five empties!

Hello!

I really love reading people's posts about products they've used up and their opinions on them, so I thought I'd jump on the band wagon and have a go myself. After all, using up all the products I have gathering dust is a fab idea! I very rarely actually finish beauty products as I always get bored and buy new things to try, so I have lots of half-used bits and bobs sitting around and waiting to be used up. Here are the last five things which I've finished.

Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish

My boyfriend bought me this exfoliator as part of a set from Benefit for my birthday last year. It was such a brilliant present and I loved both this Facial Polish and the moisturiser that came with it. The exfoliator is a thick white cream with very exfoliating particles in it which feel almost like sand. Due to the roughness of these bits, it is quite a powerful exfoliator but used sparingly once a week it made my skin feel so smooth and glowy and kept blemishes at bay. I also just looked up the Facial Polish on the Benefit website and it claims that it reduces the size of your pores too. Recently I have noticed that my pores are looking quite large so I'm now thinking that perhaps this exfoliator was tightening them. If you're after a really efficient facial polish to brighten up dull skin and make it silky smooth then I'd definitely try this. I think that I will pick it up again at some point, especially as now I'm intrigued to see whether it makes my pores smaller!

The Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish is £17.50 and can be bought at Benefit counters or online here.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Wild

I suffer a lot more with my hair being dry than greasy so I don't use dry shampoo that much. However, sometimes I do spray a little in to my hair if it's looking a bit flat in an attempt to liven it up a bit. I have no real qualms with Batiste but I do know what people mean when they say it can make your hair feel even more dirty. I also hate the whiteness that it can give as on my bright auburn hair as it can look very noticeable! As for the scent of this particular version, 'Wild' - I'm really not keen on the smell at all. It's not that I mind the actual scent particularly, it's more that it hangs around in your hair all day. I've already repurchased another can as for £2.99 you can't really complain and as I don't use dry shampoo very often it's good enough for me!

Batiste Dry Shampoo is available from most high street chemists etc/drug stores, but I picked my latest can up in Sainsburys!

17 Falsifeye Mascara

This product might be cheating a little as I didn't use this mascara up, it just dried out. However, I have bought Falsifeye a few times before so I can give you my thoughts on it. It's a great high street mascara that does give you volume to your lashes, although it can clump quite easily and definitely doesn't give you a truly false effect. Saying that, I do love the large brush as it's brilliant for grabbing all your lashes and making sure that it's applied evenly. As I said, there's nothing really wrong with this mascara - it's perfectly fine. However, I'm just not blown away by it and although it does the job there are definitely better mascaras on the high street.

17 Falsifeye Mascara is currently on offer for £4.00 at Boots.

Charlie Body Spray in Spirit

I almost feel a little embarrassed to admit I buy these cheapy body sprays, but there you go, it's out there: I do! I just find that they're great for slinging in your bag to freshen up a little at work or to take with you on a night out when you don't want to risk losing your perfume. They're also readily available in supermarkets so are so easy to grab when you're doing the food shopping. However, despite singing their praises the scent 'Spirit' isn't actually my favourite as it's a bit sweet and sickly. My favourite is actually 'Black' but I don't have any at the moment sob! I'll definitely continue to buy them as for £1.70 I think they're such good value and there is a wide range of scents available.

Charlie body sprays are £1.70 from Boots.

Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel

The bottle is so big that it was hard to photograph!

Oh my! I can't actually believe that I've finished this. It was honestly getting to the point where I thought this shower gel would never end! It's not that I'm not a huge fan of this product as I love the scent (typical Soap and Glory) so much and how moisturising it feels on my skin, it's just that I'd bought another yummy smelling shower gel a few months ago and couldn't wait to get stuck in haha (perhaps a little sad). 500ml of this has lasted me four months which I think makes it such fab value for money. I love that it's a pump bottle too as it just makes the shower gel so much easier to dispense. I will definitely buy this again at some point, but I'll perhaps take a little break as I know that starting another bottle is such a commitment!

Soap and Glory Clean on Me Shower Gel is £5.50 from Boots.

I'm going to try and work my way through lots of my half used products and try not to buy so many bits and bobs that I don't really need! Not sure how long this idea will last...

xx

lancome hypnose drama mascara

Left: one coat, Right: bare lashes!

One coat

When I saw a sample of this in my March Glossybox, I must admit that I wasn't that excited. I was happy with the mascaras that I was using (Bourjois Volumiser and Rimmel Glam'Eyes) and so I tried the sample of Lancome Hypnose Drama with low expectations. However, on first application I realised: this stuff is brilliant! After using my sample up, I had to purchase the real thing.

