Balance Me Congested Skin Serum + a Birchbox Reader Bonus

I am a huge fan of Balance Me products, they work well with my skin and the Radiance Oil is the first ever oil I used on my skin which convinced me to be a little more brave and try other products.

When I was contacted by Birchbox about reviewing the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum I immediately said yes because it is a product I have had my eye on for some time now after reading some rave reviews and I also have an exclusive offer code for you, found below.

I am quite lucky that I don't suffer from breakouts, it is very rare that I do get any spots, but when I do get them, they are quite painful, lurk beneath the surface of my skin and look like beacons glowing to attract attention. 

Arriving in this lovely box with bright green swirls to catch your attention the 15ml bottle inside features a handy pump to help with dispensing the gel like lotion, only be careful how much pressure you put onto the dispenser or you will have enough to cover your entire body and not just your face!

The gel inside is really light in texture, so much so you hardly notice it on your skin, it is just the scent which gives it away.  As with all Balance Me products it is 99% natural with no mineral oil, silicone's or parabens.  It does however contain:

"Roman chamomile, anti-bacterial may chang, calming lavender and eucalyptus in a light, non-greasy petroleum free gel. This instant treatment benefits from super soothing and cooling organic aloe vera and spruce knot to calm as soon as a blemish begins to show without drying out the skin".

With all of those ingredients I am sure you can imagine just how it smells, the eucalyptus is not too overpowering and works wonderful alongside the lavender but for me it is the May Change which provides the most dominant scent and if it is an essential oil you are not familiar with, track some down because it is lovely and lemony, more lemongrass than than zesty.  Once on the skin the feeling is one of instant cooling and in this heat it has been very much welcomed, I did consider covering myself in it from head to foot and then standing in front of a fan rather than have a cool shower.

I have had just one spot since this product came into my hand on the underside of my chin and I decided to tackle it head on and applied the gel to the area directly before I went to bed, woke up the following morning and the spot had gone

If you would like to try some of these amazing Balance Me products, the exclusive code will give you a free Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream sample with any Balance Me purchased in the Birchbox e-shop which you can find here - birchbox.co.uk/shop simply use the code 

Be quick because it expires on August 18th!

Have you tried this product from Balance Me? 
Are there any Balance Me products you have your eye on?

Blog promotion part 2 - The Importance of Comments!

Last Sunday I blogged about promoting your blog, with specific reference to the importance of Twitter, if you didn't see it, you can HERE.

Today I am going to focus on comments, something a few people have emailed and tweeted to me about wondering if it would form part of my mini series, so that is what I want to mention today.  To me comments have two functions - blog promotion and social interaction and naturally the two work hand in hand.

I spend a lot of my time commenting on blogs, I always have done. If I read something I want the author of that post to know that someone out there has read what they have written and that, that said person was me - why? Because for me, comments are one of the main points of blogging, what is the point of writing a post for it to get ignored, not be interacted with and left unnoticed?

There is nothing more soul destroying than spending an hour or two writing a blog post for no-one to leave a comment. You can see from your post that 34 people have visited but the comments still stand at 0, it is a horrible feeling and you start re-reading your post imagining something is wrong with it. 
It is as annoying as sending a text message, you know it has been read but that person hasn't replied to you. In reality there probably is nothing wrong with it and for many different reasons a comment wasn't left.

We comment on things in so many different ways to communicate, often without realising we are doing it to converse, add an opinion, make a point, share our thinking and to learn from one another. We also comment on many different platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Emails, Texts, Whats'app all of which we use daily and if a question is poised or a comment made, we would reply, possibly without too much thought process, it is just the right thing to do.

For me blog comments are another way of interacting with people, much like Twitter, someone tweets you, you reply and it should be the same on blogs if you read someones post, let them know you have bothered to read it and make a comment about the subject in question, you might just make their day.

So how does commenting encourage blog promotion? well when I do leave a comment on a blog I usually include a link to my blog. Why? well it is all in the name of self-promotion. The link tells the blogger  A) Who I am, B) The name of my blog and C) it makes it easier said blog owner whom ive just commented on, to click on my link and head to my blog and D) anyone else commenting might like what I have written and also be curious to find out who I am and also click on my link - thus increasing my traffic!

