New Sorbet Range from the Body Shop

I am loving The Body Shop's products at the moment. My current favourites are now the Sorbets, particularly - the Morninga products - cooling skincare treats for the face and body, simply luscious.  I've been using a couple of products - one for the face and neck and one for the body - to keep my skin moisturised, cool and smooth. A great tip for using these is to pop them in the fridge before use, for extra frosty refreshment!

Moringa Body Sorbet & Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet - lovely!

The first product is the gorgeous Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet which I have been using on my face and neck. It really is cooling, light and smooth and perfect for this muggy weather. It contains Aqua Sphere technology - microscopic moisture spheres that act like tiny reservoirs and hold hundreds of times their weight in pure water, basically meaning that it works beautifully for up to 24 hours. It does! It also contains wheatgerm oil, Community Fair Trade shea butter and soya oil.

I've also been using the Moringa Body Sorbet (not for the face!).  Again, cooling and smooth, smelling of divine florals, it absorbs really quickly into my skin with no stickiness. It also comes in strawberry, mango, peach and satsuma.  As ever, it's all ethical - the body sorbet range contains 100% organic Community Fair Trade Aloe Vera from Guatemala, to comfort, cool and soothe skin frazzled by the summer heat. Perfecto!

Until 5th August, customers can get 35% off using the code 35OFF.

Lola and Luxury Lace Bras from Gossard

Gossard sent me some gorgeous lingerie from the Lola range and Luxury Lace range recently.  Gossard have always been on the cutting edge of lingerie fashion and it was great to try these fantastic products.

I am impressed.  Being a plus-sized person, I have found that over the years, it's been almost impossible to get well-fitting, reasonably priced, pretty, colourful and stylish lingerie and I do feel that these ranges cover all of these bases.  The first range I tried was from the Lola collection.  The Lola neon pink with turquoise ribbon detailing non-padded bra (pictured) comes in sizes 30D to 38G, the plunge bra in sizes 30D to 38E and the shorts and thong in extra small to extra large.  I love the colour combination of this range with the complementary turquoise ribbon and neon pink lace, giving it an amazing colour pop.  The non-padded bra is very supportive, with an inner net and criss-cross, gateback on  the back making me feel comfortable yet attractive.

The second range I tried was from the Luxury Lace collection. The Luxury Lace plunge bra comes in sizes 30D to 38F (pictured below in aqua).  Slightly padded, it allows for one's cleavage to look awesome!  I also tried the thong (again, below) in extra large which fit and looked superb.  There's also a balcony bra from 30D to 38E and the shorts and thongs in extra small to extra large too.  This range comes in three different colours - an aqua/turquoise blue with candy pink ribbon as shown, a darker, almost purplish blue (selling out fast with discounts on this gorgeous colour) and classic black - the latter two with baby pink ribbon detailing.  There's also a fab suspender belt in the dark blue to complete the look.

To conclude, thank you to Gossard for introducing me to these lovely ranges; my husband thanks you too! And as a savvy and canny shopper, I do think the pricing is very good already for quality, gorgeous and unique products, but do watch out for discounts, sales and voucher codes which become available at certain times making their ranges even more desirable!

New Raspberry Range from the Body Shop

I'm really impressed with the range of products and discounts that the Body Shop offers on a regular basis.  Coupled with their ethics - including Fair Trade, against animal testing, human rights and green values - I don't think anyone can go wrong with them!

They have just launched the most fantastic new raspberry range and I've been using the shower gel and body butter. It smells wonderful and realistic; so often these sorts of products can smell synthetic, overpowering and fake but these don't - it is a natural, delightful, real raspberry smell! The raspberries are picked early in the season which also preserves skin-boosting antioxidants to protect and nourish.

The shower gel is soap-free which is great for me - I can use soap but it can occasionally bring out a little rash, so I do prefer this type of product. Obviously, I use it in the shower where it lathers up well and feels fresh and clean and my skin has been perfect afterwards. Even better, it's sweetened with Fair Trade honey, supporting bee-keepers and their communities in Ethiopia.

