My Recent Holiday Essentials

I know it should be all talk of pumpkins and perhaps tentatively mentioning the 'C' word (well it is two months today) but today I'm referring back to my recent travels and sharing with you some of the products that have accompanied me on my trips.

It's been rather helpful that I could go from one trip to another (with a week or twos break that is) and know exactly what worked and didn't and could almost repack whilst unpacking. The first handy must have is Arm and Hammer Advanced White Toothpaste*. As a smoker, and one taking advantage of duty free prices a whitening toothpaste is something of a necessity and this does the trick perfectly. Hailing back to the old days and containing baking soda to tackle any staining from smoking and sangria it gives my teeth a fighting chance. Do I like the taste? No, I hate it but for the days I'm on holiday it does the trick and this small 25ml tube has been used by myself and my companions on no less than four trips before finding it's way into the empties pile.

Yes there is the Gillette Snap made for travel and my favoured razor at home is the Gillette Venus & Olay but for ease I grab one or two of the Wilkinson Sword Beauty Razors which perform adequately for the days I am on holiday. I always throw a pack of these razors into my shopping trolley when wandering the aisles of Tesco as they are handy to have in a pinch. It's not the most 'caring' of razors and no way performs as smoothly as the Gillette Venus but nonetheless it is ideal for using and throwing away and I find I need no more than two during a week long trip.

I appear to get the most attention from my travel sized tube of FemFresh Daily Intimate Wash* in the shower than any other and it's not jokes might I add it's my friends asking where I found this. I received this directly from a PR but assumed that these travel sizes were readily available but as googling and my friends comments tell me that is not the case. FemFresh, get on it we want travel sizes readily available. When I first posted about FemFresh it was admittedly tentatively but since then many friends have shared their stories about how they love this product and it's a shame on their travels they either have to pack the full size or forgo for the trip. This seems a shame when, depending on your activities whether it's getting all hot and sweaty on the dancefloor or the beach you might need to give 'down there' a little special attention.

NatraSan First Aid Spray* joined me on my holidays and mum borrowed it for her week in Morocco so it's certainly collected the stamps in its passport. Mum even returned it to me saying her friend had commented on how good it was. There's nothing worse than all sorts of insects having a nibble whilst away and a quick spray from this helped aid any itching from bites so I could get to sleep at night.

I always seem to have a selection of Soap & Glory travel sizes available for travelling thanks to often adding one of their gift sets to my Christmas lists or their three for two offers. Gone are my younger opinions that using an exfoliator would scrub away my tan and I recognise that exfoliating during my trip actually aids tanning. Soap & Glory Scrub of Your Life is a great, especially if you have managed to burn and are peeling a little - even the boys picked this out of the shower too. You can't go wrong with a Soap & Glory shower gel and Foam Call does the job. It doesn't set the world alight and I'm in no rush to replace it but this tubes can just about cover a seven night trip and you can often find them on three for two like now.

A favourite duo I used on my trip was L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner. This duo was in my travel size bag and I grabbed for one of my trips as I'd said goodbye to my favourite Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo. It wasn't a considered purchase at the time, I think perhaps grabbed from a supermarket when heading out for an impromptu sleepover but whilst using on holiday I really liked the results and am keen to repurchase in full size when the need arises. As my hair is now coloured, and bleached at that, it was my first time having to pay more attention with caring for my hair. L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner certainly did that and gave such great results I could simply wash and go without having to worry about heat styling which was perfect.

I'm already a big fan of Colab Dry Shampoos and love their Extreme range and would usually purchase a travel size for my trips abroad but having picked up the newest release Colab Active Dry Shampoo with it's protection against sun damage and city pollution I gave away space in my luggage to the full sized can. Such was my love that space was found for all my trips bar Ibiza due to hand luggage restrictions - please can we have this in a mini size.

Whilst I am now blonder my roots are still brown so the usual issue of worrying about white casts is a factor and again, this does not occur with Colab Active Dry Shampoo. Whilst I might not be the most 'active' on holiday things still get a little sweaty when sitting out in the sun so this is a perfect refresher.