How else can you get comments? Well this is a quick summary to some of the things ive been told to do, advised to do, shown how to do and do.

1.  Ask questions - Either at the end of your post or somewhere within your post ask something you would like your reader to answer.  so for example I wrote a post on my birthday meal at Burger and Lobster and at the end asked "Have you ever been to Burger and Lobster or have you ever had Lobster" in the hope it will engage with my readers and prompt them to reply and leave a comment.

2. Social media interaction - Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are great ways of getting your blog noticed.  Giving people an insight into who you are, what you like and showing cute pictures of your cats in funny poses always attract someones attention. 

3. Regularly tweeting - I mentioned this in my last post but I think it is important.  Twitter chats, tweeting your new post with a link, hashtags, commenting on someone elses tweet and so on.  

4. Facebook groups - This is one thing I am new to.  There are some blogging Facebook groups, a subject which will be covered in another pot, which allow you to leave your link in exchange for comments.  Groups like UKBloggers for example, simply leave your link and comment on at least two of the links above yours.  I do this daily, not only does it give me some interaction with some people I might not ordinarily come across, but it brings me some traffic too, remember blog promoting.  I tend to comment on more than just the two links above mine, I always scour through the list and see if any other links interest me enough to click.

5. Linkys - If you see them mentioned on Twitter or Facebook some will be worth joining.  For example, one of my favourite is run by Hayley from Sparklesandstretchmarks has started one called #Sundaybest and it allows you to add the link of your most favourite post from the previous week for other people who join in to read.  The idea being that you look through all the links and read the ones you like the sound of.

6. Answering comments - The main post has been about the importance of leaving comments but there is another side - answering them! I hold my hands up and admit that this is not one of my strong points, but I am getting better at it.  If someone is kind enough to leave you a comment, make sure you reply to it, they might come back to check and see if you have done so

7. Make it easy to leave comments - I do believe you should make it as easy a you possibly can for someone to leave a comment on your blog.  One thing that really annoys me is Capitcha, I am sorry if you have it on your blog but it winds me right up and the chances of me leaving a comment are slim because I have to spent 3 days figuring out what the blurry letters are by squinting at the screen, only to get the red pen of doom to tell me it is wrong and to try again with even more blurred lettering.  It is annoying!  If you want someone to comment on your blog and you want to use some kind of device, then look around at those blogs who get lots of comments and see what they use to get them.

So that is what comments received and comments given mean to me and why I think they are important. Don't forget to leave them!

So what do you think? Do you do all of this? 

Is there anything you think I have forgotten?

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Burger and Lobster in Soho

A few weeks ago I was celebrating my birthday and we decided to go to one of my favourite places in London to eat - Burger and Lobster in Soho.  Once you arrive and tell the assistant how many people are in your party, you are then told how long your wait is likely to be - in our case we were told 20 minutes, only to be given a table 10 minutes later! You can be waiting much longer than we did depending on the time of day you arrive and in order to get your table, everyone must be present.

The drinks menu is much more in-depth than the actual food menu, so make sure you take time to have a good look at what you might want to drink, they have everything from cocktails to beer and even soft drinks.  Steve on this occasion opted for Brooklyn Lager and myself Aspall Suffolk Cider - yum!

When it comes to the food option there is essentially two choices - Lobster as a whole or Lobster roll or Burger and for me this is fantastic, no faffing over what I do and do not want, the choice is easy everytime - Lobster!  So we both opted for Lobster which was grilled and on the side it would come with garlic butter, the other options are to have it steamed and come with a lemon and herb sauce or just plain butter.  Add to that a garden salad and fries and you have what I consider to be meal perfection!  

Whichever option you order the price is £20 plus your drinks and that is an absolute bargain and one that leaves you feeling really full and a meal enjoyed.

The food is exceptional and for me worth the hype of going.  The Lobster was perfectly cooked, it was moist and didn't really need anything adding to it, but the garlic butter was more than delightful.  The lobster is helpfully cut in half to allow easy access to the meat, but there is still fun to be had when it comes to removing the meat within the claws and it takes just a small bit of pressure to release it or the use of some crackers to help you.  The salad is also really fresh tasting and crunchy where it should be with an addition of parmasan cheese and balsamic vinegar to give it something extra.  Finally the fries which are not greasy but salted to perfection are tasty and you get just the right amount.

