Beauty Boxes - Do you need them?

This coming week on my blog I am going to devote each day to a different Beauty Box. Why? Well they are a big part of the bloggers blogging life for me and they take me through a roller coaster of emotions each month/quarter when they are due to arrive or when I am notified by email I need to do some product choosing. But do we need them?

When I first stated blogging, I had only ever heard of Glossybox because some non-blogging friends has subscribed and they raved about how good it was, so I hopped aboard the bandwagon and now over a year later, I still subscribe.  Now there are more and more of these boxes coming onto the market and I have tried some amazing ones, many as a one off and some as I have mentioned I subscribe too.   Glossybox, Birchbox, Look Fantastic box, Wantable Box, You Discovery, My Little Box, Latest in Beauty, Love Lula Box, SoukSouk, Memebox, Fragrance Shop Discovery Club and Love Me Beauty to name all of the ones off the top of my head.  I have no doubt there are more, so if you subscribe to others, please do let me know.  

So why are they important to me? As I have said, it is all about those roller coaster of emotions when you know that something is on its way.  The one box I always know the contents of is You Discovery Beauty box because, unlike others, you get to choose two items from a list of products.  I am glad I get to do this with one box because, let's me honest, so beauty boxes have been shockingly bad and their contents really really awful, so knowing I am getting two products I have chosen, is a relief but still exciting at the same time.  The word excitement is also quite important with these boxes.  Not knowing what you are going to get within these boxes is exciting, even if your box turns out to be a bit rubbish, it is exciting until you unwrap it, the deflation afterwards is another emotion to deal with as well, the whole screwing up your top lip to form an impression of Elvis is something I have done on more occasions than I care to remember, but I still subscribe!  

The other reason I subscribe is because I love beauty products - whether they are for skincare, hair care, body care, foot care, face care, make-up, nail polish or beauty tools to name but a few things, I love them, want them and relish trying them out.  A lot of the products I have received over time are ones I probably would never have tried, had I not been sent it in a beauty box, on the reverse, I have come across products I would never use again.  So there is always a 50/50 chance with these boxes that you like or hate the enclosures.

My own experience with the boxes I have had, has been more positive than negative.  The brands I have come across, such as Caudalie, Rodial, Dr Jart+ and one of my holy grail products Dr Lipp Nipple Balm to name some of them.  

As always, people will have their own views on whether or not here boxes are worth the money we pay for them and how much better that money could be spent and I am genuinely interested in all of those views.  This week you will be seeing reviews on Birchbox, Glossybox, You Beauty, Look Fantastic Box and a new box which I was lucky enough to attend the launch of this week and I would love to know your thoughts on each and everyone of them and if there is a box you absolutely would recommend singing up too!

As for whether or not we need them, well probably not, but they are a bit of fun, you never know what you might come across and the rollercoaster of emotions you feel whilst waiting for the impending arrival is often worth every penny!  Do you agree?

So do you subscribe to Beauty Boxes? Do you have a favourite? 

Is there one you really want to try?

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Candle

I have recently become a massive fan of Aromatherapy Associates, starting from the time I had my hot stone muscle massage. From the bath and shower oils to their massage oils, I can pretty much tell you it was love at first try. Then the Inner Strength Candle** came into my life and well, wow!

I am a huge candle fan, I've said this a million times on my blog and I will probably keep on saying it, but I find them incredibly relaxing. There is something about watching the flame dancing about once it is alight that makes me feel suddenly relaxed and I like to have a candle alight in whichever of the rooms I am in, whether that is watching TV in the lounge, having a long hot soak or even reading a book in bed, I will always have a candle alight.

Described as follows:

"Evoke a sense of calm and inner peace to your surroundings with the fortifying combination of frankincense and cardamom to inspire. Elegantly designed and beautifully embellished, this candle will create an atmosphere to uplift the senses in any room. Our candles are hand-poured in the United Kingdom and made from the highest quality soy wax with unbleached cotton wicks. 100% GM free".

So being created to evoke a sense of calm and inner peace to your surrounding, the ingredients used are frankincense and cardamom. Frankincense is said to soothe and calm the mind, slows down and deepens breathing and is excellent for use when meditating. It also helps to calm anxiety and obsessive states linked to the past.  Cardamom leaves you feeling refreshed, invigorated and is known for its uplifting and refreshing properties.

As soon as you open the lovely bright purple coloured box, the scent immediately comes to life, it is one of those you breathe in deeply as soon as you get sense of it.  As soon as the candle is alight, that very same fragrance instantly surrounds you, almost enveloping you within and you get a sudden sense of calm and as it drifts throughout you home, the scent is simply wonderful and even when the flame has been extinguished, the scent lingers for a good few hours afterwards.

If you haven't used on of these candles before, they are all poured by hand with soy wax and the wicks are unbleached cotton. The burn time is a rather impressive 40 hours and as you can see it is presented in an elegantly designed and embellished frosted glass jar.

If you are looking for a candle which can transport you from a stressful day, week or are simply in need of some relaxation time, I cannot recommend this candle highly enough, it does everything it states it will do and more and is totally and utterly heavenly.

You can purchase this Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Candle for £35 and there are four others within the range which include - Relax, Revive and Indulge and every one of them sounds as appealing and amazing as this one.

Are you a fan of candles?  Do you use them to relax?

10% of proceeds from each sale of this candle will be donated to the charity, Defence Against Cancer.