The body butter is gorgeous; it feels amazing when it goes on and keeps my skin silky smooth for ages - it certainly lives up to its 24 hour hydration promise. I also don't need a lot of it for fully moisturised, soft skin meaning it's great value for money. Using this after the shower gel means that the moisture gets locked in really well and I also get the subtle raspberry scent all over!  And again, one of the ingredients - the Shea butter - is sourced Fair Trade from Ghana, so its an ethical purchase. Simply divine all round.

The new raspberry body collection at The Body Shop

The other products in this range include an Eau de Toilette, a body scrub and a lightweight body lotion, all of which, I'm sure, are just as amazing. Until today, customers can get 40% off with purchases of four or more and 30% off with purchases of two or three products with the code PICK.

Christmas Savings: Cashback Sites

I must apologise for not having posted for a while.  There have been savings, discounts, sales and wonderful products galore but unfortunately life has got in the way of my discovering and posting about them.  So I thought a quick post about how to save money online this Christmas may be a good way of getting back into the swing of things, and it's this simple.  Use a cashback site!  I've made a page (see tabs above) about the best ones I have found, which are basically TopCashback and Quidco.

By registering with and then clicking through these sites to the online store you want - and make sure any ad-blockers are switched off - purchases are tracked to the site.  Customers will then get a percentage cashback on purchases - anything from about 3% to 10%, on average.  So it's almost like a voucher code.  And, even better, sometimes customers can use voucher codes in addition to cashback so you can maximise savings.

So, if you are shopping online this Christmas, do have a look to see if and how you can get cashback on your purchases.

Putting my money where my mouth is: Neal's Yard Remedies Lip Gloss

One can never have too much lip gloss in my opinion and I have found a gorgeous, luxurious one from Neal's Yard Remedies.  Not only does it protect the lips and make them look scrummy but it contains a wonderful range of natural ingredients to condition, nourish and nurture the lips.  They have a fantastic selection of colours - and flavours - but the one I have been using is the plum.  It's simply perfect.

They're quite expensive at £9.50 but one only needs a tiny amount to be effective, so they will last for ages.  I was lucky enough to get one through attending a Look Good, Feel Better event for women with cancer, and I am happy to note that Neal's Yard Remedies are also supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month this month, so I'll promote them as much as I can!  In fact, buy a deodorant from them and they will donate £1 to breast cancer support centres until the 31st.  So stock up on luxury and support a great cause - win/win!

Competition: Warehouse Style Me If You Can

Warehouse launched their AW13 'Style Me if You can' campaign whereby customers picked the place and chose the look.  The competition asked customers to enter to become the stylist for their forthcoming film and print campaign, so they can see their designs brought to life.  This has been achieved as a series of fun videos, so have a look below!

What's your favourite piece from this campaign?  I'm quite taken by the brightly coloured necklace...

Leggings from Boden

I remember when leggings appeared after a couple of decade's hiatus, I was skeptical.  My main thought was: how on earth can a bad fashion trend from the 1980's be relevant or fashionable again?  But I admit, I was wrong.  The latest rendition of leggings is (in my opinion) fabulous and a trend that's here to stay.

However, a key point I would like to make is - they are not, on the whole, trousers.  They don't look very good with a crop top, or even a top that doesn't go past one's waist, unless one is a child or super-skinny.  Or a gymnast or dancer - I'll give that one.  But on the average woman, they should really be worn as footless tights.  Think shorter dresses, mini skirts or tunics.  They look great under those!  A second point is that they should be good quality.  See through leggings are simply horrendous, especially when someone doesn't wear a long top as advised above.....  I don't want to see anyone's pants or worse.  Length is also important, as shorter, calf-length leggings can often make legs look stumpy, so I'd suggest ankle length ones on the whole.

The best leggings I have found are from Boden.  They are superb quality, being thick enough to not be transparent and they don't lose their shape, even when washed.  They come in a great range of colours - black, light grey, navy and a kind of bluey-grey.  The fit is perfect too.  Although they are £22, I have found that they are worth it as they last far longer than cheaper versions aside from the quality.  And for this week only, customers can enjoy 10% off plus free delivery and returns, with new customers receiving a free gift, with code W002 (expires 8th September).

If that is still too expensive, the next best leggings I have found are from Monsoon and are £15.  Again, they are great quality and the fabric is robust, but I find the fit around the waist isn't quite as good as the Boden ones and so they aren't as comfortable.