The shape of the brush is just perfect - the curved edge grabs all your lashes and perfectly curls them to add volume and definition, while the other S shaped side separates your lashes to ensure they hold the right amount of product and don't look clumpy. Lancome Hypnose Drama leaves my lashes looking full and thick, but definitely not clumped together like I only have one eyelash! I also find that sometimes the curve and volume of my eyelashes drops throughout the day, but this mascara holds my stubby little lashes in place all day and it also doesn't flake on to my cheeks - fab!

The packaging is gorgeous too. The tube is very simple and black with gold detailing but the curved shape adds some interest and makes it different from the sometimes cheap looking packaging on the high street. 

One thing that some people may perceive as a negative of this mascara is the scent. It doesn't smell of anything it particular but it does have a stronger than usual make up-ey smell. This doesn't bother me particularly but I know some people don't like strong scents near their eyes. I suppose another negative could also be seen as the price. This cost me £21 from Boots. I know that this is so expensive for a mascara but I really do notice a difference in comparison to my high street mascaras. Although it is pricey, I can see me purchasing it again when it runs out!

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara is available from lots of larger department stores as well as Boots.

xx

beauty secrets

Hello!


I love love love watching beauty videos on YouTube and recently quite a few people have been doing a tag called Ten Little Secrets. This was created by Sammi from Beauty Crush (who also has a blog, which I'll link here) and I thought the questions were really interesting and so I'd give it a go. However, I thought that ten questions would make this a very long post so I shortened it to five. I haven't seen anyone else do this on a blog yet so if you do it too then please comment with a link so I can read it!


What is one product that makes you feel like a million dollars?

For me, defining my eyelashes makes me feel a lot better about myself. For example, when I'm on a night out wearing big thick false eyelashes, I always feel fab! They make me feel so feminine and I think they don't have to look tacky, even if they are big, if you keep the rest of your make up quite simple. Likewise, if I'm popping out for a run in the morning or to the shop and I don't have any make up on, I won't worry about foundation or anything else but a little flick of mascara can make me feel so much better and I think I look a lot more wide awake.

Two of my favourites at the moment are Rimmel Glam Eyes and Lancome Hypnose Drama  - can't wait to get the full size!

What is your skincare secret? 

I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day and make sure I take all my make up off before bed. I take the majority off with a make up wipe or eye make up remover and then cleanse again. I always use a muslin cloth with whatever cleanser I'm using too as I love their gentle exfoliating properties and I also think that they make the whole job of washing your face a lot easier and less messy!

Other tips are drinking lots of water, not wearing face make up as often as possible to let your skin breath and brightening face masks.

Some of my favourite skin care products at the moment

What is your hair care secret?

Condition condition condition! I do have quite dry hair so I use them all over, but even if you have greasy hair, you can use a moisturising balm or mask just on your ends and leave on for a little while. I find that these masks and balms make so much difference to the condition of the your hair.

Still loving Umberto Giannini Indulgent Beauty Moisture Mask

Do you have any diet and work out tips?

I love food and I don't really deny myself everything so I think the best way to approach your diet is everything in moderation. If you gorge on chips and mayo (mayonnaise = <3) one day, just don't the next. Easy peasy. I also try and stay away from fizzy drinks as diet or not they are awful for you and can so easily pile weight on. They're totally empty calories!

In terms of exercise, I didn't work out heavily for a long time due to health problems, but in the last year it's something I've begun to enjoy a lot more. My advice would be just to try and find something you enjoy doing. For me, the gym is too intimidating and I find things like swimming a bit dull. I then tried running last summer and I love it! If you're unfit it can be quite hard at first, so try the Couch to 5K podcasts from the NHS as they are ridiculously helpful! Here's a link - so fab!

My running shoes!

Which perfume is your secret weapon?


I tend to chop and change between perfumes, I don't tend to buy the same one over and over again as I like to try different scents. However, at the moment I'm loving Calvin Klein Euphoria. I'm not particularly good at describing scents but I'd say it was quite a heavy perfume with some musky undertones, yet fresh and fruity at the same time. Um, yeah... Anyway, Boots, who can perhaps do a bit better than me, describe Euphoria as an addictive oriental fragrance that contrasts exotic fruit, seductive florals and a rich creamy signature. Apparently, it's inspired by a new found freedom, about living one's dream... (On second thoughts, perhaps my description was better!)

Calvin Klein Euphoria

However, for my birthday, my lovely boyfriend bought me Valentina by Valentino which is such a beautiful perfume and I think will quickly become my new favourite!

