Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25

When Balance Me invited me to a sneak preview of their new product The Stellar Balm, due out in May, I also got the chance to have my skin analysed and try out one of their other new products which is the Balance Me Natural Protection Moisturiser with SPF25.

Described as follows:

A 99% natural protection moisturiser SPF25 which contains a unique blend of natural ingredients to give you the best possible holistic protection from the sun and environmental damage, while also working as a skin nourishing anti-ageing moisturiser.

This is no ordinary product, it took the Balance Me team two years of extensive research to come up with their pioneering formula and within it are five key elements which all work harmoniously together and they are:

• Innovative SPF - What makes it so special is the use of an innovative sun filter, using titanium dioxide as a physical mineral filter.  It works on both UVA and UVB rays, offering great protection against sun damage and makes it suitable for those who suffer from things like prickly heat.  It is also suitable for all skin types.
• Antioxidents - These are vital in protecting the skin against environmental factors that can damage the skin,  The antioxidents, one of which is blackberry seed extract, neutralise the free radicals and also encourages collagen production.
• Essential Fatty Acids and Vitamins - The carrier oils are rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins which help to nourish and replenish your skin.  These oils include Abyssinian which is radiance enhancing, Camellia which is softening and Rosehip which protects.
• Essential Oils - Bergamot, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Lavender are all used together to calm, soothe and brighten the skin.  All these elements together also help to treat any symptoms of environmental damage such as redness, inflammation and sensitivity.
• Hyaluronic Acid - This is used to deeply hydrate and plump the skin making it beautifully soft as well as helping to restore the skins natural moisture balance.

What I really like about this product is that it comes in this handy to carry around 40ml tube which is really slim and sleek.  It features a screw on and off lid and you only need the smallest squeeze of the tube to release enough cream to cover your entire face.

To use, you are directed to apply a light layer of cream onto a cleansed face in the morning, it can be used on is own, over your regular moisturiser or under foundation.  You should also apply to your neck and decolletage.  The cream itself is white in colour and it absorbs quickly into the skin without blocking your pores or leaving a greasy film behind and as always with Balance Me, the scent is absolutely stunning not to mention how hydrating it is for my skin, which upon application is lovely and smooth to the touch.

For me this type of product is perfect because I have a real issue with putting suncream on my face from your normal bottle, spray or pump, I don't like the texture of feel of those creams on my face, so I am always looking for an alternative and this is exactly that.  As it is oil based it gives a very light barely there feeling on the skin instead of feeling as though it has clogged every pore on your face, which is how normal sunscreen makes me feel.  Then at the end of the day, again rather than having horrible feeling skin, I have soft, smooth skin.

This product is available now as you can see HERE and it has an RRP of £26 for a 40ml tube.

Are you a fab of Balance Me?  What SPF do you use on your face?

Everything is Coming Up Roses with Rose & Co.

Rose & Co. to give a very brief introduced was created by Patricia and Caroline Rose when they bought an old druggists shop in Yorkshire. With a love of all things vintage, beautiful and romantic, they restored the shop to its former Victorian splendour and a quirky but charming beauty apothecary was born.  All products are made in the UK with professionally blended handpicked ingredients. Products are made in small batches in the UK and soaps are still traditionally milled and pressed in one of the oldest soap factories in England.

With spring well and truly on its way the scent of fresh blooms is just a sniff away read the card which accompanied the latest release from Rose & Co. Packaged beautifully inside this paper was the following:

The first thing I can tell you about these products is their scent is truly magnificent, it was the first thing I noticed before how intricate the delicate the design on each bath fancy was, which as you can see is beautiful, each fancy is finish with a handmade flower to add that little extra wow factor.

The first box of three bath are called "Everything is coming up roses" and it contains three different scented bath fancies which are Rose, Rose and Patchouli and Sugar Rose.  All three of these products contain three common ingredients - Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Almond Oil, all of which are known for their moisturising and hydrating properties on the skin. 

