Pranamat ECO

The Pranamat ECO is a therapeutic manual massage mat that is said to help relieve minor muscle aches and pains. As both the mister and I suffer with backache for various reasons, I was delighted to be asked to review the mat to put it through its paces and see whether or not it could offer any relief.

Made from all-natural coconut, linen and cotton fibres which are kind to the skin and cause no further irritations. It is soft to the touch, pliable and moves naturally with your body making it a delight to lay on. But what about those spiky little sticking up things I hear you ask. Well the HIPS plastic Lotus Massagers are made from the same plastic used to make medical instruments and the design of a Lotus Flower to help with your therapeutic massage, they are not painful, do not pierce the skin and are really comfortable to lay on. The lotus pattern actually helps to activate the body into boosting its natural defences, metabolism, blood circulation and stimulates the lymph nodes. The end result is an enhanced resistance to inflammation and an increase in endorphins, which serve as your body’s most powerful natural painkillers.

Pranamat states: ‘The effects of the Pranamat are incredibly similar to those of acupuncture. Circulation is improved, toxins throughout the body are eliminated and muscles, joints and tissues are relaxed. The nervous system is also stimulated in order to encourage the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Not only will persistent pain be reduced, but you’ll experience a heightened state of mental and physical wellbeing.’

The mat can be used for upper, lower and middle back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, help with falling asleep, sciatica, tension relieving and just for relaxation purposes. Here are some of the ways I have used the mat:

• I roll the mat out onto my bed for using on the whole of my back.  With a pillow beneath my head and shoulders as though I am going to sleep and one under my legs, I lay on top of the mat for up to half an hour, ensuring I have a thin cotton t-shirt on during this time and then just lay back and relax. For me this works really well, whilst the pain I have flares up occasionally, this mat just eases all the tension and soothes the dull ache.
• I have also taken the mat into work with me to sit on and give my back some relief whilst being sat at the computer when I have back ache, and the relief is just amazing.  I find sitting at a desk staring at a screen can be really uncomfortable, despite having a chair specially designed for those who suffer with back ache.  Adding the Pranamat onto my chair makes sitting there much more bearable and I ache much less.
• It is also amazing for shoulder aches and pains and when you just haven't got time to go and see a masseuse to get rid of those knots for you, laying down on the Pranamat with the lotus flowers in position to massage your neck and shoulders is just absolute heaven and extremely pain relieving. Carrying around a handbag which is too heavy, often does me no favours what so ever it would seem!

Having used this mat regularly for the last 4 weeks I can honestly say that it does live up to its claims.  It does take a few sessions to get used to the lotus flower spikes, but don't let that put you off, there is a reason they are designed that way and you do get used to them.  I now don't find them as uncomfortable as I did and can happily fall asleep on my mat.  It does help to relieve and give pain relief for aches and pains and it is a great stress and tension buster, perfectly designed to help you chill out, calm down, relax and become calm.

The Pranamat retails for around £90 and you can find it right here in a range of different shades and colours. 

Spring Formal Office Wear

Office wear is something I have to think about every day and I can do smart/ casual on most days, but there are other days when I am going from meeting to meeting between my office, HQ or another associated office and I need to be a little smarter. However, travelling around London can be quite a hot and stuffy nightmare and wearing a suit is just not for me, I am more of a dress, tights, flat shoes and blazer kind of girl.

So, I have created an office wear wishlist that would see me both comfortably cool without a blazer and not to hot and stuffy when I do need to wear one and the blazers in this collage I actually own, so picking dresses to go with them was quite fun to do.

There is a lot of choice when it comes to buying office wear both online and on the highstreet and there are always a nice variety of styles to suit every one.

• Hale Bob UK Body con dress in black to the far left of the collage is the most expensive dress but I love that it goes from being a classic LBD but with a slight twist, it can be dressed up for going out with just a pair of boots and would work well with a leather jacket! 
• House of Fraser caught my eye with the Dickins Jones Fit and Flare Dress which is currently in the sale here and it again has a slight twist in that the top half is detatchable, so you can again dress it up or down.  
• In the middle is a black ruched sheath dress that I saw in TK Maxx at the weekend and almost bought, but I have one which is very similar with longer sleeves. What I love about these types of dresses is that when you are having one of those 'meh' days and nothing fits right, these dresses always make you look fabulous and again it is perfect for the office or going out afterwards.  
• The Evans Jersey pocket dress is the only one with pockets and I love the shape and design of it, perfect for wearing to work and is a dress that can be glammed up for a night out.  
• The final dress is from New Look and is a black scallop hem Tunic dress which has a v-neck, cap sleeves and a scalloped hem and is again perfect for the office, adding a blazer too or going out in.

Now that I have my office wear sorted, it is time to find some suitable shoes!  

Purrfect Box for Cats - March Edition

The big pink cat box arrived with some excitement for my boys this when the Purrfect box** arrived. Purrfect box is a UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat, or your dog (Pawsome Box) and each month you will receive a box of treats, toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products customized and based on the cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Anyone who reads my blog or follows me on Instagram will know what a big part my three cats play in my life, Hector even has his own Instagram!

Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and this was what was in the box.

Again another box which has an amazing variety of products from toys and treats to snacks. When I open the box, I always let the three of them have a look inside to see if there is anything which takes their fancy.

Starting with the food options, Trixie has become a brand that I am now aware of and my three are always fans of the food options given. The Chicken Tenders are 100% steam cooked chicken fillets which are packed in vaccum sealed packets and make a nice treat in between meals. The Cat Malt (which appears on Hector's Instagram) helps to regulate metabolism and promotes good digestion. An easy way to help resolve feline digestive problems such as hairballs. Also makes a good alternative to cat grass.

Purr by Wagg treats are designed for hairball control and they are again designed as a treat for between meals and have proven to be a big hit with my three, who love anything like this.  The treats are vitamin enriched and preserved with added natural antioxidents from rosemary extract and they contain no artificial colours or flavours.

The final products within the box come in a variety of shape and sizes for toys and thankfully each cat took ownership of a separate toy otherwise there would have been trouble!

The Skinneeeze catnip filled chicken was first out the box with Dexter who aores catnip and the chicken was played with for hours and hours and even now, it is usually by Dexter's side when he is in the house rather than out killing rats - yes real live vermin things!  Then added to the toy choices are the two Balls with an attached feather by Camon and these are designed to stimulate your cat's hunting instinct, something Dexter definitely does not need any help with, but the three cats, especially Dude, love them and spend hours throwing them around in an attempt to 'kill it'.

The final item in the box is by Karlie, a brand I am not aware of but the product in question is Thermoplastic rubber ball which is catnip scented and doubles up as a treat ball with snacks inside. It also floats and is kind to the teeth and Hector loves chases it around, more so if a treat falls out and it is a great way to encourage exercise.

So again, this box has proven to be a huge hit with my three boys, who have devoured the snacks and treats and wholly enjoyed their new play toys. The Purrfect Box and as I have said before, it is a real treat for my boys to get and as soon as they see the box they know exactly what it is and cannot wait for me to rip it open. If you have a friend who has cats, then this would make a fantastic present!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Skincare Essentials

Did you know that in the 1908's, L'Occitane was one of the first laboratories to develop a complete skincare range made with Shea Butter? Well it has gone on to be one of the best selling ranges and is suitable for all skin types.

Rich in Omega 6, Karitene and Vitamin E, Shea butter is nourishing, protecting and repairing, it is an ingredient that does it all and my skin loves it and laps it up. I was recently sent two amazing products from L'Occitane which I am absolutely loving - Shea Face Soothing Fluid and Shea Face Comforting Oil.

Shea Face Soothing Fluid has been especially designed for sensitive skin. It soothes and hydrates skin while protecting it from external aggressions which can lead to tightness, redness and prickling or burning sensations. L'Occitane have used carefully selected active ingredients rosehip and calendula and have combined with shea butter (5%) to help:

• nourish dry skin and optimise skin's barrier function
• soothe the skin
• strengthen skin’s natural defences

On the skin this fluid is incredibly soothing and hydrating.  With all of this stormy weather we seem to have right now with the wind and rain literally battering the skin, I find that I need to use products that do that little bit extra.

Shea Face Comforting Oil is a 100% natural face oil enriched with shea oil (5%) to nourish and repair the skin. Combining Shea Oil (5%) for its unique nourishing properties, Marula Oil for its antioxidant properties the formula helps the skin to regenerate by strengthening its barrier function. Skin feels better protected, soft and supple.

