Sweet Smelling Bargains

Hi Folks,

It’s been a while since my last blog post… I will write a post up as to why I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus. But until then… I have a lovely little review for you.

My lovely friend has sent me a gorgeous box of goodies to try. The box was full of FM Fragrance loveliness. I’ve embedded the FM Fragrance website link so you can have a little read about them if you’re not familiar with the company. I first became introduced to FM around a year ago & since then I’ve been a happy customer. I’ll admit in the beginning I was very apprehensive to try the fragrances purely as I love perfume & just did not think a cheaper alternative would appeal to me. But you know what… I’m happy to admit I was wrong. The fragrances are beautiful & smell just like our high end faves. They also last all day.

So… what was in the box?

FM 489 Pheromone – This retails for around £18. This scent is just like Thierry Mugler Alien. This is one of my signature perfumes… I’ve been wearing it for years. In Boots this will normally costs £80. So the FM saving is massive. With the cost of living rising – I personally can’t justify an £80 spend on perfume. This week alone – 3 people have commented on my perfume. One person said “Alien is my fave” & another said “You smell lovely – is it Alien?” They literally smell the same.

FM 910 Perfumed Hand Spray – This retails for around £18. Okay, so another of my most fave fragrances is by Francis Maison Kurkdijan… now for the smallest bottle you’re looking at £120 for around 35ml at Harvey Nichols. Super pricey – but smells divine. This sanitising hand spray smells just like it. I have also had this scent in the FM Royal too. It’s one of my top ones to buy. I get so many compliments when I wear it. The hand spray is great for keeping in your hand bag. It’s not sticky or tacky either – perfect for on the go & the stunning scent is an added bonus.

FM Body Spray – Love this! Never tried the body sprays before. This is a unisex one & great for a quick spritz throughout the day… especially when you’re run ragged on the school runs etc… again this retails for around £18… which you may think is a little pricey for a body spray… but it’s highly perfumed & lasts.

Make Up Remover – This make up remover is lovely & mild. It retails for around £10 & it is 150ml. I have sensitive skin & I also wear contact lenses, so the fact this doesn’t make me super red or sore is a massive plus for me. I’m always very wary of make up removers & creams etc… because of my sensitive skin – but this was perfect. I wear make up daily… & I don’t go for a natural look lol. So there’s always plenty that needs to be removed on a nighttime. This removed all traces with ease.

Pillow Mist – I LOVE THIS!!! I’ve never tried the pillow mist before & in all honesty it’s something I never would’ve purchased myself… but now I will!!! It’s utterly gorgeous. I went round & sprayed everyone’s beds & honestly the whole of my upstairs smelled so gorgeous & fresh. It’s really really lovely. This retails for around £18. You only need 2 spritz’s so it should last a good while. The smell seems to hang in the air of the whole bedroom. You won’t be disappointed.

Air Freshener – I’ve popped this in the car. Smells lovely & I’m pretty sure I can smell it outside of the car before I’ve opened the door lol. Really nice scent & it’s only £4.50.

Wardrobe Fragrance – Love this. We have built in wardrobes so I’ve popped this right in the middle of them. It smells so nice & you can actually smell it throughout the whole room. Like the air freshener, this retails for £4.50 – such a bargain!

I’ve added all the current RRP’s above, but you can add Kirsty’s Facebook Page where she updates regularly with current offers & deals. So you’re likely to be able to get all of the above at a bargain price now & then. She’ll also be able to point you in the right direction of purchasing etc… Kirsty’s Fragrance Page.

As always – thank you for reading & will be updating again very soon.

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

The Importance of Self Care

Hi folks,

As a Mammy, it’s sometimes very easy to forget about yourself. I think the main thing I’m gonna take away from this whole pandemic experience is that self care is so important. You might not always have the time or the funds to run off to the closest spa or salon. But we need to find the time to paint our nails or do our hair… or anything that makes you feel good about yourself.

Over the last 9 month I’ve been working on the inside. I’ve been working on getting myself healthier, stronger, fitter & leaner. And I’ve started finding a little extra time for the beauty side of things too.

My hair is so super long & think, it actually doesn’t really get greasy at all. So I only wash my hair once a week. I love washing my hair, blow drying it & then straightening it. Nothing beats the feeling of silky smooth fresh hair. But there is nothing worse than having styling tools that either; take too long, ruin your hair or cost far too much.

