Does Vitamin C feature in your skincare routine? If not, it should.

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If a vitamin C fuelled product does not already feature in your bathroom, it should. Not only is it dermatologist recommended and a favourite amongst celebrities it minimises signs of ageing, targets fine lines, wrinkles, inflammation, pigmentation, UV damage and dullness.

If you are screaming GIVE ME ALL OF THIS, NOW then I have been trying out, the Obagi professional-C serum 20%. I am always on the lookout for ways to improve my skin, with having bad breakouts and wrinkles popping up I know I need to tackle them.

Obagi don’t try to be what they are not there branding is practical and professional and you feel like you are in the hands of a dermatologist.

Why Vitamin C?

To help turn back a bit of time on the ageing process you need collagen production which in turn reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots and Vitamin C stimulates new collagen production deep into your skin.

Vitamin C also protects your skin from pollution and UV light, but you still need to remember to put on your daily SPF.

Why 20%?

I think the first question that sprung into my head was why 20%, well this is to do with the different strengths of the L-ascorbic acid (potent form of Vit C) in the serum to meet your skincare needs. I don’t have sensitive skin, so I said, give me all the juice, 20% is Obagi’s highest concentration in their Vitamin-C serum. You can also get 15% and 10% for more sensitive skin.

What do you do with it?

You can use this in the morning and evening.

First cleanse and tone with your favourite brand then the Obagi professional-C serum comes in a dropper and you are able to easily dot it around your skin or your fingers, use around 5-7 drops and then massage into your face and neck, there initially is a tacky texture and it may tingle but its quickly absorbed into the skin after immediately using it which disappears after a few minutes.

Brighter Future

Hello healthy-looking complexion and an instant glow up. Vitamin C should be called a skin reviver, this antioxidant, literally injects brightness into your skin by calming the redness and retaining the moisture to hydrate.

Conclusion

All in all, vitamin C deserves a spot in your skincare routine and is now on my ‘must have’ list – will you have a go or are you already converted to vitamin C?

Visit Pure Obagi to purchase the Vitamin C serum today.

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A guide to buying glasses online

Has Covid-19 stopped you visiting your local optometrist or generally stopped you browsing glasses? With a toddler in toe mine have been bent in multiple places and I needed to venture online and, if you’re reading this article, chances are that you’re in the market for a new pair of stylish glasses / sunglasses that will help you see. I recently bought the sunglasses online from SmartBuyGlasses and had a surprisingly fab experience, I always struggle in store with lack of choice and feel like nothing suits me.

Wide range of styles

Due to being picky and indecisive I am, I found SmartBuyGlasses to be a true shopper’s paradise. I don’t think I have ever seen such a huge variety of glasses and sunglasses from Gucci to Rayban. They have every single colour and model number which regular stores don’t really have.

Price Match

Going online, you also get best price guarantee. After I placed my order, I saw the same frames on another site for £20 less and after I reached out to their customer service, they refunded me the difference as soon as my order was shipped!

Optician Support - just like in store

What really made the difference in shopping online was the support from their optician, Chloe. After I placed my order she emailed me, asking me some questions about my prescription. She was so kind, helpful, and prompt, she helped me finally understand what lens index means - something I would typically just look at in a card form while shopping in-store and pick the one with the best price. I loved that they went the extra mile for me, adding a truly personal touch. It took much less time than going in for an appointment with my eye doctor, and I didn’t need to deal with the risk of my appointment getting cancelled like everything else is these days.

You can still try on "virtually"

Actually, it wasn’t just Chloe that made the experience so great. I also used their Virtual Try-On tool which helped me accurately see how my new glasses would look on me. My face is ridiculously small I could wear children's glasses so not all style suit me. I took a selfie video on their website, which then told me my face shape and suggested the kind of frames that would flatter me the most. I wish I needed to shop for glasses more often!

