Mandara Spa

I love Spring/Summer and overall I am definitely a warmer weather person, but there are two reasons that make me a little sad that winter is coming to an end:

1. I can't wear boots every day. Boots are my favourite type of footwear and I miss them in the warmer months. Especially the months that aren't quite warm enough for flipflops (my second favourite footwear) but too warm for boots.

2. Baths aren't really as good in warmer weather. In winter I have been known to have a bath every day (this isn't to say I don't wash otherwise, more that in addition to a shower) as a way to warm me up after getting back from work. Plus baths are so relaxing, if I ever need a bit of time alone and to chill out, then a bath is the answer.

But with winter fading to a cold and grey memory, baths become less frequent - which is a shame as I have just discovered the lovely bathing products from Mandara Spa. Mandara Spa is a range of budget-friendly product (due to be available in Sainsburys) from the Elemis family. So if the steeper prices from Elemis make you think twice, then keep and eye out on the supermarket trip for these less wallet-emptying pampering treats.

Of the image above I have been using the turquoise 'Island Paradise' bath foam and the 'Tropical Blooms' pampering honey bath (the red pot). The Island Paradise bath foam is my favourite of the two as it is easier/less messy to use and the bubbles last longer. The smell of this one is a lot fresher than the 'Tropical Blooms' one - with grapefruit and lemon giving it a citrussy fresh feeling.

Although the honey bath definitely feels like more of a treat, I found that I poured a lot of product in and it made quite a mess attempting to pout under the running water from the pot - plus the bubbles didn't last as long. But on the plus side, it smells AMAZING and the scent really lingered on the skin.

I've only used the 'Honeymilk Dream' body butter once so far (not sure why I haven't reached for it more?!) and it too smells divine. This feels very pampering, the texture - although described as a body butter - feels lighter, almost souffle like? Soaks in really nicely and keeps skin soft - I like how the slightly lighter texture feels a bit more Spring-like than the body butters for winter months.

The Mandara Spa range also includes body scrubs, lip scrubs (need to try these!), room fragrances and other scented versions of the honey bath and bath foam. It's available from Sainsburys with prices ranging from


PR sample.

Currently Loving: Naked Body Care Orange Blossom Body Wash

I first used this the other day as a bubble bath, not technically what it's designed for - but it worked a treat. Lots of bubbles that smelt gorgeous. The bubbles didn't last that long, but that's fair enough - it's not designed as a bubble bath.

But it does smell amazing - orange, but not *too* citrus. It's nice for this time of year as it's refreshing, but still relaxing at the same time.

This body wash is only £3.99 from the Naked Body Care website.


**The Small Print**
PR sample provided for review.

Currently loving: Radox Limited Edition African Sanctuary Bath Therapy

Very bizarre, but I'm loving baths at the moment - despite it being mid-Summer. I can put this down to the horrendous weather we are having - it feels pretty much like winter.

Apologies for the generic picture. 

Figured it looks a bit better than a half empty bottle of bubble bath...

Anyway, last week I popped into the Superdrug store on Charing Cross Road to try and find Epsom salts (still not managed to find them in store anywhere - so ordering online) and instead picked up a couple of bath products. I came away with a bottle of Radox LE African Sanctuary Bath Therapy (the brown one on the left).

It smells AMAZING, the main thing I pick up is green tea - I love this scent - creates loads of bubbles and is generally lovely. Plus it only cost £1.50ish - bargain.

I also picked up a box of bath salts for the boyfriend - he does quite a bit of sport and tends to complain of aching muscles so I thought the muscle therapy bath salts (also from Radox) would be good for him. He seems to like them, but was a little confused by the thought of putting salt into the bath...

The salts also cost around £1.50 - love a bargain.

On the same trip I also got some of those exfoliating gloves - I have had a few pairs of these before and it's tough to find something that does a better (or cheaper) job of exfoliating.

**The Small Print**


All bought by ME!

Sometimes you don't realise how much you like a product till it's done...

The old saying 'you don't know what you've got till it's gone' sometimes applies to beauty products. There are times when you use a product for long enough so that it runs out and it's only then that you realise how much you liked it - this has happened to me with three products recently.


1. The Body Shop Raspberry Shower Gel.

I bought this one in the Christmas sales, it cost £3 (although I bought it with a voucher sent by the PR office) and I am amazed by how long it has lasted. I have used it almost every day (with one of those shower scrunchy sponge thingies) and it is only just into the final 1/8th of the bottle - fantastic value. This smells gorgeous and doesn't leave skin dry. Fabulous stuff - I wish I had bought multiple bottles!

2. Beautifully Delicious Bubble Licious Bath & Shower Cream in Honey & Almond.

Since the cold spell before Christmas, I have been addicted to taking baths (not that I didn't wash before then, I just preferred showers). They are so relaxing and luxurious - if I am ever stressed then a bath will just soak it all away. This bubble bath has been used in every bath I have taken since then - so another one that I amazed by how long it has lasted. Even if I have been using a bath ballistic or something else from Lush I have always used this with them (since you need bubbles)

3. Jergens Naturals Cocoa Butter moisturiser.

I recently reviewed the total nourishment version of this moisturiser, when I was sent both I immediately went for the total nourishment one as I loved the smell. But then I switched to using the Cocoa Butter one and haven't looked back - it smells amazing and I find it more moisturising than the total nourishment one, which is lighter and more suitable for summer. I have pretty much finished this and now resort to hitting it on things to try and get the last dregs out...


**The Small Print**

These products were all sent free of charge for review. All opinions are honest.

Little easter treats from Lush

Constantly on the blogging radar, Lush has released a couple of special bath ballistics especially for Easter. As usual, they are aimed squarely at the girly girls inside all of us - pink, duckling shaped and smelling of sweets.


Immediately after taking this picture, I heartlessly snapped off the ducklings head and dropped it into a nice hot bath. It smelt gorgeous, fresh but sweet all at the same time. I only used the head but it still smelt fantastic - so I think you can get at least 2-3 uses out of each of these bath ballistics.

I reckon the egg shaped bath ballistic is likely to appeal to anyone who likes the candy cane bubble bar from Christmas, or the comforter bubble bar - it smells EXTREMELY sweet and is EXTREMELY bright pink. But I haven't tried it out yet, so can't comment on how it smells/works in action.

Always worth making a stop at Lush if you want to add a bit of extra fun to bath time.


**The Small Print**

These bath ballistics were sent to be free of charge (and were a bit of a surprise - I didn't know they were coming till I opened the envelope to a waft of lush-scent) Opinions are still all my own.