Empties - August 2019

Back in March I published my first ‘Empties’ post, where I spoke about some of the products I had used up. I really like hearing what bloggers thought about products they have completely finished, as it’s good to know they’ve given something a really good try, so I thought I would make it a regular series (well, as regularly as I can use things up anyway!) I’ll still be writing about some of my first impressions of products too, but I think talking about a product you’ve used over a longer period of time means you can really work out whether you liked it or not. It’s taken me a few months to build up another collection of empty products, but I now finally have a decent amount to talk to you about. So, here are some of the products I finished up in August!

My first empty for today is one that I’m pretty gutted about to be honest, as they no longer sell it – the Dream Time Temple Balm from Lush. I received this quite a few years ago now, but you need so little with each application that it lasted forever! The product is basically like a hard lip balm, but rather than putting this on your lips, you can rub it into your temples or other pressure points like your wrists. It is scented with lavender and chamomile, to help the user have a deep and restful sleep.

I got into a routine of applying this every night before I went to bed, and although I’ve found a different sleep balm to use now, I’m really missing this one! I often struggle with anxiety, especially at night – my brain just likes to run away with itself when the world goes quiet. But having the scent of this lingering on my skin was often enough to help me to do some controlled breathing and start to relax, so I could drift off to sleep. If you’re looking for a range of products with a similar scent, I would recommend checking out the Sleepy products, although unfortunately they don’t do a sleep balm any more.

Next up is the Dr. PAWPAW Original Balm, which I think I received in one of my beauty subscription boxes when I was still getting them. It is marketed as ‘the original balm you can’t live without!’ although, before finding it in my box, I had been living without it, as I’d never got round to trying it! It is made in the UK from a variety of natural ingredients including paw paw (not entirely sure what that is!) When these ingredients are blended together, they create a multi-purpose formula that can be used for a whole handful of things including as a skin protector, moisturiser, nappy cream and lip finisher. It also has healing properties and can be used on sunburn, skin irritations and as a hair conditioning treatment. 

I can’t claim to have used it for all of these things, but for those that I did use it for, I found it pretty magic! For example, back when the weather was colder, the inside of my nose became really sore. So I started putting a little bit of this on the sore places at night, and within a few days my nose had begun to heal! I also used it on my dry, cracked lips, and again, within a few days they were feeling so much better. I can’t believe after all the hype I’d heard, that I hadn’t got around to trying this out for so long. I really need to buy myself another tube now that this one is empty.

My next empty product was actually a free sample that my Mum received when she bought a standard sized item as a gift – the Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Body Lotion. This lotion is a relaxing blend of ylang-ylang, cardamon and sweet vanilla, and normally comes in a 300ml bottle with a pump. It’s not the type of fragrance I would ordinarily gravitate towards, which is why I love a good free sample, as it allows me to try things I wouldn’t normally go for. I actually liked the scent a lot more than I thought I would and with it being a higher-end product, the scent lingers long after you’ve applied the lotion. It’s a lovely thick product, but absorbs well and doesn’t leave you feeling greasy, which is always a bonus! If I were to buy a standard sized bottle, I’m not sure if it would be the first scent I would choose, but after trying the sample I definitely wouldn’t discount it as I used to.

Whenever I think of ESPA, I always think of luxury spa treatments and beautifully indulgent products. And the ESPA Optimal Skin ProCleanser certainly didn’t disappoint. This is a 3-in-1 skincare essential – an effective gel cleanser, exfoliator and mask that will help to nourish and visibly brighten the complexion. Moringa Seed Extract cleanses and removes all traces of make-up while gentle Jojoba Spheres buff away dull cells, revealing a radiant, youthful glow. 

I absolutely loved using this skincare product and always felt like I was giving my skin a bit of an extra treat. I particularly love the little Jojoba Spheres, which melt away as you massage the product into your skin. Because of these spheres, I would have to spend a little bit longer rubbing the product into my face, and it was nice to just take that little bit more time over my skincare routine sometimes. The full-size product is quite pricey, but if I were treating myself or asking for a gift, I would definitely go for this product again.

Another brand that automatically makes me think of luxury is Aromatherapy Associates, and I was lucky enough to try a sample size of their Hydrating Renewing Rose Cleanser recently. This is a rick and velvety cleanser, which is ultra-gentle yet really effective. Infused with an essential oil blend of radiance-boosting finest Damask Rose and complexion-balancing Geranium, it brightens and hydrates. Alongside that, silky Jojoba oil melts away impurities and make-up to leave skin dewy, freshened and petal-soft.

This was another product that I absolutely loved using as part of my skincare routine – I only wish it hadn’t been so small and run out so quickly! Rose is one of my favourite scents and always makes me feel quite nostalgic, reminding me of the Turkish Delight that my Grandad used to love. So I’m always excited to try any product scented with it. This felt comforting and gentle to use on my face, and left my skin feeling nourished and glowing without being too drying. 

Since my hairdresser started using hair oils on my hair, I have got quite into trying out different types and different brands. I recently finished using this Pantene Smooth & Sleek Dry Argan Oil, which is actually recommended for dry hair (although I wouldn’t necessarily say that mine is particularly dry). It helps to make the difference between straggly, dry ends and a luxurious glossy mane, and even with my fairly ‘normal’ hair, it left it feeling shiny and hydrated. The blend of Moroccan Argan oil and lightweight Pro-V complex ensures you get the benefits of Morocco’s famed beauty elixir, without the greasiness associated with the 100% pure oil. 

Proven to add moisture for 24 hours, the Argan Dry Oil is the ideal treat for thirsty strands and is particularly good for fine hair.  I have very fine hair, and find it can be really difficult to find an oil that doesn’t weigh my hair down. But thankfully, this one didn’t leave my hair feeling heavy or greasy. Plus the bottle lasts ages, as you don’t need a lot per use.

Unfortunately, there are always going to be products that I don’t get on so well with, and this time round one of those was the Garnier Pure Active Sensitive Anti Blemish Clarifying Tonic. I’m a huge fan of the Garnier Micellar Water, so when I saw this I thought I would give it a try. It is meant to help tighten pores and soothe skin. With Witch Hazel extract, it is formulated for sensitive skin with imperfections and combines effectiveness with a gentle, hydrating formula. It is also hypoallergenic and ph neutral for optimal tolerance.

I will say that it felt quite cooling and soothing when I applied it to my skin, but I really just wasn’t that keen on the gel-like formula. I found it quite messy, as it would drip off my cotton pad and be difficult to apply if I put even a little too much on. I don’t by any means think it’s a bad product, and like I said, I love a lot of other Garnier items, but I just don’t think this particular formulation was for me. I think I’ll probably stick to liquid toners in future.

This next product is one of my all-time favourites, and I’ve lost count of how many bottles of the Simple Kind To Eyes Make-up Remover I’ve bought now! It cleanses effectively yet is gentle around the delicate eye area. It is also an oil-free formulation and even removes waterproof mascara, as well as soothing the area around the eyes. This contains no artificial perfume or colour and no harsh chemicals that can upset sensitive skin. It is also dermatologically tested and approved.

As I said, I’ve been buying this for quite a while now – I’ve tried other eye make-up removers, but this is the only one I’ve tried so far that doesn’t irritate my eyes. I’ve used some that have literally had me crying in pain, despite saying they’re sensitive, while others haven’t particularly hurt, but they also haven’t removed my make-up. Whereas this one ticks both boxes for me – it doesn’t hurt my eyes and it removes my make-up really well. Plus, it is really inexpensive – what’s not to like?!

I’m pretty sure this next item came in some sort of Christmas gift set or something, so I’m struggling to find a link to the Baylis & Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Hand & Body Lotion unfortunately. It has a lovely soft floral scent, which is perfect for a hand lotion that you don’t necessarily want to linger too long. The actual product is quite a thin lotion, a bit more on the watery side, rather than being very thick. However, this didn’t stop it from moisturising my hands well, especially over the summer months. I’m not sure how effective it would be during the colder wintertime, as I’m not sure it would be thick enough, but certainly for everyday moisturising when the weather is good, it definitely did the job.

The Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Shine is another product that I continue to re-buy. This treatment deeply nourishes and revives tired locks into full beam shine in just 3 minutes. It gives dull hair a shine super boost adding gloss to every strand, with Australian Ginseng extract and Pearl powder. The Aussie products always smell absolutely delicious, and this one is no exception! I would definitely say my hair routinely looks tired and dull, but one use of this just peps it back up again and leaves it feeling hydrated and happy. I keep meaning to try some of the other Aussie products when I get the chance – if they’re as good as this one then I can’t see my bank balance being very happy!

I wasn’t quite sure whether to include the Colgate Plax Gentle Care Extra Mild Mouthwash, as it’s a bit different to hair and skincare products. But I use it so much I thought I might as well add it in, in case you’re looking for a new mouthwash to try! This alcohol-free mild formula has been specially developed for people with sensitive teeth and gums. It’s clinically proven to provide 24/7 bad breath control and fight over 99% of bacteria, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and healthy. 

I use this in the morning and the evening, as the instructions suggest, and like it so much that I’ve continued to buy it for at least a year now. I’m not a big fan of alcohol in mouthwash, as I tend to find it too strong and it leaves my mouth with a funny taste. So when I found this Colgate one without alcohol, I thought I would try it out. It feels gentle on my mouth, which for someone with sensitive teeth and gums is always good. And it never leaves me with a funny after-taste, but instead makes my mouth feel fresh and clean. Plus it’s pink (although of course, that’s not what initially drew me to it!)

I’m pretty terrible when it comes to moisturising my body, so I try and improve my chances of doing it by finding products that smell and feel nice on my skin. The Garnier Body Tonic Hydrating Lotion is enriched with Phyto-caffeine and seaweed extract, for skin that feels firmer and more toned. It has an ultra-fresh and hydrating formula, and promises smoother skin from just 7 days. I really love the smell of this lotion – it’s fresh and uplifting and always lifts my mood when I use it. The lotion isn’t particularly thick, which means it absorbs relatively quickly, so no sticky skin for ages afterwards. With regular use, I definitely started to see a change in the appearance of my skin, with it becoming smoother and firmer. 

I hadn’t used Herbal Essences for years before I decided to try this Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Shampoo in Grapefruit and Mint. It is crafted with a blend of essential antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp, as well as having 0% parabens, silicones, gluten and colourants. It promises to help bring your hair back to life, and this particular fragrance also helps to boost hair volume (which, as someone with ridiculously fine, flat hair, I am always looking for!) It smells incredible, as does most of the Herbal Essences range, and left my hair feeling bouncy and soft. It was nice to find a shampoo that doesn’t weigh my hair down, so I will definitely be trying some other products from the range to see what they can do for my hair. 

The last product that I’ve finished up recently is the Vo5 Nourish My Shine Oil Heat Protect Spray. Vo5 believe that hair shouldn’t be dull, life shouldn’t be boring and that you should never restrict your self-expression. They recommend using Vo5 spray for a silky smooth and shiny finish to your hair. It also features heat defence to help protect against damage caused by heat styling tools. I use this on wet hair before I start to blow-dry it by spritzing a few sprays across my hair both underneath and on top. It’s difficult to tell if a heat protection spray is working, but I definitely notice my hair feeling more dry when I don’t use this. I also think it helps my hair to look more glossy and healthy after every wash, and I like the thought that my hair is being protected from the heat of my hairdryer. 

And that brings me to the end of another selection of empty products that I’ve finished using recently. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about some of the things I’ve been using recently and find my reviews helpful if you’re looking to buy some new products yourself. I would be really interested to hear if you’ve tried any of these things and what you thought of them! Or, if you have any recommendations for things I might like to try based on what I’ve spoken about today.

What do you think of the products I’ve reviewed in today’s post? Are there any products you’ve been enjoying recently that you think I should try?

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Gift Ideas - Pregnancy Survival Box

I’m one of those people that love coming up with cute, fun and different gift ideas. Whether it’s for a birthday, an anniversary, Christmas, Easter, a new baby or just because – you will often find me jotting down ideas I’ve come up with late at night and browsing through Pinterest for inspiration! So I thought it might be nice if I started sharing on here some of the gifts I put together, so that if you’re also looking for ideas, you might find some inspiration here.

In today’s post, as I’ve just become an auntie for the second time, I thought I would show you one of the Pregnancy Survival Boxes I have put together for someone. We did do one of these for both of my sister-in-laws with very similar products in them, but these pictures are actually from one I put together for a friend of mine. When someone is first pregnant, they may experience a whole range of feelings, emotions and symptoms, so I thought it might be nice to receive a box of goodies from a loved one to help them through the next nine months. People will often start buying things for the baby and conversation often centres on the baby, so it’s nice for the Mum to feel like she’s being taken care of too.

To start with, you will need to find a nice box to put everything in. This can either be done right at the beginning, or it might be better to wait until you’ve bought everything so you know roughly how big a box you need. If you know the gender of the baby, you could get something to tie in with that, but it’s just as nice to get something neutral, or something that you think the Mum will like. We found this particular box in Homesense, where they have a brilliant range of all sorts of different gift boxes, but any nice box will work fine. The Mum-to-be that I gave this to now uses it as a memory box for her little boy, so it’s nice to know it’s been put to good use. 

