Our easy peasy cloth nappy setup

It's Plastic Free July! That calls for a post to inspire others to use cloth nappies! 
I am overdue to share my postpartum care tips and my hospital bag list but since the great initiative of Plastic Free July, I will start with this.

We are trying to do all things baby as sustainable as possible and I was always sure that I wanted to use cloth diapers.
A few months in and I am LOVING our setup. It's easy peasy. I am not even kidding.
Below you find some tricks and products that make the whole thing a breeze.

Cloth Nappy Benefits
Besides that its great for the environment (simply do a bit of research on how much waste disposable nappies create!) cloth diapering saves you heaps of money and looks way cuter. I love looking at Faye's little bum covered in bulky but colourful nappies. It's a total win-win.
It's also very gentle on babies skin and causes less diaper rash.

Is cloth diapering a lot of work?
Nope! It's not! All you need is a good setup. I was a little bit scared beforehand questioning if I am just taking on one too many things with baby, work, blog etc. but I find it surprisingly easy.
Also, I am really not someone that is great with housework. I couldn't live without a dishwasher and Dave does the majority of our cleaning. What I am trying to say is, if I can do it anyone can :) Even though we are living in an apartment and have no drier it's still easy to do.

Cloth Diapering for Beginners Guide
Three months in I am by no means an expert but we have found a system that works brilliantly for us. If you want to attain expert status and look into all the different options of cloth nappies there is a great overview here. If you are afterwards confused, don't despair. Just decide for something that gets good overall reviews and go for it. That's what I have done. After quite some complicated research we settled for a whole set of Bumgenius Original 5.0 nappies.
They are one size fits all, which is a HUGE plus for me, as I didn't
want to work out sizes of an ever growing baby. This set will last us until Faye is toilet trained. YAY!
I am not claiming they are the best, as I can't compare them to others but they work really well for us. No fuzz, no leaks or spills and easy to use. There are probably lots of lovely more local companies or some that are all organic etc. So please comment, if you are using a different brand that you love. You will need a set of about 24 if you want to wash every other day.
You don't need to wash every day but I also won't recommend leaving the dirty nappies any longer. :) For obvious reasons...

Our Setup:
We use a simple pedal bin, lined with a washable & waterproof cloth liner. Places that sell cloth nappies usually sell accessories like this. We have 2 bin liners, as one would usually go in the wash. The nappies get thrown in here as they are for now. I separate the insert and the nappy cover, so I won't have to touch the dirty nappy again when washing.
(once Faye eats solids we will need to empty her poo into the toilet and use a sprayer which we have installed at our toilet)
Our change table is a chest of drawers that we will be able to keep for Faye's clothes. It's a beautiful piece of furniture and it won't go to waste once we no longer need a change table.
We use a toxin-free & organic change table mat from Pottery Barn Kids.
And a Diaper Caddy which also came with a wipeable change mat thingy, which we always use under Fayes Bum, so we won't need to wash the change mat cover all the time.

UPDATE: OUR BELOVED EDIBLE BUBBA PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED BUT EDIBLE BEAUTY STILL DOES THE BOTTOM CREME. Find it here:
Edible Beauty Mum & Bub Coco Barrier Cream (no rashes ever!!!)
The caddy contains Faye's whole line of bath products by Edible Bubba, that I keep raving about, bum cleanser, nail scissors and all sorts of bits and pieces.
In the top drawer of change table we store all our nappies and inserts. The other top drawer contains two Tupperware like containers with our washable wipes! We use Cheeky Wipes. Read more about them below:

