Chemist Direct - Review

I was recently asked if I fancied reviewing Chemist Direct and with such a wide range of products to choose from how could I say no! With products ranging from skincare to regular prescriptions and even pet products, amongst many other items, it was pretty easy to spend the £50 I was kindly given to spend. 

Having just returned from holiday I didn't really need any travel related items and I am pretty well stocked on baby items so decided to head down the skin care route. On browsing I found that Chemist Direct stocked a few really nice, high quality brands that I like so opted to purchase these, rather selfishly for myself.....well we all deserve a little treat now and then and since I'm developing more wrinkles these days I need a little help in that department.

Having used the brands La Roche Posay and Vichy in the past these were definitely going in my basket, although it was a tough choice between these and the Dermalogica items that are also stocked. 

My first choices were La Roche Posay Hydreane BB Cream (£13.99)  and La Roche Posay Effaclar H Moisturiser (£8.89). I love that the BB cream has an SPF 20 and is formulated for sensitive skin, although my skin isn't overly sensitive on the odd occasion I have had a reaction to some products so tend to err on the side of caution. Having used La Roche Posay in the past I know that I won't have any issues. The Effaclar moisturiser has been designed to unclog, clear and purify skin that is on the oily side. I am finding increasingly recently my skin has been slightly more oily, especially in the warmer weather so this I'm looking forward to trying. 

I also chose one of my favourite moisturisers Vichy Aqualia Thermal Creme Riche (£15.99) I just love this moisturiser for leaving my skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I wouldn't normally spend a huge amount of money on face cream (other than Clarins) but I do feel that this cream is worth the extra £'s. Plus I know it sounds ridiculous but I love lotions and potions that come in glass pots or bottles, am I weird for this? I love the mirrored lid on this pot too, so cute.

I then decided to choose one of my favourite lip balm pots, Carmex Cherry (£1.99) because one (I am lip balm obsessed though so probably didn't really need another but hey ho!) can never have too  many lip balms and this is by far one of my favourite's and the best on the market these days. Gotta love the tingle!

The last item I chose was probably the most practical, some new razor blades for my razor. I love this Wilkinson Sword Hydro Silk razor, particularly the in built serum that is activated when in water but for a price of £8.49 for 3 replacement blades they don't come cheap. 

Overall, I got an amazing selection of items for an excellent price and with free delivery too (over £40 spend) is an added bonus. I spent just over the £50 budget as I struggled to stay within the limit. Now I had also ordered an eye cream to go with my order but a day or two after my initial order I received an email to say that they were waiting arrival of some new stock of the eye cream. That's ok I thought, I don't mind a small delay on receiving the items. A few days later I then received another email to say that the eye cream remains out of stock so I won't be receiving it and will be having a refund for the amount spent instead. 

So my items arrived a few days later, I didn't know that they'd actually been dispatched so it was a surprise when they turned up. They were well packaged in a little cardboard box and  I continued to be pleased with the items that I chose. Only thing is I'm still waiting for the extra money that I spent to be refunded which I haven't received, as yet which. 

All in all a great website and I like that you can purchase pet supplies such as flea products which is handy! It was easy to navigate with a running total so you know exactly what you're spending and what is in your basket. Fingers crossed I'll receive the refund I'm owed soon, although it isn't a huge amount I am still a little out of pocket and in these days every little counts, right?

Anyway I would give Chemist Direct a thumbs up overall as generally a good experience. Have you shopped with this guys before? What did you think?

* As mentioned in the post I was kindly provided £50 to spend on the products of my choice in exchange for a review. All of the thoughts and opinions are that of my own.

Beautiful Beauty Essentials

I got thinking about the beauty essentials that I just couldn't live without. Becoming a Mummy I haven't changed my beauty regime I've just learnt how to do it really, really quickly! Occasionally it does mean I have one half of my hair straightened and the other half gets sorted an hour later, but make up wise I'm rarely seen without at least a tinted moisturiser, a nude eyeshadow, eyeliner and bronzer/highlighter. To some this might seem extreme and ditch the make up altogether after having a baby, but the first few days home with Alfie I needed some normality, I needed to be me. 

These are my essentials.

1. Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique  I cannot praise this product enough. I swear by it, especially as I straighten my hair daily and use hair dye regularly. It's a must.  I use a 10p sized blob and run it through damp hair. It works by strengthening the internal fibres of the hair and protecting the surface. The result is (in my hair) shiny, stronger, heat protected hair. Although it costs around £15+ it lasts for a very long time. 

