Travel-Sized Beauty – What you need to pack

Whether you’re jetting off abroad or planning a spontaneous weekend away, your favourite beauty products make for essential packing. We all know that deciding which products will accompany you on your travels is no mean feat.

From skincare to haircare, each of the sets below features the same iconic formulations you know and love, while fitting neatly inside that trusty zip-lock bag. Whether you’re looking to smooth legs post sunbathe, or nourish strands post-swim, these kits make the perfect travel companions.

beauty, beauty review, travel, travel size,

AMELIORATE 3 Steps To Smooth Skin – RRP £21.00 (Worth £26.00)

The perfect holiday accessory! 3 Steps to Smooth Skin smooths away bumps and softens and moisturises rough, dry skin and Keratosis Pilaris. The simple, proven formula, Exfoliate + Cleanse + Transform, is designed so each step enhances the next, smoothing bumps and leaving your skin softer, renewed, and moisturised for 24 hours. Holiday ready!

Contents: Smoothing Body Exfoliant (50ml), Nourishing Body Wash (60ml), and Transforming Body Lotion (50ml).

 

Christophe Robin Travel Essentials – RRP £36.00

A three-step ritual for a fresh scalp and hydrated, lightweight hair from roots to tips, wherever you go! Deeply cleanse, hydrate, smooth, and volumise with this iconic trio, with concentrated yet gentle formulas and scents designed to ignite the senses.

Contents: Cleansing Purifying Scrub With Sea Salt (75ml), Hydrating Melting Mask With Aloe Vera (75ml), and Instant Volumising Leave-In Mist With Rose Water (50ml).

 

Coggles: Eve Lom Travel Essentials Set – RRP £38.00

Achieve a clean, fresh, and glowing complexion wherever you roam with the Eve Lom Travel Essentials Kit. This ultra-nourishing bundle of products makes for the perfect holiday companion, providing all the essential tools to cleanse, hydrate, and treat your skin. Arriving in a convenient zip-lock pouch, the cleanser, essence, and moisturiser are compact and travel-friendly in size, ensuring you never have to be without your preferred skincare saviours.

Contents: Cleanser (20ml), Time Retreat Radiance Essence (10ml), Moisture Cream (8ml), Muslin Cloth (Travel Size).

 

Grow Gorgeous Scalp Therapy Kit – RRP £55.00 (Worth £76.00)

Experience a scalp sensation and discover the secret to fuller, healthier-looking hair with Grow Gorgeous’ four-step Scalp therapy Kit.

Contents:  Defence Detoxifying Scalp Scrub (50ml), Intense Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask (50ml), a full-sized bottle of the bestselling Hair Growth Serum Intense (60ml), and the Stimulating Scalp Massager.

 

Perricone MD Vitamin C Brighter Together – RRP £72.00 (Worth £129.00)

A supercharged brightening and smoothing duo designed to work better together. Visibly brightens and minimizes the appearance of dark spots and discoloration for more even-looking skin. Features our proprietary Vitamin C Ester – a more potent, highly stable, and less abrasive form of vitamin C.

Contents: Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20% (30ml), and Vitamin C Ester Photo-Brightening Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF (30ml).

 

ESPA Tri-Active Regenerating Visible Results Skin Regime Set – RRP: £100.00 (Worth £169.00

Four beloved products to create the perfect daily skin regime for a rejuvenated complexion. Brighten and Bounce with this powerful resurfacing range that reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and signs of aging. Unique Tri-Active Formulation:

  • Plant Actives are carefully distilled to bring vibrant potency into our formulas
  • Marine Actives provide maximum hydration, fortified by the sea’s rich nutrients
  • Aromatherapy renews our senses for an elevated skincare experience

Contents: Cica Cleansing Balm (55ml), Phyto-Collagen Plumping Cream (55ml), Bio-Retinol Sleeping Serum (10ml), and Brighten & Resurface Mask (30ml).

 

Home Decor Tips Inspired By World’s Top Designers

Home decor is important for making a house feel like a home. It can include things like rugs, curtains, paintings, and furniture. Each person’s idea of what makes a home feel cozy and inviting is different, so it’s important to personalize your home decor to fit your own tastes.

