yarok feed your volume shampoo and conditioner review

In this post I shall be reviewing  the Yarok feed your volume shampoo and conditioner, this is a combinaiton that I have been using solely for almost a year now.

The Reality 
I have to say that I do really like these Yarok products. They leave my hair feeling clean, fresh and shiny. My hair feels soft and silky. But not artificially silky, like you get with products containing silicone.

Since I have started using this combination I have also had people asking me what shampoo I use because my hair looks really good and smells really nice, so I always take that as a good sign!

I love the brand's values, all the products are cruelty free and vegan, as well as being free of alcohol, parabens and sulphates. In addition also donate 3% of their profits to the panchama alliance, a non-profit that works to preserve the amazon rain-forest.

The only drawback to these Yarok shampoo and conditioner are that after almost a year of solely using these products I have found that my scalp has gotten somewhat dry and can feel itchy at times.

At £19 a bottle they are rather on the steep side, but overall I think worth the money.

The Ingredients

Shampoo Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucose and Lauryl Glucose, Coco Protein, Seaweed Extract, Organic Herbal Infusions of Coltsfoot and Marshmallow Root, Calendula Blossoms and Chamomile Flowers, Chickweed, Horsetail, Slippery Elm, Comfrey Root and Sea Buckthorn CO2, Nettles and Oatstraw, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Lavender, Atlas Cedar, Red Mandarin, Sweet ORange & Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Extract. 

Conditioner Ingredients: Purified water, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Organic Herbal Infusions of Coltsfoot, Chickweed, Nettles, Horsetail, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, Comfrey Root, Calendula Blossoms, Chamomile Flowers & Oatstraw, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Seaweed Extract, Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Calendula CO2, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Sweet Orange, Rosemary & Vetiver, Vitamin C, Sage & Rosemary, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Organic and Wildcrafted Essential Oils of Geranium, Teat Tree, Lavendar, Ravensara Aromatica, Rosemary & Lemon, Sage & Rosemary Antioxidants, Grapefruit Seed Extract. 

The Packaging 

The shampoo and conditioner both come packaged in a plastic bottles. I do feel the packaging appears a bit cheap for what you are paying for the product. However all the packaging is environmentally friendly material which is more important.

The Price 

A Beautiful World: £19 each for 8.5oz

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes - in fact I already have repurchased! 

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried this shampoo and conditioner from Yarok? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

dr bronner's magic organic lavender coconut lotion review

I love that Dr Bronner's is an organic, fair trade and cruelty-free company and hence I was keen to try their products. The organic lavender coconut lotion is the first lotion I've tried in their line and i'm writing this review after using up the whole bottle!

The Claims 
Certified to National Organic Standards our lotions are based on pure organic oils free of petrochemically modified ingredients and preservatives. Organic jojoba oil moisturizes dry skin exceptionally well due to its unique similarity to the skin's natural oil. Organic coconut oil assists absorption while organic hemp and avocado oils help keep skin smooth and supple. Organic grain alcohol (ethanol) is used as a natural preservative at a level that helps absorption without being drying. Only the finest organic essential oils are used for fragrance. 

The Reality 

The lotion is thin and slightly sticky in consistency. It works like a lotion but I suspect because of the mixture of oils does take a little longer to absorb into the skin than a normal lotion, but not as long as an oil. If you use too much then it can be somewhat greasy.

Personally during the winter time I don't find the lotion to be as moisturising as I would like, my skin tends to veer towards the dry side and I need something a bit heavier. However I think this lotion would be perfect for the summer.

The scent is light and pleasant, it seems to disappear after around half an hour of applying the lotion.

Overall I really like the ingredients, the price is reasonable, the packaging is practical and I think this will be my lotion of choice during the summer months.

The Ingredients
Aqua, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Ethanol, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil – (* Certified Fair Trade by IMO)

The Packaging 

I like that the lotions is packaged in a pump bottle, making it easy and mess free to use! 

The Price 

Dr Bronner's: £8.29

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes - in fact I already have repurchased this lotion but in the peppermint scent! 

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried any of the Dr Bronner's lotions? Which is your favorite scent? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

the buddha beauty company apple, avocado & aloe clay mask

In today's post I shall be reviewing the Buddha Beauty Company Apple, Avocado & Aloe Clay Mask.

