Valentines Day Gift Ideas for Her

Whether you celebrate Valentines Day with your loved one, think it is a whole load of commercial nonsense or still think it is January and haven't given it a moments thought, today's post features a whole host of gifts that might just spur you in to action.

Bella Freud Loving Candle (£40 here) - Featuring notes of amber crystals, Sandalwood and tuberose, this candle is packaged inside the most wonderful bright red frosted glass tumbler and I have been wanting to get my hands on one of these candles for some time.

Neom Organics London Wellbeing Pod Diffuser (£90 here) - Designed to deliver the perfect amount of scent in minutes with the power to fragrance your home and help improve your wellbeing.  I love anything to do with essential oils and I love being able to create a relaxing environment as soon as I come home. 

Firebox Flamgino Tears Gin (£40 here) - I absolutely loved the Unicorn Tears Gin from Firebox and Flamingo Tears sounds just as amazing. Described as being a pink grapefruit-flavoured gin made from the glittery tears of fabulous flamingos.

Slip Silk Pillowcase (£79 here) - I have made no secret as to how much I love my Slip Silk Pillowcase and featured it here on my blog just a few weeks ago.  I absolutely adore this limited edition 'Kisses' version and it is perfect for Valentines Day.

Jo Malone London Red Roses Cologne (£47 here) - I am late to the party with this fragrance and having a bottle of the bath oil really makes me also want the fragrance.  It is inspired by a voluptuous blend of seven of the world's most exquisite roses and is the most amazing scent.

Fresh Skincare Facial Fly on the Wall (£22 here) - Fresh is a skincare brand I have had my eye on for some time and this kit looks like such a good introduction. It features three products from the range which include: Soy Face Cleanser, 20ml, Rose Face Mask, 15ml and the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, 15ml

Lookfantastic Rose Collection Beauty Box (£60 here) - If the love of your life is a beauty fan then Lookfantastic has the most lovely Beauty Box on offer, but you will need to be quick to grab it. It contains seven delicate rose scented and infused products and has an overall value of £163 but just how cute is the box?.

There is, of course, other gift choices such as dinner out, a pampering experience, jewellery, chocolates or even flowers. However, or with whoever you choose to spend the day with, I would love to know what plans you have!

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

3 Reasons It Is Better To Check Luggage Rather Than Carry It On The Plane

[AD] A few years ago, it was fashionable to tote what you owned in a carry-on bag. But things have changed and checking in luggage seems to be gaining momentum. This article looks at the reasons why it is better to check in luggage rather than carry them on the plane.

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

1. Getting around is much easier

The reason why people get tempted to carry their bags on the plane is to avoid the fees charged by airlines. But travellers have discovered that checking bags allows them more freedom. They don't have to tot a bunch or luggage around the airport. You can imagine how it will feel like if you were to visit the bathroom three times toting your suitcase. If the luggage is a few pounds heavy, it will make it difficult for you to move around. The inconvenience it will cause is expensive compared to the few dollars you would part with. Also, think of a situation where you have layovers. You will need to run to the next flight. Figure out how difficult it is to do this with bags that weigh a few hundred pounds.

2. It allows you to carry as much as you want

When you check in your luggage, you will be certain that you will reach your destination with your belongings so you don’t have to go shopping upon arrival. How it will be transferred from one plane to another will not be part of your business. It gives you a chance to carry as much as you want but it is important to check with each airline to find out the costs associated with checking large bags. Doing so will ensure that you don’t have to worry about anything if you have enough money to pay the fees. Carrying stuff from abroad is fun and enjoyable. But what scares most people who would love carry more stuff is the inconvenience it causes on the plane. But when you check in your bags, you pass the burden of loading and unloading to the carrier. It makes carrying items stress-free and enjoyable. If the items are unique, you get a chance to share them with many of your friends at home.

3. Reduces injury and stress

Carrying heavy luggage is likely to make your shoulder lug. It may also tweak your neck. When it happens, it causes pain and makes the journey less enjoyable. Carrying heavy luggage will fatigue your muscles and give you no time to rest. Also, you are likely to hit other travellers as you shove the bag around. If the bags are many, you get more stressed because you need to keep track of them. It means that you will be unkind to fellow passengers. In fact, it has been observed that people who carry a lot of bags will always be rude and argue a lot. All these troubles can be avoided by checking in the bag.

Of course, there are many other reasons that make checking in bags better. But the convenience it gives you makes the journey thrilling. Also, the fact that that it reduces stress makes travelling enjoyable.   

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

touch in SOL METALLIST Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo

I mentioned last week when I reviewed touch in SOL Pretty Filter Waterglow cream (here) that there was a whole lot of newness coming from this amazing brand and today sees the turn of the Metallist Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo Collection.  I have five shades to share with you and whether you like to stand out from the crowd or go unnoticed, there will be a shade right here for you, it just depends how you choose to wear it!

Penny, Jasmine, Sophie, Dyllis and Bonita come packaged inside clear see-through tubes and what I love is that you can not only see the shades, but you can also see the foil too.  Each side has an applicator which ensures the liquid lipstick and the foil don't become mixed together.  

If you are familiar with products like this, touch in SOL also do amazing Metallist Liquid Foil and Glitter Shadow too (review here) then using them is really easy.  The advice is to apply the liquid lipstick and allow it to sit for a minute until it becomes quite tacky to the touch, at this point, you apply the foil on the top.  

On the left is the liquid lipstick applicator which has a doe foot to make the application easy and on the right, if the foil applicator which is a slightly different shape, but it works perfectly with the textures.

The Liquid lipstick looks amazing on its own and I find it is perfect day wear, then for going out in an evening, re-apply and add the foil to really make things come to life.

What I love about these Foil Lipstick Duo's is that they are not drying and don't leave your lips as though they might crack if you smile, instead they feel hydrated and moisturised and the foil doesn't scratch or dry tight.  From the swatches above, you can see just how amazing each of the shades look with or without the foil, though my personal favourite is to use the foil on top of course.   So with the swatches, the furthest part if the liquid lipstick, in the middle is the foil and the third swatch is both the liquid and the foil together. 

I have loved getting to know these shades.  Bonita is the one I feared the most because she is so bright whether you use her alone or with the foil but it is a beautiful shade.  The ones I have worn the most, which will come as no surprise is Dyllis, Jasmine and Penny, all of whom sit within the comfortable nude/neutral section and I like that I can mix and match the foils as I see fit.  These are some of the longest lasting liquid lipsticks I have used and once your chosen shade has dried, there is no transference, it doesn't fade quickly and even with the foil, it lasts a good 5-6 hours.

The touch in SOL Metallist Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo's are priced at £20 each and you and you can find them at Boots.

I would love to know if anything from touch in SOL grabs your attention!

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

Emma Hardie Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask

I absolutely love Emma Hardie skincare and make no secret of my love for the Moringa Cleansing Balm (review here).  Today sees the turn of the Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask and it has been in my stash since the event launch last year, I wanted to give a try a good few times before sharing my thoughts with you.

Packaged inside the notable gold pot, this mask which comes with an accompanying Dual-Action Cleansing Cloth is described as being a botanical-rich, purifying and detoxifying mask that deeply cleanses and balances skin, exfoliating gently to remove impurities and refine pores. 

Using Australian pink clay which improves the skin’s natural moisture levels as it cleanses and refines as well as Emma Hardie’s trademarked ‘Defensil’ technology which reduces redness and inflammation to leave your complexion looking much smoother and more even there is also the brand’s signature moringa seed oil, which is not only rich in vitamins C and E, it also provides antioxidant protection, deflecting skin-damaging environmental pollutants. My skin often reacts to using clay within products and I always do a patch test just to be safe. Thankfully, I suffered no reaction and have found that my skin absolutely loves everything this mask has to offer.

To use the mask, you simply need to smooth a thin layer of Purifying Detox Pink Clay Mask over the skin, being careful to avoid the eye area and obviously after cleansing to remove absolutely everything that is sitting or lurking on your skin. The mask helpfully comes with its own spatula to remove the mask out of the pot and onto the back of your hand to make the application a lot easier. Once it has been applied to the skin, the advice is to leave it for around 10-15 minutes to work its magic. As the mask works on the skin, grab the Dual-Action Professional Cleansing Cloth and soak it in warm water, squeeze out any excess and use to gently remove the Clay Mask from the skin.

This mask is designed to be used once a week or as needed for balanced, deeply cleansed skin.  You can also use it to multi-mask and it works as the perfect partner to Emma Hardie's Moringa Renewal Treatment Mask.

Priced at £40 you can find the Emma Hardie Purifying Pink Clay Detox Mask right here at Cult Beauty.

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