I only ever use SHE Hair styling tools. They don’t damage my hair. They’re quick & efficient. They’re so affordable. I LOVE them!!!! I used to be a GHD girl, but after buying a third pair of them, they were vastly over priced, snagged & broke my hair off & they always felt like they were overheating. Never again would I purchase GHD.

So here’s a run down of my fave styling tools from SHE.

SHE Supersonic Dryer

I have the dryer in Fuchsia & I’ve also got the Cobalt Blue. Both amazing. They’re as good as each other & they come with any attachment you’d need. The flex is nice & long & it’s super lightweight. It really does reduce frizz when blow drying.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156200586@N06/51237733427/in/dateposted-public/

My hair is very curly, but after blow drying – it really does reduce the bushiness of my hair making it easier & quicker to straighten.

SHE Evo Hot Brush

This is great for quick styling! I can get my hair smooth & straight in like 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re looking for a quick fix on a morning – this is definitely for you. I was very sceptical about this product I have to say. I really didn’t think it’d work on my hair with it being so thick & long. But it just glides through my hair. The bristles are like teeny ceramic plates. You also get to choose the heat setting, which means it’s perfect for any hair type.

It comes with a heat resistant travel pouch. It’s perfect for taking to work or on holiday.

Original Gold Wide Styler

Love this straightener. Like the Hot Brush, this comes with a temperature gauge. Being able to choose your temperature, means it’s fine to use on extensions & super fine hair. I tend to use it on 180 but it goes all the way up to 220. Perfect for quick styling & getting that super sleek finish that lasts.

This is my go to straightener right after washing my hair. Purely because the plates are big & takes less time when straightening.

Ice White Ceramic Straightener.

These straighteners look so pretty & look so fancy. These are my everyday straightener. I use them every morning to just run over my hair. They’re also great for creating waves & curls. Again like the gold & the hot brush, this styler comes with a temperature gauge.

So, right now, SHE Hair have £10 off across their range! Just use code: Summersale at checkout. You can also buy via Amazon too. Simply click the discount box at checkout. But be quick as this is a limited time offer. To buy the Evo Hot Brush for just £39.99 you can buy here from Amazon. That’s a whopping £90 off the RRP!!!

They’re also running a competition too right now across their social media on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!

I’ve added all of the links to the products if you’d like to find out more or go shop!

Thanks so much as always for reading.

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

Why Pay More?

Hi folks,

Hair… we all spend so much time on our hair. Washing it… drying it… styling it…. etc… And wow, do some brands exploit our love for our locks. Some of the prices right now on the market are crazy. Brands charging the earth for a styler or dryer. But why are people paying such huge prices? Sometimes I think that people are scared to try a new brand or simply because they feel brand loyal.

Imagine being able to get a better quality styler with amazing results for almost half the price? Well, you can. I am a HUGE fan of SHE Hair. I’ve been using SHE Hair styling tools for around 6 or 7 years now. Back in the day I was a massive GHD fan, until my straighteners broke. So I went to the shops to purchase a new GHD Iron. They were well over £100 & they pulled & snagged my hair so badly. I felt literally stuck… where did I go from here? I have such long thick hair – I need a hair straightener I can rely on.

I’d seen online & heard good things about the SHE Hair Straighteners... so I bite the bullet & I purchased a pair. I’ve never looked back. I’ve been brand loyal to SHE Hair ever since.

These last few weeks I’ve been trying the New Ice White Styler which is a reincarnation of the original 3.1b straightener. I’m in love.

First of all… they’re gorgeous to look at & come in a lovely box & very well packaged. I’d also like to add that delivery is free too. I always like to mention the packaging, because it’s the first thing you see. Good packaging always makes a big difference.

I love that you can choose the temperature best suited to your hair type. After trying them… I’ve decided 180 best suits my hair.

Being able to set the temperature yourself is great for anyone with very fine hair or extensions.

The floating ceramic plates are perfect for minimising any type of dragging or snagging. That is a huge deciding feature for me. Any snagging or dragging & it’s an instant no no from me. But this styler is perfect. It glides so smoothly through my hair.

It took hardly no time at all to get my hair perfectly smooth & straight. The ultra-smooth ceramic plates with far-infrared heat are loaded with more negative Ions, this repairs over charged positive Ion damaged hair, reducing frizz and providing better, longer lasting results. It all sounds very technical doesn’t it. But when you use a styler/straightener every day, you want to feel confident with it. The dual hinge also allows for movement on both the styling arms, which again helps to avoid dragging.

