Project Empties #26

This month's empties consisted of a lot of skincare items - Hydraluron, Ten Instant Lifting Cream, Superdrug Deep Cleansing Mud Mask, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (the HUGE 200ml tub!) and Alpha H Liquid Gold. The majority of these products I loved and would definitely repurchase - some I already have - However, there are two items that I don't think I will be repurchasing. The first being this Superdrug Deep Cleansing Mud Mask. When I used this, I didn't feel like it did anything to my skin, let alone deep cleanse it. I've been getting into using masks more recently and I really like clay masks, so I will be on the lookout for a new one to try. I was thinking possibly the Origins Clear Improvement mask... I also don't think I will repurchase the Hydraluron, as I didn't think this product was as amazing as others seem to find it...

I also finished the Nioxin Shampoo from the System Kit 2, which I am definitely going to repurchase as I have noticed since I have stopped using the Nioxin system and the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Smoothing Resurfacing Primer, which I really liked when I bought my first tub, as it smooths out your skin making foundation application lovely, but recently I have been preferring a primer that has better mattifying and makeup prolonging properties, like the Body Shop one I reviewed recently.

Amount for the piggy bank: £12.00

What did you finish this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #25

I have been trying to downsize my product collection for well over a year now, but have never really had much incentive to do so. I recently saw Kat (from Tales of a Pale Face)'s Use it Up challenge and decided that it would be the perfect incentive to use more products up. It involves putting aside a little money every time you finish a product (I have decided on: 50p for samples, £1 for full size products and £2 for high end products). I imagine that it would add up after a few months and it can go towards something nice, which is always lovely!

We always seem to have a tube of this St. Ives Apricot Scrub lying around the house and even though it's super abrasive, sometimes I use a small amount to get some manual exfoliation. It is easy to overdo it with this product, so I think I might be on the lookout for a less abrasive scrub or I will try to use the rosehip seeds that came with my Emma Hardie cleansing balm more often, as when you add them to a cleanser, it gives a similar consistency.

I really enjoyed using the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash. It had a lovely scent and had a nice creamy consistency. It works really well with my Clarisonic and leaves my skin feeling as soft as a baby's bottom. I also really enjoyed using this Nioxin Cleanser for hair type 2. I have a full in depth review of it here, if you want to read more about the set I got.

I got this Origins Make a Difference Moisturiser in a store swap sometime last year. I gave in an old moisturiser jar and received this in return. To be honest, I didn't think much of the moisturiser. It was pleasant, wasn't too heavy and had a nice scent. But at the same time, I wouldn't say it was that remarkable. I thought the Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase was nice. It has quite a runny, watery consistency, which I really liked. My skin felt soft and hydrated after use and I'm definitely considering buying the full size version of this along with some of the other products in the range.

Amount for the piggy bank: £6.50

What have you used up this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #24

Over these past few months, I have been finishing less and less products. In May, I finished one and throughout June, I only finished two. What's worse is that my beauty stash seems to continually be growing! Argh!

I really liked the V05 Miracle Concentrate Elixir with Argan Oil. It's a great purse friendly hair oil, which smells lovely and doesn't leave your hair feeling too oily. I found this 50ml bottle lasted me ages as you really don't need a lot each time and the dropper allows for more accurate dispensing. I found that it made my hair feel softer if I applied it before blow drying and it was great for taming a little bit of frizz.

I loved this Tresemme Restructuring Deep Conditioning Mask. You get a lot of product for your money and the tub lasted me AGES. It left my hair feeling so soft and never weighed down. My only gripe is that it is in a tub and it isn't that practical in the shower. (Please say I'm not the only person that manages to get water in their hair product containers, even when the shower is turned off?!)

I forgot I had these Origins High-Potency Brightening Peel with Fruit Acids pads for a while and recently started using them again. They're super easy to use and I definitely saw some skin brightening as I was using the remaining pads twice weekly until they ran out. I have a full review of them here.

What did you finish throughout June? Can you believe it's July already?!

