Beauty, Bargains and Beyond

    Leigh 💜

  Merry Christmas Everyone Hope you are all having a great day 🎄🎄🎄 Leigh 💜

Primark 12 Days of Bubbles is a Bath Fizzer advent calendar that costs £10 and contains 12 Fizzers. The set contains: Grooves Fizzer Pink Concave Fizzer Cloud Fizzer Purple Gold Top Fizzer Pastel Heart Fizzer Rainbow Multi Ball Fizzer Blue Salts Infused Fizzer Blue Crystal Fizzer Pink Sprinkles Ball Fizzer Mint Gold Top Fizzer Pineapple Fizzer Santa Hat Fizzer                    This is a great gift at a reasonable price and the fizzers are perfect for a colourful bath. You just place the bath fizzer into a bath tub fiiled with water and allow them to dissolve. Considering how much bath bombs cost these days, I think this advent calendar is very reasonably priced.                                                                                               Leigh 💜 I purchased this product with my own money

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I am always on the look out for great hair products as I've been blessed with curly unmanagable frizzy dry hair that has always been the bane of my life. I also straighten and colour my hair on a regular basis which has resulted in some breakage recently so I need all the help I can get. Luckily I was sent BondiBoost Rapid Repair Shampoo* & Conditioner* to try out which looks like it will help with a few of my hair problems. BondiBoost is a brand I hadn't heard of before, but I always love to try out new brands. BondiBoost Rapid Repair Shampoo* is suitable for dry and damaged hair, Its formulated with an innovative technology to rapidly repair damaged hair, seal the cuticles, reduce breakage and banish split ends by up to 60% if used regularly and is ideal if you are hoping to grow your hair. I definitely have long hair aspirations. BondiBoost Rapid Repair Conditioner* works in a similar way to the shamp

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Its that time of year when I barely go outside when its light.  I wake up and start work when its dark and I finish work when its already dark, so to say I am a bit pale is an understatement.  I'm giving Wednesday Addams a run for her money in terms of who is paler.    Luckily I was sent the St Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse & Tanning Mitt Set* to try out which was perfect timing. St Moriz 1 Hour Fast Tan Mousse* is great if you like a quick fix tan (which I do) as it allows you to control your shade. It contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E which helps leave your skin super soft. You can choose to have a light sunkissed glow by leaving the product on for 1 hour, or for a golden glow leave on 2 hours, or for a deep bronzed look leave on for 3 hours. Get the glow you want by leaving it on for the appropriate amount of time. Its as simple as that. To apply make sure that you exfoliate and shave at least 24 hours before

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. The  Geomag Glow 60 Piece Construction Set*  contains 28 spheres, 28 magnetic rods and 4 bases  along with an instruction booklet and 3 storage boxes. The magnetic rods are made with 100% natural glowing substances and when exposed to a light source, they accumulate energy. Then in the dark, they release this energy as natural light. This adds an extra layer of interest when building the 3D magnetic structures. To start building all you need to do is connect the magnetic rods to the metal spheres and you can build anything you want to, all you need is some creativity and imagination. This is great set for learning and stimulating an interest in STEM subjects. The set is made of 100% recycled plastic and is suitable for ages 3 and up. The set is currently available for £33.74 from The Entertainer (usually £44.99). Geomag construction sets really do make great gifts.   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. If you have someone that's difficult to buy for and want something different to use as a stocking filler then the Phone Telescope* from Kikkerland definitely fits the bill. The telescope has 8x magnification from 9' to 800' and clips on to any smartphone.  It's easy to use just centre the clip over the phone lens, screw the lens to the clip and then adjust the focus ring until the screen is sharp.  It comes with a lens cover and microfiber cleaning cloth. The product is 7.6 x 5.6 cms.   It can be purchased for €14 from Kikkerland .   Leigh 💜

