Lanolips 101 Fruities Multipurpose Balm

Now the clocks have gone back, for me Winter is pretty much looming and that means ensuring my skin is properly looked after, especially my lips. So in comes Lanolips 101 Fruities into my handbag and they haven't left since!

Not just designed to be used on the lips, these little beauties can be used on extremely dry skin patches, cuticles, small cuts and bites!  How? Well they contain what is called a healing, hydrating, wondrous multipurpose 101 Ointment, which has won many awards!  Add to that, each balm has added Vitamin E and a glorious fruit extract specifically chosen for its own unique properties, benefits and of course pleasure.

I have three different varieties with Strawberry, Peach and Apple and given the size of the tube (10g), so they are handy to carry around.

Strawberry Usually strawberries are associated with love & romance, but this powerful little fruit’s main ingredient is alpha-hydroxy acids which helps us slough off dead cells so that new, healthy skin is revealed. Enriched with 100% natural Strawberry and Vitamin E.

Apple

This is my favourite scent of the three and it smells just delightful. Apple is an acidic, rich and full of vitamins.  It is also full of antioxidents which act as a natural protector from harmful pollutants.  Also enriched with 100% Apple and Vitamin E.

Peach

The peach kernal oil is really light and instantly absorbs as soon as it comes into contact with the skin.  Using a combination of vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids, it leaves the skin feeling incredibly moisturised, fresh smelling and hydrated.  Again it is also enriched with 100% natural peach and Vitamin E.

The texture of these balms is quite thick, but once it comes into contact with the skin, it becomes really pliable and absorbs with gentle massaging.  It isn't sticky or tacky to the touch and when I use it on my lips, it makes a great base coat before adding lipstick, perfect for ensuring nothing sticks to any dry skin that might be looming.

Each of these balms are also enriched with Medical Grade Lanonlin which often confuses people. Lanolin is a natural product of the wool industry. It is a substance extracted from the fleece once it has been removed from an unharmed sheep once the sheep have been shorn. It’s vegetarian-friendly. Lanolin is no more cruel to animals than drinking milk, using beeswax, eating honey or even wearing wool. The oils found within lanolin are also extremely similar to those oils we secrete from within our own skin. Within Lanolips the Lanolin is hypoallergenic and can hold over 200% of its own weight of water, acting as a moisture reservoir to help maintain the hydration of the skin.

These balms retail at £7.99 each and can be found via a stockist right here.

How to save money when attending multiple weddings

Attending weddings is a delightful pleasure for most people – the ability to witness two people that you love and care about exchange vows and pledge to spend their lives together is truly an honour! An, erm, awfully expensive honour at times! Now, it is obvious that the highest cost is usually heaped upon the bride and groom (or their families!), being a wedding guest can be unexpectedly pricey.

While attending one wedding can be costly, attending two, three or more (even 11 in one year, according to this article in the Telegraph!) can be seriously crippling for the pocket book. According to a 2013 Guardian article, the average cost of attending a wedding is 377 pounds per person!

If you (and potentially your spouse) are attempting to keep your credit score high (unsure about the state of your credit score? Naughty! Do an Experian credit check here), your savings account full and your budgets on track each month, attending three weddings in one year can set a couple back 2000 pounds. Multiply that cost by two or three years in a row, and you will have put a major dent in your savings planning and potentially delayed a home purchase – or even your own wedding. Also remember to check out sites such as DealsDaddy and look out for discount codes online.

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While the costs can double, triple or quadruple depending on how many nuptial celebrations you are attending in one year, there are a few ways that you can save money when faced with multiple wedding invitations. Here is a brief list that you might find helpful when planning your social calendar over the next year.

• Buy a great, versatile dress – A beautiful, high quality dress that works across multiple seasons will serve you very well. Choose a neutral (yet flattering) colour and a fabric that you can wear in both the summer and the winter.
• Accessorize like mad! If you are invited to four weddings in one year, you should know that these photos will be shared across social media – you don’t want to be caught in the same dress detailed above multiple times! Buy a few lovely scarfs, a blazer, some cute shoes, a pretty cardigan and other versatile pieces that you can add to your dress and style it look wonderful and unique for every wedding you attend.
• Buy gifts in bulk – Attending three weddings and want to give the young couple some art or a household appliance? Look for items that you can buy in bulk and get a deal on – this works best if the couples do not know eachother!
• Book your travel in advance – Make sure that you book your flights and train travel in advance – nothing can add up more quickly that last minute travel. Booking your travel at the last minute can often amount to throwing money in the loo.