I have been to Burger and Lobster twice now and have always found the service to be warm and friendly, everything is explained to you as you are shown to your seat and nothing is too much trouble. If you have never had lobster before, there is always someone on hand yo go through your options with you. The first time I visited Burger and Lobster I was quite interested in how it all worked and was told that the Lobsters were delivered on a daily basis and cooked to order exceptional, everyone we spoke to was friendly, warm and informative without being overbearing. My friend was feeling inquisitive and wanted to know more about the lobsters, if they were fresh and when they were brought in – note, the lobsters are brought in on a daily basis and cooked to order.

If you are looking for somewhere a little bit exquisite and a little bit different, I would urge you to try Burger and Lobster, there are six different restaurants here in London which can be found on their website HERE.

Have you ever been to Burger and Lobster?  Have you been anywhere similar? Have you ever had Lobster?

Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water 100ml

I have become a bit of a fan of the Bee Good range, the first product I tried came in the form of a hand-cream which I am yet to feature on BeautyqueenUK, though a review is coming. The second featured a lip-balm which you can read about HERE. Today's product from the Bee Good range is the Bee Good Honey and Wild Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing water.

For those of you who have't heard of them, Bee Good is an independent British skincare company based in rural Hampshire, who have harnessed the centuries-old healing powers of British honey, propolis and beeswax in an innovative skincare range, designed to make a real difference without the use of parabens, synthetic colour, mineral oil, silicone or SLS/SLES. Each and every one of their products are described as being packed with hard-working intensively soothing ingredients, there is nothing better to care for your lips than this nourishing and protective treatment delivered from the flower, to the bee, to you.

The Cleanser is described as follows:

This 3-in-1 cleansing water dissolves make-up, cleanses and tones the skin - no water needed!
Gentle enough to use on the delicate eye area, it leaves skin bee-autifully clean, toned and refreshed.

Some people describe this product as a better alternative to Micellar Water, whilst I don't have that kind of experience and kind of sit on the fence where Micellar Water is concerned (as in, ive tried a few and yeah they are alright) I do really love this cleanser and have already bought a second bottle.

The first time I used this cleanser I loved it, as soon as you apply it to your face using a cotton wool pad, it is instantly refreshing and cooling on the skin. It also works to easily remove your make-up, along with stubborn waterproof mascaras like They're Real from Benefit, with no problems at all. 

To use, you simply apply to a cotton wool pad and sweep over your entire face and neck area with no need to rinse off.  I was surprised at how much 'gunk' it did remove from my face, especially when I am having a make-up free day, usually on a Sunday when I do most of my cleaning.  What it does do is leave my face feeling clean and soft with no tightness or dryness, a problem I have found with one particular Micellar water.

As someone who likes to double-cleanse, I tend to use this Bee Good Cleanser as the first cleanse and for me it is perfect, at £10 for 100ml it is on the more expensive side, but with active ingredients such as British wild flower honey and propolis extract, wild water mint and red algae and being free from lots of things that are considered to be 'bad' - such as parabens, SLS, and mineral oil, it is worth every penny.

Another thing that I love about the Bee Good range is the outer packaging, not something I would usually get excited about, but when something like this pops through your door, it is bound to prick your interest. Like the Lip Balm, the cleanser came packaged inside a plain corrugated cardboard pillow pack, which is then secured with a bee patterned cotton ribbon, there is a label which is called a 'seeded paper label' and you can plant it into your compost and wait for the flowers to grow - How amazing is that?

You can find out more about Bee Good and all of the great work they do by visiting their website

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YSL Lipstick 9 - Nude in Private!

So Tuesday 29th July was National Lipstick Day and the first email I saw when checking my inbox was one from Debenhams proudly stating that to celebrate there is £5 of every lipstick you buy - well it would have been rude not too right?

I was meeting the lovely Kimberely from Kimberleysbeautyblog outside Debenhams anyway and we decided to have a quick browse -  after plenty of swatches I decided I could no longer resist the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks and it was a choice of two, number 8 or number 9.  I settled for number 9 which is called 'Nude in Private'.  

