24 Days of Christmas with Liz Earle

As much as I love chocolate (and I really do) I have never been so excited about an advent calendar, and without a calorie in sight! The Liz Earle advent calendar is absolutely fantastic. With a pampering treat every day in December I can't think of a better way to prepare for the holiday season!

The calendar is quite hefty as it contains a huge selection of Liz Earle products. Whether you are a seasoned LE lover or are looking to try something new the mix of skincare, body care, haircare and fragrance there really is something for everyone.

Even though I am totally unprepared for Christmas I can't wait for December to come so I can start opening all the doors and start using the products. I will never get tired of minis, especially as I rarely spend more than a week at home so am constantly packing and unpacking, which makes these even more perfect!

The Liz Earle 24 Days of Christmas Calendar is £100 here and contains the following selection of products:

• Cleanse & Polish 30ml with 1 pure muslin cloth
• Instant Boost Skin Tonic 50ml bottle
• Skin Repair moisturiser 15ml (Normal/combination)
• Superskin Moisturiser 15ml
• Superskin Concentrate 2ml rollerball
• Daily Eye Repair 5ml
•  Smoothing Line Serum 5ml
• Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion 50ml  
• Gentle Face Exfoliator 15ml
• Brightening Treatment Mask 15ml
• Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask 15ml
• Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash 30ml  
• Nourishing Botanical Body Cream 30ml
• Superbalm 5g pot
• Orange Flower Hand Wash 30ml
• Hand Repair 15ml
• Foot Scrub 15ml
• Foot Repair Moisturiser 15ml
• Energising Body Scrub 15ml
• Energising Body Wash 15ml
• Botanical Shine Shampoo 50ml  
• Botanical Shine Conditioner Normal 50ml
• Botanical Essence No. 1 2ml

  Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to a beauty calendar this Christmas? xxx

Christmas with Origins

When the press release for these little Christmas gifts from Origins at Selfridges dropped into my inbox I couldn't help but squeal a little. They are just adorable! Whether you are looking for a stocking filler or a gift to hide under the tree Origins has it all wrapped up, and in cute packaging too!

My absolute favourite is the Origins Christmas baubles (£6 each or £10 for 2). Each one contains 5 best selling Origins products:

• Plantscription Anti-aging Serum 7ml
• Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask 7ml
• Modern Friction Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion 5ml
• Ginzing ™ Refreshing Eye Cream 5 ml
• Plantscription ™ Eye treatment 5 ml

Plus with every purchase you will be entered into a prize draw to win £1000 worth of Origins products and for every bauble purchased Origins will also plant a tree!

If you get a chance to check these out in Selfridges let me know! I will definitely be picking up a few for Secret Santa presents. Shhh... 

Marrakesh

After covering 3 continents in just over 4 days (work, work and holiday) I am safely back on my sofa and can honestly declare that as much as I love traveling, nothing is as good as being home with my little Maxie! Though I must confess I made a few other feline friends on my travels...

I thought I would share a few photos of our (all too brief) trip to Marrakesh as many of you expressed your interest on twitter. It is an amazing city - full of vitality, vibrant colour and rich history (as well as small doorways).

 Please excuse the Movember moustache on the boy - everyone kept mistaking him for a local...


We stayed in a really fun Riyadh hotel, which certainly wasn't on the minimalist side. Just look at the entrance. I won't scar you with photos of our room, but it was certainly an experience!

The famous soukhs were so much fun to get lost in. However, if this trip cemented one thing it is that I am a fiend when it comes to bargaining, but the fiancee really is a soft touch. 120Dh he spent on a little pot... I know I could have got it for 30! ;p

 The YSL or Majorelle Gardens.

The gardens were stunning and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The sun came out and though it wasn't exactly hot it was perfect for a hectic day of sightseeing!

After a lovely lunch in the gardens followed by copious mint tea the fiancee tried his hand at orienteering... which is when we got lost!

I would definitely recommend Marrakesh for a long weekend break in the sun. Perhaps it is not the most romantic of places (no hand holding), but the vibrant atmosphere alone is worth the journey!

How To Get The Posh Pony - BaByliss Get The Look

A few months ago I had the pleasure of filming some Get The Look videos with Babyliss and the wonderful stylists from Percy & Reed. The first in the series - How To Get The Posh Pony is now live!


I absolutely love this look! It's so easy and quick to create and lasts well throughout the day as the crimps make sure that your hair stays full and voluminous in the face of wind and humidity!

