MARIE CLAIRE - AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES SKINCARE GIFT

I have an obsession with magazines, but I get even more excited when I find a magazine with an interesting free gift. When my mum came in with Marie Claire's June Issue in tow, and I spotted the Aromatherapy Associates logo I jumped for joy (and ran to grab the camera).

The magazine itself is actually £2.50 which isn't bad at all and you get 3 adorable minis alongside from the Hydrating Rose range. The one I haven't tried yet is the 15ml Hydrating Rose Face Mask, which is a surprisingly thin, clear gel mask so I am intrigued to give this a go. Just a heads up, if you aren't a massive fan of rose these may not be for you, but speaking as someone who doesn't worship overly floral fragrances it isn't unbearable.

The 10ml Hydrating Renewing Rose Cleanser is actually really nice, its a lot thinner than a general cream cleanser, but a little goes a long way and it leaves me feeling nourished as well as cleansed. On first impressions I also enjoyed the 5ml Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser, which was hydrating enough for night time but also didn't overload my face when I used it the following under makeup.

So not only do I have a good magazine to flick through I also have some awesome samples to try out, and I would say that this is worth picking up if you like to trial new skincare, or are off anywhere over the bank holiday..

ELLE MAGAZINE FREE BENEFIT LIP GLOSS MINI

I love a good freebie, and my luck has been pretty high when discovering some good free products in magazines recently, although I am still kicking myself because I didn't pick up the ELLE Issue with the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray in it, nor the one with Benefit's Their Real Mascara - idiot Lauren... Maybe it will happen again one day. 

In the (very early) December Issue of ELLE, you get a choice of 3 Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss, either Hoola (which I got), Coralista (which I want), and Dandelion I believe. My mum got me this magazine after knowing how much time I spend at the benefit counters, but never actually pick anything up. 

Hoola itself is a really lovely natural nude/brown, slightly shimmery shade. The formula is great for a lipgloss, is has a very slippy texture, and not sticky at all, meaning you can wear this in the wind and you wont have any hair-in-lipgloss situations. 

The magazine costs £4, and with the 6.5ml lipgloss, I think it is something worth buying. I am definitely spending more time browsing the magazines in WHSmith nowadays, hoping to find some hidden gems. After all, magazines are a really good way to add more high end makeup items to your collection without spending too much, which is great for me being on a drugstore budget. ELLE, put some more Bumble and Bumble in there again...just for me? I promise I won't forget to buy it!