Online Sales Shopping

Due to being ill over the festive period I've been unable to go up town sales shopping.  I've missed out on visiting Boots (boo!) and the other department stores.  I did pick up some shopping in the online sales.

From Love Lula I got:

Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Moisturiser 250ml for £10 normally £23

Madara Balancing Floral Toner 200ml for £6 normally £12

Korres Materia Herba 3 in 1 Cleansing Emulsion 150ml for £5 normally £20

From Feel Unique I got:

Karin Herzog Travel & Trial Kit - I've been wanting to try this range again - used it a few years ago so decided to treat myself!  Included is - Cleansing Milk, Tonic Lotion, Mild Scrub, Essential Mask, Vita-A-Kombi 1 plus a sachet, Additional Sweet and sachets of eye cream and body cream.  This retailed at £28.05 with 15% off.  Full review to follow.

I've also got a few other bits & pieces coming in the post.  What have you picked up at the sales?

Clynol Repair Caress Sealed Ends Repair Fluid

Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products from top brands.

I have been using Clynol Repair Caress Sealed Ends Repair Fluid* (75ml - £7.28) for the past few weeks and my hair is loving it. Clynol is a boutique brand which offers products which are high quality along with the same state of the art technologies which larger brands offer.  The product is packaged in a tube container which makes it easy to dispense.  You can read more about Clynol here.

The product is packed full of macadamia, olive, sweet almond, apricot kernal, marula, sesame and argan oils.

To use: Massage a small amount into dry or damp hair, avoiding the roots.  Blow dry as normal.

"3 dimensional action protects every fibre and cuticle and helps stop any further breakage".

It has a light scent and is easy to apply to the hair leaving it smooth and shiny.  My hair looks glossy and healthy after using this product and my split ends are smoothed.  I mainly used it on towel dried hair before blow-drying but it was also great for smoothing down frizz on dry hair - it's a product I'd definitely buy. I'm also looking into buying other products in the range as I loved using this one.  You can view the full range here.

*PR Sample

December Books & My Book Challenge for 2012 update

I read two books this month.  My December books were How it All Began by Penelope Lively and The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson.

How It All Began is the story of one random event and how it affects all different people in the story.  Charlotte is mugged and breaks her hip.  Her daughter Rose is meant to be going to a conference with her boss, Lord Peters.  He calls on his niece, Marion to step in and Marion sends a text to her lover (Jeremy) which his wife finds.  

Charlotte moves in with her daughter and her husband while she recuperates.  Charlotte teaches English to immigrants and Anton begins to visit for lessons at Rose's house and he and Rose form a friendship.  A quite enjoyable book although a bit slow in places.

The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomsom - the book opens with Tamia Challey's husband Scott being arrested in front of her and their children. The book goes from the present to the past and each chapter is written from the viewpoint of Tami, Beatrix (her friend) and in the later stages Fleur, Mirabelle's daughter.

When Tamia discovers who is accusing her husband of a terrible crime her life falls apart.  Things get worse when she is the main suspect for a crime she may or may not have committed.  A fast moving and unputdownable book.

In January I set myself a challenge to read four books a month - my tally is below.  I started off well...

January - 4 (link)

February - 4 (link)

March - 4 (link)

April - 4 (link)

May - 5 (link)

June - 3 (link)

July - 0

August - 3 (link)

September - 2 (link)

October - 1 (link)

November - 2 (link)

December - 2

I'm going to take up the challenge again in 2013.  Do you have any suggestions of books I can add to my ever expanding book pile?

Beauty Christmas Gifts

I received some amazing beauty gifts at Christmas.

Hubby gave me Jo Malone goodies - pure luxury in one of my favourite Jo Malone scents.

He also gave me this mini Bodhi set which is also in one of my favourite scents (this came with two sachet samples).

My mum and dad gave me the REN Rose Otto set (looking forward to trying the body oil) and the Clarins set as well as the cute little heart soap.

My friend gave me this lovely Orla Kiely hand wash and lotion set

My sister and family gave me a Sanctuary gift set and The Potager Hand Cream (from a brand I've not heard of before!)

My sister's neighbour (she gets my old magazines) gave me a Arran Aromatics After the Rain hand wash and lotion set.

What Christmas beauty gifts did you get?  Please leave me your links if you have done a similar post as I love seeing these posts.

December Empties

Here are my December Empties.  

L'Occitane Angelica Hydration Cream 15ml - love this lightweight cream although I've found it to be more suited to spring/summer months due to its lightness.  Would definitely buy again.  The scent even grew on me!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment for Neck & Bust 15ml - this was a GWP freebie.  Lovely product although quite expensive full size.  

Bodhi Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy 50ml - love this! Will definitely purchase full size at some point.  You can see my review here.

Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Body Moisturiser 40ml - gorgeous! My review is here.

Sanctuary Spa Hand Wash 250ml - picked this up a few times. Nice scent. Would buy again although I am using NEOM's Complete Bliss hand wash at the moment and it is gorgeous!

Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo 100ml - I always seem to go through shampoo way before I finish the conditioner.  I reviewed this product here.

Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Facial Hydrator SPF8 15ml - this was a WIMH freebie.  I loved this geranium scented rich face cream.  One I'll definitely purchase at some point.

Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Bath & Shower Therapy 50ml - gorgeous! See my review here.

Nivea Q10 Firming Body Oil 200ml - a nice product although I didn't really see any firming action.  I'd maybe buy again #4 in my mini project pan.  See here.  

Weleda Pomegranate Body Lotion 4ml sachet - this came in November's Amarya box.  Loved it.  One I'm definitely adding to my wish list.  Loved the fruity scent and light texture.

Caudalie Vinosource Mattifying Moisturiser 1ml - nice but too small a sample to really test it.

NEOM Complete Bliss Bath Oil 5ml - this came in December's Amarya box.  Already love these gorgeous bath oils.  You can see my review here.

Avon Advanced Techniques Shampoo & Leave in Conditioner sachets - okay products but didn't really like the scent.

Noble Isle Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel 30ml - one of my favourite shower products of the year.  Have bought this full size.

Philosophy Eye Hope Eye Cream 2ml sachet - nice product got a few uses from it.  Unsure if I'd  buy full size.

Simple Cleansing Wipes mini pack - handy after night's out and like to use wipes sometimes.  Will probably pick these up again.  Gentle on the skin.

NEOM Complete Bliss Organic Hand Cream 50ml - absolutely adore this hand cream - the best I've used.  You can see my review here.  I recently bought another.

Balance Me Supermoisturising Hand Cream 30ml - lovely hand cream.  I have another tucked away to use.

Vav Hand Cream 2ml sachet - this came in Joliebox.  I wasn't taken with the scent so wouldn't buy.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant sachet - love this!  Have used it on and off for years.  A really great product.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturiser 2ml sachet - didn't like the scent of this so wouldn't purchase full size.

MOSSGROVE Pure Deodorant 70ml - this featured in my December Favourites - already onto my next one.  

Louise Galvin Sacred Locks Shampoo for Fine Hair 100ml - love this paraben free shampoo.  Review here.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil 3ml - love the Aromatherapy Associates bath oils.  Will definitely re-purchase at some point.

Natural Wisdom Rose & Pomegranate Anti-Oxidant Hydrating Toner 50ml - love this toner.  Just started my second bottle.  You can see my review here.

Abahna Lilac Rose & Geranium Body Lotion sachet - gorgeous light floral scent.

Hotel Chocolat Revive Body Butter 5ml sachet - from a new body line.  See here.  With notes of bergamot, green tea, lime, florals and sandalwood.  Lovely!

What have you been using up this month?

Elemis Evening Blooms Dry Body Oil

I received this dry body oil (50ml) which has been made especially for QVC customers in my QVC Today's Special Value box recently. You can see the contents here.  

A light, non-greasy oil it deeply moisturises the skin leaving it super soft.  The essential oils used are Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus and sweet Vanilla.  It smells simply gorgeous!

The bottle doesn't have a stopper so it is easy to pour too much out - but this is the only negative.

To use pour a small amount into the palms of your hands and warm and then rub the oil onto your skin. 

Have you tried this product?

Balm Balm Relax Bath & Shower Oil

I received this mini Balm Balm bath oil in my recent Latest in Beauty Pampering Stocking Filler Box.  It retails at £6 for 5ml and comes in its own little organza bag with a little information card.

A little box containing all the range costs £24.99 for 7 and contains - Balance, Calm, Detox, Indulge, Recover, Refresh and Relax.  You can see more details here.

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Relax Bath oil is scented with essential oils of rose geranium, mandarin, lavender and ylang ylang and is gorgeous!  It helps de-stress and release tension.  I loved using this and very tempted by the set above!

To use: add up to half of the bottle to your bath or apply to a damp flannel for use in the shower.

In an emergency dab one drop on pulse points for instant relaxing and calming.

The oil is 100% organic and free from all chemical nasties.

You can see Balm Balm's website here and follow on Twitter @BalmBalm

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to you all!  Hope you have fun whatever you are doing today and that Santa brings you lots of lovely beauty gifts x

Advent Calendar - Days 23 & 24

On Day 23 I received Balm Balm's Rose Geranium Lip Balm, a 7ml pot which is worth £3.50.  I've used this in the past and loved it so happy to try it again - can be used on lips, on cuticles and moisturising dry skin area.  Smells fab.

Today, the final day - sob!  I received an AS London Candle in a glass jar - it is a very spicy scent. Looking forward to burning it.

I have loved the Advent Calendar (the only thing I won't use is the Yardley Body Spray).  Did you get one and what are your thoughts to the contents?

Borders Aromatics Scented Candle Tins

I picked up these two Borders Aromatics 100% soya wax three wick candles at Cranachan & Crowdie, a gorgeous Scottish food, drink and gift shop based on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

The candles are made by Catherine Bauer at home in the Borders.  The candles are simply gorgeous and make fantastic gifts.

Retailing at £7.99 each.  I picked the scents Sage & Pomegranate (sage, pomegranate and tropical ferns) and Aurora (pine, spruce, fern, ozone, amber, musk, spice and vanilla).

Aurora (purple) Sage & Pomegranate (green)

You can see the full range of candles available here.

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You can read more about Cranachan & Crowdie here.  

Advent Calendar - Days 20, 21 & 22

On day 20 I received Eve Lom Rescue Mask 15ml - used this before and really like it.  Great for stressed skin.

Day 21 I got a 2.5ml dropper bottle of Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+.  Have used this in the past but not for ages so looking forward to testing it out again.

Today, Day 22 I got Mont Bleu Crystal Nail File - this is apparently superior to conventional nail care.

What are your thoughts on the contents?  Only two days to go!

Friday's Makes, Bakes & Learns #11

A few Fridays ago hubby and me went to the German Christmas market to sample some Glühwein and traditional German food.  (It was a bit of a grey day but we still had fun!)

You've guess it! My Friday's makes is mulled wine - yum!

1 bottle of drinkable red wine
60g/2oz castor sugar 
Orange - one half studded with cloves the other sliced
cinnamon sticks
large glug of brandy

Put the wine, sugar, orange studded with cloves and cinnamon sticks in a pan to gently heat.  Just before serving pour in the brandy and put orange slices in the glass before pouring over the hot wine.

My Top Products of 2012

I'm trying to keep each category to my top 3 products but some it will be my top 4 as I can't decide on 3!

Skincare:

Bodhi Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil as reviewed here.

Natural Wisdom Rose & Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydrating Toner review here.

Palm & Soul Three Rose Deep Balm for Face & Neck review here.

Skinvelop The Cleanser review here.

Shower Gel:

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash mini review here.

Bodhi Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy review here.

Noble Isle Summer Rising Cornish Hedgerows Bath & Shower Gel review here.

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Bath Oil:

Bamford Geranium Bath Oil mini review here.

NEOM Mini Bath Oil Set review here.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil review here.

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Body Lotion:

Abahna Frangipani & Orange Blossom Body Lotion mini review here.

Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Body Moisturiser review here.

Pure Thoughts Tangerine & Jojoba Whipped Shea Butter mini review here.

Hands & Feet:

Clear Zal Silk Foot Food Nutrition Cream - review to follow.

Lancome Nutrix Royal Mains Hand Cream link.

NEOM Complete Bliss Organic Hand Cream review here.
Suti Fabulous Organic Food Balm review here.

Lip Balm:

BRIXI Bee Balm review here.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Balm review here.

Rodin Olio Lusso Lip Balm review here.

Perfume:

Chanel Sycomore EDT review here.

PG Organics Embrace EDP review here.

Tom Ford Santal Blush EDP review here.

Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia review here.

Hair:

A'Kin 24 hour Intensive Moisture Leave in Conditioner mini review here.

Neil George Intense Illuminating Conditioner review here.

Louise Galvin Sacred Locks Shampoo & Conditioner for fine hair review here.

Makeup:

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Make Up SPF 15 link

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara link

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey link

Stila One Step Brightening Serum link

What have been your favourite products this year?