Beauty Box: LoveLula Beauty Box - November 2019 review

Treat yourself to a selection of winter-friendly haircare and skincare with November's LoveLula Beauty Box where everything included is cruelty-free and natural or organic - yay! This month's contents are worth £48, so let's check out what's inside.

Nature's Kitchen Kiwi, Apple & Cucumber Skin Soothing Face Wash (RRP £10.99)

Infused with a range of anti-ageing ingredients and antioxidants, this gentle cleanser is packed full of fruit and vegetable extracts, alongside AHAs and vitamins A, B3, C and E. It's a great face wash to use first thing in the morning to wake up tired skin and brighten up any dullness, plus it has a lovely refreshing zing about it!

Madara Hemp Lip Balm (RRP £10)

Keep dry and chapped lips at bay this winter, with this luxurious natural lip balm from Madara. It's been specially formulated to provide extreme comfort and hydration all day long thanks to nourishing ingredients such as Olive Oil, Shea Butter and Hemp Oil.

Ayumi Organic Coconut Enriched Hair Oil (RRP £7.99)

It's not just skin that suffers during the colder months - winter can take its toll on your hair too, but help is at hand with this Organic Hair Oil from Ayumi. Enriched with Coconut Oil, this silicone and paraben-free hair oil is a seriously rich and moisturising treatment that will help to rescue dry and damaged hair after just the first use, and it can be left on overnight for an even more intensive treatment if your hair is in particularly bad shape.

Ooh! Oils Of Heaven Apricot Revitalising Face Oil (RRP £19)

The last full-size product in this month's LoveLula beauty box is a beautiful Revitalising Face Oil from Ooh! Oils Of Heaven, which are a brand exclusive to LL. Made from 100% organic cold-pressed Apricot Kernel Oil, this clean and pure oil softens, revitalises and smoothes out fine lines so it's a good one to try if you have dry, sensitive or mature skin.

Also included are samples of JOIK Rejuvenating Eye Contour Cream and ZOJO The Bikini Body Formula for subscribers to try out.

LoveLula Beauty Box* is a monthly subscription box priced at £13.95 with free postage in the UK. Visit lovelula.com to find out more.

Have you subscribed to LoveLula's Beauty Box?

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New In Beauty: Tropic Clarifying Hair Wash, Hair Smooth Radiance Oil, Hair Feast Deep Conditioning Treatment & Scalp Massager review

Tropic are on a roll with their new releases and these SLS-free products are part of their latest haircare range. 

Many of my regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of Tropic (you can check out my previous reviews of their products here), but this is the first time that I've tested out any of their haircare. Often, when a skincare brand launches haircare I'm a little dubious at first, as many brands don't always get it right, but I'm pleased to say that my hair has been getting on well with these over the past few weeks!

Tropic Clarifying Hair Wash* (250ml, £16, link)

Despite having combination hair (oily roots with dry lengths and ends), I only wash my hair twice a week because if I over-wash it, I find that my scalp just produces too much oil and it gets greasy really quickly. In between washes, I use a dry shampoo to refresh it, and I always prefer something more clarifying for when I actually want to shampoo it properly. Tropic's Clarifying Hair Wash is ideal for people like me as it removes all product build-up from the hair, but doesn't leave your scalp feeling stripped or dry afterwards.  This pH balanced hair wash contains Coconut-derived cleansers, Aloe Vera Juice and Babassu extract, to gently cleanse and hydrate. As it's also a concentrated formula, you only need to use a small amount each time, so although it's pricey, one tube will last you a good couple of months if you're not using it every day. It smells gorgeous too!

Tropic Hair Smooth Radiance Oil* (75ml, £24, link)

As my lengths and ends are so dry, I often use a hair oil as a leave-in treatment to keep my tresses in tip-top condition, and this Hair Smooth Radiance Oil is something that I've been reaching for a lot lately. Composed of a blend of beneficial oils such as Abyssinian, Maracuja, Argan, Jojoba, Tamanu and Vitamin E, this oil is surprisingly lightweight and does a brilliant job of keeping my hair hydrated, soft and shiny. I generally apply half a pump after towel drying, but you can also use a tiny amount to smooth frizz and flyaways after styling. 

