August Empties: Products I've Used Up

 

The end of the month is rolling around yet again, so it's time for another Empties post! Like last month, I've been trying to declutter some more travel-size products, alongside some familiar everyday items.

Kiss The Moon Love After Dark Pillow Mist* (travel size)

Everything from Kiss The Moon smells incredible and it was a real pleasure to use this pillow mist which has a blend of rose, frankincense, and ylang ylang essential oils to help you unwind. Heavenly! Repurchase? I'm using one from Neals Yard Remedies at the moment, but I have no doubt I'll return to this in the near future.

Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo

Since Covid happened, I haven't been using much dry shampoo at all thanks to WFH life, so this has lasted me probably about two years. I believe Aveda has repackaged/renamed it since then, however, the formula remains the same and it's one of the best that I've ever tried. Repurchase? Yes.

Laidbare Butter Me Up Body Butter*

Another product that has taken me a long time to finish up has been this big tub of body butter from Laidbare. I love the rich and heady fragrance, and the light texture just sinks into the skin quickly. Perfect to use after a long soak in the bath. Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash* (travel size)

If you have dry skin, you must try these body washes from Weleda because they are SO good! I've used them for years the Wild Rose scent is still one of my favourites. Repurchase? Will do.

Salcura Bioskin Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser

Ideal for skin that's prone to eczema, dermatitis, and/or psoriasis, I highly recommend the Salcura range if you're looking to avoid harsh chemicals like steroids as most of their range is 97-99% natural. This is another product that I always have in my skincare stash for when my eczema flareups and it still works a treat after all these years. Repurchase? Already have!

Tropic Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream SPF50 in Light/Medium*

I haven't been wearing much makeup over the past year, so for sunny days, I've just been slapping on this as an easy, fuss-free base. It gives a good light coverage and doesn't make me look super shiny, plus it's a proper facial sunscreen with the tint added to the water-resistant formula, rather than a tinted moisturiser with a teeny bit of sunscreen thrown in. Repurchase? Definitely will next Summer.

Omorovicza Cleansing Foam (travel size)

Despite it being a famous cult cleanser, I wasn't too keen on this and felt like it left my skin feeling a bit sticky/tacky afterwards, no matter how much I rinsed the residue away with a flannel. Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (travel size)

The Omorovicza cleansing mask is a completely different story though - I loved it! Although the sample pot was for only one use, it made my complexion look and feel instantly clearer and smoother. Repurchase? Definitely on my shopping list.

Tropic Illuma Light Diffusing Concealer in Brûlee*

For a natural, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly undereye concealer, Tropic's Illuma Light Diffusing Concealers are simply amazing. They conceal dark circles beautifully without creasing into fine lines and always make me look much more awake than I actually am - a great 'cheat' product when you haven't had much sleep. Repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream (travel size)

Last, but not least, I finished up a mini hand cream from L'Occitane. I used to use these all the time but sadly there is the issue of L'Occitane no longer being cruelty-free due to selling in China, so I'm just using up what I have left. Repurchase? No.

What have you used up recently?

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Green Beauty: LoveLula Beauty Box - December 2020 review

It's the last LoveLula Beauty Box of 2020 and with an overall value of £50, it features a range of popular green beauty brands with an amazing mix of skincare, pampering treats and fragrance. Read on to discover what's inside!

Soul Tree Hand & Foot Cream (RRP £14.03)

You know my philosophy - you can never have too many hand creams, especially these days! This multi-purpose Hand & Foot Cream from Soul Tree is based on a natural Ayurvedic formula and it instantly transforms and heals dry and cracked skin. I've found this to be incredibly rich and moisturising so it's a brilliant winter staple for me!

The Castillian Soap Company Travel Duo (RRP £9)

If you haven't tried a Castille Soap yet, you're in for a treat, especially if you enjoy using all-natural products for everyday tasks. Made from a fully biodegradable liquid formula that has an organic base and a blend of natural vegetable oils, Castille Soaps can be used to wash clothes, makeup brushes, your face, your body etc, and they're often a good option for those who have sensitive skin due to the small number of ingredients used. This handy travel-sized duo features two bestsellers from The Castillian Soap Company; their Fragrance-Free soap and the Lavender soap.

Ayumi Fairness Daily Intensive Facial Night Cream (RRP £8.99)

Skincare fans will enjoy adding Ayumi's Fairness Daily Intensive Facial Night Cream to their evening routines. This clever Ayurvedic blend of nourishing botanicals helps to repair, plump and rehydrate the skin, whilst hardworking natural peptides add radiance, glow and luminosity for all skin types. I'm excited to try it!

Walden Tonic Of Wildness Perfume Oil Rollerball (RRP £17)

Brand new from Walden Natural Perfumes (exclusive to LoveLula), beauty box subscribers are the first to try this latest fragrance release in a convenient rollerball format. Top notes include Bergamot, Grapefruit and Sour Orange, which work beautifully with middle notes of Black Pepper, Cardamom and Cabreuva, all layered on a sultry base of Iris Pallida and Ylang Ylang. It's a unique and interesting unisex scent which compliments the current range of Walden fragrances - read more about them here.

Kiss The Moon Dream Night Cream For Feet (samples)

As a bonus extra this month, there's a sample of Kiss The Moon Dream Night Cream For Feet, which is perhaps one of the most luxurious foot creams that I've ever tried! 

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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November Empties: Products I've Used Up

Well, this may be my smallest Empties post of the year so far, but there are some fab products in this lot, so it's not to be missed! Find out which ones I'll be repurchasing in the near future below.

Weleda Almond Sensitive Skin Body Wash* & Body Lotion* (travel sizes, featured here)

As many of you know, I'm a big fan of Weleda and particularly love their Almond range which has been made especially for sensitive skin. I find that my eczema tends to flare up at this time of the year in line with the colder weather, so it's no surprise that I reached for these two this month. The Body Wash is SLS-free and lovely and creamy, and the matching Body Lotion is nice and nourishing, without being heavy or sticky. They have a fresh, subtle almond scent that always smells very 'clean' to me which I love. Repurchase? Yes, I'll definitely pick up the full sizes of both of these. 

Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil* (full size, reviewed here)

If you're after a cleansing oil that's light in texture, yet gets the job done, this one from Caudalie is fantastic. It's made from 100% natural ingredients and I generally find that 2-3 pumps is all I need to get rid of everything on my face. It melts into the skin and quickly dissolves all types of makeup, including stubborn waterproof formulas, in no time at all. Love it! Repurchase? Yes. 

Faith In Nature Coconut Shower Gel & Foam Bath (travel size)

I used to really like this, but since trying out some similar products, I've realised that the coconut scent just isn't strong enough for me as you can hardly smell it at all when it's used in the bath (the fragrance very rapidly dissipates when added to water). For this reason, I used it up as a shower gel, but it's very 'meh', despite the nice SLS-free formula. Repurchase? No.

Kiss The Moon Dream Bedtime Bath Salts (travel size) 

Oh my, these were amazing! Made from a blend of Epsom and Dead Sea Salts which are infused with a range of essential oils such as Lavender, Bergamot, Chamomile and Cedarwood, these were so relaxing to use and perfect for when I needed to de-stress and unwind after a long day. Absolute bliss. Repurchase? Definitely, I need a full-size tub ASAP.

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm in Superfruits* (full size, reviewed here)

Lip balms take me forever to use up as I have lots of half-used ones in every drawer, bag and coat that I own, so I've made it my mission to try and stick to using just one until the situation becomes more manageable, ahem! The first one to bite the dust is from Naked Lips which I enjoyed using - it's natural, organic and moisturising, with a delicious fruity flavour. Repurchase? Not until the lip balm stash is under control, but yes I would buy it again in the future.

Tints Of Nature Hydrate Conditioner* (full size, reviewed here)

I've used up a few bottles of this conditioner now and keep going back to it because it works so well for my very dry and fine hair. Sometimes conditioners for dry hair can be too thick and more like a mask or treatment, but this one gets the formula just right and doesn't weigh my hair down. It's gentle enough to be used every day if you're a frequent washer and smells good too. Repurchase? Already have!