The Claims 
' Our organic face mask has a wonderful smooth consistency! We have taken two of the best clays out there and blended them to create this unique mask; Bentonite and kaolin clay have been chosen for their abilities to absorb toxins from the skin and these with the antioxidant properties of the Apple, Aloe and Avocado make this a great treat for the skin'

The Reality 
What immediately attracted me to this apple avocado and aloe clay mask was the scent. I think it's the apples that make this mask smell absolutely delicious!

Being a clay mask the mask dries and tightens on your skin, I do like masks that tighten as then I feel like it's doing something to my skin...hopefully sucking out impurities!

After washing off the mask my skin feels tighter and softer. I want to say more brighter also but this tends to be straight after I wash the mask off, the feeling doesn't seem to last. The mask doesn't perform miracles and makes spots vanish however I do find that it helps to dry up spots.

I do like the principles of the Buddha Beauty Company, the company is cruelty-free and carries the leaping bunny logo, it is suitable for vegans and the products are free from parabens and SLS.

However looking through the ingredients list, and building my own product report on the EWG Skindeep website, which scored 5 (moderately hazardous), personally I would prefer something that is rated less hazardous so I won't be repurchasing.

The Ingredients 

Aqua, Kaolin, Bentonit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol ,Glycerin ,Persea Gratissima Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol denat, Diazolidinyl Urea, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Magnesium Nitrate, Magnesium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum, CI 77288

The Packaging 

I like that the mask comes in the a tub making it easy for you to get the amount of product you require. 

The Price 

The Buddha Beauty Company: £12 for 100ml 

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

No 

The Overall Score: 3/5 

Have you tried this face mask? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

december empties

Happy New Year!!!

I am back with an empties post for December.

1. Organic Surge Daily Care Face Wash 
This face wash dried out my skin so much that after only using it twice I had to stop putting it on my skin and ended up using it up as a shower gel. I don't think the claim for all skin types is accurate! I have normal - dry skin so it may work better for oily skin types.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

2. Cowshed Baby Cow Organics Frothy Hair and Body Wash 
This body was worked okay but it was nothing special. I hated the scent of this body wash and so won't be repurchasing.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

3. Soap & Glory Pulp Fiction Foamy Fruity Body Scrub 
I am so glad to be done with this body scrub. I don't like it at all, I don't like the scent. the frothiness, the texture. I prefer exfoliants that leave an oily residue on the skin, if however you don't like that then this could be for you!
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

4. Dr Bronner's Magic Organic Lavender Coconut Lotion 
I liked the light scent of this body lotion. I found it to be moisturizing but it did leave a bit of oilness on the skin that eventually went away. I like that the product is low toxin. I'm keen to try some of the other scents from this range.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: Yes 

5. Hugo Boss Deep Red Perfume
This is a fragrance I have been using since my teenage years so I am sad to see it go. I won't be repurchasing because I'm switching over to low toxin products.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

6. No 7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator 
I did like this face scrub. I have used the St Ives scrub in the past and found that too harsh and drying for my skin type, this scrub I find is more gentle and works better for me. However it is still grainy enough to remove dead skin cells and leaves my skin leaving soft and smooth. The only reason I won't be repurchasing is because I'm moving towards low toxin products. 
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7. Elf Candy Shop Lip Gloss in Mocha Maniac
This lip gloss was okay. I did like the design on the packaging and thought it was cute, however I really don't like products in tubs because I think it's not as hygienic. I still have a few other flavours to finish.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

8. Nails Inc 3 Phase Nail Oil
I like the packaging of this nail oil and the fact that it came in a roller ball tube, making it easy to apply the product. I'm not sure it actually did much because I didn't see much of a difference.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

Now for the count...

Previous Skincare Total: 68

New Skincare Total:  63

Previous Makeup Total: 157

New Makeup Total: 155

I shall be starting a new Project Pan for 2014 and will be posting my rules tomorrow, so keep an eye out for if your interested!

Sita xoxo

november empties

In today's post I am sharing the products I have used up during the month of November. I do like these posts as I can finally throw away my trash!

