July Empties: Products I've Used Up

Can you believe how quickly this year is flying by?! It's already time for another Empties post! Here's everything that I've used up recently and whether I'll be repurchasing them again or not.

This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil

With so many restless nights due to the recent heatwave, I've been using my arsenal of sleep-inducing aromatherapy products to help and I'm a big fan of the This Works Deep Sleep range. This 100% natural body oil smells heavenly, makes my skin silky soft and is perfect to slather on after a bath. Repurchase? Yes.

Conscious Skincare Cypress and Sage Organic Shampoo & Conditioner*

This SLS-free duo has been keeping my hair happy over the past couple of months (I only properly wash my hair once or twice a week), but I've started to feel like it's time for a change as I'm no longer getting the super shiny finish that I originally did when I started using them. Repurchase? Might do in the future. 

Antipodes Immortal SPF 15 Face & Body Moisturiser*

I've mainly been using this as my daily facial SPF and have had no problems with breakouts or anything like that. It does take a while to sink into the skin, but I appreciate its moisturising properties as some sunscreens can feel a bit drying. Repurchase? I've gone back to using one from Aveda as it has a higher SPF, but I may return to this for Winter/Spring when the UV levels drop.

Herbfarmacy Rose & Echinacea Toner

Pretty sure that this is my second or third bottle and I still love it! It's such a refreshing toner and great for sensitive skin as it's so soothing. My top tip for using it in Summer is to pop it into the fridge and liberally spritz all over when it's hot outside - pure bliss! Repurchase? Yes.

Ayurvana Shatavari & Aloe Vera Body Gel*

This is an amazing after-sun gel that feels super cooling and helps to heal irritated/sore skin. A little certainly goes a long way as I was pleasantly surprised by how long it's lasted. Repurchase? I'm testing out a bunch of after-sun products for a feature at the moment, but I'd definitely pick this up again.

LUSH Bubbly Shower Gel

Anyone else still using up their Christmas stash of Lush goodies?! I love the uplifting fruitness of Bubbly, it really does smell amazing and is perfect for those early morning showers. Repurchase? Sadly it's LE -let's hope it comes back this Christmas!

Antipodes Divine Face Oil*

Another firm favourite of mine and one that I've recommended many times on here. It's great for a lot of skin types including dry and sensitive, however, I've been recently finding it a little too rich for my oilier skin now that it's Summertime. Repurchase? Will do later in the year.  

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream

You can tell how much I love this because I just had to cut it into two to get out every last bit! This is such a gorgeous hand cream in both texture and fragrance (the scent is incredible), and it's a real pampering treat for dry hands. Repurchase? Definitely.

BON Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil*

BON's Liquid Gold is brilliant for so many different things as it's a basic blend of mostly Avocado, Grapeseed and Rosehip Oils. I've enjoyed using it for facial and body massages, as well as rubbing it into stretch marks and old acne scars to help lighten them up and improve the overall texture of the skin. Repurchase? Yes.

Westlab Reviving Salt Body Scrub & Bath Soak*

It's been way too hot for baths lately so I've been using this up as a body scrub in the shower. It's perfect to use before applying fake tan, plus it smells amazing! Repurchase? Will do once I've finished off some other body scrubs that I've got on the go.

Sister & Co Coconut Oil*

You know those memes about putting coconut oil on everything to make it better? Well, I'd say they're 99% true! I always have a jar of coconut oil in my bathroom as I use it to shave my legs, moisturise my body, remove makeup, as an intensive hair conditioning treatment etc, in fact, if I wasn't a beauty blogger, I would probably just use coconut oil for most things! This one's 100% pure, cold-pressed, raw and organic. Repurchase? I've picked up the KIKI Health one as it was cheaper, but I'd get this again if I saw it on offer.

Have you tried any of these? What have you used up recently?

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Winter Skincare Saviours: The New Additions

It's been a snow covered weekend in many parts of the UK, and I've been slapping on all sorts of lotions and potions to help protect my skin from the worst of the freezing cold elements (hurry up Summer!). Here are a couple of new additions that have been working a treat!

