Shopping my Stash #101

Here's what I've been reaching for lately:

Ere Perez Cacao Lip Colour in Play which is a peachy-pink guava coloured vegan lip butter which nourishes while leaving the lips with a pop of colour. This is gorgeous and I want to try more from the range. Pick yours up at Love Lula.

Aesop's Marrakech Intense Parfum is amazing! I love the rich spicy notes. See my review HERE.

Daisy & Mallow's Jasmine & Vanilla Lip Balm nourishes dry lips and cuticles and has a pretty floral scent. This came in the Time to Sparkle Letterbox Luxuries box hubby got me for my birthday.

From Palm & Soul I've been trying amazing Your Beauty Serum Cocktail* - I chose the ingredients and founder, Kathy mixed them up. I'll be reviewing this very shortly. I chose neroli and orange peel essential oils and this serum smells incredible. It's really lovely to use and can be used on the body as well as the face. It's one of the nicest products I've ever used.

Beauty Shortlist winner Jo Browne's Facial Cleansing Balm* is truly wonderful. I love everything about it (including that fabulous packaging). See my thoughts HERE. I'm very nearly finished this pot but it will be replenished when my stash reduces a bit. I just love it.

My final reach for is Zing Organics Ah There! Calming Body Oil* which soothes and relaxes the body and mind. See my review HERE.

What have you been reaching for this week?

*complimentary

Letterbox Luxuries: Time to Sparkle

I'd given hubby a list of things I'd like for my recent birthday and said to him to pick a few. The boy did good - he got me beautiful Tada & Toy earrings, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino perfume (which I picked in Jersey), my favourite Billecart Salmon Pink Champagne and this beautiful Time to Sparkle set from Letterbox Luxuries (I was SO spoiled!)

Letterbox Luxuries, offer a luxury letterbox gifting service with the products being carefully curated. They are nestled in a "letterbox" friendly recyclable box. 

I love everything about Time to Sparkle but initially the beautiful Eve of St Agnes Owl compact (one side is magnified) was the item which made me lust after this box (and it went straight in my handbag on receiving it!)

The Weathered Penny necklace and Daisy & Mallow Jasmine & Vanilla Lip Balm have been worn and used a lot. It's such a perfect gift. Pick yours up HERE.

Travel Size Treats

I'm a sucker for travel size/sample sizes and these are the ones I've been using lately. The Daisy & Mallow Rose & Chamomile Lip Balm is a full size but handy enough to pop in your handbag/suitcase as a travel treat.  It deeply nourishes the lips and I've also used it for flyaways.

this works in transit camera close-up is a fantastic product. I received this as a magazine freebie and it's the perfect travel size treat as it works as a moisturiser, mask and primer. It will brighten, plump and moisturise the skin.

The new 5g samples at Botanicals are a great try me size or for travel. I've been testing out their Nourish Moisturiser (£2.95)* which is a delicious blend scented with rose, geranium and palmrosa. The cream deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin and is perfect for normal, dry and mature skin types.

Scentered Be Happy Therapy Balm sample* may be small but it's the perfect size to travel with or to pop in a pocket or handbag. This award winning "sunshine in a stick" balm which is scented with grapefruit, lemon myrtle and spearmint uplifts and energises. Love it & full size is now on the to buy list.

Josh Rosebrook's Ethereal Botanical Fragrance available at a beautiful world is unlike anything I have in my collection. This was a little tester sample with two tries. It has notes which evolve and change over wear but include things like geranium, rose, blue chamomile and rosemary.

For evening time, Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax rollerball helps to relax and unwind at the end of the day. With restful oils of Vetiver, Chamomile and Sandalwood it's the perfect bedtime treat.

What's your favourite travel treats?

*complimentary

Shopping my Stash #88

These are the products I've been reaching for this week:

ROHR Remedy Desert Lime Body Lotion - this beautiful lotion from Australia is just gorgeous and is the perfect late spring and summertime treat. See my review HERE and buy yours at LT Linens HERE.

I'm a huge Madara fan and this duo - Time Miracle Cellular Repair Serum and Total Renew Night Cream are just fab. They firm and regenerate the skin. Pick yours up at Love Lula.

The Jo Malone Grapefruit Cologne mini is the ideal size to pop in my handbag. I love it's zesty notes.

Daisy & Mallow Jasmine & Chamomile Facial Nectar 50ml - is a delight. It deeply but gently cleanses the skin ridding it of make up and daily grime. Pick yours up HERE.

Make Skincare's Lip Revive* is a real treat for the lips (I've also used it on fly-aways). See my review HERE.

I just love Antonia Burrell's incredibly good Bright+Light Eye Cream*. See my review HERE.

What have you been using lately?

*complimentary

April Empties

Here's what I've been using up this month (I think this is the smallest amount of empties ever!) I'm not going to use up any more so here goes..

Evolve Organic Beauty Citrus Blend Aromatic Wash 60ml - I loved this uplifting wash in my morning shower. Would buy full size.

Make Skincare Hands Replenish Pink Grapefruit Cream 15ml* - a beautiful hand cream which I just loved. See my review HERE. Full size is firmly on the to-buy list.

Evolve Organic Beauty African Wash sample size - Again, this was gorgeous and I'd buy full size. I love when you order directly from Evolve you can chose 3 sample sizes with each order.

Daisy & Mallow Nourishing Winter Body Oil 50ml - lovely to use and I'd buy again next winter - it's currently still on sale though. It has a base of sesame, coconut and rosehip and is scented with Grandiflorium jasmine, cardamon, clove bud, vanilla and sandalwood. I've now got my eye on the oil for Spring.

Optiat The Hungover Coffee Scrub Potent Peppermint 90g - I loved this uplifting and awakening scrub which had an intense coffee/mint scent. Perfect scrubbiness and have since bought another. See my review HERE.

Carina Organics Pink Grapefruit Hand Soap 360ml* - this was a great hand soap which smells of zesty pink grapefruit. See my review HERE. Will definitely buy at some point.

Resultime Hydrating Cream 15ml - I've really enjoyed this cream, so much so that I picked up another one recently. It has a fresh scent, absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling deeply nourished. Huge fan.

Sachet samples (I'm trying to use these more often along with perfume vials):

pai Head to Toe Buriti Balm 2ml - this seemed nice but it was such a teeny sample so only got one use.

AA Skincare Ylang Ylang, Argan & Rosemary Conditioning Shampoo 8ml - nice to use. Got two uses out of these sachets. AA Skincare Amla & Clary Sage Rejuvenating Shampoo 8ml, again nice to use. This one was my favourite. I recently reviewed the matching conditioners (link).

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Serum 2ml - this seemed nice enough but again, quite small sachet.

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream 2ml - a nice cream which absorbed quickly but I probably wouldn't buy.

Chantecaille BioLifting Neck Cream 2ml - I absolutely loved this. The gel textured cream absorbed instantly and it felt like an expensive product (on looking full size costs £152!) Nice to try but way out of my price range (I did however get 3 uses from the sachet).

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque 1.5ml - this was great on my shiny t-zone. Would buy full size.

What have you been using up this month?

*complimentary

Daisy & Mallow Botanical Apothecary

I first tried Daisy & Mallow last year when I purchased their Rose & Mallow Facial Scrub from Sujet de Vert (review).

I've been testing out some other products in the range and have found them equally as good. The products are made with love and care by Jane.

The products are simply but beautifully packaged with all packaging being recyclable.

Jane sent me a sample of her Wildflower Cleansing Grains* which gently exfoliate the skin. They contain ingredients such as Oats to soothe and exfoliate, Rose, Calendula, Cornflower and Chamomile flowers tone, soothe and balance. Marshmallow root softens and heals while French red clay draws out impurities.

To use: add water to a small spoonful of grains in the palm of your hand and mix it into a paste. Massage onto the skin before rinsing. It can also be used as a mask leaving on the skin for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. It is a bit of a faff to mix it up but it leaves the skin glowing and healthy.

Nourishing Facial Serum* (10ml rollerball - £8) deeply nourishes and regenerates the skin. It's packed full of good things for the skin including Rosehip Seed, Jojoba, Argan, Moringa, Evening Primrose, Pomegranate Seed, Tamanu Seed, Sea Buckthorn and Wild Carrot Seed Oil. 

To use: massage a small amount into the skin. I love this! It revitalises and treats and is great for ageing skin leaving it glowing.

Oh this tea! Is quite wonderful and probably the best Chai* (60g - £5.50) I've ever tasted! The addition of rose petals takes this tea to another level! It contains Ceylon and Assam Black Tea, Cinnamon, Cardamon, Rose Petals, Pink Peppercorns, Ginger Root and Vanilla Pod.

To use: warm a couple of teaspoons in half milk, half water for a warming rosy cuppa.

I adore baths and these salts take bathing to another level! I can't actually find the Ylang Ylang and Cardamon Salts* online any more (but they were gorgeous). The Fir Forest Bath Salts* (140g - £4.50 - 2 baths) make for a bracing soak. The scent is woody and balsamic and these help the body relax. Great to use after exercise or a hike as they ease aches and pains.

To use: pour half the pack into your bath before jumping in.

I've loved all of these products and have my eye on a couple of others in the range.  Have you tried any Daisy & Mallow products? If so, what's your favourite?

*complimentary 

October: Lately I've been Loving

This super-cute crocheted cactus made by Emily Sian Hart I just couldn't resist and it makes me happy every time I look at it.

Attending the amazing Portobello Book Festival and catching up with friends both old and new, buying some books and getting them signed. Day was made!

Being able to try out cult product Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask*, their fabulous Reincarnation Facial Exfoliator* (which is the best exfoliator I've ever used) and their soothing and nourishing Lip Balm with Lime Leaf & Cocoa Butter*. Full reviews will be on the blog soon. You can pick all these up at Love Lula.

I've totally fallen for the whole Daisy & Mallow range. This tea*..oh wow..amazing!  It's now my No.1 chai!

I picked up this gorgeous coffee table book which is full of interesting ideas and projects at newish Edinburgh store Elk & Wolf. Can't wait to go back and pick up some Christmas presents. They stock a beautiful and unique range of homewares, jewellery and candles.

Exciting times! My YOU Beauty Advent Calendar landed! It's now hidden away until the 1st December.

Being one of the first to try the latest launch by bodhi & birch. The new range of body oils* are absolutely exquisite. See my review HERE. Sicilian Rose is my favourite!

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

Daisy & Mallow: Rose & Mallow Facial Scrub & A Surprise Parcel

I purchased Daisy & Mallow's Rose & Mallow Face Scrub (60ml - £7.50) from Sujet de Vert. The range is hand made with love by Jayne who lives in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland.

I love the simple but pretty packaging which is recyclable. See the range of beauty products and teas HERE.

The scrub exfoliates the skin gently and is suitable for sensitive and mature skin types. It has a delicious rosey floral scent and the texture of a thick "jam".

Made with oats, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, rose petals, marshmallow root, chamomile flowers, violet leaves, calendula flowers, honey, rose absolute, Vitamin E and vegetable glycerin - it really is good enough to eat!

Soothing, softening, hydrating and toning with a gentle scrubbiness. It's the perfect product for a relaxing pampering session.

To use: put a small amount of scrub in the palm of your hand. Add a little water to make a paste before massaging onto the skin in circular motions before rinsing. You can also use as a mask leaving it on your skin for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.

I received a gorgeous parcel* from Jayne yesterday! Sure lifted my Monday blues! The tea is as gorgeous as it looks. Reviews will follow shortly - I can't wait to try everything. Thanks again Jayne!

Have you used any Daisy & Mallow products? If so, what's your favourites?

*complimentary - sent for review