L’Occitane La Flamme Marie Claire

Did you know that less than a third of school children worldwide are girls? Quite a shocking statistic when you realise how many children of school age there must be! Launching the first week of September, the L'Occitance La Flamme Marie Claire, a collaboration between Marie Claire and L’Occitane will be released to raise funds for the education of young women around the world. 100% of the profits from the sale of each candle will be donated between three chosen charities in order to help transform the lives of thousands of young girls in Sierra Leone, Uganda, Cambodia and South Africa where the lack of available education leaves girl and women dependent, powerless and vulnerable.

Access to education is something I used to take for granted, in the UK it is a right not a privilege and I know without it, I wouldn't be where I am today. I was lucky enough to go to pass all my GCSEs and A Levels before going on to University where I graduated with a 2:1. It is campaigns like this which make you realise just how lucky we are.

L'Occitane have, for the past 30 years, supported many ethical and charitable foundations and one of their biggest projects has been enabling the women of Burkino Faso, where L'Occitane sources their famous Shea Butter, to develop other revenue generating activities to drive them towards economic emancipation.  Partnering with Marie Claire to support projects with a common goal: educating girl and young women, the flame (La Flamme) is a symbol of hope, a beacon of knowledge spreading the light of understanding and education throughout the world.

So the candle! It comes packaged inside this beautiful pink tin is a Verbena scented candle and it smells just incredible and very much like Lemon Bon-bons to me and that is before I have lit it. 

The L’Occitane La Flamme Marie Claire La Flamme Marie Claire initiative will be available in the UK, France, Italy and Czech Republic and will be priced at £8 from 1st September.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

It Could be You!

Like many people I dream of winning the National Lottery or Euromillions, not a huge jackpot, but enough to be comfortably well off so that I can work my way through my bucket list, the first being moving to the countryside and having my own cattery for unwanted, abandoned and unloved cats. I would also love to be mortgage free, go back to Las Vegas where I got married and finally see The Northern Lights, not too much to ask for right?

To that end, I do occasionally, well when I remember, buy National Lottery tickets in the hope of a big win, I buy them randomly and hope lady luck is on my side, I personally think she has taken early retirement or is ignoring me. With more and more people playing the lottery and the odds becoming less favourable, I was introduced to Lottoland which offers you the chance to bet on the outcome of many draws, from across the world.  You might have heard of the Irish Lotto and the massively popular American Powerball which had a prize of £1billion earlier this year and currently has £515million in the kitty, but did you know there are lotteries in Australia, Poland, Sweden, France and Spain to name but a few? I am sure many of you will have even see the adverts for Lottoland on the television as it is fronted by Chris Tarrant, so what is it all about?

With Lottoland you are not buying a ticket to a lottery draw, this is where it differs from going into your local newsagent and buying that ticket, instead you are betting on the outcome of the real draw but on offer are the same prizes as the official lottery itself. Yes really. Put simply you pick the numbers that you think will be drawn and if you guess correctly, you will win prize and the size of the prize will depend on the number of balls you correctly guess. So with the American Powerball for example, you choose your 6 numbers and you correctly guess 4 of them plus the powerball, your prize would stand at £38,000, essentially hitting any of the prize tiers available on the official draw and you’ll win!

You don't have to play alone either, Lottoland gives you the chance to be part of a syndicate, you simply decide how many shares you want to purchase be it 1,2 or 5 for example, you then click the button and it is all done for you and with 1 in 5 jackpots being won by a syndicate, it is something to definitely consider.

If you do play the lottery then Lottoland I think is a really interesting idea and with prizes so big in so many lotteries, then it might just be worth little flutter, as the saying goes "It could be YOU"!

*collaboration

August Dollibox - Poolside Glamour

Dollibox is a new online subscription service for UK based beauty lovers and I have featured a past box here. With a Dollibox subscription you'’ll receive five personalised beauty samples, sometimes full-sized every month, tailored to your beauty profile. Your beauty profile consists of some quite specific questions to answer such as where you get your beauty news from, what do you splurge on and how comfortable you are applying make-up. There are also questions about hair and eye colour as well as ethnicity and it takes just a couple of minutes to complete and the content of each box you receive will be based on this profile.

