Friday 30 March 2012

Mineral Metallics To Shine


Here at CutECOsmetics we absolutely loved the trend on the catwalks this Spring for Smoky Metallic eyes as seen here on one of Emilio Pucci’s models in the SS12 show.  We think this look is gorgeous.


We thought we would showcase & put to the test the best in mineral eye shadows in some gorgeous Metallic Shades, so here are some of our favourites that we tried and tested:



Lily Lolo’s mineral eyeshadow is a natural loose powder with a good colour pigment and comes in a cute little sifter pot so you just get the right amount. Sticky Toffee is a light brown/beige shimmer with golden undertones. These are great used wet or dry. One of the best things is the price of these shadows at £5.29


This shade applied very smoothly and was the palest shade of the three giving a very pretty pale golden bronze. It blended well and had pretty good staying power without a primer.


Using 100% pure Mica powder, these beautiful shimmer powders will provide long lasting, vibrant color without any additional filler that can often smear, crease, fade and even cause allergic reaction. The Bellapierre shimmer powders are priced at £12.99 but are definitely worth the investment, the quality is great.


This shade was the real surprise, thinking it would just be a golden bronze shade but once applied the centre of the shade at the deepest point gives a gorgeous deep metallic brown/grey look to it. We completely adored this one. It applied very well with a lovely texture and creamy feel to it and you really only need the tiniest amount of this, great pigmentation and staying power.



BM Beauty mineral eyeshadows are free from parabens, synthetic dyes and fragrances, fillers, bismuth oxychloride, nano particles and animal products. A very reasonable price at £7.00


Adobe brick gives a smooth shimmery bronze brown
This shade does what it says on the tin! It applied well, again only needing a small amount. It’s a beautiful coppery bronze with a great sheen to it, not too sparkly! The BM Beauty shadow has good staying power and nice pigmentation.




Which metallic shade will you be wearing this Spring?

Friday 23 March 2012

Roses: More Than Just Pretty Petals

We can all appreciate the beauty of roses and their beautiful scent, but did you know that they are much more than just a pretty petal? 


Here are a few interesting facts about roses and why we love them at CutECOsmetics HQ and a few of our rosy products thrown in....


1. Rosehips can be used to brew tea and to make jams. They are known for their high vitamin C content and are delicious!


Smith's Rosebud Salve




2. Rose oil and Rosewater are fantastic anti-ageing ingredients, helping to improve hydration and to feed the skin with healing vitamins. 


Figs & Rouge Rambling Rose Organic Balm




3. In aromatherapy terms, Rose is used to balance moods, it is a nostalgic fragrance that can calm and soothe.


Balm Balm Organic Rose Geranium Face Balm




4. Rose is also treasured for its fantastic anti-inflammatory properties and it is gentle enough for the most sensitive skin.


Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter




5. Did you know that Rose essential oils are the height of luxury? Costing between £3000-6000 per kilogram of raw materials! 


Priti NYC Nail Polish Japanese Rose
Have we refreshed your appreciation for this ever so traditional ingredient?

Are you a Rose fan or not? 

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Makeover Your Make-up Storage with these Cute Ideas

We know here at CutECOsmetics how much you love your makeup collections and wanted to share a few ideas for creative & eco ways of storing all your fave products at home.

We absolutely love this stylish handmade brush wrap from Joanne Parkin, perfect for keeping those treasured EcoTools or Bdellium tools tidy! The brush wrap is made from a peacock liberty print, dupion silk and leather measuring 30cm x 21cm. The design is available in 3 colours, black, turquoise and silvery grey. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com 


Perfect for storing your bamboo brushes are these bamboo bathroom organisers. A great sustainable source, bamboo is not a tree but a grass so is super fast growing & when harvested it doesn't need replanting!


How about making your own eco makeup bag? That's exactly what you can do with this Organic Cosmetic Bag Kit from Kotori Kits. The kit comes with all you need to make your own organic canvas bag with easy to follow instructions for newbie crafters. Available from www.notonthehighstreet.com


For those of you with a slightly bigger collection of makeup to store like us! We recommend these ultra cute caddies by 3Sprouts.
Made from 100% Cotton Canvas and lined with polyethylene so perfect for any spillages! These are available in the UK from LittleZilla on Amazon.



Our final pick are these wonderful & ethical baskets available from www.basketbasket.co.uk The baskets are from the Maata-N-Tudu Association in northern Ghana. It was created to support the women of this region to improve the quality of their lives. BasketBasket pay a much higher rate for their baskets than they are able to get in the local markets, so all baskets purchased directly help to improve their lives.



