GIVEAWAY: £50 Gift Voucher from Wayfair - IT'S OVER!

I have a fantastic giveaway for you - enter using the rafflecopter below to win a £50 voucher to spend at wayfair.co.uk - the online store has a beautiful selection of home decor, accessories and much, much more! The giveaway is UK only.

Here are a few of my favourites:

Geko Vanity Case/Make Up Box

Isabella Cushion

Bali Circle Print Bath Robe

Brooklyn Throw

Hearts Corsage Wall Art


Bold Bouquet Wall Art

Vista Nespresso Capsule Holder

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*wayfair.co.uk has donated this prize to one of my readers - you will receive a voucher from the company to spend as you wish up to a value of £50.

Ermana Natural Skincare: Cleanse Balm & Nurture Body Oil

Ermana Natural Skincare is an exciting new range of skincare and bodycare brought to us by Glasgow based Claire Twigge-Molecey, (a former Fashion & Homeware Buyer) who hand-blends the products in small batches in her kitchen at home in Battlefield, on the south side of the City.

She first started making face oils and balms for herself, family and friends about 10 years ago and decided to go back to college to study anatomy, physiology and skincare.

One of her greatest supporters (apart from her husband James) is her sister Nicola and the brand name comes from the Spanish "hermana" for sister. 

Claire very kindly sent me Cleanse Balm with Grapefruit & Galbanum (60ml - £24)* to test out and review as well as Nurture Body Oil with Neroli, Petigrain & Ylang Ylang (50ml - £28)*. The Cleanse Balm also comes in a handy 15ml travel/try me size (£8).

As well as the products being a delight the packaging is super cute too! The collection is 100% natural, there is no animal testing and products are free from parabens, sulphates, artificial colours and fragrances.

UK based suppliers supply the ingredients and packaging and products should be used within six months of opening.

Cleanse Balm is made with natural Cocoa, Shea and Coconut butters along with Sweet Almond Oil, Beeswax and Essential oils of Grapefruit and Galbanum which restore and tone the skin. The balm deeply cleanses the skin removing daily grime and make up and has a light citrus herbal scent.  To use: massage a small amount of balm in your fingertips before applying to the skin in circular motions over the face and neck. Remove with the super-soft warm damp muslin cloth.

Nurture Body Oil is one of the nicest body oils I've used this year! It is heavenly scented with Neroli, Petigrain and Ylang Ylang and sinks easily into the skin. The plant oils used are full of Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants and Omega Oils making this great for dry skin. The body oil absorbs easily leaving the skin delicately scented and nourished. Love this!

P&P is £3.30 UK First Class, £7.95 UK Special Delivery and International Orders ship at £9.50. If you spend £40 or more shipping is free.

I'll update you as to how I'm getting along with the products. Check out the full range HERE.

*complimentary

AEOS Enriching Spelt Hand Cream

I've been testing out AEOS (Active Energised Organic Skincare's) super luxe Enriching Spelt Hand Cream* (30ml - £83.23). I love how the product is packaged in a hessian bag and chic black pot making it the ideal pampering gift.

The cream has a super light texture, a herbal floral scent and melts easily onto the skin leaving the hands and wrists feeling deeply nourished and soft. It's also one of the most luxurious hand creams I've ever used.

It recently won Natural Health International Beauty Awards (2015) and was a finalist in The Beauty Shortlist Awards (2015).

Enriched with Organic Oils, Hydrosols and biodynamic Spelt Oil which is produced on Shire Farm.  It also contains energies of crystals which can help to rejuvenate damaged hands.

As with all AEOS products a little goes a long way. To use: massage a small amount into hands, wrists, fingers and nail beds massaging until all the cream has been absorbed. Repeat throughout the day as often as needed.

I'm also currently testing the AEOS Optimal Essentials (Blue) Travel Kit* so expect a review soon.  See my review of AEOS Gentle Exfoliant (Blue) HERE*. 

*PR samples

Summer Holidays: Jersey & Paris

We recently spent a week in Jersey and had a mix of super sunny days (and one afternoon of rain!) We went with my mum and dad and had a lovely relaxing break.

We stayed at Handpicked Hotels - L'Horizon Hotel & Spa which is right on the beach at St Brelade's Bay. Each room had a balcony which was great for people watching as well as catching some sun.  A couple of nights of high tides was fun to watch too.

Just along from the hotel was a lovely little shop called Fish n Beads and I picked up some really pretty hand-painted stones (a great little holiday souvenir).

We had a couple of days in St Helier - a lovely town with great duty free shopping!  I loved stopping by Feel Unique (where I bought Chanel's Le Blanc de Chanel) and de Gruchy's for my Tom Ford Scent (link).