Home, home decor

People are always looking for new trends in home decor to keep their homes feeling fresh. Some of the latest trends include adding plants to your home, using neutral colors in your decorating scheme and using natural materials like bamboo or jute, and flax fibers. One of the best implementations of this is linen.

Linen is a natural fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant. It’s been used for centuries for clothing and bedding pieces like linen sheets, because it’s strong yet soft and comfortable. Linen is also cool in summer and warm in winter, making it a good choice for all-season use. Another advantage of linen is that it’s hypoallergenic, so it’s a good fabric to use if you have allergies.

Decor Essentials From Top Designers

When it comes to home decor, the bedroom and living room are two essential rooms that should be decorated correctly. The bedroom is where you sleep and relax, so it’s important to make it cozy and comfortable. some ways to do this include adding a soft rug, using plush bedding, and hanging curtains to create a relaxing atmosphere.

The living room is where you spend time with family and friends, so it should be a welcoming space. Some ways to make your living room more inviting include adding a statement piece of furniture, using cozy throws and pillows, and hanging artwork that reflects your personal style.

These are just some small examples of what and where to start. Now, to elevate it more, some world’s top designers suggested some ideas that might interest you:

Start with a neutral color palette

When decorating your home, it’s important to start with a neutral color palette. This will allow you to personalize your space with accessories and furniture that reflect your own style. Some of the most popular neutrals include black, white, beige, and gray.

Once you have your neutral base, you can start adding pops of color with accessories and furniture. For example, you could add a bright blue vase to a white table or a colorful rug to a black couch. By using colors that contrast with your neutrals, you’ll create a bold and vibrant look in your home.

Add layers of textures to your space

Adding layers of textures to your space is a great way to make it more cozy and inviting.

Textures can include things like rugs, curtains, paintings, and furniture. Each person’s idea of what makes a home feel cozy and inviting is different, so it’s important to personalize your space with textures that appeal to you.

When adding textures to your space, it’s important to mix different types together. For example, you could add a soft rug under your coffee table, hang some plush curtains at your windows, and put a few colorful pillows on your couch. By mixing and matching different textures, you’ll create a space that’s unique and inviting.

Add plants to your space for a touch of greenery

Adding plants to your space is a great way to add a touch of greenery and create a relaxing atmosphere. Some plants that are perfect for adding to your home decor include ferns, cacti, and succulents.

If you’re not sure how to care for plants, there are many online resources that can help. There are also many plant stores where you can buy plants and gardening supplies.

Adding plants to your space is a great way to improve your home decor and add some life to your living space.

Create a cozy atmosphere with soft textiles and lighting

When it comes to home decor, soft textiles and lighting are two essential elements that should be taken into consideration. Soft textiles can include rugs, curtains, paintings, and furniture, while lighting can include things like lamps and chandeliers.

When using soft textiles and lighting in your home, it’s important to create a cohesive look. This means that all of the textiles and lighting should be of the same style and color palette. By using matching textiles and lighting, you’ll create a cohesive look in your home that’s both stylish and inviting.

Another thing to keep in mind when using soft textiles and lighting is that they should be used in moderation. Too much soft textiles or lighting can make a space feel cluttered and overwhelming. By using these elements sparingly, you’ll be able to create a cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing in.

Final Say

When it comes to home decor, there are a few essentials that should be taken into consideration. These include soft textiles, lighting, colors and many more. By using these elements in your home, you can create a cozy atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing in. Additionally, by adding a statement piece of furniture or artwork, you can personalize your space and make it more inviting to guests. So, if you’re looking to update your home decor, start with these essential elements and see where it takes you!

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

The Ultimate Relationship…the one with yourself: Insights and Epiphanies of a 21st Century Woman


Business pioneer and archetypal 21st century woman, Fiona Price, will be,  I can safely say the newest author on your shelf. Written by the first woman of finance*, the book explores the ultimate relationship any person could have – the one with themself.

