Laura Thornberry : 2013

The Perfect Winter Nail Polishes

By Laura Thornberry - 12:30

When the cold starts to flutter into my world, the cooler colours start to stumble upon my nails. And none of my nails go without a splash of glitter on them. It's a crime to go through December without wearing a glittery nail polish. And if your looking for a stocking filler, you have come to the right place. Here are a few of the polishes that have been floating my boat recently...

L'Oreal 'Sequin Explosion' | ... The day I stumbled across the L'Oreal Nail Polishes was the day I turned to goo. Their nail polishes hold a special place in my heart. Their formula's are impressive. Ridiculously so. They dry in less then a minute. Literally bone stone dry. As an incredibly impatient person, I hate waiting for my nails to dry. And these polishes DRY very quickly. I have not come across anything like it. This particular polish. It beautiful. It's definitely my winter favourite. Three coats of this lovely silver sequin glitter and my entire nail is coated. None of my other glitter nail polishes do that. Go try this one out. I promise you, you will fall in love.

H&M 'Lady Luck | ... The colour of this feels so festive, this is my favourite month to be wearing it. I love wearing this colour in the run up to Christmas. This is a very beautiful forest green with swirls of glitter. Its so rich in colour and does not streak. I say one to two coats of this and you are done. It doesn't dry as quickly as the L'Oreal nail polishes. But it does not take a century either. Yep. It's a beauty.

L'Oreal Diamond Carat | ... Another Loreal Polish has seeped into this list. I apologise. I just love them so much. This one is a stunner. Its a very gorgeous frosty glitter top coat. Its oozes this magical feel. Perfect for Christmas. It goes really nicely over any polish. But sits alone just as nicely. When I feel like a simple nail day, I do like sweeping this over my nails. I feel like I have magical fingers when I do. Its impressive.

Reverence de Bastien | ... Royal blue. Definitely a winter colour. I love my royal blues. They just look magnificent when swept across the nails. It needs a few coats this one, but the colour outweighs the cons. It just makes me stare at them all day long. I really cannot stop lusting after the colour. This one rocks my world. Simple as pie.

If you're looking for a stocking filler, any one of these would be perfect.
It adds a splash of festive cheer to the occasion. These are all beautiful. None will disappoint.

What are your favourite colours for winter nails?

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Soft Glazed Ginger Biscuits Recipe

By Laura Thornberry - 12:30

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Sparkly Nails Christmas Water Decals*

By Laura Thornberry - 13:00

With the run up to Christmas, we're all feeling very festive and merry, and what better way to get into the xmas spirit than festive nails! I know I'm no nail art expert and I'm not really one for bold, bright nails, but when I was contacted by Ali from Sparkly Nails, I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something out of my comfort zone!

If you've never heard about Sparkly Nails before, here's a quick run down. Sparkly Nails began in 2004 by Ali, and has grown in to a successful business, stocking over 100 different nail art gems! Impressive huh?!? "This year alone we have introduced new product lines: colour studs, flowers and nail art shell, along with a much wider selection of nail stickers, water decals, pearls and gems and we will continue to invest and increase choice for our customers."

The product I was kindly sent were the Christmas Cheer Water Decals*, perfect for this time of year! These water decals are so quick and easy to use and help to create simple but beautiful festive nail art! The water decal set features 5 different Christmas designs, which are perfect for those who love nail art and want to add some festive cheer to there nails!

Below I have featured some simple nail art looks (I am no expert and I apologise for them looking messy) just to show you what the water decals look like and how I would wear them on my nails!

Overall, I really liked using these. They were so quick and easy to do, its amazing! Personally my favourite was the cute little reindeer's! So cute and festive! So if you're looking for some cool nail art decals, a way to make your nails festive this season or even a stocking filler for a friend who loves nail art, I would highly recommend Sparkly Nails to you! They have such a variety of these water decals, as well as nail wraps, gems, stickers, studs and beads etc.

RRP £1.65

Have you heard of Sparkly Nails before? Would these water decals be something you would like to try out? Have you tried out any festive nail art?

