Give A Nurse A Mug

*This is a sponsored post.

It's been nearly 3 years since our restriction-free world came to a sudden stop, and while many of us were able to continue working from home this was not the case for medical workers, who have given so much for the rest of the population. 

We can give thanks to our medical heroes by showing our appreciation with a dedicated mug from the Medical Workers Club: with designs for Doctors, Paramedics, Nurses, Intensive Care Unit, Healthcare Workers and more, there is a design for everyone.

Let's show our medical workers how valuable they have been!

Find the full collection of double sided mugs here.

xo

Christmas Gift Ideas Under £50

Clinique Merry Moisture Set £18 //Pink 2022 Hardcover Journal £15.74 // Uniqlo Lambswool Ribbed Cardigan £40

Paul Costelloe Leather Purse £15 // Land's End Sheepskin Slippers £50 // Sterling Silver Hoops £49

Aveda Light Moisture Collection £42 // Lancome Idole EDP 50ml £50

Pure Silk Pillowcase £25 // L'Occitane Néroli & Orchidée Intense Set £29

Clinique Great Skin Set £45 // Squid Game Player 456 T-Shirt £22.38 // Burberry Brit Rhythm EDT 180ml £50

Rick & Morty Power Bank £20 // L'Occitane Cade Shaving Duo £35

Land's End Leather Belt £30 // Ted Baker Manicure Kit £35

M&S Cotton Slogan Jumper £19.50 // Nike Crossbody Bag £23 // JW Anderson Cashmere Gloves £40 

The most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us again, so here is my classic yearly Christmas gift guide with everything picked by yours truly and costing £50 and under. Do check out every link as I always use full prices even when the products are on offer for a pleasant surprise ;D

xo

The Best Black Friday Deals 2021

Black Friday discounts are available already, so here is my roundup of the best savings across multiple beauty, fashion and even stationery shops. Get ready to stock up on Christmas gifts and to treat yourself this week!

• LookFantastic
  Enjoy discounts of up to 75% off on their website. No code needed.
• Feel Unique
  Up to 33% off, plus daily deals and a £100 gift when you spend £100
• The Body Shop
  Save up to 50% in their sale and on exclusive Black Friday collections.
• Superdrug
  Save up to 55% on selected lines. No code needed.
• YesStyle
  Use code BLKFD21 for 15% off any order, plus code NAV2019 for extra money off.
• Typo
  Get 30% to 70% off sitewide.
• ASOS
  Up to 50% off everything with code CHANCE.

Will you be taking advantage of the Black Friday sales?

xo

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Serum

A couple of weeks ago I was kindly sent the new edition of the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Serum to try and review. Having tried the previous version before, it was interesting to see how they compared. 

The Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate now contains a new complex of pre and probiotic derived fractions to help strengthen the skin's functions of recovery and defence against external aggressors. 

Other important ingredients in the formula include glycerin, vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, salicyloyl phytosphongosine, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide and rosa gallica flower extract.

It claims to make skin look younger and "youthfully radiant" in just 7 days, and after using up a full bottle, major signs of ageing such as radiance, firmness, fine lines, evenness and smoothness will appear improved.

While I have only used it for a couple of days, I have noticed already some of the effects that the serum has: it instantly moisturises the skin with a very lightweight veil of hydration, leaving it feeling softer; it soothes and diminishes redness which evens out the skin tone almost immediately after application, and makes the skin appear smoother thanks to plumping hyaluronic acid.

Prolonged use will help increase radiance thanks to the vitamin C, which can also improve collagen production, leading to diminishing of fine lines and wrinkles.

All in all, a great all-rounder serum that can be used to help prevent and also improve various age-related skin concerns. The only downside for me would be the price, as being a luxury brand it is not in the price range I would normally go for, however, it would make a nice treat for a special occasion.

Find the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Serum on Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, Lancôme and Escentual.

Have you tried this serum?

xo

Top 6 Probiotic Cleansers to Try This Autumn

You may remember I recently wrote about the current probiotic cleanser I've been using, and how I wanted to compile a list of probiotic cleansers that are readily available as my Cogérie one was one of those rare TK Maxx finds.

