Parks London Cedarwood + Orange Spice Collection

At this time of year, it is fair to say some of the most beautifully scented candles are on sale and this is true of Parks London with their Cedarwood + Orange Spice Collection, which I am lucky enough to have tried.

Carol Symons founded Parks in 1989, at a time when the home fragrance industry only made scented candles with paraffin. Carols’ commitment to 100% natural wax led Parks to build the manufacturing facilities and develop the techniques they needed for naturals to outperform paraffin.  Still a family business, Parks has become the respected expert in manufacturing the highest quality, 100% natural wax candles and alcohol-free diffusers. 

The new Parks HOME collection is described as being "designed to re-define high quality home fragrance at an accessible price point" and each product contains alcohol-free diffusers, 100% sustainable natural wax, and Coreless CleanBurn™ technology. The new HOME Collection is guaranteed to have something for everyone; choose between Jasmine & Musk, Lemon Verbena, Cedarwood & Orange Spice, Wild Rosemary & Bergamot, and many, many more.

The Cedarwood & Orange Spice is the perfect scent for this time of year with its woody, spicy and sweet aroma which creates a warm scent.  I have both the candle (£25) and the accompanying Reed Diffuser (£25) which together are quite the force.

The candle, which has a burn time of around 40 hours, is made from 100% natural wax and is presented in a luxurious glass jar with a minimalist label, beautifully presented and it would make the most lovely gift. 

Once it is lit, the scent of  spicy clove, cinnamon, and sweet orange alongside the subtle richness of cedar and a few minutes after being alight, those scents begin to fill the room, bringing with it a warmness.  As soon as the candle is extinguished, that scent does linger for quite some time.

The  Cedarwood & Orange Spice Diffuser, which is 100ml should last between 4-6 weeks and it took has that same scent the of the candle, with the subtlety of cedar alongside spicy clove, cinnamon and sweet orange. 

It is 100% alcohol free and as soon as the reeds are in use, the scent comes to life whether or not it is used within the same room as the candle, it is just a wonderful scent, both complimenting one another.

The HOME collection by Parks is on sale now and with prices from £25, you are spoilt for choice as to which collection to try first.

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

Legology Air-Lite Contouring Cream

Legology is a brand which was founded by award winning beauty journalist, Kate Shapland and it is described as being the world’s only dedicated leg care brand, offering refined solutions that make a real difference to leg contours, comfort and care. 

Legology formulas are specifically designed to promote the lymph, the body’s own cleansing system, to reduce the toxins and trapped fluid that impact on leg beauty and health.  Alongside any foot care product, I am surprised there hasn't been something like this particular offering until now.

So, I was kindly sent a tub of Legology Air-Lite, a contouring cream which is described as being:

A powerful cream that improves the appearance of leg contours. Air-Lite targets areas of bumpiness and heaviness while delivering a feeling of improved lightness.

With a texture that is whipped like aerated meringue along with the most divine citrus scent, Air-Lite targets puffiness, tightness, and fatigue induced by fluid retention and as a result, refines the look of leg contours. Powered by the brand unique Lymphology Complex®, it contains two potent French complexes to support massage in helping to bring instant contour and comfort to legs. Similarly, the cream’s deep drainage properties also help reduce the appearance of cellulite by making skin look smoother and cleaner.

In other words, Air-Lite visibly improves the way legs look and feel and in their own words 'You’ll see a new silhouette and feel a lightness that makes you want to fly'.

This cream is packed full of amazing ingredients as you might expect given its claims and included within that list you will find:

• Caffeine: known for it’s potent anti-inflammatory properties and its a vasoconstrictor molecule which, can temporarily shrink blood vessels and as a result reduce puffiness.
• Goldenrod: not only known for it’s swelling reducing properties, it is also good for soothing swollen and puffiness in legs and ankles too.
• Butchers broom: known for evening out the skin tone as well as having cleansing properties.
• Lemon: known initially for it’s antioxidant and exfoliant properties, but it is also good for smoothing out and energising skin including bumpy areas found in cellulite.

Using this cream is really delightful because it gives you time to relax, unwind and massage those poor aching legs, which, at this time of year after all that walking whilst Christmas Shopping, is a good excuse to sit down and thank them.  The idea with this cream is that you apply it to your entire leg and use your thumbs to ‘push’ product up the backs of legs, gently massage behind knees, the sides of knees and thighs, really working the cream in, better still if you have the other half to do this for you!  The whole process should take less than five minutes.

Legology believe you should do this process once or twice a day after showeing to really see the benefits and for me, whilst I haven't stuck to the routine as religiously as I could have or should have done, I love the cooling sensation it imparts when being used and it does help with the fluid retention, which I have noticed, so I definitely need to stick with this cream!

Priced at £45 for a 100ml tube or £62 for a 175ml tub, it is an investment and a luxury, but one you need to try.

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

Buyagift - The gift for someone who has everything but wants nothing

If you are still mid-Christmas shop and with time running out to get things bought and wrapped, I have a handy solution for you to turn to.  

Right now, Buyagift has some amazing offers for absolutely anyone and everyone. Whether you like Afternoon tea, whisky tasting, driving super  cars, a massage, days out, pottery classes or even bungee jumping, there is so much choice.

Buyagift is a gift for everyone, as the buyer you can decide how much to spend on your allocated budget, which it is worth noting starts from as little as gifts at £10 and goes right up to those over £250.  Once your budget has been decided, you can then go one step further to determine who this gift is for - a girlfriend, husband, work colleague, your mum or even that hard to buy for relative who has everything and claims to want nothing. 

The website is also really easy to use and is really well laid out.  Once you have the basics as to who the gift is for and your budget, you could book that experience or, you could also book the experience box, the one I have is worth £99.99 and it includes a selection of over 4,695 amazing experiences to choose from, which I find incredible.  It is also perfect for that person who has everything and wants nothing because with this many options to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice.

The experience box comes packaged in a Buyagift box with a laminated sleeve. The inside that box you will find a booklet which contains all the experiences available for that price you choose, but those experiences are split up by region, so because you live in Yorkshire does not mean you have to choose something to do there, you can choose any experience you fancy. 

Also inside the box you will find a square card and on it is a printed unique voucher code and pin code with instructions on how to use them, which is further explained on the Buyagift website where you book everything you need.

We have just booked our experience which I will update and share on this post after the event!  But in the meantime, if you are stuck for ideas, Buyagift could just save the day!

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