My Top Five Products Of 2014

As the year is almost at an end I thought now would be a good time to take the opportunity to share my favourite products of this year.

BeautySwot.com is more than just a beauty review site, inside these pages I share not only my favourite skincare and beauty items and afternoon tea events but also fabulous food and drink finds (usually of a healthy nature but also to satisfy that ever present sweet craving) and of course absolutely anything else that grabs my interest and consequently my awards reflect this.

So without further ado here are my top 5 favourite products of 2014 - 

5. ScentChips from Holland and Barrett 

These are a recent revelation to me but already I am hooked on these deliciously scented wax melts. They are colourful, come in a leaf shape and print and quite simply smell utterly amazing. Used in conjunction with a burner the wax melts to emit the most wonderful aromas that literally fill the entire house. They last for absolutely ages too.

They come in ready made scent packs or you can mix and match your melts to create many scent variations..

Home Fragrance at its best.

4. Linwoods Milled Flaxseed Sunflower Pumpkin Sesame seeds and Goji Berries

Another product from Holland and Barrett, LINWOODS do a wide range of milled seeds and nuts combinations. I loved this particular one so much I have gone on to buy it multiple times, I still want to try some others in the range which I plan to do soon. I love the fact that this is healthy, nutritional and being milled easier to digest. I have this on my porridge every day and if I have run out of porridge it is just as tasty on plain yoghurt with fresh blueberries as an alternative breakfast.

You can read my original review here

3. Rimmel London BB Cream Matte Light 

I am all about the base. I truly believe that if you get that right the rest just follows naturally. In the past I have tended towards high end bases because you are usually given a wider choice of shades for more of a perfect colour match and I have just found them better suited to my skin... I still do get excited, very excited when a new foundation/BB Cream/CC Cream is released and it is probably the one beauty product that will never fail to ignite my passion in beauty. When this little sample was included in a GlossyBox I didn't think much about it... until I tried it and was blown away. A perfect base product for an absolute bargain budget price of just £6.99.

It covers everything and although it says Matte I don't find it that matte at all, just that it leaves me great looking skin that lasts all day. The only downside is that it comes in just two shades.

You can read my original review here

2. Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Nude Kate

I am always drawn to nude shades of lipstick and gloss and forever on the look out for a my lips but better perfect shade and this year I found it in Nude Kate - the nude shade from Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G range of lipsticks.

Luxurious packaging, a beautifully creamy and moisturising formula makes this one of my all time favourite lipsticks.

For my mini review and swatches click here

1. Dior Diorskin Star Foundation 

As I mentioned above I am all about the base so naturally my number one product would be a base product. This year the accolade without a doubt goes to Dior with its spectacular Dior Star Studio MakeUp.

I only tried a sachet sample of the foundation but I managed to use it on five separate occasions and fell in love with the instantaneously fabulous results. Skin looks smooth, flawless and radiant.

When I finish one of my current foundations I will be purchasing this foundation without a doubt.

To see my full review and to see me wearing it, click here

A true winner I am sure you will agree.

What products did you love this year?

Bomb Cosmetics Candles - Raindrops on Roses & Scones & Cream

This week my home has been brightened up with the addition of these super cute candles from Bomb Cosmetics. Not only do they look great as a home accessory but they smell incredible too.

Pretty unlit and lit, the first candle is from the Fresh and Funky Glass Candle collection - Raindrops on Roses. Pink wax, a sprinkle of chunky glitter and a heart and a star.

Raindrops on Roses is described as - Fresh & dewy, this elegant floral scent opens with fruity top notes of grapefruit, cassis, apricot and bergamot along with green leaves. The spicy heart centres around muguet, rose and jasmine, resting on a woody, musk base.

Approx burn time - 35 hours

My thoughts 

This smells so nice and fresh when unlit and when lit the scent is beautifully fresh too. Perfect for Spring/Summer days.

The foodie and afternoon tea lover in me couldn't resist Scones & Cream, An Afternoon of Dreams. This is from the tinned candles collection. Blue wax with pink and blue hearts. Adorable packaging and design, inside and out. I would definitely be tempted to try more.

