Pink Parcel - Celebrating Womanhood on International Women’s Day

International Women's Day 2015 takes place on March 8^th. All around the world, International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.  #MakeItHappen is the 2015 theme encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women globally.

As a female brand with a mission to care for and bring joy to women every month when their period strikes, Pink Parcel is naturally proud and passionate about International Women’s Day. 

To celebrate, Pink Parcel is offering one free parcel to anyone that signs up to the subscription service on Sunday 8th March. (Usual full price is £9.99).

Pink Parcel is the latest monthly beauty subscription service for women for periods. Each month, Pink Parcel works with your cycle dates to bring you a luxurious box of full size beauty, grooming and lifestyle products, as well as a supply of feminine hygiene essentials. Brand partners include St Tropez, Elizabeth Arden, OPI, ROC, Maybelline, Rimmel and Bio Oil.

I was sent a box and am so impressed with the contents.   It includes full size OPI Nail Lacquer, Witch redness relief moisturiser and Maybelline The Smoother anti-age primer, plus a bar of Doisy and Dam goji and orange organic chocolate, a Pukka Love tea bag and a sample of Yardley body lotion.  There are also twenty five regular Tampax tampons and a drawstring bag, all neatly boxed and packaged in a Pink Parcel box.  Receiving it through the post, definitely helps brighten your mood, at what can be a pretty miserable time of the month.

Pink Parcel also recently launched a teen-only version, TeenParcel, designed especially for girls between the ages of 11 and 17 featuring brands such as Teapigs, Flamingo candles, Yardley and Binky London.

It's easy to subscribe to Pink Parcel:

1: Visit www.pinkparcel.co.uk and select ‘subscribe’ to get started

2: Choose your favoured sanitary brand (Tampax, Lil-lets, U by Kotex or Always)

3: Choose the level of absorbency required – Individual (Lite, Regular, Super or Super Plus) or Multi (a selection of different absorbencies)

4: Choose your delivery dates based on your cycle

The subscription service is £9.99, including delivery, monthly. You can cancel at any time.

Remember, subscribe on March 8th and get your first box for free!

www.pinkparcel.co.uk

Beauty Products on Review - TanOrganic Original Self Tan and Jooma 2 in 1 Cleanser and Moisturiser

TanOrganic Original Self Tan

I've always used to associate fake tans with the cast of TOWIE, who sport their orange hued skin like a designer fashion accessory. Or I think of Ross from Friends and his unfortunate experience in the spray tan booth where he counted 'Mississipily' and ended up with a shade 8 instead of a 2!

However, in real life, fake tans are definitely not as extreme as those examples.  My daughter, who has a very pale complexion, swears by using a little fake tan to give her a healthy glow, and it looks great. So when I was offered the chance to try out some, I looked forward to giving myself a sunless bronzing, as an antidote to the winter blues. 

Fake tans are so much safer than using sunbeds or indeed sunbathing, but it is very important to me that faking it gives a subtle, natural looking tan, rather than an artificial orange coating!

TanOrganic is the first Eco certified, all natural, organic self tanning oil that nourishes and hydrates the skin.  It is marketed to those who care about what they put on their skin but who still want a professional looking finish.  As it is ethically made and approved by PETA it is also a brand for conscientious consumers.  For me, all these things are very important, and TanOrganic's outstanding credentials make it very appealing.

In addition to its ethical appeal, TanOrganic also gives:

– Buildable colour that allows you the versatility to go from a subtle glow to a deep tan

– 84% Aloe Vera for a streak free application that moisturises your skin and fades perfectly

– No perfume or fragrance, so no more “fake tan” smell

– Develops quickly and lasts for days

But what about the results?  

The TanOrganic oil applies really well to the skin.  When first squeezed out I detected a slight orange smell which was very pleasant, but this faded very quickly to give a fragrance free application.  It feels really smooth and moisturising on the skin, with no stickiness or residue.  I must confess that I was a little nervous and worried about streaking but it went on easily with a streak free and even finish.  I didn't have to faff about at all. Simple!

My skin glowed and looked naturally bronzed, but maybe more importantly, it felt lovely and soft and hydrated.  The formula feels very moisturising. It's amazing what a boost it gives you, having a healthy looking glow.  I love that it is an all natural and organic product, and is definitely something that I will enjoy using.

