Lookfantastic Valentine’s Day Beauty Box Collection Revealed

As we move to February, the month of Love, there is a whole host of Valentine's Day related gift ideas coming to this blog and today we start with Lookfantastic and their Valentine themed beauty box.  For the past few years there has been a Valentine's Box from Lookfantastic and I think this one is the best one yet!

The contents of the box are said to be worth over £198 and it is on sale right now for just £55, so that is already quite the saving. Inside the box you will find products from some pretty big brands, including Elemis, Too Faced and Living Proof to name just a few.

Self-love is in the air this February. Fall head over heels for the limited-edition Valentine’s Collection from Beauty Box. Featuring 12 luxury products (six full-size!) worth over an incredible £198, give the gift of self-care to someone you love on Feb 14th. From pillow sprays to blushers, there’s something for every love story in this exclusive box.

As well as the contents of the box you will also be gifted a £40 OFF voucher to spend on LELO products on Lookfantastic too - ooer!

Contents

• This Works Love Sleep Pillow Spray 10ml – Worth £12
• Living Proof Mini Dry Shampoo 60ml – Worth £10
• MAC Lipstick (Mehr) – Worth £17.50
• Delilah Lip Liner – Worth £20
• Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask 75ml – Worth £30
• Nails Inc. Fired Up Portland Square Nail Varnish 10ml – Worth £8
• Luvia Prime Vegan Candy Blush Brush – Worth £15
• Herbivore Cloud Jelly 30ml – Worth £45
• Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara 3.9g – Worth £11.70
• OUAI Detox Shampoo 30ml – Worth £9
• Ciate Blusher – Worth £11.60
• Laboratory Perfume- Amber 5ml – Worth £9

As always with these Limited Edition boxes from Lookfantastic, if you are already subscribed to the Lookfantastic Monthly Beauty Box, then an early access email gives you the chance to grab this box for just £45! If you have not yet subscribed, you can still do that and get £10 off this box by using the code VDAYBB

Grab the Lookfantastic Valentine's Day Beauty Box here

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

Things to consider when decorating

On my blog, I have shared quite a few updates on the decorating and renovations we have been doing to our home, starting back when we had to revamp the entire bathroom owing to a leak from a neighbouring property and with it the stress and angst over not having a toilet for what felt like months, but was actually less than a week - but something to think about if this is on your radar!

Since then we have changed the front door, re-decorated the hallway, changed the flooring, decorated the lounge, installed new carpets and have almost finished the kitchen, it just needs some shelves putting up on the wall and we are currently in the process of getting some quotes to replace two of the windows where the double glazing units have failed and that means the kitchen is cold due to draughts and despite my best attempts to use excluders to keep the heat in, it still escapes. Heating the home is important, being energy efficient is something I am learning - not over-filling the kettle to make one drink, no windows open when the heating is on, a new boiler installation is a discussion we need to have further down the line, but it weighs on my mind that if I am trying to be as energy efficient as I can, then just replacing those failed windows might not be enough.

Throughout the whole time we have been decorating and renovating, we have learnt a lot of what about what we do and don't like, we chose colours we never would have picked (Pinterest has a lot to answer for), we have moved furniture around to make space, learnt the art of de-junking and our walls finally have some art work on them, now we just need to decide whether we do as friends have done and have a custom made neon sign, maybe with our surname on one of our walls to add a different dimension. 

As always, there is still more we could do.

So what else have we learnt?

• Budget - Sounds really obvious but it should be the main focus of any work you decide to do.  We learnt this one early with a full bathroom renovation, if you don't stick to the budget, the odd purchase here and there quickly adds up and can take you on a slippery road to over-spending, which we almost did.
• Colour Scheme - I found choosing colours hard. I have a Pinterest Board for every room in my house and can merrily spend hours adding item after item, but getting those testers from the shop to your wall is huge and for me, they never look like I expect them too.  So be prepared not to have that exact shade you have dreamed of on your wall, but something pretty close worked for me.
• Accessories - It is easy to assume you will suddenly become a minimalist once everything has been decorated, painted or wall-papered, but instead of thinking that, make a list of items you need in each room, a list of items you do not need and a list of items that could be in that room but not necessarily a must-have.  
• Storage - Where will the shelves go, What will the books sit on, where will those sentimental items go? We kept it simple and Ikea became our friend, we settled on a Kallax unit which gives us ample storage space for books, paperwork, ornaments and of course somewhere for the cat to sleep on should the mood suit.

We still have the bedroom to decide on decorating, it is the one room of the house which causes me the most stress. I like my safe space from the world, but it needs updating.  We need a new bed, I say that is most of these posts, but that is a minefield in itself, I feel like I need a degree in maths to figure out why beds don't come with a headboard or a mattress but cost a fortune.  But if we do decide to go there, it will be a whole other post.

Before we started decorating our home, I watched all those programmes which make renovations look really easy, I really wanted to buy an unloved shack of a house to bring it back to its former glory, but I have seen enough gloss to last me a very long time and there is still one door to go!

