeshadow to the shade you’ve used to see what actually looks good together and finish it off with a slick of black eyeliner to pull the look together.

The lipsticks went on well enough; we don’t think it will ever be a perfect application virtually, but shades we would tend to go for looked good on and it was a firm ‘no’ to colours that would have looked the same out of place at a store counter.

The eyeshadow palettes went on well too; perfectly blending to show us what the colourway could look like if applied properly. It was also good to see how the colours would look against our skin with a lip paint in place too.

More recently, Chanel expanded this service to include its Lipscanner technology. This is the first virtual makeup try-on tool that lets you scan any image – photos of models in a magazine, or a shot of your bags or shoes, for example – and match the colours in the image to a lip colour from the Chanel range. Considering Chanel sells more than 400 lip products, it can be overwhelming and confusing trying to find that perfect red shade to match your dress, and so on.

You can get the Lipscanner app on iOS.

Try Chanel makeup online

︎ Maybelline Virtual Try-On

Amira Arasteh | mamabella

Virtual try on tools are not limited to high-end brands – far from it. The high-street makeup moguls also make it possible for you to try on makeup products and see full beauty looks with just the use of an uploaded selfie or webcam.

When using the Maybelline Virtual Try On, we went for a full look; brows, foundation, eyeliner – the works.

The brows went on really well, as did the eyeshadow, surprisingly. The eyeliner was a little more dramatic looking than in real-life (we tried the Master Precise liquid pen, which we’ve used before IRL) and the lipsticks had an OTT nature about them.

READ NEXT: How to do eyebrows

That being said, we’d find the shade shown on a product listing enough to decide whether or not to purchase a lipstick.

In the picture above, we tested the Maybelline Master Chrome highlight (it’s a favourite of ours) and we don’t think the virtual try on did it justice. The same goes for the mascaras.

The Maybelline Falsies collection is one of our favourite cheap mascaras and it was hard to tell just how good it was from virtually trying it on.

The foundations and concealers were a fair colour match, being very obvious when something was not right but, as with every other online tool in this list, it’s not possible to fully blend any of the products to see the most accurate look.

Try Maybelline makeup online

︎ Yves Saint Laurent Virtual Try-On

Amira Arasteh | mamabella

We were quite disappointed with the Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Virtual Try On tool; firstly you are only able to try on a small selection of the brand’s huge range of products. Furthermore, you have to try them on individually.

A bare face with bright red lipstick has never been a great look so we found we’d have to put on a full face of makeup in real life, but leave off the one product we wanted to test in order to get a true reflection.

What’s worse is that we’ve used YSL lip stains and paints before and this virtual makeup tool is not the best advertising for the products.

Trying another product we’ve used in real life, so as to be able to compare as much as possible, we opted to try on the famous Touche Éclat concealer.

Yet this was barely visible on our skin in any of the shades so not a strong win from YSL…

Try YSL makeup online

︎ MAC Cosmetics Virtual Try-On

Amira Arasteh

MAC’s virtual makeup tool makes it easy to sample some of the brand’s bestselling makeup products online, but it’s limited to a small selection of its lipsticks, eyeshadows and mascaras.

The lipstick coverage area didn’t fully fit so this might cause a bit of a problem for some customers but the shades were fairly accurate in application. We tried the nation’s favourite nude lipstick; Velvet Teddy and, apart from missing a lip liner accomplice, it looked pretty similar to the real-life version.

We also tried a red lipstick shade (as this would prove to be more difficult to apply in real life, as well) but it showed up smooth and natural-looking. Far better than YSL’s attempt!

In terms of the mascaras, we tried the False Lashes Extreme Black mascara and although it was hard to see the depth at times (it is only a webcam after all), this mascara went on far more naturally and effectively than Maybelline’s.

Again, with mascara, it’s all about building and layering without creating clumps so it is a harder product to virtually try on. This tool will give you a good idea, at the very least.

Regarding the eyeshadow palettes, we tried the DazzleShadow Extreme – a glittery eyeshadow with a metallic finish.

A fairly seamless virtual application but, again, we preferred Maybelline’s ability to try on more than one product at the same time. We’re caught looking a little bit like the White Witch from Narnia here, without eyeliner or mascara for balance.

FURTHER READING: We’ve reviewed and ranked every MAC foundation to finally reveal which is best

Try MAC makeup online

︎ NYX Professional Makeup Virtual Try-On

Amira Arasteh | mamabella

NYX Professional Makeup’s virtual try-on works very similarly to Maybelline’s – you can even split your face in half to see a before and after shot.

