LookFantastic x Neom Box

We all know by now how much I love the LookFantastic monthly beauty boxes but there's one thing I love more, their limited edition boxes. I've reviewed quite a few on the All Subscription Boxes site but I had to review their latest limited edition box on my blog too as it's just heavenly! The latest box is a collaboration with the brand Neom Organics which is a brand I've wanted to try for years so naturally I was extremely happy when this box arrived.

*LookFantastic x Neom Organics Box (worth £110, only £45)

The box is beautifully packaged (as though we would expect anything else from Neom) and it contains six items, all of which are from the sleep range. The items range from a pillow mist and candle to a hand balm, facial oil, cleansing balm and a body oil so there's a good variety of items within the box. There are a couple of mini sample sizes as well as a few full sized products and I think the value of the box is amazing. If you want to purchase this box for yourself or someone else then you'll have to be quick as it is limited edition so it might sell out quickly as they usually do.

*Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Cleansing Balm 

Let's start with the two facial skincare products in the box, the first of which is a full sized cleansing balm along with a 100% cotton cleansing cloth. The cleansing balm contains cherry blossom, rose, peony and elderflower extracts as well as pure essential oils to cleanse and nourish the skin. I personally love cleansing balms, especially as I do have dry skin. Using the balm alongside the cloth works really well and they leave my skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished.

*Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Facial Oil 

The second and final facial skincare product in the box is a mini sample of their facial oil. It contains vitamins, antioxidants and essential oils to nourish and restore the skin as you sleep. I like the texture of the oil, a little goes a long way and I think it's a great mini travel size. I'll probably save the rest of the bottle for holidays next year.

*Neom Nourish, Breathe and Sleep Hand Balm

Another mini sample is of the hand balm which contains shea butter, cocoa butter and essential oils. I don't have eczema on my hands anymore so hand cream isn't as much of an essential as it used to be but I still like to use hand creams once a day. This hand balm is the nicest smelling hand cream/balm I've ever tried. It smells incredibly relaxing and calming! It also leaves my skin feeling very soft and smooth.

*Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Body Oil

As well as the facial oil, there's also a body oil too. I love using facial oils but I don't tend to use body oils but this one is lovely! It has a gorgeous scent, it's 100% natural and a little goes long way as with the facial oil. I've been using the tiniest amount on drier areas such as my elbows and legs and it definitely moisturises and nourishes the skin in a way that lotions and creams can't.

*Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist

The penultimate item is a very luxurious pillow spray which contains lavender, patchouli and chamomile essential oils, among others. I love the glass bottle, it smells glorious and I have been using it constantly since I received the box - as a pillow mist and also as a room spray. I've tried quite a few pillow mists and I think this one might be my all time favourite!

*Neom Tranquility Scented Candle 

I've always wanted to try Neom's famous candles and I'm so glad that a full sized candle was included in the box, especially as it's the 'tranquility' candle. The fragrance is composed of lavender, sweet basil and jasmine so naturally it smells heavenly. If I was given the opportunity to create my perfect candle scent, I think this Neom candle would be pretty close to perfect!

Overall, I've been lucky enough to receive so many amazing LookFantastic monthly boxes as well as their incredible limited edition boxes but I think that the LFxNeom box is probably my favourite - very closely followed by the 2019 Valentines Day box. I adore every item in the box and I cannot recommend it enough especially for that price!

Have you tried anything from Neom? What do you think of the Lookfantastic x Neom box? 

*Gifted

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June + July Summer Favourites

Today's post is a little overdue and it is going to be fairly long as well so grab a cup of tea or coffee as I'm going to be reviewing all of the beauty and lifestyle products I've been loving over the past two months. I've been lucky over the past couple of months that I've received so many fantastic new products from haircare and skincare to drinks and SPF as well as my current favourite t-shirt!

*Dr Botanicals Cocoa and Coconut Superfood Face Mask (£9)

Let's start with the travel mini's I've received recently and that I've been using (and loving) over the past couple of months. I have tried quite a few products from Dr Botanicals and I've loved all of them so I knew I'd like this mask too. The mini size is ideal for travelling or if you just want to try something from the brand before potentially buying a larger size.

