They say it’s good to have friends in high places. Well, in my book, that means having friends who live in London. Who are green beauty bloggers. And who agree to mail you packages!
Toward the end of last year, I signed up to participate in the “Green Beauty Swap” organized by Ria of Naturia Beauty and Tania of Bow Tied Beauty. I was thrilled to be matched with Mayah of Call it Vanity, a super funny and savvy green beauty blog that’s also written by a dynamic duo, based out of London. The basic premise of the swap is that you & your partner select a price point & then pick out green beauty products for one another and mail them like you would any holiday gift (y’know, with the trimmings).
Mayah SERIOUSLY delivered! I had told her I was hoping to nab some British green beauty products that are hard (or impossible) to find in the States. When I opened her beautifully wrapped package, I literally heard a choir of (British) angels singing in the distance. She packed so much goodness into one little box! Plus, her thoughtful and curated picks came at a great time: every part of my face, body and hair is dry, dry, dry, and these products are perfect winter antidotes, full of moisture and utility. In case you’re curious, here’s Mayah’s great post on the package I put together for her.
So, without further ado, here’s the “London edit” of green beauty, straight from the pro herself! All of these items are on my “re-purchase” list for the next time I make it across the pond.
- MuLondon, Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer
- The London Oil Company, Morning Glory Body Oil
- Hairy Jayne, Hair Perfume with Heat Protection
- Aurelia, Revitalise & Glow Serum
- The London Oil Company, Chocolips
1: First off, let’s talk about the White Chocolate Truffle Moisturizer from MuLondon. It’s rare that a product “smells good enough to eat.” I realize it’s a hypothetical statement, but I doubt any of us would down two ounces of shea butter to see if the fragrance tastes any good. This moisturizer is the exception. If I were to leave this out on the counter, I’d be worried that I, or my boyfriend, or perhaps the HVAC maintenance man would literally ingest it.
MuLondon really nailed the scent on this one: it smells creamy and decadent (and edible!), like rich, melted chocolate. And the only reason I’ll forego attempting to smear it on a cracker is because I’d rather smear it on my hands. It has a lovely, fluffy, whipped texture and sinks right into the skin. Plus, this is an ALL-NATURAL product, so no need to feel any guilt applying it. (or eating it…)
2: I have a confession to make: Morning Glory Body Oil is my first introduction to body oil. I’ve been wanting to try out a handful of them for a while, but always end up buying something for my skin or hair instead. So, I’m very thankful to Mayah for getting me on the body oil train with such a lovely, freshly scented oil. Another completely all natural and largely organic product, the body oil is immediately fragrant of rich lemon once applied, and absorbs quickly. Since opening up Mayah’s package, I’ve been applying it daily to my forearms, elbows and legs. My body drinks it up and the scent lingers on my skin all day. Yep, definitely a body oil convert!
3: Ah, Hairy Jayne Hair Perfume, where have you been all my life? Why is your packaging so freaking cute? If you know me personally, there’s a good chance you’re aware of the fact that I struggle with showers. Largely because detangling my wet, tangled hair is the equivalent of brushing two feet of bird’s nest. This bouncy, citrus-y smelling (grapefruit, may chang & jasmine, to be exact) spray will make a perfect pair with dry shampoo. I’ll be using this beautifully packaged baby every other day, between showers!
4: Aurelia’s serum feels super luxe (it’s creamy!), and I’m psyched that Mayah shared this sample with me. The brand is really appealing: science-driven, natural & probiotic-based skincare. I’ve been applying it to my skin at night to reap the most benefit since this product seems more “backed up” by research and science than any of my other anti-aging creams and serums.
5: My lips become so, so, dry and chapped during winter: it took every ounce of restraint not to knock over all of my green beauty swap products, lined up like soldiers, to uncap and rampantly apply the Chocolips lip balm while I was snapping pics for this entry. And I assure you, that’s exactly what I did as soon as I finished. Chocolips is another all-natural wonder that glides on super smooth and deposits immediate moisture. I moved this lip balm to my purse so I could use it all day today (which I did!).
Endless thanks again to Mayah for hooking me up with such thoughtful and AMAZING treats from her city! And thank you, Ria and Tania, for setting up the swap!
Pingback: It Smells Creamy And Decadent (And Edible!), Like Rich, Melted Chocolate | Mulondon's Blog()