Empties #12

Okay, enough procrastinating, I can write this...

Offers and the scents of the Aussie shampoo and conditioners lead me to buy many a bottle. I liked both the Mega and Miracle Moist ranges. They didn't leave my hair the softest, but they didn't leave it feeling dry either, and I experienced no build up with them. I still have plenty left in my hair drawer, and I would happily buy more.

The Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner is one I've been through countless bottles of. I use it after I shower, it smells incredible, leaves my hair a little softer than it normally is, and you can put as much in as you please without any greasiness. I'm already on to my next bottle.

I dedicated an entire post to the Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo a while ago, I was that impressed with it. I still love it as it makes my hair insanely soft, but I've found that it weighs my hair down and makes it greasy looking after a couple weeks. Because of this, I switch to another shampoo is remove any build up, and go back to this after a short break. I'd definitely repurchase, and I've just bought the Deep Conditioning Treatment and Leave In Treatment from the same range. They have high ratings and positive reviews, so I'm looking forward to using them.

Lush Ultrabland is my number one cleanser at the moment, and I'm on to my third tub. It removes my makeup better than any cleanser I've tried, leaves it super moisturised, and doesn't sting my eyes in any way. Love.

I still have a fair bit of Lush's Lemony Flutter left, but it's started to smell funny because I've had it a while. I'm going to make more of an effort to apply it to places other than my cuticles if I buy it again, because the pot is too big for just that use. It was heavy and greasy, but that's kind of to be expected from a cuticle butter. It did improve the appearance of them, though, and before it got old and funky, it smelt beautiful.

The battered Lush pot you see there is Ro's Argan. I used to think the price of this was insane, then I bought a tub with my Mystery Shopper store credit, then I asked for a tub for Christmas, and then I bought my own. And will do so again. I don't mind the price now because there's nothing which compares to it. It leaves your skin so moisturised, so soft, and so deliciously scented.

Original Source has been a favourite shower gel brand of mine for years. Their lime one is one of my all time favourites. So I was pretty pleased when they came out with a mango one. It smells just like the fruit, and I've already stocked up.

I've been through more of the Superdrug Colour Effects Conditioning Colours. More than the one bottle featured. They just transform my hair from so-so auburn to bam auburn. I get a lot of compliments on my hair colour, and these are part of the reason for that. I like all the shades, but mostly use True Chestnut and Mahogany.

I've been through another The Body Shop All In One Face Base in 02. It never looks cakey or powdery; only natural and silky.

There's still product in the ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light, but it was getting a bit gross, so decided to start a new one. It's still one of my favourite eyebrow products after all these years, so I'm sad that I now have to resort to eBay to buy it. Hopefully, they'll launch another UK site.

The Maybelline Gel Eyeliner is everything. If I could only wear one product, it'd be this. It's pigmented, like black black, and it's creamy enough to be easy to work with, but not so creamy that it takes away from the pigment. It also stays put all day, even on my lash line. My favourite brush to use with it is the one it comes with, so that's another bonus, and it's affordable. I don't think there's anything more to say!

The Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is the best lip balm I've ever used, and I'll continue to use it for a very long time. I'd like a heads up if they plan on discontinuing this, because I'll be clearing the shelves.

Do you like any of these products?

Current Skincare Routine

I've taken a real interest in skincare recently, and have developed a consistent routine. I've never been consistent with my skincare before, usually giving up using products after a couple weeks. I'm hoping this routine continues, even if the products change (I am a beauty blogger, after all). I'll start in the evening, as this is when I shower and cleanse the day's impurities away.

If I'm wearing makeup, gel liner in particular, I use Lush's Ultrabland (review here - I said I didn't know if I'd rush out to repurchase, and here we are, three pots later). I found this quite heavy and tacky initially, but have grown to love it. It's the best for removing makeup, and it leaves my oily-combination skin feeling thoroughly moisturised.

I sometimes use The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (review here) if I have eye makeup on, but have found myself using this on the rest of my face more because it leaves my skin feeling really soft. I've been through a couple of these, and will no doubt go through more. I also love the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, but when both are sitting on the bathroom shelf, the lazy part of me gravitates towards the oil.

