Monu Freebies

Sam at Honey Go-Beauty posted about this freebie offer on Beauty Box Swaps on Facebook.  

I received three mini sample tubes (each 5ml) of Enriched Body Cream, Neck and Bust Cream and Hand and Nail Cream.  As well as a booklet about all the products and a price list.  You can find out more about Monu products here.

Day 13 - Lancome Miracle EDP

Today I got a 5ml EDP of Lancome Miracle which retails at £36 for 30ml.  I used to wear this scent  so it was nice to try it again.  With notes of Lychee, Freesia, Magnolia, Jasmine, Ginger, Pepper, Amber and Musk.  I'll enjoy using the sample but won't re-purchase.

Superdrug Freebies

I picked up a couple of items in Superdrug recently.  These were free as I used my points!  I first read about the Vitamin E SPF 15 Radiance Moisture Cream on Gemma's blog.  

I also picked up a Montagne Jeunesse Ultra Deep Cleanse Amore Rose face mask for normal, oily and t-zone skin.  

Have you bought anything with your points recently?

Day 12 - Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Today I received Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate.  This is 4ml size.  Full size retails at £36 for 30ml.

I am keen to try this product as the website says "One night.  A few drops.  Younger looking skin by morning".  The elixir is paraben free and stuffed with essential oils, Omega 6 fatty acids and evening primrose oil.  Good for dry and dehydrated skin. (perfect for this time of year) The website says to apply 2-3 drops onto cleansed skin and massage in.  Can be used alone or with moisturiser.  I am loving these mini products! 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.

Feel Unique Beauty Box - December

Imagine my excitement to hear the postman at the door this morning, especially as I knew I was due my Feel Unique Beauty Box!

It's a really fab box, I am really pleased with the contents. 

"Finishing Touches...add some magic to your Christmas...

Sparkle your way through the Festive season with this month's fabulous finishing touches.  With a sprinkle of sugar, a touch of gloss and a spritz of fragrance, all eyes will be on you!"

They are also giving £5 off any product if you spend £30 or more.

Onto the contents:

25ml Annick Goutal Mandragore EDT - this retails at £62.05 for 100ml.  It has notes of Bergamot, pepper, mint, star anise, boxwood, ginger and mandrake. It smells really fresh, fruity and minty on my skin.  A unisex scent, I love it!  I think it is a very generous addition to the box (its also in a cute little purple bag with tassled drawstring).  Would also make an excellent gift.

1g Tigi Bed Head Candy Fixations Sugar Dust a full size product at £9.35.  We got something similar in a previous box (which I haven't tried yet) but happy to give this a shot though.

30ml Clarisonic Nourishing Care Cleanser for normal/dry skin.  Not sure if I'll use this as I have combination skin although my skin is a bit dry this time of year.

4ml Nails Inc. in Oxford Circus, a candy pink colour.

8ml - full size Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium Balm which retails at £3.49.  It can be used for cuticles, dry skin areas, lips etc.  Have used this before and loved it especially the smell of geranium.

Finally, a trio of Living Nature skin samples - all 2ml - vitalising cleanser, extra hydrating toning gel and nourishing day cream.

I was really pleased with this box and will probably use everything in it and thought it was excellent value.  Did you get this box?  What are your thoughts?

Days 9 and 10 - Lancome L'Absolu Nu Lip Colour and Lancome Genifique Yeux

Yesterday I got Lancome L'Absolu Nu Moisture Replenishing Bare Lip Colour in shade 302 (Voile de Rose).  It's a nice light colour and very moisturising on the lips. This is 1.42g.  A full size costs £21.

Today, I  got Lancome Genifique Yeux, an eye cream with a light gel texture (the kind of texture I like best in an eye cream).  Looking forward to trying this out as I don't know anything about this range.

P.S. Thanks so much to all my followers I am so excited to be nearing the dizzy heights of 100 followers! I really do appreciate it so much.  I am planning to do another giveaway in January and this will be international. x

Wish List #1

These are five products I am adding to my wish list (thanks for drawing them to my attention girls!)

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm - Pink & Peach - reviewed by Victoria at Cosmetic Cravings

Rodial Glam Balm Lips - reviewed by Get gawjus

Aromatherapy Associates Overnight Repair Mask - as reviewed by Jude at Love Lust & Fairy Dust

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Lipstick 05 - as reviewed by Sian at Quite Frankly

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara as commented on by Been There, Done That, Got the Lipstick

Birthday Weekend

Last weekend we stayed at Knockinaam Lodge near Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway.  The lodge was once home to the Hunter-Blair family - its now a country hotel in 30 acres with its own private beach - though much too cold in December for swimming in the wild Irish sea!  (I took this photo from the beach).

Our room was Churchill, which had an amazing bathroom and huge bed!  The bath was ancient and really deep and was large enough to be able to float without touching the sides! (even hubby who hates baths loved it!)  There was even a step to help you climb in!

Each morning we had a full Scottish breakfast which was yummy (if highly calorific!) complete with toast, muffins, oatcakes, croissants and pots of leaf tea.

Here are the pampering products I took with me:

It was a great weekend away (even though the weather was cold and windy) x

Days 7 and 8 - Lancome Renergie Cream and Armani Diamonds EDP

With my excitement of getting the Amarya Beauty Box I forgot my Advent Calendar!

On day 7, I got Lancome Renergie Lift Volumetry Cream (15ml) which you can read about here.  It retails at £60.25 for 50ml. I'm looking forward to trying it out.  A generous size pot and would be good for travel too.  A review will follow.

Today I got Armani Diamonds EDP (5ml).  It's a fruity, floral scent with woods and amber - one for the handbag on nights out!  I really like the smell of this one!

Amarya Beauty Box - December

I was excited to receive my December Amarya box before I left for work this morning!  Included is a full size Christmas gift from REN worth £28!  The set contains Neroli & Grapefruit Body Wash and Body Cream (both 200ml). I've used the Rose Otto set before - lovely products so interested to try these ones.

The set comes in a beautiful gift box.  REN collaborated with de Gournay (a wallpaper company).  The designs are taken from Japanese and Korean hand-painted wallpaper designs.

Also included is a 10g sample of Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream and a spray vial of the new scent range by Acorelle in Citrus Verbena which you can find out about here.  It smells citrus-y and fresh.

I'm really pleased with the box this month x

Naked Body Wash

I was browsing through cards in Oxfam when I came across these two Naked Body Washes in Ooh la la Coco de Mer (coconut and passionflower) and Love Me Rose (with rose extracts) (both full size and brand new!) for £1.99 each instead of £3.99 each.  And both in scents I love!

Klorane Freebies

Serenity of Beauty mentioned on her blog a few weeks ago that Klorane were giving away free samples of shampoo and conditioner (there was a mass dash for the samples and the company suspended the offer due to the overwhelming demand).  I got mine on Friday - a mini 25ml bottle of camomile shampoo and a 10ml sachet of matching conditioner suitable for blonde or highlighted hair (that's me).  I do so love a freebie.  

Day 6 - Lancome Juicy Tube

Today I got a lovely little mini Lancome Juicy Tube (7ml)  in Lychee, a really wearable shade which adds a nice light glossy sheen to the lips.  (tastes good too!)

Day 4 and 5 - YSL Rouge Pur Couture and Lancome Hypnose Mascara

On Sunday I received a gorgeous mini YSL Rouge Pur Couture - pure colour satiny radiance.  A lovely mini lipstick in a great wearable shade (09).  Very moisturising on the lips and great size for the handbag! Love it!


Today I got a mini (2ml) Lancome Hypnose Volume Mascara in Black - my favourite mascara and a great handbag size.


p.s. I'm off now to check out all the blog posts I've missed over the last couple of days!  Missed catching up with your blogs x

Day 3 - Lancome Tresor EDP

I was away for the weekend for hubby's birthday and I had supposedly scheduled posts to go - well, ha! they didn't!  Here they are now! I'll also this week do a post on our weekend away.


On Saturday, I got a 7.5ml mini EDP Tresor Perfume by Lancome.  Not a perfume I'll use so I'll probably pass it on. It is marketed as a floral-oriential.  

With notes of rose, apricot blossom, peach tree flowers, lily of the valley, vanilla, heliotrope, iris, amber, sandalwood and musk.

Apologies for the poor photo! x

Clinique Bonus Time - Harvey Nichols

A great bonus time gift at Harvey Nichols.  

Available from 1-17 December - free with two items, one to be skincare.

Gift contains - Youth Surge Day SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturiser, mini High Impact Mascara, Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector, Chubby Stick in NEW colour Strawberry, All about eyes, Take the Day Off, Colour Surge Eyeshadow duo, Liquid facial soap and a cute make up bag.

Day 2 - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

Today I received Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream 7ml.  It's a light textured face cream which is unscented.  I think I'm going to enjoy using this cream - it will be good for the winter months.  A good sized sample.  A 50ml jar retails at £24.

p.s. I'm going to be doing a few scheduled posts as its a busy weekend for me (as I guess it will be with everyone!).  I will reply to comments when I can.  Have a great weekend x

L'Oreal Lip Balm Universal Lip Glow £8.49

A translucent lip balm in a lipstick case and shaped like a lipstick.  It reacts to the moisture of your lips to give an individual colour and subtle healthy sheen.  Lots of moisturising action but I don't notice any colour on my lips!  Would I re-purchase, no!

Advent Calendar - Day 1 - Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur

How excited am I, day one of the Selfridges Advent Calendar.  

I got Eau Micellaire Douceur which is an express cleansing water for face, eyes and lips.  This is a 50ml size which is a great try me size.  Full size retails at £20.45 for 200ml.  Looking forward to trying this out.


I had a quick wee shot when I opened the first door of the calendar at 6.30am and it seems a good product with a nice smell.  Though I am unsure if it would be able to take off mascara etc.  May be good for non make up days.  Will test it out.


p.s. hubby got a mini cigar!