CODE Beautiful Blog

As you probably already know, veganism is one of the new talking points in beauty, it’s the hot topic on everyone’s lips.  

The vegan diet has been on the rise over the past couple of years and this has resulted in beauty brands following suit... you can now get pretty much anything in a vegan version!  

We make all our CODE Beautiful products vegan because it’s a no-brainer really... they are friendlier to the earth, they are better for your skin and we don’t believe that any animals should be harmed for the sake of beauty.  

What’s vegan and what’s not can be a really grey area in the beauty industry though, so we’ve put together a little guide to clear some things up! 

What makes a product vegan?  

A product that is vegan doesn’t contain any animal or animal-derived ingredients. This includes honey, lanoil, cholesterol, albumen, carmine, gelatin and many others. If you’re unsure, give the ingredients a scan to see if anything stands out or look for the PETA logo on the packaging, this is a certification that confirms whether or not a product is vegan.  

What makes a product cruelty free? 

Animal testing is another important consideration... just because a brand is cruelty free, doesn’t necessarily make it vegan and vice versa.  

For example, a lot of red lipsticks use crushed beetles and this is how they get that bold red, however as long as the brand isn’t testing the lipstick on animals, they can still be classed as cruelty free... it just doesn’t make sense does it?! 

Animal testing for cosmetics is banned in the UK however the Chinese government conducts animal tests on all cosmetics imported into the country.  

So, this means even if a brand itself does not test on animals, if they are selling their products in China... they cannot be considered cruelty-free.  There are some loop holes to get around this but you should check out the brand in detail. 

We do not sell any of our products into China, they will develop their policy but for now it’s off our radar. 

We’ve been certified by PETA as a cruelty free AND vegan brand so make sure you look out for the PETA logo if you’re unsure on any products you’re thinking of trying out.  

Does it affect the results? 

Replacing your products with vegan alternatives can have a massive impact on overall animal consumption, but we completely understand that you may be worried that the quality might not be as good.  

This definitely isn’t something you need to worry about, you can still get gorgeous packaging and products with amazing ingredients without harming animals. 

All CODE Beautiful products are now 100% vegan and we believe that the ingredients you put on your face really matter which is why we find safe and amazing alternatives whilst keeping the high-quality formula.  

Just over 3 years ago, I had a gorgeous little boy and my whole world got turned upside down ha!  

I had visions of the most beautiful pictures in hospital, I’d have my hair and makeup done, my baby would be wrapped up in a blanket and it would be one to frame for the living room.  

Oh how naïve I was. 🤣 

That day was an insight into how my beauty routine would change forever.  

I used to wear a full face of makeup every single day, no matter what I was doing, you wouldn’t even catch me in Sainsburys without my makeup done. But now, I have a little one that needs attention and my time to get ready in the morning is a lot more hectic.  

In movies, new mums are often shown to be sleep-deprived zombies with crazy wild hair and eyebags the size of small countries... whilst some days people probably think I do look like this (😬), I’ve found that I have to keep some normality to my beauty routine to help me feel like ‘Chloe’ and not just ‘Ezra’s mum’.  

These are a few ways my routine has changed since having a little one.  

I’M QUICKER 

Having a toddler running around wanting to open every tube, bottle and pot in sight forces you to be super speedy. I’ve found that I can make myself presentable in minimal time; meaning when I used to say it took me an hour to get ready in the morning, I was probably spending too much time scrolling through Instagram!  

I’M A PROFESSIONAL MULTI-TASKER 

In my opinion, no one is better at multi-tasking than a mum. There’s known to be days where Ezra has been sitting on my lap eating his cereal while I do my eyebrows... we’ve just got to get on with it. 🤷🏽‍♀️ It’s not always the most relaxing experience but in the early days if I needed to get out the door and the baby needed a feed, we just had to make it work! 

I also LOVE using products that mean I can be doing other things at the same time. Face mask while making dinner? Yes pleaseeee! 🤣 

I CAN STREAMLINE 

This was a big thing for me. My money now tends to be spent in Zara’s kids section rather than on the latest beauty launch. I’ve learnt that I don’t NEED to try every new beauty product out there and my makeup bag has become more like a little kit of essentials. If I'm working from home or not up to much on a weekend, my hair tends to go into a messy bun and I apply a few swipes of CODE VLM to make me look more awake and I’m good to go.   

