L'Occitane Christmas Advent Calendar

I don't celebrate Christmas but I do love trying out new products as well as stocking up on travel sizes. There really isn't a better way to do so than picking up a few of the holiday gift sets that are available at the moment. I've already opened up the L'Occitane festive bauble, but have decided to wait until December starts before I open the L'Occitane Christmas advent calendar. While the kids in my class will have a chocolate advent calendar to look forward to, I will be treating myself with a different L'Occitane product in the run up to the Christmas holidays.

 

 

So what's inside the L'Occitane Advent Calender?
Well there's a range of products, including hand creams, soap, shower gel and a few festive treats and decorations. Here's a full list of what's included:

• 35ml Almond Shower Oil
• 10ml Almond Delicious Hands
• 5ml Pivoine Flora Eau de Toilette
• 10ml Delightful Rose Hand Cream
• Nail File
• Set of 5 gift tags
• 50g Jasmin & Bergamote Soap
• 10ml Shea Butter Hand Cream
• Star-shaped Pastry Cutter
• 50g Milk Extra Gentle-Soap
• 10ml Pivoine Flora Hand Cream
• Set of 10 stickers
• 10ml Ultra Rich Face Cream
• 30ml Ultra Rich Body Lotion
• Set of Place Cards
• 35ml Repairing Shampoo
• 35ml Repairing Conditioner
• Bow Tree Hanging Decoration
• 30ml Verbena Shower Gel
• 30ml Verbena Body Lotion
• 10ml Cherry Blossom Hand Cream
• 3ml Moisturising Lip Balm
• 10ml Shea Butter Foot Cream
• Sachet of Stars.For £39.00, this advent calendar is pretty good value for money and is one of the less pricier beauty advent calendars available. Plus, I'm a big fan of L'Occitane products, so I know that I'll be using everything that is included in this calendar. The advent calendar is sold out online but you may be able to find it in your local L'Occitane boutique.



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You Beauty Discovery - July (Travel)

As the Summer holidays approach, I think it's a good thing that this month's You Beauty Discovery Box theme is travel. The products in the shortlist are all travel-friendly sizes and give you the chance to try something new as the weather gets warmer.

From this month's shortlist, I chose the Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, and the Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 One-Step Cleanser & Idelia Life Serum Duo. As I'll be going away for a few days to Turkey next month, I chose these products as they'll be perfect to take with me. It'll be a good opportunity to try out new products whilst on holiday and it means that I've got my hair and skincare already sorted (partially anyway). All that's left to get is some sun protection and pack away any other samples I have lying around. The extra products this month include a St Tropez Gradual Tan in-shower lotion, a sachet of Emma Hardie Protect+Prime SPF30 and a taster pack of Nairns Muesli Breaks Oatcakes.
I haven't quite worked out the retail value of this box, but I'm sure it is worth at least the cost of the box (if not more!). What do you think?



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Lush Oxford Street Haul

Following on from my visit to the Lush Oxford Street store, is what I bought while I was there. I am a big fan of Lush products and so I did go a little overboard with what I put in my basket. Bear in mind that a few of these products are exclusive to the Oxford Street store, and so won't be available online.

First in my haul, I picked up a new fresh face mask. I've used a number of different ones over the past few years, and this time it was recommended that I go for 'The Man in the Mushroom' (OxSt only). Funnily enough, it smells nothing like mushroom, but more like a sweet caramel. The mask itself is suitable for sensitive skin, and focuses on brightening the skin. It's a very runny mask that doesn't actually set and you just wash it off after 10-15 minutes (I use a flannel to help get it off). I also got the 'Full of Grace' Serum Bar, which is a solid serum that moisturises the skin without feeling heavy. It was recommended that I use this before I apply my fresh face mask so that I could get the benefits of the mask and serum at the same time.

As well as skincare, I picked up a few hair care products to treat my dry, bleached hair. I picked up 'Superbalm', which is a treatment designed to soothe a dry scalp. It's melts into an oil which I then use on specific areas rather than my whole head as it does take a while to wash out properly. I can definitely say that it has reduced the dry patches on my scalp, so I'll be using it as a weekly treatment for my hair. Another hair care product that I got was the 'Damaged' hot oil hair treatment (OxSt only). I've yet to use this but it's to help condition and save my bleach damaged hair.

The last few products are all bath products. I picked up my favourite bubble bar in 'Creamy Candy' and also a new one called 'Rose Jam' (which I think is the bubbleroon). The last product I got is the 'Melting Marshmallow Moment' Bath Oil (OxSt only - the tiny round, pink and gold bar in the front). I picked this up on a whim as it smelt really sweet, and even though I'm more of a shower than a bath person, I know that I'll be using it to have a nice, relaxing bath.