Now… here’s the exciting bit… They’re priced at just £89.99 with free delivery. So whether you’re treating yourself or someone else for Christmas… it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Also… SHE Hair have a fab range of accessories too.

If you want to find out more about this fab company, you can read here.

Thank you as always for reading & hope you’ve enjoyed tis review.

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Life isn’t perfect… but your hair can be.

Hi folks,

I hope you’re all doing well. Things are still feeling very surreal right now aren’t they? During this whole time I’ve not set foot in a hair salon. But it’s not been as traumatic as it could’ve been since I have the BEST ceramic hairdryer!!!

I’m a big fan of going to the hairdressers to get my hair washed & dried straight. Obviously that’s not been an option up until recently. But it’s okay, because I have the new Blue & Gold SHE Hair Dryer.

So… what’s in the box?

Okay, along with the stunning lightweight ceramic dryer you get 3 attachments;

• Diffuser: Perfect to help prevent frizz – when done correctly. It doesn’t disturb your natural curl pattern. It speeds up drying time without adding frizz & it is less damaging than direct heat from a blow dryer.
• 2 Nozzles: The nozzles work to concentrate the airflow from the dryer,
  meaning that it is easier and quicker to dry your hair or to create a number of
  different styles.  With 2 nozzles to choose from you can choose the one best suited to you & the style you’re wanting to achieve.

The features of this stunning dryer are that its a salon professional hair dyer, there are 3 heat settings, temperature control, powerful ac motor 1800-2000w, ergonomically balanced, quiet performance & comes with a 3m swivel cord.

On the box it sounds great! But what is it actually like to use & what are the results like? 

I washed my hair with my usual Tresemme Shampoo followed by Conditioner. I didn’t put any serum in my hair as I wanted to see what the dryer was like on completely naked hair.

To dry, I literally blasted it dry with the dryer whilst brushing my hair occasionally with my tangle teezer. I deliberately didn’t use an attachment while pulling it straight as I wanted to see what effect the dryer would have when used quickly. Because lets face it… we don’t always have the time to sit & spend hours on our hair do we?

I made a cup of tea & sat down to dry my hair the quickest way possible.

My hair is super thick & super curly & would normally take almost 30mins with a regular dryer to get fully dry.

This dryer got my hair dry in under 10mins!!!!! And… it totally tamed my frizz!

Normally my hair would be a massive mane of fluffy, flyaway frizz… but this is definitely more controlled. It also didn’t feel hot or frazzled. The hairdryer ‘dries’ but doesn’t get hot if that makes sense. It’s comfortable to hold too & is very lightweight. There’s nothing worse than a heavy, clunky hairdryer.

After drying I finished off my hair with the She Platinum Wide Styler. 

I love this styler. The wide plates are perfect on long hair & they take less time to straighten. I think the fact my hair was less frizzy made a huge difference too. I managed to get all of my hair sleek & straight in 20mins.

I used no finishing serum, yet my hair was still glossy & shiny. It didn’t feel hot or scorched. It had a lovely healthy feel & glow. I LOVE these styling tools. You really don’t need to pay for a professional shampoo & blow dry when you have your own professional hair care/styling tools at home.

You can find all of the SHE Hair products on their website. They’re also launching a Black Pearl Range very soon & they look amazing!

Thank you so much as always for reading & hope you’ve found this review useful! For further reading & purchasing – click on the highlighted text.

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

“Beauty is Power; a Smile is it’s Sword”.

Hi folks,

“Beauty is Power; a Smile is it’s Sword’ – John Ray. What an amazing quote & so true. Smiles are universal… when you smile you feel good & it also has a positive affect on the person receiving the smile. Smiling is a great way to start when trying to make our world a kinder place.

Feeling like I’m making the best of myself always has such a positive effect on my whole personality & confidence. I love my beauty regime I go through each morning. But it’s not just about the skincare & the make up… it’s about have a great smile too.

Each morning before I do my hair & make up… I’ll start with my smile. Having a healthy, sparkling smile… doesn’t have to be expensive. I love Colgate products… they’re so accessible & inexpensive. I can literally pick up a new toothbrush while out doing my shopping at my local supermarket. I can have quite sensitive gums at times, so a harsh toothbrush just wouldn’t do. I love the softness of the Colgate 360 Sensitive Pro, no one wants to start the day with bleeding gums.

