The Bodyshop Play For Peace Project

A few weeks ago I spent an evening being entertained by The Bodyshop as Henry Holland unveiled the products that he had collaborated on and I was also privvy to a presentation on a campaign that The Bodyshop are heavily involved in called the Play For Peace Project.

This Christmas, we want you to forget adulting and embrace togetherness through festive fun and games. From quizzes and spinners to mazes and dice, loads of the packaging in our exciting new seasonal gift collections transforms into games for the whole family to enjoy. 

By playing with us this season, you’re not only doing your bit for the planet by upcycling your packaging, you’ll also be supporting International Alert’s Peace Play Project, which helps Syrian refugee children to heal through play.

Together with International Alert, The Bodyshop has mission this Christmas which is to send love, joy and compassion to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Every gift you buy from the incredible range on offer from the seasonal gift collections will help fund the Peace Play Project in Lebanon for a year, providing play and activities in a safe place for Syrian refugee children. For every gift you buy from our seasonal gift collections, we will donate 4.4p to International Alert’s Peace Play Project. 

I was kindly given a gift card to showcase some of those gifts available and purchased the following:

One item that stood out that I immediately wanted the House of Holland Limited Edition Matte Liquid Lipstick Collection.

Housed inside this incredible lip shaped tin are three long-lasting shades of Matte Lip Liquid.

• Matte Lip Liquid Nairobi Camellia 8ml - A soft dusty pink color.
• Matte Lip Liquid Mauritius Dahlia 8ml - A dark berry shade
• Matte Lip Liquid Windsor Rose 8ml - A light brown shade with peachy undertones

These Matte Liquid Lips are specially formulated to glide on effortlessly like a gloss and set with the rich creamy colour and velvety touch of matte lipstick.  This gift set is priced at just £15 here

I also bought a gift set from the Camomile range haing read numerous blog posts on how good the range is.  

Within the gift set you get which is described as being 'Specially formulated to be gentle on skin, our much-loved Camomile range makes a great skincare gift for those with sensitive skin and eye - the perfect introductory skincare regime' an it costs just £15 here. The three products included are:

• Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter 90ml
• Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 60ml
• Muslin Cloth

So what you have are three products which essentially make up a 3-step routine is perfect for gently removing make-up - simply remove, cleanse, wipe.

Finally I had been wanting to try some of the Bodyshop bath products for a while now and my eyes were drawn to the brightly packaged bath bombs.  I love having a bath and I love a good bath bomb and the Bodyshop have quite a few on offer. 

The description 'Bring the fizz this Christmas! Immerse yourself in the scent of green tea for a fresh, relaxing bath' and they do all smell just incredible. They come in a choice of five fun rainbow colours and cost just £1.50 each and because I was spoilt for choice, I went for 4 of the 5 options available on the night which are:

• Green Tea - Packaged inside bright green packaging, this bath bomb is green tea scented and turns your bath water a lovely shade of green.
• Pink Grapefruit - Smells exactly like Pink Grapefruit and is found in bright pink packaging
• Moringa - Has a delicate floral scent and is the one in Yellow packaging
• Coconut - Well I think you can guess what this smells of and it is delightful, definitely my favourite so far and it is in bright blue packaging.

As with any other bath bomb, always ensure there is a good inch or two of water in the bath before you chuck it in and as soon as these ones come into contact with the water they fizz round and round and the scents are just incredible.

There is so much more on offer from the Bodyshop for Christmas which you can find online and instore and to find out more about the Play For Peace Project everything is here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Give the perfect gift this Christmas with L'OCCITANE

I adore L'Occitane as a brand and have for some time now, been obsessed with their Almond range, it smells just incredible and we go through bottle after bottle of the shower oil because it is just so good.  At Christmas time, a visit to any L'Occitane store is enough to put you into the festive spirit and with gifts galore to chose from, there is something right here for every budget and for every person, including the home.

Aside from Almond, a scent I absolutely adore is Cherry Blossom, there is something so fresh about it and the Cherry Blossom Gift Set, which comes packaged inside a signature L'Occitane gift box, something else that L'Occitane do really really well.