I often wonder if Bumble and Bumble Salt Spray actually does anything and it's not just become a product that I associate with Summer and my holidays. Of course I'm being flippant and it does do the trick. Out of the shower, a spray of this on my hair and leave it to air dry and I'm good to go with a little texture that takes me through the night.

Finally Sure Compressed Deodorant*, a travel friendly 125ml size which will last as long as a regular 250ml. Sure has Motionsense technology to work with you and your body as you move so if you're planning some heavy nights out dancing this could be perfect for you. I don't find Sure Sprays work as well for as Sure Maximum Protection I must confess but they perform perfect adequately for me and my minimal activity that occurs during a holiday.

What products will you not travel without?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Travel Essentials | Gillette Venus Snap

Apologies in advance but I'm off on holiday this week and I shall be insufferable. Forewarning that blog posts and social media coverage will be non-stop holiday talk starting today with a travel essential.

The Gillette Venus Snap Razor* launched with much fanfare last year and prior to it's UK release it was on of 'those' products that beauty enthusiasts would 'snap up' on their trips to the USA but fear not it is now available on your local high street.

Admittedly I don't know if any razor isn't exactly portable and often I choose a disposable razor to travel with but who doesn't love something in a smaller form, complete with its handy case to avoid cutting your hand on blades in your toiletry bag.

Don't be fooled by its petite size, the razor head is full sized, with refills available and the small handle is designed for easy grip and doesn't stop you gliding over knobbly knees or boney ankles.

Not just for travel it's ideal for storing in your desk drawer for those spontaneous nights out or keeping to hand in your gym bag.

I received a giftset that was put together for Christmas so had an opportunity to try Gillette Venus Satin Care Shave Gel* which I took to Florida with me earlier in the year. I actually used this frequently back in the day but lately my shower gels serve the purpose and in honesty it's not a product I would repurchase as I don't find it does any better a job. I haven't quite found the right measured amount but it lathers up a storm and it is good to see where you're actually shaving so it's great to avoid missing bits.

If you're off on holiday soon feel free to share the excitement with me.

*this post contains press samples

Products I've used up | March 2016

I have a healthy collection of empties this month so I'll dive straight in with a bath time favourite, MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion*. Aside from the packaging speaking to me on many levels and whilst it might not be the most cost effective product at the mere hint of a sniffle I'd be running myself a bath with this herbal blend of peppermint, fennel, fir needle and birch. All ingredients that would help detoxify, calm, relax and ease aching muscles but most importantly, it was the scent. This is the only contender to Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir to fill my bathroom with such an amazing scent which lasts long after my bath water has run away.

I won't dwell too much on the sample of Chanel Les Beiges Foundation as I was lucky enough to receive it for my birthday and anticipate a review coming soon but if you're impatient perhaps read my introductory post on the foundation and obtaining product samples here.

Mascaras for me either seem to last forever or disappear very quickly, and in the case of the Covergirl Star Wars mascara it was the latter. A thin brush that worked to lengthen lashes and worked a treat on my bottom lashes it become quite a favourite and obviously it's frequent use saw it's rapid decline.

Philosophy's Hope in a Jar in this smaller size was a handy TK Maxx find which I'd always been keen to try. I'd heard Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Moisturiser was a dupe and had picked it up on one of my US trips and whilst I did attempt some comparisons and I found both great to use I did find them worthy of a dupe comparison post.

It always seems when I travel I have a Soap & Glory Righteous Butter available and this was one I took to Florida. With a little left in the tub I wasn't going to leave it behind. We all know by now how good the Soap & Glory Body Butters are so I won't bore you with another rave review.

I was quite excited when this sample of Ren Revitalising Night Cream came my way and rather than save for a trip away I decided to pop into my bedside cabinet. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away by this night cream at all. There was nothing about it that made it feel luxurious which is what I look for from my evening skincare products.

The sun is starting to show it's face and soon more and more skin will be on show and I'm trying to get into the habit of tanning. I've moved onto other products now but the past months I was using Tantruth The Ultimate* which I shared with you here.

