UK Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

Sleeping Beauty // The Fine Bedding Company & Flint+Flint

an image of The Fine Bedding Company Sleeping Beauty
an image of The Fine Bedding Company Sleeping Beauty
an image of Flint+Flint skincare
an image of Flint+Flint skincare
an image of Flint+Flint skincare
an image of Flint+Flint skincare
Now I don't know about you but life has been a little too crazy recently, all I've wanted is a good nights sleep after all our comings and goings. So when I heard about the new Sleeping Beauty range from The Fine Bedding Company how could I refuse a chance to improve my nights rest. Sleeping Beauty is a limited edition, online exclusive range to The Fine Bedding Company. The range features handpicked bedding that has been designed to act like a 'second skin' and available in sizes single to even super king. What's so special about the bedding included? It's all been chosen because of the special technology and advanced ingredients behind it that will enhance sleep by keeping your body temperate regulated, no overheating, no shivering - make full use of that 10.5 tog duvet. The pillows are medium support, non allergenic (super important if you're all as sensitive as we in this house) and contain the special microfiber blend. Both the duvet & pillows have a polycotton cover, with the duvet designed to drape effortlessly and beautifully. Oh and the pillows are even machine washable! If you're looking for the perfect sleep environment the current offers mean you can even snap up the super king bundle for just £85.

Having tried bedding with similar features before I was intrigued to see if the bedding would really live up to the name of the brand and decided on trying the Pillow Duo from the bundle. I already own a duvet with similar properties and know just how long they last. If the duvet is as great of quality as the pillows I'll be wanting to replace mine with one from The Fine Bedding Company. Until receiving the Sleeping Beauty bundle pillows I'd been waking up with such an aching neck - I don't help myself by being someone who constantly wriggles in the night. Since making the switch the aches have gone, getting up is easier and I look forward to crashing into my bed each night, I feel so much more refreshed. NOTE - my pillow cases are actually ASDA. Who'd have thought it?

Not only do you save a tonne of money if you were to purchase the duvet & pillow bundle but you also receive two free gifts (Eye Hero & Moisturiser 3x worth a total of £79) from Flint+Flint. Flint+Flint are a relatively new and wonderful British skincare brand. I was lucky enough to receive four of their products to try out. I wasn't too sure what to expect when I received the products, my first thoughts being that the packaging was quite masculine compared to other brands I use & love despite the pop of bright colours each carries. With my skin being an absolute nightmare with the seasons changing I've needed a richer moisturiser though still light enough to not cause me any more breakouts. I've loved using Flint+Flint's Moisturiser 3x, I'm left with such a healthy glow & the perfect base for my foundation. With Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol and Malikara Leaf it's no wonder my skin has been left feeling so hydrated & nourished. Another firm favourite of mine has been Lip Hero, just like the name suggests this hydrating balm has been a godsend for my dry lips. Perfect for both men and women, you need only the slightest bit to keep your lips smooth. Lip Hero contains 'Volulip' a natural peptide with Portulaca Pilosa extract which supposedly improved the texture, shape & plumping of lips....now you won't end up with lips like Kylie Jenner however a couple of the nurses that visit my Grandma & who work with my Mum have been saying how gorgeous & perfectly plump my lips are. At £15 per tube I'd recommend giving this a try, I can see the tube lasting literally forever. Following on from Lip Hero, I was also lucky enough to try out Eye Hero. I may *only* be 21 but I still make sure to use an eye cream. I've really enjoyed having Eye Hero around, again like Lip Hero you really need the tiniest amount. My under-eyes are left hydrated and brightened, free of fatigue. Who'd have thought I'd had so many late nights, long days and early mornings. Last in my bundle of treats is Flint+Flint's Everyday Wash, I didn't expect much however Everyday Wash removes makeup effortlessly and with 2% Glycolic Acid it provides a gentle exfoliation, leaving my skin smooth & radiant. There's a whole host of products in the Flint+Flint line and I honestly can't wait to try more in the future. The Fine Bedding Company couldn't have picked a better brand to team up with, creating the perfect bundle to improve your sleep. Lucy x
Disclaimer: press sample, for review consideration only, no payment received. see disclaimer page for more.

Lush // Snow Angel bath melt review

an image of Snow Angel bath melt Review
an image of Snow Angel bath melt Review
an image of Snow Angel bath melt Review
an image of Snow Angel bath melt Review
Who else fell a little in love for Snow Angel bath melt last year? I was so pleased to see it return again this year, I can finally use up my stash and replace with fresh. I love seeing products appear with the wonderful Snowcake fragrance after we lost Lil' Lush Pud to twilight scented Luxury Lush Pud. Don't get me wrong, Luxury Lush Pud is pretty spectacular but there's nothing quite like the almond scent of Snowcake Soap. It wouldn't be Christmas without it.

At £3.95, Snow Angel is definitely one of the most expensive bath products from Lush, though don't let the price put you off, for it's one you really must try if you hadn't already. Snow Angel isn't just a regularly bath bomb/bath melt. Lush have combined both products together to create one of the most luxurious baths you'll experience this festive season. From above Snow angel looks like a regular white bath bomb? Flip over and you'll be greeted by a gold bath melt which in typical Lush Christmas style has been heavily coated in lustre. Seriously, after photographing this bath melt I left a gold trail everywhere I went.

As you can see, the bath bomb side of this luxurious treat dissolves much sooner than the bath melt. The bath bomb mix leaves a white 'snow blanket' in your tub while the golden bath melt gently melts creating shimmering, golden waters below. The room is soon filled with the unique almond-marzipan fragrance while your skin is left nourished from the amount of fair trade cocoa butter packed into this winter delight. If you're someone who prefers to stay away from the brightly coloured numbers Lush create, don't let the 'glitter' put you off either. You honestly don't turn into a disco ball upon getting out, plus you can even break this one in half to get an extra bath & reduce the lustre if you were that worried. Have you tried Snow Angel yet? P.S I definitely listened to Christmas music while writing this post. Lucy x

When to Change Driving Instructors // My Bad Experience

Finding a good driving instructor is a daunting task, even with all the recommendation from friends and family who's to say you'll get along? Personalities clash and sometimes years have flown by since others used them. A good instructor should make you feel at ease from your first lesson, always explain things clearly and for the learner to be able to let them know if they haven't grasped it. No instructor should ever shout, swear or continually make you feel awful. Shouting and constant put downs will make the learner more stressed than needed, preventing any progress. If you're someone who feels a little uncomfortable about having a male instructor there are gradually more and more female instructors. Since my last two posts have been pretty successful I thought I'd follow on by sharing my own bad experiences for those who may be experiencing similar. 
My Experience | 
When I decided to finally take the plunge and learn to drive I decided on the most popular family run driving school in town. I ended up with one of the sons and a white DS3 - I thought it was fate as I used to adore White DS3's. Oh how wrong could I have been. The school also provides instructor training and sell packages to other instructors to boost their business - something they should probably consider for themselves if others receive the experience I did.

From lesson one it's all been down hill, I didn't feel comfortable but put it down to my anxiety. Second lesson? He cancels 90 minutes before my lesson due to sickness - pure bad luck? When the second lesson did come around it was a repeat of the first, the third was leaving the industrial estate and going onto housing estates. From this lesson he'd continue to tell me at the start of every lesson and majority of me messing up that my hours were adding up. So were the hours he was missing? More cancellations and always late cancellations, if I cancelled as late as he did I'd lose all my money. Wednesday mornings were spent wondering if he'd be turning up. Occasionally he'd find me a slot. The first week in the test town is always going to be stressful, he added to the stress by shouting and laying into me that I just didn't know what I was doing - despite getting there in one piece and experiencing roundabouts and dual carriageways for the first time. The worst lesson being 'What are you going to do on your driving test!?! Sit there and do nothing?! on repeat when I'd asked for help. Another few I'd be told I was destined for automatic rather rudely. The weeks after those? That my driving is almost as smooth as his. There seemed to be a pattern for mood swings. Towards the end I'd tell him that he had annoyed me but this didn't change the way he'd be. With lessons turning into me just driving around without any progress and putting up with abuse + more cancellations flying in I decided to FINALLY try someone else - the guy clearly hates me despite always trying my best, always being on time and never cancelling. Even with my grandma in ITU with less  than 30% chance of coming through, he still expected me to give him 48 hours to cancel my lesson. after I'd warned him. Err I think someone missed the point? Fast forward & I finally gave him the chop after having more sarcastic comments and moods thrown at me + cancellations.

How did it go with the other guy? I jumped in the drivers seat and was returned early from my original trial because I drove so well. I was taken to the test town and surrounding towns to switch it up and avoid constant road works, so I could build up the confidence the other shredded. I receive no put downs, one liners, eye rolling, huffing or feeling terrified to mess up. I just worried about the lessons being 30 minutes shorter and it being a different car to get used to. The teaching methods and driving styles also differ - so helpful and complimentary. My test is booked, whether it stays or I move it, who knows I've had a lot to deal with currently but I'm much happier. I no longer feel sick before a lesson, I no longer feel on edge, in fact I'm going to guess I'll feel better going on my test than how I felt going on a lesson with my old instructor.
NOTE // 12/11/15 I passed first time with two minors, the difference a lovely instructor makes hey?

Lush Christmas Haul 2015 // Lucyy Writes

an image of a Lush Christmas Haul 2015
an image of the magic of christmas bubble bar
an image of yoga nog bath bomb review
an image of bar humbug bubble bar lush
an image of lush star dust bath bomb
an image of lord of misrule bath bomb
an image of lush christmas haul 2015
an image of lush fairy dust
an image of lush santas belly shower jelly
an image of icing on the cake roulade lush
I finally managed to get my hands on a selection of Lush's festive goodies. For once I decided to head into my local Lush rather than order online. I'm not a fan of the naked packaging for online orders, a lot of products get wasted. I'm looking forward to making many more trips in the upcoming months and reviewing them all on LW.

As always I headed towards the bath bombs and bubble bars first. There are so many new additions this year, I wanted to get them all. One bubble bar I wasn't going home without was The Magic of Christmas reusable bubble bar. The golden lustre covered star sits on top of an actual cinnamon stick, tied with a ribbon and finished with a bell. I mentioned on Instagram that I think this bubble wand smells like Haribo Tangfastics, which should be down to the sweet orange oil though this wand also contains almond & cinnamon leaf oil. I'd love to hear if anyone else agrees with me? Everyone I've asked says it smells of gingerbread!? Next on my list was Yog Nog bath bomb, I fell in love with the toffee scented soap last year even though I'm not usually one for their bars of soap. Yog Nog bath bomb smells just as incredible, I can't wait to test this out tonight. 

Intrigued by the liquorice scent Bar Humbug bubble bar also came home, by online I assumed the bar would be the same size as The Comforter however it's more of a miniature The Comforter. The texture of the bar feels a lot harder and closer together. Another new bath bomb to make it's way into my basket was Star Dust. Star Dust doesn't look to exciting being a plain white star. However once in the tub it's a different story, it also smells just like Vanilla Fountain which I miss dearly. Obviously I couldn't leave without adding a Lord of Misrule bath bomb (review found here) into my basket along with the accompanying Lord of Misrule Shower Cream!? Did you know our favourite limited edition bath bomb has finally been made into a shower cream and boy does it smell even better than I'd imagined. If you aren't familiar with Lord of Misrule he appears each Halloween/Christmas, carrying the most beautiful fragrance of patchouli, black pepper and vanilla. Several 1KG bottles are needed.

If there are any Snow Fairy fans out there I highly recommend getting your hands on Fairy Dust dusting powder. The light pink powder smells so strongly of the sweet fragrance, leaving skin with a slight shimmer and scented for hours. In my previous post I mentioned Lush have whipped up two shower jellies for us this year. I already own Snowman shower jelly and decided to try out Santa's Belly since it's supposed to smell like So White, which only came back as a bath bomb and not a shower gel this year. So far I wouldn't recommend ordering this product online due to the fact it leaks/melts easily. I haven't seen a shower jelly melt this way since Strawberry Santa. Lush  have also launched a festive shower smoothie in the new roulade form taken from Lush Oxford Street. I'm not a huge fan of the black potted Shower Smoothies from Lush, with only Turkish Delight winning me over and the rest leaving my skin feeling dry. The Icing on the Cake Roulade retails for £5 per 100g, with the slice I have being cut to that exactly. I'm eager to jump in the shower since it smells exactly like Ponche - a past Christmas shower gel inspired by the Mexican Christmas punch. It was a firm favourite in our household with my Dad even raiding my stash. It's an incredible scent, though one that's also incredibly hard to describe - think almond, orange, lime and lemon. Icing on the Cake is essentially a 'cake slice' of almond milk, chestnut puree & cocoa butter which moisturises your skin with a thick creamy lather.

There of course was one non-Christmas related item to make its way into my basket. When Lush opened Lush Oxford Street they made one of my most loved bubble bars into a Shower Cream. They've since added a few of these products to Lush stores nationwide & online. Having been restrained because of the upcoming Christmas line & my excessive stash of products I hadn't tried any. If you adore the bubble bar OR love berry scents you'll love the shower friendly formula of The Comforter Shower Cream. Have you picked up any of the festive collection yet? I'd love to hear your recommendations. Lucy xox 

Lush Halloween Collection // 2015

lush halloween 2015
You wouldn't think it were possible for Lush to whip up yet more products to hit the shelves of our stores. Our bank accounts are definitely not thanking them after the Oxford Street store opening and the most popular Oxford Street products entering our local stores. As far as limited edition collections go Halloween is usually my least favourite with Lush, often full of repeated products and not to mention the time their Halloween bath bomb turned my bath into a swamp. So what's in this years collection?

Taking pride of place in the Halloween 2015 collection is Lord of Misrule Shower Cream AND the Lord of Misrule bath bomb. I'm totally stocking up for the year on these two delights. Sparkly Pumpkin has appeared again, can't say I'm overly excited for this one. Having purchased a couple last year they weren't anything to shout about. I would have much preferred Wizard bubble bar, he was absolutely adorable. New kid on the block Nightwing Shower Jelly, a bat shaped show jelly whose scent is lime but different to Calacas Shower Jelly. There's also two gifts and a knot wrap, the knot wrap being Full Moon featuring purple with moons and bats. Pumpkin Heebie Jeebie includes a Sparkly Pumpkin and Lord of Misrule bath bomb while Bat Heebie Jeebie is for the shower lovers featuring Nightwing Shower Jelly and Lord of Misrule Shower Cream.

What do you guys think of this years Halloween collection?
Disclaimer: press sample, for review consideration only, no payment received. see disclaimer page for more.

Lush Christmas Collection // 2015

lush christmas 2015
Tonight saw this years long awaited Christmas collection from Lush launch online, with it hitting stores 10AM tomorrow. By now you'll all know I go a little mad when it comes to Lush Christmas, it's also been torture to see all the shimmering products flood my instagram feed from those who were able to hit Lush Oxford Street - who else predicted right that the store would see the collection earlier than the rest? As usual I like to post an overview post, to see what products you guys are interested in seeing reviewed on LW and which products you may have already ordered. Our bank accounts are going to hate us right? Almost as much as I hate blogger for making the original of this blog post I'd written weeks ago vanish. 