Best for Reducing Redness/Inflammation: Sanatio Naturalis 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil* (10ml, £22, link)

I use Lavender Oil all year round, but I find it particularly useful during the Winter months as a natural way to treat any redness and inflammation caused by the cold weather. I like to mix just a drop or two with my daily moisturiser in the morning to give my skin some extra protection, and it's also ideal for mixing with barrier lotions to calm down eczema flareups. It your budget can stretch to it, it's worth investing in a bottle that's made with just the pure essential oil, with no other preservatives or artificial ingredients/fillers added. This one from Sanatio Naturalis is simply 100% high grade/quality lavender essential oil.

Best for Nails: Nail HQ All In One Treatment* (10ml, £7.99, link)

It can be easy to forget about your nails, yet a little TLC can go a long way. My nails always feel especially delicate at this time of the year, and are prone to becoming more brittle with a higher chance of them splitting/breaking off (the struggle is real). You can remedy this problem by keeping cuticles hydrated and by applying a nail treatment to help strengthen them up again. There are loads on the market, but one of the best budget friendly buys is from Nail HQ. Their all-in-one treatment is formulated with Argan Oil and Acai Berry, and I'd go so far as calling this a dupe for OPI Nail Envy as it gave me very similar results for almost half the price. If you have brittle, weak nails, this is definitely worth a try.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Indeed Labs 10balm Soothing Cream* (30ml, £19.99, link)

Launched late last year, this new release from Indeed Labs have been a worthwhile addition to my winter skincare routine. 10balm is a multi-purpose cream that features ten of nature's most effective healing ingredients (including the likes of Honey, Royal Jelly, Baobab Oil, Vitamin E, Arnica and Buriti Oil to name a few). You can apply it anywhere to instantly soothe irritated skin, and it's free from fragrance, parabens and artificial colourants. A great cream for calming sensitive skin and for topping up moisture levels as and when your skin needs it.

Best for Dry Skin: Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Treatment Lotion* (150ml, £22.50, link)

Another new product launch that I've been enjoying using since Winter started, comes from Aveda. Their Hydrating Treatment Lotion is the latest addition to their popular Botanical Kinetics line, and it's essentially an essence that you can add as an extra step to your skincare routine when it's feeling extra dry or dehydrated. It uses a blend of algae extracts and naturally derived humectants to super charge the skin's ability to absorb moisture, whilst keeping it thoroughly hydrated at the same time. I've been using it around 2-3 times a week instead of a serum (after toning, before moisturiser), and my skin has been looking a lot more plumped up and noticeably less dehydrated around the top of my cheeks. It sinks in quickly and doesn't feel greasy.

Best Budget Buy: Superdrug Optimum PhytoHydrate Anti-Dehydration Birch Water Day Cream SPF 15* (50ml, £14.99, link) 

If you're on a budget with your skincare, you can't go wrong with Superdrug's own brand products. Everything is certified cruelty free and most products are also suitable for vegans. The latest Birch Water range has been created with Swiss skincare specialists, and harnesses the natural hydrating benefits of Birch Water, making it a must-try for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin. This Day Cream is great for Winter and feels like a soft, protective coat against the elements. It also has the benefit of SPF 15 which I love as I can be a little lazy with sunscreen when it's cold and grey outside.

Best Multi-Purpose Oil: BON Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil* (100ml, £9.99, link)

There really couldn't have been a better name given to this fantastic multi-purpose oil from BON. Their Liquid Gold Pure Tissue Oil can be used as an intensive moisturiser for lots of different skincare concerns such as scars, stretch marks, wrinkles and dehydrated skin. Made from a blend of Grape Seed, Rosehip and Avocado oils, with added Vitamin E for good measure, Liquid Gold is one of the best green beauty / natural alternatives to products like Bio Oil that I've tried. A little goes a long way as well!

What are your Winter skincare saviours?

Have you tried any of these?

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Green Beauty: Love Lula Beauty Box - October 2016 review

October's Love Lula Beauty box was a great selection of natural and organic skincare products, to help protect your skin against the colder weather ahead.

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