And then there is Eloquence Beauty Firming and Moisturising Eye Gel* a product I''ll be missing come hayfever season. This was a great eye product and worked a treat during my long haul flights and easing jetlag. Don't forget to check out more of the Eloquence Beauty range in my review post.

Oh yes the empties continue and first of all is a disappointment in the form of Secret Deodorant, a US purchase. I don't know why I even bothered to a) waste dollars on a deodorant and b) take up valuable suitcase space on one when I know how much I love Sure Maximum Protection but we'll blame the blogger in me wanting to try something new. It wasn't a bad deodorant and didn't perform too badly it just wasn't a match for Sure.

Gilette Satin Care Shaving Gel* is another product I remember from years ago and was a constant in my bathroom. These days I have enough revolving products in my bathroom without using shower gel to wash and shaving gels to shave. That said it is a great product and if you have sensitive skin and shower gels aren't cutting it when you're shaving your legs then its definitely a worthy purchase.

I'm not the biggest liquorice fan but I did enjoy trying Organii Liquorice Shower Gel* and it was a worthy companion to my shower routine. And after the shower my body lotion of choice was Bomb Cosmetics Cherry Pie*. The scent of this was delicious and whilst it wasn't the most thick lotion for really dry Winter skin it worked well for me.

Finally is Batiste Stylist Smooth It Frizz Tamer* which is not a product I really need as I don't suffer from frizzy hair and instead passed on to my mum to try and she's been enjoying it. I'm slightly regretting the choice as I may want it back once we hit Summer and humidity kicks in.

What have you been using up this month?

*this post contains press samples

Products I used up | Ibiza Edition

When I travel that means you get a bonus empties post of all the things I managed to use whilst on holiday. Here's what found it's way into the bins of Ibiza 

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash
I'm a little annoyed as I have a full size of this body wash and intended to return home with this mini size empty and ready to refill for future trips but unfortunately in my haste of packing it was thrown into the bin. Moving past my frustrations this is a delicious body wash to use and kind to all due to the naturally active ingredients - its even suitable for your babies. Definitely one to try if you have skin that is a little sensitive as it doesn't contain any 'nasties'.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor
My favourite razors are the Gilette Venus & Olay type which are perfect for leg shaving, especially when doing it almost daily like I have to whilst on holiday. I could probably get a little more than a week out of one head but for ease and packing purposes it worked out for me to take one of the individually packaged heads for the week. You can read my full Gillette Venue & Olay review here.

ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser
I received this mini cleanser with my Tatler subscription and thought it perfect to take along as my morning cleanse whilst on holiday. I enjoyed using this although it does contain microbeads which I know can be a bone of contention for some. It lasted almost to the full 7 days I was away.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Body Buttercream
Body Scrub's and Body Buttercreams from Soap and Glory are favourites of mine and these picks were from the Sugar Crush Gift Set I'd received for Christmas and saved for this trip. The zesty scent was perfect for my beachy conditions and I enjoy using a body scrub on holiday to help keep the tan in tip top condition. The body butter creams are perfect to double up as foot creams too.

Riemann P20 Once a Day SPF30*
Ben & I actually purchased P20 at the airport before heading to Dubai and it worked well against their heat. Unfortunately we couldn't get the spray option and relied on the cream so I was pleased when I was sent the spray option. I travelled to Ibiza alone and the only thing I had any concerns with were how I would get sun protection on my back. This P20 spray was perfect as I was able to angle and spray and know that I was protected without having to approach a stranger and ask 'could you rub this in'. I used this particularly on the days I was going to visit my parents on another part of the island and knew we would be walking around the resort  rather than sitting round the pool all day when reapplication was possible.

The Wet Brush, Classic
I am not onto my third Wet Brush, this one being my second. After trips to Dubai and Ibiza as well as some random overnight stays it's safe to say it doesn't travel well. I love this brush but unfortunately when shoved into bags the bristles are not sturdy enough to stand up to conditions and I did notice that it wasn't performing as well towards the end of my trip so it was time to say goodbye.

And of course a trusty Toothbrush found it's way into the bin with a new one waiting at home for my return.

The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
My reading habits have remained slack of late and I'm sure reading isn't the top of everyones Ibiza packing list but for me, travelling alone I wanted to ensure I had something to get my teeth into, especially as I had a two hour train journey before I even got to board a plane. I had read about Girl on the Train being the new Gone Girl (although I haven't read that either) so I thought I'd give it a try. Usually I wouldn't dream of taking a hardback on holiday with me but because I was so intrigued to read the story I purchased a copy. I enjoyed reading this and found it perfect for holidaying because of the way it was designed with easy breaks so you could pick up and put down as necessary. I'm not sure I think it's deserved the amazing reviews as it's not amazing, just good. It felt almost simplistic and I pretty much guessed who the 'guilty one' was early on. Is it worth a read, yes but is it as 'thrilling' as reviews make it? Not in my opinion.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash
I was able to get about four washes out of this body wash and like the other Sugar Crush products enjoyed doing so. More of a cream than a gel it made for quite a luxurious experience. I'd definitely purchase this in full size.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask*
Hydraluron sheek masks are my travel must have. I also use one after a flight, even if Ibiza's was a mere two hours. In this instance I used in the middle of my trip after daily exposure to the sun, the air-conditioning of my room and dehydration from heat and one or two drinks. I've said before I'm not a big fan of the serum but these masks work far better for a heavy duty hit when needed.

Tweezerman Pointed Tweezers
I much prefer using pointed tweezers than slanted, I find they are easier to use and more effective. Unfortunately these had suffered some damage so were not meeting at the ends any more. I had since replaced and threw these into my travel bags to use as necessary whilst away.

Diptyque Eau Moheli EDT
As you will see in the photo I had an accident and smashed the bottle of Diptyque's Eau Moheli somewhere in the middle of my trip. Yes there was almost tears. I have had this scent for almost two years, only bringing it out in the Summer and I really enjoy using it. For a floral scent it's surprising as usually I'm not a fan but ylang ylang and spices make for something more pleasing. I'm definitely keen to repurchase this fragrance, and in full size as I do miss it.

OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
Purchased for Dubai and still lasting for Ibiza I was able to use up the remaining bottle of the OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner. I've mentioned OGX quite a few times now since my introduction and will definitely buy full size and try other types from the range.

What products do you find you use up on holiday?

*PR Sample

Products I used up in Ibiza

When I travel that means you get a bonus empties post of all the things I managed to use whilst on holiday. Here's what found it's way into the bins of Ibiza 

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash
I'm a little annoyed as I have a full size of this body wash and intended to return home with this mini size empty and ready to refill for future trips but unfortunately in my haste of packing it was thrown into the bin. Moving past my frustrations this is a delicious body wash to use and kind to all due to the naturally active ingredients - its even suitable for your babies. Definitely one to try if you have skin that is a little sensitive as it doesn't contain any 'nasties'.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor
My favourite razors are the Gilette Venus & Olay type which are perfect for leg shaving, especially when doing it almost daily like I have to whilst on holiday. I could probably get a little more than a week out of one head but for ease and packing purposes it worked out for me to take one of the individually packaged heads for the week. You can read my full Gillette Venue & Olay review here.

ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser
I received this mini cleanser with my Tatler subscription and thought it perfect to take along as my morning cleanse whilst on holiday. I enjoyed using this although it does contain microbeads which I know can be a bone of contention for some. It lasted almost to the full 7 days I was away.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and Body Buttercream
Body Scrub's and Body Buttercreams from Soap and Glory are favourites of mine and these picks were from the Sugar Crush Gift Set I'd received for Christmas and saved for this trip. The zesty scent was perfect for my beachy conditions and I enjoy using a body scrub on holiday to help keep the tan in tip top condition. The body butter creams are perfect to double up as foot creams too.