The vast majority of 'bath products' this year are of course Bath Bombs with some very special new arrivals coming our way. For those who loved Yog Nog Soap there is a bath bomb of the egg nog inspired creation with a luxury bath oil surprise centre. I absolutely adored Yog Nog soap last year, in fact the entire family did.  Returning to the shelves is Dashing Santa, last year I saw this little guy and didn't expect much since we already had Father Christmas (who is also back and carrying Snow Fairy's fragrance) but he grew on me! If you're familiar with the retired Satsuma Santa/Father Christmas' original scent you'll adore the citrus explosion this bath bomb gives. Again, Lord of Misrule returned for Halloween and I'm assuming he'll be around for Christmas. I reviewed Lord of Misrule last year where I soon fell in love with the spicy, herbal concoction. Another new comer, Stardust who doesn't look at all exciting though in true Lush style this one has a surprise awaiting for us inside along with a sweet vanilla and bergamot fragrance. It wouldn't be Christmas without Luxury Lush Pud returning, the perfect treat if you're looking for something to unwind and destress with. Butterbear is back!? I purchased SO many in the sales with him being cheaper than his regular appearance Butterball. If you have little ones OR are incredibly sensitive you'll love him - there's even a tin with six in. Golden Wonder is also back, the champagne cocktail fragrance and shimmering lagoon waters are not to be missed. Again, I always stock up on these in the sale for the times I need a true pick me up teamed with First Snow Dusting Powder and Celebrate Body Lotion who all share the same scent. Another old favourite is So White who sadly doesn't have the shower gel accompanying it this year. Cinders is thankfully back, each Christmas I receive and buy a ridiculous amount of the bath bomb. If you're yet to try this bath bomb you need to, you couldn't get any closer to Christmas with it's warm cinnamon fragrance & popping candy. Shoot for the Stars is also back, carrying the sweet honey/toffee fragrance of Honey I Washed the Kids. This is a firm favourite of mine, waters are transformed into the night sky, full of lustre and the most beautiful midnight blue. Lastly, Snow Angel - the half bath bomb, half bath melt has returned. If you adore Snow Cake soap you'll love this one for a moisturising soak.

As for Bubble Bars there's plenty of new comers with Peeping Santa who shares it's scent with the Magic Mushroom. Five Gold Rings consists of five golden lustre covered rings. Bar Humbug, a very large swirled bar which smells of liquorice - probably one I'll give a miss. Holly Go Lightly has returned, I needn't have stocked up on SO many of the Christmas in a bar in the sales. Candy Mountain and Magic Wand, both smell the same with such a sweet fragrance like Snow Fairy. As if one Magic Wand wasn't enough there's now The Magic of Christmas - a spicy infusion where even the wand is a cinnamon stick.

Considering I'm usually much more of a bath bomb and bubble bar fan when it comes to Lush I have to say I'm pretty excited about the new items for this year. Having watched Becki0's video I'm needing a pot of Christingle Body Conditioner in my life. There's so many versions of FUN this year with Snowman returning, there's now also Santa FUN (Christmas Eve scented if I remember correctly?), Magic of Christmas FUN (did someone run out of name ideas?) and Snakes & Ladders. No spicy number for us this year in regards to shower gels but Rose Jam and Snow Fairy have returned. There's a new Shower Jelly, Santa's Belly who smells just like So White while Snowman Shower Jelly is also back. Reindeer Rock soap has had a makeover while Snow cake, Baked Alaska and Yog Nog have also returned. There's also new comer Old Father Time who looks interesting. One product I'm putting in my basket asap is Salt & Peppermint Bark Shower Scrub, it looks so cute. Oh and there's also a Shower Smoothie Roulade - Icing on the Cake.

Celebrate lotion has returned, both versions with alcohol and without. If you want a rich, hydrating lotion to get you in the part mood this champagne cocktail inspired number will certainly do that. First Snow Dusting Powder also shared the same zingy fragrance, while leaving skin with a slight shimmer. The 'body product' I'm excited about though is Fairy Dust, a new dusting powder which smells of SNOW FAIRY guys!? Both myself and my Mum will be stocking up on this fo'sure.

Now, skincare wise Lush finally made another festive face mask, this time being Cranberry Festive Fresh Face Mask! I'll be returning my stash of black pots for one of these asap while stocking up on my favourite Lush cleanser Buche de Noel. Santa's Lip Scrub and the incredibly pigmented Santa Baby Lip Tint have also returned to ensure you have the perfect red lip this season. What products are you guys looking forward to seeing in-store? This years collection is definitely one of their best yet. Lucy x
* Not Sponsored AT ALL.
© Lucyy Writes

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