Procoal London Shampoo Bars

I am trying to do the best I can with ditching plastic, buying metal straws, recycling more and not buying bags for life (which is an oxymoron anyway) etc etc... The one thing I haven't give much thought too is the products in my bathroom that can be changed, one of them being shampoo.  I have used shampoo bars in the past, but more out of curiosity than for the job they do for my hair and scalp.  When Procoal got in touch to ask if I would like to try some of their products I didnt even hesitate.

Procoal began back in 2016 with a husband and wife team and their manta is 'Selfish self-care' which intrigued me and it basically means that the only way you can be selfless towards others.

As human beings, we’ll only survive by existing collectively. Helping our fellow people. Collaborating. Cooperating. Being one big family. Working in teams. It’s as natural as leaves, sex and bird’s eggs.
That all sounds very lovely and planetary. But come on. We all know that deep inside every selfless, sharing, loving collaborator, there’s a selfish git.
There has to be.
After all, if we don’t first care for ourselves, how will we find the confidence, verve and energy to care for others?
And in turn, when we look after others, we feel even better. It’s an upward, positive spiral, starting with us.
So, selfishly care for yourself in the best way possible. Do that, and we’ll know the rest of the world might have a chance.

All of which makes perfect sense to me and at the end of the day, the one person we should all be making more time for is ourselves, even if that means an hour of me time in a bath of hot water and bubbles with a book and a brew, it isn't selfish to just want to be with yourself.

To that end, Procoal does not test any of their products on animals, most of their ingredients are naturally derived, like charcoal and essential oils. Even the synthetic components have a proven history of safe use. So I chose two shampoo bars to try out and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to be so impressed. They are compact, eco-friendly and vegan and it is claimed that a single bar can do the job of three 250g bottles of traditional liquid shampoo, so roughly 80-100 washes.

The first Shampoo Bar is Purifying Charcoal which works to help cleanse impurities from your hair and scalp. What I loved about the description is that this solid shampoo bar is made using selected ingredients to help fight against urban pollution. If you live in a heavily populated city, like London, then you know only too well just how manky your skin can feel after a day outside, never mind your hair and scalp!

My skin absolutely loves Charcoal as an ingredient and within this shampoo bar, it uses its purifying qualities to work as a deep cleanser while botanical extracts such as Ginseng Root help strengthen the follicles and roots of the hair.  

The second shampoo bar is the Nourishing Seaweed bar and I was drawn to it because of just how blue in colour it is. Seaweed helps to nourish the scalp as well as to increase hydration and when I had a flare up of eczema at the back of my scalp a few years ago, I was told to use a product with Seaweed in to help with calming and nourishing and it worked a treat.  Alongside the seaweed is Clove Flower Oil which helps invigorate the hair follicles by increasing blood circulation to the scalp.

To use a shampoo bar you simply need to ensure your hair is wet and then, as you would a bar of soap, I rub it between my hands and then apply the lather to my scalp and hair and then as I get to the lengths, I use the bar itself to work the lather into the hair.  What I like about these products is that the lather comes about very quickly, so you don't need to overly rub the hair to make them work.  I find that I only need to rub the shampoo bar between the palms of my hands for a minute or two to create the lather I want.  This might differ depending on your hair type.  I have a lot of hair on my head, so I do need a bit of lather to give my hair a really good cleanse.

When it comes to storage, I have an old Lush tin that I store my Shampoo Bars in rather than leave them sticking to the side of the bath and every time I have used them, they have felt amazing on my hair.  It is soft, my scalp feels clean, there is no build up and I can go 2 days between washing my hair instead of having to wash it every other day.

These shampoo bars are currently on offer for just £6.95 here and if you purchase two bars, they cost just £11.99 saving you a lot of money!

Have you ever tried a Shampoo Bar?

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

Sanctuary Spa Indulgence Box

With Mother's Day on the horizon this weekend coming, there is always a few people who leave it to the last minute to go and grab that present.  Thankfully, Sanctuary Spa has this amazing Indulgence Box and it is currently on offer in Boots for just £17 making it an absolute bargain as the contents are worth over £40.