I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and used to assume that adding an oil to oily skin would lead to a total oil slick, this has never been the case. I find this oil absorbs really quickly into the skin leaving no trace it was ever there, the texture is a really fine oil and it has a dry finish. When using it, I pump, using the dispenser, a few drops onto the palm of my hand and rubbing them together to slightly warm the oil, massage into my face and neck. The result is one of soft, smooth and really hydrated skin, perfect for this horrible cold and windy weather.

Both of these products work exceptionally well together or on their own and are perfect for skin which needs a little bit of TLC, especially with the rapid change in weather.

L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands Hand Cream

As far as I am concerned you can never have too many tubes, tubs or sachets of hand cream and if you are like me, there will be at least one in every handbag you own, one on your bedside table, one on your desk, one in your desk drawer and a few spare just in case. I am a huge fan of L'Occitane hand creams and until now could never pick a favourite, until now. L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands Hand Cream is the newest release from L'Occitane and it is just amazing, more so that it includes SPF15!

Packaging on L'Occitane products is always something special and this hand cream has the traditional outer box that I recognise from the Almond range but the tube itself is a lovely light pastel pink metallic tube with a plastic lid and it is rare I meet someone who doesn't have a bashed up tube of L'Occitane hand cream in their possession.

Did you know that the Almond Tree is the first to be reborn t the end of winter when its native cells trigger the renewal buds?  Well with that in mind, L'Occitane draws upon the regenerating power of the almond native cells which help to renew and revitalise the epidermis cells of the hands. On the hands, the cream is incredibly rich and silky and it is also non-greasy and as soon as it comes into contact with your skin, it begins to absorb itself.

The hand cream has a triple-action formula which smooths hands, evens out skin tone and protects against UV rays. Enriched with an almond complex which has a blend of three active ingredients which help to stimulate collagen production and smooth the skin on your hands.  Your skin tone is evened out, fine lines reduced and there is an instant nourishing feeling.  What I love about the hand cream aside from the fact it makes my hands feel so soft and smooth is the scent.  Not forgetting that L'Occitane Almond Velvet Hands does have SPF15 which will help shield the skin against environmental damage, premature signs of ageing and of sun induced brown spots.

Anyone who knows me, will know I adore the Almond range from L'Occitane and have worked my way through two jars of the Almond Velvet Balm and two bottles of shower gel, which for me is unheard of. The hand cream is just as divine and has quickly become my favourite and a 75ml tube, which is just massive (they are usually 30ml) only costs £18, though you will have to wait until April to get your hands on it ha absolutely no pun intended.

Laura Geller The Sweetest Thing

Just before Christmas, I was really lucky to be invited along to brush with the fabulous Laura Geller to learn more about the lady herself and her fantastic makeup range.  I always find it so interesting to find out why people start their own range and with so much enthusiasm, it was hard not to fall under Laura's spell, she totally understood the value of Bloggers and our value as well as having a plan of action for her range.

This was my first introduction to Laura Geller Makeup and I was very lucky to be able to take home a beautiful pink sparkly bag with a range of products inside to play and get acquainted with. 

Today I am sharing with you The Sweetest Thing which is a 6 piece collection in Pinks and Purples and inside there are six different products to play with.

The first item is the Baked Balance-n-brighten colour correcting foundation, I have shade medium which is too dark for my pale skin, but when mixed with my moisturier it works  to not only give good coverage but also correct any imperfections that I have and it also works well to give a slight bronzed look on my cheeks when used alone.  It is also mineral oil and paraben free.

Baked Blush-n-Brighten in shade pink buttercream is just beautiful. Again it works to give you that natural flushed look and it doubles up as a highlighter to give you a bit of a glow too as it has swirled with copper and gold flecks.

My favourite product in this box is the Baked Highlighter and I have shade Golden Rose and it is just beautiful, it isn't too over the top to make you look shiny but it is buildable depending on how much highlighting your skin needs.

Then we have a baked eyeshadow in Opal/Violet and this is one product I haven't used as yet as I am not too sure I can pull off either shade, but it is a beautiful little duo and it ca be used wet for a more dramatic colour.  It hosts Vitamin E conditions and Centella Asiatica and White Tea Extract provide antioxidant protection.

