Purrfect Box for Cats

When asked if I would like to review the Christmas Purrfect subscription box, I jumped at the chance because my cats enjoyed the last one so much, it would be a perfect little treat for them. If you are a regular reader of my blog or my Hubby's blog, you will know that we have three male tabby cats who are often referred to as the #furkids and they make regular appearances on Instagram.

The Purrfect box** is a brand new UK subscription service which allows you to treat your cat or your dog every month with a boy of treats.  These treats include toys, accessories, hygiene and personal care products all of which will be customized and chosen by the information you give on your cat's age, size, weight, fur type and preferences. Each month has a different theme so you get different goodies each month. The cost is £19.50 per month or £15.50 if you subscribe yearly and you can see the original box I had HERE.

As this box is Christmas themed, you won't be surprised by some of the contents and this is what we have.

So there was a lot of interest in this box as soon as I placed it on the floor for the boys to look at and the first one in the box was no surprise, the little hunter that we call Asbo.  This box has something for each of my three cats, whether it is to eat or to play with, though it is no surprise that one item has become a firm favourite with the three of them.

The first item is a multi-pack of treats by Good Girl.  Like any cat, mine love a treat or five, though I do seriously try to limit their intake of these and instead reward them for good behaviour or just being cute.  In this bag there are milk drops, catnip drops and catnip biscuits, all of which we are yet to try and all of which will be totally new treats for them.

The next item is the Merry Mice Toys from HappyPet and these little critters are crinkly so make a nice crisp bag scrunching sound when played with and are perfectly designed for being carried around, rolled on and chewed.

Chick 'n' Snacks follows and again, as with treats, I try my best to stick to the guidelines given by my own vet rather than on the packet and having let my boys try these, they seemed a little unsure at first, but now know as soon as I rattle the packet that there is a treat coming their way.

The next item is the one which has caused the most excitement from all three boys (though one is too camera shy to appear) and it is the one toy that they will fight over and chase each other for because it comes with a tube of catnip, which you open and pour into the inside of the mouse and then let them get excited and drool away - like so!

Wrestling the cat nip mouse from them to try out the next item which comes in the form of a glove and is called the Grooming Glove from Camon.  The one things about having pets is that they shed hair, some only a little and others a lot and it is a natural cycle that cats go through to get both their summer and winter coat.  Mine are no exception to this rule and I am sure they have an inbuilt antennae which tells them I am wearing a lovely clean pair of black jeans which are furless, only for them to come and want to jump on my lap!  This Grooming Glove is designed so be worn over your hand and then act as a brush to help you groom your cat and remove those loose hairs which are waiting to fall off.   My cats loved to be brushed and they are quite keen on this glove too.

The final toy in this selection is a Christmas themed gingerbread man shaped teaser toy which is hangs off of a piece of elastic on a pole.  The idea being that you tease the cat with it, they get a bit of exercise and the poor toy gets pulled to bits.  My cats are big fans of these toys and happily bounce all over the show trying to catch it, when they do catch it they attack it as though it was once alive.  For a bit more fun, you can drizzle cat nip onto it to add to their excitement.

The final item is something no Christmas is the same without and that is a stocking for all these lovely gifts and infact it has come in really handy for storing all the treats in because it is both cool and dark. 

So there you have it, the Christmas box from Purrfect for cats, there is also an alternative for the dog in your life which you can find HERE.

My cats have absolutely loved this box and if all of those toys and treats were not enough, well all that is left to say is show a cat and a box and this is what you get:

AirMotion Pro hairbrush Giveaway

Airmotion is a new, multi-use hairbrush which has been developed by experts who have over 27 years experience within the hair industry, these experts understand those contributing factors which lead to daily stress and strain on your hair.  Specifically designed to reduce daily ear and tear on your hair, Airmotion uses superlite materials to glide along the contours of your head.

