Monday 21 March 2016

Brand Focus: Soap & Glory

Soap & Glory are pretty much brand royalty when it comes to the world of affordable pampering products. 
Originating in the UK, Soap & Glory offer a whole range of products from bath and body to makeup and skincare that are all 100% cruelty free. With their good enough to eat scents, quirky packaging and affordable price tags it's no wonder that Soap & Glory are easily up there in my list of the best cruelty free companies.

Since Marcia Kilgore, the serial entrepreneur and general business superwoman, started it up in 2006 the brand has consistently managed to develop and offer a vast array of quality products, wining S&G countless awards and a very loyal customer base.

Not only did they win me over with their morals and unique branding but they’re also really concerned with the environmentally strenuous effects of their industry. They are campaigning to get us Brits to reduce our water consumption by taking shorter showers, with their 2-Minute Rinse mission.

On their website I found this scary statistic: “The average 5-minute shower uses 35 litres of water; 70% of our recommended daily water use.” No wonder they are so keen to promote more mindful washing!


Although they are arguably best known for their bath and shower products, I tend to use items from their makeup range far more than any other bits they offer. Probably due to the fact that I, ashamedly, tend to neglect my poor body and am far more inclined to experiment when it comes to makeup. Luckily, their beauty range doesn’t disappoint and of my all time favourite products include:

Make Up:
Brow Archery - Double ended brow felt tip and pencil
Eye shadows - Great pigmentation and amazing colour pay off.
Solar Powder Bronzer - Perfect for pale skinned girls


Skin Care and Body:
No Clogs Allowed - Self heating Face Mask; Feels a bit bazaar when it starts to heat up but also strangely satisfying...
Scrub Your Nose in it - Gentle but effective pore refining exfoliator
Flake Away Body Scrub - Just Smell it.

Although I'm sure most of you have at least one S&G item sitting on your shelf, hopefully now you know a little more about the brand itself!

- Lola -

Monday 7 March 2016

Brand Focus: Haeckels


Haeckels are an all-natural and hand crafted skincare and fragrance brand. They harness all their products goodness from the underestimated power of the humble seaweed...

Yes, you heard right, seaweed. Mad but genius. As it turns out seaweed contains a staggering amount of anti-oxidant properties that can help protect against cell damage.
All their products are 100% cruelty free and the vast majority are vegan, with only a few containing bees wax.

Haeckles own one of the only two licences to harvest seaweed from the English coast, something which they take great pride in, aiming to source all their seaweed as locally as possible.
So far I've tried out three different products from their range: The exfoliating seaweed block, Bog Mrytle incense and seaweed tea. All of which granted, sound a little bazaar but have defiantly not disappointed when it comes to quality, longevity, sent or taste.

Even their packaging is carefully crafted. Made from glass rather plastic which enables the bottles to be re-used and recycled, consequently limiting the environmental impact of their products. The tinted, amber glass was chosen for its ability to block out any potentially damaging effects of the sun, meaning the product inside remains as fresh as it was when first made.

Due to being an all-natural and hand-crafted brand their prices are a little more on the luxurious side, but you're not just paying for a quality product when you support a brand like Haeckles, your supporting creativity, craftsmanship and the uniqueness of the British coastline.

Haeckels have a stunning shop in Margate (see pictures above), which I'd highly recommend visiting if you are ever in the area. Their products are also currently stocked in Selfridges.


- Lola -