Goodreads Reading Challenge 2017.

Last year I once again I signed myself up for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. 

I find that it is a great inspiration and encourages me to pick up a book to read which I find feels more rewarding than simply messing around on line (enjoyable as that is...) It also provides an easy way of keeping track of what I have read and I always enjoy looking back at the books that I have (mostly!) enjoyed over the course of the year.

Each year I set myself the goal of reading fifty two books. I spend a fair amount of my time commuting so a book a week is attainable for me and I find that this is about the right amount - I want to be challenged but I don't want to feel pressured to allocate more time than I reasonably have to reading so that it becomes unenjoyable and feels like a chore.

I was happy to look back and find that I had read sixty books in 2017 (I read fifty seven in 2015 and sixty three in 2016). I'm going to aim to read fifty two books again in 2018 when I set up my current challenge.

I love the statistics that Goodreads provide you with when you complete your year's reading. This year I read 19,038 pages! The most popular book I read was Into The Water by Paula Hawkins which 229,901 other people read and the average rating out of five that I awarded to my books was 3.6.

I read a whole variety of types of books. This year the most popular genres that I read were General Fiction (twenty one), Thrillers (fifteen) and Biography/Autobiography (twelve).

I also read six non fiction books, four of which were to do with society/sociology, three volumes of short stories, three volumes of essays and two coffee table type books.

It was very hard for me to pick a 'Book of the Year' as I read so many outstanding books this year but I think it would have to be Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life. My favourite biography of the year was Lonely Boy by Steve Jones and my Favourite thriller was Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. I also loved Caitlin Moran's Moranifesto.

There were a few duds in my book pile, ones that I kept on reading in the hopes that they would get better but didn't. The books that I least enjoyed this year were Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, Eggshells by Caitriona Lally and Marc Levy's P.S. From Paris.

If you would like to take part in the challenge simply visit goodreads.com and sign up where it says 'Reading Challenge'. It's a great motivator as well as a nice way to keep a record of what you've read.

If you are an avid reader or someone who wishes to read more go for it. 

Good Luck!

Sephora Weekly Specials #3: The Gift & Receive Sample Bag.

In addition to some very good weekly special offers before Christmas Sephora also step up their game with the gifts that come with online orders. This year there were three different sample bag promotions, all of which had a choice of several different bags. I opted for one of the 'Gift & Receive' bags which were available with orders over $35.00. Five different bags were available and I opted for the 'Moisturize and be Merry' version, pictured above.

Skincare

Fresh Rose Face Mask is one of my favourite moisturising masks! It is a gel mask that smells amazing and does a great job of hydrating skin, leaving it softened and plumped, It also feels cool and calming and I like to use this after a peel or treatment. This sample is a generously sized 15ml one, enough for three or four uses. 

Clinique Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate (7ml) is a gel like serum and the newest addition to Clinique's popular Moisture Surge range. Although I don't use Moisture Surge products much these days I was a big fan of them some years ago. The products are hydrating gels rather than creams and they do an excellent job of adding moisture to dehydrated skins without being overly expensive. I have tried this serum once before and I did like it a lot - enough to consider buying it in fact.  

Biossance 100% Squalane Oil (4ml) is a multipurpose oil for body, face and hair. I've never used pure squalane but I have used products containing it and found it to be very moisturising. I am a bit put off by body/face/hair multi use products, but I am keen to try this out as I am considering getting The Ordinary Squalane when I do another Deciem order and feel that this is a similar product.

Bodycare

There is only one body care item included in this set but it is a good one - a 15ml sample of L'Occitane Amande Supple Skin Oil. I always use some sort of body lotion/cream/ oil after showering and I am very fond of almond scented products so this is a great sample as far as I'm concerned!

Perfume

Hmm, knowing that the bag's theme is moisturising I do find the inclusion of two perfume samples a bit odd but I sort of get it - these are both clean, fresh, watery scents.

I have to admit to finding Replica Lazy Sunday Morning a little too 'fabric softener like' for a skin scent, but it is very light and wearable. Although it isn't to my personal taste I will wear it when I need a mild inoffensive perfume. 

Clean Reserve White Cotton is a little stronger, and more floral but it's a similar sort of scent, again it isn't something that I would pick for myself but I will wear it. 

Make Up

 Finally, there is a  generously sized (half sized?) sample of Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip which is a gloss finish liquid lipstick. I don't know the name of the shade I received but it is a dark toned nude with a mauve-ish undertone. I'm not big on liquid lipsticks as I find them to be quite drying, but as this is included in a moisturising set I'm hoping this one will be the exception to the rule. It's a very wearable colour also so I will certainly use this as long as it doesn't make my lips feel dry.

Overall

I do love getting a fistful of sample to try! I like that this bag not only included new things for me to try it also contained a few old favourites. There is a good range of products in this set but it would have been even better if there had been a haircare item included (in place of one of the perfumes perhaps?). All in all though I love this and everything came packaged in a sturdy make up bag which makes it feel even more of a gift!   

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Autumn 2017.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free but you pay $5.00 for shipping. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box which is aimed at younger shoppers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers.

There has been a whole bunch of problems with the shipping of the Autumn Walmart Beauty Box. My box finally arrived on December 15th, a little less than a week before it is officially Winter (December 21st). Was it worth the wait? Here's a look inside...

Mini and Travel Sized Items

Tresemme Hair Spray # 4 Extra Firm Hold (1.5oz).

This is the closest thing to a full size in this season's box and it is a repeat item that I have had in a previous Walmart box. It is a firm hold basic hairspray, there's nothing exciting about this and I'm not a huge lover of the fragrance - it has a typical old fashioned hairspray scent - but it's a practical product that I will use.

Gold Bond Ultimate Radiance Renewal Body Cream (.75oz).

Gold Bond resonates with me as a deeply unsexy yet functional brand and I can't recall ever having tried anything from them before. This rich body cream contains coconut oil, cocoa and Shea butters and it smells like a warm delicious mix of these ingredients. This is quite a rich thick cream that feels very hydrating and I'm actually quite surprised that I like this cream as much as I do!

Hello Extra Whitening Toothpaste (.85oz).

It's a good job that I find mini tubes of toothpaste handy to have around for traveling with because I feel as if I get a tube of Hello Toothpaste in almost every Walmart box! I'm quite happy to receive this as I will use it but a little variety would be nice now and again lol.

Plackers Dental Flossers (12 pieces).

Another practical item, I can't get too excited about a few flossers but these aren't a total dud as I will use them.

Body Fantasies Eau de Toilette Sprays (2x 15ml).

These sprays are designed to be layered and worn together, one smells very fruity and the other like a powdery floral. These are not my kind of thing at all, I only wear niche perfumes and these smell like cheap drugstore fragrances. I hate to be a perfume snob but I won't be using these as perfume and I dislike their smell enough that I won't even be re purposing them as room sprays.

