Rituals... Earl's Secret - Black Tea & Bergamot

Just lately I've been a bit bored with my usual cup of builder's tea so decided to stir things up a little!

I swapped my usual cuppa for a refreshing delicate brew of Rituals Earl's Secret Black Tea & Bergamot, a sophisticated and refreshing Chinese Earl Grey tea, blended with natural bergamot extract. Get me!

Not only that, the Rituals philosophy and approach to life is definitely one I'm aiming to embrace. It's all about learning how to turn life's everyday hum-drum routines, like putting the kettle on, and turning them into life's simple pleasures. And with such beautifully packaged teas on the side in the kitchen, I think it's a very good place to start!

The aromatic tea range also includes Rose Wisdom with ginger (good for sore throats and easing nasal congestion), Sweet Gingko, a tea for bedtime, and refreshing Hamman Mint. There's also comforting Emperor's Dream, uplifting Jasmine Delight, Cape Delight rooibos tea and energising Keemum Lime. All are beautifully packaged in tins of 50 tea bags (£11.90) with luxury refill boxes of 20 also available (£4.50).

The new tea collection is available in all Rituals stores and a selected department stores.

The best stress-busting bath oil EVER!

If I was asked to pick one product to keep me un-frazzled during the festive season, this Bath and Shower Oil from Aromatherapy Associates, would be, without question, the one! It's like an aromatherapy 'anaesthetic' with the most euphoric floral fragrance of geranium, frankincense and rose to restore hassled minds and fill us full of positivity and calm.

I put this powerful Support blend to the test this week after a particularly emotionally fraught day Christmas shopping in York, followed by meeting a tight feature deadline, attending a parent's evening and finishing off making two school nativity costumes! I took half an hour out early evening for a lovely deep bath steeped in this beautiful blend, then felt so composed and calm I powered on through with writing my Christmas cards! It's relaxing but restoring and uplifting too and digs deep to help you find those reserves of energy you sometimes have to draw on just to get things done. A bath in this is like waking up refreshed after a deep and restful sleep!

One capful in the bath is all that's needed, or you can apply it to the body before showering too. I love the way the scent lingers on your super-soft skin after your bath (it's the coconut oil that leaves skin silky smooth), so you're wafting around in a relaxing aroma long after you've left the bathroom! It's divine and I know I'm going to have a much more relaxing Christmas because of it! I can't think of a better gift for someone special, who you'd like to lavish with some serious TLC.

£37 for 55ml, available from www.aromatherapyassociates.com

LUSH - new minature set of Gorilla Perfume fragrances!

I'm probably what you'd call a bit of a perfume flirt! I'm not faithful to one specific fragrance or brand, I prefer to flit merrily depending on my mood and what the day or evening holds. 

This miniature set of eight 2ml exclusive fragrances from Lush is perfect for someone like me who prefers to try before I buy a full-size bottle, and I always like to take the time to see how a perfume develops on my skin.

This lovely little box contains one each of the following fragrances:

1000 Kisses - exquisite, delicate blossoms combined with citrus and resins. Expresses the complexities of true love.

Ginger - crisp and true with exotic mimosa, rose and jasmine too.

 

Ladyboy - my personal favourite! It's a quirky amber-based scent that despite the eyebrow-raising name is sophisticated and stylish. Contains banana and seeweed too. Sounds bizarre but it's gorgeous.

Love - young sweet and flirty with tempting apples and spice. Exhilarating!

Superworld Unknown - inspired by candyfloss and bubbles, combines citrus and chocolate. An escapist scent.

Cocktail - a lovely evening scent, think sipping a cocktail in a chic bar.

The Smell of Weather Turning - the most intriguing in the box for me. It's a thunderstorm in reverse. Starts with fresh rain on greenery then develops into something smokier and darker, with hay and woods in the final stages. Really unusual and lovely.

B Scent - Rose and crisp citrus. Stylish and feminine. 

No-one does fun and quirky quite as well as Lush for me, their products and packaging always lift my spirits. This would make a fab stocking filler for a girlfriend, or a top secret santa gift. Or, just treat yourself!

Order online at www.lush.co.uk, priced £19.95

help:clear skin from Works With Water - drink your way to better skin!

This 100% natural skin supplement (now available in Superdrug) helps to clear spots and blemishes, all you have to do is drink it! I've been trying it out over the past month (it's recommended to take 1 sachet of this milk protein supplement powder daily for at least 4-6 weeks) and although I was very sceptical at first, since stopping using it, I can see my spotty skin coming back so I've come to the conclusion it works for me!

So how does it work? Each sachet of help:clear skin contains Praventin, a bioactive protein, rich in lactoferrin from milk protein, which has been shown to reduce the development of the bacteria responsible for many skin impurities, helping to prevent the formation of blemishes due to its antimicrobial effects.

All you have to do is dissolve the powder in at least 350ml of a non-carbonated drink such as water, milk, juice, even tea or coffee, or you can add to foods such as soup, yoghurt or cereal. It doesn't taste of anything at all so it's really easy to take.

