Trimming My Stash - November 2019 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews*

It seems as though I'm always catching up on blog posts at the minute, and even though we're now nearly into the second week of December I'm still trying to catch up on November's posts. Unfortunately I've had some bad news today so the long Glossybox unboxing post that I had planned for today will have to wait and instead I've got a quick empties post for you,

The Body Shop Frosted Berries Body Butter - 50ml
Primark PS... Cuticle Oil - 10ml

Total - 2 Items

and it will be a quick post because I only managed to finish 2 items in November. After a few really good months, I'm not going to lie, I'm disappointed but that's the way it goes sometimes - I've already finished one product and I'm on the verge of finishing another this month so hopefully December will be a better month all round, at least trimming my stash wise.

1, The Body Shop Frosted Berries Body Butter - 50ml

First up a discontinued festive item from The Body Shop, the Frosted Berries Body Butter. It had a lovely fruity, sweet yet slightly tart, raspberry, cranberry, and blackcurrant based scent. Like all of the body butters in The Body Shop's range, it was crammed full of moisturising ingredients including soybean, cocoa butter and shea butter. It was quite thick and it did take a while to soak in but it was perfect for dry winter, or even summer skin. I have a few more Frosted Berries products to use up but unfortunately this particular scent didn't make a reappearance this festive season.

2. Primark PS... Cuticle Oil - 10ml

I've lost count of how many times I've talked about this bargain bottle of brilliance but unfortunately this will probably be the last time that I mention it - why? well in their wisdom Primark appear to have replaced it with another product. I'll talk about more about that in an upcoming Primark haul but needless to say I'm not a happy bunny. This oil was perfect, it was a £1 a bottle, it smelled lovely and it made a real difference to my cuticles. That's the trouble these days, companies are always changing things, so it pays not to fall in love with anything be it a pair of jeans, a lipstick or indeed a cuticle oil.

Well, that's your lot - a very speedy November Trimming My Stash post, fingers crossed that I can do better in December and end 2019 on a high x If you have any questions let me know and I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with my thoughts on the November 2019 edition of Glossybox x 

*This Post Contains Affiliate Links

Benecos Nail Care Pen - A Review For My Pure*

I don't know about where you are today but it definitely doesn't feel like spring. Although the snow we've had didn't lie, it's damp, grey and freezing outside. I know I seem to be talking about the weather a lot lately - typical Brit I know, but the weather has such a huge influence, on our skin, our hair and our mood.

For as long as I can remember I've suffered from dry hands and nails. I use hand cream as though it's going out of fashion, and ever since I started wearing nail polish, I've used either a cuticle oil or a cuticle cream. If your cuticles are dry and ragged, and if you have hangnails then there isn't really a lot of point in wearing a pretty nail polish, after all there is no point in hanging an expensive painting in a rubbish frame.

Hand creams help, but if you want healthy cuticles and nails then you need to use an oil or a product specifically for the skin around your nails. I've tried a lot of cuticle oils, balms and creams over the years and at last I've found something that I love but like a lot of cuticle oils it comes in a glass bottle. Glass bottles are fine for home use but when you're on the go they really aren't that practical, and like hand creams, cuticle products should really be applied every time you wash your hands. Thankfully though there are few products on the market now that come in more travel friendly packaging, including a new product that I picked up from My Pure.

German brand Benecos is one of the newest brands in the My Pure stable and it's by far one of the most affordable. They produce a huge range of products ranging from skin, body and haircare items, to natural make up products and nail polish. They are certified by BDIH which is a German certification awarded to companies whose products contain natural ingredients and no nasties. Bencecos' philosophy is to produce affordable natural products, that aren't tested on animals, with beneficial ingredient that are organically grown wherever possible.

There are so many products that I want to try from the brand but given the state of my cuticles at the moment I decided to try out the Benecos Natural Nail Care Pen. The ingredients list reads like a who's, who of natural moisturisers and includes jojoba, coconut and sweet almond oils, shea butter, beeswax, and candelilla wax, and it also contains soothing chamomile extract.

Packaged in a pen style applicator, all you do is remove the cap and your great with a brush tip, simply twist the top of the pen a few times to prime it and then slowly the product will start to dispense.

Perfect for when you're on the go, this isn't a runny oil by any means and if anything it actually comes it looking more like a yellow toned, waxy balm.

Give it a couple of seconds though and it melts down to a fine oil, which you just massage into your nails and cuticles to give them both a moisture boost and to help stimulate nail grown.

It sounds strange to say it but this isn't the oiliest of oils, it isn't too thick or too heavy, and after a small amount of massage, it sinks in leaving the cuticles and nails looking healthier in a matter of moments. Oh and I've also used it on my toes too, my toe nails are dry and vile, and a bit of this oil really has made a difference to their appearance, even if it's just in the short term.

