L'Occitane Shea Butter Festive Bauble

A few days ago, I popped into L'Occitane to take a closer look at the beauty advent calendar. Instead, this is what caught my eye. At only £10, the L'Occitane Festive Baubles are great as small gifts or stocking fillers. There are a few different sets to choose from: Shea Butter, Verbena and Almond (exclusive to John Lewis).

I picked up the Shea Butter festive bauble, which contains:

Shea Butter Shower Cream 30ml

Shea Butter Ultra Rich Lotion 30ml

Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml

Shea Extra-Gentle Milk Soap 25g 

The travel sizes makes this an ideal introduction to L'Occitane products, or in my case, perfect for a weekend away. The Christmas baubles are available online here and in store (currently on offer 3 for £25).



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P.S. I did go back and get the advent calendar, but more on that in another post =)

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Bargain Find - Lanolips Antibacterial Hand Cream

I haven't actually bought much from Boots/Superdrug in the past few months (thanks student budget). Recently, I popped into Boots to find a gift and noticed this on the clearance shelf. The Lanolips Antibacterial Hand Cream retails for £9.99 on the Boots website but I managed to pick it up for only £1!

I've yet to try it, but seeing as I'm a big fan of the lip balms, I have high hopes for this hand cream. Whilst it says it kills 99% of germs, I'm not sure it'll replace my B&BW PocketBacs, but at least my hands will be moisturised and hopefully germ-free =)

Asmaa

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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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in my dreams VII

One of the downsides of going back to university is the lack of income, which means that I can't really do any impulse buying. My current monthly treat is the YBD beauty box which at £7, I think is justifiable, but at the same time, I can't go out and purchase the full size product if I've tried (and loved) the trial/sample. The product I'm talking about is the MeruMaya Overnight Recharge Night Cream, which I got a sample of in January's YBD box.

 

I've heard great things about the Melting Cleansing Balm, and after trying it I have to say that I agree, but I won't be giving up my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish for it. The night cream on the other hand, has me hooked. Applying a little after cleansing my face before bed, I wake up with super soft skin, you'd think that I had applied a hydrating face mask or something. It isn't heavy, doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky and hasn't irritated my sensitive skin. In the morning, it's like waking up knowing you're going to have a good skin day (that sounded better in my head). I never really thought about applying a different moisturiser at night, but this one has converted me after just a few uses (I've had to cut open the sample tube just to get it all out).

It's currently on my wishlist, because at £33.50, it is not cheap and so I will have to wait until the Summer (when I am hopefully back in work) to buy this amazing night cream.



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You Beauty Discovery Box - February (Red Carpet)

This month's YBD box is all about products that are that little bit more indulgent and ready for the red carpet (very fitting considering it's awards season!). The products are all about radiant skin and finishing touches to keep you looking your best.

From the selection of products available, I chose the In.fused Coconut Body Scrub (100g) and the Proto-col Moisturising Facial Gel (20ml). The extra's included in this box were Lindor Milk Truffles (already eaten...Ooops!) and a sample of the Bare Minerals Bare Skin Serum Foundation.

I know I've chosen another body scrub this month, but the In.fused scrub is completely different to the Afyna one from last month's box and I'm looking forward to using this before I'm back at school (currently enjoying the half term). The body scrub is 100g which is half the full size product which retails at £18.99, making this sample approximately worth £9.50. The scrubs are vegan friendly and made from natural ingredients. They're also not too coarse, which makes them perfect for applying on the face (avoiding the eyes of course).
The Proto-col facial gel is a product I randomly chose, thinking it would be a little bit like my tube of Hydraluron. Obviously this is not the case, as the product is more of a gel-lotion hybrid, rather than a clear gel. It does keep my skin hydrated but seeing as it aims to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, it's more suited for mature skin. The 20ml tube retails for £9.50 on the Proto-col website.

