Book Review // Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

Before I Go To Sleep - S J Watson, published 2011

Before I Go To Sleep tells the story of a middle-aged woman named Christine who suffers from anterograde amnesia - she wakes up every morning with no recollection of who or where she is. The book is a psychological thriller that follows Christine as she attempts to reconstruct her memories and discover who she is. 

For a first novel I think that this book is very well written and well paced. As a reader you are kept in a sense of anticipation as to what will happen next throughout the book. I enjoy psychological thrillers and find stories that revolve around memory quite fascinating (Memento and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind happen to be a couple of my favourite films), so I was instantly drawn towards the premise of this novel. Although a little slow in parts, I think that this doesn't distract from the book rather acts to highlight the mundane suburban existence that Christine finds herself living. For me the ending was somewhat predictable and dry, but overall I enjoyed the story and felt that I connected with the character of Christine - a trait that I look for and associate with a good writer. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thriller and I am looking forward to SJ Watson's next novel! Before I Go To Sleep is now being turned into a film adaption written and directed by Rowan Joffé, starring Nicole Kidman as Christine and Colin Firth as Ben. I will be intrigued to see how the film lives up to the novel and how the actors will portray the characters. I think Colin Firth has been cast well but remain unsure of Nicole Kidman as Christine.

Have you read Before I Go To Sleep? What do you think about the film adaption?

Scalp Saviour // E45 Shampoo Review

Sometimes products are not pretty or glamourous... this is one of those times. Over the past couple of years I have been struggling with my scalp. I have no idea what triggered it, but after one sunny holiday my poor head was never quite the same again. I am not sure if my issues are due to sun damage (always wear a hat folks!), but ever since I have had an extremely sensitive scalp. Oh so glamourous. 

Although I am fortunate not to suffer with any unsightly dandruff, I do get a very uncomfortable scalp. It often feels tight, itchy or sore and means that I have to wash my hair everyday in order to keep it comfortable. Over time I have tried many different shampoos and conditioners, but all have seemed to irritate my sensitive head - until now!

Feeling fed up with my poor head, I decided to try a few more specialist shampoos that are designed for either extreme sensitivity or dry conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Having tried similar products in the past I wasn't too hopeful, but decided to try the E45 shampoo as I had seen some positive reviews. The shampoo is perfume free and hypoallergenic and claims to be a 'gentle, effective shampoo for dry, itchy scalps...'. Even after first use I could tell that my head was happier. It felt somehow soothed and not at all irritated. Once dry my hair also felt incredibly soft - a pleasant surprise to say the least! 

Although it is still early days for my scalp, I feel that this shampoo has really helped me and I could not help but share my thoughts. If you are suffering from similar sensitivity issues I would really recommend giving E45 a try! E45 dry scalp shampoo retails for £5.89 for 200ml and is available to buy from Boots.

Estèe Lauder Zodiac Powder Compact Review // Virgo

Happy new year! After a break over the christmas period, I'm back (a little heavier) and looking forward to the next year in beauty. I also wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who followed my blog during 2013! I really appreciate all your lovely comments and support, and stay tuned as there is lots more to come this year.

I was lucky enough to receive some lovely christmas presents this year, including this beautiful limited edition Estèe Lauder zodiac compact*. Estèe Lauder always make such beautiful and luxurious products, but this compact feels truly special. It is a small yet weighty, gold coloured compact with a zodiac design (mine is virgo) and crystal detail on the front. What drew me to this compact was the design - it is gloriously vintage inspired with an art deco style and seems reminiscent of old school Hollywood glamour. Each star sign is represented with an individual design (12 in total), all of which are equally beautiful! 

The compact arrives in a lovely box, and is accompanied by a little blue velvet pouch in order to protect your compact from wear and tear. The powder itself is translucent and very good at getting rid of unwanted shine. The powder refills are pricey at £15, but I know that I will get a lot of use out of this compact for the mirror as well as the powder. This is definitely a keepsake product and I am sure I will be using it for many years to come. 

I have nothing negative to say about this compact at all! It is a joy to use and I feel oh so glamorous every time I bring it out of my handbag. The limited edition zodiac compact retails for £38.50 and is available from the Estèe Lauder website. Did you get any beauty presents this year?

* Item was a gift.

Foodie Faves // Nákd raw fruit and nut bars Review

I thought I would share my new favourite healthy snacks on the blog today as I have been enjoying them immensely. The product in question is the raw fruit and nut bars from nákd. I had previously never heard or tried anything from this brand, but on a food shop I noticed these bars and thought I would give them a try - and I am so glad that I did.

