Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer

When a product is described as being like skincare for your hair, it intrigues me enough to want to see what it means and what it is all about. The Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer is one of those products.

Suitable for all hair types, this moisture-boosting hairdryer works by simply dispersing Argan oil out of the nozzle onto your hair, the part of the hairdryer which really intrigued me the most. Inside the box, as well as the hairdryer you also get two nozzles and three 5ml bottles of Argan oil, which when empty can simply be re-filled with any Argan oil you are currently using. Kudos for not claiming it has to be a particular brand at an exorbitant cost! If there is a day when you don't feel your hair needs an extra moisture boost, then the option is there to not use the Argan oil.

This hairdryer also features a ceramic grill at the front of the dryer and this helps to distribute the temperature evenly through your hair which in turn means no one part of your hair is over-dried.  It also uses Ion technology which essentially works to stop your hair becoming frizzy and static-ridden, so it emits negative ions to cancel out the positive ones whilst you are drying your hair to smooth. It also features the option of a cool shot and it is always something I use after drying my hair because the cold air really helps to settle down your cuticles and help them lie more smoothly after the power of the heat.

So is the hairdryer any good? I was most intrigued by the Argan Oil, after all, it is the biggest selling point and is what makes it different. Argan Oil is an ingredient which is used to help moisturise, hydrate, soften particularly when it comes to your hair. I am sure we have all used many different products which feature Argan Oil and not only does it have a high content of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, Argan Oil also helps to increase the hair's elasticity and consistently restore shine to dull, lifeless hair.   

I have mentioned before that I have fine hair but lots of it and it is best described as being combination, so I have greasy roots and dry ends.  Once I had attached the vial of Argan Oil to the hairdryer nozzle, I tried it on my hand first to ensure everything was fitted correctly, the fear of oil and heat is at the back of my mind, but honestly, nothing to worry about on that score.

I find this hairdryer works best on the hottest of the three heat settings and then you simply use the hairdryer as you would usually use one, moving back and forth through your hair, whether you section it to dry it or don't, it will take a practice to see what works best for you but I have found it to be much easier than I had first expected.  Once my hair is dry, what I did notice was how much smoother my hair felt, the kind of smooth feeling you get after running straightening irons through your hair and not a section of frizz or static in sight, other than the new bits of hair which have grown at the front of my forehead. For those who have thick hair which knots easily when they blow dry it, then this might just be the hairdryer you need to try because my hair was not knotty, it wasn't overly greasy because of the Argan Oil, if anything, it was soft and smooth and having now made my way through these three bottles, which have lasted a good few months, I need to decide what to top them up with!

Priced at £69.99 you can find the Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer right here and it comes with free delivery too.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Kit Stars Makeup Brushes

I absolutely love makeup brushes and have quite a few within my stash from a variety of brands. The newest additions to my collection are from the Kit Stars Makeup Brush range which is priced between £6 rising up to £60 for a full brush kit here on Beauty Chamber. I have featured the Kit Stars brush bag on my blog in the past and it is something I still use a lot.

Kit Stars is on a mission to give people luxurious, high-end makeup brushes, without the jaw-dropping price tag. Hand-made by master crafters, the Kit Stars brushes are driven by shape, movement and makeup texture to ensure the best finish. The ferrules are made from solid copper, then layered with gold plate, giving extremely strong brushes which last. It also provides a satisfying weight to the brush. The wooden handles are coated with glossy black lacquer, meaning the brushes look stunning as well as delivering stunning makeup looks.

With a total of 17 Kit Star brushes to choose from, I was kindly sent both the Face and Eye brush sets before Christmas and I have been using them ever since. Packaged in a set of luxurious matte black cardboard boxes which feature gold metallic detailing, each brush comes with a netted guard to ensure the bristles are protected and kept in shape.  The bristles of each brush, depending on your preference come with either synthetic bristles or natural bristles.

With the Eye Brush Kit, there is a selection of 5 brushes and there is every brush you need for the task in hand.

