Sunday 4 March 2018

Bathroom Re-Vamp

I spend hours and hours procrastinating on Pinterest and with my boards, I have designed my perfect house, the only problem being I live in a one bedroom flat in North London as opposed to an 18 bedroom mansion in the countryside.  That said, the one room of the house I spend a lot of time trying to relax in is the one room I hate the most - the bathroom.
Bathroom Re-Vamp
Whilst you won't be seeing any photos of my bathroom on my blog in its current state, we have been saving money in an attempt to finally be able to rid ourselves of horrid tiles, a weird shaped corner sink and a ceiling that definitely needs replacing and I am really looking forward to finally having a heated towel rail.  I know we all have little parts of our abode that we want to change and mine starts with the bathroom.  In my head, I know what I want my bathroom to look like, the colour scheme I want and the tiles that I really love but ultimately I would love somewhere to store my lotions, potions, gels and scrubs!

I have stalked pretty much every page of both Soak.com and Bathstore and have seen so many styles that I really like, some that I really don't like and some I would need to be convinced about but there is always room to compromise.  However, before any decisions are made, things that we do need to consider and that is the size of the bathroom, what realistically will fit in there and what will not.  I am told the first place to start is with the toilet, sounds dull and well it is, but the positioning of the toilet is dictated by the position of the soil pipe and once that has been decided you can plan your bathroom around that. I have measured every inch of my bathroom the old fashioned way with a tape measure, ruler and a piece of paper and transferred those measurements to the IKEA Bathroom Planning tool which is so easy to use and also free!
Bathroom Re-Vamp
Image of the Cruze Modern Shower Bath Suite used with permission from Victorian Plumbing
But what do I really want in my bathroom? Well, I have a list and due to the size of our bathroom, we cannot have both a bath and a shower.  A bath is an absolute must for me and so it will have to be a combination of the two together, as we have now.  So instead of shower curtains, the preference would be to have a shower screen and then the following:
  • A Heated Towel Rail because  cannot wait to get out of the bath and have a warm towel ready and waiting for me,
  • A sink which has space on or around it for the essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand soap and the misters shaving products,
  • A Bathroom Cabinet, but with a mirror.  I would love a mirror in my bathroom (the last one fell off the wall and shattered) rather than have to carry one with me every time,
  • The mister wants a shaving mirror because he has never owned one,
  • A Bath Rack - somewhere to put my chilled glass of wine, my book and some products I want to use whilst in the bath,
  • Storage - one thing I need without question is bathroom storage and not to just use my window ledge and a basket on the top of the toilet.
Bathroom Revamp


I have spent many hours playing with different bathroom layouts, different baths, shower settings, toilets and sinks and moving from site to site, I have finally narrowed my choice down to three different options.  Now all I need to do is persuade Beautykinguk that my choice is the right one (isn't it always?).

The tile search has also started, I don't want the entire bathroom tiled, I would prefer it to be just around the bath and then the floor with the walls painted white.  So picking tiles has been just as complicated as it was to choose a bathroom suite because the options and choices are just unlimited.  I looked online for advice and because my bathroom isn't that big, the advice I have read is to go for something light rather than dark to give that bigger space feeling, so with this in mind, I have narrowed my choice down to which for me is down to just a few options.

I literally cannot wait to see my bathroom transformed and I cannot wait to take my first bath in my brand spanking new one!  

Have you ever re-vamped your bathroom? Have you got any tips for me?













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

Friday 2 March 2018

Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder

As soon as the email hit my inbox to alert me to a Limited Edition Beauty Box from Estee Lauder the order went in quick as a flash because these boxes sell out so fast that I have missed the last few. The Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box is described as being the ultimate collection of pampering beauty products and exclusive offers to treat your Mum or someone special this Mother’s Day. Well that someone special is me this time, sorry Mum, but there are some products here I really want to try.
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Packed with products, this box has a value of over £95 but I got my hands on it for just £28, which to me seems like a bargain.  Inside the box there are eight products being showcased and they include iconic products from leading beauty brands such as Clinique, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Darphin and GLAMGLOW. So inside the box you will find: 

