Luxury Mother's Day Gift Idea: Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Hydro Mist & Rose Cleansing Balm review

Need a last-minute gift for Mother's Day? Elemis is always a surefire winner with their Pro-Collagen Rose collection being a bestselling range for many years. Maybe your mum already has some in her bathroom cabinet and would appreciate a top-up?

Elemis feels like one of those luxury British brands that have been around forever as it's become such a well-loved part of the beauty community, particularly with older women. Launched back in 1990 by Noella Gabriel, Elemis has gone from strength to strength, and was one of the first true 'skin wellness' brands, marrying together a love of nature, science, and aromatherapy. 

I've tried quite a few products from Elemis over the years and particularly love their body care range, as well as their bestselling Pro-Collagen Rose collection, which my skin is enjoying now it's nearer 40, than 30!

Here are two products that I'd highly recommend picking up; the Pro-Collagen Rose Hydro Mist and the Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm. These would be perfect to add to a DIY pamper basket for your mum, along with a lovely candle, flowers, and some of her favourite foodie treats.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Hydro Mist* (50ml, £46)

A mist doesn't sound very exciting but this is no ordinary mist. Oh no! This is a super hydrating serum-in-a-mist which is actually pretty interesting concept wise and works beautifully for more mature, dull and dehydrated skin types. Dubbed as a 'high-performance anti-wrinkle serum-in-a-mist', this clever multi-purpose skincare gem has an incredibly soothing effect on the skin, leaving it smooth, softened, and hydrated for 24 hours.

Hero ingredients in this innovative formula are Padina Pavonica (a clinically proven seaweed extract that boosts collagen production), Microalgae extracts (to freshen and hydrate), and Organic Rose Hydrolat (famed for its natural moisturising properties). Use it after cleansing, and it also doubles up as a fantastic makeup setting spray.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm* (prices start from £13 for 20g)

Based on its famous big sister, the original Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm (one of which is sold every 13 seconds in the UK!), this Rose version has become equally as popular thanks to its delicate fresh floral fragrance. Infused with Rose and Mimosa waxes with Elderberry, Starflower, and Elemis' trademarked blend of Optimega Oils, this mineral oil-free balm is just so beautiful and luxurious to use. The texture is rich and effortlessly massages into the skin to remove all traces of dirt and impurities - you can see why it's used in the Elemis spas from the minute that you try it.

Super nourishing for the delicate skin barrier, the balm emulsifies into a hydrating milk when water is added, leaving skin soft, clean, and properly feeling pampered and nourished. A tiny amount goes a long way as expected and it can also be used to remove makeup, as well as a weekly hydrating facial mask for dry skin.

Shop the full range at uk.elemis.com

What are your favourite Elemis products?

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Mother's Day Green Beauty Gift Guide 2021

Make mum's day a special one with a green beauty treat! Here are my top picks for Mother's Day this year from Green People, Nourish London, Farryn Amber and Evolve Organic Beauty.

The Skincare Gift Set: Green People Infinite Beauty Vitamin C Age Defy+ by Cha Vøhtz Set* (£40, link)

This latest release from Green People's founder Cha Vøhtz's Age Defy+ range, is a gorgeous Vitamin C infused Infinite Beauty Gift Set. The set is compromised of three organic beauty treats for the skin; a full-size Age Defy+ Collagen Boost Vitamin C Serum, a travel-size of Age Defy+ Cell Enrich Facial Oil and a sample sachet of Age Defy+ Hydra Glow Sleep Mask. Specially formulated for skin aged 30+, this is a brilliant introduction to Charlotte's innovative signature range and a great way to try out some of their bestselling products for the best organic routine for skin regeneration, hydration and brightening.

The Multipurpose Treat: Green People One Balm* (30ml, £20, link)

Another exciting new release from Green People is their fantastic One Balm which is described as a multi-tasking skin saviour and I couldn't agree more! Made with 99% certified organic ingredients, this wonder balm helps to bring instant moisture and relief to any dry skin area so it's ideal for elbows, feet, hands, cuticles, lips and more. Key plant-based ingredients include Myrrh Oil to soothe and reduce inflammation, Frankincense to rejuvenate the skin, Pomegranate Oil which is rich in antioxidants to deeply nourish and protect and Rosehip Oil, famed for its natural tissue regenerative properties. One Balm is also packaged in the UK's first-ever 100% biodegradable pot!

