Christmas Gifting with Tropic Skincare

Christmas with Tropic Skincare is always a wonderfully colourful affair and 2020 does not disappoint! I was lucky enough to be send a range of items from their Christmas Gifting options to share on my blog and whilst I have opened up most of them and used the products, they are fabulous gift options, not forgetting they are also vegan and cruelty-free!

This year's gift collections are a nod to the brands humble origins – Founder, Susie Ma, and her market days. Each product is designed to bring you or your loved ones little moments of joy.

Whether a collection reminds you of your favourite hot drink from your local café or it helps you to drift off into a more fulfilling night’s sleep, each one has been lovingly made to celebrate the little things that we no longer take for granted. If you want to show your appreciation for those you wish you could hold a little tighter this festive season, those whose love wraps warmth around your heart, however near or far, then you've come to the right place. Send a little love this year. Do a little thing.

I was kindly sent a cracker, a drum and a bauble, within which is a collection of products Tropic have chosen to be part of their Christmas set.

The first item I want to share is the Tropic Skincare Little Cracker of Joy - The Butterbalm Collection (£24) which comes packaged inside a beautifully bright and colourful cracker.

One of the best things about winter is all of the limited-edition coffee and hot chocolate options that appear on the menu, definitely the case for me anyway! Taking that into account, Tropic Skincare has a trio of indulgent butterbalms in Hazelnut Mocha, Almond Matcha Latte and Coconut Hot Chocolate. Having been decanted straight into their very own joy jars for a fresh-as-they-come treat, as soon as you remove the lid, the intense scent hits you and it is absolutely divine. You can apply the Butterbal,s to your lips, or any areas that need some extra tending to, such as your nails, elbows, knees and dry cuticles.

The next gift is the Joy Drum and I have the Unwind Me Collection (£28) .  I am sure we can all do with an excuse to take time out, relax and unwind and everything you see within this drum, is just that.

Featuring a selection of lavender-infused products, they have been chosen because they not only give you that excuse to press the mute button on a busy mind so you can get a restful night’s sleep without any tossing and turning, but also because they give you some me time for a pamper session. Inside there is three products which are - So Sleepy Bath Foam which I absolutely adore, it smells incredibly relaxing and really helps you to unwind, So Sleepy Whipped Body Velvet which is the perfect post-bath treat because it just melts into the skin leaving behind this most amazing scent and then we have the Temple Roll-On, a product which is ideal to be added to those pulse points before bed.

The final package I have to share with you is the Your Best Skin Bauble (£28) and this is perfect for any skincare fan because it really shows some of the best Tropic Skincare has to offer. Available in three different options - Clear, Glow and Nourish.

I have the Nourish COllection which is made up of 4 products plus a Bamboo Face Cloth, which is one of the best I have ever used! The Nourish Collection is designed for skin that’s fatigued and flagging, with the team over at Tropic selecting a bundle of products to give it a healthy boost. 

Inside the Bauble, as well as that Bamboo Cloth is the Smoothing Cleanser, an oilp-based cleanser which does an amazing job at melting away everything in its way - makeup, pollution and bacteria to name just a few. It uses jojoba oil that has similar properties to your skin’s own sebum, then we have green tea extract to fight free radicals, and finally aloe vera juice that provides a rush of moisture, it leaves the complexion soft and springy.

Then we have Rainforest Dew, a serum which floods the skin with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, then with the inclusion of Elixir which is packed with omega-rich ingredients that nourish and hydrate the skin, along with vitamin E to stimulate collagen. Then Finally with Skin Dream, is described as being "mission to seal up any cracks in your skin’s barrier function (which happens naturally with age)". It uses shea nilotica and murumuru butters to give a melt-into-skin formula which is non-greasy or tacky. also included are the likes of olive squalane and oat oils for nourishment. 

This year, I think Tropic Skincare have done an amazing job at putting together a collection of gifts which contain everything you could need for a bit of me time or a pamper session and without pricing them at the high end of the scale, making them affordable and amazing value for money.  

Alongside the three gifts I have shared within this post, there is a whole lot more to choose from and you can find them all right here.

