WHAT'S IN MY TRAVEL WASH BAG/IN-FLIGHT BAG - DUBAI EDITION

I'm off to Dubai next weekend and of course the first thing I've packed are my toiletries. I have collected so many mini sized samples by getting numerous beauty boxes a month, so it's a great time to use them up and try new things. I always find these sort of posts helpful when I'm packing myself and by doing my own version I can look back on this when I travel in the future. Let me know if I have forgotten anything or think I might benefit from taking something else or if you have tried any of these products and what you thought about them.
In my main Kate Spade wash bag which I will be putting in my main luggage there is; Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 and Lait Vital which I received in a Look Fantastic beauty box, my hair loves these. I have also popped in a couple of Bumble and Bumble samples of the Surf and Thickening shampoo and conditioner, if I want to use something different. For styling products I have; the KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Spray, KMS Hair Play Texturising Spray, Bumble and Bumble Shine Finishing Spray and the Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo. I have my favourite Mitchum Shower Fresh Deodrant, Korres Citrus Shower Gel and Body Milk which I also received in beauty boxes, thought this scent would be great to use on holiday! For sun lotion I have packed the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30 Protective Sun Lotion and the matching After Sun, which I always get along with. I also have a Coola SPF 30 Classic Sunscreen for my face, which I'm looking forward to using properly. My skin is very pale so I have also throw in a St Tropez Instant Tan Wash Off Face & Body Lotion for the start of the holiday. For skincare I have packed the Ren Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water, which I already use full-size and the Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel. For toning I'm using the Premae Skincare Balance Rescue Face Tonique and if my face wants a treat I have the Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial. I also have a couple of sachets of Origins GinZing Refeshing Scrub Cleanser and a tub of Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, which I can't get enough of. I then just have essentials like the Elegant Touch Nail Polish Remover Pads, a standard razor, flannels and muslin cloths, cotton pads, cotton buds, hair elastics and a tanning mitt.
In my In-Flight bag which contains 100ml and under products which will be in my hand luggage I have packed; the Cowshed Cow Slip Antibacterial Hand Gel, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (which is holy grail!), Gatineau Collagene Expert Smoothing Face Cream, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray which will be my life saver at the beach. Origins Make a Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment and Peace of Mind On-The-Spot Relief which I like to use just before boarding my flight. I also have my mini toothpaste and toothbrush, hand and face wipes, Eve Lom Kiss Mix Lip Balm, a mini first aid kit containing plasters and a hair bobble. I also have three mini perfume samples; Thierry Mugler Alien, Ghost Eclipse and Chanel Coco Noir as I'm hoping to pick up the new Chloe - Love Story perfume in Duty Free. I will definitely have to review my favourite products of the holiday when I come back.

What are your holiday wash bag essentials?

REN CLEAN SKINCARE - FLASH RINSE 1 MINUTE FACIAL

Elle Magazine recently teamed up with Ren Skincare on Facebook to give a 100 people the chance to try the new Flash Rinse One Minute Facial. I was one of the lucky people to receive a 15ml sample before the release date. Ren Skincare has to be one of my favourite skincare brands alongside Origins. Every product I have tried from Ren I have enjoyed and got on with. I was very excited to hear about their new product as it sounded like a miracle in a tube. Elle Magazine has said its 2014’s best skincare innovation.

I used the sample as soon as I received it through the post. There are not many products I can say instantly work, but I was so eager to buy the full-size straight away. Sampling really does work! You use the product every 3 days by massaging onto dry skin and then adding water, massaging more, leaving for one minute and then wiping off. The formulation is unusual, it’s a green, gritty paste which acts like an exfoliator and treatment to leave skin feeling super soft and glowing. It delivers a potent shot of water activated fresh vitamin c. Skin is instantly brighter, radiant and firmer to give you the results of a spa facial at home. Who wouldn't want results like that? I have continued to use this product every three days and have seen the same instant results each time. But I must admit I don’t want my skin to rely on it too much. The treatment instantly revitalises and visibly rejuvenates the skin. It also reduces the appearance of lines, imperfections and photo-ageing, evens out skin tone and firms.

When the product came out last week, I bought it from the online store. Priced at £32.00 for 75ml it is a treat, but it is definitely a product I always want to have on the go, in my stash. At the time there was also a promotion code, which meant I also received deluxe samples of the Rosa Centifolia Micellar Water which I have tried before and the Satin Perfection BB Cream. I also got to choose two mini samples; I chose two from the Evercalm Range. If you purchase from the Ren online store this week, you can receive up to four samples of your choice including deluxe samples of Flash Rinse One Minute Facial and V-Cense Youth Vitality Day Cream.

Have you tried Ren Skincare?

CURRENT BEAUTY WANTS

As a new year has come round, I've held back (kinda) on the beauty spending but that doesn't stop me wanting more. There's always a product to lust over. Urban Decay Naked Skin Loose Finishing Powder £22.00 - I haven't heard too much about this product, but I'm looking for a new setting powder that will last all day. This product is great at creating the soft focus effect and helps your make-up stay looking flawless. I also want to try the Naked foundation from the brand. Smashbox Full Exposure Eyeshadow Palette £36.00 - I'm the first to say that I don't need anymore eyeshadow palettes, but this one is a beauty! Smashbox eyeshadows glide on like a dream, and this is the perfect combination of matte and shimmer. It comes with a double ended eyeshadow brush and a mini full exposure mascara. Ren Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser £16.00 - Ren has to be one of my favourite skincare brands, so when I heard they were bringing out a hot cloth cleanser I knew I had to try it. I have been enjoying the Rosa Centifolia range so far, great for all skin types and the scent is lush! Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blusher £30.00 - I recently watched a bunch of tutorials making me want everything from the brand! I'm in love with this blush and the bar of gold highlighter -  I've only heard good things. Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo £4.59 - I'm very faithful to my beloved V05 dry shampoo but I have heard great things and hope to pick it up the next time I'm in Boots as it's so affordable. I also want to try Bumble and Bumble's Pret-a-Powder, but for the price Dove is currently top of my list. Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Body Scrub £37.00 - I am currently using the And Other Stories Fig Fiction Scrub - which I love. When I run out of that I'm caving and buying this luxurious scrub for some serious pampering!

Let me know what your beauty wants are or if you've tried any of these products?

MARKS & SPENCER BEAUTY DISCOVERY EVENT - REN SKINCARE

Marks and Spencer are currently holding a Beauty Discovery event, which means if you buy one product or two products depending on the brand you can bag yourself a free gift (while stocks last). Brands include; Ren, Bliss, Nuxe, James Read, Philip Kingsley, Murad, Jurlique and many more.
My favourite pick from the brands was this luxury travel set from Ren. Ren Clean Skincare has to be one of my favourite skincare brands and I wanted to try some products from the new Rosa Centifolia line, so I bought the Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water and the Rosa Centifolia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. Ren Clean Skincare gives you healthier, more beautiful skin that looks younger for longer. Their products are free from parabens and suitble for vegans and vegetarians.
In the Ren Clean Skincare Discovery Kit you receive 6 mini's of some of Ren's best selling products including; Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream 50ml, Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash 50ml, Vita-Mineral Day Cream 15ml, Glcolactic Radiance Renewal Mask 15ml, Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream 15ml and Rose Centifolia Cleansing Gel 25ml. Which all comes in a cute travel bag and is worth £40. 
I think it's such a great way of promoting beauty brands at M&S and gives the customer a variety of products to try from the range. The Beauty Discovery event is on until September 11th so hurry, you don't want to miss out on this great beauty find!

Update: The Beauty Discovery Event has been extended for another week till the 18th September!

What are your Ren recommendations?

SUMMER BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES - JULY 2013

For me, using one product at a time is hard. I constantly enjoy using different products and finding the right products that work best for me. This month I have come to the end of many of my favourite products which I need to repurchase, and I thought I would share my views on them (and stop hoarding the packaging.)
VO5 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo, 200ml £3.59 - This has to be the best dry shampoo I have used, I have raved about this before - read here. I have tried both the dry shampoo's from VO5, but refresh me quick has to be on top! It gets rid of oily roots instantly, meaning I don't have to wash my hair everyday and the scent is lovely. Would I repurchase? Yes I always have my next bottle at the ready!
Soap & Glory Foam Call Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - I'm such a big fan of Soap & Glory body wash, I love the Fruitigo fragrance and the pump bottles. You really can't beat Soap & Glory on the high street! For the amount of product you get, it really is cost efficient as they last for ages. My favourite body wash in the line has to be Rich and Foamous - read my review here. Would I repurchase? Yes, I am using Rich and Foamous in my shower at the moment.
Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo, 200ml £8.75  - I haven't tried many products from Liz Earle apart from a skincare try-me kit. So I didn't really know what to expect from their shampoo - but I was impressed! The shampoo is free from SLS/SLES and only contains naturally active ingredients including; natural vitamin e, aloe vera, west african shea butter, apple and orange extracts. The shampoo creates a rich lather and restores my hairs natural shine. Would I repurchase? Yes, the price isn't too bad for a mid-range brand.
Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath, 500ml £6.00 - Another staple in my bathroom has to be this product. This bubble bath contains the 'Original Pink' scent and has body lotion built in, which is an added bonus for lazy days. Would I repurchase? Yes, always!
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution, 500ml £11.60 - I was hesitant to try this hyped product at first, but I'm so glad I did. I use this product to take the bulk of my make-up off before using a cleanser in the evenings. It dissolves all my make-up including my eye make-up which I was really impressed with. I'm so glad they have made this more readably available in the UK. Would I repurchase? Yes, I am trying the one for oily skin at the moment.
Aveeno Daily Exfoliating Cleanser, 150ml £5.99 - This is the first product I have tried from Aveeno, I decided to pick it up one day as it was on offer and new. This cleanser claims to brighten skin with naturally active Soy and smooth microbeads that gently exfoliate while cleansing. I kept this product in the shower and used it in the mornings to wake my skin up. Would I repurchase? Maybe, I would like to see what other products they have in the range.

Ren Omega 3 Night Repair Serum, Full-size 50ml £34.00 - I received this little sample free with a promotion  from WIMH - read here. Ren has to be one of my favourite skincare brands of the moment. I would use this serum on my face and neck before moisturising each night. I definitely saw a difference with incorporating a serum into my night time skincare routine. The only downfall was that I wasn't too keen on the scent. Would I repurchase? I don't think I would because of the scent, but I want to see if they have any other serums that work the same way.
Batiste Dry Shampoo, Cherry, Savanna and Mamba, 50ml £1.50 - These travel sized Batiste bottles are really handy for your handbag for use on the go. If I ever need to sort my hair out on-the-go or after the gym I will reach for one of these. The cherry and tropical scent are my favourite and are a great staple to have in my stash. Would I repurchase? Yes, a classic repurchase.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir, 30ml £10.35 - Another cult product which every one talks about. I like to use this in the evenings before moisturising or in the day to refresh my face. I think it works great if you have any breakouts or redness as it really helps to calm down the skin. The scent is lovely! Would I repurchase? Yes, I purchased the Selfridges Summer Box which had a 100ml bottle inside. Bargain!
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation, 30ml £10.99 - This has to be the best high street foundation that I have used. No other formula has come close to my higher end base's. I have tried the regular Healthy Mix and the new formulation but I like this one the most. I have the shade 51 which is the lightest and the shade matches me well which is rare on the high street. Would I repurchase? Yes, I'm missing this in my collection.
Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Full-size 100ml £13.99 - A little sample I got with a free gift which I was happy to receive. I had been wanting to try this hand cream after hearing only good things and I have definitely seen the benefits. It helps to moisturise and soften hands as well as strengthen nails and minimising visible signs of ageing. A little goes a long way! Would I repurchase? Yes I love the formula, but I do love a small bottle of hand cream for travel.
Origins VitaZing Moisturiser, 50ml £28.00 - This product is my daily go to moisturiser, I like to apply this before I start my make-up for the day as the sheer tint release really helps to wake-up my skin for the day ahead. It also contains an SPF15 which is an essential for day time and the scent it heavenly! I cut open the back of this product to scrape the last remaining product out. It is pricey but totally worth it. Would I repurchase? Yes, holy grail! 
Ren Vetiver v7 Hand and Body Cream, Full-size 100ml £9.00 - Another little ren sample, formulated with Javanese Vetiver Oil that leaves skin optimally hydrated, smoothed and conditioned. I used this product as a hand cream, as it was handy to chuck in my bag or reach for on my desk. Would I repurchase? Not a bad price for a Ren product, maybe I would in the future.

JULY BEAUTY FAVOURITES 2012

I have quite a few favourites this month, July went fast so quickly! but there sure are some products I just can't get enough of...
Clarisonic Mia, Lavender £120.00 - I have been using my Clarisonic Mia for over a month or so now. This tool has become my new best friend, which I have integrated into my night time skincare routine. I have really seen results with using this religiously, my skin has become a lot clearer and seems to glow once I have used it. I am prone to blemishes around the chin area, but they have really calmed down, which I think has been helped by using this and my pores have become visible smaller. I am really glad I caved and bought this item, I don't know what I'd do without it now.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, 100ml £92.00 - I received this as a birthday present at the end of June, and have been loving it ever since. The scent is described as oriental-fresh, with a floral jasmine-rose blend of intense freshness. I find the scent really light and sophisticated and great for every day use. I haven't stopped using it, it was such a nice present to receive and the bottle looks lovely on my dressing table.
V05 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo, 200ml £3.49 - I am a true Batiste dry shampoo girl, but I have recently been enjoying using Vo5 products so was really excited they had bought out two new dry shampoos to there range. Refresh me quick smells divine, it really reminds me of TIGI Bed Head - Head Rush. A great product for second day hair. I will definitely be trying out the 'Plump me up' version that Vo5 do.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, Light £6.99 - I featured this product in my monthly empties as I had used up a few sample sachets I had received with an Asos order. I then went out and bought the full size because I loved the coverage so much. It's the best coverage BB cream that I have used and does last a good while on my skin. It has replaced my foundations this month.
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, Honey and Darling £5.99 each - I was so excited for these products to come to the UK, after the hype of the lip butters. They haven't disappointed, read my full review on the shade 'Honey' here. After using Honey for a few days, I knew I had to purchase another shade, so went for 'Darling' such a lovely, unusual shade of lilac. These products are great to just chuck in your handbag and use on the go, as they are so easy to apply.
REN No1 Purity Cleansing Balm, 100ml £23.00 - I bought this product to use with my Clarisonic, see my full post here. I had heard so many good things about REN and I got such a good deal on there website. I have really been enjoying using this cleanser, it is a lot thicker than I first thought it would be, but it foams up just the right amount with my clarisonic. I will be putting this as my favourite product on my REN account, so I can receive 10% of it for life. It does manage to take off all my make-up, including waterproof mascara.

Naked Spoil Me Coco De Mer Bath Foam, 300ml £3.99 - I would pick a bath over a shower any day, so you can imagine I am obsessed with my bath products for a little pamper. I picked up this product to try because of it's scent 'Coco de mer'. I love anything coconut scented and this creates such a lovely scent which lingers on the skin and takes over the whole bathroom. I also love how Naked products are 97% natural and has nothing but goodness in it's bottles. 
Barry M Nail Paint, 324 Silvery Lilac £2.99 - This is such a lovely shade, and nothing like I have seen before. I really reminds me of summer and holidays. I have been applying this to my toes this month and just love the colour. Barry M is so affordable and the colour range is so big, you really can't beat it.
OPI Sensitive and Peeling Nail Envy £18.55 - This is another product I received for my birthday. I know there is a lot of blogger hype over the original version of this. As I am not able to wear nail vanish every day due to my job, this is great for just wearing for a light sheen of coverage. I have seen a big improvement with the quality of my nails, they have become a lot stronger. This formula is rich in vitamin E and Kukai nut oil, while also offering the soothing qualities of Aloe Vera.

What products have you been loving this month?

