Antipodes Grace Cream Cleanser

Antipodes is probably my favourite skincare brand, I have tried quite a few products from them and every single product is bloody amazing! I adore their moisturisers and serums in particular but I'd recommend every product I've tried from them - I have reviews on my blog so you can check them out if you want.

I was very kindly sent the *Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser (£24.99, 120ml) which contains anti-inflammatory vinaza oxifend as well as avocado oil and marigold flower. I love the packaging, it comes in the same tube packaging as the amazing Antipodes Joy Body Lotion which I adore.

The cleanser has a creamy consistency and texture as the name would suggest, it feels nice on the skin and as with every product from Antipodes that I've tried, it doesn't irritate my skin which is fantastic as my skin is sensitive, eczema prone and quite temperamental so to find a fantastic, effective and natural range of products that don't irritate it, is amazing!

I mainly use the cleanser after I have removed my makeup with Bioderma or on a makeup free face and it leaves my skin feeling smooth, cleansed and comfortable; I find it doesn't remove makeup well so I use it after using a micellar water. It doesn't dry out my skin as some cleansers can but it isn't massively moisturising either; it's a great no-fuss cleaner that is perfect for my sensitive skin! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried anything from Antipodes? 

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Acorelle Natural Fragrances Ft. My Pure

There's one thing, in the beauty world, besides makeup that I adore and always need more of and that is perfume. I have quite a collection but I do go through them quite quickly (that's justified right...). So when I had the opportunity to choose a couple of items from the lovely people at My Pure, I chose a couple of perfumes, naturally.

I haven't tried anything from Acorelle so I didn't know what to expect but I'm impressed! The packaging is very simple but I love it and for the price I wasn't expecting amazingly fancy packaging. The fragrances are made in France and 88% of the ingredients are natural which is fantastic and something I haven't really seen before, apart from maybe Lush fragrances. There are quite a few scents to choose from as well as great gift sets but these are the two that I chose:

*Acorelle Les Naturelles Fleur Poivree EDT (£15, 50ml)

On the website this fragrance is the 'Brilliant Pepper' EDT and it's the scent that I was most excited to try as it sounds so unusual and different to anything else in my perfume collection. The notes are: chilli, black pepper, vanilla and sandalwood - yes, chilli and  black pepper. The fragrance is just freakin' beautiful and so unique - it's so different to any other fragrance I own. It's musky, spicy, deep, rich and warm so it would be perfect for autumn/winter but I would wear it all year round. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Acorelle Les Naturelles Cerise Intense EDT (£15, 50ml)

Again, I like the packaging and the boxes they come in are simple but gorgeous too. The notes are: red berries, gardenia, orchid and warm, woody base notes. I thought the fragrance would be very floral, sweet and summery but it is really deep, musky and fruity which I wasn't expecting but I really like it and my mum loves this fragrance. The longevity for both fragrances isn't amazing as they are Eau de Toilettes but they last for about four hours on me.  Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried any of the fragrances from Acorelle? Have you bought anything from My Pure? 

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Latest In Beauty Weekend Away Box

I haven't been subscribed to a beauty box for so long, I think the last one was My Little Box and I have missed the excitement of receiving a beauty box as even though I may not like all of the products, it's the mystery of them that is so appealing! Does anyone else remember those Claire's Accessories £5 mystery goodie bags? I LOVED them!

Today, I'm reviewing the *Latest In Beauty Weekend Away Box (£20, plus postage and packaging) which I was so excited about! It contains nine travel friendly products that would be perfect for a staycation, weekend away or mini city break. Unlike quite a few beauty boxes, it contains really good sample sizes and the products are from brands that are well know and fantastic such as Nails Inc, REN, Philosophy and many more!

The product I was most excited about is the Nails Inc London Polish in Sloane Mews which is a full size polish - it's 14ml and it's huge. I adore the deep plum shade that almost looks like a rich blackberry shade with two coats. It applies SO quickly, literally just one swipe on each nail and it's covered; I was very impressed.

I was also really excited about the REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion (50ml); I adore REN skincare and I have wanted to try their Rose Otto range for years so I couldn't wait to try this body lotion. I thought it would have a sweet or powdery rose scent but it is really musky and gorgeous - love it!

The box contains a few products that I've heard of and can't wait to try such as the Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye Cream (3ml) which would be perfect for travelling as the tube is small and it has a nozzle dispenser and the Melvita L'Or Bio Huile Extrodinaire (17ml) which is a hair, body and facial oil and I'm all about hair and facial oils so I will be trying this mini soon.

I used to adore Charles Worthington products as a teenager but I haven't tried anything from the brand for a while so I'm interested to try the Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave-In Conditioner as I always hear great things about Charles Worthington products.

We're down to the last few products, the Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream is a product I've seen on a few blogs over the past couple of months. It comes in a super cute tub and I've heard great things about it, especially for the low price tag.

I've you've been following my blog for a while, you will know how much I love skincare but I'm a little cautious as I have sensitive skin however one of the skincare products included was from Merumaya which is a brand that I've already tried and I know I like. The sample included is the Merumaya Mud Marvels Mask which is a tiny sample but for a one time use, it's a good size.

I think one product that always appears in beauty boxes, which you many think is a bad thing, are hand creams. I always have such dry hands so they are always welcome and in this box the hand cream is The Organic Pharmacy Marigold and Comfry Hand Cream. I haven't tried anything from this brand but it looks interesting and the hand cream is great so far!