Samples

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo (15ml).

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie (30ml).

I like Shea Moisture hair products as a rule so I'm disappointed that these samples are for curly hair and won't be suitable for my fine straight hair. I may give the shampoo a try but I will have to skip the leave in curl enhancing conditioner. As a side note I do appreciate how Shea Moisture sample duos always give you twice the amount of conditioner to shampoo, personally I find this ratio of product to be just right.

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion (.31oz).

This multi tasking in shower lotion exfoliates with 'micro pearls' as well as being a moisturiser. I love Nivea body products as a rule but I've yet to try an in shower body lotion that I like. I will use this but I'm not expecting to love it.

Nivea Oil Infused Body Lotion 'Cherry Blossom and Jojoba Oil (.14 oz).

This is a tiny sample for a body product but I will use it as I really do like Nivea body lotions. (I actually have a full size bottle of this in my cupboard that I bought recently and have yet to open.)

SOO AE Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask (.35oz).

At first I thought this was a sheet mask but it appears to be a large sachet of overnight cream. I confess to knowing very little about Korean Beauty (and also donkey milk!) but I'm quite curious to give this a go.

Olay Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream (.02 oz).

This is a teeny tiny sachet of cream such as you would find in a magazine. I'm sure I will try this out but I can't help but feel that the inclusion of such a small sample feels a bit cheap.

Coupons

There are four money off coupons in this box: $3.00 off Olay Luminous products, $2.00 off Hello toothpaste, $1.00 off Body Fantasies Fragrance Sprays and 35 cents off Plackers flossers.  The only one of these that I may use is the one for the flossers.

Overall

I'm feeling a little 'meh' about this box TBH. I'm not strictly disappointed in this box, more like underwhelmed. There are a few things here that I will use but the only thing that feels like a new discovery is the SOO AE Sleeping Mask. This box feels very random, it's really a bunch of samples that have been thrown together, I was expecting something a little better especially considering that the distribution of these boxes has taken so long. However having said that it's technically a 'free' box and I still have a few new samples to add to my travel stash.

I noticed that there is a card included in this month's box saying that you can customise future boxes so I'm going to do that and fingers crossed the next box will hopefully be more to my taste. 

You can sign up and subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com

Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

P.S. From Paris.

When successful actress Mia discovers that her husband has been cheating on her once again, she flees to Paris to stay with her childhood friend, Daisy. Snooping on Daisy's computer she discovers a French online dating agency, and uploads her profile. Meanwhile across town, friends of Paul, an American writer, have uploaded his profile without him knowing. Soon Mia and Paul find themselves together on a blind date... Both insist that they are not looking for romance yet as their paths cross time and time again it becomes increasingly difficult for them to remain 'just friends'. 

I'm really, really hoping that something was lost in translation here because I simply cannot see from reading P.S. From Paris how Marc Levy is France's most loved author. I didn't enjoy the style of writing and the plot, as well as being quite unbelievable, simply didn't seem to flow. The characters weren't fleshed out enough to feel real and the situations and dialogues they found themselves in were all highly unlikely. 

Nothing made sense to me in this story, from the friendships of the main characters, through their immature and emotionally clouded behaviour.I'm sorry but real people simply do not behave as the characters here did. Everything in this book fell flat for me, the attempts at humour simply weren't funny and I couldn't even find any charm in the descriptions of Parisian life or food.

I only stuck with the book to the end as it was a quick read but even so it took me some time as I was only reading it finish it rather than for enjoyment!

This was a very disappointing book for me, one of the worst that I have read this year.

Not recommended.

Odd Child Out.

Noah is a boy from a privileged background, Abdi is the child of Somalian refugees, yet in spite of their wildly different backgrounds the two boys are inseparable best friends. Following a vernissage of his Father's art in a Bristol gallery, Noah is found near to death floating in a canal in a derelict part of the home city. Abdi was present when Noah entered the water but either can't or won't tell what happened.

At the time of the accident Bristol is a city fraught with racial tensions. Investigating detective Jim Clemo and the local police force are under pressure to not only solve the case but to monitor the press and social media so as to avert a potentially explosive situation. Narrated from the points of view of the main characters, the story slowly reveals what happened to the boys on the night in question, and while the ending wasn't a big surprise there was something satisfying in the way that all the loose ends came together. 

Odd Child Out was a sad, but rewarding read, with well drawn highly credible characters from a broad section of society. I wouldn't class it as a mystery novel as such - this book has many layers and it was as much about the bonds of family and friendships as it was about police procedures and Noah's accident. 

This was the first book that I have read by Gilly Macmillan and I'm greatly looking forward to reading others by this talented writer.

Recommended.

Empties: November 2017.

November's empty pile is quite a healthy looking one as I managed to use up twelve full sized items and twenty five samples.

Skincare.

I managed to empty six full sized skincare items. 
NuFace Prep-n-Glow are textured cleansing cloths aka super fancy face wipes. They served me well on a trip away from home but aren't something that I would ever use with any regularity. One side of them is quite knobbly and while they seemed to do a better job of removing make up than your average wipe I still washed my face with a proper cleanser afterward.

The next four items could all be featured in my 'best of skincare' lineup! 
Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover is a non irritating creamy make up remover that whisks away even the most stubborn mascaras easily.
La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water and Evan Healy Lavender Facial Tonic HydroSoul are both facial sprays that are hydrating and calming - I've used both of them before and I will use them both again in the future.
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Serum is an extremely hydrating serum that keeps dehydrated skin in check (and is one of my favoured daytime serums) as it does so whilst being light and comfortable. It's simple formula means that you can layer it with other products and make up without any piling or irritation.

I'm a big fan of Dr Dennis Gross skincare so it pains me to say that I wasn't all that impressed by his Medi Spa Peel kit. The pads were big and generously saturated with product but I didn't see any more of an improvement from these than I did from his regular Alpha Beta Peel Pads - in fact, I think I prefer the Alpha Beta Pads. However, the Firming Peptide Milk that was included in the kit was a highly effective and calming moisturiser, so much so that I would consider buying it by itself to use with other pads and peels.
I used up a lot of skincare samples in November, fourteen of them to be exact! 

Youth to the People Kale+Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Age Prevention Cleanser (what a name!) was a gel cleanser that was just okay, there was nothing outstanding or special about this for me. Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm on the other hand was excellent, it has a lovely consistency for facial massage and when used as a second cleanse (it's far to nice to waste removing make up) it left my skin clean and softened.

I used samples of two hydrating masks. Fresh Rose Face Mask is a previously used favourite. Derm Institute Anti Oxidant Hydration Mask comes handily packaged in individual sachets. I take two of these with me when I fly, one to use the night I land to help my skin recover from the flight, and one to use the night before I fly home to prep and protect skin. 

I used three eye cream samples. Malin+Goetz new Revitalising Eye Cream hydrated my under eye area well but it was too greasy for me and left my eyes a little blurry after use. Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Eye Cream is rich, non greasy, and does a lovely job of smoothing everything around the eye area. 3Lab Super Eye Treatment is comfortable to wear and does an all round amazingly good job of addressing all my eye area concerns, but it's over $400.00 for a full size...

I used five serum samples, three of which were Vichy Mineral 89. I have been so impressed with this wallet friendly HA gel serum that I have bought a full sized bottle. Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum and Valmont Prime B Cellular are both clear gel serums that are pretty pricey. Both of them were  nice to use but not especially spectacular in any way. 

Finally I used two samples of moisturiser. Valmont Firming Lifting Corrector Factor II was a fairly rich cream with a green grassy scent that felt very nourishing, but the skincare sample that I most loved this month was Tata Harper Repairative Moisturiser as it felt light yet soothed and hydrated my skin so well. It was a brilliant day time cream that layered well with other products and smelt fresh and herbal, this one is on my shopping list!

Haircare.

I only finished one full sized haircare item, Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Conditioner. I did enjoy using this, because of course, it made my hair and bathroom smell extraordinarily good and was a very luxurious way to start the day, but in terms of performance I didn't think that it did much  for my hair beyond detangling it. It was sort of a super fancy Herbal Essences! And the square bottle with a screw top drove me mad every time I used it as it was so impractical. I wish it had had a flip top and had been more rounded so that I could have emptied it completely.

I had been looking forward to finally trying Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo. It smelled fresh and clean but was a bit too heavy for my fine hair, leaving it a little lank looking. I actually gave up on this and passed it over to Mr C&C who did like it.

I used two samples of hair products. OUAI Hair Oil is one of my favourite leave in conditioning/smoothing products. R+Co High Dive leave in conditioning cream had a strong powdery scent that I liked and although it did a good job of detangling I found that if I used too much it made my hair look a little string-y so I had to be careful not to overdo it.

Bodycare.

I used some varied body care items up in November.
TonyMoly Changing Magic Foot Peeling Shoes were one of the strangest beauty products I have ever used and I had been curious to try them! I wrote about them in depth elsewhere so I'll spare the (somewhat gory) details and merely report that they weren't as good as I was hoping them to be.

I also used up two hand creams. Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Cream is something I have used before, the formula is great, it smells softly of roses and it's perfectly sized for a handbag - the tube is sturdy and leak proof also. I was less keen on a sample of Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, I know that this is excellent if you have badly chapped hands or need to protect them but for me it is a little too greasy feeling to be comfortable.

Aromatherapy Associates Support Bath Oil smelt strongly of Lavender and Peppermint and was a calming addition to a bath. The sample was enjoyable and a full sized bottle would be a welcome gift but I don't ever think I would purchase this myself as these oils are quite expensive. I would buy good quality essential oils and blend my own in preference.

I finally got around to using a Crabtree & Evelyn Body Wash that I have had for a long, long time. It was a nice gentle formula that produced a rich lather but the 'English Honey and Peach Blossom' scent was a bit too peach like for me.

I'm still working my way through my stash of Space NK Life body products! Daily Fix Body Lotion is a richly hydrating, practically unscented cream that leaves my skin soft and comfortable.
I also used a sachet of Sisley Restorative Body Lotion. It was an excellent body cream that had a delicate lavender perfume but as nice as it is, it is far too expensive for me to ever consider purchasing - especially with the way I need to slather on lotion daily!

Make Up and Perfume.

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser may well be my most used and most loved beauty product ever! Medium coverage that makes skin look glowing, SPF 15 and skin protecting antioxidants make this my desert island product. I use it everyday and had another tube in stock ready to open as soon as this one was empty.

I was really loving my mini Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in 'Peacemaker', a brown toned nude. It had a creamy texture and is exactly the shade I like to wear. Unfortunately it also had a cap that came off in my bag (thankfully in a toiletries bag and not my actual handbag!) and meant that it smashed to pieces. I do have another of these (that is staying at home!) but I think that I may well buy a full sized one before too long as I like it so much. Another lip product I liked was Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask. I had a sampler of three shades, all of which I liked, and found it to be thick and nourishing. This not only stayed on my lips for a good amount of time, it tasted good also.

I used three vials of perfume: Michael Kors Sexy Amber; Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and Diptyque Eau de 34. I liked all of these but not enough to want to purchase full sizes of any of them.

Wow! That was a lot of empties!
I'm not sure how many things I will use up in December as I have a lot of new products that I have just opened but sometimes I surprise myself. And at the end of December I will be totting up how many empties I have produced over the course of a year which is always quite a surprising amount when added all together!

Moranifesto.

Moranthology is a collection of newspaper columns and essays by British journalist Caitlin Moran.  

With her usual mix of wit and wisdom Caitlin explores popular culture, reports on family life and motherhood, as well as knowledgeably presenting her stance on an array of political concerns and feminism - all of which form part of her personal manifesto, or more specifically her Moran-ifesto.

There are some new pieces but the majority of these sixty six pieces have previously been published in her regular Sunday Times column. Some of these pieces date from 2013 but they are no less relevant today and indeed some of her posts possess great foresight.

I read this volume right the way through, cover to cover, but you could equally dip in and out it as all the pieces stand alone.

. 

   I love Caitlin Moran. I agree with her on pretty much everything and she is hilariously funny so, of course, I adored this book. I'm going to recommend everyone reads it. It would make a great gift for almost anyone who's even slightly compassionate and aware - hell, even if they're not give them this in the hope it may change their way of thinking.

Recommended.

Sandwiches of New York #14.

What is it? Ch-ch-ch-chia

Where's it from? No.7 Sub, 1118 Broadway (btwn. 28th St and 29th St).

What's in it? Grapefruit Chia Chicken, Black Bean Hummus and Banana Peppers.

How much does it cost? $12.25 + tax

No. 7 Sub is somewhere that I have been wanting to visit for some time. It's a small sandwich shop in the NoMad/Flatiron district and it's right next to the Ace Hotel lobby. You order your sandwich at the counter and wait for the friendly staff to call your name. As well as sandwiches they have some grain bowls, a few salads and side dishes, chips, along with a selection of sodas and non alcoholic drinks. I came at the height of lunchtime and service was fairly brisk. There are a handful of stools but it's a small space that is pretty crowded and it's kind of dark and dingy. A much better option than eating here is to get your sandwich to go and walk down to Madison Square Park if the weather is good, or stroll nonchalantly into the Ace Hotel lobby and eat there. 

I have to say that I was pretty underwhelmed by my sandwich from No.7 Sub. They have a reputation for unusual and flavoursome sandwiches so maybe I ordered badly... This tasted like a pulled chicken sandwich with salsa and it was pretty dull and bland, thank goodness for the banana peppers that livened it up somewhat. I opted for a wholewheat sub and I found the bread to be very disappointing, it was somewhat dry and tasteless and there was a high ratio of bread to filling. The sandwich was a decent size but it was pretty boring and I thought that the price was a little on the high side. 

I wanted to like this place but with so many other great sandwich shops available to me I won't be rushing back here anytime soon.

Minimal Skincare: What I Took with Me on a Six Day Trip.

I travel a fair amount for work and while I have most of my packing down to a fine art I always end up humming and haa-ing about what skincare to take with me. I usually take far to much thinking hopefully that I will experiment or do elaborate routines and masks to while away the evenings, when what really happens is that I sit in front of Youtube all evening and tumble into bed after an improvised and speedy routine.

On a recent six day/five night trip to Florida I wanted to avoid checking a bag. I didn't need to take any haircare or body care items so it was just my skincare and make up needs that had to fit into the regulation size carry on ziplock bag. I rifled through my samples and minis, a selection of which coupled with some (dare I say it!) wipes and pads, seemed to cover all my skincare needs.

Here's a look at what I took with me.

Cleansers and Make Up Removers.

Sephora Express Eye Make Up Remover Wipes.

I always remove my eye make up separately and these wipes from Sephora are a great travel option. They are very effective at dissolving even the stubbornest mascaras, they don't irritate my eyes, and I love that they come in individual sachets. These are large in size and I find that one is enough to remove everyday make up from both eyes- I just flip it over so that I use a different side on each eye.

NuFace Prep-N-Glow.

These are really fancy just make up remover wipes aren't they? But they come in a pack of five (perfect!) and they contain Hyaluronic Acid along with fruity antioxidants and minerals to protect and refresh skin. They are also alcohol free unlike a lot of other wipes and one side is textured so that you can use it to physically exfoliate your face with if you wish.

TULA Purifying Face Cleanser.

This is going to be my second cleanse and morning face wash. I have never used it before but I've read good reviews although I am a little concerned that as this is foamy it may be drying. I normally steer away from something like this but I'm willing to give it a go as my skin often gets shiny and congested in high heat and humidity.

(However I have a Plan B...)

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm.

This indulgent (i.e. expensive) balm is the bomb! Even though it is dark grey in colour and has a deep earthy smell which reminds me of potatoes I find that as well as feeling luxurious on my skin it does wonders it as it cleanses. So much so I'm relying on this to save my skin if my other cleansers prove to be too harsh. It's also in my ziplock bag in case I have a long or hard day and feel in need of some extra pampering!

Toners.

F.A.B. Facial Radiance Pads.

These pads are gentle enough to use as an everyday acid toner. They contain glycerine and aloe to add moisture and soften skin along with Lactic and Glycolic acids to exfoliate and brighten. I picked these out as they are another non liquid item that I could actually pack into my carry on suitcase. 

Tarte Ready Set Radiant Facial Mist.

This is my second toner, and general facial spray to be used if I I feel the need for something to refresh or hydrate tired looking skin. Another new product for me, it smells lovely and feels plumping, I've a feeling I will use it up rather quickly!

Serums.

Dr Denis Gross C+Collagen Serum.

Even a short flight such as the one I took has the tendency to leave skin looking dull and grey so I thought that a daytime serum with a big dose of skin brightening Vitamin C such as was ideal to bring. This is a weightless gel and it is perfect for warm and humid days. As well as working over time to address pigmentation issues and smooth fine lines it adds an instant glow to skin. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. 

Taking care of dry skin, fine lines and dullness this multi purpose night time serum targets a variety of concerns - just what a minimal skincare collection needs!   

Moisturisers and Treatments. 

The Ginza Moisturising Emulsion.

This lightweight lotion is light enough to wear under make up on even the hottest of days and I find that it packs enough of a moisturising punch to be used as a night time cream as well. It's a basic moisturiser so it can be layered with pretty much anything and it always leaves my skin looking plump and dewy.

Derm Institute AntiOxidant Hydration Mask.

Packed in single dose sachets these gel masks are simple to use and very effective. Apply a whole pack to clean skin, wait for it to absorb, no rinsing required. These are very soothing and calming and provide a mega burst of hydration. I have two of them with me - one to use after flying on my first night to help my skin recover from the recycled air on the plane and one to use on my last night here to prepare my skin for the aggressions on the flight home. 

Eye Cream and SPF.

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm.

The versatility of this multi tasking eye made it an obvious one to pick out from my jar of samples. Not only does it hydrate and smooth the skin around the eyes, it brightens dark circles and minimises any puffiness. It's great for use at night or in the morning and it can even be used as an eye shadow primer.

Lancome Bienfait U.V.

This broad spectrum lotion has SPF 50. I find it very comfortable to wear and it isn't greasy so it works well under make up without leaving my skin feeling clogged. Even though I'm indoors for the majority of the day I find the sun is so strong here that I am even more diligent about wearing SPF than usual. 

I'm looking forward to experimenting with a few days of minimalism and I think that I have all of my basic needs covered but I know that I'm going to be excited to get home and get back to my own bathroom and a larger choice of products!

TonyMoly Changing Magic Foot Peeling Shoes.

I have been curious about foot peels ever since seeing them on YouTube, there's something gross yet compelling about watching footage (haha!) of these products. 

The most well known feet peeling socks seem to be 'Baby Foot' from Japan which cost around $25.00. I get regular pedicures so as my feet aren't in terrible condition and I didn't want to make a big investment, I was mostly interested in using such a product for the sake of trying something new rather than using it to address a cosmetic problem. When back in the summer, on my first trip to Ulta, I saw a pair of TonyMoly Changing Magic Foot Peeling Shoes which only cost $6.00 I picked some up to try out. 

The Product.

Packaging was similar to a sheet mask with instructions on how to use printed on the back. Also on the back was the rather embarrassing blurb 'Steps that can transform an average looking woman into an attractive lady'. I'm hoping that something was lost in translation here because I find the phrase very peculiar and a little offensive.

Inside were a pair of paper/cellulose booties the inside of which were again reminiscent of a sheet mask. Active ingredients included glycolic and salicylic acids, alcohol, urea, various fruit extracts and aloe. The smell of these was very reminiscent of Pixi Glow Tonic.

There were also two pieces of tape to secure the booties. I didn't find the tape to be that sticky and I needed to wrap some masking/painter's tape around my ankles to secure them properly. (You could also slip a pair of large socks over the top to keep them securely on your feet).

How to Use.

These were easy to use. You simply needed to slip them onto clean dry feet, wait one and a half to two hours until the serum/liquid had absorbed into your feet, rinse your feet well and then sit back and wait for your feet to peel over the next couple of weeks. 

The major drawback I found to using these was fitting them into my schedule. Firstly I needed an uninterrupted couple of hours, but the real difficulty was that as I didn't know how (or when exactly) my feet would peel I needed to wait until the weather cooled down enough that I was certain that I wouldn't need to wear sandals etc. I knew my feet were going to get ugly looking for the duration of the peel so I wanted to be able to wear socks for all that time.

I also wasn't sure how they would affect any nail polish I might be wearing so I didn't want to put them on when I had just had a pedicure (FYI they didn't remove or dull my week old pedicure of Essie polish and top coat). 

What Happened?

My feet became a little chilly wearing these so I was happy to finally remove them. After rinsing well I didn't notice that my feet were any different than from before so I calmly waited.

Day 4 (after wearing). Until day 4 nothing had happened at all and I was beginning to think that nothing would... then, as promised, I noticed some small blistered looking areas beginning to 

appear on my feet.

Day5/6. Largish pieces of skin began to peel off on the softer parts of my feet such as my instep and the bottom of my toes. My feet looked terrible! There's no way you could do this if you needed to have bare feet or wear open shoes.

After two weeks. Everyday I had been taking off my socks and they were full of flakes of skin. I took to wearing socks in bed at night it was so bad. If I went anywhere without wearing socks I left a dusting of skin flakes in my wake. It's kind of disgusting and I've been hoovering daily - at least the apartment is clean! I noticed that the bottoms of my feet were somewhat softer but some hard skin still remained. I'd say maybe 50% of my hard skin flaked away but I was really in need of a proper pedicure though as my nails had been neglected.

After three weeks. The last week the bottoms of my feet finally stopped shedding skin... And then the tops of my feet started!

Day 22 My feet finally stopped flaking and I went for a pedicure - hoorah! I was a little disappointed that the foot lady didn't said how soft and attractive my feet are (joking), she still attacked the skin on the balls of my foot and around my heals quite vigorously with a foot file.

Would I do it again?

It was fun to try out a foot peeling treatment, but honestly, I can't see myself repeating the experience. It was difficult to find the right time to fit it into my schedule and I really didn't enjoy having my feet shed flakes of skin everywhere for two weeks - I'd much rather commit to having regular pedicures!

I wouldn't recommend these, but if your interest has been piqued and you want to try out an inexpensive pair of foot peeling shoes you can find the TonyMoly ones that I tried at ulta.com

Product Love: Kiehl's Hand Cream.

Having lived on both sides of the Atlantic I have to conclude that one thing that Europeans do better is hand cream! All of my favourites are European: Caudalie, Clarins Jeunesse de Mains, Crabtree and Evelyn, Molton Brown and even ones from The Body Shop.

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is the one American hand cream that I have found to be very good indeed. Although it's aimed at severely dry active hands*, don't let that put you off, it's really an excellent hand cream for almost anyone. It is a thick rich cream that instantly absorbs making it moisturising yet not at all greasy and it is one of the few hand creams that leaves no residue at all on hands so you can handle papers or use a touch screen straight after use. 

Kiehl's claim that it creates a 'glove like barrier' on hands that draws and absorbs water from the atmosphere, I don't know if it does, but I do know that this is one cream that you don't feel you constantly need to reapply. My hands always feel soothed and don't itch at all when I use it.

Active ingredients include Glycerine, avocado, sesame and aloe and while it does have quite a strong (but not unpleasant) eucalyptus scent when first applied this soon fades. The tube has a flip top which is something I like in a hand cream and the tube is sturdy enough to transport about in your bag, the smaller tube (it comes in two sizes) is perhaps a little too large to be truly considered a handbag size but it's not overtly large.

It is a Kiehl's product so it doesn't come at a rock bottom price. Having said that it isn't wallet emptying expensive and a tube lasts a fairly long time as you don't need to use too much.

A 2.5fl oz tube costs $15.00 and a 5fl oz tube (which is huge) is $22.00.

I'm suggesting kiehls.com for online purchases as they often have online promotions and gifts as well as generous samples and a loyalty program for Kiehl's lovers but it's also available from most larger US department stores and Sephora.

*There's something about the wording and the design of the packaging of this that is quite masculine and I think that it is designed in such a way to make it appealing to the male market. Kiehl's sell a lot of product to men across all their ranges and I find this particular packaging is very reminiscent of that of the Facial Fuel range which is marketed to men. 

Cheap Thrills: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater

I'm a big fan of facial sprays and spritzes, indeed it is rare that I encounter one that I don't like, so when I find one that I love that also comes at a bargain price I have to share!

Mario Badescu is a widely available face spray that comes with a wallet friendly price tag and is often featured in those 'Products I Can't Live Without' type of articles in magazines.

I first used this when I had a sample in a goody bag (no surprises there!) some years ago and ever since then there's almost always a bottle of this somewhere in my bathroom either in use or as a back up.

A base of water contains Aloe, Rose, Gardenia and Thyme in a handy spray bottle and it's suitable for almost anyone (excepting people with highly sensitive skin obvs). 

It's rose scent is an instant pick me up and it is wonderful to use as a refreshing, hydrating spritz at any time. Not only does it gives skin a quick burst of hydration, the aloe feels soothing (keep it in the fridge to make it even more soothing and refreshing) and it's a particularly nice spray to grab after any sort of sun exposure (although it isn't a total substitute for after sun lotions). 

Mario Badescu suggest you use it as a spray for hair, which I haven't done, but I can imagine it coming in handy for refreshing or restyling hair on the go. 

It's a versatile product to have to hand when applying make up. A quick spritz of this before applying make up preps and primes skin, making make up appear softer and skin healthy and glowing. Lightly sprayed over make up it helps to set it and makes it last a little longer. I also find this great to spritz onto brushes, sponges and beauty blenders to help seamlessly blend make up.

Skincare wise I like to use this as a toner, either by itself in the morning, or as a second toner at night after an acid toner. I like to layer this between products (serums and moisturisers) especially those containing Hyaluronic Acid as it helps my skin's hydration levels and makes skin look plumper and juicier.  And I'll use this if I'm going to apply a mask as they will spread out better on slightly damp skin. 

Honestly, there are just so many uses for this!

I gripe a lot about Mario Badescu's terrible packaging but this actually comes in a rather good sturdy bottle with a pump spray that works like a dream - one that actually sprays a fine mist rather than spurting out product. So far I've not suffered any spillages or leakages with this and it even looks pretty attractive compared to a lot of other MB products.

Oh, let's not forget to mention the price! 4fl oz is $7.00 and 8fl oz is $12.00. Cheap thrills indeed...