Different features

The whole process took me less than an hour, compared to the hours I would have spent at a store, feeling confused and under pressure. If you’re shopping at SmartBuyGlasses, I recommend checking out their blue light blocking glasses: a must-have in my opinion, given all the time we’re spending on our screens these days. These are glasses that protect the eyes from the harmful effects of blue light emitted by screens. Even if you don’t have a prescription, I recommend getting a pair. Wearing them at least in the late evening before bedtime has been helping me sleep better. Did you know that too much blue light blocks melatonin production? That’s the hormone that helps us go to sleep.

I would also recommend checking out their photochromic lenses. If you live in sunny Florida or California and spend a lot of time in the sun or are driving for long hours, it’s the best way to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. The sun really is our enemy; it can speed up cataract formation, retinal degeneration, and lead to wrinkles! Photochromic glasses have lenses that react with UV rays to darken in sunlight and vice versa. 

SmartBuyGlasses has definitely made me smarter when it comes to eye health. If you’re not looking for designer brands, you’ll be happy to know that they even have £6 frames! This is music to my ears as I tend to leave my glasses anywhere and everywhere and have had a few mishaps here and there.

What do you think of my new shades?

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M&S launches new Cake Jars

I first spotted these on @newfoodsuk instagram and I knew I needed to share. M&S has launched new Cake Jars and they look insane, to all those Colin the Caterpillar fans, you will be happy to know he also makes an appearance!

Whether you are going to do some alfresco dining, eating at your desk or watching netflix in bed these look like the perfect treat. Coined 'cake-away' jars they just look like the best thing EVER.

There is also not just one but three flavours:

1. Fruity Raspberry Ripple

2. Indulgent Trillionaire

3. Chocolatey Colin the Caterpillar

They also come beautifully packaged in a re-usable jar, I think these instagrammable cake-away jars are going to be sold out by the time I make it to M&S

More details below:

Colin the Caterpillar Cake Jar - £4, 179g

Layers of all the Colin goodness - rich chocolate sponge, Belgian chocolate sauce, chocolate ganache, milk and white chocolate chips and finished with a Colin the Caterpillar white chocolate face.

 

Raspberry Ripple Cake Jar - £4, 158g

Layers of madeira sponge, sweet raspberry jam, creamy vanilla buttercream and freeze-dried raspberry pieces.

 

Trillionaire’s Cake Jar - £4, 169g

Layers of madeira sponge with salted caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, milk chocolate shortcake balls and fudge pieces.

M&S Cake Jars are available in-store from today, so if you need me in the next 30 minutes I will be on route to scout them out!

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Christmas guide for: Kids and babies

 

1. Cocomelon Yellow School Bus, Smyths, £19.99 - Who doesn't love a good old bop to Cocomelon, press the front for Wheels on the Bus' to blast out. As soon as my son saw this he made an immediate beeline. 

2. AVEENO Mum & Baby Gifts, Boots, £20 - perfect for a new mama or mama-to-be, the gift set includes: moisturising lotion, hair and body wash and baby daily moisturiser which is specifically designed for your babies first few weeks and if you were not already sold you get a soft teddy comforter included.

3. Peggie the Penguin® Sensory Teether, Bickiepegs, £8.99 - Teething is the worst and Bickiepegs have a cute solution with Peggie. This Sensory Teether makes the perfect stocking filler for your baby. Another plus is this is a small family business so give them some love and shop small.  

4. Love Monster and the Perfect Present, £6,99, all book retailers - This charming book follows Love Monster (from TV). Present Day is coming up but they can be expensive so what is Love Monster going to do? 

5. Noah the Whale Tablet Cushion Stand, Planet Buddies, £19.99 (30% off use: BUDDIES30 until 31/12/20) - your iPad needs comfort to with its very own bean bag cushion. It's very light-weight so you can take it with you wherever you go with vibrant prints and its also wipe clean.

6. Dantoy, Bio Stacking Cups, £22.99 - These pastel bio stacking cups are not only sustainable, made with 90% sugarcane but also stimulate your child's senses with the beautiful colours and shapes. They learn how to stack on top or inside of each other - or fun just to knock over. They can also be used in the bath to make 'rain' or you could use them as play dough cutters.

7. Journey of Discovery, The Luxury Essential Skincare Collection, Little Butterfly, £43 - A newbie from Little Butterfly, containing smaller versions of their best-selling products so you can try out the range before buying the full sized item or its a beautiful gift for a new mama. 

The gift set includes: 

• Bubbles in the breeze, for body and hair and to also make bubbles for bath time.
• Dewdrops at dawn, body lotion
• Wrapped in love, baby face cream
• Love eternal, baby massage oil
• Soft as moonlight, nappy change cream

8. PAW Patrol Dino Rescue Hero Pups, Smyths, £9.99 - What child wouldn't want a PAW Patrol toy, especially one with dino's. Each set is a surprise and come with a pup, a large dinosaur and mystery 'mini' dino. Collect all of the packs to create your own mission. 

9. Grouch Couch Board Game, Smyths, £19.99 - Ever find anything in your couch - of course you have. Get those items back with this new board game. Take turns in feeding 'Grouch Couch' and see what goodies you can get - the player with the most wins. 

10. PAW Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller, Smyths, Reduced to £44,99 from £64.99 - Another solid gift with PAW Patrol on their first ever motorised huge Rescue dino patroller. The patroller has room for all 6 pups and has a projectile launcher and you can chase the T-Rex. This is definitely a fun one.

11. Santa Jaws, Bloomsbury Childrens, £6.99 - A fun take on Santa with Santa Jaws, Shelly the Shark also wants to be Santa and waits for all the little fishes. 

12. Voksi City, Voksi, - The Voksi City is the warmest and cosiest sleeping bag I have seen, which lasts up to six years.

13. Done by Deer Snack plate, £15.95 - Make snack time fun with this cute crocodile and the suction cup that ensures it can't be thrown off the table. 

14. Knitted Baby Onesie, ZippyUp, £20 - this super soft Charcoal onesie has none of the buttons and made from 100% cotton is lovely and cuddly on your child's skin. Two way zips for easy nappy changes and sizes range from Newborn to 24 months. 

15. Super Socks in a bag, Frugi, £6 - The most PERFECT stocking filler and they come in their own gift bag, with festive characters keep your little ones feet toastie.

16. Ace PJ's, Frugi, from £24 - These magical pyjamas are the perfect gift for under your tree. Made from organic cotton, these super soft PJ's are cosy and you can personalise. 

17. Pat-a-Cake Play Kitchen, Great Little Trading Company, £95 - My little boy is 16 months and this stunning play kitchen went down a treat. It is quaint, beautifully made and surprisingly compact, which if you have a 16 month old you need all the space you can get as toys are just everywhere. Another positive is its really light so you can move it all around the house.

18. Play Teepee, Woodland, Great Little Trading Company, £75 - another complete hit, who knew kids like to sit in a dark space, not me. Whenever we put it up we get squeals of delight, whilst he drags all of his toys inside. It takes seconds to put up and even quicker to take down if you don't have the space to keep it as a permanent feature. 

19. Personalised Sling Bookcase, Great Little Trading Company, £78 - I originally has put up shelves for books, which was fine when my child couldn't move but his love for books is like my love for chocolate and he wants easy access and this sling bookcase stood out from the rest. You can see all the books for an aesthetically pleasing look to create a little book corner and you can personalise.

20. Cubo Baby Monitor - £279 (Use 'CUBOFIONA' discount) - A good looking baby monitor who would have thought – after spending so much time on the nursery you need every element to look the part including the technology and the Cubo Baby Monitor does just that with the cute bird design and intelligent AI technology.

The key features which I love:

-          Daily pictures from the night before

-          Cute design

-          Inbuilt white noise and lullaby feature

-          AI technology to alert if your babies mouth or nose is covered (an essential when they are tiny)

-          Real time alerts

-          Everything on your mobile

-          Amazing night vision – image is crystal clear

21. Ravensburger Gruffalo & Other Stories puzzle, £11.99 - This puzzle is the perfect starter set with just 2-pieces per puzzle and you get 9 in total and from one of the kids favourite storybook character - The Gruffalo. 

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