Spending Ban: Now till 30 December!

My spending on beauty products the last few months has gone out of control so...deep breath...I'm going to go on another Spending Ban. I've got lots of lovely products to use up and test out so I'm not going to be deprived!  I'm aiming to keep to going until the 30 December (I'll be going shopping on the 31st haha). I'll buy necessities or if I run out of anything (that I don't have another/similar product of) I'm allowed to replace it.

I've stocked up on a few things - a pre-order of de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil, my fav Blue Labelle Body Oil with Ylang Ylang & Frankincense and the Estelle & Thild Sweet Vanilla Blossom Body Oil (which featured in my July Naturisimo wishlist).

I tend to buy about 3 monthly magazines and I'll keep doing this as I enjoy keeping up to date with new launches etc. (fingers crossed for a few freebies over the next few months). Just spotted balance me freebies with Marie Claire's September issue.

I've got a wee trip to Paris & London planned so if I see anything I really must have I'm allowed to buy a small item - we are only taking hand luggage so it will be a small item!

I'm also allowed to do my Christmas swap with my friend Julie - we meet before Christmas for lunch and drinks to exchange gifts. I'm also planning a green swap with Megan at Dream & Scheme in the next few months - so I'll get a beauty fix!

I do have a monthly treat in the form of Bloom Perfumery's Yearly Sample Pack Subscription (5 x 1.6ml vials) which I bought in July. See my initial thoughts on July's pack HERE.

I'll let you know what I would have bought on the spur of the moment (and how much monthly I've saved) wants, and more importantly how I'm coping week by week and of course I'll be shopping my stash. I see a big splurge coming on in January!

I've been tempted by:

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A free Therapi travel set at Content Beauty & Wellbeing with the purchase of 2 full size items.  I'd have gone for the Rose Otto Honey Moisturiser (£30) and Rose Otto Honey Cleanser (£25) - I've used both before and loved them. I'm always swayed by nice GWPs!

I tweeted about the ban way back in July and Paula at Naturally Paula said she'd join in too (she's already started!) as did Ana at Ana Goes Green - moral support is always great!

Wish me luck (I will need it).

Spending Ban: Update 4

I had a little spend the other day oops! I couldn't resist The Perfume Society's Love Scents Discovery Box which was a bargainous tenner to members with free P&P (you can however pick it up if you are not a member for £15 including P&P).  My box has still to arrive but you can see what's in it here.

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I do have a few wants this week though...

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Soapsmith 4 Piece Step into London Set (exclusive to QVC £30 plus £4.95 P&P) which includes an all scents soap assortment 8 x 15g, 1 x Bloomsbury Bath Soak 350g, 1 x Camden Town Bath Soak 100ml, 1 x Marble Arch Body Butter Melt 100ml and a wash bag.

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Balance Me Rose Otto Body Oil (£24.50 - 200ml) - I'm currently loving using body oils and know I'll love this scent. 

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REN Keep Young & Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot (£36 - 30ml) - I've heard great things about this gel-serum which lifts and plumps the skin leaving it "smoother, tighter and more youthful". 

If you are on a spending ban how is it going?

Spending Ban: Update 2

I failed on my ban last week and bought the SW Basics Discovery kit in the a beautiful world #PinkFriday sale. I bought one for me and one for my giveaway - see here.  The kits were reduced to £18 in the sale and I had a tenner worth of points making my purchase a bargainous £26 - so I don't feel too guilty!

Onto my wants this week...

I love the Content Curates kits having picked up the last few. Their New Year Collection is packed full of treats for the mind, body & skin as well as supplements and snacks.  Do you spot my favourite Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts in the kit? (these alone are worth £10). Making this a great value set.

My next want this week is the gorgeous sounding The Jasmine Garden Botanical Mist by May Lindstrom. A 100% natural botanical mist with a "heavenly scent". It calms, heals and restores elasticity leaving the skin dewy and radiant. Want!

