Sparklers for the festive season

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

Taittinger Brut Réserve NV, ABV 12%, £36, (offer £27) Waitrose

When your family’s name is on the bottle and you own and manage the champagne house, you are going to ensure the contents are good. A sophisticated and elegant sparkler that is light in style and goes down a treat. Citrusy with subtle honeyed toasty flavours, this champagne is extremely hard to beat.

Tamar Ridge - Devil's Corner Sparkling NV, ABV 12% £16.25 winedirect.co.uk
A delightful mix of chardonnay and pinot noir, this Tasmanian fizz is so easy to drink. Think crunchy apples and tangs of citrus with yeasty aromas. This is a well-balanced wine that is perfect to serve at parties.

 

La Jara Organic Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry NV, ABV 11.5%, £15 noblegreenwines.co.uk
This is one of the best proseccos that I have tasted. It has more oomph than you normally find in this type of wine. Fresh and fruity with a hint of sweetness, it is silky soft on the palate. Light and easy to drink.

By Daralyn Danns

Scented treats for the home

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

There is nothing like a beautiful scent to make your home warm and welcoming

Here are some fragranced treats to stimulate your senses.

Carthusia Infinity Oud diffuser, £114, Liberty London
A stunning melange of lavender and oud, the beloved fragrance from the Middle East. Warm, sensuous with a touch of mystique. Perfect for this time of year.

L’Occitane Lavender Home Diffuser Set, £35
Evokes memories of the lavender fields of Provence. Radiates a sense of calm through your room. Just what is needed to get you through the holidays.

Urban Apothecary Oriental Noir diffuser, £35, urbanapothecarylondon.com
White orchid and lily spiced up with nutmeg and clove with a hint of coffee and patchouli laced with vanilla makes this an intoxicating scent which is daring but at the same time relaxing.

Carthusia Casa Mediterraneo, £80, Liberty London
Bring a touch of Italy and the Mediterranean to your home with this exhilarating floral and citrusy scent with a whisper of mint, underpinned with white musk. A gorgeous fragrance at any time of year.

L’Occitane Solidarity Candle, £9
Lily of the valley, rose and jasmine with smattering of freesia and red berries warmed up with amber and rosewood, this is a super scent. Comes in a tin, carrying a design by the French fashion label, CASTELBAJAC Paris making it ideal for travelling. All profits from the sale of this candle are being donated to UNICEF’s International Vitamin A Supplementation Programme. Vitamin A deficiency in children can cause blindness.

L'Occitane Lavande Cleansing Hand Wash, £16, Moisturising Hand Lotion, £21
This duo will not only look great in your bathroom or guest cloakroom but will also keep hands freshly scented and moisturised. The hand wash is non-drying and the hand lotion quickly sinks into the skin. A winning combo!

By Daralyn Danns

Spotlight on Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Collection

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

If you have fine hair but a lot of it, you know that getting products that moisturise without weighing your hair down are crucial.

The Fruit Fusion Collection from the US brand Shea Moisture is ideal for hair that is crying out for a drink but does not want to be coated in product. Made from natural and organic ingredients its ranges do not contain sulphates or parabens. 

All the products that I have tried from this company have been impressive so I tried the Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Shampoo (£10.99, Boots). It contains shea butter and coconut water laced with an abundant anti-oxidant fruit cocktail. My hair felt clean and hydrated. 

After shampooing I used the matching conditioner, Shea Moisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Crème Rinse (£10.99, Boots) also packed with great goodies.

My hair is slightly wavy so can go frizzy in damp weather. I tend to load on the conditioner to stop my hair exploding into candy floss. Therefore, I was slightly sceptical that this would work. Though, like the shampoo, it contains imbe oil which helps to stop humidity attacking the hair so it does not become too frizzy. 

I combed it through my hair using my fingers and left it for a couple of minutes. I did not wash it out completely so my strands could be protected while blow-drying. My hair felt nourished without that coated feeling. My locks seemed to like it. They were soft and bouncy after styling as well as being subtly scented.

By Daralyn Danns