The brush itself is a great shape for getting all areas in your mouth with an ergonomic handle & features a soft tongue & cheek cleaner on the back of the head of the brush.

I have 2 little boys & teaching them about good oral hygiene is so important. Seth is 4 yrs old & likes to brush his teeth with us each morning & night. Ted is a year old, so doesn’t have all of his teeth yet, but he’s already a keen teeth cleaner. I have to say that the Hey Duggee Tooth brushing badge Song is a firm favourite in our house while we’re brushing. It’s also a good way of ensuring we brush for 2mins too which is the recommended time… 2mins on a morning & 2 mins on an evening. My dentist always likes to give us that reminder at our regular check ups.

A healthy, minty fresh smile goes a long way… I mean… it’s the universal sign of happiness. And it’ll set off your favourite lipstick too.

So… in a world where you can be anything you want to be… lets be kind & SMILE! Make your smile so dazzling & infectious that folk cannot help but pass it on!

I hope you’ve found this review useful, I’ve embedded the product link in the bold text if you’d like to read further.

Thank you so much as always for reading!

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

“This product was gifted by Colgate, but all views are my own”

 

Planning Ahead for the New Year

Hi folks,

Well, we’re getting to that time of year when we’re starting to think about New Years resolutions, the goals we want to set & plans for the year ahead. And what better way to plan & stay on track, than with a lovely personalised note book.

You all know I absolutely adore the personalised planners from Personal Planner. So I thought, why not add to my collection with a stunning notebook. Perfect for jotting down important lists & writing down those all important targets.

I love that these books can be 100% customised. From the front cover to what the page layout is like. And… you can even get fancy leather covers too!!! I just love love love mine! It’s fab with all of its little pockets to keep important things in like receipts etc… in fact, mine is going to double up as travel organiser while we go on holiday over the festive season! Ideal for keeping booking documents & vouchers in! I’m just so excited!

Did you know that Personal Planner offer free delivery & they also do gift cards!!! In fact – you can have the gift cards emailed to you digitally, so they’re fab for those last minute Christmas gifts!!! So why not give the gift of organisation this Christmas!?

You’ll also find a massive selection of accessories too… pretty pens & stunning stickers.

Personal Planner make something for everyone, as you literally customise the planners, notebooks or wall planners to suit you. If you’ve always wanted that perfect planning companion – look no further!

And… I have a little discount gift just for you. Use discount code: SLEIGHRIDE for 10% off. Valid until 25th December.

And… I’ve also got an amazing give away too!!! I’ve got a gift card with a value of £39.90 to spend on anything from Personal Planner. To enter, head on over to my Facebook Page or Instagram Page!

Thank you so much for reading as always & MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Love is in the Hair

Hi folks,

I do love this time of the year… autumn is firmly upon us… Halloween, Guy Fawkes & Christmas are just around the corner… eeeeeck!

However… with the cooler weather… comes the damp, rainy atmosphere. As a curly haired girl who tends to wear her hair straight… this can be an utter nightmare.

I dread washing my hair. I really do. It’s like a full on commitment. My hair is super thick, washing it, conditioning it… followed by half an hour of holding the hair dryer in place while I blow dry it. I always get so hot & bothered & I feel like the dryer just fry’s my hair. I actually read something really interesting about when you can tell your hairdryer is on its way out & all of the damage it can do to your luscious locks & the warning signs to watch out for. You can read the article from Which?, here. After reading this… it was so unbelievably clear… I needed a new dryer!

I am so completely in love with my new Shehair® Professional Hair Dryer 

Why… I hear you ask… It has a powerful 1800-2000W professional-strength motor with Homogeneous heat to minimalise damage, delivering a high pressure air flow for super-fast drying, while reducing frizz and flyaways to give a smooth salon-style finish. It’s actually true!!! Because my hair is naturally curly, when I blow dry, my hair seems to go so frizzy. But after only 9minutes with this fantastic dryer… my hair was fully dry & it was so much smoother!!! Yes… it wasn’t straight, however, it was so much more manageable & took time off the hair straightening side of things.

Variable power and temperature controls, allow you to tailor your blow-dry to your hair type, while a cool shot button helps lock your finished style in place with a blast of cold air… keeping your hair in Tip Top condition. This is the first time I’ve ever blow dried my hair & not been sweltering. Normally I’m bright red & so hot. But even though I used my new dryer on the hottest setting… it still feels cool. And… I couldn’t smell burning hair… now that’s always a plus!

Ergonomical balance and design makes it a breeze to use & comfortable to hold for both left & right-handed users. It’s so lightweight. It makes blow drying your own hair so much easier! You also get 3 attachments as standard too!

I simply cannot convey to you just how amazing this hair dryer is & how much time it’s saved me. I also feel like my hair feels nicer… I don’t feel like it’s so scorched anymore. Since having Ted, my hair hasn’t been great… I feel like it’s not looking as glossy. But with the help of some thick, nourishing shampoo & conditioner, drinking plenty water & now my amazing new hair dryer & gold styler from SHE Hair... I really feel like it’s getting back to its glossy former glory. I haven’t dyed my hair in over 5yrs & try my best to keep it in tip top condition.

This week, SHE Hair are launching their new Platinum Range… I simply cannot wait to try those. They look utterly stunning. Perfect for gifts under the Christmas tree!!!

If you head over to the SHE Hair social media pages… you’ll see that they’re currently running a competition to win yourself a new Hair Dryer!!!

Thank you so much as always for reading & I do hope that you’ve found this review useful!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

I May Not Be Perfect… But At Least My Eyebrows Are!

Hi folks,

I’m so happy that it’s finally Autumn… October is one of my most favourite months. I love crunchy golden leaves under foot, a chill in the air & the excitement of the party season fast approaching. I simply cannot believe that this month I will have a 1 year old & a 3 year old. How on earth is Ted almost a year old!? He started walking last month!!! Walking at 10 month… he’s so clever.

So, I’ve been wanting to write this blog post since January… but I’ve just been so busy & not gotten round to it. But… here it is. My eyebrow journey!!! As most of you know – I’ve had my eyebrows micro bladed. I can honestly say that this it is the BEST thing I’ve ever done cosmetically.

From years of over plucking… my eyebrows were just a state. I used to paint them in each day.

With all of the over plucking, my eyebrows had just simply stopped growing. It wasn’t too bad when I had a full face of make up on, as I’d draw them in. But, if I was having a no make up day (which is so rare for me) I’d just feel so self conscious. It’d be even worse while on holiday & in the pool with the kids… I’d just want to hide & cry about my face & the lack of eyebrows. It seems to trivial doesn’t it? But your eyebrows frame your face. It was such a big thing for me.

I started getting my nails done at Ruby Red in January 2018. While having my nails done, I just happened to mention that I’d toyed with the idea of having my eyebrows micro bladed. That’s when Jo, told me that she actually did micro blading. She gave me all the facts, broke down the process & how it all works. She also told me, not to rush into it, to really think about it all etc… well… that very same month… I got pregnant with Ted. So, microblading was off the cards for a wee while. Over the year I got to know Jo so well & she has become one of my most favourite people. Becoming such good friends with Jo, really helped me to make the decision to have my eyebrows done.

So… my first piece of advice… really research your beautician. Ask to see photo’s of their work. Have a consultation. Have your eyebrows mapped. Discuss any concerns. Discuss the shape & thickness. And DO NOT rush into anything. This is a semi permanent procedure that will be on your face. You need to be happy, at ease & 100% confident. 

At my consultation I had my eyebrows properly mapped & measured & I also had a dye test to make sure I had no allergies & to also colour match the dye. I opted for a much thicker & fuller brow. I have big eyes… cow eyes as my lovely hubster calls them lol. He assures me this a complement lol. I wanted quite big, full, natural looking brows with a nice arch. After going away for a week or so, I went back for my first sitting. With microblading, you’ll have your first sitting & then a few weeks later you have your top up. Its totally normal to lose a few strokes in your brows after your first sitting.

First of all… the first thing I’m asked:

Does it hurt? Yes… but not like a tattoo. I found it to feel more like a graze. It’s fine in the beginning… but toward the end of the brow, it’ll sting. My eyes watered a lot. You will have some numbing cream though… so really do not worry about the pain.

Can you wear make up straight away? Yes… as long as you don’t go on the eyebrow area.

How long does the scabbing last? Everyone is different… my scabbing lasted around 10 days. My scabbing looked more like dry skin. Most of it was gone after 7 days. But I had a few areas that were still there. So I opted to keep my eye brows dry until all of the scabbing was gone. The advice is to keep eyebrows dry for a week. But I didn’t want to force any scabbing away. My saviour was my Liz Earle Cleansing Cloth.

It allowed me to give my face a good scrub & cleanse… while avoiding my eyebrows. Yes, during this period your eyebrows can look a little unkempt if you really look. But just make sure you get them done when you’ve nothing major planned… like a wedding etc… It does not last forever & the results are worth it.

Once the scabbing has gone… you can wear your make up & wash your face like you normally would.

Now… I have to admit that after a few days… I initially freaked out one evening. I started to panic as the ink will become quite dark due to the scabbing. When you’ve gone from no eyebrows – to full on brows, it can take a while to get used to them. Also, as I’m so dark, I had the darkest dye. After my slight wobble… I loved them. Life is so much easier when you have brows.

After my top up… I was even more in love with them!!! They were full, dark & just perfect. They suited my face so much.

Getting ready on a morning is much quicker. When I have a full of face of make up, I do lightly shade them in. But that is just my personal choice. I cut them in with my concealer & foundation & then I use a Make Up Revolution Eyebrow Pencil. But because I already have the brow there… it’s so quick & easy. Literally takes minutes.

So… what do my brows look like now? Have they lasted?

YES!!! They’re still amazing. And… do you know what else is utterly amazing??? My own eyebrows have actually started to grow! They’ve not grown for years. I’m wondering if maybe somehow, the trauma of the micro blading has stimulated the roots?

I am due a top up in January, & I simply cannot wait. In some ways I wish I’d had them done years ago. But then I’m also glad I didn’t, as I may not have found Jo. I’m so glad that she was the one to do them.

If you are in the Yorkshire area & you’re considering microblading… contact Jo at Ruby Red. She’s AMAZING!!! A true artist. I have linked their Facebook page, where you will find all of their contact details.

Before I go… I just want to leave you this:

Literally all of the brow emotions you will go through lol.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post & you’ve found it interesting. If you’re considering micro blading – book that consultation!!!

Thank you as always for reading!

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

 

 

Feeling Comfortable in My Own Skin

Hi folks,

More than ever, we seem to be bombarded with images of picture perfect people… flawless skin… perfect figure… nothing seems to be out of place. I’ve always been a bit of a self conscious person when it comes to how I look. I’m so confident in who I am as a person… but when it comes to how I look… I’m so critical & self conscious.

After having the boys… I have noticed a massive change in my skin. The problem with a change in your skin also effects your make up! So, not only does your skin look & feel different with a naked face, but it also looks & feels different when you’re wearing your make up. Such a nightmare. Especially when you’re already feeling a little self conscious from just having a baby. And… you also have the added pressure of not having oodles of time either to start a brand new in-depth skincare regime!

So… what changed with my skin after pregnancy.

Under my left eye, I developed a little prominent blood vessel. I know it looks small… but to me it looked like a beacon! I think it happened during pregnancy while throwing up so much. I’ve always had a rosy pink complexion & that’s fine as it’s always something I’ve had so I’ve always bought & wore make up that hid it a little. However, after pregnancy I always felt it looked more patchy. And, my cheek area became super dry in areas & under my eyes which meant that my foundation & powder started to clump, which is not a good look. But, my T Zone area became massively oily. This meant that my foundation was clumping in the dry areas & then smearing off in the oily areas. My pores were becoming visible under my makeup in the oily areas, if that makes sense… almost like the inside of an aero bar.

I just do not have the time to spend hours on my skin & make up with a 3yr old & a 10month old to run around after. But… I still want to feel & look good.

Starting on 22nd August… I began using my new products from ESK. I decided to document the results & I’m so glad that I did.

I’ve added dates to the photo’s so you can see how skin has improved.

The areas that I feel have improved; my skin isn’t as greasy, fine lines seem to have improved, no dry patches & I feel like the small blood vessel isn’t as prominent.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156200586@N06/48775436543/in/dateposted-public/

So… what is my new skincare regime I hear you ask? Well, firstly I can promise you that my new regime is super simple & hardly takes up any time! I am completely in love with the ESK Hydroxy Cleanser. I use the Hydroxy Cleanser morning & night. I wear make up everyday & I do tend to go for a smokey eye look complete with black liquid eyeliner & black mascara. So I need a cleanser that will be gentle, but will also remove every bit of make up. This cleanser does all of that! You use it just like a face wash. The 100ml bottle should last you around 3 months. I’ve never been a fan of cleansers & toners… I always found cleansers to be too greasy & toners to be too harsh, which would end up making me too pink. The hydroxy cleanser, cleanses while being nice & gentle, & it’s also soap free. It doesn’t make me red & I never feel any skin tightness after using, which I’ve always found that I get when using other face washes.

