Empties #4

1. Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Body Polish: I received this body scrub as part of a gift set at Christmas (see my 'what I got for Christmas' post to see the gift set. I love the scent of this product, it smells like gingerbread and cinnamon - it is not heavy though. This product is called a 'body polish' so it is supposed to be a body scrub but for me this product is just a body wash with bits in - it is not exfoliating at all! Overall, mice scent and it lathers really well but it is not exfoliating at all.

2. Vichy Eau Thermale Water Spray: I think this was included in a Birchbox and I have been using it as a facial toner. I would use this as a makeup setting spray but the spray isn't fine enough (as with the Avene water spray). A good toner, it doesn't irritate my skin and it is quite soothing.

3. Avon Soft Musk EDT: This is a oldie but a goodie from Avon, this has been around for a while. The scent is as the name suggests, musky but it is a soft musky scent. It is not overpowering and it is definitely an old fashioned, slightly grandma scent but it is quite nice - I wouldn't buy it again though.

4. Palmolive Naturals Nourishing Delight Bath Milk: I bought this from Superdrug a while ago as it was priced at something silly like 95p for a 500ml bottle. I have been using it for a while and it is a really nice product - it lathers well, it smells nice and it is fairly moisturising and softening.

5. Kiehls Crème De Corps Body Lotion: I received this in my Selfridges Beauty Advent Calendar and I have only just got round to using it as I have so many body lotions. This lotion is quite thick but nothing like a body butter. It applies well and it is a yellowy lotion which leaves my skin smooth and moisturised but it does feel a bit heavy on my skin. It absorbs fairly quickly and it does feel nice but I have tried a lot of other cheap products that work just as well (or even better) than this!

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April Birchbox!

1. Natio Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser: Its a 20ml sample so it is a good size but I have never tried anything from this brand before so I am a bit cautious as my skin is sensitive - and my eczema is going a little bit crazy right now so I probably wont try it yet. It smells quite nice and floral but this product does contain parabens which isn't great. 

2. La Societe Parisienne De Savons Savon Surfin Greco-Deco Soap: phew! Firstly, the packaging is gorgeous so I may give this to my mum as it looks so nice. The soap is packaged beautifully and the soap smells really nice too!

3. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Pencil (shade: 14 perfect kiss): This is a glossy lip pencil and the packaging looks really nice. The shade is a bright pink with lots of gold shimmer. I tried this today and the shade is really pretty but the gold shimmer stays on the lips when the colour has faded which is disappointing and the shade isn't very wearable. 

4. Gerda Spillmann Anti-Aging Serum: Its only a 3ml sample but it may be nice. I haven't tried it yet as I said my eczema is being annoying so I can't try any new skincare yet - and I don't really need this as it is anti-aging and I am only 20 (well 21 in a few months). 

5. BirchBox Let The Sunshine In Mirror: A pretty mirror and it is useful but it isn't made very well because I can move the mirror in the case! In my opinion, this is an unnecessary cheaply made addition. 

6. Welda Skin Food Cream: Yet another skincare product in this box - how many skincare samples do they think we can get through! This is made for dry and rough skin so it may work for my skin but I'm not going to start using it yet - but I have heard good things about this brand. 

Overall, I am not very happy with this box - in my opinion the previous boxes from Birchbox have been amazing! But this box is a disappointment.

My thoughts go out to everyone in Boston x

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February Birchbox

I was quite impressed with the first Birchbox - it was jolie box previously. Birchbox has been around in the US for a while but it only came to the UK last month and so far...it is the best beauty box I have tried! And this months box is just amazing, I love everything I received. 

The items came in the usual pink Birchbox packaging and drawstring bag - the pink wasn't for valentines day, it is their regular packaging. The Birchbox magazine and information card are also included. This months box consisted of six items, five of which are samples I think.

I received: Korres Guava shower gel, Vichy Eau Thermale water spray, Nick Chavez beverly hills plump 'n' thick leave in thickening mist, Gerda Spillmann Cream makeup, EBoost orange dietary supplement and lastly, the Birchbox eyelash curler. 

I am really happy with everything that I received, especially the korres shower gel (which I have been wanting to try for ages), the Vichy water spray and the hair thickening spray which I don't really need as my hair is fairly thick anyway but I haven't tried a product like this before and it sounds interesting. When I saw the Gerda Spillmann cream makeup I was very excited, it is a creamy compact foundation and my shade is 01 praline but the shade is too dark/orange for me when I tested it on my hand but I will have to try it out fully. 

Do you received Birch boxes? If you do, what did you get? 

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