SPRING CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES

These are the products I have been loving and using up most recently.

Haircare...Hair products are probably the products I use up the most regularly as I am always changing up my shampoo and styling products. KMS HairPlay Playable Texture, full-size 200ml £11.25 - I had never tried any KMS products before receiving them in a beauty box. This product is a texturising spray, which I like to use when styling my hair. This product gives my hair weightless styling and lasting pliable finish. It can also be used in wet hair as it can be used as a prep spray before blow drying, but I prefer to use it after to help build the style further. I really like the way it makes my layers look and the size was great for travel and my handbag. Would I repurchase? Yes, I need to try some more KMS products. Redken Diamond Oil Shampoo 300ml & Conditioner 250ml, for the set £23.60 - I'm a big fan of Redken haircare and have gone through quite a few of their ranges including; All Soft and Blonde Idol. I have been wanting to try the Diamond Oil range for a while as they are ideal for dull, damaged hair. The formula helps to strengthen, replenish and protects your hair. My hair definitely feels stronger and shiner after using these. Read my full review here. Would I repurchase? Yes, I would definitely use these again. Toni & Guy Casual Rough Texturiser, 200ml £7.19 - I brought this in a Toni & Guy Christmas Set that I managed to pick up in the sale. I always like to use some sort of texturising spray in my hair, but I hadn't used this one before. I really liked the casual, dishevelled matt finish this product gave to my hair. It claims to provide instant root lift and even a backcombed effect. Products like this are so easy to use, as you just work it through with your fingers. Would I repurchase? Yes, I was really pleased with the results. KMS FreeShape Quick Blow Dry, full-size 2ooml £11.45 - This product is a duo phase heat protectant that I received in a beauty box. This product is formulated to make your blow dry quicker, speeding up the time of drying by up to 50%. It also reduces friction while conditioning lightly, whilst also providing protection from heat. I really liked this product, I got on really well with it. Would I repurchase? Yes I need to repurchase this, when I have used up some of my other leave in conditioners, I am definitely a KMS convert.

Skincare...I could talk about skincare all day long, I know trying new products aren't always good for your skin so I like to treat my skin to a few of my favourite products every now and again. Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Cream, full-size 50ml £50.00 - Origins as you know is my favourite skincare brand, I go on about them in most of my blog posts. But I had never tried anything from the Dr. Andrew Weil Mega-Mushroom range before, I brought a Mega-Mushroom Christmas set in the sale. As my skin is quite oily, I don't normally like a thick moisturiser, I prefer a gel like formula. But this face cream was so rich and luxurious on my skin. I liked to apply this in the evenings, it instantly calmed any redness and sensitivity and hydrated my skin at the same time. Would I repurchase? It was a lovely moisturiser, but £50.00 for the full-size tub is quite pricey, I think I will stick to my Make A Difference treatment. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer, 30ml £6.99 - I really like this primer from Rimmel. For the price, it's so affordable to what it is. You get 30ml of product which lasts for ages and it definitely does a great job of smoothing and resurfacing my face before I apply my base products. It also brightens my skin, as well as keeping my oily skin at bay. I feel my foundation stays around for much longer when I apply this and it protects my skin from breakouts. Would I repurchase? Yes, I already have.  Soap & Glory Drama Clean Micellar Cleansing Water, 200ml £6.00 - I was so excited when this was released. I'm a big fan of Soap & Glory and was so happy to see something new in the range. A lot of brands have released micellar waters, but this one was great at getting rid of most of my make-up and daily dirt before cleansing fully. I am not a big fan of the scent, Peach and extracts of natural cucumber juice, it is nice and fresh, but I normally like my cleansers not to smell too strong. Read my full review here. Would I repurchase? Maybe, but it's not my favourite. Origins Make A Difference Plus+ Treatment Lotion, full-size 150ml £20.00 - I really like to apply this product in the evenings after using a toner. It helps to refresh my skin and I always notice a difference after I've used this. I apply a little bit on to a cotton pad and swipe it over my face, it just lets me know I haven't got any leftover make-up on my skin. My skin is left hydrated and ready to be moisturised. I always pick up these mini sizes in Christmas gift sets and haven't had to buy a full-size yet. Would I repurchase? Yes, I'm on to my next bottle. Clarins Daily Energiser Cream, 30ml £18.45 - This moisturiser is great to use in the mornings as a little pick me up. It really does help to energise the skin and awaken me ready for the day ahead. I love the glass jar it comes it and it's the perfect consistency for my skin. It's more of a gel type moistuser which my skin adores. It leaves my skin super soft and prepped ready for my make-up. Would I repurchase? Yes I would.

