February empties - L'Occitane, Weleda, Neal's Yard Remedies, Origins, Naked Bodycare

Take Care Naked Sensitive Skin Bodycare Orange Blossom 250ml body wash – I have a ton of these. This has always been my favourite frangrance of all the Naked body washes, it has not “parfum” or artificial fragrance, just the natural fragrance of neroli essential oil which is one of the most uplifting fragrances and has long been a favourite for both men and women. I guess means that they’ll probably pop up each month in my empties for the rest of the year. And maybe the next…

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner 250ml– I really liked this, a good silicone free conditioner which I'd buy again but I think Weleda have reformulated and no longer make this.

Phytorelax Lavander Body Lotion 500ml – I picked this up at the TKMaxx clearance shelf for £1. It’s not the most natural product (you can’t see the ingredients on the back label as they’ve been rubbed off with oily hands) but at least it doesn’t have any silicone. I really liked using this at night time as the lavender helps lull me to sleep.

Naked Bodycare Star Flower 250ml body wash – I don’t like it as much as the Orange Blossom, but this is still a good sulphate free body wash which doesn’t dry me out. Plus, I have the body butter to match. I think it’s the patchouli essential oil in here which I’m not a fan of. I have a couple more in the stash as I pick these up whenever they go on offer at Boots and I want to use up my points.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser 50ml – this was a good basic day cream, a silicone-free basic moisturiser This is one of NYR’s least expensive creams at £18.75 for 50ml.

Naked Bodycare Star Flower body butter 300ml– found this in one of those bargain beauty shops you can find in shopping centres, it was £1 so I bought three. Not my favourite scent, but satisfyingly thick and just what my dry husk of a body needs in winter.

Origins Checks and Balances face wash – this is a GWP 30ml sample.  Already repurchased as I’ve bought the full size.

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask – another GWP 30ml sample from Origins. Already repurchased. Twice. They had a great GWP offer that week. Don’t judge.

L’Occitane Almond shower oil 2 x 35ml. Love this, but don't love the ingredients. I've purchased the full size 250ml bottle as well as the 500ml refill. I had a voucher. Again, don't judge.

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil review

L’Occitane Almond shower oil - I received these diddy 35ml travel size plastic bottles in a couple of gift with purchase bags from L'Occitane but didn't use them for months as I was a bit wary of using a shower oil. I remember my sister using bath/shower oils when we were teenagers and getting killed (not literally) by my parents for making the bath slippery.

I ended up taking them away with me one weekend when I was visiting a friend and really enjoyed using them. The fragrance is astonishing and fills the bathroom, so fresh and comforting at the same time, a blend of apple blossom and vanilla. This doesn't have the most natural ingredients (see below) but since it's a rinse off product, I'll turn a blind eye for now. 

The 250ml full size retails for £17.50 and the 500ml eco refill is £26.50. I had a 20% voucher so bought a full size and a refill so that'll last me a while.

Here are the ingredients:

Vitis Vinifera seed oil, Tipa-Laureth Sulfate, Laureth-3, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Parfum, Cocamide MEA, Sorbitan Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis, Tocopherol, Aqua, Helianthus Annus seed oil, Rosmarius Officinali leaf extract, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool.

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask review

Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask – the first time I looked at this, I thought "an overnight mask, are you kidding me?" I had no idea how it worked and since I sleep on my face, I didn’t fancy having a sloppy mask go all over my pillow. Anyway, this was another 30ml sample size gift with purchase that I thought I’d crack open just to use it up. 

Turns out I really like this mask. It has a thick consistency which is easily spreadable and has a fruity, apricot scent which I wasn’t crazy about, but I’m used to it now and even find it soothing to fall asleep to. I often use this instead of a night moisturiser. Already repurchased. Twice. They had a great GWP offer that week. Don’t judge.

This 30ml sample size has a screw top lid, but the full size 100ml tube has a flip lid which is much easier to deal with. 

I've photographed the back of the 100ml full size tube as the 30ml sample tube doesn't list the ingredients (and neither currently does the Origins website). Here are the ingredients:

Water, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water, Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Leaf Water, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Water, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Dimethicone, PEG-75, PEG-8, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Stearate, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Amara (Bitter Almond) Kernel Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Cinnamomum Camphora (Shiu/Camphore Leaf) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Osmanthus Fragrans (Osmantus Absolute) Flower Extract, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Bran) Extract, PEG-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Panthenol, Pantethine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryzanol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Caffeine, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Potassium Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy face wash review

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy face wash – this little 30ml travel size tube was a gift with purchase sample I'd received last year which frankly I wasn’t keen to try and I’d put off using for a few months. I'm not a fan of foaming cleanser as they tend to strip my skin and leave it dry.

I kept reading positive reviews so eventually I put it in the shower to make sure that I’d at least try it and it turns out that I really like this. I'd been looking for a cleanser which I could use during my shower and just rinse off with water as I’m not in the mood for faffing around with face cloths first thing in the morning. 

"When it comes to faces with dry and oily places, it takes a clever cleanser to balance the two. This Origins gentle, frothy face wash carefully does both jobs without cancelling each other out. It helps to seek out oil, soaks it up then keeps it well in-check, while it balances and protects dry prone zones. And Broadleaf Kelp breaks down dirt, disperses excess oil and sends dullness down the drain. Skin feels comfortably refreshed after cleansing, never tight, pulled or parched."

