Friday 21 June 2019

For the love of bees... Inka Botanicals Honeyful Neroli Mask*





When Inka Botanicals reached out to me to ask if I’d like to try one of their products it didn’t take me long to decide. I’d been secretly stalking them on Instagram for a while purely because their shots were so beautiful and captured the products perfectly. 
Gorgeous packaging - check. Small family run UK business - check. Organic and sustainably sourced ingredients - check. Supportive of local communities  - check.

Inka botanicals is the artisanal organic skincare creation of 3 sisters from Marrakesh. Made in the Atlas Mountains but hand bottled in London, their products are that of pure sophistication but I kid you not when I say they are about as minimalistic as you can get when it comes to ingredients. I will say initially this was a concern to me. This mask contains nothing but Honey and Neroli. That is it. I had to question the ingredients label provided as I thought it was wrong!
Nope, I was assured that was it! This made me all the more intrigued to try as I had visions of trying to apply sticky honey all over my face and it being a complete disaster. Ripping all my face hairs out in the process. 
Honorea from Inka assured me I was in for a treat and she wasn’t wrong...
This is a jar of pure indulgence. The heavy glass packaging has an air of luxury about it. Made from recycled glass from Spain and Italy they do not mess about when it comes to environmental sustainability. The wooden lid brings a traditional rustic vibe that I love. Once inside the smell instantly hits you, let’s delve in deeper...

What is it...
A face mask that aims to heal, soften and nourish the skin using 2 of nature’s finest ingredients.

What is in it...
Honey and Neroli. Simples. But don’t be fooled into thinking that this mask is ‘basic’. The reason for keeping the ingredients to a minimum is to avoid having to include fillers and preservatives to stabilise the formula. The more ingredients you add to the mix the more volatile the formula becomes. Inka want to avoid this as much as possible and ensure formulations are pure, highly concentrated and that all ingredients are active ingredients.

The honey used within this formula is ‘sweet orange honey’ or orange blossom if you will (bees that pollinate orange groves). It is known to boast more anti-aging and soothing properties. Like with all variations of honey though you get the benefits that it is antibacterial, full of antioxidants and highly moisturising. Vitamins A, B and C, as well as mineral salts and amino acids help contribute towards skin aging.

In regards to the neroli oil, I am assured the one used within this mask is the most expensive on the market. It's a choice ingredient that has regenerative properties and the ability to tone the skin and cellular tissue...

Inka prides themselves on using high-quality raw ingredients sourced in Morocco which support local communities. You won’t find any artificial preservatives in any of their products, I personally don’t have an issue with the inclusion of preservatives as I believe they serve a purpose. Therefore it will be interesting to see what the shelf life is like. So far so good! 




My thoughts...
This mask is stunning. Pure indulgence. It almost feels devilish. All I can say is thank god for bees! The scent hits you as soon as you open the pot, sending you into a world of relaxation. 

Dipping your fingers into the liquid gold you will find that the formula is quite runny. This can be quite challenging to apply if you don’t use a spatula/brush. In my opinion, Inka should think about including one with every purchase of the pot. I think customers would appreciate that as I’ve certainly lost a drop of two whilst applying which feels like sacrilege! 

Considering it is made up of 50% honey I was surprised to find it wasn’t difficult to spread across the skin. It is sticky as you’d imagine but it feels luscious, not claggy or uncomfortable. 

I like to leave on for a good 20 mins or so but beware about using this when it’s hot or in a steamy bathroom! I had this on my face during a bath and found myself eating some of it as it was dripping down my face. There are certainly worse things you could eat but I still wouldn’t recommend it!



Removing this mask is really easy which was surprising, I was fully expecting it to harden on my face and be difficult to remove. I love to place a hot flannel over my face to help melt it and steam it off. So so relaxing! And it releases the divine scent! Once removed skin is left incredibly soft and calm. I love using this when my skin is a little unhappy as it brings down redness and really helps speed up the healing process when I have breakouts.

Overall I’m super impressed with how wonderful the formula and quality is. It shows you don’t need tons of ingredients to make the most effective product. It’s very much a case of letting nature do its thing! 

