Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box: Meditate: March 2020

It's always an exciting day when my Bi-Monthly Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box lands! This month the theme is #Meditate and inside are five fabulous products to help you calm down and relax (and in this climate a bar of soap is very welcome!!) From the five brands, two are new-to-me and three I've tried before and loved their products. 

The contents of the box smelled gorgeous even before I opened it up! Really excited to try everything out.

And for a closer look:

Refresh Tea & Soap Co is totally new to me. Inside is their zzz-Zone Out Bath Bar (£12 - 125g). This smells glorious and contains purple tea along with woodsy and citrus notes. Looking forward to trying it out.

From Skin Alchemist Apothecary we have a dinky (50g) Sweet Dreams Intensive Skin Treatment (£15) which is an indulgent treat. Light the candle, letting the gentle perfume soothe you before blowing it out and pouring the rich and luxurious blend over your skin for a pampering massage (you can also pour the warm wax into your bathwater to create "an ultimate home spa" experience).

A second new to me brand in the form of Om Shanti Alchemy and inside the box is their FIRE Meditation Oil (10ml - £8) which comes with a free Fire Meditation to download. This is simply stunning (it contains my fav neroli along with sandalwood and mandarin) and is infused with reiki to ignite your inner fire during meditation practice. It also works as a daily support during the winter months. 

I was first introduced to helpmeorganics via this box and the brand is really lovely. Inside this month is their helpme have a mindful of calm - room spray (50ml - £9) which is a gorgeous relaxing and calming blend of frankincense, geranium bourbon and lavender.  One spray and you're in heaven!

The final item is by a brand I know well Blue Labelle (I'm actually hoping to meet founder Pascale in the summer at the shop!) Her Argan & Sea Buckthorn Facial Oil (10ml - £7.50) is an absolute delight. See my review HERE.

It's a fabulous box for me in March (I'm never disappointed with my Skin Organics box) - sign up HERE. Are you a subscriber?  What did you think of the contents this month? (A subscription costs £25 plus p&p every two months).

*Blog Tour: Her Husband's Mistake by Sheila O'Flanagan

*I was very kindly gifted a copy of Sheila O'Flanagan's latest novel Her Husband's Mistake to enable me to take part in the blog tour.

Should a woman be ready to forgive and forget to save her marriage? Roxy's not so sure... The riveting new novel from No. 1 bestselling author Sheila O'Flanagan. Perfect for readers of Marian Keyes and Kerry Fisher.

Roxy's marriage has always been rock solid.

After twenty years, and with two carefree kids, she and Dave are still the perfect couple.

Until the day she comes home unexpectedly, and finds Dave in bed with their attractive, single neighbour.

Suddenly Roxy isn't sure about anything - her past, the business she's taken over from her dad, or what her family's future might be. She's spent so long caring about everyone else that she's forgotten what she actually wants. But something has changed. And Roxy has a decision to make.

Whether it's with Dave, or without him, it's time for Roxy to start living for herself . . .

My thoughts?

I absolutely loved this absorbing read and was always rooting for Roxy! 

It's not long since her dad died and during the period of his illness she'd taken over his chauffeuring firm driving clients around town and to the airport while also being there for her mum. It's actually something she's loathe to give up as she feels it brings her closer to her dad and gives her a touch of independence as well as bringing in some extra cash.

She's got the perfect life, or pretty near to perfect. She's married to childhood sweetheart, Dave and has two wonderful kids and a beautiful home. One day coming home early she finds her husband in bed with the next door neighbour...

What follows apart from tears, sadness and rage is that Roxy finds herself and realises she's got to do what makes "her" happy rather than others. I loved the characters and storylines and I highly recommend the book.

Feel Unique: Pick 'n' Mix

I dip in an out of Feel Unique's Pick 'n' Mix which you can pick up once a month. It costs £3.95 which comes back to you as a code to use against a future purchase - so essentially your samples are free!

This month I chose:

Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules - Daily Youth Restoring Serum (7)

La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum 1.5ml sachet

Laboratoires Filorga Flash Nude Fluid Tinted Fluid sachet

Huda Beauty Wishful Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub 3ml

Maison Margiela Replica Springtime in the Park EdT sample vial

I'll let you know my thoughts in a empties post (the perfume is perfect for Spring!)

