Buddy Body Scrub - Your Friend With Benefits

Right now I am obsessed with body scrubs that a little bit different - Coffee, Tea and Activated Charcoal to name but a few. So when Buddy Scrub arrived through my letter box, I was quite curious as it isn't a brand I have come across before and I practically dived straight in. 

The packaging is quite plain but totally practical as it is resealable and everything you need to know about it and what it is can be seen before your very eyes. You will also, like I did, end up chuckling at the description and just as you go to open the packaging, this:

"Carefully rip off my top then its time to get down and dirty"

"I'll start by getting you undressed and slowly exfoliate your skin with my sea salt and sugar"

The Buddy scrub is made of Raw Cacao Powder which is packed full of vitamin C and works to nourish and protect the skin. Raw Cacao is also said to help increase the blood flow to the skin, leave it feeling hydrated and it can help to reduce stretch marks. Alongside the Raw Cacao Powder is brown sugar and Sea Salt and they work to exfoliate and remove dry dead skin cells which leave your skin feeling amazingly clean and incredibly smooth to the touch. As there is Sea Salt, take care when you do use this on your skin (also suitable for the face if you so wish) because it can be quite abrasive if you apply too much pressure. Further ingredients include Coconut oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Orange essential Oil and Vitamin E and they all come together to nourish, moisturise and hydrate your skin.

If that wasn't a good enough description, then here is the cheeky one from Buddy Scrub which is on the back of the packet and the one I found myself giggling too:

I’m a body scrub so let’s start by getting you undressed and softly exfoliating your dry skin with my sea salt and brown sugar.

Then I’ll start to nourish your body with my raw cacao powder and coconut oil, which will do wonders for you.

I will further enrich your skin with my sweet almond oil and grape seed oil to keep you feeling soft and cleansed into the night.

I’ll reach all parts of your body and have you feeling amazing with essential vitamins and minerals.

All that I ask in return, is that you make use of my skills once or twice a week.

This scrub is designed to be used once or twice a week depending on much you feel your skin is in need of a good scrubbing. To use it, you need to ensure your skin is wet skin, so being in the shower is ideal, then you will need to rub approximately 1-2 handfuls all over your body and again, if you have areas which are in need of a little more concentration than others, you can change how much pressure you apply when using. I always massage the scrub onto and then off my skin using circular motions and I tend to start from my shoulders working down to my ankles, so anything that is gross and has been removed falls off. Once you have finished you simply wash it off and again if you so wish, you can use your flannel, sponge or Muslin cloth to ensure you haven't missed a bit. After using this scrub, not only does it leave your skin feeling just absolutely incredible, you'll find it hard to not want to lick yourself because it has this most amazing chocolaty orange scent to it - but obviously it isn't edible!

This scrub helps with dry skin, blemishes, eczema, psoriasis, stretch marks, cellulite, and scaring! It is also an all natural, cruelty free and vegan friendly all for just £15.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush | Pink Edition

This is my third and final Oral Hygiene product from Philips and it is their Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush, Pink Edition. Previous reviews of the Sonicare Airflosser and Sonicare TongueCare+ have opened my eyes up to have lacking my routine was, but not anymore.

I made the switch to an electric toothbrush a long time ago because I prefer the feeling after using one and this Sonicare Toothbrush is the best one I have tried yet!

Designed specifically with women in mind, Philips introduced the Pink Edition to improve their oral hygiene routine and compliment their personal style and if it is pink, I want it basically. Philips research shows that 99.7% of all adults believe a smile is an important social asset and with that in mind, this toothbrush was developed and is able to remove 100% more stains versus a manual toothbrush and whiten teeth within one week. 

Inside the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush box you get; your Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush, a travel charging case, a charging glass (which is so very cool), a USB travel charger and a mains plug along with an instruction and warranty booklet. So it is nice to have everything you need within the box, without having to go and purchase extras in order to use your product.