Putting my money where my mouth is: Verbena & Lavender Hand Therapy from Crabtree & Evelyn

As I get older *sad face*, I'm finding that I am needing a decent hand cream more and more.  My hands are drier than they used to be, plus the skin itself doesn't seem as supple or smooth.  Therefore, I find that I've been trying out the higher-end, quality products which, although more expensive, seem to work far better than cheaper products.  They also last longer too, so actually, it does seem to work out a savvier way to shop.

My latest find is from Crabtree and Evelyn, which I love for its variety of products and fragrances, its natural ingredients and its luxuriousness.  It's a rich, restorative and creamy hand therapy cream made from verbena and lavender.  I've said before how much I love the lavender scent and the combination with the lemony verbena is heavenly, reminiscent of the summer French countryside I think!

It's also blended with Shea butter, macadamia nut oil and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, meaning it moisturises, restores and conditions beautifully.  I only needed a tiny amount on my hands and it lasts for ages - as well as it smelling and feeling fantastic.  Look at my lovely soft hands! :D

Crabtree and Evelyn are running a 3 for 2 offer on mini travel essentials until the end of the month and the 25g hand cream counts as part of this offer - so one could stock up!  Alternatively, customers can get a free tote bag with a £30 or more spend with the code BAG until 19th August.

Putting my money where my mouth is: The Body Shop Moisturising Products

The Body Shop runs a lot of really great offers on a regular basis; right now, there is 40% off all purchases plus free standard delivery when you spend £5 with the code 14668 (ends 6th August).

I've been searching for a good tinted moisturiser for the day, as well as something to keep my body moisturised and smooth so have got a couple of items that I hoped would work well - and they do!

The first is this Vitamin E cool BB cream which states it will give '12 hour quenching moisture and protection'.  This retails at £10 before any discount.  BB creams are promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer and foundation and I've been dying to try one for ages - I just haven't got round to it!  This one is lovely.  It's light and gives enough cover to even out my skin tone, and moisturises my dry/dry to combo skin beautifully.  Some of the reviews on the site say it's a bit greasy, but I didn't find this at all.  The only negative I can think of is that I wish it had SPF.  However, an extra bonus of this cream is that 50p from each sale goes to Teenage Cancer Trust.  A superb BB cream that does exactly what it says it will do, and lasts all day.  Fab!

I also tried this Cocoa Butter Beautifying Oil for my body and face which retails at £9 before the discount.  This was amazing!  It instantly hydrated my skin and felt gorgeous on - I used just a tiny bit of it when just out of the shower, when my skin was still slightly damp.  It sank in straight away, so didn't feel greasy or oily, and my skin was soft and moisturised all day and felt silky smooth.  It smells divine, too.  It can also be used on the hair but I haven't tried that yet as my hair seems to be behaving in terms of moisture....  Again, highly recommended for keeping skin hydrated and sleek!

So, all in all, it's definitely worth taking advantage of the fabulous products that the Body Shop have on offer at the moment. I'm really impressed and pleased to be able to benefit from such great products!

Freebie! Crabtree & Evelyn 60 Second Handcare Treatment

Until 14th August, Crabtree & Evelyn are offering a the chance to receive a complimentary 60 second hand fix treatment in-store, to celebrate the launch of their new conditioning hand wash range.

I took advantage of this today and, I must say I am very impressed with the results!  I used the lavender one, as it's one of my favourite scents, but there are others including Citron, Honey & Coriander, Gardeners' and Rosewater which also looked and smelt lovely.  My hands smell amazing, they feel great and are silky smooth, even a few hours later.

Usually £34, they are currently £24 and will look gorgeous in any bathroom, as well as being amazing for hands!

Print out the following leaflet to get your free treatment in-store.  Enjoy!

Putting my money where my mouth is: Havaianas

The best flip flops on the market, in my opinion, are classic Havaianas.  They are well made, comfortable, durable and perfect for the summer.  They come in a huge range of colours and styles - and prices.  The really basic, slim ones shouldn't cost more than about £15 - and should be found for less.  But, as ever, with a bit of canny research, one should be able to find a fabulous pair or two for no more than about £20.  They shouldn't cost more than this.