The Gift Of Sleep: Nourish London Sleepy Pillow Mist* (100ml, £18, link)

Give the gift of sleep with the brand new Sleepy Pillow Mist from Nourish London. Crafted from a unique blend of magnesium-rich Epsom Salts and nine carefully chosen aromatherapy essential oils, including Lavender, Rose, Frankincense, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Geranium and Bergamot, this luxury alcohol-free Pillow Mist smells beautiful! Spritz a little onto your pillows and bedsheets, and enjoy the calming and soothing fragrance to help relax your mind and body. 

The Natural Fragrance Gift: Farryn Amber Floral Oud Perfume Oil* (10ml, £18, link)

No gift guide would be complete without a fragrance mention and I've completely fallen in love with this divine Floral Oud Perfume Oil from Farryn Amber. Vegan, cruelty-free and organic, this convenient handbag-friendly rollerball format can be dabbed onto the pulse points whenever you want to cocoon yourself in its luxury scent with sweet hints of Vanilla mixed with woody Oud, Cedarwood and Frankincense, and topped off with floral notes of Ylang Ylang and Jasmine. Heaven in a rollerball!

The New Mum Pampering Treats: Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Body Oil* (100ml, £24, link) and Bath & Shower Oil* (250ml, £24, link)

Shopping for a new mum or mum-to-be? Treat them to the latest releases from Evolve Organic Beauty! The Super Berry Body Oil is not only a seriously indulgent and pampering treat, but it's incredible for hydrating dry skin and improving the appearance of stretch marks and scars. 100% natural, organic and safe to use during pregnancy, it's packed with Chilean Rosehip Oil to revive and regenerate, Upcycled Raspberry Oil to promote healthy cell regeneration with a lovely fresh and light scent, and Pomegranate Seed Oil which helps to assist skin recovery thanks to its composition of essential fatty acids and antioxidants.

It's worth splashing out on the matching Super Berry Bath & Shower Oil too which has a clever water-free formula which transforms into a light cleansing oil. The perfect at-home pamper treat for busy new mums as it's so hydrating and naturally nourishing for the skin, they won't need to apply a separate body lotion afterwards!

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Newbridge Silverware - Amy Huberman Jewellery review + UK GIVEAWAY!

Mother's Day is fast approaching and if you're still searching for that perfect gift, why not check out these beautiful jewellery pieces from Newbridge Silverware?

Established in 1934, Newbridge Silverware has been a revered name in silver and tableware, especially in their home country of Ireland. The brand has become synonymous with fine creativity, craftsmanship and quality, but did you know that they also have a wide range of jewellery available too?

Below are some eye-catching and stylish pieces from their new Amy Huberman collection (inspired by the Sun, Moon and Stars), to treat your mum to this Mother's Day.

 Newbridge Silverware Amy Pendant* (£34, link)

Detailed coin-style necklaces have always appealed to me as they have a timeless Boho-esque charm to them, and the Amy Pendant is something that can be worn every day. Featuring an embossed detail of Sun, Moon, Stars and Birds at the centre and presented on a delicate long chain, this pendant is 14K Gold-plated and has a protective anti-tarnish layer to keep it looking its best for longer.

Newbridge Silverware Amy Bangle* (£34, link)

Keeping with the theme of being inspired by the Sun, Moon and Stars, Amy Huberman's signature Amy Bangle is a solid 14K Gold-plated band that's easy to slip on and off, and it looks great on its own as a statement piece or layered with other gold coloured jewellery. Like the pendant above, it features an embossed Sun design which is accentuated by two small Stars and a crescent Moon.

 Newbridge Silverware Amy Drop Earrings with Sun and Stars* (£26, link)

If your mum loves earrings, this special set of Amy Drop Earrings with Sun and Stars makes a lovely gift and has a really youthful vibe to them - they're particularly dazzling when the sunlight catches them! These earrings are also 14K Gold-plated and feature the same anti-tarnish layer as the other pieces in this collection, each of which is presented in its own light blue gift box.

UK GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate Mother's Day, I'm giving away a pair of the Newbridge Silverware Amy Drop Earrings with Sun & Stars (worth £26) to one lucky UK reader. To enter, just pop your details into the Rafflecopter below and a winner will be chosen at random next week - 02/04/2019 - good luck!

