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?

Sol de Janeiro Sunshine Sol Kit+Body Fragrance Mist

I just adore Sol De Janeiro's original Bum Bum Cream, I love its lush sweet vanilla-y caramel scent and the lovely rich texture of the cream. I'd been eyeing up the perfume but had read reviews that the fragranced body mist was just as good...(I've now just spied a 8ml spray is now available of the perfume (adds to wishlist). And so, I also picked up their Sunshine Sol Kit in colab with Feel Unique which costs £46 (value £64). I had some voucher codes to use, so it'd be rude not to...

Inside the box is a branded pouch which is ideal for holidays, weekends away or just to cheer your day up.

Inside are dinky sizes of the new Brazilian Joia Shampoo & Conditioner (both 90ml - this size retails at £12 each). I've had a few samples of these via pick 'n' mix and my hair loves the duo. A review will follow!

There's a 75ml tub of Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream which is worth £18 with the highly addictive buttery caramel scent. I just love this cream! Also inside is a mini 25ml Bum Bum Body Scrub which is formulated with sugar crystals (making it a perfect scrubby scrub).

Rounding up the collection is a 1ml vial of Sol Cheirosa '62 the lovely perfume which complements the range with notes of salted caramel, pistachio, jasmine petals and vanilla.

As I said, I also picked up Brazilian Crush Body Fragrance Mist (90ml - £18) which has the delectable original bum bum scent with notes of pistachio and salted caramel. It's lush! 

Are you a fan of the range?

New In: Bloomtown: Hand Sanitizer Purse Spray + Grounded Essential Oil

As soon as I spotted Bloomtown's latest launches at Love Lula I knew I'd be buying a couple! Enter their Pure Essential Oil Blend - Grounded (10ml - £12) which is a blend of earthy Patchouli, Sweet Orange and grounding Vetiver which has been created for these days when you need to feel stable and close to home. It's a really beautiful blend and it was the one which "spoke to me" most (although I now want to try Energy, Peace, Sleep and Balance).

Inside each 10ml bottle is 200 drops - turn this into 33 relaxing baths (6 drops per bath), 20 massages (10 drops in 20ml or carrier oil) or 2-3 months of regular diffusing use. I've been dabbling in making my own soy wax melts - so I may be minded to whip up a small batch using this oil or one of the others in the range. 

My second buy was Bloomtown's new Hand Sanitizer Purse Spray 70% Alcohol Natural & Organic (10ml - £5) which is one of the best sanitizers I've used so far (I'll definitely be picking up full size (100ml - £12) for decanting purposes. This little one if perfect for popping inside a handbag or pocket and feels really gentle on the skin. Glycerine is added to the formulation to prevent dryness and the sanitizer is scented with lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon and clove which is a fabulous blend. 

To use: spritz onto hands and rub in (inside this little bottle is approximately 75 spritzes)

I'm so impressed with both of these and will definitely be re-purchasing both! What are your favourites from the latest launches?

*Sonestia Peppermint Foot Butter

I was very kindly sent Sonestia's lush Peppermint Foot Butter (50ml - £12)* for review. I love the eco-friendly/reusable packaging and the fact that the product comes as it is, with no outer box. 

The range is formulated and hand made by Founder, Sandrine Henry de Hassonville who has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Saffron Walden in Essex. The range is Vegan and Cruelty Free with ingredients sourced as locally as possible. All their fixed oils come from England - camelina and borage oils from Essex, poppy seed oil from Lincolnshire and hemp seed oil from Oxfordshire. They also use locally grown and distilled essential oils of blue chamomile, Roman chamomile, lavender, peppermint and rosemary.

Their concentrated Peppermint Foot Butter* is formulated with a few ingredients which don't contain water so the product doesn't require a preservative. It's made with locally grown and cold pressed hemp seed and peppermint essential oil blended with organic shea butter, berry wax and natural Vitamin E. 

The butter is a joy to use, rich and delicious with a minty peppermint scent. It absorbs easily onto dry feet feeding them with Omegas 3 and 6, repairing and deeply nourishing.

To use: apply a small amount AM and PM. The massaging action will boost your circulation and help the penetration of the peppermint oil, which helps to stimulate your circulation and make your feet smell nice! It's suggested to put socks on to lock in the moisture and maximise the effects of the butter.

This is a lovely product from a new to me BRAND. It's definitely piqued my interest to pick up some of the other items in the range. Have you tried Sonestia?

Robin & Thorn: Beauty & Lifestyle Gifts

Robin & Thorn is a beautiful online store filled with covetable and quirky gifts. It's founded by blogger Stephanie who has curated lots of very "needable" things! 

From the range available I selected a pretty mini make-up bag which has the word "lovely" embossed in the rosey pattern. It costs £7 and would make a great gift for any beauty lover (or dare I say it, the perfect Secret Santa gift!)

My second purchase was a super quirky mini shot flask which has "Queen of the Mermaids" embossed on the front. This costs £6 and comes boxed making it the ideal small gift. 

