What I Bought: The Body Shop Haul

Hello, my name is Lola and I’m a Body Shop Addict. I browse the website at least two to three times a week and if I’m ever near a store I just have to go in.

After heading to The Body Shop Press Day I’m now more obsessed – if that’s even possible! – so bought myself a few things recently. Typically I only went in for a body butter, and came out with this lot.

Mists – Amazonian Lily, Vanilla and Moringa - £7.50/100ml

I always try these in store but have never picked one up and I’m not really sure why. They’re really lovely light fragrances – perfect for my handbag.

Hand Cleanse Gel – Pink Grapefruit & Coconut - £2.50/60ml

As much as I love the Renouve Anti-Ageing Hand Sanitizer these hand gels smell amazing and anything Pink Grapefruit by TBS gets my vote!

Vitamin C Microdermabrasion - £13/75ml

This is a backup since I already have one on the go. If you love scrubs but want something a little more intensive then this is perfect. It’s lightened my acne scars and blemishes and makes my skin feel really smooth.

The Sparkler – Dazzling Copper - £14/10g

We received the other shade, Enchanting Gold, at the press day and I really wanted to try the darker shade. It’s a gorgeous bronzey-copper that I think will really compliment my skin tone.

All-In-One BB Cream Shade 03 - £12/25ml

I’m new to the BB cream game but TBS blemish balm has an amazing formula of pigment bubbles that burst when you use it. It’s slightly too light but it’s not chalky so will blends nicely.

Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel For Face - £12/30ml

Another item I tried at the press day and fell in love with. I’ve already reviewed the Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil and this is another fantastic item from the Honey Bronze weight.

Mango Body Butter - £13/200ml

My mum used to use this on me when I was younger as it’s incredibly moisturising, but for some reason I hated it. But now I can’t get enough of it. It’s quite honestly one of the best things I’ve ever smelt.

Coconut Beautifying Oil - £9/100ml

This actually for my boyfriend, as he loves to use it in his hair. I reviewed the Cocoa Butter Beautifying Oil and I loved it – so the BF is going to have to share!

Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder Shade 03 Medium Matte - £13

Another product used on me at the press day. Although it’s a bronzing powder it too light and too matte to do much bronzing on me, but it makes the perfect finishing powder. I apply it once my makeup is done and it helps set it without giving me a chalky, powdery finish.

All In One Blusher - Cookie - £8

This product was used on Victoria at the press day and it was such a gorgeous colour. It’s extremely pigmented and the powder is so fine that it gives the perfect wash of colour. I already have Flushed but now want the rest of the line too! Eek!

As you can see attending the press day was an awful decision - definitely a fully pledged Body Shop Addict now. 
Have you tried any of these products? 
Do you have any recommendations of things I should try out?

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Review: Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Body Oil #TFWOC

I got the Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Body Oil a while back after feeling a bit inspired by the #TFWOC Project.

The oil is very lightweight and contains a really fine golden shimmer. It’s not a disco ball kind of shimmer either, so it’s perfect to use all over the body. I mainly use this on my legs, arms and décolletage for some added radiance. The shimmer is very subtle and works like a gorgeous body illuminator. Plus it’s not glittery at all, and it gives off a lovely bronzed glow.

It contains Community Fair Trade honey and beeswax, which both help to moisturise and soften the skin. But since it’s a dry oil it’s not the best ‘moisturiser’ to use alone, so I’d say it’s best to put it on top of your normal lotion.

The smell is probably what I love the most about this. It’s amazing. It’s quite floral and a little sweet, but with an exotic twist – I’m obviously not the best at describing scents. Don’t let the floral-ness put you off though; it’s less granny’s handbag and more sunny Caribbean beach.

I’ve heard that this is very similar to NARS Body Glow, but I’ve never tried it so I can’t comment on that. It’s definitely a huge amount cheaper though at just £16, compared to the £44 price tag with the NARS Body Glow.

My biggest peeve with this product is not the product itself but actually getting the product out of the bottle. Although it looks lovely, the glass bottle is a little impractical and the plastic stopper is useless. It’s so hard dispensing any oil without getting it everywhere, or hardly getting anything at all.

Bottom line: The smell is gorgeous, the shimmer is gorgeous and it’s WOC-friendly. What’s not to love?

Would I repurchase? Probably not. The way this one is going it looks as if it’ll last forever. Failing that then yes, I would definitely pick up another one.