1. Boots Botanics Rebalance Body Butter and Shower Gel
Both these products came in a gift set along with a body scrub, so I shall not be counting them until I finish the scrub seeing as I counted the whole gift set as one! I thought the products were okay...nothing life changing.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

2. Organic Surge Super-intensive Daily Moisturiser
Although initially I was unsure about this face cream, I did come to like it. It is very reasonably priced and the works well. You can read my full review here.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: Maybe 

3. Renu Pre-Shampoo and Shampoo
I didn't think much of the shampoo and thought it was okay. However I did like using the pre-shampoo treatment, it was a bit like a conditioner.
Cruelty-Free: Unsure
Repurchase: No 

4. Cetaphil Cleanser
I do like this cleanser and this is the second bottle I have used up, however it will be the last as I want to switch to a natural alternative.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

5. Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All
It has to be said that I am a little tired of the soap and glory scent, after a whole bottle of shower gel and now the bubble bath I am glad to have finished up this bubble bath.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

6. Organic Surge Kiss and Makeup Wipes
Finally I am rid of these makeup wipes. I want to try and avoid using makeup wipes, even thought they can be convenient, especially on lazy days.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

7. No7 Liquid Eyeliner in Black
This eyeliner worked adequately. It did take me a long time to finish and seemed a bit neverending and then it suddenly seem to dry up. I thought the brush could have been finer.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

8. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum
This hair serum worked pretty well. It takes me an age to get through hair products as you only need a pee sized amount so I have this bottle for a few years and I think it must have passed it's use by date as towards the end it wasn't working so well.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

9. Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy

I did like these handcreams, they are a lovely consistency, not to thick and not to runny. They absorb into the skin well without leaving your hands greasy. They feel rich and luxurious to use. The hand cream keep my hands moisturised and feeling soft. However the creams contain some ingredients that I would prefer to avoid so I won't be repurchasing. 

Cruelty-Free: Yes ( I think) 
Repurchase: No 

10. Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover
I did like this makeup remover, it is very gentle. It is not oil based, so if you odn't like the makeup removers that leave a oily residue than you may want to look into this one.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

11. The Body Shop Simply Purify Rejuvenating Bath Soak
This bath soak is very herbal smelling and I found the fragrance very overpowering but if this is a scent that you like then you might enjoy this bath soak.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

Now for the count...

Previous Skincare Total: 77

New Skincare Total:  68

Previous Makeup Total: 158

New Makeup Total: 157

Have a good weekend guys!

Sita xoxo

october empties

Hi guys,

This month seems to have whizzed by and my favourite time of the month has arrived. The time when I get to share my empties with you and finally throw them out!

1. Soap and Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream
I have to say this I do like this foot cream and it has been helping to keep my feet free of cracked skin. It's blue in colour and has a herbal scent probably because it contains menthol. However the ingredients list is so long it almost fill sup the whole back side of the tube so I'm looking forward to finding a chemical free alternative!
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

2. Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
This is my holy grail makeup remover, so I am rather sad to see it finished. It is an oil based makeup remover so does leave a bit of an oily residue.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No

3. The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Scrub
The body shop body scrubs are some of my favourites. My skin verges towards the dry side so I like that they are super moisturising. They leave an oily residue on the skin so if you don't like that then I would probably pick something else. I have written a full review if you want more information.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No

4. The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel
I really hate the scent of this shower gel, it's too washing up liquid and artificial smelling for my liking. I'm so glad to have finished it! You can read my full review here.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No

5. Sukin Natural Deodorant
This is the first chemical-free deodorant I've tried and I do like it, My favourite thing has to be the scent it smells absolutely amazing. Furthermore it is free of a whole host of nasties and is suitable for vegans. You can see full product information and read my full review here. I would repurchase this deodorant however I want to see what else is out there in the chemical-free market.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: Yes

6. Elf Candy Shop Lipgloss in Candy Fix
The packaging of this lipgloss is adorable. To me I would say this is more of a lipbalm with a tint as apose to a lipgloss. I thought the lipgloss was okay, I do have four other flavours I need to finish up, because apparently at the time only buying one of something wasn't sufficient.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No

7.-10. Perfume Samples
Last but not least I have used up four perfume samples this month, with the added bonus that I do not have any further perfume samples left so I am happy about that. The four scents I used up were D&G 10, Prada Milano, The Body Shop Love Etc and Gucci Guilty, I do remember liking all of them.

Let's get into the count!

Previous Skincare Total: 86

New Skincare Total:  77

Previous Makeup Total: 159

New Makeup Total: 158

I'm looking for a chemical-free shampoo and would love to hear your recommendations, so let me know in the comments below. 

Sita xoxo

october empties video

Hi guys!

This is my YouTube video showing the products I used up during the first half of October with little mini reviews on the products.

Hope you enjoy!

