Empty Products: The March Edition

Another month has been and gone and finally the sun seems to be rearing its head, hurrah! Read on to see what I loathed and loved this month.

Skin
La Roche-Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel- I have been using LRP products for about two years but hadn't yet used this cleanser. I picked this one up when I was skint and couldn't afford the cleansers that I really want to buy.  A thick gel in consistency, this needed two pumps to cover the face and wash it effectively. It did wonders for keeping my skin calm as it is super gentle, I barely got any spots the months I was using this but did notice my pores weren't being cleansed as effectively as I like. The annoying thing about this packaging is there was product left at the bottom that I wasn't able to get out through the pump! Grrr...

Will I buy this again?
Probably not.


Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic; I ended up only using this sporadically as I don't think it did diddly squat for my skin, I just love the smell, it's like baby wipes.
Will I buy this again?
I cannot justify buying this just because I love the smell!

Shower


LUSH 'Twilight' Shower Gel- This was limited edition in December and after buying a small size I went back for more as I loved it so much. It is scented with lavendar and malt and is fairly strong but therapeutic. I never thought I particularly liked lavendar but I found this really relaxed me and helped me switch off if I used it at night. But as always, Lush really irk me with their 'natural' almost organic approach to their products yet the majority of them contain parabens which I can't help but find contradictory. All in all though, I did like this body wash.
Will I buy this again?
No, it is no longer available.

L'Occitane Bonne Mere Gentle Body Wash- This would have been perfect if it had been SLS free as it was really long lasting with a fragrance that was subtle. Creamy and foamy, a lovely body wash and definitely got our moneys worth as it has lasted really well.
Will I buy this again?
No.

The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel- My friend bought me this for christmas as she knows I normally love the christmas shower gel that TBS release every year. Last years was pumpkin pie and I adored it, but this years just seemed a bit poor in comparison. I like ginger but I didn't like that it had glitter in it. It was a warm winter scent that I enjoyed using, but it wasn't the best.

Will I buy this?
It's no longer available but if it was I probably wouldn't.

& Other Stories Lemon Daydream Body Wash- This was a sample I received with a top I bought. I love the aesthetics of the & Other Stories website, clothes and beauty packaging and am looking forward to visiting the London store next week. This sample disappointed me though, I found the lemon scent to be really deep and actually really masculine. It smelt like aftershave and for that reason I wouldn't buy it full sized.

Will I buy this?
No!


Hair & Makeup

Batiste Dry Shampoo mini- Cherry- I have been carrying around a mini dry shampoo recently as some days my hairs gets lank in the middle of the day and needs a bit of a boost. I have spoken about this one time and time again so I will bore you with no more details!
Will I buy this again?
This didn't last as long as I wanted it to, I think I will stick to full size in future.

Benefit 'Stay Don't Stray' - This was a sample of Benefit's eye primer. I haven't actually used many eye primers so I find it hard to compare it to others but overall I am impressed by it. It definitely makes the pigmentation of eyeshadows more intense and prevents colour from creasing. I only need a tiny bit of this each day so this sample has lasted me absolutely ages. I've still got another one to get through!
Will I buy this?
Perhaps oneday when my samples run out however I would like to give the Urban Decay primer potion a go as they are meant to be fantastic.

Fragrance

Marc Jacobs 'Dot' EDP - Just over a 1ml sample, this fragrance was nice enough but not very memorable. It's fruity and playful.  It's the newest fragrance and while I always find them pleasant I rarely love them enough to buy them full sized, I always hate the clumpy, gimmicky packaging (except the 'Lola' flower I can cope with) and everyone wears them.
Will I buy this full sized?
No.

Britney Spears 'Midnight Fantasy' EDP and 'Believe' EDP- You would be ashamed of me if you knew how long I had been stashing these in my perfume collection. I recently had a spring clean and decided that I have no need for empty bottles just wasting space so have included them in this empties post even though they've actually been empty a while. I used to love 'Believe' when I was younger but I couldn't even describe the scent to you now. I loved the soapy, sweet scent of 'Midnight Fantasy' but I wouldn't buy it again because let's face it, it's never about wearing a fragrance that is constantly on sale at Boots.
Will I buy these again?
They served a purpose and I loved them, but I wouldn't repurchase either now. 

