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.