Fiona describes anecdotally a new way of thinking and being, which allows the reader to step out of an old ‘problem-reaction-survival’ paradigm, and embrace a more elegant consciousness, enabling them to be a bigger, grander version of themself.

She says, “With awareness and practice, I have learned that it is possible to change the mindsets that hinder us and refocus our thoughts to up our game and claim our personal power. Then we can become a conscious creator in our life.”

The Ultimate Relationship is a kaleidoscope of survival strategies for life, business, and just about everything. Fiona’s experience is profoundly personal and honest, and she narrates it through a collection of journals, blogs, talks, articles, poems, affirmations, insights and epiphanies. The takeaway is a treasure-trove of wisdom and a myriad of practical ways to think smarter, act smarter, and be more balanced and peaceful amidst the chaos of life.

Fiona brings a uniquely female perspective to her business experience, having worked with women in the financial sector and participated in the early days of the women’s networking movement. From how to improve your decision-making, to how to restore your mojo, develop your intuition, harness the power of thought, create health and healing, get more out of your food and fitness, and develop a deep connection with animals and nature, Fiona inspires you to think and act differently.

She says, “I have learned that the ultimate relationship is the one with yourself”. What you think and how you respond to every situation defines who you are and what you experience. Realising this is the easy part, living it is much harder.”

Fiona’s story includes 20 years in the financial sector, where she pioneered a cutting-edge woman’s business and was a spokesperson in the media. This was followed by several internet video start-ups in the first days of video online. Also, consultancy, mentoring and non-executive directorships. She was listed in the Top 100 List of Power and Influence in Financial Services in 2003 and 2004 and won numerous business women’s awards. Sport has also featured strongly in Fiona’s life, and has competed in two sports internationally, alongside her business interests.

So what changed?

 She did, going from ‘city professional to semi-feral’, living reclusively for a number of years in the wilds of Wales. More recently, Fiona underwent another transformation and is now living on wheels, whilst travelling.

The book tells my story from the inside out. It explains how I have worked on taking control of my mind, body and my world. It is part narrative, part insight, woven into a guide to practical spirituality, and interlaced with quantum psychology, which, I hope, will help the reader to become more of who they are and create more of the life they want. We are at a turning point in history, which is also a chance to reinvent our world. But we need to think and act differently in order to do this. It requires a combination of creative intuitive intelligence, recognising our true power and connecting with the natural world.”

The Ultimate Relationship  is available on Amazon

You can learn more about ‘The Ultimate Relationship… the one with yourself’ (including a book reading) on Fiona’s website, where you will also find videos, audios and blogs on book related themes: www.theultimaterelationship.co.uk

*Quote from Harpers & Queen (1990s)

 

 

 

Editors’ Notes

Media Contact: Andrea Sexton +44 7887 997922 andrea@admire-pr.com

Review copies (PDF or book), high resolution images and a full author bio are available from Andrea Sexton.

Interviews with Fiona can be arranged through Andrea.

 

Readers’ Plaudits

Fiona has untangled the how, why and where of being your own greatest support system, with razor-sharp honesty and self-introspection. Not a journey that many of us are brave enough to undertake. But with her support and words of wisdom, it becomes possible. That is why everyone needs to read this book. Not only is this a book to devour, but you can dip into it to find comfort and fortitude when weakened by everyday life. To have Fiona’s experience and honesty is a godsend. Literally!

Maria Wynne

What a great title! Within minutes, I was engrossed and read the book in two days. Fiona offers amazing clarity about how to take charge of your life. I was lost, and her words rescued me. They helped me to understand the negative influences and thoughts that I had been unable to decipher. Therein lies Fiona’s power and wisdom. Rather than hide, you have to face what makes you unhappy or seems confusing, and turn it into a tool which you can use to your advantage.

Josey Evans

Fiona’s book is a poetic recognition that there is no path, no route map for us all to follow. Rather, our path is made by our own understanding.

Mark Parkinson

I cried reading this book because it rang such a deep toll within me. It also made me smile. This book will change the mindsets of so many women who feel that life is happening to them, not for them. It gives you the self-knowledge to change all of that.