I think this look very much channels Posh herself, but also the stunning Kate Beckinsale!

Are you a fan of the posh pony? Let me know what you guys think of this video and I would love it if you left a comment on it! xxx

Revlon Lip Butter Sweet Boutique

 The Revlon Lip Butter Sweet Boutique is back just in time for Christmas! 

Revlon will be giving away 100 Lip Butters from 8am to 11pm every day until the 4th of December on their Facebook page! Good luck lovelies! xxx

Christmas Gift List

This is the first in the series of my Christmas Gift Guide and I think it has a little something for everyone!

Christmas Gift List

Which item would be your perfect Christmas gift? xxx

Biore Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Biore's pore strips really take me back to my teenage years and battling with the dreaded blackheads. Now in my mid twenties (eek!) my skin has calmed down a lot due to age and I would like to think a much better skincare routine. However, every now and then I can see a little blocked pore, attack it and make it 300 times worse. I have vowed to stop doing this, but when the need strikes I have started relying on Biore's Deep Cleansing Pore Strips!

The new Combo packs contain 7 nose strips and 7 face strips (that can be used where needed - forehead, chin or cheeks).

If you have never used these strips each one has a handy how to on the packaging to make sure you get the most effective use.

1. Remove strip from pouch. Before using nose strips, twist strip to loosen and separate slits featured on nose strips only.
2. After washing your face, thoroughly wet your nose or other face area (where you have clogged pores or blackheads). The strip won't stick on a dry nose.
3. Dry hands. Peel strip off plastic liner. Apply to nose area, smooth side down, pressing down to ensure good contact with skin.
4. Let dry for about 10-15 minutes until stiff to the touch—like papier-mâché.
5. Slowly and carefully peel off starting at edges, pulling toward center.

Having recently used this on the fiancee I can report back that it really works! I would show you a photo of the used strip and his newly clean pores, but it was pretty unpleasant to look at, so you shall just have to take my word for it this time. As long as you leave the strip on until it's dry and take care in peeling it off it will remove any sebum clogging your pores and you will be able to see the contents on the strip!

I wouldn't recommend using these strips every day or even every week, but every few weeks or when you feel your skin needs a really thorough clean.

Biore's Combo Deep Cleansing Pore Strips can be found for £10.99 here.

Have you ever used Biore's Pore Strips?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

With a number of these crayon style balms currently on the market it has taken me quite a while to work through my selection. However, I was so impressed with Revlon's offering in their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain I made sure to set aside an afternoon to show you a selection of shades and how they look on the lips!

So let's see how these balms/ stains measure up!

 

On the skin you can see that they are glossy and deliver a good amount of pigment in just a few strokes. I love the ease of application with these and as the swatch shows you can get a pretty precise line as they are not too soft.

So what about the lips?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

I was really impressed with the buildability of these balms. The swatches above show a fairly full application, but as you can see they are still super glossy. I love a versatile lip product and the fact that these can be worn as just a sheer tint, or full on colour, makes them a handbag essential.

The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are available for £7.99 here. Which is your favourite shade?

The Joy Genie

Who has brought you the most joy this year? Now with The Body Shop you can also spread some joy this festive season. You can use The Joy Genie to nominate your favourite friends to win joyful treats, including a top weekly prize worth £100!

For every entry made The Body Shop will donate 50p to Kidscape. You can enter up to 5 friends. So what are you waiting for? Let's start sharing the joy!


Enter here: http://bit.ly/TheJoyGenie

Melt Candles

As the evenings get colder leaving the house becomes less and less tempting, so it's important to find ways of treating yourself at home. After a long day at work there is nothing I love more than snuggling on the sofa, watching a movie and lighting one of my (many) candles to fill the room with fragrance.

My most recent discovery are candles from Melt, which come in a fantastic range of 30 different scents. All the candles are hand poured and come in different sizes to fit your need.

I was sent two of their Luxury Glass Jar candles, which have a burning time of 70 hours each. One of their most popular fragrances is Angel (which is burning as I type). This is the perfect fragrance for this time of year as it feels very warm and smooth with hints of vanilla, jasmine, rose, cassis, patchouli, amber and even a little chocolate.

The second scent was Still, which is described as a true spa fragrance as it definitely has a clean aroma. The scent is very relaxing and rejuvenating with notes of lavender, rose, geranium, peppermint and eucalyptus.

I love the packaging of the candles and will definitely be using them (perhaps as drinking glasses) once my 70 hours are up. The candles burn really cleanly and so far I have not managed to make a significant dent in the last 2 weeks. The aroma they create in the room is really subtle and soothing with no traces of the synthetic, overpowering fragrance some candles have. I am already eyeing up a few more of the Melt scents on their website - More (rose, rose and more rose), Love and Blush are currently bookmarked.

Melt candles can be found here, with prices starting from £7.50. As well as candles Melt also specialise in beautiful reed diffusers and sophisticated perfumes. Bring on those chilly evenings!

My Favourite Fragrances

Favourite Fragrances

I've recently been playing around on Beautysets to create some fun collages to be used in my latest blog posts. As much as I love blogger I feel that the layout is somewhat limiting so it's fun to try something new! Let me know what you guys think!

What perfumes are you loving recently? xxx

Clarisonic Giveaway (and a ramble)

There's still another week to go to enter my Clarisonic Mia 2 Giveaway!

All you have to do is subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment on the video. I will ship anywhere. Good luck my lovelies! xxx

I'm in Marie Claire!

If you fancy picking up the December issue of Marie Claire this month please do look out for my feature with Jergens!

Exciting!

Jergens Cherry Almond

In these cold winter months I always crave comfort food, especially of the sweet variety. This craving doesn't just relate to food, but also gourmand fragrances and recently I have been really enjoying the Jergens Original Beauty Lotion in Cherry Almond.

This moisturiser is light, fresh and completely non-greasy. It sinks into the skin instantly leaving it feeling silky smooth and softly fragranced. It smells just like you would imagine - Mr Kipling's bakewells, frangipane and fresh cherries. Yumm!!

So for skin that smells good enough to eat and satisfies your sweet tooth with no calories I recommend that you check out an old favourite! Jergens Cherry Almond is available at Boots for £3.49 in stores and online here. For lots of great competitions you can also check out the Jergens Facebook page here.

Have you tried the new Jergens Cherry Almond moisturiser? What are your favourite foodie scents at the moment? xxx

Cancer Hair Care with Pantene

Cancer Hair Care is an amazing charity that specialises in helping women deal with hair loss from cancer related treatment. Losing their hair is a profoundly traumatic experience for many women and this charity works hard to help women through this difficult time by providing tips, support and guidance.

Pantene's Classic Care have partnered with Cancer Hair Care, donating 5pence from each one sold directly to the charity. Classic Care shampoos and conditioners can be purchased in Tescos and other stores nationwide. You can also make a contribution to the charity on their Just Giving page here.

Thank you all so much! xxx

Murad Christmas Kits - Perfect Balance

Yes, I know it's too early to talk about Christmas, but you can't deny it is already everywhere! The shops are being stocked with stocking fillers, carols are on the radio and lights are being lit on every high street. So to begin our little Christmas round up I thought I would share with you a selection of skincare kits from Murad, which would make a perfect present for the complexion conscious!

The Perfect Balance Kit is designed to create a healthy, balanced environment on your skin by controlling oil production, maintaining clear pores and establishing an ideal level of hydration.

The kit contains the following four products:
Zone Pore Refining Gel, 60ml 
Blemish Treatment Concealer – Medium, 2.5g
Oil-Control Mattifier, 10ml
Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes, 3.5ml 

My favourite products in this kit are the mattifying moisturiser, which hydrates the skin, while controlling oil throughout the day. It also works great as a primer if your skin tends to get oily. The concealer has a really soft texture and comes in a handy stick form perfect for touch ups on the go. I love the fact that it both clears and camouflages blemishes!

The perfect balance kit can be found for £42.50 here. Other kits from Murad include Complete Renewal (£52), Shake Up Your Makeup (£36), Hydration Sensation (£73.50) and Radiance Rescue (£58.50).

Free Ojon Shampoo and Conditioner!

Fancy a gift of a new shampoo and conditioner worth £41.50? Well on the 8th of November you can receive just that by visiting your nearest Ojon retailer. You can trade in any empty shampoo and conditioner bottle (from any brand) for a full size Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner!

I absolutely adore this Ojon duo! In fact it was one of the first products I reached for after my recent hair disaster to reinvigorate and restore my hair and really can't give it enough credit :).

I would highly recommend taking advantage of this fabulous offer. Especially as you can be safe in the knowledge that  all returned packaging will be sent to Wastecare, where the packaging will be recycled or used for energy recovery.