Image Skincare

One thing I love about blogging is finding new products, new brands, new favourites and you know what, it is even fun finding the not so favourites but then rediscovering them and wondering why you didn't love them the first time around.

Image Skincare is a brand I've been getting to know for some months, a brand who describes themselves as being:

a clinical skincare brand, powered by safe, proven ingredients and smart botanicals - for your healthiest skin... ever. Created by an aesthetician, formulated by a plastic surgeon, and represented by a network of 20,000 skincare professionals in over 52 countries worldwide.

Understanding your skin is, in my opinion, important. There is absolutely no point spending hundreds of your hard earned cash on something that isn't going to do anything for you and part of this is learning.  So, ive been using three products from the Image skincare range.

The first product was the i-mask biomolecular hydrating recovery mask which is a really thin hydrogel mask which feels absolutely incredible on the skin, almost like a second skin. Harnessing the very latest in Korean skincare technologies this moisture-rich, the mask contains what is referred to as an advanced concentration of ultra-hydrating ingredients such as Jeju Volcanic Oxygen Water and Onsen Sui Mineral Charges Water, ginseng root extract, amino acids and antioxidants which work to rescue dull, dry skin.

having just had one of the hottest few weeks I can remember, working a lot of overtime at work, coming home to try this mask, of which I purchased a few more, has been just heaven.  Cooling on the skin, there isn't much of a scent to the mask, but after laying down with the mask on your skin for around half an hour, once removed, my skin was so soft, smooth and plump. One of the most hydrating masks I have used for some time.

The second product is the Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum. Described as being a  multi-action, anti-aging facial serum using the new technology of oil-soluble Vitamin C. 

Formulated with Vitamins A, E, as well as highly potent anti-oxidants hyaluronic acid and green tea and meadowsweet which are both anti-inflammatories, this hydrating serum rejuvenates dull, dry, tired skin and minimizes and smooths visible effects of stress and fatigue.  With a pump action bottle, one pump is enough for the entire face and neck and it is not greasy or tacky but it does smell just absolutely incredible of citrus which is a delight to use. The serum, which is more like a cream, disappears into the skin on contact and it is perfect for using after cleansing in a morning. 

The final item from the Image Skincare collection ive been using is the Iluma Intense brightening exfoliating powder which I was really curious about. Described as being a unique but luxurious exfoliating powder which gently cleanses the skin.

I had expected this powder to be quite abrasive, but it is infact quite finely milled, but it still does an incredible job to remove debris and oil from the surface of the skin. Shaking a small amount onto wet palms, it is activated as soon as the hands are rubbed together to create a light foam. At this point, you massage the foam onto the skin, whilst avoiding the eye area.  I also mix it in with my cleanser when I feel my skin needs a little more TLC. Using ingredients such as Coconut Milk Powder which is rich in protein and vitamins, Pumpkin Enzyme which provides gentle exfoliation and is great for buffing away dead skin cells and impurities while at the same time delivering vitamins and nutrients to the skin, licorice extract, which is a natural skin lightener and Green Tea Left Extract which has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Without question, the Iluma Exfoliating Powder is my favourite of the three products and I love how silky smooth my skin is after use and just how good a job it does at removing all kinds of nasties from my skin.

For me, this has been a great introduction to Image skincare, it is worth noting that: 

• None of the products are tested on animals 
• No petrochemicals 
• No chemical preservatives 
• Fragrance composed with 100% essential oils 
• No parabens

So there is something for everyone within each one of these ranges and I love that you can search for a product via your skincare concern.






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

Jasmine & White Frangipani Body, Room and Linen Spritz

I have a growing obsession with The Body Shop right now, it has been years since I have ventured into a store but just recently they have really caught my attention with the Banana range but whilst browsing instore, I came across the home fragrance section and had to hold myself back from not purchasing the entire range of candles and room sprays!  I love room sprays and my dream is to have the Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Spray in my house, but in the meantime, this one will do.

