Empties: April 2019.

I've been so busy that I'm a little late with April's empties but here they are. I managed to use up twelve full sized products and twenty-four samples and minis.

Skincare.

I always remove my eye makeup with a separate specific cleanser and generally I prefer creamy cleansers to oily ones, although I do also use Micellar waters. I was happy to discover Andalou Naturals Lid + Lash Makeup Remover as its a cream make up remover that you swipe on and off with a cotton pad. It is very similar to Kiehl's Extremely Gentle Eye Makeup Remover which was my go-to until it was abruptly discontinued. While this isn't quite as good as the Kiehl's one it almost is. I found it easy and effective to use and it only stung my sensitive eyes on a couple of occasions when I used far too much. The pump packaging works very well, it is inexpensive and does a stellar job of removing dark lip stains as well as eye makeup. I will definitely repurchase this one.

KatBurki Vitamin C Nourishing Cleansing Balm is so lovely! It has quite a curious whipped consistency with some harder small pieces suspended in it. I was using this as a second cleanse - it is far far too nice to waste removing makeup. It smells like an expensive bunch of white flowers, is lovely to use for a facial massage, and wipes off easily leaving skin perfectly clean and softened. Every evening was like a spa night when I was using this!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye  Makeup Cleansing Balm is very effective, at removing makeup and easy to rinse off. This reminded me a lot of Clinique TTDO Balm but it has a slight lemony scent.

The Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Cleansing Gel smells lovely and is ever so slightly foamy. It is nice as a morning face wash and it wasn't drying - overpriced though.

Omorovicza Moor Cream Cleanser is like a creamier version of Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip. I like it a lot but it is a bit too expensive for me to consider purchasing, happily, this one often pops up in gift bags!

I'm not much of a one for physical exfoliation. I never buy them as samples last me forever ( I use them perhaps every week or ten days). Tarte Frxxxtion Stick looks like a small black solid deodorant and contains a gentle exfoliating grain. It is a novel product that you apply by rubbing over damp skin and was fun to play around with but I wasn't keen on its slightly marine like smell.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist is another luxurious face product with a cult-like following. It smells amazing and can be used as a hydrating mist or as a refreshing spritz, and while it is exceptionally nice, I don't think that this warrants its hefty price. Part of the appeal of this one for me is the spray mechanism which produces the finest veil of mist, I'm going to keep this bottle and use it with a cheaper facial spray! I may even repurchase Shea Moisture Matcha Green Tea & Probiotics Soothing Toner and Hydrating Mist to fill the QOH bottle. This mist had a refreshing tea-like scent and did everything that the Omorovicza one does at a fraction of the price!

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Balancing Softener was midway between a toner and an essence, I used this on a cotton pad after washing my face. It has a strong, almost hairspray like, scent that I wasn't keen on and honestly, I prefer to use a facial spray rather than this sort of product these days. I didn't dislike this but don't feel that it did anything other than dampening my skin and adding a little extra hydration.

I loved the non-bulky airtight pump packaging of Manuka Doctor Radiance Serum.

It was a silky feeling serum that was quite creamy in texture and it had a slight pearlescence effect to it (just the right amount, it added a glow rather than full-on shimmer). I used this both morning and night and it left my skin looking smooth and plumped, it layered well with other products and is great value for money.

Sunday Riley Good Genes is my very favourite night time serum and is much featured in my empties posts. I love everything about this lemony scented wonder and love how it keeps my skin balanced and makes it look radiant.

Cat Burki Vit C Intensive Face Cream is quite simply a dream face cream. It smells and feels amazing, it has a lovely texture, layers well with pretty much everything and left my skin softened and plump. It is a gorgeous product that delivers.

Natura Bisse The Cure Sheer Cream SPF20  is a thinly textured tinted cream. It doesn't give much coverage, rather it evens things out. It looks natural and is good as a base or on no makeup days. SPF20 is an added bonus but doesn't offer enough protection for outdoor days.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Cream is a neck cream. I'm not keen on the fragrance of this but it's light and hydrating and easily absorbed.

Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil smells good but is too heavy for me - I prefer a drier feeling oil.

Haircare.

Alaffia Coconut Reishi Shampoo with Henna was really, really good. Made with coconut oil it has quite a runny texture and is low foaming but it left my hair in lovely condition - very soft. I also loved its soapy coconut scent.

Miriam Quevedo The Gold Shampoo is light in texture, shimmery gold in colour and has a faint melon/tea type of scent. This was okay but not outstanding in any way, I was happy to use it but it was nothing special.

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt is a thick paste with large flakes of salt in it. This product baffled me at first but it is basically a deep cleansing shampoo. A little goes a long way as it produces lots and lots of lather. I love the salty mineral scent that this has and find it works extremely well when used once a week or so to remove product build-up. I also found this useful to use a few days after colouring my hair to remove excess dye and knock the brightness of the tone down a little (probably not how it's intended to be used and you may not want to do this yourself!)

I enjoyed Herbal Essences Bio-Renew Argan Oil Conditioner, it had a nice thick consistency and smelled like Moroccan Oil. It left my hair soft and tangle free and didn't weigh it down. I'd certainly get this again as it felt and performed like a more expensive hair product.

Rahua Classic Conditioner has a 'clean' formula and lovely nutty scent. This is probably my all-time favourite conditioner, it always leaves my hair in exceptionally good condition.

Coco + Eve Like a Virgin Hair Mask. I used this 5-10 minute mask as a conditioner andI loved how it smelled - its fig and coconut scent was like a tropical beach. It left my hair in okay condition but that was all, it's a pricey product so I was expecting it to perform better.

Tresemmé Botanique Intensive Mask with Pomegranate & Camellia Oil is a quick 3-minute mask that worked perfectly as a conditioner. This sample sachet contained 42g of product which was enough for four generous uses. Its fruity floral fragrance was sophisticated rather than sickly and it left my hair soft and frizz free. I think this is a great budget hair mask!

René Furterer Karité Mask was another quick 2-minute mask that again I used as a conditioner. It worked well and had a beautiful white floral fragrance. I liked this one but its not something that I would ever buy as it is expensive.

Ouai Hair Oil is one of my favourite leave-in treatments! It softens without weighing hair down and smells great.

Bodycare.

Softsoap Body Wash 'Hydra Bliss'. Softsoap make some of my favourite bargain drugstore body washes. I enjoyed the formula and its plentiful lather but the blueberry and coconut scent was heavy on the blueberries and low on the coconut so it was too sweet smelling for me.

Method Body Wash in Energy Boost was a nice formula with a fairly 'clean' ingredient list. It lathered well and wasn't drying but I wished the Citrus, Ginger and Sea Buckthorn scent had been a little zingier. It is at the expensive end of the scale for a drugstore body wash.

Aveeno Stress Relief Body Lotion scented with Lavender, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang has a light scent that doesn't linger. The lotion itself is okay but a little waxy in feel. My skin was comfortable and it absorbed well but it isn't something that I would repurchase - I didn't dislike it but equally I didn't really enjoy it

La Roche Posay Lipikar AP Balm is an unscented body lotion which feels very hydrating. It is a bit boring but very effective!

I love Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Lotion, it leaves my skin so soft and it has a creamy buttery scent that is perfect, not too sweet. It is more than I care to spend on a body lotion though so I will stick to samples!

Crabtree & Evelyn Spiced Earl Grey Hand Cream. C&E hand creams are almost always in my empties! It is the perfect hand cream formula in an easily transportable tube. I love the new packaging design and the fresh clean tea-like fragrance of this one.

Makeup and Perfume.

Nars Velvet Lip Gloss in the shade 'Bound' was a flattering easy to wear mauve toned nude. It was easy to precisely apply from its chubby doe foot, it stayed in place exceptionally well and left my lips with a stain. I'd class this as a liquid lipstick rather than a gloss as it was quite matte but it was very comfortable and non-drying. I'd definitely purchase this if I needed lip colour but unfortunately, I already have so many.

Rodial GlamLash Mascara XXO enhances lashes in a very natural looking way. This mascara stays in place throughout the day yet is easy to remove. I also love the way that this puts and holds a curl in my lashes.

 I finished my second bottle of Diptyque Eau Duelle. It is a very easy to wear, warm subtly spiced vanilla scent that is not at all sweet and sickly - this is a sophisticated take on vanilla, perfect to wear year round.

Maison Margiela EDP 'Mutiny'. Hmmm, nothing Mutinous about this scent! It is a sweet and rather sickly fruity floral that smells very generic. I was expecting something woody that smacked of piracy and rebellion, rather than this young girl scent. Disappointing.

I like the sleek minimal packaging of Commodity EDP 'Bergamot'. It has a clean lemony scent that veered a little too much into aftershave territory for me. Unisex and good for warm weather but not my personal cup of tea.

And that's it for a rather late edition of April's empties, May's empties will be here before I know it!

Empties: January 2019.

Oh hello! Well it feels like it was only just the end of the year to me but it's already February (aka 'First GWP month of 2019') and once again I've a bag of empties to share before I sort them out and recycle.

This month I managed to finish eleven full sized products and twenty-one samples.

Skincare.
I only finished two full-sized skincare items this month apart from sheet masks! I think that this is the least amount of full-size skincare products I have ever finished however, I did finish plenty of generously sized skincare minis and samples - ten in all.
One of the full sized items I finished was Algenist Genius Ultimate Melting Cleanser, a deliciously creamy gel-to-oil-to-cream cleanser. It was very very effective at removing makeup but worked equally well as a morning cleanser. It was also fantastic as a second cleanse as once melted it had a beautiful consistency that was perfect for facial massage and it was easy to rinse away. I have been very impressed by everything that I have tried from Algenist's Genius range.
I used a full-sized Caudalie VineActive Serum. I was a little disappointed in this as apart from being a lovely smelling wet serum that was nice to apply it really didn't do anything other than hydrate. Overall, I find that the more expensive products from Caudalie don't tend to do much for my skin, the cheaper hydrating ones are pretty good and in future, I will stick to these when buying from the brand.
I used Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for eye makeup removal only. I found that it wasn't as effective as Simple Micellar Water at removing stubborn waterproof mascaras. It was okay but I don't see myself repurchasing in the future.
Rodial Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser was a non-foaming gel cleanser which smelled kind of soapy. It was good to use as a morning face wash although I didn't notice any brightening effect from it.
I favour facial sprays over ones that you need to apply with a cotton pad but I did enjoy Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner, it felt very gentle and was refreshing.
A sample pack of ten First Aid Beauty (F.A.B.) Facial Radiance Pads was perfect for travelling with. I like these gentle exfoliating pads which contain Lactic and Glycolic acids and have purchased a full sized version of them in the past.
Cerave Moisturising Lotion was a very good basic moisturiser, it was thick in consistency, almost gel like, not at all oily yet very hydrating. It's an impressive moisturiser for the price and great if you are on a budget.
CO Bigelow Deluxe Facial Moisturiser is another good basic moisturiser. Lotion like inconsistency and slightly oily in feel it worked well for me as a night cream.
I used two small tubes of Zelens Hydro Shiso Balancing Moisturiser. I love anything by Zelens and this didn't disapoint. I enjoyed the feel of this light and easily absorbed gel/cream, it had a delicate fresh fragrance and it layered well with other products. I mainly used this one during the day with a serum under sunscreen and makeup.
I prefer La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream to the classic La Mer The Moisturiser as it's lighter in feel and less oily but I still think it's only okay and definitely doesn't warrant the high price tag that it carries.
Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream is slightly waxy feeling but it absorbs and layers well, It's one of those products that I wouldn't pick out and purchase but I'm perfectly happy to use it as a nighttime moisturiser whenever I am given it in a GWP or gift bag.

I'm not a huge fan of sheetmasks.  I prefer a tradition mask that you apply and wipe off but I have a few that I have been gifted that I'm trying to use up. I tend to pop one in my bag when I go away for a work trip and wear them in the evening. I  finally used up a box of five VitaBird Dual Masks, which were okay, the fit was reasonable, and they contained a fair amount of serum but didn't do much apart from adding a little moisture to my face.
I wasn't so fond of a Lala Fox Honey Nourishing Sheet Mask, the fit was terrible and it contained a thick sticky gel that just appeared to sit on my skin without absorbing.

Bodycare and Perfume.

Love & Toast Honey Nectar Bodywash has a 'clean formula' produces a good amount of foam, and a pleasant soft honeysuckle and apricot perfume. This was okay, I would use it again but it wasn't outstanding in any way and there are other shower gels that I prefer.
I used another bottle of Nivea Express Hydration Sea Mineral Body Lotion. This is my favourite drugstore lotion, it is light, non-greasy, easily absorbed, fresh scented, very hydrating, and cheap. I always have backups of this one!
Malin+ Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturiser is an oil-free formula that feels very fresh and hydrating. It has a light citrus scent (grapefruit?) that I liked. The only thing wrong with this sample was that the product was too thick to be packaged in a bottle and it was extremely difficult to get out.
Susanne Kaufmann Ringelblumenöl Body Oil is a truly lovely body oil. It has a fresh floral scent and feels like a dry oil when you apply it, absorbing instantly and leaving skin feeling very comfortable and soft. These aren't the cheapest body oils but you only need to use a little so these mini bottles do actually last for some time.
Rodial Stem Cell Hand Cream is a lightly textured non-greasy hand cream with a delicate rose fragrance, and sleek stylish packaging. I wouldn't pay full price as I think it costs around $30.00 but I always grab them if I see them in TJ Maxx where they cost $5.00.
I don't normally include supplements in my empties but I thought I would include the 30 pack of Goop 'Why Am I so Effing Tired?' here as they are mostly sold in beauty outlets. Firstly, I must say that I was given these by someone, there is absolutely no way that I would pay $90.00 for a month's worth of vitamins. I must also add that obviously the best way to get the nutrients that you need is by eating a healthy diet (which I do but I'm also not averse to topping things up with supplements as long as they are not harmful). Goop vitamins are packaged in individual daily portion packs, which aren't the most eco-friendly but are handy for travel. This formula is designed to increase energy levels as well as adding to general wellbeing. Each pack contained what I would call a multi-vitamin, along with an Omega 3 oil capsule, a blended capsule of herbal extracts, and a Liquorice Boost pill. They tasted pretty awful and I can't honestly say I noticed any change in my energy levels so I'm very glad that I didn't actually pay for them.
I finished five perfume vials, two of which were Byredo Eleventh Hour which I loved. This fragrance had notes of rum, plum and fig - it was basically Christmas in a bottle, very seasonally appropriate.
I'm a big fan of L'Etat Libre d'Orange perfumes and enjoyed the two that I finished. Putain des Palaces is a big dusty floral powder scent. It's not the type of thing that I usually like but I love this and would buy a full sized bottle - and I love the saucy name! Jasmin et Cigarettes is a straight-up blend of Jasmine and Tobacco. I like a dirtied up white floral and this one is very feminine and easy to wear.
Versace Bright Crystal feels bright and sparkling but it is a little too generic for my tastes

Haircare.

Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo has just the right amount of peppermint fragrance. It claims to be scalp stimulating and give volume and it was a nice shampoo but I don't think that it warrants its luxury price tag.
L'Oreal Elvive Colour Vibrancy Conditioner is a berry scented drugstore conditioner. I rather like the Elvive range and there are several formulas within it that I rate. I often get these if I find them on special offer and it's a perfectly fine conditioner that I have no problem to use.
Ouai Treatment Mask smelled fantastic and left my hair feeling nice and soft. I used this more like a conditioner rather than a mask and it worked very well in this way. ( I've a lot of hair masks that I'm intending to use up in this way as I never get around to applying them and leaving them on for 20 minutes or whatever no matter how hard I try!)
Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It (H)air Styler is a leave-in conditioning cream that also adds a little texture. It works well on my fine hair and I like that it adds a little body.  I have plenty of other serums/leave in conditioners at the moment but I will get this again at some point I am sure.
Ouai Hair Oil is a repeat empty for me and it's one of my favourite hair oils that smooths and hydrates my hair without weighing it down.
Living Proof Nourishing Oil didn't work great for my hair, it felt a little too greasy and left my hair looking lank. I was disappointed by this.

 I must admit I didn't finish up as much stuff as I was expecting to during January, but there are several things that I have made good headway into which I will hopefully finish very soon. I need a little room on my shelf for a few new products that I have incoming! 

Empties: May 2018.

Oh my, May has flown by! However, I did manage a big beauty declutter and I also used up a record amount of products - two sheet masks, thirteen full sized products, forty two sachets and nineteen samples.

Skincare.

I only emptied four full-sized skincare items. Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is one of my favourite cleansers, I love using it as a morning cleanse. I like the texture, it's a fabulous consistency for facial massage, it rinses away easily, and it smells like rose Turkish Delight!

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum is a basic hydrating serum packed with Hyaluronic Acid. It has a fresh fragrance, is light in texture and isn't at all tacky. I've used many bottles of this over the years and the only thing that I don't like about it is that I go through a bottle pretty quickly!

I was surprised how much I enjoyed Nip+Fab Post Glycolic Fix Moisturiser! I bought it on sale in CVS for $5.00 or something crazy like that. It wasn't greasy and it worked well under makeup. It contains SPF30 but was comfortable to wear, left no white cast and didn't feel at all sunscreen like. It did smell quite strongly of grapefruit which was a little odd but other than that it was a perfect daytime cream.

I used Thayers' Witch Hazel (with rose petals) as a traditional toner. It wasn't astringent - the witch hazel is way down the ingredient list and it contains aloe and glycerine. This was perfectly fine but there are other toners and spritzes that I prefer so I probably wouldn't get this again in a rush even though there was nothing at all wrong with it.

I'm not a fan of sheet masks but I have a few from various GWP's that I am trying to use up and in May I used two of them.

  111Skin Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask didn't do anything for my skin. It was a good fit and the packet contained a lot of extra serum but the serum contained a lot of alcohol so I feel that the serum evaporated rather than absorbed. 

Verso Deep Hydration Mask came in two parts, one for the top of my face and one for the bottom. This mask was thick with serum which did seem to absorb. My face looked plumper after using this. I'm not converted but it was possibly the best sheet mask I have used to date.

 I also used a couple of Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads. I wiped these over my face at night and did wake up with a little more natural looking colour in my face that lasted a few days. I wouldn't buy these but they were a fun sample to try out and they were effective.

I used twelve skincare samples.

VenEffect Pore Minimising Cleanser is a melon scented runny gel. It didn't foam but it did make a light froth. I used this as a morning cleanse and it was okay but I found it a little drying.

Evan Healy Rose Cleansing Milk was a nice creamy cleanser that melted away makeup and left my skin feeling comforted. It has a very earthy rose scent that wasn't my favourite, it smelled a little paint like, but I would happily use this again as the formula was so nice.

I'm not a big fan of Micellar Water these days, it feels very odd removing a day's make up with it, but this one from Simple was very effective. I used it purely as an eye makeup remover and was astonished at how well it removed even heavy waterproof mascaras. Honestly, it worked better than quite a lot of specific eye makeup removers and I will definitely get this when I next need to buy an eye make up remover.

It has been a long time since I have used Eve Lom Rescue Mask but I enjoyed using this deep cleansing mask again. I was most impressed that it pulled all the gunk out of what would have become a pimple and prevented it from erupting (sorry to be so graphic!). The Organic Pharmacy Collagen Boost Mask was disappointing. It smelled amazing, very citrusy, but it didn't seem to do anything, it felt tacky, sat on top of my skin and when it dried it felt tight. I didn't enjoy this one.

I was very impressed by Dr Dennis Gross Dew It All Eye Gel. This creamy gel was non-irritating and did a wonderful job of hydrating and smoothing my eye area, I liked this so much that it has made it onto my shopping list!

Sunday Riley Good Genes is my favourite night time serum. It's so good and I have featured it so often I don't need to say anything else about it other than 'Try it!'.

Biossance 100% Squalene Oil was a basic face oil. It wasn't anything special for me and it was a little oilier than I like (I prefer a dryer feeling oil).

I used three samples of moisturizer. La Mer Creme de la Mer left my skin feeling very soft, it was better than I expected but it should be good considering its high price. Caudalie Premiere Cru Cream is another nighttime time hydrator that I like. Weleda Skin Food is an extremely rich thick greasy cream. I used it at night as a top layer to seal in my other products but it's a bit too thick and greasy for my tastes.

Finally, Murad Invisiblur SPF30 is a clear lightweight - almost no weight - sunscreen. I'm super fussy about sunscreens but I thought this one was good.     

Haircare.

I have gathered quite a few sachets of haircare lately so I brought back 'Month of Foil'* for hair products only during May. I used up twenty shampoo sachets and twenty conditioner sachets. Brands ranged from drugstore cheapies through high-end luxury ranges. I didn't actively dislike any of the sachets that I used but my favourite duos were the ones from Oribe, Ouai, and R+Co. (Full list of sachets used as follows: Garnier Fructis Moisture Lock S&Cx1, Garnier Whole Blends Oat Delicacy S&Cx1, Love Beauty & Planet Argan Oil and Lavender S&Cx3,  Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla S&Cx2, Nexxus Keraphix S&Cx2, L'oreal Advanced Haircare Ultimate Straight Shampoo x1, Klorane Strengthening&Revitalizing S&Cx1, Klorane Blond Highlights Conditioner x1, Sachajuan Ocean Mist Volumising Shampoo x2, Gloss Moderne Clean Luxury S&Cx1, R+Co Gemstone S&Cx1, OUAI Repair S&C x3, Oribe Beautiful Color S&Cx1, Oribe Gold Lust S&Cx2.)

As well as the sachets I used two haircare samples. Aveda Invati Conditioner was a thickening conditioner that left my hair feeling very soft. It also had a patchouli/myrrh like fragrance which I loved. 

Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream is maybe my favourite leave-in conditioning product. It's another fantastic smelling product with its signature Oribe fragrance. I apply it to damp hair and it detangles it a dream leaving it soft to the touch and frizz free all day long.

I also finished full sized bottles of L'Oreal Elvive Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner. I liked these, they smelled fruity and they did make my hair feel as if it had more body and was thicker. I

 used up a handbag sized R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo which is one of my favourite dry shampoos to use as a texturising spray and it perfumes my hair nicely with its amazing fig fragrance.

Bodycare.

I used up two creamy shower gels this month and I have to admit that they were okay but I wasn't wild about either of them as I prefer shower gels that produce a thick frothy lather rather than a light cream. Zoella Soak Opera felt and smelled like a cheap bath product to me, it's fruity floral fragrance had a harsh chemical edge to it - I was very unimpressed by it. 

Le Petit Marseillais Orange Blossom Shower Cream was slightly better, it had a creamy orange scent rather than the Neroli type fragrance I was expecting and I had issues with the packaging. This bottle was huge and quite unwieldy. I wouldn't get either of these body washes again I'm afraid.

I've included two face washes in my bodycare pile this month as I repurposed them as handwashes. Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Nourishing Cleanser was far from nourishing for me. It was very foamy and made my face feel tight, it also had a strong berry scent that I found a little sickly A sample of Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser was also too foamy and drying.

Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion is perhaps my favourite drugstore body lotion. It is light yet hydrating and has a fresh clean fragrance. It absorbs well and is a very good lotion to use in warmer weather as it is not only lightweight in feel but also highly moisturising.

I used up two hand creams this month. Rodial Stem Cell Hand Cream has a wonderful rose fragrance, feels lightweight, is non-greasy, absorbs well and does a good job of soothing sore hands.

  Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is gentler than it sounds but is something that I turn to when my hands need a little extra TLC. I like its clean menthol type fragrance and it's another cream that soothes without greasiness.

Makeup and Perfume.

I finished two full-sized makeup items, both of which are firm favourites of mine.

As I have combination skin I need to use a Primer. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer contains SPF15 and as well as preparing my skin nicely for makeup, it stays in place much longer than if I apply it to a bare face. I can't feel this on my skin and it doesn't cause breakouts or make other products roll and pill.

Chantecaille Brilliant Lip Gloss in the shade 'Modern' is my most used lip product. I love the formula of these glosses and the colour is perfect for me either by itself or over the top of a nude lipstick. It's expensive as glosses go but I like that it has an actual brush rather than a foam doe foot applicator and a tube of this lasts a long time.

I used three perfume samples up. Chanel Gabrielle is a sophisticated white floral, it is very Chanel-y if you know what I mean.

Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil is a green citrus scent, it's not a type of fragrance that I would pick for myself but it's a classy, classic summery cologne type fragrance.

LaCoste L.12.12. Sparkling is a youthful fragrance that smells quite apple like - it's almost a bit shampoo-like - not my kind of thing at all but it is inoffensive enough. 

* 'Month of Foil' is when I concentrate on using up all of my sample sachets. I use sample sachets exclusively until I have run out of a certain category. I amass a lot of samples over a year and try to do a 'Month of Foil' once a year to keep my stash in check and use up older products.

Evening Skincare Diary: What I Used in a Week.

As a follow up to my Morning Skincare Diary here's a look at a week's worth of nighttime routines. They are a little more complicated than the day time ones with more cleansers, a variety of acid exfoliators and even a masking session.
Read on for a look at how I mixed up twenty two skin care products during a recent week.

Monday.

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover:
I have to remove eye make up separately I hate it when you remove it with a cleanser and it smears down your face. I also find that using a separate remover helps ensure that you get rid of every last trace because, let's face it, there are plenty of cleansers that are wonderfully effective on your face but aren't all that proficient at getting rid of waterproof mascara. This may well be my favourite eye make up remover ever. It's creamy rather than oily and a blob of this on a cotton pad swipes away everything with no tugging or pulling, stinging or irritation, and it never leaves a greasy filmy residue. Did I mention that a bottle of this lasts forever as well?
Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:

Double Cleanse.
I'm a huge fan of Lierac, a French pharmacy brand that seems to have been eclipsed by other French brands such as Vichy. This cleanser is actually more of a cream than a milk. Not only does it effectively remove make up, it's a lovely consistency for facial massage and leaves my skin feeling softened and calmed.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask:
Mask night! I don't have a set night for masking so when I do have time to fit a sesh into an evening I usually go for it and make it a three mask event. This mask is perfection, it deep cleanses without leaving skin dried or shrivelled and it rinses off easily with no mess. My skin tone looks more even when I use this and it helps balance out my t-zone. It's hideously expensive for a mud/clay mask but after trying out numerous samples I bit the bullet and splurged on a full sized jar and it has been one of my favourite beauty purchases.

Chantecaille Flower and Fruit Acids Mask:
This is a super quick brightening mask. It has a little bit of a tingle on application but I find it is pretty gentle compared to a lot of similar products. My skin miraculously looks a little brighter after a only a few minutes of wearing this and it makes a nice change to have an exfoliating mask that smells of flowers rather than apricots or citrus fruits!

REN Evercalm Mask:
This thick white mask is simply wonderful to use after any type of treatment. It really does feel comforting and calming!

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal:
I'm still all about hydration in the evenings. As my night time  products tend to be more active or I'm using some form of acid I like to keep my toner/spritz simple so nine times out of ten it's some sort of mineral water in a tin such as this that I reach for.

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Serum:
This blend of face oils has the most uplifting (and delicious) fruity fragrance. I applied a few drops mid evening when my face felt that it needed a little hydration.
Darphin Stimuskin Plus Eye:
Similarly I dabbed on a little of this. I've currently been using this both day and night as my eye cream.

Darphin Hydraskin Essential:
I put on a nice layer of this hydrating cream before bedtime to 'seal everything in' after my treatments.

.....

Tuesday.

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:
Double cleanse.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7%Toning Solution.
This certainly packs a bit of power at 7%. I like to used some sort of acid exfoliator most evenings (twice a day feels too much for me) and this bumper budget priced bottle is my current favourite.
Evan Healey Lavender Hydrosol:
Normally I'll opt for some sort of plain water spritz but tonight I felt like mixing it up a bit so I reached for this instead of a trusty old mineral water in a tin. The spray on this bottle delivers a light mist and the smell is relaxing.

Sunday Riley Good Genes:
I use this lactic acid treatment as my night time serum. I find that it suits my skin so well and it leaves my face looking clear and glowing. This is probably my most loved skincare product and the quality of my skin always takes a nosedive whenever I'm without it for any extended period of time.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye:

Caudalie Overnight Recovery Oil:
I bought this a little while ago after having had a facial at a Caudalie store and I used it a few times before setting it aside as I wasn't all that impressed with it. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try it again and this time around I liked the feel of it and the fact that when I looked in the mirror the morning after I had used it my skin was radiant. Second time around I'm enjoying this greatly as either a nighttime final moisturising treatment or as a layer between serum and cream

.....

Wednesday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel:
Double Cleanse.
I was feeling particularly hot and grimy today and a double cleanse with this left my skin feeling cleaned and cooled. It also has the benefits of a gentle fruit acid exfoliation so I skipped using a Glycolic product tonight.

Evan Healey Lavender Hydrosol.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Kate Somerville Dermaquench Liquid Lift + Retinol:
I'm trying to incorporate a retinol product into my routine on a regular(ish) basis. This creamy mousse contains oxygen and my old friend Hyaluronic Acid in addition to retinol. It feels a little gimmicky with its fire extinguisher nozzle like applicator and the fizz of the oxygen but it feels gentle and is a fun product to use. I've been applying this to totally dry skin and then waiting a while before layering on my next product. I've not used this enough times to notice its effects but it does get exemplary reviews...

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5:
A plain hydrating serum to give a boost of moisture after the retinol. I don't want to use a serum that is too active as I'm relying on the retinol to do all the work tonight!

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye:

Darphin Exquisage Cream:
I love Darphin as a rule and while there's nothing wrong with this range it doesn't appear to be doing anything for me other than adding moisture. It does however feel very indulgent: rich and creamy with a powdery fragrance that brings to mind an old fashioned beauty product. I appreciate that this doesn't feel too heavy to use during the day and that it also packs enough of a punch I can also use it at night as my sealing layer.

.....

Thursday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Andalou Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk:
Double cleanse.
This smells wonderful - very refreshing and uplifting, it's fragrance is a hit of pure apricot fruitiness that is clean rather than sickly. Texture wise it is a little more runny than I would ideally like but it does a good job of cleansing my skin, melting make up easily away and it is thick enough that you can do a little massage with it. I will certainly consider getting a full sized version of this next time I need to buy a cleanser as I like it a lot.
Biologique Recherche P50 1970.
I've only recently bought my first bottle of this, but it is something that I have been wanting to try for a long, long time. After much consideration and research I went for the original hardcore version, P50 1970 and it is strong - but not as strong as I had feared! Using this a couple of evenings a week backs up my heavier duty weekly peels and means that I have become less reliant on Good Genes for giving me an evenness and radiance that I do notice the next day.  The rest of my routine whenever I use this is very simple, it's all about hydration as you can see from the remaining products in tonight's routine.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Hydroskin Essential.

.....

Friday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk:
Double Cleanse.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Dr Dennis GrossAlpha Beta MediSpa Peel Pads.
I have been the biggest fan of the original Alpha Beta pads for many years so of course I wanted to try out this version of them. It's a stronger formula that you use weekly (I used to use the other ones two or three times a week). I've been trying to use these each Friday - I find having a set day each week for special routines helps me to be more diligent about using them - so I hopefully look refreshed for the weekend. These are strong enough that they do make my skin purge occasionally but they don't feel uncomfortable to use or burn. The pads are thick and so saturated with product that I usually end up rubbing the remainder on elbows, heels etc. They are good but I'm not sure that I prefer them to DDG's regular Alpha Beta pads and I'm not certain at this point that I would repurchase these as they are quite expensive.  

Dr Dennis Gross Firming Peptide Milk.
This comes in a kit with the peel pads but I'm happy to see that you can now purchase it by itself from the DDG website because it is phenomenal! It's very liquid and light weight, the name 'milk' is very apt for this product and along with peptides it contains collagen, arnica, retinol, resveratrol, fruit extracts, coconut water, glycerine - the list of skincare goodies really does goes on and on with this one! I find this is such a good moisturiser for my oily/combo skin, it has a noticeable firming effect and feels amazingly soothing after the peel. While I may not be rushing out to get the Medi Spa Pads, a full sized one of these is top of my shopping list.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Caudalie Overnight Recovery Oil.
I applied this as bedtime skin sealing hydration boost and awoke with a clear, glowing and baby soft complexion.

....

Saturday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.
I tend to use this mostly as a morning cleanser but it also works wonderfully as an aromatic skin freshening pick me up at the end of a long day!

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+B5.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

Sunday Riley Good Genes.
After last night's acid peel this is about as aggresive as I want to get with my skincare today. Tonight it's all about moisturising.

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Serum.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Hydroskin Essential.

.....

Sunday

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover.

Lierac Cream Cleansing Milk.

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser.

Bioloque Recherche P50 1970.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%+ B5.

Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye.

Darphin Exquisage Cream.

Free Birthday Beauty Goodies: 2017.

August is my birthday month and although I don't have a whole load of store/loyalty cards it's quite amazing how many retailers offer you some sort of birthday gift.
Some of them entail you making a purchase (I would never advocate buying anything you don't need merely to get a free gift) but there are quite a few that don't require you to shop to get your gift.
If you  need anything and your birthday month is coming up it may be worth your while to hold off shopping until then, either way, if it is your birthday month it's worthwhile to check out what your favourite beauty retailers have on offer.

Sephora

If you are a Sephora Beauty Insider (and if you aren't, why? It's free to sign up and each purchase accumulates points that you can trade in for samples along with other advantages and offers) there is a choice of gifts, one of which you can claim, no purchase required if you pick up in store. This year there was a choice of skincare minis from Caudalie, make up minis from Tarte and even one for the boys from Jack Black. I chose the skincare set (of course) comprised of Caudalie Vinosource Sorbet (10ml) and Vinoperfect Serum (also 10ml) which is worth $36.00 - pretty impressive!

SpaceNK

Members of Space NK NDulge program (again if not, why not? Free to join and you get cash discounts from points earned) received a beautifully packaged three piece gift this year. Again no purchase necessary if you pick up in store. This gift contained a generous sized sample of Eve Lom Rescue Mask (15ml), which is something that I haven't used for a very long time so I'm quite keen to try it out again, a mini Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor Lipstick (1.5g) and a mini Kevyn Aucoin Essential Mascara (4ml). This gift is worth $30.00 which again isn't bad for a total freebie!

Ulta

Ulta is fast becoming one of my favourite places to do a beauty shop! They have very good offers and  some lovely products that are exclusive to them. During your birthday month they offer double points on purchases to members of the Ultamate Rewards program and this month's birthday gift was a full sized exclusive NYX eye shadow palette with no purchase necessary if you visit a store. I can't give an exact value for this as it is specially produced for Ulta as a birthday gift but it is a full sized palette with ten shadows and a mirror so let's guess $15.00? This is a beautiful palette, very on trend, with warm brickish tones that will look good with a bronzed summer look and transition well into autumn make up looks. This isn't something that I would have necessarily picked out for myself - it's a little bolder than my usual more neutral look, but I do love this gift! There are shades here that I will most certainly use and I like the formula and colour payoff of these eye shadows - NYX is possibly my favourite drugstore make up brand offering innovative products at pocket friendly prices. 

Kiehl's

Whilst most stores seem to have upped their game with their birthday gifts Kiehl's seem to have taken a step in the other direction. If you are a member of their rewards scheme you can pick up a tube of  #1 Lip Balm (worth $7.00)gratis but only of you make a purchase during your birthday month. I didn't take them up on this offer as we are well stocked with Kiehl's products but there's one in my picture as we have plenty of tubes of this hanging around. It's a basic petroleum jelly lip balm, not bad, but not my favourite.

Cult Beauty

Cult Beauty offer 15% discount on any orders you make during your birthday month.

Caudalie

Caudalie automatically apply 30 points to your MyCaudalie Rewards on your birthday which you can redeem for a gift once you have reached a certain amount. 

Victoria's Secret

I know that Victoria's Secret isn't strictly a beauty store but holders of Angel Cards get $10.00 applied to any purchase with their card and there are plenty of body products and lip colours to choose from there.

I love all these little beauty perks, they help make a birthday even more fun and it makes me favourable towards stores that reward your loyalty in some way.

These are just the ones that I have received without me seeking them out. There must be many more out there that I'm unaware - so do let me know!

Sprays and Spritzes 2017.

I love a facial spray at any time of the year but in the summer months they really come into their own! Who doesn't love a refreshing blast of something cool and who is going to say no to a quick hydration hit?

Here's a look at the array of sprays currently gracing my bathroom and bag because, did I mention, they really are the anytime/anywhere beauty boost? (Just be mindful of over spray and other people!)

The one that makes you imagine you are on the beach.

Panier des Sens Refreshing Beauty Mist.

The packaging of this looks gorgeously beachy and it's in an aluminum can so you can literally throw this one in your bag. This one contains sea water amongst other things and so, not surprisingly, it smells exactly like a mineral laden sea breeze. You can use this on your face but I prefer it for my body. The nozzle produces a very fine mist which makes it perfect for cooling down anytime, or calming and hydrating parched skin.
bigelowchemists.com

The classic one that is a bit of a bargain.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater.

This cruelty free facial spray is great to use as a toner, to set make up, or for a quick refresh. It has a lovely rose fragrance that is very feminine and calming and while it's packaging isn't the most beautiful, the simple spray does deliver a light even mist.
ulta.com

The Basic One.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal.

I always have some sort of what I call 'water in a tin' in my bathroom. I know it's merely water but it is fancy French mineral water, and not only is it so much better, it's easier to use than splashing your face with tap water that could contain who knows what! I like to use this after serum and before moisturiser to give my skin an extra boost of moisture - I find it is particularly effective if you use products containing Hyaluronic Acid. I also like to use it after a peel or when my skin feels in need of something soothing. There are plenty of options for a basic water in a tin, this happens to be the one I have at the moment, but I also like Vichy Eau Thermal and Caudalie Grape Water.
cvs.com

The Luxury One.

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist.

Beautifully packaged in a frosted glass bottle this one is the 'Rolls Royce of facial sprays' and it comes with a Rolls Royce price tag as well! It's fragranced with rose and neroli and is a wonderful pick me up as well as being refreshing and hydrating. It's truly lovely, but honestly, I can't justify the price of this, especially as I used it up very quickly as I was spritzing it at every opportunity! This is the ultimate indulgent beauty treat but certainly not a necessary one. If you want to try a luxurious spray in a similar vein you may want to check out Caudalie Beauty Elixir which comes with less of a sticker shock price.
us.spacenk.com

The one for Witch Hazel fans.

Ole Henrikson Balancing Cucumber Face Mist.

I find Witch Hazel to be a little to astringent for me but if you like it this may be the facial spray for you! A mix of water and witch hazel with cucumber, chamomile, ginseng, apricot and aloe, it smells more green and herbal rather than straight up cucumber-y. The spray mechanism of this doesn't deliver a fine mist so I suggest you decant it into a different container or use it on a cotton pad. This spray isn't for me but if you want a slight upgrade from drugstore Witch Hazel this is one to try.
amazon.com

The one for problem skin.

La Roche Posay Serozinc.

This one's a bit of a cult product and it is basically the LRP Eau Thermal plus zinc sulphate which when applied to skin has anti inflammatory effects and promotes healing. Although it's recommended for greasy skins, it's a good one for anyone with skin that can be problematic or breaks out easily.
amazon.com

The one that gives a subtle glow.

Hampton Sun Serious Shimmer Cooling Spray.

When I first saw this body spray I was put off by how gold and shimmery it looked. Once on, there's not a trace of sparkle to be seen just a subtle sheen that enhances a tan. Subtly fragranced with Hampton Sun signature 'Privet Bloom' fragrance it has a delicate floral aroma and contains a host of soothing ingredients including aloe, glycerine, chamomile and fruit oils that hydrate and leave your skin feeling noticeably cooler. This one feels quite luxurious and is the perfect spray to use before going out in the evening after a day at the beach.     

bluemercury.com

The fun one.

Hint Sunscreen Spray SPF30.

There's nothing funny about SPF but the fact that it can be a chore to apply and often feels dreadful once on often means it's not applied as frequently as it should be. This broad spectrum sunscreen appears almost water like and when sprayed on the body it doesn't feel greasy so it's comfortable to wear and there's no white caste to it. It's super easy to apply and water resistant for eighty minutes which makes it a beach bag essential. What sets this aside from other spray on SPFs in my book though is the scent. It's made by Hint, who are better known for their fruit flavoured waters, and it smells exactly like fresh fruit. I have the Pineapple version but it also comes in grapefruit or pear. It's very zingy and uplifting and the scent is pretty strong when first sprayed but it quickly fades into a subtle tropical fragrance. It's a joyous product and I think that the fruity fragrances make these very appealing to children who can be notoriously shy of using sunscreens.
drinkhint.com 

The natural one.

Evan Healy Lavender Facial Tonic HydroSoul.

I don't often pick up beauty products at the health food store but when I do it's likely to be one of Evan Healy's Hydrosols. This one which is made from 100% organic lavender is great for calming irritated skin or skin that may have had a touch too much sun. I find that these really help with hydration levels as well. This doesn't smell sharply of lavender, it smells a little like a  health food shop if you know what I mean, but it's quite relaxing and it doesn't make my skin feel at all prickly as some lavender products can. Finally, these come in a glass bottle with sprays that work extremely well, so well that I often find myself reusing them with other products.
wholefoods.com

I think the selection above covers pretty much all my spritz and spray needs for the summer, but they are one of my most beloved products and there is always one for one more in my spray wardrobe!

Empties June 2017.

Due to my heavy use of sample sachets last month, June's empties pile is somewhat smaller than usual. As well as plowing through my stash of sachets I also made an effort to use up as many perfume vials as possible and to repurpose samples of foamy face cleansers as body wash and so I managed to use up twenty two non sachet samples and four full sized products.

Skincare.
I finished a full sized Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser, a repeat purchase that I especially love to use in warmer weather, it feels cool, fresh, and soothing, and leaves my face feeling clean and balanced. La Roche Posay Serozinc was a cooling and calming hydrating spritz of mineral water containing zinc. I liked it but didn't find it to be any different to any other 'tins of water' that I have used.
The Ginza Creamy Foaming Cleanser and Energizing Lotion are both wonderful products that I have used before, my skin feels soft whenever I use them and is less prone to redness and congestion. I also enjoyed re-using REN Glycol Lactic Mask. This fruity gel mask always feels such a fun product and gives impressive results, leaving me with a brighter clearer complexion in just a few minutes.
Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion was a good basic moisturiser that absorbed well, felt soothing and was delicately scented with almonds. VenEffect Anti Aging Lip Treatment was a lightly textured white cream that smelled of apricots. I used it as a lip balm but didn't find that it left my lips noticeably different in any way.
Finally, from my skincare stash, I re-purposed three samples of Malin+Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser and a generously sized sample of Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel as body washes as I found both of them to be too drying to use on my face.

Haircare.

I really enjoyed Ouai Hair Oil which smoothed my hair without weighing it down or making it look/feel greasy, it smelled great as well. I was disappointed with Davines Oi All in One Milk, I love the oil in this range but I found that the milk didn't do anything apart from detangling my hair, the ends were still frizzy when I used this. I also found the packaging unpractical - the product is quite thick, almost like a serum, so it didn't work in a spray on format.

Body care.
I liked both of the body lotions that I used this month and they were both ones that I had used before. Space NK Life Jump Start Body Lotion is light and easily absorbed but it packs a good punch of hydration and it's citrus scent tinged with mint is very uplifting and awakening. Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair is an unscented cream that isn't at all greasy but is intensely moisturising, it   feels basic but is very effective. 

Make Up and Perfume.
I managed to use up two mini mascaras. I'm not a fan of ByTerry Mascara Terrybly as in addition to it's awful pun of a name I find it has a tendency to flake off throughout the day. I did quite like The Essential Mascara by Kevyn Aucoin,  it's formula is somewhat dry but I like it's curved wand that add curl to lashes as you apply it very much.
I finished nine perfume samples this month. I really like Tam Dao by Diptyque which is woody and spicy and warm. I also enjoyed Diptyque Geranium Odorata, a peppery floral and Etat d'Orange Libre Encens et Bubblegum which is sweet yet smokey and a good summer scent.
Tom Ford Oud Wood and Byredo Blanche were both okay but I didn't particularly like them and I wasn't at all keen on Atelier Cologne Mandarine Glaciale or Maiyet for Barney's. I disliked both Lady Gaga Fame and One Direction You&I so much that I could not wear them and used them as room sprays simply to use them up.

July sees me back to using 'real' products rather than sachets so I'm expecting a much bigger pile of empties than this at the end of this month.

A Small Beauty Restock #3.

February and March saw me topping up my already groaning beauty shelves as I took advantage of some great GWP offers and although I honestly don't need any more products there have been a few things that I spotted that were too much of a bargain to pass by and a Space NK gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket to redeem. Here's a quick look at some recent purchases...  

Diptyque Eau Duelle is a warm spicy vanilla scent that I love. I finished a bottle of this a couple of years ago and didn't restock it at that point but a few recent samples reminded me of just how much I love it. I find this to be very easy to wear, it lasts on my skin without being heavy or overpowering. It's soft but also a little sultry and I find it to be a fragrance that you can wear year round whether you are dressed up or dressed down. I'm very happy to have this back on my shelf!

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in the shade 'Activist'. I already have too many lip products but when I tested these new offerings from Hourglass during a rainy afternoon browsing in Sephora I wanted one badly! These are like Clinique Chubby Stick's grown up sister, a twist up soft lip crayon that glides on easily, supplies a good jolt of long lasting pigment and dries to a semi matte finish. They contain shea butter and jojoba oil so they feel comfortable and non drying on my lips. If you are obsessive about good packaging these will please you no end - hefty and solid feeling, they close with a deeply satisfying click.

Rodial Glamtox Cleansing Balm. I had a large sample of this lemony scented cleansing balm some time ago and liked it a lot so when I saw it in the sale section of the Space NK website I had to add it to my basket. It's a thick balm that breaks down make up very effectively and as it warms up it becomes the perfect consistency for facial massage. It rinses away easily which is one of my must have requirements for a balm and it works so well that you only need to use a tiny amount of it.

Rodial Glamtox Night. I spied this in TJ Maxx mere days after I bought the Glamtox Cleansing Balm so of course I had to pick it up and take it home! I've not cracked this open yet but it is a gel cream containing Vitamin C and Retinol that says it will firm and brighten skin as well as reducing the appearance of pores and deep set wrinkles. I'm excited to try this out when I finish up my current retinol product.

Korres Body Butter Cassis Fig is another item I picked up in TJ Maxx. Personally I consider these to be more of a body cream than a body butter. With a base of sweet almond oil this feels lightweight and absorbs easily leaving my skin soft and perfumed. I can smell both fig and blackcurrant notes in this cream but it's not too fruity, it has a powdery edge. I'm planning to use this whenever I wear Diptyque Phylsikos Perfume as I think that they will complement each other very well. 

Sephora Express Eye Make Up Remover Wipes. I bought a couple of packets of these wipes from Sephora as I find them to be so handy to use when traveling and they only cost $5.00. Packaged in individual sachets they are easy to transport and they do a good job of removing even waterproof make up. I don't get really excited by these but they are just so darn useful!

Smith's Rosebud Salve. How cute is Smith's Rosebud Salve? I love the packaging of this - retro and practical it reminds me of something that you would find in a country store. Basically it is petroleum jelly with a few additions that make it light in texture, pink in colour and scented of roses. I bought this when I was away and ran out of lip balm but I have been using it on my cuticles as well. I can see this becoming a repurchase!

Soap and Glory Ultimelt. I needed an inexpensive creamy cleanser to remove make up and saw a three for two offer on Soap & Glory at the drugstore so I bought my first ever tube of Ultimelt. It  contains essential oils and smells of lavender and chamomile which is a lovely relaxing scent at the end of a long day. I find it does a fantastic job of removing make up and rinses off easily leaving my skin feeling clean and soft.  I like the fun packaging of this - it looks like a giant tube of toothpaste. (Oh, and of course I didn't but three tubes of this! The other two items I bought as part of the offer were giant bottles of Rich and Foamous Body Wash and Smoothie Star Body Milk. They both smell delicious with almond based scents that have notes of vanilla, honey and sugar.)

 I'm all stocked up for present but the next purchase on my shopping list will be a new exfoliating toner, perhaps it's time to finally try out Biologique Recherche P50...

WholeFoods Hello Beauty Bag 2017.

The WholeBody department of WholeFoods is a fantastic place to shop if you are interested in exploring clean beauty products as they have a wide ranging selection of products from many, many different brands. There are plenty of gems to be found and the items carried there cover a wide range of price points from basic, economical hand washes and soaps to high end skincare.
From March 22- March 28th Wholebody make up products and facial skincare are all 25% off and many items are further discounted, so if you aren't familiar with this part of your local Wholefoods store this week is a very good a time to check it out indeed!

On Friday 24th March (for one day only) Wholefoods were selling limited edition Hello Beauty Bags - a gorgeous handmade organic cotton make up bag made by Piece & Co stuffed with $90.00 worth of products for only $18.00.

Inside the bag were generously sized samples from Acure, Andalou Naturals, Derma E, Dr Hauschka, Juice Beauty, Trilogy and Weleda as well as a handbag sized hand cream made by Wholefoods, a full sized eye balm by Evan Healy and, for make up lovers, a full sized Mineral Fusion mascara and a full sized Pacifica lipstick.

 I'm not a fan of  Acure Red Clay Mask so that is going in my giveaway box but I'm looking forward to trying all the other products, particularly Dr Hauschka Facial Toner and Evan Healy Wild Carrot Nourishing Eye Balm. I'm also thrilled to have yet another handbag sized hand cream (it's the little things...) and the Pacifica Lipstick in the shade 'TenderHeart' is a lovely rosy nude - exactly the sort of shade I love to wear.

I'm very pleased that I manage to get my hands on one of these bags again this year!
I love the bag itself, there are a lovely selection of products inside and it was a bargain to boot!

Space NK Winter Sale Purchases 2016/17.

One of my Christmas traditions is buying myself a little something from the Space NK sale over the holidays. This year I made my traditional Boxing Day order and then I followed it up with another order at the tail end of the sale when there were a bundle of new things added that were 75% off. (Say What?!?)

Sale Purchases Part 1 were fairly restrained. 

The treat part of it was a gift set by REN containing full sizes of their Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash and Body Lotion. Luxurious bath products always feel like a real indulgence but I can't justify spending almost $40 on a shower gel can you? $12.00 is still more than I would usually spend but it isn't an obscene amount to spend on a Christmas present to myself is it? (The set cost $24.00). I used to use REN products a lot and whilst they aren't on my radar so much these days I do still adore their older products such as these.

I had only recently bought a tube of Dr Dennis Gross Color Smart Cleanser & Mask and it is something that I am liking so when I saw it was reduced to $12.00 it made sense to grab one for my stash. Packed in a tube and able to be used as either a mask or a cleanser makes this the perfect product to add to my travel bag. 

Finally, I needed a daytime eye cream. Somme Institute Eye is something that I have been considering buying for a while so it made sense to add one to my order. I like the sparse yet stylish and practical packaging of this cream which promises to hydrate, treat dark circles and reduce puffiness. I have only just started to use this but so far I like it.

Sale Purchases Part 2 were where it all went a bit manic! 

I didn't need any of these items for immediate use but the fact that they were so deeply discounted made it seem silly not to take advantage and add them to my stash.

Firstly I made two purchases from Algenist. 

For daytime, Regenerative Anti Aging Moisturiser SPF 20 and for night time use, Genius Ultimate Anti Aging Cream. I haven't tried out either of these but have been very impressed with all the Algenist products I have used in the past so I am pretty certain that I will enjoy these and I'll even overlook their labeling almost everything as 'anti aging'...

Darphin is a brand that I have been rediscovering lately and I am enamored with all of their products. Not only do they work they feel extremely indulgent.

Exquisage Cream and Serum are products that are normally out of my price range (but not when they are 75% off - Ha!). They promise to revitalise and reinvigorate skin leading to increased elasticity, firmness and luminosity. Whether they will I have yet to find out, but I do know they will make me feel super fancy and spoilt whenever I use them! 

I have however used all of the Darphin Stimulskin Plus range before and can vouch that it does leave my skin looking and feeling amazing. It is another range that is super pricey that I normally wouldn't consider buying because of the cost so I felt justified in popping a reduced Divine Eye Cream into my shopping basket. I loved this eye cream when I used it previously, in fact I think that it may well be 'The One' for me as far as eye creams are concerned except for costing so much normally.

I am very happy with my sale purchases and am looking forward to using some exquisite products in the upcoming months!