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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Green Beauty: 5 Natural & Organic Lip Balms To Try (All Under £5)

Lip balm is an absolute beauty essential for me. I have countless tubes in every bag, every drawer, and on most surfaces scattered about in my bedroom. In my stash, I have an assortment of various brands and flavours, but there is one thing that unites all the lip balms that I own together.

None of them contains any mineral oil or any other petroleum derivatives. 

I used to religiously use Vaseline on my lips throughout my teens because everyone else that I knew did, and I had no idea why my lips still cracked or felt dry. I thought it was because I wasn't using enough of it, so I'd apply more and more just to stop my lips from feeling dry all the time. As those little round tins of Vaseline were always cheap in Boots, I never really properly thought about it until I started beauty blogging. I finally ditched the Vaseline for good a couple of years ago and I've bought natural based lip balms ever since.

I can definitely say that my lips are much, much happier! Some people can use products with mineral oil in and have no problems with it, but for me, things like Vaseline just didn't work in the long term, and when something doesn't work, it's time for a change! 

I've tried out a LOT of organic and natural lip balms over the years and I've become somewhat addicted to buying them. Below are just five that I'd recommend if you're looking for a new natural based lip balm to keep your lips smooth and hydrated.

Hurraw! Chai Spice Lip Balm* (4.3g, £4.99, link)

Hurraw! are one of my all time favourite lip balms brands. They have a huge range of different flavours available where you can pick up anything from Root Beer to Earl Grey, and all the ones that I've tried have tasted pretty damn good. Of course, flavour isn't everything with a lip balm, and I'm happy to report that the vegan-friendly formulas of these are just fantastic. They're made from all natural, raw, organic and fair trade ingredients comprised of a blend plant-based oils and waxes for soft, moisturised lips every time. I also love the curved oval shape of the balm which fits the contours of my mouth perfectly for easy on-the-go application.

Skin & Tonic Peppermint Lip Balm* (4.3g, £3.50, link)

British brand Skin & Tonic have created an excellent peppermint lip balm that's 100% natural and 100% organic (Soil Association accredited) for a bargain price and it shares the same cool oval shape as the Hurraw! lip balm above. It's made with just four ingredients; Shea Butter, Beeswax, Coconut Oil and Peppermint Oil, so if you're looking for a simple and fuss-free natural lip balm, give this one a go.

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm in Superfruits* (4.25g, £4, link)

Naked Lips are a recent green beauty discovery for me and I've been really enjoying this lip balm in the Superfruits flavour. They have a good range of flavours and carry some tinted lip balms as well in various shades which look great if you want a sheer wash of colour on your lips. Their formulas are 100% natural and 97% organic (Eco-cert certified) and feature a mixed base of natural oils and waxes blended with Vitamin E and antioxidant ingredients.

Epic Blend More Moisture Lip Balm in Grape* (4.2g, £3.99, link)

If you have extremely dry or cracked lips that need a super strength lip balm, check out this one. Epic Blend offers some special 'more moisture' formulas alongside their regular lip balms, and these are perfect for anyone who is battling with the drying effects of Winter. The More Moisture lip balm is packed full organic ingredients such as Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter, plus this grape flavour smells and tastes amazing!

Fairfield Gardens Lip Balm in Raspberry Rose* (4.25g, £3.89, link)

My final recommendation for this post comes from the British brand Fairfield Gardens who use a mix of organic beeswax, plant oils, pure essential oils and botanical extracts in their balms. They source at least 80% of their ingredients from the UK to minimise their carbon footprint for a more eco-friendly lip balm. I like this flavour Raspberry Rose as it's a classic fruity-floral coupled with a moisturising balm texture.

What are your favourite natural and organic lip balms?

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