This Toothbrush has a very impressive set of features and specifications which includies five different cleaning modes;

• Clean – for exceptional everyday cleaning 
• Gum Care – gently massages the gums 
• Polish – brighten and polish your teeth 
• Sensitive – gentle teeth and gum cleaning and 
• White – removes surface stains

Add to that, the Sonicare DiamondClean Toothbrush: 

• Removes up to 7 times more plaque from those hard to reach places than a manual toothbrush and 
• Improves gum health in just two weeks - This Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush provides optimal cleaning between teeth and along the gumline for improved gum health in just two weeks.
• Whitens teeth more than 2x better than a manual toothbrush in just 1 week and it removes up to 100% more stains for whiter teeth in just 1 week. 
• The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean brush head has diamond shaped bristles to effectively yet gently remove surface stains and scrape away plaque and therefore removes stain build up from coffee, tea, red wine, cigarettes and tobacco in just 1 week. 
• 30 seconds interval timer which indicates when you have completed each quadrant of your mouth and signals for you to move on, resulting in more consistent cleaning throughout your mouth.

One of the best things about this toothbrush is the Dual Charging System - Charger glass which can also be used to rinse your mouth after brushing and a charging case which connects to your laptop by a USB or via a wall connection or your laptop, so as well as being big enough to carry your toothbrush handle and two brush heads, you have an all in one system making it handy for those people who regularly travel, for your holidays, long weekends away or just because. While the case is big enough to fit everything in, it isn't bulky and won't take up that much room in your luggage, infact it is quite sleek considering.

The handle of this toothbrush whilst being pink, it is matte pink with a rubberised coating to help with gripping and with an LED Display which shows each of the cleaning modes alongside the battery and power icons. Once it is fully charged, the toothbrush should give you at least 3 weeks of brushing. When I used this brush for the first few times, I decided to go with the Sensitive Mode as I was a little unsure as to how my mouth would react to something that does 31,000 strokes per minute, yes that is thirty one thousand, which is just incredible. The brush head is slightly smaller than my last toothbrush and the diamond shaped bristles are different to ones I have been used too. These bristles gently and effectively reach deep between teeth and along the gum line without scraping the gum and making them bleed.

If you haven't realised already, I absolutely love this toothbrush, it is like nothing I have tried before and that clean feeling having used it is just as good, if not better than that feeling of leaving the dentist. The brush doesn't just clean, it cleanses, it polishes and leaves my mouth feeling incredible. I also love that there are five different modes of use which is incredible and depending upon your need, there will be something for you. I usually opt between polish and sensitive depending upon my mood, but I have tried each mode. It is quite a pricey investment at £250 but it does so much more than any other toothbrush that I have owned and tried and if pink isn't for you, then there are other colour options available, which I think is a great idea!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

ASOS EXCLUSIVE - NARS LAGUNA BRONZER & HIGHLIGHTING KIT.

NARS is one of those brands I don't buy and use enough of, yet whenever I am in a department store I cannot help but swatch the lipsticks and blushers or touch the amazing packaging. This stunning kit comes from ASOS and it arrives in it's own little bag, with a full sized Laguna bronzer and liquid Super Orgasm illuminator and retails for just £28!  

NARS Laguna Bronzer is described as being a bronzing Powder which creates a natural looking glow which enhances or creates the look of tanned skin. It is a medium-dark tan brown shade with warm, orange-yellow undertones and a golden shimmer-sheen finish and works really well with my pale skin-tone without making me look like I have a dirty mark on my cheek, yes some bronzers do that.  

If you like Benefit Hoola (yes I do) then Laguna is for me, much lighter on application despite looking quite dark and the little golden flecks add that little something extra.

The Super Orgasm Illuminator is described as being a peachy pink with gold glitter and It is a medium, warm-toned pink with added gold glitter. What I love about this product is that it is quite versatile, you can use it to highlight, you can mix it with your foundation or your tinted moisturiser but you only need a small amount because the texture is quite runny and you don't need to blind people when in direct sunlight.

