ULTA GWP: Cyber Funday 2018.

I don't shop at Ulta all that much, even though I love the store and its easy to browse mix of high end and drugstore products, not to mention its excellent reward's program. However, I do place an online order from time to time as they stock the hair dye I use which none of my local shops sells (John Freida Precision Foam Color, in case you were wondering) and it is also a good way of buying bumper sized bags of Epsom Salts as it means I don't have to lug them home from the shops.

Whenever these items are running low I make sure to check the Ulta emails I receive and take advantage of their best online offers. Recently I managed to get all of the above goodies thrown in with my order (I think it was a $65.00 required spend to get this offer), as well as earning points towards future purchases, along with cashback from ebates. 

Here's a quick look at what I got.

Skincare.

Patchology Mood Mask Just Let It Glow. 

Although I'm not a sheet mask fan I'm looking forward to trying this one out as I have been impressed with the other Patchology products that I have tried. (Their Lip Service Gloss-to-Balm Treatment is currently my favourite lip product.) In addition to moisturising, this sheet mask contains antioxidents to protect and Niacinamide to brighten which sounds like the perfect post-party skin pick me up treatment.

Garnier Skinactive Micellar Water - 1oz. 

This generous sample is going straight into my travel bag! I love getting samples and minis of Micellar Water as they are so handy to take along on trips and use for removing eye makeup, or even a full face of makeup in a pinch if needed.

Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion - 1oz. 

This toner has Isopropyl Alcohol as it's the second ingredient and as this can be quite harsh and drying I don't think I will use it but will pass it along to someone who may. 

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser. 

I already have a couple of sachets of this cleanser which warms on application. It sounds interesting and I'm curious to try it out sometime soon.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti Wrinkle Moisturiser. 

I don't know too much about Juice Beauty, but you can't really go too wrong with a sachet of moisturiser. There are very few moisturising samples that I won't use as they can always be used as a top occlusive layer or even as a body lotion in a pinch!

L'Oreal Yuzu Lemon Pure Clay Mask. 

I used another of the L'Oreal Pure Clay Masks a while ago and found it to be a little drying but I'm intrigued by a brightening clay mask and love single-use mask sachets so will give this one a go. 

BlenderCleanser Liquid. 

These are always handy to receive as although they may not be the most exciting sample they do prompt me to clean my brushes.

Makeup.

Ulta Gel Eye Liner 'Mink' (full-sized).

 It's nice to get an eyeliner that isn't basic black for a change so I'm pleased to get this.

Maybelline Master Precision All Day Liner 'Black'. 

Maybelline is really pumping this product out in gift bags, I already have a couple of these, plus numerous other black liners so will pass it on.

MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara. 

This is the cutest mini mascara! I rarely use MAC products but I'm always happy to receive mini mascaras as it means I rarely have to buy a full sized one.

Too Faced Glitter Glue Shadow Primer. 

This is so not my type of product lol, I'll pass this one on to a teenager.

Ofra Single Eyeshadow in 'Bliss' 

This looks to be a nice easy to wear neutral shade but as I have a lot of neutral shadows I will put this into my donation/giveaway bag.

Julep Whipped Matte Lip Mousse in 'Bisou. 

This wine toned lip colour has a strong pigment but it's a great colour for this time of year so I will pop it in my bag.

Haircare.

Herbal Essence Argan Oil Conditioner - 100ml. 

Herbal Essence is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine and I love getting decent sized samples of hair conditioner as I always use up bottles of conditioners much more quickly than bottles of shampoo.

Living Proof TBD Multi Tasking Styler. 

I'm a real 'wash n go' type but I will try and use this as a leave in conditioner/detangler.

Sexy Hair Love Oil Moisturising Oil. 

The name of this makes me shudder, but I love a good hair oil so I will certainly try it out.

Perfume.

Narciso Rodriguez Fleur Musc. 

I already used this sample. It's easy to wear but a little sweet for my liking and it did fade away pretty quickly.

Juicy Couture Oui. 

I've yet to try this but I was pleasantly surprised by the last perfume I tried by Juicy Couture so I'm hoping I will like this one too.

If you're impressed by this GWP/sample haul why not sign up for emails at ulta.com They frequently have offers such as this and I'm sure that their post-Christmas sale will be excellent as well.

Empties:November 2018.

I can hardly believe that its empties for November time already! November saw me using up twelve full sized products and twenty-seven samples. Let's take a look!

Skincare.

I only managed to finish three full-sized skincare products but I did use up seventeen samples which I'm pretty pleased about.

Goop Glow Morning Skin Super Powder was a morning supplement containing Vitamins C and E CoQ 10, Lutein and Grapeseed Extract - all ingredients that 'allegedly' contribute to skin health. I had five sachets and whilst I can't claim that I noticed a big improvement in my skin solely due to these, they did taste very good and I enjoyed drinking them. This is a kind of posh (expensive) effervescent Vitamin C type of thing and I would happily use them again even though I don't foresee myself purchasing them. 

Simple Micellar Cleansing Water is a very good micellar water that I use for removing eye make up prior to cleansing. It's possibly my favourite micellar water and it is a bargain to boot.

ECooking Peel Mask is a Lactic Acid and AHA Exfoliating mask, it's quite strong but is quick and easy to use. It did leave my skin looking clear and even but it also irritated it if I left it on too long. I was a bit cautious whenever I used this and wouldn't recommend it if you are at all sensitive. Also  I wasn't keen on its sour fragrance which was quite strong.

I used three cleanser samples. Dermalogica Pre Cleanse is an oily liquid that is quick and effective as a first (makeup removing) cleanser. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water is a micellar water that I used to remove eye makeup, I like it but prefer the cheaper Simple one. Drunk Elephant Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser is a clear foaming gel cleanser that I found to be a little too foamy and drying. I used this as a morning cleanse but wasn't too keen on it.

Shiseido Benefiance Day Emulsion SPF18 is a daytime moisturiser with a milky consistency. It absorbed well and was good to layer with other products and under makeup. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this but it equally didn't 'wow' me in any way. I used two sachets of Vichy Mineral 89, a Hyaluronic Acid rich moisture boosting serum/moisturiser. I love this so much that I'm on my second or third full sized bottle of it. Drunk Elephant BHydra Intensive Hydration Serum is another Hyaluronic moisture boosting serum. I like this a lot, its one of my favourite DE products and is something that I would buy this if I hadn't already discovered the similar and more pocket-friendly Vichy 89!

 I had a tiny sample of Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist. It smelled pleasantly of rose but ingredient number three is Alcohol Denat which is quite drying so I will give this one a miss.

ByTerry LiftEssence Day and Night Creams were both lovely rose scented creams that felt very firming. I really enjoyed these two samples. 

Drunk Elephant LaLa Retro Whipped Cream is a lightly textured rich moisturiser. I used this at night as I found it too greasy feeling for daytime, I was a little disappointed as I found it to be just a basic moisturiser, but one that was a little too oily for my liking, and it felt like it sat on the surface of my skin.

Derma E Radiant Glow Face Oil was a dryish feeling facial oil with some golden powder to give an instant glow. I really liked this as it wasn't overly greasy and found myself reaching for it over more expensive facial oils.

I don't feel that I need to purchase a separate neck serum or cream but I'm always happy to use any samples I get. I used two samples of YSL Forever Concentrate which is a runny gel type of neck serum. It felt quite hydrating but had a fairly strong chemical (hairspray?) type of scent that I didn't like.

