Have you tried any of these?

What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

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New To My Stash is exactly what is says on my tin. A kind of haul/blogger mail hybrid that brings an overview of the newest products in my collection. There will be a good mix of PR stuff and things that I've bought: mainly makeup, a bit of skincare, maybe some hair care, and even a few random bits I think you need to know about too. You might have seen these products floating around on my social media channels, but this is the place for my quick first impressions before I really get chance to put things to the test. If I really fall in love with a product, you might see it in a Hall of Fame post [as a Beauty Bargain (under £5), Drugstore Gem, High-end Hero or Luxury Love] which will showcase my ultimate faves and the things you really need in your life. Alternatively, keep an eye on my empties and declutters on YouTube to find out how I got on with them. So without further ado...

The Makeup

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipsticks (£5.99) | The liquid lipstick launch the drugstore has been waiting for! These really impressed me in my first impressions video, and I've been wearing them a ton since. They dry down to a transfer-proof matte finish that isn't too drying on the lips, and they last a decent amount of time too. I'm particularly loving the shades Be My Baby, which is a peachy nude, and Rose & Shine which is a rosy pink. I'm yet to wear Blue Iris out the house because I'm a wuss but I definitely need to pick up more shades, they're such a bargain!  | Rating: 9/10

NYX Suede Lip Liner in On The Beach (£4) | I've been wearing bright corals a lot recently, but they're not the easiest to apply without a lip liner. Unfortunately it's not the most readily available liner colour, but I managed to find this one from NYX, which actually matches their Liquid Suede lip liners. This one is a wooden pencil, so isn't as creamy as some of the other lip liners in my collection, but it certainly fills the coral liner void in my makeup collection. | Rating: 8/10

The Skincare

Boots Botanics Hydration Burst Range | I picked up a couple of products as they were on clearance due to their re-release in updated packaging (and hiked up prices!). I'd been eyeing up their Day Lotion for quite a while, but decided in the end to go for the Day Cream (I paid £4, new RRP £8.99) as I thought it would be more nourishing. When I first opened the tub (which is a let down as it is in really cheap white plastic packaging), I was really surprised at the texture, as it's not really a cream, more so a runny gel-cream kinda situation. I also picked up their Serum (which doesn't appear to have made it into the new range) as it was reduced to £2 as I had almost run out of their All Bright Radiance Serum (Nope, not over the fact that they've upped the price from £2.50 to £8.99!). Again, it gets a thumbs down for the packaging, and the texture wasn't what I expected. It's not the kind of watery texture I'm used to, it is thicker and is a white colour. It sinks into the skin quickly and feels nice, but it feels a bit silicon-y. The same also goes for the moisturiser. It is quite hydrating, but it's the silicone texture I don't love - I can feel it's not doing my skin as much as I'd like and it also has the tendency to ball up on my skin. They're not products I'll continue to use | Rating: 3/10

Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream (£4.09) | I picked this up after being a bit disappointed with the Hydration Burst moisturiser. I used to use the one with the blue lid back in the day and I don't remember it being awful, so when I saw this in my local Bodycare for around £2, I thought I'd give it a go. It has quite a strong powdery scent, but its not too overpowering. The cream is rich and creamy and has a nice soothing quality to it. It feels surprisingly moisturising and it makes my skin feel nice and soft. On first impressions, I really like it, and my Mum's been helping herself to it too! | Rating: 9/10

The Fragrances

Accessorize Love Lily Gift Set* (RRP £19, currently £10) | This affordable set comes with a 75ml fragrance and a body lotion. It has notes of raspberry, orange, jasmine and musk. To be honest, this isn't really my cup of tea, but I can see a lot of people enjoying this. It reminds me a lot of something like Paco Rabanne Lady Million, so if you're looking for an affordable alternative, I'd definitely recommend checking this out. It has the same bold feel and has a good strength to it.