Deb Graham

A pure delight for anyone with the ambition to live well, play hard and run a successful business. As a former athlete and a business owner myself, Fiona’s anecdotes and insights resonate with me. There are daily actions we can all take based on her experience, which will help us live life to the fullest. Bring an open and curious mind to this book and wallow in the enlightenment.

Andrea Sexton

Having worked with Fiona for a while, I was keen to get my hands on this book. My only regret is that I wasn’t brave enough to ask her about the concepts contained within a decade ago. But as the saying goes, ‘when the student is ready, the teacher will appear’. Fiona’s background as an athlete and a successful business woman gives credibility to the principles contained in the book. She is living proof of the approach to life she writes about.

Christina Jones

One contour palette for every Tiktok contour hack

Tiktok has quickly become our favourite way of finding new beauty and makeup hacks, including #contour videos that have amassed 1.8billion views!

There are lots of unique application techniques for contour out there including, patchwork, dotting, mapping, underpainting, and the most recent viral trend one contour spot.

Whichever contour hack you wish to try next to sculpt your cheekbones, or define your nose, it’s handy to have one product to achieve all contour goals.

Introducing the Contour Cream Base Palette from OPV Beauty (£27)

Available in two gorgeous colour stories; Soho and Chelsea, every skin tone is catered for. Each palette comes with 8 highlighter and 7 contour shades that are gorgeously pigmented and easily adaptable for structured full face looks, or to achieve a chiseled yet natural makeup.

TIPS FROM THE FOUNDERS


Founders, and sisters, Opeyemi and Bukola Adeyemo, share their tips on how to use the OPV Beauty contour palette to achieve looks you’ll love.

“If you’re a newbie to the contouring world, we recommend sticking to a contour palette as these are easy to use because they include all that you need (no more, no less) to conceal, contour, sculpt and highlight your complexion like a pro. Cream contour palettes, whilst working for everyone, are the best option for dry skin types. They have a more natural looking finish and help you achieve a soft sculpted look in the summer months.

To use a contour palette, start with your foundation and concealer as you normally would. Then with the darker contour shade for your skin tone, use an angled makeup brush to apply the product where you want to draw shadows. Mostly we see this being used under cheekbones, along forehead and jawline, and along sides of nose. Blend your contour lines into the skin using a damp beauty sponge, a buffing brush or a stippling brush.

To highlight your face, apply the lighter shades on the tops of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose and on the chin. The great think about a contour palette is the variety of shades, meaning that you can blend colours together to find the perfect match for you skin tone. This is the best way to create shadows and light to sculpt and define your face.”

The Contour Cream Base Palette is available at opvbeauty.com for £27.

Children identify with Age Number T-Shirts

Children Identify with Age with Number T-Shirts
Frugi’s Organic Cotton Applique T-Shirts Help Children Get a Grip on Numbers.

Frugi, cotton, organic, Children’s clothes


Children are invited to learn and wear with Frugi’s Magic Number tops made from super-soft GOTS certified organic cotton. This leading British sustainable children’s wear brand has launched a new range of playful number T’s in long and short sleeves for children to identify with their age and learn as they grow.

For children 1 to 8 years, the fun number characters helps children identify with their age and the significant milestone of growing one year older. Ideal as gifts to be worn all year round in long and short sleeves, they have popper fastenings on the shoulder for easy dressing.

Frugi, which means fruits of the earth in Latin, is a Cornish-based ethical children’s clothing and accessories company with a mission to help protect the planet we play on.
Recognisable by their bright prints and clever details, Frugi’s interactive appliques, reversible styles and extendable cuffs and sleeves allow for the clothes to grow with each child, making the clothes both practical and fun to wear. Their baby ranges are designed to fit over cloth nappies, such as their reusable sister brand TotsBots.

Frugi is formed on a core belief: buy less and buy better. From its inception, the company has worked with suppliers exclusively operating at a high ethical standard. Frugi champions sustainable and quality clothes crafted from gentle yet durable materials and has used GOTS certified organic cotton for its range of baby and children’s clothes from the very start, alongside recycled polyester from plastic bottles for its outerwear, swimwear, and accessories. Frugi ensures its clothes are made positively, for people and the planet.

