069 : Kelly Brook Audition Eau De Parfum Review

We've all heard of Kelly Brook, whether we know her as a model, actress, presenter, business woman and pin-up, Kelly has firmly made her name as more than just a pretty face in the world of fashion and beauty. Having produced collections for Simply Be and a lingerie line for New Look, aswell as a range of her own fragrances, she's no stranger to building a business and establishing herself as a brand.

Audition by Kelly Brook* is the latest release of Kelly Brook's fragrances, the idea behind Audition has been described by Kelly as 'a scent that is glamorous, honest and confident, just like a first audition' - Kelly worked with Kent Fragrances as sole and exclusive distributors, individually picking out each ingredient herself, choosing keynotes which were all important to her. 

I really love the design of the bottle, a sleek, glamorous 50's Art Deco style with a black lid and rose gold detailing (who doesn't love a little rose gold?!), it's a really vintage looking bottle made from heavyweight glass. It's a simple yet tasteful, classy design which looks beautiful in the light. As for the fragrance itself, it has top notes of Juicy Bergamot, Melon and Dew fruit, with Wisteria and Water Apple. The heart notes are Iris and Heliotropine, combined with a woody, Patchouli harmony. The bottom notes to audition are Sweet Vanilla, Amber, Benzoin and Musks. 

Audition is a really demure smelling fragrance, it's so sophisticated and feminine but light enough to wear daytime through to night. It has quite a dewy scent and smells fresh yet woody, I can see myself wearing this quite a lot, although I'd say it's definitely more of an autumn scent than a summer, just because its a little heavier than it is fresh and more woody than floral. I think Kelly's done amazingly at choosing the ingredients for Audition, they work together really well to create such a ladylike, pretty scent. 

Have you guys tried any of Kelly Brooks fragrances? Let me know what you think!

*Product sent for review. However, all opinions and wording are my own.

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068 : Zoella Tutti Fruity

Aloha! It's been suuuch a long time since I last updated, over a month. I've had so much going on lately, my little boy lost his first ever tooth (he cried!), aaand I got into uni! I'm super excited about it and get wait to get started, I'll be studying Mental Health Nursing and in three years time I'll be a qualified Mental Health Nurse, if anyone has any tips on living on a student budget, that'd be super helpful!

Anyway, I was really excited to see the lovely Zoe Sugg aka Zoella was bringing out a new beauty range called Tutti Fruity, the products are the same as her first range but with a different scent with the exception of the Kissy Missy lip balm which is a completely new prdocut to the range, plus two stunning new beauty bags! available in most Superdrug stores and online. My local Superdrug store is really small and I was surprised to see they stocked the Tutti Frutti range, but I picked up a few bits and I love them.

(Zoella Tutti Fruity - Let's Spritz, Foam Sweet Foam, Scrubbing Me Softly)

(Zoella Let's Spritz - £8)

So the first product that caught my eye was Let's Spritz, I absolutely loved the fragrance from Zoe's first collection and I love this even more, the bottle is gorgeous, the lace detailing on the back of it is just so cute and very much Zoe, the lid is slightly different to the previous fragrance, it's still metallic but a super pretty shade of blue with adorable polka dots! It's perfect for keeping in your handbag for a little freshen up, ever since I got this I haven't actually used any of my other perfumes. It smells so, so fresh and is really light and summery, the scent itself is quite hard to describe other than it is really tutti fruity! It's just so pretty and so feminine, plus at £8 it's so affordable you can buy it over and over! Let's Spritz is really long lasting too and quite a heavy scent, so you smell amazing all day, body mists are generally quite lightly scented but this is a perfect alternative to a perfume.

(Zoella Foam Sweet Foam - £3.50)

Foam Sweet Foam has to be my favourite product that I picked up, I'm a sucker for anything that smells incredible and looks good in my bathroom and Foam Sweet Foam ticks all the boxes. Plus, I love the name, it's just too cute. So, this is a shower gel, but my house doesn't actually have a shower (I know, right?!), so I use this in the bath as a bubble bath and to wash myself with. It bubbles up in the bath like a regular bubble bath would, so it's really multi-purpose, but it just smells amazing. I honestly cannot get enough of the scent of the Tutti Fruity range, all of the products carry the same scent and it is divine, literally good enough to eat. A little niggle that I have with bathing products is that some of them smell amazing in the bottle but when you get out of the bath your skin doesn't smell of anything, it's something I really don't like, but this makes your skin smell so beautiful. Even my boyfriend noticed which is unusual for him! I stocked up on these from Feel Unique, be rude not to when it's only £3.50 right? It's slightly more expensive than a regular shower gel, but the price difference isn't massive and it's most definitely worth it!