Washable Baby Wipes:
Midwives and doctors recommended staying away from conventional baby wipes as they contain too many nasty chemicals. While there are some toxin-free, natural alternatives they will still end up as waste and will also end up costing a small fortune.
To keep things super convenient we got a clever system of reusable wipes.
Cheeky Wipes not only come with storage containers for clean and dirty wipes but also with essential oils to keep them fresh and little travel bags for use on the go. Soooo good.
They also do a better job in cleaning than regular wipes!
Basically, you fill the containers with water and a couple of drops of the oil, chuck in the wipes and let them soak up the liquid. The dirty wipes container has a mesh lining with a drawstring, so you won't have to touch the dirty wipes again when washing them. You just throw the whole mesh bag with your dirty nappies into the washing machine.
Another beautiful little washable thing to have on hand are reusable Flannelette Cloths.
Soft enough to wipe little faces, wipe up spit and all sorts of stuff. We got some cute looking ones pictured above.
To keep Faye's skin protected, clean and soft as a babies bottom should be we are using:


The Worlds Best Bum Cleanser (as far as I know)
The French know a thing or two about skincare! Inspired by a traditional French Olive Oil mixture two Bondi based Mums (who are French!) started up their own business, Petit Kiddo, selling the worlds best bum cleanser. It's like a cream cleaner for babies bottom, which doesn't require water or rinse off. It protects the skin with a natural barrier, preventing nappy rash. I use it with a cheeky wipe, damp or dry. It's really good stuff and gets those little rolls clean!

Do the nappies come out clean? What about laundry detergent?
Yes, they do. We wash them at 60degrees on the Baby Care cycle of our washing machine.
This cycle has a prewash and rinse included. We use Rockin Green laundry powder. It's vegan, toxin-free and au naturale, while being powerful enough to get the stink and stains out.
We then hang them out in the sun, which also bleaches the inserts. If you own a dryer you can use that. On rainy days we hang up inside on a rack. Our inserts are microfibre and dry pretty quickly.

What do I do if I travel?

Day trips:
If we leave the house for the day we are all set, bringing a wetbag for the dirty nappies along.
They are cute looking, waterproof and washable bags to store any dirty nappies or wet clothes in. We bring along Cheeky Wipes in their little travel pouches and we are all good to go. We always bring our favourite natural & organic hand sanitizer by Divine. (pictured above)

Long Trips:
That's where you have to decide. You can either bring your collection with you if you can wash on your trip or do what most cloth diaper families do these days: use eco disposables for the time being. The best that I have found are Bambo Nature, they are the most absorbent and also the cleanest brand with the best eco credentials. These puppies are toxin-free and really work. We are happy using these on holidays together with organic wipes or water wipes.

Do you need a ginormous nappy bag?
Yep, all new parents do. Cloth diapering or not you happen to carry a lot of stuff with you in the early days. We love our vegan unisex nappy backpack. Backpacks are so much easier. Especially if you are carrying a baby as well. We have gotten lot's of compliments on our Honest Co City Backpack

Konjac Sponges THE Alternative To Scrub, Brush & Co

I have just discovered the benefits of cleansing with a natural Konjac Sponge.
Something so small and simple can actually make such a big positive impact on the skin.

 It wasn't until WYLD send me some of their beautifully packaged and organic sponges that I used one on my own skin.

My own experience cleansing with a Konjac Sponge

Winter really kicked in this week and between the cold air in the early mornings when I took Dalston for his walks and the dry warm air streaming from our heaters to keep our place toasty for baby Faye my skin really suffered. It showed up redness, dryness and flakiness and small areas of congestion.
I immediately exfoliated my skin and repeatedly used nourishing leave-on masks, which has been helpful but it's not a good idea to use a scrub on a daily basis.
I needed something more gentle and that's where the Konjac Sponge came in. I used one with Pink Clay, mainly because I liked the colour, but also because its suitable for sensitive skin.
This was a godsend, especially during this week that I am home alone with bub & pup. Which gave me little time for my own skincare and grooming...
This was SO easy to use and just felt beautiful. Very soft and somewhat silky. I used it without cleanser as I wasn't wearing heavy makeup it cleaned my skin very well, but it also seemed to buff the dry flaky areas and cleansed away impurities around my nose.