And that's the end of my haul! I'm looking forward to using my Lush goodies and hopefully I'll have some new favourites to buy the next time I'm in Lush.



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You Beauty Discovery - May (CEW Awards)

This month's YBD box is centred around the winners of the 2015 CEW beauty awards. From the award winning product selection, I chose the Angel Face Cloth by The Konjac Sponge Company and The Body Shop Miracle Solid Wild Argan Oil.

The Angel Face Cloth claims to be kinder than a muslin cloth on your skin, and I'll be testing it out with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish to see if it's true. The Wild Argan Oil is a solid oil for use on the body and hair. To be honest, because the Argan Oil is not very high on the ingredients list, I'm not sure how it would compare to a pure (or more concentrated version) of Argan Oil. Nevertheless, I'll be using it as a hair oil on the ends as I recently dip dyed my hair and the bleach hasn't left my hair in great condition.

Both products in the box are full size and have a combined retail value of £19.99, which is amazing considering the YBD box is only £6.95. I honestly cannot fault YBD for their value for money, which is not always the case with some of the other beauty subscription boxes available. The extra's included in this months box are a sample vial of Jimmy Choo Man EDT and a sachet of Dr Organic's Organic Snail Gel. Also included in the box is a 20% off selected beauty and fragrance at M&S, which I'll definitely be making use of.

Have you subscribed to any beauty boxes?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - January (New Year, New You)

This month I re-subbed to You Beauty Discovery boxes. It's the one beauty box that I subscribe to and is a little treat that comes every month (which I think is definitely needed) plus it doesn't break the bank at only £6.95. January's box is based around the 'New Year, New You' concept, and the selection of products are to help banish the January Blues.

I chose the MeruMaya Melting Cleansing Balm and Overnight Recharge Night Cream Duo and the AFYNA Detoxifying Body Scrub. The extra's this month included three Dragonfly Tea organic teabags, a sachet of Dove Hair BB Cream and a £25 voucher for Hello Fresh. I'm looking forward to trying the cleansing balm as I've read a few positive reviews, and hopefully it'll be a good addition to my skincare routine (although I'm not sure if it will substitute my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish). I'm a big fan of body scrubs, but I'm just too lazy to make my own, so I know that I'll be using the AFYNA one soon. Not particularly sold on the whole 'BB cream for hair' from Dove, but the description suggests it's a bit like a leave-in conditioner, which I haven't used in the past.

Have you subscribed to YBD? What did you think of this month's selection?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - September (Birthday Box)

Can you believe that You Beauty Discovery boxes have been around for a whole year? I remember signing up to the subscription boxes aftet reading Pyari Beauty's post on the October box last year. Since then, YBD has had some very good boxes as well as some not so great ones, but they are all worth the £6.95 that I pay each month.

 

This month, I decided to go for two makeup products, as I haven't actually purchased any new makeup since coming back from holiday (and probably won't until the post-Christmas sales. I've started my teacher training, so I am officially on a student budget!). I chose the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pencil (Black Noir) and the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm (Unique Pink). Both are travel sized products (roughly half of the full size) and both are suitable for everyday wear. The full size for each retails at around £11 (Eye Pencil) and £12 (Brilliance Balm). I've used the Pixi blushers before, but these two products will be nice to try out, especially as eyeliner and lip balm are staple products in my makeup bag (even though I have enough black eyeliner pencils already...oops!). Other products this month included a full size Toni & Guy Glamour Volume Plumping Whip, two Crabtree & Evelyn herbal tea bags, a £25 off voucher for Hello Fresh and a cosmetic sponge. 

What do you think of this box? Have you subscribed to YBD boxes?

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HER 300 Trecento Revitalising Hair Treatment [review]

My first hair care product review on the blog! Seeing as my hair spends most of its time under my hijab, I don't really use any particular products to keep it looking good. In the June YBD Box (see post here), I chose the HER 300 Trecento Revitalising Hair Treatment, and decided to use it during the school holidays (as I had a bit more time for myself!).The HER hair treatment is a pre-shampoo treatment and is quite a thick cream inside the tub. It's easy to scoop out (although not so much when you're holding the tub with wet hands) and you simply apply the treatment to damp hair, leave on for 5 minutes and then rinse off before you shampoo and condition as normal.

So far I've used this hair treatment 3 times since the beginning of August. I felt like it was too much to be using once a week, so decided to space out the uses a bit more. As I use a medicated shampoo (Capasal), I sometimes feel that the shampoo strips my hair of all the natural oils and can leave it dry and brittle. Even though I apply the mask before I shampoo, my hair definitely looks and feels much healthier and smoother. When I do use the hair treatment I don't use conditioner simply because my hair would end up feeling heavy and greasy (which is not ideal under hijab!).

Overall I'm really glad that I chose this product in my June YBD and look forward to using it as a regular hair treat. Not sure if I'll repurchase this particular one again, but I know that I will be looking into hair masks and treatments a bit more (I already have my eye on the Lush one) =)

If you're interested in trying the HER 300 Hair Treatment, you can purchase it from Her Haircare Rituals, £14 (75ml) or £30 (200ml).



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You Beauty Discovery Box - June

This month's YBD box shortlisted products considered Beauty Heroes. From the selction available, the two products I chose were the Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel (50ml) and the HER 300 Trecento Revitalising Hair Treatment (75ml). I don't normally choose hair products but this 5 minute treatment stood out on the product list (and is worth £14! More than double the cost of this month's box). The extra's in this box included a new Dead Sea Mud Spa face mask and a pink expandable face cloth.

Overall this month's product selection didn't wow me, but I know I will be trying the products that I've chosen and hopefully they'll make a good impression. Still, it's well worth the £6.95 to try out products that I would probably never pick up when shopping around =]

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You Beauty Discovery Box: January

This month's YBD box arrived last week and unfortunately, being back to work means that all blogging ends up being done over the weekend. As with all the previous boxes, I chose two products and received 2 other samples. This month I chose the Organic Pharmacy Mask (Enzyme Peel, 5ml) and the Kerasilk Ultra Rich Shampoo (50ml) and Daily Intense Mask (50ml). The two extra's in the box were Popchips (barbeque flavour) and a sample of Age Defy+ 24 Hour Brightening Serum.

This box isn't as great as previous boxes but I chose products that I know I will make use of, so it isn't a complete loss. I'm currently trying out a bunch of different face masks, so I'm definitely looking forward to using the Organic Pharmacy Enzyme Peel Mask.

Are you subbed to YBD boxes? What did you think of this months selection?



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British Beauty Blogger's Christmas Beauty Edit Box

This post is a little late, but better late than never!

I managed to get myself one of the 750 British Beauty Blogger Christmas Beauty Edit boxes that were on sale earlier this month. For the grand total of £27.95 (inc. postage), the box contained a mixture of 18 full sized and miniature/sample products. Earlier in the year, I also got the first BBB Beauty Edit box (see post here), and I have to say that there is more variety in this box than the previous one, plus the cute little stocking which I know will come in handy when it comes to Secret Santa in a few weeks!

 

In the box:

Alterna Bamboo Volume 48 Hour Spray (25ml)
Bourjois Shadow & Light Khol & Contour Eye Liner (Full Size)
CND Vinylux (Pinkie Size)
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Serum (5ml)
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream (30ml)
L’Occitane Angelica Cleansing Gel (50ml)
L’Occitane Angelica Face Toner (50ml)
La Roche Posay Redermic (Full Size)
Mandara Spa Tropical Blooms Moisturising Bath Milk (100ml)
Maybelline Rocket Mascara (Full Size)
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (15ml)
REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask (15ml)
Rituals Car Fragrance (Full Size)
Roger & Gallet Huile Sublime (10ml)
Rouge Bunny Rouge Lip Gloss (Full Size)
Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Zodiac (Full Size)
Vichy Idealia Day Cream (15ml)
Washi Wash Cloth

Another beauty box that is great value for money and gives me the chance to try products that I probably wouldn't have picked myself. I'm definitely looking forward to trying Hydraluron, because as the weather gets colder, my face gets drier and more dehydrated (also Caroline Hirons has a blog post on why you should have it, even if it's just more emergencies!). Other products that I have my eye on are the Vichy Day Cream and the La Roche Posay Redermic. I'll also be including some of the goodies from this box in my 3rd blog-versary giveaway which is very, very soon!


Did anyone else manage to get the Christmas Edit Beauty Box?




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You Beauty Discovery Box: November

I previously blogged about the October YBD box, which I thought was amazing value for money at only £6.95. The November box came through my post box a few days ago and this is what was inside!

I chose the Moa Green Balm (50ml) and the Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray (50ml) as I knew I'd use them more than any of the other products available in this months box. The Moa Green Balm is suitable for use on sensitive skin, which will be great for any eczema flare-ups that happen this winter. The box is again great value for money as the Moa Green Balm is a full size product and retails at £9.99, and the Percy & Reed Hairspray is approx. £5-£6 (prices vary depending on the retailer). The other two extras were a sample sachet of Montagne Jeunesse Buriti Fruit Body Smoothie (6ml) and a packet of Lizi's Granola in Belgian Chocolate (40g), both of which I will definitely be using. The granola packet will be great to take to work and have with some yoghurt =)

I'm definitely looking forward to December's YBD box =)




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You Beauty Discovery Box: October

Minutes after reading a blog post by Pyari Beauty, I had subscribed to the You Beauty Discovery Box. At £6.95 p/m, this beauty box is a steal. It's only in its second month, and so far so good! I got the October box delivered last week and I have to say that it is definitely something to check out, whether you've tried and liked/hated these kinds of boxes before, or if this is your first time. I love that You Beauty gives you the opportunity to choose two of the products that come in your box, which means you'll always have two items in there that won't be a surprise. Of course, the other products are a mystery but it isn't a complete gamble.

 

 

This box was based around products which are handbag heroes. The included booklet gives a little information about all the products that could have been in the box as well as a few tips and tricks to using the products. The two items that I chose for my box were the Tangle Teezer Compact Styler and the Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask (5ml). Both products are worth much more than the price of the beauty box, with the Tangle Teezer retailing at £12.49, and the Zelens Instant Renewal Mask working out cheapest at £12.20 (5x5ml bottles will set you back anywhere between £61 and £95). Also included in the box was a Nakd Cocoa Orange bar (which I will happily pass on to my sister as she is a fan of these) and a YBD compact mirror. This beauty box has definitely exceeded all the expectations that I had and I am looking forward to trying out the products and waiting for next months box.

 

Will you be subscribing to the You Beauty Discovery box?

 



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Latest in Beauty Stocking Filler Box

You know that when it comes to Christmas, there's going to be plenty of beauty products and gifts around to buy. I was actually really tempted to purchase an advent calender this year, because even though I don't celebrate Christmas, I can still treat myself to what is essentially a set of sample/mini luxury products. The main one that I had my eye on was the Selfridge's Beauty Advent Calender, but couldn't justify spending that much money (plus it's sold out, so I don't a have a chance of getting it now). Luckily, Latest in Beauty have come up with a collection of Stocking Filler boxes, each one filled with a different selection of goodies. I chose to get the Editor's Faves Stocking Filler Box, as I knew that I would use most (if not all) of the products that came inside. The box cost £19.95 and I was lucky enough to order last weekend when they had free shipping (which would have cost £2.95).

And it arrived yesterday!

It contains:
BioEffect EGF Serum (3ml)
Steamcream Nourishing Moisturiser (75g)
ESPA Lift & Firm Intensive Eye Serum (3ml) & Moisturiser (7ml) (inside the purple box)
Aromatherapy Associated Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil (3ml)
Trilogy Rosehip Oil Anitoxidant + (2.5ml)
Jo Hansford Intensive Masque (40ml)
Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation (7.5ml)
Richard Ward Volumiser Root Booster (50ml)
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (10ml)
Mont Bleu Crystal Nail File (90mm)

There's a few products that I'm really keen to try (and are the reason as to why I chose this box over the other two options). I'm loving the full-size Steam Cream tin, as this is a product that I've always wanted to try and the packaging is so pretty! The BioEffect EGF Serum sample is also another product that I'm looking forward to using as the full size product is pretty pricey! The Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation will also be interesting to try (and it contains spf 30 sunscreen, which is an added bonus). The mini Mont Bleu glass nail file will be handy to keep in my bag when I'm out and about.

Has anyone else picked up a beauty advent calender or something similar? What do you think of this stocking filler box?





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October Empties

Fewer empties this month than last month, however I haven't bought much either so maybe that's why! (If I buy more, then I feel like I have to use up more products). Anyway, Psychology aside, here are the products that have been used up this month.

Dabur Amla Hair Oil - I use this as a conditioning treatment before I wash my hair. A more detailed hair care blog post will be coming up soon, so keep an eye out for that! Unfortunately, amla oil has a really strong smell so I'll most likely be switching to almond or coconut oil (but will be repurchasing this as a backup plan) =)

Sure Women Clear Diamond Deodrant - Pretty standard deodrant that doesn't leave white marks and smells quite nice. I bought this when it was on offer as I'm not too fussy about what deodrants I use, as long as they work =)

No7 Extreme Length Mascara (travel size) - I picked this up in Boots Clearance ages ago and I'm actually quite fond of this mascara. I don't wear mascara on a regular basis, mostly because I am constantly rubbing my eyes, and also because really long lashes and glasses don't mix well! This mascara is perfect for lengthening the lashes without being too over the top. Some might say that that might not be 'extreme length' but it's enough for me! The wand also manages to define each lash and a few coats of the mascara doesn''t leave you with clumpy eyelashes. Once I get through the rest of my mascara collection (both full and travel size) I shall be purchasing this one. Hopefully with the help of a No7 voucher =)

Natural Collection Blusher in Sugar Plum - This is a repurchase which has also been finished! I love the natural collection blushers as they are super cheap (£1.99) and have enough colour to give a natural looking blush. Also they are matte (no shimmer or glitter whatsoever) which I am a big fan of! Will also be repurchasing this (after I've made use of a few of my other blushers) =)


Not as many empties as last month, but still a fair few. What have you been using this month?




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