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

Beauty Expert - The Spa Edition

In the latest edition of The Beauty Expert Collection which is called ‘The Spa Edit’ it comes packaged inside a handy cosmetics bag and is packed full of relaxing products covering skin, hair and bodycare brands and they have been chosen with one thing in mind and that is to help you sit back, relax and rejuvenate your skin and mind and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.  Having seen off January, which never seemed to want to end, February has brought more rubbish weather and as I don't want to be outdoors and want to stay indoors and have a weekend of pampering.

The Spa edition is packed with six full sized products from brands you will all know and love and it has a combined worth of over £220 but can be yours for just £70 (here) and it is just amazing value for money.

First out of the bag is Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask (50ml). Omorovicza is one of my favourite brands, if you haven't tried The Queen of Hungry Mist you need too. This Mud Mask is rich in nourishing Hungarian moor mud, alongside calcium and magnesium compounds – proven to accelerate healing. 

Natural acids and Hectorite Clay draw out impurities then detoxify and cleanse to leave your complexion clear, bright, hydrated and visibly lifted. There is also the use of essential oils which include sage, chamomile, rosemary and rose geranium which have a cooling and antiseptic effect on the skin.  

Next is Caudalie Divine Oil (50ml). This oil was the very first product I used from Caudalie and I still absolutely love it. A nourishing, multi-purpose oil which can be used on dry skin, hair and nails. Encased inside a beautiful glass bottle, this oil smells just absolutely incredible thanks to the Moroccan and Bulgarian roses. 

As well as roses, there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter, pink grapefruit, spicy pink pepper, hibiscus, sesame and argan oils.  I love a good multi-purpose product and this is quite something because not only can you use it on dry skin, flaky skin, split ends and on your cuticles but it also works perfectly well as a bath oil and not only does it smell incredible, it leaves your skin feeling so well nourished and hydrated.

Also included within this Spa Edition is the ESPA Optimal Skin ProSerum (30ml). Described as being an intensely nourishing serum which works to strengthen skin’s natural moisture barrier and help even skin tone, while enhancing elasticity to help minimise the early signs of ageing. 

What I love about this serum is how incredible it smells, it reminds me of being in a spa. Using Echium Oil and Sunflower Concentrate which replenish ceramides and omega oils, White Lupin which helps to smooth and firm while Turmeric brightens for beautifully radiant skin.  I haven't used many products from ESPA but this ProSerum is absolutely lovely, not at all greasy and has the kind of aroma which just makes you instantly relax.

Next is the Nourish, Breathe & Energise Hand Balm from Neom and as a brand, I know very little about it. This hand cream comes from Neom's Scent To Boost Your Energy™ collection and is described as being a cream to hydrate fatigued hands, the nourishing balm leaves skin ultra-soft, whilst boasting a rejuvenating scent. 

Enriched with a blend of grapefruit, lemon & rosemary which help to refresh and energise they work alongside both Shea and Cocoa Butter to hydrate and protect your hands.  On the skin, this hand cream which doesn't have too thick a texture, absorbs really quickly and leaves behind a really lovely aroma.

Another brand I feel I should know more about than I do is Elemis and within the Spa Edition from Beauty Expert is the Pro-Collagen Marine Oil (15ml). Described as being a rich and replenishing anti-ageing treatment and it is derived from ocean-based botanicals and marine-biological actives, the facial oil balances a trio of seaweeds – Padina Pavonica, Golden Seaweed and Roaring Water Kelp and they all come together and work in tandem to support skin’s natural moisture barrier, maximising hydration levels while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

There is also the use of White Poppy Seed which is said to create a visible plumping effect, improve the skin’s overall texture and tone for a truly lifted and radiant visage.   Again, the scent of this oil is just heavenly and has that spa aroma to it, it is non-greasy and absorbs incredibly quickly into the skin.

The final item within this Spa Edition is the NUXE Micellar Cleansing Oil (150ml). Described as being the perfect first step of your double cleanse, this cleansing oil makes light work of removing makeup, dirt, grime and impurities from the skin without leaving it feeling dry and taut. 

It is infused with rosewater micelles which lifts away the most stubborn waterproof mascara. I have never been the biggest fan of Micellar Water, I have never quite found something that I liked using and would repurchase, even those which are most loved, but this Cleansing Oil for me is in a totally different league and ive already ordered a back up, I am that impressed with it.