Fight The Flake: Best Skincare Products to Combat Dry Skin

We all suffer from dry skin at some point, whether its dry hands and face from the cold winter months, or dry legs from long days spent in the sunshine, it’s not a huge issue but it is something you should look to banish in order to keep your skin looking young and feeling smooth and supple.

This post written by the team at Mrs Pharamcy, a leading UK-based online chemist, talks you through ways to keep your skin healthy and hydrated as well as an insight into some of the best products available to help you combat your dry skin.

To kick start your journey to healthier skin, here are a few things you can do to improve your skin’s condition:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat foods rich in omega-3 such as fish and nuts
• Limit your hot showers; hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. Take shorter, warm showers instead
• Use a gentle cleanser once a day to carefully clean your skin of any impurities

Moisturise your skin as soon as you get out of the shower. The best time to apply moisturiser is when your skin is still moist, simply pat yourself dry with a clean towel before applying, this way your skin is still damp and will absorb more of the moisturiser

You’ll also need a good quality moisturiser that works for you - the first stage of looking for a moisturiser that will help dry skin is to check what’s in the products you’re buying. There are certain ingredients that are excellent for dry skin such as ceramides, dimethicone and glycerine - these soothe the skin and help it to retain water. Lanolin, petroleum jelly and mineral oils do a similar job but these help you hold onto the water the skin absorbs when you take a shower or bath.

There are an unending number of products on the market designed to target dry skin, here are a few handpicked products perfect for hydrating your skin:

Eau Thermale Avène XeraCalm A.D


The French dermo-cosmetic brand is well best known for its use of Avène Thermal spring water which is clinically proven to soothe skin and reduce irritation. A relatively new addition to the Avène collection is the XeraCalm AD range, which includes a balm, cream and cleansing oil and has been specifically designed to relieve moderate dryness as well as soothing the skin. Formulated with fewer ingredients as possible, its fragrance and paraben free, making it safe for babies, children and adults.

QV Moisturising Cream

QV Cream helps to seal in the skin’s natural moisture by acting as a protective barrier, it also has squalene in it which is a natural ingredient found within the oil in our skin. The whole range is designed for those areas that are prone to dryness such as your hands, elbows and knees and the best part is its fragrance free and ideal for sensitive skin.

Eucerin Daily Replenishing Lotion

The Eucerin range is packed full of specialised products for dry skin, this moisturising lotion is ideal for daily use, containing sunflower oil, it nourishes your skin and much like the QV cream, it helps maintain your skin’s natural barrier. Eucerin also have a replenishing, night face cream, if your skin often feels tight this one would be a perfect choice for you. Eucerin are currently giving away free samples, and you can pick between three products depending on your skin’s needs. You’ll also find the entire Eucerin range online at Mistrys Pharmacy.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to combatting dry skin issues is that once you’ve got it under control, you must stick to your skincare regime to keep your skin looking and feeling great!





*Guest post by Mistrys Pharmacy

The Autumn Tag 2014

As you know, the lovely Georgina from Makeup-Pixi3 loves her seasonal tags and with Autumn being her favourite season of the year, a new one for 2014 has been created, so I thought I would.  If you're reading this, you're tagged!  If you tag me in the tweet when you share it, I'll RT it too :D

1.  Ok we're talking coffee's - what's your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks/Costa/Cafe Nero etc?

I gave up coffee almost a year ago now and tea as well to try and not be so dependent on it to get me through the day.  So now I drink a few fruit teas and things like Jasmine tea, the decaffeinated version.  So for me this Autumn, I am going to be looking forward to all of the hot chocolates which Starbucks and Costa have on offer to tempt me in!

2.  Accessories - what do you opt for, scarf, boots, gloves?

I like big chunky kit scarves for outdoors, but indoors I am a pretty girly scarf kind of girl.  I hardly ever wear gloves as ive got small hands and therefore hide them up the sleeves of my coat. Boots, I am a cowboy/biker boot kind of girl and I am yet to find some for this year!

3.  Music - what's your favourite music to listen to during Autumn?

My musical tastes don't change really. I am a rocker at heart and love bands like Queen, Five Finger Death Punch, 

4.  Perfume - what's your favourite scent for this time of year?

Bvlgari Pour Femme is one I always wear on special occasions, but I am absolutely loving DKNY perfumes right now and am intending to add my collection, as they are so wearable.

5.  Candles - what scents will you be burning this season?

I am currently burning Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Candle which is brilliant for relaxing after a hard day.  I am a huge candle fan and love to have something in each room.

6.  What do you love most about Autumn?

The dark nights drawing in and being able to get home, close the curtains, switch a lamp on and light some candles to sit back and relax.  I also love watching as the tress begin to loose their leaves and allowing my inner child to come out and collect conkers!

7.  Favourite makeup look?

Still a neutral girl with a pinky/nude lipstick.  I do however opt for darker nail polish, especially deep berry shades which I absolutely adore.

8.  What are you looking forward to most in Autumn?

Other than Halloween and Bonfire night, two dates I absolutely love, it will then soon be Christmas!  As soon as Autumn arrives, winter is banging on the door which means Christmas shopping, sparkles, roasted chestnuts!

Don't forget to tweet me your posts and mention Georgina as the creator of the tag :)  and also let me know if you have done it/ are doing it, so I can come and read your answers.