The man behind Airmotion, Grange Snell said:

"As a professionally trained hairstylist by trade, I wanted to invent and design a brush which incorporated revolutionary design, high-quality materials with outstanding performance: the result is a precision engineered multi-use hairbrush"

I was sent one a few months ago and reviewed it HERE.  Now you have your chance to win one in this fab giveaway.  All you need to do is follow the entry requirements on the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Age Old Dilemma and Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Is there a person among us who has never worried about growing old and all the afflictions which come with the natural ageing process? Weaker eye sight, deteriorating teeth, sore muscles, and cranky old joints are just some of old age’s side effects which terrify us. And yet, perhaps the scariest of them all is the inevitable arrival of wrinkles, especially on our faces.

I mean, these are faces we have been proud of all through our lives. They identify us, define us, and help us become attracted to another - or many others. In an increasingly appearance conscious world, one where we are constantly connected to everyone else on the planet through social media, a person’s face has become their single greatest asset.

Obviously then, if anything were to happen to our faces, be it accidental or natural, we would be completely terrified. So it is for most of us, and so it was for a dear friend of mine. Now, before I tell you about her dilemma and her experiences with the solution she found, let me quickly explain that Rachel, to me, is absolutely gorgeous. She is a little older than me, loves the outdoors, and has a constantly lively personality.

So what then, you ask, is the problem? Well, her lifestyle, with the prolonged exposure to the sun and the wind, combined with the fact that she is almost always smiling and laughing, had left her with the odd wrinkle on her face, and quite a few smile and laughter lines. If you ask me, they added a touch of wisdom and even more charm to her appearance, and I told her so. Yet, she was adamant about rejuvenating her skin and restoring its smooth and youthful appearance. Her solution: skin treatment with Botox for wrinkles from a private cosmetic clinic in Harley Street, London.

Source

Honestly, I was incredibly nervous when I first heard her intentions. After all, how many botched up Botox jobs had I seen on celebrities? I didn’t know much about anti-wrinkle injections then, and some of my uncertainty must have gotten to Rachel too, because she became rather nervous as the date of her first appointment at the clinic drew closer. She dove into research, having done none of it before making the appointment in her usual, act-first-think-later style.

I was curious myself, so I helped her with the research, and what we found on the internet didn’t quite help us reassure ourselves. The day of the appointment came, and Rachel begged me to go with her - for moral support, if nothing else. As it turns out, that first day was a simple consultation with the doctor to discuss Rachel’s background and medical history, but his answers to our questions did help to calm us down considerably.

Once the clinic had formulated a treatment plan for Rachel’s wrinkles, they called her back, and she dragged me along once again. The doctor began by examining her ability to move different facial muscles, and then mapped out the area which was to be treated. Then, and this was the really scary part for me, he made several small injections into Rachel’s face, explaining that they would target the muscles which were causing the wrinkles, and each worked at a different, specific depth and with varying volumes of fluid.

Ten minutes later, it was done, and a week afterwards, Rachel had her natural, smooth, glowing skin again. She told me the injections had felt like little mosquito bites, but that it had all been worth it, for she felt like she looked at least 5 years younger, if not more. She did too! The results totally amazed me, and have me convinced that when I eventually, inevitably get wrinkles, I would undergo the same treatment, and if possible, from the same clinic.

**Guestpost

Emu Australia Boots Charlotte Black

Now the frost is settling and we have threats of snow, it is time to dust off the warm snug boots and hide my toes until the Spring. 

Shoetique have an amazing range of boots to choose from and I finally managed to settle on the most amazing boots from Emu, infact I have wanted them for ages and ages but have never bought them.  Let me introduce you to the Emu Australia Boots Charlotte** which I opted for in Black, the other colour option is Chocolate.

I can't even begin to tell you how amazing these boots are they are just fantastic, so snug and warm and perfect for this weather.

As calf length boots, they can be styled with everything and best of all they are totally waterproof! So they can be worn under and over your jeans, leggings, with a dress, with a skirt and they just look so good.