If the fresh and floral scent is something that you like, then this gift sets will tick both of those boxes. Enriched with natural cherry blossom which comes from the Luberon region of southern France this gift set includes:

• 250ml Cherry Blossom Shower Gel
• 75ml Cherry Blossom Shimmering Body Lotion
• 50g Cherry Blossom Scented Soap
• 30ml Cherry Blossom Scented Hand Cream

What I love is that these four products can be used to compliment one another starting with the Bath & Shower Gel, which when it comes into contact with water foams up into a creamy mousse and smells just beautiful. Once out of the bath you apply the Cherry Blossom Shimmering Body Lotion which is enriched with Shea Butter alongside the scent of scent of cherry blossom, it not only intensifies the scent of the Bath & Shower Gel, it leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, hydrated and lit eaves an iridescent veil on the body. Then having washed your hands using the Cherry Blossom Scented Soap, you are left with one product which is the Cherry Blossom Scented Hand Cream. What I really like about L'Occitane hand creams is that the formula is non-greasy whilst being creamy and moisturising. Enriched with Shea Butter, it again nourishes and protects the hands as well as leaving them delicately scented.

Impressively each one of the products within this box is very generously sized making the price of £39 incredible value for money.

As mentioned, L'Occitane have a range of gifts to suit everyone's budget and below I have detailed some of my favourite gift sets.

Starting with the Delicious Almond Collection (rrp £49) it comes packaged in a beautifully festive red box and includes four of my favourite products including the Almond Shower Oil. Next is The Best of L'Occitane Collection and this would make a perfect gift for those people who absolutely love the brand or for those people who are yet to discover it. Priced at just £69 it includes some of the most cherished scents and textures made famous by L’OCCITANE such as The Almond Shower Oil and the Lavender Foaming Bath. Right in the middle there is a cute Mini Terre de Lumière Star Tree Decoration which houses a 5ml gourmand aromatic Terre de Lumière Eau de Parfum which smells divine and it costs just £8. On the bottom row there are two further gift sets which, starting on the left is the Divine Face Care Trilogy (rrp £159) which features anti-ageing face care trio that will restore, regenerate and reveal younger-looking skin. Featuring the incredible Immortelle Divine Cream, a 30ml Divine Serum and a 15ml Divine Eyes it also is packaged inside a signature L'Occitane box. The final gift set is the Néroli & Orchidée Collection which is made up of  zesty notes of orange and mandarin alongside that of White Orchid. Within the box you will find three products which include 75ml Néroli & Orchidée Eau de Toilette, a 245ml Néroli & Orchidée Shower Gel and a 50ml Néroli & Orchidée Body Milk and all for just £59.

The Cherry Blossom Gift Set was gifted to me for the purpose of this review, but all words are my own.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Christmas with Burt's Bees

One of my favourite brands Burt's Bees have an incredible range of Christmas products and today I am sharing some of them with you from stocking fillers and medium gifts to full on gift sets which promise to keep you looking and feeling amazing from head to toe.

I am a huge fan of the Lip Balms from Burt's Bees and make my way through quite a lot of them throughout the year. Some have had a bit of a makeover recently and they will appear in a separate post, so keep a look out for that. 

In the mean time the Burt's Coconut & Pear Hanging Bauble set  features a dynamic duo for hands and lips.

Inside it is featuring the much-loved 100% Natural Coconut & Pear Lip Balm and classic Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and it costs just £6.99.

Staying with Lip Balms for this Naturally Beautiful Tinted Lip Balm Duo.  It contains Tinted Lip Balms in Hibiscus and Red Dahlia shades.  These lip balms give just a hint of colour and 8 hours of moisture. 

The botanical waxes in these softly tinted balms will take your lips to lovely in one pretty swipe. They come in a range of six naturally flattering shades.  Priced at just £10 you can find them here.

The Bag of Extra Treats makes for an amazing gift for those wanting to discover what Burt's Bees is all about or if you are already a fan, a chance to stock up on some favourites an whilst you are doing so, getting this handy sized cosmetic purse too.  

