Ambiance London Phoenicia Cedar Candle

One thing I love about Christmas is the cosiness of getting home from work, lighting some candles and watching the TV or curling up with my blanket and a book.  The lastest candle to my collection comes from Ambiance London with the Phoenicia Cedar Candle and ever since it arrived, it has been burning for a few hours every single day. I am already a huge fan of the candles from this brand and last year feature the Bacca Berry candle on my blog.

Ever since we had our bathroom renovated, I have been lucky enough to use some really incredible products and accompanying this candle was two bottles of bath salts which will feature within their own blog post soon. For anyone who isn't aware of the brand, Ancienne Ambiance is a London-based luxury niche brand which was founded back in 2004 and they specialise in creating fine fragrances, home fragrances, body-care, perfumes and natural hand-poured scented candles. Everything you find from Ancienne Ambiance is paraben free, has been created using natural ingredients and has recyclable packaging.

The Phoenicia Cedar Candle is described as being warm and woody and one which is 'An inspiring scent which is uplifting and warm, perfect for a cozy ambience'.  So this candle was placed in my new bathroom and it is just as described - warm and uplifting.

When it comes to burning a candle, we can all just go out and buy something that smells alright, but for me, a candle is so much more than that, it is something that should be relaxing, clear the air or even be uplifting in the scent it releases.

A fragrance of freshly cut cedar-wood blended with fresh herbs, Phoenicia evokes the lovely aromas found in the forest of Becharreh, in Lebanon, home to the oldest cedar trees in the world. The Phoenicians believed the wood of the glorious cedars to be the sacred wood of the gods and used it to honour their ancestors, a task to which the ancient orient attached deep importance. The cedar tree was also thought to be an emblem of prosperity.

The first thing about this candle to stand out is the scent before the candle is lit, the beautiful woodiness of the cedar notes which gives it a spicy warmness which just fills every room of the house and rather than being the more masculine scent I was expecting, instead what you get is quite the opposite.

Each candle within the Ambiance range has been hand poured right here in the UK, and it’s a slow-burning natural wax with a lead free wick. Each candle also comes packaged inside a straight glass jar and because it is a huge 200g sized candle, it has a burn time of around 60-65 hours which is really impressive and it costs just £44.

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

Hello Kitty OPI Collection

Over the past 18 months, OPI has had some incredible collections, some of which I have featured on my blog - Disney Nutcracker, Toyko and today we see the turn of the Hello Kitty Collection. 

 When a huge Hatbox arrived by courier with the word OPI written across the top, I had no idea what I was about to find inside.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you would have seen on my grid a photograph detailing exactly what was inside.  A huge 1.5kg white chocolate Hello Kitty shaped structure with a hammer and I could not wait to give it a whack to see what was inside.

As you can see, hidden inside this white chocolate Hello Kitty structure was a whole host of sweets that the mister and I made our way through as well as a box of nail polishes, 12 Hello Kitty nail polishes from the Hello Kitty collaboration and if you are an OPI fan and love a bit of Hello Kitty, then this set could not be more perfect and they are still available now.

On the top row, we have Hush of Blush, All about Bows, Let's Celebrate, A Kiss On The Chic and Many Celebrations to Go.  Along the bottom we have My Favourite Gal Pal, Let Love Sparkle, Pile On The Sprinkle, Let's be Friends, isn't She Iconic, Hello Pretty and Glitter to My Heart.

Celebrate the 2019 season with The Hello Kitty Holiday Collection by OPI. Find limited edition color shades in lacquers, GelColor, and Infinite Shine.

The Collection features a host of different shades and finishes and with 30 options to choose from, you won't be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking your favourites.  What I found with these shades is that some need to be applied with just one coat, some need two and others need three and it is all about your preference of colour.  I swatched them all and this is what they look like.