My sister and I took advantage of a 20% off offer at Office a few weeks ago and managed to get these wonderful versions for just under £18 which go well with our pedicures I think!  I love the colours and the sole is quite thick and sturdy.

As much as I adore the pink, I'm now searching for a more neutral version that will match a few more outfits.   There's a sale on at USC at the moment which includes these, so I am tempted by these silver and white ones, reduced from £24 to £18.

Other sites worth looking at, that often have deals include:

• Amazon - need to have a good browse to get the colour, size and price that's required.
• Matalan - there's some really basic ones for just £10.
• John Lewis - slightly more pricey but a lovely selection.

Putting my money where my mouth is: Annie Pintuck Linen Tunic from Phase Eight - update!

My Annie Pintuck tunic has just been delivered from Phase Eight!  I am impressed with the speed of delivery, seeing as I did only order it a few days ago - three days from placing the order to the delivery.

The tunic itself is amazing.  It fits beautifully and the fact that it does tie around the waist means that it flatters my body really well; some tunics just hang shapelessly and this one certainly doesn't.  The fabric is the great quality that I was hoping for: lovely, soft, cool linen.  Sometimes I find that linen can be scratchy but this isn't.  It is a modest length, in that it falls to my hips and completely covers my bottom; some tunics are a bit short on me and make me feel a bit self-conscious so I'm glad this one is long enough to keep me decent!

This is perfect and I am really pleased with this purchase.  Well done Phase Eight and hurrah for sales!

Are you taking advantage of any of the sales?  Tell me about your favourite and most savvy purchases!

Putting my money where my mouth is: Annie Pintuck Linen Tunic from Phase Eight

It seems the sales are upon us once more - lots of stores have announced them in the last few days and I suspect a few more will be doing so over the next week or so.  There has also been quite a lot of new voucher codes released, so do check before you buy online that any savings are being maximised.  I've added a new contact form to the bottom of the page, so if you do have any questions or want to check if there's any new codes for a particular store that I know about, do get in touch.

Back to the review...  I've taken advantage of the Phase Eight sale which started today.  I have been coveting this pintuck linen tunic for ages - there are plenty of pintuck tunics out there, but I felt that this one was the best in terms of cut, quality, material and style.  However, at £65, I couldn't justify the cost despite the fact that this would be a well-worn, investment piece for me.

But it's in the sale at just £39 so hurrah!  I've bought it!  I'm expecting this to be utterly perfect: high-quality linen fabric to keep me cool (if the sun ever returns), a great length to throw over skinny jeans or leggings and a tie waist to make mine look smaller.  I'll add a blazer, scarf and some sandal wedges and it will be perfect for a casual day out.

What sale are you most excited about?  Is there something you have also been coveting that you're hoping will be reduced?  Let me know in the comments below!

Fantastic Footwear: Chorus Sing Liberty Arts Fabric Peep-toe Heels from Clarks Shoes

Clarks Shoes are synonymous with quality, functionality, longevity and style and year after year produce fantastic collections for the whole family and for every occasion.  I am also impressed that, despite being a global brand with a large High Street presence, they take their commitment to social responsibility seriously.  And, quite frankly, I wouldn't buy my work shoes from anywhere else as they look and feel great.

I was really pleased to discover that Clarks are working in collaboration with Liberty Art Fabrics and have incorporated the iconic print into a selection of styles available right now.  I couldn't resist the Chorus Sing nude patent peep-toe heels, so I've combined some of my own photos with the official ones for this review post!

Aren't they stunning?  The colour is perfect for the Spring and Summer months, with nude shoes having become a classic, elegant fashion staple rather than a seasonal trend.  I adore how the contrasting, unique Liberty Arts Fabric lining enhances the neutral shade, with the pop of pink peeping out from the toe.  And look how well that particular feature goes with my pedicure - what an unexpected surprise!

The other key feature of these shoes is how well they fit and how amazingly comfortable they are.  I love my heels but I am not necessarily a proficient walker in them and I do find that some brands and styles are often uncomfortable.   However, I have no such problems with these, and have been wearing them everywhere and all day with no trouble - the heel height of about 3" (8cm) seems to be perfect.  They look fantastic with my skinny jeans and blazer, creating a smart daytime casual look.  I've also worn them with a pencil skirt suit into the office and, not only do they look amazing, but my feet feel great, even at the end of the day.  I've had numerous compliments on them too.

