*UK Giveaway: Bare & Bond Subscription Box + your chance to get your 1st Subscription box FREE (pay p&p) - It's Over!

 This is the first giveaway I've run in a long, long time! I've got a fantastic prize for one of my UK readers - you can win one of Bare & Bond's subscription boxes (one month which is worth £14.95). Read on, to find out how you can win....

Inside the box you'll find an 8.5ml spray bottle of Wash me in the Water EdP from niche Perfumer, Sarah McCartney of 4160Tuesdays. The boxes are beautifully presented (and letterbox friendly). You can read my thoughts on this actual box HERE (the outer box design has changed since then, but the subscription is just as incredible).

If you're not the lucky winner, I've got an incredible offer for you - get your first box for FREE, yes, that's right - all you need to do is pay for P&P (£3.50). Use this LINK and enter code BEAUTYBALM. 

To enter the UK Giveaway please enter via the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Products 2020: January to April

Products marked * I was kindly gifted for review. I normally do a top products twice a year. Seeing as things are different right now I'm doing quarterly instead (catch my first book quarter in May!) I've tried a lot of amazing products during this period and these are my top 15:

I've fallen head over heels for BYBI Beauty Boosters, I'm slowly working my way through the whole range. I highly rate Strawberry, CBD and Bakuchiol. See my reviews HERE and HERE.

I first tried Odylique's Award Winning Gentle Herb Shampoo* years ago and couldn't get on with the low foam. They very kindly sent me it again recently and I fell in love! See my review HERE.

Savon Stories Lotion Melt in Neroli, Mandarin & Lavender. A true bar of goodness. See my review HERE.

I fell head-over-heels for Zara's Perfume Collab with Jo Malone. The range is simply stunning and I can't wait to try more (there is now a sample set of the whole range and candles). See my review HERE.

I stumbled across Plenaire and Rose Jelly Gentle Make Up Remover was calling my name. See my review HERE.

I fell in love with this aromatic pot of goodness from Old Faithful. Their Makers' Balm Hand Balm is a true delight. See my review HERE.

I absolutely adore these beauties from Pure Anada at Live in the Light. They really do work - think glossy, shiny and cared for hair. See my review of Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner Bars* HERE.

REN's Bio Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil* which you can pick up at Love Lula. My skin loves this Beauty Editor's favourite for glowy, plumped and smooth skin. See my review HERE.

Although quite pricey, this is a natural deodorant I'd buy again. I was kindly gifted JOIK's Lemon & Geranium Natural Mineral Deodorant* via the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program for review. It's now one of my favourite natural deos. See my review HERE.

REN's Citrus Limonum Hand Wash* has a beautiful lemon scent and gently cleanses the hands. See my review HERE. It's one I'll definitely replenish.

I fell head over heels for Croatian inspired Saint Iris Adriatica when I tried the range recently. I was very kindly gifted mini saints of Vitality Spritz* and Wake-up Droplets* which were my favourites in the range. See my review HERE.

I love Evolve's range - hard working with simple but stylish recyclable packaging. My skin has been loving their Liquid Radiance Glycolic Toner*. See my review HERE.

I love this smokey and woody perfume by ALLSAINTS - Incense City EdP which I picked up recently at Feel Unique. See my review HERE.

Bare & Bond Fragrance Subscription* is the perfect and innovative way to try a new perfume every month for a very affordable £14.95 for 8.5ml. 

See my reviews HERE* and HERE.

Rounding up my Top Products 2020 for the January to April period is my gorgeous Ffern Organic Small Batch Perfume for Spring 20. See my review HERE.

Do we share any favourites?

*Bare & Bond Perfume Subscription: Ruth Mastenbroek Signature EdP

*gifted by Bare & Bond for review - I dipped my toes into a Bare & Bond Perfume Subscription back in January (see HERE). I love the thought of a new perfume every month! Each month you'll received an 8.5ml bottle of EdP for £14.95, which includes p&p. It'll come in a beautifully designed letterbox friendly box (designed by a different artist each quarter). Oh, and over Bank Holiday weekend (this weekend) there's 25% off all single bottles - see more details HERE).

