SEWLOMAX SOS KIT

Did you Gran or your Mum ever explain to you the importance of having a safety pin in your handbag for emergencies, but you never listened and at times wished you had? For me, it is always something I intend to do, make up an emergency list of items I should have in my handbag(s) for those 'just in case' moments.  

Emma Lomax whom you may know better as SewLomax has a solution and has developed a whole range of emergency kits to tackle every problem imaginable and I was very kindly sent the SewLomax Gold Heart SOS Kit which is not just functional but super pretty too.

I love the gold design and think it really stands out.  The bag itself is really well made and the zip is really sturdy.  Inside the bag, which is really spacious there are quite a few items and it fits into my handbag really easily too.

A mirror which is encased in fabric to match the gold bag and it is a great size for and most definitely an essential that every bag needs.  There is also a mini hairbrush, lip balm, travel wipes, tweezers, a plaster, an emery board, a small sewing kit complete with needle, thread and some buttons, two kirby grips and a hair tie.

What I love about this kit is how much thought has gone into things you might need.  I for one am usually scrabbling around the bottom of my bag for a hair tie and a plaster, now I have them in one place and there is room for you to add other items too.

I think this is such a fantastic idea and it really is full of things that you might just need!  The SewLomax SOS Kit range in size and prices £20-£30 and you can see them all HERE

What do you think of these Sew Lomax SOS kits?  Are there particular items you keep in your handbags for emergencies?

June You Beauty Discovery Box - 'Beauty Hereos'

This month's You Beauty Discovery Box is themed 'Beauty Hereos' and the products selected are from some of the biggest brands in beauty, as well as the introduction of some lesser known brands. Choosing two products to go into my box was again quite difficult because the selection was once again so good!

In the box every month are at least two treats. This month we were treated to three treats which included:

• A packet of Urban Fruit which is described as being delicious baked fruit to curb on-the-go or desk based snack cravings. I have Magnificent Mango. 
• Two sachets of Clipper Tea of which one of Organic Green Tea and the other is Red Fruits & Aronia Berry
• Three handy Good To Go Anywhere wipes which are flushable and great for having in your bag.

When it came to the actual selections, there was a choice of skincare, make up and bodycare for product choices and brands such as Amie, Sanctuary Spa, Inika and Xen Tan are some of the brands to choose from. I decided to opt for two products that I had heard of but had never used.

Nude Skincare Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil (£9.50) is something I have had my eye for some time now, so I am delighted I was able to select it for my box. 

 I am a huge fan of facial oils and this one is described as being a skin saviour that refines and clarifies skin. Using Bakuchiol, nature’s alternative to retinol which is known to smooth and refine skin’s texture. Coleus root clarifies the complexion while antioxidant rich Rosemary and Thyme extracts help protect from environmental stresses. 

This fast-absorbing, ultra-sheer treatment oil revives and repairs skin with natural, healthy ingredients for results you can see.

The final item I chose is the Crown Brush C436 Mini Duo Fibre Blender (£7.39) which is the latest addition in the brands Duo Fibre Range, it has a slightly shorter head but is very soft and excellent for blending.

Due to the duo fibre blend of goat and synthetic hair, this brush is ideal for use with liquid, cream and powder. This brush is recommended for foundation application and/or concealer, and also to blend out areas of contour and highlight.

So that is this months box. It costs just £6.95 and look at the contents, isn't that just great value for money?  I would love to know if you also subscribe and what you chose from the list!

La Collection de Grasse Figuier & Osmanthus

I am quite picky when it comes to perfumes, I either like them or I don't and it is rare I come across one that I am on the fence about. When I was introduced to Figuier & Osmanthus which is L’Occitane’s newest addition to their La Collection De Grasse fragrance range, I immediately loved it. Inspired by and named after the famous town of Grasse in the South of France 'the world capital of perfumery'. 

Designed exclusively to celebrate L’Occitane’s 2015 Chelsea Flower Show Garden – ‘A Perfumer’s Garden in Grasse’ with the help of garden designer James Basson, for which they won the gold medal!
A unique and exclusive scent is described as being "a delicious mouth-watering fragrance that captures the essence of Provençal summertime, it unites the sun-warmed fig tree from Provence and the sparkling osmanthus from the Far East" and it is one I loved as soon as I was introduced to it earlier this month.

