Simple Skincare for eczema and fragrance allergies

I talk a lot about my skin on this little blog of mine and on my social media; in case you didn't know, I have suffered from eczema for my entire life and last year I was diagnosed with allergies to MI/MCI and Balsam of Peru. The latter is a bit of a tricky one, as it doesn't need to be explicitly labelled in ingredient lists - it is hidden under the labels 'fragrance' or 'parfum'. 

Typically, this means I don't use fragranced products. I'll caveat that by saying I do use perfume (sprayed on my clothes, not my skin) and I will use fragranced hair products like serums after washing my hair, so it's not running down onto my skin.

All of that being said, one brand you will *always* find in my bathroom is Simple. I love that their products are fragrance free, and they're really affordable - a lot of fragrance free skincare and haircare is expensive or hard to get hold of. I thought I would do a rundown of all the Simple Skincare products I've tried, what I think of them and so on. Without further ado...

Simple Shampoo and Conditioner

I pick these up in Home Bargains and they're less than £2 each, officially making them the cheapest fragrance free shampoo and conditioner I've ever been able to find. Let's face it, they are basic. They really don't do much for my hair beyond keeping it clean; I do find my hair is quite dry and dull, though I recently got it all chopped off so it's a lot healthier now! But this doesn't irritate my scalp and I don't need to worry about it running off onto my skin and causing a reaction, which is great.

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash

Again this is a very basic product, but it cleans my skin without irritating it or leaving it feeling dry/tight. You can get a 50ml version of this which is perfect for hand luggage-only travel, and it's great if you're looking for something that just gets the job done.

Simple Vital Vitamin Cream

I bought this on a whim when I unexpectedly had to stay away from home one night, and I actually quite liked it; it's very thick, bordering on greasy but not actually greasy. It sinks in quickly and feels really nourishing - it also doesn't irritate my skin which is always a winner! The SPF factor isn't really doing much with this one, but it's a good moisturiser nevertheless.

Simple Smoothing Gel Cleanser

This is my FAVOURITE Simple Skincare product of all time. I actually picked this up in Home Bargains for super cheap and I wish I'd stocked up but I didn't know if I'd like it or not. As it is, I love it; it doesn't irritate my skin or leaving it feeling dry and tight. Instead, it feels clean and refreshed as well as soft and smooth. It's completely fragrance free, of course, but does contain lactic and hyaluronic acids which are packed with benefits.

Simple Refreshing Shower Gel

As shower gels go, this is fine! Of course it's unscented which is fairly boring, but it lathers well with a loofah and cleanses as it should. You can get this in huge bottles which last for ages, too.

Simple Sensitive Bath Soak

This was the first bubble bath I used after getting my diagnosis and chucking away all my Lush bubble bars - and honestly I nearly cried with joy, as it felt so much more luxurious than bathing in plain water. That aside, it really is just a fragrance free bubble bath

Simple Refreshing Bath Soak

This isn't much different to the Sensitive Bath Soak - it bubbles up loads, and a little goes a long way with both. However I do prefer the look of this one on the side of the bath... it's the little things!

Simple Invisible UV Fluid with SPF 50

This goes on beautifully; it's thin and lightweight, sinking in quickly. It also has high SPF protection which is brilliant. My skin, however, doesn't love it. I found myself quite sore and dry after using this which is a real shame but I definitely plan to give it another go in a couple of months time, as I never like to disregard a product after one use in case it was a coincidence.

Simple Pure Soap Bar

I'm really not a bar soap girly, but these are really cheap, cheerful and easy to get hold of - plus they're better for the environment and last for absolutely ages, so it's swings and roundabouts really. They're good to have on hand and great for travel, too. Again, Simple bar soap doesn't irritate or dry out my skin, it's just a bit boring...

So that's all of the Simple products I've tried over the past two years since my fragrance allergy diagnosis. I'm always keen to try more products from this budget-friendly fragrance free skincare brand, so keep your eyes peeled and let me know in the comments if you've tried anything from Simple!

December 2025 reading round up

12 months of books, and my grand total was (drum roll please) 107! I'm pretty proud of that, my aim was 100 so to surpass that is really nice. I read such a wide range of genres, and my ratings were all over the place, but overall I feel it was a good reading year for me! Without further ado, here's everything I read in December to round out the year...

Good Spirits by B K Borrison

My second A Christmas Carol retelling of the year! A very cute and fun rom-com - dual POV following a young woman who is visited by the hot ghost of a sailor meant to show her the error of her ways. But all is not as it seems and also he's hot, so you can imagine what happens there. I really enjoyed this!! 4 stars.

Hot to Go by Kristen Bailey

This was just SO much fun! Another dual POV romance, this time following two people who meet on holiday and form an instant connection but things go south and they lose touch ...until now. It's not particularly spicy, but it's really funny and the characters were well developed. Just an all round good time and 4 stars from me.

The Yacht Party by Benedict Brown

This was an ARC from netgalley; I loved the premise (any thriller which is set during a reunion of some kind is right up my street) but this fell kind of flat. It's told from three different POVs, one after the other, which meant the pacing felt a bit all over the place - the characters were all quite unlikeable, and the plot was vastly unbelievable. An easy read nevertheless but 3 stars from me.

Love in the Fast Lane by Tyra Prince

This year I officially became an F1 girlyyy and I am truly obsessed; however, this was my first motorsports romance - another netgalley ARC, and this time a YA. Is it the most realistic depiction of motorsports? Probably not, but it was really sweet and follows a girl who is headhunted to be an engineer for a team, only to have their two superstar drivers fighting over her. I flew through it and really enjoyed it. 4 stars!

Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden

I'm not a Freida lover, but I do find her popcorn thrillers are good to stick on as an audiobook while I'm working or doing bits around the house - which was exactly what I did with this one, which follows a woman who has complete amnesia, waking up every morning believing it's 7 years ago, not recognising her husband and so on. By it's very nature, it's repetitive; I feel like some authors would be able to write this without it being boring, but alas. The twist was pretty good, though. Overall it's 4 stars from me.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

A good old ice hockey romance but this time set at the Olympics?! Sensational, I absolutely adored this (another netgalley ARC) - it teeters on the edge of YA and adult, and only has the most teeeeeny bit of spice which is rare for a hockey romance so if that's something you're looking for, this is a winner. It follows an ice hockey star at her first games, who is fake dating a photographer who just so happens to be her biggest rival's brother... yikes! Actually 5 stars from me for the final read of 2025, how exciting.

So there's my final reading round up of 2025 - I read 107 books and of course, had the best time. I'm aiming for 100 books again in 2026, so we'll see if I hit that... Follow me on Goodreads if you're on there, I'd love to connect!

2025 travel: the round up

With getting married this year, travel took a *bit* of a back seat. But you know, it is my absolute favourite thing so I couldn't do a whole year with barely any trips, could I? Here's a round up of my 2025 travel...

24 hours in Hay-on-Wye

Right at the beginning of the year, we spent a night in gorgeous gorgeous Hay-on-Wye, aka the UK's first book town. We went with my parents, and my dad kindly drove us all there; I'd booked us a cottage through Airbnb, which was really sweet and within walking distance of the numerous book shops dotted throughout the town. We of course went in every single one, as well as some charity shops, and visited in the castle too. The next morning we went for a nice walk along the river before heading home, and it was just the bets way to kick off our 2025 travel.

Read about our 24 hours Hay-on-Wye

A week in Italy 

I absolutely LOVED this week; we based ourselves in beautiful Verona, and spent time exploring the city and some nearby areas like the Venetian lagoon, the Dolomites and Lake Garda. The weather was perfect and we saw so many incredible sights. 10/10 would recommend! I've written plenty of blog posts about our time in Italy, and it's a trip I look back on with such fond memories. Honestly, Verona has shot into my top 5 city break destinations and I'm itching to go back again already.

Check out our 7 day northern Italy itinerary

A long weekend in Wales

As we headed into August, we really just needed to get away for a couple of days due to some ongoing stress - but it was impossible to find anything that would work with my limited annual leave and wouldn't break the bank while we were still saving for our wedding. We ended up booking 4 nights in a caravan in Towyn, Wales, and we had a ball. We got the train there and just relaxed the whole time, visiting Rhyl and Llandudno, playing cards and board games, watching the F1, exploring the caravan site... we did end up coming home a day early due to a storm absolutely rattling the caravan, but it was a trip that made me feel nostalgic for my childhood and we had such a lovely time.

Poznan: our minimoon

If you don't know, Poznan is my absolute favourite city - my second home, really. I just love it and naturally, there was nowhere else I'd want to go for our minimoon. Luckily my other half loves it there too, and we booked a few days there to relax after the chaos of our wedding. We stayed at Palazzo Rosso Old Town and spent the whole time wandering around, eating good food, drinking amazing mocktails and just soaking up our newly wedded bliss. It was absolutely perfect, and the best way to wind down after the big day.

24 hours in Oxford

I've always wanted to visit Oxford - but there's never really been the right opportunity. My wife decided we should just do it, so with my one solitary remaining day of annual leave I booked a Monday off and we headed there on a Sunday morning. When we arrived we went straight to watch the final grand prix of the season before our night away really started! We had dinner at the Ivy and did a really interesting walking tour, and it was just lovely.

24 hours in Oxford

Kanuas weekender

Me, my wife and our two best friends put £5 each into a Monzo pot every week, and we use the money to book trips or experiences. We'd booked a night at the darts for an early Christmas night out, but as we had plenty of money left over in the pot due to a cancelled Christmas 2024 cottage weekend (thanks to a huge storm in the area), we decided to book a weekend away. The cheapest return flights that went Saturday-Sunday in December were to Kaunas in Lithuania, so we booked it. 

Read about our weekend trip to Kaunas

We also did plenty of hikes and day trips, including Moel Famau, Llangollen and Castel Dinas Bran, exploring Hebden Bridge and Haworth, and a thwarted day in Conwy where I fell off a rope swing and injured my calf. And I visited London for work approximately 8 times!

So that's everywhere we went in 2025, including UK trips and some places a bit further afield in Europe. We've already got four trips pencilled in for 2026, including a cruise for our honeymoon, visiting family down south, a weekend in Wales and a week in Turkey. Let me know in the comments where *you* want in 2025...

A weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania | December 2025

Every week, myself and my wife along with our two best friends put £5 each into a Monzo pot - we let it build up for roughly six months then book something to do together, and it's a great way being able to plan and do something without needing a chunk of money at the time. Last year we visited York in the summer, and we had a two night trip to north Wales booked in December. The latter was cut short due to a storm, meaning we had plenty of funds left in the pot. With 2025 being such a busy year with our wedding, we didn't end up using any of the money earlier in the year so we opted to book a night at the darts (a lot of fun) and a Christmas market break.

But where to go? We were initially thinking Edinburgh, but it was turning out to be tricky to plan with the dates we were all available/lack of flights/long train journeys etc. And so, after a quick look on Skyscanner, the idea to visit Lithuania was born...

Liverpool to Kaunas

We paid just over £70 each to fly from Liverpool to Kaunas with Ryanair (and back), hand luggage only but with extra leg room seats. Our flight out was 7.35am on Saturday, with our return flight at 9.30pm on Sunday - we drove to the airport and paid around £32 for parking which I booked via Holiday Extras. As with any Ryanair flight, it was nothing spectacular but got us there safely and on time!

Saturday in Kaunas

We jumped in an Uber from the airport to the city, which cost £14. It dropped us off at Laisves Aleja, the main pedestrian avenue of the city, and we headed straight for lunch at Casa Della Pasta - a gorgeous Italian restaurant. We all went for pizza, and it was proper woodfired pizza which was utterly delicious!

After lunch we checked into our hotel (more on that later...) and freshened up before heading out to explore properly. Our first stop was the Aleksotas Funicular, one of two funiculars in the city; the other one was closed which is why we opted for this one, which is around a 20-25 min walk from Laisves Aleja and across a bridge. It's cash only, so do bring some euros if you want to ride it - it's 1 euro per person each way. The funicular goes every 10 minutes, and it's only a short ride; at the top there is a nice view of the city, and it was snowing when we got up there which made it that little bit more magical.

We then headed back to the city via Rebels, an Irish bar, for a drink and a warm up. Then we headed to Town Hall Square which had a *huge* Christmas tree and little igloos selling mulled wine, hot chocolate, waffles and more. It was spectacularly pretty! We also popped into the beautiful Archcathedral Basilica of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul of Kaunas, although we did walk right into mass... it's a stunning building though, so I definitely recommend having a look.

A lot of our day on Saturday was spent around Laisves Aleja, and I just wanted to say how absolutely gorgeous it looks at Christmas - all of the shops and restaurants and businesses go really all-in when it comes to decorating. Everything from trees to gonks to reindeer, bows and baubles and twinkly lights galore. It was so special!

Most of the restaurants in the city seemed to be completely booked up at dinner time, which is definitely something to note. We ended up back in Rebels with some bar snacks, before a mooch around a supermarket (a must during city breaks, don't you think?) for snacks. Then it was time for a few games of cards in the hotel bar before an early night after being up since 3.30am...

Moxy Hotel, Kaunas

We stayed at the Moxy Kaunas Center, and we paid £70 per couple for a room for the night. It was absolutely spot on - the perfect location, just off Laisves Aleja and within walking distance of everything we wanted to see. The rooms were spacious, warm and clean with a comfortable bed, en suite bathroom with sink, toilet, shower & good toiletries, a TV, free WiFi, space to hang a couple of clothing items, USB ports on one side of the bed and plenty of plug sockets, a small seating area, a full length mirror and a fold down table. Downstairs there was free water, lockers to store luggage, and a large bar area with board games. The bright pink Christmas decorations were a hit, too! I was really happy with our choice of hotel in Kaunas city centre.

Sunday in Kaunas

If you're looking for breakfast in Kaunas on a Sunday, you're most likely going to be eating a pastry of some sort - we ended up at a branch of Caffeine, a chain of coffee shops which started in Vilnius and has now expanded throughout the Baltics. It was warm and bright, and there was plenty of choice. We all opted for ham and cheese croissants, and I also treated myself to a Lotus cinnamon bun because when on holiday...

After breakfast we explored a bit more, including King Mindaugas Bridge and some more Christmassy spaces as well as the obligatory trip to Flying Tiger. Then it was time for our chosen museum of the trip: the Devil Museum, which is home to 3,000+ depictions of the devil - from statues to paintings to pipes and everything in between. It was really interesting and we all enjoyed it!

From here we started walking towards Kaunas Castle; along the way we admired the architecture and took a detour through a 'yard gallery' which was really cool. We stopped for a drink at Hop Doc, a craft beer bar, and then we got to the castle itself. It's closed on Sundays but we really only wanted to see the outside, which was interesting, and the big #KAUNAS city sign is there for a nice photo opp. 

We'd been recommended Berneliu Uzeiga for dinner, which was really close to the castle, so we headed there at around 3pm. It's a really cute, cosy and traditional-looking restaurant; we had to wait around 20 minutes for a table as it's so popular, but we got seated in the lovely upstairs area away from the queue itself which was a bonus. The menu has a lot of traditional Lithuanian foods as well as standard meat options; I had fried bread with cheese for my starter (which could definitely be shared...) and for my main I went for a traditional potato dish with beetroot cream and fried chicken bites. I enjoyed my dishes, but the consensus throughout the group was a mixed bag - for example, my wife ordered the pork chop but it was actually a pork schnitzel, and our friend had to send his starter back as it was still frozen inside. They had a couple of mocktails on the menu, but I went for the orange and passionfruit lemonade!

From here we mooched back through the city centre, stopping to buy souvenirs and also to grab a donut (not that we needed more food but again, when on holiday...) from Holy Donut - this was one of the best donuts I've ever eaten, so I'd highly recommend.

And this brought us to the end of our trip, as we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags and book an Uber to the airport!

Total spend for a weekend in Kaunas, Lithuania

Flights - £73.22 per person

Reserved plane seats - £23 per person

Hotel - £35 per person

Airport parking - £8 per person

Petrol/tunnel money - £5 per person

After paying for actually getting to Kaunas, we were left with £346 in the pot - around £172 per couple. But would this be enough for 36 hours in this Baltic city? Here's approximately what me and my wife spent while we were there...

Saturday spends

Uber from the airport - 15 euros

City tax - 4 euros

Lunch @ Casa Della Pasta - 35 euros

Coffee from Vero - 4 euros

Two soft drinks @ Rebels - 5 euros

Funicular - 4 euros

Soft drinks and bar snacks @ Rebels - 15 euros

Supermarket - 16 euros

Coffee and a soft drink in the hotel bar - 7 euros

Sunday spends

Breakfast @ Caffeine - 18 euros

Devil Museum - 16 euros

Two soft drinks @ Hop Doc - 7 euros

Dinner @ Berneliu - 44 euros

Souvenir magnet - 3 euros

Two donuts @ Holy Donut - 10 euros

Soft drink in the hotel bar - 3 euros

Coffee and a soft drink in the aiport - 9 euros

So in total we spent 215 euros or around £190, so just over what we had saved in our little Monzo pot. I haven't included the bits I bought at Flying Tiger or the tablets/cream I had to buy in the pharmacy after having an allergic reaction to my eyeshadow (perks of travelling with a skin condition...) and as you might have noticed, we didn't drink. I'm alcohol-free anyway and my wife doesn't drink within 24 hours of flying, so this definitely kept the cost down for us!

If we break that down for the two of us, for getting there, the hotel and our spends, the total cost for a weekend in Kaunas was £239 per person - which I don't think is bad at all...

I absolutely love a weekend city break, especially when you don't have to use ANY annual leave, and we all really enjoyed our time in Kaunas, Lithuania. Let me know what you think of what we got up to and what we spent...

AD | Natural solutions for cleaning your bathroom

If your bathroom cleaning routine currently involves holding your breath, squinting through the fumes, and hoping for the best, there’s a much better way to go about it.

You don’t need a cupboard full of intense, neon-coloured products to keep things sparkling. In fact, a few simple, non-toxic alternatives can handle most of the mess without the side effects or the lingering smell.

Sound like your kind of upgrade? Keep reading to learn more.

The Natural Advantage

Before we dive into the fun DIY recipes, it’s worth taking a moment to understand why natural cleaning methods are such a smart swap. After all, you’re not just trading one bottle for another; you’re changing the whole feel of your home.

For starters, many traditional cleaners come with strong scents and long ingredient lists. So, if you’re someone who deals with allergies or eczema, you’ll probably appreciate the difference straight away.

And then there’s the environmental side of things. By using natural cleaners, you’ll be sending fewer harsh ingredients down the drain and protecting waterways and wildlife.

Your wallet gets a win, too. A packet of baking soda or a bottle of vinegar typically costs far less than their commercial counterparts, and because they’re so versatile, one purchase goes a long way. You’ll get multiple cleaners in disguise without the cupboard clutter.

Plus, if you have kids or pets that bounce around the place, you can rest assured that your cleaning routine isn’t leaving behind anything you’d flinch at them touching.

Eco-Cleaning Staples

Now, let’s talk about the real stars of the show. You don’t need a fancy toolkit or a secret recipe passed down through generations—just a few humble household staples that quietly outperform far pricier products.

Take baking soda, for example. Its gentle, gritty texture helps you lift stubborn dirt and soap scum without scratching your bathroom surfaces.

Then there’s vinegar, baking soda’s loyal sidekick. On its own, it targets bacteria, dissolves mineral deposits, and cuts through grime with surprising efficiency.

