Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner Makes Me Feel Yummy

Its Saturday again and time for another beauty, fitness or fashion product to make us Mummy's feel a bit more yummy.

I have been really lucky recently to try some amazing products and this week is no different. For the past month I have been using:

Liz Earle HairCare Products

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo

Delicately wrapped in tissue paper, as all Liz Earle products are, I was excited when these products arrived. I love having long hair and am fussy about the products I use on it. As soon as I opened them I knew they would be special.


The actual packaging looks good and I like the way the shampoo is suitable for all hair types. Derived from natural products and and SLS/ SLES free, it immediatley appealed . 

"Naturally active ingredients include natural vitamin E, west african shea butter to moisturise plus apple and orange extracts to boost shine" 

As with all Liz Earle products, I found a little goes a long way and produces a lovely rich lather, even on my long thick hair. It also has a light, gorgeous scent reminding me of salons and spas. Very nice!

It washes out easily, leaving my hair feeling very clean and fresh.  After using it for a month my hair has a lovely shine to it and I have had none of that feeling of build up you sometimes get.

At only £8 this shampoo is much cheaper than salon prices but gives you the same feeling of luxury. I would definitely recommend.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner

This product is available for three different hair types - Normal, Fine/Oily and Dry/Damaged.  With coloured hair, I opted for the latter and was really impressed with it. 

Rich and creamy it goes on well, rinses away without leaving any greasy residue and leaves my hair smooth, soft and under control.  


Again you don't need much. I am terrible for using huge amounts of conditioner meaning that it usually runs out long before the shampoo, however with these products I seem to be using around the same amount. That makes such a change.


I have even noticed that I have laid off the hair straighteners a bit more recently, happy with the way it looks after being washed....result.


Again costing only £8 this conditioner is pretty good value for money.

These products score a huge 9/10 from me.

I am a huge fan of Liz Earle products. Excellent quality, they never fail to make me feel special and as though I have enjoyed time at a spa.  You can read previous posts I have recently written about the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloths, Instant Boost Tonic and Active Repair Moisturiser.

If you want to discover more then check out Liz Earle for yourself. 

Karen x

Lush Lip Scrub And Lip Tints Will Make You Feel Yummy

Each Saturday I bring you a new Beauty, fitness or fashion product that I believe will help us Mummy's look and feel a bit more yummy. The last few weeks I have reviewed a few expensive products so this week I bring you something must cheaper but still gorgeous.


This weeks products are Lush Pow Wow Lip Scrub and the new Celebrate Lip Tint.

Pow Wow lip scrub is available for £4.75.


I must admit this product looks very green and wasn't that appealing to me. You might appreciate I am a bit of a girly girl who loves all things pink and sparkly.  I actually thought this scrub would taste horrible but was pleasantly surprised to find it tasted of sweets, I guess that is the magic of the popping candy. Okay I know you are not supposed to eat it but I personally cant help but lick my lips. 

To use this product, you simply take a small amount and apply to your lips in a circular motion. Together the sugar and popping candy work together to gently scrub the lips while the organic jojoba oil soothes away any redness and soreness. I must admit, it is lovely. You can actually feel it working.....scrubbing away your dry skin, it leaves them all flake free and smooth. 


If you want to try it, you need to be quick though as it is a festive limited edition lip scrub so wont be around long.  


Once you have scrubbed away all the dryness you are ready to add a hint of colour whilst moisturising at the same time. There are three new ones to try but I trialled the Celebrate lip tint:

Available for £4.75, it comes in a tiny tin. It looks very nice and immediately appealed. A pretty pale pastel pink, topped off with popping candy. Very nice, smells good and very me!


Ingredients include almond, jojoba and camellia oils which all help soften and add shine to your now gorgeous looking lips. It tastes nice too... apparently of pink champagne! Very sweet and yummy..


Anyway, I have only been using these products this week but my lips are already feeling gorgeous: very smooth, moisturised and a pretty pink colour!


I would give these products a huge 9/10 and recommend to all.


I will be back next week with a new treat for you. Don't forget to leave me your tips below.

Karen x

Pyjamas For Yummy Mummy's

I must admit since having children my nightwear has changed. There was a day when my draw was full of little babydoll nighties and silk cami sets but nowadays it is a mix and match of old pyjama bottoms and tops that have seen better days. Sad but true.

I was therefore delighted to receive a gorgeous new pair of pyjamas from Charlotte and Co.

As soon as I opened the parcel I was excited. They came wrapped inside a silky bag which gave an immediate feeling of luxury and made me feel special:

Perfect for presents this Christmas.

