Secret Valentine with Hotel Chocolat

Just over a week ago, I received an email last to let me know that:

Your blogger pal has asked me to send you something delicious from the Hotel Chocolat Valentines range to enjoy this Valentine’s Day and it would be my pleasure to do just that.
If you’re dying to know who your Valentine is, don’t worry! All will be revealed when you receive your chocolates.

So when this huge box turned up at home, it felt as though someone had sent me the entire Hotel Chocolat store. Anyway, eager to find out who my blogger pal was, I looked inside to find a card which said: 

So the lovely Laura from Petit-Moi bigworld was the person behind this. Laura and I chat most days about everything, not always blog related I have to admit, but it is a friendship that I really value and being sent this gift really put a smile on my face.

Inside the box was this huge gift bag, which contained the following gifts:

The Sleekster Valentines Selection which contains 27 heart-shaped chocolates filled with lovingly soft centres, including the Caramel Dizzy Praline and Balsamic Caramel - yes my mouth was watering as I was typing this description. Unsurprisingly they taste just absolutely amazing and I just cannot pick a favourite, there is something for everyone. 

Whether you like a Zingy lemon and red berries mellowed in a light and creamy white chocolate truffle, a rare cocoa truffle with natural notes of raspberries and cherries and a whisper of coffee, a Light London dry gin truffle with plenty of juniper notes and fresh citrus zing or The silkiest, smoothest dark hazelnut praline in mellow caramel chocolate, you will struggle to decide which chocolate to eat first.

If that wasn't enough there was also a small box of chocolates called Wink Wink which has the following description - "Give someone a wink and a nudge in the right direction this Valentine’s Day, with this pack of five sweethearts, cast in deep, intense 70% dark chocolate. Perfect for leaving on pillows, desks, or popping into your beau’s bag for a bit of flirtatious fun".   Well no one will be getting any of these and I won't be leaving them as gifts because I am not good at sharing and I might have already eaten them - oops!

If none of those take your fancy, then there is an entire section dedicated to Valentines Day. Thank you Laura and Hotel Chocolat for choosing me to be one of your #HotelChocolatValentines

Birchbox Slimbox

I love beauty boxes, there is something quite exciting about getting home from work to find a box waiting for you either on the doorstep. However,  more often than not,you get home to be greeted with the "sorry you were out" card knowing that. You dare to look on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or your blog reading list, everyone will have their box and will be merrily posting about it. So Birchbox have decided that to save us all from having to wait that extra 12/24 hours extra waiting should it your box be at the sorting office because they are introducing Slimbox!

So, the idea of Slimbox is that instead of the regular box, this one has been slimmed down to postbox size which means even with the outer packaging, it will fit through most standard sized letter boxes and it is so well made, it remains in tact having come through your letter box.  As you can see it has most definitely been slimmed if you look at the difference between the box I had in January and this one!  

So, inside your Slimbox, you still get your five/six decent sized sample products and within this box, which I have to say is just brilliant, the contents are: as follows:

T London Darjeeling Hand and Body Lotion - A light, silky, floral come citrus body lotion which smells absolutely delightful. Inspired by the delicate, reviving aroma of Darjeeling tea, this silky-soft lotion is packed with jojoba and aloe oils to moisturise and the subtle fragrance of Darjeeling to lift the spirits and renew the skin. This is a 50ml size which is brilliant.

Liz Earle Beauty Co Botanical Shine Shampoo - I am pretty new to the world of Liz Earle, so I am excited to see this product within the box.  Said to include West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, this shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate.  This again is a 50ml sized bottle and I cannot wait to try it.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - I am a huge fan of Caudalie products, especially the oils, so this is a product I am looking forward to trying. Described as being an oil-free serum which uses powerful grape-derived viniferine to promote even tone and a glowing complexion; fading the look of pesky dark spots and preventing them from making an unwelcome appearance. It is perfect for all skin types and the luxe formula is free of irritating ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals. This is a 10ml sample.

the Balm Cindy Lou Manizer - this is a product I have heard and read a lot about and have never tried, so whilst it is quite a small sample, I am really looking forward to giving it a try.  Described as being a three-in-one highlighter, eyeshadow, and all-over shimmer it uses light-reflecting silica particles conceal blemishes and fine lines, while the honey colour leaves a sheer wash of shimmer.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black is the final product in the box and it is a full sized product worth £11.  Not a brand I have heard of before but it is a kohl pencil which is described as being a luxe, creamy liners deliver bold color that lasts and lasts. 

