The Lowdown on Natural Soap: Le Savonnier Marseillais

Le Savonnier Marseillais is a brand I had never heard of before, so I was interested to hear more about the history. It is a family company, which specializes in their original solid soaps, and now their olive oil based liquid soaps, which is what I am featuring in my blog post Today. 
I opted to try the Peppermint Essential Oil version of their body soap; yet they do have quite a selection of interesting fragrances. The reason why I picked this one is because one of my favourite scents is peppermint, it makes for a perfect Morning shower product as it is so refreshing and really helps to wake me up. This soap is brilliant for both a shower or bath, it really smells like peppermint and the scent lasts on the skin for a short while after using; which I think is a great thing - I love to smell of peppermint! 

The product is made from 100% natural ingredients, is dermalogically tested, and suitable for all skin types. The product is also made from real essential oils, and no synthetic scents or colours are used in the making of the product.  

The liquid soap lathers a lot and so quickly, so it makes for a great bubble bath too! My skin feels so soft and nourished after using this, it is very relaxing and I have enjoyed using this liquid soap for both a quick shower on a Morning and a relaxing pamper bath on an evening. The scent, in my opinion, is pretty impressive and I love that it is made with essential oils which I know do my skin the world of good. I find products with a pump so handy and very convenient, especially in a shower. A little does go a long way, so I would see this as a good purchase as the 500ml bottle lasts a long time.

Le Savonnier Marseillais Extra Pure Olive Oil Body Soap - Peppermint Essential Oil retails at £12.50, and is available to buy online at MyPure here.

Mypure: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*PR sample*

Christmas Eve Wishes

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to all of my readers and followers for your continued support of me and my blog this Year, I truly appreciate it and it does mean so much to me, thank you.

See you in the New Year!

Soap and Glory The Whole She - Bang

I have picked up the 'big star gift' Soap and Glory set again this Year, and what a treat it is! I am such a fan of the brand and can not resist this amazing deal; £70 worth of products, retails at £60... and is just £30 at Boots during it's Week as the star gift. 

I think I have taken advantage of Soap and Glory's star gift every Year apart from last Year, sometimes I ask for it for Christmas and other times I pick it up myself.

The Whole She - Bang includes 9 full sized products; Peaches & Clean, Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss, Thick & Fast Mascara, The Righteous Butter Body Butter, Clean On Me Shower Gel, The Scrub Of Your Life, Heel Genius, The Righteous Butter Tinted Body Lotion and Hand Food Hand Cream. I love that this set always includes great products that I know I will get a lot of use out of.

Have you grabbed yourself any beauty bargains recently?

Soap and Glory #Mistletoepout

Anyone that knows me or has been reading my blog for a long time knows that my favourite body care brand is Soap and Glory. I love their products and they are that one brand that I will forever repurchase from.

The Glory Girls are Soap and Glorys top team that have been touring the country to bring all things Soap and Glory to beauty fans across the UK. When I heard The Glory Girls were heading to the Birmingham area, I knew I had to pop down and see what was going on.

The Glory Girls were offering mini make-overs, discount and free products, they were lovely too and a lot of fun. I loved my mini Soap and Glory makeover, I opted for a pink blush and nude lip with a natural eye. I loved the look that one of the girls had created, it was really simple and very me. It was great to try out some of the Soap and Glory make-up line; I have tried quite a few of their cosmetics before, and this makeover has made me want to buy more! There was also a chance to receive a free travel size body product if you shared a picture on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #Mistletoepout... how cool is that!?
The Glory Girls were also giving out 20% discount vouchers on the day, so I went and purchased the nude lip from the makeover; Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Powder Coat in Super nude. I love it!

The girls are next in Nottingham, so if you are local, I would recommend going over and having a makeover.

Pretty Lovely Bloggers Santa's Grotto Event

I am finally starting to get excited for Christmas, and have done so by watching plenty of Christmas films this afternoon. I have shared a few gift guides on my blog, including stocking filler ideas, quirky cards, my top picks from Boots and some last minute gift ideas. I love Christmas!
Today is another festive themed post; featuring a lovely blogger event I attended recently, which was put together by Pretty Lovely Bloggers. It took place a few Saturdays ago at the Rose Villa Tavern near the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. It was a Christmas themed event called Santa's Grotto, I was super excited about wearing a Christmas jumper before December and I loved the decorations and the Christmas songs that were playing in the background.

The event was a lot of fun. There were quite a few brands at the event who gave talks and showcased their products, it was great to hear more about a variety of products and talk to the team behind them. Brands that attended the event included: 

 Friction Free Shaving

The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Co.

