Terre Verdi Instagram Win

I was absolutely thrilled to win Terre Verdi's first Instagram Giveaway. I got to chose two products and picked the very gorgeous FranChouliPom Body Oil and Balancing Facial Serum.

Terre Verdi is a new brand to me and was founded by Alessandra de Gregorio who grew up in Sicily where she had a close affinity to nature. The essential oils used in the products are from where she grew up.

The products are really luxurious and are 100% Vegan and are made with ethically sourced and certified organic ingredients.

My favourite of the pair is FranChouliPom Body Oil* (100ml - £31) a rich and luxe blend of Frankincense, Patchouli, Neroli, Sweet Orange Peel Oil with Argan, White Tea Seed, Sunflower Seed, Pomegranate Seed, Jojoba Seed Oils with Calendula extract and Vitamin E.  99% organic and certified by COSMOS. It leaves the skin feeling nourished, supple and delicately scented and is a real pleasure to use.

I've been using the Balancing Facial Serum* (30ml - £25) when my skin's been feeling hormonal. It balances and relieves any skin irritations and includes astringent Geranium & Tea Tree essential oils.  Use AM/PM after cleansing and before moisturising.

Have you tried any products from the range?

*Instgram win

Shopping My Stash #72

Here's what I've been reaching for this week:

Saach Organics Herbal Hair Oil with Indian Gooseberry, Cotton Seed Oil and Almond Oil 100ml* - this is an amazing and effective oil which you can leave on overnight or to tame flyaways. See my review HERE. 

Angela Langford Angel Eyes 10ml - this nourishing eye oil contains Cucumber, Rosehip and Argan oil and it repairs and soothes, reducing dark circles and hydrates.  A really lovely product.

kai Perfume Oil roller-ball 1/8 fl oz - love this exotic scent with Gardenia and green notes. I never tire of it.

M&S Autograph Ultra-Shine Twist Up Lip Colour in Nude - this came in the M&S Advent Calendar and is a really wearable nude.

JustBe Botanicals JustBe Happy Hand & Body Wash 250ml* - love this refreshing citrus multi-use wash. See my review HERE.

SkinOwl Neck+ 15ml - this neck gel smooths, nourishes and firms the delicate neck and decollete. A smallish sample but would buy full size.

What have you been reaching for this week?

*PR samples

Unbeelievable Health: Bee Energised

Having loved Unbeelievable Health's Bee Prepared Max Strength* (review) I jumped at the chance to try their new Bee Energised* (£11.99 - 20 capsules - one a day or two when you need a little extra lift).

The capsules combine bee pollen, organic matcha tea, organic spirulina, Siberian gingseng, organic green leaf tea and rosehips along with Vitamins B6 and B12.

They give you a gentle lift and help to improve focus. Take one a day and if you need an extra boost when feeling tired or stressed take two. You can also open the capsules and add to yoghurt, smoothies or juice.

Providing a steady stream of energy, concentration and mental alertness the capsules also help with fatigue and lethargy. They support the body through times of stress and are great to use during travel or exercise.

I've found I've got a lot more mental alertness and feel less tired and stressed. I've been really impressed with the results and I'm definitely tempted to pick them up with the special 15% off code Naturisimo is offering us for Easter - use code EASTER at checkout (available until Tuesday 29 March).

Free from gluten, sugar, yeast, soy and GM. Made in the UK and formulated by natural health experts. Make sure you aren't allergic to bee pollen before taking this product and if pregnant or lactating please consult your doctor before use.

Unbeelievable Health donate a portion of their profits to bee causes and research.  Pick yours up at Naturisimo HERE.

*PR sample

The Herb Garden Massage Candles & Bars

Jo Farren and Shani Croft, are the two herbalists behind The Herb Garden. They live and work local to Hitchin and make high quality and quite lovely products using simple raw ingredients which have herbal and aromatherapy benefits.

Where possible they use organic ingredients with no artificial scents and chemicals and they adhere to strict EU standards.

I was sent two massage candles in Relaxing* and Refreshing* (£10) and massage bars in Warming* (£8 for 2).

Relaxing scent is made with Lavender and German Blue Chamomile with a soy wax base. Soy wax has a lower melting point and is combined with organic Almond oil and organic Shea butter. Light and let the candle burn before blowing the flame out and applying the scented oil to the skin.  This is lovely to use just before bed to calm and relax.

Refreshing scent again blends Soy wax, organic Almond oil and organic Shea butter with oils of Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Thyme which enliven and awakens and is also great to clear the mind or sinuses. Apply the melted wax to the soles of your feet to ease congestion and for a good night's sleep.

Warming scent spicy Cinnamon is blended in a massage base with Ginger, sweet Orange and Lemon. Rub in hands to melt the wax to an oil and apply to the skin.

The massage candles and bars are really lovely and well priced. I can't actually pick a favourite scent as they are all really effective depending on your mood. Pick yours up HERE.

*complimentary - sent for review

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: March 2016

My March Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack arrived on Friday and this month to commemorate the first flowers of spring iris is a note used in all the scents.

"the scent of iris is derived from the root of the plant so the sensation of its smell can often be a little misleading when people think of it as a flower".

"Considered powdery and earthy, Iris also smells aqueous, as if it's bursting with a violet like freshness. On it's own it can smell like warm, sunned skin or as a natural musk, but in tandem with other ingredients it's effect is startlingly individual. It can inject a dry streak into a floral perfume or soften an oriental composition".

My absolute favourite this month is Nishane's Boszporousz Extrait de Parfum 1.2ml (50ml - £110, 1ml - £5). It has just landed at Bloom and is Exclusive and is simply gorgeous. It has top notes of cypress, galbanum, sage and seaweed with a heart of gardenia and jasmine and a base of amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli. A pretty floral with salt, sage and seagrass notes reminiscent of the Bosphorous strait shores.

Next to capture my heart is PG's 21 Felanilla EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £81.50, 1.6ml - £2) which is a best seller at Bloom Perfumery. "This is vanilla for grown-ups" and has top notes of saffron, vanilla with a heart of hay and iris absolute and a base of amber.

The final four are Etat Libre d'Orange Benderelious EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £70) which has notes of champagne, cherry lollipop, grapefruit, iris absolu, iris butter, leather, musk tonka bean, vetiver and violet leaf absolute.

Exclusive to Bloom Perfumery .vero.profumo. Mito EdP 1.2ml (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) with top notes of green leaves, a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose with a base of galbanum and hyacinth

Grossmith's Diamond Jubilee Bouquet EdP 1.4ml (50ml - £195, 1.6ml - £5) which was created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The heart is a powder iris.  It has top notes of lemon, lily of the valley, narcissus and orange with a heart of carnation, iris, jasmine, rose, vetiver and violet with a base of amber, hawthorn, tonka beans and vanilla.

New In The Merchant of Venice's Ottoman Amber EdP 1.6ml (100ml - £120, 1.6ml - £2) which has notes of labdanum, myrrh, oud accord, patchouli and vanilla.

What are your thoughts on this month's selection?

Perfume Wishlist

Here are the perfumes currently on my wishlist:

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Jo Loves Pomelo (50ml - £65) - this was the first Jo Loves perfume I tried. It has notes of fruity grapefruit, rose, clove, vetivert, suede and patchouli. A lovely fruity scent with a spicy edge.

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Diptyque L'Eau de Tarocco EdT (100ml - £65) - I first tried this via a sample the store in Marylebone kindly gave me. It's a lush orange scent with Bulgarian rose, cinnamon and saffron and perfect for Spring and Summer.

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Tardes by Carner EdP (50ml - £81) - I first tried this perfume via my Bloom Perfumery Yearly Sample Pack Subscription.  It's been on the wishlist a while! See my review HERE.

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Tom Ford Soleil Blanc EdP (50ml - £145) - I'm a huge fan of Tom Ford's Santal Blush EdP and am now on my third bottle (gulp). See my review of it HERE. This latest launch has notes of jasmine, coconut with woody and vanilla notes.

What's on your perfume wishlist?

NET-A-PORTER: The Travel Kit

I found I just couldn't resist The Travel Kit from NET-A-PORTER (£38 plus P&P). Having loved one of their previous kits - The Holiday Kit I knew I'd love it. It's jam packed full of gorgeous goodies which I'm looking forward to testing out.

This time I chose not to get the luxe packaging so my order arrived in a brown cardboard box. Inside was a branded and ribboned box (so I did get a touch of luxury). My friend Julie worked it out and the value is an incredible £192!

Here's what is inside:

There are 3 full size items and a mixture of travel sizes and sachets.

Full size:

Deborah Lippmann's Cuticle Oil 15ml (£18) - which will nourish and repair even the driest cuticles.

Lashfood Conditioning Drama Mascara - Black 8ml (£16) - makes your lashes longer and thicker. Smudge proof and long lasting.

Lipstick Queen Invisible Lip Liner 0.28g (£18) - the lipliner which co-ordinates with every shade. Create the perfect lip shape while holding colour firmly in place.

Trial sizes:

Leonor Greyl Nourishing Shampoo 50ml - repair frazzled hair and split ends with this nourishing shampoo which will strengthen and soften.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask 50ml - one of the ingredients in this mask is prickly pear oil, a natural source of Vitamin E and antioxidants. It will leave hair shiny and renewed.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream+ 10ml - helps to smooth wrinkles and fine lines, plumping and rejuvenating the skin.

Erno Laszlo White Marble Treatment Bar 17g - a facial bar which is enriched with powerful time-release brightners and smoothing fruit acids. It cleanses, exfoliates and clarifies fighting dark spots at their source.

Erno Laszlo White Marble Radiance Emulsion 5ml - a lightweight serum which brightens and evens the skin tone. Best used in conjunction with the treatment bar.

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist 15ml (huge fan so delighted to have this back in my stash!) - a refreshing and soothing mist which calms and restores balance.

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick - Icon 1g - this is perhaps not a colour I'd have picked but it feels lovely on the lips. Enriched with emolients and antioxidant vitamins which nourish. A single application will last all day.

Sachets:

2 x Mio Clean Slate Workout Swipe - ideal for freshening up after the gym or on a plane the wipes are enriched with gently exfoliating lactic acid and scented with Mint and Cucumber.

2 x Roloxin Lift Revitalising Facial Treatment - described as "facelift in a sachet".

Did you pick up The Travel Kit? What are your thoughts on the contents?