Attending weddings is a joy – a costly joy, but a joy nonetheless. Do you have any suggestions on how to save money when attending multiple weddings in one year? Leave your comments and tips in the comment section below.

*guest post

The Best Winter Breaks In Europe

With the freezing winds back again, for most of us holiday planning is at the bottom of the priority list. Most Brits are used to enjoying a trip to a European city in the heights of summer, when ice cream can be taste-tested and there are plenty of beaches to enjoy. That said, if any of your loved ones are a stickler for a good Christmas gift, a little trip could be the perfect answer. Nowhere does Christmas better than the Baltics, from gorgeous craft markets to incredible fruit wines. A few luxury winter cruise ideas, courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Lines, might spark that wanderlust.

Sweden

For plenty of hearty food and excellent hospitality, look no further than Sweden. Not only can you take a winter safari to see the wild elk and moose in the snow, but you can experience the Northern Lights in December. Alternatively, experience indigenous Samí culture, including learning to cook traditional recipes like dried Reindeer soup. Southwards, in Malmo and Stockholm, you can get some souvenirs or gifts from the bustling markets.

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Finland

Winter in Finland is truly a snowy wonderland, with something for any age. Visit Santa and his Deer at Lapland, where you can stay in an Igloo between skiing, dog-sledding, and ice-fishing. For a more cosmopolitan break, Helsinki is awash with great things to do, from enjoying a steam in a traditional Sauna at the grand Kotiharjun, or watch the parades marching through the city for St. Lucia’s Day. There’s plenty for the eyes and the ears, as during December many city church choirs perform recitals for passers by.

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Germany

Britain’s Christmas spirit has absolutely nothing on Germany. Hamburg’s Christmas market is incredibly diverse, from a toy street to a nightclub area; Stuttgart’s 320 year old annual market offers traditional Black Forest treats and crafts over a background of stunning lantern decorations and free choral concerts. Be sure to make the most of the delicious locally-made stollen and brandy on your way through the crowds.

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Lithuania

One of the best ports of call in Lithuania is Vilinius, which in spite of the blankets of snow refuses to slow down for a minute. Christmas markets are a rarity here compared with other cities, but the grand Christmas tree in the centre of town makes a magnificent centrepiece to the eclectic architecture of the city. A walk to Subaciaus Street provides gorgeous panoramic views of the city, while Vingus Park has some great hills for sledding in the snow.

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Where would your ideal winter break be?

Christmas Beauty Advent Calendars 2015 *Updated*

The words Beauty Advent Calendar have been in my inbox and timeline for weeks and we are only in September! Ive been lucky enough to see a few Calendars up close and I thought I would share with you the ones I have had some information about!

Ive put the advent calendars into the following groups - Luxury, mid-price and affordable to show them to you, plus one for Teens because some calendars are too cute to miss. Those in the luxury section cost more than £100, those mid-priced are between £50 and £99 and affordable is anything below £50 and then we have Bargains which is below £35 - although all of these prices could change!

**UPDATED**

Lancome - It is already out of stock, but this Lancome Advent Calendar is a thing of beauty. It contains 24 amazing products such as Advanced Génifique Serum 50ml, Multi-Use Face Brush and Hypnôse Classic Mascara Full Size. Priced at £85 in Debenhams.

FeelUnique - 12 days of beauty surprises from skincare, haircare to make-up. Behind each door one of your favourite brands is waiting to be discovered, from NUXE and Philip Kingsley to Grown Alchemist and this works, the beauty elves have put together a treasure trove of full-size and travel-size luxuries to be enjoyed. It costs just £30.

Dr Hauschka -  Behind the windows is a carefully selected collection of Dr. Hauschka Body and Skin Care products, which makes the perfect treat to experience well-being and calmness during the busy festive season. The Advent Calendar contains 23 trial sizes and one special full size surprise for Christmas Eve. This is an online exclusive. 

