Mybeautywaxstash

Month: October 2022

  • Autumn Home Scents Glow’s Cafe Coffee Inspired Wax Melts

    There are two things I have a fondness for. One is coffee and the other is wax melts. Strangely, I’ve never thought about combining the two together…until now! A few months ago, I won a small competition in UK wax vendor Glow’s Facebook group, and I received a selection of coffee inspired scented wax melt pots. Now the weather is colder, the days are gettering darker quicker, and I want to hermit more, I thought this was the ideal time to start melting these. So, what scents did I get?

    Glow’s Cafe Wax Melt Pots
    Fresh Coffee

    This smells like a fresh made cup of coffee with a small amount of sugar added, finished off with a bit of cream. It’s the slight sweetness that makes this fragrance enjoyable and softer than what I expected and it’s really good, and still remains aromatic.

    Coffee Cream

    Smells similar to the Irish cream drink but with a little more warming spices in it, such as nutmeg. This is a mouthwatering fragrance which I genuinely can’t stop sniffing!

    Cafe Latte

    This is the little sister of Coffee Cream scent wise. The only difference is when I smell them side by side Coffee Cream definitely has that whiff of alcohol in it and spices and Cafe Latte doesn’t.

    Choca Mocha

    Chocolate and coffee. That’s what I get with this one. But more hot chocolate than just a bar of chocolate. Despite not being a fan of this combo in real life chocolate form it, smells great.

    Caramel Vanilla Latte

    Caramel Vanilla Latte has a slightly burnt sugar/caramel type undertone to it on top of the creamy coffee scent. If you love the idea of a slightly sugary, full of depth coffee fragrance this would go down well.

    Pumpkin Spiced Latte

    This has got to be the standout scent in this set. It’s so different from the others and screams Autumn thanks to its bold, spicy notes. I would say this smells the least like coffee but more spicy, pumpkin which is sweet (not too much!) and very inviting.

    Which one is my favourite?

    I would probably say Coffee Cream. These are all great scents but for some reason this one catches my nose the most. All of these are beautifully fragranced. If the idea of coffee scented wax melts makes you feel unsure (like it did with me) please don’t! These all smell amazing. And if you naturally love coffee and how it smells you will adore these pieces.

    Recommended?

    Glow never fails me when it comes to their wax. Whatever piece I receive, whatever the scent is, they have always been fantastic! And I have to say, I’m won over by this small but might box of fragrant wax goodies. I would 110% recommend trying out any Glow waxy pieces but also their coffee inspired ones too. And guess what’s currently available in the cutest coffee bean shapes EVER!? Caramel Vanilla Latte and Coffee Cream. A 4 pack of coffee bean shaped wax melts costs £2.50. Grab yours here now and well-done purchasing, you will love them!

  • A Fragrance for Under £5.00! Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum

    If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you will know I don’t turn my nose up at products that are labelled as ‘cheap’. In fact, I LOVE affordable products! How much you spend isn’t always a reflection on quality of a product. There are so many low to mid-priced ranges out there that are fantastic in quality, you would be crazy not to try things out and hopefully save yourself some money. So, guess what I picked up while grabbing a frozen pizza and a tub of ice-cream recently? A bottle of Lovely Eau de Parfum from the supermarket Lidl. This retails at £4.45 for 75ml.

    Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum
    Why did I buy this?

    I browsed the personal care section in Lidl and saw a selection of fragrances. Testers on the shelf, I spritzed and sniffed, and I realised I liked the scent of all the ones I showered myself with. I normally purchase a body mist because they are affordable. But Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum is not that much different in price to body mists available, so I thought it was worth a purchase.

    Packaging

    75ml of fragrance comes in a clear, glass bottle. It’s wider at the bottom and comes in closer at the top so the shape is very appealing. The bottle itself comes boxed. Off white in colour with gold and black writing on it.

    I don’t expect much for less than £5.00 but the packaging is very plain and basic. It’s not the most interesting packaging I have ever seen but it’s not worst. What I didn’t like was how the box wasn’t in plastic. The plastic finishes it off and gives it a more professional look whether it’s for a gift or for yourself. And dare I say you know if it’s wrapped in plastic no one has opened and used it!

    Fragrance, How Does It Smell?

    This gives me a Spring/Summer vibe. It’s floral based and has a powdery element to it. It’s quite clean and fresh but not heavy. I wouldn’t say this a modern fragrance but it’s not old fashioned either. What I would call it is a classic feminine floral fragrance which smells really good.

    Strength & Longevity

    Strength is a medium. I can be quite heavy handed with fragrances as I apply them mainly in the morning before work and want it to last. The strength doesn’t knock me out but it envelopes and comforts me. And at the end of a 4 hour shift I can still smell this although it’s not as strong as when first applied.

    Longevity isn’t bad at all! It lasts throughout the morning but to give a boost to strength a reapplication is needed around mid-day.

    Is this a Dupe?

    I’ve read that Lidl’s fragrances are based on well-known designer fragrances. Which one this is inspired I can’t be 100% sure because I’m reading conflicting information about it. One name that pops up is Dior’s J’Adore which I cannot confirm or deny as I don’t own it and haven’t smelt it.

    Recommended?

    I would, for a few reasons. The fragrance is beautiful. It has a decent strength and longevity to it. Good size and of course, the price means it’s affordable. You won’t feel the need to hold back using this or keep it for special occasions. Ideal to pop into your bag for work, college, or leave it on your desk. I think how this smells would appeal to a wide range of people regardless of age. Great gift idea too but I personally wouldn’t give it on its own. It doesn’t look special enough. What I would do it maybe add a nice bath bomb and lotion to give it a bit more of a wow factor.

    This gets the thumbs up from me. If you’ve skipped the fragrances in your local Lidl store, it might be worthwhile giving this a try as I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

  • My First Look At Aldi’s Lacura Vitamin C Brightening Daily Cleanser

    Aldi is a supermarket that not only is known for selling a wide range of food and homeware items, but they also have gained a reputation when it comes to their own branded skin and body care products. Is this important? It is for a couple of reasons. They have a wide range of products available (not always available at the same time). All are a good quality and what is equally important is they are affordable. Skincare doesn’t have to be seen as a luxury but can be a budget friendly necessity.

    I’ve noticed in my local store they have started to stock a Vitamin C range which caught my eye. The one product I grabbed was Lacura’s Vitamin C Brightening Daily Cleanser with PHA & Orange Fruit Water. 125ml for £4.99.

    So, what are my initial thoughts on this product?

    Aldi’s Lacura Vitamin C Brightening Daily Cleanser
    Price

    £4.99 for 125ml is good value. Using this morning and night should give weeks of use. Another important fact to think about is if you wanted and needed to repurchase this, it’s less than £5.00. This makes a repeat purchase more achievable than a one off buy.

    Packaging

    If it wasn’t for the packaging I wouldn’t have spotted this, you can’t miss it! Orange in colour, white writing finishing off its look. Very basic and simple. It seems to be a trend a lot of stores follow if they have their own Vitamin C skincare range, making the packaging orange, and I wonder why? And it does work! What I love about this cleanser is it comes in a practical tube but it’s also boxed. It’s that extra touch which I like and if I was giving this as a gift it would make it more appealing.

    Texture

    Aldi’s Lacura Vitamin C Brightening Daily Cleanser is very much a cream cleanser. Quite thick in consistency but not too much. The colour of this is orange but not glow in the dark orange, a much paler, creamier hue. A cream cleanser for many will be ideal during a colder season. The texture can be more comforting on the face, and less stripping of the skin compared to a facial wash, as an example.

    Fragrance

    There’s definitely an orange scent in this cleanser but it’s not sharp and citrusy. Creamier, slightly sweet and not particularly zesty in fragrance.

    My First Impressions

    Great size, perfect packaging and priced just right! It’s not something you would buy every week, so that £5.00 isn’t something you would be hit with often. I’m already liking the texture and scent of this and I can see this being a nice product to use all year round.

    And The Rest Of The Range?

    Customers have picked the shelf clean when I’ve gone to see what other products were available in this range. But what I got to see was there is an eye cream (very interested in this!) and a facial gel moisturiser.

    Keep An Eye On This Range

    If you shop in Aldi and looking to change up your skincare products, have a browse at this Lacura skincare collection and this product. I don’t think any of the products are over £5.00 so could be worthwhile buying and trying.

    Interested in this budget busting brand? Have a look at other Lacura products I’ve tried over the past few years below.

    An Alternative To Aveeno – Aldi’s Lacura Moisturising Hand Cream

    Aldi’s Lacura Moisturising Foot Cream

    Aldi’s Lacura Exfoliating Foot Scrub

    Aldi’s Lacura Spa Foaming Bath Soak & Luxury Bath Float

  • A Lip Balm Alternative? Q+A’s Liquorice Lip Oil

    Let’s talk lips! It’s getting windier and colder here in the UK. This can cause havoc on the skin, and this includes the lips. Most people will grab a lip balm to soothe and moisturise this part of the face. But do many people use a lip oil? Is it just as good or more of a fun type of product? I delved into my skincare stash and pulled out a forgotten product I’ve never used, which is Q+A’s Liquorice Lip Oil. This retails at £6.50 for 15ml and I bought it direct from Q+A months ago. I bought, as usual, when this was on sale, so paid less.

    Q+A Liquorice Lip Oil
    Why did I buy this?

    There were particular products I wanted to buy and added this item as a gift for a friend. And me being me, I ordered one for myself because I didn’t want to be left out! I didn’t need it, I just thought one for my friend one for me too.

    What is this supposed to do?

    This lip oil is designed to moisturise the lips and provide a plumping effect.

    Packaging

    Q+A’s Liquorice Lip Oil comes in in a pale pink and white coloured tube. The oil comes out thanks to the roller ball applicator at the top. It’s a simple looking product but I love how it’s packaged because it’s not fussy, clean looking so easy on the eye.

    Ingredients

    Some of the ingredients included in this product are jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, liquorice leaf extract, sunflower seed oil and peppermint oil (to name just a few ingredients, there are loads more!).

    Fragrance

    I expected this to reek of peppermint or some form of mint oil but it doesn’t. It smells delicately minty but it’s very subtle.

    On The Lips

    Thanks to the roller ball, this is a product which is easy to apply and done so evenly. I can feel it going onto my lips because it literally is being coated. But it’s not heavy in feel, sticky or thick. The oil is quite thin in fact. My lips are left shiny but not too greasy. They look moisturised but not the same way as a lip gloss would but similar to a lip balm. No tingling or cooling sensation when this went on which I was a little surprised about. And definitely no lip plumping!

    Although my lips never felt dry or looked it while using this, I did feel the oiliness/application disappeared within an hour. My lips didn’t look coated and didn’t feel it relatively quickly from first applying it. But they weren’t dry. I found myself reapplying this a good 3 times during the day if I wanted that hit of moisture in look and feel.

    Would I buy this again?

    Considering I’ve never used a lip oil before I don’t mind using this. Nicely packaged, good ingredients flowing through it and it’s moisturising. BUT I would have liked this to feel more moisturising for longer. What I think I needed more from this lip oil was protection. Would I buy this again for myself? If the price was right e.g sale, possibly. Buy this for a gift? I actually would! My daughter nicked this and I think she would like her own but again I would grab this when on offer because it’s nice but not amazing.

    If this description is giving you a ‘buy me’ feel, you can grab this product from different places such as Sainsbury’s and of course direct from Q+A themselves.