The Nature of Beauty by Imelda Burke

I pre-ordered a copy of Imelda's (founder of the amazing little Marylebone green beauty shop Content Beauty & Wellbeing). Pre-orders came with a lovely sample pack.  

I've only had a flip through the book so far but I'll review it in a monthly book post. I do love a signed copy also.. and if you are in London you must go and visit the shop.

pic taken September 2014

A great sample pack! I was very excited to see a pot of May Lindstrom's The Blue Cocoon (I've been wanting to try it like forever!) and Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's newish Botanical Cream Deodorant.

The rest are great picks too however: 

RMS The Ultimate Make Up Remover Wipe (these are fab)

Weleda Calendula Nappy Cream (will pass to a pal)

Yoni Tampon (made from organic cotton)

Vapour Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfecting Primer (excited to try)

Dr Alkaitis Organic Ageless Facial Elixir (not tried much from this brand before and this is a new product)

Dafna's Beyond Skin Deep Moisture (I'm currently testing a couple of products from Dafna's gorgeous range)

Weleda Skin Food (love this)

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Booster Serum (looking forward to trying as not tried much from this brand - keen to try their make up soon!)

Skin & Tonic Calm Balm (huge fan of this brand and the product)

And yet more goodies:

John Masters Organics Rose & Apricot Hair Milk (I love this - see my review HERE) and their 100% Argan Oil (which is a new try).

The final item was a cute little notebook and pencil.

Did you pick up a book with the very generous free sample set?

February Empties

Here's what I've been using up in February:

CIME Daisy Delight Brightening Day & Night Cream 2ml sachet* - this was lovely to use. Very light in texture with a floral scent. When I'm finally needing a day or night cream I'll definitely pick this up.

Beatitude Joy Body Oil sample - a beautiful rich oil with an uplifting scent. I'd definitely buy full size. See my review HERE.

ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanse 15ml* - lovely to use with a beautiful scent. A real luxe product.  It featured in Little Treats #9. When I eventually need a cleanser it's one I'd buy.

Olivine Love+Salt Beach Hair - Body Mist 60ml - this came in one of the ABW boxes. Loved the coconut scent. Mainly used it as a body mist. Would maybe buy.

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Replenishing Body Lotion 50ml - this came in one of the Advent Calendars. Was lovely to use with a delicious fig scent. I'd buy this.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue 1ml sachet - I absolutely loved this eye cream. Full size is on the wishlist. However, I also tried the Magic Night Cream 1.5ml sachet and I wasn't so impressed (didn't like the scent or feel on my skin) however I did love how my skin felt and looked in the morning! 

Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts 100g - a staple in my stash. I'm well stocked up for now but these will be bought again.

Therapie Cherish Skin Repair Serum 30ml - I've used this beauty before and full size is now on the wishlist. Every Therapie product I've tried I've loved.

May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden Botanical Mist 100ml - I absolutely loved this. See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy this again - maybe when there's another Cult Beauty GWP.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil 110ml - this is one of my favourite bath oils (ever). I've got one I got a Christmas time just opened. 

Jo Loves Pomelo 2ml sample vial - I absolutely adore this beautiful scent. Full size is on the wishlist.

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne 1.5ml - a pretty scent but not my favourite from Jo Malone so probably wouldn't buy.

Spiezia Facial Cleanser Travel Size tin 10ml - one of the very first balm type cleansers I used. See my review HERE. Will buy again at some point.

REN Oat & Bay Conditioning Shampoo 50ml - this was nice to use. Would maybe buy full size.

COLAB Dry Shampoo Monacco 50ml - found this dry shampoo to be really effective. I'd buy again.

Aveda Stressfix Soaking Salts 170g - huge fan of these calming salts. Will definitely buy again. See my review HERE.

Freyaluna Rose Petal Tub Tea - this little single use tea bag is lovely. It comes in the exquisite Rose Petal Gift Set.

Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Wash 40ml - this was lovely. I've got another one in my stash but it's a body wash I'd buy.

Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Cream 15ml - I simply loved this day cream so much so I've ordered a full size pot.

4160Tuesdays London 1969 EDP 2.25ml sample vial - this came in the 4160Tuesdays Advent Calendar. It's one of my favourites and I've since bought a bigger size.  Next time I need it I'll be buying full size. I just love it.

Omnisens Delice Passion Massage Oil 15ml - this was nice to use with a sweet scent. Would maybe buy full size.

Therapie Boost Hair & Body Wash 50ml - a refreshing wash which has a beautiful scent. See my review HERE. I've got another which I'm saving for holidays.

Abahna Frangipani & Orange Blossom Hand Wash 250ml - lovely to use and leaves the hands smelling gorgeous.

What have you been using up this month?

*PR samples

May Lindstrom: The Jasmine Garden

I've wanted to try The Jasmine Garden Botanical Mist ever since it was launched. I picked it up earlier in the month when Cult Beauty were offering a great GWP - see what I bought HERE.

I can quite honestly say I'm smitten with this gorgeous mist. It smells wonderful and makes the skin look dewy and refreshed. I know it will be a repeat purchase.

Handcrafted using the finest exotic and nutrient rich organic ingredients which are sourced and harvested sustainably and mindfully. Products are cruelty free and vegan.  Formulated, hand blended and personally filled in May's private studio.

The mist (£46 - 100ml) has a beautiful jasmine, cocoa and vanilla scent so delicious it's almost good enough to eat! The mist calms, restores elasticity, refreshes, soothes, replenishes and is addictive! 

To use: mist over cleansed skin to seal in hydration and nourish. Can also be used to set make-up or throughout the day to refresh and revive your skin and your mood.

Have you tried this?  What's your favourite May Lindstrom product?

Cult Beauty: Purchases

Last week it was Cult Beauty's 7th Birthday and they offered numerous money off deals as well as an amazing goody bag with a £95 spend (and the goody bag was worth over £170). I decided I wasn't having it...and of course changed my mind! I chose to buy three products which had been on my wishlist in order to get my hands on that goody bag...

I've only recently become a huge de Mamiel fan having first tried Salvation Body Oil (link) and then the amazing Spring Facial Oil (review) and currently using Summer Facial Oil (which is a total joy..review to come).  So I picked up the de Mamiel Altitude Oil (£26 - 10ml) which is perfect to use for anxiety, travel or if you feel under the weather. Even smelling it straight from the bottle induces feelings of calm - full review to follow.

I also picked up Philip B's luxe Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse (£24 - 178ml). Huge fan of the brand having loved previous products from the range.  I mentioned the Katira Hair Masque here. Looking forward to trying.

My final item is the much longed for May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden (£46 - 100ml) which is simply heavenly and as good as I'd imagined it would be. The scent is exquisite and the mist leaves the skin feeling refreshed and glowy. Love!

The gift contains a wide selection of goodies:

d.j.v. Beautenizer Fibrewig - Full Size
NudeStix Lip & Cheek Pencil - Love - Full Size
Anastasia Beverley Hills mini Clear Brow Gel 
Zelens Z Matrix Energy & Moisture Infusion
Roloxin Lift Instant Smoothing Masque sachet
skyn ICELAND Glacial Cleansing Cloths
Beauty Blender Micro Mini & Cleanser
Odacite Hyperpigmentation Serum Concentrate sample
Sunday Riley Floral Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil
Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment
Alpha-H Daily Essentials Moisturiser SPF50
REN Flash Rinse One Minute Facial (Review)
kai Body Moisturiser (huge fan of the scent)
Make up bag 

Did you treat yourself too?

Spending Ban: Update 2

I failed on my ban last week and bought the SW Basics Discovery kit in the a beautiful world #PinkFriday sale. I bought one for me and one for my giveaway - see here.  The kits were reduced to £18 in the sale and I had a tenner worth of points making my purchase a bargainous £26 - so I don't feel too guilty!

Onto my wants this week...

I love the Content Curates kits having picked up the last few. Their New Year Collection is packed full of treats for the mind, body & skin as well as supplements and snacks.  Do you spot my favourite Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts in the kit? (these alone are worth £10). Making this a great value set.

My next want this week is the gorgeous sounding The Jasmine Garden Botanical Mist by May Lindstrom. A 100% natural botanical mist with a "heavenly scent". It calms, heals and restores elasticity leaving the skin dewy and radiant. Want!

I just spotted my next want last night! Shay & Blue Watermelons fragrance spray. It sounds delicious! With notes of Watermelon, Green Mandarin, Honeysuckle, Green Tea and Vetivert. It sounds heavenly and really refreshing and I can't wait to try! I'm going to pick up a sample soon!

My last want this week is Jo Loves A Fragrance Shot Box which contains 10 x 2ml samples of all of Jo's fragrances which is rather an indulgent treat. I'm already a huge fan of Pomelo - maybe after 31st January I'll splurge!

My January Love Lula box arrived last night (the only box I was keeping during my spending ban). It's a great value box and I will use everything but... there are only three items within I've not tried before (the Madara Dextox Mud Mask and the two Vinali products - body lotion & day cream sachet) so I'm cancelling my subscription for now.

If you are on a spending ban how's it going?  What are your thoughts on the contents of the Love Lula box this month?

Content Beauty & Wellbeing

Content Beauty & Wellbeing which is based in Marylebone, London offered us girls who'd been on #NoBuyJanuary a little discount as an incentive to treat ourselves. The code was valid a few days and on Saturday I decided I was going to have a little splurge. My items arrived super quick on Tuesday. Look how beautifully they are wrapped.

I bought Lina Hanson Global Body Serum (100ml - £50) - a 100% natural body oil which is packed full of nourishing oils and smells simply gorgeous! A full review to follow shortly. Ana, you are going to love this!

I also purchased a sample of Vamp NYC (£1.50) by Honoré Des Prés, a French Organic perfume with notes of Tuberose, Rum, Bourbon Vanilla, Benjoin, Peru Balm and Tolu Balm. This is simply lovely - it's quite heady and intensely floral (it reminds me a little bit of Fracas) and I'm definitely tempted by a full size bottle!

Content Beauty & Wellbeing offer a sample service - you select 4 products you'd like to try and Content will send you them in mini pots, with enough for at least two uses.  This great little service costs £3 see here.

I chose De Mamiel Rose Lip Balm (simply divine, the nicest rosey lip balm I've ever tried!), May Lindstrom The Honey Mud Cleansing Silk (which can be used as a cleanser or a mask), MV Organic Skincare Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser (this smells gorgeous and feels nice on the skin) and Oskia Renaissance Hand Cream (this is as lovely as I knew it would be!)

I was also sent some free samples!

Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil 2ml vial (excited to try this!), Twelve Beauty Rapid Eye Treatment 1ml sachet (not tried anything from this brand before) and absolution Le Serum sachet 1.5ml (never heard of this brand!)

I'm super pleased with my order and sure I'll be picking up some items next month...if not before!

See the website here

Follow on Twitter @beingcontent