Last but not least, the Sanctuary Spa Ultimate Cleansing Oil - I have tried so many of their body products over the years and myself, my sister, my mum and my aunties are all big fans of the brand; however I haven't tried any of their skincare so I will definitely be giving this one a go.

Overall, I think this is a fantastic beauty box considering that the samples sizes are fantastic, the samples are from well know and loved brands and the range of samples is great too, from a face mask sample and creams to a leave-in conditioner, eye cream and hair oil. For the price I think it is just amazing and I cannot recommend it enough! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

What do you think of the Latest in Beauty Weekend Away box? Have you tried any of the Latest in Beauty boxes? 

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Father's Day: American Crew Gift Ideas

Father's Day in the UK is almost here and I don't know about you but I find buying gifts for men so difficult and I always end up with the same products and the same brands every year but my dad doesn't mind as I know he will use them but it must be boring to get the same presents every year. So when this amazing package came from American Crew I was so excited as I know my dad will love so many of these products and it's a brand he hasn't tried before.

American Crew products range from haircare, hair styling, shaving products and gift sets; the prices for individual products and gift sets is really reasonable. The products my dad would love and use the most will be the shaving products which have the khaki coloured packaging. There's the *American Crew Moisturising Shave Cream (£10.95, 150ml), the *American Crew Precision Shave Gel (£10.60, 150ml) and the *American Crew Post-Shave Cooling Lotion (£12.95, 125ml), all of which contain great ingredients such as pumpkin seed extract, tea tree leaf oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, clove flower oil and many more.

They also have an amazing and very extensive range of haircare and hair styling products to choose from, some of which I have been using *sorry dad*. The *American Crew Daily Moisturising Shampoo (£13.20, 250ml) and the *American Crew Daily Conditioner (£11.50, 250ml), both smell so nice - they have a really refreshing minty scent which my dad will love! 

I've been trying some of the hair styling products including the *American Crew Ultramatte (£13.95, 100ml) which is a 'medium hold fixative with no shine'. I have been using it on the ends of my hair for texture and to define the layers I have but it doesn't add shine which is fantastic for me as products like this can sometimes make my hair look really greasy! I've also been using the *American Crew Boost Cream (£13.95, 100ml) which is an 'anti-gravity styling cream' and as with the previous product, it adds texture and hold to my hair without weighting it down or making it look greasy; they also have a powder version of the Boost Cream which looks interesting. 

I also have the *American Crew Moulding Clay, Firm Hold Gel, Light Hold Styling Gel, Superglue and the Grooming Spray, all of which would be great gifts on their own or you could make a Father's Day hamper and include a range of products! Overall, I think the products would make fantastic Father's Day gifts and I know my dad will love the shaving products and shampoo/conditioner especially! 

Now onto a super short video with closeups of the products, if you have any problems with the video, just email me and I'll try to fix it.

Have you tried or bought anything from American Crew? What will you be buying this Father's Day? 

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Road Trip Wanderlust ft. eShores

Summer is almost here and that means for most people, summer holidays and vacations! We are hopefully going on another Royal Caribbean cruise this year *fingers crossed* so I'm in a holiday mood. I adore travelling around Europe as I love the different cultures, the architecture and the amazing history and landmarks; however I do want to visit America (not just for Sephora but you know...SEPHORA - imagine choirs of angels singing).

The lovely people at eShores have kindly sent me a package of travel and road trip essentials as this year is Route 66's 90th anniversary. It was one of the original highways built in the US and it includes the states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California so it would be a great road trip, encompassing quite a few states on the way. eShores have created a guide to some of the main attractions and places to eat in each state as well as a Route 66 playlist.

I'd love to road trip around America, including the famous Route 66 but I would also love to an epic road trip down the east coast of Canada and America including Nova Scotia, Maine, New York and Washington DC which would be amazing! Also I'd love to go on a road trip around Scandinavia; I've been to a few places in Scandinavia such as Sweden, Finland and Denmark but I think a road trip including The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway would be incredible *serious wanderlust right now!*.

Also how freakin' cute is the camera lens mug?!

Where you you like to go on a road trip? 

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Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion & Lip Balm

Green People is a brand that I have tried a few things from and I have loved literally every single product! I have some of their sensitive skincare which I have already reviewed on my blog so you can check it out if you want and I was recently sent some of their sun care products to test out and they came just in time for a glorious couple of sunny weekends we've had in Manchester recently! Green People have a few great articles about the truth about UVA protection, the truth about SPF 50 and about waterproof sun lotion.

The sun isn't something you usually see in Manchester but when you do, it's gorgeous and so hot as it has been recently. I rarely use SPF, even on holiday, which is awful I know but I find sun creams can be so heavy and greasy on my skin so I'm put off using them. However, I received the *Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF30 (£21, 200ml) which I actually really like! It is non-irritating so it's perfect for sensitive skin as all of the products from Green People are; it's also water resistant and 78% of the ingredients used are organic.

The sun lotion looks and feels like most others but it does absorb quite quickly and doesn't leave a heavy or greasy feeling residue on the skin. It doesn't irritate my skin and I have been using it almost constantly for the past few weekends earlier in the month when we had a heatwave - obviously it isn't sunny or hot now! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

I also received the *Green People Soft Lips Lip Balm SPF8 (£5.50, 10ml) which comes in a super handy squeezy tube so it is perfect for travelling or keeping in your handbag, the latter is what I have been doing. My lips can be quite dry most of the time so a lip balm is essential but I don't have one that has SPF so I'm glad I have this one. It is a fairly glossy which is something I don't like but it is moisturising and smoothing. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you tried anything from Green People? 