Full Ingredients
Honey, Citrus aurantium flower oil, Limonene*, Linalool*. *Naturally occurring in essential oils. 100% Natural & Organic 
The mask is priced at £36 for 50ml which is reasonable, maybe like me your initial thought is that it’s quite expensive considering it is made up of only 2 ingredients. But I urge you to try it. Then you will understand it’s worth. 
You can pick it up here

*PR/gifted

Thanks for reading xx
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Thursday 6 June 2019

Summer in a bottle...Freshly Cosmetics Golden Radiance Body Oil*




In celebration of this gorgeous body oil turning 1, I thought I’d give you the low down and why you need it on your shelves this summer!

What is it?

A deeply golden (as the name would suggest!) body oil which if you fancy it can also be used on the face. Created to nourish and hydrate your skin whilst helping reduce the signs of aging, cellulite, scars and stretch marks. Perfect for pregnant women (I can vouch for that) and any person with skin to be honest! 

What is in it?

A blend of 100% natural ingredients, 12 plant-derived oils and natural technologies deliver a sophisticated effective formula. This has so many fantastic ingredients packed inside it. Virgin marula, rosehip, virgin chia, macadamia, organic jojoba, babassu and organic hazelnut all form the base of the oil. Two Microalgae technologies have powerful antioxidant properties which help to fight dreaded cellulite and help protect the skin from damage by UV rays. The natural fragrance comes from a blend of 10 fruits and flowers including grapefruit, bergamot, orange, mandarin, pineapple, apple, pomegranate, cardamom and sandalwood.
So much goodness in a bottle! 

Full Ingredients

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride ,Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil, Papaver Somniferous Seed Oil, Corylus Avellana Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Extract, Citrus Nobilis Peel Extract, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/ Stem Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Plankton Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Pyrus Communis Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Santalum Album Wood Extract, Astaxanthin Oil, Tocopherol, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Limonene**, Hydroxycitronella**, Linalool**, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol**, Citral**




My thoughts...

Everybody needs this beautiful nectar! The scent is gorgeous. Think peach musk (not overpowering). If I close my eyes I am transported to summer nights before the sun goes down. Know what I mean? Pure relaxation ...

It is rich yet non-greasy, a dry oil type texture that is easily absorbed into the skin. There is no residue left behind which I love, and you don’t need to wait long before getting dressed which is a must for me. 

It feels super nourishing and leaves skin with a beautiful radiant finish. It looks like glowing satin! I’ve found the oil to be excellent particularly on the arms and legs. I feel like I need to use quite a lot if I use it on my ‘wobbly’ areas so tend not to use it for that. Although I may put it to the test because oh boy do I have wobbly bits which could do with a bit of help. Not to mention the scars that have accumulated over the past year! 
Hormones have left me with unattractive reptile skin on my legs and this along with body brushing has transformed my skin over the past couple of weeks. No more dryness in sight!

In regards to the pump packaging, it is excellent and works very well without any leakage. This is usually the issue I have with other oils and it really annoys me (probably more than it should)! I hate product seeping out everywhere. Can’t be dealing with that. Might seem silly but it can make or break whether I’ll repurchase. The glass bottle gives it a sturdy luxurious feel and the results in whole are that of a more expensive oil. I am so glad I have a back up as I don’t want to be without this! 
You can find the Golden Radiance Oil here from Freshly for £23. 

At the moment Freshly are doing an offer where if you buy any of their new sunscreens it will take 20% off your whole order!

*PR/gifted

Thanks for reading xx


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Monday 3 June 2019

May Favourites...





This month I’ve really been enjoying my skincare more so than makeup. I have been making sure I get at least 10 minutes in my bathroom to myself AM and PM. Having Freya hasn’t affected my skincare routine as I’ve made a point of doing it each day, it gives me a little bit of relaxation time and de-stresses me. It is still important to give yourself some ‘me time’ when you have a newborn! It’s kept me sane!

