Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Murad Man Skincare for Father’s Day 2014.
I use Murad skincare products as I am happy the ingredients are environmentally friendly, non-toxic and I achieve brilliant results. If you are at all curious, just try their Skin Perfecting Primer – amazing!
On the market from 1989, Murad can be purchased online and in store from selected Marks&Spencer, John Lewis and House of Fraser stores to name but a few. The products are based on scientific evidence and they use pharmaceutical grade ingredients, meaning they are research based and really work.
Murad have a brilliant skincare regime for dads this Father’s Day.
Murad Man Regime:
Developed by dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad, this three-step regime ensures you get the very best shave possible whilst protecting and repairing skin. The regime includes:
Cleansing Shave (£25) – a two-in-one cleanser which can be used to shave or simply cleanse you skin. It contains our unique Beard Softening Complex which exfoliates to uncover stubborn facial hairs for a superior shave.
Razor Burn Rescue (£35) – this triple-action formula reduces ingrown hairs, redness and irritation in one step!
Face Defense SPF 15 (£31) – infuses skin with essential hydration whilst providing broad spectrum protection against UVA/UVB rays. It also contains powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals. (Murad)
Lets start with the Cleansing Shave. The lotion produces a lovely creamy lather which exfoliates as well as cleansing. Despite this, the texture is not gritty. Murad have some very impressive Mushroom Enzymes tucked away inside this potion which is the secret exfoliator and this is brillaint. My hubby has sensitive skin and he loved trying various shaving creams. He has said this one is one of the best he has used with no irritation or ‘stinging’ when shaving. An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect is given with added vitamin E and panthenol. Tea-tree is also present with its antibacterial and healing properties helping to prevent irritation.
Sounds good doesn’t it? I have tried this on my legs as well and it works a treat. Apparently 60% of whatever we rub on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. Think about it, when we shave we strip the top layers of skin away leaving our ‘barrier’ even more prone to absorbing whatever we use. You can relax with Murad, there are no ‘nasty’ ingredients or toxins, just honest to goodness ingredients that really work!
The Razor Burn Rescue follows the Cleansing Shave. This is yet another product that does exactly as it claims. Skin is left smelling gorgeous,smooth and irritation free. A concoction of glorious ingredients – Neem Leaf Extract, Vitamin E, Glycolic Acid and Tea-Tree work together to leave skin soothed and hydrated. Your skin will feel super smooth and soft all day!
The Face Defense cream is the perfect finishing touch. With SPF 15, moisture is pumped into the skin yet this is quite a light lotion. Skin is protected from damage and signs of aging are reduced with Murad’s Patentea Skin Repair System. Your man will smell good and look great making these products the perfect gift this Father’s Day.
The Murad Man Regime is £80 from www.murad.co.uk saving you £11 when the complete regime is purchased.
Gift Reviews
Funky Giraffe Bibs for father’s Day.
Thank goodness my days of bibs are over! I don’t mean to sound heartless and I adore my 3 children but, (putting it mildly), I have done my time!
The hard ship over, I can now relax in the evenings and enjoy my time when the kids are at school. Once again, I do love them but I REALLY love when they are at school as well!
My sister has 2 little darlings of her own now and I help out occasionally- when I simply cannot get out of it. Recently some memories were brought back simply by the label on one of her childrens bibs – Funky Giraffe! I loved, and still do love, Funky Giraffe.
I try and promote all things natural and environmentally friendly on Pampered Presents and Funky Giraffe surly fits the bill. This company was set up by a mum and she really knew what she was at. The materials used are not only environmentally friendly, they are child friendly as well. Bibs are placed around your child’s neck – do you really want various coloured dyes with all their chemicals and toxins that close to your precious little one? No, thought so and neither did I.
Funky Giraffe print their own items and use non-toxic water based inks. As with all fab products, its not long until they have quite a celebrity following and Funky Giraffe is no different. Celebrity fans include Mark Owen, Kerry Katona, Michelle Heaton, Sophie Ellis-Bextor – quite an impressive list!