The August Dollibox arrived last week and it is all about Poolside Glamour and it is designed to give you everything you need to look and smell good all summer long.

Skintruth Afterdark Age Defy Moisturiser

Skintruth is a brand that I have never come across before, so it was a nice surprise inside the box. The product is called Afterdark Age Defy Moisturiser and it is an intensive night moisturiser formulated with Rose to replenish and hydrate skin whilst you are sleeping. Infused with Goji Berry a rich antioxidant renowned for anti aging properties, this moisturiser is ideal for mature skin types. You can get this moisturiser from Sally Express for £13.99.

Schwarzkopf Liquid Oil Conditioner

Described a being an indulgent leave-in formula combines an oil phase, which gives hair radiance, shine and suppleness, with a care phase, which repairs and detangles the hair beautifully. Hair is made instantly bouncy and vital, with improved manageability from static and frizz. The light, non-burdening conditioner seals the surface of the hair to lock moisture in, and provides a perfectly polished look. The Oil has an rrp £12.95 and is available on Escentual.

Girl Meet Brush Cosmetic Brush

I am already a fan of the bran Girl Meets Brush. If you have never come across them before, all the brushes are vegan friendly and cruelty free! Each brush is made with soft fibres and they are packaged in a sleek black handle with matching bristles. There are four different brushes in this months box; the Foundation Brush, the Blending Pencil Brush, the Highlighter Brush and the Eyeshadow Blending Brush which I have. You can find the brushes right here and they retail for around £6.95 upwards.

The Herb Garden Massage Bar

The Herb Garden is another brand I have never come across but how cute is the packaging? Inside the box wrapped neatly inside some purple tissue paper is a cute little mini massage bar which smells just divine. The relaxing massage bar uses soothing chamomile and lavender alongside shea butter, almond oil and Vitamin E oil to create heaven in a little bundle. One the skin, it melts on contact, as long as your hands are warm and it is just a delight to use.  You can find out more information on this massage bar and other products from within the range right here.

Dreamy Handmade Bath & Skincare Bath Bomb

The last item in the box is this cute and delightfully scented bath bomb from Dreamy Handmade Bath & Skincare. Again, not a brand I am familiar with at all but it is an all natural, organic and vegan friendly bath bomb which is handmade. I have Vanilla and Sandalwood Luxury Bathbomb which is decorated with poppy seeds and also uses Almond oil, Mango butter, Vitamin E. Found on Etsy right here there are quite a few products within the range.

This month's box is worth around £33 which is really good value for money. I really have enjoyed this box, it has a lovely range of products inside and it is another great way to meet and be introduced to brands that you might not be too familiar with.

To subscribe Dollibox has a choice of three different subscription options right now and they start from just £10 per month - www.dollibox.co.uk

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Crystal Clear Ionic Sonic Cleanse

I have been using the Crystal Clear Ionic Sonic Cleanse for a good few months because I wanted to get a real feel as to how it works, especially having tried quite a few difference cleansing brushes and with having a market saturated with them. 

The Ionic Sonic Cleanse is a cleansing 'system' that does two jobs, it firstly cleanses and then it exfoliates and it differs slightly from other brushes that I have used in the past because it works on the face & body rather than just the face.  It has 3 speed settings so you can decide what your skin needs on a daily basis and it uses a mechanism which combines an ultrasonic action and negative ions to pull toxins and pollutants away from the surface of the skin to ensure maximum cleanliness.  Living in London, it is a polluted city and most days I get home and just want to scrub my skin clean, knowing that the Ionic Sonic system works to remove the surface dirt does help put my mind at ease that I have done everything I can to ensure that as much dirt and grime has been removed.

I love that brush on this system is made of silicone so that you never need to change or replace the head, you simply just rinse it off and leave it to air dry. On the skin, the brush is soft as the bristles are made of silicone, but you know it is doing its job, abrasive enough to remove dead and dry skin but not so much that it scratches the skins surface.

