Category Archives: Featured

SAUCE IT is a new and truly exciting way to buy restaurant-quality ingredients at home

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BBC’s Matt Tebbutt opens the chef larder
for the real foodie with the launch of SAUCE IT

Just think of it as the food and drink concierge for those in the know, giving you access to the chef’s personal larder – essentially their first choice of ingredients – so you too can finally shop like a chef!

Just open our exclusive ‘little black book’ of suppliers, producers, cooking professionals and sommeliers who can offer you chef designed boxes, filled with incredible ingredients discovered over years of working in the trade. SAUCE IT gives you access so you can discover for yourself how these rigorously sourced ingredients can ultimately change the way you cook and create.
The result of years of research and tasting, every item on SAUCE IT has been trialled and tested extensively by the expert who puts their name to each recommended ingredient or product. If you are looking for the wow factor, look no further, as SAUCE IT source the impossible to find; the ingredients you won’t find in Waitrose or even famous food halls.

sauce it box sauce it box

The SAUCE IT boxes
To celebrate the launch of this exciting new concept, TV favourite Matt Tebbutt has created a new box The Weekend Collection by Matt Tebbutt. To coincide with the launch of Matt’s new book ‘Weekend’, this box contains a selection of ingredients, handpicked by Matt, and featuring in his new recipes such as the Cabernet Sauvignon Vinegar used in Matt’s Anchoiade dip or the beautifully packaged ‘Las Hermanas’ hot smoked paprika made using age old methods, ideal for Matt’s Smokey chicken with sweet corn and mango salsa.
Matt commented ‘SAUCE IT is an exciting new way to shop like an award winning chef does, giving you access to all the very best produce that was once only available to the restaurant world’.

If you are a shellfish fan, you’ll love Salcombe’s finest shellfish box which includes the finest Salcombe crab and lobster from a small day boat, packed on the quayside and sent direct to you, straight from Chris the fisherman. Is there anything finer than a simply boiled fresh crab with lemon, mayo and crusty bread? For the lobster, the king of crustaceans, the BBQ is perfect! Salcombe is famous for its crab and lobster, in fact it reaches nearly every corner of the globe, and if you’re looking for fresh seafood for that family feast, our shellfish is landed by one small boat and delivered straight to your door.

For the Spanish food lover, the El Gordo box has the most amazing Spanish products; ones that you will only find in restaurants such as Barrafina or Pizarro. SAUCE IT have brought together the absolute best of the best small Spanish producers of outstanding quality. Sit back, relax, imagine you are taking in the sights and sounds of San Sebastian, and indulge in some the worlds finest ingredients, enjoyed with a glass of Manzanilla sherry, naturally!

There are also boxes from well-known chefs such as Ben Tish, Sabrina Ghayour and Jane Baxter. A selection of wine boxes are available, handpicked by the team at SAUCE IT and their black book of wine experts.

Those involved in SAUCE IT, and we suspect, our customers, are pioneers in a world of discovery, fans of independent travel and favour self-selection rather than the package choice. When you purchase a box with SAUCE IT, an order is then placed with our suppliers. For example, your Salcombe crab is in the sea right up to the time it’s sent to you, your vegetables are picked to order and the ingredients for your box are collated on the day of dispatch. We supply our chef-collated boxes direct to your door in our eco friendly packaging, avoiding singular product or environmentally damaging deliveries. You will not find expensive and unnecessary packaging with SAUCE IT, we let the ingredients themselves do the talking!

All the boxes are compiled by the country’s finest restaurant suppliers. Buying from SAUCE IT supports fabulous fishermen, awesome organic vegetable growers, higher welfare meat producers and farmers, and some amazing but small artisan food heroes. Matt and the team at SAUCE IT will also give you fantastic hints, top tips and fabulous recipes to go with your outstanding ingredients. This is undoubtedly the concept epicureans have been waiting for!

We love it!

Sprout, The World’s First Plantable Makeup Pencils

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eyeliner, plantable, eco-friendly, sustainable, These makeup pencils are pretty special, and sustainable from start to end. Recycling in the beauty industry is notoriously difficult, but here’s a clever, patented invention by eco-pencil company Sprout World, that is designed to not only reduce waste, but give something beautiful and useful back to the planet.

Simply use the makeup pencils as normal, and instead of throwing them away when they become too small to use, flip them around, stick the end (green capsule facing down) into a pot of damp soil, and ta-da – beautiful wildflowers will start to sprout within 1-2 weeks!

Sprout Makeup Pencil
Where did the idea come from?

Sprout World is made up of 70% female employees. It was during a routine discussion about the waste problem within the beauty industry, that the team flagged how the majority of people in that room used make-up pencils daily, and therefore, they could potentially play a huge role in giving a second life (and a beautiful one at that) to products that would otherwise end up as waste.

