December Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

Happy New Year! It seems rather fitting to kick start the new year with an Empties post as we say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new! I have a LOT of empties so let's jump straight in, shall we? Here's what I've used up recently, my final thoughts on them and which ones I'll be repurchasing again in the future.

Nature's Notes Stress Relief Bergamot & Lavender Soap Bar* (review)

Nature's Notes were one of my favourite indie beauty finds of 2020 and I absolutely love their gorgeous range of natural soap bars. This Stress Relief Soap had a lovely relaxing scent which made it ideal to use in the shower, and they're great as a hand soap as well. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up a few others!

Antipodes Jubilation Hand & Body Cream* (review)

For a luxury natural hand and body cream, you really can't go wrong with anything from Antipodes and their iconic colourful metal tubes are incredibly popular for a reason. The texture of these moisturisers leaves skin velvety soft and the fragrances are beautiful - Jubilation is a good one to try if you love floral scents. Repurchase? Yes.

Balade en Provence Solid Night Cream* (review)

Featured back in my November Beauty Favourites, I've really enjoyed using this Solid Night Cream bar from Balade en Provence. If you want to include more zero-waste products in your skincare routine, I would highly recommend it! The only problem I had with it was that it became a bit more difficult to melt and use in my hands as the temperature dropped so I'll be waiting until Spring before I buy it again. Repurchase? Yes.

Fair Squared Apricot Facial Mask* (review)

Plastic-free skincare fans will love this Fair Squared Apricot Facial Mask which you can use with their cotton face mask that's 100% reusable as you can wash it after use. It's a brilliant alternative to disposable sheet masks! I got around 4-5 applications from this glass bottle. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Baptise H2O Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel* (review)

One of the most hyped skincare releases of 2020, Antipodes' Baptise H2O Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel does what it says on the jar as it offers essential hydration to all skin types in a light and water-based gel moisturiser. If you hate heavy face creams, this is definitely one to try. Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some others.

Odacité Black Cumin Serum Concentrate* (review)

I've been fighting blemishes and breakouts with another bottle of Odacité Black Cumin Concentrate - this must be my third or fourth bottle that I've used up over the years. As the name suggests, it's a concentrated serum, so only a tiny amount is needed and I dab this directly onto any spots or congested areas. Come morning, most blemishes are gone or their appearance has been diminished significantly. I can't recommend it enough! Repurchase? Definitely!

Weleda Calendula Massage & Body Oil

I treated myself to this over the Summer months and just love the lemony-sherbert style scent it has as it's so fresh and uplifting. The oil itself is beautiful and silky - a great way to enjoy a pampering session at home after a long hot bath. Repurchase? Yes.

EQ EVOA Siberian Balm* (review)

A highly potent all-natural balm for clearing congested chests/noses when you have the flu or a bad cold, EQ EVOA Siberian Balm is one of the best natural remedies that I've tried. A tiny amount goes a long way and it gets to work immediately when you need it the most. Repurchase? Yes.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil

You can't beat a nice hot bath when it's freezing cold outside and I just love all the Bath & Shower Oils that Aromatherapy Associates do - over the years, I must have tried them all! One of my absolute favourites is called Revive Morning as it does just that and is a great way to wake up when you have some extra time on your hands.

Antipodes Resurrect Clarifying Facial Toner* (review)

If you have oily/combination skin, you can't go wrong with Antipodes Resurrect Clarifying Facial Toner. I use this a lot when my skin is playing up as it always helps to calm everything down, reduces any redness and rebalances excess oiliness, especially on the T-zone area for a clearer complexion. Repurchase? Yes.

Antipodes Divine Face Oil* (review)

Especially useful for dry, combination, dehydrated and stressed skin types, Antipodes Divine Face Oil is one of those products that I always have in my skincare arsenal and I've been using it for years now. It's a rich, plant-based oil so a little goes a long way, and I find it works particularly well when added to your skincare routine from Autumn onwards. Repurchase? Yes.

REN Atlantic Kelp And Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash* (review)

Last but not least, I've finished up another bottle of REN Atlantic Kelp And Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash - a lovely luxury shower gel infused with Magnesium to soothe tired and sore muscles. It's great to use after pilates and yoga sessions. Repurchase? Yes.

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, lids and atomisers 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 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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Health & Lifestyle: 3 Natural Balms To Help You Through Cold & Flu Season #WinterWellness

Nobody likes having a cold, or worse still, catching the flu, and having spent the last week feeling like death warmed up in, I can certainly sympathise! One thing that always gets me through the rough times is having a pot of natural balm on my bedside table to help alleviate some of the worst symptoms such as blocked sinuses, so here are three of the best that you can try this Winter. 

 Best For Colds: Herbfarmacy Easy Breathe Balm* (30ml, £10.50, link)

This completely plastic-free balm from Herbfarmacy is one of the brand's hidden secrets and something that I feel they should promote more often! Made in small batches on their farm in Herefordshire, the Easy Breathe Balm boasts an-all natural, cruelty-free formula which is also 100% organic (certified by the Soil Association) so it already ticked a lot of boxes for me when I initially picked it up. 

Unscrewing the metal tin, you'll be greeted with a firm and solid balm that has a soothing and moisturising base of Sunflower Oil, Beeswax and Marshmallow Root extract, which is combined with refreshing Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Peppermint, Lemon Tea Tree and Rosemary essential oils and extracts. The balm is easy to warm up between your fingertips and spreads well onto the skin without any stickiness. Apply to the chest and lower throat areas to help clear the airways - this is brilliant for stuffy colds so that you can get on with your day.

Best For Flu: EQ EVOA Siberian Balm* (15ml, £9.95, link)

When flu hits, you need something heavy-duty, and EQ EVOA's Siberian Balm really does pack a punch! It's the smallest of the three balms that I've tried here coming in at just 15ml, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its powerful natural abilities. Created from a unique formula that features 99.5% natural ingredients (42.4% of which are organic), it uses Edwelweiss extract (also known as the Star Of Glaciers) with Tahitian Monoi, Clove, Camphor, Cajeput and Menthol essential oils to quickly decongest and bring instant relief when you're truly suffering from the very worst flu symptoms. 

Although it's technically called a balm, it has a more of a thick and buttery texture which is white in colour, and yet it still retains all of the qualities of a traditional balm as it's easy to use and doesn't feel tacky or sticky. Needless to say, a little goes a long way and be extra careful to make sure this doesn't get anywhere near your eyes! As with all of the balms featured here, please wash your hands thoroughly after use, but especially with this one as it's so potent!

 Best For Families: Silvan Skincare Breathe Balm* (60ml, £14.50, link)

It's quite often the case that when one member of the family comes down with a cold or flu bug, everyone else in the household gets it within a matter of days, so this larger jar is definitely one to keep on standby during the Winter months. Handmade in Wales, Silvan Skincare's Breathe Balm is suitable for the whole family to use and is made with the highest quality natural, organic and sustainably sourced ingredients. It's certified by both the Vegan Society and the Leaping Bunny programme, plus it's packaged in a glass jar so ideal for families and consumers who are cutting down on their plastic waste.

With a rich and soft, non-sticky balm texture, Breathe Balm has a gentle but effective blend of ingredients which include fairtrade Organic Shea Butter, Organic Olive and Jojoba Oils, Oat extract, Vitamin E, Eucalyptus, Camphor, Peppermint and Rosemary essential oils. These work hard to soothe and clear blocked sinuses quickly, helping you to breathe easier faster. Rub a small amount onto the temples, chest, thorax and back as often as needed.

All balms featured are available from LoveLula.com

Have you tried any natural balms this Winter?

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