With Mother's Day on the horizon in just a weeks time, shops have been filled with cards and chocolates as well as balloons and candles in an attempt to get you to send your Mum/Mam/Mummy/Mother/Ma-Ma or however you might address her, a little something to celebrate the day. If you haven't thought that far ahead because the news is full of other stories and you've been slightly distracted, I have a little gift guide that might just save the day!
If you saw my Glossybox Mothers Day post earlier this week and was lucky enough to get your hands on the box, then you have quite an amazing gift to give.
Packed with 13 products from different brands it features everything from candles and facemasks to makeup and perfume and all for just £30.
If you mum likes to look after and style her hair, then Boots have an amazing range of products from InStyler. Over the last few weeks, I have been using the GLOSSIE Ceramic Styling Brush which is described as instantly delivering shiny, straight and smooth styles that last.
It features 65 powerful ceramic heated plates that simultaneously section and style as you effortlessly brush through your hair and with 4 different heat settings, whether your hair is thick, thin or somewhere in the middle, there is a setting that will work with your hair. I have been so impressed with the Instyler Glossie Ceramic Styling Brush that there is a dedicated post coming next week to show off just how good it is and why I have liked using it so much. It is currently on offer for less than £55 in Boots* and if you have a Mum who isn't quite ready to use hair straighteners to style her hair, then this might just tick the boxes.
For those who want to have a good nights sleep is the Sleep Master Eye Mask. It came into being after extensive research, the inventor of Sleep Master, who is also an insomnia sufferer, couldn't find a sleep mask that combined the conditions necessary for deep sleep: light elimination and sound reduction. Traditional sleep masks didn't fit or last. They all had thin elastic straps that shift uncomfortably during sleep, fray apart quickly or simply snap off after only a few uses, never mind the disastrous results from washing them!
It is a well known fact that my sleep pattern is quite erratic, so trying this mask has been quite the find. The Sleep Master utilises an incredibly soft to the touch, cool satin fabric which is not only lightweight but it is comfortable, flexible, it is a wide fit and it uses a velcro fastener. What makes it different to any other sleep mask I have used is the ear area, on the Sleep Master it is padded and this helps to muffle sounds, for anyone who is a light sleeper and finds the slightest sound disturbs them, this might just be what you are looking for. The Sleep Master is simply an all-in-one, one-size-fits-all product, which eliminates light and reduces sound, giving you a deep, refreshing sleep by shutting out the world in an immediate, intimate way. Priced at £19.95 via Amazon*.
One of my favourite skincare brands Emma Hardie has collaborated with the charity Look Good Feel Better and has launched a limited edition Pink Moringa Cleansing Balm.
At 50ml and priced at £25 from Marks & Spencer*, from every sale of the limited edition Moringa Cleansing Balm, Emma Hardie Skincare will be donating a percentage of proceeds from the sales to Look Good Feel Better, their goal is to raise £100k for the charity during the year of 2020.
One of my favourite skincare brands Emma Hardie has collaborated with the charity Look Good Feel Better and has launched a limited edition Pink Moringa Cleansing Balm.
For someone who is always on the go we have the Ember Travel Mug², an absolute revelation in re-usable cups which keep those hot drinks hot! Everyone is trying to do their bit for the environment, using less take-away cups and more re-usable has been a huge change for me, but I find that those claims of keeping drinks hot for around 6 hours are not always that true. Then I tried this!
Designed to be used on-the-go, the new Ember Travel Mug² does more than simply keep your coffee hot, this smart mug not only allows you to set an exact drinking temperature but it also keeps it there for up to 3 hours, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold. I have been so impressed with this mug that I have written a separate blog post all about it, but if you like your technological gadgets and gifts, then this is the one!
There is no doubting every Mum needs at least an hour to herself and from Marks & Spencer, who right now have some amazing bathing products in store. My latest find has been these Rose Bath Salts.
These rose-scented bath salts are described as being perfection for the ultimate relaxation experience and they are infused with notes of pink peony and lily and when they come into contact with warm water, that floral fragrances comes to life and smells as wonderful as a freshly opened bunch of flowers and they cost me just £4.99.
I really like Shea Moisture as a brand and I have the Fruit Fusion Energizing Bath, Body & Massage Oil and there is something about the sharp fragrance of this oil that I absolutely love. Shea Moisture describe this oil as being one which helps to restore hydration as well as to revitalize dry, dull skin.
As well as the use of Shea Butter and Coconut Oil which replenishes moisture deep below the skin surface, there is the use of Imbe Oil which helps to protect against the damaging and ageing effects of external aggressors to leave skin feeling nourished. Then the fruity fragrance of both Green Apple and Lychee Berry are said to help stimulate the senses and for me, this is my favourite of the two products.
A brand I see a lot on my social media is Embryolisse and for Mother's Day I am including the Limited Edition London Lait-Crème Concentré. In its Limited Edition packaging, this iconic French skincare brand is quite the cult product.
