Empty Products: The February Edition

Well that month just flew by! I know it is a short one but still, it's as if I blinked and there was March. This month I didn't finish many products, perhaps that shows how busy I have been, I'm not sure, but here we go anyway!

La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution: Not much to say about this other than it is pretty much the same as all of the other miscellar waters out there! This one doesn't have a scent particularly and does the job well, it struggles with mascara but I haven't used one that doesn't. It doesn't leave a residue behind either. It's easily accessible for those of you who are only aware of Bioderma, you can buy this one in Boots.
Will I buy this again?
Already have.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in 'Cherry'; Ah, Batiste. My old reliable friend. Great dry shampoo that is easy to use and helps maintain clean looking hair while adding a bit of a volume boost at the roots too.
Will I buy this again?
I am trying to get through some other dry shampoos at the moment but they don't really compare in terms of ease of use and effectiveness so I will definitely be buying this again.

Soap and Glory Hand Maid Antibacterial Gel; This is one of my favourite antibacterial hand gels because it doesn't smell too strongly of alcohol. I also like that it is pink :-)
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Champneys Aqua Therapy Recharging Bath Tonic- This gives the bath a few bubbles that last about 20 minutes and turns the bath water a lovely shade of blue. I wasn't too keen on the scent though, it was a bit masculine.
Will I buy this again?
No, it was nothing special.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment- I loved this, it helped maintain the ends of my hair, kept it looking healthy and free from split ends. Since I have stopped using this my hair does look a bit unkempt so there has been a noticeable difference. You can buy this from Hairtrade.
Will I buy this?
Yes I will.

Clinique Airbrush Concealer in 01 Fair- I love this concealer. It is packaged like Touche Eclat and is dispensed through a brush. I don't use the brush as I don't find small point brushes like that particularly useful but the product itself is lovely. A medium coverage liquid concealer, this really smoothes over the skin and brightens areas. I didn;t really use it under my eyes but I loved using it to 'top up' throughout the day as it isn't very heavy. A great makeup bag concealer.
Will I buy this again?
Yes.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Cleanser- This is my second one of these. It is an SLS free foaming wash that contains salicylic acid which is great for clearing out clogged pores. I love this and definitely notice that I have clearer skin when I am using this, however it is a bit too powerful to be used twice a day. I like this to be my morning cleanser!
Will I buy this again?
Yes but having a month or two break from it.

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 November Edition.

I'm baack! Time to show you what I finished last month, what I thought of 'em, and whether I'll buy it again! Any questions you have about any of the products leave me a comment below and I'll get back to you.

Boots 'Smooth Care' Facial Hair Removal Cream- Oh yeah, I'm going there. It may be TMI for some people but I love this product way more than the Veet option. It's a hair removal cream especially designed for hair on the face, I use it on my upper lip as I don't like getting it waxed (the upkeep is too much/the hair will grow back uneven or coarse/I don't really want to walk around town with a red strip above my lip) nor do I like getting it threaded when I could save a whole lot of money and do it myself. The tube has lasted me a long time (let's say a year because it has a 12month expiry) and I think it is effective at what it does and a good price too. I don't experience any irritation or sensitivity after using this and it is a bargain.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Emma Hardie 'Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm'- This was a free sample, it was 15ml and came with an Emma Hardie facecloth. The sample lasted me approximately a week being used twice a day which is pretty good. I absolutely loved it, the whole process of using a balm to cleanse with feels so luxurious and this product really seems to pamper the skin, plus I experienced no negative side effects. See a more indepth review by clicking here.
Will I buy this?
Oh fo' sho'

REN Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk- Luckily I didn't pay for this as it was a 30ml sample. I first noticed how strong it's scent was, it was so intense and not particularly pleasent and for review purposes I tried it removing a full face of makeup. It removed makeup really well but three days after using this twice a day my skin broke out like I have never experienced in my life. I have never had a big problem with spots and at the age of 23 I never expected to have such a break out, my diet or liestyle hadn't changed and that was the only new face product I was using that week. I don't want to blame the cleanser but I don't know what else it could be. For empties sake I used it to the end, I wanted to prove myself wrong but my skin worsened. It has put me off the brand completely. Has anyone else experienced this?
Will I buy this?
No. Even if it didn't cause the breakout, I hated the smell. Too strong.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic- This was a 50ml sample that came with a cleanse and polish that I ordered online. I adore the smell, it smells a bit like baby products. In a good way, haha. It contains some gorgeous ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin e, and cucumber and is alcohol free which is a must have in a skin toner, too many contain harsh alcohols ready to strip your skin! This really soothes the skin after cleansing or exfoliating and makes the skin feel healthy and supple.
Will I buy this?
Yes, I treated myself.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream- I do think this is worth the £36 price tag, as it seems to have done wonders for my partner. He now uses it religiously! In texture this is a thick balm, which is a consistency I prefer in eye cream than to a thin lotion. My fiance has suffered with eczema for years and developed dry, flaky skin all around his eyes which is heightened in the colder months. Since using this every night he has experieced no flakiness or flare ups around his eyes and I do think it is due to this product. I enjoy using it too, though I can't see a huge difference on me.
Will I buy this again?
Yes, we both use it and it seems to help maintain his skin in a good condition.

