Empties | October // November // December 2013

Hello! 

I've been really bad at posting these last few months, simply because I haven't had the time to blog! But I have been faithfully collecting my empty products from the last few months for you lovely people to nosey at! 

The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel: Definitely leaning towards a more summery shower gel, this mango scent is light and refreshing and the scent lingers on your skin after a shower. This 250ml bottle lasted me absolutely ages, as you only need a tiny amount to make a rich lather. 

Would I purchase again? Maybe, but I have so many lined up in my stash, it wouldn't be any time soon! 

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash: This body wash comes in a huge 500ml bottle with a pump, making it one of the easiest body washes to use! As i'm sure you've heard me say before, the scent of this whole range is to die for; sugary, sweet and limey - the perfect combination for a refreshing yet indulgent bathing experience - without all the guilty calories! 

Would I purchase again? Already have one full size and one half size on standby! 

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Scrub: I really wasn't sold on this scrub. I bought it in one of TBS's many many sales, so it ended up only costing me a few pounds, however if I'd have bought it for full price I'd have been pretty annoyed as it just didn't wow me. The smell is very synthetic, which I don't mind in the body butter form, however the scrub was sickly. The scrub formula itself was creamy, quite scratchy and anti climatic. It did the job, but others have done it better. 

Would I purchase again? No. 

Avon Planet Spa Japanese Sake and Rice Illuminating Body Cream: If Avon have ever done anything right, it's their planet spa range, I love everything I've ever tried from them, my favourite being the Mediterranean Olive Oil Hair Mask, which is pure luxury. This body lotion smelt so amazing, I don't even know how to describe it, except that I loved it and the scent lingered for hours afterwards. The lotion has slight shimmer, which 'illuminates'. The shimmer is noticeable, but not glittery. It sinks fairly quickly into the skin, without leaving a sticky or oily residue and hydrates well. 

Would I purchase again? Purely for the scent, if nothing else! 

No7 Enriched Hand and Nail Treatment: I was neither here nor there with this hand cream, it was OK, kept my hands fairly hydrated, sunk in quickly however left an oily residue behind, and smelled so-so. A 4/10 from me. 

Would I purchase again? Nah. 

Garnier Body Body Tonic Firming Hydrating Lotion: So far, I have loved every Garnier body lotion I have come across, I find their formulas to be hydrating, yet incredibly light and the scents are to die for. This lotion claimed to create a more toned 'firm' look, and if you are looking for long term benefits, you have come to the wrong lotion, however the caffeine within this lotion does give short term effects, which give an illusion of smoother, more toned legs. For use in the summer, this lotion is second to none, and I'm looking forward to cracking another of these bad boys out next summer! 

Would I purchase again? Definitely!

The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask: I've had a love/hate relationship with this mask. Most of the time I love it - it's great for a really deep clean, and the clay draws out all the nasty impurities leaving baby soft and clear skin. As I've gone through the tub, the smell, which has always been a tad overpowering, had started to become TOO overpowering for me, so much so that I was glad I'd finished the tub. It's a great mask, but I would recommend giving one a sniff in the shop before you buy to make sure it's not too much for your nostrils to take! 

Would I purchase again? Not right now, I'm trying out alternative clay masks. 

Lush Mask of Magnaminty: I'm sure I've spoken about this before, it's a great little all rounder mask for when you just want a little pick me up with added texture to gently exfoliate. 

Would I purchase again? I have one lined up already. 

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser: I loved this cleanser. It has a really clean, pleasant smell, and worked well to remove all make up (even mascara). Plus with my No7 voucher it was only £4.95 - Bargain! 

Would I purchase again? I would, but I'm branching out and trying different cleansers at the moment in a bid to find my holy grail. 

Lush Cupcake Fresh Facemask: I know this mask gets a lot of great reviews, but for me, this mask was just ok. It gave my skin a nice boost, however I like to feel wowed after I've had a mask on, and after I washed this off, I just felt like I'd washed my face, no wow factor. 

Would I purchase again? Probably not. 

