A Surprise Birthday Present

I recently met my pal Julie (both our birthdays are in April and we do a birthday swap) - reviews will follow on the gorgeous goodies she gave me. Some which have already become "must haves" in my stash such as Urban Decay's Naked 2 Basics Palette (my first) and Lipstick Queen's Chinatown liner, gloss & lipstick in one in three really wearable shades - Watermelon, Nude-Pink and Dusky Pink. Love.

We arrived back from our Anniversary trip (amazing two days at Isle of Eriska Hotel review to follow) to a surprise birthday parcel from Nardine, (on twitter @Miss_Nardine) one of my London pals (who like Julie), I initially "met" on a beauty Facebook group and have met twice now in real life!)

Inside the pretty box is:

A cute card which made me smile

A box of lovely rose scented goodies

A beautiful hand crafted notebook

A Limited Edition Set of Jo Malone Colognes

Absolutely love everything and reviews will follow!

Clinique: The British Beauty Blogger Edit II

I couldn't resist Jane's latest collaboration with Latest in Beauty and Clinique. Costing a totally bargainous £20 including P&P these sold out very quickly. 

What sold the box to me was that inside was a Sweet Pot Sugar Scrub & Lip Balm (full size - worth £15) in shade Red Velvet. One side is a gentle scrub and the other a tinted lip balm. I've been wanting to try one of these for ages!

The second full size product is a Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara in Jumbo Jet (£17.50).  Also inside is:

15ml Superprimer Universal Face Primer

30ml Liquid Facial Soap (Mild)

30ml Take the Day Off Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips

15ml Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+

15ml For Men Face Scrub

4ml Aromatics in Black EdP

An empty pot to take to a Clinique counter to receive your 5 day foundation sample

£10 off a £30 spend at Clinique online.

Did you pick this box up?

The Allotment Cookbook by Pete Lawrence

A few of you will know I set up a Twitter account for our allotments (@CraigentinnyTel) some months ago. We've been fighting the developers who wanted to build houses and flats on the site and on Wednesday our local Council turned down their application. As you will probably have gathered we are all absolutely over the moon!

On another note, I entered a giveaway on the Allotment twitter run by Mr Fothergill's Seeds and Pete Lawrence the author of The Allotment Cookbook* to win a copy of his lovely book which tells you what to grow, cook and eat with the seasons.

It really is a fab and informative book and I'm hoping to be able to share some of the recipes it contains with you throughout the seasons here and hopefully with some of the other plot holders over on our new website/blog for the Allotment which should be up and running shortly.

Some of the recipes which have caught my eye so far include: Broad Bean Hummus, Chard, Red Pepper and Feta Frittata, Nettle & Wild Garlic Soup, Haddock with Courgette Ribbons, Shallots and Gooseberries, Fennel & Mint Coleslaw, Spicy Lamb Burgers with Flower Salad, Strawberry & Honey Smoothie, Sweetcorn Fritters with Chilli & Lime Dressing, Stilton, Pear & Red Onion Tart, Balsamic Roasted Beetroot with Wensleydale, Sour Cream & Chives along with lots of other mouthwatering dishes.

Thanks again Pete and Mr Fothergill's Seeds.

*giveaway prize

Estelle & Thild Super Bioactive Advanced Anti-Age Range

I've recently been testing out some products from the Super Bioactive Anti-Ageing range* from Estelle & Thild which is available at Naturisimo.

Pernilla Rönnberg founded the Swedish organic skincare brand in 2007 and it became an instant success throughout Scandinavia. Luckily for us, the brand is now widely available worldwide.

The brand is certified organic by EcoCert and products are free from parabens, mineral oil, SLS, petrochemicals, DEA, TEA, PEGs, dyes, lanolin and synthetic additives.

I've not used much from the brand previous but everything I have tried I've enjoyed - see my review of the mini body butters (here) and the Sweet Vanilla Blossom Body Oil gets a mention here.

The Super Bioactive Anti-Aging range contain antioxidant Marine Microalgae which nourishes and repairs stressed and tired complexions. The products help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, help to delay the signs of ageing and have a pleasant slightly fruity scent.

Repairing Oil Complex (£59 - 30ml)* - this is a 100% natural super oil which visibly repairs skin cells and softens fine lines and wrinkles.  It boosts the skin's elasticity while nourishing the skin and is suitable for all skin types.

To use: AM and PM after cleansing. For best results mix with a few drops of Age Control Serum* before following with moisturiser.

Age Control Serum (£59 - 30ml)* - the serum revitalises the skin, hydrates and helps to smooth out and prevent lines and wrinkles.  It evens out skin tone, plumps and gives the skin a glowy radiant look.

