LightStim for Wrinkles + Giveaway

You are never too young to be thinking about wrinkles, it is something I have been fretting about since my teens and I use one or two lotions and potions which promise to help slow down the ageing process. Back in October last year, I blogged about a device called LightStim which is the first LED device approved by the US Food and Drug Administration which is intended for the treatment of wrinkles on the entire face. The device in question is hand held and looks like a shower head, only it isn't. It uses 72 therapeutic LED lights which you hold against your skin on those areas you wish to target. LightStim emits a soothing warmth, it is totally painless and can be used to treat your forehead, crows feet, cheeks, smile lines, jawline, neck, decollete and hands.

I have continued to use this device and it is totally painfree, the one thing I do love is that there is a little bit of warmth which is created. After being plugged in you simply hold the device against your skin for around three minutes in each place you wish to treat, the red LED lights are said to work by stimulating your natural collagen and elastin production which in turns helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. As we age, the volume of collagen and elastin in the skin decreases and this allows lines and wrinkles to form. 

The claims are that this device will:

• Reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles
• Restore your skin's youthful appearance
• Stimulate the production of collagen and elastin

Now to date I have had no issues with using LightStim and I actually find it quite therapeutic to use whilst I am reading in bed.  I have seen no wrinkles creeping their way onto and into my skin and having arrived in my mid thirties, I have to say it is pretty impressive.

I am a huge fan of this device and love using it but as you can image, it does come with a price tag of around £250.  However, do not despair because I have one device to give away to you lovely lot so that you can try it for yourself and see how good it is.  As always there is a Rafflecopter widget below to be completed and obviously there are some mandatory entries which must be completed, otherwise your entry will be null and void.

It is a UK only giveaway this time and I will need your email address, so please make sure you are over 16 or have your parents permission to give me your personal data before entering.  The winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours of the competition ending.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Corrector

I am a big fan of Makeup Revolution, they have literally set the world of Makeup on fire and whenever there is a new product on the horizon, the hype and excitement is just amazing and I am yet to hear or read about a disappointing product.

On Friday morning, this surprise delivery of the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Corrector Palette landed on my doorstep and having seen a few sneak previews of it during the week, knew it was something I wanted to try. Every shade on this palette has a job to do, whether that is to balance out discolouration, neutralise redness or just brighten, it is one of those products everyone will want and need to try.

The palette itself is actually really well made. Inside an accompanying cardboard box, which duly tells you what is inside and gives a sneak preview of the contents, the palette is black, sleek and super shiny with the brand name and product name clearly visible. Each of the 8 pans are really large, so there is enough room to swish that brush around or even your fingers, depending on your preference and perhaps most helpful of all is the mirror which fills the entire top section of the palette.

Described as being a corrector palette containing 8 creamy, blendable colour correction creams, they are designed for use under foundation. Now the eight shades, as I have said, all have a job to do and this is what they are:

Pink - Brightens
Lavender - neutralises yellow tones
Green - neutralises redness
Orange - neutralises blue tones
Peach - helps to balance out slight discolouration
White - adds natural highlight and brightens
Cream - neutralises purple and covers dark areas
Brown - balances ashiness in medium to dark tones

When it comes to their texture, they are smooth and they are creamy and my one piece of advice is to not get too brush happy because you only need a small amount which you can build on should the coverage not be quite what you had hoped for, it is always better to remember that sometime less is more in that it is easier to add more, but harder to remove that which you do not want.

So my skin has a slight redness to it, so I am always going to opt for the green to start with as it should neutralise it and unsurprisingly it does do just that. The other shades I have used are the pink, white and cream for under my eyes and in the tear duct and also on my cheek bones too. The brown which is for medium to dark tones I didn't expect to have much use for, but it works really well as a light bronzer for me and ive been using it very slightly as I like a light cover.

As you can see from the photo above, to the left is without any product on my face at all, so there is some slight redness on my cheek. The photo to the right shows my Makeup Revolution Face Base Primer which I reviewed HERE and then using just the green shade and my Eco tools foundation brush, I have applied just one covering and the redness is almost entirely disappeared. So you can just imagine how impressed I am right now with this palette! To purchase, it costs just £6 and it is available right now!