Now, moving on to what I decided to put in the Pregnancy Survival Box. I actually started by asking around a few friends who already had babies, about what types of things they really wanted while they were pregnant. Obviously everyone is different, but it gave me some good general ideas for what a mum-to-be might appreciate. The first thing I wanted to get was some sort of pregnancy journal, as a lot of Mums I spoke to said they liked being able to look back at what they’d written once their baby had arrived, or when they went on to have subsequent children. I chose this Bump to Birthday Pregnancy and First Year Journal, which is beautifully presented and has room for so much information. It’s nice because it has a lot of prompts throughout the book, allowing the parents to write about things they may not have thought about. For each week, there is also some information about how the baby is growing, as well as spaces for scan pictures. The great thing about this journal is that it goes right up until the baby turns one, so the Mum-to-be will have details about the pregnancy and her child’s first year all in one book.

As well as the pregnancy journal, I wanted to put some sort of book in the box for the Mum-to-be to read before the baby arrived. There are so many factual books available that try to prepare someone for pregnancy (and they’re great in their own right), but I wanted something a little more fun, that would make my friend laugh. I had heard great things about The Unmumsy Mum and about how real it is (it includes everything about motherhood from the mess to the hilarious moments and how it’s totally fine to not know what you’re doing!) so after lots of research I picked that book to include. Other good motherhood books that you could look at putting in include Why Mummy Drinks, Happy Mum Happy Baby and How to Grow a Baby and Push it Out.

Once I’d sorted out which book to include, I knew I also wanted to find a good DVD for my friend to watch when she just needed to put her feet up for a bit. I wanted to try and find something related to having a baby, and a friend of mine recommended ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’, so I thought that sounded pretty apt! I still haven’t had a chance to watch it, but have given it to a few people now and they’ve all told me how brilliantly funny it is, so I definitely made the right choice!

Something else that I thought a Mum-to-be might like was a pregnancy/baby magazine to flick through. Sometimes trying to read through a huge book on pregnancy/having a baby/childhood just isn’t possible, and it’s much easier to spend a few minutes, while you drink a cup of tea, flicking through the pages of a magazine. So I went to my local shop and picked up Gurgle and Mother and Baby magazines to add to my box. 

One thing that most pregnant ladies will have to deal with at some point is morning sickness. And when I was doing my research for what to put in the box, so many people said that they would always have been grateful for things to try and help the nausea. This is obviously quite a personal thing, as some women can’t stand the sight or smell of certain foods, whilst others will find they have cravings for things that help with the sickness. So if you know the Mum-to-be well, it can help to do a bit of digging to try and find out what foods they are going for and which foods they are trying to avoid. The friend I made this box for had a real craving for Hula Hoops, so I bought a big multipack bag to include in the box. She also found that sucking mints helped with the nausea, so again, I found some mints to put in too. 

Alongside some food items, I also thought it would be nice to add some teas that are known for helping with nausea and sickness. Again, this will depend on the person you are making the box for. One of my sister-in-laws couldn’t stand hot drinks when she was pregnant, so there was obviously no point in putting tea in for her. But for this friend, I included some peppermint tea to help with nausea, and some camomile and honey to help her relax.

I know from speaking to friends and family that, when you’re pregnant, it can sometimes be hard to feel nice about your body. Everything is changing, your clothes don’t fit any more and you might be feeling uncomfortable. So I thought it was also really important to include some self-care items to help the mum-to-be treat herself and feel a bit pampered. I started with some pregnancy specific products from Cussons. I’m not sure if the individual products I bought for this box are still available now, but you can get a Mum and Me Bump Gift Pack from Amazon that includes Body Lotion, Bath Soak, Shower Cream and Stretch Mark Cream, which would make a nice little gift for someone. We actually gave my sister-in-law one of these, and she commented how much she loved the Stretch Mark cream, so it’s a nice way for someone to try the products before they decide if they want to buy bigger ones themselves.

I also thought it would be nice to put a selection of face masks in, so the mum-to-be could perhaps enjoy relaxing with a cup of tea whilst pampering her skin. Places like Superdrug and Boots usually sell individual sachets of face masks for all different skin types and reasons, so I picked up a few different ones to give my friend a few to choose from. 

