Since April this year I decided to make the switch to going completely cruelty free with my skincare, makeup and hair care products. It's been a really interesting process and I'm still learning something new every single day about animal testing and the different regulations (and often loopholes) which various companies adhere to. I'll only be doing one gift guide this year, so I thought it would be apt to do a little round up of some of my favourite cruelty free brands which are all perfect for gifting your loved ones (or hey, yourself!) this Christmas and beyond.
Magic Organic Apothecary
M.O.A products are made in England and are inspired by old herbal folklore with a little sprinkling of magic! They're fairly new on my cruelty free radar, and produce some very special and powerful products. Their hero herb, Yarrow, can be found beside hedgerows all across the UK, and has been used for centuries to help heal and repair. So no wonder their magic Green Balm is an absolute must have and will soothe a whole magnitude of skin woes! My favourite is the Facial Gift Set, which at £35 comes in the most gorgeous gift box and would make a really lovely christmas gift.
Niod
NIOD have this super cool science-y approach to skincare which I absolutely bloody love (Their name actually stands for 'Non invasive options in dermal science') I've been using their Set No.1 (which is £50) on and off this year, and it always clears up my problem skin in a matter of days. This is potent stuff, yet still gentle on the skin. My face has been a bit of a riot the past couple of months down to me neglecting my skincare routine and in favour of sleep and often falling asleep with my makeup on (school boy error, I knoooow) So often of an evening I'll have a bath and beg the skin gods for forgiveness, and this is where NIOD come to the rescue and deliver insanely quick results.
PURE Skin Care
For those who are all about the pamper factor when it comes to their skincare, this range from Pure is absolutely perfect. Their products clearly state what skin type they are most suitable for, which is helpful if you're buying for someone but don't know exactly what their skin woes might be. I got my friend Dominique the hydrate and renew face oil for her birthday, which seemed to go down really well! Of course my fave is the Regulate & Clear Face Oil which is £32 for 30ml. Having oily skin, I was initially hesitant about putting oil based products on my skin, but you only need the tiniest amount and it works a treat.
Paul Mitchell
When it comes to hair care, you can't go wrong with the Cruelty Free guru's Paul Mitchell. These guys have so many gorgeous Limited Edition holiday sets on their site, and there really is something for everyone. The ones which really stood out to me (gorgeous packaging as well as stellar products!) are the Mitch Grand Gent Deluxe Grooming Kit (£30), Awapuhi Indulge & Smooth Gift Set (£40), Marula Oil Luxury Gift Set (£69), Make It Bold Gift Set (£30). Santa baby, did I mention I've been an awfully good girl this year?
L'anza Haircare
For another salon experience at home, I can't recommend L'anza enough for the hair care lovers in your life. I know it's not everyones vibe to spend dolla on really good shampoo, but once you try a high quality, salon brand it's really hard to go back to a £2 bottle from Tesco. Especially if you put your hair through the wars like me! I initially stumbled across L'anza on feel unique, and after a bit of homework I was really pleased to see they had such a strong and concise cruelty free and environmental mission statement. Their Healing Gift Sets start at around £30.
Lush
Would it really be a gift guide without mentioning my cruelty free soul mates, Lush! As always, they've hit the ball out the park with their Christmas Gifts this year, and seriously Santa, 2016 has been tough man, but I have been SO WELL BEHAVED. If aaaany of the following happened to appear under my christmas tree then that would be splendid. Joy To The World (£9.95), Home For Christmas (£14.95), There's Something About Bathing (£14.95) and Magic Cube (£62.95) As always, there's something for everyone and I will sure as hell be stocking up on enough snow fairy to see me through the first few seasons of 2017.
Fake Bake
For the little glamour puss in your life, Fake Bake are always on top form when it comes to gifting options. They're the tan that I always go back to again and again (consistency and quality!) and the fact that they are 100% cruelty free makes me extremely happy. I switch between their Wonderwear foundation and Illamasqua skin base, as CF dupes for my years of loyalty to Estee Lauder Double Wear (and DW light) since they started doing makeup and skincare as well as tanning products. For something a little different, their Face & Body Tanning Contouring Kit (£49.95) caught my eye and I have already gifted one of my besties with this box earlier in the year.
#BLOW
Last but not least, if you're based in Scotland and want to gift someone with a Cruelty Free hair makeover, why not head to Blow! They are Europe's only Manic Panic Asylum, and thankfully this fantastic cult range of dye is completely cruelty free. For someone who changes the colour of their hair on such a regular basis, I would be a hypocrite to only use CF products at home. Why should it not filter through to my monthly hair ritual too? Blow make this possible for me and I always leave the salon with a spring in my step with the added knowledge that my hair has been treated with a cruelty free hair dye. So if in doubt about what to get your bestie, give them a gift voucher that will Blow their average salon experience out of the water.
All of the pictures in this post are from the brands website, and the final image is from a Sci Fi Fantasy themed shoot I did with Blow a month or so ago. I think pink velvet is my new calling y'all! With Creative Direction by Sheri Scott, Styling by Roisin Ferguson, Makeup by The Academy Of Makeup and Photography by Erica Von Stein. You can see more from this over on their facebook page. But for now I shall leave ya with this lovely little dream sequence shot, and a hope that I've maybe inspired you into thinking about cruelty free gifting this Christmas.