A couple hours later, when I finally head for bed, I moisturise and all that good stuff. I've been using some products from the Rodial Glamtox* range for about 5 weeks now. I'll use the serum and eye cream before bed, and the day moisturiser and sometimes the eye cream in the morning, before I apply my makeup. The serum is my favourite because it feels like it makes the biggest difference; my skin is left feeling nourished and hydrated the next morning. However, I wouldn't use this during the day like it claims you can. It's oil based and takes a while to soak in. I can't even see this being a good option for dry skin, but then it may be, depending on your skin and what you like. The eye cream and day moisturiser are also nice because they sink in quickly, allowing you to get on with your day. I don't feel like they do much else, though. They add some moisture to my face, but that's it, and for the price (£50-£75!), I want them to do a lot more. They claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and while I don't have these on the majority of my face, I do have them under my eyes (more than the average person, I think). The eye cream hasn't helped with these, and I can't see this suddenly changing in the future. They're good products, but for the price, I'd like them to do a lot more. I've come across products at a fraction of the cost which give similar results. I'd actually recommend trying the sister brand, Nip + Fab, for cheaper alternatives. They have their own versions of Rodial's Dragon Blood, Bee Venom, and Glamoxy Snake ranges.

Two other products I use before bed are the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser and Nelson's Pure & Clear Blemish Gel. The Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is the best lip balm I've ever used, although I'm sure my lips are getting used to the effect it has. The Nelson's Pure & Clear Blemish Gel is also the best I've used, but that's not saying much because most blemish gels do nothing for me. This one sometimes does and sometimes doesn't, so I take a chance when I use it. There's no harm if it doesn't always reduce the blemish, though.

Face masks have become a regular thing in my routine now, which I never thought would happen. Most face masks leave my skin feeling slightly cleansed or slightly moisturised, and not much else, but I've found two which do more than that. The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is like the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser for your face, leaving it feeling plump and unbelievably moisturised. You can read my review, as well as my thoughts on two other Origins masks, here. The Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask was also sent to me, but I'll probably be buying a tube when it runs out. It contains the highest amount of glycolic acid in the range, so I wouldn't recommend it for sensitive skin, but it leaves mine feeling smooth, and my pores are a lot smaller. Just be careful if you're going out in the sun after wearing this; it suggests you wear an SPF to protect the new skin it's helped to reveal. You can read my review of this here.

What skincare products would you recommend, face masks in particular?

Recent Purchases

You know when you buy something here and something there, and you don't feel as though you've bought much recently? And then you gather these purchases together and realise your shopping habits haven't changed? This is how this post came about.

I'll start with the items dominating the photos. I bought the Aussie products on a 3 for £10 deal, but they're now 3 for 2, which works out cheaper, annoyingly. I picked up another bottle of the Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner because I use it all the time. Then I opted for the Mega Shampoo and Conditioner. This was last month, and I've nearly finished these now. I really like them, so may include them in my next favourites post. They don't leave my hair as soft as the Tresemme Platinum Strength range, but they're more light weight. Because I've been impressed with these, I then bought two shampoos and a conditioner from the Miracle Moist line.

I bought the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Nude Mauve (£8.99) with my Boots points, then went back and bought Gorgeous Berries. Pigmented, illuminating, blend well, and I don't have shades like these in my collection.

I've been using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush daily for nearly two years now, and was considering buying another. Then one found itself on my store's clearance stand, so I had to buy it. Normally £11.99, but I think I paid £4-5.

I also bought a couple more packs of the No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes. These work out as 42p with the £5 off vouchers and staff discount, so I like to stock up when the vouchers are around.

The last bargain purchase from Boots is the Origins Mask Marvels Gift Set. £20 down from £50, you receive the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, the Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask, and the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. These are 75ml instead of the full sized 100ml tubes, but that's still a hefty saving! The 100ml tubes are £23, so these 75ml ones work out as £17.25 each. £20 instead of £51.75 isn't bad at all. I've heard great things about these products, so I'm excited to try them.

The Blistex products were half price in Superdrug, so I stocked up on the Intensive Moisturiser because it's the best lip balm I've ever used. Definitely worth more than the full price of £2.59.

You can always rely on The Body Shop for a bargain. The Vineyard Peach Body Mist was £3.50 down from £7 in their current sale, and the Cranberry Joy and Vanilla Brulee Home Fragrance Oils were just £1 down from £4. They smell delicious, and I've been burning Cranberry Joy since I received it.

Let me know of any bargains you've purchased recently, and if they're still available for me to buy myself!

Empties #09

It used to take me months to gather enough products for an empties post, but that doesn't seem to be the case these days. In fact, I'm having to split this post in two because there's just too much to talk about!

Figs & Rouge Mango and Mandarin Hand Cream, £3.95/20ml, Feel Unique, review here

The packaging, scent, and formula were all beautiful and made this the perfect handbag product. It wasn't greasy in the slightest, but still left my hands feeling soft and moisturised. I don't think I'd pay the full price of £3.95 for 20ml, but will certainly repurchase when there's a discount or code.

