May Empties - Loves and Loathes

I'm a bit late with this month's empties as I've been busier than I anticipated this weekend, even though it was twice as long due to the Jubilee.  There were so many things I was planning on doing but it seems to have just flown by and I've not had any time for blogging until today!  So lets crack on with my empties.

KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray (reviewed here) - a great little spray I received in my last Carmine box  I will certainly be purchasing the full-sized bottle soon.

Naked Volume Body Building Shampoo (reviewed here) - really REALLY disliked this and ended up making hubby use it and using it to clean my make up brushes.  Would not repurchase.

Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Conditioner  - I've been working my way through this humongous bottle for what seems like months but it was finally finished this month which is a good thing as it was taking up far too much space in my bathroom!  This conditioner is fab at keeping my coloured locks in good condition and is one I return too time and time again.  I've already bought another (smaller!) bottle which is more portable and better for travelling.

Davines Nou Nou Illuminating Shampoo (reviewed here) - I was a bit disappointed with this as it seemed to get used up very quickly and was quite a basic shampoo for the price.  I won't be repurchasing.

 

Bed Head Very Berry Whipped Mousse Body Lotion - as part of my efforts to reduce my body lotion stash, this had been languishing in my draw for quite some time.  I don't even think they sell it any more and even if they did I wouldn't repurchase as it wasn't overly moisturising and seemed to sit on the surface of the skin, rather than be absorbed by it.

The Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream (reviewed here) - a creamy moisturising shower cream that was perhaps more suited to evening bathing and showering that first thing in a  morning.  I liked it but not sure I would repurchase.

The Body Shop Peppermint Intense Foot Rescue - one of my staples of my Summer Footcare prep, I have repurchased this several times previously and will continue to purchase it as it is the only foot lotion that can go some way to smoothing my scaly feet!

Dr Hauschka Rose Body Lotion (reviewed here) - a small sample which didn't last long but was very nicely scented and absorbed quickly into the skin.  I'm on a body lotion ban, otherwise I would consider purchasing. 

Lush The Carrot Bubble Bar - so disappointed with this as on the second use, the bubble bar broke away from the stalk and I had to fish it out of my scalding hot bath.  The bubbles weren't that great with this either and I wasn't overly enamoured with the scent.  I wouldn't repurchase this if they bring it out next Easter.

L'Oreal Million Lashes Mascara - I enjoyed the effect this gave but for some reason recently, my eyes have become really sensitive and I wasn't able to use this without my eyes becoming red and watery.  I wouldn't repurchase solely for this reason, although I loved how my lashes looked when it was applied.

Jo Loves Pomelo Fragrance - This was a sample but it is so clean and fresh smelling I'm certainly going to see if I can get hold of a full sized bottle.  It seems to last on the skin for ages too.

Biotherm Aquasource Levres SPF8 (mini review here) - a small sample but this lasted for ages so I can imagine the full size would last  a while.  I have plenty of lip balms at the moment to get through though so I wouldn't repurchase this yet, but I may do in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?  What did you think of them?

Dr Hauschka Daily Body Care Kit

I love luxurious bath and body products and when I was recently sent the Dr Hauschka Daily Body Care Kit with some trial / travel sized products as an introduction to the brand's body products, I couldn't wait to try them out!

The Daily Body Care Kit contains seven different items, all contained within a sleek, sturdy tin.

There are two body lotions included:

Rose - loved this scent

Quince - the scent was more of an acquired taste I feel and it smelled a little old fashioned

Both lotions absorb quickly, without leaving any tackiness or stickiness.  The scents are quite strong and I much prefer the rose to the quince.  I did find that each of these tubes only managed one full body application so I wasn't able to assess how well they moisturised in the long term.  

Three oils are included:

Lavender Bath Oil

Rose Body Oil 

Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil

These are all good sizes with a decent amount of product included.  I managed to get three baths from the Lavender Bath Oil and I tend to like to dump a large amount of oil in my baths.  

Both Body Oils can be used as an alternative to body lotions, smoothing a small amount on damp skin after a shower or bath.  The scents of both are less strong than the Body Lotions but still pleasantly fragrant and soothing. I have also tried them as bath oils and found them equally fragrant and very relaxing.  I do love a multi-tasking product!  

One hand cream.  This absorbs quickly and easily and is non greasy.  A little goes a long way.  I didn't find it a particularly exciting cream, it simply did its job and did its job well.  It does have a distinctive 'natural' scent but this dissipates very quickly. 

Finally, also included in the set are two sachets of Fitness Foot Balm (see the first picture).  I tried using this after a long run on my tired feet (after a shower obviously!) and found it to absorb quickly and it certainly softened some of the harder areas of skin.  It does have a very unique herbal scent though and I was VERY glad it was on my feet and nowhere near my nose as it doesn't half pong!

Verdict

I really enjoy using little sets like these as it lets me play with different products and see if they work for me.  From initial use, the products which made the biggest impressions on me were the Bath and Body Oils.  All three scents were to my taste and not too strong either as I hate it when my body products overwhelm my perfume.  I loved the fact that the Body Oils were multi-tasking too.  If there was one product that perhaps didn't impress me as much it was the Foot Balm, mainly as I couldn't abide the scent, so I would recommend having a sniff before you buy if you fancy trying it.

Price- £17.95

Where to Buy - Dr Hauschka, John Lewis

Have you tried any Dr Hauschka products?

How do you feel about strongly scented products?

Managing Keratosis Pilaris

Today, I am blogging about Keratosis Pilaris (or KP) - a condition that affects many people to different degrees.

For those of you who are unaware, Keratosis Pilaris usually manifests itself as a rash or series of small red bumps on the surface of the skin, often on the arms and thighs, although it can appear elsewhere on the body too.  Along with the rash, another symptom is multiple hairs growing from a  single follicle, which can mean that those who suffer with it often have excess body hair.

Typical appearance of KP (not mine!)

For years, I was unaware of what the red rashes on my upper arms and thighs were.  All I knew was that I was extremely self-conscious of them as they were very unsightly, and I used to do anything to avoid wearing sleeveless tops, always covering up with a scarf or cardie.  

Finally, a couple of years ago, I decided enough was enough and decided to do some reading online to see if anyone else had my mysterious skin complaint.  I felt as though I was the only person putting up with it, and upon seeing my doctor, he was extremely unhelpful and told me it would disappear and clear up over time.

KP is essentially caused by the build up of keratin on the surface of the skin, which causes the raised, bumpy appearance.  To combat this, I have been using a couple of simple but effective products in my daily routine:

1) I exfoliate my upper arms daily with a course-grained scrub. 

 

The problem with many scrubs are that they are not scrubby enough and you do need something that is quite abrasive to smooth the skin effectively.  I find the scrub I use in the areas with KP would probably be too harsh for other areas of my body, but on the areas with KP, it works well.  

Recently, I have been very impressed with The Body Shop's Chocomania scrub.  If you can get past the sweet, chocolately scent first thing in a morning, it is both moisturising and exfoliating , and I have certainly seen an improvement in my skin tone over the period I have been using it.  Other scrubs I have enjoyed using and have found effective at combatting my KP have been Korres Watermelon scrub and the Elemis Lime and Ginger Scrub, although this one is rather on the pricey side, but it does feel very luxurious.

2) Following my daily exfoliation of the affected areas, I always moisturise, usually using a lotion rather than a body butter as it is lighter and less likely to clog pores.  You may prefer unscented lotions if you have sensitive skin . I have been using the Vaseline Intensive Care lotion recently and have been pleased with its performance, but any regular body lotion will do.

3) I don't tend make a conscious effort to tan, but during the Summer I do find that the appearance of my KP  diminishes somewhat when my skin is a little darker.  

The sun seems to clear it up a little, and the darker skintone helps to disguise it.  Of course, you can always pick up a fake tanning product and this will camouflage the rashes somewhat.

I hope this post has been of some help to those of you who suffer with KP and has given you some ideas for how to treat it.  

Do you use any products which  help treat your KP?

Sunday Samples - Liz Earle, Jane Iredale and Vaseline Body Lotion

Its been a while since I've explored some of my samples stash, so I thought it was about time I had a quick delve into it. 

Jane Iredale Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink

This came with a recent Jolie Box and having never heard of Jane Iredale before, I was excited to try it out.  Jane Iredale products are all mineral products and aside form the odd Bare Minerals flirtation, I haven't tried many mineral cosmetics products previously.  

I tried this on both the lips and cheeks and far preferred it on my lips.  On my cheeks, it looked a little greasy and disappeared within a few hours.  It was also very lightly pigmented and I prefer my cream blushes to be more pigmented.  On the lips, it gave a slight sheen, and lasted around an hour and a half before I needed to reapply.  It felt more like a balm though and was perhaps too subtle for my pigmented lips.  For those who like natural makeup, with a  barely-there lip, this may be a good buy, but I have lots of lippies already like this and I didn't feel it added anything to my collection.

Vaseline Essential Moisture Clean Feeling Lotion

I usually prefer body butters to body lotions as they tend to feel richer and more luxurious.  This body lotion from Vaseline was pretty much as expected - fairly lightweight and non-greasy, although it did take some time to sink in.  I tend to moisturise my body in the evening though so it didn't affect my morning routine. 

Scent wise, it was fairly innocuous and from the swatch above, you can see it was slightly runny  and a little difficult to control consistency-wise.  All in all, a decent budget body lotion but nothing earth-shattering, and I think I prefer Nivea's version.

 

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate

I kind of blow hot and cold with Liz Earle - some of her products I love but some I feel rather lukewarm about as they aren't the miracle products I was expecting.  The Superskin Concentrate was on of these products but in fairness, I'm not sure if I am the target audience for this with my oily skin. 

Ths Superskin Concentrate is an oil that you warm in your hands and apply after cleansing in the evening.  The scent is a delightful mixture of lavender and chamomile which aids relaxation before bed, and the oil absorbs quickly without leaving an oily or greasy feeling.  My skin did feel a little softer but that was about it.  I didn't feel more radiant or feel that my skin was in a particularly better condition than previously.  

As this was only a 2ml sample, I am curious to see if I would experience any significant benefits in the long term with regular use.  Skincare is such an individual thing and I usually prefer to test something for at least a month before judging its performance.

Have you tried any of these products?  

 

February Empties

I've managed to work my way through a few full-sized products this month, including - gasp! - a body lotion!

Biotherm Lait Corporee Anti Drying Body Milk with Citrus Extracts  (review here) - a deliciously scented body lotion which sinks into the skin quickly.  If I didn't have a ton of body lotions already to work my way through I would consider buying a full-sized tube.

 

Nivea DNAge Cell Renewal Anti-Age Body Care - I've had this for ages and it was time to use it up.  I'm not even sure it is even still available to purchase but I wasn't that impressed with it as it wasn't particularly moisturising so wouldn't repurchase.

 

Balance Me Handcream (review here) - I liked this and indeed I have liked all Balance Me products I have tried to date.  Would certainly repurchase.

Bliss Lemon and Sage Soapy Suds (review here) - I liked using this as a shower gel but was unimpressed with its performance as a bath foam. I wouldn't repurchase as there are too many other bath and shower gels that I'd like to try out.

Toni & Guy Warm Blonde Conditioner - This has been languishing in my bathroom for quite some time, mainly because I wasn't that impressed with it and I preferred using other conditioners I have had on the go such as the Tigi Dumb Blonde.  I wouldn't repurchase as I didn't feel it was moisturising enough for my dry, coloured hair.

Green & Spring Mild Toner (review here) - Despite not being a regular toner user, I loved this and will certainly be purchasing a large bottle as soon as funds allow.

Kiehls Eye Alert (review here) - This eye cream was just what I was looking for.  It absorbed quickly and was not greasy, leaving my eyes feeling hydrated and refreshed.  I did realise after purchasing that it was supposed to be for men,  but I tend to think products such as eye creams are the same for men and women, they are usually just scented differently.

Have you managed to finish any products this month?

Body Lotion Challenge!

When sorting through my beauty product draws at the weekend, this is what I found……. 22 body lotions!!! How on earth did I end up with this many??! I actually have closer to 25 as I found a couple in unopened gift packs and 1 got a free body butter with a recent Body Shop order… ooops!

I pretty much never buy body lotion as I don’t have particularly dry skin and I lack the patience to sit around waiting for it to dry before I can get dressed. I accumulated all of these over the last couple of years, either as part of gift sets, gifts with purchase, facebook giveaways or as gifts from friends and family. So I have made it my mission to use these up and try to have reduced my stash by the end of the year. Hopefully, my skin will also be much softer and smoother in the process!

Do you have any items that seem to multiply and that you never run out of?

January Empties

I haven’t made a bad attempt at finishing things off this month and there have even been a couple of full sized products finished for a change!

Label.m Resurrection Style Dust – review here

I love this and was upset to run out as I probably use it a couple of times a week when I am planning to be out all day or if I’m going out after work.  I have decided to try another similar product – the Tigi Sugar Dust so I will see how that works for me as it is a little cheaper.

No 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes

Not much to say about these, just standard wipes that I use if I am feeling too lazy after a late night (I know, tut tut!)

DP London Body Lotion - quick review here

I liked this but it wasn’t particularly remarkable and I certainly wouldn’t pay full price for it.

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Action Wrinkle Correction Cream – quick review here

This was a decent day cream that went on quite thick but seemed to moisturise well without leaving me too oily.  I would perhaps consider purchasing a full-sized version or another product from the range.

YSL Belle d’Opium

Didn’t like this at all.  Heady and very powerful, it was not to my taste, and was used instead as a room spray!

Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap

This was a sample that I think I probably received as part of Clinique Bonus time which I always seem to get sucked into!  I wouldn’t say it was particularly mild and I certainly wouldn’t use this on a  daily basis, but it was good to use after I had been for a run and really left my skin feeling clean.  I would suggest following up with a good moisturiser though.

Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel

I love the scent of this and always buy a bottle of it if I am going on holiday.  I adore pretty much any citrus scents as they are so fresh and light and certainly very summery.  I have a body butter in this scent too that I have yet to try  - I really must make an effort to get through my body lotion stash!

Dr Organic Bioactive Skincare Organic Rose Otto Skin Lotion - quick review here

This was a decent body lotion and it would certainly be suited for those who love rose scents.  However, it was not really to my liking as it was a little strong for me, and I have rather a lot of other body lotions to work my way through first!

Saturday Samples #3

This week's Saturday samples products are again a bit of a mish-mash and have all been sitting, unloved, in my sample box for a wee while.

Dr Organic Bioactive Skincare Organic Rose Otto Skin Lotion

This was only a small sample but I managed to make it last a couple of days, only using it on a targeted area (my dry elbows and arms!).  It moisturised nicely, although I did feel it took rather a lot of rubbing in to absorb fully.  The rose scent also evoked strong memories of collecting rose petals and putting them in a jar when I was younger in an attempt to make perfume (did anyone else ever do this?!).  All very nice but not what I want to smell of for the following couple of hours after using it.  I prefer more sophisticated rose scents that smell a little more complex.

Price - £7.19

Where to Buy - Holland and Barrett

Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet Creme

This cream claims to be a godsend to dry, thirsty skin and I have to admit from the outset that I am not the correct target audience for this product.  It is very rich and would be perfect for winter skin or if you have been outside a lot and need to add something soothing to your skincare routine.

I tried using it as a night cream, rather than twice daily as suggested, but it was still a little rich for my combination skin.  I have, instead, been smoothing it on my neck and chest, which usually get less attention from me on a daily basis and it is definitely making the area feel smoother.  Perhaps one to try if you have very dry skin.

Price - From £18.50

Where to Buy - Boots, Feel Unique, SpaceNK, HQ Hair,

Biotherm Aquasource Levres  SPF8

I've been testing this lip balm out for the past week and I'm rather pleased with its performance.  It has a faint fruity scent and glides on as a clear gloss - great to just slick on if you are popping out to the shops or if you don't want to wear a bright lip.  I haven't found it as moisturising as other similar balms such as Lanolips, but it does a fair job and the addition of an SPF is a welcome bonus, although SPF8 cannot really offer enough protection for your lips in high summer.

The main issue I have with this product is the price.  I couldn't justify spending  £13 on something that does effectively the same job as a much cheaper product and for that reason, I wouldn't purchase a full-sized tube.

Price - £13.28

Where to Buy - Boots

Thanks for reading and hope you are having a good weekend.

Victoria

x

Saturday Samples!

This week’s samples are a mixture of bodycare, skincare and makeup.

Biotherm Lait Corporee Anti Drying Body Milk with Citrus Extracts 

Normally I am a bit meh about body lotions / milks / butters as I don’t have particularly dry skin and never really have the time to sit around waiting for lotions to sink in before getting dressed. I do however often moisturise dry patches such as knees and elbows and it is for this purpose that I have been using this body milk. 

This sample came from a business class travel bag hubby managed to scrounge on our honeymoon, along with some champagne even though we were in economy!  The consistency is fairly light and certainly non-greasy and it sinks in very quickly. I adore a citrus scent and this one is gorgeous and reminds me of satsumas (!), although it doesn’t seem to stick around for long, unlike some of the Body Shop body butters. So far it seems to be doing a fairly good job of providing some moisturisation but if you have particularly dry or scaly skin, this probably won’t be heavy-duty enough for you. 

Quick Verdict

A gorgeously-scented body milk that sinks in quickly, this is a good luxury product which seals in moisture and leaves your skin feeling smooth.

Price - £30.13

Where to Buy - Boots

Green & Spring Mild Toner 

I often think of toners as being something which strips the skin of oil, leaving it dry and in a worse condition than it was initially. This small travel-sized sample from Green & Spring appears to have proven me wrong as it lives up to its mild claims, with a gentle scent of rose, which seems to sooth and soften my skin without stripping it, and instead leaves my skin feeling refreshed after cleansing in the evening.

I have had no breakouts whilst using this and I have been using it daily for around two weeks so I think a full-sized bottle, whilst not cheap at £22, would last you a long time as I am still only halfway through the bottle.

Quick Verdict

Whilst I’m still not sure if toners are a vital and necessary part of my skincare routine, I have enjoyed using this one as I found it gentle enough for regular use on my sensitive, and often temperamental, skin. If you are looking for a new toner, it may be worth giving this one a try. 

Price - £22

Where to Buy - Green & Spring, Bath and Unwind, House of Fraser,

Dior Forever Foundation in 020 Light Beige

I haven't tried any Dior foundations previously so i was interested to see how this wore.  The product itself was quite liquid and watery and glided on easily with my fingers.  I have tried to provide swatches below but they have come out a bit darker than it really is, due to the absence of natural light.

Unblended Swatch

Initially, I thought this shade was a bit light for my skintone but once I had blended it in, it seemed to 'settle' and left a very natural, semi-matte finish.  I would say it has light-medium coverage and it evened out my skin tone and left me feeling like I wasn't wearing any foundation.  Having only tested it once, I can't really comment on the lasting power, but suffice to say I have been wearing it for about 6 hours and I have not yet needed to blot it, it is still looking pretty much as it was when I applied it and it was applied on only moisturised skin with no primer.  

Blended Swatch

Quick Verdict

I will certainly be taking a closer look at this foundation and seeing if I can try a larger sample for a few days.  It was easy to apply and blend and had a very natural-looking finish which would be perfect for an everyday foundation.  It also includes SPF25 which is an added bonus.

Price - £29.50

Where to Buy - Boots

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.

Company Spotlight: Green & Spring

Image from http://popsop.com

I love a chance to pamper myself with a long hot bath after a stressful week and I am always looking for new and interesting products to try out.  One of my more recent discoveries has been Green & Spring.

Green & Spring are a British company, who specialise in using natural botanical ingredients and essential oils in their products, with all items made in the UK.  Their products are free from parabens, SLS and synthetic fragrances. 

They produce a variety of products in several different scents which include

• Lavender (Relaxing)
• Rose and Jasmine (Indulging)
• Peppermint (Revitalising)

The lavender fragrance is my favourite as I find the smell of lavender very calming and soothing.  I have tried both the Shower and Bath Foam (£18) and the Body Lotion (£22)  in the relaxing scent and I love them both although I do find the body lotion quite thick and it takes a while to sink in.  The bath foam is very strongly scented and makes my bathroom smell gorgeous, whilst also producing a decent amount of foam which is not drying on my skin.  I haven’t yet tried the bath oils but they are next on my list as I love the feeling of my skin after using oils in the bath. 

In addition to bath products, they also produce a variety of skin care items including moisturisers, day and night creams, eye creams, scrubs and shampoo / conditioner.  I have tried sample sizes of the day and night creams, and whilst they feel very luxurious, they are a little too heavy for my oily / combination skin.  I would, however, especially like to try the hand cream as I suspect it will be very nourishing and soothing which is just what I need in the current temperatures.

Verdict

Green & Spring are a great brand to try if you enjoy a bit of luxury and prefer products which are more natural and paraben free.  The scents are quite strong in all of the products I have tried, so you may want to approach with caution if you have particularly sensitive skin or if you prefer more subtle scents.   

Where to buy

You can purchase Green & Spring from John Lewis, Look Fantastic, direct from their website or from one of the many stockists listed here. The travel sizes are a great way to explore the range without having to spend too much.