Space NK Spring Beauty Edit 2019.

Space NK always has the most wonderful GWP events in the Spring and Autumn and I always plan my major beauty restocks around them. Not only do I replenish my favourite products I get a bunch of samples and mini sized luxury beauty products to try out!

This years event was open to NDulge* members on Tuesday 12th February and to all other customers on Wednesday 13th. It goes without saying that this would make a perfect late Valentine's/Galentine's Day gift to yourself - there are some gift bags still available but if you would like one do hurry as they go fast. 

To qualify for a gift bag you need to spend $285.00 (pre-tax) either in-store or online (us.spacenk.com and enter the code SPRING18 at checkout). I know that it is quite a lot of money to spend all at once but if you do need products now is a good time to shop for them as the gift bag has an amazing value of over $450.00. 

The samples and minis come packed in a blush cosmetics bag that is actually smart enough to be used as a clutch bag. All the samples are generously sized and all come from premium brands such as Omorovicza and Oribe.

Space NK GWP's tend to be quite heavy on skincare items as a rule which is something that pleases me immensely!
This year's bag contains sixteen skincare items.
There is a full-sized pack of face wipes from Patchology and two chemical exfoliants from 111 Skin and Malin+Goetz. I am very pleased that there were four serums (including my favourite Sunday Riley Good Genes) and a face oil by Emma Hardie as I have completely run out of serum samples. There are five face cream samples, two of which, Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream and REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream are generously sized 15ml ones. Finally skincare wise, for a deluxe pampering session, there are three masks, including one of my all-time favourites - Clark's Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask.

For makeup lovers there wae three lip products; a Kevyn Aucoin Lip Pencil, a tinted mini balm from Ilia and a clear sparkling Altered Universe Gloss by Lipstick Queen.
I was also happy to find minis of ByTerry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer which are both great to carry around and take on trips and I'm keen to try out Coola MakeUp Setting Mist containing SPF 30 as soon as the weather heats up.

Haircare items are all generously sized. 

To refresh and style my do there is a handbag size Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo and a Bumble+Bumble Thickening Spray. To ensure my hair is in tip-top condition there are masks from Briogeo, Christophe Robin, and Miriam Quevedo, along with a mini Rahua Classic Conditioner and Waterfall which is a leave-in moisture and shine enhancer by R+Co.

  

The final treat is a mini Diptyque candle.

It goes without saying that I'm thrilled with my gift and can't wait to get stuck into the gift bag and discover some new favourites!  

*NDulge is Space NK's customer rewards program and it is well worth joining if you are not a member. As well as early access to sales and promotions, there are invitations to special events and every time you shop you are rewarded with points that convert to cash rewards that you can redeem on future purchases.
us.spacenk.com

Next New Space NK Event NYC 2018.

If you have seen my beauty related posts you will know that I love a good GWP and that I like to attend beauty events whenever I can. I'm fortunate to be living in NYC and there are often events to attend and some of my favourite events here are those hosted by Space NK as not only are they very informative they frequently include generous gifts and/offers.

Last month I attended one of their Next New events, a ticketed event that occurs once a year (I believe last year's, which I missed, was the first). The event was held in NYC's West Village one evening and ticket holders got to meet and chat with founders and representatives from thirty-four brands whose products are stocked at Space NK. Not only were the reps interesting, friendly and informative about their brand's newest releases, each brand had gifts for attendees which ranged from selections of samples to full-sized products. There were also mini makeovers and hairstyling available on site. And I mustn't forget to mention free drinks and nibbles!

It was a bit of a last minute decision by me to attend this year's event but I am so glad that I did as it was a truly amazing evening! A pre-purchased $25.00 ticket was exchanged at the entrance for a $30.00 gift card to use either on the night or at a later date and guests were given a tote bag to fill with their purchases and gifts.

Everybody I met at the event was lovely but I particularly enjoyed talking to fellow Brits from Votary and Windle and Moodie. The Votary girls were beyond generous with their gift as were Artis, Oribe and Rossano Ferretti. I also had a lovely chat With Francesco Clark from Clark's Botanicals who is as inspiring as he is nice.

