Can you believe it is the end of September already? No? Well, me neither. And to mark the end of the month in true blogging tradition I bring you my monthly favourites. I know I started the blog in August and didn't do an August Favourites, but thats because I didn't have anything put together then so ... be prepared, this is a long list!
Some of these products I have been enjoying the use of for months and some I have only been using since the end of August but pretty much use everyday. Do you have any of these products? If so, let me know what you think about them or if you recommend any great products.
September has been quite a busy month for me and I don't plan on stopping come October, juggling retail work and freelancing along with my own projects. If you haven't read my last post (Six Things Sunday) then you wouldn't know I am actually in the process of planning on setting up my own little website / blog, where I can combine my textile work and the content you find here on This Haven together. I'm taking my time with choosing the right look and approach to blending the two blogs, but hope to have it launched as soon as possible so there won't be a "new look" for this blog but I will continue to post until the website launches so please hang around and have a read. 

1. Joules // Wensley Scarf in Antique Gold Bloom

I have been wearing this scarf non stop because it goes with most of the outfits I put together for work. I tend to wear it with my Oxford Semi Fitted Shirt in Chalk to give the shirt some colour or I layer the shirt with my Harbour Striped Jersey Top in French Navy and through the scarf on top. The scarf adds colour and sophistication to most outfits. The colours are great for the Autumn season right through to Winter as Mustard is an on trend colour. It's an long line woven scarf so can be worn in a variety of ways but I just tend to through it on and off I go.

Buy the scarf here.

2. Clarins // Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with Microbeads

I cannot rave about this product enough. This exfoliator sums up why I love Clarins so much, it leaves your skin feeling fresh, soft and smooth. Plus, it smells amazing and you don't need to use a huge amount to work in to your skin for great results. Since using this exfoliator 2-3 times a week I see such a difference in my skin, it has lost a lot of the redness I had and now my skin looks more even. With that being said I still have some redness to work on so I do need a consultation with Clarins and to keep drinking more water and eating better. The product can only help your skin so much but it truly is one of the best Clarins products I have tried (and I have tried plenty). This is only a sample I have so I think buying a full sized one is definitely worth the buy because it will last a while due to the fact you don't need to use it every day.

Buy the Exfoliator here.

3. Lush // Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair // Shower Gel

This shower gel smells A-mazing. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and fresh and you don't need a lot of it. Perfect product all round I say! I got this when I attended the Lush event in Nottingham and have been slowly using it since. I try not to use it all the time because I don't want it to run out just yet. I cannot explain the smell but its like heaven in a bottle, if heaven smelled of fresh guava, fig juices, infusions of lavender, jasmine and rose petals with ylang ylang. It is a great product to use if you come in from work and need a pick me up or you've been for a run and just need some balance and restoring.

Buy the shower gel here.

4. IKEA // Sinnlig // Candle

I am quite the candle lover and over the coming weeks plan to extend my candle collection because Autumn is the perfect time to light some candles on a night in to make you feel all cosy. After a recent trip to Ikea, the candle collection got started with this Sinnlig purchase and, lets face it, what trip to Ikea is complete without picking up a candle. As its my only candle at the moment I haven't used it that much as I've been saving it for early, chilled out nights. Some candles give me horrible headaches but this candles lovely fruity, blossom smell is just right and the perfect companion for nights in reading a book or watching TV. 

Buy the candle here.

5. Essie // Nail Varnish in Bordeaux

This nail varnish was on the Autumn Wishlist I did ages ago since it became my colour crush over on my textile blog and, thanks to a good friend, I finally made the purchase! I don't think I have stopped wearing it since I got it, I just love this oxblood red colour. It goes with a lot of my outfits and is a great way to wear one the seasons biggest colour trends if the colour doesn't suit you clothing wise. I have decided, after purchasing many nail varnishes from well known brands and high street clothing stores and being utterly disappointed with how badly they've chipped, that I would rather spend an extra couple of pounds to get an Essie varnish. Being in a hands on job where I'm tearing in to delivery bags and boxes most of them time I have found Essie, over any other brand I have worn to work, has stood the test of time and lasts for days rather than just hours. I am now on the hunt for a gorgeous blue or deep purple to add to the collection and I am dying to invest in Essie's top coat varnish.

Buy the nail varnish here.

6. Essie // Nail Varnish in Fifth Avenue

When I purchased the full sized colour of Bordeaux I also got a smaller sized polish for free in the colour of Fifth Avenue. This colour is a bright red with a tang of orange running through it. It is quite a pop of colour for this season, but a great pick me up for when you want brighter nails on a rainy day. I don't think I will wear this colour all the time because I personally favour darker colours but, again, it last for days and doesn't chip easily.