I APPRECIATE THINGS SO MUCH MORE  

Who knew a hot bath could get me so emotional! In the early days it wasn’t uncommon for me to shed some tears over how excited I was to be alone in a hot bubble bath. After running around with a toddler non-stop, I now appreciate these little moments of ‘me time’ so much more.  

I WORRY LESS  

I used to feel like I had to wear makeup, I had to have a full face on to go to work, I couldn’t be seen in the gym without my whole makeup bag on... heaven forbid I bump into someone! I’ve now learnt that not only does no one in the gym care if I have makeup or not but I also worry less about what people do think... what’s the saying... the people that care don’t matter and the people that matter don’t care.  

Looking pretty means something different to everyone and that’s okay, to me it just means feeling and looking a bit like my old self. My beauty routine may have changed but when I apply my makeup I feel more like myself and not just ‘Ezra’s mum’ and that’s really important to me.  

Chloe x 

Although some of you will already know this, we thought it would be a good idea to share the story of CODE Beautiful for anyone that doesn’t know it, and we thought what better day to share our story than NATIONAL SISTERS DAY!  

CODE Beautiful is now just over 5 years old, where has the time gone?!  

We started the brand together because we couldn’t find the perfect mascara and got fed up of being disappointed seeing all the ads for mascaras and them never living up to the edited images we saw in the press.  

“I’d always wanted a product and this product led to a brand that Em and I worked tirelessly on to create, something that would break the traditional ‘me too’ beauty rules and give us our capsule wardrobe for cosmetics.”  

When it came to choosing a product, we started with makeup by chance really but that’s not to say we won’t go on to create your capsule wardrobe for Jewlery/gym wear/fashion etc. in the future. Mascara was a product in such a competitive market but we didn’t want to be about selling people lots of mascaras for different looks, we wanted a value for money, multifunctional mascara that you could create different looks with depending on how you use it, one for day or night, length and volume, thickness and curl.  

We funded the business ourselves, Em and I already have another business, so we funded using investment from that company as well as personal savings which we had both worked really hard for.  

We originally worked with another lady, a client of ours that is in skincare, but things didn’t work out how we’d have liked but we originally co-funded with her and then bought her out. It’s really tough being in business with friends/clients as it’s hard to all have the same vision and commitment to each other.  

Being sisters is also tough but somehow easier because you know you absolutely have the same vision and commitment to each other!   

When it came to starting up the business, we are incredibly lucky to have a great network and skills between us that was invaluable! A really good friend of ours did our branding and packaging design, another friend did photography and we had friends of friends that were our models for our first shoot!  

Emma built our website and staff from our other business wrote all the copy and put all the plans together for launch. We run the warehouse in-house now but initially we didn’t have the confidence so outsourced this. So, for a startup business we were fortunate enough to be able to use our skills and network to do the majority of the work and this is a big reason we could grow the brand without an investor.  

“No matter how big we get, we always try and think small and focus on value. We spend 80% of our budget and time on new product development and 20% on shouting about it which is why people feel like they are discovering the undiscovered.” 

When it came to coming up with the name, we knew we wanted the brand to be about beauty meaning different things to different people... so we came up with the idea of everyone having their own CODE of being beautiful. We find beauty in all sorts and encourage people to crack their own CODE Beautiful.  

So, we had the name, we had the website (thanks Em!), we had some cool Tokyo chic inspired packaging... we just had to get the products perfect. We spend a long time developing products and we don’t launch them until they are perfect! We are constantly challenging the norm, like our CODE SSL is a true multifunctional product, it is a 3 in 1 lip liner, lipstick and plumper. We try and give our customers the best possible value we can and make their life easier reducing the number of products they have to use... a lot of brands say they do this but then have loads of products so you can see straight through the marketing message.  

We aren’t a big corporate with loads of marketing budget, so we really did rely on social media and friends/family to help spread the word about the brand. Customers that purchased our products loved them and keep coming back and telling their friends which is amazing to see.  

