We love Italy and we’re also passionate about high quality, natural beauty products, so when we discovered a brand that combines the two, we were sold. Casa Mencarelli is a luxurious five-piece collection of gorgeous natural skincare products made with fresh, food-grade, handpicked Italian ingredients. Most importantly, the products are free of essential oils, mineral oils and synthetics, with no fillers and no added fragrances. Having suffered from sensitive skin my entire life, I’m all too aware of how irritating some products can be when applied to the skin.
 
The range was developed by founder, Lucia Mencaralli, after she experienced a severe anaphalactic reaction to a skin lotion, which meant she had to overhaul her lifestyle and go 100% organic, to reduce her exposure to toxic chemicals and minimize strong allergic reactions. 

The range
The range includes five products: Sea Buckthorn Balm, Sicilia Lemon and Clay face Mask & Scrub, Sole e Mare Sea Buckthorn Serum, Crema Di Pomodoro Nourishing Tomato Night Cream & Cleanser, and the Acqua Di Miele Honey & Orange Toner.  The base of each product contains a cornucopia of nourishing ingredients including extra virgin olive oil, tomato seed oil (to promote skin elasticity), rice bran oil (for hydration and anti-ageing benefits), almond oil (skin soothing) and grape seed oil and citrus fruit. Casa Mencarelli also sources a unique, rich green clay from uncontaminated clay pits, dense in ultra-beneficial oligoelements and minerals from the Sicilian sea. Oligo-elements are pure trace minerals that are present in the organism in minute quantities. They are necessary for the development of animal and vegetal life and are essential for our metabolic balance.

The verdict
At first glance, we were blown away by the beauty of the packaging. The products are housed in lovely weighty glass jars, making them seem very indulgent, and they come in an understated white box with a chic, Mediterranean floral mosaic tile pattern, which is also replicated on the product labels.  Given their gorgeousness, they look beautiful proudly displayed front and centre on your vanity or bathroom counter and would make the perfect gift for any beauty lover.
 
Here’s our review of all the products within the range, which work together harmoniously to deliver glowing skin:

Sea Buckthorn Balm (£45.00 for 60ml)
Again, this balm was a bit heavy for my oiler skin type, but for anyone with very dry skin, it would be ideal as it’s packed with antioxidants, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids to repair and regenerate the cells.  ​

There's nothing like the smell of coconut to instantly transport one into holiday mode. So, when I heard about the new CoCo LoCo  Jet Set haircare kit by award-winning hairdresser Lee Stafford, I couldn't wait to get my mitts on it.

The Jet Set kit comes with a Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo hairdryer, a travel size 50ml bottle of Lee Stafford CoCo Lo Shampoo and CoCo Lo Conditioner and a stylish rose gold bag to keep everything tidy in your suitcase. The shampoo and conditioner have a seriously sweet fragrance, which I personally enjoy, but if you find confectionery fragranced products a bit too much, they might be a bit saccharine for your liking. 

To test it's true travel worthiness, I took the Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo Jet Set kit on a weekend visit to Madrid. Although, the hairdryer has a folding handle, it is quite large for a travel hairdryer - especially if like me, you're going on a weekend jaunt and are only taking hand luggage.  So, while I won't be taking this hairdryer on any further holidays, it's good for home use.

The main claim to fame for this hairdryer is that it's grill has a ceramic coating infused with coconut oil, renowned for making hair silky, shiny and smooth.  While I was disappointed that I couldn't actually smell any evidence of the coconut oil infusion, my hair was nice and smooth afterwards, so I'll take their word for it!  ​​

​The Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo Jet Set range is available at www.leestaffordelectricals.com from £20.00.

Ashley Miln

I love to keep my teeth looking their best, so for me tooth whitening is an essential step in my oral hygiene routine. I personally feel that bright white teeth make you look more youthful and help you put your best face forward.

