February Empties: Products I've Used Up

It's that time again, Empties time! Here's what I've used up beauty-wise recently, my overall thoughts and which ones I'll be repurchasing again.

Mádara Cloudberry Oat Milk Hand & Body Soap*

My hands get horribly dry during the winter months so this rich and creamy Cloudberry Oat Milk Soap from Mádara has been a little saviour! It's gentle enough to use in the bath or shower all over your body, or as a simple hand soap which is how I used this one up. Repurchase? Yes.

Saint Iris Adriatica Every Body Energy Cleanse* (reviewed here)

A gorgeous luxury body wash with a creamy, hydrating texture and a beautifully uplifting and regenerating natural scent. Perfect for cold and miserable mornings when you need a boost. Repurchase? On my wishlist.  

Dr Bronners 18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castille Soap

I've used Dr Bronners consistently for years now and always have a bottle in my stash especially for cleaning my makeup brushes (you can read one of my very old blog posts on this here!). Repurchase? Already have.

Antipodes Hosanna H20 Intensive Plumping Serum* (reviewed here)

Hydrating serums really do work well during winter to keep your moisture levels topped up and this one from Antipodes is a long-time favourite of mine. It's oil-free, suitable for all skin types and does an amazing job of protecting your skin against the harsh weather. Repurchase? Yes.

Pure Potions Skin Salvation Intense Moisturising Ointment* (reviewed here)

Another long-time skincare fave that I always like to have in winter is this little pot of magic from Pure Potions. I first featured it in my recommended cold weather products for eczema and dry skin post here a few years ago, and it's still one of the best that I've tried. Apply it anywhere and everywhere! Repurchase? Yes.

Organii Intensive Organic Soothing Cream* (reviewed here)

Similar to the product above, I've also used this several times in the past but I'm not sure if they've changed the formula as I found this pot to be much stickier and greasier in texture than I previously remembered? It still worked well but I definitely prefer the Pure Potions cream a lot more. Repurchase? Unlikely.

Bodhi & Birch Jasmin de Luna & Rosa Verde Bath & Shower Oils* (minis)

No surprise here that I've used up a few bath products as it's been so cold recently! These two bath oils from Bodhi & Birch are just so luxurious and incredible, I can't recommend them enough. Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Citrus Body Wash & Wild Rose Body Oil* (minis)

My last two empties are both minis from Weleda and again, they are gorgeous products that you can't go wrong with. These travel sizes are perfect for weekends away and holidays. 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 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, 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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November Empties: Products I've Used Up

Ready for a bumper Empties post?! As per my usual pre-Christmas tradition of having a declutter, I made it my mission to use up as many of the half-full and nearly used up bottles and jars in my bathroom as possible and here are the results! You might want to grab a snack and make a cuppa first...

Tropic Skin Feast Nourishing Cream Concentrate*

A gorgeous face moisturiser with Hyaluronic Acid for the winter months - nice thickish texture but absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy or heavy at all so perfect for most skin types I would imagine! Repurchase? I'm currently testing out the new fragrance-free version which I actually prefer :)

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish (travel size)

I love the scent of REN'S Moroccan Rose Otto range because it's so fresh and uplifting. This is a proper luxurious body scrub that works a treat. Repurchase? On my wishlist.

Bodhi & Birch Super 25 Botanical Serum* (reviewed here)

If you're in the market for a luxury all-natural serum, I would add this to your shopping basket right now. It's a sublime blend of 25 superfood botanicals and it's free from essential oils which makes it ideal for sensitive skin. Repurchase? It's out of my budget at the moment sadly.

Lola's Apothecary Sweet Lullaby Soothing Bath & Shower Oil (travel size)

Everything from Lola's Apothecary is beautiful and this bath oil is no exception - it smells gorgeous and so calming. Repurchase? On my xmas list.

Bodhi & Birch Sicilian Rose Body Oil (reviewed here)

A good friend gifted this to me for my birthday and I was so happy because I've used it in the past and absolutely adored it. The scent is heavenly and the texture of the oil just leaves your skin silky soft. Repurchase? Another that's on my xmas list ;)

Lavera All Round Cream (reviewed here)

Long-time readers will recognise this - I've gone through many tins of this amazing multi-purpose moisturiser over the years. Super thick and buttery, it's a must-have for dry skin during winter and it smells like lemon cheesecake! Repurchase? Already have.

Sunday Riley C.E.O Vitamin C Rapid Flash Serum (travel size)

I'm a big fan of Sunday Riley's C.E.O Vitamin C range and this serum was such a pleasure to use that I was gutted when it ran out. Brilliant for brightening up dull skin. Repurchase? Yes.

Saint Iris Adriatica Every Body Vitality Spritz* (reviewed here)

Uplifting and invigorating is how I would describe this luxury body spritz which is lovely to use after hot yoga or pilates. Repurchase? Sadly not, it's one of those products that I used a lot at first, but then forgot that I had which is why it's taken me such a long time to use it up.

Handmade Naturals Cocoa & Mandarin Lip Balm* (reviewed here)

A fantastic budget-friendly natural lip balm that tastes a bit like a Terry's Chocolate Orange - what's not to like?! Repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Amande Shower Oil (travel size)

I will always have a soft spot for this as I've been using it for years and the scent is quite nostalgic for me now. It's also still one of the best products to use to shave your legs with - silky smoothness guaranteed every time. Repurchase? Yes.