Buy the nail varnish here.

7. Revlon // Colourburst Matte Balm in Striking

This was another product on my Autumn Wishlist. I have being dying to get it for weeks and weeks and just went for it and brought this when I brought my Essie nail polish. I kept trying this colour on every time I went in to Boots and tested it to see if it was worth the money and the conclusion is it definitely is. It stays on like you wouldn't believe, I apply it in the morning and it survives me eating my breakfast and drinking cups of tea. Sometimes I top it up slightly half way throughout the day but it doesn't always need it because it is so pigmented and has staying power. One thing I have noticed is that you need to look after your lips when using this colour crayon because if you have chapped lips it shows when you apply these deep, pigmented colours. I have been keeping two lip balms by my bedside to apply every night and a lip moisturiser in my bag which I apply on days I do not wear the lip crayon.

I am so impressed by the Revlon colour crayons that I am now thinking of adding another colour to my collection. I have really fallen for lip crayons over the last few months. 

Buy the lip balm here.

8. Benefit // Roller Lash Mascara

I actually got this sample free in a magazine quite early on in the year and started to use it more and more once my Clinque mascara ran out (another sample one. Yeah, I haven't brought a mascara in a good year or two). I wear it every time I put make up on and I love it. I even managed to sell the product to an old lady in Boots the other week who was buying a mascara for her granddaughter (yeah, I couldn't believe I did that either). You don't need to apply to much to your lashes because it begins to make the lashes stick together, but it does lengthen them out. I've never tried a Benefit mascara before and always used cheaper products that I end up hating, so this was a nice change and I think I would probably buy a full sized product once this sample runs out. 

Buy the mascara here.

9. Collection // Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Black
After a recommendation from my friend I decided to buy this eye liner after struggling to find the right one for months and scratching my eye out with a stupid pencil one. This eye liner is cheap but does its job pretty well. It is very black and not wishy washy and, best of all, stays on for hours. I'm shockingly bad at putting on eye liner, but with it being a felt tip that glides easily. After a while it gets easier to apply and get the right amount of line thickness to get definition. I'm quite impressed and will probably be buying this product again once it runs out.
Buy the eyeliner here.

- Speak soon, Lisa Jayne X

NOTE: None of this content was sent to me for review. I purchased these products with my own money and am reviewing this with total honesty.

Beauty // Birchbox Birthday Box

BOX CONTENT:

Laura Mercier // Face Polish

Birchbox Birchbrush

Laqa & Co. // Cheeky Lip Pencil // Humble Brag Shade 

John Masters Organics // Citrus & Neroli Detangler

Bliss // Lemon + Sage Soapy Suds 

Benefit // The POREfessional: Licence to Blot

Whilst scrawling through my Facebook the other day I came across a Birchbox advertisement for a lucky dip to celebrate their birthday this month. I had heard of Birchbox previously but never really looked it up or thought about subscribing. I decided to take a chance on the lucky dip and it just so happened I was lucky enough to win an offer of 50% off my first box. I thought "why the hell not" and I ordered my Birchbox Birthday Box. I was very excited when it landed at my door and couldn't wait to see what was inside. Some of the brands I had heard of or used before, like Laura Mercier and Benefit, but others, like John Masters Organics and Laqa & Co, I hadn't. 

I'm looking forward to testing out the Laqa & Co. Cheeky Lip Pencil as I'm quite in to lip crayons at the moment and have been wanting to try out some new colours or brands. The one I have is a beautiful rosy pink that will work for me if I use foundation on my lips first as my lips are quite red without lipstick. 

My skin can sometimes get a little oily if I apply too much foundation or powder, so it will be interesting to try out this Benefit POREfessional blotter, which is meant to mattify shine for up to 6 hours. Benefit is a brand I seem to have a growing interest in after being so impressed by their Benefit They're Real Mascara and am hoping to try out more of their products in the future.

Ages ago I wanted to get a Tangle Teezer when they hit the market and became a must-have beauty item, but this Birchbrush is their own version so will be giving that a go on bad hair days. It will be a good companion for the John Masters Organics Detangler, which I am keen to try out now my hair is all freshly cut and I am taking more care of my hair because I am using more heat. The detangler kind of works like a hair mask and needs to be left in for 1-3 minutes or can be used as a leave in conditioner. It will be a good product to use once or twice a week to take care of the mid to ends of your hair. 

Laura Mercier is a brand I have heard non-stop when watching beauty videos or reading beauty blogs so I am interested in the Face Polish and what it can do for my skin as it is a little red and uneven at the moment (must drink more water I know!). This creamy scrub is basically an exfoliator, but a little less rough on the skin. After cleansing the skin, you're meant to work the product in small circular motions to buff away dead skin and rinse with warm water. Hopefully, this will work well with my skin and, who knows, I could be a Laura Mercier fan in the making.