A 100ml bottle of TanOrganic costs £19.99 and is available from Superdrug or from TanOrganic online (with free delivery on orders over £7).  Aplication mitts and erasers are also available.

Joomo 2 in 1 Cleanser and Moisturiser

Joomo is a 100% natural face wash, made with out using any junk such as parabens, preservatives, soaps or foamers. There is nothing synthetic, nothing harsh and nothing dangerous in the ingredients list. Everything is 100% natural with no physical or chemical changes, harnessing the power of their active ingredients to cleanse and repair the skin.  Raw honey, cinnamon, orange and sea salt are among the ingredients used to create the gentle and effective face wash, which helps prevent acne, spots, blackheads, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and dermatitis.

Joomo Face wash contains SaponinJTM, which is a unique proprietary skin repair system that enables the skin to return to its natural state and helps prevent ailments. It consists of a specially balanced all natural formula of Saponins, essential oils, sea salt, natural sugars, natural pH modifiers, natural anti-oxidants, natural softeners & emollients.  It  treats existing skin ailments and rebuilds and repairs the damage done through the use of synthetic products. Joomo is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and hypoallergenic, making it totally safe to use with therapeutic properties.

Although designed for young, spot prone skin, Joomo is suitable for everyone, especially if you have sensitive or problem skin.  Both Kezia and I love using Joomo face wash and were excited to try out the new 2 in 1 Cleanser and Moisturiser.

The Honey and Orange fragrance is gorgeous.  It smells so natural with a warming hint of cinnamon spice.  Using the face wash can at first seem a little strange as it doesn't foam up like other synthetic cleansers that many of us have previously been used to. But it does make the skin feel silky smooth and soft after using it.  You simply smooth it on then rinse well. There is no tightness or dryness and your face feels hydrated and moisturised without any greasiness. Knowing that it is 'junk' free and natural is so reassuring.

The Joomo Face Wash 2 in 1 Cleanser and Moisturiser comes in two packaging designs for both boys and girls, to appeal to the youngsters that the product is marketed for.  I think this is a great idea as so many beauty products are targeted primarily at women.  Having the boy friendly packaging makes this product great for lads too, giving them ownership of their skincare regime.

The 100ml tube costs £9.95 and is available to buy from the Joomo website (delivery rates apply).

***

Both of these products tick all of the boxes when it comes to choosing ethical, natural beauty products.  I was impressed by the performance of both and love knowing that they are made from ingredients that are completely safe and not synthetic.  Both TanOrganic and Joomo are leading the way, creating natural, top quality, effective products for conscientious consumers who care about what they put on their skin and what goes into the beauty products they buy.


We were sent a sample of each product to test out for the purpose of this review, but retain all editorial control.

Anti-Aging Skincare - Edition Edelweiss by SIIN

When I hear the word 'Edelweiss' my mind conjures up images of delicate white flowers, snow capped mountains and singing nuns!  Nowadays, hearing that word also brings the beautiful Austrian Edition Edelweiss skincare range from siin to mind. The innovative anti-aging products harness the powerful antibacterial,antiseptic and antioxidant effects of the Edelweiss plant, to create a luxurious, full facial experience.

I received a beautiful limited edition gift box containing a 30ml Milky Cleansing gel and a 30ml 24 hr Essence Cream so I could try it for myself.

I am not usually a slave to a beauty regime.  I generally use a natural, vegetable soap on my face and splash with cold water.  At 45, I probably should be thinking more about moisturising, but hate the feeling of greasy, congested skin.  I'm also quite sensitive and experience tightness when using some products.  So I was actually quite excited to try such a luxury, grown-up product!  Now the cold weather is upon us, I have noticed my skin feeling quite dry, so it was the perfect time to test out the Edition Edelweiss products.

The Edelweiss Milky Cleansing gives deep pore cleansing and nutrient rich regeneration to the face and neck.  The active ingredients relaxes stressed skin, making it feel revitalised, hydrated and cleansed.  It contains Edelweiss extract, rose oil, Goji berry with vitamins C, A and B and Ginseng root extract.  The gel turns creamy and milky when a little water is added and feels really luxurious when massaged into the skin.  It has a lovely, natural scent and is a pleasure to use.  It is great for removing make-up and leaves skin glowing.

