*Happy Planet Box - Summer 2020

*giftedbox I was very pleased to try and review the summer edition of the Happy Planet Box* which costs £20 plus p&p). Inside is an array of useful and gorgeous products scented with fruity and zesty scents - the true essence of summer! The eco friendly and sustainable contents which are carefully curated will make any green beauty lover very happy indeed. I think the contents are just great - useful as well as being in the treat category. Inside the box is a very handy information sheet which contains information about the products and the makers.

So now for a closer look..

From Heavenly Organics is their Organic Orange & Grapefruit Face Oil (£10.50 - 50ml) which is a very summery addition to the box. It's scented with zesty Organic Orange & Grapefruit Oils (this is summer in a bottle!). Formulated with a blend of sunflower and jojoba which provides your skin with natural antioxidant Vitamin A and E. It'll also help with cell regeneration, reduce large pores, firm and hydrate. This is lovely - expect a review soon. Glass bottle packaging is easily recyclable or re-usable (I received their foot balm in my one-off The Natural Beauty Box - see HERE). It's definitely a brand I'd like to explore more.

I'd first tried Cosy Cottage via my June 2018 Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box so it was nice to revisit. The texture of the Mango & Lemon Foot Balm 30ml (£7) seems to have been reformulated since I last used it as I found it smooth and silky. This is a beautiful foot balm which has a lovely fruity and zesty scent (makes a nice change from the usual peppermint!). LOVE! (again easily recyclable/reusable glass jar).

The next two products (which are new to me brands) are designed to be used together - Suma's Alter/Native Handmade Grapefruit & Mandarin Soap (£2.50 - 95g) which has a zesty fragrance which refreshes the skin. The bar is infused with calendula petals which soothe. The soap is 100% natural and palm oil free. The box is easily recyclable. 

Use it with zero-waste friendly Naturally Evergreen's Exfoliating Soap Bag (£4) a really clever invention! Pop your soap in the bag and use in the bath or shower for an exfoliating treat. It's also perfect for holding all the little end pieces of soap (you always seem to be left with - with this bag you'll use up every last drop!)

The final item are 3 x single use plastic free fairtrade Clipper Teas Organic Pure Green Tea which bring a moment of calm to a busy life. 

So there you have it, a great SUMMER box. Sign up HERE (I'll definitely be checking out the AUTUMN Happy Planet Box when it launches as I've really loved the carefully curated contents within SUMMER). Are you a subscriber?

January: Lately I've been Loving

Here's the things I've been loving in January:

I'm absolutely obsessed with Clipper's Organic Indian Chai Tea. I like it with a splash of milk. A spicy, aromatic and warming drink.

Staying on the tea front I stocked up on the best green tea I've found - Sencha Green from Bellevue Tea. See my review HERE. It was nice also to get a few samples to try - I may find another favourite!

I picked this Aromatherapy Associates set up in the 50% off sale. Huge fan of these lovely bath and shower oils.  Love the cute packaging too!

I've been enjoying Maddi Alexander's Mistletoe Kisses diffuser*. It's really gorgeous. See my review HERE. I'd definitely be tempted to pick a few up for presents as it's absolutely exquisite. You can also buy Serene Floral Diffuser - see HERE which has notes of Lavender and Geranium and I think there may be a rose one for Valentines Day.

I know I'm on a diet but these biscuits and sweets from Crabtree & Evelyn are just divine! The biscuits are lightly dusted with crystalised rose petals - yum!

Glasgow based Mobros, a living wage employer makes gorgeous soya wax candles in delicious scents. I'm currently loving Black Pomegranate and Black Raspberry and Vanilla.

My pal Julie gave me this lush Oskia Renaissance Hand Cream (which I've lusted after for ages) for Christmas. It's really luxurious and scented with rose. It keeps my my hands supersoft and nourished.

My Honey Tree Publishing The Stationery Lovers Box arrived at the beginning of the week and it's stuffed full of wonderful things which are beautiful as well as useful.

The Holborn magazine which celebrates a well made life which I came across via twitter - I picked up issue 1 and issue 4 - from these I loved - issue 1 (High Holborn Pub Stroll, The Jim Dandy cocktail recipe, The Art of Writing and Ten Lessons from a Maker).

And from bumper issue 4 (oh so many - The Duppy Share, A Pub Stroll: New York (there is a pub which only sells own brewed light or dark beer!), a cocktail using Gosnells Mead (which I sampled at Maltby St Market in October), Tinder is the Night, Hackney Downs Studios, The London Artisan Market, Trevor's Tale, The Scent of Floris, You got Any Pie On Ya? and Mast Brothers Chocolate Makers. Have loved reading these mags and know I'll go back to them again and again...and try out the cocktail recipes! I definitely think a subscription is on the cards.

What have you been loving this month?

*PR sample