The Bliss Soapy Suds can be used as a shower gel or a bubble bath and is apparently great for cleansing and moisturising the skin. Apparently it has skin-friendly ingredients so I am hoping my skin doesn't have any reactions to this. I think this will be one of those "treat me" items because it is just a sample size after all. 

I loved how the box was designed with birthday balloons and it even came with a guide and a little welcome postcard. Plus, the samples came in a lovely tie bag to store them in until I use them. I'm still unsure whether I want to subscribe every month and so will give these products a go and look through the website more to see if I want to receive a box every month. I don't use that many beauty products or change the brands I shop from because I have sensitive skin and tend to stick to the brands I know and trust, but maybe a subscription means I become more open to brands. I think the website it really organised and it is easy to find the products you're after. I like how they have a description of the product called "Birchbox Breakdown" and how they guide you on how to use the product, alongside having an "Editiors Tip". There are many of these beauty subscription services out there now and since being exposed to Birchbox I have seen others pop up on my Facebook. I've looked through them but, overall, I think Birchbox is a standout company for me because of how the website looks, the interaction they give you on their Facebook page and the vast amount of beauty products and advice they offer you. 

Thank you Birchbox for my first box and HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY!

- Speak soon, Lisa Jayne X

NOTE: None of this content was sent to me for review. I purchased this box with my own money and am reviewing this with total honesty.

Beauty // Lush Event

Thanks to fellow blogger and friend Kassi I was invited to the Lush Nottingham Product Event on Wednesday. I've never been to an event like this before so didn't know what to expect, what to where or what to do. I just knew how to be excited for it!
I have been in to Lush for years, using their bath bombs and facial exfoliators, cleaners and moisturisers to keep my skin feeling fresh and smelling great. I floated away from Lush at the beginning of my University days as I swapped my skin care and stopped having baths (at University you realise you have to pay water bills so all baths go out the window). Now I am slowly getting back in to Lush again going to the event was a great chance for me to see what new products they have, what products can work for my sensitive skin and, overall, just learning what does what.
The staff in the Nottingham store were nothing but friendly and welcomed us in with huge smiles and seemed just as excited for the evening as we were. I have to say the teams product knowledge was outstanding and they knew so much about each product, how it works and couldn't be more helpful in recommending products for my skin/hair type.
The event was the chance to showcase some of the new 200 product ranges that were first introduced in the London's Oxford Street flagship store that opened in April. A selection of these new products are now to be rolled out in Lush shops worldwide from this month.

1. INTERGALATIC // Bath Bomb 
"...Watch as its space dust (popping candy) spins around your orbit transforming the bath in to a galaxy of clouds, whilst enjoying its aha velvet fragrance of grapefruit, cedar wood and peppermint".
It's glittery surface makes the water glitter in the deep blue hue making it look like space and you can hear the popping candy as it melts. The colour burst you get as it reacts with the water is amazing and its really is like watching some sort of colour galaxy before your eyes.

2. THE EXPERIMENTER // Bath Bomb
"Inspired by our ultra high definition film, this multi-layered, sweetly fragranced bomb creates an explosion of colour and texture that perfectly captures Lush's creativity". 
This is the bath bomb I decided to put in my goodie bag because I couldn't believe the crazy mix of vibrant colours in the water and how soft it made your skin feel. The smell is beautiful with Fair Trade vanilla and perfume. Its handy shape means you can easily split in two or just indulge in the whole bomb (and then buy another one).

3. YOGA BOMB // Bath Bomb
"If you long for calm and contemplation, drop this layered bomb in to your bath. As the mesmerising colours unfurl, woody olibanum and ho wood create an atmosphere of deep relaxation". 
Yoga bomb is definitely going on my wish list as I think this is the perfect bath bomb or those who are feeling anxious or stresses and need some relaxation time. It has quite a strong smell to it but I think it would be easy to get used to once you start relaxing. I love the colour of this one also and, like the other bombs, it is quite a big size so you can either split it in half or use it all at once for a longer bath.

4. PINK FLAMINGO // Reusable Bubble Bar
"The cocktail inspired bubble bar is scented in rosewood from our sustainable Peruvian distillery and ylang ylang. The macadamia nut oil with leave you with soft skin". 
It smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling so soft. Plus, it turns the water a pretty baby pink colour with a topping of bubbles. It's quite a fun little bubble bar and it great to split if you don't want to use it all in one go.

