The importance of essential oils

More recently, I've been getting into essential oils. Many products these days are full of nasty ingredients that aren't necessarily that good for us but pure essential oils can be used in many different ways to help comfort, uplift and soothe the mind and body. You can massage them into the skin, inhale them, use them as bath oils or even pop them into a home diffuser. 

Miaroma Lavender Pure Essential Oil*

Late uni nights have well and truly messed up my sleeping pattern. So when it comes to working on Sunday's, I struggle to wake up. I'm not a fan of the smell of lavender oil - in fact, I hate anything to do with lavender - but this essential oil isn't that strong and I can tolerate it. I add a couple of drops to the underside of my pillow before going to sleep and it helps to relax me. I don't know whether or not it's a placebo effort but I've been sleeping pretty well lately. My sleeping pattern has been restored and I wake up feeling content.

Miaroma Tea Tree Pure Essential Oil*

Tea Tree Oil is well known for its antibacterial properties so it's well worth having a little bottle of this in your beauty/medicinal cabinet. I've been using this on my spots and on my nasty bites (thanks insects!) and it's cleared them up in no time. Tea Tree Oil is good for your skin and the reason why I prefer this to the usual spot treatments is because it doesn't dry the skin out like most. The scent is strong and spicy and you only need a teeny amount. I personally use it on a cotton bud to get straight to the infected area.

Miaroma Sweet Almond Oil*

Although Lavender and Tea Tree oils are considered safe to apply topically, you can always dilute them in water or using a base oil. I've been using the Sweet Almond Oil to dilute my oils down to stop the scents from being strong and overpowering. A couple of drops of the oil in a teaspoon full of this and you're good to go. It also helps your essential oils last that little bit longer too.

Miaroma have an exclusive range of 36 expertly blended aromatherapy essential oils and they're available exclusively online and in Holland and Barrett stores. I've really enjoyed using these essential oils recently and because they're affordable and last a long time, I'll definitely be investing in a few more recently as they're great to clear your mind.

What essential oils do you own? Are there any that you'd recommend?
*PR Sample

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A Small Haul

Yesterday, I spent all day in a classroom editing videos and voice clips for my TV and radio assignments so after I finished, I decided to take a well deserved trip into town. I did need some shoes from Primark for work as I've ruined my other ones but I didn't feel the need to show you as they're just plain and black. I also got some underwear from Primark and if you follow me on Twitter then you'll know that I got a little bit creeped out as 3 grown men were just staring at me the whole time.

Also from Primark I picked up some of their 4 in 1 Deep Facial Cleansing Wipes as a sort of impulse buy at the tills. I got two packets for just £1 and I've used them and they seem pretty nice. Very lovely for around the eyes and they remove a lot of make up as well. I then went on to Holland & Barrett to finally spend my reward scheme voucher and I picked up their Dead Sea Spa Magik Mud Mask which I haven't tried out yet but I'm very excited too. I then also picked up some more of their snacks as they're beautiful. This time I went with some Yogurt Coated Peanuts which are currently sat on my desk staring at me! I also took a little trip into Poundland as I needed to buy some blank CDs & DVDs to burn my work onto as I was walking there I noticed that a little shop had some Lucky Charms in their window so of course, I went it. The box was £8.50 which I managed to resist but I couldn't quite resist picking up a tiny one use box for £2.00.

It's only a small haul but I thought I'd show you what I picked up anyway. What have you been buying recently?

xxx

Bargain Boots & Holland and Barrett Haul!

Banana Chips coated in chocolate and yoghurt - £2.59

I went into Holland and Barrett as I have a £10 voucher to spend because of their new reward scheme but unfortunately the item that I wanted was out of stock. So instead, I picked up some banana chips which I've just started eating. They're so beautiful and I'm going to have to put them away because if not, they'll all be gone in an hour!

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Shampoo - Was £2.69 now £1.81 (free on 3 for 2)

I was in need of a new shampoo and I went to the Boots Advantage Card machine and I received a voucher for 25% off any shampoo/conditioner so I picked up the Pantene Aqua Light shampoo. I've used it before and whenever I smell it, it reminds me of Whitby as this is the shampoo that I used whilst I was there. It's really lightweight and easy to wash out. A great every day shampoo.

17 Va Va Voom Mascara - Was £6.29 now £2.43

All my mascaras are running out and drying up so I decided it was time to get myself a new one. I love trying out new and different mascaras as I am yet to find my perfect one. Once again at the Boots Advantage Card machine I was given a voucher for a half price Va Va Voom mascara and that was an offer I couldn't resist! So I picked one up and I'm excited to try it out.

My Face Concealer - Was £7.99 (free on 3 for 2)

Me and my friend were working on cosmetics today when we noticed that My Face had a 75% off sale. There weren't many items left but what was left was decent enough. So on my break I quickly ran to the My Face counter and chose this concealer. Boots have a 3 for 2 offer on at the moment so this qualified as my free item. I haven't yet tried it but it does seem a bit dark for me so I'm praying for some sun!

My Face My Mix Foundation - Was £12.99 now £2.84

I'm still in shock at the price of this foundation. I haven't tried it but when I was first getting into make up, I had my eye on it. I'm not sure of the coverage yet but I'm considering doing a full FOTD using these products and letting you know how I get on. I'm not sure if it's just my Boots store that has 75% off because it's not online. But it's definitely worth checking!

My Face R&B Rouge Blusher in Medium Lady Monaco - Was £9.99 now £2.18

I also decided to pick up a blush. This is a very bright Barbie pink that is highly pigmented. I've included a swatch below of this product and to do that swatch, I literally touched the blush in the slightest. I need to have a light hand when using this!

