Aroma Active Laboratories Muscle Cooling Gel

Having now been fully vaccinated, I have had a series of after effects that whilst uncomfortable, I would happily go through all over again to ensure I do not ever get this dreadful illness that has plagued the lives of so many people I know.  From a fever and night sweats, to arm ache and a dead leg, I am not someone who reaches for painkillers easily, I would much rather let my body work its way through the issue on its own, but the leg ache, which is part is caused by an ankle injury (yes still) and the vaccine is rather irritating, so I turned to the Aroma Active Laboratories Muscle Cooling Gel for help.

I have made no secret as to how much I love this brand, from their SOS Forehead Balm to the Muscle Recovery Soak, this brand is exclusive to Boots comes from the lab responsible for Aromatherapy Associates, but at a fraction of the cost and I determined to work my through the entire collection.

The Aroma Active Laboratories Muscle Cooling Gel (£12 here*) is described as being a cooling gel for instant relief and recovery for general stiffness or to soothe tired limbs, everything I am looking for in one giant tube and it is perfect for using as that Muscle Recovery Soak

When it comes to using, you simply give the tube a slight squeeze and then gently to apply the cooling gel onto affected areas. As you can see there is a metal applicator which rolls lightly across the skin giving that lovely cooling effect as the gel come into contact, you need to only apply the littlest amount of pressure to feel the benefits too.

As with all Aroma Active Laboratories products, this one comes packed full of amazing ingredients which are known for both their amazing aromas and their aromatherapy properties.  Ingredients include:

• Turmeric with calming properties to help ease.
• Rosemary with soothing effects to help ease and recover.
• Lavender with its soothing, calming and relaxing properties
• Adaptogenic Marjoram - for its effective anti-spasmodic and relaxing properties

Added to that incredible list of ingredients is also the relieving complex of Patchouli Leaf Extract and Phytocannabinoids (3%) which together help calm and relax. The there is an instantly cooling Menthol blend with Borage oil and their job is to firm and hydrate the skin. Coming together you have a whole host of ingredients, which when combined are known for their soothing, cooling and calming properties.

As mentioned, I've been using it on my leg and ankle which has been painful for a while now and the soothing and cooling sensation is just absolute bliss. Better still, as someone who is not really happy with my feet being touched, I suffer with Plantar Fasciitis which can also flare up and be incredibly painful, making walking an absolute nightmare, so again, just a few minutes of this roller on the soles of my feet is so much more soothing and relaxing than sorting to a foot massage, the latter often more painful than the walking.

I absolutely love this Aroma Active Laboratories Muscle Cooling Gel if you hadn't guessed and it is definitely worth picking up try for those muscle aches and other ailments.

You can find the entire Aroma Active Laboratories Collection both instore and online with Boots right here*.

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

Angela Langford Sweet Cheeks Balancing & Cleansing Face Wash

Cleansing is the favourite part of my routine, I have probably mentioned it countless times now, but as much as I love cleansing, I also love discovering new brands and their products. Angela Langford is not a brand I had come across until Sweet Cheeks came into my life.

With a wonderful story behind the brand and Angela, after being made redundant and not having access to good skincare, she decided to make her own. With a range which now spans, cleansers, balms, exfoliators, toners, serums and many more products, it is quite an achievement in just five years.

Sweet Cheeks is one of two products within the cleansing section by Angela Langford and it is described as being a balancing and cleansing facial wash is described as being a mild natural face wash that is gentle enough to be used every day. It will help clean your pores and rid your skin of pore-clogging blackheads.

"If you are prone to oily, combination or congested skin, this face wash is for you. This is your recipe for beautifully balanced & clean, clear skin."

I have combination skin which leaves me with an oily t-zone as well as dry patches of skin, so I like to use products which are balancing and hydrating as well as something that is gentle and not stripping, this product ticks all of those boxes.

Key ingredients

• Roses -  helps to retain moisture, it is also cooling, soothing and it is a mild astringent. It is also know for its calming and cleansing properties.
• Cypress  - known for its ability to clean and tighten the pores 
• Papaya - helps stabilise oily skin, exfoliate dry patches and because it contains both vitamin A and C it helps to repair skin as well as well as to gently refresh.
• Orange Blossom -  Not only helps to remove the dirt and dead cells of your skin, it also helps to tone and moisturise.
• Jojoba oil - helps to unclog pores as well as to lifts away dirt and grime. 

Bringing all of these ingredients together, your skin is left looking clean, clear, fresh, rosy and  radiant.

