The Ordinary Peeling Solution | Beauty

Ah The Ordinary has really reached cult status hasn't it? It one of those brands that offers a lot of variety but for a fantastic price but if you have read my blog recently then you'll know my disappointment for the Coverage foundation, I mean I just hated that product! But my opinion on the make up aside I still wanted to try out a little something from this brand and take a little leap into the world of facial acids which is why I wanted to try out the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. 

In the past I have tried glycolic acid face pads and I frickin' loved them but I haven't really tried anything harsher than that so I had a look at the QUEEN of skincare Caroline Hirons blog post on Affordable Acids where she mentions that it's a good and cheap acid and but it's not a daily acid as it is strong. After researching it does suggest it should be used by people who know how to use acids/who's skin is used to acids so I was taking a little risk but I figure that providing I follow the instructions and stop if I don't like it I would be fine. 

I have been using it once a week for about 6 weeks now and I must admit I am quite impressed because it is powerful and instantly you can see a difference in the skin texture. I have used a lot of different products that might leave my skin looking good and fresh but this Peeling Solution actually leaves my skin shiny and smooth. The first time I tried it, I only left it on my face for 5 minutes just to be sure that I was going to be OK to use the product. Then after that I have used it for the full 10 minute each time. I love my skin when I wash the product off and then the next day my make up goes on perfectly but one thing I have noticed is that during the day my cheeks can get really red and hot. I don't know whether that is as a result of using this product but I feel like it is, however the days after that are completely fine. 

I have noticed that the texture of my skin is starting to look overall a lot smoother than before and sometimes when I wake up my skin actually looks really fresh, I'm actually starting to see and feel the improvement, I just love it! I haven't noticed any dryness or peeling, which I was worried about as it is an exfoliating product. 

Personally I think The Ordinary's Peeling Solution is a great, but it is strong so if you are considering using this you need to be cautious and aware. It's also a fantastic price at £6.30 it's worth trying. 

Have you tried facial acids? 

Kill The Father by Sandrone Dazieri | Book

One of my goals for this year was to start reading more and I have set myself a task of one book per month which let's face it is super easy for me! I can inhale a book within a few hours but last year I just couldn't find anything to interest me which is why I have set myself a small achievable goal .

January's book was Kill The Father by Sandrone Dazieri,  to be honest I love crime novels and this one was set in Italy so I got a bit excited and just picked it up. I'm not gonna give spoilers away but I thought I would share with you my overall impression on the book and whether I would actually recommend it. 

Kill The Father follows Colombia Castelli and Dante Torre as they try and track down a psychopath called The Father. Castelli has to enlist the help of Dante who is the only one to escape The Father...I will say no more about the plot for fear of ruining it. As with any crime novels the reader knows there is going to be at least one twist, it's formulaic but that's why I personally love these types of crime novels because if done right it stuns you into questioning everything you believed in the previous chapters. Colombia and Dante are complex characters each with quirks and darkness within them, Dante is the type of character I like to read about because his complexities are layered up into his entire being Dazieri does a fantastic job of making you feel something for this character. Colombia is some badass Deputy Captain who does not take shit, I like the way Dazieri portrays her, he doesn't sexualise her, she is tough and she can throw a punch. I love the way that both the characters blend together with incredibly different personalities but there are two things keeping them tethered together which is the hunt for The Father and their own darkness. 

Personally I loved this book it did have twists, it did keep you guessing! I am looking forward to reading more from this author 

Have you read Kill The Father?

Neom Essential De-Stress Kit | Beauty

Last year I only just started to discover essential oils, I got really into my Monoibody oil but I also discovered the Feather & Down pillow spray which to this day I am still obsessed with. I recently stumbled across this gorgeous little Neom Essential De-Stress Kit and I am so glad I did. I'll be honest with you I have never tried anything from Neom before but have heard great things and I was in my local Homesense and spied this among a range of candles and I literally gasped when I saw it because I knew it was a good brand. 

Homesense had only two options one was the Essential De-Stress Kit and the other was Essential Energy Boosting kit and I nearly bought them but until I realised I was being a little impulsive so I opted for the De-stress Kit. I still have a lot going on with the new job and the house (or lack there of) so my sleep is very fragmented lately so I thought when I go to bed before I start reading this would be a great way to just unwind a little. Another bonus is this was only £12 in Home Sense when they normally retail for around £20. 

The thing I love about this little set is that it's an easy 3 step process, which only take like 5 mins which is not time at all, everyone has at least 5 minutes in their day free. The first little spray is for fabric so you can give a little spritz to something underneath or near your head like  cushion. The second step is a little roller ball that you apply to the pulse points on your wrists, temples and behind your ears. Then finally you have the "on the go" mist that you spray above your head whilst talking a few slow deep breathes. You can either use the set in this format or mix it up a little, you might want to keep the roller ball in your bag so during the day you can try and steal  moment of calm. 

The essential oils in this kit are predominantly are lavender, jasmine and Brazillian rosewood and I must say that if you dislike lavender then this is not a scent for you because it is quite intense. I have been using this product for a little while now and I must admit I quite enjoy the routine of doing this before I start reading at night, it does make me feel quite relaxed and calm. I do think it's a lovely product, but I feel like it's a little pricey to be something I buy frequently, I think its great as a gift or a treat! I'm definitely going to continue exploring more essential oils though because I think they are fab! 

Do you use scents to help you de-stress or unwind? 

Mattarello Restaurant, London | Food

Today I thought I would share with you guys a tasty little number because it's been a while since I had a foodie post. One of the main things I miss about Italy sometimes  has to be the food, oh my god I need good Italian food and I just didn't think it was possible in England until I went to Mattarello.  Mattarello is an Italian word for rolling pin, which gives a subtle nod to the notion of handmade which all good Italian food is. 

The restuarant itself is nestled in a little street near Aldgate and I was surprised when I walked in because it looks so chic and so welcoming, plus the waiter was thrilled to explain a little more about this delightful restaurant to us. It's actually a restaurant that has it's roots in Bologna in the Tuscan region and having lived in Italy you know I love Tuscany. He gave us a lot of advise as to his favourite foods and recommended traditional dishes as true proud Italians always do. I had to get the Aperol Spritz which had more of a kick in it than others I've had in the UK which kept me rather happy I must admit.  

It was quite hard to pick a started I must admit, but we opted for a selection of cold meats which included, Salami, Proscuitto, Mortadella and I "think" bresola but then had this rather delightful friend pieces of bread. In the picture they look quite hard but they were delightfully soft and doughy, I was in heaven!  

What to have for the main meal was an easy decision for me, as soon as I saw Tortellini I knew I'd be having that, it was nice that they added a little twist with it by serving it with a Bolognese ragu as opposed to like a butter sauce. It was divine and the portions were so generous, I actually left some pasta because I couldn't eat any more. It was cooked to perfection which is aldente and it was just like being in Italy again. 

We had to make sure there was enough room for dessert, I actually nearly went for a Tiramisu but I opted for the Panna Cotta with berries because I wanted something a little lighter. The  panna cotta was a little softer than I expected but it was just the right amount of sweetness to tame the sharp edge of the berries. Perfetto! 

Buonissima! 

I will be going back to this restaurant again, without a doubt! When it comes to the price personally I would say it's inline with any London restaurant we paid about £47 each but we had much food it was more than worth it! 

Which Italian restaurants do you recommend? 

Burt's Bees Lipstick | Beauty

I am a fan of Burt's Bees but usually stick to their skincare and lip balm products but I know last year they released some make up items sticking mainly to lip products. I was browsing in my local Boots and they just happened to have an entire stand of Burt's Bees Lipsticks and Lip Crayons, I have to admit it was a bit of an impulse buy because the queue was going down and I was stuck between two choices to I went with Blush Basin - bit of an odd name I must admit but It seemed like a good nude shade. 

If you have read my blog before you will know I am all about the nude lip, I don't think there will ever be a time where I rock a red shade, it's just not me. As you can see this is a lovely nude shade with slightly orange undertones, I must admit when I applied it it does bring out those undertones a little more than what I would like but that said, I can definitely work with this shade. 

Burt's Bees Lipstick is a slightly thinner stick which means you can apply it more precise than other lipsticks and I found that it was actually super moisturising which I wasn't expecting as I have been wearing a lot of matte shades and I'm kind used to them being a little drying. This lipstick is not a matte lippy, it's more of a satin finish which means you do have to reapply this frequently because as we all eat and drink through the day this lipstick does disappear but because I always go for neutrals you can get away with a delayed application. I have to mention the packaging because I really bloody love it, the design is lovely and gives a nod toward the bee hive but it also feels quite premium and sleek which is a massive thumbs up from me. 

This lipstick is made from 100% natural ingredients which include raspberry seed oils and moringa and apparently the packaging is made of 60% recycled materials which I think is really bloody good!  

Have you tried and Burt's Bees products?

Breakfast at Chiltern Firehouse | Food

And I said what about breakfast at Tiffany's  Chiltern Firehouse...I know, things are getting a little fancy on Honeypot Blogs today! I have been lucky to visit the Chiltern Firehouse twice since I started working back in London again! The first time I went I actually was taken for lunch and it was HEAVENLY, some really odd combinations but the flavours were insane, and so is the price! Thank god I wasn't paying. 

However I went there a couple of weeks ago on a business breakfast and I just thought I would share with you what I ate and my overall thoughts on this restaurant for breakfast. To be honest, I'm sad I didn't take more pictures but I am only just getting into the swing of things again with blogging but I do apologise. The thing I love about the Chiltern Firehouse is that ever single member of staff that ever so much as crosses your path if so damn polite,I mean you have said Good Morning and smiled a hundred times before you've even sat down and personally, I like that! 

