November Empties

Here's what I've been using up in November. If a product is marked * I kindly received it complimentary for review.

I love Indie Lee's Energize Deodorant 50g. See my review HERE. Will buy again. Huge fan of Ezape Naturals, their body butters are divine. I didn't think the Tea Tree & Peppermint* blend would be something I'd like as I'm not a huge-huge Tea Tree fan but this blend was really nice and minty-fresh. I would buy full size. Monpure's Clarifying Salt Scrub 50g was nice to use but unlikely to buy it again as there are other scalp care products I prefer. I love CITY SURViVOR supplement range and found both Immune Support and Night Support very effective. See my earlier review HERE. Will definitely buy both again at some point. Naturopathica's CBD+Unwind 30 Caps* see my review HERE. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub 28g which is a nice scrubby scrub with the delectable sweet original aroma. On the wishlist full size. The Nue Co MOOD 30 caps, I love these onto my second pot. They really do ease anxiety and brighten your mood. A keeper. Raven Botanicals Drift Bathing Oils sample, a rich and aromatic bath delight with a gentle lavender aroma. I simply adore Miller Harris's Lumiere Dore EdP 9ml, it's one of my favourite MH scents. Distinctly summery with orange blossom notes.

Friendly Soap with Peppermint & Poppyseed, a zero waste minty soap which was nice and refreshing. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk 150ml, one of my favourites. I've just opened the last in my stash. I want to try the newish Living Proof one next. Love a bit of aromatic bodhi & birch. Their Ylang Ylang Inscensa Bath & Shower therapy 50ml is one of my fav b&b scents. See my review HERE. Just bought full size. Kiss the Moon Love Bedtime Bath Salts 50g* were gorgeous. See my review HERE. Will definitely buy again.  I quite enjoyed Agent Nateur & Shiva Rose Holi (Rose) No.4 Deodorant but not enough to buy it again. Noble Isle's Rhubarb Rhubarb! Hand Wash 250ml was gorgeous. Hugely fruity and lathered up well. Would buy again (wish they did refills though). JOIK's Organic Cornflower Facial Mist 50ml* was very refreshing. See my review HERE.

What have you been using up in November?

Latest Buys: The Nue Co, Bloomtown, Naturisimo, Darly Lama, Tessa Williams Perfumes, Estee Lauder + Olfactory Candles

I'm actually going to try and break the habit of a lifetime and reduce my spending haha! These are the last lot of July buys:

I adore The Nue Co's Functional Fragrance (review) so was mega pleased to see the latest "supplement" fragrance Forest Lungs arrive in the 10ml size. A review to come - it's lush!

Using the generous Love Lula beauty box discount (20% for subscribers of the brands in the box that month) I picked up one of Bloomtown's Essential Oil trios. Again, a review to come.

I can never resist a Naturisimo Discovery Box and July's Edit didn't fail to disappoint (the Kiki is a staple in my stash).

I waited all year to get to the top of the Darly Lama waitlist on Facebook. The wax melts don't disappoint!

I picked up a sample set of the whole range of natural perfumes by Tessa Williams Perfumes and I'm slowly savouring and enjoying them. So far LOVE and WATER have my heart. Again, a review to come.

Having read about Limited Edition Bronze Goddess Creme de Soleil Decadent Smoothing Body Creme in a magazine I went to source it. Found in Harvey Nichols with 10% off. It's truly sumptuous and smells of summer holidays. Pick yours up HERE.

I can never resist new scents at Olfactory Candles and these new ones don't fail to disappoint! Remember you can get 15% off your first wax order with SANDRA15.

What have you been buying lately?

Top Products 2021: January to March

Products which are marked * I was very kindly gifted for review. Last year I broke up my "top" stuff into manageable chunks rather than yearly and decided to do the same this year. This is a rather long post so grab that cuppa or glass of wine!

I dropped numerous hints to hubby that I'd love The Nue Co's Functional Fragrance which is available to buy at Naturisimo. See my review HERE (their newish Forest Lungs Fragrance is on the wishlist).

I fell head-over-heels and then some for ila spa's glorious The Big Sleep Bath Salts* which I reviewed as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger in January. See my post HERE. These are the ones to get for r&r!

