babyurbeautiful

Officially opening on the 2nd April 2016, if your little ones are fans of Peter Rabbit - you must pay a visit to Willows Farm, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

The project has been developed with Silvergate Media, owners of the animated Peter Rabbit with Lappset Creative, experts in play equipment.
It's opening in the 150th year since the birth of Beatrix Potter.

The Peter Rabbit Playground is the first of its kind in the world and includes lots of activities based on the famous characters and has had over £1 million invested into its launch.
Willows welcomes the stars of the CBeebies series including Lily Bobtail and Peter Rabbit himself, who are meeting and greeting visitors daily.

In the Willows countryside setting there are outdoor climbing frames as well as slides and rope walkways at the Secret Treehouse and the Benjamin Bunny Treetop Adventure.
Other features like the Jeremy Fisher Music Pond, where children can bounce about on lily pads to hear musical sounds and the Mr Bouncer Great Invention, a sensory gaming activity to learn about numbers and colours in a fun and educational way.

Willows offer an all-inclusive admission price, with all activities, shows, demonstrations, rides and seasonal programmes included in the entrance price. For more information visit: www.willowsactivityfarm.com

Max Factor Facefinity Compact Foundation


I bought Max Factor Facefinity Compact foundation on a whim as it was being promoted near the till in Superdrug for £9.99 (I think RRP is £10.99). I am quite into powder foundations at the moment as they are quick to apply and I don’t have a lot – or really any – time to put my face on before leaving the house these days. And this one is a compact with a sponge and mirror so no need for additional brushes.

I really like this product and want to just say that out of the gate. It goes on smoothly, gives great coverage that you can build up where it’s needed, and the finished outcome is a glowing even complexion.  Above all it takes seconds to apply so I am keeping it by the hallway mirror for quick application before leaving the house.

But the problem I’ve got is that the shades available are quite dark and so I’ve bought two so far that aren’t suitable, at least for my winter skin tone.

I’ve seen about 6 shades of this. Porcelain, Ivory, Natural, Sand, Golden and Toffee. The first one I bought was Natural. There were no Ivory or Porcelain ones left so I just grabbed this one thinking it would be in the right ball park at least. But it turned out to be quite dark. The sort of thing I would use after a two week sunshine holiday to make my face match my body (I am never able to get a good tan on my face, just a bunch of annoying freckles).

But I liked the product so I thought I would save that one for holidays and buy a lighter shade for normal use. I don’t have porcelain skin by any stretch of the imagination, so I bought Ivory. But once I tried this one at home, it is also too dark. In fact it isn’t much different to the Natural one and definitely not what I would describe as Ivory.

So I’m a bit annoyed, mostly with myself! But is everyone so permatanned these days that foundation shades are overall getting darker?  I want to get the Ivory one but I’m reluctant to invest more money in another shade if it's not going to be right. But I do really like this product. Maybe I’ll have to invest in some fake tan instead!

RL x

Judge the results for yourself from my video

Clarins Double Serum Age Control Concentrate
Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate



I was recently lucky enough to go on a work trip to New York where I had a day and a half of blissful free time before coming home. Imagine. No children, no husband, just doing what I wanted when I wanted after having three full night’s sleeps in a row!

However the weather was absolutely freezing and my face went all red and puffy and so I was unfortunately easy prey when I walked into Bloomingdales and was accosted by the very lovely ladies at the Clarins counter.

Normally I don’t allow myself to get sucked into these things, being naturally suspicious as well as hating to feel obligated into making a purchase. But, given I was kind of high on freedom at the time, I just thought what the hell and sat down. What followed was the saleswoman rubbing and dabbing a bunch of different lotions and gels on my face, ruining my makeup, which I then asked them to touch up and consequently I was a bit scared to look in the mirror afterwards – these people aren’t exactly professional make-up artists! And then she laid out the products she’d used and asked if I wanted to buy any. And I felt the pressure, having sat and been dabbed at for 10 minutes, so I thought what the hell, I could use some good eye gel and face serum. After all, parenting young children is aging me faster than I thought possible.

So I picked out two products to buy and she walked me to the till and ... “that will be $250 please”. And my immediate thoughts while choking on my bile were ... Er, what’s that now? Did she just say $250?? For two fricking products? Shit that’s expensive. It’s not that expensive in the UK. Or is it? Is it too late to change my mind now she’s rung them up? Can I just make a run for it?

But the British in me took over and I was too proud to admit I couldn’t afford them, so like a chump I handed over my credit card, paid and legged it with my ‘free gift’ as a consolation prize. Because a teeny tiny travel cleansing set really makes it worth the money :-)

But you know, even if I only get to use the products once and can’t afford to buy them again, at least my skin might get to look a bit less tired in the meantime.

I bought:
Double Serum Age Control Concentrate (lowest price I found on a UK website is £37 for 30ml or £64 for 50ml on beautyspin.co.uk )
Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate (£39 for 15ml on beautyspin.co.uk)

Are they worth the money?

Well it’s hard to say. The Double Serum has a lovely feel on the skin and creates a nice glow. But I’m not sure if it’s meant to improve the current state of my skin or to stop it getting worse. The Eye Concentrate is very moisturising and a bit of relief for my poor sleep deprived eyes. I’m not sure there was a noticeable improvement after a few applications though.

But I don’t like to judge these things on the first go. I will use them until they run out and see what happens. Then I’ll report back with a full review and decide if I want to fork out for more!

RL x

Hands up who hasn't tried micellar water yet?

Are you a mum?

Do you use face wipes?

Are you falling asleep with your make-up on?

Is your skin often dry?

Can you be arsed to cleanse and tone?

Do you know how drying and bad some face wipes are for the skin?

If you answered yes to more than two of those - listen up!

Micellar water should be a staple in any mums beauty routine, simply because it's the laziest and easiest way to cleanse and leaves skin supple and squeaky clean.

The teeny micelle molecules in the water use a clever technology to attract the dirt (a bit like a magnet) which then lifts away make-up and grime - and there's no need to rinse.

Simply soak your cotton wool in a reasonable amount, and with one deft swoop you've removed the grime of the day and can collapse in bed.

BUT here's the exciting bit....

The Sanctuary (of Spa fame) are SO confident about their new micellar product, they're offering customers the chance to bring in an old pack of wipes to swap for a sample of their Cleanse Foaming Micellar Water - FOR FREE!

This is only on the weekend of 19-20th MARCH in BOOTS stores nationwide. 




So get down there armed with your wipes and a smile.

Everyone loves a spot of multi-tasking, if it's not pinching the fellas razor (although I don't currently have one to pinch off of) then why not start stealing the baby's stuff too?

I'm suffering with a head cold and snotty nose. I can't stand that horrible thick nasal speech - and if someone sounds ever so slightly 'flu-ey' I recoil in horror and shuffle away.
If it happens to be on the train - I scuttle to the next carriage. That dramatic.

Right now, I've got a giant red hooter and a tissue hanging out of my nose to stem the persistent runny snot, and Albie keeps exclaiming: 'silly mummy!'

My absolutely go-to baby cold product is Calpol Vapour plug and Nightlight - it's bloody marvellous.
It can be used from 3 months plus and helps clear the nasal passages and make breathing easier for baby. It was initially recommended by a dear mummy friend, Stacey - 'Haaaaiiii Stacey!'
I've not looked back since.



It has a scent reminiscent of a spa, with lavender and camomile pulsing through the plug-in. Which is why, instead of my usual Beechams powders, I'm stealing Albie's product. Although I did purposely go out and buy this for ME today.

It comes with 5 refill pads, and says it works for up to 8 hours with each pad. I'd say you get 2 days fragrance/vapour out of each one - with it waning slightly after the first 24 hours.

My entire house becomes enveloped with lavender, and I feel it really helps with congestion.
I have so many of the plugs kicking about the house, so if, god forbid, you're an entire house of flu-bags - then just pop one of the plug/nightlight refills in each room - and you can all breathe easily!
Either way it's a great alternative to caffeine/all sorts of heart-race inducing (for me, anyway) cold and flu remedies.

A couple of paracetamol at my worse points, and a night with my Vapour Plug, I'll go with the alternative option, thank you!
Oh, plus some Vicks rub on the soles of my feet. Boom!


LN

It's like it's the elephant in the room, the dead mouse in his Ikea kitchen (more about that another time) or the floating shit in the bath.

Introducing Poppy