The Barn, 4 Nights In Devon

Let me tell you about the most idyllic place I have ever stayed, I wanted a few days away from home, somewhere quite close but not in Cornwall. Do you ever get to a point where you just need a break from where you love but don’t want it to be a big thing, just far enough away that you feel like you are on holiday but close enough that you dont have to plan an expedition.

The barn was less than an hour from my house, just across the Cornish border in Devon, it is tucked away on a farm in a very, very peaceful location. Perfect for what I needed. I was craving being offline, just me & my husband to decompress, read, drink wine, cook have some proper quiet time.

The barn is on a farm and is owned by an interior designer and a photographer, they renovated it themselves, even the cob and lime rendering was done by them. It is a stunning space, open-plan living and kitchen space with a lovely long farmhouse table which we spent so much time at. The bathroom is also downstairs, it had a roll top bath, incredible rainfall shower and underfloor heating.

Upstairs is the bed deck with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, the bedroom has so much light from 4 huge skylights. The space had such good energy.

We turned off our phones when we got there, didn’t watch any TV, listened to music on their SONOS, cooked lovely meals and read our books. The hosts also had wonderful taste in magazines and had left so many great interiors and photography ones. I read them all, the Country Living Modern Rustic ones gave me so much inspiration and since coming home I may have bought a copy or two for myself.

Our hosts baked us a vegan banana bread (delicious) and left local tea and coffee (with a grinder, so we could have freshly ground coffee) so we were all set. The weather was perfect for having 4 lazy days, it was stormy and wet almost the entire time we were there, but listening to the rain on the skylights and the wind rustling though the trees was so relaxing. We didn’t leave the property from the moment we arrived & being still & peaceful for 4 days is just what we needed.

The bathroom was lovely, very minimal but felt bright, clean, and rustic. There was a huge skylight which let in so much natural light. The roll top bath was huge and very relaxing. I spent a lot of time reading and soaking in there. The shower was also amazing, very powerful, and it was a rainfall shower which I love, oh, and they had underfloor heating which made it so cosy and warm. Not what you think you’d need in July, but the weather was more Autumn than Summer.

The kitchen as I said was open plan and the huge table in the middle of the room was great for prepping meals, and it meant the space felt very social. It had everything we needed, as we cooked all our meals here over the 4 days. So we put it to good use. We spent a lot of time in this part of the house, either cooking or sat at the dining table, with the stable door open & the patio doors too. Just listening to music or the sounds of the comings and goings of the surrounding farms. Simply idyllic.

I live in Cornwall at the moment and have been here for almost 10 years now, hard to believe the time has gone so quickly. I never meant to stay here that long, but I became comfortable, and it was easier to stay put than move. We have had quite a few big life-changing events happen over the last 3 years, I didn’t have the energy to think about moving but being in this space made me realise that although I live in a pretty part of the country, the road I live on has become so busy, over the years the traffic has increased so much and the noise is getting to me. Staying in such a peaceful location made me realise that I have to move, and I think it is time I said goodbye to Cornwall and try somewhere new.

So 2025 will see me in a new location, not sure where yet, but what I do know for certain is that it will not as far south, or in a busy tourist location.

How cute is this classic Nissan, it is a Pao, they only made a very small number of them, I have only ever seen one other and that was in St Ives & it is a Japanese import I fell in love with it, and now I really want one, it is so full of character and ideal for driving on the small country lanes

It is safe to say that a mini break was much needed and long overdue. I will not leave it so long next time before I take some proper time off and also time away from my phone and being constantly connected. It was nice to properly relax and for my mind not to be worrying, planning or over thinking. I am already planning to go back here in December.

Beauty Product Empties 2024

I have quite a few empties I want to tell you about. A few of them are favourites that I always repurchase (products that I know and love) but there are also a couple of new things that have surprised me. So let’s get to it, as there is lots I want to tell you about.

BYOMA now this was a brand that I had been aware of (they are all over social media) and was excited to be sent two of their cleansers, Melting Cleansing Balm*Milky Oil Cleanser*. I used them to double cleanse and really liked how they made my skin feel. I would say that if I was to recommend one out of the two, it would be the jelly cleanser, this cleanser contains Byoma’s Barrier Lipid Complex to help strengthen the skin barrier. Its oil-based formula contains moringa seed oil, olive fruit oil and squalane to intensely hydrate and soothe skin without clogging pores or leaving behind an oily residue. It is gentle but a really great at soothing skin and getting rid of the dirt and grime of the day. Have you tried anything from this brand, or do you have your eye on anything?

My favourite Garnier Hydrating Body Lotion is a forever repurchase for me, I hate the feeling of heavy lotions on my body and this one is lightweight but is deeply moisturising. You have silky smooth legs all day with this lotion and the aloe vera makes your skin so soft and over time using it keeps your skin hydrated for longer. You have none of that tacky, greasy feeling. Plus it is affordable, and a bottle lasts for ages. 10/10 love it.

If I could recommend one brand for you to explore it would be Miller Harris, they have a range of the most exquisite, luxurious and timeless fragrances to choose from. I have tried so many of their scents over the past 10 years and I can’t say enough good things about them, I am never brand loyal and usually enjoy trying lots of products but I always, always have a bottle of Miller Harris. I am currently wearing L’Eau Magnetic (a new scent to me) which is a beautiful fresh, zesty and sophisticated Spring perfume. I have also just used up my number one perfume from them, Peau Santal, have repurchased this particular fragrance so many times. It is deep, creamy, woody, and slightly masculine. I adore it!

The woody notes add a real touch of warmth and class, whilst the bergamot and cashmere give it creaminess and class. The pink pepper, amber and vanilla make it modern and very sexy. If you get the opportunity to try out this brand or pop into a store, then you really must, and let me know which one of their perfumes you fall in love with.

No7 Future Renew Night Cream* – the entire future renew collection from No7 is incredible, and I noticed visible improvements in my skin from using it. The night cream is the product I used up first, and I really liked the consistency, it felt nourishing and substantial without feeling heavy and thick. Whilst you sleep, this cream helps reverse uneven skin tone and texture, dryness and loss of elasticity with its line up of skin loving ingredients alongside the peptide blend it has shea butter, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid and an antioxidant blend of vitamin C, E and mulberry extract to help protect the skin and give your skin radiance.

It is great for nourishing skin, reducing fine lines and evening out skin tone. This really is a fantastic night cream and if you’re looking for skincare that targets damage from environmental aggressors and UV, as well as hydrating and replenishing tired skin.

StriVectin Multi-Action Restorative Cream now this is a power house of a moisturiser, it is expensive but absolutely worth every penny. It has been formulated to target the 12 visible signs of ageing

Fine lines, wrinkles, density, firmness, sagging, texture, dehydration, dullness, discolouration, clarity, resilience and enlarged pores.

So quite the all-rounder, if you are looking for a moisturiser that will give you results and are in my age bracket (mid 40s) you will see a huge change in your skin after using this cream. My skin looks refreshed, brighter, and my eye area is noticeably smoother.

If you are not a fan or body lotion / butter, then I highly recommend the L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil. This is a very luxurious, smoothing body oil that locks in moisture and leaves your skin feeling hydrated without the heavy feeling of a cream. It is formulated with almond oil, sunflower oil, which are rich in omegas 3 and 6, so it will replenish, hydrate and smooth your skin. Oh, & it smells incredible, very luxurious.

This Time Bomb Funk Off Double Detox Charcoal Mask was a great mask for using after wearing SPF all day. Great at unclogging pores and balancing sebum. Sadly, it seems that Time Bomb as a company are no more, which is sad because I really rated their skincare. If you have any recommendations for other affordable charcoal masks, then please leave them in the comments.

Lumene Quenching Aqua Serum this was a really lightweight serum, and it saved my skin over the Winter. Packed full of hand-picked arctic ingredients that all have specific benefits for your skin. This is a company that uses naturally derived, vegan ingredients so your skin is in good hands.

  • Nordic Red Algae – nourish and hydrate the skin
  • Pure Arctic Spring Water – to increase skin hydration
  • Nordic Birch Sap – to make your skin supple and encourage and cell renewal
  • Hyaluronic Acid – to improve skin hydration and overall glow

StriVectin Anti Wrinkle Cleanser this was a nice cleanser, I didn’t notice any changes in my skin after using it. It was a great gentle cream cleanser, but I wouldn’t say rush out & buy it. I think their moisturisers are a much better place to invest and see results. I always wonder just how good a cleanser can be & when they stop being worth the price tag.

L’Oréal Bond Repair Shampoo* – I love this entire range and have all my family on the hype. It is a range of haircare to help strengthen, repair and give structure to hair that is prone to breakage. If you use heat on your hair regularly or notice breakage when you brush your hair, this entire range is fantastic. It strengthens and restores weak hair as well as giving it a healthy glossy shine. I am also here to say the leave in serum is 10/10 too & I have repurchased it so many times.

L’Oreal Hydra Moisture Boost Shampoo – This is a great range, but I can’t use it too often as it makes my hair a little greasy. If you have more dry hair, it would work really well for you. It does give great volume and bounce, if you have naturally wavy/curly hair. I do like the intense hair mask from this collection as a treat for my hair after I have been swimming or out in the sunshine.

So there you have it, have you used any of the products I have mentioned. Or do you have any recommendations of skincare you have been loving this year, I would love for you to leave me any suggestions in the comments.

