Last Minute Idea: 12 Days of Blogmas 2.

Stepping into a bath or shower on a cold winter evening can be heaven, but ramping it up with a heavenly bath & shower oil is a step into pure indulgence I am all for. 

For those luxury lovers in need of a pamper over the festive period this Organic Bath & Shower Indulgence set from Neom holds the key to a very happy mum/grandma/sister/cousin/aunt/best pal on Christmas morning. It takes a lot for me to commit to one scent so variety really is the spice of life with the set of six mini vials of oil. It includes Tranquillity (English Lavender with Sweet Basil & Jasmine), Pure Luxury (Lavender, Jasmine & Brazilian Rosewood) and Complete Bliss (Moroccan Blush Rose). 

At a very reasonable £19.00 I'd be tempted to give them an extra touch of luxury with a travel candle to complete the set. 

If you have a group of friends and want to spread the love, consider gift splitting. Split three ways the oils will look lovely in a gift bag with a candle. 

Available HERE

xx

*press sample, thoroughly adored though. p.s why did the elf go to school? to learn the ELFABET...hohoho.

Bath Time Treats.

Christmas time = long lazy bath time, it's the rules. If I can bath away in a bath scented with the spicy aroma of theYuletide, even better. Today brings two delicious offerings from Concious Skincare & Organic Surge.

I'll begin with the adorable Concious Skincare Sweet Orange & Frangipani Bath Soak. If you're after a christmas pressie for the cosmetic lover with a concious, this is perfect. It comes in a cardboard tube complete with festive ribbon and the bath soak itself is a deletable mix of warming citrus orange and frangipani that makes for a sumptuous bathing experience. You can rest assured that the ingredients are non animal tested and organic, so it's s totally guilt free soak!

If you tend to indulge more in the spicy side of winter scents, the Organic Surge Spiced Lily Foaming Bath is a rich blend of clove and patchouli that really appeals to me.  After a long stressful day doing those last minute Christmas shopping bits, sinking in to a bath full of this is heaven. 

xx

Love Me Beauty December Christmas Edition.

Any December edition of a Beauty Box is something to look forward to and delving into the December Edition of Love Me Beauty box is no exception.

Included in this months' menu: 

Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick in Glazed Pink (full size rrp £12)

Lord & Berry Kiss Proof Lip Liner in Seduction (full size rrp £7.50)

Headline Colours Nail Polish in Quicksand (full size rrp £9)

Matriskin Vitamin C Serum (sample size 7.5ml)

Rodial Glamtox Night (sample size 15ml)

The Verdict.

I'll start with the highs. I was really impressed with the Matriskin Collegen serum that popped up in a recent LMB box so I was chuffed to see another product from the line creep in for me to try. I adore the medicinal feel to the line and hopefully my skin will love it too. 

Who doesn't like a little bit of Rodial? I'm really excited to try the Glamtox Night as I've heard great things. Another product I'm pleased with is the Headline Colors nail polish in quicksand. I've tried another colour previously and was really impressed with the formulation so a more mute shade is right up my street. 

But. 

I can't say I'm that pysched to see Lord & Berry pop up again. They've appeared here, here and here. It's all getting a bit deja-vu. I'm a big fan of the Love Me Beauty boxes but please don't turn into Love Me Some More Lord & Berry! The shade of the lipstick and liner are gorgeous though, so I suppose I can let them off. Maybe. 

Overall the box is of a high quality and I'm pleased, but please mix it up a bit next year. 

xxx

Psst. If you want to grab yourself 20% off your first box, use LMBBB20 to claim until the 10th January. 

Ginger Sparkle.

Ginger Sparkle Hand Wash 

Ginger Sparkle Home Fragrance Oil

Ginger Sparkle Reed Diffuser

Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel 

Joyful Gingerbread House

Gingerbread Man

Last year, a little gingerbread tin landing on my doorstep and it started a bit of a revolution. My love obsession with ginger is well documented on here but the Ginger Sparkle range from The Body Shop really is the one for me. 

I may have gone slightly wild in the online aisles and bought a little bit of everything but I'm basking in a ginger haze. Ginger Sparkle is the perfect blend of warming but spicy. It's a pure ginger scent that is deceptively difficult to track down. 

I'm bathing in the stuff, filling my room with the scent of it and even giving it away as gifts. I'm a certified Ginger Nut...

xx

Love Me Beauty November.

So, what does Love Me Beauty have to offer this month in the November Edition*?

I chose Edition 1 which included: 

Absolution Le Soin Purifiant (Skin Renewing Mask) full size 50ml £24 

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Bronze Shadow Liner RRP £10.50

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash full size 250ml £20

Models Own Nail Polish in Hot Pink RRP £5

Art Deco Hydra Lip Booster in Translucent Rosewood RRP £11.50 

So, what's the verdict?

I feel it is a little bit of a mixed bag this month. Whilst the two star products for me are the Absolution Mask & the Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash, I could take or leave the rest of the menu. Again, I'll stress it's not a case of being disappointed as the beauty of Love Me Beauty is you pick what you want to be sent, BUT I just can't get too excited about it. Similarly to my last post about LMB I'm going to have to have a minor gripe about product/brand repetition as It's happened again in the box. The magic of sample boxes is to try new things and to broaden your beauty horizons, but it just doesn't seem to be happening here. 