With a box worth £19, I'm pretty pleased with my picks and the fact that the YBD box is only £6.95. Plus, the addition of Lindor truffles are always a way to my heart =D



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What's in my Travel Bag? [Flight Essentials]

As you probably know by now, inshaAllah I'll be going on holiday to Dubai in a few days. I'm one of those people that tends to pack well in advance so that everything is ready to go on the day (none of this last minute packing the day before!). I also love making lists and tick things off as I've packed/done them. Anyway, here's what I've put in my hand luggage ready to be used during the flight or once I've landed. My carry on bag isn't very big, so I needed to be extra picky about what to put into it. Also, thanks to the restriction on liquid products, all the items that I've packed are 100ml or less =)

1) La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water (50ml) - I know it's just a water spray, but I know that this spray will help keep me awake during the flight as well as make the heat in Dubai a little more bearable. It definitely will be staying in my bag throughout my holiday.

2) Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream - This little 8ml tube is from the rather large set of Bioderma Samples from Escentual. It'll be mostly used for making sure my eczema doesn't flare up during the flight.

3) Impulse True Love Body Fragrance - This was a last minute (well, a week in advance) addition to my travel bag. The smaller 35ml size means that it'll take up less space in my bag (originally I had a Bath and Body Works Fragrance Mist which was bigger).

4) Lanolips Lip Ointment with Colour SPF 15 (Rose) -  As my usual EOS lip balm is a little bulky, this tube of Lanolips will definitely keep my lips moisturised during the flight and throughout my holiday. The added SPF is a bonus and will protect my lips from any sun damage while I'm out and about. It's the only lip balm I'm packing in my luggage for my holiday.

5) L'Occitane Shea Butter Honey Hand Cream - Another one of my handbag essentials going into my travel bag. L'Occitane hand creams are 20% Shea Butter and keep the skin moisturised without leaving any residue. I also love using this for a mini hand massage, which is something I can do whilst on the flight =)

6) Wet Ones Sensitive Wet Wipes - In case of any emergencies, I do like to keep a packet of wet wipes in my bag.

7) Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 50+ cream - Another little Bioderma miniature for my hand luggage. I know that once we land it'll be around 10am but it'll be pretty warm and bright outside, so I'll definitely need to apply sun protection before heading out of the airport.

8) Optrex Eye Drops (for dry eyes) - Pretty self explanatory this one. I usually get dry eyes during the flight, and because I'll be wearing my contact lenses when I'm actually in Dubai, these eye drops will be my saviour in all the air conditioning!

9) MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder (not pictured)- The only makeup that I'll be carrying in my hand luggage will be pressed powder (and a powder brush to go with it). I'll only need to apply this after my sun protection just before leaving the airport. Big sunglasses will hide everything else =)

I think that's all my flight essentials. Obviously I'll have my non-beauty items as well, including my iPod, phone, camera, travel documents, sunglasses etc.

Do you have any particular products that you pack when travelling?



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You Beauty Discovery Box - April

After an issue with delivery, I finally received my YBD April box yesterday. For this month. I chose the Steamcream Naturally Effective moisturiser and the Clayspray Glow Red Clay masque. Both products are full size, with the Clayspray masque retailing at £13.50 for 30ml, and the Steamcream at £12.95 for 75g. Considering the cost of the YBD box is only £6.95, the retail value of the products inside is at least 4x the price!

I'm looking forward to trying the Steamcream as a daily moisturiser (I'm currently on the hunt for a light one for the Summer), and the Clayspray is another addition to my face mask collection, which I'll definitely be trying out on my next pamper session. The extra's include a fruity 9bar, which I've never tried before, and a sample of the antioxidant face cream by The Organic Pharmacy.

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

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The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask [review]

If you have dry/dehydrated skin, this sink-in moisture mask by The Body Shop is one for you. The idea is that you apply a thin layer over the face and leave it for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, most of the mask would have been absorbed into the skin and all that is left is to remove whatever remains with a cotton pad. 

At first, this mask was a little odd to use, as I'm so used to using clay masks and peel off masks that it was weird not to remove it all at the end. The Body Shop Sink-In Moisture mask isn't heavily scented and smells like the rest of the products in the Vitamin E range. I've managed to get two masks out of the one sachet, as it says to apply a thin layer. After 10 minutes, most of the mask had been absorbed into the skin with only a few patches to remove. My skin felt firmer and softer, and I found that my moisturiser and makeup applied more smoothly.

