Coffee + Sugar Body Scrub

Fancy a new go-to body scrub? Make this one, it's a true gem:) It has only 3 ingredients (coffee, vegetable glycerin and brown sugar) and it leaves my skin nourished, coffee-scented and happy! Try it, here is the full how-to.

P.S: And this.
P.P.S: Plus, that.

(Photo by The Free Spirited)

Ginger Chamomile Salt Scrub

Here is a great way to indulge in a bit of self-care: tonight after work, make a homemade scrub, run a bath and enjoy a glass of wine afterwards. How does that sound?

Speaking of scrubs, this past weekend I tried Adrienne's magical ginger and chamomile salt scrub that calms the nerves and cures all those dry winter skin patches in a jiffy. Plus, it smells amazing! Try it.

Here is the how-to: mix in a bowl 1 1/2 cup of coarse sea salt with 1/2 cup of liquid coconut oil, the content of 4 chamomile tea bags and 2 teaspoons of grated ginger. Scrub generously everywhere, focusing on rough spots. Rinse well, and moisturize to lock in the benefits. Ta-dah!

P.S: Remember this scrub?
P.P.S: Relax and unwind.

(Photo and how-to by The Free Spirited)

Go-To Homemade Cleanser

Does your skin need a bit of hydrating? Try this nifty oatmeal yogurt + honey cleanser tonight and you won't be sorry! It will moisturize and tighten your pores like nothing else before!

Simply mix together 2 teaspoons of ground oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of honey and 2 teaspoons of plain yogurt. Place the mix on a clean, slightly wet face for 5 minutes. Rinse and have a look in the mirror! Ta-dah:)

P.S: Plus, this.
P.P.S: And that.

(Photos and recipe by/via Broma Bakery)

Winter Scrub

Does your skin get super dry during winter?

Mine does and one thing that really works for me is a great homemade scrub. This year I took Ashley's advice and made a huge jar of her signature bergamot and rose sugar scrub that also has a dash of dried Calendula flowers and orange zest. It smells amazing and keeps my skin happy even during the coldest days. Win-win! Make some too and you won't be sorry - self-care at its best!

P.S: Plus, this healing tea...
P.P.S: And that very British bath soak.

(Photos by Asami Zenri via/for Ashley Neese)

Natural Shampoo (That Works)

If one of your goals this year is to opt for more natural, zero waste and sustainable ways to care for your hair, you should try replacing your go-to shampoo with organic Shikakai powder mix that Lucie swears by.

Shikakai has been used in India for centuries as hair wash and conditioner. It will clean and deep condition your hair making it look healthy, smooth and soft.

Simply make a mixture using a teaspoon of Shikakai powder and water, and use it twice a week. Apply to your hair for about 15 minutes while you are having your bath or taking a shower, rinse and in Lucie's words: 'be ready for the smoothest hair you’ve ever had!'

I just ordered this Shikakai powder, but this one looks good too. Can't wait to give this a try. Will you try it too? What's your go-to natural shampoo?

P.S: And this...
P.P.S: Plus, that.

(Photo and how-to by Practically Zero Waste)

Therapeutic Body Oil

Speaking of self-care, a couple of months ago I made this therapeutic rose, lavender, chamomile and calendula infused body oil that has became my go-to evening treat to relax my body before bedtime. If you haven’t tried body oils yet, you’re truly missing out, so head over here to make one yourself too.

P.S: Yum!
P.P.S: Plus, a few wonderfully jazzy perfume oils for you to try!

(Photos by Jenni Kayne)

Nifty Wrinkle-Busting Trick

...And while we are on the subject of total niftiness, next time you're about to bin leftovers after your avocado toast, save the last bits of pulp that are still in the skin and treat yourself to an under eyes wrinkle busting treatment instead.

Yup, according to Deborah, avocado pulp has the most concentrated amounts of vitamins, and they are known to increase production of collagen making it the 'it' natural wrinkle treatment. Just simply apply a small amount of it onto your orbital rim and keep it there for about 10 minutes before washing it off.