Viridian

 Pure Potions

 Lipivir

 DryU

Skin Sincere

Pretty Lovely Bloggers had also arranged a raffle, with money being donated to the charity Mind. There were lots of things to get involved in and plenty of people to talk to. We also received a very generous goody bag with lots of brilliant products, I will be featuring those on my blog in the future too. A big thank you to all brands involved as I really do appreciate it.
I had a lovely time at the event and it was great to talk to bloggers; some I had met before and some I hadn't. I loved the venue and it is somewhere I have never visited before, but I am hoping to go back soon.

Thank you to both Adele and Kirsty for organizing the event. You can really tell how much time, effort and hard work they both put into all of their events and I had a brilliant time.

*Images belong to Clare*

Five Uses For Coconut Oil

I am a big fan of coconut oil - it is one of those items that is kept in our house and is a real multi-purpose item. There are probably tonnes more, but I have included just five ways I use coconut oil.
The coconut oil I have been using recently is by brand Virdian; it is their 100% organic raw coconut oil*.

Lip care
Coconut oil makes a brilliant alternative to a lip balm, keeping chapped lips away.
Food and Cooking
I love to use coconut oil as a replacement for dairy!
Body and Skin Care
Coconut Oil can be used in so many ways for the skin, my favourite is to use it as a hand lotion, shaving lotion or general body lotion, it leaves the skin feeling lovely.
Hair Care
I use coconut oil to tame my hair, and I have heard it works well as an overnight conditioner, I must try this soon.
Around the House
Coconut oil also backs up as a handy product to use for household jobs too - I have used it to fix stuck zips and to shine my shoes.


How do you use coconut oil?

*PR sample*

November Degustabox 2015

This Months Degustabox is brilliant! It is full of treats and really useful products for the festive season.  Degustabox have a fantastic discount code for you - BLDEG15 - which takes £6 off your order.

Degustabox Discoveries 

This Month, there was a selection of Degustabox Discoveries. I received three of the DB Discoveries. The products I received were the Jim Jams - Choc Spread, the Tuckey's - Digestives, and the Rekorderlig - Cider. Now, I have only recently started eating chocolate spread, and this is a really tasty one! The Tuckey's biscuits are sweet and perfect for tea dunking, and the Rekorderlig cider was tasty and refreshing.

The other products in this Months box were Britvic - Gourmet Drops, Ryvita - Crispbread, Branstons - Chutney, Butterkist - Popcorn, Bourne & Wallis - Pickles, Nim's Fruit Crisps - Mango & Pineapple Fruit Crisps, Ryvita - Crackers, Hartley's - Jelly, Belvita - Soft Baked, Divine - Chocolate, and the final product which was included in the box was Diageo - Bailey's, there was an email from Degustabox stating there would be an added extra and this was it, what a treat! Thanks Degustabox.
The Britvic Gourmet Drops are the perfect addition to a hot chocolate, they are my new favourite thing. I am a big fan of Ryvita so these crackers and thins went down a treat and also make great party food. Butterkist popcorn is my favourite, we loved trying out the salted caramel flavour! Me and my Sister have been buying the Belvita biscuits for a while now, so it was nice to try something new from them - we will definitely be purchasing these in the future. We shared the block of Divine chocolate betweeen us, which was super delicious. I am a big fan of fruit snacks, so the Nim's Fruit Crisps didn't last long! The Branston Chutney and Bourne & Wallis Pickled Onions are being put away and saved for Christmas, can't wait for all the party food! The Hartley's jellys will also come in handy as I have plans to make some trifle - even better that it will be glittery! 

Don't forget to check out the Degustabox website and keep up to date with them on their social media platforms, all of which are linked below.

Degustabox: Website | Facebook | Twitter 

*PR sample*

Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Hi everyone, so it now less than two Weeks until Christmas, hasn't that crept up on us?

Every Year since I started writing my blog, I have written festive blog posts and gift guides but this Year I haven't had the time to share many Christmas blog posts apart from my previous gift guide which you can view here. I really wanted to write down some recipes and lifestyle posts, but for now I have my second and final gift guide sharing just three last minute gift ideas which I think would make great stand alone presents or stocking fillers. 

For the tea lover in your life, why not gift them a lovely My Tea Time* box. It includes everything they may need for that special cup of tea; four of their latest tea blends, self-fill teabags and a little brewing guide which explains everything they need to know. I was actually lucky enough to receive this from a blogger event, and I loved the concept so much I wanted to share it in a post because I think this makes a really special gift. 

