Project Pan #8 and #9 - Soft and Gentle Deodorant

So here we have a rather sexy item - deodorant.  Oh yes, its an exciting post this time.  To try and make up for the less than thrilling item I thought I would do two at once to save your suffering   The items in question are Soft and Gentle's Linen and Wild Cornflower Extra Dry deodorant and Soft and Gentle's Gerbena and Waterlily Anti-White Marks.  

This is one of my favourite deodorant brands, mainly because it is often on special offer and it works well for me.  I always seem to go back to this brand but I don't have huge favourites when it comes to scent.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, when I am totally out of supplies and it is on special offer I will be picking some more up.

Have you ever tried this deodorant?

The Challenge: 2013

I have decided that each year I am going to set myself a beauty related challenge.  Its a little similar to the resolutions but with the challenge there is a definite end point.  The challenge is to see how fast I can do it (if at all).

A big reason i started this blog is because I wanted to discuss my love all of things makeup, skincare, perfume and bath oriented.  This love also means that I have a bad habit of purchasing things faster than I use them up. I have tried to do project pans and spending bans but I don't have the will power to go cold turkey. So I think this challenge may suit me a little more.  I'm not banned from buying products (which is lucky for the British economy) but I need to keep it controlled.

The Challenge for 2013 is: To Have A Manageable Beauty Collection

I will see this as achieved when I am able to fit all of my makeup into the following things:

- My Muji drawers will hold my everyday makeup
- My ALEX drawers will hold the rest of my makeup, skincare, body care, haircare and my nail polish.

I will also be allowed a container of samples which I keep for travel purposes and one suitcase for spares and back ups.  The only other place that any of my beauty products will be is in the bathroom (those that are currently being used) and on my bedside table (my nightly routine).

I know this might sound excessive but for me that would be feasible but would also involve me significantly downsizing my collection.

So over the course of the year you should expect to see some of the following posts:
- My daily makeup
- Depotting (to save on makeup storage real estate)
- How I organize my ALEX
- Some rather brutal culling sessions
- Lots of collections posts
- How I store my makeup

Now it is going to get rather picture heavy now (so maybe go make a cup of tea) as I am going to show you all the places that my makeup is currently overflowing into.  Also in addition to the places shown in the pictures I have a few items in the bathroom and 7 or 8 large boxes under my bed filled with backups and other things such as Lush bath bombs.

Nail varnishes and hair masks lurking downstairs after a pamper session.

The brushes that I don't use on a daily basis.

All my orange nail varnishes on yet another downstairs bookcase.

My little MUJI unit which has all my daily makeup.

My wonderful ALEX unit

My bedside table(chair) with my nightly bits and bobs.

Baskets of products I am desperate to use up.

Some haircare stuff that gets knicked if it is kept in the bathroom.

Project Pan #7 - Lush Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb

This was an easy win for my Project Pan list but I do have a ridiculous amount of Lush things that I always keep for 'special occasions'.  It is the Ickle Baby Bot bath bomb from Lush.  This is a soothing calming bath bomb designed for babies but the size and robot design (plus the good price of £1.90) enchant me too much for me to not pick one up when I go into the store.

This isn't my favourite Lush bath bomb but it is definitely in the top 5.  I have picked them up quite a few times in the past and I'm sure once project pan is over a few might sneak into my shopping bag.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, however I have a bit of a stash of other bath bombs and I really want to decide on my favourites so that I can stock up for 'special occasions'.   

Have you ever tried this bath bomb?

Project Pan #6 - Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist

Another item that I have managed to use up and will be on my Project Pan list.  It is the Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist from Poundland.  

This bargain is one of my all time favourites and I have got through a few cans of it since first discovering how lovely and cooling it is.  Its not a neccessity but it is something that I like to have on hand, especially on my bedside table.  You can see my full review of it here.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, I am working through another at the moment but will be picking another one up next time I am in town.

Have you ever tried this?

Project Pan #5 - The Body Shop's Love Etc Perfume

So here we have another item that will be making its way onto my Project Pan list.  It is the Love Etc eau de parfum from The Body Shop.  This is available in various sizes but this was a 30ml which can be found here for £14.00.  

This reasonably price perfume is one of my all time favourites and I have got through a few bottles of it since first discovering how lovely it is.  I am absolutely rubbish at describing fragrances other than 'really nice' but fragrantica describes it as being made up of the following notes.

Top Notes: neroli, pear and bergamot

Heart Notes: jasmine, helitrope and lily of the valley

Base Notes: vanilla, sandalwood and creamy musk

The majority of perfumes in my collection feature vanilla and/or sandalwood as base notes so it was practically predestined that I would love this scent.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, however I have a bit of a stash of this scent in various sized bottles so I will work through those before I pick up another one.  

Have you ever tried this perfume?

Confessions

I have a confession to make.  I have broken my spending ban.  I have been really good recently and I think it all just got a bit much.  I have been desperate to get some little beauty goodies.  Its terrible that I was missing that excitement of finding something good and then waiting for a parcel to come through the post and make my day.

The only defense I have is that my fall off of the wagon was relatively minor.  I really want to subscribe to Joliebox but am holding myself back from making that commitment until I have finished my project pan.

So instead I went onto Latest in Beauty and order 3 samples for £1.50.  I think this is really reasonable and for a relatively small cost has fulfilled my need for a little beauty treat. The best bit is that I can choose what I am getting so that they will be things I will use.  The things I chose to order are L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream, Elemental Herbology Cell Food and a mystery sample.  I have never tried any of these before but I am excited to.  They all come in various different sample sizes but I will keep you updated on how I get on with them.

