AnimalStone Jewellery - Cecil The Lion

I don't wear a lot of jewellery, I am not someone who loves to be covered in bling, it just isn't me. I like my jewellery to have a meaning to it and other than my wedding and engagement rings, it is rare that on a day to day basis I would wear much else. I do sometimes wear a bracelet or my earrings if I remember, leaving everything else for special occasions.

AnimalStone is a purveyor of luxury animal-inspired jewellery and is a company who was founded on the principle that animals have shared this planet with us since time immemorial. I absolutely love animals, I have three cats and an aquarium full of tropical fish, my dream would be to have my very own cattery to take care of unloved and unwanted kitties, but for that, I need a very big lottery win. When Delane Cooper and I reconnected over Instagram, it was such a delight to Facetime with her and catch up, I first met Delane many years ago when I started blogging and she has since relocated to Toronto. Delane is an incredible jewellery designer, goldsmith and artist who expresses her creativity by making beautiful pieces that are accompanied by a story for the wearer. So Delane and I had a chat about the piece of jewellery she would make for me, we chatted for quite some time about personal memories, home life, my job, blogging, life, death and of course animals.

After our chat, Delane set about choosing an animal she thought best represented me and arriving a few weeks later came Cecil the Lion who was selected for me because of its meaning:

• Strength
• Personal Power
• Wisdom
• Courage
• Justice

The description which accompanies Cecil the Lion is "May you roar into action knowing that you have the courage to accomplish anything you want. Go beyond the sanctuary, explore the savannah and establish yourself as the peaceful warrior in your world". Explaining why Cecil was chosen Delane said:

When I had asked you your three animals, you selected cat as your answer each time. Though your answer broad but probably meant domestic cat vs the wildcat, I chose our Lion because it resonated with me as to who you are. The personal power you exhibit with every communication you put out into the world is clear and comes through only because of the personal strength you exhibit. 

When you shared the story of your nanny and the neighbour’s cat, I sensed that there is a deep respect and quiet connection with cats that you have. Even a fellow cat lover will never know the personal connection you have with these animals. 

I believe it takes courage to put yourself out there with every post you do to be in the public eye sharing your opinion/recommendations. Just as a lion must go out into the open and claim his territory or a female lion going out for the hunt to supply the pride with food. 

Whether domestic or wild, cats are full of mystery, magic and independence. The domestic cat gets its energy from the night where as the lion represents sun energy and the cycle of power year round.  May you wear Cecil the Lion as a reminder that you possess personal power/strength/courage and may he balance your energies when called upon when you are not able to visit the seashore.

At the time of speaking with Delane over the Facetime, I had no idea she would have listened to so much of what I was said.  When I am feeling stressed and a bit out of kilter with myself, the one place that makes me feel relaxed is anywhere near water - even the bath and I think this is perhaps why I enjoy bathing as much as I do.  I am never more calm than I am when I am near to the sea, just listening to the sea or the waves crashing is an instant soothing experience.  

When I opened the box with the beautifully packaged necklace inside, nothing quite prepares you for seeing something so amazing that has been created for you, it was and still is quite simply breathtaking to see.  The features of Cecil the Lion being so lifelike with every intrinsic detail there to see, the design of the mane, the eyes and even the detail on the paws is incredible.  It is such an honour to be the recipient of something so beautiful and something so meaningful. I love that Cecil is 3D shaped which adds a specialness to the necklace which is so shiny and stands out that I've been asked many times where I got my necklace from and I am always so happy to tell the story of how Cecil came into my life.

Sitting on this beautiful wheat chain, what I love is how wearable this necklace is, whether it is for everyday wear, a special occasion or even just because you feel the need to be wearing him, it works. I love the circle of life clasp which means you can take him from the chain and wear him in other ways - on a bracelet or even a keychain for example.

Whilst I received this as a gift, there are a lot of other animals available and depending on what it is you feel best represents you, some of my favourites include Rex the T-Rex, Kai the Sea Turtle and Mei Yu the Panda Bear all of which can be found here in the store.

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

Phase Zero Makeup Metallic Foils

I have so far, been really impressed with Phase Zero Makeup, the quality has been superb and the prices are purse friendly. Having already reviewed the lipstick collection (here), the build your own Eyeshadow Palette (here) and the liquid eyeshadows (here) I really wasn't too sure how there could be anything better - then the Metallic Foils arrived and O.M.G!! 

The trend right now for metallic eyeshadows, lips and all thing sparkly is quite something and it seems every brand is wanting to cash in and be the best there is out there.  The in walks Phase Zero Makeup and honestly, these are some of the most pigmented shadows I have ever used! Arriving in little pots, I love that they are not on a palette and can be bought singularly or as a set, so you can choose which of the 15 shades work for you.  I was sent 11 of the shades and here they are!

As you can see the pots, which hold 2g of the product have a see-through lid so you can helpfully see which shade it is you might want and the name of each is featured on the bottom. Twisting off the lid, which helps keeps the product at its best, the Metallic Foil has a wet to the touch feel to it and for me, it makes it much easier to apply.  Ideal for using with your finger or even a flat shadow brush, these foils are so pigmented that it is a case of less is more.

These swatches are unedited and they are just in direct sunlight, but each one is done with the slightest touch of my forefinger on the top of the shadow and then swiped quickly across my hand.

• Cigar is best described as being a neutral brown/bronze shade which has a great metallic pay-off. 
• Godmother is best described as being a sparkling silver shade and this is the on shade that I wouldn't use on its own, but instead with another eyeshadow to add a bit of sparkle.
• Star Girl is best described as being a very mild yellow/gold shade with high-shine payoff and it is one of those shades which looks just incredible in the sunlight because it really does sparkle.
• Gold Roses is best described as the perfect rose gold shade and it is one of my favourite shades from the collection because it is just so wearable.
• Army is best described as being a gorgeous khaki shade which has gold sparkly undertones and it is perfect for those of us who like our neutral shades but with a little something extra

These shades are just incredible and what I like is that they can be used on their own, they can be used together and they can be used as a topper for any other shadow you might want to use.

The next four shades, which are just as stunning are again all incredibly pigmented and as above, all swatched with just the lightest of touches.

• Rock Star is a highly pigmented purple shade which would give the perfect violet smoky eye
• Goth Girl is a beautiful deep burgundy which again could be worn on its own or used to create a high drama smoky eye. 
• Dark Knight is another of my favourite shades and it is a rich dark brown shade which has an incredible glitter pay off. 
• Smudge also sits in with one of my favourite shades and it is one I have used quite a lot of. It is a deep golden brown shade which I find works well on its own without the need to use it with or over any other shade.

Again, all of these swatches have been taken outside in natural daylight and haven't been edited to change the shade.

The final two shades from this collection I have are also quite something and if you like an eyeshadow which is on the lighter side but equally beautiful then here we have Princess and Queen.

Again the swatches are done with fingertips and not edited and what I love about these two shades is how beautiful they are.

• Princess is a light subtle pink that works well on its own or with other shades
• Queen is a gorgeous light gold that delivers a touch of sparkle to your eye makeup and again it can be used on its own or with other shades. 

When it comes to applying these shadows, as mentioned they are quite wet, so you only need a small amount.  I find that they apply best using fingers and then blended lightly with a brush. The shade with the most fall out for me so far has been Army, but less so when used with a shadow primer. Longevity with these shades differs, I've found one of the long lasting to be Gold Roses, it is a shade that once applied doesn't budge and it is there for most of the working day, only needing a top up if going out in the evening.

