Emma in the Night.

Three years after teenage sisters Emma and Cass Tanner mysteriously disappear from their well to do suburban home younger sister Cass returns out of the blue with an incredible tale of imprisonment on an unknown island off the coast of Maine.

Abby Winters and Leo Strauss, the psychiatrist and FBI agent who were originally assigned to the case reopen the investigation and slowly pull together the pieces of Cass's remarkably detailed story to find out what really happened, not only on the night of the sister's disappearance, but also during their upbringing in a dysfunctional family. 

I was looking forward to reading Emma in the Night. I was in the mood for a thriller that I could lose myself in, this one had had very good reviews, and the storyline appealed to me. However, I found that this was a slow book that failed to capture my imagination - it seemed to drag on and on...

I didn't mind the style of writing or the way that the story was told in alternating chapters by Cass and Dr Winter but the book failed to grip me and there was simply no thrill or suspense here as far as I was concerned. I felt that the plot was flawed to the point of being unbelievable, plus the unappealing characters weren't developed enough to make me care about them or their outcome. 

(I'm willing to believe certain unrealistic scenarios in a book in order for the plot to work but Emma in the Night simply had far too many of them.)

I'm astounded that this book has been so hyped and well reviewed as I found it to be a dull and disappointing read . 

Rescue Spa New York Opening Gift.

If you live in the US and have ever bought a bottle of Biologique Recherche P50 chances are you purchased it from Philadelphia's Rescue Spa. Now New Yorkers don't need to order online or trek to Philly for a BR facial as there's a brand new Rescue Spa right here, just off Union Square.

Last Friday was the opening day and I stopped by for a tour of the spa. 

It's a huge space that has been lovingly redesigned into a bright and airy store and spa. Everything that you need in a deluxe spa experience has been considered and the attention to design and detail is evident. Honestly, if you pop in here for a look you will want to book a treatment! The space is so special and calming, it is a real escape from the city's noise and bustle.

There is an open shopping area stocking the full range of Biologique Recherche products along with skincare from other luxurious brands such as Valmont and, my own favourite, 3Lab. There's also make up by Chantecaille and Kevyn Aucoin, haircare items from Oribe and Christophe Robin, and candles from Cire Trudon to be found alongside many other lust worthy brands. Basically, all the best beauty is here in one amazing place.

To the rear of the ground floor there is a spa lounge/waiting area that serves refreshments, a full service hair salon and a very swish manicure and pedicure area. Along one side of the ground floor are soundproofed treatment rooms, which are extremely spacious compared to the ones found in other New York spas. 

There is a lower level (I'm hesitant to call it a basement as it feels far too nice a space for that name!) which has more treatment and massage rooms. Also downstairs there is a large changing room with lockers, showers and two steam rooms.

My tour was comprehensive and interesting, the staff were warm and friendly and then as I was leaving I was given a goody bag (woo-hoo!).

If you have ever made an online order from Rescue Spa you will know that they always add a black organza bag with a selection of samples. My wee goody bag was small in size but had seventeen amazing samples. 

Skincare samples included BR Lait VIP O2 Cleansing Milk and Creme VIP O2 Face Cream, Masque Vivant, a re balancing face mask, and the dinkiest sample ever of P50 1970. There was a serum and a cream from Valmont, a generously sized sample of Dr Dennis Gross C+Collagen Serum along with a sample of Chantecaille Fruit and Flower Acids Mask which I love.

There were two shampoo and conditioner samples from Oribe and a shampoo and Cleansing Volumising Paste to try from Christophe Robin.

Also included were a tube of RevitaBrow for conditioning and repairing eyebrows, a mini Solar Cuticle Oil, a half sized Zoya Nail Polish in a 'Ballet Slippers' type shade and two mini Halo Highlighting Creams by Kevyn Aucoin.  

 Rescue Spa offer a whole menu of facials, skin treatments such as peels and lasers, make up application, a variety of body treatments, hair removal and massages. Of course you can always just stop by to shop but I, for one, simply cannot wait to go back and have a facial!

The new New York spa is located at 29 E19th Street. 

For further information about the New York spa or the original Rescue Spa in Philadelphia take a look at shoprescuespa.com where you can also shop online. If you would like to know more about their treatments or products, I recommend that you check out the Rescue Spa YouTube channel.

Cult Beauty Global Goody Bag 2017.

Did I need this? Honestly no. Did I want this? Hell yeah!

I know that I only recently pulled the trigger and bought both the Space NK Autumn Edit and Barneys Love Yourself bags but... I tend to spread my purchases, not going much above minimum spends for GWP events, and there are a few items that I will need to buy before the next round of goody bags. So, after much debate I made a Cult Beauty order and told myself that was it, beauty spending done for the remainder of the year! (Unless, of course, there is a fantastic 'Box of Dreams' offering from Cult Beauty and Caroline Hirons at the end of the year and then that will be a Christmas present to myself).

Further justification - global shipping is free, the pound to dollar exchange rate is favourable for me and as UK sales tax (V.A.T.) is removed from my order (I live outside the E.U.) the pricing of European products works out to be less than in the U.S.

What I Bought.

Bella Freud Lion Candle.

I finished burning my Bella Freud Loving Candle last week and I have had this Lion version on my wish list for at least two years (I would also love a Lion jumper!). The fragrance is described as being 'Cedarwood and Pepper' and that's a descrition I can't really top. Warm and woody with spicy peppercorn notes this is the perfect candle for cooler weather.
And that container - Bella Freud candle jars are not your regular candle jars! This one mirrors the box, it's black with the red, green and gold Lion symbol - a little bit afro punk, a little bit Notting Hill Trustafarian, it's exactly my taste. This may well be my new favourite candle.
(And yes, that Lion jumper, if I can find my size, it may well have to be a Christmas gift to myself!)

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Pencil.

'Smokey Emerald' is the daytime pencil for hazel eyes in the Colour Chameleon range. I bought one of these in 2015 as a replacement for the (sadly discontinued) Sue Devitt Bangalore Eye Intensifier  and I've used it down to a stump - it's in the next Empties post! I love a chunky eye pencil and the formula of this is one of the best I have ever encountered. It applies like a dream, is easy to smudge and blend, then sets and stays in place all day - no further smudging or migrating across your face guaranteed.

