Getting Cosy with Christmas Candles

One thing I love about the nights drawing in is being able to come home, close the curtains, put some lamps on and light a few candles and relax.  For me having candles lit is an important of relaxation, it is said that a candle flame can help relax the mind and the association with a candle flame flickering helps to de-stress.

Christmas time is all about scents and smells from the pine needs on a Christmas Tree, to the spices of Christmas Cake and transferring those scents into that of a candle is really quite something.  Today I thought I would share some of the candles I have been burning, each scent is completely different but absolutely incredible.

Timothy Dunn London Votive collection - Presented in a limited edition box, inside are three 70g Votive Candles which smell just incredible. 

Inside the box you will find :

• Violette de Lune - The description reads: This deep, exotic, floriental scent is intertwined with seductive amber woods and elegant musks, opening with cassis and dark violet. An indulgent blend of the precious oils Moroccan rose and neroli flower are combined with sensual sandalwood, patchouli, red tea, wild jasmine and a hint of luxurious dark chocolate
• Arabian Fig – The description reads: A complex blend of green fig leaf, basil and clove, tenderly enhanced with frankincense, this deliciously aromatic candle has a hint of wild fig, cassis rose and jasmine with the rich base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and musk.
• Samarkand – Alongside Etrusca and Bleu Rose this is up there with my favourite Timothy Dunn London Candles and the description reads:  Discover a rich, sensual spicy wood accord with exotic tea, bergamot, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove; generously wrapped in sumptuous Madagascan vanilla, suede musks, frankincense, patchouli and vetiver. This beautiful, evocative fragrance will radiate warmth throughout your home.

You can burn these candles one at a time or together and either way, the fresh scents come to live and fill the house with such amazing scents. You can find this set right here and each Votive burns for around 15-20 hours.

Balance Me, Me Time Candle - When a candle is called Me Time, you know it is one you need in your life and that it will be really special. Formulated with a premium blend of soy and vegetable waxes to ensure a clean, even burn time it features a bespoke blend of pure essential oils, this candle is designed to relax the mind, relieve tension and evoke a sense of balance and wellbeing. With a blend of harmonising ingredients, Petitgrain, Cedarwood, Rosemary, Ylang Ylang and Lavender, designed to clear the mind of worries. 

What I love about this candle is the incredibly relaxing scent which comes to life as soon as the candle has been lit.  Even when the candle flame has been extinguished, the scent lingers for an incredibly long time afterwards.  Priced at £35 you can find this candle right here.

ESPA Winter Pine Candle - If ever there was a brand which just screams Spa Day it is ESPA.  Until recently I had no idea they made their own candles, so when Winter Pine arrived, it was opened and alight pretty quickly.  The candle comes beautifully presented in an ESPA gift box, finished with a hand-tied green ribbon to really make it look festive.

The scent of the candle really lives up to its name as it boasts the warming aromas of Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Pine which just remind me of Christmas.  This is a 200g candle with over 40 hours of burn time and it retails for £30 right here.

La Montana Duo Mini Candle Gift Set - Nestled inside a beautiful starry box are two incredible scented La Montana Candles.   

Again if anything signifies Christmas is coming it is Winter Oranges and the Three Kinds Candles.

• Winter Oranges candle – Described as being a warm, spicy, zesty blend of Valencia orange, cinnamon, red apple, and clove for me this candle definitely brings about nostalgia from my Christmases as a child when christmas cakes and puddings were being steamed for the big day. The aroma is so fresh that again it comes to life as soon as the candle is alight.
• Three Kings candle – Despite the name, which of course reminds me of a Christmas Nativity Play, Cedarwood, Frankincense and Myrrh. It is quite a unique fragrance which brings all three scents to life in one candle and it is simply divine.

These mini candles are 80gms of top quality wax and have a burn time for at least 15 hours. This set would make an incredible gift and it retails for just £32.

Heyland and Whittle if you have never come across them before is a quality soap and home fragrance manufacturer based in England. They have an entire range of candles to die for and today I am sharing two different ones. First up is Clementine & Prosecco which smells absolutely incredible even before it is out of the box. Much like a fragrance it has top notes of Clementine, sparkling wine, yellow apple and pear, incorporated with middle notes of apricot, peach, plum and a base note of sugar and dry fruits.  Coming together this is a candle which offers a sweet and sharp fragrance which again brings about that relaxing scent of the holidays. Priced at just £23.

Also from Heyland and Whittle is Frankincense in a Tin and made from a blend of sustainable soy wax which helps it to burn very evenly down the tin, comes a scent which is most definitely Christmas. The notes for the candle state that it is a Smoky sweet and woody with a whisper of Oriental florals A sophisticated layered fragrance which is packed with notes of Rose, Jasmine, Cistus Oil and Cinnamon resting on an Oriental background of Frankincense, Oud, Musk and warm Vanilla.  This candle is priced at £13.95.

