June Empties

How can it be 1st July already?!  The year is flying past!  I've had another good month trimming my stash of products and haven't bought an awful lot either due to other expenses so, at long last, I actually have some space in my beauty draws!!

 

• Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Face Wash (review here) - a well-priced face wash that I found particularly suited my oily / combination skin.  I think if you have normal / dry skin it would be a little harsh for you though.  I wouldn't repurchase, simply because I didn't think it was overly special or unique.  
• The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub (review here)  - Loved this, it had just the right amount of scrubbiness present to exfoliate the skin and contained enough nourishing oils to ensure my skin was left supple and  moisturised.  I believe this is limited edition and will not be around for much longer so if you fancy trying it get along to a store soon!
• No 7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser in Medium / Fair - I've blogged about this tinted moisturiser from No7 many a time as its my go-to tinted moisturiser.  I love how it has SPF15 in it too.  I've lost count of how many tubes of this I have got through and I already have 2 back ups purchased with the Boots / No 7 vouchers, making it a bargain £7 a tube.  
• Benefit They're Real Mascara (review here) - I have  a love / hate relationship with this mascara.  On the one hand it leaves me with lovely looking long lashes but on the other hand it is a nightmare to remove!  Despite my best efforts I still find traces of it on my lashes two days later.  I also found that it was making my sensitive eyes quite sore recently so it has been relegated to empties pile despite the fact there is still some product left and I've only had it a few months.  I would not repurchase as I think there are better and cheaper mascaras available.

• Label.m Protein Spray - I've had this for ages and I think it originally came in a Christmas gift set a couple of years ago.  It is essentially a heat protectant spray which I found did the job well but no better than other similar sprays which are noticeably cheaper.  For this reason, I wouldn't repurchase.  
• Cowshed Wild Cow Bath and Body Oil -  I don't think there have been any Cowshed products I've tried (save for the lipbalm) that I haven't loved and this bath oil is no exception.  Cowshed are my favourite bath oils due to their super-moisturising properties.  I think I already have a back up bottle of this waiting in the wings!
• Batiste Blush - A handbag staple for me, I don't go anywhere without a mini can of Batiste these days.  Blush was a new scent for me and, I have to admit, not my favourite.  I much prefer the Tropical scent as it reminds me of holidays.  I will repurchase Batiste but not Blush.  

• Lavera Hand Cream (mini review here) - a nice, quick absorbing hand cream.  It wasn't anything out of the ordinary but I did like that it was a natural product.  I would perhaps repurchase if I wasn't so in love with my L'Occitane hand creams! 
• No7 Quick Thinking Wipes - I think these have replace the 4 in 1 wipes that No7 used to do but I can't really see any noticeable difference between the two.  I get through a ton of these, both for removing swatches and for refreshing my skin after exercise.  I usually stock up on them when the Boots / No 7 £5 voucher is floating about but I don't think they are particularly any better than most other wipes.
• Clearasil Overnight Serum - I wouldn't normally purchase anything from Clearasil as I've previously found them rather harsh and stripping for my skin.  However I won this from their facebook page a while ago and I have to say I rather like it.  You only need to apply a tiny amount to any blemishes and it totally dries them up overnight.  You will need to ensure you apply a good dose of moisturiser the next morning though to ensure it doesn't leave you with very dry skin, but in terms of reducing blemishes and redness quickly, it does the job well.  I would consider repurchasing but I also want to try out the Origins Blemish Treatment Gel.
• Olay Complete Care Daily Cream with SPF15 - A fairly standard moisturiser which includes added SPF15 as a bonus.  I found this did break me out a little as it was a little too rich for my combination skin.  I ended up using it on my dry elbows which actually worked quite well!  I wouldn't repurchase.
• Dr Hauschka Hand Cream (review here) - a thick, but non-greasy hand cream.  This was a small travel-sized sample but unfortunately I couldn't abide the scent so I won't be repurchasing.
• Dr Hauschka Quince Body Moisturiser (review here) - Another travel-sized sample which really wasn't enough to test properly.  Again, I wasn't overly fond of the scent so won't be repurchasing. 