Inside there are four products:

• Milk & Honey Body Lotion, 70g - This dermatologist-tested nourishing moisturiser combines milk, honey and vitamin E, along with coconut and grape seed oils for an ideal blend of nutrients. The delectable combination in this tube of 99% natural body lotion moisturises for up to 24 hours. It’s also non-greasy and absorbs quickly.
• Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E & Peppermint, 4.25g - Infused with power packed Beeswax to condition skin and antioxidant Vitamin E to richly moisturise and soften lips, this lip balm nourishes dry lips while keeping them revitalised and hydrated. With a matte finish and moisturising balm texture, this tube of soothing lip balm glides on smoothly with a hint of Peppermint Oil which leaves your lips with a refreshing tingle. 
  
• Vanilla Bean Lip Balm, 4.25g - Infused with powerful fruit extracts and beeswax to richly moisturise and soften lips, the nourishing oils and butters will make your lips feel soft, supple and hydrated.
  
• Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus, 4.25g - As above, these balms give a hint of colour whilst offering up to 8 hours of moisture.

The entire set is priced at just £16.99 here and is incredible value for money.

Best of Burt's Gift Set is the one you need for a little bit of everything. The joy of these kits is that even if you are a fan of Burt's Bees, it is a chance to stock up, or it is a great introduction to the brand. 

The set contains five products and includes

• Milk & Honey Body Lotion - This is a dermatologist-tested nourishing moisturiser combines milk, honey and vitamin E, along with coconut and grape seed oils for an ideal blend of nutrients. The delectable combination in this tube of 99% natural body lotion moisturises for up to 24 hours. It’s also non-greasy and absorbs quickly.
• Coconut Foot Cream - This is my absolute favourite foot cream ever. Made with coconut oil and other natural ingredients, this foot cream helps soften and rejuvenate neglected, dry feet, while rosemary and peppermint extracts refresh weary soles.  It is perfect for getting your feet sandal ready.
  
• Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream - Made with natural ingredients that help keep your hands feeling soft and smooth. Infused with moisturising shea butter and quick absorbing, hydrating cocoa butter and sesame oil. Enriched with a blend of the finest extracts and vitamin E to revitalise and nourish your skin.
  
• 100% natural Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E and Peppermint  - Description as above.
• Tinted Lip Balm in shade Hibiscus and again all of these balms give a hint of colour whilst offering up to 8 hours of moisture.

The entire set is currently on offer here for just £19.99 but it can also be found on other sites for £10 more.

So there are just some of the offerings from Burt's Bees this Christmas and whatever your budget, there is something to suit most needs.  If you haven't heard the story about Burt and this brand it is really one which warms your heart, even though sadly Burt did pass away just a few years ago. It began in Maine about 30 years ago. Burt the Beekeeper was happily selling honey from the back of his truck. But fate had other ideas for the bearded hero when he met Roxanne Quimby. Burt and Roxanne hit it off and before long she was making candles with unused wax from Burt’s beehives. 

From those original candles to the iconic Beeswax Lip Balm, to over 180 products — Burt’s Bees has been guided by a single principle: Nature has the best answers. At Burt’s Bees when they say ‘natural’ they mean natural. On average, Burt’s Bees products are 99% natural with over half of the products 100% natural. Burt’s Bees believes you’re at your most beautiful when what you put on your body is from Nature — after all, what goes on to your body goes into your body. Burt’s Bees formulations support your skin with the nutrients it needs – and none of the chemicals it doesn’t. Burt’s Bees products help you put your best foot, lips, skin, hair and sense of well-being forward. Every day. Available in: Lip Care and Lip Colour, Facial Skincare, Hand and Body Care, Baby Bee and many more! Over the years Burt’s Bees brand has become one of the world’s leading natural personal care brands. Burt couldn’t be more proud. None of the products from this range are tested on animals and nor do they contain petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Christmas 2017 with REN Skincare

The dreaded C word has arrived already and with the constant Facebook reminders that there is around 150ish days to go, the launches have begun.  REN is an amazing brand and being obsessed with the scent of Rose and also the wonder that is Magnesium, I was hoping the Christmas launches would be special - and they are!

REN Skincare has collaborated with Silken Favours, famed for their kitsch and warm-hearted hand drawn prints, to create little boxes of joy filled with everyone’s REN favourites. Quite different to anything else I have seen for Christmas, the REN packaging is quite kitsch and far from being festive.

