Beside my Bed

I have this gorgeous little basket of goodies on the table beside my bed -

The basket came with the variation of my Sussex Rose Basket from Wellgreen Lewes- Amanda's friends make these lovely baskets with wild reed from Cyprus - isn't it gorgeous!

What's inside:

Wellgreen Lewes Rose Lip Balm 10ml - this is made for Quince, a flower & gift shop in Brighton - its packed full of nourishing oils, beeswax, runny honey and rose.  Gorgeous!

BRIXI Bee Balm - this gorgeous balm is made by Emy's mum and sold in her shop BRIXI, which is located at Brixton Village Arcade.  See my review here.

Spotner* - I suffer from age spots on the back of one of my hands (eugh). This can be caused by spending too much time in the sun over a period of time. A review (with photos!) will follow.

Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm - soothing and calming. Apply to temples or forehead. It has a nice lemony scent.

Sprout Cocoa Lip Balm - this is gorgeous! Sprout has been renamed to S W BASICS - you can buy at a beautiful world.  I reviewed it here.

Soap & Glory - A Great Kisser Lip Balm - in juicy peach - it's yummy.  See my review here.

Bee Fruitful Mandarin Lip Balm* - this is lovely with a hint of mandarin. This featured in Shopping my Stash #15.

Bathing Beauty GLOVE & SOCK* - see my review here. Gorgeous products for hands and feet.  (The super luxe rose & shea butter soap is pretty special too!)

L'Occitane Cuticle & Nail Cream 15ml - this is super-rich and I only use it at bedtime.

Mavala Cuticle Cream 15ml - received this in a nail set recently - again, a really rich product.  Great for softening and moisturising cuticles.

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15 - simply love the Fresh minis.  My friend at work picked a set up for me in Vegas last year - see my post  here.

Bodhi Cacao Cocoon Lip Treatment Balm 15g - supermoisturising and smells gorgeous.  See my review here.

Do you use any of these products? 

*PR sample

Samples #10

These are the samples I chose for #10 (I seem to have chucked a couple of them out with my empties - see second pic) but here are my thoughts on them -

Two bath bombs from Bee Fruitful in Honey, Peppermint & Rosemary* and Honey & Lemon* - these were complimentary with my order and were gorgeous. I'll definitely buy some soon.

sk:n Age-Delaying Cream 5ml - This was a nice enough cream but I didn't love it so wouldn't buy it.

Blend Collective Hydrating Hand & Body Lotion 5ml - gorgeous! Scented with Sicilian Lemon, May Chang, Myrtle and Lime.  A small sample but smelt nice and seemed quite moisturising.  Will maybe pick up full size.

Spa Fabulous Organic Heavenly Glow Exfoliator - a small sachet so unsure if it suited my skin.  It smelt gorgeous with a lemongrass scent.

Apivita Natural Serum - this seemed a nice serum. Definitely interested in trying out more from Apivita.

Clarins BB Cream 1.5ml - I'm unsure who exactly this shade suited! Was way too dark/orange for me!

Australian Bush Flower Essences Face Wash Serum 3ml - this was lovely and from a brand I'd not heard of before. Quite a small sample though.

Apivita Pink Clay Mask - simply love the Apivita masks - would definitely buy this one again.  I get two uses out of a sachet.

Melvita Ultra Nourishing Cream - this was too rich for my skin so wouldn't buy but generally love the brand.

NUXE 24hr Soothing & Rehydrating Fresh Mask 4ml - simply loved this mask and would consider purchasing.  It left my skin super soft.

NUXE Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Eye Cream 2ml - this was lovely to use and cooling around the eye area.

NUXE 24hr Moisturising Body Lotion 7ml - simply loved this.  Will definitely pick it up full size - smelt gorgeous and was super moisturising.

Nourish Hand Lotion - loved this. It nourished the hands and smelt nice. Definitely one I'm adding to my hand cream wishlist.

Formula Treatment Oil - this seemed ok but there are other oils I prefer.

Here's what I have chosen for week #11 -

Yes! Nurse Hand Formula 3ml 

Madara Sun Flower Golden Beige Tinting Fluid 1.5ml

Madara Moon Flower Rose Beige Tinting Fluid 1.5ml

Caudalie Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion 5ml 

Anne Semonin Exfoliating Mask 10g

Rodial Bee Venom Moisturiser 1ml

Elemis Lime & Ginger Hand & Body Lotion 7ml

Elemis Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash 7ml

Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream 2ml

Weleda Wild Rose smoothing Capsules x 2

Australian Bush Flower Essences Intensive Hand Cream Evening Rose 3ml

Elemis Body Soothing Trio - Skin Nourishing Shower Cream 7ml, Quiet Mind Bath Elixir 7ml, Treat your Feet Foot Cream 7ml

I'm actually finally using my samples up although I still have plenty to do a few more of these posts!

Veggie Growing - Update 7

You can see my last veggie growing post here.  I was down the plot yesterday for a few hours which was nice - I got some seeds in at long last - the weather has been so awful here.

So far I've planted garlic, onions, potatoes (they are just starting to come through) and I put in carrot, parsnip and beetroot seeds, then lettuce and courgettes.  Near the top I've got herbs - sage, parsley, thyme, rosemary, apple mint, Morrocan mint and lavender.  I'm going to put in some edible flowers too and some more herbs.  It's not a big plot but I love getting some fresh veggies and the herbs have lasted all over winter - so much nicer cutting a sprig or two when needed instead of buying from the supermarket.

I treated my hands afterwards to Bee Fruitful's wonderful Intensive Hand Balm* (60ml - £5).  This rich balm which is scented with rosemary makes my hands super soft and nourished - just perfect after a morning's gardening.

*complimentary 

Samples #9

You can see my last samples update here.  Here's my thoughts on what I used in #9:

I seem to have binned a few samples with my last lot of empties - oops!

Beauty Lab Micropolish Dermabrasion 1.5ml - this was a bit too harsh for my skin.  From a brand I've not heard of before.

Murad Rejuvenating Lift for Neck and Decollete 3.7ml - loved this! 

Elemis Pro-Intense Lift Effect 2ml - this seemed nice but quite a small sample.

Belnatur Oxy-Nutrigen Regenerating Cream - the whole range of these were nice. It was from a brand I've not heard of before.  They came from a Latest in Beauty Little Beauty Box.

Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser 5ml - not a huge Eve Lom fan - this was ok but nothing special.

Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm 5ml - loved this and would consider buying full size.  Liked how you can use it around the eyes and the lips.

Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator 3ml - this was lovely with just enough scrub. Don't think there is a Caudalie product I haven't enjoyed using.

Belnatur hydro-nourishing Comfort Cream - nice to use.

Sarah Chapman Dynamic Defence 2ml - I like every Sarah Chapman product I try! Must treat myself soon to a QVC set.

Laboratories Luzern Pure Cleansing Gelee 2ml - I didn't like this, found it irritated my eyes.

Belnatur Balance Cream - as above nice to use.

Faith in Nature Pomegranate & Rooibos Shampoo & Conditioner (both 7ml) - these were lovely.  My first try of this brand.  Definitely will look into it more.

Eve Lom Rescue Mask 15ml - I know this is a best-seller but I just didn't like it.  I hated the scent and felt it made my skin feel tight and dry.

Yonka Vital Defence Intense Hydration Cream 6ml - loved this. Really nice to use and I'd consider purchasing it in the future.

Here's what I've chosen for #10:

Two bath bombs from Bee Fruitful in Honey, Peppermint & Rosemary* and Honey & Lemon*

sk:n Age-Delaying Cream 5ml

Blend Collective Hydrating Hand & Body Lotion 5ml

Spa Fabulous Organic Heavenly Glow Exfoliator

Apivita Natural Serum

Clarins BB Cream 1.5ml 

Australian Bush Flower Essences Face Wash Serum 3ml

Apivita Pink Clay Mask

Melvita Ultra Nourishing Cream 

NUXE 24hr Soothing & Rehydrating Fresh Mask 4ml

NUXE Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Eye Cream 2ml

NUXE 24hr Moisturising Body Lotion 7ml

Nourish Hand Lotion

Formula Treatment Oil

Have you used any of these products?

*PR samples

Shopping My Stash #15

Bee Fruitful Mandarin Lip Balm* 5ml - a lovely super moisturising lip balm scented with mandarin.  Keeps the lips moisturised and super glossy.  Can be bought on the Bee Fruitful Website for £1.80.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil 30ml - I bought this a while back - firstly thinking it was a face oil but it is actually an oil for removing make up.  It's part of a two step process - use the oil and then a separate cleanser.  Leaves skin clean, radiant and smelling of roses.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Radiance Day Cream SPF 15 75ml - a supermoisturising face cream which is scented with rose.  Hydrates and nurtures the skin. Love that it's got SPF too.  

Stila Coming Clean Revitalising Gel Cleanser 10ml - this came in a WIMH gift set which I received for my birthday.  A light gel which smells minty.  Makes skin feel really clean. I use this in my morning shower.  I'd buy it again once I get through the ones I've got.

Bloom Mineral Lip Butter - Killing me Softly - a really cute lip butter with a little mirror in the lid.  A light pink shade.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP mini - I love this heady scent although I mainly wear it in the evening.

Bamford Geranium Bath Oil 30ml - I first tried this in a Latest in Beauty box.  Have accumulated some from swaps.  Simply love this. Mini review here.

Just Be Happy Rollerball 10ml - an uplifting scent to banish the blues - with coconut oil, Pink Grapefruit, Lime and Bergamot.  A sunny scent. Roll on pulse points.  See the website here.

What have you been using this week?

*PR sample

Bee Fruitful Peppermint Lotion Bar

I picked up a few items from Bee Fruitful recently and one of the items was Peppermint Lotion Bar (40g - £2.50).

Bee Fruitful, a Welsh company have been selling their bath & body products, candles and honey for a few years now.  You can see the website here.

I picked up a few items to try - Peppermint Lotion Bar, Rose & Lavender Soap and a wee skep candle.  After a chat on twitter Bee Fruitful also added a few extras for me to review - bath bombs, Intensive Hand Balm (looking forward to using this after a morning in the garden) and a mandarin lip balm (these reviews to follow).  The goodies came beautifully wrapped in a little basket.  You can see the gift selection here.

The peppermint lotion bar looks just like a bar of chocolate!  It comes with warnings "do not eat".  When you unwrap it you find it is wrapped in silver foil and squares are marked out.  Break of a piece or two and rub it over your body.

It smells gorgeous!  Super moisturising on the skin.  I've been using it all over my body.  It is especially good for dry skin areas and feet.  Would make a great gift.

The bar contains: Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis), Coconut Oil (Cocus Nucifera), Beeswax (Cera Alba), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Peppermint (Mentha Piperta)

See the website here.

Follow on Twitter @BeeFruitful 

A Haul

I've been busy doing online shopping since my spending ban came to an end.  Here's what I've been buying.  Full reviews will follow.

Just Be Botanicals Just Be Tranquil Botanical Blend (40g - £4.80) - A soothing tea which is a blend of Chamomile Flowers and Lavender.

Just Be Tranquil Body & Massage Oil - I'm hugely into body oils at the moment and am enjoying using this light blend made with coconut oil, petigrain, Helichrysum and Ylang Ylang. (30ml - £9.95)

I received a beautifully wrapped order from Bloom Remedies, an organic skincare company based in Cornwall.  

Nourishing Organic Body Oil for dry skin (50ml - £7.99) - with organic Avocado, organic Wheatgerm and organic Evening Primrose oils scented with Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender and Neroli organic essential oils.  Really enjoying using this.

Sleep-Easy Organic Bath Oil (50ml - £6.99) - great if you suffer from sleepless nights.  With Neroli, Ylang Ylang, Vetivert, Sweet Marjoram and Lavender.  A delicious blend - again enjoying using this.

Two tote bags from Totes Amazed aren't they cute!  Now debating whether to keep or gift as originally planned! They were both £8.

Laidbare Butter Me Up Body Butter (250ml - £9.99) - I first spotted this on Evelyn's blog We were Raised by Wolves - she's mentioned it a few times on her blog.  You can see her review of it here.  Looking forward to using it.

Organic Burst Baobab (70g - £8.29) - boosts the immune system, promotes healthy digestion and revitalises your metabolism.  I feel like I could do with a boost - to use dissolve 2 tsp in water, juice or smoothie (don't use fizzy water like I did first time round - it bubbled up over the top of the glass!).  Review will follow.

Bee Fruitful Rose & Lavender Soap with Beeswax (70g - £2.50), Peppermint Lotion Bar - looks like a bar of chocolate! (40g - £2.50) and a cute little candle (50g - £2.50).  They also sent me additional free goodies to try - bath bombs, a mandarin lip balm and an intensive hand balm (which will be great to use after gardening).  All came presented in a cute little basket.

Full reviews will follow.  Have you tried any of these products before?