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #23

My empties for this month seem to be mainly skincare and haircare products. I always find that I finish way more skincare and haircare products than makeup - Probably because I'm fickle with my makeup and change it up fairly often, whereas I generally stick to the same products for my skin and hair. Does anyone have any tips on how to use up makeup items quicker? As I feel my collection will never decrease in size and the products seem to last forever!

Skincare Empties:
I got this mini sample of Bioderma Matriciane Rides when I bought my new bottle of Bioderma Crealine Micellar Solution. I really enjoyed using this moisturiser, as it was quite thick and left my skin feeling really soft. This is definitely a contender for when I have to buy a new moisturiser. I also finished another tube of my beloved La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. I'm not crying too much about finishing this tube, as I already had a back up tube in the wings and I have started using it already.

Haircare Empties:
This bottle of John Frieda 3 Day Straight is my best friend when I heat style my hair. It really helps to keep my straightened style in place until my next wash and my hair feels sleek and soft. I have repurchased this already and will definitely continue to do so. Batiste is my favourite dry shampoo, however I don't think I will repurchase Batiste Boho again. The scent was a little questionable. I can't quite pinpoint what it smelt of, but it definitely wasn't fruity or sweet (even though it claims to have a 'heavenly sweet fragrance'). I personally still prefer the Tropical version, which smells like coconuts. I have had this Tara Smith Feed The Root Conditioner for ages. In fact, the packaging of this has changed and they have now started stocking it in Marks and Spencer. The scent reminds me of minty chewing gum and unfortunately, as I didn't really like the scent, lingers in the hair. I really like how this product has no nasty ingredients (e.g. SLS, parabens, etc) and that it isn't tested on animals. It doesn't have much slip when applying to wet hair, but it does leave the hair feeling super soft and not weighed down.

What did you finish last month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

P.S. As a quick side note, I thought I'd let you know of the free mini Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara with the June issue of ELLE (the one with Miley Cyrus on the cover). The magazine costs £4 and you get a generous 4g sample worth £9.50. A full sized tube of 'They're Real' is £19.50 for 8.5g - You do the math.

Project Empties #22

This month I have finished a fair amount of my daily skincare items. I always find that the products I use on a daily basis always seem to finish around the same time - Does anyone else find this happens to them?

I was a little saddened to see my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (Review here) come to an end, as I absolutely love this product. I decided to invest in the giant 200ml tub from QVC as it seemed better value for money and would last me longer. I also finished my bottle of Bioderma Sensibio H2O (Review here). This 500ml bottle has lasted me ages and it works a treat to remove my eye makeup. I used up the last dregs of this Lubatti Super Firming Face Cream earlier this week. It's a lovely light moisturiser, which has a green tea-esque smell to it. I found it sunk into my skin quickly and never left my skin feeling greasy. It generally moisturised my skin well and left it feeling balanced across my t-zone, however I didn't feel that it was moisturising enough on some of my dry patches.

I also finished off the Asda Nail Varnish Remover. I always buy the cheapest nail varnish remover and there isn't much to say about this, apart from it removes my nail varnish well.

The last thing I finished was the Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner, which is my holy grail liquid eyeliner. I have repurchased this countless times and will continue to. It is easy to use and gives a very opaque black line.

What did you finish this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #21

Recently I have not been finishing as many products as I would like, especially on the makeup front. I really want to start working through my makeup, as I have more than enough. However, my makeup items never seem to finish! They always seem to last forever.

I have had this Murad Clarifying Cleanser for ages, as you only need a little bit of product each time. I bought this from a blog sale, but the RRP of this cleanser is £25 for 200ml, which is fairly expensive for a cleanser but you do get a generous amount of product. I found this cleanser dried my skin out a little, so I only used it a few times a week or more often if my skin had broken out. I really liked it with my Clarisonic as it foamed up nicely, although if you use too much, the bubbles go up your nose and into your mouth! It has a strange smell, which I can't quite pinpoint, but you get used to it after a few uses. I find it difficult to gauge how well it helps with my blemishes, as I use other spot treatments. However my skin has been relatively clear over the time that I have been using this cleanser, so I would say this works well in combination with my skincare routine.

