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beauty

Gift Guides

Share The Love This Valentine’s: Top Fashion, Food, Florists & More

What is the best way to say ‘I love you’? It’s the ‘L’ question we all start wondering about around Valentine’s Day. With 14th February looming, it’s time to make some plans with the special person in your life or pick up some presents to show your love for them.

Meal kits and food delivery services have really started wowing me during lockdown and many of them are offering special Valentine’s themed boxes to make the most romantic day of the year memorable. Maybe it’s time to impress your partner with your culinary skills or agree on something you can make together.

I’m also loving the heart decorations — especially the fairy lights —  for bringing some romantic red and pink hues into the house. If there’s any excuse to add more red and pink into your decor, Valentine’s could be just the thing to upgrade your interiors.

Shopping for your galantine? I’ve popped some fashion and beauty recommendations on the list that I would absolutely love to receive on Valentine’s Day. For any fellas reading, these gifts will certainly go down well with your wife or girlfriend. Of course, I couldn’t leave off the Cupid’s classic gift of flowers, so I’ve suggested some fabulous florists too.

Fashion

Leopard print blanket scarf, TLM Edit

£45

There’s something seductive about animal print. This scarf says romantic yet sensual.

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Heart print upright detachable collar, TLM Edit

£28

Add playful love hearts to your everyday attire to reveal your romantic side.

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Gold knot red stretch belt, TLM Edit

£20

Wow in this sexy red belt with your favourite figure hugging black dress.

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Amity shirt, Indigo Island

£75

Add some rosy red to your man’s wardrobe with this smart shirt.

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Beauty buys

Love Sleep Pillow Spray, this works

£30

Get in the mood… for a good night’s sleep with this calming pillow mist.

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Valentine’s Collection 2021, Look Fantastic

£55

Look no further for a box dedicated to self-love — something we all need a lot more of.

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Red Lipstick Trio, MAC

£53

Nothing quite says Valentine’s like a lick of red lipstick.

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Food & drink delivery

Be My Valentine / Galentine, Leo & Co

£15

A soak in the tub with a bar of chocolate and a cuppa — what more could ask for?

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Simon Rogan ‘At Home’ Valentine’s Menu, Simon Rogan

From £95 per person

Dress up and wait for your dinner to arrive. Enjoy a sumptuous menu and wine pairing from Simon Rogan.

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Meal Boxes, Cook

From £3.50

Take a break from the kitchen by selecting a delicious starter, main and dessert delivered by COOK.

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Sent with Love Box, Paul

£28

Say ‘Je t’aime!’ with a sweet treat from Paul.

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The Fortnum’s Valentine’s Hamper, Fortnum & Mason

£250

If food is the way to their heart, woo your lover with this luxurious hamper from Fortum & Mason.

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Ruby Chocolate & Strawberry Truffle Making Kit & Prosecco, Britain Loves Baking

£35

Try your hand making truffles and fudge treats to really impress your loved one.

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Valentines Hamper, Bottles ’N’ Jars

£65

Kick off a romantic night in with fizz and snacks before enjoying an Italian red and some ‘music to drink wine to’.

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Aperitivo In Terrazza Luxury Box, Nio Cocktails

£85

Enjoy an Italian aperitivo by candlelight with this luxurious cocktail set.

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Florists

Valentine’s Roses, Appleyard Flowers

Say ‘I love you’ with a beautiful bouquet of red roses. Appleyard has a fantastic selection to choose from depending on your preferences and budget.

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Hungry Eyes Bouquet, Petalon

£42

A beautiful bouquet to truly show someone you love them.

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Love Note Dried Bouquet With Vase, Your London Florist

£40

I love a fresh bouquet of flowers as much as the next woman but this dried bouquet from Your London Florist is so striking and elegant.

Valentine's decorations

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Decorations For Dinner

Valentine’s Day Pink Rose Candle, Cotswold Candle Co

£20

Transport yourself to an English rose garden with this romantic rose-scented candle.

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10 Heart-Shaped And Confetti Balloons, Little Lulubel

£6

For an inexpensive but grand gesture, these Little Lulubel balloons are a delight to hang about the house and add a little colour to your date night dinner.

Valentine's decorations

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Rose Gold Heart Shaped Metal Straws, Ginger Ray

£6

Metal straws are essential for entertaining (and caring for the environment) and these ones are without a doubt the cutest I’ve seen. Pick up a pack of five from Ginger Ray.

Valentine's decorations

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20 LED Silver Filigree Heart Indoor Fairy Lights, Lights4Fun

£20

Drape these heart fairy lights across the dining room table to give the evening a soft, warm glow.

