Mybeautywaxstash

Tag: stockingfiller

  • Lush’s Sleepy Bear Bath Bomb

    LUSH. I don’t think there are many people that have never heard of this store. They sell a wide range of bath and body products, but probably are best known for their bath bombs. I don’t buy from them regularly despite being a massive fan of living in the bath. These days there is such a wide variety of bath products and brands out there this isn’t my go-to if I’m honest. But I had an urge to go into the store last week. I caved and decided to treat myself to a Sleepy Bear Bath Bomb which cost £3.50.

    Lush’s Sleepy Bear Bath Bomb
    Why did I buy this?

    It looked cute, smelt great and is one of the more affordable bath bombs available from LUSH. If money was no object, I could go crazy in the store, but I wasn’t going to do that because this woman is trying to be on a budget!

    What does this look like?

    Sleepy Bear Bath Bomb is shaped as a bear which is laying down on its stomach. It’s simple in shape and off white in colour. But on the top of its back, there are lavender pieces imbedded into it. This makes a very plain looking bath bomb look just that little bit more special.

    Fragrance

    I don’t mind lavender, but I hate it in its pure, traditional scent. It can be strong and old fashioned. Mixed with the right elements though it can be nice. And nice this is. This bath bomb smells of lavender but it’s more sweet and less herbal/aromatherapy like. It still has a relaxation feel to it but it’s softer and more pretty in scent. I adore it!

    In the bath

    This was placed on an already warm, run bath. As soon as it hit the water it fizzed and hissed. Rather than the water turning into a different colour, it became cloudy almost milk bath like. The lavender pieces floated around in the bath as the bath bomb got smaller and smaller and eventually disappeared. There was no bath art, no explosion of colour. When Sleepy Bear Bath Bomb disappeared, it left behind what looked like a bath soak. No bubbles, no colour, no foam. And I still couldn’t wait to dive into this!

    The fragrance from this was incredible! It was so soothing, relaxing and strong enough for me to be able to smell this from start to finish and I loved it! It was the perfect strength and the ideal scent to experience if you’re looking to unwind.

    I enjoyed this bath so much. I was sad to get out of it. It may not have been filled with colour and foam, but it was gentle enough on my skin, provided beautiful fragrance and totally relaxed me from head to toe. I also thought the lavender pieces were just the right amount. They gave decoration to the bath bomb and also the scent of lavender. There was no massive clean-up in the bathtub, and I didn’t feel overwhelmed with bits in the bath.

    Recommended?

    YES! If I’m honest I didn’t think I would enjoy this as much as I did but I did. It’s not a traditional bath bomb as I’ve already mentioned. But it doesn’t make it any less special. It’s easy on the eye, has a fabulous scent and gave me one of the best chilled out baths I’ve had in a long time. Total winner and I WIL be getting a few more of these! Grab yours in store or online here for a relaxing treat for yourself or for someone else.

  • A Very Festive Primark’s PS Candy Cane Kisses Bath Bubbles

    I promised myself I wouldn’t buy anything bath related from Primark again. And here I am getting sucked into their beauty department by their colourful bath bombs, fizzers and bath bubbles. Why did I NOT want to buy anymore from this department store? I’ve tried some products before; thought they were ok but could have performed better. But I spotted some new ones I hadn’t seen before and into my basket went Primark’s PS Candy Cane Kisses Bath Bubbles, which cost £2.00.

    Primark’s PS Candy Cane Kiss Bath Bubbles
    Why did I buy this?

    The shape, colour and size immediately caught my eye. Very festive in look, sizeable and I had a quick sniff of it, and it actually smelt quite nice. SOLD!

    What’s a Bath Bubble?

    I would say these are similar to a bubble bar. These tend to crumble; bath bombs are chalky. They tend to produce bubbles which some bath bombs and fizzers don’t, they fizz. So different texture in feel and gives a different bath compared to a typical bath bomb.

    How does this look?

    This is shaped as a five-pointed star. Simple shape, chunky and solid in look and feel. This is made up of two colours like a traditional candy cane which is red and white. There are no stripes in or on this though. The colours are randomly placed on this, which gives it a handmade feel. It’s not the prettiest bath product I’ve had but there’s something about this that makes me WANT to use it, and that’s down to how it looks. Did I forget to mention this is also MASSIVE? This takes up most of the palm of my hand.

    Fragrance

    I’m going to be honest. Fragrance has been a letdown for me when it comes to bath fizzers/bath bubbles I’ve used before from Primark. So, I had no idea whether this would be the same. But smelling this in the store while it was in its wrapper gave me a hint of hope. What I got was a slightly minty but sweety berry like fragrance which I have to say is very nice and works well with the candy cane theme.

    How to use

    Crumble this under warm running water. Which I forgot to do and dropped it into the bath like a stone!

    In the bath

    I forgot what I was using and just threw half of this into the bath which is a no no! This needs to be crumbled under warm running water. By the time I remembered this was very wet and I found it hard to break it up. But when I did, it immediately created bubbles. They weren’t big, but enough to make the bath look inviting.