What have you used up recently?

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Mid-Week Pamper Treat: Kiss The Moon Love Sleep Recovery Set review #SleepBeautifully

Looking for a luxury beauty treat to gift to a friend or loved one? Kiss The Moon's Love Sleep Recovery Set is the perfect present for anyone who's struggling to get a good night's sleep in this heatwave.

Kiss The Moon are an English natural beauty and wellness brand who I haven't mentioned a lot about on here before, which is quite shocking as everything about this company is very 'me'. From the beautiful chic black packaging to the luxurious natural formulations of their products, Kiss The Moon are one of those go-to brands for when you're doing some gift shopping or just fancy treating yourself to something special.

As the sultry name may suggest, Kiss The Moon's products are focused on helping you to get a good night's sleep and their range encompasses all manner of luxury beauty sleep products such as Pillow Mists, Candles, Bath Oils, Sleep Balms, Night Creams and more. To give you a taster, I have Kiss The Moon's Love Sleep Recovery Set which perfectly sums up the brand and would make a wonderful gift or pampering treat.

Packaged in a reusable black velvet, zip-up pouch (this would double up as a great little makeup bag for a weekend away), the Kiss The Moon Love Sleep Recovery Set comprises of four travel-size products which are from the brand's bestselling Love rang. These all feature a decadent blend of some of my favourite essential oils; Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang.

There are three mini bottles of Kiss The Moon Love After Dark Bath Oil, an award-winning product which was a finalist in this year's Beauty Shortlist Awards. This bath oil is pure pampering heaven as it's composed of natural skin softening oils such as Coconut, Jojoba and Camellia Seed, which are blended with Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, Rose Damascus and Palma Rosa essential oils. To say that it smells amazing is something of an understatement!

In addition to the bath oils, there's also a mini Kiss The Moon Love After Dark Face Oil to keep the pampering experience going long after you've finished bathing. Enriched with Rosehip Seed Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Camellia Seed Oil and those heavenly trio of Love essential oils (Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang), this face oil is not only a relaxing sensation for the senses, but is a real treat for your skin too as it helps to boost circulation, stimulate cell renewal and plumps up the skin to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It's light and easily absorbed so if you're new to face oils, this is a lovely one to try.

Finally, to complete the set, there's a gorgeous Black Silk Eye Mask to help you get your eight hours of beauty sleep, so that you can start the new day fully refreshed and looking your best. Bliss!

Kiss The Moon Love Sleep Recovery Set* (£28) is available from LoveLula.com

Have you tried anything from Kiss The Moon?

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Christmas Gift Guide 2017: The Luxury Green Beauty Edit

For this year''s Luxury Christmas Gift Guide, I wanted to focus on some of my favourite natural and green beauty brands, so needless to say I had a lot of fun putting together this extra special edit!

 REN All Is Calm, All Is Bright Gift Set* (£29, link)

Every year, REN really pull it out of the bag when it comes to having some of the most beautifully designed gift sets, and this year they have collaborated with Silken Favours for an array of gifts that are all adorned with the London brand's hand-drawn prints - no need for any extra wrapping! 

One of their bestsellers is the All Is Calm, All Is Bright Gift Set which contains three much-loved REN skincare favourites; Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (15ml travel size), Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream (50ml full size) and Keep Young And Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot (10ml travel size). A stunning set for anyone who loves their skincare and a cost-effective way to try out these popular products.

 Green People Forest & Fruit Cypress & Tangerine Body Collection* (£22.95, link)

Bodycare sets always make popular gifts and if you want to shop organic this year, Green People are one of the best British brands to stock up on. They have a whole range of festive giftsets, including this Forest & Fruit Collection that features their wonderfully uplifting Cypress & Tangerine scent. The set comprises of a botanical-based Shower Gel (83% organic) and a matching hydrating Body Lotion (91% organic), both of which are 100ml sizes. 

This is a lovely feel-good set that can appeal to both men and women, plus a donation from the sale of each Green People Modern Botanicals gift goes to Plantlife, a British conservation charity that works to save threatened wildflowers, plants and fungi, to help keep the good vibes flowing.