 As always I started with an espresso, I am still struggling to find a good one but this wasn't too bad whilst my colleagues settled for English Breakfast tea and Earl Grey, of course it's served in a little silver tea pot and as it's loose leaf tea it as the strainer to come with it, just gorgeous! The also over a curated selection of juices which include kale, beetroot and interestingly enough Jalapeño, however I just went for the orange juice because I'm not really into those "super smoothies". The menu for is is perfect because it has a little something for everyone but isn't so overwhelming you don't know where to start! I was SO tempted to have the buttermilk pancakes as these are normally something I always go for but that morning in particular I just wanted something that was a little lighted so I actually went for the nuts and seeds granola topped with orchard fruits.My colleague got the pancakes though and I did have a slight dash of FOMO but you know what my granola was frickin' delicious. I would say it was quite a hearty portion and I was not left hungry at all. The granola wasn't overly sweet but the black berries added a nice sharp twang to it that just added a little something extra to the dish. The granola was also topped with pear that tasted like it has been poached in cinnamon, it was divine! My other colleague had poached egg with wasabi spiced avocado on toast which looked really yummy too! 

Lets get around to the money, for 3 breakfasts, 2 tea, one espresso and an orange juice this actually came to £65 which is bloody eye watering, but you pay for the service, you pay for the location, you pay for the presentation of your food. It was expensive but I really enjoyed my experience there and would take colleagues there again because it was a place where you can comfortably discuss business in comfort. 

Where are your favourite places to have breakfast?

Drops Of Youth | Beauty

I know, I know ANOTHER Body Shop post, seriously I don't know what's happened but recently all I have to do is walk in for like 3 minutes and I walk out with a whole bunch of stuff. More recently this Drops of Youth, Youth Cream is something I walked out with but you know what I am bloody glad I did! 

I used to be obsessed with the Olay Essentials Day Cream (old post alert!) genuinely it was a really fantastic product and was the only thing that would help my dry skin when I was on roaccutane but since the switch to cruelty free products it's meant I have had to find something else. I recently used the Superdrug B Confident Day Cream, which I did like, it was quite a rich cream but it  definitely wasn't a replacement for my Olay, so when I ran out I thought I would try out something new. I love the layout of the skincare ranges in The Body Shop, I love how they are all grouped together and obviously getting a bit paranoid about my ever aging face I was drawn to the Drops of Youth range. The first thing that drew me to the Youth Cream was the scent, it's very light and fresh so you know it's not going to be overpowering when you apply it. Then I put a tiny bit on the back of my hand and this stuff just melts into the skin so of course I bloody bought it! 

I have been using this Youth Cream for just over a month now and surprisingly I have noticed a difference! Now let's not get crazy here, this product does not make me look 10 years younger (woe is me) but lets focus on then things the product does do such as leave my skin looking smoother and more full of life, even, dare I say it, more plump!  As mentioned before I said this product melts into your skin but this also means that it sits really well under make up! The cream has 3 plant stem cells, Edelwiess from Italian Apls, Sea Holly and Criste Marine from the Brittany Coast and I think these ingredients are what make the product feel so fresh and light, it almost has a cooling sensation on your skin so I would imagine that people with sensitive skin may like this product.  

What skincare products are you loving right now?

1 Second Everyday FAIL | Lifestyle

Guys, I started this year with such high hopes, I saw people tweeting about the 1 Second Everyday app and I thought that this year would be a great year to do it! I know the app has been around for a while but I have always thought I should get involved, so I downloaded it and started it off well and then on the FOURTH day, I failed! Yes, you read that right, 4 days in and I bloody gave up! 

It wasn't that I just "forgot" to take the video clip it was more that I had a really shit day and In just wasn't sure which part i should film. The reality is that I leave my house at 6:30am every day, it's pitch black right now so even on my commute in, it isn't that exciting. My day at work is flippin' busy, I have a lot going on but also on the 4th of Jan I had a very big and serious meeting with the CMO I just couldn't film anything because I was preoccupied and the meeting finished an hour later than scheduled and guess what? Of course it was pitch black when I left. My commute home is busy/chaotic and since my phone was stolen, I don't really want to get it out on the street much anymore. When I get home, I'm either at my bf's or at my parents and I didn't really want to just film me watching tv or whatever or my food otherwise the 1 Second Everyday will mean nothing to me. 

I'm not saying that I don't have great moments throughout my day, I work with the best people which means I laugh constantly. I adore being with my bf and he does so many little things that make me smile, being at home with my parents can also be fun. But how do I pick the ONE thing that day that is better or highlights a good moment or something funny. I probably struggle with this because I'm not really a video kinda gal, I don't like being on camera so I never think to get my phone out and start filming.

Instead I do want to take more pictures this year, so that might be a bit more realistic way for me to document my year! I still think it's a fantastic app and do still want to do it but I clearly can't make it work for me right now! 

Have you done or are you doing the 1 Second A Day video?