Super soft brushed cotton, means that as well as looking good they are also very comfortable and warm. Perfect now the evenings are cooler. Sizes are generous and they come in a variety of colours and patterns too, so there really is something for everyone:

I love the pretty flower ones I was sent but if pyjamas aren't your thing and unlike me you still buy negligees, you will be pleased to know they stock them too!

I could not wait to get in mine and was thrilled with the way they fitted and felt on .

These pyjamas are very comfortable as well as stylish and best of all they are warm and cosy too. They get a big 9/10 from me. I am also going to readdress my nightwear situation. Every Yummy Mummy needs nice nightwear!

Come back next Saturday for more beauty, fitness and fashion products and accessories guaranteed to make you feel more yummy!

Feel free to leave your beauty, fashion or fitness tips below.

Karen x

Make Me Yummy and a PR Request

At the start of the year I was a very tired looking Mummy. Run down and shattered, I was far from yummy!

Then I started blogging and a few months later started writing a link each Saturday about my mission to find beauty, fitness or fashion products that work. I called it Make Me Yummy.

These days, despite not being quite a yummy mummy, I am feeling  a million times better about myself. I am not a vain person and do not spend hours in the bathroom, I just do what I can to make myself feel human, a little bit girly and even a bit pretty at times rather than stressed out and worn out as I did before.

With my Pink Lining Yummy Mummy bag over my shoulder, I have a confidence I have not had in a long time. I am far from perfect but feel pretty good. Thanks to Thinking Slimmer and their slimpods, I am losing weight in a safe and healthy way and am starting to think differently about food and my appearance. I am actually starting to like the way I look and am enjoying buying clothes again.

Thanks to Liz Earle I take the time to cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day now.  My skin has a glow to it it has not had since I was pregnant! 

My black eyes and wrinkles are also improving thanks to some fantastic products I am currently trialling (from Harrods no less), I cant wait to tell you about them very soon.  

My teeth are whiter and brighter too thanks to a new toothpaste and mouthwash by RetarDex 

I am also making time to relax and enjoying warm bubble baths again with lots of lush products (here, here, and here) and a good book!

Its nice to spend a bit of time on myself. I feel more like me again. These days I am looking better, feeling better and sleeping better.

Now for the PR Request!

I have been trialling and reviewing some fantastic products but am on the look out for more. Happy with the beauty products I am currently using on my face, I would be really interested in trialling either some:

• Fashion products or accessories, 
• Fitness/ toning products, or 
• Hair and body products.  

To make the cut, they have to be things that will make us Mummy's feel a bit yummy!

If you are interested in working with me then please feel free to contact me via email. Details are on the PR/Contact form at the top of this page.

Many thanks

Karen x

Lush Bath Ballistics - Scary Or Yummy?

I was thrilled to arrive home today to a new bath ballistic sent to me by the lovely people at lush. This is a new one to celebrate Halloween and is called Skullduggery.

My regular readers will know that I am a huge fan of lush products so having been up last night with a teething baby, I couldn't wait to get in the bath tonight to test it out.


I must admit, if I had seen this in the shop I probably would have not picked it out because it is not pink and girly looking. However, I am so glad I got to try it and would definitely pick it out now.


It smells heavenly, pretty sweet and candy like. Perfect for this girly girl!  The smell lingers on your skin long after you get out of the bath whilst leaving it  feeling silky smooth to the touch....perfect!


I love Lush products and would recommend them to all Mummy's who want to feel a bit yummier. Once the little ones are in bed fill yourself a bath, drop in a bath ballistic and relax.....lovely. A great way to settle back and recharge the batteries.


There is nothing scary about the price either. At only £2.75 its a little treat that wont cost the earth.


Other products in the range include :

Calacas shower jelly (£2.95)

Lady Catrina Soap (£2.95)

The soap in particular looks gorgeous and I can't wait to try it.


So there you go, more great  products which will make us Mummy's feel a little bit yummier!

Karen x


I was sent one skullduggery bath ballistic for the purpose of this review, but all words and opinions are my own.

Organic Skincare That Wont Break The Bank

Having been on a mission to turn myself from a tired looking Mummy into one that is a little more yummy, Saturdays are a time I share my secrets. Each week I bring to you beauty, fashion or fitness products and accessories that I believe will make you feel a little bit yummier.  

This weeks products are:

Purity Organic Skincare

Launched exclusively in 400 Superdrug stores Nationwide, it is the company's first ever certified organic skincare range.

"Purity Organic Skincare is a British brand, created to bring intelligent, sustainable and organic beauty to each and every one of us". 

Always excited by the words "organic" and "natural" I was happy to trial and review these products and  fortunate enough to be sent the whole range to try:

Not as expensive as some of the products I have trialled recently, this range is priced from 4.99 to 8.99 each, aiming to readdress the "elitist" barrier often associated with organic skincare ranges.


Facial Wash (£4.99)
Facial Exfoliator (£5.99)
Facial Moisturiser (£5.99)
Anti-Ageing Moisturiser (£7.99)
Anti-Aging Mask and Serum (£8.99)
Conditioning cleansing Lotion (£4.99)
Re-generating Overnight Moisturiser (£7.99)


I think you will all agree very reasonable prices for Organic skincare products.


All of these products are fragrance-free and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin. Perfect for me as my skin is very dry and sensitive as well as prone to flair ups of eczema. 


You may well be pleased to hear that 98% of the ingredients are of natural origin and an average of 82% of the ingredients are processed from organic farming. They are also eco certified.


All of these products feel very gentle on your skin and have light or no scents at all. They feel very, very natural.  I found they left my skin feel lovely and clean as well as very soft.


My favourite product had to be the facial exfoliator:

I found this to be  a lovely, gentle exfoliator, perfect for everyday use.  It has a very creamy consistency (it really does feel like you are applying a cream) which is  a blend of coconut oil, sweet almond oil and aloe vera . It feels very cool and gentle on the skin. 


The textured bits are actually ground coconut shell but it does not feel as harsh or scratchy as many exfoliators do.  

A great product at a very reasonable price which left my skin feeling lighter and brighter.


If you want to feel a bit yummy but don't want to spend a fortune then this could be this skincare range for you.

If you have any beauty, fitness or fashion tips of your own then feel free to leave me your recommendations below. I love to hear your comments!


Karen x

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop - Week 6

Hello again,

Its now week six of this blog hop already.  For those of you who have just found me I am on the look out for products and tips that are going to make us Mummy's feel a little bit yummier.  All you have to do is publish a post about your favourite product or tip and add your name to the linky. They can be beauty, fashion or fitness related, it doesn't matter.... anything you would recommend to others as something that works and makes you feel a bit yummy.

This weeks product from me is a cheap and cheerful one:

Sanex dermo Pro Hydrate Shower Cream. It is for those of us who have very dry skin.  I have mentioned before that I suffer from eczema and although it is not that bad at the moment I do have times where it flairs up.  For this reason I have to be very careful of products I use.

At only £2.00 for 250mls this product is not going to break the bank. However, I was actually sent three different Sanex shower creams/ gels for dry & sensitive skin to trial and review.  I have been using this one for a few weeks now and I must say I am really impressed with the results! It is not oily or greasy at all which makes a nice change for products aimed at dry skin.  It has a light pleasant scent and leaves my skin feeling very clean and very soft.  The place I have noticed the most difference is on the tops of my arms. They are noticeably smoother and softer then usual.

In fact this is going to be my new shower cream of choice (once I have used up the others of course).  I am going to give it a score of 10/10 and would highly recommend to others.

Check out the Sanex website here as they have products for every skin type.

I am looking forward to having a look at all of your reviews and tips.  Don't forget to grab my badge if you wish.

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Karen x

Although I was provided with a 250ml sample, these are all my own words and products do not make it into this blog hop unless I really believe in them.

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop - Week 4

This is now week 4 of this beauty blog hop and I have got a fantastic set of products to tell you about. 

If you have just discovered this hop for the first time, all you have to do is publish a post about a beauty product/ tip or event you want to share details on.  Then add your name to the linky.  Feel free to grab my badge too.  The hop occurs each Saturday and the aim is to share information on products that really work and get us feeling yummy again!

This week I am very excited to tell you about the He-Shi 3 Step Tanning System. Designed for both men and women, it is supposed to give a natural and hassle free tan. I was fortunate enough to be given the chance to try it out for free. There are a range of products to choose from and I was given the choice of which one's to try.  I picked:

1. Exfoliating Body Wash 150mls, £12.00
2. Express Liquid Tan, 150mls, £21.50
3. Souffle moisturiser 150mls, £12.50
4. and they also threw in a He-Shi Tanning mitt £4.50

This whole set is sold in the Gold Gift Box  for £39.99 but is currently on offer for £29.99 at www.he-shi.co.uk

I have tried all sorts of fake tan in the past so was really happy about trialing these.

First for the exfoliating body wash.  This was gorgeous, it smelled of strawberries and felt lovely on my skin.  I was very impressed and would give it a score of  9/10.

Next for the Express liquid tan, I got Husband to help me with this.  He has helped me in the past and said this was this by far the best one we have tried.  It was very runny (too runny really but this is my only criticism). However, it was really easy to apply with the tanning mitt. I have never used a mitt before but it was fantastic. Husband particulaly liked that he was not left with the evidence that he has helped his wife out ie. no dark staining on his hands (that has happened in the past)!

The liquid tan went on very smoothly and evenly (he was very attentive...better than going to a salon)! It didn't particularly smell like most of them do and was quick drying.  We were both impressed and I was very excited to find that I had a natural looking tan really quickly. After about five minutes I put my dressing gown on which is white and it didn't leave any marks. Apparently you can layer this liquid tan to get your preferred result be it gorgeous and golden or deep and dark.  Brilliant I would give it a score of  9/10

Finally, for the Souffle Moisturiser.  This smells lovely and has left my skin silky smooth.  I would give it a score of 9/10.

 Now as it is is for both men and women Husband said he would be happy to try it..however, I say "hands off husband, its mine""

Overall I am very impressed and will be buying it again. I am feeling much yummier and am really happy to recommend it to others.  Don't just take my word for it though, I will be topping up next week in time for Cybermummy so you will be able to judge it for yourselves! Oh and you may be interested to know that over 95% of Glamour Readers would recommend it to a friend too. 


Here is me this morning with my delicious golden natural looking tan :

I think these are going to be my new must have product's for the Summer..I love them!! If you want to get your hands on these products youtselves then you will find the range available from selected salons & day spas across the country, selected House of Fraser, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols stores nationwide and www.he-shi.co.uk or  www.HarveyNichols.com.

Feel free to grab my badge and I can't wait to see what products you all recommend. 

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Karen x

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop - Week 3

Wow where does the time go...another week and another great product to share with you. For those of you who are just joining in or have noticed this for the first time, this is a relatively new blog hop.  I am on the look out for beauty products/ tips, fashion accessories and relevant events that are going to make us yummier Mummy's and need your help.  Who says we have to neglect ourselves or give up on ourselves just because we are Mummy's now? I am on a mission to get my sparkle back and yours too!

This weeks product is Eternal Skincare's Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser.  

It is available in a large 225ml pot from £30 or a 12ml mini for £3.50. I received a 12ml mini fragrance free pot to try. I must admit when I first saw it I wondered which part of my body I would try it on as it did seem a bit small! However, it does go further than you think. They recommend the mini pot for traveling.  I would suggest it lasts two - three appliances depending on how sparingly you use it, so it would be perfect for  a weekend away.

Eternal Aloe Skincare is the result of three years of research and development. It claims to be "a luxuriously rich hydrating cream particularly suitable to those with dry skin conditions" As someone who suffers from eczema I was quite excited about trying it out. Although these days my eczema is limited to the tops of my arms I do need to watch which products I use as some can cause flare up's, particularly on my face!

Free from parabens and other controversial stabilisers (thought to increase risk of cancer), it contains a high concentration of organically grown aloe leaf juice which has traditionally been used as a natural remedy to soothe, soften, moisturise and heal skin. It combines all the beneficial effects of Aloe Vera with other natural ingredients including, Camomile, Green Tea, Shea Butter, Rosehip oil and Calendula extract. It is suitable for all skin types from young and supple to mature and delicate. So far so good!

What did I like about it?

I like the fact that it is very natural and not bulked out with water. It was nice to apply, was absorbed into the skin easily and did make my skin feel quite nice and soft.

What didn't I like about it? 

To be honest I would have liked to have had  a bigger pot to try.  That way I could report the effects on my eczema and whether it reduced it or not.  Having been been able to try it only a few times means I cannot report any dramatic changes.

Overall, based on using this cream for only a few days I would give it a score of 7/10 but I imagine this score would be higher with prolonged use.

So do you yourself have any tips or products that you would recommend to me and the other Mummy's out there? If so just write a post or use a previous one and add your name to the linky.

Come on, join in the fun and if you want to feel free to grab my badge!

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Karen x

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop - Week 2

Wow, its Saturday again already and time for part two of my mission to find beauty treatments, cosmetics and products that really do work. This week I am happy to report that the beauty products have been flying through my letter box. 


Due to the sudden heatwave I have decided to first trial The MÁDARA Herbal Deodorant. I received one of these free but it usually retails at £10.50 for 50ml. Quite expensive when compared to the average deodorant but read on to see if its worth it 


I had never heard of MÁDARA products before. However, they are an entirely natural and organic range of cosmetics manufactured in Latvia. Their ingredients include biologically certified flower and herb extracts from the Baltic region, as well as other natural substances. This appealed to me because I like the idea of using natural products. The deodorant claims to be 100% natural, non-staining and provide all-day protection, even on a hot summer's day! Perfect for this weather I thought.

