Mad Beauty Unveils Their NEW SS25 Collections And We Adore It

As Mad Beauty celebrates their 25th birthday, they have launched an exciting new SS25 collections. Featuring magical collaborations with Disney and Warner Bros, alongside their exclusive own-label range, these collections are designed to surprise and delight. They are fun and super cute. The designs are brilliant. I love them.

These products are gorgeous products of joy. When you get one they add to your day. We all deserve gorgeous things in our life that brighten up the day. Get shopping now. Now available to shop online at madbeauty.com, here’s an exclusive first look at the must-have products from each collection:

Lady and The Tramp

A romantic rendezvous of delicate florals and indulgent treats, this collection celebrates the classic love story’s 70th anniversary. Perfect for Disney lovers and dog enthusiasts alike, this collection reimagines the film’s most iconic moments into innovative beauty products.

Our favourite pick: Disney Lady & The Tramp Bath Spaghetti, £7.99

Transform bath time with this charming bath spaghetti, fragranced with wildflower for a luxurious soak that’s as indulgent as the film’s famous candlelit dinner scene.

Shop the Lady and the Tramp collection here

Moana

With Moana’s popularity soaring ahead of the upcoming live-action movie in 2026, this collection is a tropical celebration of inner strength and independence. Expect fresh scents, vibrant designs, and products that help you look and feel your best.

Our favourite pick: Disney Moana Hair Mask, £6.99

Enriched with shea butter and algae extract, this hydrating mask deeply nourishes hair, leaving it silky smooth. Use Moana’s iconic paddle scoop to apply the perfect dose and let the tropical coconut fragrance transport you to island paradise.

Shop the Moana collection here

Princess Express Yourself

Bringing beloved Disney Princesses into the modern era, this collection is filled with fun, contemporary beauty essentials. Expect new formats like lip oils, face masks, and scrunchie sets, ideal for gifting when choosing just one princess is impossible!

Our favourite pick: Disney Princess Express Yourself – Lip Oil Collection, £8.99

A four-piece collection of hydrating, high-gloss lip oils in delicious fragrances including apple, cherry, vanilla, and strawberry, to keep lips soft and radiant all day.

Shop the Disney Princess Express Yourself collection here

Powerpuff Girls

Inspired by the fearless energy of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, this vibrant collection features beauty must-haves designed to empower and uplift.

Our favourite pick: Warner Brothers Powerpuff Girls Super Cute – Body Mist Trio, £8.99

Stay fresh and confident with this trio of fruity body mists in coconut, cherry, and peach, perfect for on-the-go power-ups!

Shop the Powerpuff Girls collection here

London Collection

With travel booming, Mad Beauty celebrates its hometown with a collection of iconic London-inspired beauty gifts, making for the perfect souvenirs and keepsakes.

Our favourite pick: Mad Beauty London Post Box Hand & Body Wash, £7.99

Designed to resemble a classic London post box, this wildflower-scented hand and body wash adds a charming British touch to any bathroom.

Shop the London collection here

Beautiful Boudoir

A sophisticated and elegant collection inspired by traditional Parisian fragrance houses, making it a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or Eid.

Our favourite pick: Mad Beauty Boudoir Bath And Body Gift Set, £8.99

Luxury for Less: How to Enjoy Life’s Upgrades Without the Hefty Price Tag

Living life luxuriously does not always equate to exorbitant spending. The idea that one must possess a fat bank account to indulge in life’s finer aspects is, in fact, a myth. In this era of ‘smart living,’ one can enjoy numerous upscale comforts without bearing a hefty price tag. Believe it or not, there are several innovative, budget-friendly ways to enjoy life’s upgrades. With a little planning and creativity, you can live a lavishly comfortable life sans financial stress.

Electric Cars on Lease

For instance, have you ever thought about getting an electric car on lease? Electric vehicles have recently become a symbol of both sustainability and luxury. However, owning one might seem difficult because of the up-front cost. This is where leasing comes in. By leasing the car instead of buying, you can enjoy the richness of a luxury electric vehicle while paying a fraction of the retail price. 

