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?

August Empties

I'm not going to use anything else up in August so here are my August empties. If it's marked * I've kindly been sent the product to review. 

As you'll know I'm a huge fan of Butterwhips. I used up their Traditionally Floral & Exotically Tranquil Body Butters 25g each which were gorgeous. See my review HERE. Would buy again. Escentric Molecules Molecule 03 (30ml) I absolutely love this vertiver scent & have just opened a new one. I used up 2 sample vials - Miller Harris Poirier du Soir which is deliciously fruity & Kenzo Flowers EDT which is sublime. Would buy both full size. Tata Harper Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer 10ml is perfect for summer. I had the pleasure of trying Scottish brand Deerieo & fell head over heels for their Aurora Face Oil Serum 10ml* review. It's on the wishlist! I simply adore Floral Street's Electric Rhubarb 10ml. I always have a back up! The Oribe duo were fab (Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner both 50ml). Really luxurious. I adore this brand!

Organic Youth Skincare Escape Organic Bath & Body Oil 15ml. I truly loved this stunning oil which is scented with Jasmine, Vanilla, Sweet Orange & Sandalwood - review. Buying next month!  It was good to revisit Temple Spa and I loved the La La Lagoon Bath & Shower Gel 30ml. I adore every Dr Hauschka product I try and their Rose Nurturing Bath Essence 100ml* is simply sublime. See my review HERE. It's on the wishlist! Siam Ginger is one of my favourite bath & shower therapy scents from Bodhi & Birch. Sure to buy again soon! I used their Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash for hands and I love it's uplifting scent. Will buy again (both 200ml). Rounding up my empties this month is Organic Works Lavender Hand Wash 300ml* which is gorgeous. Will buy again at some point. What have you been using up this month?

Latest Buys: Witchy Treats, Hells Bells Homemade Candles, Olfactory Candles, Bodhi & Birch, Miel Botanicals, Sol de Janeiro + Dook

I've not done a latest buys post since 2nd April but I've not stopped spending! I am however from June going to limit myself to a £100 spend each month, which is more than enough for plenty of cheer me up treats!

Through my friend Sam, I discovered Witchy Treats and picked up a selection of wax melts to try. I'm working my way through them - they're lovely with strong scents and pretty colours. Using the code SAM-15% will get you 15% off your 1st order (I also received some pretty awesome free gifts!)

I also picked up 3 melts from Hells Bells Homemade Candles. The Watermelon Daiquiri is deliciously fruity and perfect for summer days. 

A little Olfactory Candles order - I was desperate to try the new Little Pots (buy 10 for £10, or £1.20 each). They are the perfect try me size or to take on holiday. The Fresh Coffee Melt Pot (£3 for 50g) smells exactly like freshly brewed rich coffee and is the best coffee scent I've ever tried. I also loved the new scent - Fresh Raspberry & Black Peppercorn so needed more! Remember you can get 15% off your 1st order with SANDRA15 (excluding burners).

I was sorry to see Pure Skin Lab close down but delighted to pick up Bodhi & Birch's exquisite Sicilian Rose Body Oil in the sale for £18!! I reviewed this beauty HERE. Chuffed to bits to have it back in my stash!

I'm always needing something to help me sleep and I've found Miel Botanicals Herbal Sleep Balm to be a miracle cure! (£8.50/£15). A review is coming for this one. It's magic.

I've lusted after Sol de Janeiro's Biggie Biggie Bum Bum Cream 500ml since I saw it in Harvey Nichols one Christmas a few years ago! I got it for a bargain price (normally £72). Feel Unique were offering 15% off and they are one of my brands, so I got 10% off on top, making it £55.08. I also received a mini of their new Bom Dia Bright Cream, a free gift for an order over £50 (Benefit 24-hr brow setter mini worth £12.50) and two free samples.

I also picked up an order locally at Dook, a gorgeous salt soap. I already adore these beauties (REVIEW) and their Hand Cleanser/Sanitiser (review to come). A wee short walk along the prom in the sunshine. Pure bliss. Founder and formulator, Helen is opening a shop locally - can't wait!

What have you bought recently?

April Empties

If a product is marked * I was gifted it for review purposes. Here is my April empties. I've actually got through quite a lot this month!

I love Bamford Pebble Soaps, this one came in a recent Naturisimo Discovery Kit. Lovely to use with a rich and creamy lather and aromatic scent. Always on the wishlist.

I received Odacite's CaR Vital Glow Wild Carrot Serum Concentrate vial in my Naturisimo Glow Starter Kit. I shared my musings HERE. Nice to use but a small sample, might or might now splurge on full size.

Crushing Blooms EdP by Tom Daxon 4.5ml which was nice to use but not one of my favourites from the range. See my post on the 13 vial collection HERE.

Molton Brown Flora Luminare EdT 1.5ml I really enjoyed using this floral perfume. Full size's on the wishlist!

Antipodes Kiwi Seed Gold Luminous Eye Cream 3ml I got about a week's worth of use from this little sachet AM and PM which gives enough use to weigh up whether you like an eye cream or no. This one's on my wishlist!

So much love for Raven Botanicals I tried their Award Winning Spellbind CBD Bakuchiol Serum* as a beauty shortlist judge and fell head-over-heels. A review is upcoming for this and the rest of my Beauty Shortlist Top Picks. I've since bought another!

Huge love for Bodhi & Birch, their Award winning Lemon Water Hydrosol Tonic is just fantastic. See my review HERE. I've just cracked open a full size I've been hoarding. Absolutely gorgeous!

L:A Bruket's Hand & Body Wash mini came in the February Mint Green Starter Set - see HERE. I loved it's uplifting and awakening herbal aroma. It's one I'd buy full size. 

An old favourite is REN's Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash 50ml which I picked up in Feel Unique's My Beauty Kit. Would buy again.

I fell head-over-heels for Bee Good's almost edible Warm Vanilla & Fig Hand & Body Wash 250ml which was a delight to use. Will definitely repurchase at some point as its lovely.

I've since bought Organic Work's zesty and uplifting Bergamot Hand Wash*. See my review HERE.

ila spa's The Big Sleep Drops are absolutely fantastic. I'm sure to buy them again. See my review HERE.

I found a sachet of Sol de Janiero's Coco Cabana Cream in my samples drawer. It has a gel type texture and a very sweet coconut scent. I'd love to buy this for summer.

I have loved everything I've tried from Tam Mason. The Bergamot & Blood Orange Nourishing Sugar Hand Scrub mini came in the A Handpicked Selection Box which I reviewed HERE.

I've been enjoying a soak in the bath lately and I especially liked Epic Blend's Coconut Soaking Salts, Westlab's SLEEP Salts* (Review) and Mythyn's Melusine Silk Soak Skin Hydrating Bath Potion. I'd be happy to use all of these again.

What have you been using up this month?

Latest Buys: Antipodes, Lola's Apothecary, Bodhi & Birch, Olfactory Candles & Nudge Boutique

Here's my most recent buys (I'm going to start doing reviews very soon!)

I couldn't resist Antipodes latest launch - Culture Prebiotic Night Recovery Water Cream (£45) which I picked up at Naturisimo (I had £11.40 worth of points saved). It's truly gorgeous and a review to come.

Staying with Naturisimo I fell head-over-heels for Lola's Apothecary delicate romance balancing body polish, a mini of which came in their recent self love discovery box, you know the drill, they offered 10% off an item in the box so I made this sumptuous rosey delight mine! Such luxurious packaging too!

I love a little bodhi & birch as you'll know, so I was thrilled to see travel sizes back! I chose a selection of the deluxe bath & shower therapies - so nice to have Siam Ginger and Ylang Ylang Incensa back in my life (I plan to keep the little bottles so I can decant from larger bottles when we are allowed to travel again!) How carefree we were! These are a real treat (£5.50 - 50ml).

I'm not a mummy but I couldn't resist Olfactory Candles stunning set for Mother's Day (inside the pretty box are 8 shaped wax melts - £6.50) in Pink Petals (the scent is a blend of sweet orange, fresh rose, white musk and woods). It's the perfect feminine aroma as well as the ideal gift. Pick yours up HERE.

I've fallen head-over-heels for Nudge Boutique's almost good-enough-to-eat whipped body butters. They really are heavenly - a real treat for the skin and senses. Expect a review for these soon! Pure heaven in a jar! (£8 - 50g, £15 - 100g).

What have you been buying lately?

January Empties

Here's what I've been using this month. If a product is marked * it means I've been given it for review purposes. 

*Micheline Arcier Aromatherapie Richesse D'Or Bath & Shower Crystals - I absolutely loved this aromatic treat for the bath, body and mind. See my review HERE. I'm sorry to use them up as they're just perfect for lockdown times! Definitely on the wishlist.

ZOJO The Bikini Body Formula 35g - I find this supplement helps supports my digestive system the most, although it does a whole host of things. See my review HERE. I'm sure I'll stock up again soon as it's a must-have in my stash!

*I absolutely loved Evolve's Pomegranate & Goji Aromatic Wash 250ml - it's perfect for your morning shower - uplifting and super fruity. See my review HERE. It's on my wishlist for when my stash reduces. Loved it.

Molton Brown's Frankincense & Allspice Liquid Handwash 300ml - it's only available from October each year until it sells out in the sales. See my review HERE. Unfortunately, I was unable to stock up for the year as it sold out!

I simply love Bodhi & Birch's Mint Thé Bath & Shower Therapy 200ml - it's the one I keep buying again and again - such a staple. See my review HERE. It'll be bought again soon.

*The Dr Hauschka bits are from the advent calendar - Almond Soothing Body Cream 10ml - nice enough, wouldn't buy. The two toners - Clarifying & Facial Toner (both 10ml) were really nice and effective - I'd buy both these again.

I just love Lush's Sleepy Body Lotion - it's on the wishlist - I'm likely to stock up soon! Perfect to use before bed for a restful night's sleep.

I picked up the little sample size bottle of Hand & Nail Oil Serum at Blue Labelle when we visited the shop in the summer. It was soo good to meet Pascale despite having to mask up! A beautiful aromatic product - full size is on the wishlist.

My final item this month is Zing Organic's Ah There! Body Oil 25ml which was nice to use but I prefer their Elevate Body Oil with Frankincense & Clementine so wouldn't buy this.

What have you been using up this month?

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?

Latest Buys: Inika, Vix Wicks, Bodhi & Birch, Blue Labelle, Witchy Wicks, Balneaves

Here's my latest buys:

I'd tried a sachet sample of Inika's Phytofuse Renew Reservatrol Serum and fell in love (30ml - £59). I bought it using Love Lula's Beauty Box 20% discount code plus some points I'd accumulated making it a bargainous £44.70! (I also earned £4.40 in points for a future purchase). It's truly lush and one of the nicest serums I've used. Expect a review soon!

I couldn't resist a Vix Wicks Halloween Wax Melt Box (mystery). I picked the smallest size which costs a tenner (as it was my first order I got free postage). I'll do a review nearer to Halloween.  It's a well thought through box, excellent value and suitably spooky!

For Bank Holiday recently bodhi & birch were offering a very generous 25% off. So I picked up the lush Lime Blossom Protecting Hand Serum 30ml (normal price £25, Bank hol price £18.75). See my review HERE. It's so nice to have it back in my stash!

After meeting Pascale in the summer at her lovely Blue Labelle Shop and making a small purchase I needed to come back and purchase her Hand & Nail Oil Serum full size after loving re-visiting it in the summer. I also picked up a small award winning (30ml) Divine Blend Multi-Tasking Treatment Oil (think body, hair, massage, bath). She also had a Bank Holiday discount on, which is always welcome!

I've now had a couple of small orders from Witchy Wicks (my friend Sam is an Ambassador for the wax brand, so I'm sharing her link). The sample size wax melts (£1.50) are a great try-before-you-buy as there's enough inside the little pot for a few tries. So far I've loved Poison Apple & Black Rose and am working my way through the others. Looking forward to their Halloween offerings (coming 14th September).

My lovely Balneaves Monthly Subscription Box brings so much joy (£14 a month inc p&p). Lots of lovely scents this month. So far I'm loving Mandarin Infusion, Cypress & Sea Fennel, Black Leather and The Florist (still lots to try).