*PR Sample sent for review purposes

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Review - Alison Claire Mango Body Butter*

By Laura Thornberry - 12:30

For lovers of natural products, this is definitely one for you! I was recently contacted by Matthew from Alison Clare, a natural health care practitioner for over 30 years and has specialist experience of working with people with skin sensitivities, asking me if I would like the opportunity to review one of their body butters, which of course I said yes as I love testing out new skin care products!

"This little airless pump of mango body butter is one of our best sellers and has been shipped all over the world. The airless pump also gives you much greater control of the amount you use but it’s also more hygienic and fits wonderfully into your handbag."

So as you can see, I was sent the Mango Body Butter (50ml pump bottle), which I was really happy about, as I love the mango scent and was looking forward to using this product! The mango body butter was so lovely to use from the first application. As mango is a favourite scent, this immediately attracted me. The packaging is simple and a practical size for carrying around day to day in your handbag. The pump on the bottle is a great feature, as this allows you to get the right amount of product, without waste!

"The Alison Claire mango body butter is deeply enriching and conditioning and is made with organic mango and cocoa butters, this contains the anti-ageing influence of retinol, antioxidant action from green tea, mango,vitamin E, and anti-microbial protection."

I really like the consistency of the body butter, it's not too thick and quickly absorbs into the skin within seconds, leaving no greasy residue, which is perfect! A definite must for these cold winter days! The body butter feels really moisturising and nourishing on the skin, giving you that burst of hydration needed from dry skin.

So if you're looking for a new body butter, stocking fillers or Christmas presents for skincare lovers, I would definitely recommend the Alison Clare products. They are super affordable, smell amazing, all made with natural ingredients and so moisturising on the skin!

RRP £7.99

Have you heard of Alison Clare before? Would you be interested in visiting there website to find out more about them? Are you a fan of body butters?

*PR Sample Sent for Review Purposes

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fashion

Wild Funzee Onesie Review*

By Laura Thornberry - 12:00

Today I am going to be posting a Winter Warmer post, with a review of a product I was kindly sent from Funzee! Funzee onesies are made for men and women, and are exclusively available in the UK from our website! The range of onesies from this brand is constantly growing and evolving, and they have so many lovely colours and prints to choose from!

The Onesie craze has been everywhere!, its been a runaway hit with top celebs being snapped wearing these giant babygrow-esque suits. With so many designs, colours and prints, there is definitely a onesie for everyone! A perfect winter essential for everybody, and something that would make a lovely Christmas gift! So I was over the moon to find out the lovely people at Funzee were sending me one of their Funzee's for this review.

The lovely people at Funzee hadn't told me which onesie I would be gifted, but when it arrived, I was kindly sent the Wild Style Leopard Spot Print Onesie*, which I was absolutely over the moon with! I absolutely love leopard print, so the lovely people at Funzee definitely picked an amazing one for me! After receiving an little email saying that my onesie for review had been dispatched, it was quickly delivered a couple of days later, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and put it on!

Features of the Wild Funzee Onesie

- Made of 100% soft, jersey cotton

- Hooded for extra cuteness

- Zipper down front

- Ribbed ankles and cuffs to improve fit

- Large front pockets to keep hands warm and handy breast pocket

- Machine wash on cool or 30 degrees

- Not Footed - too unhygienic - but try our non slip, anti-bac. Socks

- Available in full Unique funzee unisex size range, XPetite – XXLarge.

- This adult onesie is great for sleepovers or pyjama parties

When this arrived, I literally had to put it on straight away! With the weather getting colder and heading into winter, this onesie is just absolutely perfect! The cotton material is so soft and doesn't get you overheated like some thicker onesies can do, which for me is a definite bonus! With me being 5ft 5, I opted for the size Medium, which is suitable for those between 5ft4 and 5ft 8, and was a perfect fit, not too long, not too short and perfect spacious and comfortable! Exactly what you want for a onesie! The leopard print pattern is something I absolutely love and I think it is such a bold and wild design! Also, the cuff feature is something that is very practical and another bonus, just makes the onesie a lot more comfortable and helps with a more improved fit! And finally, the onesie feature to large pockets, so if your hands ever get cold, Funzee have that covered!

