I’m hugely excited to be collaborating with Beautique.com for this giveaway. These guys are in my “oooh la-la don’t touch till payday” favourites folder!
Once upon a time (thanks to fat fingers)… the Beautique store link ended up in the same online shopping folder as my shortcut to WilkinsonPlus. It was like the Sun and Moon colliding and I only just escaped with my debit card intact.
Beautique.com have a seriously lust-worthy stock inventory that should probably come with a health warning. Or at the very least, a purse one!
Haven’t got a clue what I’m on about? Well… listen to what they have to say about themselves (they’ll be far more eloquent than me).
Beautique.com is the sister site to Urban Retreat which is a beauty treatment paradise located in Harrods, London and Harvey Nichols, Manchester.
Beautique.com stocks hard to find, luxury brands such as Laura Mercier, Clive Christian, Connock London plus old favourites such as OPI, Daniel Sandler and Kerastase. Thanks to Beautique’s close links with the world renowned Urban Retreat, the girls behind the keyboards have access to hundreds of beauty insiders and experts and are able to bring you the best and latest beauty information and products.
Plus every new customer benefits from 10% off their first order with code welcome, so if you’re in to your luxury beauty Beautique.com is worth a click!
You know Urban Retreat right? That bolthole of heavenly pampering and lavish treatments housed in Harrods, London and Harvey Nichols, Manchester? Good, thought you did.
So… clearly, you want to win – but how? Simple.
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Head over to the secret page on Beautique that’s been reserved for Lipglossiping readers and answer one simple question!
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I wish you the best of luck with this one my UK lovelies!
Well, I didn’t expect to spend the best part of Monday/Tuesday welling up at your stories of the inspirational women in your lives. And I know it’s a cliche to say that I wish I could send you ALL a friendship bracelet… but, boy do I really wish I could send you all a friendship bracelet.
What I will say though is that as inspirational as those women may be to you, you honouring them like that totally inspired me too. Thank you.
I had to pick your names out of a virtual hat, your stories were too personal and beautiful for me to feel entitled to personally ‘pick’, I hope you don’t mind:
Winners are:
Annabelle Leah Jessie Eliz C Bicky Christa
Ladies, please email me your postal details and I’ll get your lovely bracelets (and makeover tags!) off to you early next week!
I really don’t like to rush reviews on skincare, there are always so many claims to consider and sometimes skin takes its sweet time to get used to new products. I received the Biotherm Skin.Energetic Concentrate serum for review consideration almost 2 months ago and have been using it every morning, I’m just about ready to give you my thoughts and impressions of this serum that claims to “fight the most visible signs of fatigue”.
The product recommends itself to morning and nightly application but I prefer to use serums and oils that target my low hydration levels in the evening… that’s just a personal preference. However, I’m the total opposite in the mornings and have been known to skip moisturiser entirely purely because I hate to feel like I have a heavy mask of skincare on throughout the day.
The Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate is not your usual anti-aging serum. It’s designed for a younger market who may be just noticing the first effects of the aging process but instead of claiming to reverse those signs, the Skin.Ergetic serum promises to boost moisture, radiance and dampen the effects that a busy lifestyle can have on tired, dull or stressed skin. This in itself has me sitting up and paying attention. Radiance? Freshness? Did someone say perky? I’m all about the perky.
First things first… what a total bugger this is to open and ‘mix’. It comes in two parts, the ‘serum’ (think of it as a carrier oil) and then a ‘powder’ (think of that as the active ingredients). You need to dispense the powder into the serum and shake thoroughly to mix. I can do the shaking but the dispensing had me stumped for a little while.
I read the instructions, re-read them properly… made a cup of tea and glared at the bottle. Then I gave the thing to Mr. L, throwing my arms up in the most Gallic way I could muster and pointed at the instructions. About 15 seconds later he gave it back to me fully mixed with a pitying look on his face that left me with no other option than to refuse to say thank you and KMT at him instead.
The concentrate smells divine. It’s fresh, zingy and above all else, apple… er… y. It makes for a positively uplifting experience in the mornings on my freshly washed skin. A white lotion that spreads thinly and without resistance over my face ensuring that a little prodcut goes a very long way.