(Zoella Scrubbing Me Softly - £7)

For anyone that regularly reads my blog, you'll know how much I love a body scrub. It's one product that I just couldn't live without. Scrubbing Me Softly comes in a really cute little tub with a yellow lid and matching polka dots, it's just as cute as the other products in the Tutti Fruity range and smells just as good. I've been using the Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream but I have to say I much prefer this, it's definitely one to rival high end brand exfoliators, it leaves my skin so soft and so smooth and for anyone thats used the Clinique Sparkle Skin which smells really minty and slightly like mouthwash or toothpaste, I much prefer the scent of Scrubbing Me Softly!

Zoe has done amazingly with the Tutti Fruity range and it's definitely one I'd purchase over and over, (definitely have my peepers on the beauty bags and Kissy Missy!) have you guys tried anything from the Tutti Fruity collection? What do you think?

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067 : Fudge Clean Blonde Shampoo

Fudge Clean Blonde Toning Shampoo - £12.55

I absolutely love being blonde, after years and years of being a brunette I went back to blonde about 5 years ago and it's been a constant struggle to keep yellow tones at bay. I've tried more violet and toning shampoos over the years than I can shake a stick at, but this might just be the best one yet.

Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo claims to eradicate yellow tones from blonde hair and it does just that. I soak my hair and pop this on, its a really deep violet colour so looks a little daunting at first but it smells so beautiful. I wash mine straight off again and my hair is evenly toned with no yellow whatsoever. Sounds almost too good to be true right?! 

This shampoo can be left on for up to 5 minutes if you're after a gorgeous silver shade or a pale lilac, but if you're looking to just knock out the brasiness in your blonde, I'd wash it off fairly quickly because it doesn't take long at all for it to change!

The only qualm I've had with this is that it isn't quite nourishing enough for my hair, after years of having highlights and bleach put through my locks, its in fairly crap condition so I always use a really moisturising conditioner afterwards - other than that, I'd say its pretty perfect and I can't imagine replacing it with anything else just yet!

Have you guys tried any Fudge hair products?! 

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066 : Review - Clarins Blue Orchid Facial Oil

Clarins Blue Orchid Facial Oil - £32/30ml

I've really been getting into facial oils just lately, my skin has been really dehydrated, especially with the weather blowing hot and cold. I picked up the Clarins Blue Orchid Facial Oil after reading amazing reviews about it, and I haven't been left disappointed. The Blue Orchid Facial Oil claims to restore vitality, radiance and freshness to dehydrated skin. Containing essential oils of patchouli and blue orchid to tone and revitalise skin, along with hazelnut oil to deliver moisture. 

The bottle is really beautiful, a lovely clear glass with a little pipette to dispense as little or as much as you need. I love a clear bottle and being able to see how much product you have left - I found with the brown Estee Lauder bottles I could never see how much oil I had left and although they look luxurious, they just aren't practical. I've found that you only need a two-three drops of this little lovely to cover your entire face and it doesn't leave any residue or make your skin feel remotely tacky, it just sinks in so beautifully, I've been using it morning and evening after cleansing and my skin looks and feels so much healthier. It has a beautiful glow which I haven't had for a long time and it stays hydrated all day, as well as leaving my pores much less noticable. 

The scent is a bit of a love it or hate it. Personally, I love it. My boyfriend hates it! It has a really natural, almost woody scent. It's a difficult one to describe but its absolutely lovely.  Price wise, at £32 its really reasonable, 30ml doesn't sound like a massive amount but when you're only using a few drops a day you're bound to get a good few months use out of one bottle. I haven't bought any facial oils under £30 so I can't compare quality wise but this is definitely worth its price tag! 

Have you tried any of the Clarins Facial Oils?

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065 : Living With Depression

A year ago, I wrote a post on depression & my battle with it over the last twelve years. I had quite a few e-mails asking me how it feels to be depressed and it's something that's taken me a really long time to think about and give an answer I feel is appropriate. I've seen the very worst of depression, as bad as it can get, from attempting to take my own life on more than one occasion, to being sectioned in a local Mental Health Unit. I've been fortunate enough to come out of the other side of it now and I'm in a place where I feel content and stable, and dare I say happy?!