Valentine's decorations

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Solid Oak Hot Stuff Wood Trivet, Wood Paper Scissors

£35

Show your partner they’ve still ‘got it’ with this retro wood trivet.

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Anamorphine pink candle, Overose

£46

A blend of peonies, sweet raspberries and raw vanilla, this Overose scent is perfect for creating a sensual atmosphere.

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Love Heart Garland, STUDIOBELL

£6.63

Keep things simple and cheerful with a love heart garland. You can also request a particular colour to match your decor.

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Paper Heart Honeycomb Valentines Decorations, Deco Pom Poms

From £4

Go tasteful yet subtle with these honeycomb heart decorations. Available in both pink and red, these paper hearts or great for hanging or using as a table centrepiece.

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Valentine’s decor for the home

Somebody To Love Queen Inspired Retro A3 Art Print, Fanclub

£28

Bring a little love and style into your home with this Queen-inspired art print.

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Valentine Wafer Red Blanket, The Natural Blanket Company Ltd

£65

Wrap up with your loved one in a warming, red blanket made from luxurious merino and alpaca wool.

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Looking to update your wardrobe, buy a gift or treat yourself?

You will find a gorgeous range of jewellery, accessories and clothes on TLM Edit, all hand-picked by The London Mummy.


10 LED Paper Heart Battery Fairy Lights, Lights4Fun

£12

Fairy lights are quick and easy mood lighting. I love the soft dusty pink and warming glow of these paper lights.

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It’s In The Air Dish Towel, Anthropologie

£20.00

Something to tempt your date into drying the dishes…

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Margot Accent Armchair, MADE

£399

This old rose armchair is a beautiful piece for introducing some feminine pinks into your home.

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Standing Mouse Table Lamp, Seletti

£85

Looking for something a little quirky? Seletti always has a marvellous selection of out-there interiors and this mouse seemed an unlikely Valentine’s decoration!

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Regency Pink Velvet Cushion – Two Pack, Habitat

£50

I couldn’t resist these luxurious velvet cushions – great for trialling dusty pink in your decor before a complete revamp.

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An Online Course For All Couples

The Marriage Course – Online, The Marriage Course

Free

Sign up for the course that promises to improve your marriage and help couples navigate this time of uncertainty. And it’s free!

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Take a peek at my ultimate directory for the best parent, style and business recommendations.

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Gift Guides

20 Wellness & Self Care Gift Ideas

Everyone could do with a bit more relaxation and self-care in their lives. It’s so often that life takes over and we forget to care for ourselves. You don’t have to be a yogi, wellness guru or gym bunny to appreciate a bit of self-love. This gift list is perfect for anybody in need of some pampering. Help a loved one to channel some inner peace or create some space to relax with one of these pretty ‘zen’ Christmas goodies.

The Positive Wellness Journal, The Positive Planners

£20

It’s all in the planning! This journal gives fantastic daily guidance to anyone on a path towards a happy and healthy mind, body and soul.

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Anti Ageing Silk Pillow Case, Hollistic Silk

£80

We all know the importance of getting enough sleep; firstly for our overall health and, secondly, for our beauty regimes. A silk pillowcase reduces frizz, while a silk eye mask combats facial creases.

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The Self Care Cookbook, Bookspeed

£15

I know how easy it is to get into the routine of cooking the same meals week-in, week-out. Spice things up with this plant-based cookbook.

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Sunshine Candle, The Kentish Soap Company

£8

Self-care is about having healthy habits and rituals. I love to have some candles burning as part of my evening unwind ritual and Kentish Soap Co. has a divine selection of soy candles to choose from.

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Self Care Isn’t Selfish, m.a.d.e

£7

A clever little reminder pin for when we’re putting ourselves at the bottom of the pile and very close to burn out!

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Personalised Yoga Mat, Koko Blossom

£40

Any yogi pal would love to receive this personalised mat. Or maybe you’ve got someone in mind who needs some motivation to get moving again.

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Self-heating eye mask, Spacemasks

£15

Tried-and-tested, Spacemasks are a really simple way to switch on the relaxation button and relieve any tiredness and tension.

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Brazil SAD Light, Lumie

£149

A ‘must’ for anyone who feels extra blue in the winter months — isn’t that all of us? These lights are proven to boost mood and make you feel more energised.

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Luxury Bath Gift Set, 100 Acres

£67

Go 100% natural with this nourishing 100 Acres gift set. The set of bubble bath, body wash, body oil and bath salts is made in Britain by botanical artisans and — take it from me — it smells absolutely fantastic.

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Mia Smart Facial Cleansing Brush, Clarisonic

£129

Using the Clarisonic beauty device is a good habit to get into. It exfoliates, cleanses and helps the absorption of skincare. It also leaves your skin looking and feeling amazing.