I was unconvinced that it would give me enough moisture and in patches, I don’t think it does. I definitely need to use my normal day cream over this but in fairness, you’re not supposed to use it alone anyway. Moot point.
The concentrate is enriched with things such as: Broccoli (a novel way to get your 5 a day), Soy, Apple, Lemon and Sugar Cane… all of which promise to improve radiance and skin texture. In honesty, I can’t say I noticed a huge difference to my skin texture first nor last… but radiance? Well… it was only when I stopped using it last week (thinking that I’d had enough of it not doing anything other than smelling and feeling good) that I noticed how much duller my skin was looking by the middle of the day. The Biotherm Skin.Ergetic concentrate seems to bring a brightness to my complexion that it’s visibly lacking without.
Priced at £35 for 50ml… I’m not even close to being halfway through the bottle after 2 months (1x a day) usage so have no problems expressing that I believe it provides value for money. My only concern is chasing after something that gives more than just visible brightness. Admittedly, it provides most things I want from a daytime serum… non-greasy, easily absorbed, refreshing, value for money, brightening… but it doesn’t give me smoother skin or plump out fine lines. Does anything? Well… I’m still chasing that particular pot of gold.
All in all, if fatigue is your main skin concern and you want something light and refreshing for the summer months that will brighten your complexion and leave you looking more refreshed. I’d seriously give Biotherm’s Skin.Ergetic Concentrate a second look.
In celebration of International Women’s Day last Tuesday, Bare Escentuals held events around the country inviting women to “Try. Believe. Love.” the BareMinerals foundation.
I went along to the event in Covent Garden to have a peek behind the scenes and to talk to some of the women who had stopped by to join the Bare Escentuals Friendship Bracelet Club. Even the sun came out in support!
Read on to find out what happened at the event and for a chance to win a little prize!
Bare Escentuals may be more well-known for their foundations than their skincare formulas but the brand are bringing a new range to high streets, salons and boutiques up and down the country.
Officially launching in the UK next month (though an introductory kit went live on QVC last Sunday), I had the pleasure of sneaking a peek at the new BareMinerals Skincare range yesterday afternoon…
BareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam 119g – £15.00
Our new, luxuriously rich cleanser deep cleans pores and lifts away impurities. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this non-drying formula bursts into a rich lather when activated with water to clean and instantly refresh skin for a soft, smooth complexion.
In our underground U.S. prelaunch of this product, customers called this a super cleanser and gave it stellar reviews. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, it removes makeup, dissolves impurities and rebalances skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Skin is left perfectly clean, instantly hydrated and renewed. It’s also gentle enough for eye makeup removal.
This moisturiser effectively hydrates skin while improving firmness, elasticity, radiance and overall skin texture. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to perfectly moisturise combination skin.
Specially formulated for dry skin, our new luxuriously rich cream deeply nurtures skin. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex with its unique electrolyte delivery system, it’s formulated to provide the ultimate amount of moisture for dry skin. The result is soft, smooth and incredibly luminous skin.
BareMinerals Firming Eye Treatment 15ml – £23.00
This dramatically effective treatment helps to restore firmness and reduces puffiness around the eyes. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this formula delivers smoother, younger-looking skin around the eye area.
BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment 4.2g – £45.00
This breakthrough night-time treatment is powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex to replenish skin for smoother, brighter, more even skin tone with improved texture. Proven to visibly reduce pores, increase firmness and improve elasticity, this multi-tasing product reveals remarkably healthier-looking skin.
Available in four tones – clear, light, medium and tan – to instantly diffuse imperfections.
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Now a little rant about the marketing for this new range. About this RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex…
The press info states:
We know what you’re thinking… soil?
Yes, that’s pretty much *exactly* what I’m thinking. Well, that and “biffidus boffidus digestivum”.
The proprietry complex in our skincare line is extracted from effective, mineral-abundant soil containing a comprehensive blend of beneficial macro and micro minerals that exist in nature. When extracted through a unique method, these minerals yield a densely rich, efficacious concentrate capable of transformational skin-renewing benefits.
