*Love Lula Beauty Box: January 2021

*I receive the Love Lula Beauty Box free of charge as a member of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program for an honest review. The Beauty Box is £14.95 a month recurring in the UK (see all subscriptions available HERE). This month the contents of the box are worth £35.

The box contains useful items this month - there are 4 full size items, 2 travel sizes and a sachet inside. I was excited to see Balm Balm's new Lavender Face Balm 30ml which is worth £9.50. It's a luscious balm with a hint of lavender. I'm looking forward to trying it - a review will follow!

Also new to me is Moi Vert's Lemongrass Liquid Soap 250ml (£8) I'm always needing soap in the current climate and this one can be used for cleaning too! Excellent, I love a multi-purpose product. 

From Natura Siberica is their Oblepikha Hand Cream 75ml (£4.50) which I've had the pleasure of trying before. It's rich and nourishing and perfect for winter.

The Hurraw! Lip Balms were various and I received their Baobab Banana 4.3g (£4.99) which is as super-nourishing treat for the lips. It actually has a nutty banana like flavour (this isn't a flavour I've have picked but it's lovely).

From Ayumi Naturals is a Shampoo & Conditioner Duo (travel size 50ml each) in Hibiscus & Turmeric. These are ideal for holidays - if we're ever allowed to again! 

Rounding up this stuffed full box is a sachet of Madara's fantastic Hydra Firm Hyaluron Concentrate Jelly. See my review of this HERE.

Another great box, are you a subscriber? What are your thoughts?

Latest in Beauty: Backstage Beauty Edit

I re-subbed to Latest in Beauty just before the cut-off date for free postage with the new box (the new box price of £12.95 instead of £15) for 6 products will kick into action next month. There's also lots of treats and money off codes for LiB Box Pro members. If you sign up now, you'll pay £12.95 plus £3.95 postage for 3 months before becoming automatically becoming a LiB Box Pro.

From this month's picks I chose the Haul of Fame product - NARS High Pigment Longwear Eyeliner 0.7g (worth £19). I use black eyeliner most days so I'm looking forward to trying it.

The rest of my picks this month were from previous months. I've got a total obsession with Earthkind's Shampoo Bar for Problem Scalps with Tea Tree & Eucalyptus 50g (£6.95). It just works - see my review HERE. As long as it's a pick, I'll keep snapping it up! 

I love a good hair mask and this one by HASK sounds lush. I picked their Rose Oil & Peach Color Protection Deep Conditioner 50ml (£4). Looking forward to a little pamper sesh!

From Strivectin is their Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum 7ml (which is worth £14 ml by ml). Again, looking forward to trying and a review will follow.

Rounding up my picks this month is a full size duo from Natura Siberica - Organic Certified BB Correcting Cream 30ml (£8.99) and Organic Certified Moisturising Face Tonic 100ml (£8.99). Again, reviews to come.

Out of this month's box - I picked one much-loved product and five newbies. Have you selected a Latest in Beauty Box recently?

*Love Lula Beauty Box: December 2019

*productsamples my Love Lula Beauty Box for December* arrived last week. I receive the Beauty Box free of charge each month as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program in return for an honest review.

This month the box is fantastic! It contains 4 full size products and is worth £47. As ever, there is a generous 25% discount code (for the brands in the box) for each Beauty Box subscriber.

WOW! The first item to jump out at me was the brand new, Walden Natural Perfumes 'Live the Life' Perfume Oil 10ml which is worth £17! It's absolutely stunning and just my kind of scent. With top notes of Bergamot and Orange, with a heart of Tuberose and Sweet Violet with base notes of Sandalwood, Brazilian Rosewood and China Jasmine. It's seriously lovely and the perfect addition to a Christmas Beauty Box.

I'm a huge fan of affordable Natura Siberica and inside is full size of their Rich Siberian White Body Butter 200ml which is worth £5.25. It'll help with cellulite and deeply nourish the skin. It smells incredible - very fruity with a slightly herbal note. Looking forward to trying this out.

From Balm Balm is their Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm 30ml (little nod to Christmas with the Frankincense!) This is worth £9.50. Pretty sure I've used this before but I love cleansing balms so this deliciously scented balm will be used!

The final item this month is by Nature's Kitchen Organic Skincare. Inside is a full size pot of their Dark Chocolate Fudge Cleansing Butter Face Mask 100ml (£15.25) which has a slight chocolate scent. You can also use it as an indulgent and decadent face mask - perfect for a pampering treat.

What are your thoughts on the contents this month? Are you a subscriber?

Shopping my Stash #107

*my post contains some products I received as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program plus a product sample from Weleda. My post contains two affiliate links

I've absolutely adored every product I've tried from Natura Siberica and simply love their Oblepikha Mask which is suited to severely damaged hair. My dry coloured hair just loves it and it's perfect for summertime use. See my review HERE.

I was a fan of lovely Flaya before they landed at Love Lula having picked up a bottle of their exquisite Rose perfume in March this year, see my review HERE. See the full range available at Love Lula HERE.

I had been doing a Spring Cleanse with Weleda (posts HERE and HERE) and totally fell head-over-heels for their Birch Cellulite Oil which has a delicious lemony scent. It firms and helps tone up the skin.

The final item is from NEW IN: Nature's Kitchen Butter Clay Melting Milk Cleansing Balm (£18.99 - 100ml). You can check it out HERE. This sumptuous balm makes light work of make up and daily grime. Clay is whipped with oils to create a melting balm and it has a sweet floral/citrus scent. Massage a small amount over the face and neck before adding a touch of water to make it milky before rinsing or removing with a warmed damp muslin cloth.

What have you been reaching for lately?

Love Lula: Beauty Box: November 2018

It's always an exciting day when my Love Lula Beauty Box* arrives! This month there are 3 full size products and 2 generous trial sizes. The box is worth a huge £66 this month. So what's inside..

From Alteya Organics is their Organic Rosehip Seed Oil 20ml (£8.75) which is lovely. The 100% certified organic cold pressed Rosehip Seed Oil is rich in essential fatty acids. I'm looking forward to testing this out properly but loved it on first try. 

A little bit controversial is The Perfect V Gentle Exfoliator 50ml (£31) which is a range created for the bikini area - use it before or after shaving to help prevent in-grown hairs and redness. The packaging is beautiful and very luxurious but it's not a product I'd use (I've passed it onto someone I know will use and appreciate it!)

From Urban Veda we have their Purifying Exfoliating Facial Polish 125ml (£12.99) which has been recently reformulated. The creamy polish seems to have the perfect amount of scrubbiness (natural pumice) and has a zingy spearmint scent. It helps to remove impurities and blackheads. Looking forward to trying this brand out again.

The two trial sizes are: REN's Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask 15ml which helps leave the skin looking radiant while reducing fine lines and improving skin tone and Natura Siberica's Oblepikha Hand Cream 30ml which I've used before and loved.

What do you think of this month's box?

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program

September: Lately I've been Loving

So many September loves...

Nothing I like more than homemades. This jam is one of many things I've made with the glut of plums from my plum tree at the allotment. Delicious!

This Oblepikha hair mask* by Natura Siberica is just amazing. See my review HERE - it's one of my favourite hair care products this year.

My fav breakfast ever - avo on toast with poached eggs (with feta & chilli too). Delicious.

I've just started testing out the beautiful range of products** by new Glasgow based brand Casa Mencarelli, who are also Formula Botanica graduates. Expect reviews soon! Thanks to Paula for including a trial size from the brand in August's Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. It really is a gorgeous and very luxurious range.

I picked up this delicious duo by aye pickled at our local monthly market. The strawberries are seriously yummy! 

This gorgeous calming NYC CALM candle from Wildheart Organics which I picked up in the summer in North Berwick is glorious. I've been having some stressful days at work so I've been lighting this in the evenings to de-stress and relax. It has notes of Lavender, Mandarin and Sandalwood. The candle is handcrafted using soy wax and pure essential oils and is one of the nicest candles I've used for a while.

Being invited again this year to be a Beauty Shortlist Judge for the 2019 Awards is an absolute honour and I'm absolutely thrilled. I'm currently putting some amazing products through their paces. Brands can sign up until Friday 2nd November - see more information HERE.

What have you been loving this month?

*sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program

**complimentary - sent for review

Love Lula: Natura Siberica

Natura Siberica is a fairly new brand at Love Lula. I've had the pleasure of trying their Northern Soap for Deep Facial Cleansing* before. See my review HERE.

The products are made with adaptogenic herbs and plants and the range is made with wild harvested ingredients sourced from unspoiled landscapes. The brand work with local tribes bringing changes and hope to their lives.

I've been testing three more products from the brand which are absolutely fantastic and all under a tenner!

Oblepikha Mask for Severely Damaged Hair (300ml - £8.95)** comes in a huge pot making it excellent value for money.

The mask is suitable for dry, damaged and coloured hair - my hair is coloured and is loving this deeply nourishing mask which has a fruity/floral scent (nice).

It'll repair severely damaged hair, protect the hair from exposure from styling/straighteners and smooth the hair shaft adding nutrients and vitamins. 

To use: apply to clean, towel dried hair concentrating on mid lengths and ends. Leave on up to 10 minutes before rinsing.

This really is a pot of magic and first-aid for the hair! My hair is soft, shiny, luminous and frizz free. Would SO recommend!

Revitalising Bath Salts (600g - £4.25)** which again is in a huge pot - making this the perfect pick-me-up low cost treat.

The salts are enriched with essences and oils of wild harvested Siberian herbs and have an exquisite floral aroma. 

To use: dilute 4 tbs salts in warm water then lie back and relax.

Again, a really great product which I'm enjoying using. I love my baths!

Alladale Soothing Natural Foot Cream (75ml - £5.99)** comes boxed and in a squeezy tube.

This COSMOS Soil Association approved foot cream is made in partnership with Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands. Formulated with wild thistle (a nod to Scotland) and Siberian Snow Cladonia, the rich cream has a slightly herbal floral scent. It deeply nourishes rough patches smoothing out dry patches and calloused skin.

To use: massage onto the feet paying attention to dry and rough areas.

My feet love this cream! Deeply nourishing and lovely to use. Would recommend.

What's your favourite Natura Siberica products?

*complimentary

**sent to me as part of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger Program. My post contains a few affilate links

Jan de Vries: Take 5

You'll know I'm a huge fan of Feel Unique's Pick 'n' Mix so I was keep to try Jan de Vries Take 5 which is available on a monthly basis for £2.99 - you can chose from a selection of beauty sachets, beauty trial sizes, superfoods, tea bags, A Vogel products and supplements.

Here's my selection this month:

I picked a Lavera hair Duo both 10ml, Kinvara Active Rosehip Day Cream 2ml, Natura Siberica Volumising & Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner both 6ml. My final pick was Dr Bronner's Orange Lavender Organic Hand & Body Lotion 10ml.

I'm a huge fan of trying samples before buying so I'm looking forward to testing these out. Pick yours up HERE.

Natura Siberica Northern Soap for Deep Facial Cleansing

Nature's Dream, is a leading supplier of health, wellbeing and beauty products to the UK and Irish retail markets and Natura Siberica is one of their finds (I've used their Oblepikha Hand Cream before).

The formulations are based on traditional remedies from the ancient Siberian tribes with wild harvested ingredients sourced on the unspoilt landscapes. The brand works with local tribes which brings positive changes to their lives.

I've been testing out the fabulous Northern Soap for Deep Facial Cleansing (120ml - £12)* which isn't as scary as it looks!  It's also an award winner having won the Beauty Challenger Awards at Beyond Beauty 2014 in Paris.

The soap contains highly absorbent activated charcoal which draws out impurities, binds dirt, bacteria and excess oils to the surface and leaves the skin feeling super clean, smooth and flawless. It's enriched with powerful and unique wild harvested berries and herbs formulated to a traditional ancient recipe.

The soap rejuvenates, regenerates, softens, tones and nourishes the skin while firming and detoxifying - it really does it all!

To use: wet the sponge and apply the soap to dry skin, avoiding the eyes and lips. Massage and then rinse with warm water. Use once or twice a week.

My thoughts?

I love how clean my skin feels after use. The soap is very gentle, slightly foaming and leaves the skin feeling comfortable and clean but never tight. I'll definitely be adding this as a long-term addition to my skincare regime.

You can pick yours up at selected M&S Stores from today.

*complimentary

Spring/Summer '16 Green Beauty Swap

Ria at Naturia Beauty organises a #GreenBeautySwap twice a year. This time I was paired up with Lynda at Wonderlusting. We had an email conversation to discuss likes and dislikes, set a budget and went shopping. Here's what Lynda picked for me:

I'm absolutely thrilled with everything (I especially like seeing new to me brands) and I've been wanting a Savon Stories soap for ages too!

And now for a closer look..

These are two new to me brands!

First up is the Oblepikha Hand Cream (in stunning packaging) from Natura Siberica which is really deeply moisturising and smells lovely. Expect a fuller review shortly.

Turbliss Bioactive Peat Toner is 100% Pure Peat Water which tones, refreshes and revitalises the skin. Looking forward to trying this one.

I'm excited to try Dermovia's Lace your Face Smoothing Peptides Facial Mask. Again something that's been on the radar but not got round to trying.

I've wanted to try a Savon Stories soap for ages. Lynda chose me No.10 Spinach with Lime and Ginger. It smells gorgeous. 

The innisfree Eco Flower Lip Tint in rose tint is great. It give the lips a light pop of rose/red toned colour. A great shade for me and another new brand (thanks Lynda).

Abel Organic Eau de Parfum (sample vial) is another new to me brand and being a perfume lover this was a great addition. It has salty notes with lime, peppermint and bergamot, vetiver and woods and was inspired by a mojito cocktail. Of course I now want a full size bottle!

Oh my, this Coconut & Chai Spice Bathtub Tea smells mouthwatering and good enough to eat as it smells just like a chai latte. It's from Living Naturally a fab brand I've recently tried. I'll be using this next time I have a soak in the bath.

There are three sachets from L'Erbolario (a brand I've tried before but not these products) - Iris Deodorant Cream and Shower Gel and 3 Rosa Body Cream, a SW Basics jar of Body Scrub and two interesting looking tea bags from Yswara.

I'm absolutely delighted with everything - thanks so much once again Lynda and thanks to Ria for organising the swap.  Looking forward to seeing what everyone who was taking part receives.