Mabel+ Meg Enchanter Hydrating Eye Serum.

Mabel+Meg are a new brand for me and I'm keen to try out this eye product after reading some good reviews. I'm constantly on the look out for the perfect eye cream that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and this liquid gel serum is certainly wallet friendly. Containing peptides, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide and Caffeine this addresses all the major concerns of the eye area as well as offering protection from further damage. It is also fragrance free.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Serum.

This is one of my all time favourite daily hydrating serums, a lightweight lotion that sinks in instantly leaving my skin feeling softer, plumper and above all comfortable. I find that it works well when layered with other products and under make up so it is ideal for day time use. But I'll use it anytime and will even apply a thick mask like layer which I leave to sink in if my skin is especially dehydrated. 

The only problem that I have with this is that I use it up so quickly as I love it so much!

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel.

Because no Cult Beauty order is complete without a bottle of this gentle but effective rose scented cleansing gel... it is one product that really does live up to the hype surrounding it!

The Global Beauty Bag.

There's a good mix of products in here, perhaps a little heavy on masks but all the samples are generously sized and there are four full sized products included in the bag (actually six if you count a sheet mask and make up sponge as being full sized items). There isn't an actual 'bag' with this GWP but I'm actually quite happy about that as I have so many already. I'll take extra product rather than a bag anytime!

Skincare.

Skincare  items are always the most exciting part of gift bags for me! 

There are four masks, if you include a Verso Hydrating Sheet Mask. I'm happy to get two exfoliating masks (ECooking Peeling Mask and Nurse Jaime Dermalase AHA Exfoliating Mask) as I like to use some sort of exfoliating treatment weekly in addition to my acid toners and the ECooking Peeling Mask is full sized! There's also a pack of two single use deep cleansing masks from KBeauty brand Caolion - one is an Oxygen mask and the other is for pores.

I love cleansing, washing my face may well be my favourite part of the day (I know, weird right?) Both of the cleansers included here, Alpha H Essential Cleansing Balm and Farmacy Green Clean are ones that I have been interested to try.

I'm thrilled by the inclusion of a generous 10ml sample of Zelens 3t which is one of the most effective and luxurious creams I have ever used - it suits my skin so well. I'm also happy to be given some SkinOwl Maqui Beauty Drops, an antioxidant rich healing night time facial oil as I enjoy this brand a lot. Although I don't really see the point of using a separate neck cream they are always one of the first items I use in gift bags and the fact that this Firming Neck Cream is by ultra luxe brand Omoroviczia means that this sample will be no exception.

Finally, there is a sample of Buchu Enzyme Polish by African Botanicals. I'm not a big user of physical exfoliators and I have heard that this one is quite scrubby so this is probably the least exciting skin care item featured for me. However, I find it's good to have a few different samples of facial scrubs around as I do occasionally use them, so I'm sure this will get used at some point in the future.

Make Up.

There are four make up items including a Micro Mini Beauty Blender. I'm very pleased to have another mini Beauty Blender as I love using these with under eye concealers.
I'm also looking forward to finally trying out Benefit Rollerlash Mascara.
 Stroke of Beauty Mixed Media LipShine isn't really my colour as it's red but it looks as if it wears as a sheer wash rather than a deep pigment. In the tube it looks exactly like a Chantecaille Super Lip Sheer and I like the balm type look and feel of those a lot so I will give it a go.
I'm a bit disappointed/confused by he inclusion of the Cover FX Contouring Kit as I feel that contouring is a bit 'last year' already. I may/may not use the highlighter here or try to use the kit as a bronzer. This product really isn't for me but I'm sure it will have it's fans. On the plus side, it is full sized with a nice big mirror and it comes with a brush.

Haircare.

 I always love getting mini shampoos and conditioners to try out. I haven't used anything by Pureology for a long time but I'm looking forward to trying these two from their Fullifyl range.

The gift contained either a Hair Oil or a Dry Shampoo from OUAI. I'm happy to report that I lucked out and got a hair oil - I have so many dry shampoos at the moment, and this Hair Oil is one of my favourites.

Bodycare.

Who doesn't like the Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream? Ridiculous name aside this slightly shimmery cream is wonderfully hydrating and softening and it smells like summer in a jar - it's a full sized jar as well!

I'm very happy indeed with the Global Beauty Bag. Cult Beauty always offer great goody bags as GWPs and I think that this is the best one I have ever received from them. If you don't already subscribe to their emails sign up at cultbeauty.com for notifications of future gift bags and promotions.

Evening Skincare Diary: What I Used in a Week.

As a follow up to my Morning Skincare Diary here's a look at a week's worth of nighttime routines. They are a little more complicated than the day time ones with more cleansers, a variety of acid exfoliators and even a masking session.
Read on for a look at how I mixed up twenty two skin care products during a recent week.

Monday.

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover:
I have to remove eye make up separately I hate it when you remove it with a cleanser and it smears down your face. I also find that using a separate remover helps ensure that you get rid of every last trace because, let's face it, there are plenty of cleansers that are wonderfully effective on your face but aren't all that proficient at getting rid of waterproof mascara. This may well be my favourite eye make up remover ever. It's creamy rather than oily and a blob of this on a cotton pad swipes away everything with no tugging or pulling, stinging or irritation, and it never leaves a greasy filmy residue. Did I mention that a bottle of this lasts forever as well?
Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:

Double Cleanse.
I'm a huge fan of Lierac, a French pharmacy brand that seems to have been eclipsed by other French brands such as Vichy. This cleanser is actually more of a cream than a milk. Not only does it effectively remove make up, it's a lovely consistency for facial massage and leaves my skin feeling softened and calmed.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask:
Mask night! I don't have a set night for masking so when I do have time to fit a sesh into an evening I usually go for it and make it a three mask event. This mask is perfection, it deep cleanses without leaving skin dried or shrivelled and it rinses off easily with no mess. My skin tone looks more even when I use this and it helps balance out my t-zone. It's hideously expensive for a mud/clay mask but after trying out numerous samples I bit the bullet and splurged on a full sized jar and it has been one of my favourite beauty purchases.

