Candy Crush lip balms

Even if you have never played Candy Crush Saga, I'm sure you still know about this sweet adventure, where you switch and match your way through multiple levels. I've never been a Candy Crush fan myself, and have been deleting invitation requests from friends on Facebook to join in the fun. I just simply don't have time for it.
The falling candy app has its own range of merchandise which was recently expanded to include a selection of lip balms.

I love lip balms, and always carry one in my handbag, not just for myself. My younger son's lips are often dry, and he needs to keep them moisturised.

There are four lip balms in the range: Peppermint Palace, Bubblegum Bridge, Chocolate Mountains and Lemonade Lake. The Candy Crush theme is reflected in the overall design.
They will make a pretty gift for any Candy Crush fan.

The scents are rather sweet, and would probably appeal to younger fan base. They reminded me of some children's shampoo aromas I loved as a child.
In fact they are recommended for age 6+.
The lip balms are easy to apply, and you can use them as often as you like.

Bubblegum Bridge was my son's favourite. He enjoys both the design and the smell, which I find too sweet to my taste.

Chocolate Mountains has a sweet chocolatey smell, more like a cup of milky cocoa than a proper high cocoa percent chocolate. It gives a slight pink tint.

Peppermint Palace has a refreshing, slightly zingy minty flavour.

Lemonade Lake was my top favourite from the four, as it smells lovely of lemonade and reminds me of long summer days.

All lip balms are manufactured by Amber House and are available from Primark, priced £1.50 each.

Disclosure: I received a selection of lip balms for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Spring beauty giveaway (c/d 22 March 2017)

The spring is here finally. Yesterday the day was gloriously sunny, with a fresh breeze. The plum blossom in town is trembling in the wind, and there are more and more flowers around - crocuses, daffodils, snowdrops. This is one of my most favourite times of the year, when the first spring flowers appear.
Our garden looks like a beautiful floral tapestry, with thousands of snowdrops and hundreds of crocuses, they seem to reproduce in geometric progression, and every spring there are more and more of them.

After the harsher winter weather, I feel like having a spring makeover, and trying new beauty products.
It was my birthday earlier this week, and I have treated myself to a few products from the Korean cosmetics' ranges which appeared in Boots.

To cheer up myself - I don't like birthdays - I also wanted to offer a small selection of beauty products as a giveaway prize for my blog readers.

One lucky winner will receive:
- Clinique Matte Crimson lipstick
- Lancome La Vie est Belle l'eu de parfum (4ml)
- No.7 Limited edition nail colour (Nude)
- Percy Reed Wonder Balm for hair (30ml)
- and a powder brush.

You could find a Lancome La Vie est Belle in the recent BAFTA goodie bag. It is sweet, warm and fruity.
Please note that none of the goodies on offer come in a box, the perfume was one of the products in a gift box with the other things I ordered recently, the lipstick was a promotional gift with the set I bought for Christmas.

To be in with a chance of winning, please enter using a Rafflecopter form.
The only mandatory step is answering a question - What are your must have beauty products?

T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will contact them regarding address details, if they do not reply within 28 day, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs.
I will post the prize to the winner by signed for mail.
The giveaway will close on 22 March 2017 (at midnight) To be in with a chance of winning, please enter using a Rafflecopter form. The only mandatory step is answering a question - What do you grow in your garden/greenhouse, on your balcony, patio? If you don't, what would you like to grow given a chance? Also if you win, would you like some seeds of bronze fennel (a must for all fish dishes) and borage (edible flower, lovely in Pimms or gin cocktails). Just say Yes next to your answer. I will gladly share those with you, as both packets I have bought have 100 seeds. T&Cs: The giveaway is open to the UK residents only. Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will contact them regarding address details, if they do not reply within 28 day, the prize will be allocated to another person. Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs. The giveaway will close on 12 March 2017 (at midnight)

Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

M&S Beauty Advent Calendar (2016)