When I use the brush, I first wet my face with warm water and then apply my cleanser, instead of massaging it onto my face with my hands, I use this brush and in circular motions so that I get a little bit of a massage when doing so. It literally takes a few minutes to cleanse your face and then I repeat the same actions using a facial exfoliator to ensure that everything has been removed. Again a few minutes later and my skin can already feel like it can breathe again. Once all of that is done, a little trick I have learnt to do with this same brush once I have washed off all the gubbings, is to apply my moisturiser to my face and instead of massaging it in using my fingers, I turn to the brush and gently let the brush do the hard work for me and it is pretty much like having a facial but at home, with someone else doing most of the work for you.

Whenever I have been for a facial or to any event which involves skincare, the one point that is always made is that unless the surface of your skin, be it face or the body, is clean and dirt free, the products that you put onto your skin won't work as well and as they sink in, they take with them anything lurking on the skins surface (voms) so clean your face! I have always wondered who would ever apply a cream to their skin without washing first, but I am sure it happens.

Using it on the body is again pretty amazing.  You can use it to cleanse and exfoliate exactly as you do your face and it does a really good job at removing that dead and dry skin from your arms, legs and torso.  The stand out here for me is when using it with moisturising cream. I am sure I am not alone when it comes to being lazy about applying a body butter, balm or cream, if it comes as a spray then I use it, if it is anything else, I pretty much need a kick in the shin to do it... give me a brush that does the hard work, then I am more than happy to sit on the bed, slather myself in whatever cream I have handy and allow the brush to massage it into my skin.

Now this cleanse system is pretty good, it does the job and I am happy with how my skin feels after using it. It is perfect for travelling with whether that is for a few days, a long weekend or a week away but there are a few issues which slightly niggle me. Only the brush (head) is fully waterproof, so this is not idea for using in the bath or shower sadly, it is a job you have to do before or after bathing. It is also battery operated rather than rechargeable which isn't something I am used to thinking about with other devices, that said, having used this system for a good few months I haven't yet had to change the batteries.  That aside, for me the positives outweigh the negatives and mainly with how my skin feels after using it - clean, soft, smooth, hydrated and it is incredibly easy to use, clean and maintain, oh and it is incredibly purse friendly too!

Crystal Clear Ionic Sonic Cleanse comes with it's own cute little bag and inside the bag you will also get a Crystal Clear cleanser, exfoliator and skin repair moisturiser in pack,I am yet to use these as I favoured my own, but I will put them to the test at some point. The Crystal Clear Ionic Sonic Cleanse costs a very reasonable £69.99 and is available here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Nourishing Facial Water

If ever there was a product beautifully packaged, it is the new Intense Hydration Nourishing Facial Water from Burt's Bees. Described as being a nutrient-infused drink for your skin that absorbs quickly, moisturizes and improves skin texture.

As you can see, it comes packaged in a book style box which is just so beautiful and a great way to introduce a new product.  

Facial waters are something that I have really enjoyed using of late, especially with the mini heat waves that we know as the Great British Summer, left in the fridge for about 30 minutes before using makes for one incredibly refreshing and cooling treat.

A Facial is not a Micellar Water and it is not a toner, what is for me, is a skin hydrator which I use after cleansing but before moisturising and my skin feels so soft and smooth after using and as it is infused with Clary Sage, this Facial water is a nutrient infused drink for your skin that helps to restore lost hydration. Also, the formula is pH balanced, dermalogically tested and noncomedogenic. It is also formulated with no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS! Within this Facial Water you will also find various botanical extracts like willow bark and kiwi alongside vitamin C.

Such a wonderful product and an amazing treat in this hot weather to keep my skin feeling hydrated, refreshed and feeling clean. Priced at just £15.99 for 118ml, this is a product that is an absolute bargain and one your skin will thank you for.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

How to Awaken Your Inner Alpha Male

Pure alpha males can’t be called the best partners for serious relationships. They prioritize their needs and are too focused on themselves. Yet, they attract women like a magnet. This is because they have a number of qualities that make them masculine in the eyes of the opposite sex. They are strong, confident, calm, uncompromising, decisive, and, yes, successful with women. They know how to seduce and flirt with girls and constantly use this knowledge. Since an alpha male is living inside every man, you should just put in some effort to awaken it. Read on to find out how to activate your manly qualities and allure women by Mariya Dates.

