Yearly Archives: 2021

The Hair Boss

24th August 2021

I’m definitely guilty of being fickle when it comes to my hair care products and routine. I’m forever picking up new products to try and tame my long, thick hair, but often end up underwhelmed or don’t deem them worthy of the price tag when they aren’t on special offer. It takes quite a lot to impress me and make me want to part with my cash for a repurchase, and today we’re going to see whether The Hair Boss by Lisa Shepherd could convince me.
[Note these products were gifted for blog consideration].

As you can see, it’s a very attractive bunch of products, and they certainly look pretty in my bathroom!
The Hair Boss focuses on a 4-step hair regime and there are several ranges available for all different hair types; you can do a free consultation on the website to find out the perfect four product plan for you.

Because my hair is so thick I am prone to getting a product build up, sometimes leaving me with a flaky scalp, so the products of greatest interest to me were The Scalp Scrub (a pre-treatment) and The Scalp Soothing Tonic, part of the step 4 styling range.
Both of these products were an entirely new concept to me- the scalp scrub is great, it works as a pre-wash exfoliator that you use weekly to rid the scalp product, dirt and oil buildup. It feels a bit odd at first, putting something distinctly grainy on to your head, but you get used to it and the results are well worth it.
The Scalp Soothing Tonic is designed to soothe a dry and itchy scalp by cooling it and rebalancing the PH. I’ve definitely noticed a reduction in the flakiness I was getting since using this, alongside the scrub so both products are well worth the £7.99 price tag and I will at the very least be buying the scrub again when mine runs out.

I was sent the virgin hair shampoo which is designed mainly for natural hair (i.e. un-dyed or only lightly coloured). My hair is not natural but I still have a lot of love for this shampoo. The shampoo makes up Step 2 of the regime- cleanse. It took a while to get used to the runny formula, but once I did I actually found this easier to get through my thick hair and my hair honestly has never felt so clean! At £7.99 this is more than I would usually spend on a shampoo, but a little goes a long way and for the results I’m getting currently I would say it’s worth it.
The same goes for the conditioning lotion, this is such a hydrating formula that leaves my hair feeling oh-so-soft…something that not all conditioners manage to do. As promised on the packaging, it leaves no heavy residue and it rinses out really well. This costs £8.99 and I would most likely part with my money for this again as well.

Finally we have a few finishing touches. The Clear Shine Gloss is a permanent product that lasts for up to 6 washes and helps revitalise coloured hair and give it super shine. I’ve only used this once as it is a 20 minute treatment and I am not that patient most of the time, for that reason I wouldn’t spend £14.99 on this as I don’t feel I would get the use out of it, but the results are genuinely fantastic so for anyone less lazy I 100% recommend for some serious salon effect shine.
A product from the Step 4 style range that I will be buying again is the Permanent shine spray. At £12.99 it’s a lot more than I usually spend but I am in love with this product. It protects against humidity and frizz (both hair enemies of mine) as well as protecting from damage inflicted by styling. This is heat activated so I use it on damp hair before drying and straightening and I’ve been getting so many compliments on how healthy my hair is looking- and only since I started using this so it’s not pregnancy glow!

So there we have it, a range of hair products that has left me wanting more! I genuinely wasn’t expecting to love these so much when they arrived but I am totally smitten. You can buy The Hair Boss products from the website, and it is also stocked on ASOS and Superdrug. There are a few more products I would like to try out so if and when I do I’ll report back. I think after 34 years on this earth I might have finally found a hair care range I feel worthy of staying loyal to! And whilst more than I would usually spend it’s pretty mid-range in terms of prices so not out of the question to buy again and again either.

Posted in beauty, brands I love, hair

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Panda Sweets sweet box review*

19th August 2021

How do you make a tired and slightly grumpy pregnant lady very happy? Easy, you send her a simple brown box and pack it FULL of pick and mix sweets!
I might have been off chocolate during pregnancy (slowly starting to be able to eat this again now, woo hoo!) but sweets have very much been on the menu, especially sour ones, so when Panda Sweets got in touch offering to send me one of their pick and mix sweet boxes to review both myself and my unborn child jumped for joy!

The box contains a massive 1kg of pick and mix sweets for a very reasonable £7.50. From my extensive late night browsing of similar products elsewhere I can tell you this is a really, really good price! The box is full of classic pick and mix favourites, and being the nice person that I am I offered to share with Bob so we could both give our verdict; he’s a real connoisseur of sugary treats.

We both agreed that the variety in the box was spot on, making it perfect for family movie nights, gathering with friends or a gift – or just as a treat to yourself! Being the pregnant one I got first dibs and picked out my favourite rhubarb and custard sweets, more than my fair share of the sour sweets and all of the marshmallows, and between us I think the box only lasted about 24 hours, oops!

We’ll definitely be placing future orders with Panda Sweets, they have us hooked- I’m already compiling a wish list from the liquorice section and I’ll probably treat Bob to another pick and mix box for putting up with my hormonal rages (he’s a saint!)

What’s your favourite sweet? Right now I’m obsessed with starburst (forever Opal Fruits in my heart) and haribo rhubarb and custards. Yum!

Between now and 31/10/21 there you can get 15% off of your Panda Sweets order with my discount code DAISYCHAIN giving you even more reason to treat yo’self!

Posted in food, gifts, review

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The Humble Co

15th August 2021

These days I think everyone is trying to take steps to be more sustainable, and whilst there are some obvious changes that can be made, there are others that had yet to occur to me, personally. Enter The Humble Co who kindly gifted a selection of their products and opened by eyes to a few more simple steps to a greener lifestyle.

The Humble Co are a health and wellness company founded by dentist Noel Abdayem in 2013. The products the company offer are all designed by dentists and designed in Sweden, meaning top quality in both innovation and design.

I’m not sure why but the idea of a bamboo toothbrush was a strange one to me- surely the bamboo would absorb water and lessen the longevity of the product? So far, I am happily proven wrong.

The Humble Brush is made from 100% biodegradable, sustainably grown bamboo and packaged in eco-friendly packaging. It works as well as, if not better than my usual plastic toothbrush, and I love the aesthetic of this as well (I was sent the PROUD edition), of which I appear to have taken a rubbish photo that doesn’t do the vibrancy justice!

There is also a plant-based version for those who don’t quite get the bamboo appeal. These are made from corn starch based materials and channel a cool monochrome vibe.

The toothpaste tabs took me a little while to get my head around but they are such a good idea when it comes to saving water, and perfect for travelling. Vegan friendly, travel approved, no water waste and approved by dentists, you simply pop one of these in your mouth and brush as usual.

Cotton swabs are an essential in our house, and I suspect even more so with baby on her way. The swabs made by The Humble Co are again made with 100% biodegradable, sustainable Bamboo and cotton with natural colouring on the ends.

I can’t find the face mask on the website to give you exact details but I can tell you this is the comfiest mask I have worn, and it is clearly going to boast good eco-credentials!

You’ll find all of these products available in the UK from stores such as Boots, Holland and Barrett and other shops with a focus on sustainability and health. Also on Amazon. The toothbrushes retail at £3.99, the cotton swabs at £2.99, the toothpaste tablets at around £6.00 and the mask is £3.99. There are plenty of other products from the brand to explore so I will report back on any I try out, and I’d love to hear what steps you are taking to be a little more sustainable.

Posted in brands I love, healthy living, lifestyle

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Degustabox- July 2021*

03rd August 2021

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

After the June Degustabox not being so great for me, I was a little nervous about how I would get on with July’s. Luckily this box suited my tastes a LOT better and I had a great time testing as much out as possible.

I loved the packaging of this Firefly drink, it’s so pretty! Peach & Green tea is a combination I’ve long loved so this was a winner- especially during the recent heatwave! £1.55 from www.fireflydrinks.com, Ocado and Waitrose.

I’ve not had a chance to try out these brioche hot dog rolls from St Pierre but previous experience with the brand tells me they will be good. These currently reside in my freezer ready to take on this weekend’s camping trip! Available at selected Tesco and Morrison’s stores for £1.40.

Another product that I haven’t had a chance to try yet is the Bull’s Eye Original BBQ sauce, but I have tried this in the past with chicken and it’s good stuff! I’m desperate for some good weather and a free weekend to repeat the experience. Available at all major supermarkets for £2.50.