I am a tad obsessed with this illuminator and I use a teeny amount within my foundation on days where I feel I need a bit of light and lift and I use alone as a highlighter on my cheekbones.

This little kit is exclusive to ASOS and you can find it HERE

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise stated.

PHILIPS SONICARE TONGUECARE+

Over the past few months I have been lucky enough to trial a range of Philips Sonicare products (Airflosser) and today I am sharing with you the Philips Sonicare TongueCare+. I have only ever used a tongue cleaner which I have had on the back of my manual toothbrushes and have never really found them all that effective, so to have a tool that is designed to clean your tongue intrigued me.

The Philips Sonicare TongueCare+ contains a tongue brush as well as a special BreathRx spray which instantly transforms your Sonicare electric toothbrush into a powerful breath solution, and it is clinically proven to provide a longer lasting fresh breath in just 60 seconds and it costs just £16 which I happen to think is a bargain. Infact this TongueCare+ fits onto any Sonicare click-on system handles.

Having done their research, Philips recognises that a toothbrush alone cannot eliminate all bad breath bacteria and Up to 80% of bad breath comes from odour-producing bacteria that accumulate and hide deep within the porous surface of your tongue. So, the TongueCare+ combines three powerful components that work together to form an advanced fresh-breath solution.

1. Click on Tongue Brush - The innovative tongue brush, with its 240 MicroBristles, contours to the tongue to clean away bad breath bacteria below the surface. 

2. BreathRx Tongue Spray - This specially formulated tongue spray kills 99% of the germs that cause bad breath (according to lab studies) and neutralises lingering odours. The spray coats the tongue and keeps it lubricated for a gentle cleaning experience and the cool mint flavour leaves your mouth fresh and clean.

3. Sonic Power - TongueCare+ is the only tongue cleaner that uses Philips Sonicare power, driving the bacteria-killing ingredients of the BreathRX spray deeper into the pores of the tongue. Generating 31 000 vibrations per minute to break up food debris, clean and remove any bacteria build up and clean deep into the grooves of the tongue to deliver a thorough clean.

Given my last attempts with a tongue cleaner on the back of my toothbrush making me gag, I didn't expect too much from this, but boy was I wrong. The rubber bristles are very short and flexible making them totally different to those on the back of a toothbrush because these bristles are much more gentle and whilst I did gag the first few times of using it, as you become used to it, you gag less, so to speak and there is no discomfort and it doesn't feel as weird or strange as it sounds.

The BreathRX spray is one of those products that you think will be an unneccesary edition, but actually I much prefer it to mouthwash and it does make that clean feel much more noticeable.  It does have quite a strong scent and the cooling mint flavour adds to that feeling of cleanliness and fresh feeling and it actually doesn't taste too bad.

As I have said, I wasn't too sure I needed to have a tongue cleaner in my life, that was until this one, for me it is something more than a gimmick and is infact an integral part of my oral hygiene and it takes just up just one minute, it is one of those products that you didn't know you needed until you had it and if like me, you are obsessed with ensuring your oral hygiene is as good as it can be, then this will be an amazing purchase for £16, the improvement in my own mouth freshness is amazing and that feeling of cleanliness lasts so much longer.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

My Summer Bronzer Wishlist

The Summer Edit from John Lewis has a real pick of products to choose from when it comes to skincare, sun care and bronzers. From brands such as NARS, Nuxe, James Read, MAC, Tom Ford, Dior, Vita Liberata, Urban Decay and Benefit to name just a few, there is plenty to splash the cash on.

Summertime make-up is always quite exciting with the bold and bright colours to tempt you, but one item I always look forward to buying is a new bronzer, I am as pale as pale can be for 99% of the year, so as soon as I do get a smattering of colour to my cheeks, it means new makeup and in particular a bronzer.  John Lewis have some amazing ones out there and these are my current wishlist five which are tempting me to cash in my vouchers!