Funzee offer such a vast selection of other prints and patterns, so if leopard print isn't your thing, I'm pretty certain you will find something ! Another pro point of Funzee is there sizing is generous, it's designed to be loose fit with cuffs and ankles ribbed. Because really... who wants a tight and uncomfortable onesie now?!? The simplest way to get the right size is to choose the nearest height to your own, and you will find the perfect size for you!If you've never visited or shopped with Funzee, I'd definitely recommend them to everyone! They have such a helpful and friendly advisor's, who offer such excellent customer service. They offer such quality products are so well made and offer a large selection of styles. If you're looking to buy a onesie for yourself or as a gift for someone else, definitely go check out Funzee, you WON'T be disappointed!

RRP - £28.95

Have you heard of Funzee before? Do you already own a onesie? What colour/design/pattern is yours? Are you looking to get one? What are your perfect Winter Warmers?

*PR Sample sent for review purposes.

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fashion

Size Zero - Does Size Matter?

By Laura Thornberry - 12:00

Again, a sort of controversial, quite lengthy blog post today, but something very interesting, discussing the size zero debate and whether or not sizes matter in fashion. Fashion is something that covers such a large scale, whether you're a size 0 or size 20, there is always places where you will be able to find clothes that fit and flatter your body shapes, so why the huge debate?

My own opinion about this topic is that I believe size shouldn't matter, if you feel confident and comfortable in what you wear or how you present yourself, why should anyone else have something bad to say about you?, after all, the whole size issue is only a stupid little number in the tag! Many people find that sizes differ from shop to shop, and that shouldn't matter, as long as you think that something feels and looks good on, despise it being two sizes bigger or smaller than your normal size, what's the problem? You should just dress for how you want to, you shouldn't care about what size you are or how you think you look bad or fat compared to skinnier people, we are all the same and your body shape should be something you should be proud of! There are clothes out there that help flatter and accentuate parts of our bodies that we are happy about, as well as cheeky accessories that can help us to hide parts we are not! I also think that all shapes and sizes should be shown at catwalks and fashion shows, as this allows the public to see what clothing will look like on all sizes, as this will give the consumers a better idea of how it will look on them! There is the total misconception that a healthy body doesn't necessarily mean a small body, as long as we are healthy, then our body shapes shouldn't matter!

I took to twitter and enlisted the help from some fellow bloggers on what they think of the size debate in fashion and what it means to them. This allowed me to get a number of different or similar views from different bloggers and how they interpret this subject. This is what they said...

"Despite the fact I will be writing about size zero.. I don’t believe that it should be the focus in the fashion world. They are girls who are 5ft, that can be a size 0 because that’s their natural frame. The problem is those that try to maintain a dangerously low BMI. Size Zero is usually referred to as the American size, in the UK it is a size 4. Personally, I don’t have a problem with those that are healthy at this size, the ones who’s bodies are actually made up like that. What I disagree with is what models put themselves through to become this size. It is seriously dangerous & incredibly harmful. It is no secret as to what these girls put themselves through, you only have to Google ‘size zero’ and it comes up with some alarming things. I recently read this article from a former Vogue editor who stated that some models were covered in scabs, because they were starving themselves and then fainting. ‘Fit Models’ are girls who work with top designers; they are the models that clothes are designed on. A lot of these models, are hospitalized on a drip, it’s horrible that our clothes are designed on a ‘skeleton’. If a model does not fit into the clothes during a casting session then she is reprimanded by her agency. They then usually lose weight to ‘get back in the game’ and they are then praised for it. Most of the time, they continue to lose more weight. So many models substitute food for cigarettes & diet coke. They are anorexic, and in such a poor state that their bodies cannot even keep them warm. They have operations to remove their boobs if they cannot lose them via a diet. In extreme cases, girls have eaten tissues, to make their stomachs full, without calories! It is ridiculous and I can’t believe how naïve people in the fashion world are to believe that this is okay. Fashion is essentially popular trends within a mass, but designers do not cater for the mass. Collections are made for press and then fashion houses send the designs to magazines, but they send them in the skeleton sizes which means that all over our magazines are these size zero women. They choose these sizes because they want their clothes to fall correctly and look good. A good designer would be able to make their clothes fall, and look good on any size. It is everywhere we look. It seems that what size we are, determines our self worth. Designers are known to size their clothes differently, just because of this vanity. Over the years, sizes have decreased…In the UK what was considered a size 8 in the 1950’s, is now in fact a size 4(size0). I don’t believe that size in fashion matters, what matters is using healthy models, no matter what size. The majority of size 0 people are not healthy, neither is size 20. . Obviously, there is a need for these ‘plus size’ clothing companies, but I believe they are just as patronising as using skinny models. Fashion and clothing is all about confidence not how ‘skinny’ we are. Companies should not denigrate girls for being a size; they should promote healthy BMI’s. They have to take responsibility for what they are doing."