Image Credit

Work on your body language. Before you open your mouth your body language already speaks volumes about you. Your inner state almost always reflects on your posture, movements, and gestures. You should be in control of your body in order to appear confident no matter what. Have a good posture, keep your shoulders back, chest out, and head up. Look people in the eyes – this way you communicate that you feel comfortable talking to them. Don’t cross your arms on the chest but stand and sit in an open position.

Work out. Of course, muscles alone will not make you an alpha male but women are subconsciously attracted to the physically strong men. They need to feel protected and know that in case of danger their man will be able to fight. Going to the gym is always a good idea. Keeping your body in tone will not only make you look manly but also will benefit your health.

Speak with confidence. Believe in what you say and express your opinion clearly. Tell the truth and don’t try to pretend, then maintaining eye contact will not be a problem for you. Pay attention to how you speak, that is to the loudness and pitch of your voice. It should always sound natural as if you were in the company of your buddies. Speak in a low and confident voice while approaching women. They can discern the subtlest shades of anxiety and hesitation in men’s speech so train your voice and talk to the opposite sex frequently until you master your skills.

Dominate. The craving for dominance is quite exaggerated in alpha males – they want to order and want everything to be their way. Women love leaders but if a man is uncompromising, it may turn them off especially when they look for a serious relationship. That’s why dominance is good and attractive in a moderate dosage. You should demonstrate your dominance by your body language and leadership qualities. A woman should feel that she can follow you and you’ll take care of everything.

Never complain. Only weak personalities resort to complaining. Real men are strong enough to endure any difficulties, take responsibility for all faults, and find the way out. If you want to be successful with women, they shouldn’t hear you complain about anything. Stop looking for excuses (even in your thoughts) once you did something wrong. Have the courage to admit your faults and move on.

Take care of yourself. There is nothing better than taking care of yourself, everything from eating well, exercising and of course your personal health. It is now much easier to take care of your personal health, we are lucky to have easier access to urgent care and it is all just a click away, for example, you can Click for STD tests which gives you the option to find and book same day or next day appointments.

Keep calm. Don’t let trifles drive you out of your wits. A real man will never fight with his woman over insignificant things. If she starts to express her concerns, he’ll listen to her first and then tell her what he thinks about it. He will never shout or blame her in return because he understands that women are emotional creatures. He knows that he should keep his head and deal with any difficult situation with dignity.

Be funny. Do you know that you can influence people using your sense of humor? It’s a great tool of the leaders who use it to demonstrate their confidence and good communication skills. Also, humor is necessary if you want to make a good impression on a woman.

*this post is a collaboration

Soak Up The Sun Safely with Badger Sunscreens

When these Badger Sunscreens dropped through my door a few weeks ago, I was delighted to be able to put them to good use during the mini heatwave.  The joy of being off work and enjoying the sunshine, means I have had more time to put products to the test.

Now I am a fan of the Badger brand, they offer cute, quirky and purse friendly products and I have featured them on this blog many times.  The three different sunscreens that I have are all SPF30 with the ethos being centred around the need to make enjoying the sun as safe as possible for all of the family and without being too laborious. 

Badger SPF30 Broad Spectrum Unscented Sunscreen Cream

This is the one I have been using.  I like that it is unscented and whilst it isn't as thick as other brands of sunscreen, it has a texture that is thick enough to let you know it is on your skin whilst being moisturising and hydrating at the same time. I never once felt that it made my skin feel caked in cream or that there was too much of it. This sunscreen is both water and sweat resistant for at least 40 minutes of swimming or activity, blocks both UVA and UVB rays and uses a certified organic sunscreen base of Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Seabuckthorn and Vitamin E is ultra-moisturising and soothing.

Badger SPF30 Broad Spectrum Kids Sunscreen Cream

Whilst I don't have children, I am more than happy to champion the cause of importance where sunscreen is concerned and have passed this one onto a friend who is using it right now on her holiday with her children. Again this sunscreen is both water and sweat resistant for at least 40 minutes of swimming or activity, blocks both UVA and UVB rays and is lightly fragranced with non-photosensitising essential oils of Tangerine & Vanilla in a gentle Sunflower Oil base as well as being hypoallergenic.

