Finished! Balance Me Super Toning Body Oil

Balance Me Super Toning Body Oil

I have recently finished my bottle, I used it up as a post shower body moisturiser. It saved me a lot of precious time in the morning as well as delivering a beautiful scent and lots of long lasting moisture. It didn't leave me feeling greasy as it sank in quickly.


Each 200ml bottle is  £20 and contains 4 base oils (sweet almond, wheat, macadamia, jojoba) and lots of other essential oils that give it a herbal/spa scent.


I probably would buy it again if it were available locally as grabbing a bottle whilst passing a store is easier than finding time to order on line (that is when I remember + have time and the ipad to my side!)  However, I could just sign off and be ordering it right now in fact...

New Hair by Anne Veck

Flashes of highlights in the fringe, genius.

Me looking less frumpy?

Recently  I was offered a hair cut and colour at Anne Veck's recently renovated salon in Central Oxford. I jumped at the chance for a few reasons; I met Anne on a make up course a few years ago and her salon close to where I used to work. I've had my hair done at Anne's salon before and liked the service and results.

The salon is smart and comfortable, with welcoming staff and a stylists who listen to what you need! I especially liked the massaging chairs whilst my colour was developing. It was indeed mummy-heaven.

I would definitely go back and see Zak, who understood that as a busy mum I need a style that is fun but easy to look after.  Other than those conditions, I let him have free reign and he chose a layered cut with semi permanent colour all over with highlights at the front.  He certainly delivered a fun cut, I love the flashes of colour in the fringe and easy layering that can be restyled with a water spray and worn for a few days between washes without looking messy. The colour will grow out but because it is layered underneath it won't show the roots! It is amazing the difference I feel with a decent hair style, I don't feel frumpy or mumsy!

Book in at Anne's salon for a consultation, contact details are here.

Snow bows!

I can only apologise for my appalling camera phone, why it is so bad I don't know - shame on you blackberry!

These gorgeous silver glitter and white tipped bows are from Rebel Nails and feature in their new range of 3D textured nail wraps, £7.99. The bows stand out and catch the light and last at least a week for me (which is good considering the amount of hand washing you have to do with a baby!). These don't require any heat either, so just apply to clean nails and file off the excess at the tip.

What do you think of nail wraps, have you tried them? If you'd like to try them, leave a comment and I'll pick someone to send some of my personal stash to try for themselves - whether you've tried them or not!

Stuff and more stuff from the last few months

It's been a busy few months of baby rearing and getting to grips with motherhood. What can I say? It's not easy but just one little smile from Tabitha makes it all worthwhile. People get sick of me saying that every morning feels like Christmas.  Once the horror of having to get up subsides, I can't wait to see my little girl and spend the day with her.

So other than that, I haven't forgotten about the world of cosmetics... So here's a round up of products I've been using and/or trying over the past few months.

Carmex (various products were sent to me for trial). Generally I don't opt for products ending in x, there's something unnatural about it, and where possible which is nearly always, I prefer the natural option. Unfortunately I was right about my suspicions, I didn't like much about the range - neither the scent, taste, feeling on the lips, tingling or longevity. For a brand I have avoided because I thought they weren't cruelty free, I was excited to try them but after a month or so of keeping them in my handbag and using them regularly, I can't say that I would buy replenishment. I haven't found anything that compares to Nip and Fab, lip and nip fix - pure lanolin sheepy smelling goodness that lasts and lasts. I prefer the sheep smell to the coconut and fruits of Carmex.

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (bought from John and Ginger). After receiving a sachet sample with a previous order or Precleanse, I had to buy this product. It is a lovely fresh feeling but intensely moisturising cream. My skin was so parched and flaky in the months after Tabitha was born, I tried all of my usual oils and even E45 couldn't help. The wonder of samples, and they really do work to stimulate purchases!

The Body Shop, Moringa Beautifying Dry Oil (sent as as sample for review). I do buy this range as a treat for myself, mainly when at Paddington Station to look forward to after a loooong day in London. The scent is adorable, luscious and alluring.  A small bottle seems to go a long way too. I shower and before towelling off, use it all over the body. It's a quick and effective way to moisturise and smell gorgeous in one step. The oil is light enough not to feel greasy and is absorbed quickly ready for dressing immediately.

I badly need to replenish my supply of Tisserand Essential Oil hand cream, as my hands are really suffering from near constant hand washing and this recent heat has flared up some eczema to epic proportions of bumpy itchiness.

On the rare occasions I have been out in the evening I have been using a surprisingly good gel eyeliner by Coastal scents (also sent for review). It has been ages since I used a gel eyeliner and I have missed the easy smooth application and budge proof wear. Busy mums will know that you can look like you've tried too hard, so it is best to stay with looks that are practised, easy and comfortable.  Although I had my doubts at its potential and even more about the accompanying brush - it hasn't let me down yet. I find it very good for a smoky eye. As seen below!

Night night from Tabitha xxx (and yes I have had a haircut!)

Tabitha!

I've been remiss and haven't even posted a picture of my beautiful daughter Tabitha on my blog!

Here she is aged 8 weeks

I also wanted to show you a gorgeous gift I received from my best friend. She painted this canvas herself and it's taken pride of place in Tabitha's room. If you'd like one for your child (each is unique to your child) then drop me an email.

Things I love this week #1

As I have a few moments, a small person is asleep on my lap, my thoughts dwell on items in my cosmetics which I particularly love this week!

Sleek MakeUP's LASH OUT mascara. I am so surprised by this mascara. In a good way. I am not one for mascaras bought from high street stores (I prefer to buy my staple Beauty Without Cruelty on line). However, a couple of uses in and I was impressed enough to keep it in my every day make up case. It has a thin wand with a thick formula that combine to give roots a real boost in thickness and when swept to the ends an enhanced curl. It's thick so work with it carefully, using a lash comb or clean/dry mascara wand to avoid ending up with two rather clumpy lashes as they stick together! It really has worked to make my lashes longer and thicker, giving that false lash look. If I don't find anything better in the mean time I would definitely repurchase this mascara.

Sleek Make UP Au Naturel i-divine Palette. I have been using this day in and day out for the last three months since moving house and taking an eternity to unpack the rest of my make up. Even though it is now unpacked, I have continued to use this palette. It constantly surprises me when I mix and match different shades for completely different looks, I can go from a "nude" to a full on smoky look in a few strokes from this palette.

New-ID i-groom eyebrow pencil. I have recently purchased three back ups of this amazing eye brow pencil as I feel real fear when I think of running out of it. It comes in one colour and the density of colour is dependent of how many sweeps of the pencil I use. I find it very difficult to find a perfect black/brown for my eye brows, but this is brilliant. The slanted triangular shape of the pencil makes filling in and shaping brows super easy, in one stroke. Try it, you won't look back!

Lumiere Cosmetics Lumi Lips in Spice or In The Nude. Let it be known that I am a not a fan of sparkly or sticky lip glosses. In fact I just had a massive clear out and threw them all out. I am now the proud owner of less than a handful. These two are my massive favourites as they are soft, moisturising, you can see the colour on your lips and natural looking. I would go out of my way to repurchase these from the US as I haven't found anything comparable to the quality, wear and colour.

Daniel Sandler Foundation/Concealer in Deep Sand and Watercolour Creme Rouge. A simply amazing duo of products that make my make up application and wear supremely simple and effective. The foundation is creamy but light. I like to apply a few dots to forehead, cheeks and chin then blend with a damp blush brush (try it, it feels quite refreshing!). I have converted both of my sisters to this foundation, they love it - possibly not as much as I do but then they are not as cosmetics obsessed as I am.

So, which products are you particularly loving this week, it being the week of love and all that?

Smells, smells, smells.

Smells; it's all about smells. Some women crave food, I crave smells. Notably the following:

LUSH - Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter. Mr OJ often rolls his eyes at the frequency I am found with my nose in a tub of LF. At £6 for a 50g it's a bargain nail treatment which really does work to keep cuticles nourished and dry bits at bay. I use this most nights and revel in the lovely lemony/lavender scent.

Liz Earle Nourishing Botanical Body Cream. I adore the fresh and uplifting scents in the body range. From the shower gels to this rich and gorgeous body cream. Really good for bumps and all over feel good factor. You can use it after dry body brushing (which did help keep cellulite at bay during the early months of pregnancy when exercising was difficult. Pregnancy doesn't require much of a circulation boost as your circulation is already pretty pumped up having to cope with a baby growing inside too. With prices starting from £4.75 for a travel size, it's a great treat for weekends away (or going in to hospital!).

Tisserand Intensive Hand and Nail Cream. This is my biggest addiction. However, I feel I should qualify this as whenever I use this (for example sitting in a doctors waiting room) everyone seems to like it and even look around to see where it is coming from. One receptionist asked what it was! Even Mr OJ says that when I use it in the car and he gets in, he notices and says that "something smells nice". Which is high praise indeed. I can often be found with my face in my hands (not crying) but inhaling deeply the gorgeous essential oils. There are far too many to mention. At around £7 for a generous handbag sized tube (75ml), it's an absolute bargain and a delight to use. It lasts months and I repurchase time and time again. But I warn you, it's highly addictive!

Jonathan Ward candles, I don't need to tell you how much I adore Jonathan's candles. I own more than my fair share but they have been marvellous. I wish I could take one with me to hospital (perhaps I shall sneak in some tea lights)

Since I have gestational diabetes I can't mention the normal cravings of chocolate, cake and icecream which I would love to indulge in! Although, I can have them sometimes, probably less than the average non-diabetic! I suspect that my other senses are trying to compensate as I also adore using bright and bold make up and nail wraps! I think pregnancy heightens all of your senses so it's been a great time to experiment with new products.

Do you have any weird addictions (to legal substances) or pregnancy cravings that you'd like to share?