Walmart Beauty Box Spring 2017

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that 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 and you pay just $5.00 for shipping. There are two variations of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter Box' which is aimed at younger shoppers.

My Spring box arrived yesterday! 

I'm not sure that it's contents were particularly Spring like but I must say that it has a pretty nice selection of useful products. This time I was sent seven mini/deluxe samples, one sample sachet and one money off coupon.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (1oz).

I haven't used this particular Colgate toothpaste before. Mini toothpastes always come in handy for travel and I am sure that I will use this either at home or on a trip.

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant (.5oz).

These mini deodorants are great to pop in your bag to use after the gym. I have had this deodorant as a sample before and liked it enough to purchase it so I am pleased to find this in the box.

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub (1oz).

This facial scrub also contains salicylic acid to cleanse and exfoliate blemish prone skin. Although I don't suffer from acne I may try this out as the scrubby bits in it feel quite gentle which I like.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Conditioner (1.5oz).

Not only do I like John Frieda hair care products in general I also have hair that frizzes in humid weather so I will save this to use in the summer months.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultra Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner (2x 1.7oz).

I'm always happy to get mini shampoos and conditioners! These contain liquid Keratin so I am sure that these too will be great at helping to keep frizz at bay once summer is here.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Shine (.17oz).

Containing Hyaluronic Acid this lip product hydrates lips so that they look fuller and feel comfortable. It gives a fairly sheer wash of natural looking colour (I was sent the shade 'Radiant Rose') which is easy to wear so I will definitely be throwing this in my bag to use as both a colour and a balm.

Rimmel Stay Matte.

Finally there is a sachet of Rimmel Stay Matte, which is a light mousse foundation, and a coupon for $1.00 off a full sized tube. I'm not a fan of matte finish face products (why wouldn't you want to glow?) but I will try this out when I am having a day at home sometime.

Overall.

I think that this is a very good box from Walmart. There are seven generously sized samples and most of them are practical products that anyone can use. 

Although I said that I didn't think the box was particularly springlike I guess that a lot of people are beginning to think about summer holidays and trips and the items here are all perfect for taking on vacation. I also like that the lip product they sent is a neutral colour - I am a little shy of bright lips - but this is a lip product that I will certainly use. 

I often see people complaining about their Walmart boxes on social media but the nature of any beauty box means that you won't like all the items all the time and it only costs $5.00 which makes it the cheapest box out there. Even though I tend to use higher end products as a rule I always look forward to my box and I always end up using the majority of the products in it and, let's face it, it's always nice to come home to a package of goodies!

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com. Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty department and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and the 'Classic' if you wish to do so.

Barneys Love Yourself GWP: March 2017.

Barneys Love Yourself bag event is one of my favourite GWP events and I always plan my beauty shopping so that I can take advantage of it when it happens twice yearly. $200.00 spent on anything in Barneys beauty department entitles you to a free cosmetic bag, jam packed with samples from a selection of high end beauty brands. I was away when the event took place this year, during the second week of March, but I pre ordered with my SA in New York and had my order shipped so I had a lovely box of goodies to open when I returned from my trip.

 I use this event to stock up on my favoured make up base, Chantecaille Just Skin (a tube of which lasts me for almost exactly six months which works out perfectly timewise for this!) as well as stocking up on some Kiehl's products for Mr C&C.

This time from Kiehl's I bought Rosa Artica Face and Eye Creams and a bottle of Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate which is a 10%Vitamin C serum. 

In addition to the main gift bag many brands offer step up gifts which they offer when you reach a certain spending level (they may also offer them to loyal or repeat clients).

 The Chantecaille step up gift is always a selection of samples in some sort of lovely make up bag - Chantecaille really do offer some of the nicest free bags with their promotions. This year there was a waterproof 'Kenya' pouch with an attractive tree and sky printed design, which would be perfect for popping in a beach bag, and samples of Flower Infused Cleansing Milk, Fruit and Flower Acids Mask, Bio Lifting Serum and Nano Gold Energizing Eye Cream. It's a very nice gift indeed especially when you consider that the value of the samples is a little over $100.00!  

The step up gift from Kiehl's had three samples from their Midnight Recovery range - the Concentrate Serum, Eye Cream and the new Cleansing Oil along with a sample of Hydro Plumping Retexturising Serum which is a super hydrating glycerine based serum. I was also given a half sized jar of Tumeric and Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask.

The Love Yourself Gift Bag contained twenty three products, mostly samples with a few half sized/minis. As usual the bag had a good mix of skincare, make up, perfume, hair care and body care items. There were seven skincare samples and a sheet mask, four make up samples, five perfume, four hair care items along with a mini toothpaste and a mini shower gel.  

There are a mix of both new products and old favourites here which along with the samples from the step up gifts make up a very generous selection that I am looking forward to using.

(The next Love Yourself event is in September  - worth bearing in mind if you have any beauty purchases to make at the end of the Summer!)

WholeFoods Hello Beauty Bag 2017.

The WholeBody department of WholeFoods is a fantastic place to shop if you are interested in exploring clean beauty products as they have a wide ranging selection of products from many, many different brands. There are plenty of gems to be found and the items carried there cover a wide range of price points from basic, economical hand washes and soaps to high end skincare.
From March 22- March 28th Wholebody make up products and facial skincare are all 25% off and many items are further discounted, so if you aren't familiar with this part of your local Wholefoods store this week is a very good a time to check it out indeed!

On Friday 24th March (for one day only) Wholefoods were selling limited edition Hello Beauty Bags - a gorgeous handmade organic cotton make up bag made by Piece & Co stuffed with $90.00 worth of products for only $18.00.

Inside the bag were generously sized samples from Acure, Andalou Naturals, Derma E, Dr Hauschka, Juice Beauty, Trilogy and Weleda as well as a handbag sized hand cream made by Wholefoods, a full sized eye balm by Evan Healy and, for make up lovers, a full sized Mineral Fusion mascara and a full sized Pacifica lipstick.

 I'm not a fan of  Acure Red Clay Mask so that is going in my giveaway box but I'm looking forward to trying all the other products, particularly Dr Hauschka Facial Toner and Evan Healy Wild Carrot Nourishing Eye Balm. I'm also thrilled to have yet another handbag sized hand cream (it's the little things...) and the Pacifica Lipstick in the shade 'TenderHeart' is a lovely rosy nude - exactly the sort of shade I love to wear.

I'm very pleased that I manage to get my hands on one of these bags again this year!
I love the bag itself, there are a lovely selection of products inside and it was a bargain to boot!

The Blade Artist.

Francis Begbie, the psychotically violent trouble maker from Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting is back!

Following a stint in prison a rehabilitated Franco, now known as Jim Francis, is living in California with his beautiful wife and two young daughters. He has found fame as a successful sculptor whose work is collected by the rich and famous. When one of his sons from a previous relationship is brutally murdered in Edinburgh Franco returns to the mean streets of Leith to attend the funeral and try and find the murderer.

Franco returns there a changed man but has he really changed that much?

The Blade Artist was a novel that I was looking forward to and so I'm sad to say that whilst I didn't entirely dislike it, I didn't enjoy it all that much... It wasn't all bad, there were some good twists and turns to the plot towards the end and I enjoyed all the flashbacks to Franco's childhood which helped to explain his behaviour. But while the whole idea of a yoga practising, egg white eating, spiritual Franco sounds amusing it was a tad far fetched to be believable and, of course, once back on his home turf it wasn't long until he quickly reverted to his true self. And when he did revert to his true self without his Trainspotting companions to put his behaviour into perspective I found his actions to be unnecessarily gory and somewhat repetitive and boring.

Irvine Welsh is one of my very favourite authors but there was something about The Blade Artist that made it feel like a somewhat sloppy book that was written in a rush.

If you are a die hard fan of the author's work you will find some good things here but it is far from being one of his best works as far as I am concerned.

My Nail Polish Declutter.

Considering I rarely paint my own nails, over the years I have amassed a fair few bottles of nail polish. (In my defense most of them have come as part of a GWP or from beauty boxes.) However, considering how little I use them, it is silly to keep hanging onto them especially as I don't have a permanent spot to keep them. I have been meaning to declutter them for some time but didn't know where to start until I saw this simple method of streamlining online, which works for just about any make up product not only nail polishes:

Step one: sort them into like groups of colours.

 Step two: decide what to keep and what to throw from each group. 

Easy right? Let's go!

The Glitters:

Julep Heartleigh, Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat Tweedy, Deborah Lippman Pink Princess, Nails Inc Chelsea Square.

I did buy the Tweedy Fuzzy Coat and I did use it a fair amount as it was so easy to apply but I feel as if the days of differently textured nail polishes have come and gone and can't see myself using this again. The others all came from gift bags/boxes. I'm not sure that I will use Heartleigh but I will keep it as it is the newest and prettiest of the remaining polishes.

Remaining:1/4

The Blues

Station Rock-a-guy Blues, Essie Mesmerized, Deborah Lippman Money Now, Sleep Later, Deborah Lippman Magic Man.

I didn't buy any of these they were all in bags/boxes. As I never wear shimmery polishes the two Deborah Lippman ones get decluttered instantly. I love dark blues but the Station polish isn't quite dark enough so I will get rid of it. I do like Essie Periwinkle for a springtime pedicure so I will keep it.

Remaining 1/4

Purple and Green.