Tropic Hair Feast Deep Conditioning Treatment* (200ml, £18, link)

Once a week I like to treat my hair to an ultra conditioning hair mask, and Tropic's Hair Feast Deep Conditioning Treatment is a must-buy if you have dry or damaged hair that's in need of some TLC. Reassuringly thick in texture, Hair Feast is packed full of natural ingredients including Aloe Vera Juice, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil, Tamanu Oil, Vitamin B5, Keratin, Murumuru Butter and Maracuja Oil, to name but a few. It smells lovely and fresh as there's also Blood Orange, Lemon, Peppermint, Spearmint, Coconut and Vanilla in the formula, and it gets to work quickly in just 5 minutes, though I would recommend leaving it on for longer if you want a more intensive treatment (I often leave it on overnight for the best results!). After rinsing, my hair is wonderfully soft and feels so silky.

Tropic Scalp Massager* (£8, link) 

If your scalp is prone to build-up, dryness or flakiness, or you have fine or thinning hair, you may want to incorporate a scalp massager into your weekly haircare routine to help stimulate the circulation and improve the blood flow to your scalp. This one features a range of supple silicone bristles which come down into points to allow you to effortlessly massage your scalp, removing dirt and build-up, whilst also boosting the overall circulation. You can use it as often as you like and once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite relaxing!

Shop the full range of Tropic haircare online at tropicskincare.com

Have you tried any of Tropic's haircare range?

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April Beauty Favourites

Has another month really just passed us by?! The year is going so fast and as we now head into May, I wanted to do a recap of some of my favourite beauty products from April, many of which you may recognise from my Instagram Stories.

CND Vinylux Nail Polishes in Candied and Taffy* (15ml, £9.95 each, link)

I've been loving all of the traditional pastel colours that have been coming out again for the new season, and these two are from CND's latest Chic Shock Collection 2018. They're also from the Vinylux range which is the brand's popular long-wearing polish line, and whilst I wouldn't exactly agree that they last for a whole week without chipping, I can usually get at least 5 days in which is pretty damn good in my opinion! On the left is Candied, a beautiful pale pastel pink, and on the right is Taffy, a stunning on-trend pastel mint shade. Both of these apply easily and smoothly in just two coats.

Forest & Shore Hallelujah Hair Oil* (100ml, £14, link)

A new discovery for me, Forest & Shore are an English, cruelty-free, organic and natural brand who are famous for their bestselling Hallelujah Hair Oil. Designed for dry and/or damaged hair (which sums mine up perfectly), this 100% organic (certified by the Soil Association) treatment features an interesting blend of Olive, Sesame and Coconut Oils, mixed with Arnica, Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils. As you'd expect from a product like this, you only need to use a few drops per application and less if you have fine hair like I do. I love using this as an overnight/pre-shampoo treatment to intensely condition my dry hair, and it's also perfect to use as a final styling aid to banish frizz and flyaways. The price point is also fantastic for an all-natural and certified organic product! 

B. Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz* (75ml, £7.99, link)

During the recent mini heatwave, I put this new release from Superdrug's B. skincare range to the test and it was a lifesaver for helping to keep my skin refreshed and happy. Suitable for all skin types, there's Vitamin C, Cucumber extract and Caffeine in this vegan-friendly Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz formula, to give your complexion a hydrating and brightening boost whenever you need it. The bottle is a great size for throwing in your handbag and it would be perfect for travelling and holidays. 