Those brushes are:

• S30 Small Tapered Blender - This brush has been designed with the perfect shape for adding definition and contour shades through the crease line. The slim design allows for greater detailed blending out.
• S31 Tapered Blender - This Tapered Blender Brush has been designed with the perfect shape for adding definition and blending transition shades through the crease line. Buff and blend your colour out to perfection.
• S32 Shader- This brush provides for the control of colour placement and will evenly distribute your eye shadow. This paddle shaped brush will help pack on the pigment where needed.
• S33 Micro Pencil - Use for precision application of tear duct highlight, softening gel liner and pencil. It also doubles up as a precision spot concealer.
• S41 Short Angle - Described as being a firm but flexible short angle brush that will shape a defined brow. Use the flat edge of the brush to sketch a shape & the tip of the brush for realistic hair strokes.

Each one of these brushes comes with its role to play and for the price you pay for each brush individually or the kit as a whole, it is incredible value for money.

The essential 5 piece Vegan Face Brush Set from Kit Stars includes all the brushes that you need for applying foundation, blusher, contouring, highlighting, powder application and lip products.  

Those brushes are:

• S1 Powder Brush - The powder Brush is a large super soft powder brush which will disperse pressed or loose powder products evenly. Ideal for applying setting powder and whisking away excess powder after beauty sponge or puff powder product application.
• S2 Shaping Veil - This is my favourite brush and it has been crafted into a softly tapered tip for contouring and sculpting your features. Shaping Veil is a multi-tasking brush which can be used for applying powder contour and highlighting products.
• S3 Blush - This Blush Brush has been designed with the perfect shape to hug your cheekbones providing a flattering wash of colour to your complexion. The rounded soft tip will give you effortless control to blend your blush.
• S4 Base Polisher - This Polisher brush is designed to polish your base products into your skin. The soft vegan fibres will effortlessly buff in cream, liquid and powder foundation.
• S40 Easy Lip - This brush has been created to allow for precision and control around the contours of the lip. Constructed with firm but flexible vegan bristles.

Again, with this collection of brushes, I am really impressed with their quality, the lack off bristle fall-out and having had my brushes for some months now, everytime I wash them, they clean as though I have just taken them out of the box for the very first time.

You can find all of these brushes priced between £6 per brush and then rising up to £60 for a full brush kit here on Beauty Chamber.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Restore your Glow with Roccabox

I was first introduced to Roccabox back in 2017 and since then, I have featured the boxes on my blog quite a few times. Roccabox, if you didn't know is a beauty subscription box which was founded by Tia Roqqa, who has worked in PR for many brands over the years.

To kickstart 2020, Roccabox has put together a beauty box which has been put together to help you to restore your glow after the festive season. Curated with five products which are there to help bring back that glow.

The first product out of the box is the Beauty Pro Brightening Collagen Mask with Vitamin C - This sheet mask is described as being an intelligent mask which sits closely on the contours of the face, delivering a cocktail of anti-ageing ingredients directly to the skin. 

Soaked in Marine Collagen, Vitamin C and an array of herbs and botanicals, the role of this face mask is to help combat fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. To use, this mask should be applied to the skin and left to work its magic for 15-20minutes.

The second product is the Roccabox Hero Product and it is the Dirty Little Secrets Jelly Blush in Apricot.  I have never come across this brand before.  

The brand state that their Jelly formulated blush works to deliver sheer silky colour that glides on easily creating a natural glow. I am not a blusher wearer as I prefer bronzer, but this formula is quite pigmented and it does blend really easily onto the skin whether you use a brush or your fingers.

If fake tan is for you, Roccabox has included the St Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist.  This is a product I have seen in many beauty boxes over the last few months and it is a product friends of mine absolutely love.

This face mist is not only vegan-friendly but it is described as being an ultra-lightweight and clear mist formula which is made using 100% natural tanning agents, as well as Hibiscus extract for its anti-oxidant properties and uplifting Fresh Green Mandarin Water to instantly refresh and revive your skin. To use, the idea is you spritz it over makeup and you don't need to wash it off, instead over 4-8 hours it develops into a natural tan which is streak-free.