Thanks for reading!

E.

Empty Products- the January Edition.

Hiya Lovelies, I've got my January Edition empties post for you today. Hope you enjoy :-)

Johnsons Cotton Buds- Yeah not much to say about these, after all, they are cotton buds. They are so handy, especially when applying makeup I find them invaluable to correct any smudges or create sharp lines with eye makeup!
Will I buy these again?
Already have.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Hairspray- The fact that this has lasted me since I bought it in August is perhaps an indicator that I don't use all that much hairspray. I thought this was great when I did use it and would buy it full size. It held the style for a good amount of time and didn't smell as hidesouly strong as my Elnett hairspray!
Will I buy this again?
Yes.

Ojon Dry Recovery Shampoo- This month turned into one of those 'using up' months and I had a couple more washes left in the bottle. Whenever I have a shampoo and conditioner duo I have a terrible habit of ditching the rest of the shampoo when my conditioner bottle inevitably runs out first. What is with that by the way? I love the scent of Ojon products but really question the price tag.
Will I buy this again?
No.

The Body Shop Banana Shampoo- This doesn't lather up particularly well which was a surprise considering it contains SLS. That aside, I really enjoyed this shampoo and used in conjunction with the banana conditioner left my hair feel really lightweight and soft. I know I have got Catrine of Unnaked Nails addicted to this!
Will I buy this again?
Yes! And would recommend.

Clinique Take The Day Off Eye Makeup Remover- This was a deluxe sized sample however I cannot find it on the website so maybe it has been discontinued? Luckily I didn't particularly like it, it was one of those eye makeup removers that is really oily and left a residue behind, but it was fairly effective at lifting off long wearing eye makeup. I never thought I'd see the day where I say that I do actually miss Estee Lauder's Take It Away eye makeup remover because it was so good and oil free. Still too expensive though! The search continues....
Will I buy this?
No.

Etat Pur Miscellar Water (not pictured)- I won this in Sandra's giveaway along with a purifying mask and I have got to say I love both products so much that I might do a seperate blog post on them anyway. At first I was put off by the floral scent this had in comparison to my previously used unscented Bioderma solution. However I soon got over it and enjoyed using this. It worked really effectively and didn't leave a residue behind. Miscellar waters are great for removing makeup gently before cleansing, but don't let them replace your cleanser like I have seen so many bloggers do :-/
Will I buy this?
Yes I will as it is the cheapest miscellar water I have seen at only £6-7 pounds on the Etat Pur website and I am keen to try more of their products.


LUSH 'Cupcake' Fresh Face Mask- Ben and I shared this after we had drunk a couple of Baileys. We really didn't like the consistency or the sickly chocolate smell. As with all the fresh masks from LUSH that I have tried, I couldn't wait to wash this off, the consistency bought me to gagging point- so thick and lumpy! It did however make my skin feel soft and smooth afterwards as it exfoliates as you remove it. This was given to us, so I'm not disappointed as I didn't spend cash on it.
Will I buy this?
No!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum- I'd become a bit slack in using this so this 30ml lasted me a while. To be honest I am not too sad to see it go, I don't notice a huge difference in my skin when I am using this to when I am not it had just become a staple in my routine for the past year and it felt odd not to use it. Some of you may know that I am on the hunt for a more natural serum, as this one does contain parabens.
Will I buy this again?
No.

Sample Pot- This was a sample of Bare Minerals' answer to Advanced Night Repair, similar in colour and texture this serum absorbs quickly and left the skin feeling a bit plumper and nourished. It is paraben free along with other undesirable ingredients however again, I'm not sure I loved this enough to buy it. Or perhaps I am just being stingy ;-)
Will I buy this?
Maybe.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Mattifying Moisturiser- I loved this and have already repurchased. It is my perfect day moisturiser as it is a light lotion that absorbs so quickly leaving the skin feeling fresh and ready for makeup! I have written a full review here but in short it is great for combination or blemish prone skin as it contains salicylic acid which cleans out pores. Really lovely stuff but I do wish it had inbuilt SPF.
Will I buy this again?
Already have :-)


Origins High Potency Night A Mins- This lasted me approx three months and was my chosen night cream. Firm in consistency, I was worried it would feel too heavy on my skin but it was quite the opposite. It soaked in fairly quickly and in the mornings my skin didn't feel dry or irritated. It's only since this has run out that I've realised how much I liked it. I LOVED the smell, it smells like orange sherbert.
Will I buy this again?
It's been ordered!