The first thing there is to say about YSL lipticks is the packaging, not usually an interesting conversation to have, but wow, stunning from the outer gold box to the actual lipstick case. The outer case on this lipstick is gold coloured and there in the tiniest of intricate details are the YSL letters, behind it is a solid purpley pink colour, which for me makes the whole thing look stunning, I could sit here and look at it for hours.

As soon a tried this product I loved it. The texture of the lipstick is incredibly smooth, almost like a lip butter and really hydrating. When applied it glides onto the lips and has a definite shine to it. However this lipstick is also packed with fruit extracts and it is one of the first things I picked up on when I was testing it, it smells like raspberries to me and I really like it. Not only does it have fruit extract but it is also rich in vitamins and antioxidants which are said to leave your lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration and it contains the beauty bloggers favourite ingredient Hyaluronic acid - quite impressive hey?!

This lipstick and others within the range retail for £25 each, though with my £5 discount it cost £20 which is just £5 more than I would pay for a MAC Lipstick and this one is much better design, quality and lasts much longer on the lips and I mean a lot longer.

If you don't own one of these lipsticks, I urge you to go and get one, I am so glad I did and I will definitely be purchasing more!

Do you own a YSL Lipstick?  Do you have a favourite?

How to: choose the right hair colour to suit your skin colour

Source

It’s a really difficult thing to choose a colour based on your skin tone – you may want to go blonde but are afraid that the paleness of your skin will cause you to become washed out. Annoying as it is, your skin colour will definitely determine how any hair colour will look on you, BUT there are ways around it. Keep reading to find out what bests suits you.

Fair skin - You’ve probably always thought to yourself that if you dyed your hair blonde it would look silly because you’d look washed out, blah blah blah. It’s not true! Many girls with fair skin can pull off blonde – as long as it’s got the right, warm blonde highlights throughout as well. While platinum blonde may make you look a bit sickly, the right shade for you won’t! You should be looking at really warm, neutral colours – like warm, soft, light browns and caramels. Be sure to avoid your more, dark, harsh browns and blacks as the contrasting hair and skin colours will not be flattering on you. You can also check out some auburns, or unnaturally bright reds. With the right highlights and lowlights strewn throughout, you’ll realise that blonde truly do have more fun!

Olive, tanned skin - The ideal colour for olive skin is light to medium brown, with warm blonde highlights. Opting for colours like this will look stunning especially if you want to highlight your blue or green eyes. These kind of colours will also work well to blend with your skin tone and diminish any skin imperfections. You don’t have to stick to darker colours though; tanned skin also looks great with blonde hair, as long as it has multidimensional tones to it. Avoid going for one bold colour – unless said colour absolutely suits you, the different tones will definitely help to bring out the warmth in your skin tone.

Dark skin - Dark skin can be tricky if you get easily bored of black or chocolate brown hair colours. While those are the best colours for you, there’s always the option of being brave and going for a light, bright hue. However, this usually only works if your very confident in how perfect your skin is – a light colour with a dark skin tone often brings out imperfections that most girls would rather hide. If this is the case, it would definitely be a smart idea to go for a really warm and rich chocolate brown, or a dark black. Perhaps throw a few high and lowlights through it and see if that is wild enough for you. Remember, just because you can’t change the colour much, doesn’t mean you can’t change the look of it! Keep it interesting, have fun with your hair!

There you have it - the best colours to suit your skin tone. If you’re brave enough to try something new, remember that nothing is permanent and you can always change it back. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that too much peroxide or hair colourant can leave your hair in a less-then-perfect, thinning state. If this happens to you, a place like Transitions Hair has all the answers. 

Have fun with your new look!

**This is a sponsored post

Fragrance Shop Discovery Club - Summer Edition 2014

I am a huge perfume fan, love it and I am one of thoe people who loves perfume samples.  What better way to decide whether or not you like the scent of something? We do it with make-up, so why not perfume? Back in April 2013 I brought to my blog a new subcription box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, then the final box of 2013 HERE if you didn’t see it.  Already in 2014 I have had the spring edition which you can find HERE.

