The Sunshine Cafe is tucked away in the pretty Cornish coastal town of Penryn. I went just before the Summer holidays, as like much of Cornwall it can get a bit busy there, and with it being quite a small town there is very limited parking. I managed to go on an unusually quiet day and it was so peaceful and charming.
The Sunshine Cafe has been on my radar for a couple of years now, I have had friends recommend it to me & I have also been following them on social media, drooling over all their delicious vegan food and drinks. It did not disappoint, in fact it was a lovely place to stop for a bite to eat. The café space it bright, calm and a very friendly place, I loved the decor and how everything on the menu is plant based with an emphasis on using good local produce. I could have sat in there all day, I felt very relaxed. The food was delicious, I had the vegan beans & sausage on sourdough with a side of sweet potato fritters and an Almond Milk Matcha. I didn’t have room for a sweet treat, but I did spy quite a few options like a vegan croissant, brownies, and carrot cake. If you’re in Penryn, I highly recommend it even if you are not plant based, the food is incredible.
They also have a wonderful yoga space attached to the cafe they offer so many classes throughout the day, from pilates to yoga and guided meditation. I need to go back, so I can attend one of the vinyasa or pilates classes.
Sunshine Cafe and Yoga, Hill Head, Harbour Village, Penryn, TR10 8JU
#Gifted I had heard so many positive things about rosemary in haircare and how good an ingredient it was in hair oil for promoting growth, strength, and shine, so I was very excited to try the Forest & Shore Thrive Hair Oil. Right away I noticed how luxurious the packaging was, it has a high quality salon feel and look.
The box has pretty sketches of all the wonderful botanical ingredients, and the soft lemon colour is pretty against the white and the black illustrations. They clearly tell you how to use the product and the benefits. I even like the font they have used, I appreciate a good type face. The bottle and the pipet are glass, the top is rubber (good quality) I like the nice minimal label, and you can clearly see how much product you have left. So the quality and aesthetic of this product gets a big thumbs up from me.
You can use this product in two ways, you can use it as an overnight treatment up to 3x a week, then wash your hair in the morning. Or you can add 3 – 5 drops after you wash your hair, which is how I have been mostly using it. I have a short bob, so only use 3 drops on the midlength of my hair, and I have noticed a big difference after 3 months of use. I had quite split ends which looked frizzy and dry, I also noticed before using the oil that I would get a lot of breakage and this has greatly reduced in recent months.
My ends never look frizzy, my hair is very glossy and less breakage means it is stronger. So I am thrilled. It took me a week or so to get the amount of product right, as I was being a little too liberal with how much I was putting on and my hair would go greasy, so 3 drops works well for me and my hair length.
If you want to see more results and stimulate hair growth, then using this oil overnight is the best way to achieve that. I wanted more targeted results, focusing on the ends of my hair, and this is where I have seen visible results.
Because Forest and Shore use a blend of the very best oils that are nutrient rich, your hair is in the very best hands! This oil is absolutely jam packed with, as the box says, earth loving botanicals (and hair loving too). You will also notice straight away that Thrive Hair Oil smells like a luxury spa, it has a relaxing and soothing fragrance. To me, I can smell the lavender, parsley, and rosemary which are beautiful!
Here are a list of all the fantastic natural ingredients in the oil and the benefits for your hair, there are so many!
This oil will nourish your hair and scalp, encourage hair growth, strengthen hair, reduce split ends and frizz and make your hair look, feel and actually be healthy and glossy. I very rarely use conditioner now, and the only other styling product I use (only when I am putting heat on my hair) is a heat protector spray. Otherwise I only use shampoo and my hair oil, talk about simplifying my routine, love it! You can’t beat a simple routine.
Not only is the Thrive Hair Oil good for all hair types, you name it curly, wavy or poker straight, it is also completely natural, certified organic and vegan-friendly. Made in the UK with high quality sustainably sourced ingredients. This oil is 100% natural, free from silicones and is cruelty free.
The founder of Forest and Shore, Emily Horrigan has done a lovely job with this brand & it is a slice of British luxury, with a focus on using natural botanical ingredients and really harnessing the power of plants. Let me know if you have tried anything from this brand, if you want to learn more about their products head to Forest & Shore or you can purchase their products on Amazon.
Sharing the products I’ve used up in the past few weeks. It is always interesting, I think, to see what people completely use up. I hardly ever use up makeup items, simply because I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis, so these posts tend to be predominantly skincare.
I adore fig scented products and this Diptyque perfume is gorgeous. It is a fragrance with richness and depth and smells like warm summer evenings. I used to live in Cyprus and this is what it reminds me of. Yes, it is an expensive product, but the quality and intensity of the scent makes it worth every penny. It smells so rich throughout the day, people always compliment me when I wear it, it is a perfume I recommend time and time again. I think it is a lovely fresh Summer scent, I am sad I’ve used it all up, hoping to get another bottle for my birthday, it is such a treat.
Top notes – Fig Leaf and Fig Middle notes – Green Notes and Coconut Base notes – Fig Tree, Woody Notes and Cedar. Nip & Fab Salicylic Fix Serum
This was quite an intense serum, not ideal if you have sensitive skin. I used it at night and thought it was good at smoothing out textured skin. I don’t suffer from breakouts, but this would be a great addition to your routine if you want to reduce pores, control breakouts and help reduce uneven skin tone. I do like that it contains aloe vera to sooth skin and purple ginseng to help control oil. Nip & Fab have an entire Salicylic Fix collection, great if you want to help control oil, breakouts and get a healthy glow. I wouldn’t repurchase it, but I used it up and enjoyed it.
This is the second bottle I have used up, Wake are a skincare brand that you might not of heard of but that you should 100% check out. They have revamped their branding this year and introduced quite a few new products. I really rate their skincare and have enjoyed everything I have tried from them. The eye gel has a lightweight consistency, it is not tacky or greasy and sits well under makeup. It is great for soothing puffy, tired eyes and helping to combat dark circles. Cucumber and elderflower awakens and soothes puffy eyes, while Aloe Vera cools and moisturises. I really like it.
This is an absolute gem of a facial SPF! Like most people over the past few years, I have become aware of how important it is to wear sunscreen on a daily basis, especially a facial SPF. Garnier Ambre Solaire do lots of variations, I like this anti-age one, but they also do an anti dryness, sensitive or anti-dark spot option. This sun cream offers advanced protection against immediate sun induced skin damage, caused by UVB rays, as well as protection from long-term damage and premature skin ageing caused by UVA rays. I recommend the Garnier sunscreen, it is affordable, easy to get hold of and gives you a high level of protection.
Korean skincare experts Erborian are a brand that just deliver incredible skincare, time, and time again. I love their BB & CC creams, which are always in my makeup bag. This serum was such a joy to use, It is instantly smoothing, lightweight and hydrating. This serum is pretty impressive, I have learnt after using a few products that this Ginseng collection from Erborian is up there with the best skincare I have tried, especially for my age group. Great for both morning and evening, this serum will keep your skin looking naturally radiant, serum is one of my favourite skincare steps. I love the added hydration this serum gives my skin, how plump and healthy it looks after applying it.
White Ginseng Extract – prevents the appearance of the signs of ageing and helps to smooth wrinkles. Fermented Red Ginseng – helps to preserve the youth of the skin. Ginseng Aqueous Extracts – obtained through a process of steam maceration of Ginseng, they contain minerals necessary for the balance and the hydration of the skin. Hyaluronic Acid – plumps up the surface of the skin Peptides – maintains collagen levels for a firming and smoothing effect Complex of Tara fruit and Red Algae extracts – smooths and reduces wrinkles
& Other Stories Arabesque Wood
This is a gorgeous fragrance, more affordable but equally lovely as the other two scents. This perfume is layers of woody, warm citrus notes that are light but rich. I wear this mostly in the day, as my everyday scent. The rich notes like ginger, citrus and amber make it feel indulgent and luxurious. & Other Stories have a such a wonderful selection of fragrances, they have something to fit everyone’s tastes.
The bottle is dainty but weighty, so it looks minimal and classy on your vanity. These fragrances make incredible gifts and the scents come in a body spray, handwash and hand cream, so you can go wild with your favourite scents!
Top notes: Lemon, Ginger and Watery Notes Middle notes: Petitgrain and Tangerine Base notes: Agarwood (Oud), Oakmoss and Amber
I do love a gradual tanner, there are so many on the market now and some really good quality affordable options. You just don’t need to spend a lot to get a nice one, I have used this one from Sunkissed for a good few years now, and I am always happy with the results, it gives a nice even, natural coverage. I like that it makes me look healthy and that gives me confidence to show my bare legs/wear shorts & dresses. Not only do you get a nice healthy glow, your skin is also nourished and hydrated with hydrating Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera whilst being free of nasties like parabens, alcohol, silicones, sulphates and phthalates.
This is a product that isn’t overly exciting or one that is a must-have, but if you are someone that suffers from irritation after hair removal, then this is a great product for you. It took me a while to use up, mostly because it is a huge tube, but I did use it all up and actually enjoyed it. Post wax or shaving, I liked that the blend of Clove and Chamomile Essential Oils helped soothe and hydrate, as well as delaying regrowth and preventing ingrown hairs. One of those products you didn’t know you needed until you try it.
This was our first visit back to Amsterdam since 2019, in fact it was my first time travelling outside the UK since all the madness of 2020. It was so nice to be in an airport, on a plane and back to exploring one of my favourite places in the world. Amsterdam is my happy place, I feel so calm when I am there. We had never visited in March before, I did miss the tree’s being lush and green, but Amsterdam is pretty no matter the time of year, or the weather.
It is safe to say it we picked the coldest week, it snowed for 2 days, and we had temperatures as low as -4. I just used it as an excuse to stop for more warm drinks and yummy pastries. My friends opened up a Vegan café 2 years ago, and to say I was excited to visit was an understatement. The café is called Margo’s (named after Margo, the owner) and is 100% Vegan. Margo bakes everything each morning, all the pastries, bread and cookies, she is so talented. You have to pop by if you are ever in Amsterdam, even if you are not Vegan, the food is delicious, the BEST croissants, and cakes you will ever try. After 11.30 they have fresh sandwiches and toasties plus coffee, tea and matcha all day long. I am so proud of them and what they have achieved, the café is a delight, and they have built such a lovely, friendly community.
If you have read any of my other Amsterdam Diaries over the years, you will know that I just enjoy exploring, finding new areas to walk in and take photos of all the beautiful buildings and streets. Amsterdam is simply the most extraordinary place to visit, it is charming, pretty, and so easy to explore on foot. Despite the snow and cold temperatures, we were lucky that March was a quiet time of year to visit.
I have eaten at The Vegan Junk Food Bar a few times and always enjoyed it, I had never been to the Reguliersdwarsstraat location and I think this might be my new favourite. I had the kebab and John had the bacon, cheeseburger and chips, delicious, highly recommend. Good-sized portions, friendly staff and very reasonable price.
Spotting the flower bikes that are dotted throughout the city is a fun thing to do, there are not as many as they used to be. They are created by a Dutch man called Warren who started by decorating his wife’s bike, you can see some of his work on his Instagram & his story is inspiring and sad in equal measure.
I have already written a post about where we stayed this time, so if you want to read that, just click here. We usually stay at the same hotel, but decided to try somewhere that has been on my bucket list for a while, it was a treat. I have a few more photos to share, as well as some café and restaurant recommendations, so keep can eye out for that post.
If you have visited Amsterdam, let me know what you love about this City.