    The fragrance was there although soft, but noticeable. I found this fragrance was much better than other bath bombs/bubbles/fizzers I’ve used from Primark. Could it have been stronger? Oh of course! It was still enjoyable though and a lovely scent.

    By the time I got out of this bath the bubbles had disappeared but they were there for a while. And the bath water had turned into a light shade of pink. The fragrance I could still smell, but still subtle. Overall, this created a nice bath which I wish I could have stayed in longer. My skin wasn’t dried out or uncomfortable. The only thing I would like to change about Candy Cane Kisses Bath Bubbles (well two things), is for the fragrance to be a little stronger. And for it to effortlessly crumble so my hand doesn’t hurt!

    Recommended?

    I really liked this bath bubbles! I loved the shape, size, colouring and fragrance of it. Very festive in look which makes it a great stocking filler. And let’s not forget about the price! For £2.00 you get a BIG sized bath product which I halved. This was easily for 2 baths not just 1 which gives excellent value. As I’ve already mentioned, if this was stronger in scent (my personal taste) and crumblier, this would fantastic. But I would still recommend this, and I’m tempted to buy myself another one asap!

  • Marks and Spencer’s Hand Scrub

    I work very close to a Marks and Spencer’s store. It’s not massive and sells food rather than clothes. I don’t visit it regularly because if I’m honest I don’t have Mark’s and Spencer’s money! But what I have noticed is, nicely tucked into their incredibly small healthcare section, is various hand, body and skincare products. Intrigued, curious and interested to try something from M&S, I purchased their Hand Scrub with Almond Milk & Vanilla. This cost £2.00 for 75ml.

    Marks and Spencer’s Hand Scrub Almond Milk & Vanilla
    Why did I buy this?

    I’ve always associated Marks and Spencer with high prices. To see some of their body products for such good, affordable prices is brilliant. I bought the hand scrub because I’ve got lots of hand creams. Before I start using them again, I wanted to get rid of any rough, dry skin first and thought this would be a nice product to try.

    What is this supposed to do?

    This hand scrub is supposed to help remove dead skin cells, leaving skin smoother and softer. Thanks to it containing yoghurt and olive extracts, it’s also supposed to be moisturising while leaving the hands lightly scented.

    Packaging

    75ml of scrub comes in a clear, plastic flip top lidded tube. Very simple, nothing imaginative. There’s a couple of almond nut illustrations on the tube but that’s it apart from the text, so no other detailing. But it does the job! Since the tube is clear you can see the scrub inside it which looks very inviting. So simple, practical and but it does what it needs to do.

    Look & Texture

    Squeezed out of the tube this looks like a gel. It has a slight fluidness to it but holds it shape as a gel does. It has a slight golden brown tint to it but it’s still clear, so you can see the scrub particles in it. I love a good texture, and this excites me because I’ve never used a scrub product that looked and felt like this one, so very different for me.

    Fragrance

    This has an almost marzipan scent to it. It’s clear this is almond based and the vanilla is present as there is that typical, vanilla sweetness to it although slightly floral as well. I really like how this smells. It’s one of those scents personally I would enjoy anytime of the year, but more so now its colder and edging closer to Winter this is ideal.

    How to Use

    On damp skin, massage a small amount of the scrub onto the hands and rinse.

    In Use

    I made sure my hands were damp, but not wet. I rubbed this into my hands and found my hands were now slightly white as if I had rubbed soap into my skin and it needed to be washed off. What I found when rubbing this into my hands was it was a very unusual in feel. It felt very moisturising as if it had a slip to it, a slight oiliness to it, but there was no oil. The actual scrub pieces in this were the right sizes and enough in amount which was perfect for hands. I didn’t feel they were too rough or too soft, just right, because I could feel the exfoliating action. Rinsing off was a bit like rinsing off a handwash. I did find I needed to wash my hands twice because the first time I felt there was residue left on my hands. It felt a little tacky, but the second rinse was fine.

    Hands after Use?

    My hands felt lovely and soft. They felt a little smoother and moisturised too. I also noticed my hands had been fragranced. It was lovely to smell and not distracting. Although this was a moisturising product it’s not to replace a hand cream. I think if possible, following up with a cream would be best to keep skin soft and supple. My hands a few hours later after being in and out of water looked and felt dry, so this hand scrub is just a scrub and treat it like such.

    Recommended?

    It’s actually a nice product for the price and size. A hand scrub isn’t something you would use everyday, maybe once or twice a week if that. So 75ml should last a good amount of time. It’s beautifully scented. I can still catch the fragrance on my hands a few hours after use, but it’s soft and not lingering. It’s a nice product to use, leaves the hands feeling smoother and only costs £2.00! So would I recommend this? Yes I would! It won’t break the bank and it’s a decent product. Team it up with a hand cream or lotion and it would make a killer combo for yourself or someone else.

    I end this post with 2 words which is a recommendation of what this product would be good for…. STOCKING FILLER!

