Beauty, Bargains and Beyond

 Merry Christmas  Happy Holidays   Leigh 💜

I attended a Sunday Riley Masterclass this year and found it really informative and I was very impressed by Sunday and her great products.  One of the products that I wanted to try was Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturising Cream .  My skin tends towards the dry side so this product really seemed to fit the bill, its also supposed to be great for stopping your skin dehydrating during travelling so I took it with me on my holiday. This is quite a thick cream, but its lightweight and its not oily or greasy, in fact it doesn't slip easily on your skin which I actually like. A little goes a long way and my skin felt instantly hydrated and it makes for a great primer under foundation. It really helped to keep my skin feeling moisturised whilst travelling as well. Its sulphate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, soy-free, fragrance-free, phthalate-free, vegetarian and cruelty free. It contains ceramides, vitamin F, coconut, beetroot extract, red algae extract  and pomegranate sterols.  I th

**Reposted as the Primark Vitamin Enriched Moisturising Primer is  currently reduced to £2.50 from £4.50. I picked up the Primark Vitamin Enriched Moisturising Primer because it looked like it was a dupe for the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base. The Primark version costs £4.50 for 45ml and the Bobbi Brown Face Base costs £48.50 for 50ml, so there is quite a price difference.   I had always wanted to try out the Bobbi Brown product, so when I received a mini version in a gift with purchase goody bag I was really excited to try it out, but I have to say I was somewhat underwhelmed.  I have quite dry skin and the face base did not have as much slip as I was expecting, so it didn't feel smooth when I applied my foundation. For the price I was expecting to love it way more than I did. It does have a lovely lemon smell which I really enjoy, where as the Primark version doesn't really have a fragrance.  Overall, I actually preferred the Primark version as it is thicker and it ma

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. *Christmas Opoly is a fun game, which is a festive twist to the classic Monopoly game that we all know and love. First of all choose which player token you want  to be. Choose from Scrooge, Candy Cane, Teddy Bear, Rudolph, Toy Train and Lump of Coal. The rules are similar to the classic game, if you land on a property, you can buy it. Properties start from Lump of Coal Lane for $70 (this game is in US Dollars) all the way up to Merry Christmas To All! which costs $425. Rent is paid by other players who land on owned properties. If you land on a Holiday Cheer or Bah Humbug space, you take the relevant card. Holiday Cheer cards say things like 'Gift Certificate Collect $100' or 'Ho!Ho!Ho Move the token of your choice to the space of your choice'. Whereas Bah Humbug cards say 'Accidentally run over by a reindeer Pay $100 Doctor fee' or 'Credit Card Declined Move back 10 spaces'. Any money that n

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I can't believe its nearly Christmas already. So if like me you haven't bought all your presents yet, here's a great gift idea for any kids you need to buy presents for. The *Hey Doodle Reusable Silicone Mat is a perfect gift for ages 3+ to keep them entertained without being in front of the TV (or tablets I guess is more likely in this day and age). *Hey Doodle Reusable Silicone Mat is an A3 reusable colouring mat.  Its printed on premium grade silicone and includes 9 non-toxic markers.  There are 6 different themes and activities -  Aussie Animals ,  World Countries ,  DinoRoar ,  Toot Toot Honk ,  Into The Wild  or  Sugar & Spice . It also comes with a handy carry case so you can travel with it to keep the kids occupied whatever you are doing - travelling, working from home, restaurants or waiting rooms. Best of all you can easily wipe it clean with a damp cloth so if you want to start all over again an

When I found out that Aldi were releasing some Tom Ford Perfume dupes I couldn't wait to try them out.  I'm a big fan of Tom Ford and Black Orchid has been one of my signature scents for years now, although I do like to dabble in the newer scents such as Bitter Peach as well.  As they are so expensive it's a rare treat for me rather then something I buy often.  These Aldi dupes do give you the sense of Tom Ford and with the price points being under £5 compared to a couple of hundred for Tom Ford they are worth trying out, but you have to be quick as they don't stick around forever and I didn't manage to find the dupe for Black Orchid which I would have really loved to try out. I managed to get hold of the Solar Luxe EDP which I believe is a dupe for Tom Fords Soleil Blanc which is £4.99 for 50ml.  I really like this scent and will definitely wear this as you can't tell its a cheap scent.    I also got Amalfi Brilliante EDP which is meant to smell similar to Ne