We’re not sure we think the lipstick application is that accurate; again we’ve used the liquid lipsticks before so we have previous reference.

The eyeshadow, mascara and eyeliner all seem fair via their virtual try-on, being able to see the products clearly with smooth application.

The options for the face were slim; only offering blush, highlighter and setting spray.

The first was hard to see on the virtual applicator and we’re not really sure how seeing a setting spray virtually would work but the highlighter delivered a strobe light effect on the cheekbones, allowing us to compare our makeup look with and without this product.

FURTHER READING: Why we love NYX Professional Makeup so much

Try NYX makeup online

︎ Charlotte Tilbury Virtual Try-On

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury’s virtual makeup tool is a little restricting because it’s only available for mobile devices.

Again, not everything is available, and if something is out of stock, you can’t try it on either – although this is, in some way, a positive.

A difference could be seen when we tried on the lipsticks but it was a very subtle change when applying makeup such as the bronzers or highlight.

READ NEXT: Best highlighters

We aren’t sure we would purchase the Beauty Light Wand (we tried Goldgasm) as there wasn’t much to see, however, the lipsticks did show up nicely and we’re a huge fan of K.I.S.S.I.N.G Stoned Rose…adding that one to the basket.

Once more, there were no foundations or concealers to try on, making it hard to create a ‘full look’ of makeup as you might do in store but at the prices Charlotte Tilbury sells for, this can at least let you get an idea of whether they’re worth the money or not.

Try CT makeup online

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Amira Arasteh

The post How to try makeup on online: We review the best virtual try on tools from MAC, Maybelline, NYX and more appeared first on mamabella.

What is hair toner and what does it actually do?

Amira Arasteh — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 11:34:15 +0000

At its most simple, a hair toner helps you correct your hair colour.

It’s a product that adds more natural, or more visible tones to your hair colour treatment. This is because hair toners contain pigments that adjust the colour and tone of your hair.

They’re usually used on blonde hair but it’s a myth that it can’t work for brunettes and redheads as well. The idea of using a toner is to get rid of brassy tones and this is still applicable, regardless of your hair colour.

FURTHER READING: What hair colour suits me? Hollywood stylist Paul Edmonds reveals the key rule you need to know

What is hair toner?

Toning is an essential part of the colour process and there are two types of hair toner. You apply one after you’ve bleached your hair. The other allows a hairstylist to personalise your hair colour. In particular, toner colour corrects your hair shade by making it warmer or cooler.

The only necessity is that you have to bleach or dye your hair before you can add a hair toning product. Bleaching involves lightening the hair before colouring can take place. Toning the hair is essential after bleaching – this softens the colour left by the bleach.

It also protects hair fibres, brightens its appearance and creates a professional-looking finish. Yet, it’s not about colour. Hair toners can add shine to natural hair, leaving you with glossy, silky locks.

It’s important not to wash your hair immediately after toning. This is because it will cause the colour you’ve applied to fade.

There are also several hair products that include toner. These help keep your colour lasting between salon treatments.

How long does toner last?

iStock

Toner lasts up to six weeks and even then, that is on virgin hair. Virgin hair is hair that has never been dyed or treated. In general, the more you dye your hair, the less it can hold onto the new colour.

In reality, most peoples’ hair toner lasts between two to four weeks. In fact, colour conditioners exist and such products help maintain your hair colour.

Shampoos and hair masks are also easy ways of giving your hair a refresher. This helps even when you wash it and helps preserve its colour.

READ NEXT: What is microblading?

Isn’t toner just for blonde hair though?

Now there are different kinds of toners. As well as glosses and gels, there are now purple and blue toning products.

You’ve most likely seen purple shampoos on supermarket shelves. It is also known as silver shampoo. We recommend John Frieda’s Violet Crush. These are ideal for blonde hair as purple reduces yellow tones. They help get rid of the brassy look blonde hair is prone to.

Blue toning products work better for brunettes, as the blue balances the orange tones in the hair. It also helps add softness and glow to the hair.

Whatever your hair colour, look for toner or toning products on the opposite end of the colour wheel. This will help balance undesired colour and brassiness. You can read more about the colour wheel in our guide to colour theory.

We’ve also got a guide on how to know which hair colour will suit your skin tone.

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Amira Arasteh

The post What is hair toner and what does it actually do? appeared first on mamabella.

Best setting powder: Set your makeup with the best powders for oily and dry skin from Laura Mercier to e.l.f

Amira Arasteh — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 14:12:47 +0000

One of the most underrated products in any makeup collection – and one we just can’t live without – is the best setting powder.