The final item in the Slimbox is from The Chia Co and it is a sachet of Oats and Chia. Not something I have every tried and I see so many people adding Chia seeds to everything that I can now find out what all the fuss is about. They come in a range of three flavours which are Banana and Mango, Apple and Spice or Mixed Berry which is the option I have.  The description is "Wholegrain oats and sun ripened chia are blended with the finest quality fruit and virgin coconut oil to give our ‘just add hot water’ Oats+Chia a creamy, dairy-free texture". 

So there you have it, the very first Slimbox which I think is just absolutely brilliant. It is packed full of brilliant products, all of which I have never used before, so it is even more exciting and the packaging is just brilliant, no more trips to the sorting office! Regular subscribers of Birchbox can opt to have their February box as a Slimbox. Birchbox costs £12.95 per month and this included postage and packaging.

What do you think to Slimbox? Are you wanting to sign up/swap your box over to it?

YOSO Heated Eyelash Curler

Just before Christmas The Beauty Crowd was kind enough to send me the YOSO heated eyelash curler to try. Now I don't know about you, but I have zillions of pairs of eyelash curlers only for them to go blunt, not work or do a job which could be considered alright. I always have a pair in my main makeup bag, but never carry a pair around with me as they are quite bulky, but, when I saw this product, I was quite intrigued not only by its size but if it was in fact amazing, I could carry it around with me.

The YOSO Heated Eyelash Curler costs just £15.99 to purchase and before I go any further with this review, I am going to say that they are worth every penny! I have loved using them and here is why. Whilst being battery operated, the gold wand is slim and lightweight to hold not to mention easy to use. It is accompanied by an extensive instruction manual which details evrything you need to know about your eyelash curler. There are three parts to this curler. One side of the wand features a comb and the opposote side is the heater, then on too of the wand is a smaller heater which is designed to get to those hard to reach lashes in the corner of your eyes. All these parts working together to give you fluttering eyelashes.

YOSO say: This heated eyelash curler creates a dramatic uplift and a long lasting curl for your lashes. The main heater allows lashes to be swept up and curled, whilst the unique small point heater tackles the tricky corner lashes for maximised dramatic volume. Finish the look by combing through to add precise definition. The compact and slim design makes this beauty pen a suitable addition to any make-up bag and also features a handy heat indicator, letting you know when the pen is ready to use. The YOSO LASHES will ensure your eyelashes stay defined and curled for longer than usual; perfect for your special night out or simply to keep you looking bright eyed through a busy day.

Once you have set up your wand, it takes around a minute to heat up and at the top of the wand there is a purple spot which changes colour to alert you to the fact it is ready to use and if you are holding the wand in your hand, you should feel it become slightly warm, obviously as it going to go near your eye, we are not talking GHD temperatures. 

So, once it is warm the instructions tell you to use the comb as close as you can to the roots of your lashes for around 3 seconds and turn it 90 degrees outwards, now I was never any good at maths, but I use the wand by using the comb side first to brush my lashes, then as I turn the comb over to the heated side, rather than dwell on the 90 degrees, turn it slightly at a right angle so I it feels as though I am lifting my lashes, hold it for a few seconds and then move to my other eye.

It takes 4-5 minutes the first time you use it and then with a bit of practice and a lot less faffing (a subject I excel at) you can be done in a couple of minutes. I personally think it takes the same amount of time to use as it does a normal eyelash curler once heated up and for me it does a far better job and poses less of a risk of ripping or cutting off your eyelashes, as I've read about some people doing.

Once you have finished using the eyelash curler, you should find that the results last pretty much all day and if you are going out in an evening because the wand is so lightweight, you can just repeat the process if you feel it is necessary. Naturally, my photos show results without adding mascara which is really where you can see the difference, I just ran the comb through my eyelashes once and then added some heat. This for me is the perfect little gadget, I am hopeless with false eyelashes and do find some of them quite creepy, I'm far too impatient to sit and attempt to stick things to my eyes, so this is a happy medium because I get the look that I want.