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Illumicrate Book Subscription Box: May 2016

We all know by now that I'm obsessed with books so a book subscription box is just amazing and so exciting to me! Illumicrate is a quarterly book subscription service and I received the May box a couple of weeks ago now. It is £29.99 which is quite expensive in my opinion, lucky I was sent a 10% off code but I have to cancel my subscription for now because I've just had to spend over £700 on driving lessons *adulting is no fun*. In the box you get one new book release as well as lots of other goodies, I thought there would be maybe 2 or 3 extras but there were so many!

The book that came in the May box is When We Collided by Emery Lord which is a contemporary romance *I think* which is so far from the genres that I usually read - I'm definitely more of a fantasy, historical fiction, magical realism and mystery book lover so I don't know when I'll get around to reading this but I love the cover and it came with a sticker/bookplate that is signed by the author!

The other goodies that came with the book included an adorable plastic mug from The Art of Escapism which I will get a lot of use out of, a freakin' gorgeous 'Readers Gonna Read' book pin from Literary Emporium, a cute stamp from Little Stamp Store, the cutest bookworm clip from My Bookish Mark and a very appropriate addition for me, a 'To Be Read' list notepad from Goodnight Boutique - this is perfect for book bloggers and booktubers. My favourite items have to be the pin, notepad and book club mug. 
There were also some extras including: postcards with the same artwork as the book cover, adverts for other books, cute badges and a exclusive sampler from Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor which I am SO excited for! The book doesn't come out until September this year but the sampler is a really descent size at 60 pages.

Overall, even though I'm not a fan of the genre of the book that came in the May/third box, I am really happy with all of the amazing bookish goodies and extras that were included in the box. I love the mug, pin and the sampler. I have cancelled my subscription for now, adulting has to take priority *cries* but I would recommend this subscription service. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you read When We Collided? What do you think of Illumicrate? 

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Book Reviews: The New Ghost & The Unreliable History Of Tattoos

2016 is definitely the year of reading and new bookish discoveries for me and one of those discoveries is graphic novels. I have one which is darker and halloween themed but this is the first one that I've been super excited about and the first one that I've read fully.

I was very kindly sent *The New Ghost by Robert Hunter (£6.50) for review from the incredibly lovely people at Nobrow Publishing and I am very happy with it! Just look at it *stares*, it's so gorgeous. I adore the art style, it's unusual and just beautiful but minimalist too.

This graphic novel is Robert Hunter's debut and it's beautiful! The story is so beautiful, how many times can I type beautiful in this post. It follows a new ghost, who can't keep up with the others and becomes left behind. An astronomer, Tom, finds the ghost and they embark on a short but poetic and endearing journey.

There will be some spoilers now so if you don't want to read on, just skip to the summary! The story to me is so unique and special in a way. It seems that ghosts have the 'job' of transporting special people when it is their time to die to the skies where they becomes stars to twinkle and watch over the world for thousands of years to come, that's my interpretation, it may not be correct but that's what I took from this touching graphic novel.

Overall, I adore the art style, it's unique and gorgeous! I also adore the touching and endearing story too! This was my first graphic novel and I cannot wait to read more, as it's beautifully produced and so quick and easy to read. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

I was also very kindly sent *An Unreliable History of Tattoos by Paul Thomas (£14.99) which I was immediately drawn to because it's so eye catching and I have tattoos myself. It is equally as gorgeously illustrated and designed as The New Ghost. Both are beautifully published and very unique - this book is an illustrated and comic take on some facts, historical figures and tattoos. I adore the colourful, sometimes rude and ridiculous illustrations.

Some of the information is true and interesting for example: the ancient Egyptians had a method of tattooing and the tattoos can still be seen on ancient Egyptian mummies, also ancient Britons and the Picts were tattooing themselves with blue dye and the origin of the word tattoo comes from a Polynesian word 'tattawing'. Although some of it is satire and hilarious! I think this book would be an interesting and very unique gift for anyone interested in tattoos. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!

Have you read any graphic novels or illustrated books? What are you currently reading? 

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Willoughby Book Club + Book Review

I haven't tried any kind of book subscription service until this one, although I have tried so many beauty and even a couple of food subscription services. One of my goals for 2016 was to read 30 books as I hardly read at all last year and I wanted to change that and since then I have been completely obsessed - I'm one of those people that when I find something I like or want to collect, I can't be stopped!

I have so many books on my shelves now and I am only 9 away from finishing my 2016 reading goal and we aren't half way through the year yet so I am really happy with my progress especially as I only read about 6/7 books last year and they were all re-reads (the bloody amazing and very steamy blackdagger brotherhood series by J.R Ward). I am always looking for book recommendations, I particularly love mystery, fantasy, historical fiction and magical realism books and recently I'm loving classics so I was super excited when a mystery book arrived from the super lovely people at The Willoughby Book Club.

The mystery book arrived really nicely packaged with twine and included bookmarks and badges too which is a really nice addition. The book is selected for you based on your stated preferences and I received a book that I have been wanting to read for a while, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. I adore the cover and even though it looks really chunky and a bit daunting, I flew through it in two days as I couldn't put it down! I stayed up until around 2am to finish it and I have already ordered the next book. So the mystery book turned out to be a very good choice and I adore it however with any kind of subscription service, whether it is food, makeup or books, you will run the risk of receiving something you don't want or already have.

The Bone Season follows eighteen year old Paige, who is part of an underground collection of people who have 'magic' abilities, I type magic but it isn't really but that's the best way I can describe it. The book has so many terms for the different special abilities these people called 'unnaturals' have such as cartomancer, dreamwalker, soothsayers, mediums, oracle and so on as well as many, many others not just for the people but the world in general so it is a little confusing but thankfully there is a glossary at the back of the book. The book is really gripping from the start and only contains to be so as you progress through the book.

It is very action packed at times, it is sad and melancholy at times and it is unlike anything else I've read with monsters, an imaginative and almost dystopian world and an easy to read writing style. I always think it is best to go into a book not knowing much which is great for me as this book is too complex to explain in a paragraph or two. It reminded me slightly of x-men and the hunger games but it's so much more than that and I cannot recommend it enough. I was a little disappointed by the ending but it means that there is another book for me to read! However, if you're looking for an easy read then this is not it as there are SO many characters and terms to get to grips with and the story is quite fast paced and at the end of each chapter you're always left wanting to know more. I'm currently reading The Mime Order which is the second book and I'm loving it; once you get into the world, you won't want to leave...ever. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm really happy with the book and the service from The Willoughby Book Club as well as the presentation and extras included. You can choose from a lot of book subscription boxes such as the young adults box, baby books, classics, fiction lovers and more! There are 3 month, 6 month and 12 month subscription options and for every subscription box sold, they will donate one new book to Book Aid International which is fantastic! Can't recommend enough!

Have you read The Bone Season? Are you subscribed to a book subscription box/service? 

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Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder

When it comes to skincare, French brands know their stuff and you should definitely check out brands such as Bioderma, Avene, La Roche Posay and of course, Vichy. I've tried some of their skincare which I liked and I also reviewed their Dermablend Foundation which I love! I was so excited when I was able to review the *Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder (£15) as I've heard nothing but incredible things about it.

The powder hypoallergenic, fragrance free, non-comedogenic (it doesn't sit in pores) and it contains SPF30 which is amazing! I couldn't wait to try it so I used it before taking any photographs *naughty blogger* and I am now one of those people who cannot stop raving about this setting powder.

It is a white powder but becomes colourless when blended and it comes with a sponge which I have been using but I'll have to throw it away soon as it can't really be washed or cleaned properly. The powder is designed to be used to set the Vichy Dermablend Foundations but I have been using it on any foundation or concealer I have as well as on bare, makeup free skin. The powder instantly mattifies but it doesn't highlight dryness *unless it's really bad* and it gives my skin a blurred and perfected look, who doesn't want that! They suggest to use it almost as if you are baking, by applying the powder generously with the sponge and then waiting and dusting off the excess but I've just been using it however I want - with the sponge or with a brush.

I've been using it every day I have worn makeup since I received it and I will definitely be buying another when this one runs out as it's just perfection. It sets my makeup without adding colour or coverage, it keeps my skin relatively matte for most of the day, it helps my makeup last longer, it doesn't highlight dryness and it make my skin look like it has a perfecting and blurring veil over it. A little of the powder goes a long way so I can see this tub lasting me ages and I cannot recommend it enough - you just need to buy it! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

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Exante Diet Food Range

Summer is almost here and that means that I can't cover up in layers upon layers, under a blanket *I'd love to be like that all of the time* and I have come to the realisation that I will have to shed the layers of wool and blankets and wear more weather appropriate clothing especially as the weather in the UK recently has been so sunny and warm! I have never been that happy with my weight/figure and it doesn't help that I adore food and cooking so it was great timing that I was contacted to see if I wanted to try some diet food and meal replacements from Exante Diet. 

I was kindly sent a range of their products from meals, snacks and shakes, all of which I have tried and I now have mini reviews on. If you want more in depth thoughts or the nutritional information then leave me a comment below and I will reply as soon as I can! 

*Exante Diet Thai Green Curry with Rice Pot Meal 

This is the first item I tried from the range that I was sent and it is definitely one of my favourites! It is Vegetarian Society approved, it is a good source of protein and each pot contains 281 calories. The pot contains soya mince as a vegetarian alternative and I do like soya mince but it does have a mushy texture which combined with the rice makes for a one textured and just mushy meal. However, it is really tasty, a little spicy and it is very filling! Perfect for a work lunch or on the go. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Exante Diet Double Chocolate Chip Flavour Cookie

I was excited to try this one as I do have a weakness for cookies but this was quite different to what I thought it would be like - it is very dense and a little bit savoury which I wasn't expecting. The cookie is yummy and it's also very filling but I probably wouldn't want to try this one again. However, it high in protein, fibre and vitamins and minerals so it tastes a bit naughty but it isn't unhealthy. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*Exante Hot Cross Bun Flavoured Bar

I love hot cross buns, so I thought I would love this but I have mixed feelings! The bar has a fudge consistency and texture which I like and it does have a overall nice flavour but I don't think it tastes like hot cross buns - it tastes like fudge with a white chocolate coating. I do like it but I don't think I would want it again; however I think it will appeal to some as it is sweet, fudge like and filling as everything else in the range is. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*Exante Protein Crackers (Dutch Cheese)