Beauty Pie Buys: February & March 2020

I skipped ordering in January and placed an order straight away at the end of February. I had another order in March and now I'm putting my membership on hold for a while. I have so much to use up and only one face! I'm likely to rejoin at the end of summer on a yearly membership basis as there are some staples in my stash I'm likely to want to replenish (I was on £15 membership which gives you a £150 spend monthly). See membership options HERE.

I chose Everyday Great Skin Foundation 30ml in Shade 100 (someone on one of the groups said they used Armani Luminous silk 4.5 (which is my shade) and that they use this Beauty Pie one. So far so good (I normally pick up 150 Shell). Members Price - £7.82 (typical price £30).

The perfume sampler (£5.28) (typical price £6) I got for my friend Magi and I picked up two lipsticks. The Fantasticolour Sculpting Lipstick in Apple Bottom (£3.76) (typical price £18) is not what I was expecting at all. It's more a red than the coral-pink it's described to be. My second pick is Futurelipstick Luxe Shine in Naked Pink (£6.07) (typical price £25) which is a pink toned nude and gorgeous!

My second order:

I picked two lipsticks I currently use and love Futurelipstick Luxe Shine in Dusky Rose (£6.29) (typical price £25) and Fantasticolour Sculpting Lipstick in Guilty Pink (£3.79) (typical price £18) My third pick was Footopia, the new foot and heel cream (£5.05) (typical price £20).

What are your must-haves from Beauty Pie?

Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020: My top picks

I was over-the-moon and then some when Fiona at The Beauty Shortlist asked me to be a judge again this year for The Beauty Shortlist Awards. This year, is the 10th Anniversary of the Awards which now include Wellbeing products (this was introduced last year). You can see my top picks from 2019 HERE and 2018 HERE.

Today I'll be sharing with you my top picks from the products I judged (the winners were announced a week ago today (see HERE) - Winners, Finalists, Editor's Choice and Commended (From browsing the winners I've discovered there are lots of interesting brands out there, which I've never heard of before and I've bookmarked them to look at later).

I absolutely adored Desavery - the products really made my heart sing and such gorgeous packaging. STELLAR Daily Serum was my absolute favourite. I loved its life affirming bergamot scent - I've just finished this and want to cry! An amazing product which I'm replenishing next pay day! Stellar won a Commended Award. SMOOTH Hyaluronic Acid with Clary Sage & Bergamot was a Finalist for Best Aromatherapy Product and SWEET Mood Remedy, a Finalist award for Best Aromatherapy Product - Self Care/Mood. It really does make you feel better and smile if you are feeling grumpy/down. Absolutely one of the best brands I've tried all year. 

I was so thrilled to see Five Dot Botanics scoop awards for the whole range. I first tried this beautiful brand last year and you can see my review of Editor's Choice Winner Deep Feed Nourishing Facial Serum HERE. Daily Prep Protecting Face Oil, Full Bright Renewal Eye Serum and Pure Rewind Restorative Mask received Editor's Choice Awards while their Brighten Up Balancing Mist received a Finalist Award in the new category of Best Face Mist. I'm planning to review the range on the blog so look out for that post!

I loved everything about Mawena's exquisite Rose Papaya Gel Balm Glowing Cleanser which won a Best Cleansing Gel Award. I adored the simple but special packaging and the product was an absolute delight. 

A Florence Skincare's Balm-to-Milk Cleanser+Make Up Remover didn't win an award this year but as I loved it so much I felt it had to feature in my top picks. 

Scandinavian Eleni & Chris was a total new to me brand and I loved their Cleansing Oil which was a Finalist in Best Cleansing Oils. This is my to-go-to for my evening cleanse. I also loved their Chromin ColorPro Shampoo & Conditioner which won Best Shampoo & Conditioner for Colour Treated Hair.

I'm already a huge fan of Oskia so I was delighted to see them pick up so many awards. I was very happy to try their Renaissance Mask again which picked up Best Face Mask - All Skin Types (I reviewed it way back in 2012 - see HERE). I really enjoyed trying new to me products - Retinol Sleep Serum Level 2 which won Best Retinol Serum and Liquid Mask Lactic Acid Micro Peel, which won Best Face Mask. Another old fav Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum won Best Eye Serum.

I loved easy to take (and a company that gives back) Together Health which won Best Health Brand and Best Give Back Brand. They also received Wellbeing Editor's Choice Awards and their Gentle Iron Complex with B Vitamins was a finalist in Best Iron Supplements. It's a brand I'll definitely pick up.

Elemental Herbology won Best UK Natural Brand. I loved their Body Essentials Hand Nutrition which won Best Intensive Therapy Hand Nutrition. I also really rated their effective and luxurious Age Support Bio Cellular Matrix which won Best Facial Serum.

Dr Lipp's The Lip Expert Colour Tints - 3 shades won Best Tinted Lip Balm. They are the perfect size to pop in your pocket for a pop of colour and moisture on the go. Lamia biocosmetica, a new to me brand won a Finalist Award in the Best Cleansing Gel category for their Oleogel Facial Cleanser. This came beautifully presented in an eco-friendly box with a small cloth.

I discovered Danish brand, Ecooking last year as a Latest in Beauty pick I was thrilled to bits to see them pick up a range of awards - so well deserved. Their easy to use Self-Tanning Drops won Best Self-Tanner (drops). I also fell head-over-heels for their best selling and now Best Foot Cream winner for their Overnight Foot Cream - which smells incredible and is really, really effective - you honestly wake up with soft and smooth feet!

New to me brand Flow Cosmetics is simply amazing! I squealed a lot when I spotted this new to me brand inside one of my boxes - I love its simple but gorgeous packaging. I loved their Hyaluron & Probiotics Deep Moisture Serum which picked up a Finalist Awards in the Best Probiotic Based Serum Category. A review will follow for this, it's seriously lush!

Omorovicza's very special Queen of Hungary Mist won Best Face Mist I love the super fine mist which takes toning/refreshing the skin to another level. Any excuse to pop in Desavery again! This duo picked up Finalist Award - you can see my comments on them further up the page. I really enjoyed trying Bea Skincare's Solar Defence SPF50 Spray which picked up a Finalist Award in Best SPF - Face.

 Picking up Editor's Choice Awards were: the lovely and effective Bee Good for their Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cleanser which makes short work of make up and daily grime and smells amazing. From Institut Esthederm I thought both their Excellage Contour des Yeux and Intensive Hyaluronic Serum were fantastic (it's a brand I've always heard about but never got round to trying). Lovely Kiss the Moon won a host of awards - I'm already a huge fan of this luxurious brand. Their GLOW After Dark Face Polish is a decadent treat!

German, Janssen Cosmetics (another new to me brand) I enjoyed their effective Detox Cream.  I also really liked trying Vitamin Infusion Vitamin A Night Shift Repair Cream. Reviews to come!

I absolutely loved Face Matters Face Food Serum (although I thought the packaging was a bit basic for the price point). The lemon scented oil was an absolute delight. It was also good to see Ecooking pick up more awards for their Moisturizing Mask, 24 hr Cream and Super Serum.

Eleni & Chris's Anti-Aging Eye Gel was nice to use with a gel like texture. I also loved Elemental Herbology's Water Soothe Face Oil.

Editor's Choice - GLOW After Dark Face Polish

Editor's Choice - DREAM After Dark Face Bath Oil

Finalist - Best Artisan Soap - GLOW Pure Essential Oil (REVIEW)

I personally adored CALM After Dark Face Oil (REVIEW)

Onto Commended Awards:

My fav Desavery strikes again! I fell head-over-heels for their STELLAR Daily Serum! I also really rated quirky Happy Carrot Skincare enjoying both the products they submitted. Their Terrific Tomato Facial Oil was very effective and nice to use. I loved Forever's balancing toner (I liked the blue/teal coloured packaging too). This Ecooking Body Lotion was one of my favourite things! It absorbed quickly and had the "Ecooking scent" which I've grown to adore!

I enjoyed trying new-to-me brand Enphasis and really rated their Decollete & Neck Firming Cream. I'd tried lovely Elm Road before (REVIEW) so was delighted to see them scoop two awards including a Commended for their Happiness Natural Essential Oil Aroma Mist and a Wellness Editor's Choice Award for the simply exquisite Happiness Wooden Wick Candle.

candle before it was lit

From Flow Cosmetics I fell head-over-heels for their Touch of Love Heart Chakra Aromatherapy Body Butter. Such a gorgeous product. My final pick in the Commended Awards is Bee Pure's (formerly The Urban Smallholders) luscious Honeybee Lip Balm which is presented in a recylable/compostable cardboard tube. See my review (HERE).  

City Survivor's Immune Support scooped Best Supplement. I found the tablets easy to take. They're perfect to use over the winter period to ward of seasonal coughs and cold and also for daily support or when travelling. I definitely want to explore this brand more.