Sita xoxo

organic surge super-intensive daily moisturiser

Claims 
'Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser nourishes, conditions and rehydrates dry skin. For skin that needs an extra surge of moisture this intensely hydrating cream is packed with natural humectants for the ultimate boost to restore dryness. Organic rose geranium essential oil is key to restoring skin balance and reviving a dull complexion. With the additional benefits of Aloe Vera to repair, sooth and moisturise, skin will feel and look super soft'

The Reality 
The Organic Surge Super Intensive Daily Moisturiser is very rich and thick in consistency. It feels almost balm like, very luxurious and moisturising, but melts into the skin easily without leaving a greasy feeling. The saying a little goes a long way really does run true with this cream. Only a tiny amount is sufficient for the whole of your face which means it last a long time.

The addition of the Rose Gernium Essential Oil gives the cream a light and fresh fragrance without being overpowering.

As it is rather rich, I find it to heavy to use during the daytime for my normalish type skin, I prefer to use at night-time. I think it could work brilliantly for dry skin however for those of you with oily skin you may find this cream too heavy.

I tend to find that natural/organic products tend to be priced on the more expensive side. However the organic surge cream, at £8.99 a tub is affordable and great value for money. I would highly recommend waiting for a promotion as I managed to pick it up for £2.25 during a sale, and there seems to be promotions running every so often on the website.

This face cream is certified organic by Ecocert and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. For those of you interested I did run the product ingredients on the EWG skin deep website and the score was 3.

Overall I think this face cream works well and is a great option if your looking for something containing more natural and organic ingredients, without wanting to break the bank.

The Ingredients 

Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Glycerin**, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Tocopherol, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Linalool, Citral, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.*naturally-derived ingredient. **made using organic ingredients.

The Packaging 

The super-intensive daily moisturiser comes packaged in a glass tub, making it easy for you to get the amount of product you require. 

The Price 

Organic Surge: £8.99 for 50ml 

The Ultimate Question: Would I repurchase? 

Yes  

The Overall Score: 4/5 

Have you tried the Organic Surge super-intensive daily moisturiser? What were your thoughts? 

Sita xoxo 

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by myself, all views expressed are my own. Product claims are taken from the company website. 

small feel unique haul

Hello Guys!

Following my empties post I had a few products that I needed to replace or in the case of the deodorant will soon need to replace so I picked up a few items from feel unique.

Dr Bronner's Organic Lotion in Lavender Coconut 
I was in need of a new body lotion and I liked that Dr Bronner's is certified fair trade and USDA organic, the products aren't tested on animals and that the ingredient list was chemical free. I went with the lavender coconut scent as I love coconut scents and as I tend to moisturise at night just before bed the lavender would help me fall a sleep.

Bull Dog Original Deodorant 
Bull Dog is actually a Men's natural skincare company, they're products are free from parabens, sodium laurath sulphate, artificial colours and synthetic fragrances, they do not test on animals and have the BUAV leaping bunny logo. The products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. I know they are a men's skincare company and I'm not a man but at the end of the day it's deodorant, it doesn't bother me whether it's being marketed towards men or women.

Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps 18-in-1 Hemp Green Tea Pure Castile Soap 
Another Dr Bronner's product, I was intrigued by the 18 different uses, my original intention was to use this as a shampoo as I had finished the last of my shampoos as shown in my last empties post. However after using the product twice as a shampoo I think I may need to re-evaluate that plan. However there are still 17 other uses I need to test out!

I hope you enjoyed this little haul post. What items have you bought recently? Any product recommendations?

Sita xoxo

mid -october empties

Hi Guys! 

In today's post I have some empties to share with you, these are the products I've used up during the end of September and Beginning of October. 

1. Organic Surge Fresh Ocean Light Body Lotion 

I did like this body lotion, the cream absorbs into the skin well, leaving is moisturised without feeling greasy, you only need to use a small amount as a little goes a long way, the only thing I wasn't too keen on was the scent of this body lotion however they have few other body lotions so I will give them a try. If you would like to read my full review you can click here.

Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: Yes 

2. The Body Shop Honey Moisturising Conditioner 

This conditioner is rather old so I'm not sure body shop even sell it any more. I did like it, my hair felt soft after use and less tangled, but I didn't love it, I prefer the rainforest forest hair butter from The Body Shop compared to this conditioner. 

Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company Tests on Animals) 
Repurchase: No 

3. Trevor Sorbie Moisture Shampoo 

I'm so glad to have this shampoo finished and gones, I don't think there was anything I liked about it. 

Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

4. Superdrug Heart On Your Sleeve Dry Shampoo 

This dry shampoo works well, however I am moving towards more chemical free products so I won't repurchase. 

Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company Tests on Animals) 
Repurchase: No 

5. Lollia Mint Julep Giftset 

This little gift set came with a shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and handcream, The handcream I had at work and forgot to bring it's hence not in the picture and currently in the bin. All the products in this set came beautifully packaged, and smelt absolutely gorgeous and fresh. However the products themselves were only okayish. 

Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

6. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser 

I love this skin cleanser, I have been using it everyday for the past 10 months, it works very well for me, and I do have another one the same size to get through, however after that I won't be repurchasing because it does contain parabens and cetaphil is not a cruelty-free company. 

Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7./8. The White Company Shampoo and Conditioner 

I took these products with me when I went away but I took a picture a picture of them before throwing them away, they are in handy size to take away, they are mediocre products that do the job, but nothing I would run out to purchase. 

Cruelty-Free: No 
Repurchase: No 

I also gave away my Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette, which I had never used, I didn't have a chance to take a picture of it but it's in my makeup sort out post. 

Now for the all important count...

Previous Skincare Total: 94

New Skincare Total:  86

Previous Makeup Total: 160

New Makeup Total: 159

I hope you enjoyed this post. What products have used up this month? Let me know in the comments below. 

Sita xoxo

a beautiful world autumn/winter beauty box

Hi guys!

I received my A Beautiful World's Autumn/Winter Beauty Box and I wanted to share with you my initial impressions.

After spotting posts on various blogs on the spring/summer sampler box and the gorgeous goodie's inside I knew I had to get my name on the waiting list for the autumn/winter box. And let me tell you I am not disappointed that I did, because this box is jam packed full of full size and sample products that I am eager to try out. I've actually never tried products from any of these companies which is great because this will be a great opportunity to discover new brands.

I have to mention I was rather impressed with the service, I ordered the box on Wednesday morning and the same evening I received a text informing me that the box would be in my hand son Thursday morning.

Anyway without further rambling lets get into the products...

The Konjac Sponge (due to go on sale soon) 
This is a 100% natural vegetable fibre sponge with nourishing rich french pink clay. Thi sproducts sounds interesting,you can use the sponge to cleanse and exfoliate the skin as well as to remove makeup. I've had my eye on this product for a while so it was definitely the product I'm most excited about!

Naisture Collagen Paper Mask Pack ( 5 packs retail for £10)
I've never tried a paper face mask so this will definitely be one of the first products to be tried. The mask contains vegetable collagen from carrots to help strengthen the skin as well getting to the skin to look more radiant. With the colder whether my skin has started to look a but dull so hopefully this mask will it give it a much needed boost!

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-in Conditioner and Heat Protection Spray 2oz (8oz retails for £19)
I love that this company makes products that are 100% vegan, free of gluten, alcohol, parabens and sulphates, as well as cruelty-free. My heat protection spray is towards it's last legs so this will make the perfect replacement.

VMV Hypo-allergenic Know-It-Oil 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 50ml (125ml retails for £26)
I love to use coconut oil as a deep conditioning treatment for my hair. Coconut oil has mainly uses and is a great little multi-tasker to have handy.

S.W. Basics Shea Butter Cream 1oz (3.75oz retails for £26)
This cream is made of only 3 ingredients fairtrade shea butter, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil. I'm thinking that this will be a great little skin rescuer during the winter.

S.W. Basics Cocoa Lip Balm 0.15oz (4 lipbalms for £12)
As with the Shea butter cream the lip balm is also only made with 3 ingredients, I love that this company makes products with minimal ingredients and are chemical free.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer-Vermis in Primrose Hill Picnic Full Size (£11) 
I was excited to see a full sized nail varnish within the products. The shade is similar to something I already have and more summer than autumn-winter so I would have preferred another colour. However I have never tried Butter London products before and I love that their polish's are free from formaldehyde, DBP and toluene.

Indie Lee Squalene Facial Oil (1oz £22)
I have to admit squalene oil is not something I have heard of but I'm definitely intrigued. Believe it or not my night cream is nearly finished, I feel like this box somehow knew just exactly what I was in need off.

Marble & Milkweed Nourishing Body Oil 3.7ml (118ml retails for £29)
This nourishing body oil is a blend of rose, cardomom and sandalwood oils, it smells absolutely heavenly. And I know it's going to make a great treat for my skin.