We hope you like our suggestions?

Tell us what you think and how you store your makeup collections!

Sunday 18 March 2012

LAQA&CO Land at CutECOsmetics HQ

Another exciting delivery arrived today, we are sure you are going to love this bunch just as much as we do. We are delighted to share with you the stunning collection from LAQA&CO. Each box features a different design from a independent artist, who receives a percentage of the profits from their box design, it's a unique, quirky twist that we are just in love with.



Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pens



No only does this range look gorgeous, the products are also fabulous, we've got our excited mitts on the Nail Polish Pen and Lip Pencils. The great thing about Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pens is they are '3 free' & the Lip Pencils are paraben free plus of course they do not test on animals With bizarre names and luscious colours, we are pretty sure that you will struggle to resist these beauties.






Laqa & Co Nail Polish Pens retail at £9.50 & Fat Lip Pencils at £13.00  


Which one has caught your eye? Have you tried this brand before?

Get them here

Thursday 15 March 2012

Korres Colours Arrive in Stock!

We are so excited to announce that we are now an official stockist of some of the most beautiful colour products from Korres. Everything in this new line is cruelty free, with many vegan and vegetarian products, plus it's flipping gorgeous! So let us introduce you to these new beauties, now available to buy in the UK, with free delivery!


Lush and lovely Korres Lip Butters with Shea Butter and Rice Wax. These stylish, iconic lip balms hydrate and soften lips with a hint of subtle gloss and delicious colour. Which one will you be tempted by? Here are just a few to get you salivating...


In addition to the ever so desirable Lip Butters, we are also pleased to introduce you to Korres Wild Rose Liquid Foundation, Concealer, Mango Butter Lipsticks, Cherry Lip Glosses, Eyeliners, Pro-Vitamin Mascara, Watermelon Tinted Moisturiser and Blushers! We are sure that you will be as tempted as we are. Here at CutECOsmetics HQ, we are super excited to try out the Peach Powder Blush, what do you think?
Have you tried Korres make up before? What do you think?






Wednesday 14 March 2012

CutECOsmetics in The Good Web Guide

We were very excited and proud to be chosen by The Good Web Guide as one of their Best Sites for Make-up a few weeks ago!

Here's the article:

This is what they had to say about us:

"For cosmetics with a conscience, cutECOsmetics should be your port of call. This family-run business has worked hard to find organic, vegan and cruelty-free cosmetic brands to stock on their site. Shop by brand (Barry M, Urban Decay, Nvey are all available here) or you can even shop by Ethic! Looking for a bright red vegan lipstick? Get it here."

Our site has only been running for a matter of months so we were absolutley thrilled to have been recognised amongst some massive brands like Mac, Benefit, Glossybox & Cult Beauty.

Thanks very much Good Web Guide you made our month!!

Visit our award winning website CutECOsmetics

Tuesday 13 March 2012

Fat Free Easter Eggs

Want some eggs for Easter but without the calories or guilt? Or do you purely just want a fun alternative to Easter eggs? Check out these cuties from EOS, our very own lip balm Easter eggs! 

Just as delicious, but they last longer and are 100% fat free. Treat yourself or treat a friend, it's up to you! One thing is for sure, here in the CutECOsmetics HQ we'll be using EOS eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt this year! We want them all. They smell so good, we want to eat them! 


Which flavour EOS balm do you think sounds the most delicious?

EOS Lip Balm Spheres are only £5.95 from cutECOsmetics and we offer free delivery!




Saturday 10 March 2012

Award Winning Natural Makeup


Well readers it’s that time of year when Natural Health Magazine announces the results of their Natural Health Beauty Awards and we are very excited that so many of CutECOsmetics brands received awards. The main aim of the awards is to find the best products on the market that are free from chemical nasties such as parabens, petroleum, PEGs and phthalates.

We would like to give a huge congratulations to the brands we stock that won prizes and tell you a bit more about the worthy winning products. So here they are!

Eye shadow Category
Winner

These mineral shadows come in a huge array of shades and are free from harsh chemicals, dyes and fillers. They have a silky and creamy formula that has great stay power; they are 100% natural and most are suitable for vegans.

Highly Commended

The Inika range is all certified as cruelty free, vegan and halal. The mineral eye shadow has a very fine texture and is highly pigmented so you really do only need a small amount. The purity of the shadows also means they are perfect for sensitive eyes.