These boots feature a black suede upper which is built with a waterproof membrane and sealed seems which ensure no water gets in. The really thick sheepskin linings provide a lot of warmth and make them extremely comfortable to wear, almost like walking on springs they are so soft and bouncy. The sheepskin is also said to naturally remove moisture which in turn keeps your feet and your boots smelling fresh. The sole of the boot is texturised rubber which gives it a good old grip on those frosty slippery surfaces and is completely flat.

These boots are easy to pull on and off and have the Emu logo on back of heel and button straps for added detail and I absolutely love them.  They have been perfect for this freezing cold weather and my feet have been as snug as a bug.

If you are looking for a new pair of boots, then get yourself over to Shoetique because they have an amazing sale on right now!

Nivea Body Lotion

When it comes to products the one that I am the useless at applying is a cream after being in the bath or shower, I just always seem to forget to do it, even when I am faffing about in a towel drying my hair.  So when I was sent some lovely Nivea products to use, I decided I was going to do my best to use them every day after showering and at a weekend when I had my bath, even if that meant setting a reminder in my phone or leaving post it notes on my mirror!

Nivea as a brand is one that I have a love/hate relationship, I either really like something or I really hate it.  I like some products but not others and body creams are not something I have tried until now and I have three different products to share with you.

The first one if the Rich Nourishing lotion with Hydra IQ and Almond Oil and it is designed for dry skin.   It said to restore and replenish lost moisture whilst enhancing the skin's natural protective layer and 24 hour moisturisation.  As a crème it is a really thick luxurious formula, so you really do only need to use such a small amount.  As it is designed for dry skin, I concentrated on using it on my legs which is where they can become almost reptilian in texture.  Does it work? Actually yes it does, even I was surprised that it was so moisturising on my skin and it left my legs feeling really hydrated.

The second is called Express Hydration for normal skin and it is designed to be use everyday.  Using Sea Minerals and Hydra IQ the formula is light and absorbs almost as soon as it comes into contact with your skin leaving behind soft, smooth and supple skin.  I have used this one on all body parts and I absolutely love the formula because you don't have to sit around and wait for it to dry and it leaves a really lovely subtle scent on the skin.  Does it moisturise, yes it does and it is perfect for people on the go who want to add a little extra TLC.

The final product is called Irresistibly Smooth which is again designed for dry skin and has the added inclusion of Shea Butter and Hydra IQ to leave your skin feeling unbelievably smooth and hydrated.  I have been using this every night and the formula is a mix of the other two, quite luxurious in feel but absorbs as soon as it comes into contact with the skin and again it leaves behind a subtle Shea Butter scent which I am a huge fan of.

The one thing all three of these products have in common is the Hydra IQ which is said to promote a non-stop moisture from within the skin. The formula supports the skins own water channels to enhance your natural moisturisation.

Overall, I really like these body lotions and my favourite has to be Express Hydration because the formula is just so lovely and your skin feels instantly smooth after application.  Costing around £3.49 each for a 250ml bottle, these products are affordable and they last quite a long time.  They are also dermatologically tested and they are perfect for winter.

Are you a fan of Nivea products?

 

Invisible Braces V's Vanity

Growing up I had no problem with my teeth, even now in my 30's I've not had a single filling or a tooth removed and I have always looked after my teeth, my only slight issue is that my teeth aren't as straight as I would have liked them to be and vanity got in the way of me doing anything about it.  My work colleagues son isn't so lucky, his mouth is apparently too small to house all of his teeth and having to have at least one extracted, he has been told he needs braces to close up that gap and to pull all of his teeth into line.

Source

Braces on teeth are nothing new, plenty of my friends growing up had retainer like braces or the ones which are fixed permanently to them for a good few years, the end result being lovely nice poker straight teeth.  I was slightly worried for my nephew, I remember the name calling when I was at school and looking back, it wasn't nice, taunts like 'train tracks' and 'metal mickey' probably still haunt my high school friend Michaela to this day.  However, now with a lot of cosmetic dentistry you can have what are called invisible braces or even ceramic braces, all options that were never around as I was growing up, apparently even Justin Bieber had invisible braces!. 

