New In: Bodhi & Birch Lime Blossom Protecting Hand Serum review

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll have no doubt seen countless raves about the eco-luxe British brand Bodhi.  They have recently undergone a subtle rebranding and changed their name to Bodhi & Birch to illustrate their unique 'East meets West' philosophy, which I think is pretty neat.

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The Pre-Valentine's Day Pamper

Whether you're planning for a hot date, going out for a romantic dinner with a loved one, or simply celebrating being single with your girlfriends (like I will be!), this little pamper will have you prepped and ready to go for a fun Friday night out tomorrow.

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January Empties / Products I've Used Up

Here's to the first Empties post of 2014.  I'm really happy with how many products I've managed to finish up last month, though there are quite a few favourites amongst this little lot that I'm sad to see go!

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Beauty Roundup: The Best of 2013

I'm a little late posting this but here we go!  This is my beauty roundup of the past year, showcasing the creme de la creme of the products that I fell in love with during 2013.   

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Luxury Xmas Gift Idea: Bodhi Bloom Bath & Body Gift Set

If you've been following my blog for a long time, you'll no doubt already know that I'm a big fan of Bodhi.  This luxury English brand creates some of the most beautiful pampering bath and body products (as well as some amazing skincare).  They recently unveiled their new Christmas gift sets which are based around the theme of Christmas in the tropics or "Noël Tropicale".  

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My Current Favourite 5 Face Oils & Serums

For a very long time, I avoided using any kind of face oil for fear that it would make my oily/combination skin, 'even more oily'.  As my skincare knowledge grew, I quickly realised that this is one of the biggest myths in the beauty world.  So much so, that the opposite is in fact true; using a face oil on oily skin can actually make it less oily and more balanced because your skin isn't having to work so hard to make more natural oil/sebum for your face.  Once I had embraced this, I soon began to reap the many benefits of incorporating one into my skincare routine, and I branched out into serums as well.  Finding one to suit you can take some trial and error though, so I thought I'd share five of my own favourite face oils and serums to give you an idea as to what's on the market.

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June Favourites

These are my June beauty favourites; a specially selected handful which I've been in love with recently.  A good mix I think! 

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The Rave Review: Bodhi Rosemary Chi Himalayan Detox Salt Scrub, Flora Paradiso De-Stress Massage & Body Oil & Neroli Lucé Revitalising Face Oil

One of the best things about being a beauty blogger is being able to try out a whole host of new products on a regular basis, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing so!  But when it comes to Bodhi, their products take this perk to an entire new level of pleasure.  These three are just some of the latest and exciting additions to be created by Bodhi, and all are more than worthy of a rave review.

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Bodhi Spa Soirée Event, Birmingham

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an evening of luxury pampering courtesy of Bodhi who are currently in the process of launching brand new products to add to their Artisan Series.  It was an intimate event hosted at The Penthouse / Staying Cool at The Rotunda in Birmingham, which offered stunning views of the city.  The evening consisted of expert treatments, delicious canapes, wine & blended teas, and of course, a chance to experience the new products first hand.

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Luxury Xmas Gift Idea: Bodhi Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil review

Oh Bodhi.  If I were a princess (or a high-flying business type), I would bathe in your products every single day for hours on end, and then I would pamper myself even further with your artisan face oil.  That would pretty much sum up heaven for at this moment in time.  Can you tell I have the holiday blues?  

I digress.  It's only been in the last year or so that I've been drawn to the wonders of face oils.  For someone who has an oily/combination skintype, I had always feared using oils, but after I got over that, I realised how beneficial they can be and how great they made my skin feel.  

Bodhi's Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil is the first product to be released in their new artisan series, and I was beyond sad to be unable to attend their blogger launch event for it earlier this year.  Instead, they very kindly sent me a full size bottle to try out and I've been enjoying using it before going to bed instead of a heavy night cream.

Bodhi Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil* (30ml, £56, link)

Although the face oil is technically crafted for those with more mature skin (the 'rejuvenating' in the name says it subtly so), it's also perfect for those who have normal/dry, dehydrated, sensitive or stressed skin (the latter three of which my skin is suffering from at the moment as it despairs at this cold weather!).  Each bottle contains an awe-inspiring 320 roses and its formula contains premium natural ingredients such as Bulgarian Rose Otto, Organic Moroccan Argan Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Tunisian Neroli Oil, Kuku Nut Oil, Strawberry Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Vitamin E to name but a few.

To use, you simply smooth one-two pumps of the oil onto a cleansed & toned face, using it after serum and before moisturiser in your skincare routine.  Because my skin can get oily, I use this like a moisturiser and it makes my skin incredibly soft and glowy in the mornings.  The oil itself also smells incredible which makes it even more pleasurable to use (if that's even possible!). 

Priced at £56 a bottle, it's certainly not cheap, but one to look at if you're treating yourself or a loved one to a luxury natural skincare gift this year.  It comes beautifully packaged and that black weighty glass bottle just screams high-end.  You can also receive it as a 5ml travel size in Bodhi's Essential Skin Care Gift Set which comes in at more affordable £32.  Either way, you won't be disappointed if you try this.

Have you tried Bodhi's Desert Rose Face Oil?

Do you like to give/receive skincare as gifts?

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June Empties

It's that time again!  Here are my empties for June and whether I would repurchase them:-

•  The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub - Although I adore anything coconut scented (and this does smell good), I thought this scrub wasn't very effective at all.  It's more like a shower smoothie and has these tiny bits in it that just don't exfoliate anything.  Repurchase? No.
• Lush The Olive Branch Shower Gel - I always seem to have a small bottle of this in my bathroom and like to use it every now and again for a change.  Repurchase? Yes.
• KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Spray - Love this, it does what it says it'll do and is lightweight on the hair.  Repurchase? Yes, definitely will get a full size.
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Tinted Moisture Lotion - I do like this because it moisturises well and gives pretty good coverage for a tinted product, but I feel it's better suited to dry skin types because it can feel a bit too greasy on my oily/combination skin, especially in summer.  Repurchase? Maybe in Winter.
• Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in 09 Currant - Nice sheer gloss, a little sticky though.  Repurchase? I wouldn't buy a full size, but I would pick up another sample.
• Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream - Lovely to use at night as it's very rich and super hydrating.  Repurchase? Already have another sample.
• LJ's Natural Solutions Balancing Organic Moisturiser* - This was too heavy for my skin so I used it up as a night cream and it was great for that.  I imagine it would work really well for dry skin.  Repurchase? No.
• Jurlique Purely White Skin Brightening Cleanser - Loved this sample, my skin did look brighter after just one use.  Repurchase? Yes, I think I would buy a full size.
• Montagne Jeunesse Sauna Masque - One of the best budget beauty buys out there, this is simply amazing for only 99p!  Has a warming effect which draws out any impurities clogged in your pores and always makes my skin look really clean afterwards.  Ideal if you're prone to breakouts.  Repurchase? Yes!

• Percy Reed Spendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner - Didn't hydrate my hair, it made it even drier, hated it!  Used it up as shaving cream instead.  Repurchase? No!
•  Witch Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer - I like this a lot as I find it really works well for oily skin and creates a barrier that prevents make-up from breaking you out.  Repurchase? Yes, but not for a while as I'm using Benefit's The POREfessional at the moment.
• Dead Sea Spa Magik Silky Smooth Body Lotion - Lovely formula that sinks into the skin straight away, but it doesn't really have a scent.  Repurchase? No.
• Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Body Moisturiser* - The scent of this is absolutely divine but I prefer the formula of other body moisturisers more.  Repurchase? Probably not.  I'd rather splash out on the shower gel with the same scent instead.
• Lavera Basis Sensitive Hand Cream - Great summer hand cream because it's quite light, really like this.  Repurchase? Yes.
• Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash - This has a wonderful uplifting citrus scent and was quite moisturising too.  Repurchase? Yes, would buy a full size at some point.
• Iroisie Ultimate BB Cream SPF 25 - Tried this today and wasn't that keen on it.  Smells quite strongly and was very thick which made it difficult to blend.  Repurchase? No.

Have you used up any beauty products this month?  Link me to your empties posts below!

*PR samples

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May Empties

It's been another good month for using stuff up, here are my empties for May:-

•  John Frieda Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight - I have a love/hate thing going on with this one.  Sometimes I really love using it because it de-frizzes and straightens my hair like a dream.  Other times, it feels like it leaves a lot of residue which leads to product build up and makes my hair look dull.  Needless to say, I've had this bottle for about 7 months and have only just finished it.  Repurchase?  Probably not, I think I'll stick with my Macadamia Oil instead.
• Boots Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover - This has been a staple of mine for years.  It's cheap and does the job.  Repurchase? Yes.
• Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Bath & Shower Therapy* - Love, love, love this!  My absolute HG high-end all-natural bath product.  Smells absolutely incredible!  Repurchase? Yes, it's pricey but worth every penny IMO.  Going onto the birthday wishlist.
• Lush American Cream Conditioner - Really like this and have bought it several times.  Smells great and makes my hair lovely and soft, without weighing it down.  Repurchase? Yes.
• Burts Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar - Didn't get on with this at all, sorry to say it's one of the worst shampoos I've ever tried and I had to throw it out after just one use.  Left a horrible greasy, sticky residue type film on my hair which took several rinses to get out.  Not good!  Repurchase? No!
• A'kin 24 Hour Intensive Moisture Leave-In Conditioner - Was pleasantly surprised by this because a lot of leave-in conditioner leave my hair feeling on the greasy side, but this one absorbed into my hair straight away and it felt beautifully light.  My hair was sleek and frizz free, as well as feeling properly hydrated.  Amazing stuff from such a natural product.  Repurchase? Definitely, I got 2 uses out of the sachet sample, which makes getting the full size even more affordable as a little goes a long way.
• Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover - One of the best makeup removers on the market, takes off everything and never irritates my skin.  Repurchase? Yes.
• Lavera Basis Hand Cream - I like this for using in summer as it's nice and light.  Smells good too, a bit like subtle marzipan!  Repurchase? Yes, have another sample tube in my handbag that I'm using.
• RMK Cleansing Oil - Wanted to like this because it's often raved about, but it was just too heavy for my oily/combination skin.  I imagine it would be great for dry skin though. Repurchase? No, not for me.

•  Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Bath & Shower Therapy* - This is another gorgeous all natural bath product that I adore using.  So soothing and great to use before going to bed.  Repurchase? Yes, I would save up and get a full size of this once I've used some of my other bath products up.
• Lush Fair Trade Foot Lotion - Another staple of mine, I've bought this countless times and find that a tub lasts a good couple of months.  Makes my feet soft and smelling fresh!  Repurchase? Yes.
• Smooch Lip Gloss in Jelly Bean - I liked the sheer colour of this, a pretty coral which is great for layering over lipstick.  Has taken me ages to finish this though because the formula is very sticky, so I mainly used it on nights out.  Repurchase? No, there are others I like more than this.
• Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid - Love this, smells and tastes just like lemonade and is super moisturising, whilst also delivering some subtle shimmer.  Repurchase? Yes.
• bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation in Medium Beige - Really do like this a lot, excellent for oily skin, especially in summer.  Coverage is on the sheer side but can be built up if wanted.  Repurchase? Yes, will buy a full size of this soon!
• Clinique Almost Bronzer SPF 15 in 01 Light/Medium - Received this in a bonus time GWP last year I think?  It's far too shimmery for my liking to be used as a bronzer, however it looked gorgeous when used as a highlight which is how I used it up.  Repurchase? No, I have too many highlighters as it is and don't use them that often.
• Evolve Organic Beauty Protein Build Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair - Oh my, this smelt insanely good!  Sweet like cookies and cake batter, so strange for a hair conditioner, but I'm not going to complain!  Great conditioner too, noticed my hair feeling softer after just one use.  Repurchase?  Yes, I'm sure I'll get a full size of this at some point.
•  Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup - I thought this was OK but nothing amazing.  Repurchase? No.
• Inlight Organic Daily Face Oil - Lovely oil that absorbed straight away into the skin and didn't feel greasy at all.  Smelt good, bit like vanilla.  Repurchase? Maybe.
• Lush Ceridwen's Cauldron Luxury Bath Melt - Great for dry skin and when my eczema flares up, calms everything down and makes my skin feel normal again, whilst leaving it incredibly soft.  Reviewed here.  Repurchase? Yes.

*PR samples

What are your beauty empties this month?

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April Empties

It's Empties time!  You may recognise quite a lot of these from what I took with me to Japan.  Here are my thoughts and whether I would choose to repurchase them or not:-

Neom Organic Body Lotion in Real Luxury - One of my favourite body lotions, smells incredible and soaks into the skin straight away.  Repurchase? Yes! Already on my wishlist.  Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream - 'Super moisturising' really doesn't explain this product very well.  Although it's won awards, I didn't like it much personally, and found that I needed to reapply it a lot more frequently than other hand creams.  Repurchase? No.  Burts Bees Coconut Foot Creme - Another misleading product IMO.  Instead of being a typical cream, it's actually like a thick gel which is weird!  Doesn't soak into feet and leaves a greasy, slightly sticky residue instead.  Repurchase? No.  Eucerin Dry Skin Shampoo - Great shampoo for sensitive scalps, reviewed here.  Repurchase? Yes at some point, but I'm trying something else at the moment.  Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub for Normal/Oily Skin - This was OK, but left my skin feeling a little stripped if I used it too often.  Repurchase? No.  The Body Shop Moisture Foundation SPF 15 in 04 - Another OK product, does the job but there other foundations that I prefer over this.  Repurchase? No.  Bodhi Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy* - I absolutely love this, so revitalising and just lovely to use.  Repurchase? Maybe, I don't really use mint scented shower products that much, so I'm not sure if I'd be able to get through a full size before it expired.

Elf Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15 in Nice and Natural - It has been taken me AGES to get through this and although I like the sheer nude colour a lot, I wasn't that taken with the overly vanilla scent.  Repurchase?  Probably not.  Bamford Botanical Bath Oil in Geranium - Love this, so relaxing and luxurious to use.  Got about 5 or 6 uses out of this 30ml sample.  Repurchase?  Yes, but it's on my birthday wishlist because the full size is very expensive, eeek!  Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Body Moisturiser - I adore this scent so much, but prefer the formula of other body lotions more.  That said, I would perhaps buy another travel size of this.  Repurchase? Maybe.  Morroccan Oil - Had this sample bottle in my travel bag for ages.  Do still like this, but if I use it too often it makes my hair feel like there's a lot of product build up on it and I have to use a clarifying shampoo to get it back to normal again.  Repurchase?  Already have another sample size bottle in my stash from xmas.  Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil - One of my holy grail items, smells so good and works so well on face, body and hair, as well as in the bath.  Sadly this is the last of the sample bottles I've managed to acquire so I need to buy a full size ASAP!  Repurchase? Yes!  The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara - I like this for everyday looks, but it's certainly not as volumising as other mascaras I have tried.  Repurchase?  Maybe if I saw it on offer, but wouldn't pay full price.  Macadamia Deep Repair Mask - Loved this sample and managed to get about 4 uses out of this sachet.  It's lovely and thick, and makes my hair soft and manageable afterwards.  Repurchase? Definitely.

What beauty products have you used this month?  Leave your links below if you've also done an empties post.

*PR sample

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What's in my toiletries travel bag?

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me mention that I'm heading to Tokyo on Sunday. It's a place that I've always wanted to visit and I'm so excited to finally be able to go! I've had a few requests to do a 'what's in my travel bag?' type of post detailing what beauty products I'll be taking with me, so here's my toiletries one to start things off.

[Haircare]: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - When I saw this in last month's Joliebox, I knew that I'd have to refrain from trying it out straight away, and popped into my travel bag instead. Can't wait to use this. KMS California Free Shape Quick Blow Dry Spray does what it says on the bottle and will be perfect for using in the mornings, along with John Frieda Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight for quick and easy sleek hair. I'm also taking this trusty little bottle of Morrocan Oil for last minute touch ups. I'll be decanting a little of my usual Eucerin shampoo to keep my scalp happy and will be pairing that with The Body Shop Nettle Oil Balance Conditioner, which I believe is now discontinued but was from a gift set I received at xmas.





[Bodycare]: I have so many body lotion travel sizes from various beauty boxes that it was difficult to just pick one, but eventually I decided to take Neom Organic Real Luxury Body Lotion because it just smells incredible. Hands and feet will by taken care of with Balance Me Super Moisturising Hand Cream and Burts Bees Coconut Foot Creme, with a mini tin of Lush Lemony Flutter to rub into cuticles before bed and for any extra dry areas that need it. My new favourite Dr Organic Pomegranate Deodorant will also accompany my travels and keep me smelling fresh throughout the busy days of sightseeing. As I'm likely to be completely jetlagged when I arrive, I thought that the Bodhi Mint The Shower Therapy* would be absolutely perfect for waking me up with its potent mint scent, and I'm going to decant a bit of Bamford Geranium Botanic Bath Oil to take with me for a soothing bath. Just in case I have any problems sleeping, I always carry a small bottle of Lavender Oil to help me relax and send me off to the land of nod.





[Skincare]: The only cleanser I am using at the moment is Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish which gives a lovely deep clean and doubles up as an amazing make-up remover too. After this, I'll use my old faithful Lush Tea Tree Water to tone with, and apply a little of Clinique All About Eyes to my undereye dark circles which helps to de-puff them, as well as hydrating the eye area. For mornings, I'll follow with Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturiser which has SPF 6, and before bed, I'll use Institut Esthederm Time Technology Cream. Twice a week I'll use Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream to get rid of any dull dead skin cells, and I have a mini bottle of Tea Tree Oil just in case any blemishes decide to show up. For lips, I'll be taking my Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm.

So that's everything. I am one of those people who usually leaves everything to the last minute, but doing this blogpost has helped me strike at least one thing off my enormous to-do list, hooray! I will post a make-up one at some point this evening too.

*PR Sample

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November Favourites

I know I say this every month but doesn't time fly? Can't believe it's the 1st December already! Here are my favourite beauty products from November:-

(1) Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Gift Set (contains body lotion and bath & shower therapy): I have been in love with this since trying it, the scent is just gorgeous. (full review here)

(2) Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil: This has been great to use after shaving my legs and making them extra soft and smooth. (from Amarya box)

(3) Neom Organics Real Luxury Body Lotion: I've only tried this twice since getting it but it smells so good and moisturises so well, that I HAD to include it in my favs. One for the travel bag. (from Carmine box)

(4) Revlon Facets of Fuchsia nail polish: Have been wearing this a lot recently and still think it's very pretty, even if it is a pain to get off! (NOTD)

(5) Dead Sea Spa Magik Silky Smooth Body Lotion: You can tell it's getting cold by the sheer number of body lotions I've been trying recently, this one is great too and something I'm likely to buy a full size of. (from Boudoir Prive box)

(6) Bottega Verde loose eyeshadow pigment: This lovely copper shade has become a staple in my make-up bag and is subtle enough for everyday wear. (swatch)

What have been your favourites for November?

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Bodhi Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Gift Set, Jasmine Falls & Mint The Bath & Shower Therapies

I was introduced to Bodhi through my first Amarya organic beauty box earlier this month, and instantly fell in love with the brand's ethos and their heavenly scented products. Bodhi (meaning 'enlightenment') are an English company who make their products with organic and natural ingredients ethically sourced from sustainable origins and blended with 100% pure essential oils. They have a strong ethos of living in harmony with nature which is reflected in the way that they do not use any 'nasties' in their products: no petrochemicals, sulphates, parabens, phthalates, glycols, PEGs, DEAs, synthetic polymers, synthetic fragrance or colours, palm oil (which is a major eco-disaster ingredient) and animal ingredients. Likewise, their products are tested on humans and not animals. I was very keen to explore more of their wonderful sounding 'botanical therapies' and was kindly sent these four products to try out.


One of my favourite essential oils is Ylang Ylang, so I was more than excited to try out the Ylang Ylang Incensa Sensual Gift Set, which compromises of a full size (250ml) Body Moisturiser and a full size Bath & Shower Therapy. The packaging of this is absolutely gorgeous; very simple and understated but quietly expensive looking at the same time. A matte orchid designed sleeve is wrapped around a thick two-tone brown cardboard box which is made from recycled materials and would be handy to reuse. When I first saw this gift set, I thought that it would be perfect to give to someone who appreciates the finer things in life and who perhaps doesn't like the tackiness of typical Christmas marketed goods.

The Ylang Ylang Incensa scent is created with its title ingredient, Patchouli, Honeysuckle, Neroli and Pink Peppercorn, all blended together to create a heady mix of Oriental inspired luxury. The Bath & Shower Therapy was a delight to use with a little going a long way and my bathroom instantly filled with this glorious scent. Combine with some candles (unscented, you won't be needing any more fragrance!), a glass of wine and a good book, and you have the perfect 'me time' remedy to soak away any stress or worries. It's almost a sin to use this in the shower, but you can if you're rushed for time and the formula works just as well with a shower poof. Personally though, I will be keeping this strictly for long and indulgent bath times. After I had sufficiently turned into something resembling a wrinkled prune, I used the accompanying Body Moisturiser which has organic shea butter, kukui nut and coconut oils, and lathered it all over. It sinks into the skin very well, is light and non-greasy and the scent lingers for hours afterwards. Perfect for people who don't like or don't wear much perfume but still want to smell really nice.



Having already tried the Jasmine Falls Body Moisturiser, I wanted to use it combined with the accompanying Relaxing Bath & Shower Therapy and achieve that same fragrant effect. Jasmine Falls is a blend of Jasmine, Lavender and Vetyver and like the Ylang Ylang Incensa, it's potent and heady in a very good way. As promised, it was a lovely relaxing bath and luxurious to use.

For something completely different to my relaxing and sensual favourite floral blends, I tried the Refreshing Mint The (accent on the e there, my Mac keyboard is playing up) Bath & Shower Therapy which I would recommend using just in the shower for when you need waking up first thing in the morning! The peppermint, marjoram and frankincense in this really refresh and awaken you and I can see why people use it after going to the gym.

Summary: I would recommend Bodhi to anyone who wants to indulge in proper luxury baths with products made from the finest and most natural ingredients. They are expensive but you're paying for some serious quality here. Plus, their products do go a long way and would be perfect for when you want to treat yourself (and someone else) to something extra special. They also have a range that caters for (IMO) everyone, including more typically male friendly scents such as Pep Noir.

The full range of Bodhi products are available online from their website where they offer free UK standard delivery, free gift wrapping service and a free 40ml travel size gift with any purchase.

Disclaimer: Products sent for consideration by brand.