The 24 hr Essence Cream is an intensive day and night cream that moisturises, neutralises free radicals and protects the skin.  It contains Edelweiss extract, Aloe Vera, Olive Leaf extract, wheatgerm extract and Jojoba oil.  The rich cream is easily absorbed with no greasiness, leaving skin silky and smooth to the touch. 

Benefits include:

Extensive and long-lasting hydration

Neutralises damaging free radicals

Enhances collagen production

Reduction of wrinkles

Aromatherapy stimulates the skin and indulges the senses

These products really do feel lovely to use, the quality shines through.  The 24 hr Essence Cream is a great base for make-up and my complexion looked brighter (certainly not as dull as usual!) after using both products.  My skin did not feel at all tight and I definitely felt more radiant.  I really liked the fact that the day and night cream felt so light on the skin, but was so hydrating and enriching.  They are very gentle on the skin and the scent really is lovely.  I feel thoroughly pampered when using them.

siin is a premium brand.  The products are paraben and paraffin free and not tested on animals.  The natural plant extracts have many properties that can help slow down the visible effects of aging on the skin.  They carry a money back guarantee as the company is so confident in the quality of their products.  

Because of the quality, the products do carry a higher price tag than many beauty products found on the high street.  The set I received retails at £52.90.  If you want to treat yourself to some top quality beauty products, or if you want to pop it on your Christmas list this year, you can find the Essence Edelweiss products at www.siinlife.co.uk.

Montagne Jeunesse Travel Pamper Pack

If you are off on your holidays or for a weekend away and want to pack some indulgent beauty products, then look no further.  The Montagne Jeunesse Travel Pamper Pack contains a selection of products for making you feel pampered from top to toe:

1 x Passion Peel Off Masque 
1 x Skin Smoother
2 x Body Wash 
1 x Foot Cooler 
1 x Intensive Spa Hair Masque

The sachets are all cleverly contained in cardboard packaging which opens up like a book.  The sachets can be torn out like pages ready to use.  This keeps the products together making them perfect to pack in your case or hand luggage.

As with all Montagne Jeunesse products, the Travel Pamper Pack is suitable for vegetarians and made using natural ingredients.

The Travel Pamper Pack is just £5 and available to purchase from the Montagne Jeunesse website.

www.montagnejeunesse.com/gifts/travel-pamper-pack

I was sent a Travel Pamper Pack to try out.  It is a lovely little pack that I am going to be popping in my luggage to pamper myself on my holiday later this month.  The six treats for the body, face and feet all sound gorgeous with yummy ingredients.  They will refresh and invigorate and are a perfect beauty travel essential at an excellent price.

Chocolate Isn't Just For Eating!

This week is Chocolate Week (as well as Curry Week apparently, who'd've thought it!!)

To pay homage to the delicious delights of the cocoa bean, Montagne Jeunnesse sent me a gorgeous Hot Chocolate face masque to try out.

I am already a big fan of their products.  I love the company ethics with everything being animal friendly, all natural, green and vegetarian.  I love the fact that the luxurious products come at pocket change prices so even in this economic recession we can all afford a little pampering from time to time.  And I love the crazy packaging that makes me want to put a fruit salad on my face. (The models make it look like such fun!!)

A calorie free treat for chocoholics, this smells divine. Seriously good enough to eat (but don't try it, you'll be disappointed, trust me!)  Rich dark chocolate and orange oil are combined with deep cleansing, hydrating  Mediterranean Mud.  It is self-warming and it feels so good to relax with this doing its thing on your skin.   The self-warming action works like a facial sauna opening the pores to remove dirt, oil and toxins. Rinsing off is always a messy affair, so I  jump in the shower.  Afterwards skin feels soft, clean and refreshed.   

For just £1.09 you can transport yourself to guilt-free chocolate heaven, enjoy some quality me-time, give your skin a boost and feel thoroughly pampered! 

Why don't you celebrate chocolate week with Montagne Jeunesse!  Good for your skin, the planet and your pocket.  See the full range and find out more at http://www.montagnejeunesse.com/ 

**I always pop a few sachets in my older kids' Christmas stockings so we can have a Boxing Day pamper session...it's a bit of a fun family tradition!  Now I've discovered the Men's Range, my eldest son and husband will be joining in this Christmas too!**

Win with Aldi's Award Winning Ranges

Aldi have been doing it again!  That is, they have been winning more awards, receiving more glowing reviews in the press and scoring a real victory for value!  They are also helping me celebrate my blogaversary with an exciting product giveaway at the end of this post!!

Over the summer Aldi notched up 99 awards for its quality products, going against products costing much more to buy.  Aldi have won 33 awards for their wines and spirits this year including a Best In Class for their Oliver Cromwell 1599 Premium Gin. The Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards has awarded two of Aldi's products that I have been sent to test out.

The Diplomat Speciality Tea sells at just 99p for a 125g of 50 quality tea bags.  We received the Afternoon Ceylon tea bags which have a delicate and uplifting flavour.  The tea was very light and refreshing, perfect served black.

The Choceur Belgian Milk Chocolate is made from the finest Fairtrade Cocoa Beans and costs just 99p for a 100g bar.  It is smooth, creamy and comparable to premium brands.  Well deserving of its award!

Which? has recently awarded three Aldi products with their Best Buy award.  Magnum washing-up liquid is just 59p a bottle and in tests washed 11,750 plates.  It out performed Fairy which has gone unbeaten in 20 years!  To wash an equivalent number of plates with Fairy would cost £1.97.  Penny for penny, Aldi is a top performer.  The Magnum All in 1 scored as the best dishwasher tablets and cost just £3.99 for a 40 pack.  The Del-Rivo Orange Juice came top in consumer taste tests against all the leading premium brands but is just £1.29 a litre.

In addition to this, Aldi's Lacura Beauty Range is receiving lots of positive attention from the press.  It is award-winning beauty at a beautiful price!

The range looks so much more expensive than it is with its sleek packaging.  No wonder it has attracted the attention of beauty writers and has won awards from the Celebs on Sunday Beauty Survey.  These are premium products at affordable prices.

The Lip Gloss is just £1.99.  It adds instant gloss and shine and comes in a range of colours to suit every look.  It is perfect for both day and night and fits into your handbag for glossing on the go!

The Concealer Pen contains light reflecting particles to cover and conceal fine lines and dark shadows.  It has an applicator push button for easy use.  The fragrance free formula hides signs of fatigue which is perfect for me as I try to cope with the school runs again!  It really works well and at just £3.59 is an absolute bargain.

The Shimmering Day Cream has light reflecting pigments which add a silky, shimmering effect to skin.  The light, creamy gel is enriched with Defensil to condition and protect skin.  It goes on easily and feels light as it absorbs so quickly.  It is good on sensitive skin.  It costs just £1.99 for a 50ml bottle which is incredible for such a luxurious product.

The most exciting product in the Lacura range is their premium product Wrinkle Stop.  This product created quite a buzz when it was first launched.  Here's some of the quotes:

"Snake venom has inspired a new anti-wrinkle cream that offers a recession-busting alternative to Botox"
OK! Online 9th April 2009

"DIY - Lacura Wrinkle Stop is the anti-ageing skin pen that everyone is talking about, containing Syn-Ake, a man-made version of a protein found in the venom of an Asian snake which is proven to show up to a 52 percent reduction in wrinkles after 28 days"
Marie Claire 1st November 2009

"My lines didn't disappear completely, but they are definitely less evident. For the price, it can't be beaten"
Woman's Own 19th October 2009


Chat Magazine awarded it "Best Wrinkle Beater" in 2009.  The product comes in a syringe shaped pot which is a clever touch...it's like botox in a bottle!  The science behind the product says:


This oil free, anti-ageing cream called Wrinkle Stop contains a key active ingredient - Syn-Ake. Syn-Ake is a synthetic substance which mimics the effect of a protein found in the venom of the Temple Viper Snake. Amino acids found in the venom block nerve signals telling muscles to contract, which helps to stop wrinkles forming as well as smoothing out the skin, producing a wrinkle free appearance. It has been proven to help reduce forehead wrinkles by 53% and crow's feet by 24% after 28 days.


The product is thin so goes a long way as you apply it directly to your problem areas.  It is one of the hero range of beauty products which rivals the famous high street brands with huge price tags.  This is an absolute must have at £4.99!