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The Hygge Box, Alice & Peg

£35

Give someone the gift of ‘hygge’ — the Danish word for joy and cosiness. This box of candles, teas and chocolate is the definition of relaxation.

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Lemongrass and Peppermint Bath Oil and Soap, Mariana London

£16.50

If there’s any excuse for pampering sesh, it’s receiving this luscious bath and oil set. Lock the bathroom door, light the candles and relax…

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Luxury Sleep Gift Set, The Oil Hut

£44

Sleep health and hygiene starts with the right environment. Place the diffuser beside your bed, spritz your pillow and dab some sleep oil onto your pulse points.

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Manuka Honey, Manuka Direct

£30

Add this healing manuka honey to smoothies, combine lemon and ginger in hot water or eat raw from a spoon. As a natural antibiotic and antiseptic, it can also be used on cuts and wounds. There are so many benefits to this wonderful honey.

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Calm CBD Hemp Oil, Grass & Co.

£39.50

This is a good starter into the world of CBD oils. It’s a blend of calming ingredients: CBD, mint, chamomile and ashwaghanda.

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Destress Herbal Tincture, Blooming Blends

£22

Know someone who’s feeling particularly unsettled or anxious? A de-stress tincture from Blooming Blends can help to soothe symptoms of anxiety and panic.

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Kombucha Home Kit, Boo Chi

£50

Kombucha can be hugely beneficial for the whole family’s health. But making it yourself? Where on earth do you start? Get creating from scratch with this wonderful kombucha kit.

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Looking to update your wardrobe, buy a gift or treat yourself?

You will find a gorgeous range of jewellery, accessories and clothes on TLM Edit, all hand-picked by The London Mummy.


Personalised Leather Yoga Strap, Vida Vida

£45

Any yogi friend will love this classy leather strap that can be personalised with a name, initials or message.

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Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil, Aesop

£43

Cleansing and nourishing your skin is crucial in any self care routine. Start strong with this divine facial oil from Aesop.

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The Full Tour, A Cook’s Tour

£110

Self-care for the stomach! A Cook’s Tour is a pretty special gift to treat any couple. It features two cook-alongs each month for two people. Great for picking up some new culinary skills.

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Looking for something else? Take a peek at my ultimate directory for the best parent, style and business recommendations.


More Christmas inspiration… 

24 Purrfect Presents For Pet (& Pet Lovers)

24 Home Gift Ideas To Buy Any Interiors-Obsessed Friend

Gift Guides

23 Things To Treat Your Tween To This Christmas

They’re not teenagers but they’re not little kids anymore. So, what on earth are you supposed to buy them?! The tween phase hits between 8 and 12 years old and it can be tricky to know what gifts will go down well without them thinking it’s too “baby-ish” or too grown-up. I’ve gathered together some pretty cool bits and pieces that I’m sure any tween-ager would love to unwrap on Christmas Day.

Make Your Own Motor Boat Huckleberry Moto, Kikkerland

£16

This is a great one to get your big kid thinking inventively and once they’ve made the boat, it’s an excuse to get outside and test it out!

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Jonathan Adler Rainbow Puzzle, Rockett St George

Keep them amused for at least a couple of hours with some good old-fashioned entertainment – a jigsaw! How lovely is this one?!

£25

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Huckleberry Fishing Kit, Conscious Crafts

£8

Another one I love for its outdoor involvement, this fishing kit might help them spark a new hobby and (hopefully) learn the art of patience.

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Fleet Wash Bag, Initially London

£35

Keep things tidy with a personal wash bag. Perfect for storing their toothbrushes, paste and soap.

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Light Up Facemask, Tangerine Dream

£20

Nobody likes wearing a face mask but gifting one that’s fun to wear and light-ups will definitely make the situation more tolerable.

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Water Bottle, Tangerine Dream

£25

Everyone needs a decent water bottle — this is one of the ways we can help to save the planet! The silicone sleeve on this glass Tangerine Dream one means it’ll last more than a week when you hand it to your tween.

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Watches, The Holiday Shop

£40

I love these vibrant watches from The Holiday Shop. Choose from coral, turquoise, navy and fuchsia.

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You might also like:

21 Christmas Gift Ideas For The Man Who’s Hard To Buy For


Jumpsuits, Junior BLVD Aus

£62

Uber-cool jumpsuits available in pink, blue and khaki. No doubt one of those outfits they will start to live in.

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Mino Lexon portable speakers, Betsy & Blue

£37

Super small and very practical, this speaker is a great gift they’ll be able to take wherever they go. They also recharge wirelessly, so no hassle with cables or batteries.