The past 5 years have been amazing and we can't wait to see what the future holds! 

Sarah & Emma x 

I’ve always loved running from a very young age, I used to compete against different schools (and much bigger age groups), not that I’m competitive at all… honest 😉

 After quite a break, a few years ago, I got into running again and it felt gooood… I think it’s so good not only for your health and fitness but also for your wellbeing. 

So here are my top tips for running your first 10k…

1.  Buy a decent pair of trainers – don’t scrimp and buy cheap trainers, it’s so important to get a comfortable pair of running trainers that suit your feet!
2. Join a running club – I joined a local running club in Manchester - it was the best thing I did.  Such a welcoming and friendly group it gave me the motivation I needed to get out there and run.  It’s so easy to make excuses and not go ‘because it’s raining’ or ‘I’m working late’, I made the commitment to make sure I went come rain or shine - no excuses!  (I also find a little bit of competition, makes you want to run the best you can!) Lots of club start you off on a couch to 5k programme which is a great way to get into it!
3. Get the gear – you don’t want to be carrying your phone around whilst running, get an arm band or belt holder, listen to your fave music (when you’re not running with your buddies of course), although not necessary needed – I like to have a Fitbit watch too to monitor my progress and linked to MyFitnessPal to monitor exercise and food intake.
4. Plan – don’t just sign up to a 10k – get yourself prepared. Run with a club, join the couch to 5k – get yourself ready. Sign up to weekend Parkrun’s – they are great! 5k timed races.
5. Stay Hydrated – it’s important to drink lots of water
6. Don’t over do it! Make sure you listen to your body – if you need rest, rest!

I think the most difficult bit is getting yourself motivated (joining a club really helped me with this!) I ran the Great Manchester Run which I loved, such a buzzing atmosphere!

Good luck! 😘

As a solo mum I’m independent and have a dreamy idea of Lily and I travelling around the world exploring… when a good friend of mine asked if I fancied going on holiday with her and her 2 year old (Lily’s little boyfriend Arran)  I thought great, how hard can it be with a 2 year old on my own. 

Lily and I had already been away on a plane when she was a baby with my sister, and yes she is fully mobile and constantly has ants in her pants right now but, yeah it will be fine 😳

Friends and family said don’t do it, it will be too stressful you’ll need a holiday to recover bla bla bla (which obviously egg’d me on even more).

My reply to Jo, was yes let’s do this…. Our criteria was…. 

• Somewhere all inclusive 
• Somewhere the little ones would enjoy but we could still chill out too
• Not too far on the plane
• Sunshine but not too hot
• Sleeping space for little ones and us that was separate 

We decided on Fuerteventura, all-inclusive beautiful resort on the beach the down side of this package holiday was Ryan Air! But we’d survive it.

I gathered loads of info on travelling with a toddler before the trip (I’m a proper researcher… that midnight googler.. yes that’s me)  I felt like I had the ammunition I needed to make this a relaxing smooth trip. I booked into the airport on meet and greet so Lily and I could rock up at the airport and not worry about parking and I have to say all my research paid off we had the most amazing time it couldn’t have gone any better.

Here are my top tips that absolutely worked for a hassle free enjoyable trip with a 2 year old.

1. Luggage 

We took one case between us, since becoming a mama I’ve learnt to pack light, it’s all about her million and one outfits now.  I also got her a little back pack to wear for the trip with all her stuff in. come on…. you’re two you carry your own shizz, toys and snacks. I also had a backpack so I had two hands free at all times!!!

2. At the airport

I had a hand strap for lily and I to wear to make sure she stayed close, letting her walk/run about in the airport was good prep for her sitting still for 4 hours 20 mins!  We booked into the lounge stocked up on gin and food just in case the Ryan Air offering of substandard… (it was) obviously got carried away and legged it when they did a final call which the little ones thought was hilarious, the crew did not which they made clear as we were getting on by letting us know they were just about to lift our luggage… almost didn’t make it 😊

3 On the plane

A friend of mine recommended we wrap up some toys  / puzzles / books and ‘revealed’ new stuff every hour or so… this was the BEST idea… the suspense and then surprise of the next ‘present’ was perfect! We had activity books and small games toys which kept them entertained, so much so I literally only had to get up and walk about once! ( there was me pre trip thinking how stressful it would be for me and the other travellers for us to have to wonder up and down the aisle a zillion times.  We also got them headphones and they watched a bit of peppa and paw patrol yes I’m now one of those ignorant mums who said my child wouldn’t’ watch an ipad but now I know the benefits to her and me of exposing her to the ipad now.