Despite all the rich oils and butters this product doesn't have too much of a scent but it doesn't really matter, it does exactly what it's supposed to, and it's both handbag and holiday friendly. It isn't the most exciting of products but it works and that's the main thing, and unlike some high street alternatives it's sensibly priced. The Benecos Natural Nail Care Pen 2ml retails at £6.95 from My Pure. Are you a cuticle oil fan? Let me know x

*Sample

A Winter Skin Saviour? - Trilogy Everything Balm*

Despite a lot of wind, heavy rain and a little bit of snow, this winter so far hasn't been too bad, When you consider though that we're more likely to get snow in February and March than on Christmas Day, we still have quite a bit of winter still to go.

I know I've talked about it a gazillion times but the cold and wintry weather can play havoc with your skin. The cold temperatures and the howling winds, can cause dry skin, chapped lips, and sore and flaky hands. As well as covering up and wearing gloves, the most obvious solution is to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Not only does moisturising help to soften and soothe the skin, but a good moisturiser can also help protect the skin from further damage. So for one of December's My Pure reviews I decided to try an all in one moisturiser that's perfect for this time of year

Trilogy Everything Balm is an all in one moisturising balm that's designed to be used on all parts of the face and body.

It's crammed full of natural ingredients and extracts including rose hip, coconut and jojoba oils to help nourish the skin, and ingredients such as vitamin E, Manuka Honey, calendula and paw paw which help to protect and heal the skin.

This balm comes boxed and in packaged in a screw top, white metal tin which is beautifully decorated in a bright, autumnal flower and leaf design.

This product is a solid waxy balm, that melts on contact with the skin to produce a light, moisturising oil. Because it's a plant based balm it isn't as oily or greasy as some similar mineral oil based products, and it seems to sink into the skin as opposed to just sitting on the surface.

To be honest there is hardly anywhere that you can't use this, if you've got a dry or a sore patch then

pop a bit on. I've mainly been using this as a cuticle treatment on both my fingers and toes, and on some dry patches on my legs, hands and feet.

I've also been using it on my left  hand on a pretty nasty burn that I sustained after a fight with an oven shelf, and I have to say I think it's made a difference. This balm contains both rose hip oil and vitamin E which are fabulous for scarring so that's why I think it's helped take away the flakiness and tame the redness.

This balm has a gentle, rose geranium type scent, it isn't too strong, or too overpowering so you can actually also use it as a lip balm. Again because of the natural plant oils and waxes it seems to absorb into the lips, providing instant relief and moisture.

These are just some of the ways to use this product, there are probably hundreds of different ways and places to use is, which is the reason why it's so economical and versatile. Obviously if your melting it in your hands to use it as a massage oil you'll use quite a bit but in my experience a little goes a long way. The picture above shows my pot after around 4 weeks worth of daily use, and as you can see it looks virtually untouched.

I can't recommend this product highly enough, in fact I'm hard pressed to think of any negatives. It does what it says it does and more, and a little goes a long way. This isn't just a winter saviour I think it's a fabulous all year round product that deserves it's place in any bathroom cabinet. Trilogy Everything Balm comes in two sizes, the 45ml which you can see here, that retails at £12.50 and the 95ml which retails at £20.50, both of which are available from My Pure x If you have any questions please leave me a comment x 

(*Sample)

Press Sample - Caring For Poorly Cuticles With Gwdihw - A Review For My Pure*

Whether it's down to the cold weather, or an increase in housework over the last month my hands and nails have really started to suffer - I've had horrid, sore and bleeding hang nails and cuticles, dry hands and flaking nails. I've got hand and nail growth products to try out which will hopefully make a difference but in the meantime I've been loving a product I've been trying out  for My Pure.

Based in Anglesey, North Wales, Gwdihw or in English Goody Hoo, is a fairly new brand to My Pure. Using traditional methods and local ingredients, they produce a range of natural skin balms and soothers which are all made by hand.

I decided to try their Nail Wizard Balm especially for dry flaky nails, and dry cuticles, containing just 6 ingredients including cocoa butter, beeswax, coconut and olive oils

Packaged in a sweet metal tin, the product initially appears to be quite solid, but as soon as it comes into to contact with the skin, it starts to melt - if you house is really cold though I guess you could pop the pot on the radiator for a minute or two, but I didn't have that problem

You only need a tiny little bit on each nail, as a little seems to go a long way 

It melts down into almost an oil like texture making it super easy to massage into the nails, it also surprised me by being quite quick to absorb into the skin - so your hands and fingers are never left sticky.