For a skin care fanatic, the Docteur Renaud My Glowing Complexion Kit* may be just up their street. It includes their raspberry cleansing water, apple anti-tiredness eye care, and carrot anti-pollution radiance cream. Little gift sets like this are a great way to introduce someone to a new brand. I have used products from the brand before and can say only great things! 

The last little gift idea comes in the form of this adorable gingerbread man bath bomb, which I picked up from the pound shop of all places - you really can find some hidden gems in there! I think this would be great paired with another gift as a secret santa present or stocking filler. 

*includes PR samples*

Quirky Christmas Cards

I love finding special cards for the people I care about, and my favourite type of cards are cute and fun cards that you don't often find on the high-street. Made With Love Designs sell a range of different handmade Christmas cards that are unlike any others I have seen.

The adorable Fan(tash)tic and Christ(moose) cards are simple and quirky, and would look really cool in a frame for next Christmas. I have a few friends that are Twitter and Instagram mad so I know this #christmascash card is one that will make that social media addict in your life smile.
The Modfather card is brilliant if you know someone that loves their music, you can personalise this card and add a name which always makes a card a lot more special to the recipient. Again this simple yet effective style is one that you won't find on the highstreet and looks like you have made a lot of effort in picking the perfect card.
Have you checked out Made With Love Designs yet?

*PR samples*

Stocking Fillers | Gift Ideas

I can't quite get my head around the fact that it is just a few Weeks until Christmas! I seem to say this every Year but it does seem to come round so quick. I have shared a few items I think would make good Christmas presents for stocking fillers or items that are ideal if you are on a budget.

There is nothing better than getting cosy at Christmas, so these fairisle slippers are just perfect for lazing around the home on a chilled Winter evening. What would Christmas be without socks? I personally think socks are a good gift as everyone uses them and although it is quite a boring item, it is something anyone would appreciate.

I think sentimental gifts always go down well, so these photograph strips* from Cheerz are perfect to pop into a Christmas card. I also think Christmas is the best time of Year to have a family game night, so quizzes and card games like this Top Trumps set are perfect playtime for anyone in the family.

I have included some make up in my gift guide, probably because this is something I like to receive myself! If you know of a beauty lover or someone who is just getting into make-up, products from brands like Sunkissed, Natural Collection and Models Own are perfect because they are inexpensive and are great to try out a new look with. I've also included Benefits Roller Lash Mascara* for those huge make - up junkies in your life; I highly recommend this mascara and think it would make a brilliant little gift for those who love their luxuries. I also included the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Hand Cleansing Gel as I think this makes a brilliant stocking filler. It has an awesome scent and everyone loves a good old hand sanitizer.

Other little items I have added to the stocking fillers are chocolate.. 'cause who doesn't love chocolate hey?! A pretty necklace and car air fresheners are also great stocking fillers or maybe even for a secret santa gift.

*post includes a PR sample & a product I have purchased with a gift voucher*

Isle Of Wolf Candle in Rose Absolute

For the past few years I have been going wild with my love of candles - I am really interested in home accessories and love burning candles in the home, so my collection has grown throughout that time and I am always looking to try something new. I tried an Isle Of Wolf candle for the first time a few Months ago (you can read that post here) and I was so impressed I decided to try another one of their candles out; this time I decided to go for the scent Rose Absolute . I am a big fan of floral scents and rose is such a beautiful fragrance so I had high expectations of how this candle would scent my room. This candle proved impressive, as it left the room smelling like a beautiful rose bush. The scent really does fill the room, it is a beautiful scent and I love the fact that the scent lasts and you can smell the scent when you reenter to room. If you are a fan of sweet rose scents, I am sure you will like this.

The candle burns so well and clean, meaning there is little to no waste and I can reuse the holder again. I absolutely love the packaging of Isle Of Wolf Candles, they look stylish and decorative. Isle Of Wolf candles are made from 100% pure plant wax, and they are scented with 100% natural oils. As the soy wax is GMO free, this ensures for a clean and long lasting burn, while still giving a great fragrance to the room. All Isle Of Wolf candles come with a fitted heatproof and scratch proof coaster.
The entire Isle Of Wolf candle collection is available to order online at Mypure for £15 each.

Have you tried Isle of Wolf candles before? What is your favourite candle scent?

*PR Sample*

This Week I'm Loving... Tassel Ankle Boots

I love this Season as it is the perfect time to bring out the ankle boots. 

Tassels have been very on trend this Year and I must admit, although I am no fashion follower, I adore the tassel trend on cardigans, bags and boots.