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, 7ml - Said to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without clogging pores or leaving skin greasy. 
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Transforms dull, dehydrated skin whilst you sleep to reveal a visibly smoother, luminous complexion
Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Eye Balm, 3ml - Described as being a richly nourishing, multi-action balm significantly improves visible firmness and elasticity around the eyes. 
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
It also works to reduce the look of lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. Leaves the eye area looking radiant.
Clinique Take The Day Off™ Cleansing Balm, 15ml - This is one product I really want to try as so many bloggers on my social media rave about it. 
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Described as being a lightweight cleanser that transforms from a solid balm to a liquid oil on contact.
MAC False Lashes Extreme, Black, 8g - Something I have never tried from MAC is a Mascara.  
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Described as being a mousse-like formula that defies gravity for a dramatically exaggerated, false lash effect, with the addition of pure Carbon Black pigment for a deep, intensified colour pay off.  This is full size.
Bobbi Brown Lip Color Sandwash Pink, 2.25g - Described as being an iconic creamy, semi-matte lipstick. 
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
If a Mauve Nude Rose shade is one for you, then this is a stunning lipstick and one I am chuffed to now own and of course, it is a really cute mini.
Aveda Hand Relief™ Moisturizing Creme, 40ml - Described as being an Incredibly rich moisture therapy soothes dry, chapped hands leaving them noticeably softer and smoother.
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
I am a huge hand cream addict and go through tubes of the stuff, ive never tried Aveda hand creams, so am looking forward to trying this.
Darphin Stimulskin Plus Divine Cream, 5ml - Said to have been designed for dry to very dry skin.
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
The rich Darphin Stimulskin Plus Multi-Corrective Divine Cream has four key benefits that all work to keep your skin looking its best.
GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD® TINGLEXFOLIATE TREATMENT, 15g - Using French Sea Clay, this is a ten-minute facial treatment that works to exfoliate, refine and revive radiance.
Cherish. Love. Indulge Beauty Box - Estee Lauder
I am incredibly impressed with the entire box.  It is packaged really nicely and it would make a great gift, especially for Mothers Day. It is packed with products that I really want to try and at £28 I think is exceptional value.  Did you manage to grab the box?


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

Thursday 1 March 2018

New Sleek Foundations

When Sleek launched their Lifeproof Foundations (review here) there was an impressive 24 shades available. Whether your skin is fair, Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Deep or Deep with pink, yellow, olive, neutral or even red undertones, Sleek have something for everyone. Using blurring and brightening technologies which help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and help your skin look even and shine-free, whilst imperfections are concealed, it promises to be sweat-proof whilst also being oil-free. It also gives a medium to full buildable coverage.
New Sleek Foundations
Making that launch go the extra mile and those 24 shade ranges continue, Sleek now brings to you not one but two new foundation formulas which not only accommodate all skin tones but also all skin types.

First up is Vitality, a foundation which it is claimed is officially here is make you and your skin feel hydrated.  I was surprised at how lightweight the formula was when I tried it but I do really like the semi-matte finish and the coverage it gives, which is light to medium.  Using a blend of lotus flower and water lily extracts which work to fight dehydration, there is again the use of soft-focus powders which smoothen the surface of the skin to give a more even looking complexion. 
New Sleek Foundations
New Sleek Foundations
An oil-free formula which helps ensure the dewy skin looks exactly that rather than an oil slick and it is easy to apply, it doesn't cling to dry skin and it doesn't settle on my skin in patches, an issue I have had with a few other foundations.

Launching alongside Vitality we have Creme to Powder and is described as being perfect for those who want the application control of a cream but the luxurious feel of a soft yet lightweight powder finish.   
New Sleek Foundations
New Sleek Foundations
Again this product is available in 24 shades and has an oil-free formula and on the skin, it literally glides on whether you use a brush, your fingers or my personal preference, a Beauty Blender.   I like to wear this Creme to Powder on days when I need a little more coverage and I like that I can wear it on its own or on top of my tinted moisturiser.

These two new formulas are available now and are priced at £8.99 each and helpfully HERE on the Sleek website, there is a little guide which helps you decide where on the colour shade spectrum you might just sit, whether you have cool, fair, neutral undertones.






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