“Unique method”, “Proprietry complex” – the whole blurb makes me desperate to read between the lines and actually UNDERSTAND what the hell it is.
The vague information encourages almost mystical connotations, talking about infusions of energy and how the soil is powerful. I understand that the marketing of this particular ‘rare’ mineral is hyped because the ‘ingredient’ is exclusive to the Bare Escentuals brand but blimey, please just explain HOW it benefits skin so amazingly?
Thank god I uncovered this video before I burst a blood vessel:
It’s high in antioxidants. Now, as a consumer, I understand (and appreciate) that snippet of information FAR more than being told that it’s a densely rich, efficacious concentrate capable of transformational skin-renewing benefits. Or maybe that’s just me.
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Now, back to the products – did you notice the BareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment?
I’m massively excited to trial it. In the simplest terms, it looks like a mineral foundation that you wear in bed. Makeup… in bed. I’m half horrified and half delighted! It’s supposed to make you look ah-maze whilst giving you visibly-reduced pores, increasing firmness and improving elasticity.
Frankly, I’m just squealing about not scaring the bedbugs away.
There’s a fine line between gimmick and revolution and I’m looking forward to finding out on which side of that line this product belongs.
…and because that name isn’t quite daft enough, I’m also christening it “the polish for women who don’t dig polish”. Do you think it’ll catch on?
In the same way that I wouldn’t linger about ripping a bandaid off your arm hairs, I’ll also let you know that this bottle will set you back 20 of your British pounds. Did you catch that? £20. For a nail polish. Not even 15ml of nail polish. 10ml.
Which might go some way to explaining the name that I’ve given this polish. Forget your Pink Pongs… this is a polish for women who don’t dig polish and I’ll tell you why:
1). It practically applies itself.
2). It doesn’t need a top coat.
3). It was opaque in one coat.
4). It may well survive nuclear war.
It’s the perfect polish for ladies who don’t normally ‘do’ nails but suddenly find themselves with the need for a nail polish that isn’t going to fail them in any way, shape or form. ByTerry Terrybly Nail Laque in Pink Pong is a practically perfect polish.
But as a chick who digs nail polish and digs applying nail polish… I’d personally rather spend £20 on 3 bottles that give me a bit of trouble when applying, need a top coat but come in a shade that make me go ‘ooooh’!
Quite frankly, I’d feel sick at myself for spending £20 on one nail polish… though perversely, I’m ok with spending £39 on a blush. Maybe I should just shut up because I’m suffering from a clear case of double-standards.
Terrybly Nail Laque By Terry* is available instore at SpaceNK or online, priced at £20
In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8th March, Bare Escentuals will be heading up a campaign they’re calling TRY. BELIEVE. LOVE. at three different locations across the UK.
They Say
At each of these locations, Bare Escentuals will be connecting with women, sharing the love, and allowing them to discover the foundation that started the makeup revolution. Each will have the chance to receive a limited-edition Bare Escentuals Friendship Bracelet, together with an invitation to go to one of the Bare Escentuals counters for a complimentary make-under. What’s more, each Friendship Bracelet has 5 mini-make-under certificates attached so women can share the love and make-under experience with their friends.
If you fancy getting your hands on one of these limited edition bracelets, head to one of the following locations on Tuesday 8th March to join in:
London – Covent Garden Piazza
Manchester – Trafford Centre
Birmingham – Bull Ring
I’m looking forward to taking my camera along to cover the event in Covent Garden, so if you go – don’t forget to say “Cheese!”
I’m spending the day in Windsor today (official home to the Queen) so I thought that Butter London’s No More Waity Katie would be a very fitting shade for my nails!
A dirty mauve packed with lavender glitter… looks absolutely nothing like it’s promo picture!
The mauve base is awfully sheer… and this polish doesn’t make for a pretty sheer. In my opinion it ‘needs’ building up and for me, that meant 3 coats on most fingers and an extra one on two of them that still appeared patchy.
The glitter is well… it’s just glitter. Yes, it’s a nice colour combo and you know I love my dirgy shades but I think I was hoping for something more spectacular… imagine a dirgy version of All Hail McQueen with it’s super fine glitter… yeah, that.