What is a Konjac Sponge?
Konjac or Elephant Yam is a plant native to Asia. While the potato-like root is eaten, it has also traditionally been used to create these little sponges.
Wyld sponges are pure and don't contain any . Often Charcoal or pink clay are added for their skincare benefits. Wyld uses natural activated bamboo charcoal to draw out excess oil, zap bacteria and detoxify, this is great for oily and combination skin. The other option is infused with French Pink Clay to cleanse and nourish skin while drawing out excess oil for a rosy glow, suitable for all skins including the most sensitive.

Benefits of cleansing with a Konjac Sponge
It increases circulation, exfoliates and cleanses pores.
It's packed with natural vitamins & minerals.
It is completely natural, non-toxic and eco-friendly especially compared to conventional exfoliant scrubs which contain microbeads. (microbeads are an environmental hazard polluting water and endangering marine life)
Suitable for daily use and all skin types.

How To Use a Konjac Sponge
Easy Peasy: You just wet it with water and use circular motions to cleanse your face.
It can be used purely with water or with your favourite cleanser. A sponge should be replaced every 1-2 months.

Have you tried Konjac Sponges before?

Vegan Luxe Lipsticks By Axiology

I was planning on writing a post about vegan lipsticks from different brands and featuring my favourites when I realised that each brand that brings a fabulous vegan lipstick to market (and they are far and few between!) deserves their very own post. So, today it is all about Axiology.

While there is an abundance of toxin-free and cruelty-free lipsticks the vegan ones are still rare.
And then there are vegan lipsticks which aren't all that toxin-free and natural...
In my pro-kit, I combine different cruelty-free brands with vegan lipsticks to get a good colour and texture variety which I need as a pro artist.
In my personal beauty bag, I am extra picky and use vegan&toxin-free lippies.
I will step by step introduce these goodies to you!
The other week I also mentioned some vegan lipsticks here in care you missed it.

AXIOLOGY

The outer
The lipstick brand with the unique triangular boxes and shiny golden luxe packaging. I love having a shiny blingy luxe lipstick and think this brand really nailed the packaging.

The Inner
Creamy lipsticks that glide on with ease. The texture is light and not greasy. The colours have a shimmer which makes lips look plump and voluminous. These beauties smell and taste of natural orange oil. Axiology has a large range of colours, from wearable nudes to funky bold colours.

The Company
Crafted in Oregon, USA by vOwner Ericka. She understands eco credentials and lives a vegan lifestyle, so I am not surprised by the quality, ethics and strict pure natural formulation of these treasures. Definitely one of these amazing small businesses that I am proud to support.

The Verdict
Perfect luxury lipstick for your own handbag! Feels hydrating, not greasy and leaves a beautiful shimmer. If you are after a matte colour, this isn't for you.
For the pro artists out there, this is a slightly sheer and shimmery range that still delivers true colour, a great addition to your matte, high-pigmented collection.
I love mine! My personal Favourite Colour is "Vibration"
All shades are shown on lips on the website which gives you a very accurate idea of the colour along side with swatches. I found this very helpful.

 

P.S: They just came out with some crayons as well! I can't wait to try. Please let me know if you have gotten your lips on some already. I am all ears :)

Osea- One Fine Line Of Vegan Skincare

Powered by the Ocean, as the name promises Osea is a range with active ingredients derived from Organic Seaweed. I have been dying to try this range ever since I first saw it.
I just knew this would be a winner when I looked at the ingredients, the simple packaging and the philosophy of this beautiful brand.

Fast forward a few centuries and I finally got to try out a few staples of this beautiful product line. This line has been around since 1996 and is vegan, absolutely toxin-free, the packaging is eco-friendly and the ingredients are safe, natural and effective, all made in Malibu, California USA.

The textures are just lovely, the scent is very luxurious but not overpowering. They do feel in the best possible way like conventional luxury skincare. Hold on, no: Of course, they feel better! Because they are better for you and you can feel that difference.