Amy Connolly – aaamylouxo.blogspot.co.uk

"Ah the whole size zero debate, basically I think it’s a load of rubbish! In my opinion I don’t think that fashion should have any boundaries. If you’re a size 20 or a size 0, you should dress for yourself and your size and not let your size dress you. Whose to say that a girl slightly bigger than a Topshop 12 can’t wear ‘Mom Jeans’ or a body con dress – as long as you dress for you shape and have the confidence to pull it off then I say go for it. We all have parts of our bodies we don’t like, mine is my legs and my stomach so I tend to stay away from bodycon tight dresses but I know some people who are several sizes bigger than me that can pull them off and look bloody good doing it! Also, sizes differ so much from shop to shop so don’t get down if your suddenly a size 12 in one shop when you’re normally a size 8. My advice is take a range of sizes into the changing room and pick the one that feels and looks the best regardless of the number on the label."

Megan Butler - http://student-stylexo.blogspot.co.uk/

"I think that if people are naturally slim fashion should represent that but I also think that if people are naturally bigger fashion should also represent that so I think that there should be a mix of sizes from zero upwards."

RosySparkles - www.sparklesoflight76.blogspot.co.uk

"Size zero. Ironically a big subject. In my opinion, I have no problem with thin models at fashion shows, but it gets so boring after a while. I understand that the clothes 'look better' on a smaller model, but in the end only about 4% of the people that buy them are actually that thin. I only ever see two arguments and they're about size zero and plus size women, It drives me up the wall! What about us 'plain, old, regular' people? Actually, what about just everyone in general? I literally don't understand why models and mannequins can't be all sizes? Some people struggle to put on weight and some people struggle to lose it, so I have no problem with any size woman being a model as long as they're HEALTHY. Being underweight and being overweight are both seriously dangerous so I wish people would stop promoting one or the other and start promoting normal healthy body types/shapes/colours.

....But, if you turn it around on the men, all male fashion models are pretty ripped and in shape, or pastey and thin right? You don't see men campaigning to get other body types on the runway. We should take a leaf out of the men's book. They don't care! They either like the clothes or they don't and THAT is what everyone should be doing. We're going to be dead for a long time, so why worry about other people when we could just carry on with our own lives? If you are happy and you are comfortable being who you are then go for it. hold your head up high and be who you are, whatever gender, whatever size, whatever shape, whatever colour! As long as you're as healthy as you can be, go for it. Fashion holds no limits!

(and hey, if you're a socks and sandals type of person, then good for you! I salute your unique ways. You keep being you!) "

Lilie - mintcandylilies.blogspot.co.uk

"Size in fashion does not matter as the people who are going to be buying these fashions are of all shapes and sizes, so actually, they should show fashions on a range of models so that you as the consumer should see how it will look on your individual body shape."