The only way I can really describe depression is that it feels like you're drowning, sinking deeper and deeper while everyone around you can breathe. You feel alone and trapped with your own thoughts. There's a lot of stigma around mental illness, depression in particular. A lot of people don't see depression as an actual illness, but more of a state of mind. While depression does affect your state of mind, it is an illness. An incurable illness.

Depression can be controlled with medication, but there is no cure for it. It can go away but there's always a risk of relapse. I was depression free for years before I had a severe relapse two years ago. It's utterly exhausting, I'd spend days and days in bed, literally not wanting to face the world. My anxiety was so bad I couldn't leave the house, or even face speaking to anyone. I wasn't sleeping at night. My mind would race at a hundred miles an hour, all I could think about was ending my life. I felt worthless and like I was just existing, not actually living. I still had hopes and dreams like everyone else, but I'd lost all of my motivation and all of my confidence. My confidence is something I still really struggle with and something that I'm still working through now.

When I was at my worst, I looked ill. It's described as a 'haunted' look. You look empty and your face looks sunken. It was obvious that I wasn't well. It was something I never noticed, that other people could clearly see that I was in a bad place. People I didn't particularly know were asking me if I was okay. 

“If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather.

Try to understand the blackness, lethargy, hopelessness, and loneliness they’re going through. Be there for them when they come through the other side. It’s hard to be a friend to someone who’s depressed, but it is one of the kindest, noblest, and best things you will ever do.” 

- Stephen Fry

Depression has taught me so much, I've grown so much more as a person and learnt more about myself than I before. It's taught me to be kind, both to myself and others. Treat people gently, because you never know what kind of battles they are fighting behind their smiles.

I was fortunate enough to have huge amounts of support from the NHS to get me to where I am. The bravest thing I ever did was speak out and get the help I needed to get me better. It's the hardest step, but the best one that can ever be taken. Nobody should have to suffer in silence.

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064 : February Favourites

Gosh, another month down. I can't actually believe we're already a quarter of the way through the year, I turned 26 last week and I'm feeling super old! This month has been ridiculously busy for me, hence the lack of posting, luckily I have a really quiet few weeks coming up so I can catch up with blogging and get back into the swing of things!

Last month there was so many products that I absolutely loved, I always have this issue when posting favourites post. I can never decide between products! I've popped a mixture of a beauty, body and other little bits I've been loving throughout February in for you this month, it's always good to mix things up a little!

Beauty

Bobbi Brown Brightening Brick - Coral/£34
I've been loving the new Bobbi Brown Brightening Bricks, I got colour matched at my local Bobbi Brown counter and had my heart set on one of the pinker shades, they matched me up with Coral as my skin is super pale. It gives a really sheer, dewy glow to my skin, I love that these are so versatile and you can sweep it all over your face, I can see this seeing me through the whole of the spring and summer months!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair - 30ml/£49 & Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum - 15ml/£46
Hi, I'm Heidi and I'm always late to the party. Hypothetical party being the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair range. I've always steered clear of these just because they're so pricey, but they're definitely worth the investment. I pop this little duo on before bed with a little moisturiser and my skin is far softer in the mornings and I look way more awake, even if I feel like I haven't slept, I don't look it, which is always a winner.

Mac Bao Bao Wan Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow - 4g/£33
I've been using this gorgeous Bao Bao Wan shadow palette religiously over the last month or so, the shades are stunning, from soft pink, to gorgeous gold, a dewy brown and a bright blue. They blend together so well and you can create so many different looks. Love, love love!

Jurlique Moisture Replenishing Day Cream - 40ml/£29
This is my first ever Jurlique product, I'm not sure why I waited so long to jump on the bandwagon with this one, as I love it. It's a really soft moisturiser which is so incredibly nourishing and keeps my skin hydrated all day long. It's amazing for dry skin, if your skin already has a little natural moisture it would probably be too much, but for those with skin which is really dehydrated, it's a must have!

Mac Lipstick - Lovelorn/£15.50
I first saw this on Milly of the lovely Pearls and Poodles Instagram and fell in love with it, it's one of those things you just know you have to have! It's a really classy, soft pink, which easily transitions from the daytime through to the evening. I don't often wear lipstick but this hasn't budged from my lips just lately!

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - Shade 2/£34.50
Having been hooked on Nars' Sheer Glow for ages now, I felt it was time to add a new foundation into the mix. I saw this on Tanya Burr recently and just loved how it looked. It's a really dewy foundation which gives the absolute perfect amount of coverage. I like my coverage heavy enough to cover any blemishes, but not so heavy it looks like its been trowelled onto my face!

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Eau De Perfum - 30ml/£45
Another little beaut from Estee Lauder, this fragrance is so pretty. It's really light and floral. I love the scent of anything sweet and this is just so soft and feminine. It's been so perfect for daytime wear.

Soap & Glory Archery DIY Brow Bar - £12
Having been using Anastasias Dipbrow for a while, I felt the shade I'd bought was slightly too dark against my hair colour. As someone who gets their hair lightened fairly frequently, I needed something slightly less harsh. I picked up the DIY Brow Bar in Boots and I've been loving it, it has a clear gel, highlighter and two different shades, so it's a one for all. The teeny brushes are great for getting a good shape to the brows, and plus its so affordable! 

Body/Haircare

Lee Stafford Ubuntu Oils Shampoo & Conditioner - 250ml/£9.99 Each
My hair really lacks moisture and dries out quickly, the Ubuntu Oils range from Lee Stafford has left it so much softer and full of moisture. I've found I do have to wash it more often as it's been getting greasier quicker, but this is the only shampoo/conditioner I've found thats actually put more moisture back into my hair! It contains vitamins A & E, to replenish the hair, I've been using it alongside the Argan Oil hairspray and I absolutely love it.

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Body Scrub - 300g/£37
I have a thing about soft skin, I love my skin to be softer than a babys butt. This Laura Mercier Body Scrub is absolutely delightful, it comes with the cutest little scoop so you don't have to put your wet hands into it, and it smells just divine. I usually apply this to my skin before shaving and rinse it off afterwards, the scent is sweet, full of fig, apricot and ylang-ylang. It's been a good bathtime buddy for the last month or so.

Decléor Aroma Cleanse Exfoliating Body Cream - 200ml/£31
Another amazing body scrub, I first tried this a few months ago at Center Parcs while I was having a spa day with my mum. I absolutely loved it. It leaves your skin so, so soft. It smells utterly gorgeous too. A lot of cleansers and scrubs have beads in that I find slightly irritating to my skin, they feel almost a little too abrasive. The Decléor Aroma Cleanse is so gentle to use. Perfect on even the most sensitive skin!

Bio-Oil - 200ml/£19.99
Bio-Oil is full of natural vitamins and oils, Vitamins A & E, Calendula Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil & Chamomile Oil. I've been using this on stretch marks for years since having children, but my skins been so dehydrated lately I've been using it to put some much needed moisture back into my skin. It softens and feels amazing. It keeps my skin hydrated for such a long time, if like me, your skin drinks Cocoa Butter like its going out of fashion, Bio-Oil is an amazing alternative.

Life

Love, Tanya - £6.49
Tanya Burr was one of the first YouTubers I ever watched. I've always been a massive fan of hers and it's amazing to see someone you really admire grow, change and become super successful! Tanyas book is so pretty, it has some gorgeous photography. Tanya talks beauty, fashion, food & love. It's so well written and Tanya is so down to earth, plus the recipes are to die for. Someone pass the Smarties Flapjacks!

Daisy Earrings - £3
I've been wearing this little Daisy earrings non stop since I bought them, they're so perfect for spring (and a bit of a steal at three quid!) - they're ear 'jackets' so the stud goes through your ear and then a bar curves around behind your earlobe and hangs underneath. They're really delicate but statement at the same time. Love.

Ferrero Rocher - 24/£6.50
I'm absolutely hooked on these. Whenever I fancy a little chocolatey snack, I reach for the Ferrero's. I've been munching oodles of these, which hasn't been great for the waistline but my taste buds are totally satisfied!

Vita Coco Coconut Oil - 250ml/£5.99
I actually got this in February's Birchbox, coconut oil has SO many different uses, you can use it on your face (apparently Kim Kardashian is a massive fan of using this on her chops - who knew?!), your hair, for cooking... the list goes on. I've been using it in the bath to shave my legs and it's left my skin so nourished and hydrated. I don't particularly like the smell but it's amazing for giving you super soft, supple skin!

Melodie Notebook - £5.59
I'm a self confessed stationary junkie. I love pretty staitionary and spend hours upon hours in Paperchase picking up things I don't need just because they look too pretty not to buy. I actually got this notebook from WH Smith and I love it. I've been using it to write down all my ideas for blog posts. Plus its hardback so it doesn't get all mishapen in your handbag! WH Smith have some really pretty stationary in at the moment, definitely worth a look!

What have you guys been loving this month?!

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063 : Life - 25 Things I've learned by my 26th Birthday

Tomorrow I turn 26! It recently dawned on me how much has changed in the last year, I've ended and began relationships, I've battled my way through severe depression and anxiety. I've started and left jobs. I've blogged my little heart out. I wanted to share with you everything I've learned in the last 25 years.. so here goes!

1. When it comes to friends, quality over quantity is best. I spend my time with people I care for, trust and know would be there for me no matter what. A lot of my friends completley deserted me in my time of need, the ones who cared stuck around.

2. If a relationships just not working, end it. My ex-boyfriend coming back from uni for the summer with an STI should have been a sure sign it just wasn't working, but I stuck by him and it was the biggest mistake I've made in the last 25 years!

3. Being a mother is the most important job you'll have. I had my first son when I was just 18, my second when I was 21. Being a mother has changed my life for the better, it's the most rewarding, challenging and wonderful job I've ever been given.

4. Stand on your own two feet. Learning to be independent and not rely on others for anything was one of the biggest challenges. I moved out of the family home when I was 18 years old and have never looked back. I had a little person in my life who relied on me for everything, getting my independence and learning to live alone was one of the biggest feats for me.

5. Never leave the house without make-up. Fake it to make it, right? I never leave the house without wearing make-up. I'd rather look bright eyed and bushy tailed, even if I feel more like the walking dead!

6. Spend time with those you love. It's difficult to spend time with family and friends when you all go your separate ways and start to live different lives. One of the biggest regrets I have over my short 25 years is not spending enough time with my grandparents before they passed away, there's so much I would have loved to known and asked them while they were still here.

7. Setting timelines just isn't healthy. I always had it in my head that I'd want to be married by the time I'm 30 and have children either just before, or not long after. Obviously things didn't work out that way for me, setting timelines just never works out. I've learned to take each day as it comes, if it happens it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't!

8. Don't waste your time stressing. I've always been a bit of a worrier, I get stressed super easily, I realised I've wasted so much valuable time fretting about things and worrying about things that actually, really didn't matter all that much.

9. Look after yourself. This is something I've learned really recently, as a lover of junk food, three sugars in my tea, chocolate.. I've realised it's time to be healthy, fill myself with goodness and reap the rewards of a healthier mind and body.

10. Don't buy cheap shit. Everyone loves a bargain, but over the last few years I've realised it's better to spend my money on things that are seen as more of an investment, things that mean more and will last that little bit longer. Rather than rubbish that I really don't want. (Chat magazine every Thursday is absolutley essential, promise!)

11. Start every day with a positive mind. Waking up feeling miserable sets you up for a miserable day. I always try and wake up feeling refreshed and positive for a more productive day!

12. Eyebrows are important. I'll be honest, probably up until the last year or so, I did absolutely nothing with my eyebrows. I make sure to get them waxed regularly now and fill them in when essential, it's amazing how good eyebrows changes your face and makes you feel that much better!

13. Learn from your mistakes. And don't make them again, ever!

14. Take risks once in a while. Playing safe is boring, I never hold back anymore and am more likely to take a risk than I used to be. 

15. Be kind. It's so easy to judge others and to be unkind, we've all said and done things we regret, I fill every single day with kindness, towards myself and others.

16. Don't dwell on the past. I've spent so much time thinking about the past and all the negatives that have happened in my lifetime, if I'd spent it thinking about the present and the future I would have had a much more positive mindset. The past can't be changed, but you can do things to ensure a positive future.

17. There is such a thing as bad sex. 'Nuff said.

18. Build on your strengths. I wish I'd spent more time doing this, improving my skills at certain things and doing more of things I love.

19. It's okay to rest. If you're feeling tired, rest. I always try and squeeze a little nap in every day, especially if I'm tired. Resting does you the world of good and you feel way better for it afterwards.

20. If you don't do your dishes, they stay dirty. You know when you're young and everything is mysteriously clean, your laundry's always done, there's always fresh sheets on the bed. Yep? It doesn't do itself. Moving out made me realise this, it may have take twenty years but if you don't do your washing, you have no clean pants.

21. Quit bitching and change things. We have the ability to control our own lives, if you're not happy in your job. Quit. Do something that makes you happy and stop moaning if it doesn't, you can change it!

22. Your body changes. It's normal. After having children, I thought I'd still have the body I had when I was 18. I was wrong, after having babies, it's natural to have stretch marks and a bit of a wibbly tummy! 

23. It's okay to still enjoy the Sims and Theme Hospital. I played these games growing up, and I still love them now. And that's just fine!

24. Learn to cook. When you leave home, suddenly your food isn't prepared for you anymore and you have to learn to fend for yourself, it's taken me 25 years and I still can't cook well, it's something I wish I'd learned at a much younger age!

25. Going to bed early is a blessing. When I was young, going to bed at 9pm seemed really uncool. I always wanted to stay up later than I was told, now, I feel relieved to be able to go to bed at 9!

 

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062 : Mother's Day Gift Guide 2015

It's Spring! February came and went really quickly, we saw Pancake Day and Valentines come and go in a flash, now, I'm not a massive fan of sentimental days, but I am a firm believer in Mother's Day, it's so nice to have a day to appreciate the woman who bought you into the world & spend time with family. I'm really lucky to have a wonderful mum who's supported me through my brightest and darkest days. Mother's Day also gives me time to reflect on myself as a mother, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be blessed with my two beautiful sons. While I'm incredibly close to my own mum, I do find her difficult to buy for, we have entirely different tastes in everything which always makes it a little tricky. I've put together this little guide with a few of my favourite gift ideas for Mothers Day 2015, spoil her rotten!

(in numerical order, Elemis Sparkling Care Gift Set - £56, Neom Happiness Travel Candle - £16, Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Honey Bath - £33, Emma Bridgewater Personalised Rose & Bee Vase - From £25, Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne - £82/100ml, Sophie Conran for Burgon & Ball Gardening Range - £9-£25, Ted Baker Casine Cascading Floral Skinny Scarf - £35, Cath Kidston Clouds iPad Cover - £28)

For the beauty loving mum, I've picked this gorgeous little Elemis Sparkling Skin Gift Set, it comes in an adorable silver box with lots of little Elemis goodies in it, including; Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm, Aboslute Eye Mask, Rehydrating Gingseng Toner, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser, Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream and White Flowers Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover. This set is designed to rejuvinate and revitalise the skin,ideal for those mama's that work just a little too hard! Second up, I have the 'Happiness' Travel Candle by Neom. I'm an absolute sucker for a scented candle, I love anything that smells amazing and makes me feel super chilled. The Happiness candle contains white neroli, mimosa, lemon and fresh grass notes, helping to balance emotions and promote a more uplifted and positive state of mind. Neom products are also vegetarian and Neom are massively against animal testing. This sweet little candle would be perfect to have lit whilst having a nice long soak in the bath, hopefully using the Laura Mercier Creme Brulee bath, with scents of caramel, vanilla beans, white musk and creme, it smells divine - it also firms, lifts and tones the skin. Containing vitamins A & E, it moisturises and conditions the skin too. I bought the Laura Mercier Fig Body Scrub a few weeks and I'm besotted with it, it smells gorgeous and has left my skin so soft - a nice alternate option! 

On the subject of smelling gorgeous, is the Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne, described as having the 'sensuality of a seductive red dress' this dark, enigmatic fragrance is laced with pomegranate, raspberry & plum, with subtle hints of pink pepper and Casablanca lily - you can also get your bottle engraved on the Jo Malone website too. I think any mama would be happy to get this on Mothers Day (and Jo Malone boxes with the black ribbons... love some good packaging!). For the mum that loves flowers, I found this amazing vase by Emma Bridgewater, you can have these personalised with anything you like and they come in a range of different designs, I think it's a really nice touch rather than buying a standard vase. It's far more personal & just looks a little more thoughtful, if you've never shopped online with Emma Bridgewater before you also get 15% off your first order. Next up is the Sophie Conran range for Burgon and Ball - this range is priced from £9-£25 so it's good for the purse strings and its a really sweet little range, I love the herb pots - there's a lot of choice, it's worth a look if your mum likes to spend a lot of time preening the garden!

For the more fashion savvy mum, I love this Ted Baker Casine scarf, it's probably not something my own mum would wear but I think it's really chic and I love the bright cascading florals against the dark fabric. At £35 it's a bit of a steal! Finally, if your mum is a little more technologically advanced than mine and knows how to work an Apple product (sorry mum!) this Cath Kidston clouds iPad cover is utterly beautiful, I love the new Clouds range and can imagine laying on the beach or in the garden, iPad in one hand, cocktail in the other! 