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Amarya Organic Beauty Box (Nov 2011)

It's official. I am a beauty box-aholic. Do they have rehab and 12 step programmes for us yet? Here's another box that I have recently subscribed to, but unlike the others, I've joined for completely different reasons. The Amarya box is currently the only beauty box on the market to use only organic and natural products. Since the beauty box craze began, I had been hoping that someone would happily exploit the ever growing market for the more eco and green consumers out there, and was very pleased to finally come across this one.

Amarya works like all of the other boxes in that you pay a £10 subscription (no extra for postage yet) for which you receive a monthly box of goodies and you can cancel at any time. They guarantee at least one full size product in each box, along with trial size products and samples, and a 'mystery' special offer, which generally seems to be a good online discount on brands featured in the box. Another good thing about Amarya is that they accept Paypal, which I'm sure the other beauty boxes will follow.



The box is bigger than the others, I'd say it's similar in size to the Carmine box and kind of looks like a shoe box. As you can see it's plain white with their logo and inside there's hot pink tissue paper.



Onto the goodies!



As it's my first box, they've given me a free reusable shopping bag which is nice and fits well with their general eco-friendly theme (although I did notice that instead of using those little zig zaggy paper bits to cushion the products like in the other beauty boxes, Amarya have used those foam packing peanuts instead. I'm not sure if these are bio-degradable like the ones that Lush use? I'll have to email them to ask.)



Included are leaflets explaining the box and the products etc, as well as a small Christmas catalogue for Amarya (like Feel Unique, they are an online retailer for various brands, all of which are organic/natural).



(1) Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil, full size (£19.95) - "antioxidant-rich, organic pomegranate seed oil helps to promote skin renewal and improve the firmness of your skin." Subscribers to Glossybox will know all about this one and it really seemed to be a marmite item back then, some people loved it, others hated it. I wasn't subbed to Glossybox at that time, but I did try a bit from a friend's bottle and remembered liking it so I'm happy to receive one for myself to use.



(2) Bodhi Jasmine Falls Relaxing Body Moisturiser, travel size 40ml (full size 250ml - £23) - "luxurious body cream that leaves your skin velvety soft and wonderfully scented. Made with natural ingredients and 100% pure essential oils, ethically-sourced from sustainable origins, and made in England." This smells amazing. I use Jasmine a lot in my oil burner to fragrance my room, but I don't think I've ever tried a body moisturiser with it in. Tried a bit on my arm and its a light, non greasy formula that absorbs immediately into the skin. Reminds me a bit of Ahava body creams.



(3) REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask, 5ml sample tube (full size 50ml - £28) - "a potent bio active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of fine lines and dramatically improve skin tone." I've seen REN featured in magazines before, they've won various awards for their 'clean bio active skincare' products, so I'm interested to try this out.



(4) Santaverde Aloe Vera Cream, 2ml sachet (full size 30ml - £28) - "made of pure aloe vera juice, almond and peach oils, which provides your skin with natural moisture. Quickly absorbed and suitable for all skin types." Santaverde are a German brand which my mum uses a lot of, so I'll be sure to give this a go.

Summary: The Amarya box doesn't go in for fads or hype like some of the other beauty boxes do. It's a very simple concept to promote natural and organic products. It won't appeal to everyone, but for those who do prefer to know exactly what ingredients are in their skincare, don't like animal testing etc, then it will be an absolutely perfect way to try out products which are typically very expensive (I'm happy to pay extra for amazing organic products but I want to know that they will work for me first!). Past boxes have contained make-up items, so I would love to see more included in future boxes as I know that they work with brands like Zoya, Inika etc. With so many mainstream perfume brands being packed full of chemicals, I expect that there will be none of those in these boxes (fingers crossed!), and that if they do include perfume, then it might be something that I actually like or at least wouldn't mind trying. My only gripe with Amarya is that I'm disappointed with the fact that they include sachets. I don't think you can properly try out a product unless you're given a couple of them and you can't recycle the packaging afterwards. Other than that, I can imagine myself being a long term subscriber to Amarya, and it will be something that organic and natural consumers across the UK will be quietly applauding.

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