Postage is free with orders over £30. Have a browse HERE. I'll definitely be back to pick up some gifts (for others!)

Rahua Palo Santo Oil Perfume

Rahua's Palo Santo Oil Perfume (10ml - £32) has been on the wishlist a while. So when Naturisimo were recently offering 10% off for the Bank Holiday I snapped it up!

 

The perfume oil comes in a weighty and luxurious glass roller-ball bottle with recyclable box. It has the unmistakable Palo Santo "holy wood" scent. Palo Santo has been used by Shamans since the Inca period for it's medicinal and spiritual purifying benefits - it's believed to protect, heal, promote energy and cleanse "mala energia" (bad energy).

The energising and uplifting blend is formulated with highest quality plant oils, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Rahua Ungurahua, Geranium Flower Oil, Sacha Inchi, Moretel Fruit Oil and Gardenia Oil. The blend is spicy, sweet and woody with hints of citrus and I'm a huge fan.

To use: apply to pulse points as needed.

What are your favourites from Rahua?

Top Books 2020: May to August

Books marked * I've very generously received from the publisher direct or via netgalley. You can see my top books January - April HERE. During this period I read some 32 books and picked a huge 24 of them for my top picks.

May:

*Murder at the Music Factory (A Health of Strangers Thriller) by Lesley Kelly - I just love this series which is just a little too close to reality at the moment (it's about a Health Enforcement Team in Edinburgh who are chasing those who have missed their virus check up!). See my review HERE (it's a great series with characters I've grown to love). 

*Death of a Mermaid by Lesley Thomson - what a brilliant read. I loved the main character, Freddy Power and the setting of the novel. I took part in the Blog Tour. See my review HERE.

*Island of Secrets by Rachel Rhys - how I love a Rachel Rhys book! This one's a cracker which I so highly recommend. I took part in the Blog Tour see my review HERE.

*All Fall Down (Helen Grace #9) by M J Arlidge - I just love this series so much. I took part in the Blog Tour so see my review HERE.

*A Wedding at the Beach Hut by Veronica Henry - the perfect book to loose yourself in with interesting characters and storylines. I took part in the blog tour - see HERE.

*Highland Fling by Sara Sheridan - oh how I love this series and plucky Mirabelle Bevan. This installment sees them in the Highland rather than local to Brighton. See my review HERE.

*Buried Angels (DI Lottie Parker #8) by Patricia Gibney - I've got a huge soft spot for the wonderful Lottie. This series just keeps getting better and better (I read it in April but it wasn't published until May). See my review HERE.

Again, I read this book in April but it wasn't published until May. How I love DI Kim Stone. *Killing Mind - DI Kim Stone #12 by Angela Marsons is just fantastic. Roll on book #13! See my review HERE.

June:

*The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson - what a beautifully drawn book in a wonderful setting. I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.

The Curator by M W Craven - the long awaited read with much loved characters was worth the wait. An edge-of-the-seat read which I devoured in a couple of sittings! See my review HERE. I'm waiting patiently for the next one!

*From Venice with Love by Rosanna Ley - oh how I loved this magical story. I took part in the Blog Tour. See my review HERE.

*How to Disappear by Gillian McAllister - OMG this book - I felt I was there with the characters going through exactly what they were step-by-step. An absolutely brilliant read. I took part in the Blog Tour so see my review HERE.

*When we Fall by Carolyn Kirby - a totally engrossing read set against the little known Katyn Massacre in 1943. It's a well researched story with two plucky female leads. See my review HERE.

*A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson - set on the Greek Island of Hydra in the 1960s this evocative tale totally drew me in. I took part in the Blog Tour - see my review HERE.

*Don't Blink - A Kate Carpenter Thriller by Vanessa Robertson - I loved this fast paced read set in the world of art recovery. I took part in the Blog Tour - see my review HERE.

July:

The Silence by Susan Allott - a brilliant debut which I highly recommend. I took part in the Blog Tour - see HERE.

Snegurochka by Judith Heneghan - this had been on my Amazon wishlist for ages. I took the plunge and added it to my reading pile (and of course, wished I'd done it sooner!) It's beautifully drawn giving you a real sense of time and place. See my review HERE.

*The Secret of Creek Cottage by Tina M Edwards - oh how I loved this story and the characters within. I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.

*Just Like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas - which is a truly gripping read. I took part in the Blog Tour - see my review HERE.

*Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart - a truly gripping read which wasn't an easy read at times. See my review HERE.

I also read Stolen Lives by Louise Hulland* which publishes today! It's a meticulously researched book on Human Trafficking & Slavery in the UK. The author has cleverly woven facts, alongside true life stories and interviews with the police and charities who are involved with support and recovery which makes for fascinating, if heartbreaking reading.

Weaved throughout the story we learn of the life of a young Albanian girl called Elena who was duped by her then boyfriend into becoming a sex worker. She managed to escape, made it to London, which was a huge strange place, alone and pregnant.  The author has been at her side, supporting her along with the various organisations (which offer help freely to those in need) during Elena's often painful, heartbreaking and very stressful journey.

The book also makes the reader more aware of things such as, are the girls in the nail bars there because they enjoy the work? Likewise, I'll never pass a car wash forecourt again without thinking, are these men victims of modern slavery. A sobering thought. This book is groundbreaking and a must read.

I read *The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce by Tom Gillespie earlier in the year but was sworn to secrecy before the Blog Tour in July. See my review HERE. It's a fantastic book, which I'm still thinking of now (I may actually read it again! I rarely say that about a book).

August:

*Sight Unseen (A Sarah Sutherland Thriller) by Sandra Ireland - I'm a huge fan of Sandra's books and this new series is fantastic. I took part in the Blog Tour. See my review HERE.

*Lost Cause (DI Kelly Porter #8) by Rachel Lynch - I just love Kelly Porter! This is such a great series. See my review HERE.

Do we share any favourites?

Latest in Beauty: Beauty Vay-Cay or Stay-Cay #2

I couldn't resist another Latest in Beauty August Beauty Vay-Cay or Stay-Cay box as I was desperate to try new to me brand MONPURE and of course you know the drill, I had to pick up another of EarthKind's amazing Shampoo Bars with Tea Tree & Eucalyptus for Improved Scalp Health (50g - £6.95) see my review HERE. As with every box there's an extra mini sachet of Frank Body's Coconut Coffee Scrub (very messy - but it's nice to get a product rather than just a code) and a money off code.

WOW!

I've split it up into haircare and skincare:

I really rate Wella Color so I'm pleased to try their Brilliance Mask with Lime Caviar 30ml (£3). This intense treatment will rejuvenate colour and prevent fade. Grow Gorgeous has been on my radar a while but up to now, I've not tried anything. Inside is 30ml of their Defence Detoxifying Scalp Scrub. From Creightons is their Sunshine Blonde Conditioner 50ml (£1) which will nourish and enhance the colour of your hair. As mentioned above, my fav Earthkind Tea Tree & Eucalyptus Shampoo Bar 50ml (£6.95).

The MONPURE duo look fabulous and I can't wait to test them out. We have Nourish & Stimulate Scalp Mask 37g and Clarifying Scalp Scrub 50g. Reviews to come!

There's a full size tub of Zero Day Cream 50ml (£19.99) which is another new to me brand - a review will follow. Rounding up my 9 selection is Korres Greek Yogurt Foaming Cleanser 20ml (£3) and August's fantastic Haul of Fame product (again) Dr Sebagh Serum Repair Hyaluronic Acid 5ml (£20) (LIB is introducing a new subscription package for September. See more info HERE).

The Rose & Thistle Wax Patisserie

I've had a couple of orders from The Rose & Thistle Wax Patisserie, a beautiful UK based soy wax melt business (room sprays+bathtime goodies too) founded and run by Tammie in Essex. I started a Dropbox (you pay for each order as you go along then pay postage when you want to close your box and have your wax sent to you). It's a great way to spread the cost and only pay one lot of postage & packaging.

As I was going on holiday in July and wanted to pick up a couple of the new drops so I started my box on 10th July and chose Twisted Mermaid Soy Wax Melt Slab (120g - £6.60) which is a hefty slab of gorgeously pretty wax scented with berries, citrus and vanilla sugar (it's too lovely to cut!) 

At that time I also picked up their Luscious Sugar Plum Fairy Soy Wax Melt Flower (55g - £2.90) which is scented with fruity plum, soft peach, nectarine, vanilla and creamy coconut. The 23rd July saw me add 2 x packs (2 shapes per pack) of Rose Jammies, which is similar to a floral Lush scent (£1.90 each pack) which I'd bought before - it's strong and rosey.

On 2nd August I added Bango Bongo to my dropbox (large heart melt - 50g - £2.75) which is scented with tropical mango and creamy coconut. It ends up a gorgeous dark green shimmery shade and smells of holidays. I also added a large star melt of Sleepy Time (similar to Lush) which is a delight. It has notes of Tonka and Lavender and it's perfect for a soothing moment of calm or melted just before bedtime. (50g - £2.75).

On 10th August I added Frost Fairy (large star - 50g - £2.75) which is also similar to a very popular powerful Lush scent with notes of candy floss and pear drops. I also added a snap bar of Wood Sage & Sea Salt (reminiscent of a Jo Malone perfume) (50g - £2.75) with notes of sea salt, minerals and sage.

My final pick was on 11th August of a Tuberose snap bar (50g - £2.75) which has a strong creamy tuberose aroma. It was then I decided to close my dropbox, pay postage and get my wax! (oh and I've started a new dropbox!)

Rose Jammies

Tuberose

What are your favourites from The Rose & Thistle Wax Patisserie?