I could not believe how many gifts I walked away with (and I didn't even stop by the Lipstick Queen, ByTerry or Ilia stands!) over $600.00 worth of product plus three cosmetic bags and the Space NK tote bag! I'm going to use everything from the event.

I'm so happy that I got to experience this wonderful evening and hope that I can visit it again next year. A big thank you goes out to Space NK for organising such a great night and also to all the participating brands.
us.spacenk.com

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Spring 2018.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that 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.

There has been some problem with the shipping and distribution of these boxes of late but my Spring box arrived in a timely manner. Let's have a look inside...

Mini and Travel Sized Items.

Rembrandt 3 Day Whitening Boost Kit.

This is a set of six tooth whitening strips. It isn't an item that I ever use but I will pass them along to someone who does. I've received Crest White Strips in my Walmart box before but Rembrandt is a  slightly more upmarket brand.

Hello Toothpaste - Activated Charcoal (.85oz).

Hello Toothpastes are a fluoride-free formula, that contains no SLS and keeps the inclusion of 'unnatural' ingredients to a minimum. They are also cruelty-free and bear the Leaping Bunny insignia. I have had quite a few of these toothpastes in previous Walmart boxes and while they may not be the most exciting product, they always come in handy. I've read good and bad things about charcoal toothpaste but I am expecting this to be quite gentle and will at least try it out. 

Soft Soap Earth Blend Shower Gel 'Coconut and Fig' (2oz).

I love SoftSoap Shower Gels, they are one of my favourite drugstore brands. This Coconut and Fig scented one smells delicious, it's very summery and I look forward to using it immensely.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Lotion 'Sheer Hydration' (1oz).

Aveeno is another great drugstore brand and their body lotions not only hydrate skin very well they leave skin calmed and soothed. 

Samples.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish 'Macadamia and Rice Milk' (1oz).

I tried a couple of samples of this quite recently. I loved the scent and how it felt when I used it but I found that it didn't do a great job of softening my skin. My skin felt a little irritated afterwards and I needed to use a lot of lotion to relieve it. I may give this another try, but I may also pass it along to someone else.

Garnier Whole Blends Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner 'Oat Delicacy' (2x.34fl oz).

I'm not super excited about these two samples but sachets of shampoo and conditioner are always useful to take on trips and I will certainly use these two up over the coming months.

SOO AE Acai Berry Revitalizing Sleeping Mask (.35oz).

I must confess that I've still not used the Donkey Milk Mask by SOO AE that was in my last Walmart Box. This sleeping mask promises to brighten and renew and I will put both of these masks next to my sink and endeavour to use them up sometime this month.

Coupons.

There is a free hairband from Clairol attached to a coupon for a free box of Nice 'n Easy Hair Color. Unlike some coupons that Walmart includes this one is redeemable anywhere and although I don't currently use Nice 'n Easy I will use this token to pick up a box and try it.

There's also a coupon for $2.00 off a Rembrandt Tooth Whitening Kit and a chance to win a $100.00 gift card if you complete a Brand Share survey about our box.

Overall.

My last Walmart box was pretty uninspiring but I'm quite pleased with this box. At least the contents feel seasonally appropriate and the contents are Spring-like in feel and very Instagrammable! There are a few repeat items but I will use everything apart from the tooth strips. The inclusion of the coupon for a hair dye means that the value is here in this quarter's box and the Soft Soap mini is super cute! All in all, it is a definite improvement over my last box. Let's hope they keep up the good work and that the Summer box is as good as this one! 

You can sign up and subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com Details and sign up link 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.

SpaceNK: The Essentials Gift Spring 2018.

I'm a sucker for a good GWP and this one that's currently on offer from Space NK is a very good one indeed! 

The Essentials Gift is available on line or in U.S. stores while stocks last. 

Spend $165.00 (pretax, shipping is free) and receive a cosmetic bag stuffed with fourteen deluxe beauty samples from a selection of luxury brands worth over $200.00. (I also included three extra samples that I received with my online order in the photo).

As usual with Space NK GWP's the actual bag is very nice and well made. It is a large make up/small toiletries sized pouch made from a grey faux leather/suede material. Fully lined in grey cotton with a chunky silver zipper, the bag has a subtly embossed Space NK logo on one side. It's a great pouch and I find these shaped bags are great for organising the contents inside my handbag so I will be hanging on to this!