Bomb Cosmetics say 

A rich afternoon tea with nuances of lemon sherbet on a heart of tempting vanilla and butter biscuit. With geranium and rose essential oils. 

Approx burn time - 45 hours

My thoughts 

Unsurprisingly this is has a gourmand fragrance that smells good enough to eat! This is very sweet, personally I adore it and would light this to relax, write poems and stories and just drift away in a whimsical dream... however my husband wasn't so keen on this. He preferred the fresh smell of Raindrops on Roses.

Bomb Cosmetics candles contain essential oils and are all hand poured, even the shapes are hand cut! What a lovely introduction to the brand. I will be back..

Bomb Cosmetics Raindrops on Roses Candle £6.99

Bomb Cosmetics Scones & Cream Tinned Candle £7.99

*PR Samples

The White Company Winter Mini Home Scenting Kit - The Scent Of Christmas

Out shopping on Saturday I ventured into The White Company, I say venture as every time I enter the store I find myself taken by something and parting with cash... this time I was greeted with the most intoxicating smell of what I can only describe as the scent of Christmas. It had such an effect on me that it made me feel so good I bought this Winter Mini Home Scenting Kit £30 to recreate the experience at home.

The scent is full of warming, spicy cinnamon, clove and bursts of fruity orange.

The gift set comes in a presentation box and includes the following -

Mini scent diffuser 50ml
Mini home spray 15ml
Votive candle 70g (around 18 hours burn time)

A Winter favourite and perfect for the run up to Christmas!

Elemis Christmas Gifts - My Top Picks

Still looking for a Christmas gift or two or ideas for your own list? Here are my top picks from skincare brand Elemis and they even include a fab few for the men...

First up is the gorgeous Scent of Spa Candle £25 

With a burn time of 40 hours this candle embraces the scent of Christmas with Cinnamon, Orange and Vanilla

Spa Body Treats £27.50

Lime and Ginger Hand and Body Wash 100ml

Revitalise-Me Shower Gel 100ml

Skin Nourishing Shower Cream 100ml

Lime and Ginger Hand and Body Lotion 50ml

Skin Nourishing Body Lotion 50ml

The Art Of Travelling For Her £68

The ultimate travel kit from Elemis contains the following top selling favourites

Skin Nourishing Shower Cream 100ml
Soothing Apricot Toner 50ml
Frangipani Monoi Body Oil 35ml
Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser 30ml
Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream 20ml
Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm 15ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15ml
Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml

For Him 

The Art Of Travelling For Him £49.90

Jet setting men will appreciate this perfect gift complete in a travel case

Revitalise-Me Shower Gel 100ml
Sharp Shower Body Wash 100ml
Daily Moisture Boost 50ml
Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 50ml
Skin Soothe Shave Gel 30ml
S.O.S Survival Cream 20ml

Shaving Legends Gift Set £25

Love a chap who is super smooth and clean shaven, this is the ideal gift.

Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 200ml
Ice-Cool Foaming Shave Gel 200ml

And finally, these mini facial sets are a perfect introduction or travel companion for skincare enthusiasts and they come complete in a silver travel purse. 

Brilliantly Beautiful £35

Pro-Radiance Cleansing Balm 20ml

Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules 14 caps
Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15ml

Radiance Revealed £35

Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser 30 ml
Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask 15ml
NEW Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm 15ml
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15ml

Happy Shopping x

Christmas Gift Ideas From Aromatherapy Associates

Every year Aromatherapy Associates come out with some beautiful Christmas gifts and this year is no exception. Something to fulfill every budget I think these gifts will be well received, if you haven't tried this Essential Oil Bath and Body care companies products then you are missing out!

Stocking Filler or Tree Decoration - Little Bell £10.00 7.5ml miniature bottle of Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil

Festive Bath and Shower Collection £35 10 x 3ml bottles - Beautifully presented in a Christmas Tree design,  includes

Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil 

Relax Light Bath and Shower Oil 

De-Stress Mind Bath and Shower Oil

De-Stress Muscle Bath and Shower Oil

Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil 

Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Breathe Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Lavender & Peppermint Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Equilibrium Bath and Shower Oil  

Inner Strength Bath and Shower Oil 

The Ultimate Collection £50 9 x 7.5ml, as the name suggestion the ultimate gift for aromatherapy fans, this contains something for every mood and feeling ...

Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil 

Relax Light Bath and Shower Oil 

De-Stress Mind Bath and Shower Oil

De-Stress Muscle Bath and Shower Oil

Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil 

Revive Evening Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Breathe Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Lavender & Peppermint Bath and Shower Oil 

Support Equilibrium Bath and Shower Oil  

Relax Deep Night Ritual Set £65 - Give someone the gift of a good night's sleep with this luxurious set which includes the following - 

Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil - 55ml 

Relax Candle 

Deep Relax Balm

With the relaxing and restful properties of vetivert, camomile and sandalwood essential oils in the Shower Oil and the calming properties of West Indian Bay and Myrrh this is a truly serene and peaceful gift.

Rose fans will be in for a treat with the Rose Deluxe Trio Set £29 - This indulgent gift set includes 

New Renewing Rose Hand Cream 75ml with essential omega 6 and skin conditioning passion flower extract
Hydrating Moisturising Lip Balm 7ml with rich plant oils and botanicals to soothe and protect lips
A luxury size Renewing Rose Body Wash 40ml with rose, geranium and camomile which will gently cleanse skin and leave it beautifully fragranced.

If you love a scented candle and let's face it they make a perfect Christmas gift,  Aromatherapy Associates have 3 fabulous scents to choose from and they include one of my all time favourite candles, such good quality and of course beautifully packaged - they have a burn time of 40 hours.

Revive £34.00 - an uplifting citrus blend of Grapefruit & Petitgrain
Relax £34.00 - a warming blend of West Indian bay & Myrrh (a BeautySwot favourite!)
Indulgence £34.00 - an exotic blend of Jasmine & Geranium 

All items available online from www.aromatherapyassociates.com , their spas and www.feelunique.com

Happy 4th Birthday Son!

At the beginning of the month it was my son's 4th Birthday.

On the actual day we took him into London for a day out to visit The London Aquarium on the Southbank. This was a HUGE hit. He loved the walkway where the sharks and fish swim above and below you.

There was so much  to look at and learn about, he is still talking about it now. We spent around 2 hours there and that was plenty to see everything and answer the questions that are at various sections, if you fill it in you get a medal at the end. He was so happy to get his medal.

I highly recommend a visit to it.

Afterwards we walked along the Southbank where he could see the London Eye, wave at the River Boats going past on the Thames and watch a variety of of street performers, his favourite act were some incredibly talented street dancers.

He asked if he could go bowling so in the afternoon we headed off to bowl and finished the day with a visit to ASK restaurant for dinner.

Yesterday we celebrated with a pirate themed party, he absolutely loved his cake :-)

He loves dressing up and his favourite Superhero is Spiderman so he was delighted when he got given one as one of his presents...

Happy Birthday Aaron! x

Pearl Lowe for DP London - Limited Edition Candle Collection

In a creative collaboration, DP London has partnered with British designer Pearl Lowe to create a range of collector's edition candles in its 3 iconic fragrances.

"For me scent is quite simply the ultimate home accessory. I love transforming the mood with these candles and find candlelight so decadent. They envelop a room with scent that lingers for hours, and create complete calm in my home. The travel candles are also amazing as they help me to take a little home comfort with me and also work equally well in a guest room at home" Pearl Lowe

Pearl Lowe for DP London Spiced Punch (100% natural wax) £30 for 190g


Spiced Punch is the perfect winter scent. A blend of bergamot, orange peel, cedar wood and cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla. Can anything evoke the scent of Christmas quite like this?

I have been burning this candle for the last few evenings, it is incredibly calming and wraps the room in a gorgeously light spicy scent. This is neither overly masculine or feminine.

Pearl Lowe for DP London Candle Trio (100% natural wax) £30 for 3 x 50g


This set would make an ideal Christmas Gift,  it features 3 equally wonderful scented mini candles all with a Pearl Lowe design.