As its name suggests, it helps set your makeup in place but it does so much more than that.

If you’ve got fine lines or wrinkles, especially around your eyes, you need setting powder. If your skin is oily or shiny, get yourself some setting powder. If you live somewhere warm, we highly recommend setting powder (and we’re also jealous!)

READ NEXT: Best setting spray

What’s more, many of the best setting powders can give an extra oomph of brightening and hydrating effects to your skin and leave you with a flawless finish. It’s a super handy makeup staple to have in your handbag, and while it may seem like yet another makeup product – and yet another expense – you’ll save time and money by not having to re-apply makeup.

Below we’ve handpicked the best setting powders to hopefully suit most budgets and explained more about what it is, and how to use it.

What is setting powder?

As you can read in our face powder guide, the best setting powders are made up of oil-absorbing minerals and are used to “set” your base products in place. They’re different from finishing powders and are typically used below other powder products and below your setting spray.

The best setting powder can also help remove that sticky or shiny feel to your makeup, by replacing it with a matte one, and is predominantly used to stop makeup from falling into the fine lines or wrinkles on your face.

Setting powders can come in a loose form or as a compressed compact. There’s no real difference in their performance and it will be down to your personal preference as to which one you opt for. The pressed compacts are easier to travel with, whereas the loose forms are usually finer and more buildable. This makes loose setting powders better suited for setting under eye makeup.

They can also come in different shades. If you want to avoid what’s known as “flashback,” which is when the light is reflected from the areas where you’ve applied setting powder, we recommend you opt for a lightweight and translucent powder. This is also so it doesn’t alter your skin tone or interfere with the tones of produces you’ve just spent ages applying.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Baking, setting, loose and pressed: What’s the difference between makeup powders and which do you need?

How to use setting powder?

The best setting powders are actually much more versatile than you might realise. They can be used to set base products, as well as lock-in lip colour, tame oily patches, and help tone down your blusher or bronzer.

You don’t have to wait until your entire makeup look is complete and it’s actually best to apply setting powder when your foundation (or concealer/tinted moisturiser/BB cream/CC cream etc) is still wet. We prefer to use a loose powder and pick up a small amount using a damp beauty blender. We then dab that powder onto our skin, gently. The heat from our face effectively melts the powder into our face, and then we go in with another light dusting.

You can also apply a lot of powder in one, using a brush, and then once it’s melted and locked into place, you can use a fan brush to remove any excess.

Best Setting Powder

Editor’s Pick: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – £32
Bargain Buy: e.l.f Translucent Mattifying Powder – £4.50
Luxury Buy: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder – £45
Best setting powder for mature skin: Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder – £18
Best pressed setting powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish – £35
Best high-street setting powder: No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder – £11
Best setting powder for dry skin: NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder – £30

1. Editor’s Pick: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

£32 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Laura Mercier

Why we love it: The Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder is the best setting powder we’ve ever used, and one that is a popular choice across the globe if its numerous awards are anything to go by.

Not only does it keep makeup in place for up to 12 hours, while also keeping your face free of oils and shine, but the superfine, loose powder means it’s easy to apply different amounts to different parts of the face, depending on where you need it most – for us, it’s often our pesky T-zone and chin.

It’s easy to blend, and thanks to the micro-refined silica making it lightweight, you won’t have that caked-on effect that sometimes can be unintentionally achieved with setting powders. Perfect for keeping your face looking flawless all day long.

More recently, Laura Mercier released a trio of so-called “light-catching” versions of its iconic setting powder which the brand describes as now coming in a “luminous, light-creating finish for all skin tones.”

Just like the original, the super-finely milled powder sets makeup for 12 hours with a blend of skin tone contrasting and correcting pearls. According to the brand: “Unlike other luminous powders that emphasise imperfections, the weightless pearl blend becomes one with skin, blurring and smoothing the appearance of texture, pores, and fine lines.”

The three shades are:

Celestial Light: Perfect for Fair to Light Skin Tones
Honey Star: Sets medium skin tones with olive and golden undertones
Cosmic Rose: Ideal for medium-deep to deep skin tones

Buy now from Lookfantastic

2. Bargain Buy: e.l.f Translucent Mattifying Powder

£4.50 | Buy now from e.l.f

e.l.f

Why we love it: The perfect go-to setting powder if you don’t want to spend a huge amount; this is also a great choice for anyone unsure about investing in a powder.

Don’t be deceived into thinking this setting powder’s cheap price makes it poor quality. This Translucent Mattifying Powder will set your makeup and soak up oil like many more expensive powders we’ve used.

It’s a great size to stick in your handbag for when you’re on the go, too. Although it comes with a sponge applicator, we prefer to scratch the surface of this compact with the end of a makeup brush and some tweezers and then use a medium-sized makeup brush to apply it as a powder in our problem areas.

FURTHER READING: Why we love e.l.f makeup so much

Buy now from e.l.f

3. Luxury Buy: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

£45 | Buy now from Feelunique

Hourglass

Why we love it: An invisible veil is exactly what we expect from the best setting powders and Hourglass’ translucent setting powder ticks all the boxes – other than the price!

It gives a veil-like finish because it doesn’t include talc, which is the ingredient found in many powders that can create a chalky look.

It also includes a diamond powder that leaves your skin with this radiant but blurred effect while keeping your makeup in prime condition as the hours pass by.

Unlike some other translucent powders, this one actually goes on translucent so there’s even less risk of a ghost-like finish at the end.

Although it’s pricey AF, a little does go a long way so you don’t need to be too liberal with this powder to get the desired result.

Buy now from Feelunique

4. Vichy Dermabled Setting Powder

£18 | Buy now from Boots

Vichy Dermablend

Setting powders should be all about preventing makeup from falling into the fine lines and creases in your face, which should make them ideal for older people, but not all setting powders are created equally when it comes to ageing skin.

The best setting powder for mature skin that we’ve found is the Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder, available from Boots. It comes with a water-resistant finish and is great for making foundation last all day. The brand claims that, when used with Dermablend foundations, this staying power last even longer but we haven’t put that to the test yet.

The reason why this setting powder is so great for mature skin is that it has a microfine texture that is translucent meaning it doesn’t affect the shade of corrective foundation or concealers that have been applied to mask the appearance of dark circles that tend to show up more often as we get older. It also provides a mattified yet natural-looking finish.

Other benefits include the fact it’s hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin – as is the whole of Vichy Dermablend range – and its non-comedogenic. This means it shouldn’t weigh the skin down and make it feel clogged up. You can read more in our What does non-comedogenic mean when it comes to makeup and skincare? guide.

FURTHER READING: Best foundation for mature skin UK: Get a dewy, natural finish without favourite foundations for older skin

Buy now from Feelunique

5. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

£35 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Charlotte Tilbury

Why we love it: Charlotte Tilbury strikes again with yet another golden product.

Aptly named, we can confirm this setting powder really does achieve that perfect, airbrushed look. It’s so popular, one is sold every second – according to Charlotte Tilbury!

Plus, because the powder is fine, you don’t have to worry about it sinking into any fine lines or leaving your makeup with a cakey finish.

This powder is great for removing your skin surface of oil and shine but not dehydrating the skin, thanks to the rose wax and almond oil.

Your skin is also left looking brightened due to the reflecting particles in it. We’re impressed with this pressed powder option, for sure.

Charlotte Tilbury recently released the Airbrush Bronzer, which has a similar consistency to the Airbrush Flawless Finish powder, as well as the £26 Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray which both offer similar skincare benefits if you want to complete the flawless skin set.

READ NEXT: Charlotte Tilbury serum review

Buy now from Cult Beauty

6. No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder

£11 | Buy now from Boots

No7

Why we love it: If, despite our reassurances, you’re looking to spend a little more on the best setting powder than e.l.f’s £4.50 model, Boots’ No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder is affordable, reliable and performs better than its price would suggest.

The loose powder is fine, super soft and lightweight, blending easily onto your skin and disguising any flaws and fine lines on your face.

It also contains Vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 to keep your skin hydrated. Reviews are strong for this one, with many saying it’s a CoverFX setting powder rival that comes in at twice the price. You can read more about this and other such cheap alternatives to premium products in our best cheap makeup alternatives UK guide.

FURTHER READING: No7 Retinol concentrate review

Buy now from Boots

7. NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder

£30 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

NARS

Why we love it: NARS’ Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder contains minerals that make sure all oil and shine are mattified, but also includes glycerin and Vitamin E to hydrate and nourish drier skin simultaneously.

This is great for all skin types as you won’t get that cracked or flaky texture to your makeup, but particularly good news for dry skin.

A lightweight setting powder that keeps your skin glowing as you say goodbye to visible pores and fine lines, blurring your skin into a perfect finish, this powder is also available as a compact pressed version, should that be your preference.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

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Amira Arasteh

The post Best setting powder: Set your makeup with the best powders for oily and dry skin from Laura Mercier to e.l.f appeared first on mamabella.