The idea of having a bag of products which have been put together to help you relax, de-stress and take some time out is such a great idea, especially when there is a lot of stress around January. ‘The Spa Edit’ is still available and if you need an excuse for a bit of a pampering, Beauty Expert have you covered, grab it quick!

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

SpaLondon - Kensington

This week I paid my first (and definitely not last) visit to SpaLondon at their newest branch in Kensington to experience one of two treatments. I couldn't wait to give it a go because I had had an extraordinarily busy six months at work and was in need of some indulgence and de-stressing.

Describing themselves as "An oasis of calm, where you can leave stresses and strains of modern life behind you. SpaLondon offers the perfect environment in which to restore both mind and body, lifting your spirits through each experience"

It was exactly what I was in need of and looking forward too and it is exactly what I got. The centerpiece of spa LONDON is the Thermal Spa Experience, comprising of an Aroma Steam Room, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Hydrotherapy pool, Monsoon Shower and Relaxation Lounge and I cannot wait to experience them all. As you arrive, everything is bright, airy and is everything you expect a Spa to be. Based at the leisure centre in Kensington, there are are over 50 health, beauty and relaxation treatments in partnership with brands such as Elemis, Murad, Fake Bake and O.P.I.

I spent the afternoon with  Copper Garden, One Little Vice, Splitthecity, House of Blog and Beauty With Charm and as we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with an amazing afternoon tea, as well as orange juice and champagne!

Our hosts for the day talked us through the SpaLondon brand to give us an insight into who they are and what they are about. One message that stood out above everything else is to bring a little bit of pampering to everyday people like you and I and to do this the key issue is affordability but without compromising on the luxury. To that end, SpaLondon Spa's are affordable (both the products and the treatments) and have been purposely located in local leisure centres, making them as accessible as possible not to mention welcoming. 

I had been offered the choice between two treatments: the Murad facial or the Midas Touch Gold Treatment. I opted for the latter as it's a signature SpaLondon treatment, and it has the word gold in it and I wanted to know why.  It also involved all of the products you can see in the photo immediately below!

The Midas Touch Gold Treatment lasts for 90 minutes (£70) and is described as being "An exotic exfoliation ritual to leave the skin glowing and hydrated". It starts with a golden elixir cleansing foot ritual to prepare you for your journey. My treatment wasn't 90 minutes long (though I am wanting to do back and try the whole treatment) but in the time I was in the treatment room (shown above) I was made to not only feel incredibly comfortable with my therapist Nicole, but she talked me through absolutely everything that was going to happen and why it was done. 

The room had a really relaxing atmosphere with mood music in the background and the treatment bed itself incredibly comfortable.

So to start with your skin is deeply cleansed, polished using the gold elixir and then it is softened with the SpaLondon signature gold body scrub. The scrub isn't overly abrasive but you can feel it being worked onto the skin and it isn't at all painful. After showering off the scrub, the use of the Thai compress massage comes into being. Shown above, these two padded items, which smell delightfully of coconut, are use to perform the massage. They are heated slightly and honestly, it was so amazing I didn't want the treatment to come to an end, I could literally feel my muscles beginning to relax and I was almost ready for a power nap.

After the treatment had ended, I was given a nice cool glass of detox water and then taken through to the relaxation room where I was asked to lay back on one of the chairs and relax for a few minutes.  I actually could have stayed there all day.  It was so peaceful and calming that after my treatment, whilst my skin was rejuvenated and glowing, my mind was ready for a nap.

For me, this was an amazing opportunity and one I am incredibly thankful for. If this sounds lke your idea of heaven, then there are six other locations to choose from - Bethnal Green, Epsom,  Oxford Circus, Old Street, Swiss Cottage and Wimbledon. Enjoy!

Home Pampering for the Mums

My Mum has quite a busy job, if she isn't running around after my dad and the dog, she has 6 grandchildren, with another on the way (no not me) to entertain her, she is a knitter and is always knitting something for someone because she enjoys it so much and she never charges for it, she is on the committee of the local social club, or she can be found buying prizes for the bingo she and my sister run to raise money for local charities - so yes, she is one busy lady.