What have you been buying lately?

June Empties

I'm not going to use up anything else this month, so here are my June Empties. If a product is marked * I very kindly received it free of charge for review. I'm currently addicted to wax melts so I'm going to add these to my empties posts.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Body Buff 15ml, Brazilian 4 Play Moisturising Shower Cream Gel 90ml and Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 25ml - I'm obsessed with the bum bum cream and love the sweet vanilla scent. It was nice to try two other products in the range. I'd buy all three again.

*Wild & Precious Rose Water 01 100ml - a beautiful product from a gorgeous range. See my review HERE. I'd definitely buy this when my stash reduces.

*Bodhi & Birch Superfoods Series Lemon Water Hydrosol Tonic 100ml - I adore this (and have just opened a new one). See my review HERE.

Bodhi & Birch Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash 200ml - a great hand wash (which you can also use as a body wash). See my review HERE. I bought two of these at the beginning of lockdown but would buy it again for sure!

*REN Citrus Limonum Hand Wash 300ml - I simply loved this citrus scented hand wash and will buy again. I was quite sad when I finished it. See my review HERE.

Molton Brown Suede Orris Bath & Shower Gel 100ml - love Molton Brown's shower gels. This one was nice to use and I'd happily have it back in my stash.

*Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum 10ml - I judged this award winner in the recent Beauty Shortlist Awards. It does everything it says it will and I must say I was very sorry to finish this up! It's on the wishlist.

System Professional Inessence Mask 15ml - which was nice to use but my hair needs a cut and colour right now (I was supposed to be there on 4th April so it's been a long time!) Might or might not buy.

Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme Restorative Rich Cream 10ml - which was a Latest in Beauty pick. I loved using this at night time as it's super-rich. Would consider buying full size as my skin seemed to love it.

In May, I signed up to the Balneaves Wax Melt Subscription Box. See my thoughts on June's box HERE. Campbeltown based Olfactory is also new to me and I discovered them after connecting on instagram. Their Misi Melts cost only 75p (plus p&p) and are a great size to get the feel of a scent.

So this month I've used up: Olfactory - Black Orchid which is just like the perfume. A lush aromatic (and strong) melt which I loved. A full size purchase of this is on the cards! I also tried their Fresh Coffee, an aromatic blend of coffee with a hint of chocolate. This was lovely but I felt the "coffee" scent could have been a little bit stronger. My third use-up is their Perfectly Chantelle, another perfume inspired powdery floral (I wasn't so keen on this one).

From Balneaves: I adored Tuberose & Angelia, Black Raspberry & Vanilla, Rhubarb & Elderflower and Vetiver, Cedarwood & Fir. Dragon's Blood is a very heady melt which I found a bit overpowering.

What have you been using up this month?

April: Lately I've Been Loving

With everyone getting used to lockdown and not getting out and about as normal I've found simple things have rocked my world in April. I celebrated quarantine birthday which turned out just as enjoyable as drinks and dinner out..

Read on to see what I've been loving:

A walk by the sea during my daily exercise is truly lovely.

Blossom! I can never get enough of it! It makes me smile.

Birthday cards mean so much! Friends know me so well...

A new (from July) personalised planner from Papier brings me so much joy. See my review of my previous one HERE. I find it absolutely perfect for blog planning.

Food orders from Root to Market, the brainchild of head chef at fhior restaurant to support the local supply chain and independent businesses during the pandemic have cheered up our month - you can order on a weekly basis (the fillet steaks are the best I've ever tasted - thanks Henderson Meat).

Happiness is... three new birthday gins! Thanks Gillian, Nardin and David! 

A little stock up of Botanic Dew Hand & Body Wash from Bodhi & Birch - see my review HERE. A personalised note from founder, Elijah always makes me smile!

My ffern Organic Small Batch Perfume Spring 20 arriving (it arrived later than planned due to bottles/tops coming from Barcelona). It was worth the wait - it's simply stunning! See my review HERE.

I stupidly (duh!) gave up my allotment in January. I've been nurturing some herbs on the windowsill. I definitely want to pick up some more when I can!

And rounding it all up - a stunning Portobello sunset! What have you been loving in April?