The first swatches feature My Favourite Gal Pal which is a classic dark blue nail polish, almost denim-like in colour. Quite sheer and needs two coats. Next is Let Love Sparkle which reminds me of Frozen. Almost a silvery-white shade, this polish features small iridescent lavender glitter and to get it to appear smooth and glittery, it is definitely one you have to persevere with and apply at a minimum two, if not three coats. The final swatch is Pile On The Sprinkle and this is a polish which works amazingly well on its own if you just want a bit of sparkle or as a topcoat with purple polish to really show off its iridescent shimmers, fine lavender and holographic glitters. I found one coat was more than enough, but two adds quite the dimension.

If pinks and sparkles are more your shades then this trio might just capture your attention as we have a Hush of Blush, Let's Celebrate and Glitter To My Heart.  On the left, we have Hush Of Blush and it is a soft lavender-pink which is packed with super-fine iridescent shimmers and it needs 2-3 coats to really let the colour show through as it is quite sheer.  Let's Celebrate is the sister to Pile On The Sparkle and it makes a great little polish on its own on top of clear varnish or over the top of anything that has a pink or purple colour too it. Again as above, it features iridescent shimmers, fine pink and holographic glitters and I really like this one. The final swatch is Glitter to my Heart and I absolutely love it. When applied you can see the scattered white hexagonal glitter sitting alongside a much finer silver glitter particle and for me, this is one you would wear over a deeper shade of purple, red or maybe even a black to let it stand out.

With this trio of swatches we have Let's Be Friends, Isn't She Iconic and Hello Pretty and all three shades are beautiful but ones I found the hardest to work with.  Starting off with Let's Be Friends, a polish I am told featured in the 2016 Hello Kitty Collection and proved to be quite popular.  Best described as being a powder pink cream, I found that the application was really patchy and it definitely needed three coats for a smooth and even coverage, but the downside of that is each layer had to dry completely before another application could be applied, so this is a time consuming one to say the last. In the middle we have Isn't She Iconic which is a really beautiful deep silver shimmer shade which in the light has a gold undertone. Again, another shade that needed two coats but looked much better with a third. The final swatch is Hello Pretty and it is best described as a dark purple navy shade, again quite sheer and needs two if not three coats to really show off its shade.

A nail polish collection wouldn't be complete without a red shade or two being thrown in right? Well within the Hello Kitty OPI Collection we have two to choose from as well as a beautiful gold.  The first shade is All About Bows which is a deep cranberry red shade and whilst it appears quite sheer on the first application, once it dries, the colour settles really well.  In the middle, we have Many Celebrations To Go which can be best be described as a pale iridescent champagne gold shimmer and one which is too sheer with one application but with two, or even three, it really looks perfect for the festive season. The final polish within the collection is A Kiss On The Chic which is a deep warm red and whilst it is sheerer than All About Bows, after two coats, it is much brighter and definitely that Christmassy red shade.

I absolutely love this collection, whilst I do think a lovely deep burgundy would have been a nice inclusion, there is definitely something for everyone and I love the option of applying a glitter topper to any one of these shades depending on my mood, outfit or occasion.  

The OPI Holiday 2019 Hello Kitty Collection is available right now in the original, GelColor, and Infinite Shine formulation with prices starting at £13.50 per polish.

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

Omorovicza Perfecting Duo

Christmas has come early with Omorovicza and if you tread my blog regularly, then you will know just how much of a fan of this brand I am.  This Christmas, Omorovicza has so many gifts to choose from, that whether you are a huge fan of the brand or about to be introduced, there is absolutely something for everyone.

If you didn't know, Omorovicza which is pronounced Oh - more - o - veet - za is inspired by tradition, guided by nature and spearheading the concept of Mineral Cosmetology, the Omorovicza skincare range has a rich, romantic heritage. It was founded by a young couple, Stephen and Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza, who met in Budapest.

One of the Christmas Gifts that I absolutely loved the look of, and was kindly gifted, is the Omorovicza Perfecting Duo (£33).  Packaged inside the most beautiful gold triangle package, making it perfect for hanging on your tree, is two of the brands most popular products and one of them you will have seen mentioned on my blog a few times.  