I just spotted my next want last night! Shay & Blue Watermelons fragrance spray. It sounds delicious! With notes of Watermelon, Green Mandarin, Honeysuckle, Green Tea and Vetivert. It sounds heavenly and really refreshing and I can't wait to try! I'm going to pick up a sample soon!

My last want this week is Jo Loves A Fragrance Shot Box which contains 10 x 2ml samples of all of Jo's fragrances which is rather an indulgent treat. I'm already a huge fan of Pomelo - maybe after 31st January I'll splurge!

My January Love Lula box arrived last night (the only box I was keeping during my spending ban). It's a great value box and I will use everything but... there are only three items within I've not tried before (the Madara Dextox Mud Mask and the two Vinali products - body lotion & day cream sachet) so I'm cancelling my subscription for now.

If you are on a spending ban how's it going?  What are your thoughts on the contents of the Love Lula box this month?

Spending Ban: Update 1

Well that's me been on my Spending ban for a whole week and I've only really lusted after buying a handful of things!  I'm still awaiting my American goodies so that is keeping a curb on my spending I reckon.  I'm sorry to miss out on #PinkFriday over at a beautiful world at 7am on Friday - I must admit I'll drop by for a look!

Here's my small list of wants this week:

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne 30ml - I received a sample of this with my Christmas diffuser. I used to wear it a lot and I'd forgotten how lovely it is.  I love its rich fruity notes with a touch of wood and spice.

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Plant Brooklyn GET HAPPY Botanical Body Wash 9.5 fl oz - this is a new addition to the shelves at a beautiful world.  I fancy all the scents but GET HAPPY appeals to me to help banish the January blues! The wash contains Geranium and Peppermint Essential Oils. Use code HAPPY10 for 10% off the brand.

My final want (I really, really want - but don't need!) is a couple of the Body Oils in the Blue Labelle sale. Pascale is shutting up shop for a whole 6 weeks for a much earned holiday. The body oils are £12 each for 100ml.

If you are on a spending ban how is it going? 

Spending Ban - Update 2

I first embarked on another spending ban on 23 February and you can see my Update 1 here.

I did cave last week and bought a couple of things:

This is an essential! My current favourite deodorant.

I was keen to pick up Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation but I wasn't exactly sure of my shade so I used Content's excellent Sample Service only to find that the shade I wouldn't probably have picked is way too dark for me!  The other samples (4 for £3 including P&P) I chose were rms beauty 'un' cover up in shades 22 and 33 (shade 22 is perfect for me), rms living luminizer and De Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm (which is gorgeous!)

I was in need of a new powder and after hearing rave reviews of rms beauty 'un' powder I decided it needed to be mine! I picked it up with 10% off and free P&P at Naturisimo.  I can honestly say so far so good.  It minimises shine in the T-zone and leaves my skin looking matte for longer.  So a good buy.

Here are my wants for update 2 -

I'm generally finding the spending ban okay. I've now given up all my beauty boxes and am beginning to make a dent in my stash.  Are you on a ban or about to start one?

Spending Ban - Update 1

After #NoBuyJanuary I went off the rails spending wise.  See what I bought here - all very lovely but I could have done without.  

So on 23 February I embarked on another spending ban with an end date of around my birthday in April...but I've decided to keep it going as long as I can (if I'm lucky enough to receive any birthday money I will have a beauty buy or two) but I'd like to see if I can keep the ban up for the rest of the year (or at least until the awesome Liberty GWP deal in October).  I know the only things I'll run short of are deodorant and foundation.

Talking of which...I picked up L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint Foundation in Shade 110 Warm Ivory (£8.99 for 20ml in Superdrug). I usually favour Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation but it is so expensive. The L'Oreal one is a good dupe and less than a third of the price.

I also had my eyebrows threaded yesterday but needs must!  Here are my Wants.

I tried samples of the De Mamiel Rose Lip Balm and the Oskia Renaissance Hand Cream recently and it was love at first try.

Antipodes Delight Hand & Body Cream is still on my wishlist from January. I'm struggling to find a UK stockist for this one.

Bloom Remedies Peppermint & Lemongrass Foot Balm* - Marie very kindly sent me a sample of this gorgeous balm. It cares for and nourishes dry and cracked feet.  It featured in my A Pamper for Valentine's Day post.

Are you on a Spending Ban at the moment?

*complimentary

Spending Ban

After my total blowout in February - see here I'm now on a #SpendingBan until my birthday in April.  I loved everything I bought in my February haul but I didn't really "need" any of it! edit: I've cancelled my SoukSouk subscription my last one's in March.

I will need to buy foundation but for now I'm using up trial sizes and small pots.

You can see my #NoBuyJanuary posts - Update 1, Update 2, Update 3 and Update 4.

I'll do an update every couple of weeks.  Wish me luck!

#NoBuyJanuary - Update 1

I've been tempted by but resisted the Aromatherapy Associates sale and today's one day pop up sale over at a beautiful world - so far so good I reckon!

As you can see by the bathroom cupboard I showed you last week - see here I have loads to use up! This is only one storage space in my home too..

I've also decided I'm going to limit lunches I buy at work and bring my own in the days I'm at work. I've pre-ordered (with Christmas Amazon vouchers) The Little Book of Lunch - which I'm hoping will give me some exciting lunchtime options to brighten up my day!

I do have a huge list of wants this week. I'm planning on going back to these lists once my ban is over and seeing if I still want to buy..

If you are doing a spending ban how's it going?

#NoBuyJanuary

Paula from Naturally Paula has linked up a few bloggers who are on a Spending Ban in January #NoBuyJanuary. I tried and failed to do a 100 day spending ban last year - see some of my posts here and here.

The rules are simple - no new beauty products apart from essentials like deodorant or cotton pads - I know for a fact I won't run out of anything else!  I am allowing myself my beauty boxes - Souk Souk and Love Lula.  If anyone is kind enough to give me a PR sample during the month I'll not say no!  I already do a Shopping my Stash type post which I'll continue to do. I'll also do a weekly wants (my list for week one is huge already).

You can see Paula's full post here including the list of bloggers taking part.

I'll do weekly updates as to how I get on and if it's possible I'll keep going through February. Wish me luck!

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 for the month of May (and a little payday spend yesterday)

There was a twitter conversation between a few of us about doing a spending ban in May.  I failed miserably in my 100 day ban recently so thought I should be able to do 31 days!  You can see all the people taking part on Kat's blog here.  

I'm not going to do weekly updates this time but I will do a post at the middle of the month and the end letting you know how I've got on and things I'm wanting.   I'm only banning beauty spending this time as I can't live without my magazines!

I buy two beauty boxes at the moment - Amarya and SoukSouk (They are an on-going subscription which will give me my beauty fix for the month!)

Onto the payday spends...

I split the Estee Lauder Gift with Purchase set (from Harvey Nichols) with my mum.  One item had to be skincare so she chose Resilience Lift Night Cream.  I picked up a present for a friend's birthday for the second item.  Nicole, the very helpful assistant at the counter said if I spent £11 more I would be eligible to receive the Gift with a £110 purchase...well...it would be rude not to - so to make it up to the required spend (a little bit over) I picked up Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Graphite.

