Primark PS Strobe Crayons

Primark is one of those little treasure troves that I just love looking around, most of my PJ's come from there as do my lounge pants, cardigans and the one section which I do absolutely love is the makeup section.  You might have seen THIS post on the oval brushes which I absolutely love and then if you follow me on Instagram, I showed a MAC palette dupe which will appear on my blog in a few weeks time.

Today I am back to Primark and the PS range and these amazing Strobe Crayons! Everywhere I look right now there are Strobe creams, powders, compacts, palettes and sticks to debate over and obviously depending on your budget you can be spending quite a lot of money.  So whilst in Primark picking up a new black cardigan, I came across this pack of Strobe Crayons and for £3 I thought they were worthy of a try.

In the plastic wallet, which in itself is handy because it is self seal and fits some of my makeup brushes for when I am away from home, are three crayons with lids.  They are not twist and turn to get more from the pencil, you have to sharpen them but for £1 each I am not too fussed about it.

The three crayons are different shades Rose, Golden and Sand and the swatches below show just how pigmented they are with just one swipe and they glide onto the skin, they are blendable, they can be as bold or as light as you want them to be because they are buildable and they have a stunning shimmer.

From left to right we have Golden, Rose and then Sand and I can't decide which one I like the most, all three of them are so pretty and you can use all three on different areas of your face should you so wish.  Texture wise, as I have said, they glide onto the skin with no dragging feel and they are just a delight to use!

Another bargain from Primark!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde

When you have blonde hair, keeping it in good condition is paramount, it can quickly look boring, dull and lifeless. I have naturally dark blonde hair which I have highlighted a few times a year and when I was introduced to Pro:Voke Liquid Blonde Range, I couldn't wait to give it a try.

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde is an expertly created range specifically designed for highlighted, sun-kissed and warm blonde hair. The range tones and enhances blonde shades using Golden Blonde Pigments to refresh colour, whilst also nourishing and adding intense gloss and shine.

With four products in the range - Shampoo, Conditioner,  Colour Activating Treatment Shampoo and Intense Shine Conditioner.  I am usually nervous when it comes to using colour care products because I don't want to over do it and end up orange or green but equally I don't want my colour to fade too quickly, despite my love of sitting for hours in a salon chair and any excuse to visit new places.

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde Colour Care Shampoo is a really gentle cleansing shampoo which helps to protect against environmental pollution to safeguard your colour, making it perfect for multitoned, highlighted hair. Using light-reflecting particles and Tamanu Oil this shampoo is great for hair which feels dry and dehydrated but is lightweight as to not weigh the hair down.  

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde Colour Care Conditioner has quite a creamy formula and you only need a small amount.  I am one of those people who doesn't use a conditioner everytime I shampoo because I have combination hair (Greasy Roots and Dry Ends) but I do like this conditioner. Designed to help repair damaged hair by infusing extra moisture for an improved smooth and silky texture. As with the shampoo, it has light-reflecting particles and Tamanu Oil which instantly boosts shine and keeps hair colour rich. By helping to protect from environmental damage and preventing colour from dulling, this conditioner brings out and brightens a range of blonde tones and highlights.

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde Colour Activating Treatment Shampoo - This shampoo contains Golden Blonde Pigments to instantly boost multi-toned, highlighted blonde shades. It also works to instantly enhance the warmth and depth of blonde hair which further help to prolong salon visits and keep hair colour fresh, with visible results after just one wash.  What I found with this shampoo is that I only needed to use it once a week, similar to how I use any other hair treatment, so swapping to this shampoo from the other to give my hair a boost.  The formula is slightly thicker but is really easy to wash out.

PRO:VOKE® Liquid Blonde Intense Shine Conditioner - Again I swap this once a week with the conditioner above and it is designed to give a high gloss finish in just one treatment, enhancing the lustre and depth of multi-tonal blonde hair. Containing Tamanu Oil, known for repairing and improving shine.  Again, this conditioner is slightly thicker in texture than the other option and it has a really dark colour to it, but where it differs hugely for me, is how my hair feels after using it - instantly soft, nourished and moisturised, almost salon shiny and an absolute delight to style.