  • Aldi’s Lacura Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel & Hand Cream

    Back in the day, supermarkets used to sell only food. Fast forward to now and they sell everything and anything! That’s why going to buy your daily or weekly essentials can be dangerous and sometimes very expensive! BUT, having everything under one roof isn’t a bad thing and going to buy groceries sometimes leads to some new discoveries of the non food variety. I found some new bath and body products last week in my local Aldi store. What did I find? A selection of new shower gels, hand creams and hand washes, all Winter seasoned inspired. So me being me, I picked up the duo of Lacura’s Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel & Hand Cream. Each at a cost of £1.99.

    Aldi’s Lacura Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel & Hand Cream
    Why did I buy these?

    These were striking to look at! I tend to find the way products are laid out in Aldi a little confusing and sometimes difficult to see. But these shot out at me like a bow from an arrow! I couldn’t help but feel this new range were similar to Bath & Body Works which is a US brand now available in the UK. So how they looked pulled me in. The fact they were new and products I like and would normally use, triggered me to buy them. And the fragrances screamed Christmas so why would I NOT buy these? Oh, and of course the price!

    Packaging.

    Shower Gel. A fabulously shaped plastic bottle for 400ml of product. Not straight up and down in shape. This is tall with faceted corners on the top and bottom making it look interesting and different. The bottle is clear, so you can see the vividly coloured red shower gel sitting within it. Super cute labelling which is festive with a twist (see pic below). Eye catching to the fullest!

    Lacura’s Winter Candy Apple Shower Gel

    Hand Cream. Exactly the same colouring and design look wise as the shower gel, but the hand cream is housed in a plastic flip top lid. Pretty much standard for most hand creams available on the market. 100ml in size.

    Lacura’s Winter Candy Apple Hand Cream
    Fragrance.

    The scent of these products is the same-ish and absolutely lip lickingly good! It literally smells of juicy, red apples. With a little sweetness but more importantly that tartness that some apple varieties have. I can honesty say at first whiff this is my favourite apple scented product/range ever!

    Shower Gel

    The shower gel is bright red in colour which of course is in line with the fragrance and the packaging/labelling. The consistency pretty much is the same as other shower gels, which is quite thick and gel like.

    As you can imagine with me being the bath addict, I used this in the bath. I squirted two decent sized blobs of this under warm running water which immediately created bubbles. By the time my bath had been filled the bath was FULL of bubbles! Plentiful, soft, airy and white! The bath water underneath remained clear with no colour. It was a nice bath to be in. No better or no worse than others I have had before, but I was quite relaxed in it. In the morning I’ve used this in the shower. Lots of bubbles/foam, quite creamy and washed my not so little body like a dream! A great little pick me up at 5am in the morning if I do say so myself.

    I could get the fragrance of the shower gel but it was quite soft. Pleasant, but soft. When I got out of the bath I did get the fainest whiff of this on my skin but just about. My skin out of the bath wasn’t dry or aggravated so I could continue with my body care routine as usual.

    My only negative about this product is I think the fragrance should have been stronger. Its such a great scent, I mean, how many shower gels out there smell of apples? So make it stand out a bit more please, don’t be shy!

    Hand Cream.

    I assumed the consistency of this would be quite thick almost body butter like, but it was white, and more lotion like in consistency. It rubbed into my hands like a dream, very quick and easy. And it gave my hands an immediate look of moisturisation rather than greasiness. They didn’t feel tacky once I applied this, but I did feel a few minutes later they looked and felt quite normal.

    Fragrance wise this stayed on my hands but it wasn’t overpowering. What I found interesting was the fact that I swear I could detect a hint of floral, which made this scent even more pleasurable and unique.

    I think this hand cream is for those with normal hands. For it to be suitable for drier hands I think it would need to be richer, waxier and probably thicker. But for everyday use when your hands aren’t looking mummified I think this will do just fine. Or if you need to use your hands straight away after application this is good. I think I prefer a richer more nourishing consistency.

    Are these dupes for Bath & Body Works products?

    I’ve never seen in real life these products, used them or sniffed them so I genuinely couldn’t compare them. Do I think they are inspired by the range? Probably. Same fragrance name, the look of the packaging though is different enough but with a few similarities e.g colouring.

    Recommended?

    The fragrance alone grabbed me. It’s not a typical fragrance to have but it’s a very Autumnal/Wintery scent, but we just don’t see it really on the market! So scent wise it’s different. Packaging is striking and the price is affordable. Would I say the shower gel (used as a bath foam) was the best I have ever used? Or the hand cream in my top 5 of hand creams? No. But are they decent products and overall recommended? Yes they are. Good prices with good sizes to match. This screams a Christmas stocking filler to me. But if you grab the hand wash (I didn’t buy that), the trio would make a great stand alone gift for just under £6.00!

    If this review is making you itch to buy this, I would suggest to check out your local Aldi store asap as I suspect these will fly out and being seasonal especially will probably be limited too. And if Lacura’s Winter Candy Apple isn’t your favourite fragrance, there is Gingerbread and Winter Cookies available too! Happy holiday shopping! Ho ho ho!