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FLUX Period Proof Underwear – A Sustainable Alternative

FLUX PeriodFLUX Period Underwear – A Sustainable Alternative

I’d been looking at sustainable alternatives to sanitary products for a while, but found that they weren’t UK-based, and cost a lot of money. Fast forward to last month and me happening across FLUX period panties. I ended up buying two pairs – the Bikini (coz cute & lacey) and the Detachable (cute & practical) – which I’ve been using for one cycle, to date. I wanted to share my experience with them in the hopes that it will help others.

FLUX Period Panties

FLUX period panties combines four layers of ultra-thin materials to absorb up to 4 tampons worth:

  • Top layer: moisture wicking, so that you stay fresh as a daisy.
  • Second layer: anti-microbial, keeping you squeaky clean.
  • Third layer: absorbs moisture, so you don’t feel wet.
  • Fourth layer: leak-proof, so you’re worry free.

The lining holds for up to 12 hours, depending on your individual flow. And they’re easy to wash too. They can be hand-washed, or put in a cold/30c wash, and air dried.

Would I recommend them?

I’m finding them to be incredibly comfortable, and basically no different to wearing regular underwear. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but they absorb well and do everything they say on the box. I was caught out once when I decided to have dinner after work, and I found myself nearing the 12hr window. But even then I didn’t have any issues other than my own head telling me I needed to go home and change.

Would I recommend them? 100% yes! These have become a replacement for regular sanitary products for me. They’re more sustainable than pads/tampons, and down the road I’ll also be saving a lot of money. FLUX period panties have helped me feel more comfortable and confident, and have changed the way I approach my periods.

Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

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Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel | Review

Rapid Reveal PeelDermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel*

By now we’re all used to at-home beauty remedies. Who doesn’t exfoliate and put on a facemark whilst binging on Netflix? But when it comes to the more complicated treatments, such as facial peels, it becomes a bit more complicated. Well Dermalogica is here to change all of that. They’ve just brought out their Rapid Reveal Peel; a professional-grade at-home peel that helps reveal brighter, healthier skin. 

What is it, and does it work?

Rapid Reveal Peel comes in a 10-pack, complete with a handy travel bag. At it’s core it’s a maximum-strength exfoliant, which delivers powerful results using a unique complex of phytoactive AHA extracts, Lactic Acid and fermented plant enzymes. Put that all together and you’re promised new, firmer skin. Sounds pretty fancy, right? 

So how does it do what it says on the tube? Well it’s pretty simple really. It kick-starts cell renewal to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and evens out skin tone by resurfacing the skin – leaving you with smoother, brighter skin.

Rapid Reveal Peel – final thoughts

First off can I say that I love that I don’t need to pay a ton of money to visit a salon for a facial peel now. I really can’t stress how easy this is to use. I’m currently on my 5th tube, and since I started using it, I’ve seen a big improvement in my skin. I was having a particularly bad time with breakouts, dryness and dull skin when I started. But I’m half way through the treatment and my skin feels brighter and a lot smoother. I can’t wait to finish the pack and really see how much it’s changed.

The Dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel costs £79, which may seem like a lot, but those that frequent spas for this kind of treatment will know that it usually costs a lot more. And of course a face peel isn’t something you’re going to do day-in-day-out – more like every few months – so you’re not going to need to repurchase this as frequently as say an exfoliator. Honestly, after seeing how much of an impact this has had on my skin, I am definitely adding this to my at-home regime.

You can purchase the Rapid Reveal Peel at Dermalogica.
Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

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My Beauty Must Haves: Dermalogica

Beauty Must HavesMy Beauty Must Haves: Dermalogica

I have sensitive skin and I’m not afraid to say it. But sometimes I am afraid to use beauty products on it. My issue with the majority of brands is that they use chemicals and alcohol in their products, and that upsets my skin, a lot. Because of this – and for many other reasons – I chose to turn my beauty cabinet around.

Dermalogica was one of the new brands I introduced into my routine. At the heart of their brand, Dermalogica offers a product line free of common irritants and ingredients that could cause breakouts (including lanolin, SD alcohol, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances). Exactly what I wanted. It was a brand that I’d had my eyes on for a few years but never tried. I picked up their Daily Microfoliant and suddenly I understood the buzz.

Beauty Must Haves: Dermalogica

Recently Dermalogica offered to send me some of their hero products. I may or may not have given an audible squeal when I read the message, and I think I typed out ‘yes, I love you’ quicker than when I said the exact same thing to my fiancé when he proposed. I’m joking…kinda. Seriously though, I was so ridiculously happy when I received my parcel, because it included not only my favourite product, but several I had yet to try.

I have already started using the primer, and I’m very excited to try the Precleanse (and everything else, duh)!

If you’re new to Dermalogica, and you can’t invest in a whole new set of products, their skin kits are a great way to introduce some of their top products into your skincare regime. Or you can get one for free if you do fancy a little spree, and spend over £60. Not bad, ey?

Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

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Inko Nito London | Where to Eat in London

Inko Nito LondonInko Nito London | Soho | Japanese Robata | Map

I cook a lot of Japanese food at home, and I’m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. So when a new Japanese restaurant opens up in London, it takes a lot to get me out of the house and believe in the hype. Well hello Inko Nito, a Japanese fusion robatayaki (fireside cooking) restaurant based in the heart of Soho. I was recently invited to their press event, and after reading the contemporary menu I was intrigued. In fact I was more than intrigued. I was drawn in by the promise of flavour explosions – and an umeshu negroni – all in a minimalist scandi setting. Basically, my dream kinda restaurant – I was there with bells on!

What did we eat?

  • SALADS
    • Edamame, soy, mirin, ginger, sea salt
    • Avocado, quinoa, edamame, green bean, apple wasabi dressing
    • Romaine lettuce, spicy cashew nut miso
  • NIGAKI
    • The cali; Portland crab, avocado, wasabi tobiko, yuzu mayo
    • The veggie; avocado, yuzu, garlic, crispy rice
    • The chirashi; salmon, yellowtail, wasabi shiso
  • HOT
    • Panko fried chicken, chili garlic yogurt
    • Fried shrimp, spicy Korean miso, sesame seeds, lime
    • Tofu kara-age, miso mayo, nori
  • MEAT
    • Chicken wings, ume-boshi, green chili, mint, sansho
    • Bone marrow, smoked soy, garlic toast, shallot
    • Prime beef short rib, peanut chilli oil, spring onions
  • FISH
    • Grilled prawn toast, sesame, wasabi mayo, katsuobushi
    • Cobia collar, brown butter ponzu, lemon
  • VEGETABLE
      • Cauliflower, garlic soy aioli, parmesan panko
      • Tenderstem broccolini, onion wafu
      • Baked potato, yuzu kosho sour cream, spring onions
  • THE SWEETEST THING
    • Charred coconut soft serve, soy, pocky, Japanese granola

Final thoughts on Inko Nito London

I wish I could go into detail on how much I enjoyed the individual dishes we ate, but no one has time to read a blog post that long. Instead I’ve highlighted my personal favourites (above) and will give you a short summary.

Alongside the spacious interior at Inko Nito, you’ll find a pretty vast menu, but don’t let that deter you. Honestly it’s the kind of restaurant where you’ll enjoy any dish that you order. A lot of well known Japanese flavours are featured on the menu, as is to be expected. However you’ll also find a whole bunch of innovative and moreish fusion delights to please your palate. Would I go back? Definitely! Price-wise it costs around £30pp, which isn’t too bad for a decent meal in London. In fact since I was invited to the press launch I’ve already been back with friends, and paid with my own money. If that doesn’t say how much I enjoyed eating at Inko Nito London, I don’t know what will.

Check out more: Where to Eat in London

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Inko Nito London

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Galvin at The Athenaeum | Where to Eat in London

AthenaeumGalvin at The Athenaeum | Mayfair | British cuisine | Map

On possibly one of the hottest days of the year, I decided to brave the tube. Why? Because at the other end of the line, Galvin at The Athenaeum was calling. Based in the Mayfair hotel, the restaurant comes from Michelin-starred London chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. Known for their French-inspired menus, the brothers have stepped away from their trademark for the first time. All in favour of championing Britain’s delicious homegrown produce, and supporting independent farmers across the UK.

We arrived feeling slightly overheated, so of course a drink was in order. We headed straight to the beautifully designed THE BAR at The Athenaeum. Plush interiors cooled us down, whilst the small nooks invited us to take a private seat. Our choice of drink, gin & tonic; from their substantial collection of premium gins. As we sipped away, and nibbled on bar snacks, we chatted about what we would order on the menu.

So what did we eat?

  • Terrine of ham, chicken and foie gras with red onion marmalade
    • Chunky meat and subtle flavours complimented well by a sweet marmalade.
  • Smoked duck, plum, poached egg & hollandaise
    • A step-up from your usual ‘benedict’ – I definitely had food envy after stealing a bite of the smoked duck.
  • Fish pie (daily special)
    • Fish pie is one of my go-to comfort foods, so I can be critical. That said, I was let pretty satisfied after trying this one. It was packed full of cod, prawns and salmon, with a thin layer of mashed potato. My only con was that it didn’t use eggs, and I would have liked to have seen some smoked fish in the mix.
  • Sunday Roast
    • The roast here comes with the option of chicken, pork or sirloin beef. Ben went for sirloin, which was cooked pink and seasoned well. It was superbly tender and melted in my mouth – I couldn’t resist trying some.
  • Dessert/Cheese buffet (unlimited)
    • A novel idea, the dessert buffet was full of well-known favourites and a few surprises. I was personally delighted to see ‘Apple, pear & almond tart’, which I piled onto my plate alongside sugary meringues and freshly whipped cream.

The Weekend Lunch Menu comes with unlimited bubbly.

Final thoughts on Galvin at The Athenaeum

Our visit to Galvin at The Athenaeum was the perfect way to spend a Summer afternoon. We were completely won over by the bar, and as you can tell from above we fully enjoyed our meal too. My only regret is that I filled up on my starters and mains, and I would have loved to sample more of the desserts and cheeses (I was too full to try any) on offer.