In general, probiotic cleansers are soothing, suitable for sensitive skin and very gentle, which makes them great for the colder months or if you are using actives in your routine. Take a look at my top 6 of probiotic cleansers to try this season:

Naturally Radiant Glow Cleansing Milk £8
With vegan coconut yogurt, this cleanser helsps reduce irritation, redness and breakouts.

Aurelia London Miracle Cleanser £22
Comes with a muslin cloth to wipe off this cocoa butter and Vitamin C enriched cleanser. 

Liz Earle Pro-Biotic Balancing Milk Cleanser £18
A soothing cleanser with jojoba oil and oat extract to soothe and replenish the skin.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Probiotic Whip to Clay Cleanser £22
A mineral rich foam with a blend of pink and green clay, this one is ideal for oily skin.

Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser £21
With amaranth extract and honeysuckle, this cleanser will reduce redness and make skin supple.

Balance Me Pre + Probiotic Cleansing Milk £20
Contains willow bark, salicylic acid and antibacterial manuka honey, making it great for breakout prone skin.

Have you tried any probiotic cleansers?

xo

Update Your Home with Aoin

*This is a sponsored post.

If you are anything like me, you might enjoy a bit of interior decorating and buying new items to make your space reflect more of your personality. 

Maybe you have been looking for a new interesting website to explore what interior trends or items you could try in your own home. With that in mind, you may wish to explore the Aoin website, as they have 30 years of experience in delivering decoration, bathroom, kitchen, dining and daily home essentials directly to your door.

Speaking of home décor, you can find a selection of indoor decorative planters, of which I have shared my favourite from Aoin below:

On the left is the 3 Tier Hanging Basket Hanging Basket Organizer, which features a macramé design that uses 100% natural cotton, with 3 different sized areas, which can accommodate various sized plants, this versatile hanging basket can also be used as a fruit basket that will add a touch of boho to any kitchen or dining area.  

On the right is a stone effect planter with synthetic lavender flowers, which will come in handy if you are not very apt at keeping plants alive. The soft lilac flowers will help bring the look of a spring garden to the indoors, without the need to worry about them needing any of the maintenance real plants require.

If during the last year or so you have been feeling a bit lonely as we distanced ourselves from everyone due to these uncertain times, you may have welcomed a new pet into your family to help keep you company and your spirits up. So if you fancy spoiling your new pet this Christmas you can take a look at the Aoin pet toys section. 

Every dog loves to play catch, and now you don't even have to risk straining your muscles trying to throw as hard as you can with this Tennis Ball Shooter Launcher, which comes with 2 squeaky tennis balls included. And you also won't have to worry about your little companion getting cold when playing outside as you can also find Dog Outdoor Waterproof Windproof Warm Jackets at Aoin, they have a foldable fur collar, and are waterproof, windproof and even snow proof.

xo

Try a New Hobby With Kameymall

*This is a sponsored post

With all of the time that we have had on our hands thanks to the unmentionable situation that we have been dealing with for nearly 2 years (you know what I'm talking about) some people decided it would be a great idea to find a new hobby to pass the time. 

There are infinite options out there for things to try, be it dabbling into your creative side with some painting (watercolour, oil, gouache) or illustration (ink, coloured pencils or even digital), testing your skills in the kitchen with some new recipes or delicious bakes, or attempting to increase your fitness levels by commencing training on a physical activity, be it alone like running or just heading out for a walk, or sports teams if the restrictions allow - nothing like a bit of friendly competition to get things going - like a football match, tennis or badminton (where there's less of a risk of bad weather ruining your game). This is where Kameymall comes in.

What is Kameymall?

Kameymall is a b2c shopping platform wihich originates in China, and even though it was only founded this year, it already has a presence in over 220 regions and countries. B2C refers to the process of selling products and services directly from a business to a consumer who is the end-user of a product or service. This creates no need for a middleman, which in turn helps provide consumers with a more reasonable price.

The Kameymall website has a wide array of categories to choose from, including Women and Men's fashion, Phones, Computers and Office, Electronics, Home Appliances, accessories like Jewellery, Watches, Shoes and Bags; Toys, Beauty, Tools, Sport and even Home Improvement. 

Want to try something new?