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Coaster Games, The Dark Imp

£7

This is a great one to crack out after Christmas dinner, when all the unwrapping is done. It’s all perfect for taking on-the-go, to parties and on holidays.

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Shampoo & Body Wash, Spots & Stripes

£13

A great one to team with the personalised wash bag gift! Spots & Stripes has a fantastic range of award-winning skincare for teens and pre-teens. Get your kids started on the collection with this shampoo and body wash.

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Sports Boot Bag, Apatchy

£29

Are they football-obsessed or rugby-mad? This sports boot bag will take them through their tween, teen years and beyond.

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Looking to update your wardrobe, buy a gift or treat yourself?

You will find a gorgeous range of jewellery, accessories and clothes on TLM Edit, all hand-picked by The London Mummy.


Alignment Print, Planets In Time

From £37

Discover how the planets aligned on the day they were born (or any other special day!) with this unique personalised print.

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Personalised Roll Top Backpack, Jack Spratt

£35

These backpacks are a solid choice for school, sleepovers and outdoor adventures. Available in a range of colours, you can also personalise the bag with a name or nickname too!

 

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Positive Mirror Quote, Oakdene Designs

£14

Quirky and cute, this mirror offers a lovely dose of positivity we could all do with on a daily basis. Choose from a range of uplifting quotes.

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I Would Rather Be Sleeping, Oakdene Designs

£11.50

If you’re not dragging them out of bed already, that phase is going to hit very soon. This mug only tells the truth.

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Extravagant Gingerbread Brownies, The Bottled Baking Co.

£10.50

A brilliant stocking-filler, this gift from The Bottled Baking Co. will keep the kids busy in the kitchen and serve up delicious treats for the whole family.

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Pampas Bluetooth Headphones, Urban Ears

£130

An essential for yours and their sanity, pick up a pair of headphones for that song they love to hear on repeat and you don’t!

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Hangit Photo Display, Umbra

£18

Getting photos printed is always worth the effort. This Umbra display is a lovely place for them to display memories with family and friends.

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Rollerskates Marawa Quad Roller Skates, Impala

£110

These skates feel like a fantastic throwback to when I was younger. It’s so good to know kids are still into skating. Plus, how cool are these?!

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Smart Robot Car Kit, ELEGOO

£69

Programming, electronics assembling and robotics, your kids can pick all of this tech knowledge up with a kit like this. It’s definitely a kit that will get the cogs turning and rev up their curiosity in robotics.

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X Converse Red Heart Chuck Taylor All Star 70 High Black Shoes, Comme Des Garcons Play

£186

I’m fighting between buying these for myself and giving them as a gift. Converse are shoes that your kid will live in day-in, day-out.

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Don’t Touch My Stuff Tote Bag, David Shrigley

£25

This bag says it all, right?

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Looking for something else? Take a peek at my ultimate directory for the best parent, style and business recommendations.

Beauty

12 Skincare Brands Currently On My Bathroom Shelf

The search for the perfect skincare is never-ending. Your needs will change with age, environment and even your menstrual cycle! No wonder it takes a lifetime of trial and error. All we’re really searching for are reliable products that we can use regularly without too much thought. So, I wanted to share with you a list of things that are helping me at the moment and – hopefully – a couple of them will work for you too.

Hylamide SubQ Skin Advanced Serum, Deciem

£18

This serum is one of my skincare essentials. If you suffer from dry skin and want to reduce the appearance of fine lines, this hyaluronic acid will give you the hydration you need. Use daily after cleansing and your skin should be feeling healthier and brighter within a week or two.

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Balance and Glow Day Oil, Aurelia Probiotic Skincare

£38

It seems people either like face oil or they don’t and there’s no in-between. I’m for it in the cooler months when you want to lock in as much moisture as possible. You can just massage in a couple of drops of this Aurelia oil during your morning routine. And – before you ask – it doesn’t make your skin feel greasy; you don’t feel it at all once it absorbs!

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Kale Enzymatic Exfoliator, Nourish London

£18

If there’s anything I’ve learnt in life, it’s that exfoliation is essential to any skincare routine. I love this Nourish exfoliator because it basically does three jobs in one: cleansing, exfoliating and protecting against pollution. Plus, it’s made from natural ingredients, including pomegranate and kale.

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Citrus Botanical Cream Deodorant, Aurelia Probiotic Skincare

£18

You don’t need to use chemical-heavy deodorants or antiperspirants to smell good and stay dry. We’ve known this for a while but you still need to find a natural deodorant that suits your skin and that you like the smell of. For me, this Citrus Botanical is the one. It’s a combination of so many deliciously-fresh flavours: sweet orange, rosemary, lavender and more.