I used to eat things like this all the time as a snack as they usually don't contain a lot of calories and you can put whatever toppings you want on them. I really like these they don't contain a lot of calories and they have a mixture of seeds in them such as flaxseeds,  sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. I've been liking these for lunch with cream cheese and salad on them as even though they have cheese inside then you don't really taste it at all. They are filling, tasty and obviously very easy to prepare for a snack or lunch. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Exante Curried Sweet Potato Soup

I love sweet potato, it's amazing as an alternative to fries or in a hearty spiced chowder with butternut squash and dill so I was excited to give this one a go. Firstly, I'm not a fan of the packaging, I think it would be better if it was in a tub container. The soup itself really doesn't look appealing at all but it smells so nice and it tastes really good too! It is spicy to me as I can't handle spicy food but it was flavourful too and really filling. Along with the Thai rice pot meal, I'd definitely recommend it. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Exante Chocolate Orange Meal Replacement Bar 

During high school, for breakfast, I almost always had a breakfast bar/cereal bar as I was usually running late and they are quick and easy and this is pretty much a breakfast bar to me - it would be great on the go, it is perfect for breakfast or lunch and it kind of tastes like a Terry's chocolate orange! Along with the soup and rice pot, I'd also really recommend this bar! It's probably my favourite item from the range that I've tried! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Exante Flavoured Shakes 

I am not a fan of milkshake drinks or anything like that so I wasn't really excited to try these but the flavours sounded nice, especially the honeycomb flavour! The honeycomb shake smells amazing, like toffee or banoffee ice cream but sadly I'm not a fan - the texture is a bit thick and creamy which I wasn't expecting and it tastes quite artificial. The vanilla flavour is the same sadly. Overall rating: ★★☆☆☆, 2/5. 

Overall, there are some products that I loved such as the soup, crackers, the chocolate orange bar and the rice pot meal which I would definitely recommend and that I'd love to try again but then there are others that I didn't like so much, including the shakes, cookie and hot cross bun bar. I think the products are well worth trying and they have quite a wide range of products to choose from including a fair few vegetarian options! 

Have you tried anything from Exante Diet? Have you tried any diet food brands? 

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The Queen's 90th Birthday + British Problems

If you are British then you probably know but the Queen is celebrating her 90th birthday and to celebrate I have a cute and very British post for you all! The super lovely people at Deramores which is the 2015 winner for the best online knitting store *I cannot knit, I've tried* but I'd love to be able to knit, sent me some goodies.

I received a very generous box of goodies including tea *obviously*, Cath Kidston jam *who knew that Cath Kidston made jam!*, decorations, a cute mug, cupcake cakes and bunting which my mum has her eye on!

One of my favourite books is Very British Problems which I read in 2014, I think and it is now a TV show. So I wanted to share some of the very british problems that I encounter:

- Apologising when you bump into someone even when it was their fault for not looking where they were going 

- When a stranger talks to you on the bus and you are so shocked that someone is defying the unspoken (literally) rule of not talking on public transport that you quietly babble in response 

- Needing to cough in public but you're in a quiet shop so you hold it in until you eyes water  

- That feeling on a bank holiday monday where you have to have do ALL the DIY, leading to more and more jobs to do 

- The utter and genuine look of devastation and horror on the face of everyone when someone says that they don't like tea, scones or victoria sponge cake 

As much as I would love to live in Italy or the south of France *who wouldn't*, I am proud to be British! We are a very unique nation which has specific and quite unusual traditions. I freakin' adore English history *I've probably watched 80% of all English history documentaries out there* and I wish I had taken history as an A-Level instead of chemistry.

There are some drawbacks to our unusual culture and traditions, see Very British Problems but there are some nostalgic, timeless and lovely traditions, quirks and landmarks too such as afternoon tea, our amazing castles, ancient history and royal palaces and our stubborn and resolute nature but we are also a nostalgic nation too.

If you're visiting the UK then there are some things you should probably know: tea is basically a religion here, don't mention football or rugby as we have strong options and it will lead to an argument, we don't all have awful teeth (I believe that this is an American misnomer about the British), there's more to the UK than just London and yes, it will rain constantly but also bring sun lotion, a winter coat and wellington boots...just in case.

What are your Very British Problems? What are your favourite or least favourite things about the UK? 

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Indigo Nutrition Raw Vegan Chocolate Kit

I love chocolate, although I'm quite picky about it but when this kit arrived, I was SO excited as it is a chocolate making kit - not a 'melt the chocolate, put it in a mould' kit but it contains cacao butter, syrup and more to actually make chocolate!

The *Indigo Nutrition Organic Raw Chocolate Starter Kit (£12.99, 300g) contains organic raw cacao butter, organic raw cacao powder, organic raw agave syrup and organic raw vanilla powder as well as instructions. I love the packaging, the instructions are easy to follow and I think it would make such a fantastic and really unique gift.

The kit makes dairy free, vegan chocolate so it's a bit healthier than regular chocolate and it doesn't contain additives or extras that you don't want. It makes approx. 20 bars of chocolate but I didn't find that it made that much but still a good amount. The instructions first state to melt the cacao butter at a temperature of 45 degrees celsius which took ages (well about 40 minutes or so) and I did have to buy a food thermometer to make sure it melted at the correct temperature but other than that it is a quick and easy process.

The only thing I wish the instructions included was how the mixture should look and what the texture should be like as I thought the final mixture was quite thick; I thought it would have the consistency of melted chocolate but it doesn't and it made it a little harder to fully fill in the moulds that I used. I picked a 'rolo' style chocolate mould and letters - they both turned out better than I thought they would!

