Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box - July 2019 - Bon Voyage

My July Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box arrived at the weekend and it's stuffed with things suitable for summer and holidays. This is the last monthly box. You can sign up for a bi-monthly box (next one's September - £25 every two months) HERE. 

Remember you can get 10% off your first box with BEAUTYBALM10. Inside this month are 3 new to me products and 1 new to me brand. As ever, it's a cracker!

And for a closer look...

I'll be packing that tin of Badger Balm Organic Aftersun Balm with Blue Tansy & Lavender (56g - £9.99) for my summer hols. It smells glorious. A review will follow.

From Skin Alchemists Apothecary we have a 10ml travel size (£30) of their Sesenne Luxury Renewal Elixir which is a blend of 26 skin loving oils (this also appeared in Love Lula's July Beauty Box).

I've tried No Secrets Beauty before via the Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box and also as a Beauty Shortlist Judge. It's a beautiful brand and this new Bath Jelly in "one" scent (15ml - £7.50) is definitely in the treat category! Apply it over the body before sinking into a warm bath/or use it in the shower. The jelly will transform into a luxurious oil. I just love this one! So luxe with a exquisite scent.

From new to me brand Bain+Savon we have their gorgeous Peony Salt Foot Scrubs (£5) which I love the look of - so sweet! Perfect to get your feet sandal ready!

Rounding up the box is a fab facial mist by AA Skincare their Frankincense & Rose Face Toner (50ml - £3.95) which I reviewed HERE.

As ever, it's a fabulous box with carefully curated products and brands suitable for summertime use.  Are you a subscriber, what are your thoughts on the contents this month?

*Giveaway: AA Skincare: New Frankincense & Rose Face Toner

*product gifted for review/giveaway I've a fabulous giveaway in collaboration with AA Skincare. One of my readers can win their brand new travel size (50ml) of their Award Winning Frankincense & Rose Face Toner (worth £3.95). It's the perfect try-me size or for packing for holidays (I'll be packing it for my summer hols).

Spritz onto the skin to tone and refresh the skin, after cleansing or throughout the day for a calming and balancing burst of hydration. Luxurious Damask Rose is combined with toning Frankincense to refresh.

The formula also combines Pomegranate, Honeysuckle and White Willow Bark which calms and balances.  Skin is revived and hydrated. 

It really is the perfect holiday companion and one of my readers can win their very own! Please follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below! (the giveaway is open world wide). Good luck!

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*Review & Giveaway: AA Skincare Cucumber & Elderflower Firming Eye Gel - it's over!

*productsample As you'll know I'm a huge fan of AA Skincare's products. They are effective, nice to use and very affordable. 

I've been trying their new Cucumber & Elderflower Firming Eye Gel (50ml - £6.95) which is a clear cooling gel. It instantly refreshes and revives the delicate eye area. 

It hydrates and firms as well has helping to reduce puffiness and dark circles. Elderflower and Aloe Vera soothe and soften.

To use: apply a small amount around the eye area patting in gently.

This is a lovely product and I think it would be great to use coming into summer.  One of my readers can win their very own eye gel. Just follow the rafflecopter below. Good luck! Thanks to AA Skincare for providing the giveaway prize.

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Review: AA Skincare

*products gifted for review purposes. Every AA Skincare product I try I love. The award winning brand formulates luxurious, effective and affordable skincare. Their Jasmin, Mimosa & Rosehip Moisturising Face Cream* made my top products of 2018. I've been testing out some more products from their skincare range and I can quite honestly say they are fantastic.

Rosemary & Olive Deep Cleansing Oil 150ml (£7.98)* which comes in a huge pump action bottle. It does have a distinctive olive oil smell which may put some people off (I genuinely love it) with a hint of Rosemary. The Deep Cleansing Oil is suitable for all skin types and instantly rids the skin of make up and daily grime leaving it clean, nourished and ready for toner and moisturiser. It can also be used as a soothing tonic for irritated skins.

To use: apply to dry skin, massaging the oil in before removing with a warmed damp cloth.