I have to say I've really enjoyed using this product, and I really think it's made a difference to my nails. It smells amazing and has a really fresh lemony citrus smell. You don't need a lot, it absorbs quickly, and it doesn't sting any areas of broken skin - I love it! I was previously devoted to Lush Lemony Flutter but whilst I can get my hands on this product I will never buy it again - for me Gwdihw is the way forward. Any questions please leave me a comment x As of 2021 the Gwdihw Goody Hoo Nail Wizard Balm Retails At £4.49 For 25g From My Pure x`

*Press Sample

Operation Nail Growth 1 Month Results - Pro Strong

Well another month gone, another nail care regime tried :) This month I used the Pro Strong regime I am going to do a post in a mo specifically on the how the regime works and the products I used but how did I get on this month. Well if you compare my results from the start of the month here and a fortnight ago here, they may not appear to be much of a difference but I can assure you there has been




as you can see my nails are quite even in length now the uneven thumb nail has grown out and my little finger especially has a nice white tip :) I wish I had taken pics of my right hand too as the difference has been more pronounced there. Never mind considering I have been using my hands a lot for housework etc. I am impressed with the condition of my nails they definitely feel stronger and less fragile. My cuticles etc. still aren't great as you'll see in my Pro Strong post that's probably the one area of the regime I was disappointed with. On the whole I was impressed with the Pro Strong regime and it's one I will definitely try again in the future. But a new month means a new regime and this month it's going to be Mavala - I bought a Mavala product and was lucky enough to be sent another one so that's what I am going to be trying next month

Operation Nail Growth One Month On

Well if you look at these pictures compared to the ones I did a month ago (click here)you can clearly see that nothing has really changed and if anything my nails look slight worse -especially my thumb nail which now has a chunk missing :(
I am not writing the months trial off entirely because after two weeks my nails did look remarkably better - they just seem to have gone downhill since then. Despite more applications of nail oil, cuticle butter and hand cream - my hands and cuticles are insanely dry and I think that's what has lead to the breakages - OPI Nail Envy certainly helps but maybe it's time for something new. Last month during my spending diet disaster I picked up a Pro Strong Nail Kit from QVC (and the OPI Alice Minis but that's another story ;)) I must admit I have used Pro Strong before with pretty decent results - the only reasons I stopped were that I find it a hard system when your wear nail polish and I felt I used the product up too quickly but never mind I am going to persevere with it for this months nail growth challenge.


I'll explain about the system in more detail in a future post but this is the basic kit I got with the fluoride and calcium treatments, two cuticle products and a hand cream - I also have a few other Pro Strong products at home including a top and base coat, some colours, and some BioFusion serum. So this is what I am going to be using in March I might use some Jessica nail oil and some other hand creams alongside it but this is going to be my basic nail care regime for the next month. Instead of doing a monthly round up I think I might do one in two weeks time particularly comparing my worst nail - my left thumb just to see if there is any change even in that short time - get on :) x If that treatment regime fails after a month my next stop is Mavala (some of which I bought and some of which I was sent), and then something I saw in a recent All That Glitters21 February Favourites video - there are so many nail care products out there it's a bit confusing. So wish me luck - it's going to be a tough month for my little fingers in and out of water but we'll see how I get on :) x

Operation Nail Growth

As you can see this month I have bought some fabby nail varnish but as yet you've seen no nails of the day posts, well at the moment my nails aren't worth painting. Illness, medication, and the cold weather has all meant my nails are awful, super dooper short, with dry cuticles and hangnails (the pics actually make them look better than they are)


So for the next month I have decided to try a little experiment - operation nail growth - I am going to have a good go at getting a proper nail routine together with proper nail and cuticle moisturising, and some nail strengthening products, using items by OPI, Jessica, Leighton Denny, Nails Inc, Lush and so on which I already own (see not buying anything new ;) )

So have a good luck at my before nails and hopefully in a months time I can show you something a bit nicer - wish me luck and if you have any nail, hand and cuticle care hints and recommendations let me know x

Last Pre Spending Diet Haul - AVON

I received my AVON haul today (which was ordered before my spending diet started so it doesn't count ;p)I got...

Spectra Lash Mascara - this looks really interesting - 3 looks in the one tube - the tube and wand seems a bit bulky but we'll see how I get on


True Colour Eyeshadow Quad - Purple Haze - I can't believe how Chanel a like these look - very, very similar palettes and a similar layout- see for yourself


The AVON Palette (the colours are truer in the full haul pic)




The Chanel palette (pic courtesy of Boots


AVON Nail Expert Cuticle Balm

AVON Brazil Beat Body Mist

Bronze Sun Protection Anti Shine Face Cream and Sun Screen Stick

Also included a pic of my Benefit A Little Bit Bad Gal Lash Mascara