I combined using help:clear skin with using a new skincare routine (Clinique's Anti-Blemish range) during a particularly stressful breakout of hormonal-related spots. To begin with, if anything my skin became worse as the new routine set in but by around week three, I started to see good results. I remember one day going out of the house completely foundation free (absolutely unheard of for me!) as my skin looked so clear, glowing and spot free! My skin became so clear I had the confidence to switch to a tinted moisturiser, another first for me.

As my month's supply ran out over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed my skin reverting back slightly to the occasional blemished state, and those annoying bumps under make-up starting to show. So I'll definitely be picking up some more packs from Superdrug, Boots, Waitrose or Holland & Barrett and seeing if they continue working their magic. £9.99 for seven sachets. Well worth a go in conjunction with a thorough skincare routine.

help:clear skin is also available from www.workswithwater.co.uk

Yes To Blueberries - Age Refresh Smoothing Daily Cleanser

Here's a gentle fruity cleanser for anyone looking to brighten and refresh their skin and achieve a more youthful look. Why blueberries? They're a secret anti-ageing weapon! Rich in anti-oxidants, these juicy fruits help fight the formation of free radicals that can damage the skin's microstructure. 

If, like me, you like your skin to feel really soft after cleansing, you'll love the coconut oil in this cleanser, a natural moisturiser which leaves skin feeling supple and smooth. And who couldn't do with a little refreshing and brightening too? The apple and lemon peel get to work on improving the skin's surface, sweeping away dirt to reveal fresher looking skin.

I've been massaging this lovely creamy formulation into my skin nightly (which in turn boosts circulation and gets skin glowing) then rinsing away with warm water to reveal clean skin that's super-soft, fresh and healthy. It's gorgeous on these cold darker nights when skin's screaming out for more moisture and something a little more nourishing. 

A few dry patches I had around the nose area have completely disappeared since using this. I've found it gives me much-needed extra hydration to my skin during the winter months. For best results follow during the day with Yes To Blueberries Intensive Firming Repair Moisturiser and at night with Yes To Blueberries Intensive Moisturising Night Repair Cream, both £19.99 for 50ml.

Yes To Blueberries Smoothing Daily Cleanser is available from www.victoriahealth.com priced £12.99.

 The Yes To range also includes Yes To Carrots, Yes To Tomatoes and Yes To Cucumbers.

Ogario London Revive & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner - just gorgeous!

Last Saturday I had my hair cut into a chic little bob which I love but I've struggled a bit since to re-create the sleek, shiny look I had when I left the salon ... until now! Perfectly timed, this super-stylish duo from Ogario London - a brand new launch - dropped through my door and has been my hair saviour ever since.

Personally speaking, this shampoo and conditioner have made the arm-aching job of blow-drying and styling my hair at home a million times easier. They help smooth and defrizz my hair as I dry, and the shine, OMG, it's amazing. My hair is now soft, silky and swingy ... it hasn't felt this full of health and bounce for ages. The compliments are already coming in on how glossy it looks!

The uplifting blend of eight essential oils in the shampoo and conditioner linger on the hair and are really refreshing in the shower too, especially in the morning (imagine the lush steamy scent which includes a subtle blend of lime, bergamot, orange and cedar). The unique Protein Protect formula is also packed with plant extracts, vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, all the nutrients hair needs.

The shampoo contains baobab, rooibos and nettle and lathers up into tiny creamy bubbles, which become creamier the more you massage into your scalp, it's just divine! The thick luscious conditioner, with hibiscus and horsetail, contains nourishing avocado oil too which is great for achieving a glass-like gleam. Hair combs through effortlessly after use, not a single tangle in sight!

The passion and wisdom that has gone into this exciting new product range really shines through. It's a complete gem and I hope, like my 'new' hair, it continues to go from strength to strength!

Ogario London products are available to buy online at www.ogariolondon.com

Revive and Shine Shampoo, for normal hair, £14.50

Revive and Shine Conditioner, for normal hair, £18.50

The range also includes a Hydrate and Shine Shampoo and a Hydrate and Shine Conditioner for dry/coloured hair (same prices as above), and a Restore and Shine Hair Masque for all hair types, £26.50.

 

City chic nails from Miners!

 

So here we are on a cold and blustery Friday afternoon ... who fancies being whisked off to New York, Bangok, Paris or London this weekend?

Wishful thinking maybe, so here's the next best thing! Inspired by some of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, check out the four brand new nail shades for autumn/winter 11 from Miners! 

There's London's Calling, a demure goes-with-everything grey; Bangok Blues, a chic and classy navy; Fairytale of New York, for a green fashion fix, and my personal favourite, Weekend in Paris, a fruity berry shade. Also pictured below is Plum, guaranteed to brighten up any dull wintery day. Gorgeous!

£2.99 each, available from www.minerscosmetics.co.uk