Em Sheldon - http://www.emtalks.co.uk/

"According to a New York Times article by journalist Stephanie Clifford, "a woman with a 32-inch bust would have worn a size 14 in Sears' 1937 catalogue. By 1967, she would have worn an 8... Today, she could wear a zero." In fact, Marilyn Monroe "was not a voluptuous size 16 – quite the opposite. While she was undeniably voluptuous – in possession of an ample bosom and a bottom that would look at home gyrating in a J-Lo video – for most of the early part of her career, she was a size 8 and even in her plumper stages, was no more than a 10." The sizing charts have changed over time to make women feel good about themselves in this appearance-obsessed world. I, myself, wear a size zero because I am naturally petite and have a metabolism which makes it difficult for me to gain weight, even though I'm a real foodie. Trust me, it is extremely difficult to live in a world where your own female friends pass snide remarks like, "Do you shop in the kids section?" to which I really wish I could say, "No, do you shop in the stupid section?" Why is it okay for people to say things like, "You're so skinny, go eat a sandwich," to a thin person, but it is a crime to tell someone who is overweight that they should control their diet? I hate it when people ask me if they've gained or lost weight. Honestly, I don't care - I never have and never will - and I would really appreciate if other people accepted the different shapes and sizes everyone comes in. Seriously, the world would be such a boring place if everyone looked the same. It would be great if the media stopped being so contradictory - on one hand, they say "Everyone is beautiful," and at the same time they endorse messages like "Real men like curves. Only dogs go for bones." I'm sorry, but real men go for real women with real personalities who are confident the way they are. Women with curves are gorgeous and I've always wished I could have an hourglass shaped body myself, but that doesn't mean women who have boxy or slender figures aren't "real women". In fact, many women who wear a larger size don't necessarily have perfect curves. Every body type is beautiful, every size is beautiful, and women everywhere need to stop falling prey to the images presented by the media. Sizing in fashion should serve functional purposes only, i.e. of helping us find the right fit that we would look good in. None of us are perfect, but we all get one life and one body and we should make the most of it - wear whatever you want, eat healthy, exercise, stay fit, love yourself, and don't let anyone ever tell you that you're not good enough!"

Roshni Chaudhari - http://addictedtolace.wordpress.com/

As you can see, we all have both similar and different ideas on the size zero debate and what we think about size is fashion, there is no right or wrong answer, and I believe every single opinion is something that shouldn't be considered wrong as we all think different things.

I would like to say a huge thank you to the bloggers who kindly helped out for this post, and sharing their thoughts on this topic for me. If there are bloggers mentioned in this post that you haven't came across yet, I would love you all to check out their blogs as they all are lovely people who's blogs I love reading!

What's your views on the size zero debate? Do you think size matters? Should all shapes and sizes be showcased in fashion?

*Images used in collage are from google images / not my own photography

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fashion

Winter Wedges ft New Look and Clarks

By Laura Thornberry - 17:00

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Moustache Mug Gift ft IWOOT.COM*

By Laura Thornberry - 18:00

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beauty

Review - Redken Fashion Waves Sea Salt Spray*

By Laura Thornberry - 18:30

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fashion

My A to Z of Fashion - O

By Laura Thornberry - 12:00

"The act of purchasing products or services over the Internet."

Online shopping has become so popular for various of reasons, online shopping isn't just popular in just area but in all markets ; from food to clothes to make up to toys etc. You will pretty much be able to find a website for nearly every one of your favourite brands and companies. This is great for the consumer as it means we can sit from the comfort of our own houses and order whatever it is we need, in a quick and easy manor. Another reason to why online shopping is so popular and used worldwide is wome websites offer more special offers and discounts when you buy online, which entices the customer even more to make a purchase, whether this be free delivery, money off or even free gifts and samples.

Shopping over the internet definitely holds a lot of benefits, for example...

Potentially saving money - The Internet allows you the chance to find good deals and discounts. There are different stores online that sell the same or similar clothes and this allows you to shop around to find the best deal!
Convenience - Online shopping allows you the chance to shop in your own home, in an easy and relaxed way! Perfect for those who don't like the stress of busy shops and trying to find a parking space!
Large Selection - Shopping on the Internet web allows you to buy clothes from anywhere in the world you want to, providing a much bigger selection for you to choose from, instead of just the high street shops where you live.
Able to compare - The internet makes it easy to compare anything within a few minutes, which can guarantee you getting the best deal and allows you to save money!
Time saving - You are able to find any clothes that you are looking for within minutes using the Internet, making online shopping so quick and easy to do. You are also able to browse through many different clothes stores as you want to all from one easy place, which so much more simple, than walking/driving from shop to shop! Also, many retailers offer next day delivery as well as free returns, making it so easy to order and send back items.