NAYA Everyday Face Oil* (30ml, £40, link)

Last month, I was introduced to one of the newest additions to the rapidly growing world of luxury green beauty - NAYA. Made in Germany using the latest developments in Green Technology, NAYA prides itself on having strong ethics and high environmental standards which sees the brand using only responsibly sourced ingredients and absolutely no synthetic chemicals. Their first product launch is the Everyday Face Oil which is made from pure bioactive ingredients that boast a high concentration of essential fatty acids that help to keep the skin's natural barrier healthy and hydrated. Two key ingredients are Cacay Oil, known for its rich antioxidants, and naturally derived Retinol A to fight the signs of ageing, whilst Patchouli, Orange, Juniper Berry and Lemon essential oils give it a beautiful scent.

This is a very luxurious oil and although it's incredibly rich and nourishing, it absorbs easily during a facial massage, so it doesn't leave my skin greasy or sticky. I love using this as part of my evening skincare routine and it really helps to give you a glow come the morning!

B. Powder Blusher in Make Me Blush* (6g, £7.99, link)

I've been mainly sticking to my usual foundations and base products, but I have been reaching for this lovely powder blusher from B. since the weather started to brighten up. This shade is called Make Me Blush and it's one of those super easy to wear peachy pink colours that just seems to go with everything. Lasts well throughout the day and this range is often on offer in Superdrug if you fancy picking up some new makeup bits.

INIKA Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick in Pink Poppy* (4.2g, £19.50, link)

For lips, I've been loving this particular shade from INIKA which is called Pink Poppy, and I feel that the name perfectly reflects the colour as it's a stunning 'pinky-red' for when you want a bolder, but still not too bright, look for Spring. I own a couple of INIKA lipsticks and they all have a great moisturising formula, and this one is no exception. It's not the longest wearing as it's got a natural formula, but given how beautiful the colour is, I really don't mind touching it up when necessary!

Superdrug Two Tone Sequin Makeup Bag in Blue & Lilac* (£5.99, link)

Lastly, I have a new makeup bag favourite! It's another newbie from Superdrug (seriously they've been totally owning all of the new releases lately!) and I've been literally obsessed with it since it arrived. The outside of the bag features a cool two-tone sequin pattern which you can 'swipe' to reveal a different colour as it changes from a mermaid friendly aqua blue to a metallic lilac whenever you run your fingers across it. How neat is that?! It's very addictive and satisfying to play with, plus it's a pretty snazzy bag to keep your makeup essentials in. Practical and fun? Yes, please! If you're a monochrome fan, they also do the same design in a black and white colourway, and these are a total steal at just £5.99.

What have you been loving lately?

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Introducing: Alchemy Oils - Grapefruit & Alma Hair Remedy review

When it comes to the world of hair treatments, hair oils have long reigned supreme thanks to their ultra-nourishing properties that can transform the driest and frizziest hair into a mane worthy of a Disney princess. My latest obsession comes from Alchemy Oils, and their travel-size bottles are perfect for those who are in the market for a new hair oil to try out.

Alchemy Oils are a simple and honest brand that specialises in creating amazing natural hair oils. They despise the short-term, quick fix approach of heavy chemical/silicone laden hair treatments that are all too common to find in the mainstream, and instead, have decided to focus on the tried and tested natural ingredients that have been used for centuries in places like India, where hair oils are used in Ayurveda-based scalp massage practices. They've utilised this age-old knowledge and have succeeded in creating formulas that are not only good for the long-term health of the hair, but also help to promote and stimulate hair growth, whilst providing those instant styling results that most of us are looking for to make our hair more manageable on a day-to-day basis.

How I Use Hair Oils & How Often

I mostly use hair oils as an intensive scalp treatment (applying a few drops directly to the scalp, massaging it in and leaving it on for a few hours or overnight before shampooing as normal), a pre-shampoo treatment (applying a tiny amount to the ends and lengths of dry hair for an hour before washing), a pre-blow dry protector (a few drops through towel-dried hair before blow-drying to make it more manageable), and as a leave-in conditioner (just 1-2 drops) to smooth away frizz and flyaways, and help keep my hairstyle sleek, moisturised and shiny all day.  As I have dry but fine hair, I use oils as a treatment probably 1-2 times a month, and only once a week as a leave-in conditioner or blow-dry protector. If your hair is a lot drier, more damaged or thicker, you can use them more often if needed, but fine hair can get weighed down easily if oils are used too regularly.