You can find it at mariobadescu.com  

Cleansers: November 2014.

It is hard to believe that four months has passed since I last talked about my cleansers in any detail. I've been away from home a fair bit since then and I have also been trying to use up samples. This, coupled with the milder weather we have been having until very recently means that these aren't a full on Winter/cold weather edit. This cleanser selection is somewhat random and it's either what I am enjoying at the moment or trying to use up.

Without further ado here's a look at the selection of cleansers that I am currently using on a daily basis.

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion.

This small bottle of cleansing oil has been around since my Spring round up of cleansers!

It's intended as a cleansing oil and although I do very occasionally use it as a second cleanse I mostly use this as a treatment oil to balance my skin. Once or twice a week I press a few drops of it into my face before I step into the shower where the steam helps it absorb. (I find a facial oil used in this way to be very beneficial if my skin feels at all congested.) This oil leaves my skin softened and cleansed and as an extra benefit I enjoy the aromatheraputic effect of it's comforting herbal/cocoa scent.

Lately I have been mixing this into a gentle physical exfoliator once a week as well, to make a gentle scrub even more gentle.

Repurchase?

Hmmm, perhaps.

I do like this - it is expensive but when I use it in this way it lasts a very long time. However, another cleansing oil that I like to use as a treatment is MV Organics 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic. This is even more expensive but it suits my skin better and gives even more impressive results than The Pendulum Potion does. When I do finally need to replace this I think the extra splurge on an even more expensive cleansing oil will be worth it.

Rodial Glamtox Balm.

I've been using this almost every night to remove make up and sunscreen, sometimes doubling up and using it for a second cleanse as well. It's a brilliant product for a first cleanse and removes everything effectively leaving my face feeling soft, clean and comfortable. This balm is a perfect consistency for facial massage as it is very easy to move across skin without any pulling or tugging and it warms up a little on the skin which ups my enjoyment levels no end! As you would expect it is super effective at dissolving make up and everything rinses away easily leaving no trace. The pump bottle cleanly dispenses exactly the correct amount you need to cleanse with each time so there's no waste and it has a refreshing light fragrance.

Repurchase?

I would get this again in a heartbeat if I could but it has been discontinued. I have a back up bottle in my stash but once that has gone that's it I'm afraid.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.

This is the same bottle from my last cleanser post and it's probably my favorite cleanser of all time! The Purifying Cleanser is a lightweight non foaming gel with an uplifting grapefruit-y fragrance which contains fruit enzymes to exfoliate oh-so-gently. I like to use this as second cleanse or as a morning face wash. It leaves my skin feeling very clean and fresh but not tight or dry at all. This isn't the cheapest cleanser around but you only need to use a very small amount so a bottle doesn't work out as expensive as you would think.

Repurchase?

Hell yeah!

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

This wallet friendly cleanser is an old favourite of mine. It does a pretty good job of removing make up but really comes into it's own as a second cleanse or a morning facewash for me. Like Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser this contains gently exfoliating fruit acids and I swear that my skin looks brighter and clearer whenever I use it. Don't let the fact that this comes in an ugly bottle, is bright green, and smells like an old lady's handbag put you off - this actually is an excellent cleanser at an unbeatable price.

Repurchase?

Yes.

Dr Dennis Gross Colorsmart Cleanser and Mask.

I bought a couple of tubes of this to use when traveling as the packaging was so practical and it worked as both a cleanser and a quick skin brightening mask. I recently pulled this out of my travel bag to try and use it up before it goes off. It's a nicely textured cream but it's an oddly beige colour which becomes bright orangey-yellow when you massage it into your face and neck. 

I don't find that this does all that good of a job as a make up remover and so it is better suited to being used as a second or morning cleanse. My main gripe though is that it is simply very messy to use and it is terribly difficult to remove every last trace of it from my hands and face (it leaves a terrible stain on flannels and towels).
One good thing about this is that it does leave my skin looking bright and clear so I'm trying to use it up as a morning in-shower face wash but it's a cleanser I'm reaching for with great reluctance...

Repurchase.

No, I'm thankful that I bought this on sale rather than paying full price however.

I've some very nice balms and oils waiting in the wings at the moment and these will be what I will be opening to replace empty cleansers over the next few months, as we head into colder weather and my skin needs more nurturing and moisture...

Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool.

Gloria Grahame was a star of the golden age of Hollywood and an Oscar winning actress. Twenty years later, suffering from cancer, she travels to England to star in a play where her health takes a turn for the worse. Days away from dying and refusing medical treatment, Gloria telephones Peter Turner, an ex lover who is also an actor. Peter and Gloria were an unlikely couple, he is thirty years younger than her and at the time that the book covers he is staying with his colourful working class Liverpudlian family. His family take Gloria into their lively home and pitch in to take care of her until her children arrive from America to fly her home to New York where she shortly dies.

This is a brief memoir of not only these few days but also of the couples' unusual love affair which is recounted in flashbacks.

  Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is an strange little book that has recently been revived and made into a film. It's quite touching and it's surprisingly amusing considering that it's subject matter is so grim. The style of writing is rather odd, it feels very flat and reads almost as a script would but as the author is an actor rather than a writer maybe that's not surprising.

I didn't love this and it's not the sort of book that I usually read, but it is a touching story and the warmth of Peter's family is very apparent. I'm not much of a film buff and prior to reading this I hadn't heard of Gloria Grahame, but if you are a fan of either Gloria or old Hollywood movies I'm sure this will be of interest. If, like me, you aren't then you may want to sit this one out. 

The Party.

Ben and Martin have been best friends since their schooldays even though they come from wildly different backgrounds. Now a successful financier, Ben is holding 'the party of the year' in his magnificent country home to celebrate his fortieth birthday. Although they have been invited to the party Martin and his wife are put out to not to have been invited as house guests which forces them to stay in a nearby cheap hotel.

As the book opens we find Martin being interviewed by police a few weeks after the party and the reader is left wondering what exactly happened that night and why do the two men have such a strong bond. Slowly the story of the two men, their friendship, and what happened that night is revealed through police interviews, notes from Martin's wife's notebook, and Martin's life story as he recounts it.

The Party is well plotted and structured, there was a surprise at the end and I found it to be an engrossing read. The characters in the book are superb, both men and their wives are unlikeable, but they are extremely well observed and highly credible. The story is detailed and peppered with hints but the author writes with such subtlety that the tale is full of suspense until the very end.

There are many themes skillfully woven into this tale - it is about friendship, obsession, class, power, jealousy and lies. I think the book is more suited to an English reader as many of the references and nuances are very British but I think anyone who loves a tale of suspense and betrayal would enjoy it.

Recommended.

Mix It Up: Product Combinations I Love Right Now.