The one scent I was definitely not leaving without, as well as most of the Banana range, was this Jasmine & White Frangipani Body, Room and Linen Spritz which is just beautiful.

Described as being a multipurpose spritz it can be used around the house, on the body or even on fresh linen to give it that little extra scent.   I absolutely love the scent of Jasmine and a lot of my favourite scents contain Jasmine as one of the notes.   What I love about this scent is how beautifully floral it is.  It uses Ylang Ylang and Cassis to provide the initial scent of the fragrance, so with this, you get a fruity scent from the Cassis which is almost blackcurrant but then the Ylang Ylang which brings in some floral tones.  However, for me, it is both Tuberose and Frangipani which are the dominant notes and work so well alongside the inclusion of Community Trade Organic Honey.

I use this spray in the lounge and in the bedroom daily and if I spritz it in the morning, by the time i get home from work, the scent still lingers which means it lasts for around 9 hours, much longer than other room sprays that I have tried.  I have also used it on freshly laundered towels as I hang them out to dry and the scent settles so well on them.  The only way I haven't used this spray is as a body spray.

For a 100ml bottle, this Jasmine & White Frangipani Body, Room and Linen Spritz retails for £7 and there are other scents available such as Pomegranate and Raspberry, Aloe and Soft Linen, Mandarin and Tangelo plus Green Tea and Lemon.

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

Infini Roses - The Real Roses which last a year

I absolutely love having fresh flowers at home, they brighten up the smallest of places and create the most amazing natural fragrances but the downside is, at best they only last for 7-10 days maximum. Some of my favourite flowers I choose for the scent - Sunflowers, Peonies and Roses for example, everything I grow in the garden alongside various tomato plants, another scent I just adore. The downside to flowers as well as how long they last is the cost, it can become quite an expensive to keep buying flowers, so what if I said there was a box of roses that you could purchase that could last an entire year? 

Infini Roses are a UK based retailer which specialise in real roses that last a whole year. All of their roses are picked at the point of perfection and naturally preserved to last for at least one year. 

At INFINI, we value quality and design above all else. Our team works passionately to provide unique and trending floral products without compromise. We also know that time is precious, so we made shopping simple. With an extensive range of styles and colours, you are bound to find what you need all in one place.

I was given the chance to try some of these roses for myself and with over 20 different shades of rose to choose from, the hardest part was that decision. In the end, I opted for the Classic Cube Box in black and it contains 9 real roses. Each rose undergoes an intricate and eco-friendly process to preserve the quality and beauty of the petals while living much longer than your average high street rose. I opted for the Aqua Marine shade of rose and it is just so stunning, as soon as I opened the package I was wowed by how vibrant the blue is against the black box.

With prices starting at £79 for a box collection, prices rise depending upon what it is you are looking for and likewise the boxes and roses are available in different sizes, shapes, finishes and with it comes the ability to ship worldwide.

I have had my roses for just under 2 weeks and given the heat we have just had, they have kept their shape, they haven't drooped or faded either, they look just fantastic. If like me you are not too green fingered and like easy flowers, then these Infini Roses are perfect because you don't need to trim the bottom, you don't need to water them, your only challenge is to keep them out of direct sunlight and high humidity.

These roses are just absolutely stunning and make such an incredible gift and if you love roses as much as I do, they also save you a whole lot of money over the year!

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

Discovering Tuscany

The weather right here in the UK currently is just stunning. It is the weather we all moan we want, but when it arrives we dream of living in the freezers of Asda to cool down. Secretly joyous that I am not abroad in Spain or Portugal like my work colleagues who cheerily went off for their Summer holiday assuming Blightly would just thrash us with rain and storms.

That said, those of us who haven't yet departed for the sunnier climates have been discussing where in the world we would like to visit.  The most surprising place being Italy that we all agreed we would love to revisit. One colleague hails from Italy and his parents run a hotel in Porto Ercole.  For me, I am drawn to Tuscany and there is so much choice when it comes to Tuscan holiday rentals that it caused a debate in the office as to which would be the most relaxing.