The mask is designed to hydrate and revive the skin with a tonne of natural ingredients such as cacao butter and coconut oil. Even during the heatwave we have been suffering through in the UK, my skin can still be a little dry at times so a hydrating mask is perfect - especially after sun exposure. It is a quick, easy and fuss free mask that is very hydrating and nourishing.

*Collossol Eau De Lait Water Milk Makeup Remover (£9.50, 100ml)

Another skincare favourite is this makeup remover from Collossol which is a French skincare brand - it's a new brand to me but this product has been available in France since the 1950's. It seems to be a combination of a traditional micellar water and a cleansing milk as it has a milky look but on the skin it is non-existent. It is cruelty free and vegan which is fantastic!

I've been using it on a cotton pad to remove my makeup and sometimes in the morning as a quick and easy no-rinse cleanser. It has a very distinctive scent which is very floral and powdery with a hint of citrus that I find quite dated and if you don't like scented products then it might not be for you but I don't mind the scent overall. It removes my base makeup, brows and powders easily and gently but it doesn't seem to be able to fully remove my waterproof mascara sadly, otherwise it would be my new go-to easy cleanser.

*Arbonne RE9 Advanced Overnight Face Jelly (£36, 50ml)

My final skincare favourite is from a brand I haven't really tried before, Arbonne. I've noticed other bloggers reviewing and liking their products but this is my first experience of their skincare and I'm impressed. The Arbonne Overnight Face Jelly is a night moisturiser crossed with an overnight face mask and as with most of the products within today's post, it is cruelty free and vegan!

It has the same packaging design as the amazing Ark Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser - I love the packaging! It has such a refreshing gel like texture and it leaves my skin feeling not only smooth and moisturised but also refreshed and soothed so it's ideal after sun exposure or if your skin is feeling a little dry, tight or uncomfortable and needs a little extra TLC this summer.

*Joico K-Pak Conditioner and Colour Therapy Treatment 

Joico is a brand I've wanted to try since I started blogging back in the carefree days of 2012 (which now seems like a lifetime ago) and luckily I've been sent a few of their products over the years. I have tried the K-Pak range previously and loved it so I knew I'd like using the conditioner and treatment, the latter I haven't tried before.

The conditioner is designed for damaged hair which after colouring mine for ten years is definitely the case, although it doesn't seem to be too much of a problem now. The conditioner is ideal for my dry, thick hair and it manages to make it smoother, less frizzy (the humidity is making my frizzy hair even worse!) and softer which is always a good thing! I've only tried the treatment once and so far it's a great product that provides the same benefits as the conditioner but on a deep level. I cannot recommend Joico products enough, from their K-Pak range to their incredible colour butters.

*Leighton Denny Summer Dream Hand and Nail Cream (£9)

Despite the heatwave we've been having in the UK recently, my hands are still quite dry although not as dry as they were when I had eczema on my hands - rather than using hand cream countless times per day, now I only need to use it once or twice. I've been a fan of Leighton Denny polishes for years, since my aunties first introduced me to the brand in my teens but I haven't tried anything other than the polishes.

The hand cream contains essential oils to leave the skin protected and supple without a greasy residue. The scent is very subtle and to me, it is very clean and fresh. I've been using up a couple of other hands creams I've had in my bag before using this one and now I don't want to use any others as this Leighton Denny hand cream is perfect. It absorbs almost instantly, there is no greasy feeling and it leaves my skin incredibly smooth and soft. If you're looking for a hand cream for the summer, definitely give this one a go.

*Lee Stafford Keep It Clean Pink Clay Dry Shampoo (£5.49, 200ml)

I've already reviewed the shampoo and conditioner from the Lee Stafford 'keep it clean' range within my Latest In Beauty post but today I'm recommending the dry shampoo from the same range. I love the packaging and appearance of the entire range and as far as I know, the dry shampoo (and potentially the rest of the range?) is cruelty free and vegan.

I've been using the dry shampoo during the heatwave we've been having as even though my hair tends to be relatively presentable for three days before it needs washing, I've need to use dry shampoo everyday to make my hair look a little less...horrific during the summer. Unlike my beloved Colab dry shampoo, this one does have a white tint to it but when massaged into the hair, it isn't noticeable, thankfully.

The dry shampoo works wonders on my hair and it might actually take over from Colab as my favourite dry shampoo as the effects are instant and I only need one application for my hair to look far less greasy, whereas I might need a couple of applications of the Colab dry shampoo to have the same effect. One thing I noticed on the bottle is that it suggests to apply the dry shampoo at night and sleep with it in your hair; I tried it and it worked so well!

*Vitage Skin Defence SPF 30 (£26, 100ml)

I have to admit that I'm not the most diligent when it comes to applying SPF, especially as I live in the UK and we rarely see the sun, particularly in Manchester. However, since getting more tattoos, I want to protect them from the sun as much as possible as sun damage is one of the main causes of tattoo fading. I tried a few products from Vitage last year and loved them, especially their eye cream so I had high hopes for their SPF.

I think one of the main reasons I put off using SPF is because of my childhood memories of suncream as being sticky, greasy and thoroughly unpleasant but thankfully the Vitage Skin Defence SPF isn't greasy or heavy on the skin. It also absorbs very quickly, it doesn't leave a white tint or residue and it has the traditional sun cream scent which I have to admit that I love!

*Pago Cloudy Apple Juice 

Now onto a couple of my lifestyle favourites from the past few weeks! First up is the perfect healthy heatwave drink from Pago. A couple of years ago I reviewed their rhubarb and pear juice which I loved and included within a mocktail recipe post which you can read for summer cocktail or mocktail ideas for picnics, summer parties or BBQ's.

I was kindly sent a crate of their delicious juice in the cloudy apple flavour and it's safe to say that they didn't last a week...they are so delicious! Each glass bottle contains 100% cloudy apple juice with vitamin C. It is directly pressed and unfiltered so it maintains the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients. I love fruit juice so I knew I'd love these and they turned out to be the perfect refreshing heatwave drink!

*Jesmundo Vegan T-Shirt (£15.99)

Last but definitely not least is probably my new favourite t-shirt! I was kindly sent a slogan t-shirt from Jesmundo and naturally I had to choose their 'vegan' t-shirt which I chose in a size Medium. I'm generally a UK 8 to 10 and an XS or S in clothing but I chose a Medium for this t-shirt and I'm so glad that I did as the sizes definitely seem to run small. If you want this t-shirt, I'd recommend sizing up, especially as the t-shirt is more on the fitted size already.

The Medium was the perfect size for me and I'm so happy with the fit! I find it very difficult to shop for t-shirts as most white t-shirts are see-through or the t-shirt is too long on my petite frame but thankfully this one is perfect. I also like the quality which is much nicer than other slogan t-shirts I have. Additionally, the simple design fits my style and even though you might not be able to see from the photographs, the colour is an off-white which I think it more flattering than a stark white t-shirt.

I couldn't be happier with my t-shirt from Jesmundo and if you're looking for a unique, simple slogan t-shirt then I cannot recommend them enough. They have such a wide range of styles as well as colours and sizes to choose from. I also liked the social media inspired designs. You can use the code: 4FOR3 to get, you guessed it, four t-shirt for the price of three.

Have you tried any of the products I've reviewed? What have been your favourite beauty or lifestyle items from June or July? 

*Gifted

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Ark Skincare: Age Defend Range

If you've been following my blog for a while then you probably know that I suffer with eczema and I have done for over ten years but at the start of 2019 I switched to a fully vegan diet and my eczema has been almost non-existent on my hands and face since then with only a couple of extremely minor flare-ups due to anxiety within the last seven or so months.

My skin has become almost 'normal' which is incredible and something I never thought would ever happen! There are so many benefits to eczema free skin but one definitely has to be that I can now expand my skincare routine into products that aren't just for sensitive or eczema prone skin. I've been lucky over the past couple of months as I've been sent a range of new skincare products, all of which I like and I'll be reviewing them over the next few weeks. My first review is of a new skincare brand to me, Ark Skincare.

*Ark Skincare Age Defend Cleanser (£25, 200ml)

I was very kindly sent the Ark Skincare Age Defend Cleanser which is part of their 'age defend' range that is aimed at individuals aged between 30 to 40. I'm not within that age group, although I'm getting closer to my 30's now which is something I do not want to think about. I like the term 'age defend' rather than 'anti-ageing' or something similar. The range is vegan friendly and it isn't tested on animals.

The cleanser claims to help the skin's natural exfoliation to reveal radiant, clear skin and effectively removes makeup as well as boosting moisture levels, soothing the skin and helps improve the firmest and elasticity of the skin. It is packed with natural ingredients such as blue lotus flower, moringa oil, kiwi fruit oil, rosemary leaf oil, sage leaf oil and many more - check out their website for more information and the ingredients list.

I've been using the cleanser on and off for the past couple of weeks and I love it! I remove most of my makeup beforehand with either Bioderma on a cotton pad or with my Magnitone cleansing cloths then I'll use this cleanser to clean my skin as well as remove that last traces of makeup. It's a very gentle creamy cleanser, it doesn't irritate my skin at all and it does the job very well. If you're looking for a fuss free, easy and non-drying cleanser, definitely check out this option from Ark Skincare.

*Ark Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser (£35, 50ml)

Next up is my favourite product of the two, the Ark Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser which is also vegan friendly and contains a variety of natural ingredients such as shea butter, olive oil, passionfruit seed oil, orange peel oil and a selection of vitamins. Firstly, I love the packaging (for both products) as it looks sleek and the moisturiser has a pump dispenser built into it which is a packaging style I love. You can see what I mean in terms of the packaging from the images on the product page on their site.

As I said before, my skin doesn't really suffer with eczema at all anymore so it isn't nearly as dry as it once was so it's more towards the normal to dehydrated range but this moisturiser works perfectly for me. It feels rich and nourishing on the skin but it isn't oily or too heavy. As I'm used to applying tonnes of moisturiser to my skin because of eczema, I was using far too much of this moisturiser at first but now a little goes a long way and thankfully I think this tub will last a while.

I love the texture of the moisturiser and the way it leaves my skin looking and feeling so moisturised, smooth, soft and plump. It creates an ideal base for my makeup as all of the BB creams and concealers I've tried have worked perfectly on top of it with none of that awful pilling or greasiness. Overall, my first experience of Ark Skincare is a very positive one and I cannot really find any negatives with either product so I'd definitely recommend this range. I'm currently trying out their Skin Essential SPF 30 Primer which you'll be able to read a review of very soon.

Have you tried anything from Ark Skincare? 

*Gifted

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Nordgreen Watch + Giving Back Program

If you have been following my blog for a while then you might have seen this brand already as I reviewed a beautiful watch from Nordgreen a while ago but today I'm reviewing another watch and mentioning the fantastic 'giving back program'. Thanks so much to Nordgreen for the gorgeous watch!

*Nordgreen Infinity Gold Mesh Watch (£159) 

I was very kindly sent the Infinity Gold Mesh Watch which is part of their Infinity collection. All of their watches are designed by the world famous designer Jakob Wagner of Bang & Olufsen. It's based in Copenhagen (a beautiful city I visited a few years ago) and their designs are quintessentially Scandinavian which combines minimalism, practicality and quality. Check out their new Gold Collection!

The Infinity Gold Mesh Watch also comes in rose gold and silver as well as a wide variety of leather and also nylon options. All of the watch straps are interchangeable so you can alter it to suit your style as it evolves. I would usually opt for a rose gold watch but I love the look of gold jewellery and accessories during the summer months and I'm so glad I decided on the gold mesh option!

I have tattoos on my wrists which always puts me off wearing watches and they are usually a little uncomfortable but thankfully this watch is very comfortable, it doesn't pinch or feel too heavy/cumbersome on the wrist. I love the look of the almost shimmering gold mesh strap and the bright clear face - it looks perfect when paired with my Monica Vinader 'siren' ring.

I've been wearing the watch for the past week, even during the heatwave and it's been completely comfortable and ideal for my summer wardrobe - it makes a nice change from the leather watches I own. The clasp closure is perfect for my teeny tiny wrists which test watch straps by proving that they are almost always too big but this one can be moved depending on the size you need it to be.

I haven't even mentioned the gorgeous packaging that the watches comes in! It is presented in a lush sliding box with all of the instructions included so aesthetically it would make for a beautiful and luxe gift. As well as the watch, I also received a secondary strap for my watch. I chose the *Nordgreen Brown Leather Watch Strap - 32mm (£29) which is gorgeous and there are so many options to choose from. The nylon and mesh straps are their vegan options, if you wish to make that choice.

Lastly, I wanted to mention the 'giving back program' which is fantastic! If you purchase a watch, you can select a cause to choose from by entering your information, including the serial number of your watch. You aren't charged extra if you choose to take part in the program! The causes include: Water for Good (two months worth of clean water is donated to an individual in Central Africa), Pratham UK (two months education to a child in India) and Cool Earth (200 sqft of rainforest in Latin America is preserved).

With the current political climate and the evident environmental damage, it's refreshing and hopeful to see a company that donates to charity and one in which you can clearly see and chose which cause to support with your watch purchase.

If you choose to buy a watch, you can use the code BEAUTY15 to get 15% off!

What do you think of the Nordgreen Infinity Gold Mesh Watch? Will you be using the discount code above? 

*Gifted

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Blog Tour: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

I haven't taken part in a book blog tour for a while as to be honest, there weren't any books that I was very interested in and with a blog tour, I feel even more obliged to finish the book than if I was just sent it from a lovely publisher. So I'm quite selective about the blog tours I ask to join as I don't want to read a book I'm not fully interested in, I don't want to have to DNF a book I was kindly sent and I don't want a publisher to waste a book on someone who isn't excited about it. However, when the opportunity arose to take part in the Girls and Paper and Fire blog tour I was very excited as I actually had this book on my Amazon wish list!

*Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan (304 pages) ★★★★ 

Set in a magical fantasy world where there are various castes of people, we follow Lei who is part of the lowest caste, paper, as she is brutally ripped from her hard and unremarkable life with her father to join the group of paper girls who are to become the concubines to the cruel demon king. Lei stands out not only because she's the ninth paper girl when usually there are only eight but also because she has an unusual feature, especially for a paper girl (the caste of people without any magic), her mesmerising golden eyes.

What follows is a tale of not only courtly rituals, power play, caste differences and rebellion but also friendship, camaraderie and forbidden romance. I have read a fair amount of fantasy but I haven't read anything quite like this before especially in terms of the magical asian inspired world and the castes of people who have various animal features depending on their clan and caste. For example, girls with deer antlers, men with lizard scales and others with bull, boar, eagle or tiger features.

One of my favourite things about this read was the world as it managed to be simultaneously rich, detailed, vivid and filled with information but it never felt overly detailed, info-dumpy or confusing. It was an enchanting fantasy read with an easily imagined and wonderfully magical world, vivid characters and fantastic themes of friendship and feminism.

I managed to read exactly half of the book in one day as I didn't want to put it down as it's just so easily consumable, entertaining and absorbing, from the striking part-animal characters, the cruel world of the paper girls and the F/F romance. Even though the paperback I have has fairly small text (which is a pet peeve of mine) it read very quickly and I loved exploring it's exotic, unusual world.

My only negative is the kind of insta-love between Lei and Wren. Some might not view it as insta-love as the book does take place over a few months but because we only see snippets of that time, their relationship felt rushed and with less emotion, in my opinion. Despite that one negative, I would highly recommend this fantastic dark YA fantasy filled with feminism, magic and friendship.

Have you read Girls of Paper and Fire? 

*Gifted

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Latest In Beauty Box: July Edit 2019

I've been lucky enough to review various boxes from Latest In Beauty previously and today's post is another review of their 'build your own' boxes but it's the July 2019 edition. If you aren't familiar with Latest In Beauty, they're a beauty subscription box with a difference - you can choose all of the items in your box. If you like the idea of a beauty subscription box but you don't want to spend money on items that you potentially won't use or that aren't suitable, then the Latest In Beauty boxes are the ideal solution.