After cleansing on a morning I then use B Quenched. This product can be used at night or morning. I’ve been using each morning & I can honestly say that this moisturiser is my most favourite skin care product EVER! It is absolutely gorgeous! It’s everything I’ve always wanted in a moisturiser. With having an oily T Zone, I always thought other moisturisers used to sit on top of the greasiness. So I’d avoid putting anything on my T Zone. So I’d only end up moisturising my dry cheek area. This products helps to improve the skins barrier function, reducing hyperpigmentation and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. I think my redness has massively improved. Also, I never knew that when the skin is super oily, it can be a direct result of the skin being too dehydrated. This product helps the skin to retain moisture, but my oilyness has greatly improved. My skin overall just feels less greasy, less dry & looks less red. My make up has been going on so well. I’ve stopped using a primer under my make up as this moisturiser gives such a lovely even base.

My make up isn’t clumping or sitting in lines. It’s also staying put all day… so that alone tells me that my oily skin has improved.

I’ve been using Ultimate A everynight before bed after using my Hydroxy Cleanser. I just want to say first off – that this product is not recommended while pregnant or breastfeeding due to the content of Vitamin A. This product is an amazing anti-aging product. I absolutely love this. I feel like my fine lines around my eyes have reduced. I’m now 37 & fine lines are my main concern. I think we’re all looking for that wonder cream that will make us look a little younger. I have no problem being almost 40… but I also want to look good too. This product promotes collagen growth, increases skin elasticity and reduces hyperpigmentation effectively and without irritation. It’s a lovely light cream, not too heavy or thick. It makes your skin feel so super soft. Again, like the B Quenched – I feel like this product has helped to reduce the redness. Normally after cleansing & moisturising on an evening, my skin would be so red. But I can honestly say, my skin looks calmer.

My 3 stand out products are: Hydroxy Cleanser, B Quenched, & Ultimate A. I honestly feel like I have new & improved skin, with no extra effort. When we feel good about ourselves, I think we can deal with the pressures & stresses of a busy lifestyle so much easier. Another great feature to these products, is that they give you a full run down on how to use them & when to use them. They really feel like a tailor made skincare regime just for you.

I will be continuing to document my skin progress & will be writing a progress post about it 🙂

I hope you’ve found this post useful & interesting. I’ve added the links to the products that I’ve been using so you can read further & even treat yourself.

Thank you so much for reading!

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Making Memories

Hi folks,

I love the month of May. Spring is everywhere & everything looks so beautiful… the weather is on the turn to sunnier times & it’s also mine & the hubsters Birthday month.

We always try to do something nice for our birthdays as they’re only 4 days apart. But when you have little ones in tow… plans have to change & adapt. This year we had the most amazing little break in the Yorkshire Dales in a stunning Georgian Cottage.

So… first of all… let me tell you about this simply beautiful cottage. Green Cottage is an elegant Georgian Cottage set on the green of one of Yorkshire’s most picturesque villages. It’s an ideal base to explore the Dales in any season. And… it’s 100% Family-friendly… that includes doggies too. A dog bed & bowl can be provided if needed. Our Coco is such a little diva though & likes her own little comforts – so we took her fave bed & mini food & water bowl… most dog bowls are big enough for her to bathe in lol.

The space itself:

The house is fully detached and set over three floors. Don’t worry though… if you have little ones, then baby gates can be provided. Seth is 3 & Ted is 6 month so we very much need baby gates on the stairs – so this was fab for us. They were already installed too!

Lower Ground Floor

• Kitchen diner (featuring an extendable table to seat up to 6 guests and fully equipped with Rangemaster cooker, dishwasher, fridge with freezer shelf and microwave along with plenty of good quality cooking and baking equipment, glasses, crockery etc). Honestly…the kitchen has EVERYTHING you could possibly need. Even down to the colourful plastic kids crockery from IKEA that we all know & love & can’t live without! We ate in both nights… I did ‘snacky food & we had sparkles… obvs

• Utility room (with washer-dryer, iron and ironing board and a drying space for muddy boots and outdoor gear). There’s a great tray there to stand your dirty shoes in & there’s a radiator right underneath the coat rail too – so if you’ve gotten a little damp – everything will dry off.

