This year is flying by and I can't quite conceive that both Christmas and my exams are a thing of the past! Since each month slips through my fingers, I find that by doing 'empties' posts each month I am able to remember products easier rather than doing them in bulk and struggling to provide genuine reviews. So here we go, this has been July.
I've split this box up into 'budget' and 'high end' just to make things easier and first up for budget products is a pot of pre-soaked toner pads by Clearasil. These make exfoliating easy, without any of the gritty residue which tends to occur when using physical scrubs (along with skin damage). I found these lasted ages and the salicylic acid helped to smooth out any of the hormonal bumps I got on my chin, and for £4, I can't complain.
Next up is a miniature pot of The Body Shop's body butter in shea scent which I received in a gift box. This is definitely a thick moisturiser and so is more suited to the winter months but this stuff truly is lovely, filled with cocoa butter, beeswax and other skin loving ingredients- this is a go-to 'all over' moisturiser which can be picked up for under a tenner!
The final drugstore product is a dry shampoo from Pantene which I got through quickly as my hair is so thick. Now this smells fresh and clean but it didn't really do the job in terms of removing oil and adding texture, instead it acted almost as a hair perfume alone. I think I'll stick to Batiste as it gives my hair the volume and texture I want from a dry shampoo.
Onto the pricier products, the first being the cheap but hard to find Nectar of Nature deodorant in 'Vanilla softness'. This product comes from a French brand which is why I usually stock up when abroad but I believe it may be available online somewhere. This is the creamiest deodorant I have ever used and it smells delicious, a really fresh vanilla scent as opposed to an artificial fragrance. It's not one for workouts or really hot days but when the weather is cooler, this does the job perfectly well. I currently have about 6 bottles as backup which I think speaks for itself!
The next empty product is a tin of incense cones from Haekels in Margate, which I bought for Harry's Christmas gift. The shop is filled with products which contain locally sourced products, namely the seaweed used in their skincare, haircare and 'seaweed salads' which I can't wait to try. This particular tin of incense lasted a long time, with each cone lasting around 3 hours and leaving a scent lingering in the room. Now this was very pricey but it can be justified if you consider how pure the ingredients they use are. I also think they make lovely presents, especially as the packaging is so nice, I was sure to pick up some of the exfoliating soap bar for my brother too.
Last up is hands down my ultimate favourite moisturiser, the Mandarin facial hydrating cream by Aesop. Filled with lemon and tangerine rinds and sesame oil, this manages to feel light and fresh while still being rich and nourishing for the skin. I love the citrus scent and will definitely be repurchasing this moisturiser along with other Aesop products as they help balance out the oils in my skin.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and I can now finally throw out some packaging and start filling the box again! Let me know if you'd be interested in any other product reviews and I'll be sure to do so.