Although it’s intended for people with combination skin, it’s fine with my dry skin and doesn’t leave any tight feeling afterwards. Already repurchased as I’ve bought the full size. This 30ml sample has a screw cap, but the £8 50ml and the £18 150ml both have flip lids. The ingredients aren't listed on the back of the sample tube so I've photographed the back of the 150m full size tube. 

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Lavandula augustifolia flower water, Potassium myristate, Glycerin, Potassium behenate, Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, Potassium palmitate, Potassium laurate, Potassium stearate, Anthemis nobilis flower oil, Mentha viridis, Lavandula hybrida oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia flower oil, Styrax benzoin gum, Linalool, Peg-3 distearate, Tourmaline polyquaternium-7, Butylene glycol, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Full of Glee Naked Bodycare Star Flower body butter review

Naked Bodycare Star Flower body butter – this 300ml body butter is usually £3.99 but I found this in one of those bargain beauty shops for just £1 so, yes, I went ahead and bought three! It's not my favourite scent (I prefer the Coco de Mer), but this body butter is satisfyingly thick and just what my dry husk of a body needs in winter.

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Glycerin, Butyrospermum parkii, Cocos nucifera oil, Glyceryl stearate, Cetearyl alcohol, Cera alba, Caprylic/capric triglceride, Cetearyl glucoside, Dicaprylyl ether, Tocopheryl acetate, Borago officinalis seed oil, Parfum, Lavandula hybrida oil, Pogostemon cablin oil, Citrus limonum oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis oil, Rosmarinus officinalis oil, Pelargonium graveolens oil, Cananga odorata oil, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Sodium polyacrylate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Citral, Isoeugenol.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser review

Neal’s Yard Remedies Almond Moisturiser – "protects and nourishes sensitive skin.
Vitamin rich almond and evening primrose oils are combined with geranium and lemon to prevent moisture loss and tone the skin."

This is a good, simple day cream. It offers a silicone-free basic moisturiser which can also be used as a night cream with some facial oil underneath for extra hydration if you’re extra dry like me. Sometimes, there’s simply no need to any fancy bells and whistles. This is one of Neal's Yard's least expensive creams at £18.75 for 50ml.

Here are the ingredients: 

Aqua (Water), Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil*, Cocos nucifera oil*, Glycerin, Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl glucoside, Cetearyl olivate, Cera alba*, Helianthus annuus seed oil*, Calendula officinalis flower extract*, Sorbitan olivate, Lecithin, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil*, Oenothera biennis oil*, Chamomilla recutita flower extract*, Lavandula officinalis extract*, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil*, Citrus limon peel oil*, Xanthan gum, Tocopherol, Levulinic acid, Sodium levulinate, Potassium sorbate, Sodium dehydroacetate, Alcohol denat.*, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner review

Weleda Rosemary and Ginger conditioner - Weleda is available at Boots and through online retailers. I really liked this silicone free conditioner. I’d previously tried the other two fragrances in this range (orange blossom/calendula?) but hadn’t liked them at all. This was easily my favourite of the three but it looks like Weleda have reformulated and no longer offer this one. 

This 250ml plastic bottle has a pop up lid. This worked well when used after my Chagrin Valley lavender and rosemary shampoo bar. 

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Alcohol, Rosemarius Officinalis Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Rosmarius Officinalis Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinalis Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Augustifolia Oil, Lavandula Hydrida Oil, Zingiber Officinalis Root Oil, Citral, Limonene, Linalool.

Take Care Naked Bodycare Orange Blossom sensitive skin body wash review

Naked Bodycare Orange Blossom body wash – I have a ton of these. This has always been my favourite frangrance of all the Naked body washes, it has no “parfum” or artificial fragrance, just the natural fragrance of neroli essential oil which is one of the most uplifting fragrances and has long been a favourite for both men and women. 

I wasn’t seeing it stocked at my local Boots, but when I checked if it was still available on the Naked website a few months ago, it was on offer at £1. Since I figured that they had discontinued the fragrance and they offer free delivery when you spend £20, I ended up buying twenty of these. That’s right, twenty! Turns out they were just clearing stock as they had slightly changed the top of plastic bottles and they’re still offering the Orange Blossom through the website so I needn’t have hoarded like a shelf-clearing extreme couponer. 

"This gentle foaming body wash helps sooth sensitive souls with delicate skin. Neroli oil from orange blossom is known to be calming and soothing for dry and irritated skin and this bodywash is great for all the family to use. "


The 250ml plastic bottle usually retails for around £3.99 and has a lid which is seperated in two so you press down one side and the other side pops up to release the gel. Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Coco glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Chamomilla recutita extract, Citrus aurantium amara (Neroli) oil, Aloe barbadensis extract, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Citric acid, Glycerin, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate.

Phytorelax Lavender body lotion review

Phytorelax Lavander Body Lotion 500ml – I picked this up at the TKMaxx clearance shelf for £1. It’s not the most natural product (you can’t see the ingredients on the back label as they’ve been rubbed off with oily hands) but it doesn’t have any silicone.

The 500ml plastic bottle comes with a handy pump and I'm enjoying using this at night time as the lavender helps lull me to sleep.

"Sanitizing body lotion, pleasant and velvety with lavender essential oil. It purifies, hydrates and restores skin by external aggressions. Its fresh and delicate fragrance leaves on the skin a wellness feeling."