Trimming My Stash - June 2019 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

The one constant so far in operation Trimming My Stash 2019, has to be inconsistency! After a slow start, I managed a few good months, but then it all seems to have gone down hill again.

Boots Ingredients Sheet Face Mask Charcoal & Willow Bark - Cleansing & Purifying - 1 x 20ml Sheet Mask
The Body Shop Spiced Apple Softening Body Gel-Lotion - 250ml
Lush Santa's Belly Shower Jelly - 100g

Total - 3 Items

June was officially my worst month of the year so far, I only managed to finish 3 items, 1 single use skin care product, and two Christmas themed products that I'm pretty sad to have finished..

1. Boots Ingredients Sheet Face Mask Charcoal & Willow Bark - Cleansing & Purifying - 1 x 20ml Sheet Mask

First up a face mask, and even though I still have lots of masks in pots and tube, at the moment I'm making an effort to try and use up some of the sachets and sheet masks that I have in my skincare crate.

I think this mask probably came in a subscription box, and apparently it's an award winner. Containing charcoal and willow bark, juniper, grapefruit and orange it's designed to cleanse, purify and revitalise the skin. 

The sachet contains a strong but very wet paper sheet mask, with a slightly astringent scent. Initially it felt quite cooling on the skin but I then experienced a slight tingling sensation, which quickly subsided. After 15 minutes the mask was still very wet so I massaged the remaining liquid into my face and neck. At first my skin felt quite tacky but the excess liquid gradually absorbed into the skin.

There was a slight pinkness to my skin immediately after removal but apart from a slight tightness my skin felt fine, it looked and felt less oily, and it felt refreshed and almost squeaky clean

This mask isn't the most hydrating treatment that I've ever used so I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone with a drier skin. If your skin is oilier though, then this a perfect mask for you - it combats oiliness and it leaves your skin looking clean and clear. This sheet retails at £2.50 and available from Boots stores and online.

2. The Body Shop Spiced Apple Softening Body Gel-Lotion - 250ml

Whilst my love for The Body Shop's Spiced Apple, will never quite come close to my love for their Glazed Apple range, it's still a mouthwatering scent with hint of sweet, yet tart apple, combined with Christmassy apple pie spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger.

This product in whatever scent that you choose is perfect for lazy body lotion users. As much as I love my body butters you don't always have time to wait for it to sink in, and in the summer you don't always want anything that's too heavy or sticky, that's why this cream - gel formulation is perfect. It feels slightly cooling on the skin, and whilst it absorbs really quickly, it actually really hydrating. It was a little bit difficult to get the last bits out of the bottom because the pump wasn't quite long enough but I still loved it, I love the ease, and convenience and of course I loved the scent. Alas Spiced Apple is long gone from The Body Shop shelves but I can always live in hope that The Body Shop bring back another apple based scent from Christmas 2019.

3. Lush Santa's Belly Shower Jelly - 100g

My final empty from June, is another festive product and this time it's something from Lush. When I first lost my bath it meant that I have to say goodbye to a lot of Lush products, and whilst I still miss my bubble bars and bath ballistics, their loss has being slightly tempered by fun shower products like this.

Containing seaweed, apple juice, star anise, red grape juice, orange flower, neroli, bergamot and rose, this fab jelly has a lovely spicy, fruity apple based scent. You only need a tiny bit of this squidgy, translucent red jelly mixed with warm water on a sponge, or shower scrunchie to produce a mountain of creamy bubbles. Although it tempting to use a lot, you really don't need to so this little pot lasts for ages. It seems to be a pretty regular item so fingers crossed that it makes a reappearance this festive season.

So there you go, a short and sweet June empties post. I was slightly disappointed to only finish 3 items last month but things can only get better from here on it, and hopefully I'll managed to finish a few more items this month. If you have any comments or questions on any of the product that I talked about in this post, then please let me know below x 

Unboxing Pink Parcel - February 2019 Edition - Backstage Favourites*

Earlier this month I posted a slightly late review of January's Pink Parcel (click here to read it), and for my very first blog unboxing I have to say that it was a bit of a let down. The box seemed to be almost thrown together and there didn't seem to have been any thought behind it or any real theme. The value was there but compared to previous boxes I was left feeling a bit mehhh. With Pink Parcel promising changes and improvements, starting with their February box, though, I couldn't help but be a little bit excited about what was to come this month.

From the minute that the postman handed me the box I could see that whole box had been given a fresh, new look. Instead of coming in a black plastic mailing bag February's box came in bright and clean cream / white patterned plastic mailing bag. The box itself as promised had also changed, it was smaller and slightly sturdier (although still not really reusable), and instead of the dark grey and pink design of the old box, it was now white with a pink swirl design. It was also printed with the Cosmopolitan logo, I can't find anything that says that this was a collaboration box so it could just be promotional, advertising or sponsorship.

The box opens with the familiar tear off strip, and immediately on opening it I noticed a few differences. Again there was no product information leaflet, but from what I gather out of environmental concerns, and to prevent paper waste, the Pink Parcel Post leaflet will be now be sent via email. I received my email a couple of days after I'd received the box and it contained information on the box theme, Backstage Favourites, and information on all of the products in the box.

