December Beauty Awards

Hi there! Today’s post is about my favourite products of December 2020. Read on if you’re wondering which products I loved the most.

3rd place – Cellio It’s True Acai Berry Moisture Cream

Cellio’s Acai Berry face cream is simply wonderful. My skin loves it!

Runner-Up – DearBoo Lavender & Cactus Everyday Mask

This DearBoo sheet mask was a lucky find. I’m glad I picked up a set of 10 masks, and I know my skin will be thanking me.

WINNER – M&S The Fragrance Collection Vanilla & Woods Eau De Toilette

M&S Vanilla & Woods fragrance was a lovely surprise. This EdT is £12.50 only, but it smells a lot more expensive.

I have one very honourable mention – and it’s M&S Spiced Bergamot EdT. Have you tried any of these products? Which products have you been loving lately? Feel free to let me know via the comments, and thanks for stopping by!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

My Favourite Manis 2020

Hi there! Today’s post is about my favourite manis in 2020 – in no particular order. And here they are:

1 Marble Nails
2 Galaxy Nails
3 Foil Nails

4 Silver & Black Nails
5 Purple and Pink Nails
6 Foil Nails

7 Blue and Grey Nails
8 Foil Nails
9 Purple and Gold Nails

10 Galaxy Nails
11 Black and Orange Nails
12 Galaxy Nails

13 Foil Nails
14 Blue and Black Nails
15 Holo Nails

I hope 2021 is going to be an amazing year for manis too. Thanks for stopping by! Sending lots of love to you! xo

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

DearBoo Lavender & Cactus Everyday Mask

Hi there! Today’s post is about this DearBoo Lavender & Cactus Everyday Mask. This mask promises to hydrate skin. Using this mask is esy – cleanse your face, put on the mask, leave it alone for 15-20 minutes, then massage the essence from the sachet into your skin.

I’ve given this mask a try, and I’m happy to report that I love it. This mask was such a surprise find just before the end of the year. I found it wonderfully hydrating, I liked the subtle fragrance, and the best thing was that the mask didn’t leave a sticky film on my face. All it left behind was soft skin! 🥰

If you’re interested, DearBoo Lavender & Cactus Everyday Mask is available as a pack of 10 x 27ml single use face masks. I paid £6.99 (TK Maxx) for this set of 10 masks.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – M&S Discover Spiced Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Soft Iris

Hi there! Today’s post is about a fragrance set (3 x 30ml) that I picked up about 2 weeks ago – M&S Discover Spiced Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Soft Iris. I’ve now given these fragrances a try (= I’ve worn each of these fragrances for at least 3 days in a row), and here’s what I think of them.

M&S Discover Spiced Bergamot contains the following notes: bergamot, lemon and orange flower (top notes), white flowers and cardamom (heart notes), and cedar and amber musk (base notes). Spiced Bergamot smells like a pink version of D&G Light Blue. It’s lovely! The fragrance is on the fleeting side, but it’s dirt cheap, so… spray away! This fragrance is my favourite of the bunch and I’ve already purchased the large 100ml bottle. 😍

M&S Discover Pink Pepper contains the following notes: bergamot, grapefruit and mandarin (top notes), iris and jasmine (heart notes), and pink pepper, vetiver, vanilla and musk (base notes). The notes sound promising, but Pink Pepper is a rather unsophisticated scent which smells of candy floss with hints of fruit chew (during the first few minutes) and coffee (towards the end). This is my least favourite fragrance from this set, and I think it would be most suited to a teenager or someone who generally likes sweet and simple fragrances.

M&S Discover Soft Iris contains the following notes: iris, jasmine and bergamot (top notes), orange blossom essence (heart note), and vetiver, amber and patchouli (base notes). This is an inoffensive floral and powdery scent – it’s perfect for the office or for wherever you just want to smell nice without trying to attract attention. This isn’t the most special fragrance, but it’s definitely nice and pleasant.

Based on my experience, I’d recommend the set. M&S Discover Spiced Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Soft Iris is £9.50 (I paid £6.65 thanks to a pre-Christmas 30% off offer), and you get 3 30ml fragrances to try and wear for a short while. Even if you end up not liking one of the fragrances, I’m sure you’ll have a friend or relative who will be happy to have it. For those who end up loving one or more of these fragrances, they’re also available as individual 100ml bottles for £9.50 each.

Also – these fragrances carry the Leaping Bunny logo – this means they’re certified cruelty-free. On the individual product pages on M&S’ website I found “suitable for vegans” under the product description of every single one of these fragrances!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

MakeUp Revolution London The One Blush Stick Malibu

Hi there! Today’s post is about this MakeUp Revolution London The One Blush Stick – the shade is called Malibu. I received this item as a free gift with purchase. I wouldn’t have bought it for myself. However, since I already had it, I wanted to give it a try.

There’s not much to say, really. This stick can be used as a blush stick and as a lipstick. You also get a lot of product. However, this is not a shade I would wear on my cheeks. And since this stick smelled funny, there was no way it would come even close to my lips. I did a swatch on the back on my hand just to see what this product would actually look like.