The Zelda Side Tassel Suedette Ankle Boots are perfect for all of those festive markets and parties coming up!

The material of the boots is really good quality. It is made of a faux suede like material. 

The working zip is on the side of the boots and the tassel detailing is on show on the other side. The heel of the boots are sturdy and are a block heel which have a good grip to them. I think the ankle boots are brilliant because they are suitable for most events, but perhaps if I was a little more braver I would wear high rise boots like these.

I have had so much wear out of these already. They are so comfortable, I have pretty much been living in these on a Weekend. They go perfectly with skinny jeans and skirts and tights. I think they are a really good transitional piece as they can go from day to night and look good with casual wear as well as with a more formal outfit for a night out.

I opted for the boots in the grey suede colour as I thought it would make a nice change to my normal black boots, but is a still a colour that is very wearable and a colour which goes with pretty much any outfit or look I am going for.

These ankle boots cost just £22.99 - quite a bargain for a pair of well made ankle boots. 

The Zelda Side Tassel Suedette Ankle Boots are available in a variety of colours, including black, grey, tan, and taupe.

You can check out Online Avenue online here.

Have you checked out Online Avenue before? What do you think of the tassel trend?

*PR Sample*

Blanx - Review and Giveaway

BlanX Extra White Intensive Whitening Treatment, RRP £10.20 | BlanX Advanced Whitening Toothpaste, RRP £7.49 | BlanX Classic White Toothpaste, RRP £4.99 | BlanX Intensive Stain Removal Toothpaste, RRP £4.20

In the past few Years, I have become quite self-conscious of the way my teeth look. The overall appearance of my teeth isn't too bad; I had braces as a teenager and am fairly content with the shape of my teeth. I don't like the colour of my teeth. I brush my teeth twice a day but am still unhappy with them. I have been thinking about booking to have my teeth whitened; but with so many products on the market offering whiter teeth for a fraction of the price of a tooth-whitening treatment, I wanted to have look into what is out there on the high-street first.

BlanX are the only toothpaste based on ingredients derived from Arctic Lichen (a natural extract) which helps to whiten teeth without harming them. They are well-known for being one of the best brands for whitening toothpastes. I was sent some of their best products to review and put to the test.

I received three toothpastes to trial; the BlanX Advanced Whitening Toothpaste, the BlanX Classic White Toothpaste and the BlanX Intensive Stain Removal Toothpaste. I found the Advanced Whitening and Classic White toothpastes really helped to improve the whiteness of my teeth, as well as being fresh, minty, and leaving my teeth feeling very clean. The best toothpaste out of the three for me, was the Intensive Stain Removal, as I felt it really did help in removing stains. I do not smoke but I do drink a lot of coffee which has resulted in some staining, so using this toothpaste really did appear to reduce some of the staining, leaving the overall appearance of my teeth a lot more white. The most impressive product is the BlanX Extra White Intensive Whitening Treatment. This product aims to restore teeth back to their natural whiteness. I have to be honest, I was skeptical about this claim, but in the last few Weeks I have seen visible changes in the colour of my teeth and out of all of the products I would recommend this highly.

Overall I am really happy with the colour of my teeth thanks to these products. I have to be honest and admit I was a little apprehensive to see if they would actually work and if there would be a noticeable difference in my teeth before and after, so I was really impressed to see visible results after just a few Weeks.

BlanX are on a lot of social media platforms, so if you are interested in any of their products or if you are looking for any tips for whiter teeth, check out their social media links below. I definitely recommend having a watch of their Strawberry Gazpacho recipe video (link here) for whiter teeth. 

BlanX Online:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube

Blanx Stockists: Blanx | Boots | Superdrug | ASDA | Morrisons | Sainsbury's | Tesco

BlanX have kindly given me the same four products to give away to one lucky reader. Please follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*PR Sample*

My Honest Thoughts on Estee Lauder's Double Wear Concealer

It isn't a regular occurrence that I splurge on high end beauty products. Occasionally I will treat myself to something new, that being a few Months ago when I bought the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Flawless Wear Concealer. I use the Estee Lauder Foundation and I love the coverage that gives me, so I expected good things from the concealer.

I find the coverage very high, so this would be ideal for someone that likes a really high coverage base. I have combination skin and don't find this too drying for my skin either. I have the shade 'light' which is the perfect match for my skin tone.