Isn't that box just gorgeous! This month it's designed by Karen David and was inspired by the perfumer and nose, Ruth Mastenbroek. As ever, upon opening the box it give great pleasure (it's the little things).

Inside is a thank you note from Frankee (which I think is a nice touch) along with a card about the nose and perfume plus one about the box designer too.

Ruth Mastenbroek is founder and nose of Ruth Mastenbroek Fragrances. She created perfumes for other brands before setting up on her own. All her perfumes are expertly crafted and hand poured in England. You can buy her perfumes online and instore at Fortnum & Masons and Fenwick of Bond Street. 

Inside April's perfume subscription box is Ruth's stunning Signature scent which was the fragrance that launched her own micro-perfumery. "Its inspirations came from Ruth's own journey through life...discovering rose gardens in England, salty sea air in the Netherlands, flowers and oils in France, and the manicured zen gardens in Japan". Signature EdP is part of the CHYPRE family and can be dressed up or down, is suitable for any occasion day or night (Ruth suggests wearing it when you need to "channel your most confident, best self").

As a CHYPRE it's characterised by the 4 key pillars of bergamot, rose, patchouli and oakmoss which Ruth has combined with top notes of blackcurrant and pink peppercorn making it a classic CHYPRE with a twist!

It's an absolutely stunning floral scent with fruit notes and a spicy woody base. 

Top: bergamot, pineapple, blackcurrant, pink peppercorn

Heart: Rose, Jasmine, Lily

Base: Patchouli, Oakmoss, Sandalwood

Are you a Bare & Bond Perfume Subscriber? Sign up HERE.

February: Lately I've been Loving

Here's what I've been loving in February:

Feel Unique's newish Beauty Kit (5 deluxe samples for £12 plus £3.95 p&p) the p&p is refunded as a code to be redeemed against your next purchase. See my initial thoughts HERE. I'm looking forward to picking more treats in March.

A new monthly perfume subscription from Bare&Bond - see my review HERE.

My first G&T after Dry January! I chose Barra Gin, which was delicious. We also enjoyed a lovely three course lunch at Castle Terrace Restaurant.

Carrot - Caramelised Walnut - Goats Cheese

Lamb - Polenta a la Provencal

Chocolate & Pear Tart

We also had amuse bouche, pre-starter and petit fours. Can't wait to go back! The food was excellent and the service impeccable.

Sampling Jeffrey's Tonic Syrup which was something I picked up for dry January. Delicious poured into sparkling water for a delicious alternative to alcohol. You can also use the tonic syrups for cocktails/in Prosecco. 

Christmas dinner in February! We always buy a turkey incase the weather prevents us from visiting family over Christmas and it's become tradition eat it in February now! It was delicious.

Having loved Simone St James's novel The Broken Girls I couldn't wait for her latest book The Sun Down Motel which is absolutely brilliant.

What have you been loving this month?

Bare & Bond Perfume Subscription: Wash me in The Water - January

Squeals - much excitement when I spotted a perfume subscription over on Stephan's Instagram. Interest piqued, I popped over to Bare & Bond and signed up! (it costs a very affordable £14.95 a month for an 8.5ml spray bottle of EdP including p&p). 

Each quarter, founder Frankee collabs with a new Perfumer. For the Winter Edition that perfumer was the one and only, Sarah McCartney from fabulous 4160Tuesdays (I'm already a fan having had their amazing Advent Calendar in 2015 and sample buys HERE plus other picks like London 1969 and #MrsGlossMadeMeDoIt, to name a few).

Your parcel will arrive in a letterbox friendly box (Yah!) which this Quarter has been illustrated by Bokani Tshidzu (it's stunning). It feels like a real treat upon opening it. Nestled inside is a thank you note from Frankee and an information card about that month's perfume (December's perfume was Captured by Candlelight, alternative January's Take me to the River and February's will be Red Queen).

The perfume is simply stunning - it has watery and grassy fresh herbal notes and is a blend of Frankincense, Rosemary, Mint, Water and Grass. If however you find not every perfume is for you each month Frankee cleverly includes a little friend box every 3 months so you can pass on perfumes which your friend(s) may adore.

If you're tempted - sign up HERE.