Crabtree & Evelyn: Handy Tips Handed Down

If you're anything like me, Crabtree & Evelyn is probably a name you're familiar with, but not really a brand you include as a regular part of your beauty routine. I was always under the impression that Crabtree & Evelyn were a bit mumsy and I never really thought about looking into their products in more detail. But recently I was invited along to an event at their Edinburgh Hanover Street store, and I thought it was high time I found out just what Crabtree & Evelyn had to offer. As part of the Handy Tips Handed Down campaign, we had to think up some beauty tips passed down to us by friends and family then stick them up on the tree so everyone could share their beauty secrets. Next time you're in a Crabtree & Evelyn store, add your tip to the tree and get yourself a free £5 voucher to spend. And also, the summer sale starts today so you can get up to 70% off lots of lovely products. Yay!

In addition to the more traditional products and scents, Crabtree & Evelyn have a whole range of newer and more modern lotions and potions to keep your hands nice and soft. There are hand creams, scrubs, soaps and nail care products galore, with lots of lovely fruity and botanical flavours like Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed, Citron, Honey & Coriander and Pear & Pink Magnolia. There are also more classic options like Lily of the Valley or Lavendar, and much to my surprise the Rosewater scented products ended up being my favourite ones. I usually prefer fresher, fruitier scents, but something about this rose one just really took my fancy. At the event, I tested out the Crabtree & Evelyn 3 Step System for taking care of your hands. I started off with some of the Rosewater Conditioning Hand Wash to clean my mitts, then followed it up with some Rosewater Hand Recovery Scrub to exfoliate, then finally the Rosewater Hand Therapy to moisturise. My hands felt SO soft afterwards, couldn't stop stroking them like a total creep!

Before going to the event, I had no idea Crabtree & Evelyn did nail varnish (although it definitely makes sense as they're specialists in hand and nail care!) and lip butters and tints. Oh and they also do food. FOOD! Just look how beautiful the packaging is for those biscuit tins, swoon. I was pleasantly surprised by the wide range of products on offer, so much more than just hand cream like I had always assumed! Saying that, the hand creams are pretty great so it's no wonder that's what Crabtree & Evelyn are famous for. I've never really thought of myself as having dry hands, but I got a Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Hand Therapy in my goody bag and I've been using it religiously for the last couple of weeks; my hands feel so much softer now. It's the perfect little size for keeping by your bedside table or throwing in your handbag to use as and when you need it. Thumbs up!

Are you a fan of Crabtree & Evelyn? Any handy little tips to share?

Gillian x