Marble and Milkweed Modern Chai Tea Number 2 (2oz retails for £9)
I have to admit I'm not a tea drinker so this product will be passed on.

001 Intense Elixir Precious Finds 10ml (due to go on sale soon)
001 is niche botanical skincare brand which new to a beautiful world and due to go on sale soon. This is a facial oil which smells absolutely gorgeous and with its blend of sandalwood, patchouli, rose, frankinscense and vitamin E sounds absolutely luxurious.

Tili bag (12 pack retails for £6.50) 
To be honest this is just a glammed up version of plain zip lock freezer bag. I wouldn't buy it but seeing as it's come in the box I guess it adds a extra bit of cuteness rather than using a plain bag for your liquid items whilst travelling.

Last but not least there's a handy A Beautiful World Pink Tote bag!

I have to say overall this is an amazing box, well worth the 20 quid I spent on it! I can't wait to have a play with the products and I'll definitely be following up with some reviews.

The box sure was super popular as it is already out of stock, however you can sign up to get on the waiting list to be emailed when the Spring/Summer box is released by clicking here.

Did you manage to get your hands on a box? What were your thoughts?

Sita xoxo

P.S I am still on my buy nothing new for a year challenge however if you read my original post personal hygiene items are excluded. 

september empties

These are the products I've used up during the beginning of September and what I thought of them.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me
I have somewhat of a love hate relationship with this shower gel. I initially loved it but then the tub was so big I got sick of the scent and using the same shower gel everyday so I had to switch it up, after a while I Came back to it and really liked it again but then once again I started getting sick of it! I have a full review on this product which you can find here.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

Loreal Everstrong Reconstruct Shampoo & Conditioner 
I wasn't a fan of this Shampoo and Conditioner set. They did the job but they didn't work brilliantly for me. I didn't like the scent either.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity 
I found this face cleanser to be a bit drying for my skin type, so instead of using it every day I used it once a week. The cleanser contained pink beads and as a result it worked quite well as an exfoliator for me. I think this product would suit more of an oily skin tone.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

Chanel No 5 Perfume Sample 
This is classic scent and one which I love. There's not really anything more I can say about it. I'm glad to be getting through a lot of these little perfume samples.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

Trevor Sorbie Conditioner
I did not like this conditioner at all. I prefer rich moisturising conditioners. This was rather thin and runny in consistency and didn't do anything for my hair.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 100

New Skincare Total:  94

Previous Makeup Total: 160

New Makeup Total: 160

Although there's no change in the makeup products this month, its good its good to have dropped down below one hundred on the skincare count!

What products did you get through this month? If you did an empties post this month share it in the comments below :) 

Sita xoxo

august empties

With the month coming to an end, it can only mean two things...payday and empties time!

1. Nivea Daily Essentials Light Moisturising Cream 
This is one product I'm going to miss because its great. Absorbs into the skin well it's not greasy, moisturised my skin and did not break me. If that's not enough it's really cheap! I usually bought it for £2 when it was on promotion.  I have done a full review if you are interested.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

2. Philosophy Holly Berry Bubble Bath 
This bubble bath was okay. It's a rather large bottle so takes an absolute age to finish. It bubbled up well but the formula is not at all moisturising. It's a limited edition Christmas scent so don't think I could get it any more even if I wanted to...which I don't.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

3. Elizabeth Arden Matte Moisture Lotion
This cream wasn't particularly moisturising. It would probably work better on someone with oily skin. It is also rather expensive for what it is so wouldn't get it again.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

4. No7 So Strong Nail Polish 
Hoorah I have been working on this product since I started the project so I'm glad to finally have it out of my life. There's still a little bit left at the bottom but its rather difficult to get out with the brush so I'm calling it a day. The actual product was just like a clear nail polish. I felt it din't make my nails and stronger.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

5. Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara
I enjoyed using this mascara. The mascara made a noticeable difference in the length and the volume of my lashes. However I won't be purchasing a full size as I am moving towards cruelty-free and natural products.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No

6/7. D&G Perfume samples in 1 and 18
I have numerous perfume samples to get through and I am glad to have one less. These I believe smelt quite pleasant, although I can't quite recall what either of them smelt like...guess I won't be running out to repurchase.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

8. Organic Surge Kiss and Makeup Cleansing Wipes
I'm sure you are getting tired of hearing about these cleansing wipes but they are past the expiry date so I'm using them as cleaning wipes! I bought them in June online as they had been reduced to 88p but when they arrived I noticed that the expiry date was July 2013! Making it clear why they were only 88p!
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 106

New Skincare Total:  100

Previous Makeup Total: 162

New Makeup Total: 160

What products did you get through this month? If you did an empties post this month share it in the comments below :) 

Sita xoxo

july empties

In this post I'm sharing with you the products I've used up during the second half of July. I can't quite believe that we're in August already! This year seems to be whizzing by! Anyway let's get into the empties...

