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.

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.

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.

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."

Mäurer & Wirtz's 4711 Eau de Cologne review

4711 is a traditional German Eau de Cologne by Mäurer & Wirtz dating from 1799. This is the original aromatic cologne which inspired Acqua di Parma, Roger et Gallet's Jean Marina Farina and, more recently, Tom Ford's Portofino.

"The precious ingredients are carefully harmonised. Bergamot, lemon, and orange provide a uniquely revitalising effect. Lavender and rosemary have a calming and relaxing effect, strengthening the nerves. Neroli, extracted from the blossom of the bitter orange, has a calming effect in the base note, creating a positive mood."

The only way I could love the original 4711 cologne any more is if it lasted more than twenty minutes on my skin. It’s inexpensive sure, this 50ml bottle cost me about £5, but having to reapply throughout the day means you get through a bottle quickly. I splash it on my hair and around the neck of my t-shirt to help the fragrance last. I used to only wear this in the summer, but this year I’ve been using it in the cooler weather too and it’s equally as gorgeous. Always have this EDC on hand, recommended.

Neal's Yard Remedies Aromatic Foaming Soak review

Neal's Yard Remedies aromatic foaming soak. I'm usually a fan of Neal's Yard's products but unfortunately I'm not a fan of this. You see, it's the scent of pelargonium here which I find often overpowers other scents for me and this bath oil was no exception. I don't smell any lavender or marjoram, just a lot of pelargonium. 

That said, it is hydrating and calming but don't expect masses of bubbles from this sulphate free bath oil. Available from Neal's Yard Remedies for £15 for 200ml.

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Lauryl glucoside, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Polysorbate 20, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) extract*, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil*, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) oil*, Thymus mastichina (Marjoram) oil*, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool. 

Soft Touch Naked Starflower body wash review

I've been using the Vegetarian and vegan friendly Soft Touch Naked Bodycare Starflower body wash for several years, along with the other fragrances from Naked Bodycare. I get these from Boots whenever they go on offer and use up my Advantage points. These are probably the best value sulphate free body wash available here in the UK.

The 250ml plastic bottle 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. The scent is very aromatic and herbal with a definite note of patchouli. I prefer the Orange Blossom or Coco de Mer scents, but the Starflower is good for the cooler months. I'm currently going through the body butter as well. 

"Starflower is full of Gamma Linolenic Acid (an essential fatty acid) known to improve the skin's protective barrier and help prevent signs of ageing. This is also why Starflower extract, known as Borage oil, has long been used as a nutritional supplement to help counter "irritability" and general "women's problems"!"

Well, I can't vouch for that, though my colleagues at work might have a thing to say about that.

Here are the ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Lauryl glucoside, Glycerin, Coco glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Capryl/capryl glucoside, Borago officinalis (starflower) seed oil, Lavandula hybrida grosso (lavandin) herb oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) leaf oil, Cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) leaf oil, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citric acid.