Badger SPF30 Broad Spectrum Baby Sunscreen Cream

As with the above, this cream has been gifted to a friend who has a baby and whom is on holiday right now. Again this sunscreen is both water and sweat resistant for at least 40 minutes of swimming or activity. It is hypoallergenic as well as being Pediatrician tested and approved safe for babies and it has a certified organic base of Sunflower Oil, Beeswax and Vitamin E is ultra-moisturizing and soothing.

Each one of these products from Badger is not tested on animals, is biodegradable and safe for coral reefs and other ecosystems and they contain no oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other chemical active sunscreening agents.

Easily accessible online, these screens have an RRP £14.99 and each tube is 87ml.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

MUA Luxe Enchanted Eye Palette

Well this little beauty of an eyeshadow palette really got people's attention on Instagram and you can see why. This luxurious silk-inspired eye palette actually is from the MUA Luxe range and not Hourglass as quite a few people assumed. To look at, admittedly it is an absolutely amazing dupe and similar in the shades chosen for the palette.  I don't own any Hourglass products so am unable to compare the formula of the two. 

Called Enchanted, this Silk-inspired eyeshadow palette gives seamless colour and can be easily blended for perfect results and they are also buildable for those people who want a lot more coverage and colour. Each shade can be worn alone or you can create a mixture of more than one shade or indeed all 5.

The shades on this palette work to compliment one another and are perfect for the base, crease and lash line and I was even more surprised at how long lasting they are too. I always apply using an eyeshadow brush and the fallout is absolutely minimal to almost none at all.

If a smokey eye is more your look then fear not because there is another palette within this range and it is called Enrapture. Enrapture includes eyeshadow shades that are much darker, whilst the other one has soft and gentle shades.

Image credit - MUA

I really like how sleek this palette is and it fits perfectly into my makeup bag without any problems. If you are looking for a new eyeshadow palette, then these are definitely worth looking out for, they are priced at just £6 and are just stunning.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Melvita Nectar de Roses Hydrating Milky Mist

It is no secret that I am obsessed with face mists, so much so I dedicated a blog post to the ones I had been using. For me, a face mist is more than just a moisturiser, they also hydrate, refresh, cool and soothe the skin, especially when the weather is hot and sticky or when you have been sat in front of a computer screen all day and your eyes are just tired and you are worn out.

When the new Melvita Nectar de Roses Hydrating Milky Mist arrived in the most brilliant way ever (more below) it was love at first spritz, something which won't surprise the more regular readers of my blog because I happen to think the brand is fantastic.

The Milky Mist uses a blend of three unique and handpicked roses alongside some organic rosewater to deliver 24 hour hydration. There is also a hint of Peppermint essential oil which is incredibly fresh and some wild rose extract which is proven to boost hydration to the skin. Putting all of those ingredients together, this Mist has three key benefits and they all revolve around moisture, hydration and refreshing the skin. 

With a pump action bottle and dispenser, when released, the mist is super lightweight so that when it hits the skin, not just your face but it can be used on your whole body, it doesn't drown you and leave you soaking wet, instead the dispenser releases enough mist to cover your body within minutes and you don't have to rub it, just given it a few seconds to absorb and you will get a whiff of the roses and peppermint together and a lovely refreshed and cooling feel to your skin, perfect for this weather we currently have and soothing to boot. and you can cover the whole body in seconds. It feels instantly soothing and hydrating and 

The Melvita Nectar de Roses Hydrating Milky Mist is £15 and available from August.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Madara - Organic Skincare

I absolutely love finding out about new brands, I love reading about their history, their ethos and I like those who are just that little bit different. So let me introduce to you Madara, an organic skincare range who believe that the best skin care is the kind of care that goes that little bit deeper. We all know that good skincare and a good skincare regime make us look and feel better and there is nothing quite like a double (or quadruple) cleanse when you have spent the day travelling around a polluted city!

Unlike other forms of skincare, Madara use 0% water and instead use birch water and this is where my interest was pricked. Birch water is described as being a revolutionary ingredient which is proven to reduce all key signs of visible ageing. Here in the UK, birch water is being hailed as the ‘new coconut water’ and you will see it in the aisles of Waitrose and health foods shops with slogans such as "4 times less sugar than coconut water" for example.  Madara take the benefits of birch water and utilise them for their skin care range. Birch water is one of the richest sources of bio-available nutrients including vitamins, proteins, amino acids and enzymes and is known to help cleanse and remove toxins from the body and help nourish the body’s cells with organic acids. Recognised as a pure, potent anti-ageing ingredient, Birch water is one of  Nordic women’s top beauty secrets.