From Bang Beauty, we have a full-sized Blush Brush, a brush which works well with the Jelly Brusher also found within this box and I have tried it out using my Benefit Hoola Bronzer too.

Whilst this brush isn't one I would possibly purchase because I have better brushes in my stash, what I like is how tightly packed the bristles are and it is said to have been made this way to help reduce fall-out. The rounded shape also works to give a much better powder application with a more even finish.

The final item in the box is the one to intrigue me the most. From Daily Concepts is a full-size Mother of Pearl Sponge, only it wasn't quite what I was expecting to find.

Even from the look of it, I was still unsure as to what it was, when I was expecting a beauty blender or something similar. So, this sponge is described as being suitable for both face and body, this 2-in-1 soap sponge combines a radiance-boosting cleanser with a gentle exfoliator so you can skip a step in your routine.  To use, you simply wet face and soap sponge and lather, cleansing skin in circular motions. Use on the body and even on the face as well depending on your tolerance of exfoliation.  Over time, as you use it regularly, the sponge becomes much softer, so if you can't work with it to begin with, hopefully, you can at a later stage. 

Whilst this month Roccabox isn't my favourite box that I have had, it definitely features products I have never used or come across before. Priced at just £10 per month if bought separately, Roccabox is a subscription service and there are further subscription offers available to choose from here.

I would love to know what you think of this months Roccabox!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Ambiance London Bath Salts

This time of year when the weather is pretty grim and dark, the best place to be is in the bath, even more so when you have a brand new bathroom that you absolutely love being in!  I have said it quite a few times, but bath salts are completely underrated and they are one of my favourite things to have in my bath and if you read this post, you will see I was sent some lovely Luxury Bath Salts and a beautiful candle from Ambiance London.

For me, having a bath is all about relaxing, shutting out the world and focusing on myself, even if it is just for an hour or two a week. I've long since learnt that being in water or near too it is one of the ways I relax best.  I do love oils, milks and bubbles but salts are my go too for muscle aches, period pains, headaches or stress.

The ideal detox bath recipe for relaxation and self care this Autumn Winter… A sublime blend of magnesium rich Epsom salts, Mediterranean sea salt and organic essential oils, Ancienne Ambiance luxury bath salts can be used in the bath, for a softening foot soak and even as a body scrub. The ancient Greeks and Egyptians in particular loved the exfoliating properties of sea salt. 

Ancienne Ambiance Bath Salts have so many wellbeing and beauty benefits from helping refine skin texture to soothing sore muscles, but they are particularly good for gently purifying and detoxifying the body – a wellness and immune system boost that helps treat bloating and reduce inches for a temporary ‘slim-down’.

I was kindly sent two different bath salts from Ambiance London - Arangia Orange scented salts and Jasminium Jasmine scented salts. and they come in two different sizes of a sample size which costs just £5 and a 300ml bottle which is £34 here.

The Arangia Orange luxury salts are described as being ' a deliciously fresh orange zest fragrance, these salts are a great mood lifter' and as soon as you remove the lid, you get an instant hit of orange and ingredients within these salts include a blend of Epsom salt, Mediterranean sea salt and essential oils.  The Jasminium Jasmine luxury salts have a wonderfully sweet Jasmine fragrance with a hint of lemon and their role is to help uplift from low moments and also relax spasms and cramps.   As with Arangia Orange, these salts also include a blend of Epsom Salt, Mediterranean Sea Salt and essential oils.  Epsom salts are used because not only do they help you and your muscles to relax, it is said that Epsom salt bathwater can soften rough, dry skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells. Mediterranean Sea Salt is rich in minerals including the likes of potassium, iodine and magnesium, all of which help alleviate and soothe any skin conditions, while at the same time helping to calm and ease a restless mind or any tension in the body.

Why Use Bath Salts?