But when the two join forces? The fizzing reaction feels like a tiny cleaning fireworks display, and it works wonders on areas that need a deeper clean.

Of course, we can’t forget about lemons. Slice one open, and you immediately get that fresh, uplifting scent that makes your bathroom feel cleaner.

Plus, the natural acidity breaks down water marks and leaves taps looking shiny enough to admire your reflection in.

Finally, if you enjoy a bit of aromatherapy while you clean, a few drops of essential oils, like tea tree or lavender, can elevate the whole experience. They smell lovely, add an extra antibacterial boost, and make the process feel more like a ‘spa day’ than ‘cleaning day.’

DIY Recipes

Now that you’ve met your natural cleaning dream team, let’s put them to good use. You don’t need to be particularly crafty or patient. These recipes are simple, safe, and satisfying to whip up.

Baking Soda & Vinegar Scrub

If you want a reliable all-rounder for sinks, tiles, and general bathroom grime, this paste should be your go-to cleaner.

Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar in a bowl. While it’s still fizzing, dip a damp sponge into the mixture and gently scrub your surfaces. Then, rinse everything with warm water and enjoy that fabulous shine.

Lemon-Scented Disinfectant

For a fresh, zesty spray that lifts your mood as much as it cleans your surfaces, try this simple mix.

Combine a cup of distilled water, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and ten drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle.

Give it a good shake, spritz it onto dirty surfaces, and let it sit for a minute before wiping it off. Your bathroom will carry that sunny, just-scrubbed citrus smell we all secretly love.

Fizzing Toilet Cleaner

When your toilet needs a refresh, this little duo works overtime so you don’t have to.

Pour half a cup of baking soda into the bowl, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Let it fizz away for about ten minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush. The reaction will loosen stubborn stains, making the process far less exhausting.

Mirror & Glass Spray

If streaky mirrors drive you up the wall, this gentle solution will bring back that crystal-clear finish.

Blend two cups of water with two tablespoons of vinegar in a spray bottle. Lightly mist your mirrors and shower panels, then wipe them using a microfibre cloth in circular motions. Voilà—clean, clear, streak-free glass.

Smart Cleaning Shortcuts

You’ve got the recipes sorted, so the next step is figuring out how to use them in a way that makes bathroom cleaning feel easier, not endless. Here are some tips you can try out:

Declutter First

Start by giving yourself some space to work. Clear the counters, move products off shelves and relocate anything that doesn’t belong in your bathroom.

Once the surfaces are bare, every bit of grime will become easier to reach, and you’ll avoid the frustration of cleaning around small piles of bottles. A tidy starting point will also help your brain switch into ‘let’s get this done’ mode.

Clean From Top to Bottom

If cleaning feels chaotic, you probably need to change your technique. Begin with the highest surfaces, like the light fixtures, shelves, and mirrors, and work your way down to sinks and countertops.

The floor always comes last, because it catches every stray speck of dust on the way.

This hack will save you from cleaning the same spot twice. Trust us, once you get used to it, you’ll wonder why you ever did it any other way.

Build a Routine

If you’ve ever tackled a bathroom that’s been ignored a bit too long, you already know it’s not the most fun way to spend an afternoon.

Luckily, there’s a simple fix. Sticking to a simple routine will keep things manageable without turning cleaning into an event you have to mentally prepare for.

Every day, wipe the sink, give the toilet a once-over, refresh the mirrors, and deal with whatever’s landed on the shower surfaces that week.

If you’ve got time, run a cloth over frequently touched spots like taps and door handles. Those tiny touches will make the whole room feel cleaner, even if you haven’t done a deep scrub. And if life gets busy, you can always call in an eco-friendly apartment cleaning service for a deeper refresh, then slide right back into your regular routine without missing a beat.

Conclusion

You’ve got the tools, tricks, and the confidence to keep your bathroom in great shape without the harsh chemicals weighing you down.

So, grab a sponge and start with the easiest recipe. You’ll see results before the enthusiasm wears off. And yes, you’re absolutely allowed to feel smug about it.