Samaya Ayurvedic Skincare won Best Ayurvedic Brand which is very well deserved. I'm a huge fan of this luxurious brand and the Kapha range is ideal for me. The won a whole host of awards which are very well deserved. Their Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream, Anti-Ageing Treatment Oil, Hydrating Cleanser and Renewing Exfoliant won Editor's Choice Awards (I've been lucky enough to try products in the range before - see my reviews HERE and HERE.

I absolutely loved Shui Me's Aromatherapy Reed Diffusers in RELAX and UPLIFT which won Wellbeing Editor's Choice Awards. I loved how cleverly an extra set of wooden wicks is included so you can swap them half way through. I was really impressed with these lovely diffusers and I'd definitely buy (easily last 6 months or more).

I'm always a wee bit feart of acids and retinols but I was pleasantly surprised with these gentle but very effective award winners from Murad Skin Care. Their Replenishing Multi-Acid Peel won Best New Skincare Launch 19/20, they also picked up Best Night Skin Product 40+ for their Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream. Their Retinol Youth Renewal Serum scooped Best Serum 60+ & Best Age Delay Serum.

If you've read this far, well done! It really was a bumper year. Check out the full list of Award Winners HERE.

*Odylique: Creamy Coconut Cleanser

*free product gifted as part of their blogger programme I've been testing out *Odylique's Award Winning Creamy Coconut Cleanser which is currently on special offer with 10% off for the month of March - see HERE (£18 instead of £20) which would make a great March treat, either for yourself or for your mum for Mother's Day!

The cleanser is creamy, gentle and very effective at removing make up and daily grime. Skin is left feeling clean and comfortable. It's formulated with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil which easily lifts away make up (including waterproof mascara). Organic Rosewater calms while lemon soothes. It has a very light fragrance making it suitable for all skin types. 

I like that the bottle is recyclable and made with 100% post-consumer recycled material and the box is easily recycled. 

To use: apply a couple of pumps to face and neck (including eyes) and massage. Remove with warm damp muslin cloth.

I've been really enjoying re-visiting this cleanser which does exactly what it says it will! Pick yours up HERE.

Feel Unique: Beauty Kit: Verso, Charlotte Tilbury, Darphin, Le Prunier, Philosophy

After last month's brilliant choices (review) I couldn't wait to make my picks again for Feel Unique's newish Beauty Kit (5 deluxe samples for £12, plus £3.95 (p&p) - the p&p returned to you in the form of a code for a subsequent purchase). This month my picks ml by ml are worth over £40! Your products come packed in a pouch which is useful for holidays/weekends away (I'd personally just prefer to receive one with your 1st order but it arrives every month).

And for a closer look..

Verso Foaming Cleanser 25ml (worth £9) I've tried a few products from this brand but not the cleanser so a review will follow!

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Fair 0.8g which is the cutest mini ever! I picked this one last month too. Perfect handbag size for touch-ups on the go (it is paler than the photo).

Darphin Tangerine Aromatic Care 4ml (worth £11.20) the oil has an exquisite zesty orange scent. I've been enjoying using this one - and would definitely pick up full size. It's a delight.

Totally new to me brand is Le Prunier and this little 3.7ml bottle of Plum Beauty Oil is worth a whopping £20.30! I'm looking forward to testing it out. I love that it's a multi-use product - you can also use it the ends of your hair before blow drying or to smooth flyaways when dry. A review will come!

My final item is Philosophy's Amazing Grace Magnolia EdT 15ml (worth £7.35) which is a fresh floral - just perfect for spring. Again, a review to come!

What did you pick for your Beauty Kit this month? #mybeautykit  Pick yours up HERE.

*Blog Tour: Jack & Bet by Sarah Butler

*I received a pdf copy of the book free of charge to enable me to take part in the blog tour. I absolutely adored Jack & Bet by Sarah Butler. It's truly a gem of a book and one of my favs of 2020.

Even the longest marriages have their secrets . . .

Jack Chalmers is a man of few words, married to a woman of many. He and Bet have been together for seventy years - almost a lifetime - and happily so, for the most part.

All Jack and Bet want is to enjoy the time they have left together, in the flat they have tried to make their home. Their son Tommy has other ideas: he wants them to live somewhere with round-the-clock care, hot meals, activities. Bet thinks they can manage just fine.