As well as using these salts in the bath, they also have other properties which include:

• Exfoliating: As we all know, a routine body scrub will produce visibly softer, brighter skin and help good blood circulation. To use your bath salts in this way, you can apply them directly to damp skin or you can also mix them with olive oil or even your body wash too.
• A Foot Soak: If you suffer from rough or hard skin on your feet, a foot soak with these salts will help to break down and soften that hard skin. The advice is to soak your feet once a week in warm water for around 10-15 minutes and then apply dry salts directly to your skin to exfoliate, rinse off and remove any excess skin with a foot file or pumice.
• An Immune System Boost: As the naturally occurring minerals in these salts are gently detoxing, they will help to ease muscle aches, calm the body and help you get a good night’s rest. Definitely worthy of putting in your bath for that alone!

If you have never tried bath salts or have always assumed they are just something your Gran would use, then hopefully you can see they are not.  Ambiance London very much take bath salts to the next level, creating a luxurious product which not only smell just incredible but are as relaxing to the mind and body as they are kind to your skin!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Hair and Scalp Care with The Body Shop

When I am stressed or feeling run down, the one place it shows the most is on my scalp, it becomes a dry irritated mess and an absolute nightmare to deal with. I have used a whole lot of products over the past few years to help soothe a dry itchy scalp and whilst browsing my local BodyShop store, I was chatting to a store assistant to said I give the Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo and Conditioner a try, as well as the Fuji Green Tea Refreshing Purifying Scrub Shampoo to help.

I had not noticed any of these products in the store on previous visits for the Banana Collection, but I was willing to give something new a try.  The Body Shop state that the Iconic Ginger Shampoo and NEW Ginger Conditioner are the ultimate power duo to help reduce annoying dandruff. Not only do they soothe your scalp and clear loose flakes, the invigorating formula also keeps your hair looking and feeling stronger and healthier.

The Ginger Anti-Dandruff Shampoo (£9.50 400ml) is said to be for a dry, flaky scalp but definitely was my issue and both the mister and me have become huge fans in just the few months we have been using it.  The shampoo is blended with ginger essential oil from Sri Lanka, birch bark, white willow extracts and Community Trade honey it doesn't have a strong scent of Ginger, if I am honest, all of the ingredients come together and create quite a sweet fragrance with an undertone of Ginger, something I am pleased about.  Texture-wise it is quite runny, so you really do only need the smallest amount to create a lather on your hair and it washes out incredibly easy with warm water.  The Ginger Scalp Care Conditioner which is also blended with ginger essential oil from Sri Lanka, birch bark, white willow extracts and Community Trade organic aloe vera and as well as being designed for a dry and flaky scalp, it is also for those with weak hair.  Scent wise to me, there is a definite hint of Ginger, though not too overpowering and texture-wise, it is as you might expect a conditioner to be, slightly thicker than shampoo but not as thick as a hair mask.  Again, you need a really small amount on your hair and I always leave a conditioner on for a good few minutes before washing off.

Together, these products are incredibly calming and soothing on the scalp. If you have ever suffered from a dry scalp and one that is incredibly itchy, you will know how frustrating it can become when all you want to do is scratch and make matters worse.  With this duo, that want to itch disappears as soon as you have washed your hair and even I was impressed by that because it wasn't something I was expecting.   It isn't by any means a miracle cure, it doesn't solve the dry scalp overnight and with one wash, it does take a good few uses of the shampoo to actually work, but work it definitely does.  The conditioner is a really nice addition too.  I only use a conditioner at most twice a week as I like to use a hair mask at least once a week, though with having an irritated scalp, I have not used one incase it makes matters worse.

The next product I bought is the Fuji Green Tea™ Scrub Shampoo (£15) and it is said to help stimulate blood flow and whisk away impurities like dust, smoke, sweat and styling residue.

For those with a normal to oily hair and scalp, which again is definitely, this Scrub Shampoo blends Japanese green tea, mint menthol, salt crystals and Community Trade honey from Ethiopia.  As it is a shampoo scrub, the idea is that you stir the scrub well before first use as it is quite solidly packed into the tub and then mix a teaspoon of the scrub into the palms of your hands with water, I use warm water. Once you have made a paste, you then massage it onto your scalp, which needs to be damp and then use it as you would a shampoo and massage your scalp before rinsing.  Once I have this on my hair, I use a comb to add a little extra bit massaging action.