Would I go back? Oh yes! After experiencing the weekend lunch menu I’d love to see what else Galvin at The Athenaeum has to offer. Perhaps afternoon tea, or dinner? Almost definitely drinks and bar snacks!

Check out more: Where to Eat in London

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This post is in collaboration with Galvin at The Athenaeum, however all images, words and opinions are my own.

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A Rather Bazaar Beauty Box | Review

Bazaar Beauty BoxBazaar Beauty Box by Latest In Beauty

Remember when beauty boxes were a thing? It’s been a while since it was popular for companies to charge us an arm and a leg for travel size samples; you were one of the lucky few if you found a rare full size product in your box. After the hype died down, I personally took to researching products and buying the full size versions. And I was happy. But then VA went and sent me a link to the latest ‘Latest in Beauty’ box. It included a collaboration with none other than Harper’s Bazaar – a brand that had won me over previously with their Birchbox collaboration. I couldn’t resist finding out more.

So what’s inside?

The limited-edition Spring/Summer beauty edit features high-end favourites from the likes of Laura Mercier, Elemis, Dermalogica, and many more.

  • Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant (full size)
  • Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder (full size)
  • MAC Prep + Prime Fix + (full size)
  • Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair  (full size)
  • Benefit They’re Real Mascara (full size)
  • Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Day Cream (15ml travel size)
  • Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Essence (50ml travel size)
  • Fresh Vitamin Nectar Vibrancy-Boosting Face Mask (15ml travel size)
  • Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (30ml travel size)
  • Alpha H Liquid Gold (50ml travel size)
  • Shavata Complimentary Brow-Shape (gift card)

Bazaar Beauty Box – final thoughts

This box is worth an incredible £224! But is it worth £50 (that’s the RRP) of your hard earned cash? Well quite frankly, yes it is. This box includes some amazing – and expensive – products. I already had plans to repurchase the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, and the MAC Prep + Prime Fix +. So straight off I’d saved myself £18, and that was without counting all the extra products that came in the box.

The amount of full size products is way more than most beauty boxes. And these are popular products, they’re not just cast offs from some company you’ve never heard of. I’ve already started using a few of the items, and I’m excited to try out all of the others (yes, all of them). £50 is a lot of money, but I am so glad I splurged on this.

You can purchase the Bazaar Beauty Box at Latest in Beauty.
Check out more of my beauty must-haves now!

Bazaar Beauty Box Bazaar Beauty Box Bazaar Beauty Box

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Abd el Wahab London | Restaurant Review

Abd el Wahab LondonAbd el Wahab London | Belgravia | Lebanese cuisine | Map

I’ve always loved Lebanese food, so when I heard a new restaurant was popping up I just had to try it. The latest addition to Belgravia is Abd el Wahab, situated on Pont Street – the first branch to open outside of the Middle East. The elegant interiors of the restaurant compliment the neighbourhood well. Pplenty of thought has gone into the decor, and it’s contribution to the dining experience as a whole. With a ‘living wall’ of plants, tons of natural light, and comfy chairs, I was suitably impressed. Now all they had to do was win me over with their food…

Our menu for the evening

Cold Starters

  • Fattouch Salad
  • Tabbouleh
  • Mixed Pickles
  • Moutabbal (smoked aubergine dip)
  • Hummus
  • Stuffed Vine Leafs
  • Flatbreads

 Hot Starters

  • Sojok (sliced spicy sausages)
  • Pan Fried Eggs with Kawarma Meat
  • Cheese Rolls
  • Kebbeh (deep fried ball stuffed with minced meat)

Main

  • Mixed Grill

Dessert

  • Maamoul Flake
  • Lebanese baklawa

Final thoughts on Abd el Wahab London

The hot & cold starters are not to miss at Abd el Wahab, and I would recommend eating them with plenty of friends and family. Why? Because it means you get to order and share even more!  Luckily for us we were able to try all of the dishes. My personal favourites were the ‘Pan Fried Eggs with Kawarma Meat’ (we all agreed it would make a great brunch food), the ‘Sojok’ (ever so slightly spicy), and the ‘Hummus’ (because, hummus).

However, the stars of the show are admittedly the desserts. The ‘Maamoul Flake’ was a masterpiece, which was quickly devoured…once the appropriate amount of photos had been taken, obviously. And the ‘Baklawa’ did not disappoint my cravings for the honey soaked pastry. In fact I enjoyed it so much I may have just stolen some from the table next door.

My personal opinion is that some cuisines are so good you don’t need to go to an upscale restaurant to enjoy the best of them. Lebanese is one of these cuisines. That said, if you live in West London or you feel like something slightly more fancy, then Abd el Wahab is the place for you.

Would I go back? If I was in the area, I’d love to stop by for coffee and baklawa. Or perhaps some prosecco, if appropriate (when isn’t it?).

Check out more: Where to Eat

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This post is in collaboration with Abd el Wahab, however all words and opinions are my own.

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