December Empties

I think as I'm currently trying lots of new things as a Beauty Shortlist Judge I'm not using much up! Another small amount of empties to round up the year! If a product is marked * I've kindly received it for review. 

From the Dr Hauschka Advent Calendar* (partly gifted) I've used up - Lavender Sandalwood Calming Body Cream 10ml, Lemon Lemongrass Vitalising Body Milk 10ml, Quince Hydrating Body Milk 10ml and Moor Lavender Calming Body Oil 10ml. I loved trying all of them and recently bought the last one full size. Expect a review soon!

From L'Occitane is samples of their Immortelle Precious Serum 1ml and Immortelle Reset Overnight Eye Serum 1ml. I simply adored the eye serum and full size is added to the wishlist. My third sachet this month is Vichy's Neovadiol Rose Platinum Nuit 1ml which my skin loved. One to add to the wishlist.

I love bodhi & birch's Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash 200ml - see my review HERE. I've got another of these in my stash ready to open soon.

From last season's collection at nknaturals I finished up the luscious Autumn Copper Distilled Botanical Mist 50ml. See my review HERE. I just recently tried two products from the Winter Collection - see HERE. I love these seasonal products!

Rounding up my empties this month is a bar of Tuscan Wisteria & Lilac Nesti Dante Bar Soap. I simply love these highly perfumed bars which have a rich creamy lather.

What have you been using up this month?

September Empties

Marked* I've kindly been gifted a product for review. I'm not going to use anything else up so here are my September empties (a little bit early!)

I absolutely adore Noble Isle and their Summer Rising Bath & Shower gel 75ml which I first discovered in a Beauty Box (I've since bought their new Rhubarb Rhubarb! hand sanitiser which is fantastic - review on it's way). See my review HERE.

I received the NUXE 30ml reve de miel Melting Honey Body Balm as a Latest in Beauty pick. Lovely to use, buttery soft and deeply nourishing. Something I might pick up full size if my body product stash ever reduces.

I simply adore Avon Senses Zen Mandarin & Jasmine Hand Wash 250ml it's cheap as chips coming in at only a quid. I buy it again and again as I love its beautiful scent.

Evolve's Daily Apple Hair & Body Wash 250ml was gorgeous. Equally good for hair and body. See my review HERE. I'll definitely pick this one up again.

My mum had given me Method's Sunshine Bloom Hand Wash 354ml after me admiring hers in her bathroom. It was lovely to use with a nice sunshiney citrus scent! I've got my eye on their Rose Water and Tropical Cloud ones next!

*The Organic Pharmacy Peppermint Facial Wash 20ml which I received as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger. Lovely to use. See my mini review HERE. Definitely one I'll pick up when my gel cleanser stash reduces a bit.

balanceme's Flash Cleanse Micellar Water 30ml was fantastic. Very effective and gentle. It's on my to-buy list. Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Plumping Daily Serum 10ml was a Feel Unique My Beauty Kit pick. My skin loved this in summer. 

Award winning Omorovicza's Queen of Hungary Mist* which I tried again as a Beauty Shortlist Judge 2020 is the creme de la creme of face mists! See my thoughts HERE. I've just opened a mini from a Latest in Beauty Box.

My skin adored nknaturals Summer Copper Distilled Botanical Mist 50ml* and I was sad to finish this! I'm looking forward to buying Autumn's version on the equinox on 22 September! See my review of the whole Summer collection, which founder and formulator, Nicola kindly gifted me HERE.

My final empty is ooh! Oils of Heaven Organic Plum Conditioning Face Oil 30ml* which I received in the June Love Lula Beauty Box*, see HERE. I simply fell head-over-heels for this face oil - see HERE. I repurchased it during the spend £20 get one free offer. It'll always be in my stash.

What have you been using up in September?

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?

Feel Unique: My Beauty Kit

I'm a huge fan of Feel Unique's My Beauty Kit (and Pick & Mix). My Beauty Kit costs £12.95 plus p&p (the p&p is redeemable) and you get to choose proper trial sizes, which give several uses. Here's what I picked this month:

WOW!

And for a closer look..

I'm a huge fan of lixirskin and was beyond thrilled to see their Electrogel Cleanser 30ml as a pick (worth £11). I reviewed it HERE.

This is my 2nd pick of Vichy's Mineral 89 Fortifying & Plumping Daily Booster 10ml which my skin has been loving in summertime. It's the perfect try-me size and great for travel.

A 15ml pot (like the size you get in GWP) of Clinique's superdefense SPF40 fatigue+1st signs of age multi-correcting gel. I was swayed by the SPF plus a new to me product. This little pot is worth £12.60 based on ml of the full size. It's a great try-me.

I adore Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil (my fav shade is Demolition). The one in the kit is Zero (black) in a mini size. I was just needing a new eye pencil!

My final pick is a mini of Moroccanoil's Body Souffle (20ml - worth £4.80). I used to love their haircare and didn't realise they did bodycare. This is lush and creamy and melts instantly onto warm skin. It's got a lovely creamy vanilla scent. Nice to try but unlikely to buy full size.

Have you picked up a My Beauty Kit recently?

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?

Birchbox Review - February 2013

This is my last Birchbox from my yearly subscription and I'm kind of pleased.  I loved last month's box but this one didn't WOW me.

It's London Fashion Week theme and includes:

Gerda Spillmann Bio Fond Cream Foundation 4.5g Shade 03 Bijou - in a shade which is way too dark for me - boo! Cute compact though.  Birchbox says "light, creamy base is easy to apply, offers great coverage and sets to a powder finish".  Full size retails at £20.

Korres Guava Shower Gel 50ml - received Korres in Boudoir Prive previously.  A brand I like and this has a nice scent.  Probably my favourite thing in the box.

Nick Chavez Beverley Hills Pump N'Thick Leave-in Thickening Mist 59ml - received a volume boosting mist in last month's box.  A brand I've not tried before so happy to give it a go.

Vichy Thermal Spa Water 50g - have used the Avene version of this which can be used as a toner, to set make-up or to refresh - always handy.

There are two extras included this month:

EBOOST Natural Energy Booster sachet (received this in a Latest in Beauty box)

Eyelash Curler - Birchbox branded and worth £10.

I am disappointed the foundation is too dark and that Korres (much as I love it) has been included in a beauty box...again.

What are your thoughts?

The A - Z of Beauty Tag

I spotted this beauty tag on Beauty Fiend's Blog and was inspired to do it myself.  What you need to do is pick a beauty brand for each letter of the alphabet (difficult when you love a few which start with the same letter!) and recommend a product you love.

A - Abahna - Frangipani & Orange Blossom Bath & Shower Gel and Body Lotion (link)

B - Bodhi - Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil - see my review here.

C - Chanel - Chanel Sycomore EDT - a perfume I'll always have in my collection (link)

D - Diptyque - I adore Philosykos and Eau Rose

E - Essential Care - A lover of Rose Moisturiser and Creamy Coconut Cleanser

F - Freyaluna - the mini Selection Box is a great introduction to the range

G - Gielly Green - Repair Travel Kit - 4 minis - shampoo, repair mask, body wash and body lotion.  You can read my review here.

H - Herbfarmacy - Herbfarmacy Hard Working Hands Cream (link)

I - Illamasqua - Freak EDP

J - Jo Malone - can't choose one thing - all gorgeous!

K - Kerastase - Bain Satin 1 Shampoo and Conditioner (link)

L - La Prairie - Extrait of Skin Caviar Firming Complex - not bought this for a good few years but an amazing product!

M - Myroo - Starflower and Orange Blossom Cleanser (review)

N - NEOM - Complete Bliss Organic Hand Cream (link)

O - Origins - everything from the Ginger range

P - Pure Thoughts - Tangerine & Jojoba Whipped Shea Butter (link)

Q - QVC - great for picking up lots of beauty products

R - REN - Rose Otto Bath Oil (link)

S - Skinvelop - The Cleanser (link)

T - Temple Spa - Skin Truffle (link)

U - Unique Naturals - Skin Serum Collection (link)

V - Vichy - Idealia Smoothing & Illuminating Cream (link)

W - Weleda - Lavender Body Oil (link)

X - Xen Tan - not a fan but only brand I could think of starting with X!

Y - YSL - Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil (link)

Z - Zoya

October Empties

It's empties time! Here is what I've been using up this month:

Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator 15ml - received this a while back in a Latest in Beauty Box.  I initially really liked it but then found it stung my skin a little so gave up using it.

Ro's Argan Body Conditioner Mini pot - love this gorgeous rose scented product.  I reviewed it here.

Noble Isle Summer Rising Bath & Shower Gel 30ml - love the gooseberry, orange blossom, moss and fresh cut grass scent of this.  I'll pick up a full size at some point though it is quite expensive.