As I said at the beginning, if you answer these questions then please tell me as I'd love to have a little read, and I'd also love to know if you have any brilliant skincare, diet, exercise or hair care tips!

xx

today's make up

Hello again :)

I'm really in to simpler make up at the moment. I don't know if I'm wanting to look a bit more natural as it's coming in to Spring, or whether it's because I have so much work to do at the moment that I try and slap my make up on as quickly as possible... Either way, while I'm still using quite a few products, my eye make up especially is now a lot less defined. I used to wear quite thick liquid eye liner most days, but now that's actually becoming reasonably rare! Anyway, here's the make up I wore today just to go to some lectures and seminars.

The lighting's washed me out a bit :(

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream - Normal/Dry, Fair

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - Fair 1

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder - Candlelight 1

MAC Sheertone Blush - Breath of Plum

No7 Smoky Rose Quad Eye Shadow Palette

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eye Liner - Black 001

Rimmel Glam Eyes Mascara - Black 001

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil - Hazel 002

ELF Wet Gloss Lash and Brown Clear Mascara

H&M Lipgloss - (no colour, but it's a sparkly coral - and smells fab!)

The star of today's make up definitely has to be the little No7 Eye Shadow Palette. The shade range is neutral and great to grab when you're in a rush and don't want to put too much thought it to your make up. The only problem is that I'm pretty sure it was just a free gift and you can't buy it any more, which is a bit of a shame, but they do have some very similar great eye shadows at the moment (does anyone have Mink? Love it!)

I used the top left rose gold colour all over my lid and the bottom left shimmery cream shade as a highlight for the corner of my eyes. I then put a very thin line of liquid eye liner on the very outer corner to define my lashes a bit more. I curled my eye lashes and added some Rimmel Glam Eyes mascara and done! No blending so very quick :)

A closer look at my eyes!

So there you go! Nice and simple and speedy! I hope you've all got something fun planned for this warm Friday night? I'm off to a Tube themed party... I'm going as Angel!

xx

an everyday make up look!

Hello again!

Today I thought I'd show you the type of make up I wear day-to-day. I'm referring to this as an everyday make up look opposed to my everyday make up look as to be honest I probably have about 4 or 5 looks that I wear on a normal day when I'm just going to university, work, going out and about etc. So here is just the sort of thing that I usually do, and I worn you - it's not very exciting!

The camera's made my skin look very pale in the centre but you get the general idea haha!

I decided not to take any scary looking close up pictures as there's not really much to see...!

First the products I used on my face...

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (100 Ivory)

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer (1 Fair) - why does the writing always rub off?!

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder (Translucent) - such a good translucent setting powder and so so cheap.

MUA Mosaic Blush (English Rose) - ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with this at the moment... won't say too much as I think this might be fab enough to deserve it's own post hurrah!

ELF All Over Colour Stick (Spotlight) - just to highlight my non-existent cheek bones.

Eyes...

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder (1 Candlelight) - just used this to even out my lid

ELF Eye Shadow Palette (Cool) - I got this palette free once with an order I placed at ELF. The only colour I really use is the one I wore today, which is a matte brown (bottom left hand corner). I just blended this through my crease for a bit of definition and winged it out a little.

No7 Eye Shadow Palette (Smoky Rose Quad) - I used the white as a highlight for the corners of my eyes and a little underneath my brows.

L'Oreal Colour Appeal Platinum Eye Shadow (the name has rubbed off but it's a shimmery purple-ish taupe) - a tiny amount in my crease for a little bit of shimmer and colour

ELF White Eye Liner - the aim of this is to make my tired eyes appear a little brighter!

Avon Colour Trend Kajal Stick (Black and Brown) - I smudged a tiny bit of brown eye liner along my top lash line to make my lashes appear a little fuller.

Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil (002 Hazel) - Best. Brow. Pencil. Ever. So soft and easy to use. It makes doing your eye brows a million times easier.

ELF Brow Gel - I always attempt to set the very few real hairs I have in place in a bid to make my eye brows appear more natural. Whether this works is another thing haha

Lips... 

After the first two sections you'll probably be shocked at the amount of products on my lips - one!

Miss Sporty Dr Balm Tinted Lip Balm (04) - This is such a lovely lip balm. I had pretty low expectations but it's brilliant and a lot more pigmented than I expected! It might not be the most moisturising of all lip balms but it definitely doesn't dry my lips out.

So there you go! When you put them all together it does look like a lot of products - 15!!! - but oh well! It probably only took about 15 minutes ish so it's nice and quick for every day.

I hope this interested you in some way and I'd love to know - what are your go-to everyday products?

xxx