I'm still a great believer in the Love Me Beauty boxes, and really look forward to seeing what they have to offer. The best it yet to come!

xx

The Organic Surge Beauty Blogger Bundle.

If like me, you are partial to a bit of Organic Surge, you've come to the right place. I personally found out a bit more about the brand through the bloggersphere so it only seems right I give you a heads up on the 'Beauty Blogger Bundle'* they are putting out.

Available exclusively through this link HERE, the bundle bags you four full size products for just a smidge over £20. If you're into your percentages, it's a 13% saving on the regular price. 

The set comes complete with a zingy Citrus Mint Shower Gel, a nourishing Lavender Meadow Hand & Nail Cream, a divine 2 Minute Moisture Hair Mask and finally, a pot of the Blissful Daily Moisturiser.

There isn't a single product in the bundle I won't get full out of, so often than not you find at least one dud in the set. 

It's a bundle of joy! 

xx

*sent for condsideration

Neom Scents of Christmas.

With six weeks to go, It's finally feeling more acceptable to use the C word in its whole festive glory. Christmas is coming and Neom are getting festive. 

I dare even the biggest Grinch to not feel a pang of festive joy when sniffing these three travel sized beauties. The set picks up on three Christmas favourites, Harmonise evokes the fresh clean scent of a Christmas tree, Wish fills the room with the mouthwatering scent of spicy Christmas cake and finally Comforting is a warming woody scent that could substitute for any festive log fire. 

It's the perfect present to easily bring a bit of festive cheer on those cold winter evenings.

The perfect present for a candle connoisseur. 

Buy Me. 

RRP £42. 

xx

Post Party Pick Me Up.

The party season is quickly coming around and if you don't have the luxury of hiding under a duvet the day after the office party, it's always useful to have a few tools in your inventory to fake a fresh face.  

If you're anything like me the day after a night on the tiles my skin feels in desperate need of moisture and refreshing. The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth* is an essential weapon for preparing your skin to fake a glow. The light fresh concentrate smells fresh and sinks in instantly, it's the perfect product to quickly pick you up if you spent a few extra minutes in bed. Before you go wild with the concealer, sometimes less is more when you're trying to fake functionality. I'm a big fan of the The Body Shop All-In-One BB Cream* as it is very similar to my much tried and tested Origins Vitazing. It alters to your own skintone as you blend and is light and easy to work with. It won't cake or sit on the skin and really gives a healthy sheen to the skin. 

Eyes are the window to the soul and a good eye gel or cream will do you proud in the fight against fatigue. This No Bags Allowed Eye Gel from Anatomicals is packed full of witch hazel which will battle your bags. It's also really purse friendly if you're looking for an affordable treat.

Finally I'd be lost without a good pair of lash curlers to open your eyes and make you look more awake, the good old Shu Uemura are always a winner in this department. Finally, I always need to fake a flush when I'm heading out the morning after the night before. I'm currently in love (again) with the Korres Lip Butter in Plum. It's perfect for looking rosy on the lips and if you're in a rush a small amount buffed into the cheeks is more than acceptable. 

What do you do to fake a healthy glow after you've partied the night away? 

xx

Good Enough To Eat: The Yorkshire Soap Co.

If there are two things in this world that this girl likes, it's bath products and cake. This dreamy hybrid was bought back from a recent trip to York & it is serious lighting my fire. 

Now, before I go on, I'm afraid I didn't sit down to a seriously appetising piece of Lemon Meringue soap with my tea but trust me, the temptation was there.  

The Yorkshire Soap Co. are producing decadent delights in soap form to please even the most girly bathtime. If a slice of soap cake doesn't tickle you, what about Bath Truffles, Cupcakes or perfectly packaged gift boxes as a Christmas Gift?

To borrow a phrase from the Soap Co. themselves, they wanted to a 'create a theatrical emporium of all things soapy'. Boy have they hit the nail on the head. You can almost reach out and sneak a taste of the white whipped topping on the soap itself.

If you can't make the trip up to Yorkshire yourself, the website is full of fanciful treats, I'm already eyeing up the Chocolate Fudge Slice! 

They're (almost) good enough to eat. 

xx

November Glossybox 2013.

Opening this November Glossybox*, It's clear things have been given a bit of a Glossy makeover. Complete with a sleek postcard product guide and a Glossy magazine full of ideas and interesting snippets of beauty info, the polished finish of the box is a very welcome change.

So, what was hidden inside this months box? 

Vichy Idealia Life Serum: Full Size £29.50 for 30ml

Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams: Full size £16.80

Yves Rocher France Hand Cream: £1.95 for 75ml

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails: £3 for 125ml 

B. Long Lasting Nail Polish in Moleskin: £4.99 for 8ml 

What's the verdict? 

Overall this box gets a thumbs up. I was immediately pleased to see Yves Rocher in my box as I'm an existing fan of the brand. The hand cream itself smells like a chocolate dream so what's not to love?! 

