Spending Ban - Update 11

Uh-oh my spending ban went completely off the rails in week 11 and I think it's now time to end it.  Ahhh...  I lasted 70 odd days with a few splurges - a lot less than I'd normally be treating myself to though.

I've been enjoying shopping my stash every week - so I'm going to keep doing this.  Here is what I bought during the spending ban period -

In Style Magazine for the beauty supplement in Week 3.

Sweet Cecily's Rose Body Butter and Mojito Lip Balm.  See my review here.  I bought these in Week 4.

In Week 6 I bought the Caudalie Set from Latest in Beauty and two Remedy..for organic body butter bars and an April Beautylishious bag (which I've still to receive).

See my review of the Remedy...for Organic Body Butters here.

In Week 7 I bought Good Housekeeping magazine which were giving away a free Balance Me Hand Cream and Marie Claire magazine which were giving away a Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream.  These are both worth £10.

In Week 8 I bought a copy of Psychologies magazine.

Week 9 saw me really caving when I bought Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and the LIB Organic & Natural Box.  You can see my reviews here and here.

In Week 10 I bought Botanicals Anti-Age Hand & Nail Serum and two try-me size pots of cleanser and foot balm (you can get the try me sizes for free just paying p&p).  Reviews to follow.  I also bought a April SoukSouk little green beauty box.

Finally Week 11, I bought Beaute Chinoise Beauty Tea - a Oolong infused with organic rose.  It sounds simply delicious.  Still to receive this.  I'll be doing a mini review on it and of course my M&S and Boots haul.  

I'm quite relieved to have ended my Spending Ban.  It was an interesting experiment and I know I buy too many beauty products.  I'll do a post later this week listing my "Wants" from the 11 weeks - and letting you know which ones I'm going to buy at some point. 

How is your Spending Ban coming along?

M&S Beauty Hall (and a haul)

I met my friend Julie on Friday for a meet up and a look at the shops. Imagine my absolute excitement and delight when I found out that at the shopping centre where we were meeting there was an M&S Beauty Hall.

There were lots of offers of gift with purchase and there was also a special of 20% off (28 March - 2 April). We also got some samples.

2 x Formula Skin Care Treatment Oil, 8ml H20 Deep Sleep Recovery Cream, 4ml sachet NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil, 10ml sachet Apivita Propoline Women's Tonic Shampoo, 1ml sachet Apivita Natural Serum, 1.5ml vial Les Senteurs Gourmandes Musc Blanc EDP and 2ml vial Chantal Thomas EDP.

I did buy a few things too (oops Spending Ban fail again - more about that tomorrow!)

Tara Smith Feed the Root Trial size kit - containing - 50ml Shampoo, 50ml Conditioner and 20ml base coat serum.  I've been wanting to try this vegan range for a while.  The set cost £12.50.

Cowley Manor Awaken Soap 200g - a luxury soap scented with lemon myrtle, bergamot, willow and rosemary.  I just love bar soaps so looking forward to using it.

Apivita Pink Clay Mask 2 x 8ml sachets - love face masks and was keen to try another variety from Apivita.

I could quite easily have gone mad - the selection was fantastic and the range of free gifts with purchase very good.  With 20% off my purchases totalled £15.20.

In Boots I got colour matched for the YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation.  I was matched to shade B40.  I also got two sachets of Forever Youth Liberator Serum.  I simply love the foundation.

The sales assistant touched up my make up and used Rouge Volupte Shine in shade 9 (Nude in Private).  I just loved the texture and glossy shine as well as the luxe packaging. She chose well - I just had to have it!

My final purchase (before we headed off for lunch & wine) was Sk:n Hand Cream 50ml - which was £5.33 with a third off.  I'd used a sachet of this before and had simply loved it.

Have you used any of these products?  What do you think of the M&S Beauty Hall?