August Empties: Products I've Used Up

Are we really into the first week of September already? Right then, here are my slightly late August Empties!

Eco By Sonya Organic Personal Outdoor Spray* (reviewed here)

I'm one of those people who gets bitten the minute I step foot outside, so I often use an insect repellant when I'm walking the dogs in the woods. This is a really good natural and organic-based product that uses essential oils to deter mozzies and other common biting insects. It's not 100% foolproof but I find that it certainly helps. Repurchase? Yes.

Aveda Beautifying Composition Oil (reviewed here)

A real luxury pampering treat, I absolutely love the scent of Aveda's Beautifying range and their multi-purpose Composition Oils are brilliant - I've been using them for years! I add a few drops to a bath and massage it into my skin afterwards - pure heaven. Repurchase? Yes.

Balm Balm Face Balm* (reviewed here)

Speaking of multi-purpose products, this Face Balm can be used on any dry skin areas and is particularly useful for cuticles, feet and lips. 100% natural and organic, it's fragrance-free so would be well suited for sensitive skin types. Repurchase? I have a lot of similar products to use up first, but I would consider buying it again.

Weleda Creamy Body Washes in Pomegranate and Sea Buckthorn* (reviewed here)

Regular readers will know that I'm a huge fan of these Creamy Body Washes from Weleda and I love both of these scents. Fantastic for dry skin, they're perfect for travel or if you're in a rush as you don't need to follow up with a body moisturiser after showering. Repurchase? Yes.

Walden Castles In The Air Eau De Parfum* (reviewed here)

I finally finished a perfume! This is a lovely fragrance for Spring and Summer as it smells fresh with floral and citrusy notes. The Walden range is completely different to anything that I have in my perfume collection, so if you're quite open-minded about fragrance and want something that's natural, definitely have a look into these. Repurchase? Will do in the future.

Aveda Beautifying Radiance Body Polish (reviewed here)

This salt-based body scrub is from the same Beautifying line as the Composition Oil above so it's no surprise that I finished it at the same time as they are ideal pampering partners! Like the oil, it's very luxurious and leaves my skin feeling wonderfully soft. Repurchase? Definitely as a treat.

Madara Nourish & Repair Shampoo*

Having been a fan of Madara's skincare for such a long time, I decided to try out one of their Shampoos and it did not disappoint. This Nourish & Repair formula is great for dry and damaged hair as it deeply hydrates and helps to strengthen against further breakage and split ends. 99% natural and SLS-free. Repurchase? Yes.

Organyc Organic Cotton Pads* (reviewed here)

I don't use a lot of cotton pads these days, but when I do (for things like removing nail polish), I opt for these ones from Organyc which are made from 100% organic cotton and are biodegradable. They're strong and get the job done. Repurchase? Yes.

Fruu Avocado Lip Balm* (reviewed here)

Finally, I used up a lip balm! I loved this one - it's made from natural and organic ingredients and kept my notoriously dry lips happy and hydrated. The flatter style of packaging is super handy for squeezing into carry-on bags too. Repurchase? I have a million lip balms to use up, but I'm sure I'll come back to this in the future!

What have you used up recently?

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February Empties: Products I've Used Up

The shorter month of February has certainly caught up with me time-wise so this latest edit of Empties is here a little later than usual! Here's everything that I've used up recently - spot any of your own favourites among them?

Ogario Revive And Shine Conditioner* (reviewed here)

Ogario are one of the most underrated natural haircare brands in my opinion, and I've gone through several bottles of this incredible conditioner. It really does live up to its name as it always manages to add shine to my lacklustre hair, and helps to repair any damage that I've done with the straighteners and curling tongs! Repurchase? Yes.

Tropic So Sleepy Pillow Mist* (featured here)

I'm usually a big fan of most of Tropic's products, but this So Sleepy Pillow Mist was a little disappointing if I'm being honest. I loved the scent of it but the spray applicator kept clogging up and I found that other similar products were more effective. Repurchase? No.

Organyc Organic Cotton Pads* (reviewed here)

I've cut down on my use of cotton pads for environmental reasons, though I do still use them for things like removing my nail polish. I really like these ones from Organyc because they're organic and feel soft, but don't disintegrate when you add liquid to them. Repurchase? Yes. 

Benecos Natural Lip Balm in Mint (reviewed here)

If you're looking for a budget-friendly natural lip balm, you can't go wrong with Benecos! I've used this Mint one in the past and think this might be the third tube that I've finished up - it's that good! Repurchase? Will do once I've used up some of my other lip balms.

Weleda Evening Primrose Age Revitalising Concentrate* (reviewed here)

Oh, this was such a beautiful serum! I really enjoyed using it throughout Winter - it hydrates, plumps everything up, evens out skin tone and just made my complexion look a lot brighter and healthier looking than usual.  Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Body Oils in Pomegranate, Sea Buckthorn, Wild Rose and Lavender* (reviewed here)

These are all gorgeous, it's hard to pick a favourite but I'd have to say that Pomegranate and Wild Rose are two must-trys if you haven't used any of these before. The formulas are just on-point and feel so luxurious to use. Repurchase? Yes, I'd happily buy all of these in the full-sizes!

Organiqua Hair Oil* (reviewed here)

My hair has been very dry lately so I've been using this hair oil treatment about once a week to deeply hydrate and condition it. It's been doing a good job, but I feel that there are better ones out there that I've tried from other brands in the past. Repurchase? No.

