Natural Collection Cosmetics

Natural Collection Cosmetics were one of the first brands I ever tried in my teens.  It was the biggest stand in my local Boots Store and the one that always caught my eye.  When this little box of joy landed through my letterbox it made my day, almost like being reunited with an old friend.

Inside the box as well as a sheet to colour in with crayons, something I absolutely love doing and find really relaxing, were these items:

Lash Length Mascara in Black (£1.99) - I absolutely adore mascaras and it is the on item I never leave the house without. This mascara is said to define and extend for visibly longer lashes. Now I have quite long lashes so it is never usually the first thing I notice from a mascara, though with this one there was a subtle difference, but the one thing I did notice was the smaller lashes in the corner of my eyes stood out and this is partly due to the shape of the wand, which is slightly conical making it easy to use and even easier to get to each lash. What I look for in a mascara is something to separate out and define my lashes and this mascara does a pretty good job, it is certainly better than some of the high end ones I have tried. This mascara is an absolute steal for £1.99.

Powder Blush Pink Cloud (£1.99) - I am not usually the biggest fan of blushers, I am a bronzer kind of girl but when I find a blusher I like, I use it. This is a fine, soft powder blush which gives a really light and natural hint of colour to your cheeks and what is more surprising is just how little you need to make an impact.  The shade itself is quite light and is suitable for all skin tones in my opinion.  It is buildable depending on what kind of coverage you prefer.  For me, I use my blusher brush to apply to my cheeks.  Again for £1.99 this is an absolute bargain blusher.

The next two items in the box are for the lips.  Starting with the Lip Liner (£1.99), something I didn't own until this one.  Yes I know, bad blogger, but I just haven't been tempted enough to buy them.  This one is shade plum and it is really easy to apply, much easier than I thought it was going to be and it is one I absolutely love and have been using along with the lipstick which also came within this box and they go pretty well together.

The Berry Sorbet Moisture Shine Lipstick is my favourite item in the box, this is a huge thing for me to admit considering there is a mascara in here!  Now again for £1.99, this is an absolute steal.  There are 19 different shades available in this lipstick and what I love, aside from the colour, is how moisturising it is.  It glides across the lips and leaves behind not only a trail of colour but it feels so hydrating on the lips.  Once applied, the colour lasts for a good few hours before you need to re-apply and again for £1.99 it has grabbed my attention enough to want to check out other shades within the range.

All of these products are absolutely amazing value for money and at just £1.99 each, I am now wanting to go back into Boots and try out more products from the collection.  Whilst the packaging is quite minimalist, it doesn't detract from how good the products really are.

Are you a fan of Natural Collection Cosmetics?

It's all about the Eyes!

One area on my face that I am always watching for when it comes to lines and wrinkles is my eyes. I have used a fair number of eye creams in recent years, but one thing I like are eye creams that have an applicator on the end, be it a roller ball or an applicator that is soothing.

In recent months I have been on a bit of a mission to find some of my favourite eye creams and I have managed to find four that I really like and have used the most.

Pixi by Petra 24K Eye Elixir (£22.00) which is an anti-fatigue peptide serum that massages away puffiness as it smoothes and refreshes the eye area. The formula contains actual gold, to stimulate circulation, peptides to plump fine lines, and raspberry to tone the skin. The metal rollerball gives a fantastic cooling feeling on application, which is instantly refreshing.

Vichy Idealia Eyes (£23) is enriched with ingredients that both immediately and sustainably rejuvenate the area. There is also the use of instant illuminators and a combination of DRM-Bright complex and Vitamin B3 to reduce dark circles, Vitamin CG to smooth fine lines, and Caffiene to energise. A rich infusion of Vichy’s signature Thermal Spa Water intensely soothes the area.  I love the applicator on this product, it is described as being a revolutionary applicator that replicates the soft touch of a finger, made from ultra flexible and ultra soft silicone. 

Garancia Phantom's Tears (£25) is possibly the best name for a product I have ever come across! It is a 4 in 1 Eyelid and Eye Contour Area Treatment with active ingredients to combat dark circles, bags, wrinkles and sagging and it also contains High-Tech light reflective powders and active patented ingredients to help combat the appearance of wrinkles, protect superficial periorbital blood vessel from the loss deposit of pigments responsible for colouring dark circles and pufiness, promote their natural elimination and redensify the supporting tissue by boosting collagen and hyaluronic acid.  The small rollerball on the end is exceptionally soothing and comforting around the eye area when used.

Eucerin AQUAporin Active (£15.50) is enriched with Ginseng and is an ophthalmologically tested, moisturising formula that works to provide deep and long-lasting hydration around the delicate eye area to de-puff and counteract the appearance dark circles. Hydration is a key factor for healthy skin as we all know and the Aquaporin Active range uses the skin’s own distribution channels (Aquaporins) to give it the hydration it needs. It uses a unique, patented formula which works by transporting moisture between the skin cells for optimal, maintained skin hydration. The applicator is a metal nib which glides under the eye with ease and gives an instant cooling effect.