The finish is rough and will need more than one application of top coat to remove the grittiness. It’s a more understated glitter than most and one that I’d even go so far as to class work appropriate!
Overall, it’s not as regal as I’d hoped… but regardless, it’s already a sell out!
And if you want to get your hands on this limited edition shade, Powder Rooms still has stock!
I do love reading about the things that people pick up in their lunch breaks, so hope mine is somewhat interesting too! This wasn’t a lunch break… more of a ‘coffee’ break with the lovely Ally.
Since getting my Clarisonic, I’ve turned into a bit of a cleansing freak and there’s nothing I like more now than experimenting with all manner of different cleansers in conjunction with the gadget! Honestly? I don’t know how I didn’t get the crap beaten out of me at school.
Not only that, but despite having found a total JOY in the new Elemis Melting Cleanser, I *still* can’t resist picking up these ‘just incase’. This is my problem though… by the time I’ve finished experimenting to see if I can find a cheaper alternative, I will have spent what it costs to go and by the Elemis twice over! Please tell me I’m not alone in that kind of nonsense!
So after that rambling… what did I get?
Well, there’s currently a rather tempting 3for2 across skincare lines in Boots at the moment so that’s where I indulged! I picked up the Boots Botanics Organic Cleansing Balm (£6.63) after reading the on-site reviews.
One last stop near the haircare and I grabbed the new Batiste dry shampoo for brown hair. I’m not sure if this is reformulated or just repackaged from this one. I’m secretly hoping this can will get me through those days where it takes you longer than it should to realise that you seriously should go buy some more hair dye. Like now.
I’m in London today and I’ll be doing my best to avoid ‘popping’ into Boots for another look before the offer ends. Honest!
I never get round to doing “products of the month” posts because there’s inevitably something else that I wanna blog about when the ‘critical’ time is approaching.
I do love reading other people’s picks though so instead of giving up on these type of posts completely I think I’ll just throw random ones out there when the mood takes me instead. Who needs time restraints anyway?
1. Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil (£19.50)
This has given my dry, overprocessed hair such a lift these last few weeks. I don’t know how it compares to the likes of Moroccan Oil which I haven’t tried yet but the Gielly Green Argan Rescue add shine, softness and smooth ends without being too heavy on my fine (but lots of it!) hair.
You can buy the Gielly Green Argan Rescue Oil here.
2. Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel (£19.40)
I received a sample size of this tucked into my last Debenhams order and “uh oh”, ‘cos it’s on the repurchase list!
I’ve been trying to work out a morning skincare routine that suits my combo/dry skin and this has become my morning cleanser of choice. Normally, I use a ‘cleansing gel’ to remove my makeup but this one is so light that a pea-sized amount cleanses my bare face beautifully.
It has a delicious ‘wake me up’ grapefruit scent and is the only cleansing gel/oil/balm type product I’ve used that makes me feel clean without doing a double cleanse. Add to that the fact that it’s one of the least drying cleansers I’ve discovered and I’m delighted to start the day with this gem!
Now, I’ve said that… watch me hate it once I purchase the full size. It’s always the way right?
You can buy the Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel here.
3. Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml (£34.00) *
Now available in a travel-friendly 20ml bottle, Balenciaga Paris is simply exquisite. I’m not sure how it manages to capture so much in one small bottle.
It opens with a crisp, floral freshness that announces itself with all the fervour that BIG openings bring before mellowing into something quite creamy yet grown-up.
It seems to capture both a lightness and a depth that feels more sensual, darker… naughtier!
My only gripe is that it needs a top-up every 3 hours or so as the fragrance sadly doesn’t last the day… but I guess that’s the benefit of a 20ml bottle!
You can buy Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum 20ml here.
4. Bliss Blood Orange & White Pepper Hand Cream (part of a duo set that cost £8.00)
Beautifully citrusy with a hint of spice, this hand cream is light, fast-absorbing and nourishing. The scent lingers for a short while and will keep you sniffing your hands until it fades! It’s a great daytime moisturiser that sadly only comes in a 30ml tube. I think it may be limited edition too…
Oh well, as much as I love it – I guess I’ll have to find something else to replace it.