Alchemy Oils have just five products in their whole range; three different types of Hair Remedy oils, and two oil-based formulas for beards. Naturally, I've been trialling two of their Hair Remedy oils to see if they can help my notoriously dry and frizzy hair.

Best for Strengthening Hair & Combatting Dandruff - Alchemy Grapefruit Hair Remedy*

The first thing that you'll notice upon opening this bottle is a gorgeous uplifting scent from the Grapefruit Essential Oil which instantly reminds me of Summer and sipping fruity cocktails on the beach! This Grapefruit Hair Remedy is made from just five natural ingredients, each of which brings it's own unique properties to the blend; Coconut Oil (helps to strengthen the hair and keeps the scalp healthy), Avocado Oil (brilliant for damaged and brittle hair), Castor Oil (packed full of fatty acids and proteins, as well as being naturally antibacterial and high in Vitamin E), Almond Oil (contains lots of polyunsaturated and mono fatty acids as well as vitamins E, D, B1, B2, B6 and A which all help to deeply condition and soften the hair), and Grapefruit Oil (a natural cleanser that fights dandruff and prevents product build-up).

Best for Hair Growth & Conditioning - Alchemy Alma Hair Remedy*

The Alma Hair Remedy is an interesting one as I haven't tried anything with Alma in it before. Also known as Indian Gooseberry, Alma is mostly famous in India thanks to the high levels of antioxidants and carotene that's naturally found in the fruit. It's often used as a powerful hair tonic to promote healthy hair growth by strengthing the scalp and roots, so it's a popular ingredient in many natural hair loss products. Alongside Alma Oil, you'll also find Lemon Essential Oil (to naturally cleanse and add shine), Sesame Seed Oil and Coconut Oil (to strengthen and condition the hair), Avocado Oil (to soften and strengthen) and Argan Oil (to deeply nourish).

Overall Thoughts

I really like these Alchemy Hair Remedy oils and have seen good results from both of them. They're both similar in consistency and these are definitely a lot heavier than some other natural hair oils that I've tried, so you only need to use the tiniest amount, otherwise, they'll make your hair look greasy (especially if you have fine hair!). The Grapefruit one is definitely useful for helping to clear up dandruff or a dry scalp so brilliant for scalp massages, and I like the Alma one as a conditioning treatment on my lengths and ends to stop them from feeling dry. My only bugbear with these is the packaging, as they really need to have a pipette because it's easy to pour way too much into your hand, so I use a pipette that I bought off eBay with mine to help control the amount that I use. Other than that, these are definitely worth a try!

Alchemy Oils Grapefruit & Alma Hair Remedy (30ml travel sizes are £8 each, full-size 100ml bottles are £27 each) are available from LoveLula.com who offer free worldwide shipping on orders over £15.

Are you a fan of hair oils?

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Introducing: Playa - Luxury Natural Haircare from California - Pure Dry Shampoo, Ritual Hair Oil & Endless Summer Spray review

Californian girls certainly know a thing or two about hair and how to achieve those covetable beachy waves, so I was over the moon when a package arrived from a brand called Playa, straight from Venice Beach, LA.

There is something incredibly cool about the spirit of LA and California in general, and I think us Brits are obsessed with their way of life over there, as much as the rest of the world seems to be! I know it's been at the top of my own wanderlust list for a very long time and when finances allow, I'll be booking a trip to sunny SoCal as soon as possible! Until then, I'll have to be content with experimenting with as much Californian beauty products as humanly possible, starting with these natural hair goodies from Playa.

Playa is a brand new botanical based hair care brand which only recently launched back in May, but it's already caught the attention of the likes of Byrdie, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal, which is hella impressive, to say the least. Founded by a former fashion stylist named Shelby Wild, the young entrepreneur packed her bags and moved from New York to LA to be next to the beach and reconnect with nature.  She studied Herbalism and after years of development, Playa was born.

Shelby very kindly sent me a couple of Playa's best sellers to try out and even though the weather has taken a turn for the worse in rainy old England, at least my hair has been looking good!

Playa Pure Dry Shampoo* (145ml, $26, link)

Dry Shampoo is a massive lifesaver for me, especially when I'm running late or I simply haven't had the time to properly wash my hair. I also have naturally oily roots and I find that if I did wash it every day, it becomes even oilier, so a good quality dry shampoo is a must! Playa's Pure Dry Shampoo features a blend of botanicals and minerals to refresh and absorb excess oil. Key ingredients include Rose Powder which is great for sucking up grease and keeping hair soft, whereas Star Anise extract helps it be kind to sensitive scalps and eliminates any impurities. The end result is super fresh hair that has some extra volume to it, but without any build-up or residue afterward. I'm really impressed with this - it's easy to use as a spray activated dry shampoo, and it keeps my hair feeling fresh all day long.

Playa Ritual Hair Oil* (40ml, $38, link)

Alongside dry shampoo, I always keep a stash of hair oils handy to help me make some sense of my notoriously frizzy locks, and they come in really useful when my hair is feeling damaged or dry. I was excited to try the Ritual Hair Oil as it contains a super blend of Kukui, Apricot and Sunflower Oils in a Coconut Oil derived base, and I have to say that it did not disappoint. It has an ultra convenient dropper applicator and I've found that I only needed a couple of drops to get the best results each time. I was a little worried that the oil was going to be too rich for my fine hair, but the formula has been specially designed to be weightless and easily absorbed without the need for silicones, so my hair has been loving it! It works wonders for taming frizz and flyaways, and my dry ends and lengths feel stronger and look much shinier since I started using it. Amazing stuff!

Playa Endless Summer Spray* (108ml, $28, link)

As I mentioned earlier, my hair is very fine, so it needs all the help it can get when it comes to volume and creating texture in hairstyles. The delightfully named Endless Summer Spray is a must-have for anyone who wants to get those covetable beachy waves without the annoying crunch or sticky residue. It uses Sea Salt that's harvested from Southern California and contains a Marine Complex which helps to add volume and shine, plus there are natural UV filters included in the formula to shield your hair from the worst of the sun's damaging rays. This styling spray is really easy to use too; a quick spritz here and there gives you instant texture and a little volume boost without making my hair feel dry. All I need now is a holiday to California!

Shop the full range at Playa.ca and keep an eye out for a UK launch early next year in Space NK and Liberty.

Are you a fan of Californian beauty brands?

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Currently Loving: Indemne Antiseche Nourishing Oil AKA The Best Multi-Tasking Beauty Oil Ever

Indemne are a fantastic natural, cruelty-free and vegan brand from France. They mainly specialise in skincare (I've reviewed a couple of their products in the past here), but their latest release is a real treat for skin, hair and body; a true multi-tasking beauty hero!

I'm a bit obsessed with products that can do more than one thing, as they're perfect for anyone who is on a budget or is going on holiday soon. This new Nourishing Oil from Indemne is my current obsession and here's why.

Indemne Antiseche Nourishing Oil* (100ml, £21.95, link)

The name of this product strongly hints at its multi-usage properties as 'Antiseche' is roughly translated from the French as 'Cheat Sheet'. Indeed, this Nourishing Oil will help you to cheat your way to glowy skin all over and beautifully hydrated hair!

The clever water-free formula is made from a rich and potent blend of 100% natural ingredients that features a whole host of skin-friendly oils such as Grapeseed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Olive Oil and Squalene. There are also some citrusy essential oils included in this mix which gives it an overall fresh and summery scent, but one that's not too overpowering in my opinion.

I've been using this Nourishing Oil everywhere.