Chantecaille Flower and Fruit Acids Mask:
This is a super quick brightening mask. It has a little bit of a tingle on application but I find it is pretty gentle compared to a lot of similar products. My skin miraculously looks a little brighter after a only a few minutes of wearing this and it makes a nice change to have an exfoliating mask that smells of flowers rather than apricots or citrus fruits!

REN Evercalm Mask:
This thick white mask is simply wonderful to use after any type of treatment. It really does feel comforting and calming!

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal:
I'm still all about hydration in the evenings. As my night time  products tend to be more active or I'm using some form of acid I like to keep my toner/spritz simple so nine times out of ten it's some sort of mineral water in a tin such as this that I reach for.

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Serum:
This blend of face oils has the most uplifting (and delicious) fruity fragrance. I applied a few drops mid evening when my face felt that it needed a little hydration.
Darphin Stimuskin Plus Eye:
Similarly I dabbed on a little of this. I've currently been using this both day and night as my eye cream.

Darphin Hydraskin Essential:
I put on a nice layer of this hydrating cream before bedtime to 'seal everything in' after my treatments.

.....

Tuesday.

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:
Double cleanse.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%Toning Solution.
This certainly packs a bit of power at 7%. I like to used some sort of acid exfoliator most evenings (twice a day feels too much for me) and this bumper budget priced bottle is my current favourite.
Evan Healey Lavender Hydrosol:
Normally I'll opt for some sort of plain water spritz but tonight I felt like mixing it up a bit so I reached for this instead of a trusty old mineral water in a tin. The spray on this bottle delivers a light mist and the smell is relaxing.

Sunday Riley Good Genes:
I use this lactic acid treatment as my night time serum. I find that it suits my skin so well and it leaves my face looking clear and glowing. This is probably my most loved skincare product and the quality of my skin always takes a nosedive whenever I'm without it for any extended period of time.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye:

Caudalie Overnight Recovery Oil:
I bought this a little while ago after having had a facial at a Caudalie store and I used it a few times before setting it aside as I wasn't all that impressed with it. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try it again and this time around I liked the feel of it and the fact that when I looked in the mirror the morning after I had used it my skin was radiant. Second time around I'm enjoying this greatly as either a nighttime final moisturising treatment or as a layer between serum and cream

.....

Wednesday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel:
Double Cleanse.
I was feeling particularly hot and grimy today and a double cleanse with this left my skin feeling cleaned and cooled. It also has the benefits of a gentle fruit acid exfoliation so I skipped using a Glycolic product tonight.

Evan Healey Lavender Hydrosol.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Kate Somerville Dermaquench Liquid Lift + Retinol:
I'm trying to incorporate a retinol product into my routine on a regular(ish) basis. This creamy mousse contains oxygen and my old friend Hyaluronic Acid in addition to retinol. It feels a little gimmicky with its fire extinguisher nozzle like applicator and the fizz of the oxygen but it feels gentle and is a fun product to use. I've been applying this to totally dry skin and then waiting a while before layering on my next product. I've not used this enough times to notice its effects but it does get exemplary reviews...

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5:
A plain hydrating serum to give a boost of moisture after the retinol. I don't want to use a serum that is too active as I'm relying on the retinol to do all the work tonight!

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye:

Darphin Exquisage Cream:
I love Darphin as a rule and while there's nothing wrong with this range it doesn't appear to be doing anything for me other than adding moisture. It does however feel very indulgent: rich and creamy with a powdery fragrance that brings to mind an old fashioned beauty product. I appreciate that this doesn't feel too heavy to use during the day and that it also packs enough of a punch I can also use it at night as my sealing layer.

.....

Thursday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Andalou Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk:
Double cleanse.
This smells wonderful - very refreshing and uplifting, it's fragrance is a hit of pure apricot fruitiness that is clean rather than sickly. Texture wise it is a little more runny than I would ideally like but it does a good job of cleansing my skin, melting make up easily away and it is thick enough that you can do a little massage with it. I will certainly consider getting a full sized version of this next time I need to buy a cleanser as I like it a lot.
Biologique Recherche P50 1970.
I've only recently bought my first bottle of this, but it is something that I have been wanting to try for a long, long time. After much consideration and research I went for the original hardcore version, P50 1970 and it is strong - but not as strong as I had feared! Using this a couple of evenings a week backs up my heavier duty weekly peels and means that I have become less reliant on Good Genes for giving me an evenness and radiance that I do notice the next day.  The rest of my routine whenever I use this is very simple, it's all about hydration as you can see from the remaining products in tonight's routine.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Hydroskin Essential.

.....

Friday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:
Double Cleanse.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Dr Dennis GrossAlpha Beta MediSpa Peel Pads.
I have been the biggest fan of the original Alpha Beta pads for many years so of course I wanted to try out this version of them. It's a stronger formula that you use weekly (I used to use the other ones two or three times a week). I've been trying to use these each Friday - I find having a set day each week for special routines helps me to be more diligent about using them - so I hopefully look refreshed for the weekend. These are strong enough that they do make my skin purge occasionally but they don't feel uncomfortable to use or burn. The pads are thick and so saturated with product that I usually end up rubbing the remainder on elbows, heels etc. They are good but I'm not sure that I prefer them to DDG's regular Alpha Beta pads and I'm not certain at this point that I would repurchase these as they are quite expensive.  

Dr Dennis Gross Firming Peptide Milk.
This comes in a kit with the peel pads but I'm happy to see that you can now purchase it by itself from the DDG website because it is phenomenal! It's very liquid and light weight, the name 'milk' is very apt for this product and along with peptides it contains collagen, arnica, retinol, resveratrol, fruit extracts, coconut water, glycerine - the list of skincare goodies really does goes on and on with this one! I find this is such a good moisturiser for my oily/combo skin, it has a noticeable firming effect and feels amazingly soothing after the peel. While I may not be rushing out to get the Medi Spa Pads, a full sized one of these is top of my shopping list.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Caudalie Overnight Recovery Oil.
I applied this as bedtime skin sealing hydration boost and awoke with a clear, glowing and baby soft complexion.

....

Saturday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.
I tend to use this mostly as a morning cleanser but it also works wonderfully as an aromatic skin freshening pick me up at the end of a long day!

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Sunday Riley Good Genes.
After last night's acid peel this is about as aggresive as I want to get with my skincare today. Tonight it's all about moisturising.

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Serum.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Hydroskin Essential.

.....

Sunday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.

Bioloque Recherche P50 1970.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+ B5.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Exquisage Cream.

Morning Skincare Diary: What I Used in a Week.

A little bit like my food diaries with a nod in the direction of Instagram here's a quick look at what skincare I used each morning for a week. A snapshot of the products with brief notes about them.

Monday.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel: 
I love this as a morning cleanse. It feels gentle and refreshing and it's excellent value for money

Evan Healy Lavender Hysdrosol:
Not only is this delightfully smelling spritz a sensory treat, it calms my skin and reduces redness.
Darphin Exquisage Serum:
I don't dislike this but to be honest I don't feel that it is doing a great deal for my skin other than giving it a little extra hydration and maintaining it. It is kind of luxurious feeling though!
 La Roch Posay Eau Thermal:
I like to have a tin of mineral water to hand  to spritz between my serum and cream for - you guessed it - an extra bit of hydration.

Darphin Exquisage Cream:
This feels very nourishing, it leaves my skin softened and smoothed.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye:
This eye cream has a lovely texture, it feels rich yet light at the same time. It's not the best at hydrating my eye area but it does somehow make my eye area look smoother and seems to help with discolouration. I do like this but it's a pretty expensive product.
Lancome Bienfait UV:
This ticks all my sunscreen boxes - it's lightweight, not greasy, doesn't make me break out and doesn't leave a significant white caste. I find that it layers well with other products and, with a touch of primer on top, it works well under make up.
.....

Tuesday.

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion:

I like to press a few drops of this cleansing oil into my skin before showering. I regard this as a treatment as well as a cleanser and find that the steam helps it absorb into my skin. It is a wonderfully aromatic product that feels very indulgent.

Evan Healy Lavender Hydrosol.

Darphin Exquisage Serum:
I'm on a bit of a mission to finish this lol!

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Darphin Hydroskin Essential:
I love this basic moisturiser from Darphin. There's no bells or whistles with this - it's simply a big burst of hydration. Normally I would use this one at night and use the light version during the day but I''m not going out until later in the day so this has plenty of time to sink in and leave me feeling dewy!

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Lancome Bienfait UV.
.....

Wednesday.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

Evan Healy Lavender Hydrosol.

Darphin Exquisage Serum.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet:
I'm a big fan of Caudalie skincare, all of their products are effective and they suit my skin. This lightly whipped cream is packed with moisture that leaves my skin feeling cool and hydrated. The only problem I have with this is that I tend to be very generous with it so I run through a tube rather quickly.  

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Lancome Bienfait UV.
.....

Thursday.

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion.

Evan Healy Lavender Hydrosol.

Darphin Exquisage Serum.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.
Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet.
Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.
Lancome Bienfait UV.
.....

Friday.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser:
I have a bit of a soft spot for this. I love the way that this gentle wash smells like cucumbers. It's simply a quick and easy way to cleanse in the mornings.
Evan Healy Lavender Hydrosol.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5:
This clear serum is a little thick but it isn't tacky and I find that it spreads out well when applied to slightly damp skin. I love any product containing HA as my dehydrated skin needs all the moisture it can get. While this isn't in the same category as Sarah Chapman Skinesis Intense Hydrating Booster (which is my HA serum of choice) it does what it's meant to do and it's a helluva lot cheaper!  

Darphin Hydraskin Essential.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Lancome Bienfait UV.
.....

Saturday.

May Lindstrom The Pendulum Potion.

Evan Healy Lavender Hydrosol.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Lancome Bienfait UV.

Sunday.

Fresh Soy Cleanser.

Evan Healy Lavander Hydrosol.

Darphin Exquisage Serum.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal

Lancome Absolue Premium Cream SPF15:
This didn't do anything bad to my skin, but I didn't enjoy the feel of it as it feels a little too oily and rich for a day cream. It can also leave a white residue if it doesn't quite absorb properly. I do appreciate the SPF in this however, and as today is overcast and I'm going to be mostly at home, with a primer and tinted moisturiser containing a touch of SPF I should be covered. 

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

I really enjoyed documenting my skincare like this and it gave me a newfound admiration for people who do this everyday as it is pretty time consuming! Over the week I used thirteen different products for my seven step morning routine. Next up a look at what I used at night during the same week.

Hillbilly Elegy.

After reading Janesville:An American Story I picked up Hillbilly Elegy expecting it to be a social commentary about the working class poor in the Appalachians that I could read as a companion book. Instead what I read was the personal memoir of J.D. Vance, a thirty two year old ex marine and Yale Law School graduate who, although descended from a Kentucky family, was raised in Ohio. His family background was dysfunctional but not especially so, and while his family were uncultured, they were far from poor. 

I knew after about fifty pages that I wasn't going to enjoy this book as it wasn't at all what I was expecting to read. I found it was a not particularly interesting story about a family recounted by a smug man with staunch right wing politics. I will give credit where it's due: J.D. overcame a certain amount of difficulties and worked hard to improve his lot in life, but I didn't pick this up expecting an indulgent memoir. I was expecting to read a well researched book that would give me insight into the lifestyle and culture of a section of society.   

Hillbilly Elegy is an easy read but it's not particularly well written and, honestly, I'm amazed that it is not only as popular as it is but that so many people are raving about it.

Not recommended!

(In case you didn't pick up on my vibe...)

The Outrun.

Growing up on a farm in Orkney, a remote island off the Northern coast of Scotland, Amy Lipcoat dreams of living in London and being at the center of everything that is new, happening and fashionable.

After university she lives that life, until her addiction to alcohol and party drugs becomes so serious that it destroys a serious relationship, causes her to lose numerous jobs and, most worryingly, damages her health to the point that it causes her to have seizures. Fortunately Amy comes to the realisation that she has to get clean if she wises to survive and after a successful course of addiction treatment she returns home to the family farm.