The second box are Hyacinth bath fancies and i absolutely adore the scent of these.  Each one is as beautiful to look at as with Everything Is Coming Up Roses.  Again, the three main ingredients are the same as before with Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Almond Oil, the one real difference with Hyacinth is the scent and as a child my Grandma always had Hyacinths in a vase in the hallway and the memories came flooding back, it is a scent I adore in flowers and something I have been looking for in candle form for a long time and am yet to find it.

Using these products is one of those things I find hard to do, they look so beautiful that just throwing them into the bath seems such a waste, that is until you actually do put them in the bath, as soon as they come into contact with water and the scent is released, it is simply stunning, the steam vapour carries the scent into each room in your house and it is far more powerful than any candle or reed diffuser that I have ever used and the scent lingers for a good hour before dissipating.

A box of three bath fancies cost £10 and for a little gift these are a fabulous choice and if like me you enjoy your bath as a place to relax and unwind, I cannot recommend these highly enough.

Amie Mineral Bronzer – Sun Bronzed

Most of you will be familair with the skincare brand Amie which I have mentioned on this blog quite a few times with the Cooling Clay Mask, Skin wipes, Skin Shield, Morning skincare routine and the skin polish all of which I have loved discovering.

Amie is the French Word for a friend and the skincare company of a woman named Fiona Parkhouse who used to work for Estee Lauder. She had an idea about making skincare products for her daughter and says the reason she decided to do this was because she wanted something that would "respect her still child-perfect skin but deal with the changes that puberty was starting to bring, such as increased oiliness and breakouts. But I didn't want her using harsh, aggressive chemicals or medicated products. I wanted a natural range that would be gentle yet effective, appealing and affordable". Not only that, but every product within the Amie range is suitable for vegetarians and vegans because there are:

• No parabens 
• No mineral-oils 
• No petrochemicals 
• No sodium laureth sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate 
• No ingredients of Genetically Modified Origin 
• No animal testing 
• No animal ingredients 
• All products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans 

Amie have now introduced 100% Mineral Make-up to their expanding range with foundation and bronzer and I have been lucky enough to use the bronzer** for some time now and I am really impressed with it.

Described as follows:

Amie’s Mineral Bronzer is the perfect way to achieve a healthy-looking, sun-kissed glow using 100% pure natural ingredients.

Available in ‘Sun Bronzed’, a beautiful medium shade that will suit most skin tones, Amie’s Mineral Bronzer gives a light, sun-kissed glow to the skin. It has a shimmer finish with light-reflecting mica that brightens and gives you a beautiful, healthy radiant look.

When I first opened the tub, which features a screw on and off lid, I was quite surprised at how dark it looked.  As someone who has pale skin, I was worried that this would be far too dark for my skin tone.  However, once applied I was pleasantly surprised because with a bit of work using my bronzer brush (of which I need a new one) you can blend it into something you feel comfortable with.

Hopefully you can see from the three swatches above when it is first added to my skin, slightly brushed and then blended in so there is a very light bronzed look on my skin, I haven't quite perfected taking photos of my face yet, but once I do the photos will get updated.

I am really impressed with this bronzer, if I apply it as I do everything else in a morning for going to work, it lasts all day long if I use a primer and that can be between 7-9 hours, if I don't use a primer (yes yes I know) then it lasts for around 5 hours before needing a touch up.  it costs just £14 and you can see it HERE.

Have you tried this bronzer from Amie? Have you tried any product from within the Amie range?

Introducing Coal Harbour!

I first noticed Coal Harbour via a giveaway they were hosting on Instagram and from there I found them on Facebook and then on Twitter.  Described as follows:

"Coal Harbour is the home of luxury bathing products. We ensure that all our products will leave you feeling pampered, renewed and more than a little special"

Their website is full of mouthwatering products which look good enough to eat, when actually what you do is enjoy them in the bath and what I like about them is their four main founding principles which are:

• ALL products must be handmade in Britain. 
• Must NEVER be tested on animals. 
• Should be kind to your skin. 
• Luxury does not mean expensive.

All of which I agree with. those of you who read this blog regularly will know and have read about my love for both Lush and Bomb Cosmetics, I love nothing more than finding a pretty bath product to help me unwind and relax whilst enjoying copious amounts of bubbles or fantastically bright coloured bath water to will away the daily stress of life.