So for Mothers Day, the one thing she does need is something to encourage her to take time out, relax and have a bit of me time, something I am an expert at doing because it is important. With that in mind this incredible Moroccan Rose Bath & Body Collection has really caught my attention along with the Weleda Wild Rose body care collection.

 The Moroccan Rose range has been specially formulated to not only leave you smelling wonderfully of fresh roses but to also ensure your skin feels the benefit of long-lasting hydration. The Moroccan Rose Collection contains the exclusive Argan + synergy complex, an all-natural 100% blend of precious Moroccan Argan oil combined with four other amazing oils, each specially chosen for its ability to restore, regenerate and nourish the skin. 

Moroccan Rose Nourish & Renew Body Wash is described as being a beautiful Rose Otto scented body wash counteracting the drying effects of water on the skin due to its luxurious combination of the exclusive Argan + synergy complex. (£4.95, 200ml)

Moroccan Rose Calm & Sooth Bath Soak is rich in both nutrients and vitamins, and uses a combination of precious Moroccan Argan Oil with Avocado and delicately fragranced Rose Otto Oil to leave the skin, soft, smooth and sweetly scented. The luxurious fragrance will bring a sense of relaxation and serenity for total wellbeing. (£5.95, 300ml)

Moroccan Rose Super Repair Hand & Nail Cream is formulated to soothe dry, cracked hands and strengthen weak nails, is a softly-scented, non-greasy cream packed full of antioxidants to heal, repair and protect the hands. (£7.99, 75ml)

Moroccan Rose Nourish & Soften Body Butter uses a subtle, rose fragrance and has a luxurious soft texture which increases cellular turnover to leave skin deeply hydrated. Rose Otto Oil, moisturising coconut and soothing hibiscus increase the skin’s elasticity for a soft and youthful appearance. (£8.99, 300ml)

The collection has four products and they available from Waitrose.

 

Weleda also have an amazing Wild Rose body care collection, which is made from handpicked and pressed organic musk rose seed oil, with each product providing the ultimate multi-sensory pampering experience right at home.

Weleda Wild Rose Cream Bath is described as being a beautifully scented pampering cream that nourishes skin, awakens the senses and transforms your bath experience. Providing intense moisture using gentle jojoba and olive oil, skin is left feeling velvety soft and smooth. Fine seed oil of precious organic musk rose, which is naturally rich in unsaturated fatty acids, deeply nurtures skin. (£9.95)

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash is formulated with nourishing Rosehip Seed Oil which contains vitamins A, B and E as well as essential fatty acids blended with organic essential oil of Damask Rose to provide the delicate, mild fragrance. If you have dry or stressed skin, this is a perfect product because it combines intensive care for dry skin whilst maintaining the moisture balance in normal skin. (£8.95)

Weleda Wild Rose Body Oil uses precious Wild Musk Rose Oil which is gentle on the skin, leaving it supple and elastic. The further ingredients of Gentle Almond Oil, finer and lighter oil, along with moisturising Jojoba Oil, compliments the Rose oil’s revitalising properties. The high content of unsaturated fatty acids support the natural functions of the skin so that it becomes smooth and silky.

All of these products are available from www.weleda.co.uk
 

Things I love having done!

Do you ever sit back, daydream, think wishfully that you could just pop into your local spa/hairdressing salon or even spend the day with your closest and mostest for some pampering?  I know I do.  I have gone from hating strangers touching me, fear of the hairdressers to absolutely loving being pampered, though please stay away from my feet, that is one phobia I cannot deal with.

This is a post about some of the things I absolutely love being done to me and why, honestly it isn't as rude as it sounds.  As a beauty blogger, you won't be surprised to find out what they are and why.

I have quite a busy and stressful job, at times all I want to do is sit back or indeed lay back and escape from that world and just do something for me, sadly I don't get too many opportunities to do those very often, but if I did, well this is what I would want.

Someone washing my hair for me

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One thing that I absolutely love having done whenever I go to the salon for a haircut/trim is having someone else wash my hair.  Not a chore in itself and it is something I actually don't mind doing, but it is just so relaxing when someone else does it for you and combined with a head massage, hair brushing and temple rubbing, I am almost snoring in minutes.

Having a facial

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I haven't had many in my life, well two actually but I do love having a facial.  Both times I have been lucky enough to have one, it has been totally amazing, relaxing and de-stressing not to mention that feeling of total cleanness afterwards is something I can never repeat at home.

Having a manicure

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This is something I have recently started to really really enjoy.  I had a bad experience of a manicure when I was at University and the manicurist at the time, instead of filing my nails, used scissors to cut them, slipped with the scissors and anyway... needless to say I have had a fear since. 

 Now having been to a few blogger events and met some absolutely lovely manicurists, this is something i had begun to enjoy and something I look forward to having done.

Hand and arm massage

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This is another treatment that I find really relaxing, though it has been a while since I have had it done.  It is incredibly relaxing to have something massage both your hands and your arms using many lotions and potions.  The last one I had was at a beauty event with Debenhams last year and the lovely ladies of Elemis were on hand to do this exact treatment and it was pure heaven.

Back and Shoulder massage

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This is possibly one of the best treatments ever, though again, a bad experience when I was at Uni for a spa day with my housemates terrified me.  The masseuse was so rough with massaging my shoulders that I screamed in pain for her to stop because it was utter agony and for weeks it hurt like anything to move.

Then a few years ago, I took the plunge having had chronic back-ache for weeks to go and have a massage and honestly it was the most amazing thing ever, so relaxing and de-stressing and something that almost had me in a deep sleep.  I find that with having a stressful job my shoulders are usually always quite tense and having them massaged literally cures everything for me.

So there you have, the top 5 things I love having done.  

Do you have a favourite treatment you like to have? is there anything you absolutely swear by?

Caudalie Divine Oil

Caudalie is a brand that I am new too and one from which I have no great knowledge about, so when the opportunity arose to try out their Divine Oil** product from Farmaline I was delighted and jumped at the chance.

Being a recent convert to oils, for the hair, face or body, I am amazed at how well my skin and hair react to them, more so because my skin can either be quite dry in part and also quite oily, especially my face.  As this is a multi-use oil which can be used on your body, hair, nails, as a massage oil and as a bath oil, I couldn't wait to try it out.

The Divine Oil, which comes in this pretty glass bottle with a wooden lid, is a dry oil and to use it you simply spray it onto your skin.  What I love about this oil is the scent, I won't lie it is beautiful, more so than I expected it to be.  It is described as follows:

"Caudalie Divine Oil is a multi purpose dry oil with an intoxicating fragrance. It moisturizes, nourishes and enhances the skin thanks to its unique formula made with exceptional blend of Grape, Argan, Hibiscus, Sesame oils combined with patented anti-oxidant Polyphenols.

This quick-absorbing oil is formulated with anti-oxidant grape seed Polyphenols, moisturizing and nourishing oils of grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan. It envelops the skin with a subtle, floral and sun-kissed fragrance, with woody notes."

I have used this oil inn a variety of different ways and having done so, I love it all the more. If I use it after showering, I apply this to my entire body and face, though I haven't tried it on my hair.  You can either spray it directly onto the skin, or into the palms of your hands to massage onto the skin, my own preference is directly onto the skin because it disappears really quickly, as a dry oil there is no grease or residue left on the skin, the one thing you are left with is a stunning scent.  The photos below show some on my arm and then massaged in how there is no greasy residue left behind.

If you use this in the bath as a bath oil, the scent really comes alive as soon as it comes into contact with steam and then when on your skin in the bath, you massage your skin and once you have dried yourself, you will have soft, smooth and again lovely scented skin.

Towards the end of last year, I was introduced to facial oils, something I never would have dreamt I could use because my skin is normal/combination – leaning towards the oily side and I always assumed that adding an oil would leave my skin congested and even more oily, how wrong was I and infact it is the complete opposite, I have lovely, soft, smooth and very moisturised and hydrated skin after using this.  I do tend to use it mixed in with one of my night creams a few times a week as a little extra pampering treat.

This Caudalie Divine Oil has become one of my most used products since I got my hands on it and my skin really likes it not to mention so do I

Have you tried this product? What do you think of Divine Oil?

Caudalie uses natural active ingredients that are biodegradable, free from toxins such as parabens and petrochemicals and free from animal cruelty