Living Consciously | Vegan Haircare for Dry Damaged Hair

Hello everyone,

I'm back with another update on my journey to living consciously, talking about everything from cruelty free food and cosmetics to yoga. I want to try it all. In case you missed my original 'Living Consciously' post you can check it out here.

This week I thought I would share with you the amazing vegan and natural haircare products I've been trying out. My hair has always been on the dry side and coupled with the fact that it's naturally waved (a fancy way of saying its plain old frizzy) I like to go for products that will condition and smooth down my flyaways.

While I was getting my hair done at my local salon my hairdresser used the some Pureology Hydrate haircare products on me. Pureology is great because its 100% vegan. No animal products, by-products and no animal testing! Not only are their products great for the world but they're also incredible. My hair felt instantly softer and stronger after one use. I liked them so much I bought the shampoo and condition myself at Peter Mark. They're a bit pricier than your regular high street products but not ultra expensive either. Plus their concentrated formula means you only need a little bit at a time.

I've been using them for a few weeks now and my hair is still as soft as ever and their no sulphate formula doesn't weigh my hair down.

Next up is the Aveda damage remedy for intensive restructuring. I leave it in my hair for 5 or so minutes after using a clarifying shampoo. This product contains quinoa protein which actively repairs damage and wheat protein which helps protect against heat styling damage. I once got my hair highlighted at an Aveda salon and was worried my hair would become dryer but because of the natural ingredients I haven't experienced any dryness out of the usual.

Of course I still use regular products that aren't so natural but it's a process of slotting in a few products at a time. I'm trying out a few other natural body care products too so I'll keep you updated if I find any winners.

Well that's all for now.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ciara xx

My New Podcast Must

Hello everyone :)

Today I'm going to introduce you to a life changing podcast. As I've mentioned before on the blog I'm someone who really struggles with body image and disordered eating. My pieces (I'm no longer calling them 'problems' anymore) and my negative thoughts affect me everyday and over all I can get the sense that I'm out of touch with my body and soul.

In my journey to living more consciously I'm not just looking to lead a better lifestyle for the good of the planet but also for the good of my soul and inner peace. Before you start to fix the world you must also fix yourself. And that is why I'm so lucky to have found Katie Dalebout's Wellness Wonderland podcasts.

Now don't panic! I at first was a bit hesitant about listening to the show because I thought it was going to be your typical spiritual show where you're listening and it all sounds well and good but you actually have no idea whats going on and feel like you're in way over your head. With Katie's podcast she talks to all these amazing people in such a way that I can easily understand everything thats being touched on and the content really did touched me.

Katie covers all sorts of topics with her guests for example holistic health, body image, mindful living, disordered eating, and just about anything in-between. The first podcast I listened to was Episode 009 with Isabel Foxen and it spoke to my own history so strongly I was hooked from the beginning.

For anyone who is looking to understand a bit more about their inner pieces or wants to dip their toe into the world of health and wellness this podcast is the one to listen to and I couldn't recommend it enough. You can find them here or on iTunes.

Perfect Chia Porridge

Hello everyone,

I'm back today with a quick post about the breakfast I have been obsessed with for the past few weeks.

Porridge! It's warm, filling and packed with energy to set you up for the day. A perfect low sugar, low fat alternative to cereal or deceivingly sugary granola.

All you need for this porridge bowl is:

40g (half a cup) of oats, I use Flahavan's Organic Porridge Oats
1 and a quarter cup of almond milk or your preferred dairy alternative milk
2 teaspoons of chia seeds

Optional:
1 teaspoon of cinnamon (I love my cinnamon so I lash it on)
Half a teaspoon of raw cacao powder

Go Wild and Garnish:
Any berries of your choice
A drizzle of soya cream
Coconut flakes
Sunflower seeds

I usually pop all the ingredients in my handy rice maker and time it so that my porridge is ready when I wake up in the morning but you can also microwave for 1 minute at a time, stirring in-between or you can use the hob by bringing your mixture to the boil then simmering and stirring until the oats have reached your desired consistency.

Tip: for extra 'creaminess' you can leave you oats, milk and chia seeds over night which is why I love my rice maker. Just remember to add in about a half a cup of water so that the oats and chia seeds don't soak up all the liquid over night. You can also add a little bit of coconut milk which makes them even more deliciously creamy!