  

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Body Oil is available from The Body Shop – in store and online – priced at £16/100ml.

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Review: L'Occitane Skin Supple Oil

With the money I got for my birthday back in May, I decided to treat myself to L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil. It's one of those products that’s worked its way around the blogosphere and everyone seems to love it.

I received a travel size sample in a goody bag after attending a L'Occitane event, and honestly speaking I wasn't that impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's nice. But after seeing beauty bloggers hail it as their Holy Grail product and it's constant appearance in ‘[insert month here] Favourite’ posts, it's fair to say I was a wee bit disappointed.

After the full size began to collect dust, I decided to go wild and exchange it for the L'Occitane Skin Supple Oil. At £29 for a measly 100ml, this oil ain't cheap, but boy is it good!

L’Occitane says: This body oil effectively fights dry skin and lack of firmness. Concentrated in almond oil, rich in omegas-6, and in cameline oil, rich in omegas-3, it helps to repair the hydro-lipidic barrier for a more supple skin that no longer feels tight.

It definitely fights dry skin, hands down. My skin feels so nourished and glows when I apply this. Unlike other oils that can sit on top of your skin, Skin Supple Oil is absorbed into the skin really quickly. It leaves behind a nice sheen, but no residue – which is a very difficult feat for a body oil. I can’t say I’ve noticed that my skin is any firmer, but it does make my skin feel very supple and undeniably less tight.

The smell is gorgeous. Fear not nut-haters, this oil smells nothing like almonds. I still can't put my finger on what it smells like though. It’s sweet, but not at all sickly and very subtle. The scent is actually one of my favourite things about this oil; even after a long, hard day you can still smell it on your skin.

L’Occitane Skin Supple Oil is geared towards pregnant women, as the oil helps to strengthen the skin’s elasticity, which prevents stretch marks. It’s also great on existing stretch marks, as I’ve certainly noticed my unsightly stretch marks have started to lighten.

My only issue with the oil is the pump. It pumps out an adequate amount, but I find it to be slightly leaky. Not majorly, but sometimes the pump is a little oily when I go to use it.

Bottom line: L’Occitane have created something genius. I can’t fault this oil at all. The glass bottle (which may be a little impractical for some) gives it a very expensive feel. The price makes me a little giddy, £29 for 100ml is really expensive. Due to the price tag I try not to use it everyday, however a little does go quite a long way! In spite of the price, I’ll 100% be buying again!

You can buy L’Occitane Skin Supple Oil directly from L’Occitane online or in store, priced at £29/100ml.

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Review: Body Shop Beautifying Oil Cocoa Butter

I always harp on about how much I love multi-use products, so when Body Shop were doing one of their insane deals a little while back, I though it would be a crime not to pick this puppy up.

I love body oils and multi-use products are most definitely my ‘thang’ so something that combines both of them is a winner in my eyes.

I played it safe and bought it in ‘cocoa butter’ as it’s one of my favourite scents. It has got quite a thin consistency and is very light to the touch.

Since it claims to be for the face, body and hair – here’s my verdict:

Face

Even though it’s light I wouldn’t dare use this on my face. I’m oily enough as it is so this has no place on my face (Ha, that rhymed!).

Body

I’ve got disgustingly dry skin. Like really, really dry. Like, you can scratch out a game of noughts and crosses on my skin if I don’t moisturise after my shower, kind of dry. This definitely gives my skin the burst of moisture it needs, but it doesn’t last all day. After about 6-7hours the subtle shine is replaced with the familiar ash-grey of rhino skin. However, if I use the oil to seal a body lotion then it prolongs the shine and the oils moisturising properties.

Hair

I’ll admit I was reluctant to use this in my hair. I mean, what can a dry oil really do for your hair? But I eat my words, the beautifying oil really beautfies my hair – sorry I just had to. It adds a nice shine to my lacklustre hair. It also smoothes down my split ends – which is always a plus, right?

What I don’t like? It needs a pump. The hole in the cap is tiny, which makes it really difficult to get any out. The bottle isn’t really a ‘squeezy’ one so I’ve had to resort to shaking it like a ketchup bottle to get some out. Messy, messy, messy.

Bottom line: This is a great all-rounder so I’d definitely recommend it. And I’ll definitely buy it again – but not at full price. I’d wait until another deal came up before buying. 

You can buy Body Shop Beautifying Oil directly from The Body Shop, in store or online priced at £9/100ml.

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