Bodycare & Other...Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, 75ml £4.99 - This was a great little innovation when this first hit the market. The idea of just dipping your finger into a pot and the nail polish was gone was such a genius beauty tool which didn't need you to faff around with cotton pads and spilling it everywhere. I really liked using this at first, it got rid of my nail polish quickly and it does condition your nails with almond oil at the same time. After using this for quite a while, the solution gets really dirty and your nails come out still with polish on. Would I repurchase? I think they are great for travel, but don't last long enough for me. Queen Of... Shaving gel Pina Colada Twist, 150ml £4.29 - I'm not going to lie, I did just buy this for the Pina Colada scent, but I have tried this shaving gel before in another scent and really enjoyed it. The tropical scent was lovely and the formulation comes out like a gel which is really moisturising on my legs. It gives me protection from the razor and it doesn't leave any irritations. My legs feel super smooth after shaving. Would I repurchase? Yes, I normally pick these up on offer in Supermarkets. Soap & Glory Foam Call Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - I have raved so many times about Soap & Glory shower gels before, I always have one on the go. This scent is a fruity one which has notes of frozen yuzu, orange oil, green fig, and jungle pomelo essence. The scent would be perfect to use on a summers day or on holiday. I find the formula really moisturising and I love the massive pump bottles. Would I repurchase? Always. Make Believe Gradual Self Tan, 200ml £15.60 - I have been using this gradual self tan for years. I'm not a big fake tan user but when I do I like to use something that will give me a gradual golden glow instead of a full on tan. This comes out white and doesn't go streaky at all, I like the scent as it's not too over powering and it seems to last about a week before I need to reapply. This is also great to use after a holiday to top-up your natural tan so it stays around for longer. I like to apply this with a mitt as nobody likes orange hands. Wax Lyrical Gingerbread Reed Diffuser, 50ml £6.00 - I have never used a reed diffuser before in my bedroom, but my Mum picked me up this just before Christmas because she knows I love everything Gingerbread. This was lovely to use throughout Christmas, it smells exactly like gingerbread so it filled up my whole bedroom and I could smell it everytime I walked into the room. I was really impressed with the scent as the diffuser is quite small. It also lasted a long time, so is perfect if you're looking for something to give a room a nice scent. Would I repurchase? Definitely, I will have to have a look at the other scents.

Have you tried any of these products?

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LATEST IN BEAUTY - CAPITAL BEAUTY BOX

                                                                                                           Image: capitalfm.com
I have always liked the beauty box concept ever since receiving my first Glossybox. I have purchased a few beauty boxes from Latest in Beauty before, including The Dream boxes from British Beauty Blogger and the Glamour editions. Their latest box is a collaboration with Capital FM. The Capital Beauty Box includes nine products and together creates the perfect backstage beauty collection. The products are; Rita Ora’s new Rimmel Nail Polish, Pixi Lip Blush, Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette, Stila Smudge Stick, Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer, StyLondon Jewellery Inspired Temporary Tattoos, Collection Lengthening Mascara, Nail Buffer and Jimmy Choo Fragrance. I really like how most of the products in the box are full-size products, unlike other beauty boxes. I am most excited about the Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette as I've heard so many good things about it, some even say they rival the Urban Decay shadows. This palette is priced at £3.99 on it's own and comes in three different shades. You can create so many looks with this and I like that the packaging is so sleek and compact. The product I'm not really bothered about is the Nail Buffer, I have quite a few of these and they all do the same thing really. The box is priced at £14.95 plus free p&p, which works out at around £1.65 per product which is a really great deal! The contents is worth over £48.00, so it's well worth it. I'm sure this will sell out fast like other Latest in Beauty boxes.
                                                  Will you be picking up the Capital Beauty Box?