Riemann P20 Once a Day SPF30*
Ben & I actually purchased P20 at the airport before heading to Dubai and it worked well against their heat. Unfortunately we couldn't get the spray option and relied on the cream so I was pleased when I was sent the spray option. I travelled to Ibiza alone and the only thing I had any concerns with were how I would get sun protection on my back. This P20 spray was perfect as I was able to angle and spray and know that I was protected without having to approach a stranger and ask 'could you rub this in'. I used this particularly on the days I was going to visit my parents on another part of the island and knew we would be walking around the resort  rather than sitting round the pool all day when reapplication was possible.

The Wet Brush, Classic
I am not onto my third Wet Brush, this one being my second. After trips to Dubai and Ibiza as well as some random overnight stays it's safe to say it doesn't travel well. I love this brush but unfortunately when shoved into bags the bristles are not sturdy enough to stand up to conditions and I did notice that it wasn't performing as well towards the end of my trip so it was time to say goodbye.

And of course a trusty Toothbrush found it's way into the bin with a new one waiting at home for my return.

The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
My reading habits have remained slack of late and I'm sure reading isn't the top of everyones Ibiza packing list but for me, travelling alone I wanted to ensure I had something to get my teeth into, especially as I had a two hour train journey before I even got to board a plane. I had read about Girl on the Train being the new Gone Girl (although I haven't read that either) so I thought I'd give it a try. Usually I wouldn't dream of taking a hardback on holiday with me but because I was so intrigued to read the story I purchased a copy. I enjoyed reading this and found it perfect for holidaying because of the way it was designed with easy breaks so you could pick up and put down as necessary. I'm not sure I think it's deserved the amazing reviews as it's not amazing, just good. It felt almost simplistic and I pretty much guessed who the 'guilty one' was early on. Is it worth a read, yes but is it as 'thrilling' as reviews make it? Not in my opinion.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash
I was able to get about four washes out of this body wash and like the other Sugar Crush products enjoyed doing so. More of a cream than a gel it made for quite a luxurious experience. I'd definitely purchase this in full size.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Mask*
Hydraluron sheek masks are my travel must have. I also use one after a flight, even if Ibiza's was a mere two hours. In this instance I used in the middle of my trip after daily exposure to the sun, the air-conditioning of my room and dehydration from heat and one or two drinks. I've said before I'm not a big fan of the serum but these masks work far better for a heavy duty hit when needed.

Tweezerman Pointed Tweezers
I much prefer using pointed tweezers than slanted, I find they are easier to use and more effective. Unfortunately these had suffered some damage so were not meeting at the ends any more. I had since replaced and threw these into my travel bags to use as necessary whilst away.

Diptyque Eau Moheli EDT
As you will see in the photo I had an accident and smashed the bottle of Diptyque's Eau Moheli somewhere in the middle of my trip. Yes there was almost tears. I have had this scent for almost two years, only bringing it out in the Summer and I really enjoy using it. For a floral scent it's surprising as usually I'm not a fan but ylang ylang and spices make for something more pleasing. I'm definitely keen to repurchase this fragrance, and in full size as I do miss it.

OGX Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
Purchased for Dubai and still lasting for Ibiza I was able to use up the remaining bottle of the OGX Coconut Milk Conditioner. I've mentioned OGX quite a few times now since my introduction and will definitely buy full size and try other types from the range.

What products do you find you use up on holiday?

*PR Sample

Beauty Empties | February 2015

As I embark 2015 with the goal to use what I own rather than adding more I hope to see lot's featuring in my monthly Empties posts. Here's the latest look at my beauty trash.

Cafe de Bain Indulgent Bath Creme, Coconut Macaron link

Whilst having a walk round Waitrose the Cafe de Bain Bath Creme caught my eye and I decided to treat myself as a lover of coconut (and macarons for that matter). Unfortunately I found this bath creme a little blah. I didn't find the scent was strong enough and whilst lovely in the bottle it didn't translate to bath and as a final note the packaging was a nightmare to get out the bottle. Back to Radox it is. 