Having used these products for the last few months, I have found that my colour has lasted a lot longer than it would usually do, the roots haven't come through as quick and whilst now I can see the highlights have faded and need a touch up, I am really impressed they have lasted this long, especially as my hair has been highlighted 3 weeks before I got these products.  

Now for the best part!  With starting prices from £3.99 you can find them in places such as Boots, which often means a 3 for 2 option and if I am honest, they are more than worth their price.

Liz Earle New Botanical Essence No.9 Eau de Parfum

There are some fantastic now launches coming from Liz Earle, especially the Christmas collection, but today I have two to share with you.  Now whenever I am gifted, given or sent a product, I like to try it out before it appears on the blog, it is rare that I will just post about something. Why? Because I like to think people want to know what I thought of something when I tried it as opposed to the regurgitation of a press release.

You can never ever have too many perfumes in my humble opinion and in my lifetime I have only ever, until now, tried one from Liz Earle and that was Botanical Essence No.20 which I absolutely adored.  Now Botanical Essence No.9 has arrived and I simply adore it.  It started off that I quite liked the fragrance and now I cannot get enough of it and the description is equally divine:

"Capturing the unique energy that you feel moments after a rainstorm, as the clouds part and the sun begins to warm the forest floor. New Botanical Essence No.9 Eau de Parfum takes the wearer on a mysterious olfactive journey right to the fragrant heart of a lush and verdant lanscape, laden with the scent of ripened berries".

What I love about this scent is that it is a beautiful mixture of fresh citrus, woodiness and floral notes all come together to make what is a scent that is an all year round amazing fragrance. As soon as you spritz the fragrance you instantly get a hit of fruity zesty notes and as it settles the floral and fruity notes come to life before finally settling on the skin for the woody warm finish. The fragrance is broken down into Top, Heart and Base notes as follows:

• Top notes: blackcurrant bud, bergamot and red ginger  which give a fresh, fruity, juicy, crisp and zesty result
• Heart: Osmanthus, Damask rose and patchouli which bring to life the spicy, floral, fruity, and sensual fragrance
• Base notes: Haitian vetiver and oakmoss absolute vanilla finally settle to give a smoky, woody, warm, and rich finish

I also love that this fragrance has lastability. It is one that you can spray in a morning before leaving for work and one you can still smell on your way home. For me, the heart notes make this an amazing scent, the Damask Rose working alongside Patchouli are the scents I can detect the most.

If you are a fan of Liz Earle Eau de Parfum then you will know that they are perfect for layering and again, this is something I do all of the time.  For me No.9 works incredibly well with No.20 and they work because so many natural notes are used.  For anyone who has never tried layering perfumes, then definitely do, there is nothing quite like finding your own signature scent and who wants to smell like everyone else anyway?

Liz Earle New Botanical Essence No.9 Eau de Parfum is available nationwide from the flagship stores, Boots and John Lewis from September but if you really want to try it now, then QVC might just have it in stock!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Sleek Makeup

I am a huge fan of Sleek and they appear on my blog because they are such a great brand and amazing value for money.  One thing Sleek do very very well is their palettes, blushes and lipsticks and if you have never tried them, run to Superdrug and buy everything!

Today I am sharing with you 4 new products that I got to see a while ago and I am sure like me, you will love them.

Sleek blushers are amazing and I adore both Rose Gold and Suede but Pink Peony is something new altogether because it is a creme to powder blush.  It is a lovely bright pink shade, much more pink than I would usually opt for, but once blended that bright Barbie pink settles down to give a really lovely finish. 

It is available in 5 other shades and costs just £5.99 which is such good value for money and it is comes encased inside an incredibly durable black, sleek case which is great for transporting.

i-Divine palettes are always the steal of the show with Sleek and the two I have - A New Day and All Night Long are just incredible and I have constantly used them since I got them. A New Day is suitable for all skin tones and has every shade that you need for daytime eyes. It features 12 fantastic shades which include soft nudes, subtle golds and warm peach shades all of which can be used along or together and they blend really easily.