• Bathroom (with spa whirlpool bath, and toasty underfloor heating). The bath is utterly divine! I had visions of having an uninterrupted bubble bath with a glass of sparkles… but of course that lasted all of 5 minutes until Seth came bounding in lol. But that’s Mama Life for you!

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Ground Floor

• Living room (sofas to comfortably seat 5, log burner, digital Smart TV with Freeview, BBC iPlayer etc as well as lots of books, maps and games) we took our amazon fire stick with us & connected it to the WiFi. So we were able to watch Disney Life, Netflix & Prime. Please note that the play pen in the living room is ours & not part of the cottage.

• Snug / third bedroom (large day bed which can be made up into full size single bed, second TV, desk)

• Shower room (walk in monsoon shower with extra large enclosure, heated towel rail) There is also a toilet. It’s fab as there is literally a toilet on each floor. Essential for toilet training! Seth is totally dry now, but we’re still only in our first month of toilet training… so a toilet on hand is utterly essential lol.

First floor

• Master bedroom (king size bed with deep, comfortable mattress, large wardrobe and antique dressing table) oodles of space! Loads of room for a travel cot. A travel cot can be provided too if you don’t want to take one.

• Twin bedroom (two full size single beds with pocket sprung mattresses, chest of drawers and clothes rail) a waterproof mattress cover can be provided too! Perfect!Please note that the bed guard rail is ours & not part of the cottage.

• WC with basin (‘Jack and Jill’ style access from both upstairs bedrooms, ideal for families, or can be set up as en-suite for either bedroom)

Outside

• Enclosed garden to rear and side, paved and gravel with outside seating, and a charcoal BBQ
  
• Bike store (lockable for up to 5 bikes, can also be used as a pram store)
  
• Direct access to the village green – a large expanse of grass free for all to stroll, sit or play
  
• Play area visible from back gate – swings, slide, football posts etc. We spent quite a lot of time in the little play area. Seth loves a park. There’s also plenty wide open space to run around or to picnic. But, if you take your fur babies… please ensure you scoop that poop! There’s nothing worse than dog poop making the place dirty!

As you can see from above & from my photos… everything is catered for.

The bedding was so comfy!!! Egyptian cotton bed linen on all beds, 13.5 tog thick duvets (hypoallergenic and feather / down) and plenty of soft and fluffy Egyptian cotton towels. As you can see… Ted had to try out the king size bed lol.

There’s a welcome pack with all the basics for your first couple of days (loo rolls, hand soap, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, tea towels and kitchen cleaning supplies) as well as tea, coffee, milk, bread and a few local treats. This was soooo nice!!! It just means that you don’t have to pack a lot of shopping. And it also means that it’s all ready for you to get the kettle straight on when you arrive… coz let’s face it… we all need that first brew when we arrive somewhere! Especially when you’ve had to sing Baby Shark & Old McDonald Farm all the way there lol.

 

Also… when we arrived there was a lovely big box of toys left out for Seth to explore, as well as plenty children’s books. There were even a few laid out on his bed for him. That was such a lovely touch & Seth was super excited!

So as well as a travel cot, baby gates & toys… the owners can provide a highchair – which Ted thought was VERY comfy & there is also a baby monitor. Oh & I did mention the plastic IKEA crockery, but there’s also a MAM Baby Cup too. Just so many little things that have been added to make your break so much easier! This cottage is really like a home from home.

For our furbabies, there is a lovely fluffy blanket provided & the use of a hose pipe outside to wash down those dirty paws.

 

Okay… so you’ve heard all about the gorgeous cottage… but what did we do while we were there? We investigated Settle. What a stunning little town. Seth particularly enjoyed The House That Jack Built. He got some lovely new Melissa & Doug toys. There are so many gorgeous shops, tea rooms & places to eat, to investigate. There’s also the Watershed Mill. It is absolutely stunning… the scenery is simply breathtaking. We popped there for a little bite to eat over lunch time.

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We spent a lot of time playing on the green outside of the cottage & in the little park. We were only there for 2 nights… next time we’ll be booking for a week.

The cottage has a lovely organised folder of leaflets & places to visit etc… so helpful for when you’re planning days out.

This beautiful cottage is simply worth every penny. If you book before August & quote: “IxxyPoco” you will be given an exclusive discount. You can book a year in advance. So use that code before it runs out. Simply head to Green Cottage on AirBnB & send a message to the owners quoting my blog.

Thanks as always for reading & I hope you’ve been inspired to book yourself a lovely break away ❤️

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.