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Luxury Mid-Week Pamper Treat: Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish review

Happy snowday! If you're getting fed up with the weather as much as I am, it's time to treat yourself to a mini pamper and indulge in some me-time in the bathroom. This week's pampering treat of choice is Tropic's luxurious Body Smooth Refreshing Polish.

What Is It?

Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish is a high-end, all-natural body scrub that gently but effectively exfoliates, buffing away dull dead skin cells, to reveal brighter and smoother skin all over the body. It's the first product that founder Susan Ma created when she was just 15 years old and has been a bestseller for Tropic ever since. 

Ingredients

Organic Sea Salts, Organic Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Oil, Rosehip Oil, Vitamin E, Essential Oils of Australian Lemon Myrtle, Eucalyptus, Lime, Lemon, Bergamot and Peppermint. Tropic is certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. Products are made in the UK.

How Do I Use It?

Scoop out a handful and gently massage it into dry skin, focusing on any particularly rough or dry areas like elbows, heels, knees etc. Rinse off in the bath or shower and massage any excess oils into the skin to thoroughly hydrate and soften.

Overall thoughts

The scent of Body Smooth is so incredibly addictive and wonderfully uplifting thanks to all of those amazing citrusy essential oils in the formula. Texture wise, it has an almost whipped mousse style consistency, with lots of fine but scrubby sea salt crystals mixed in throughout. This body polish definitely does the job, but it doesn't feel scratchy, irritating or abrasive. It leaves my skin feeling beautifully soft and smooth afterwards, and I particularly like using it before applying fake tan for the most flawless results possible. 

I must admit that I was surprised when I saw that the jar is plastic and not glass, given it's price point, though this does it make it easier to use in the bath or shower so I can see why they've chosen to package it in this way (Tropic have since gotten in touch to say that they use plastic packaging for this product to ensure safety to their customers due to the oils in the scrub which could cause handling to be slippery). It's definitely a luxury product with the price tag to match, but if you have the cash to splash and fancy treating yourself, it's a really beautiful pampering product and makes you feel like a million dollars whenever you use it! Maybe something to also consider gifting for Mother's Day?

Tropic Body Smooth Refreshing Polish* (200ml, £24, link)

What's your favourite body scrub?

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Mother's Day Gift Guide 2017: Part Two (£20 and Under)

Following on from yesterday's post, here's the second and final part of my Mother's Day Gift Guide for this year which is full of gift ideas for mums who are into more green and natural beauty. Everything featured in this one is also £20 or under! 

 For Mums Who Love Sweet Scented Candles: JOIK Cinnamon Bun Candle* (145g, £12.50, link)

JOIK are Estonia's bestselling natural brand and as well as their gorgeous bath and body products, they also have a divine range of handmade candles in the most delicious scents. All of their candles are made from natural soy wax which is infused with high-quality cosmetic grade fragrance oils. As they're free from paraffin, they burn cleanly (hooray for no black smoke!) and the scent throw from them is really impressive - much better than anything that I used to buy from Yankee Candle! The scent that I've chosen to feature here is called Cinnamon Bun which is completely on point because it smells exactly like freshly baked cinnamon buns with those delectable notes of sugar and spice coming through. They burn for around 30 hours, are super affordable and thanks to LoveLula, are available to purchase online here in the UK.

 For Mums Who Like Easy Fuss-Free Makeup: Living Nature Bliss Rose Tinted Lip Hydrator* (3.9g, £15, link)

My mum enjoys wearing makeup when she's going out for dinner in the evening or celebrating a special occasion, but for everyday, she likes to keep things low-key which is why I think she'd love something like this new Tinted Lip Hydrator from Living Nature. Perfect for anyone who wants to keep things simple but still pretty, this lip hydrator feels lovely and moisturising on, whilst giving my lips a subtle wash of rosy pink with a touch of shimmer. It's 100% natural, with ingredients such as Beeswax, Calendula Oil, Cupuacu Seed Butter, and it also contains Vitamin E and Active Manuka Honey for further protection against the elements and an extra boost of hydration. A really good one to try if you have dry lips or just want a new natural tinted lip product to pop into your handbag.

 For Mums Who Appreciate High-Quality Loose Tea: Beauty Brews Organic Tea in Bloom* (50g, £9.50, link)

Open up my tea cupboard and you'll find a crazy assortment of teas from a variety of brands, most of which are organic and herbal (I'm not a fan of tea with milk!). My love of fine tea is something that I've probably inherited from my mum so I know that she'd appreciate receiving this beautiful tin of organic tea from Beauty Brews. This flavour Bloom is a warming combination of Apple, Aniseed, Orange Peel, Cloves and Cinnamon - really quite different and full of flavour. It comes in a cute tin so there's no need to wrap it, and is something that can be reused as Beauty Brews now stock handy refill bags. To get an idea for some of the other flavours in their range, you can check out my previous review of Beauty Brews' Poise, Peace and Balance teas here.  

 For Mums Who Love A Luxury Pamper: Trilogy Limited Edition Body Beautiful Gift Set* (£20, link)

I featured a couple of pampering treats in Part One of this Gift Guide, but I couldn't help squeezing in an extra one in here because I think this is such a great value for money set from one of my favourite natural brands, Trilogy. Inside the Limited Edition Body Beautiful Gift Set, you'll find two pampering bodycare products; a 100ml Botanical Body Wash and a full-size Pure Plant Body Oil which is a brand new release from Trilogy and is worth £15.50 on its own. The  Botanical Body Wash is SLS-free, gentle on the skin and smells uplifting and fresh, whilst the Pure Plant Body Oil is a fantastic fragrance-free body oil that's suitable for sensitive skin, and particularly beneficial to help reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

For House-Proud Mums: Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Reed Diffuser* (£15, link)

If you're shopping for a house-proud mum, you could treat her to a new reed diffuser composed of natural and essential oils. Pacifica sell a range of them in different fragrances which all come beautifully packaged, and the bottles themselves have a pretty print adorned onto them. This particular scent Indian Coconut Nectar is inspired by exotic, faraway destinations (think crisp white sands, fresh coconuts and bright blue skies) and features notes of Coconut and Creamy Vanilla for a warming, sweet and comforting fragrance. The set comes with seven reeds which gently disperse the natural fragrance into the air which scents a living room within an hour. They last for up to 6 months so it's a gift that keeps on giving!

If you missed Part One of my Mother's Day Gift Guide, you can check it out here :)

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Mother's Day Gift Guide 2017: Part One

Mother's Day is fast approaching (it's the 26th March in case you need a cheeky reminder!) and to prepare for the occasion, I've compiled a handy two-part Mother's Day Gift Guide that you can use to properly spoil your Mum this year - I'm sure she deserves it!

 For Mums Who Adore Designer Perfumes: GUCCI Bamboo Limited Edition Eau de Parfum* (50ml, £68, link)

Designer perfumes always make gorgeous gifts, and a Limited Edition one makes it feel even more special. Earlier this year, GUCCI released this beautiful new version of their popular Bamboo fragrance and I knew I had to include it in this Mother's Day Gift Guide because my mum would love to receive this! This is the same Bamboo fragrance, just updated with an eye-catching new rosy jewel toned tinted bottle and a Far-Eastern inspired print on the box packaging. GUCCI Bamboo is a lovely contemporary feminine scent with a strong top note of Italian Bergamot, heart notes of Ylang Ylang and Casablanca Lily, and a subtle sensual base note of Sandalwood. An ideal everyday fragrance to wear during Spring and Summer.

 For Mums Who Love Luxury Pampering Products: Aveda Beautifying Radiance Polish* (440g, £36, link) 

For a spot of luxury pampering, you can't go wrong with anything from Aveda. I'm a big fan of many of their ranges including the Beautifying line which has a gorgeous uplifting scent of organic Rosemary, Lavender and Bergamot. This Beautifying Radiance Body Polish combines this signature fragrance with a seriously good body scrub to thoroughly exfoliate and buff away dull dead skin cells, revealing brighter, more glowy skin. As the mineral-rich salt crystals are blended with nourishing plant oils such as Sunflower Seed, Olive and Safflower, your skin is left feeling silky soft and thoroughly pampered, with that scent lingering for a little while afterwards. Perfect to use on arms and legs to prep them for the warmer months ahead.