What are your favourite online stores? Do you prefer shopping online to going out to the shops? How does online shopping benefit you?

*Images used in collage are from google images / not my own photography

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Review - Mavala Cracking Duo Nail Polishes in 164 Rose Dust and 397 Sweet*

By Laura Thornberry - 15:28

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First Impressions - Senzimi Skincare*

By Laura Thornberry - 14:06

Today I have a first impressions review of some skin care samples that I kindly received via Senzimi. If you haven't heard about Senzimi, here's a little information. They are unisex skin care company whose products are targeted towards those with dry, irritated or sensitive skin. The range of products they have to offer have between 90 – 99% natural ingredients, that can be used as part of a skin and scalp cleansing, nourishing and protection routine. There brand focuses on giving sufferers the opportunity to have a daily skin and hair care routine, using products on their skin that won’t further irritate it.

So lets go into what products they have to offer and what they help with. Senzimi currently offer a range of 4 products in there naturals collection; a cleanser, a moisturiser, a shampoo and a conditioner, perfect for those with allergies, dryness or irritation of the skin or scalp.

Senzimi Cleanser - "This luxurious, effective yet mild cleansing cream has been formulated especially for people with dry, sensitive and troublesome skin. This is a 95% natural product that combines excellent mild cleansing action and usability with superior conditioning, soothing and healing power, so your skin not only looks great, but also feels great."
Senzimi Moisturiser - "This light and easily absorbed natural moisturiser has been formulated especially for people with dry, sensitive and troublesome skin. This is a product that really works for you. Containing some of the best natural active ingredients available on the market today, and also having a pH that matches that of the skin means it will work in synergy with your skin."
Senzimi Shampoo - "This mild sulphate free shampoo is ideal for people with dry and sensitive scalps and damaged normal to thick weight of hair. This is a 95.47% natural product that combines excellent cleansing action and usability without irritating your scalp."
Senzimi Conditioner - "This rich yet mild 90.45% natural conditioner has been formulated with three functions in mind. Firstly to repair and strengthen damaged hair, secondly to condition and improve the appearance and feel of hair, leaving you to style and colour as you wish, and thirdly to condition, protect, soothe and heal sensitive scalp."

The product samples I kindly got sent from Senzimi were there cleanser, moisturiser and conditioner, all of which I have tried and tested and feel I can give a good enough review of each!

The Senzimi cleanser was probably my favourite out of the samples I have received and I have really enjoyed using it as part of my everyday skin care routine. The cleanser contains soothing aloe, chamomile and jojoba which are all natural products that help keep the skin looking soft and plump. I used this cleanser after I had taken off all my make up with a micellar water, smooth it all over my face and removed with warm water, to make sure my skin was totally free of make up and removed all the dirt. From my first use of this product, I felt like my skin was left so soft and smooth, as well as glowing and definitely helped to soothe my skin of any redness! Also, this product helps to cleans clogged pores of oil and dead skin cells, and helps restore the skin’s natural pH balance!
The Senzimi moisturiser was also a nice product to use, combined with the cleanser, it does work quite well. This moisturiser is packed full of gorgeous natural ingredients such as Cucumber Extract, Aloe Vera, Rosehip Oil, Argan Oil and Oat Extract which all contribute into cooling, healing and hydrating the skin, which is perfect for those with sensitive skin! After using this product a few times, I had noticed a difference in my skin, leaving it smooth, soft, shiny and revitalized which was lovely to see! This moisturiser sinks into the skin really quickly and feels really cooling upon the skin, whilst leaving no greasy or oily residue!
Finally, the Senzimi conditioner, a lovely product for the hair, I wouldn't say that I have a dry or irritated scalp, but I did like using this product a lot. This conditioner definitely helps to strengthen my hair as well as protect and soothe the scalp, and leaves it looking and feeling lovely! This conditioner includes Vitamin B12 and Wheat proteins that are beneficial for repairing dry and damaged hair, as well as improving the appearance and feel of hair, which it certainly did!

Have you heard of Senzimi before? Do you like natural skin care products? Is this something you would like to test out?

* PR samples sent for product review

All opinions are 100% honest