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser

This is gentle and gorgeous. It smells incredible and feels like a big hug for your face. Its been something I’ve been using AM or as a 2nd cleanse. It’s pretty much my perfect cleanser. I have a full review coming soon. 
RRP £32 from SpaceNk here

Jane Scrivner Bioluronic Buzz*

This serum is such a fantastic option for those who want both hydration and firming/tightening abilities. It packs a serious punch and is perfect for dehydrated skins, increasing the skins moisture levels. I have been using pretty much every day, I can’t get enough! Plus the packaging is spot on. I’ve got a full review of this up on my Instagram under my hashtag #blushandsagereviews. 
This serum is on offer throughout June for £25 (reduced from £32) direct from Jane’s website here . That is an excellent price for a 50ml size! 





Deviant Cleansing Concentrate*

This cleanser is such a delight to use and knocks so many other cleansers out the park. It does everything it says and with such an elegant formula to boot. This is perfect for any skin types but in particular acne and sensitive folk will be especially grateful this has come onto the market. I thought the fact this has no discernible scent would put me off but nope, I’ve been reaching for this most days and I have to hold back a bit otherwise it would be gone so quick! I need shares in this. Full review is on my Instagram, click on the hashtag as mentioned above...
RRP £29 for 50ml from Deviant here

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink

Products that allow for quick application is key for me and this cream blusher is perfect for that. It takes seconds to blend and give an instant pop of natural colour to the cheeks. Really diminishes that ‘wiped out’ look I seem to be sporting at the mo! I use a stippling brush to get the best effect. It lasts well throughout the day and doubles up as a lip tint if you are short on time. Definitely going to pick up more shades! 
RRP £22 from Bobbi Brown here  





Kate Somerville Exfolikate

I've really been enjoying this powerful treatment on a weekly basis. As you can see it is a gel type texture but is thick. It takes a little bit of massage to loosen the formula so you can spread easily across your face. It has a slight sandy type texture but nothing too abrasive. It is so quick and easy to use, leaving it only on the face for a couple of minutes before you see the full effects. If you are wanting glowy skin (who doesn't) and a more refined texture then try this. It leaves skin so smooth and congestion reduced. Would be perfect to use before an event! Full review coming soon on this.
RRP £72 from SpaceNK here

Have you tried any of these? I’d love to know!

*PR/Gifted item

Thanks for reading xx
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Saturday 1 June 2019

A life update...hello again!




It’s a been a while since my last post on this blog (nearly a year!) so I wanted to do a bit of a re-introduction! I’ve updated my ‘about me’ section and here is a little pic of my face so you can see who is behind this blog! Definitely not a professional photo and I have damp hair here! But it’s real. No filter, no editing. 

A lot has been happening for me in the last year. The main thing being I’ve had a baby! Freya arrived in the most dramatic fashion (maybe more on that later) but she is gorgeous and it’s like she’s always been part of the clan! (If you’d like to see her then head over to my highlights on Instagram). From reading my previous posts you may be aware I had an ectopic last May so we were delighted and very shocked to fall pregnant a month after! 

So back to blogging, I’ve been very much taking a ‘no pressure to post’ approach and although I haven’t been active on here I’ve been using Instagram as my main source of blogging. I post almost daily over there and have really been getting into the swing of things. Hence my desire to return to this page and bring them both together again. 

I’m guilty of admitting it simply came down to the fact it’s quicker and more direct to upload reviews and content on Instagram. Now as I’m growing and enjoying what I’m doing I feel like now is the time to get back to my website. I’m proud of my tiny space on the internet and I’ve been deliberating for some time about when to come back to it. One thing is for sure, it’s certainly a whole lot easier to write detailed reviews on here than try and fit everything in the caption space IG provides! 

Anyway the plan is to upload my reviews and larger style content here but use Instagram for the smaller features and daily routines!

Recently I changed the style of my photos and now I’m finally getting to a place where I’m happy with my photos. I’m definitely not a pro and I will never be one of these people that can create amazing flatlays and layouts but I am enjoying playing around with it. I was bought a lovely new camera for my birthday last year so have been experimenting with that in rotation with my iPhone. 

In the coming weeks you shall see some new posts from me. Mainly beauty reviews but I’d also like to perhaps throw some lifestyle/baby content into the mix! I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in some exciting collaborations so will be aiming to upload my thoughts about the new things I’ve been trying. 

If there is anything you would like to know or you’d like me to post about, then please write them in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading xx
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