When they strike up an unlikely friendship with Marinela, a young Romanian woman, Bet thinks she has found the perfect solution - one that could change Marinela's life as well as theirs. But this means revisiting an old love affair, and confronting a long-buried secret she has kept hidden from everyone, even Jack, for many years.

Tender, moving and beautifully told, Sarah Butler's Jack & Bet is an unforgettable novel about love and loss, the joys and regrets of a long marriage, and the struggle to find a place to call home.

My thoughts?

The story is told through the eyes of Jack, Bet and Marinela. Jack and Bet have been married for 70 years and are having a party to celebrate. Like every marriage there have been ups and downs. Bet's very excited about the party - it takes her back to her past, a whirlwind of fun, cocktails and beautiful dresses when she worked as a Hostess at the Club. 

Everyday Jack walks to the cafe at the shopping centre. He never changes his route, he always goes past the old estate which is being bulldozed to make way for a series of modern glassy buildings. It's there he randomly meets Romanian girl, Marinela who is hoping one day to be a famous photographer and chased her dreams by moving to London.

Jack especially wishes they'd had another child but he loves their son Tommy with all his heart. Tommy is wanting his parents to go into a nursing home but fiesty Bet is having none of it!  Marinela comes into their lives and in her Bet sees a way for her son to stop pestering her. She offers the girl something in exchange for her help with some housework and cooking. As they get to know each other they tell each other their secrets and Bet relives something in her past which is bittersweet, making her happy and heartbroken at the same time, and it's something Jack knows nothing about..

It's a richly drawn tale with laughter, sadness, friendship, love, contentment, happiness, family ties, forgiveness and new beginnings with characters I grew to really care for. I can't recommend it highly enough.  A must-read.

*Tropic Skincare: A Walk on the Beach Collection

*gifted Tropic Skincare's A Walk on the Beach Collection (eco - £22, boxed - £24) is perfect to get your feet ready for summer. As will all Tropic Skincare's products the trio has beautiful scents and the products are a pleasure to use (it'd also make a great Mother's Day gift).

And nestling inside..

Ocean Fizz 100g

Polishing Foot Pebble 130g

Repairing Foot Remedy 80ml

Add 3tbs of Ocean Fizz to a footbath/bowl and mix to activate the foam. Pop your feet in and relax for 10-15 minutes before rubbing the slightly abrasive Polishing Foot Pebble over your feet concentrating on rough skin areas around the heels.  Apply a generous amount of the rich Repairing Foot Remedy, all over the feet while concentrating on rough skin areas (you can also pop a pair of socks on to lock in moisture while you sleep).  I've found the trio to be absolutely fantastic and will be reaching for it again coming into spring.

Pick yours up HERE.

The Latest in Beauty Edit: The CEW 2020 Beauty Awards

Of course I dived right in when I heard Latest in Beauty were doing CEW Industry Awards Boxes (6 items for £24). They offered members a fiver off making the box a bargainous £19) of course, you know the drill I had to pick up two boxes...(I'm still awaiting my 2nd box however!)

Here's my picks:

Face Halo Original x 3 pack (worth £18.99) these won BEST BEAUTY ICON - MASS. They are absolutely amazing - I honestly don't know how I lived without these re-usable double-sided make up removers. Just dampen and rub over your face - foundation, mascara and lipstick be gone! Truly wonderful.

Scientia Beauty is a totally new-to-me brand and their Dawn Elixir 50ml (£32) won BEST TARGETED SKINCARE - PRESTIGE. It's a 100% natural oil blend which has been formulated using 23 oils. Supercharged with glow-enhancing Vitamins A, C & E and packed with antioxidants. So far, so good! (love the packaging too).

I'm already a huge fan of Omorovicza and already adore their Queen of Hungary Mist (30ml) which won BEST BEAUTY ICON - PRESTIGE (the mist-er bottle gives a very fine spray). I also adore their Daily Vitamin C (5ml) so very happy to have this travel size. It won BEST SKINTELLECTUAL - PRESTIGE.

I'd always wanted to try Prai Beauty's neck care products. Their Ageless Throat & Decolletage Creme (15ml) won THE BEAUTY ICON - PRESTIGE. My neck is loving this rich cream. One I'd buy full size for sure.

My final item is REN's Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic (50ml) which won BEST SKIN PREP - PRESTIGE. Again, another product which had been on the wishlist. Looking forward to trying it.

I was also lucky enough to be one of the 1st 500 to place their order and received a free mini eye serum sample.

Did you pick up a box? What did you choose?