High quality Cruelty free skincare is something I’ve been really trying to find since going going cruelty free, I’, always thinking there’s better cruelty free skincare but I think I’ve finally found the stuff I love and wouldn’t change. It works perfectly for my oily/combination skin that can be a little dry and has so far been helping keep those pesky wrinkles at bay, as I’m edging nearer and nearer to the big 30 (only 6 months to go!) the ones on my forehead are getting more visible. These products are helping keep them at bay.
Antipodes is a skincare brand we’ve both loved long before I began my cruelty free journey and it’s one that has stuck with us for a good few years now especially as it is high quality cruelty free skincare I was glad it wasn’t one of the brands I had to cull when I went cruelty free, it all started out with the divine oil (original review here) back in 2013 and a repurchase by both of us along the way and a more products tried it’s a brand we both love. You can see all of our reviews on antipodes here. One thing I love about Antipodes is the amazing high quality ingredients you can find in all there products. There products are also clearly labelled orgainc, suitable for vegetarians or vegan which I love as it saves hunting to try and find the information, they also clearly state what can and can’t be recycled packaging wise and all these below can be which is great and they are thick solid pots meaning you could repurpose them if you make your own scrubs and things.
These are 3 of my current cruelty free favourites from the Antipodes range, orginally these were all sent for review over time but the cleanser and the eye cream I have since repurchased.
Manuka Honey Skin Brightening Eye Cream
This is the ulitmate eye cream as far as I’m concered, it’s super thick but melts into the skin and make up applies perfectly over it. It’s a really big pot so whilst it may seem expensive you get a huge 30ml which is double most eye cream sizes. Due to the large size it really does last ages, this is only the second pot I’ve had and I’ve had this since July used it at least 4 times a week and there is still loads left. After buying it for me for a birthday present I’ve even converted my mum to it I’m slowly converting her to cruelty free skincare as she used up products. Full post including all the amazing qualites it has from the Manuka Honey is here.
Grapeseed Butter Cleanser
For evenings I love a thick nourishing cleanser to really melt the make up away and this does exactly that. It melts into the skin, clears away all my make up and leaves my skin feeling super soft. For me as I do tend to be oily I only like to use this at night. Full Review here.
Halo Skin Brightening Facial Mud Mask
I’m someone who in gernal is a little bit lazy when it comes to face masks especially as the house we bought doesn’t have a bath currently. I tend to save them for when I have baths so I’ve not been using them as much as I used to with the exception of this mask. I’ve actually found myself reaching for it about once every 3 weeks (I told you I’m lazy, I’m lazy when it comes to exfoliating the skin too!). The face mask is suitable for vegans, and contains Vinanza grape and Kiwi to provide antioxidants and help brighten skin, peony which helps with uneven skintone and adds luminousity and volcanic mud to detox the skin. This is a great mask for when your skin is feeling dull and just needs a lift.
The Drops of Youth Range from The Body Shop is the first thing I recommend if someone asks for a cruelty free skincare recommendation, easy to get hold of, reasonably prices and The Body Shop do a great points scheme. I’ve been using the youth concentrate since 2016 now and in that time I’ve only tried too other serums but still go back to this. I’d say I’m on about my 5th bottle of it. I’ve found it only goes on offer about once a year so as soon as that goes up I stock up on products to last me the year! You can see all of our full reviews on the range here. They’ve also just released a sheet mask that I can’t wait to try out. The range is also vegan.
Drops of Youth Youth Concentrate
This was the first product I tried from the range and straight away I was hooked, it has a super lightweight gel texture and just sinks straight into the skin, all further products apply easily over it, and it just leaves my skin feeling fresh, hydrated and not at all oily or shiny. I can’t recommend this enough to people.
Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask
This is probably one of the strangest textures for a product I’ve felt, it really is bouncy, in the pot I bounce my fingers on the product to get it out and then apply to the face ( I’m aware this sounds really weird but next time you’re instore test it and you’ll see what I mean, if you scoop you get way to much product!) A little goes a long way with this and like all of the range it’s lightweight gel texture so it doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin. You just wake up with refreshed skin the the morning.
Drops of Youth Youth Cream
This is one of the newer products I’ve been using from the range but I’ve used it everyday now since November and it hasn’t disappointed. My skin is loving this, it sinks in easily, doesn’t leave a residue and my make up applies really well over the top of it. I do apply the Skin Defence Multi Protection Essence over the top as this is SPF 50 and the two go well together. The Skin Defence is a high spf but in a light weight texture unlike my old favourite Neals Yard one which felt very heavy this one instantly soaks into the skin and so far I’ve not had an issue with burning but it is the UK and I didn’t get out in the sun too much this year!
Drops of Youth Bouncy Eye Mask
Although this is an eye mask it can also be used as an everyday eye cream, I alternate between this one and the Antipodes one above. This is also a newer addition and one I picked up at the same time as the Youth Cream, as with the rest of the line it’s lightweight and absorbs easily into the skin which is something I love about the range as other anti aging products just seem heavy and focused on moisture. This feels invisible on the skin once applied as an eye cream over a mask and means my concealer sits reallly well on it. So far no complaints from me on this and just like the rest of the range I love it.
Other Cruelty Free Skincare Brands I love our:
- The Ordinary – especially the Marine Hyaluronics
- Lacura – The cleanse and polish dupe and their serums are a great cheaper alternative
- Miss Patiserrie – although they have currently stopped selling skincare
- Lush – I love full of grace serum (can’t wait to try more of their naked range), dark angels, herblism and breath of fresh air toner is the only toner I really use.
What are your favourite cruetly free skincare brands and products?
Love M
xxx