I also finished the L'Oreal Everstrong Conditioner, which I love, as it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. It has a strong herbal smell, which I really didn't like at first, but grew to like.

I love the Boots Expert Build Up Removal Shampoo. I have repurchased this a number of times and will continue to. It's great for removing build up from styling products and dry shampoo and it leaves my hair feeling clean, without leaving it feeling stripped. This is one of those great products that truly work and don't cost a bomb.

Lastly I finished this Johnson's Dreamy Skin Body Cream. I have had this for ages and am a little glad to finally have finished it! It's quite a light body moisturiser, which blends into the skin easily. I found it moisturised my skin enough, without leaving it feeling greasy or sticky. This moisturiser also has a pleasant smell, which lingers on the skin but isn't too overpowering.

What did you finish this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #21

These are my empties of the past month:

I would definitely repurchase the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner. It smells gorgeous and left my hair feeling soft and silky. It didn't leave my hair feeling weighed down and it's a really great affordable conditioner. The Lubatti Dreamy Night Cream (Mango and Avocado) was another product I enjoyed using. It is quite a rich cream, which I never found to be too heavy and didn't break me out. It left my skin feeling soft. It has a strong fruity fragrance, which I wasn't too keen on. If the Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer hadn't been discontinued (sob), I would definitely repurchase this. The photo makes it look like there's lots of product left in the tube, but it's all stuck on the edges where the applicator is struggling to reach. It's a fantastic concealer with great coverage. I found it blended out well and was a great colour match. The Dove Go Fresh Pomegranate and Verbena deodorant is one of my favourites. It works a treat and this fragrance is lovely!

The St. Ives Apricot Scrub is an extremely gritty scrub, which left my skin feeling soft and sometimes a little raw if I was a little over zealous. I don't think I'd repurchase this as I sometimes find this a little harsh and have recently been relying on chemical exfoliation.

What did you finish this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #20

I hope you all had a lovely new year. What did you all do? My new year is usually fairly quiet, as I like to spend it with my family and watch the fireworks on TV. But this year, I spent it helping my mum pack up the remainder of our house as we are moving at the end of this week. Since I've been helping my mum pack, I have found so much stuff I'd forgotten about, found lots of hilarious old drawings, made up stories and school things and conquered my fear of the going into the loft.

Last month I only finished a few products. Once you throw in being ill and cooped up in bed for a week or so and then spending a lot of time makeup less helping to pack up the house, not many products were used throughout the month. It also seems like my beauty drawers are getting full again after Christmas... Eek!

Of the products I used up, I would repurchase the majority as I absolutely love them. I really enjoyed using the V05 Ultimate Hold Hairspray, as it has a great amount of hold without leaving your hair crispy, flaky or hard. It's easy to brush out and doesn't leave much residue. I love the huge can and it lasts forever, even with daily use. I have recently been using Batiste Tropical more than usual. I think my last bottle lasted me around 1 year, as I barely ever used it because I hated the smell and the white residue it left. I love the coconutty tropical smell of this one. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo is one of my favourite blemish products. I have a full review here and I am already on my next tube. I also love the TEN Instant Lifting Cream. I had never heard of TEN before, but when my dad brought some of their moisturisers home, I thought I'd give this one a whirl. I'm glad I did as I love this moisturiser now. It's quite a light cream, but really hydrates and helps to balance my skin as it contains hyaluronic acid. It sinks into the skin nicely and doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy. The only thing I didn't like about this moisturiser is the smell as it's highly perfumed.

I won't be repurchasing the Lubatti Deliciously Rich Body Lotion (Tuberose and Mimosa), because although it smelt nice and was easy to rub into the skin, I didn't feel like it left my skin feeling  moisturised enough. I also found that you needed to use a lot per limb, using about 5-6 pumps per limb.

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #19

This month I have been focusing on working through the stash of sample size products that I have. I was saving them for occasions where I travel and need smaller size products, however I haven't got any travel plans for the near future, so it made sense to use them.