Trevor Sorbie Tease Comb - Was £2.99 now £2.62

It's 3 for 2 at the moment on make up, hair care and accessories so I need one more item in order to qualify for 3 for 2 on my Pantene and 17 products. I decided it was time that I bought myself a teasing comb as my hair is useless when it comes to volume. I saw this one and I couldn't believe the price. It's really sturdy and I'm excited to try it. 

I've included the picture above to show you just how much I saved! This is a picture of my receipt when I bought the My Face cosmetics (I picked up the other stuff later on). So you can see that I saved a massive total of £26.95! Three My Face items came to £5.02 instead of £30.97! I'm still in complete shock about this. I do get staff discount but I mostly get discount on items from looking around the store, seeing what's on offer and using vouchers from the Boots Advantage Card machines. So next time you go into Boots, definitely check those machines as there are some great offers lurking on there.

Swatch of the My Face blusher - very pigmented!

What have you been buying recently?

xxx

Holland & Barrett - Natural Beauty

'In recent research by Holland & Barrett, nearly half of women surveyed (48%) revealed they ditch their make-up on a regular basis, yet the words 'natural look' can still spread panic among those who never leave the house without a make-up safety net.'

And I can say that I'm one of those people. I do sometimes leave the house without make up but I also feel awful and very uncomfortable around it.

So when this beautiful pink box arrived inside my flat, I was a little bit excited. Okay, scratch that. I was super excited. And when I saw the little card saying 'Holland and Barrett' on the top of it, I was even more excited. When I first starting suffering with bad skin, I loved going into Holland and Barrett. Me and mum would be in there often seeing if there was anything to help my skin but of course, I can't take tablets so I could never rely on vitamins. But they do have some wonderful skin care products in there. Me and my friends also used to go in after school and get some 'yoghurt coated bananas' which are just beautiful. So yes, I was excited.

Back to front, L-R 

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil (£14.99, 453g) this melts into the skin and gives life to dry and rough skin. It's also great for conditioning the hair and can be used within cooking.

Skin, Hair and Nails Formula (£13.99, 120 caplets) as the name suggests, this supports healthy hair, vibrant skin and strong nails. It's a 3-in-1 tablet that contains antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium.

Hydrolysed Collagen (£19.35, 180 caplets) this boosts collagen in the skin. It uses a complex protein to provide the major building material for growth, repair and maintenance of the skin (and also nails and hair). It also contains the antioxidant vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation.

Dr Organic Anti-Ageing Hand & Nail Cream (£6.19, 125ml) this hand cream has royal jelly inside it which is super rich in plant hormones, nutrients and amino acids. This cream strengthens the collagen matrix which is vital for healthy looking skin and nails. 

Dr Organic Manuka Honey Skin Lotion (£7.19, 200ml) this lotion is blended with natural ingredients and vitamins which rebalances the body's natural moisture levels and leaves the skin feeling healthy, silky smooth, firm and in perfect condition. 

Dr Organic Rose Otta Facial Serum (£12.29, 30ml) this uplifting aromatic essential oil is a super serum which is absorbed instantly to lock in moisture and leave a soft, toned feeling of balanced hydration.

Argan Oil (£12.99, 59ml) this oil helps to prevent the skin from wrinkling as by using it, skin becomes more toned. It's not only great for skin but also it helps repair the hair from sun and chemical damage too. 

Hyaluronic Acid (£9.75, 30 capsules) this is a substance that occurs naturally in the skin which means it's perfect for those with allergies or sensitive skin. This supports supple, firm and youthful skin tone whilst the vitamin C helps to support the formation of collagen.

Pycnogenol (£11.85, 30 capsules) this is an antioxidant and helps to improve skin hydration and elasticity in women. Pycnogenol promotes glowing skin and reduces the appearance of skin inflammation which results in a more even complexion.

Unfortunately, I can't swallow tablets/capsules/anything so one of my best friends, Laura will be trying out the vitamins on her blog. I'm hoping to try and swallow one of these capsules as the Pycnogenol sounds perfect for the scarring on my skin. But I'll let you know if I do. I'm really excited to use all of these products as I'm all about natural beauty. 

Another great thing that Holland and Barrett are now doing is the Rewards for Life loyalty scheme. This means that you can earn points on every purchase and you also get money-off vouchers emailed to you every 3 months. I was lucky enough to be sent one of these cards with some points pre-loaded onto them. So I popped into my local Holland and Barrett's today but unfortunately I found out that you get vouchers sent to you every month. So I haven't yet been able to pick anything up but when I do, I'll let you know what I get!
xxx

GIVEAWAY: Dr Organic

As a Merry Christmas to all of you, I have a giveaway!

This month, me and the guys at Dr Organic will be giving away a Dr Organic Pomegranate Perfect Complexion Gift Set! 

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is follow my blog and comment below with your 'Top Wintertime Beauty Tip!' And the best tip will win the giftset - it's that simple!

Feel free to tweet/post about this giveaway however, unfortunately it will not gain you an extra entry. The closing date for the giveaway is the 15th December and it's open internationally!

If you're struggling, take a look at this top wintertime beauty tip from health store Holland & Barrett:

Whilst the rest of the body tends to be covered up against the cold winds of winter, our faces bear the brunt of these harsh conditions. As the face becomes dry and dehydrated, circulation can turn sluggish and skin can begin to look tired and dull. One of the best ways to combat this is to exfoliate twice a week, which will help to remove the build up of dead skin and allow pores to absorb moisture more easily. Take care not to rub too hard as this can cause irritation and cause reddening. After exfoliating, apply a facial cleanser or moisturiser that contains natural ingredients such as aloe vera or pomegranate, to rejuvenate and enliven your skin.

So what are you waiting for?! Enter for a chance to win perfect skin this Christmas!

xxx