Korean skin care and K-beauty brands: Where to buy the best Korean makeup and skincare in the UK

Amira Arasteh — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 18:30:12 +0000

It’s no secret that Korean beauty (K-Beauty) and Korean skin care are all the rage – still.

Not just a passing trend, there are several brands across makeup and skincare that have become cult favourites and are very much here to stay.

Paving the way when it comes to including new and unusual ingredients in their beauty products, the makeup and skincare companies in South Korea are always thinking ahead.

Products like BB creams and sheet masks originated in Korea and are now skincare staples, as are ingredients such as calendula and aloe vera, but there are so many brands and products to choose from when it comes to Korean beauty that it can be tricky to navigate.

If you are new to K-Beauty and Korean skincare, we’ve rounded up our favourite products that are easy to buy in the UK.

FURTHER READING: Best skincare brands: We’ve picked our fave skincare essentials from the best brands in the UK

Best K-Beauty Brands and Korean skin care

Erborian CC Cream – From £18
Oh-K Beauty Turmeric Sheet Mask – £4
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser – From £19.50
Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Gel Peel – £22
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence – £19.15
Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer – £14.50

1. Erborian CC Cream

From £18 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Erborian

Why we love it: Uncover the Korean beauty secret of perfect complexion with Erborian’s CC cream. Having previously featured in our best CC cream guide, this Korean skin care wonder product is enriched with centella asiatica, tiger grass and honey extract.

Not only does it act as an ideal replacement to a foundation or tinted moisturiser, it also boosts radiance, illuminating and hydrating your skin.

Cheat your way to flawless skin with this blemish-blurring cream which enhances the texture of your skin, making it the best blend of makeup and skincare.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Erborian has a UK website, as well as being sold across Lookfantastic, Feelunique, Selfridges, Next and Space NK.

FURTHER READING: Best tinted moisturiser: Brighten your skin with our fave creams from NARS, NYX, Tropic and more

Buy now from Lookfantastic

2. Oh-K Beauty Turmeric Sheet Mask

£3.25 | Buy now from Beauty Bay

Oh-K

Why we love it: Koreans really do know a thing or two when it comes to skincare; while the rest of us stick to having turmeric in our food and drinks, the guys at Oh-k Beauty have used the superfood in their sheet mask.

Rich in antioxidants, this spice has serious superpowers and brightens the skin when used in skincare, while the mask hydrates and moisturises.

It also includes lavender to soothe the skin.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Oh-K Beauty has a UK website, as well as being sold across Lookfantastic, Feelunique, Beauty Bay and ASOS.

FURTHER READING: Best sheet masks: The best face sheet mask for your skin from Garnier, Charlotte Tilbury and more

Buy now from Beauty Bay

3. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser

From £19.50 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Glow Recipe

Why we love it: A total cult K-Beauty product, this Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser from Glow Recipe has sold out numerous times.

Watermelon extract soothes irritated skin and restores vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids.

A secret glow weapon, this is the moisturiser for you if you suffer from oily skin. If your skin is drier, you can still use this product as a serum and follow up with a thicker and more rich moisturiser.

You can even add a pump or two to your foundation for a natural, glowing finish to your makeup.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Shop Glow Recipe at Cult Beauty.

FURTHER READING: The science of moisturiser: Which ingredients actually work and which are marketing BS?

Buy now from Cult Beauty

4. Saturday Skin Rub-A-Dub Refining Gel Peel

£22 | Buy now from Feelunique

Saturday Skin

Why we love it: Known for its sheet masks, the entire range of Saturday Skin’s products will leave a positive effect on your skin.

With key ingredients including natural enzymes such as papain (papaya) and pineapple, as well as aloe vera, use this peel gel to get rid of dead skin cells and leave your skin appearing brighter and more evenly toned.

Your skin is gently exfoliated while being simultaneously calmed and soothed, so it’s the perfect product for sensitive skin.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Shop Saturday Skin at Cult Beauty, Beauty Bay and Feelunique.

FURTHER READING: Best face exfoliator: Get smoother skin using scrubs from Upcircle, The Ordinary, Nip+Fab and more

Buy now from Feelunique

5. Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

£19.15 | Buy now from Feelunique

Cosrx

Why we love it: This lightweight essence is fast-absorbing and gives skin an immediate glow.

Comprising 96% of snail secretion filtrate, this ingredient repairs damaged skin, improves skin elasticity and maintains hydration levels throughout the day.

The essence nourishes, repairs and revitalises the skin – and despite the use of snail filtrate, it’s vegan.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Shop Cosrx at Beauty Bay, Feelunique and Amazon.