With a wider mission to help raise the next generation of eco-heroes, Frugi donates 1% of annual proceeds each year and in 18-years has so far donated £1 million to various children’s causes.

Frugi: protect the planet you play on!

1-3y £20 / 4-8 y £24 See the range here

Guylian Belgian chocolate – New look, new taste!

Guylian unveils brand new packaging and makes moves towards becoming a sustainability leader
chocolate

Guylian, the premium Belgian chocolatier, has announced a brand-new relaunch including beautifully designed green and copper packaging, which is also 100% recyclable; a new and improved recipe to make the chocolates even more delicious and is proud now to be 100% Fairtrade certified alongside many other sustainable changes.

CEO of Guylian, Tom Snick, said “This year will see many exciting changes in store for Guylian. From an improved flavour profile to our pioneering sustainability initiatives, and a fresh and luxurious new look design, we’re confident that these exciting changes will help us to continue as the world’s favourite Belgian chocolate brand.”

With consumers demanding more and more from their favourite brands, Guylian is delighted to be the biggest Belgian chocolate company to be 100% Fairtrade certified.

By working with Fairtrade, suppliers are guaranteed a fixed cocoa price, thereby improving their livelihoods, and positively impacting their communities. Fairtrade is supporting cocoa farming co-operatives in their push for living incomes and better terms of trade for their cocoa farmers. For companies, that includes paying a fair price for the produce, and for farmers, it includes workers’ rights and protection of the environment.

Mike Gidney, CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, said “It’s great to see the distinctive Fairtrade logo now appear on Guylian packaging in stores nationwide, giving chocolate lovers another reason to enjoy an indulgent, ethically sourced treat that’s been produced with the planet in mind and where cocoa farmers have been treated fairly. Cocoa farmers and their families are struggling to make ends meet due to climate change, poor soil quality and long-term low prices. When you choose Fairtrade, you choose education, empowerment, fairer incomes and training to help farmers adapt to climate change.”

Renowned for its Sea Shells, which are a harmonious blend of dark, white, and milk chocolate filled with the signature praliné filling, Guylian has improved its time-honoured, traditional recipe using only the best hazelnuts, roasted in house in their shells to guarantee the best taste. The result is a more intense and less sweet hazelnut flavour, to make them even more irresistible. From relaunch, Guylian will offer a select range, focusing on Sea Shells and Sea Horses, as well as Temptations (individually wrapped seahorses), and its range of premium 100g bars.

Environmental responsibility is important to Guylian, which is why its new packaging is 100% recyclable. Two big steps have been the removal of the plastic windows from its gift boxes and the replacement its brown trays (which hold the chocolates) with clear trays which have had all dyes and carbon removed, making them easier for recycling centres to handle. Not content with just this, Guylian is also exploring ways of further reducing its use of paper and plastic. Consumers around the world will begin to see the gorgeous new, eco-friendly packaging on shelves from mid-May onwards.

Since the start of this year, the factory in Sint-Niklaas (the production home of Guylian’s delectable chocolates) is fully climate neutral, meaning that C02 emissions have been reduced to the lowest possible level and all other emissions are compensated. Guylian is proud that the 800 million chocolates they produce annually are now made entirely with a zero-carbon footprint, making their chocolates as planet friendly as they are delicious.

Guylian chocolates are available in all major retailers including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado and Sainsburys with 250g boxes of Sea Shells having a MRRSP £5.50.

My Baker launches new whimsical and magical cakes with delivery within 24-48 hours

My Baker, who sell delicious artisanal cakes made by a network of independent bakers, have launched a brand new children’s cake range of 28 cakes and cupcakes suitable for a party big or small.  Bored of seeing the same cakes at every birthday party? My Baker’s range offers unique and exciting designs that can be delivered in 48 hours (24 at a push), meaning mums and dads who are running around getting the final details for a party can tick one major item off the “to do” list with a minimum of fuss.