The swatches (right to left) I have shown for this palette show Brightside, Don't Worry, Silver Lining and H-A-P-P-Y.

All Night long again features 12 shades which are all cocktail themed when it comes to their names. A mixture of rich smokey nudes, sultry beiges, eye-catching golds and shimmering bronzes this is again an amazing palette.

The swatches (right to left) I have shown for this palette are Martini, Prosecco, Spritz and Manhatten. For just £8.99 I think these palettes are just amazing value for money.

The final item is just stunning and I featured it on my Instagram and it is the Solstice Highlighting Palette. Recongisable for its gold packaging it features 4 stunning shades - Ecliptic, Hemisphere, Subsolar and Equinox of two are baked powders, one luxurious cream formula and one silky shimmer powder.  

Highly pigmented, these shades need just the smallest amount and blend with my fingertips. Ideal for use on the inner corners of the eyes, across the browbone and along the tops of cheekbones. At just £10 this palette is such great value for money and I just love how pigmented it is.

So there you have my current most used products from Sleek and I think everything is such amazing value for money.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Keeping fit at your desk #OfficeYoga

It often comes as a surprise to people when they learn that blogging is not my full time job and it is infact a hobby.  Outside of the Blogger bubble, I actually have a full time role, not your average 9-5 job but a job that that is demanding, can be long odd hours but gives me the flexibility to come and go as I need to.

I work in an actual office Monday to Friday and like many office workers, I am tied to my desk for most of that day replying to emails, dealing with queries and questions and dealing with people face to face.  Recently in the news, there has been a lot of noise about office workers needing to exercise for an hour a day to avoid an early death and sitting still for 8-9 hours a day is never going to be good for you anyway.  So my colleagues and I have taken on board some of the points made from these reports and as we get a whole hour (and a bit more) for lunch, we decided to go out and explore our local surroundings for that one hour, whether that is to the local park, walking further afield for lunch or, sad as it sounds, going out catching Pokemon.  The fresh air (as fresh as it can be in London anyway) does me a world of good anyway, I always feel much better when I have been outside, especially if it is sunny.

If getting out and about during the working day is something you find hard to do because of work pressures or other issues there are still things you can do.  #OfficeYoga is a term I have heard of more than once over the last few months, a friend of mine recently started up her own business going into offices and going 20 minute slots of yoga with office workers to show them how much a difference it can make to their lives.  Whilst she hasn't yet made it across to my office because we are undergoing a few renovations, she has insisted I have a better office chair than the one I currently have which severely lacks lumber support, so ive noted that point along with remembering to get up and move about.  Feeling good on the outside is just as important as feeling good on the inside and I do try and set myself a goal of getting to the end of a piece of work and then moving around, but if I am alone in the office, which for a few days of the working week I am, then Yoga at my desk, for me, is idea and this is how easy it is:

So if you find you offer suffer with a stiff neck, sore lower back, aching legs and feet, tight hips, sore shoulders and headaches, getting it, shaking it about, moving around and stretching will help minimise the discomfort and help with stress and tension which is a viscous circle of the aches and pains. I know if I am under stress along comes a headache and then the pain radiates down, if I can stop it happening then I am in.

Please do keep a look out for @Furniture_Work's #OfficeYoga campaign video 

coming soon!

*this post is a collaboration but all words are my own.

Mypurrfectgiftbox - Dancing in the moonlight

The August edition of Mypurrfectgiftbox* has arrived and it is aptly titled 'A Day In The Park' which celebrates the end of Summer, warm nights and romance. We now look to longer evenings, shooting stars and even fireworks. Once again, this box has gifts for both you and the furballs in your life.

The First item is an exclusive for the box is fairy lights but not just any fairy lights, they are infact cat face lights and I just absolutely adore them.  Each one of the 20 cat faces appears on Mulberry Paper and has been hand painted and they are battery operated and have a retail price of £18.95 and are also from Etsy.

