END OF YEAR BEAUTY EMPTIES - STARTING A FRESH

The start of a new year means finishing old products and starting a fresh with some new ones, either gifted at Christmas or bought in the January Sales. These are the products I have been enjoying using up most recently...

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub, (Old Packaging) 450ml £8.00 - This is a product that I had bought ages ago and had forgotten about, until the blogger hype which bought it back to my attention. I do love the texture of this scrub but do however prefer the scent of The Breakfast Scrub. But it is definitely worth the price tag as it lasts for ages. Would I repurchase? Yes, I got one in the 'Best of All' set. So it will be good to see if the formula has changed along with the packaging.

Dermalogica Clean Start All Over Clear Toner, Fullsize 120ml £9.84 - I received this sample product in one of my Glossyboxes. I had never tried Dermalogica products before, but I really enjoyed this toner especially because of the spray bottle it comes in. This toner helps to control shine and keep breakouts away and I really saw a difference with using this. Would I repurchase? Yes, I am using another sample I received in another Glossybox. (Yes I wasn't too pleased to receive the same product twice, but I received some good customer service.) 

Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Gel, 10ml £13.00 - This product is a little life saver in a bottle. I love Origins skincare, the brand has to be one of my favourites at the moment. You might think the price is a bit steep for the size of the bottle, but it lasts months as you only use a tiny amount. You just tab the gel on any breakout areas and you can really feel it working, I wish I had known about this years ago. Would you repurchase? Yes, I already have. I wouldn't be without it. 

V05 Plump me up and Refresh me quick Dry Shampoo, Both 2ooml £3.59 - V05 dry shampoo is my favourite go-to hair product recently. For me it beats batiste and other high street brands - my favourite being 'Refresh me quick' as I prefer the scent. It does what it says on the tin and is perfect for lazy day! Would I repurchase? Yes I need to restock. 

Soap & Glory Rich and Foamous Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - This product smells heavenly! All Soap & Glory products smell gorgeous, but this shower gel wins for me so far. I know some people much prefer Soap & Glory's original scent, so it can be a love or hate product. I have reviewed this product in full here. Would I repurchase? Yes, another bottle is currently in my shower.

Philosophy Marshmallows for Toasting Body Lotion, 60ml - I received this product as part of a set last Christmas, but can't find it online anymore. The scent of this product is very sickly sweet, but it was really moisturising and great on any dry patches. The size was also good for travel. Would I repurchase? Maybe would like to try a different scent in the range.

Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel, 100g £4.25 - I like Lush shower gels, but I think they are quite expensive for how much product you get inside. This scent smells lovely, just like the Honey I washed the kids soap. You can also use this product in your hair like a shampoo, but I just prefer to use it on my body. Would I repurchase? Yes, it would be more cost effective to buy a bigger bottle next time though.

Lush Sweetie Pie Wobbly Jelly £3.10 - This was a rather different product to have in my shower. I loved the scent of cherry and coconut and it was just like jelly so it was quite tricky not to drop it in the bath/shower. I crushed a bit of the product into a shower puff and it soon lathered up when adding water. You can again use this product in your hair and also freeze or chill it if you like. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would like to try other scents in the range.

Bumble and Bumble Creme De Coco Shampoo and Conditioner, 50ml Prices from £5.95  - These products were my first experience of Bumble and Bumble. I was very pleased with the results, they left my hair super soft. The scent won me over as coconut is probably my favourite for hair products. This combination is great for dry or dull hair, they improve flexibility and minimise frizz. Would I repurchase? Yes, I have my eye on the Shine range next.
Umberto Giannini Rock 'N' Roll Hairspray, 200ml £5.61 - To be honest I'm not very fussy when it comes to hairspray and don't use it on an everyday basis. This product is good, my favourite part being the scent as it is not harsh as some other hairsprays. I wouldn't say it's the best hairspray I've used but it does hold volume and is good for up-do's. It doesn't leave hair dry and crispy and in my view it's really affordable! Would I repurchase? Maybe, but I want to try something else first.

A lot of these products I have loved and repurchased. Have you tried out any of these products?

AUGUST BEAUTY FAVOURITES 2012

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner, 150ml £6.29*- I have been loving the whole Full Repair range this month. Read my full review on the range here. This has to be the product I have seen the most effectiveness from though. As I use heat on my hair most days, my hair can become dry especially at the ends. You can really feel this conditioner working deep into your hair to repair and prevent the risk of breakage. I love the scent, you wouldn't think it was the scent of a high street/drug store hair brand. My hair is left feeling so silky soft, I would definitely repurchase this once this tub is finished. 
Dermalogica Clean Start Wash Off Foaming Cleanser, Fullsize 180ml £11.50 - I received this Cleanser in a past GlossyBox. I have enjoyed using this cleanser in the mornings as it's really refreshing with it's Citrus scent. I feel it cleans deep into my pores when used with a muslin cloth. It really does foam up to a good amount of lather and leaves my skin feeling fresh.
Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Moisturiser, Fullsize 50ml £27.00 - This product has become my go to morning moisturiser. It's great at evening out my skin tone whilst providing a sheer tint for a flawless base. I really do feel it is an 'energy boosting' product and wakes up my skin to provide me with a sheen to my skin. The scent is also really nice and is protecting me at the same time with an SPF 15. 

Dove Summer Glow Lotion Fair to Normal Skin, 250ml £2.99 - I'm not really one for fake tan, I do try and embrace the skin I was given. But over the Summer there has been times where I have wanted to get my legs out and felt there was a little help needed. This product has become quite handy, after seeing it on quite a few blogs I thought I would give it a go. The scent is not over powering at all, unlike some fake tanners. It does give my pale self some noticeable colour.
Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Milk, 500ml £10.00 - I love the new scent which Soap & Glory has realeased, and I am hooked to Rich & Foamous Body wash, see my full review here. The scent is Almonds, Oats and Brown Sugar which I guess is a love/hate smell. For me, I just can't get enough! This moisturiser is lovely and you can still smell the scent after hours of applying. It isn't as thick as some of the other Body butters, which I also like.

Essie Sand Tropez, 15ml £9.95 - I have loved wearing this colour on my toes this month. Such an easy to wear neutral. Saying that, I have loved Essie polishes in general. This one I picked up from TKMaxx in a set of three, so it wasn't a new diffusion line bottle. But I do get on with both formulations, you can't beat Essie there are some lovely colours to choose from.
Balmi Coconut, £4.99 - I was excited to see on a few blogs that there was finally a dupe for the EOS lip balm. I knew I had to pick one up and decided to go for the Coconut scent. I have found this product so handy and have attached it to my keys for on the go. I think I like the concept more than that lip balm itself. But, I would certainly try out a few of the other flavours at that price.
HD Brows Set Bombshell, £19.96 - This product I also received in a past GlossyBox. I had been eyeing it up for some time, so was so pleased to receive it in my box, in my suited colour. Such a great little compact and the colours really match my eyebrows. I mainly use the colour, Ash Blonde as I find this really helps to frame my face. Definitely a Holy Grail product.

What are your current favourites?

*PR Sample

GLOSSYBOX - JUNE 2012 SEXY SUMMER BOX

I have been subscribed to Glossybox since November, after hearing about it on YouTube earlier on in the year. I think it's a great concept to try out new products that I maybe wouldn't pick up in the shops and always find something in the box each month which I fully use up and want to repurchase. This month's box arrived this morning and I think it's one of the best suited to me yet, so I couldn't wait to share.

This month's box is all about products which will help you get beach ready, and will cover every summer beauty need!
Glossybox - Serie Exclusiv Pro Beauty Brush, £15.00 - I think it's great that glossybox include their own products, it seems like a good quality brush that I would probably use for blush. (Also goes with the mirror we received in last month's box.)
Yves Rocher France - Mini Mascara Ultra-Volume sexy pulp, Fullsize £16.90 - This is a fab sized product to just put in your handbag when your in need of a touch up. I really like the shape of the brush, and I think it will add lots of volume to lashes. I can't wait to try that.
BM Beauty - Summer Warmth Bronzer, Fullsize £8.00 - I remember having one of BM beauty's products in a different beauty box - maybe carmine? It was a black shadow, which I have had a lot of use from using it as a shadow eyeliner. Now being quite pale skinned, I find a lot of bronzers can be quite dark on my skin type, but this shade seems quite light so I think it will just add a nice warmth to my cheeks. Something I wouldn't pick up myself, but you never know I might get some use from it this summer.

Clean Start by Dermalogica - Day/Night 3-Step Kit, Fullsize £12.00 - This is probably my favourite product in this box as I have been meaning to try something from Dermalogica for ages now. I am really into my skincare and will always cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and every night. All three samples are really good sizes and are suited to my skin type as I like a cleanser which can clean deep pores and keep breakouts away.

Vichy - Dermablend Ultra-Corrective Foundation Cream Stick, Fullsize £19.00 -  This is also a really good sized kit and includes 6 sample shades so there is going to be a shade which suits every skin type. I've heard good things about this product, so I'm excited to try this out. Great for camouflaging flaws and good coverage.
Overall, I am really happy with my box this month, especially the Dermalogica products. I have seen other boxes have included HD Brows Tweezers and some with a Caudalie Fragrance, which I would have liked to try also. If you would like me to review any of the products in more detail I am happy to do so. What do you think of June's Glossybox?