I was also really excited to try the Vichy Idealia Life Serum as anything vaguely French is always a winner in the skincare stakes. The fact it's in adorable reusable packaging is always a bonus. 

The surprising product of the month is the Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Spray. I gave a tentative whirl after painting my nails with the B. Lasting Nail Polish (a lovely griege polish that was opaque and glossy in two thin coats...FYI) and was really surprised to see it was a winner. I wouldn't quite agree with 60 seconds to touch dry, but 2 minutes later I could pretty much do what I wanted without fear of smudging. For £3 it's a great bargain find. The Emite Eyeshadow isn't much to write home about, it's a great black eyeshadow but isn't going to blow my world apart.

What did you get in this month's box? 

Laura x

A Cosy Night In.

The clocks have gone back and the nights are drawing in, it's the perfect excuse to get cosy.

Autumn/Winter inevitably means the re-emergence of candles and cosy baths and Neom definitely gets my vote when it comes to getting warm and snuggly. I already had my hands on the Real Luxury Body Oil but the Real Luxury Candle* is the perfect solution to filling bedrooms and bathrooms with the chilled out fragrance that I love so much. Another old favourite is the NARS Monoi Body Oil II, perfect in baths or rubbed directly into dry limbs it reminds me of a summer holiday on a cold winter evening. 

The Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream is a great alternative to an oil if you don't have time to let it sink in. I'm a complete addict to the Origins Ginger Essence so layering this up with the actual fragrance the perfect winter treat. 

Whilst I'm languishing in the tub, I like to do a face mask. At the moment I'm in love with this Organic Surge First Class Mask. It's an affordable treat that smells like a lemon and rosemary dream. It's also a great one for pepping up dull winter skin. Is anyone else finding the lack of daylight hours affects your skin? 

What do you like the cuddle with on a cosy evening? 

xx

Love Me Beauty October Box

It's Love Me Beauty time again, what does the October menu have to offer? 

My menu constisted of: 

Lord & Berry Smudge Proof Eyeliner (full size) RRP £7.50

Lord & Berry Scuba Mascara (full size) RRP £12

Balm Balm Balance Bath & Shower 5ml RRP £6

Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo (sample) RRP £8.95 190ml

Amie Skincare Clean Cooling Clay Mask RRP £1.50 

So, what did I make of this months box? 

I have been so chuffed with the past offerings from Love Me Beauty & BeauteCo Box that it was always going to be a tough challenge to deliver a consistent 'knock it out of the park' box each month. I feel this month is the inevitable 'it's good but doesn't wow me' offering. Obviously all of this is totally objective but only two out of the five products really caught my attention. 

Before it gets mentioned, you do pick which menu you want before you receive your box so it is in no way a disappointment as I was aware of what I was receiving before it came but equally the menus didn't knock my socks off. 

I'm going through a bit of a lavender stage at the moment so this dinky oil from Balm Balm was a lovely addition. The peppermint edge to this oil perfectly balances it and it's a treat to use in the bath or on a hot flannel in the shower. 

I'm equally chuffed with the mini Weleda Millet Shampoo as I'm on the look out for a replacement for my current Aussie addiction. It's a light and smells lovely, a full size purchase could be on the cards! 

Now, The other three products were a mixed bag. I've not had the best experience with Amie Skincare before so I'm reluctant to try the face masks but they will make lovely stocking fillers for friends or family at Christmas so all is not lost. My main gripe lies with the two Lord & Berry products contained in this months box. They are both decent little products but I'm on the verge of bored with the brand now. It's appeared once before in multiples in the boxes and it's surely time to branch out and try different brands. 

I'm sure I will use them both but the curious cat in me wants to try new brands. 

I'll give this months box a B+, good but a few tweaks could bring it back to it's best. 

xxx

Find Love Me Beauty Here.  

Love Me Beauty Box.

Firstly, a quick word on Love Me Beauty. BeauteCo Box have undergone a stealthy rebrand and now appear as 'Love Me Beauty'. Luckily all that has changed is the name, the ethos and quality still remain the same. 

Septembers chosen menu included: 

Matriskin Collegen Serum 

Murad Osmolyte Tonic 

Nip + Fab Dry Leg Fix

Anatomicals Eye Gel

Essentual Care Lip Silk 

I'm most impressed with my menu, I'd actually forgotten what I'd chosen so it was a surprise when I opened it up! This really is a skincare junkies paradise. The Murad Tonic is a gorgeous refreshing spritz that will slip seemlessly into my routine. I've been having a make up free day today and I've been sporadically spritzing myself all day. 

I'm also trés excited to try this Matriskin Collage Serum. I adore any sort of french skincare and the collagen aspect is just a bonus. The medicinal packaging is just the cherry on top. 

I'm also pleasantly surprised by the Anatomicals Eye Gel. Despite the gimmicky packaging, it's a lovely cooling eye gel that worked really well when I slapped it on this morning. Hopeful of great things from this. 

Finally, the Nip + Fab Dry Leg Fix isn't something I'll be rushing to use up but I'll certainly give it a whirl. Ditto with the Essential Care Lip Silk, I have a lip balm in every area code yo. 

Have you tried Love Me Beauty yet? 

xx