Have you tried any of these products?
What have you finished up this month? 

Loved but Overlooked

I was dithering over what to call this post as I wanted to encapsulate the idea of products that I love, that other bloggers either seem to overlook or dislike.  Here are a few of them:

Bobbi Brown Cream Shadows

I adore these little pots of cream shadow from Bobbi Brown.  I seem to hear so much about Benefits Creaseless Cream Shadows but there never seems to be much love for Bobbi Brown's versions.  Perhaps it is because Bobbi Brown tends to produce 'safe' neutral colours or perhaps it is just because people don't know enough about them, but I love these and wouldn't be without my small, but ever growing, collection.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shines

I own two of these to date and love them both dearly.  I adore their super light hydrating formula which provides a sheer wash of colour to the lips.  General consensus seems to be that these are too sheer, especially for the price, but I find them to be perfect for giving a subtle, neutral look without much effort, especially during the Summer months.  

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base

Estee Lauder is another brand that is not written about to a great extent within the blogsphere, probably because it had a reputation for being rather mumsy at one point.  One of their staples that I have been using for several years now is their eye primer.  It comes in a small pot but it lasts for ever and helps my shadows stay put all day.  I would recommend their face primer too.

Cowshed Bath Oils

Cowshed are very well known but I never really see much posted about them.  Yes, they are pretty pricey but their products are priced similar to other luxe bathing brands such as Neom and Aromatherapy Associates and I believe they are just as good too.  My favourite items are the bath oils (I love a Lazy Cow!) but I have tried pretty much everything from them at one time or another.

Bomb Cosmetics Bath Bombs and Melts

I've posted about my love for Bomb Cosmetics previously and it shows no sign of wavering.  For  me, these are the more grown up versions for Lush's bath products and I find them infinitely more moisturising.  The presentation of the bath melts are gorgeous too with some disguised as mini cup cakes!

Are there any products that you love that you feel don't get enough attention from the blogsphere?  

November Empties

Not a great attempt this month but I am so close to finishing quite a number of products so I predict December will be good, unless I get sidetracked!

No 7, 4 in 1 wipes x 2, £7 - I got through a ton of these in Thailand and wouldn’t travel without them. I always pick some up when I have numerous No 7 £5 vouchers to spend.

Green & Spring Relaxing Body Lotion, £22, 300ml - This was a travel size that I received in a gift pack. It has a very strong lavender fragrance, so if you are not a huge fan of lavender I don’t think this would be for you. I used it in the evening, before bed, and found the scent very relaxing, however it does stick around for quite some time. The consistency of the lotion is rather thick so it does take some time to rub in and absorb and I didn’t find it particularly moisturising, and I expected better for the price. I would not repurchase, mainly as I have heaps more body lotions to work my way through.

Soap & Glory, Scrub Your Nose In It, £7.40 - I reviewed this previously here (Review – Soap & Glory Scrub your Nose in It) and my opinion of it has not changed. It is a perfectly acceptable scrub but I think there are probably better ones out there, especially for oily skin and I wouldn’t repurchase this. As an aside, I have yet to find a Soap & Glory product that blows me away, as I find most of their products fairly average. But then again, perhaps I am not trying the right products?

Nivea Had Lotion Express Hydration  , £3.05 - This was reviewed last month here (Review – Nivea Had Lotion Express Hydration) and now that my hands are less cracked and dry, it does seem to be a very good lotion which is not oily or greasy. I do still prefer scented hand products but I would repurchase this as it does the job well for a very reasonable price.

Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm, £5 - I really disliked this! I received it in a Cowshed order some time ago and it is everything I don't like in a lipbalm – greasy, oily and it just sits on the lips and provides no moisture at all. It has no discernible scent and although it goes on clear, it doesn’t particularly give an attractive sheen to the lips, it looks greasy and not at all attractive. This This is the only Cowshed product so far that I have disliked and I would definitely not repurchase it.

