Empties #1

In the next coming months I will be doing more empties posts than the average person. Now this isn't because i'm trolling through every beauty product that I own but I have hundreds of mini products and a quarter full ones that need to be used up. I'm also on a mission to minimise my spending and with me using up all my old products and saving up some money on the way. 

This is my first batch of empties... they are all mini's or samples. I am addicted to buying smaller versions of products over the larger ones despite the larger ones being more cost effective. Another reason is that I get bored easily and like to change up things and it might be because I also like buying products so if I buy smaller ones I get through them quicker hence needing to go shopping more. Ooops! 


The Body Shop Camomile Eye Make-Up Remover 60ml £3 - As far as gentle eye make-up removers go this isn't gentle. I couldn't continuously use this everyday as my eyes wouldn't had been able to take the sting. I'm not sure whether the formula reacted with my mascara which caused it to sting or whether it is just harsh. I just hated it really and used it up for taking my general make-up off and not using it near my eyes. And it was helpful for cleaning make-up marks off my dressing table... despite the purpose :p
Won't Repurchase - Unless I want squid eyes every morning.  

Toni & Guy Firm Hold Hairspray 50ml £2.50 - My favourite thing about this item is that the lid stays on... You wouldn't believe the amount of products that I stop using because the lid falls off - especially if they are handbag size because that annoys me. The packaging is pretty basic and it 'does what it says on the tin' kinda of hairspray. Nothing special or wow though it does smell quite nice too. 

Might repurchase - I like this product enough to repurchase it as it held my hair well but it isn't the best one and I would probably rather chop and change my hairspray until I find one I adore. 

Handpicked Hotels Shampoo 60ml Free - I was given this when my friend Megan and I went to a spa day for our birthdays last year. Instead of buying each other presents we had a salt scrub and back massage - it was beautiful. I'm not sure I could repurchase this shampoo even if I wanted too, it had a fresh 'spa' scent to it. It felt quite clarifying for my hair and had the 'squeaky clean' effect and I know all shampoos should clean your hair but some still feel like they are in your hair even after you've washed it out. 

Unable to repurchase

Charles Worthington Front Row Blonde Dry Shampoo 50ml £1.99 - I like the idea of this product firstly and if I had any hair colour other than blonde then it would be great. It is dry shampoo with a touch of colour so the dry shampoo blends into your hair colour easier. The reason why I don't think it was such a great idea for blonde is that I find the standard (whitey) dry shampoos to be just as effective for me. I find that the dry shampoo lays thick on my scalp more than others that I use. 

Won't repurchase - I won't be re-buying this mainly because a generic dry shampoo suits me better. 

Estee Lauder Take It Away Total Make-Up Remover 30ml Sample - This works in a similar way to the Liz Earle cleanse and polish, the product has the same texture too. Though you don't need a muslin cloth to remove. I was not impressed with the product and I am a huge fan of Estee Lauder skin care. I can't work out whether the cleanser has a scent or not... but either way that is the biggest dislike to this product. 
Won't Repurchase  - Aside from the fact that I personally don't like this product, I think it is really over priced for what it is. 


Clinique Moisture Surge 30ml Sample - I think that I got this in Glamour last year, or at least the last time they did their Clinique giveaway. Up until a few months ago, I thought that I had dry skin and always went for heavy mositurisers and never particularly liked them. I now know why and it is because I have combinational skin and I tend to only get flaky dry skin on my nose... which I hate. I think this Clinique cream is okay, it sinks into the skin well but it doesn't have a smell to it and i'm a sucker for something which has a fruity/citrus/fresh smell. 
Won't Repurchase - Just because I think it isn't wow enough for a facial moisturiser and it doesn't seem to have an SPF in it which is a must for me. 


Lancome Visionnaire Skin Corrector 5ml Sample - I loooove this, I'm currently using Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Serum, however even though I have only tried this 5ml sample I prefer it. Visionnarie keeps my skin so beautifully smooth and clear, it helps keep blackheads at baby which is odd as a couple of serums I have used in the past have clogged my pores. 
Repurchase - I will be definitely buying a new one when my current serum runs out unless I find a better one before that... As I still have a couple of Clarins and Chanel samples to use.


The Body Shop Lip Butter 10ml £4 - I can't remember what flavour lip butter this one was all I remember is that I brought it a couple of years ago and it was one of their charity ones and I think it could had been guava but I am possibly making that up. Either way as most Body Shop lip butters do it smelt amazing and left my lips feeling nourished. And for a 10ml pot it has taken me years to get through that I thought this day would never come. 
Repurchase - I think next one that I will buy will be the coconut one because that is my current favourite smell. 

Morning Skincare Routine #1

So I thought I would share with you all my current morning skincare routine. Now I do try and stick with this as much as I can but due to whether I am rushing in a morning or not depends on if I do my full routine or not. A little disclaimer, my skin is combination/dry and I tend to have really sensitive eyes. 


Step 1 - I use my Clinique Take the Day Make-Up Remover which I only ever tend to use if I was wearing fake eyelashes the night before or had been out and didn't take off my eye make-up properly. This remover is great for getting of stubborn excess of eyelash glue. 


Step 2 - Is obviously the famous Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, which I massage onto dry skin whilst the sink fills up with hot water. I use the muslin cloth which comes with it and ring all excess water before rubbing it off in circular motions section by section. Rinsing in-between. The splashing my face with cold water afterwards. 


