You Beauty Box - The Garden Party Edit

This month You Beauty bring to us their Garden Party Edit and again a box I was really chuffed with. Again I have the option of choosing three products from quite an extensive list and this time I chose three products I haven't used before.

Again this months box had two treats and again I attach a loose term to the treats because there is a sachet of Organii Everyday Organic 50SPF sunscreen, a brand I have never come across before and a sachet really didn't even cover both arms, so to judge how good it is I can't say. The blurb, however, states "The Organii Sun Milk SPF50 contains ingredients including Argan and Jojoba which help to nourish the skin whilst Pongamol protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays".   The second sachet comes from We Are Tea and it is one tea bag from the Ginko & Ginseng range and it is a caffeine free blend.

The first of my three choices for this month's box is the AA Skincare Frankincense and Rose Facial Toner which retails for £7.98-.  Described as being rehydrating and balancing. Featuring rejuvenating Frankincense and fragrant Damask Rose, the toner is formulated using 100% natural ingredients to restore and revive all skin types. Designed to prepare skin for moisturising, it can also be used to refresh tired and dry skin throughout the day.

Next up comes the Radox Feel Free Matcha and Green Tea Body Wash. Radox 12H Scent Touch™ is the new body wash range which I was intrigued by because of the description.  From the new body wash range, Radox uses innovative fragrance technology that provides a long-lasting fragrance experience that renews with touch. Feel free is an exotic and happy blend of matcha green tea and coconut water scents which it describes as being a pleasurable freshness which renews and recharges your mood, throughout the day. Priced around £2.99 you can buy this body wash from places such as Boots, Superdrug and Supermarkets.

The final item in my box is the Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy. I absolutely love Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams and having tried the hand scrub, I was keen to try the hand therapy. The description reads "After a long day of handling thorny situations, Crabtree & Evelyn’s Gardeners Hand Therapy is just the help you need". It contains a blend of nutrient-rich shea butter, moisturising glycerin, deodorising clover and soothing bisabolol from chamomile all of which come together to nourish and condition work-roughened hands.

I absolutely love this box for June, it is such a great idea for an edit and I think all of the products are fantastically suited to the theme. The You Beauty Box is one of the best around and for just £8.95 which includes P&P you get to make a choice as to which products you want each month and that way you won't be disappointed. More information can be found here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Why Antique Wedding Jewellery Beats The Highstreet Every Time

Are you tied up with your wedding planning, and wondering how you’re going to make ends meet with your budget? Perhaps you just can’t find the right ring for your partner on the high street. Don’t worry – this article will give you the advice that you need to make an informed antique purchase which won’t cost you the Earth. With an antique wedding or engagement ring, you have a really exciting opportunity to own a unique piece of history. It’s time to relax, absorb and prepare yourself to make a great investment purchase that will delight your other half.

A romantic history

Many women prefer antique rings, believe them to have more character or a romantic history. Technically, antique jewellery must date back 100 years, to 1914 or before. When you make a vintage or antique purchase, it’s likely that that piece has been handed down in many families, and has an interesting history prior to your ownership. The fact that antique items have such a history is considered by some to be mysterious and offers an extra dimension of romance, making them perfect for engagement or wedding rings. This is a quality that you just can’t beat with highstreet pieces.

 

credit: thejewelleryeditor.com

When purchasing any vintage or antique piece of jewellery of high monetary value. you should also receive a Gemological Certification. This document can tell you exactly where the ring has come from, where it was made and how old it is. This document guarantees and reaffirms the value of your piece and, if you ever wanted to sell it, you can prove the item’s value to your buyer.

No obstacles – you can buy online with confidence

credit: berganza

It was once considered a golden rule not to buy jewellery unless you could view it and gauge its quality and true appearance. However, online retailers have made real progress in overcoming this problem.

Online jewellery retailers like the London-based Berganza have got their product images down to a tee. Their detailed 360-degree images of the products allow you to explore them and better anticipate what to expect if you made a purchase. 

The demand for precision and knowledge of gemstones has increased because there has been a recent inflation of antique jewellery prices. People expect to be confident before parting with higher sums of money.

Antique prices can offer bang for your buck

High street jewelry prices are extremely inflated. There are a few reasons for this: many customers seem to prefer brand new jewellery, and dislike the prospect of someone else having used the pieces before them. But, if you can get over this, you could find yourself a true bargain with an antique purchase.

However, some pieces of antique jewellery may be imperfect and worn, requiring a little bit of TLC. There are plenty of services around the UK that can treat and polish rings to make them look good as new. This could be the ultimate choice for those working to a tight budget.

Have I convinced you to swerve the highstreet and make an antique purchase instead? Let us know in the comments.

By Hollie Jones

Hollie is a freelance writer and co-writer for the Hollie and the Ivy blog. She is passionate about upcycling, interior design, crafts and weddings. Hollie enjoys writing about these topics and spreading her knowledge and experience to others.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise