August Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's Empties time! I have quite a lot of products here that I managed to use up, so I'm just going to jump straight into everything; here are my overall thoughts about each one and whether I'll be repurchasing or not.

Tisserand Sweet Dreams Body Oil*

I'm a big fan of Tisserand's bliss-inducing Sweet Dreams range and this Body Oil was such a pleasure to use. It feels really luxurious and pampering when you apply it, but it's the scent that I love the most. Super relaxing and perfect to use before going to bed for a restful night's sleep. Repurchase? Yes.

Aveda Beautifying Radiance Polish*

For some serious luxury pampering, you can't beat Aveda's Beautifying line which smells amazing and so uplifting. This Radiance Polish is a fantastic sea-salt based body scrub that's infused with Sunflower, Olive and Safflower Oils to leave your skin silky smooth and hydrated afterwards. It's also great for removing old fake tan with. Repurchase? On the wishlist as it's pricey!

Green & Spring Relaxing Shower & Bath Foam

I've used a couple of these travel size bottles up before and love the scent of this Relaxing Bath Foam from Green & Spring. This was from a recent GWP and it's so lovely! Creates a large amount of bubbles without the need for SLS which is awesome. Repurchase? Tempted!

Caudalie Divine Oil

This is one of my all-time favourite multi-purpose dry oils and I've gone through a number of bottles of it over the years as I always have to have one in my stash. If you haven't smelt this before, you really need to - it smells like pure luxury! I use this everywhere - on my hair and all over my body - it's heavenly! Repurchase? Already have some smaller bottles on the go.

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow*

If you have dull skin that needs a glowy boost, this multi-tasking serum is a must-try. It has tiny light reflecting golden mineral particles in it to illuminate the skin and there's also a powerhouse of natural ingredients such as Green Algae and Vitamin C to hydrate and brighten the complexion. I love using this as a morning serum before moisturiser, or as a primer - works equally well both ways. Repurchase? Yes.

Tabitha James Kraan Golden Citrus Organic Hair Cleanser and 4-in-1 Conditioner

I've also used these before and they are amazing. The shampoo is perfect for balancing fine hair and the matching conditioner moisturises dry hair without weighing it down. Organic, SLS and silicones-free - just gorgeous! I also love the Golden Citrus fragrance which is heavy on the Neroli front - mmm! Repurchase? I have lots of haircare to get through at the moment, but I'd definitely consider picking up these again in the future.

NUXE Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream*

Despite being a massive fan of NUXE, this hand cream was a bit disappointing and 'meh'. Don't get me wrong, it's nice and does the job, but there are others that I simply love using more than this one. Repurchase? No.

Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir

This 10ml travel size bottle has lasted me absolutely ages! You only need to use 1-2 drops each time, and I tended to treat my hair to it about once a fortnight so it's lasted me months! It's a brilliant all-natural hair oil and is great for using pre and post styling if you have dry hair. Repurchase? I have some similar products to use up first, but I'd pick this up again for sure.

Bee Good Honey & Wild Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water

I think this is my third or even fourth bottle that I've used up, so you can tell that I like it a lot! It's a really effective and gentle cleansing water that I mainly used for removing eye makeup but it works well at removing foundation and everything else too. Repurchase? Yes.

S5 Calm Serum*

Another long-standing favourite of mine is S5's wonderful Calm Serum which has rescued my skin many times. I like to reach for this when my skin is playing up and I have a lot of redness or eczema patches, as it really helps to soothe and calm down any irritation. Brilliant stuff. Repurchase? Will do!

What beauty products have you used up this month?

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July Empties: Products I've Used Up

Can you believe that another month is coming to an end?! You know what that means - it's time to rummage through my rubbish and see what beauty products I've managed to use up this month. Here are my July Empties!

Bee Good Honey & Wild Flax Daily Moisturiser

My skin can be quite fussy with moisturisers in the Summer months, but this one is a winner for oily/combo types! It's perfect for balancing the oiler areas, whilst keeping the drier parts hydrated and there's Honey and Propolis in the formula which have great antibacterial properties for keeping blemishes at bay. I've gone through a couple of tubes of this over the past few years! Repurchase? I have some other moisturisers to finish up first, but will definitely pick this up again in the near future.

STARSKIN Walk of Fame Foot Mask Socks*

Loved these, have used them in the past and they are one of the best products of this kind out there. They really do help to sort out any dry bits and they'll leave your feet feeling wonderfully soft for days afterwards. Repurchase? They're pricey, so I'll be keeping an eye out for an offer or discount code first!

NUXE Splendieuse Anti-Dark Spot Perfecting Mask*

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my rather unflattering selfie wearing this last night in my Instagram Stories and it was the last one in my pack. I really like these ones for brightening up a dull complexion as they have Vitamin C in them so they're great before a special occasion or a night out. Repurchase? I have a bunch of sheet masks to use up from various brands before I can justify buying anymore, but once I've got a handle on my stash I will be treating myself to some more of these!

Masque Bar Eye Treat Dark Circle Reducer Minimizing Patches*  

If you have dark circles and need help brightening them up, these eye masks from Masque Bar are fantastic. They're not a miracle worker but they do give me a noticeable difference whenever I use them and are perfect to use the next morning after a late night or before a special occasion. Repurchase? Like the sheet masks, I have a couple of eye masks to get through, but I'd definitely pick these up again.

Vita Liberata Self Tanning Night Moisture Mask

This travel size sample was from a recent GWP and although I've gone through a full size tube of this mask before, I'm still undecided about this product - how weird is that?! Sometimes I put it on and love it, other times I just think it's a bit 'meh' as the colour is very subtle. Repurchase? No, I think I'm just going to stick with the James Reed Sleep Mask Tan for the time being.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I've lost count of how many tubes of this cleanser I've gone through over the years and I always, always have one or two in my skincare stash. It gets rid of every single trace of makeup so effortlessly (including waterproof mascara), and I really like using it as a first cleanse in the evenings to remove everything else like daily grime and sunscreen. Repurchase? Already have!

Caudalie Premier Cru The Elixir

Another sample freebie from a GWP, I actually have the full size bottle of this which I'm about halfway through, but I used this up first as it was in my travel bag. It's a beautiful half oil/half serum type of formula and is amazing for keeping the skin hydrated. Feels like such a treat whenever I use it! Repurchase? Will do after I've used up the full-size.

Urban Veda Purifying Hydrating Toner

This is a lovely summer skincare product for my oily/combo skin. It contains Ayurvedic Neem, Witch Hazel and Tea Tree Oil to rebalance and detoxify congested skin, but there's also Rose Water in the formula to put some essential moisture back in so you get the best of both worlds. If you have blemishes or breakout prone skin, you need to try this! Repurchase? Will do after I've used up some other toners first.

Hairy Jayne Pre Shampoo Treatment Oil*

If my scalp feels dry or itchy, I'll use something like this to re-balance and rehydrate it. This one from Hairy Jayne has an Olive and Argan Oil base, plus several key essential oils like Clary Sage and Lavender to make my scalp feel happy again. You only need to use a few drops per treatment, so this bottle has lasted me a long time! Repurchase? Yes.

Hairy Jayne Citrus Hair Perfume with Heat Protection

Another product that I love from Hairy Jayne are their all-natural hair perfumes as they also double up as a heat protector for blow-drying and straightening. I've tried all of their scents, but this Citrus one is my favourite and I think this is my second or third bottle that I've gone through. Again, a little goes a long way so they're great value for money and last ages. Repurchase? Yes. 

Origins Maskimiser 

Despite initially liking the concept behind this product (it's designed to be a hydrating spritz that you use before applying any face mask to 'maximise' its benefits), I didn't notice any differences from using it. It just feels like a regular hydrating toner which is nice, but it doesn't seem to enhance or 'maximise' anything in the short or long term. Repurchase? Nope!

Weleda Arnica Sports Shower Gel

Although I absolutely love Weleda's Creamy Body Washes, this shower gel is something that I like to go back to during the summer months because it's so lovely and refreshing to use. Great for using after a workout or just if it's been particularly hot and sticky that day. Repurchase? Yes. 

Aveda Stress Fix Composition Oil

You guys all know how much I adore the Composition Oils from Aveda and their Stress Fix scent is one of my all-time favourite fragrances from a luxury pampering brand. Whenever I use this, I always feel instantly more relaxed and you can use these oils in the bath, all over the body and as a scalp and hair treatment too. It's a multitasking superstar! Repurchase? Definitely.

What beauty products have you used up this month?

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May Empties: Products I've Used Up

Another month is rapidly coming to an end, so it's time for me to dig out the basket that I keep all of my Empties in and share its contents with you all! Here's everything that I've managed to use up recently - a good mix of skincare and body care, and lots of favourites of course.

DHC Rich Eye Zone Care Pack*

I call these the 'superhero' eye masks because they cover most of the eye area including the lid - you can check out my original review here to see what I mean - and I think they're fantastic. This is the second pack that I've gone through, and although I do tend to reserve them for special occasions, they're great for any time that you need a quick fix to reduce puffiness and make you look more awake. Repurchase? Yes.

Conscious Skincare Pure Body Polish*   

A lovely and simple, but effective, fragrance-free body scrub that's made from just two natural and organic ingredients; vegetable glycerine and sugar. Does the job and does it well. Repurchase? Maybe - I generally prefer scrubs that have some kind of natural fragrance in them, but I did like the simplicity of this one.

STARSKIN Brightening After-Party Bio-Cellulose Second Skin Face Mask*

I've had the pleasure of trying out a lot of sheet masks from STARSKIN over the past year, and their Brightening mask is definitely one of my favourites. It does what it says it'll do and really helps to brighten and perk up a dull or tired complexion. I love the bio-cellulose material too, which makes it fit like a 'second skin', so no more sliding around or falling off! Repurchase? Yes. 

Kneipp Herbal Bath Back Comfort Devil's Claw 

Another favourite of mine - if I've overdone it with Yoga or Pilates, or simply had a long and tiring day, this stuff is amazing. It instantly relaxes and soothes your muscles, easing any aches and pains. My mum uses it for arthritis and it works wonders for her. You can get two baths out of one of these travel size bottles, so you don't need to use much of it to feel the full effects. Repurchase? I'm sure I already have one or two more mini bottles in my samples stash somewhere - need to dig them out! 

Aveda Stress Fix Body Creme*

This is a luxury pampering treat for dry skin and it has Aveda's distinctive Stress Fix aroma that's wonderfully calming and relaxing. It's a very thick body creme (much more like a body butter) and one that takes a little while to fully sink in, so it's something that I'll use after a long hot bath before going to bed. Repurchase? Yes. 

Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream*

I've gone through countless tubes of this moisturiser and it's still something that I return to time and time again. This day cream contains Manuka Flower Oil which I find helps to prevent breakouts, and it's really nice and light to use during the warmer Summer months. If you have oily/combination skin that's also prone to being sensitive, it's a must-try. Repurchase? Yes.

Scentered Sleep Well Therapy Balm

I have a lot of problems with getting to sleep, so I often use some kind of aromatherapy product to help me to relax and switch off my busy mind. I really like these balms from Scentered, with this Sleep Well one being particularly useful for me. Repurchase? I'm currently using up a similar product from Tisserand, but I would happily buy this again in the future.

Bee Good Youth Enhancing Lift & Brighten Eye Cream

This eye cream is one of Bee Good's best products. It's seriously underrated, but it does an excellent job of keeping the under eye area feeling hydrated and looking brighter and younger. This may be my second or third tube! Repurchase? Yes.  

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Micellar Make-Up Removal Gel*

Despite what its name may have you believe, this is terrible for removing makeup with, but it's a nice and gentle morning cleanser that helps to reduce any redness or rosacea. It's not a problem that I have often though (I tend to only get mild flare-ups of redness every now and then), so it took me a while to get through this bottle. Repurchase? Probably not - I think I'll just stick to a mild cream cleanser instead.  

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

I've used Serozinc on and off for a while now. It definitely comes into its own during the Summer months when my skin is naturally a lot more oily, and it does work really well at keeping my t-zone in check. I don't see much of a difference with its effect on blemishes though, but it's something that I like to have in my skincare stash as a cooling/mattifying spritz when the weather gets hot. Repurchase? Yes.

Which beauty products have you used up recently?

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February Empties: Products I've Used Up

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that didn't stop me from finishing up this bunch of products! Here's everything that I've used up recently, and my thoughts about whether I would repurchase them again or not.

Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts

One of my all time favourite bath products, these really help me to de-stress after a long day and get a good night's sleep. They are seriously magical bath salts and I always recommend them to friends and family who have difficulty sleeping. Repurchase? Yes. 

Botanicals Deep Peace Aromatic Body Oil*

This travel size bottle was only enough for two uses, but I loved the calming scent and it left my skin feeling smooth and pampered. Repurchase? Would definitely consider buying a full size.

Living Nature Manuka Honey Gel*

If you're looking for an all-natural and gentle way to tackle breakouts and blemishes, try this. It takes a little longer to work than its mainstream equivalents, however, it doesn't irritate or dry out the skin like a lot of anti-spot treatments do. Repurchase? Yes.

Aveda Shampure Composition Oil

The fragrance of Aveda's Shampure line is just heavenly - I'm totally addicted to it. I love using these multi-purpose oils in the bath, all over the body and as a relaxing and nourishing scalp treatment as well. Repurchase? Yes.

Barefoot SOS Repair & Renew Intensive Treatment Oil

I regularly seem to go back to this face oil during Winter as it a fantastic rescue treatment for dry and sensitive/ fussy skin. It helps me to get my glow back and a bottle always lasts me a good couple of months. Repurchase? Will do later this year.

Bee Good Intensive Hand Repair*

A lovely rich and thick hand cream for dry Winter hands. You can also use it on any other dry skin areas to help keep them hydrated so it's a great product to have in your stash. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some similar products.

Weleda Skin Food 

There's always a tube of this that pops up in my Empties every few months isn't there?! One of my holy grail muti-purpose moisturisers - I use this on virtually everything from my face as a hydrating treatment mask to my cuticles, feet, elbows and hands etc. It's still one of my favourite products to use for calming down an eczema flare up too. Repurchase? Already have!

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

I was pleased to be reunited with this after I received it in a GWP goody bag with an online Christmas order. It's a fantastic manual face exfoliator with very fine natural scrubby bits to help clear up congested skin. Repurchase? I have a lot of other exfoliators to use up first, but I'll definitely pick it up again in the future. 

Bodhi & Birch Flora Paradiso De-Stress Massage & Body Oil*

I love everything from Bodhi & Birch, but this particular body oil is really quite amazing. It smells incredible and has an instant relaxing effect on me whenever I use it. I love adding it to baths too for a truly indulgent pamper. Repurchase? Yes.

What beauty products have you used up recently?

Have you tried any of these?

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Look Incredible Standard Beauty Box - January 2017 review

Bored of getting little samples in your beauty box every month? Want luxury products for a bargain price? Look Incredible is the beauty box for you!

Look Incredible are a popular online retailer who I'm sure you've probably already heard of before. They stock a huge range of well-known beauty brands (think Benefit, Becca, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Make Up For Ever etc), and they frequently have some excellent offers and sales going on - let's face it, who doesn't love a bargain?! They also offer a monthly beauty box (available in Standard or Deluxe), which contains only full-sized products, and features products from the brands that they sell on their website.

As much as I love receiving cute travel sized minis in beauty subscription boxes, it can start to get a bit tedious after a while, and for products like skincare, it's always nice to get a proper amount to fully test out instead of just a tiny foil sachet. Don't get me wrong, I'll always love a good miniature, but do you know what I love more? A big, full-size product! Well, they do say bigger is better...!

Below are the contents of Look Incredible's Standard Beauty Box for this month, to give you an idea of what you can expect from them:-

 bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Eyeshadow in Delicate Moss (RRP £18)

This cream eyeshadow from bareMinerals boasts an impressive 5-in-1 benefits formula that contains SPF 15, and can be used as an eyelid primer, concealer, brightener, and eyeshadow. I received the shade 'Delicate Moss' which is a pale, neutral toned mossy colour with a touch of shimmer. Works really well as a primer, and I like it as a base shade for a neutral smokey eye. It's long lasting with a silky/velvety formula, and I haven't had any issues with creasing or anything like that.

 Rosie for Autograph Dream Big Lashes (RRP £15)

I've had the pleasure of trying a couple of pieces from Rosie Huntington-Whitely's cosmetics collaboration with M&S' Autograph range, and I've loved virtually everything. I've been meaning to get my hands on her mascara so I was thrilled to see it included in this month's box! Can't wait to try it and I love the rose gold packaging.