Products marked with an * were PR samples. I have not been paid by any brands to mention their products. I have also used affiliate links, of which I would receive a tiny % of any items sold.

Backup Skincare

I can’t be the only person that has backups of their favourite skincare / beauty products?! I consider myself to be quite low-key when it comes to hoarding products or buying new things, even though I love beauty and skincare. There are just a couple of items that I will always have a spare of so that when I run out I have one to replace it straight away. I wanted to share with you the 3 items that I have religiously repurchased and recommend time and time again.

Q+A Oat Milk Cleanser

This Oat Milk Cream Cleanser is my go to hot cloth cleanser. It is a lovely rich cream and I like how gentle it is on the skin, but that it also removes makeup.

  • Oat Seed Oilrich in fatty acids, omegas and oleic and linoleic acid, this moisturising oil is easily absorbed into the skin. Vitamin E and ceramides help to lock in moisturise, promoting a healthy skin barrier.
  • Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids – which are gentle and less stripping, they leave your skin feeling less dry. They protect the skin barrier and reduce water loss for a deeply moisturising and gentle cleanse.

The Q+A skincare range is very affordable and great quality. I have been through countless tubes of this. I just need a mini version to take away on holiday.

 

Garnier vitamin C Brightening Night Serum

This serum has been years in the making from Garnier and contains, 10% Pure vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid. It is of the best, affordable products I have tried for achieving glowing, fresh skin. It is great at reducing sunspot and uneven skin tone and rejuvenating tired skin, which is just what I need.

  • Vitamin C – A potent antioxidant with brightening properties
  • Hyaluronic Acid –  A humectant that retains moisture to hydrate the skin

I have to say that I like the day serum too, they make a wonderful skincare duo.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 125ml

Both my husband and I swear by this cream, especially in the colder months. It is so hydrating and perfect if you have sensitive skin. It is non-greasy, lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It is what I reach for if the weather is cold, my skin is feeling dry or my makeup is not going on as well as usual. Fantastic at giving you that boost of hydration, and I travel everywhere with a mini pot of this.

  • Glacial Glycoprotein – Sourced from Antarctic sea glaciers to deliver intense hydration
  • Squalane – A natural moisturising agent and antioxidant
  • Pro-Ceramides to smooth skin and help boost hydration!

I would love to know what products you always stock up on.

 

Miller Harris L’Eau Magnetic EDP

Miller Harris was founded 15 years ago by expert parfumer Lyn Harris who spent five years training in Paris, then in Grasse at Robertet, the world’s leader in natural aromatic ingredients. Whilst respecting tradition, Miller Harris strives to push the boundaries, creating exquisitely crafted fragrances that are innovative yet timeless. Miller Harris perfumes are beautiful, luxurious and timeless. 

I was first introduced to Miller Harris almost 6 years ago, and I have not looked back. I have repurchased my favourite scents from them over and over again. I’ve tried five of their fragrances up to this point, and when they had their 50% sale at the beginning of the year I decided to try something completely new to me and treated myself to their

100ml EDP in L’Eau Magnetic.

You know that feeling when you find a perfume that makes you feel amazing when you wear it? well, that is how L’Eau Magnetic makes me feel.

This fragrance is not what I typically go for, I tend to like masculine, heavy, rich scents but as Miller Harris were having a sale, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try something completely new and different. I am so glad I did as L’Eau Magnetic has layers of sophisticated citrus, woody notes that are light, fresh, and crisp, but after you initially spritz it settles down to reveal a sophisticated, sexy layer with a zingy, zesty twist.

I would say this is a beautifully unusual scent that is perfect for long Summer evenings, it reminds me of the ocean and warm late nights on holiday. It is unlike anything I have in my collection, I am glad to have discovered it.

Top notes : Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Citron and Lemon

Middle notes : Petitgrain and White Cedar Extract

Base notes : Tobacco, Bourbon Vanilla and Tonka Bean.

The packaging for L’Eau Magnetic is very pretty, I really like the bold blue outer box, and inside the bottle shape is the familiar weighty squared off design that Miller Harris do so well. This fragrance comes in a simple, sophisticated clear glass bottle with a delicate leaf pattern and sophisticated black text. The bottle design is modern, minimal, and sleek, a look that compliments the fragrance.

I think this is the ideal scent for the fresh, warmer months, so if you’re looking to add a new fragrance to your collection I highly recommend checking out, L’Eau Magnetic. Miller Harris is available online at www.millerharris.co.uk.

All Miller Harris products are vegan, suitable for vegetarians and Cruelty-free. You can be confident that their products are formulated entirely without animal-derived products.

You can use my code 65KS83S82 at checkout for 20% discount

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