The biggest and most visible change though, is in the contents and layout of the box again down to environmental concerns, there are now just 2 boxes instead of the usual 3. So you now get one box which says "MUSTS" which contains sanitary protection, the familiar fabric pouch, and a box which has the words "WANTS" on it.

Again, this month I chose a box that just contained sanitary pads. The fabric pouch, this time in a Valentines themed, red and pink heart design, and the MUSTS box both contained a variety of sanitary pads, including night time pads and panty liners. Like last month rather than the products I'd requested I received a mixture of brands, and compared to last month I did receive slightly fewer items, but I still received more than enough branded sanitary products to last the duration of my period.

Now as much as I love the convenience of getting sanitary protection delivered directly to my home every month, that isn't really the reason why I look forward to my Pink Parcel delivery, for me it's all about the extras.  The old style "For You" box has now been replaced with a similar sized white box, with the word "WANTS" printed on it, which contains a mixture of items to make that time of the month just that little bit easier.

Soaper Duper Fruity Green Tuberose Body Lotion - 250ml - Full Size - RRP £7.50

One of the reasons why I love subscription boxes so much is that they give you the opportunity to try new brands, and the first item in February's Pink Parcel is from a new brand to me Soaper Duper. Based in the UK Soaper Duper, is a naturally derived, affordable bath and body care range, that contains no parabens, microbeads, SLS or any other nasties. The range is vegan and cruelty free, and all of the packaging is made from 100% PCR (post consumer recycled plastic). They are also supporters of the charity Water Aid.

In February's Pink Parcel we received one of two body lotions and the one I received was Fruity Green Tuberose. Made from 98% naturally derived ingredients, the full list of natural ingredients is way too long to mention but this body lotion includes smoothing fruit acids of pineapple, grape and passion fruit, hydrating aloe vera, nourishing shea nut butter, sweet almond oil, borage oil, coconut water and vitamin E.

At first sniff I wasn't sure about the smell at all, it's very unusual, it's very green with a touch of fruitiness. Once you've applied it to the skin though like an expensive fragrance it comes to life, and the different fragrance notes start to come through, and you can really smell the headiness of the tuberose. It's definitely an acquired scent but it's really grown on me.

It's quite a runny textured lotion, and as a result a small amount goes a long way. It soaks in quickly and despite the liquidy texture it is actually quite moisturising. I've used this a few times now and I have to say that I'm really impressed with it, it's absorbs into the skin really easily, and it's very hydrating so it's an ideal product for when you're in a rush. As I say the scent is an acquired one in my opinion, and it definitely won't be to every ones taste, but I love tuberose, and this is definitely a scent that's grown on me.

I've got to say I love the whole concept of the brand and I'm definitely going to try and pick up a few more products from the range in the future. You can buy this product directly from Soaper Duper and from various other selected retailers including Tesco.  

ORYZA Beauty Velvet Ribbon Lipstick - Lido - 3.8g - Full Size - RRP £15.95

Next up a full size lipstick from a brand called ORYZA. I've had a few ORYZA products from various subscription boxes including another one of these lipsticks in the shade Arwa, and even though I don't know a lot about the brand I've been pretty impressed so I was pleased to see another product in this months Pink Parcel. I've done a bit of research and ORYZA are a 100% cruelty free, UK brand that focuses on natural ingredients. Their key ingredient and the ingredient from which they take their name is Oryza Sativa aka rice germ oil, their products also include safflower seed, sunflower seed, and jojoba oils, and shea butter.

Containing rice germ oil, shea butter, vitamin E, and pomegranate fruit extract, their velvet ribbon lipsticks, are nourishing and hydrating, and have a long wear, weightless satin finish. 

This particular shade Lido is described as a dusky pink, nude, it has a lot of warmth to it, and slight peach and coral tones. It's a nice wearable shade that would suit a lot of ages and lot of different skin tones. If you aren't a fan of matte's then this may be the finish for you, it isn't too shiny, but at the same time it isn't an out and out dry, flat matte. It applies easily with dragging and it does seem to add a little bit of moisture to the lips.

Because it isn't too shiny or too moisturising it wears well, and fades down evenly leaving a slight stain on the lips. I don't think this is the cheapest lipstick out there but if you're looking for something a bit different brand wise, and for a cruelty free brand with good quality ingredients than ORYZA is probably a brand worth looking at. I've worn this and the other shade that I have a few times already and I've been pretty impressed with the finish, the shades and the wear time. You can buy ORYZA products from their own website and from the Pink Parcel Shop.

Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm - 4ml

The next item in the box is a product that has almost cult status and with good reason. This little tube of magic only contains one ingredient, the highest grade, purest lanolin, from Australian free roaming sheep. It really is a multi purpose product, and you can use it on dry skin literally anywhere on the body, from your cuticles, to cold ravaged noses, lips and nipples, and you can even use it to shine your shoes.

I've had a couple of tubes of this in the past from various boxes and I predominantly use it as a lip balm. Yellow in colour it has a thick balm like texture, which melts on contact with the skin. With no real scent or taste, a little goes a long way, a small amount adds a nice gloss to the lips, whilst a larger amount moisturises and protects, it takes a little while to soak in, but it definitely helps with hydration and it's a must if like me you have sore and cracked lips at the moment due to the weird hot, cold weather we're having at the moment.

Obviously this product isn't suitable for vegans, or anyone who suffers from an allergy to lanolin, but if you don't fall into either of those categories, then I would thoroughly recommend this product if you have any areas of dry skin on your face or body. I can't find an RRP for this exact size tube but an 8ml size tube retails at £5.99, and a pack of 6 of these 4ml tubes retails at £25, so if you do the maths then the cheapest estimate for this 4ml tube is around £2.99.

Marvis Cinnamon Mint Toothpaste - 10ml

Like February's Glossybox, February's Pink Parcel also contains a tube of toothpaste. This one though is from Italian toothpaste brand, Marvis. With a xylitol and sorbitan based formula, all of their toothpastes are designed to whiten and protect the teeth and freshen the breath. When it comes to toothpastes though Marvis have always pushed the boundaries with their exotic toothpaste flavours, and this tube is in one their most popular flavours Cinnamon Mint. I haven't opened it or broken the seal yet but I can already smell an almost astringent, cinnamon, aniseed ball scent. You do get a little bit sick of mint flavoured toothpastes so I can't wait to give this a try. The full 85ml size retails at around £7 from various retailers including lookfantastic. I can only find this particular size on a US website where is retails at around $1.95.

Vitamasques Diamond Gold Mask - Brightening - 1 x 20ml Sheet Mask - Full Size - £5.99

Another sheet mask, and another mask from Vitamasques! I think I've just about tried most of their masks now but I don't think I've tried this one yet. This mask is from their Gold range, and it's infused with real gold flakes, as well as real diamond and pearl powders. It's cruelty free, vegan,and paraben, mineral oil and sulphate free. Suitable for all skin types it's designed to promote a healthy, and natural glow and to increase the skins moisture content. I'll add this one to my to use pile, so keep an eye on my monthly empties posts to find out what I think about it x In the meantime you can buy it directly from Vitamasques, from HQ Hair, Amazon and the Pink Shop.

Chocolate And Love Napolitan - Madagascar - 5.5g

Chocolate And Love Napolitan - Panama - 5.5g

One of the highlights of every Pink Parcel, is the sweetie component, I have a crazy sweet tooth, and chocolate really is my vice, so I was delighted to find two all be it tiny chocolate bars from award winning UK based organic, fair trade, ethical chocolate company, Chocolate and Love. 

Both of these tiny bars are suitable for vegans. The Madagascar bar is a single origin dark chocolate with 70% cocoa. It has a rich almost coffee like bitterness to but it had a very smooth mouth feel. The Panama on the other hand is dark chocolate with 80% cocoa, again it was smooth and rich but it had a much fruitier flavour.

Although the pieces were quite small, it was a nice quality chocolate that really helped satisfy some of this months cravings. Obviously it's almost impossible to put a true price on two small pieces but you can buy a Rich Dark Tin directly from Love And Chocolate that contains 30 pieces like this including these two varieties for £11.99.

Pure Chimp Turmeric Matcha Green Tea - 2 x 1g Servings 

Finally something else that you always get in Pink Parcel, something to drink. Normally you get a tea bag but this month we got something a little bit different. This sachet contains two servings of 100% natural and vegan turmeric matcha green tea. All you do is mix the contents of the sachet, which contains powdered green tea leaves, turmeric, cinnamon and ginger, with hot or cold milk. I've never tried anything like this before so I'm definitely going to try this out sooner rather than later. Again it's impossible to give an accurate price comparison but a 50g jar retails at £9.95 directly from Pure Chimp.

So that was February's Pink Parcel, and I have to say I'm a lot happier with this months than I was with January's. The contents was definitely more thought out, the value was most definitely there and the new packaging is definitely a step in the right direction. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and if you are interested in trying out Pink Parcel for yourself you can find out more via their website

*This Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links  

Trimming My Stash And Life Lately - September 2018 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Okay guys we're in the final straight now! There are now less than 3 months of 2018 left! How did that happen? When did that happen? Crazy times! It's taken nearly 10 months but finally I seem to be getting my head into gear and getting some stuff done! Maybe it's the fear factor and a desperate attempt to stop 2018 being a complete fail but better late than never I guess. Home and health wise nothings changed, shit is still happening on a regular basis but maybe I'm dealing with it better and channelling my stress into something more useful. I've been planning some videos and blog posts, I've started a mass sort and tidy up and I've been sorting out my beauty stash (again!)

It's funny I still probably have way too much of everything but I'm actually starting to find space in drawers and boxes and within the next of month or so I'll need to buy some body scrub, yes need! I won't be buying something because it's on offer or because I feel the urge to buy something I'll be buying something because I need it. It just shows that I am starting to make a little bit of progress in Trimming My Stash particularly when it comes to body and hair care products.