Of the products that I finished this month, I would repurchase the L'Occitane Essential Oils 3 Shower Gel, which I really liked the scent of, even though it isn't a scent I would usually go for. It has a mix of mint, pine and rosemary essential oils in and smells like a lovely mix of them and almost has a citrusy twist to it. I would also repurchase the Boots Vitamin E facial oil. I have a review of the Superdrug one here, but it also applies to the Boots one as they are basically the same thing. The Superdrug Aqua Hydrating Serum is another product that I would buy again, as it left my skin feeling soft and hydrated all day long. It has a light-weight consistency and sinks into the skin really quickly.

I'm undecided about whether or not I would repurchase the Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover, as it did a fairly good job at removing my eye makeup. However I don't usually like oily makeup removers, as they tend to leave an oil residue. The Avene Redness Relief Moisturiser is another product I'm unsure about. It has a rather plasticky smell, which I didn't really like and at first I didn't think it had much of an effect on my skin. However, after about 10 minutes, the redness in my skin did look decreased and my skin looked evened out, but on a day to day basis, I don't have the time to wait 10 minutes for my moisturiser to sink in and even out any redness. I can't really remember the scent of Thierry Mugler Alien, as I finished the sample at the beginning of the month. It's definitely a scent that I wouldn't have chosen straight away, as I tend to opt for sweeter perfumes. However, as far as I can remember, I grew to like it but unfortunately the sample ran out once I had changed my mind! I'll have to go and have a sniff at this next time I'm out shopping to see whether or not I actually like it.

I wouldn't repurchase the Clinique All About Eyes eye cream. I got this free with Glamour magazine a while back and when I first started using it, I really enjoyed it and bought a few back ups. Now, I'm not sure about it as I don't feel like it really did much.

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #18

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

Review: I absolutely love this! It smells gorgeous and leaves my hair feeling so soft. I also never found that this weighed my hair down. I like using this as a normal conditioner or occasionally leaving it on for a few hours as an intensive mask.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes! It is perfect for the upcoming winter months.

Molton Brown Shower Gel

Review: This wouldn't usually be a scent that I would pick myself, but I won this in Leanne's giveaway and started to use it once my previous shower gel had run out. Although I wouldn't have picked this scent, I really like it and may now be converted from the sweet smelling shower gels I normally opt for. This product lathered well and left my skin feeling clean, soft and not dried out.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara
Review: This mascara is brilliant. This makes me eyelashes look so long. It doesn't give much volume, but I'm seriously impressed with how much length it gives. I have watery eyes and I have never found this to smudge on me, even though it's not the waterproof version.
Would I repurchase? Yes

L'Oreal True Match Powder

Review: I have repurchased this many times as I like the powder. It doesn't leave me looking cakey and helps mattify my face throughout the day.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner
Review: This is my holy grail eyeliner. I have repurchased this so many times and will continue to! It's a brilliant pigmented eyeliner for only £2.99. One downfall is that it dries out fairly quickly, but I do use it everyday and it lasts me long enough, so I'm not going to grumble about that.
Would I repurchase? Already have!

What have you finished this month?

Thanks for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #17

Every month I manage to finish a fair amount of products as I have a tonne of half full products hanging around, waiting to be used. However, my skincare and beauty drawers never seem to get any emptier! One day I will have a normal amount of products... One day...

Nivea Anti Cellulite
Review: Long story short... This made no difference what so ever.
Would I repurchase? NO

Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Yes

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo
Review: I absolutely love this shampoo. It gives a nice amount of bounce to the hair and leaves my hair looking especially voluminous if I blow dry my hair. It never left it feeling dried out and smells gorgeous.
Would I repurchase? Yes

Batiste Dry Shampoo (Original)
Review: This had a lemony smell, which wasn't particularly pleasant, however it did leave my hair smelling clean. This definitely helped to revive my second day hair and added a nice amount of volume and texture when required. This would occasionally leave my hair looking a little grey if I didn't brush it all away, however I think it is just this version as I have since started using the tropical one and I don't have this problem.
Would I repurchase? Not this version

Soap & Glory Hand Food
Review: I love this hand cream. It smells gorgeous and isn't greasy on the hands. Also the packaging it adorable and easy to spot in your handbag.
Would I repurchase? Yes

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Yes

Superdrug Rehydrating Cleansing Gel
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Maybe

I seem to hoard foundation samples as I want to try the foundations, but the samples are always too dark for me. Recently I've been fake tanning more frequently, so even though they weren't perfect matches, they worked a little bit better with my skintone. All three foundations were quite light coverage, which is something that I don't usually opt for but I've been wanting to venture that way for a while. I really liked the Rimmel Wake Me Up on the first application as it left my skin looking glowy, but when I used the sample again, it didn't sit right... I have been lusting after the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua for ages and I think I will have to bite the bullet and purchase the full size sometime soon. The Liz Earle foundation sample was lovely too. It looked really nice on the skin, however it didn't last too well.

What have you finished this month?

By the way, I recently found out about this 'Pin it to Win it' competition open to London ladies where you can win laser hair removal at EF Medispa. I know there's a few of you out there that are from London and use Pinterest, so I thought it would be interesting to share this competition with you! The pin and instructions can be found at EF Medispa's Pinterest here. All words and opinions are my own. I am not being compensated for this post.

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #16

This month's empties contain a mix of products. I've been getting through a fair few products lately, but still have a long way to go before I achieve my goal of clearing my drawers and only having the necessities.

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Moisturising Body Butter

Review: This moisturiser was great. It left my body feeling soft and hydrated, without feeling greasy. Plus it smelt great! My main gripe was that it's in a tub, but I know you can buy this in a bottle, so I can get over that.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Garnier Anti-Dark Circles Concealer

Review: I really enjoyed this concealer. I know it's designed primarily for use under your eyes, but I also used it on areas with redness or discolouration (e.g. under my nose, on acne scars, etc.). It's a perfect lightweight concealer, which does not crease. I always thought the roller ball was a bit of a gimmick, but I have to admit it is nice and cooling under the eyes. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

Silvikrin Maximum Hold Hairspray

Review: I bought this as it was pretty cheap and the perfect size for my handbag. This hairspray had good hold once sprayed, but can feel a little crunchy. It also had a pretty strong smell, which isn't that bad, just very strong, but luckily it doesn't linger.

Would I repurchase? No

La Roche Posay Effaclar K Review: I'm a little undecided about this product. It left my skin feeling smooth and was a great base for makeup, however I don't think it lived up to my expectations with regards to blemishes. I didn't see hardly any differences with my skin when I used this. It isn't very moisturising, so if you have drier skin, then you would probably need a moisturiser over the top of it.

Would I repurchase? Maybe

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Review: This is a nice and gentle, unscented cleanser. It's great for sensitive skin and I found it was a great cleanser for my morning routine as it's quick and easy to use. It isn't great at removing makeup, even after I have used Bioderma to remove the bulk of it.

Would I repurchase? Maybe

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Review: I absolutely love this. My skin always feels great after using this. It always feels soft and nourished the day after and I feel like it has helped even out my skintone a little. I can tell the difference on my skin between when I use it and when I don't. I've heard of people say that this has helped their blemishes, but it didn't make any difference with mine. It has a slightly funny smell to it, which doesn't linger once rubbed in. It's also pretty expensive, so if you're looking for an evening serum to splurge on, I would recommend this.

Would I repurchase? Yes

L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara

Review: Here

Would I repurcase? Yes

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #15

Today's post is about this month's empty products. I am slowly working through the products that I own, however my supply never seems to go down! My drawers still look as full as ever!

