Create your own skincare regime with MixNature

Having tried a lot of skincare in my time, ive never had the opportunity to make my own, until now. MixNature is one of the most interesting brands I have come across in a long time. Based at their state of the art lab in Latvia, MixNature create unique, handmade, vegan and natural products, which are freshly made with a promise: “You are unique, your cosmetics should be too”. With that in mind you can create face creams, scrubs, liquid soaps, cleansing milks, face masks, eye creams, shampoos, hair masks, hair balms, shower gels, body lotions, hand or foot creams, practically everything you need for a bespoke skincare regime all at the click of a button.

The process of deciding which products you want and each one has a base category to get you started - Is your skin dry, combination, oily or mature. Once you have made your selection, you then begin the process of adding essential oils (such as Neroli, Myrtle, Peppermint, Lavender, Jasmine and Rosewood), extracts (such as Rosehip, Dragons Blood, Ginseng, Green Coffee, Echinacea and Chamomile) and then activating agents (such as Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Bio Collagen and Arnica) each one comes with an easy to read description as what properties it holds and what it will do for your skin, body or hair.  I sat and read through quite a lot of information before deciding which products I wanted to try and naturally given the number of combinations, you can select from thousands of combinations, which in part makes it all the more fun.  I am a firm believer in knowing what is best for my body and having the ability to choose and make my own products is just amazing.

Even more amazing is that a service like this will not break the bank, infact I was incredibly surprised at how affordable it is. The starting price is around £7.07 for the basic cream and then for each additional ingredient (but no more than 6) it costs just 79p (*This week all ingredients are free). Adding all of those together and you can have specially formulated and unique to you products for less than £15.

I was kindly given a credit to allow me to create my own products and I choose and formulated:

Body Scrub for Dry Skin (150ml) and I included Jasmine Essential Oil, Pentavitin and Neroli Essential Oil.  Body scrub for dry skin based on sweet almond oil, avocado oil, panthenol, sugar and vitamin E is a perfect cleanser, making your skin softer, firmer and velvety. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and moisturizes, softens and smoothes the skin. 

This scrub is incredible, it is similar in texture to Soap & Glory Sugar Crush only the exfoliating particles are slightly bigger and they are more effective at removing dead and dry skin without being overly abrasive. 

Face mask for normal and combination skin (50ml) and included Sea Buckthorn Extract, Lavender Essential Oil and Lemongrass Essential Oil. This nourishing mask contains natural cocoa, jojoba, sacha inchi and almond oils, vitamin E, urea and panthenol to deeply nourish and rejuvenate your skin. It makes the skin softer and more elastic and younger and healthier-looking. 

The cream is quite thick and therefore you only need a small amount to cover your face and neck. I leave the mask on for up to 15 minutes before washing off with warm water. 

Eye Cream for Dry Skin (30ml) and included Ginseng Extract, Parsley Extract and Linden Tree Extract. This moisturizing and nourishing cream-gel for dry skin with no aromatic additives contains macadamia oil, vitamin E, panthenol and hyaluronic acid and is for the delicate sensitive skin around the eyes. The cream-gel will repair, relax and refresh your skin, keeping it moisturized for longer and helping to iron out fine lines. It will relieve irritation and dryness and make your skin feel smooth and silky. 

I have had a skin scan on a few occasions where they look for issues or concerns. Each time, there has been slight dehydration under my eyes, despite using eye cream regularly. So I have opted for this product, picking ingredients which are known to moisturise and nourish to see if it can make any difference, again the cream is quite thick so one pump is enough for both under-eye areas. 

Shower Gel for Dry Skin (250ml) and I included Silk Protein, Pentavitin and Lemongrass Essential Oil. The natural soap base and Atlantic salt gently remove dead skin cells and dirt. The active ingredients protect the skin from dryness, improve cell respiration and balance microcirculation. They have an active effect on subcutaneous fat. 

This is a luxurious feeling shower gel, the gel is thick and gloopy and you only need a small amount to create a lather.  It smells incredible given the Lemongrass inclusion and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch. 

So having had fun deciding what to include within my products, it is worth noting that all MixNature products are 100% natural and are free from colorants, silicone, paragons, mineral oils, artificial flavours and sodium laurel sulphate; they are also vegan, freshly handmade and freshly produced. I placed my order on a Wednesday and they arrived the following day, beautifully packaged via DHL which is just amazing service.

The lovely people at Mixnature have put together a video to explain more about themselves in this video.  Personally speaking, this is an amazing service and one I have enjoyed exploring, I like knowing that I am choosing what goes into my products and that there is nothing hidden.

Maui Fantasy by Britney Spears

I am not usually a fan of celebrity perfumes but there is something about those by Britney Spears that are just that little bit good, okay they are really good and whether you are a fan of her music or not, Maui Fantasy, the new offering which is limited edition, is a fragrance well worth looking for.

Maui Fantasy is Britney's 19th scent (wow) and it a scent I would associate with summer holidays. It is said that Britney feels a deep connection to Maui and whenever she has a break she travels to the breathtaking island to relax, kick back, rejuvenate and spend some quality time with her family.

The bottle is quite something, designed to embody the essence of Hawaii, the bottle takes its inspiration from the crystal blue waters of the sea which surrounds the island and featuring a pink Hibiscus flower, one of the many symbols of the tropical island. The shape fitting in perfectly well within the Fantasy Collection.

The fragrance is infuses elements of Maui's natural beauty and it opens with a mouthwatering combination of bird of paradise flower, pink grapefruit and passion fruit. The heart is a heady mix of beachy florals such as hibiscus petals, cyclamen, orange blossom and tiare flower (Hawaiian monoi). The base brings a warm and sensual aura with notes of coconut, vanilla, blue musk, white amber and beachy blonde woods. Put together you have a fragrance that is said to represent Britney's multi-faceted personality and it is really lovely.  

I had assumed that this fragrance would be for the teen market and that I would therefore not like it at all, however whilst it may be suitable for the older teen, I have no qualms about wearing it, it is as equally floral as it is sweet and is a scent that you could very well imagine wearing whilst relaxing on a white sandy beach as the waves ripple in the background.

You can find the limited edition Britney Spears Maui Fantasy here for £35 for 100ml.

O’Sullivans@The Shard

If I could afford to, I would happily pay for someone to wash and blow dry my hair for me a few times a week, there is something about that freshly blow dried hair which makes you feel a million dollars.  Last week, I was given the opportunity to go along to The Shard Arcade and have my hair washed and blow dried at an amazing salon called O'Sullivans.

This was my first visit to The Shard Arcade and the boutique was really easy to find. One of two hair salons, O’Sullivans@The Shard is a place which offers you the perfect cut, expert colour or complete restyle, the group’s latest state of the art salon specialises in big bouncy and luxurious blowdrys which I was there to enjoy.

Walking into the salon, you cannot help but notice how quaint yet bright it is. Immediately welcomed, my confirmation of appointment was confirmed and I was shown to an amazingly comfy chair to await my stylist for the day. Morgan, my stylist, was amazingly friendly, bubbly and a delight to chat too as she washed my hair and then making sure to ask what I would like as my blow dry, I trusted her enough to say 'Free reign, do whatever you think' - a rarity for me in any salon. 

As my hair was dried, it was nice to look around and see customers come in and go whether it was for a hair cut, style or a manicure, another of the salon's offerings. Stocked with well-known brands of both nail polish (Essie) and hair care (think L'Oreal, RedKen and Kerastase) which I found really impressive and not forgetting to mention the pink hair styling tools!

As you can see my hair went from being poker straight to big bouncy curls which on the night lasted longer than they ever have before despite the rain and humidity.

My appointment lasted just 40 minutes which is incredibly impressive, a great service for those in a hurry and need their hair being blow-dried before a big event or just as a treat.  The service is really lovely and relaxing and if you are in need of a last minute blow dry then O'Sullivans is well worthy of your attention, even better you can book online with even less of a need to rush giving you time to take in the most amazing views of The Shard both before and after your appointment. Prices start from £15 depending on what treatment you have.

Thank you O'Sullivans and Morgan for my amazing bouncy curls, I am sure I will be returning soon.

*The service I received was complimentary and all words and views are my own.

Little-Known Box

Little-Known Box is the UK’s newest luxurious beauty subscription box and you might have spotted them on your social media because they have, in my opinion, put a lot of effort into getting themselves noticed, no mean feat within a market that seems saturated with beauty boxes offering everything!

Little-Known Box is something a little bit different, every month you will receive a box of carefully selected luxurious beauty products and gifts featuring 'little-known' products, from independent, niche, upcoming and emerging brands. Chosen with ethics and wellness in mind. Having recognised that emerging and small luxury brands are really under-represented in beauty subscription boxes, Little-Known Box aim to fix this gap and use their beauty box to introduce you to some fantastic little-known brands, particularly those specialising in niche beauty fields including; natural/organic, vegan friendly, cruelty free and free-from brands.

Having caught my attention, I decided to sign up and see for myself what Little-Known Box was all about. Promising to include full and sample size luxury products from skincare, makeup, hair, body and grooming products to nail care, nail art, lifestyle and beauty accessories and with the occasional surprise thrown in! This is the first box:

Flint and Flint Moisturiser 3x (Full size 50ml rrp £42) - A rich repair cream that protects against glycation, boosts collagen and elastin production and regenerates the skin. Contains a powerful combination of active ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol and Malikara Leaf to reverse the signs of premature ageing. Hydrates and nourishes the skin.  Whilst the packaging is quite simple and understated, to me it does seem just a little bit masculine and isn't ordinarily something I would usually pick up.

The Vintage Cosmetics Company Eyelash Curlers - These are a limited edition rose gold pair of eyelash curlers and I am quite a fan of The Vintage Cosmetics Company for their cute and kitsch packaging. What makes these curlers slightly different is that they are spring loaded. These are obviously full sized and cost around £7.00.

Medusa Makeup Lipgloss - Described as being fun, vibrant and innovative, Medusa's makeup is made in the USA, Vegan and is Paraben free.  I have shade Bite Me which is a fantastic vibrant red shade, whilst I won't be able to get any use out of it as I don't pull of red at all, a friend of mine will and it is perfect for her.  Available in 12 different shades they retail at £6.25 (Full sized product $9).

Dirtea - I am a tad obsessed with tea and coffee bath products nd Dirtea is described as being the 'original self-love tea scrub'. Dirtea products are products are tediously tested and have unique recipes formulated to target acne, scarring, stretch marks, cellulite, psoriasis, eczema, and more. Our organic tea's are freshly ground into a fine powder and combined with specific high-grade essential oils, minerals, and vitamins to create a powerful blend that works wonders for your skin. They are not only Vegan but also Paraben, Gluten, Cruelty, Phosphate and Chemical Preservative-Free. (£2.15 per sachet)

Thumbs Up Nail Wraps - I have to admit, I am not into nail wraps at all and they are everywhere right now. This set has a metallic marble gold effect which will delight some people, personally, I prefer nail polish.  Each pack contains 20 nail wraps and they are described as being easy to apply and waterproof. (£7.99 full sized product)

For a first box, I think this is pretty okay, I am not as wowed as I thought I would be, but I am not overly disappointed because there are some new brands for me to try out. A one off box costs £15.95 upon which there is a postage and packaging charge of £3.75. A monthly subscription to this box costs £14.95 and there are further subscription options available.

What do you think to Little-Known Box?