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Read also: 10 New-In Hush Pieces I Couldn’t Resist

Hydrating Day Cream, The Jojoba Company

£23

This day cream is great for keeping things uncomplicated. Jojoba is good for when you don’t have time to mix-and-match skincare products; you just need a cream that’s going keep skin hydrated and supple, as well as last you all day. It’s suited for all skin types too.

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Hydraphase Intense Hydrating Serum, La Roche-Posay

£16.50

I’m a fan of anything with ‘hydrating’ in the title and this one from La Roche-Posay promises to hydrate for 24 hours. Wave a final ‘goodbye’ to dry skin with this serum combination of thermal spring water and hyaluronic acid. La Roche Posey is always a reliable choice for those with sensitive skin and its range is hypoallergenic.

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Hydrating Eye Cream With Hyaluronic Acid, El & So

£35

A go-to for tired eyes, El & So’s eye cream helps to plump out wrinkles around the eyes and make you look more awake. It’s lightweight and giving the eye area a bit of TLC always makes me feel brighter in the mornings.

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Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil, Caudalie

£18

An effective makeup remover is crucial for keeping skin bright and blemish-free. I make sure I’m never running low on this Caudalie cleansing oil. It doesn’t feel super-oily and the oil ensures you can remove really stubborn makeup and waterproof mascara without any hassle.

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Read also: 15 Designer-Looking Blouses At High Street Prices, From £13

Blemish & Age Toner, Skinceuticals

£30

Dirt and oil are unavoidable if you leave the house. Even if you don’t, all of that unconsciously touching our face throughout the day means it ends up on our skin. Get a toner that will remove daily dirt and oil, and keep your pores unclogged. I recommend this one from Skinceuticals.

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10% Niacinamide Booster, Paula’s Choice

£42

Problems with blemishes? Paula’s Choice is going to become your new best friend. The 10% Niacinamide Booster is great for tackling large pores and redness. Add a couple of drops to your moisturiser twice a day and you’ll notice a difference within a fortnight.

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Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream, Vichy

I like to switch between this one and the La Roche-Posay Hydrating Serum. The Vichy cream has a thicker consistency so you only have to use a tiny bit. It’s enriched with shea butter which feels luxurious and leaves skin feeling lovely and soft.

£13.33 (usually £20)

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Rosa Fresca Night Balm, Sanoflore

£28

I can’t get enough of the smell of this Sanoflore night balm (which is 100% natural!). It has a creamy yet gel-like consistency. Put on just before you go to bed and you’ll wake up with fresh-looking and feeling skin.

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Read also: Dreaming Of A Holiday? Here’s Why You Need To Book Now


Looking for something else? Take a peek at my ultimate directory for the beauty, style and business recommendations.

Gift Guides

12 Beauty Advent Calendars To Grab Before They Sell Out

Beauty advent calendars are selling out faster than ever before. I honestly can’t believe it. Even as I write this, we’ve already missed out on quite a few of the big ones. Mid-October is the time to pick up your advent calendar. Let’s all be honest, it’s the time we start thinking about Christmas shopping too and so the beauty advent calendar can be thought of as the first ‘happy Christmas to us’. I know it’s been a tough year for everyone! Last year, I fell in love with the Glossybox advent calendar but this time I’m so torn between the irresistible offerings from each and every beauty brand. The likes of Harrods, Liberty London and Space NK will give you a flavour for new brands and help you discover cult items. While brand-specific calendars are brimming with favourites to refresh your makeup bag. I’m still narrowing down my choice, so here’s the shortlist. I know I’ll have to hurry through to avoid disappointment.

Liberty London

I’m really surprised this one hasn’t gone already. Last year’s was the fastest-selling product in Liberty London’s 145-year history. I know it’s pretty pricey but when you’re getting over £789 worth of beauty haul, it sounds like a bargain. It’s packed with makeup must-haves, including brands like Diptyque, Hourglass and Le Labo.

Beauty Advent Calendar 2020, Liberty London

£215

Rituals

Candles, masks, creams and parfums, make up this lovely advent calendar from Rituals. The festive season is all about unwinding and this is certainly a Christmas calendar to help you do it.

Advent Deluxe, Rituals

£89.90

Harrods

The Harrods calendar is about prioritising self-care — something we all need reminding of sometimes. Treat yourself to a mix of full-sized and miniature beauty treats to relax into the Christmas period.

Beauty Advent Calendar 2020, Harrods

£250

Cult Beauty

I love Cult Beauty for discovering something new and this calendar really gives you bang for your buck in terms of repping independent makeup brands. Plus, totted up together, the products come to £930.

