The Me-Time Tag

I have found another one of these Tag posts and I really enjoy doing them as it helps my lovely followers to learn more about me and I also love reading them on others’ blogs. Me-time is really important to me, as I have spent so much time on my own most of my life, being an only-child and losing my Mum at 17. Therefore I am used to having my own space and now living with my boyfriend James, I like to make sure I have a little me-time so that I don’t have a freak-out every now and then haha!

1. What do you like to watch or read during me-time?

With regards to films, I love girly films like The Princess Diaries, Cinderella, Clueless and then the Eighties Tom Cruise film Cocktail. Basically just films that remind me of when I was younger, they always seem to cheer me up. Book-wise I do read quite a lot anyway, and so it is usually just whichever book I am currently reading, it tends to be chick lit.

2. What do you wear during me-time?
   Pyjamas all the way! If I am feeling cold, it will be pyjamas, slippers, and a cardigan or hoody, all topped off with a blanket or throw which I then tend to drag along with me to the kitchen in search of snacks.
3. What are your favourite me-time beauty products?
   I run myself a lovely hot bath, pop a bath bomb or melt in there, tie my hair back and just soak until the water runs cold, although I then do fill it up with more hot water – just don’t tell my boyfriend James that haha! (He says I have too many baths/use too much water as it is!) I tend to take more care with my skin during me-time and so I will get my Magnitone out, and give me skin a good scrub, and use my Soap & Glory No Clogs Allowed face mask, which is really warming on the skin.
4. Current favourite nail polish?

Hmmmmmm I don’t paint my nails have as much as I would love to, and at the moment I like pastel colours, even though it is winter now! But I do have a lovely mustard-coloured Barry M Gelly nail polish.

5. What do you eat or drink during me-time?

Anything I can find! I do like to whip myself up a hot chocolate, with squirty cream and marshmallows though and I will probably eat more sweet things than savoury during me-time as it is often when I am surfing the crimson wave.

6. Current favourite candle?

I got a Stoneglow Winter candle from Love Aroma and it smells soooo amazing. It is such a Christmassy scent and it looks pretty too as it has the appearance of snow, with lots of sparkly glitter on the top.

7. Do you ever have outdoor me-time?

Basically NO hahaha. Certainly not in Winter anyway, I hate the cold weather!

8. Would you ever go and watch a film alone?

No, films don’t bother me that much anyway, and we do watch quite a lot of films at home as James is a bit of a film buff! I think the cinema is so expensive nowadays and so if I was to go it would be as a trip out with James or a friend.

9. Favourite online shop?
   At the moment I love browsing www.boots.com as there are so many great offers at this time of the year and I cannot wait until this weekend as there will be lots of Black Friday offers – bank card at the ready! I am hoping to get the Jack Wills duffel bag set and the Best of Benefit set in particular. 
10. Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

I love a little snooze, my Dad used to call my horizontal Annie as I just tend to relax a lot of the time, well as much as possible. I will catch up on Twitter and Facebook, play my mindless games on my iPhone, flick through magazines and have cuddles with my kitten Millie.

 

Hope you’ve enjoyed my answers! If you want to also do the tag just copy & paste the questions below to your own blog. 

 

Kathryn xx 

___________________________________

 

1. What do you like to watch or read during me-time?
   2. What do you wear during me-time?
2. What are your favourite me-time beauty products?
   4. Current favourite nail polish?
3. What do you eat or drink during me-time?
   6. Current favourite candle?
4. Do you ever have outdoor me-time?
   8. Would you ever go and watch a film alone? 9. Favourite online shop?
   10. Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

 

 

Time Bomb Skincare

I am exhausted most of the time and I am pretty sure it shows on my skin. A shot of vitamin B12 can be a serious boost to energy levels and now Time Bomb has put B12 in their complexion cocktail. As skin ages it doesn’t produce as much protein, lipids or natural moisturising factors. Add that to a tired and stressful life and you get skin that hangs there like a jowly dog, grey, puffy and slack.

From the Time Bomb range, this Complexion Cocktail contains B12, B3m brown algae, centella – helps with the delivery of oxygen and nutrients – and amino acids. You do not need a lot of the product at all, a few drops will help to tighten the skin and produce a glowy, fresh look. I was super surprised by the effectiveness and powerfulness of the Complexion Cocktail, it really makes you look super rested, even after a few hours sleep.

The algae and B vitamins help to re-energise and de-puff. The ginseng is meant to increase micro-circulation and it definitely makes skin look tauter. It is suitable for sensitive skin too and if you suffer from rosacea, just use a small amount and you will still see a difference.

The Powerball Intensive Moisturiser is so super hydrating and helps your skin retain the moisture it gives. This is not just any ordinary moisturiser. It is packaged in a cool white ball and inside is the super whipped, super silky cream, a powerhouse blend of 21 natural hydrating agents that promise to refill and revive skin. The cream when applied sinks in instantly and has a wonderful plumping effect, and the magic of it is that the plumping lasts.

The Powerball describes itself as a watershed moment in the evolution of skin moisturisation and harnesses the hydrating effect of Ectoin, a miracle-working microscopic protein found in the desert.

The Time Bomb Complexion Cocktail costs £24 and the Powerball Intensive Moisturiser costs £36 and both are available from http://www.timebombco.com 

Love,

Kathryn xxx

The Soho Soap Co

Well Winter is well and truly here and as much as I love some things about Winter, I can’t help but think about Summer. The Soho Soap Co have some gorgeous smelling bathing products and I wanted to tell you all about some of my favourite scents, which remind me of Summer.

My favourite fragrances from the collection include Strawberry Daiquiri, Coconut Paradise and Vanilla Smoothie. All three scents remind me of the summer months, strawberry daiquiri cocktails in Egypt, Coconut Paradise reminds me of suntan lotion and Vanilla Smoothie reminds me of summer evenings smothering vanilla body butter on my skin to cool down the Summer warmth.

Each tube of Bath and Shower Gel have little paragraphs on them telling you about the ingredients and here’s what is on mine…

Vanilla Smoothie – Tales of passion and intrigue have surrounded this exotic vanilla orchid bean for centuries…all I feel is nostalgia and ice cream sweetness.

Strawberry Daiquiri – A gentle fruit born in France would you believe, which may explain why its scent smells of quiet romance and creates calm in the craziest of days.

Coconut Paradise – Its flowers adorn Hindu weddings and its fruits play fairground games of tall dancing trees and swimming in its milky sweetness.

I think this is a really cute touch and the formulas are all allergen and paraben free and so are fab for even sensitive skin and leave your skin smelling gorgeously fresh and silky smooth.

What scents remind you of summer?

The Soho Soap Co is available at Sainsburys.

Love,

Kathryn xx

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Collection

Hi you Gorgeous people!

I have been a little MIA lately as I have had Bronchitis and so I have been in bed the majority of the time! But I am on my way to a full recovery and wanted to start back with my new favourite collection from The Body Shop. The Glazed Apple range is new for the festive season and includes all of the usual Body Shop products – Body Butter, Shower Gel etc plus a few fab new products.

Glazed Apple Shower Gel £4

The Body Shop’s shower gels are soap-free and this one is made with apple extract and Community Fair Trade honey all the way from Ethiopia. It is a bright green colour (reminded me a bit of Fairy washing-up liquid colour-wise) and smells divine.

Now I love apple scents and flavours anyway and so this was always going to be a winner in my eyes, but the scent really does smell like crisp, fresh apples, although there is a sweetness to it, which some people may not like. With this formula you don’t need a lot of the product as it spreads really well and so it tended to last me quite a while.

Glazed Apple Body Butter £13

One of The Body Shop’s hero products, this Body Butter is suitable for all skin types and is made with apple seed oil and Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana. I love the fact that with The Body Shop products you are also supporting other countries who are not as fortunate as the UK.

The scent is exactly the same as the Shower Gel and the texture of the formula is beautifully creamy, leaving your skin nourished and well moisturised.

Glazed Apple Bath Sprinkles £7

One of my favourite ‘new’ products in the range, these Bath Sprinkles are super cute. They come in a bauble shaped bottle and you simply sprinkle a small amount under hot running water to leave your bath fragranced beautifully.

With regards to the Glazed Apple scent, I did find that the fragrance was stronger but this certainly wasn’t a problem for me. I also think, if you can find yourself able to give this gorgeous product away, that this would be a perfect stocking filler!

You can check out these products and more at http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk 

Have you tried any of this beautiful festive collection?