Firstly I love that these bars are individually wrapped and portable, so they can be easily thrown into a handbag and taken to work or school - no more excuses for buying a chocolate bar come midday! I have a sweet tooth and am often tempted to snack on sweets or biscuits, but in an attempt to be more healthy, I was looking for an alternative to those naughty treats. I like these nákd bars because they satisfy my sweet tooth whilst containing good raw ingredients. The bars consist of dates, cashews and raisins as the base ingredients, then depending on the flavour either some natural flavourings or cocoa is added. There is no added sugar or syrups, they are 100% vegan and count as 1 of your 5 a day (woohoo!). They are also gluten, wheat and dairy free. I like all the flavours from the range, but my personal favourite is the cocoa orange. It tastes indulgent, but minus the guilty conscience! 

With other flavours such as Ginger Bread, Caffé Mocha, Cocoa Mint, Cashew Cookie and Pecan Pie available I am eager to try some more varieties from the range! Nákd also make a protein crunch bar that sounds equally as delicious.

Nákd bars are available from Natural Balance Foods, Holland and Barrett, Amazon, Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's. Do you have a favourite healthy snack? Have you tried anything from nákd before? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Max Benjamin // Mimosa & Sweet Amber Natural Wax Candle Review

I am a fully-fledged candle lover. There is something lovely about lighting a candle in the evening and relaxing whilst the warm glow and scent fills the room. In winter I find myself using candles more regularly as they help to get me into the festive spirit. The latest addition to my candle collection is the Mimosa & Sweet Amber candle from Max Benjamin. Max Benjamin is an Irish company that creates hand-made candles in County Wicklow. They use a 'blend of pure natural waxes, essential oils and lead free wicks' meaning that their candles are made from 100% natural resources. The wax itself is created from Soy beans and other natural waxes, which means that it does not contain paraffin. This results in the candle burning cleanly without petrol-carbon soot. 

The Mimosa & Sweet Amber scent has the most incredible fresh yet sweet smell, and unlike some scented candles that I have tried in the past, this candle is strongly scented and fills the room with scent. Max Benjamin describe this scent as 'delicate top notes of green leaf, a gentle heart of mimosa, with soothing elements of sweet ambered sandal.' It is certainly a calm and relaxing scent, ideal for cold evenings in.

I have thoroughly enjoyed burning this candle and adore the Max Benjamin brand! I will definitely be exploring more of their scents in the future. I think that these candles would make a lovely gift as they feel very luxurious and are of such a high quality. Max Benjamin also have a fantastic selection of reed diffusers and skincare items - so there is something for everyone! 

The Max Benjamin candles retail for £19.95 and are available from the Max Benjamin website, House of Fraser and Ocado. Do you have a favourite candle?

Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry & Vanilla Hairspray Review

There is something that you should know about me, I'm fickle. I very rarely repurchase the same product as I am always eager to try new things. I am also a sucker for nice packaging, and appreciate well thought out graphics and designs (thanks GCSE Graphics!). On the search for a new hairspray, I came across this little beauty in the aisles of Superdrug. Fudge is a brand that I have a limited experience with. Before using this hairspray I had never used a Fudge product, and only knew of the brand as my boyfriend used to use a Fudge hair wax a few years ago. I really did not know what to expect from this purchase, but was enticed by the pretty packaging (well done Fudge design team).

The packaging, oh the packaging. A brightly coloured pink and orange affair, it should scream tacky but it doesn't. Somehow the packaging manages to retain a grown-up feel, perhaps due to the lovely brushed metal tube that adds a (literal) touch of class. All in all the packaging is eye-catching and fun, and makes a welcome addition to my dressing table.  

The product itself claims '...soft to touch hair and 24 hours of hold. Anti frizz properties smooth and seal loose ends leaving your hair feeling natural while keeping your style in place all day.' In terms of performance this hairspray is a strong hold. I tested the staying power by using this product on an up-do, and the results were fantastic! My hair stayed in place all day and with minimum frizz. The bottle claims that the hairspray is 'soft touch' which I do not necessarily agree with as I found that when applied liberally this hairspray does create the dreaded 'crispy hair' effect. However, this could be easily remedied as the product was incredibly easy to brush out, leaving my hair feeling soft.

The scent, Iced Raspberry and Vanilla, is pleasantly sweet, not too overpowering, and lingers in the hair throughout the day - a huge bonus! I usually avoid trying to use hairspray as I detest the smell, but this Fudge hairspray scent is so lovely that I find myself using the product for the scent alone.

I am very impressed with this Fudge Urban hairspray and will definitely be repurchasing it. I liked this product so much that will also be looking to purchase more products from the Fudge brand in the near future - I currently have my eye on the Raspberry and Vanilla styling mousse! The Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry & Vanilla hairspray retails for £4.99 is available from Superdrug.

Have you tried any Fudge products?