On my face, on the dry parts of my body (think elbows, cuticles, heels etc), in the bath, on my hair, everywhere! It is so nourishing and hydrating that it'll help to fix any dry skin problem straight away and it's amazing as a pre-shampoo treatment, as well as a leave-in conditioner for anyone who has dry and damaged hair. Best of all though, a little goes a long way, so you only need a couple of drops whichever way you want to use it. For face and neck, I like to use 1-3 drops depending on how dry my skin is feeling, and for my hair, I'll use 2-3 drops as an intensive scalp/pre-shampoo treatment, or 1-2 drops as a leave-in conditioning treatment through the lengths and ends. It's so easy to use and a great product to have in your beauty routine!

Available in the UK from lovelula.com who offer free delivery worldwide.

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Mid-Week Pamper Treat: Leonor Greyl L'Huile de Leonor Greyl review

Give some TLC to dry, damaged and coloured hair with a nourishing pre-shampoo treatment, and reap the rewards the next day with glossy, swish-worthy, healthier looking hair.

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Budget Beauty: You Beauty Box - May 2016 review

My You Beauty box arrived yesterday (hooray for Saturday deliveries!), and this month it's themed around innovative cult beauty products that have caused a stir in the industry.

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New In: 4 Summer Friendly Products To Try from Goldwell, Aveda, REN & This Works

There have been lots of noteworthy new releases recently, and these four in particular, are just perfect for using during the upcoming summer months. I've tried and tested them out over the past couple of weeks so here are my thoughts!

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A Sunday Pamper with Khadi, Davines, Treaclemoon and Skin & Tonic

Sundays were made for taking some well earned 'me' time and indulging in a good old pamper. Here's an easy four step pamper that you can do at home which will leave your hair and skin feeling amazing.

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Beauty Treats from au sujet de Vert: Hairy Jayne Pre-Shampoo Treatment Oil & Evolve Beauty Radiant Glow Mask review

Shubana from Berry's Beauty opened her online natural and organic boutique called au sujet de Vert late last year and she's kindly sent me two products from her shop to review.

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Summer Loving: Caudalie Divine Oil & Divine Legs Tinted Body Lotion review

I've returned from my holiday, so what better way to ease myself back into the old blogging routine than with a sunny Summer Loving post?  These two lovelies from Caudalie are at the top of my list right now.

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Budget Beauty: You Beauty Discovery Box - May 2015 review

May's You Beauty Discovery Box has landed and is themed around the recent CEW beauty awards. Here's what I chose for my box from the shortlist of products available.

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April Empties / Products I've Used Up

A little later than usual but better late than never right?  Here are my April Empties, all the products that I managed to use up last month, my thoughts on them and what I'll be repurchasing in the future.

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The Mid Week Pamper Treat: Aenika Coconut Hair Oil Treatment review

This week's Mid Week Pamper Treat features a brand new Coconut Oil based hair treatment from Aenika.  If you have dry hair that currently could benefit from some TLC, you'll want to read on!

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Tried & Tested: Skinlix Chocolate Organic Body Scrub and Organic Argan Oil - Sweet Orange & Lemon review + 10% Discount Code!

Skinlix are a new natural and organic company that I've been introduced to recently, who have won some amazing green awards for their products.  I've been testing out two of their bestsellers; a delicious Chocolate Organic Body Scrub and a wonderfully pampering Sweet Orange and Lemon Organic Argan Oil.  

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March Favourites

Things got very hectic for me last week, so it's good to be back and I have lots of interesting posts scheduled for your reading pleasure coming up.  To get back into the swing of things, here's a late March Favourites.

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Haircare Review: Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo, Conditioner, Masque & Daily Moisturizing Oil

Dry hair is the bane of my life (I know, I know, #FWPs and all that!) so whenever I see a haircare range specifically devoted to this problem, I'm all over it.   

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5 Mini Reviews: Redken, Antipodes, L'Occitane, Eve Of St Agnes & L'Oreal

I have seriously been slacking on the samples front!  My Wonder Woman tin is full to bursting again so it's time to get it back under control.  To kick things off, I've managed to finish these five off recently which have been stashed away in my travel bag.  Here are my thoughts on them.

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June Favourites

These are my June beauty favourites; a specially selected handful which I've been in love with recently.  A good mix I think! 

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