On the Tuesday we had a very special lunch at Bohemia Bar & Restaurant which has one Michelin star and the kitchen is run by Steve Smith. The food was simply incredible - some of the best I've ever tasted.  Staff were friendly and chatty but still very professional. Definitely a dining experience I want to repeat!  We decided on the six course surprise tasting menu.  Here are some of my highlights:-

cep - potato - quail egg - sorrel

foie gras cream - sour cherry - duck salad - pistachios

lobster ravioli - sweetcorn - purslane - lobster sauce

our shared cheese selection

We also spent a lot of time on the beach, mainly walking about, a little bit of sunbathing and some time sitting on the hotel terrace with a bottle of wine or two and our kindles!  When the tide was out we walked over to the famous Old Smugglers Inn at Ouaisne Bay.

Jersey Potteries have two restaurants in the bay - CrabShack and Oyster Box and we enjoyed food from both. Sitting outside in the sun at CrabShack was such a simple pleasure!

We also had a trip to Jersey Lavender Farm which was really interesting and informative and we loved feeding the chicks!

We went back to St Helier's for another wander around and stopped by Relish Jersey, a fab deli with amazing grazing platters. 

We had an extra little mini break last week of 2 nights in Paris. I totally fell in love with the City and can't wait to go back. We stayed at Hidden Hotel (Sensation Room) which was really central, just a short hop to the Arc de Triomphe.

Each day we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Lacombe Cafe Parisien (4.1 euros each). Will go back!

Stopping by for some Laduree Macarons was a must as was a visit to Sephora - I had a teeny spend (allowed in my spending ban).

I'm always keen to find roll-on perfumes (which I find harder to source in the UK) so I picked up one in Jimmy Choo (19.20 euros - £13.64) and a couple of Sephora branded bits - I could easily have spent a fortune as the shop was amazing (next time for sure!) The French Pharmacies had loads of cut price Caudalie too!

We found that most of the restaurants we had searched for were closed for the holidays but many were still open. We stopped by Brasserie Lorraine for dinner and shared a delicious Grand Marnier Souffle.

Another food highlight from Brasserie Le Franc Tireur was their yummy gratin savoyard a l'oignon et se croutons (French Onion Soup)

Some snaps from around Paris..

Have you been away on holiday this summer?

Shopping my Stash #64

These are the products I've recently been reaching for:

The Library of Fragrance Salt Air Cologne (15ml) - this came in the Perfume Society's Jet Set Box. I love it's light and fresh sea-side scent. It has notes of sea salt, amber and and musk and it's one I'll definitely buy again.

001 Skincare Rosa Damascena Essence Mist* (30ml - £28) - this product came with me to both Jersey and Paris as it refreshes, rejuvenates and hydrates tired and dull skin. It smells deeply of roses and calms the mood and senses.

Estelle & Thild Sweet Vanilla Blossom Body Oil (100ml - £16.90) - a lush body oil which smells just like Amber said of Chocolate Orange! The scent mellows to a gentle vanilla. It keeps the skin hydrated and smooth.

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm (5ml) - this came as part of a freebie set with Elle mag last month. The balm nourishes dry lips and smells pretty good too! It contains shea butter, pomegrante, rosehip and Vitamin E.

COOLA Cucumber Melon Body Lotion Bar (78g) - I bought this to take on holiday. It's a solid bar of Organic cocoa butter, beeswax, Sweet Almond, Avocado, Jojoba and Vitamin E. It has the scent of summer and it melts on contact with warm skin.  Love the fact that it can be used both on body and face making it a great multi-purpose product.

What have you been reaching for lately?

*PR sample

Weleda Arnica Muscle Soak & Sports Shower Gel

I'm a huge fan of Weleda's Sea Buckthorn range and I especially love their Sea Buckthorn Replenishing Body Lotion. I've also tried their Lavender Body Oil. 

I am simply loving the Arnica Muscle Soak (£12.95 - 200ml)* so much so I'd say it's one of my favourite bath products (ever) and will definitely be replenished! 

An aromatic soak (it contains Rosemary, Lavender and Arnica flowers) which calms and soothes both the body and the senses. It is great for tired limbs after exercise or when you are in need of a boost. Shake before use and add 2-3 capfuls to running bath water.  It's one of my favourite products this year.

Latest launch Arnica Sports Shower Gel (£7.95 - 200ml)* is perfect to use after exercise as it gently cleanses, refreshes and energises the body.  All Weleda products are free from parabens, SLS, mineral oil and all preservatives. 

The Organic Arnica used in these products is grown for Weleda by Duncan Ross biodynamically on his farm on the Black Isle, Scotland.

Have you tried either of these products?  What's your favourite Weleda product?