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Shower Cream link

I feel like this shower cream last ever FOREVER. I received it for Christmas a couple of years ago. Used it through Winter and then put aside until the last one and finally it's time for us to part ways. This was a wonderfully scented and thick product that made washing and leg shaving a dream. 

Molton Brown Hand Wash, Rose Granite link

Another product that went on forever and I feared would never run empty - the Mary Poppins bag of the beauty world if you will. So long did it last it's also changed names to Pomegranate & Ginger. I've mentioned before that Molton Brown doesn't really excite me these days and I can't say this hand wash did anything to reignite my love but it is a worthy addition to any sink. 

The Breath Company Toothpaste* link

Toothpaste isn't the sexiest of products but it can certainly make a difference to sexy scenarios - who wants to have nasty breath. That aside I really liked this toothpaste (read my review here) and found it preferable to the extreme mint taste of other products. I would've immediately repurchased but for having a tube of Colgate to hand and am now kicking myself as it was on offer in Boots a week or two back and no longer is as I head to needing to replace. Either way my preference is for this toothpaste. I find it less offensive in the mornings - particularly when I have a hangover and there is the danger of gag reflex from teeth brushing after a night on the tiles.

Impulse Body Spray, Vanilla Kisses* link 

A vanilla theme is forming with my recent empties as the 90s revived Vanilla Kisses made it's way into my empties pile. I sometimes feel a little old to be using Impulse but I do enjoy having a can sitting in my bedside table for a spray as I climb into bed. As a fan of vanilla this is a favourite. 

TokyoMilk Dark Tainted Love Perfume link

My review of this spontaneous purchase can be read here. I enjoyed using in it's initial stages but for some reason I decided that I wanted to get this bottle finished and using repeatedly I did become bored with it. Nonetheless it was nice to try a new fragrance but I did miss my Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. 

Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor Blade Refills link

I first received the the Gillette Razor and reviewed in this post and so taken with it that it appeared in my 2014 favourites post. I love the additional shave bars that accompany the blades and it saves slathering too much shower gel on when shaving. 

Vichy Idealia Life Serum and Eyes* link link

The Vichy Idealia range is one I've spoke about often and appears frequently in favourites posts. I love the Idealia range and it would have been promptly repurchased and back in my regime were it not for my testing other products.  

Paco Rabanne, Lady Million* link | Givenchy, Very Irresistible* link / Jimmy Choo, Jimmy Choo* link

Each of these perfumes were from The Fragrance Shops' Discovery Box and taken away to Edinburgh recently when I was battling hand luggage liquid restrictions. Lady Million is an old favourite that I knew would not let me down. Givenchy Very Irresistible is one I've had samples of in the past and do enjoy and the only one to not make much of an impression was Jimmy Choo's same named scent. I always err on the edge of caution with sample sizes and was able to be somewhat over zealous with spraying as I couldn't managed with just two but with them available why not treat myself to more. 

Biosculpture Gel Remover* link

Finally we have the Biosculpture Gel Remover, simply an acetone formula used to remove your Biosculpture Gel Manicure talked about in this post. Little to say other than it did its job at removing the nails as instructed.

What has made it's way into your rubbish pile this month?

*PR Sample

Don't forget to enter my US  drugstore beauty giveaway here

2014 Body Favourites & Goals

As 2015 is well underway my main goal for the body (ignoring any such 'have a figure to rival a Victoria Secrets model' fantasies) is to use body lotion on a more frequent basis. Slightly dull but I think many of us will admit it's the one product in our beauty rituals we are less than diligent with and for some reason I have an abundance of.

That said I was better in 2014 than any other. It may have taken me a year to finish a tub of Clinque Body Butter but I am getting better currently using Roger & Gallet's Bots D'Orange* and the favourite of 2014 Ameliorate both of which I initially spoke of in this post.