Neutrogena Multi-Defence Daily Moisturiser
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Maybe

La Roche-Posay Effaclar M
Review: This is a nice and light moisturiser. It never leaves my skin feeling greasy or heavy and as a nice fresh scent. It does a nice job of helping to keep the oil at bay, although I do still get shiny towards the middle-end of the end. I occasionally find that it isn't hydrating enough on the drier areas of my skin, especially my nose and cheeks.
Would I repurchase? Yes

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask
Review: I absolutely love this! I tend to use this overnight so that it has longer to work. It leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. It never broke me out and doesn't feel heavy or greasy on the skin. Plus it smells amazing! 
Would I repurchase? Yes

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Yes

Palmolive Nourishing Delight Shower Gel
Review: This smells so yummy. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean and never felt drying on the skin. It's super affordable and can often be found on offer for less than £1!
Would I repurchase? Yes

L'Oreal Touche Magique (Shade C1-2)
Review: This is a great concealer for under the eyes. This is a pink toned concealer, which really helped to brighten the under eye area. It never creased or felt drying around the eye area. Sometimes if I forgot to put on eye cream, I found that it sunk a little into my fine lines.
Would I repurchase? Yes

Eylure Naturalites 101 (I classed these as an 'empty' as they have unfortunately come to the end of their lives)
Review: These are my favourite falsies. They're super long and voluminous and look lovely on. They really open up the eyes and make them look bigger. They don't feel heavy at all. If you're after a dramatic lash, which isn't too thick then these would be perfect!
Would I repurchase? Yes
What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #14

This month has been quite a successful empties month. A lot of the products were products that were half full and had been hanging around for a while, so I am glad that I have finally finished some of them.

Starting from the left, going clockwise:

The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter

Review: This smells yummy and the scent lingers, which is great. I hate moisturisers which smell nice in the tub, but the scent doesn't transfer on the skin. This left my skin feeling so soft and never felt greasy.

Will I repurchase? Yes

Impulse City Collection 'London'

Review: I love body sprays, as they're great to throw into your bag and use on to go. This one has a lovely sweet scent, which some may find sickly but I really like it.

Will I repurchase? I'm not sure if this collection was limited edition, but if it wasn't - Yes

Garnier Pure Active Spot Purifying Toner

Review: This was a nice toner that left my skin feeling fresh. It had a slightly clinical smell, which was a little off putting. I like that it has 2% salicylic acid in, as salicylic acid helps with blemishes. It claims to fight spots and fade marks. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference in my skin when using this.

Will I repurchase? No

Soap and Glory Face Soap & Clarity Foaming Face Wash

Review: This cleanser was alright. It was an effective cleanser and left my skin feeling soft. It foams up slightly, but never left my skin feeling dried out or tight. This cleanser had little pink beads, which get absolutely everywhere!

Will I repurchase? Maybe

Origins High Potency Brightening Pads

Review: Here

Will I repurchase? Yes

Garnier Body Tonic Sugar Scrub

Review: Here

Will I repurchase? Yes

Fade Out Active Fade Cream

Review: This cream has an awful scent and can feel quite heavy on the skin. However, it truly works. I used this on my body where I have some areas of pigmentation and it seriously helped lighten them and even out the skin tone. It does take time, but it's worth the wait.

Will I repurchase? Yes

Elemis Balancing Lavender Facial Mist (Free GWP)

Review: This smelt lovely and felt refreshing on the face. If you spray too much, it can leave your skin feeling a little sticky but I like having a small face spray in my bag to refresh my makeup every now and again.

Will I repurchase? Yes

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Review: Here

Will I repurchase? YES

Tesco Cucumber Cleansing Wipes

Review: These are my favourite face wipes. I have repurchased them so many times now. They're great for the lazy days where you can't be bothered or after nights out.

Will I repurchase? Yes

Avène TriAcnéal

Review: Here

Will I repurchase? Yes

Phew! I hope my Project Empties progress continues, as I really want to downsize my skincare and make up collection. I have way too much stuff for one person to use!

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #13

This month I have finished very few products, but I thought I'd quickly share them with you. I have written reviews for most of the products already, so I will link those below.

I have been loving using the view from my window as a background for my photos recently!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes

Neal's Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes

Clarisonic Refining Skin Polish

Review: This was a nice gritty body exfoliator. It had fairly large exfoliating particles and a pleasant fruity smell. It never left a greasy residue on my skin and left it feeling nice and smooth. It worked well on its own and with the Clarisonic body brush.

Would I repurchase? Yes

As you can see, I have used up some well loved products which I will definitely repurchase. What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #12

Today I thought I'd share the products that I've used up this month.

Superdrug Tea Tree Oil

Review: I use this topically on any blemishes. It has a strong tea tree smell, which I don't particularly like. I like to mix this with other oils, such as the Superdrug Vitamin E Face Oil, when my skin is feeling particularly spotty and dry, as the combination moisturises the skin and combats blemishes together.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Murad Hydrating Toner

Review: The toner had a pleasant, peachy scent, which wasn't overpowering. The spray nozzle dispensed a nice amount of product with each spray and I found about 5 spritzes gave a good covering on my face. I didn't feel like this toner hydrated my face significantly, but it was nice to spritz on my face as a 'pick me up'. 

Would I repurchase? No

Murad Refreshing Cleanser*

Review: I really rate this cleanser. It smelt fresh and left my face feeling fresh and soft. It lathered up nicely, but never left my skin feeling tight or dried out, which is great.

Would I repurchase? Yes

L'Oreal Everstrong Shampoo*

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Maybe

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

Review: I was gutted when I finished my tub of this, so I stole my mum's tub when I went home for Easter! I still love this moisturiser so much. It smells amazing and the scent lingers on the skin. My skin felt soft and moisturised after use, without feeling greasy.

Repurchase? Yes

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy
*I was sent the Murad Cleanser as part of a giveaway prize and the L'Oreal Shampoo as part of the Elle Magazine Trial Panel. This does not change my opinion of the product and my reviews, as usual, are 110% honest. I am not affiliated with Murad or L'Oreal.

Project Empties #11

Today I thought I'd share the products that I've used up this month. There weren't many, but I'm glad to be rid of some of the products as I have either had them for a while (Maybelline lipstick and 17 nail polish) or I disliked the product (Estee Lauder eye make-up remover).

Left: MUA Shade 7, Right: Maybelline Baby Brown

MUA Lipstick in 'Shade 7'

Review: This is a lovely, creamy lipstick. The pinky coral shade is perfect for spring/summer colour. It is highly pigmented and I have never found the lipstick to be drying on the lips. It's a great lipstick for a great price!

Would I repurchase? Yes

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in 'Baby Brown'

Review: This lipstick is a gorgeous, wearable brown toned nude lipstick. It is a nice twist to a my-lips-but-better colour and I loved it. It has a very glossy finish, which was nice but could be blotted down so it wasn't as obvious. The lipstick has a sweet watermelon-esque scent to it. I haven't seen this shade in stores for a while, so I am not 100% sure whether or not they still stock it...

Would I repurchase? Yes

Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? No

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

Review: I loooved this moisturiser!! It smells absolutely divine and the scent lingers too, which is great as many moisturisers have scents which don't linger. My skin felt soft and moisturised after use, without feeling greasy. I found the 50ml tub lasted me about 1 month with daily use.

Would I repurchase? Yes

 17 Nail Polish in 'Party Animal'

Review: As you can probably see, I haven't actually finished this but it has unfortunately been relegated to the bin as I have had it for many many years and it has turned into a gloopy mess. It's a lovely glittery nail polish. In the bottle, it looks like a plain silver polish. However when applied to the nails, it had rainbow reflects.

Would I repurchase? If it was still available, then definitely!

What have you finished recently?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #10

This month has been quite successful on the skincare/body and make-up usage. I'm slowly, but surely working my way through everything. Although it doesn't help that I recently bought some new La Roche Posay items!

