Revlon Volumazing Mascara

As a mascara fiend, I love discovering new potential favourites to have within my stash. I am quite picky about the kind of mascara I like though, it can't be an overly wet formula, the wand can't be one which holds excess formula, it cant give me spider leg lashes if I need to apply more than one coat and if it is hard to remove, it is an instant no. New from Revlon comes Lash Loudly, a Volumising Mascara which claims to give Eye catching lashes with visible volume that won’t smudge or flake for 24 hours.

Now, I would never wear mascara for 24 hours straight, so whether or not that particular claim is true I don't know, but I do on average wear mascara for at least 12 hours a day and it does last that long without dropping, flaking or smudging but it isn't waterproof.

With a creamy formula which isn't too wet, this mascara is infused with nourishing ingredients such as Olive Oil and Carnauba Wax which help to condition your lashes.  I didn't like the look of the wand to start with, it looked as though it would be too thick, hold too much formula, but it is actually really clever. The brand's Volumazing Brush™ features these unique wavy fibres that act as mini reservoirs to coat and separate even the tiniest of eyelashes. As the brush allows for the application of 2-3 coatings of the formula to get that amplified look.

This mascara is said to be available in the shades Blackest Black, Black and Blackened Brown and I have the shade Blackest Black which really is quite dark, but it works with my lashes.  As easy to remove as it is to apply, at £8.99 you can find it on the highstreet in stores such as Boots and Superdrug and whilst it isn't my favourite mascara, it is great as a back up to have in your stash.

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

Temple Spa Do Not Disturb - Peace and Relaxation Collection

At this time of year when everyone is wound up like a coiled spring waiting to explode, taking time out to relax and unwind is definitely a must.  Temple Spa have this amazing Do Not Disturb Peace and Relaxation Collection and whilst we are busy buying gifts for everyone else, this one is a definite must buy for yourself kind of present.  Something to indulge in for sure.

Temple Spa believe in that! Taking some “DO NOT DISTURB” time shouldn't be just a luxury, but an essential part of a life of wellness. 

Open the door to total relaxation. As far back as ancient Roman times, spa and bathing rituals have been an essential part of relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation. Temple Spa believe in that! Taking some “DO NOT DISTURB” time shouldn’t be just a luxury, but an essential part of a life of wellness. This all-over collection of Temple Spa favourites is the perfect way to treat your skin, body and soul. Use the products whenever you want, or follow the enclosed spa ritual to help create your own spa any time, any place, anywhere!

Packaged inside the most beautifully designed green box, which makes it rather festive, is a collection of 6 products all of which can be used in one incredible pampering session, for travelling with or even on their own one by one.  The first one that I was drawn too is the Do Not Disturb Lavender Pillow.

Obviously, this pillow isn't big enough to lay your head on, but what it is great for is hanging on the bathroom door to let someone know you are in there and do not want disturbing.  The downside for me is that I have three cats, it dangles and they think it is a game!  It does smell just incredible though as it is scented with lavender.

As that bath is running there is one product you should use as you add your bath oil and that is a spritz into the bathroom air with Quietude, a calming mist for me and my space. 

Described as being a spa in a bottle with the aroma of lavender, vetiver, orange, patchouli and chamomile transports you to a place of peacefulness.

Next we have Drift Away, a relaxing bath and massage oil. Described as being the one for a total wind down.

I love that this oil has more than one use and it smells absolutely divine. It can be applied straight to the body if being used as a massage oil and it is non-greasy, so it doesn't go absolutely everywhere nor does it feel slimy. To use in the bath, you need just one capful and as the oils come into contact with the steam from the hot running water, the scent is just absolute bliss. Using a soothing blend of Mediterranean essential oils including patchouli, lavender, geranium, frankincense, chamomile, sweet almond, myrrh, dill seed and orange, suspended in a lush base of sesame, jojoba and avocado oils, plus anti-ageing vitamin E.

Whilst laying the bath breathing in some of the most relaxing scents and fragrances, it is time to apply BeCalm. Described as being a skin rescue mask that’s like a comfort blanket for sensitive, stressed and delicate skin.

BeCalm is designed to deliver a boost of vitamins to the skin, helping to firm the delicate tissue. Packed full of natural ingredients such as Vitamin E, Cucumber water, Liquorice Root Extract, Olive Oil, Chamomile all of which are known to calm, hydrate, settle, and soothe it’s the perfect antidote to sensitive skin; gentle enough not to irritate yet effective in reviving healthy looking skin.

Once out of the bath, there is no reason why your pampering ritual should not continue. Duvet is one of the most luxurious feeling creams I have ever used. It is lightweight to the touch and absorbs immediately on contact with your warm skin and is just divine.