Clinique 'All About Eyes' Eye Cream- This was a sample in a recent GWP. I'm always a bit wary of Clinique skincare, it is so laden with chemicals. The number 2 clarifying toner is an amazing stain remover....therefore it's not going anywhere near my face.
We had run out of the eye cream mentioned above so thought we'd use this in the mean time. It's a light consistency that feels like a lotion or moisturiser, it absorbs well and leaves the under eyes feeling a bit fresher. This didn't last us long so I can't comment on whether it improved my under eyes, but it didn't seem to do anything for Ben and his sore skin!
Will I buy this again?
No.

Estee Lauder DayWear Moisturiser- This was a sample pot in the most recent Gift With Purchase. I like the cucumber scent this has but I would definitely recommend the oil free version over this one, it never seems to absorb like I want it to, always leaving a slight film on the skin! I never notice any benefits or bad points when using this, it is just average. I have used up a 50ml tub in the past but I can't say I love this or would want to use it again.
Will I buy this again?
No.

John Frieda Full Repair 'Perfect Ends Sheer Mist'- This is similar to most heat protection products I have used in the past and seemed to do it's job well, it helped maintain a smooth feeling to my hair. I did notice it held the blowdry well too, which is a huge bonus. I think the bottle is too small though...
Will I buy this?
I don't think so.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in 'Cherry'- It's in my empties every month. I think it does a good job for the price, and I like the cherry scent the best.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Soap and Glory Hand Maid Gel-  Antibacterial Hand Gel is an absolute must have for me and this one by Soap and Glory is my favourite. While it removes any nasties your hands may have picked up, anitbacterial hand gel is self absorbing so you don't have to worry about rubbing it off afterwards as you would with normal soap. This one has a really nice scent which completely counteracts the high intensity smell of alcohol present in other hand gels. I really hate having dirty hands or feeling like they might be dirty, so this is a definite repurchase for me.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

As always, let me know if you use any of these and what you think and link me to your empties posts because I lurrve reading them!

Clinique Deep Comfort Hand Cream

Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream, £16 for 75ml.

The Deep Comfort range from Clinique has always appealed to me, I think partly because I love the thought of a product giving me 'deep comfort' (!) and partly because the range focuses on really nourishing and moisturising the skin. 

My first purchase from the range is this hand cream. It's thick in consistency and is pastel lemon yellow in colour. I'll start by saying it's probably not the type of hand cream you'd want to carry around in your handbag because it is so thick that it does take longer to absorb into the skin than other hand creams I've used in the past. This one stays by my bed so that I can remember to slap it on before bed time and let it do it's good overnight.

Clinique products are 100% fragrance free, which in a hand cream might be a downer for some, however as I pop it on at night I can overlook this matter!

As the hand cream is so rich, I found that during colder weather the product seemed to actually help protect my hands from further dryness or chapping, then I read on the Clinique website that it 'strengthens skin's moisture barrier against environmental stressors.' It does soften hands beautifully as expected though I noticed no improvement in my cuticle or nail condition. Next on my list is to try the Deep Comfort Body Wash and the Body Butter, but I think I'll wait until Autumn and Winter to get those, when my skin will need them the most!

Midweek post: Teddy Bear.

Clinique Colour Surge Eyeshadow quad in 'Teddy Bear', £25 for 4.8g

When we move into the summer months, our makeup preferences inevitably change and I often think what makeup I choose to use is weather dependant.

Personally, unless I'm going out in the evening, I prefer to wear minimal eye makeup in the warmer months, and I prefer the colour I use on my eyelids, if I choose to, to be a matte or satin finish. Highlighted, dewy skin and bright lips are perfect this time of year and I believe that added sparkle and shimmer from eyeshadows can make the overall look a little bit too much. In comes Teddy Bear from Clinique, an eyeshadow quad of wearable neutrals and browns, all with a matte finish.

I have begun to reach for this a lot of the time, there's something about it's simplicity that seems so fuss free and straightforward. The colours can be used inidividually to achieve a simple day look or combined together to create a more dramatic eye if desired.

The consistency of the eye shadows are quite powdery, but very fine and blendable. I found with the lighter shades that it was hard to really build them up without using a lot of product, however they're perfect for that 'wash of colour' look.

Clinique aptly describe the shades as 'classic ivory', 'golden tan beige','taupey milk chocolate' and a 'deep brown.' I'd say they're very wearable shades for most people, especially perfect for low-key day looks.

Overall, I like this palette and would recommend it to those who perhaps want a simple palette of neutrals as I believe the colours would suit almost everyone who has Fair- Medium skin (any deeper and the shades may not show up well.)
It's also great for beginners as it comes with a plastic slip that shows where you could use each of the colours for an eye look and the deep brown colour could potentially be used to fill in eyebrows (who doesn't love a multi-use product?!)

I do think the pricetag for this is a little steep, but I do like that all four colours are very blendable; a characteristic not too common amongst matte eyeshadows.

What neutral palettes do you reach for? What other matte shadows can you recommend to me?