Phase Zero is exclusively available to Love Me Beauty and it works in a similar way to the Beauty Box Subscription. So, for a £5 monthly membership fee, you as the subscriber gain access to the Phase Zero Makeup collection at those much-discounted prices. The brand promises that they will deliver high quality, cruelty-free makeup products that contain luxury formulas but instead of costing exorbitant amounts, you will instead get them at factory prices, for example, retail for £12 but members pay only £3.50. If you don't want to be tied into a contract, then you don't have to be, you can still buy the products for their RRP. If you have never tried Love Me Beauty before or want to try Phase Zero makeup for yourself then I have a unique code which will give everyone £5 off their first purchase and all you have to do is enter the code Rachel5 at the checkout, so essentially it is a free one month trial of what is on offer. If you do take advantage, I would love to know what you buy!

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

Yogi Hair Styling Tools

I hold my hands up to not having come across any hair styling products from Yogi before, so when I was asked if I wanted to give them a try, I said yes without hesitating. Having not heard of them before meant I had a chance to try something without any preconceived ideas and for once it was actually quite refreshing. Yogi products are described as being designed for the discerning customer that demands products to perform as they say they do. Yogi’s founders have over 50 years of experience in the professional hair industry and their aim is to deliver the desired brand at an affordable price which suits all ages.

The people over at Yogi constantly analyze the latest technology and monitor fashion changes to keep the brand focused and with a cutting edge, the latest Yogi innovation is Touch X™. Touch X™ technology incorporates various secret elements targeting professional fast, healthier, less damaged and shinier hair.  This is unique patented technology, delivering unrivalled performance developed by leading scientific engineers.

The first item out of my box is the Yogi Smart Touch 'X' Straightener (£79 here) and it is described as being the next generation of hair straighteners. Surprisingly these straighteners are quite light when holding them and impressively they use Tourmaline/Ionic technology and heat up to 200˚C within 30 seconds and they have a maximum temperature of up to 232˚C. 

What I like is how clearly the temperature is displayed on the digital touch display, if you feel the heat is too much for your hair, then there is an option to lower the temperature. Secondly, they have what is referred to as a Titanium Quadglide Floating Plate and it is the technology behind this plate which allows for the perfect plate-to-hair contact, meaning less damage and much shinier hair.

I have shoulder length hair which is naturally wavy, in humid conditions that wave can become a nightmare to control, so I usually always straighten my hair in a morning and by 6-7pm the wave has started to re-appear, much more controlled than it would ordinarily be. Using these Yogi straighteners, I hadn't expected to find that they would control my natural waves as well as they have done and I also hadn't expected the straightness to last all day long.  The only products I use on my hair is a heat protector spray and afterwards some serum on the loose strands which are too short to straighten but need some control. I can be quite forgetful, I need one of those doormats asking me if I have remembered to turn off my straighteners, with the Yogi Straighteners they have both a sleep mode and an automatic shut off mode after 20 minutes, something I find really helpful when I am in a rush.

I love the sleekness of the design, I love the swivel cord and I love the ease of use. When I use a pair of hair straighteners I don't want to feel like I need a degree in mechanical engineering before using them. I want to be able to separate my hair into sections, switch them on and do my thing. With Yogi, what I have is no fuss, no faff and a product which more than gives those well-known brands a real run for their money.

The second product out of my box is the Yogi Smart TouchX Styler (£59.95 here) and again this uses the same Touch X™ Unique patented technology, delivering unrivalled performance developed by leading scientific engineers.  

This Smart Style is described as being a 10 in 1 multi-featured, heated styling tool and it is said that the Heated Yogi Styler will:

• Volumize 
• Wave 
• Lift 
• Flick 
• Twist, 
• Curl 
• Shape 
• Style 
• De-Frizz 
• Smooth

Impressively this brush heats up from 120 to 200 degrees using Tourmaline/Ionic technology and is suitable for all hair types, so whether you have shorter hair like me or longer hair, it is suitable for us all.  Again, a product which is easy to use and one which features a swivel cord, so there is no need to be dragging the cord. Lightweight to hold, the brush also features a specially designed curved back and the bristles are micro sensitive so they don't scrape the scalp or snag the hair, instead I find that it glides through my without any issue. 