It is rich in omega oils, olive, guarana, fig, pomegranate, liquorice, vitamin E and relaxing Mediterranean essential oils of lavender, frankincense, myrrh, chamomile and patchouli which all come together to make one amazing relaxing fragrance too. 

Finally, we have Repose, the aromatherapy resting night cream which is rich in natural plant extracts, anti-oxidants and a fusion of relaxing essential oils to leave your complexion ultra-smooth, moisturised and settled whilst working to calm and aid relaxation.

Using a blend of hops valerian, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, patchouli, geranium, bitter orange and clary essential oils are all renowned to aid deep relaxation and bring a sense of calm.  On the skin, the silky soft texture of the cream glides onto the skin and absorbs, as it does so, the scents of the essential oils come to life and it is just so incredibly hydrating.

This kit has come at an amazing time of the year to use and try out. I love that the entire collection comes together to create one amazing pampering session, complimenting each other so well and all for just £42!

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

Relax and Unwind This Christmas

As Christmas gets closer and the mad dash to the shops to buy the last minute gifts for those you have forgotten or you have yet to do the food shop but are dreading the queues and the trolley bashing down the aisles as people panic buy bread for those 12 hours shops are seemingly closed, there is one thing we should all be doing at this time of the year and that is relaxing and unwinding and generally not letting stress become a thing.

For me, the chance to relax and unwind usually starts with a long hot bath (well as long as the water remains hot I am in there) which I find incredibly relaxing and depending on my mood, it will either be filled with a relaxing oil, some bath salts or I will have copious amounts of bubbles from a bath bomb.

From the bath, I need my room setting to be just right and the one product I turn to quite a lot of Liquid Yoga by Mio, which as well as having a bath soak and a candle, I also have the Liquid Yoga Space Spray which is described as being a rapid mood-changer to help calm, quieten, de-stress and rebalance.

It uses a powerful blend of Essential oils such as:

• Lemon - stimulating, can help concentration and alertness.
• Cypress - rebalancing.
• Mentha Arvensis - refreshing, calming.
• Lavandin - incredibly calming.

You can use this spray absolutely anywhere too such as on your pulse points, pillow, yoga mat, car or office. It can also help promote natural deep sleep and ease the tension that causes headaches.  I absolutely love it and always have a bottle on my bedside table.

Sitting still and not 'faffing about' is something I find very hard to do, even when writing a blog post, I am up and down suddenly deciding I need to hoover, wash up or whatever else it is that needs doing.  One way to guarantee I don't move about is to use a face mask and one which means I can't move such as this Verso Intensive Facial Mask which I have reviewed numerous times on this blog and just love. 

This is a hydrogel mask and it is incredibly moisturising. As well as Retinol 8, this mask uses Grapefruit Extract which is rich in vitamin C and has significant anti-oxidising effects. Ceramide 3 which helps to keep the skin hydrated as well as to strengthens the skin barrier and finally Centella Asiatica which soothes and improves skin firmness and elasticity. All this mask needs is 20 minutes of your time to work its magic.

New PJ's are always a must have at this time of the year and I always make sure I have some new for Christmas Eve.  This year I have been gifted the most amazing pyjamas by Blackspade.

For me, wearing PJ's is more than just nightwear. They have to be comfy, they have to be something I can lounge about in too.  This pair, which are matching, black in colour and made from micromodal, which is one of the most breathable and comfy natural fibres known to man.  The top has long sleeves and features a lace insert at the top which is exceptionally pretty and could even be worn as a daytime top.  Priced at £47 these are luxurious when it comes to PJ's but they are the comfiest pair I have ever owned.

The re-introduction to colouring is one of the best things ive discovered and it is an activity you can do to just forget about the world, stress, life and troubles.

Pass me the pens and I can spend hours colouring in pages of pretty patterns and it is something I turn to do if I am really stressed out, I just pick up the pens and distract myself as much as I can.  Best of all, this is something that can be done just about anywhere, so you don't need to be at home, you can be sat in Costa, be at work, be in on a train or tube too.

As well as Colouring, I am an avid bookworm and it is rare for me not to have to my Kindle on me at all times.  Aside from my Kindle, I also do still read actual proper books and I always set my target of books to read per year with Goodreads.  I like the classic Thriller Killer books which provide the most escapism with the grit and grime of the underworld. However, not too long ago I finished The Tattooist of Auschwitz and it was a book I simply could not put down, it was just so beautifully written and so vivid with accounts and stories that you could have almost been with Lale, the main character of the book.

Finally, we have my Holistic Silk Lavender Eye Pillow (£45) I absolutely love this pillow and it is something I use before bedtime when I have a tension headache and even when I have a granny nap.