Skincare.

There are seven skincare items inside the bag four of which are masks. 

I used to get annoyed at the inclusion of so many masks in GWP's but I've come to love receiving them as it means that I have a good selection to choose from on 'pamper nights' and it also means that I rarely have to buy any! Two of the masks are deep cleaning masks. Malin + Goetz Detox Face Mask is a newish mask that I have a few samples of but have yet to try while Eve Lom Rescue Mask is an old favourite and something of a cult beauty product. Another old favourite of mine is REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask so I'm pleased to see a generously sized sample of this  gentle exfoliator included. I love Omorovicza products and I'm looking forward to trying out their Ultramoor Mud Mask, a multi tasking mask that gently exfoliates and lifts and brightens. 

I'm thrilled to get a sample of Sunday Riley Good Genes as it is possibly my all time favourite skincare item. It's been a while since I have used Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes but I'm looking forward to revisiting it as it is something that I have actually purchased this in the past. The final skincare item is a mini pot of Dr Dennis Gross Oil Free Moisture Cushion. Dr Dennis Gross is such a great brand and this gel moisturiser will be perfect to use in the upcoming warmer weather.

Haircare.

Salt and texturizing sprays are, like masks, another product that I rarely have to purchase as I have so many from various gift bags! They never go amiss and I'm happy to get to try OUAI Wave Spray out. Oribe Supershine Cream is another winner for me. I have bought this luxurious leave in hair conditioner in the past, I love it, it's a fantastic product but I don't purchase it often as it is expensive. I tend to opt for something that's a bit cheaper hair care wise mostly so I will enjoy using this as a special treat.

Make Up.

I've only tried mascara from Rodial so I'm pleased to get a half sized Instaglam Bronzer to explore their range further. This powder bronzer isn't too dark and is matte rather than shimmery, I'm not overly experimental with make up but this looks very natural and I'm looking forward to using it.

The other make up items are two half sized lip products. Lipstick Queen Morning Sunshine is a coral toned lip wash (it goes on clear and changes colour once on). Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil is the one item that I won't use from the bag unfortunately as it is a dark red/brown shade called Blood Roses. I've had quite a few samples of these pencils over the years and the formula of them is fantastic however so I will pass it on to someone who likes a bold lip. 

Body and Perfume.

I love mini hand creams and always have one in my bag so I'm excited to try out the new ByTerry Baume de Rose Hand Cream. You can never go wrong with a Diptyque perfume sample as far as I'm concerned, I love pretty much all of their scents, and I'm happy to have a sample of Do Son EDT.

Purchases and Samples.         

I bought two cult products to qualify for the gift. 

Sunday Riley Good Genes is my favourite night time serum. I've tried other things but constantly come back to using it. I've bought numerous bottles and it's almost always on my skincare shelf. It's not the cheapest product but my skin looks so much brighter, clearer and simply healthier whenever I use this.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm is so well loved in England but has only recently been stocked in the U.S. Space NK stores. I feel a bit embarrassed that I've never used this before TBH as it's such an iconic cleanser beloved by so many beauty experts. Finally I get to try it for myself!

Standard samples I chose to be added to my order were a duo of OUAI Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, a sachet of Omorovicza Omoressence and because you can never have too many Diptyque samples a vial of Fleur de Peau EDP.

I'm so happy with my purchases and gift, there's just so much good stuff here!

spacenk.com

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?

Kiehl's Healthy Skin GWP.

Normally I restock Mr C&C's Kiehl's products whenever there is a Barney's Love Yourself event but this year he needed quite a major restock and I split my buys between Barneys and Kiehl's as they had a great GWP available with any $75.00 purchase. 

The Healthy Skin promotion had a choice of three makeup bags containing different selections of products and although my preferred choice was out of stock by the time I put my order together I am still pretty darn pleased with my second choice. 

I'm keeping the new Calendua and Aloe Soothing Hydrating Mask which I'm excited try after my next at home exfoliating facial along with the Calendua Herbal Extract Toner. I do remember purchasing this toner in the distant past so I'm curious to revisit it, it is alcohol free and looks super pretty as it contains actual flower petals.