There are many things I love about this scrub.  As you can see the salt crystals on the side of the tub are definitely present and they are soft enough to help remove build up and dead dry skin from your scalp, but not so abrasive that they scratch the skin.  On the hair, this shampoo scrub smells absolutely divine with a clean scent and it leaves my hair feeling incredibly clean and refreshed, which is exactly what you need after a day out in central London with all the smoke, smog, dirt and pollution.

The Body Shop has quite a few products within their hair care collection and whether you need a shampoo, conditioner, a treatment or a styling aid, there is a lot to choose from. 

 Have you ever tried hair care from The Body Shop?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Why do we use plastic in the beauty industry?

According to The National Geographic, the beauty industry relies on plastic for many of its products. These products can be found in our day to day skincare and makeup regimes. With everything from deodorant to an eyeshadow palette or lipstick including some sort of plastic. 

Image Credit

The retailers amongst us are trying to make changes and be more eco-friendly! This will help drive sales back to that company as most of us strive towards living a more sustainable life. 

Why do we use plastic in the beauty industry?

For many years plastic has been used for pretty much every industry as it is durable and affordable and can be used for just about anything. However, the world is suffering one of the worst environmental crises on record, so making the step towards going plastic-free will be a huge benefit for the planet.

With plastic being cheap to produce, many businesses haven’t thought about using much else, until now. Customers of retailers are demanding they do better when it comes to cutting out the plastic in packaging.  

Companies that are already working towards a plastic-free future

Lush is renowned worldwide for its innovative solutions to make the brand completely cruelty free and environmentally friendly by creating products where possible without the packaging. With their shampoo, conditioner and soap bars being completely free of packaging.    

With popular healthy and beauty store Boots also taking the challenge to remove plastic from their products and stores. Alongside working on their online practices by creating a new distribution centre which specialises in sending out orders in a range of different custom sized boxes from Lil Packaging to make sure there is less waste.

An example of the type of boxes which Boots now use can be found here. 

The future of plastic in the beauty industry

With more brands facing the reality that plastic has on the environment, many are looking to make changes within their companies. E.g. looking for different packaging to put their skincare/makeup products in. Well, most brands are challenged looking for alternatives, some of which are still turning a blind eye to what is happening.

With some brands do choose to create fancy unboxing experiences for those who are going to feature them on social media, from a marketing standpoint. With more influencers working towards this change, will we see the trend of unboxing disappear?

*this post is a collaborative post with Lil Packaging. It may contain PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Dressed to Impress with Samuel Windsor

When it comes to men's clothing, it is usually me that purchases the majority of clothing for my hubby, mainly because he absolutely hates shopping in all its forms and because he happens to be colourblind to the point where the answer is usually "You are not wearing those together".  Having been challenged to pick an outfit from Samuel Windsor, where there is currently a sale, I found it much harder than I had anticipated.  If you haven't come across them before, Samuel Windsor specialises in quality formal menswear, available both online and from their mail order catalogues.  

Samuel Windsor isn't a brand I am too familiar with, in fact, I have never ever purchased an item from the website ever.  What I like is how easy it is to navigate your way around, each category is clearly labelled, so should you be looking for shirts, jumpers or jeans, you will be able to find them without spending hours looking through hundreds of pages.

I had £75 to spend which had to include postage and packaging, so I set about looking at the items I thought the mister would wear and of course, I sent him the link to the site to have a look at some items too.  

Always complaining he cannot find his scarf, the first page I went too was the accessories page to look at the scarves on offer.

I quickly opted for the Grey Pure Lambswool Scarf (£15) which is incredibly soft to the touch and large enough to be wrapped around the neck and tucked into your coat to keep warm.

Next comes trousers and I couldn't decide whether or not to get some smart chino type trousers or opt for something less formal which would get more wear such as Jeans, so I chose the Stretch Jeans in Indigo (£20) as the black was out of stock in the size I needed.

