Spending Ban Update

Well I'm now fifteen days into my spending ban and on day 10 I caved! Oops. Pai Skincare had a special offer - buy a BioAffinity Toner and get a 50ml Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser (worth £12.50) FREE!  I chose the Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner (£30 for 50ml). I've used both these products before and you can see my reviews here and here. I'm so looking forward to using this amazing toner again!  The offer runs until the 19th May.

On Monday, I was browsing in Crabtree & Evelyn and had a spray of their new Somerset Meadow scent - simply gorgeous with wild flowers, ivy, waterlily, blackberry and bergamot.  Yesterday I went back and picked up the perfume gel (£12 for 12ml). As a VIP card holder I got 15% off making it £10.20. Yvonne, one of the advisors in the Edinburgh branch gave me a sample pot of the hand cream - I love Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams.  A full review will follow.

For the rest of the month I'm not spending! Onto my wants - I've been using the gorgeous paperblanks* journal I was gifted during my last spending ban.

How is your spending ban coming along?


*complimentary - sent for use during my 100 day spending ban

Spending Ban - Update 10

Again I've had two splurges this week.  I signed up to a new green beauty box SoukSouk which costs £12.00 plus £2.95 P&P.  You can also subscribe for 6 months (£60 plus P&P) or a year (£120 plus P&P).  The April box looks fantastic and a bonus is I'll use everything the box contains.

On Friday after reading Ana's review a 10ml bottle of Botanicals Anti-Ageing Hand & Nail Serum slipped into my basket.  I also picked up a "free" duo of mini samples of Rose & Camellia Cleansing Melt (5g) and Mint & Tea Tree Foot Balm (5g). (you can also pick these freebies up separately paying £1.95 postage).

Onto my wants:

Willow Organic Relaxation Box - £25 - Jasmine & Geranium Bath Oil, candle and natural soap.  I've used these products once before (I received this beautiful set as a birthday gift) and loved them.  Great for pampering and smells gorgeous.

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By Terry Cellularose Brightening Serum £75 - adds luminosity to the skin, brightens, adds radiance and evens out skintone.  It sounds totally luxurious!

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Serena Linley Iris & Jasmine Bath Essence 15ml - £15 - you know I adore bath oils so this sounds just gorgeous.  See the website here.

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Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte Pressed Powder £36 - needing a new powder and love Chanel's luxe packaging and make up. I think I'll buy this with my birthday money.

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Giorgio Armani Rose D'Arabie EDP 100ml - £190 - with notes of rose, saffron, patchouli, woods and amber.  Fancied this scent for a while now but just too expensive.  Nice to dream though!

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Acqua di Parma Iris Noble Perfumed Soaps 3 x 100g £40 - I am a sucker for beautifully perfumed soaps and these sound pure luxury.  I've tried the perfume and its gorgeous.

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Stila Colour Balm Lipstick £16 - Amelia &  Ruby Shades. Fully pigmented shades with a nourishing balm texture.

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How is your spending ban going?  Have you used any of these products?

Spending Ban - Update 9

I broke my spending ban again in Week 9.

I bought a Little Beauty Box from Latest in Beauty - not had one of these in ages and I bought the new Elemis Cleanser - Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.  See my post on it here. On Sunday night I bought the Latest in Beauty Organic & Natural Box which was £4.95 with free P&P.

I'm still enjoying using my paperblanks* journal to record my spending and wants.

Onto my wants for this week -

Chantecaille Frangipane EDP 75ml - I've owned this perfume once before and I spotted it in Harvey Nichols last week.  Definitely one to save up for! It has notes of Frangipane flowers, vanilla, musk, ylang ylang, jasmine, orange and violets.  Simply gorgeous!

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Elemental Herbology Watermelon & Cucumber Body Moisturiser 240ml - also spotted this at the SpaceNK counter at Harvey Nichols last week.  Smells beautiful. Light and fresh. Ideal for summer.

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Miller Harris La Fumee Incense - I've always wanted to try this incense as I love the smoky scent of the perfume.

Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Conditioning Creme 178ml - this sounds absolutely lovely but at that price I won't be buying it any time soon - nice to dream though!

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REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil 30ml - one of my favourite bath oils.  I would love a full size bottle again as I seem to have been using minis lately.

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Serge Lutens sa Majeste la Rose EDP 50ml - another perfume I have owned before.  Absolutely gorgeous I'd love another bottle! With Turkish, Bulgarian and Moroccan Rose.

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What are you "wanting" this week?

*complimentary sample

Spending Ban - Update 7

I was good in week 7 - well apart from buying Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping and Glamour magazine for the freebies!  Still enjoying using my paperblanks* journal to record my spends and wants.

Here are my wants this week - a small (but expensive!) list -

I read in a magazine that Prada were bringing out a new lighter version of Prada Candy - Candy L'Eau EDT - super excited as Prada Candy is one of my all time favourite scents.  It has notes of musk, sweet pea, mandarin and lemon.  Looking forward to going to the counter to try it.

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Lancome Genitique Yeux Light Pearl - newest eye cream on the block!  It comes with a massaging applicator.

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Finally, a product from a brand which I think are amazing Creme de la Mer.  I've had a sample of this particular moisturising lotion and I loved it.  I can dream!

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What products are you wanting this week?  How is your spending ban?

*complimentary sample

Spending Ban - Update 5

It's day 36 in the spending ban (nearly half way!)  I had a great week last week. I'm still loving using my paperblanks* journal to record my spending and wants.

My wants list is an expensive one this week!

Undergreen Pink EDP 100ml - this sounds gorgeous!  See above in the journal for the notes it contains.

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OV Naturals Rosy Glow Luxury Organic Moisturiser 60ml - A gorgeous moisturiser.  I reviewed the smaller 15ml size last week.  You can see that here.

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Jo Loves Orange Tulle 30ml - I knew Jo Malone had her own range out and had fancied the Gardenia scent for a while.  I read a review on Thom's blog Manface and knew I'd love this citrus fruit based scent - with notes of orange flower, mandarin, mint leaves, neroli, petigrain and musk.

Another product that Thom reviewed recently was Jo Loves Lemongrass, Amber, Tiare Flower Candle - it sounds gorgeous - lemongrass burns first, then amber and then tiare flower.  Expensive though at £75 for 255g jar.  The packaging and actual product look very luxurious though.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant+ 30ml - recently used the mini that came in the YOU Latest in Beauty Advent Calendar - gorgeous! Nardine at Live...Laugh...Love just sent me two minis - thanks huni!

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OV Naturals Petal Soft Skin Rose Hamper £35 - look how gorgeous this hamper is!  Stuffed full of gorgeous mini OV Naturals products - Rosy Glow Moisturiser, Triple Rose Face Oil, soaps, a toner, a hair decoration and a beautiful Fairtrade rattan basket - great for storing beauty item.

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How is your spending ban going?  What products are you wanting this week?

*complimentary

Spending Ban - Update 3

Things are going quite well surprisingly although I did buy InStyle magazine for the free beauty supplement.  It gives me hours of enjoyable reading and deciding what products I want to try.  I also picked up my free L'Occitane Hand Cream for L'Occitane reaching 75k fans on Facebook.  I picked Shea Butter (30ml) worth £8.  I also got a nice surprise parcel from Grace at All that Slap Blog - thanks so much Grace!  There is a little surprise in the post to you.

I'm still enjoying using my paperblanks* journal for recording my spending/wants.  I think after the ban finishes I'll use it for blog post ideas and keep recording wants.

Here are the things I've been wanting this week:

RMS BeautyLip2Cheek in Smile - £28 - a tinted mineral stain which can be used on lips and cheeks.  Such a pretty shade.

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The Organic Pharmacy Rose Balm (£25 for 10ml) - A new product from The Organic Pharmacy - a multi-purpose balm suitable for lips, nails, hair, and dry skin on the face and body.  Contains Rose, Marigold, Argan Oil, Vitamin E, Rosehip and Shea Butter.  I love a multi-purpose product and I bet this one smells divine!

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Mitchell & Peach Kentish Cobnut Scrub (£36 for 260g) - I read about this in the beauty pages of Psychologies magazine last week.  Sounds like just my kind of scrub - I like a gritty one and this contains ground shell from cobnuts, sugar, coconut, sweet almond and palmarosa, honey and lavender essential oil.

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Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - £20 - have read so many great reviews about these especially Mez's at All Made Up.

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Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm (£6.09 - 28g) - this sounds ideal for de-stressing and calm.

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Tara Smith Shampoo & Conditioner - I'm unable to download a photo but you can pick this vegan and natural hair care range at M&S.

How is your spending ban going?  Have you been tempted to buy anything?

*complimentary sample

Spending Ban - Update 2

I am actually finding the spending ban not too bad although in week 2 I found  I was tempted by things..  Grace's Blog Sale caught my eye and I especially wanted the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Exfoliating Cleanser and the Nourish Toner grrr...

Here is how my week has been...mid-week is definitely snacking day!

I am really making lots of use of my beautiful paperblanks* journal.  So handy for jotting down my spending/wants.

Here are my wants for week 2 -

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint minis - I read about these on The Sunday Girl blog and they sound amazing!

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Jimmy Choo Flash EDP - absolutely hate the name but know I will love this scent because I adore tuberose & gardenia notes.

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Nourish Radiance Body Treats Set - I've not tried any nourish products yet but this body set appeals - shower gel, flannel, hand lotion and body butter.

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Melvita Rose Nectar Milky Cleansing Oil - just read about this recently and so want to try!  Generally love Melvita products (and rose scents).

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The Alpha-H set from WIMH was an absolute killer - so wanted to buy it - but restrained! It is now sold out!

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Not beauty but a book I really want to read by Maggie O'Farrell is out in February (fingers crossed for amazon vouchers at my birthday!). I've read her other books and they are all amazing!

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Are you on the spending ban? How are you doing?  What things are you "wanting" this week?

*complimentary sample

Spending Ban - Update 1

A whole week has passed since I started my 100 Day Spending Ban and I've only been tempted by the Abahna Sale but I managed to resist.

paperblanks* sent me this beautiful journal to record my spending - at the front I'm recording my spending and at the back writing down my current  "wants".  The journal is from the Silver Filigree Collection - Shadow Classic Mini.

"The filigree pattern adorning the cover was originally designed and handcrafted in Germany circa 1800.  The art of filigree is a moving testament to the human drive to ornament in order to delight the eye and the spirit".

I only spent £15.40 in week 1 - and it was mainly bus fares apart from mid week when I needed chocolate and crisps!  I think I need to start walking to work (well maybe home from work!)

These are the products I'm lusting after this week:

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Roques O'Neil Discover Me Set - a beautiful little set with a selection of pamper products.

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Robert Piguet Blossom EDP 100ml - this scent sounds gorgeous with notes of orange blossom and neroli - a great spring/summer scent.

Trilogy Smooth & Nourish Shampoo 250ml and Trilogy Smooth & Nourish Conditioner 250ml - from the new haircare line.

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Laura Mercier Ambre Vanille Honey Bath - I've just finished a mini of the creme brulee one and it was gorgeous.  I read an amazing review of this product on Thom's blog.

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REN Citrus Limonum Prebiotic Hand Cream - I read a review on The Beauty Shortlist which made me want to try this.

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Temple Spa Body Truffle - I absolutely adore the Skin Truffle so was super excited to hear about the launch of Body Truffle.

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So that's my wants for this week.  At the end of my spending ban I'll do a round up of which products I'm going to buy.  Are you doing the spending ban?


*free sample