You can buy Bliss Blood Orange and White Pepper Hand Cream here. (on offer!)
5. Vicks First Defence (£7.14)
I know this is a bit of a weird one… but I’ve used it twice now at the onset of a cold. As soon as I get that “drowning feeling” in the back of my throat, I pull this out and use as often as the directions allow me. Whilst it hasn’t killed or cured the ensuing snuffles, it’s made a real difference to it’s severity.
The last two times I’ve used it, my cold hasn’t progressed into full-blown face ache/streaming nose type horrors as it normally would. I’ve been able to get on with day-to-day life with a couple of paracetamol and this nasal spray nearby quite happily!
Since my run in with the Prai o2 Infusion I reviewed yesterday, my skin has been in dire need of TLC and the Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist has provided this well. Once made up in the mornings, I obviously can’t moisturise with normal creams and this refreshing spray gives my skin a hydration boost with a couple of squirts throughout the day.
It’s alcohol-free and at 60ml is handbag-friendly.
You can buy Sheer Cover Refreshing Face Mist here. (Guthy Renker sells products through a ‘membership’ scheme and you may need to cancel your membership if you don’t want automatic product topups every 90 days)
7. Melvita Eye Contour Gel (£18.00) *
Organic brand Melvita failed to impress me first time round… I tried a particularly stinky oil that I just couldn’t bring myself to use because of it’s… um… aroma. However, the Melvita Eye Contour Gel is a delight!
Incredibly lightweight and fast-absorbing, I’ve finally found an eye cream that I’m happy to wear under my makeup. I’ve noticed a decrease in puffiness since incorporating this into my routine… not sure it does much for fine lines or dark circles but it feels wonderfully refreshing and lifting for bleary morning peepers!
If Inspector Gadget owned an electric toothbrush, the Braun Oral B 5000 Triumph would surely be his weapon of choice.
The Inspector Gadget of toothbrushes
I make my living surrounded my motherboards, CAT 5e cables and heat sinks, I’m not one to be turned off by a little gadgetry but this device had me scratching my head for a wee while at all the modes, options, brushes and monitoring solutions.
Say what?
It basically consists of two units. A toothbrush (that comes with a ‘docking station’ for charging) and a ‘SmartGuide’ which sits somewhere near the toothbrush unit.
When I initially unboxed the product, I read the instructions for the ‘SmartGuide’ and got so bogged down by them, I decided that I’d simply ignore that part of the system and concentrate on using the toothbrush. After a few weeks had passed, curiosity got the better of me and I unpacked the ‘SmartGuide’ and installed it alongside the toothbrush.
The SmartGuide, doing what it does best… flashing at me.
Having never owned an electric toothbrush before, the actual brush itself has been a revelation from day one . My previous experience (of trying my mother’s!) had been brush heads that were WAY too big and clunky to reach the back of my mouth which left my teeth feeling thoroughly uncleansed.
The brush heads that click onto the Braun Oral B Triumph systems fit each tooth perfectly but are still small enough to reach right back to those pesky wisdom teeth without putting your jaw into spasm.
It comes with a variety of brushes for all your brushing/polishing needs.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve no real use for half the brushes that you can purchase to integrate into this system… after three months, I’ve decided that for my requirements, the Oral-B Precision Clean Brush Heads do everything I need although it’s nice to have the option to incorporate special polishing cups and floss-action heads into your routine if you require.
On the subject of flossing and despite owning brush heads that claim to offer this action, having an electric toothbrush with all these bells and whistles hasn’t replaced the manual action of a piece of flossing thread successfully.
I visited my dentist after having used the Braun system for 3 months and interestingly, the only area that hadn’t shown any signs of improvement were the gaps between my teeth. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria and picking up one of these all singing/all dancing electric toothbrushes doesn’t replace the need for daily flossing.
Well designed and nicely weighted handle with display
But hold on there for a moment… because did you notice what I said? The “only” area not to have shown improvement!
I’ve been visiting my dentist for about 12 years now and she always makes my visits sweeter by making me feel better about my mouth being the plaque attractor that it is. “Some people just have more ridges on their teeth to attract it!” she says whilst I sit there worrying that she must think I never brush my teeth at all.
When I visited the dentist last week, I asked her specifically to tell me if there were any noticeable improvements to my last visit. She consulted the computer and worked her way around my mouth, noting various numbers to her auxiliary who plugged them in to the system (lots of 2’s and one 3 incase that means anything to you!)
Apparently, my gums had improved in most areas except for that one number 3 which I could feel was slightly inflamed just with my tongue. She noted that there was an overall significant improvement on last time (5 months previously) and that she had been a little concerned at their deterioration following the birth of my daughter. Apparently, we’re back on track!
Not only that but she also made a little joke that the scale and polish was going to take her half the time it usually does as the ‘flat surfaces’ were looking really clear of plaque compared to normal. To be honest, I could have told her that!
OK, so the Braun Oral B Triumph 5000 has passed the dentist test with flying colours as far as I’m concerned. It’s obviously brushing my teeth more effectively than a manual toothbrush ever did though as I said earlier, it doesn’t replace a good old-fashioned floss which is just as important as tooth brushing!
The system all set up!
But back to this SmartGuide for a minute… afterall, this is one of the Braun’s USPs. We’re talking about a toothbrush that costs £160+ when it isn’t on special offer. It’s USP needs to make it worth that doesn’t it?
Sweeping aside all the special modes for deep cleaning, sensitive cleaning, polishing, tea-making and everything else it offers… the SmartGuide gives me one major advantage…
It makes me brush my teeth for a full 2 minutes night and morning. It’s like a nag. I switch on the toothbrush… and 10 seconds later I’m ready to move on to the next section of my mouth.
“NO!” says the SmartGuide. Well, it doesn’t actually *say* ‘no’ – that would be REALLY clever! What it does, is flash at me. It shows me the quadrant of my mouth that this brush needs to stay in for the next x-amount of seconds. I look back down at the sink… surely it’s time nowwwwwwwww…
“NO!” (flashes the SmartGuide)…
The simple truth is that without the SmartGuide, I’d be finished with my teeth brushing approximately a full minute earlier than with it. And that ain’t good news for my teeth.
The Braun Oral B Triumph 5000 Electric Toothbrush (with naggy SmartGuide) is available online at Boots priced at £163.39… but wait!
You can get it from Amazon for £79.99. And that my friends, is what I would be happy to call a bargain.
I was quite sad to read this piece of news yesterday afternoon!
After 13 years as a mainstay on the British high street Boots UK is today announcing the phased withdrawal of the Ruby & Millie brand from its stores. Ruby & Millie led the way for pioneering fashionable cosmetic brands to break into the mass market driving the trend for the fusion of mass and premium cosmetics .
Ruby & Millie were one of the brands I cut my beauty teeth on. Not quite ‘high street’ (though they are!) but not ‘high end’ either. To be fair, I wasn’t in love with many R&M products, especially in recent times… but the ones that I did fall for, I still use frequently today!
Where am I going to get my i-writers from now huh?!
The press release went on to say (I’m C&P-ing because I can’t say it any more concisely!)
Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall stepped down from the brand in 2008 and have since focused on new and innovative brands such as Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique, Scarlett & Crimson and Alex Byrne Beauty. 2011 will also see the launch of Ruby Hammer’s eponymous new range.
I still haven’t tried anything from the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique… I need to get into a bigger Superdrug to check the range out after seeing Helen’s nails blinged up to the max with the Trio Colour Layering System!
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the Ruby & Millie brand because…
The duo will also look to reinvest their energy into the Ruby & Millie brand bringing back a classic representation of their iconic products and initial concept of affordable luxury to the global market.
I’m pleased that the duo will be looking at ways to bring the brand back to former glory, it’s one of those brands that seems to have lost its way a little in recent times. Also looking forward to finding out more about this new range from Ruby Hammer – every cloud has a silver lining eh?
Will you be sorry to see the Ruby & Millie brand disappear from Boots?