Next up, I thought I would include a can of Batiste Oriental Dry Shampoo, mainly for those days when they’re not feeling brilliant and don’t feel up to doing a full hair wash. Obviously you could go for whatever fragrance or brand you fancy – I just chose this one because it smelt nice! 

I also thought, as part of the pampering side of things, I should include a candle, as I know how relaxing it can be to light some candles of an evening. And, of course, as it was for a pregnancy survival box, I chose the Baby Powder Yankee Candle, which smells incredible whether you’re having a baby or not!

Finally, for the mum-to-be, I decided you can’t have a pamper without painting your nails. As we didn’t know the gender of her baby, I picked one pink nail varnish and one blue, just to have both eventualities covered! I also found a cute card to include in the box, which said ‘And so, the adventure begins…’ on the front. At the time, it was very difficult to find a card that said ‘Mum-to-be’ on it, but more recently I’ve seen more of them cropping up. However, as the card I chose shows, you don’t need to get a specific pregnancy card for it to fit with the theme, and it will be the words that are inside that matter most. 

Although I didn’t want to make this box particularly centred on the baby (it was more for the Mum after all!) I did decide to put a little hat and booties in it that I’d found in John Lewis, just because they were cute! 

And that was everything I put in the Pregnancy Survival Box for my friend. She seemed to really love it when I gave it to her, as did both my sister-in-laws, and I like to think it helped to make them feel a bit special at a time when everything was changing. I hope this has given you some ideas for making your own box for someone you know that may have just announced a pregnancy. I had so much fun putting it all together and it was nice to spoil my friend with a few treats.

Have you given anyone a box like this before, or have you received one yourself? If you’ve been pregnant, what would you need in your Pregnancy Survival Box?! 

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The Body Shop Basingstoke Bloggers Evening - AD Gifted

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, then you might remember my post from last year about a Body Shop Event that I went to in Reading. As I mentioned in that post, I’ve been a fan of The Body Shop since childhood, and I feel like it’s a brand that has grown with me as the years have gone by. Last week, I was invited to another local Body Shop, this time at Festival Place in Basingstoke, for a Bloggers Evening to find out about a few new launches. As a long-time Body Shop fan, it’s always exciting to hear about new scents and products, and this time round there are certainly some gems!

When my Mum and I arrived at the store (after a slightly stressful journey over, getting stuck in the longest traffic jam in history!) we were given a friendly welcome by a couple of members of staff, before catching up with the other bloggers there. It’s always so nice to see other local bloggers at events, especially when it’s people I know quite well like Dawn from Dear Mummy Blog and Laura from Loopy Lou Laura. After a bit of chatting, we were offered a selection of drinks in the prettiest glittery glasses and told to help ourselves to various types of fresh fruit that had been laid on for us. 

Then we got down to business and the assistant manager talked us through a few of their new launches, which will be coming out over the next few weeks. First up were some new products in the Shea Butter range. The Body Shop are celebrating 25 Years of Community Trade Shea this February, and to mark the occasion they have brought out some exciting new Shea based products. First up is the Shea Butter Hair Mask for Dry Hair, Prone to Damage. This sounded right up my street, as although I wouldn’t say I have particularly damaged hair, I do think it could do with some moisture and nourishment. 

The second Shea based product we were shown was probably the one the team were most excited about – 100% Natural Ghanaian Shea Butter. This is multipurpose, and the idea is that customers will use it to create their very own products. That could mean mixing it with some sugar to create a lip scrub or adding a few drops of an essential oil to create a scented moisturiser, or even using some as a melt in the bath. The staff were full of ideas of different options to try, so if it’s something that appeals to you I would definitely get chatting to someone at The Body Shop to share ideas on the things you could use it for. I didn’t realise how many benefits Shea Butter has, but you can find out all about them here. These two products, along with many more, are available in-store and online now!

Another range, which will be coming out in time for Mother’s Day, is a brand new scent for The Body Shop – Cactus Blossom. The store had just managed to get their hands on the Body Yogurt and Body Butter to show us at the event, and I’m so glad they did! When they told us what the scent was, my first thought was ‘I wonder what Cactus Blossom smells like?!’ I kind of imagined it to be fairly boring if I’m completely honest, but when I rubbed a bit into my hands I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the scent is! Cactus Blossom smells very fresh and clean – perfect for moving into the spring and summer months. Dawn described it as smelling of a mixture of aloe vera and cucumber, and to me that pretty much hit the nail on the head (although I’m guessing the official scent description will be a lot more complex than that!) After thinking I probably wouldn’t like it, I left telling myself I would be keeping an eye on the website for when the range is released because I loved the smell so much!

