Nailbox Tropical Treats - July

Earlier this month I introduced to you a new subscription box for those of you who love your nail polishes, nail products and nail tools which you can see right HERE. I was really impressed with the box which retails for just £15 but not only gave some well known branded products inside along with a handy cuticle tool, if bought separately the items had a value of just under £40.

I now have the July Nailbox and if I was chuffed with the May one, this one has literally blown me away it is so good. This month we have the theme Tropical Treats, perfect for the Summer (even if it is a British Summer). Inside the Nailbox for July you will find three nail polishes: two premium and one high street brands, a fun nail art tool and a nail cuticle product.

The nail polish colours are definitely in keeping with the summer theme and work well with the stamping tool, so I feel as though a lot of thought has been put into this box to ensure that not only is each polish suitable for everyone, but they are all brands we know and love. The three polishes are:

• China Glaze White on White Nail Lacquer - This is a glossy, bright white crème polish that is opaque in just two coats. White is one of those all the rage nail polish shades to have and wear right now and although it isn't my choice, it does make an excellent background for nail stamping. This polish has an rrp £6.49
• Barry M Speed Dry Nail Paint called Need for Speed - This is too dark to be lilac but not dark enough to be purple, it is one of those in the middle shades which I really like and again works well with the stamper on the China Glaze.  This polish has an rrp £3.99.
• OPI Kiss Me I'm Brazilian Nail Lacquer - This is a stunninga pretty sugar pink which has a glossy finish and looks great with all skin tones.  It has a ProWide brush which makes application an absolute breeze and it has an rrp £11.95.

The next item in the box is a Moyou London Nail Stamping Kit in Tropical. The set consists of a metal stamping plate embossed with palm leaves, tropical plants and flowers, a polish scraper and of course a stamping tool which together costs £11. When it comes to using the kit, there is a really helpful guide book which explains exactly how to use it. 

To use, you simply brush the polish onto the plate/design of your choice and then scrape off the excess polish using the supplied scraper tool. Then you need your stamping gadget to suck up that polish to allow you to apply it to your nails to give them a tropical summer stamp.

The final item within my box is the Elegant Touch Nail Apothecary No.2 which is the cuticle eliminator. This is a moisturising cuticle remover which helps to soften dry, ragged cuticles which then enables healthy nail growth. 

The hydrating formula also helps you to easily push back overgrown cuticles for efficient, pain-free removal and it is so easy to do with the help of the tool from last months box - the professional cuticle pusher and nail cleaner tool.  This product has an rrp £7.95.

So there you have the July box and how brilliant is it? Whether or not you are a huge nail polish fan, I am sure you will agree that this is not only amazing value for money at £15 when you get a box of products worth at least £40. For me, I love the fact that there is a choice of nail polish and brand especially as I am so indecisive when it comes to choosing a new polish that I tend to always opt for something similar to what I already have. Plus, I love the nail tools that are within each box and how easy they are to use.

If you think this is a subscription box for you, then you can find and subscribe to Nailbox right here.

What do you think to this box? Is it one for you?

Life's an Adventure - Burt's Bees

I am a huge Burt's Bees fan and have featured many of the products here on my blog. One thing I do love that Burt's Bees do really well is the hand travel sized products which not only mean you get to try something before you splash out on a full sized product but you can also take your favourites with you on your travels.

The Mister and I are looking to go away for a few days to the seaside, somewhere we both get quite a lot of comfort and lord knows right now we both need it. So with that in mind I have travel sized beauty items on the brain and then this lovely little Life's an Adventure kit has landed in my lap and it is packed full of amazing products. Inside this handy cosmetics bag there is:

• Coconut & Pear Lip Balm 4.25g - If ever there was a lip balm I was going to fall in love with it, it is this one.  Not only does it smell just incredible and would make a fantastic scented candle (HINT).  Enriched with Coconut Oil, Pear Extract, and Shea Butter, once applied it instantly nourishes and moisturises the lips whilst leaving behind a slight hint of pear and coconut, neither scent being overpowering. 

