• Christmas Wishlist // #CountdownToChristmas •

Dear Santa,

I've been reaaaaalllly good this year.

So please could I have...

Aromatherapy Associates 'Relax' Bath Oil;

Diptyque Figuier Candle;

Urban Decay Naked On The Run Palette;

Michael Kors Selma Tote Bag;

Tarte Dream Come Hue 12 Piece Collectors Set;
Marc Jacobs Ladies Baker Watch;
Charlotte Tilbury The Supermodel Genuis Tutorial Video Box;
Warehouse Tweed Faux Collar Coat;
Hourglass Ambient Blush Palette;
Lorac Pro Palette...

...please?

Love,
Daniela xo

• A mid-week treat - Aromatherapy Associates Bath and Shower Oil // review •

I was first introduced to Aromatherapy Associates when I read a blog post claiming that the bath oils would completely de-stress and relax you. I thought to myself that it was a pretty big claim - and for someone who's a bit of a worrier, I wasn't sure I believed them. 

But after trying a few from the range, I can genuinely vouch for the fact that there's something about the Aromatherapy Associates Bath and Shower Oil that forces you to relax, even for just that half an hour in the bath. Now I'm someone that loves spas and I truly believe in the ethos of them; there's nothing I enjoy more than being looked after and pampered over, especially when it means spending some quality time with my mum as well. In addition to spa-days, I also like to treat myself at home as I think it's really important to have something to look forward to mid-week. So a gorgeous bath and shower oil that will relax me and leave my skin feeling silky soft are a total winner for me, and these tiny bottles of spa-like escapism have fast become a very important part of my mid-week routine.

They are pricey, but they're pricey for a reason. The product really does work. A few drops of this into my bath and my bathroom is left smelling exactly like a spa, and as soon as I slip my foot into the bath, I'm transported to a zen-like experience (it also helps if the lights are out and you have a few candles and a cup of tea to hand!) You really don't need much of the oil at all so it brings the cost of it down by quite a lot. Some people use the oil in the shower but, as it costs so much, I see that as a little wasteful (and certainly not in my budget) so I prefer to use it in the bath. I have been known to drop off in the bath when using this, so be sure to have an alarm ready! I can also genuinely say that I have the best night's sleep when I use this and I feel really relaxed for the rest of the evening. I know that this particular scent, Revive Morning, is obviously meant for morning use, but it's such a lovely relaxing scent that it's perfect for evenings, too. Plus - how cute is this mini in the bell, which is part of the Christmas range? I'll welcome a few of these in my stocking this year! This is also a great way of trying a few out from the range, and they do excellent Christmas gifts which include the minis for a very good price.

Have you tried this product?

What do you think of it?
PS. Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!

Daniela xo

• May Birchbox #2 // review •

I was so impressed with the last Birchbox that I just couldn't wait for the next one - and it did not disappoint.

With a mix of high-end and middle-end products (the majority being higher) I was so excited to see my favourite mascara and a well-known cleanser as soon as I opened the box. The products are based around 'outdoor adventures' - spending longer outside in the warmer weather - and this stunning box is a collaboration with Harper's Bazaar. If you wanted to see what I received in last month's Birchbox, you can click here to read that post.

Soigne Nail Lacquer in Cerise // £11 (full size)

This stunning nail polish is so opaque, so easy to apply and has such a lovely thin wand to work with. It's such a beautiful colour and I'm really pleased I received this in my box - I checked out the other colours that other's received and I already have those sorts of colours in my collection, but this one I feel is quite unique. It's grown up, but still a pretty, fun pink. And look a that packaging! How cute?!

Benefit They're Real! Mascara // £19.50 (full size)

I can't profess my love enough for this product. I've written a full review of it here, where you can see how the product works to transform my eyelashes into fluttery, volumised beauties. The plastic bristles really grip every single lash and the formula is so budge proof that it lasts all day and into the night. It volumises, lengthens and is the blackest black, making lashes stand out and appear much fuller. 10 out of 10 for this product and I will always repurchase, so it's handy to have a mini travel-size tube of it!

Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo // £13.50 (full size)

I am loyal to my Batiste but I have heard that there are dry shampoos which don't leave your hair white, so I'm always up for giving new things a go. This product therefore was very much welcomed into my haircare collection. It works perfectly and doesn't leave any residue in my hair, it turns my hair from a greasy mess into a voluminous mane and it smells delightful, too. I've used it to death and there's still product in it which makes me think that the £13.50 price tag is worth it. I'm going to look into buying myself a bottle of this when I run out as I think it does a fantastic job (and makes me a lot more lazy when it comes to hair washing!)

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil // £39 (full size)

This smells divine! It doesn't get more luxurious than Aromatherapy Associates and I'm so happy to have received this in my box. I've used it once but I used it sparingly (so I could get another use out of it - cheapskate!) and it created the most uplifting, invigorating scent in my bathroom. My skin felt so soft after use and I'll be popping this on my Christmas list as I don't think I could justify spending this much money on myself for a bath product, however I'd very happily receive this as a gift! *secretly hopes Mum/Dad/brother/boyfriend is reading this...*

Liz Earle Beauty Co Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser // £13.50 (for 100ml)

I don't want to say too much about this product as I'm planning a post where I compare it to one of my favourite lower end hot cloth cleansers, but I have to say that this product really is lovely. My skin is going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment due to a certain product (read this post here) so I'm treating it with a little more TLC as I usually would, and the Cleanse and Polish is so gentle that it's helping to calm my skin down a little. I love that it comes with a little muslin cloth, and honestly, how generous is this sample size? You literally need a pea-sized amount so I can see this lasting me a rather long time!

There are the five gorgeous products I received in this months Birchbox - not one of them a dud, a mix of make up, skincare and haircare - which is exactly what I'm looking for in a beauty box. If you haven't subscribed yet, I really urge you to give it a go. It's opened my eyes to some products which I ordinarily wouldn't have the opportunity to try out (Aromatherapy Associates...)

What did you think of this months Birchbox? Which was your favourite product?

Daniela