This year’s line-up includes:

ROSE TO THE WORLD - £36 (worth £44) 

I love the Rose Otto range, there is something about the fresh scent of roses. Rose to The World gives you the chance to experience REN’s multi-award winning soothing Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash and replenishing Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion. Together they will leave the skin looking and feeling beautifully healthy.  A true cult classic.

Contents:

• 200ml Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash
• 200ml Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion

ENERGISING FESTIVE SEA(SON) - £22 (worth £25) 

One of my favourite ranges right now and one I cannot rave about enough. An excellent source of magnesium and stress-fighting algae to revitalises and re-energises the skin. REN has harnessed the power of ocean plants to fight fatigue, stress & pollution within a 21st-century context. The perfect tired body ‘pick me up’!

Contents:

• 100ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash
• 75ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Salt Anti-Fatigue Exfoliating body scrub
• 100ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium EnergisingLotion

‘TIS THE SEASON TO FEEL ROSEY - £45 (worth £52)

A luxurious selection from REN’s multi-award winning Moroccan Rose Otto range, to leave your skin soft, smooth and lightly scented with 100% natural rose oil.  This set will be exclusive to Space NK and it will also include a colouring book and pencils. 

Contents:

• 200ml Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash 
• 75ml Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Polish 
• 100ml Moroccan Rose Gold Glow Perfect Dry Oil

SILENT NIGHT, WAKE WONDERFUL – £34 (worth £38) 

The perfect party season prep! Wake up to brighter, smoother, more rested looking skin in just one night. Featuring the brilliant Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial, which again I absolutely love this is one of my favourite kits on offer.

Contents:

• 50ml V-Cense™ Revitalising Night Cream 
• 15ml Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial 
• 15ml Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial

ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT - £29 (worth £43) 

A select lineup of REN’s best-selling skincare products and for me, the perfect introduction to the world of REN Skincare if it is something you have never delved in to. For skin that looks and feels smoother, brighter and more lifted.

Contents:

• 50ml Evercalm™ Global Protection Day Cream
• 15ml Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
• 10ml Keep Young & Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot 

MERRY LITTLE LUXURIES – £16 (worth £20) 

REN’s Mini Body Kit contains perfect travel size duos of the award winning Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash and Lotion and invigorating Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium. Great for weekend breaks or party season gifting. 

Contents:

• 50ml Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash 
• 50ml Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion 
• 50ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Anti-Fatigue BodyWash
• 50ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Body Cream

STOCKING FILLERS – £10

REN’s best selling Moroccan Rose Otto and Atlantic Kelp & Microalgae bath oils in miniature make for this year’s most coveted stocking fillers.

Contents:

• 10ml Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil or
• 10ml Atlantic Kelp & Microalgae Anti-Fatigue Bath Oil

Limited edition packs of hand balms featuring Moroccan Rose Otto and Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium essential oils – £14

Contents:
50ml Moroccan Rose Otto Luxurious Hand Balm or
50ml Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Energising HandBalm

I think there is something for everyone right here and for every budget too. If there is something that has caught your eye, then you only need to wait until the beginning of October when they become available!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

YOU, yes you - You are not alone!

Source

So this is my last post for the next couple of days as it is Christmas Eve. A time for joy, family and happiness.

Sadly, not everyone experiences this at Christmas and for some, this time can be a dark and lonely time or a time when emotions such as depression can be heightened.

You may be one of those people. You may have come across this blog post by chance, or someone may have forwarded it to you to read.

Consider it fate.

I don't want you to feel alone this Christmas.

I don't want you to feel depressed or lonely.

If you feel that you have hit rock bottom and you feel empty inside, If you can see the lights twinkling in other peoples windows, hear the laughter of your neighbours and yet you experience no joy, as if the world is a dark place in which you see no place for yourself any more.

Or if you feel that you are ready to make a change.

I want you to pick up the phone......................

