January Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here are my January empties:

Faith in Nature Grapefruit & Orange Shower Gel & Foam Bath 100ml - this came in the Holland & Barrett Advent Calendar and I really liked it's zesty freshness. It was great for a wake up call in my morning shower. Would buy full size.

Buff Natural Body Care NAKED Sea Salt Body Scrub Lovers' Blend 60ml - I absolutely loved this beautiful scented scrub which had the perfect amount of scrubbiness. See my review HERE. Sure to pick this up again.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion 100ml - is one of my favourite bath time products. Luckily, just received another in January's Love Lula Beauty Box. See my review HERE.

Ishga Invigorating Body Oil 100ml* - I absolutely loved this! See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy at some point when my body oil stash reduces a bit.

AA Skincare Green Tea & Aloe Vera Soothing Cleansing Wipes - I don't use wipes very often but find them great to use after a night out or on holiday. I found these ones very gentle and I'll pick them up again.

Organic Trevarno Camomile & Lavender Bath & Body Oil 30ml which came in November's Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. I loved it so much I rushed out and bought full size. See my thoughts HERE. I'll pick it up again as I love it!

And...I finished two perfumes this month:

Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent EdP 50ml - which I simply love. I picked up a mini in their sale but I'll definitely buy full size soon (it's up there in my top 5). 

And another favourite Shay & Blue's Dandelion Fig 30ml (both hubby and friend Julie picked me up bottles for Christmas so I'm well stocked up - thanks both!) See my mini review HERE.

What have you been using up this month? 

*complimentary

My Top Three Hand Care Products: Winter

Around this time of year my hands get so dry they need all the help they can get!  These are my top three hand care products for winter. I've chosen one for every kind of budget from super expensive to budget friendly.

Pure & Light Organic Essential Hand Cream - Yarrow with Lavender (£39 - 75ml)* - this is one of the most luxurious hand creams I've ever used (and the most expensive!)  Packed full of Shea butter, Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Calendula, Sweet Almond, Avocado and Apricot Kernal Oils it super moisturises dry and cracked hands leaving them velvety soft and lightly scented (herbal lavender).  I can honestly say this is one of the nicest hand creams I've ever used.  Buy it from Janna Organics or direct - see here.

bodhi & birch Lime Blossom Protecting Hand Serum (£22 - 30ml)* - as you'll know I've got much love for the bodhi & birch brand. This serum is fantastic. See my review here.

My third choice is the very lovely Faith in Nature Coconut Hand Cream (£6.39 - 50ml) - I pick mine up at Earthy Portobello.  A super nourishing hand cream which smells of coconut - what's not to love! 

What's your hand care saviour at the moment?

*PR samples

August: Lately I've been Loving

I had a great time at Foodies Festival at Inverleith Park at the beginning of the month. The sun shone and the food and drink available was fantastic. I even got to meet the lovely Fiona from Sciolti Botanical Chocolates which was a real treat in itself!  Of course I had to buy some chocolate too....

Also in the pic are The Marshmallow Lady Prosecco & Rose Marshmallows topped with rose petals (I love these and pick them up whenever I see them!)

I also had some tasty food at Bistro Moderne including a delicious perfect for summer time pudding. It was scrumptious!

I am totally obsessed with coconut water at the moment and this is my favourite brand.

Staying on the coconut theme...I picked up these Faith in Nature coconut products from Earthy Portobello. They stock a wide range of natural and organic skin and bodycare. These are gorgeous. Super moisturising and smell delicious. Great value at under a fiver each. Know I'll be buying again and again..

I came across a fab little shop in Tollcross in Edinburgh called Dandelion Edinburgh which sells fairtrade gifts, skincare, clothes, homewares and accessories. It really is lovely - know I'll be stopping by to pick up some gifts. I did treat myself to a hand-crafted geranium & rose petal soap from Organica J which smells gorgeous! Also love the homemade gift bags which are made out of old magazines!

What have you been loving this month?

Just Be Nourished Body Butter, Beauty by Lime & Earthy Portobello

Just Be Nourished Body Butter (£19.95 for 200ml) is a rich and super moisturising body butter scented with geranium, frankincense and rose absolute. Gail used to make this exclusively for a beauty salon in town.  I keep telling her she should add it to her online shop as it is simply gorgeous and it smells divine!

Made with soya wax, coconut oil, jojoba oil, geranium, frankincense and rose absolute essential oils.

Rub a small amount between the palms until it melts and apply generously to the skin twice a day.

You can see the range of body butters currently available here

Follow Gail on Twitter @JustBeBotanical 

Facebook see here

I popped along to the launch of Beauty by Lime at Earthy in Portobello a few weeks ago and caught up with Gail - her products are available at the salon (which is at the front of the shop).  Barbara is the Beauty Therapist (when I go for a treatment I'll take more pics!)

Earthy is a lovely shop with food, beauty, plants, gardening, cards etc.  There are three of these fab shops throughout Edinburgh - see their locations here. 

In the shop some of the beauty products stocked are Lavera, Faith in Nature, Burt's Bees, Miss Ballantyne soaps and creams among others - I reviewed Miss Ballantyne's Organic Rose & Geranium Soap here.

Follow Beauty by Lime on Twitter @LimePortobello 

Follow Earthy on Twitter @Earthy_Porty 

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

Samples #8

My last samples update was at the beginning of February!  You can see the post here.

Here are my thoughts:

Tea Tree & Peppermint Intensive Treatment Foot Pack - 1 treatment - these are foot shaped and enriched with the treatment. Smelt nice and were cooling on the feet but not sure if they did much.

Lavera Balancing Face Mask 10ml - simply loved this mask which was scented with ginger, mango seed butter and calendula.  Got two uses out of the sachet and would buy again.

L'Oreal Everpure Shampoo & Conditioner both 10ml - enjoyed using both these.  Would perhaps buy full size.

Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm 2g - this was gorgeous!  I used it as a cleanser but it can also be used as a intensive balm or exfoliant.  I got 5 uses out of this tiny sample.  Would definitely buy this.

Sisley Moisturiser with Cucumber 4ml - I wasn't wowed by this.  It was ok.  There are other Sisley moisturisers that I prefer.  

Beemy Honey Moisturising Cream 5ml - I just didn't like the scent or texture of this cream.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Lotion 4ml - simply loved this and would purchase full size. A nice light lotion which absorbed quickly.

Elemental Herbology Cool & Clear Facial Cleanser 3ml - this seemed a nice cleanser but as it was such a small sachet it was hard to get more than one use from it.

Cotswold Collection Jasmine & Orange Blossom Hand Cream 5ml - I seem to have thrown this sachet out with my empties.  This was lovely, supermoisturising and smelt gorgeous.

Comfort Zone Tranquility Cream - this was lovely.  It was quite a rich cream with a delicate scent.

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub - a nice scrub. Love Dermalogica skincare.  I think I just prefer the daily microfoliant.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ 2.5ml - absolutely love this! My skin just lapped it up.  I have acquired a few of the mini bottles to keep me going.

REN Keep Young & Beautiful Serum 3ml - I just couldn't use this as I found the smell of it a bit off-putting.  A shame as I really rate REN products highly.

Evolve Protein Build Conditioner 7ml - this was nice with a light scent.  Would maybe buy full size.

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment 8ml - definitely an acquired scent! I got a few uses out of the sachet.  Liked how soft and moisturised it left my hair feeling.  Would maybe buy.

Avon Advanced Techniques Moroccan Oil Leave in Treatment - I found this to be a bit heavy for my hair and I wasn't keen on the scent.

The samples I've chosen for week #9 are (and my sample stash is going down!)

Beauty Lab Micropolish Dermabrasion 1.5ml
Murad Rejuvenating Lift for Neck and Decollete 3.7ml
Elemis Pro-Intense Lift Effect 2ml
Belnatur Oxy-Nutrigen Regenerating Cream 
Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser 5ml
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm 5ml
Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator 3ml
Belnatur hydro-nourishing Comfort Cream
Sarah Chapman Dynamic Defence 2ml 
Laboratories Luzern Pure Cleansing Gelee 2ml
Belnatur Balance Cream
Faith in Nature Pomegranate & Rooibos Shampoo & Conditioner (both 7ml)
Eve Lom Rescue Mask 15ml
Yonka Vital Defence Intense Hydration Cream 6ml

Have you used any of these products?

A surprise present from Nardine at Live..Laugh...Love

Nardine at Live...Laugh....Love loves to surprise her friends with nice treats.  So imagine my delight when she sent me this lovely box of goodies!

ooh! She sent me my favourite Gielly Green products - classic shampoo, conditioner and body wash.  Two of Trilogy's Rosehip oil antioxidant+ 2.5ml - another product I love.  A Bamford Geranium bath oil - I love this stuff!  Faith in Nature Shampoo & Conditioner sachets - a brand I've heard of but not tried any of their products, a Dr Bragi Bio Marine Exfoliant sachet and a packet of Premium Java Tea bags.

Thanks Nardine I love it all!

See Nardine's blog here.  Follow her on Twitter @Miss_Nardine_rdine