5. MILKLY BATH // Bubble Bar
"The fairly traded cocoa butter will leave you with the sorest skin and be uplifted with the scent of orange oil."
All you have to do is crumble this sweet looking bar under the water, which makes it look like frothy milk and leaves your skin feeler extra soft. I would personally say this bar leaves your skin feeling softer and has a nicer touch to it than the Pink Flamingo.

6. SALTED COCONUT // Hand Scrub
This gentle exfoliating scrub contains 50% sea salt, up-lifting lemon oil and extra virgin coconut oil leaves your hands feeling moisturised and awakened. I got to try this product and you only need a small amount to scrub away at your dry or wet hands (which ever you prefer) and lift all the dead skin away. Straight away I could not only see the difference but I could feel it as well and my hand felt very fresh and reinvigorated.

7. GOLDEN HANDSHAKE // Hand Mask
On one hand I had the above and on the other I had this soft hand mask. This little glittery hand contains argan oil, avocado oil, cupuacu butter and murumuru butter and as soon as applied in instantly begins to make your hand feel soft. Just melt the hand in hot water and stir until you create a paste that is cool enough to apply to the skin and leave for as long as you like. Due to it containing the butters it is a little tricky to get off but that is to be expected due to the consistency. After it was removed my hand immediately felt lighter which may sound strange but try it for yourself and see because it felt like my whole hand was relaxed.

8. LOVE AND LIGHT // Hand Cream
After we received the above two it was time to apply a moisturiser in the form of this hand cream that feels light and soothing and made with a delicate floral fragrance of orange flower and neroli. I'm quite wary of hand creams as my hands tend to be sensitive but that worked wonders and left my hands feeling soft and smelling nice for hours. Like the name suggest it is very light and doesn't feel greasy at all as we have probably all had those greasy creams before, am I right?

9. REFRESHER, 93, 000 MILES and NEEDLES + PINES// Shower Jellies
Shower jellies I hear you say? Well, yes Lush have "thought outside the bottle" and added a "little wibble wobble to your washes" with these new jellies. Simply chill it, freeze it or use it straight from the pot and rub all over for soft skin. I found these a little scary but may give these a go in the future as they really did make my hands soft and they smells are gorgeous.

10. WASH THAT MAN RIGHT OUT OF MY HAIR // Shower Gel
These one made it in to my goodie back with I also had the options of Don't Rain On My Parade or Beautiful. I went for this one as it had lavender in it which is great for relaxation and naturally calms me down and leaves my skin feeling fresh (plus you smell great for hours afterward). I was also told that these double up as shampoos which is so handy if you're at he gym and don't want to fill your bag up with products. This definitely something I can invest in as I am always taking too much product to the gym.

List of New Lush Products - 

Bath Bombs

Frozen 

The Experimenter 

Intergalactic 

Yoga Bomb

Bubble Bars

Pink Flamingo 

Milky Bath

Granny Takes a Dip

Shower 

Rub Rub Rub (Solid Body Scrub)

The Rough with the Smooth (Solid Body Scrub)

Yuzu and Cocoa (Shower Cream)

The Comforter (Shower Cream)

Refresher (Shower Jelly)

Beautiful (Shower Gel)

New Inventions

Life's a Beach (Body Scrub Powder)

Dreamwash (Roulade) 

Turkish Delight (Roulade)

Lush Mechanic (Cold Pressed Soap)

Lush Gardener (Cold Pressed Soap)

Lush Hippy (Cold Pressed Soap)

Damaged (Hot Oil Hair Treatment)

Kinky (Hot Oil Hair Treatment)

Tangled (Hot Oil Hair Treatment 

Solid Soaps

Maypole 

Layer Cake

Milky Bar 

Outback Mate

Respect Your Elders

Serendipity 

Devil's Nightcap

Sea Salted Caramel

Face, Hands & Feet

Rosy Cheeks (Fresh Face Mask)

Don't Look At Me (Fresh Face Mask)

Cup O'Coffee (Face Mask)

Magical Moringa (Moisturiser)

Love and Light (Hand Cream)

Golden Handshake (Hand Mask)

Elbow Grease (Hand Cream)

Salted Coconut (Hand Scrub)

Pumice Power (Foot Soap)

Softy (Foot Cream)

Twinkle Toes (Foot Powder)

Pink Peppermint (Foot Cream)

Colour Supplements

Dark Brown 

Light Brown

A massive thank you to the Nottingham team for having me and thank you to Angel for her amazing brownies, cookies and cupcakes. You have restored my love in Lush!

All images are my own. Follow Lush @LushNottingham and Angel @norcaliangel

- Speak soon, Lisa Jayne X