I'm generously gifting Mr C&C the samples of Ultra Facial Cream, Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Daily Reviving Concentrate but I'm keeping a firm hold of the cosmetic bag that came with the gift, as for once the bag itself is the best part of the gift. Normally I'm all about the samples and I will gift or donate the bag that comes with GWP's (having said that I do have a fairly large drawer full of ones that I liked enough to keep!) but this one feels rather special.

It's the perfect size for a day to day make up bag and I like the design of it so much, I especially like the way the illustrations represent the heritage of Kiehl's. This bag is so well made. The fabric has a wipe clean coating on the outside, the zip is sturdy, and not only is it lined, it's padded so I won't end up smashing powders and compacts when I carry them around. 

Although this promotion is over if you love Kiehl's products it is worthwhile signing up for theirmailings as there are offers such as this frequently available.
There's also a members rewards program that offers a Lip Balm as a birthday treat, samples with every order and a yearly cash reward when you record your purchases. Kiehl's stores are a delight to visit but these days I tend to buy everything we need from them online as Ebates give a very generous cash back on Kiehl's purchases. You cam sign up for mailings at kiehls.com

And if you don't yet have an Ebates account why not open one at ebates.com? I will admit to having been pretty skeptical but it really does work. I pay my Ebates cashback into a Paypal account which I then use for Cult Beauty orders...Which makes my Cult Beauty purchases free! Brilliant!

Wholefoods Beauty Bag 2018.

Every spring WholeFoods Market have a big beauty sale. There's 25% off everything in their WholeBody beauty department and they also have a very limited amount of specially curated beauty bags stuffed full to the brim with samples and minis available for purchase. The bags are on a first come first served basis and usually sell out very fast so I hot footed it to my nearest WholeFoods on Friday morning when they were issued and managed to snag one. 

This year's bag cost $20.00 and was worth over $100.00 - well worth getting up early for!

And I really do love this year's bag, not only does it look great it is made by Piece & Co. Piece & Co  source their products from independent artisans and small businesses and create them from sustainable fibers with totally transparent business practices. (pieceandco.com). This year's bag is a striking black and white print and is made of the softest cotton. It is also fully lined, and has tassels (yay!).

Inside the bag there is a headband from another sustainable, empowering company satvaliving.com  which will come in handy when I'm masking. 

Even more excitingly there are also fourteen skincare and make up items!

Skincare items include:

Acure Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub (1fl oz), Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Warming Mud Mask (one time use), Andalou Naturals Hyaluronic DMAE Lift and Firm Cream (.14oz), DermaE Radiant Glow Face Oil (.13fl oz), Evan Healy Rose Cleansing Milk (1oz), Pacifica Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes (x10), Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel (3 fl oz), Trilogy Rose Hip Oil (.17 fl oz) and a tube of Weleda Skin Food (.34 oz).

There are three full sized make up items in the bag! A Mineral Fusion Bronzer Duo, a Burt's Bees Lipstick (mine is in the shade 'Brimming Berry') and a Lip Care Stick by Dr Hauschka. There is also a mini Mineral Fusion Mascara. 

And there's more! Also included were coupons for $10.00 off Satva Living products and $10.00 off Dr Hauschka purchases of $50.00 or more. 

All in all this is a fantastic beauty bag! I'm particularly looking forward to trying the Evan Healy Rose Cleansing Milk as they are one of my favourite green beauty brands. I'm also pleased to get the opportunity to try the Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel. The Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick is going straight into my handbag.

I think that this is the best beauty bag WholeFoods have produced so far and I'm so pleased that I made the effort to shop early and managed to get one.

 (I also really enjoyed the Cheddar and Scallion Scone I picked up for breakfast!!).

Space NK Spring Beauty Edit GWP 2018.

I've not had much time to devote to C&C of late but I wanted to write about the Space NK Spring Beauty Edit GWP before it's too late! 

Space NK have the most wonderful GWP events in the Spring and Autumn and I always plan my major beauty restocks around them. Not only do I replenish my favorite products I get a bunch of samples and mini sized luxury beauty products to try out!

This years event was open to NDulge* members on Monday 12th February and to all other customers on Tuesday 13th. It goes without saying that this would make a perfect late Galentine's Day gift to yourself - there are some gift bags still available but if you would like one do hurry as they do go fast. To qualify for a gift bag you need to spend $275.00 (pre tax) on line (us.spacenk.com and enter the code SPRING18 at checkout) or in stores. I know that it is quite a lot of money to spend but if you do need products now is a good time to shop for them. 

The samples and minis came packed in a grey cosmetics bag that is actually smart enough to be used as a clutch bag. All the samples are generously sized and come from premium brands such as Omorovicza and Oribe. The contents of the bag are valued at over $500.00! 

Space NK GWP's tend to be quite heavy on skincare items as a rule which is something that pleases me immensely. This year's bag contained fourteen skincare items made up of three generously sized cleansers, eight serums and creams, two eye creams and one mask. 

For make up lovers there were five lip products (including the cult ByTerry Baume de Rose Lip Balm) and an eye pencil.

Haircare items comprised a shampoo, a dry shampoo, a hair mask and a texturising spray.

In addition there was a solid brush cleanser from Beauty Blender, a perfume vial from Byredo and even a mini Diptyque candle.

I bought myself five items to qualify for the bag. With the exception of one thing they are all products that I have used before. 

The 'new to me' item that I purchased was Verso Super Eye Serum. I'm constantly looking for the perfect eye cream and I have loved everything that I have tried from Verso so I thought I would give their eye cream a try. 

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is my favourite primer. I find it comfortable to wear and it makes my make up last much longer - it is a must have item for me, especially in the warmer weather! I have almost finished the bottle I am using currently and decided to replace it with the larger size which comes packaged in a tube which is much more practical and lightweight for travel purposes. It also works out to be more economical price wise. 

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser is my favourite morning time cleanser. I finished a bottle of this recently and as it is something that I like to keep to hand I bought myself a replacement bottle. I also bought a jar of Tata Harper Purifying Mask as I needed a new clay/mud type mask. I recently finished my jar of Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask and as I have used and enjoyed samples of this Tata Harper one I decided to try it for a change. I do suspect however that I will eventually splurge and go back to the Omorovicza one as it is my true favourite - it is so good!

Finally as I don't currently have any cleansing milks or creams (only balms, oils and gels) I picked up a bottle of REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk to fill the gap in my cleanser wardrobe. I like this range so much as it soothes and calms stressed skin. I find that it is particularly lovely to use when the weather is cold and harsh and it is also fairly inexpensive. 

I'm thrilled with my gift and my new purchases and can't wait to get stuck into the gift bag and discover some new favourites!  

*NDulge is Space NK's customer rewards program and it is well worth joining if you are not a member. As well as early access to sales and promotions, there are invitations to special events and every time you shop you are rewarded with points that convert to cash rewards that you can redeem on future purchases.
us.spacenk.com

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!

Cult Beauty Global Goody Bag 2017.

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

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

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

What I Bought.

Bella Freud Lion Candle.

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

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Pencil.

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

Mabel+ Meg Enchanter Hydrating Eye Serum.

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

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Serum.

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

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

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel.

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

The Global Beauty Bag.

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

Skincare.

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

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

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

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

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

Make Up.

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

Haircare.

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

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

Bodycare.

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

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

Barneys New York Love Yourself GWP: September 2017.

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

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

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

Things to Know about the Love Yourself Event.

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

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

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

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

The Gift.

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

Skincare.

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

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

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

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

Haircare.

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

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

Make Up.

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

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

Perfume.

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

Bodycare.

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

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

What I Bought and Step Up Gifts. 

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

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

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

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

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

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter) Summer 2017.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 a box for shipping. There are two variations of the box intended to appeal to different age groups, I receive the Trendsetter box which is aimed at younger shoppers, there is also a Classic box for older shoppers.

Simple Cleansing Face Wipes (7 wipes).

I very rarely use wipes myself but Mr C&C likes to use them to freshen up so I'm always okay with receiving them in boxes as I can pass them on to him.

Pantene Dream Care Shampoo (1.7 fl oz).

Pantene Dream Care Conditioner (1.7 fl oz).

 For some reason I don't often purchase Pantene but I usually like their products whenever I do. I'm always happy to get minis of shampoo and conditioner as they are so handy to take on short trips. These samples are a decent size, they have a fresh, clean scent that I like and they both claim to hydrate and moisurise hair. 

Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel (.25 fl oz).

Strangely, I'm rather excited to try this brush cleanser, 

I love Real Technique brushes so I have high expectations for it! 

I'm kind of slack when it comes to cleaning make up brushes so I enjoy getting samples of brush cleansers for the simple reason that it forces me into doing it.

Eco Tools Mask Remover Sponges (2 sponges).

These two sponges are made of wood pulp (cellulose) and as well as removing masks can be used for daily cleansing, apparently they also gently exfoliate while removing excess product.TBH I'm not sure about them purely because I'm so devoted to using flannels/washcloths and I hate the feel of certain cottons and tissues on my face but I will willingly try these next time I use a mask. 

Got2B Ultra Glued Styling Gel (1.25 fl oz).

I never use hair gel so this is going in my giveaway pile. The fact that the packaging contains the words 'invincible' and 'ultra glued' scare me into thinking that this will result in hard crispy hair! 

Impress Press On Manicure (30 nails).

These are very summery. The pack I received contains a mix of anchor designs, nautical stripes, and a coral-y red. They are very cute, but not my style at all, so it's another one for the giveaway pile.

Smile Direct Coupon.

The box also contained a coupon for Smile Direct Club which was worth $155.00 towards online cosmetic dentistry (basically teeth straightening). I won't use this as cut price medical procedures scare the hell out of me and it seem to be too good to true so there has to be a catch somewhere right?. 

Overall.

I've said this before but I really don't think that you can go wrong with the Walmart box. It is so inexpensive and the fact that it only ships quarterly means that you don't get bogged down with repeat products. 

Sure, I didn't love everything in this month's box - the press on nails and hair gel hold no appeal whatsoever for me - but the face wipes, shampoo and conditioner are all practical and useful and I look forward to testing out the mask sponges and brush cleaner. I don't know the value for all the items in the box but the value of the ones that I will use add up to more than $5.00 so I'm happy.  

You can sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com. 

Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

I went to Ulta!

I had heard a lot about Ulta beauty stores but until a couple of weeks ago I had never actually visited one. The nearest one to my home is in Queens but it is still pretty far from nearby, so imagine how excited I was when I pulled into a Barnes and Noble car park when I was recently in Rhode Island and next door was a brand new branch of Ulta... and I mean brand spanking new as it had only opened the day before. Of course I managed to while away a couple of hours there making a few purchases and gathering a few impressions of the Ulta experience.

The Store. 

The store was brand new so obviously it was immaculate. The decor was very light and bright and there was a small hair salon and a Dermalogica face station offering mini treatments and skin analysis.

 To the right of the door were the higher end brands, the central front part of the store had promotions and mid range brands that appeal to younger shoppers and behind this there was a small perfume section with mostly department store type scents. On the left side of the shop were budget make up brands with a small range of Korean skincare behind them. Beyond that drugstore hair and body care products were stocked along with salon haircare. 

The general feel and layout of the store reminded me a lot of Boot's stores in the UK. 

The Brand Selection. 

I was surprised at the vast range of brands carried. They covered every price point and there were brands to appeal to all age groups. There were department store brands such as Estee Lauder and Lancome, drugstore brands, Korean brands, international high street brands such as The Body Shop and No7 and a very good selection of mid range Sephora/Blue Mercury type make up and skin care as well as a great selection of haircare and body care ranging from drugstore to high end. 

Customer Service. 

Staff were friendly and helpful. There are numerous special offers both in store and online along with a free to join loyalty card program that offers redeemable points on purchases and birthday gifts etc.

The Purchases.

Well, I had to have a little splurge whilst here didn't I?

Although I'm not a huge fan of the Mario Badescu range I do like their Enzyme Cleansing Gel very much especially as a morning face wash in warmer weather and their Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater is a very good budget friendly refreshing spritz so I picked up both of those items. 

I have been intrigued (and somewhat frightened) by Japanese Foot Peeling Masks after seeing them on Youtube. Tony Moly Changing Magic Foot Peeling Shoes are a Korean dupe for the originals. The plastic booties contain a mix of lactic, glycolic and fruit skin peeling agents, you wear them for an hour or so and a few days later your feet shed their hardened skin in a horrific, yet apparently truly satisfying, lizard like way. So far I have been too much of a wimp to put these to the test but I will very soon and report back. 