Beauty Cleanse Skincare Mean Green Superfood Drops & Carrot Algae Marine Drops* which are multi-use and fantastic. See my review HERE. Founder, Saman is currently crowdfunding - see more info HERE to launch a Superfood-Powered Multipurpose Face Mask which will brighten, refine pores, soften, detoxify, hydrate and offer an antioxidant boost - sounds like an absolute must have!

I love everything from Evolve Organic Beauty. Their newish Super Berry Body Oil* is just sublime. See my review HERE.

And then, I fell head-over-heels for Love Absolute's Mulberry Milk Jelly Cleanser, which quite honestly is one of the most joy giving products I've ever used (I love the easily re-usable packaging too). See my review HERE.

Silvan Skincare Balance Face Cream is just sublime. I'm a huge fan of the brand having tried a few of their balms in the past. See my review HERE.

I initially tried the Dr Hauschka Rose Nurturing Body Cream* in their Advent Calendar which I partly received as my November pick as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger and fell head-over-heels - see HERE. I loved it so much I selected it and the matching Bath Essence* as my February picks. See HERE. 

I received Balm Balm's Lavender Face Balm in January's Love Lula Beauty Box* and fell hard. I've now got a couple in my stash thanks to lovely friends - you know who you are! See my review HERE.

Reacquainting myself with UpCircle Beauty (I've always been a fan of their peppermint coffee scrub from their early days). I'm now a huge, huge fan of the skincare line. Check out my review HERE.

Dr Hauschka Moor Lavender Calming Body Oil (which I first tried via the aforementioned Advent Calendar). I loved it so much I bought full size as it's instantly calming. See my review HERE.

Of course I had to have an Antipodes latest launch! As soon as I saw it land at Naturisimo it was in my basket! Check out my review HERE. It's truly gorgeous.

Tam Mason's Nourishing Sugar Hand Scrubs had been on my wishlist. I took the plunge recently and fell head-over-heels. Check out my review HERE. I've recently been sent one of their new sugar Body Scrubs* which I'm sure already will feature in my next favs!

Another product I can't imagine not being in my stash....always is Nudge Boutique's May Chang & Pink Grapefuit Whipped Body Butter. It has the perfect scent to uplift both the body and mind as well as being a luxe and affordable treat. Check out my review HERE.

I truly love all the products* I chose as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger for March. Check out my review HERE. They uplifted me so much with their scents+textures and made me happy. One already has been a re-purchase!

Neal's Yard Remedies Frankincense Intense Cleansing Melt had been on the wishlist. I was happy to receive this 30ml in a Naturismo Discovery Box. Check out my review HERE. One of the best cleansers I've used.

Rounding up my January to March top picks is Balance Me's fantastic BHA Exfoliating Concentrate* which I reviewed HERE.

Do we share any favourites?

The Nue Co Functional Fragrance 10ml

I'd given David a list of things I had my eye on for possible Christmas surprises and The Nue Co's Functional Fragrance 10ml was one of the gifts I was lucky enough to open on Christmas morning. 

I've previously tried the company's Regularity Relief, which really works although it is very much an acquired taste (quite bitter). Their Functional Fragrance thankfully smells glorious! The company was founded by British-born Jules Miller who had struggled with IBS and finding a supplement which worked. This led her to create her own high quality and results-orientated solution. The range is now vast - check it out HERE.

The Functional Fragrance is presented in an easy to tote spray bottle and is designed to help you reset and re-centre at times of high stress. It's been "developed using data insight and research into the connection between cognitive function and the olfactory system". It's quite unique - an anti-stress supplement delivered as a unisex fragrance.

Formulated with notes of Palo Santo, Green Cardamon, Bergamot, Myrrh, Iris, Jasmin, Cilantro, Violet, Musk, Ambrox, Cedarwood and Guaiacwood. It's very woody, spicy and calming.

To use: use daily, or at moments of high stress to reset and recentre. Spray onto wrists and neck, inhale for 8, hold for 4 and exhale for 8. 

It's simply stunning as a scent in its own right but perfect to calm and relax in times of stress. 

Naturisimo: Vegan Life Discovery Box

As you know, I can never resist a Naturisimo Discovery Box! Their latest one is Vegan Life Discovery Box and inside are 9 hand picked items with a total value of £80! Pick up a box for £18.95 plus p&p (or free with a £25 spend).

It's absolutely stuffed full!

From Pai Skincare there's a 2ml tube of their Perfect Balance Blemish Serum which I've not tried before. I do get occasional spots (who doesn't?) so I'm looking forward to putting it to the test.

From Inika there's a full size (and worth £19.50) Lipstick Crayon in Pink Nude, a very wearable, suit everyone shade. I love this! (and it's always nice to see a couple of make up items in boxes!)

I received Boucleme's Exfoliating Scalp Shampoo 100ml (£12) in a previous discovery box and my scalp loves this effective detoxifying shampoo. Happy to have another in my stash!

Antipodes's Rejoice Day Cream 15ml had been on my wishlist so this is why (along with the JMO product) the box firmly landed in my basket! A review will come.

From Fushi there is 50ml of their Organic Jojoba Oil (£14) which is great to nourish the skin and hair (I also love the glass bottle packaging).

The second item to sway me into buying the box was John Masters Organics Green Tea & Calendula Leave-In Conditioning Mist 30ml (worth £10) as it had been on my wishlist for what seemed like forever!

Ever luxe, a dinky jewel from RMS Beauty. I adore mini make up products and this one's a beaut. Inside is their Luminizing Powder Madeira Bronze 2g which will leave the skin glowy and radiant. 

Rounding up the box are 3 x 5g sachets from The Nue Co of their Debloat Food & Prebiotic which are great if you suffer constipation and bloating. These are very much an acquired taste (vile) but do work. Rounding up the box is a 40g sachet of Form Nutrition's Superblend Protein Chocolate Caramel, a protein shake containing 20g plant based Vegan protein.

Did you pick up a Vegan Life Discovery Box?

Latest Buys: Old Man & Magpie, The Soap Mine, LJ Natural, Claremont Studio, Evolve, The Nue Co, Lynsey Walters Jewellery, Sol de Janeiro & Vichy

I picked up wax samples of the whole range from Old Man & Magpie (which I've been testing out in my wax burner). These aren't standalone products but just little testers so you can get the just of the scents - my I-will-buy-soon-as-candles so far are: Lavender, Sea Salt & Sage and Earl Grey & Cucumber. My review of Greenhouse candle is coming soon! (I really wish they'd sell wax melts).

There was a mad rush for The Soap Mine's Sample Selections. I managed to nab the second last ones in the essential oil selection which features all six of the regular essential oil bars. These are the end pieces of the soap log which are great try-me-sizes. I'll do a fuller review once I get the chance to try them out!

LJ Natural gorgeous Letterbox Gift - Make Someone's Day which I reviewed HERE.

Claremont Studio's gorgeous Relax Gift Set which was so exquisitely wrapped - it made my day if not week! This set is incredible and a review is coming! I loved getting a little free candle with my order too (it's the little things..)

I had a discount voucher from Naturisimo from doing a survey and of course had to pick up a couple of things!

Evolve's Daily Apple Hair & Body Wash (£16 - 250ml) had been on the wishlist after I received a trial size in one of Naturisimo's discovery boxes - Veganuary. A review will come. The second item I selected is from new-to-me brand The Nue Co's Regularity Relief (30 x 4g) as I sometimes have trouble with constipation. Again, I'll let you know how I find these.

These Lynsey Walters Little Rain Cloud Earrings, with Rainbow Rain (£28 - discount if you sign up to the newsletter) make me smile. Super quirky and fun. I also think it's good to support small businesses during this time.

I'm a huge Sol de Janeiro bum bum cream fan (I love that delicious vanilla-y aroma) and so couldn't resist this little Tiny Travelers kit (£12) from Feel Unique which has me dreaming of holidays....

I also picked up a Vichy Mineral 89 Instant Recovery Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Mask (£8) after I saw Jane's REVIEW.

What have you been buying lately?