What I liked about being able to choose jeans was the option to choose leg size as well as that for the waist - when you have a hubby who is just over 6ft tall, finding jeans on the high street which fit his leg size, as well as his skinny waist, is exhausting at times. Featuring a 98% cotton and 2% elastane construction, so they have a slight stretch to the fabric when worn.  They have a zip and button fastening and feature two pockets on the front and back of the jeans.

At this time of the year, with the weather still being really chilly, you can never have too many jumpers and pieces of knitwear, but for work, they need to be smart.  So between the two of us, we chose two jumpers.  The first jumper is the one I chose and it is a classic black button neck jumper (£19) and I was drawn to it for its waffle knit pattern because it looks warm and cosy.  

Made from 50% cotton and 50% wool-mix, I opted for the large size using the guide given by Samuel Windsor and it is the perfect fit in both the body and the sleeve, with enough room to wear a T-shirt underneath for added warmth.  The buttons can be worn open or fastened depending on preference.

The second jumper is the one the mister chose for himself and it features the Argyle Pattern and is in the colours Wine and Grey (£17.50). 

Again made from a 50% cotton and 50% wool-mix, this jumper has a v-neck finish and opting for the size large, it again gives enough room to wear a T-shirt underneath.

What we have found since ordering from Samuel Windsor is that the clothing is really good quality, the jumpers are soft on the skin, the jeans fit snuggly without being too tight and the scarf is definitely a winner, especially with the cold weather spell we are currently experiencing.  I am also impressed with the price of clothing and despite the postage and packaging being £5.95, if you order before 3pm on any given day (excluding Sunday) your package is ready to be sent the same day.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

My Bathroom Renovation

The one room of my home I have always hated the most, yet spend a lot of my time in, was the bathroom. I never liked the tiles, the colour scheme or the bulky, poorly made vanity unit around the sink. It was a nightmare to keep clean, one of those tiles was wonky and the grouting was uneven. Yet spending an hour or more in there every weekend in the bath relaxing is something I absolutely loved doing. 

I wrote a post (here) about beginning a bathroom renovation, they don’t come cheap, so it was something we started saving up for. Watching a lot of home renovation shows is a guilty secret especially the American Home shows - they often advise you to have home warranty plans in place such as those offered by First American Home Warranty whereas here, our home insurance is vital particularly when it comes down to keeping our appliances and systems updated.

As always when you start to save, something more pressing pops up and needs replacing - the hoover, the washing machine and the bed collapsing didn’t really help - the latter is still on the list to be replaced, but one day it will happen. However, the issue of a bathroom renovation became much more of a priority than a new bed and it has now been completed but it wasn’t without a whole lot of stress.

The flat above mine helped move the process of a bathroom renovation along a little because of a leak coming from their bathroom down in to mine. Have you ever had that feeling of knowing you can hear dripping water, but can never find the source of that leak? Well, this had been happening for some time to me, laying back in the bath to relax and all you can hear is 'drip, drip drip', the kind of noise that really annoys me.  Anyway, I checked every possible source within the flat to see if I had a dripping tap or pipe and found nothing.  Then one day whilst washing my face, I felt a drop of water fall on to my head, looked up and it was coming from my ceiling. 

That leak quickly became 12litres of water into a bucket, which over the course of a weekend I emptied twice.  To add to that stress, a hole in my bathroom ceiling appeared, it started around the size of a 50p and then parts of the plaster started to fall off, as well as that we had more water running down the hallway walls, across the top of my front door and eventually the door, which was wooden, became so warped we couldn't shut it properly. Water creates a lot of issues and quickly paints starts bubbling, wood begins to rot and mould appears on all surfaces, especially if it is left.  So finally, due to one reason and another, we had no option but to claim on the insurance and get quotes for the damage to be fixed. At this point, it is worth checking any home insurance policy you have for the amount of excess you are liable for and what is and what is not covered. The insurance claim in itself is incredibly stressful as we had a loss adjuster come round to ask questions and see the damage for themselves and it was quite a relief for someone who is neutral to see the damage and see what a mess we had had to live in for 6 weeks. Once we heard back about our claim, we made the decision to renovate the entire bathroom using the funds we had saved so far, it made more sense and we had the budget to do it, rather than just replace the ceiling, replaster the walls, get a new sink and then paint, when eventually we would have to re-tile, put in a new bath and toilet anyway.

Choosing a bathroom suite is much harder than I first thought and anyone who follows me on Instagram might remember my outbursts at why when you want to buy a bathroom suite half the time it doesn’t include a bath or a shower, the suite is now a toilet and a sink - frustrating beyond measure plus most bathroom suites don't come with fixture and fittings, so they are an extra too. I spent hour upon hour looking, measuring and searching for something that would fit into our bathroom and eventually found something I loved the style of and that would fit right - Victoria Plumbing saving the day and being able to deliver on a Saturday without charging me an extortionate amount of money. A few days later the bathroom suite arrived with the most helpful of delivery man and it was packaged incredibly well and not a single item was damaged, cracked or smashed.

I mentioned how much I hated the previous tiles, so this time I was determined to get ones I really liked. We had decided that the tiles would be grey, not too fancy or too plain. So off we went to B&Q who happened to have a sale on and we picked up floor and wall tiles for less than half price and instead of going for your more traditional white grouting, we went for dark grey. The walls we decided would be plain white, they had been light blue before, a shade we went for to cover up the luminous yellow it had been before. 

If you have never renovated a bathroom before but are thinking of doing your own then I have some tips to share with you. 

1. The budget, the most obvious of all. Have a look around online and in-store to see what prices you might be expected to pay, they differ a lot but it gives you an idea as to what is out there.  After that, whoever installs your new bathroom, even if it isn't a full renovation, it comes with a cost.  The same goes for dispensing with your old bathroom furniture, how much does that cost and where is it going?
2. Measuring - ensure that you measure your space properly. Baths come in all different shapes and sizes and the length and the width will matter. So with your bathroom, you need to measure the base of your toilet, it’s height and this goes for your sink as well. All those extra centimetres and millimetres matter.
3. Toilet - Now this might sound very odd, but where your toilet resides is important because that is where it will stay unless you are literally removing absolutely everything and starting over because that waste pipe which connects to your toilet is important and it costs a lot of money to move it.
4. Tiles - if you are tiling the wall or the floor - how much are you tiling and what is the per metre square measurement? Tiles are usually sold in boxes of 8-12 tiles which will give you a per M2 allowing you to work out how many boxes you need. Important to ensure you buy an extra box in case of damages. 
5. Finally your extras. I mentioned I wanted somewhere to house my lotions and potions and whilst you can buy an abundance of shelving for the bathroom, I wanted to limit it.  We opted for a mirror on the wall which isn't too fancy and fits nicely above the sink.  Then we decided to opt for one glass shelf and a rail to hang towels on underneath that shelf.  Sadly, we had no room for a towel heater, but in its place, we have a single white tallboy cupboard which hides all the lotions, potions, cleaning products, toilet rolls and other toiletries.  Again, all of this comes under number one with budgeting.

However, the most important part of any renovation is to ensure you have a trustworthy to fit your new bathroom. We are lucky enough to have a family friend who did ours, but you need someone reputable and qualified because it could end up costing you a whole lot more.

In total from start to finish, our bathroom took around 5 and a half weeks to be completed and considering this involved some re-wiring, a new ceiling, re-plastering of all the walls, painting, glossing, installation of a new floor, new bathroom suite, new lights and a new extractor fan in the middle of Autumn, it is quite something. As you can see we kept it simple with a grey and white theme and whilst it is a small space, it looks so much bigger than it did before.  All we have left to fit is a shower screen if I can ever find one that works!

As you can imagine, I am just so happy with how it looks, I love the colour scheme and it is now my happy place.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

theBalm What's Your Type Black Mascara

There is one item of makeup that I never leave the house without, it would mascara and I am always on the hunt for the next best thing.  Over the last year, I have really enjoyed getting to know theBalm as a brand has featured the Mad Lash Black Mascara which I am a huge fan of.  Today I am sharing 'What's Your Type' which is another black mascara. 