Fox’s Glacier mints and fruits were staples of long car journeys when I was growing up. I haven’t had them for years so I was pretty excited to be reminded of their existence with the arrival of three new varieties- all very much for grownups! Summer Punch was a clear winner, these are limited edition and cocktail inspired so grab them whilst you can. £1 per bag- Little Lifts & After Darks available at Sainbury’s. Summer Punch available at Home Bargains.
I’m on the hunt for some original glacier fruits now!

I’m really limiting my caffeine at the moment so we’re saving these for a special treat, but I have tried the Taylors of Harrogate coffee bags before and they are so good! Freshly brewed coffee in tea bag form! A perfect cup in just two minutes with no mess or fuss! £1.50 from major supermarket chains.

These Blackcurrant Jaffa Cakes were this month’s product of the month…and I wanted to like them, really I did! I just can’t get behind blackcurrant and chocolate personally! Worth a try if you are a fan of fruit and chocolate though, I’ll be sticking to the original. £1.20 from Tesco.

I did however very much enjoy the new dark chocolate Noccionoir Hazelnut bar from Lindt. Dark chocolate is one thing I can stomach (still no milk chocolate, boo) and this was such a luxury treat! This will be available from Tesco from July and rolling out in other retailers later this year with an RRP of 85p.

My savoury snack obsession rages on and Love Corn cheese and onion corn snack is fuelling it! These are such an addictive little snack, and healthier than my other current love of frazzles! 70p for a single pack or £16 for 24 in major supermarket chains and online.

Two classic products here and there isn’t much I can say that hasn’t been said before (that and I can’t stomach them yet!). Smarties will never not be a favourite though, outside of pregnancy and I love the new recyclable bag!
Lindt Nocciolatte milk 85p from all major supermarkets, Smarties £1 from all major supermarkets.

I don’t really enjoy “normal” crisps that much, but every so often I just need a bag of salt and vinegar McCoy’s. These new flavours had me intrigued- they are rustic and smoky, inspired by the flavour of cooking meat over an open fire. The Peri Peri have a decent tang to them, whilst the Chorizo is delightfully smoky. Both a super satisfying snack and one every McCoy’s lover needs to try. There is also a BBQ rib flavour in the range. 90p a bag from convenience stores. Multipacks available from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsburys.

I’ve not tried this three fold Hard Seltzer because pregnant, but I am excited to when I can! I love Hard Seltzer drinks and this tropical flavour sounds so good! It also comes in red berries and citrus for £2 a tin from Morrisons, Bargain Booze and on Ocado, Amazon and Revl.

This is the kind of food I’m craving at the moment! I loved these pot pastas (from the folks behind Pot Noodle). Probably not at all good for me, but both the carbonara and tomatoey mozzarella really hit the spot and now I need to track down the bolognese flavour for research purposes! £1.19 from all major supermarket chains. I’m a little bit obsessed!

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Posted in food, review

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Shop Small: Novis Pynn*

01st August 2021

Throughout my years of blogging (and by now there have been many) I have always tried to give as much attention to small businesses that I love as much as I have any other brand or company.
The most recent independent on my radar is Novis Pynn, an jewellery shop based in Brighton that has been up and running since November 2020. They sell fashionable jewellery at affordable prices and I am all for it!

I was very kindly sent a few items from their online shop, which naturally I had to share, as well as a discount code for my readers.

The first item I picked was these sterling silver star and moon stud earrings. I love a mis-matched stud set so these instantly grabbed my attention. I’ve been so bad at remembering to change my earrings, but I loved these so much I popped them in the day they arrived (and they’ll probably be there now for the foreseeable!)

Next up we have this delicate little geometric honeycomb bracelet in silver (it also comes in gold) which was just too dainty to resist. It’s the perfect piece to wear on it’s own or to layer with other bracelets and bangles.

My final pick was this gold hummingbird pendant. Now I can’t link to this as it is currently out of stock but they are hoping to get some more in within the next month so keep your eyes on the website if you love it like I do! Most of my necklaces are silver so I had been looking for a dainty gold piece for ages just to change things up a bit. This fits the bill perfectly!

Everything came so neatly packaged and really quickly too. There is free standard delivery on UK orders which is an absolute winner and at the moment you can get a very generous 25% off your order when you use the code DAISY25 – make sure you let me know what you get in the comments, and what your favourite pieces are in general.

Posted in brands I love, jewellery

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