Empty Products- The December Edition

So I'm going to pretend that it isn't the 11th January and I'll pretend that it is still blog-acceptable to post my empties from December 11 days late! Any other month I'm sure it wouldn't feel so weird but with Christmas and New Years already feeling like a million years ago I feel odd publishing this so late. However I am a creature of habit and the thought of not posting this was going to make me feel all unbalanced and strange so I am posting it anyway. So here you are, my selfish empties post! Enjoy!

Estee Lauder DoubleWear Foundation- I told you all here about how sad I was that my shade was being discontinued and the new 'pale' shades were no where near a suitable replacement. Anyway, this has definitely run out, it lasted me quite a long time as you only need to use the smallest amount for a good medium coverage finish. Read reviews here and here.
Will I buy this again?
I've got one bottle stashed away in my discontinued shade, but to be honest I have gone off this foundation a bit anyway so I am not too heartbroken I won't be able to buy 'Shell' anymore.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer 'Fair'- I have a couple of tubes of this knocking around, one in my bedroom and one in my handbag. I think it is a good concealer at a good price- I find it blends well, has fairly good staying power (not sure about the 15hr claims) and good coverage. All factors you would want in a concealer!
Will I buy this again?
Yes.

LUSH 'Twilight' Shower Gel- I bought a mini bottle of this to try out, I ended up loving it. It's packed full of lavendar and malt so will soothe the senses and the skin. I have been working a lot of night shifts recently, so having a shower with this before bed helped me unwind and get to sleep. I had to go and buy the 250ml bottle as soon as it ran out, such a shame this was limited edition for christmas :-(
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

LUSH 'Snow Fairy'- This certainly isn't my favurite yet I feel compelled to buy it every year. Snow Fairy is so sweet and sugary, great in the mornings but one I have to alternate- I can't handle it every shower!
Will U buy this again?
No, until next year...

Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser - I used this sporadically and then gave it to Ben  to finish because he loves Kiehls. The several different parabens on the ingredients list were fairly high up too and it put me off. In consistency it's a light lotion, yet it never fully absorbed into my skin- I was left with an ultra shiny face for hours after applying this and it left a residue behind. Bens skin on the other hand, soaked it up immediately. It's not one for me.
Will I buy this?
No.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish- I've always got one of these on the go even if I am using or trialling another cleanser, I love how creamy and trustworthy it is!
Will I buy this again?
Yes.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Purifying Ceansing Wash- A cleanser that after my first use I really wasn't sure about has become a new favourite. What is even more great about it is that it costs only £7.99, the quaity of this range of skincare is fantastic for the price you pay. This has really helped clean my blocked pores and balance my skin. Would recommend if you have oily or combination skin or suffer from breakouts.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Yves Saint Laurent 'Shocking' Mascara- I like this jet black formula and the fibruous wand does hold onto lashes. This is definitely a mascara for building bold volume, not for natural lash lovers. I sort of preferred it when it was drying out a bit as it made my lashes look delicate and feathery. Not fantastic at securing a curl, but my eyelashes are notoriously straight.
Will I buy this again?
I'm not sure.

The Body Shop Banana Conditioner- I did really like this conditioner, it made my hair feel really silky soft used in conjunction with the Banana Shampoo. I can't find an ingredients list on the bottle so it is hard to know how natural this product really is however I always have huge respect for The Body Shop not testing on animals and using recycled plastic for their packaging. Since I've been using a different conditioner I have realised how good this one is.
Will I buy this again?
Yes.

Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover- This was very effective and gentle, it didn't really disturb my senstivie eyes and removed eye makeup really well. It's oil free which is wonderful because there isn't an oily residue left behind that so many eye makeup removers do. It was lightweight and the 100ml bottle lasted me nearly 2 months used daily.
I'm not sure I would pay full price for this, £19 sounds too steep for an eye makeup remover in my opinion.
Will I buy this again?
I would if it wasn't so expensive as I love that it is oil free.