Check out some of the cool designs for Father’s Day.
These would be a perfect gift to a new daddy from his little bundle.
The designs are indeed funky and the price affordable with dribble bibs starting at £1.98.
For further information visit www.funkygiraffe.co.uk
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Lifeproof Phone Cover and Accessories for Father’s Day.
There is no accessory worn as often as our phones! Think about it – we may have a favorite necklace, even a favored ring but we don’t carry this with us every minute of every day. My phone is never far away. I do not leave the house without it, at work it stays close by in my pocket and when in the car it connects to my hands free. At night I even take it to bed (Lucky phone)!
I choose Lifeproof as my phone protection and that’s simply what it is! Protection from the trials of being carried everywhere with me.
Lifeproof is kid proof (I have this theory well and truly tested!) water proof and ‘me’ proof. My cover is almost on my iPhone one year and it has stood the test of time well.
My son threw it out of the car window (I was parked at the time), it has been splashed with apple juice and submerged in water! It has been outside to my children’s outdoor ‘restaurant’ – basically a mud pile with lots of old kitchen equipment and plates on an old table. It came in and had a wash – as good as new.
So, you are guaranteed this cover was tested well. I think it would be a fantastic gift for Father’s Day. I am convinced there is no phone cover on the market anywhere near as good or reliable as a Lifeproof cover.
The LifeProof case is available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPad and iPad mini. There are a range of accessories, including a LifeJacket which makes it completely buoyant. A perfect gift for men who spend a lot of time beside or on the water.
This is so fab! I enjoy boating in the summer months and have a real fear of my car keys or phone falling overboard. With Lifeproof I cannot guarantee the safety of my keys but my phone will not only be safe from the water, it will float! The Lifeproof Lifejacket is pure genius and the invention of the year to me! I can relax and enjoy my days out on the water, my precious iPhone 4 tucked snug in its very own little jacket.
A Lifeproof cover for an iPhone 4 retails at £ 56.25 from Amazon and the Lifejacket for £29.95.
For further information visit www.lifeproof.com
Gift Reviews, Toy Reviews
Build-A-Bear Superheros for Father’s Day and Huggable Heroes.
Huggable Heroes, a new initiative from Build-A-Bear, has captured my heart and I simply have to mention it prior to my review of the new Build-A-Bears promoted for Father’s Day.
The campaign aims to give 2 children a £3,000 scholarship – wow! This is fab, and it doesn’t stop here. The winner has a choice of a charity to give a further £1,500. Individuals can be nominated or they can put themselves forward either, open to children aged 8-18. The competition is simple and really easily entered. Why not have a look on http://bit.ly/1mRSc1x
Build-A-Bear wish to reward those who place themselves second, those who help others and inspire others to follow in their footsteps, replicating their good deeds. Good luck to all the heroes out there!
In store and online huggable heroes can be purchased from Build-A-Bear. My goodness, they are really fab this year! From Captain America to Spiderman, these soft cuddly animals are any little persons dream. Demonstrating the usual Build-A Bear quality, these soft plush figures come clothed or without clothes. RRP £37. Variations are available and are promoted for Father’s day 2014.
Fishing Pro Curly Teddy, £32.50
With rod in hand this cheery bear is the perfect accompaniment on any father/son fishing trip.
Football Fan Bearemy,® £29.50
Whether you’re a Manchester United or Manchester City fan. Be sure to show your support with your father this Father’s Day
My children have Build-A-Bear and there is no toy or teddy to replace these fab bears. The quality is outstanding, the variety vast. Have a look on the website or check out your nearest Build-A-Bear workshop to make your own purchase.
For further information visit www.buildabear.co.uk
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Teenage Gifts
Tech 21 Impact Mesh.
