Empties #002

Why I chose to number these with three digits, I do not know. I'm unlikely to even get to 10! I'm always unsure whether to post about my empties because on one hand: It's useful to see what products I actually use and love, but on the other: I think the products I use are boring, and it's obvious that I like them if I've used them up!

The first product I remembered to save for this post was the TRESemme Naturals Smooth Shampoo. I've bought this countless times because it just works for my hair! Repurchase? Already have!

Superdrug's Raspberry & Macadamia Nut Conditioner - I added this to my online basket on a whim because it was like 99p, and I'm glad I did. It smells so good! It's sweet, almost sherbet-y. I also like that it has a pump. In terms of conditioning, it worked well, too. Very impressed. Repurchase? Yes.

Superdrug's Coconut & Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner - I bought this the same time as the raspberry one because it was 2 for £1.49. I've used this before and loved it. It smells amazing, and leaves my hair feeling really soft. Repurchase? Yes!

Aussie's Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner - Another bottle down! Again, it smells amazing and leaves my hair soft. See? I told you my empties are boring! Repurchase? Already have :)

Liz Earle's Gentle Face Exfoliator - I was sent this some time last year, and actually finished it ages ago, but saved it for this post. It exfoliated quite well, and left my skin feeling soft because it's based in a cream similar to the Hot Cloth Cleanser. I wouldn't repurchase it, though, because it's more expensive than what I'd like to pay for an exfoliator, and I now use exfoliating gloves, sugar, or a flannel to rid me of dry skin (will do a post on this at some point).

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover - I've talked about this before, and still feel the same! It's my favourite nail polish remover, ever. It removes my polish well, and smells good for a remover. It may make my nails stronger and whiter, but I don't know for certain. Repurchase? Already have.

Lush's Ocean Salt Facial Scrub - I really liked this. Some say it's too rough, but I didn't think it was at all! I just had to close my mouth when rinsing it off because of the salt - Yuk! If I didn't use exfoliating gloves, sugar, and flannels to exfoliate, then I would repurchase this.

Superdrug's Colour Effects Conditioning Colour in Mahogany - I wrote a review on the Rich Red shade of this a few years ago (just search for it in the search bar to your left), and decided to use them again. This time I went for Mahogany, and I think I prefer it. It's still red, but it's much darker. It leaves my auburn locks with more intense red tones, which really come to life in the sun. Even with my long, thick hair, I got 3-4 uses out of this, and each use lasted around a week. Don't leave it on for 5 minutes like the bottle suggests, though. I leave mine on for 30 minutes, or 15 in the shower. Repurchase? Already have, but True Chestnut this time.

I hope that was of any use to you! My next empties post will probably be in a couple of months - I find it so hard to use things up! But a few products are already running out, so maybe I'll be posting sooner than expected. Enjoy your weekend!

Beauty Changes I've Made in the Last Year

The other day, I realised just how many beauty changes I've made in the last year or so! There are more than what I'm going to mention in this post, but the following are the main ones. I was thinking about writing a post on the changes I've made since blogging, but that post would be ridiculously long! I've probably changed everything about my routine since three and a half years ago.

First of all, I started to use hot cloth cleansers in 2012. I love them. They're so creamy and moisturising, but remove all of your make-up at the same time. The ones above are Superdrug's Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser, Superdrug's Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser, and Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish. I've also just used up the No7 one. My favourites would have to be the Superdrug ones. They're nearly as good as the Liz Earle one, but they're so much cheaper.

I also started wearing primer last year. How did I manage without it?! I couldn't not use it now. It allows my make-up to go on smoothly and last all day. The ones I use are Witch's Anti-Blemish Skin Clearing Primer and Nivea's Express Hydration Primer.

I started using body oils in the Summer of 2012. The ones pictured above are Palmer's Moisturising Body Oil and The Body Shop's Coconut Beautifying Oil. I've used a third of The Body Shop's one, which is good going seeing as you only need to little bit at a time. I really want to try the mango scented one next.