A'kin Rosehip Oil* (reviewed here)

My skin loves Rosehip Oil so I always have a bottle of it in my stash and this one from A'kin is another longtime favourite of mine because it's so pure and has a lovely texture. Repurchase? Definitely.

Noughty To The Rescue Moisture Boost Shampoo* (reviewed here)

I can't remember how many tubes I've used up in the past but I often have one in my bathroom and alternate it with other shampoos. Brilliant for dry hair without weighing it down. Repurchase? Will do once I've used some other shampoos first.

Lavera Basis Sensitiv Toothpaste* (reviewed here)

One of the best organic toothpastes that I've tried for sensitive teeth. Contains sodium fluoride but is SLS free. Repurchase? I've trying out Lavera's Whitening Toothpaste at the moment.

B. Gentle Eye Makeup Remover* (reviewed here)

If your eyes are quite delicate and sensitive, as most people's are, this affordable, vegan eye makeup remover is fantastic because it removes everything (including waterproof makeup) without stinging or requiring scrubbing. I've used lots of these! Repurchase? Yes.

Tropic Monoi And Orange Flower Luxury Bath Foam* 

Perfect for a luxurious bubble bath, this SLS-free Tropic Bath Foam smells incredible - I'm a sucker for anything with Monoi in it - and it's really relaxing to use before bedtime. Repurchase? Yes.

Elsa's Organic Skin Foods Natural Deodorant Stick in Ocean* (reviewed here)

I've been lucky enough to try out all of the different natural deodorants from Elsa's and my two favourites are Love and Ocean. The latter is super fresh and a great unisex scent too. Repurchase? Already have.

P.S - Recycle your beauty empties with Terracycle! 

Most of these plastic and glass containers can be recycled through my local council service (blue bin in my area), however, things like the pumps have metal springs in them which are not accepted as they require a different method in order to be recycled. Luckily, Garnier have teamed up with Terracycle to recycle beauty and personal care waste which is deemed difficult to recycle. It's free, all brands are accepted and there are drop off locations all over the UK. Read more here.

What have you used up recently?

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Introducing: Saint Iris Adriatica - Every Body Vitality Spritz & Energy Cleanse review

Often referred to as one of the most beautiful seas in the whole world (and I'm inclined to agree - those crystal clear waters are a sheer delight to swim in), the Adriatic Sea is a true wonder of nature. So it's no surprise that Saint Iris Adriatica, a luxury green beauty brand, has taken inspiration from the Adriatic for their products.

Saint Iris Adriatica is all about following your fjaka - a Croatian word that roughly translates to 'doing nothing'. In our increasingly busy and stressful lifestyles, fjaka sounds like the ideal concept of self-care to properly de-stress the mind, body and soul, and Saint Iris Adriatica have tapped into this with their range of naturally active body care.

Made in the UK, but using natural ingredients sourced from the Adriatic and Dalmatia region, Saint Iris Adriatica boasts hotel-luxe style packaging which sets the tone beautifully for this covetable brand. Everything is, of course, certified cruelty-free, and the products have a 100% natural fragrance and are free from parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates and propylene glycol. Founder Sanela Lazic describes Saint Iris Adriatica as being "for women who share her passion for natural wellbeing, an active lifestyle and superbly sensual skincare", which I instantly fell in love with and I was absolutely thrilled when these products below arrived on my doorstep.

 Saint Iris Adriatica Every Body Vitality Spritz* (100ml, £45, link)

I've had the pleasure of trying out all sorts of luxury body care products over the years, but I've never tried a product quite like this before. Saint Iris Adriatica's Every Body Vitality Spritz is an energizing, refreshing and hydrating mist that can be applied all over the body whenever you need an instant 'boost'. Packed full of 20 wild plant oils and wildflower essences, it features hero ingredients such as Seaweed Protein to help keep collagen and skin healthy and more resilient, Adriatic fermented Lemon Peel to brighten the skin and boost serotonin levels, and Olive and Pomegranate Oils to nourish and hydrate. There's also Algae-rich Sea Salt which is hand-harvested from Central Dalmatia and bursting with over 75 essential minerals, including copper, to further boost skin clarity. 

Needless to say, this Vitality Spritz smells incredibly invigorating, but it's not overpowering and can happily be used by both men and women as it's very gender neutral in fragrance. It's a wonderful, luxury, post-gym/workout product to cool and refresh the body, and I've been particularly enjoying using it after a sweaty Hot Yoga session - it even adds a little dewy glow for extra radiance which is a welcome confidence booster.

Saint Iris Adriatica Every Body Energy Cleanse* (250ml, £19, link)

Energy Cleanse is a luxury body wash that's infused with an all-natural cocktail of 10 essential plant oils which includes Borage, Rosehip and Safflower, all of which are rich in nourishing fatty acids that your skin will love. Prebiotic Pomegranate Enzymes, Adriatic Pomegranate Seed Oil and Bearberry are also included to provide a very gentle exfoliation for the body, helping to reveal brighter, younger looking, and more rejuvenated skin, making it a fantastic product to use during the dull Winter months, whilst Organic Honey gives an extra level of hydration and softness which is very comforting for dry skin.

The natural fragrance is similar to that of the Vitality Spritz above - it's fresh, energizing, gender-neutral and helps to put you in a positive mood for the rest of the day. If you struggle to wake up when it's cold and dark outside, try this and your mind will be transported to the peaceful, sunny bliss of the Adriatic. Now, who wants to move to the Dalmatian coast with me?! 

Discover the full range of luxury natural body care from Saint Iris Adriatica at siadriatica.com

Have you visited the Adriatic?

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