I adore my iPad Mini. I inherited it from my sister and treasure it almost to the point of obsession. I have broken so many tablets in the past, the record being 18 days from receipt of a new one. Yes, such a short time but I have an excuse! My beloved tablet was on the kitchen bench and my daughter opened a cupboard above it and something crashed down on top, shattering the screen – obviously not my fault! This will not happen my iPad thanks to Tech 21. These geniuses have developed Impact Mesh and I recommend you check it out for your own phones and devices.
‘In 2005 we started making protective accessories for mobile devices and became the first brand to use scientifically tested, shock-absorbing polymers in our products. – See more at: http://www.tech21.com‘
Tech21 pride themselves on their ability to design innovative Impactology™ cases which provide unrivalled protection to mobile devices thanks to the use of scientifically proven materials such as D3O® and FlexShock, combined with ingenious, slim fitting design.
(Tech 21)
A HUGE plus for me is that the experience of having an iPad is not at all affected negatively by the impact mesh cover. The design is thin, not cumbersome and all the ports are clear and remain easy to access.
Impact Mesh looks good as well as offering unbelievable protection for your phone or tablet. What protection is offered? The sides and back of your device will be basically impregnable! (Impact covers are also available for the screen)
The mesh is available in a variety of colours – I have a blue one and it looks really well. Impact mesh is different to other covers available as the style and effect of the tablet or phone is maintained. The mesh adds to the appearance instead of covering it up. This was important to me as I love the style and look of my iPad Mini.
I am recommending the Impact Mesh as the perfect Father’s Day gift this year. The price is pretty low considering the level of protection offered and I have tried and tested mine to the limit without incident. My 5 year old son would regularly use my tablet and has broken its predecessor so if impact mesh can survive him, it can survive anything!
For further information visit www.tech21.com
RRP £29.95 for iPad Mini.
Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews
JML products for Father’s Day – Grip Go and Atom X.
JML are really worth a look this Father’s day. Products are available from Amazon, Asda, Wilko and direct from JML depending on the product.
I have a few recommendations that really caught my eye and would appeal to my hubby this Father’s Day. I wanted to move away from chocolates and tins of sweets – he is not getting any younger nor thinner. Husbands are a refection of your own taste so I want to keep him looking hot for as long as possible!
The Grip Go is a handy gadget for holding your phone in the car. Why am I only discovering this now? No more searching for the phone in the car when it has slipped from one side of the dashboard to the other.
Grip Go adheres to the dash with a suction cup and this can be moved around 360 degrees so you really can position it to suit yourself away from the glare of the sun etc. The phone then sticks to the mount with a sticky pad and, believe me, there is no way this will come off when you are driving. I love the Grip Go and would recommend it to anyone for their dad this Father’s Day. It is handy, useful and very reasonably priced at £9.99.
Available from www.JMLDirect.com, ASDA and Wilko.
Atom X, this sounds like something you would find in a science lab! A mysterious Atom called X that will eradicate world poverty – I wish! Atom X is a lot simpler that its’ name would suggest. It is basically the smallest electric shaver I have ever seen.
Does your dad camp or travel around a lot? If so, this would be perfect. The Atom X has many properties a more expensive shaver would also have. it is suitable for use in water, portable, battery operated and easily cleaned.
However, this super little shaver is smaller than my mobile phone and lighter as well. 9000 RPM’s are delivered to give an unbelievable shave for it’s size. It comes complete with a protective cover and carry pouch making this an absolute must for Dads on the go. All this for the ‘atomic’ price of £19.99.
Available from www.jmldirect.com.
For The Garden, Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews
Yale Stand Alone Alarm.
We live on the outskirts of a large town and every now and then I hear of a ‘run’ of burglaries in the neighborhood. I am fairly confident our alarm system is up to scratch but what about the toys and gardening equipment outside? For Father’s Day this year I am 100% sure dad will be delighted with his gift – a Stand Alone Alarm from Yale!
For The Garden, Gadget Gifts, Gift Reviews
Vario Lead System from Flexi.