What I love about this cleanser is how it feels on my skin, lightweight in texture, it smells absolutely incredible with a mixture of Rose and Cypress being right there at the forefront of this product and its as awakening as it is soothing.  After using, my skin doesn't feel tight or taut, it isn't stripped of its natural oils and nor does it leave me feeling as though I need to apply as much moisturiser as I can get my hands on.  When it comes to removing makeup, whilst I am not wearing a full face of heavy makeup these days, I do wear mascara, tinted moisturiser, brow products and tinted balms plus SPF, this cleanser removes all of it within seconds.

If you are unsure which products you should be using on your skin, Angela has an option to get yourself a sample skincare pack, paying just the postage and once you have registered your details, Angela will pick three of her products she feels will best suit your needs.  I love this idea and wish more brands would do it, skincare can sometimes be a minefield with us all assuming we are using what is right for us, when in some cases it is not.

All of the products within the Angela Langford range are not only cruelty-free but they are also all made here in the UK, by hand.  Sweet Cheeks costs £18 for 100ml.

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

Margaret Dabbs Bare Feet Collection + Competition

One brand which keeps my feet in the best condition they can be, one which has got me through lockdown without being able to go and have a pedicure is Margaret Dabbs.  The latest launch from Margaret Dabbs is Bare Feet, a collection which is described as being a smart, distinctive and effective way to give your feet the love they need, packed with great smelling, long lasting and hard-working ingredients including Manuka Honey and Ginger.

Bare Feet, the new collection from Margaret Dabbs is said to offer a simple, economical and easy remedy to create happy feet, alongside a happy environment, giving everyone the chance to put their best foot forward into Summer 2021.  This collection has something for every need your feet have, be it a cooling spray, a scrub or even a soothing soak, the Bare Feet ingredients are antibacterial, rich in antioxidants and also help prevent the ageing process, whilst the uplifting Green Tea fragrance combined with zesty Lime provides a refreshing treat for your feet.

The first product from the collection is one if the most important products you can have at home, even if, like me, you are really not a fan of feet. 

The Foot File (£12) is the easiest way to remove hard dead skin which can be really unsightly and in some cases painful. This file is podiatrist approved and with its long handle, it is easy to grip and work its way across that hard skin, especially on those heels which is where I always have a problem, but since using this file, my heel skin is left feeling soft and smooth

The Conditioning Foot Cream (100ml £8.00) is an absolute delight to use and not only is it suitable for all skin types, it is designed to hydrate dry or rough skin of the feet, and help to reduce the build-up of hard skin and callus, leaving feet feeling soft and smooth.

This intensive foot cream not only helps to treat dry, damaged feet and severely dry, cracked feet, it also hosts antibacterial properties which not only help to keep feet hygienic, healthy and protected, but can also help to treat the symptoms of common foot conditions such as Athlete’s Foot.  This cream is every bit as luxurious as it sounds and it is blended with energising Ginger extract, skin soothing Manuka Honey and nourishing Avocado Oil not forgetting the inclusion of the uplifting fragrance of Green Tea & zesty Lime. 

If you need something a little more intensive to the cream above, then the Nourishing Cracked Heel Balm (100ml £8.50) which is designed to be used daily is one you need.

Designed to visibly improve the condition of cracked, sore feet, this balm uses healing Manuka honey, moisturising Sweet Almond oil, and antibacterial Eucalyptus alongside both Salicylic and Lactic Acids which help to gently resurface the skin. Again, as with the foot cream, there is also the inclusion of the uplifting fragrance of Green Tea and zesty Lime. 

After a  long walk or exercise when you have tried aching feet, this Soothing Foot Soak (200ml £7.00) is just divine and my favourite product of the range.

I suffer with Plantar Fasciitis which can be incredibly painful and it flares up at random times usually without any signs whatsoever. One of the things I love doing is filling a bowl of either really warm or really cold water and soothing my feet. This soak, is formulated to cleanse, hydrate and refresh tired feet and legs and it uses reviving Ginger extract and calming and moisturising Manuka honey alongside antibacterial Eucalyptus.  Again, the inclusion of the uplifting fragrance of of the uplifting fragrance of Green Tea and zesty Lime are present and it smells just incredible.

Margaret Dabbs makes some of the most incredible exfoliating foot scrubs and this one, which is part of new collection, Exfoliating Foot Scrub (100ml £8.00) is just divine.