As I mentioned in my earlier  post Ameliorate is a pricey body lotion which is not a luxury item but one with a purpose and that is to treat 'chicken skin'. These two elements were what encouraged me to use the body lotion regularly because when I did I saw results. Admittedly as 2014 came to end so too did my use of Ameliorate whilst my legs were encased in thick tights for warmth and due to working my through the tube at a rapid rate. I am now rather than using as my standard body lotion applying it directly to the areas I need it's help to prolong it's use and enjoy other lotions in my stash. The results are evident and as such this will become a staple product for me.

Unlike body lotions, body scrubs are something I use regularly and my favourite has to be Soap & Glory's Breakfast Scrub, the second tub I repurchased recently. I have used other scrubs such as one from St Ives, another from The Body Shop seen in my December Empties but it's the Breakfast Scrub I return to. It balances the right consistency of being coarse enough to exfoliate yet smooth enough to be comfortable - and of course there's the scent which is perfect for Winter. As we move into Summer I'm looking forward to diving into my tub of Sugar Crush I received for Christmas and if I win the lottery I'd love to purchase the Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub which is complete decadence should you have the budget.

The TheraPearl Heat Pad* featured in my Sick Day Saviours post and is used monthly to tackle the stomach pain and back ache that only fellow women can sympathise with. No longer am I suffering in silence or waking up with a cold 'hot' water bottle in the morning.

Radox as a budget brand is one I love. I have worked for them for many years before I knew or saw 'beauty blogging' as a 'thing'. There shower gels are always found in my bathroom and cannot be found fault with. Having recently tried other budget bubble bath brands by way of trying other things I will certainly be returning to Radox as the others fell short in comparison. Yes I love my higher end versions of both shower and bath products but for everyday these more than do the job without compromising on quality,

Finally the Gillette Venus & Olay razor I initially reviewed in this post has become a real favourite of mine. Since receiving the initial sample of this product I have gone on to repurchase more blades as I've really come to enjoy using it and other razors have been neglected in favour of this. It gives such a great shave and whilst additional shower gel isn't needed and depending on the shower gel in question things can get a tad gunky I love how smooth my legs feel and the ease in which shaving is done.

There is my list of body products that topped my list for 2014, what would be on yours?

*PR Sample

November Empties

My favourite time of the month, it's empties time. It doesn't look quite the glamorous selection of products this month but there's a couple of reappearances and one sorely missed so lets dive in.

Sure Maximum Protection link
Are we bored of this one yet? I'm tempted to remove Sure Maximum Protection from my empties post but fear it's absence may lead you to believe I'm not using any deodorant. For the lowdown read this post.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette link
I had mixed feelings on the Brow Wiz when I first purchased it. I used it sporadically and then the packaging let me down. The spoolie end would come off completely in the cap so I had to abandon it if I wanted to use the spoolie which meant it was able to get grubby in my make up bag. In amongst that time I started using the Sleek Brow Stylist which I enjoyed and that made me return to the Brow Wiz and I found how to work with it and it was love. Whilst in Vegas a few months back I picked up a replacement Brow Wiz knowing my current one was nearing its end and you can imagine my horror (yes first world problems people) when I opened the packaging and I'd picked up the pencil by mistake. So far the pencil is proving difficult to work with but I have a back up Sleek Brow Stylist which I'm relying on till I repurchase.

Victoria Secrets Phone Case link
A slightly rogue item to throw into my empties post but for some reason I put it into the pile and included it into my photo. Sadly this case has cracked so it's off to iPhone cover heaven for this slightly narcissistic case. Luckily I stocked up on my last Victoria Secrets trip so I have another but fyi the cover has cracked and my phone hasn't from whenever I dropped it.

VO5 Plump It Up Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion link
Another frequent entry is this beauty from VO5. You can read previous posts here and here. I haven't repurchased this yet as I'm testing a few other products and to see if I miss using it so stay tuned as I'll be sure to share with you.

Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry Scent Razor* link
I reviewed this razor not too long ago in this post and I can confirm that having used to 'empty' I'm even more of a fan and will be replacing the razors on my next trip to the drugstore. It was definitely handy to have although the size of shave bars is somewhat deceiving as they do start to disintigrate that they start flapping about so they're unusable. That said they lasted a sufficient amount of time to be worth my repurchase.