What is your bath style?

I love a bath! In the mornings for practicality, I always have a shower, but I look forward to a Friday evening bath as a time to relax and de-stress whilst reading a glossy mag and perhaps having a cheeky glass of wine! This is making me sound as though I am an OAP wearing my nana shoes, but honestly, although I enjoy going out with hubby and friends and family, at the end of the week, I am usually too knackered to do much and a bath is just what I need!

There are 3 different types of products you can use in your bath, depending on your personal preference and the overall effect you would like. 

Bath Foams

These are the traditional type which provide lots of suds! Very useful for making impromptu Santa’s beards out of if you so desire (or am I the only person who does this??!).

These can often be quite drying for the skin, especially in combination with a scalding hot bath, mainly due to the use of sodium laureth sulfate.

Some tried and tested foaming products that I have enjoyed using are:

Radox Bath Soaks, around £2 – an affordable treat which comes in a variety of scents. The Sleep Easy and Eastern Spirit varieties are my favourites.

Sanctuary Bath Soak, £5.10 – this has the usual Sanctuary scent and I find it to be more moisturising than most bath foams.

Green and Spring Relaxing Shower and Bath Foam, £18 – this has a gorgeous lavender scent although it is quite pricey for a bath foam. It can also be used as a shower gel too which is how I tend to use it as I feel the scent tends to linger for longer

Lush bubble bars £2-£4 These are solid products which are crumbled under running water to produce a foam. As with all Lush products, they are heavily scented which is no bad thing for me. They are however not the most economical method of enjoying a foaming bath as you tend to only get a maximum of 2-3 baths out of one bar.

Bath Oils

These are my favourite type of bath product as I find the scent tends to be strongest in oil form and a little goes a long way. They are also very moisturising, although you have to be careful to rinse the bath out properly afterwards as I once forgot and hubby almost knocked himself out when he slipped on the super oily residue! 

Cowshed, £20- these are my favourite bath oils and you can pick up travel packs of their various products for less which allows you to try a wider variety of the range . They are not cheap, but I have yet to come across a scent I do not like, and I am particularly fond of their ‘Lazy Cow’ scent which is a mixture of essentials oils of Jasmine, Chamomile and Sandalwood. The oils can also be used for massage if you wish.

Aromatherapy Associates, £37 is another good producer of bath oils and they do a selection pack so you can try out your favourites.  This year, for Christmas, they are also doing little star shaped tree decorations, £10, with bath oils contained within them, which are cute stocking fillers.

E45 Emollient Bath Oil, £5.49, is a cheaper but equally moisturising bath oil for sensitive skins, and is a veritable bargain.  There is no fancy scent, but it is super moisturising and great if you suffer from eczema or dermatitis.

Bath bombs / Bath melts

These are almost a theatrical spectacle in some cases, as you watch them fizz and dash about in your bath. The bath bombs tend to be the fizzy ones and often provide a stronger scent but they can be less moisturising. Bath melts are a creamy consistency which dissolve gradually and tend to leave your skin softer and more moisturised. One thing you do have to watch for with bath bombs is that they can have a lot of ‘bits’ in them which mean the bath will need a good clean once you have finished. I find cleaning the opposite of relaxing so I usually give it a quick rinse and hope hubby cleans it the following day….!

Lush is perhaps most famous for its bath bombs and they constantly have new products coming out. The Christmas products in particular are worth investigating, with the Abombinaball and Cinders being two of my favourites.

Bomb Cosmetics – I have mentioned Bomb Cosmetics previously here as they are a great alternative to Lush, if you fancy a change. Their bath bombs and melts are smaller than Lush’s but no less pungent and are well worth a try.

These are my favourite bath products. What are your favourite methods of bathtime pampering?