Women’s Aid
https://www.womensaid.org.uk
0808 2000 247

Galop – LGBT Domestic Abuse
http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/
0300 999 5428 or 0800 999 5428

Rape Crisis
http://rapecrisis.org.uk
0808 802 9999

MIND
Website www.mind.org.uk
Tel No 0300 123 3393

Samaritans
Website www.samaritans.org
Tel No 116 123

Alcoholics Anonymous
Website www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Tel No 0800 9177650

Stonewall
Website www.stonewall.org.uk
Info line 08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
Tel No 0207 837 7324

SANELine
Website www.sane.org.uk
Tel No 0300 304 7000

Papyrus, Prevention of young suicide
Website www.papyrus-uk.org

National self-help body for the Transgender community
Beaumont Society
Website http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk
Information Line 01582 412220

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Depression Alliance
Website www.depressionalliance.org

Refuge
Website www.refuge.org.uk
Tel No 0808 2000 247

Beat - Beating eating disorders.
Website https://www.b-eat.co.uk
Help line 0345 634 1414
Youth Line 0345 634 7650

Shelter
Website www.shelter.org.uk
Tel No 0808 800 4444

NHS Direct
111

No Panic
Website http://www.nopanic.org.uk
Tel No 0844 967 4848
Youth helpline  01753 840393

If you need someone, please call one of these numbers. You are NOT alone over Christmas, there are people out there that care, I care. 

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I would also love to thank Kellie over at Big Fashionista for allowing me to use this post, it is so important.

The Vintage Cosmetics Company - Twelve Days Advent Calendar

Thanks to my naughty postman, this little beauty has just arrived. The Vintage Cosmetics Twelve Days Advent Calendar. If you follow me on Instragram you might have noticed that every morning I share the findings of my advent calendars on there with you using Instagram Stories. Now I have obviously missed days one to twelve opening this one, so I am instead going to open it from day twelve (tomorrow) to day twenty-four instead.

I love The Vintage Cosmetic Company and everything it stands for. If you have never come across them before their story can be found right here. If you love florals, pink and anything kitsch then this is a company for you. A British Company who wanted to bring a product that offers something unique in the market and a product that would pay tribute to old-Hollywood and harks back to the glamour and charm of the 1950s, but one that serves the everyday beauty needs of women everywhere. The ultimate goal being that The Vintage Cosmetic Company would offer a range of high quality beauty accessories with a unique, feminine personality. A range that combines affordability, efficacy and elegance and now it does with over 60 of them available today.

The Twelve Days of advent has selected 12 full size beauty tools and accessories and is sure to make you look and feel gorgeous for the big day. The 12 Days Advent Calendar contains 12 full size products and is excellent value for money and worth much more than it'sPriced at just £65.00 the products together are worth just under £95 so it is great value for money and it is still available.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Christmas Presents for Cats

This year so many people have asked me whether or not this post would appear after the one I wrote last year and I thought long and hard about it before deciding yes it would.  I buy presents for my cats just like people buy them for their children and that includes Christmas of course, though I am sure they would just prefer a box and some wrapping paper and maybe a bit of tinsel!

That aside, there are more and more products becoming available for animals at Christmas whether you have a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit or even a goldfish, you will find something suitable for that animal to join in and share the festivities with you.  

The amazing Cat Cottage - Available on Etsy for £70 this Cat Cottage is handmade from sustainable wood it features a carpeted wood roof, has sisal edging and detailing and is painted in buttermilk colour. Inside cushion included, wadding with cream cotton fleece cover, washable. Pure comfort and luxury!

Happypet Cat Scratcher Cat Tree Activity Centre Scratching Post - Available for £34.95 on Amazon this type of product is a must for cats in my opinion. Cats love to climb and scratch and if they have nothing of their own to do that on, then they are more than willing to use your sofa, door frames and anything else they can get their claws into!

Dreamies - My cats will do anything for this stuff, we jokingly call it kitty crack at home because whatever it is they are doing, as soon as they hear a rustle, everything stops and they come bounding into the kitchen to get their treats.  This tin is currently £4.99 from Petplanet and it contains 5 packets of treats.

Purrfect Arch: Cat Self-Grooming & Massaging Toy - We have this for our three boys and they absolutely love it. Priced at £19.99, though it is usually on offer for half price, the arch is infused with catnip to capture your cats attention and the arch helps the cats to remove loose fur which cuts down on shedding and therefore fur balls from grooming and at the same time, it massages your cat.

