Shopping My Stash #15

Bee Fruitful Mandarin Lip Balm* 5ml - a lovely super moisturising lip balm scented with mandarin.  Keeps the lips moisturised and super glossy.  Can be bought on the Bee Fruitful Website for £1.80.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil 30ml - I bought this a while back - firstly thinking it was a face oil but it is actually an oil for removing make up.  It's part of a two step process - use the oil and then a separate cleanser.  Leaves skin clean, radiant and smelling of roses.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Radiance Day Cream SPF 15 75ml - a supermoisturising face cream which is scented with rose.  Hydrates and nurtures the skin. Love that it's got SPF too.  

Stila Coming Clean Revitalising Gel Cleanser 10ml - this came in a WIMH gift set which I received for my birthday.  A light gel which smells minty.  Makes skin feel really clean. I use this in my morning shower.  I'd buy it again once I get through the ones I've got.

Bloom Mineral Lip Butter - Killing me Softly - a really cute lip butter with a little mirror in the lid.  A light pink shade.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP mini - I love this heady scent although I mainly wear it in the evening.

Bamford Geranium Bath Oil 30ml - I first tried this in a Latest in Beauty box.  Have accumulated some from swaps.  Simply love this. Mini review here.

Just Be Happy Rollerball 10ml - an uplifting scent to banish the blues - with coconut oil, Pink Grapefruit, Lime and Bergamot.  A sunny scent. Roll on pulse points.  See the website here.

What have you been using this week?

*PR sample

InStyle Magazine - July - Freebies & Offers

July InStyle magazine is fantastic! Not only do you get a freebie (Body Shop Mascara worth £10 or two Body Shop eyeliners - Black/French Navy worth £16) there is also some fabulous offers and interesting reading.

Also included is two 10ml sachets of L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo & Conditioner.

Onto the freebies (next month) and the offers!

Next month's issue (out 5 July) have a Free Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara and Shiseido Cleanser.  As well as 20% off at Time to Spa and 10% off at Benefit.

25% off The Body Shop Make up including Lily Cole's Limited Edition Collection plus a free makeover instore - just take the page with you.  Or order online using code 38938.

The final amazing offer is a VIP Make Up Masterclass at Giorgio Armani Counters.  It costs £10 with goodie bag and glass of Champagne.  The booking fee is redeemable on any products bought.  Goodie bag contains - 3ml Regenessence Serum, 5ml Luminous Silk Foundation, 5ml Fluid Sheer, 2ml Blushing Fabric (this is fab, currently using a sample) and 2ml Eyes to Kill Excess Mascara.  Definitely going to book in for this one!

If you subscribe to InStyle they are giving away a free gift of 3 OPI Nail Lacquers (first 400 subscribers).

I also have some new wants which are featured in the magazine -

The Art of Body Care Travel Collection, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb La Vie en Rose EDT, Chanel Rouge Coco Baume, Givenchy Mister Radiant Body, St Tropez Aftersun Lotion and Kerastase Cristalliste Luminous Perfecting Shampoo & Conditioner.

The magazine costs £2.50 - a bargain!  Did you pick up InStyle magazine?

My Perfume Collection

From going to having one signature scent - Chanel Sycamore as reviewed here my collection has suddenly grown! (although I also was using Jimmy Choo EDP also at the time - I'm now on my third bottle of it since its launch in February 2011).

I am also loving Tom Ford Santal Blush as reviewed here. I adore this (and gulp... I am over half way through it having worn it every day until I got Prada Candy at Christmas).  It's one which is always going to be on my wishlist.

I also love the Annick Goutal Mandragore EDT from the Feel Unique December box.

From the Advent Calendar I'm loving using Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and Armani Code.

I also love Diptyque Philosykos and I've got it in a perfumed roll-on at the moment - its one I always come back to as I love the figgy, green fresh scent which reminds me of balmy summer evenings.

A friend gave me a atomizer filled with Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDP a while ago and its another I really like, a cosy wearable scent although I'm not sure I'd buy a bottle.  

I also love Lush Ginger Solid Perfume.

I have also got loads of sample vials/mini bottles - Fracas, Visa, Calypso, Pivoine Floral, Le Labo - Tubereuse 40 and Rose 31 (a review will follow on these), Trish McEvoy, Liz Earle, assorted Avon vials, Jo Malone - Wild Bluebell and Grapefruit, Jo Wood, Acorelle, Paestum Rose, Orla Kiely and Korres to name a few!

Advent Calendar - My Buy Again Products

Here are the products from the Advent Calendar that I loved the most.  These are the ones I'd definitely repurchase.