Plus, leasing offers added perks such as not having to worry about maintenance costs or the vehicle’s depreciation. Many leases include regular servicing and warranty coverage, ensuring that your car stays in top condition without any extra effort or expense. Leasing also gives you the flexibility to drive a new model every few years, keeping you at the forefront of technology and design without the long-term commitment of ownership.

Shared Luxury with Fractional Ownership

The concept of non-whole ownership, called fractional ownership, has become a popular trend. In essence, you can part-own a luxury asset such as a yacht, private jet or holiday home. The cost, maintenance, and usage are split between various owners, allowing you to enjoy the luxury for a fraction of the cost. This is a great economical way to enjoy the high life without burning a hole in your pocket.

Seek out Discount Luxury Holidays

Looking to relax in a five-star resort or take an exotic cruise? Luxury holidays do not always mean draining your bank account. Travel companies often provide last-minute deals, off-peak discounts and package deals that can save you a substantial amount of money while allowing you to experience the height of luxury. Furthermore, platforms like Airbnb have given rise to ‘luxury for less’ with many high-end apartments and villas available at a fraction of the cost compared to hotels.

Affordable Luxury Brands

Luxury doesn’t always have to come from designer brands. There are a plethora of mid-range brands that offer quality products at a reasonable price. These affordable luxury brands provide a great balance of style, quality, and functionality. The same rule applies not only to fashion but to tech gadgets, skin care, cosmetics, and even homewares.

Buy Pre-Owned Luxury

Pre-owned or second-hand luxury items are an excellent way to enjoy the high life without the high price. Auctions, online platforms, and second-hand luxury boutiques are great places to scout for pre-loved designer items. Remember, a well-maintained luxury item can look just as good as a new one.

Closing Thoughts

Luxury can be attained without the necessity of breaking the bank or compromising on quality. The key to enjoying life’s upgrades lies in smart, well-researched purchases, good timing, and out-of-the-box solutions. Remember that true luxury starts with comfort and happiness, and these sentiments don’t necessarily bear sky-high price tags. It’s all about embracing innovation, exploring alternatives and making choices that add value to your life. So, start today and step into a world where luxury can indeed be enjoyed for less.

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

Fun Beauty Products To Add To Your Life With Mad Beauty

When these products from Mad Beauty arrived it was a complete moment of joy. The honey pot lip balms are so cute, the scrunchies are beautifully designed, and feel so soft. The Jungle Book eye palette is so well done with gorgeous colours. The veggie hand cream is such a cute carrot. Having these cute and unique products in our life gives a beautiful lift. They make the day just that little bit better, and fun.

Disney Winnie Honey Pot Lip Balm Duo, £7.99, Mad Beauty.

Life is sweet, show your lips some love with this honeypot duo of lip balms. These vanilla and sweet honey fragranced lip balms in perfect handbag sized pots mean you can keep them by your side all day long.

Disney The Jungle Book Hair Scrunchie Trio, £8.99, Mad Beauty

Crafted from a soft satin effect fabric, in Mowgli and Baloo, baby elephant Hathi, Jr. and palm leaf designs, they’re gentle on your hair and perfect for snag-free ponytails.

Disney The Jungle Book Eyeshadow Palette, £16.99, Mad Beauty

Unleash your natural beauty or get creative and experiment with striking looks with our Disney’s The Jungle Book inspired eyeshadow palette. 16 pigment rich shades marrying mossy greens with warm earthy tones in buttery blendable mattes and shimmer finishes.

MAD Beauty Veggie Friends Carrot Hand Cream, £5,99, Mad Beauty.

A moisturising cream infused with carrot extract and shea butter known to soothe and protect skin, with a refreshing aloe vera fragrance.

What is your favourite?

Rebel Dawn by Ann Sei Lin: A Stunning Conclusion To An Epic Trilogy.

Reading The Rebel Skies Trilogy was an absolute joy. Ann Se Lin took me back to my childhood reading fantasy and obsessively reading Stephen King novels. Ann is such a brilliant writer she reminds me of King. The comparison might seem weird, considering Lin writes YA and King is very adult. Yet the standard of Ann Sei Lin’s writing is so high that she has a long and illustrious career ahead of her. She is one of the best writers writing today.