There are two subscription boxes which are well worthy of gifting to friends who have cats, love cats or both.  The first is My-Purrfect Box which is designed for the cats and is packed full of toys, treats and food. As a monthly box it comes with a host of subscription options to suit your needs and it is one my three love.  The second is MyPurrfectgiftbox which has been designed for both the cat lover and the cat in mind.  Depending on your subscription choice there is 3-5 full sized items, all of a cat theme nature.

FroliCat™ Chatter™ Automatic Cat Teaser - Keep you kitty amused throughout the day with the Chatter teaser! This automatic teaser toy wobbles and chirps, plus it features a 'Play While You Are Away mode' – purrfect for spontaneous playtimes! Priced at £18.99 it is definitely something my three would play with!

Cat weave scratcher - Again, my three love to have something to scratch and at £3.99 this is an absolute bargain and is something I have repurchased a few times now. Made from cardboard it is safe, durable and recyclable. 

Catit Design Senses Play Circuit - An exciting cat toy which can be expanded and varied as you wish. It is a great way to exercise your cat's dexterity and to indulge your pet's natural hunting instincts. This is without question Hectors favourite toy and one he has played with since he was just 8 weeks old and now, a year on, finds it just as entertaining. Priced at just £7.99 it is money well spent.

FroliCat Bolt Laser Cat Toy - Interactive laser pointer for cats, with in-built timer for interactive playing fun with your kitty. This is something Hector would love as he just adores the laser pen I have. He will happily sit and meow at the laser beam as I move it around the room, so this is just a robotic version of said toy. Priced at £18.99 it isn't as cheap as a laser pen which will cost less than £5 but it is fun.

Sound-Mouse Cat Toy - This is a toy I am likely to purchase because it sounds amazing. Inside this cheeky mouse is a sound chip that reacts to the slightest touch, giving out such lifelike squeaks that your cat can't help but give chase. The mouse is attached to an elastic cord; use the rod to play exciting hunting games with your cat and all for just £1.99!

Fleece Blanket - My cats all have their own fleece blankets which I picked up from my local Primark for £3 and they love to sleep on them,  


*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

#Glitzmas2016: Win with BookYourlifestyle

As advent is upon us and we excitedly open those Beauty Advent Calendars, watch out on instagram stories and snap chat for mine, there are some amazing online advent calendars which you can join up with to win prizes on a daily and weekly basis.

If you haven't been lucky enough to snap up an advent calendar then let BookYourLifestyle give you the chance to win!

Starting today is the BookYourLifestyle interactive beauty Christmas advent calendar which between now and 24th December you have the chance to win one of many prizes worth in total over £4000.  The online interactive advent calendar features 24 days of glamourous prizes such as nail, hair and spa treatments in top London beauty salons and all you have to do is to be in it, to win it!

It is easy to take part. Each day a new window will be available to open and all you have to do is follow the on screen instructions for the chance to win a glamorous experience at one of our top London hair salons, nail salons, spas and other beauty industry partners. Closing date for each entry will be midnight on every day between December 1st and December 24th inclusive. After this date no further entries to the competition will be permitted.

BookYourLifestyle was founded in January 2015 by David Smith and Chris Houry of HostelBookers fame. They grew HostelBookers from 0-$100million in 10 years and as good as eradicated the financial burden of cancellations and no shows. So designed to make booking easy, Bookyourlifestyle is a 24/7 application which aims to make booking easy that beauty treatment easy.

If you do decide to enter, then really good luck, I hope you will let me know if you win!

*this is a collaborative post but all words are my own.

Christmas Tree Buying Guide

Locally where I live, the Christmas Tree shops are open and the queuing will some begin with people rushing to ensure they have that perfect tree for Christmas, if it isn't up already, which I have noticed on social media! I always find it really hard to decide which kind of tree works and find it quite stressful deciding whether I want a real tree or an artificial tree. Thankfully there is a handy Christmas tree guide which helps to cut out all that stress.

