Lush Almond Blossom Shower Gel

It is a well known and much documented fact that as far as I am concerned, Marzipan is the food of the devil.  I literally cannot stand it but, I love the scent of almonds, especially in skincare.  A friend of mine who thought she was mildly amusing, kindly purchased the Lush Almond Blossom Shower Gel as a thank you gift alongside a marzipan encrusted cake (which went in the bin) and in all honestly, it is one of the best scented shower gels I have smelt from Lush in years - I am still not over the fact they no longer do my favourite The Comforter as a shower gel! 

Described as being like the delicate blossoms of spring which have been reimagined as a softening shower gel enriched with almond milk and the scent of sweet marzipan. As you can see from the bottle, it has an almost almond colour to the shower gel and if you are a regular user of Lush Shower Gels then its texture is exactly the same as those.

As usual for Lush, the shower gels come packed with a whole host of benefits with regards to the ingredients it includes and for the Almond Blossom Shower Gel we have the following:

• Almond milk is both softening and moisturising on your skin, helping to protect it from the elements.
• Fair Trade almond oil which softens and moisturises your skin,
• Rosewater calms and balances your skin, helping to alleviate redness and irritation.

To give this shower gel even more of a kick, the use of sandalwood and sweet benzoin add a little warmth and it does smell just absolutely incredible, so much so I think this is my 3rd or 4th bottle.

As usual with Lush shower gels, this one is a sulphate-free and palm-free formula and it still creates a gentle lather with a scent that lingers on the skin for a good few hours after using and of course it is suitable for all skins.

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

Soakin Bath Salts

I know I have said it many times, but believe me, bath salts are so underrated and I am a huge fan, especially when I come across new brands, many of which I feature on my blog. I came across Soakin Bath Salts in my local Health Food shop when collecting a package that has been shipped by DHL, being on a buy one get one free offer, I was spoilt for choice as to which ones I wanted to try - Dead Sea Salt, Epsom Salt, Magnesium Flakes it Himalayan Salts. In the end, I opted for Dead Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt.

I absolutely love Dead Sea Salts and from Soakin, these are made of 100% Pure Natural premium quality Dead Sea salt which in themselves are pack full of minerals and as such you will find they contain:

• Magnesium - Which is great for detoxifying and cleansing the epidermis. It also helps heal damaged or inflamed skin.
• Calcium - Which promotes skin growth and regeneration as well as moisture retention through the production of sebum, and stimulates the production of antioxidants.
• Sodium - Which helps cleanse and exfoliate the skin, neutralise free radicals and relieve sore muscles.
• Zinc - Which helps heal and rejuvenate skin
• Potassium - Which is great for helping to keep the skin moist and plump as well as helping to reduce puffiness.
• Sulphur - Which helps decongest pores, but it also has powerful healing, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties.

Together these minerals along with the salt, not only soothe, but they also soften, hydrate and exfoliate the skin and are an absolute dream if you have dry or itchy skin.  For me, usually, the winter is spent wearing thick tights or leggings, so as soon as Spring arrives, my legs resemble a snake shedding its skin and they need a lot of moisture and exfoliation before they see daylight, something which bath salts are perfect for.

Then we have the Himalayan Pink Salt bath salts and as well as looking pretty and pink, they to are enriched with minerals to help detox the skin. As with Dead Sea Salt, Himalayan pink salt also helps to exfoliate the skin and help it to retain moisture. 

Unlike Dead Sea Salt, Pink Himalayan Salt is said to have anti-inflammatory properties that heal and soothe skin by calming irritations and breakouts, so, therefore, using it within a bath, it could help those hard to reach areas, such as your back if you suffer from breakouts there. 

When using bath salts, for relaxation and well-being, you should add 100-250g to a warm bath, I always ensure there are a few inches of water in the bath before adding any salt too it as I have found it helps it to dissolve much better. Once in the bath, you should aim to soak for around 20 minutes to get the best benefits. You can also use these salts as a foot soak, ideal if you have hard or dry skin on your heels. As with the bath, add 100-250g to your bowl or footbath and soak your feel for 20 minutes and then rinse, at which point the salt should have helped to loosen some of that skin.

Soakin state that they specialise in sourcing only the highest quality, 100% pure natural salts to ensure the most soothing and relaxing bath-time experience. Soakin Salts retail for around £4.99 each and are designed to be reused and refilled, whether or not you use them for the same product.  I have found that they keep the salts really fresh, which is a must for bath salts.

If you are tempted by these Bath Salts, then there is a store locator on the main website to help you find your nearest stockist,

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

Typology Fragrances and How To Layer Them

Fragrances fascinate me, I love learning about their journey, the notes that have been chosen and then with purchasing and wearing them, they often evoke a memory. Choosing a fragrance is a journey in itself, we all like different brands and within those brands different fragrance options, also in reverse, we all dislike fragrances and this can often be quite the talking point amongst friends.

From Typology, who I showcased on this blog just a few days ago, I was given two sample sets of vials, which each contained three of the fragrances available. The perfumer, from Typology has created different fragrance layering options with the Eaux de parfum which is designed to help you find the perfect personal scent. It is also worth noting that the alcohol in all of these fragrances is natural and comes from Beetroot!

