Love Lula: Pierre de Plaisir Scrubbing Stone for Body

I've been testing out Pierre de Plaisir Scrubbing Stone for Body (£12.99 - 90g)* which is a unique and innovative exfoliator which you use wet with your shower gel for soft and smooth skin. The stone is handmade of natural ingredients and can be used on the body, feet, hands, knees and elbows.

To use: 2-3 times a week depending on type and sensitivity of your skin. Use wet with soap or shower gel. Lather soap or shower gel over the skin before massaging the wet stone over the skin (scrubbing intensity can be varied depending on the area). Thighs, Calves, Buttocks, Feet - Standard Scrubbing and Face, Back, Shoulders, Chest, Hands and Stomach should be soft scrubbing.

I've found my skin is definitely smoother and softer but I haven't noticed any improvement in my cellulite, for instance. I'll definitely keep using it and let you know if I see an improved difference over time.

Have you used one of the scrubbing stones for Face or Body?

*sent to me as part of the love lula accredited blogger program. My post contains one affiliate link

MONO Naturoils Review

I've had the real pleasure to try two of MONO Naturoils best-selling products - their Tranquility Blue Tansy Balm (£42 - 15ml)* and a sample of Serenity Blue Tansy Facial Oil (5ml - £14, 20ml - £49)*. Both product are exquisite, effective and good for the skin and soul (and I can't wait to try more from the range).

Tranquility Blue Tansy Balm is suitable for normal, dry, combo, mature, irritated and sensitive skin types. It's a super luxe product and a little goes a long way (and look at it's beautiful blue colour - it's the little things which make the heart sing!) The scent is relaxing, calming, fruity and earthy and the balm will melt on contact with warm skin making it easy to massage lightly onto the skin.

Formulated with anti-inflammatory and calming Blue Tansy, relaxing German Chamomile and Andiroba, cooling and moisturising Babassu, Capuacu helps to fight free radicals while Camellia rejuvenates, moisturising and strengthening Murumura along with healing and soothing Calendula, Mafura and Yarrow.

It'll penetrate all the skin's layers healing and nourishing and encouraging regeneration and elasticity. It plumps, moisturises, softens and leaves the skin looking glowy.  The balm is infused with the soothing vibrational energy of aquamarine.

Depending on handcrafted batches the balm can be lighter sea green to teal to deeper blue. Violet glass jars help to block out harmful rays.

To use: warm a small amount on the fingertips before massaging onto clean skin.

Serenity Blue Tansy Facial Oil is suitable for all skin types. It'll nourish, protect and moisturise the skin. Supercharged with powerful anti-inflammatories which will keep the skin calm and radiant.  Lines and wrinkles are softened, skin tone and texture is improved, skin is plumped and nourished and the mind is relaxed and calm.

The scent can vary depending on batch and time of year - but it should be sweet, earthy and herbaceous, maybe fruity and zesty. Again, the product is infused with the crystal energy of Aquamarine.

Formulated with Passionfruit which nourishes, rejuvenates and hydrates, glow inducing Camellia, healing and anti-inflammatory Calendula, Olive Squalane improves elasticity and regenerates, Sweet Almond nourishes, moisturises and protects, anti-inflammatory Andiroba, soothing Blue Tansy and calming German Chamomile.

To use: use at night after cleansing. Warm 2 - 4 drops in palm and massage onto the face and neck.

A nice touch is that you can request a sample with your order - more companies should do this!

What's your favourite product from MONO Naturoils?

*complimentary

Naturisimo: Vegan Discovery Box

You'll know how I love Naturisimo's Discovery boxes so couldn't resist their latest one - Vegan Discovery Box (worth £50) and costing £17.95 including p&p.

It's absolutely jam packed!

And for a closer look..

Inside is 11 travel and sample sizes:

From Pacifica, a brand I've been liking quite a lot recently is 29ml of their Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter which smells glorious, almost mouthwatering. I'm looking forward to trying this.