 Bodhi & Birch Limited Edition Bath & Shower Oils Collection* (£30, link) & Body Oils Mini Collection* (£20, link)

For the ultimate in luxury pampering, you can't go wrong with anything from Bodhi & Birch, but their new Limited Edition Collections are one of the best ways to introduce this high-end brand to a friend or loved one this Christmas. 

The Bath & Shower Oils Collection is a decadent trio of three beautiful oils; Rosa Verde (Rose, Lime, Geranium and Frankincense), Jasmin de Lune (Jasmine, High-Altitude Lavender and Vetiver) and La Botanica (Lemon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Juniper Berry), which each bottle providing enough for five bath or shower experiences. All of the scents are gorgeous, but I think Jasmin de Lune might be my favourite!

For those who love their pampering body products, the Body Oils Mini Collection is a truly luxurious gift with three 15ml bottles of Bodhi & Birch's delectable body oils in Sicilian Rose, Nordic White and Chinois Blue. Each one is so different from the other, so it's a great way to experience a range of exquisite scents that you won't find anywhere else.

 Aveda Renewal For Your Journey Gift Set* (£22, link)

You can never have enough hand cream, so treat someone to the softest hands imaginable with Aveda's Renewal For Your Journey Gift Set. Beautifully wrapped in handmade paper sourced from the brand's empowering partnership with local women's communities in Nepal, this set contains a trio of their bestselling Hand Relief Hand Cream in three different scents; Shampure, Beautifying and Candrima. Each hand cream is 40ml, making them the perfect size to tuck into handbags, carry on cases, and desk drawers, so your recipient can always keep them nearby.

 Kiss The Moon LOVE Rose Ritual Bedside Set* (£30, link)

I love Kiss The Moon's emphasis on getting a beautiful night's sleep and their sleek black packaging really makes them stand out from the crowd. I was truly spoilt for choice when it came to picking a gift for this edit from their incredible range, but in the end, I opted for the LOVE Rose Ritual Bedside Set because it's something that I would be thrilled to receive myself.

The set contains two perfect accompaniments to anyone's bedside table; a luxury anti-ageing Night Cream For Hands (40g) and an After Dark Pillow Mist (30ml) which comes with a lovely vintage-esque squeezy puff. Both of these products have Kiss The Moon's popular LOVE fragrance that contains Rose, Frankincense and Ylang Ylang essential oils to promote a restful night's sleep. Pure bliss in a box! 

 INIKA Limited Edition Beauty On The Go Giftset* (£44, link)

Makeup fans will love this Limited Edition set from INIKA which is cruelty-free and suitable for vegans. Inside the box, they'll find a complete set of products for all their base needs; a Vegan Kabuki Brush (full size), Certified Organic Pure Primer (4ml), Certified Organic Liquid Foundation (4ml) and Loose Mineral Foundation with SPF 25 (3g). These Beauty On The Go sets are available for a range of different skin tones and they are a fantastic way to try out some of INIKA's most popular products in convenient travel-sizes. 

Tropic So Sleepy Pillow Mist* (£20, link) & Whipped Body Velvet* (£28, link)

The last two for this edit are new from Tropic and although they're not in gift sets, I think they would make lovely luxury gifts if you're looking for a single product (and if your budget allows, they would be incredible stocking fillers!). The new So Sleepy Pillow Mist is formulated without alcohol and is packed full of relaxing essential oils such as Lavender, Eucalyptus and Frankincense, whilst the Whipped Body Velvet is a heavenly blend of plant-based oils and butters, all whipped together to deeply hydrate dry Winter skin. Divine!

What's on your Christmas wishlist this year?

Fancy winning a luxury gift set from Apple & Bears? Enter my giveaway here!

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Budget Beauty: You Beauty Discovery Box - February 2015 review

February's You Beauty Discovery Box landed on my doorstep a couple of days ago and this month's theme is 'Red Carpet' to coincide with the upcoming Oscars and tonight's BAFTA awards.

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