Kérastase launch first ever Christmas Advent Calendar £79. Housed within the golden gift set are 25 days' worth of Kérastase hair saviours. Behind each door you will discover a luxurious hair care treat; ranging from a selection of mini, travel size and full size products!

Starting in the luxury section we have:

Jo Malone £260

I am a huge Jo Malone fan and this advent calendar is one I am sure every fan want to have, I mean look at it!  An amazing Georgian Townhouse design which contains both mini perfumes and scented body creams for 24 days - what utter bliss!  Again I haven't found a release date but it is rumoured to be available at Harrods from October and nationwide from November.

Charlotte Tilbury £150

Now I do not own a single item from Charlotte Tilbury, though I do have a wishlist as long as my arm of items I would like.  As Beauty Advent Calendars go, this one is really quite exciting because 'The Book of Make Up Magic' as it is called includes mainly Charlotte Tilbury best-selling hero products and there is a mix of both travel size and full sized products over 12 days. There is no release date as yet, but it will be exclusively available at CharlotteTilbury.com, Selfridges, Selfridges.com and Brown Thomas

Liberty £149

There is no denying that the Liberty Advent Calendar is beautiful.  Last year I went into the store more times than I care to admit to simply look at it and admire it, knowing full well that it was right out of my price range.  However it may cost a lot of money at £149 but it does have some amazing brands included which, this year are rumoured to include Decleor, Kiehl's and the amazing Trish McEvoy!  If I have persuaded you that you need it, then it is available at Liberty from 29th October!

Mid-priced

Selfridges £95

Last year this was the calendar I wanted to buy but in the end didn't and I still regret it a little bit because the contents were fab.  This year the Selfridges Advent Calendar, called Cosmic Delights, is rumoured to include delights from brands such as Kiehl's, Lancome, YSL, and Victor and Rolf. Available exclusively at Selfridges, and Selfridges.com from Mid-October

LookFantastic £70

Now if the beauty boxes are anything to go by, then this is one to watch. Said to include many luxurious surprises throughout the month of December from some of the LookFantastic Team's favourite brands.  It is released on 1st November online with LookFantastic.

The Body shop £60/£80

Interestingly, The Body Shop has catered for two different budgets with two versions of its calendar this year. There is a standard version which is priced at £60 and is said to save you more than £30 on products and the luxury version which is priced at £80 will save you a whopping £47 compared to if you brought the products individually. Naturally, the products included are from their skincare, bath & body, fragrance and makeup ranges.  These calendars will be available at The Body Shop from late October.

Clarins £60.00

Open the door to an enchanted forest, infinitely precious, and discover 24 treasures hidden behind golden leaves. Day by day, open a window and be spoiled with a special Clarins treat. A perfect opportunity to discover Clarins best-selling and iconic products. Cleanse, moisturise, illuminate. Available right now.

You Beauty Discovery £59.95

This is a Limited Edition YOU Beauty Advent Calendar 2015. Worth a staggering £330 but costs just £59.95* and it is available right.

Affordable

Makeup Revolution £50

This is one advent calendar I have seen in all its glory and unsurprisingly it is brilliant.  It features 25 FULL SIZE Makeup Revolution essentials which includes a special gift on Christmas Day.

Ciate £49.99

The Ciaté Advent Calendar not only includes 18 different coloured nail polishes but the collection will also include treatments to keep nails in ship shape. 

Available at Selfridges, ASOS, Boots, Look Fantastic and Very from September

Lush £49.95

This year Lush has created an amazing calendar which is filled with its famously fragrant shower and bath treats to lather up in the lead to Christmas. Called the 12 days of Christmas and designed in a book format, it looks amazing and the contents are just as fab as you would expect them to be. Available at Lush shops and at Lush.co.uk nationwide from 2nd October.

CHEEKY Advent Calendar, £49

With 24 on-trend tones, the CHEEKY Christmas Advent Calendar is another nail junkie's dream. Available at Cheeky Holborn, Cheeky at Barber & Parlour, Cowshed Spas and urcheeky.com. 

Arran Aromatics Cherish Advent Calendar £40

This limited edition, Arran Aromatics Cherish Advent Calendar and it is filled with 24 luxurious treats from candles to shower gels and much more .

L'Occitane £39

Last year the L'Occitane Advent Calendar had '12 days of Christmas' offering which looked amazing.  This year there are 24 mini versions of their luxurious skincare, hair, and body products to be surprised with and I assure you, they will be amazing.  Available at L'Occitane boutiques and online from 21st October

Boots £38

This have-it-all advent calendar has a selection of beauties from skincare to cosmetics, bathing bits and accessories – and six products are full-sized. Worth a whopping £148, it's only £38. Bargain. On sale 28th October at Boots and boots.com

Bargain Beauty Advent Calendars

Salon Services £35.00 - Advent calendar containing 24 hair and beauty treats. Containing surprises from some of your favourite brands such as OPI, TIGI, Lord and Berry and many more. 

Benefit Party Poppers £34.50 (currently sold out)

Available from October Benefit’s advent calendar is back for 2015 but with a slight twist to last years! The Party Popper calendar contains 12 mini benefit favourites to mark the Twelve Days of Christmas . 

M&S Beauty, £25

Filled with 24 festive treats worth over £200, you can buy the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar for £25 *when you spend more than £25 in M&S Beauty. It includes treats from some amazing brands such as Rodial, Neal's Yard, REN, Stila and Cowshed.

W7 Cosmetics £25

W7 make up is one of the brands that I really like.  For a highstreet brand the quality is fantastic and they do some amazing dupes which are well worth looking out for.  

Essence £24.99

Essence has announced the launch of its limited edition Christmas Advent Calendar for 2015 and it will contain 24 exclusive products. Each door also offers a 'quote of the day'. All of the products are limited and not available to purchase in-stores. The essence Advent Calendar will be available from Wilko stores in November.

House of Fraser £20

The House of Fraser Calendar is said to feature its own-brand 'Colour Couture' and it is said that every item within the calendar gives you something to literally build a make-up kit from scratch. I think this is really reasonably priced from what I have seen so far and it is available at House of Fraser from September.

Bomb Cosmetics £19.99

The news of the Bomb Cosmetics dropped into my inbox a few days ago and I think it is so reasonably priced.  Inside you have 24 whole days of Bomb love with this Bomb Advent Calendar and it is filled to the brim with a mix of our favourite soaps and blasters.  If you have never tried Bomb Cosmetics products before, then this would be a great introduction.

Advent Calendars for the Teens

Tanya Burr Deck the Hauls 12 Days Calendar £25 - I saw this at a recent Superdrug Press Day and was quite impressed with how it is decorated.  Not for me personally but I know it will call out to those younger teens. 

Flutter by Superdrug £8 - Heavenly beauty for gorgeous girls. Create pretty perfection with the flutter collection of fashionable colours and must have accessories. A collection of mini cosmetics for eye, lip and nails, and a cute little mirror .

Kissmas by Wilko £5 - This is the cheapest Calendar I have yet to come across and it is quite cure for those little girls who dream of being a princess and it can also be a fab Secret Santa. The calendar contains a mixture of nail products, tools, wraps and stencils.

Of course it doesn't end there! If Beauty isn't your thing and candles are... then here are your choices:

Dipytique 

A luxury candle advent calendar of dreams! It will cost £250 and for that money you get 25 mini candles! Now I have only ever had one mini Diptyique candle which I absolutely loved and would happily love more, but is £250 for 25 mini candles worth a spluge?

Yankee Candle

Once again this year there are two different Yankee Candle Advent Calendars on offer. The first is a House which contains 23 tealights and 1 Votive Candle and the second is a Carousel type advent calendar which contains 20 tealights and 4 Votive candles. Prices range from £24-£30 depending on where you shop and they are available right now!

Busy Bee Candles £19.95
A fabulous Advent Calendar from Busy Bee Candles. Featuring 24 different very high strength wax melts in our most popular Christmas fragrances, one for every evening of Advent. 

So there you have.  For now at least.  I am sure in coming weeks there will be more news, more calendar releases and more pictures available.  I have hopes for Calendars from Tesco which I had last year.  But as there is much choice already, I have no idea which one I would want!  Do you?