Advent Calendar 2020, Cult Beauty

£199

Read also: 10 New-In Hush Pieces I Couldn’t Resist

Lush

Feeling overwhelmed by the influx of beauty advent calendars? Keep things simple with a Lush twelve day countdown. Obviously this one can be given as a Christmas Day gift for the twelve days following the big day as well.

12 Days Of Christmas, Lush

£75

L’Occitane

You can always rely on L’Occitane to deliver on luxurious and I am loving the neat, red box all of the pampering products are packaged in. There’s plenty in this box to share with your family (or keep for yourself ;).

Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar, L’Occitane

£99

Space NK

For me, the brands in this one are either ‘love those’ or ‘would love to try those’. My makeup bag is really needing a refresh of Laura Mercier, Kate Somerville and Ren Skincare, while Malin+Goetz and Tan Luxe are two I’ve been meaning to get my hands on. I already know the Space NK box is going to leave me glowing.

Space NK Advent Calendar, Space NK

£195

Molton Brown

Everyone loves opening a Molton Brown present on Christmas Day, so treating yourself to an advent calendar full of those luscious products makes a lot of sense.

Advent Calendar, Molton Brown

£200

Read also: 12 ‘School Run’ Trainers To Keep Your Feet Comfy On The Move

Lancome

First prize for imaginative design! Sticking with its French roots, I love the sparkling Eiffel Tower centrepiece. Each hour contains a lovely Lancome classic, including Advanced Génifique Serum and L’Absolu Rouge lipsticks.

Advent Calendar, Lancome

£105

Fenwick

Fenwick will help you prep and preen for the festive season with a beautiful beauty product each day on the countdown to Christmas. This year’s brands include Living Proof, Bobbi Brown, Philip Kingsley and Kiehl’s.

Fenwick Beauty Advent Calendar, Fenwick

£150

Nuxe

It feels like there’s something indulgent about Nuxe. It’s probably that I first fell in love with its divine self-tan range. My only concern is that this calendar is going to spark a new Nuxe addiction.

Advent Calendar, Nuxe

£59

Dior

How can anyone resist this Dior advent calendar? I’m in love with the dark, starry night design, never mind all of the magical Dior treats I’m going to find behind the doors.

Advent Calendar, Dior

£340

You might also like: 13 Activewear Pieces That’ll Motivate You To Actually Get Active


Looking for something else? Take a peek at my ultimate directory for the best parent, baby and business recommendations.

Beauty Products

Effortless Skin : Beauty Products That Actually Do Something

When the team at Effortless Skin approached me and asked if I had any skin or beauty concerns  – I didn’t know where to begin. Thin lips, diminishing eye lashes, dry skin, wrinkles, sun damage rolled off my tongue before I had even said MIDDLE AGE IS APPROACHING FAST.  It was a lovely over the phone consultation with one of the fantastic girls on the team, and left me feeling encouraged – there are products that can help!

I hadn’t heard of any of the brands they recommended and this added to the excitement of trying something new – more chance of a brand I don’t know working than ones I do (that haven’t made a difference).

Problem : Dry Skin & Ingrowing Hairs 

I have exceptional dry knees and no amount of exfoliating and moisturising ever alleviates them from their sandpaper state. Until I used this body lotion for a couple of weeks – I now have soft knees (and no ingrowing hairs!)

Solution : Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion £22 200ml

Transforming Body Lotion

Problem : Thin Lips 

Solution : deCURE NoLip5 Lip Enhancer £40

After watching all the full lips on Love Island, I mentioned that I would love to try a lip plumper. This Lip enhancer gives your lips a real rush of blood making them look instantly more luscious.

Lip Enhancer

Problem : Thinning Eyelashes 

Solution : CHADO Mascara Divin £30

I usually go for a tractional fat wanded mascara, however after using this Chado mascara for a couple of weeks, I am convinced this is the shape for me. It grabs all the small eye lashes giving you a fuller affect.

 

CHARD

 

 

Epione Renewal Facial Cream 50g £80

I know this isn’t within budget for me usually, but I think sometimes your skin does deserve a treat and this anti wrinkle cream for dry skin has made my normally dehydrated skin nourished and soft.

Renewal Facial Cream

Brush on Block SP30 £25

This came up trumps on Sports Day – as I was frying under the hot sun during the speeches, I whipped out my brush and sweet on some powder block. Ss easy as twist and click.

Brush on Block

Effortless Skin is a leading online cosmeceutical retailer that is focused on providing people with the highest quality products to help treat and manage a number of skin conditions.

Since 2009, they have been the online destination for people wanting effective, innovative and specialist skin care that provides noticeable improvements in the appearance of prematurely ageing skin, hyperpigmentation, acne, rosacea, eczema and sun damage.

Every range available in our online store has been hand-picked by their team of skin care experts to ensure that all the products that they stock are genuine, safe and appropriate for their customers.