REN SKINCARE - NO.1 PURITY CLEANSING BALM, PLUS WIMH EXCLUSIVE OFFER

I am always one for trying out new skincare, probably not best for my skin as it's not great to keep switching between different skincare products. But I do love finding new things which react well with my skin type. When I was scrolling through the What's In My Handbag exclusive offers page (read my review about WIMH here) I found a code for a complimentary 'Six of the best REN kit' (RRP £20) with your first purchase. I had been wanting to try some more REN products after receiving some samples in Red magazine this month, so it was an offer I couldn't miss out on.

I chose to purchase the No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm 100ml £23.00, I bought this to use with my Clarisonic. I know that REN used to sell this product in a tub but this is the new packaging and comes with a muslin cloth. This product is a rose infused cleansing balm, it does come out quite thickly but when applied with water the balm transforms into a rich milk, so you only need to use a small amount. It claims to calm, soothe and purify skin, whilst protecting the skin's defence barrier against everyday germs. I have used this product a fair few times since purchasing it, and it is quickly becoming my go to cleanser. It is so gentle, it removes my make up so well and it's suited for all skin types.

I got such a good deal on the REN website, as at the time they were offering free delivery and a choice of four free samples at the checkout. The samples I chose were; Vita-Mineral Day Cream, Invisible Pore Detox Mask, F10 Smooth and Renew Mask and the T-Zone Balancing Day Fluid (All 5ml). They also offer new customers 10% off your first order, so I got all of this skincare for around the £20 mark. Current offers include, free UK & Ireland delivery with all orders over £40 and two trial size samples of your choice with every online order. You also can receive 10% off your favourite product for life. (I will definitely be repurchasing the cleansing balm) and also earn points for every pound you spend to redeem against your choice of REN product.

Six of the Best Kit (RRP £20) contains: Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel (25ml) A balancing, antibacterial facial cleansing gel. Jojoba Microbead Purifying Facial Polish (25ml) A gently exfoliating facial polish. Omega 3 Overnight Repair Serum (10ml) A night serum that replenishes skin lipids. Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (15ml) A potent exfoliating mask formulated to renew the complexion. Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream (15ml) A night cream formulated to hydrate, recharge and revitalise the skin overnight.Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel (3ml) A light and cooling gel.

Overall, I am really impressed with the service I received from the REN website and have really enjoyed using the products so far. The WIMH exclusive offer is valid till the 1st August 2012.

Have you took advantage of this deal?

MY FAVOURITE BEAUTY FREEBIES FROM MAGAZINES - AUGUST 2012

I thought I would share my favourite beauty freebies from this months magazines. There are quite a few magazines with freebies this month, but these are the ones I chose to buy myself. It just proves that the fashion and lifestyle magazines have been really generous this month, with products that get you ready for summer, that's if it ever makes an appearance.

Red Magazine August 2012 (£3.90) - In Red magazine this month there is a free REN skincare set worth £16. This includes a 15ml Vetiver v7 Hand and Body cream, a 15ml Hydra-calm Global Protection Day Cream and a 5ml Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel. I haven't tried any REN products before, so was really excited to pick this up when I saw it on the shelf. I wouldn't usually buy Red magazine, but it was worth the price to gain these free samples.
ELLE Magazine August 2012 (£3.90) - I do normally buy ELLE magazine pretty much every month, so it was great to see a little freebie in this months issue. They're giving away a 75ml St.Tropez gradual tan body moisturiser. I'm not really one for fake tan, but this is a great size to just use on my legs when I feel it's needed if I decide to go bare legged. I have used St.Tropez before and have found it really moisturising and not as strong scented as other fake tans.

Glamour Magazine August 2012 (£2.00) - Glamour are giving away four different Balance Me travel sized samples. I chose the 7ml Wonder Eye Cream, the other samples include, a 50ml Pure Skin Face Wash, Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve and the 20ml Balancing face moisturiser. I haven't tried any Balance Me products before but have only heard good things, but I have wanted to try a few different eye creams so that's why I chose this freebie.

Other magazines this month which include freebies are; Marie Claire - Full-sized Avon mascara, Harper's Bazaar -Neom Luxury Organics Hand Cream and Cosmopolitan - Missguided nail polish.

What freebies have you picked up this month?