Oskia Safe Hands Hand Gel

I'm always on the lookout for a new hand sanitiser and have found that Oskia's Safe Hands Hand Gel (£8 - 80ml) is perfect for popping in my handbag pocket for use on the go!

It's formulated with 62% alcohol, moisturising glycerine and anti-bacterial essential oils (Lavender & Rosemary). Oskia donated the gel to local hospitals and care homes before it's general release. Just spritz a small amount of hand gel onto your the hands, rub together ensuring all areas, including inside fingers are covered and you're good to go!

The hand gel has a gorgeous herbal scent, is easy to use and I feel it keeps me safe. Definitely one of my favs. What hand sanitisers do you use?

Latest in Beauty: Beauty Headliners Edit

I signed back up to Latest in Beauty last month (on the 3 months for £24 plan (3 products) which saves £3 if you subscribe month on month. See my picks from June HERE). This month the Haul of Fame product is OSKIA's award winning Renaissance Cleansing Gel (35ml - worth £15). It comes boxed making it an ideal treat or for gifting. See my review HERE.

I first tried Noble Isle's Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel as a beauty box pick (many moons ago). I've since bought it several times full size as it's an absolute delight. See my review HERE. Inside is 75ml (£5), which is the ideal try-me or travel size.

My final pick is Juice Beauty's Blemish Cleansing Gel (60ml) which is a lot bigger than I was expecting. I've not tried a lot from this brand so I'm looking forward to testing it out!

The extras this month are codes for 25% off TanCream and 15% off your first order with OSKIA.

Of course, when I spotted Earth Kind's amazing Tea Tree & Eucalyptus Shampoo Bar 50g (£6.95) was a pick I had to select a second box this month! See my review HERE.

What have you picked this month?

June Empties

I'm not going to use up anything else this month, so here are my June Empties. If a product is marked * I very kindly received it free of charge for review. I'm currently addicted to wax melts so I'm going to add these to my empties posts.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Body Buff 15ml, Brazilian 4 Play Moisturising Shower Cream Gel 90ml and Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 25ml - I'm obsessed with the bum bum cream and love the sweet vanilla scent. It was nice to try two other products in the range. I'd buy all three again.

*Wild & Precious Rose Water 01 100ml - a beautiful product from a gorgeous range. See my review HERE. I'd definitely buy this when my stash reduces.

*Bodhi & Birch Superfoods Series Lemon Water Hydrosol Tonic 100ml - I adore this (and have just opened a new one). See my review HERE.

Bodhi & Birch Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash 200ml - a great hand wash (which you can also use as a body wash). See my review HERE. I bought two of these at the beginning of lockdown but would buy it again for sure!

*REN Citrus Limonum Hand Wash 300ml - I simply loved this citrus scented hand wash and will buy again. I was quite sad when I finished it. See my review HERE.

Molton Brown Suede Orris Bath & Shower Gel 100ml - love Molton Brown's shower gels. This one was nice to use and I'd happily have it back in my stash.

*Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum 10ml - I judged this award winner in the recent Beauty Shortlist Awards. It does everything it says it will and I must say I was very sorry to finish this up! It's on the wishlist.

System Professional Inessence Mask 15ml - which was nice to use but my hair needs a cut and colour right now (I was supposed to be there on 4th April so it's been a long time!) Might or might not buy.

Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme Restorative Rich Cream 10ml - which was a Latest in Beauty pick. I loved using this at night time as it's super-rich. Would consider buying full size as my skin seemed to love it.

In May, I signed up to the Balneaves Wax Melt Subscription Box. See my thoughts on June's box HERE. Campbeltown based Olfactory is also new to me and I discovered them after connecting on instagram. Their Misi Melts cost only 75p (plus p&p) and are a great size to get the feel of a scent.

So this month I've used up: Olfactory - Black Orchid which is just like the perfume. A lush aromatic (and strong) melt which I loved. A full size purchase of this is on the cards! I also tried their Fresh Coffee, an aromatic blend of coffee with a hint of chocolate. This was lovely but I felt the "coffee" scent could have been a little bit stronger. My third use-up is their Perfectly Chantelle, another perfume inspired powdery floral (I wasn't so keen on this one).

From Balneaves: I adored Tuberose & Angelia, Black Raspberry & Vanilla, Rhubarb & Elderflower and Vetiver, Cedarwood & Fir. Dragon's Blood is a very heady melt which I found a bit overpowering.

What have you been using up this month?

Naturisimo Christmas Wishlist

Naturisimo's Christmas Store landed the other day and after excitedly checking it all out these are the ones on my Christmas Wishlist:

Aromatherapy Associates Serene Sleep Collection (worth £51) costing £39 - I love the look of the green velvet pouch! Inside you'll find a 250ml Relax Body Wash, 10ml Deep Relax Rollerball and 9ml Light Relax Bath & Shower Oil. 

NEOM Beauty Sleep in a Box £28 which includes Perfect Night's Sleep Face Oil 5ml, Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist 5ml and a Tranquility Scented Eye Mask. I need all the help I can get to get a perfect night's sleep.

Jane Iredale's 12 days of Clean Beauty £69.95 looks epic! Inside you'll find deluxe minis including Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain, LipDrink Lip Balm, PureLash Extender & Conditioner and HandDrink Hand Cream to name a few. The box is worth £129.

Oskia The Cracker £14 contains a 5.5ml mini of their Restoration Oil.

New from Rahua this year is their Customisable Daily Hair Care Kit £40 inside you'll find their hair care mini size - 8 x 22ml.

NEOM's Scents of Wellbeing £45 inside are 3 x 75g candles in Christmas wish (mandarin, cinnamon, tonka bean), Perfect Peace (pine, myrrh, lime) and Precious moments (vetivert, black pepper and ginger).

What's on your Naturisimo wishlist?

Naturisimo Wish List

I love checking out Naturisimo's Newest arrivals - there's always something there which catches my eye...

Every OSKIA product I've tried I've loved. This latest launch - SPF30 Vitamin Mist (£46 - 100ml) sounds perfect for everyday use or holidays. 

Trilogy's latest launch along with the Vitamin C Moisturising Lotion is their Vitamin C Booster Treatment (£29.50 - 12.5ml) which is a 2 week brightening treatment with 6% high potency natural Vit C which brightens and makes the skin more luminous. 

French Girl has been on my wishlist like forever and of course I "need" Eau de Neroli Floral Mist (£18 - 60ml) which is a beautiful floral toner. While we're at it I'll also have Nectar de Neroli Facial Oil Elixir (sounds lush!) (£44 - 30ml).

From Captain Blankenship I'm drooling over their Golden Waves Sea Salt Shimmer Spray (£28 - 118ml, £16 - 59ml) which would be perfect for summer or holidays or to brighten up a dull winter day! 

I'm also lusting after Odacite's Blue Aura Cleansing Water (£39 - 120ml) as I love this brand. Everything I've tried from it so far has been top notch. This cleansing potion will remove pollution, impurities and make up in one easy step.

I've also got my eye on their All Embracing Serum with Watermelon & Hibiscus Crystal Infused Hydration (£95 - 50ml) which sounds like perfection for long lasting hydration and to calm both the skin and mind.

What's on your Naturisimo wishlist?

December Empties

This must be the smallest amount of empties ever! Here goes:

Amphora Aromatics Orange & Clove Reed Diffuser Kit* which I loved. With a long lasting Christmassy scent the kit was just all round excellent and brilliant value. Will pick up some in different scents soon! See my review HERE.

Lucky Cloud Botanical Skincare Nourishing Cleansing Balm 60ml** is simply divine. I'm so sorry to have finished this up! See my review HERE. I'm sure to pick this up when my cleanser stash reduces a bit.

Evolve Daily Defence Moisture Mist 100ml* which was lovely to use. Would buy as I like the way it left my skin looking refreshed and dewy. See my review HERE.

Herbfarmacy Refining Cleanser trial size which gave me a couple of uses. It gently but thoroughly cleanses the skin leaving it feeling clean and comfortable. I'd buy once my stash reduces a bit.

Omorovicza Refining Facial Polish 30ml which is a staple for me (I've just cracked open another!) 

JOIK Juicy Apple Shower Foam** which came in the JOIK Advent Calendar. It was nice to use and had a herbal apple scent. Unsure if I'd buy full size or not.

Aveda Color Conserve Daily Color Protection 10ml which my hair loved. I'll maybe pick up full size at some point.

IHANA Hydrating Day Cream 5ml* which was lovely and nourishing (my skin loved it when I had the flu recently as it didn't have too strong a scent!) Would maybe pick up full size. See my review HERE. 

Oskia Perfect Cleanse 3.5ml which was nice to use but I feel their Renaissance Cleansing Gel suits my skin better so I wouldn't buy.

What have you been using up this month?

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

September Empties

I'm not going to use up anything else this month so here are my empties:

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist 15ml - I'm a huge fan of this rose scented mist. See my review HERE. I've got several of these minis in my stash but I'd buy again.

Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Cream 40ml - which is the lushest rose scented cream ever! I've used it a few times and find it deeply moisturising. Would buy again.

Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream 30ml - I'm using up too many rosey things this month! A rich and deeply nourishing hand cream. I just cracked open a new one.

Nourish Golden Glow Illuminating Face Shimmer 15ml - I'm a huge fan of this product and have bought it loads. See my review HERE. This will be replenished!

Rosalena Goodness & Tonic Face Mist 15ml - gorgeous to use and I'll pick it up again at some point. See my review HERE.

JOIK Energising Bath Salts with Grapefruit, Orange & Lemon Essential Oils 500g* - these were fantastic and great value for money. See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy them when my stash reduces a bit.

mio double buff dual action enzyme exfoliator 50ml - this was lovely to use with just the right amount of scrubbiness. Would maybe buy when my stash reduces a bit.

Aromatherapy Associates Inner Strength Bath & Shower Oil 55ml - which is one of my favourite Aromatherapy Associates products. See my review HERE. This one was a gift from my friend Julie but I'm sure I'll buy it again.

Diptyque Philosykos EdT 12ml - which is one of my favourite fig scents. Will buy it again for sure.

Elemis Revitalise-Me Bath & Shower Gel 30ml - it was nice to re-visit Elemis! Apex Hotels offer Elemis minis in their rooms which were a real treat. I'd maybe buy full size.

Olverum Bath Oil 15ml - I love this bath oil. See my review HERE. I've got a few of these minis in my stash but I'd buy this full size.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer in Geranium & Neroli 40ml - I'm a huge fan of the product but prefer the unscented original version. Already cracked open a new one.

John Masters Organics Lavender, Rose, Geranium & Ylang Ylang Soap 42g* - I've used this lovely soap several times. Would buy again.

Various Stop the Water 6ml samples - White Sage Shower Gel, White Sage Body Lotion, Lavender, Sandalwood Shampoo & Conditioner. These seemed quite nice although I sometimes find it hard to tell if I'm going to like something from a small sachet.

Herbfarmacy Body Oil samples x 2 - which seemed lovely. Would probably buy full size.

Corinne Taylor Balance Himalayan Bath Salts** which came in August's Skin Organics Beauty Box. I'm already a huge fan of the brand and it's likely that I'll buy them again.

You Dirty Scrub Mint & Eucalyptus Bath Salts 100g - these smelt glorious! I did find they clumped a bit together in the bath but that didn't spoil the enjoyment. I'd maybe buy again.

Dr Alkaitis Organic Ageless Facial Elixir vial - again a teeny sample. It seemed nice but just not enough to get a feel for the product.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel 5ml - huge fan of this product and the brand. See my review HERE. I've got a full size of this awaiting opening!

Phaedon Coton Egyptien EdT sample vial - I love that Bloom Perfumery offer a fantastic sample service with most at £2 for a 1ml vial. I have totally fallen for this beautiful fresh perfume and of course now want full-size!

What have you been using up this month?

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

**complimentary

Naturisimo: Oskia Try Me Set

I'm an absolute sucker for a try-me set and couldn't resist this one by Oskia (£13 worth £22) which is perfect as a try-me set or for holidays and oh the packaging is so cute..

So what's inside:

There are 4 mini pots:

Renaissance Cleansing Gel 5ml (review) (which I adore)

Perfect Cleanser 3.5ml (review)

Renaissance Mask 3.5ml (review)

Micro Exfoliating Balm

And 6 Sachets:

Renaissance 360 2ml (review)

Get up and Glow 2ml

Restoration Oil 2ml

Super 16 Pro-Collagen Super Serum 2ml (not tried this before)

Nutri-Active Day Cream 2ml

Renaissance Brightlight Serum 2ml (again, not tried this before)

So there are some old favourites there for me and some new tries from a brand I already love. Did you pick up a try-me set?

My Top 6: January - June 2016

These are my top products for January, February, March, April, May and June:

In January, I fell for budget friendly Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo 325ml - Ria at NatuRia Beauty recommended it to me. It's great for removing product build up and leaves the hair refreshed, clean and shiny. See my review HERE.

February's number one product was much coveted OSKIA Renaissance Hand Cream  75ml which is an exquisite rose scented treat. See my review HERE.

In March I won Terre Verdi's first Instagram giveaway and one of the products I chose was the gorgeous super luxe FranchouliPom Body Oil 100ml*. See my review HERE.

April's favourite was Jo Loves Pomelo perfume 50ml which I absolutely adore. I'm currently wearing it just about every day. See my review HERE.

In May, I fell for Gallinée La Culture Foaming Facial Cleanser 120ml** which I know I'll buy. See my review HERE.

And this month I discovered the fab brand Supernatural Beauty and their gorgeous Redemption Face Oil 10ml which came in my Content Beauty GWP see HERE.  I have absolutely fallen head over heels for this rose scented oil and will replenish it soon! See my review HERE.

What's in your top 6 for the first half of the year?

*complimentary

**PR sample

Cult Beauty: Purchases & Spring Goody Bag

I'd recently tweeted Cult Beauty to ask when they were running their next Goody Bag GWP offer. They told me to keep my eyes peeled.  It was available a few days later and my order arrived yesterday!  The Cult Beauty Goody Bags are always my favourite.

I picked a couple of items (and something from my friend Julie's birthday - it's absent from the photo as she reads my blog!)  The spend is £100 (easy to do) and the Goody Bag is worth over £150!)

My picks:

I first tried the Stila One Step Correct (£24) way back August 2012 when Julie managed to get me one of the amazing Selfridges Beauty Boxes. It colour-corrects, brightens, helps to cover imperfections, makes the skin look lovely and is a great primer. I loved it before...so I know I'll love it again!

My second item is the amazing Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel (£29.50). I've said it before and I'll say it again every Oskia product I've tried I've loved. I really love this beautiful cleanser and I'm very pleased to have it back in my stash. See my review HERE.

The Goody Bag  (as always is fantastic). Inside is:

Cult Beauty Exclusive: Full Size: DNA Renewal Eye Renewal 20ml (worth £44)

Cult Beauty Exclusive: VERSO Reviving Eye Mask (single sachet)

Exclusive Preview (still to launch on Cult Beauty): skyn Iceland Blemish Dots

Exclusive Preview (still to launch at Cult Beauty): SkinOwl Neck Plus (0.5oz)

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 30ml

Aurelia Priobiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser 30ml + Bamboo Cloth

MV Organic Skincare Pure Jojoba: Full Size 35ml (worth £29)

Goldfaden MD Doctor's Scrub 0.25oz

Zelens 3t Complex 15ml

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask 15ml

Reviews will follow!  Did you indulge?

New In: OSKIA Renaissance 360

I got a sample size of latest launch from OSKIA way back in November in the Cult Beauty goody bag.  Renaissance 360 launches on tomorrow (although you can pre-order right now). See more details HERE. It will cost £65 for 40ml.

The Vitamin rich Day Cream helps to combat the ageing process improving elasticity, reducing fine lines and helping with hydration.  Targeted actives help to reduce pigmentation or discolouration issues. Skin is nourished, luminous and protected with SPF8.

Made with Glutathione, Arbutin, 2 types of Vitamin C, Swiss Cress Liposomes, Vitamins A, C, E and F, MSM, Glactorabinan, Lupin Seed, Opuntia Cactus extract and Hyaluronic Acid. You can read more about the key actives here.

It is nice to use and is scented with rose and chamomile. The cream is fairly lightweight and sinks easily into the skin.  Suitable for all skin types and for the 30+ age group and it's one I'd definitely buy full size as nourishes and cares for my skin and gives it a glowy look.

Buy yours HERE.

Oskia Renaissance Hand Cream

My pal Julie gave me this gorgeous hand cream as part of my Christmas. I've been lusting after it for ages. It's been in the basket and out the basket at Love Lula so it was a great surprise to unwrap at Christmas time.

I'm a huge fan of the brand having reviewed their Little Luxuries trio* (review) and I also enjoyed an amazing Oskia Signature Glow Facial at Aspen Therapies* (review).

As with all the products in the range the hand cream is super luxe. It's pale pink and scented with Rose & Chamomile. It softens, soothes, nourishes and combats dryness and age spots and is great for mature, dry and winter weathered hands.  It absorbs quickly leaving the hands feel comfortable and deeply moisturised.  Use as needed throughout the day or it can be used as a rejuvenating night treatment (pop some cotton gloves on top before going to sleep).

Macadamia Seed and Rosa Canina oils which are rich in Omegas deeply hydrate while Swiss Garden Cress liposomes reduce pigmentation and age spots to even tone and improve radiance. Butterbur and Shea Butter soothe and nourish while organic AHAs remove dead skin cells.  Pomegranate extract enhances the lipid barrier to protect and maintain moisture. 

A bio-available blend of magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and silicon stimulate cell renewal for anti-ageing benefits.

As you've probably guessed by now I love this hand cream and it's one I'll definitely replenish when this one is done. Have you used it? What's your favourite Oskia product?

*complimentary

January: Lately I've been Loving

Here's the things I've been loving in January:

I'm absolutely obsessed with Clipper's Organic Indian Chai Tea. I like it with a splash of milk. A spicy, aromatic and warming drink.

Staying on the tea front I stocked up on the best green tea I've found - Sencha Green from Bellevue Tea. See my review HERE. It was nice also to get a few samples to try - I may find another favourite!

I picked this Aromatherapy Associates set up in the 50% off sale. Huge fan of these lovely bath and shower oils.  Love the cute packaging too!

I've been enjoying Maddi Alexander's Mistletoe Kisses diffuser*. It's really gorgeous. See my review HERE. I'd definitely be tempted to pick a few up for presents as it's absolutely exquisite. You can also buy Serene Floral Diffuser - see HERE which has notes of Lavender and Geranium and I think there may be a rose one for Valentines Day.

I know I'm on a diet but these biscuits and sweets from Crabtree & Evelyn are just divine! The biscuits are lightly dusted with crystalised rose petals - yum!

Glasgow based Mobros, a living wage employer makes gorgeous soya wax candles in delicious scents. I'm currently loving Black Pomegranate and Black Raspberry and Vanilla.

My pal Julie gave me this lush Oskia Renaissance Hand Cream (which I've lusted after for ages) for Christmas. It's really luxurious and scented with rose. It keeps my my hands supersoft and nourished.

My Honey Tree Publishing The Stationery Lovers Box arrived at the beginning of the week and it's stuffed full of wonderful things which are beautiful as well as useful.

The Holborn magazine which celebrates a well made life which I came across via twitter - I picked up issue 1 and issue 4 - from these I loved - issue 1 (High Holborn Pub Stroll, The Jim Dandy cocktail recipe, The Art of Writing and Ten Lessons from a Maker).

And from bumper issue 4 (oh so many - The Duppy Share, A Pub Stroll: New York (there is a pub which only sells own brewed light or dark beer!), a cocktail using Gosnells Mead (which I sampled at Maltby St Market in October), Tinder is the Night, Hackney Downs Studios, The London Artisan Market, Trevor's Tale, The Scent of Floris, You got Any Pie On Ya? and Mast Brothers Chocolate Makers. Have loved reading these mags and know I'll go back to them again and again...and try out the cocktail recipes! I definitely think a subscription is on the cards.

What have you been loving this month?