Invisible braces are said to be a way to straighten your teeth without having the discomfort and inconvenience of wires and brackets. This is where braces cost London comes into its own, using a series of clear, removable aligners, you can handle crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites and almost all other alignment problems.

I am really impressed with how many changes have been made with braces on teeth, more so because I have a fear of false teeth, something I have mentioned in another post and I hope that should any of my nieces or nephews ever need to have this work done on their teeth, they won't face the cruel taunts my friends did as children and should my vanity have not got in the way and this option was available to me then, I might have had those nice perfect straight teeth.

Did you have a brace growing up?

Fenwick of Bond Street Beauty Gift with Purchase

One of my favourite stores in London, Fenwick of Bond Street, have today launched what I can only describe as an amazing offer as part of their "Here I am" Campaign. The campaign celebrates the words that founder JJ Fenwick said after arriving on Bond Street back in 1891 to open his ground-breaking store.

As part of the 'Here I Am' Campaign and to help start the New Year off with a Beautiful Glow, Fenwick's are launching its limited edition ‘Here I Am’ exclusive beauty bag featuring 24 of the most sought after beauty products from brands and it includes:

•  111 Skin mask 
• Cane & Austin glycolic acid pads 
• Caudalie Divine Oil 
• Chantecaille deluxe mascara 
• Christophe Robin shampoo and conditioner 
• Clarins Instant Eye Makeup remover 
• Darphin Hydraskin Light 
• DHC cleansing oil 
• Eve Lom cleanser
• IPD Alyssa Ashley 
• Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
• Lipstick Queen Chinatown Catalina & Chinatown Chase
• MOA 
• NUBO 
• Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer 
• Phyto citrus shampoo 
• Racinne Ultimate Youth Powder Neck Emulsion 
• Radical mask 
• Sachajuan hair repair 
• Shiseido Gentle Cleanser & Perfect Rouges 
• Suqqu Moisture Mask Scrub 
• When-Mask facial mask 
• Xen Tan 
• Glam Glow and Youth H2O Youth Activating Concentrate

The beauty bag will be offered complimentary whilst stocks last to customers who spend £200 in Fenwick of Bond Street’s beauty hall.  If I had £200 to spend on products, this is something I would definitely want to be buying because it is packed full of amazing products, many of which I really want to try!

Did you get your beauty bag?

Birchbox - January 2015

It's the first box of the year for Birchbox** and it kicks off being partnered with the go-to for all things health, fitness and well-being - Women's Health and a box titled 'Hit Refresh'. Inside the box are products that will help you start the year with your best foot forward! There is also a 'Hit Refresh' booklet which contains 12 bite-sized challenges with some tips. Each page has a hole which allows you to hang it up with perforated pages it allows you, should you wish you, the ability to pull out pages after completing them and I am determined to give some of them a go.

The first item in this month's box is a full size Stila Lip Glaze worth £15, in the shade  Glimmer which is a rosy pink shade to describe it.  As a twist up lip gloss which has a built in brush, it is quite a handy little item to have in your make up bag for a quick touch of gloss.

The next item is a 20ml sample tube of the Philip Kingsley Body Building Conditioner worth around £1.50. I have only ever tried the Elasticizer from Philip Kingsley, so I am looking forward to giving this a go.  This conditioner claims to transform lifeless locks and help seal flyaways due to the lustrous, wheat-protein conditioner.

The next product is a 5ml tube of HealGel Intensive worth £3.75.  I am a huge fan of HealGel products and have used this before which I have reviewed HERE.  As you only need a teeny amount at any one time to use it, this tube will last a good few weeks and it is perfect for that overnight or weekend away bag.

REN is one of my favourite brands and one I have been using for well over a year now, so I am always pleased to see a product from them in any box I get.  Within this box I have the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask which I have used once or twice from a smaller sample sized tube, so I am glad to see a 10ml version, which will at least give me 5-6 masks.  It is described as being a fast-working exfoliating treatment which improves texture, tone and combats congestion.  Has a value of around £6

The next product is one I haven't heard of before from Activbod and the product is called a Cooling Finish Lotion. It is a 20ml tube and is said to re-energise after a work-out as it is an invigorating menthol packed lotion. You use it by massaging it into clean skin and then you get a cool tingle. So I tried it out and there is most definitely a tingling sensation there.  This tube has a value of around £2.50

The final two products in this box are a Green Matcha Tea from Embrace which is apparently 100% natural with 10 times the antioxidents of a regular green tea.  You are told to take half a teaspoon and whisk it into hot water or cold water and you can also add it to smoothies and juices too.  On its own it is worth 99p



Then we have a Birchbox Pilates Band. It is said to tone, increase strength and improve muscle endurance with its resistance. So if anyone has a use for this and would like it, please do let me know as it isn't something I would use, but I did like to see it included because it does at least fit with the theme of the box. It also has a value of £7.99

So overall, I am really impressed with this month's Birchbox and I I really liked the theme, which for January is really appropriate. The box is worth around £37 which is great value for money when it costs just £12.95**.

Did you get a Birchbox this month?

Ochre Body and Skincare Range

Natural Skincare is something I am always interested in trying and one brand I have been using of late is Ochre Body and Skincare. A philosophy which states "Ochre Body and Skin is designed to care for you and our environment and to be affordable for everyday use. We avoid the use of any ingredients that could be considered harmful to your skin and minimise the amount of packaging in the product or used in delivering the product to you".

So, having been sent three products to try - Enliven Shampoo, Harmonise Conditioner and Cherish Body Lotion, each one brightly coloured and eye catching whilst sitting on my shelf in the bathroom.

Enliven Shampoo is the first product I used, in fact I enjoyed using it so much, there is just a small amount left. Described as being for frequent use this shampoo is suitable for all hair types. I tend to use it once or twice a week as a sort of in-between shampoo because I find it really gives my scalp a good cleanse, whether that was its original purpose or not, for me this is what it does. When you flip the lid and first use this shampoo, the first thing you do notice is the scent because it combines both Rosemary, which is used in many hair products to improve scalp problems and Peppermint which acts as an antiseptic, together they smell amazing. 

 There is also coconut and vitamin B5 rich panthenol included and they enhance the appearance of your hair by increasing body, suppleness and sheen plus there are sea minerals to condition, moisturise and protect. Putting all these together results in your hair feeling soft, smooth, hydrated and your scalp clean.

As someone who has dry ends and greasy roots, I tend not to put too much conditioner on my hair regularly, it doesn't like it, instead I tend to use it once a week and then at least twice a month, I use a conditioning hair mask.

Harmonise Conditioner uses arginine, which is a natural amino acid and an essential component of your hair to help your hair regain its natural thickness. Again using ingredients such as geranium and lavender oils to help regulate your hairs natural oils and stimulate the scalp, it leaves your hair feeling clean and frizz free. Also included is coconut, sweet almond oil and vitamin B5 rich Panthenol again to enhance body, suppleness and sheen. As with the Enliven Shampoo, there is also sea minerals to condition, moisturise and protect.

Once the conditioner is on your hair, if I use a small amount, my hair feels really hydrated and silky soft and being used once a week as a treat, my hair has really taken to this conditioner. Gone is the horrid straw like feeling I sometimes get. The scent is light enough that it doesn't overpower the senses but it is most definitely noticeable as you wash your hair and as your hair dries, whether naturally or with a hairdryer. What I do like is how easy the conditioner lathers as soon as it touches your hair and comes into contact with water, thus meaning you need only a small amount. I tend to use this everywhere buy my roots.