The fragrance opens with top notes of bergamot and blackcurrant and unsurprisingly there is also a ripe, fruity fig. The heart notes of fig leaves and the Osmanthus flower. Finally there is a warm base of cedar and musk.

As soon as I tried this in the Covent Garden L'Occitane store, I liked the scent. As soon as it is spritzed the warm fruity floral tones of the blackcurrant and fig are immediately noticeable with the cedar and musk also there lingering in the background. Once it has settled on the skin, it is those warm fruity floral tones which remain noticable and for me it is the perfect summery scent which on my skin lasts pretty much all day, I felt only a need to re-apply when leaving work to go on to a meeting, function or out to dinner just to top it up. 

Launched this month, Figuier & Osmanthus retails at £28 for 30ml which is great value for money and definitely a scent I would recommend.

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June Birchbox with French Sole

So June has arrived much quicker than I thought it would and that means I am only one month away from getting another year older (sobs).  To put a smile on my face though the June Birchbox has arrived and it is just so pretty.

This month Birchbox have collaborated with French Sole for this box which features the most stunning Bassett Allsorts kind of design which really jumps out at you and it is one of the brightest boxes I have seen from Birchbox so far.  French Sole is the flat show of choice for celebrities such as Poppy Delevigne and Olivia Palermo and are described as being comfy and chic!  If you want to get your hands on them, the check out the Birchbox flash sale on June 16th!

Inside this months box are products that are designed to help you make feel fresh faced, cool and down with it!

Firstly is the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner which is described as being a 'wonder spray detangler' which minimises frizz, safeguards colour and add shine.  The first thing I did was spritz it and it reminds me of Lee Stafford Poker Straight in scent, which I actually quite like, so I am looking forward to giving this a try.

The fabulous brand Cowshed are next with their Knackered Cow Relaxing Body Lotion.  I love Cowshed because whilst their product names a little bit tongue in cheek, everyone I have tried, I have loved.  Knackered Cow contains a lovely mix of essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus which are not only incredibly relaxing but also beautifully scented too, so your skin is left soft, smooth and smelling amazing.

I was really happy to see a Penhaligon's pefume sample in this box, anyone who knows me will know I love a good perfume sample because it is nice to try a perfume on your skin away from department stores and boutiques to get a really feel as to how it smells. Iris Prima Eau De Parfum is described as being "an elegant fragrance which mingles fresh bergamot top notes with musky Sandalwood and sweet Vanilla". Once it settles on the skin, it smells absolutely divine and is a scent I could happily wear on a night out, or for a special occasion.

The next product is the Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar. I did have a different shade in my October Birchbox, but as I am a fan I am more than happy to add another to my growing list. Described as being super nourishing with ingredients like Shea Butter and Vitamin E, the lip balm adds a pop of colour to your lips as well as leaving them feeling soft, smooth and supple.

I was delighted to see a product from REN in my box too and it is one I was lucky enough to sample a few months ago. The Instant Firming Beauty Shot is a liquid matrix of hyaluronans and phycocolloids which instantly life and firm leaving your skin looking dramatically smoother, lighter and more youthful.

The serum is gel like, only it is a little runnier than your average gel, so you only need a small amount on the top of your finger to cover your entire face. When I used it for the first time, I was quite surprised to find that within half an hour of applying it, my face felt slightly tight and much firmer than usual and these effects lasted all day, 7 hours.

The final product inside the box is a packet of the STYL London Temporary Tattoos.   Whilst they are not really my thing, it isn't going to stop me from trying them out because they are little bit cool. 

If all of that isn't enough, then hidden at the bottom of my box was a drawstring shoe bag in matching print to my box and whilst it is perfect for carrying around a pair of flat shoes in your bag.  Anyone who lives in London will know how heavenly it is to carry a pair of flats around with you in times of need and this bag is perfect for the job, I love it.  If you don't use it for your shoes, it would also double up quite nicely as something to store in your make up, your make up brushes and so on.  

I think this is a fantastic box from Birchbox, it has a nice mixture of products to try and they are all really good sizes too.  There is not a single product in the box that I dislike and I cannot wait to give them all a try properly.  If you like the look of this box and want to get your hands on it then as you know

Birchbox is a monthly beauty box subscription which costs £12.95 a month.

What do you think to this box?