I am a big fan of prints, especially cat prints so I was really delighted to see this one which depicts three cats sat on the moon with a hanging star, really cute and quirky.  From Etsy designer ACatLikeCuriosity there are many prints to add to the collection.

Sticking with the cat theme still, we have a fun cat vinyl sticker with a romance theme.  It can be used to decorate anything from your iPad, car window, laptop and so on.  Again from an Etsy store and costs just £2.99 and is really cute.

If Jewellery is your thing and you love cats, then this cat bangle will tick all of those boxes. This cute cat in moon bangle is an adjustable stacker and the charms are just delightful, the C stands for Cat and the moonstone charm adds a bit of colour.

Now if the bangle wasn't cute enough, how about this amazing blingy cat ears headband? Now this I absolutely love and whilst Hector thinks it is fun to try and pull it off my head, I think it is so much fun and again quirky.

Now I have got over the excitement of gifts for the humans, there are some treats for my three boys, well Dude managed to commandeer pretty much the whole of the box by sitting on it, so this is what was inside.

The cat treats are always really popular with my three and this time we have Vet's Kitchen little hearts treats.  These have been designed to deliver specific health benefits to cats through natural active ingredients. They are hypollergenic and free from artifical colours or flavours.

When it comes to cat toys, again they are always popular with my three and this time it was Dude who was the first to get his paws on them. The first was a cute handmade wool heart and it also comes with a dried premium catnip herb centre. Priced at £4 from Paw and Gnaw.

The final item in the box is again a toy for the cats and it is a felt bird which has been handmade from an Etsy store called Clasicats.  Filled with catnip and adored with feathers to make a tail, this is one toy which has had all three cats chasing and hunting it around the house.

Once again, this is another amazing Purrfect Box and with something for everyone, we have a very happy household. If you like the look of these products, there is a shop to treat yourself or your little ball of fur right here.

If you have never come across this box before then here is a little background as to how and where the idea came from. 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 post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Getting things done with BidVine

Getting things done is awesome. More accurately, being done and enjoying the outcome is the real reward of dealing with the smallest fix to the largest project. The problem is that finding someone to help you get there has remained a hassle. Wasn’t technology supposed to help with things like that? Is pretty much what I think about the discovery of apps on my iPhone, iPad or even laptop most days and that too is the ethos of BidVine.

Bidvine is designed to help you get things done by finding competitive quotes for jobs you need doing, whether that is hiring a domestic cleaner, a handy man, wedding hair and makeup and even someone to take some professional photos for you. What I love is that it can all be done via an app or via your computer, depending on your preference and it is a simple case of Request, review and Hire in easy to follow steps.

The website is so user friendly and easy to use with everything you need right in front of you. Facing you straightaway on the homepage is a search box asking you what it is you would like help with, so I opted for portrait photography, I have hardly any decent photos of the mister and I together, not even on our wedding day, so it is something I would like. So having typed in my request and postcode, a list of options come up for you choose from what type of portrait you need, where will it be taken, type of image you are looking for, how you would like the images displayed, your budget and the delivery of the service. All of which are simple tick box exercises. 

Once the form was completed, I was sent an email letting me know that there are limited photographers in my area that could meet my needs but that on my behalf they would still hustle to get me a quote from at least one qualified professional.  So already within minutes I have someone bidding on my behalf, doing the leg work and promising to keep me up to date with what was happening and that by Tuesday morning I would hopefully have something or someone to work with.  The end result was that I not only had one quote but three different ones ranging in price from just slightly higher from my lower budget £75 to the top of my budget £200.  When the quotes come in you get to then view each company's portfolio, qualification and references, read reviews from other customers and then you can either call them directly or continue to use BidVine to send your messages.

The best part about BidVine is that it costs you the customer absolutely nothing to use the service and the team at the company review every service provider's profile before it can go live but of course it is always sensible to do your own research before settling on the company you choose, this is where reviews from other people come in handy.

