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. 

Samples Galore and Why I'm Having a No-Buy-July

Here's something a little different from me - a two-part rambling beauty post!

Firstly, samples.

I haven't actively been seeking out samples but in the last couple of weeks, I amassed all the samples in the two photos with very minimal effort on my behalf!

CVS has upped their beauty game of late and in addition to the standard drugstore lines they already carry they have added a KBeauty section, got their act together with their French pharmacy offerings as well as stocking a few new decidedly upmarket ranges (Glamglow! Clarins! Dermalogica!). Visit on the right day and they have samples available, my local branch has a friendly lady advisor who thrust a whole load of Vichy samples at me (see all those serum sachets - enough for a week!) one day and on other days I picked up samples from La Roche Posay and Apothecare Essentials.

I've made a few beauty orders recently, only one of which was for myself I hasten to add...
Two orders from Space NK (sale items for myself and Windle and Moodie hair products for Mr C&C) netted me a handful of sample sachets and a mini Rahua Shampoo. I always love samples from Space NK and I'm particularly keen to finally try out some body care from Oribe. The sachets of Cote D'Azur Body Wash and Lotion are plump sachets stuffed with product and I can't wait to rip them open and fill my bathroom with the scent of Oribe!

I ordered Mr C&C some Bumble and Bumble from Sephora so I got my standard three samples - not the ones I picked however. Sephora rarely seems to send the samples you select and more often than not send those annoying blister packs of foundation/concealer/lipstick - which are the only samples I actually dislike and never use. However to soften the blow one of their weekly specials was a  'Beachy Waves' sample set with five sachets of shampoo and conditioner, and three styling products, one of which is my favourite Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It Fine (H)air Styler.

MrC&C, aka The Kiehl's Addict, needed some of their facial products so I took advantage of a Father's Day promo they had offering deluxe samples and a dop kit. I kindly picked out manly samples which I gave to him but did pick up one of their Creme de Corps Soothing Oil to Foam Body Cleanser which I'm hanging on to as it sounds like something I will enjoy!

Part Two - No Buy July!

I've been fortunate to stumble upon so many irresistible beauty bargains lately that my stash of full-sized products is pretty impressive and that of samples even more so! One of the joys/perils of the beauty industry is that it is ever evolving and there's always something new to tempt us. Having said that after my skin had a bout of sensitivity I've been sticking to a fairly streamlined routine and for the moment I have been enjoying using a steady rotation of pretty basic products that I have in stock, and so has my skin!

 I'm doing a No-Buy-July as there is nothing that I actually need (things I want - that's another story) and I want to reduce my stash (so that in the future I can add to it again!)  I'm also a little gun shy of experimenting with new stuff until my skin has settled down again.  August is my Birthday month so I know I will be buying myself a few birthday treats. And, before we know it, it will (scarily) be September and the whole merry-go-round of GWP'S and launches will start again. I always, always, do the bulk of my beauty shopping in February/March and again in September to take advantage of gift bags from Space NK, Barneys New York and Cult Beauty. 

I love a challenge (as long as it's not too daunting a one) and I'm actually looking forward to this No-Buy month! I'm away on a short holiday at the beginning of the month so I will feel less guilty about eating every meal out and buying cocktails. I'm also planning on giving my wardrobe a bit of an update with the money I would usually allot to beauty products. 

It's an interesting project for me to tackle and while I know I'm not going to ever stop buying beauty products I'm considering doing a No- Buy a few times a year in the future. Let's see how I get on, wish me luck!

Sephora Sun Safety Kit 2018.

I dislike most sunscreens. Despite them being probably the most necessary part of anyone's beauty routine, I often overlook them and I know I'm not the only one guilty of this. Honestly, on my part it's just plain stupidity, there's little point in spending a small fortune on creams, serums etc if I'm going to negate all the good they do by getting sun damage. 

I tell myself that I'm getting all the protection I need from the SPF 15 in both my primer (Hourglass Veil) and my TM (Chantecaille Just Skin) but I know deep down that I should be using a little more, especially when I'm out and about all day, or when the weather is warmer. Although I actually do prefer the shade to the sun and never sunbathe (I am guilty of baking myself a deep mahogany shade in the distant past - when we knew no better - but there's not much to be done about that now) I know I need to step it up SPF wise and have been doing my best to wear a 30+ on my face, neck and decolletage every day of late. 

The Sun Safety Kit.

Every year Sephora release a Sun Safety Kit. Packed in a straw pouch/make up bag are a selection of samples, mini and full sized sunscreen and sun related beauty products. This year's kit cost $36.00  (which is $3.00 less that the price of the full sized bottle of Lancome BienFait UV you will find inside!) and had a retail value of $161.00. That's pretty amazing, but it's even more so when you take into account the fact that $25.00 from the sale of each kit was donated to skin cancer research and education.

The 2018 bag contains products from Amore Pacific, Clinique, Coola, Dr Dennis Gross, Dr Jart+, Drunk Elephant, Farmacy, Fresh, Lancome, Murad, Peter Thomas Roth, Philosophy, REN, Shiseido, Supergoop, and Tarte. And the bag itself is pretty nice, a fully lined straw bag with a bright pink trim and a tassel. I love it's beachy vibe and it's a good size, roomy enough to be used as a travel toiletry bag or for taking your sunscreens to the beach!

I'm pleased about the full sized bottle of Lancome BienFait UV as it is one of the few sunscreens that I like and readily purchase. I'm also excited about the inclusion of Amore Pacific Resort Collection Sun Protection Mist which is perfect for carrying in my bag and topping up my protection with when I'm out and about.
I love the inclusion of a few SPF related items such as the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads and REN Evercalm Mask and I'm keen to try out all of the sunscreens included. Who knows I may even come to love some of them!

