Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream (A real good free-bee!)

Hey guys!

Yippee! Its the time of year when magazines and cosmetic companies start doing freebies and gift with purchases again, after the cruel, penny pinching months of January and February.

This month's issue of Marie-Claire magazine is offering a particularly lovely Neal's Yard Remedies Hand Cream, from their Bee Lovely range.

 

Now I'm usually very picky about what hand creams I use, mainly because I can't stand the sticky tackiness of a moisturiser that wont sink in, especially on my hands. I'm a busy working mom and I need it to sink in fast, so I can carry on with things! (Normally picking up after my tornado of a daughter!)

Thankfully, the Bee Lovely Hand Cream was pretty quick to absorb into my skin. It had a nice, if unexpected citrus* scent. I expected to smell more milky and sweet, like honey. It does have honey extract in there, but it also has orange peel, which would explain the scent.

After using this hand cream for a couple of days I visited a Neal's Yard Remedies shop for the first time. Marie-Claire have a 20% voucher inside the magazine, so I thought I'd go and check out the whole range of products.

I wasn't disappointed. The smell as I walked into the Solihull branch was divine. I was greeted warmly and was given quite a bit of literature on the company, and their Save the Bees project, which is what the Bee Lovely range is trying to raise awareness about. I did purchase some products, but those will be saved for another post. I was also given the sweetest pack of samples (see above.) I particularly cannot wait to try the Rose cleansing balm!

Have you tried any NYR products? Tell me what your favourites are!

* I have just seen 'energising orange essential oil' on the front of the tube. What a donut I am!

Freebie Alert! 17 Cosmetics Get Bronzed Kit

Everyone loves a good freebie, myself included. At the moment, 17 Cosmetics (a Boots exclusive brand) are offered a free 'Get Bronzed' kit, when you spend £5.99 or more on the brand's products. Easy done, right? In fact, I only had to buy one product, an Instant Glow bronzer, and the kit was on it's way home with me!

 

Get Bronzed Kit

 

 

Considering this is a freebie when you purchase under £6 worth of product, I'd say this is a pretty good freebie! Inside you get Statuesque, a metallic nude eyeshadow; In The Nude, a roasted caramel colour lipgloss, and Bronzed, a shimmery bronze cream blush. The cream blush in this kit is limited edition, but the eyeshadow and lipgloss are permanent products in the 17 Cosmetics range.

 

 

Inside the kit.

 

 

Statuesque eyeshadow.

 

 

In the Nude Lipgloss.

 

 

Bronzed Cream Blush.

 

 

Swatches l-r: In the Nude, Statuesque, Bronzed.

 

The colours in this kit are totally wearable, and would be great on their own for a daytime look. The Statuesque eyeshadow would go great with a dark brown eyeshadow to create a smokey eye for a nighttime look. The only product in this kit that I'm not entirely convinced with is the cream blusher. It wouldn't be enough on its own for me- its too sheer. However, blended on to the apples with a deeper bronzer as a contour- now that would work!

 

The kit is available in Boots stores and is free when you spend £5.99 or more on 17 Cosmetics. The kit is available until the 4th September 2012, so you better hurry!!