Filling her days with farm work Amy begins to explore her island and her inquisitive mind finds much wonder there. Following a summer job monitoring an endangered species of bird she moves to the even smaller and more remote island of Papay to concentrate on her writing and pursue her new interests.

The Outrun was a wonderful book! 

Amy Lipcoat writes with great beauty about her homeland and the wonders of nature to be found there: wildlife, flora, the wild weather and sea conditions, the skies and astronomy as well as the folklore and language of the isles. She observes the old ways of life along with the changes happening as the isles become somewhat less isolated due to modern technology and the Internet.

The Outrun is a moving and frankly told tale of a woman who returns to her roots, older and wiser. I found it to be less a story of substance abuse and more of a love letter to the Northern Scottish Isles. I simply loved everything about this book and it sparked my interest for a part of the world I had hardly even considered before. This book brought me great joy and taught me about many things. I can't wait to read more by Amy and wish her well and continued sobriety.

Highly recommended.

Signs for Lost Children.

Set in the late 1900's, Signs for Lost Children tells the stories of Ally Moberly, a newly qualified doctor, and Tom Cavendish, an architect who builds lighthouses.

Early on in the book Ally and Tom meet and marry. Once married they relocate from London to Cornwall, where Ally starts work in the Truro Women's Asylum, and Tom soon departs for a lengthy spell of work in Japan. Ally is disturbed by the brutal treatment of the asylum's patients and her own fragile mental health is soon compromised. Tom meanwhile, is embracing a different culture and soon finds himself questioning the English lifestyle and aesthetic. 

When Tom returns home after their lengthy separation they both find it difficult to relate to each other and their marriage. Will it be possible for the two newly weds to readjust to married life following their time apart and differing experiences?

This book is so different from the type of thing that I normally read but I enjoyed it greatly. I'm generally not a fan of historical fiction but this was well written by an author who excelled in her descriptions. I was soon drawn into the story and found myself wondering and marveling at what life would have been like in Victorian England and at how much enlightenment, freedom and liberties are available today that weren't a little over a hundred years ago. For me the book was very much about Ally and her battles for freedom and equality but I also found Tom's travels and the recounting of Japanese folklore to be fascinating.

This book is the sequel to 'Bodies of Light.' which I didn't realise when I started reading it. Although I now long to read the first book, not having done so, in no way impeded my enjoyment of 'Signs for Lost Children' which stands alone as a book by itself. 

Sarah Moss writes eloquently and although this tale is set in the past it felt fresh and modern. All the characters were superb but above all it was Ally Moberly,a splendidly believable character, who I loved spending time with!

Recommended. 

Barneys New York Love Yourself GWP: September 2017.

Two of my favourite beauty gift bag events in one week? I feel like it is my birthday and Christmas both at the same time (or something!).

Barneys New York Love Yourself event started on Wednesday and ends today so there's still time to make a list and swag a goody bag either in store or at barneys.com

All of the bounty pictured above comes packed in a camo toiletries bag and is free when you spend $200.00 (pre tax) or more in their beauty department.

Things to Know about the Love Yourself Event.

As with the SpaceNK event don't go crazy and purchase things that you don't need merely to get the free gift bag. There will be another Love yourself bag available in March so if you don't need to shop right now hang on in there for that one. (Having said that Barneys have lots of things that would be perfect for holiday gifts so you could get a head start on your holiday shopping and keep the bag for yourself...) 

Barneys have a good selection of men's grooming brands and offer a choice of male or female gift bags - both are good, so compare and contrast the bags rather than automatically opting for the female one. As a rule the male bag usually has fewer products but more of them are full sized or deluxe.

During this event various brands offer step up gifts when you spend a certain amount within that brand. Some of these gifts are very good and you can stack the gifts from different brands into one order. Do ask about step up gifts when you shop or check them out online.

The toiletry bags that come with this promotion are always very well made and stylish, they are great for organising things as well as travel.

The Gift.

This GWP contains twenty three samples and two full sized products. While the Space NK GWP tends to focus on skincare the Barneys gift is more varied. This one contains one full sized and ten sample skincare items, five haircare products, three perfume samples, four lip colours, one of which is full sized, along with a mini shower gel and a small tube of toothpaste.

Skincare.

I'm excited to get more Vitamin C skincare in the form of a full sized Vitabird C12 Face Brightener, a powdered Vitamin C that you mix into your usual serum or cream, there are a few other companies who have recently released this type of product so I'm interested to test this out. 

I'm happy to have a ByTerry Liftessence Day Cream sample as I received the nighttime version of this in the Space NK gift and look forward to trying them in tandem. 

I'm curious about the Malin+Goetz Eye Cream, I'm generally not big on their facial products but who knows maybe I will enjoy this. 

One thing that I always love about these Barneys bags are the inclusion of some very high end product samples such as the ones here from La Mer, Sisley and 3Lab. These are always fun to try for free although I'm always worried I will fall in love with one or more of them! Finally there's a sample of Rodin Olio Lusso which is fabulous, in fact it is one of my favourite facial oils.

Haircare.

The haircare items are all generously sized. I'm especially keen to try out the Shu Uemera Cleansing Oil Shampoo which smells lovely and sounds intriguing. 

Although I have a lot of masks, and texurising/salt sprays I don't mind to get more free as it means I don't ever have to buy these items! 

Make Up.

I'm pleased to have another Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in the shade 'Peacemaker' (this along with Mila Moursi Cellular Renewal Cream is the only duplicate product from the Space NK bag) and I will use the mini Nars velvet Lip Glide. 

The full sized Lipstick Queen Eden Lipstick and mini Givenchy Noir Revelateur are both colours I won't use so I will give these away.

Perfume.

I'm always happy to get perfume vials to try out! There are three in this bag, I always look forward to the Byredo ones which, although they don't last on my skin, are unusual and intriguing.

Bodycare.

Molton Brown Body Washes feel very luxurious and leave the bathroom delightfully perfumed. I'm saving this Eucalyptus one, which smells warm and comforting, for the cooler weather. 

Finally, I love these mini tubes of Marvis Toothpaste, not only are they handy for trips they are kind of fancy for a toothpaste!

What I Bought and Step Up Gifts. 