The fragrances I have are:

• Pamplemousse Petitgrain
• Jasmin Neroli
• Cèdre Vétiver
• Sauge Romarin
• Cyprès Genévrier
• Yuzu Mandarine

Each one of these fragrances is just stunning on their own but paired with the right scent, it really has the wow factor.  I used the Typology examples of how to pair the fragrances as follows:

To create a fresh floral fragrance by combining the white floral notes of jasmine and mandarin with the fresh aromatic notes of cypress and juniper. So the idea is that you would use Jasmin Neroli and Cyprès Genévrier together by using one spritz of Jasmin Neroli and two of Cyprès Genévrier.  The Jasmin Neroli is by far my favourite vial of the six that I have, but when mixed with the Cyprès Genévrier it really comes to life and this could quite quickly become a fragrance I would purchase over and over again. It isn't too heavy, it is light, refreshing and beautifully floral.

If an Aromatic Floral is more your type of fragrance then you will need to combine Jasmin Neroli and Sauge Romarin which combines scents such as Rosemary and Sage. The advice again is to use two sprays of Jasmin Neroli and one spray of Sauge Romarin.  What these two scents do together is allow the floral to really be itself but with a slight hint of earthiness from the Sauge and Romarin, without being too heavy. They blend really well and lasts for such a long time on the skin.

Woody Aromas either work for me or they don't and I find they are so much better when they are layered in some way.  From Typology we have an array of options and I have picked my favourites.

The first choice is to use Cyprès Genévrier and Cèdre Vétiver and together they create a really fresh fragrance which is as Woody as it is Aromatic but at the same time without being heavy.  To create you need to use two sprays of Cèdre Vétiver and one spray of Cyprès Genévrier and then within a few seconds you can really get the sense of the strong cedar and Vetiver notes as it settles the Cypress and Juniper lift the whole scent.

Staying with Woody Aromas we have the use of Cyprès Genévrier and Yuzu Mandarin and I would have never thought to put these two together. Again with two spritzes of Cyprès Genévrier and then just one of the Yuzu Mandarin, what you have is an aroma which is quite zesty whilst also being woody, something I would expect to be a strange mixture, but it is light enough to be a great Spring fragrance and one that leaves a trail as you walk.

Depending on how daring you want to be with your fragrances, and I admit I do like to play around with layering, you can use three of these together. Today I am wearing Cèdre Vétiver, Jasmin Neroli and Pamplemousse Petitgrain as a trio, again as suggested from the Typology website and if these three could become one, then I am lusting after it.  To create, again you need to use one spray of Cèdre Vétiver, two sprays of Jasmin Néroli and then one spray of Pamplemousse Petitgrain. Together the sweet notes of grapefruit and the floral notes of jasmine and neroli come together and create a sweet floral which doesn't have that awful headache-inducing note that vanilla creates, this for me is a way around having to use it. As the three fragrances settle, there is a slight wood note that comes to life and it is just a lovely fragrance combination, perfect for a Summers day.

I just love that these six fragrances offer endless opportunities to create your own signature scent as well as the brand giving you guidance on how to layer with a brief guide to follow.

                 

        

          Do any of these fragrance mixes stand out to you?

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

Funderm Skincare

Funderm is a brand until recently I hadn't come across, but I was kindly sent two products from the range to try. The brand, which offers both skincare and supplements describe themselves as being experts in skincare with years of experience and it is unisex, cruelty-free and dermatologically tested.

With six products within the range, I have the No Drama Red Clay Mask and Was Bad Invisible Anti-Pimples Gel Treatment.

I am always careful when using any mask that has Red Clay in as an ingredient because I have had some really bad reactions to it with another well-known brand. So with this one, I did a patch test and within minutes my skin was burning, so I washed it off, left it for a week and tried again, but the same result, so sadly it isn't something I can use. However, The No Drama Mask is one which you apply to clean and dry skin and then leave it to work for around 5-7minutes before washing off using warm water, I always have a clean muslin cloth on hand to remove any missed bits when I look in the mirror.  This mask is designed to be used between once and twice a week and is suit to those with combination to oily skin.

The texture of this mask is slightly thicker than your average mask and it does feel slightly bitty when you apply it to the skin. The formula includes Prebiotics & Probiotics and wonderous dead sea minerals leaving your skin purified, balanced and beautiful. NO DRAMA also contains Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and Vitamin B3 to inhibit sebum production and improve your skins’ texture.  I love the smell of this mask, it has a really nice fresh scent to it, but sadly, I just can't use it on my face. Priced at £32

The second product, Funderm Was Bad Anti-Pimples Gel Treatment is a light peach coloured gel which comes packaged in a tube which features a pump. Designed for problematic skin the innovative formula uses active ingredients alongside a Prebiotic and Probiotic complex to give your skin a pimple-free, purified and balanced look.

I am really lucky that my skin doesn't break out, it is rare I get any spots and if I do, they tend to make their grand entrance and quickly disappear, but the days leading up to the eruption can be quite painful and annoying.  So, rather than opt for my must-have spot treatment, I used this instead and I was really quite impressed with the result.  Designed to be applied to dry and clean skin, you target the area where your Pimples are breaking out, don't wash the gel off and just get on with your day. It doesn't skin, there are no irritations and the formula is quite lightweight for a gel.  It uses minerals from Dead Sea Water, Salicylic Acid, Witch Hazel and Vitamin B3 as some of the ingredients. Priced at £29.

Funderm also has a really good Q& A section on their website which aims to answer all of your queries with regards to using any of their products and I love how straightforward it is to understand, without confusing terminology with scientific babble. You can purchase the Funderm skincare and supplements over on the Funderm website.

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