*PR sample

More Christmas Gift Ideas

I showed you some Christmas gift ideas HERE. Today I've got some more top picks:

Birch & Brook candles are just gorgeous (review of Library* HERE and Festival* HERE). I was recently sent a travel size of the beautiful Limited Edition scent in for Christmas - Evergreen* - a lush, crisp green which is "reminiscent of a winter walk". 

The candle is made of natural waxes and scented with fir balsam, pine, cedar, musk and amber. It's perfect if you are not a fan of cinnamon scents. I'm a fan of both but this is well worth having in your Christmas collection.

Minvita Baobab Body Oil (100ml - £35)* this luxe oil is 100% natural and organic and is made from cold pressed seeds of the African Baobab Superfruit. Best suited for dry and ageing skin as it contains Vitamins A, D, E, F, B1, B2, Phosphorus and Iron. 

It absorbs instantly and has a slightly nutty-fruity scent. The oil improves elasticity, helps to regenerate skin cells and deeply nourishes the skin. It's a really lovely oil and I'm so enjoying using it.

I'm a huge fan of kai fragrance oil and am now on my 3rd little roll on bottle. I normally pick these up when Cult Beauty have a GWP as they are an indulgent treat. I've mentioned this lovely brand numerous times on the blog. I was recently sent this gorgeous little gift set* (the nearest thing I can find is on Cult Beauty - but it doesn't include the fine linen wash see HERE)

Inside are 2oz bottles of: 

Shampoo: which contains mild surfactants which remove dirt and build up without stripping the hair.  Conditioner: enriched with vitamins, shea butter, plant oils and extracts the conditioner nourishes the hair leaving it delicately scented with the kai fragrance and silky smooth. 

Body Wash: which cleans and refreshes the body. Follow up with Body Lotion: which is made of nourishing safflower seed oil, shea butter, apricot kernal oil, cucumber fruit extracts and kai fragrance. The skin is left moisturised and smelling of kai.

Fine Linen Wash: this is the most recent addition to the range. It cleans linens and delicate fabrics leaving them scented with the signature kai scent and I think is the perfect addition to a travel bag.

Vial of perfume oil: this beautiful original scent was created by Gaye Straza who spent her youth holidaying in the tropics. Years later she created her signature scent with rich notes of gardenia, tuberose and lily with touches of green notes.

I love this story "the first time Straza wore kai, she was stopped mid stride by a beauty editor on Madison Avenue, NYC asking where she could buy the scent".

Products are free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, phosphate and vegan and gluten free.

source

I never grow tired of John Masters Organics and this little Limited Edition Holiday Kit from John Masters Organics would make a perfect gift (£27). Inside is: 2oz Lavender Rosemary Shampoo for Normal Hair, 2oz Citrus & Neroli Detangler, 1oz Rose & Apricot Hair Milk, 0.1oz 100% Argan Oil, a Bamboo Comb and Pouch.

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I just love this Oskia Cracker available at Cult Beauty (£18) which contains a 40ml size of Renaissance Cleansing Gel (review). I'd love to find this hanging on the tree or as a luxe table present.

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I'm intrigued by Strange Invisible Organic Perfumes and I'd pick the star sign of the friend I was buying for an unusual and unique gift (14ml - £59). I chose my sign - Aries Zodiac Eaux de Parfum - The Innovator - Element - Fire which is a blend of hydro-distilled essences of cinnamon, rose and angelica which "fuel a vibrant imagination". Frankincense, benzoin, lavender and sandalwood "cool fiery impulses, encouraging the composure needed to realize visionary plans". Sounds fantastic. One for the wishlist for sure!

source

The Nordic Collection Gift Set from Inner-Soul Organics (£24.50) is a lovely pampering treat and would be ideal for your friends or mum. The kit contains Scandinavian Decadence Bath and Body Salt Scrub 60ml (mini review), Scandinavian Decadence Shower Serum 30ml and Nordic Berry Bliss Hand & Body Salve 60ml (mini review). 

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YTTP The Set £95 - which includes Cleanser, Serum and Cream. I've got an upcoming review of the Cleanser and Serum both of which are fabulous. This is a great set. Get 10% off with code YOUTH10.

Are any of these on your Christmas wishlist?

*PR samples