ESSE Gel Cleanser (trial size)

If you're into probiotic skincare, you'll love ESSE and this Gel Cleanser was a lovely morning facial wash. Great for most skin types, including combination/oily, it thoroughly cleanses without leaving the skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. Repurchase? Tempted!

Vestige Verdant Organic Peat Mask* (reviewed here)

I reached for this face mask whenever my skin was feeling particularly oily or congested, so I've been impressed by how long this jar has lasted, as a little goes a long way. Brilliant for drawing out impurities and stubborn blackheads. Repurchase? Definitely, but I need to use up some other face masks first!

Madara Time Miracle Total Renewal Night Cream (trial size)

Sadly, this night cream was a little too rich for my combination skin type, but I would recommend it to those who have dry/mature skin instead. Repurchase? Not for me.

What have you used up recently?

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Green Beauty: 5 Everyday Essentials From LoveLula.com

One of my favourite places to shop online is at LoveLula which is a haven for some incredible green beauty brands! Not only is it a great place to treat yourself to something special, but it's quickly become my go-to for everyday essentials as well. Here are my top five daily products that I like to pick up from LoveLula.

Supplements

Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of taking natural supplements to help keep your health in tip-top shape and LoveLula stock an excellent range from Terra Nova and Kiki Health. Both of these brands don't use any cheap fillers, bulking agents or additives in their products so you're getting a much higher quality supplement. The Terra Nova Magnesium Calcium Complex* (100 capsules, £13.25, link) is something that I take on a regular basis, as well as their B-Complex (100 capsules, £16.75, link).  

Toothpaste

If you're looking for a more natural alternative to mainstream toothpaste, LoveLula has some good options from Weleda, Green People and Lavera that you can try out. Each one features different ingredients, but they're all free from the main 'nasties' such as SLS and parabens, and there are fluoride-free formulas available too. My top pick is the Lavera Basis Sensitive Toothpaste in Organic Mint* (75ml, £3.95, link) which has a lovely refreshing flavour.

Deodorant

Finding a natural deodorant that works for you often requires a bit of trial and error - I know I've tried out a lot of different brands over the years! Thankfully, LoveLula has a wide range available from the likes of Madara, Lavera, Elsa's Organic Skinfoods, Weleda, Dr Hauschka, Sukin, Neal's Yard Remedies, Ben & Anna, Green People, Pacifica, Ohm and Benecos. I particularly love the Native Unearthed Deodorants and Elsa's Organic Skinfoods Deodorant in Ocean* (45g, £10, link) as it keeps me smelling fresh all day long. 

Cotton Essentials

For your everyday cotton based essentials, you can't beat Organyc whose products are all made from 100% certified organic cotton and have a hypoallergenic composition with no perfumes, no colourants, no synthetic materials or SAP (Super Absorbent Powders). They have sanitary/femcare products, wipes and post-pregnancy items, as well as two staples that I always buy; Cotton Pads* (70 pads, £2.79, link) and plastic-free Cotton Buds* (200 buds, £2.99, link).

Soap

Finally, if you love a good solid bar of soap as much as I do for baths, showers, washing your hands etc, you'll find lots to choose from at LoveLula. In addition to well-known green beauty brands such as John Masters Organics, Weleda, JOIK, Madara, Pacifica and Odylique, you'll also discover some smaller, more niche companies like Ruth Romano, GK Natural Creations and The Handmade Soap Company, so there's something for everyone. I tend to chop and change between different brands, but two firm faves of mine are the Organii Cream Soap in Almond* (100g, £2.95, link) and PHB Ethical Beauty Natural Soap in Lavender* (100g, £3.95, link).

Do you like to buy any essentials from LoveLula.com?

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My Work / Office / Desk Beauty Essentials

I've seen a lot of posts popping up on my feed recently showcasing the products that women keep with them at their work spaces.  Be it on a desk of your own, inside a drawer or locker etc, there are usually a couple of beauty essentials that we rely on to get us through the working day; here are mine.

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Outdoors Beauty: My Essentials for Camping & Festival Trips

As part of my last uni module for this year, I'm undertaking a mini camping trip later today near the beautiful Lake District which involves an overnight stay.  And as the weather is slowly (but surely), starting to brighten up, I thought I'd do a quick post on the 'outdoor beauty essentials' I'm taking with me.  All of these would be perfect to pack for any camping and upcoming festival trips that you may have, so I hope it's helpful!

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Natural Beauty: The Organyc Feminine Care Range

A bit of a different post today!  As some of you may know, I am changing my degree to Environmental Science in October and I have always been very much for the expansion of organic goods.  Whilst the organic beauty market has boomed in the last few years due to changing attitudes and more consumer awareness about our environment, there are certain products that are still not readily available everywhere. 

One of those corners of the market is feminine care/hygiene products.  Take a look down the aisle of any of the big supermarket chains, and you'll be hard pushed to find anything that is organic in this area.  But for those who are searching for a more natural alternative, look no further than eco-brand Organyc.

The Organyc Feminine Care range* covers all of your needs and includes sanitary pads, tampons and panty liners, as well as gentle intimate washes and wipes.  They also have cotton wool pads and cotton wool buds for your daily beauty routine.  The range is 100% certified organic cotton, 100% biodegradable, chlorine free, hypoallergenic, and is Vegan Society approved too.  

Do you buy anything organic? Food, clothing, beauty products?

*PR samples

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