The final product from this trio is the Cherish Body Lotion. Packaged in the similar bottles to the shampoo and conditioner and like those two products it using nutrient-rich sea minerals to revitalise and renew. As a formula it is non-greasy and is really easily absorbed into the skin where upon which it is so gentle, you can use it on all body parts, though I have never used it on my face.

Ingredients wise, there is a combination of sweet almond oil which smoothens, softens and protects to help the skin retain its elasticity and suppleness. Arginine is again present and in a body lotion it is said to benefit the radiance and vitality of the skin to help it maintain its elasticity and suppleness as with the sweet almond oil. There is also Cedarwood Oil which on the skin helps to soothe itching and is great for those with oily skin, as a scent it is calming and soothing. Patchouli Oil which is very effective in helping to deal with rough, cracked and overly dehydrated skin and as a scent it is hosts grounding properties which calm and relax.

The reason I like this body lotion is because it is really hydrating, particularly after being in the shower or a hot bath. It goes onto the skin really smoothly, is quite luxurious and absorbs really quickly with a little going a very long way. It has been some time since I have had a body lotion that I have continued to use like I do with this.

  Ochre Body and Skin products are all free from sulphates, PEGs, parabens, animal ingredients, synthetic colours, synthetic fragrances and other potential irritants. So if you are a big fan of natural skincare or just want to try something new, then I cannot recommend these three products highly enough, they are an absolute delight to use and smell amazing.  You can find more information about Ochre and the rest of their product line HERE along with any other information you might need.

Anatomicals Quirky Gifts

Anatomicals are known for their rather quirky named products, some are literally laugh out loud funny and others you snigger away at on your own. The three products I have for you today made me cackle if nothing else and are one of those gifts that would be perfect for office Secret Santas, which is what I did with mine and couldn't show you until now, as they might have been spotted!

High Noon For The Prune - Dry Relief Balm RRP £3.79

Anatomicals Dry Skin Relief Balm High Noon For The Prune is an all-natural remedy for eczema and extremely dry skin and is formulated specifically for children and adults. This formula includes all-natural ingredients and features the amazing healing power of the Cocus Nucifera Extract and Gardenia Tahitensis.

Anatomicals Dry Skin Relief Balm High Noon For The Prune incorporates these oils from the Cocus Nucifera Extract with other soothing botanicals like cocoa butter, and Vitamin E to create a truly remarkable product in an easy-to-use use “balm tin” – kind of like a super-sized balm for your whole body.

All natural, easy to use relief for your kids dry skin and eczema.

• Ultra moisturizing for dry & sensitive skin.
• Improves eczema and extreme dry-skin in 3 days
• Soothes and softens your driest, hardest, and roughest skin.
• Soothing itchy, painful irritation immediately
• Reducing irritation/symptoms from dry climates
• Soothing sunburn, minor scrapes and burns, and rashes

'Oi! You Throbhead' - Headache Relief Balm RRP £3.79

This cooling temple rub is rich with soothing botanical extracts and including our favorite, super-concentrated Menthol Crystals: the essence of mint created by a freezing process. In traditional aromatherapy, Eucalyptus and Peppermint are stimulating and refreshing, Lavender supports balance and calm, and Mandarin is uplifting. This portable aromatherapy balm promotes calm and a sense of relaxed well-being, and helps to clear and cool sinuses.

To Use: Rub a small amount of Oi! Throbhead Headache Relief Balm onto temples, forehead, back of neck, or anywhere that needs a little soothing & breathe it in. Sit back, close your eyes & relax.

World Pore 3 Deep Cleansing nose, chin + forehead Strips £6.99

The end is nigh. at least it is where your blasted blackheads are concerned. World Pore 1 (1980-1985) saw the destruction of them on your nose. World Pore 2 (1996-2001) saw the destruction of them on your forehead. World Pore 3 (2009- ) now sees the annihilation of them on your chin. beauty leaders (more interested in T Zones then demilitarized zones) can all agree that nothing beats a glowing complexion. launched simultaneously in the Uk, America, Russia, Germany, and yes even Iraq, these weapons of mass gorgeousness will wipe ugly blemishes off the face of the earth. and more importantly off your face.

