Marks & Spencer Apothecary Range

I am a huge fan of the Marks & Spencer Beauty Hall, it has been through quite the transformation over recent years, gone is the feeling of feeling too young to buy anything as you approach the shelves to instead wanting to fill your basket with all the amazing brands and new products.  Just recently, Marks &Spencer launched their brand new Apothecary Spa range which has been designed to help you recreate your own at-home spa and frankly it is right up my street and I bought two products to try and if you have been wanting to find an affordable luxury, then consider that box well and truly ticked.

I am sure I am not the only one guilty of buying products from those more luxurious brands - think Jo Malone and Molton Brown for example, only to them use them sparingly or for a special occasion. From Marks and Spencer, they are offering you a choice of four different ranges - Calm, Restore, Balance and Uplift with prices starting as low as £4!  I was tempted by all four ranges and in the end, opted for the fragrance I felt I would like the most and found myself with the Restore Collection.

Within the Restore Collection, there is the option of a bath oil, hand wash, hand lotion, bath salts, body wash, room spray, candle, reed diffuser and soap.  I only had the option of a body wash, bath oil and bath salts and chose the latter and I'll be honest, whenever I see bath salts, I am most definitely buying them.  The Restore Collection is one which is described as having a fragrance containing essential oils of cedarwood, geranium and eucalyptus, all of which are considered to have soothing and relaxing qualities

On a cold wet day, there is nothing better than going home from the office and running a hot bath using a scent which is as soothing as it is calming and the bath salts are incredibly potent, so you need just a handful to sprinkle into the water, usually after there are 1-2 inches already in the bath and then, as with the bath oil, as soon as those essential oils come into contact with the hot water and steam vapour, the Eucalyptus and Lavender scent is really noticeable. With the bath oil, you need around a capful, two if you have a stuffy nose or the onset of a cold to help calm and soothe.

I absolutely love these two products and as a range, it just covers so many uses - it calms, it soothes, it helps relieve stress and tension, it relaxes and if you are suffering from a cold or are feeling run down, it definitely helps with that.  I am hoping the next time I get to the Marks & Spencer Beauty Hall they might have more of the Restore Collection in stock, especially the candle and I might even venture into the other collections too.

With prices as low as £4 and with packaging as fabulous as it is, the Apothecary range is definitely worth buying and trying!

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

Mother's Day Limited Edition Beauty Box by Glossybox

With Mother's Day on the horizon, it is no surprise to find brands promoting their gift ideas and products. Glossybox is about to launch of the 'Only for You' limited edition box and it contains 13 best-selling beauty products of which, three are full-sized items.

Photo from Glossybox

The box features some amazing brands and if you don't want to know what is inside, then scroll to the bottom now to find out how much it will cost and when it launches:

What's in the 'Only for You' Glossybox?

1. bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolour
2. Laboratoires Filorga Time Filler
3. Aveda Damage RemedyTM Daily Hair Repair
4. Living Proof Perfect hair DayTM Dry Shampoo
5. Patchology moodpatchTM Down Time Eye Gels
6. Ecooking Firming Serum Capsules
7. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Forumla Skin Therapy Oil
8. MUA Makeup Academy Pro 6 Shade Eyeshadow Palette – Rusted Wonders
9. Yankee Candle Smell Jar Candle – Camellia Blossom
10. Jennifer Lopez Promise Eau de Parfum
11. Seoulista Beauty Brightening Instant Facial
12. First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser
13. Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash

I really like that there is a mixture of high street and luxe brands within this box.  I am a huge fan of Living Proof and know my Mum is a fan of Yankee Candles, so this box ticks quite a lot for me.

Price and Availability

This box will be priced at £25 for subscribers and £30 for non-subscribers this Mother’s Day limited edition box launches on 10th March at 9am for those of you who subscribe and 12pm for non-subscribers.  So if you don’t want to miss out on this incredible deal, you might want to sign up to the waitlist for the alerts.

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

Alpha-H Micro Cleanse Super Scrub

Having combination skin can be tricky to look after at times because it feels as dry as it is greasy. I have always been advised to exfoliate regularly and it is something I do at least 2-3 times a week and if possible, I use an exfoliating mask. New to my bathroom shelf is the Alpha-H Micro Cleanse Super Scrub (£36) which is described as being the nearest thing to microdermabrasion in a tube.

Containing 12% glycolic acid alongside eco-friendly biodegradable jojoba beads, caffeine, cucumber and peppermint oil, this exfoliator is designed to effortlessly remove impurities and dead skin cells as well as to unclog pores.  