I am really impressed with BidVine, I love how easy it is to use whether you have limited internet experience or know your way around pretty well.  It is easy to follow, the questions are relevant to the job you need doing and it isn't intrusive and your inbox isn't filled with spam messages within seconds.  Great service and definitely one to add to the favourites back for those pesky jobs!

*this post is a collaboration but all words and experiences are my own.

Coffee Scrubs - My Top 5

I am absolutely obsessed with coffee scrubs (thanks Pinterest) and have for the past few months been working my way through a few brands (11 in total) trying and testing them out. 

Coffee grounds are said to have a multitude of benefits for the skin when used as an exfoliator, Not only have I found coffee scrubs to be incredible at removing dead, dry and flaky skin, but it is true that they helps to improve the skin tone and also the texture of the skin. If from time to time you can feel slightly bump skin where it has dried out and is in need of a good scrub, a coffee scrub is among one of the best things I have found. Coffee Scrubs are said to also increase blood circulation as well as helping to reduce the appearance of cellulite eczema, stretch marks, age spots, varicose veins and psoriasis and of course it does leaves your skin smelling just absolutely amazing!

Instead of including them all in one post, I have selected the ones I liked the most and all for different reasons and here they are:

Lush Cup O Coffee 

This has already featured on my blog (here) a little while ago but I do absolutely love it. Designed to be a face and body mask, if you love the smell of fresh coffee brewing in a morning, then this one is for you.

The scent is fresh, it wakes you up and it is a really good exfoliator, which isn't too abrasive on the skin. Alongside coffee, this scrub also uses Kaolin which helps to cleanser and exfoliate the skin, Coriander Seed Oil which not only warms and soothes tired achey muscles but also uplifts and refreshes where states of tension and fatigue exist plus it is naturally antibacterial and there is also Vanilla Absolute which is fresh and uplifting scent as well as having an antibacterial effect on the skin, it is also naturally rich in vitamins which help your skin to feel more balanced and healthy.

This Lush Cup O' Coffee Face and Body Mask costs £6.75/150g and £13.25/325g and can be found online and in stores.

Clean Beauty Co. - Scrub Life.
If ever there was a product to make you get excited when opening the packaging, this one gets full marks. It smells just incredible and promises to scrub, buff and smooth from head to toe. 

What I love about this scrub is that it comes with a little spoon to extract some of the scrub from its tub. 100% natural, this scrub contains grapefruit which is an anti-oxidant and will get to work on any pesky cellulite, coconut oil to smooth, moisturise and hydrate your skin, Jojoba Oil which is also an antioxidant and as well as being great at moisturising the skin, it also gently unclogs the pores and lifts grime and imbedded impurities. I love how this feels on my skin and I love how the scent lingers, it is a strong coffee scent and it does leave my skin soft, smooth and just feeling incredible. 

This coffee scrub is £20 for 200ml.

Bean Body Coffee Scrub
This scrub came to me via a Libbie Club Box and it is an Organic Coffee Scrub which uses Robusta Coffee Beans, Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Himalayan pink rock salt, Demerara Sugar, Organic Cacao and Vitamin E oil. 

The inclusion of Demerara Sugar and Himalayan Salt are what makes this scrub stand out in the crowd for me. Designed to exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin as well as whiteheads, blackhead, it also helps with breakouts and other skin blemishes. Slightly coarser in texture than the rest of the scrubs within this post but I love that with a little bit more pressure, it removes that tough dead and dry skin.  What I love about Bean Body is that it is the most abrasive of the bunch and with just that little bit of extra pressure, you can do so much more.

This coffee scrub ranges in prices from around £11 up to £15 depending upon where you shop.

Sukin - Energising Body Scrub with Coffee and Coconut

Sukin is a brand I am just getting to know, so when I realised they did a coffee scrub, I was delighted to receive it and it comes in a tube!