To use

1. Thoroughly clean the face with water, ensuring the skin is free from any cosmetics or other skin treatments.
2. Wet nose/chin/forehead area thoroughly with clean water.
3. With dry hands open the nose/chin/forehead strip sachet and peel the strip from the liner.
4. Apply the strip with the shiny side down on the nose/chin/forehead. Take care to smooth out any bubbles or creases.
5. Allow the strip to dry naturally for about 10-15 minutes and then carefully start to peel the strip off from two ends towards the middle. If the strip is too firmly attached or is painful to remove, wet the area thoroughly until the strip is easy to remove.

So there you have some fun little quirky gifts for the office.  I know that one of my colleagues would appreciate the humour of Oi Throbhead for sure!

Do you like Anatomicals products?

Give and Makeup

When I saw this post on the Escentual Website it struck a cord with me and with permission I have copied and pasted it. 

We all have ‘tried once, didn’t love’ makeup, skincare and toiletries.

Some of you may even have drawers full of the stuff, an archive of unsuitable presents and hasty purchases that are crying out for a new home. But don’t throw them all away in a fit of ‘New Year, New Me’ madness – if your New Year’s resolution is to detox, we’ve got a solution that will help you make others else feel a little better about themselves in 2015.

Donate your unwanted makeup and toiletries to Give and Makeup and you’ll be making a direct and tangible difference to women and children who’ve started the New Year in an unfamiliar place with limited possessions.  

About Give and Makeup

Give and Makeup is a non-profit initiative kick-started in 2010 by skincare guru and all-round wonderful lady, Caroline Hirons. Upon realising that women and children who escape from abusive households arrive at women’s shelters with absolutely nothing, Caroline brainstormed useful ways in which she could help. And her answer was straightforward: to donate and encourage others to donate surplus makeup and toiletries to shelters in the hope of restoring some normalcy to the lives of those who have found themselves in a desperate situation. The idea took root, and as of 2015 the Give and Makeup initiative has ensured thousands of products have made it into the hands of those who need them the most.

Escentual works with Give and Makeup by acting as a donation point, which means that anyone who wants to donate can send their products through to us, and we will deliver them directly to Welsh Women’s Aid. It’s simple, straightforward and very easy to get involved.

What you can donate

When women and children make the brave decision to come to the shelter, they often arrive with absolutely nothing. This means every donation is very important, no matter how basic. We accept a wide range of products on their behalf:

The Essentials	Skincare & Makeup	Babies & Children
Shampoo & Conditioner	Cleanser	Bath products
Bath/Shower Gel	Toner/Water Spray	Body lotion
Body lotion	Moisturiser	Nappy rash cream
Hair products	Serum	Cotton buds
Toothbrushes*	Foundation	Cotton pads
Feminine Hygiene Products	Mascara*
At-Home Hair Dye	Concealer*
Shaving products	Eye shadow
Tweezers	Lip Gloss*
Heated hair tools	Blusher
	Makeup brushes

Regarding the condition of the products, the rule of thumb is: ‘if you’d be happy to give the product to a friend, we’ll take it!’ If you have products that don’t appear on the list and you’d like to know whether they’re suitable for donation, tweet @escentual and we’ll be happy to help.

*Due to hygiene reasons, we can only accept the starred items in a brand new condition.

