MWgifts - March 2018 update

I have a wonderful news to share: embossed decorative jewellery/storage boxes are back in stock. Just visit MWgift on eBay to browse the selection.

All items sell internationally with Global Shipping Programme. A happy shopping to all.

Marija

Recent Reads - Secrets from my Indian Family Kitchen

Once in a while I borrow cooking books from my local library to get some inspirations and this time I came across the Secrets from my Indian Family Kitchen by Anjali Pathak. 

Such a good find: delicious spice-inspired recipes plus little titbits from the famous Pathak family. After reading and skipping through pages I came across this paneer and broccoli recipe.

Loved the combination of spices and creamy paneer with refreshing broccoli. Vegetarian treat I am sure many of you will appreciate.

Secrets from my Indian Family Kitchen includes various recipes from light snacks, such as the Bombay nuts, Spiced chicken wings and Stuffed paneer bites, to bigger bites like Chilli beef with black pepper, Vegetable biriyani or the classic Chicken tikka masala. There are lovely dessert recipes too: the Baby apple tarte tatin with spiced caramel, Roast hazelnut and cardamon ice cream or Decadent chocolate truffles. I would say an amazing book of inspirations for everyone.

Have you had a pick through this one?

Marija

MWgifts - February 2018 update

There are new added items on sale this month on MWgifts eBay and Amazon. 

Decorative mango wood boxes with floral and leaf carved pattern. Ideal for small costume jewellery and watches. 

Pyramid incense cone burner box is another new addition to MWgifts stock. I like the fretwork and the overall look of this cone burner. Such a beautiful way to freshen up your home decor.

I love elephants and I thin this solid cast resin oil burner is exquisite. Lovely detail throughout, oil burner featuring three seated elephants supporting the glass dish with their trunks.

And last for today, but certainly not the least Leonardo collection resin reflections owl figurine in bronze. Beautiful detail and an excellent finish.

All eBay items sell internationally with Global Shipping Programme. A happy shopping to all.

Marija

Beauty haul: Foodaholic, Redken, Vichy and Waitrose

January came and gone to quick.

I have something new and exciting to share with you this month - Foodaholic Natural Touch Acacia and Snail Moisture hand creams. I always wanted to try Korean beauty products to see if their reputation lives up. So I started 2018 with a bit of exploring and bought two Foodaholic Natural Touch hand creams: Acacia and Snail Moisture. My so far impressions are good: lovely texture and scents, skin feels smooth after each use. I will post you with full review later on. 

I have another bottle of Vichy Purete Thermale Perfecting Toner to enjoy. I reviewed it in my January empties, click here to read more.

Something new for me to try - Waitrose Orchid and Honeysuckle Butter. A lovely scented body butter from Waitrose Heritage Collection. It has much lighter consistency, if to compare with The Body Shop body butters, but more gentle on the price front.

After a long time I am returning to the Redken shampoo. This time I bought Redken High Rise Volume as my post-partum hair loss is anticipated and I would like to be prepared. I made post awhile ago about post-pregnancy hair recovery, click here to read. Do let me know in the comments below, if you would like me to update on the post pregnancy hair loss recovery routine. I have fine hair and believe a little bit of volume will make a difference, plus my previous experience of Redken is spotless, so I have high hopes with the Redken High Rise Volume Shampoo.

An exciting January so far. How was yours?

Marija

Empty bottles: Vichy, The Body Shop, SUKIN, SENspa, Cetaphil and Nanogen

I have collected a selection of empty bottles this month to review.

Vichy Purete Thermale Perfecting Toner. This is one of my favourite toners. I like its refreshing scent and formula works well for my skin. I love to just spray it after a bath or shower to refresh flashed skin. Acording to the brand, Vichy Purete Thermale Perfecting Toner is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive. It is enriched with Vichy Mineralising Thermal Water and formulated without alcohol. I can add that this is a gentle and effective toner which doesn't irritate my skin. I try different toners once in a while, but it seems always go back to Vichy.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Moisturising Lotion and Moisturising Cream. This trio came to me from the Glossybox. According to the Cetaphil all products are designed specifically to work for all skin types, they provide simple, yet highly effective way to care for the skin. All Cetaphil are fragrance free.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a mild, soap free gel-like cleanser. It doesn't provide you with a lather, but cleanses skin very well, leaving it smooth and soft. 

Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion is a lightweight and non-greasy lotion. According to Cetaphil it is formulated to soothe dry skin. It requires a little bit of massaging into the skin, but results are good. Lotion leaves skin smooth and hydrated.

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream is a non greasy cream, which can be used as a body or a face cream. This cream suited my skin best. Beautiful consistency, absorbed fast and left my skin well moisturised and healthy looking. 

SENspa Relaxing Body Wash with organic lavender and essential oils of bergamot, patchouli and geranium. This body wash is made with 97% natural ingredients. A lovely body wash to try, beautiful scent blend to refresh body and help to de-stress mind. My skin loved it.

The Body Shop Chinise Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask and Moringa Softening Body Butter. I really enjoyed this face mask. It has an effective formula, beautiful polishing texture and a pleasant scent. According to The Body Shop Chinise Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask is perfect to achieve a brighter-looking, even and supple feeling skin. It is formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil and it is 100% vegetarian. I used it as a substitution to a face scrub once in two weeks during my pregnancy and once a week after.

The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter was such a treat. It is enriched with Moringa seed oil to make skin soft and supple after every use. I loved the soft, silky texture of the body butter and rich floral scent. 

SUKIN Hydrating Facial Masque. I have reviewed this in one of my previous posts, click here to read. A lovely hydrating, natural face mask. It is formulated with rich mango seed butter, avocado oil and olive fruit extract; provides hydration and helps protect the skin's moisture barrier. SUKIN Hydrating Facial Masque contains papaya and pineapple enzymes, which help to nourish the complexion and impart a healthy glow. This is my first natural face mask which didn't irritate my skin and I am sure I will buy it again in the future. 

Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray. Another beauty product from the Glossybox. According to the brand this is a light, fast-absorbing hair thickening spray that lifts each root ad thickens every strand. A mixed feelings from me; one day I liked it and other days I did not. I felt that spray is a little bit sticky and require a good hand to spray it without weighing hair down. I am not sure that Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray is suitable for my hair, but overall it is not a bad hair spray with pleasant scent and can help to style your hair. 

Such a long blog post today, but there are good finds in there. Have you tried any from above?

Marija

Natural face oil mix - DIY Beauty

Today I would like to share a very simple face oil mix, which I am using for some time now in my oil cleansing routine. It consists from only two ingredients, but provides plenty of benefits to the skin.

Natural face oil mix

To make one of your own you will need:

- 100ml of olive oil

- 20 drops of Chamomile essential oil (or any oil of your choice)

- Clean plastic bottle or any bottle you wish to store your face oil in

To make the mix, you just need to pour the olive oil into a bottle and add the essential oil. Shake it well before each use and enjoy. 

I love to use olive oil in my DIY recipes. It is great for the skin, contains four major antioxidants which allow it to work as a cleanser, moisturiser and it has good protecting properties as well. Among the antioxidants are vitamins A and E. 

Calming and soothing properties of chamomile essential oil are perfect for dry and/or sensitive skin. It helps to eliminate redness and irritation, brightening and enhancing the overall appearance of the skin. I used this oil mix during my second pregnancy as a facial cleanser and it took a very good care of my skin, leaving it fresh and well moisturised.

If you like your skin care simple and straight forward as I do, this is a good mix to try out; and if you prefer a more elaborate blends, why not to add other carrier/ essential oils to the mix to create your own special mix. I am looking forward to read about your adventures in the comments below.

Marija

Read more:

- Simple face massage - DIY

Beauty haul: Aveeno, Heathcote&Ivory and Greenfrog Botanic

I haven't done much beauty shopping recently. With so much going on in my life at the moment, I am just using my reserves. I think this is just a perfect opportunity for me to reflect on my beauty routines and see if anything needs changing. 

We bought Aveeno Baby Hair and Body Wash for our little boy. It gently cleanses baby's delicate skin from top to toe without leaving it feeling dry. Aveeno Baby Hair and Body wash has a light scent; it is formulated with colloidal oat and oat essence; soap free and paediatrician tested. Will let you know later how do we like it, at the moment we are using it only as a hair wash. Little man is having water baths and I am using my hand made natural baby oil for his skin at the moment. His skin is beautifully clear and I believe he doesn't need much toiletries.

Another little tube of Heathcote and Ivory Blush Rose Hand and Nail Cream to enjoy this month. I have reviewed it in my December's empties, click here to read.

Greenfrog Botanic Geranium and Peppermint Bodywash came to me from one of my Glossyboxes. According to the brand this body wash is great for all skin types. It is organic, cruelty free and made with natural ingredients. The combination of moisturising aloe vera, calming geranium and cooling peppering oil in this body wash acts as a deep conditioner for the skin, leaving it hydrated, nourished and full of antioxidants. Lovely!

Have you tried any from above?

Marija

MWgifts - January 2018 update

I have an exciting news to share with you in this update, I have created MW GIFTS LTD and received go ahead from the Company House on 24th November 2017. Coincidentally this is the day when my son was born, so it is even more special for me. I am taking another step forward with my project and looking forward to all the new adventures as MW GIFTS LTD Director.

I have been on look out for some exquisite gift ideas and have come across this lovely piece.  

Vintage Seba Silver Plated Donkey Ring Holder, in the design of a donkey on a beautiful embossed with floral pattern plate. It is made in England and such a beautiful collectable item or a decorative piece for your dressing table. It is currently available on MWgifts.

Happy shopping everyone and until new MWgifts update!

Marija

Empty bottles: SUKIN, Heathcote&Ivory and Original Source

I have collected some empty bottles for you to review. 

A lovely selection this time, only positive impressions to share today. I have reviewed SUKIN Sensitive Cleansing Lotion and SUKIN Restoring Argan Oil+ in one of my previous posts, click here to read the post. Both were loved by my skin for their balanced and gentle formulas and will be purchased again, if I won't get carried away with the choice in a skin care isle. 

Heathcote and Ivory Blush Rose Hand Lotion and Blush Rose Hand and Nail Cream. Both are beautifully scented and nourishing. Hand and nail cream has a slightly thicker consistency and I found it was just right for this time of the year. According to the Healthcote and Ivory Blush Rose Hand and Nail Cream is carefully formulated combining Rosa Rugosa rose flower water with chamomile flower and ginger root essential oils, shea butter, vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 at active levels to increase skin hydration. 

It did work well for my skin with recent increase of hand washing; providing with protection and soothing as needed. If to compare with Hand and Nail Cream Heathcote and Ivory Blush Rose Hand Lotion has a light texture. It contains same essential oils as the cream along with glycerin. Hand lotion absorbs quickly, moisturising skin well.

Original Source shower gels are my all time favourites. They are affordable, cruelty free, lather beautifully and have lovely scents selection. As you might know, I have a soft spot for citrus scents and this lemon and tea tree shower gel was such a treat in the morning to wake up my sleepy senses. I am sure it will visit my bathroom again and again.

Have you tried any from above. What was your December's beauty favourite?

Marija