Next we have the Colour Drenched Lipgloss in shade Pink Lemonade which is a really pretty pink gloss which is neither tacky or sticky and it isn't as pink as it looks in the tube, it is quite much softer. The formula with emollient oils and Vitamin E helps protect lips from environmental damage and there is a ach shade is a really subtle coffee aroma.

The final item within this box is a double-ended Foundation and Highlighter brush. The Foundation Brush is suitable for use with all-over face powders and the Highlighter Applicator is perfect for face application, though I tend to use it for applying my concealer as I find it works perfectly.

I think this is such a fabulous set, it has everything you possibly need and everything is so versatile that even if it designed for one job, you can guarentee it will do something else too.

Have you tried anything from the Laura Geller Make up range?

The Heat-Treat Cap

Hair care is a topic I don't seem to cover much on BeautyqueenUK but over the next few weeks that is going to change because I have a few products I want to share with you.

Today is the turn of Heat-Treat Cap, described as being a new revolutionary thermal treatment cap to give salon results at home. With the tagline 'Say goodbye to bad hair in 5 easy steps' has me hooked. So, like most people, I use a lot of heat on my hair - GHD's, Hair dryer and sometimes a curling wand, which all causes havoc on my hair if I don't give it some TLC and I tend to use a hair mask at least twice a month.

The Heat Treat Cap looks like a shower cap, but it has what feels like a gel filled inside, there is also a plastic lip liner which you need to remove before putting the cap into the microwave. So, to use the cap it needs to go into your microwave for between one and two & a half minutes, depending on your microwave and let it heat up. In the meantime, having already washed your hair, whilst your heat cap is warming up, this is the time to apply your chosen hair treatment, ensure you have equal coverage across your hair and scalp, then put the cap liner onto your head and remove the heat cap from the microwave and put it onto your head, as you would do your shower cap. All of which is really easy to do and the cap isn't hot enough to burn your hands or your head, it actually feels really nice.

For my treatment, I used the label.m honey and oat hair mask which is my current favourite mask and it will have a full review coming soon, it is worth noting that there is the inclusion of three hair masks by Jenois within the box. So, depending on how long your mask is designed to stay on your hair, is how long you use the heat cap for but ideally it should be for around 2-10 minutes. My hair mask says depending on the state of your hair, the mask should be left to work its magic for up to 5 minutes, so I always time those minutes from the moment the cap goes onto my head. Once the cap is on you can do whatever you need to do, there is no requirement to sit still and wait for your time to finish, so I hoovered up and put some clothes away whilst wearing mine. Once my 5 minutes were up, I removed both caps and rinsed the mask from my hair using warm water. What I did notice is how smooth my hair was once it had dried and how much easier my hair straighteners seemed to glide through my hair. My once messy birds next was now sleek ans shiny and just as soft as when I usually leave the salon.

The Heat-Treat Cap is aimed at those who have dry, lack lustre, frizzy or limp hair. However, I actually think anyone who loves to give their hair some TLC and using any kind of hair treatment, be it an oil, mask or conditioner could and should give it a try. It is easy to use, re-usable and it makes my hair feel amazing and is well worth the price tag of £24.95 which is much less than just a wash, treatment and blow dry at my local salon. More information about the Heat-treat Cap on the official website and you can also purchase some hair treatments too.

Freedom Pro Artist Pad - Black Arts

Freedom Makeup is a brand you probably have heard of, it is a sister brand of Makeup Revolution and is Professional Makeup Brand giving you products at an affordable price.

The Freedom Pro Pad Black Arts Edition contains 48 of the finest professional quality eyeshadows and yes I did say 48 eyeshadows.  Infact, this palette has every shade on it that I can imagine ever needing in my life and then some, just look at it, it is the same size as my iPad!

Within the Freedom Makeup Black Arts Pro Artist Pad you will find an amazing mixture of matte, satin, metallic and shimmery eyeshadows. Possibly a palette that leans towards the neutral side, it is just beautiful, especially for a neutral eyeshadow girl like myself. Neatly packed in squares, the pigmentation is amazing and I have swatched some of my favourite shades so that you can see for yourself.

Whether you like your bronze, gold, copper, pink, browns or even your blues and grey shades, you can find them all on this palette.  It gives you plenty of scope to play with and it costs just £15 though if you are quick, it is currently on offer for just £10 right here.

Have you tried any make up from Freedom yet?

This post may contain PR Samples and/or Affiliate links.  For more information please see my disclaimer page.

Elegant Touch Don't be Sheepish Nails

I have only recently become obsessed with false nails, so when Don't Be Sheepish landed on my doorstep, I was overwhelmed by how cute they are. Whenever I do use false nails, Elegant Touch are my go to nails because I find them easy to apply, they suit my nail shape and they re incredibly purse friendly.

The Elegant Touch Don't Be Sheepish nails are an online exclusive and are the perfect designed nails to wear not only for the Easter weekend but for the whole of Spring. Within each pack of nails you will find nail glue, a buffer, an instruction leaflet and 24 nails in 10 different sizes all compactly packed so you have everything you need to get going and make those nails pretty and they last for up to 10 days without chipping or peeling.

My own nails are currently going through a bit of a bad time and are all cracked, broken and peeling, so I am currently applying products to get them back to their former glory so I have only tested one or two of these nails, that said, they are really easy to apply. The nails are an almost squoval shape, which doesn't different too much from how I shape my own nails.  Once I have washed and dried my hands, I always apply handcream and then cuticle oil before buffering my nails.  Once I am happy with that, I select the right sized nails and then begin to apply the glue, then apply and press down on the nail.  They stick immediately and I have never found a need to remove and reapply before a week.  

As there are two designs within this set, you can choose whether you want more lambs or more daisies or an equal mixture of the two. The Elegant Touch Don't Be Sheepish Nails retail for £6.95 and are available from the Elegant Touch website - HERE.

Flamingo Candles Bunny Kisses Easter Candle

I am a huge fan of Flamingo Candles, their cuteness is such that everytime I see the design I ooh and ahh at it.  So imagine my excitement when Bunny Kisses dropped through my door looking like this.

This is an amazing Easter Candle, which has sadly sold out. It is hand-poured in the UK using natural soy wax and is a pretty yellow pastel wax jar candle decorated with a super cute metallic silver bunny and metallic purple heart which is just divine.

Once the lid has been removed, childhood sweet memories come flooding back as this candle smells like rhubarb and custard sweets, the boiled sweets you might have once got in a pick 'n' mix.  The scent is both sweet and tangy and once the wick is alight, both those fragrances come to life and I am suddenly whisked back to a child buying those 1p sweets from Mrs Stocks on a Sunday morning.

Impressively, this candle has a burn time for up to 50 hours and features a natural cotton wick and unlike some candles, there is no blackened smoke appearing once alight. Priced at £12, these candles are just such good value for money, they smell amazing and look just fantastic.

Happy Easter!

SS16 Clutch Bag Wishlist

This year is zooming by so quickly that we have skipped through winter to spring before I feel I have had time to blink.  I have an exceptionally busy second half the year looming with three weddings on the horizon and because they are all family events, I cannot get away with wearing the same outfit twice. 

With a wedding, I tend to choose an outfit and bag before shoes and right now there are so many clutch bags that I have my eye on, I have created a wishlist:

Cluth Wishlist SS16 by beautyqueenuk 

I absolutely love Ted Baker Bags and as you might notice, two feature right here. Top middle we have the Ted Baker Chasidy multi floral crossbody clutch bag which also offers a strap option depending upon your preference. Moving clockwise we have the Coast Printed bow bag, which features a flap over front and a magnetic clasp for closing and costing just £35 is an absolute bargain. Ted Baker features again and this time with a slightly different design with the Dorise multi floral crossbody clutch bag. A wishlist wouldn't quite be one without a bit of Vivi and this Vivianne Westwood Derby multi tartan wrist clutch bag caught my eye and it almost matches a dress I quite like. A little more demure with the New Look White Lace 3D Flower Frame Clutch which is a Clip top fastening- clutch which again has an optional chain strap. The black Miss KG Hava Embellished Suedette Clutch Bag from John Lewis is one I have actually seen up close and it is just stunning and again has a detachable gold-toned chain strap and a lock clasp. Finally, right in the centre is the Dune Bubbles Clutch Bag which is a fold over design with a popper fastening and an optional chain strap.

These are just some of the bags that have made an appearance on my Pinterest boards over the last few weeks alongside many others.  Do you have a favourite from my list?