Drunk Elephant CTango Multivitamin Eye Cream is great! Its packed full of peptides and Vitamin C to repair and protect the delicate eye area. This feels quite rich but absorbs instantly and hydrates well. I liked this a lot and am currently using a full sized one.

I used two moisturising masks. Clark's Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask can be used as a mask or a moisturiser. A thick rich cream, this left my skin nicely plumped and I loved its potent jasmine fragrance.  Kiehl's Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Mask was a lighter gel mask, it felt soothing but I didn't find it to be particularly hydrating. 

Haircare.

I used four full-sized and four samples of haircare

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner are both superb. These two are some of my favourite luxury haircare products, I like their nutty scent and the fact that their formula is very natural. I love the way they leave my hair feeling and looking, and although they aren't cheap you really don't need to use much of them so these last for ages.

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Sea Salt Scrub is a thick paste-like shampoo with a mineral scent containing large chunks of salt. I like to use this from time to time to deep cleanse my hair and always use it the day after colouring my hair as it does a good job of removing excess colour and leaves it looking fresher and more natural. This product does contain SLS and it produces lots of thick creamy lather which I find satisfying.

I used a sachet duo of R+Co Atlantis Shampoo and Conditioner, there's nothing outstanding about these but I do enjoy them and they smell great.

Another great smelling product is Carol's Daughter Monoi Leave-In Conditioner (all of this range smells amazing, if you like Monoi and beachy scents you will love them). This leave-in spray did a great job of detangling my hair and never left it looking limp or greasy.

Ouai Leave-In Conditioner was another leave in spray conditioner. I found this to be very similar to Davines Oi. I liked this but I prefer the Ouai Hair Oil as a leave-in product.

Aveda Smooth Infusion is a pre-styling product but I find little works fine as a leave-in conditioner/detangler on air dried hair. This size sample is great for travel, but it does have a rather odd curry type of scent.

Bodycare.

I got through four full-sized body care items and two samples. Everything was body lotion with the exception of a handbag sized hand cream!

Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion is a frequent sight on my empties piles, it's immensely hydrating, light and-non greasy with a clean fresh fragrance, and it's great value for money.

Nip+Fab De-Stress Blend Body Lotion came in a huge bottle that lasted for ages. It had a nice consistency and was lightly fragranced with Sandalwood and Orange Blossom which I found very pleasant.

Shea Moisture Body Lotion with Frankincense and Myrrh was a rich cream that was very thick -  in fact, it was so thick that it was very difficult to get it out of the bottle - it really should have been packaged in a jar. This was a great hydrator but it did need a little time to sink in. I liked the scent of this but it was a strong fragrance that lingered on the skin so it wasn't suitable for everyday use and also restricted the type of perfume I chose to wear. 

Aesop Resolute Body Balm was another thick body product that also needed to be left to sink in. It was scented with Black Pepper and Patchouli and oddly I wasn't keen on the fragrance - usually, I love anything with Patchouli notes.

Bliss Lemon +Sage Body Butter is a nicely textured absorbent body cream, it has a creamy lemon scent with grassy notes that isn't bad, but I do prefer a zingier citrus scent for body products. 

I almost always have a tube of Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Cream in my bag. I love the formula of these and the size and packaging are perfect for carrying around. 'Venetian Violet' was a lovely old-fashioned floral scent that I loved.

Makeup and Perfume.

I only finished one make up item but it was full sized. Sunday Riley Effortless Primer has sadly been discontinued. I loved this as a primer in the colder weather as it has a slightly oily finish that I found moisturizing. This primer did a good job of helping my make up to stay in place and it's light coverage meant that I could enjoy wearing it by itself on 'no makeup' days.

Finally, I used up five samples of perfume.

  Chanel Chance is a little generic but it's very much a Chanel fragrance, young and floral. This disappeared from my skin very quickly.

L'Etat Libre d'Orange Fat Electrician is a creamy smoky woody scent that I love. It's marketed as an aftershave but I'm more than happy to wear it!

I used my final two vials of Loewe Woman 001. I've had numerous samples of this warm, woody, sensual scent with a hint of leather that I find very wearable.

Pinrose Secret Genius was a very basic vanilla-y fragrance on me. It reminded me of something from Bed, Bath and Bodyworks, I thought it was very youthful but not at all interesting or sophisticated.

Overall I'm pleased with November's empties but I'm hoping that in December I can use up a few more full sized items as I've got plenty of great new products that I want to crack open!

Cult Beauty Best of 2018 GWP.

I really do have a lot of beauty things 'in stock' at the moment but it has been a while since I did a Cult Beauty order and the above GWP was simply too good to miss out on!

It's rare that there aren't a few products that are a bit of a miss in a free bag but this one certainly appealed to me and there was only one item there that I knew I wouldn't use (Huda False Eyelashes).

Free with a £175.00 purchase all of the above treats came in a large canvas pouch (which I used for the photo's background) along with a black makeup bag and a £15.00 gift card to apply to a future order. Valued at over £300.00 the gift included seven full sized products!

There's a great mix of makeup and skincare, along with an eyeshadow brush, hair mask, a sample of Le Labo Santal 33 EDP and even some GoopGlow Skincare Supplements. 

I particularly like the way that this bag has been put together. It seems as if, not only are these some of the year's best sellers, there's a seasonal party theme going on, with sparkly (yet wearable) makeup items and a selection of skincare items that are geared towards getting a  much needed healthy glow back after all the late nights and parties!

Everything in this bag is great (yeah, except the lashes) but I'm particularly excited to see some of my favourites such as Omorovicza Moor Cream Cleanser and Dr Dennis Gross Dew It All Hyaluronic Eye Gel. I'm also looking forward to trying out Lixir Vitamin C Paste, a quick brightening mask that I've seen all over social media. 

Makeup items in gift bags usually leave me feeling a bit 'meh' but I'm actually excited about the ones in this bag, particularly the Jouer Lip Topper Gloss, Farsili Jelly Beam Illuminator, and Laura Mercier Glow Setting Powder.

In case you couldn't tell I'm over the moon about this GWP and while it is no longer available it's always worth signing up for Cult Beauty newsletters so you know when their next gift is available.

cultbeauty.com 

CVS Beauty Day Giveaway: October 2018.

I love those random Saturdays (I never see an announcement about them in advance!) when you walk into your local CVS and the beauty consultant is hovering by a stand full of bags of beauty samples which are being handed out to anyone who wants one irrespective of whether you have bought anything or not. Beauty samples are some of my favourite small treats so of course, I pick one up for myself if I'm ever in store when they are giving them away! 

On a recent Saturday, I was given a bag containing money off coupons and all of the goodies pictured above.

Nature's Bounty Hair Skin and Nail Gummies. 

I must admit to being a little sceptical about supplements but these orange flavoured gummies certainly tasted great.

Cerave Moisturising Lotion. 

I'm looking forward to trying out this basic, gentle moisturising lotion as people seem to love this brand.

Love, Beauty & Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner.

I've used these before and not only did they smell good they left my hair in great condition. I'm actually using the LB&P Argan Oil and Lavender Body Wash at the moment and really enjoying it.

La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 (SPF60). 

This is a favourite sunscreen of a lot of people but personally, I find it a little uncomfortable to wear. I'm always happy to have samples of sunscreen though as I carry one around in my bag at all times just in case...

Invisibobble Hair Ties. 

You can't go wrong with free hair ties and my hair is currently long enough to tie back so these are a winner in my book. There are three in this pack and I'm pleased that I got to try the 'blond' colour of these so they really should be 'invisible'.