For those of you not in the know this is the description of the box, which is a subscription:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.

Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

This quarter I have the Summer Edition 2014 which includes both male and female scents and this is what is in the box:

So I have seven different samples this month and I am quite excited by some of them.

Prada Candy Florale - Evolved from the concept of an imaginary flower created especially for Candy. Candy's fantasy flower must be unique, embodying her many facets: the fragrance’s light airiness puts the sparkle in her, tender powdery notes echo her grace. A whisper of warmth & honey reflects sensuality.

I have seen this perfume everywhere but have never found a bottle with any in it to try it out.  So having now been able to try it, with a name like 'Florale' it comes as no surprise that it is lightly floral yet sweet and a scent I actually really like.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau -  The Million freshness is an episode of luxurious delirium and an over-the-top celebration, provoking an exhilarating euphoria. Lady Million, immersed in a state of freedom & ecstasy follows her instincts; flirtatious, eccentric and more mischievous than ever.

If ever there was a scent talked about so much, it is this one.  I was really not expecting to like it at all, I am not really a fan of the female Paco Rabanne perfumes, they usually have an odd scent to them and I dislike the male version intensely but I quite like this. It wouldn't be a perfume of choice because the woody notes are too strong for my liking once it has settled on the skin.

Agent Provocateur Fatale - Enticing and seductive it has a irresistible signature personality, that embodies the Femme Fatale. A blend of Pink Pepper, Mango & Blackcurrant. A heart of Gardenia, Orris Absolute & Patchouli. On a sultry base of Musk, Vanilla Orchid, Chocolate Gourmand & Labdanum.

Having already had a sample of this in my You Beauty box and as a scent I liked it, quite floral and fruity at the same time and it tends to last quite a long time on my skin.

Givenchy Dahlia Divin - Like an Haute Couture gown this golden fragrance envelopes with its divine golden hues for a lasting enchanting memory. Dahlia Divin makes its perfumery debut with notes of golden fruit; Mirabelle Plum. Entwined with the aroma of a bouquet of white flowers, highlighted by Jasmine like a ray of pure light.

I am a huge fan of Givenchy perfumes having fallen in love with Irresistible not too long ago.  Dahlia Divine is a scent which I neither like not hate, it is quite floral smelling and takes quite a while to settle down, but I love the scent of Jasmine and once the scent has settled down, it is quite lovely.

Ghost Eclipse - Invigorating, dynamic and fresh, Eclipse, the brand new fragrance from GHOST, will awaken the senses and evoke a feeling of femininity. Eclipse, resonant with sunlight, but is now joined with the darkness of the Deep Night fragrance. Capturing the warm energy of the sun, and the sultriness of night.

This scent I really don't like much at all, the woody notes again are too strong for me and take over the floral scent which is actually really nice from the first spritz.

Then we have two male fragrances which is also nice to get, particularly when you live with BeautykingUk who is obsessed with aftershave.

Lacoste L!ve - A fresh yet deep fragrance blending edgy style and authenticity. Energetic,creative and cool. The ingredients are expertly blended, but also stand out individually.The zesty notes of this fragrance reflect the unique nature of LACOSTE L!VE: energetic and bright.

He says - "Incredibly subtle with a slight hint of zest, though you wouldn't know it was lime".  

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense - Gentlemen Only Intense offers a sensual, powerful and subtle version of Gentlemen Only. Complementing its predecessor, this new fragrance reaches new heights, where the seductive power of a rich, almost hypnotic scent naturally asserts itself.

He says (after smelling the wrong arm!!) "It is quite light and fresh with a slight zing, you can tell it is going to be spicy as soon as you apply to the skin, once settled it creates a really nice fragrance" 

Once again, I am really pleased with this box and I love the fact I have new samples to test and try out without having to go into a shop and cover myself in perfumes to see if they smell okay on my skin, yes I am that lazy.  

Within the accompanying magazine which tells you about all of the fragrances is also an offer of £5 off each fragrance if you purchase them online.

If you think this is something you would like to sign up to, you can find the link HERE along with further information.

So what do you think to my box? Are you a subscriber? 

Are any of these perfumes/aftershaves ones you own?

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