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WINTER BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES - DECEMBER 2014

Philosophy The Gingerbread Girl Shower Gel, Bubble Bath & Shampoo, 480ml £14.00 – This took me so long to use up, just because the bottle is so big. I received this as a Christmas present as everyone knows I love gingerbread. This is a multi-use product, but I just like to use it as a bubble bath. It creates lots of bubbles and smells lovely, I currently have the Christmas Cookie version on the go. Would I repurchase? Yes I love Philosophy formulas.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo & Conditioner, 250ml and 200ml £2.79 each – This duo is a basic shampoo and conditioner which do the job but aren’t anything special. I like the coconut scent and they did make my hair feel sleek and smooth. This range is suited for dry, frizzy hair and it definitely did tame my flyaways. I did a whole blog post on this range, here. Would I repurchase? Maybe not this scent, but I would try other products from the range.

Chloe Eau De Parfum Spray, 30ml £36.95 – This is my all-time favourite scent. I will forever repurchase this and will never be without it. I have tried most of the Chloe fragrances and haven’t found one I didn’t like, I’m currently really enjoying the See by Chloe fragrances. I love how cute the bottle is and looks pretty on any dressing table. Would I repurchase? Yes, forever.

Chloe Perfumed Shower Gel, 200ml £19.95 – I wouldn’t normally buy an expensive fragrance shower gel, but this was on offer at the time. Being my favourite fragrance I really enjoyed using it and saved it for special occasions than using it every day. Would I repurchase? I would buy this again if it was on some kind of offer and it’s great as a gift to buy someone their favourite scent in a shower gel version.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (In both old and new packaging), 30ml £9.99 – This is one of the first drugstore foundations I tried and fell in love with. I don’t like that they changed the packaging, as the old packaging pushed up any remaining product and you could see exactly how much was left. The colour is a good match for my pale skin and it gives me a light/medium coverage which doesn’t look cakey at all or oxidises throughout the day. I like the way it looks on my skin and I like that the bottle comes with a pump. Would I repurchase? Yes, Bourjois do some of my favourite high-street foundations.

Redken Blonde Idol Shampoo, 300ml £9.90 – I have really been enjoying Redken shampoo and conditioner this year. This shampoo is especially designed for blonde hair and helps to prevent my highlights fading too quickly. I like the scent and it foams up really nicely, I have reviewed this fully on my blog, here. Would I repurchase? Yes, I’m currently using the Diamond Oil range.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, 30ml £6.99 – I really like how well this foundation matched my skin tone. For a drugstore foundation it is really pale and perfect to use all year round, unlike the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation which is a little too bronzed for me during Autumn/Winter. It so affordable and has an SPF 18 which is great to see from a high street foundation. Would I repurchase? Yes, it’s a good affordable foundation.

Vo5 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo, 200ml £3.59 – I have raved about this dry shampoo again and again, I always go back to this brand. It’s really affordable and I know it works for me. I’m currently using another brand and not enjoying it so much, so will have to return to this one after I’ve used it up. Would I repurchase? Yes, I always make sure I have one at hand.

Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Butter, 300ml £10.00 – This product has to be one of my favourite discoveries of 2014. I have really been enjoying Orange scented products and you can always rely on a Soap & Glory body butter to keep your skin moisturised and hydrated. I have reviewed this fully on my blog, here. Would I repurchase? Yes I would buy any of the Soap & Glory body butters.