Festive season is not just for kids. My sons got their chocolate advent calendars to open, plus I bought a Lego Star Wars Advent calendar for Eddie.
I don't want to enter into the polemic against the commercialism of the advents, and what connection the modern advent calendars might have to the real meaning of the religious season leading to Christmas.
Obviously the Star Wars, Pirate-themed or beauty calendars have nothing to do with the religious side, they are just fun. And fun is not necessarily a thing of criticism.
There is a big market for grown-up advent calendars these days. It seems they have entered an era of boom. Many major brands are jumping on the bandwagon.
Last year I have treated myself to a Boots no.7 Advent calendar, which was mostly very decent, that is apart from the nail polish and eyelash curler which are of no use for me at all. I did ask around if anyone fancied an eyelash curler, there were no takers. This year Boots no.7 has the same useless beauty gift again in its advent calendar.
Overall, it was a lovely treat with lots of products, some in a pretty good size, and no.7 is one of my favourite brands.

I didn't buy an M&S advent calendar last year, but this year have succumbed. I blame it on the much agitated discussions on the merits of advents for grown-ups on Mumsnet.
Unlike no.7 calendar, the M&S version was the compilation of different brands rather than their own products.
The calendar itself was priced at £35, but you had to spend £35 in beauty, clothing or home departments. Since I was planning to buy my guys pyjamas for Christmas anyway, that wasn't difficult.
M&S claimed that the contents of the calendar were worth £250, which after opening all the doors and discovering all the products, I still question.
There are 25 items in total, with a good variety of beauty products from different brands, many of which I am not familiar with. I am yet to try all of the goodies.

What were the surprise products?
- Neal's Yard Beelovely handcream (50ml)
- Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (vitamin E & peppermint, full sized)
- Rituals The Rituals of Sakura magic touch body cream (70ml)
- Rodial Super Acids x-treme acid rush peel (20ml)
- EH Moringa cleansing balm (15ml)
- Aphah Liquid Gold with glycolic acid (50ml)
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil (30ml)
- Ren Evercalm Global Protection day cream (15ml)
- Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief eye cream (5ml)
- Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File
- Look Good Mini powder brush
- Rosie for Autograph lip glossy
- Nailsinc Gel one coat with cranberry nail polish
- Autograph Cranberry nail polish with argan oil and vitamin E
- Philip Kingsley Elasticizer pre-shampoo treatment (40ml)
- Eyeko Skinny liquid eyeliner black (1.2g)
- Shay & Blue Atropa Belladonna natural spray fragrance
- Studio 10 miracle effect priming serum (5ml)
- Pur correcting primer (10ml)
- Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder balm (30ml)
- Josh Wood Radiant Shine hair treatment oil (28ml)
- Ultrasun Face anti-ageing sun protection for very sensitive skin (25ml)
- M&S Beauty Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream (15ml)
- Pixie by Petra Brow Tamer clear brow gel
- Filorga Time-Filler (15ml)

As you can see from the list, most of the products were the sample sizes, which often come free with magazines or in promotions like SoPost.
Some were slightly disappointing. Neal's Yard hand cream was a good sized product, but it's been added as a freebie to so many magazines throughout the year, that I have at least three tubes. The same with Burt's Bees lip balm - and it's not even in my favourite flavour. And again, I have about five Burt's bees lip balms as it is. They seem to last forever.
Some of the products have no appeal to me personally, like nail polishes, or an Brow tamer eyebrow gel which is a very niche product. I don't think I know anyone in real life who would use it.
The fragrance was not something I would choose myself, if I had to buy it separately. I might try to wear it, but it's rather boring.
I'm not sure the hair products would be much use to me either.

The products I'm most excited about trying are Pur correcting primer, Studio 10 firming serum, Skyn Iceland eye cream, Moringa cleansing balm and Alphah liquid gold.

It might be a great value, if we are to believe the contents are truly worth £250, but only if you are going to use most of them.

Did you buy the M&S advent calendar? Did you like its contents? Which one is your favourite product of the whole lot?
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Update for the products I have tested (just notes for myself to remind me next year what I liked and what I didn't find useful):

- Eyeko Skinny liquid eyeliner black (1.2g) gives a good eye definition, with a precise thin brush tip. It is easy to apply, but it is not smudge-proof as some beauty bloggers claim. I did find that in a few hours, I get a "shadow" on the lower eyelid.
It is also a real pain to remove. I have three different eye cleansers, and none of them work on Eyeko. A few times that I applied Eyeko, I had to use several different cleanser products to make the skin around eyes look clean. Maybe you need to buy a special Eyeko eye cleanser to go with it?!
For that reason alone I wouldn't buy this product again.

- Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief eye cream (5ml) contains Biospheric complex of pure Icelandic glacial waters, arctic berries and pure oxygen. While the first ingredient sounds pretty bombastic for saying plain water, I'd like to know more about berries. It doesn't smell like berries, not gives any impression that berries have been used.
I was so looking forward to trying this product, but I was slightly disappointed by its texture. It reminds me of a homemade glue for children's projects, which congeals after a while, and gets a slightly sticky consistency. Or a cold semolina pudding. The surface sort of wrinkles when you touch it with a finger.
It is supposed to reduce puffiness and lighten dark under-eyes. Perhaps it is so, if you use it for a long time. But I haven't noticed any difference. I didn't like the texture or consistency. That's another product I wouldn't buy in the future.

The Jojoba Company hydrating day cream

When winter arrives, the combination of the cold weather outdoors and the heating indoors often wreaks havoc with our skin. It's lovely of course to get all warm and toasty by the fire after a walk in the cold, but that doesn't do any favours to our skin. It might easily get dry, itchy and flaky.
To protect your skin from drying out in cold season, there are a couple of things you can do to keep it in good shape.
You might want to add humidity to your house - with radiator humidifiers. These ceramic water vessels are attached to the radiator and prevent the air from going too dry.
And of course, choose right cosmetics for this time of the year. In winter I'm looking for a cream which would keep my skin well moisturised and also serve as a good base under the foundation. I don't wear fake tan, but my skin is naturally pale, so I like to add a tiny bit of colour with a foundation.

The Jojoba Company hydrating day cream (The Jojoba Company) is a deep penetrating daily moisturiser with antioxidants. This is a popular vegan-friendly product.
The blurb on the box promises: "A high performance active moisturiser with natural silk peptides and Siberian ginseng to visibly firm the skin. It is also enriched with potent antioxidants pomegranate, green tea, beta glucan and olive leaf to compliment the deep moisturising properties of jojoba. A gentle, long acting moisturiser that restores the skin's natural suppleness and protects against dehydrating environmental effects."

What did I think of it? I've been using it every morning for just over a week. I always appreciate creams which are quickly absorbed, as the school mornings are hectic enough here, I don't have much time for my beauty routine. Jojoba hydrating cream is lightweight and is quickly absorbed. It has a pleasant smell, sweet but not overwhelming, and the smell disappears fast.

I have tried it with three different foundations (no.7, L'Oreal and Clarins), and it works well with all the foundations I used (not at the same time, just to clarify, all on different days). This product is perfect under make-up. The skin feels supple and well hydrated, not shiny and sticky.

My skin feels smooth and nourished all day thanks to the olive leaf extract and Siberian ginseng.
It was clinically proven to increase the production of elastin by up to 97%.
I'm in my late 40s, and have a good share of wrinkles and laughter lines, so any extra elastin is welcome.

You don't need a lot of cream to apply.
Just add a little bit of cream onto fingertips and gently press onto the face and neck. It has a gentle, almost-mousse-like consistency.

Jojoba hydrating day cream is my recent discovery.
It will make a lovely Christmas stocking filler.

Have you tried any products from The Jojoba Company range?

Disclosure: I received the jojoba day cream for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are solely my own.

Green Keratin Rosehip Oil

Winter could be harsh and unforgiving for our skin. What with the rough wind and the heating at home, the skin gets dry and chapped very quickly. You need more help to keep your skin supple and well-moisturised in winter. Rosehip oil has been known as a healing skin product for centuries. It's packed full with natural vitamins and nutrients, and can be used both internally (depending on the producer) and externally.
I have recently applied on AMZ Review Trader to test a Rosehip Oil from Green Keratin.
My Mum has always been into alternative medicine and beauty products, and as a child I used to drink rosehip tea often enough, especially in winter. My Mum also used to keep a small bottle of rosehip oil for skin issues.

Green Keratin Rosehip Oil is expressed from the seeds of the Rose, Rosa rubiginosa L. It is a cold pressed and unrefined product. It contains no chemicals and solvents. Moreover, rosehip oil contains provitamin A and is rich in essential fatty acids linoleic acid (omega-6) and linoleic acid (omega-3).
First impressions? The packaging is a colourful vintage style card box. Inside you find  a pretty glass bottle. The bottle comes with a pipette, which I personally prefer to pumps.
The smell is rather distinct, slightly medicinal. It makes me think of Brother Cadfael and his still room, where he mixed herbal potions and creams. I like the smell, but Eddie commented that I smell funny (Thank you, Eddie!).

I have used the rosehip oil for the last few evenings. It absorbs quite well, maybe not immediately, so don't apply it immediately before going to bed, or it might end up on your pillowcase.
The oil leaves the skin very smooth and well moisturised.
I haven't tried it in the morning, as I am not sure if it can be used as a primer before applying make-up. I also don't want any shine on my face when I go out.
This oil is supposed to be good for people prone to acne and eczema. Nobody in my family has acne issues (not yet, at least), but Eddie has a few eczema patches on his legs. His eczema is seasonal and is triggered by the combination of warmer clothes and the heating. I have applied the oil to the eczema patches, and we'll see if it makes any difference in the longer run. So far it has only moistursed the skin. But as it has the healing properties, I hope to see an improvement in my son's skin condition.


Disclosure: I received the product at a highly discounted price as a reviewer on Amazon. All opinions are mine.

InstaNatural Serums

I have been using different brands of serums for several years, on and off. I haven't heard of InstaNatural before, so this was my first experience of the brand.

I first tried InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum For Face.
I liked the design of the bottle, which reminded me of the vintage apothecary glassware.
The smell is citrussy, not like a fresh citrus, more of a dried orange pomander for Christmas minus the cloves. It is a pleasant smell, which doesn't linger long once you apply it to skin.
It has a vibrant deep yellow colour.

The bottle comes with a pipette dispenser.
The serum applies easily and absorbs very quickly without a greasy residue. You need a small amount, literally a big drop, on your fingertips to smooth it over your face. The skin instantly feels and looks smooth and moisturised.
Quite a lot of serums I have tried leave you skin sticky and you often need to make a pause before applying anything else over it, but Vitamin C Serum doesn't have that effect. I can apply make-up immediately after the serum.
I love products with natural ingredients, and this product doesn't disappoint. It includes Organic Rosehip oil, Sea Buckthorn oil, Organic Argan oil, plant stem cells, carrot seed oil, pomegranate as well as 20% Vitamin C, Vitamin E and ore. These ingredients are supposed to boost the skin tone and look and fight the signs of aging.
The skin stays smooth for the duration of the day. I have used this serum for just over a week, and noticed that it did give me a smoother complexion and more even tone.
I don't have problems with discolouration or pigmentation issues, so cannot vouch for that.

In the second week of testing I used a different serum from InstaNatural.

InstaNatural Premium Hydration Hyaluronic acid serum is an anti-aging serum made with such ingredients as Vitamin C, Green tea, Jojoba oil and other antioxidants which aim to rejuvenate your skin. I love the idea of natural ingredients, and rose and green tea are my favourite aromas.
Love the aroma: first rose, then green tea.
The serum itself is colourless and translucent.

Face feels refreshed immediately after application, my skin is soothed and smooth. The serum is light on skin and non-greasy. I use it early in the morning, under make-up, and it primes my skin well for the application of the tinted foundation cream.
The bottle comes with a convenient dropper dispenser which allows you to use just the small amount as needed. The serum absorbs quickly and leaves the skin refreshed and supple. After a week of application I can say my skin tone is even. Really pleased with this serum. It's great for my mature skin.

Does my skin look more youthful? if by youthful one means smoother and more supple then yes. I don't believe the claims of many anti-aging beauty products that the wrinkles will disappear. They won't, unless you do something terribly unnatural to your skin, like a facelift or Botox, and are then left with a face which looks more like a mask. I'd rather have all my wrinkles and be able to smile, than have a stiff mask instead of a face. Yet if there is a little help with keeping my face skin well moisturised and less tired, then I am all in favour.

What's your experience of serums?

Disclosure: I received these serums for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are mine.