As a multi-tasking cream, it works not only as a three-in-one moisturising lotion, but can also be used as a primer and as a make-up remover. It has a lightweight but rich texture, this cream contains essential fatty acids and vitamins which help to reduce irritation especially after shaving and they also plump the skin for firmer results. The inclusion of nutrients and water to balance the skin and promote cell renewal also lead to much more supple-looking skin too. You can find Embryolisse in Boots stores, and online via Cult Beauty, Feelunique and Lookfantastic where it is priced at £17.99.
If you Mam is quite partial to a brew, which mine most certainly is, the gift of tea is definitely a worthy gift. The Tea Makers of London work closely with the most celebrated tea gardens in the world as well as independent artisan tea farmers who continue to use traditional methods, which have been lovingly preserved and passed down to them by their ancestors over many centuries.
So the inclusion of a gift of tea is one which would always be welcome, whether that is a selection of fine loose leaf tea or a tea set, it is definitely something a little bit different and much about.
If you Mam is quite partial to a brew, which mine most certainly is, the gift of tea is definitely a worthy gift. The Tea Makers of London work closely with the most celebrated tea gardens in the world as well as independent artisan tea farmers who continue to use traditional methods, which have been lovingly preserved and passed down to them by their ancestors over many centuries.
As a brand, Rubis isn't one I have come across until recently, but their Nail Scissors are definitely something my mum would have in her knitting box. With their slightly curved, hand-sharpened blades which are crafted out of hardened martensitic steel, these scissors are designed to cut your nails to perfection.
I am sure we have all had a pair of nail scissors which are as blunt as blunt can be and instead of trimming your nails, they hack at them. Rubis scissors have ergonomically shaped handle grips which are said to offer supreme comfort and stability. The biggest claim however is that after many years, Rubis state that their scissors lose none of their original functionality thanks to their high-quality materials, design and workmanship. You can find these scissors priced at £23.50 via Cult Beauty.
When it comes to haircare, I am always aware that as you get older, your hair changes. I am lucky enough to have a lot of hair and it has yet to show signs of thinning, but friends of mine are not so lucky, so this is where Nanogen Haircare comes in.
The 7-in-1 Shampoo is described as taking a multi-targeted approach to hair thickening for women in one simple step. You don't need 7 different products, just this one. Best described as being a multitasking haircare treatment that cleanses, thickens, moisturises, strengthens, protects, balances and optimises for hair that’s thick, healthy and in prime condition. It uses hardworking surfectants which deliver the primary purpose of removing impurities, oil and dirt to clean the scalp and hair. It is also enriched with Glycerin and Panthenol, the formula drenches hair in vital hydration without weighting tresses down, whilst the brand’s patented Hair Growth Factor complex works to rejuvenate hair follicles to promote healthy growth and maintain hair anchoring. Priced at £10 from Boots*.
The Ramer Cleansing Shammy for Sensitive Skin is a little gem of a product and are a great alternative to using wet wipes, which we all know we shouldn't be using anyway.
We all know the importance of skincare and removing makeup, so these handy little shammy sponges work to remove all traces of make-up. The shammy can also be used with skincare such as cleansers and too and I love how soft they feel on the skin. All Ramer sponges are made from a magic material, all Ramer Sponges harden as they dry, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria, and will instantly soften when soaked in warm water, ready to re-use again. Super-soft, non-scratchy, hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin, Ramer Sponges are machine washable at 40o C, durable and long-lasting. Prices start around £4 per sponge from Amazon*.
Recently launched to the UK is a brand called African Extracts Rooibos and it is one of South Africa’s leading skincare ranges and is infused with the potent antioxidant powers of Rooibos, a plant found and grown only in the Cederberg mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Rich in heritage, African Extracts Rooibos skincare strongly believe in the power of nature, and therefore Bio-Active Rooibos is supported by a host of proven natural active ingredients, carefully selected for their skincare benefits. So included within this gift guide is the 3-step Everyday Starter kit which is the brand’s best-selling range and is suitable for women of all ages and most skin types. It contains a Cleansing Lotion (60ml), Toner (60ml) and Day Cream SPF15 (20ml) all in perfect handbag travel sizes.
Then for the more mature skin I have the exfoliating face scrub which uses Rooibos leaves and apricot kernels to gently remove dead skin cells and surface impurities to leave skin feeling clean, smooth and soft, followed by the Tissue Oil which comes in a spray bottle and is really light as well as being non-greasy. This oil is a bit of a multi-tasker because it can be used on your face, body and hair. It is formulated using antioxidant-rich Bio-Active Rooibos extract, Vitamin E, Soy Bean and Geranium botanical extracts in a blend of Grapeseed and Sweet Almond oils. Prices for African Extracts Rooibos start as low as £7.99.
As well as this Mother's Day gift guide, I also featured the lovely brand Evolve Organic Beauty with their Facial in a box which also makes an amazing gift, as would the Gus and Bella 'Best Mum' Cat Box for those who have and adore cats, both would be a great alternative to flowers and chocolate!
*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.