Latest Buys: Origins by The Melt Pool, Skin & Tonic, Olfactory Candles, Upcircle, Raven Botanicals, Aromatherapy Associates, nknaturals, Maya Njie

Here's my latest buys (September + into October). As ever, if a product is marked * I received it complimentary.

I bought these gorgeous candles at House for an Art Lover shop in September. They're latest launches at The Melt Pool. I love the amber glass jars which are filled with plant based wax and essential oils.

I couldn't resist Skin & Tonic's new launch Slow Down Bath Soak (get 15% off with your 1st order). The mineral rich Epsom Salts are joined by natural CBD, from upcycled hemp which balances and calms. Scented with invigorating Cedarwood, Eucalyptus and Rosemary essential oils. They come in a huge 500g jar and cost £17. It's love.

I've fallen hard for Olfactory Candles Vanilla & Salted Caramel Melt Pots (£3 - 50g). So while stocking up I had to try Stargazing, a subtle dreamy scent. I was kindly gifted Spiced Embers* (a warm and woody scent) which is the perfect autumnal scent. Remember you can get 15% off your first wax order with SANDRA15. 

Having loved the Glossworks Cuticle Balm* which came in September's Love Lula Beauty Box* link I decided to use the generous 20% off code which subscribers receive in their box for the brands that month and picked up the Foot Balm which is an absolute delight - rich and creamy with a touch of Lavender & Peppermint. It's one of my fav new tries this year.

New + exclusive to Naturisimo is Upcircle's Night Cream with repurposed Blueberry extract. Love this brand and couldn't resist (£18.99 - 55ml). Review to come!

I couldn't resist the new Bathing Oils from Raven Botanicals I selected a 30ml size (£20) in Bliss (Jasmine, Geranium, Neroli) which helps to promote feelings of optimism, is grounding and emotionally balancing (smells lush). The girls very kindly sent me minis* of the other two which smell equally as good - Drift (Lavender, Bergamot & Neroli), a tranquil spa like blend which eases stress, anxiety and helps the body and mind relax. The third in the range is Rise (citrus & patchouli) which relieves tension, lifts the spirits and energises. Looking forward to trying them all and reviews will come.

A stocking filler! Naturisimo have started to get Christmas gifts in. I couldn't resist Aromatherapy Associates Mini Moment Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil 9ml (£12) which is presented in a "tree hanging" box. Lush!

I was patiently awaiting nknaturals Autumn collection arriving and picked their Autumn Nutrient Rich Facial Oil 15ml (£15). Nicola kindly added the corresponding Autumn Copper Distilled Botanical Mist* to my order (50ml - £15). Isn't the colour fabulous. Gorgeous products too - review soon (I think this is one of my most fav seasons!)

As you'll know I'm already a Maya Njie fan. See my review of the Discovery Set HERE (it's gone up in price since I reviewed it in 2019). I couldn't resist latest launch Voyeur Verde 7.5ml EdP which has notes of: 

Bergamot, Mandarin, Cypress, Rosewood, Fennel, Iris, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Leather, Cedarwood and Frankincense

What have you been buying lately?

Naturisimo x Get the Gloss Exclusive Discovery Box

You'll know I can rarely resist a Naturisimo Discovery Box and their latest one in collab with Get the Gloss is fantastic. It costs only £25 and is worth £125!

I've used Upcircle's fantastic Face Scrub before (a new brand at Naturisimo) and inside is a full size in their floral blend). This is full size 100ml and worth £12.99.

From Goldfaden MD is a deluxe 10ml (worth £33) of their Needle-less Line Smoothing Concentrate which helps to reduce fine lines and deep creases. Apply to areas of concern - forehead, crow's feet and on lines around the mouth.

Also inside is Balance Me's Gradual Tanning Drops 6ml mini (worth £10) which will help to extend your summer glow. You'll also find a full size (£24) of 100% Pure's Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara. 

I was excited to see a deluxe 30ml (£10) of newish Faace Sweaty Face (which had been on my wishlist). You can use it as a mask, a primer or moisturiser. It's great if you get shiny after workouts or weather changes. 

Yet another product which had been on my wishlist is ILIA Beauty's Lip Wrap Treatment Mask which is a deluxe 4ml (£8). It'll exfoliate, smooth, plump and hydrate. Totally smitten!

Rounding up the collection is a full size Wet Oil Lip Gloss 4.6g in Fruitjuice (£26) which gives the lips a subtle glossy sheen of colour.

At time going to press their were some left. Did you pick one up?

Upcircle Face Toner+Face Serum

(*I received a blogger discount) As you'll probably know I'm a huge fan of Upcircle's (formerly Optiat) Peppermint Coffee Scrub (review). It was nice to try an Upcircle Pamper Kit via the Mint Green February Starter Kit (review). I enjoyed the samples and decided to pick up two of them full size - one which I'd had samples of before - but had never bought full size - until now that is - Organic Face Serum with Coffee Oil (£14.99 - 30ml) and Face Toner with Mandarin + Chamomile (100ml - £17.99). You also get to choose 2 sachet samples with your order and I picked: Eye Cream with Maple + Coffee and Face Moisturiser with Argan Powder (which picked up Editor's Choice in the 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards). No wonder, it's lush!

Packaging is stylish, pretty and easily recylable or reusable. All the products are made using ingredients which would be thrown away otherwise such as coffee grounds, fruit stones, chai spices, repurposed chamomile stem extract, residual green mandarin water etc. You can also choose a pump/dropper or aluminium cap, buy first and then with subsequent purchases choose the refill. The range is natural, Vegan, cruelty free and made in the UK.

Face Toner (with the residual water of Mandarin Juice & Repurposed Chamomile Extract) 100ml - £17.99 which comes in a glass bottle with a spray nozzle (you can of course pick an aluminium cap too, to save plastic waste - I'll be doing that when I replenish this bottle). The toner has a delicious floral and fruity scent and is a joy to use. It's enriched with Hyaluronic Acid to plump and can be used as a toner or as a spritz to refresh the skin throughout the day. 

To use: as a toner - either spritz or apply with cotton pad or to refresh the skin throughout the day.

I've really enjoyed using the toner as it feels nice on the skin, has a glorious scent and refreshes and hydrates. This one's a keeper!

Multi-Award Winning Face Serum with Repurposed Coffee Extract  30ml - £14.99 is just superb! I'd tried this already several times via sachets and felt my skin really got on well with it. I'm delighted to have full size in my stash! The serum has a very light texture and slight coffee aroma and absorbs instantly onto the skin. It's formulated with skin loving oils including Rosehip & Seabuckthorn, coffee oil from repurposed grounds and scented with citrus and floral oils. Again, on second purchase pick the aluminium lid and save the dropper! 

To use: apply a few drops to your fingertips and massage into the skin, use alone or apply after moisturiser.

I like this face serum a lot! It absorbs instantly and hydrates and firms and is nice to use.

I love sachets as it gives you the chance to try something new. The award winning Face Moisturiser (with the fine powder of discarded Argan Shells) I received in the Mint Green pack and my skin very much enjoyed (full size is on the wishlist) glides onto the skin and absorbs almost instantly. My skin is hydrated and glows!  The second sachet I picked is a totally new to me product their Eye Cream (with repurposed Maple & Coffee Extract) which will firm + brighten the delicate eye area. It's a light cream which smells lightly of coffee and maple woods - and yes, you've guessed it I "need" it full size!

I've really been enjoying the Upcircle skincare range and now have my eye on the aforementioned Eye Cream, Face Moisturiser and also their Soothing Date Body Cream with Date Seeds. What are your favourites from the range?

February Empties

If  a product is marked * I've kindly been gifted it for review. Here's my February empties:

*Seatree Cosmetics Sweet Orange Handcrafted Soap - which was fresh and fruity and lovely to use. See my review HERE. I've got a stash of soaps to use up but I'd buy from this brand in future.

Huge love for NorthburN I received the Mandarin & Bergamot Room Mist 30ml which came in their Gift of the Month in June last year. The set also included a reed diffuser which I fell in love with. And so, I bought their Mandarin & Bergamot Refill Diffuser Oil 100ml which I've just used up also. Will definitely buy both again.

I adore Noble Isle. Summer Rising is one of my favourite scents. I received this 75ml Bath & Shower Gel one as a Latest in Beauty pick some months ago. Already got a replacement! See my review HERE.

Desavery were one of my discoveries as a Beauty Shortlist Judge last year. I fell hard! I finished up LIT! Daily Serum 10ml* see my review HERE. Everything from this brand is on my wishlist (I'm going to treat myself to STELLAR Daily Serum after payday!). A stunning brand with scents and formulas which make your heart and skin sing!

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Gold Luminous Eye Cream 3ml is simply stunning. I got multiple uses out this sachet and full size is firmly on the wishlist (Love Lula have sachets available to buy with an order of £10+ if you're interested). 

Upcircle sachets which I received in my Mint Green February Starter Kit. See my initial musings HERE. I've used their Facial Serum 1.5ml before and that's firmly on the to-buy list. Also in the pack were their Face Toner 3ml (love), Face Moisturiser 3ml (love) and Cleansing Face Balm 3ml (not for me as the tea tree scent is too strong - such a shame as it's got a lovely texture and feel on the skin). It's a great wee try me set though. 

I adore ECooking's Cleansing Gel 50ml which I reviewed HERE. I've got another of these in my stash but it's one I'll buy again.

Micheline Arcier Aromatherapie's Richesse D'Or Body Oil 100ml* was an absolute delight. I'm gutted at having finished it up. See my review HERE. A truly sublime product which is good for the body and the soul. On my wishlist!

Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin Body Lotion 100ml which I received from my lovely friend Julie for my birthday one year. Who doesn't love Jo Malone scents! A classic and sublime layered with Grapefruit cologne. Heaven in a bottle - I was sad to use this up.

REN Citrus Limonum Hand Wash 300ml which is one of my favourite hand washes. It'll definitely be bought again and again. See my review HERE.

Noble Isle Tea Rose Bath & Shower Gel 75ml which is a sublimely rosey scented wash. See my review HERE. Likely will buy again at some point!

Rounding up my February empties is Zing Organics's Love you Forever Body Oil 25ml which came in my November Subscription Box. Lovely!

What have you been using up this month?

May Empties

Products marked * I've been kindly gifted for review. I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here are my May empties:

The little tube you can barely make out is a sample from Inika's newish skincare range in the form of their Phytofuse Renew Avocado Hand Cream 4ml which I picked up at Naturisimo. This was a lovely hand cream but full size is £35 (75ml) so I'm unlikely to buy. Nice to try though.

Another sample from Naturisimo in the form of Agent Nateur's very pricey Holi (Oil) Youth Serum (full size is 30ml - £113). Again, lovely to use with a rosey aroma (it actually reminded me of Ila Spa's Face Oil for Glowing Radiance!) Nice to try, unlikely to buy.

My friend Julie gifted me a set of Commodity Fragrances which used to be available at SpaceNK. They have a new owner and will ship to the UK (although they are currently closed due to the present climate). I'm working my way through the sample set and I fell totally head-over-heels for Bergamot.  It's one I'd love full size (maybe one day!)

I truly adore Kiss the Moon and loved their GLOW Bedtime Bath Salts 350g* which I was kindly gifted. They are a blend of Dead Sea Salts with detoxifying magnesium and scented with beautiful GLOW Blend (Orange, Litsea, Myrrh and Geranium). Perfect to use in your bath before bed for a soothing and calm night's sleep. Will definitely pick up again!

I'm a huge, huge fan of amazing award-winning Ecooking (in fact I've got some reviews upcoming!). I first tried their Cleansing Gel 50ml as a Latest in Beauty pick. Fell in love and stocked up each month until it went out of stock. See my review HERE. I've a couple of these left in my stash but I'll definitely buy full size when I use them up.

The Rituals The Ritual of Dao Night Balm for the Hands 10ml (now Rituals of Jing) was a Feel Unique Sample pick (oh how I miss pick 'n' mix and beauty kit). This is a really rich balm which was perfect to use before bed/after gardening. It has a gorgeous floral scent and it's one I'd buy full size when my hand cream stash reduces a bit.

I reviewed the Casa Mencarelli* range HERE. I loved their aromatic Sicilia Green Clay & Lemon Face Mask & Scrub 80g* which was presented in a huge pot. It made masking into a ritual and it's one I'll definitely buy in the future.

I adore Anita Grant's beautiful range. I first reviewed this mouthwatering Organic Vanilla Cocoa Body Butter 57g back in 2013 and then received the brand again in my April '18 Skin Organic Clean Beauty Box. Of course, I then had to go and buy full size again! And yes, I need that butter in my stash right now!

I love Connock London's beautiful ranges and adored their Manuka Honey Hand & Body Wash which I reviewed HERE. I'll definitely buy again when my stash reduces a bit.

The Nature Lab Volume Shampoo & Conditioner sachets both 7ml came with a recent Cult Beauty order. I didn't notice any extra volume. Nice enough to try but not sure I'm enticed to buy full size.

I enjoyed using Upcircle's Soap which is infused with repurposed Chai Spices (100g). Upcircle were I believe the first company to reuse coffee grounds in their products in the UK (formerly Optiat). See my review HERE. I'll definitely pick this up again at some point.

What have you been using up in May?

June Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up this month so here are my June empties. Items marked with * are product samples.

*Alteya Organics Rose & Mullein Hydrating Flower Toner 120ml - I'm a huge fan of this brand and loved this hydrating rosy toner. See my review HERE. Will buy when my stash reduces.

Byredo Bal D'Afrique Hand Cream 30ml - I really enjoyed this hand cream which deeply nourished the hands and nails and left them delicately scented. I picked this up from a friend who was selling it. I'd maybe buy again.

Clarins Rose Radiance Cream 5ml - which was a Feel Unique pick 'n' mix sample. I loved it's rosy scent and how quickly it absorbed. Would buy.

Sisley Purifying Balancing Lotion 15ml - this came via my subscription with Sisley (which I stopped as the samples were getting quite samey). Nice enough to use but wouldn't buy.

Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb! & Tea Rose Bath & Shower Gel (both 30ml) - I adored both these which came as gift with purchase. Would buy both full size.

Zing Organics Elevate Body Oil with Frankincense & Clementine 80ml - which came in my January Box which I reviewed HERE. I'll re-purchase this when my body oil stash reduces.

Guerlain Abeille Royal Youth Water Oil 0.5ml - which seemed nice but such a teeny sample.

Upcircle Face Scrub x 3 (8g) Herbal (oily/combo), Floral (sensitive) and Citrus (dry). These are new products by Upcircle which I enjoyed using. I'd maybe buy once my stash reduces.  Upcircle Lemongrass Body Scrub 10g which was nice to use. My favourite scent is peppermint. The one I really want to try full size is the Face Serum 2ml which is absolutely fantastic. 

Dafna's Purify Cleanser 1ml - again a small sample, not really enough to get a feel for the product.

John Masters Organics Repair Conditioner 10ml - which seemed quite nice. I only got one use from the sachet so would probably need to try it again before passing judgement.

My final sample this month is Sol Janeiro Coco Cabana Cream 7.5ml - again this was a Feel Unique sample. I prefer the original bum bum cream scent. This one was just a little bit artificial for me so wouldn't buy.

What have you been using up this month?