4. Arriving 

We had booked a private transfer ( who wants to wait on a cab or drive around in a bus with two tired 2 year olds ) the driver turned up equipt with car seats and dropped us right at our door with our excited but at this point very tired little ones. We’d saved some snacks for the 30 min drive to the resort.

5. The resort

We had a cute little bungalow with space for us and them – vital for post hectic day tipple and chinwag, they called it our holiday home which is kinda cute and you wouldn’t’ quite get with a hotel room. I’d defo make sure our next trip was in a villa / home from home to give that holiday home feeling.  Our food, drink and fun was all in one family focused but chic resort. Perfect for them and us.

6. Your beauty routine

Park it, go minimalist chic…. Cleanser, sun protection, moisturiser, mascara and a flash of colour on your lips is all you need ….. We did however make time during a day time pushchair nap to get foot massages which was our little treat to ourselves – bliss.

So my take away was that they were wrong, it wasn’t stressful and I didn’t need a holiday to recover, we had a lovely time and a little geeky research and preparation went a long way…. Next stop Dubai ….

I don’t know about you but I ALWAYS overpack for holidays. My suitcase is normally brimming with more clothes than the duration of my holiday and I’m always in a panic the night before about whether I’m going to be over the weight limit.  

However, when it comes to packing my toiletries, I’m a big advocate of travelling light (not only does it mean more room for bikinis, but I also hate the feeling of wearing too much makeup on holiday).  

I’ve rounded up my top 5 holiday must-haves… now to just keep my eyes closed through duty free!!  

SUN CREAM 

If you only take one thing on holiday, please please make sure it’s sun cream! Looking after your skin should be your number one priority. You’ll still get a gorgeous golden glow but you’ll be giving your skin some of the protection it needs.  

MASCARA 

I literally cannot go a single day without wearing mascara, it makes me look and feel more awake and I love when I have that golden glow and only need to put on a couple of coats of mascara to be ready for dinner in the evening. You might think you need a waterproof mascara, but the formulas are actually really heavy and harsh on your lashes, so I’d recommend looking for a water-resistant formula instead; I’ve tested CODE VLM on several holidays now and can confidently say it doesn’t budge even when the weather is one big cloud of humidity!  

PERFUME 

Keeping my evening routine minimal is so important to me on holiday, after all it means more time for exploring and drinks! I can be a bit of a fragrance hoarder when I’m at home but I force myself to only take one on holiday. My go to at the moment has been Gucci Bloom, it screams summer… it’s feminine and floral but not too sweet… for me, it’s the perfect holiday scent.  

CLEANSER 

After a day in the sun or travelling around, I often feel like my face has accumulated so much grime (I feel the same way after travelling on the tube in London to be honest!) so I love ending the day with a good cleanser. A simple cleanse morning and night keeps my skin clear and happy and means I’m going back to the UK with a golden glow rather than a million breakouts!  

MOISTURISER  

There’s nothing I love more than a multi-tasking product that makes my life easier. I recently heard about these all-in-one moisture pads that are enriched with hyaluronic acid and act as a toner, essence and moisturiser all in one. They are also packed with vitamins and antioxidants... they’ll definitely be going in my case next holiday!!  
 

What are your holiday must-haves?  

 Chloe x  

Alex Waring, (@makeupbyalex), makeup artist, true professional, mum of two and simply all round lovely lady was kind enough to answer some of our questions about how she juggles life as a working mum and also shares some of her top tricks of the trade. 

So Alex, tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into makeup.

I’ve always been into drawing and being creative but I didn’t believe I could make a career out of it until a friend, who worked in music video production, encouraged me to pursue makeup. I started a degree in specialist makeup and that same friend put me in touch with a makeup artist to get some assisting experience, which led to so many amazing opportunities over the years. 