From day 1, Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur.  I really like this product.  It smells fresh and is light on the skin.  Only negative - its not great at removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner.  I tended to use it on a light make up days.

Day 2 - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream.  My winter dry skin just loved this cream.  I'm definitely going to be purchasing some more - I've nearly finished my 7ml sample.  I loved the fact that it wasn't scented, was quite light and just sunk into the skin.  

From Days 4 and 5 - YSL Rouge Pur Couture & Lancome Hypnose Mascara.  The lipstick was absolutely gorgeous, lovely wearable colour and really moisturising on the lips (as well as cute container).  I will definitely be checking out some more shades.  This mascara is my favourite and a great size for popping in my handbag.

Day 6 was a lovely re-introduction to Lancome Juicy Tubes in shade Lychee, a light pink shade, I used to wear this shade all the time.  I had forgotten how much I used to love these.

On Day 10 I found the most amazing eye cream Lancome Genifique Yeux which I absolutely adore.  It's got a gel like texture and sinks into the skin around the eye area - it's too early to say if it's doing anything for my fine lines but I'm loving using it.

On Day 11 I got Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDP.  Another perfume I've used before.  Have really enjoyed using it again.  

Day 12 was the day I got Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.  This is an absolute gem of a product.  Makes skin look more radiant by morning.  Loving this.

On Day 14 I got Kiehl's Creme de Corps.  I love this body lotion.  It does take a bit of effort to get it out the bottle but it melts into dry skin areas.  Love that its got a neutral scent.

Day 15 saw me get YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil.  Love this product, staying power is amazing.  Going to check out the other shades.

On Day 16 I got Lancome Bi-Facil an eye make up remover.  This is great for removing waterproof mascara (and the eyeliner above).

Day 17 I got Armani Code EDP.  Love the orange blossom, vanilla, honey and jasmine notes.  Really wearable scent.

On Day 19, I got Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.  A great product.  A cream but feels a bit like a salve when you rub it into your hands. It's definitely helped my dry hands these last few days.

On Day 20, I got Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara.  I love Lancome mascaras so love this one.

On Day 23, I got shu uemura cleansing oil.  Love this, nice to try again.

All in all, I loved the calendar.  I have found 15 products I love.  The others I enjoyed using but wouldn't re-purchase (although there are a couple I've not tried fully yet) and even though I knew what products the calendar held I was still excited finding out what was behind each little door each day.  I'm going to start saving for next year! x

Day 11 - Flowerbomb EDP

How excited am I! Today I received a mini EDP of Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf (5ml).

I love this perfume so was pleased to get this.  If you click the link above you will see that Debenhams are offering 15% off the perfume and body lotion at present - a really good deal if you like this scent.

50ml is retailing at £43.35 instead of £51 and the body lotion is £34 instead of £40.

With notes of centifolia rose, Indian osmanthus, catleya orchid and sambac jasmine.  This is one of my favourite items from the Advent Calendar.

I'll be doing a post at the end of the month letting you know what my favourites have been and which I will definitely re-purchase.

All I want this Christmas Selfridges Advent Calendar 2011

Look at this little beauty which arrived in the post today.

I read about this amazing advent calendar last year and it retailed at £60.

This year it cost £80 - gulp!  It contains 24 gifts including products from Lancome, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura, Armani, Viktor & Rolf and YSL making for a very exciting December!

A Model Recommends and The Beauty Scoop have both posted about this item recently.

I decided to buy this and sneakily used the joint account hoping hubby wouldn't spot my purchase.  Needless to say, he did and was less than impressed....To soften the blow I've said I will make him his own special calendar (though his will be featuring food, drink, sweeties and maybe the occasional beauty product!!).

It contains:

Lancôme Teint Miracle 03 5ml, Trésor eau de parfum 7.5ml, Miracle eau de parfum 5ml, Hypnôse Drama Mascara 2ml, Hypnôse Classic Mascara 2ml, Absolu Nu 302 Mini, Mini Juicy Tube 19 – Lychee, Visionnaire 7ml, Génifique 7ml, Génifique Yeux 5ml, Rénergie Lift Volumetry Day 15ml, Eau Micellaire Douceur 50ml, Bi–Facil 30ml

Giorgio Armani⁄Emporio Armani Armani Code Femme eau de parfum 3ml, Emporio Armani Diamonds eau de parfum 5ml

Kiehl's Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 7ml, Kiehl's Crème De Corps 30ml, Kiehl's Hand Salve 30ml, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 4ml

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil 20ml

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb eau de parfum 7ml

YSL Belle D'Opium eau de parfum 7.5ml, Rouge Pur Couture Mini, Khol Pencil Mini

The confirmation email from Selfridges made me smile "Your order has left the building - gratification is on its way".