Each one of these eye creams has been fantastic to use and each one has it's own specifically designed applicator which all work differently but are all cooling, refreshing and all help with puffiness and dark circles.

Do you have a favourite eye cream?

Purrfect Box for Cats plus meet Hector!

If you follow me on Instagram, then you will have seen the latest addition to our little family of fur balls.  Hector.  He is a grey male kitten who is full of energy and loves nothing better than to run laps of the flat at 3am much to the dismay of everyone else who will be sleeping.

One thing my boys do love is the delivery of a Purrfect Box, The Purrfect box** is a brand new UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog each month you will receive each month treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

The box is pretty full to the brim and my lot always just dive right in scratching around to see what is inside and this month there is quite a variety and something for everyone.

Cat toys will always be a big hit, when you have three of them, they all seem to want to play with the same toy despite not wanting it when it was free an available to play with. The Laser toy is something every cat I have ever had loves and it is a perfect chance to exercise your furball and keep them entertained, even Hector adores it.  The Dragonfly Delight toy is stuffed full of catnip and again sends each kitty into a tizz as soon as they so much as get a whiff, this is definitely Dexters toy right now.

Then we have some food which my boys have already tried and loved.  Equilibre & Instant is a French brand and it was lapped up by Dude before anyone else got a look in. Trixie offers a delicious tasting salmon cream and as soon as the lid was off the tube, each cat wanted a taste.

Treats are something we use in this house as a reward for being good (or bribery) and the Chicken 'n' Fish by Filous which are cat snacks made with chicken and fish are again proving to be popular and a nice alternative to Dreamies (also known as Kitty Crack)

Grass is something my cats eat and it drives me insane because 9 times out of 10 they vomit after doing so, usually combined with furballs.  Cat grass is, I feel, I great way to help your cat get rid of those furballs which have been created by washing and grooming themselves and this Camon Catnip Grass will be very popular once it has grown.

The final item is the one which intrigues me the most. Shampoo by Nilaqua which is a no rinse shampoo.  The thought of putting my two eldest anywhere near the bath fills me with dread in all honesty and I instead tend to settle for a warm wet flannel and do the best I can.  Given you apply this directly onto the coat of your cat and remove with a towel dry, I just need to pluck up the courage to give it a try!

I love seeing the look on the faces of my three boys as soon as I opened the box was amazing, they loved each and every item within the box, which you can see from the photos and even now, a few weeks after getting the box, all of the items are still played with, rolled over chewed, dribbled on and fought over, so for me, this is great value for money and is definitely something I would think of subscribing too. Better still, if you know someone with a cat and don't know what to buy them for Christmas, get this for the cat instead!

What do you think to this box? Have you got it, would you buy it?

A Guide To Bespoke Engagement Rings

Engagements are one of the most exciting life events - whether it’s you and your loved one, or a much loved family member or friend. Unsurprisingly, many people choose Christmas time to propose, due to the special festivities of the occasion, as well as it being more practical to sneakily buy a ring! Choosing the ring itself is a huge task - not only does it symbolise your love for your partner, but they’ll be wearing it for the rest of their life.

Image Source - Mode Diamonds

Diamonds Are Forever
Diamond engagement rings didn't become the norm until the early 20th Century, due to one famous American jeweller creating the association ‘Diamonds are forever’ that we know today. Before then, rings were passed down through family generations, or the gem used was the bride’s birthstone. Now, however, diamonds are the focal point of an engagement ring - another gem might be interpreted simply as a very nice gift. There’s still plenty of choice to be had when choosing your ring, from different cuts of diamond to selecting the perfect style. Be sure that your diamonds are ethically sourced, as many ‘blood diamonds’ are sourced in conflict zones, where workers are heavily exploited and underpaid.

Choosing a Cut and Style
Ultimately, the size and clarity of the gemstone you choose affects what kind of cut you can have. If your partner is a little bohemian, uncut diamonds can look beautiful, creating a more translucent gem rather than a shiny one. For a chic look, an emerald or cushion cut highlights the diamond’s brilliance, as well as looking beautiful either on its own or with additional detail on the band. A traditional favourite is the princess cut, which is small enough to be practical in everyday wear, while also cut to be especially sparkly. Pear or oval cuts are very popular on vintage style rings, which really stand the test of time - a bonus is that they direct attention along the finger, elongating the hand.

Making It BespokeIf you’re looking to really match your partner’s personality, take a start by looking at some of their favourite jewellery if you can - get a sense of the sorts of colours and styles they like. After all, if your loved one loves baking bread, a massive ring isn't practical! Mode Diamonds, like many jewellers, have a basic range of rings that you can then customise to your partner’s tastes. From Sapphire engagement rings to a range of bespoke Diamond cuts. Be sure to keep the metal of the band, and the colour of the diamond in-keeping with their existing jewellery so everything goes together. For an extra touch, you can have the band engraved - with how you feel, you and your partner’s names, or a special date to commemorate the occasion.

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