December Empties

I think this has been the smallest amount of empties this year!

Verso Night Cream with Retinol 8 15ml - this was nice to use. I'd maybe consider buying when my stash reduces a bit.

Weleda Arnica Muscle Soak Bath Milk 200ml - I simply love this soothing soak. See my review HERE. It's a product I pick up again and again as it simply works!

Molton Brown Frankincense & Allspice Hand Wash 100ml - I'm absolutely addicted to this beautiful spicy handwash. See my review HERE. I've got a couple of bottles stashed away!

John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler 60ml - this is a staple. I've always got this in my stash. Leaves the hair feeling nourished and smooth. Will buy again soon!

Molton Brown Rosa Absolute Bath & Shower Gel 30ml - I'd been wanting to try this range since trying out the perfume recently. It's really lovely and smells deeply of roses.

Bloomtown Botanicals The Meadow Pink Himalayan Bath Soak 285g** - I'm a huge fan of soaks in the bath and these salts are gorgeous. See my review HERE. I'll pick these up when my stash reduces.

Balm Balm Indulge Bath & Shower Oil 5ml* - lovely and made for a great relaxing soak. Would buy.

Dr Hauschka Moor Lavender Calming Bath Essence 10ml* - this is really lovely. Perfect to use before bed. Full size is on the wishlist!

Rio Rosa Mosqueta Pure Chilean Rosehip Seed Oil 5ml* - love this! See my review HERE. Will buy full size when my stash reduces a bit.

What have you been using up this month?

*samples received as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program
**complimentary

Bloomtown Botanicals Review

I first mentioned Bloomtown Botanicals - HERE and I now feel I've had time to try the products properly. I've been really impressed with how effective, lovely and reasonably priced they are.

The range is simply stunning and I love the simple but pretty packaging which is all recyclable.  If you return a clean jar back to Bloomtown Botanicals (Jars for Stars) you can collect stars which can be built up to receive discount coupons (an idea which I think is great).

3 Soap Sampler* (£3) are 3 x soap samples in a drawstring bag (as well as great for trying they'd also make a great Secret Santa or small gift). I took mine on holiday. I like that you can choose which ones you'd like from the range of scents.  The soaps are handcrafted in small batches and are free from palm oil, SLS, synthetic colours, detergents, animal products, wheat and parabens. Love these! I also love their clever travel soaps.

Here are the range of scents:

The Meadow: Lavender, Rose Geranium & Chamomile

The Grove: Blood Orange & Pink Grapefruit

The Woods: Vetiver, Cedar & Bergamot

The Cafe: Coffee, Hazelnut & Vanilla

The Rose Garden: Rose & White Florals

The Hedgerow: Blackberry & Honeysuckle

The Spring: Unscented Blue Clay & Indigo Leaf (sensitive skin)

The Clearing: Black Clay & Tea Tree (oily, acne-prone)

Bloom Balm - Tinted* (£4.40 - 15g) which comes in a cute little tin. The 100% Organic Tinted balm is made with Organic Beeswax, Cocoa butter, Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Castor oils, Vitamin E and essential oils of Peppermint, Lavender, Lemongrass and Rosemary and is tinted with natural pink and red clay. It lightly tints the lips and smells gorgeous. Again, I love this.

The Meadow Pink Himalayan Salt Soak* (£10 - 285g) I'm already a huge fan of Himalayan salts and the combination of salts, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond oil and essential oils of "The Meadow" - Lavender, Rose Geranium and Chamomile is a total winner in my book and perfect for a relaxing pamper.

The Meadow Sugar Scrub* (£12 - 285g) which has just the perfect amount of scrubbiness and has the delicious "The Meadow" scent. I've used the scrub on both my face (gently) and body and it reveals radiant and healthy skin. 

The Spring Blue Clay & Indigo Leaf Soothing Mask* (£10 - 60ml) is a 100% allergen-free mask which is suitable sensitive skins. Formulated with Blue Bentonite Clay, anti-inflammatory herbs and plant glycerine (which stops the mask drying your skin). Again, a really beautiful product.

I've been really impressed with everything I've tried. See the ranges available HERE. 

I'll definitely be picking up some Stocking Fillers and I'm after one of the Roll-on Perfume Oils and a candle next!

*complimentary - sent for review

Summer Holidays: Beauty

I ended up taking way too many beauty products with me on holiday (I'll learn though for next year!) I felt especially overloaded after seeing Lynda's holiday picks.

Skincare:

I used the Madara Micellar Water up (it's one of my favourites - see my review HERE) and some of the smaller sizes (which I just threw in the bin rather than bringing them back for an empties post).

Here's the ones I reached for again and again..

Expect reviews of PHB Ethical Beauty's Brightening Eye Gel and 001 Skincare's fabulous Pure Lavender Hydrolat Toner* soon. I loved using both these products on holiday.

Also there is my favourite Skin & Tonic Steam Clean and 001's Exfoliating & Conditioning Cleanser* (review) along with Dahliana's amazing Wildflower Youth Serum* (review).

Bodycare/Suncare:

I was testing out these two products by Nourish* & Frezyderm* over my holidays so expect reviews shortly.

I also took these along..

I used up a few items and acquired some lovely Bramley products at The Pig. 

My most reached for items were..

Therapie's Himalayan Detox Salts (these are finished but the pot is handy for travel) and my favourite Marble & Milkweed Nourishing Body Oil (review). The little Bloomtown Botanicals sample soaps* were perfect for travel and the Bramley body lotion is lovely. Expect reviews soon.

Haircare:

You know the drill by now..(I took far too much of everything!)

I used up all the sachet samples and my most reached for items were..

Bramley's Shampoo & Conditioner, Swell's Ultimate Protect & Renew Serum*(which came in the recent Naturisimo Hello Gorgeous Hair Discovery Box) and John Masters Organics Sea Mist which I used most days for beachy waves.

Perfume:

And the ones I reached for..(the Eden Portofino one was already in my handbag)

Jo Loves Pomelo (review), 4160Tuesdays London 1969 (mini review), Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent (a new favourite), Creed Virgin Island Water (the perfect summer scent) and Eden Perfumes Portofino which has notes like the Tom Ford version.

Make up:

I did a bit better with make up although I did take a selection of lipsticks and glosses. These were my favourite bits:

Are you able to pack light for holidays?

*PR samples

New In: Bloomtown Botanicals

I discovered gorgeous Bloomtown Botanicals randomly on Twitter. They got in touch with me and sent me a box full of goodies to try and review.

The products are created by Preyanka and Medwin who used to live in Bali. Living there they saw first hand the devastation caused by palm oil cultivation. When they decided to create their own range of products they decided they would be palm oil and chemical free. I love that they give 10% of their profits to environmental and animal rescue charities.

Moving to Cornwall they started creating beautiful products for bath, body and home which are sold ONLINE, at EVENTS and at Not on the High Street.

If you send a clean jar back for recycling you can collect stars which you can build up to receive discount coupons - which is a great idea!

WOW!

The products all look so beautiful - I'm looking forward to trying everything and reporting back! Expect full reviews soon.

Have you tried any products from Bloomtown Botanicals? If so, what's been your favourite?

*complimentary sent for review