Kind to the skin and planet

Sprout Makeup Pencil
Every element of the pencil is made from natural, kind-to-skin ingredients and materials:

100% natural and ethically sourced
Made from sustainable certified wood
Recyclable sugar cane cap
Plant-based soluble cellulose cap that dissolves when planted, releasing wildflower seeds
AllergyCertified, plastic-free and paraben-free
Sprout Makeup Pencils

Available as an Eyeliner (Black or Brown) and Browliner (Brown)

Price: £10.95 per pencil / £20.95 per two-pack

Stockists: amazon.co.uk and sproutworld.com

Niacinamide for your body?

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Niacinamide is a holy-grail skincare solution to help strengthen the skin’s barrier, prevent moisture loss, improve skin tone, reduce enlarged pores and provide anti-oxidant properties to protect against oxidative damage and premature ageing. This sought-after ingredient can often be found in facial serums, moisturisers and cleansers – but when did we decide good skin days just belonged to our face?

Elevate your daily body care with MESSIAH and EVE Body Cleanser .02 (£21 / 300ml) – a luxurious blend of premium, results-driven skincare ingredients including Niacinamide, AHA’s and Pentativin, so you can enjoy brighter, clearer, smoother, softer skin…from the neck down!
MESSIAH and EVE Body Cleanser .02 (£21 / 300ml, messiahandeve.com)

messiah and eve , body cleanser, beauty, review
  • Your daily skin smoother to gently reveal fresh, radiant, supple skin – without the scrubby mess.
  • Alpha Hydroxy Acids – derived from fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate, keep skin smooth and blemishes at bay.
  • Niacinamide – improves skin tone, brightens dull skin, strengthens your skin barrier and reduces trans epidermal water loss for hydrated skin all-over.
  • Vitamin E – a skincare staple that moisturises and protects the skin
  • Pentavitin – provides instant, deep hydration and protect skin from post-shower dryness.
  • And the scent! ‘Modern Unity’ contains a mix of bespoke blended French fine fragrances, combining essential oils and botanicals of blackberry, birch tar and guaiacwood – this mysterious and unique sweet, yet woody fragrance, is the embodiment of sophistication, designed to subtly last on your post-shower skin.
  • Responsibly designed – vegan, cruelty free, recycled and recyclable.

    • messiahandeve.co.uk    | @messiahandeve

Did You Know Truffle Is The Secret To Diamond Skin?

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With the seasons changing and the days becoming cooler, this can often take a toll on your skin. Most commonly, the winter weather affects our skin by drying it out; the combination between the cold outside and the heat of your house, contributes to this. This ‘winter skin’ can cause your skin to have a dull appearance, and even contribute to signs of early ageing.

SOS H20 may be your secret to diamond skin this winter due to its secret ingredient… truffle. Yep, that’s right, the secret to keeping your skin hydrated and youthful may just be your favourite ingredient in pasta.

 

SOS H20 , truffle, skin, skincare, moisturiser,

Mock-up created for smartymockups.com

Why Truffle is the secret to diamond skin:

  • Infused with nutrients, vitamins, and amino acids, which boost healthy skin with anti-aging properties.
  • Packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties from an enzyme called Superoxide Dismutase which repairs skin and helps to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. 
  • Rich in vitamins and amino acids, this ingredient will nourish the skin with hydration and boot moisture levels for softer, smoother skin.
  • Packed with ceramides and Vitamin C, your skin will be brightened and dark spots will be diminished.

​SOS H20, from £5, sosserum.co.uk 

  • Formulated with Green Grapes and White Truffle, the appearance of fine lines will be reduced, and skin will be brightened.
  • Infused with skin-perfecting ingredients including low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid, to keep even sensitive skin moisturised all day. 
  • A silky formula, fast absorbing, that increases hydration, elasticity and suppleness as well as leaving the skin looking firm and toned.​

Offering UVA and UVB protection of SPF 30, this is the perfect daily moisturiser in winter. UVA rays are at the same strength in winter, as they are in summer, meaning that skin damage is just as likely to occur in the cooler months as it is the summer. Wearing SPF 30 everyday means that 97% of UV rays will be blocked, and skin damage will be reduced.

Intensely hydrating, soothing, and offering UVA and UVB protection of SPF 30, SOS H20 is the winter swap we all need to keep skin youthful and glowing throughout the colder months.

 

The Perfect Winter Skincare Routine with Korean Beauty Brand

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As the weather becomes cooler, our skin becomes drier. The lack of humidity in the air, and even your central heating, is the cause for your skin drying out. To ensure your skin stays hydrated and plump throughout the winter months, it’s essential to switch up your skincare routine. Making skincare swaps to more hydrating products is the secret to ensuring glowing skin throughout the winter months.  

 Korean beauty brand, Atomy, has compiled a skincare routine for all skin types. Anti-ageing and hydrating products, this routine will answer all your winter skin problems. We have tried the brand and love them. Try them out for yourself. 

 

Top Pick For Christmas: VTech Myla The Blush And Bloom Unicorn

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We cannot get over how gorgeous Myla, the blush and bloom unicorn is. She is the perfect, interactive, toy from leading children’s toy brand Vtech. Gorgeous, fun, and excellent for development. We cannot recommend this fantastic toy enough. It is our top pick for Christmas.

Leading electronic toy brand, VTech, is excited to announce that Myla – the much loved Unicorn – is getting a makeover. Introducing, Myla the Blush and Bloom Unicorn.  

Myla lush and bloom unicorn, toys, toy, tech

Little ones can now take Myla to a make-believe hair salon with a beautiful array of stylish hair options. From giving her a simply brush with a comb, to unlocking her full potential with a stupendous selection of clips – Myla is getting ready for her festive debut. 

Most notably, Myla has a magical wand that allows children the opportunity to express their full fashionista. By selecting any colour on the wand, you’ll be able to apply a sprinkle of colour to her horn, eyes and wings before watching in amazement as they magically light up in the chosen colour. She’ll also light up if you blow her a kiss! 

Myla can also bring a sparkle of magic to your play-area, with wings that flap in time with the music she plays. And when it all get’s a little much, Myla will also tuck her legs under and have a nap – encouraging little ones to think creatively about dreamtime. 

RRP: £55.50 | Available from: Smyths Toys Superstores / Amazon / ToyStreet

 

 

Hot Tools Hair Styling Products – Perfect For Christmas

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The most perfect Christmas present? Why, perfect hair of course. With the festive party season on the horizon combined with the hunt for the perfect gift  Hot Tools (two of which are on offer throughout November) – the award winning US hair styling brand which has launched this summer across the UK and Europe. Inspired by professionals and with more than 30 years of salon experience, the brand’s new Pro Signature range of styling tools has been created especially for a consumer audience.

 We love the The New Pro Signature Detachable Blow-Dry and Volumiser – Combining fast drying in up to half the time (versus drying and styling separately) with exceptional volumising for salon blow-dries and styling on-the-go in one easy-to-use tool with an exclusive detachable design. Currently £79.99 – on promotion with Argos 01/11-30/11 with £20 off. This fantastic brush really works. It is also super stylish. An easy shortcut to fab hair, what more could you want?

 

 

The New Pro Signature Digital Straightener – Featuring unique gold titanium floating plates and exclusive Pulse Technology® for ultra-sleek, long-lasting styles, time and time again. Automatic dual voltage also makes it the ideal travelling companion. Currently £59.99 – on promotion with Argos 01/11-30/11 with £20 off.
 
 

Hot Tools® Pro Signature Gold Curling Irons – The new Pro Signature collection includes a trio of Gold Curling Irons featuring iconic gold plating in multiple barrel sizes, delivering long-lasting, effortlessly beautiful curls, waves with reduced frizz and added shine. Currently £59.99:

Multiple Barrel Sizes for Different Styles:
25mm – Create bouncy, classic curls and waves
32mm – Perfect for creating polished curls or soft beachy waves
38mm – Create large soft curls and volume
Other great products in the range include:

“I would wet myself in fear”: Mum reveals terrifying abusive childhood and vows to ‘end shouting’

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Shouting is still controversial, but recent studies show the impact of shouting at children can be ‘just as harmful as hitting them’
abusive, childhood, shouting, www.LETSTOPSHOUTING.com, , anxiety, end shouting, shouting

After becoming a parent, qualified therapist Yasmin Shaheen-Jaffar decided it was finally time to break the “historical pattern” of abuse she had suffered as a child, rendering her “anxiety-ridden” in adulthood.

“Shouting can trigger violence. I was shouted at a lot as a child and it often turned into physical abuse. This made me grow up into quite a nervous adult, and also avoidant of conflict which has brought a whole host of issues I’ve had to overcome”.

Children suffering from verbal and physical abuse often develop a low self-esteem and self-image, and a negative worldview. But the consequences aren’t all psychological.

“This is really embarrassing to admit, but when I was shouted at as a child I would be so frightened that I would wet myself. This just caused me even more shame and made me feel like I couldn’t tell anyone. The fear paralysed me”.

When Yasmin became a parent herself, she felt it was important to stop shouting and instead foster a “healthy communicative relationship” with her child so that the pattern would never be repeated again. This decision was reinforced further when she suffered a personal loss.

“Someone very close to me committed suicide a few years ago. It made me realise within all that shouting that so often happens in everyday life – the real issues get buried. I think quite often the shouting ends up being a distraction”.

After committing herself to ending shouting and encouraging “healthy ways to have difficult conversations”, Yasmin launched World Let’s Stop Shouting Day in an effort to share her experience with parents on the effects shouting can have on their children.

“Children model their behaviour on the people around them. It’s not always easy, but if you don’t want your child to turn to shouting as a way of communicating, and everything that comes with it, you need to change your own behaviour first. It can feel impossible at times, but with some work it can be done”.

ABOUT WORLD LET’S STOP SHOUTING DAY

The World Let’s Stop Shouting awareness day’s focus is to open the conversation about the impact of aggressive and angry communication on our relationships and physical and mental health. Shouting, as a form of verbal abuse, can often be a trigger for more violent crimes and there should be greater encouragement for healthy debate.

More info here: www.LETSTOPSHOUTING.com