I'm not (and never have been) a fan of two in one products. I actually quite like having a beauty routine with lots of steps - it ups the 'pamper me' factor and I like how I can swap things about and combine products in different ways to suit my skin's needs at any given time.

But given the recent popularity of products that are streamlined and only intended do one specific thing (think brands such as Odacite or those from Deciem) it suddenly seems valid to mix things up yourself and create a two in one one product that is tailored to your own personal needs. (Plus it makes me feel the teeniest bit like I'm a super brainy scientist!) While on the whole I prefer to have my products mixed up by real scientists here are a couple of combinations that I have been mixing and enjoying recently.

Vitabird C12 + Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum.

Vitamin C seems to be having 'a moment' in the world of skincare right now. September's GWP's contained quite a few products with it in and one of the more intriguing products that I received was VitaBird C12, a pure Vitamin C powder that has been mixed with Zinc to stabilise it and help with absorption. Designed to be used by mixing into a serum or moisturiser this is a high potency treatment that as well as brightening skin aids in the production of collagen.

I didn't want to mix this into anything that did much more than moisturing as I would hate to combine it into a cream or serum that contained expensive active ingredients and risk a reaction with them that would render them ineffective. I also thought that the more liquid like aspect of a serum would make mixing easier than a thicker cream would.

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum is a hydrating serum that I love, it is like a drink of water for my skin with a gentle basic formula containing Hyaluronic Acid. A few pumps of this into the palm of my hand with a shake of Vitabird powder mixed into it was all I had to do before applying it to my face - quick, easy and effective!

My skin looks plump, smooth and hydrated with this combo and appears instantly brighter. In addition with continued daily use a few discoloured areas (from scarring and sun damage) have become less noticeable.

You can find Vitabird C12 here: barneys.com and the Caudalie Vinosource range here: caudalie.com

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion + African Botanics Buchu Botanical Enzyme 

                                                                     Polish.

I'm not much of one for physical exfoliation, I much prefer to use acid toners and peels. It's mostly just a personal preference but I also find that a lot of physical exfoliators feel too harsh and scrubby. Honestly they aren't something that I ever buy but they tend to crop up in gift bags fairly often so I always have some around. As I hate to waste things I will use them once a week merely to use them up. I use them in the mornings before showering so I can be sure that all the scrubby bits are sure to be rinsed off (a pet bug bear of mine is when you use an exfoliator and the grains get into and stay in your hairline!). I've often mixed them in with cleansers which makes them more dilute/less aggressive and the other day I mixed these two products together and I loved the result!

African Botanics Buchu Botanical Enzyme Polish is a very gentle polish and it doesn't feel scratchy on my skin. The Pendulum Potion is intended to be used as a cleanser but I find that it's far too lovely (and expensive) for that and prefer to use it as a treatment oil, pressing a few drops of it over my face a couple of times a week before I get into the shower where the steam helps it absorb into my skin and I get to inhale it's mood boosting herbal and cocoa scent.

These two together make a stunning combination that leaves my skin balanced, as well as noticeably smoother and softer, when the excess was rinsed away.

You can find The Pendulum Potion and Buchu Botanical Enzyme polish here cultbeauty.com

*As I said above I'm no scientist so do please mix products with caution. I'd recommend a basic product with a simple formulation as a base/carrier for a more active product. If in doubt mix up a tiny amount and test a little on your body a day or so before using on your face.  

Space NK Holiday Preview Goody Bag.

On Thursday night after work I hot footed it to the Space NK Holiday Preview to have a peek at their holiday gift sets and seasonal items. There was a wide selection of gifts and limited edition items any of which I would be happy to give or receive!

The Space NK team did a fantastic job of creating a warm festive atmosphere in spite of it being an unseasonably balmy November evening. The holiday items were beautifully displayed in a gorgeous hotel suite: 'The Thompson Suite' at The Beekman Hotel in Lower Manhattan (thebeekmanhotel.com). 

Drinks and canapes were available and there was a pretty amazing gift bag that I received as I left. I love a good gift bag and this one is quite exceptional! 

Here's a look inside...

Skincare and Make up.

There are some lovely skin treats in this gift bag. 

For cleansing, a sample of Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm which is a beautifully indulgent cleanser - I'm always happy to get samples of this as it's one of the most expensive cleansers out there! It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of Eve Lom but I'm actually quite excited to try out the new Gel Balm Cleanser which is formulated with Shea Butter and Grape Seed Oil rather than the mineral oils previously found in Eve Lom products.

 There are also samples of Kat Burki Bio Correcting Cream, 111Skin Space Defence Bright Eye Lift Gel, and ByTerry Baume de Rose, all of which are luxury skincare items that I'm always happy to be given! 

The bag also contains a half sized Smith and Cult Lip Gloss in the shade 'Flesh Riot', a pinky nude shot through with a festive gold shimmer.  

Haircare.

There are six haircare items in the bag and they are all generous samples or full sized items. 

From R+Co a full sized Death Valley Dry Shampoo and a sample of High Dive which is a leave in conditioning cream. I already love Death Valley, it has the most wonderful fig fragrance and it adds a nice amount of grit to my hair that adds texture. I have got along with all of the R+Co products that I have tried so far so I'm happy to try out High Dive (I like to use a daily conditioning cream on my hair while it is damp).

There are generous sized samples of Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo and OUAI Wave Spray. I have quite a stash of dry shampoos (this one is very much a shampoo rather than a texturiser) and salt like sprays but I do use both fairly frequently. These are both good products and I will certainly get around to using them.

I can never have enough shampoos to try out so I'm looking forward to using Miriam Quevedo White Caviar Shampoo, sulphate free, this will be perfect to use on my coloured hair. 

The final hair product is Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt. I have seen this innovative shampoo and scalp cleanser all over the place and I'm looking forward to testing this out very much! This is a full sized 75ml pot as well so I expect to get quite a few uses out of it.

Perfume and Body Care. 

Diptyque is possibly my favourite perfume house so I'm always thrilled with any samples I get from them. I'm especially happy whenever it's a 10ml sample of one of their newly formulated Eau de Parfums. 'Do Son' is a tuberose based scent with notes of neroli and rose and a touch of musk to 'dirty it up' and stop it from being overtly floral, it is a very wearable everyday scent for me.

The bag also contains a sample of Aromatherapy Associates Lavender and Peppermint Bath and Shower Oil which is a very aromatic and relaxing addition to any bath. 

I'm so happy with my unexpected gift bag (which is worth over $250.00!) and although I will use everything in it I am particularly looking forward to trying out the Eve Lom Gel Cleansing Balm, the Christophe Robin Sea Salt Scrub and wearing Diptyque Do Son.