Her imagination at building a world full of paper spirits, flying ships and cities in the sky immerses you completely. The characters become your friends, or people you want your new friends to defeat. With lyrical prose and vivid imagination, Ann Sei Lin has triumphed. The Rebel Skies trilogy will stay with me.

Rebel Dawn is an action packed and vivid fantasy adventure. It took me a while after I finished it to write this review. The ending resonates so deeply. It is beautiful, with a longing that stays with you. The third and final book in the trilogy, Kuara is dealing with a lot. Guilt, PTSD (I would guess!) and the weight of her burden. The world is falling apart. Can she fix it? I cannot wait for what Ann Sei Lin does next. She is one of the best YA writers and is more talented than one human being should be allowed.

I cannot recommend the Rebel Skies trilogy enough. They are absolute perfection.

The third and final book in a pacy, lyrical and vivid fantasy adventure set in a world of flying ships, sky cities and powerful paper spirits.

Kurara and her friends have found the key to releasing shikigami from their bonds and granting them eternal freedom – if they can unlock its power. The answer lies in Kurara’s homeplace, deep in the mountains of Mikoshima. But can the crew reach it before the imperial forces catch up with them, or their own internal battles break them apart for ever?

Excellent world-building, a dramatic and pacy plot, and an array of deep and believable characters – explored through multiple perspectives – make for a thrilling final instalment in this masterful fantasy adventure.

Rebel Dawn is published by Walker and available to buy here.

Bare Biology Mums & Bumps Omega-3: for pregnancy, mums and mums-to-be

Omega-3—the life-changing supplement that supports the heart, brain, joints, and eyes for those of all ages, from newborns to grandparents. Recommended by nutritional experts.

Mums & Bumps is the go-to omega-3 supplement for pregnancy and breastfeeding, delivering 560mg of DHA—the equivalent of a large tin of sardines—in just one easy-to-swallow fish gelatin capsule.

Approved Omega-3 Health Claims:

  • Supports Baby’s Brain Development: Maternal intake of DHA contributes to normal brain development in the foetus and breastfed infants.
  • Maintains Brain Function: DHA helps maintain normal brain function.
  • Promotes Heart Health: EPA and DHA support normal heart function.
  • Regulates Blood Triglycerides: DHA and EPA contribute to maintaining normal blood triglyceride levels.
  • Supports Healthy Blood Pressure: DHA and EPA help maintain normal blood pressure.
  • Protects Vision: DHA contributes to maintaining normal vision.
  • Aids Eye Development: Maternal intake of DHA supports normal eye development in the foetus and breastfed infants.

Why Mums & Bumps is Different:

  • Specifically Formulated for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding – One easy-to-digest capsule provides 560mg of DHA, a vital nutrient for foetal and infant brain and eye development.
  • High Strength & Purity – Provides the same DHA as a large tin of sardines, without the need to consume fish daily.
  • Recommended by Experts – Trusted by nutritionists and healthcare practitioners who prioritise quality and efficacy.
  • IFOS Tested & Certified for Purity – Every batch meets the most rigorous international standards for freshness and purity, with additional in-house quality control checks.
  • Sustainably Sourced – Made in Norway and the UK from wild, sustainably caught fish, with environmentally conscious packaging.

Each bottle contains 30 capsules, providing a full month’s supply with just one capsule per day. It’s an essential supplement to support both mum and baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

  • 650mg omega-3 per capsule
  • Made specifically for pregnancy and breastfeeding

Post-exercise must-haves from Bare Biology and Wildsmith Skin

I exercise a lot so I feel like I am always battling muscle pains. I will try anything that can make a difference. I don’t like to suffer unless I really have to. I absolutely adore Wildsmith Body Cleansers, £38 each. They clean while also hydrating. I smell gorgeous after and my skin feels soft and smooth.

Introducing the innovative Body Cleansers from Wildsmith, the skincare brand that uses natural ingredients and sustainable practices to craft beautifully botanic products designed to support and transform skin health. The trio of Wildsmith body cleansers are formulated with carefully selected actives, to ensure your body stays clean and refreshed, and there’s something for everyone:

NEW Bare Biology Ready & Rested Magnesium

£34.99 (one-time purchase)

Everyone I know is obsessed with magnesium and I don’t blame them. It helps with sleep and muscle soreness. I have definitely noticed a difference. That said, always check with your doctor before supplementing.

Bare Biology Ready & Rested is brilliant for those with an active lifestyle, with its approved health claims supporting muscle function and recovery. Magnesium replenishes what’s lost through sweat, making it ideal for active lifestyles and post-workout recovery.

Bare Biology Ready & Rested Magnesium Bisglycinate Capsules, £34.99

How do you deal with muscle soreness?

The Drinks Bureau’s Award-Winning Shirley Temple. Fun Cocktails in a Can.  

Award-winning ready-to-drink cocktail brand The Drinks Bureau has launched a fun and sweet cherry-licious ShirleyTemple (0% ABV) and vodka-based Dirty Shirley (5% ABV) cocktails. If you love, pink, fun, sweet things then we can recommend these fun cocktails and mocktails.

Whether you’re planning a cosy night in or celebrating with friends, The Drinks Bureau’s award-winning Shirley Temple and Dirty Shirley cocktails are the perfect pre-mixed cocktails. The Dirty Shirley, with its delicious blend of vodka, real cherry juice, ginger, lemon and bitters is scrumptiously sweet and zingy. The alcohol-free Shirley Temple provides all the flavour without the spirits – ideal for designated drivers or those looking for a non-alcoholic alternative. Both variants come in Instagram-worthy pink and red cans that capture the spirit of fun. Plus, with no mixing or measuring needed, you can spend less time playing bartender.

Frankie Snobel, The Drinks Bureau Founder, said: “Serving a seriously tasty cocktail couldn’t be easier with our fun and fabulous Shirley Temple and Dirty Shirley canned cocktails – just chill and enjoy!  Or if you’re feeling fancy, pour over ice, garnish with a cherry and serve!  They are mouth-watering, combining moreish cherry and a ginger zing for a refreshing and cheeky little sipper. ”

The Drinks Bureau’s premium cocktails have gained nationwide recognition with both the Dirty Shirley and Shirley Temple cocktails winning ‘GOLD’ in the 2023 Global RTD Masters. The full portfolio also includes the world-leading Spicy Margarita – crowned best ready-to-drink cocktail in the world last year at the Global RTD Masters in a blind taste test by industry judges – alongside delicious flavours such as Espresso Martini, Passion Fruit Martini, Lychee Martini, and Strawberry Daiquiri.

For more information on The Drinks Bureau’s range of cocktails, visit www.thedrinksbureau.com.

Being an Author Is a Lot of Work. It’s The Love Of It That Gets Us Through.

At time of writing, my book, Where The Light is Hottest, came out yesterday. It has been a long time coming. It took me a long time to figure out how to write a good book. Writing a book is hard, but one that is readable? Really hard. Anyone who is trying to do that now, keep at it. You will get there in the end.

When you are lucky enough to become a writer the amount of time you spend writing can go down. I am busy marketing and doing publicity for the book. I am also on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Facebook and Bluesky. Phew! Then there are interviews, podcasts and articles to write for various publications.

@balavage My second novel, Where The Light is Hottest by Catherine Yardley, is out on Thursday. Here is 10 facts about me. If you have any questions, ask away! #booktok#booksbooksbooks#wherethelightishottest#book#writingcommunity#writersoftiktok#writingcommunity#writerscommunity#authorsoftiktok#authorlife#writertok#authorscommunity#booksworthreading♬ original sound – Catherine Balavage Yardley

While being an author is a lot of work I can say that it never feels like work. I love what I do. I love writing and I also love meeting people. The writing and book community are amazing.

My publisher is busy printing more copies of my book as they ran out of stock. There are only eleven copies left on Amazon. It is also available on kindle unlimited and on ebook. The blurb is below.

Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and ‎beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a ‎small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt. ‎

In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition ‎fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience ‎of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and ‎unyielding courage. ‎

Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring ‎power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely ‎smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.‎

If this sounds like your kind of thing you can make my day and get a copy here. It already has a lot of five star reviews.