Balance Active Formula Dragon’s Blood Range

Balance Active Formula Dragon’s Blood Range is the new kid on the block and it features three products which I have been using over the past few weeks. Those products are a Lifting Serum, Lifting Cream and Eye Lift Balm all of which work together to in essence provide the ideal all-in-one skincare range. Admittedly I jumped at the chance to try these because of the words 'Dragon's Blood'. I love products which sound slightly weird, have odd ingredients and capture the imagination and if you are a regular reader of my blog, then you will know that Bee Venom, Snake Venom and other such ingredients have excited me a lot.

These products all contain Dragon’s Blood Extract and 3% Liftonin™-Xpress, an innovative active and break-through ingredient that helps the skin look instantly lifted and tightened. It absorbs fast and cools the skin on application. Naturally Dragon's Blood isn't the blood of a Dragon, but it is the sap from the Croton lechleri tree which is also known as the ‘Dragon’ Tree when translated. The resin or sap in question is red hence the term Dragon's Blood and it forms protective film on skin to protect against environmental aggressors.

The first of the three products is Dragon's Blood Eye Lift Balm – This balm claims to instantly lift and tighten the skin around the eye area, whilst reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The balm itself is a lightweight and non-greasy formula which is easily applied to the under-eye area both during the morning and the evening. I don't (thankfully) yet have any wrinkles around my eyes, but the formula is incredibly hydrating and refreshing.

The Dragon's Blood Lifting Serum is my favourite product of the three - Again the serum contains Dragon's Blood Extract and 3% Liftonin-Xpress to leave skin looking firmer and lifted. Helpfully the serum comes inside a bottle with pipette which makes using it much easier. I distribute the serum onto the palm of my hand and apply it to my face and neck before using my moisturising cream both in the morning and the evening.

The final part of this skincare trio is the Dragon's Blood Lifting Cream - Again featuring Dragon's Blood Extract and 2& Liftonin-Xpress, the skin feels smoother and appears lifted and tightened. This has become the final part of my skincare regime and is applied both morning and evening after using both the Eye Lift Balm and Lifting Serum.  The cream is really lightweight and absorbs easily into the skin without leaving behind any greasy residue.

As someone in my 30's taking care of my skin has already be one of my top priorities, to be honest even in my teens I was taking care of my skin.  The three of these products together work incredibly well and when I saw the price, I was incredibly shocked because at £3.99 they perform just as well as similar products with similar ingredients and right now you can purchase all three of these for just £1.97 right here.

All products are light-weight and non-greasy, suitable for all skin types and parabens free.

The Useful Christmas Gift Ideas for Bloggers

Have you got a friend who is a blogger, or is one of your friends a blogger and you are currently scratching your head debating what you can buy them to make life a little easier?  Well I have a great list right here that could just help you!

One item that most bloggers will own is a camera, now whether that is a Compact, an SLR Camera, a Bridge Camera, the cult must have Olympus Pen, the Nikon CoolPix, a Fujifilm Instamax or even just an iPhone camera, all of these terms will be words you have come across in your lifetime of blogging. There is no doubt a camera is a must have item for any blogger and if you are thinking of buying one for yourself or someone else, you will be forever in someones favour.  This gift idea list is mainly centered around items for cameras with a few extra add-ons, it might be that you cannot afford to buy a new camera, but can buy something extra to make that unwanted and unloved camera because loved and very much wanted again.

1. Bloggersphere Magazine - This magazine is an internationally distributed print publication written by bloggers for the blogging and social media community. It is split into six main sections (each edited by an influential blogger): beauty, fashion, food, travel, lifestyle and photography. I really enjoy reading this magazine and whilst it is now available to buy in some WHSmith stores and online, you could buy a subscription as a gift right here.

2. Amzdeal Portable Camera Photo Studio Box Light Lighting - Days without natural light are a constant pain in the backside for bloggers and it used to drive me insane until I got one of these portable studio boxes. I love that it comes with an array of backgrounds, a tripod for your camera, the studio tent, two lights and a hand carry case for it all to be stored in, so even if you are short of space, this is a great product to have and it can be found here.

3. Anker Astro Portable Charger - This is quite possibly the best item I have ever bought for my iPhone. If you are social media crazy and can't go a few minutes without tweeting, Instagramming, watching and recording for Periscope or even Snapchatting then your phone battery is not going to last the day.  This portable charger is ideal for carrying around with you and you can find it here.

4. Hama Star 61 Tripod - If you Vlog and Youtube, a tripod is a must have item, if you take photos then a tripod is a great item to have, I am not too sure that I could now take any photo without a tripod and get the look I am wanting for my photos and if it is something you have been debating buying but don't want to splash out lots of money, this one is a bargain and is right here.

5. Queen of Blogs Mug - Whether you drink tea, coffee, hot chocolate and so on, a mug can be a great gift and this one more so with it's apt slogan 'Queen of Bloggers' which I also think goes well with my blog name and would also make a great secret santa gift.  Found on Amazon right here.

6. Blog Planner - The Badass Blog Planner is Your guide to defining your purpose, creating clarity, and building a year of killer content. This Planner includes worksheets to evaluate and plan blog content, social media posts, products and services, email newsletters, marketing, advertising, your budget, and website design. No more late-night post idea panic or stressing over social media! I think this sounds like pretty a pretty good read and a quite handy go to guide to have and it is available right here.

7. Foldio - The Portable Studio Box, Foldable Light Box for Smartphone Photography.  This is quite possibly one of the coolest items I have come across to date.  I am sure everyone uses Instagram and if you are short of space within your home, then this could just become your best friend.  It is a Smartphone version of the portable studio already mentioned within this post and is impossibly cute, an amazing idea (why did I not think of this) and could quite possibly be a huge game changer with Instagram.  It can be found right here.

8. Camera Light - I was given this light 6 months ago and it is an item I use all of the time in the darker months.  If you need to add just a bit more light to your photos and don't need the whole set up of a studio, this light does just that. Readily available right here.

9. Notebooks - As a blogger I can never ever have too many notebooks. I have notebooks of all shapes and sizes and I find them handy for list writing, idea jotting, blog post details and often when I am on the go and think. My current favourite notebook happens to be this Happy Jackson Green A5 Thoughts And Doodles Notebook which I think it is perfect for what I need it for.

10. Blog Backgrounds - Whether you use the outdoors for that perfect photo shot or props inside, did you knwo your local hardware and DIY store might be a little treasure trove of ideas and help too? Wallpaper samples, Floor Tiles and even Wooden Floor Samples can really help bring those photos to life and it is always worth going to look.

So there you have it.  My helpful guide to useful gifts for bloggers, which contain all of the items I think would be useful.

As a blogger reading this, what items would you want to see on a gift list?

*collaboration