NEW YEAR BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES

It's a new year and I think most people feel the need to declutter and get rid of things they don't need. Whether this is downsizing your wardrobe or finishing half used beauty products that have been hanging around your bathroom. These are some of the products I have finished recently.
The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, 90ml £13.00 - This has to be one of the stand out products from The Body Shop for a while. I really enjoyed using this up, it’s super moisturising on the skin and takes every little bit of make-up off. It’s not harsh around the eye area and you only need a little piece to clean your whole face. It's really gentle on my skin and has quite a subtle scent, so it's not overpowering at all. Would I repurchase? Yes, I’m currently using the cleansing oil in my shower from the same range.

Liz Earle Limited Edition Orange Flower & Chamomile Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, 150ml  - Cleanse and Polish is my go to cleanser, if my skin is playing up I know I can rely on this to help it get back to normal. I try and purchase the limited edition scents to mix up my usual skincare routine. I use this most days as it’s moisturising on the skin and dissolves make-up straight away. It's suitable for all skin types and age ranges, so I can see myself using this product for a while. Would I repurchase? Always, I have to have a backup in my stash. See my full review on the scent here.

John Frieda Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo & Smooth Seas Detangling Conditioner, 250ml £5.89 each  - I was excited to see a hair care duo suited to my hair type in Boots. I liked the minty fresh scent which felt cooling on my scalp. I wouldn’t say these did something special for my hair, but they’re great to use for everyday use. The shampoo is lightweight, adds texture and increases manageability and shine. Would I repurchase? Yes, if the products were on offer like they are now.

Batiste Stylist Texture Me Texturizing Spray, 200ml £4.49 – I’m really into using a texturizing spray when styling my hair, so when I saw the new styling products from Batiste I had to give this one a try. I like using this to add a bit more volume and grit into the lengths of my hair. You can build it up in the hair to create different styles for different occasions. It doesn’t feel sticky at all, but I do have to top it up to make it last in my hair to separate my layers. The product is infused with Keratin & Inca Inchi oil to help strengthen your hair. Would I repurchase? Yes, I wish they did a mini size so I could fit it in my handbag.

Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 – This is one of my favourite shower gels, saying that I’m a big fan of all Soap & Glory shower gels. I like the fresh green mandarin, sicilian lemon and sweet orange peel oils, as it’s so refreshing and wakes you up in the morning. It’s moisturising on my skin and foams up nicely. You can also layer the scent with the other Orange scented products in the range. I've said it before, I love the large pump bottles, I wish Lush products came in these. Would I repurchase? Yes, I always have a Soap & Glory body wash in my shower. See my full review on the Orangeasm range here.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Butter 50ml, Irrisistibubble Gift Set £5.00 – I received this deluxe sample sized product in a gift set, another one of the delicious scents from Soap & Glory. I like the texture of this moisturiser, it sinks into my skin as it’s nice and light and great to use in the Summer months. The moisturiser contains Shea butter and Cocoa Nut Balm so it's really soothing on the skin. Would I repurchase? Yes, love this scent in Summer.

Dove Compressed Original Anti-Perspirant, 75ml £2.99 – I normally use Mitchum deodorant, but these compressed deodorants are great to take on holiday with me. Dove have re-engineered the spray system thus reducing the amount of gas needed to deliver the same level of antiperspirant ingredient with each spray. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would buy again if I was taking it away with me.

Colab Sheer & Invisible Dry Shampoo in Rio, 50ml £2.00 – I think I received this product in a beauty box. I really like the Batiste dry shampoo in the tropical scent so I knew I was going to like this Rio scent, it has notes of papaya, pineapple and a heart of cassis. It really helps to absorb oil and refreshes roots, it feels lightweight in my hair and I like that it leaves no residue. Would I repurchase? Yes, I need to try some of the other scents.

This Works Clean Skin 5 in 1 Water, 200ml £21.00 - I haven't tried many products from This Works, but the ones I have I've really enjoyed. I like to use a micellar water to take the bulk of my make-up off before cleansing with a hot cloth. This rosewater cleanser removes make-up, decongests and brightens the skin. I would say it's not great around the eye area, but it doesn't dry my skin out as it's refreshing and boosts elasticity. Would I repurchase? Maybe, it is quite pricey compared to Bioderma which does practically the same job.

Aussie Shower Smoothie Shower Gel, 250ml £2.99 – I’m a huge fan of the Aussie hair line, so when I saw they were releasing body washes I knew I wanted to give one a try. This scent is super sweet, similar to their Miracle Moist hair care line which I love. It contains Australian Macadamia nut oil which leaves skin smooth and silky. I would prefer a pump bottle as it's so much easier to use in the shower, but I can't fault the product. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would like to try the other scents.

Have you tried any of these products?

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CURRENT TRANSITIONAL SKIN SAVIOURS - BODYCARE

Over the colder months the weather causes my skin to become drier, duller and higher maintenance. Skin and hair should be taken care of according to the season. When Winter comes, the cold weather outside destroys the lipid layer that protects the skin against dryness. As we transition into Spring I like to carry on with this routine to help my skin prepare for the Summer months. I still like to exfoliate in the Winter months to pep up my skin and always moisturise my feet and hands before I go to sleep. There are a few products I like to use to ensure my skin keeps in it's best shape as we step into Spring.

Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Smoothing Body Cream, 300ml £10.50 – My favourite bath and body brand has to be Soap & Glory. I have tried all the different scents and haven't found one I didn't like. The fruitigo fragrance is more of a summery, fruity scent but I can't get enough of the fragrance. The formula is thick, moisturising and hydrating and it sinks into the skin really nicely. You can smell the scent for hours after applying. This scent is lovely as we are coming into Spring, as it's so fresh and gorgeous. I will always repurchase one of the Soap & Glory body butters as you can't go wrong for the price. You definitely get your moneys worth as a pot lasts a long time and I use it all over my body.

Soap & Glory Sit Tight Saddlebags+, 85ml £16.50 – This is a great product to use after the gym. You can use it on targeted areas like the tops of the arms and legs. This serum is formulated to help visibly firm and tighten skin, smooth stubborn areas, rehydrate and reduce skin roughness. The product is really easy to use, you squeeze the product out on to the roller and massage gently over the skin. You let the product absorb into the skin and you can feel a little tingle sensation which makes me feel like something is working. If I use the product regularly I notice that my skin tightens and tones a little in certain areas. I have written a full blog post about this product here.

Nip & Fab Bust Fix Plumping Treatment, 100ml £16.29 – I have been using this product for quite a while now, it’s not something I use every day, but I do notice a difference when I do use it. The formula is a light serum which visually plumps, smoothes and firms skin around the chest area. It is quite pricey for a high street cream but they always have deals on in Boots. As you are only using this in one area, this tube has lasted me so long that they have changed the packaging. This works great on stretch marks, the only downside is that it doesn't have a lovely scent. It absorbs nicely and leaves no residue. 

This Works Perfect Heels Rescue Balm, 75ml £16.00 – I like to use a balm product on areas I feel need a little more moisturising, my feet probably need the most attention. This balm is a really thick texture that helps to prevent and repair cracked heels and dry feet. The formula is made with cotton thistle extract, refreshing lemon oil and soothing lavender, which makes for a really relaxing scent. It absorbs really easily into the skin and makes my feet feel so much better if I’ve had a long day. I must admit I probably wouldn't repurchase it at £16.00, I'm a big fan of the Soap & Glory Heels Genius which is a third of the price at £5.50 and you probably get similar results.

Origins Make a Difference Hand Treatment, full-size 75ml £19.00 – I have raved about this hand treatment before, it’s probably the best hand cream I've tried. It’s not sticky or greasy like other creams. You only need to apply a little amount onto your hands and the scent is lovely. It’s great on dry areas and I also like to rub it into my cuticles. The formulation is thick and creamy and it really helps to moisturise and protect my hands. It is quite pricey for a hand cream but I like to pick up these smaller sized tubes in Christmas gift sets.

Margaret Dabbs Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum, 15ml £12.00 – I like to use this product before giving myself a pedicure, It’s a really lightweight cream. I received this product in one of my beauty boxes and had never heard of this brand before. It helps to strengthen, protect and hydrate nails and cuticles. I like that the bottle comes with an easy to use pump and it's small enough to use on the go.

What are your Bodycare recommendations which you have been using recently?

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LOOK FANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - OCTOBER 2014

Look Fantastic is the newest beauty box to hit the market and this month (October) is their second box. After the success of last months box, I had high hopes that good sized samples and well known brands would carry on and I'm pleased they have, I just can't get enough of this box. It's a couple of pounds more than competitors Glossybox and Birchbox, but I think it's totally worth it to receive products you want to try.
KMS Free Shape Quick Blow Dry, full-size 200ml £11.45 - I was very excited to see KMS in the box, I have been wanting to try something from the brand for ages. I think they are also featured in Birchbox this month too. This product claims to reduce your blow dry time by up to 50%. As I wash my hair most mornings this is ideal for me and means I can quickly dry my hair and get out the door. This also provides heat protection, so is a multi use product. This is a bi-phase solution that you have to shake really well before use and the product helps to condition the hair as well. I really like the fruity scent and will look into buying the full-size version if this continues to work.
Gatineau Collagene Expert Ultimate Smoothing Cream, full-size 50ml £54.19 - This product can be used as a day or night cream, which works to give you younger and more radiant looking skin. This product contains a high concentration of elastin and collagen, it has a gel like texture which instantly absorbs to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the feel of the complexion. The formula is thick and creamy and leaves a nice smooth, fresh feeling on the skin. This is probably my least favourite product in the box just because I don't know much about the brand. But I will be taking this sample on holiday with me at the end of the month to give it a good test run.
Korres Citrus Shower Gel, full-size 250ml £8.00 - I received the body milk in this range in last months Birchbox. So it's quite nice to use them both at the same time to layer up the scents. It's more of a summery scent, so again this is ideal to take on holiday with me. I've really got into using Korres bath and body care. The product contains wheat proteins which form a protective film on the skin, maintaining it's regular hydration level, leaving the skin soft and moisturised.
Balance Me Facial Expression Filler, 15ml £22.00 - This is a full-size product and is probably targeted at a slightly older customer than me but there is no harm in giving it a go. This product is marketed as a daily natural botox fix and helps to tighten and tone skin fast. It's suitable for all skin types and is 99% natural. I have really enjoyed using Balance Me products in the past and this product contains ingredients to soften the appearance of forehead lines instantly. I will probably mainly use this around the eye area before applying make-up.
L'Oreal Professionnel Pro-Keratin Refill Shampoo, full-size 250ml £10.99 and Hair Masque full-size 200ml £13.99 - These are probably some of my favourite products in the box, they're made for damages hair and L'Oreal claims that hair feels 70% more resistant to breakage with use. I currently use the L'Oreal Professionnel silver shampoo, so know their products are of good quality and certainly make a difference. The shampoo cleanses and replenishes the hair and leaves a smooth, reinforced feeling. The masque intensively repairs and creates a defensive shield providing day to day protection from external aggressors. These both smell heavenly and I would look into buying the full-sizes when these run out.
This Works Sleep Plus+ Pillow Spray, full-size 75ml £25.00 - Last month, we received the normal version of this and this month we have the stronger version. I really liked using the spray last month, so was happy to see another sample. It really does help me to relax and helps you feel less restless during the night. The scent is stronger but only time will tell if this version out does the original. Looks like this product hasn't been released yet, but you can pre-order on the website - out 17th October, so that's really nice to receive an exclusive sample.
The October box is now sold out, but you can pre-order November's box. I already have! It would be nice to see some make-up products being introduced into the box, but is that why this box is so successful? Are cosmetic items too individual to that person's taste? But if Look Fantastic beauty box carries on like this, their competitors better watch out!

Have you ordered your Look Fantastic beauty box yet?

LOOK FANTASTIC BEAUTY BOX - SEPTEMBER 2014

Look Fantastic is the latest brand to release a beauty box. It’s nice to see an online beauty store bringing something different to the ever growing industry. I have always been interested in the concept, some people became uninterested in the whole idea but I’m always excited to see another new box released. Look Fantastic is always an online shop I check for deals and offers that are cheaper than the high-street. The Look Fantastic Beauty Box will contain a minimum of six products every month and you can decide if you want to order it instead of signing up to a subscription. The first box sold out really quickly, you don’t know what you’re going to receive before you get it through your letterbox and by using popular brands I know this box will be popular. The products included in September’s box were;

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 1 and Lait Vital, full-size 250ml and 200ml £22.20 for both – I am a big fan of Kerastase hair products, you know you are getting quality hair care from this brand. I wish I had ordered my mum a box at the same time, as she loves this shampoo and conditioner. I sadly went back on the website that evening and it had sold out. I will definitely be taking these on holiday with me, it’s so nice to see deluxe samples. I have used this hair care range before so I know I will enjoy using them. This hair duo is perfect for drier hair types, they're super moisturising and has a nourishing formula that protects hair to an award winning standard.

Caudalie Divine Oil, full-size 50ml £17.50 – I have already tried and loved this product, but it’s nice to have an extra sample for travel. This is a multiuse product which can be used on the body, hair and face. I love the glass bottle packaging, I’m most likely to use this on my body. Caudalie are committed to planting one tree for every bottle sold. The oil has a light, floral fragrance with woody notes.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, full-size 75ml £16.00 – I have always wanted to try this product, another product my mum swears by. I don’t have any trouble sleeping, but this is nice to spray on my pillow to relax me before sleep. Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is clinically proven to help you sleep better than normal, make you fall asleep faster and feel more refreshed in the morning. The soothing scent is wild camomile, vetiver and true lavender, which helps to calm the mind - I will definitely be spraying this on my bed sheets tonight.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum, full-size 30ml £49.50 – Another product I was very excited about receiving. I haven’t tried many Jurlique products in the past, but the ones I have tried I have really enjoyed. This serum helps to recover your radiance, it features a proprietary active complex, Naturadiance PB18+ to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, restore radiance and increase hydration. I will be adding this to my evening skincare routine.

St Tropez Bronzing Mousse, 50ml £9.99 – This is probably my least favourite product in the box, just because I’m not much of a tanner. If I was to tan though, I would use St.Tropez as I’m always happy with the results, so this will come in use at some point. It gives a lovely even colour and this is a great sized product to touch up a holiday tan. I much prefer using a mousse product than a liquid. This bronzing mousse creates a streak-free, natural looking golden glow that lasts for days. I like to apply this with an applicator mitt for stain free hands.
Overall I'm really happy with the contents, so refreshing to find new products from brands I love and deluxe sized samples instead of sachets. The stand out product for me is the Jurlique Advanced Serum. I have already pre-ordered the October box, lets hope it lives up to their first box. Five random boxes will also receive a mystery gift worth £149.99, there's limited available so pre-order yours quick here.

What are your thoughts on Beauty Boxes?