Affordable Stocking Fillers From Mandara Spa

Filling stockings for the ones that you love is great fun and it's always so lovely to watch them open all the bits and bobs that you've picked up over the months/weeks/days (depending on how organised you are!)

The only problem is that if you're anything like me you can get a bit carried away and end up spending loads of money.

Well I've been on a search (with the help of my Christmas Elf/product tester,my gorgeous Aunty Kate) for some great stocking fillers for you that are affordable but lovely and found that Mandara Spa really do come up trumps when it comes to quality and price.


There are three products in particular that I think would make perfect stocking fillers for a lady in your life.

Exotic Soap Stack: £6.50 from www.timetospa.co.uk

Kate found the soaps very moisturising and good quality. I personally love the exotic packaging and was instantly reminded of the spa I went to on my honeymoon in Mauritius.

Luscious Lip Butters: £7.50 from www.timetospa.co.uk

Kate thought that the tin was sweet and the products were really nice - the shea butter balm was gorgeous and really moisturised, despite smelling slightly of coconut. The coconut butter was lovely and smooth.

Bath Indulgence: £13 Available from www.timetospa.co.uk

Everyone loves a bubble bath and these smell beautiful. They foam up nicely and the fact that you get five different bottles (each one is a different Manadara Spa signature scent) means that you can tailor your bath to your mood and that they are also great for taking on holiday.

If you're feeling a bit more flush then you could always book a treatment for someone at the Mandara Spa London, Park Plaza http://www.mandaraspa.com/ which is one of my favourite spas in London.

A Christmas Treat for your Mum

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you my gorgeous Mum!

Today I am handing Bonn Beauty over to Mummy Bonn who sparked my passion for beauty as a kid. (She is very glamorous and I still love watching her applying her makeup!)

Anyway, MB has tested The Jewels of Elemis for me. The minute I saw it I thought it would make the perfect luxury present for Mums this Christmas.

Mum's thoughts:

"I thought that all of my Christmas’s had come at once when I was given The Jewels of Elemis as an early present.

My skin was looking dull after a two week cold, which had been doing the office rounds, so the timing was perfect.

The collection is beautifully presented in a grey patent make up case and is aimed at mature skin. Each of the six full sized products are Pro-Collagen. Not being able to wait until Xmas, I started by using the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules. The pot is divided into blue capsules for the night and pink for the day. Each capsule smells beautiful and repairs the visable sign of aging and helps counteract damage done by pollution. I followed this by using the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. This is one of my favourites, which I always end up coming back to. After two weeks of using the capsules and marine cream I noticed that my skin was radiant and had a pink glow. Just what I needed for Xmas parties.

I have just started on my third product, having run out of my usual cream cleanser and can report that it has exactly the same radiance boosting effect and my face feels beautifully soft. I shall now be using the Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser as one of my staple skincare products.

I’m looking forward to pampering my body with the rest of the set."


Thanks Mum xx

It's Christmas Time!!!!

Yayyyy it's December!!!I love EVERYTHING about this time of year and generally spend the entire month like the kid in the John Lewis advert. (Although I don't think I'm quite as lovely as he is!)

Anyway, from now until Christmas Day, Bonn Beauty is going as festive as a giant bauble covered in fairy dust.

I'm going to be recommending great gifts, party looks and beauticians to make you look fabulous this Christmas.

So, let's start with the perfect all in one makeup palette for the party season.

The Jemma Kidd Glamour Kit Palette honestly has everything you need for a night out apart from mascara, foundation and powder.

The colours are universal and are really gorgeous.

Here's what you get for a bargainous £28:

A two-in-one priming eye and lip base to enhance colour pigment and ensure long-lasting results

A selection of 4 versatile eye shadows in neutral, taupe, charcoal and an illuminating silver to open the eye area

A high pigment black crème liner to give high definition

A lightweight lip and cheek flush for a natural finish.

Mini Jemma Kidd Make Up School essential shadow and liner duo brush applicators.

I absolutely love this kit. We used it on a recent OK Magazine Beauty shoot and I couldn't believe how versatile it was.

You can get hold of the palette from Space NK.


http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/jemma+kidd/glamour+kit+palette+exclusive.do

xx

Hair Laser Removal (I can't believe I'm sharing this with you!)

My Grandma is 80 but looks about 50. She is vivacious, flirtatious and spends her time line-dancing and learning French.

Anyway, I will never forget the time that she took me aside and whispered "Darling, I can't help but notice that you've inherited a real family trait"

"What's that?" I replied, imagining that she was referring to some hidden beauty that I didn't yet realise I posessed.

"Well" she said, "You're a tiny bit hairy aren't you!"

I instantly turned into a surly teenager and stomped out of the room.You see, what I now refer to as my "heritage hair" was the absolute bane of my life and my Grandma had definitely hit a folic nerve!

Here's why:

1. Ed Smith, who I fancied BIG TIME at the age of 14, told me that he would fancy me if it wasn't for my hairy arms.

2. I could shave my legs in the morning and 24 hours later already see the re-growth. YUCK!

3. I got awful ingrowing hairs every time I had a wax

4. I hated getting my legs out because they never looked hair free!!!

You may notice that these four points are in the past tense. This is because two years ago I changed my life by having laser hair removal.

Now some people might think that spending the best part of £1000 on hair removal is crazy but for me it was worth every hard-saved penny.I had six sessions of full leg and bikini removal. It was bloody painful but SO worth it!More than a year later I am still hair free and LOVING it!

Anyway, if you don't have the money to splash out on getting laser removal in a salon*, then I may have found a product that will make you very happy indeed!

The TRIA Hair Removal Laser is a Laser that you can use safely at home and which has been through rigorous safety checks. It uses exactly the same technology that is used in salons and unlike most salon lasers you don't need to wear goggles when using it. The main pro is the price! The laser retails at £349 and this is amazing considering that you will have it for life and won't need to spend thousands on going to a salon.

For more information on this wonder-device, here's the link to their website: http://www.triabeauty.co.uk/tria-laser-hair-removal-system

Oh and if you want any advice on general hair removal issues I'm definitely your lady!!

* make sure that you go to a reputable salon if you do choose this option. I had mine done at SK:N in Holborn, London and was very happy with the service they offered!