Vie Seventh Heaven Cleansing Balm: I bought this from fragrance direct after my beloved No7 cleanser had ran out, and it was my first foray into the world of balm cleansers. I have to say, this was not a bad little cleanser, and has been effectively removing my mascara, although it did take me a week or two to get used to the texture. This has been known to make my eyes sting a little, but it's probably my own fault for not closing them properly! 

Would I purchase again? No. 

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask: Oh, yes, the marmalade mask everyone has been talking about...made my skin sting like mad! I'm not sure if it's meant to, but it got a point where it became almost uncomfortable. After removing the mask, however, I did see what the fuss was about - It felt like I'd had a layer of new skin, however i'm not sure I can justify spending £30 for the full sized version.

Would I purchase again? Maybe, if the right sale was on... 

Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub: This little baby is a little coarse for more than one use a week, but it's so fresh and clean, and leaves my face so baby soft and smooth, that I genuinely see it as a treat to use! I found that using this once, sometimes twice a week, using a peasized amount each time, lasted me just under a year! Value for money? I think so... 

Would I purchase again? Already have done! 

Benefit They're Real Mascara: (Not pictured) Oh my, I've definitely fallen hard for this one. Believe the hype surrounding this mascara, it's all true! I had my doubts about a mascara costing double the average price, however I'd now happily part with that cash, as no other mascara can compare. 

Would I purchase again? Have done, and will be doing for the foreseeable future!

Next Eau Bloom Fragrance: This is the most gorgeous, floral yet fruity summer scent, and I'm actually gutted that next aren't currently stocking it. Fingers crossed it will be back for summer! 

Would I purchase again? In a heartbeat! 

Miss Sixty Elixer Perfume: I got this as a gift for my 17th birthday, and I've loved it ever since. This is my second bottle of the stuff (I went years without it before I finally tracked it down again) It's such a unique scent, unlike my signature light and fruity/floral scents, but I think this is what I like about it. 

Would I purchase again? Once my collection has died down a tad, who knows? 

Andrew Collinge Perfect Endings Heat Defence Spray: It has taken me a long, long time to finish this, it's one of those products that seem to be never ending! I have quite resilient hair, however I always make sure I've spritzed the lengths and ends of my locks with heat defence spray before using heat tools. This one has served me well, and has saved me from many a frazzled hairdo! 

Would I purchase again? Yes. 

Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo: I don't yet have a replacement for this baby so I'm distraught that it's sprayed it's last spray... what will I do on a bad hair day now??! In my eyes, there is no better dry shampoo than batiste, and it goes without saying that I shall be popping to boots very soon to stock up.... 

Would I purchase again? Yes, but I may try a different scent...broaden my horizons... 

I shall try my best to actually post a january empties at the end of the month to avoid such mammoth blogposts in future!! 

Gem Xx 

Combination/Oily Skincare Saviours.

I had a really lazy skincare day today, and missed out toner and primer from my usual routine. Having to leave the house at 6:20am will do that to you... 

It wasn't until my train journey home when I looked into my compact and realised my whole face was glowing, and not in a good way. I was very oily. Toner and primer are products that I use, but don't really think too much about their effects, and up until today I didn't really think they had much of an effect. Sat on that train, burying my face into my scarf so that nobody could see my greaseball of a face, I thought about all the products made for oily/combination skin that I use, and just how much of a difference it makes when I skip a step or two. 

I've decided to put together a little post of my current rotation of combo/oily skincare items, and give my two cents on them.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

This is the first primer I tried. Primer was a new concept to me in 2013. Before that I used to just slap foundation onto my skin and didn't really think about it. I'm lucky that my skin isn't overly blemish prone or blotchy so longevity was never a big issue for me. As I've gotten more into make up and skincare, I've taken more care over my choices, and primer was introduced into my routine. I have to say I love it. The tea tree really helps to keep any blemishes at bay. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference n the size of my pores, however it does smooth out my skin, making foundation easier to apply, and keeps any shine from peeping through for at least 3-4 hours more. 

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner

Specially formulated for oily/combo skin, this little baby is amazing. I use it every morning, and this is my second bottle of the stuff. I've used toner for years, but this one has a special place in my heart for keeping shine at bay. 