To give you an insight into the kind of products you can purchase via Coal Harbour, this delightful package** made its way into my hands this past week and after a particularly horrid day, it more than put a smile on my face:

So as you can see, not only is it amazingly packaged and every item totally secure, inside are the following products:

Zingy Koala Bath Bomb - Transport yourself to the land down under with our Zingy Koala Bath Bomb. Brimming with Lemon nd Eucalyptus fragrances this bomb will be a firm favourite, just like the furry Koala.

Ugly Duckling Bath Bomb - You are a swan! A gleaming, white blaster with skin conditioning cocoa and shea butters. With kukui nut oil and pure geranium essential oil, both renowned for their skin benefits.

Creamy Candy Bubble Bar - From Lush and it smells so wonderful of candy, as soon as you open the packet within which it is carefully wrapped, the scents come alive.  If you’d normally reach for a sweet treat to lift your mood, this bubble bar does just the job. Its sweet candy floss smell raises your energy levels and perks you up. It also offers extra moisturisation than the average bubble bar as it has a blend of almond and cocoa butter. Creamy Candy contains almond oil and butter chunks that melt onto the surface of the water, giving skin a velvety texture.

The final item 

Rejuvenate Bath Salts - drift away from the stress of the day and get your perk back with our rejuvenate bath salts. Packed with May Chang, Tea Tree and Juniper pure essential oils, this special blend will have you back on top in no time.  These salts smell absolutely divine, not to mention how fantastic the orangey colour is, I cannot wait to try these out.

Naturally there is a lot more to Coal Harbour than I am sharing with you right now, if you love candles, funky soap, face masks, bubble bars and even products for the man in your life, I am sure you will have a basket full of products from Coal Harbour within a matter of minutes, especially if like me, you love products like the ones I have shared with you today.

If you spend over £30 postage is free or just a tiny £3.99 if your order is under this and for your very first order, Coal Harbour offer 10% off your order, which is surely worth my tempting you!

Have you ever purchased anything from Coal Harbour?  Have I tempted you?

Shopping my Haul...

I have just taken part in a beauty blogger swap and all of the details will appear in a new post in due course.  

One of the best things about taking part in the swap is shopping for bits and pieces that your swappee will hopefully really like.  When I went to buy the bits for my box there was quite a lot of bargains to be had I found and well erm yes I did do a little bit of a mini haul and this is what I bought.

You might have guessed by now that I am a bit if a lip balm addict and can never have too many of them.  So when I saw this eos lip balm on offer in a 99p store for you guessed it 99p there was no way I was going to leave it behind and as I am yet to try these out for myself, I am looking forward to opening it.  

I also picked up this Papaya Gold Paw Paw Balm in Boots which was on offer and I got with a voucher I had lurking in my purse (winning) so instead of being £5.99 I got it for just £1.99. Described as Being a Moisturising Balm enriched with Bio Active Manuka Honey 20+, is a topical balm that soothes, relieves and moisturises dry, sensitive, chaffed and irritated skin and dry chapped lips. Can be used by people who are prone to eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. Also suitable for children.

Also in the 99p I came across this Ohyo collapsable water bottle which I have reviewed before on this blog HERE and they are just so handy to have in your handbag, especially if like me you drink a lot of water but don't want to have to keep big bottles in your bag.

The next item I managed to get my hands on was this W7 In The Buff palette which has made its way into many blog posts that I have read and in the local shopping centre that I went too there is a W7 stall and they had a sale on, this palette cost me just £2.99 when it usually retails for around £6, so I think I have got myself a bit of a bargain here.

 Next on my list was this set of four reed diffusers from Marks and Spencer and again I had a voucher that needed to be used up, so I ordered them online and went to collect in store, they retail for £25 and cost me nothing essentially.  I love have reed diffusers around the house and these scents appealed to me more than anything else and I can't wait to open them and give them a try.

The final item from my haul comes from TK Maxx, it is always dangerous going in there because I never seem to leave empty handed, admittedly I did not go in there for the item below which is a hard case keyboard for my iPad, but when I saw it had been reduced from £79.99 to just £9.99 I was not going to leave it behind and having opened it and used it already, I am not quite sure how I have managed without it before now.

So there you have my little mini haul which cost all of £17 instead of £126.96 and therefore I think I have got myself quite a few bargains!  What do you think?

Have you shared a haul recently? Link me below in a comment so I can come along and read.

Glossybox April - Sweet Treats!

So my Glossybox has arrived for April and again, this month is a themed box and it is called Sweet Treats and Glossybox have said in their magazine that with the official start of summer nearly on our doorstep, we have a box edit this month of beauty heroes that we hope will become your handbag essentials for the warmer months ahead.  So this is my box.

My first thoughts are hmmm I have seen some of these items in other boxes and I am intrigued as to what some of them are, so we have:

He-Shi Professional Tanning Face and Body Gel - A High performance self-tan that includes vitamin B5 and aloe vera for a gorgeous glow that nourishes the skin.  My only issue with this is that I have medium and as someone with pale skin, would I end up looking like an extra from TOWIE if I used it? Probably, so it is going to go to a good home.  This is a travel sized edition at 50ml and has an RRP of £7.95

MeMeMe Beat The Blues Pearl Pink - An essential for your make-up bag, this product is designed to highlight all your best features.  I needed a new highlighter as Moon Beam by Benefit has just run out and I really liked that, so now I have something new to try.  This is a 12ml sample with an RRP of £5.50

TRESemme Instant Refresh Cleansing Dry Shampoo - Well I have said before that I am not a fan of this range, but am prepared to give the dry shampoo the benefit of doubt. This is a 100ml can which is great for your handbag, though a full size is only 200ml would cost £4.99 making this worth around £2.50

Monu Spa Warming Ginger Massage and Body Oil - I am a big fan of the Monu range and have to date tried some fabulous products from them.  This little number is said to leave your skin luxuriously smooth and supple.  Thankfully the ginger scent isnt too overpowering because it is a scent I really dislike.  This is a 30ml sample and is worth around £7.50

The final item in my box is the Emite Make-up Li Brush L312 - This is a slanted lipbrush which is perfect for precise and professional looking make-up application.  The brush is made of synthetic Taklon hair which, as well as being allergy free, is easy to clean after use.  This has an RRP of £17.

So there you have, that is my box which is worth around £40, what do you think? I am actually sat on the fence with this one, I don't love it but I don't dislike it either.  

Next month's Glossybox is a collaboration, but with whom we do not yet know...

Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream!

Vichy is not a company whose products I had used many of, infact until I got my hands on this Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream it is fair to say they were not a brand on my radar, since then I've been been to a Blogger Event which introduced me to Dermablend, but that's a whole new post.

The Idealia cream came into my life via the BBBBox which I was lucky enough to get my hands on and then I have had quite a few samples from a Glossybox which you can see HERE.  What I love about this particular product is the cuteness of the tub, it is so small and dinky, yet perfect for travelling and having in your bag should you want too.

What Vichy say: "Vichy Idealia Smoothing & Illuminating Cream visibly smoothes the appearance of wrinkles, and leaves skin's texture refined, and softer. It re-awakens the skin's natural radiance for a fresh, and even complexion".

First things first, this cream smells amazing, infact it is more like a soufflé than a cream because it is just so soft to the touch not mention that it is pink, is there anything else you want from a cream? As soon as you apply it to your skin it most definitely does leave your skin feeling so much smoother and it does instantly brighten the skin, giving that a fresh faced glow look. It also illuminates the skin and I tend to apply it underneath my foundation because it not only makes for a much easier and smoother application, but you can also the glow comes through giving an instant sheen in the skin.

This is my second 15ml pot and it really does last a good 4-6 weeks of using it everyday and it is most definitely one that I would consider purchasing once I have used up my current cream and I would quite happily make my way through the rest of the range, knowing how good this cream is.

Vichy Idealia is available for dry skin and normal/combination skin, it contains fortifying Vichy Thermal Spa Water. It is Paraben-free and suitable for sensitive skin and it costs between £14-£22 online.

Have you tried anything from this range? Is there anything you would really recommend?