Soap & Glory Heels Genius Foot Cream, 125ml £5.50 – This is another product I use all the time, nothing seems to work as well as this. It’s a thick cream which I like to massage into any dry areas and cover with socks in the evening. My feet are left feeling super soft and it makes me feel so much more relaxed. Would I repurchase? Yes this is holy grail for me, I've restocked up by buying the Annual Soap & Glory Star Gift at Boots!

Have you tried any of these products? What would you replace them with?

HOT OR NOT - BEAUTY BOX PRODUCTS OCTOBER 2014

As I missed out reviewing most of my October beauty boxes, I thought I would give an overview on which products I enjoyed and would repurchase and which ones I would give a miss. I reviewed my current favourite box - Look Fantastic, so all of these products are from Glossybox, Birchbox or You Beauty Discovery box. Glossybox's theme last month was based around a pop art box, which I love and will be keeping after use. The limited edition box came in four different colour ways and included four full-size products and two samples, which really impressed me. October's Birchbox was a collaboration with Coppafeel as October is also breast cancer awareness month. I loved that all the products featured in that months box fit in a cute pink zip up pouch and the box also came with a handy lipstick pen, which is perfect for any beauty lovers! You Beauty Discovery's product list was based on handbag heroes which are effective in the quick fix approach. I love this beauty box as it gives you the chance to try samples you actually want to try at a really reasonable price tag.
Hot Products -
The products I got on with the most were; Ciate Paint Pot in Ditch The Heels (Glossybox) - I received a gorgeous green shade called Ditch The Heels. I've tried many Ciate nail polishes in the past and really like the glossy finish. Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute (Glossybox) - I was really impressed to receive a full-size product from Nuxe. This is priced at £19.50 and is similar to the Origins Drink Up Intensive mask, so great for dry skin types. So Susan Flutter Mascara (Glossybox) - Mascara is probably my least favourite make-up product to receive in a beauty box, just because I know if I try it I have to use it up within the next few months, so I have a stock pile building up. But I decided to try this and really liked the way it lengthened my lashes. Etre Belle Liplift Peel (Glossybox) - I had never heard of this brand, but I was intrigued as I haven't used many products like it. This gives your lips a gentle exfoliation to prepare your lips for lipstick and I was impressed with the results. Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm (Birchbox) - I have tried samples of this before, I really enjoy the balm texture. It's a product I go back to again and again but have yet to purchase it as I keep receiving samples. Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar (Birchbox) - I was very excited for this product as I haven't tried many products from Pixi. This gives a lovely nude tint to the lips and helps moisturise them as well, great for the winter months! KMS California Hair Play Playable Texture (Birchbox) - I have been loving KMS products and this one is a must try! You can use this before or after blow drying and it helps to build style and define layers without making your hair feel weighed down. Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Tease (You Beauty Discovery) - This was my first choice from You Beauty last month as I haven't tried a lipstick from Illamasqua before. I received the shade Tease which is a gorgeous matte nude and goes lovely with my skin tone. Crystal Clear Skincare Intense Anti-Ageing Serum (You Beauty Discovery) - I love a good serum and I knew this was a pricey brand so I thought I would give it a go. It helps to reduce wrinkles and firm the skin, I'm sure this is for an older target market but I love the way it peps up my skin. Cowshed Anti-Ageing Perfecting Night Serum (You Beauty Discovery) - Another serum similar to the Crystal Clear one, I liked massaging this into my face in the evening. It has made me want to try more from the brand!
Not So Hot Products -
The products I didn't rate were; Yves Rocher Quelques Notes D'Amour Perfume (Glossybox) - I'm not a big fan of perfume samples in beauty boxes, this one is a little too sweet for me! Rimmel BB Cream Matte in Light (Glossybox) - A nice little extra, but even the light shade is too orange toned for my skin. Shaveworks The Cool Fix Gel Lotion (Birchbox) - As I don't have any issues with shaving my legs this isn't a product I would normally pick up. It is really smoothing and cooling though, so maybe nice to leave until the summer months, not too sure of the manly scent though. Lollipops Paris Nail Lacquer (Birchbox) - I had never heard of this brand before, I really like the festive shade and the shade is quite pigmented. But I wasn't very impressed with the staying power as it chipped quite easily. Gold Collagen Forte (You Beauty Discovery) - I have received one of these before in a beauty box and I must admit I haven't tried it. It's aimed at the 40+ market, but I can't imagine it's a nice beauty supplement to drink, I think I will give it a miss.