From old favourite Bamford (used to get this a lot in Latest in Beauty boxes) is 100ml of their Geranium, Lavender & Peppermint Body Lotion.

New to me from A'kin is Hydrating Mist Toner 30ml which is a great travel size, I'll be packing this for my next trip.

I'm a huge fan of Briogeo Hair Care and am looking forward to trying Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask 29ml.

From Juice Beauty we have a trial size (5ml) of their Stem Cellular CC Cream in Desert Glow. It's a broad spectrum SPF30 sunscreen which melts onto the skin and has a delicious citrus scent. Desert Glow is for fair-medium skin tones.

I've loved all the meow meow tweet products I've tried so far and this Coconut Cacao Vegan Lip Balm 7g has an almost edible scent and feels really nourishing on the lips (you can also use it on hands and body).

From Green People we have a 10ml size of their Vita Min Fix 24hr Cream which I'm sure I've used before and my skin loved.

From COOLA there is a SPF30 unscented Matte Tinted Moisturiser in Natural Beige 5ml which I'll pack in my holiday bag also.

There's a 5g pot of natural deo balm from the Natural Deodorant Co in Lemon Geranium which smells lush. Looking forward to testing this out.

From Nourish there's a 5ml sachet of their Probiotic Multi-Mineral Repair Mask with Damask Rose & Lavender which is a perfect pamper treat.

The final item is a sachet (0.17oz) of GLOW Inner Beauty Powder from The Beauty Chef which can be blended into water or a smoothie.

It's a great box. Did you pick one up?

Blog Tour: Tell Nobody - DI Lottie Parker #5 by Patricia Gibney

Today I'm on the blog tour for the fabulous Tell Nobody - DI Lottie Parker #5 by Patricia Gibney*. I just adore this series (and Lottie).

The boy’s body was so white it was almost transparent. But that’s not what caused the nausea to rise up her throat. He was so young. His body was unmarked, surrounded by a halo of plucked wildflowers. 

One hot summer evening, eleven-year-old  Mikey Driscoll  is on the way home from playing with friends. Two days later, his body is discovered on a bed of wildflowers by some local teenagers. 

The case is assigned to  Detective Lottie Parker  and this time it’s personal. The victim was a close friend of her son,  Sean , from the run-down Munbally estate on the other side of town. Sean tells his mother Mikey was behaving normally before he died, but Lottie can’t help but feel that her son is keeping something from her… 

Then days later, another boy is found dead, surrounded by wild flowers next to beautiful Ladystown Lake. 

On the hunt for a twisted individual with a terrifying calling card, Lottie must uncover the web of secrets within Mikey’s circle of friends. Someone is hiding something but who are they protecting and can Lottie find out before it’s too late? Lottie is desperate to catch the killer before he strikes again because this time her own child could be in terrible danger… 

If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love the latest heart-stopping thriller from Patricia Gibney. Tell Nobody will keep you guessing until the very last page.  

My thoughts?

I devoured this fast paced read over two days and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it!

The body of eleven year old Mikey Driscoll is found by local teenagers. Lottie Parker and the team are immediately on the case. Days later another local boy is found in similar circumstances also surrounded by wild flowers and the team are afraid they have may have a serial killer in their midst.

The team need to quickly find out who is killing these young boys and why. A newborn baby is also found dead by Lottie’s son Sean and his friend Barry.

I liked how things are developing between Lottie and Boyd. Kirby and Gilly also seem to be becoming romantically involved. There is also a stranger from America asking about Lottie who may someone connected with her past.

At home Lottie is counting the days till their new house is ready. Her mother Rose, while generously opening her home to them is seriously doing her head in. She can’t wait to have her own space again.

A late teens girl arrives at the garda station covered in blood and indicating she killed someone. Is she connected to the death of Mikey or what? As ever the pain that is Superintendent MacMahon is still trying to bring Lottie down.

A fast paced and thrilling read with some real heartache within its pages and a killer I never suspected! Brilliant!

*complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley

AA Skincare: Lavender Gel - Calming Multipurpose Gel

I've been testing out AA Skincare's Lavender Calming Multipurpose Gel 50ml (£6.96)* which is soothing and antiseptic and helps to relieve skin irritations.

As ever it's an effective and very affordable product coming in a pump action bottle - you know how much I love a multi-use product!

The clear aromatic gel (it has a gentle lavender scent) cools and hydrates and absorbs quickly calming and soothing irritated skin. It's great also for cuts, bruises, bites, stings, as a cooling aftersun gel, to soothe a headache (apply to temples) and as a make up remover! It's the one you want to pack for your holidays for sure!

Formulated with healing and repairing comfrey, uplifting and balancing rose geranium, moisturising and healing calendula and soothing and calming lavender. Gingseng is anti-ageing and skin firming while Honey softens and nourishes.

To use: apply where needed as and when required massaging a small amount onto the skin.

What's your favourite product by AA Skincare?

*complimentary

Giveaway: The Rose Tree De-stress Juniper & Grapefruit Body Oil - Travel Size

I've got a lovely giveaway for one of my readers - you can win a travel sized De-Stress Juniper & Grapefruit Body Oil 30ml* worth £12.50 from The Rose Tree.  All you need to do is follow the Rafflecopter below & Good Luck!

The de-stressing blend absorbs instantly leaving the skin deeply nourished and calmed. Formulated with Jojoba, Argan and Apricot oils combined with healing calendula and a stress relieving blend of geranium, juniper and grapefruit. Made with 92% organic ingredients, it's Vegan, Gluten Free and packaged in an airtight airless pump bottle. 

It will leave the skin deeply nourished and delicately scented. It's a real luxury pampering treat.

*complimentary - sent as a giveaway prize

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Planted 100% Natural Gift Set - Skincare Essentials

I do love a try-me set and this one by Planted (£30 for 4 mini items)* is a great try me or for holidays. It comes cutely packaged in a little bag making it the ideal gift.

Inside is:

A really good quality organic muslin cloth, Virgin Shea & Cocoa Whipped Body Butter (50ml), Nutrient Rich Face Cream (15ml), Circulation Boosting Orange Coffee Scrub (50ml) and Oil Cleanser with Black Cumin & Raw Honey (60ml).

The range is created and formulated by a make up artist and beauty consultant, Melissa Chartan who has spent years researching and blending oils, learning specific benefits to each oil and which combinations work best. Planted was founded in 2016.

Oil Cleanser with Black Cumin and Raw Honey* - this oil-to-milk has a gel like texture and a sweet spiced scent. Massage over dry skin to dissolve daily grime and make up before placing the dampened cloth over the skin to steam open the pores before wiping away the excess with the cloth. The skin is left feeling clean and comfortable.  This is one of my favourites.

Nutrient Rich Face Cream* - which is formulated with 11 of the most nutrient dense plant oils. Apply a small amount to the face and neck AM and PM. The cream has a neutral sort of scent. Skin is left nourished and regenerated.

Circulation Boosting Orange Coffee Scrub* - is the best coffee scrub I've used! It's got a lush, rich and creamy texture with a delicious almost edible scent and enough "scrubbiness" for my liking. I did find however it was slightly too rich for my face but loved using it on my body including dry elbows, knees and feet. Massage onto damp skin, leave 5 minutes for it to work it's magic before rinsing. 

The organic coffee in this scrub is grown by female farmers in co-operatives and small farms to enable them work for themselves and make their lives better.  It also contains nourishing shea butter, plant oils and unrefined cane sugar. Absolutely love and it will be purchased again and again!

Virgin Shea and Cocoa Whipped Body Butter* which deeply hydrates the skin. It's a blend of Shea and Cocoa butters and is lightly scented with Lavender & Geranium. It melts on contact with warm skin making it an indulgent pampering treat.

Have you used any products by Planted?

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program. My post contains one affiliate link