FURTHER READING: Vegan vs cruelty-free: What’s the difference?

Buy now from Feelunique

6. Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer

From £18 | Buy now from Amazon

Touch In Sol

Why we love it: For anyone who remains skeptical about primers, this one ought to set matters straight.

The velvety product includes fine powders to blur your pores and instantly mattify any shine to your skin.

Containing green tea extract and collagen to hydrate the skin, this lightweight primer leaves your skin looking glowing and flawless – whether you’re going bare-faced or prepping your skin for your makeup routine.

Where to buy Korean skincare UK: Shop Touch in Sol at Beauty and Seoul, Boots, Selfridges, ASOS and K-Beauty.co.uk.

FURTHER READING: What does primer do? An expert explains the one rule you MUST follow if you want flawless makeup

Buy now from Amazon

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Amira Arasteh

The post Korean skin care and K-beauty brands: Where to buy the best Korean makeup and skincare in the UK appeared first on mamabella.

Best sustainable beauty brands UK: Our pick of eco-friendly makeup and skincare brands and their must-have products

Amira Arasteh — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 07:25:08 +0000

When it comes to the beauty industry, it seems there are myriad brands doing their bit for the planet but sustainable beauty is a relatively new phenomenon. It’s also a trend that won’t be going anywhere soon as consumers have embraced it with open arms.

Whether it’s reducing or eliminating plastic, sourcing sustainable ingredients, offering recycling schemes or being vegan, we wanted to share our favourite sustainable beauty and personal hygiene brands and their must-have products.

There is also a myth that sustainable beauty costs a fortune. While it’s true that you may end up paying slightly more to ensure the packaging doesn’t contain plastic or that the ingredients come from sustainable sources, there are some highly affordable ranges that benefit you, your skin and the planet.

FURTHER READING: What is palm oil used for and why is it so bad?

Best sustainable beauty brands UK

︎ Tropic Skincare: Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier and Bamboo Face Cloth

£18 | Buy now from Tropic

Tropic

Tropic Skincare, the beauty brand set up by The Apprentice star Susie Ma, believes plants are the most nutritious and beneficial ingredient for the skin and all of its ingredients are sustainably sourced from the Amazon rainforest, Polynesia, Australia and many more exotic regions.

In addition, Tropic is huge on animal welfare and the environment; the brand never tests on animals and doesn’t use any derivatives that cause animals distress. It stands with Cruelty-Free International, The Vegan Society and PETA as a 100% cruelty-free brand.

In 2019, Tropic sent zero waste to landfill, and is helping its customers live a lower impact lifestyle with a packaging returns initiative on some of its products. By the end of 2020, the brand strives towards offering refillable packaging across the whole skincare range.

This smoothing cleanser and bamboo facecloth are perfecting for removing makeup. It leaves skin feeling clean without making it feel dry and doesn’t cause any irritation. The bamboo cloth is an added bonus, removing all traces of makeup without scratching or pulling on the skin.

FURTHER READING: Spotlight on…Tropic Skincare’s fantastic natural, fresh and sustainable beauty lines

Buy now from Tropic

︎ Cocofloss Dental Floss

£8.40 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Cocofloss

Cocofloss offers an eco-friendly solution for people who want to give their teeth that extra clean, ridding their mouths of cavity-causing bacteria. The floss itself is made from completely non-toxic ingredients, including recycled water bottles, antimicrobial coconut oil, naturally aromatic fruit oils and vegan wax.

Not compromising on your flossing either, the floss has more than 500 filaments to ensure your teeth are plaque-free after a cleansing session. Available in a variety of flavours: Delicious Mint; Fresh Coconuts; Pure Strawberry or Cara Cara Orange, you can definitely floss like a boss with this eco-friendly product.

Cocofloss is committed to being as sustainable as possible and has an ongoing partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Network.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

︎ ede Roll on Therapists

£15 | Buy now from ede

ede

Championing all things organic, vegan and cruelty-free, ede has given aromatherapy a modern makeover. Featuring four skincare products, it’s all about quality not quantity with this brand. Everything is made of natural, organic ingredients that are gentle on both your skin and the environment.

Our favourite is the hero product, Roll on Therapists, which are aromatherapy rollerballs, designed to stimulate your senses, invigorating energy or easing anxiety – whatever is needed. All essential oils are vegan and never tested on animals.

In addition to its sustainable and ethical ethos, ede has joined forces with TreeApp, planting a tree for every purchase order received. If that’s not an incentive to shop with this sustainable brand, we don’t know what is.