How to donate

Wrap your donation up securely and post it to:

Give and Makeup c/o
Escentual.com
63-67 Wellfield Road
Cardiff
CF24 3PA  (There is further information on Caroline Hirons page which is linked above)

What happens to your donation

When your donation arrives with us, we sort through it to make sure that everything included fulfils the criteria. Unfortunately, there are times when we receive products that are unsuitable for use (e.g. used mascaras and products that are almost empty), so try to follow the ‘What you can donate’ guidelines above to make sure that your donation is as useful as possible. Finally, we deliver the donations in bulk to Welsh Women’s Aid, who then get those essential products into the hands of women and children in sheltered accommodation across Wales.

You Beauty Discovery Box - January 2015

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am a huge fan of You Beauty Discovery Boxes because they are not only amazing value for money but the actual concept is brilliant.  Most of us love Beauty Boxes and subscribe to them, most of the time not knowing what an earth you might find.  With You Beauty Discovery, every month you get a menu to choose from and then you also get one or two treats as well.

This month the list to choose from was again amazing and I was chuffed to find two products listed that I have wanted to try for some time and this is my box:

Every month within the box, which cleverly fits through your letterbox, is a little magazine to read and it is one I always read cover to cover.  This month we are told that the products we have had to choose from are about banishing the January Blues.  The freebies or little treats this month are ones I really like too and they are as follows:

Starting with a £25 off card for Hello Fresh - Hello Fresh is the UK’s leading cook-from-scratch delivery service. Hello Fresh believe that everything positive in life starts with great food and that everyone should have access to the highest quality ingredients and the knowledge to cook themTo make that happen they send you amazing recipes and all the exact fresh ingredients you need to cook them, direct to your door. Beautifully photographed recipe cards walk you through every recipe... No shopping, carrying or planning. The only thing you need to do is the fun bit: cooking and eating! PLUS, they won’t charge for delivery either.

Dove Youthful Vitality Hair BB Cream - Specifically formulated for ageing hair, the new Youthful Vitality range from Dove Advanced Hair Series helps replenish your hairs lost nutrients and restore elasticity. Dove Youthful Vitality BB Cream, part of the new Dove Advanced Hair Series, is a one step multi-tasker designed to replenish, style and protect hair. Formulated with anti-oxidants and a UV filter it improves manageability to make styling even easier.

Dragonfly Tea - I have tired some tea before from this brand and loved it. A family-owned, British brand, the range of teas keeps growing. With recently launched new look packaging, be sure not to miss this delicate and delicious tea brand. The brand scour the globe to find artisanal and often rare teas, some from remote tea gardens, and some from the world’s most renowned tea makers. Dragonfly Tea was the first to introduce favourites such as rooibos, white tea and honeybush to Britain’s high street. IN my box I have Swirling Mist, Green Gaucho and Mountain Honeybush.

The we have the products I actually chose from my shortlist, the entire list can be found HERE.  The first of my products is this:

MeruMaya is a brand I have read a lot about and not tried, though I did have some sample sachets somewhere and for the life of me cannot find them, so I was happy to see these options available and readily added them to my box.  So we have the Melting Cleansing Balm and the Overnight Recharge Night Cream.

• The Melting Cleansing Balm claims to efficaciously removes all traces of make up and grime and leaves the skin feeling velvety soft.  It uses Sweet Almond Oil allows thorough cleansing with moisture delivery and Echium Oil (RevitElix™) helps perfect lines and wrinkles whilst improving skin elasticity.
• The Overnight Recharge Cream uses the inclusion of FIVE highly potent actives addresses the complexity of effective and lasting moisturisation, that helps your skin perform better at every level and you can read more about those HERE.

My second choice this month was the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, another product I have read about and wanted to try.  

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil manages to remove all forms of impurities on the skin and can even be used by those who suffer from sensitive or oily skin (the ‘Oil’ in the product name can sometimes make those with oily skin think otherwise). As a make-up remover it completely dissolves all traces of dirt and cosmetics – even waterproof mascara and eyeliner – while nourishing your complexion with antioxidant-rich olive oil.

Now this box cost just £6.95 and look at the contents, isn't that just great value for money? I think so and I would love to know if you also subscribe and what you chose from the list!