Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream

The Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream is a wonder product that I have been meaning to share with you all for quite some time! I first received a sample of it about 6 months ago and have repurchased it over and over again since.

Just to give you a little bit of context the bf has very sensitive skin (he always gets annoyed when I mention his eczema, but I am prepared to withstand his fury when/if he ever reads this). Unfortunately along with sensitive skin he was 'blessed' with a very hairy chin... and we are not talking about a 5 o'clock shadow here, it's more of a 12 o'clock shadow! Working in the medical profession he is required to look smart and hence shave every day, which isn't ideal. He therefore often has problems with irrtation, dryness, ingrown hairs, redness... I'm not painting a pretty picture here, but you name it the poor boy has suffered with it.

After a few days of  using the shave cream (check out Liz's shaving tips here) I could already see the difference on his skin, without even having to ask. It definitely looked smoother and less irritated and I noticed that the shaving process was faster too. When I probed him about the cream itself he went as far as saying he "really, really" liked it (a first!) as it gave a really close, comfortable shave and left his skin moisturised and soft. History was made a few weeks later when I phoned to say I was popping into Liz Earle and was actually asked if I could pick up some of that "shave cream stuff". This was record breaking material - not only did he remmber and ask me for a specific product, but he was actually planning to use it for its intended purpose! It definitely makes a change from his usual routine of using my eye cream or expensive serums to moisturise his elbows, knuckles and Lord knows... maybe toes *sigh*.

Since the bf was so fond of the shave cream I decided to purchase some for myself as I often experience a rash or painful bumps after shaving my underarms. I can honestly say that this is the best shave cream I have ever used. It is soft and creamy, yet lathers with a little water to give a really close and smooth shave.

 Probably not the most visually pleasing photo, but as you can see it lathers very smoothly.

With extracts of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Geranium Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil and Glycerin it not only works well to moisturise and soothe irritated skin, but also smells amazing (see full ingredients list here). The rose scented geranium gives it a slightly sweet, flowery smell, while the peppermint keeps it fresh and uplifting - a fragrance that I think both sexes will enjoy!

The Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream retails at £10.75 for 100 ml or £5.50 for 30 ml. I highly recommend it to everyone with sensitive skin and those prone to razor burn or shaving rash. I've been buying it as gifts for my male friends and have received great feedback from everyone so far. It may not be a particularly exciting product, but in my eyes it's definitely a hero!

Have you tried Liz Earle's Sensitive Shave Cream? Do you ecperience problems when shaving? What are your recommendations for shave gels/ creams/ oils for sensitive skin? xxx

Perfect Valentine's Day Gifts

Panicking about what to buy your loved one this Valentine's day? Do not fret! The bf and I have been hectically reviewing products to find the perfect gifts for you. Though don't tell him that's what all these presents have been for, he just thinks I'm really generous ;).

First up are Gifts for Him.

A fragrance always makes a lovely present. So why not treat him to a new scent this Valentine's day? Over the past few weeks we have been liberally spritzing ourselves with Paco Rabanne 1 Million. With notes of peppermint and blood mandarin mingled with cinnamon and rose absolute, with a touch of leather, this is a masculine fragrance with a modern twist. Sexy and deep, yet not too heavy, it's easy to wear and versatile. I am told that this is currently a very popular fragrance, and I can see why!

If your man is a little hesitant (or just plain lazy) when it comes to skincare, why not introduce him to an easy and effective routine gently? There are many kits out there designed to give you a taste of the products on offer, and this can be a great way to nudge him along, while letting him chose a few favourites. The Liz Earle Men's Try-Me kit has four travel size products in a handy re-usable wash bag including the amazing Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (with muslin cloth), Sensitive Shave Cream, After-Shaving Moisturiser and Face & Body Wash all for £15.60.

The bf has developed a particular soft spot for the Shave Essentials kit (£28.35). He already likes Liz Earle, after constant thieving of my products (deep marks from greedy fingers digging around in my moisturiser are a deadly giveaway!) and he has not been disappointed by the 'manly' products. He tells me that the Sensitive Shave Cream and After-Shaving Moisturiser make for a smooth and comfortable shave.

Why not add some fun to Valentine's day? Men are encouraged to purchase us sexy underwear, so why not turn the tables on him with some novelty pants? These ones from ASOS are just too cheesy not to love ;).

Gifts for You, Both of You

I always like to by a gift for Valentine's that we can both share. Let's keep it clean now ladies... 

Why not treat yourself to a beautiful candle to set the mood? I was recently sent the Thalgo Indoceane Relaxing Scented Candle (£16.50), which promises to burn for 50 hours. I have noticed that even after about 6 hours of burning it still looks very full, so fingers crossed it lasts forever lol! Not only does this candle look gorgeous, it smells divine with spicy Indian notes of Coriander, Cardamom and Incense on a tender, enchanting base of Patchouli.

If you are planning a romantic night in you may want to indulge in Linden Leaves Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oil (£16.20). I have been testing out 'In Love Again' with organic rosehip and avocado oils blended with pure sweet almond and apricot kernel oils, enriched with vitamin E and infused with a sensual blend of neroli, vanilla and sandalwood this oil smells absolutely delicious. The packaging is also unique with tamrillo and strawberry floating inside the bottle. This natural oil is perfect for daily use after bathing or showering in place of a lotion, especially for dry skin. It also works especially well as a soothing massage oil or bath oil ;).

I hope you all have a lovely Valentine's day! What gifts will you be purchasing this year for your loved one? xxx

Gifts for Him!

In the second installment of my perfect gifts guide we are going to talk about the boys, the mice and the men ;). Males of any age are notoriously difficult to buy for unless you are blessed with a guy that possesses a genuine passion for something... anything other than beer and 'insert appropriate sport here'. In my experience once a boy reaches the age of 13 he is interested in little but girls anyway...


Elemis Daily Men's Grooming Collection (£27 -10% at feelunique.com) - For the man who is a little tentative when it comes to skincare this set makes a perfect beginning to a routine. My very low maintanence bf has been testing this out for 2 weeks and has provided me with some valuable (albeit typically manly) feedback, though bless him for trying! He absolutely loved the skin soothe shave gel (and even asked me to get him some more!) as the foam is thick and firm it allows the blade to glide smoothly and gives a very close shave. The deep cleanse facial wash 'did a good job' and cleansed the skin without making it feel dry. The daily moisture boost was perfect for use after shaving and he found it lightweight and soothing, without being greasy or breaking him out. Overall he really enjoyed the set, and given that he normally rejects every product I attack him with... ahem.. let him try, I highly recommend it!

Armani Code Gift Set (£45) and Bleu de Chanel (£42). My two favourite men's fragrances for the season. The Armani code was purchased for the bf last year and is a great all rounder - a masculine contemporary fragrance with citrus and olive tree blossom that belnds into a slightly woody finish. Bleu de Chanel was a recent purchase that I just couldn't resist. This fragrance really reminds me of the original Abecrombie eau de toilette, but with a sophisticated twist. Incredibly sexy and fresh with notes of sandalwood, jasmine, citrus and incense it wears well and lasts through the day. The bf has given me great feedback and so have many of his female colleagues... perhaps one too many ;)?

Call Of Duty Black Ops (£39.99) - As much as I hate being woken every Saturday morning by the sounds of gunfire I can't deny the fact that pretty much every guy I know loves this game. Whether he has an X-box, PS3 or even a Wii the new COD will occupy him for hours ;). I usually use this time to blog, read or even have a little pamper so it's a win all around!

Ted Baker Shield Wool Winter Coat (£350) - If you want to really treat that special boy and keep him warm, while looking stylish this winter a coat would be a great purchase. The deep navy colour is flattering on any skin tone and does not look as harsh as black, or as 'tatty' as brown. Of course my choice had nothing to do with the doe-eyed male model, but you can't deny he looks gorgeous! The sharp lines and military inspired detailing keep this classic shape modern and sophisticated, while slimming the figure.. for the gentlemen who require a little streamlining ;).

FCUK Brown Leather Belt (£12.99 down from £30) - I always think it's a bit cheeky buying a present on sale, but hey, I won't tell if you don't. Every guy needs a smart belt and though it may not be a very exciting present it will be a useful one that he will probably wear every day!

 

Remington Groom Innovation Navigator All in One Kit (£29.99) - For the man who takes a little more care of himself this is an absolutely fantastic set to cover all his needs (some of which you may not want to know about... nose and ear trimmer anyone?). This kit includes the PG520 unit with up to 60 minutes of cordless usage (that's a whole hour of nose hair trimming!) as well as 5 attachment heads, a body hair trimmer, wide trimmer, fine trimmer, mini-foil shaver, nose & ear trimmer, 3 combs for different hair lengths (1 – 20 mm), charging stand, cleaning brush & oil bottle. Amazing value for so many tools, and you can be sure that he will find something he can use, or something you can convince him to use in the New Year ;)!

TIGI Bed Head for Men Matte Separation Workable Wax (£8.45) - We all know that guy at school, university, in the office that uses too much hair gel. The 90's are over boys, it's time to update your look! This pliable, matte wax will leave hair looking natural, sorry Westlife, and give it a secure hold without looking greasy or setting stiff and crunchy. If you no longer want sticky fingers after running your hands through his hair, sorry Ross from Friends, this may be the budget friendly hint.. umm... gift you are looking for!

I recently read the results of a poll that announced the gift most men want is that of experience, while girls prefer clothes, jewelry, cosmetics and other tangible items (go figure!). I completely agree with this, and even though it may take a little more organisation an 'experience' is a fantastic present. Of course you can chose something your man is already interested in (Super Car Driving, Golf), but I prefer to try something new such as learning a new skill (Cooking Lessons, Wine tasting, Clay Pigeon Shooting - went down a storm for the bf's bday!). Or why not try something unique such as Feeding Big Cats by Hand or a Flying Lesson?

I hope this gives you some ideas ladies! Good Luck and let me know if you have any recommendations :). xxx