Vichy Mineral 89 Booster. 

I love this Hydrating Booster and have already used a couple of bottles of it! It's a basic Hyaluronic Acid serum/booster which I like to use in the morning on top of a Vitamin C serum before my moisturiser and sunscreen. Bonus points to this sample for coming in a cute sachet.

Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist. 

I love facial sprays and mists so it's no surprise that I have already used this up. This spray has a soft rose fragrance and I like that it doesn't contain any alcohol at all. It's very reasonably priced and a good alternative to the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Rose and Herbs that I frequently buy.

Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Renewal Deep Conditioner. 

I've used this quick conditioning mask previously and found it to be effective. I always need extra conditioners so I'm happy with this sample. 

Dove Dry Skin Relief Gentle Cleansing Face Wash. 

I will try this out as a face wash but I expect I will end up using it as a body wash if it proves to be at all drying or foamy. 

La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturiser. I really like this moisturiser, it's very gentle and I like to use it if my skin feels in need of some TLC. It is a great product to use after a peel or any sort of exfoliation as well.

I'm very happy with this little goody bag. It's a nice mix of old favourites along with some new products to try and it's a great little perk especially as it was completely unexpected and was free!

Empties: October 2018.

I feel that I'm not doing as good a job as usual with my empties of late because I have been swapping up my routines and as a result have a lot of different products open all at the same time. Nevertheless, I did manage to finish twelve full-sized and twenty-three empties during October.

Skincare.

I only used three full-sized skincare items but I did manage to finish fourteen samples. 

I used two full-sized facial sprays. Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a classic, but I have to admit to not loving this one, I like the smell, but it feels a little drying on my skin. (I think that this is really overpriced for what it is). Little Barn Apothecary Coconut+Mint Cooling Mineral Mist was lovely however. It felt very fresh and cooling and the blend of coconut and mint smelled great. This spray contains aloe rather than water as its main ingredient so it was very hydrating as well. I have a ton of sprays and toners at the moment but I can definitely see myself repurchasing this in the future. The other full sized item I used was Algenist Complete Renewal Eye Balm. I like this eye cream, it is easily absorbed and addresses a whole range of eye area issues. It isn't the best eye cream I have used but it is fairly effective all around.

I enjoyed Odacite Black Mint Cleanser so much. This non-foaming liquid cleanser was fantastic to use in the morning, it was just minty enough to be invigorating and left my skin feeling clean but not stripped. This is top of my shopping list!

I liked Tula Exfoliating Treatment Mask a lot too. It is a pale blue clay type mask with a few exfoliating grains. I liked it because it didn't dry out and pucker my skin and wiped away easily. It also left my skin looking clear and bright and saved me having to use a cleansing clay mask and an exfoliating one.

The two serum samples by DCL that I used were both absolutely fantastic! DCL Skin Brightening Complexion Treatment is used in the morning and their C Scape High Potency Night Booster Serum is used at night. Together these two made a visible difference to my skin in just a couple of uses. My skin was brighter, more evenly toned and generally fresh and healthy looking after using this duo. They aren't cheap but they are powerful and they really do make a difference! 

Trilogy Q10 Booster Oil was a dryish oil that I loved using at night, it was plumping and easily absorbed.

I finished four samples of moisturiser. Caudalie VineActive 3-in-1 Moisturiser was just okay. It didn't do much for me beyond hydrating and I noticed that the formula had a tendency to separate in the tube which isn't great. La Roche Posay Toleriane is a very basic moisturiser for sensitive skin. I used this when my skin felt stressed or compromised, it's not an exciting product but it calms and hydrates nicely and it's very reasonably priced. La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream always leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth but it is exorbitantly priced for what it is so its samples only of this one for me!

I used up two eye cream samples, both from La Mer. I really like The Eye Concentrate as it absorbs so well, it's very expensive though and doesn't impress me enough to actually by it. The Eye Balm Intense is a pale green cream, lighter in texture this also sinks in beautifully but I didn't find it as good as The Eye Concentrate.

I used three sunscreen samples. Coola Organic BB+ Cream SPF30 wasn't to my liking as it left an odd grey cast on my face and felt uncomfortable on my skin. Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30 is oil free but it still felt heavy and oily to me. I did like Clinique Pep Start Hydrorush Moisturiser SPF 20 though, a lightweight moisturising gel cream that layered well with other products and worked well under makeup.

Finally skincare wise I used up a mini ByTerry Baume de Rose. I know this cult product has many fans but it fails to impress me and I find the price of this shockingly high.

Bodycare.

I used four full-sized and four mini bodycare items.

Softsoap Shower Gels are a frequent drugstore purchase for me, they are cheap, they smell great and they leave my skin feeling pretty soft. I honestly don't think that you can beat these considering their price! 'Almond and Coconut' had a sweet summery scent that wasn't overpowering, and I really liked the 'Luminous Oil Coconut Oil and Lavender' which had a rich powdery, almost patchouli type of fragrance. I also finished up two of the Rituals Foaming Shower Gels. 'Yogi Flow' and 'Ritual of Sakura' are both slightly sweet florals. Of all the foaming shower gels on the market, these are the best as they dispense as a gel which then turns into a foam - the other cheaper ones that I have tried come out of the tin as a foam. I like these a lot but I do think that they are a bit uneconomical as I always get through these very quickly.

I've a few body lotions open at the moment so the only ones that I finished were samples. Jo Malone 'English Pear and Freesia' isn't a scent that I would have picked out for myself but I have to admit I loved how this smelled! These are very effective and luxurious body creams but not something that I could see myself buying as they are pretty expensive - they would make fantastic gifts though. I also used a sample of Nivea Aloe Vera Body Lotion. I love Nivea lotions and this smelled and felt very fresh but the sample was teeny tiny which felt a bit wasteful.

Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams are some of my favourites, they are so convenient for carrying around and the formula is great, soothing and moisturizing without being greasy. 'Old World Jasmine' smelled amazing, I love Jasmine anyway but this was perfectly blended so it just smelled clean and sweet rather than sickly. Molton Brown Gingerlily Hand Cream was very nice but didn't feel quite as nourishing as the C&E one and its scent was very light. I also used a sachet of Mario Badescu Hydrating Hand Cream, which felt nice and moisturising. It was very lightly scented and I liked it enough to consider purchasing it in the future. 

Haircare.

I finished three full sized and two samples of haircare. Rossano Ferretti 24/7 Vivace was a water weight leave-in conditioning spray. It smelled quite nice, like an old-fashioned ladies' hairdressers but I didn't feel that it did anything to my hair other than perfume it.

I used two travel sized Pantene Foam Conditioners both of which were 'Sheer Volume'. I can't help but feel that these are a tad gimmicky. The conditioner dispenses from the can as a foam and while it did an okay job of conditioning my hair it didn't add any volume and I used these up so quickly, each one only lasted around a week.

Aveda Smooth Infusion is intended to be used as a  pre-styling product but I merely used it on damp hair as a leave-in conditioner. It worked well but had a rather odd scent that smelled a little like curry, not unpleasant, but definitely odd! Philip B Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse was okay. Nothing outstanding so I don't see that it warrants it's high price.

Makeup and Perfume.

I used another ByTerry Terrybly Growth Boosting Mascara. I like the formula of this, it thickens, lengthens and defines lashes, although it doesn't add any curl and I didn't notice any growth but it does get a little flaky when it begins to dry out.