Step 3 - Lancome Tonique Douceur - Softening Hydrating Toner which is alcohol free. I love the smell of this and most of all I love the way it makes my skin feel. To me it kind of smells of Palma Violets. I just sweep this over my face with a cotton wool pad. 


Step 4 - I leave my skin for a couple of minutes before applying Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator. I don't like this as much as the standard Idealist but I am just using this up for the sake of using up products. 


Step 5 - This cucumber smelling moisturiser is really hydrating and soothing. My skin cane sometimes feel slightly sore after using products but this one gentle 'kisses' my skin. It is the Estee Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme. I recommended anyone with a similar skin type to mine to try this :). 


Step 6 - Origins GinZing 'efreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and De-puff' - I dab a rice grain size amount underneath my eyes and smooth through. I have such dark bags under my eyes which really open them up and I love this product and the best thing about it is it lasts for ages because you only need a small amount. 


Step 7 - Is a combinational step and if I am wearing a blocked colour lipstick that day,  then it is vital. I scrub my lips with this Bubblegum Lip Scrub which is a sugar scrub that you lick off. I then smooth it over with La Prairie moisturising lip balm and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, I cannot get enough of this and it is the best lip balm in the world. I have really bad cracked lips which flake so badly. This makes my lips beautiful soft and I love this product for making them that way. :)


What are your skincare treats and tricks??

My Half Year Favourites

Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzer in 14 Tanned Skin - I brought this because I love the Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer but I hate the packaging because it doesn't have a mirror. So I brought this new one which has a 360 degree mirror and has a slight shimmer with the bronzer and I love it as it is great for on the go. 

Revlon Lip Butter in 095 Creme Brûlée - This is the second Revlon Lip Butter which I have and it is my favourite everyday one particularly for when I am working as it is such a nude colour and compliments my everyday make-up well. 

GOSH Velvet Touch Lipstick in 153 Flirty Orange - If you follow my blog or have seen any of my recent post and I love this lipstick. Not much I can say, I just love this colour. 

Fashionista Khol Eyeliner in 1 Erin - I found this right at the beginning of the year and it got lost in an old handbag but found it again about March time. It is the perfect Khol eyeliner as it is a rich black texture and doesn't smudge unless you smudge on application and it is pretty cheap too. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - I know there is a huge hype around this product and I am on my second one of the year after receiving one for Christmas last year. It has just transformed my skin. 

Lancome Tonique Douceur Toner - I never really used toner until this year where I wanted to make sure I had a full skincare routine. I used a couple of low end toners which dried my skin out. But I will be repurchasing this again and again. 

Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisturiser Hair Treatment - I have dry hair mixed with dyed blonde hair which equal super dry hair. This treatment is amazing... am currently on a hair "diet" from my hairdressers because of the peroxide disaster which I had last month. I leave this treatment on for a few hours and it works its magic on my mop and bang it's beaut. 

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub - I think this is my third or fourth pot of this scrub and by gosh I think only this year I have realised why it is my favourite. I'm finishing up my numerous Body Shop scrubs which I own and whilst they are gorgeous, they don't have the thick abrasive texture that The Breakfast Scrub has. 

Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tanner - Deep Sun Kissed Look - Nearly finished this bottle and it is leaves my skin feel beautiful and it doesn't smell bad either. The moisture sinks in quickly but you don't know the effects until after a week, I think. Still it does the job and doesn't go patchy or streaky. 

Garnier Ambre Solaire Self-Tanning Dry Body Mist - Quick, easy and clean. I found that this was like giving myself a spray tan but for myself. I do get through this like water which is a pain but it isn't too expensive, I think around the £10 mark. And it doesn't come off in the shower, it fades but doesn't come off which is a bonus!

Lush Helping Hands Handcream - WOW. Smooth beautiful hands in one pump. I LOVE THIS :) 

I love reading other people's monthly favourites but I just find that this year is flying by and the next minute I know it will be christmas. Eeek that is such a scary thought. Anyway, basically what I am attempting to say is that I can't keep up with the monthly favourites. Thus now I am doing my half yearly favourites - yes we are half way through 2012. I don't know where it has gone. So I thought I would show you what I have been loving this year so far. 

Lancome Intense Star Bronzer in 02

(My left eye has had an allergic reaction to my new make up remover hence the big lumpy thing underneath it :( boo.)

(I know I look as though i haven't blended on my neck... but it doesn't look that way in real life. Odd)

Lancome Star Bronzer Intense 02 - £32

Lancome Powder Brush 01 - £27

About a month and half back I was in desperate need of a new bronzer, so after work I popped into Boots to see what I could find. Now I must admit I am the perfect customer for a really good sales person, because I fall for all of their waffle. This purchase was no different. 

Lancome Star Bronzer Intense retails at £32, which is really overpriced I think for the product. From the name you expect it to be a really deep and dark shade which gives you great definition. When in fact, you have to apply so much to begin to build up the shade. The colour I brought was 02 Intense, and there is a darker shade, but as I'm not overly tanned I think this would be too dark for my skin tone. 

The problem is that despite the price and the effort it takes to put on, I really like the contouring that it gives. It gives a matte finish and there is a subtle hint of shimmer in the compact but this doesn't transcend onto your cheeks. The brush I used, I've had for a long time now and I really like the way it is angled to make it easier to apply bronzer/blusher.

I have hit pan of my compact and I am just using up the little product of what is left. I probably won't be repurchasing because I don't like products which make things harder work than they need to be, especially for that price.