We love seeing what you’re up to on Instagram and who you’ve been working with lately, but with such a busy job, how do you manage your work/life balance and juggle motherhood with a demanding career?

As stressful as it can be working freelance, it does mean that I get to spend so much time with my children, even though I may need to stay away for a shoot here and there. I think whatever job you do, if you have children you’re always going to be crazy busy! 

We couldn’t agree more!! Do you have any tips for us tired mums? 

My biggest tip would be that no matter how exhausted you are, always follow a good skincare routine, morning and night. Your skin will thank you for it! 

Mascara was my best friend when I was at my most sleep deprived as it immediately made me look more awake so definitely have that at the ready along with a good concealer, cream brush, long-wear eyeliner and a smudged lip liner; that way you always have the perfect, quick daytime ‘I’m awake!’ look. 

CODE VLM is great for helping really open up your eyes and faking that wide awake look. 

Has your beauty routine changed since having children? 

Majorly!! I no longer have the luxury of time so I’ve had to alter my daytime makeup quite significantly and get used to having an audience when applying it. 

It sounds like you’ve got some budding assistants in the making! Is there anyone that has inspired you throughout your career?

I’m inspired all the time by so many different artists for different reasons. I’ve always been a massive fan of Pat McGrath and more recently I’m obsessed with James Molloy’s Instagram posts with his insanely perfect eyeliner application. My first very makeup idol was Kevin Aucoin. 

There’s no doubt about it that the beauty industry is such a fun and crazy world to be a part of, what have been your best and worst times of your career to date? 

The best times in my career would be when I first started working on music videos, I had so much fun and got to work with such amazing people. I think the worst times in my career used to be whenever I was quiet and waiting for the next job to come in, I’m now kept super busy with a 4 year old and 10 month old so I wouldn’t even notice a quiet period!! 

We’ve got so much respect for you and you already know we’re big fans of your work, what can we expect to see from you in 2019? 

Hopefully lots of beautiful editorial collaborations and some fun commercial jobs and, if you follow my Instagram page, the odd family pic thrown in too these days! ;) 

Thank you so much for your time Alex! xx

We love chatting to our customers about all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle and letting them know about brands they might not have heard of before. We also love supporting other women in the industry, so we get super excited when we get the chance to do both these things together!

We stumbled across this British brand and loved their story and products so much we just knew we had to share it with you. 

Kate McIver Skin is a vegan skincare company that focuses on helping people look and feel the best they can. 

“Life is too short and no matter what you are going through mentally or physically, you have the right to look and feel the best you possibly can.”  - Kate McIver.

Kate set up her skincare brand after she was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. After six months of intense chemotherapy, operations and daily medication, she saw the effects taking their toll on her skin. 

During her treatment she started to do some research, looking for a product that could help with extreme dryness, lines appearing, black/purple circles under the eyes and scarring, but she couldn’t find a formula that had all of the ingredients that she wanted in, so she set out to create her own bespoke formula. 

We love that similar to us, this brand focuses on a select range of products and rather than launch product after product, we both spend a lot of time tinkering with the formulas to make sure they are perfect before we give them to our customer. 

Kate created two formulas, both full of some awesome ingredients! 

The Original Secret Weapon formula is an "anti-ageing" double serum that has been created to diminish the signs of ageing and help achieve radiant, glowing, firmer skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. 

The formula contains Squalene which is a natural substance produced by our own bodies, however its concentrations in our mid-to-late twenties begins to rapidly decline. It’s lightweight enough for all skin types and can target your skin care concerns at a cellular level. 

The Limited Edition Secret Weapon formula was created to target acne and spot prone skin. Containing 13 incredible ingredients, this serum fights breakouts, boosts radiance, moisturises and relieves discolouration. It gives your skin the moisture it needs while the vitamins and antioxidants also fight damage such as UV rays and acne-causing bacteria. 

You can find out more about both formulas here.

We’ve teamed up with the lovely team at Kate McIver Skin to give you the chance to win incredible products from both brands! Head over to our Instagram or Facebook on the 30^th May for your chance to win!