The bulk of my purchases at Barneys Love Youself are usually things from Kiehl's that Mr C&C likes to use. This time I made sure that he was restocked with their Facial Fuel Face Wash and Facial Fuel Face Treatment SPF15.  Another favourite of his is the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream and I picked up a big pot of this for him to slather on throughout the winter. He also needed a new eye cream so I bought him some Powerful Strength Line Reducing Eye Brightening Cream as he already uses and loves the serum in this range. 

 I always purchase a tube of  Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser for myself at this event, a tube lasts me just about six months so I'm always in need of one when it is on. This year I also bought a Chantecaille Anti Fatigue Corrector Pen, I am just about to run out of my current illuminating pen. This brightening formula, delivered in a click brush format, is basically a version of Touch Eclat but it also works as a treatment, containing peptides to rejuvenate the delicate skin around the eye this also helps smooth the under eye area.

This year Kiehl's weren't offering a step up gift but their S/A gave me some deluxe samples of  Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, Powerful line Reducing Concentrate, Super Multi Corrective Cream and Turmeric and Cranberry Energizing Radiance Mask.

Chantecaille's step up gift was a green clutch style bag with samples of Rose de Mai Cream, Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser and Bio Lifting Mask. These are lovely products and while they may not look particularly impressive they have a value of $52.00!

I'm very happy with all my purchases and gifts, but I'm not done yet! I'm waiting for a Cult Beauty delivery and then I think that that will be my beauty purchases complete for the rest of the year - I've certainly enough samples to last for quite some time as well as a cabinet brimming with full sized ones.  

Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit GWP: Sept 2017.

The Space NK spring and autumn beauty edits are my very favourite beauty promotions to shop at. Not only is it my favourite beauty store, have you seen the gift bags they put together for these events? They are simply swoon worthy. If anyone puts together a better gift bag please let me know! 

Yesterday and today was/are the presale for members of their NDulge rewards program - if you aren't already a member and plan on shopping his event for heaven's sake sign up when you do - it's one of the better rewards schemes out there. After that it's open to everyone, including online shoppers, while stocks last. If you want one of these fabulous bags I recommend you order one asap, take  a look at it - you wouldn't want to miss out!

In order to qualify for the bag you need to spend $275.00 pre tax. I know it's a lot but it's scarily easily to get to that total in Space NK I find, and the bag and it's contents are worth over $500.00! As ever don't buy things that you don't need simply to get the gift. I always use this event and the Barney's Love Yourself event which is also currently running - more of which on Sunday - to stock up on skincare products that I know I will use. If you can't afford it now or if your cupboard is already over brimming with products then think ahead, resist impulse purchases, run down your stocks and save yourself for February when there's another Beauty Edit Event!

What's in the bag?

Thirty generously sized samples from a selection of ultra luxe brands, all packaged in a grey suede effect pouch.

Skincare.

As ever this bag is geared towards the skincare rather than make up fanatic! It contains eighteen skincare products, six make up products, three body products and three hair care items.

I'm particularly excited to try out Uma Eye Oil as I have heard so much good about the brand and Kat Burki Illume Brightening Serum because not only do I love all her products, I've spent more time in the sun this year than usual and feel the need for a little Vit C in my routine, ditto Sunday Riley C.E.O. Tata Harper Reparitive Moisturiser is another product I'm excited about, it's from a brand I love whose products I generally find to be very effective and they're natural.
I'm also looking forward to trying out Miriam Quevedo skincare (there is a sample of Black Baccara Weekend Peel in the gift) as I have been very impressed with her hair products. Omorovicza Cleansing Balm is a product that I have used before but it's one that I love so I'm happy about this sample.

The only skincare items that I don't love here are the NuFace Prep-n-Glow Cloths because let's be honest they are wipes aren't they? However I'm sure they will come in handy for travel so I will use them.
Overall this is a fantastic selection of skincare items, the last edit bag was quite heavy on mask samples, this time around it feels much more varied with a range of products for every step of your routine.

Make Up.

I really like Lipstick Queen Lip Liners so I'm looking forward to this and the Kevin Aucoin Lip Pencils are another lip product that I like - they are great on their own as a matte lip. As someone who doesn't wear a bold lip I am very appreciative that all the lip items are wearable nudes this time around.
 I'm also excited to try the Rodial Mascara as although I have used many of their skincare items over the years I have yet to explore their make up offerings.

Haircare.

Free Oribe Dry Texturising Spray? Don't mind if I do! Who doesn't love this? And although I have many salt sprays already I'm happy to try out the  OUAI Wave Spray without having to purchase it as OUAI is a bit of a curious range for me - there's no middle ground with this brand - I either love or hate their products!

Body care.

 There are only three body care minis in the bag but I'm happy with all of them as I can never have enough mini body products - they are so handy to have around.
Diptyque Shower Oil is the body care item I'm most looking forward to out of the three

What I bought.

Sunday Riley Good Genes and Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip - I think that I buy these two at just about every bag event! Good Genes is probably my most repurchased skincare item, normally I swap things around and there's very few products that I remain loyal to, but this suits my skin so well and I do notice a difference in clarity and texture whenever I don't use it.
Ceramic Slip is one of my favourite cleansers, it is beautiful to use in the morning, it feels cooling and refreshing (and you can mix it with Good Genes for a quick and easy brightening mask).

I purchased some Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic+Retinol Wrinkle recovery Overnight Serum as I was impressed by the sample of this I received in the last Space NK bag. It has a creamy consistency and when I used it previously it left my skin looking firmer and plumper.
 I used to use a lot of REN skincare and then they slipped off my radar somewhat (TBH I felt that they diversified too much and that instead of concentrating on a few good formulas they produced too many things). However they do have some stellar offerings such as Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream, which I was reminded of when I recently used their Evercalm Mask. It's a daytime moisturizer that isn't too rich and it calms my skin if it is stressed. I like to use this in the winter to calm the redness that comes from extreme cold and wind but I also find it very good to use after skin treatments such as peels. 

I'm pleased with everything that I purchased and I'm thrilled to have so many new samples to play with. I'm sure I will discover a few items for future shopping lists!

If you would like to take advantage of the Beauty Edit bag why not pop into your local store or visit spacenk.com (offer available on the US site while stocks last).

