Top Products 2021: July to September

If a product is marked * I've been kindly sent it to review. Here are my top 10 for the period July to September:

Every Raven Botanicals product I've tried I've absolutely loved. It's always the sign of a good brand when you go back time and again. This is my 2nd bottle of unsung hero Solstice Facial Oil. See my review HERE.

I'm a huge fan of lovely ila spa and had to try their CBD range. As expected its super luxe and effective. See my review of their CBD Body Calm HERE.

It was great to try Blue Tansy Skincare's gorgeous Oil to Milk Cleanser which my skin loves. See my review HERE.

Miel Botanicals Herbal Sleep Balm is magic in a pot! See my review HERE.

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway prize of a discovery set from Organic Youth Skincare and I loved trying this carefully formulated brand. See my review HERE.

I'm nearly ready to start my 2nd tube of the fantastic Great Day Magnesium Body Butter by Neom. See my review HERE.

Yet more Raven Botanicals! I loved trying their Glow Potion* in July. Multi-tasking and quite wonderful. It'll give you a illuminating glow and make your skin gleam. I especially love adding it to foundation or body lotion for a healthy glow. Just magic. See my review HERE.

I tried DEI SKINCARE in July and fell in love with their Nourishing Face Oil. See my review HERE.

In August I tried Deerieo's Aurora Face Oil Serum* which my skin adored. See my review HERE.

Rounding up my July to September top picks is Antipodes new Glow Ritual Vitamin C Serum which gives the skin a natural glow. It's the perfect skin pick-me-up. See my review HERE.

Do we share any favourites?

Miel Botanicals Herbal Sleep Balm

I couldn't resist East Lothian based Miel Botanicals Award Winning Herbal Sleep Balm (50g - £15, 25g - £8.50). The pots here are the large size. They're easily recyclable or reusable with a nod to #plasticfreejuly. I'm a huge fan of the brand - see previous reviews HERE and HERE.

Apply - Rest - Sleep - as simple as that! This little pot of magic calms and relaxes both the body and mind before peaceful slumbers. Specially selected essential oils and herbal infusions (lavender, chamomile, marjoram and lemon) help the body unwind, calming and soothing while vetiver can aid a more peaceful and deep sleep.

To use: rub a small amount onto wrists, collarbone and soles of your feet! The essential oil blend will absorb into the skin helping you get a more restful sleep as well as nourished tootsies! 

Smoothing the herbal balm over the feet is a great ritual before sleep and it smells heavenly as well as being the perfect natural sleep aid. Pick yours up HERE.

Latest Buys: Witchy Treats, Hells Bells Homemade Candles, Olfactory Candles, Bodhi & Birch, Miel Botanicals, Sol de Janeiro + Dook

I've not done a latest buys post since 2nd April but I've not stopped spending! I am however from June going to limit myself to a £100 spend each month, which is more than enough for plenty of cheer me up treats!

Through my friend Sam, I discovered Witchy Treats and picked up a selection of wax melts to try. I'm working my way through them - they're lovely with strong scents and pretty colours. Using the code SAM-15% will get you 15% off your 1st order (I also received some pretty awesome free gifts!)

I also picked up 3 melts from Hells Bells Homemade Candles. The Watermelon Daiquiri is deliciously fruity and perfect for summer days. 

A little Olfactory Candles order - I was desperate to try the new Little Pots (buy 10 for £10, or £1.20 each). They are the perfect try me size or to take on holiday. The Fresh Coffee Melt Pot (£3 for 50g) smells exactly like freshly brewed rich coffee and is the best coffee scent I've ever tried. I also loved the new scent - Fresh Raspberry & Black Peppercorn so needed more! Remember you can get 15% off your 1st order with SANDRA15 (excluding burners).

I was sorry to see Pure Skin Lab close down but delighted to pick up Bodhi & Birch's exquisite Sicilian Rose Body Oil in the sale for £18!! I reviewed this beauty HERE. Chuffed to bits to have it back in my stash!

I'm always needing something to help me sleep and I've found Miel Botanicals Herbal Sleep Balm to be a miracle cure! (£8.50/£15). A review is coming for this one. It's magic.

I've lusted after Sol de Janeiro's Biggie Biggie Bum Bum Cream 500ml since I saw it in Harvey Nichols one Christmas a few years ago! I got it for a bargain price (normally £72). Feel Unique were offering 15% off and they are one of my brands, so I got 10% off on top, making it £55.08. I also received a mini of their new Bom Dia Bright Cream, a free gift for an order over £50 (Benefit 24-hr brow setter mini worth £12.50) and two free samples.

I also picked up an order locally at Dook, a gorgeous salt soap. I already adore these beauties (REVIEW) and their Hand Cleanser/Sanitiser (review to come). A wee short walk along the prom in the sunshine. Pure bliss. Founder and formulator, Helen is opening a shop locally - can't wait!

What have you bought recently?

Miel Botanicals: Rose Balm

As you'll know I'm already a fan of East Lothian based, Miel Botanicals having recently fallen for their amazing Prosecco Shave Soap*. See my review HERE.

I bought their exquisite Rose Balm (25g - £8.50) which is simply but prettily packaged and the pot's recyclable or reusable.

The rosey scented balm has a multitude of uses - as you'll know I adore a multi-purpose product.  The range is hand made in small batches with skin loving ingredients. Oils such as golden jojoba and sweet almond are infused with organic rose petals before being hand blended with beeswax, shea butter, rosehip oil, rose absolute, rose geranium and Vitamin E.

The Rose Balm is suitable for all skin types but especially sensitive, dry/combination and mature and is cruelty-free with no animal testing. The beeswax comes from formulator and founder Karin's own beehive of happy and carefully looked after bees who forage in the orchard and wildflower meadows in East Lothian.

To use: as a cleanser: apply a small amount of balm with your fingertips to dry skin. Massage into skin with circular motions before removing with a warm muslin cloth.  As a steam cleanse: apply as a face mask and relax in a warm bath for ten minutes or lay a hot flannel/face muslin over the face for 5 minutes to gently draw impurities and grime from the pores. Remove using a warm muslin cloth. As a moisturiser: apply a small amount to any dry skin areas - eyebrows, lips, neck, decollete and cheekbones. As a hand balm: massage onto the hands paying particular attention to each nail and cuticle, For body: apply onto any dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet.  I've also used a small amount on flyaways.

Pick yours up HERE (there are now a few new products online and I couldn't resist picking a couple up!)

*complimentary - sent for review

Miel Botanicals: Prosecco Shave Soap

I've had the real pleasure of trying Award Winning (won Gold in Janey Loves 2017 Platinum Awards) MIEL Botanicals Prosecco Shave soap and cruelty free Vegan Shaving Brush* (£25). You can also buy the shave soap on it's own for a tenner. I have to say right now I'd find it hard to go back to conventional shaving foam. I've been really impressed with the long lasting results and happily enjoying the pleasurable "ritual" of shaving.

The products including shave soap for men, soaps and an exquisite sounding Gentle Rose Balm (which just slipped into my shopping cart) are free from parabens, palm oil and chemical nasties are hand crafted in small batches with love and attention to detail.

The natural fruit sugars of Prosecco give the shave soap a silky lather while the French rose clay gives a luxe "slip" on the skin. Skin loving oils of olive, coconut, avocado, castor (and shea butter) offers the gentlest of shaves and the soap is scented with rose geranium essential oil.

To use: wet the gentle shaving brush with warm water, tap off excess water before whisking the brush across the shaving soap in a circular motion to create a silky lather. Apply to the skin in a circular motion before using a sharp clean razor blade to make light work of any hairs on the legs or underarm.  Rinse then pat dry. The skin is left feeling nourished and smooth.

My legs feel amazing after shaving and with no need to moisturise! This shaving soap will give you a year's worth of shaving making it excellent value for money. Pick yours up HERE.

*complimentary

June: Lately I've Been Loving

So many June loves...

I've been testing out East Lothian based Miel Botanicals wonderful Prosecco Shave Soap with Vegan brush* which is absolutely fantastic. It helps to give the perfect shave and I'd never go back to shaving foam - a review is forthcoming!

Scotch Bonnet Marinated Smoked Salmon - Avocado - Heritage Tomatoes

Crab Scotch Egg

We had dinner at White Horse Oyster & Seafood Bar in Edinburgh. The food was incredible and I can't wait to go back.

I totally fell for new niche perfume brand Rook Perfumes in June. See my review HERE. The signature perfume Rook by Rook EdP (£79.50 - 50ml) is now available to buy. This was a private blend they kept for themselves until now! (A 2ml sample is also available at £3.50). It contains 25 ingredients and has top notes of Ginger, Cardamon, Ylang Ylang, Incense and Smoke, a heart of Tobacco, Violet, Guaiac wood and Agarwood with base notes of Vetiver, Castoreum, Ambergris, Musk Mallow and Civet. I'm looking forward to smelling this one!

Roasted Scallop - Sweet Cicely Carrot Puree - Puffed Oats paired with One Square Gin with Fever Tree Tonic

Strathdon Blue trifle - Walnut Biscuit - Lochnagar Grape Chutney 

We dined at One Square at the Sheraton Hotel & Spa last week and the A Taste of Scotland 5 Course Tasting Menu with matching Scottish Beers and Spirits was incredible. See my review HERE. 

I missed the recent blogger event at Jan de Vries Queensferry Street but I was very kindly kept a goody bag. Thanks also to Lizzie for showing me round the store - it's fabulous - there are a lot of make up and skincare brands you only ever see online as well as supplements, teas and foods. It's well worth a visit if you are in Edinburgh. I'll be doing reviews of some of the products (the matcha drink and protein bars have been eaten and were delicious!)

I totally fell for Tropic Skincare's new haircare range*. See my thoughts HERE. Full sizes will be bought of the Nourishing Hair Cleanser and Hair Feast.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary