*Guiltless Skin: Illume Brightening Serum & Timeless Daily Moisturiser

*gifted/AD As you'll know I'm a huge fan of Guiltless Skin's beautiful range. See previous reviews HERE and HERE.

I've been testing out their Illume Brightening Serum (£26 - 30ml) and Timeless Daily Moisturiser (£20 - 50ml) and can honestly say both are fantastic! (I've used the photos from the website as my bottles are from the old branding - see bottom photo).

Illume Brightening Serum adds a glowing luminosity to the skin, is lightweight and absorbs instantly. Formulated with Vitamin B3 which is a powerful anti-inflammatory which helps to strengthen the skin's barrier, reduce redness and pores. It helps to protect the skin from urban pollution. Hyaluronic Acid revives and improves elasticity. Organic Lingonberry extract is rich in antioxidants and will help with uneven pigmentation while Organic Pomegranate extract stimulates elasticity and encourages cell turnover.

To use: apply a few drops of this fragrance free serum to cleansed face and neck. Gently pat around the eye area. Follow with moisturiser or oil.

My skin's been loving this skin loving serum. It's looking brighter with fine lines and wrinkles plumped and it has a glowy healthy look.

Timeless Daily Moisturiser is lightweight and instantly mattifies the skin making it perfect to use before applying make up.  Formulated with skin loving Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil which helps to retain moisture, provide skin protection and stimulate cell production. Kalahari Watermelon Seed Oil balances, softens and smoothes. Vitamin B3 strengthens and helps protect the skin from UV, blue light damage and Urban pollution while Hyaluronic Acid locks in hydration and revives.

To use: smooth one pump onto the face and neck after using Illume or Hydrate Serums. 

I've been impressed with this lightweight and effective moisturiser which is perfect for combination skin types.

What are your favourite products from the Collection?

Giveaway: Guiltless Skin: Nourish Organic Body Oil with Citrus Fruits - it's over!

This beautiful Nourish Organic Body Oil with Citrus Fruits* (£22) from Guiltless Skin featured in my Top Products of 2018 see HERE and read my review HERE (please note the body oil contains walnut oil).

It's such a gorgeous product and Rupa, the founder is very kindly offering one of my readers their very own bottle. The packaging recently changed and is simple yet slick and up-to-date. All you need to do to get your mitts on one is enter using the rafflecopter below (UK only). Good luck!

*giveaway prize very generously supplied by Guiltless Skin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box: December: Merry Christmas

It's always an exciting day when my Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box arrives! Inside are 6 treats including a delicious looking bar of chocolate!

I'm currently testing Guiltless Skin's Illume Moisture Serum (30ml - £26) so know already this is a fab item and great addition to the box. It's also a full size item.

KONJAC Sponge Blitzen's Nose (£6.99) is a fun but useful item. It contains oil-absorbing bamboo charcoal which will be great to use on my oily T-zone especially around my nose.

I've had a Help Me Organics Candle before which was lovely. This one - Help Me Get into the Festive Spirit (£7.50 for 75g) has a gorgeous festive scent with Fir, Clove, Ginger, Sweet Orange and Lemon in a soy wax base. I'm looking forward to burning it!

ClockFace Beauty is a new to me brand and inside is their Enhanced Recovery Body Oil Spray with Clary Sage & Geranium 30ml (£25) I've already tried this out and I adore the scent. A review will follow!

I'm a huge bar of soap fan and inside is Christmas Cwtch (£4.50) from Celtic Herbal which has a delicious cinnamon/orange scent.

The final item is an edible - delicious looking vegan Chilli Dark Chocolate from Choc Affair which is worth £2.75.

As ever, it's a well thought out and good value box. What do you think of the contents? Do you subscribe?

November: Lately I've been Loving

Here's what I've been loving in November:

The brilliant sequel to Displacement by Anne Stormont. I just totally loved both books. See my review HERE (and there's going to be a book #3 which I'm really excited about!)

Coming across this beautiful new brand* via my Beauty Bible email subscription - Wild & Precious.  The products are gorgeous. Expect a review soon!

Finishing my challenge over on Goodreads of 100 Books (although I'll keep going until the year end!)

Discovering Blue Labelle have a gorgeous new soap range which smell incredible - of course I had to pick up a few. Reviews will be up soon! Really wish there was scratch and sniff - the scents are exquisite (prices range from £2 upwards).

I've been testing out some more products* from Guiltless Skin including the new moisturiser - Timeless Daily Moisturiser. It's a really lovely and effective range. Expect reviews soon! See my previous reviews HERE and HERE.

Real Rocky followed me on Twitter and then mentioned they could be purchased at my local gift shop COVE so on Friday I popped round and picked up a couple of small pieces.

Totally delicious and I highly recommend - see the online shop HERE. You'll also find them opposite Edinburgh Uni Library on George Square.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

Guiltless Skin: Nourish Organic Body Oil with Citrus Fruits

I've been testing out Guiltless Skin's gorgeous Nourish Organic Body Oil with Citrus Fruits (£26 - 100ml)* which is made with certified organic oils and is plant based, Vegan and cruelty free.

Formulated with skin loving oils including Pomegranate Seed (regenerating and promotes elasticity), Pumpkin Seed (high in Zinc, helps to firm, tone and tighten) Walnut (for soft and supple skin) and Camelina Seed (rich in Omegas 3 & 6 and helps improve elasticity) and the body oil is infused with zesty organic Bergamot and Sweet Orange Essential Oils. 

To use: massage a few drops (recyclable pump action bottle) onto damp or dry skin in circular motions.

My thoughts? I absolutely love this rich and luxurious dry oil which deeply hydrates the skin leaving it delicately scented and nourished - it's truly beautiful! Pick yours up HERE.

See my previous Guiltless Skin review HERE.

*sent to me for review (I love it!)

Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box: February: Love Yourself

So much excitement in my house when my Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box lands! February's theme is "Love Yourself" and is packed full of wonderful things. Isn't it gorgeous. Founder, Paula carefully curates each box with love and care (it's my favourite beauty box and such a treat each month).

There is one totally new to me brand this month and four brands I've tried before. There are three new to me products and one product I've tried a sample of. 

And now for a closer look...

From Inner Senses there is a bespoke Limited Edition Sensual Body Oil 50ml which has been created especially for Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box (how nice is that!) It has notes of Ylang Ylang, Clary Sage and Patchouli. I'm looking forward to trying this! I'm a huge fan of their gorgeous Rose Precious Face Oil* (see my review HERE).

From new to me brand, Seed of Life Holistic Health is their Eternal Rose Bathing Salts 100g (worth £3) which are a luxurious blend of Epsom and Himalayan Pink Salts and essential oils of rosa damascena, neroli, grapefruit, bergamot, palmarosa and frankincense. Can't wait to have a soak.

Exciting to see a Make Skincare product nestling inside! I'm a huge fan of the brand having reviewed their Face, Hands & Feet Skincare Set II* and Lip Revive* (HERE) and their Face Glow* (HERE).

I'm looking forward to trying their Face Refresh Floral Mist & Toner (100ml - £10) which can be used as a toner or to spritz and refresh the skin. It smells beautiful. A review will follow.

From Juno Skincare is their Illume Lip Glaze (full size - £16.50) which I've previously tried a sample of. You can see my mini review HERE.

The final item is from Guiltless Skin - Rosehip Cleansing Gel (50ml - £12). I recently tried a trio from the brand* (REVIEW) which I enjoyed so I'm looking forward to trying out this cleansing gel.

As ever, there are generous discount code from the brands. Be quick and sign up if you want March's BOX.

There are a couple of days left to enter my GIVEAWAY to win your very own now sold out box - UK only!

*complimentary

Review: Guiltless Skin

I've recently been trying some products from Guiltless Skin, which is certified Organic by The Soil Association. 

The range is hand made in small batches in Essex by founder, Rupa who sources ingredients from companies which have taken steps to demonstrate sustainable practice. The range is 100% Vegan, they are registered with the Vegan Society and PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies Programme. They also support the work of volunteers at the Essex Wildlife Trust and Save the Rhino Trust.

Since I've been testing the packaging/sizing has changed for the cleansing gel (into an airless pump) and the serum into a (bottle with a pipette).

Charcoal Orange Cleansing Gel (£20 - 100g)* is just a fantastic product. It comes out the bottle black! It's ideal to use for daily detoxifying and is super gentle on the skin (it's also got a delicious orange scent). Active charcoal draws out dirt and impurities leaving the skin feeling clean and fresh.

To use: apply a few drops to damp palm and massage over the skin before rinsing (I like to use this in my morning shower).

Hydrate Moisture Serum with Hyaluronic Acid (currently out of stock)* give the skin a "hydrating drink". The serum contains organic Rose Water, 1% Hyaluronic Acid and organic cucumber acid. It firms, plumps and helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

To use: apply two pumps to cleansed skin. Follow with Face Oil of choice.

Newest product is Revive Organic Face Oil (£30 - 30ml)* and is 100% organic. It's the ultimate powerhouse product for mature, tired and dry skin types and will help to restore radiance and vitality to the skin.

It's packed full of beautiful oils which care and nurture the skin - Prickly Pear, Sacha Inchi, Nigella, Perilla Seed and Pomegranate Seed. It will help to address loss of elasticity, dryness and redness. 

The oil (which is unscented, so to be useful to all skin types) has an earthy type of scent absorbs quickly leaving the skin feeling comfortable, soothed and cared for.

To use: apply a few drops to the skin, massaging lightly. This is best used as a daytime oil.

I've been pretty impressed with all three products I've tried and would recommend them. Have you tried any products by Guiltless Skin?

*complimentary

Christmas Gift Ideas

Here are some Christmas gift ideas:

From bodhi & birch their fabulous new Limited Edition Bath & Shower Oil Collection (3 x 15ml - £30) which consists of three great scents - all very different - so you can bathe or shower depending on your mood! Inside is Rosa Verde, a renewing blend which is formulated with Rose, Lime, Geranium & Frankincense. Jasmin de Lune (and my favourite) is relaxing. It's a blend of Jasmine, High Altitude Lavender and Vertiver. The final bath & shower oil is La Botanica which revives and detoxes. It's a blend of Lemon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Juniper Berry. Pick yours up HERE.

From Tropic Skincare I highly recommend their gorgeous Whipped Body Velvet (200ml - £28)* a deliciously fluffy and light as air body treat formulated with Madagascan rarabe butter and baobab oil which deeply nourishes the skin.  The scent is just divine with Tahitian and Bourbon vanilla extracts. 

This Christmas scented candle "Christmas Comfort" by beatitude (200g - £30)* is just Christmas in a jar. It combines the original "comfort" geranium, clementine, lavender and eucalyptus with cinnamon, clove and cardamon.

Sukin have a great range of gift sets. I reviewed their Love your Skin 3 step Face Kit* (£20). See my review HERE.

I love this little beautifully boxed set of minis from Willowberry. It's a great try me set and fantastic value at £30.95. I reviewed the products recently and loved them. See HERE.

Micheline Arcier have introduced a beautiful range of reed diffusers which I can imagine scent your home to perfection! They retail at £40-£45. I recently reviewed their Harmonie Dream Drops (15ml - £19)* which help to ensure a restful night's sleep - see my review HERE.

From Green People there are some beautiful gift sets - see HERE. I've been trying out latest launch which celebrates Green People's 20th Anniversary. Their Damask Rose Facial Oil (30ml - £29)* is simply divine (expect a review shortly).

As you'll know I'm a huge fan of Zing Organics. They have a range of Christmas gifts which appear on the website. My favourite is Winter Glow Skin Hamper (£49) which contains Eco Marine Algae Facial Cleansing Masque (review) & Velveteen Facial Serum (review) along with a bamboo face cloth and a couple of wooden spatulas (and a miniature cone found on the forest floor!)

A.S APOTHECARY Frankincense, Bergamot and Cedar Oil Scented Candle in a hand thrown Ceramic Pot (£42) which sounds absolutely heavenly. I also love the hand thrown pot!

I'm a huge fan of [M] Botanicals (especially their gorgeous Rose Oud Soy Wax Candle (REVIEW) and love their candle set which contains 4 candles - Rose Oud, Warm Lemongrass, Wild Grown Mint and Sour Plum - £50).

I'm currently testing out these products from Guiltless Skin (expect a review in January!) The set contains Charcoal Cleansing Gel 30g, Hydrate Intense Moisture Serum 30ml and Revive Organic Facial Oil 30ml along with a cotton travel bag. This set is brilliant value for money at £46. See the others available HERE.

Are any of these gifts on your wishlist?

*complimentary

Skin Organics Beauty Box: August: Self Care

When founder, Paula got in touch and asked if I'd like to review August's Skin Organics Beauty Box* I jumped at the chance! 

The box had been on my radar for a while as I know fellow beauty lovers like The Beauty Bank and the40somethingbeautyaddict are fans.

I felt like a kid in a sweetie shop when I opened up the box and discovered two totally new to me brands and a brand I'd heard of but not tried anything from before. 

August's theme is Self Care and inside are five organic and 100% natural beauty treats. Inside each box is a mixture of full and travel sized skincare, bodycare and beauty products. Subscribe for £21 plus £3.95 P&P a month, 3 month pre-pay £60 plus P&P or 6 months pre-pay at £114 plus P&P - see more info HERE.

WOW!  

The three new to me brands are -

Pure Purpose, helpmeorganics and Guiltless Skin (which I was aware of but hadn't tried any of their products before). This is the kind of beauty box I'm after as new brands always excite me! I'll do fuller reviews of the products once I've had the chance to test them out.

From Pure Purpose there is a Turmeric & Orange Coffee Body Scrub & Mask 40g (RRP £4.90). I'm a huge fan of coffee scrubs so looking forward to testing this out.

From Corinne Taylor there are Balance Himalayan Bath Salts 70g (RRP £4.95). I've tried the Recharge salts before and loved them. Balance is scented with Rose Geranium, Cypress and Clary Sage.

Isla Apothecary's Reset Ritual Pulse Point Therapy 10ml (RRP £12) has been on the wishlist a while. Everything I've tried so far from the brand I've loved. An organic infusion of Roman Chamomile, Eucalyptus and Lavender calms and helps with stress and anxiety as well as helping to clarify muddled thoughts. 

From new to me brand helpmeorganics there is a room spray "Help me, it's way past my bedtime" 40ml (RRP £6.50) which helps to relax and calm before bed (I love the quirky name and look of the product). It contains melissa, lavender, eucalyptus and ginger essential oils.

The final item is from Guiltless Skin (a brand I've heard of) Organic Face Oil with Moringa, Rosehip & Argan Oil 30ml (RRP £18) which I'm looking forward to testing out.

There are also discount codes to use with each product - which is a lovely added extra. Do you subscribe to the Skin Organics Beauty Box?

*complimentary - sent for review