I find this concealer works better for me when I use it alone without any foundation. It gives enough coverage to hide my blemishes while still looking natural. I have used the concealer with the Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Coverage Camoflauge Makeup for Face and Body and I find it way too heavy for me to use both products together. I have also used this concealer with other foundations that are low to medium coverage, and I feel it works much better for my skin used in conjunction with a lower coverage foundation or none at all.

Is it worth the money? Hmm - for me, to be honest, probably not. I think it is a great product that gives incredibly good coverage and leaves my face looking flawless - but in all honestly, I don't need a high coverage concealer and a high coverage foundation - for me, one or the other is more than enough.

Nothing But... Healthy Snacks

I am a big fan of snacks - I am quite a picky eater so I find it handy to have snacks with me for on the go. I find it difficult to pick more healthier options other than fruit, so when Nothing But got in touch asking if I would like to try out some of their fruit snacks, I was really looking forward to trying them out.

Nothing But are the UK’s first freeze dried fruit and vegetable snacks brand, which are gluten free with no added anything. Nothing But is a healthy range of freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks with just the water taken away. Each bag provides one of your five a day which makes them the perfect alternative to chocolate, crisps or other high sugar treats. 

I was really impressed with the snacks, they taste good and it is great to know I am snacking on something which doesn't contain any added sugars or preservatives. I especially enjoyed the sweet fruit flavours, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a healthy snack. The vegetable snacks were enjoyable too, and it was good to try something a little bit different.

My favourite flavours were strawberry and banana flavour, and sliced beetroot and parsnip flavour. I absolutely love vegetable crisps so these were perfect for me. The strawberry and banana flavour snack did give me that guilt - free sweet treat too.

Have you heard of Nothing But?

Nothing But are available to buy online at Holland and Barrett for £1.25 per packet.

*PR sample*

Win a Jurrasic World Dinosaur with Chicago Town Pizza

Just a quick post today as I wanted to share an awesome competition with you. You all know I love a good competition! With the release of Jurassic World on DVD recently, Chicago Town have teamed up with them to bring you the chance to win a prize! By purchasing a Chicago Town product with promotional packaging, you have the chance to win a Jurassic World Dinosaur Toy.
Instructions on how to enter, as well as terms and conditions of the competition can all be found on their website here.

Being a huge fan of pizza I would totally recommend trying Chicago Town, so, so tasty!

Pizzasaurus anyone?!

*Collaborative post*

Recipe: Nanna's Homemade Apple Crumble

When it comes to baking, my first memory was making home made apple crumble at my Nan's house. The recipe is so easy and no matter how many times I make it, it always brings back such lovely memories for me. My Nan often gives us all of the crumble ingredients ready to go in a resealable bag so all we have to do is add the water when we get home (and the apples too of-course!).

This is a definite family favourite of ours - there is nothing quite like an apple crumble after a Sunday Roast!
The recipe is so easy - the weight of the ingredients can vary depending on the size of the crumble, this recipe is just a rough guide.

Ingredients:
240g plain flour
five tablespoons of sugar
pinch of cinnamon
85g butter
four tablespoons of water
5 bramley apples (cored, peeled and cut into chunks)

You will need:
Mixing bowl, baking dish, tablespoon, knife and peeler to cut apples

Recipe:
Preheat the Oven to 200 degrees
Evenly distribute the apples to the bottom of the dish
Mix the flour and the butter together in a bowl with your fingers until it feels like crumbs, then add two tablespoons of sugar and stir together.
Add the water, cinnamon and two tablespoons of sugar on top of the apples
Add the crumble to the top of the apples, ensuring it is all covered
Put the dish into the oven, allowing to bake for around 45-50 minutes or until golden brown
Sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar on top of the crumble.
Serve with custard, ice cream or alone!

Have you got any favourite family recipes? If you do, Wren Kitchens have an Instagram competition to win a AEG food mixer. You can enter by simply sharing your recipe on Instagram using the hashtag #WrenFamilyFavourites
You can check out more from Wrens Family Favourites on their website here.

Top Picks: Boots 3 for 2 Christmas Gifts 2015

Ever since I can remember, Boots 3 for 2 gift sets have been brilliant at Christmas time. I am always eager to have a good look when they bring out their Christmas gift guide, and they have some lovely items this Year too. Here are a few of my favorites, I think there is something for most people.

For the Beauty Lover in your life this gorgeous Ted Baker Gift Set is perfect. The French Connection Body Care Booster gift set is great for any woman that loves a pamper. Make-up junkies will love this No 7 Nail Varnish set which includes lots of different shades, as well as the Soap and Glory Glam-o-flage make up palette which includes some of their very best products. 

If you have any keen Foodie's, they will love this Hairy Bikers Casserole Pot and Jamie Oliver Glorious Oils Set. If they like a little spice, the Nandos Sauce Set is ideal, and for all those budding bakers, a pretty cake stand like this one from Rosie's Pantry is perfect.

There is a huge selection of fun stuff for Kids, including this adorable Shaun The Sheep Toy and Lego set. Nothing is cooler than your very own Nerf gun, and for all of those budding writers, there is this really sweet Frozen stationary set.

Gifts for Men are usually difficult to hunt down, but Boots have a variety of items that is sure to please most guys. There are plenty of grooming gift sets, including this Ted Baker Shave Kit and Bench Boxer set. There are also some cool little gadgets including this fish eye lens and remote control helicopter.

October Degustabox and Discount Code

Degustabox are back with a cracking selection of products this Month, including a lot of snacks and useful cupboard fillers! If you haven't tried Degustabox before, it is well worth giving a whirl - you will receive 9-14 surprise food or drink products a Month and you can use my discount code BLDEG15 to receive £6 (yes, six pound!) off from your total order.

Some of my favourite products this Month were the coconut chips from Nudie Snacks. I love coconut chips and it was great to try a different flavour too. The Cirio Chopped Tomatoes and Passata were handy to receive as we use these items every Week and they are great brand. Another favourite has to be the Kabuto Noodles; I have tried these previously and they are really tasty and useful to have for a quick snack or lunch in a rush.
The Geeta's Chutney and Curry Paste are some fab products to be able to try. We loved the limi and chilli chutney, we are yet to use the korma curry paste but will be using this in a curry we are cooking this Week. Other products included in this Months box were The Snack Sensation Rice Crackers which we actually used with the chutney - both were very tasty. Another product we received from the same brand were the Freeze Dried Fruit, that tasted sweet and are 100% natural and healthy. The Lorina Lemonade was refreshing and tasty, the Liberation Foods Cashews and Peanuts were fab to snack on during bonfire night, and the Chipstrips were really interestingly shaped crisps which I would recommend trying, I am thinking of adding salsa to them next time!
Lastly, the Product of the Month was the 9 Bar Carob Hit pack which taste great and even better they are really healthy. I have tried products from the brand before but hadn't tried this flavour. We also received a free voucher for President Unsalted Butter, which I haven't used just yet.

Degustabox: Website | Facebook | Twitter

*PR Sample*

October Empties

I love this time of Year - it means lots of pamper nights in and wrapping up warm and snuggly writing lots of blog posts. I love having a good old nosy at other bloggers Monthly empties posts, so I thought I would share a few products I have finished recently.

The product I am most sad about using up is the Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover. I have mentioned previously on my blog that this quickly became a firm favourite of mine. It is brilliant at removing eye make-up and I would recommend if you have sensitive skin like mine.
I hadn't used a Lush product in a while, so I was really looking forward to using Lush The Comforter Shower Cream* which I received in a very generous blogger meet goodie bag. The scent is so comforting (pardon the pun) and is sweet and relaxing. I will probably make a purchase of this next time I head to Lush.
I also used up my Britney Spears Circus Fantasy Perfume recently. I think it makes a good 'day-time' perfume; it smells refreshing, but it didn't bowl me over so I won't be rushing out to repurchase this. Lastly, I used up the Cath Kidston Wild Roses Hand Cream, it is quite moisturising and smells lovely, I didn't find it greasy either so I would probably pick this up again in the future.

Lush Christmas: Snow Fairy and Butterbear

You know it is almost Christmas when Lush release their Christmas range in stores, right? I popped in store the Day the new lines were released because I couldn't wait to buy some of the collection. I restrained myself and picked only a few items on this shopping trip, but I am pretty sure I will be going back for more soon. I picked up two of my favourite Christmas products up this time - what are you favourite Christmas Lush items? Have you tried anything new from the collection?


I think Snow Fairy has become a very iconic Lush product over the past few Years - it is definitely a product that most beauty lovers are aware of when Lush release their Christmas range. I really hope they never discontinue it - I personally like the fact it is a Christmas time only product - it makes it a lot more special when you get your hands on it! The Snow Fairy Shower Gel has an extremely sweet scent which is almost indescribable. It smells like a mix of candy floss and all things sweet - it smells amazing and makes a perfect bath or shower for me.

The Butterbear Bath Bomb is another firm favourite of mine. Butterbear is vanilla scented, and has a softening cocoa butter to ensure the bath is perfect for pampering and good for the skin. Not only that, it is incredibly inexpensive too, costing only £1.95 each. If you like a simple, calm and soothing bath, and don't fancy a lot of glitter or floral pieces in your bath - this may be the one for you. This bath bomb reminds me a lot of the Butter Ball Bath Bomb but it just a lot cheaper in price. Who can resist this cute little bear?!

New Balance Me Protect and Shine Conditioner

I've been looking back at old blog posts recently, and I noticed how much I have wrote about conditioner - it seems to be something I buy quite frequently, and I definitely know what I do and don't like in a conditioner. Who would have thought an average, every - day item would be something I enjoy writing about so much?! I'm not really sure why I am a little fussy with the conditioner I use in my hair, it may have something to do with having sensitive skin and oily hair - I want a conditioner that doesn't irritate my scalp and leaves my hair feeling super soft and in good condition.

Balance Me are a brand I started using just a few Years ago, and pretty much everything I have tried from them has worked perfectly for me. Balance Me products are made from natural ingredients which is ideal if you suffer from very sensitive skin as natural beauty products may be able to help as they do not contain nasty ingredients and chemicals which are found in a lot of beauty products.

This conditioner helps to give my hair that boost and leaves it feeling a lot more strong and not quite as lank and weak as it usually feels. My hair is damaged from dyeing and using hair tools etc, so a good protecting conditioner really seems to make the difference in not only the appearance of my hair, but also the condition.
Something I wasn't expecting from this conditioner is that it smells really good, even my family have commented on it smelling quite fruity. Overall I am happy with the product and am looking at all of the brands other hair products now too!

You can buy the Balance Me Protect and Shine Conditioner online here from Mypure for £10 *currently £8.50*

*PR Sample*

Lovea Pink Clay Face Mask

Are you looking for a new face mask? Do you suffer from sensitive skin? Are you a fan of natural products? If you answered 'yes' to any of those questions, then this blog post may be of interest to you.

Lovea are a brand I have featured on my blog several times before. As you may know, I have reviewed some of their products on behalf of MyPure; an online store that stock all natural beauty products, which I definitely recommend you check out! This Month my skin has been suffering a little and was in need of some TLC, so a pamper evening was long overdue. I love a face mask and usually apply a face mask once or twice a fortnight when I am having a bad skin day or if I am having a relaxing evening. I opted for Lovea's Pink Clay Mask. Lovea state that clay has been 'used for centuries to purify the skin and remove toxins. Under a microscope clay looks like a giant porous sponge, it attracts toxins and then binds them deep inside the clay ready to be rinsed off the skin'. Lovea stock three different clay masks to suit different skin types, I opted for the pink clay mask as this is for sensitive skin. 

To use, you simply apply a layer onto your face and then remove five minutes later with water. The mask does dry quickly and smells pleasant. The results were that the face mask made my face feel smooth and clear, as well as feeling quite refreshed. I have used this face mask around four to five times now and so far so good! I would probably purchase this in the future as I think it is a reasonably priced product; considering Lovea is natural beauty brand, I think that is pretty good.

The Lovea Pink Clay Mask is available to buy online at MyPure and is currently priced at £6.99.

*PR sample*

Breast Cancer Awareness

October welcomes Breast Cancer Awareness Month - something that is extremely close to my heart. Raising money for charities that help cure cancer is so, so important (not just this Month, but every Month). 

Every year nearly 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK, that’s the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes. 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the UK. Nearly 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year. Breast cancer also affects men, but it’s rare – around 400 men are diagnosed each year. Statistics taken from Breast Cancer Care.

The statistics are shocking; 

We need to cure cancer sooner.

There are many ways you can get involved. You can make a donation, take part in fund raising, volunteer, take part at a fund raising event, or you can purchase items from the charities corporate partners where some of the proceeds go to the charity; such as Breast Cancer Care and Asda .

I have included a list of useful links below.

Breast Cancer Care Charity | National Breast Cancer Foundation | Cancer Research UK | Breast Cancer Now | Breast Cancer Care | Macmillan | Coppa Feel | Maggies Centres | The Haven | Big Pink Day  | Tickled Pink | Race For Life  | Look Good Feel Better 

Wonderful Things #1

I wanted to begin writing a little series where I share with you some things I am loving at the moment that don't quite fit into a Monthly beauty favourites blog post. In this series, I intend to share some random favourites; that could include absolutely anything - beauty, fashion, food, TV, places - basically, anything that has made me smile. After all, it is all the little things that are wonderful in life.

Pamper evenings
I have to say there is nothing quite like a night in watching a good film and then having a lovely pamper night using all of my favourite beauty products. I have been having regular pamper evenings and I am sure this will continue throughout Autumn and Winter. I have been loving using the Madara Night Cream* on an evening, as well as my new discovery Latherly*- which is a really cool shower gel which lathers LOTS - it smells refreshing and is brilliant if you have sensitive skin because it doesn't contain any nasty chemicals. I have dyed my hair recently so have wanted to keep my colour radiant, so have been reaching for Dove Colour Radiance Treatment Conditioner - it has really helped the appearance of my hair.

Nugget and Mallow
When I headed to Birmingham for the West Midlands Blogger Meet a few Weeks ago, we were given an amazing goody bag to take home with us; which included these uh-mazing sweet mallow treats from the brand Nugget and Mallow*. How awesome is the personalised pinwheel lollipop?!. I also adore an afternoon tea and I think these afternoon tea inspired mini mallows are adorable! I mean, they almost look too pretty to eat! The mallows taste sweet and delicious - yum!

Wearing My Sunglasses
I have never been a huge wearer of sunglasses, but ever since I picked up this pair from Claire's Accessories a couple of Months ago, I have just loved having them in my bag. Although the sun has almost gone and Winter is near, I've still been popping these in my bag. I just love the colour of these and for once, they actually suit me!

My Blogging Mug
I love a good cup or coffee or tea, it is my favourite drink especially at this time of Year and what's better than tapping away at the computer, blogging away than with my very own personalised blogging mug?* Mr Nutcase are a company that sells personalised phone-cases, and have recently widened their range to personalised mugs. I think this mug is brilliant and it is such good quality. I love personalised gifts, and am planning to buy some of these personalised mugs as Christmas gifts for my family this Year. The website is so easy to navigate around and use. To create your mug, you simply add your design or pictures, and then you can choose which size and type of mug you would like. It is super quick and easy and I absolutely love the outcome! The mug looks brilliant - I love it!

*Post includes PR samples*

The Best Eye Cream I've Tried This Year

It isn't often I find an eye cream that I completely fall in love with. To be honest, eye creams are something that I struggle with as the majority of eye creams I have tried in the past don't achieve everything I want from them. I want an eye cream to help to reduce my puffy eyes and dark circles. I want an eye cream to help hide the lines underneath my eyes.
I've tried a variety of eye creams, from budget brands to high end, and none of them have been able to do all of this. That was until I tried the Benefit Its Potent Eye Cream.
I have never really been a huge believer that eye creams can transform your eyes from looking puffy to flawless, but this one does a pretty good job at hiding my tired eyes and making my skin underneath my eyes look clear and really helps to reduce lines and dark circles. I have been using this solely for around 3 or 4 Months now and I have noticed on photographs of myself since using this, that my eyes look less tired and my dark circles have dramatically reduced. I struggle with my sleeping routine and this has always been visible under my eyes, but since I have been using this product it seems to have reduced those pesky dark circles almost completely.

*PR sample*

5 Reasons I Love Writing a Blog

When I started my blog in 2011 I never thought I would stick at it for this long so I must enjoy it, right?! There are a lot of reasons I enjoy writing a blog. I wanted to share a few of them with you as I think it is so interesting hearing the different reasons why people write a blog. Please do let me know in the comments the reasons that you began writing your blog and why you enjoy it.

Being able to share your thoughts with others

I have always had a passion for reading and writing since I was a child, but often struggled with finding an outlet to meet this interest of mine. Blogging has combined my interests of reading and writing with my other interests in life, such as beauty. I love having my own little space where I can tap away, sharing my thoughts, to my hearts content. 

There is always someone to talk to

If I am unsure on which lipstick to buy or wanted suggestions on where to eat, I know that by reaching out to readers and other bloggers that there is always someone to chat to. My friends and family don't share my interests, so it is great to be able to connect with others that do. Be it through the comments on blogs, email or social media - the blogging community is always on hand for a chat!

Making friends

I have made quite a few friends that I wouldn't know if it wasn't for this blog. I am so grateful for the friends I have made through blogging; it is so heart-warming to know that because of the blogging community so many friendships have formed.

Documenting your ideas and your life and your interests

I love having the opportunity to write my thoughts down on a blog to be able to look back at Years later. My blog is a little like having my own online diary.

Being able to learn and express myself

If it wasn't for my blog and for reading other blogs, I wouldn't know a lot that I know now! I read a lot more online since I started writing a blog myself and I have learnt so much not just about my interests, but other topics too. I am able to express my thoughts on my blog and communicate with others on their thoughts and learn from them too.