Products I Used Up | May 2015

This month's empties are probably to be strictly fair somewhere from the early part of the month as I tried to get ahead of myself before heading to Dubai but nonetheless here is the latest stash of products that made their way into the empties pile.

Radox Relax Bath Soak with Lavender & Waterlily 
I go through Radox Bath Soaks like water and like to buy a different scent when repurchasing. The recent one I have been using is Lavender & Waterlily which is ideal for my Sunday evening bath.

imPRESS Press on Nails, Kiss & Tell*
imPRESS nails are my saviours when I'm heading out and have left it too late to paint my nails. I recently wore these on my trip to Bob Bob Ricard where I knew I'd be posing with a champagne glass or two and couldn't have a chipped manicure on show.

ActivBod Pick Me Up Scrub*
I wish I didn't use up the ActivBod Body Scrub so quickly and had left it to take on my hols. It's size and energising scent would've been perfect but alas I enjoyed it too much to put on hold. I would definitely repurchase for future holidays (only not on this occasion due to using other products) although it's size and speed I went through wouldn't make it necessarily ideal for sitting in the bathroom. One of the gym kits certainly.

007 Fragrance for Women* link
There's certainly a theme for this months empties being those I loved and went through at a rate of knots. I was sad to reach the end of this surprising fragrance favourite. Novelty fragrances have proved me wrong and this was a great smelling perfume for an afforable price. I will definitely be thinking about repurchasing this when we hit cooler weather.

Cuticura Dry Skin Protective Hand & Nail Cream* link
Compared to recent favourites from Roger & Gallet there is no competition from Cuticura. This is the sort of hand cream that I associated from years ago when they were nothing products and served a function rather than being 'luxurious'. As a functional product this was a good one but not something I'd rush to repurchase, it was just too boring for me.

SENSPA Detox Bath Salts link
I picked these Bath Salts up during a trip through Waitrose with the anticipation that these would detox my soul. Sadly that wasn't strictly the case, nor realistic expectations on my part. As for the realities of the product I wasn't so much of a fan. The salts made my baths a gritty experience which wasn't pleasant and I didn't find there were any pleasures nor benefits from using.

Hugo Boss, Woman* link
Nina Ricci, Nina* link
I used to wear Hugo Boss some years ago so it was nice to return to an old favourite. From The Fragrance Shop's recent Discovery Box (which I must post about soon) is once again proves what a great idea to return to old favourites that you might not always want to purchase full size.  Nina Ricci is perfume brand I dabble with but whilst I like the scents I'm never quite sold on them.

Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant link
You really don't need another paragraph about how much I love this deodorant do you? As an aside it's currently on holiday with me in Dubai and managing to keep up the pace.

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Hairspray link
Sorry to end on a downer but I blooming hate this stuff. It smells of Jaegarbombs and leaves my hair first wet then dry. Many times I've given it the benefit of the doubt, styled my hair. Sprayed on the hairspray and am left with a wet mop. Back to Elnett for me.

So there you have my Empties for May, some good, some bad. Stay tuned for a mini 'bonus' holiday empties post.

*PR Sample

Activbod Pick Me Up Scrub | Review

Activbod Pick Me Up Scrub* 

Activbod is a new range of 'gender-neutral' products designed to help the body pre and post exercise. The range can be found in Boots here and includes skin coolers, muscle warmers and the Pick Me Up Scrub* which I was sent to try.

The range was developed by skin and sports experts to assist everyone from regular or occasional gym goers to trained athletes - of which admittedly I am neither. Perhaps I'll be more suited to their mood-boosting balm to get me in the zone!

Whilst the team researched the effects of exercise on the skin and developed this regime to cope with the exposure to heat, sweat and the lack of moisture and I may not be the ideal 'test case' for this product due to my lack of physical activity in the gym I do find myself doing a lot of walking, I have been known to 'cut a rug' on the dance floor in hot and sweaty nightclubs and then there is the joy of travelling London Underground, weighed down by bags on my shoulders and battling the ever changing weather conditions of Spring in the UK where trains can go from ice cold to hot and sweaty in a matter of minutes. Activbod's ranges are formulated with ingredients for protection, perspiration and body odour control (side note maybe more people on the underground could benefit from this!) and  prepare muscles to aid recovery, maybe not specifically for carrying too many shopping bags but I'll take any help I can get.

Activbod Pick Me Up Scrub is a deep cleansing body polish to scrub away dirt, cleanse pores and stimulate circulation with an energising scent (pepper, eucalyptus and lemon) that makes it perfect for morning use. I particularly find that since cutting my hair shorter so it sits just below my neckline on my shoulders as well as the recent scarf wearing I've had to pay more attention to ensure I give my back and shoulders a scrub from any build up and the light gritty - or micro-scrubbing particles as they're know - formula of Activbod makes it perfect to do this job. Whilst I love my Breakfast Scrub from Soap & Glory it's a little harder to work with on my back, often dropping the product before managing to hit my back with it.

As we enter holiday season and the chance to visit warmer climes and becoming more activity whether it's walking miles sightseeing or just a few extra laps in the hotel pool Activbod Pick Me Up Scrub definitely gets a plus for it's transportable and lightweight tube - which makes it easier to throw in your gym bag too.

So whilst I may not be the gym bunny this product is intended for I've definitely found that it really does suit everyone and has worked quite well for me. What are your favourite body scrubs?

*PR Sample