I used two perfume vials. Byredo Bal d'Afrique is a deep warm scent, perfect for colder weather. On me, it smells of amber and florals. I liked it but it is a little generic and there are examples of this type of fragrance that I like much better. Diptyque Fleur de Peau smells like warm skin, I love the initial scent of this but I cannot smell it on my skin at all, I really wish this one wore a little stronger.

And that's it for empties in October! All in all, I'm fairly pleased with what I managed to use up but I'm hoping to concentrate on using opened products and get through a few more in the way of full-size skincare items next month. Let's see if I will!

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Fall 2018.

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

Full size and Mini Items.

Freeman Beauty Hydrating Water Gel Mask.

Even though they are single use items I am counting this mask and the lip patch as full sized as they retail individually. Freeman Masks are a drugstore staple. I already have a big stash of masks but I like that this is packaged as a one time use and I do enjoy hydrating masks, I'm thinking this could be a good one to pop into my bag to use after a flight. If I don't use it Mr C&C will so it won't go to waste.

Verdict: Thumbs up. 

Sooae My Collagen Hydrogel Lip Patch.

This is something that I wouldn't think to purchase for myself but I have seen these KBeauty patches on several people's Instagrams and as I suffer from dry lips I'm intrigued to give this a try. Who knows I may have found a new product to love?
Verdict: Thumbs up. 

PanteneFoam Conditioner 'Sheer Volume'.

I had this exact same conditioner in last months box, and while I don't enjoy getting repeat products this is something that I will use (and I would rather get a repeat of something that I will use than a new item that I won't). I can't help but feel that these conditioners are a little gimmicky but I do like Pantene products and I'm always happy to have extra conditioners to hand as I always use way more conditioner than shampoo. I've already tried this out and while it's not the greatest conditioner I have ever used, it is okay. I've not noticed it adding much in the way of volume but equally, it doesn't weigh my hair down.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

Maybelline MasterPrecise Allday Liquid Liner.

I don't use Liquid Eye Liners but this is a decent sized product that draws a fine line and the liquid flows easily. I'm sure someone who uses a liquid liner would be happy to find this in a beauty box so while it's not my personal preference I can't fault its inclusion.

Verdict: Thumbs Up.

Biore Charcoal Micellar Water.

I like using micellar water for daily eye makeup removal and minis are great for travel. Biore is a pretty good brand and while I'm not sure what advantages the addition of charcoal makes I'm looking forward to trying this out. I think this is the best product in this box!

Verdict: Two thumbs up. 

Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste.

I've had this in a previous box but like the conditioner, it is something that I will use. I do really like the Hello toothpastes which have a fairly natural formulation and are SLS free. This one is mildly minty but is a little messy as it is a black toothpaste.

Verdict: Thumbs up.

Samples.

Kleenex Wet Wipe.

I had one of these in the last box as well. As I said then I will try and pop it in my bag next time I fly or go on the train but in reality, it will probably end up forgotten in a drawer. I know this is 'free'so I shouldn't complain but I do think the inclusion of one wipe is a bit rubbish!

Verdict: Meh.   

La Bella Avocado Oil Shampoo and Styling Gel.

I don't know anything about this brand at all. I will use the shampoo sachet but I won't use the gel.

Verdict: Okay.

Nivea Aloe Vera Body Lotion.

I love Nivea body products but I know from experience that these sachets are tiny. There is literally enough product for one arm and a bit! I will use (and enjoy) this but I can't help but feel that sachets of body lotion are a bit wasteful unless they contain a decent amount.

Verdict: Okay.

Overall.

Walmart's Summer Beauty Box was such a bust for me that I vowed to cancel my subscription if this one was as bad, luckily however, I'm actually rather pleased with the fall box. There's a good selection of products including some minis that will be great for travel and I'm looking forward to trying out the lip mask. There's definitely more than $5.00 worth of product here so I'm happy! Walmart has redeemed itself in my eyes and for the meantime I will continue with my subscription, in fact, after this box I'm eagerly anticipating the Winter edition!

If you would like to subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so by going to walmart.com Details and sign up can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit GWP: September 2018.

Here's another extremely overdue look at a GWP goody bag. This time it is the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit GWP (or perhaps I say 'Fall' as it is the giftbag from their American stores?) 

Out of all the beauty retailers, Space NK has THE best GWP's as far as I am concerned. Their Beauty Edit bags are available in the Spring and Autumn and while there is a rather large spend required to nab one I assure you that you won't be at all disappointed - not only are the bags that the products are gifted in always superb, there is always a skincare heavy selection of products from truly top of the range brands. 

These gifts are always available while stocks last but it's worth getting one early on as they do sometimes run out quite quickly. They are available for both in-store and online purchases and while the minimum spend has varied with recent promotions this one required a purchase of $285.00 (pre-tax). It is a hefty sum of money but I always plan my yearly beauty shops around these events and the bag itself always has a value far superior to the amount spent - this years bag had contents worth $560.00!!

Skincare.

I've already got stuck into the travel sized tube of Odacite Black Mint Cleanser and it is fantastic! A very lightly foaming cleanser with just enough mint to feel refreshing and invigorating, I have been eagerly reaching for this as a morning cleanser and I can certainly see myself purchasing this in the future.

I'm not a big fan of physical exfoliators and only use them perhaps once a week so while the inclusion of three of them doesn't thrill me it does mean that I have about a years supply so won't have to buy any. 

I have previously used African Botanics Buchu Enzyme Polish and found it to be quite gentle. Chantecaille Bamboo & Hibiscus Exfoliating Cream is another one that I have used before but as it contains both grains and fruit acids it is quite strong and so I will mix a teeny amount of this into a creamy cleanser to make it less harsh. I haven't tried VenEffect Micro Exfoliant before. 

Malin+Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask is another exfoliator but it is purely a chemical one using naturally derived AHAs to cleanse and brighten. I've used this previously and found it to be a fantastic mask that leaves my skin evenly toned and fresh looking. The other mask in the bag is Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify+Clear Mask. I've also used this before, it deep cleans and zaps pimples away while feeling very calming and I like it a lot. 

There is also a sheet mask for the eye area, 111 Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask. I'm not big on sheet masks but I've made a habit of popping them into my bag whenever I'm going to be away from home so I have something to revive my skin after travel.

I've been absolutely loving everything I have been using by REN recently, so although I've not particularly liked their Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot in the past I'm interested to give it another go.

I'm also looking forward to trying Sunday Riley C.E.O. Serum as not only is Sunday Riley one of my favourite brands I've been seeing a real difference in the clarity of my skin lately when I use Vitamin C products. Eve Lom Radiance Face Oil also contains Vitamin C for overnight brightening and hydration and for either day or nighttime use there's a jar of Dr Dennis Gross C+Collagen Deep Cream which I have used before and been impressed by (which is no surprise as I love almost anything by DDG!) 

On the days I'm not exfoliating or using an overnight Vitamin C cream I will be using either Clark's Botanicals Retinol Rescue Overnight Cream which I can't wait to try out (Clark's Botanicals are another brand whose products I absolutely love) or Verso Night Cream, another Retinol product that is one of my tried and tested favourites.

There's only one sample of eye cream in this year's bag but it's a good one, Derm Institute Youth Alchemy Eye Cream. I'm thrilled to get a chance to try this out as this cream is seriously expensive - I'm talking way beyond my budget - and I have been extremely impressed by everything that I have tried from this brand. 

There is also a sample of Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream that I always enjoy using but would never purchase as I honestly don't see the need for a separate neck cream. 

I'm not delighted with the inclusion of Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer, merely because of the ethics of sourcing and collecting bee venom, but as I have it I will use it so as not to waste it. However, the inclusion of a 1oz bottle of Omorovicza Balancing Moisturizer makes my heart sing as it's such a generous sample from a truly luxe brand!

Makeup.

I was a little disappointed to receive yet another mini Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Lipstick but a full-sized ByTerry Stylo Blackstar blendable Eye Liner made up for it. 

I'm looking forward to trying Hourglass Caution Mascara* as I have heard such good things about it, I always use mini mascaras from gift bags and rarely have to buy a full sized one. 

Minis of Ilia Soft Focus Finishing Powder and Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder have made their way into my stash for me to try out.

Bodycare.

Susanne Kaufmann Ringelblumenol Body Oil was the only body care item. I've used Susanne Kaufmann oils before and they are very high quality and a little goes a long way so this 1oz bottle will last me for some time. 

Perfume.

There was just one perfume sample but it was a good one - a 10ml spray of Diptyque Fleur de Peau which is one of their Limited Edition scents that I have had my eye on!

Haircare.

This year there were five haircare items in the bag. Bumble+Bumble Hairdressers Oil Heat and UV Primer is a little too heavy for my locks so I will pass this along to someone else. 

I'm happy to try the generous sized Miriam Quevedo Sublime Gold Shampoo though as I do like this range of haircare. I will pair it with the sample of Philip B Lightweight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse which is an effective lightweight conditioner that I have used before.

Styling products included are Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray which instantly conditions and refreshes hair and Ouai Wave Spray which adds choppy piece-iness to hair without drying it or leaving a lot of residue.  

If you like the look of this bag do keep your eyes peeled around the beginning of February for the Spring Beauty Edit GWP!

spacenk.com/us

  *I did receive this mascara in the Barneys gift bag, some years there are a lot of crossover products with these two bags, this year it was just this mascara and a face mask by Malin+Goetz.

Empties: September 2018.

Because I concentrated on using up foil sachet samples in September my empties pile of full-sized and mini products was somewhat smaller than normal. Nevertheless, I did use up six full sized products and thirteen minis/ non-sachet samples. 

Skincare.

I only finished three full-sized skincare items but they were all great. 

I love Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. It is great at balancing my combination skin without leaving it feeling stripped or tight and I love how easy to use it is and how cooling it feels on my skin. It's not cheap but a bottle lasts a long time as you don't need to use much of it. I've gone through quite a few bottles of it over the years and already have a new one in stock. 

Caudalie Grape Water is one of my favourite 'waters in a tin'. It is refreshing as a spritz and I also use it to spray between layers of product and as a rinse after cleansing. The nozzle delivers a fine mist and the can is huge. I'm currently working my way through the face sprays that I already have but when the time comes I will repurchase this. 

Kane Serum Savant was an item I found on sale (normally this all-around serum is eye-wateringly expensive). I loved the futuristic packaging of this and while I didn't dislike the serum I can't say that I noticed it doing much to my skin. I'm glad I got the opportunity to try this but I don't think I would repurchase it even if I saw it on sale.

I used six samples of skincare, three of which were cleansers. Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser was too foamy and stripping for me so I ended up using it as a handwash. Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel did a good job of removing makeup and felt gentle. It foamed ever so lightly without any drying effects but I wasn't too keen on the scent as it smelled a little washing up liquid like. I expected to like Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Cleansing Gel more than I did. I used it as a morning face wash and while there wasn't anything wrong with it, it was just a little underwhelming and boring to use.

Eve Lom Rescue Mask is a classic clay mask with a Eucalyptus like fragrance. It deep cleans without drying out skin and flannels off easily, it also does a great job of drawing out and drying up spots and blemishes. 

I used Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel as a serum. It is one of those products that seem to sit on the top of your skin and offer a temporary tightening lift but that's all it does. Unfortunately another underwhelming product for me that's not worth me buying. Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream is lightly textured yet rich in feel. I don't dislike this but I don't feel the need for a targeted neck treatment so while I was happy to use this I would never buy it.

Haircare, Bodycare, Makeup and Perfume.

I used one haircare sample, Karite Hydrating Shine Day Cream. I liked this unscented leave in conditioner, it didn't weigh down my hair and left it detangles and nicely softened.

I used four bodycare samples, three of which were body lotions. Both of the Aveeno lotions (Daily Moisturising Lotion and Skin Relief Gentle Scent Lotion) were hydrating and soothing but a little boring. Free & Lovely Coconut & Rose Body Butter from Bodycology was a nicely textured cream that melted into my skin but I found the scent a little sickly. Molton Brown Shower Gel has a great formula and the 'Rose Absolue' fragrance of this one was lovely, a grown-up deep velvety rose and I liked it a lot.

I used up four makeup items. I'm gutted to have finished Kevyn Aucoin Single Eye Shadow in 'Soft Clay' #104 as these single powder shadows have seemingly been discontinued. This pale grey-pink shade has been my daily go-to colour for the past couple of years, not only was the colour easy to wear, the formula was great, very easy to blend with a strong long lasting pigment and very little fallout. ByTerry Terrrybly Growth Booster Mascara lasts all day and darkens, thickens and lengthens without getting clumpy. I've not noticed any extra growth in my lashes but it's a great formula that makes lashes look enhanced but subtly so.

Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo has a built-in click brush-type applicator that makes it easy to apply. It's easy to blend and doesn't settle into creases. I like to use this under my eyes, it minimizes the appearance of dark circles making my eye area and whole face look brighter. 

I'm not much of a face powder user but it was so hot and humid this year I found I needed one whenever I was wearing makeup. ByTerry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder is totally transparent and doesn't settle into fine lines. It is slightly mattifying which isn't my favourite thing but it did make my makeup last in the heat and it is so fine I couldn't feel it on my skin at all.

Finally, I used three vials of perfume. Hermes Twilly is a powdery white floral which I found a little heavy and old-fashioned. Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb is a strong yet sweet fizzy floral. It is much sweeter than my usual scent choices but there is something very joyful and fun about it that I like. Loewe Woman 001 is a warm sexy amber scent that I like a lot, there's something leathery about this one that I find quite seductive.

Added to the sample sachets I actually managed to work my way through quite a good amount of products in September so although it's a smaller empties pile than usual I am still quite pleased with it.

   

Empties: Month of Foil 2018/Sample September.

What's a 'Month of Foil? 

It's nothing complicated I simply concentrate on using up all the sample sachets of product I have accumulated in an effort to use up old product and declutter, I try to do it once a year.  

If I had multiple samples of the same product I used them up one after the other. Obviously, with only one or two applications of product it's difficult to form a proper opinion of results (although I could pretty much tell with a couple of uses if I didn't like something) but if I had multiple sachets the cumulative use of them allowed me to be a better judge of them.

How did it go?

Well, if I say so myself, I had a rather successful month and I managed to use up a total of 110 foil sample sachets.

I was out the gate running with this project as I had plenty of samples to choose from and on the first day I opened a lot of sachets! I started ripping sachets open but soon found that some sachets are better made than others and after a few messy openings I learned to keep a pair of scissors to hand to avoid spills and waste. I did find that even with neatly clipped corners it was easy to squeeze out too much product and I certainly used more product than needed on quite a few occasions to use up what had oozed out or to finish a sachet if there wasn't enough product left for a second application.

On day one I was full of enthusiasm but a few days in I wasn't as enthusiastic or particularly thrilled by the prospect of only using samples. After a week I was a little fed up of samples and took a night off and made a routine that incorporated all of my favourite skincare items. The next day I felt a bit guilty and was enthusiastically back on the sachets!

Two weeks into the project I was accustomed to using sachets. I had got into the routine of selecting different products each day and choosing what to use up next, although I'm not sure if that was because it was easier as I had less choice of products perhaps? I had by this time used up lots of odds and ends and had used up certain categories of product such as body lotions and cleansers so I was back to using full sized products for at least some of my routine.     
At the end of the month, I was pleased to have put all those samples to good use. I had discovered a couple of new products to put on my shopping list and tried out a few things that I didn't like at no expense. A couple of times during the month I dipped into my usual products if I felt my skin needed special treatment/attention but overall my skin looked pretty good considering how many different products and combinations I had used on it - I did have a lot of samples though so I could still tailor my skincare needs.

The Products.

Skincare.

Altogether I used up fifty-four sachets of skincare. Nine sachets of cleanser, five of toner, eight eye cream sachets (I'll admit to being a little heavy handed with the eye cream on a few occasions), nine serums/oils, a whopping twenty-one sachets of moisturiser (again I tended to slap this on at night), one single-use mask sachet and one sachet of lip balm.

There wasn't anything skincare wise that I truly disliked although I wasn't too fond of Olay Deep Hydrating Eye Gel as I didn't find it to be particularly hydrating.
I enjoyed all the cleansers that I used. I was impressed by Omorovicza Omoroessence, it isn't something that I would ever purchase (purely because I already spend enough on skincare and don't need to add another step to my routine), but I liked the extra hydration boost that it gave me.

I liked Royal Fern Phyto Active Anti Age Serum a lot, but it is a product that is way out of my pocket price wise. A more affordable product that impressed me was Korres Wild Rose Oil, this was a lovely textured oil with a gorgeous rose fragrance. When I used this overnight I could see a distinct improvement in my skin the following day - my skin was plumped and juicy looking and I would seriously consider buying this face oil when I next need one.

I'd never heard of Dr Roebucks but their basic Face Moisturizer was another impressive product, no bells or whistles on this one, merely a great no-frills moisturiser!
I tried a selection of products from Derm Institute and I loved everything. While they aren't the cheapest range around they are comparable price wise to some brands that I currently use and I definitely think that I will be getting a product or two of theirs in the future. 
I'm always on the lookout for a good Lip Balm and Patchology Lip Service was a very good one indeed, this is another thing going on my shopping list.

Makeup.

I rarely hang onto any blister packs of makeup but I did have a few sachets of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer which I took away, on a trip. I used it once before recalling that I really, really don't like it. I hate the way this primer feels on my face and I have problems with it causing other products to pill. I abandoned the sachet that I was using and put the others in my giveaway bag.

Bodycare.

I used fourteen sachets of bodycare up. Mostly shower gels and body lotions but also a few sachets of hand creams. I loved Oribe Cote d'Azur Restorative Body Cream, it smells divine and melted into my skin, leaving it soft and scented (oddly I didn't like its matching Body Wash). The body cream is more expensive than I normally spend on body products so it was nice to have a couple of generous sachets to use. I'm hoping I find this on sale one day!

Haircare. 

I used up forty-one sachets of hair products. There were a couple of masks and one of Bumble+Bumble Don't Blow It Leave In Conditioner which is great and something that I regularly use, otherwise, the rest were shampoo and conditioner duos. Of course, I loved Oribe Gold Lust and was also taken by R+Co Atlantis but I also was impressed by two more budget-friendly options, Apothecare Rosehip, Geranium and Aloe and Verb Sea.

I made a good dent in my samples during September and I will certainly do this again but now I'm enjoying using my full sized products and trying out my new purchases which I will tell you about another time.  

Barneys Love Yourself GWP: September 2018.

Oh my word! I am so far behind with C&C it's kind of scary! Already Christmas Advent Calenders are being revealed by beauty retailers and I still haven't written up my NYFW goody bags! I almost skipped these two posts but they are ones that I enjoy writing so, hey ho, better late than never! Maybe writing them will get me my blogging mojo back and there may even be an upside in that I have actually already used some of the products so can mini review them.

Every cloud etc etc...

First up, Barneys New York Love Yourself GWP.

Barneys run their Love Yourself promotion twice yearly, in March and September. Any online or instore beauty purchase of $200.00 or more (pre-tax) entitles you to a fantastic goody bag of samples, minis, and even full-sized items, during the time the promotion is running. In addition to the main gift, various brands offer stackable step-up gifts.

I always use this event to stock up on Kiehl's items for Mr C&C and Chantecaille make up for myself - each time I buy a tube of their Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser which I wear every day!

The gift always comes packaged in a stylish toiletries bag, this years was a large clear plastic one printed with the black Barneys NewYork logo, and there is a choice of gift bags for either men or women.

When I picked up my bag, the Madison Avenue branch was missing some samples but rather than omit them completely they subbed them with doubles of others. This didn't bother me in the least as I received double samples from Byredo, ByTerry, YSL, and Zelens. Even with the double substitutions the bag contained a great selection of products. This year the bag contained one bodycare item, five make up minis, four perfume samples, six haircare items and ten skincare items all from premium beauty brands.

Bodycare.

I have already used the mini shower gel from Molton Brown. These body washes have a great formula and the scent of this one, Rose Absolue, was divine, it was a deep warm sexy rose, not a sweet girly rose. I loved it.

Makeup.

The makeup minis are always the least favourite part of gift bags for me. However, this time around I'm excited to have the opportunity to try out the new Hourglass Caution Mascara and pleased to have not one, but two, mini ByTerry Hyaluronic Hydra Powders as they are something that I use regularly to set my make up and keep shine at bay. There is a blister strip of Gucci Westman Concealer which is disappointing as I dislike these blister packs of makeup but I will try it to see if I like the formula. I'm keeping the Givenchy Noir Revelateur Lip Gloss to play around with but the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil has gone to my giveaway pile as the shade is far too red for me to carry off.

Perfume.

I always love the perfume samples that Barneys give away as they are from such niche brands and even if I don't like them they are quite educational!  This year I got two samples of Byredo Eleventh Hour, along with one from Tiziana Terenzi and a beautifully boxed sample of Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady which I have already worn and love.

Haircare.

I always happy the haircare samples from Barneys as they are always so generously sized!
 There's a good sized bottle of shampoo from Vitabird and conditioner from Sachajuan. I'm excited to try Davines Quick Fix Circle Hair Mask and I passed a big tube of David Mallett Moisturising Hair Mask along to Mr C&C as he needed some. I've already used the small tube of Rene Furterer Hydrating Shine Leave-In Conditioner and I did like it but not enough to repurchase it. I love OUAI products so I'm looking forward to trying out their Leave-In Conditioner next.

Skincare.

There's a good mix of skincare items in this bag.
I'm already halfway through the mini Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water (aka micellar water) and it's nice but not something that I would purchase for myself. I've previously used 3Lab M Cream, Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream, La Mer Eye Concentrate, Malin+Goetze Brightening Enzyme Mask, Verso Day Cream, and Zelens Hydro Shiso Moisturiser. They are all fantastic products so I'm very happy with all of these!
The only skincare item that is new to me is YSL Forever Youth Liberator Concentrate, but I have two samples so I should be able to get a good idea if I like it or not!