All in all, I didn’t like the shade, and I found the smell off-putting, so I binned this item. Good riddance! Based on my experience, it’s definitely not a product I’d recommend.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Cruelty-Free – M&S The Fragrance Collection Vanilla & Woods Eau De Toilette

Hi there! Today’s post is about a fragrance I’m using at the moment – M&S The Fragrance Collection Vanilla & Woods Eau De Toilette.

This fragrance has the following notes – bergamot, orange flower and mandarin (top notes), lavender, orris and blonde woods (heart notes), and amber, patchouli, vanilla and musk (base notes).

This fragrance has the most wonderful vanilla scent. It’s sweet, gentle, has a touch of warm lavender and a hint of sweet orange to it. It’s wonderfully cuddly, and I can’t imagine that any lover of vanilla fragrances wouldn’t love this fragrance. I think it’s the cutest vanilla fragrance since Kenzo Amour, and based on my experience (love at first sniff), I would recommend it.

M&S The Fragrance Collection Vanilla & Woods Eau De Toilette is available as 100ml for £12.50. I paid £10 (special offer). Another great thing is that this fragrance is certified cruelty-free! It carries the Leaping Bunny logo! 🥰

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Revisiting Old Beauty Friends – Alberto Balsam Mandarin & Papaya Revitalising Shampoo & Conditioner

Hi there! Today’s post is about 2 hair products I used to love but haven’t used in ages – Alberto Balsam Mandarin & Papaya Revitalising Shampoo & Conditioner. And since it really has been ages, I thought now’s the perfect time to re-try these products!

Alberto Balsam Mandarin & Papaya Revitalising Shampoo is great. It’s a clarifying shampoo, but it’s not too harsh. I think it’s perfect for frequent washers and most hair types.

Alberto Balsam Mandarin & Papaya Revitalising Conditioner is amazing too! This conditioner detangles my hair with ease and doesn’t weigh it down. I like it a lot!

In addition, these 2 products smell simply lovely! And based on my experience, I’d recommend them! Alberto Balsam Mandarin & Papaya Revitalising Shampoo & Conditioner are available as 350ml each for £1 each.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Simple Rich Moisture Sheet Mask Little Mix Edition

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Simple Rich Moisture Sheet Mask Little Mix Edition. This sheet mask contains a few botanical ingredients, it promises to nourish skin, and the sheet mask itself is bio-degradable!

I’ve given this sheet mask a try, and I think it’s very good. It’s nourishing indeed, and it made my skin feel soft and look refreshed. It’s not a sticky mask, so this is another plus! I’m glad I bought this mask, and I would recommend it!

Simple Rich Moisture Sheet Mask Little Mix Edition is available as a 21ml single use sheet mask. I paid £1.49 (B&M Bargains).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Cellio It’s True Acai Berry Moisture Cream

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Cellio It’s True Acai Berry Moisture Cream. This product from Korea promises to hydrate skin for a youthful look. I’ve been using this moisturiser twice a day since mid-October, and here’s what I think!

Whilst I think this isn’t the perfect moisturiser for my skin type (very dry and moody), I still think it’s very good. This moisturiser has a beautiful, subtle, floral scent. The formula is best described as a typical light day cream which would be most suited for normal to oily skin types.

The moisturiser feels very hydrating, but not greasy at all. At night time, I mix it with a drop of facial oil to make it perfect for my skin. But this won’t be necessary for other skin types. I’ve also noticed that this moisturiser plays well with make-up – there’s no smudging, and no balling-up, so I have no reason to complain!

All in all, I’m really happy that I bought this wonderful little moisturiser. And yes, I’d recommend it (unless you’re allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients, of course). Cellio It’s True Acai Berry Moisture Cream is available as 90ml. I paid £8 (TK Maxx).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Empties – November 2020

Hi there! Today’s post is about all the products I said goodbye to in November. Read on if you’d like to know which products I finished last month.

1 M&S The Fragrance Collection Peony & Rhubarb Eau De Toilette – This is a lovely fragrance! It’s not an all-time favourite, but it’s a bright and uplighting apple pie fragrance. I can see myself buying another bottle in the future!

2 Nivea Love Fun Times Pink Grapefruit Caring Shower Gel – didn’t care for it. Glad it’s gone. Bye!

3 Montagne Jeunesse Green Tea Peel-Off – this was an OK mask. Nothing special though, so I won’t buy it again.

4 Herbal Essences Bio Renew Passion Flower & Rice Milk Conditioner – this is a decent conditioner, but I don’t think that I’ll buy it (or the matching shampoo) again. These products aren’t really suited to my hair type.

5 Original Source Black Cherry & Nettle Shower – this is a nice shower gel. This fragrance has been discontinued, and I don’t think that I have any more of these in my stash.

6 Original Source Skin Quench Moisturising Shower With Cherry & Jojoba Oil – as above – a nice shower gel, but discontinued, and (most likely) no back up.

I haven’t managed to finish many products in November, but December will be better (3 products finished already, and there will be 4 more over the next 2 days). Thanks for stopping by, lovelies!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde