Empties #6

Hello, remember me? I'm the girl that hasnt blogged since the beginning of August! Anywho, lets not dwell on that too much! To ease myself back in I thought I'd start off with one of my favourite posts to read and to write...my empties!

There's quite a lot here as you can see but I have to say that there were a few things that I just binned by accident over the last couple of months, but here's what I've managed to keep hold of! Some would say this is the mascara edition...

Champneys Spa Indulgence Distance Shores Shower Mousse - The smell of this mousse is ah-mazing! The passion fruit really comes through and makes me think of holidays in exotic places! Its a liquid in the bottle but pumps out as a soft foam mousse. The smell didnt linger too long on my skin which was a shame, but it was a lovely wash to use on a Sunday night during a pamper evening. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Camomile Eye & Lip Make-up Remover - With lots of good feedback about this from other bloggers I was disappointed when I just didn't feel the same. Being a bi-phase formula it did leave my eyes a little greasy and not as gentle on my eyes as I'd hope. I did have to rub away stubborn eye make up a little more then I do with Liz Earle C&P. Smell was very pleasant though.

Would I repurchase? Unfortunately not

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo Mini - I think I've a dry shampoo in every empties post so far! Think that speaks volumes...

Would I repurchase? Over and over again

Garnier 5 Second Blur - This is a primer which I used pretty much every day, it has an optical blurring effect which smoothes and provides a good base for foundation. It has a very soft feeling, kind of reminds me of the of Benefits Porefessional but a lot cheaper. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara - Being my first MAC mascara purchase I wasn't sure what to expect, especially at a price of £18 (now £19!). I was really impressed with the volume, length and definition it gave to my lashes, it was quickly promoted to my favourite going out mascara - does anyone else have mascara that they only use for evening looks?! I would put this on par with Benefit They're Real. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild - In the mornings I like something gentle and easy to cleanse my face and little mini did a good job of freshening up my face first thing. Due to finding it a little drying and more expensive then some of my other morning face washes, I wouldnt pick this up again.

Would I repurchase? No

Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara - Once this has dried out a little it was a really good mascara, and I liked that there was two brushes, one for top lashes and the other for bottom. I did prefer the bottom lash wand, I just wish it was sold as separate mascara! It really helped to separate my bottom lashes and add a little colour without packing on loads of product, in turn avoiding the spider look. I'd pick this up again just for the bottom lash side. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - As I've mentioend before I use this as a bottom lash mascara and think as a normal mascara it doesnt really have much effect on my lashes. Since getting the Big Eyes mascara it was demoted to the back of the queue. 

Would I repurchase? Only if I couldn't get hold of Big Eyes

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - My first use of this mascara was pretty disappointing, the formula was far too wet and didnt hold a curl in my lashes at all so I didnt use it for a little while. But then I decided to give it a second go and it was a lot better after it has dried a little, and it did turn out to be a good egg. It really gave a feathered look and was perfect for an every day look. 

Would I repurchase? With boots points yes

Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner - With a short but steady nib this was really easy to apply - even for an eyeliner noob like me. My only problem was that it was very black, more like a muted black/grey. It lasted well on my eyes during the day, there was no fade but I think that was because it wasn't very dramatic when first applied. For £2.99 though its a bargain if your on a budget. 

Would I repurchase? Yes if it was a tight budget

Now I'm can finally clear under the sink and start a fresh! 

Have you tried any of these products?

July Empties

This month you'll find a mix of empties, one thing that I couldn't wait to finish and another that I may have had a little paddy about because I really didn't want to see the end of it!

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash - I hate to say it as its so well loved by others but I hated this body wash. Yes, it was really moisturising and felt so nice on my skin but the smell, well it really wasn't for me! I cant quite put my finger on what I didnt like it but every time I smelt it my nose was outraged! This bottle last forever which is normally a win win but I just wanted it to be finished already! This bottle may or may not have a little bit left in the bottom....

Would I repurchase? NO!

 Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Another hyped product that I just didnt love *sadface*. Now dont get me wrong I didnt hate it but I just expected more from something that everyone loved. For me it was just a little bit heavy and stuck to every dry patch under my eyes. It did give good coverage on any red marks but felt it made spots look more prominent.

Would I repurchase? No

Batiste Dry Shampoo Medium and Brunette - Its the obligatory dry shampoo, we all know what a beauty these products are and the brunette version means no white cast left in your hair! 

Would I repurchase? Always

Dove Damage Solutions Intensive Repair Shampoo & Conditioner - To begin with this I could tell such a difference in the condition of my hair, it felt a lot softer and smoother. But after a while, like with most hair products, it stopped working its magic and turnt back to being like straw! As always I go for the smaller bottles so I can rotate shampoo and conditioner often. 

Would I repurchase? Probably not

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm - I've left the best until last! At first I really, like really disliked this product, but now I feel like I judged far too early on! If you read my review of this you'll know that I hated the smell but I did infact grow to love it! The tub did last a good 6 months and that's with every day use which does make the price alot more justifiable then I had first thought! For now I'm going to work my way through the cleansers I have sitting in my drawer but I may in the near future pick it up. 

Would I repurchase? Yes if I was feeling spendy. 

Off these go to empties heaven. What have you been using up this month? Have you tried 

any of these products? 

Empties #4

This post would have been up hours ago if my sister hadnt forced invitited me to Nandos, well who can resist chicken and halloumi cheese? Definitley not me.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love reading and writing these posts. Tried and tested products with mini reviews all tied up in one pretty little blog post!

Superdrug Vitamin E Gentle Eye Make Up Remover - I love a good Vitamin E product, nice and gentle non offensive smell and pretty moisturising and that pretty much sums up this one too. It did take a few swipes to wipe off stubborn mascara, so dont be thinking this will take off Benefit They're Real with ease but will tackle most non waterproof make up. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Bee Good Honey & Wild Water Mint 3-in-1 Cleansing Water - I didn't have high hopes for this, I've gone a bit meh for micellar type waters but this turnt out to be a winner. Didnt dry my eyes out like some waters do, didnt drag or leave a horrible reside behind. The only thing that is putting my off repurchasing is the price, £10 for only 100ml! 

Would I repurchase? If I have some spare pennies

Botanics All Bright Hydrating Night Cream - When my finger tip reached the bottom of this little tub my heart sank a little. I love this stuff teamed with The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil, I even dedicated a blog post to the pair here so I wont harp on about it any longer. Well other than, try it! 

Would I repurchase it? Yes

Batiste Dry Shampoo Dark Brown - There's always going to be a dry shampoo that pops up somewhere. This little guy I got for free when I was out shopping in Brighton, score! Like most I love a bit of Batiste and the Dark Brown version is a favourite as there is no white caste, but still does the job like the original. 

Would I repurchase? There's always 1 waiting in the wings

Soap and Glory Flake Away - Need a never ending tub of body scrub? This is the stuff you need. I felt like this was sitting in my shower for so long even though I used it regularly. It was a really good scrub, there was enough abrasion without being drying as it did leave a slight silky residue behind which personally I like. As with most S&G products its very sweet smelling, my sister said it smelt like holiday which is down the Shea Butter, sea salts and almond oils. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

ELF Daily Brush Cleaner - Spot cleaning brushes is important, aint nobody got time to clean a brush each and every day. A couple of squirts of this on a cotton pad, and a quick swirl of all the brushes you've used that day means the brushes are cleaner for longer. This little bottle kept me going for quite some months and the squirty top really helped. I'm using the No7 one at the moment and the pump is AWFUL! For £3.50 you cannot go wrong.

Would I repurchase? In bulk 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion - There was nothing dramatically different about my skin after using this. I've the little 30ml bottle on the go for about a year now, just using it for travelling as its so diddly but honestly I wont miss it. Maybe my skin just didnt get on with it but it would take ages to soak in as it was quite thick. I've now got a mini of the new version, hopefully the formula has been improved this time round. 

Would I repurchase? Nope 

Burts Bees Pink Grapefruit - If your into your lip balms you'll know that this is a winner in the moisturising stakes. I used this every morning before putting on my make up, it left them feeling nice and smooth whilst the smell really perked me up. Not usually being a fan of pink grapefruit I wasnt sure if it would be my bag but I was wrong. The good thing about the formula is that its not soft like the Baby Lips which means you don't get through it so easily. I'd now love to try more in the Burts Bees range. 

Would I repurchase? When I get through the 100s of lip balms I have on the go at the moment

Out with the old in with the new ;) 

Have you tried any of these bits?

Empties #3

These kind of posts are my favourite as you get to see what people have been using up and you a get a mini review all in one, they are also one of my favourite to write although mine tend to turn into super long reviews because I ramble on so much - hopefully you don't mind too much :) So onto the reason your here...

Radox Coconut Kiss Shower Cream - This has a gorgeous smell about it, think holiday and coconut cocktails. Its fairly moisturising on the skin but nothing I'd write home about. I'm not sure I'd pick this one up again unless maybe if it is on offer when I'm picking up holiday bits. 

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Condition - I'd be lying if I said I didn't pick this up purely because of how amazing Nicole Scherzinger looked on all the advertisements - surely I cant be alone?! I also like getting smaller bottles of shampoo and conditioner as my hair always tends to get a bit complaisant after I use the same one for too long. This little duo was great for my dry damaged hair, it really brought it too life and looked and felt a lot stronger and shinier. As with all Herbal Essences products it smelt amazing! I'll definitely be picking up another set in the future. 

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Gel Wash - Apart from having a really long name (I even shortened it!) this product is a fav of mine. I used this in morning as it had a really fresh smell that woke me up as well as giving my skin a good refresh. It was really gentle on my skin, I even used to wash off the pesky mascara that stuck around after the previous night's cleanse and it didn't sting at all. My current morning cleanser really isnt living up to this one so I'll definitely be repurchasing very soon! 

YSL Top Secrets Eye Make-Up Remover - I received a little sample bottle of this in a set at Christmas and I put off using it for quite sometime as at £24 for 100ml I was worried that I was going to fall in love and want to repurchase but fortunately for my bank balance I really didn't love this. Yes it removed my eye-make up but no better than a micellar water which is a lot more cost effective, it even left an oily residue behind which really didn't sit well with my skin. Its safe to say this is not going to put in my shopping bag anytime soon. 

Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum - I remember this one of my first ever beauty blog induced purchases way back in summer last year! I was so intrigued by all the hype I just had to get it. This for me is right up there in the foundation stakes, it sits well on my skin, gives coverage as its so build-able and didn't break me out at all. It gives a really healthy glow to the skin and blends in so well using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. 

Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash - Not much to say about this one in all honesty, it smelt pretty nice, underneath the pomegranate and lemon you can smell the signature Dove scent which is really comforting. It lathered up well in my but I have to say I think next time I'll pass on this one and try something different. 

I hope you liked seeing my recent empties - I'd love to take a look at yours so please do leave a link below!

K x

Empties #2

I love these kinds of posts as its like lots of mini reviews all wrapped up in one post. Much like January, during the month of February I was trying to use up lots of old products as I had lots waiting in the wings which I wanted to try out. 

L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution - Taking my eye make-up is always a chore but with micellar waters it makes life a lot more simple. This was the first one I had tried and I really liked how easy and effortless even waterproof mascara was removed. It did sting my eyes a little if too much was used and I did feel a lot was wasted when you put it on the cotton pad as it squirted everywhere! After repurchasing this a few times I have since brought the Garnier version which is pretty much the same, but you get a lot more product for your dollar. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - Cleansing my skin has never been so relaxing, this smooths on so nicely, it has a lovely aroma and makes a real difference to the texture of my skin. It has cocoa butter to soften, smooth and moisturise which it really does. I feel it really helps break down all my make up from the day and you can even use it to remove eye make-up. It leaves your skin feeling smooth and really clean! For £14 a bottle it is a little on the pricer side but I do think it is worth it. I'd look to buy this is the future, but maybe buy a bigger bottle as it works out a lot more cost effective. 

 Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Intensive Mask - I was really sad to come to the end of this pot of dreams. First off it smells A-M-Azing, just like a holiday in a hair mask. Its designed for dry damaged hair, which my hair definitely is, I used this one a week to give my locks a quick burst of hydration. Straight away I could feel and see the difference it made to my hair, it was stronger, softer and shinier which is all good in my books. I'm not much of a fan of any other products from Herbal Essences, although the smells are gorgeous but this is one product I'll be picking up again once I've used up a few different samples I have hiding in the cupboard. 

REN Invisible Pore Detox Mask - This was my first ever REN mask, I got it back in November in the British Beauty Blogger box and I have to say I wasn't exactly wowed by it. I got 3/4 uses out of this little tube which is really good but I felt that it didn't do anything that a cheaper mask couldn't do. I do have quite a few large pores on my nose which I was hoping would look a little better after using the mask but I couldn't really tell a difference. For me this isn't something I will be looking to get in the future.

Lush Snow Fairy - This was my first ever Lush shower gel - shock horror! But my gosh I chose a goodun! I love sweet scents and smelling this was like smelling heaven. I'd seen so much hype over this product but couldn't believe that a shower gel could be so amazing, I was very wrong. I remember when I mentioned to my boyfriend I'd brought this he rolled his eyes as normal, but he soon changed his tuned when he used it later on! I cant wait until next Christmas when this comes back again, I'll be added a few big bottles to my basket. 

Dead Sea Spa Magik Cleansing Facial Wash - You'll soon notice I have a lot of little samples, all of which I get from beauty boxes, and this is no exception. In the mornings I like to use a foaming cleanser as they really wake me up and they are quite light on the skin. Although this is a foaming cleanser it has the finest foam I have ever seen, it was like cleansing with air, it really gave a good squeaky clean and smelt really fresh - perfect for first thing. It even has the added benefit of fighting bacteria which with my current spotty phase is really handy. I'm fully stocked up for facial wash at the moment but may look to get this in the future.

Baylis and Harding Wild Rose and Raspberry Leaf Hand Wash - This massive bottle (500ml) has lasted me months! I got this as a gift for my birthday all the way back in May and although I used it numerous times a day it just never seemed to go anywhere! Rose isnt my most favourite scent, in all honesty I normally try to avoid it as it can be so over powering but the Raspberry Leaf really tones it down and leaves your hands smelling gorgeous. I'd love to try the Lavender scent in the future. 

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Shampoo - Normally I am not fussy about shampoo and conditioner, as long as it cleans my hair and smells pretty good I'll use it. Obviously I got caught up in all the hype of this range, but unfortunately I just don't know what the attraction was. It didn't lather up at all so in turn didn't coat my thick hair very well, I know that this is down to the no sulphate solution but surely that's what you need in a shampoo. After using this and the conditioner I felt like my hair was greasy and needed a good wash already. In the end I gave this to my boyfriend, and even without prompting he commented on how crappy it was, although he did use it all up in the end. 

No doubt my empties box will soon start to build up again - there's nothing more satisfying then finishing an old product and starting a fresh new one! 

K x

Empties #1

January for me was all about using up old products. With it being a no spend month I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get rid of all the old, ready for all the new products I'm planning to get now it's all over! My first empties post is quite big as I have been at the end of a few things for a little while. So lets get into it...

Dove Essential Nourishing Lotion - This is a formula devised for dry skin, its supposed to give 10 days of hydration, what a very ambitious claim! I have to be honest and say that there is no way on this earth it gives your skin that amount of hydration. Its a great every day body moisturiser, but I did tent to use under my arms more than anything. It doesn't have too much of a smell about it and does sink into the skin nicely but I'm not sure I'd repurchase again as there are so many more available that I think do a better job.

Benefit That Girl Face Primer - Benefit products always have a place in my heart and this primer is  no different. Its really brightening, but not in the way that you look like a disco ball. It glides on really nicely and preps the face ready for foundation. On those days when I want a lazy no make up day, I always use this to perk up my skin. I've already purchased the full size version although it is taking a bit of a back seat thanks to the Garnier 5 Second Blur which is my go to primer at the moment. 

Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation - You didn't believe me when I said I liked Benefit products did you? This was my first high end foundation and its one I will keep going back to. This is the I'm so money, honey colour which I do think is a little dark for me so when I go back to repurchase I'll definitely look at the light shades to get the perfect colour. I would say this was a very build-able foundation and does a great job at masking blemishes and redness but in no way does it look dull. With the added SPF 25 its a great summer foundation. 

Sanex Dermo Repair Shower Cream - For me the thing I loved most about this shower cream was the smell. It's hard to put my finger on what it actually is, it just smells very clean. When I used this I always felt super clean and my skin felt nourished. This claims to help repair everyday minor everyday skin damage, which I cant tell too much as I think you'd have to use for quite some time before seeing any difference. Again as with the Dove lotion I'm not sure I would repurchase as I don't tend to be loyal to shower creams or gels as I usually go for whatever is on offer at the time. 

Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof - I have very fond memories of seeing this is my mums make-up bag as I was growing up although she went for the non-waterproof version with the lime green top. Because of that I purchased this a while back without knowing this would turn into a holy grail product for me. Yes you heard it right, I think this is amazing. Not for a top lash mascara as you might think, this is perfect for your bottom lashes! With the very small brush its easy to coat all the small lashes without turning into a panda. Reluctantly I added this to my empties container, but I knew it was the end as it was starting to smell. This will definitely be something I repurchase for years to come although I have been tempted by the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara but the price tag is putting me off when I can get the Great Lash for £4.99. 

Cutex Moisture Guard Nail Polish Remover - Taking off nail polish is the bain of my life. I love having painted nails but I'm for ever removing it as I'm not allowed to wear it for my beauty course. Because of this i tend to go through polish remover like its going out of fashion. Cutex have a great range and I find this one really does make my nails a lot whiter and keeps them from breaking. I always have a back up of this under my sink. 

This Works Deep Calm Pillow Spray - As mentioned in my last Wishful Wednesday post I cant wait to repurchase this. I find it really helps me to switch off and drift away to the land of nod. I give my pillow a couple of squirts, let it soak it and then cuddle up. At £16.00, it is a slightly higher end product for me but I do feel it makes a big difference. I would like to try different products from the range, especially the candle. But for now I cant wait to get my hands on the full sized version. 

Anaatomicals Body Scrub - I received this in my first Love Me Beauty box a few months ago. It has a nice fruity smell and a very glupy gel formula. I did find that the scrubby bits were not as abrasive I usually like but it was good for everyday use. Using this before shaving my legs gave a really smooth finish. I love the quirkiness of Anatomical products but I don't think this particular product will make an appearance in my routine in the future. 

So there you have my first empties post, now I can finally get rid of the empty bottles! Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned?

Now the spending bad is over wahoo! I'm planning the shopping trip of all shopping trips so keep your eyes open for my first haul!