I'm going to get an avocado today, just so I can give this a go.

P.S: Plus, more things avocado...
P.P.S: And, don't miss out on this trick to ripe avocados in just 10 minutes!

(Photo and tip by/via Hello Glow)

Sustainable Natural Everyday Beauty

In the words of Howard Zinn: 'small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world'. So, this spring I stepped up my game and tried to only buy/use organic, natural, sustainable cosmetics that are not only good for my eco-system, but also our planet's eco-system. My biggest challenge was to find great and simple, everyday beauty products that have no plastic packaging. Having said that, I discovered a bunch of true gems. So if you're committed to natural beauty and you want to be more zero-waste, go slow replacing things one-by-one and eventually, you will make a huge difference.

Here are 13 ways to do just that:

From the top: 1. MOA 'Hello sunshine' energising body oil to use as a lotion - 2. Mable bamboo (club) toothbrush subscription that will be sent to your door every 3 months - 3. Fat and The Moon 'green man scented balm' aka your new perfume - 4. Herbivore Botanicals sea mist in lavender for messy summer hair - 5. Dr. Bronner castile bar soap for the whole body and your face too - 6. Elate Cosmetics universal creme to make your skin dewy and radiant - 7. Muehle safety razor for shaving - 8. Uncle Harry's peppermint toothpaste - 9. Schmidt's deodorant - 10. Georganics mouthwash - 11. La Tierra Sagrada shampoo - 12. SW. Basics cream for your face - 13. Butter Me Up Organics sunscreen.

Any favourites?

P.S: Plus, a few homemade recipes you might want to try.
P.P.S: The atlas of beauty.

(Quote via The Beauty In Simple. Top photo via Her New Tribe. Layout by exPress-o)

If you only buy one thing this month...

...it should be the Winky Lux flower balm. Have you heard of it?

After reading tons about it and seeing it all over Instagram, my friend Sofia and I finally gave in and bought one last week. To say we are smitten is an understatement!

Basically this little gem is a sustainable and natural see-through lip stain/balm that contains a real chrysanthemum flower in the colour of your choice. The best bit, besides looking cheery, is that the clear balm reacts with your skin's pH levels, uniquely creating the perfect shade of pink lips just for you. And if that's not enough, it also smells amazing!

I got mine with the yellow flower and Sofia got hers with the blue flower. Will you try it? Have you already? Do tell...

P.S: Here you can see how all the different hues look on different skin tones.
P.P.S: And this.

(Photos by Camilla Pihl and via Allure Magazine)

Homemade Mask for Sensitive Skin

Fancy an all natural redness fix for your super sensitive (or Rosacea prone) skin? Make this turmeric and Greek yoghurt mask, use it twice a week and I promise, you wont be sorry! It's my latest go-to gem that makes my complexion look and feel naturally healthy.

Need more convincing? Well, turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory powers that besides making your skin look healthy, it can also help reduce acne and delay aging. On the other hand, Greek yogurt contains tons of probiotics and zinc that combined with turmeric creates the best remedy for poorly skin in a jiffy.


Here is the recipe:

Mix 1 tablespoon of Greek yoghurt with 1 teaspoon of organic turmeric powder in a small jar. Spread as much of it as you need to cover your whole face and save the rest in the fridge for next time. Leave the mask on for about 5 to 7 minutes and wash it off as usual with water. The only thing to remember is to use this mask at night before bedtime, as turmeric will stain your face just a bit, but the undertone totally disappears by the morning - so no worries there:)

Will you try it?

P.S: Also, this ultimate superfood gem...
P.P.S: And this.

(Photos by exPress-o. Recipe by/via Candy Sparks and Herbs and Herbs)

Choco-Mint Dry Shampoo

If you're addicted to dry shampoo, but eager to swap it for a more natural version, try Adina's 3-ingredient recipe! Oh my goodness, it not only works great, but also smells all fresh and peppermint-y:) It's a gem!

