Beauty Pie Review: Month #13 (2)

Of course when Wonderscrub arrived at Beauty Pie I had to have another January buy! It's absolutely fantastic and makes the skin glow. Review is forthcoming for this baby! (Typical Price £35 - members price £6.35). I also picked up Fantasticolour Sculpting Lipstick in Guilty Pink (Typical Price £18.00 - members price - £3.76). I'm really enjoying this lippy which is creamy, hydrating and gives a long lasting pop of colour.

What are your favourites from Beauty Pie? You can see what I picked earlier in the month HERE.

January: Lately I've Been Loving

Oh January, such a long skint month! This January I've been doing #DryJanuary for the very first time. On the whole I've not craved wine and gin too much having found some excellent alcohol free alternatives. I have less aches and pains, have been sleeping better and feel more alert but haven't experienced huge energy bursts or glowing skin! Definitely for me moderation is the key (and I'm very much looking forward to my first glass of chilled white wine on the 1st Feb!)

This Scavi & Ray Alcohol Free Sparkling which I picked up locally at The Fine Wine Company is almost as good as real thing! (I also tried a lot of horrific sparklers). This has helped me through weekends enormously.

Zero Beer wise our top picks for flavour went to Birra Moretti and Budweiser Prohibition. In fact, if I feel like a drink mid-week I'm likely to pick up one of these!

I placed an order for Square Root Soda while browsing for alcohol free alternatives. Some were hits and some misses for our tastebuds. I especially liked their non-alcoholic negroni spritz and their collab with North Brewing - Grapefruit Sour Shandy I'd pick these ones up again.

A January meet up with the #BookBloggingBelles (you were missed Jill!) Thanks to Joanne for organising and Kelly for the photos, as always! A lovely catch up with Sarah and Sandra too and a visit to Portobello Bookshop (lunch+books+chat = perfect!)

My friend Nardin gave me this beautiful full size bottle of Shay & Blue's White Peaches Perfume for my Christmas. I absolutely adore this perfume which is perfect for spring & summertime. It's an absolute burst of fruity freshness with a light sweet touch. It featured in my perfumes for Spring POST.

And of course, I now need latest launch in my collection (and might be tempted after payday!) Blackberry Woods is a blend of juicy blackberries complemented with neroli, lemon and cypress. 

I think the mouthwatering FRUIT range is the one I most identify with (although I love Dandelion Fig (which also featured in Five Perfumes for Spring).

I totally "needed" this delicious Blood Orange tea which I picked up locally at Harvey Nics. It's really delicious! I'll definitely explore more from this BRAND. 

I picked up my first Cadbury's creme egg on 30th December (I know it's way too early). Gives me pure joy to see them land straight after Christmas (I'm also very partial to mini eggs).

Picking up sale items at Blackwells in Edinburgh (I had enough points for one book free!). I also received a cute bird promo bag with the Almanac. It's the little things...

I drooled over this little ILIA Beauty kit and when Naturisimo were offering 20% off gift sets I dived straight in! The colours are absolute perfection and I'm so happy I took the plunge.

Discovering beautiful Finnish online shop Koti Lifestyle (based in London) via Emma's Blog. Of course, I dashed over for a look. The only brand I know (and have used products from is FLOW Cosmetics (much gorgeousness) all others are brand new! I picked 3 products from the 5 brands currently available. Trying them right now and it's all good...

What have you been loving this month?

Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo

As you'll probably know I tried this award winning shampoo years ago and hated it - I just didn't get the low foam idea. I tried it again recently and can quite honestly say I love it!

Gentle Herb Shampoo (500ml - £22, 200ml - £12, 20ml - £2.50) is a gentle shampoo which is 100% natural, certified organic and vegan. It's formulated with ingredients such as conditioning coconut oil, strengthening horsetail, soothing chamomile, shine promoting rosemary, nettle for scalp health and moisture locking aloe vera.

It's excellent for those with a sensitive scalp but can be used by all. It balances and conditions your hair (I've found I don't need an extra conditioner when using it).

To use: apply to wet hair massaging in (there is next to zero lather), leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. The hair and scalp is left feeling comfortable and nourished.

All in all, I'm happy to have been brave enough to revisit and it's likely a product I'll always have in my stash now. Are you a fan?

*Love Lula: Kypwell KypSlim Organic Herbal Tea

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program for an honest review.  Kypwell's KypSlim Organic Herbal Tea (80g)* comes in a flip top reusable caddy. 

This is the first time I've tried anything from this Cypriot brand. Their range apart from teas includes skincare and bodycare products which are created using locally grown herbs + the very latest scientific, high performance ingredients. The brand works with a team of experts - biochemist, herbalists, nutritionists, cosmetologists and doctors to create a highly effective NaTruCeuticals collection.

The products in the range are created using certified organic cultivated herbs which are mainly handmade in the laboratory which gives Kypwell total control over the growth and production but ingredients are also sourced from fields which have been officially certified as organic by the LACON Institute.

The tea is a blend of loose leaf herbs (Fennel Seeds, Birch Leaves, Corn Silks, Hibiscus, Artichoke, Vine and Plum Leaves) blended with Lemon Verbena, which is the slimming herb. Drinking this tea regularly will omtimize your metabolism, help to reduce appetite, strengthen the immune system, improves energy and mood, to name a few benefits. 

To use: one teaspoon per cup, infusing for 5-10 minutes. For best results drink 3-5 cups a day. Drink hot or chilled.

The tea has a delicious slightly savoury herbal flavour and I've been enjoying drinking it.  It's definitely helped me stop snacking so much! What are your favourites from the range?

January Empties

I'm not going to use up any more empties this month (teeny amount) so here's my January empties:

Miss Patisserie Lavender Bath Melt - this was shaped like a little cupcake and frothed around the bath. Not a huge lavender scent but nice to use (got 2 uses) would maybe try another scent next time.

Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream 25ml - huge fan of this sweet vanilla scented rich cream. Will no doubt pick it up again. I was eyeing up the biggie bum bum giant pot which was available at Christmastime. 

Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Magic Touch Body Cream 75ml - I really enjoyed this body cream which absorbed instantly onto dry skin. I've got a stash of body products to use up so I won't re-purchase anytime soon!

These are the two Schmidt's deodorants I love Bergamot+Lime & Jasmine Tea. I've got replacements in my stash. 

Lavera Firming Body Milk 10ml - I didn't really find this very special. It did the job but it's not one I'd buy.

Malin+Goetz Cilantro Hair Conditioner 4ml - I got two uses from this sachet. It was nice to use but I didn't really see any remarkable results. 

Jo Loves Pomelo Hand & Body Cleanser 85ml - this smells exactly like the perfume! A real treat. Would buy full size.

Beauty Pie Everyday Great Skin Foundation (Shell) 30ml - this is the most consistent product I've purchased from Beauty Pie. It's in my shopping basket every couple of months. Perfect shade for me.

Connock London Kukui Oil Hand & Body Lotion 8ml - I loved this lotion and full size is on the wishlist. It smells just like the matching perfume and leaves the skin feeling and smelling lovely.

Odacite BI+J Blueberry Jasmine Serum Concentrate sample vial - I got two uses from this sample. I normally love their serums I kept smelling citronella from it (not a fan) so wouldn't buy this particular one full size.

What have you been using up this month?

Naturisimo - #Veganuary Discovery Box

I can never resist, or rarely a Naturisimo Discovery Box. January's box is themed #Veganuary and is stuffed full! It costs £19.95 and contains 9 plant powered, Vegan products to kick start 2020! I picked a couple of samples to make my order up to £25 (free p&p now kicks in with a £25+ spend).

WOW! There are 5 new-to-me products nestling inside (although I know all the brands). I'm also very happy to see the others nestling in there as they are all products I've tried in the past and loved. And so, for a closer look:

There's a duo set from The Organic Pharmacy comprising of their Antioxidant Face Serum & Gel which are both 5ml - great try me sizes or for travel. See my review HERE. I'm very happy to have this equally hardworking & lovely duo back in my stash!

I've not actually tried Indie Lee's Purifying Face Wash before (I love her brightening one). Inside is a 15ml tube. A review will be forthcoming. I adore BYBI Beauty and I'm very happy to see a dinky (10ml) of cult classic Babe Balm. See my review HERE.

I've nearly run out of loose powder so am very happy to see bellapierre's HD Finishing Powder in Translucent inside which I've used in the past. This is full size (6.5g) and worth a whopping £25. Very happy!

Now this pot smells heavenly! It's 100ml of Boucleme's brand new Exfoliating Scalp Shampoo which cleanses and energises the hair and scalp and should be used once a month.

A brand I love and a brand new product 5ml of Trilogy's Vitamin C Booster Treatment. Excited for this one!

Rounding up the box is a product from Inika's brand new skincare range (excitement much!) New+Exclusive Phytofuse Renew Avocado Hand Cream 4ml and Evolve's latest launch their Daily Apple Hair & Body Wash 50ml (which had been on the wishlist!) 

My samples (to make my order up to £25):

I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with Naturisimo's first Discovery Box of the year. Did you pick one up?

*Tropic Skincare: Mini Complexion Trio: Fresh Faced

*productsample I've been trying Tropic Skincare's fab little Mini Complexion Trio in Fresh Faced (£18 for 3 x 5ml serums).

Inside the kit you'll find:

Fruit Peel Resurfacing Serum 5ml

NEW: Glow Berry Brightening Serum 5ml

NEW: Rainforest Dew Hydration Serum 5ml

It's a great little kit for try me or holidays (there are another two sets to delve into too!) See HERE.

I'd tried the FRUIT PEEL when it was called something else (Good Skin Day Resurfacing Serum review) so it was lovely to revisit this gentle treatment serum which helps to make your skin glow! 

Totally new to me are GLOW BERRY & RAINFOREST DEW (squeals). GLOW BERRY brightens, helps to banish hyperpigmentation and plump up lines and wrinkles. 

To use: pat 3-6 drops onto the skin twice a day (it's recommended to refridgerate once opened). Afterwards use RAINFOREST DEW, SKIN FEAST, SKIN DREAM, SUPER GREENS or ELIXIR for best results. I've been using mine in combination with RAINFOREST DEW.

RAINFOREST DEW bathes the skin in moisture. It increases hydration by 46% as well as evening the skin tone and giving it a huge dose of hydration (this is my personal favourite from the trio). 

To use: pat 3-6 drops onto the skin twice a day. Use after GLOW BERRY or PURE LAGOON. Follow with SKIN FEAST, SKIN DREAM, SUPER GREENS or ELIXIR.

What are your top picks from Tropic Skincare?

Shopping My Stash #111

I've totally fallen head-over-heels for multi-tasking lixirskin - see my reviews of the Electrogel Cleanser HERE and Universal Emulsion Moisturiser HERE.

From nk naturals it's the perfect time to use their Winter Oil* which I reviewed HERE. It's the perfect nurturing oil for wintertime. It's got a beautiful emerald green hue and is the perfect size to try me/travel.

From Trilogy is their Everything's Dreamy Balm*, a rich lavender scented balm which is perfect for massage or use as a body balm before bed. Its also the perfect size for weekends away or popping in your handbag.

Jurlique's decadent and truly luxurious Fragrant Rose Hand Cream, which is limited edition is absolutely gorgeous - richly scented with fresh booming roses. The nourishing cream is an absolute delight (this came in a Latest in Beauty Box).

My final pick is Klorane's fabulous Dry Shampoo which instantly refreshes leaving the hair feeling good, smelling clean and full of volume.

What have you been reaching for?

*productsamples

Naturisimo: Free 5 Sample Pack with Order of £35

I rarely spend enough at Naturisimo to qualify for any of their offers - I usually hang around for a 10% off code! They recently upped their limits for free p&p to a £25 spend, so now I have to have more considered spending! I recently had a purchase in their sale (more to come of that later) and qualified for a free sample pack. This is what I received...

Organyc tampon/sanitary towel (I don't get periods, so I won't use these) my heart sort of sank when I saw these as one of my samples. I'd have personally preferred something else.  Luckily, it gets better..

From Odacite there is a sample vial of their BI+J Cell Energy Serum Concentrate which I'm more than happy to have in my pack. I love their serums! 

I'm also happy to see samples from Inlight (Face Cleanser 1.5ml sachet) and Rahua (Cream Wax 5ml sachet). The final sachet is from Lavera and is 10ml of their new Q10 Firming Body Lotion.

So for me, a kind of mixed bag! 

*Love Lula Beauty Box: January 2020

*sent to me free of charge as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program. All thoughts are genuine - and reviews will follow (No affiliate links).

WOW what an interesting selection this month. Inside is a new to me brand and four other new to me products. And for a closer look..

From totally new to me brand Hesh is their Black Seed Oil (100ml - £7.99) which can be taken internally or used topically on the skin - interesting - it will help with allergies, headaches, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, digestive disorders, boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, fight infections, soothe spots and acne and nourish dry skin and hair. WOW sounds like it does it all! Looking forward to testing it out!

I've used KIKI Health before but not their Magnesium Oil/Spray (125ml - £12.50) which will help with joint and muscle pain. I've got problems with knee pain (from an old injury) at the moment so I'll definitely be testing this out and reporting back with my thoughts.

From Kathleen Natural is one of their brand new masks - Bright Mask (60ml - £28). This is seriously runny (I luckily found this out via the Facebook group before my box landed - and was able to remove the lid gingerly). I'm not sure if it's meant to be so runny or not - I'll be trying it with my masking brush for sure! It does smell lovely and felt nice on the skin when I tried it on the back of my hand. I'll let you know my thoughts when I get the chance to try it out.

From lovely and affordable Natura Siberica is their Taiga Daily Protection Hand Cream (30ml - trial size) which is super rich and perfect for cold winter hands. It's rich in honey, Arctic cloudberries and lingonberries and has a light fruity scent. I'll be popping this one in my handbag (full size of 75ml costs a very affordable £4.50). I like this a lot.

The final item(s) this month are two grow volume sachets (Shampoo + Conditioner) from Madara (which I've wanted to try - so this is a perfect addition to the box for me). 

I love this month's box - lots of newness and different things to try. Are you a subscriber? What are your thoughts?

*Blog Tour:The Other You by J S Monroe

Today I'm on the blog tour for the rather fabulous The Other You by J S Monroe. I received an e-copy of the book free for taking part in the tour. It was my first read of 2020 and went straight into my folder for top reads of 2020!

Is he who you think he is?

Kate used to be good at recognising people. So good, she worked for the police, identifying criminals in crowds of thousands. But six months ago, a devastating car accident led to a brain injury. Now the woman who never forgot a face can barely recognise herself in the mirror.

At least she has Rob. Kate met him just after her accident, and he nursed her back to health in his high-tech modernist house on the Cornish coast. When she's with him, the nightmares of the accident fade, and she feels safe and loved.

Until, one day, she looks at Rob anew – and knows, with absolute certainty, that he has been replaced by an impostor. Is she right? Have her old recognition skills returned? Or is it all in her damaged mind?

My thoughts?

WOW I just devoured this twisty read. Kate used to work as a civilian super-recogniser with the Police - she never forgot a face. Since her accident she remembers nothing. After meeting Rob (randomly at the hospital), a gorgeous and successful entrepreneur she falls head-over-heels for him and moved to his luxury Cornish home with her small dog to recover. Life is sweet..

If only she could remember...some strange and frightening things happen in Cornwall and she begins to look at Rob in a new light, is he who he really says he is? Does she know him at all? This new turn unsettles her. When she decides to go to London to allay her fears her nightmares become real. I was on the edge-of-my seat (with heart pumping!) when she finds herself alone in Rob's luxury apartment in London's Shoreditch. 

Luckily for her her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Bex are looking out for her... I absolutely loved this fast paced, tense and twisty story which is one of my top reads so far of 2020. So highly recommend.