August Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up in August so here are my August empties. If it's marked * I've kindly been sent the product to review. 

As you'll know I'm a huge fan of Butterwhips. I used up their Traditionally Floral & Exotically Tranquil Body Butters 25g each which were gorgeous. See my review HERE. Would buy again. Escentric Molecules Molecule 03 (30ml) I absolutely love this vertiver scent & have just opened a new one. I used up 2 sample vials - Miller Harris Poirier du Soir which is deliciously fruity & Kenzo Flowers EDT which is sublime. Would buy both full size. Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer 10ml is perfect for summer. I had the pleasure of trying Scottish brand Deerieo & fell head over heels for their Aurora Face Oil Serum 10ml* review. It's on the wishlist! I simply adore Floral Street's Electric Rhubarb 10ml. I always have a back up! The Oribe duo were fab (Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner both 50ml). Really luxurious. I adore this brand!

Organic Youth Skincare Escape Organic Bath & Body Oil 15ml. I truly loved this stunning oil which is scented with Jasmine, Vanilla, Sweet Orange & Sandalwood - review. Buying next month!  It was good to revisit Temple Spa and I loved the La La Lagoon Bath & Shower Gel 30ml. I adore every Dr Hauschka product I try and their Rose Nurturing Bath Essence 100ml* is simply sublime. See my review HERE. It's on the wishlist! Siam Ginger is one of my favourite bath & shower therapy scents from Bodhi & Birch. Sure to buy again soon! I used their Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash for hands and I love it's uplifting scent. Will buy again (both 200ml). Rounding up my empties this month is Organic Works Lavender Hand Wash 300ml* which is gorgeous. Will buy again at some point. What have you been using up this month?

Latest Buys: Pai Skincare, Oribe, Therapie, Cult Beauty, Herbfarmacy, Can-to-Candle, Miller Harris, NorthburN

Well, I failed miserably with my £100 spend for June... I blame Cult Beauty's great offers! Will try better next month... 

The Impossible Glow by Pai Skincare had been on my wishlist. The drops make the skin glow! Pai say that it's your "post holiday glow, bottled". Add a couple of drops to serum or moisturiser or use alone for an intense hit. I've been enjoying using them and have found my skin looks more healthy and glowy. I picked mine up at Naturisimo.

I can never resist an affordable Cult Beauty Gift with Purchase. I picked up their recent The Cult Conscious Goody Bag free with a £65 spend (see contents below). I picked up a new Oribe Obsessed kit, my fav Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts and my third item was for a birthday gift.

I picked up Herbfarmacy's Sweet Orange Body Oil (another item ticked off the wishlist) when they had a bank hol sale recently. It's as beautiful as I'd imagined it to be!

A candle from Can-to-Candle's new Elegance collection which has a double wick and is presented in a clear glass jar. I chose "Coast" a stunning floral marine. I'm looking forward to lighting it soon.

I did sleep on this one! Cult Beauty's The Skindie Edit is absolutely stuffed full. It only costs £35 too and is jam packed full of goodies (at time going to press, there were still some available). 

I was desperate to try Miller Harris's latest launch - Reverie de Bergamote so picked up 4 x 2ml sample vials. You get free shipping if you pick 4. I'd also wanted to try their Leather Rouge (stunning). Tea Tonique is a fav and Poirier d'un Soir another new try.  You also receive a voucher to save on a full size bottle if one steals your heart.

I couldn't resist NorthburN's Gift of the Month in their brand new Hotel Collection scent. No.4 Blackcurrant Leaves is simply stunning. Fruity, floral and aromatic. Inside the gift (now sold out) was goodies worth £21 (wax melts, votive candle and room mist) which was offered at £12 plus p&p. It's truly lush and might nudge my fav Mandarin & Bergamot off its pedestal!

Another Cult Beauty buy (whoops). Yet another affordable Gift with Purchase. Spend £70 on skincare. I chose 3 x Pai Skincare products, two of which had been on the wishlist - Carbon Star Detoxifying Overnight Facial Oil and Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil. My splurge was the gorgeous Century Flower, Lotus & Orange Blossom Soothing Tonic, which I've used before. Feast your eyes on the beauties!

We're hoping to move house later this year so this MUST be my last splurge. What have you been buying lately?

Shopping My Stash #115

Products marked * I've been kindly gifted for review. Odylique's unscented Ultra Rich Balm* provides deep hydration to very dry skin (dry hands, knees and elbows, here's looking at you) and it also soothes skin prone to eczema. The balm protects the skin from heat, cold and wind making it the ideal holiday companion.

I bought Trilogy's Vitamin C Polishing Powder in early JUNE. I've got a slight obsession with Vit C at the moment. See my review of their Vit C Brightening Duo* HERE. This fine grain powder exfoliant (reminds me of Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant, although it's finer) is activated on contact with water turning it into a gentle foaming milk which will help to remove dead skin cells and brighten the skin. I've been enjoying using this and feel that my skin is definitely smoother and brighter.

I adore Klorane's Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (which was initially a Latest in Beauty Pick+in a LIB collection box). I just find it works and I've always got it in my stash.

My hair is the bane of my life at the moment (needs a cut and colour badly). I do have an appointment booked in for the 24th July - can't wait! I was looking for something to give my hair a bit of oompf and discovered a travel size of ORIBE's Supershine Moisturising Cream in my stash - oh my goodness, it's wonderful - it give the hair much needed moisture and huge glossy shine. Luckily you only need a teeny bit (full size 150ml is a whopping £54.50). 

I adore Love Lula's Ooh! Oils of Heaven and their latest launch Organic Plum Conditioning Face Oil is amazing! See my review HERE. It's one of my favourite skincare products this year. So lovely.

I picked up Madara's Acne Acute Spot Roll on in the 40% off sale at Naturisimo recently. It's great for zapping occasional spots (of course as soon as I got it I was spot free!) It's a handy size to pop in a bag or pocket for instant relief on the go.

My final pick is Walden Natural Perfume's A Gentle Rain Perfume Oil* which I received in a Love Lula Beauty Box. This 10ml size is great to travel with, whether on holiday or to the office (if we ever get back there!) It's a beautiful scent with notes of oak moss, labdanum and patchouli - it's woody and spicy and is really easy to wear.

What have you been using this week?

February Empties

Here's what I've been using up in February. Some of the items, marked with * I have been gifted, the other products I've bought with my own money.

Weleda Pomegranate Body Lotion 20ml* - lovely, huge fan of this range. Will probably pick this up again when my stash diminishes a bit.

Weleda Arnica Massage Oil 10ml* - great to use on bruises! Gentle and calming. Will probably buy again as some point.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil 10ml - I used to use this all the time so it was nice to re-visit. Would buy when my stash reduces.

Madara Micellar Water 100ml - one of my favourite Micellar Waters. See my review HERE. Will buy again.

ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray 75ml - one of my favourite dry shampoos. I'd buy this again.

Damana Cleansing Gel with Citrus Fruits 30ml - which was in the bathroom of our hotel in Miami. Refreshing and nice to use.

A.S Apothecary Sussex Rose Aromatic Water #18 50ml - absolutely gorgeous. I was sad to finish this up. It came in my Lush & Rosy Gift Set. Would buy again.

Pure Lakes Grapefruit & Lemongrass Shower Gel 100ml - which came in my January Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box. Lovely to use and made for a refreshing shower. Might pick it up when my stash reduces.

Sisley Supremya Yeux La Nuit Eye Serum 1ml - totally gorgeous. I'll never be able to afford full size so nice to try.

The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleansing Balm 10ml* - which was gorgeous to use. See my review HERE. My cleanser stash is huge but definitely one to add to the wishlist.

PHB Ethical Beauty Superfood Brightening Moisturiser 1ml* and Superfood Brightening Serum 1ml* - I love sachets as they are great try me sizes (I got 2 uses out of each sachet). These smelled gorgeous and felt nice on the skin. Would love to try them full size.

Miller Harris Tea Tonique Shower Wash - nice to use with a scent exactly like the perfume. Adds to wishlist.

I finished my first perfume in my Project Ten Pan (link) - Escentric Molecules Molecule 03 (30ml) which I adore (I bought another before I started my challenge). Absolutely love this vertiver scent.

What have you been using up this month?

September Empties

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

Sisley Energising Foaming Exfoliant 15ml - I really enjoyed this refreshing and slightly exfoliating cleanser. I'd probably not buy full size but it was nice to try.

Estelle & Thild BioMineral Healthy Glow Foundation 121 2ml sachet - I really liked this foundation which gave light everyday coverage. I'd buy full size.

Miller Harris Lumiere Doree 10ml - I never finish perfume! I loved this light neroli scent which I'd buy again in a heartbeat.

Luxe Botanicals CAMU Brightening Serum 2ml - I love trying new brands but I just wasn't keen on the scent of this serum so wouldn't buy.

BAO Skincare - Face Recovery - loved, would buy full size, Stretch Away - wouldn't buy, Coconut Body Scrub - wouldn't buy, Shea Mandarin Body Cream - loved, would buy and Cocoa Body Butter - wouldn't buy. See my review HERE.

Sisley Floral Toning Lotion 30ml - nice to use but probably wouldn't buy.

REN Flash Hydro Boost Instant Plumping Emulsion 10ml - a light and easily absorbed moisturiser which I'd maybe buy when my stash reduces a bit.

Weleda Wild Rose Body Oil 10ml - loved this. Would buy full size. See my review HERE.

Kat Burki Complete Eye Creme Complex 5ml - which came as a magazine freebie. It was ok but dried out before I had a chance to use it all. Wouldn't buy.

bodhi & birch Super25 Botanical Serum 5ml* - from a stunning range launched this year. I've got a new one ready to crack open. See my review HERE.

Tropic Hair Feast 50ml* - oh how I loved this so! So much so I cut open the tube to get every last bit out! See my review HERE. Will buy this again. My hair just loved it.

Antonia Burrell Bright+Light Eye Cream 15ml* - which was amazing. See my review HERE. It's one I'll buy when my stash reduces a bit.

ORIBE Gold Lust Dry Shampoo 43ml - I'm a huge fan of these mini dry shampoo cans. I've just opened another.

REN Atlantic Kelp & Microalgae Anti-Fatigue Bath Oil 110ml - I received this from my pal Julie as a pressie and I loved it. Would buy again as I loved the seashore scent and it was nice for a relaxing dip.

P&G "Marzipan" Body Souffle 100ml - I just loved this. See my review HERE. I'll buy this again when the stash reduces in size.

BAO Skincare Orange Face Wash 5ml - loved. Would buy full size.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn and Evening Primrose Body Oils 10ml each - again, beautiful to use and I'd buy both of these full size.

ISUN Celestial Body Silk Sample - this is a really runny milk which absorbed quickly and had an exotic scent.

ila Bath Soak for Pure Relaxation 150ml - I just adore this soak. It's featured a lot on the blog. See mini review HERE. Bound to buy it again. And soon.

Jo Browne Natural Facial Cleansing Balm 50g* - which I judged in last year's Beauty Shortlist Awards. It was one of my top picks (see HERE) and I'm very sad that's my pot now done! 

What have you been using up this month?

*complimentary

Latest in Beauty: The Beauty Box: Beauty & The Beast

Latest in Beauty launched a box in March to celebrate the release of Beauty & the Beast. Worth £80 and when launched costing £20. I picked one up last week for £7 with a voucher code. Absolutely bargainous! (some items I'll keep and some I'll gift). See the collections currently available HERE.

The item I was most interested in was the Burt's Bees Lipstick in (Sunset Cruise 523) which is a full size item and worth £9.99! The colour is a bright coral shade which I love and it feels really moisturising when on!

The Gatineau Radiance Enhancing Gommage is full size (75ml and worth £35!). This exfoliator has a balm like texture which transforms into a oil as it gently dissolves the top layer of the skin, clearing pores and refining the skin leaving it looking radiant and glowy.

From Caudalie there is a sample size 10ml of Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet which I'm sure I've tried before. This is a great size for travel.

I love the little compact 'Latest in Beauty' branded mirror (I've got something similar from the early days in my make up bag). I'll pop this one in my desk drawer!

There is a beautiful full size nail polish from SOIGNE worth £11 in Betteraves Rouges a gorgeous deep red. The formula doesn't contain any harmful carcinogens and each polish contains up to 85% plant sourced raw ingredients.

I'm a fan of ORIBE's dry shampoos and inside is 43ml size of their Gold Lust Dry Shampoo which revives your style for another day. This is also a great try-me size or for holidays.

The final item is L'Occitane's Roses et Reines Hand & Nail Cream 10ml which is the perfect handbag size. The cream deeply nourishes and leaves the hands smelling of roses.

This box is currently still available (at £15). Check out the collections HERE.

Latest in Beauty: Le Fashion Fetish Beauty Box

The Le Fashion Fetish Beauty Box from Latest in Beauty is in collaboration with blogger Anna Shearer and features some of her favourite products (the box costs £60, although I bought it with a tenner off - thanks for the code LIB! And the box is now down to a bargainous £45!) I adore Tada & Toy earrings so that kind of swayed me!