This scrub, which includes the natural exfoliant of coconut, apricot stone and sweet almond shells to gently buff away dead skin cells. The scrub itself is quite runny compared to other scrubs I have used and it is just as effective.  It is blended with Ginger extract to energise the skin and ease muscle and joint aches, alongside the antibacterial and antibiotic qualities of Manuka honey and again, that uplifting scent of of the uplifting fragrance of Green Tea and zesty Lime is also present.

As well as a relaxing foot soak, this Bare Feet Collection also features a Cooling Foot Spray (100ml £8.00) which is designed to instantly help cool and revive tired, aching feet and legs.

I have been nursing an ankle injury for almost three years and the Covid Pandemic hasn't helped with any treatment, so instead I've been following advice whilst being at home. One side of this injury is that it causes my ankle to be constantly swollen and painful and if I over-do the walking, it becomes painful to walk, so anything that I can use which is soothing. This spray is packed full of long-lasting and hard-working ingredients, blended with energising Ginger extract, skin soothing Manuka Honey and hydrating Aloe Vera. Again, this spray is beautifully scented with the uplifting fragrance of Green Tea & zesty Lime, providing a refreshing treat for your feet.

The final product within this Bare Feet Collection is the Cracked Heel Sealer (10ml £9.00) and its job is to form a thin, transparent barrier on the skin to prevent surface cracks from deepening.

This innovative dry heel solution forms a transparent, protective barrier on the skin to help prevent surface cracks from deepening or becoming more painful. The formula is a quick dry formula that locks in moisture to give a skin smoothing effect that lasts all day and as a product it should be used in conjunction with the Cracked Heel Balm and Conditioning Foot Cream to keep the feet, particularly the heels smooth, moisturised and hydrated.

As a collection of products, not only are they purse-friendly, they do everything that they promise to do and if you want to get your hands on them head over to the Bare Feet Instagram page where there is a chance to do just that.

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

Roccabox Summer Skin - July Edition

This month we are already spoilt for choice when it comes to Beauty Boxes and the July edition of Roccabox, which is titled Summer Skin, is all about achieving that Summer Glow we are all wanting to grab.

Featuring five products that have been picked because they are hydrating, cooling, protective and glow enhancing there are some brands you will recognise and some you might not have come across.

The Hero Product of this months box is from Monu Professional Skincare with their Firming Fiji Facial Oil.

This facial oil uses plant oils to firm and tone the skin, whilst keeping it hydrated and full of radiance. Using a blend of Rosewood Oil and Patchouli to provide essential protection to soothe dry skin and stimulate your complexion.

The second product from the box from Beauty Pro with their coconut oil infused sheet mask.

Beauty Pro masks are a delight to use and this one which uses Coconut Oil which offers potent yet gentle anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce the appearance of redness and blemishes, while discouraging further breakouts. There is then an infusion of Vitamin E which creates a powerful barrier on your skin to shield it from the harsh consequences of external aggressors and then with concentrated doses of Amino Acids which works to lock in hydration. A delightful hydrating and nourishing sheet mask and my personal favourite from the collection.

From Kiehls, a brand most people will recognise is the Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Aqua Gel.

This is a high-protection sun cream which is an SPF50 PA++++ and it is described as being a lightweight, comfortable texture. Designed to withstand humid conditions, this SPF is ideal for oily skin and it offers broad-spectrum defence against damaging UV rays and also wards off the harmful effects of pollution.

From MAYY a brand I’ve not come across before is the Coral Blusher & Sunkissed Highlighter Palette.

With added hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, this lightweight palette is designed to impart glow and enhance your skins natural radiance. The blusher is a really pretty coral which can be built up depending on how much you like your cheeks to pop and the highlighter, which looks quite dark in its palette is quite light and offers a pop of highlight which I use my finger for.

The final item in this box comes from Grace & Stella with their Rose Water Facial Mist.

I am a huge fan of facial mists and I use them all year round. This one is designed to keep your skin feeling fresh and hydrated. Using rose which has anti-inflammatory properties to assist in reducing redness. It also helps maintain the skin’s pH balance which in turn can help with acne, dermatitis, eczema, as well as healing scar tissue. It also helps to control excess oil, so you’re always glowing, never shiny.

This is quite the box, I love that there is a nice mixture of different products once again with the inclusion of both makeup and skincare and the theme of the box is cute.

If you didn't know, Roccabox is a beauty box subscription service and there are further subscription offers available to choose from with boxes starting at just £10 per month plus P&P.

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