Station Happy Wine-y People, Deborah Lippman Virtual Insanity, Sally Hansen Jungle Gem, Covergirl After Dark.

All of these were from bags/ boxes. I don't like any of these and won't wear them so I'm keeping none from this group!

Remaining 0/4

Grey-ish.

OPI Cement the Deal, OPI My Silk Tie, Rimmel Punk Rock, Deborah Lippman Hard Rock Life. 

The only one that I purchased myself is the Kate Moss Rimmel Punk Rock, I like the name, the shade and it's by Mossy so this one is a keeper. Of the others, Cement the Deal is not flattering for my skin tone and the other two are shimmery so they are all going.

Remaining 1/4.

Nudes and Browns.

Deborah Lippman Fashion, Dior Beige Too Much, Nails Inc Porchester Square, Deborah Lippman Physical Attraction.

Ah beige and nudes are my favourite shades for fingers! If ever I do do my own nails I will most likely paint my fingernails with Fashion so that's definitely a keeper. Beige Too Much was my go to polish many years ago. I bought numerous bottles of this when I was living in France (at a time when nail bars were non existent there) and although this is old (check the old school Dior packaging) and probably not usable I want to keep it for nostalgic reasons. 

Do you remember when Nails Inc were the polishes to have? Well I was firmly on the Porchester Square bandwagon, this mini is pretty much dried up so I will get rid of it along with another shimmery Deborah Lippman.

Remaining 2/4.

Light Pinks and Peaches.

Station Off the Record Pink, Rococo Flower Town, Nars Orgasm, Essie Cantaloupe, Clinique (not named).

Five polishes here all from bags/boxes. The ones by Station and Rococo are both similar colours but the Rococo one is a little warmer and I like the formula better so that stays while the Station goes. The other three are all similar peachy tones but the Nars is shimmery and the unnamed Clinique polish isn't a great formula so I won't keep either. I occasionally use Essie Cantaloupe on my fingers if I have a coral on my feet so I will keep that.

Remaining 2/5.

Pinks.

Deborah Lippman Delovely, Orly Coquette Cute, Deborah Lippman Sweet Dreams, Essie Forget Me Nots, Essie Bermuda Shorts, Leighton Denny PillowTalk.

These are all quite different pinks and all are from bags/boxes. I've never used either Delovely or Coquette and Sweet Dreams is very shimmery so I'm going to get rid of all of those. I will keep the three on the right - I'm particularly fond of Essie Bermuda Shorts as a toe nail colour in the summer.

Remaining 3/5.

Reds.

Station Front Row Flasher, Julep Lee, Rococo VIP, Rococo Make Love, Not War, Deborah Lippman My Funny Valentine, Deborah Lippman I Want Candy.

Another six all from bags/boxes! Front Row Flasher from Station is red with a lot of grey undertones, it's an odd shade, if I'm wearing red I want it to be vibrant rather than dull so I'm not keeping this one. I will also get rid of the two Deborah Lippman reds. Colour wise My Funny Valentine falls in the middle of two of the reds I want to keep and I want Candy has a transparent jelly type finish that is difficult to apply

I will keep Lee by Julep which leans a little on the pink/coral side as I think that it is a good shade of red for spring. I'm also keeping both of the reds I have by Rococo. I love their formula and they are both quite different, VIP is a bright cerise that I like as a winter red and Make Love, Not War a little orange-y, almost a tomato red which is nice for summer.

Remaining: 3/6  

Vamps.

Chanel Vamp, Rococo Brocade, Deborah Lippman Brown Eyed Girl, Deborah Lippman Maneater.

I love a good vampy red black nail be it on short fingernails or toe nails, it is so versatile and always looks good no matter what your skin tone or what season it is. It's a bit of a modern classic isn't it?

I bought the Chanel Vamp and I'm going to be keeping it, although at some point soon I should probably replace it with a bottle of the newer, harder wearing formula. The other three bottles all came from bags/ boxes. I will keep Rococo Brocade, it looks very similar to Vamp in the photo but actually is quite a bit darker and browner in tone. I will discard the two Deborah Lippman colours as they are both shimmery.

Remaining: 2//4.  

The Final Cut.

And here's what I have left! 

I threw away twenty six bottles which left me with a collection of fifteen nail varnishes all of which are shades that I like and find flattering. I think that I have a pretty good range of colours here that cover most of my needs. 

If I were going to add anything to these I would add a dark navy blue (Smith & Cult Kings and Thieves?), a bright coral (Essie Clambake?), a greige (Dior Palais Royal?) and a turquoise for summer toes (Leighton Denny Morning Dew?). I would also replace Chanel Vamp with the newer formula. Realistically though I most likely won't get any of these as my nail bar has a great range of colours that I can choose from.