Infused with Organic Seeds and Real Lavender, the soothing, naturally cooling pillow rests on acupressure points when worn to calm and relax the mind, whilst helping to treat headaches, migraines and sinusitis. Crafted from ultra-comfortable silk, the eye pillow blocks out light to induce sleep, allowing you to experience clarity and calm whenever you desire. It also works to relieve stress and daily tensions to leave you feeling refreshed, revitalised and deeply rejuvenated.

Whatever it is that you helps you to relax, unwind and then enjoy the festivities ahead is am an absolute must and these are just some of the ways in which I relax and unwind.  

Have you got any hints, tips or tricks?

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

Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Ageing Bond Repair

Alterna Haircare is a range of products that friends of mine rave about being just amazing. When I was kindly sent this Bond Repair Duo Kit with a Trail Kit to boot, I was quite intrigued to see what all the fuss was about. With the tagline Pure, Proven, Professional, the range was born in 1997, Alterna Haircare is a premium hair products free of additives or harsh ingredients. Using exquisite formulas with clinically proven results made with pure, sustainable ingredients like caviar, sea silk, bamboo, and kendi oil - you might have seen the most is the Bamboo collection.

The new Bond Repair range is described as being a reparative duo that has enforcing technology which gently cleanses and strengthens damaged hair. Comprising of a shampoo and conditioner, the bright pastel blue coloured packaging really stands out.

• Firstly the Bond Repair Shampoo (250ml) - Described as being a restorative formula specially developed to help strengthen damaged hair and rebuild strands, it infuses the hair with the finest most effective ingredients such as Caviar extract (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) to help restore moisture, elasticity and shine, plus Caviar Bond Enforcing Technology to seal hair cuticles that have been damaged through chemical processes or physical stress. Putting this together you have a strengthening shampoo that not only cleanses away dirt and impurities but one that leaves your hair feel hydrated and full of natural shine. What I really like about this shampoo is that you can see the difference with how your hair looks and feels. No straw like after feel, no itchy scalp and hair that is manageable to deal with, no knots and no tangles.
• The Bond Repair Conditioner (250ml) is described as being a strengthening formula that helps to recreate, rebuild and reconnect broken bonds in the hair. Deeply nourishing and fortifying, the conditioner, again like the shampoo, utilises Caviar extract (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) to replenish moisture, elasticity and shine as well as Caviar Bond Enforcing Technology to seal hair cuticles that have been damaged through chemical processes or physical stress. What I like about this conditioner is that it isn't really thick in texture, it doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy and instead what it does is leave my hair feeling salon washed and dried.

I love how well both the shampoo and conditioner compliment one another. I don't use a conditioner more than once a week, but when I do use this one, I can see the difference in how my hair looks.

If you are not sure whether splashing out £30 for a shampoo is for you, Alterna has an amazing Caviar Bond Repair Stocking Filler Gift Set (£24 here) which is described as being a regenerating haircare kit that combines four high-performance products to restore softness, moisture and shine from root to tip.

The set contains four products which give you a real insight into the brand and this particular range. Inside the box you will find:

• Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Shampoo (40ml) - As shown above, this shampoo is described as being a restorative formula specially developed to help strengthen damaged hair and rebuild strands, it infuses the hair with the finest most effective ingredients such as Caviar extract (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) to help restore moisture, elasticity and shine, plus Caviar Bond Enforcing Technology to seal hair cuticles that have been damaged through chemical processes or physical stress.
• Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Conditioner (40ml) - described as being a strengthening formula that helps to recreate, rebuild and reconnect broken bonds in the hair.
• Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Heat Protection Spray (25ml) - This spray is a lightweight formula which has been developed for damaged hair and it uses the same Caviar extract listed within both the shampoo and conditioner within this range. As a Spray it provides thermal protection to defend against heat styling up to 450°F. Hair looks healthy, strong and youthful from root to tip.
• Caviar Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair 3-in-1 Sealing Serum (7ml) - Described as being a triple-action hair serum that expertly repairs, protects and seals damaged hair in one easy step. Helping to smoothen the look of split ends and reduce overall breakage, the hair serum utilises Caviar Bond Enforcing Technology to seal cuticles that have been damaged by chemical processes or physical stress, and a proprietary Age-Control Complex for nourishment and antioxidant protection. Again, Caviar Extract, which is one of nature's richest sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids is used and it works to restore moisture, elasticity and shine back into damaged hair.

I think this is a great little set which gives you a real insight as to the products you are buying for your hair, but before paying out a lot of money for something that might not work.

Have you tried anything from Alterna before?

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