Body scrub

Heathcote & Ivory : By The Sea Collection

- Vicki Leave a comment
Aordable bodycare from Heathcote & Ivory

#Gifted
Heathcote & Ivory have just released their charming ‘By The Sea Collection’ –  an array of luxurious vegan-friendly hand creams, washes, soaps and much more. As the name suggests, its products have a real fresh, sea breeze feel to them which helps transport you to the bracing British coastline and beautiful endless Summers. I am lucky enough to live by the sea in Cornwall and this collection captures being by the sea in every way, the scent, packaging and the products help keep your skin feeling soft, nourished and soothed. Ideal after a day of being in the salty air, windswept beaches and sunshine.

Heathcote & Ivory By The Sea

The, By The Sea Collection is classic Heathcote & Ivory, exceptional quality for a great price. From the simple, pretty, spa like packaging which is made from sustainably sourced sugarcane, to the fantastic quality of the products themselves, which are vegan, cruelty free and enriched with a seaweed complex infused with kelp and sea oak. Oh and finally the ‘By The Sea’ scent which captures the essence of the coast, both the calm and relaxing escapism as well as the energy and exhilarating strength of the ocean and coastal landscape. Using citrus and woody notes alongside, fresh violets and soft musk, you’re left feeling revived.

Heathcote Ivory By The Sea Collection

By The Sea Seaweed Complex Hand Cream Trio £16.00

I have been trying out a few products from the collection and the trio of travel sized hand creams have been a godsend, like almost everyone using hand sanitiser a lot means my hands are dry and in dire need of some TLC. So I have popped one tube in my handbag, one in my car and the other is on my desk. So I can apply it when my hands are feeling dry throughout the day. The cream is enriched with vitamin E, aloe, glycerin and a seaweed complex, leaving your hands feeling comfortable (not greasy) and protected. At the heart of this new collection is its scent, and that beautiful, calming yet energising scent lingers on our hands long after you have applied the cream. It is so nice.

Heathcote & Ivory Bodycare
New from Heathcote & Ivory
Heathcote & Ivory Product Packaging

By The Sea Body Polish £8.00

This not only has the most fresh, soothing scent, but the walnut shell and sea salt scrub helps smooth and polish your skin. The scrubbies help gently exfoliate away dull, dry skin, leaving your body feeling soft, clean and smooth. Very much needed after a day on the beach, wearing suntan lotion. It is enriched with seaweed extracts, aloe vera and extract of arnica flower. It has a rich, gel like formula has the perfect amount of scrub without being abrasive, think gentle and reviving!

Aordable bodycare from Heathcote & Ivory

By The Sea Body Wash & Body Lotion Duo £23.00

I just love the body duo, the shower gel is the perfect way to refresh your skin after a long day enjoying a coastal walk and the body lotion helps revive and nourish your skin after being out in the elements, as it is enriched with sweet almond oil, moringa oil, cocoa seed butter and a seaweed complex. Infused with the By The Sea fragrance, notes of lemon and bergamot, fresh violets and soft musk, woods, a hint of tobacco and musk. It really does make your bathroom feel like a high-end spa! Such a Summer treat for your skin.

New from Heathcote & Ivory

By The Sea bottles are made from ‘green’ plastic from sustainably sourced sugarcane. They are 100% recyclable. It’s always nice to see brands taking bigger steps to be more green and environmentally friendly.

Pop over to Heathcote & Ivory to browse the By The Sea Collection. Their products make really thoughtful gifts, or treats for yourself too! Let me know what your favourite product is from the range, I love the body duo and the body polish. For me, they are the perfect body care trio for the Summer months.

Products Currently In Use #6

- Vicki Leave a comment
Skincare Currently In Use

Skincare Currently In Use

Yes To Tomatoes Mud Mask*

If you have oily/problematic skin then you need to try this mask. It is incredible for treating and preventing breakouts and drawing out toxins. It contains salicylic acid and a blend of tomato, aloe, watermelon, pumpkin and chamomile extracts. I apply this with a clean foundation brush so I get an even coverage & leave it on for 10 – 15 mins before rinsing with warm water. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly clean, exfoliated and refreshed. It also soothes angry blemishes and draws out dirt and sebum keeping your skin balanced and less prone to breakouts. I really love this brand because their products are super affordable and they have a huge range of products that target specific skin concerns.

DHC Olive-Corn Body Scrub Polish*

I like my body scrubs to be really exfoliating and have a high concentration of scrubbies. This DHC one is not only a great scrub but its also very moisturising. It contains natural corn cob granules in two sizes which effectively remove the dull & dead skin without causing irritation. The inclusion of nourishing olive oil and vitamin E hydrates and lavender oil stimulates the senses. It’s a great way to energise your skin and get Summer ready, I also like to use this before I use my gradual tanner it helps my tan applies evenly.

Decléor Micellar Oil

I have already used up a bottle of this & I am excited to have it back in my skincare routine. It is such a gentle but effective makeup remover and the fact it is an oil means you can really massage it into your skin to break down all the dirt and makeup. It contains Sweet Almond Oil which is rich in essential fatty acids and will help strengthen and soothe skin & it also contains Vegetable Squalene which is derived from Olive Oil and helps maintain skins optimum hydration levels and leaves skin feeling supple and radiant. My last bottle lasted for ages and I highly recommend trying this.

Davines MELU Shampoo

This is my goto shampoo when I want my hair to look voluminous and bouncy – it is a shampoo that won’t weigh down your locks. It is infused with amino acid-rich Lentil Seed Extract, it nourishes your hair leaving it soft and shiny. It also helps to restore and prevent breakage and split ends. I like that the product is lightweight and easy to wash out & it smells so good and fresh.

