Victoria Beckham Beauty

Victoria Beckham Beauty ✨

Victoria Beckham Beauty

Amazing quality makeup, eye brick colours are on point, super pigmented, blends like silk. Eye liners are a dream & long lasting. The beautiful lid lustre is infused with Tigers Eye which is known as the gemstone of courage, strength and personal power! 

The ethos of the brand is clean beauty free from toxic harmful ingredients, eco friendly, the packaging is chic & luxurious. The boxes are made from biodegradable cornstarch that dissolves in water. Everything comes packaged in a reusable cotton makeup bag. Bravo VB 👏🏻

Eco Beauty - Resuable Cotton Pads

I’ve recently swapped from buying endless cotton pads to remove my makeup to these reusable cotton pads, they come in a handy laundry bag to pop in the washing machine. 

They remove makeup really well, I end up using more micellar water than usual because they are made from a super absorbent towelling compared to a regular thinner pad but much kinder to the environment so it’s a no-brainer. 

We can all do our little bit to reduce waste. How are you reducing waste?

Establishing Boundaries to have a Healthy Relationship

I have felt a little bored with blogging the past few years, it has changed so much and its become very 'samey' and competitive. I've never been one to follow the crowd, I don't feel the pressure of having to write about a particular topic or be a people pleaser. I set up my blog more than 10 years ago and have always viewed blogging as a hobby and a way of helping others. I like to keep things real and will always give my honest opinion. Recently I've felt inspired to start sharing posts on self awareness, self love and self development. Beauty products can make us feel great & give us a confidence boost, but true Beauty starts from the inside.

First topic I'd like to share is about creating boundaries. Healthy boundaries is something I have struggled with growing up. Being a caring person I tend to attract people that use me or take advantage of my kindness. I have realised recently, although I'm still very much caring and kind, I have much healthier boundaries, strength of dealing with difficult situations and I'm not afraid to speak up when necessary.  

It's so important to establish boundaries to have a healthy relationship and it is an inherent aspect of self-care. Otherwise, manipulative, abusive & unhealthy relationship patterns are created....this can be related not only to a relationship with a partner but with friends, parents, children 💖

Establishing boundaries means:
• having self-respect, self-esteem & self-worth
• teaching others how to treat you - instead of letting them treat you anyway they choose
• defining what's acceptable and unacceptable to you
• placing limits on what you do to others
• placing limits on what you do for others
• placing limits on what you allow others to do to you
• placing limits on what you allow others to do for you
• knowing when to speak up for yourself
• having the courage to speak up for yourself

Boundaries necessary to maintain healthy relationships:
• I won't accept anyone verbally abusing me.
• I won't accept anyone physically abusing me.
• I won't accept anyone emotionally abusing me.
• I won't accept anyone making their feelings, thoughts and beliefs my responsibility.
• I won't place my partner on a pedestal.
• I will not live to please others.
• I will take responsibility for my feelings/actions.
• I won't put my partner's needs before my own.
• I won't cheat on my partner.
• I won't accept my partner cheating on me. If I find out, I have to respect myself by leaving or sign us up for relationship counselling.
• I will end relationships on good terms.

What are your boundaries for a healthy relationship? 

Beauty Bargain: Aldi Beauty Lacura Glycolic Acid Exfoliate Daily Cleansing Pads

I have been testing a few newly launched beauty bargains from Aldi's Beauty Lacura range over the last couple of months. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much due to the low price but I have been pleasingly surprised! I am super impressed and they are comparable with more expensive premium brands on the market.

Aldi Beauty Lacura Glycolic Acid Exfoliate Daily Cleansing Pads are formulated with Glycolic Acid, a powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Fruit Acid blend. These radiance boosting pads help retexture and resurface skin to reveal a brighter and smoother looking complexion. 

Aldi Lacura Exfoliate Daily Cleansing Pads vs Nip & Fab Daily Cleansing Pads

These new cleansing pads have been inspired by leading beauty brands and cost just £2.49 for a tub of 60 pads and compared to similar Nip and Fab Glycolic Daily Cleansing Pads, they cost 80% less which is a steal! I highly recommend these for super smooth soft skin which creates the perfect makeup base. Even more impressive is that Aldi's Lacura range is Leaping Bunny certified, meaning their products are not tested on animals and are cruelty free.

Have you been impressed with Aldi's beauty offering?

World's first anti-ageing sandwich!

BFree has created the world’s first anti-ageing sandwich recipe, packed with healthy ingredients known to help combat the signs of ageing. The youth enhancing sandwiches have been created by Julie Montagu, health and wellness expert and The Future Countess of Sandwich, to address the nation’s obsession with looking and feeling younger. 