One of my favourite activities is horse riding and I love to treat myself to  LeMieux products.  If you have any horse riders in your family and friends circle I can highly recommend buying LeMieux horse brushes as a gift. As with most LeMieux products, they come in a variety of colours, so you can mix and match to your hearts content. So far I have bought the Flexi Horse Hair Body Brush which cost £19.95 and comes in 4 colours (I picked fig which is purple).  The Flexi Massage Comb , £9.95 in Marine which is a nice green shade. This brush is particularly great for itchy, hairy cobs. I also have the Flexi Curry Comb  £9.95 in fig. This is particularly good for getting rid of mud and loose hair. These brushes are great quality and as the name suggests, they are flexible so curve around your hand and your horses body. Beware, LeMieux products are addictive as they come in so many great shades (check out the colour collections for so many great colour choices and then you can start with

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I have already reviewed the ZeroWater 12 Cup Pitcher*  here . I use this jug constantly, but the only drawback is that it is too big to put in my fridge. The ZeroWater 7 Cup Pitcher* has been specifically designed to fit in standard UK fridge doors. This jug also has a sealed lid and reservoir, making it possible to pour water that has already been filtered, without spilling the water that is still filtering. The ZeroWater pitchers feature a 5-stage ion exchange filter which works to remove virtually all dissolved solids from your water. It's the only pour through filter pitcher in the market that's certified by the NSF to remove both lead and chromium. It also removes the chlorine taste that you get from tap water. One of the features that I love about ZeroWater pitchers is that they come with a water quality meter which provides a digital measurement of dissolved solids in your water. The reading from the filtered

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Beautify your bike with this cute little Bike Vase* from Kikkerland. This mini plastic vase wraps around the handlebar of your bike with the attached elastic band. Add flowers (of the fresh or fake variety) whenever you ride your bike. This is a perfect little stocking filler for bike riders and it costs just £8 from Kikkerland .   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I am always on the lookout for sustainable products so I couldn't wait to try out the Tooth Be Told Natural Toothpaste* that I was recently sent. This product is certified by the Vegan Society and helps to reduce the tonnes of plastic waste created every year by millions of discarded toothpaste tubes (more than 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are discarded every year) as it comes in a container made from sustainably sourced bamboo with a small amount of recycled aluminium. The product itself is not your normal synthetic white toothpaste its midnight black, which when you first see it you wonder if its going to stain your teeth, but it does a really good job cleaning them and there's no staining. The colour comes from the natural charcoal that is more effective at removing stains and plaque than normal pastes, while strong odours and smells are neutralised by coconut oil. I tried the mint version and you can taste t

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. It's pretty safe to say that we all hate doing the dishes don't we? I am lucky enough to own a dishwasher, which does most of the hard work for me, but there are some things that just don't fit in as it isn't a full size one, so I have to resort to scrubbing pans and other large items by hand. Enter the Kikkerland Cactus Scrub Sponge*, which is metallic green and cactus shaped. It makes a tedious job, just that little bit more fun. It's scratch free and durable and costs £8 for a set of 2 from Kikkerland .   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement and this kit contains all you need to create your first ikebana mini floral arrangement (other than the flowers). The kit contains a ceramic vase, flower frog (a tool to hold the flowers in place), mini scissors and a cotton towel. Ikebana comes from the Japanese 'ike' which means alive and 'bana' which means flower, so it basically means giving life to flowers. It is not only a chance to get your creative juices flowing by creating your own personal flower arrangement, but it is also a chance to practice the art of meditation for inner peace. The Mini Ikebana Flower Arranging Kit* costs £19.95 from Ohh Deer . This kit is suitable for small flowers and the instructions are included. Leigh 💜  

I wanted to highlight the  Primark Instore Recycling Scheme   in case you aren't aware of it already . Primark now has blue donation boxes in every store where you can recycle your unwanted clothes, textiles, shoes and bags (this includes towels and bedsheets which a lot of donation places will not take).  The items can also be in any condition so it's great for items that aren't suitable to donate to charity shops.   The whole point of this scheme is to prevent old and unwanted items ending up in landfill. Primark have partnered with a recycling specialist called Yellow Octopus that diverts around 1m garments from landfill every month. Yellow Octopus aims for as many donations as possible to be worn again and the remainder will be repurposed into new products.  I have already taken numerous bags of items to recycle already as they weren't in good enough condition to donate to charity, so it's good to know that you can send them to an organisation that will stop the

Another great recycling scheme is the  Bravissimo Bra Recycling Scheme which lets you recycle your old unwanted bras (it doesnt matter what brand they are or what condition they are in).  You can just take your old bras into one of their stores and pop them in the recycling bin.    For every kg of bras they receive they make a donation to Coppafeel to help support their work highlighting the  importance of checking your boobs to give everyone the best chance of surviving breast cancer.  So not only are you recycling you are supporting a really important cause.   The bras are then sent to a recycling company based in Germany and bras are sorted into those that can be re-worn (which are sent to around 70 different countries) and those that will be recycled and could be made into padding for insulation or reworked to make car seats and dust from the recycling process can even be made into recycled cardboard.  So next time you are about to throw an old bra away why not take it to a Bravi

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I am a big movie fan so when I received the Kikkerland Movies Trivia Game* I couldn't wait to try it out and see how good my movie knowledge really is. There are 50 trivia cards with questions about movies included in the tin and it's a chance to see how much you really know about the big screen and if your movie knowledge isn't that great then luckily the answers are multiple choice. These questions will trigger some great movie memories. The Movies Trivia Game cost £6.50 from Kikkerland . It's also a great stocking filler for that movie buff in your life and a great game to play with the family on Christmas Day.   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. If you are looking for a great stocking filler for the dog lover in your life then the Kikkerland Dog Birthday Kit* is perfect. The Dog Birthday Kit* is a fun gift to celebrate the birthday of your best friend in style and make him feel special. The tin includes a dog treat recipe book, a bone shaped cookie cutter, a Happy Birthday banner and a party hat. You can bake a cookie, put on the party hat and decorate the room just for your dog's birthday. It costs £10 from Kikkerland .   Leigh 💜

I love me some Tom Ford fragrances and I have quite the collection, but if you are like me then you know how expensive these puppies are (the 10ml Atomisers are £75 alone). Its an expensive collection. I have been eyeing up Tom Ford's Lost Cherry for quite some time, but I have such a huge collection of perfumes in general that I cannot justify such an expensive purchase right now, so when I tried Zara's Cherry Smoothie, I thought it was a great option for the price. Tom Ford's Lost Cherry is heavy on the dark cherry and almond which I love. Zara's version is definitely lighter and fresher and less in your face with the cherry, but the cherry notes still shine through in addition to almond which is the same as Lost Cherry. Tonka beans and black vanilla add a smoothness to this fragrance and it has pretty decent lasting power. Cherry Smoothie comes in a nice presentation box with a velvet ribbon on it so it makes for a perfect gift and at £17.99 for a 100ml Eau De Parfum

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I'm a big fan of The Hair Boss range and have tried out a number of the products so when I was sent The Hair Boss The Scalp Scrub* I couldn't wait to try it out.  The Scalp Scrub* is a pre-shampoo scrub which removes build up from your scalp and hairline.  It helps to reduce dandruff, stimulates hair follicles and helps to improve scalp health.  I must admit that I haven't tried out this type of product before, but I do get an itchy scalp with all the buildup so its a perfect product for me as its an exfoliator which helps to remove dirt and oil from the hair follicle leaving the scalp free from the buildup of styling products. You can use this product weekly and start by sectioning damp hair with fingers so you can see the scalp and just squeeze a small amount of product onto your fingers and gently massage into your scalp.  Then just repeat until your scalp is fully covered and make sure you include your hairl

I found a great little stocking filler at Primark recently. If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful gift for someone who loves beauty tools then this one is for you. The Primark Uplifting Facial Roller costs £6 and can be used for toning and cooling the contours of your face.  I also have the  Nurse Jamie Instant Uplift Tool which cost £55 and I have to say these tools are practically identical.  I'm not going to lie I thought that the Primark version would be a lightweight cheap plastic version, but honestly apart from the colours (the Primark version is a lovely metallic rose gold colour) they look and feel identical although the Primark version is a smidge longer than Nurse Jamie's version. They both have a nice weight to them as well. The Nurse Jamie tool did come with some directions on how to use and care for it, whereas the Primark tool didn't, so I just followed the instructions from Nurse Jamie when using the Primark tool and I can honestly say they both felt

*I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. To mark World Mental Health Day I was kindly sent a box full of goodies to try out. World Mental Health Day is an international event that took place on 10th October 2022 to raise awareness about mental health and to encourage people to prioritise their wellbeing. One of the ways I like to take care of myself is to have a long, luxurious bath to help me relax every Sunday night (I usually have a quick shower most days) to prepare myself for the working week ahead. It gives me some precious me-time to get away from it all and settle down for the night and helps to ensure a good nights sleep. I will happily take a book to read, light a candle and lock the door for an hour for some pure relaxation. One of the products I received to try out was Fenjal Creme Bath Oil*.  This is a really great product to use when you want to have a long relaxing bath.  You just add 1-3 capfuls into running warm bath water and then sit back and

When I saw this cute little gift set from Cult Beauty I couldn't resist picking one up for myself and I also bought one as a stocking filler.  I love the original Lip Sleeping Mask which keeps my lips soft and smooth, so I was couldn't wait to try some different flavours (or is it scents?). The Laneige Midnight Minis set from Cult Beauty costs £15 and contains 5 mini lip sleeping masks of 3g each. The set contains Lemon Sorbet, Sweet Candy, Gummy Bear, Vanilla and Chocolate, which all sound yummy. This set is the perfect stocking filler and if you spend £25 at Cult Beauty you can get 15% off your order until 31st December 2022 by using the code UNWRAPPED15.   Leigh 💜 I purchased this product with my own money

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I was recently sent the Kikkerland DIY Bird House A-Frame House* to try out. There are no tools necessary to build this house you just follow the instructions on the back of the packaging which are easy to follow and you don't need anything other than your hands. Its made of a sturdy eco-friendly cardboard with a water-resistant wax coating and a dowel for the front perch. Once its assembled you can also decorate it if you want to. Even better it only costs  € 6.50. Its also available in 2 other styles - a Japanese Tea House and Log Cabin so you can put up a set in the garden to encourage birds to visit, providing them with shelter and warmth and hopefully help build their populations in the wild.  Its a great idea for a gift for someone who loves wildlife and is such a great price as well. When assembled the Bird House is 6" x 7.5" x 5.5" so you don't need a lot of space to put one up. You can purcha

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. If you are looking for a gift for someone who enjoys crafting or want something to do with your kids or just enjoy crafting yourself, then the Kikkerland Crafters Handmade Banner* is a perfect option for you. I was kindly sent this to try out and it was a fun way to spend time. It comes with everything you need to make your own banner including the fabric banner, brush, calligraphy templates and fabric paint. You just decide what you want to write on your banner, trace the letters that are included in the pack, then trace them onto the banner and paint in the words. Its a really nice idea and great to hang up in your house, whether its something you have done yourself or if it was a fun craft project for the kids.  Its ideal for putting something spooky on for Halloween or festive for Christmas or any other holidays you celebrate. You can purchase the Kikkerland Crafters Handmade Banner  here for £22.50. Leigh 💜

October is my Birthday month so I have received some Birthday rewards  from some of my favourite brands as I am a member of their loyalty clubs. Check out my post on  the  SpaceNK N.Dulge Loyalty Card Birthday Gift .  If you are a fan of The Body Shop then its worth checking out the  Love Your Body Club .   You earn 10 points per £1 spent and when you collect 500 points you get £5 to spend, so if you shop regularly at The Body Shop it's well worth joining.  You also get £5 worth of points to spend on your birthday (I think you have to use your card at least once during the year to get the points).  This can be spent online or in store.  I chose my favourite hand cleanse gels which have the best scents (coconut being my fave).  They are £3 each and when I purchased mine they were on a 3 for 2 offer so I ended up paying £1 for all 3 after taking off the £5 birthday gift voucher.   I was also given a sample of Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate to try out as well from the lovely sales

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I was kindly sent the GLO32 Advanced Whitening Strips* to try out.  The pack includes 28 pre-dosed strips for the upper and lower teeth which is enough for 14 days of treatment. They are easy to use you simply apply the long strip to your upper front teeth and the smaller strip to your bottom front teeth making sure that its the gel side that is facing your teeth. You then fold any excess to the back of your teeth. Leave on for 20-30 minutes and then remove and rinse your month with water or brush away any excess gel with a toothbrush immediately. GLO32 Advanced Whitening Strips* are formulated with coconut oil and they help to whiten teeth by gently reducing stains and discolouration. This product is not recommended for people with gum disease, gingivitis or dental braces. I like the fact that you can pop the strips on your teeth and carry on doing whatever you want around the house or even just relax with a face mask

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I have tried quite a few products from The Hair Boss by Lisa Shepherd range now and been impressed with all of them. The Heat Protection Hairspray* is no exception.  I have curly hair, but I like to straighten it, so heat protection products are important to me. This one is a great combo of a hairspray and heat protection, so it provides hold as well as protecting your hair when using heated tools The Heat Protection Hairspray contains heat protection for up to 230ºC. This hairspray can be used to spray onto dry hair prior to using heated tools and you can also use it after styling your hair for a flexible hold. This has a nice spray which is not too heavy or light and is easy to direct and it does not leave your hair feeling crispy or stiff.  The Hair Boss The Heat Protection Hairspray costs £8.99 for 200ml from Superdrug  or direct from The Hair Boss website . You can read more about the brand here.   Leigh 💜

If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful stocking filler this Christmas then you should check out the Eau De Toilette fragrances from Marks & Spencer.  There are loads to choose from with the 100ml bottle costing £9.50 - £12.50 or you can pick up the discovery size fragrances which are just £5 for 30ml. If you can't decide which scent to buy, then for £5 each you can pick up a few different ones to try out. I bought the Pink Pepper which is a creamy, sweet and spicy scent which has notes of pink pepper, jasmine and vanilla. I also bought the Warm Neroli which has notes of neroli, bergamot and musk. This one is a warm, musky, citrus scent which I really like. Both are perfect for day or night and last a decent amount of time for such a bargain price. For such a great price, I am planning on buying a few more. The next ones on my wish list are White Coconut, Seasalt & Neroli and Velvet Rose.   Leigh 💜 I purchased this product with my own money

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Now I'm sure most of you have probably heard of Goat Yoga but I had never actually watched it on YouTube for some reason (and I watch a lot of YouTube). So when I was kindly sent the Kikkerland Goat Yoga Party Game* I went straight onto YouTube to see what all the fuss is about and I have to say I can see the appeal, although sadly I don't think its going to be offered near me any time soon. That being the case the Goat Yoga Party Game is the next best thing. So what is the Goat Yoga Party Game* I hear you ask? Well it is what it says on the tin (literally). You perform real yoga poses as well as completing ridiculous challenges with the inflatable goat (did I forget to mention there was an inflatable goat with this game). There are some benefits to not using a real live animal (I will leave that to your imagination). The challenges might be to do a Yoga pose while balancing the goat on your head or batting i

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. If you have a budding gardener in your household then this Dantoy Bioplastic Greenhouse kit* could be the perfect Christmas gift for them. The kit contains 18 pieces, made from sugarcane which is grown in controlled, pesticide-free plantations in Brazil. The sugarcane is a 100% sustainable and recyclable raw material. The kit contains a growing frame, 3 plant pots, 3 soil slabs, an onion, 2 radishes, 3 carrots, 3 dibbles and labels. I definitely don't have green fingers so I had to look up what dibbles are and they are actually pointed hand tools for making holes in the ground for seeds and young plants (who knew! You learn something new every day). This kit is great for encouraging children to learn how to grow veggies and helps them to develop their imagination. The Dantoy Greenhouse kit* costs £37 from Smallable.com and is suitable for children 2+. Dantoy is a Danish brand that has been developing childrens toys for

      *I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. I was recently sent some GLO32* products to try out. It wont be long before we are starting to think about Christmas parties and other celebrations, which for the last couple of years have not been a normal part of our lives, so whether you are out and about or staying at home having teeth whitening products are always useful. The Glo32 Advanced Whitening System with Coconut Oil* promotes brighter and whiter teeth. It's peroxide free and it's formulated with coconut oil for a healthy way to achieve a brighter smile.   It whitens teeth by gently reducing surface stains and discolouration.  I have always taken care of my teeth and visit the dentist on a regular basis, but as we age our teeth seem to naturally lose their whiteness and whilst I don't obsess about the colour of my teeth, I would like them to be whiter, so I was happy to try out this product.  The kit comes with a 14 day treatment of Advanced