This kit was a Limited Edition, they usually sell out so fast that I'm pretty sure they have all gone but why not take a look at sephora.com and buy some sun products - you may not want them but you need them.

Read on for my sunscreen considerations...  

What do I look for in a sunscreen?

. I want something that offers good protection from both UVA and UVB damage (obviously). 

. My main issue with so many sunscreens is that they simply do not feel nice -they feel thick and heavy or they make me itchy - so they need to be lightweight and comfortable.

. My combination skin tends towards oiliness so I want something that feels moisturising but I don't want anything that feels greasy in any way at all, or causes my skin to look shiny. 

. I don't want anything that clogs my skin and makes it feel congested or cause it to break out.

. I'm pale and although I don't want to tan I want to avoid using anything that leaves an unhealthy looking white or greying cast on my face.

. Finally as I'm not going to be lounging by a pool but rather going about my everyday business, I will be wearing make up on top of my sunscreen so I need something that layers well with other products.
. Bonus points given if it also provides a good base for make up!

Not much to ask right?

Space NK and Sephora Sale Mini Haul.

To be totally honest my beauty stash at the moment is in rather good shape and there isn't anything that I'm about to run out of, but y'know if it's on sale and if it's also something that I love then it seems silly not to take advantage of good offers... 

Having said that there wasn't all that much that caught my eye in either the Space NK or Sephora post holiday sales so my sale splurges were rather tame compared to other years and I only picked up three items.

First up Space NK: 

I had had my eye on the Oribe gift sets ever since I saw them at the Space NK Christmas preview so when I saw the Travel Essentials set on sale I popped it in my basket straight away! I have used the Gold Lust Shampoo and Conditioner and loved it. Not only does it smell amazing it leaves my hair soft, silky and manageable and it is so rich and luxuriant that you only have to use a small amount of it. Normally Oribe costs way more than I care to spend on shampoo and conditioner so I'm deliriously happy to have generously sized 50ml tubes of each of these. 

I've had numerous samples of Gold Lust Dry Shampoo over the years but there's always room for one more in my stash! I find that this is very much a dry shampoo, rather than a texturiser ,but it is an excellent dry shampoo that freshens hair and makes it smell wonderful without weighing it down or leaving any white residue behind. (I once made the mistake of being far too liberal with a hair oil and this put things back to normal in an instant!) This 62ml spray is the perfect size as well, small enough to carry around in a handbag, but large enough to last you a while when traveling. 

The item that sealed the deal for me with this purchase was the roller ball of Cote D'Azur EDP. This fragrance is a light wearable summery scent that smells very similar to the hair products. It is a citrusy floral with some woodsy notes and while it isn't the type of scent that I would normally pick out for myself I like it because it reminds me of the hair products. My usual perfume preferences are a lot warmer and heavier than this (I primarily like spicy scents with notes of Oud, leather and violet) but it's not always suitable to wear such fragrances so I like to have one that's lighter that I can wear during work times that won't offend people by being too overpowering... Having said that, I'm pleased that this is an EDP rather than an EDT so it does have a little staying power on me. I also love the fact that this is so portable and that I can use it if I freshen up after work before going on to an event or dinner. 

I've not yet used the BalmEssence Lip Treatment (I'm trying to finish things up before opening new ones at the moment) but I'm looking forward to cracking it open! It is a clear balm containing Shea Butter, Camelina Oil and Vitamin E, it smells like lemons and is the most fabulously packaged lip balm I ever saw in it's Versace-esque gold pot.

All of these Oribe goodies came in a smart grey toiletry/make up bag that is lined with a gold and grey fabric and has a metal framed opening so not only is it sturdy, you can easily see what is inside. Normally the bags from gift sets go straight into my give away pile but I like this one so much and it is so practical that I'm hanging onto it!

There was a time when every time I ordered something from Space NK I chose a sachet of Kane NY Serum Savant Primer as one of my three samples. I love this serum! It plumps and protects the skin whilst perfectly prepping it for the application of make up. Containing squalene, glycerine and Hyaluronic Acid it is a featherweight emulsion that always left my skin feeling comfortable and looking firm and lifted. BUT at $235.00 it was far too pricey for me to purchase... That is until it went on sale for $59.00! I( actually had $40.00 of NDulge points to spend also so this was a must buy for me.)

 I cannot wait to start using this but I know I'm going to miss it when it's gone as I doubt I will ever be able to afford it again! The packaging of this BTW is gorgeous, it has a very futuristic feel.         

And onto Sephora...

I had to peruse the Sephora sale although I wasn't looking (or expecting) to get anything... And then I saw the Etat Libre d'Orange Discovery Set on sale for less than $10.00!  I bought one of these samplers two years ago and enjoyed it so much. Etat Libre d'Orange is a perfume house that takes a modernist approach when creating their niche fragrances, which are all complex and somewhat unusual. 

The tag line on this sampler is 'Find the Scent that Calls Your Name' and while I liked them all there are four that I particularly liked:

Fat Electrician, a smoky yet creamy incense like fragrance with vanilla notes.

Jasmine and Cigarettes, a soapy jasmine with tobacco notes.

Fils de Dieu, a heavy oriental scent containing citrus notes that is quite powdery and a little musty.

Putain des Palaces, intensely powdery and warm, very long lasting, with dirty amber notes.

This time around the vials came with atomisers and were packaged in a round metal tin so it felt more like an actual gift rather than a set of samples.

I had been using my previous set somewhat sparingly but now with a back up I'm happy to use them more generously!

So that's my sale round up, some luxury hair care, an everyday perfume along with some quirky ones for the weekend and a premium primer. I'm so pleased with these three items - perhaps sometimes less really is more!

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

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

Skincare

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

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

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

Bodycare

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

Perfume

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

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

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

Make Up

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

Overall

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