November: Lately I've been Loving

The arrival of my Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar. I had lots of stresses regarding delivery and customer services weren't the best.  It is lovely but it will be my one and only online order from Liberty. The calendar itself is beautiful and the contents super luxe. Roll on 1st December!

My Love Me Beauty picks from The #Nightfall Edit included a second Kat Von D lipstick mini (1.2g). I absolutely love the shade magick - so wearable! My other picks were two Caudalie Hand Creams (each 30ml) and Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm (25ml). I also adore that make up bag it's so cute! 

Get £21 worth of credit if you use my code SANDR174.

My gin baubles arrived from Pickering's Gin each one is filled with 50ml of gin! Can't wait until I get my Christmas tree! (if they last that long!)

I swithered about getting the recent Cult Goody Bag - buying 3 Christmas presents softened the blow a bit! As ever the goody bag is jam packed full of beautiful things to try.

This book called Reunions by Chris Porsz is one of the most amazing things! He took photos in the 70s, 80s, and 90s in Peterborough and revisits the locations and people and takes the photo again in the current day. It's a must read. Every picture really does tell a story..pick yours up HERE.

I won tickets on a twitter competition to Edinburgh Foodies Festival - thanks again My Little Black Book! We had a great time sampling delicious food and drinks - some things which caught my eye (and tastebuds) - Narcissus Flowers, Loch Ness Gin, Mademoiselle Macaron (the rose ones are my favourite!) and Aelder Elixir. Roll on the summer one!

I've been testing out two new perfumes* from Ancienne Ambiance which are absolutely gorgeous - Colonia IX EdP which is a woody oriental and Colonia VIII EdP which is sweet/woody. Expect a full review shortly - I absolutely love both of them.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

YOU Beauty Discovery Box - Gift Guide - November

I think this is the best ever Members Box from YOU Beauty Discovery. I've been keen to try something from Skin & Tonic and I'm already a huge fan of Therapie's amazing Himalayan Detox Salts (100g) - see my review here.

Skin & Tonic's Steam Clean (15ml) is quite simply one of the best cleansing balms I've ever used! I was smitten after my first use (last night). You can use it to cleanse, as a moisturiser on dry skin patches, for lips, cuticles and flyaways.  Love it's spearmint scent too. Review up soon!

Our extra treats this month: Aduna Baobab Superfruit Powder which can be blended into smoothies or sprinked on cereal, porridge or yoghurt and two Merumaya sachets - Melting Cleansing Balm (this is lovely) and Iconic Youth Serum.

A brilliant box. What did you pick this month?

August Empties

I've got loads of empties this month!  So much so the box I hold them in was overflowing!  I'm not going to use anymore up so here goes...

001 Intensive Elixir Precious Finds 50ml* - I simply loved this. It featured in my top products of 2013. So sad to finish this. Another bottle now on my wishlist.  See my review here.

Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel 250ml - this is my favourite Organic Surge Shower Gel. I just love the scent. This is my second bottle. You can see I've mentioned it here, here and here.  Will definitely pick it up again and again!

G Baldwin & Co Pomegranate, Bilberry & Rose Alcohol Free Skin Toner 150ml* - a light and refreshing toner.  See my review here.  I'll probably pick this up again.

Mitchell & Peach English Growers Shower Wash 50ml - love this luxe lavender scented body wash.   

Aurelia Firm & Revitalise Dry Body Oil sample - oh WOW this is amazing! Full size on the wishlist! As like every Aurelia product - it's love!

Therapi Rose Otto Honey Gel Cleanser 5ml - simply gorgeous. Love this. Will buy full size at some point.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser 4ml sachet - this was lovely to use and I got four uses from the sachet. One I'd consider buying.

Pelle Beauty Luxe Beauty Oil sample* - this came in July's Petit Vour box* and I loved it! Would definitely consider ordering full size.

Neom Tranquility Bath Oil mini 5ml - love these little bath oils. Will definitely buy again at some point.

Suti Rosewater Organic Facial Spritz 100ml - I love this and will definitely buy again.  See my review here. The fact that I now miss this is an indication that I will buy again!

Nourish Golden Glow Body Shimmer 2ml sample* - I'm a huge fan of the face variety and this was lovely too although a teeny tiny sample. Would maybe buy full size.

The White Company White Lavender Bath Milk 200ml - I got this as a pressie from hubby and I loved the luxe decanter. Made for a relaxing bath. I'd maybe buy.

OCÉOPIN L'huile de Graines de Pin Maritime 15ml* - this was a really lovely facial oil.  See my review here.  I loved the story behind this oil and how fab it felt on my skin. I'll definitely consider purchasing once I reduce my stash a bit!

Therapi Orange Blossom Honey Moisturiser 50ml* - this moisturiser was a delight to use. Light as air and deliciously scented.  I mentioned it here. I'll definitely buy this to use next summer.  The whole range is simply divine! (p.s. I'm a huge fan).

Soleil Organique Sunblock Mist SPF45 120ml* - loved this and it lasted two summers in the UK.  See my review here. My only negative is the pump stopped working 3/4 of the way down. Despite this I'd buy if going abroad next year.

Indie Lee Calendula Eye Balm 15ml* - I'm a huge fan of this eye balm. Super nourishing it hydrates the eye area. One I'll definitely buy. See my mini review here.

Elemis Absolute Eye Serum 15ml - love, love, love this and nearly always have one in my stash as it just works at banishing dark circles and nourishing the eye area. Will buy a new one after payday.

Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser 5ml - this came as a mag freebie and I just love it! Got another to use but one I'd buy.

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream 50ml - a orange scented cream which moisturises the hands and nails and helps save the bees. What's not to love. Will buy again!

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm 2ml - this came in the Beauty Bible box in association with Latest in Beauty. Loved everything about this cleansing balm it's performance, scent, way it feels on my skin, spa like product etc. etc. Definitely one I want full size!

Bloom Remedies Geranium, Cedarwood & Sweet Orange Shower Gel 250ml - love this first received a smaller size in a swap with Ailsa and loved it so much I bought full size. See my review here. Sure to buy again.

Dr Organic Pomegranate Skin Lotion 200ml* - huge Dr Organic fan and this lotion was really lovely to use. Love the deodorant in this scent too. See my review here.  Would buy.

Living Nature Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner (both 10ml) - I loved the way these left my hair looking - smooth, shiny and soft but wasn't in love with the scents or the fact the shampoo didn't lather. Not sure if I'd buy full sizes.

*PR samples

The Beauty Bible Loves...box with Latest in Beauty

I knew I wouldn't be able to resist The Beauty Bible Loves Box in association with Latest in Beauty. It is jam packed full of beauty goodies and costs £19.95 plus P&P. There are also various money off offers included.

One of the things which instantly caught my eye were the PitRok Deodorant Wipes (20 wipes) - these retail round about the £2 mark.  These are kind to your skin and don't contain any parabens, SLS, Silicone etc. I think they be handy for popping in your handbag for use on the go, for a weekend away, after the gym or to take to festivals.

I'm a huge Essential Care fan and love their Creamy Coconut Cleanser 30ml (currently on Special Offer at £4).  You can see my review here.

Rituals Miracle Scrub Ginseng & Ginkgo Biloba Ultra Softening Hand Scrub 75ml which retails at £11.50. I'm a huge fan of hand scrubs and looking forward to trying this out. It helps to leave the hands soft, smooth and nourished.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm 2ml sachet - I've heard mixed reviews about this cleansing balm. Looking forward to trying it out for myself.  Edit: I love this! Makes cleansing a real luxury ritual. Full size now firmly on the wishlist!

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena & Lavender Hand Therapy 25g (£5) - a super moisturising cream which nourishes and conditions hands and nails. This smells simply gorgeous and absorbs instantly. Slightly herbaceous with a hint of verbena.  

Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask 100ml (worth £7.99) - I love Dr Organic products and am looking forward to trying this oil regulating, detoxifying and anti-ageing mask. Know my T-zone is going to love it!

John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo 30ml & Citrus & Neroli Detangler 30ml - I love all the JMO haircare range and these are a great size for travel. They leave the hair shiny, healthy and manageable. Love!

And finally, a Bellapierre Volumising Mascara in Black 9ml (retails round about £13). Gives long lasting volumising lashes and is free from parabens.

Did you get this box?  What do you think of the contents?