Mini Boots Haul and Murad Freebie

I popped up to Boots yesterday to pick up some cotton wool pads and came away with this little lot!

Cotton pads - buy one get one half price

Sanctuary 3 for 2 - I use the hand wash a lot so picked up two of these and also Mande Lular Foaming Shower Burst - which is a bit like the Rituals shower foam.

Also needed some hair bands and shaving foam.  Also out was the new beauty magazine and I got a voucher for £5 off No.7 skincare and £3 off No.7 make up - both valid until 7 October.

The Murad freebie advertised in Marie Claire magazine also arrived yesterday - Intensive Wrinkle Reducer - 7ml - I'd sort of given up on receiving it as I applied ages ago. Full size 30ml retails at a whopping £179!

What have you been buying/receiving as freebies recently?

Mini Sanctuary Haul

My sister-in-law gave me a Boots gift card for my birthday.  I needed some hand wash/lotion and as Sanctuary products were on 3 for 2 I got these.  Still got a tenner left on my gift card.

The Body Moisture Spray is my favourite for days I can't be bothered putting on body lotion.  Oops, another body moisture product to add to my huge collection.

What's your favourite Sanctuary product?

Easter Bunny Swap - My boxes

I showed you a sneak peek of the bunny boxes I made up here.  Here are the boxes I received - love them!

I initially arranged one with Sarah and then one with Maria (who made me the amazing box from Hong Kong which you can read about here.) We arranged a budget of £10.

Sarah's box:

Loads of lovely goodies!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius 125ml - never tried this product before - looking forward to using it.  I need to get my feet ready for summer so can't wait to try this out. Smells gorgeous.

Como Shambhala Invigorate Lotion 50ml - this is my new favourite brand so happy to receive.  Lovely lotion scented with eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint essential oils.

17 Volume Mascara in Black 8ml - can't go wrong with mascara looking forward to using this.

Wet n Wild Ultimate Minerals Loose Eyeshadow - really nice shade. Haven't used anything from this brand so looking forward to using.

e.l.f Superglossy Lip Shine - oh the shame! never tried any e.l.f. before.  A really shiny gloss in a really wearable shade.

Boots Natural Collection sachets - Hydrating Hair Mask, Hi-Shine Conditioner and Wild Strawberry Face Mask - pampering session for me.

ME ME ME Eye Shadow in Satsuma - great colour for summer.  Will be fab with a suntan.

Boots Cranberry Body Butter - really fruity with nice texture, melts into the skin.

The Body Shop Strawberry Puree Body Lotion 60ml - smells amazing, light gel like texture.

Vaseline Creme Brulee Lip Therapy - love this! 

2 cute bath fizzers - heart and duck

And lots of lovely chocolate eggs and bunnies.

Maria's box:

Onto the goodies!

The Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream 250ml - I've already got the body butter so this will be great to use with it.  Smells amazing!

Compressed Paper Facial Masks - these look like giant pills! - to use soak one in your favourite toner and then apply mask to face - can't wait to try.  I love trying products I've never heard of before.

Hydrating Toner 200ml - made with natural ingredients smells light and fresh.  Maria indicates that it contains rice extract.  Another one I'm looking forward to using.

Kiko Calming Face Mask 55ml - another brand I haven't heard of - excited to try.

Cowshed Quinoa Hydrating Daily Moisturiser 20ml - not tried any Cowshed skincare so looking forward to trying.

Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad in Sun Safari - perfect shades for me.

Facial Blotting tissues - loved these in the box from Hong Kong.  A wonder product for shine!

And lovely chocolate bunnies.

I love both my boxes, thanks girls! Looking forward to trying all the products out.  Did you do a Easter Bunny Swap? xxx

Soap & Glory - A Great Kisser Lip Balm

I have been looking  for these lip balms for ages in my local Boots.  Imagine my delight when I noticed they'd finally arrived!

I picked Juicy Peach, which tastes and smells amazing - really fruity and peachy.  It's meant to be a tinted coral shade but its more sheer on my lips and Sweet Coconut, a sheer with shimmer.  It's a very glossy balm.

With mango butter, apricot butter, lingonberry oil and pomegranate extract.

There is also a chocolate cherry one which is sheer pink.

My only negative is the lids are not very secure - I'd popped one in my handbag and the lid came off.

Retails at £5 for 18g.  My favourite is the peach one.  Have you tried this lip balm and if so, what are your thoughts?

Beauty Christmas Gifts

I got some really amazing beauty related Christmas gifts!  I love them all and can't wait to use them.

My hubby got me the Origins Ginger gift set (I sent him the link to the one I wanted!) and the gorgeous little Jo Malone set was a complete surprise!  I love it.

My mum and dad got me the Prada Candy Gift set - my favourite perfume of the moment.  It comes with 75ml of Shower gel and Body Lotion.

My sister and her family gave me a Sanctuary gift set.  Also the box is great for storing stuff.

One of my friends gave me a Lush gift set and Molton Brown handcream - which smells amazing.

My in-laws gave me a Lush gift card and a Boots gift card (I can't wait to hit the sales!)

Sanctuary Spa Therapies - Relax Warming Body Oils

I picked these Sanctuary Spa Therapies Relax Warming Oils up in Boots.  There are five individual use tubes in the pack, each 15ml.

They retail at £10.25 for five.  They are currently available to purchase in the 3 for 2 offer.

Place unopened tube in a cup of hot tap water for 5 minutes, snap off the tip and massage the warm oil into the skin...ahh bliss.  Alternatively, you can pour the oil into your bath water.

With oils of vetivert, cedarwood and lebdanum and almond, castor and jojoba oils.  Great for relaxation before bed as its got quite a nurturing scent.  I found there was too much oil for one use so kept the remainder for the next evening's bath. 

Would also be good for splitting up for stocking fillers.

Palmer's has gone pink!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion is my favourite budget buy.  A steal at £3.77 for 250ml and its gone pink for October's breast cancer awareness month.  I love the vanilla-y smell and the fact that its a lovely thick cream which absorbs quickly.  It's always on my bathroom shelf.

Boots have 3 for 2 on at the moment on skincare, hand & body, indulgent bathing, hair removal & No.7.

What's your favourite budget body lotion?