And if you’ve any last-minute concerns or questions before placing your order, the team’s “Cake SOS” phoneline is manned 7 days a week, 10am to 6pm.

The cakes, that are always made freshly to order, go beyond your wildest imagination; the range includes a safari cake, a roaaaarsome dinosaur cake, a rainbow cake and many, many more.

By offering such a large range, we’re pretty much catering for every age and every interest, from dinosaurs and diggers to rainbows and unicorns.  We know that the demand for beautifully designed, delicious, freshly baked children’s cakes that can be ordered and delivered across the UK is there.  We are excited to launch this line and can’t wait to see our cakes at birthday parties across the UK’ says My Baker CEO, Mark Sinjakli

Three of the new designs which the team at My Baker are predicting will be most popular include:

The Dinosaur cake; a towering cake made of layers of light sponge, covered with a generous coating of buttercream, and featuring your favourite dinosaur, and even an egg or two.

If you’d rather a more whimsical cake, the Somewhere Over The Rainbow cake is the one for your child. Cutting though the generous coating of sprinkle-covered vanilla icing will reveal six layers of vivid rainbow-coloured sponge, fit for any birthday celebration.

A party isn’t a party without a balloon or two!  My Baker’s Eat Until You Pop cake is adorned with balloons ready to get any party started.  Available in blue, pink, yellow or green buttercream, this cake will add the ‘wow factor’ to any birthday party.

The cakes are available in a variety of flavours including red velvet, vanilla, salted caramel, chocolate and many more, and most can be adapted to suit all dietary requirements. The cakes start from £78 and can be delivered widely across the UK within 48 hours, with next-day delivery available within the M25 as standard. A next day service may even be available in other locations on request (please call to confirm before ordering). For more information or to browse the full range of children’s cakes, head over to the website.

They also have delicious cupcakes which we heartily recommend.

Frost Loves Revlon’s Latest Styling Tool

We were first in the UK to try the new Revlon One Step Volumiser Plus. It is a stylish and easy-to-use brush that makes your hair look amazing. Buy it now, you won’t regret it.

revlon one step styling brush

The sun is out, bank holidays are back, and we definitely have a spring in our step. So why not welcome the Spring season with the latest hair trend and go bold with layers.

This Spring, both hairstylists and the glitterati are loving layers and it’s perfect for this time of year as it removes some of the weight from your hair as the weather warms up. And for added plus, there’s a layered style to suit everyone. No matter your face shape, layers can help to create shape, give volume, movement and texture to any style.

Layers can create a dramatic change without the drama of a drastic haircut and if you want to recreate the layered looks of some of the most stunning celebs, then GET THE LOOK with Revlon’s NEW One-Step Volumiser Plus:

Short Layers – Kaia Gerber
This short layered look takes the weight out of the hair without losing the length and styling options. It’s also easy to maintain and allows you to add texture, bounce, volume and flow to suit your shape, suit your mood and to suit any occasion. You can look as effortlessly chic as Kaia Gerber whether you’re off to a wedding or just popping to the supermarket.

The Layered Lob – Olivia Munn
The lob is back! Previously popular as a sleek longer version of the bob, the look became a bit flat and went out of fashion. As you can see from Olivia Munn’s bouncy style, layering keeps the essence of the bob’s clear outline but throws in a whole new dimension. This gives you a new range of movement and versatility so you can style it out in so many different ways. It’s the perfect style if you love to change your look at the drop of a hat.

Face-Shaping Layers – Elizabeth Olson
If you’re looking for a softer look that shapes the face but maintains that long and flexible style you’ve come to know and love then add some layers at the front. Wispy and light facing-shaping layers are an excellent way to add shape and style to longer hair. Elizabeth Olsen shows you why this ‘90s throwback style is making a comeback!

INTRODUCING THE NEW REVLON ONE-STEP VOLUMISER PLUS

The perfect, versality styling tool for all hair types, the NEW Revlon One-Step Volumiser Plus will have your layers looking luscious with extra volume, more shine and less damage.