White Glo is Australia's leading whitening toothpaste. Originally developed for models and actors, the professional whitening toothpaste is now available in the UK too. ​

I tried three of their whitening products: the White Glo Diamond Series Advanced Teeth Whitening System, White Glo Coffee & Tea Drinkers' Formula and White Glo Professional Choice, all of which gave me natural looking whiter teeth.

The Advanced Teeth Whitening System is especially effective if you have stubborn surface stains, as it comes with a mouth-guard,which you simply add the whitening solution to and then place over your teeth. Unlike many teeth whitening products, these products didn't leave me with overly sensitive teeth, making it a new favourite.
A.A. Miln

Celebrity hair colourist Daniel Galvin Jr  has recently launched OrganicHeadTM, a collection of salon professional haircare
products, made with organic and botanical extracts.

The range was tried and tested in his Belgravia salon by his A-list clients and is free of any parabens, SLS, mineral oils or
animal ingredients.

Rich in essential oils including organic aloe vera, orange oil, argan oil and wheat proteins, the OH! range comprises a full range of everyday shampoos and conditioners for blondes, brunettes and over-processed hair.

Containing an exclusive blend of Mediterranean sea salt, organic olive leaf, lemon, vine leaf, organic wild thyme and organic fennel extracts it delivers nutrients back into the hair and scalp.

I tried the Organic Head Blonde Shampoo, which left my hair feeling soft and supple. After using this for a week, I noticed a subtle lightening effect, making it a great product if you're looking to refresh your colour while you await your next salon colour treatment.

The full range is available from www.danielgalvinjunior.com for £7.00.

A.A. Miln

We're always searching for non-greasy moisturisers that are gentle on our skin, so we were pleased to discover the Hydrating Facial Serum from What Skin Needs.

Formulated with a blend of vitamins, plant extracts and the powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant Plantolin, this lightweight serum delivers exceptional hydrating and cell renewing properties deep into the skin.

The gentle formula can improve scarring, pigmentation and dry, dull skin. While I don't have any pigmentation issues, I do have dry skin, thanks to cold winter days, and this does the job nicely.
​
To use, simply massage into your skin after cleansing and allow to fully absorb and you're on your way to softer, smoother skin.

A.A. Miln

I love wearing perfume as I feel it completes my daily beauty regime.  While many people have a signature fragrance that they wear everyday, I tend to get bored with wearing the same fragrance, so I'm always keen to discover new perfumes.

I recently stumbled upon Leighton Denny Light and Dark Desire, a woody cedar fragrance with citrusy top notes of grapefruit and lemon tempered with moss, spicy pepper and nutmeg, creating an alluring fragrance that finishes with an amber controlled vetiver and patchouli mix. 

I loved the stylish black and white packaging the perfume comes in and the blue, almost star-shaped bottle is very eye catching and would look great displayed on any dressing table.   The fragrance itself is hard to describe, but it very unique and unlike anything I've ever worn, which really sets it apart.  For those who like a strong, sexy slightly masculine fragrance that will get you noticed, than this scent's for you!

Leighton Denny Light and Dark Desire is available from ld-boutique.com for £43.50 (70ml).

A.A. Miln

A love of red wine and coffee means that I find my once pearly whites need a frequent top up with whitening products to keep them looking as white as possible. 

I recently tried the Instant Whites tooth whitening system, which is comprised of handy individual liquid-filled swab applicators, which claim to make teeth up to nine shades whiter in one week by removing plaque and surface stains.

As anyone who whitens their teeth knows, whitening can often cause sensitivity, but with the Instant Whites I didn't have any post whitening sensitivity.

Another benefit of this whitening system is that it works on all tooth surfaces - not just natural teeth - so if you have veneers, caps, crowns, dentures or bonding, this product will work for you.  I have a cap on my front tooth and have previously had issues with the cap remaining the same colour while my natural teeth lightened, but with this system all of my teeth were whitened effectively.   