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

Aery Living Before Sleep Collection

I was first introduced to Aery Living back in September with two of their incredible candles and then a room Reed diffuser, both of which I adore. Just before Christmas, I was kindly sent a gift of products which I have essentially used a lot, that’s how good they are.

As a brand, Aery Living became inspired by the multi-sensory aspect of creating fragranced products and having now perfected their craft and created their very own unique fragrances, there is a whole selection to choose from. Whether you want something to help relax, revive, comfort or even sleep, there is a whole bundle of products to choose from.

I have the Before Sleep collection which is made up of three products - a candle, a pillow spray and a tub of bath salts. Put together they create a routine for relaxation.

A bundle filled with our signature sleepy scents. Sleep Happy, Before Sleep and Dream catcher are filled with carefully selected fragrances designed to help you drift off into dreamland

One thing I find it really hard to do is switch off and wind down, my brain just never seems to shut off, so I use a few products which do help to aid relaxation.

The Sleep Happy scented candle, which is beautifully packaged, has been designed to inspire feelings of positivity with top notes of Bergamot, Orange Blossom and Citrus peel which has been combined with heart notes Chamomile, Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine before the notes of White Musk, Amber and Precious Wood come together to create a scent which works to calm and soothe.

Once the candle is out of its box, the scent is already noticeable, it immediately just brings about calmness and once alight, those notes of orange blossom together with the chamomile, lavender and Amber come alive and it fills the home incredibly, one of the best throws from a scent I’ve come across in a long time. Even after the flame has been extinguished, the scent is lingering and I absolutely love it.

If, like me, you love spending time in the bath to relax and unwind, the Before Sleep Bath Salts are an absolute must try.

Using carefully selected essential oils to help bring about calm and peace, you will find the inclusion of both Himalayan and Epsom salts to which not only work to soothe and comfort, but they also work to improve circulation, relieve stress and anxiety too. I am a huge advocate of bath salts which are not only a great way to calm but they also have anti-inflammatory properties too. These bath salts also include both Lavender and cedar help to promote better sleep.

Then finally, with your incredible bath and the scent of the candle fresh in you mind comes the Before Sleep Pillow Spray, which I can not recommend enough.  Another product I have taken to using a lot of is a room or pillow mist as the last part of my routine and it does make a difference to my evening.

This Pillow Spray, which uses specifically selected essential oils and perfumes which are designed to fill your room and bed linen with tranquillity to help your relax, become calm and then wind down. Using Top notes of both Bergamot and Coriander which help with mental fatigue and stress, the heart notes of both Lavender and Jasmine which are hero’s when it comes to the art of relaxation and is deeply soothing before the base notes of Cedarwood and Amber which help to calm and soothe nervous tension and energy.

As a trio, this is a collection of products which work amazingly well on their own, but together pack a powerful punch to help you calm down, relax and unwind.  I now have my eye on the Nordic Comforts collection which has a description saying “grab your cosies and snuggle in”.

As a brand Aery Living is made right here in the UK using sustainable ingredients. They use 100% plant-based wax and carrier oils that are free from paraffin and palm and are proudly vegan and cruelty-free and as an eco-conscious brand all their candles, diffusers, candle holders and paper are plastic-free and recyclable. Added to that, they also use renewable energy and deliveries are made using a carbon neutral carrier.  So if ever there was time to support a U.K. based small business, then Aery Living is one to consider! 

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

Aroma Active Laboratories SOS Chest Rub

Over the last few months my immune system has been horrendous, firstly there was a really bad sinus cold, then I caught Covid19 and then a really bad cold hit again and with it that stuffy feeling of not being able to breathe clearly through my nose. That’s when I turned to Aroma Active Laboratories and their SOS Chest Rub which happens to be in the same range as my favourite SOS Forehead Balm.

Described as being an uplifting balm which works to soothe and clear which opens up your airways to make breathing normally that much easier.   This formula is perfect for the days you feel under the weather with sniffles, colds and blocked noses.

If you are familiar with Aroma Active Laboratories, they are the sister brand to Aromatherapy Associates and each product has both an Aroma part and a Therapy part to it. In this case this Balm, which is non-greasy and feels similar to a cleansing balm, uses a restorative blend of invigorating Eucalyptus, Palmarosa, and cooling Peppermint, all of which come together for their clearing, uplifting and soothing properties.

To use, you simply need to rub a small amount onto the chest as and when needed to help soothe and clear the senses.  For me, as soon as the balm is massaged in, the scent of Peppermint and Eucalyptus come to life to ease the strain and then Palmarosa, which is great helping to deal with stress, anxiety, moods and it is also a great balancing oil.

For me, this Aroma Active Laboratories SOS Chest Rub has been just perfect for use, it isn’t too potent a scent it makes my eyes water, it is as soothing as it is calming and it costs just £10.

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