2. Tigi Headrush Shine Spray I've been using this product for years and love it. It smells amazing, is so lightweight and creates a lovely shine. I use it before using my straighteners without fail to get added shine and heat protection. Available widely for around £8 and one bottle goes a long way. 

3. Wella Silvikrin Hairspray (natural hold) I don't often use hairspray, but when I do I use this one as I find it gives a lightweight, natural and lasting hold. I also think it smells  nicer than some of the others that are available. 

4. Where would I be without my beloved GHD's ? I love my straighteners and I've been loyal to this brand for years. I think they are amazing, especially now you can curl with them (however there is a knack to this!).  The GHD's you can see in this picture are the 'pink orchid' variety, although the ceramic plates are really more purple than pink!

5. Dove Deodorant - Original What can I say about this?It's a deodorant, It does what I want it to do! Effective protection, fresh smell and lasts for a decent amount of time, definitely one of my essentials as a Mummy!

6. Nivea Cleansing Wipes (gentle) As much as I like to cleanse, tone and moisturise sometimes I just don't have the time (but remember cleansing, toning & moisturising is the best routine for amazing skin). These wipes are so handy and alot more travel friendly than packing bottles of lotions and potions. Definitely a Mummy must!

7. Nivea Creme I've always got a tub of this handy, it's a classic. It's quite a thick consistency to apply but I find if I use it overnight on my hands or on dry areas, in the morning they're really moisturised. 

8. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm This is an award winning , best selling product which I love. I use it under my foundation to make my skin more radiant or on its own if my skin needs a boost.  It helps smooth the appearance of my skin and makes it look alot fresher. It's great but for £28 I use it sparingly. 

9. Kiehl's Lip Balm & Carmex Lip Balm (cherry) Lip balms, lip balms, lip balms. My ultimate beauty essential. I cannot be without my lip balms. I have hundreds around the house and in my bags, I'm always using them. I picked these two as personal favourites. Kiehl's  is spf15 and is also lightly tinted and Carmex (cherry) makes your lips tingle on application and it really moisturises well. 

10.  I love perfume, particularly Ellie Saab. I always like to smell nice (who doesn't!). I discovered Ellie Saab a year ago and it's a gorgeous scent. It's fresh and zesty, I think it's got a really unique scent. I love the bottle design too :-) 

11. Clarins Eyeliner I love a dark kohl eyeliner and this is my favourite. It applies like a dream and comes with a smudger for the perfect smokey eye, quick and easy to apply in a rush.

12. E.L.F Mineral Infused Mascara I've just discovered this and for only £3.75 I'm impressed.  This gives a really nice coverage, not cloggy or clumpy at all. I do find I need 2 coats for a decent effect but overall great. I couldn't live without a mascara, I think it really picks tired eyes up (assuming you've used a decent concealer!). 

13. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (rose) This award winning highlighter is the best (in my opinion). I've used alot of highlighters over the last few years and this is the ultimate. Not only can you use each of the different strips of colours as eye shadows but the highlighting glow it provides is gorgeous. I use it on my cheeks and decolletage  It's shimmery loveliness.  

14. Last but not least and not strictly beauty but lifestyle instead. I believe every Mummy should have a White Company Candle in their life. After I've put Alfie to bed I like nothing better than to light a candle and relax. This candle is called Verveine and has a light citrusy scent, it's lovely. 

Helly's Top Tips:  Super quick Mummy makeup: concealer, tinted moisturiser, a quick brush of powder to seal, some nude eyeshadow, eyeliner, a lick of mascara and a quick brush of highlighter or bronzer to the cheeks for a brighter complexion. This shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes.

 Now for the men in your life…

It’s always handy to have a list of some top beauty (or grooming) treats for men.  That way you know you have “go-to” options for your gift buying.

For older men, a visit to a hair transplant clinic could be a top beauty essential.  It would probably be a gift for a very special occasion, but it could do a lot to boost their self-confidence.

On the other hand, if you know a man with long hair, try treating them to some silk hair ties or a silk pillowcase (or both).  Silk is super-gentle on the hair and does a lot to prevent breakage.

For men with beards, there are some great beard oils available.  The best ones are basically a cross between hair conditioner and men’s scent.  They’ll appreciate how well it maintains their beard, you’ll both appreciate how good they smell.

Alternatively, if they do shave then a good razor is a must.  There are some great niche brands out there now bringing razors into the 21st century (seriously!).  One of the big differences between the mainstream brands and the new ones is that the new ones often use much more sustainable materials for the handles.  That means a lot less plastic in the world!

Moisturizers are always safe options for anyone, especially in summer and winter.  Men’s scents are also generally a good bet, particularly if you go for the more natural ones.

Anyone else got any good tips? 

Helen X