The chocolate itself does have a dark chocolate, bitter taste but not overly so and it is so incredibly smooth, it is just like regular chocolate that contains dairy. My parents, sister and aunties have tried it and they ALL loved them! I was a little dubious about the quality, as I haven't made anything like this before and the instructions say to put the chocolate in the fridge to set (which I thought would make it look dull) but the chocolates were all so shiny!

Overall, I think the kit is fantastic and I'm really happy with the final result and everyone loves the taste of them! I think the price of the kit is great as it's fun to do (although the first part is quite time consuming) and the quality is great! I think it would make a lovely gift for any food/chocolate lovers. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

What do you think of this kit? Have you tried anything from Indigo Nutrition? 

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Gift Ideas: Woodpecker & Weasel

When it comes to gift giving, I always want to give something special, personalised and or unique - I also love receiving gifts like that too! I was very kindly sent a range of gifts from the Etsy store Woodpecker & Weasel which is an Etsy store based in beautiful Cornwall featuring a range of unique handmade gifts, greeting cards, jewellery and homeware. All of the items came well protected and packaged really nicely!

*Woodpecker & Weasel Oyster Shell Ring Dish (£6)

How unique is this ring dish, it is a purple/blue oyster shell that has a printed interior. The one I have is painted gold but there are options of silver pewter, white fire gold and copper. It doesn't have to be used for rings, they could be used for most small things. I have been using mine for earrings as they are SO easy to lose, especially earring backs! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Woodpecker & Weasel Hand Poured Oyster Shell Candles (£9-16)

 If you know me then you will know how much I love candles! These have to be the most unique candles I have and they smell amazing! I have the almond coconut candles which smell just like summer which is perfect as while I'm typing this, it is raining and grey outside...They don't burn/melt complete evenly as they are in oyster shells so you wouldn't expect that but I'm really happy with them. If you don't fancy the almond coconut scent, they also have: vanilla, rose, white chocolate, fresh linen, fresh orange and many more including lavender and geranium which both sound amazing! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm really happy with all three products I received and how they were packaged! They would make lovely gifts and the candles smell so lovely and at least I can try and imagine that it is summer because rain and clouds sure don't look like summer! I'd definitely recommend checking out this adorable Etsy store - I need to visit Etsy more often! Now onto my video:

What do you think of these gifts? Do you buy from Etsy? 

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Dermalogica Super Sensitive Shield

I have a confession, I very rarely use SPF, whether at home in grey and gloomy England or on holiday in sometimes intense sunshine (oops!) but I want to change that as I know that looking after your skin is obviously important and protecting your skin from harmful UV rays is also very important to help prevent skin cancer and for anti-ageing reasons. However, I do have sensitive skin prone to eczema which can sometimes react to SPF so I am wary to try them, although I have tried a few products from Dermalogica before and loved them! 

I have the *Dermalogica Super Sensitive Shield SPF30 (£39.40, 50ml) which is part of the 'ultra calming' range and I have already reviewed a few samples of this range on my blog if you wanted to read more. It contains the exclusive oat complex, including oat and botanical extracts to help minimise discomfort, itching and burning. It also provides hydration and it's free from artificial fragrances, colour and parabens. 

I love the packaging, it is very compact and small so it will be perfect for travelling! It has a runny sun lotion consistency which applies smoothly and it is fairly fast absorbing although it does feel a little greasy on the skin. It doesn't really have a scent and most importantly it doesn't irritate my skin! The best way to use this product, I have found anyway, is to apply it with my foundation brush - it means that my hands don't become greasy, the product is applied evenly and it almost acts as a makeup primer too. 

The weather in England recently as been amazing *on and off because we can't just have a whole week or even more of nice weather, that would be asking far too much* but on the sunny days, I've been wearing this SPF under my makeup and on makeup free skin and loving it. My skin doesn't really burn anyway but it's good to feel like I'm protecting my skin. I'm really happy with it and if you have sensitive skin then this is a great one to try out, unless you have very oily skin! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Have you tried this SPF? Have you tried anything from Dermalogica? 

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Tweezerman Spring Summer Range

Last year I was a Tweezerman ambassador, which was amazing and I was generously sent a lot of wonderful Tweezerman products to try out and a couple of weeks ago I received this lovely package from the amazing people at Tweezerman which includes some of their spring/summer 2016 releases!

I LOVE Tweezerman products and I have done since well before I started my blog - I adore their mini tweezers *I have only used their tweezers for the past six or so years* and I also love the eyelash curlers which I love so much more than my expensive Shu Uemura one; additionally their brow mousse is amazing especially for unruly brows like mine.

The spring/summer range is so fun and colourful and includes some fantastic sets! I always love the cute and colourful prints Tweezerman have on their tweezers and this season is no different. I have tried some of the products, I don't need to try the tweezers as I know they are the best tweezers ever but in this package came a few unique products and ones I hadn't tried before. All of these products should be available to buy now.

*Tweezerman Moroccan Oasis Slant Tweezer (£22.95) 

How freakin' gorgeous is this print! It is inspired by moroccan bold print patterns and textiles. The tweezers are the full size version and they are award winning, obviously. There are a few other products that also have this super summery print including a mini slant tweezer and mirror duo and a nail file. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Tweezerman Easy Finish Facial Hair Remover (£15)

I have tried the full size/other version of this facial hair remover which I liked but sadly I wasn't blown away by but I am definitely intrigued to try this one. It is incredibly compact and thin so it would be perfect for keeping in your handbag or for travelling.

