Empties #9

It's empties time again! Where I talk through the products I've used up, what I thought of them and whether or not I'll be repurchasing them. It's been two months since my last post of this kind so I've gathered rather a lot! 

Sanctuary Spa Mande Lular Body Souffle

A light to medium formula body butter which has a nice spa like scent to it. I do really like it but there are other similar products that I like a lot more, like The Body Shop body butters. Repurchase? Maybe

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel

Oh how I loved using this shower gel, it smelt like fresh lemonade and really made me feel awake first thing in the morning. I wish it wasn't limited edition! Repurchase? Yes, if they ever bring it back!

Batiste Dry Shampoo XXL Volume 

This is such a cult product but if I'm honest I really dislike it, I just hate how it feels thick, gritty and dirty in my hair! I think there are much better dry shampoos on the market and I'll be sticking to those in future! Repurchase? No

Soap & Glory Hand Food

This is probably my favourite hand cream ever, it's very moisturising, sinks in quickly without leaving any oily residue and isn't too expensive. I bought three of these when they were on offer and I've managed to get to the end of them all at once! Full review here. Repurchase? Definitely

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

This oil is very good for soothing and moisturising very dry skin, I like to slather it on when I get out of the bath. It sinks in well and leaves my skin feeling so soft the next day. I've also been using it on a post surgery scar in the hope that it will help with the heeling progress! Repurchase? Yes

Botanics Ionic Clay Mask

This one's a really great clay mask on a budget. It tackles congested skin and spotty areas helping to bring it back to normality. I used it 2-3 times a week and was really pleased with the results. Repurchase? Yes, but not straight away, there are a few others I want to try!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+

I won't go into this one too much as I did a whole post on my skin's progress after using this up, you can see that here. Suffice to say it's been my favourite skincare find of the year! It takes down spots in record time, keeps blackheads and clogged pores at bay and helps to reduce post blemish scarring! Repurchase? Definitely.

Caudalie Grape Water

I love a good hydrating toner/ facial mist and this is one I've repurchased multiple times. It's definitely not as much of a treat as their Beauty Elixir but it does rehydrate skin and is especially great for very sensitive skin helping to calm it down and feel less sore. Repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream

I love this moisturiser, it's another product I've bought time and time again. It's really basic, no-fuss option that doesn't have any wacky claims. It just moisturises your face really well. Sometimes that's all you need! Repurchase? Yes

Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm

I was very excited to try this lip balm when I first bought it for two reasons, firstly it was supposed to be rose scented and secondly it was supposed to be tinted a flattering soft pink shade. Unfortunately it disappointed on both counts as the scent was pretty much non existent and there was no pigmentation what so ever! Repurchase? No

Revlon ColourStay Concealer 

This is the only high street/drugstore concealer I've ever tried and I really liked it. It had a light to medium coverage that was very buildable and looked so natural on the skin. Great for everyday and worked well on blemishes as well as under the eyes. Repurchase? Yes 

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Empties #6

It's empties time again, where I talk about what products I've used up lately and whether or not I'd repurchase them. I can't believe I'm on to the 6th one already! 

First up is the Avon Room & Linen Spray in Lavender and Chamomile, I've been using this stuff for ages and absolutely love it! I keep it on my bedside table and spritz a bit into the air before going to sleep, the scent is just so relaxing. Repurchase? Definitely

Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo Original is great to get a day or 2 more out of your blow-dry. It doesn't leave as much of a white cast or feel as powdery in the hair as some others can. Repurchase? Possibly at some point but there are a few others I want to try out first.

I did a full review of the Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter a while ago (see here), it smells delicious, softens lips really well but leaves a very unflattering pale cast on the lips, such a shame! Repurchase? No

As you can see, I haven't completely finished the Avon Gel Strength Base Coat, but what's left in the bottle (about 1/5) has gone so thick and gloopy that it can't be used. That said, most of the ones I've tried seem to do that and this one did a pretty good job before it got gloopy. Repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Absinthe Hand Cream was kept in the car and used constantly, it has a really moisturising formula that manages to feel really fresh on the skin and sink in quickly. Repurchase? Yes

The Avon Anew Lip Plumping Conditioner was unfortunately, a huge disappointment. The packaging is gorgeous but the product just didn't deliver. Moisture wise, it was ok, but it left a really thick, unflattering pale cast on the lips that for me makes it a big no-no. Repurchase? No

Benefit Hello Oxygen Flawless Wow Brightening Makeup is the only foundation I've been using for the past couple of months, full review here. It has medium coverage that is really buildable, plus the added SPF 25 is a bonus that makes it great for everyday. Repurchase? I already have another one on the go!