The anti-ageing sandwich (called ‘Roll Back The Clock’) only uses ingredients that can help combat the signs of ageing. These include a gluten and wheat-free BFree Multigrain Wrap (containing a combination of buckwheat and amaranth, both of which support cell repair and combat wrinkles), spinach (the richest vegetable source of antioxidants, known to slow the ageing process), sweet potatoes (loaded with beta-carotene, which helps to prevent the damage caused by free radicals, which age cells over time) and sun-dried tomatoes (bursting with lycopene, that can strengthen the skin by preventing the breakdown of collagen). 

To celebrate these new sandwiches they were on offer from 14th-16th of March at The Sandwich Spa, the only place in the UK where people can choose from the brand new menu concept offering sandwiches paired and served with complementing beauty and wellbeing treatments. 

THE FULL SANDWICH SPA MENU: 

Roll Back the Clock, the anti-ageing wrap – served with a collagen boosting and revitalising facial 

Mindfulness Bites, a mood-enhancing sandwich – served with a session of mindfulness using uplifting and mood enhancing scents.

B.L.T (Beautiful, Long, Tresses), a wrap with hair conditioning and strengthening properties – served with a scalp boosting, antioxidant oil loaded head massage.

A Slice of Energy, an energy boosting meal – served with a comforting and anxiety easing neck, shoulder and back massage.

Good Gut Club, a bloat-preventing pitta pocket – served with a skin conditioning and inflammation reducing full body wrap.

Julie says: “My one piece of advice is always: you are what you eat." BFree aims to make a healthier life easier by providing a fantastic alternative to everyday baked goods, packed with quality ingredients that people can trust, and that are suitable for the whole family.

The range is free from wheat and gluten as well as 16 EU allergens. They are also suitable for vegans and high in fibre, low in fat and reduced sugar. BFree products are available at Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide. For more information on The Sandwich Spa and to view all of the recipes on offer that have been designed to be easily recreated at home visit:  http://unbouncepages.com/bfree-sandwich-spa/

Freebie Alert: Clinique Lipstick

Happy New Year! I wanted to share something to make you smile. Pop to the Clinique counter at Debenhams on Leeds Briggate tomorrow (19th Jan 2018) to claim your free full sized Clinique Lipstick! No purchase necessary but we quick as only a limited amount are up for grabs! 

5 Crystals to Enhance Your Life

Happy Friday! I'm a great believer in the magic of crystals and with 2018 approaching I thought I would share Sara Doone from The Intuitive Pathfinder's top 5 crystals to help enhance your life. 

It’s believed by many that crystals help you live a better life, whether that’s by reducing stress or even increasing your luck. There are many ways these magical stones can help you see life in a different way.

BLUE LACE AGATE – will help you to speak more freely, getting rid of any anxious thoughts. It will encourage you to be clearer when explaining your feelings. Whether that means telling your crush you have feelings for them, or just being more open with your friends, this is the crystal you need. 

How it helps: helps you tell your crush you like them. 

MOONSTONE – A day spa in a crystal, helping you to feel deeply relaxed, especially after a long & stressful day at the office. If you suffer from PMS this stone will help you deal will those mood swings & tension. Rather than savaging your husband for not making the bed AGAIN, you’ll want to kiss him all over! How it helps: eases those PMS symptoms & gets you in tune with your inner goddess. 

CITRINE – this crystal possesses a beautiful sunny energy. Sometimes known as the Merchants Stone – it can bring a wealth of abundance into your life. If you’re hoping for a pay rise, seeking a promotion or need a boost of confidence then this is the crystal for you. How it helps: boosts your confidence & increases opportunity. 

ROSE QUARTZ – this crystal is all about self-loving. It encourages you to self- care, helping you to look after yourself and others. It assists you in exploring your inner beauty, supporting you in matters of the heart. How it helps: helps you to feel supported & brings passion/love into your life. 

MANGANO CALCITE - if you're trying to get over your e. & your heart is still aching, then this Crystal is the one for you. It takes the edge off your emotions, helping you to see things clearly - what an idiot he was to let you go! How it helps: helps you emotionally get over your ex. 

Do you believe in the power of crystals? What are you favourite crystals? 

‪Liz Earle Gift Set half price at Boots‬!

‪

Christmas is quickly approaching so thought I'd share this fabulous Boots Star Gift offer from Liz Earle ‬that would make a wonderful present for any beauty lover or skincare junkie. 