1. No7 Total Renewal Microdermabrasion Body Exfoliator 
This is an okay exfoliator, however I'm not a fan of the texture. I prefer exfoliators that are more moisturising and leave that thin oily residue behind. If however you don't like that then this exfoliator may be for you!
Cruelty-Free: No 
Repurchase: No 

2. The Body Shop Cucumber Freshening Water 
This toner worked okay. It did not break me out or irritate my skin, however it did not perform any miracles. Sometimes I feel like toners don't really do much and if I left it out of my skincare routine there would be no difference.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

3. The Body Shop Pomegranate Hydrating Body Spray 
I really enjoyed using this pomegranate spray, I loved the scent and I liked using this as an alternative to body lotion on hot sticky days! This product is also cooling and refreshing perfect to spray over yourself after a day out in the sun. I have reused the bottle and made my own natural version of the body spray.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

4. Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy 
I enjoyed using this hand cream. The cream is a lovely consistently and absorbs into the skin well without leaving it greasy. It feels rich and luxurious to use. Although I have to say I'm not a big fan of the packaging as it gets rather disfigured as you use the product up.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

5. D&G 6 Perfume Sample 
I have numerous perfume samples to get through and I am glad to have one less. This one smelt quite pleasant and did it's job although I'm in no hurry to rush out and purchase it.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

6. Aveeno Positively Luminous Eye Cream 
This eye cream kept my under eye area hydrated, however I did not notice it make any different on my dark circles. I won't be repurchasing.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7. BareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper 
I have had this product sitting around for ages, it came in my Bare Minerals foundation started kit. So I am glad to have used it up. It did not break me out but I don't think it made much difference to my skin either.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Owned by Shiseido who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

8. Cowshed Baby Organics Milky Body Lotion 
This baby lotion kept my skin moisturised my skin although I was not a fan of the scent. I am however interested to try other cowshed products. I like that the products are free from parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates and artificial colours. I also like that the product is suitable for vegetarians.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 114

New Skincare Total:  106

Previous Makeup Total: 162

New Makeup Total: 162

What products did you get through this month? If you did an empties post this month share it in the comments below :) 

Sita xoxo

mid-july empties video

This is a video featuring all the products I've used up during the first half of July! If you prefer reading blog posts to watching a video then you can find the accompanying blog post here.

Sita xoxo

mid-july empties

1. Soap & Glory Hand Cream 
A lot of people rave about this handcream but I don't see why. I loved the soap and glory scent originally but then it got too sickeningly sweet for me. I feel that the handcream is not particularly moisturising as I have to reapply during the day. This product is suitable for vegans. I have a full review here.
Cruelty-Free: Yes 
Repurchase: No 

2. The Body Shop Deep Sleep Comforting Milk Bath Float
This is a lovely to use for a night time bath. It's rather rich and heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for day time.
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

3. Korres Wild Rose 24h Mositurising and Brightening Cream
This is a nice cream day cream. It kept me feeling moisturised all day without feeling greasy. It absorbs into the skin quickly and did not break me out. You can read the blog post with the full review here.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

4.Vaseline Rosy Lips Lip Therapy 
The smell of roses is one of my favourite scents and so I love the smell of this lip balm. The combination with the almond oil makes it moisturising. It also give your lips a natural light tint. However I won't be repurchasing because Vaseline are not cruelty-free.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

5. ELF Lip Liner and Blending Brush in Natural
I enjoyed using this lip liner, its a nice natural pink colour. I liked that it came with a brush, which is very handy to take with you on the go. The fact that it has a lid on it makes it even better because it's kept nice and clean!
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: Maybe once I've got through using up all my lip products! 