This scrub is again totally different to every other scrub within this review and again this is due to its texture. Rather than looking like spent coffee beans, Sukin has a more cream feel to it, though the coffee is most definitely present alongside coconut and walnut shell which you can feel. The use of both Walnut and Coconut Shell make for an incredible exfoliating duo which come together to gently buff away dull, dead skincells, Add to that there is the inclusion of Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil and Jojoba which are nourishing, moisturising and hydrating leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth and finally there is antioxidant Vitamin E and Rose Hip which protects skin and reignites that natural glow.  For me, this scrub deserves its inclusion within my post and if you have never tried a coffee scrub and are not sure whether or not you would like it, this is the beginners guide to coffee scrubs option, it is kind and gentle and the coffee scent isn't as strong as it is within others.

This coffee scrub costs £12.99 for a 200ml tube.

Scrub Love - Mint Temptation
If you want a scrub to quite literally drag you out of that slumber and kick you awake, let me introduce Scrub Love. Mint Temptation makes me want to drink it never mind use it

Alongside coffee this scrub gives you that complete minty experience with the inclusion of Peppermint Oil which is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and pore cleansing, Tea Tree Oil which has antiseptic properties make it great for healing and softening, plus it helps soothe tired muscles. Dead Sea Salt which is full of minerals, magnesium and potassium, it’s the best salt to scrub and rub on your skin to stimulate and relax deep into the tissue, Argan Oil which is high in fatty acids and vitamin E, it’s easily absorbed into your skin to moisturize and combat dark spots and finally Aloe Vera which is an anti-septic with cooling and healing properties. It’s also packed with vitamins A, B, C & E and Beta Carotene which give it anti-ageing properties as it nourishes your skin.  For me this scrub is all about the scent and how it makes you feel when you use it, the feel good factor is most definitely present with this scrub.

This coffee scrub costs just £12.95 and it is a 200ml bag and you have three to choose from with Mint, Coconut and Original. 

If you have never ever tried a Coffee Scrub, then these are my top 5 of all of the ones I have tried. Each and every one of the five are totally different from one another whilst they all have one thing in common - coffee.  Whether you like your scrub to be potent, mild, abrasive or gentle to the skin there is more than a few choices with this 5.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Jolen Crème Bleach : Celebrating 50 years in Beauty

I am sure everyone who reads this post will have heard of Jolen Crème Bleach and this summer Jolen celebrated 50 years in beauty. That is 50 years on continuous sales in the UK Market since its launch in 1966, which is simply amazing in a market which is ever growing and with new technologies formulating products which are almost space age in their concept, telling that Jolen has stood the test of time and clearly does what it says on the box because people keep on buying it. Jolen offer a variety of solutions for unwanted facial and body hair including our Creme Bleach Original and Mild formulas. Creme Bleach was the first cosmetic created to lighten unwanted dark hair to a colour which blends with natural skin tones. 

My first memory of Jolen is my older cousin using it as a sort of facial bleach to lighten the hair on her face, especially her top lip and it was only later on that I realised that it is also recommended for lightening any darker hairs on arms and thighs as well as other body hair.

In celebrating those 50 years, Jolen has had a bit of a makeover with packaging that I feel is more stand out on the shelves and much easier to figure out what it is for. It also now comes with an easy mix cup and spatula. 

So why bleach when there are so many other ways of removing unwanted hair? Well Jolen say it is quick, safe, inexpensive and at-home convenience. Add to that unlike waxing, bleaching unwanted hair on the face and body does not involve painful pulling which can make the face swollen or red, or lead to stubble growth weeks later. Because you’re not pulling at the hair follicle, you don’t risk the possibility of ingrown hairs, either. 

One thing I wasn't aware of is how many uses Jolen has until now. It can be used as a facial bleach to lighten unwanted hair–upper lip, chin, cheeks and even sideburn areas. Jolen is also recommended for minimizing noticeable hair on the arms, thighs, back, stomach and other body areas (but not for use on pubic hair). You can also use Jolen to lighten eyebrows to match your hair colour and even add highlights to your hair. 

Available as the original formula or with added Aloe Vera, Jolen isn't tested on animals and you should always do a test patch before using to check for signs of irritation.  Available nationalwide, prices range from £3.29-£11 depending on where you shop and which size pot you purchase.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise