Fighting Fifty Travel Essentials Beauty Bag 2017

I've never bought one of Tracey's (Fighting Fifty) Limited Edition Beauty Bags before. Nicola flagged it up on her Facebook Group (Beauty Q&A Insider Tips) and at a total bargainous £20 including UK P&P (Travel Essentials Beauty Bag 2017) just had to be mine! (it's now sold out). The contents are worth over £100.

WOW

It's absolutely jam packed!  Here's what's inside (fuller reviews will follow). The products are inside a PVC Airport friendly bag and I received a digital leaflet explaining the products as well as prior to purchase watching the YouTube video (https://youtu.be/79zPPilPiVM).

Alpha-H Essential Cleansing Balm 30ml (this is a new product and has a gorgeous rosy scent)

BetterYou Magnesium Oil Goodnight Spray 15ml - which I'm excited to try!

Dermovia Lace Your Face Calming Chamomile Facial Mask - I've tried one of these masks before and loved it.

Exuviance Bionic Body Polish Masque 10g (a brand I've not heard of)

Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir 7ml (brightening...yes please)

Kiss the Moon Love Night Cream for Hands (sample size) - see my review HERE.

Lash Perfect Lift Off Eye Makeup Remover 15ml - a decent size, again looking forward to trying.

Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel 30ml - happy to have these in my desk drawer.

NeoStra Retinol+NAG Complex 2ml (not heard of this brand)

REN Oat & Bay Conditioning Shampoo 50ml - a decent size from a great brand.

REN Pro Vitamin Conditioner 50ml - again, great travel size.

Tribitor 3-Phase Carbohydrate Blocker 5 x 4.5g sachets (not sure how I feel about these)

Ultrasun Face Anti-Ageing Sun Protection SPF50+ 25ml - a brand I'm happy to use. This is a great travel/handbag size.

Did you pick a beauty bag up?

Cult Beauty Spring 2017 Goody Bag

As ever Cult Beauty's Spring 2017 Goody Bag, which was worth over £210 and free with a £110 spend sold out in record time. I picked up pressies and two things for me. The goody bag is so good and I'm looking forward to testing everything out.

The two things that I bought:

I needed new tweezers and I'd heard lots of good things about these ones by Swiss Brand, Rubis. At goody bag time I always stock up on my favourite Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts - I've been using these since 2013 and if I could only use one bath product - it would be these! See my review HERE.

And now for a closer look at the goody bag:

The BrowGal Eyebrow Gel (Full size) £17

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in Gilded Honey (sample size)

Sigma Mini Blending Brush E25 (as you'll see I've already used it!)

Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip in Versailles (Full size) £16 - Cult Beauty say this is "mauve pink" but it's brown on my lips. Not in love with the colour but love the staying power - will look at other colours for sure.

Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask (Cucumber Deep Moisture) x 1 £8

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm 15ml (already a fan)

Hannes Dottir Seamasque 10ml (looking forward to trying)

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser 15ml

Odacite Pimple Serum Concentrate 5ml (full size) £27.50

Verso Super Facial Serum 10ml 

SkynIceland Plumping Lip Gel x 1 use

Alpha H Liquid Gold 24 hr Moisture Repair Cream 15ml

BECCA First Light Priming Filter 6ml

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser 20ml

OUAI Haircare Wave Spray 30ml

Sachajuan Hair Repair 100ml (worth £12)

Did you pick up the Spring Goody Bag? 

Cult Beauty: Purchases

Last week it was Cult Beauty's 7th Birthday and they offered numerous money off deals as well as an amazing goody bag with a £95 spend (and the goody bag was worth over £170). I decided I wasn't having it...and of course changed my mind! I chose to buy three products which had been on my wishlist in order to get my hands on that goody bag...

I've only recently become a huge de Mamiel fan having first tried Salvation Body Oil (link) and then the amazing Spring Facial Oil (review) and currently using Summer Facial Oil (which is a total joy..review to come).  So I picked up the de Mamiel Altitude Oil (£26 - 10ml) which is perfect to use for anxiety, travel or if you feel under the weather. Even smelling it straight from the bottle induces feelings of calm - full review to follow.

I also picked up Philip B's luxe Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse (£24 - 178ml). Huge fan of the brand having loved previous products from the range.  I mentioned the Katira Hair Masque here. Looking forward to trying.

My final item is the much longed for May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden (£46 - 100ml) which is simply heavenly and as good as I'd imagined it would be. The scent is exquisite and the mist leaves the skin feeling refreshed and glowy. Love!

The gift contains a wide selection of goodies:

d.j.v. Beautenizer Fibrewig - Full Size
NudeStix Lip & Cheek Pencil - Love - Full Size
Anastasia Beverley Hills mini Clear Brow Gel 
Zelens Z Matrix Energy & Moisture Infusion
Roloxin Lift Instant Smoothing Masque sachet
skyn ICELAND Glacial Cleansing Cloths
Beauty Blender Micro Mini & Cleanser
Odacite Hyperpigmentation Serum Concentrate sample
Sunday Riley Floral Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil
Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment
Alpha-H Daily Essentials Moisturiser SPF50
REN Flash Rinse One Minute Facial (Review)
kai Body Moisturiser (huge fan of the scent)
Make up bag 

Did you treat yourself too?

Cult Beauty Goody Bag

Last week Cult Beauty offered an amazing goody bag featuring some of the best beauty products from 2014 which was worth an incredible £178 and absolutely free with a £100 spend.  As you'll probably be aware the system crashed as so many wanted to buy to get this amazing gift which is the best offered this year.  I did find it hard to get in touch initially with Customer Services but after a tweet or two they did get back to me.  I picked up my parcel (with some Christmas presents in it) yesterday morning.

WOW is all I can say!

When I delved into the package the first thing I dug out was the Jade Facial Roller worth £20 from Ying Yu Rollers. It helps to encourage Lymph drainage, ease blocked sinuses, reduce puffiness around the eyes and can help with headaches. Can't wait to try it.

Next out was Cult 51 Cream this is a 10ml sample pot (worth £25). I've read loads about this cream and I can't wait to try it out! It is said to do the work of at least 5 products and taking care of all skincare needs. It brightens, regenerates, renews, restores, reduces wrinkles, helps with uneven skin and age spots.  You can also use it as an eye cream.

Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts (100g - £10) - these just simply do what they say they will - use before bed and they will give you an amazing night's sleep. Upon waking you will feel calm, relaxed and ready to face the world. See my review here. Very happy to see these in the gift as I buy them again and again as they work!

NEOM Happiness Scented Travel Candle (75g - £16) - with an uplifting scent of White Neroli, Mimosa & Lemon. I first tried this scent out via an Amarya Beauty Box (now Love Lula). I love NEOM products so happy to see this included in the set.

A £10 Cult Beauty Gift Card for a tenner off your next purchase!

Sunday Riley Start Over Active Eye Cream 10ml - approx £21) - this brand is popular with A List Celebs including Cameron Diaz, Helen Mirren and Victoria Beckham.  The cream brightens and gives the benefits akin to 8 hours sleep. It helps to banish dark circles, lift and brighten the skin round the eyes. Another product I can't wait to try!

Studio 10 Longlast Velvet Lips (6.3ml - £22) - in Tearose. Really happy with this shade as it is a colour I'd wear. It gives a demi-matt long lasting finish and is paraben free.

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Primer (2.55g - £16) - which is a great eye-brow tamer. You can also use it as an invisible lip liner to stop lipstick bleeding, as a filler for lines & crows feet and as an eyeshadow base.

Kai Perfume Oil Sample Vial - one of my favourite scents (a teeny tiny 3.6ml rollerball retails at £40) it is a totally tropical scent with notes of gardenia, exotic florals with green notes. Paraben & Sulphate free.

REN Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask 15ml - I think I must be among the last to try this cult beauty product! Looking forward to trying it.

Jouer Lip Enhancer 4.5ml sample - offers intensive conditioning overnight. Packed full of super nourishing ingredients.  Leaves lips glossy and conditioned.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold (50ml - £16.75) - not a fan of this as I find it too harsh on my skin. Will pass onto a friend who loves it.

Resultime by Collin Regenerating Collagen Gel 5ml trial size - apply in the morning before your moisturiser. In the evening apply a thick layer to clean dry skin 10 minutes before bed and awaken to hydrated and plumped up skin.  Can also be used as a primer, as a night-time nourishing serum, to treat sunburn and dry patches.

Earthen Instant Peel (1 application) - apply to moist skin and apply to the skin in a massaging motion peeling dead skin cells. Rinse.

Silver Make Up Bag

My two free sachet samples (for orders over £40) were Glamglow Supermud Clearing Mask 2.1ml and Jouer Matt Moisture Tint beige rose 1ml

Did you manage to pick up the goody bag?

Cult Beauty Purchases: Kai, rms beauty & Astalift

Cult Beauty just last weekend offered an amazing gift with purchase.  I had the products in my shopping cart then out my shopping cart and then in again and so I ended up breaking my spending ban big style!

My parcel arrived yesterday and I am delighted with it. It felt so good getting some new beauty bits.  Back on the ban now (apart from a few birthday buys) and a wee re-sub to Souk Souk (my favourite beauty box)

I picked up my favourite Kai roll-on which is expensive but I love it.  I've mentioned it a few times on the blog and it featured in my March empties. So an essential purchase.

I tried the rms beauty 'un' cover up via a sample from Content Beauty & Wellbeing - see here.  Loved it so much I bought the full size.

To bring my order up to the required spend for the free gift I chose a single use Intense Replumping Moisture Mask from Astalift. The packaging is gorgeous and it would make a great gift or stocking filler.

With all orders of £40 you can choose three free samples. I only chose two as there wasn't a huge choice left - Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint (Glow) and Embryolisse Nourishing Moisturiser.

Onto the gift! It's an absolutely fab collection of goodies.

mio Workout Wonder - invigorating muscle motivating gel 30ml

Eve Lom Age-Defying Smoothing Treatment x 4 single doses

Erno Laszlo phelityl pre-cleansing oil 15ml

Aestelance Mud Mask 5ml

d.j.v. Beautenizer Volume Lash 8.2ml 

Therapie Joie Uplifting Bath Infusion 60g - (can't wait to try)

Le Soft Perfume Zazou Solid Perfume Stick 5g - full size

Cute Lipstick Queen branded cosmetic bag

Zelens 3t Complex Essential Anti-Ageing Cream 10ml

Collin Resultime Smoothing Resurfacing Mask 5ml

Alpha H Balancing & Pore Refining Mask with Jojoba 30ml

So you can see why my spending ban went off the rails! Super excited to try everything. Did you pick up the offer?

Spending Ban - My Wants

My Spending Ban came to an end this week but I thought I'd look over what I'd been "Wanting" over the 11 weeks and see what I think I may buy...

Week 1
Therapie Roques O'Neil Discover Me Set £40
Robert Piguet Blossom EDP 100ml £130
Trilogy Smooth & Nourish Shampoo & Conditioner 250mls - £12.50 each
Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille Honey Bath £31
REN Citrus Limonum Prebiotic Hand Cream 300ml £17
Temple Spa Body Truffle 150ml £60

I'll buy at some point: Therapie Roques O'Neil Discover Me Set, Trilogy Smooth & Nourish Shampoo & Conditioner and REN Citrus Limonum Prebiotic Hand Cream.

Week 2
Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint £15 for 4
Jimmy Choo Flash EDP (tried this but didn't like it)
Nourish Radiance Body Treats Set £39.50
Melvita Rose Nectar Milky Cleansing Oil £19.50
Alpha H Best of Alpha H WIMH 
Instructions for a Heatwave - Maggie O'Farrell

I'll buy at some point: Alpha H Liquid Gold and maybe Jouer Luminzing Moisture Tint.  I'll definitely pick up the Maggie O'Farrell book.

Week 3
RMS BeautyLip2Cheek Smile £28
The Organic Pharmacy Rose Balm (Grace at All that Slap sent me this and I love it!)
Mitchell & Peach Kentish Cobnut Scrub 260g £36
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler £20
Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm 28g £6.09
Tara Smith Shampoo & Conditioner - picked a trial set up in my M&S haul

I'll buy at some point: Mitchell & Peach Kentish Cobnut Scrub and Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Week 4
Mama Mio Mighty Moisture Day & Night Moisturiser 50ml £37.50
Aromatherapy Associates Breathe Essence 10ml £16.50 - I was sent this to review - see my post here.
Weleda Pomegranate Body Lotion 200ml £21.95
Weleda Citrus Refreshing Milk Bath 200ml £9.50

I'll buy at some point: Mama Mio Mighty Moisture Day & Night Moisturiser and both the Weleda products.

Week 5
Undergreen Pink EDP 100ml £120
OV Naturals Rosy Glow Luxury Organic Moisturiser 60ml £28.99
Jo Loves Orange Tulle 30ml £45
Jo Loves Lemongrass, Amber, Tiare Flower Candle £75
Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ 30ml £26.50
OV Naturals Petal Soft Skin Rose Hamper £35

I'll buy at some point: OV Naturals Rosy Glow Luxury Organic Moisturiser.  See my review here.  I'd also love the Hamper.  I've got a few of the Trilogy mini oils to use up.  I'll probably buy it again in the future though.

Week 6
Saaf Face & Body Kit £26.99
YSL Touche Eclat Foundation £29 - I got colour matched for this recently and love it!
Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin EDP
Clinique All about Lips
Dr Perricone MD no concealer concealer

I'll buy at some point: YSL Touche Eclat Foundation - simply love this!  I'll maybe pick up the Dr Perricone MD no concealer concealer

Week 7
Prada Candy L'Eau EDT £50 for 50ml
Lancome Genitique Yeux Light Pearl £44
Creme de la Mer The Moisturising Lotion 50ml £160

I'll buy at some point: Nothing! I'd like the original Prada Candy again.

Week 8
Korres Watermelon Body Scrub 150ml £9.60 - I picked this up recently it's gorgeous - review to follow.
Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask £58
Elemental Herbology Neroli & Rose Damask Body Wash & Body Lotion
Diptyque Roses Candle £40
Sarah Chapman Discovery Collection £40
REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish 330ml £32

I'll buy at some point: Sarah Chapman Discovery Collection and maybe REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish

Week 9
Chantecaille Frangipani EDP 75ml £150
Elemental Herbology Watermelon & Cucumber Body Moisturiser 240ml £20
Miller Harris La Fumee Incense £30
Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Conditioning Creme 178ml £110
REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil 110ml £30
Serge Lutens Sa Majeste La Rose EDP 50ml £69

I'll buy at some point:  I'd love the Chantecaille Frangipani EDP but I'll definitely buy the REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil as its my favourite.

Week 10
Willow Organic Relaxation Box - £25
By Terry Cellularose Brightening Serum - £75
Serena Linley Iris & Jasmine Bath Essence - 15ml £15
Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder - £33
Giorgio Armani Rose D'Arabie EDP 100ml £190
Acqua di Parma Iris Noble Perfumed Soaps £40
Stila Colour Balm Lipstick £16

I'll buy at some point: Willow Organic Relaxation Box, Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder and Stila Colour Balm Lipstick.

Week 11
Aveda Stress-Fix Soaking Salts 454g £29 - mini review here.
Botanicals Foot Balm £14.95
Beaute Chinoise Yin No.4 Facial Oil 10ml £35
Balance Me Skin Bright Hydrating Face Mist £20

I'll buy at some point: All of them!

I'll keep using my paperblanks* journal to record any wants.

So out of a total of 59 wants I'll definitely think about purchasing 26.

And I'm going to do a mini spending ban for the month of May - I'll update you at the end of May as to how I have done.



*complimentary sample

Spending Ban - Update 2

I am actually finding the spending ban not too bad although in week 2 I found  I was tempted by things..  Grace's Blog Sale caught my eye and I especially wanted the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Exfoliating Cleanser and the Nourish Toner grrr...

Here is how my week has been...mid-week is definitely snacking day!

I am really making lots of use of my beautiful paperblanks* journal.  So handy for jotting down my spending/wants.

Here are my wants for week 2 -

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint minis - I read about these on The Sunday Girl blog and they sound amazing!

source

Jimmy Choo Flash EDP - absolutely hate the name but know I will love this scent because I adore tuberose & gardenia notes.

source

Nourish Radiance Body Treats Set - I've not tried any nourish products yet but this body set appeals - shower gel, flannel, hand lotion and body butter.

source

Melvita Rose Nectar Milky Cleansing Oil - just read about this recently and so want to try!  Generally love Melvita products (and rose scents).

source

The Alpha-H set from WIMH was an absolute killer - so wanted to buy it - but restrained! It is now sold out!

source

Not beauty but a book I really want to read by Maggie O'Farrell is out in February (fingers crossed for amazon vouchers at my birthday!). I've read her other books and they are all amazing!

source

Are you on the spending ban? How are you doing?  What things are you "wanting" this week?

*complimentary sample

Cult Beauty Website

I ordered a couple of things from Cult Beauty (items will be revealed shortly - I am getting them from my mum & dad for my birthday so they are staying wrapped up until then.  I've hidden them away so I'm not tempted to unwrap! - the parcels being wrapped was such a nice touch - wasn't expecting that)  Cult  Beauty are offering a free beauty gift if you spent £60 so it was perfect timing!  You also get to chose 3 sachet samples with your order. Brilliant service, would definitely buy from this company again.

In the gift contains:

15ml BECCA Resurfacing Primer

15ml Alpha H Rejuvenating Cream

10ml TIME face cream 

15ml Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser

Seche Vite Top Coat mini

50ml Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter

5ml Aromatherapy Associates Overnight Repair Mask

10ml sachet Neil George Intense Illuminating Conditioner for dry/coloured hair

1ml sachet Collin Regenerating Collagen Gel

sachet E-Boost Daily Health Booster

3ml sachet Egyptian Magic All purpose skin cream

Really excited to try these product out.  I am especially keen to try the Aromatherapy Associates Overnight Repair Mask after reading an amazing review on Jude's blog.   Have you tried any of these products?

My free samples -

1ml Jouer Illuminating Moisture Tint

1ml Solar Oil Nail & Cuticle Conditioner

3ml Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub

Have you bought anything from Cult Beauty?

December Empties

Here are my December empties -

Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream 100ml - one of my all time favourite hand creams - I will definitely re-purchase.  I blogged about this hand cream here.


Arran Aromatics Fig Room Spray 30ml - I really like the smell of this - have since bought the full size.


Age Defiance Wipes - always have a pack on the go.  Really good product, no sting and really cheap £1 for two packs at Poundland.


Rahua Sachets - 2 x Volumising Shampoo & 2 x Conditioner from Boudoir Prive - lovely product and enjoyed using but wouldn't pay full price of £27/£28.


Arran Aromatics Rosemary, Sage & Vitamin E Rejuvenating Spa Bath Soak 50ml - a freebie product from PA Exchange event.  Nice but not enough bubbles - wouldn't purchase.


NEOM Tranquility Bath Oil 5ml - lovely product would re-purchase.


Bamford Geranium Bath Oil 30ml - love this, would definitely re-purchase (I've got a full mini bottle from beauty box swaps).


Bamford Geranium, Lavender & Peppermint Bath Salts sachet 30g - lovely, this was gift with purchase would definitely purchase.


Elemis Revitalise Me Shower Gel 100ml - this was a gift with purchase product.  Didn't really like the scent so wouldn't purchase.


Elemis Frangipani Monoi Shower Cream 50ml - another gift with purchase size, loved the scent - would definitely purchase full size.


Clinique Deep Comfort Body Moisture 200ml (this was a pressie last Christmas and just finishing it up now...oops).  Lovely product with thick texture.  Unscented so no clashing with perfume - would definitely purchase.


Melvita Cream Nectar Night Care 15ml - got this from Latest in Beauty Luxury Samples - loved this and would definitely re-purchase.


Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser with Aloe Vera 15ml - this was a free gift with purchase.  Loved this light lotion, will definitely re-purchase.


Korres Wild Rose 24-hr Moisturiser 10ml - from Boudoir Prive - loved this cream (got another in my Best of box).  Would definitely re-purchase.


Pai Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner 50ml (loved this, won in Pai subscriber gift).  Maybe re-purchase but expensive for a toner although I loved it.  I reviewed this product here.


Dr Organic Rose Otto Bath Oil 100ml from Holland & Barrett -  Love this and will definitely re-purchase.  A good dupe for REN Rose Otto Bath Oil - and a third of the price!


Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion 250ml - I always have one of these lotions on the go - just love the scent..and the price!


Vaseline Active Fresh Roll-on Deodorant - my fav deodorant cheap and effective.


Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Bath and Shower Gel 100ml - my favourite MB fragrance will definitely re-purchase at some point.


Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment for Neck and Bust 15ml - gift with purchase size, love this - try to pick up in sets or gift with purchase.


Weleda Lavender Relaxing Body Oil 10ml - I have already re-purchased the full size of this - very relaxing.


Dead Sea Spa Magik Silky Smooth Body Lotion 50ml - from Boudoir Prive - lovely lotion and nice to use.  Have another to use from my Best of box.  Would definitely consider purchasing full size.


Lavera Rose Garden Sea Salts 80g sachet - love these sachets and great for weekends away/travel/try me size.


Clarins Daily Energiser Cleansing Gel 75ml - really good cleanser with nice scent. I got this part-used from a friend who didn't like it.  Would possibly purchase though got a load of cleansers to use from all the beauty boxes.


What have you been using this month?

Birthday Weekend

Last weekend we stayed at Knockinaam Lodge near Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway.  The lodge was once home to the Hunter-Blair family - its now a country hotel in 30 acres with its own private beach - though much too cold in December for swimming in the wild Irish sea!  (I took this photo from the beach).

Our room was Churchill, which had an amazing bathroom and huge bed!  The bath was ancient and really deep and was large enough to be able to float without touching the sides! (even hubby who hates baths loved it!)  There was even a step to help you climb in!

Each morning we had a full Scottish breakfast which was yummy (if highly calorific!) complete with toast, muffins, oatcakes, croissants and pots of leaf tea.

Here are the pampering products I took with me:

It was a great weekend away (even though the weather was cold and windy) x