Spiced Punch - as above
White Flowers - A heavenly blend of exotic Jasmine, the purest Moroccan roses and sweet Orange Blossom in bloom.
Citrus Fruits - A warm blend of Sicilian lemon peel, juicy orange combined with the fresher, green citrus notes of Italian bergamot and a spicy twist of root ginger.

DP London candles have strong eco-credentials, being neither damaging to your health or the environment -All candles are made from 100% natural wax, containing a sustainable beeswax and EcoSoya with an organic fragrance. They may be used singly or together to create an alluring aroma. They contain no paraffin (the mining of which is unsustainable) or palm oil (a product which contributes to deforestation). The candles are presented in a reusable bespoke, handmade Japanese porcelain container.

These candles are beautiful and I think this is a perfect partnership of Pearl Lowe's style and design and DP London's beauty and lifestyle brand.


The Pearl Lowe for DP London Candle range is available from Selfridges and ASOS.com as well as from DP London's own site www.dplondon.com


*PR Sample

Miller Harris Breakfast & Launch Of New Candle Collection!

If you are in London next week you may like to visit the Miller Harris tea room on Bruton Street, from Tuesday to Friday next week (17th-20th) from 9-11am they will be serving breakfast featuring their very own Orange blossom marmalade.

The Breakfast Menu

This breakfast is to celebrate the launch of a new candle collection.

The new Edit collection comprises of three new designs of natural wax candle. Discover these exquisite fragrances presented as a giant candle, pillar candle and tall dinner candles for candle sticks.

Large Candle in Bois Figuier - £65 for 615g

This oversized, double-wick candle is presented in a luxurious glass jar printed with their iconic botanical design. Made from 100% natural wax, the candle is richly scented in Bois Figuier, a fragrance that captures the green and fleshy notes of ripe figs. A heart of pulpy fruit is followed by santal, cedar and tree moss with top notes of rosemary, cypress and Sicilian lemon to add a twist of the Mediterranean.

Pillar Candle in Bois Sauvage - £55 for 2kg

This statement candle is scented with Bois Sauvage, a scent that evokes the heat, vegetation and terrain of the garrigue with fresh and aromatic notes of Italian bergamot, Tunisian rosemary and thyme absolute from France. The candle is completed with a black cameo seal stamped with the pom flower design, creating a beautiful contrast with the warm grey wax of the candle.

Dinner Candles in Bois Fumé - £30 for 6 x 7”
These elegant candles have been dipped with a light wash of fragrance so that they impart a subtle hint of fragrance that will not distract the palette if used at the dinner table. Scented in Bois Fumé, they create an immediate impression of smoky birch and black tobacco, which then reveals an undertone of nutmeg and cumin. The base is cedar, vetiver and santal.

Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle

This candle from Aromatherapy claims to be relaxing so needless to say I  was curious to see if it was true to its description...

The relax candle is scented with spicy West Indian bay, Geranium and the precious oil Myrrh..an appealing blend at this time of the year.

This candle is simply beautiful, it looks attractive in a heavy frosted glass and packaged in a soft gold box. - first smell and I was hooked - so delicate with a hint of spice. Within 5 minutes of the candle being lit there was a beautiful, gentle aroma swirling around my living room. Soon I was transported to far away shores in a dreamy haze. This scented candle had the ability to relax and calm me down after the hectic day I had had and melt away any worries..

 I was so impressed, usually in the evenings my mind is working over time, going over the day I have had and what I need to do the next day, added to that anything else that has cropped up that might be praying on my mind.

The way I felt having had this lit for an hour was interesting when compared to the claims from Aromatherapy Associates - The beautiful aroma of spicy West Indian Bay warms and comforts while Geranium uplifts the room and helps to balance the emotions. The precious oil of Myrrh traditionally known to protect the spirit, completes the aroma, helping to cleanse the mind.

The piece de resistance? Once I blew out the candle and retired to bed I quite simply had the best night's sleep in a long, long time. Now I want this lit every night!

I think this is a beautiful gift for anyone in need of some relaxation. With the presence of Myrrh it is so apt for this time of the year.

Relax Candle is priced at £24 and is available to purchase from Fortnum and Mason and Liberty of London  or online at www.aromatherapyassociates.com.