Buy now from ede

︎ SUN.DAY of London Candles

£16 | Buy now from House of Fraser

Sun.Day of London

Focusing more on wellness than beauty specifically, SUN.DAY of London is a brand specialising in handcrafted candles. Using old recyclable glass and wax formed using solely plant-based ingredients, the candles are 100% natural.

Cruelty-free and vegan as well, the brand ensures the candles are made from GMO-free coconut and palm oil-free plant waxes. You still get aromatherapy-grade, essential oil fragrance blend, however, with scents in the botanica collection including fresh eucalyptus and calming lavender. Locally sourced in the UK, SUN.DAY of London maintains a low carbon footprint this way.

Buy now from House of Fraser

︎ Nair: Rose Sugar Wax

£13.99 | Buy now from Superdrug

Nair

Nair’s Oriental Sugar Wax is biodegradable and the strips can be rinsed and reused.

The Rose Sugar Wax uses five ingredients: sugars (glucose and sucrose), glycerin citric acid, water and natural rose extract and is 100% derived from natural origins.

This means you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin. This wax is vegan-friendly and contains no artificial perfumes or colours. It’s even suitable for sensitive skin.

FURTHER READING: Best hair removal cream: Fight the fuzz with our fave hair removal creams from Veet, Nair and more

Buy now from Superdrug

︎ INIKA: Organic Bold Lash Vegan Mascara

£27 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

INIKA

INIKA Organic is an Australian brand, focused on honest, clean and natural beauty.

Free from toxic chemicals and committed to certified organic, cruelty-free, halal and vegan values, the brand prides itself on using only ingredients good for the skin and the environment in its products.

No compromise on this mascara – as mascara aficionados we can strongly confirm this – so you can bat those dramatically-coated black lashes with confidence and zero guilt.

FURTHER READING: Best mascara: From Too Faced’s Better Than Sex to Lancôme’s Hypnose – here are our fave lash lifts

Buy now from Lookfantastic

︎ Spectrum Collections: Makeup Brushes

Prices vary | Buy now from Spectrum Collections

Spectrum Collections

Spectrum Collections prides itself on being vegan and cruelty-free, as well as striking to be kind to the planet.

The brand rose to fame with its beautiful, and often themed, makeup brush sets but now specialises in actual makeup too. In 2018, the brand cut its plastic packaging by 50% and donates 1% of its gross revenue to plastic clean-up initiatives.

The brush bristles are made from high-quality talon hair, meaning they’re durable and long-lasting – so keep cleaning them regularly and you shouldn’t need to throw them out. You can read more in our How to clean makeup brushes and choose a makeup brush cleaner guide.

The brush handles are also made from sustainably-sourced wood and handcrafted.

FURTHER READING: Best makeup brushes: The best natural and synthetic makeup brushes

Buy now from Spectrum Collections

︎ R&R: Luxury Lip Butter

£4.80 | Buy now from R&R Luxury

R&R Luxury

Now might be the most important time of the year to take care of your lips.

R&R Luxury has ridden on the success of products such as its baobab oil and liquid black soap but recently released new products including its Lip Butter.

Not only has the brand had sustainability at the core of its values since the beginning, but now its new products are all sold in sustainable packagings such as tin and cardboard.

Celebrating the brand’s 10-year anniversary, R&R is always interested in improving its sustainability, wherever possible.

The Lip Butter is made from 100% natural ingredients – which is not only great for the environment but good news for your lips too – and uses raw shea butter as its base ingredient, further enriched with virgin coconut oil, lavender oil and peppermint oil to keep your lips soothed and hydrated.

FURTHER READING: How to make your lips bigger naturally and apply lipstick like a pro – no fillers required

Buy now from R&R Luxury

︎ Lola’s Apothecary: Massage Body Soufflé

£36 | Buy now from Lola’s Apothecary

Lola's Apothecary

Another brand committed to being as sustainable as possible, Lola’s Apothecary is a spa and wellness brand whose products you’ll find in some serious top-tier hotels – making getting your hands on them in your own home even more of a luxurious dream.

The brand takes pride in ethical and sustainable sourcing for its products and this is evident right the way through to the paper and cardboard packaging, which somehow does not compromise on its pretty aesthetic.

Vegan-friendly and 100% natural, Lola’s Apothecary’s body soufflés all contain whipped shea butter, coconut oil and rosehip that melts effortlessly into your skin.

Not only does it feel great but it also smells heavenly, with a range of signature scents. Perfect for any time of year.