Molton Brown Rose Granati Soothing Hand Lotion now known as Pomegranate & Ginger link
I've had this hand lotion from Molton Brown so long it's changed names. I've also had it so long that it was purchased from QVC when they originally stocked the brand and have subsequent begun reselling. I've had this hand lotion in my bathroom, then moved to my desk at work in an effort to use up and whilst it was at it's end on my coffee table at home. It felt like it went on forever and I'm finally glad to see the back of it. Truth be told I wasn't that much of a fan of this hand lotion and will give it the benefit of the doubt that it's possible age could have a factor and if someone handed me a new bottle I wouldn't throw it back at them! I found the texture watery and greasy and a little certainly went a long way.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes link
Facial wipes and an empty pack at that, the horror. We all know the deal with facial wipes, they're not the best and even a lazy cleanser such as myself prefers traditional cleansers than a facial wipe but when I found myself staying overnight without my usual stash of skincare I popped into a supermarket wanting to spend as little money as possible for what was essentially one night and one mornings cleanse before returning home. And I'd add I'd like a pat on the back for even considering removing my make up at all. Anyway excuses aside I still couldn't reach for the own brand and instead went for Simple having seen them pop in skincare routines from one or two people. I was actually suitably impressed with these wipes which was completely unexpected. Considering I literally used the wipe for removing make up and was unable to follow up with toners and moisturisers I didn't find my skin was left tight at all. As such I used these for a couple of late nights and would happily repurchase these for future flights or mini breaks where I'm accepting of the lack of diligence to my skincare routine.

Compeed Cold Sore Patches link
It was only Monday I referred to these cold sore patches as being my go to product for cold sore time. With two cold sores I went through these patches quicker than I would like but they did the job. A week later my cold sores have disappeared. Definitely give these a try instead of creams if you're a sufferer, I'm sure you'll be converted.

What products did you say goodbye to this month? I'm looking forward to seeing what the festive season's empties bring.

*PR Sample

Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry Scent Razor

Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry* link

Some might say its too early, others like me may already be halfway through their Christmas shopping. That aside it can't have escaped anyone's notice that the Boots Christmas Catalogue is out and supermarkets are beginning to stock their shelves with Christmas gifts such as the one I'm talking about today from Gillette Venus & Olay. 

My sister-in-law and I both share a love for our Christmas stockings we receive from our mum's which are filled with all sorts of necessities that can often be a chore to buy for ourselves. They are filled with cotton wool, tissues, socks you know the type of thing and all have a slightly festive edge such as the gold beauty bag which this kit contains. 

Decorative extras aside who doesn't have use for razors, I'm sure I buy them more frequently than milk at times. So what do two well known brands Gillette and Olay Sugarberry offer us? Well there's 5-blade technology to exfoliate the top layer of skin to avoid any ingrown hair problems and moisture boost shave gel bars from Olay which contain ingredients to lock in moisture and prevent dryness. That all sounds very good and technological doesn't it but does it 'work'?

The answer is yes. When testing razors for review I tend to avoid using L'Occitane Almond Oil my preferred additional product when shaving my legs to see how the razor will fair using regular shower gels and of course in this instance an additional shaving product isn't required due to the shave gel bars that sit either side of the blades. I was slightly skeptical whether this would work and whilst there wasn't too much of a lather when I used them they still provide enough slip to give a shave that didn't leave me irritated and I was surprised at how soft the skin felt afterward.

I would probably still reach for an additional product during normal everyday use as much out of habit than anything but the Gillette Venus and Olay razor would be the perfect addition to your desk draw or gym bag to avoid needing multiple products. 

As we know the weather has taken rather a turn so there has been some laziness in leg shaving due to being able to hide any sins beneath black tights but imagine if there was an opportunity for dancing after work and things would look a bit more disco without tights, having the Gillette an Olay Sugarberry razor to hand would be ideal. And of course the cute gold bag is the perfect way to stash it without anyone rustling around your desk knowing your secrets.

*PR Sample