Next Summer Sun (£8) | My mum spied this as we were wandering around Next as she loves anything coconutty and tropical. As soon as I smelt it I was like "That's a Bronze Goddess dupe!", so it didn't take long before it went into my basket! It's so similar to its high-end counterpart, but is a fraction of the price. I can't get enough of it so expect a full post very soon! | Rating 10/10

The Other Bits

Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser (£14.99) | Something I picked up after a bit of a fake tan mistake. After seeing so many people sing its praises, I put it to the test. It is a mousse formula, so it feels a bit like shaving foam when you apply it. It does dissolve onto the skin, and it can be hard to know how much to apply. You leave it for 5 minutes before hopping into the shower, armed with an exfoliating glove. To be honest, I was expecting magic, especially for the price. It did remove some of my tan, but I still had to scrub at it. I usually wait until a week before removing my tan and it comes right off with a mitt, but I'm not sure how easy 3 day tan is usually to remove. I definitely wouldn't say it's an essential product. | Rating: 6/10

Batiste Stylist Texturising Spray (£2.99) | I'm forever on the search for the perfect texturising spray, so as my V05 Give Me Volume spray is running out, I decided to pick up the Batiste offering when I saw it on offer. I expected this one to have a bit more hold to it, as I don't like to have to use a hairspray as well, although this would be great if you're after something really lightweight. If anyone has any recommendations for a great dry texturising spray, let me know in the comments! | Rating: 6/10

Graze Protein Bites* (£2.50 for 4) | Individually wrapped, handbag sized bites of flapjack-y goodness (we all know I can't resist a Graze flapjack), with the addition of protein crispies to keep you going 'til lunch. These new snacks from Graze have been well received, being the perfect thing to throw in my bag for a breakfast/mid-morning snack on the go. They are available in three flavours (Banana & Oat, Cocoa Vanilla and Honey & Seed) which are all equally as yummy and are available from supermarkets at £2.50 for a box of 4, which is a great price compared to a lot of healthy snacks. I'm a bit addicted and I'll definitely be stocking up in my weekly shop! | Rating: 10/10

Have you tried any of these products?
What's new to your stash?

- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -

- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product -

We're just over halfway through my first Project Pan challenge, which I've been documenting over on my YouTube channel. I can't say it's been easy! In this update, I've finished up a few products (YAY!), decluttered a few and also added in a couple of products too. I have to say, project panning is pretty addictive, and it's great when you actually do see progress. I'm getting there with a lot of products, but there are some where progress is super slow. Despite having already hit pan on the Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder, it's going down very slowly now as I don't tend to use as much powder now my skin is more dry. It has definitely made me analyse my beauty-using habits, and it's made me see a product with pan as half full, not half empty. Sometimes we can be so quick to run out and repurchase the second we see that bit of pan, but in reality, it could actually last for a couple more months! My current total of products finished is 8 so I'm about halfway there, with my goal being to finish 17 by the end of the year. Wish me luck!

Products I'm Currently Panning

3 ITEMS FINISHED (8 ITEMS FINISHED IN TOTAL)

Fearne Cotton Eyeshadow Palette (bronzey shade) - hit pan!

Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Mist

The Body Shop Vanilla Brulée Hand Cream

5 ITEMS DECLUTTERED (6 ITEMS DECLUTTERED IN TOTAL)

The Sanctuary Deep Cleanse Facial 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask - went bad

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Pie - went bad

Benefit They're Real Mascara in Blue* - went bad

Origins VitaZing SPF 15 - doesn't work for my skin

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter

12 ITEMS STILL IN PROGRESS

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

L'Oréal True Match Foundation in C2 Rose Vanilla

Our Own Candle Company Lemon Pound Cake Candle

Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm

Benefit Erase Paste Concealer (now the Boi-ing Brightening Concealer)

Maybelline Color Tattoo in On & On Bronze

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in shade 6

2True Lip Gloss in 01

Maybelline ColorSensational Shine Gloss in Glorious Grapefruit

Benefit Posie Tint

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Foot Magic

ADDING IN 14 PRODUCTS

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron & Coriander Hand Therapy

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

MUA Undressed Palette

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

Estée Lauder The Illuminator Primer*

Colour Pop Ultra Matte Lips in Lumiere 2

CK One Brainiac Lipstick

Essence Lip Liner in Satin Mauve

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask

Merumaya Treatment Toner

Lush Happy Hippy Shower Gel

The Body Shop Pinita Colada Scrub

The Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion

Lush Roots Hair Treatment

Are you doing a Project Pan challenge? If so, I'd love to give it a read/watch!

- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -

The natural bristle mascara that's really won my heart...