When it comes to buying a real Christmas tree, there are different varieties of Spruces, Firs and Pines to choose from - Norway Spruce which is the more traditional type of tree with its vibrant green colour and pine scent. The Blue Spruce which has a different range of coloures from a greyish blue to a bright blue-green. The Nordmann Fir which has a conical shape and is a dark green shade or the Fraser Fir which is great for tight spaces and has a unique balsam fragrance.

The alternative is an artificial tree but again there is a lot of variety. The PE which is the most realistic Christmas tree. Made from polyethylene, the needles produced are 3D so you can enjoy the look of a real tree without the clean-up. The we have the pre-lit trees such as the Easy Connect which can save time and stress untangling those lights and checking the bulbs to make sure they work! Finally we have Flocked which are the artifical tress which have that snow dusted appearance and look very wintery. Or you can have the twigged tree variety which is essentially just that - twigs and lights, they are quite ordinary but look amazing in the right setting.

Once you have decided upon the tree, you need to ensure you get the right height and width. Anyone who, like me, is a fan of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation possibly still cries laughing when they select their tree and it is just massive and far too big for their house.  Anyway, height and width are important because buying a tree that is too high or too small and then to wide or not wide enough can ruin your Christmas theme. 

For me the past part of buying a tree is decorating it and each year, I always ensure to buy at least one new baubel that has some meaning to it.  This year that baubel comes from EuroDisney where I have been for a week with my family and it serves as quite a reminder. I know a lot of people like colour themes and matching items, but just sometimes, it is good to go with yoour gut and decorate that tree so it isn't instagram or pinterest worthy, but is done for you and how you want it.

From L to R Top Linea Flamingo With Presents Decoration £5.40, Linea Super Dog Decoration £8.40, Cat in a Santa Hat Decoration £6,  From L to R bottom - Linea Santa Pug Decoration £8.40, Unicorn purple Christmas decoration £4, Linea Bat Dog Decoration £8.40

I am really looking forward to seeing how you all decorate your homes, from the instram/Pinterest worthy looks to the more wild and wacky ideas that you might have.  For me, I have decided on an artificial tree for convenience and the fact I have 3 cats who will no doubt attempt to trash and climb whatever it is I have bought!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Beauty Advent Calendars STILL Available

One question I am asked quite a lot is which Beauty Advent Calendars are still available to buy. Naturally many of them sold out within a matter of hours, days and weeks but there are still some available which are amazing and here they are:

