Quite a lot of beauty empties this month and a little bit of everything.
BODY
The Body Shop Body Butter in Jolly Orange - like all of the Body Shop butters it has a nice texture, sinks in quickly, is nourishing and moisturising. Took me AGES to finish it and in that time I went through a love/hate relationship with the smell. It's citrusy and spicy but in a rather artificial way. I will repurchase but not in this smell. It was limited edition anyway.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum - my signature scent. Will definitely repurchase, probably the 100ml because I just have to have it in my collection. I don't care how uncool it is to love something that everyone likes. Everyone likes it for a reason.
HAIR
Co Lab Dry Shampoo in Fresh - good basic dry shampoo. I prefer the smell of Active.
Josh Wood Radiant Shine Hair Treatment Oil - I liked using this as a pre-shampoo treatment. Gorgeous smell. Amazing.
FACE. SKINCARE
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse - nice as always. Full review here.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel - this is one of the stronger acids I have tried. Proper tingling action. Visible results after one application, the skin felt much smoother but I broke out a bit too. I'm going to stick to gentler acids during summer, I think. Smells lovely.
Indie Lee CoQ 10 Toner - I miss it. Definitely worth repurchasing if one can afford it. I can't at the moment. I did some damage in the clothing sales. Full review here.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate sample - Nice. Hydrating. Not sticky. Wouldn't mind a full size.
UltraSun Face SPF30 - oh it's alright. I don't miss it. Comparison with other sunscreens here.
FACE. MAKEUP
Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes - I grew to really like this but it's not repurchase worthy. Do get the sample size if you're ordering from CT website!
No favourites this month. I will probably do summer favourites in a month or so.
Next post if all goes well should be all about The Ordinary advanced 2% retinoid! This week I will be using it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Wish me luck. I will report back.
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Overall, I am very happy with this box. I knew I wanted to get it because I was particularly interested in Zelens Power D oil and Tata Harper Regenerating eye cream and I would have probably bought them at some point this year. Just these two items cost £195. The box also includes Indie Lee toner, Dr Dennis Gross peel pads (both brands I have heard of a lot and haven't tried). And Pixi + CH double cleanse, of course, which is a favourite of mine.
The only product that I had my doubts about was the January Labs lotion, purely because they call it a lotion. I, as an owner of a dry-ish and dehydrated skin, don't typically go for lotions. However, I LOVE the consistency and feel of January Labs Moisture Balancing Lotion. It is light, yet really hydrating and will be perfect for warmer summer days.
Another product I know I will love until the end is Tata Harper Regenerating Eye Cream. It's not only a texture that I like (creamy but not too heavy. sinks in fast and moisturises well) or the smell (reminds me of Dr Hauschka eye cream) but also the effect on my skin. I don't know how to describe it, but it just looks and feels better. Instantly. The pump is a bit annoying because it deposits way too much product, I only need like a third of a pump because a little goes a long way (thank God, because this is one pricey eye cream!).
Zelens Power D is a lightweight oil which sinks in fast and leaves the skin comfortable and nourished. Indie Lee CoQ10 Toner also has some calming and soothing properties. Can't say much about anti-ageing but my skin liked it. And it smells good!
The only thing I haven't tried is the Dr Dennis Gross acid pads because I currently have three different forms of acids on rotation (liquid, serum and mask. and not all at the same time!) and I need to finish some of them up.
I wish the box had included some kind of fancy SPF but that's just me being super picky. All in all, money well spent. I am probably sorted for most things skincare until autumn. Except SPF.
How is it the 8th of May already and it's STILL dark and cold outside. So NOT impressed with this spring. Apologies for a grainy picture yet again, I blame the weather, clearly.
I haven't bought anything much this month and that's because I forked out the big bucks for a 100ml of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady. It is a gorgeous rose scent, quite dark and intoxicating and the staying power is superb. Try it if you get a chance!
Next, it is The Ordinary again with two overnight treatments: Advanced Retinoid 2% (full review is coming soon) and Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. Both are super gentle but effective.
Pixi by Petra Multi Balm in Wild Rose is so easy to use and has been my blusher of choice for months. I just apply it straight from the stick and blend it out with a brush.
Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defense spray is an old favourite. Offers heat protection, doesn't weigh my hair down and smells GOOD.
And finally, style favourites: my 22k yellow gold earrings I bought in India and my monochrome leopard blouse from Primark. A true high and low mix here.
Anyone else excited about CH + Cult Beauty box? Fingers crossed I will manage to snap it up!

Bliss Multi-face-eted clay mask - it took me AGES to finish this one. Clay + 10% glycolic mask sounds great. But this thing does NOT wash off easily and stains my wash cloths. To wash it off my face I had to use an oil cleanser! I finally gave up and started using this on my legs as an ingrown hair treatment.