I also think I started using wax to fill in my eyebrows last year. Before that, I always used powder. The wax I use, and have repurchased, is the one from the ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium.

I then started to use cream blushes. The ones I use the most are the ones pictured above, and they are the NYX Cream Blushes in Natural and Glow. To apply these, I use the ELF Studio Stipple Brush, which I picked up last month.

I also started to buff my nails. I never realised how many ridges I had until I buffed them. I then couldn't get over how smooth they felt! And my nail polish started to apply much better.

The most recent beauty change I've made is wearing nude eyeliner. The one above is Rimmel's Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Nude. It covers the redness I have on my waterline and brightens my eyes beautifully.



They're some of the changes I've made in the last year. Others include smudging out the eyeliner on my lower lash line, exfoliating my face with exfoliating gloves, and waxing my top lip ;)

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser (with Liz Earle and No7 comparisons)

In the last few months, I've really been getting into hot cloth cleansers. I love that they gently remove all traces of make-up and leave your skin soft and moisturised. I've tried Liz Earle's and No7's offerings, and thought I would try Superdrug's, seeing as the price is so affordable.

Price - Superdrug's Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser is £5.99 for 200ml, but is currently on offer for £4.99 (with free delivery on Superdrug's website!). Compared to No7's (£9.95 for 200ml or £4.95 when the vouchers are around) and Liz Earle's (£24 for 200ml), it's the most affordable hot cloth cleanser I've tried.

Packaging - The cleanser comes in a box with a muslim cloth. The box makes me feel like I'm purchasing a more expensive product, which is a nice touch. The actual product comes in a tube, rather than a pump like No7's and Liz Earle's. I don't mind if a hot cloth cleanser comes in a tube or pump, as long as I can reach all the product!

Formula - It's thick and creamy. Thicker than No7's, but not as thick as Liz Earle's. The scent is similar to No7's - It's just a standard, soapy, clean one. I really like it and prefer it to Liz Earle's.

Results - It removes my make-up incredibly well, like the other two, and leaves my skin soft and moisturised. It leaves my skin much softer than No7's and nearly as soft as Liz Earle's, which is great praise!

Overall - I really, really like this product and will be repurchasing it. I think it's on par with Liz Earle's hot cloth cleanser, but it's much more affordable. £5.99 is cheap, but it's regularly on offer, so you're likely to get it for even less.

My Current, Daily Beauty Routine (Evening)

Hello, all! Welcome to the second part of my current, daily beauty routine. You can find my morning routine post here. 

I shower in the evenings because I leave my hair to dry naturally and prefer to have relaxed mornings. I've been washing my hair with TRESemme's Salon Silk Shampoo and Conditioner (Superdrug, £4.99 for a 900ml bottle) for a while now. I usually buy them when they're half price. They're so affordable and last for months! I've also been using Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Shampoo* and Conditioner for Dry and Damaged Hair* (Liz Earle, £8.50 each). The shampoo is SLS free and contains many natural ingredients, so I've been using it every couple of weeks to give my hair a deep cleanse. Every time I've used the conditioner, my hair has gone dry, which is weird considering its claims.

After I've shampooed and conditioned my hair, I've been washing my body with Treacle Moon's One Ginger Morning Shower Gel (Tesco, £2.99). I love it so much! It smells like Starbursts. I then shave, which isn't interesting! and then I've been washing my face with No7's Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser (Boots, £9.95). It removes my make-up well and leaves it fairly soft. Not as soft as Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish though. I've also been trying out Nelsons Pure & Clear Purifying Daily Facial Wash* (Boots, £7.85). It removes my make-up well... that's all I have to say about it, really. It's not an exciting product, but it does the job.

I don't regularly moisturise my body, but I've been making an effort to do so more often. Once out of the shower, I've been using Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil (Boots, £5.10) (Review here) or The Body Shop's Coconut Beautifying Oil (The Body Shop, £9) (Review here) to moisturise. If I don't use those, I'll use Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion (Boots, £3.77) or The Body Shop's Raspberry, Mango and Sweet Lemon Body Butters (The Body Shop, £12.50 each).

Once my body is moisturised, I moisturise my face with The Body Shop's Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream (The Body Shop, £11) (Review here) or Simple's Kind to Skin Sun-Kissed Moisture Cream (Boots, £4.99). The Simple cream gives my skin a light tan, making it look healthy and glowing.

Next up to receive some TLC is my hair. I use Aussie's Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner (Boots, £4.49) and/or TRESemme's Salon Silk Serum (Boots, £4-5) on the ends of my hair. I don't use these every night. I use them once or twice a week.

And that concludes my current, daily beauty routine!

Thank you for reading!

*PR samples

Products I'm currently using in my shower

I rarely change my routine, so the following products are products I have been using for a while, and I will probably continue to use them for months to come.

Hair

Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo, Aussie Take the Heat 3 Minute Miracle Deep Treatment and TRESemme Salon Silk shampoo & conditioner.

My hair loves Aussie and TRESemme. Come to think about it, 90% of the hair products I use are by them. I'm probably going to stick to these brands because I don't want to risk trying another brand and it not working for me. Herbal Essences and Head & Shoulders, I'm looking at you!

 I won the Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo. I usually go for moisture ranges, but this is working well.

I want to try the TRESemme Naturals range next, but I won't have to buy any shampoo or conditioner for a while because the 900ml bottles last agesss!

Body

Lush soap (top to bottom: Angel's Delight, Ice Blue and Snow Globe), Wilkinson shower puff and Original Source shower gel in Lime and Lemon & Tea Tree.

I'm showing you some of my unused Lush soap because the chunks in my shower are small and manky, to be quite honest. 

The Wilkinson shower puff was about 40p and it has a sucker on it, which is very useful. 

I love Original Source shower gel. After these, I will be using the Golden Pineapple and Vanilla Milk & Raspberry varieties (Have already gone through a few bottles of Vanilla Milk & Raspberry - It's delicious!)

Face

The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar, Lush Ocean Salt (review to come), Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator.

I don't have much of a facial routine. I use these products in the shower and moisturise my face before applying make-up. 

I use The Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar and Lush Ocean Salt together, and when I want something more gentle, I use the Liz Earle products. The Vitamin E bar and Ocean Salt together is cheaper than one of the Liz Earle products, so I'm more likely to repurchase these (I've repurchased the Vitamin E bar three times because it's highly effective and only £3). 

Before starting my third Vitamin E bar, I was using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser, but the scent was so strong, I went back to my trusty soap!

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Liz Earle Energising Body Lotion

Liz Earle Energising Body Lotion*

Packaging

I love the packaging. The dusky, baby blue tube and silver banner compliment each other well, and gives an overall elegant feel to the product.

Formula

The formula sinks in to your skin fast, so you are able to get dressed straight after applying the product. It moisturises, but what body lotion or butter doesn't? 

The lotion claims to 'firm and tone'... a lot of products claim this, but I don't think it is the products that directly achieve these results. It's more to do with the motion of your hands when rubbing them in, so really, any moisturiser can do this.

Scent

I cannot stand the scent! It does capture my senses, but for the wrong reasons. When you first apply the product to your skin, it smells fresh and herbally, like the other products from the range. Then, when you start to rub it in, the scent changes. I can smell a strong scent of patchouli coming through, which I hate. Looking at the ingredient list (which contains a lot of natural products, yay!), patchouli oil is listed, so this is the reason why I can smell it! The scent lasts for hours on your skin, which, if you like the scent, is a positive aspect.

Price

A 150ml tube is priced at £17, which is very expensive for a body lotion. I wouldn't purchase it because I do not like the scent, and the scent of a body product is very important to me. However, Liz Earle sell smaller sizes of the products, so you can try the products before investing in a full sized one. I would suggest purchasing a 30ml tube first, which is priced at £4.75. Then, if you love the product, you can purchase the 150ml tube.

*PR sample

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

First of all, I don't wear tinted moisturiser or foundation. Not because I have great skin (far from it) but because I'm used to not wearing it. Last week, for the first time, I went out of the house wearing a tinted moisturiser (that has the coverage of a light foundation) and that product is what I'll be talking about today.

In this post, you're going to see something horrific; part of my naked face! You're going to see my redness, blackhead infested nose (yummy) and part of my hideous eye. You've been warned!

Bare skin, Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in Bare. (My eye was irritated. It's not normally that red!)

Price: £21 for 40ml

Shades: Bare (for fair/light skin tones), Beige (for medium skin tones) and Beach (for medium to dark skin tones).

The shade you see above is Bare.

'The perfect way to enhance your skin. Our rich, creamy formula leaves skin looking naturally dewy, even and radiant. With mineral UV protection SPF15, plus our own specially selected blend of botanicals.'

The packaging is simple yet feminine, like the skincare line. If you look closely, you can see shimmer particles in the dark navy casing, which makes it look that little more expensive. 

I'm not keen on the scent. Personally, I think it smells like mushrooms. However, you can not detect this once it's applied.

The formula is closer to a light foundation than a tinted moisturiser. I don't think it's moisturising enough to be a tinted moisturiser, so I apply moisturiser before I use this. The coverage is also like a light foundation. (Just to clarify, I'm not saying it is a foundation, but the formula is similar to a foundation)

I have an oily T-Zone and normal cheeks. On my cheeks, this product looks great and gives them that promised dewy, radiant glow. On my T-Zone however, it enhances the oily skin. I would say that you can always dust some powder over the top, but if you wanted a matte finish, why would you buy this product?

If you have dry/normal skin, I think this product will look great on you.

Personally, I think the price is a little expensive, but I know a lot of people are willing to pay more for face products.

I wouldn't buy it because like I said, I rarely wear tinted moisturiser or foundation. If you do wear those sort of products and want something light and dewy, I would recommend this.

PR Sample

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

(freckles!) If you look closely, you can see the jojoba beads.

Price: £12.50 for 70ml

'Problem: blocked pores, blackheads and congested or flaky skin.

Solution: gently exfoliate to buff away dead skin cells and impurities for smoother, clearer skin. Containing purifying eucalyptus, softening cocoa butter and fine jojoba beads.'

This product has the same scent as the other products in the range, which I would describe as a herbal, minty scent. As the name suggests, it is a gentle exfoliator, so can be used everyday. If you're the kind of person who loves a 'scrubby' exfoliator, you may not like this product. Personally, I don't mind how 'scrubby' an exfoliator is! Most facial exfoliators I've tried in the past are gel based, whereas this is very creamy. Because of this, it leaves your skin very soft, just like the Cleanse & Polish. If this product was gel based, I would say that it can easily be duped, but because the formula is unique for an exfoliator, I would recommend it. This is like the Cleanse & Polish, but removes more dead skin cells, so what's not to like? "The price" I hear some of you say. I agree, it is a little expensive (for me anyway), which is the only negative point.

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Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.1

Price: £40.35 for 50ml

I'm not at all cultured in the perfume department. I've never had a 'proper' one - I've only ever had bottles under £10 that are very sweet/fruity. This product is completely different to anything I've had. Not only is the scent different, but the ingredients too, with them being natural.

I like the packaging a lot. It's simple, elegant and represents the perfume perfectly.

The scent is strong and the first thing I smell is lavender, which I absolutely hate. Lavender makes me feel sick. On the skin, this scent dies down and begins to smell more citrusy (from the beragmot and mandarin), but not enough for me to say I enjoy it.

When my sister smelt it, she said "that smells of old people" and when my mum had a sniffle, she said "eeww lavender". We are all used to sweet/fruity fragrances and have never had anything like this, so it's hard to get used to. Also, we all hate the smell of lavender and unfortunately, we cannot get past that.

I love that the perfume is packed full of natural ingredients and hope that my nose will start to appreciate the scent.

This would make a great gift for those ladies who do prefer more complex scents, as it combines floral, herbal and citrus notes. 

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Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

Price: £9.70 for 150ml

'A gentle herbal lotion to soothe and refresh tired, puffy eyes and remove light eye make-up. Naturally active ingredients include; the herb eyebright, witch hazel, aloe vera and cornflower to cool, soothe and revitalise tired eyes.'

I have to agree with the claims of this product. The formula feels colder than room temperature, like water from a cold tap, which instantly refreshes my skin. You get 150ml, which is a lot for an eye product, so you can also use this over your entire face because there is plenty of it. If you just want to use this on your eyes, you can purchase the 50ml bottle, which costs £4.85.

A few days ago, I deliberately made sure some of the product went into my eyes (the things I do for this blog...) (don't do this at home kids) to see if it irritated them in the slightest. I'm happy to say, I could feel no burning or irritation at all.

As well as cucumber and cold tea bags, this is also good for pampering sessions. Just cover some cotton wool pads in the product, lay back and relaaxx.

Although this is refreshing, I won't be using it everyday because I don't see it as a staple in my skincare routine. I haven't noticed a difference in the appearance of my eyes. It's one of those products that is nice to have, but isn't a necessity. 

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Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/Oily skin

Hello lovelies!

I was kindly sent the next two steps of Liz Earle's Daily Essentials. You can read my review of the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser here.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic - £11.75 for 200ml

'This heavenly floral-scented, non-drying toner refreshes, soothes and brightens your skin. Gentle and alcohol-free, it also adds a fine layer of moisture.'

This is so, so refreshing. It also comes in a 'spritzer' (a spray) bottle, which would work wonders in the Summer to freshen up. Some toners sting when you apply them but I haven't experienced that with this. This refreshes my skin, which is nice, but I haven't noticed it having any other benefits. I find it difficult to see physical changes with toners.

Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/Oily skin - Pump and tube packaging - £17.60 each

'Light and gentle, this easily absorbed moisturising lotion is ideal for combination, oily or problem skin.'

This feels light on the skin (it is called light moisturiser, after all). What I mean by that, is that it doesn't clog my pores and sit on my skin. It absorbs into my skin well, which is important for people with oily skin because you do not need any extra residue sitting on the surface. 

Both of these products, along with the cleanser, are good to use all year round, but especially in the Summer because the regime is so light and refreshing.

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Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and thank you Ellie!

Wash bag the starter kit comes in.

Back in the day, I used to use my mum's Liz Earle products. I didn't know anything about what a product should do, brands etc so thought nothing of it. Now, it seems like Liz Earle is one of the leading skincare brands and a favourite to many.

The 100ml pump starter kit (Which I was sent to review) is priced at £13.25. I've been using this for the past 3-4 weeks.

Liz Earle say: "We only make one cleanser because this formulation is the ultimate in concentrated yet gentle cleansing power and works on every age and skin type.

Our plant-based cleanser has a 2-phase action, phase 1 is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make-up, even stubborn mascara.

Phase 2 is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to help gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, clearer skin."

First of all, the packaging of Liz Earle products is simply beautiful! Small touches like the tissue paper and sticker imply that Liz Earle really care.

I love that Liz Earle only make one cleanser that is simple and suitable for all skin types. The scent is fresh and you can definitely smell the rosemary, but it isn't overpowering. The consistency is of a thick cream and when you massage it in, it melts. This cleanser leaves your skin baby bottom soft, like you've just moisturised, which is rare to find in a cleanser. The muslin cloths gently exfoliate your skin, leaving it even more soft. I wouldn't recommend using this if you have a lot of eye make-up on because the cloths will get really dirty, but if you're going to chuck them in the wash after, it doesn't really matter. 

For me, the product is a little too expensive for my budget, but if you can afford to, I would advise you to purchase it. 

I would also like to thank Ellie because I won her giveaway! The prize? 

A Liz Earle moisturiser. I chose the combination/oily formula :)
Thank you so much Ellie :)

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