As it is applied to your skin, the Jojoba beads burst as you massage the scrub over your skin and in doing so, it releases pure Jojoba oil, which has a molecular structure almost identical to the skin's own sebum, to help re-establish equilibrium and maintain moisture levels.  The addition of caffeine works to tone and tighten the skin, reduce redness and inflammation and helping to improve your skin’s ability to absorb other products, making them more efficient.

Further ingredients to this scrub include Cooling Cucumber extract which helps to soothe and calm your skin, then we have Peppermint Oil which reduces redness and invigorates the skin. The addition of cucumber and Peppermint oil adds a coolness to the scrub as it is applied to the skin and as an oil which is used in aromatherapy, the scent works to stimulate the mind, increase mental agility and to increase focus.  I really like the texture of this scrub, it isn't too thick or runny and the scrub part itself isn't overly abrasive, but it does an amazing job when used on my skin and not only does it clear my complexion and pores, it removes dead and dry skin, which I usually find an issue on both cheeks and on my forehead.

Anyone who is familiar with Alpha-H Skincare and any of their products will know, that brand owner and director Michelle Doherty created Alpha-H out of her own skin struggles and personal need for effective skin treatments, so I am always happy to try absolutely anything for my own skincare issues and concerns because I know a lot of thought and work has gone into creating each and every product. The Alpha-H Micro Cleanse Super Scrub can be found via Cult Beauty for £36 and it is worth absolutely every penny.

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

Home Mortgage Options: The Reverse Mortgage*

Retiring is not always as fancy-free as you might want it to be. Money problems can be a source of great worry and stress for you. It is not easy to suddenly no longer have the income you were accustomed to during your working years. A reverse mortgage is a home mortgage option that aims to fix that issue while stressing you out as little as possible.

Photo by Peter Boccia on Unsplash

The Reverse Mortgage U.S. Start - Reverse mortgages have not always existed. In fact, they are relatively new, only getting their start in the U.S. in 1961. At that time, a Maine resident asked a lender for special assistance. The lender took pity on her and developed an arrangement that would let her keep her home and borrow money. Eventually, that concept became the reverse loan for retirees that we know today.

Government Regulation of Reverse Loan Agreements - In its infancy, the reverse mortgage was not well controlled, or even well monitored, by the federal government. However, as word quickly spread and more lenders began offering such assistance, federal rules were established. Today, those rules state you can only borrow up to a certain amount of money with a reverse mortgage, as opposed to borrowing the full exact value of your home.

The reason government lending caps on reverse mortgages exist is primarily protection. The rule helps prevent both you and your lender from entering into an agreement that is unfair or outside the established safety boundaries. However, the government rules also make determining how much you can borrow a bit more tricky. That is why you should not apply for a reverse mortgage thinking you will get all of the value of your home converted to ready cash.

Government Issuance of Reverse Mortgage Contracts - In addition to government reverse mortgage regulations, there are also now reverse mortgages that are fully issued by federal agencies. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and other agencies have the authority to issue such loans. If you apply for one, you are subjected to additional strict federal guidelines. However, you can also take advantage of the fact the loan will be insured by the U.S. government.

Obtaining a Proprietary Reverse Mortgage Instead - Not all reverse mortgages are fully government controlled or offered. Although, all legitimate contracts are subject to some federal guidelines. There are many reverse mortgages offered by banks all across the country. It is likely several of those banks are in your local area. Their loans are called proprietary reverse loans.

Entering into a proprietary reverse mortgage agreement means you agree to the terms established by the lender. Since the lender can make up the rules, other than government imposed lending caps, proprietary loan agreements vary between institutions. You must make sure the agreement you are signing seems fair. To that end, always check the fine print and make sure all fees are clearly delineated for you.

Reverse Mortgages and Loss of Your Home - Your biggest worry when applying for a home mortgage is probably potential inability to pay back the loan. Although the home can be sold when you fail to repay a reverse mortgage, that issue usually does not come into play until after you vacate the house in question. When you move out without repaying the loan balance, the lender initiates the home sale. So you cannot easily be forced out of the home as you might for missing a traditional loan payment.

Making a Total Assessment of Reverse Mortgage Application - Deciding to apply for a reverse mortgage or not requires a full assessment of the terms of the contract, as well as the circumstances facilitating your need for the money. Do you plan to eventually repay what you owe, or are you willing to let the home go in the future? Are you comfortable with the idea of living in the same house for your entire retirement, or at least many years of it? Such questions are important to ask yourself to make sure a reverse mortgage is actually what you need.

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