Sweetbitter

 

Set in 2006, Sweetbitter tells the story of Tess, a 22 year old Ohio native recently transplanted to New York, who quickly gets a job as a 'back server' at Union Square Cafe. (The Cafe is never named in the book but it is mentioned in the acknowledgments and if you have even a smattering of knowledge about New York restaurants it is evident that it is the restaurant concerned.)

I've had Sweetbitter at home on my book pile for sometime and I was looking forward to reading as it had a lot of publicity along with glowing editorial reviews when it came out last summer. Sorry to say, it was a major disappointment when I did get around to it for a number of reasons...

Let's start with the characters. Tess is so self absorbed and comes across as selfish and narcissistic, I found her to be truly unpalatable. Meanwhile the supporting characters are either thoroughly unpleasant or else so one dimensional that it is hard to remember who is who.

Secondly there isn't a plot to the book, it simply talks about the time that Tess works at the restaurant, the people she works with, and what they get up to out of working hours - which is basically getting messily drunk and taking drugs. There were so many scenes where Tess and her co workers sat around drinking and taking coke, which may have been entertaining had you been there but for the reader (or this reader at least) it was so repetitive and boring that I failed to engage with the 'story' and found myself thinking about other things whilst I read.

I also didn't enjoy the way the book was written. There was a lot of dialogue (which at least made it somewhat quicker to read) but the way the characters talked was so pretentious that I was forever wondering 'who on earth talks like this?'

My final gripe with the book is that it is obviously semi autobiographical and I am assuming that as the restaurant is so thinly disguised many of the characters are probably based on her ex co-workers. There is nothing discreet about the failings and habits of the people written about and the restaurant is presented in a bad light. I feel quite strongly that there is something (almost morally) wrong about this, it doesn't sit well with me...

I hate to be so harsh but Sweetbitter as a story was all bitterness with no sweetness for me. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. 

Cleansers: Spring 2017.

Officially it's almost spring even if the weather is all over the show with one day sunny and the next day odd blizzard like conditions!
Four months have gone by since I last wrote about the cleansers in my routine, so it's high time to take a peek at the current selection, especially as this time around they are all different from before.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip.

This has to be one of my all time favourite cleansers. I haven't used it for a while as I had bottles of both Sarah Chapman Skinesis Rapid Radiance Cleanse and Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser in stock which both cleanse in a similar way.
Ceramic slip is a little less creamy than Sarah Chapman and less aromatic than Tata Harper but they all leave my skin feeling extremely clean and take care of any excess oiliness with no tightness or drying effects. They are all great for a morning cleanse and as they are all lovely to use on your skin they are great for a second cleanse also.
Ceramic slip contains green clay and if I feel at all congested or wake up with my face feeling a little greasy this is the one I reach for. I love it's slightly earthy medicinal scent and it feels so cool and refreshing that it makes you feel a little more awake and alive, which isn't a bad thing in the morning!
us.spacenk.com

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel.

This pink rose scented gel dissolves as you massage it into your face and emulsifies easily with water. It feels refreshing, is quick to use, and easy to remove. It is another cleanser that I like to use in the morning or as a second cleanse at night but it's great at removing make up so some days this is all that I use. I love that it's very gentle and non irritating yet I still find that it leaves my skin looking brighter and perkier. I'm constantly underestimating this one but each time I use it I'm impressed and I always pop one in the basket when I'm doing a Cult Beauty Order!
cultbeauty.com

Dr Dennis Gross Color Smart Cleanser and Mask.

I use this in the morning, and as either a first or second cleanse at night - like the Oskia, this is great at removing make up.
It is a creamy cleanser that contains Vitamin C to brighten skin along with papaya enzymes to exfoliate and clay to absorb excess oil. As you rub this into your face it changes colour from almost white to an apricot tone and while I do feel that this aspect of it is a little gimmicky it does leave my skin looking brighter and more even in tone. It has quite a chemical like smell that's not my favourite but I'm willing to overlook that as it works so well. I love the fact that you can use this as a mask - it's dual uses and practical packaging also make it a good one for my travel bag.

drdennisgross.com

Eve Lom The Morning Cleanser.

I'm not on the Eve Lom Cleansing bandwagon I'm afraid as I find that the original one is too heavy, too scented, and I find it somewhat of a faff to remove. I think of this one as 'Eve Lom Light', it's texture is easier to work with (it's a cream consistency balm rather than a solid) and the fragrance isn't as strong. It's still not my favourite and I would find it too heavy for a stand alone morning cleanser but I don't mind to use this one as a first cleanse to remove make up. It's not something that I would purchase for myself (I received this tube in a gift bag) but I like it enough to use, albeit in a different way from how it was intended.
us.spacenk.com

Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm.