At Kameymall you can find a vast selection of inflatable air track mat styles, all of which have variations in colour and size available. So whether you want to try dancing, gymnastics, parkour, martial arts, or even cheerleading - those pyramid formations can be dangerous if not rehearsed properly! -  you can find an air track mat that suits your needs. 

An air track mat can be very useful to help boost your skills, as you will be able to train without having to worry about having to wear excessive body protecting equipment thanks to the added safety of the mats, which are highly resistant to impact during training. Plus they can be used indoors and outdoors, giving you the flexibility to train wherever you like or need. They are suitable for stadiums, gymnasiums, children's play areas, pools and even to use in the comfort of your own home.

Because of the versatility of air track mats, given that you can use them for many different activities and in several areas, they would make a great investment. As they are lightweight they can be carried around to switch between areas or activities easily, and when they are not in use, they can be simply folded and stored in a cool, dry place, ready for your next training session.

There are all sorts of shapes and sizes of air track mats to be found at Kameymall, however if you are only going to be using it as a hobby you might not want to invest too much money on it. If that is the case for you I would recommend taking a look at the one in the picture below:

Buy here.

What I like about the above air track mat is not only that it is currently on offer at $259 (usually $459), but that you also get several accessories included within that price: it comes with an air pump, wench, a storage bag and even material for repairs, should you need to any. The electric pump will make it very quick and easy to inflate, while the use of the bravo valve means it can effortlessly be inflated, deflated, carried and stored. 

The affordability of this air mat makes it great for casual use, however if you are more serious about your training and would like to invest some more, there are hundreds of other options to choose from. 

If you are new to Kameymall you can enjoy a New User coupon. Everyone that registers receives $10 off on any purchase, plus if you spend $300 you can get $20 off, and if you spend $500 you can get $25 off. So if you are interested don't delay to take advantage of these offers as they end on 30 November.

Will you be trying out a new hobby soon?

xo

New in: October 2021

October was a month of many free samples!  

I received a couple of full sized products, one is the Garnier BB Cream Oil Free (full review here) and the Lancome Advanced Génifique Serum, and I purchased the Bioderma Sensibio AR BB Cream for about £3 in Boots.

Some double samples I got include YSL Libre, Kiehls Retinol Serum and Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream. 

Also received samples of YSL Black Opium Extreme, YSL Touche Eclat Foundation, Lancome Advanced Genefique, Valentino Voce Viva Intensa, and the benefit Bad Gal Bang! Mascara came with a magazine.

A couple of erborian samples, the Ginseng Super Serum and the Skin Hero, a sachet of the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum and the new Garnier Cherry Lip Mask. 

A few more perfume samples include Paco Rabanne One Million and Lady Million, plus YSL Y. 

Last but not least, a YesStyle Haul which I got for about £6 (more details on how I managed that on this post) and included the VT Cica Spot Patches, samples of  The Skin House Marine Active Cream, Purito Snail BB Cleanser, CommonLabs Triple Vita Balancing Toner, coxir Black Snail Collagen Cream and a Pyunkang Yul Highly Moisturizing Essence Mask Pack. Also received a CloverCove Chocolate Notebook as the free gift of the day and the Neogen Dermalogy Real Bakuchiol Firming Serum as my sponsored product of the month.

If you are placing a YesStyle order don't forget to use code NAV2019 for an extra discount, and you can join their influencer program to receive free products too.

xo

Cogérie Paris Purity and Radiance Facial Cleansing Foam

A couple of months ago I managed to find the Cogérie Paris Purity and Radiance Facial Cleansing Foam in my local TK Maxx store after discovering it online on the TK Maxx website. 

This facial foaming cleanser is designed for all skin types and features probiotic technology to gently clean and purify the face. It also mentions that it has excellent foaming power that leaves skin perfectly cleansed, fresh and soft. 

The main reason I purchased this product is because of the probiotics in the formula (in the form of yogurt filtrate and lactobacillus), having tried a couple of probiotic serums prior, which really helped improve the look of my skin.

Other ingredients that caught my eye are glycerin as the second one, rosa damascena flower water, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, panthenol, moringa oleifera seed extract, alpha glucan oligosaccharide, polymnia sonchifolia root juice, and the use of very gentle surfactants. 

As you can see, this cleanser is designed to be very mild and moisturising and since converting to gentle treatments for my skin in order to avoid a damaged skin barrier, I was very interested in trying it.

The  Cogérie Paris Purity and Radiance Facial Cleansing Foam comes in a bottle with a  self-foaming pump, which instantly dispenses a light foam that cleanses the skin very gently. The soft foam dissolves on the skin as you massage it on, moisturising and softening the skin at it cleanses.

I really like the floral scent of the formula, and how mild it is on my skin. It also leaves it feeling very soft and does not break me out. The only thing to consider with the Cogérie Cleansing Foam is that you might need to double cleanse if your skin is very oily, but I don't mind doing that or a pre-cleanse with some micellar water.

I would definitely recommend this cleanser for all skin types, even sensitive ones, so if you happen to find it at your local TK Maxx, definitely snap it up.

Unfortunately I was unable to find the cleanser online but stay tuned for a compilation of probiotic cleansers coming very soon. (Update: you can find the list of my Top 6 Probiotic Cleansers live now!)

xo

Bauhaus at Alexandra Palace

Last Saturday we went to see Bauhaus at Alexandra Palace in London. Before this concert they had only played two dates in Mexico the previous week. This was our first concert since seeing The Strokes in 2019.

Seeing Bauhaus live was one of those things that I didn't think I would experience, as I got into Bauhaus around 16 years ago, when they weren't as active, even after they brought out a new album in 2008.

They played many of my favourites, including She's In Parties, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything, The Passion of Lovers, In The Flat Field and Terror Couple Killed Colonel. 

There were 2 encores and they played a few covers: Telegram Sam and Ziggy Stardust, the song by which I discovered Bowie ♥

Before they left the stage Peter Murphy said "This is not the last show we'll ever do" so I look forward to seeing them again, even if they play nothing but all of their classics.

Below is the full setlist, with links to videos I took from some of the songs:

1. Rosegarden Funeral of Sores (John Cale cover)
2. Double Dare
3. In the Flat Field
4. A God in an Alcove
5. In Fear of Fear
6. Spy in the Cab
7. Terror Couple Kill Colonel
8. She's in Parties
9. Kick in the Eye
10. Bela Lugosi's Dead
11. The Man With the X-Ray Eyes
12. Silent Hedges
13. The Passion of Lovers
14. Stigmata Martyr
15. Dark Entries
    Encore:
16. Sister Midnight (Iggy Pop cover)
17. Telegram Sam (T. Rex cover)
18. Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover)
    Encore 2:
19. All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

xo

Affordable Shapewear at Waistdear

*This is a sponsored post.

With holiday season fast approaching, the chance to reunite with friends and family to celebrate again will finally arrive again. 

As it is usual with special times and celebrations, we all want to look our best, and while a healthy diet and lifestyle are always the best way to go, sometimes we might need a bit of extra help to look amazing. Which is where Waistdear comes in: they are a leading international manufacturer of women’s shapewear and sportswear. 

On the Waistdear website you can find a wide range of cheap shapewear, including full body shapers, seamless shapers, lifters, accessories and waist trainers in latex or neoprene, as well as sportswear like leggings, shorts, crop tops and sets. 

      

Above are a couple of my favourite picks form the Waistdear website, on the left we have the High Waist Pant Shaper, which is a full length pair of leggings that features a hook-and-eye closure, they are high-waisted for targeted tummy control with light to moderate compression. The material is stretchy and comfortable, and it also provides leg trimming, butt lifting and body contouring. What I really like about these leggings is that they are very versatile and suitable for everyday wear, yoga, jogging, running, fitness, cycling, and even just lounging at home. It also comes in 7 different colours so there is one for every taste and occasion.

At Waistdear you can also find wholesale waist trainers with logo, and above is pictured one of my preferred designs: the Compression Silhouette Waist Cincher uses powerful Velcro closures that are firm and won't come undone easily. The contrast piping adds a touch of colour (it is available in 4 shades, including a plain black one). It also contains six steel bones to maintain rigidity and shape, while the neoprene fabric makes it very elastic, soft, and comfortable to wear. It also includes an external waist belt design to increase waist compression.

With many designs and colours to choose from, plus very affordable prices, you can rest assured that there is something at Waistdear that will help you look your best this holiday season.

xo