These shoes are patent leather, so they are great quality and will last.  Even better, Clarks are offering 20% off adults' shoes until midnight tonight with the code BREEZY, so these amazing shoes can be snapped up for just £40 rather than the usual (and still reasonable) £49.99.

So all in all, these shoes are a versatile, pretty, comfortable, practical, canny and savvy purchase.  Highly recommended and I'm so pleased with them.  I'm now debating which matching bag to get....  And maybe another colour or style....

Putting my money where my mouth is: Review of SecretSales.com

So as I blogged at the time, I took the plunge last week and made my first purchase from private discount website SecretSales.com.  I have to say, I am very impressed!  My Lucky Brand sandals arrived today - they are superb and will be perfect for the warmer weather.  They fit beautifully, feel comfortable, look amazing and the quality is excellent - and I paid a fraction of the recommended retail price!  I'm also pretty impressed with the delivery time, as I was expecting it to take longer.  So thumbs up to SecretSales.com - highly recommended as a means for major savvy chic and canny style!

Putting my money where my mouth is: Lucky Brand Covela Leather sandals from Secretsales.com

When I started this blog, I signed up to a variety of different 'private' discount websites as a way to keep an eye on what's available, what savings can be made and if they are truly as economical as they seem.  So far, so good, and I have been particularly taken with Secretsales.com.  They offer a good variety of items for men, women and the home - including designer goodies - and they do seem to provide excellent value for money.  I'd never actually bought from one of these sites.... until now.

I have made my first purchase from them, ready for the sunny weather and bought these Lucky Brand mint and silver sandals which were less than half the recommended retail price.  I also checked other sites and these were definitely a bargain in comparison.  The colours are perfect and I'm loving the metallic element, which brings them up to date for SS13.  I'll be able to wear them with almost anything, most of the time.  Items from Secretsales are dispatched once a sale closes - which is after the Bank Holiday in this case - so I should get them towards the end of next week.  I am very excited about these and will update as to progress!

Putting my money where my mouth is: Top Cashback

I had a bit of a surprise today by being a little more canny than I meant to be!  I subscribed to Grazia magazine through Great Magazines using Top Cashback.  It was £18 for the quarter for both the digital and print editions which I thought was already a great deal, as it is a saving on buying it from the shop each week.  Coupled with that, I got just over £6 cashback so even more savvy savings.  But on top of that, I saw that I was entitled to a free gift of some haircare products, apparently worth over £46 but you never know with these things.  I assumed I'd get some shampoo, conditioner and some spray or similar  but look what turned up this afternoon....

So, in terms of savvy and canny purchases, I think I have done rather well. A fab mag, potentially gorgeous hair and a bargain!

Putting my money where my mouth is: Rose Corsage Ballerina Flats from Accessorize

So once again, I have taken my own advice and saved money on some fantastic, fabulous shoes.  As I said in my original post on these ballet pumps from Accessorize, these shoes are so comfortable and well-fitting.  They go with so many things - I have worn them with jeans, dresses, leggings and skirts, both casually and to work.  The beige ones are older, but have lasted really well, even though I forgot to spray them with any sort of protector.  Definitely well worth the purchase and even better for the discount!

I've signed up to Instagram to highlight my savvy purchases, if you would like to have a look.  There's not a lot there at present but I'm hoping to add photos with money-saving advice when I get a chance.

Putting my money where my mouth is: Call It Spring Coral 'Janille' Pointed Toe Pumps from Debenhams

As you may have guessed, I love finding fashion bargains and I don't just find them - I buy them!  It's a bit of a risk for me whilst researching the blog I suppose....

My latest purchase is this pair of coral pencil pointed flat pumps from Debenhams.  The colour and patent shine is gorgeous.  They fit really well too and are comfortable - I think the fact that they are pointed toe rather than round gives them a slightly snugger fit meaning they are less likely to slip off.  I'll be able to wear these with jeans, dresses or skirts so they are a totally versatile bargain!

Until the 24th April, Debenhams are offering an extra 10% off sale prices with the discount voucher code CP37 so these can be picked up for just £18.  They are still available in sizes 3 - 8.