May Empties: Products I've Used Up

Ready for another Empties round-up? Here's a basketful of products that I've used up recently, plus my thoughts on the ones that I'll be repurchasing again and which ones will be staying permanently in the recycling bin.

This Works Light Time Cleanse & Glow (travel size)

Given the current lockdown situation, I've been going through my minis stash and unearthing some forgotten gems such as this gorgeous Vitamin C infused treatment from This Works. Ideal for to use whenever your skin needs a brightening pick me up, Light Time Cleanse & Glow gets to work in just one minute to deliver an instant result. Repurchase? I have a few more of these minis to use but will definitely purchase the full-size when they're all gone!

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (travel size)

If you're looking for another active ingredient to include in your skincare routine to bring more radiance and glow to your skin, definitely try Glycolic Acid. It's easy to find as the superstar ingredient in REN's Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask and I've been using this for years (check out one of my reviews from back in 2015 here). Repurchase? Absolutely.

Trilogy Pure Plant Body Oil* 

Whenever my eczema flares up, I swap over whichever body moisturiser I'm using to a fragrance-free one and I love this Trilogy Pure Plant Body Oil which has a simple blend of beneficial natural ingredients such as Rosehip, Sweet Almond and Apricot Oils. Absorbs quickly and is great for massage. Repurchase? Yes.

PHB Lavender Natural Soap*

Lovely 100% natural soap bar that's made without Palm Oil. Creates a gentle and soothing lather without any SLS so I've been using this in the shower. If you like Lavender scents, this is the soap for you! Repurchase? I have some other soaps to use up first but I'll happily buy from PHB again.

Merci Handy Hand Cleansing Gel in Coco Rico

Pretty self-explanatory right? I'm a big fan of these Merci Handy Hand Gels because they don't dry out my hands as much as other hand sanitisers do and they smell incredible. Coco Rico is basically summer in a bottle! Repurchase? I bought a multi-pack so I have a few other scents to try out.

Odacité BI + C Serum Concentrate* 

My skin has been a little fussy during the lockdown but this serum treatment from Odacité has managed to keep blemishes and breakouts under control. You can either add a few drops to your day or night moisturiser or apply it directly onto spots and problem areas for a more intensive treatment which is generally how I prefer to use it. Repurchase? Yes.

CHOBS Aloe Face Mask*

I don't tend to use a lot of sheet masks these days, however, I did thoroughly enjoy the soothing benefits of this CHOBS Aloe Face Mask which felt amazing on my skin after a long day in the sun. I kept it in the fridge beforehand and it was literally heaven when I applied it! Repurchase? Tempted.

Organii Facial Sun Cream SPF 15*

This is a bit of a weird one as I used it mainly over the Winter months (I feel that SPF 15 isn't enough during Summer) and although I initially liked it, I've found the texture to be much too thick and greasy to use in the warmer weather so I'm glad it's been used up. Repurchase? I've since found other sunscreens that I prefer over this so I wouldn't buy it again.

A'kin Organic Rosehip Oil*

One of the best Rosehip Oils out there, I've gone through so many bottles of these over the years and always have one on the go somewhere! I tend to use it once or twice a week in the evenings and find that it works particularly well when rotated with other facial oils and treatments. Repurchase? Yes.

Origins VitaZing SPF 15

My last Empty for this round-up is another long-time favourite of mine - the much loved and hyped Origins VitaZing SPF 15. It's a brilliant tinted moisturiser which I use all-year-round when I don't fancy wearing a full face of foundation and the coverage is actually much better than what you might think from a typical tinted moisturiser. Repurchase? I'm using one from Tropic at the moment so we'll see if that's better or not!

P.S - How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties!

All of the glass and easy-to-recycle plastic PET empties will be put into my council's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme, but for the harder-to-recycle stuff, I will be:-

• Recycling the pumps, atomisers and face mask sachets with Neal's Yard Remedies - more info at the bottom of their website here.
• Recycling any other products that my local council doesn't accept, such as flexible plastic tubes at The Body Shop, L'Occitane or with Garnier's Terracycle partnership - more info here.

What have you used up recently?

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January Empties: Products I've Used Up

January always feels like the longest month of the year and my Empties seem to reflect that as I have another bumper edit of them! Here's everything that I've used up recently and my thoughts about whether I'll be repurchasing them again or not.

D'Alchémy All-Over Blemish Solution (samples)

I had a horrible breakout when I had flu last month, so I decided to try out these samples of D'Alchémy's All-Over Blemish Solution and this stuff is amazing! It's a light, oil-free cream which unblocks pores and reduces inflammation so that blemishes heal faster. Worked a treat! Repurchase? Yes.

Lavera Whitening Toothpaste* 

I love Lavera's toothpastes as I believe all of them are SLS-free and their Whitening formula is a really good natural option for those who are looking for something to gently remove daily surface stains such as coffee, tea, wine and curry/spices. Gentle and effective. Repurchase? Yes.

Skin & Tonic Brit Beauty Oil (reviewed here)

I've used this wonderful omega-rich facial oil many times over the years and often come back to it during the Winter months when my skin feels drier and needs more nourishment. Great to use for an evening facial massage as well. Repurchase? Will do next Winter.

Tropic Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier*
One of my favourite cream cleansers for combination skin, this one from Tropic is perfect to use morning or night and removes all traces of daily grime, pollution and impurities. Repurchase? Yes.

Lyonsleaf Natural Body Butter* (reviewed here)

Another long time fave of mine is Lyonleaf's Body Butter. This stuff is seriously thick, rich and super buttery as it's a water-free and preservative-free formula, and it's amazing for very dry skin and problems like eczema. Repurchase? Yes.

CHOBS Moringa Total Cream* (reviewed here)

This was a lovely moisturiser to use in the Winter months and I sometimes used it as a night cream when I felt like my skin was particularly parched. Repurchase? Will do next Winter.

Weleda Samples

I always seem to have a stash of Weleda minis lying around as they come in handy for travelling and weekends away. Here I've used up their Arnica Massage Oil, Almond Body Oil, Almond Sensitive Body Wash and Lotion, and Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion. Repurchase? I would happily buy full-sizes of all of these!

Organii Intensive Organic Face & Body Oil* (reviewed here)
Another Winter skin fave - Organii's Intensive range is ideally suited for people who suffer from eczema like myself and their Face & Body Oil is fantastic for sensitive and dry skin types as well. I didn't use this on my face but loved it on my body after a bath or shower. Repurchase? Yes.

Radical Skin Perfecting Screen SPF 30* (reviewed here)

I use sunscreen on my face all year round, regardless of the weather as I feel it's one of the best things that you can do in terms of anti-ageing, so it's no surprise that I've gone through many tubes of this over the years! Sinks in, doesn't feel greasy and sits well underneath makeup. Repurchase? Yes.

Tropic Clear Skin Blemish-Fighting Mask* (reviewed here)

A powerful natural-based clay face mask for when you're fighting a nasty breakout - this gets to work quickly and helps to reduce the size of spots within 24 hours. Particularly useful for bringing those painful 'under-the-skin' blemishes to the surface. Repurchase? Yes.

Madara Smart Anti-Fatigue Eye Rescue Cream & Anti-Pollution Charcoal & Mud Repair Mask

Two from Madara - the eye cream is brilliant for those who are battling dark circles and fine lines - it creates a smooth surface for concealer, hydrates and de-puffs so it was my go-to in the mornings. The face mask uses a combination of charcoal and mud to detoxify congested skin and remove traces of pollution so it's a good one to use once a week. Repurchase? Yes to both!

P.S - How To Recycle Your Beauty Empties!

All of the glass and easy-to-recycle plastic PET empties will be put into my council's blue bin kerbside recycling scheme, but for the harder-to-recycle stuff, I will be:-

• Recycling the sample sachets, pumps and atomisers with Neal's Yard Remedies - more info at the bottom of their website here.
• Recycling toothpaste tubes with Colgate's partnership with Terracycle - more info here. 
• Recycling any other products that my local council doesn't accept, such as flexible plastic tubes at The Body Shop, L'Occitane or with Garnier's Terracycle partnership - more info here.

What have you used up recently?

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Spring Beauty: 5 Green Beauty Products To Try This Month

Need a Spring Beauty pick me up? Here are some of my current favourites from the green beauty world to freshen up your daily routine.

 Bright Nails & A Greener Nail Polish Remover

Spring and Summer are my favourite seasons of the year, and I love embracing all of the brighter colours for my nails. There are so many new collections that have launched from countless nail polish brands recently, but one particular shade that has caught my eye is Glossworks in Last Mango In Paris* (9ml, £12, link). Exclusive to LoveLula, Glossworks is a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly range of nail polishes which all have a glossy, gel-like finish. Everything has a 9-free formula so they are free from the main 'nasties' such as Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP, Camphor, Paraben, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide and Lead. I absolutely love this bright orange shade that really 'pops' against a tan and it looks great on toes too.

I'm often asked about more 'natural' nail polish removers and one of the best that I've tried is Benecos Natural Nail Polish Remover* (125ml, £5.95, link) which is acetone-free and features BDIH certified essential oils for a more citrusy fragrance. It removes nail polish just as well as mainstream brands and being acetone-free, it doesn't dry out or weaken your nails.

 Treat Yourself To A Luxury And Organic Face Cream For Sensitive & Mature Skin

If you're a die-hard fan of K-Beauty but don't want to compromise your organic and ethical standards, CHOBS is a fantastic brand to look out for. Based in South Korea, CHOBS stands for Charm & Health Organic Beauty Store, and as the name suggests, its specialism is in natural and organic skincare with everything being Ecocert certified, vegan and cruelty-free. I highly recommend their Sheet Masks for a quick pampering treat, though for something that's going to benefit your skin more in the long run, their moisturisers are a must-try. 

I've been enjoying using CHOBS Organic Moringa Total Cream* (£49, 50ml, link) over the past couple of weeks, as it's packed full of beneficial organic ingredients such as Moringa Leaf extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water and Sunflower Seed Oil. This Total Cream has a beautifully rich, yet easily absorbed texture which feels ultra-hydrating on the skin, and it works incredibly well underneath makeup to create a smooth base, so I've been using it as my main morning moisturiser. It leaves my skin feeling soft, nourished and plumped up - I'd recommend it for sensitive and mature skin types as it's brilliant for smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.

Try A New Green Beauty Brand

AYAN are a new green beauty brand that I've recently been introduced to, and I've been impressed by their simple natural formulas that effortlessly fit into my daily routine, as well as their affordable prices. Their commitment to high-performance natural skincare ensures that all of their products are made without any fillers, thickeners, harmful preservatives, genetically-modified and animal-derived ingredients, synthetic chemicals and fragrances or colourants, and they use locally sourced ingredients where possible.

Being based in Bulgaria, AYAN uses two of the country's most popular and well-loved natural offerings; Lavender and Rose Oil. Their Multi-Lavender Butter* (100ml, £14.99, link) is a deliciously thick and luxurious multi-purpose moisturiser with a glorious whipped butter texture and a divine natural Lavender scent. Made from a blend of Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Macadamia Oil, Beeswax and Vitamin E, this moisturiser is further infused with pure Organic Lavender Oil sourced from AYAN's very own Lavender fields for a super-hydrating and soothing skincare treat. Apply it to dry hands and feet, or slather it all over your body after a bath or shower for baby-soft skin.

Rose fans will adore AYAN Rosa Damascena Organic Bulgarian Rose Water* (200ml, £11.99, link); a 100% pure and organic product that's made from simply steaming and carefully distilling Rose Essential Oil with nothing else added. Not only is it amazing for soothing and calming irritated and dry skin as a toner in your skincare routine, but you can also apply it to your scalp to help regulate sebum and promote healthy hair growth - how awesome is that?!

All products featured are available from LoveLula.com

Have you tried any of these?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - July 2018 review

This month's LoveLula beauty box is an absolute corker and my favourite box from them this year so far! Worth £53, it features a fantastic selection of organic and natural skincare and haircare. 

Here's what's inside:-

CHOBS Aloe Sheet Mask (RRP £4.10)

I love a sheet mask every now and then for an indulgent pampering session, and I was pleased to come across this new skincare brand called CHOBS when they recently launched on LoveLula. They're one of the few properly natural and organic Korean beauty brands that I've come across and their sheet masks are amazing! This Aloe one is incredibly soothing and ideal for sensitive or irritated skin as it helps to calm down any redness, and makes your skin feel really soft and smooth afterwards.

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Hemp Oil (RRP £19)

Ooh! are a regular brand that features in the LoveLula beauty boxes and they have a great range of all-natural facial oils, many of which I've tried in the past and enjoyed using. Their Hemp Oil is a new one to me and although I've only been testing it out for a week, I'm really liking it so far. It contains just 100% pure hemp oil which is packed full of natural fatty acids but maintains an ultra-low comedogenic index, so it's a good choice for acne and oily skin types. Nicely balancing, it gives the skin a good dose of hydration without going overboard and won't clog pores.

Apple & Bears Bergamot & Green Tea Hair & Body Wash (30ml travel size)

Next up, I found a travel size bottle from Apple & Bears and this is their Bergamot & Green Tea Hair & Body Wash. It has a lovely citrusy fragrance which smells very fresh and summery to me, and although I usually like to keep my shampoos and body washes separate, I could definitely see myself using this on a weekend trip away to save space in my hand luggage.

Infuse My Haircare Colour Treat Conditioner (RRP £18)  

I've had my eye on this conditioner since I tried out the Infuse My Colour Washes (read my review on those here), so I was was very happy to see a full-size bottle included in this month's box! Specially formulated for colour treated hair, this conditioner has a unique vegan, silicone-free formula which helps to protect your hair colour from fading, and also adds nourishment and essential hydration. It gives my hair a lot of bounce and shine too so it definitely gets a thumbs up from me!

Balm Balm Face Balm (RRP £8.95)

Another full-size product is the wonderfully multi-purpose Balm Balm Face Balm and you can use this in so many different ways. It's great for any extra dry areas that need some TLC like cuticles,  nails, heels and elbows, as well as doubling up as an intensive lip balm and taming unruly eyebrows. A little goes a long way with this super thick formula so this tube will last you ages.

Finally, there are two sample sachets and I've seen a variety of these on different blogs. In my box, I received the D'Alchemy Age Cancellation Booster and John Masters Organics Rosemary & Arnica Body Milk - both of which have gone straight into my travel bag!

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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