I adore my little Jack Russel and every shopping trip I take, I always return with either a new lead, a new bed or some little chewy treat for him. I have been through 3 leads to date despite only having the dog just over one year! The first one tended to ‘stick’ when I tried to retract it, the second actually came apart and he ‘ate’ the third one in an attempt to escape so he could go introduce himself to a cat!
When the Vario lead system arrived I was delighted with it. It is strong yet not made of hard plastic like the lead that came apart. Dog leads will be dropped, its inevitable! My 3 kids never return from a walk without the dog escaping and they have to run around a field after him trying to catch the lead. The Vario has yet to show any signs of wear and tear and is as good as new.
The Vario system is by the leading pet company Flexi and it has taken the pet world by storm since its debut at Crufts. Award have been won globally and the success continues to grow and grow.
The many additional accessories which can be bought to compliment this lead allows you to truly make it your own and perfectly suited to the needs of your dog or dogs.
Choice of cord or tape format
Sized in S, M and L, dependent upon the weight of the dog:
Length of lead available in 3m, 5m and 8m
Available in six stylish colour options and attachable LED lighting system
The most values accessory for our use has got to be the Multi box. This handy little attachment is not only perfect for storing doggie treats but it will also hold a few poop bags as well!
If you have a dog and are reading this thinking, ‘I wonder is this any good?’ I urge you to try it and you too will be raving about it. The Vario lead system is the best lead I have used.
Available from leading pet stores across the UK and prices start from £11.89-£36.49.
For further information visit www.facebook.com/flexilead
Gift Reviews, Health and Beauty
Pevonia Power Repair Skincare.
I am fast becoming addicted to a wonderful and very impressive skincare – Pevonia. If it’s good enough for celebrates like Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Matthew McConaughey, Cameron Diaz, Rachel Weisz, Eva Mendes and Jodie Kidd its good enough for me!
Everything about Pevonia is pretty amazing and the more I learn the more I love this fabulous skincare range. The recent success achieved by the Power Repair line is so impressive. This range was awarded Highly Commended in the Anti-Ageing Range category in the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2014.
I prefer a natural skincare being all too aware of the chemicals and nasty ingredients in many ‘top’ brands. I found natural moisturizers fairly easy to source but anti-aging natural skincare is more difficult to come by. Pevonia has filled the ‘gap’ for me. Offering skincare which is both 100% natural and anti-aging, the Power repair line delivers results you will have to see to believe. I have been using this range for 2 months and simply love what I see when I look in the mirror! My skin has a glow even when I am 100% make-up free! I am astounded, why plaster on the layers of primer, make-up, bronzer and blusher to give your skin a ‘false’ glow when Power Repair can give you a natural healthy glow without make-up? The texture of the Intensifier is so exquisite, sinking into my skin instantly and leaving a velvet finish. No more dry patches or uneven skin tone!
The natural ingredients found in Power Repair stimulate the skin, sculpting and firming giving an overall ‘lifting’ experience. My dull skin has gone and I look and feel 10 years younger! Lines and wrinkles are less visible and my skin feels firm and plump. The most noticeable difference has got to be my ‘glow’ and I love the confidence I have now, without wearing make-up.
I have been using the complete Power Repair range – Hydrating Cleanser and Toner (RRP £32), Intensifier (RRP £60) and Marine Collagen Cream (RRP £65). Consider this cream as an investment in yourself. You will save money as you will definitely not need a primer or as much make-up. I adore this range and will continue to use it. I have tried dozens and dozens of anti-aging and natural skincare creams and this is the first one to tick all the boxes for me.
Pevonia products and spa treatments are free from alcohol, parabens, mineral oil, lanolin, PABA, urea, formaldehyde, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances; all packaging is recyclable and Pevonia is committed to cruelty-free skincare.
Environmentally friendly and natural, Pevonia is well deserving of its many awards and I am sure the range will continue to take the world of cosmetics by storm.
For further information visit www.pevonia.co.uk
For The Garden, Gift Reviews, Homeware Reviews, Leisure Gifts
Plantabox for Father’s Day.