*Latest In Beauty 'Beauty Enthusiast' Box (£22 - One Off Box) 

There are three boxes to choose from which differ in the number of items you can choose and the price accordingly. The first is their 'beauty novice box' which contains three items (£16), then the 'beauty enthusiast box' (£22) and lastly the 'beauty guru box' (£25), all of those prices are for one off boxes. You can choose from the same wide range of items for each box and the items can vary from hair accessories, nail polishes, skincare and makeup to bodycare, tanning products, toiletries/essentials, hand sanitisers and more.

One of the many things I love about the Latest In Beauty boxes is the vast range of items, not just in terms of the physical number of items you have to choose from but the category of items as well. The items aren't limited to just makeup or skincare but there is a great range of 'essentials' too, in my opinion. I also like the inclusion of a new item each day so if you have a few items in your box but you don't know what else to add then you can wait for a day, two or three to see the new items that are added.

I have the one off 'beauty enthusiast' box so I was able to choose six items to add to my box and as with the other boxes I've been very kindly sent, I try to choose a mix of items that I know I'll use (such as essentials) and some items that are either new to me or new products on the market. For example, I chose a full sized shampoo and conditioner for Lee Stafford as I know I'll use those products and a new micellar cleansing water from Garnier as it was a product I hadn't seen before.

Lee Stafford Keep It Clean Shampoo and Conditioner 

Let's start with the two items I've used the most since I received the box, the Lee Stafford haircare duo. Lee Stafford is a brand that I've loved since I was a teenager and I'm still loving their products. I love the packaging, the scent and the conditioner is the perfect combination of moisturising effects without being heavy, greasy or oily.

InvisiBobble Waver 

Sticking with the haircare theme as most of the products I opted for were haircare items. I have a few of the original InvisiBobbles but I found that they couldn't take the weight of my hair and they would fall out. However, I did want to try their new 'waver' which is a hair clip that is supposed to be comfortable, secure and traceless. I've tried it a couple of times and I like it but it is a bit tricky to use and it's only really useful for large sections of hair. However, I think it will be very handy when I'm curling my hair and need to keep sections secure before curling.

John Frieda Hairspray 

The penultimate haircare item is a hairspray from John Frieda. As with Lee Stafford products, John Frieda is such a nostalgic brand to me as I used their brunette and frizz ease range for years growing up. I use hairspray every so often when I use my GHDs to create curls and a little hairspray is all I need to hold them in place for most of the day.

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo 

The final haircare item is from Pureology which is a brand I've tried a couple of times and loved so I knew I had to pick up this mini shampoo. It's the 'colour care' shampoo which claims to gently cleanse without stripping the colour from your hair. I have been colouring my hair since I was around 14 years old but I've never really used any colour focused products...I probably should.

Garnier Micellar Milky Cleansing Water

I love the original Garnier micellar water, it's ideal for my dry and sensitive skin (although my skin is now more on the normal side) so I wanted to try this micellar milky cleansing water. It says new on the bottle and I haven't seen it before so I think it must be a new product to their range. I've only used it once so far and it is a nice product although it's very thin and runny - I thought it would be more of a gel like product but it isn't. So far, so good but it isn't fully blowing me away.

Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle 

Last but definitely not least is one of the more unusual products from the box and one that I was the most intrigued to try. I noticed this product on Instagram and wondered how it would work and I'm so glad that it appeared on the selection of products as I was going to buy it. The product is an after shower moisturiser that you use on wet skin, yes, wet skin. I've only ever used body moisturisers that you use on dry skin so I didn't know how this would work.

You shower as you normally would then before you dry off, you apply this lotion and then dry/dress as normal. I thought that it would feel strange...and it does at first but it doesn't leave my towels feeling like I've just applied a tonne of lotion to them and it also doesn't make my skin feel greasy. It's such an unusual product and one that's great for time limited or lazy people like me who always forget to use a body moisturiser.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the 'build your own' boxes from Latest In Beauty? 

*Gifted

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