What do you think?

Must-have summer beauty products

Summer is well and truly here and it's time to make the most of it! One way you can celebrate summer is to try some of the brilliant beauty products that are suited to this season. Here are some must-have products to have in your handbag.

   by  Idhren 

A bright lipstick

Whilst autumn and winter catwalks are always full of deep plum shades, summer is the time to break free from dark make up and try a pop of colour. A bright lipstick is a great way to dress up a summer outfit or just celebrate the fact that it's bright and sunny outside.

Perfect for: a summer barbecue or celebration. For extra impact, play down the rest of your make up to make the lips pop.

   by  danielmviero.com 

Skin illuminator

To give yourself that dewy, healthy glow this summer, try one of the many skin illuminating products on the market. St Tropez have one for £12.26 that comes in gold, rose or violet to match different skin tones.

Perfect for: summer sports events, whether you're watching the football with your other half or betting on the cricket with your friends. When your skin is going to be in the sunshine you want to make sure it has a healthy sheen to it.

   by  Paeonia* 

Tinted moisturiser

On long, summer days the last thing you want to be worrying about is whether you are sweating off your make up. Tinted moisturiser is the solution! It's lightweight and doesn't seep into creases, leaving you with a lovely light coverage that doesn't look cakey or overdone. Laura Mercier does a great tinted moisturiser for £33 which is worth investing in.

Perfect for: family days out with the kids, when you definitely don't have time to re-touch your make up or worry about your foundation.

   by  danielmviero.com 

Sun protection factor

No summer beauty queen is going to be without sun protection this summer, whether you're jetting off to a package holiday or chilling at the British seaside. Your skin needs protection from harmful summer rays. Choose something specifically designed for the face and avoid heavy, pore-clogging body lotions. Boots has a product called Soltan Once 8 Hour Sun Care Cream for the face which is ideal, and comes in SPF30. It costs £9.99.

Perfect for: the beach, of course! Make sure you bring a wide brimmed hat and shades to protect yourself from the heat of the midday sun.

Nailbox Tropical Treats - July

Earlier this month I introduced to you a new subscription box for those of you who love your nail polishes, nail products and nail tools which you can see right HERE. I was really impressed with the box which retails for just £15 but not only gave some well known branded products inside along with a handy cuticle tool, if bought separately the items had a value of just under £40.

I now have the July Nailbox and if I was chuffed with the May one, this one has literally blown me away it is so good. This month we have the theme Tropical Treats, perfect for the Summer (even if it is a British Summer). Inside the Nailbox for July you will find three nail polishes: two premium and one high street brands, a fun nail art tool and a nail cuticle product.

The nail polish colours are definitely in keeping with the summer theme and work well with the stamping tool, so I feel as though a lot of thought has been put into this box to ensure that not only is each polish suitable for everyone, but they are all brands we know and love. The three polishes are:

• China Glaze White on White Nail Lacquer - This is a glossy, bright white crème polish that is opaque in just two coats. White is one of those all the rage nail polish shades to have and wear right now and although it isn't my choice, it does make an excellent background for nail stamping. This polish has an rrp £6.49
• Barry M Speed Dry Nail Paint called Need for Speed - This is too dark to be lilac but not dark enough to be purple, it is one of those in the middle shades which I really like and again works well with the stamper on the China Glaze.  This polish has an rrp £3.99.
• OPI Kiss Me I'm Brazilian Nail Lacquer - This is a stunninga pretty sugar pink which has a glossy finish and looks great with all skin tones.  It has a ProWide brush which makes application an absolute breeze and it has an rrp £11.95.

The next item in the box is a Moyou London Nail Stamping Kit in Tropical. The set consists of a metal stamping plate embossed with palm leaves, tropical plants and flowers, a polish scraper and of course a stamping tool which together costs £11. When it comes to using the kit, there is a really helpful guide book which explains exactly how to use it. 

To use, you simply brush the polish onto the plate/design of your choice and then scrape off the excess polish using the supplied scraper tool. Then you need your stamping gadget to suck up that polish to allow you to apply it to your nails to give them a tropical summer stamp.

The final item within my box is the Elegant Touch Nail Apothecary No.2 which is the cuticle eliminator. This is a moisturising cuticle remover which helps to soften dry, ragged cuticles which then enables healthy nail growth. 

The hydrating formula also helps you to easily push back overgrown cuticles for efficient, pain-free removal and it is so easy to do with the help of the tool from last months box - the professional cuticle pusher and nail cleaner tool.  This product has an rrp £7.95.

So there you have the July box and how brilliant is it? Whether or not you are a huge nail polish fan, I am sure you will agree that this is not only amazing value for money at £15 when you get a box of products worth at least £40. For me, I love the fact that there is a choice of nail polish and brand especially as I am so indecisive when it comes to choosing a new polish that I tend to always opt for something similar to what I already have. Plus, I love the nail tools that are within each box and how easy they are to use.

If you think this is a subscription box for you, then you can find and subscribe to Nailbox right here.

What do you think to this box? Is it one for you?

Life's an Adventure - Burt's Bees

I am a huge Burt's Bees fan and have featured many of the products here on my blog. One thing I do love that Burt's Bees do really well is the hand travel sized products which not only mean you get to try something before you splash out on a full sized product but you can also take your favourites with you on your travels.

The Mister and I are looking to go away for a few days to the seaside, somewhere we both get quite a lot of comfort and lord knows right now we both need it. So with that in mind I have travel sized beauty items on the brain and then this lovely little Life's an Adventure kit has landed in my lap and it is packed full of amazing products. Inside this handy cosmetics bag there is:

• Coconut & Pear Lip Balm 4.25g - If ever there was a lip balm I was going to fall in love with it, it is this one.  Not only does it smell just incredible and would make a fantastic scented candle (HINT).  Enriched with Coconut Oil, Pear Extract, and Shea Butter, once applied it instantly nourishes and moisturises the lips whilst leaving behind a slight hint of pear and coconut, neither scent being overpowering. 

• Milk & Honey Body Lotion mini 70g - For normal to dry skin, this non-greasy, lightweight natural moisturiser goes to work the minute you apply it, and it’s scientifically proven to moisturise for up to 24 hours. Milk nourishes while honey helps to soften skin; plus, coconut and grape seed oils and vitamin E deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin.   It does, as you expect, smell absolutely divine and is the perfect size for a few days away.

• Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 17g - One of my favourite products from Burt's Bees, this little tin of goodness nourishes and moisturises your nails and cuticles with this intensive, natural treatment. 

• Shea butter hand repair purse sized 50g - This is a super rich natural hand cream which uses Sunflower oil and glycerin alongside shea butter and essential botanical oils like macadamia nut, rosehip, lavender, neroli and borage, that impart antioxidants and fatty acids to nourish your skin, nails and cuticles.

• Facial Towelettes with White Tea (10 count) - These 99% natural face wipes are perfect for sensitive skin and for naturally removing dirt, oil and make-up without rinsing. They are infused with anti-oxidant rich White Tea Extract and other botanical extracts like Cucumber Extracts and Aloe Leaf Juice to cleanse and calm your face naturally.

For a few days away, this makes for a perfect little travel kit, it has everything I need in there to keep my skin in tip top condition and it costs just £16.99 which is an absolute bargain and you can find yours HERE.

Isle of Light Candles Wax Melts

Isle of Light candles is a brand I have featured on my blog before (here) and when the lovely Keeleigh told me she had a new product for my to try, I was more than excited because the quality is always so good.