In the gift:

A handbag and cosmetic bag

Re-Nutriv Hydrating Cream Cleanser 30ml

Re-Nutriv Softening Lotion 30ml

Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Age Corrective Creme 15ml

Pure Colour Eyeshadow/Lipstick palette

Pure Colour Long Lasting Lipstick - Pinkberry Cream

Pure Colour Gloss - Plum Divine/Pink Innocence

Sumptuous Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara

Here is the contents of the Gift with a £110 spend 

A cute cosmetic bag

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin EDP 5ml - this appeared in my wants in week 6 of my spending ban - it's gorgeous!

bareMinerals eyeshadow in Precious

YSL mini Effet Faux Cils Black mascara

Full size Butter London Nail polish in West End Wonderland

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant 13g

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energising Mask 10ml

Elemis Triple-Enzyme Resurfacing Face Wash 50ml

Laura Mercier Radiance Foundation Primer 15ml

Clarins Advanced Firming Neck Cream 30ml

Shu Uemura Skin Purifier 

ESPA 24-hr Replenishing Moisturiser 7ml

Lancome Visionnaire 5ml

Eve Lom Cleanser sachet and cloth

invitation card to visit Laura Mercier counter for make up session

Spending Ban - Update 11

Uh-oh my spending ban went completely off the rails in week 11 and I think it's now time to end it.  Ahhh...  I lasted 70 odd days with a few splurges - a lot less than I'd normally be treating myself to though.

I've been enjoying shopping my stash every week - so I'm going to keep doing this.  Here is what I bought during the spending ban period -

In Style Magazine for the beauty supplement in Week 3.

Sweet Cecily's Rose Body Butter and Mojito Lip Balm.  See my review here.  I bought these in Week 4.

In Week 6 I bought the Caudalie Set from Latest in Beauty and two Remedy..for organic body butter bars and an April Beautylishious bag (which I've still to receive).

See my review of the Remedy...for Organic Body Butters here.

In Week 7 I bought Good Housekeeping magazine which were giving away a free Balance Me Hand Cream and Marie Claire magazine which were giving away a Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream.  These are both worth £10.

In Week 8 I bought a copy of Psychologies magazine.

Week 9 saw me really caving when I bought Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and the LIB Organic & Natural Box.  You can see my reviews here and here.

In Week 10 I bought Botanicals Anti-Age Hand & Nail Serum and two try-me size pots of cleanser and foot balm (you can get the try me sizes for free just paying p&p).  Reviews to follow.  I also bought a April SoukSouk little green beauty box.

Finally Week 11, I bought Beaute Chinoise Beauty Tea - a Oolong infused with organic rose.  It sounds simply delicious.  Still to receive this.  I'll be doing a mini review on it and of course my M&S and Boots haul.  

I'm quite relieved to have ended my Spending Ban.  It was an interesting experiment and I know I buy too many beauty products.  I'll do a post later this week listing my "Wants" from the 11 weeks - and letting you know which ones I'm going to buy at some point. 

How is your Spending Ban coming along?

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?

Shopping my Stash - Spending Ban Week 9

These are the products I've been reaching for this week - 

Neal's Yard Be Lovely Hand Cream 50ml - this came free with this month's Marie Claire magazine.  A rich and supermoisturising hand cream made with organic honey and orange essential oil.  "Softens hands and helps save the Bees". Neal's Yard will give 25p to a Bee Lovely charity or good cause for each product bought. 

A'kin 24 hour Intensive Moisture Leave-in Conditioner 150ml - I simply love this rich and moisturising leave in conditioner.   It leaves the hair frizz free and sleek.  Free from parabens, petrochemicals and artificial fragrances and colours.  It featured in my June favourites last year.  I think this is a product I'll always have in my stash.

Naked ooh la la creamy bliss coco de mer Body Wash 250ml - absolutely love the scent of this natural body wash.  You can see my mini review here.

Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Body Creme 175ml - a real luxury body cream scented with the scent of Wild Bluebell.  See my mini review here.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 105g - I just picked this gorgeous cleanser up the other day and you can see my initial thoughts about it here.

Sweet Cecily Mojito Flavour Lip Balm 10ml - a gorgeous little lip balm.  See my review here.

Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in shade 705 - Soft Berry - a really wearable everyday shade.  Handy mini lipstick I picked up in the sales in a gift set.

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