Love,

Kathryn xx

W7 Advent Calendar

Now onto one of my favourite new Christmas traditions – Beauty Advent Calendars. They seem to be everywhere at the moment, and I have also seen Yankee Candle editions, jewellery versions and many many more. I do love a chocolate advent calendar, but a beauty one is a lot less fattening and to be honest a lot more fun! I have chosen three this year, the Selfridges edition, the Benefit calendar and the W7 Cosmetics Beauty Advent Calendar.

W7 produce really amazing quality, fun and reasonable priced make-up items and I have done a few blog reviews on their products before and therefore I was SUPER DUPER excited to be able to show you my W7 Beauty Advent Calendar.

It opens up like a book would, and is a gorgeous metallic red colour, and so nice and festive! Inside are 24 doors with beauty products behind each one, including nail polishes, lipsticks, lipglosses, eyeshadows and a full-size mascara. I think the Beauty Advent Calendars are such good ideas for being able to try different colours and products without forking out for the full size. Also, if you aren’t fond of a particular colour, it would be a cute idea to give it to a friend – it is the season of goodwill after all!

At just £19 from TK Maxx they are a lot cheaper than the majority of the beauty advent calendars out there, but definitely no less fun!

Have you bought any of the alternative advent calendars this year? Would anyone be interested in seeing the contents of my Selfridges and Benefit calendar too?

Love,

Kathryn xx

Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream

Nair Argan Oil Shower Power Cream works during showering for handy, quick & effective hair removal. The unique formula containing Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil and Cocoa Butter helps to leave your skin feeling softer and smoother. Clinically & dermatologically tested and with patented ‘odour control technology’, the formula is gentle enough to use on legs, bikini and underarms.

How to Use

* Ensure that the skin is clean and dry and then using the spatula provided apply a thick, even layer of the cream. Wait for at least 1-2 minutes before entering the shower.

* In the shower, leave the cream on the skin for at least 3 minutes; try to avoid excessive exposure to water on the areas which are covered with the cream.

* After 3 minutes, test a small area with the spatula. If the hair does not come away from the test area easily, leave for a few minutes longer do not exceed 10 minutes in all.

* Remove the cream using the spatula, and then rinse the area immediately with plenty of warm water to remove all traces of the cream. Do not rub or use soap.

I must admit I found this super easy to use, and after 5 minutes the hair just fell away. I loved the fact that you can use this in the shower as it saves time whilst washing your hair and keeps you warm instead of sitting on the bathroom floor! I found that because the formula had the oils and the cocoa butter in it, my skin felt well-nourished and smooth as a baby’s buttocks!

The pack costs £6.69 and is available at www.Boots.com

Love,

Kathryn xx

Weleda Calendula Massage Oil

This fabulous product can be used as the name suggests, a massage oil or to pop on the skin after a shower or bath and really is a great pampering product at a really good price point.

This gentle massage oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which support the rebuilding of the natural protective layer of the skin which then balances its natural fat and moisture content. This oil with its refreshing fragrance is ideal for massages as well as for sensitive delicate skin.

The Calendula Massage Oil is formulated from carefully selected plant oils and is made from sun-ripened seeds and fruits, which are rich in precious substances which stimulate skin’s own natural regeneration and revitalisation processes.

You simply apply a few drops of the oil onto damp skin after a shower or bath, and another thing I love about it is that it absorbs super quickly, and so you can pop your nightwear on straight away. It left my skin feeling so so soft, and really well nourished.

Have you tried any products from the Weleda range before? You can get your very own Weleda Calendula Massage Oil for just £9.95 for a good size bottle at www.weleda.co.uk

Love,

Kathryn xx

Jojoba Company Hydrating Day Cream

With most moisturisers I tend to use them on an evening, as I hate that thick, sticky feeling a lot of moisturisers can leave – which is fine on an evening as I know my skin will be soaking in the goodness, but during the day, moisturisers can tend to make my skin look oily. The Jojoba Company have a light, hydrating cream which is perfect for daytime wear.

