Jo Malone Christmas Cracker

I am totally new to Jo Malone, of course I know all about the brand and have been green with envy at some of the products people have bought or been given, some sound truly amazing and others I simply need in my life, but haven't quite got round to sorting it out.  Then the lovely Louise from LouLovesBeauty held a giveaway just before Christmas to win a Jo Malone Christmas Cracker, which I had looked at many times whilst in John Lewis, but I've never actually bought anything, so I am mighty glad to have won the giveaway!

The cracker itself is as you would expect it to be. Designed in the well known Jo Malone packaging with the cream background with black letters, it is hard not to like it just for that purpose.  Tied at either end with a red ribbon, it looks exactly like a cracker you would put on the dinner table to pull on Christmas Day (multiple versions of this would be amazing!).

Inside the candle it is filled with three gifts which comprise of. a mini 9ml perfume (Lime, Basil and Mandarin), 15ml body lotion (Nectarine Blossom and Honey), and 15ml body wash (Blackberry and Bay) which is a perfect introduction to just some of the products you can purchase from Jo Malone.  

As each product is a mini, you don't get much use out of the body lotion, there certainly isn't enough to cover your body once, but there is enough to moisturise both arms and hands which really lets you see how amazing the scent is, it is one I could easily get used to using.  

The shower gel again seems exactly as the name suggests it too and possibly not a scent I would personally purchase, but it is nice enough and is incredibly moisturising, the perfect size for a weekend away with a bit of luxury.

Finally the perfume, now for me 9ml is a brilliant introduction in the world of Jo Malone perfumes and there are a few I have my eye on, the main object of my obsession being Peony and Blush Suede which I personally think is the best scent.  That said Lime, Basil and Mandarin is both fragrant and refreshing, the combination of the citrusy limes and mandarins with the aromatic herby basil is one great scent and it lasts for hours and hours on the skin, for me becoming more stunning as it settles and fades slightly.

I am really pleased with this cracker and am so glad that I was lucky enough to win it, the downside for the Hubs is that I now desperately want to try a candle and get my mitts on another perfume! Well Valentines Day isn't that far away!

Are you a Jo Malone fan? do you have a favourite scent/product? Is there anything you really rate and recommend?

Balance Me Body Wash + Bon Voyage Competition

Balance Me are British run family company who have frequented the skincare market for around 9 years. They are one of the brands I absolutely love the products of and are infact the brand who managed to convince me that as someone with combination skin which leans towards the oily side, I could use a facial oil and not end up with greasier looking skin.

Over the past year I have tried a lot of Balance Me products and am yet to find one I don't like. The photographs below just some of the products I have tried:

So yes as you can see, I am a bit of a fan!

The latest releases from Balance Me introduces reformulated sulphate free body washes - Rose Otto, Super Moisturising and Super Toning have also had their packaging remodelled so it is now much sleeker and more hi-tech looking to compliment the reformulation.

So what does all that mean?  Essentially as the brand as Sian Jones the Balance Me Director and Aromatherapist states "We have improved the formulation to increase out natural surfactant to make then even more luxurious on the skin with a thick consistency and more naturally foaming"  so they are now more skin friendly.  Many cosmetic companies use sulphates in their products to help them create a lather, but the effects can be harsh on the skin and cause irritations such as a dryness and can strip the skin of its natural oils.  As part of the Balance Me philosophy, they try to omit any ingredient that they believe has question marks surrounding its composition and prefer instead to formulate products using natural alternatives.

I was very kindly sent the Super Moisturising Body Wash** which is this amazing bright yellow coloured tube, it definitely catches your attention in the morning when your half asleep and in the shower!

The body wash is described as being:

Perfect for: Soothing, smoothing and protecting parched or sensitive skin.

Key benefits: We’ve used four natural active skin enhancers to guarantee long-lasting softness and suppleness. Softening benzoin, calming yarrow and patchouli, plus essential fatty acid and vitamin-rich shea butter work together to gently soften and protect skin.