So those are the candles I have been burning of late and I would love to know which ones you have been using over the last few weeks.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

The Hair Lovers Guide - BeautyQueenUK Gift Guide

I spend quite a lot of money to ensure my hair is looked after and this involves a regular trim, not over washing, hair masks, not too much heat and of course using my Aquis Towel when drying my hair. With that in mind, I have put together a little guide of products for those of us who love hair care and it features some amazing products.

label.m is one of the very first hair care brands I worked with when I started blogging and even today, I still continuously use the Honey and Oat hair mask which fits into my routine. This Christmas, label.m have collaborated with House of Holland to bring to you some limited edition products. 

Inside this cool clutch bag featuring the print from Henry Holland’s AW 17 collection, I have the Deep Cleansing Shampoo and Leave in Conditioner, both of which are 300ml to give you an idea of the size of the clutch.

Next up we have this amazing collection from Curlformers. If you have never heard of them before are the world’s only patented, heat-free, salon-quality hair curler and are perfect for all ages and all hair types, wigs, and weaves.   My hair is naturally wavy and curling it is not something I am great at doing, I usually end up with a burn or three on my arm, ear or head.

With Curlformers you have the chance to create your curls without using heat and depending upon your preference you can choose to create barrel curls, spiral curls and even corkscrew curls because there is a kit for each style and you simply choose accordingly.  Having expected to find these a faff to deal with, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is and how well the curls are created and how long they last, especially without using heat.  

Phil Smith has been a new brand for me to try and the Living La Vida Loca - Coco Liscious Gift Set is an absolute must for anyone who loves the scent of coconut.

This kit contains four products: 

• Coconut Oil Shampoo which is described as being a lightweight nourishing cleanse for super-soft, super-shiny hair.
• Coconut Oil Conditioner which is again described as being lightweight which will leave your hair with a bright, pure shine.
• Coconut Dry Shampoo which smells just incredible, reminds me of being on holiday and it works really well with my oily roots.
• Hold Up Gentle Tie Hairbands which are great for putting your hair up without the fear of leaving kinks in it when removed.

This amazing set is exclusively available from Sainsburys and the kit costs just £8.50 here.

The Tangle Angel brush is one of those products I have seen all over my social media and they look just so incredible and I now have one of my very own in shade Fab Fuchsia. Described as being the original detangling hairbrush, is not only perfect for detangling both wet and dry hair, but also makes a great blow drying brush and is suitable for all hair types.

Founded by celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward who is renowned globally as the man responsible for HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s hair. The Tangle Angel came about after 5 years of innovative scientific development alongside the original there is an entire range for detangling, styling and even something for your pet. What I love about the Tangle Angel is that it manages to glide through my hair without scratching my scalp or ripping my hair out. It is rare that my hair gets knotty and tangled, but when it does, it really knots, so I need something that won't leave me with hardly any hair when I brush it through and this does an amazing job and it costs just £12 here.

Then whilst your hair looks and smells amazing and you need to be ready for your Christmas Party, Scunci have some amazing hair tools and accessories to dazzle. Describing themselves as being a fashion-forward, innovative hair accessory brand with only one aim in mind, keeping your hair looking beautiful! 

I was kindly sent a few to have a play with and they include some clips and grips with incredible detailing.  Prices for this range start from just £2.75 and go upwards to around £8 making them really budget friendly.

I would love to know what hair care you are hoping to find under your tree this Christmas.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Alpha-H The Essentials Collection

If you have never tried anything from Alpha-H then this Alpha-H The Essentials Collection is the set for you. Housed in a gift box, the skincare trio includes Essential Cleansing Balm (30ml), Essential Hydration Concentrate (25ml) and Essential Hydration Cream (30ml).  

The Cleansing Balm is an absolute dream to use.  It is essentially a 4-in-1 product which acts as a cleanser, toner, makeup remover and soothing balm all rolled into one and it leaves your skin feeling just incredible.  The Essential Hydration Concentrate is made up of Rosehip, Geranium and Calendula Oils to replenish and hydrate your complexion. Ideal for use during periods of seasonal change, like now, to prevent moisture loss.  Then finally the Essential Hydration Cream is a really lightweight, soothing formula which helps to nourish and protect dry, sensitive skin. Infused with Evening Primrose Oil, Ylang-Ylang and antioxidant Vitamin E. It costs less than £40 if bought on its own.

Essential Hydration Concentrate is described as being like a hug in a bottle for dry, mature, stressed and sun-damaged skin. As an oil it is designed to not only be a replenishing treatment but because it has antioxidants in it, it also soothes, calms and rehydrates too. As you might expect from Alpha-H it is enriched with nine nurturing plant oils which includes both rose and geranium oils – which are rich in phytonutrients and they work alongside vitamins A, B, C, D and E to inhibit oxidative damage and delay the onset of premature ageing. A question I am most asked about the facial oils that I use is 'Are they Greasy?' and this one definitely isn't it. It does feel like an oil when first applied with the pipette, but once on the skin and massaged in, it soon absorbs leaving no trace behind, other than this incredible scent which reminds me of being in a Spa. You only need just a few drops of this oil and you can also mix it with your day and night cream too. Bought separately it is priced at £29.99.