The first product is the Queen of Hungary Mist Limited Edition Rose Gold (30ml) and it is just stunning to look at, as much as it is to use.

I'm a huge fan of facial mists and have over the last year featured a lot of them on this blog. One of my favourite mists happens to be this one and it is my most purchased. 

The Queen of Hungary’s water was the 'original' perfume, formulated in Europe at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. Legend has it that the water was ‘created’ as a beauty treatment which was so successful that it led the king (aged just 25 years) to propose marriage when she was nearing the end of her life

Taking its inspiration from a perfume first created in the 14th Century for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary, this refreshing mist is infused with Orange Blossom, Rose and Sage Waters which both purify and tone, whilst it's Hydro Mineral Transference™ System works to deliver minerals deep into the skin for long-lasting hydration.  It is a mist that is perfect for using throughout the day and it can be used on top of or under makeup.

The second product within this gift set is the Perfecting Lip Balm. This balm is described as being a nourishing balm to hydrate and plump dry, chapped lips.

I adore lip balms and have been using this one for a good few weeks now and I have already ordered another one for when this runs out. Pink in colour, this balm not only smooths surface imperfections it also gives long-lasting hydration. Ingredients include shea butter, eucalyptus oil and hyaluronic spheres which give a gentle tingling sensation when applied. The formula is also enriched with volume-enhancing palmitoyl oligopeptide to leave lips feeling fuller, smoother and softer. As well as this, an omega 6 ceramide bolsters skin’s barrier function to replenish dehydrated skin and restore softness and elasticity.

Together, this duo is quite the pair and I absolutely love it.  Priced at just £33 here*, it would make a beautiful gift for a loved one.

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

Eco Mind Organic Reusable Bamboo Cleansing Pads

Just a few weeks I made a pledge to REN Skincare that I would stop using cotton wool pads and instead switch to something much more sustainable in its place.  Then the lovely people over at Eco Mind got in touch to see if I wanted to try their reusable organic bamboo cleansing pads and I said yes.

Having looked online and asked on Instagram what people use in place of cotton wool, I decided to ask Google for some ideas too and honestly, with over 3.5million returns, it is an absolute minefield as to which ones are the best. So Eco Mind saved me hours of trawling reviews and websites.

Eco Mind reuseable make up pads are made from soft bamboo cotton fibres that are not just hypoallergenic but they are suitable for all skin types, plus they are also kind to that delicate skin around your eyes too. Our product is manufactured from GOTS organic bamboo cotton which is said to be certified to be free of harmful substances.  The pads arrive in a recyclable tub and inside you will find nestled inside a drawstring bag, two different types of cleansing pad. One is made from white bamboo cotton and the other from a black bamboo velour. Both pads have what is referred too as 'Custom Z stitching' which is used to prevent the two layers from slipping.

I have been using cotton wool pads for as long as I can remember, I've never given any thought on not using them until a few months ago, I use them with a toner, I use them with makeup remover and sometimes with a Micellar water depending on my mood. With these Organic Bamboo Cleansing pads I can do all of that and more.  

Using them for the first time was not as expected because I am used to cotton wool, but the big difference was how they felt on my skin, much smoother, much softer and since I started using them, I have seemingly used less eye makeup remover than I would usually do. When it comes to their size, they are slightly bigger than your average (Primark 50p ones) cotton wool pad and for me, I love that they come with a laundry bag so I can wash them and not lose them with wherever socks go to and never return. After washing them, they don't shrink and I can air dry them too.  

For me, these have been an amazing alternative to cotton wool and I have since purchased another set so that should I lose any, I have a back up.  Priced at just £15.99 on Amazon* they are such a good price point and obviously anything you can do switch too that is eco-friendly, is always going to be a plus point.

Have you made any changes to become more eco-friendly with your beauty routine?

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