 Bee Good Honey & Camelina Facial Exfoliator (RRP £10.50)

I've mentioned this amazing exfoliator from Bee Good on here several times, and I still use it on a regular basis. It's got a lovely and creamy texture, and uses finely milled lavender flowers to very gently exfoliate the skin. Great for unclogging impurities and getting rid of dead dull skin cells for an instantly brighter and clearer complexion.

 bareMinerals Daily Recovery Concentrate (RRP £19.99)

I don't think I've used any of bareMinerals' skincare before, and this Daily Recovery Concentrate looks interesting. It's described as "a deeply hydrating treatment to replenish and retain moisture, whilst leaving the skin supple and increasing its resilience over time". Sounds promising as a potential Winter Skin Saviour perhaps?

Too Faced Flatbuki Brush (RRP £12)

My favourite item in the box is this beautiful makeup brush from Too Faced. The cruelty-free synthetic brushes are unbelievably soft and are known as their bestselling 'Teddy Bear' hair formula which sums it up perfectly. At first, I thought it just looked like a regular blush or powder brush, but it does in fact seem to resemble a 'Flatbuki' as the bristles are longer in length than my other blusher brushes. A lovely new addition to my makeup brush collection!

Summary: The contents are worth a whopping £75.49 in total, so if you're looking for a box which offers only full-sized products, and gives you a great mix of beauty products from well-known luxury brands, then worth check out the Look Incredible beauty box.

Look Incredible Beauty Box* is available in Standard (£18.99 plus p&p per month) or Deluxe (£35 per month including p&p). For more info and to sign up, visit lookincredible.co.uk

What do you think of the Look Incredible beauty box?

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Christmas Gift Guide 2016: The Green Beauty Edit

Searching for that perfect gift for your green beauty obsessed friend, or want to find a present that's more environmentally friendly this year? Look no further, this is the Christmas Gift Guide edit for you!

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August Favourites

Has another month really flown by? These are my August Beauty Favourites, which are also a good representation of what I've been loving for most of the Summer too.

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UK GIVEAWAY! Win a Bee Good NectaPerfecta Beautifying Mask worth £39.95!

To make your Monday better, I've teamed up with the lovely people at Bee Good to give one lucky UK reader the chance to win a full-size NectaPerfecta Beautifying Mask worth £39.95.

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Mid-Week Treats: 6 Products For A Spring Pamper At Home

If the crazy weather has been bumming you out this week, try re-creating that feeling of Spring at home in your bathroom with these pampering treats, many of which are brand new releases.

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5 Mini Reviews: Dr. Organic, Bee Good, Botanicals, Weleda & Green People

Last month, I noticed that my samples stash was getting way out of control again (I'm blaming too many online orders and GWPs!), so I've finally made an effort to use some of them up! Here are my thoughts on these five and whether I would purchase the full-size product or not.

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January Favourites

How quickly did the last month fly by? Here are my favourite beauty products for January 2016 which features a mix of both budget friendly and high-end goodies.

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The Beauty Edit: 9 Amazing Winter Skin (and hair) Saviours

With the promise of some snow and sub-zero temperatures on the way later this week, I wanted to share some of my new favourite Winter Saviours to help save your skin, body and hair from the cold.

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Chocolate Beauty Products for National Chocolate Week!

I don't often go in for all of these 'National Day' of such and such stuff, but a whole National Chocolate Week? Hell yes! Here are three chocolate themed beauty products to indulge in.

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New In from Aveda, Living Nature, Bee Good & Liz Earle

A round-up of just a few of the new skincare products I've been trialling recently, plus a brand new hair styling product from Aveda which is amazing!

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Summer Holidays: The Best of The Travel Sized Minis!

Whether you're about to hop onto a plane for a sunny beach abroad for the next two weeks, or you're simply counting down the days to that weekend of camping in beautiful Wales, this is my special edit of some of the best beauty minis to pack into your travel bag.

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July Empties: Products I've Used Up

I've been testing out a lot of new products recently, so most of my empties this month are things that I use on a daily basis, plus some minis from my travel bag.

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New In: The Spring Skincare Edit

Spring is well and truly in full swing, so I wanted to share some new products that I've been using lately to reflect the warmer weather.

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January Favourites

Last month was a particularly great month for discovering a whole host of shiny new products (as well as some long time favs), so without further ado, here are my January Favourites.

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Winter Hands Saviours - The Favourites Edit

If your hands are feeling very dry from the cold weather, then this is the blogpost for you. Here's my current stash of hydrating skin saviours that I highly recommend if you want to give your hands some serious TLC.

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New Year's Day Pamper

Happy New Year!  After the fuzziness of last night's celebrations, I think it's time for a little pampering to recharge and recover.

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