• Estee Lauder Holiday Countdown Advent Calendar - £205. Start each day with a little luxury, including 24 beauty surprises from our best-selling skincare, makeup and fragrance. Available now but limited stock 
• Makeup Revolution - £30 and available now in Superdrug, this Advent Calendar features lipglosses, lipsticks, a primer, face brush, strobe cream, eyeshadows, highlighters, baked blushes and a whole lot more. A pretty impressive feature and one whose price keeps changing so grab it quick!
• Tanya Burr 12 Days Of Christmas – £25 and it has 12 doors and behind each one, you will find lots of festive goodies from a Christmas Stocking Matte Lip to Sleigh Bells Nail Polish, Iced Glitter Liner, Treasured Glitter Liner and Berry Pavlova Lip Gloss to name but a few. This Calendar is available now from Superdrug.
• Sanctuary Spa - £25. Let Go Days of Christmas Advent Calendar is packed with 25 pampering products, from creamy bath soaks to cleansing facial products such as the Thermal Detox Mask and scented candles. Available from Boots and boots.com.
• Cheeky Nails Advent Calendar – £50 and is for nail polish lovers. Cheeky nails, if you have never heard of them, are the sister brand to Cowshed and inside this Calendar, you will find 24 x 5ml with long-lasting, quick-drying and high-shine formulas in an array of shades. It is available to buy now from www.urcheeky.com.
• Ghost - £25. If you're a fan of Ghost fragrances then this 12 days of Christmas calendar, is for you because behind each door are mini scents and perfumed beauty treats. Exclusive to Superdrug and is available anytime now.
• Ciaté Mini Mani Month - £49 and is the second nail polish lovers dream advent calendar. Inside you will find 24 treats which includes 18 bottles of Ciaté mini paint pots and 1 full-size polish and this includes 4 new and exclusive shades and a limited edition surprise. There is also a treatment and two nail toppers and a sneak peek at a new nail care superhero ‘Nail Saviour’. Ciaté Mini Man Month is available from October at www.ciatelondon.com
• Dirty Works - £15. If like me you are a fan of Dirty Works then this is the one for you. Twenty Four doors to open with lots of little treats. Available in Sainsbury's From November!
• Technic Cube - This is the first of two offerings from Technic by way of Advent Calendars and at £20 you will find a selection of products from the range behind 24 doors. Available now from Superdrug.
• ASOS - £50. This year ASOS have decided to join the game with a Beauty Calendar which contains 24 products and features skincare, make-up and hair care from brands such as Nip + Fab, Yes To, CowShed, Dermalogica, Elemis and Philosophy. Contents are worth £175 and it is available now right.
• Charlotte Tilbury - £150 this is a 12 drawer calendar it is pretty stunning to see and as someone who owns nothing from the range (bad blogger) it looks like a Calendar to own and a perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the brand. Watch out on the official website for the release date in October.
• Molton Brown Scented Luxuries - £150 and available now. This Advent Calendar with Molton Brown and with 24 doors to open you will find some lovely mini versions of both & Shower Gels, Body Lotions, Body Polishes, Hand Washes, Candles and a Hair Mask to name but a few. Available now right.
• Paul & Joe - £56. I love Paul & Joe products and their beautiful packaging, so this was a delight to see. With 24 windows to open, oddly there are only 6 products hidden behind the doors so it feels like one of those Kinder egg challenges to build the items. That said it is really lovely illustrated. Will be available in November from ASOS.
• Lush- £52.95. Now, this is a beauty of a calendar and one for all the Lush fans out there right now. Packed with some of my Lush favourites such as Candy Mountain, Snow Angel and The Christmas Penguin. Available NOW.
• NYX - £60. I think this is quite an amazing Calendar to try and grasp, especially if like me your local Boots don't bother to ever tidy up the NYX counter and it looks like someone has tried absolutely every product on. Available from Boots and Boots.com later this month it will include long-lasting lip colours and eyeshadows ideal for the festive season.
• Rodial - £100. This 12 Days of Magic Advent Calendar is worth £200. It contains 12 of Rodials beauty heroes, from our bestselling wrinkle plumping and skin rejuvenating Bee Venom Moisturiser through to a full-sized Lip Liner. Available right now.
• Vintage Cosmetics Company Calendar- £89 at John Lewis. Count down to Christmas Day with this fabulous selection of 24 full-size beauty treats from Vintage Cosmetics Company, all housed in a beautifully illustrated calendar box. Snap one up for yourself and get one for a fellow beauty lover, so you both can bring in the festive season in style.
• The Body Shop 24 Happy Days - Well The Body Shop never do things by half do they? This year there is a choice of 3 Calendars which range in price from £60, to £80 to £99. Inside each calendar will be 24 Body Shop products which include the Spiced Apple shower Gel, Vitamin E Moisture Cream, Chamomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, Shea Lip Butter, White bath gloves and an eye shadow brush to name just a few. Available from November from The Body Shop
• Nuxe 10 Beauty Treasures - £49. Give the gift of Nuxe skincare and body care with these 10 Beauty Treasures. Includes a range of products such as the Nuxellence Eclat (15ml), Crème Fraiche de Beaute (15ml), Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream (15ml) and the divine Huile Prodigieuse Oil (10ml). Available from Marks & Spencers so keep an eye out.
• Arran Aromatics - £45 and available via John Lewis. Step through the delicate frost to discover a secret escape, an unspoiled space within Arran's winter landscapes. Cherish the moments of the 2016 holiday season with this unique limited edition Advent Calendar. Filled with 24 luxurious treats from candles to shower gels and much more, this fabulously-festive advent calendar is the perfect way to share the joy of the season with those in need of a little pre-Christmas pampering.
• Oh K! Oh K! Advent Calendar - £18. One for the Korean Beauty lovers with this 12 days of Beauty calendar. It features Nail varnish / Eye shadow / Lip Gloss / Lip Balm / Nail Stickers and more and is available now.

Have you seen a calendar that has taken your fancy from this lot?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise