October Empties

Here's what I've used up in October. If a product is marked * I was kindly given it to review. Not many this month!

Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Butter 30ml - I revisited this lush scented body product over summer. It's deeply nourishing with an exotic aroma. Sure to buy again at some point.

I adore Nudge Boutique's Whipped Body Butter with May Chang & Pink Grapefruit. See my review HERE. I've just opened a new one. Absolutely love it!

Old favourite Therapie Roques O'Neil Himalayan Detox Salts 100g - huge fan and must stock up again. These are one of the first bath salts I tried and still the best.

CiTY SURViVOR Pollution Protection Daily Multi-Vitamin with Antioxidants 60 caps* are fantastic. See my review HERE. Sure to buy again at some point.

Rounding up my October empties is rahua's Enchanted Island Salt Spray 124ml* - a fantastic salt mist which I reviewed HERE. On the wishlist!

What have you been using up this month?

Shopping my Stash #117

It's been a while since I last shopped my stash but as I'm on a low spend this year (although I have had a few splurges recently after finding out about lockdown again and feeling low about it) I'm planning on shopping my stash a lot more. I'd like to spend this year on operation use up, mainly enjoying what I have. If an item is marked * I've been given it to review.

My Avon rep, Alice gave me a sample of newish perfume Lucky Me EdP and I fell head-over-heels and had to buy a full size bottle! The perfume is woodsy and warm and contains notes of sparkling fizz accord, vanilla orchid and sandalwood. It's one of my favourite Avon scents, so easy to wear as well as lovely.

BOUCLEME's Toning Drops are absolutely fantastic. They banish brassiness and bring back vibrancy to your colour. Add to your shampoo or conditioner to lift and brighten blond, silver or highlighted hair. My only bugbear is the drops are so slow to come out of the bottle otherwise, it's a fantastic product.

rahua's Enchanted Island Salt Spray* is perfect for tousled beachy waves (and perfect for lockdown hair!). See my review HERE. I also love that it's presented in glass rather than plastic.

I'm a huge fan of DESAVERY's Stellar Daily Serum (truly life changing - see my musings HERE). Their LIT! Daily Serum* is also fantastic and I'm using up my last few drops. See my review HERE. Since discovering it last year it's one of my all time favourite brands.

I love beautiful Plenaire Rose Jelly which I also discovered last year. I'll be sad to see this little beauty go! See my review HERE.

Have you tried any of these products?

Top Products 2020: September to December

This year I broke up top beauty and books into little chunks. See my top beauty products January - April HERE and May - August HERE. If an item is marked * I was kindly gifted it for review. 

Here's what I loved and rated in September:

Discovering Scottish brand, Raven Botanicals. The girls very kindly sent me a few samples* to try and review. See HERE. It's a simply stunning range, carefully formulated and hard working as well as gorgeous.

A perfume which has been on the wishlist a while before I snapped it up is Rahua's gorgeous Palo Santo Oil Perfume. See my review HERE. Simply stunning.

So much love for beautiful Ffern Organic Small Batch Perfume. Autumn 20 is simply exquisite. See my review HERE. So much love for this co!

Rounding up September's top picks is John Master's Organics Maximum Moisturizer with Mandarin & Glycoproteins* which I received free of charge as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger for review. It's a fantastic hydrator and perfect for autumn and winter skin. See my review HERE.

In October, Naturisimo brought out a fantastic range of starter kits. I reviewed their Moisturisers one HERE they're great for beauty lovers and beginners alike!

I also had the pleasure of trying Charlie Miller award-winning Haircare & Styling products* which are absolutely fantastic. See my review HERE. 

I treated myself to Inika's Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol Serum after trying a sample. It makes my skin glow! Check out my review HERE.

As soon as it launched I had to have Kiss the Moon's Relaxing Eye Pillow with DREAM Aromatherapy Drops. The set's simply stunning. See my review HERE.

Coming into November there was more Raven Botanicals love when I tried their 24 Carat Oil to Milk Cleanser which takes cleansing to another level. Check out my review HERE.

I also loved ila spa's The Big Sleep Drops which really do what they say on the bottle! See my review HERE.

My skin loves NeuroSkinFeeds The MicroOil* which intensely rejuvenates the skin and senses. See my review HERE.

In December, I reviewed nknaturals full Autumn mini Seasonal Collection - see HERE and two items from the current Winter collection - see HERE. I just love these carefully formulated seasonal collections.

Rounding up my top picks for December is Skin Elixir's Magnificent Night Oil* which I reviewed HERE. 

Do we share any top picks for 2020?

October Empties

Here are my October empties, products marked with * I've kindly been gifted for review.

HASK Rose Oil & Peach Color Protect Deep Conditioner 50g - this was a LIB pick and I got two uses from the sachet. Nice to use and does what it says on the tin (beautiful scent too). Will pick up again.

rahua Shower Gel 22ml - nice enough but hasn't got the wow factor of some of their other products. Wouldn't purchase.

*Desavery DREAM Oil Cleanser 10ml - I first tried the brand as a Beauty Shortlist Judge last year and fell head-over-heels. This cleansing oil was no different. See my review HERE. I'll definitely buy at some point. An absolutely stunning brand.

Zing Organics Ah There! Body Oil 25ml - I love Zing and their quirkiness as well as their hardworking and effective products. This body oil was lush! See my review HERE. My bodycare stash is huge but I'd buy this again.

Avon Cannabis Sativa Oil Restore & Calm Hand and Body Balm 150ml - nice to use with a fresh herbal scent. It has a cream-balm type texture which melted onto the skin quickly. I've already bought another!

Avon Zen Mandarin & Jasmine Handwash 280ml - cheap as chips with a glorious scent. This is my favourite Avon handwash which I buy again and again. I'd love if they'd consider doing a refill pack.

Sol de Janerio Coco Cabana Cream 25ml - nice-ish to use (it has a gel type texture rather than a cream) but not a patch on the original bum bum vanilla-y cream. Wouldn't buy.

rahua Leave-In Treatment 5ml sachet - this is one of the rahua goodies. Absolutely gorgeous product (you only need a tiny bit). I got four uses out of this sachet. Full size is on the wishlist!

My final item this month is a 0.7ml sachet from Decleor - their Aromessence Neroli Amara Oil Serum. I used to use Decleor so it was nice to revisit! 

What have you been using up this month?

Feel Unique: Pick & Mix

I do love Feel Unique's Pick 'n' Mix which gives you the chance to try 5 free samples a month for free essentially - pay £3.95 for postage & handling and get it back as a voucher code to spend on your next purchase. 

I'd actually chosen a different Moroccanoil sample than the one that arrived but I'm happy to try their new Blow Dry Concentrate 2ml which will give me a couple of uses. I adore Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Joia Shampoo & Conditioner and inside are two sachets, each 10ml of their Shampoo & Conditioner (I'm keeping these ones for travel). I also picked their lush perfume SOL Cheirosa '62 EdP vial (I love the caramel vanilla buttery scent).

Rounding up my picks are sachets of Rahua's Leave-in Treatment 5ml and Vichy's Neovadiol Rose Platinum Night Cream 1ml (the latter of which I'd recently read about in a magazine).

Do you pick up pick 'n' mix from Feel Unique? Have you found any buy-agains from sampling?

Rahua Palo Santo Oil Perfume

Rahua's Palo Santo Oil Perfume (10ml - £32) has been on the wishlist a while. So when Naturisimo were recently offering 10% off for the Bank Holiday I snapped it up!

 

The perfume oil comes in a weighty and luxurious glass roller-ball bottle with recyclable box. It has the unmistakable Palo Santo "holy wood" scent. Palo Santo has been used by Shamans since the Inca period for it's medicinal and spiritual purifying benefits - it's believed to protect, heal, promote energy and cleanse "mala energia" (bad energy).

The energising and uplifting blend is formulated with highest quality plant oils, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Rahua Ungurahua, Geranium Flower Oil, Sacha Inchi, Moretel Fruit Oil and Gardenia Oil. The blend is spicy, sweet and woody with hints of citrus and I'm a huge fan.

To use: apply to pulse points as needed.

What are your favourites from Rahua?

Latest Buys: Naturisimo, Pink Lagoon Crystals, Olfactory, NorthburN, Anenome Aromas

I know, I know I'm still treating myself too much! Here's what I've been buying lately:

I'd spotted Fushi's new uplifting Coconut & Frangipani Body Wash (glass bottle) (230ml - £10) and couldn't resist it. The fragrance sounded perfect for summer as well as cooling and refreshing. The gentle exotic scent is delicious. A lovely product. I fancied rahua's new Enchanted Island Lotion Mist and spotted that a smaller, travel size (30ml) was available at £16. Again, it has a beautiful tropical scent and absorbs instantly - it'd be perfect to pack for your next beach hol. I was desperate to try Josh Rosebrook's new Enfleuria Botanical Fragrance Oil but full size 15ml costs a whopping £150! A little sample vial (1.5ml costs a fiver). This is stunning, one to save up for! Reviews to come!

I've got a total obsession with wax melts at the moment and these Vegan ones by Pink Lagoon Crystals are simply stunning as well as smelling divine. Check out my little instagram post listing all the scents HERE. Almost to pretty to melt!

I love Scottish Olfactory - their Red Delicious Apple Little Melts are truly mouthwatering - they smell just like a juicy red apple. Yum! Pick yours up HERE. These cost £4.50 for 8 little red heart melts. Check out the MiSi Melts too - they are excellent value at 75p per melt (or pick up a bundle).

NorthburN's Gift of the Month is always such great value. This month there are 10 Lime & Coconut Melts, 6 long lasting unscented tealights and a 50ml Reed Diffuser which costs £12 saving £6. It's the perfect scent for summer and a great value set.

I picked up Anenome Aroma's August Box which is entitled "Mad about Jo" (£15) and inside are lots of Jo Malone inspired scents - Wild Strawberry & Parsley, Blackberry & Bay, Pear & Freesia, Peony Suede Blush, Bluebell Woods and Lime Basil & Mandarin. I was really impressed - you get a lot for your money - and the brittle and mermaid slab are gorgeous! Owner and founder, Charley had been disappointed with the ranges available and decided to create her own, developing the ranges while on maternity leave. Check out the shop HERE.

What have you been buying lately?

Naturisimo - Conscious Beauty Discovery Box

As you know, I can never resist a Naturisimo Discovery box! The latest one (still available, at time of writing) is Conscious Beauty Discovery Box and nestled inside are 5 items which are worth £92! Pick up the box for £18.95.

WOW, what a nice selection! And so, for a closer look..

I'm loving discovering more from French Absolution in these discovery boxes. Inside is their La Cure Peau Calme Anti-Redness Treatment (15 x 1ml) which is worth a whopping £47! They'll soothe redness, sensitivities, tightness and irritation immediately. My cheeks are sometimes a bit red and tight, so I'm looking forward to testing these out - expect a review soon.

From Rahua is a handy travel size of their Shower Gel 22ml which is the ideal try me size or for holidays. It's scented with lavender, eucalyptus and vanilla. I'm looking forward to trying it as it smells lush.

From Nourish is their Argan Anti-Aging Peptide Serum 15ml (£16) which is a great try me. I haven't actually reviewed this one before, although it's been in my stash! Looking forward to re-visiting.

Jane Iredale's Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain in Forever Pink 1.3g is an old favourite and I'm delighted to have a new one. It works with your skin's chemistry and mood so it can be any shade of pale pink to deep red!

Rounding up the collection is Juice Beauty's Illuminating Primer - Luminous 15ml (worth £19) which adds radiance to the complexion blurring lines and wrinkles. I've tried this once so far and it's fab!

A great box, what are your thoughts?

*Love Lula: Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray & Yin Yang Skincare MSM Cream

*sent to me free of charge as a member of the Love Lula Accredited Blogger program for an honest review (my post contains one affiliate link). You can see what I selected for July HERE. See my review of Earthkind's Shampoo for Dry & Coloured Hair HERE and the Crazy Rumors Zodiac Lip Balm HERE.

Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray (124ml - £32)* has been on my wishlist like forever! It's a luxurious blend of pink sea salt, for texture & volume, water, hydrating & softening guava, antioxidant rich hibiscus, balancing passion fruit and soothing aloe vera (and the scent is totally tropical!) and it helps to form the perfect beachy tousled waves. I took it on holiday along with the Ying Yang Skincare product (to enable me to continue testing them out). I think this is the best salt spray I've ever used. To use: mist through dry or damp hair from roots to ends, tousle and style. The salt spray is suitable for fine to normal hair types.

The second product I've been testing out is from Yin Yang Skincare which is a totally new to me brand which launched in 1973! Their MSM Cream for Joints & Muscles (60ml - £10.95)* has a delicious scent of fresh limes. It contains sulphur rich MSM which soothes tired and overworked muscles and joints. I've got an old knee injury and pain in my upper arm so I've been testing it out on those areas. To use: apply a small amount until absorbed. I've found it has a mild tingling sensation on application and that the cream absorbs almost instantly.

Paired with Essential Oil of Limes, which is thought to have anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antiviral and fever reducing properties and like sulphur is thought to be beneficial on the skin. The cream contains 9% MSM (3% elemental sulphur) and 0.7% Lime Essential Oil along with Wheatgerm, Coconut Oil, fermented Soy protein and hydrating spring water.

I wouldn't say my pain is cured but this cream has definitely soothed my aches and pains!  Have you tried either of these products?

*Love Lula: July Accredited Blogger Picks

I very generously received this selection free of charge as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger. I've decided going forward to do an initial post of my monthly picks and then, where necessary do fuller reviews later in the month when I've had a chance to test the products more fully (my post contains one affiliate link).

This month, my first selection was a product I've wanted to try for ages - Rahua's Enchanted Island Salt Spray (£32 - 124ml)* which is gorgeous! It's truly luxe and smells wonderful. I'll be testing this out over the month and reporting back. So far, so good.

My second pick this month was from a totally new to me brand - Yin Yang Skincare's MSM Cream for Joints and Muscles (£10.95 - 60ml)* which smells of fresh limes. It's a soothing cream which contains sulphur rich MSM which soothes tired and overworked muscles and joints. I've got muscular issues and an old knee injury so I'm looking forward to testing this out. Again, a full review will follow.

I love Crazy Rumors Vegan Lip Balms and couldn't resist one of their quirky Zodiac balms. ARIES is my star sign, so that's the one I picked up! The lip balms cost a very affordable £4.49 (4g) and a mini review will be forthcoming. Lush!

As you'll know Love Lula offer samples with a purchase over £10. I've tried a few of Inika's new skincare items but not all so picked up a selection of samples. So far, I know I want their Phytofuse Renew Resveratol Serum full size! I'll let you know my thoughts in my monthly empties post.

Occasionally Love Lula offer their Accredited bloggers an extra product if they can commit to reviewing it that month. After having loved EarthKind's Tea Tree & Eucalyptus Shampoo Bar for Improved Scalp Health* last month - REVIEW I was more than happy to try another in the range. Enter their Bergamot & Sage Shampoo Bar for Dry & Coloured Hair (£6.95 - 50g). I've tried this once so far - and I'm suitably impressed - I even felt it brightened what colour I have left in my hair (roll on my visit to the hairdressers later this month). It left my hair feeling nourished and hydrated. Again, expect a review later this month.

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what are your thoughts?

Naturisimo Wish List: Rahua, S'Well, ILIA, 100% Pure, REN

I'm always checking out Naturisimo's latest arrivals. These are the ones I'm adding to my current wishlist:

Rahua's Palo Santo Perfume Oil (20ml - £32) had already been spotted and wanted over at Content Beauty & Wellbeing. I need no more perfumes but adore the Palo Santo "holy wood" scent. Sure to pick this up soon.

I've been lusting after S'well's Easts Nesting Bowl in Blue Granite (£35) which keeps food hot/or cold. Perfect for taking lunch to work. It'll be mine and soon!

Not even landed yet but ILIA's brand new Super Serum Skin Tint Broad Spetrum SPF40 (30ml - £43) which gives the skin a tinted pop of colour while moisturising and protecting from the sun. NEED!

100% Pure Pure Yuzu & Pomelo Glossing Shampoo (both 236ml - £19.50) and Conditioner which I just love the sound of.

Rounding up my current wants is REN's latest launch - Perfect Canvas Jelly Cleanser (100ml - £25) which deeply cleans leaving the skin feeling comfortable and ready for moisture.

What's on your Naturisimo wishlist?

*credit - images from Naturisimo website

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?