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Collection Brightening Finish Powder, Bronze: A brightening pick-me-up for skin-this all-over powder instantly illuminates and gives skin a healthy-looking glow and unlike the rest of the products I have chosen, it has something which makes it stand out because It is infused with a skin-brightening blend of mulberry, grape and scutellaria extracts, as well as sodium hyaluronate to help keep skin fresh and smooth looking! Priced at £42.


Diorskin Nude Air Glow Powder, 001 Fresh Tan: a luminous powder as weightless and beneficial as a breath of fresh air that revives and illuminates the complexion's original colour and lets the skin breathe for a continuously healthy glow. Beautifully packaged and priced at £39.

Crème de la Mer The Bronzing Powder, 01: This velvet-to-the-touch pressed powder creates a look of glimmering sun-kissed glow all year round. Harmonious illuminating and bronze shades also work perfectly to highlight and contour. Beautifully designed and priced at £70 it is at the very high end of the spectrum.

Guerlain Terracotta Pause d'Eté Limited Edition Bronzing Powder Duo: the combination of the best-selling Terracotta shade 03, which naturally warms all complexions, and the it-colour for summer, a pink with a slight gold shimmer, to illuminate the tan. What sells it to me is the packaging because it uses luxurious, environmentally sound wooden pack (using wood from PEFC approved sustainably managed forests) and contains a wide mirror, but it does cost £50!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze: A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Found inside the usual MAC packaging, so nothing over the top to instantly make you want to pick it up, but it is just stunning and is priced at £24

From those featured there is something for every budget with purse friendly MAC to Guerlain and Crème de la Mer for the higher end of the spectrum. 

Which bronzer do you currently use?

*this post contains affiliate links 

My Purrfect Gift Box | May Edition

Last month I introduced the amazing Mypurrfectgiftbox to the blog and it is an absolute must for cat lovers, cat loving friends and for your furry friends.

Kim and Juan Kniveton the founders of My Purrfect Gift Box are dedicated cat lovers, so much so they moved back from the USA to the Isle of Man to set up and run their own idyllic countryside retreat for cats - Boodee Beg Boarding Cattery, something I dream of doing (if I ever win the lottery). With their onsite gift shop not doing as well as they had hoped, Kim and Juan decided to start My Purffect Box and each month they choose to focus on a different cat charity, rescue centre or shelter and highlight the work they do through their social media sites and through information that comes in each box. They then donate 5% of all our profits from that month's box to that chosen charity of the month.

This months box is just so fantastic and it has been put together with Spring in mind. So out with the dull and dark colours and in with the bold and bright and inside the box is every cat lovers dream items.

Firstly we have a cute cat purse which I absolutely adore and it couldn't have come at a better time as I am in dire need of a new one.  Large enough for coins, notes and cards, the four cats are hand-stitched with the most intricate of detailing and it is pink!

Gold Foil Print Scarf is again just absolutely stunning and something I will definitely wear. It is a dove grey shade with gold foil cat print designs all over. A fairly large scarf which makes it perfect to be used as a wrap on those colder sunny days.

Cat Fabric Print Covered Buttons. Now these are definitely quirkly but I really like the design, I just need to find something to sew them onto, display them or turn them into funky hair ties using a bit of elastic, at £6 for four, they are a great little gift.

Quirky Library Chocolate. Anyone who sends me chocolate is a friend for life! This one was made here in the UK by Quirky Library and it comes with a cute catlover theme which has been personalised on the back with a cute cat quote and all for £5.95.

Retro Style Cat Necklace. This beautiful Cat silhouette necklace which has spring coloured dried flowers is just adorable and a great design which I will be happily wearing and if you want one yourself, you can find it here for just £9.99.

Also included within the box are some treats for my three cats and as soon as the box was opened, Hector immediately noticed there was a few items he would quite like thank you very much!

An exclusive handmade fabric collar made by Luna Crafts here in the UK. It thankfully has a quick release clasp and a VERY cute cat charm and bell. At a cost of £5.99 it is well worthy of purchasing.

Colourful Fleece Blanket. From Tillypopsuk and it is so soft and so cuddly that I debated not letting any of the cats have it so that I could keep it for myself, but Dexter had other ideas and quickly claimed it for himself.

The final item in the box are some cat treats by Pickles. Crunchy Packed Pockets with Smashing Catnip and they contain no artificial colourings or flavours and they are made with real catnip. Sold in stores such as petsathome and priced at 99p, they are just 2 calories and a lovely treat for your furball.

Again, what I love about this box is that clearly a lot of thought went into the contents and it is obviously done so with a theme in mind. Boxes start from £15.95 and there is a choice of three boxes to choose from depending on your budget and then you have a further option as to whether you would like a one off box or a subscription.

So, if like me, you are a crazy cat lady or have a crazy cat friend, this is a perfect little unique gift to give or purchase for yourself as well as do you bit for charity!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Burt's Bees Lip Crayons

I am a huge fan of Burt's Bees from the hand cream, foot cream, lip balm and Cuticle Balm to the Lip Crayons. Infact despite my hatred of Marzipan (yes really it is evil) I absolutely adore the Almond Milk handcream, which smells just like marzipan, I just don't have to eat it.

The lip crayons which are twist-up crayon format with no added scent to them are available in six creamy full-coverage shades which can be used for everyday wear either alone or layered under a Lip Gloss or Lip Shine. Infused with Shea Butter, Kendi Oil, and Jojoba Oil to provide a lightweight and comfortable suitable-for-everyday formula, each crayon whilst being incredibly lightweight gives a coverage of colour just like any other traditional lipstick. Add to that, these crayons, owing to their ingredients, are designed to moisturise and hydrate your lips too, so whilst you look fabulous with your lip shade, that formula is working to look after your lips to leave them looking and feeling soft and smooth.

The six shades within the collection called Napa Vineyard, Sedona Sands, Redwood Forest, Niagara Overlook, Hawaiian Overlook and Caroline Coast, all of which are all wearable and all look amazing. I have both Sedona Sands and Redwood Forest and have not stopped wearing them.  Redwood Forest looks a lot darker than it actually is and I would describe it as being a warm-toned brownish red-pink, that leans more towards maroon as you build up the colour, a shade I absolutely love and one which is perfect for day or nighttime wear. Sedona Sands is the perfect nude and I adore it. I would describe it as being a warm, earthy pinky nude which is incredibly wearable and for me more of a daytime shade than an evening one, but I adore it.

Retailing at £8.99 each these 100% natural lip crayons won Best New Makeup Product For Lips at the 2016 CEW Awards.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Lulu Guiness Compact Style Tangle Teezer

Did you know that the Tangle Teezer launched back in 2007, was showcased on Dragon's Den and turned down by the Dragons for any kind of investment but pricked the interest of Boots and the rest became history.  Today there is a plethora of Tangle Teezers available - The original, The Elite, The Cute little flowerpot (loved by Victoria Beckham), the Tangle Teezer for thick and curly hair, the Aqua Splash, a Tangle Teezer for men and now some really interesting blow dry tools, which I frankly really want to try!

My current love in this Lulu Guiness Compact Styler. Called the compact styler because it fits perfectly into your handbag and the innovative removable cover protects those wonderful flexi teeth from dust, fluff, dirt and other gubbings found lurking in your handbag.

Now my hair is not particularly thick, but I do have a lot of hair, so I am prone to knots and tangles which can be a pain to brush out, but the Tangle Teezer makes what was once a painful experience of detangling an absolute breeze and if you have never owned one, you need one!