P.S: And this.

P.P.S: Plus, this unusual beauty trick that works.

(Photo by Adina Grigore)

Beauty Tweak: Perfume Oils

Do you wear perfume?

I’ve never been huge on perfume. I often found their scent somewhat overwhelming and tiring, so I usually opted for placing a bit of lavender or sage essential oil beneath my earlobe for a hint of pleasant and calming everyday fragrance.

Having said that, a couple of months ago I received a perfume oil as a gift and it changed everything. Those little bottles of goodness contain the most beautiful and subtle scent that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, no matter what. So, if you're looking for a scent game-changer, here are a few that might just do the trick:

From the top: 1. James by Rosie Jane - 2. Vata Balancing by YOKE - 3. Kai Fragrance - 4. 11 11 by Lake and Skye - 5. TRN V4 by Lurk - 6. Positano by La Bella Figura - 7. Bergamote 22 by Le Labo - 8.Swan M17 by Valchemy Lab 9. Maine by MCMC Fragrances.

Any favourites?

P.S: Nifty little perfume trick.
P.P.S: Your own scent.

(Top photo via That Kind of Woman. Layout by exPress-o)

All Natural Shampoo

What shampoo do you swear by? Are you happy with it?

For the past few years, I’ve been experimenting with all types of shampoos - from liquid to solid to natural - but most didn’t do the trick. I have long, thick hair that is very prone to frizz and taming it is hard! So, after talking to a friend, I finally tried this natural mix that she has been using for over a year now.

Honestly, I’m very impressed! Even after the first wash, it left my hair looking strong and shiny with minimal frizz that was easily cured with a drop of grapeseed oil.

So if you're curious about all natural shampoos try this rather easy one:
Mix 4 ounces of brewed dandelion root tea (or nettle tea) with 4 ounces of Castile soap, and finish it off with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Shake the mixture well before each use!

P.S: All natural laundry detergent that works.
P.P.S: Nifty scent hair tip.

(Photo and recipe by Julia for/via Free People)

1 Minute Facial

Ooo, I think I've just found my new favourite way to banish puffy eyes and treat my skin to some extra morning goodness. According to Adrienne, those gem-packed ice cubes have the power to rejuvenate your tired eyes, while also brightening your complexion - including getting rid of any spots you might have.

The reason they are so effective is because they are packed with inflammation-fighting cucumber, super brightening lemon and wonderfully calming chamomile.

I can't wait to try them out. Here is the full recipe, if you fancy them too...

P.S: And this.
P.P.S: Plus, that.

(Photos by The Free Spirited)

Lavender 'Tub Tea'

Hmm, is the first week of January wearing you down? Here is a suggestion: tonight after work, mute your phone, light a few candles, make this lavender tub tea, shut the bathroom door firmly, put your favourite playlist on and get into the tub. It will be magical, I promise :)

P.S: Speaking of...
P.P.S: 12 surprising things to add to your bath.

(Photo by/via Martha Stewart)

Easy-Peasy Sugar Scrub

Fancy a little treat?

In a bowl, mix together one cup of brown sugar, quarter cup of granulated sugar, ¼ cup of olive oil, a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of vanilla extract for the most indulging scrub ever! This simple little mix will quickly become your go-to evening ritual that is super easy on even the most sensitive skin + it smells heavenly…

Ah, the little things in life!

P.S: Fancy more?
P.P.S: Speaking of treats, have you entered our jewelry GIVEAWAY yet?

(Photo via and recipe adapted from Maker Crate)

Found: The 'it' Anti-Aging Mask

Do  you use anti-aging cosmetics? How about some of those very popular Korean beauty products?

Although I’m 34 years old, I rarely reach for anti-aging remedies. It’s not because my skin looks so youthful, it’s purely because I’m too lazy to really sink my teeth into the world of all those different creams targeting specific areas of your face.

