YOU BEAUTY DISCOVERY BOX - NOVEMBER 2014

This months You Beauty Discovery shortlist of products was based around gift worthy goodies. I do find it quite tricky to pick only two products from the shortlist. This month you could pick from; Skin & Tonic Steam Clean, Argan Organics Regeneration Anti Wrinkle Cream, Bourjous Cream Blush, Microfibres Brush On False Lashes, Green People Pencil Eyeliner and Invisibobble. The extra treats this month were Aduna Baobab Superfruit Powder and sample sachets of Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm and Iconic Youth Serum.
Roques O'Neil Therapie Himalayen Detox Salts - I have always wanted to try these bath salts after always hearing great things about them, so they had to be my first choice this month. I’m always interested with anything bath and pamper related. These bath salts are calming on the skin, balance energy flow and help combat insomnia. The Himalayan Detox Salts are designed to dissolve the accumulated physical and emotional toxins that build up in the body. The mineral salts contain powdered Amethyst and essential oils of Lemongrass, Juniper and Geranium. I love using this product, they make bath time heavenly! This mini is worth £10.00 and contains enough product for around three baths, so more than enough to feel pampered.
Rituals Hamman Delight Shower Foam - This is the other product I chose this month. I have tried Rituals shower foam before and really enjoyed how luxurious this product is. I received the fragrance Yogi Flow from a past Glossybox and think it's a great concept which is a little more exciting than normal shower gel. The Hamman Delight fragrance combines the aromatic and revitalising qualities of refreshing eucalyptus and rosemary. I really like to use this scent in the mornings, it's great for dry skin as it's really moisturising. This size is great for travel and really reasonable priced at £4.00 for 50ml. The gel formulation turns into a foam when mixed with water. This product stems from one of the oldest cleansing traditions in the world. The aromas and ingredients help to sooth and calm your body. Originating in Turkey, the Hammam, meaning ‘Spreader of Warmth’, helps to cleanse both the soul and body to promote inner and outer harmony and balance. These products are great to use together or on their own at the weekend for a well-deserved pamper.

What were your picks in this month's You Beauty Discovery Box?

END OF SUMMER BEAUTY EMPTIES - HAIR, BODY & SKINCARE

Empties posts are some of my favourite blog posts to read. I probably get through hair products the most, but this post is a mixture of beauty products which I have finished recently.
Lee Stafford My Big Fat Healthy Hair Shampoo, 250ml £5.99 - This is actually a product my mum passed onto me as she wasn't enjoying it. I used to really like Lee Stafford products when I was a teen, especially their hair growth treatment. This shampoo was ok, as it was a volume boosting formula it had grittiness to the formula which didn't make my hair feel too clean after use. It did work at creating more volume though. Would I repurchase? Probably not, but I'm interested to try the new Ubunto Oil range, which smells gorgeous!
Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - I always have a Soap & Glory body wash on the go, this citrus scented one is the newest in the collection. I love this scent, it's great to use in the mornings to refresh and revitalise your body. I can't get enough of the pump bottles, it lathers up well and the 500ml sized bottles last ages, read more here. Would I repurchase? Yes, definitely.
Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Normal Hair, 200ml £8.75 - I featured the shampoo in another empties here. This was my first try of anything other than skincare from Liz Earle, and I wasn't disappointed. The shampoo is free from SLS and only contains naturally active ingredients, I really enjoyed the results, it left my hair glossy and soft. Would I repurchase? Yes, I really enjoyed the product.
Naked Blonder Lightening Conditioner, 250ml £3.98 - This is a great conditioner to use through the Summer months. Another natural conditioner, it really brings out my blonde highlights and I really like the Cassia and Sunflower Oil scent. I featured the shampoo here, it really moisturised my dry ends and the product didn't build up in my hair which I liked. Would I repurchase? Yes, maybe next summer.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo, 400ml £3.99 - I have had this empty for ages, I mentioned the conditioner in this post here. I love the coconut scent, this is a product I pick up on offer as I know it works and does the job. It makes my hair feel moisturised and shiny and it's really affordable. Suitable for dry/damaged hair, my favourite product from the range has to be the intensive conditioner. Would I repurchase? Yes, if it's on offer.

Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Shampoo & Conditioner, 250ml £5.99 each - I purchased this shampoo and conditioner after really enjoyed the dry texturising spray from the range. I found the bottles really tricky to get the product out, but the formula did create volume from the roots and my hair did appear thicker. The formula also contains heat protectant which you don't normally see from a shampoo or conditioner. The scent was lovely and I really enjoyed using the pair. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would try other products from the Salon at Home range.
Rituals Qi Gong Anti-Perspirant Spray, 50ml £8.00 Full-Size - This was a sample that I received from a beauty box, but I have really been enjoying Rituals products recently. This was nice to use from my usual deodorant, I liked the Organic White Lotus & Yi Yi Ren scent and the product helped me stay sweat free throughout the day. Would I repurchase? Deodorant isn't normally a product I like to spend money on, but this was lovely.
Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique, 125ml £14.60 - This is my go to heat protectant. I love the leave in cream texture, it's suitable for dry, damaged hair and the scent is heavenly. It reminds me of that classic hairdressers scent and I always apply this if I'm going to blow-dry or style my hair with straighteners. A little pricey, but a little goes a long way and the bottle lasts a while. Would I repurchase? Yes definitely, I need it back in my stash.
Beauty Protector Leave In Condtioner, Full-Size £15.00 - Another product from a beauty box, I used this while travelling and instantly got on with it. The scent is lovely when sprayed into the hair, I like that it comes with a pump and it really does help protect hair and detangle any knotty bits. It's suitable for all hair types and it's exclusive to Birchbox. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would also love to try the oil in the range.
Umberto Giannini Pure Beauty Shampoo and Intense Beauty Conditioner, 75ml £5.60 each Full-Size - I tried these hair products in a Christmas set from boots. I really like the packaging and the formulas really helped cleanse and restore my hair. My hair felt moisturised and hydrated and looked shiny. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would try other products in the range.

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution, 250ml £9.99 - I always end up coming back to this cleansing water. It's great at cleansing, removing make-up and soothing the skin. I always make sure I have one of these on the go, you can't go wrong with this stuff. All of these skincare products featured in my Skincare routine here. Would I repurchase? Yes, always.
Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner, 150ml £18.50 - I love this toner, it's great for my oily skin. The Mint really helps to control oil and the Saw Palmetto helps to clear skin and minimise pores. I like that it gives my skin a smooth matte finish and that my skin feels refreshed after use. Would I repurchase? Yes, I need to.
Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins 50ml £34.50 - This is the oil-free mineral enriched cream which I like to apply every evening. I switch between this and the Make A Difference Treatment, they both smell lovely and renew my skin overnight. Origins has to be my favourite brand for moisturisers at the moment. Would I repurchase? Yes, I love this product.
Soap & Glory Supereyes Supereyes Moisturising Gel, 15ml - I don't think you can purchase this product any more, it has either been discontinued or the name and packaging has changed. I really like using a gel formula rather than a cream for around my eyes. As I am still in my early 20's I think it's nice to use something not too heavy and something that will hydrate my skin instead. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would purchase a different Soap & Glory eye cream.
Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, 125ml £20.00 - This is such a nice cleanser, it comes out as a gel formula and once you mix it with water it becomes a milk consistency. It's nice and light on the skin and breaks down make-up really well. Would I repurchase? Yes I would love to, but I have so many cleansers to use.

Have you tried any of these products?

PERFECT PAMPER PRODUCTS - BATH TIME

My favourite way to pamper myself is to take a bubble bath after a busy day. So I light a few candles, use a bath bomb or bath melt and read my kindle or a magazine. I find this the perfect way to relax and have a bit of me time. I am currently reading Pieces of You By Ella Harper on my kindle - really enjoying it so far. My candle of choice is the Champneys Mediterranean Bliss which makes you feel like your at a spa, when actually your in the comfort of your own home. I also love these cute Bath Mallows and Bath Tulips from Bomb Cosmetics.
The Body Shop Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt, 300ml £8.00 - I take more baths than showers and this product helps to enhance that experience. I love that the product comes in a tub rather than a bottle. It does mean you have to scoop the product out though, making you use more of the product than you actually need. The scent is heavenly and the formula creates so many bubbles which moisturise my skin at the same time. This has to be one of my favourite products from the Honeymania range, it's so luxurious, creamy and has a rich floral scent. This helps me relax and leaves my skin feeling super soft.
Aromatherapy Associates Revive Evening Bath Oil, 55ml £40.00 - When I don't want so many bubbles but still want the relaxing scent I like to use a bath oil. I only like to use this on special pamper evenings when I've got time to enjoy the product. You only have to use a tiny amount but the scent fills the whole room. This is a treat product but it re-energises your body and a little goes a long way.
Ren ClearCalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask, 50ml £30.00 - This is a product which I like to apply while I'm in the bath. This is great for clearing up blemish prone skin. I like to cleanse skin, apply this and leave it on for 15 minutes. I like to use this once a week when my skin is feeling more congested. It soothes, calms, reduces the size of pores and gets rid of redness. It's great if you have oily or combination skin, the formula is thick and creamy and you can see a difference instantly. I recommend Ren products to anyone.
Rituals Sweet Orange & Cedar Fortune Scrub, 150ml £10.00 - I got this product free with a magazine a while ago and instantly fell in love with the uplifting scent. It's a lovely product to use on legs for silky smooth skin. The formulation is a scrub and cream in one, so it's not harsh on the skin and it moisturises at the same time. I would definitely try a different scent when this one runs out.
Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Butter, 300ml £10.00 - I have loved orange scented products recently. I just used up the body wash from the same line and couldn't get enough of the scent. The formula is thick and creamy and contains orange beads which melt into the skin. This is a great product to use on dry skin and perfect for the colder months coming. The fresh scent lingers around for hours on the skin, I like to apply this straight out of the bath in the evening. Soap and Glory will always be my number one for body care, read more about my thoughts here.
Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream, 125ml £5.50 - Another Soap & Glory product which I love. I have gone through so many tubes of this, the product is so effective. When my feet are in need of some love I like to apply this before I go to sleep and I wake up with super soft feet. If my feet are feeling dry or worn out I apply socks over the cream for a more intense treat.

What are your favourite pampering products?