Step Up Gifts.

Kiehl's didn't have a step up gift as such this time around but as you can see they gave me a generous and varied selection of samples, most of which I have passed onto Mr C&C as he loves a bit of Kiehl's!

Chantecaille always have great bags with their step up gifts and this framed purple Save the Elephants makeup bag is not only lovely to look at it is exceptionally well made. I love it! It came with samples of their Stress Relief Concentrate and Bio Lifting Cream and Mask. These tiny samples may not look like much but Chantaecaille skincare is extremely expensive and these three have a value of over $80.00 which isn't at all bad!

As ever I am thrilled with my Love Yourself gifts, and I will certainly be shopping at the next Barneys Love Yourself event in March, will you?  

Free Birthday Beauty Goodies 2018.

I have to admit to being rather negligent of C&C of late. I've been exceptionally busy and somewhat stressed due to aforementioned busyness which all added up to not having the time to blog. If I did have any free time I found that I wasn't in the mood to witter on about books and beauty things, either because I had pressing things that I should be doing (laundry, errands etc), or I needed to totally relax and simply sit and watch tv/play candycrush/flip through a magazine etc.

However, during my birthday month (August) I did manage to find a little time for myself and gather up a few beauty related freebies.

Ulta offer members of its Ultamate rewards program a different birthday gift each quarter. No purchase is needed to reclaim your birthday gift from Ulta but you do need to pick it up in a store as they won't add it to an online order. Summer's gift was a mini It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara. I must be one of the few people who hasn't tried the CC Cream from this brand, but I do have an eyeshadow palette from them that I love so I have high hopes for this mascara. I love mini mascaras! Not only are they a great way to try out new mascaras, they are such a handy size to pop in your bag or take on a trip. I'm always excited to get a mini such as this and get them from goody bags and GWP's so frequently that I rarely need to actually buy a full sized mascara!

Sephora offer members of it's Beauty Insider program a choice of birthday gifts. This year the choice was either Glamglow or Bite Beauty. There's something about Glamglow that I find off-putting for some reason - perhaps it's their glittery masks or their cartoon tie-ins? I don't really know - but it was easy for me to choose the gift from Bite which contained a sample of their amazing Agave Lip Balm along with a mini Amuse Bouche Lipstick and a mini Matte Cream Lip Crayon.

Space NK has upped their birthday gift game and now offer members of their NDulge program a little gift bag with three minis of their best selling products. You can add this birthday treat to an online order or collect it in store (I'm not sure if you need to make a purchase or not to reclaim in store, you do need to to do so online). I feel like I lucked out as my bag had a handbag sized Oribe Dry Texturising Spray which is always a great freebie to receive, a generous 10ml sample spray of Diptyque Philosykos EDP which is my favourite summertime scent, and a 15ml jar of Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer which alone is worth a whopping $60.00!

Kiehl's offer their 'Kiehl's Family' members a #1 Lip Balm free with any purchase during your birthday month. I know that it's better than nothing but I do feel that this offering from Kiehl's, who were once known for their generous samples and promotions, is a little lame. Every year it is a #1 Lip Balm (which I don't even find to be all that great, its basically a petroleum jelly bal with a very small amount of sunscreen), you need to make a purchase to claim what is a low-value item, plus you can't combine it with any other offer. I actually didn't even claim mine this year as I didn't feel the need to buy something I didn't really need just in order to get a lip balm I don't even like all that much!

Anyhow enough of my complaining...

Diptyque is my favourite perfume house so I was thrilled when I found out that if you subscribe to their emails in the U.S. they will send you a birthday email that you can use in any of their standalone stores to claim either a mini candle or a 10ml EDP spray, no purchase necessary. I opted for the perfume spray and chose the fragrance Tempo which I believe is a Limited Edition of theirs. The Sales Assistants are always so nice at Diptyque and they also gave me a couple of their regular perfume samples which was a kind touch.

CVS recently overhauled their Beauty Rewards program and it now offers a free birthday gift to pick up instore, no purchase necessary. This year it was a Poparazzi Nail Polish and I picked out a wearable nude/greige.

In addition to my mini birthday haul pictured above, I also received a coupon code for 15% off orders during my birthday month from Cult Beauty and Caudalie added 30 points to my MyCaudalie Rewards account. 

I'm very happy with my birthday freebie this year, there are some nice treats here and the best thing is that they didn't cost me anything! Let me know if there are any birthday beauty treats I have missed out.

These offers are available in mainland USA. Other countries may have different gifts and conditions. Gifts and conditions may change and are subject to company policies and rules. 

Empties: August 2018.

I was away working for much of August so it absolutely flew by. The heat has been unrelenting this year so I didn't use much makeup and kept to a simple skincare regime (I actually took a 10-day break from acids and retinol) and slathering on the sunscreens.

My empties pile looked a little different as a result and I only used up seven full sized items. However, I did finish an astounding thirty-nine samples and minis!

Skincare.

I only finished two full-sized items of skincare in August which I think is my least ever! 

I have been making an effort to use up my opened face oils as I have one by Votary that I have been waiting to crack open (I now have and it is lush!) Caudalie Vinosource Overnight Facial Oil was a good all-round night time oil. This is marketed as being for very dry skin but I found it worked well for my combination/dehydrated face, so perhaps something was lost in translation and they meant dehydrated? It feels very mild and I liked using this after a treatment, when my skin was stressed, or if it needed of a burst of moisture. It isn't cheap but the price of is very reasonable compared to other oils. I think that this would be a great introductory facial oil if you are new to them.

The other full sized item I used was Lancome Bienfait UV 50+. I love this facial sunscreen, and there are not many sunscreens that I say that about! This one is effective, comfortable to wear, and it doesn't make me breakout.

Onto skincare samples!

Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover is a bi-phase remover that is very effective. I find this is gentle on my sensitive eyes and I always grab one of these if I see them as a 100 point reward at Sephora.

Eve Lom Cleanser is an iconic cleansing balm that was the first balm cleanser I ever used. It's not my favourite cleanser, I fall in and out of love with the smell of this one and I find that it can be a little difficult to totally wash off but it does do a good job of dissolving makeup and it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped.

REN Ready Steady Glow AHA Daily Tonic is a new-ish launch from REN. I love the fruity scent of this exfoliating cleanser and although it does have a little tingle to it it doesn't feel too aggressive. This mini has lasted me for quite some time and I will be adding a full-sized bottle to my stash before too long because it does indeed give good glow!

Kat Burki Brightening Serum is fantastic! It is quite an expensive serum but I think that it is one worth saving up for as my skin looked fresh and clear when I used this. It is one of only a few products I have tried that work almost immediately. Every time I used it I had a 'looks in mirror and thinks skin looks great today' moment. I used up seven sachets of Vichy V Idealia Serum. I thought this was okay, it felt hydrating, but I didn't notice it doing anything other than that and I wasn't a fan of its hairspray like scent that was initially quite strong.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream and Serum were both okay. The cream is on the heavy side and the serum is a little tacky so I used them at night but both of them had good slip and spread out well. There was nothing wrong with either of these but I don't think that they warrant their high price tags.

Trilogy Rosehip Oil is another okay product. I'm not a huge fan of rosehip oil - I prefer an oil that is more aromatic and I also find it can be a little too 'oily'. This does have a good price point and as it is a heavier oil a little goes a long way making it great value for money. This is another oil worth exploring if you are new to oils and want to try an inexpensive oil that hydrates overnight.

I used two samples of Mila Moursi Cellular Renewal Cream as a daytime hydrator over a serum. It was a little heavier than I prefer for a day cream and reminded me in feel of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (I felt as if it made a lifting mask-like layer) but it did work well with other products

Lancome Energie de Vie Nuit is an overnight moisture mask/sleeping pack. This gel formula feels nice and cooling but I didn't find it to be that great a moisturizer.

I misread the teeny tiny label of Uma Absolute Anti Ageing Eye Oil and used it as a face oil. I must say that it was a truly lovely oil, its spa-like lemony scent was very aromatic and it was light in texture and absorbed beautifully. I used this at night when I was sleeping in a heavily air-conditioned room and the next day my skin looked amazingly plump and glowy. I wouldn't use an eye oil as I dislike the area around my eyes feeling greasy but I would certainly love to try a facial oil by Uma.

La Mer The Eye Concentrate and The Illuminating Eye Gel were both okay. The Concentrate smelled faintly of violets which I liked and it absorbed immediately to offer temporary hydration. (This is my favourite out of all four La Mer eye creams/serums). The Illuminating Gel is a clear gel, much lighter in texture than The Concentrate. Again this absorbed well and did a good job of temporarily hydrating the eye area. I didn't dislike these in any way but I simply don't think that they live up to their hype and high price points.

I used a sachet of Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen SPF50. I have used this a few times before and like it. It offers good protection, layers well with other products and is comfortable to wear. I had mixed feelings about Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defence SPF 30. It is a thin formula that feels a little oily and smells somewhat biscuity. I really disliked this the first time I used it as I found it somewhat difficult to apply - it caused some of my skincare products to roll and if you add too much of this to your skin at once it doesn't absorb very well. Once I had sorted out the application issues I found this to be a good option to use on no makeup days as it did impart a natural looking healthy glow. I did use all of this deluxe sample up but I wasn't impressed enough by this to consider buying it.

Fresh Rose Mask is a hydrating gel mask that I have used many times. It feels very nice on the skin, has a delicate rose scent that is pleasant to wear and any residue rinses away easily. My skin always feels soft and hydrated when I use this. (I like to use this as a cooling hydrating mask after a treatment). Vitabird Dual Sheet Mask is a hydrating sheet mask. I found this wasn't a great fit for my face - it appeared to have been produced for small, round faces! There was a lot of extra serum in the pack that I used on my decolletage but I don't know that the serum or the mask did anything in particular. I'm still not converted to sheet masks I'm afraid!

I also used up three make up primers in August. It was so exceptionally hot I needed to use one whenever I put any makeup on. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is my go-to primer and I used up two sample vials of this one. I also used a small tube of Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Primer and I must say that I was pretty impressed by it as I am kind of fussy about the feel of primers on my skin! This gel cream was cooling and pleasant to wear, it was basically weightless and it did a good job of keeping my makeup in place, I would happily use this one again.

Haircare.

I used up two full sized haircare items, both of which were from the drugstore.

I love pretty much everything by OGX and their Biotin and Collagen Shampoo was no exception. It had a creamy vanilla type scent that I liked and although it felt a little waxy it lathered and rinsed away well. I noticed very little breakage when I was using this and would get it again.

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner was a very thick conditioner that felt a little oily. It was such a thick product that it was actually quite hard to squeeze it out of its somewhat flimsy feeling bottle. When I first started using this I was quite impressed by it but as time went on I felt that it was doing little more than detangling my hair as it started to feel quite dry. I'm generally not a fan of the Fructis range and this one was a bit of a miss for me.

I used up travel sized minis and sachets of both Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner. This smells so good and it always leaves my hair in great condition - very soft but with some volume and body. Honestly, my hair looked great when I was using these even though I was in need of a haircut. If I could afford to I would use this range all the time.

Christophe Robin Hydratant Santal Leave-In Conditioner was a leave-in conditioning cream. I found that I needed to be careful not to use too much of this as it could make my hair a little greasy looking, but when I used the correct amount it did a great job of making it look smooth and sleek, even in high humidity. I was a little disappointed that this didn't smell more strongly of sandalwood and while I liked it well enough there are plenty of other leave-in products that I prefer.

Bodycare.

I used up two full-sized bodycare items. 'Almond and Coconut' scented Softsoap Body Wash was a creamy shower gel that lathered well and left my skin feeling softened rather than stripped. I liked the subtle summery fragrance of this too as it wasn't too strong or sickly.

Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion is my favourite drugstore body lotion. It is very light in texture, has a fresh clean fragrance and absorbs instantly. It's the perfect warm weather body lotion for me - I used up a bottle in July also!

 I've read a lot about Frank Original Coffee Scrub body scrub so I was excited to try out a sample of it. It did smell nice and it did leave my skin feel very soft but it also left my bathroom looking a total disaster. This is basically a mix of oils and coffee grains (why buy it when you could easily make your own?) and as the grains didn't dissolve and were mixed with oil they clung to my tub and were very difficult to rinse away. I had to clean my bath out twice, so needless to say I am never going to use this again, it's just not worth the time and effort of the cleanup and the possibility of getting a clogged drain.

Softsoap Earth Blends Body Wash in 'Coconut and Fig' scent was a typical gel type shower gel. The coconut and fig scent was very refreshing and perfect to use in the summer. This would be great to take on a beach holiday! I do love the luxurious formulation of Molton Brown Body Washes but the 'Eucalyptus' sample I used was scented with a piney rather than a minty Eucalyptus and, to my nose at least, smelled a little too much like a cleaning product. I repurposed Honest Beauty Refreshingly Clean Gel Cleanser as a hand wash as it was far too frothy and drying to use on my face.

Nivea Oil Infused Blend Body Lotion Cherry Blossom and Jojoba was perfectly fine but this sample sachet only contained enough lotion for one arm and half a leg which was very annoying. I feel such tiny samples are hardly worth giving away, if it is a body product I want enough for my whole body, thank you very much.

I used two up two tubes of hand cream. Ahava Dead Sea Hand Cream with the fragrance 'Powder' was moisturising without being rich or greasy and it did indeed smell of powder, very baby powder like which wasn't offensive but also wasn't my favourite. I have had the full sized tube of Royal Apothic Hand Cream scented with 'Field Poppy' on my bedside table for quite a long time as although I like the formula a lot (these hand creams are very similar to the Crabtree & Evelyn ones which are some of my favourites) the scent of this one was very strong and a little overbearing, it reminded me of a man's cheap aftershave.

Finally, I finished two perfume vials. Loewe 001 Woman EDP is a rich warm sensual amber fragrance. Normally I would wear something like this in colder weather but this was a good summertime evening scent.  The other fragrance I finished was L'Etat Libre de Orange EDP 'Fils de Dieu'. I love most of the fragrances from this modern perfume house and this is one of my favourites from them. With nods towards South East Asia, Fils de Dieu mixes coconut with ginger and spices resulting in a warm powdery scent. It's very unique and it is not a traditional beachy coconut, it's more like a blend of spices and scents that you would find in a Thai curry - and I mean that in a good way! -  it is truly warm and delicious as well as being a modern take on powder.

I was surprised at how few full sizes I finished in August but the amount of skincare minis and samples I finished was very pleasing and it has freed up some room for a couple of big GWP's I'm getting this month. I'm going to keep going with the samples and minis and try and use up as many as I can of my foil sample sachets as I haven't had a proper 'Month of Foil' for quite some time. Sample September - I'm ready for you!