I don’t know about you, but I love a good face mask – I think they’re the perfect way to set aside a bit of time to just relax and unwind, although I do find some can get a little messy! That’s why I really like the idea of using a sheet mask, and at the event we were told about the new Drops of Youth Youth Concentrate Sheet Mask, which definitely sounds like something I would like to try. I’ve already used a couple of products from the Drops of Youth range and found them really good, so I’ll be interested to see if the mask follows suit. It promises bouncier, healthier-looking skin in just 15 minutes, and, even more importantly, this mask is biodegradable. It is enriched with a concentrated dose of their Drops of Youth formula and includes edelweiss, criste marine and sea holly plant stem cells from the Italian Alps and Brittany Coast. It’s also 100% vegan, 99% of their ingredients are of natural origin and it won’t break the bank at a very affordable £5. 

There were quite a few other new (and old!) products that looked good, but there were a couple that really caught my eye. The first was the new Fresh Nude BB Cream, which sounds perfect for me, as I will often go for a lighter BB cream over a full coverage foundation. It’s suitable for sensitive skin, offers 24-hour hydration and is transfer and sweat resistant, so just what we need as the weather begins to get warmer. The downside is that there are only five shades, so I’m guessing the colours won’t suit every skin tone. But hopefully that’s something The Body Shop will be working on.

The other new product that jumped out at me was the Pink Grapefruit Body Yogurt. I loved the idea of the Body Yogurts when we were introduced to them at the event last summer, so I was excited to see that they’ve now brought one out in one of my favourite fragrances, Pink Grapefruit. It’s a deliciously citrusy scent and always brings back happy memories of summers gone by, as for years my Mum’s favourite tipple has been pink grapefruit squash mixed with sparkling water – a love she has passed on to me! It almost smells good enough to eat (although I wouldn’t recommend it!) The Body Yogurts are brilliant if you’re in a hurry but still want to moisturise, as they absorb a lot more quickly than Body Butter and can be applied directly to damp skin after showering. And they don’t leave a sticky residue either, which is always a plus in my eyes. 

In my previous Body Shop post, I mentioned that they were working with Cruelty Free International to take a stand against animal cruelty by asking their customers to sign a petition. If the petition reached 8 million signatures, they would present it to the UN. So I was pleased to see that they smashed their target and took an historic 8.3 million signatures to the United Nations calling for an end to animal testing in cosmetics worldwide – the biggest campaign against animal testing ever! If you want to find out more about their fight against animal testing, they have a whole page with information and ways to get involved.

The last part of our evening was spent finding out how hydrated our skin is. The Body Shop offer skincare consultations using a special moisture monitor, so, of course, each of us decided to have a go. Two out of three of us had pretty dehydrated skin (I won’t expose who was dehydrated, but let’s just say I didn’t come out of it very well!) But the good thing was, armed with this information; the staff were then able to talk us through some products that could help our dehydrated skin (alongside making sure we drink more water!) The first moisturiser we tried was the Vitamin E Moisture Cream for all skin types. It’s fairly lightweight and absorbed easily into my skin, leaving a matte but soft finish. 

We were then given the Vitamin E Gel Moisture Cream to try out, which is similar to the first cream but in a gel consistency. I was drawn more towards this one for two reasons – I really like the gel formula because it feels cooling and refreshing on the skin, and a bit lighter than the conventional cream. But also because it contains raspberry extract and smells amazing (I’m a sucker for a good smell!) The last moisturiser we were given to try was the Drops of Youth Youth Cream, which is a bit more expensive than the other two. It has an air-whipped texture and left my skin feeling soft and bouncy. Out of the ones we tried, all three of us seemed to sway more towards the Vitamin E Gel Cream, and I’m pretty sure it was the scent that swung it!  

After a lovely evening, we left the store with a bag of goodies kindly gifted to us by The Body Shop. It included a little tub of Shea Body Butter, a few samples of moisturisers, facemasks and hair products and a cute peppermint scented reindeer bath bomb, possibly from the Christmas range. I had a lovely evening with The Body Shop Basingstoke, Dawn and Laura and will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for the Cactus Blossom range coming out soon!

Are you a fan of The Body Shop? What’s your favourite range? And what do you think about the new products coming out over the next couple of months?

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