‪From today, Thursday 7th Dec 2017 for one week only, Liz Earle are offering their ‬Liz Earle Route to Radiance gift set half price at Boots. Was £60 now £30! 

Find your glow and take cleansing to a new level with this radiant route to clean, balanced feeling skin. Iconic Cleanse & Polish™ deeply cleanses to remove daily grime, pollutants and make up, while Deep Cleansing Mask draws out impurities to leave skin feeling balanced and calm. Explore the benefits of multi-masking with 2 other masks and refresh, soothe and tone with Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic. A bespoke approach for naturally healthy-looking skin.

What’s inside the gift box? Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml, Instant Boost™ Skin Tonic 200ml, Deep Cleansing Mask 75ml, Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask 15ml, Brightening Treatment Mask 15ml, 2 Pure Cotton Cloths, 2 Sponges. 

You can purchase the gift set here. 

Freebie Alert: Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm!

 

Just a heads up that Clinique are offering a free mini 15ml pot of their 'Take the Day Off' cleansing balm on 25th and 26th May! 

Just head to the Clinique counter at John Lewis to take advantage of this freebie* and there's no purchase necessary! 

*whilst stocks last 

Inside & Oat Lifestyle Challenge

Last week I started the ‘Inside & Oat’ challenge* with Aveeno to try their holistic Lifestyle for one week. This involved swapping my normal moisturisers for Aveeno products and cooking healthy plant-based meals with Honestly Healthy author, Natasha Corrett as well as fitness. I hadn't tried any of the Aveeno products that I was testing before so I was excited to see if they would improve my skin along with the lifestyle changes.

The Benefits of Oats In Skincare:

Hydrates: helps to restore and protect the skin’s natural barrier helping to prevent water loss and maintain moisture.

Soothes: oatmeal is known for its soothing benefits on sensitive skin

Cleanses: the oat particles adhere to dirt and dead skin cells allowing them to be washed away

Protects: creates a protective film on the surface of the skin

Buffers: helps return skin to normal pH levels

AVEENO Daily Moisture Skincare

Aveeno Lotion

The bottle is a huge 500ml. This lotion is thicker in consistency comparison to the daily moisturising lotion. It is suitable for dry and sensitive skin and babies from 3 months who may be prone to eczema. I found I only needed a small amount of this lotion, a little goes a long way, and it has more of a thick cream texture than a lotion. I found it hydrated my skin well and kept it feeling moisturised all day, even in the hot weather we've been having the last few days! It has a slight oat scent and although I liked this product it wasn't my favourite and I found the bottle bulky.

Daily Moisturising Lotion

This fragrance-free lotion promises to keep dry skin feeling moisturised for 24 hours! I like the pump action bottle as its a lot easier to use. I found I only needed to use a small amount of lotion and it sinks in nicely without feeling greasy. I enjoyed using this product, it was hydrating and very soothing especially after being outside in the sun all day.

Moisturising Creamy Oil

This was my Favorite product from the range I tested. I loved the thin oily yet creamy consistency, it was easy to apply and it absorbs very quickly without being greasy. It made my skin feel like silk afterwards and even after a few hours I still felt moisturised. I really enjoyed the summery almond oil scent which also lingers on the skin all day.

Hand Cream

This rich cream is very thick in texture and so only a tiny amount is needed. Once applied to the skin it absorbs immediately leaving a silky barrier almost that’s not greasy. My hands felt hydrated even after washing hands quite a number of times throughout the day. I was impressed with this product!

Lifestyle & Diet

I have noticed a great improvement in the hydration of my skin the past few days, it's feeling moisturised and looks glowing. Before beginning the challenge, with the change of weather from cold to hot and with the heating and air conditioning at work, my skin was dehydrated and I had dry patches on my legs and arms. The dry patches have cleared up. I feel the combination of introducing the Aveeno skincare, along with the diet changes and I have been drinking more water have all contributed to my improved skin health.

I enjoyed the healthy meals I prepared and cooked, although they did take a little longer time to prepare than usual. I found the recipes very filling and they made me feel fuller for longer. I have noticed I have been snacking less. I managed to combine some of the exercises into my day. I generally feel better, healthier, have more energy, been sleeping better and my skin is feel moisturised! I agree that I feel better inside and out as a result of the #InsideAndOat challenge. I feel inspired to keep going with the new lifestyle changes.

If you would like to find out more you can visit www.aveeno.co.uk or www.facebook.com/AveenoUK for the whole AVEENO® range and the latest updates from the AVEENO brand®

*This is a sponsored post in partnership with Aveeno.  All opinions are my own*