The Compact Styler as I have mentioned is perfect for chucking in your handbag to use on the go, packing for holidays and long weekends away. It glides through my hair effortlessly without pulling, snagging or breaking my hair. As soon as it comes into contact with any knot or tangle, the uniquely designed teeth manage to untangle your tangle to leave it soft, smooth and effortless to brush, gone are the days of grimacing as you drag a brush through your locks.

Designed by Lulu Guinness, this Compact Styler features the trademark red lip design on a black and white striped background.  The whole design is matched in colour with a black base and red brush teeth.  The teeth as you can see are slightly curved to make working it through your hair much easier and the two different sized teeth ensure that every single hair is brushed into place. It doesn't scratch your scalp when brushed through and nor does it tangle itself into existing knots.

The perfect hair and handbag accessory for keeping your locks brushed and looking as fabulous as the Tangle Teezer itself and it retails for £13.50 - HERE and is worth every penny.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

#EstimationNation Bake Off with Smart Energy GB

In early May I was invited by Smart Energy GB to attend an event organised to highlight the absurdity of estimation in our daily lives. We don’t and wouldn’t accept it in other parts of our lives yet seem to have no problem using estimation to pay for one of the largest household bills, our gas and electricity.

On 19 May the date had arrived, hubby had managed to say nothing of what was in store* and I made my way through the streets of trendy Hoxton, dodging hipsters, the pools of beard wax on the pavement outside overpriced bars and artisan coffee houses to Open Kitchen.

So, what was on the cards? Well, it was described as a strange an unusual punishment in a jokey way, but it actually turned out to be four hours of fun, laughter and a great chance to see how other bloggers coped with the challenges. Hosted by Ian Cumming of chocolate well fame from a certain baking show had developed two recipes for us to try and bake, the twist being that the recipes didn’t have any measurements, we had no way of measuring anything and we had no idea what temperature and for how long they had to be baked for – everything was to be done using estimates.

As we had an odd number I had the beauty of lots of advice and assistance from Ian. Without it I would have been lost, completely lost and despite his expert help I have to say the first challenge resulted in lovely looking cakes but on tasting them they had a sharp taste. Way too much bi-carbonate of soda!

As the chefs from Open Kitchen made their way around the work stations to judge the offerings we had come up with we adjourned downstairs to a beautifully decorated area where we learnt more about smart meters and how they will bring an end to the age of estimation and drag one of the last analogue industries into the digital age. We even got to watch a short hidden camera video showing the reaction of shoppers when a supermarket estimates their final bill. I had seen it before but it still makes me laugh. You can see it here:

After taking on some tea it was time for Ian to set the second challenge. Cheese and herb scones! I’ve never made a scone in my life and dreaded this section! After much tutting and deliberation it became clear that I had to get a move on and again I was pulling my scones out of the oven as time was called. These were much worse than the cupcakes and it took about five minutes to chew one bite – not good.

There were prizes for the best estimator bake and to my surprise the worse bakes also received vouchers for cooking lessons with the excellent chefs at Open Kitchen.

I didn’t win, I couldn’t (see the disclosure at the bottom) but that didn’t take anything away from the day which I thought was a fantastic way of bringing energy and an energy related topic to life, brilliantly organised and well executed.

Three things I learnt on the day:  

• Estimation sucks and smart meters will finally bring this to an end for my bills
• Ian Cumming is not only a great baker but also he is a genuinely lovely man and it was an honour to cook with him
• Smart meters will show me, in pounds and pence what I’m spending on my electricity at home - we don’t have a gas supply.

Smart meters are being offered to every household in England, Scotland and Wales between now and 2020 at no additional cost. They show how much energy you are using and do so in pounds and pence so you can use the display to make energy efficiency savings around the home, easy steps like changing to energy efficient light bulbs, turning off lights when leaving rooms and switching devices off standby.

*it’s an obvious disclosure but hubby does work for Smart Energy GB, he offered no help on the day and he even excluded me from the possibility of winning or losing so there could be no accusations of bias. It was fun though and an experience I’ll never forget.

 For added fun you can see how hard this challenge was:

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise