Shopping my Stash #37

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

Willow Organic Beauty Gentle Cleansing Balm 120ml - a really gorgeous cleansing balm.  See my review here.

Yarok Feed your Ends Leave in Conditioner 2oz - I received this in my A/W '13 a beautiful world box. This product is fantastic. It smells amazing and leaves the hair lightly conditioned and smooth. Love, love, love.

raw gaia Organic Coconut Body Butter 15ml - I simply love companies who offer trial sizes.  Raw gaia have a huge selection - see here. A gorgeous body butter which smells of coconut and melts on contact with the skin. A full size is definitely being bought and soon!

raw gaia Organic Floral Face Toner 10ml - again another trial size. This is simply lovely. Refreshing and slightly floral scented.  My skin is loving it. Another one I'm buying full size.

Naturally Nourished Exotic Body Butter 90g - this is another company which offers trial sizes. I bought this not long after finishing the sample.  See my review here.

Shay & Blue Atropa Belladona natural spray fragrance 30ml - I bought this perfume blind. I'd read about it on The Sunday Girl blog and fell in love!  It's one of the nicest perfumes in my collection.  The fragrances are hand crafted in England and I'm definitely visiting their store next time I'm in London. With top notes of dark cassis berries, heart notes of white narcissus and jasmine with base notes of patchouli and bourbon vanilla. A fuller review will follow.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Plum Jam - I first saw this on Fleur's blog. It gives the lips a glossy wash of colour and tastes of vanilla. Gorgeous!

What have you been loving this week? 

Beside my Bed

I have this gorgeous little basket of goodies on the table beside my bed -

The basket came with the variation of my Sussex Rose Basket from Wellgreen Lewes- Amanda's friends make these lovely baskets with wild reed from Cyprus - isn't it gorgeous!

What's inside:

Wellgreen Lewes Rose Lip Balm 10ml - this is made for Quince, a flower & gift shop in Brighton - its packed full of nourishing oils, beeswax, runny honey and rose.  Gorgeous!

BRIXI Bee Balm - this gorgeous balm is made by Emy's mum and sold in her shop BRIXI, which is located at Brixton Village Arcade.  See my review here.

Spotner* - I suffer from age spots on the back of one of my hands (eugh). This can be caused by spending too much time in the sun over a period of time. A review (with photos!) will follow.

Badger Yoga & Meditation Balm - soothing and calming. Apply to temples or forehead. It has a nice lemony scent.

Sprout Cocoa Lip Balm - this is gorgeous! Sprout has been renamed to S W BASICS - you can buy at a beautiful world.  I reviewed it here.

Soap & Glory - A Great Kisser Lip Balm - in juicy peach - it's yummy.  See my review here.

Bee Fruitful Mandarin Lip Balm* - this is lovely with a hint of mandarin. This featured in Shopping my Stash #15.

Bathing Beauty GLOVE & SOCK* - see my review here. Gorgeous products for hands and feet.  (The super luxe rose & shea butter soap is pretty special too!)

L'Occitane Cuticle & Nail Cream 15ml - this is super-rich and I only use it at bedtime.

Mavala Cuticle Cream 15ml - received this in a nail set recently - again, a really rich product.  Great for softening and moisturising cuticles.

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15 - simply love the Fresh minis.  My friend at work picked a set up for me in Vegas last year - see my post  here.

Bodhi Cacao Cocoon Lip Treatment Balm 15g - supermoisturising and smells gorgeous.  See my review here.

Do you use any of these products? 

*PR sample

January Favourites

These are the products I've been using most this January:

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick - I bought this in one of my last hauls before my spending ban kicked in.  You can see that post here.  I got the shade plum jam and it is gorgeous for a subtle plummy wash of glossy colour with a vanilla scent.  Definitely want to pick up the other two shades after my spending ban! 

From the same haul I got two Super Facialist products which are amazing! Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil which is a pre-cleansing oil.  It removes all make up, even waterproof mascara with ease.  A full review will follow.  At the same time I bought the Rose Hydrate Calming Creamy Cleanser which you use after the facial oil.  Leaves skin super clean and hydrated and scented with roses.

OV Naturals Rosy Glow Luxury Organic Moisturiser* 15ml - Lucy sent me this and a 10ml tester bottle of Firm Friends* Face & Neck Oil just before Christmas.  The moisturiser is gorgeous, lightly scented with Damask Rose Otto.  A full review of both will follow.

Abahna Frangipani & Orange Blossom EDP 10ml - this came a beautiful gift box of minis I treated myself to.  It's in my favourite scent from Abahna and I love the fact that the atomiser is refillable.  Refills are £15 for 50ml.

What are your favourites this month?

*complimentary

Splurge!

I finally got up town to shop what was left of the sales (also a little Naturisimo and a Harrods haul which has still to arrive) - Nardine at Live...Laugh...Love picked me up a couple of things in the sale - thanks huni! These will be my last hauls posts before my spending ban kicks in on 15 January.

I seem to have picked up a lot of cleansers uh-oh!

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean - I've read loads of reviews about this shower butter - all good! This cost £8 and a review will follow.

I'm currently using Super Facialist by Una Brennan Radiance Day Cream SPF15 and it is fantastic!  I'll be reviewing it shortly.  It is my favourite moisturiser of the moment so I was keen to try some other products in the range.

I picked up Miracle Makeover Facial Oil - which is a pre-cleansing oil and Calming Creamy Cleanser.  The range is on special offer at the moment. The oil is £9.99 instead of £14.99 and the cleanser £5.99 instead of £7.99.  Also in the Rose range is a scrub and a mask.

I was watching one of Fleur De Force's videos and she mentioned Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick.  I picked one up in Plum Jam - a subtle wash of glossy colour scented with vanilla.  This cost £6 down from £8.

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean - I love this cleanser so happy to pick it up. Was £6 saving £1.

I also picked up Natural Wisdom Rosehip & Pomegranate Antioxidant Cream Cleanser after reading Danny's glowing review which you can see here.  I chose the Rose Floral Blend.  Costs £14 for 50ml plus P&P.  I adore the Natural Wisdom Rose & Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydrating Toner and you can see my review of it here.

From Naturisimo I bought Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist (£16.77). They are currently running an offer if you buy anything from Jurlique they will send you a free 15ml Rose Hand Cream.  I first tried the mist when I received it in the Latest in Beauty YOU In-Flight Travel Kit and I loved it. 

I also chose to buy a 15ml sample of Geranium & Frankincense Body Moisturiser from Lucy Annabella Organics - a brand I've not heard of before.

I'll show you what I got from Harrods when it arrives!

Have you used any of these products?

May Favourites

These are the products I've been reaching for all month -

Giorgio Armani Lipstick in shade  rose - 506 - creamy long lasting colour.

Lancome Nutrix Royal Mains Hand Cream - a pricey one at £21.50 but gorgeous to use and smells lovely.

AD Skin Synergy Nourishing Night Treatment - as reviewed about here.  My new favourite night oil.

Soap & Glory - A Great Kisser in Juicy Peach - I've been reaching for this all month - love the scent and how moisturising it is.

Pukka Uplifting Toner a mini that I got in a travel set recently.  Scented with rose and orange flower - its one I'd buy full size.

What have your favourites been this month?

Easter Bunny Swap - My boxes

I showed you a sneak peek of the bunny boxes I made up here.  Here are the boxes I received - love them!

I initially arranged one with Sarah and then one with Maria (who made me the amazing box from Hong Kong which you can read about here.) We arranged a budget of £10.

Sarah's box:

Loads of lovely goodies!

Soap & Glory Heel Genius 125ml - never tried this product before - looking forward to using it.  I need to get my feet ready for summer so can't wait to try this out. Smells gorgeous.

Como Shambhala Invigorate Lotion 50ml - this is my new favourite brand so happy to receive.  Lovely lotion scented with eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint essential oils.

17 Volume Mascara in Black 8ml - can't go wrong with mascara looking forward to using this.

Wet n Wild Ultimate Minerals Loose Eyeshadow - really nice shade. Haven't used anything from this brand so looking forward to using.

e.l.f Superglossy Lip Shine - oh the shame! never tried any e.l.f. before.  A really shiny gloss in a really wearable shade.

Boots Natural Collection sachets - Hydrating Hair Mask, Hi-Shine Conditioner and Wild Strawberry Face Mask - pampering session for me.

ME ME ME Eye Shadow in Satsuma - great colour for summer.  Will be fab with a suntan.

Boots Cranberry Body Butter - really fruity with nice texture, melts into the skin.

The Body Shop Strawberry Puree Body Lotion 60ml - smells amazing, light gel like texture.

Vaseline Creme Brulee Lip Therapy - love this! 

