Marrakesh Birthday Holiday

I recently went on holiday to Marrakesh, Morocco for both a friends and my birthday (we have exactly the same birthday so we always try to do something special).  I had an absolutely amazing time and thought it would be nice to share my experiences and some of the lovely beauty products I bought with you.

Whilst in Marrakesh I stayed in a lovely traditional riad next to the main square Jamaa el Fna, it was absolutely beautiful, a true oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below. Throughout our stay we didn’t see a single other guest there so felt like we had our very own personal villa with staff – truly amazing.

Whilst on holiday my friend and I took full advantage of our hotels Hammam.  According to about.com a Hammam is - a public steam bath, very popular in North Africa, particularly Morocco and Tunisia. Hammams used to be the only place people could come to bathe and scrub, since a private bathroom in a house or apartment was a luxury few could afford. There are fewer hammams now since modern plumbing means people can bathe in their own homes. But taking a public bath is still very much part of the culture in Tunisia and Morocco.

We didn’t visit any public Hammam’s but our riad had a lovely little one where we both booked a traditional Hammam scrub and a lovely relaxing massage. The Hammam experience for me included laying in a steam room and washed with warm water and rubbed down with essential oils. I was then cleaned with a sponge and thoroughly washed down again.  My face was then covered in a thick covering of Savon Noir (more about this later) and a light amount rubbed on my body. Then the err ‘fun’ started a vigorous scrub down from top to toe with a exfoliating mitt, and when I say vigorous I mean it! I think I lost a good few layers of skin. It wasn't the best feeling on my sunburn but I soon got used to it. I was then washed down again and had a lovely relaxing massage. After the experience my skin felt extremely soft, fresh and thoroughly cleaned from top to toe (and slightly glowing from the extreme exfoliation).

If you're heading to Morocco/Tunisia/Turkey I would thoroughly recommend getting a Hammam, as although it doesn't sound it, it was lovely and relaxing -  its also fantastic for prepping your skin for fake tan!

Spices, Soaps, Potions and Oils on sale in the Souks

Marrakesh is a shoppers paradise I definitely plan on going back someday with more money and at least two empty suitcases. The souks are a vast and amazing labyrinth of windy streets filled with goodies - it's even more colourful and exciting then I could of imagined.


I bought a range of randoms things from bags to rugs, jewellery and a little leather horse (don't ask I got carried away). Anyway in the images below you can see a few of the beauty bits I bought from some lovely boutiques and the souks. Savon Noir, Exfoliating knitted pad (too cute I couldn't resist, even if it has no real use) Body Oil - Argan Oil and Essntial Oils (sorry no image yet), Traditional Kohl and Bottle for the Kohl (gift for Elaine). I will do some in-depth post's on these products so keep a look out.

Have you been to Marakesh? did you love it as much as me? If you have any questions or want any tips, please don't hesitate to ask!

As mentioned more post's to come on the traditional Moroccan beauty products I bought.

Rachel

Holland and Barrett Beauty Box

 Recently we were lucky enough to be sent a box full of natural beauty goodies from Holland and Barrett, we have always been intrigued by this store but can sometimes find it a bit overwhelming when you don't know what your looking for. So we were both really pleased to receive this box as all the products were explained and seem to be exactly what we were after.

Holland and Barrett say: In recent research nearly half of women surveyed (48%) revealed they ditch their make-up on a regular basis, yet the words 'natural look' can still spread panic among those who never leave the house without a make-up safety net.

That's why we'd like to put the old adage to the test that 'beauty starts from within' putting some of our best selling beauty supplements and skin care products to trial in the name of natural beauty. - We couldn't agree more!

So this is what we received...

Dr Ogranic's Organic Rose Otto Eye Serum (£10.29, 15ml)

Elaine: I'm really excited by this product, it's just what I'm after, it smells gorgeous and not too overpowering, I can't wait to try it out.

This intensive repair complex corrects all the little signs of ageing that affect the delicate eye area. Organic Rose Otto Oil is combined with light and gentle rose flower water to soften and hydrate. A botanical blend of Aloe Vera, chamomile, passionflower and calendula helps to fight the onset of wrinkles, minimise the appearance of fine lines and banish puffiness and dark circles.

Pycnogenol (£11.85, 30 capsules)

Rachel: I'm constantly on the hunt for products to help achieve glowing skin and if this does anything near to that I will be more than happy!

This is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. It was found to improve skin hydration and elasticity in women in a clinical trial, it can also promote glowing skin and reduces the appearance of skin inflamation, resulting in a more even complexion.

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil (£14.00, 453g)

Elaine: I can't wait to try this it smells absolutely divine! Apparently Miranda Kerr can't go a day without it... well if it's good enough for Orlando Blooms wife...

This is one of beauty's natural must-haves, giving life to dry and rough skin, melting into the warmth of your skin. It's also brilliant for conditioning tantrum skin and can be eaten on salads or used within cooking.

Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C (£9.75, 30 Capsules)

This aims to support a supple, firm and youthful skin tone, while the vitamin C helps to support the formation of collagen.

Hydrolysed Collagen (£19.85, 180 Capsules)

Collagen is a complex protein which provides the major building material for growth, repair and maintenance of skin as well as nails and hair.

Argan Oil (£12.99, 59ml)

Rachel: I can't wait to try this out, I've been dying to get my hands on pure Argan Oil for a while.

It's rich in essential fatty acids which helps to prevent wrinkling because the skin becomes more toned. Not only is it great for the skin, it can aid hair repair from sun and chemical damage too.

Skin, Hair and Nails Formula (£13.99, 120 Capsules)

A nutritious and well balanced supplement to support healthy hair, vibrant skin and strong nails. The 3-in-one tablet contains antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin B and selenium.

Dr Ogranic's Organic Royal Jelly Cellulite Cream

The revolutionary cellulite treatment cream utilises the unique properties found in this incredibly active ingredient and is formulated using researched and tested anti-cellulite extracts.

Holland and Barrett have launched a rewards for life card, so that you can collect points on purchases to spend in store, it also has a mini card key ring attached so that you can put it on your keys and always have a points card on you (great design). 


This box has got us both really excited about trying natural beauty solutions that we may not have considered int he past, we will defiantly be looking in Holland and Barrett for beauty products in the future and will of course keep you updated on any purchases.

We will be trying these products out over the next few weeks, so will let you know what we think soon!

Elaine and Rachel

Poundland Hair Care Find

I picked up a bottle of this Australian Bodycare Argan Oil Shampoo last week in Poundland for well a pound, I wasn't expecting much for a few reasons, firstly I'd never heard of Australian Bodycare before, secondly it was in Poundland and finally the packaging is truly shocking. I really only tried it as I needed to spend over £5 to pay on my card and it had argan oil in, whats the worst that could happen?!

Well as you can see from the picture above I now own a few bottles, I was so impressed with how healthy and shiny it left my hair I went straight back and bought the last 3 bottles on the shelf (fingers crossed they get more in) Honestly I couldn't recommend this product anymore, its the best hair product I've tried in awhile, it even nourished my bleached out ends leaving my hair shiny and not at all greasy on the second day. Unfortunately I can't find very much information on the web about this product; maybe its discontinued, but this is what the bottle tells me -

This shampoo with Argan oil is rich in vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant and together with ProVitamin B5 repairs and protects the hair leaving it smooth, shiny and healthy looking. This nourishing shampoo contains both conditioner and Silsoft Shine which leaves hair smooth, shiny and healthy looking.


Did they mention it leaves the hair smooth, shiny and healthy looking!?!?

Rachel