Then finally there is the Essential Hydration Cream and one of my favourite Alpha-H products that I have come across so far.  Described as being a Cream which soothes, repairs and revitalises lacklustre complexions and it is one which is also suitable for even delicate types, this nourishing cream provides twenty-four hour hydration without being too rich for problematic or sensitive skin. The cream has quite a lightweight texture and within it, it suspends sea minerals, fatty acids and youth-restoring peptides in the finest essential oils. It does this to nurture both skin and senses and oils such as evening primrose and linoleic acid work to nourish the skin and restore elasticity; arnica montana, cypress, solomon's seal and barley all come together and work to counteract inflammation and minimise redness. Then there is the inclusion of palmitoyl tripeptide-5 which stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and I can't forget both ylang ylang and peppermint oils which balance sebum to normalise even oily skin. On its own, this cream retails for £35.

I have combination skin which is both oily (tzone) and dry and having just had the worst cold I have had in years, a chest infection and sinusitus all in one, my skin has been so dry and almost sore to the touch, that I am bathing in this collection and my skin is slowly but surely returning to its old self once again.  The kit can be found for less than £40 right here and it is an absolute bargain and a treat for you or someone who loves their skincare.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Christmas Gift Sets from Scholl

Most people will have heard of Scholl, not only are they experts in foot care and treatments they also have a range of nail care products too and each one is designed to keep your feet and nails in tip top condition. With that in mind, this Christmas Scholl have some amazing gift sets and I am sharing two of hem with you in this post - one for feet and one for nails.

Scholl Velvet Smooth Ultimate Party Feet Collection with Diamond Crystals (£30 here) has everything you need to turn those trotters into beautiful party ready feet.

Inside the box are four beautifully presented products which includes:

• Electronic Foot File with Extra Course Roller Head - With an ergonomically-designed soft touch handle, the Scholl Velvet Smooth Electronic Foot File comes with a extra Coarse Roller Head which has long lasting micro-abrasive particles which now includes finely ground diamond crystals. Having used a previous design from Scholl, this one is so much better at removing dead and dry skin in one go, so there is no need to spend an age trying to remove it and there is little need to use the device too regularly. On its own this device retails for £39.99 so the kit as a whole is an absolute bargain. 
• 1 x Regular Coarse Replacement Roller Head (RRP £12.99) - I am glad to see that there is the inclusion of an extra roller within this kit and it is one which can be used on wet and dry skin. 
• Velvet Smooth Intense Serum (RRP £6.99) - This serum is specially formulated with hyaluronic acid, Green Caviar and Pentavitin to help keep your feet hydrated, giving you visibly softer looking feet. Designed to be used after you have used the electronic foot file to help keep your feet looking their best. 
• Gel Activ Extreme Heels Insoles (RRP £15) - These insolves work to provide double the cushioning for extreme heels vs not wearing insoles and an ultra soft gel arch, to help relieve pressure from the ball of the foot. The are suitable for shoes with heels above 5.5cm and sizes 3 - 7.5 (UK)

With everything you need in one box to get your feet ready for Party Season, it is hard not to be impressed with it and its retail price.

The second kit is the Scholl Velvet Smooth Perfect Nails Electronic Nail Care System (34.50 here).

Again, as with the Party Feet Collection, it includes four items.

• Velvet Smooth Electronic Nail Care System (£39.99) - Not just for using on your finger nails but also your toe nails and it is designed to keep them looking healthy and shiny. Scholl's Velvet Smooth Electronic Nail Care System acts as a nail file, buffer and polisher to give natural looking shiny nails, effortlessly.
• 3 x Nail Care Heads (£9.99) - These replaceable heads for the Nail Care device help to File, buffer and shine and again I think this is a great inclusion. 
• Velvet Smooth Nail Oil (£7.99) - This Nail Oil is exclusively formulated with a nourishing 7 Oil complex which work to moisturise and condition the cuticles and nails leaving you with visibly shinier and natural looking toe and finger nails.
• Rouge by Nailberry Nail Lacquer (£14.50) - If ever there was a festive colour to paint your nails it is a beautiful red. This polish by Nailberry is free from carcinogenic chemicals, breathable, and cruelty free.

Again, this is an incredible kit with absolutely everything you need to sort your nails out in one sitting and I have found the nail file so incredibly easy to use and much more straightforward than an ordinary nail file.

So there you have two amazing kits from Scholl which you still have time to run out and purchase (here) ready for the big day!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here