Gift with no obligation to post. Contains spoilers
Christmas comes but once a year and seemingly earlier every year.
I used to absolutely love Christmas, then we lost Mum and for the past 2 years it’s never felt the same.
Christmas without mum felt like bread without butter. Nice … but something delicious was missing. Although bread is nice its a lot better with lashings of butter.
This year however I’m actually looking forward to it , in a “well I’m not dreading it kinda way.”
I adore Autumn; the start of a new season. A chance for new beginnings and opportunities.
It is a little step closer to Christmas. For the first time since we lost Mum [over 2 years ago] I am actually looking forward to Christmas this year.
Nights spent at home are longer, darker and cosy ; ambience created by my numerous candles scattered around the Lounge.
I look forward to soaking in luxurious bubble baths before smothering myself in rich body lotions. To climbing into my fleecey pjyamas and fluffy bed socks.
I’ll no doubt find myself engrossed in some serious drama on Netflix , channel 5 Christmas Movie channel or a good book … accompanied by a large glass of Baileys.
Always Baileys .
As it comes, over ice, or in coffee. Either way I’m not fussy.
Nature like a chameleon changes from greens to beautiful shades of burnt oranges and red. Nights draw in and the temperature plummets. Its woolly scarf and hat weather ; my favourite.
My makeup tends to follow suit. My pink lip is swapped for a deep red and my eyes go heavier and warmer.
My mum was a [ding dong] Avon Lady.
As a young girl I would sit for hours playing with her fancy sample kit.
I’d slather thick cloppy creams all over my face and try the tiny lipsticks that ranged from pale pinks through to bronzes and deep reds with great excitement. I was in my element and I swear that this is where my love of all things beauty began… and over the years it’s just flourished.
Which brings us back to today…
After many, many years of blogging I’m now at the stage where brands send me products to trail . I feel extremely lucky and the excitement every time I receive a parcel in the post is as real as it was back when I was sat in mums bedroom playing with her kit . I guess I will always be gob-smacked. I’m a gob-smacked kinda girl ! Continue reading
Morning .. but no doubt by the time this gets published … Good evening !
I’ve got a fab little discovery to share with you today and it’s skincare related.
I was fortunate to receive some products a few weeks ago from Garden of Wisdom for Victoria Health.
GOW is a brand I was familiar with but one I had never tried before. I had heard mainly good reports but was excited to try them out for myself … you know have my two-penneth!
I received a couple of products including the Vitamin C Serum [which has been talked about a lot and is a favourite of Nadine Baggots ] but today I’m going to talk to you about the Neurophroline Serum which I am loving.
As I always state – I am not being paid for this post and I am under no obligation to write about it. I just feel it is worth shouting about. I gain nothing from recommending this to you – just a happy heart, after-all sharing is caring!
So first things first Neurophroline Serum retails at £18 for 1 Oz with is just under 30ml. A great size for travel.
It is scent free [if there is a scent it is extremely faint] All the products are cruelty free, suitable for vegetarians and free from alcohol and silicones.
If you are anything like me I bet you are wondering what the heck Neurophroline is and what it does exactly ? I can’t even bloody pronounce it properly, which if you watched my Instagram stories last week was very evident. I hope you had a good old giggle at my expense.
I have undertaken a little ‘Tracey research time‘ because I do like to know these things myself . Here is the official line.
Modern day life can be highly-stressful as we all know ; from job pressure, environment, health or lifestyle.
The main causes of stress on the skin are UV, pollution, smoke, chemicals.
Neurophroline is the first generation of cosmetic active ingredient that is able to block the production of cortisol, the major stress hormone. Basically high levels of cortisol triggers the destruction of collagen [ bad cortisol ! ] which can lead to the formation of lines, wrinkles and dark circles.
Neurophroline visibly improves skin colour, and tone within a short period of time [ as little as 2 weeks] .
Soooooo …you may have read all that and felt slightly confused; thought it sounded like a load of ‘cobble de gook’ … more science than skincare!
In layman’s terms this serum helps break down the baddie Cortisol, so the goodie Collagen can flourish leaving you with more luminous skin! It is a light weight, slightly runny serum that sinks into the skin beautifully, leaving a lovely canvas for the rest of your skincare/makeup .
For me personally a good skin day is one that is spot free, with refined pores. Skin that looks clear, comfortable, hydrated with no redness. Happy skin … and after just a few weeks usage that is what I have.
I have been applying a few pumps of this serum every morning [ and every other evening], after cleansing, before applying my choice of moisturiser. Everyone’s skin is different but for me over the space of just a few days my skin felt calmer , more supple.
Does my skin look more radiant… yes, yes I think it does … if only marginally.
If you have stressed out skin this could be the answer . Your saviour in a little bottle // HERE
You can thank me later – I take credit card or chocolate !
.
Tracey x
* The product was kindly gifted to me by Monty PR but as stated all words, thoughts and opinions are strictly my own *
Contains PR / gifts and affiliated links marked with *
“The sun I’ll come out tomorrow … bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow sun will shine !” Yes I’m going all orphan Annie on you but by god this weather is absolutely amazing.
It’s Saturday afternoon, I’m laid melting into one of our garden loungers. I’m on my third Gin & Tonic. Don’t judge me … it’s only 2 o clock but I need to keep cool. I guess water would be preferable [and more sensible] … but not so much fun!
As always I’m fully factored up . I love the sun but the not the idea of the damage it could potentially cause.
Once upon a time my friends and I would lie on the beach in the tiniest of bikinis , wearing zero sun-protection and slather ourselves in oil … like the stuff you cook chips in. I’m not joking – tanning back then was all about how dark you could go and not about protecting your skin. I once burnt so badly my shoulders erupted in water blisters and I’ve had sun-stroke enough times to write a book . I was the colour of a Conker yes … but it was painful to say the least . I shudder to think about the damage I have caused myself.
Older and wiser I now wear an SPF every single day … even on days when it’s miserable and cold outside.
* CONTAINS – gifted items only
I was kindly gifted the products listed below from Skin Chemists a few months ago [thank you] and was asked to use them for a few weeks then give my honest opinion on how they performed over that period of time
• Anti-aging Caviar Day Moisturiser – 50ml
• Anti-aging Caviar Facial Serum – 30ml
• Anti-aging Caviar Eye Serum – 10ml
I’m passionate about skincare and also about giving an honest opinion especially when people are parting with their hard earned cash. Continue reading