I absolutely love the smell of Sanctuary Spa products and am lucky enough to have a candle in the signature scent, which is just divine (post here) and this Indulgence Box collection contains some amazing products from across the ranges.

At Sanctuary Spa our mission is to make you feel wonderful. Whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes, simply relax, breathe & let go. Find your sanctuary.  Indulge yourself & revel in some relaxation time with this top-to-toe array of seriously sumptuous Sanctuary treats to leave your skin feeling beautifully pampered.

If ever you have used the Sanctuary Spa Luxury Bath Float and loved it as much as I do, then this collection is going to tick a lot of boxes for you. 

Inside this gift box you will find five products all of which are full sizes and they are:

• Liquid Gold Bath Elixir 250ml - This is such a wonderful product and I used it at the weekend to have a bit of a pamper session. Enriched with rose water, as soon as it comes into contact with hot water, the scent really does come alive. It also holds a blend of brightening blend of vitamins and if bubbles are a must have for your bath, then you will not be disappointed.
• Body Wash 250ml - This body wash uses a blend of essential oils and jojoba beads and when it comes into contact with water it gently transforms into a delicately fragranced foam. I love how soft and smooth it leaves my skin feeling after use and of course, the scent lingers on the skin and it is just so relaxing.
• Body Scrub 200ml - This is one of my favourite Sanctuary Spa products and I love that it is so gentle, you can use it daily skin. Infused with natural pumice and essential oils, the fragrance works it magic as the pumice scrubs the skin in a non-abrasive yet efficient way.
• Body Butter 300ml - This intensely nourishing blend of wheat germ oil, shea and cocoa butter help make a body butter that literally glides onto he skin as though it is butter and not only does it scent the skin lightly with the signature scent, it also leaves it feeling soft and smooth to the touch.
• Hand Cream 75ml - I am never without a hand cream and this offering from Sanctuary Spa is a non-greasy, gentle daily. It uses a rich and creamy blend of shea butter & sweet almond oil is quickly absorbed

If you have never tried Sanctuary Spa products before then I cannot recommend them highly enough and I love that there are mini versions of a lot of the products so you can try before you purchase the bigger sizes or you can treat yourself to an amazing pampering whilst away from home too.

Are you a fan of Sanctuary Spa products?

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

ColourPop X Disney

I have become obsessed with Colourpop and made a large order not too long ago (post here) and one of the things that got my attention was the Disney Designer Collection. If anyone follows me on Instagram or any of my social media accounts, then you will know that I absolutely love Disney and given half the chance, I am watching a Disney film on a Saturday afternoon, curled up under a blanket and don't get me started on how excited I am for the new Lion King movie, which just so happens to be my favourite Disney Movie!

From my order, I managed to pick up the Belle Crème Lux Lipstick which is the most beautiful Rose Berry shade and I have worn it non-stop since it arrived.  

This full-coverage lipstick is packed full of the finest pigments and it is so pigmented, the formula glides on to the lips almost like butter. It is infused with an exclusive blend of Acai, Jojoba and Pomegranate Seed butter and they come together to not only hydrate and moisturise but they also keep your lips nourished. 

The use of natural antioxidants also protects your lips from environmental stressors and premature ageing.  The swatch shown above is unedited and what I love about it is just how stunning a shade it is, one which is so easy to wear and once applied it lasts for an incredible amount of time and it cost just $7 which is an absolute bargain!

Now if Disney Princesses are your thing and let's face it, how could they not be? Then Colourpop still has the whole collection on sale and it is just absolutely beautiful.

So whether you are Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Tiana, Ariel, Cinderella or Belle you have a choice of a collection, you can purchase items separately and it is just perfect for any Disney Fan.  However...  If you prefer the Disney Villians, then the newest Colourpop launch definitely has your name on it!

It’s good to be bad. Get the entire Disney Villains and ColourPop Collection in the limited edition PR box. Includes the Misunderstood Palette, 2 Glitterally Obsessed, and each of the 6 Villains’ signature shades in Super Shock Highlighter, Jelly Much Shadow, Lux Lipstick, and Ultra Glossy Lips. You’ll be ready to rule the world.

What I love about this collection is that it includes absolutely every Villian I would want it to include and everything is wearable.