I really love the idea of homemade gifts, they're so thoughtful and you can make them so personal to your mum. A little hamper of her favourite homemade foods, you can handmake soap or bath bombs, candles, if you're good at sewing perhaps a sweet cushion. And pop in your favourite picture of the two of you together. Pinterest is full of amazing ideas for homemade Mothers Day gifts - it's definitely worth a browse.

I hope this has given some of you a little inspiration on what to buy one of the most important women in your life this Mothers Day! Let me know what you have planned for your mum this year! 

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061 : February Birchbox Review

I don't think I've had a subscription to anything since Sabrina's Secrets when I was about 8 (90's kids remember this?!) - I've been toying with the idea of Beauty Boxes for a while and after doing some thorough research, I settled on Birchbox. I really like that Birchbox covers all areas in their boxes, from beauty, to body & lifestyle. The boxes are beautifully presented and the products come in a little cotton bag along with cute little postcards (does anyone else want to frame theirs?!) - on the back of them is information about each of the products you've recieved and a little tutorial.

The theme for this months Birchbox is 'Birchbox Loves' - tying with valentines and all things romantic. I absolutely loved the little card with the tickboxes titled 'Love Is...' - it's a really nice touch to an already lovely box. I recieved six products in my box, one full sized. There was a couple of brands that were totally new to me, which is one of the reasons why I signed up, I love discovering new brands and products and sample sizes are a great way to do it. Some of the products were slightly disappointing but there were others that I absolutely loved. I recieved - 

Eyeko Fatstick - Gilt

The Eyeko Fatstick was a new product to me, I've tried Eyeko eyeliners and didn't really get along with them. The Fatstick is a creamy eye crayon which can be used as a smokey eyeshadow, all along the lash line, or blended on the outer corners for a more demure look. I really liked the shade of this, its a gorgeous metallic brown and the consistency was really soft and creamy, which made it easy to blend, plus it was completely crease free and smudgeproof. My only qualm about the Fatstick is it was just too thick, it was hard to get a good amount on the crease of the eye just because it's so chunky. I think it'd work much better along the lash line. Otherwise, it was pretty impressive.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - 10ml

I adore Caudalie, I absolutely love the Vinoperfect range and use the face mask on a regular basis so I was super happy to have recieved this little beauty in my Birchbox. This serum is designed to give you an even complexion and to eradicate any dark spots. I don't suffer with dark spots on my face so I can't comment on whether that worked or not, but my skin did feel really lovely and soft, plus it smells gorgeous. It's oil free and the consistency is very fluid. I really enjoyed the sample of this but I'm not sure if I'd buy the full size product, it does contain glycerin which is supposed to moisturise the skin, which I think would be great if you have a normal skin type but mines really dry so for me it just isn't moisturising enough. (My skin literally drinks this stuff!)

Electric Hair Electric Hydrate Shampoo - 30ml

Electric is a new brand to me, I'd never heard of their products before trying out the Hydrate Shampoo. I was over the moon to get this in my box, as someone who gets their hair highlighted every 6 weeks or so, it's in quite bad condition and it tends to get quite dry quite quickly. This shampoo was a lifesaver for me, the bottle says to use an almond sized amount but I had to use a fair bit more to get a good lather as my hairs quite thick and long. It smells so, so good and it really put some much needed moisture back into my locks. At £17.50 for a full sized bottle, it is quite pricey but I definitely think its worth its price tag. 

London Butterflies Winter Jasmine & Starflower with Sweet Almond Oil Whipped Body Cream - 30ml

London Butterflies is another new brand to me, I think they're a fairly new brand - born and bred in London. This was by far my favourite product in my Birchbox. I did end up buying the full size version, at £37 it's quite expensive but so worth the price tag. I absolutely adore it. It smells divine and my skin has never felt so soft, I usually use the Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion after my baths - designed for dry skin. But I think it's most definitely been replaced. It literally smells good enough to eat, even the boyfriend loves it! I really love the packaging too, a really simple glass jar with a cute butterfly on the top. I'd most definitely, definitely recommend this!

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac - Beauty Queen - 1.2ml

I've heard really amazing things about theBalm products, but I have to say I was massively disappointed with Stainiac. It's a lip/blush water based gel. You can use it on your lips for a glossy look or dab it on your cheeks and blend as a blush, neither of this techniques really worked for me and I didn't really like how it felt a little tacky on my lips. I dabbed it onto my cheeks and blended but it didn't really make much difference in terms of colour. Did anyone else recieve this product? What did you guys think of it?