I popped into Aldi recently and I was immediately drawn to the middle aisle (IYKYK) and I spotted some products that made me think of Tom Ford perfumes. There are a range of candles and reed diffusers and the colour of the packaging and the names makes me think that they are inspired by Tom Ford perfumes.  First of all we have Crushed Peach which has orange packaging and appears to be "inspired" by the Tom Ford fragrance Bitter Peach. I can compare these as I actually own Bitter Peach. I would say that the Aldi products have a more peachy scent and is less spicy than Bitter Peach, but its a nice fresh fragrance nonetheless. Next there is Thorny Rose which I am guessing is inspired by Rose Prick (snigger!). I don't own this one, so all I can say is that Aldi's has a light rose scent. Finally we have Cherry Pie, which I'm guessing is the Lost Cherry dupe. (This TF fragrance is on my wish list). The Aldi version is a light cherry scent. They obviously don't smell

Here's a quick haul from Aldi. I bought a couple of Lacura Super Booster serums, The Collagen & Gold Serum which helps to promote firm and tighter skin and the Hyaluronic Acid Serum which helps to promote hydrated and smoother looking skin. They were £3.29 each for 20ml. I also bought the Lacura Smoothing Glycolic Body Lotion with 10% AHA blend, mango and shea butters. This product cost £4.99 for 250ml. The Lacura Powder Puffs cost £2.99 for a pack of 2 and are great for applying loose power under the eyes and around the nose. Finally, I picked up the Lacura Intense Passion Eau de Parfum which cost £5.99 for 50ml. I will say that you never know what you will find in store with Aldi, as a lot of the beauty range seems to be limited edition. So if you see any of these products in store, grab them while you can.   Leigh 💜 I purchased these products with my own money

I picked up some really nice jewellery at Primark recently and they were all very reasonably priced as you would expect from Primark.  Here's what I purchased. Both sets of Rita Ora x Primark earrings cost £3.50 each for a gold and silver toned pair in each set. The chunky silver toned bracelet cost £3.50.  This set cost £3.50 for 8 silver toned bracelets. Finally, these silver toned earrings cost £2.50 each. All the products were made using a minimum of 50% recycled metal.   Leigh 💜 I purchased these product with my own money

This is just a quick list of some products that are new to me that I definitely love enough to repurchase. John Frieda Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Repairing Tropical Oil £8.99 for 100ml - this has been a godsend for my frizzy dry hair. It makes it super soft and frizz free. My sister recommended this product and its a winner with me. Woo Woo Tame It! Hair Removal Cream -£10.95 for 100ml - I came across this product on social media somewhere and it was heavily recommended. Its great for the bikini line and other intimate areas. Its so quick and easy to use in the shower and it gave super smooth results. It contains Jojoba Oil & Aloe Vera, so is gentle on the skin. Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF50 Hydrating Lip Balm in the shade Shimmer £16 for 15g - I used this product throughout my holiday in Orlando.  It is very hydrating and gives a lovely shimmer to my lips without being sticky. Larry King Liquid Hairbrush Conditioner £23 for 180ml - This is a great product for damaged o

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. With the dark nights upon us I'm staying wrapped up at home so having some games to play is ideal at this time of year. Kikkerland Sports Trivia Game* has 50 cards with questions to test your knowledge on a variety of sports. Do you know your wickets from your wiffleball? Which sport was dropped in 2013 from the 2020 Summer Olympics only to be reinstated following an outcry from fans? The answers are multiple choice so even if you don't know the answer you can guess which one it is. There's questions about boxing, tennis, F1, badminton, the list goes on. Its also travel size so great to take away anywhere you go. Sports Trivia Game* is 7 Euros from Kikkerland . Ideal as a Christmas Stocking gift.   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Kikkerland Crafters Felt Flower Bouquet* contains everything you need to create your own felt flower bouquet. The Box contains 7 felt sheets, 15 wire stems, 11 buttons, needle & thread and a paper template. The kit allows you to make 11 flowers and 12 leaves for your bouquet. This is the perfect gift for crafters and makes a great relaxing project for a rainy day. Don't worry if you are not the creative type as it comes with an instruction booklet which provides simple instructions and easy to follow pictures to make this a fun and straightforward experience. The sewing is very basic so you don't need any prior experience. The Kikkerland Crafters Felt Flower Bouquet* is available here for £8 (currently on offer).   Leigh 💜