So whether you love Hades, Ursula, Maleficent, Evil Queen, Dr Facilier or Cruella herself, then each collection just ticks boxes and you will see 6 Villains’ signature shades in Super Shock Highlighter, Jelly Much Shadow, Lux Lipstick, and Ultra Glossy Lips.

Have you seen anything you like from the Colourpop x Disney Collections? Are you more of a Princess or a Villian?

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

Neon Sheep Black and Gold Collection

I absolutely love stationary and when Neon Sheep got in touch to say they had launched their sleek black and gold collection, marrying ebony hues with glorious golds, I was a little bit excited and ewe guessed it, that is what I am sharing with you today. My love of stationery goes right back to buying new school books and stationery every term/semester and then when my Auntie introduced me to the world of penpalling, I would spend hours trawling the internet for fancy paper (Diddl being my favourite) to reply to letters on.  As well as stationery, Neon Sheep also sell homeware, party products, clothing, jewellery and other accessories to name just a few items.

I was very kindly gifted a package which contained stationery and homeware and everything arrives so beautifully and carefully wrapped, I actually didn't want to remove anything from the box.  Inside I was greeted with two notebooks, a beautifully designed card, a pineapple trinket tray and a metallic patterned photo frame.

What I really like about this collection is how it comes together and just works.  The notebook which is A5 in size with a hardback features the word 'Notes' in gold writing.  It is very on trend with its monochrome design and inside the pages are lined and in the bottom right-hand corner, each one features the Neon Sheep logo.

I am never without a notebook in my bag.  As I travel too and from work, or if I have a day of meetings, I am a tad old school and like to handwrite down notes and points rather than use my iPad or even Notes on my photo.  During my exams and even through University, I would sit and handwrite my notes and found writing parts over and over again was a way in which to revise and it must have worked well for me because I did get a 2:1!!   When it comes to writing blog posts, I always list which products have come in and from which brand, note which ones I have bought myself and as I use them, I write notes next to each one which helps form the basis of my blog posts. it also costs just £4.

Staying with notebooks and I also happen to keep one beside my bed with a pen. Odd you might think, but as someone who has bouts of insomnia, this is often the time I come up with some blog post ideas.  The Night Thoughts A6 notebook is perfect for this.

Again sticking with the black and gold theme, this A6 notebook, which costs just £1, has lined pages inside and also features the sheep logo.  This is one of the handiest notebooks I have got and it is one which I have almost finished using!

When it comes to photos, I have lots of frames on my bookcase which feature a lot of family photos and a few of the mister and me, but there is always one or two photos that I never get around to framing. I absolutely love this Gold Metallic Patterned frame which now sits on my bookcase with a photo of my year old nephew inside.

At 4 x 6 inches, this frame holds a normal sized photo and it is incredible sturdy and has a really well-made stand so it doesn't have to be propped up to stand up. It is priced at £6 and what it has done to my photo frame collection is add a bit of colour and it really stands out.

If trinket dishes are something you love, then this is one you will love.  The Ceramic Pineapple Trinket Tray is as fabulously fun as it is handy.

Until now, I never knew I really needed one of these, but I have it sat on my bedroom table and I put all kinds of knickknacks in it, including my house keys, lipsticks and jewellery from the day.  It is priced at £4 and I now have my eyes on another one from the range which is in the shape of a cats face!

The final item from within my box is the Star Chalkboard Card.  I am someone who sends a lot of cards, whether it is a birthday, anniversary, Mothers Day or more likely, just something to let someone know I am thinking of them, am thankful or grateful for something, then I think a handwritten note makes a lot of difference and shows appreciation.

This 'You're a Star' card which costs just £2 is blank inside so you can write your own message and it comes with its own envelope.  This card has already been sent to someone who I thought needed a little bit of a pick-me-up, so hopefully, she isn't reading this blog post, but it is the perfect card for her!

I have loved my introduction to Neon Sheep, a site and brand I had never come across until an email hit my inbox and I am really glad of the introduction.  I am debating whether or not I need everything within the beauty section and just how many notebooks is too many or whether that is just not a thing!

Have you ever used Neon Sheep before?

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