A'kin Rose de Mai Day Cream 1.5ml sachet - tiny sachet but loved the scent and feel of this on my skin.  Would love to buy full size.

Dr Bronner's Citrus Orange Castile Soap pillow - nice and enjoyed using it but slightly prefer the peppermint scented one.

Matis Response Corps Miceur 5ml - this smelt lovely and I liked the gel like texture.  Too small a sample though.

Freyaluna Regain your Balance Facial Tonic 100ml - I loved this rose scented toner when I received it in my Freyaluna Selection Box.  I felt the full size just wasn't the same as the sample size.  I found it too heavily scented and couldn't actually finish the product.

Lolita Lempicka L'Eau en Blanc sample vial - didn't really like this scent it was too powdery for me so wouldn't buy it.  The first empty in my perfume sample challenge.

L'Occitane Divine Cream - small pot - love this cream but don't love the scent of it.  Probably wouldn't buy.

Suti Fabulous Foot Balm - small sample pot - love this.  You can see my review here.

STEAMCREAM 75g pot - this came in a Carmine box - I don't really know what all the fuss is about this cream! I quite liked it but wouldn't purchase.  Like the cute tin though!

Bamford Botanic Geranium Bath Oil 30ml - one of my favourite bath oils.  I will get round to buying the full size at some point.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Age Concentrate 29.6ml - this was a Beauty Bible testing product.  Nice to use but probably wouldn't buy.

Clinique Turnaround Overnight 7ml - a magazine freebie.  Really like this would consider buying.

Sk:n Hand Cream 3ml sachet - would consider buying this as I thought it was a brilliant hand cream.

Ole Henriksen sachets - Invigorating Night Gel, Sheer Transformation and Truth Serum Collagen Booster - didn't like the scent of these so would not purchase.

Dr Brandt Lineless Lines no more sachet - didn't see any difference in my skin.  Wouldn't purchase.

Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner 70ml - loved this.  Will definitely purchase full size at some point.

Giorgio Armani Regenessence Eye Serum 15ml - this was a nice eye serum and I liked the cooling tip to apply but didn't really see any major improvement in the eye area apart from hydrating.  Wouldn't re-purchase.

Mythic Oil vial - really like this, will purchase at some point but I've got loads of hair oils to use up.

Vichy Idealia/Idealia Pro both 3ml - liked the Idealia.  Will purchase at some point.  You can see my review here.

Comoshambhala Invigorate Shower Gel 50ml - love this eucalyptus scented shower gel.  Have a few to use still from swaps.

Rodial Glamtox Active Daily Moisturiser 2ml sachet - really liked this.  Would like to try more Rodial products.

Hyaluronan Hydrating Sheet Mask - love sheet masks and this one was especially moisturising.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Clean Feeling Lotion 50ml - nice to use but probably wouldn't buy as I've got so many body lotions to use.

Origins Ginger Burst Body Wash 100ml - this was a present last Christmas!  Love the Ginger range and this is a really nice body wash.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum 2ml - love Caudalie products and this was nice to use.

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil 20ml - this was in the Selfridges Advent Calendar last Christmas. I found it a bit greasy on my skin and it contains mineral oil.

TRESemme Split Remedy Sachets 3 x 10ml - shampoo, conditioner, leave in treatment - I liked the shampoo and conditioner and would maybe purchase.  The treatment didn't suit my hair type.

Ancienne Ambiance Bath Salts in Amundula, Jasminum and Rosa.  You can read my post about the salts here.  I'd purchase the Rosa ones as they were my favourite.

Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Exfoliator 4ml - loved this gentle exfoliator would purchase.

Caudalie Vinexpert Eyes & Lip Serum 1.5ml - love this would perhaps purchase.

Thalgo Thalgomince Cream 5ml - from Latest in Beauty box.  Quite nice probably wouldn't purchase.

Melvita Fresh Micellar Water 35ml - this came from Latest in Beauty as a luxury sample.  Quite effective at removing make up would perhaps re-purchase.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair 1.5ml - like this product, have bought in the past.  Would maybe buy again.

Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint sample vial - love this scent and will buy full size in the future.

Alqvimia Rosewater Facial Tonic 6ml - a lovely toner scented lightly with roses.  Would maybe purchase as it was refreshing on the skin.

What have you been using up this month?  Have you used any of these products?