I also bought a sachet of The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Face Mask simply because I liked the sound of it and thought it would be a good addition to my travel bag for a pampering session while away from home.

I have wanted to try out the Your Skin But Better CC Cream from It Cosmetics for some time so I was pleased to see that Ulta had a large range of It Cosmetics and while I did dabble with the CC Cream it didn't impress me enough to purchase it... Unlike the Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Palette which caught my eye and did tempt me! I'm not the biggest fan of palettes, after an initial play session I find that I only use one or two colours and ignore the rest, but there was something about this palette that screamed my name. It has fourteen matte shadows along with a larger pearl transformer that you can use to sweep on top of the other colours transforming them into shimmering shadows. The packaging is sturdy and although it does contain a mirror I was happy to see that there weren't any cheap brushes or applicators included. I have already used the four darker shadows as liners and tried out most of the remaining ten and they are all flattering and highly wearable. I find the formula of these shadows to be outstanding. Containing collagen and Vitamins A, C, and E, they (allegedly) protect the skin around your eyes. The colours are true to the pan and they apply like a dream with no fallout whatsoever. They feel velvety smooth, are easy to  blend and build beautifully on the lid. They also last all day without creasing, even when used without an eyeshadow primer. Indeed I think these are currently my favourite eyeshadows!

As I was so impressed with the shadows when I swatched them on my hand I picked up an eyeshadow brush from It Cosmetics to try as well - the Airbrush 112 which reminded me of my all time favourite the MAC 217. Side by side although the brush hairs are not as long as the MAC they are otherwise identical. It is an excellent brush with super soft synthetic fibers, a nicely weighted handle, so far no shedding and it is only $13.00 which is a fair bit cheaper than the 217. (Most of the airbrush range including this brush is exclusive to Ulta.)

Overall.

I thought that Ulta was a great store to browse in. I liked that they had a mix of drugstore and higher end items and I was impressed that they carried a selection of fun K Beauty products. To me it felt that it was an all inclusive store where you could enjoy shopping whatever your age or budget. I'm sure I will be back  before too long! 

Barneys Warehouse Men's Spring Gift Bag 2017.

I was browsing on line the other day when I came across this bag of male grooming products for sale on Barneys Warehouse site. If it looks familiar it is because it is the male offering from March's Barneys Love Yourself GWP event.

For the last couple of years Barneys have offered a choice of two bags, one for women and one for men, when they hold this promotion which means I procrastinate and spend way too much time trying to decide which bag is the better deal before always opting for the female gift. 

Of course the chance to purchase the 'other' gift was something that I couldn't miss. There's over $180.00 of products here and the bag was on sale for $37.00 with free shipping. (I ended up paying $32.00 by the time I had factored in various coupon codes and ebates links).

Everything pictured above came packed in a grey tie dye cotton dopp kit and there's an excellent selection of products (some of which will be making their way into my bathroom rather than Mr C+C's).

Skincare.

For facial cleansing there is that GWP bag staple: Malin+Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser and a mini of Baxter Herbal Mint Toner.

 Moisturising options include Kiehl's Age Defender and La Mer Soft Cream. There is also a Verso Night Cream #3 which I think I may have to keep.

I'm also going to hang onto the three masks in the bag: Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Mask, ReVive Purifying Clay Mask and Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask which is by far my most loved face mask.

Hair, Body and Shaving.

There are generously sized samples of two shampoos: Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo and one from Martial Vivot. 

There is a small bottle of Aesop Resolute Hydrating Body Balm which is also going to be kept by yours truly as it smells so good! Black Pepper and Patchouli? That's exactly my kind of fragrance. 

There is a massive full sized jar of Harry's Barber Edition Shave Cream and a travel sized tube of The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream.

Fragrance.

There are seven perfume vials from various niche brands, including one of Diptyque Philosikos which is my summer fragrance.

Finally there is a mini tube of Marvis toothpaste.

It appears that the bag is sold out but why not take a look at the beauty section of barneyswarehouse.com there are plenty of other beauty bargains to be found there.