I am quite picky when it comes to the formula of a mascara which is possibly why I have only found so few that I actually like to use. 

Give lashes the ultimate lift! Formulated with vitamin E, Panthenol and bamboo, our volumizing mascara strengthens and conditions. Layer an extra coat (or two) and push lashes to the max!

I have fairly long eyelashes, so any mascara which has an overly wet formula is not going to work for me as I always feel as though my lashes are being dragged down, so that is always my first issue with mascara. I also don't want a wand that is too thick, I just cannot work with them and find they aid clumping.  The one mascara wand I have always loved is by Benefit from Rollerlash, but I wasn't too big a fan of the formula towards the end of the tube, so I kept the wand.

With theBalm this mascara is a really dark black shade, one of the deepest black mascaras I have ever tried and oddly, I really like it.  The formula is a little on the watery side, to begin with, but after a few uses, it does change and it does get a whole lot better to use. On the lashes, because it is slightly on the watery side, it makes it really easy to use and with no clumping.

The wand, as you can see is long but quite thin and it has fairly short bristles, though not the shortest I have ever used. The bristles are packed quite close together and what you find is that the brush holds just enough product without the need to add more or remove any excess.  

The best part of this mascara is its staying power, once I have applied the mascara in a morning, usually, about 8am before leaving for work, I find that come mid-afternoon it is still in place, it hasn't budged, smudged or flaked off my lashes and considering it isn't a waterproof mascara, I find it is impressive.  Also, because it isn't a waterproof mascara, it is really easy to remove with Micellar water or your usual eye makeup remover.  

As you can probably tell, this mascara has been a huge hit with me and it is one I would definitely purchase. Priced around £15 you can get it from Amazon* and the rest of theBalm products can be found on Lookfantastic.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Brushworks Precision Eye & Brow Brush Set

I featured several products from the Brushworks brand here on my blog a few times in recent years with the HD Oval Brush Set and HD Miracle Silicone Shaped Sponge and today I have the Brushworks Precision Eye & Brow Brush Set, a special Unicorn version with this amazing pink and turquoise design, which you can't help but love.

Brushworks, if you have never come across them before are an award-winning beauty brand who has an extensive range of makeup brushes, beauty tools and accessories, all of which are available from Tesco with prices starting around £5.49. The Brushworks Precision Eye & Brow Brush Set and pink case which retails for £19 and it has five brushes which are you definitely need within your stash.

“Our HD eye & brow set contains a selection of 5 essential brushes. Created to blend, highlight, contour & define your eyes and brows.”

What I love about these brushes, aside from their colour, is how easy they are to hold and use owing to the indents on the ferrules, the five brushes within this set are:

• Eye Shading Brush – Designed for the entire eyelid, the wide semi-circle brush head complements the shape of your eyelid. Perfect for applying your base shadow powder or cream.
• Eyeshadow Blending Brush – A fluffy dome-shaped brush head that offers precision and control. Disperse and blend harsh lines for a smooth transition of colour.
• Angled Liner Brush – Create sharp lines with powder gel liners or shadows. Achieve defined lines with the hand-cut short firm bristles, use the angled flat edge to pack colour close to the lash line.
• Pencil Brush – Densely packed bristles target small hard to reach areas, placing shadow exactly where you need it. The perfect brush for brightening the inner corners of the eye, adding finishing touches or precise blending.
• Smudge Brush – Short tapered bristles densely packed to hold plenty of shadow. Designed to fit alongside the lash line, the tapered end simply smudges shadow and liner to achieve a smokey eye look.

The accompanying pink metallic brush case is a nice addition to this brush collection, I found it hidden at the back of the box and it is really handy for keeping the brushes together and for protecting them as you travel.

For just £19, these brushes are a bargain especially if you like pretty brushes, but ones which are easy to use.  Do you have a favourite brand of makeup brush?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.