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara, £9.99, Boots or Superdrug

Initially, I wasn't a fan of this. I just found it too clumpy for my liking. Then, once it'd dried out a little, it was perfect for a few weeks. Then it became too dry and clumpy again. For those few weeks, it separated my lashes and gave them length and volume, but I wouldn't repurchase because of the times either side.

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, £12/90ml, review here

The camomile cleansers from The Body Shop have become my all time favourites. My other cleansers don't compare, and I'm thinking about getting rid of them and just stocking up on this and the oil. They remove makeup so well and leave your skin incredibly soft. Even after months, I still get that same baby soft skin after using them every night. I love them both equally, but would recommend the butter if you travel.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty, £5.50/125g

First of all, I managed to get 20 uses out of this small pot, which is about 28p a time. So cheap. It also left my skin feeling thoroughly cleansed. I'm not sure if it helped with blemishes, but my sister thinks it helped hers. She's even bought her own pot, and she's not a fan of Lush!

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser, £2.63/5g Boots or £2.59/5g Superdrug (currently just £1.28, though!)

This is the best lip balm I've ever used, and the first I've actually finished. I apply it at night, and wake up with incredibly moisturised lips. It doesn't just moisturise the top layer of skin, like so many others do. Repurchase? Already have!

Nelsons Pure & Clear Blemish Gel, £7.40/10g, Feel Unique

This used to be sold in Boots, but I can't find it on the website any more. I managed to buy a tube on clearance for less than £2 a month or so ago, so I'm guessing they were removing it from the shelves. Anyway, I've always been unsure as to whether blemish gels work, but I can definitely see a difference when I use this. It just seems to calm and reduce spots. I prefer it over Lush's Grease Lightning, and the tube lasts for ages. This is another product that I've already repurchased.

Witch Anti Blemish Skin Clearing Primer, £6.99/30ml, Boots

I've used and loved this before, but stopped using it to try others. Then I found it in Superdrug heavily reduced (I think they were discontinuing it), so picked up two bottles for just 87p each. My skin's so used to this now that the effects have become the norm. I don't remember what makeup applies like without it, but I do remember thinking this made it apply smoother when I first started using it. It also reduced the amount of creasing around my eyes. I won't be running out to repurchase another bottle just yet because I've been loving the blur effect primers recently, but it's something I can see myself going back to in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?

Bedside Beauty

I've unintentionally accumulated a small gathering of products beside my bed, and thought I'd talk a little about them today.

Just before bed, I'll sometimes want to moisturise areas such as my elbows, knees, and feet. My body butter of choice at the moment is Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush Body Buttercream (review here), but I'm also a fan of The Body Shop's Raspberry and Vineyard Peach varieties. They all smell incredible, aren't too greasy, and provide my skin with a lot of moisture, leaving it soft and subtle.

I've also been moisturising my hands before bed because they've been needing more TLC since starting work. I'm absolutely loving the Figs & Rouge Hand Cream in Cherry Blossom (review here). It isn't greasy in the slightest, but still leaves your hands feeling hydrated. It also smells amazing!

For facial moisturisers, I have the Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser (thoughts here) and the Balance Me Moisture Rich Face Cream. I used, loved, and finished my pot of Organic Surge Super Intensive Daily Moisturiser, so am now making my way through the Blissful Daily version. It's obviously not as moisturising, but still sinks in well and leaves my skin feeling soft. The Balance Me one is a generous sample I received in a magazine the other month, and I'm still making my mind up about it. It isn't greasy, and leaves my skin adequately moisturised, but it's heavily fragranced. If you don't like strong rose scents, you'll struggle to use this.

For lips, I have the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser and Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm. The Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is amazing, and leaves my lips feeling softer than any other product. More often than not, though, I find myself gravitating towards the Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm because my lips don't need the Blistex one every night. The Nivea one is just like your standard tube of lip balm, but it's one I use a lot.

For blemishes, I use the Nelsons Pure & Clear Blemish Gel. It seems to do the job better than others I've tried, and that includes Lush's Grease Lightning.

Then I just have some products that I haven't been using that often, but are there just in case. I'm still deciding whether The Body Shop's Vitamin E Moisture Serum gives my skin any extra moisture. I'm honestly not sure. Then there's the Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Oil, which I'll use if my skin is feeling particularly dry (which is not that often).

Have you tried any of these? What products do you use in the evenings/just before bed?

Collective Haul

I don't feel like I've been buying much recently, but this photo says otherwise! 

So, you know the Pacifica fragrance sets I've mentioned a few times now? £18 on Feel Unique, bought a couple in January for £5, bought a couple more a few weeks back for £7.50? Well, Tesco Direct reduced them again, to just £3.75. £3.75! I'm glad they're not a well known brand over here. If they were, they would have sold out in a heartbeat. I now have four to give away as presents, and three myself.