Blusher Category
Highly Commended

The Bellapierre Compact Mineral bronzer is made with 100% pure mineral pigments and bound with soothing Jojoba, it blends easily and provides a luminous colour that will not change or fade throughout the day. 

Concealer Category
Highly Commended

Makes under eye bags vanish in a flash and has a lot of staying power. The light texture blends easily creating a flawless base and because the INIKA concealer contains certified organic ingredients such as macadamia and rose hip oil, your skin will feel hydrated. Perfect for even for the most sensitive skin.

Tinted Moisturiser Category
Highly Commended

Organic Chamomile, Vitamin E organic Safflower Oil combine to create this soothing, moisturising and aromatic liquid foundation. This luxurious formula assists dry and sensitive skins.

Congratulations to all the Winners!
 You can purchase all of these products from our shop www.cutecosmetics.co.uk
 
Do you have a favourite winning product?

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Make Your Nails Naturally Priti

We are so excited to be stocking Priti NYC Nail Polishes, believe it or not these gorgeous nail paints are free of carcinogenic ingredients as well as being vegan and PETA approved cruelty free. Who would have thought that this was possible!?


Not only does this brand have a conscience, Priti NYC also has a stunning selection of colours, we want them all! Which one will you try first?


Subtle in perfectly pink Sweet Pea? 


Bold in striking Blue Sage?
Sophisticated in natural Spring Song?


Plus, Priti NYC have even managed to transform the nasty chemical that is Nail Polish Remover into something beautiful, yes we have pretty Nail Polish Remover! It is a Soy based products and as with the polishes, cruelty free, vegan and carcinogenic free, plus it smells delightfully of Lemongrass! In addition, this clever product is 100% biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable. What's not to love?


Plus, the Priti NYC range can be enjoyed by all, it's non-toxic so safe to use on children and mums to be. So everyone can enjoy some Priti nails!
What do you think?

Which colour do you love the most?

Monday 5 March 2012

Fair Trade Fortnight

As I am sure you are all well aware 27th February – 11th March is Fair Trade Fortnight. So we wanted to share with you some fabulous products on our site that contain fairly traded ingredients and of course are fabulously cute!

A quick reminder of what Fairtrade is all about:

‘Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.’

So why not make the decision  this fortnight to buy Fair Trade? We feel sure that you won’t be disappointed with these delicious products.


These scrumptious smelling beauties are made from all fairly traded ingredients and are wonderfully moisturising. Their core ingredients are grade A shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, cocoa butter and vitamin E. You won’t find anything but natural ingredients in these, the dilemma is which scent to pick?

Rum & Blackcurrant is described as a ‘stylish scent inspired by the pacific islands’ and Champagne & Spice as a ‘scent that’s sensual, sophisticated and utterly compelling’. Betty Hula’s products are all handmade and we love their glass jar packaging here at CutECOsmetics.

 
We absolutely adore our Hurraw! balms here at CutECOsmetics, with fair trade ingredients such as their raw, organic Coconut Oil from Mexico. This is extracted using a centrifuged method leaving a pure raw oil which is an amazing moisturiser used in their stunning  ‘hard to choose just one flavour’ range of lip balms. 

Hurraw have 16 unique flavours to choose from including the very popular Tinted Black Cherry, Chai Spice, Coffee Bean, Almond & Green Tea. 

Personal favourite at the moment is the Moon Balm night treatment balm with Vanilla & Peru Balsum scent, it really moisturises wonderfully on your lips overnight.



All of Hurraw’s ingredients are natural (with many being organically grown) and because their ingredients are cold pressed and processed below 118F degrees they are still packed full of essential nutrients and enzymes. Other fair trade ingredients Hurraw use include: cacao, castor, almond & jojoba oil.


Neil Stuber Creative Director / Co-Founder at Hurraw! Balm explained to us why you won’t see the Fair Trade logo on their products;
‘Because 'fair trade' certification is so expensive these days, small companies like us are going beyond fair trade and working directly with the farmers, paying them up front for the fruits of their labors. Fair Trade certifications require that the farmers pay fees and maintain a presence on the fair trade register, which would translate to higher prices for their goods, and thus higher prices for the
finished products. Direct, transparent trade eliminates unnecessary certifications and the middle man, as well as increases the farmers' incomes by at least 25% on average.’

We hope that you’ll support Fair Trade fortnight!

What are your favourite Fair Trade beauty products?