I tried out the Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter a while ago (full review here) and thought it was really impressive for a budget shampoo. It leaves hair feeling clean but not stripped of all moisture. Since running out I've been using a Charles Worthington Shampoo which I think I prefer. Repurchase? Maybe

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes was another disappointing product, this stuff smudged like crazy. Even if you smudged it on purpose, after a few hours it would have travelled even further. Repurchase? No 

I like to get mini products for when I go away and Lee Stafford are great for that. I got the Hold Tight hairspray a while ago and it's lasted me a good few holidays. It did the job but didn't particularly blow me away. Repurchase? Maybe 

REVIEW: Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter

The Nivea Raspberry Rose Lip Butter seems to be one of those products that has had a lot of hype in the beauty blogging world. People love this stuff. I understand why, it smells divine, like a delicious raspberry yoghurt, but for me it didn't quite live up to expectations.

Much as I love the scent, I found the actual consistancy to be disappointing. It's very thick, which isn't terrible in itself but I find the product leaves lips with a very pale pink cast. Which on my complexion just looks ridiculous! If you have very fair lips/complexion this might work for you but on anyone else it is definitely an unflattering tinted balm.

That said, it hasn't gone to waste, it does moisturise lips fairly well and I like the scent so I've just been applying it sparingly before bedtime! I'll use it up, but I definitely won't be buying it again!

Bedside Beauty

Today I thought I'd share with you the beauty bits that live on my bedside table. I don't use all of them everyday but I like to have them to hand for when I do. 

First up is my Decorware Inc Milk Bath Remedy Candle in Sugared Hibiscus which I picked up from TK Maxx a while ago for 3.99. I can't seem to find a link anywhere to buy these online so if anyone knows where you can get them please let me know! This has a lovely sweet flowery scent that's really delicate and not at all sickly. I find burning candles before bedtime very relaxing just remember to turn them off before you fall asleep! 

If I've had a long day and just want to crash I tend to go for the Avon Naturals Lavender and Camomile Room and Linen Spray instead as the results are instant and I don't have to worry about accidentally setting the house on fire! This isn't your traditional straight up lavender scent, the addition of camomile really does add a certain something too it. I've been using this for a long time now and it's a smell that I now strongly associate with sleep, it really does help me drift off! I usually spray a couple of spritzes into the air and one onto my pillow for good measure!

Next up is my Ted Baker Hand Cream, I always have a hand cream on my bedside table, I like to try different ones and I'm not hugely fussy. This one smells nice but I'm not sure it really does much. It keeps my hands feeling soft till I wash them but once I do the skin feels really tight and parched again. I suspect the formula is full of mineral oil but I can't be sure because the tube doesn't have the ingredients listed on it. 

Lip Balm is my other bedside table essential as I always put some on every night without fail. This one is the Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose, I bought this after hearing lots of rave reviews about it on beauty blogs and I completely get why everyone loves it so much. It smells delicious, just like a yummy, creamy raspberry yoghurt! It's also super moisturising and leaves my lips feeling nice and soft come morning. My only niggle with this product? It leaves a bit of a pale cast on the lips, if you are very fair you can probably get away with it but if I put too much on I can be left looking a bit like a cricketer. Not a good look! For this reason I stick to just using it at night!

Origins Sensory Therapy Peace of Mind is an aromatherapy product in a gel formula. It has a really relaxing and soothing minty scent and is designed to be applied to pulse points and inhaled for instant calm. This is something I would never have bought for myself but it was a gift (actually it was a gift to Erik but he had no idea what it was and I promptly stole it!), but I absolutely love it! It's great after a stressful day to help calm down and it also has another great use I recently discovered. If I feel a headache coming on, I just use this and it seems to just nip it in the bud! 

Avon Nail Experts Conditioning Cuticle Pen is a much cheaper alternative to the Nails Inc version this is a simple and easy to use cuticle oil. You simple twist the bottom and the product is dispensed into the brush at the top, all you have to do is swipe it on. This really helps keep cuticles looking tidy and moisturised and encourages healthy nail growth. I wasn't using this nearly enough before as it was just bunged in with all my varnishes and I forgot about it, now that it has a new home it's being used a lot more and I've seen a huge improvement in my nails! 

Other things I have on my bedside table are a little trinket box I put my jewellery into before bed, an ipod dock which also charges my phone and whatever book/magazine I happen to be reading. I'm currently reading Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor by my favourite author Gabriel Garcia Marques and I'm really enjoying it! 

What beauty bits do you keep on your bedside table?