I used to use this luxurious balm a lot and then it became difficult to find (I think it was even out of production for a while) so I'm pleased to have this back on my shelf! Although I would normally use a balm for removing make up this one is far too nice and I prefer to use it as a second cleanse. The texture of this is a little stretchy - it reminds me of honey - and I find that you do need to emulsify this with water to remove it completely rather than simply flanneling it off. It leaves my skin feeling clean, nourished, and very soft. Everything about this cleanser is a sensory delight, it smells heavenly due to the blend of essential oils in it, it feels gentle, and the packaging is luxurious - the jar is crafted so that it fits snugly into your palm and each one comes with a spatula and muslin cloth.
If you haven't tried this and don't have any adverse reactions to essential oils you really should give it a go. It's a tad pricey but it does last a long, long time and it makes any routine so much more enjoyable.
darphin.com

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion.

Finally, another one that is far too nice to use for removing make up! Instead I use this in the mornings, as more of a treatment to balance my skin in the same way that I did with MV Organics 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic. A couple of times a week I press a few drops of this onto my skin before I get in the shower where the steam helps it absorb. When I get out my skin feels clean and softened and any congested or troubled areas appear a little relieved. It is a luxurious blend of six oils along with various aromatics including cocoa, neroli, myrrh, frankincense, jasmine and ylang ylang. As you would expect with those ingredients this is very aromatic (and again perhaps not for you if your skin is very sensitive). I do like the fragrance of this but it is a little unusual, the cocoa is very predominant and the blend together reminds me of anise. I received this in a Cult Beauty Box and it is very lovely but I do prefer the MV Organics 9 Oil Cleansing Tonic slightly (mostly because I prefer the fragrance). This one is currently out of stock everywhere but if you are interested your first port of call should be
maylindstrom.com

Overall I am enjoying this selection of cleansers very much. It is a rather luxuriant line up of quite diverse types of but between them I think that  all my cleansing needs are covered.

Lonely Boy.

Steve Jones first found fame as the Sex Pistol's guitarist. When the band broke up he embarked on a series of successful music projects and moved to L.A. Today he lives in Malibu and is the host of Jonesy's Jukebox a popular daily radio show. Steve also has a very popular and amazingly hilarious Instagram account.

Well, I do love a good rock and roll memoir and Lonely Boy is very good indeed! I sped though this book and relished it to the end. A lot of the story concerns Steve's difficult childhood and at times it tends to lapse into therapy type explanations for many things but rather than annoying me I found these insights to be interesting. I particularly loved reading about his life as a teenager in London and his part in the emerging punk scene but the whole book was excellent. 

Recounted in Steve's unique style there were many scenes that made me laugh out loud (something that not many books do) and there were some wonderful expressions and turns of phrase.

It's not the most politically correct book you'll ever read but hey that's rock and roll (or punk rock) for you! 

I loved this book.

Recommended. 

Jo Malone: My Story.

The title really does say it all with this book - it is the story of Jo Malone, the woman behind  Jo Malone fragrances and stores and more recently the brand Jo Loves.

Hailing from a working class family in Kent, from an early age she possessed an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of determination that would see her through a somewhat difficult childhood. As a young woman she discovers her true passion: perfume, and along with her husband builds her eponymous company. Although she is fortunate in having a few helpful connections along the way it is  basically sheer hard work and determination that leads to their success. 

After fighting an aggressive breast cancer Jo sells her company intending to lead a more relaxed lifestyle but she is soon bored and has recently relaunched herself into the world of perfume with a new niche range, Jo Loves.

I hadn't heard anything about this book before I picked it up and was expecting it to be the story of Jo's business life so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Jo's life story. The book does go into how she makes fragrances  and created her company image a little but there isn't too much written about business strategy, it is her personal story and it was a great read. 

Although ghost written, it is recounted in a very chatty way which feels very authentic. 

Jo Malone comes across as being a lovely person, very down to earth, unflappable and grateful for everything in her life be it good or bad.She is a very positive person and I loved her inspiring story.

Recommended.   

Amazon Prime Beauty Sample Box.

Hot on the heels of receiving my Amazon Prime Luxury Beauty Box I made an order for their Beauty Sample Box.

(Amazon produce various sample boxes that are available to Amazon Prime members. Pay up front for the box and once shipped the cost of the box is applied to your account as a credit. There is no cost for shipping these boxes as they are only available to Amazon Prime subscribers who automatically qualify for free shipping on items bought directly from Amazon. If you are already a Prime member I recommend that you take a look at the various sample boxes that they have on offer, if you aren't why not have a look at the various levels of Prime membership available at  amazon.com)

The Beauty Sample Box is a selection of rather basic products that ships in a plain old Amazon box, but nevertheless I was quite impressed with it! It showcases drugstore/supermarket brands, there's nothing fancy or expensive here, but it offers a good selection of products. You could easily throw these samples in an overnight bag and be pretty much covered for a short stay away from home. 

I believe that the contents of these boxes are pretty standardized. Here's what mine contained:

General.

Venus Swirl Razor. This is a handle with one cartridge rather than being a disposable razor. Venus are my razor of choice and this one is sort of fancy with it's patterned handle and pivoting head. I know it's a little odd but I'm always happy to get a decent razor in a beauty box as they are somewhat expensive to buy.

Tom's of Maine Naturally Dry Deodorant (mini .47oz). These mini deodorants are another thing I'm always pleased to get in a box as they are so handy for travel.  

Aquaphor (.14oz). I always seem to have some of these Aquaphor samples around the house and they always get used up. Not only is it good at treating dry, chapped skin, I find it's a good all round healing balm for cuts, burns, rashes etc.

Dental.

There are three dental items in the box - Crest 3D White Toothpaste (2.5oz), Glide Pro Health Floss (cool mint flavour 4mtrs) and a Crest 3D Whitestrip.

 I won't use the Whitestrip but the toothpaste is a good sized tube and the mini Glide floss is another good travel item.

Body and Haircare.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash (1.8 oz). I just finished using all of my mini Dove body washes but it seems I'm destined to always have one hanging around! I'm not keen on the fragrances of the Deep Moisture range but this one is the best of the bunch (and I don't dislike the scents enough that I won't use the product).

Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash and Lotion (1oz each). I recently used up quite a few Aveeno body samples that I had in stock, including these two. I liked both of them and their light coconut scent. 

Nivea Nourishing Body Oil (sachet). I haven't seen this oil before, it contains avocado and macadamia oil. I am a big fan of Nivea body lotions so I am excited to try this.

 Pantene Moisture Renewal Shampoo (1.7 oz) Pantene is one of those lines that I rarely purchase but when I do I'm always impressed. This will be another good addition to my travel stash.

Skincare.

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub (1oz). I disliked the last Acure Facial Scrub I used so much that I ended up discarding it after a couple of uses. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that this one works out better for me! 

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Serum (sachet). It has been a long, long time since I used any of The Body Shop's skincare. I have seen good reviews of this serum and will certainly be using this soon.

The box also contained tear sheets from L'Oreal with samples of their  Revitalift Bright Reveal Moisturising Sunscreen, Age Perfect Eye Balm, Age Perfect Facial Oil and Age Perfect Golden Balm.*

Verdict.

The box initially cost me $11.99 which was then refunded as an account credit. 

This box reminded me of a Target or Walmart box but it was free! It contained a good selection of basic samples that will come in handy and there were 17 items in the box which is a generous amount. 

So far I'm have been very impressed with Amazon sample boxes.

*Not pictured.

Spring Clean #2.*

(*I have called these posts 'disappointing products' in the past but that's a bit too negative, mostly these are products that I won't or can't use for various reasons so while they may be disappointing to me they may be a source of joy to others. Gathering them together under the title of spring clean seems much more apt!)                                             

   

Every so often I have a root through my beauty cupboards and weed out the things that I am simply never going to use or finish up. There's never a lot of things for me to discard as while I do purchase a lot of product most of what I buy is well researched and a considered purchase - I hate to waste money.

If I have a product that I don't like I generally try to re purpose it if at all possible (a foamy face wash can be used as a hand wash, a moisturiser that feels wrong for my face can be used on my chest  - you get the idea). If it's truly unlovable it goes on my giveaway/donation pile as long as it is usable condition. 

Let's take a look at things that didn't take my fancy for one reason or another... Starting with the assortment pictured above...

Blister packs etc.

Teeth whitening strips aren't a product that I use ever (I mean c'mon I'm English!). Nose strips scare the hell out of me (they hurt!)  and nothing disappoints me more than a blister pack of make up which I just don't have the time for. Finally the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation samples have a matte finish, I tried one of these and not only did it feel heavy and uncomfortable it also wasn't a good look for me.

Lip Products. 

Even though there are some great brands and formulas here (Clinique! Nars!) all of the above shades (mauves and brights) were unflattering on me. Some such as the Too Faced Melted were not only an unsuitable shade, they were also formulas that I found hard to work with.

Eye Products. 

It seems that there was recently an era when every gift bag contained one of those mini Kevin Aucoin Eye Pencils in navy blue as I managed to unearth three! Blue eye pencils don't suit me at all so they have to go. There are two Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Shadows (remember these?) a Sue Devitt  Powder Eye Shadow and a Pixi Eye Shadow Duo all of which are fairly old and all of which I don't see myself ever using. Mineral Fusion Mascara came in a Wholefood's gift bag and it has the oddest most extreme dog leg shaped brush, it's very unwieldy and I feel that I'm going to stab it in my eye. 

Face and Nails.

I used to enjoy using this Dream Wonder Powder by Maybelline but it's surface has become a little gross and icky and I don't tend to use this sort of (skin toned) powder anymore. The two Maybelline Concealers are both a little too apricot/orange for me and I also found that they didn't have too much staying power. The So Susan Concealer Quad is unopened from a GlossyBox,  I'm not even curious to try it so will give it away. CoTZ Tinted Sunscreen made my face look dirty when I tried it and the nail wraps are going because they are not my style or the type of thing I would use at all!

Hair, Body and Skincare.

 I'm not big on physical facial exfoliators and scrubby, scratchy St Ives Apricot Scrub is a beauty no- no in my book as it can tear your skin. Acure Facial Scrub did feel gentle but it was very messy and smelt terrible. L'Oreal Pure Clay Mask was something that I was eager to try when it came out but I found it to be very, very messy (like throw away your wash cloth messy) as well as feeling quite drying and uncomfortable. 

People seem to really like Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs and while I do have pale legs that could do with some colour at the beginning of the summer, I also have a pale grey couch so I'm just not going there!

Batiste Dry Shampoo is another people pleasing classic and while I don't use dry shampoo for cleaning my hair I do like to use it to add volume. I have a lot of different dry shampoos but I'm passing on this one as I can't abide the scent of it.

Finally a sachet of Oribe Curl Glaze is going to be rehoused with a curly headed person because my poker straight hair simply doesn't need it!

This may look like quite a lot of stuff but there are a lot of minis and samples here, the majority of which came in beauty boxes or as parts of GWP's so I don't feel too bad about parting with them. 

A little decluttering is always so satisfying... 

This Must Be the Place.

This Must Be The Place is a story about a marriage and the families surrounding it. 

Daniel Sullivan is a linguistics professor from Brooklyn who had returned to his ancestral Ireland to scatter his grandfather's ashes. Whilst doing so, in a remote part of the country, he has a chance meeting with Claudette and her son Ari. Claudette was a highly successful film actress until she staged her own disappearance, now she lives in seclusion with Ari in rural Ireland. 

Following their chance meeting Daniel and Claudette marry and it is their marriage that is central to the story. As the book progresses it looks back in time (and also into the future) and this is how we learn about the characters and the situations that they are currently in.

This book is cleverly plotted and the prose is beautifully written but I felt that the constant switching of characters and time frames made the book feel disjointed. At times it was almost as if I were reading a series of interlocking short stories rather than a novel. There were also a lot of characters involved here and I found myself having to flick back and forth to remember who they all were.

 Maggie O'Farrell has a loyal readership and although I can appreciate the quality of her writing - she is certainly an accomplished wordsmith - I have never been a big fan of hers. 

This Must Be the Place has had wonderful reviews (which was partly why I picked it up) but I honestly didn't enjoy it all that much. I thought that the storyline of Claudette, her disappearance and seclusion were too far fetched and this made the whole book seem somewhat hollow. 

It took me a long, long time to finish this story and when I did I set it aside with a sense of relief.

If you enjoy Maggie O'Farrell I'm sure you will love this but I didn't find it to be a satisfying or truly enjoyable read.

Empties: February 2017.

February's pile of empties is a bit of an unusual one as I only managed to use six full sized products. However, just like last month, I concentrated on using up hair care and body care samples so I also finished twenty nine samples.

Skincare.

Caudalie Cleansing Oil is a relatively new product that I was very impressed with. It smelt like almonds and had a great consistency for facial massage. Just one drop did a great job of dissolving make up and it was equally nice to use as a skin cleanser. This one is going on my shopping list!

I used five moisturising/face cream samples.
Muji Organic Moisturising Milk was a light lotion that smelt fresh and felt hydrating, good to use under make up or at night, it is my favourite out of the different Muji skincare ranges. Perhaps not the best if your skin needs a serious dose of moisture but a very nice basic everyday product in a travel friendly sized bottle.

111 Skin Space Anti Age Day Cream is far too rich to use as a day cream in my opinion and even when I used it as a night cream I could still feel it on my skin's surface in the morning.

Lancer Intensive Night Treatment is another cream that I found to be too heavy which also just seemed to sit on the surface of my skin.

Natura Bisse Oxygen Cream was light, hydrating and comfortable to wear but it had an odd plastic like scent. I used it as a day cream and liked it well enough although I'm not sure about how it supplies skin with oxygen...

Kat Burki Bio Correcting Face Cream isn't cheap but a little goes a long way here. I found that I needed to leave this a while to sink in as it doesn't contain silicons but once it did it left my skin felling silky and smooth, very hydrating this also did a good job of plumping fine lines.
Mila Moursi Neck Contouring Fluid is a light textured cream with a fern fragrance (that I thought was an odd scent for a skincare item). It was fine but I'm not convinced that you need to invest in a separate product for your neck.

Emma Hardie Amazing Facial Oil is the first product that I have ever tried from the Emma Hardie range. It smelt nice and absorbed well but there was nothing that made it stand out from a lot of other oils.
M61 SuperSmoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub was a little too harsh and scrubby for me, I didn't enjoy this.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask was a floral scented gel that had a little tingle when first applied. My skin felt lovely and soft when I rinsed this off and looked brighter and even toned, it's a very effective mask that is delightful to use.
I also used a sachet of Roloxin Lift which left my skin looking perkier for an evening out and have started using Dr Dennis Gross Medi Spa Peel which leaves my skin plump and glowing the following day.

Haircare.

Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Colour left my hair beautifully soft and shiny, if I could justify the expense I would use them every day!
Philip B Nordic Wood Hair + Body Shampoo also left my hair feeling lovely but I didn't like the very strong pine fragrance that it had.

I always want to like Sachajuan products and always feel somewhat disappointed by them so the fact that the Colour Save Shampoo was nothing special in my book didn't come as a surprise. It smelt rather chemically and felt like a drugstore product to me but I do love the stylish minimal packaging of this range.

I liked Davines Oi Absolute Beautifying Potion, a leave in serum smelt wonderful and left my hair smooth and sleek.
Rene Furterer Lissea was another leave in product, this time a cream that also left me with smooth hair that wasn't weighed down.

Body care.

Nivea Original Moisture Daily Body Lotion is a classic that I love which finds itself in my empties pile time and time again. It's great value for money, does everything that a body lotion should and smells like the original Nivea cream that you get in a tin.

Malin + Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer is another good body lotion, easily absorbed and lightly scented with grapefruit it leaves skin feeling refreshed as well as soft.

I've not used Caudalie Divine Oil for a long time and had forgotten how lovely it is! This easily absorbed oil has a warm enveloping fragrance and it reminds me very much of Nuxe oils.

I've already spoken about my dislike of Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisurizer so I won't repeat myself. I managed to use up two fair sized tubes of this and you know what? I am so glad they are gone!

Zest Fruit Boost Shower Gel was zingy and uplifting. It's concentrated formula produced a heap of rich lather but the packaging was far from the best. I found that this had to be stored upside down or else it leaked, so for that reason I wouldn't buy it again.

I used a couple more mini Dove Nourishing Body Washes. Their creamy formula isn't my favourite but it is the powdery chemical smell of these that I dislike the most about them, the original one is the best of the range fragrance wise but still not to my taste.

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash is something that I haven't used for a long time but I will certainly buy this next time I need a drugstore shower gel. It produces a rich and creamy lather with a toasty nutty smell and it feels a lot more expensive than it is.

I used a handbag sized tube of Crabtree & Evelyn Lily Hand Lotion. I love these little tubes of cream, they aren't greasy and while Lily isn't my favourite of the fragrances it is still a very nice floral scent that isn't overpowering.

Finally body care wise I finished a tube of Burt's Bees Foot Cream. It's very coconutty, rich and oily but I find that if you merely apply it it doesn't do all that much -  you need to scrub and pumice your feet first for it to have any real effect.

Make Up.

I can't believe that I finished two eye liners this month! I have had the Sue Devitt Defining Eye Liner in Laki for quite some time. It is a twist up eyeliner that is an intriguing not quite black shade (it's a bit green, a bit brown and a bit grey all at the same time). Sadly this is a discontinued range but when it was around I used to love all of their eye products.

Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl in Bright Eyes is the best cream/flesh coloured eyeliner I have used, it's creamy texture means it's easy to apply yet it lasts. This really does make my eyes look brighter when I apply it on the waterline. I have had good use out of this but it has dried out a little and the 'lead' part has detached from the wood so I can no longer use it.

Almay Smart Shade Skintone Make Up is a BB/CC type product that adapts it's shade to your skin tone. I found that it gave a very sheer coverage and was slightly more matte in finish than I like. As the day went on it seemed to disappear from my face even when I used a primer. I don't think I would ever purchase this but I was happy enough to use this sample on 'no make up' days around the house!

Fragrance.

I liked both of the vials I finished this month. Diptyque Geranium Odorata EDT was a peppery green floral that lasted well - I was surprised that I liked this as I dislike the smell of real geraniums!

Aerin Amber Musk was a very feminine musk, it was warm and sweet with vanilla accents but it did fade quite quickly on me.

And breath!

Next month I'm expecting to use less minis and samples and hope to finish off a few full sized things. Let's see if I do or not!