A.A. Miln

If you have a fair complexion that's looking a bit lacklustre after a general lack of sun over the winter months, then you're not alone.   I for one find that by this time of the year I'm a bit fed up with looking like a pale, more sickly version of myself, so I'm always on the hunt for a bit of help in the way of fabulous products to give me a bit of colour or a healthy glow.

To help you get your own glow on, I've rounded up some of my favourite beauty products for helping to perk up your pallor:

Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Instant Soft Focus Beauty Flash Primer (£38.50)
This popular primer is great to use underneath your foundation, or on its own for a relaxed, effortlessly dewy look. The soft focus ceramic microspheres ‘roll’ into wrinkles and scatter light to help create more youthful skin. I like to use mine before applying my foundation and then I also use a dab on my cheekbones once my foundation is in place to give my skin a fresh look.

Leighton Denny Sunbelievable Face Hydrating Facial Tan (medium) with Youth Glow Serum (£27.50 for 50ml)
This face tanner contains a unique blend of Organic Black Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil and Virgin Plum Oil to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, while Hyaluronic Acid restores smoothness and hydrates. Skin feels younger and looks plumper, restored and replenished immediately while also giving a subtle glow.  It's easy to apply and gives a gradual glow, so you don't have to worry about looking like a tangerine.

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster (£19.00 for 100ml)
For a quick face tanning pick me up, this is my 'go to' product. Every time I wear it, people say I look like I've caught a bit of sun - which is the desired effect! Depending on the level of colour you're looking for, simply add one, two or three drops to your moisturiser, mix it in your hands and apply to your skin as you would normally moisturise. Best of all, it's perfectly portable size (100ml), makes it perfect for travel. I keep mine in my travel bag, so I can top up tan as soon as I land.
​
Manuka Doctor Api Bronze Anti-Cellulite Bronzing Gel (£24.99)
Although this bronzing gel has the typical self-tanning product smell (e.g. that slightly odd smell you get when you walk into a tanning salon), it goes on easily and provides a natural, streak free tan that lasts for a few days before needing to be reapplied. As an added bonus, it also helps reduce the appearance of cellulite and improves skin’s firmness. For the perfect application, use a tanning mitt to help prevent steaks and prevent your hands from getting stained. Use before you jaunt off to holiday and you'll be beach ready in no time! 

A.A. Miln

I've found that the older I've gotten, the thinner my hair seems to have become, making my once thick, lustrous mane a thing of the past.  I'm not sure whether this is down to age (most likely, everything else seems to be!) or years of highlighting my hair (sorry hair, but blondes really do have more fun), but whatever it is, I'm determined to give my hair the best chance I can to help it to remain strong and healthy.

Thankfully, the clever people behind Paul Mitchell haircare products have just the thing at hand to help give me fuller, stronger hair - the Paul Mitchell SCALP CARE Anti-Thinning range. This hardworking range of sulfate-free products aim to ​prime the scalp for stronger, thicker-looking hair.

Paul Mitchell SCALP CARE Anti-Thinning Shampoo
The first step of the routine, this cleanser containing Kakadu plum, pea peptides, clover flower, turmeric and ginseng stimulates the scalp and removes impurities. 

Paul Mitchell SCALP CARE Anti-Thinning Conditioner
The second step of the routine, this conditioner helps to detangle fragile hair and reduce breakage. For someone like me who is always shocked to see how much hair I shed each day (it's a wonder I have any left on my head), this is crucial. 

Paul Mitchell SCALP CARE Anti-Thinning Tonic
The last step of the routine, this tonic is sprayed onto your scalp (you can use it twice per day) to help increase hair density and encourage healthy hair growth.

I loved the uplifting tea tree scent all of the products had - without being too overpowering or medicinal, which some tea tree products can be.  After using the full product range for the past few days, my hair feels strong, clean and healthy with less product residue.

http://www.paul-mitchell.co.uk/

A.A. Miln