Vita Coco Coconut Oil

Vita Coco is a brand I've dabbled with in the past, I've made delicious smoothies using their coconut water but haven't had a chance to use the Coconut Oil just yet so I was really happy to be able to give this a try. I love that it has so many uses, you can use it in the bath to soften skin, remove make-up (really!), as a natural energy boost when mixing it into coffee, softening hands and feet, a hair rescue treatment or for cooking. I think I'm going to try using it for cooking as a replacement for either vegetable oil or butter, and perhaps in my hair. I've heard really amazing things about coconut oil - plus its super healthy for you - can't really go wrong can you?!

So there's the lowdown on February's Birchbox - do any of you guys subscribe to Birchbox? What did you think of this months box?! - would love to hear from you!

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060 : January Favourites

Can you believe its Febuary already?! The last month flew by and I planned to blog way more than I did last month, but life just got in the way, so much happened last month I feel utterly exhausted. January saw the arrival of my very beautiful niece, Ella Gracie. She was born four weeks early but she's been an amazing way to start the new year. She's super tiny and super cute! Over the last few months there have been so many products that I've loved, it was so tough narrowing them all down to my absolute favourites, hope you enjoy!

(Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm - £36)

I'm definitely a little late to the party with this little beauty, I know its been a favourite of both Zoe (aka Zoella) and Tanya for a really long time now. I bought it on an absolute whim, I spied it in my local Debenhams and having thought I could only get it online, couldn't resist. I absolutely love it. I've been using cleansing balms for a while but this has been my absolute go-to cleansing product, I've used it every day since I bought it and its a product I can see myself buying again and again. It smells beautiful and leaves my skin feeling really soft and refreshed, as well as removing every teeny scrap of make-up. I really like that it comes with a flannel, one side is super soft and the other side is a muslin which gives a really gentle exfoliation. I don't think I've ever loved a cleanser as much as this!

 (Vichy Idealia Life Serum 30ml - £29.50)

I've been using the Vichy Idealia Moisturiser for a while now and it's a product I've really loved, it smells absolutely amazing (even my boyfriend ended up using half of my last jar!) and leaves my skin moisturised all day. I bought the Idealia Life Serum to use under my moisturiser, it's really brightened my skin and tightened up my pores, it's amazing on those days where you don't just feel tired, you look it. It definitely makes me look more awake and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed enough to face the day. Plus, it smells just as good as the moisturiser! 

(Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne - £82/100ml)

This was actually a Christmas gift from my boyfriend. It's a really beautiful, classic scent, described by Jo Malone as 'Luxurious and Seductive' - it's one of the fragrances that always gets tons of compliments. If you like floral, flirty perfumes, you'll love this. I'm going to be absolutely gutted when this runs out!

 (Chanel Jardin De Chanel Blush Camélia Roseé - £36)

Blush is the one product that I tire of really quickly, I tend to chop and change them quite quickly and regularly. I've been using the Shimmer Bricks by Bobbi Brown and a few different Mac blushers until I picked up this gorgeous little lacquered compact by Chanel. It's the first piece of Chanel make-up I've bought and I'm sure it won't be the last. It features two shades, a soft pink and a deeper hue in a stunning raised classic Camelia motif. It's such a luxurious blush, it looks absolutely stunning on when the two shades are blended together. It lasts all day too, even after tears and post-lunch snoozes, it stayed right in place. And the smell, I cannot get over the scent of this, it smells stunning, its a really floral, feminine scent. It comes with a little brush which I haven't used as its a little too small, but can imagine it'd be great for travelling. It's limited edition too, so snap it up quick!

 (Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara - £17)

I bought this mascara on a little bit of a whim and I absolutely love it. It's a really intense black which lengthens, seperates and curls my lashes. It doesn't smudge, clump or stick my eyelashes together, plus it contains nourishing minerals and quinoa to keep lashes healthy and has a spiralled brush for curling around each lash, so you get a nice even coat of product. Two coats of this beauty and I'm ready to go!

 (Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Balm Perfector - Rose/£18)

 I was really excited to see the launch of these new Clarins balms, I really loved the original Lip Perfectors and I think I love these even more. The first one I picked up was Rose, its a gorgeous, neutral shade. I also picked up Coral and My Pink. My Pink has to be my absolute favourite of the three that I bought, its such a pretty, shimmery shade. It's one of those shades that has just enough colour to not look overpowering. They're really plumping and give my lips a beautiful shape. The only down side is they taste so good it's almost impossible not to lick it off!

Have you tried any of the above products? What did you guys think?!

 

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