All their staff are trained on every product range that we stock, so if you need any advice on which products will work best for your skin type or concern, feel free to email them at enquiries@EffortlessSkin.com or call on 01925 730343.

I am going to put that number in my favourites!!!

effortlessskin.com

Beauty

10 Steps To Get Your Hair, Face & Body Ready For Summer

After a false start to summer last week, we are being teased with whispers of another heatwave in a few days.  I felt slightly foolish whipping out the wax strips, exfoliating like a nutter and whacking on the fake tan, only for the body to resume its natural state the next day when the sun hid again – fully shrouded.

It’s easy to let your hair face and body drop to the bottom of the priority list during the winter months, especially when you can cheat. Black skinnies and a leather biker hide a multitude of sin for most of the year however this doesn’t cut it when the temp rises above 22c.

All these recommendations are super quick and the application of them will only take an hour.

Here I am before I took my own advice…

Before

And after…  (I will look at make up in a different post – today is all about getting the foundations right! No point painting before you plaster eh!)

After

I hope this gives you hope!

So, Ten Steps to Being Summer Ready 

  1. Drink water. Buy a water bottle and keep it topped up and sip whenever you feel hungry, I mean thirsty. (The first step to losing weight is drinking water when you feel a pang – will power willing). This chic stainless steel water bottle is pretty cool… If you can’t handle water, put neon, cucumber or mint in it.
  2. Once your body is hydrated from the inside, you can get to work on the outside. I highly recommend Philip Kingsley Elasticizer for your hair. If I know I am going to wash my hair the next day, I slather it on my hair the night before and when I wash it the next day, it feels so soft.
  3. For those that prefer a scrub to an implement to slough away dry skin, this Nuxe Body Scrub is effective and lovely to use as it instantly warms up when you apply.
  4. I don’t know about you but I have found it hard to find a moisturiser that effectively penetrates the dry skin on my knees – however, This Works Dry Leg Oil is definitely winning at the moment. I slater it on after exfoliating before bed and in the morning my knees are much softer. It’s also good prep before you self tan although you can’t use it just before – obviously – as it is oil-based.
  5. Trinny’s desert island product is anything with Vitamin C in it – so if it is good enough for her, its certainly good enough for me.  Whack this Rodial Vitamin C mask on for 20 minutes and voila – hydrated, energised, firmer & softer.
  6. Add a natural glow to your face with this Self Tan Facial Oil – developed over 4 hours and moisturises at the same time which is good as so many can be so drying.
  7. For your body, this James Read colourless gel will develop overnight and won’t rub off onto your bed linen. Perfect for those that have a bath or shower in the evening (I’m totally shower in the morning all the way although I am sure this would be ok under clothes too…)
  8. Nab stray hairs with these tweezers. Precision ones which are perfect for stubborn hairs or dreaded ingrown ones.
  9. Open your eyes up with eyelash curlers. These Tweezerman ones will do the trick.
  10. Last but not least, keep the sun at bay by applying an SPF. I am a fan of the Ultrasun range as they cater for all skin types and ages. Obviously I like the one that has a little bit of tint in it so you can wear a sunhat but still feel like you have caught the sun!! Ultrasun

If I do all 10 steps the day before a party or a ‘heatwave’ I am much more likely to feel confident in myself. So buy a few bits, book an hour off and lock yourself in the bathroom and pamper yourself!!

Have a great day and thank you for reading

Love Lucinda xx

Beauty Reviews Spotlight

Oskia London : Improve Your Skin With These Products

There is a first for everything, and I had a first this weekend that I never expected to happen – ever. Growing up, I had severe acne. From the ages of 15-17 it was horrific – I was actually pleased I was at an all girls boarding school (!) so I didn’t have to face the ‘real world’. After failing with many different medications both internally and tropically – I hit the hard stuff and was prescribed Roaccutane – twice. For those that know this drug, it is not for the fainthearted and is really the last resort. Now I have grown out of it (thank fully although I lie awake at night praying that none of my children have my ‘gene’) and when I apply my tinted moisturiser I still so pleased I don’t have to trowel it on my skin and camouflage my face with industrial cover up.

So, this weekend when someone commented that I had ‘lovely’ skin, I really was taken a back and was very British about it ‘oh no i don’t, it’s so dry, I have pock marks etc’ as I genuinely don’t think I have good skin.

But actually, when I think about and look up close, I do have pretty good skin. It is smooth, well nourished and looks well cared for.

This is only a relatively recent thing in the last few years, since I have jumped not he bandwagon of using serums and acids and what not.

