Late to the Party

I'm on a strict no-buy for the next couple of months, so I've been 'shopping my stash' quite a bit and revisiting some of my over-looked products.  It feels quite good to go back to being frugal! Skincare * Naturally Thinking - Orange Blossom Floral Water ( WR ) You can't beat Naturally Thinking for their great value range of cosmetic ingredients. I love their range of floral waters and always buy several a couple of times a year. The Orange Blossom is one of my favourites and I already ordered a back-up so I'll always have some to hand. * Glossier - Milky Jelly Cleanser ( MR ) When I first tried this cleanser I thought, 'this is it - the perfect second cleanser', but after a while I changed my mind a bit! It really does tick all the boxes but the trouble is, it's just a bit too gentle. I love this as a morning cleanser, but after an oil cleanser in the evening, it just feels slightly ineffectual. Would possibly repurchase in the...

Bryant and May - Oranges and Lemons by Christopher Fowler Published by Transworld Publish date: 23 July 2020 * Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review. This is the 19th and latest book in the Bryant & May series by Christopher Fowler and I'm guessing that the opening chaos and bizarre happenings are nothing new to this series! The Speaker of the House of Commons steps out of his house and is crushed by crates of oranges and lemons. Of course this is going to be a case for the Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU)! But the PCU had previously been disbanded - the staff have all been dismissed, one detective is recovering in hospital and another has gone missing. The Peculiar Crimes Unit is reluctantly given a reprieve to solve one more case - a case which seems to mirror the old nursery rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons'. A couple of new faces join the rest of the PCU team, a Home Office spy named Tim ...

Mei Botanics Mei Botanics are a new natural vegan skincare brand, based in London, who launched last month. They had some tempting opening offers at their launch, so I decided to try a few of their products. Gentle Rhassoul Cleansing Oil £5.80 for 50ml/£8.90 for 100ml I've never tried a cleansing oil with clays in the ingredients. This oil is suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne prone skin. Shake the bottle before each use as the clay will settle to the bottom. Wet your face and then massage a small pool of all all over the face to remove dirt, impurities, makeup and spf. The oil very gently exfoliates the skin at the same time as giving you a deep cleanse. I found that I could use this on my eyes without irritation, but remember, what may be okay for me, might not suit you! I'm really enjoying this cleansing oil. It's scent-free but does have a natural scent of Lavender. I also love the texture of the oil and clay mixed togethe...

Key WR   - Will repurchase or have already repurchased MR  - Might repurchase at a later date. WNR  - Will not repurchase. Either it didn't work for me, I didn't like it, it's too expensive or it had ingredients that didn't suit my skin. Skincare * Calm Skin - Refreshing Facial Spritz ( WR ) This is one of those surprisingly good Superdrug own-brand products which is great value for money and is also often on sale. Containing Chamomile,Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide, this refreshing mist is ultra hydrating and is ideal as a spritz between skincare layers. My only gripe is that the spray on the bottle is quite aggressive so I always decant into a bottle with a finer mist. A definite repurchase though. * The Ordinary - Niacinamide 10% and Zinc ( WR ) This used to be my absolute favourite item of skincare. It showed great results - clear and bright, healthy-looking skin. But I found it difficult to fit into my skincare routines so I stopped using it ...

Terre Verdi - Acqua Di Rosa Balancing Mist* £17.00 for 100ml * Disclaimer: This product was gifted in exchange for an honest review. Who? Terre Verdi, founded by Sicilian-born Alessandra de Gregorio, make the most beautiful ethically-made products using the finest organic ingredients.  Terre Verdi were one of the earliest UK companies to manufacture COSMOS Organic products, certified by The Soil Association. Products range from 84 - 100% organic and all products are 100% natural. All products are vegan and contain no synthetic ingredients. What is it? Acqua Di Rosa is a pure rose floral water - 100% organic and 100% natural. It comes packaged with the usual Terre Verdi care and beauty. Housed in striking black miron glass, which not only looks stunning on the shelf but also helps to keep the product fresher by protecting the contents from sun damage. I only recently learned that the gold crest on the label is actually the de Gregorio family crest, which is a lovely to...

NorthburN Gift of the Month (June) £12 + P+P 50ml Mandarin and Bergamot Reed Diffuser 30ml Room Mist 10 Pack of Wax Melts How on earth has it taken me so long to get around to buying NorthburN's fabulous monthly deal?! It's fantastic value at just £12 (plus postage) offering 40% savings on the regular price. I previously tried a NorthburN candle from a Skin Organics Clean Beauty box and found it to have a beautiful long-lasting scent, which burned evenly and lasted for ages. I had always meant to go back and try more. The Mandarin & Bergamot scent is just my cup of tea. And it's the perfect summer scent with its citrus notes. I'm so impressed with each of the products in the box and they all ensure that my house is kept smelling sweet and fresh. I don't often buy wax melts, but these have definitely re-ignited my interest in them.  I've been using one of the heart-shaped wax melts at a time in the evening and they l...