*Tweezerman Curl & Go Eyelash Curler (£19)

I've already said how much I love their eyelash curlers, I have a couple and they are just perfect - so much better, in my opinion, than the cult Shu Uemura lash curler. that I have I have to admit that this device does look a little strange but it is quite compact and small so again it would be great for travelling. I've tried it a few times and once you get used to it, it works well! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Tweezerman The Birds Of A Feather Mini Slant Tweezer (£14.95)

I have a few of their mini tweezers, I love my first pair of Tweezerman tweezers which have an adorable ladybug print on them. This print is equally cute and so summery as it has toucans on them; I also love the hot pink! I cannot recommend Tweezerman tweezers enough, especially the mini tweezers - how many times have I typed tweezers in this post?! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Tweezerman Mini Face Brush Contour Set (£34.95)

This set is definitely my favourite from the ones I received in the package as I have wanted to try the Tweezerman makeup brushes for a while. The set includes: mini pointed foundation brush, mini contour foundation brush and the cute pink blending sponge which is great for me as I hate the Primark one I'm currently using.

The contour foundation brush is perfect for applying liquid foundation and I've tried it with powder and cream contour as well and it works SO well. Both brushes are really smooth, soft and multi-use as they could both be used for foundation and contour; additionally the pointed brush could be amazing for concealer. My main problem with makeup blending sponges is that they can be too hard even when damp but this one is great! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm so happy with all of the products I received, especially the makeup brushes which I will get so much use out of. The prints are adorable and perfect for spring/summer. If you haven't tried anything from Tweezerman *what are you doing!*, then you definitely should! I can't recommend Tweezerman products enough! Now onto my video:

Have you tried anything from Tweezerman? What do you think of the spring/summer collection? 

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OneByOne Rose Gold Open Ring

When it comes to jewellery I love rose gold pieces, as a blogger I've been conditioned to think that rose gold and marble are the ultimate goal and rose gold jewellery is a staple. I have quite a few rose gold necklaces and rings but I need more!

I was very kindly sent the *OneByOne Arrow Open Cuff Rose Gold Vermeil Ring (£49) in the size J. The packaging the ring came in is just gorgeous! I love the bag, branding, ribbons and the cute pouch the ring was in. The ring is comes in rose gold, yellow gold and white rhodium. The core metal is 925 sterling silver which is hallmarked and it has a 14ct rose gold vermeil overlay.

I adore the design, it's so unique and sparkly but it's minimal too and you know that's my aesthetic! I love rose gold, it looks so pretty and chic to me and it goes with every outfit; it can be easily worn casually or dressed up. I didn't know how it would feel on as it is an unusual design and I don't have a ring like this but it is relatively comfortable to wear and it fits well. I've been wearing it a lot since I received and as well all rose gold pairs so nicely with grey tones.

Overall, I love this ring, it's so pretty and so unique compared to the other rings I own. Rose gold jewellery is always going to be so chic and easy to style. The packaging is gorgeous so even just aesthetically it would be such a lovely gift! Here are some of the other gorgeous pieces from OneByOne Jewellery:

What do you think of the ring and the rose gold pieced from OneByOne Jewellery? 

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Isle Of Wolf Candles ft. My Pure

Candles are one of those things, along with books, makeup, perfume and pretty stationery, that I can't get enough of! I have a 'candle drawer' in my bedroom and in my study where I keep all of my candles, wax melts and candle holders, yes, it's a bit of a problem.

However, I cannot say no to a pretty candle or two so when I had to opportunity to work with the lovely people at My Pure, I had to choose a couple of gorgeously luxe candles. I had to. My Pure is a website that features organic, natural and more niche brands as well as more famous brands such as Trilogy, Balance Me, Barefoot SOS, Ecotools and the Yes To...range, most of which I've tried products from and loved.

Isle Of Wolf Lavender Garden Candle (£15, 190ml)

Now, let's start by saying that the brand name is just fantastic, as is the luxe packaging! The candles are all handmade from the historic Vilksala manor house near the Baltic sea - how fancy! If you've been following my blog for a while then you will know that I am obsessed with anything that is lavender scented so obviously I had to choose the 'lavender garden' candle. The candles burn evenly, unlike most I've tried and they look so pretty.

The lavender scent is really authentic, not overly sweet or overpowering, it's quite subtle which I think most people would love but I personally would prefer the scent to be a bit stronger as I'm obsessed with lavender; it's such a relaxing scent to me. Each candle has a heatproof and scratchproof coaster attached to it which is such a unique and fantastic idea - I haven't seen that on any other candle! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Isle Of Wolf Bourbon Vanilla Candle (£15, 190ml)

Again, gorgeous packaging and I love the coaster on the bottom which is also beautifully designed. As well as lavender, vanilla is one of the most relaxing and calming scents I can imagine. The vanilla scent to this candle is so warm, musky and rich, it's heavenly. As with the lavender candle, it burns really evenly so there is no wasted wax/money. The scent dispersion of both candle is pretty good especially considering that both are quite subtle. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I adore these candles - they look incredibly beautiful (even the boxes they came in were SO pretty) and I think they would make lovely gifts. The scents are authentic and gorgeous but not overpowering or too sweet. I would have liked them to be a bit stronger but that's just my preference. Unlike quite a few candles I've tried, they burn incredibly evenly so there is no wasted wax and therefore money. I cannot recommend these candles enough. My Pure offers free UK delivery too which is fantastic!

Have you tried anything from My Pure or Isle Of Wolf? What are your favourite candle scents? 

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My Blog Is 4 Today + Giveaway

Today my blog is 4 years old! I feel like a proud parent *squeals* and I cannot believe that I have published over 1,000 posts over the past four years. It has gone by so quickly and my blog has grown so much and I'm really grateful for all of my followers, page views and social media followers - also for the lovely comments I receive!

To celebrate, I am hosting an amazing giveaway thanks to the lovely people at Nice Nails Baby! The giveaway is UK only and to enter, just complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below. The prize is a 6 month subscription to the Nice Nails Baby. I reviewed their first subscription bag last month and I loved it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This winner has been contacted - thanks for entering!

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Scholl Wet & Dry Foot File

I have wanted to try a product like this for so long however I'm always a little spectacle about 'beauty tools' and to be honest the adverts for electric foot files make me feel quite ill! I always very kindly sent the *Scholl Velvet Smooth Wet & Dry Foot File (£59.99) which is a rechargeable device that is waterproof so it can be used in the bath or shower!

I know product reviews regarding feet can gross people out, I completely understand, then maybe this post isn't for you. However, I've wanted to try this for a while and I was excited when it arrived. It is so easy to set up and charge, you need to charge it fully with it's stand before you use it; mine was fully charged in about an hour.

The device comes with the handle, charging stand and plug/USB cable and the roller head - you only get one roller head in the kit, I think they should have included and extra especially for the price. The device is comfortable to hold and so incredibly easy to use. You just turn it on and it will start up on the first speed (there's a second faster speed option). It does sound a little loud and it looks slightly terrifying but it isn't as harshly exfoliating as I thought it would be.

It is definitely powerful and exfoliating enough to work well on drier areas, for me anyway and like the advert you do see the effectiveness of the device *shudder*. It isn't painful or too exfoliating, it's so quick and easy to use and it is just very handy. I've used it wet and dry and there isn't much of a difference but I think it works slightly more effectively when you have soaked in the bath for a while and the skin is much softer. I've used it a few times and I'm happy with it, although it isn't something I would need to use very regularly but it leaves the dry much smoother.

My dad bought some replacements roller heads (approx. £20 for a pack of two which is a little pricey in my opinion) so he could try it out too. This is the gross part, my dads feet are SO much drier and in need of a tonne of TLC compared to mine so I guess it was a fantastic test of the device. He also used the device wet and dry (which I think is a great feature) and it worked really well for him; although he said it would be better if it was more powerful and I do have to agree. Another good feature is that if you are pressing too hard, the device will stop working until you reduce the pressure.

Overall, I think it is incredibly quick and easy to set up and use. I love that it can be used wet and dry and it did work well for myself and my dad although I do think it would be better if it was a bit more powerful. I haven't used the product for a long time so I don't know how often it will need to be charged or how long it will take for the roller head to become dull and less effective. It has SO many positive reviews so it's definitely worth trying! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried any of the Scholl foot files? 

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The Happy Bee Company

We all have a favourite scent, to me that is definitely lavender! Lavender is such an incredibly relaxing and calming scent so I am always on the look out for bodycare, skincare, fragrances or pretty much anything that contains lavender. So I was super excited when this lovely package came from The Happy Bee Compact containing some of their wonderful natural, handmade lavender products!

The Happy Bee Company is base din Norfolk, I always love helping and trying products from smaller British companies. They use honey and or beeswax from their own bees in the products, the products also contain blends of oils and there are no chemicals, parabens or allergens in their products.

Firstly, I LOVE the packaging and the boxes the products came in! I know packaging isn't everything but it definitely makes a difference. I have the lavender hand cream, body scrub and body lotion; here are my thoughts:

The Happy Bee Company Lavender Hand Cream (£9.50, 50ml)

I love the packaging and the pump dispenser; the scent is also gorgeous, obviously, who doesn't love lavender! The scent as super strong as I would have liked but it is so nice all the same. The cream, as stated on the tube, is a thick, intense and nourishing cream (suitable for hands, body and face) but it applies and absorbs so quickly. I've been using it constantly as a hand cream since I received it - it doesn't irritate my eczema, it isn't heavy or greasy and it relives dryness and tightness almost instantly! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*The Happy Bee Company Lavender Exfoliating Body Oil Salt Scrub (£10.50, 300ml) 

The scrub smells so nice! It is really exfoliating but not overly so; it leaves my skin so smooth, soft and moisturised with a slight oily feel which makes it perfect to use before shaving. I've been loving the scrub although I never really like scrubs in tub containers because water gets in the tub so I'd rather it was in a tube container. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*The Happy Bee Company Soothing Lavender Body Lotion (£14, 150ml)

Again, I love the packaging and the pump dispenser which makes it more convenient to use. As with the hand cream, it is so fast absorbing (which I love) and it smells lovely but I wish the scent was a little stronger. I also works well as a hand cream, it moisturises my eczema instantly and makes my skin feel so much more comfortable. It's lightweight and smoothing so it's perfect for spring/summer. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Overall, I'm so happy with these products! I love the packaging, the scent (obviously) and the quality - I have been using all three products so much since I received them a couple of weeks ago. If you don't like lavender *I don't know whats wrong with you*, then they do have a lot of other scents such as cherry blossom, white tea and orange blossom, which sound gorgeous!

Have you tried any products from The Happy Bee Company? What are your favourite lavender products? 

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