Tea Tree Daily Use Cleansing Facial Wipes - 25 x Wipes
Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream -125ml
Biotherm Anti-Drying Body Milk With Citrus Extracts - 400ml
Dead Sea Spa Magik Salt Brushing - 50g
Decleor 1000 Grain Body Exfoliator - 50ml
Maria Nila True Soft Shampoo - 100ml
Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil - 28ml

Total - 7 Items

When it came to body and hair bits September was another good month, out of the 7 products that I finished 6 were body and hair related. Although I was pleased that I finished 7 items I really need to try a bit harder when it comes to skin care and make up. The thing is though I do know where I'm going wrong; When it comes to skincare i seem to have to many bottles, jars and tubes open at once, so I never seem to use anything consistently. That's got to stop, my new plan is too finish whats in the bathroom and then try something new, rather than just trying something as soon as I get it. I often wonder why my skincare doesn't do what I want it to and that's probably why! Make up is another obvious one, I own way to much of it when you consider what I actually wear. Unlike a lot of people I don't wear make up every day and when I do I get a bit lazy and always use the same stuff. That's got to stop too, I need to wear make up more often, I need to switch up what I do wear, and again I need to finish some of those half used bottles and tubes! Sounds easy enough but as per usual we'll see what happens over the next few months x Before I start painting my face and removing make up, every three seconds though lets take a look back and see just exactly what I did manage to finish in September.

1. Tea Tree Daily Use Cleansing Facial Wipes - 25 x Wipes

I've talked about cleansing wipes a lot on the blog, and whilst I firmly believe that they shouldn't be used as part of an everyday skincare regime, I do believe that they can play their part in well, this blogger at leasts, everyday life. I use them for everything from cleaning up swatches, to wiping sticky hands, and cleaning down make up palettes,  I swear by them and the ones that I always turn to are Primark's tea tree based wipes. Although the packaging and the name has recently changed, they are the ones that I always stock up on when I'm in store.

Primark trips have been a little bit thin on the ground though this year, and in the 3 or so month gap in between visits I ran out of wipes. On a recent trip to another bargain haunt though, B&M Bargains I saw these tea tree based wipes and thought that I'd give them a try. They were the same price as the Primark ones at £1 for 2 packs of 25 wipes but unfortunately that was the only similarity. These are actually tea tree and peppermint wipes, so instead of the traditional tea tree scent that I was expecting these actually had a very strong almost minty, menthol type scent. As I say I don't use wipes that often on my face (I prefer micellar waters when I'm in a rush) but I did try these out on my face once, and to be honest once was enough. The scent made my eyes water, and I did find them to be quite drying. In the future I'll definitely stick to the Primark wipes, and despite the fact that these are also readily available in Poundland, I don't think that I'd buy them again and I'll probably use the remaining packet for my hands and for swatch clean up.

2. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream -125ml

When it comes to foot cream I can completely understand why people like mint or tea tree based products, whilst it's true that they are perfect for deodorising and refreshing tired feet, I can't help it they just aren't my favourite scents. I love lavender, floral or fruity scents and this foot cream from Soap & Glory falls perfectly into the latter category. With a fruity fresh scent, this isn't the thickest of foot creams but thanks to the high concentration of fruit acids that it contains, with regular use it makes a big difference.

Although I suffer from poor circulation, and my feet can often feel like blocks of ice, I can't standing having hot or over heated feet so wearing socks overnight is a big no no for me, instead I apply this (or any other cream) all over my feet after a shower, then I put on a pair of socks and let the cream do it's thing. This particular cream sometimes tingles a little bit on application but it's not uncomfortable it just feels as though it's doing something. I normally leave the socks on for 2 or 3 hours if I can and when you remove them you're left with much better looking, softer feet. I've used this product a few times before after getting in a few of the Boots Soap & Glory Star Gifts and I would definitely consider repurchasing.

3. Biotherm Anti-Drying Body Milk With Citrus Extracts - 400ml

I don't know whether it's because I'm getting older or whether it's down to the noticeable change in the weather but the skin on my body is definitely feeling a little bit tighter and drier at the moment, so I'm trying to be good and applying a body lotion or body cream every day rather than just when I remember. I love thick creams and butters in the winter but at the moment lotions are my go to for daily use and this particular product is without a doubt one of the best body lotions that I've ever used. I was first introduced to this product over 10 years ago now when I won a huge bagful of Biotherm goodies in a magazine competition and I've used it and love it ever since.

Push down the pump action dispenser (not pictured - sorry!) and you're introduced to a slightly unpromising looking milky lotion, get past the initial appearance though and inhale the fresh orange,  citrus scent, and slather a small amount all over your body. Given the texture it absorbs quickly and easily with no stickiness, tackiness or roll off, and it leaves the skin feeling silky soft in seconds, and surprisingly considering the texture, it's a feeling that lasts for hours.

In my opinion to put it mildly this is fabulous stuff, and it's something that despite owning pretty much a store full of body products that I would definitely repurchase. The brand isn't that easy to get a hold of in store in the UK now but you can buy it online from sites including FEELUNIQUE and allbeauty. 

4. Dead Sea Spa Magik Salt Brushing - 50g

Earlier in this post I did say that I was starting to run a little bit low on body scrubs and as a result I've been using a few minis, and smaller products before I move onto my last 3 Christmas themed scrubs from The Body Shop, and this is the first of them. Now as you know I love salt and sugar based scrubs and as the name would suggest this one is crammed full of Dead Sea Salt, combined with coconut oil, and vitamin E. It is apparently Dead Sea Spa Magik's best selling product and it's easy to see why. It has a lovely scent, and it's very scrubby. It works best when it's applied to dry skin, simply massage it in to the limbs and problem areas and rinse away. It rinses off really easily and the high oil content left the skin feeling really smooth. The only thing I would say is that don't use this on broken skin, I accidentally used it on an area that had a cat scratch, and to say it stung was an understatement. Despite that though this was a great scrub and it's definitely something that I would consider repurchasing.

