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: Anatomicals Spray Misty for Me Facial Spritz

I've spoken about facial sprays before, I particularly love the Caudalie ones (read more here) but I recently tried the Anatomicals Spray Misty for Me Facial Spritz and I quite like it!

It doesn't overtake my love of the Caudalie ones, but then it's quite a bit cheaper. Enriched with peppermint, rose and aloe, it soothes and refreshes the skin. I personally love the fragrance, the peppermint makes it really reviving while the rose and aloe tone it down a notch and give it a softer edge. 

The only real disadvantage with this product is the spray top, where the Caudalie ones give out a really fine mist that leaves a light veil over the skin, this is a bit heavier. Once I've spritzed it onto my face I find my the top of my hair and half of my T shirt is covered too, not great if your hair is prone to a bit of frizz! I also find it leaves skin almost wet rather that just ever so slightly damp, so if you're using it over makeup to perk up the skin you could find your mascara on the run!

I've be using mine as a toner which works really well, over all I really like it and I think I'll love it even more in the summer because of its refreshing properties!  

Objects of Desire: Alex Monroe Love Ring

Alex Monroe Gold Plated Love Ring 

Happy Valentines Day!

REVIEW: Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in 56 Imaginaire

If ever I had to pick just one lip gloss to wear for the rest of all time, obviously such a situation will never occur so we're talking hypothetical here, I would definitely choose the Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in 56 Imaginaire. Described as 'a gloss with the colour intensity of a lipstick' the formula is great, it isn't sticky and doesn't cling to any dry patches on the lips, in fact, it hydrates them leaving them feeling a lot softer than they were before, thanks to the added shea butter, canola oil and vitamin E.

It comes in super sleek black packaging with the gold Chanel logo at the top, it just feels so luxe! It has a traditional doe foot applicator, as with most glosses, and I find the formula lasts really well, about 3 - 4 hours which I think is pretty good for a gloss.

My choice of shade is a lovely sheer pinky peach with warm undertones, it's very flattering and is definitely the old cliche 'my lips but better shade'. I find it completes any makeup look from minimal to a full blown smokey eye. It's such an easy to wear shade that I can quite happily swipe it on without a mirror. 

I could quite happily wear this gloss everyday, but at the cost of £25.00, I don't want to go through it too quickly! So I'm on the hunt for a cheaper alternative (suggestions welcome!). When I do run this tube dry I'll definitely be repurchasing it and I also have my eye on a couple of the other shades in the range.  

In fact, I love this lip gloss so much, I wore it on my wedding day! What's your favourite lip gloss?

NOTD #19

Today's choice is one that I've owned for a while but hardly ever wear. I bought the lovely pearly white shade Mayfair by Nails Inc with the intention of wearing one coat of it for a barely there, sheer look. Unfortunately it's really streaky, so much so that after one coat I had no choice but to put on another which built it up to an opaque finish. That said I'm surprisingly pleased with the final look, it's definitely not sheer and understated as I intended but it's quite a nice statement look that's still neural enough to wear with anything. 

What do you think of this colour?

REVIEW: Charles Worthington Salon at Home Moisture Seal Shampoo + Rescue Masque

I've been using the Charles Worthington Salon at Home Moisture Seal Shampoo and Mineral Hair Rescue Mask for a couple of months now and I'm seriously impressed. When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, I can be a bit of a snob. I generally tend to stick to high end ones because my hair is very coarse, dry and damaged and I generally have to spend a bit more to get something that actually makes a difference. 

Now this isn't quite as good as my favourite Kerastase Oleo Relax Shampoo and Mask but considering it's a third of the price I think I can overlook that! The shampoo has quite a rich consistency and lathers up really well. It leaves hair feeling clean and soft but not at all stripped of moisture as some shampoos do. This, I find, is usually the main difference between drugstore and high end shampoos.

The shampoo is great, but the mask is even more amazing. It has such a rich, thick texture that if you open the pot and hold it upside down it doesn't even move (trust me, I tried it!). There's nothing I hate more than buying a hair mask only to find it's so watery I need to use half the tub in one go. With this one, a little goes a long way. In fact I usually would have finished a tub this size already but I'm not even half way through! The instructions tell you to leave it on for a couple of minutes but I try to leave it on for 10 - 15 and the difference is amazing, it leaves my hair feel silky soft and a lot easier to style and manage. 

I also picked up the Leave in Conditioner from the same range but more on that soon! 

REVIEW: Natural Collection Eye Lines Eyeliner

When it comes to eyeliners, I love those buttery soft ones which glide on really easily, but if you want quite a thin, crisp line they often aren't much good. Their butteriness means as soon as you sharpen them to a point and use them, they become quite blunt and wide again. Great for a smudged out, smoky look. 

Though I'm not much of an eyeliner wearer, when I do reach for it I often want a thin and crisp line. The Natural Collection Eye Lines Eyeliner is great for that, it's soft enough to not drag the skin as you're drawing it on but still hard enough to give you that neat look. Plus it's really pigmented so one swipe will do, there's no need to go over the line again and again to get the line really black. Did I mention it's only £1.99? I think I might need to go back for a few more colours!

This Week . . .

This week I had the pleasure of cat sitting Smudge for a friend of mine. She's quite a sleepy one but it was lovely having her around, we shared lots of cuddles and I didn't want her to leave!

The miserable weather means evenings have been spent primarily indoors. I usually have some show or the other on the go and recently it has been Dexter which I've been watching on lovefilm. It's a great show about a serial killer who only kills bad guys and I've been totally gripped! I've just finished the first season and I'm diving head first into the second!

I've been spending a lot of time working on the house we've just moved into, there's a lot to be done but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end! I've been sanding and repainting these lovely original 1930s doors which have been in the house since it was built!

What have you been up to this week?