I've really been enjoying using this deep cleansing oil. It does what it says it will, is nice to use and brilliant value.

Rejuvenating Rose Hydrating Daily Face Gel 50ml (£6.96)* has a delicate rose scent and a gel texture and is enriched with Comfrey, Rose Geranium, Lavender and Carrot Seed Oil. It's ideal to help to slow the initial signs of ageing, while plumping out fine lines and wrinkles. The Face Gel absorbs instantly and feels comfortable on the skin. 

To use: smooth onto cleansed skin morning and night.

I normally use oils or moisturisers so this was a nice change. The gel felt nourishing and comfortable on my skin.

Neroli & Aloe Moisturising Cream 50ml (£7.98)* I'm obsessed with all things neroli at the moment so this cream is an absolute dream. The blend will nourish and replenish, smoothing out wrinkles and providing a mild natural sunscreen. 

To use: apply to cleansed and toned skin AM and PM.

It's a gorgeous cream which I've really enjoyed using.  It does exactly what it says it will and has a glorious scent.

I'm a huge fan of AA Skincare and recommend their products to all. Affordable and effective. What's your favourite product from the range?

*gifted - sent to me for review.

Christmas Stocking Gift Ideas

Here's some Christmas gift ideas (there's just so many amazing gifts out there this year!) These ones are ideal for stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts and are £15 or under.

Kure Bazaar Nail Polish in Glitter Pigalle (isn't it beautiful!) 10ml (£15). The polish is clear with flecks of red glitter making it perfect for Christmas parties! This Limited Edition polish is formulated with 85% natural ingredients making it the eco-friendly polish of choice.

I had the pleasure of trying beatitude's gorgeous Christmas Crackers last year which are £10 each and include a 10ml size of one of the three bath oils - Joy (my fav), Patience or Peace. See my review HERE.

I love all the Christmassy crackers and this Hand Care Cracker from Cowshed (£12) contains Cowshed Cow Herb Restoring Hand Cream 50ml and Cowshed Apricot Nourishing Cuticle Oil 11ml which will help restore and groom the hands and nails.

AA Skincare Vitamin Boost Face Kit (£12.60) contains 100ml Sandalwood & Palmarosa Cleansing Face Gel and 100ml Sandalwood & Palmarosa Moisturising Face Lotion. This is such a great value set! (and would make an excellent Christmas gift as well as a stocking filler!)

This is a great value Apricot & Elderflower Gift Set from Benecos (£10.95) which contains mini sizes of Apricot & Elderflower Shower Gel, Body Lotion and Hand Cream.

Content Beauty & Wellbeing have some lovely small gifts including this cutely packaged Therapi Honey Lip Nectar (£9.50 - 5ml). I'd love to find this in my Christmas stocking!

Yellow Gorse have some beautiful products which would make excellent stocking fillers. I reviewed a few of their items recently - see HERE (the ones I chose were in the £3.50 - £6.80 price range and are perfect).

Do any of these make it onto your Christmas wishlist?

AA Skincare: Lavender Gel - Calming Multipurpose Gel

I've been testing out AA Skincare's Lavender Calming Multipurpose Gel 50ml (£6.96)* which is soothing and antiseptic and helps to relieve skin irritations.

As ever it's an effective and very affordable product coming in a pump action bottle - you know how much I love a multi-use product!

The clear aromatic gel (it has a gentle lavender scent) cools and hydrates and absorbs quickly calming and soothing irritated skin. It's great also for cuts, bruises, bites, stings, as a cooling aftersun gel, to soothe a headache (apply to temples) and as a make up remover! It's the one you want to pack for your holidays for sure!

Formulated with healing and repairing comfrey, uplifting and balancing rose geranium, moisturising and healing calendula and soothing and calming lavender. Gingseng is anti-ageing and skin firming while Honey softens and nourishes.

To use: apply where needed as and when required massaging a small amount onto the skin.

What's your favourite product by AA Skincare?

*complimentary

AA Skincare: Jasmin, Mimosa & Rosehip Moisturising Face Cream

As you'll know I love award winning brand, AA Skincare. The products are effective, smell glorious and are excellent value for money. I've been testing out their Jasmin, Mimosa & Rosehip Moisturising Face Cream (£7.98 - 50ml)* which recently won a Best Buy Skincare Award with The Green Parent and is perfect to use as an everyday moisturiser.

The cream has an exotic and aromatic scent of Jasmin and Mimosa and is gorgeous. The cream absorbs instantly leaving the skin feel nourished, hydrated, firmed and feeling comfortable. It's packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Chamomile and Lavender calm while anti-ageing ylang ylang plumps fine lines and wrinkles and tones, Green Tea protects and Acacia gum soothes. It's suitable for all skin types and the packaging is recyclable.

To use: apply a small amount onto the face and neck massaging it in (tip: it can also be used as a body moisturiser).

What's your favourite product from AA Skincare?

*complimentary

Time for Me: AA Skincare, Lucidlure, Beatitude & Dr Hauschka

Sometimes it's good to take some time out and relax with a few favourite treats.  I've been enjoying a pampering face mask with AA Skincare's delicious Vanilla & Honey Skin Polishing Face Mask (£7.98 for 100ml)* which as well as being excellent value for money is very effective. This clay based mask nourishes and exfoliates the skin leaving it brightened, smooth and glowy - it's a keeper!

My hair has been enjoying Lucidlure's Allava Conditioning Hair Treatment which deeply nourishes and cares for the hair. See my review HERE.

I received the Dr Hauschka Regenerating Hand Cream 15ml via the Jan de Vries Goody Bag* which featured in my June Loves. This hand cream is fantastic and a proper review of it will be on the blog soon!

Rounding up my pampering treatment are two products from East Lothian based beatitude in Joy - an uplifting and gloriously happy scent. See my review of the body oil* (which is now in new easier to use packaging - a pump action bottle) HERE and the bath oil* HERE.

What are your favourite pamper treats?

*complimentary

AA Skincare: Festival Picks

AA Skincare have a great range of products which are perfect for taking with you the next time you are at a summer Festival. How clever are these Tea Tree & Aloe Vera Cleansing Bodycare Wipes (currently on sale at £2.64). I picked these up via Latest in Beauty recently. They are great for top-to-toe cleansing. Tea Tree oil is naturally antiseptic and cleanses and removes bacteria while Aloe Vera cools and calms. The wipes are alcohol and free from artificial fragrances. To use: simply wipe over the body to freshen up. I'm not a huge tea tree fan so probably would prefer these in a different scent but they'd be fab for festivals where there may not be access to a shower.

I've used their Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes* before (25 wipes - £3.30) which I first received in a YOU Beauty Box (link). I don't use wipes often but these are the ones I'd pick as they are pleasant to use, effective and super gentle.

The final item which I'd recommend (you do need access to a shower however!) are their shampoo bars* (£5.94) which are very long lasting and easy to tote about. See my review HERE.

What are your top picks for Festivals?

*complimentary

January Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here are my January empties:

Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel & Foam Bath 100ml - this came in the Holland & Barrett Advent Calendar and I really liked it's zesty freshness. It was great for a wake up call in my morning shower. Would buy full size.

Buff Natural Body Care NAKED Sea Salt Body Scrub Lovers' Blend 60ml - I absolutely loved this beautiful scented scrub which had the perfect amount of scrubbiness. See my review HERE. Sure to pick this up again.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion 100ml - is one of my favourite bath time products. Luckily, just received another in January's Love Lula Beauty Box. See my review HERE.

Ishga Invigorating Body Oil 100ml* - I absolutely loved this! See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy at some point when my body oil stash reduces a bit.

AA Skincare Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes - I don't use wipes very often but find them great to use after a night out or on holiday. I found these ones very gentle and I'll pick them up again.

Organic Trevarno Camomile & Lavender Bath & Body Oil 30ml which came in November's Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. I loved it so much I rushed out and bought full size. See my thoughts HERE. I'll pick it up again as I love it!

And...I finished two perfumes this month:

Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent EdP 50ml - which I simply love. I picked up a mini in their sale but I'll definitely buy full size soon (it's up there in my top 5). 

And another favourite Shay & Blue's Dandelion Fig 30ml (both hubby and friend Julie picked me up bottles for Christmas so I'm well stocked up - thanks both!) See my mini review HERE.

What have you been using up this month? 

*complimentary

AA Skincare: Christmas Gift Sets

AA Skincare have a lovely selection of Christmas gifts and are shipping until close of play on Monday 18 December - so you've still time to pick up some of their great value and fab gift sets.

The ones which caught my eye..

Detox & Restore Face Mask Collection £23.50 which contains (3 x 100ml masks) - Mint & Dead Sea Salt Cleansing Clay Mask, Frankincense & Rose Deep Cleansing Clay Mask and Vanilla & Honey Skin Polisher Clay Mask (which I think all sound gorgeous and perfect for pampering depending how your skin's feeling that day). 

Helping Hands Kit £13.50 which contains Peppermint & Ginger Uplifting Soap (250ml) and Almond & Sandalwood Moisturising Hand Cream (50ml). I think this set is particularly good value for money and would make a lovely small gift.

Soothing & Balancing Face Kit £19.50 which contains Lavender & Tea Tree Facial Cleansing Gel (100ml), Lavender & Tea Tree Moisturising Face Lotion (100ml) and Lavender Calming Multi-purpose Gel (50ml). The trio will calm, soothe and balance acne prone skin.

Face Rejuvenating Kit £28.50 which contains products from their best-selling Frankincense & Rose range which hydrates, tones and firms the skin. Inside you will find - Rejuvenating Rose Hydrating Daily Face Gel (50ml), Frankincense & Rose Cleansing Face Gel (100ml), Frankincense & Rose Moisturising Face Lotion (100ml) and Frankincense & Rose Moisturising Face Cream (50ml) it's a great set for someone who loves the range or is new to it. I've used some of the products from this range and I'd highly recommend it.

See the selection of gift sets available HERE (there are also several haircare ones, a natural remedy kit and other face kits available).

AA Skincare Botanical Boost & Zing Fresh Shampoo Bars + Giveaway - it's Over!

I've been trying AA Skincare's latest launch - their fabulous Shampoo Bars* which are totally brilliant and are great for travel/gym or for use at home. They last for ages making them really cost effective.

I chose to review the two which most appealed to me from the range:

Zing Fresh (50g - £5.94)* which is suitable for oily, dry and damaged hair. It contains Peppermint essential oil and Coconut oil which refreshes and rejuvenates. It's also cooling if you have an itchy scalp. It removes excess oil and leaves the hair super shiny, smooth and nourished. The shampoo bar has a gorgeous minty scent.

Botanical Boost (50g - £5.94)* is suitable for all hair types and has a beautiful rosey scent.  Frankincense rejuvenates while Vitamin-rich Avocado oil stimulates hair growth. Antioxidant rich Argan oil and aromatic Rose oil revitalise flat, dry and damaged hair. Rose Geranium oil strengthens.

To use: wet hair and then either run the bar along your parting or foam up in your in your hands before applying to your hair. Massage into the hair before rinsing.  Follow with conditioner if needed.

The others in the RANGE:

Almond - dry, dull and damaged hair

Brilliantly Balanced - greasy and oily hair

Illuminate Blonde - dry and damaged hair

Intense Coconut - dry and damaged hair

Life Style - itchy and dry hair

Twilight - dry hair

One of my readers can win one of the shampoo bars. Please enter via the rafflecopter below and good luck!

*sent for review

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Budget Beauty: 5 under £6

Here's some of my top picks for bargain beauty:

AA Skincare Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes (£3.30 for 25 wipes). I don't always use cleansing wipes but find them handy to use after a night out or on holiday. These ones are super gentle on the skin and leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed.

PHB Ethical Beauty Peppermint Sugar Scrub* (100g - £4.95) which is fantastic! It's shaped like a bar of soap making it easy to use in the shower. It has quite a scrubby texture and is made with sugar, cocoa butter, plant oils, peppermint essential oil and cornflowers. It's absolutely fantastic value for money and very effective. 

John Masters Organics Sea Mist (60ml - £5) which creates the perfect beachy waves.

Herbal Forest Chai Spice Lip Balm (0.15oz - £3.49)** which smells like chai tea! A rich and fragrant lip balm. See my review HERE.

My final pick is the most expensive of the lot at £5.50 for 50ml. It's the gorgeous Bodhi & Birch Ylang Ylang Incensa Bath & Shower Therapy mini. A perfect try me, small treat or for holidays. See my review HERE. 

What's your favourite budget beauty items?

*sent to me as part of the love lula accredited blogger program. 

**complimentary

My post contains one affiliate link

April Empties

Here's what I've been using up this month (I think this is the smallest amount of empties ever!) I'm not going to use up any more so here goes..

Evolve Organic Beauty Citrus Blend Aromatic Wash 60ml - I loved this uplifting wash in my morning shower. Would buy full size.

Make Skincare Hands Replenish Pink Grapefruit Cream 15ml* - a beautiful hand cream which I just loved. See my review HERE. Full size is firmly on the to-buy list.

Evolve Organic Beauty African Wash sample size - Again, this was gorgeous and I'd buy full size. I love when you order directly from Evolve you can chose 3 sample sizes with each order.

Daisy & Mallow Nourishing Winter Body Oil 50ml - lovely to use and I'd buy again next winter - it's currently still on sale though. It has a base of sesame, coconut and rosehip and is scented with Grandiflorium jasmine, cardamon, clove bud, vanilla and sandalwood. I've now got my eye on the oil for Spring.

Optiat The Hungover Coffee Scrub Potent Peppermint 90g - I loved this uplifting and awakening scrub which had an intense coffee/mint scent. Perfect scrubbiness and have since bought another. See my review HERE.

Carina Organics Pink Grapefruit Hand Soap 360ml* - this was a great hand soap which smells of zesty pink grapefruit. See my review HERE. Will definitely buy at some point.

Resultime Hydrating Cream 15ml - I've really enjoyed this cream, so much so that I picked up another one recently. It has a fresh scent, absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling deeply nourished. Huge fan.

Sachet samples (I'm trying to use these more often along with perfume vials):

pai Head to Toe Buriti Balm 2ml - this seemed nice but it was such a teeny sample so only got one use.

AA Skincare Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Conditioning Shampoo 8ml - nice to use. Got two uses out of these sachets. AA Skincare Amla & Clary Sage Rejuvenating Shampoo 8ml, again nice to use. This one was my favourite. I recently reviewed the matching conditioners (link).

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum 2ml - this seemed nice enough but again, quite small sachet.

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream 2ml - a nice cream which absorbed quickly but I probably wouldn't buy.

Chantecaille BioLifting Neck Cream 2ml - I absolutely loved this. The gel textured cream absorbed instantly and it felt like an expensive product (on looking full size costs £152!) Nice to try but way out of my price range (I did however get 3 uses from the sachet).

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque 1.5ml - this was great on my shiny t-zone. Would buy full size.

What have you been using up this month?

*complimentary

AA Skincare Conditioners

AA Skincare recently launched a range of shampoos* which I loved trying. See my reviews of their Peony, Bay and Brahmi* one which is nourishing and Rosemary, Sage & Burdock* which lifts and repairs HERE. 

Latest launch are a range of conditioners and I picked two different ones to try. Amla & Clary Sage Conditioner (250ml - £5.94)* rejuvenates all hair types. It has a lovely scent, fruity and slightly woody (and is my favourite from the duo). It balances and nourishes leaving the hair feeling smoothed and conditioned. Clary Sage, Amla and Lemon add shine and strengthen while Grapeseed oil locks in moisture.

To use: massage into clean damp hair, leave on a minute or two before rinsing.

The second conditioner I selected to try is Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary (250ml - £5.94)* which revives and nourishes dry hair, repairing and smoothing split ends while adding shine. 

Ylang Ylang encourages healthy and shiny hair while conditioning Argan oil smoothes and nourishes split ends. Cucumber, Rosemary and Moroccan Lava clay boosts volume.

To use: massage into the hair after shampooing, leave on a minute or two before rinsing.

As with all AA Skincare products I've really enjoyed using these, they smell nice, are effective and are great value for money. What's your favourite product in the range?

*complimentary - sent for review

You Beauty Box: Organic & Natural: April

This month's shortlist was Organic & Natural products. As ever I went for the 2 items at £6.95 with a couple of small extras. See HERE.

My picks:

AA Skincare Green Tea & Aloe Vera Cleansing Wipes x 25 wipes (£3.30) - sometimes only wipes will do! Especially after a night out or on holiday. I'm looking forward to trying out these natural wipes (which are alcohol, paraben and fragrance free) as I already really rate this brand.

My second pick is an old favourite Jurlique's Rosewater Balancing Mist 15ml (£5) see my mini review HERE. I've not had this in my stash for a while so looking forward to using it again.

The extras:

Pip & Nut Coconut & Almond Butter Squeeze Pack (yum)

Lavera 2-in-1 Hand & Cuticle Cream 1ml sachet

What did you pick this month?

Giveaway: AA Skincare Hydrating & Toning Face Kit - The Perfect Mother's Day Gift - it's over!

I've been so impressed with all the AA Skincare products I've tried so far. They are effective and excellent value for money. 

Up for grabs is a Hydrating & Toning Face Kit (£21.50)* which is the perfect Mother's Day gift. The giveaway prize has very kindly been provided by AA Skincare and is UK only.

The kit comes boxed and the products are tissue wrapped. Inside is:

From the Frankincense & Rose Range:

Cleansing Face Gel 100ml - this is a gentle foaming face wash scented with the beautiful aroma of Frankincense & Rose. It's more suited to dry/mature skin types but can suit all skins too. It cleans and refreshes the skin leaving it feeling comfortable, clean and soothed.

Face Toner 150ml - which is a fantastic toner (last week it won a Beauty Shortlist award - which is very well deserved) See my review HERE. 

Moisturising Face Cream 50ml - a rich moisturiser which deeply nourishes and rejuvenates the skin (and smells gorgeous!)

 To get your hands on a set enter via the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AA Skincare: Cedarwood & Peppermint Shower & Bath Gel

I've been testing out AA Skincare's latest launch - Shower & Bath Gel in Cedarwood & Peppermint scent (250ml - £5.94)*. The whole range is really affordable even if you are on a budget.

The blend is very minty with a touch of woods and is refreshing and invigorating making it great for a wake up call in your morning shower or equally good for a bubble bath after sport or sunbathing.

Containing nourishing ingredients such as brazil nut oil, Eucalyptus and Murumuru Seed Butter which gently cleanses the skin. The gel is suitable for all skin types and is Vegan friendly.

See my other AA Skincare reviews: Frankincense & Rose Toner* and Natural Haircare Shampoo*.

*complimentary - sent for review

AA Skincare: Frankincense & Rose Toner Review & Giveaway - it's Over!

September sees me celebrating my 5th Blogiversary so that means 5 giveaways this month!

I've been trying out the lovely Frankincense & Rose Toner* from AA Skincare which is absolutely fantastic! One of my (UK) readers can win their very own bottle.

Damask rose water calms (and smells gorgeous) while Frankincense water tones and refreshes the skin.

The formula also combines Pomegranate, Honeysuckle and White Willow Bark which calms and balances. It leaves the skin revived and hydrated. It's also great to use to freshen the skin throughout the day.

To use: either spritz onto the skin or apply with a cotton pad before moisturising.

*Thanks to AA Skincare for the giveaway prize and the bottle sent for review

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