5. Decleor 1000 Grain Body Exfoliator - 50ml

Next up a scrub from high end French aromatherapy skin and body care brand Decleor. The big selling point of this one was definitely the smell, it contains real grapefruit essential oil, and with every use you got a yummy, zingy, refreshing hit of grapefruit that really revived the senses. It had a sort of oil / gel consistency which transformed to more of a milky consistency when you added it to water. It was a nice enough product and as I say I loved the scent but it just wasn't scrubby enough for me so I probably wouldn't repurchase.

6. Maria Nila True Soft Shampoo - 100ml

The final two beauty products that I finished in September were both hair products, and this shampoo and the matching conditioner, which I haven't quite finished yet, both made in appearance in the May 2018 edition of Glossybox. (You can watch my original unboxing video below or via this link). As you know I love trying out new brands and this brand is a new one to me. Hailing from Sweden, Maria Nila is an environmentally conscious brand, that is leaping bunny, PETA, and Vegan Society certified and after using this product I have to say that both myself and Mummy Lou are fans.

This is a gentle shampoo that is designed specifically for drier hair types, it contains argan oil, seaweed extract, and Maria Nila's exclusive colour guard complex, and it's also both sulphate and paraben free.

Despite the lack of SLS it still foams really well and it has a lovely fruity, floral scent that reminds me a little bit of the original Giorgio Armani's Acqua Di Gio, which is one of my favourite fragrances of all time. The scent is obviously a huge plus point for me but this shampoo is so much more than that, both me and Mummy Lou loved how it made our hair feel, and the ethics behind the brand. The brand isn't that easy to get a hold of in the UK but it goes without saying that I would definitely consider repurchasing both this shampoo and the matching conditioner.

7. Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil - 28ml

The final empty from September is another hair product and it's a product that I discovered in one of the M&S beauty advent calendars. I've seen a lot of stuff written about beauty advent calendars lately including one comment that the only people that buy them are bloggers who aren't on press lists? WTF?  and here's my two penneth, you pays your money, and you takes your choice, if you want one then get one, some are better value than others so have a look around and choose the best one for you. Personally I love them, I've quite a few beauty ones now and like beauty subscription boxes they give you a great opportunity to try something new, a new product or a new brand, or they give you a chance to stock up on minis for holidays and travel. I've got the Glossybox one on pre order this year and personally I can't wait to start opening up the doors. Why do people need to be so grumpy, critical and judgemental all the time - let people do what they want! 

Anyway enough of the rant, I discovered this product in an M&S calendar and for me and many others it was love at first use. Marks and Spencer previously collaborated with celebrity hair colourist Josh Wood to produce a range of root cover ups and hair products, but like so many things the entire range has now been discontinued and sadly Josh Wood doesn't sell anything simililar in his own salons. It's a real shame because this product in particular still has a lot of fans.

I love hair oils, you can use them as a pre shampoo treatment to add moisture and you can also use them to detangle wet hair, and on dry hair to add shine and tame frizz. I've used a lot of them and I've loved a lot of them too and this one was one of the best. Enriched with kukui and pracaxi oil it had an expensive almost designer perfume, inspired aromatherapy type scent which gently lingered on the the hair. It was slightly thick in appearance yet it felt surprisingly felt quite lightweight on the hair. It was a really nice product and I'm so sad that the range has disappeared, bar a few ridiculously priced bottles on ebay - please Josh Wood and M&S bring this one back! 

So they were my September beauty empties as I say I'm definitely going to try harder on the skin care and make up front in October, so fingers crossed I've got a few more things to show you then but if in the meantime you have any questions then please leave me a comment and if you have any hair oil recommendations I'd love to hear them too x 

Life Lately, Photobucket And Trimming My Stash - July 2017 Edition

Well I'm back with yet another apology - July was another month that just never seemed to get going for me and as a result my blog took another hit and sporadic and patchy posting resumed. It's not that I haven't been working on the blog I really have - I've taken a ton of photos, I've done a lot of research and product testing but I just haven't managed to get the words on the screen, again!

As well as being in the middle of a huge CFS, Fibromyalgia flare, a lot of things have tried both my patience and my energy over the last month. First of all we've had the decorators in, which always creates havoc, stress and disorder and secondly I've had to deal with total stupidity of Photobucket!

For those of you that aren't in the know, Photobucket is a photo hosting site, you can upload your pictures, store them safely, and then share them online, or you can print them off or create all sorts of personalised items. Sounds good doesn't it? Well it used to be ! - when I first started blogging over 10 years ago now, using a third party hosting site like Photobucket was one of the only ways to add photographs into your posts, so that's what I used to use. Nowadays it isn't something that I use that regularly but it's still there hosting a lot of the pictures from the first few years or so of my blog. Fast forward to last month and Photobucket decided that if you want to continue using their service to use your pictures on other websites then you need to pay nearly $300!!! Needless to say that ain't happening so I'm currently having to weed through all of my blog posts (numbering nearly 2000 now) and either edit or delete all of the posts which included images from Photobucket! I know a lot of bloggers who have routinely deleted a lot of their early posts but I'm not one of them, every post has made me the blogger that I am today, but thanks to Photobucket I really don't have an option anymore. I'm basically having to delete all of the posts with pictures that I can't replicate, and I'm going to have to re shoot and redo a lot of my original nails of the day posts, and a lot of my early recipe posts. It's so frustrating and it's something that I really could have done without. Like so many things it will be an ongoing process so I'm going to apologise in advance for the dead links, page not founds, and lack of photos that you'll no doubt find littered throughout my blog. Anyways before I combust with rage and frustration lets get back on point and take one final look back at July 2017, and take a look at my July beauty empties!