Nevertheless, I've been curious about this whole new world of beauty. So, the other week I stumbled upon Christelle’s nifty post about Korean anti-aging solutions and feeling totally up for the challenge, I tried the egg cream mask she recommended.

Once I saw that the mask contains egg white and egg yolk extract, I knew it was going to be something special, but I got totally gobsmacked by how nourished and revitalized my skin felt just after 20 minutes! Now I’m completely addicted to my newly found beauty booster.

Have you tried this mask yet? What did you think? Any other goodies you'd like to recommend?

P.S: Another great egg based mask you might want to try.
P.P.S: Plus, the anti-ageing eyebrow...

(Photos by The Chriselle Factor)

Autumn Beauty Tweak: Apple Scrub

Eek, tomorrow marks the beginning of  my favourite season, and I couldn't be more excited! There is something about the crisp evening air and changing trees that feels right and I'm genuinely ready for sweaters and socks to go on. How about you?

So, in hopes to start the new season with a bang, tonight after I finish all my work, I'm planning to treat myself to Maria's apple sugar scrub. It's super easy to whip up, smells like apple orchard and it's truly fitting for this time of the year.

 To make it in a jiffy: mix together 3 tbsp of melted coconut oil with the juice of half a lime, 1 small grated apple and 2.5 cups of sugar. Ta dah!

Go on, treat yourself:)

P.S: And this one works great in those mornings when you are a tad too tired to face the day.
P.P.S: A beautiful GIVEAWAY is coming up later today!

(Photos and recipe by/via Made By Mary)

Simple Living Tweak: Toothbrushes

Did you know that 4.7 billion plastic toothbrushes are dumped in landfills and oceans every year worldwide! What a crazy big number, right?

Putting that aside, I believe that tiny everyday choices we make have a potential to be life changing on the long run. So for the past few years I’ve been trying to be more conscious about my surroundings and the items I use. One of the things we recently swapped was our regular plastic toothbrush for a simple bamboo one. Yes, they are a bit more expensive, you do have to care for them so they last you longer, but they brush your teeth equally great as the plastic toothbrush would and when they become redundant, you can recycle (compost) them with no fuss. Not bad, huh?

So below are nine bamboo toothbrushes that are worth trying out, if you fancy a swap too:
1. Mamoncillo toothbrush set - 2. Ernest charcoal bristle bamboo toothbrush - 3. Mable toothbrush - 4. Mmm Mmm Good rainboo toothbrush - 5. WowE toothbrush - 6. Humble toothbrush - 7. Uppercut deluxe toothbrush - 8. Nyxe Naturals toothbrush - 9. WooBamboo toothbrush.

Which one tickles your fancy?

P.S: The return of soap on a rope.
P.P.S: Plus, we are having a sassy jewelry GIVEAWAY this week! Don't miss it!

(Top photo via Stwotwenty and layout by exPress-o)

Natural You: Skin Feast Mask

Have you read Adina Grigore's Skin Cleanse book?

It totally changed my relationship with cosmetics and shifted it towards all things natural and homemade. One of my absolute favourites from the book is the skin feast mask that requires only three simple ingredients that you might have at home already: avocado (that feeds your skin with healthy fat), apple juice (that combats oily skin) and brown rice flour (that has the power to soak up excess oil) leaving your skin glowy, smooth and happy!

Go on, treat yourself:
Start by mashing and combining together 1/2 tablespoon of brown rice flour with 1/4 of an avocado and 1/2 tablespoon of apple juice. Then apply the mask and allow it to dry on your face before rinsing it with warm water and following up with your go-to moisturizer. Ta-dah!

P.S: Also, my ultimate superfood face mask and a bit of sage goodness.
P.P.S: Plus, don't forget to make this before the chilly weather arrives.

(Photos by/via Jessica Murnane)