I'm really finicky when it comes to mascara and I rarely find ones I love, so it actually says a lot when a mascara even stays in my collection, let alone becomes my go-to! I've been using the Maybelline Colossal Big Shot for about three months now (and you might have spotted it in my May Favourites), and I'm still so in love with that doe-eyed effect it gives, it's really like nothing else I've tried! The fact that it still wows me every time I use it is why it has earned itself the first spot in my Hall of Fame series. As I mentioned briefly in my Diary of a Beauty Spending Ban post, I want to move away from reviewing items for the sake of it, and using the blog as more of a spotlight for things I truly recommend. Definitely one to try if you're looking for a new mascara!

I've had subscription boxes in the past (*cough* Birchbox), and while I enjoyed them for a while, I began to feel a bit underwhelmed with the contents - tiny samples of products I had no interest in trying and generally not much for the money. Then Secret Scent Box* came to town, a new fragrance subscription box, offering a 30 day supply of three perfume samples each month for £15. The box focuses on designer fragrances, with a mix of new launches and old favourites, so it is great for discovering new and old scents alike. I know I for one am rather intrigued by many scents that launched before I got into fragrance, and I'm keen to try those that I may have missed. There is also a separate box for male scents too, so the men (or those that love masculine scents of course - perfume really should be gender-neutral) need not miss out!

The box is letterbox-friendly, so you won't have the dreaded red slip on your doormat at the end of the day, although I was surprised by just how small it was! It is well presented however, in a black textured box adorned with the Secret Scent Box logo. Simplistic and classy, almost like a jewellery box. When you open the box up, you'll see the insert which says the month which in this case was the "May Edition" and "For Her", and then below that are a series of cards, one for each of the three fragrances in the box, displaying a short description of the scent and the notes. In the May Edition, I was pleased to see three scents that I had not tried. The one that I immediately squealed at, was Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom, a scent that I'd been very intrigued to sample for myself after smelling it in store. Then there is Calvin Klein Eternity Moment, one that's been around for a while, but I'd never really smelt, and Paul Smith Extreme for Her. Again, I've not tried much from Paul Smith, although I'm certainly familiar with this fragrance's jazzy bottle!

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom (rating: 5/5)

Obviously, I immediately spritzed Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom (from £45 for 30ml) all over myself as I'd been desperate to try it and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Lighter and less sweet than the original, Flowerbomb in Bloom is a pretty fruity floral, perfect for spring and summer. It has an exotic fruity opening of mandarin and pomegranate, and there's a real exotic orchid feel to the florals (freesia, rose and jasmine) in the heart. It has a layer of mountain air which gives it an airy, fresh feel, and woody notes which stops it from being too sweet and young. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so different from the original. Even if you think you don't like Flowerbomb, give this a go as it's a completely new scent, despite sharing the name. I think it's bloody gorgeous and I'll continue to use this.

Calvin Klein Eternity Moment (rating: 2/5)

Calvin Klein Eternity Moment (from £27.99 for 30ml) is a bit of an oldie, having launched in 2004. It is inspired by "the eternal moment of two souls meeting, gazing at each other, touching for the first time...", and has top notes of melon, raspberry, lychee and guava, a heart of passion flower, water lily, jasmine and peony and a base of cashmere wood, Brazilian rosewood, musk and sandalwood. Despite the varied note pyramid, all I really get is peony and an aquatic note from the water lily. Although it's a pleasant, pretty and girlie scent, it's not overly groundbreaking, and to be honest if I was looking for a peony scent, I'd choose Prada Candy Florale over this one, as it's a bit overpowering.

Paul Smith Extreme For Her (rating: 3/5) 

Paul Smith Extreme For Her (from £27.50 for 30ml) is another one that's been around for a while, and launched in 2003. Despite seeing it around, it's one that I've never really thought to try, so I was intrigued to see what it was like. It opens with blackcurrant, green tea and bergamot, and the heart of freesia and lily of the valley comes through almost immediately. To be honest, initially it seems like a rather confused scent, but it soon settles down to a pleasant mixture of green tea and blackcurrant, which is soft and powdery. The base is of amber, patchouli, vetiver and cedar, which gives it a touch of woody spice, stopping it from being so sweet. Although I'm not totally keen on the opening, I do like it as it dries down, although I can't really imagine myself reaching for it over any of my other fragrances.