6. Nivea Pure and Natural Cleansing Lotion
If you read my makeup purge post you'll know that I threw away the toner to this product last month because my skin had been breaking out and the cleanser and toner were the only new items. Stopping them hasn't really made any difference so I think its the hotter weather an dmy skin being oily that is the reason for the breakouts. The Cleanser was okay.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

7. Organic Surge Kiss and Makeup Cleansing Wipes
These cleansing wipes are past the expiry date so I'm using them as cleaning wipes! I bought them last month online as they had been reduced to 88p but when they arrived I noticed that the expiry date was July 2013.
Cruelty-Free: Yes
Repurchase: No 

8. Benefit Pore-fessional
This primer worked well and really did minimise my pores. It smoothed out my skin providing a nice base for foundation, and helped my makeup last all day long. For the small size it is the product lasts a very long time so a little goes a long way. I have another one of these to get through but after that I won't repurchase as benefit are not cruelty free.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

9. D&G No 3 Perfume Sample
I liked this fragrance, it was citrussy and fresh. Lovely for the summer.
Cruelty-Free: No
Repurchase: No 

10. The Body Shop Lipstick 
Unfortunately I did not use this product up but I'm throwing it away because it has gotten all hard and started to smell a little funky!
Cruelty-Free: Yes (Parent Company is Loreal who do test on animals) 
Repurchase: No 

New Counts! (Combined count for myself and Radha) 

Previous Skincare Total: 121

New Skincare Total:  114

Previous Makeup Total: 165

New Makeup Total: 162

As you know I  am trying to use up products for two reasons, firstly to transition to cruelty-free, veggie and natural cosmetics and secondly to downsize my cosmetics collection. Are you on a similar project? how are you getting on with your project? 

Sita xoxo

makeup purge youtube video

Hope your having a lovely weekend. The sun is out and the weather is absolutely gorgeous where I am which always puts me in a good mood!

Just wanted to share with you guys my accompanying video to the Makeup Purge Post I did yesterday!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sita xoxo 

makeup purge!

It seems as though summer has finally arrived, and with the change of season comes a clear out. I'm definitely the type of person that likes to sort through things in drifts and drabs. I'm a bit of a hoarder and never one to throw away a huge amount of stuff.

I am trying to go through all my stuff (and am not just talking about cosmetics) and try to get rid of a few bits and pieces every time. I have way too much stuff, and it's just creating stress! 

Anyway getting back to today's post, here are a few items I'm getting rid off! 

1. Bourjois  3D Max Effect Lipgloss in Rose Gold 
I did try using this lipgloss up, but it's a bit too glittery for my liking. I have plenty of other lip products to get through and so instead of making myself use this up, I'm going to let it go.

2. Too Faced Like a Virgin Palette 
This palette was a gift from a friend for my 19th Birthday, it's rather sentimental to me as it was my first eye-shadow palette and I've been holding on to it for that reason. However it's around 7-8 years old and no doubt full of bacteria so I have to let it go. The palette was well loved and the eye-shadows were beautiful colours. Too faced are a cruelty-free brand and I would recommend their eye-shadows.

3. The Body Shop Eyes and Cheek Palette in No 1 
This palette contains quite cool toned shadows, which don't suit my warm toned skin tone so I have decided to pass it on to a friend that will give this palette some more love!

4. Umberto Giannini Instant Makeover Beauty Spray 
This hair product does absolutley nothing for my hair, aside from making it greasy sooner! I don't want to continue spraying to just for the sake of using it up so i'm going to let it go.

5. Unlabelled Sunscreen 
This sunscreen has separated so i'm throwing it away!

6. Bionsen Illuminating Tonic Lotion 
I  bought this product thinking it was a body lotion, once home I realised it was a toner and it's been sitting on my shelf unused for the past few years. I'm a bit scared to put it on my skin as the product is rather old and I don't want it to break me out.

7. Nivea Visage Pure & Natural Cleansing Toner 
My skin has been breaking out more recently. The products I have changed up in my skincare routine is adding this toner, as well as the cleanser from this skincare range. I'm using the cleanser up as shower gel, but I don't have any ways to use up toner. If you have any ideas do leave them in the comments below!

Last but not least I have an item I didn't want to get rid off, but it got away from me. I managed to lose my Crabtree and Evelyn Hand therapy in Nuntucket! I'm pretty sure it fell out of my bag when I went to Bristol, because I haven't been able to find it ever since I got back, so I'm going to cross it off my list. It;s a shame because I really liked this hand cream.

New Counts! 

Previous Skincare Total: 126

New Skincare Total:  121

Previous Makeup Total: 168

New Makeup Total: 165

Sita xoxo