From the entire range I have two products plus my very own bottle of birch water (which I really enjoyed drinking) and I am a huge fan, simple as that.  As someone who spends a bit part of their day in front of a computer screen, my skin does get dehydrated as we most of us.  Travelling around London means pollution, dirt and grime and I am more than willing to do anything and everything I can to ensure my skin stays looking and feeling its best.

So the first product is called the Cellular Nutrients Toning Mist and it is described as being a unique anti-aging toner with rebalancing Northern Birch hydrolate and hyaluronic acid improves skin structure and collagen synthesis. Putting it simply, it is an incredibly moisturising and hydrating mist which you can spritz onto your skin first thing in the morning as part of your skincare regime and/or throughout the day to ensure you keep your skin fresh, hydrated and moisturised, I did both.

On the skin, the toning mist is really lightweight and doesn't leave your skin drenched and wet, it is refreshing and a much welcomed mid-afternoon revival as you start to slump and want to find something sugary for a boost. I find on my skin, it is hydrating, so much so my last skin scan a few weeks ago at a blogger event revealed that my skin was actually not dehydrated (the usual issue) and instead, other than my redness, there was no other problems! This toning mist is also certified ECOCERT, Natural & Organic, Vegan, Cruelty Free and Gluten Free.

Moon Flower Rose Beige Tinting Fluid is the other product to have caught my eye. I am all about adding some illumination to my face and am obsessed with highlighters. This tinting fluid is a as described, a lighter alternative to foundation, which in the heat we have right now is very much welcomed, but it is also a little more than just a skin tint. It does as suggested illuminates and evens out your skin tone and it uses Northern Rose Hip extract and natural pigments which "instantly hydrate and perfect the skin’s appearance therefore helping to mask imperfections" and it helps with fine lines, something I don't really have a lot of. For me it is about the redness on my cheeks, something I am always keen to ensure I conceal and don't attract attention too, this does an amazing job. 

Again, it is packed full of amazing ingredients such as Rose Flower Water, Jojoba seed oil, Chamomile, Rosehip Extract, Calendula Extract and even Algae makes an appearance. It does leave my skin feeling hydrated, fresh and I like the fact I don't actually feel as though there is anything on my skin, a usual complaint from me with regards to fluid foundations is the feeling of something caked on your skin, I dislike the feeling immensely, but with this Tinting Fluid, it is lightweight, it applies with incredible ease and I actually forget I have it on.

I think Madara is an amazing brand and they have an entire catalogue of products which I have spent some time reading about.  You can find them available on sites such as FeelUnique,  LoveLula, Naturissimo and Essentials London.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

SEPTEMBER MAGAZINE FREEBIES

This month see's some absolutely amazing Magazine Freebies, making up for a few months where there has either been none or there is just one or two pretty decent ones, if you follow me on Instagram, I have featured them for this month. The ones that I have seen so far come from Elle and InStyle Magazines and again if you are a Benebabe and like a good Benefit Mini, as I showed here then go and find Elle!

Elle (£4.50) has teamed up with Benefit to give us the sample of their new Dew The Hoola which is a liquid bronzer. Benefit say "This liquid bronzer gives your face a year-round glow without the gleam. The smoothing effects and lightweight texture melt in for a shimmerless, natural look that’s so sheer, it’ll have you saying hoola-la".

InStyle have teamed up with Balance Me and there is an option to choose one of three samples; super toning body polish, pure skin face wash or a lip quenching lip balm. I chose the Lip Balm as I have had my eye on it for some time. A 100% natural lip balm with Spearmint fragrance, it hydrates and protects against chapped lips, gives lips subtle shine and mint fresh scent and uses Organic Shea, Cocoa and Mango Butters plump, soften and protect against the elements.

So, once again there are some fabulous freebies to be had this month which are more than worthy of being picked up. Have you picked up any yet?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise