Elemis Olivia Rubin Collection for Her

We might not be able to travel too far right now, but has there ever been a better time to work your way through those samples that you have been saving up or trying out some travel sizes from brands that you have always wondered about?  One collection that has caught my attention it the Elemis Olivia Rubin Collection for Her.

The collection has been created in collaboration with designer, Olivia Rubin and not only has it got the most amazing and exclusive travel bag, but this limited-edition travel set also features seven of Elemis’ bestselling and best-loved products.

 

The Contents

• Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash, 30ml - A skin refining cleanser to encourage skin cell turnover, resulting in a smooth and refined texture that is free from dead skin cells that dull the complexion.
• Superfood Kefir-Tea Mist, 30ml - A multi-tasking, antioxidant-rich mist that can be used to prime, tone, set and hydrate skin.
• Dynamic Resurfacing Pads, 14pk - A pot of skin-smoothing pads that encourage the turnover of new skin cells that rejuvenate, revitalise, and gives radiance to the complexion.
• Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 30ml - A nourishing day cream that contains powerful ingredients that help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, as well as improving skins firmness and texture.
• Peptide 4 Night Recovery Cream Oil, 10ml - A restorative night cream-oil to replenish skin for a healthier finish.
• Peptide 4 Plumping Pillow Facial, 15ml - A hydrating sleep mask to help prevent overnight water loss, leaving the skin looking younger and visibly plumped with moisture.
• Sea Lavender and Samphire Body Cream, 50ml - A skin-smoothing body cream to deeply condition and hydrate for beautifully soft, smooth skin and a delicate fragrance.

So it is perfect for Elemis newbies who want to find their next skincare heroes. Available to purchase from Elemis UK and Elemis US it is priced at £68 and the contents inside are worth £113 so it is great value for money.

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

DIY during Lockdown!

At the start of the lockdown, I am sure I wasn't alone in creating a list of things to do around the house. Having had the bathroom renovated, it has been one huge tick off the list of things to do, but that list has definitely grown, possibly because I have spent hours of my time sitting in different rooms and as I work, notice the odd thing that needs fixing and changing, but again, without the ability to purchase most of what is needed or have someone come in to do the jobs we can't tackle, that list will have to keep on growing. So with a new bed needed, mine is currently held together with gaffer tape, a new wardrobe, a new sofa and a new light fitting in the lounge...that list will continue to grow.

The first job on the list is to replace the hallway flooring, this would have been done when we decorated the hallway but it was deprioritised knowing workmen would be in and out to do the bathroom. We have decided on solid wood flooring and are in the process of ordering samples to see which would look best, the only light that we have comes via the glass panel in the door, so anything that is dark will make the hallway look much smaller. As well as the flooring we will also need to change our skirting boards because they are the wrong colour to match the flooring and one of them is slightly damaged from the water leak. 

Over the last few weeks, I have taken to reading websites which offers advice when it comes to changing your flooring, which we have only done with one room since we purchased our home over a decade ago! So some of those tips and advice include:

1. Samples - As with buying your wallpaper, samples are really important. Whether you are buying your flooring online or in-store, those pictures and the lighting will be different from what you have at home. When I bought the flooring for the bathroom, I must have ordered over 50 different tile samples as well as taking cuts from bathroom stores when I went to purchase other items and ultimately, we ended up choosing the type of flooring I said I didn't want - tiles in this case, because it looked the best.  So, it is worth looking to purchase from companies who offer samples, which most do and many offer them free of charge too.

2. Budget - As with any renovation, a budget is hugely important. When I did my budget for the bathroom, I was lucky enough to have a family friend work out what absolutely everything I wanted would cost to give me a baseline to work with and then from that point, I could remove the items/work that I really didn't need.

3. Flooring Type - The floor you choose might be absolutely stunning, but is it practical? We have two cats and one of them loves to scratch wood (a new internal door is on that growing list above) so the flooring we choose needs to be durable and practical because as well as the animals, the mister will also be dragging his fishing trolley and items along it too and the space under the stairs, is used for storage, so it needs to be able to cope with that, without becoming warped.

4. Underlay - This came as a bit of a learning curve for me because I assumed underlay was an issue for carpets, naive I know.  The underlay you have might be in need of replacing, it certainly was in our bathroom, in fact, it looked more like used cardboard boxes than proper underlay and that was a cost we hadn't factored into the renovation. I dread to think about what I am going to find under the kitchen tiles when the time comes to replace those!

5. Measuring - This is really important and definitely another learning curve for me. The M² measurement becomes important and can also affect your budget, so depending on how much flooring you need can change how much money you have to spend.  Again, I was lucky that someone else did my measurements and came with me to make the purchase, otherwise, I am sure there would have been a lot left over when doing it properly in the first place meant I have a few tiles left should I need them at a later stage.

So, whilst I haven't managed to tackle every single job on my DIY list so far under lockdown, I have cleared out cupboards, organised carrier bags, spring cleaned, changed lightbulbs and planted vegetables and flowers, I have at least made a list and ordered some flooring samples!  Have you managed to complete any DIY tasks?

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

Roccabox Staycation Edition

This month, Roccabox has pulled out all the stops to make sure that our time at home is as easy as possible with this Staycation edit, now it might not include a bottle of Gin but it does have 5 products and a treat.  So instead of dreaming of Ibiza, you can be thankful for Costa Del Sofa instead, plus there are three different boxes available for the Staycation edition and this is mine.

Every month, Roccabox has a hero product within their boxes and this month, that hero product is St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Gel and Mitt. Described as being a lightweight translucent gel, this fake tan is designed for easy application which leaves you with an even and natural-looking glow. Suitable for everything, this gel has what is referred to as intelligent shade technology with 3 shades in 1, so you just choose when to rinse it off.  As with any tan application you need a mitt, so within the box is one to help make the job easy.

The second product is one of my favourites and it is the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist. I am a huge fan of the mists from Jurlique and this one is just divine. Described as being a soothing and refreshing mist for thirsty skin which is in need of a little pick-me-up. Alongside the inclusion of Rose, we have extracts of Marshmallow Root and soothing Aloe and it is as refreshing as it is hydrating for the skin.

Moving to haircare we have the Moisture Seal Hair Healer from Charles Worthington. This is a lightweight conditioner which is said to be incredibly nourishing for the hair. Created using a blend of five oils - Argan oil to restore damage, Coconut oil to strengthen, Abyssinian oil to moisturise, Tsubaki oil to restore sheen and Macadamia oil to add softness, all in what is referred to as an encapsulated burst to infiltrate deep into the hair follicle. This conditioner also features anti-frizz and humidity prevention, this thermal heat protection leave-in conditioner leaves the hair feeling deeply nourished all day long.

From Elemis we have the Peptide Plumping Pillow Facial and I really liked this mask, a full review of which you can find on my blog. This hydrating sleep mask is incredibly moisturising and it does all the hard work whilst you sleep. As you apply it, there is a coolness as it hits the skin and to hydrate and nourish, it uses an array of ingredients such as Star Arvensis™ and wild-harvested Indian Night Jasmine which work overnight to help leave thirsty skin looking rehydrated and refreshed.

Finally, we have the Essential Nail HQ Hardener, a product that I definitely need right now. Having been home for over a month now, cleaned the house to within an inch of its life, swapped cupboards over, planted flower and vegetables as well as spending many an hour at my keyboard working, my hands and nails always take a hit. This varnish contains collagen and minerals which are designed to toughen and protect your nails. Ideal for use for those, like me who have thin and weak nails.

The treat within this months box comes from Pact Coffee. Pact Coffee is a coffee subscription service who bring coffee from all over the world to your door.

With the subscription service, you have a choice of bags or pods and from there you move through the options of roast, grind size before choosing the frequency of your delivery.  So if you love exploring new coffee, then this might be a service for you.

The May edition of Roccabox is another great edition especially if you are looking to try some well-known brands and products that might not have tried yet. If you like the look of this box and want 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 to 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.

Ark Skincare Age Defend Regenerating Night Treatment

ARK Skincare is a brand that has featured on my blog quite a few times, with everything from facemasks and primers to skincare collections.  Today I have turned my attention to the Ark Skincare Age Defend Regenerating Night Treatment which is specially formulated for those in their 30's and 40's.

ARK Skincare formulations are split into three age intelligent families within the range; the first is age protect which is for teens & 20s; then we have age defend which is for those in their 30s & 40s and finally we have age defy which is for those who are over 50. These ranges are supported by skin perfectors which are highly effective treatment products to target any specific skin concerns, and skin essentials which are chosen according to lifestyle. The unique combination of products for age, concern and lifestyle creates a bespoke programme for each customer.

Formulated for your 30s and 40sAge Defend boosts skin's collegen production and minimises redness for a calm, supple complexion.

Each and every one of us will know just how important sleep is to our overall health, something I touch upon in my post about products that could help you sleep better and sleep is vital for our skin as well as our health in general.  As we sleep, our skin does its very best to repair itself and to help it to do that, I ensure I use products that help my skin.  Age Defend Regenerating Night Treatment is formulated to help protect your complexion from environmental aggressors for a more stress-free look and it does so by using active ingredients and antioxidants such as Rovisome Q10, Kiwi Seed Oil, Passion Seed Oil, Cordarom Blue Lotus, Vitamin E, Vitamin A Palmitate and Shea Butter which work to leave your skin feeling hydrated, smooth and supple to the touch whilst at the same time encouraging improved elasticity.

What I really like about this cream is how one pump gives you the right amount to cover your face and because it is so luxuriously lightweight on the skin so a little goes a very long way. It isn't greasy or tacky when applied and as it absorbs, it leaves no trace on the skin. Some night creams that I have used leave a film on the skin surface, but this one disappears entirely.  True to its description my skin is left feeling hydrated and smooth to the touch after using.

Ark as a brand is an award-winning, cruelty-free, British skincare brand, not only that but it is one which is passionate about using the most innovative natural ingredients to give effective results whist caring for even the most sensitive skin. This Age Defend Regenerating Night Treatment retails at £42 via the Ark website and you can also find the range on Lookfantastic* and Beauty Expert* to name just a few.

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