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I occasionally suffer from a dry and itchy scalp and it drives me nuts. The Hair Boss Scalp Soothing Tonic* can help with this problem. It has a cooling formula which contains Tea Tree Oil and Rosebay Extract which helps to rebalance the scalps pH balance and targets dandruff. Simply use on damp hair by applying to the scalp and hairline section by section and then gently massage the tonic in and then leave overnight. The cooling sensation provides instant relief for my itchy scalp and calms it right down. I definitely don't suffer from this problem as much as I used to.  The Hair Boss Scalp Soothing Tonic costs £7.99 for 100ml from The Hair Boss .   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I love Christmas and I love board games, so I was very happy to receive The Christmas Express Game*. This game is festive fun for the whole family. Board the Christmas Express and journey through a winter wonderland. There are hazards on the way such as snow storms, reindeers crossing and whatever you do, you need to avoid the naughty elf. Keep an eye out for Santa though as he can help you on your journey. The aim of the game is to be the first player to reach the North Pole. You can pick what character you want to play with choices including a snowman, reindeer or penguin. Depending on the cards you have in your hand you can move your character forward, move other players backwards or even make them miss turns or block them moving to the next station and if you are lucky you get the Santa card and it protects you from other players using their cards against you. This game is for 2 - 4 players, ages 6+. It comes with Chr

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. The Family Edition of Tension* The Top 10 Naming Game is a fun filled game where you race against the clock to name 10 things for each topic. So you could have to think of 10 different things for a variety of topics such as Abba Hits, Pizza Toppings, Popular Dogs or James Bond Films. The catch is that you need to find the 10 things that are specifically listed on each card, so you just have to keep calling out as many examples as you can think of for each topic. Its super fun and its a frantic, exciting race to find all the answers on the card.  The was great fun to play with my family we loved it.                          Tension* is for 2 teams of players, ages 8+. The game includes Game Cards, Playing Board, Playing Counters, Card Scorer, Sand Timer and Rules. Tension* from Cheatwell Games costs £30 and is available  here .   Leigh 💜

I have been a big fan of Glossier, ever since I happened upon their pop-up store in London quite a few years ago. I love to treat myself to their products whenever I get a chance. One of my favourite Glossier products at the moment is the Futuredew oil serum hybrid. I have dry skin and this 2 in 1 product gives me dewy, hydrated brighter skin and makes for a great base for makeup. It contains a blend of 4 nourishing oils - Jojoba, Grape Seed, Evening Primrose and Rosehip oils which are suspended in a water-in-oil emulsion. You can wear this product alone, for brighter, dewier skin, or mix into foundations for a lighter, glowy look. It even works as a highlighter. This is a light cream and all you need is 2 pumps for an all over glow as the last step in your skincare routine. It doesn't leave skin looking  or feeling greasy or sticky. If you are looking for soft, hydrated, glowing skin, then I really do recommend this product. It costs £23 for 30ml from the Glossier website . Its ve

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I was kindly sent the Geomag Glow* set to review and having enjoyed a number of other sets from this company I was keen to try it out.  I mean who doesn't like glow in the dark items.   The Glow range is packed full of natural materials inside 100% recycled plastic. The magnetic rods are made with 100% natural glowing substances which accumulate energy when they are exposed to a light source.  Then in the dark they release this energy as natural light.   What kids (and adults!) aren't going to like this set where they can build whatever they want and then watch as it glows in the dark. It comes with an instruction book which you can refer to if needed or just use your imagination. You just connect the magnetic rods to the metal spheres and build 3D magnetic structures. This 42-piece set includes 20 spheres, 20 magnetic rods and 2 plastic bases and storage boxes. The Geomag Glow Recycled 42 Piece Set is available f