This body wash is most definitely as it is described - super moisturising, it lathers exceptionally well onto my beloved natural sea sponge and as soon as it comes into contact with water it begins to lather.  The scent is also amazing, it wakes you up, alerts your senses and lingers on your skin all day with the patchouli being the dominant scent, it smells very luxurious.

‘Beauty Voyage’ Balance Me Competition

But bloggers how would you like the chance to win youself a Balance Me Product? Well the lovely people over at Balance Me are  inviting you to take snaps of your favourite Balance Me products and submit them with the #balancemehome or #balancemeaway hashtag! The competition is running over July & August and the best images picked each week to win Balance Me prizes.  You can find more information on Twitter and Facebook.

Have you tried anything from Balance Me?  
What is your favourite product?

Treasured Orchid Range - Ted Baker

When Ted Bakers new and indulgent Treasured Orchid** bath and body range dropped through my letterbox to try, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.  Over the last few months, I have been really surprised at how good the Ted Baker Range is, whether it is a handbag perfume, nail polish or something for the man in your life, these products have been amazing quality.

The Treasured Orchid Range, is said to be inspired by Ted's latest fashion collection.  Described as being Beautifully Feminine, the print packaging which is a lovely shade of pink, is one that stands out.

The products I have been using are a hand cream, body wash and body spray which all feature the scent of rose, so if you are a fan of products with a rose scent, then these might just be for you.

The hand cream is a moisturising hand cream which is made with rose, sandalwood and raspberry, is white in colour and of a medium texture.  As soon as it comes into contact with the skin it absorbs itself instantly, leaving behind a floral yet fruity scent on your skin. It also contains Shea Butter which has natural moisturising properties.

The body wash, which is clear in colour with no tint to it again features rose, sandalwood and raspberry and the scent is similar, though not quite the same as the hand cream, it is much more of a floral scent.

The final product is the aptly described 'vivacious' body spray, in its clear plastic bottle with spritz applicator, the liquid inside looks the colour I would expect the hand cream and the shower gel to look.  once it has been spritzed, again with a combination of rose, sandalwood and raspberry and for me this is the one which has the fruitiest scent to it, the raspberry being more notable than the rose.

These products are available in Boots with prices starting at just £5.50 right up to £10 for a travel set and £15 for a gift box.  All of which make a lovely present and a great addition to your collection.

January's Glossybox!

It has been a long time coming this month, but here is the January edition of Glossybox! I haven't been all that impressed with Glossybox in the last quarter of the year, some of the products left the mind blogging as to why in earth they would be included and even some of the 'themes' made no sense compared to the accompanying products.

Anyway it is now 2014 and here I am hoping Glossybox have got their act together before I log in and finally hit that cancel button...  Here is the contents of my box:

So back to basics is the topic and subject of the box and Glossybox has had a bit of a make-over.  The box is much pinker than usual and glossier and the ribbon on the inside is a nice touch... but the products this month... well:

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-up Under Eye Patches - made me giggle as the name is funny and apparently if you look like a character from The Walking Dead these eye patches should reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and revitalise the delicate area around my eyes.  A full size pack of 3 retails for £6 and in my pack there are two.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Lotion - a non-greasy moisture lotion to keep your skin supple and looking great.  This is a 50ml bottle, nowhere near fullsize (which would cost £4.99) not too chuffed to have this in my box as I am not that much of a fan of Vaseline products personally.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash - another 50ml product and one I am happy to see because I am a huge fan of the Balance Me range and this is a product I am yet to try.  Said to have a blend of juniper, bergamot, geranium and lavender essential oils, this body wash is a good way to start your day.

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream - 2 sample tubes with 3g in each.  This product is a multi-use cult moisturising cream from Japan which revamps your skin, enriching it with Vitamin E, Vitmain B2, Camphor and has a uniquely high glycerine content.  Not heard of this before, but will see what it is like once I use it.

The final product, the one I knew would be in the box is this lovely floral design tweezers from The Vintage Cosmetic Company.  You can never have too many pairs of tweezers and these ones are actually quite good and retail for £8 and I believe the only full sized product in the box!

So, erm that is it! What do you think?