Have you tried any of the products I’m currently using?

  • This post contains PR samples

Queen Tea Cosmetics Products

- Vicki 2 Comments
Queen Tea Beauty Products

Queen Tea Beauty Products

Queen Tea products are inspired by both the British tradition of Afternoon Tea and India’s approach to Tea and Wellbeing. Their beautiful range of products is designed to help you relax and unwind whilst being pampering and nourishing for your skin.

I’ve been testing out The Really Relaxing Detox Box & The Green Tea Body Scrub – both products come beautifully packaged with that handmade personal touch. I think they would make lovely gifts for anyone that is bath obsessed (like me).

‘A range of 100% natural skin food inspired by Afternoon Tea. We freshly produce with clean ingredients that benefit your skin and have spent time researching the best ingredients to help you really tea-tox your way to happiness. Welcome to your tradition of ‘Me-Time’.

Queen Tea Bath Products

The Really Relaxing Detox Box* 

Before you even open the box you can already smell the beautiful chamomile, rose and lavender aromas seeping out. Inside you get 2 ‘Tea Bags’ which are full (jam packed full) of beautifully scented salts, petals, flowers, leaves and essential oils. You also get one sachet of Mini Milk.

All you need to do is pop one tea bag in your bath and let all the goodness seep into your bath water – when your bath water is brewed you add two tbsp of Mini Milk and sit back and relax.

The Mini Milk which you sprinkle into your bath water is a blend of Cocoa Butter, Milk and Oat Bran and it leaves your skin feeling soft, soothed and very nourished. You can purchase these Milk sachets separately too.
Detox Box by Queen Tea

I thought the whole experience was lovely and relaxing, my bathroom smelt beautiful and my skin felt soothed and soft. I really like that all of the ingredients are 100% natural and the packaging is environmentally friendly too.

Queen Tea Cosmetics are also proud to donate 10% of profits from the Detox Boxes to the Trussell Trust, to raise awareness for UK hunger poverty.

Detox Box Bath Treats

Queen Tea Bath Products

Green Tea Body Scrub* 

This scrub comes in a cute tin which Queen Tea Cosmetics encourage you to reuse (I’m already using mine to store my washi tape in). The scrub itself looks a little scary at first, because it’s bright green in colour & looks like slimmer from Ghostbusters but rest assured its nothing to be afraid of.

The scrub is jam-packed with lots of natural ingredients like anti-oxidant rich Green Tea, Coconut Oil, Salt & Sugar as well as Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential Oils. It’s a very effective scrub and the salt & sugar are great, providing just the right amount of scrub to remove dead skin, grime and dirt to leave your skin smooth and soft.

It does smell uplifting and fresh, so it’s nice to use in the morning to help you feel energised and get your skin ready for the day. I will say make sure you wash this off thoroughly otherwise you may just end up with green towels (lesson learned).

I have been using this twice a week and after 8 uses I still have a good amount of scrub left so it does last a good amount of time

Queen Tea Green Tea Body Scrub

So if you know anyone who is tea obsessed and that likes a good pamper session then I think anything from Queen Tea Cosmetics would be an ideal gift. As I said they come beautifully packaged and as a brand, they have a wonderful ethos and its nice to support that.

Let me know what you are tempted to try.

*PR Sample

Floral Memento Body Products

- Vicki 6 Comments

Floral Memento Body Products

I visited the & Other Stories store in London a couple of years ago & treated myself to a few products, I thought it was a great shop and wish I’d had a little more time to browse not only the beauty products but also the clothes. I can’t wait to visit again but I was very impressed with the products I bought and think their range is very affordable and really good quality. So I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review two products from their new Floral Memento range.

I love setting a day aside every week to do a full on pamper session. I run a bath, do a face mask and give my skin a little TLC. I have been enjoying these two body products from the & Other Stories Floral Memento Collection With the weather getting warmer & the inevitability of getting my legs out, I have found this duo leave my skin hydrated and smooth and a great pre tanning combo.

The Floral Memento range smells to me like a fresh summers day – its quite sweet but with a sophisticated musky layer. It has notes of,

  • Top: Lemon, Bergamot, Blackberries
  • Heart: Violet, Lavender, Peony
  • Base: Musks, Mate leaves, Cedarwood

Floral Memento Collection

Floral Memento Body Scrub* £7 – A lovely sugar scrub that polishes / scrubs away the dead skin leaving your body feeling silky smooth. I’ve found its the perfect pre tanning product because after using this your tan doesn’t go patchy or cling to dry area like knees and elbows. I like a scrub that doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or that is too abrasive & this one is just perfect, its quite gentle and leaves your skin feeling hydrated too.

Floral Memento Body Soufflé* £10 – This is a very lightweight whipped body cream which doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy at all. I like that it almost sinks in instantly and gives your skin a smooth supple finish. This Body Soufflé is ideal for those warmer days / nights when you don’t want to wait for a heavy body butter to sink in as it is so lightweight and silky soft. I like to apply it before I tan because it hydrates and gives your skin a smooth finish.

They both come in a tub with a screw top lid which I like for the body lotion but its not my favourite packaging for a shower product & find that in the shower my tub fills with up with water before I can put the lid back on. I prefer a squeeze tube or one with a pump, they’re more hygienic & easier to use when your hands are wet.

They both smell incredible and it is a scent that lingers on my skin throughout the day, if you like fresh summery floral scents you will enjoy this range. I’ve been trying these two products but this bath and body range also includes a body mist, hand wash, hand lotion, body wash and body lotion so quite a selection. I’m really tempted to get the body mist.

If you can’t get to the London store fear not you can purchase online at www.stories.com

Let me know what pamper products you have been enjoying & also if you have any & Other Stories product recommendations.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.