Batiste Dry Shampoo- I always buy the Cherry scent because I think it is the best of a bad bunch. This works like a dream, it's so reliable and I always repurchase (and it's always in my empties posts!)
Will I buy this again?
Already have.

As always, link me to your empties posts and let me know what you think of any of these products!

Mini haul- The Body Shop.

 
I've not bought from The Body Shop in ages so was well due a visit. I got a 50% off code to use online but it expired before payday which was a huge shame as I had quite a few things in my basket. I decided what I really wanted to try and just went and got them, thankfully I've not been disappointed!

Banana Shampoo £4.50 for 250ml- While this doesn't lather particularly well (only on the second wash) it does cleanse the hair and rinses easily. I love the sweet banana smell but it isn't overpowering or too heavy.

Banana Conditioner £4.50 for 250ml - This creamy product feels good on my hair and keeps it really soft. Unfortunately it doesn't help with my knotty hair (anyone have any tips for knotty hair? The tangle teezer does nowt for me.) It is like banana puree in consistency, I always feel like I should be feeding it to a baby, not putting it on my hair! This is light and gentle enough to put all over the hair should you wish to.

While this shampoo and conditioner duo don't particularly brighten or make my hair glossier, it is the softest I have felt it in a very long time. And I'm talking baby soft, people! The natural ingredients must be nourishing it nicely and both wash out well, there's no heavy feeling to my hair (which I hate!) and no residue left behind, they both seem very gentle and for this reason I give them a thumbs up and would definitely recommend them to people who may suffer with a sensitive scalp.

Beautifying Oil in Coconut £9 for 100ml- Yes, so far so good with this one! I'm not sure it has done much for my hair, but it makes my skin feel smooth and soft and doesn't take too long to soak in so is great to whip on after a morning shower. I absolutely adore the smell this leaves on my skin; it's feminine, warm and tropical so is great used on it's own but it also doesn't react to any perfumes I've applied afterwards. The skin loving ingredient of marula oil also contains anti oxidents which is a bonus! I imagine this would be lovely to take on a summer holiday to top up that 'holiday smell' and keep the skin looking supple. 

Do you use any of these? Are you a fan of The Body Shop?

 

December Favourites 2011 #TheBodyShop #MAC #YSL

The Body Shop Limited Edition Spiced Pumpkin Shower Gel £4 for 250ml

This was the perfect scent to wash with to make me feel ultra festive! A luxurious smell of spiced pumpkin pie, it was warm and sensuous and made me smell like christmas. Of course, post- Christmas it isn't as exciting to use but I'm using it up before I get started on my LUSH goodies. The smell lingers on my skin and makes me feel all cosy! I'm already looking forward to what seasonal LE Shower Gel they'll bring out next December.

M.A.C eyeshadow in Coppering, £11.50 for 1.5g

I have a weird relationship with M.A.C. eyeshadows, some I adore, some I really cannot bear- mainly the formula of some shades (generally the very light shades?) being chalky/ having very little colour pay off.

I must say, the formula of this is perfect; it's smooth and soft, so pick up on the brush is effortless and it blends so well. The shade is something pretty different to what I normally use, as it is red- brown, orange toned so originally I thought it might be hard to pull off, but I have been opting to use it a lot of the time because I think it's something a bit different, a varient on the usual browns I use almost everyday. It doesn't appear too heavy on the eye, as it produces a lovely warm copper colour.

It looks gorgeous with red lips and used in the crease of a smokey eye.

I'm really pleased I got this because it is a bit different to the usual, it blends gorgeously and I have managed to create a few different looks with this!! I'd definitely recommend!

Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss no. 45, £21 for 6ml

As mentioned in my post about the YSL 2011 Holiday Collection (here) I was lusting after the glosses. Although I adored the fuschia (no. 47), I opted for no.45 a translucent gloss with fine glitter particles that shimmer pink and purple. It looks like snow in it's tube so again, made me feel christmassy and is my most prized lipgloss. I absolutely love it, either on it's own or on top of lipstick. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! 

Photos just don't capture it's beauty!


What were your December favourites? Link me up!