You can get your own from The Beauty Crowd and at only £15.99 and it is an absolute bargain.

Do you use a gadget like this?

Nakd!

How many of you hit a slump around 10.30-11am when sat at your desk? Suddenly in need of a quick sugar fix, even though you have had your breakfast? Yep me too and whilst I try not to reach for the biscuits or a slice of cake, but more often than not I do.  So, when I was very kindly sent a box of Nakd** bars to try, I was more than eager to give them a go.

Nakd bars are described as being protein bars which are also :

• Dairy free
• Wheat and gluten free
• Vegan friendly
• Low in saturated fats
• Free from added sugar and syrups
• GM Free
• Kosher

All of which on reflection doesn't sound that exciting does it, but they come in a range of different flavours and I (well BeautyKingUK) have been slowly making my way through each one.

"Nākd bars and snacks are a great way to eat nutritious, healthy food without compromising on taste! Our snack bars are made from yummy natural ingredients such as fruits and nuts which are 'smooshed' together for you into a handy bar. Wheat and dairy free, with no added sugars or hidden extras. Get Nakd today!"

The box I have was filled with a selection of Nakd bars and I thought I would share some of my favcourites from the selection

Bakewell Tart - Now I personally cannot stand Marzipan which is odd because I love almonds and I love Bakewell Tarts. This bar was described as follows "We have taken the classic dessert and given it the Nakd treatment, resulting in a snack bar that's totally tasty and good for you too! This Bakewell tart bar features the sweet, deep tang of dates and raisins combined with a hint of shortcrust, rounded off with a moist and nutty texture". It contains date paste (49%), cashew nuts (35%) raisins (16%) and natural flavour.  The taste is as you would expect, just like a Bakewell Tart but without the pastry, quite odd to describe really, but very tasty and it definitely helps keep me out of the biscuit jar.

Cafe Mocha - This one took me a few bites to get used to it because whilst it is a mixture of coffee and chocolate tasting, the raisins felt a bit odd, but you get used to them and there is this really rich aroma, the sort of scent you get from walking into Costa.  The actual description of this bar is as follows "Do you love the taste of smooth rich coffee mixed with a delicious chocolaty flavour? This gorgeous coffee flavoured snack is different to other cereal bars out there – it’s made from all natural ingredients and tastes like nothing you’ve tried before. Imagine the wonderfully rich aroma of freshly made cappuccino infused with chocolatey mocha, and you’ll get some idea of what Nakd Caffé Mocha is like. Why not try one yourself?"  This bar is made with just dates (55%), cashew nuts (26%), raisins (12%), cocoa (6%) and natural flavourings.

Cocoa Mint - This is my favourite of all the Nakd Cocoa bars and I am a huge fan of mint flavoured chocolate. The mint within this bar is immediately noticeable as is the cocoa, together they taste is one I have really enjoyed. This bar is described as "This bar has all of the rich gorgeousness of cocoa combined with a subtle zing of natural mint flavour. Soft and pleasantly smooth, this is sure to satisfy chocolate cravings whilst still delivering all the goodness of fruit and nuts in one handy, healthy bar. Need an easy snack to keep you going? Nakd Cocoa Mint loves to live in lunchboxes and can be popped into pockets for between meals. Try it yourself – we think you’ll find its super delicious! As with other bars, this one is again made with Dates (48%), Cashews (29%), Raisins (17%), Cocoa (6%), natural flavour

The rest of the bars within the box are shown above and the ones which are missing were Gingerbread, and Bakewell Tart which proved very popular with the Hubs, who would not usually ever in a million years pick up anything like this at all, so I am mighty impressed. 

If you are looking for something healthy to snack on, then I would suggest trying the Nakd bars, they are really good at dealing with hunger pangs, keeping your fingers out of the biscuit jar and best of all - they are good for you!!

To purchase them places like Whole Foods, Natural Balance Foods and similar places sell them.

Have you ever tried a Nakd bar?