2 cute bath fizzers - heart and duck

And lots of lovely chocolate eggs and bunnies.

Maria's box:

Onto the goodies!

The Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream 250ml - I've already got the body butter so this will be great to use with it.  Smells amazing!

Compressed Paper Facial Masks - these look like giant pills! - to use soak one in your favourite toner and then apply mask to face - can't wait to try.  I love trying products I've never heard of before.

Hydrating Toner 200ml - made with natural ingredients smells light and fresh.  Maria indicates that it contains rice extract.  Another one I'm looking forward to using.

Kiko Calming Face Mask 55ml - another brand I haven't heard of - excited to try.

Cowshed Quinoa Hydrating Daily Moisturiser 20ml - not tried any Cowshed skincare so looking forward to trying.

Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad in Sun Safari - perfect shades for me.

Facial Blotting tissues - loved these in the box from Hong Kong.  A wonder product for shine!

And lovely chocolate bunnies.

I love both my boxes, thanks girls! Looking forward to trying all the products out.  Did you do a Easter Bunny Swap? xxx

March Favourites

These are my March favourites - a new post for me.

Benefit the POREfessional - an amazing product, especially for afternoon shine.  I kept reading great reviews on this product and now I know why!  This is always going to be in my make up bag.  A bit pricey but so worth it.

Clarins Eau de Jardins  - a treatment fragrance, fresh and uplifting and great for spring.

Revlon Lip Butter - shade 050 Berry Smoothie - I am so in love with this, great colour and it is super moisturising.  Definitely going to check out some other shades.

Soap & Glory A Great Kisser - mentioned this lip balm here.  Love the peachy scent and glossy finish.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Hand & Nail Cream - my new favourite hand cream.  Moisturises dry hands and has a spa like scent.

What are your favourites?

Soap & Glory - A Great Kisser Lip Balm

I have been looking  for these lip balms for ages in my local Boots.  Imagine my delight when I noticed they'd finally arrived!

I picked Juicy Peach, which tastes and smells amazing - really fruity and peachy.  It's meant to be a tinted coral shade but its more sheer on my lips and Sweet Coconut, a sheer with shimmer.  It's a very glossy balm.

With mango butter, apricot butter, lingonberry oil and pomegranate extract.

There is also a chocolate cherry one which is sheer pink.

My only negative is the lids are not very secure - I'd popped one in my handbag and the lid came off.

Retails at £5 for 18g.  My favourite is the peach one.  Have you tried this lip balm and if so, what are your thoughts?

Magazine Freebies

This month’s Elle magazine has a free Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara attached to the front cover worth £10.  There is also a coupon in the magazine for £2 off any Soap & Glory make up.

Dior invite you to attend a counter to receive a complimentary eye make over and a personalised beauty sample upon presentation of the card attached to a Dior ad inside the magazine.  There is also a free sachet (1.5ml) of Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation.  I do so love magazine freebies.


In Red Magazine (March) you can pick up Dior Capture samples for free at the counter – Capture R60/80 First Wrinkles Smoothing Eye Cream (2ml), Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Serum (5ml) and Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Crème (3ml).


House of Fraser (until 4^th February) has a GWP deal on at the Clarins counter, buy two items and pick four luxury samples from a selection of eight.  There is an add on offer if you buy a third item.

Boots Gift Card

I spent my Christmas Boots Gift card yesterday.  Here is what I got.

Poppy King for No.7 set which contains - sheer wine lipstick, flirty fusica lip gloss, radiant rouge jumbo lip tint, pencil sharpner and compact mirror with pouch.  I've not tried any of the Poppy King products before.

2 x Philosophy Mini Shower Gels - both 60ml - Snow Fairy and Peppermint Bark - I've never  tried any Philosophy shower gels before so looking forward to trying them out.

I read a magazine review which raved about Eucerin Dermato Clean Refreshing Cleansing Gel and Nivea Pure & Natural Body Lotion so picked them up.

The cute little dog bag is actually a mini manicure set.  The Neutrogena Hand Cream 15ml was an impulse buy (at the till).

And...Soap & Glory Do a Bubble Take - I do love some Soap & Glory.


p.s. my first day back at work today :(

Secret Santa Gifts

I took part in two Secret Santa's this year.  The first one was organised by Nav which you can read about here.  The second one was a Beauty Box Swaps one on Facebook.  A big thank you to my Secret Santas! x