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser

This cream claims to mattify your face, and again is targeted to us oily skinned girls. It has extracts of blackcurrant and goji berry which are quickly absorbed by the skin, and absorb any excess oil, leaving your skin with more of a matte finish. Good things pride themselves on being free from parabens, SLS, mineral oils and animal ingredients, and also aren't tested on animals.

REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel
This has been my first foray into REN, I got this and the Invisible Pores Detox Mask for Christmas. so far, I love it! I always use a balm/hot cloth cleanser for taking make up off and deep cleansing in the evening, but I like to have something refreshing and light to use in the morning. This is also aimed at reducing excess oil production in the T-Zone. Definitely a thumbs up from me!

REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask
A REN wishlist wouldn't be complete without this bad boy, and it thus far lives up to the hype completely. I have only used it once, however it blew all other clay masks that I have used out of the water. My skin felt so squeaky clean and soft, but not dried out and tight, like some clay masks are prone to doing. I'm planning on a full review of both REN products so I won't say too much more!

Lush Coalface Cleanser
I went in for the herbalism cleanser, and was somehow talked into buying this lump of black soaplike stuff. At the time I almost felt like I had been tricked....until I tried it. It's full of charcoal and other impurity soaking goodness. Using this in the morning, or evening, or any time of day really completely mattifies my skin and keeps oil at bay. The great thing about this is that you can cut off little bits to use as and when you want. This block only cost me around £4, but has lasted me since last May of fairly regular use, and I still have loads!

I'd love to know if anyone has any recommendations for me that they use so pop a comment below and let me know!

Gem. Xx 

Boots Sale Buys.

I have a love hate relationship with sales, particularly January sales. I, like most of us, love a good bargain. I love the feeling of wearing or using something and knowing that I got a special deal on it. It's the queueing that I can't deal with. And the crowds. This is something that isn't only applicable to sales, I'm starting to become that girl who dreads a shopping trip on a Saturday. So I've taken to that grand old invention; the internet. I've done all my January sales shopping, browsing and all, online, and ended up making a sizeable order from New Look, and I'm currently eyeing up a few things from Topshop. 

Walking home from Uni yesterday I passed Boots and decided to have a quick look around. I'd already poured over the website to see if any deals were to be had, however hadn't really found too much I wanted, so I wasn't expecting much, however I came out with armfuls of shopping bags....This is what I got my mitts on! 

Champneys Mens Facial Skincare Set RRP £18 | Sale Price £9

I picked this up for my boyfriend as a little 'just because' gift. I don't know about mens skincare, but Champneys for women can be fairly pricey so I thought for 3 full sized products, £9 was an absolute bargain! 

Soap & Glory 'Once Upon A Lime' Set RRP £18 | Sale Price £9

I'll be honest, I have enough bath and body products to last me until next year, and a vast majority of them are Soap & Glory. Did I need this set? No. Did I want it? Hell yes! If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know I loved the Sugar Crush range when it first came out and I used it non stop throughout the summer. The one product I didn't try out from the range, however was the body buttercream. £10.50 seemed a little steep for my student budget to cope with. This set has the full sized buttercream, half sized shower cream, miniature scrub and a shower puff for £9. I win.

Vintage Heart Shaped Trinket Dish RRP £8 | Sale Price £4

Shabby chic is taking over my life. Or at the very least my bedroom. This little dish I thought would be perfect for little bits and bobs such as bracelets, earrings etc that I use regularly. 

Starbucks Coffee, Mug & Caramel Syrup Set RRP £14 | Sale Price £7

OK, I admit I wanted this solely for the mug, I have a bit of a thing with quirky mugs, and I'm building up quite a collection. When I eventually set up camp in my own home, I like the idea of having a cupboard full of interesting mugs that have a story behind them rather than a set of generic ones. I haven't tried the coffee yet but the syrup in hot chocolate was yummy! 

Laura Ashley Two Drawer Storage Box RRP £12 | Sale Price £6 

How cute is this? Even the sales assistant that served me was chatting away about how pretty this was. It has two decent sized drawers which are currently housing some beauty bits and bobs that I don't use very often/haven't used yet. I was surprised at how much I can actually fit into them, and for just £6, I'm really happy with my purchase. 

Have you been shopping the sales? 

Gem. Xx