My hair is breaking off at the moment, which has left me with the short flyaway hairs that stick up around the hairline and the crown of the head.  Hairspray is not strong enough to hold them down, so these are the products that help me control those flyaway hairs. Lee Stafford Hair Growth Styling Treatment Cream - This product is mainly to protect hair from damage and breakage which is exactly what I need, but it also works as a smoothing styler, which hydrates and tames the flyaways. It doesn't leave hair feeling sticky or stiff either. Its £8.99 for 100ml. Schwarzkopf got2bGlued for Brows & Edges Gel - I stick this mascara wand product in my bag so I can tame the frizzies while I am at work. Its easy to use and it doesn't leave any residue or make my hair look or feel crispy. Its £5.50 for 16ml. Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel infused with biotin. This is a really thick gel that I can use to paste down my hair along the parting. It feels like its going to

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Its nearly that time of year again where its time to start thinking about buying Christmas gifts (does it come round quicker every year).  I'm not one of those super organised people that buys them in the Christmas sales so I start looking for gifts around about October onwards.  The Geomag Glitter 60 Piece Construction Set* contains 28 spheres, 28 magnetic rods and 4 bases in a variety of glittery colours. It also comes with 3 storage boxes and an instruction booklet. This is the perfect gift for the budding engineer who loves to build and create things. You can connect the magnetic rods to the metal spheres to build a variety of 3D magnetic structures. This set helps with fine motor skills, engages creativity and imaginations and you learn by playing which is perfect for kids. The set is made of 100% recycled plastic and is suitable for ages 3 and up. The set is currently available for £29.99  here (usually £39.99).

I recently picked up my SpaceNK Birthday Gift for NDULGE members. Here's what I received: Laura Mercier Mini Silky Creme Lipstick in the shade 40 NU PREFERE which is a lovely pink nude shade Ouai Hair Oil 5ml - I have bought the full size of this product in the past and it really helps with my dry frizzy hair MALIN+GOETZ Vitamin B5 Body Moisturiser - 10ml I also made a cheeky purchase of Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in the shade Delight - £20 for 3ml. This is a dark pink nude which is easy to apply with the large doe foot applicator and feels really hydrating on the lips and when it wears off it leaves a stain behind. Love it already. I also picked a couple of samples - Tory Burch Sublime Rose Eau De Parfum sample 1.5ml and a sachet of Dermologica Liquid Peelfoliant. SpaceNK NDULGE Loyalty programme is free to join and you can read more about it here .   Leigh 💜 I purchased this product with my own money

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Wow Ginger Fox Games I Want My MTV Card Game* brings back so many memories. It was so fun to play and see how much I actually remembered of these iconic moments from MTV history.  You do look back and realise what fab times they were. I Want My MTV* challenges players with music, trivia, and nostalgia from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. The goal is to answer a variety of trivia questions from different eras of music, music videos, and MTV's iconic sessions. With every 4 correct answers, players earn 1 piece of the MTV logo. Players must collect all 4 pieces of the MTV logo to complete their puzzle. The first player or team to successfully assemble their MTV logo will be crowned the winner. It tests players music knowledge to the fullest. I Want My MTV offers an extensive collection of music-related questions to challenge players. From chart-topping hits to obscure classics, the game tests players' familiarity with party an

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. When something is called Lobster Mobster* it certainly makes me curious about it, so I couldn't wait to try this card game out. The objective is to find out who’s going to be ‘sleeping with the fishes’ and who will claw their way to the top in this family party game. You take it in turns to take a card and do what it says, but you have to watch out for Keep cards, which add new rules to the game just to keep you on your toes. If you break the rules by not following the Keep cards, which could say if you get caught using your thumbs or checking your phone you’ll face the Lobster Mobster.  This means you have to roll the Lobster and Mobster pieces and if neither of them land standing up then you need to take a Fishbone token.   If both the pieces land standing up, then all the other players need to take a Fishbone token.  You can even write your own Keep card rules as well as there are 3 blank Keep cards included.   Lets

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Its starting to get darker on an evening now so this is an ideal time to start bringing out the board games so you can stay nice and cosy indoors while still having a great time.  Cheatwell Travel Family Quiz Night mini board game* is a great game for kids and adults.  Its for players 8+ and can be played with 2 or more players. There are fun questions covering 8 popular topics, and can be played individually or as kids v adults in teams.  The questions have been carefully crafted so that both kids and adults can play on an level playing field as each card contains a multiple choice question for younger players and a more challenging question for adults which is a great idea.  There are 216 cards with 432 questions.  The game also includes a playing board, playing counters, die and rules.  Its great for a quiz night or when you are travelling with family and it will provide a fun break when you are indoors. Cheatwell Games

*I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. I don't have the greatest teeth so now that I am older and wiser I do everything I can to look after them.  I was recently sent Grin Smooth and Fine Flosspyx* to try out. Grin Fine Flosspyx* are for tight teeth so are perfect for me.  I have some teeth that are so tight together that getting anything in between them is hard work and then I have some teeth that have what seem like big gaps.  The Grin Fine Flosspyx are great for my teeth that have barely any space as they make it easier to clean between these teeth and clear away anything stuck there.  The floss is super strong as well so doesn't shred or break which is a problem I often have with floss. Grin Smooth Flosspyx* is a gentle floss tape which slides easily in between tight teeth.  These also work well when I use them on my teeth and are nice and gentle which I like. Both products have longer floss which wraps around the tooth for a spool-floss like clean

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. Kikkerland Kobe Take Your Dog to Work Day Kit* is a cute little set that includes 1 name tag bandana, 1 elastic string, 3 paper glasses, 1 "World's Best Boss" sticker & 1 paper name plaque. If like me you work from home, then what better way to get through the day then to include your pet pooch in the "fun". They can act as one of your colleagues and keep you company throughout the day. Kikkerland Kobe Take Your Dog to Work Day kit* costs €13 from Kikkerland or £13 from John Lewis .   Leigh 💜

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. The Kobe DIY Cross Stitch Dog Collar* is a great little gift for the crafty, dog person in your life. You can personalise your dog's collar with this DIY cross stitch set. It comes with 2 needles, 7 threads (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple & brown), 1 collar and a metal buckle.  It also includes pattern templates & reflective thread (so its safe in the dark). There are 2 sizes available (small & large) and the Kobe DIY Cross Stitch Dog Collar* is available for £17.95 from Not On The High Street .  A portion of all proceeds from Kobe by Kikkerland are donated to the International Street Dog Foundation.   Leigh 💜

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I love pocket sized games as they don't take up a lot of room at home and you can take them with you when you are travelling to help prevent boredom kicking in. Kikkerland's Pop Culture Trivia Game* is a great card game which will trigger some great memories. Questions include "In what year was Facebook launched?", What does FOMO stand for?" and "Which movie did Grace Kelly win her Oscar for Best Actress?". It's fab for all the family.    There are 50 Pop Culture trivia question cards in the tin with multiple choice answers.  It costs £7 and is available from Kikkerlandeu.com .   Leigh 💜

*I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. I was kindly sent a selection of The Humble Co. products* to review recently. The Humble Co. is one of my go-to brands for sustainable dental products especially when I am travelling, so I'm not adding to the disposable plastic that ends up in oceans and landfill. Humble Brush Plant Based Toothbrush 2 Pack * - The Humble Co. have created a plant based Humble brush which has a handle made from a mix of plant based materials & Polypropylene (PP). The products inner and outer packaging is made from paper and is eco-friendly and 100% recyclable. Its vegan, cruelty-free and verified Bisphenol A (BPA) free. These are for sensitive teeth and are very soft and as someone who has sensitive teeth I didn't have any problems using this toothbrush at all. It comes in a pack of 2 brushes and there are 2 colour options - purple & blue brush heads or black & white brush heads. These toothbrushes are available at Hol