It includes a whole host of amazing ingredients such as;

■Pure Australian Jojoba – antioxidant, rich in Vitamins A, D & E, hydrating

■Green Tea – calming

■Chamomile – soothing, calming

■Beta Glucan – nurtures collagen production

■Vitamins B & E – antioxidants

■Pomegranate – anti-aging, visibly promotes skin elasticity

■Siberian Ginseng – tightening, firming

■Slik amino acids – peptides, firming proteins

This is a really gentle, long-acting daily moisturiser that helps to restore the skin’s natural suppleness and protects against dehydrating environmental effects, such as weather, pollution and much more. It is suitable for all skin types, and is fine even for my sensitive skin.

I use the Hydrating Day Cream after I have cleansed and toned my skin, pumping a small amount onto my fingertips and pressing gently onto my face, neck and décolletage. Jojoba is amazing for moisturising and gets really deep into the skin, lasting all day long.

You can find out more about The Jojoba Company at www.thejojobacompany.com.au

Love,

Kathryn xx

Crabtree & Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy

I have not tried the Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams before but I couldn’t wait to give this one a whirl, I love Caribbean and floral scents and so this one sounds perfect.

Rich in antioxidants this intensive conditioning hand cream is formulated with conditioning shea butter and macadamia nut oil to moisturise and soften the hands. Delicate spider lily (had to Google what this is, it is the common name for a number of different plant species within the family Amaryllidaceae) is blended with notes of wild flowers, tropical citrus fruits and a marine accord, conjuring the feeling of relaxing on a tranquil Caribbean island.

I once went to the Caribbean and stayed at the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island, Nassau. It was out of this world and by far the most amazing place I have ever visited. The flowers and wildlife out there are gorgeous and the beautiful scents really linger in the air.

The Crabtree & Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy also includes extracts of myrrh to help condition the cuticles and nails, and is formulated without parabens, lauryl sulfates, mineral oil and propylene glycol, and so it really is an all-in-one hand and nail product.

I loved using this hand therapy as it managed and moisturised my hands, nails and cuticles and within days I saw results and the fragrance is just to die for!

The Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapies start at just £5 and you can see the full fragrance range at www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

Love,

Kathryn xx

Lush Christmas

James and I recently went to Nottingham for a spot of Christmas shopping, and of course I couldn’t pass Lush without going in and making a few festive purchases – this year they have some absolute crackers!

Cinders

This Bath Ballistic is smaller than the average Lush bath bomb and looks really pretty. It is one of the bath bombs which smells of Christmas, the spices and festive scents really come alive with this bomb. When I popped this in my running bath, as well as it fizzing, there was also some crackling as it has popping candy in – it was a bit like a festive firework display.

My skin felt lovely and soft afterwards, the festive scent lingered in the bathroom and at just £2.50 this is definitely a bargain bath bomb compared to some of the larger bath bombs.

Basked Alaska

When I first saw the Baked Alaska Soap, I was spellbound by how gorgeous and pretty it looked (although my slice is sadly blue). Baked Alaska is named after a Norwegian dessert, consisting of ice cream in the middle, smothered in meringue and then briefly cooked. Sounds yummy!

As a whole soap, this looks like a gigantic snowball but then as soon as it is carved, inside is a gorgeous vibrant-coloured rainbow of a soap. It has a citrus scent and is really strong, but not horribly strong, the scent is lovely and uplifting.

The soap contains lemon myrtle and grapefruit oil, making the citrus scent sweet rather than tart and ylang yland helps to round off the citrus combination, adding a slightly floral fragrance. It works into a really creamy lather and leaves my skin feeling beautifully soft and squeaky clean. Per 100g, the soap costs £3.25.

Melting Snowman

Awwwww this is so cute and is just £2.25! This is a bath melt rather than a bath bomb and so doesn’t fizz in the water, just simply melts away, of course leaving all of it’s skin-beautifying properties in the water.

Once placed into the bath, the Melting Snowman, starts, well melting! To me, he smells of spices and lemon, perhaps with a hint of cinnamon – CHRISTMAS!!!! Mr Snowman officially contains cinnamon, clove, patchouli, benzoin, lime and sweet wild orange oils – scrumptious and his eyes and buttons look like they’re made of chocolate but are in fact cocoa butter, and so this bath melt is definitely one to keep your skin heavenly moisturised.

What are your favourite Lush Christmassy products? My ultimate fave is Snow Fairy, but I am saving that post for another day! In the meantime check out www.lush.co.uk and keep those peepers peeled!

Love,

Kathryn xx