Roccabox 3rd Birthday Edition

This month Roccabox celebrates their 3rd birthday and from the very first box, which I shared on my blog, it is great to see them hit another milestone.  This birthday box is designed to celebrate all the amazing women who have made it possible - mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and of course female bosses and to say thank you to all of those women, Roccabox has gathered up some of their absolute must-have hero products and this is what you will find inside.

The Hero product of this box comes from Huda and it is the Beauty Lip Contour Matte Pencil, which I have in shade Trendsetter. Described as being a multi-tasking liner-meets-lipstick, this pencil is enriched with hydrating ingredients which work to both define, shape and cloak the lips with a velvety-matte veil of conditioning colour. 

Trendsetter can best be described as a nude-brown shade and it can be worn alone with gloss or balm as well as being perfect for use with lipstick.

Next is a product from Murad, one of my favourite brands and it is the Retinol Youth Renewal Serum.  As the name might suggest, this serum is packed with Retinol and it works to instantly brighten and smooth the skin. 

Using Dr Murad's exclusive Retinol Tri-Active Technology to unlock the power of retinol with three different ingredients: fast-acting retinoid which accelerates results, time-released retinol which delivers sustained benefits and finally the retinol booster which enhances efficacy.

Hair care is really important and from Umberto Giannini comes the Banana Butter Vegan Leave-in Conditioner and it smells absolutely amazing. 

This silicone-free repairing and moisturising leave-in conditioner is designed to restore the bounce, shine and manageability to thirsty curls as it works to repair, strengthen and de-frizz naturally curly and super curly hair without weighing it down.

From Smashbox is one of the products I first ever tried from the brand and it is the Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Foundation Primer. Described as being a transparent, oil-free gel that enhances makeup application and wear, it also works to blur visible pores, fine lines and imperfections to give that much lusted after picture-perfect canvas. 

This prime also helps to defend against pollutants, stress and environmental aggressors with an antioxidant blend of peptides and vitamins A and E.

The final product within this box comes from Oh K! with their SOS Facial Steam Mask. This sheet mask is designed for use in steamy conditions and is perfect for being applied when you are in the bath or the shower. 

The face mask clings to the skin which helps to prevent it from sliding and to ensure it fits securely. The gently warming sheet mask works to open and cleanse the pores and draw out all the dirt and toxins from your skin.

As a treat, Roccabox has included a Bumblezest Calm & Comfort Superfood Shot Drink and it is said to help you relax and unwind.

I wasn't too sure about how this would taste, but thankfully it tastes mainly of lemon and mint and is quite refreshing and it doesn't leave a horrible aftertaste in the mouth.

This months edition of Roccabox is a great Birthday Edition and if it has persuaded you to give them a try, It is priced at just £10 per month if bought separately, Roccabox is a subscription service and there are further subscription offers available to choose from. However, before you run off, I have a discount code for you use the code 'BEAUTY20' to grab yourself 20% off a monthly subscription plan. It can only be used once per customer and it means that you can grab your first box for £8 (plus p+p)

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

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother's Day on the horizon in just a weeks time, shops have been filled with cards and chocolates as well as balloons and candles in an attempt to get you to send your Mum/Mam/Mummy/Mother/Ma-Ma or however you might address her, a little something to celebrate the day.  If you haven't thought that far ahead because the news is full of other stories and you've been slightly distracted, I have a little gift guide that might just save the day!

I know not every Mam is the same, some are much older, some are younger, some are fitter and some not so, but I am hoping to have covered absolutely every angle with this gift guide.

If you saw my Glossybox Mothers Day post earlier this week and was lucky enough to get your hands on the box, then you have quite an amazing gift to give. 

Packed with 13 products from different brands it features everything from candles and facemasks to makeup and perfume and all for just £30.

If you mum likes to look after and style her hair, then Boots have an amazing range of products from InStyler.  Over the last few weeks, I have been using the GLOSSIE Ceramic Styling Brush which is described as instantly delivering shiny, straight and smooth styles that last. 

It features 65 powerful ceramic heated plates that simultaneously section and style as you effortlessly brush through your hair and with 4 different heat settings, whether your hair is thick, thin or somewhere in the middle, there is a setting that will work with your hair.  I have been so impressed with the Instyler Glossie Ceramic Styling Brush that there is a dedicated post coming next week to show off just how good it is and why I have liked using it so much.  It is currently on offer for less than £55 in Boots* and if you have a Mum who isn't quite ready to use hair straighteners to style her hair, then this might just tick the boxes.

For those who want to have a good nights sleep is the Sleep Master Eye Mask. It came into being after extensive research, the inventor of Sleep Master, who is also an insomnia sufferer, couldn't find a sleep mask that combined the conditions necessary for deep sleep: light elimination and sound reduction. Traditional sleep masks didn't fit or last. They all had thin elastic straps that shift uncomfortably during sleep, fray apart quickly or simply snap off after only a few uses, never mind the disastrous results from washing them!

It is a well known fact that my sleep pattern is quite erratic, so trying this mask has been quite the find. The Sleep Master utilises an incredibly soft to the touch, cool satin fabric which is not only lightweight but it is comfortable, flexible, it is a wide fit and it uses a velcro fastener. What makes it different to any other sleep mask I have used is the ear area, on the Sleep Master it is padded and this helps to muffle sounds, for anyone who is a light sleeper and finds the slightest sound disturbs them, this might just be what you are looking for. The Sleep Master is simply an all-in-one, one-size-fits-all product, which eliminates light and reduces sound, giving you a deep, refreshing sleep by shutting out the world in an immediate, intimate way. Priced at £19.95 via Amazon*.

One of my favourite skincare brands Emma Hardie has collaborated with the charity Look Good Feel Better and has launched a limited edition Pink Moringa Cleansing Balm.

At 50ml and priced at £25 from Marks & Spencer*, from every sale of the limited edition Moringa Cleansing Balm, Emma Hardie Skincare will be donating a percentage of proceeds from the sales to Look Good Feel Better, their goal is to raise £100k for the charity during the year of 2020.

For someone who is always on the go we have the Ember Travel Mug², an absolute revelation in re-usable cups which keep those hot drinks hot!  Everyone is trying to do their bit for the environment, using less take-away cups and more re-usable has been a huge change for me, but I find that those claims of keeping drinks hot for around 6 hours are not always that true.  Then I tried this!

Designed to be used on-the-go, the new Ember Travel Mug² does more than simply keep your coffee hot, this smart mug not only allows you to set an exact drinking temperature but it also keeps it there for up to 3 hours, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold. I have been so impressed with this mug that I have written a separate blog post all about it, but if you like your technological gadgets and gifts, then this is the one!

There is no doubting every Mum needs at least an hour to herself and from Marks & Spencer, who right now have some amazing bathing products in store. My latest find has been these Rose Bath Salts.

These rose-scented bath salts are described as being perfection for the ultimate relaxation experience and they are infused with notes of pink peony and lily and when they come into contact with warm water, that floral fragrances comes to life and smells as wonderful as a freshly opened bunch of flowers and they cost me just £4.99.

I really like Shea Moisture as a brand and I have the Fruit Fusion Energizing Bath, Body & Massage Oil and there is something about the sharp fragrance of this oil that I absolutely love. Shea Moisture describe this oil as being one which helps to restore hydration as well as to revitalize dry, dull skin.

As well as the use of Shea Butter and Coconut Oil which replenishes moisture deep below the skin surface, there is the use of Imbe Oil which helps to protect against the damaging and ageing effects of external aggressors to leave skin feeling nourished. Then the fruity fragrance of both Green Apple and Lychee Berry are said to help stimulate the senses and for me, this is my favourite of the two products.

A brand I see a lot on my social media is Embryolisse and for Mother's Day I am including the Limited Edition London Lait-Crème Concentré.  In its Limited Edition packaging, this iconic French skincare brand is quite the cult product.  

As a multi-tasking cream, it works not only as a three-in-one moisturising lotion, but can also be used as a primer and as a make-up remover.  It has a lightweight but rich texture, this cream contains essential fatty acids and vitamins which help to reduce irritation especially after shaving and they also plump the skin for firmer results.  The inclusion of nutrients and water to balance the skin and promote cell renewal also lead to much more supple-looking skin too. You can find Embryolisse in Boots stores, and online via Cult Beauty, Feelunique and Lookfantastic where it is priced at £17.99. 

If you Mam is quite partial to a brew, which mine most certainly is, the gift of tea is definitely a worthy gift.  The Tea Makers of London work closely with the most celebrated tea gardens in the world as well as independent artisan tea farmers who continue to use traditional methods, which have been lovingly preserved and passed down to them by their ancestors over many centuries.

So the inclusion of a gift of tea is one which would always be welcome, whether that is a selection of fine loose leaf tea or a tea set, it is definitely something a little bit different and much about.

As a brand, Rubis isn't one I have come across until recently, but their Nail Scissors are definitely something my mum would have in her knitting box.  With their slightly curved, hand-sharpened blades which are crafted out of hardened martensitic steel, these scissors are designed to cut your nails to perfection. 

I am sure we have all had a pair of nail scissors which are as blunt as blunt can be and instead of trimming your nails, they hack at them.  Rubis scissors have ergonomically shaped handle grips which are said to offer supreme comfort and stability. The biggest claim however is that after many years, Rubis state that their scissors lose none of their original functionality thanks to their high-quality materials, design and workmanship.  You can find these scissors priced at £23.50 via Cult Beauty.

When it comes to haircare, I am always aware that as you get older, your hair changes. I am lucky enough to have a lot of hair and it has yet to show signs of thinning, but friends of mine are not so lucky, so this is where Nanogen Haircare comes in. 

The 7-in-1 Shampoo is described as taking a multi-targeted approach to hair thickening for women in one simple step. You don't need 7 different products, just this one. Best described as being a multitasking haircare treatment that cleanses, thickens, moisturises, strengthens, protects, balances and optimises for hair that’s thick, healthy and in prime condition. It uses hardworking surfectants which deliver the primary purpose of removing impurities, oil and dirt to clean the scalp and hair. It is also enriched with Glycerin and Panthenol, the formula drenches hair in vital hydration without weighting tresses down, whilst the brand’s patented Hair Growth Factor complex works to rejuvenate hair follicles to promote healthy growth and maintain hair anchoring. Priced at £10 from Boots*.

The Ramer Cleansing Shammy for Sensitive Skin is a little gem of a product and are a great alternative to using wet wipes, which we all know we shouldn't be using anyway.

We all know the importance of skincare and removing makeup, so these handy little shammy sponges work to remove all traces of make-up. The shammy can also be used with skincare such as cleansers and too and I love how soft they feel on the skin.  All Ramer sponges are made from a magic material, all Ramer Sponges harden as they dry, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria, and will instantly soften when soaked in warm water, ready to re-use again. Super-soft, non-scratchy, hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin, Ramer Sponges are machine washable at 40o C, durable and long-lasting. Prices start around £4 per sponge from Amazon*.

Recently launched to the UK is a brand called African Extracts Rooibos and it is one of South Africa’s leading skincare ranges and is infused with the potent antioxidant powers of Rooibos, a plant found and grown only in the Cederberg mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa. 

Rich in heritage, African Extracts Rooibos skincare strongly believe in the power of nature, and therefore Bio-Active Rooibos is supported by a host of proven natural active ingredients, carefully selected for their skincare benefits.  So included within this gift guide is the 3-step Everyday Starter kit which is the brand’s best-selling range and is suitable for women of all ages and most skin types. It contains a Cleansing Lotion (60ml), Toner (60ml) and Day Cream SPF15 (20ml) all in perfect handbag travel sizes.

Then for the more mature skin I have the exfoliating face scrub which uses Rooibos leaves and apricot kernels to gently remove dead skin cells and surface impurities to leave skin feeling clean, smooth and soft, followed by the Tissue Oil which comes in a spray bottle and is really light as well as being non-greasy. This oil is a bit of a multi-tasker because it can be used on your face, body and hair. It is formulated using antioxidant-rich Bio-Active Rooibos extract, Vitamin E, Soy Bean and Geranium botanical extracts in a blend of Grapeseed and Sweet Almond oils.  Prices for African Extracts Rooibos start as low as £7.99.

As well as this Mother's Day gift guide, I also featured the lovely brand Evolve Organic Beauty with their Facial in a box which also makes an amazing gift, as would the Gus and Bella 'Best Mum' Cat Box for those who have and adore cats, both would be a great alternative to flowers and chocolate!

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

Gtech Hylite Upright Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Having any kind of decoration or building work done comes with the mess, dirt, spills, splashes and of course dust and the worst thing that can happen in the middle of all that is your hoover deciding it has had enough and is no longer going to work.  I was kindly gifted the Gtech Hylite to try and after a good 3 months of using it, I thought I would share my thoughts.

The Gtech Hylite is an upright, lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner which is described as offering an outstanding cleaning performance as well as being robust, durable and a product which needs very little maintenance.  On all of those fronts, it sounds like a perfect replacement for my former hoover, but for me, it comes with a mixed review.

I love that it is lightweight and it most definitely is durable. It is compact enough that I can store it in the kitchen drawer when it isn't being used.  It has a battery, which when charged gives 20 minutes of cleaning time, which if you live in a one-bedroom flat like I do, then that is more than enough time to complete hoovering each room.  

It is a bagged hoover, so definitely something to think about when making a purchase, even though a replacement pack of 15 costs just £12.99.  It can be put together and taken apart in a matter of seconds and cleaning the hoover is really easy to do so there is the option to use the long handle option for hoover the floors or the shorter handle option for the stairs and even your furniture and on the front of the hoover is a pair of LED lights, a feature which makes it easy to see where you are hoovering and if you are about to pick something up that could cause a blockage - elastic bands for example!

Gtech claims that the Hylite collects dirt 1cm from the ground and because it doesn't have to suck it up through a hose blockages are reduced and you, therefore, spend less time taking everything to bits to find out what is causing the issue.  The biggest issue for me is what it does actually collect to perform its role as a hoover and the simple answer is not very much.  We have two rooms which are carpeted - the lounge and the bedroom, the other rooms have either tiled floors (Kitchen and Bathroom) or a wooden floor, so we have ample surfaces for this Hylite to be tried on and I wasn't that impressed with its performance on carpet.  We have cats, so naturally, there will be pet hair on the floor, instead of hoovering it up, it almost collected it into a ball and left it on the carpet.  It didn't touch anything on the rug that we have, being a black rug you can see all kinds of dirt and things, after a good 15 minutes of hoovering it didn't look any different.  So I turned my attention to the non-carpet rooms and it did do a lot better.  Having emptied some of the dust out of my old hoover on to the wooden floor to try it, it did pick up 90% of what was to be picked up, but it still left bits that I needed to go over with a dustpan and brush.  On tiled flooring, it was a little better than the other options, but not perfect and again, I had to use the dustpan and brush to ensure the floors were as clean as they could be.  The other issue is that because it is so compact, as soon as the hoover bag is full, it obviously cannot collect anything else and it stops picking up absolutely anything at all until the bag is changed.

This hoover is clearly not going to give you 100%, it has a lot of good points which include being compact, easy to use, easy to put together and take apart, it doesn't block, it has the option of being used with a long or short handle, it is lightweight, definitely durable and comes to part enough to fit inside a bag and then put into a kitchen drawer or cupboard.

It is great for a quick once over the floors but that is where it doesn't quite hit the spot for me.  I have a busy life and don't have time to hoover, re-hoover and then go over my floors with a dustpan and brush.  So I am on the fence with how I feel about the Gtech Hylite because it is everything I want with looks, style and durability but just not quite there on the job it is there to do.

The Gtech Hylite is on sale for £199.99 here.

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

Gus and Bella Best Mum Cat Box

Anyone who knows me or follows me on social media will know that I am a mad cat lady, we currently have two fur kids who mean the absolute world to us and despite still coming to the terms with the loss of one fur baby last Summer, the boys have continued to be quite the support. Gus and Bella got in touch to see if I would like to review their latest box and naturally I agreed. Gus and Bella is a subscription box for both cats and humans and it is such a cute idea that you can treat both the cat and the owner in one big box!

Gus and Bella came to being after being inspired by two cats, known as Gus and Bella and like my boys, they were central parts of the family. Gus and Bella were indoor cats and the idea of the gift box was born out of a desire to help other cat owners to find a new way to treat their furry friends and occasionally themselves.  As soon as this box arrived, my two seemed to know it was for them and couldn't wait to see what was inside.

The cat subscription box delivering happiness
to cats and their humans

The March box theme is "Best Cat Mum" in honour of Mothers Day and it is filled with little treats for both you and your cat(s) and as soon as you remove the box from the outer packaging, the first item is the Rosewood Jolly Moggy Play Tunnel, an item I have always purchased when we have got a new kitten as it creates hours of fun, even now, my two play with the tunnel as a means to jump out on one another in a game of chase, so this is a welcomed addition.

Then inside the box is a whole host of treats that got one of my boys very excited, so much so he pretty much tried everything there was on offer and laid in the presentation box and fought me if I dared to touch anything to take a photo.

My Cat Grass - All of my cats have always been a fan of cat grass, we always buy one of the grow your own kits in the summer for them to munch their way through. 

If you didn't know, cat grass is really beneficial for your kitty and not only does it help them to deal with furballs, it also helps with preventing constipation, aids digestion and encourages water intake.  This is a great item within the box.

Hi-Life Cat Treats - Another favourite for my boys comes in the form of cat treats, as soon as they hear the packet rattle they come bounding through into the kitchen to see what is on offer.  From Hi-Life we have the 'It's Only Natural Chicken Breast Treats'. 

This freeze-dried treat is made using just 100% chicken breast and it has been carefully diced to ensure it is the right sized portion.

For the cats again we have two further bags of biscuits with the Arden Garden grain free treats in Ocean White Fish and Potato and Fresh Chicken and potato flavours. Arden Grange is a family business whose core philosophy of ‘nutrition without compromise’ is the foundation on which Arden Grange has been built. 

All ingredients within their foods have been included for their nutritional value and promote optimum health and vitality.

Up next we have the Gus & Bella customised travel candle which is a really cute addition to the box and alongside them is a bag of Hames chocolate Hearts and a really cute designed "Happy Catmum Day" card.

Finally, we have a Flamingo Candles Mother of Cats - This is probably my favourite item in the box and it is called a Mother of Cats Key Tag and is has 'Mother of Cats' engraved on black acrylic with a silver keyring. For me, this is perfect for adding to my bunch of office keys which has a very worn out Mickey Mouse.

The Gus and Bella Box is a subscription service and it costs £26.95 per month or £28.95 every two months and with that is £2.95 for postage and packaging.  You can also use the option to purchase one-off box, such as this one, then it costs £30 plus p&p which I personally think is an absolute bargain and my boys would agree with that too!

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