When I use this brush, I also ensure my hair is dry and then I use the styler as I would do any other brush and put it through my hair to ensure that I have some volume at the roots, my hair is de-frizzed and that it is smooth.  What I love is how easy this is to use and it is perfect for use on those days when I don't want to straighten my hair all over again, a few brushes through with this Smart Syler and my hair looks as good as it does once it has been straightened.

Until a few months ago, Yogi Hair styling products had not been on my radar and the joy of blogging is that just sometimes you do come across some incredible products and this is one of those times.  At prices which put high-end brands on notice that there are amazing products at the fraction they charge, if you get the chance, then I would give Yogi a try!

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

Holiday Essentials with Caudalie

It seems that Holiday essentials are a 'thing' right now with many brands putting together some delectable products which make you really want to book a holiday so you can buy them.  Caudalie is one of those brands who have an abundance of amazing products and even if you haven't quite booked that holiday, you can still use them here in Blighty.

Inside the most beautifully packed boxes are three hero products from Caudalie and if you have never ever used anything from the brand, then this box has three products you really need to try.  

Right in the middle is the VinoPerfect Radiance Serum (£46) which happens to be the brand's best seller worldwide with a bottle being sold every 2 minutes. Described as being a MUST BUY product for those who wish to rediscover a radiant, luminous and even complexion and especially good for smokers or those who live in a polluted environment

To be used both morning and evening after cleansing the skin, this serum uses Caudalie's patented ingredient Viniferine which is extracted from vine stalks and is reportedly 62 times more effective than Vitamin C for its free radical protection. It is also said to help clear the complexion and reduce pigmentation, correcting existing dark spots and prevent the appearance of new ones. Vinoperfect is described as being the product which provides antioxidant and anti-ageing action by stimulating elastin and collagen production.  

What I love about this serum is that it not only smells just incredible but it is so lightweight on the skin. It isn't at all heavy and nor is it sticky or tacky to the touch and I love hydrated it makes my skin feel.

Most people will have or should have come across Beauty Elixir (£12) by now. It is Caudalie's hero product and I think this is my 5th or 6th bottle now. Having celebrated its 20th birthday just last year, the Beauty Elixir is paraben free, Vegan and 100% natural. .

Once spritzed this Elixir fills the air with notes of benzoin, myrrh, orange, blossom, grape and rose, all of which work to give your complexion a rosy glow. Add to that astringent rosemary and the stimulating essence of lemon balm and mint and the scent is really quite incredible and it is of course really gentle on the skin. The ingredients coming together to smooths away fine lines tightens pores and gives the complexion an instant boost of radiance, helps calm redness and not forgetting that this product can also be used to set makeup! Quite the multi-tasker in one bottle and one of my other favourite ways to use this Elixir is to moisturise my beauty blenders

Finally is a new product, one I have never tried before and it is The de Vignes Body oil (£18). Described as being a replenishing dry oil for all over use, the striking glass bottle which houses the oil is the first thing to catch my attention. 

Enriched with a blend of grapeseed, Sesame, hibiscus, organic argan and Shea butter, these ingredients come together to keep your body, face, hair and even your nails soft and moisturised.  On the skin it dries pretty quickly, so there is no greasiness on the skin and what makes this oil so incredible to use are the further notes of orange blossom, jasmine and ginger which create such an incredible fresh scent that I almost wish this was a fragrance for the summer or a calming candle for the winter.  

I love that it can be used absolutely everywhere on the body and I love how soothed it leaves my skin feeling.  It's definitely the product you need to have on your dressing table for the summer and even one on your bedside table, desk in the office and one in your suitcase ready!  You can find out more about Caudalie and the rest of the products on offer from the brand right here.

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