Wax melts seem to be all the rage right now with many companies and I love them as much as the next person and I am always looking for next amazing scent to tantalise my scent buds. Isle of Lights offer 12 different scents of wax melts:

• The Coast - Escape to the Coast! This stunning seaside fragrance combines fresh bergamot, bright orange and rich amber with warming notes of exotic coconut, vanilla and almond.
• Strawberry and Rhubarb - A perfectly fruity fragrance. Not too sweet and not too sour, this fragrance combines freshly picked strawberries and pink rhubarb on a surprisingly complex base. 
• Fresh Linen - Imagine freshly washed laundry out to dry on a breezy day. Sensual wafts of light white musk cascade through refreshing notes of sun-ripened oranges and breezy eucalyptus. Heart notes include sea kelp, jasmine petals and delicate mimosa herb.
• Lime Sherbet- A clean, fresh and super strong Lime Fragrance created by one of our customers, sweet and zesty all in one!
• Lily Spring – A great burst of floral scent with top notes of Bergamot, coriander and Peonies. Heart Notes of Lily, Jasmine, Rose and a full bodied base of Musk, patchouli, vanilla.
• Oriental Spice - A Striking blend of sandalwood, ginger, patchouli and green tea. This fragrance has base notes of vanilla, musk and sandalwood, heart notes of jasmine, patchouli and ginger, and top notes of citrus, mint and green tea.
• Botanical Garden- A self assured floral bouquet. Top notes of English rose, field hawthorn and bergamot lead into a prominent heart of violet, geranium and ylang ylang. Base notes include a sultry combination of oak moss, powdery amber, sandal and cedar wood.
• Lemongrass and Ginger - a stimulating and sensual fragrance with top notes of tangy lemongrass, Sicilian lemons and juicy limes lead into a heart of spicy ginger root and grated nutmeg, and a hint of refreshing eucalyptus. Base notes include sensual patchouli, white woods and creamy vanilla.
• The Needles- The clean, fresh and invigorating smell of a crisp winter’s day! This fragrance begins with top notes of Fresh Lime and Menthol, heart notes of Fir and Lavender, and full-bodied base notes of Eucalyptus and Pine.
• Spiced Chocolate - Spices smothered in a warm chocolate sauce make this scent almost good enough to eat! This fragrance gives you a rich chocolate base and decadently collides with sensational notes of fresh cream, smooth butter, velvety milk chocolate and a hint of spicy aromas.

The final scent, which is the one I was very kindly sent - English Pear & Vanilla which is described as being a sophisticated blend of French vanilla and juicy sun ripened English pears.  Now I am not a fan of vanilla scents, I find them too strong for my tastes and I end up with a headache, thankfully, the vanilla in this wax melt is just enough that you can detect it is there but the English Pear is just out of the world, it is as though someone has just diced a fresh pear and it is so fresh smelling, the scent quickly moves from room to room and is just delightful, perfect for a summery day.

The wax melts themselves are exquisitely small but don't let that sway your judgement because it is just perfect.

To use wax melts, all you need to do is to place one in the top part of your burner and light a tea-light below, the heat from the candle works to melt the wax of the wax melt and as it does so, the fragrances are released, similar to burning a candle, just with no wick involved.

These melts would make a perfect gift for yourself as a treat or for someone you adore, they come beautifully packaged and I cannot wait to work my way through the entire listing and at £4.95 for 6 melts, they are just great value for money. 

What scent would you like to see made into a Candle/Wax melt?

Thai Square Spa, Covent Garden

On my birthday (Tuesday) I was lucky enough to go into London's Covent Garden for a massage, not just any massage, but one at the award winning Thai Square Spa, which is one of those hidden gems you feel lucky to find and will never forget. Once through the door, you leave behind the hustle and bustle of a busy London tourist area and instead you find yourself transported to an oasis of calm and beauty.

Bringing traditional Thai treatments to London, everything within the reception area is one that exudes luxury, mystical and authenticity. The Thai Square Spa is the only traditional Thai Spa experience within the UK, something the staff are quite rightly proud to share and explain with their clients. The friendly manner and kindness shown to me upon arrival was nothing short of perfect. There are rules you must follow such as turning off your mobile phone and as I was taken to the changing area, again I was asked to remove my shoes and replace them with flip flops before being shown to the locker room where I was to change into my spa gown. 

Then within my treatment room, I was refreshed with a cool glass of water and then the treatment began with a traditional floral foot soak, my feet were plunged into a terracotta bowl of soothing warm soapy water with rose petals and herbs, by which point I was feeling incredibly relaxed within my surroundings.

My treatment was a Ritual Massage, one of the signature treatments and it is the first treatment to use the Royal Rachawadee massage oil from the spa's brand new lifestyle range iMantara, which is available to purchase at the spa or from the website.  The Ritual Massage encompasses various massage techniques from the East to soften, soothe and balance the senses. Once on the massage table, with my head looking directly down into a bowl of water with floating flower petals, I found my self slowly drifting away. My therapist, who was clearly an expert managed to work out how much pressure to apply to different spots on my body without me wincing or being in any pain, though at sometimes, when a knot was found it was slightly uncomfortable until it was worked out - then it was a feeling of bliss.  Having my back, legs, arms and neck massaged was out of this world and then my feet, something I thought I would have huge issues with, but instead found it absolutely amazing (I hate feet) and incredibly soothing before my head was then massaged.  The entire hour flew by and I could have quite happily stayed there all afternoon, it was so amazing.

Once my treatment was over, I was taken to the relaxation area, handed another glass of cool water and was left to take in my surroundings.  Little things like this made the experience all the more fantastic.  There was no pressure to hurry up and leave, I simply laid back on one of the relaxation chairs until I felt ready to move.

The spa itself has been voted Best Spa in the UK by national newspapers and magazines and you can see why, the experience is the best I have ever had and I left feeling as though I had been there the whole afternoon instead of one hour because I felt so refreshed and relaxed as I left. 

The following morning when my alarm rudely woke me, it was an incredible feeling to not have aching shoulders or lower back pain, I was instead wide awake, alert and ready to tackle rush hour.

I had the Ritual Massage, £75, but the spa offers a range of treatments including couples packages, treatments for men and maternity ones too. All of these packages are detailed here - www.thaisquarespa.com 

Pomelo by Jo Loves

Having spent an evening with the fabulous Jo Malone MBE and having a candle made is a truly amazing experience which I was very lucky and very fortunate to have done. Alongside the Shot Candle (which you can read about here) we were also gifted a Jo Loves fragrance - Pomelo**.

I am perfume obsessed and quite picky about what I will and won't wear. If I like a perfume then it tends to be from the very first spritz, rather than through prolonged use because I am incredibly fussy and perfumes usually mean something to me, Bvlgari Pour Femme for example is the perfume I wore on my wedding day and is very special to me. Jo Malone said that when she created Pomelo:

‘Inspired by memories of summer holidays, fresh linen sheets and sparkling iced water, I surround myself with Pomelo wherever I go. To my joy, it’s the fragrance that makes people stop me in the street to ask what I’m wearing.’

So it is a huge honour to have something that is clearly loved by the person who made it. The Pomelo is a large citrus fruit that looks and tastes similar to a grapefruit and when combined with Vetiver, which is quite earthy it creates an amazing scent.  Put them together and you have this absolutely stunning fragrance which is citrussy sharp as well as being fresh and clean from the moment it leaves the bottle to a good 6-7 hours later when on the skin which is pretty impressive, I only feel the need to re-apply if I am going out in the evening and even then, it is more for my own self-consciousness. Add to that the most amazing packaging with the chunky glass squared bottle, it is everything a luxurious perfume should be.

What I also love about Pomelo is that there is no hint of alcohol when you spray it, whereas some perfumes once settled have an odd after scent to them, this one is as fresh once settled as it is from its first spray and it is absolutely stunning, no wonder Jo Malone is so obsessed with it.

Pomelo is £115 for 100ml and £70 for 50ml and is available from Jo Loves.

Today is my Birthday

There isn't a post from me today because:

image source

I am spending the morning having time with my boys and then this afternoon I will be going for a massage in Covent Garden, so watch out for that review soon!  Then tonight, I will be spending time with my mister going for a meal, whenever I decide what it is I want to eat.

Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder

Jurlique are one of my go to brands when my skins needs some TLC and I am obsessed with their Rosewater Balancing Mist which I keep on my desk at work to give my face some extra moisture mid way through the day when I have been sat looking at a computer screen.

In amongst all of their lovely products, this Rose Silk Finishing Powder is one of my all time favourite products from them and it is one I wanted to share on my blog today. 

I have a 'thing' with finishing powders.  I really like them to a mist but getting the hang of using them can become tiresome and annoying, you either add too much or not enough, so trial and error is a huge factor with products like this for me.  Like most Jurlique products, this one comes packed inside a beautifully decorated cardboard box which depicts some beautiful floral decoration along with everyting you need to know about what is inside.  Inside the box is a sleek looking tub which is really luxurious looking.  Lifting the lid on the tub there is a mirror which is a great size and really handy plus a powder puff for application.

The Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder is described as being a "translucent facial powder with precious botanicals designed to minimise oiliness and shine, to help skin feel smooth and look radiant". The finishing powder itself is incredibly finely milled and has a lovely silky feel to it. It also doesn't feel as though you are just covering your face in talcum powder either which is a massive bonus and nor does it leave any hint of it being there on the skin, other than the incredible scent. If you have use any of the Rose products from Jurlique you will be familiar with the scent already, but if not, it smells just incredible of fresh roses.

Application of this finishing powder is quite easily, I use the powder puff to intitially apply the powder and then taking my Real Techniques Bold Metal Arched Powder Brush to ensure I have even coverage and have my t-zone well and truly covered. As I have said the powder is really lightweight so you don't know it is there and what it does do is ensure my skin stays oil and shine free for most of the day with only the need to re-apply if I have an event in the evening.

This is for me an incredible finishing powder and having had this little pot of joy for almost a year, I am sad to find it is coming to an end though it is definitely something I would re-purchase. Costing £26 for 10g it isn't cheap but it is definitely a worthwhile investment.

What is your favourite finishing powder or do you prefer finishing mists?

You Beauty Discovery Box - July Edition

It's that time of the month for another You Beauty Discovery Box and if you read my blog regularly, you will know that I am a huge fan of this box and think it is one of the best out there. For July, the box is centered about Travel and giving some new products a chance.

This month we have three extra treats which I always look forward to, even though I always know what they will be. July's treats are extra amazing with a 50ml St Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower which has been everywhere at the moment and having tried it for the last week (you can read my review HERE), it is brilliant and I am chuffed to have another tube. You also receive a £2 off voucher for this tan from Boots. 

I also got a sample of the Emma Hardie Protect & Prime SPF 30 which is a skin protecting cream with added primer for a soft focus luminous complexion. I am quite looking forward to giving this a try as I am yet to try any products from the Emma Hardie range and so many people rave about them.

The final treat in the box was a packet of Muesli Breaks Oatcakes by Nairns which ive eaten and quite liked, they are great for on the go when you have forgotten to have breakfast or prefer ten more minutes in bed.

The hardest part of this box is choosing two items to try and I always attempt to try something I have either never tried, want to try or have tried and loved. So the two duo's that I have chosen are the Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 & Idealia Life Serum Duo. I have previously tried some Vichy Skincare and really liked them, so I decided to give these ones a try. had to pick these items. 

The Vichy Thermale 3 in 1 cleanses, tones & removes eye makeup all in one! You then, once cleansed, apply the Idealia Life Serum to help improve dull looking skin and give an instantly glowing and fresh looking complexion.

The final items in my box are a duo from Philip Kinglsey, whom most will recognise from the Elasticizer. Well this time, I have the Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner. They are said to gently cleanse and balance the different needs of the hair, providing more moisture at drier ends, without weighing down the roots. Together they transform dry and damaged hair into super smooth, shiny locks, leaving hair healthy and beautiful.

So there you have it, my £6.95 box of goodies for July from You Beauty Discovery. What do you think to my contents?