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - 75ml
Kueshi Anti Cellulite Booster Anti Cellulite Lotion - 150ml
Jack Wills Hope Cove Ladies Luxury Body Scrub - 200ml
Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash - 204g
Hei Poa Pur Monoi Tahiti Tiare - 100ml
Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Body Wash - 200ml
Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil - 100ml
Purederm Botanical Choice Exfoliating Foot Mask - 1 Pair
Freedom Pro Studio Brush Bath Sanitising Brush Cleanser - 100ml
Percy & Reed Hair Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery - 30ml
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - 100g
Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Body Lotion - 295ml
Lush The Comforter Shower Cream - 250g

Total - 12 Items 

At last something to be happy about, July proved to be my most successful month of 2017 so far. I managed to finish 12 items, including quite a few bits that I'd forgotten about and rediscovered. No make up again, and for a change no skincare, but I still managed to finish a nice mix of body, and hair products

1. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer - 75ml

I haven't done a favourites or a products I'm loving right now video, on my You Tube channel for ages now, I definitely need to remedy that and one product that I will definitely be featuring will be Philip Kingsley's famous Elasticizer. Originally invented for the goddess that is Audrey Hepburn, this stuff really is a miracle worker. Apply it to damp hair before you shampoo, leave for at least 20 minutes, and then shampoo out, and your hair will be transformed! My hair is rubbish, and it has been for several years now, it goes through phases (thanks to certain products) where it's passable and then it starts falling out and generally looking like crap again. I've used this product sporadically for a few years now but over the last few months I've been using it a couple of times a week and I really can see a difference. I'm still losing hair but my hair definitely feels stronger, and more resilient, and it looks shinier and healthier. This is the original fragrance free version but you can now get various fragranced versions, including my favourite, the Geranium and Neroli and the new Coconut Breeze scent which is perfect for holidays.

2. Kueshi Anti Cellulite Booster Anti Cellulite Lotion - 150ml

This was a product that came in a Glossybox many, many moons ago and it's something that I've been using for the last few months now. Like most people  I'm pretty sceptical when it comes to cellulite products, I don't see how rubbing a bit of cream on your bum and thighs is going to magic all of those lumps, bumps and dimples away, but I'll still keep products every now and then in the vague hope that they will make a difference. This was just a white, cream, it didn't have much of a scent and apart from adding a bit of moisture to my wobbly bits, I didn't feel as though it was doing anything, and I certainly couldn't see any difference in my thighs.

3. Jack Wills Hope Cove Ladies Luxury Body Scrub - 200ml

Me bad - I recently discovered a whole Jack Wills gift set in my wardrobe that I'd completely forgotten about! I love the Hope Cove scent and unusually for body scrubs that come in a tube, this one was actually pretty decent. You know my usual gripe with body scrubs is that they aren't scrubby enough, well despite being in a cream / gel base this one was actually nice and scrubby and it's one that I would happily use again. This particular scrub came in one of the Boots Star Gift Christmas kits, but if you don't want to wait till Christmas, there are still a couple of Jack Wills bits of the Boots website and there are also a few beauty bits on the Jack Wills website x 

4. Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash - 204g

This is the first of two, coordinating Weleda products in the this list, and I'm slightly embarrassed to say that both of them were well past their use buy date. They still smelled okay though and the texture hadn't changed so I thought I better use them up. This vegan shower gel, had a lovely creamy texture and a fruity yet powdery scent. Full of natural, good for you ingredients, a little went a long way and produced a lovely creamy lather which didn't feel drying on the skin. If you're looking for a nice shower product from one of the worlds most established and best known natural brands then this could be something worth trying. If you don't fancy the idea of the Pomegranate scent, Weleda offer several other scents including Wild Rose, Lavender, and Arnica, and you also use them in the bath x

5. Hei Poa Pur Monoi Tahiti Tiare - 100ml*

From one rediscovery to another, and this was a product that I actually reviewed on the Zuneta website. Zuneta were one of the first online stores that really understood the power of the blogger, and several of us were actually featured on their website reviewing products that they'd sent us. It was fun to do, it got us noticed and we got to try lots of new products, those were the good old days and unfortunately in some cases things change, Zuneta is now part of Love Lula and my original post has gone for good so here's a quick summary of what I thought. This is basically a solid coconut oil in a bottle, fragranced with tirare and gardenia, you warm it up in a bowlful or sink full or hot water until it returns to a liquid and then you can use it as a body moisturiser, on the hair as a styling oil, or as an intensive conditioning treatment. It smells fabulous and a little goes a long way. This product isn't that easy to find in the UK so Amazon is probably your best bet, I really liked this but Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt just edges it in to second place, when it comes to solid melting, multipurpose oils.

6. Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Body Wash - 200ml

This isn't the most exciting of products but it's a staple in my bathroom cupboard. Crammed full of natural tea tree essential oil, this gel textured body wash has a refreshing, almost Eucalyptus type scent. Being an antibacterial wash it's perfect for any areas of irritated skin, it's great if you have any body odour issues, and it's a must have if you have pets, for cleaning scratches on them and on yourself! This stuff is brilliant for making you feel really clean, and it's great for using before and after hair removal, and if you heading to somewhere warm and toasty on holiday this summer, then the mosquito's hate it!

7. Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil - 100ml

This Weleda product is a perfect accompaniment to the shower cream that I've just shown you. I think I got this product in a beauty box and as you can see it was well out of date. Thanks to the dark glass bottle, and good storage though, it didn't smell or feel any different. Designed to be used on ageing and slackening skin this oil had a lovely fruity, citrus scent. It was quite a thick oil but it felt nice on the skin and it didn't take too long to absorb. If you like body oils then Weleda is definitely a brand that's worth looking at, they have several other varieties in their range, including lavender for relaxation and Birch for cellulite and skin firming.

8. Purederm Botanical Choice Exfoliating Foot Mask - 1 Pair

Despite liberal applications of foot cream, and body butter, at the beginning of July my feet still looked dry and crusty and they were crying out for even more TLC. After seeing these in a few posts and Instagram pictures I decided to place a little Amazon order, and attack my dry feet head on. I've tried a few of these exfoliating sock treatments now and these ones are by far the best ones that I've used. I used to get them in Primark but the only place that I've seen them recently is Amazon. The idea is simple wash your feet, put the socks on a relax for about an hour, then wash your feet and wait for the magic to happen. It usually takes about a week and then your feet will start shedding like a snake sheds its skin. It's gross yet fascinating at the same time, and at some point you'll definitely feel as though you want to slather your feet in cream but you need to persevere and embrace the crustiness for a little while. Mine have just about finished peeling now and bar a few stubborn bits on my heels my feet are at least 80% better than they were a month ago.

9. Freedom Pro Studio Brush Bath Sanitising Brush Cleanser - 100ml

There are a lot of things that I have no patience for when it comes to beauty, hair removal is one of them and so is brush cleaning! I have an awful lot of make up brushes so I'm one of those people that uses a brush once and then puts it to one side to wash. so I usually end up with dozens and dozens of brushes to wash. I know I should probably wash them as I go but I never do and as a result I make my life so much harder. Over the years I've used a variety of things to clean my brushes, including face wash, and baby shampoo, and various specialist brush cleanser but nothing I've used has come close to this. From the TAM Beauty stable, this is from their Freedom line, and it is hands down, the easiest and nicest smelling brush cleanser that I've used. It's basically a solid brush soap, and all you do is swirl a damp brush into it to create some lather, squeeze, repeat and rinse and your brush is clean. It really does work and it also cleans sponges and beauty blenders like a dream. I've got a couple of other brush cleansers to use but this one is now a staple in my beauty regime.

8. Percy & Reed Hair Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery - 30ml

Another hair product and this time something that was not only completely new to me but something that is also pretty new to the market. This was something that I got in July's Birchbox (see my unboxing video here) and I couldn't resist trying it out straight away. From the hair geniuses at Percy & Reed this is basically an intensive conditioning treatment, that you apply to dry hair just before you go to sleep. You then give it a few minutes to soak in and then you can go to bed without the risk of any residue getting on your pillow. Then in the morning you just shampoo it out and you're left with shiny, bouncier and more manageable hair. I actually really liked this, it left no residue on my pillow, it smelled lovely and I really think that it made a difference to my hair. I'm obviously devoted to my Elasticizer at the moment but I would potentially buy this product again.

9. Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - 100g

Ah Snow Fairy, this is probably one of the cult beauty products of the last 10 years or so and rightfully so. This sweet, sugary shower cream is fun, girly and it is crammed full of sparkles. I love it and so many other people do to. Thankfully I have another couple of bottles to last me till Christmas when hopefully Snow Fairy will be back, making it's annual festive appearance in stores.

10. Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Body Lotion - 295ml

Cry! Well bar half a bottle of hand sanitizer, this is the last Bath and Body Works Winter Candy Apple product that I own. Yes it's another Christmas item, but as I've said previously this scent for me works all year round. You get a hint of festive spices mixed with apple, and most surprisingly pineapple. A little of this creamy body lotion goes a long way, both smoothing and fragrancing the skin. Again Bath and Body Works is a brand that isn't that easy to get hold of in the UK, but The Bath And Body Shop do have a decent selection of products and they also have a few Winter Candy Apple items x 

11. Lush The Comforter Shower Cream - 250g

Finally I'm saying goodbye to another Lush product, and sadly it's also one that Lush are saying goodbye to as well. When I had my bath tub, the Comforter Bubble Bar was one of my favourite products. I love it fruity blackcurrant, berry scent. Thankfully not long after I lost the bath, Lush introduced The Comforter Shower Cream so I could still get my Ribena esq fix. Personally I find this shower cream a little bit drying on the skin but I love the fragrance and I've really enjoyed staining the shower cubicle purple when I've used it! As I've said this product is on Lush's latest goodbyes list so if you like this product you better get a move on and stock up while you can.

So they were my July empties x If you have any questions on any of the items that I've mentioned then please leave me a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for reading and thanks as always for sticking with me x

*Press Sample

Trimming My Stash - October 2016 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

I know I'm a couple of days late again, but today I'm sharing my October beauty empties with you. I can't believe I'm saying that to be honest how is it November already, where did 2016 go! I swear years seemed to drag by when I was child, but not now, blink and you'll miss it!

"Butterfly" Exfoliating Socks - 1 Pair
The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub - 50ml
Lovea Papaya Firming Jelly - 200ml
Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalising Gel Body Oil - 200ml
Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish - 50ml
Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser - Aloe Fresh - 190ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

Total - 7 Items 

September's Trimming My Stash, was a bit of disaster but thankfully in October, I've managed to pull it round a bit and I managed to finish 7 items. Admittedly 6 out of the 7 items were body products, but I still pleased to have finished them and to have created a bit more space in the bathroom.

1. "Butterfly" Exfoliating Socks - 1 Pair

If like my mum, you're not a fan of feet I suggest you skip to the next item because this is going to get graphic. These babies are probably one of the least glamorous beauty products ever but I swear by them. Basically what they are is a pair of plastic socks that contain a lactic acid based solution that smells ever so slightly of rose. You simply wash and dry your feet, then you put the socks on for a couple of hours, before rinsing and drying your feet. These socks are designed to help you get rid of all of the dry skin from your soles and heels, and over the next few week, the dry skin will gradually peel away and fall off, leaving you with baby soft tootsies. These ones are very similar to the Footner Exfoliating Socks that I reviewed here but they are a lot cheaper, I only paid a couple of pounds for these from ebay. Do they work well, I only used them a few days ago so the peeling hasn't really started yet. I'm not expecting miracles because my feet are pretty bad at the moment but fingers crossed that these make a bit of difference.

2. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub - 50ml

I love my body scrubs and that's probably why there are two in this post. I'm trying to use up my trial and travel sizes at the moment, and this was one of them. Over the years I've loved so many products from The Body Shop, and I think that I'm about to fall in love with all of their new Christmas ones, one fragrance that I keep coming back to though, is their Cocoa Butter. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter is my real love but every now and then I do use some of the other products and this is one of them. I love the fragrance of this one and the creamy, moisturising base, but I'm not really a fan of the ground nut, or cocoa bean pieces, give me a salt or a sugar scrub any day! Unfortunately this product no longer seems to be online, and the only cocoa butter products that The Body Shop website have seem to be in the sale so I have the horrible feeling that The Body Shop are discontinuing the Cocoa Butter line. I'm going to try and find out for definite but I'm definitely going be tracking down some body butter just in case.

3. Lovea Papaya Firming Jelly - 200ml

 

This was a product that I was sent to review from My Pure. This cooling, gel like product was designed to freshen and firm the skin, and to be honest despite feeling pretty nice on the skin I'm not actually convinced that it did anything. Despite that the though, I really enjoyed using it, it smelled almost exactly like juicy mango smoothie or a tropical fruit cocktail. You can read a full review of this product here x 

4. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalising Gel Body Oil - 200ml

Another cocoa butter product and this time one from Vaseline. All of the cocoa butter products from Vaseline have a much sweeter and sightly sicklier scent than The Body Shop's, so if you like scents on the sweeter side then this is a range to try. When I first bought this product I couldn't wait to use, what could be nicer, a super moisturising gel, the left the skin silky smooth and with a fabulous healthy sheen. In reality though I found this to be overtly oily, and overtly sticky, and instead of using to highlight a summer tan in sleeveless tops I found that it stained and left marks on my clothes. In fact towards the end of it's life I used it as a foot cream. Like a lot of products the idea was good, but it didn't quite work in practise. This product is still available but it has been renamed; If you want to try it for yourself, it is now called Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Gel Oil.

5. Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish - 50ml

I've got another mini body scrub now for you and this one is from Balance Me. This is their Toning Body Polish which is specifically designed for cellulite and those areas of your personage that maybe quite as smooth and firm as they used to be! Crammed full of essential oils including lavender, geranium, bergamot and juniper, this scrub has a pleasant aromatherapy type scent. Alas it isn't a sugar or a salt scrub, instead you have ground walnut shells suspended in a creamy base. It wasn't bad but i definitely prefer Balance Me's sugar and salt based brightening body polish.

6. Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser - Aloe Fresh - 190ml

Another Vaseline product, but this time it's a product that I love. This product is perfect for anyone how is feeling a bit lazy or anyone who is a bit short of time. Body lotion in a can, it's simple really, depress the nozzle, and spray the fresh scented moisturising mist all over your body, and if you got a minute or two extra massage it in. There was a lot of hype about this product when it launched and I can see why. it's quick and easy to use and it does the job. It's not something that I would use all the time and it probably isn't suitable for very dry skin, but thanks to this body moisturising doesn't have to be a chore.

7. Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

Yawn, yawn! Another packet of these and what more can I say, cheap, full of tea tree, good for emergencies and swatch clean up and I'll definitely buy them again.

So they were my October empties x If you have any questions on any of the products that I've mentioned, then please leave me a comment below and don't forget to link me up to your empties posts or videos x