To use: AM and PM after cleansing to give the skin a moisturising boost. A few drops of Repairing Oil Complex* can be added before smoothing onto the face and neck. Follow with moisturiser.

The Lifting Eye Serum (£39 - 15ml)* - is one of the nicest eye care products I've used. It absorbs instantly into the eye contour area smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, tightening, brightening and hydrating.

To use: pat a small area around the eye area AM and PM.

I've been really impressed with the performance of this luxury natural skincare range. I'm definitely adding the corresponding day and night creams to the wishlist! Have you used any skincare by Estelle & Thild?

*PR samples

ALDI Cosmetics

I've lately been really impressed with the ALDI skincare and bodycare products I've tried. Affordable and effective. I especially love the Lacura Caviar Illumination day and night creams (review) and the Argan Oil range (review).

From the 17 April you will be able to pick up items from the new cosmetic range. I was sent a selection to try and have been really impressed with their performance and value.

The Lacura Eyeliner Pencils* will be £1.99 and available in Emerald (gorgeous), Black and Smoke. There is a handy blending brush on the other end. The colours are long lasting and easy to apply with no dragging.

The Lacura Eyebrow Pencil* (with shaping brush) will also be £1.99 and come in a choice of blonde and brunette. 

I've been really impressed with the quality and performance of the Lacura Concealer Pen* (£2.99). It easily blends away dark shadows and other imperfections. There will be three shades to suit sandy, rosy and darker complexions. I was sent shade 300 Amber which is near enough the perfect shade for me.

Also available to buy will be: Lacura Glossy Lip Balm (£1.99) in Red, Peach and Fresh Pink and Lacura 3-D Effect Mascara (£2.39) in Black which give fullness, volume, curve and length.

Pick yours up at Aldi from Sunday 17 April.

*PR samples

YOU Beauty Box: Organic & Natural: April 2016

I wasn't going to but as soon as I saw the You Beauty Boxes arriving I knew I didn't want to miss out this month so I re-subscribed. Boxes cost £6.95 including P&P. You chose two items and you get a couple of extras.

This month's choices were great. I chose:

AD Skin Synergy Organic Rose Geranium Nourishing Night Treatment Ltd. Edition (50ml - which is worth £38) I previously tried their original blend see my review here. I'm looking forward to testing this one out and a full review will follow.

My second pick is Dr Organic Organic Hemp Oil Intensive Eye Serum (15ml - worth £8.99) huge fan of the Dr Organic range and always on the lookout for the perfect eye product so happy to try this one out.

The extra treats this month are:

50g sachet of Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment 

1 x Neom Daily Energy Boosting Bust Capsule

1 x Neom Daily De-Stress Burst Capsule

Did you get a box this month? What did you chose?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: November to March Favourites

I've now only a few months left of my Bloom Perfumery subscription. I've absolutely loved it and it has introduced me to loads of perfumes I'd never normally have tried which are now firmly on the wishlist. You can see my favourites for July, August, September and October HERE.

These are my favourites from November - March:

In November, Bloom Perfumery switched it up and gave the girls the guys selection and vice versa. Initially I was a bit surprised but ended up really loving one of the scents (for me, rather than hubby).

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CUIRS by Carner EdP (£81 - 50ml) totally stole my heart. It has notes of oud and leather with saffron, gaiac wood, sandalwood, Texas cedar, violet, Amyris wood, patchouli, musk, tonka beans, cistus and nagarmotha. I also adore TARDES by Carner (review).

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In December my favourite was Esprit Divin EdP by Paul Emilien (£140 - 100ml) a spicy, woody and floral scent with top notes of clove, ginger, grapefruit, frankincense, nutmeg, rose saffron, vanilla, amber and cardamon with a heart of musk, nagarmotha, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood and violet leaf with a base of amber, labdnum, musk, spices, tobacco and Turkish rose.

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January saw me fall for Foudre by Parfumerie Generale EdP (£80 - 50ml) a floral and woody scent with a hint of freshness which has notes of black tea, champaca, pepper, cashmeran, musk and vetivert.

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In February I loved Nanban by Arquiste EdP (£135 - 100ml) which is smokey and woody and has notes of black pepper, black tea, Chinese osmanthus, coffee, copaiba balm, frankincense, leather, myrrh, saffron and styrax.

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Last month I just loved Boszporusz by Nishane Extrait de Parfum (£110 - 50ml) a breezy sea inspired scent with notes of cypress, galbanum, sage, seaweed, gardenia, jasmine, amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli.

Sign up to a Bloom Perfumery Yearly Sample Pack Subscription HERE. It costs £120 for the year and monthly you get 5 x 1.6ml samples, a promocode for 10% off that month's selection and a 1.6ml sample of a recent launch.