Verdant Alchemy Ascent Bath & Shower Oil

Already being a huge fan of the bath salts from Verdant Alchemy, adding a bath oil into the mix is a whole new ball game.

For me, the bath is always a place to retreat to, I am often at my most relaxed in water, perhaps being a Cancerian is the reason for this, but for me, the bathroom is a place of sanctuary and self-care; some me time and only me.

The brand was founded by Vivien Leung in 2018 and is described as being a modern, naturally derived and vegan bath and body brand crafted in London. The brand is rooted in essential minerals and plant-based efficacy; creating products to help you rest, refuel and thrive in today's modern world.

Ascent as an oil is not greasy and it isn't one you will find floating on the surface of your bath water, instead alongside the most wonderful aroma which comes to life within the steam of your bath water or should you prefer to use a shower; simply add a few drops into the palm of hands, and inhale the beautiful scent before applying the oil to the skin during the shower.

This oil is not only rich in vitamins and omega fatty acids, it contains some amazing essential oils such as:

• lavender and ylang-ylang to help calm your mind and soothe the soul.
• Sweet and woody ho leaf and cedarwood oils which help to keep you grounded while your spirit soars.
• Geranium Rose which is a soothing floral oil that promotes mental wellbeing and uplifts the spirit
• Black Pepper which is a warm anti-inflammatory oil that relieves aches and pains.

If that isn't enough, this multi-tasking oil also nourishes and soothes skin. An absolute luxurious treat and one to be enjoyed at every possible chance.

Priced at £42 it is on the expensive side, but worth every single cap full in my opinion!

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

The Body Shop Breathe Massage Melt

The one product I was really looking forward to is covering from The Body Shop Advent Calendar was the Breathe Massage Melt.

Described as being the product to help nourish and unwind that overworked body and mind, it is made with 98% ingredients of natural origin and they include:

• eucalyptus essential oil - It’s scent is a winner at helping foggy minds feel lifted. 
• rosemary essential oil - Its scent is known for its refreshing and stimulating properties. 
• Fair Trade organic olive oil - It moisturises and protects the skin as well as improving the strength.

The melt itself is a gel-like texture which just melts onto the skin like an absolute dream and it is one of those soothing products you need after a long day of sitting at your desk hunched over the laptop leaving you with those aching shoulders and stiff neck. All you need is someone with warm hands and a small amount of this melt to work their magic.

If you are familiar with Vicks Vapour Rub, for me this is similar but so much better. Firstly, I absolutely love the gel-like texture which isn't too greasy when applied to the skin and a little really goes a long way.  To use, the best way to apply it for me is after showering, at which point you simply scoop out a small sized blob and massage it over the parts of your body that you need some help with soothing, unwinding and relaxing, so for me it is my shoulders, the back of my neck and lower back and it really does help.  With the inclusion of Olive Oil, my skin is left soft, smooth and moisturised, so it gives the best of both worlds, more if you can convince someone else to massage it onto and into your skin.

A final tip with this massage melt is to make the most of the scent before applying to your skin, by breathing in the scent and slowly breathing out and those oils of Rosemary and Eucalyptus are divine.

On sale at The Body Shop, this Breathe Massage Melt is just £19 here.

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

Beauty treatments to try at home

The covid-19 pandemic accelerated the use of at-home beauty treatments. The inability to get treatments done professionally saw many people give them a go themselves.

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With the benefit of cost savings and the convenience of not having to book appointments, at-home beauty treatments are still very popular post-pandemic.

If you’re wanting to get into doing your own treatments but are not sure where to get started, here are some of the options you could consider:

Waxing

If you choose to remove your body hair, waxing could be the perfect option. It is far more budget-friendly than higher end treatments such as laser hair removal. As well as this, it is far more effective than shaving as the hair is removed directly from the root, meaning it grows back thinner and less frequently. Whether you opt for strip or hot waxing, order some hair removing wax and give it a try.

Make sure to closely follow all instructions provided to avoid burning yourself.

Gel manicure

Gel manicures are a fantastic way to feel more put together, whilst also caring for your nails and preventing biting. Despite their benefits, they can be costly, and due to nail growth require frequent maintenance. Although it requires some initial investment in a lamp, gel polishes, and nail tools, doing your own gel manicures is a great way to save money. Doing your nails yourself also means you don’t have to wait for an appointment to become free, so they can be done far more often and changed on demand to match outfits or be in keeping with any occasion.

Once you have practiced enough to perfect a plain manicure, you can begin experimenting with fun nail art.

Facial massage

If you’re a Tik Tok user then chances are you have seen the Gua Sha trend. If you are wanting to refine your jawline or simply give yourself a facial massage, you should consider buying a Gua Sha tool. Originating from Chinese medicine techniques, a Gua Sha tool can be used to massage the muscles in your face. Not only can this be very relaxing, but it is an effective way to encourage your skin to absorb product whilst also sculpting your face.

If you don’t know where to get started, there are plenty of online tutorials for how to get the most out of a Gua Sha.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning involves the removal of facial hair or ‘peach fuzz’ with the use of a blade. Whilst this may sound terrifying, it can be an incredibly effective way of physically exfoliating your face, getting rid of dead skin, allowing your makeup to apply more smoothly, and creating a glowy appearance.

You must be very careful when dermaplaning to avoid cutting yourself. If you are apprehensive to give it a go, consider getting it done at a salon once to see how it should be done.

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

New Year Skin Refresh 2023 with Temple Spa

New Year Skin Refresh 2023 with Temple Spa and over the last few weeks I have reacquainted myself with a selection of their hero skincare collection, which is all about bringing radiance to your skin with science-led formulas and ingredients from the Mediterranean.

As part of my routine, I have been using 4 products which, alongside a few more from the Advent Calendar have created an amazing skincare regime. Over the past two years, thanks to Covid, my skin has been a bit of a nightmare, as well as having an oily TZone, with it comes dryness and the feeling of being dehydrated, so this is quite the routine for me.

The main products include:

IN THE BEGINNING Deep Cleansing Melt. This is Temple Spa's award-winning balm cleanser which I have shared on my blog and social media more times then I can remember.

It not only gently exfoliates and melts away makeup, oils and impurities, it smells absolutely incredible. Featuring three key ingredients which are Vitamin E which helps to soften skin and replenish dehydrated skin and maintain its oil balance, this ingredient helps to reduce water loss to the transepidermal layer which in turn improves the appearance of rough, dry and damaged skin. Olive Fruit Extract which is not only packed with antioxidants which protect the skin against free radicals and environmental damage which causes premature ageing but it also penetrates the skin, locking in moisture and softening and smoothing the skin. It has a cleansing as well as hydrating effect, restoring skin and leaving it supple. The final key ingredient is Calendula Fruit Extract which protects and restores dry and damaged skin from dehydration and premature ageing. It nourishes, softens and moisturises skin.

GLOWCOLIC Resurfacing Toner. Described as being no ordinary toner, tan exfoliating toner with natural glycolic acid that smooths, nourishes and balances your skin’s complexion.

Featuring a blend of AHAs, namely glycolic, mandelic and lactic and alongside Mediterranean fruit extracts which work to gently lift away dead skin cells, your skin is left incredibly smooth to the touch.

MOST REVEALING Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel. This has been one of my favourite discoveries from Temple Spa. 

Described as being a clever gel-to-bubbles mask, it feels amazing on the skin and infuses a cocktail of acids, vitamin c and fruit extracts which work to give instant exfoliation and glowing skin.  Helpfully, the bottle has a pump-action dispenser, so you get enough product from one pump to wipe across your face and what I love about using this is that it doesn't feel harsh, it doesn't sting or tingle, what it is for me, is a great resurfacing toner.

LET'S CONCENTRATE Skin Glowing Serum. Once you have completed your routine, it is time for this amazing serum and it is designed to deliver a dose of vitamin c that brightens, hydrates and aids uneven skin tone.

Let's Concentrate is described as being a powerful, serum-juice-concentrate that melts deep into your skin to reveal a clearer, smooth, toned and glowing complexion. With its gel-like texture, this serum also works to reduce the appearance of age spots, blemishes and hyper-pigmentation and I have to mention that it smells just absolutely delightful - think fresh and zesty!

Together this is a quartet which really gives your skin some TLC and leaves it feeling soft, smooth, nourished and moisturised.

You can find out more about Temple Spa on their website here.

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