If you want to try it as well you can order your own little beauty box click here.

Update: It has arrived - See what it looks like here

Project Pan #4 - Naked Sea Minerals in the Buff Renewing Body Scrub

The 4th item on my project pan list will be the Naked Sea Minerals in the Buff Renewing Body Scrub.  this has been hanging around in the bathroom for a while now and it was starting to annoy me so I made it my mission to finish it off.  I am often very lazy and cannot be bothered with exfoliating my arms and legs but I am always amazed by the difference it can make.

I don't think you can get this anymore which is a shame as I really quite liked it.  I wouldn't say it was the best I had ever tried but it did its job and didn't leave me or the bath feeling oily.  I usually go for sugar scrubs so having a salt scrub was a nice change to the shower time routine.

Would I repurchase?  Yes I think I would if i saw it again.  Naked have really reasonable prices considering the fact that they are natural without all the nasties that we have been told to avoid.  It also makes me want to branch out from just their shower items and maybe experiment with their hair care.

What Naked items would you recommend?

Project Pan #1 - The Body Shop's Mango Body Butter

I have finally managed to use a few things up.  If I'm honest I used this up almost a week ago but I wanted to wait until the sun was out before taking photos (on the plus side it means there will be a flurry of posts in the next few days).  

So here we have it my first item that will be making its way onto my Project Pan list.  It is the mango body butter from The Body Shop.  This is only a mini that I got free a little while ago but the full sized version can be bought for £12.50.

As you can see I have used pretty much every last bit of this product up.  The Body Shop body butters are pretty well known - and for good reason.  They are absolutely lovely.  Due to the size this didn't last me ages but it did last a fair few months.  It smells delicious, just like mangoes, the texture is nice but it does leave skin a tiny bit oily until it has fully soaked in.  This doesn't make me love it any less though.

Would I repurchase?  Yes, I would, however I have a bit of a stash of other scents.  So whilst I work through them I hope to find out which are my absolute favourites.

What do you think of the body butters?  Have you got a favourite one?

Project Pan List

I thought I would make a list of all the items I have used up during my project pan.  Here I will post the items that have been finished.  The date I finished them and a link to my full project pan item review post.  I am going to enjoy watching this list fill up as my project pan progresses.

1) The Body Shop Mango Body Butter (11/08/12)

2) Dove Colour Care Reviving Hair Mask (19/08/12)

3) Original Source Tea Tree and Mint Shower Gel (24/08/12)

4) Naked Renewing Body Scrub (26/08/12)

5) The Body Shop Love Etc Perfume (4/10/12)

6) Beauty Formulas Cooling Mist (20/11/12)

7)

8)

9)

10)

11)

12)

13)

14)

15)

16)

17)

18)

19)

20)

Controlled Naughtiness

It has been almost 3 weeks since I started my Spending ban (see my reasons for doing so here). When I started I gave myself 5 (seemingly) simple rules.   One of which was "If I see something from my wishlist heavily discounted I can buy it as long as I don't use it until Project Pan is over."  

Well, whilst browsing my beloved ASOS I spotted that they had #3 on my wishlist - Benefit 'Hello Flawless' powder foundation in Shell in the sale for only £17.50.  So I caved in a bought it along with a couple of other, non-beauty, items.

Indeed as I was writing this post the doorbell rung to tell me that my lovely postman (who is probably relieved to be lugging less parcels to my house) had brought my ASOS package.  I was pleasantly surprised as I only ordered a couple of days ago.  Well done ASOS.

So I decided to document my opening of said parcel and turn this into a mini haul post .  Enjoy :)

All my goodies :)

Here is the  Benefit 'Hello Flawless' My Holy Grail powder foundation.  I cannot wait until project pan is over so that I can use this lovely new one.  I will do a full review soon.   As you can see below it comes with both a brush (that I'm not super keen on) and a little sponge so that you can vary how much product you apply.  This was £17.50 (down from £25)

Next up because of the fickle weather we are currently suffering in England I bought this beautiful umbrella from Ella Doran for Fulton.  I have a huge love of all things butterfly particularly when they remind me of old natural history prints.  It folds up lovely and small, perfect for my bag and doesn't weigh too much either.  I am looking forward to seeing how it holds up in the next lot of showers.  This was also in the ASOS sale for £12 (down from £20)

Another sale item that I just couldn't resist at £3.50  (down from £9) was this beautiful Pieces Noam Scarf.  It is a really peculiar shape, almost a kite rather than a square.  I bought it to tie onto the handle of one of my bags to make it look a little more summery and more 'me'.  I am really glad I picked this up as I reckon it was a bit of a bargain.

Lastly, and probably my favourite, is this amazing bird print satchel from the amazing Kate Sheridan.  It was £36.50 (down from £155)  It is just wonderful, the fabric is really sturdy and the straps are made from leather so it will last really well.  This is my third Kate Sheridan bag and I wear my other ones all the time.  She is fast becoming one of my favourite British designers.  I love that it is subtle but still quirky.  The colours mean it will go with pretty much anything and the size means that I may have found my new day bag :)

 Have any of you purchased any of these things...or anything else good from the ASOS sale?

So much stuff, So little space

I have recently come to the terrifying realization that I have too much stuff.  More specifically I have too much make up and beauty stuff.  It is taking over my bedroom, my living room and my bank account.  I have decided to 'Shop the stash' and use up some of the products that I already own.  I will be posting reviews of the things that I use up as motivation...and hopefully because someone out there will find it useful. Wish me luck x