FURTHER READING: The best body firming creams, lotions and oils that *actually* work

Buy now from Lola's Apothecary

︎ Face Halo: Makeup Remover Pads

£18 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Face Halo

A makeup removal device that’s effective, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient may sound too good to be true, but it’s not! Not only are Face Halo pads reusable, you can wash them up to 200 times, which replaces 500 make up wipes, they’re also easily recycled once you’re done with your wonder pad, thanks to the brand’s own upcycling scheme.

What’s more, if you’re conscious of what you’re putting on your face, it’s good to know that Face Halo removes makeup with just water.

The average makeup wearer uses 730 wipes on average per year to remove their makeup and it takes more than 100 years for a single wipe to break down in landfill. These plush little pads are so easy to use and don’t lose fineness over time and washing.

FURTHER READING: Best cleanser: Discover which face cleanser best suits your skin from oily to dry and acne-prone

Buy now from Cult Beauty

︎ WUKA Period Pants

From £10 a pair | Buy now from WUKA

WUKA

Did you know pads and tampons end up in landfill? Sustainable period brand WUKA is on a mission to ensure that sustainable periods are accessible to everyone and to end period poverty.

The brand’s range of period underwear is made from an eco-friendly fabric – organic cotton and Econyl, which has been upcycled from ocean waste, and which, in turn, prevents 200 disposable pads and tampons from harming the environment.

Available in a range of styles to suit flows and underwear preference, the brand has also just launched a new WUKA Basic for £10 a pair (if you buy a pack of five) online, too.

We know what you’re thinking – this is great but do they actually work? We can confirm, they do.

Completely leak-free, WUKA’s period pants can last up to eight hours, which is likely longer than your usual pad or tampon thanks to their high-tech absorbency layer capable of absorbing 200 times its own weight in water.

Of course, this will depend on individuals and their cycles but having trialled the pants, we can confirm they’re so comfortable. Plus, thanks to their antibacterial fabric, there’s no funny smells going on either.

What happens when you’re done? Run them underwater until the redness disappears and then they can go into the machine with your regular clothes wash!

FURTHER READING: UK beauty brand Faace is donating period products to HeyGirls with sales of its face masks

Buy now from WUKA

︎ Saalt: Menstrual Cup

£25 | Buy now from Amazon

Saalt

On the topic of more sustainable and affordable periods, we also highly recommend Saalt Menstrual Cups. These are a good alternative to tampons and pads, especially if you don’t fancy using WUKA period pants.

A single cup is £25, which isn’t cheap, but bear in mind that one silicone cup lasts ten years (as long as you wash it regularly, but then why would you not?!)

We have a particularly heavy period and usually get through at least three-four tampons a day at the height of our period. By comparison, we barely fill this menstrual cup over the course of an entire day.

It’s also fascinating, albeit a little gross, to see how much we actually bleed. And it’s nowhere near as much as our previous tampon and pad use would suggest.

A couple of things to consider: if you have a prolapsed womb or similar, you may struggle with menstrual cups. You obviously need to get your hands a *little* dirty to remove the cup, but it’s very easy to do so, simply push down and it will come out.

And please, please, wash your hands before you put the cup in our take it out – you run the risk of a fungal infection such as thrush if you don’t, which won’t be the cup’s fault but it might end up giving you a bad experience unfairly.

What’s more, for every purchase Saalt helps provide improved period care and educational opportunities to women and girls in need.

FURTHER READING: #Vulvalution: Cult Beauty teams up with Lady Garden to get more people talking about gynaecological cancers

Buy now from Amazon

︎ Axiology: Lipstick

£24 | Buy now from ASOS

Axiology

Axiology is a lipstick brand that is aiming to be ethical on all fronts: the brand is cruelty-free, vegan, organic, non-toxic, palm oil-free, and uses ethical sourcing with thoughtful packaging.

The brand is PETA-certified and provides financial support to the Orangutan Foundation International where funds go towards protecting and rehabilitating endangered animals from the effects of the palm oil industry.

In terms of the product, it’s also a large yes from us. There’s absolutely no compromise on the quality of the lipstick, given the priority and focus on all of the above.

The lipsticks come in a range of striking colours and go on so smoothly, your lips genuinely feel nourished as you perfect your pout. The one downside is that they’re not cheap.

FURTHER READING: Best lipstick: From nude to red and liquid to matte, here are our favourite lipsticks

Buy now from ASOS

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Amira Arasteh

The post Best sustainable beauty brands UK: Our pick of eco-friendly makeup and skincare brands and their must-have products appeared first on mamabella.