 For New Mums: Tropic Body Love Firming Buttercream* (250ml, £20, link)

One of my friends recently had a baby and she's been looking into lots of firming body moisturisers to give her skin some extra TLC, so I recommended this to her and she's been loving it! Tropic's Body Love Firming Buttercream will no doubt appeal to anyone who wants keep their skin nicely firm and supple, as well as hydrated, as it's a lovely thick body moisturiser. Formulated with Cocoa and Shea Butters, it does a great job of keeping dry skin away, and it also has Green Algae and Pink Peppercorn actives to help firm up cellulite and any wobbly areas. As with everything that I've tried from Tropic so far, it smells amazing (really fresh and clean) and a little goes a long way.

For Glamourous Mums Who Also Love a Bit of Joan Collins: Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Class Act Mascara* (£20, link)

Joan Collins is an iconic woman of many talents, and her makeup range, Timeless Beauty, has been getting some rave reviews online from women of all ages. My mum's been a fan of hers for some time, so I think she'd appreciate something like Joan's Class Act Mascara which promises to have a water-resistant, non-clumping, non-shedding, long-lasting formula. It also contains Seaweed and Algae extracts to encourage lashes to grow longer and fuller which is an interesting addition! All of the packaging for this range feels very luxurious and this mascara, in particular, boasts a beautiful vintage-inspired, metallic gold tube casing that would yield many compliments from my mum's friends.

For Mums Who Deserve a Spa-Like Pamper at Home: DHC Olive-Corn Body Scrub & Polish* (200g, £15.50, link) and DHC Olive Body Butter* (100g, £17, link)

Mums work hard, whether they're running around after kids at home or juggling the commitments of both with a career as well - I think it's safe to say that they could use a well deserved pamper! If time constraints won't allow for a proper Spa day, you can treat them to some pampering products that they can use at home instead.  DHC have a fantastic range of skincare and bodycare, and I've been enjoying using these two in my bathroom lately.

The Olive-Corn Body Scrub & Polish is one of those fab multi-tasking products for those who are short on time as it cleanses, exfoliates and conditions the skin with a creamy Olive Oil infused formula that features natural corn cob powder to gently but effectively exfoliate the skin. Afterwards, I've been applying the Olive Body Butter which is super rich in texture and features a blend of seven key natural skin-nourishing and hydrating ingredients; Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Squalene and Argan Oil. Both of these have a fresh Green Apple and Rose scent which has been getting me in the mood for Spring!

Have you started Mother's Day gift shopping yet?

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Mother's Day Gift Guide 2016

Looking for a Mother's Day Gift but still not sure what to purchase? Here are my gift suggestions covering fragrance, makeup, pampering, home and lifestyle products - all perfect ways to show Mum some love!

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Luxury Mother's Day Gift Ideas with Aveda: Stress-Fix Body Creme, Beautifying Creme Cleansing Oil & Beautifying Body Moisturiser review

If you're looking for some truly premium and luxury beauty products to give your mum this Mother's Day, these three from Aveda are sure to bring a big smile to her face.

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Ted Baker No 1 Langley Court Body Lotion, No 2 Regents Square Body Wash & Sweet Treats Lyla Eau de Toilette Purse Spray review

Mother's Day is fast approaching so if you're looking for luxury feeling, yet still budget friendly gift ideas, look no further.  Ted Baker have a whole range of new goodies to spoil Mum with.

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Mother's Day Gift Idea: Ted Baker Butterfly Bliss Gift Set

Boots is packed full of Mother's Day gifts, and Ted Baker in particular has a whole range of gift sets to suit all budgets.  I always see Ted Baker's designer wash bags featured in wishlists, so when I saw this Butterfly Bliss Set, I knew it would make a lovely Mother's Day gift. 

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Mother's Day Gift Idea: NEOM Organic Reed Diffuser in Complete Bliss review

Mother's Day is fast approaching and if you're looking for something a little bit different to give this year, NEOM's Organic Reed Diffusers could be the perfect gift for your mum.

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The Sunday Pamper with REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil

The weather this weekend has been gloriously sunny, so I took full advantage and spent it with my friend Sophie in the beautiful Shropshire countryside, eating far too much local cheese and walking her dogs.  Now that I'm back home, I'm looking forward to a spot of pampering with a long bath.

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Valentine's / Mother's Day Gift Idea: IWNC. Co Natural Candle - Jasmine review

Still looking for a gift for Valentine's Day or beginning to think of Mother's Day?  If you're on a budget but don't want to compromise on quality or luxury, then look no further than IWNC. Co and their exquisite range of natural candles.

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