Pixi + CH double cleanse - great. Full review here.
Philip Kingsley Elizastisizer - this is another #carolinehironsmademedoit product. Nice mask/pre-wash treatment for dry coloured hair. I will repurchase.
Philip Kingsley Perfecting Spray - meh. I used this before blow drying my hair and it was alright. But I much prefer the daily defense spray from PK which I am using at the moment.
Ren Flash Rinse 1 minute vit C facial - good. full review here. It oxidised slightly in the end. Will not repurchase. I think when it comes to vit C, serums are the way to go.
Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 - my favourite. I want to get the SPF40 from the same line but it is sold out everywhere! Argh.
More empties and stuff that just went bad:
Dr Hauschka cleansing cream and toner - both products I like and have used previously. Love the smell and how gentle they are.
MAC Prep+Prime eyelid primer - had this for too long. And there are better primers on the market.
By Terry lip gloss in cupcake glaze (?) - Nice lip gloss. Not worth the price. I did not purchase this. The smell went bad so to the bin it goes.
NYX lip liner - It was okay, I prefer a liner that stays put better. This one was... too creamy.
Eyeko eyeliner - If you're considering buying this, don't. It dried up within weeks and was difficult to use. Get the Stila stay all day eye liner instead ;)
Real Techniques brow brush - this is quite old and the bristles caved in to the brush handle, if that makes any sense.
Pixi + CH double cleanse - great. Full review here.
Philip Kingsley Elizastisizer - this is another #carolinehironsmademedoit product. Nice mask/pre-wash treatment for dry coloured hair. I will repurchase.
Philip Kingsley Perfecting Spray - meh. I used this before blow drying my hair and it was alright. But I much prefer the daily defense spray from PK which I am using at the moment.
Ren Flash Rinse 1 minute vit C facial - good. full review here. It oxidised slightly in the end. Will not repurchase. I think when it comes to vit C, serums are the way to go.
Clinique City Block Sheer SPF25 - my favourite. I want to get the SPF40 from the same line but it is sold out everywhere! Argh.
More empties and stuff that just went bad:
Dr Hauschka cleansing cream and toner - both products I like and have used previously. Love the smell and how gentle they are.
MAC Prep+Prime eyelid primer - had this for too long. And there are better primers on the market.
By Terry lip gloss in cupcake glaze (?) - Nice lip gloss. Not worth the price. I did not purchase this. The smell went bad so to the bin it goes.
NYX lip liner - It was okay, I prefer a liner that stays put better. This one was... too creamy.
Eyeko eyeliner - If you're considering buying this, don't. It dried up within weeks and was difficult to use. Get the Stila stay all day eye liner instead ;)
Real Techniques brow brush - this is quite old and the bristles caved in to the brush handle, if that makes any sense.
Okay, as soon as I read that rockstar of skincare Caroline Hirons was collaborating with Pixi to release a cleanser two things were absolutely clear to me: 1. I need it. 2. It will be awesome. And I was right. After all, I love Pixi skincare and I love Caroline.
Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse is two cleansers in one round pot separated like Yin and Yang. The solid oil cleanser (with vitamin E, camelia and evening primrose oils) removes all the makeup, spf, dirt, grease, what have you, and the creamy cleanser (with vitamin C, peptide complex and Arginnie) gently cleanses the skin. The skin feels soft and nourished afterwards. I especially like using this cleanser whilst taking a bath. I slowly massage the oil cleanser over my face, emulsify with a bit of water and remove it with moist flannel, then I apply the creamy cleanser and leave it on my skin as a mask. Gorgeous.
I kind of wish this cleanser had a smell but I must be a minority and I do realise that they wanted to create a cleanser that even the most sensitive of skins could use.
The cost is pretty great too, £24 for a tub that lasts a long time. It's only 2x 50ml but you don't need much at all. Emma Hardie Moringa Balm (another of my favourites) costs £38 for the same 100ml.
Will I repurchase? Absolutely. It's out of stock in my local M&S. And M&S online too. How rude. I need to stash some away, in case it gets discontinued.
I kind of wish this cleanser had a smell but I must be a minority and I do realise that they wanted to create a cleanser that even the most sensitive of skins could use.
The cost is pretty great too, £24 for a tub that lasts a long time. It's only 2x 50ml but you don't need much at all. Emma Hardie Moringa Balm (another of my favourites) costs £38 for the same 100ml.
Will I repurchase? Absolutely. It's out of stock in my local M&S. And M&S online too. How rude. I need to stash some away, in case it gets discontinued.
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