Although I didn't enjoy every single fragrance from this Secret Scent Box, I still think it's a great idea. I adored Flowerbomb Bloom, and the 3ml sample is bigger than the 1ml I would have got had I purchased a sample from eBay. That being said, I was expecting the samples to be bigger, although you can most definitely make them last. I do think £15 is a lot when you compare the box with that of the Perfume Society Discovery Boxes. Their latest Travel Edition box contains 19.45ml of fragrance for £15/£20 (subscribers/non subscribers, inc P+P), compared to 9ml for £15 with the Secret Scent Box. However, I do think Secret Scent Box is great if you're not overly picky with your scents (I'm very choosy with my fragrances) and it would also make a fab gift for someone just getting into fragrance - maybe you could buy them a year's subscription for their birthday or Christmas present, so they'd be able to enjoy new fragrances all year long! 

What do you think of Secret Scent Box?

- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -

5 years of waiting for an in-shower aftersun and it's all kinds of dreamy...

Let's rewind to 5 years ago, I spent a hazy day at the lake and returned with blistered shoulders, great... Nothing really seemed to ease the pain of being sunburned, and the one thing I really wanted was a cooling aftersun I could use in the shower. Great, I'll just pop online and order one from... oh wait, it doesn't exist. When the press release popped into my inbox, I don't think I've ever been so excited (and as someone who rarely sees the sun, I certainly don't get excited about sun products!). When the products arrived, I was eager to try them out, especially as I had one slightly pink shoulder from being out the weekend before, and I jumped straight into the shower to put the Vichy Idéal Soleil Double Usage Aftersun Oil* (£13) to the test.

We all know I bloody love an oil product. Whether it's a body oil, shower oil, oil SPF... they just really seem to take the faff out of everything and make the task an absolute joy, as well as being super moisturising on the skin. The Vichy Double Usage Aftersun Oil is lightweight and silky and comes in a pump bottle (which can be a little awkward in the shower trying to pump and not spill the oil!). It smells beautiful, and is scented with ocean spray, white flowers, amber and musk for a gentle, fresh and summery fragrance that reminds me of being by the pool. It feels so luxurious on the skin as a shower treatment that I've been wanting to use it even when I've not been in the sun. It is slightly cooling when you apply it, and leaves skin feeling soothed and hydrated.

Being double usage, you can use this on wet and dry skin, and the formula isn't at all heavy. It contains shea oil, as well as apricot kernel, coriander seed, blackcurrant seed and echium oils. It is also paraben-free and is hypoallergenic so won't irritate sensitive skin. It makes for a gorgeous body oil that again you'll want to use every day! The only downside to it being oil-based however is that is doesn't go hand in hand with fake tan, as oils tend to remove the colour quicker. Additionally, I'm not super keen on the packaging. The oil texture has made the label peel off, and I haven't even kept mine in the shower. It's just not something I would expect from a more premium brand, but it's by no means a dealbreaker.

Also in the range is the Hydrating Mist SPF 50* (RRP £16.50, currently on offer for £12.38, go go go!). I mentioned before that I usually use a dry oil SPF rather than a traditional lotion as I find them that bit more nourishing on the skin, but this one has a really nice, silky feel. The mist is great for easy application, as I find it super easy to put on those hard to reach places like the backs of the knees and your back. It has a very subtle scent, which doesn't compete with your perfume. It sinks in really quickly and is invisible, so you don't get that white cast to the skin, instead it gives your skin a really healthy sheen. It is also hypoallergenic, alcohol and paraben-free, with a formula high in glycerin and Vichy Thermal Water to keep skin both nourished and hydrated throughout the day

Overall I've been really impressed with the products that I've tried from the Vichy Idéal Soleil range. It hadn't really crossed my mind to delve outside of the typical suncare brands you see in the drugstore, but having a more luxe brand makes applying the products more than just a necessity. They have much more of a skincare focus than simply giving you that sun protection, being super hydrating and feeling lovely on the skin. Although I still enjoy using the Dry Oil SPF I've used for years, I definitely would choose the Hydrating Mist over a classic cream SPF formula. I generally don't enjoy typical aftersun formulas either (go figure, I'm a self-confessed body lotion hater), so having something that I can use in (and out of) the shower really makes caring for delicate sunburned skin more enjoyable. I'll definitely be looking more into the range in the future as the prices aren't too high, and their Anti Sand SPFs sound like an absolute necessity for a beach holiday!

Have you tried anything from the Vichy Idéal Soleil range?