My Oils & Serums Stash

Random Surfer who follow me on twitter asked a while back if I'd do a post on my oils and serums. I promised (but just hadn't got round to it). So here it is better late than never! 

I have reviewed quite a few of them but there are some new additions which are awaiting review. Here goes..

Oils:

And up closer..

Kiss the Moon After Dark Face Oil 5ml which is a super luxe and pampering oil which smells beautiful. See my thoughts HERE.

Not even out the box yet is Dr Botanics Vegan Advanced Anti-Oxidant Superfood Facial Oil*. I've just received this to review so look out for a review shortly.

Holistic Green Beauty Orchid Cellular Protection Oil 20ml* this beautiful oil has been created by Danny (Holistic Green Beauty blog) and is one from a range of products. You can see my review HERE.

Ooh! Oils of Heaven are a new to me brand and I'm looking forward to testing the range out. I received both the mini set* (Organic Argan, Organic Rosehip, Organic Moringa and Natural Cacay) and the full size Organic Baobab* from Love Lula via their Accredited Blogger Program - so expect reviews soon!

Estelle & Thild Superbioactive Repairing Oil Complex 30ml* is beautiful used in conjunction with their BioDefense Multi-Action Youth Serum* see my review of both of them HERE.

Algenist Advanced Anti-Ageing Repairing Oil 7ml which I received in a SpaceNK GWP. I've still to review this one.

Viridian Ultimate Beauty Organic Rose Oil 15ml* is deeply nourishing and has a beautiful rose scent. It really is a luxe oil and perfect for coming into Autumn/Winter. See my review HERE.

I just recently reviewed Alucia Organics Rosehip Oil 30ml* which is a really beautiful nourishing oil. See my review HERE.

Angela Langford Bloom & Glow Radiance Restoring Face Oil 15ml* which nourishes and cares for the skin leaving it glowy and healthy. See my review HERE.

I picked up this tiny Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Revitalising Face Oil 3ml as a sample. It's really lovely like all Aromatherapy Associates products!

Just peeking from the corner of the photo is the gorgeous l'etoile infinie elixir 30ml* from ARgENTUM Apothecary which I'm nearly ready to review. 

Mitchell & Peach Flora No.1 Fine Radiance Face Oil 10ml came in a YOU Beauty Box and featured in a shopping my stash post.

Clarins Blue Orchid Treatment Oil 5ml which is a cult Clarins product. Rich and super nourishing it is the perfect product to use for a home facial treatment. Lush!

I recently reviewed MOA's fabulous Aphrodite Facial Oil* and you can see my thoughts HERE.

Indie Lee was I think the first brand I tried from a beautiful world and it's still very much a favourite today. I love her Squalane Facial Oil 1oz (it's just SO good) You can see my review HERE. 

Blue Labelle Light & Balancing Facial Oil 10ml which smells gorgeous. It uses a blend of Geranium, Sweet Orange & Frankincense and you can see my review HERE.

I'm nearing the end of Plant ØÅ Face Oil 30ml* which I absolutely loved. See my review HERE. 

I've still got a teeny bit of my de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil 20ml which was from last Autumn! See my review HERE.

Huge love for Bodhi & Birch (and a real pleasure to meet founder Elijah Choo at last in August - it was so lovely to also meet Andy (Pampered Prince) too). I adore both Neroli Luce and Desert Rose (review) face oils.

Mallow + White Revitalise Facial Oil 30ml* I'm actually on my last few drops of this one! See my review HERE.

AD Organic Rose Geranium Nourishing Night Treatment 50ml which came in a YOU Beauty Box. It's really lovely. I haven't actually done a review of this one but way back in 2012 I reviewed their original Nourishing Night Treatment - see HERE.

MV Organics Pure Jojoba 35ml which came to me via a Cult Beauty GWP. I've used it a few times and it seems lovely.

Serums:

When I first got the NIOD products I used them night and day but now I just use a few times a week. I have MMHC and CAIS 1.00% in my stash. I know they are not "green" but I find they do help with lines other oils and serums do not!

The FoM London Hydra Plump Serum sample came in my September Love Lula Beauty Box and I'm excited to try it!

My pal Julie and me exchange Birthday and Christmas gifts and this Su-Man Velvet Skin Serum Brightening Serum 15ml came from her! It feels really luxurious on the skin and is perfect to use before applying make up. Definitely want to try more from the range.

Estelle & Thild Super BioActive Age Control Serum* (mentioned above with the matching oil).

YTTP Serum* 1oz is absolutely fantastic! It instantly tightens and brightens and is made with ingredients such as Kale, Tripeptide 37, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid. Love! 

A.S Apothecary Facial Serum #3 25ml* is one of the most luxurious serums I've used. See my review HERE.

Bee Good Hydrate, Smooth & Prime Serum 30ml* is just fantastic. See my review HERE.

Nearly there...

A few months back I won Terre Verdi's 1st Instagram competition and picked for one of my items their Balancing Facial Serum (review). Their FranChouliPom Facial Serum came in Edition #5 of the Pure Natural Box (initial thoughts) and I can't wait to try it!

One of the most luxurious serums I have ever tried has got to be Emma Hardie's Midas Touch Face Serum 15ml I just love everything about it. It makes my skin look radiant and nourished, it feels lovely on the skin and smells amazing. Really love it!

I received the duo of Odacite* products from Face Gym and you can see my thoughts on Gt +L (Green Tea & Lemongrass)* and C a R (Wild Carrot) serums* HERE. I'm a huge fan of the brand.

AEOS Realive Serum 30ml* came in a set and you can see my thoughts HERE. It is a really beautiful product.

Tata Harper's Rejuvenate Serum 30ml again came in a GWP and gulp I've not really tried it much!

What's in your Oils & Serums stash and do we share a love of any product?

*PR samples

Shopping My Stash #80

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

Avalon Organics Clarifying Shampoo 325ml - this is probably the best clarifying shampoo I've ever used. It's great for getting rid of product build up and refreshing the hair. See my review HERE. I spotted the range for sale when last in Waitrose.

4160Tuesdays London 1969 - this is my second bottle of this lush scent. See my thoughts on it HERE.

Plant ØÅ Face Oil 30ml* - simply love this balancing oil. See my review HERE.

Evolve Beauty Lip Treat sample - this lip balm came in Evolve's sample pack. It's really lovely and I'll buy full size when it's finished. It deeply nourishes the lips and has a mouthwatering orange scent.

John Masters Organics Sea Mist - I'm absolutely obsessed with this product just now and used it every single day on holiday. Just recently picked up the full size. It's one of my favourite products this summer.

I came across Bramley Products on holiday and their Body Lotion with Juniper berry and Bergamot smells fantastic. It detoxifies and moisturises the skin.

I've fallen in love with every Gallinée product I've tried! Their La Culture Hand Cream* is just amazing - see my review HERE. 

What have you been reaching for this week?

*PR samples

November Empties

Where has this year gone! I can't believe I'm writing the second last empties post of 2015! Here's what I've been using in November:

ila Bath Soak for Pure Relaxation 50ml* - huge fan of this lovely relaxing non-foaming soak. Full size is on the wishlist. This little one came in the recent Naturisimo De-Stress & Unwind Discovery Box.

Ravenscourt Apothecary Indian Jasmine Bathing Salts 250g - these were lovely to use, smelled gorgeous and contained little jasmine petals. I love the simple but chic packaging. Would buy again.

Humble Natural Beauty Bath Honey Rose & Frankincense 300ml* - this was really luxurious. Will definitely buy again. See my review HERE.

PLANT GET IT ON Body Wash 30ml - I simply loved this woody and spicy scented wash and would buy full size. See my review of their CALM DOWN wash here.

Kneipp Balancing Lavender Herbal Bath 20ml* - I really enjoyed this relaxing soak. Would buy full size. See my mini review here.

Balm Balm Relax All over Balm 30ml* - I loved this. See my mini review HERE. Will definitely buy this again. I also am keen to try out some of the other scents. Great value (would make a great stocking filler).

Neom Inspiration Hand Cream 50ml - this was a magazine freebie a long time ago. Neom don't do this scent anymore or mini hand creams.

LJs Natural Natural Solutions Organic Purity Rose Body Oil 50ml - this is a really lush body oil scented with roses which is gentle enough to use on the face. See my review HERE. Will buy again when I use up most of the oils in my stash.

Marble & Milkweed Nourishing Body Oil - I simply adore this rose/cardamon scented lush oil. Just cracked open a new bottle. See my review HERE. It is expensive but worth it and such a lovely treat.

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum Sample (£5.95) - this super luxe sample serum is lovely. I got two uses and it left my skin glowing. Full size is £150!

Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner Sample - this came from the recent ABW box. Nice to use and one I'd consider buying full size.

Balmology Exotic Rose Beauty Oil 4ml - I bought this generous size sample from Naturisimo. Loved everything about this oil and would buy full size once my stash reduces.

Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo 265ml - Tracey from Face Up Beauty raved about this product on her blog. I found it very effective and I've just cracked open my second bottle!

Nourish Illuminating Golden Glow Face Shimmer 30ml* - this is one of my favourite products from Nourish. See my review HERE. I'm already using another one. Love it. 

What have you been using up this month?

*PR samples

A Beautiful World A/W '15 Sampler Box

I broke my spending ban after 71 days (yes, really) and picked up the a beautiful world A/W '15 Sampler Box (£20 plus £3.95 P&P with next day delivery). 

I just couldn't resist! See my thoughts on previous boxes - S/S '15, A/W '14, S/S '14 and A/W '13.

The first thing which jumped out at me was new brand to a beautiful world - Youth to the People Kale+Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Cleanser (1oz) straight from California which I'm really looking forward to testing out. Watch this space for a review!

Next up, two Indie Lee minis - I'm already a fan of Squalane Facial Oil - see my review here*. So I'm really looking forward to trying the CoQ-10 Toner sample.

The body deli Living Hair Shampoo & Conditioner are fantastic. See my review HERE* - I'm happy to see these lovely minis in the box.

Intensae Nail Lacquer (Muse) this is full size and worth £14.45. It's a lovely sparkly shade perfect for Christmas time.

PLANT GET IT ON Bodywash 30ml - I've already tried a couple of the full size washes from PLANT. This has a gorgeous scent with sandalwood, cedar and ginger. See my review of CALM DOWN here*. 

SW Basics Make Up Remover 30ml - I've not tried this product before. Love that this range uses as few ingredients as possible.

SW Basics Cocoa Lip Balm 4.5g Full size (£4) - I'm a huge fan of these lush lip balms and first reviewed them when the company was called Sprout - see my review here.

The item I'm not going to use is Helen Dowsley Ethically Sourced Handmade Lashes - I'm just not really a false lash fan. These ones are already lined up for someone though!

Did you get the box? What are your thoughts?

*previous items reviewed have been PR samples

PLANT ØÅ Face Oil

I've been testing out PLANT's OA Face Oil* (30ml - £26.95). PLANT makes apothecary and gourmet goods with a conscience. From a Brooklyn based design studio with an online shop and wholesale distribution PLANT was founded by Holly McWhorter and Bjarke Ballisager, a husband and wife team.

I have already tried and loved the gorgeous CALM DOWN body wash* (review) so I was really excited to try one of the new facial oils now available at a beautiful world.

The face oil I've been testing is suitable for Normal & Combination skin types (there is also ones available for dry and oily skins). See more details here.

Holly and Bjarke design and formulate all products either together or independently and they both have a passion for the environment, natural beauty and grooming.  I love that the products are made with the help of adults with physical and mental disabilities which in turn gives them access to training and paid work.

In Danish, “Ø” means island (dry) and an “Å” is a creek (wet) which symbolizes an oil that combines lightweight and rich moisturizers for both normal and combination dry/oily skin.

One of the things that first jumped out at me was the oil contains Sea Buckthorn which is one of my favourite oils. I also love the simple but stylish packaging. The facial oil is really lovely to use and leaves the skin nourished and looking radiant. The blend for Normal/Combination skins contains Rosmary, Sweet Orange and Ginger along with Sweet Almond, Macadamia Nut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sea Buckthorn, Pomegranate Seed Oils along with Vitamin E.

To use: rub 4 drops in the palms before massaging into face and neck. My thoughts? An absolutely fantastic oil which absorbs instantly, smells fantastic (with a ginger kick) and leaves my skin nourished and rejuvenated.

Have you tried this or one of the other facial oils?

*PR sample

Spending Ban: Update & Wants #2

I had a teeny tiny spend in Sephora Paris. But I'd factored that in to my Spending ban rules. It would have been easy to buy up the shop! haha - next time!

As I've been away I've not really been tempted by any online deals (whew) but I do have a few wants which I'll be adding to the wishlist - I'll come back to them at the end of my ban and see if I still really do want them. You can see my initial post about the ban HERE.

Here's what I would have bought this week:

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G Baldwin & Co Revitalising Bath Salts (310g - £7.49) - these revitalising salts are enriched with Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon Essential Oils to revive and awaken both the mind and body. 

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OA Face Oil by PLANT (9.5fl oz - £26.95) - I adore facial oils with Sea Buckthorn in them. This oil is suitable for Normal/Combination skins and you can pick it up at a beautiful world. 

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Savon Stories Rose & Geranium with Rose Petals Castile Soap (£9) - I first became aware of these beautiful soaps when Galina over at A Curious Russian in London tweeted about them. They look super gorgeous and if I'm honest I want them all! See the full range available here.

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African Botanics Neroli Infused Marula Oil (£60 - 60ml) - a luxe facial treatment scented with Neroli which helps balance, brighten and restore. Bet this smells gorgeous!

Look out for my further updates and shopping my stash posts. Have you tried any of the above products?

a beautiful world S/S '15 Sampler Box

I think I was the last person to receive their a beautiful world S/S '15 Sampler Box. Luckily for me, Liz tracked it down - thanks Liz! I picked it up at the Post Office yesterday morning.

The box costs a bargainous £20 plus P&P. I'm pretty pleased with mine. I think they sold out in 15 minutes or so! All boxes are slightly different. You can see what Ria got here and what Karen got in her box here.

I was surprised to receive a full size product of PLANT's Rosemary & Lemongrass WAKE UP Body Wash. I've tried the brand's CALM DOWN Body Wash and you can see my review HERE.

The next item to grab my attention was Olivine's Love+Salt Beach Hair & Body Mist (2oz) which smells of coconut. Love! Looking forward to testing this out. I also recently tried the brand's Love+Roses Beauty Mist see my review HERE.

There is a Schmidt's Natural Deodorant in Lavender+Sage mini pot which I've used before and loved. See my review HERE as well as new brand to me and a beautiful world (it hasn't actually launched there yet) COOLA - I received a 5ml tube of Classic Sunscreen SPF 30 - its not a huge sample but I'll give it a whirl.  I'm hoping a beautiful world will be stocking their Lotion Bars.

Huge Indie Lee fan, inside is a Brightening Cleanser sample tube which smells of strawberries. So looking forward to trying in my morning shower.

There's also a Josh Rosebrook sample size pot of his Cacao Antioxidant Mask which I can't wait to try. It brightens, detoxifies and firms the skin and smells delicious!  The final beauty item is by The Body Deli - Solar Day Cream in a mini pot which has SPF15 and protects against environmental and sun damage. Huge fan of this brand so looking forward to using.

The box also includes a cream coloured branded tote bag (always useful), a washbag size Tili bag and a cute pencil. Mine says "you are amazing" which made me smile and there is a voucher code for 20% off any future purchase.

What did you get in your box?