The Ordinary: My First Order and First Impressions.

I have been wanting to try some products from The Ordinary for a while, but one of the products that I wanted was out of stock for quite some time so it was only recently that I put an order together.

In case you have been hiding under a rock The Ordinary is a skincare brand from Canadian company Deciem who have a stable of brands including NIOD and Hylamide. Deciem's slogan is 'The Abnormal Beauty Company' so you know to expect something a little different from mainstream beauty brands and The Ordinary is definitely that!

Simply packaged and sold (online only in the US) without the aid of advertising the range is known for being basic and extremely affordable. The products aren't tested on animals and they are free from parabens, mineral oils and such like (you can get more information on the mission statement from the website) and are all very basic. Rather than containing a cocktail of ingredients as many conventional facial products do the majority of them are composed of one treatment ingredient in a base. It's a little daunting at first but the website contains a lot of information and if you know what your skin's concerns are and have a very basic knowledge of skincare ingredients you can  quite easily select and mix and match products to meet your skincare needs. I'm certainly no scientist but I love the idea of tailoring my own skincare range!

I've not even opened half of what I have but here's a brief look and my first impressions of the brand and products.

Making an order.

Initially I wanted to buy their Glycolic Toner but it was out of stock for what seemed like the longest time. (Annoying but something that I think is not a bad thing as you know that products are fresh when you eventually do receive them.) I signed up for a notification when it was restocked and was pleasantly surprised when I received an email telling me when it was - I must note that I haven't otherwise had my inbox inundated with promo emails and advertising from them which I appreciate.

I found the website easy to use and navigate. Each product is pictured alongside a tick box which gives basic at a glance information and below that there are more detailed scientific explanations of the product.  

Shipping.

I received a shipment notification and my order arrived in a few days. Everything was well packaged in a white box branded with Deciem. Shipping in the US is free on orders of $25.00 and above.

Packaging.

When I opened my order my first impression was that the products were very well packaged. I had been expecting them to be in flimsy cardboard packs but each product had it's own printed box that was comparable, if not better, than that of most high end brands. There is no printed insert with the product but there is a simple outline of what it is and what it is used for printed on the box and the website has everything in more detail if you need further information. 

The simple graphic design and clinical appearance of the packaging reflect the contents and is pleasing to the eye.

The Products I Bought.  

Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. 

240ml - $8.70/£6.80

I've been using this for a couple of weeks and I like it a lot! At 7% there's enough AHA in this to give a bit of a tingle yet I find it gentle enough to use daily (I only use it in the evenings). This contains ginseng, aloe vera and pepperberry. It puts me in mind of a slightly stronger Pixi Glow Tonic but I prefer it and the bottle is huge. This is going to last me a very long time but I can see myself repurchasing this when it does eventually run out.

Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5

For hydration and repair - 30ml - $6.80/£5.90

I love Hyaluronic Acid in beauty products as I have skin that gets easily dehydrated no matter how much water I drink! My daytime serum is normally some sort of HA product and I bought this to use as that. I've only used this a couple of times and I have to say that it is very thick and gloopy. I found it a little hard to spread over dry skin but when I misted my skin beforehand it was easier to apply. I needed to leave this for a few minutes before applying my moisturiser as my skin was quite tacky but when I did apply cream on top it sank in well and my skin felt nicely prepped for make up.
I'm not sure that I would get this again simply because I have other HA products that I prefer but I will use this up and, who knows, I may come to love it! 

Lactic Acid 5%+HA2%

For the treatment of fine lines and texture - 30ml - $6.50/£5.80.

I bought this because Lactic Acid is the principle ingredient in my night time serum of choice - Sunday Riley Good Genes. I've not used this yet but I was curious to try it and compare it to GG. In all honesty I'm not expecting it to live up to GG which is possibly my favourite ever skincare item but imagine how happy I would be if it did!

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Treats texture and signs of aging - 30ml - $13.90/£8.00.

Retinoids and Retinol confuse me and I've yet to find one that I love. They also intimidate me a little and although I don't have particularly fragile skin I don't want to go too hardcore. There are seven versions of retinol/retinoid available from The Ordinary, this one is the mildest and is described as being of moderate strength with no irritation. It's also the only one that comes in the form of a creamy emulsion which I prefer over one that is very liquid. 

I'm happy to experiment with reliable retinol/retinoid products when they come at such a low price point and if I like this I will most likely step up to a slightly stronger format.

Caffeine Solution 5%+EGCG

Eye area treatment with green tea extract for puffiness and dark circles - 30ml - $6.70/£5.80.

This was an impulse buy, I have used caffeine products before and found them to be highly effective and I thought this product sounded intriguing. 

I do have some discolouration and slight puffiness under my eyes but nothing too bad. I bought this intending to use it occasionally if I feel it's needed, rather than as a daily treatment.

Overall.

I am most impressed with the packaging, the customer service, the website and, of course the price! My initial feeling is that the products will be a mixed bag with some I love and some that I don't. But who knows? Time will tell.
I love that The Ordinary provides an opportunity to try out different skincare solutions without having to invest a lot of money in a product and that I can build a wardrobe of skincare to suit my needs. I also like the fact that I could travel with a basic selection of the products and not be upset if they were lost or spilled along the way.
I know that I will make another order before too long as I have my eye on a few products and I'm excited to try the rest of the products that I already have. 

theordinary.com

  

Empties August 2017.

 I wanted to finish up as many products as possible in August to make room for new purchases in September, which is one of the best months to beauty shop, as there are always such good GWP's to be had. Although it was a slow start and I failed to empty much in the earlier part of August, towards the end I was more successful and I have quite a few things balancing upside down in my bathroom that are almost done!

I was pleased at the end of the month to find I had used up fourteen full sized items and eighteen samples.

Skincare.

I finished two bargain toning products: Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater and Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads Extreme, both are products that I have used many times before. The spray smells lovely and the pads are very handy for traveling (although I like them enough that I also use them at home).

I emptied two serums: Algenist Power Serum and Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM. The Algenist Serum felt hydrating but I don't think that it did much beyond that, I used this mainly during the day and found that it did layer well with other products. While I did find the PTR Retinol Fusion to be effective (I used this at night under an oil and it wasn't too strong for me) it had an extremely thin consistency. It resembled a slightly oily feeling water and I found it a little difficult to apply. I would love this if it were available in a creamier formula but in it's current form I wouldn't repurchase it.

I used up two moisturisers: Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturiser and Zelens 3t Complex. Shiseido isn't a brand that I seek out but when I do use their products I'm always impressed. This moisturiser was lovely to use during warmer weather especially during the day, it is very fluid with a slightly gel like consistency, and felt very soothing and hydrating. The Zelens 3t was amazing! It felt very indulgent and it lifted, firmed and moisturised. My skin looked wonderful whenever I used this -there's a reason it is so hideously expensive! I would love to use this again but most likely won't as I can't justify the price.

I am making an effort to use up some masks and finished five mask samples. Evan Healy Green Tea Clay was a powder that you mixed with water to form a paste. This did leave my face bright and healthy looking and it rinsed off easily but I find masks that you need to mix are unnecessarily messy.

I loved Tata Harper Clarifying Mask, it was thick and glossy and didn't crinkle my skin as it dried like a lot of other clay masks. My skin looked and felt very fresh after this and it actually pulled some gunk out of a congested area on my chin. This one is going on my shopping list!

Dior Hydra Life Fresh Jelly Mask reminded me of the REN Glycol Lactic Mask but it felt a little stronger - there was a definite tingle happening when I applied this. It brightened my skin but wasn't the easiest mask to remove and it contained some small scrubby particles which annoyingly made their way into my hairline. Farmacy Honey Potion Mask felt gimmicky to me. It resembled honey without the stickiness and turned into a white cream that heated up when you applied it. This again felt tingly on my skin and when I removed it my skin continued to tingle and burn uncomfortably, and was very red. My skin looked very stressed the next day so this is not one that I would use again. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask feels nice on and improves my skin a little, it's good but not special enough for me to consider purchasing.

I finally tried out Sunday Riley Luna! I used it for five days sandwiched between a serum and moisturiser. I found that it was a light oil that absorbes easily and made my skin look plumper. It also contains a gentle retinol that didn't irritate me. Kora Organics Noni Glow Facial Oil was very good, very light it absorbed quickly leaving my skin soft and supple. I used this at night but it is so light I would also use it in the day.

Vichy Mineral 89 is a clear gel containing a host of minerals and Hyaluronic Acid. It felt light, wasn't sticky, and worked well as a daily serum with other products. I can see myself getting this before too long as not only is it inexpensive, it left my skin nicely plump and juicy.

Lancome Absolue Eye Premium was just OK. I found it a little too oily for daytime use and it didn't do much beyond temporarily hydrating my eye area. 

Haircare.

I have a lot of haircare products on the go right now so I finished very little.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray had a lovely coconut/beach scent. It did make my hair fall into nice piece-y chunks but it did leave my hair a tad crisp - no more so than a lot of other sea salt sprays. Overall I enjoyed it. Sample sizes of Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner left my hair soft and tangle free. They were totally fine drugstore hair products but I wasn't mad about their fruity fragrance. I also used a sample sachet of Miriam Quevedo Extreme Caviar Serum, a leave in conditioning cream that I like as it doesn't weigh my hair down.

Body Care.

I love Korres Body Butters so much that I finished two tubes of them this month! They are formulated with natural ingredients so you do need to wait a few minutes for them to sink in but they are very moisturising and more of a lotion/cream consistency that feels comfortable rather than being heavy and sticky as their name suggests. The 'Apple Blossom' one had a delicate fragrance that felt clean and fresh and the 'Cassis Fig' scent was a perfect compliment to my Philosykos Perfume. I also love the packaging of these as it features an easy to read guide on the back of the tube detailing exactly what is and isn't in them.Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe was also very hydrating with a refreshing scent. It was quite a light formula and wasn't sticky as some aloe lotions can be.

Wholefoods Hand Cream was packaged in a handy easy to carry sized tube and I liked it's Peony, Mint & Blackberry scent which successfully managed to smell harmoniously of all three of those things, but it didn't feel very moisturising or give much relief from dry feeling, itchy hands.

Finally, I had been looking forward to trying Spongelle, a body wash infused buffing sponge. I thought that this would be an ideal item for travel as it saved you from carrying a body wash. However, I found the sponge to be a little too rough (and I don't shy away from scrubby body things as a rule!). It was quite foamy but not enough foam was made for it to feel pampering or to shave with. It also lacked a cord to hang it with so I could never get it completely dry, these are supposed to last eighteen days, I gave up on mine on day twelve as it was becoming a little gross. I still think it's a great idea but it needs a little refining...

Make Up and Perfume.

I finished both a full size and a sample of Hourglass Veil Primer this month. I love this primer, it feels comfortable and my make up stays in place for so much longer when I use it. I always have one of these to hand and have already started a new one!

I finished a full sized NYX Eye Shadow Primer - I'm not sure of the exact name of this as the writing has vanished from the tube, but it was excellent! Flesh toned with a doe foot applicator this made my eye shadow last all day. I have been using this tube for over a year so it's also excellent value as it's less than $10.00. It always seems to be sold out so I'm obviously not the only one who loves it, if I see more I will certainly repurchase!

I finished a mini Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara. This is a very good, if somewhat spendy, mascara. I find it enhances lashes, adding a little lift and curl in a way that looks fairly natural and it never gets clumpy.

I finished a mini Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in the shade 'Lucky'. I love the formula of Chantecaille glosses. This was a little light for me but it worked well over a nude lipstick, it does look very sparkly in the tube but once on it isn't, merely very glossy so it makes lips look plump and full.

I used two vials of perfume: Atelier Cologne Sud Magnolia and one by Raw Spirit. I wasn't keen on either. I also finished a sample of Diptyque Volutes Solid Perfume. I like the idea of solid perfumes and am surprised that they aren't more prevalent (having said that I've never bought one!). This warm spicy fragrance is softened by floral notes and feels very enveloping and comforting, it lingers on my skin longer in this solid formula too. 

August produced a satisfying amount of empties and I'm sure that September will also as I have a lot of samples that I'm aiming to use.