I would definitely recommend trying this face mask to anyone with dry/dehydrated skin. It's available in a 6ml sachet (perfect for testing out as I did), as well as a 100ml tub. I've also got a similar mask by Avene which I'll be trying soon, so look out for that review =)

 

 

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July Empties

Please excuse the fact that I didn't do empties posts for May and June! Unfortunately I had a bit of a clear out and threw away all the empty products before I got round to taking pictures and blogging. There are quite a few empties this month, as I'm determined to use up a lot of my stash before buying any more products.

 

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask - I love Lush's Fresh Face Masks! I finished this a few weeks ago, but it has lasted an absolute age! And because it's kept in the fridge, the mask was nice and cold to apply (especially as the UK seemed to have a mini heat wave!) You can see my review for Catastrophe Cosmetic here.

Soap & Glory Flake Away body scrub - A very grainy body scrub which I used mostly on my legs to try and get rid of ingrown hairs. The grains were large enough for the scrub to be abrasive, but not too big! I did like the smell (it was quite refreshing) but I definitely needed to apply moisturiser afterwards. At least I know that next time, I'll be looking to get an oil based scrub.

 

Philosophy Snow Angel shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath - I bought this nearly two years ago at the Christmas sales and only took it out at the beginning of the month. I used it as a shower gel (not keen on using it as shampoo). I don't think I'll be purchasing any Philosophy products any time soon, although I do have the Purity cleanser, which came in the BBB Edit box, to try out.

Avene Thermal Spring Water spray - Thanks to the very hot weather, I've been using this spray daily to set my (minimal) makeup in the mornings and then freshen my face throughout the day. I've already repurchased this in the 150ml size, and will be picking up the smaller sprays for my holiday. You can see my full review here.

Bioderma Atoderm PO Zinc Creme - I've been using this cream for my eczema since I first got it. As you can see, I went to extreme measures to get every little bit of product out! I have already repurchased this as well as another Bioderma Atoderm product. You can read my review here. 

La Sultane de Saba body lotion with Argan Oil - This came in my first (and only) Birchbox back in March. I actually quite like this moisturiser as it's very light and the absorbs into the skin quite easily. The scent sort of reminds me of baby products (Johnsons baby lotion maybe?) which I didn't mind but some people might not like it. I won't be purchasing (not yet anyway) because I have plenty of body lotions and butters to use up!

 

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April Empties

Quite a few empties this month! I think this is probably due to the fact that I am trying to use up my 'Winter' skincare products as the weather slowly warms up.

The Simple Rich Moisturiser was a bit hit and miss for me, especially as I bought it to use for when my skin was particularly dry and dehydrated. The moisturiser wasn't rich enough to save my skin during the Winter months (even after applying it in two thin layers), but it was the perfect transition moisturiser from Winter to Spring, mostly because I had started using face masks on a more regular basis and drinking more water, so my skin was definitely in better condition. I probably wouldn't repurchase as it doesn't suit my skin type, although from what I remember it was pretty cheap and lasted a long time, making it good value for money. Also, it didn't irritate my sensitive skin, which would be something to consider, especially if you have a more combination (rather than extremely dry) skin type.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Concentrated Formula. I used this pretty much all throughout winter on any patches of dry skin, especially on my feet. Because the texture is really thick, and it takes a while to be absorbed into the skin, I used to apply it at night. I love the smell of cocoa butter (who doesn't?) and will probably repurchase the normal formula on my next visit to Superdrug/Boots.

Bath and Body Works Be Enchanted Shower Gel. I'm trying to use up my shower gels as I seem to have a never ending supply! This one smells amazing, sort of floral and sweet, and the scent lingers on the skin for a while. I think we need a Bath and Body Works in the UK!

Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Fragrance Mist. I also have no shortage of fragrances and body sprays in my collection, so I am using them up too. I love using these fragrance mists on a daily basis, just a little spray to freshen up my hijab or my outfit. The scents are a lot lighter than perfumes, and therefore aren't as strong.

Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation Sample. As part of using up my foundation samples series, this sample has been well and truly used up. For my review, click here.


Anyone else find that they've been using up more of their Winter skincare in order to make space for some Spring/Summer product? =)




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