This line is great for any skincare junkies who are not too fond of herbally scents and homemade textures and oils. It feels and works just like any high-end skincare line but without the junk.
The packaging is simple and reminds me of a good professional spa skincare line.
The glass is frosted but clear, so I would recommend keeping these goodies out of direct sunlight. IIt's great that you can see exactly how much you have left.
The range is rather extensive with products for all skin types and concerns and includes face as well as body products.

Here is what I have tried:

Atmosphere Protection Cream
Lightweight moisturiser for Day & Night for normal/combination skin.
Not greasy glides on very easily and leaves the skin supple. Provides a fantastic base for makeup. It's so nice and straightforward I don't know what else to say. A very good moisturiser full stop.

Ocean Cleanser
A non-drying gel cleanser, it's very balancing to the skin. It gently exfoliates with vegan lactic acid, leaving your skin radiant.

Sea Minerals Toner Mist
Extra hydrating mist can be used as toner in your skincare regime as well as to set and refresh makeup during the day. The scent is subtle and pleasant. The mist comes out really nice and fine, which is a plus. (not all companies master this and as a pro makeup artist it is VERY annoying if hydrating sprays squirt out and potentially ruin your makeup) So: extra vegan brownie points for the packaging!

Sea Vitamin Boost
I have been keeping the Sea Vitamin Boost on my desk and spritzing my face with it in this dry Winter air. With the heater running due to our little baby in the house, my skin wasn't too impressed and was showing signs of dryness and dehydration. This helps me through the day.
(in combination with a humidifyer in the room and nightly leave on masks!)
This one is a great one for the handbag and desk. Loaded with antioxidants it has some age defying powers and really locks in moisture.

I like to be critical in my reviews but this brand has nailed natural skincare! Of course, I haven't tried the whole range but everythign that I have been using has impressed me. Have you tried this range? Do you have any favourite products?

Probiotic Smoothie Bowl For Healthy Skin

I love my green smoothies for breakfast but it's fun to mix it up every now and then.
Lately, I really got into making myself a smoothie bowl by using my smoothie and adding some delicious toppings.
I have also been adding Probiotics! There are so many great options, from capsules to yummy powders or eating fermented foods. Of course, real foods are always the best option and I do include Kimchi, Coconut Kefir and Tempeh into my diet on a regular basis.
Still, I like to add some probiotic supplement. Like the Pono Probiotics Gorgeous Greens Probiotic Powder (this one is the only vegan one in their range!) it combines the goodness of green superfoods with probiotics. Perfect addition to any smoothie or smoothie bowl.
Probiotics are good for everyone and can make a huge difference on your skin! If your gut is healthy your body can absorb nutrients properly, which will leave you with more energy, glowing skin and a stronger immune system.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it's a good idea to keep your gut flora as healthy as possible, probiotics taken by Mum during pregnancy can prevent skin conditions such as eczema and allergies in babies!
(During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any supplements!)

My Smoothie Bowl Recipe:

For the Smoothie:
1 ripe banana (frozen)
1/2 Mango (optional, also works well with frozen Mango)
1 handful of organic kale
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp fermented vegan protein powder (optional! see link for my favourite one)
1 tsp Pono Gorgeous Greens Probiotic Powder
1 cup Plant milk of your choice or water (when using protein powder water works well, if you skip the protein powder I recommend using a creamy milk, to get that yummy creamy texture!)

Throw it all into a high-speed blender until smoooooth!

Toppings:
1 handful Buckinis
1-2 Tbsp Goji Berries
Mango (optional)
Get creative! Decorate, Sprinkle and add whatever feels right and looks pretty!

I know my creation is a pretty humble one compared to the artworks I see on Instagram all the time. But this one is real, it's my actual breakfast unstyled for the photo, just the bowl that I actually made for myself.