It's never too early to start consider your holiday shopping and Space NK have some great gift ideas. www.spacenk.com/us

   

Empties: October 2017.

October has sped by so fast I can hardly believe that it's time for an Empties post once again but here we are... 

I managed to finish eleven full sized products and twenty six samples this month.

Skincare.

I finished four full sized skincare items and fifteen samples. 

The full sizes were a varied bunch starting with another bottle of my favourite ever night time serum Sunday Riley Good Genes. 

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Divine Eye Cream has lasted me for a long time and it's very good albeit somewhat expensive. It's not perhaps the best at hydrating my eye area but it does brighten and tighten things up so everything looks a bit smoother.

Tatcha Aburatorigami are facial blotting papers and while they are good but I'm equally happy to grab a packet of cheap ones from Muji.

  Nivea Lip Butter is a cheap and cheerful lip balm that is one of my favourites and I especially like this Cocoa Butter version.

I used four samples of cleanser. I found Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser was to be a tad drying. Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2 was good but I didn't love the way it smelled. I did like Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk which was gentle, very good at removing make up and also had a nice consistency - I liked this so much I will buy a full sized tube when I next need to stock up on cleansers. I also liked Farmacy Green Clean, a balm that whisked make up away easily and rinsed off easily leaving my skin clean and soft.

Lancome Bi-Facil  Eye Make Up Remover is a little too oily for me but it does do an excellent job of removing make up and this mini bottle lasted for ages. 

Tatcha Polished Rice Enzyme Cleanser is a gentle exfoliating powder that I mixed into a facewash to use. It's not harsh at all and is a good physical exfoliator for people like myself who don't like to use anything too scrubby. 

I also used another sample of Chantecaille Fruits and Flowers Acids Mask which gently and effectively exfoliated with botanical acids.

I  used two Retinol serum samples. Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic+Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum is creamy and feels lovely on my skin, I have a full sized bottle of this as I liked a previous sample of it so much. Kate Somerville DermaQuench Liquid Lift + Retinol was okay, I didn't dislike it but it wasn't outstanding in any way.

I used a vial of Vichy V Mineral 89, a Hyaluronic Acid serum that I like a lot, I have quite a few samples of this but plan to buy a full sized bottle when I have used them up. Rodial Pink Diamond Instant Lifting Serum is an eye wateringly expensive daytime serum that did make my skin look firmer and smoother but I felt that it did so by sitting on my skin's surface and that it's effects were temporary rather than being something culmulative that would lead to improved skin tone.

I loved the zingy citrus fragrance of The Organic PharmacyAntioxidant Serum but it left my skin feeling oily as it didn't sink in very well.

Zelens 3t Complex is one of my favourite face creams. I notice that everything just looks so much better whenever I use this - smoother, lifted and firmer - it is expensive but worth it.

Finally I used two tubes of Natura Bisse Diamond Extreme Eye Cream which was also very good, it did an awesome job of hydrating my eye area and I would love to buy some but won't as it is super expensive ($300+ - gulp!) 

Make Up and Perfume.

I didn't finish any make up items this month but I did manage to use up a full sized bottle of fragrance and eight sample vials. 

It's rare that I finish a full sized perfume. Chloe has been my go to daily perfume when I'm working. It's floral and not too strong so I find that it's something that I can wear without it being too obvious (or obnoxious!). It's a very nice floral that isn't too sweet or sickly but I won't repurchase this as I have a lot of perfume that I need to use up and there are plenty of other perfumes that I would prefer to own.

 Bulgari Omnia Crystalline was a light floral and perfectly pleasant but a little too generic for my taste. Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede was a more pleasing floral for me, soft and feminine, but it faded to nothing very quickly on me.

 Marc Jacobs Decadence is a surprisingly grown up fragrance, quite unlike the other perfumes from this designer. It is quite old fashioned with violet and amber notes that wears quite powdery on me. I like this but not enough to buy it (and it comes in that ridiculous bottle that looks like a handbag which I hate).

Clean Reserve Sel Santal was surprisingly similar to the ubiquitous Le Labo Santal 33. It was basically a lighter version of that scent with a touch more saline and a little less floral element.  Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'Eau was a pleasant surprise for me. Although as a rule I love Diptyque perfumes, the fact that this was a mix of blackcurrant and roses didn't appeal. However, I was wrong and I loved this fresh green spiky fragrance which was leafy and summery and refreshing. 

I also finished two samples from Byredo. Bibliotheque also has hints of blackcurrant but it warms to a smoky, soapy, leather scent which is quite masculine. It does indeed smell like books (or a loved leather jacket) and although it was interesting I prefer it as a room scent rather than a personal fragrance. What I did love enough to put on my wish list was Velvet Haze also by Byredo. This is a patchouli scent that has floral notes and cocoa to round out and complement the patchouli, it also lasted very well on me.  

Haircare.

I finished four full sized haircare items.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner is a drugstore favourite of mine, it isn't too heavy and I like it's coconut scent. Rusk Calm Conditioner is another lightweight conditioner. I liked the gingery fruity fragrance of this and it did detangle my hair but the formula was almost too lightweight. I had to use a lot of this so I got through this huge bottle a lot quicker than I thought I would.

I finished another bottle of L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil Serum. (This is a bottle that I have had in my travel bag and it only had a drop left - I didn't use a whole bottle of this in a month!) I really rate this leave in treatment, it leaves my hair soft, shiny, and hydrated. I think this drugstore item is on a par with many high end serums.

Oribe Wave and Shine Spray smells amazing of course, and it made my hair piece-y and windswept looking. It didn't add any shine to my blond locks and it didn't have the grittiness of Oribe Dry Texturising Spray that adds body to my fine hair - maybe this works better with thicker, heavier hair?  I didn't dislike this but the Dry Texturising Spray works so much better for me.
Talking of which, I used up a sample size of the Dry Texturising Spray and samples of Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo and Gold Lust Transformative Mask. All had Oribe's signature fragrance and the mask left my hair soft and silky. The dry shampoo did a great job of removing oil from my hair and freshening it up, but it is definitely a dry shampoo rather than a texturising product. 

Body care.

I only used up two body care items this month, both of which were full sized body lotions. Crabtree & Evelyn English Honey and Peach Blossom Body Lotion was a lovely formula that I didn't have to use too much of as it was very moisturising without being at all greasy. The scent of this wasn't unpleasant in any way but it smelled a little too peach like for my liking.
I'm still working my way through my stash of Space NK Life body products and used up one of the Ultimate Unwind Body Lotions. I like the formula of these and this one which smells of green tea, cardomom and ginger is my favourite from this range.

I'm happy with the amount of products that I got through this month and I especially enjoyed trying out so many different (luxurious) skincare items.
I was also pleased to make a dent in my stash of perfume samples and find a new perfume to treat myself to!