I think my favourite box out of the three October editions has to be Birchbox.

Which is your favourite Beauty Box?

EVERYDAY MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS - SHOPPING MY STASH

This is the make-up that I'm currently wearing most week days, I like to mix it up a bit on weekends or evenings out but I do like to stick to the same products that I know work for me, so that they're quick and easy to reach for in the mornings. I store my everyday makeup in my Muji drawers and I shop my stash whenever I get bored of using a product. This is what my drawer currently contains;

Face

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer, 30ml £6.99 - The main reason I wear primer is to make my foundation stay around for longer. But this formula minimises pores, mattifies my oily skin and evens out skin before applying the rest of my make-up. I have nearly finished this tube, but you get a good amount of product for the price. I have already repurchased. YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, 30ml £30.50 - This is the newest foundation from YSL, I got a 7 day sample from a counter to try it before I buy the full-size. I'm really enjoying wearing it so far, it gives you a light to medium coverage, it drys matte which is great for my oily skin but is still glowing, really natural and leaves my skin super soft. Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, 6.8ml £7.99 - This is great for dark circles, I do find it does crease if I don't set it with powder. But the formulation really does erase tiredness. The sponge applicator isn't very hygienic but the twist tube allows you to get every last drop of product out. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £4.19 - This is my go to concealer for hiding blemishes and redness. It lasts a while on the skin and doesn't look cakey at all. Soap & Glory Kick Ass Powder, 7g £12.00 - I then matte my skin, using this weightless and translucent powder. It's great for retouching and feels smooth on the skin. I have hit pan on this and would definitely repurchase. See my full post here.

Cheeks

Soap & Glory Love At First Blush, 7g £11.00 - I have been using this blush for ages and still haven't hit pan. It's still in the old cardboard packaging, but it gives a lovely rosy sheen on the cheeks. It has a small amount of shimmer, but it's great for everyday. 

Eyes

MAC Eyeshadows Omega & Soba, £10.00 each - I use these eyeshadows in my eyebrows to make them look as natural as possible. Benefit Gimme Brow, 3g £17.50 - I then set my eyebrows with this, it gives them a bit of definition, shapes and tints. It's long wearing, water resistant and build-able. I wouldn't be without this now. Urban Decay Primer Potion, 11ml £16.00 - I always use a base for my eyeshadows, as I have oily skin it's difficult to find shadows that don't slide down my face. This helps to make my make-up stay around the longer and prevents creasing. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette, £22.00 - This is a great neutral matte palette which is really wearable for everyday. It's the perfect size to just pop in your bag and the shadows are creamy and blendable. I have seen that Urban Decay are releasing a second Naked Basics palette, so I'm looking forward to that. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, 11g £19.00 - I like a mascara with a big brush wand. This mascara is jet black, it lengthening and volumises lashes and holds a curl all day. I'm really enjoying using this at the moment.

Lips

Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick, £7.99 - This has to be my most wearable lip colour for everyday. It's a Loreal Caresse in the shade 101 Tempting Lilac, the formulation is so creamy and the colour is a subtle rose lilac. Sadly I'm nearly at the end of this.

Do you keep your everyday make-up separate? What are your recommendations?