• Milk & Honey Body Lotion mini 70g - For normal to dry skin, this non-greasy, lightweight natural moisturiser goes to work the minute you apply it, and it’s scientifically proven to moisturise for up to 24 hours. Milk nourishes while honey helps to soften skin; plus, coconut and grape seed oils and vitamin E deliver beneficial nutrients to the skin.   It does, as you expect, smell absolutely divine and is the perfect size for a few days away.

• Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream 17g - One of my favourite products from Burt's Bees, this little tin of goodness nourishes and moisturises your nails and cuticles with this intensive, natural treatment. 

• Shea butter hand repair purse sized 50g - This is a super rich natural hand cream which uses Sunflower oil and glycerin alongside shea butter and essential botanical oils like macadamia nut, rosehip, lavender, neroli and borage, that impart antioxidants and fatty acids to nourish your skin, nails and cuticles.

• Facial Towelettes with White Tea (10 count) - These 99% natural face wipes are perfect for sensitive skin and for naturally removing dirt, oil and make-up without rinsing. They are infused with anti-oxidant rich White Tea Extract and other botanical extracts like Cucumber Extracts and Aloe Leaf Juice to cleanse and calm your face naturally.

For a few days away, this makes for a perfect little travel kit, it has everything I need in there to keep my skin in tip top condition and it costs just £16.99 which is an absolute bargain and you can find yours HERE.

Isle of Light Candles Wax Melts

Isle of Light candles is a brand I have featured on my blog before (here) and when the lovely Keeleigh told me she had a new product for my to try, I was more than excited because the quality is always so good.

Wax melts seem to be all the rage right now with many companies and I love them as much as the next person and I am always looking for next amazing scent to tantalise my scent buds. Isle of Lights offer 12 different scents of wax melts:

• The Coast - Escape to the Coast! This stunning seaside fragrance combines fresh bergamot, bright orange and rich amber with warming notes of exotic coconut, vanilla and almond.
• Strawberry and Rhubarb - A perfectly fruity fragrance. Not too sweet and not too sour, this fragrance combines freshly picked strawberries and pink rhubarb on a surprisingly complex base. 
• Fresh Linen - Imagine freshly washed laundry out to dry on a breezy day. Sensual wafts of light white musk cascade through refreshing notes of sun-ripened oranges and breezy eucalyptus. Heart notes include sea kelp, jasmine petals and delicate mimosa herb.
• Lime Sherbet- A clean, fresh and super strong Lime Fragrance created by one of our customers, sweet and zesty all in one!
• Lily Spring – A great burst of floral scent with top notes of Bergamot, coriander and Peonies. Heart Notes of Lily, Jasmine, Rose and a full bodied base of Musk, patchouli, vanilla.
• Oriental Spice - A Striking blend of sandalwood, ginger, patchouli and green tea. This fragrance has base notes of vanilla, musk and sandalwood, heart notes of jasmine, patchouli and ginger, and top notes of citrus, mint and green tea.
• Botanical Garden- A self assured floral bouquet. Top notes of English rose, field hawthorn and bergamot lead into a prominent heart of violet, geranium and ylang ylang. Base notes include a sultry combination of oak moss, powdery amber, sandal and cedar wood.
• Lemongrass and Ginger - a stimulating and sensual fragrance with top notes of tangy lemongrass, Sicilian lemons and juicy limes lead into a heart of spicy ginger root and grated nutmeg, and a hint of refreshing eucalyptus. Base notes include sensual patchouli, white woods and creamy vanilla.
• The Needles- The clean, fresh and invigorating smell of a crisp winter’s day! This fragrance begins with top notes of Fresh Lime and Menthol, heart notes of Fir and Lavender, and full-bodied base notes of Eucalyptus and Pine.
• Spiced Chocolate - Spices smothered in a warm chocolate sauce make this scent almost good enough to eat! This fragrance gives you a rich chocolate base and decadently collides with sensational notes of fresh cream, smooth butter, velvety milk chocolate and a hint of spicy aromas.

The final scent, which is the one I was very kindly sent - English Pear & Vanilla which is described as being a sophisticated blend of French vanilla and juicy sun ripened English pears.  Now I am not a fan of vanilla scents, I find them too strong for my tastes and I end up with a headache, thankfully, the vanilla in this wax melt is just enough that you can detect it is there but the English Pear is just out of the world, it is as though someone has just diced a fresh pear and it is so fresh smelling, the scent quickly moves from room to room and is just delightful, perfect for a summery day.

The wax melts themselves are exquisitely small but don't let that sway your judgement because it is just perfect.

To use wax melts, all you need to do is to place one in the top part of your burner and light a tea-light below, the heat from the candle works to melt the wax of the wax melt and as it does so, the fragrances are released, similar to burning a candle, just with no wick involved.

These melts would make a perfect gift for yourself as a treat or for someone you adore, they come beautifully packaged and I cannot wait to work my way through the entire listing and at £4.95 for 6 melts, they are just great value for money. 

What scent would you like to see made into a Candle/Wax melt?

Thai Square Spa, Covent Garden

On my birthday (Tuesday) I was lucky enough to go into London's Covent Garden for a massage, not just any massage, but one at the award winning Thai Square Spa, which is one of those hidden gems you feel lucky to find and will never forget. Once through the door, you leave behind the hustle and bustle of a busy London tourist area and instead you find yourself transported to an oasis of calm and beauty.

Bringing traditional Thai treatments to London, everything within the reception area is one that exudes luxury, mystical and authenticity. The Thai Square Spa is the only traditional Thai Spa experience within the UK, something the staff are quite rightly proud to share and explain with their clients. The friendly manner and kindness shown to me upon arrival was nothing short of perfect. There are rules you must follow such as turning off your mobile phone and as I was taken to the changing area, again I was asked to remove my shoes and replace them with flip flops before being shown to the locker room where I was to change into my spa gown. 

Then within my treatment room, I was refreshed with a cool glass of water and then the treatment began with a traditional floral foot soak, my feet were plunged into a terracotta bowl of soothing warm soapy water with rose petals and herbs, by which point I was feeling incredibly relaxed within my surroundings.

My treatment was a Ritual Massage, one of the signature treatments and it is the first treatment to use the Royal Rachawadee massage oil from the spa's brand new lifestyle range iMantara, which is available to purchase at the spa or from the website.  The Ritual Massage encompasses various massage techniques from the East to soften, soothe and balance the senses. Once on the massage table, with my head looking directly down into a bowl of water with floating flower petals, I found my self slowly drifting away. My therapist, who was clearly an expert managed to work out how much pressure to apply to different spots on my body without me wincing or being in any pain, though at sometimes, when a knot was found it was slightly uncomfortable until it was worked out - then it was a feeling of bliss.  Having my back, legs, arms and neck massaged was out of this world and then my feet, something I thought I would have huge issues with, but instead found it absolutely amazing (I hate feet) and incredibly soothing before my head was then massaged.  The entire hour flew by and I could have quite happily stayed there all afternoon, it was so amazing.

Once my treatment was over, I was taken to the relaxation area, handed another glass of cool water and was left to take in my surroundings.  Little things like this made the experience all the more fantastic.  There was no pressure to hurry up and leave, I simply laid back on one of the relaxation chairs until I felt ready to move.

The spa itself has been voted Best Spa in the UK by national newspapers and magazines and you can see why, the experience is the best I have ever had and I left feeling as though I had been there the whole afternoon instead of one hour because I felt so refreshed and relaxed as I left. 

The following morning when my alarm rudely woke me, it was an incredible feeling to not have aching shoulders or lower back pain, I was instead wide awake, alert and ready to tackle rush hour.

I had the Ritual Massage, £75, but the spa offers a range of treatments including couples packages, treatments for men and maternity ones too. All of these packages are detailed here - www.thaisquarespa.com