Photo Credit - LuxuryRetreates.com

With its capital of Florence, a place from which my Grandmother was named, Tuscany is perhaps best known for its landscapes, traditions, history and of course its artistic legacy. What attracts me to this part of the world, other than for the fine wine and pasta is the culture and there are so many things I want to see and do.

I have a weird fascination with churches and graveyards and can spend hours just wandering around looking at the architecture and one building that really does capture my attention is the dome that covers the Florence cathedral (the church of Santa Maria del Fiore) is known as Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome. Described as being one of the most iconic sites across Florence due to the red-tiled cupola which can be seen dominating the skyline.

Photo Credit - Florence Inferno

Inside the Dome, it is just as stunning and painted back in 1572 by Giorgio Vasari and it is said the best place to truly take everything in, is to climb to 463 steps right up to the interior of the dome.

If you are a fan of James Bond, then Siena is the place to visit because there are some scenes from The Quantum of Solace you might recognise.  For me, the draw is the Medieval connection which sees the layout of the Piazza look almost like an outdoor theatre. Equally, if it is medieval brick buildings as well romanesque-gothic cathedrals that you are looking for then Siena has it all.  

Image Credit - OperaDuomo

Inside the Duomo in Siena is a Library, the Piccolomini Library and if that isn't kooky enough for you, the Cathedral which holds work by Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo, has an exterior and interior which are decorated in white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, black and white being the symbolic colours of Siena.

Then there is Pisa, the one place in Italy I have been too and it was long before my days of blogging and social media. Pisa is, of course, best known for its iconic Leaning Tower and it was only when I visited that I learnt that the tower was already tilting when it was completed in 1372. Standing in front of the tower is quite something and as well as being a place to take some funny photographs, which you only have Google, you can also climb the steps inside, which I did. 

Image Credit - Discover Tuscany

It is at the midway point whilst climbing the 284ish steps that you appreciate just how much it leans. The steps are quite narrow and if heights and small spaces are not your thing, then this most definitely will not be either. But, once you get to the top of the tower the view is quite something as you can see right across Pisa and into the surrounding hills.  Whilst I was in Pisa, I also spent some time in both the Cathedral and the Baptistery but whilst wandering we also came across a cemetery known locally as Camposanto Monumentale and it was quite by accident that we stumbled across it. Referred to as the Holy Land it is said that the cemetery had been built upon the soil brought from Golgotha, which, if you know anything about religion and the Bible, is the site reputed to be located right outside the walls of Jerusalem, where the Christ was crucified. However, more fascinating than that and perhaps something I will never forget is a local tour guide who told us that the legend has it that at this burial ground it is claimed that anybody buried in it will dissolve in only 24 hours. Now I don't know whether or not this is true, but it is a piece of information that I have never forgotten in over ten years!

As much as love the history, the culture and the cathedrals to look round, for me, a holiday is all about the sea. I've made no secret of the fact that I am at my calmest when I am beside the sea, perhaps there is some truth in being ruled by your star sign (Cancerian by the way) especially as I am a water sign.  Tuscany is said to have over 19 beaches and with it come some of the most beautiful seasides I've seen in a long time and places such as Viareggio which also boasts one of the biggest carnivals in Italy, Livorno which doubles up as a Port or Portoferraio but for me it would have to be Orbetello which is located in the middle of the lagoon and it is currently where one of my friends is spending the next 15 days and her Instagram updates are incredible. Said to be geographically unique, Orbetello is famous for its long beaches and beautiful bay, so whether you want white sand or beach dunes, there is a beach to suit absolutely everyone. 

So whether you have been on holiday, are going on holiday or can't decide whether to holiday or not, I would love to know if Tuscany has ever featured in your places to visit or want to visit list.

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