So what's inside:

Tada & Toy Crescent Moon Studs

Chantecaille Bio-Lifting Cream 10ml

Rosalena Rock & Rose Radiance Boosting Face Oil 5ml

Maria Nila Luminous Colour Masque 250g

Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream 50ml

Smith & Cult Lip Gloss 5ml

OM Konjac Sponge

OM Pure Glow Cleanser 5ml

NIP+FAB Viper Venom Micro Blur 40ml

Skimono Mask

Nails Inc. 14ml Colville Mews

Strip Wax Bar Brow Wax (London)

My favourites:

Pick your box up (while stocks last) at Latest in Beauty.

Latest in Beauty: Beauty Guru Subscription Box

Latest in Beauty have recently had a make-over and during Black Friday they were offering 30% off their site. I couldn't resist of course and signed up to their new subscription service. See more details HERE. I signed up to their "Beauty Guru" monthly box (9 items) which costs £18 including p&p (although on Black Friday it was £12.60 which is totally bargainous!)

Inside the black "Latest in Beauty" branded bag (reverse side "Be Confident, Be Kind, Be Beautiful") are my picks:

I chose 4 hair care items from Living Proof - healthy hair 5-in-1 styling treatment (60ml), no frizz nourishing styling cream (30ml), prime style extender (30ml) and full thickening cream (15ml) - I'm looking forward to trying these out!

Staying on hair I also picked Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (75ml) which I love. It's great to use as a dry shampoo but also for adding oompf to any style.

I'm a huge fan of ila-spa and couldn't resist a mini pot of their bath salts for cleansing (which I've used before and love).

I'm not sure if the Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss (3ml) (Gloss Black) is for me or if I'll gift it yet but it's a great pick!

I tried REN's Flash Hydro-Boost (10ml) recently and loved it - both the product and how plumped and radiant it made my skin feel and look.

My final item is Dongbaek Camellia Essence 3ml by Korean company Erborian. I've not tried much from their range so looking forward to testing it out.

Have you picked anything up from Latest in Beauty recently? What do you think of their new look?

Shopping my Stash #82

Here's what I've been reaching for this week:

Escentric Molecules 01 30ml - this cult perfume is smells differently on everyone. It featured in my perfume collection post HERE.  Make Up Forever Artist Rouge mat deluxe sample was a choice from my latest Love Me Beauty picks. Such a lush colour which would be perfect for Christmas time. Get £21 of free goodies if you use my code SANDR174.

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser 15ml - this came from a set which was an impulse buy. The set had been on the wishlist a while though. Really lovely to use and one I'd buy full size. 

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray 75ml - which came in a Latest in Beauty beauty box. It's a dry shampoo which also adds texture and volume. Probably one of the best dry shampoos I've used and it has a beautiful scent - with notes of citrus bergamot, pink lemon, white peach, cassis, muget, apples, cedarwood, white amber, musk and la mariposa flower. I first mentioned Skincere here* and here*. These award winning products are great for sensitive skin types and are really lovely to use. 

What have you been reaching for this week? 

*complimentary - sent for review

The Glamour Summer Edit: Latest in Beauty

The Glamour Summer Edit (£20) is available now from Latest in Beauty. It contains Glamour mag's Beauty Director's favourites which are perfect for summer. The contents are worth an incredible £104!

I'm currently obsessed with Aurelia Probiotic Skincare's Miracle Cleanser. Inside the box is a 30ml size (perfect try me or for holidays) and a bamboo muslin cloth. See my review HERE.

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray 75ml also caught my eye. I'm always on the lookout for new to me haircare and this one adds texture and volume.

Grounded's Chocolate Orange Body Scrub uses coffee grains to exfoliate the skin leaving it soft and smooth. The chocolate orange scent sounds right up my street!

Nuxe's Prodigieux Shower Oil comes in a 30ml tube and is perfect for holidays as it has a golden shimmer. With notes of Orange Blossom, Vanilla and Magnolia this smells great. 

WOW Mask Luxury Facial Mask which is a single use sheet mask and contains collagen-boosting ingredients which firm and plump the skin.

The Revlon Ultra HD Matte LipColor is just the sort of shade I'd choose (Devotion).  A matte finish which is comfortable on the lips and a pretty shade.

St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mist 125ml is (apparently) easy to apply and give an instant streak free colour.  I'm not a real fake tan fan but might give this a go before my summer holidays.

The final item is Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF30 150ml which protects the skin from infrared-A rays as well as UVA and UVB.

What's your favourite item from the box? Did you pick one up?