I don't tend to buy many clothes from Primark (or from any store, really. Jeans and a plain tee will do me just fine). I just like the pj and home sections. I'm fond of their reed diffusers, so picked up four more; two sweet pineapple & ginger, and two blackcurrant & orchid. They smell great, and were only £3 each. I also bought some more cosy and thermal socks (£2 and £2.50). Love, love, love their thicker socks.

I reviewed the TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo a couple posts back (here), and then discovered that the bottles were half price in Superdrug (still are), so bought the Platinum Strength and Renewal Hair & Scalp duos. Each bottle was £2.47 down from £4.99. The 900ml and 750ml bottles are the same price, which is annoying, but these have been making a difference to my hair.

There was an offer on Soap & Glory facial products the other week in Boots, so I ended up paying £5-6 for the Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser, rather than £10. I've used it a fair few times now, and... it's okay. It doesn't smell the nicest, it doesn't remove my makeup as well as others, and it doesn't leave my skin as soft as others. It's just okay. I like it, but wouldn't pay £10 for it. I then bought the Sugar Crush Body Scrub for £8. Full price. I don't think I've ever paid full price for a Soap & Glory product. There was a points voucher involved, though. Anyway, I've tried the other products in the range, and wanted to move away from exfoliating gloves and enter the world of scrubs. It smells better than the body wash and butter. It's incredible. I'm going to use it for the first time tonight, so will let you know how I get on.

I bought another Blistex Intensive Moisturiser (£2.59/Superdrug, £2.63/Boots) because I use my current one every night, and I also bought another Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick for £5.99 (normally £8.99). This shade is Peach Club. I like them, but can't say too much because I haven't worn them to their fullest potential yet. I've just been dabbing and blending a little in.

What happens when you combine a buy one get one half price offer, a £3 off voucher, and multiple point boosting vouchers? You spend, and you don't feel guilty about it. I bought the No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush Stick in Classic Rose (normally £9.95), and the No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Tropical Beach (normally £9). I ended up paying £6.95 and £4.50. I haven't tried them yet, but like the Instant Radiance Highlighting Stick I have from them. Tropical Beach also looks similar to Bourjois' Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach, which is one of my favourites.

Lastly, the bag is from Accessorize. At £33.30 (usually £37), it wasn't the cheapest, but it's for my sister's birthday, and the patterns are really beautiful.

What have you been buying recently?

New Favourites #05

I've written positive reviews on most of the products above, but realised that they haven't been in a Favourites yet, so here we are!

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil - £10/200ml - review here

I love both this and the Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, but have been reaching for this more often because it's quicker. Instead of unscrewing a lid and scooping, I can just pump. It removes all of my makeup well and leaves my skin feeling really soft. 

The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Mist - £7.50/100ml - review here

I have quite a few of The Body Shop body mists, and this is my new favourite. It smells like a fresh, juicy peach. Amazing.

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser - £2.59/5g at Superdrug, £2.63 at Boots

I have yet to mention this on Affordable Treats. Blistex were giving away 500 of these on Facebook a few weeks back, and I was lucky enough to win one. I wasn't expecting it to be anything special, but was blown away when I first used it. It feels like it moisturises your lips right the way through, instead of just the first layer of skin. I apply this at night, let the menthol do its thing, then wake up to moisturised, plump lips. I rarely have chapped lips, so cannot comment on if it helps to that extent, but it seemed to help my sister's. I'll definitely be buying another tube!

NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler - £5/6.5g - review here

Like I said in my review, I'm not usually one for gloss, but this is something else! It's not as orange as it looks in the tube, and it's not as pink as my swatch suggests, but a beautiful coral. It feels buttery, like the name suggests, but in a good way. It's also pigmented, lasts a few hours, and fades evenly. I also have Apple Strudel, but that shades tends to settle into the lines on my lips. Peach Cobbler doesn't.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream - £10.50/300ml - review here

My sister bought me this from eBay for just £4.69 including P&P. It smells like lime cheesecake, absorbs into the skin quickly, and leaves it feeling moisturised. Couldn't ask for more!

Accessorize Daisy Necklace - £6

I normally include my non-beauty favourites in my Currently Loving posts, but thought I'd just include this little item here. I like jewellery, but don't wear a lot of it because I always forget to. I went into Accessorize with my sister the other day because she wanted a ring, and she picked out this for me. I was surprised it wasn't more than it was, and love daisies, so decided to treat myself. It's small and sits perfectly on my collarbone, going with most of my tops. I could have bought a lot more, but will probably wait for their next sale!

What have you been loving recently?