*PR samples

Spending Ban: Now till 30 December!

My spending on beauty products the last few months has gone out of control so...deep breath...I'm going to go on another Spending Ban. I've got lots of lovely products to use up and test out so I'm not going to be deprived!  I'm aiming to keep to going until the 30 December (I'll be going shopping on the 31st haha). I'll buy necessities or if I run out of anything (that I don't have another/similar product of) I'm allowed to replace it.

I've stocked up on a few things - a pre-order of de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil, my fav Blue Labelle Body Oil with Ylang Ylang & Frankincense and the Estelle & Thild Sweet Vanilla Blossom Body Oil (which featured in my July Naturisimo wishlist).

I tend to buy about 3 monthly magazines and I'll keep doing this as I enjoy keeping up to date with new launches etc. (fingers crossed for a few freebies over the next few months). Just spotted balance me freebies with Marie Claire's September issue.

I've got a wee trip to Paris & London planned so if I see anything I really must have I'm allowed to buy a small item - we are only taking hand luggage so it will be a small item!

I'm also allowed to do my Christmas swap with my friend Julie - we meet before Christmas for lunch and drinks to exchange gifts. I'm also planning a green swap with Megan at Dream & Scheme in the next few months - so I'll get a beauty fix!

I do have a monthly treat in the form of Bloom Perfumery's Yearly Sample Pack Subscription (5 x 1.6ml vials) which I bought in July. See my initial thoughts on July's pack HERE.

I'll let you know what I would have bought on the spur of the moment (and how much monthly I've saved) wants, and more importantly how I'm coping week by week and of course I'll be shopping my stash. I see a big splurge coming on in January!

I've been tempted by:

link

A free Therapi travel set at Content Beauty & Wellbeing with the purchase of 2 full size items.  I'd have gone for the Rose Otto Honey Moisturiser (£30) and Rose Otto Honey Cleanser (£25) - I've used both before and loved them. I'm always swayed by nice GWPs!

I tweeted about the ban way back in July and Paula at Naturally Paula said she'd join in too (she's already started!) as did Ana at Ana Goes Green - moral support is always great!

Wish me luck (I will need it).

Naturisimo Cleanse & Polish Discovery Box

This new discovery box by Naturisimo is their best yet I reckon! Check it out here.

It is jam packed full of wonderful goodies and costs only £9.95 including P&P. I think these are going to fly off the shelves!

So what's inside:

A 15ml of my favourite Skin & Tonic STEAM CLEAN (which is worth £11!) and a full size Organic Skin & Tonic Cotton Cloth (£3.90).  

A full size bar (128g) of John Masters Organics Birch & Cedarwood Cleansing & Shave Bar (£7) which can be used all over the body to cleanse, for shaving and is unisex.

Green People's Fruit Scrub Exfoliator (30ml) which is a generous travel/try me size (approx £7). See my mini review here.

Madara's Brightening AHA Peel Mask (12.5ml) and (worth £5.50) I'm a huge fan of Madara's lovely masks. It removes dead skin cells leaving the skin bright and radiant.

balance me pure skin face wash (50ml - worth £11) huge fan of this already. See my review here.

A 2ml sachet sample of Madara's latest launch the Micellar Water and a voucher code for £5 off full size. This is one of my favourite Micellar Waters as it is super gentle on the skin.

In my opinion - a fabulous box - which is great value for money and is packed full of brilliant products. Do you think you'll pick one up?

*PR sample

I'm Back!

I took last week off the blog as I was on holiday. It was lovely and relaxing and we all had a wonderful time with a few days of glorious sunshine. I'll let you know what I got up to next week. We stayed at L'Horizon Hotel & Spa in St Brelade's Bay, Jersey (hubby and the folks). 

Of course there had to be a bit of shopping...

As the island is duty free it would be rude not to pick up my all time favourite Tom Ford Santal Blush EDP (50ml) which cost £127 instead of £145. See my review here. I picked this up at de Gruchys. (they also gave me some sample vials which we used on holiday).

My second buy (mum treated me) (ever since reading British Beauty Blogger's review I've wanted this) is Chanel's Le Blanc De Chanel - Multi-Use Illuminating Base (30ml) which costs £33 in the UK and £29 in Jersey. I picked it up at Feel Unique (which is a wonderful shop!)  I also got some foundation samples to try and have fallen for Perfection Lumiere Velvet.

Another couple of treats from mum (she also bought a couple and we shared the GWPs).

I'd wanted to get my hands on the Black Honey Clinique Chubby Lash Mascara but they were sold out! So I settled for shade Portly Plum.  The second item is an all time favourite - Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay in Place Eyeliner in Smoke.

Above is my selection of goodies from the GWPs.

Hope you have all had a great week!