So what is so special about this deodorant? Well first of all it does not contain any alcohol so should not cause any irritation.  Being a natural deodorant it doesn't contain any harmful chemicals either,  like parabens or aluminium, which have been linked to serious health risks including breast cancer. Instead it is enriched with Baltic Yarrow and plantain, which both have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Sounds good so far! I have extra sensitive skin so was happy to trial this product. 


The product is appealing to the eye and the packaging is environmentally friendly and can be recycled, always a bonus in this day and age.


I am not usually one for using roll on deodorants I tend to prefer the spray ones but I gave this one a go and can seriously say I was pleasantly surprised! It claims that this "quick-drying anti-bacterial and soothing formula will leave your underarms feeling fresh, while hydrating the delicate skin in this area". I would actually agree with this!


 Like all roll ons it felt wet when I applied it to my underarms but it was quick drying, did not sting or irritate and did not leave a sticky residue. I have been out in the sunshine playing with my little girls, running around tidying up after them and I still feel fresh and dry and not even the slightest bit "smelly". Can't be bad! 


To make it a perfect product I would have perhaps added a scent and made it slightly cheaper.


Overall, I would give this product 9/10 and would be very happy to try some of their other products. MÁDARA do a whole range of natural eco cosmetics including those for the face, body, Mums to be and children. They are available from Selfridges, Harrods, Wholefoods, independent stores nationwide, leading online beauty shops and of course www.MÁDARA.co.uk.  You should check them out I know I will be!


Feel free to join in this blog hop.  It is open to all Mummy's that want to feel a bit yummier. All you have to do is publish a post about a beauty or fashion product, your favorite beauty tip  or an upcoming relevant event you want to share details on, then add your name to the linky below.  If you want to, you can also grab the badge and the linky code for your page.

Hop along and join in the fun.  You might "meet" some new bloggers you haven't met yet and get some new tips you haven't tried.

Karen x

Make Me Yummy Blog Hop! - On a mission to find the beauty treatment that really works!

Do you ever look at yourself and wonder where the original you went?...I do.  Do you spend all your money on your gorgeous children buying them clothes and toys..but not spend much on yourself?...I do.  Do you look at yourself and constantly criticize the way you look, wishing you looked younger,  more beautiful etc?...I do. Did you used to make more of yourself, spend more on clothes and makeup but don't bother as much nowadays?...I did. However, now I have decided the time has come to do something about it!!

The title of my blog is "Would Like To Be A Yummy Mummy" and really I would! Recently I have been blogging about my mission to lose weight and get fit and healthy for the Summer.

So far, with the support of the other MOMenTum ladies I am doing pretty well.  I have lost a bit of weight, am taking multi-vitamins which are giving me more energy and I am generally feeling much better about myself. Personally I think this makes me an even better Mummy (not  a vain one) as I have more energy to play with my children and am much more patient and relaxed than a few months ago.

The things I dislike most about myself at the moment are the dark circles under my eyes, my scabby scaly hands (from constant hand washing), my rough dry skin and my lank looking hair. See I really do need a bit of help to make me yummier.

So I am now on the look out for those magic potions, lotions or products that are going to Make Me Yummy. Ladies...watch this space because I am on a mission!!

Image courtesy of Zaggora.com

I have approached a few companies and have been sent several free beauty products to trial over the next few weeks, lucky me! These include creams for both the face and body, deodorant and shower gel. I am also going to be an ambassador for the new Zaggora toning hotpants.

Apparently these bad boys can help you lose up to two dress sizes in two weeks. They are designed to help you get more out of your workout but listen to this...you can also lose weight in them while sleeping. I like the sound of this.  I think I might be living in mine. They are due to arrive in  a few weeks time so watch this space for more information.  I will be blogging about them several times a week and am really hoping that they are going to be as amazing as they say they are. In fact I am hoping they are going to be magic hotpants!!

With all of this going on, I should be feeling back to my old pre-baby self in no time..or maybe a new improved version of me. Anyway, do you fancy joining me on this mission? If so, just write a review about a beauty product, post your favorite beauty tip/ product or even tell us about a relevant upcoming event, it is up to you.  Then add your name to the linky below. It will be an opportunity to discover new products, beauty tips, events going on and to meet other like-minded bloggers you have not "met" yet. Together we can help each other out.  Say goodbye to the tired looking Mummy's and hello to the new improved gorgeous looking one's!

If you are a PR company looking for bloggers to trial and review your products, then look no further than here. All these people in one place looking for that illusive product that is going to really work and turn us into the Yummy Mummy's we all want to be!

Come on, join in the fun and if you want to grab my badge!

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Karen x