And then after a chance meeting with one of Alex’s old friends in the pub, who introduced me to his brand OSKIA, after trying it, it improved even more. I love all their products for dehydrated skin

Dehydration

Rather than wax lyrical about how incredible this brand is, I will recall a text that my friend sent me, after she used my OSKIA.

“Wow, I love that OSKIA oil and moisturiser, my skin feels and looks amazing – thanks for the tip!”

You are welcome my friend.

And today, not only do we have an interview with the founders but they are also offering a generous 25% off with londonmummy18 if you buy through their website

What made you start OSKIA Georgie?

After trying my fathers MSM supplement (a bio available form of sulphur that he was introducing to the market to repair horse joints) my complexion glowed – no eczema or acne – and  my nails were so strong.

I started researching the effects of tropical nutrients on the skin and OSKIA launched in 2009 as the first nutritional skincare brand that focuses on bio-available nutrients.

Since then we have won over 100 awards, opened our own lab and factory in the rolling hills of Wales in Monmouth, where I come from. My amazing husband, George Gordon, runs the business with me, which luckily works very well, and we split our time between our London HQ on Sloane Street, and our factory in Wales.

Georgie

 

I have seen OSKIA in many of the high end department stores. Who else stocks OSKIA?

We are really lucky in that we work with the best of the best and have never approached any retailer ourselves. In the UK, you can find us in stores such as SpaceNK, Selfridges, Net a Porter, and hotel spas like the famous Cliveden & Chewton Glen (both of which I have just formulated their own brand spa products for them) but we also love the independent stores and spas like Mortar & Milk and the very cool Pig Hotels.

Of the products I tried, I think your Renaissance 360 made the biggest difference to the condition of my skin.

rennaissance 360

What are your best-selling products?

Probably our Renaissance Cleansing Gel, which is a lovely pink enzyme cleanser and the first gel-to-oil on the market when it launched.

However, our Restoration Oil is also very popular as is the Renaissance Mask which is amazing before or after an event….

Renaissance Mask

 

Do you have celebrity endorsements?

Lots, but I’m afraid we don’t spill the beans. It drives my PR mad but I very strongly believe that skincare is private and brands shouldn’t divulge. We have a very ‘British’ approach to this, which is probably the reason why we have a very loyal celebrity base. I have a growing pile of thank you letters from the most amazing people – I am very lucky! What I can tell you though is that we also work with the British movie industry- Bridget Jones, Tomb Raider, Danish Girl, Le Mis, Star Wars. You might have spotted our products in Bridget Jones’s Baby – I nearly fell of my seat when they popped up.

What’s next for OSKIA?

We have some really lovely new launches this summer which I’m very excited about – they slightly bring out the inner girl. We’ve also just launched in the US with Barney’s, so this will take quite a lot of focus for this next year.

www.oskiaskincare.com

Georgie’s Favourites

Restaurant : The Dairy, Clapham Old Town. I can only really describe it as British seasonal tapas – and absolutely amazing.

Hotel : Any of the Firmdale hotels. Currently, I’m loving The Crosby Street Hotel in New York. I think Kit Kemp is a genius designer.

Shop : I recently discovered By Drew in Soho New York. I walked in and screeched that I would like to buy everything – the clothes, the carpets, the chairs, everything. I would like to live in it. Like most mothers I spend far too much time in Peter Jones.

Website : Tricky one as I don’t spend much time browsing websites. I do love antiques though and love www.the-saleroom.com. That makes me sound really boring though doesn’t it!!

Holiday destination : Tulum, 20 years ago. It is still amazing though. I love bare foot chic and really don’t like the big flash hotels. I’d be very happy in a rustic cabanas with no air conditioning. Tulum is heaven.

Parenting tip :

Oh my goodness where do I start. I have 3 children, ranging from 18 months to 7, and I worked the day before Arthur, 7, was born. I think being a mother is really hard work and absolutely exhausting. Juggling work and family is harder still and I always feel guilty – either I’m not working hard enough or I’m not with my children. However, I strongly believe there is no right work/life balance and if anyone says they do they are fibbing. Instagram really doesn’t help which is why I’ve kept off it until now (I now do post!).  We are all doing a brilliant job! So my biggest tip is to do something everyday just for yourself, whether it is a walk, reading the papers in a cafe, spending 30 mins in a gallery, or having a quiet bath (that last one never works – children can sniff out a ‘family bath’ in no time and suddenly there are an extra 3 bodies in the bath.)

Do make the most of this incredible offer. The website is really easy to navigate and remember –  you are worth it – you only have one skin!

Website

oskiaskincare.com

25% off all full size products.

Code londonmummy18.

T&C www.oskiaskincare.com only.

Exclusive offer.

Can not be used in conjunction with any other offer.