Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Empties (1)

Since I've been doing the spending ban (it's been ages since I've done an update but I will do one soon) I've found myself using up more products so I thought I'd start to share my empties.

Hair Products


Tigi Catwalk Honey and Oatmeal Condtioner (not pictured)
My Other Half through away the bottle not realising I was saving them. I picked this up for £12.99 in TKMaxx. They always have lots of varieties of Tigi and Bedhead products at reasonable prices. As they are huge bottles they last ages. This is aimed at dry hair and I absolutely love it. It really conditioners my hair well, is light and leaves my hair soft. I will be repurchasing once I've used one I picked up from the hairdressers to add protein back into my hair.

Charles Worthington Dry Shampoo
I reviewed this one just yesterday so won't go into much detail. It's great size for the handbag but as Batiste do handbag versions I won't be repurchasing this as I didn't think it was as good.

Redken Colour Extend radiant-10
This is marketed as a multi benefit treatment spray for coloured hair. For my as it's advertised as colour extend it did nothing to help the colour of my hair stay. I also don't think it did much for the condition. I got this free in a beauty box and wouldn't repurchase.

Batiste Blush
I love love love bastiste. Used it for years. You can read more in yesterday's post. I've already got another can of this waiting.

Clariol Nice 'n' Easy Colour Seal Gloss Conditioner
These come in the Nice 'n' Easy hair dye sets and can now be bought separately. They are great for adding a boost of moisture for the hair. Once of the spending ban I will be repurchasing as I love these.

Skin Care


Boots Essentials Cleansing Wipes
I usually pick these up or some from Wilkinsons. I tend to use wipes to clean my foundation brushes daily. I used to use them to remove make up but favour a make up remover in liquid form now. I will still use them for lazy days. These are great value and usually on offer too. I always store wipes upside down as it helps keep them moist for if they aren't used regularly.

Origins Balanced Diet
I've mentioned this in my Save, Spend, Splurge series for day creams. It's ok and good for oilier skin tones as it's a very light moisturiser. It lasted quite a while too as a little goes a long way. For me though I felt it was a little over priced for a moisturiser that didn't offer and think else. I like my cream to have something that helps to keep wrinkles at bay too.

Origins Starting Over
This was a product I got from Origins when they offered a free moisturiser when you bought back an empty moisturiser. This product isn't great for oily skin types and is aimed at more mature skin so I stuck to using it as a night cream as it was heavier. Even though it was heavy it didn't break me out which is a good thing. I wouldn't repurchase this purely as there is better for my skin type.

Lush Sugar Lips
I love this lip scrub. It's amazing. I use it morning and night and it really helps keep my lips nice and soft. It is around £5 and lasts ages. I keep it by my bed so I remember to use it and it has made such a difference. I already had one in my stash but will be repurchasing when that one runs out.

Make up


 Avon Sparkle Glimmer Stick in Black
This is a product Avon re release around Christmas time usually. I got this in a set and put it to one side as I thought a glitter eye liner wasn't that wearable. I've been using it most days since the spending ban started as I'm trying to save my gel liner and use up other products. The glitter doesn't show to much on lids making it still wearable for days. I like that it winds up and doesn't need sharpening. If I see this on sale I would buy it again.

Bourjois Volume Max Mascara Waterproof
I picked this mascara up on a whim. It had a huge chunky bristle brush which I love in mascara's. I didn't mean to get the waterproof as I find I don't usually like them as much and they are hard to remove. Since switching to liquid make up removers I quite like this mascara. It gives great volume and looks amazing. It's reasonably prices and great for summer do to the waterproof formula.

Rimmel Perfect Match 2in1 concealer and highlighter
I really like this and this is my second bottle. It's great for brightening under the eyes and does conceal pretty good. It's a light formulation and blends great. The only downside to this is the fact it has a brush applicator which I don't like very much. I would repurchase.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation
This is a very raved about product in bloggersphere. I've had this since it was first released now and at first I did really love it. It smelt amazing and gave the skin a great glow. But I've found I just don't really like it on my skin. I find it doesn't last great on me and the colour selection just isn't that great. For me I wouldn't repurchase. 

Other Products

Avon Orange and Cinnamon Bubble Bath
This is one of the Christmas scents. They sell these on great offers if you keep your eye out. I was lucky enough and my other halfs mum gave us loads of them. I don't find that they give the best bubbles without using loads of the products. Personally I prefer other bubble baths so I wouldn't repurchase.

Soap and Glory Hand Food
This is another product loved by bloggersphere. I do think it's a great hand cream that smells and feels great. I prefer an Avon one I'm using at the moment though so wouldn't repurchase. I do have another of these to use up first.

So that's my first empties post. I plan to do these a bit more now. I won't do monthly as I don't think I'll get through that many products. Hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm using.

Love M

xxx


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Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Spend, Save, Splurge: Dry Shampoo

I am a complete lover of dry shampoo. I don't know where I would be without it. Since having extensions and my hair being a bit damaged from over hair dying and use of products, I try to only wash my hair twice a week (I know some people will think it's gross) it's all my hair needs. It's good for the hair to have time to produce it's own oil rather than wash it every day. Most people are surprised when they see me hair is on day 3 or 4. 

I tend to use dry shampoo on the third day just to freshen it up through the roots. It's great for giving hair a bit of a refresh. I'm also lazy when it comes to washing my hair. I hate drying it. My hair isn't even that long so I don't know why.

I've tried a fair few brands so I thought it was time I did a spend, save splurge on dry shampoo. Is it worth paying the extra? You can read my other Spend, Save, Splurge posts here

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Save

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First up is Superdrug Shampoo which retails for £1.99 for 150ml. This can sometimes be picked up for buy one get two free. What an amazing offer. When I saw it I snapped it up. I love the scent of this dry shampoo and it comes in a variety of different scents and has one for brunettes too.

For me though this is the worst dry shampoo I have tried. It didn't seem to absorb oil at all of have the slight powder feel I've come to expect, which in my opinion is needed. This seemed to act more as a spray refresher for my hair in terms of scent rather than helping to make it look a little cleaner. I haven't really used these that much as too me they don't really do much. They work as more of a body spray for the hair for me.

They can be purchased here and are currently on offer for 2 for £2.99.

Spend

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For spend I've chosen Batiste. This retails for £2.99 for 200ml or £4.99 for 400ml. I've used Batiste for years now. It's the dry shampoo I always go back to. I love it. It does a great job at refreshing the hair in terms of smell. It comes in a variety of different scents so there is one to suit most tastes. It also absorbs any excess oil in the hair great. It comes out slightly white but if applied lightly and brushed through it isn't noticeable in the hair. This is great for all hair colours.

Batiste is great for making the hair last an extra day. I'm currently using the Tropical one which can be purchased here for £2.99

Splurge

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Lastly I've chosen Charles Worthington Dry Shampoo. This retails for £1.99 for 50ml. So for 200ml like the batiste would cost £7.96. The small bottle is great for throwing into your handbag for any use while on the go. It has a neutral scent to it. It really absorbs the oil in the hair but I do find it is very white. In the picture you may be able to see the whiteness of this product. I think in darker hair it is really hard to blend the powder into the hair.

It can be purchased here for £1.99.

In my opinion Spend  wins today. I love batiste. It does the job great and for me I don't see the point spending any more on it. 

Do you use Dry Shampoo? What's your favourite?

LoveM

xxx


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Sunday, 17 February 2013

Photo post of LFW!

We're both currently in London for LFW and were absolutely loving it.

We've spent some time wandering the shops, scoffing Caribbean food and cocktails and having a geeky trip to the Science museum before attending the Matthew Williamson show at LFW.

We've had an amazing weekend thanks to Benefit for picking M to win the tickets, well have a full post up in the week but for now here's a few photos of our weekend!



Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

We took 100s of photos and can't wait to write about our thoughts on his new collection.

It was the most beautiful range we've ever seen and cannot wait to use our Benefit goodies!

L and M
xxx



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Saturday, 16 February 2013

Review: Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil


A goooooooooooooood few weeks ago now myself and M went along to a Clarins event at Central Pharmacy in Cardiff.

We met up with the lovely Charli from Charli Dot Dot Dot and Cariad from Cariadity and had a great night playing with the Clarins products, having make overs and hand massages as well as some lovely nibbles and drinks.

As Clarins are a well known brand for their skin care I couldn't help but talk to them about my then troubled skin.
They suggested I try the Lotus Face Treatment Oil, which although is an oil is aimed at troubled and problematic skin...perfect for me!


If you remember I had been using Skinetica to get rid of my spots but it did not help much with the scarring.

After getting over my initial reluctance to use an oil on my skin I got well into applying 2/3 drops of this in the morning and the same again at night.


As you can see it contains Rosemary and Geranium to balance oil and purify skin, and Lotus extract to refine the skin.

This oil has been great for me.
I love the bottle and the fact you only need a tiny amount, I'm barely down to the bottom of the Clarins word  after 2/3 months of use.

The oil is also quite a dry oil considering how liquid it is, it sinks into the skin quite quickly and even though I apply it in the morning before a day of work it doesn't leave my skin oily and shiny for the day.



The dropper is really easily controlled as well so you can judge how much you need really easily.

As for the results my skin has felt so much more hydrated and my skin has become more even in tone.
It has definitely helped with the scarring though unfortunately I don't have any pictures to prove it!


I would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling with oily skin and blemishes, anyone with scarring and also anyone with combination skin as it hasn't caused me to break out but my skin is hydrated.

This was a random purchase but I'm pretty sure it was a good one!

Have you used anything from Clarins skin care before? I would definitely consider purchasing more, let me know what you'd recommend!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Me and M were lucky enough to win tickets to London Fashion Week, so we will be in London all weekend.

Let us know if any of you will be around, and I'm sure there will be a post to come on it soon.

We're so excited!!

L xxx

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