Clarisonic Nourishing Care Cleanser
Review: This is designed for dry skin, so it was nice and rich without being too heavy. It had a sort of artificial sherbert orange scent, which I initially liked but eventually grew sick of! The cleanser worked well with the Clarisonic, and worked just as well on it's own.
Would I repurchase? Maybe

Neutrogena Multi Defence Daily Moisturiser
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Already have

Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash
Review: This is a lovely body wash. It smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling soft and clean. The smell lingers a little on the skin, which is lovely. I did find that sometimes this didn't foam well and I would need 4-5 pumps to make it lather up nicely. However the bottle lasted me ages, but annoyingly I couldn't get the last dregs from the bottom as the pump didn't reach it and I couldn't tip it out easily due to the bottle shape.
Would I repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink In Moisture Mask
Review: Here
Would I repurchase? Yes

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara

Review: This mascara is brilliant! It's super lengthening and adds a little volume as well. It layers brilliantly with other mascaras - I have layered it with Max Factor False Lash Effect and Rimmel Lash Accelerator and it worked a treat. The formula does not smudge at all, so you get a nice long wearing formula without having to buy a waterproof mascara. I did find it difficult to remove the last few traces of mascara at night, so that goes to show that it really hangs around.

Would I repurchase? Yes

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes

Collection 2000 Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner

Review: This is a fantastic, pigmented felt tip eyeliner for a great price. It's so easy to use and would be great for anyone that is a little shaky when applying liquid eyeliner. The nib is quite big, so it may be difficult to get a thin and precise line, but it's perfect for cat eye/winged liner. I thought it dried up quite quickly, however if you press the nib onto the back of your hand, it would bring more fluid to the nib and it would work again. I never found this smudged on me, however it was easy to remove.

Would I repurchase? Yes

These are just a few mini samples that I received from a magazine (I think). The shampoo and conditioner were nice and left my hair feeling clean and soft. However the winner was the deep conditioner/mask. It left my hair feeling so soft and shiny, without making it weighed down.

What have you finished this month?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #9

I managed to finish quite a few products in January. As per usual, they are mainly skincare items and very few make-up items. However I am determined to persevere! I am quite proud that I haven't any new make-up or skincare since Christmas (excluding restocking up of the essentials).

Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser

Review: It is a really rich moisturiser, which is designed for dry skin. It smells fresh and clean and foams nicely, leaving your skin feeling soft and clean. It never left it feeling tight or dry. It worked really well on it's own, with a muslin cloth or with my Clarisonic. However I didn't really think this cleanser was anything special to be honest. This was a free GWP, but the original price is £20 for 125ml, which is quite steep for a simple foaming cleanser.

Would I repurchase? No

Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser

Review: This was a nice gel cleanser. It foamed well with the Clarisonic, but didn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight. The gel was really pretty as it had a kind of glittery iridescence to it. As with the Gentle Hydro Cleaner one, I found that this worked best with my Clarisonic but could also be used alone.

Would I repurchase? Yes

 

Alberto Balsam Coconut and Lychee Shampoo

Review: This is a lovely and cheap shampoo. It lathers nicely and cleans the hair well. It never left my hair feeling dry or stripped. The coconut scent is so yummy and the best thing is that it lingers in the hair!

Would I repurchase? Yes

Nads Ingrow Solution

Review: I have had this for ages and when I bought this I really liked the idea of how it helps to prevent ingrown hairs. I don't think this made much difference to be honest and found it to be a bit of a waste of money. It's jam packed with alcohol, meaning that it burns if you have any broken skin and always makes me cough when I spray it.

Would I repurchase? No

 

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (Waterproof)

Review: Here

Would I repurchase? Yes

Cowshed Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion

Review: This is a lovely moisturiser, which did wonders moisturising my skin. However I really hated the scent. It has essential oils of lemongrass, ginger and rosemary and the scent of lemongrass protruded the most, which I didn't like.

Would I repurchase? No

 

Carmex Lip Balm

Review: One of my favourite lips balms!

Would I repurchase? Yes

Dove Intensive Repair Express Treatment Conditioner

Review: I love this conditioner. I recently went through a phase of not using conditioner, however this has converted me back. It smelt lovely and left my hair feeling soft, nourished and not weighed down. 

Would I repurchase? Yes

 

These are just a few mini samples that I received from magazines, with purchases or through their websites. The Klorane shampoo and conditioner were alright, nothing special to be honest. The Body Shop body butter sample smelt so yummy. Even though it's chocolate scented, it didn't smell artificial. It left my skin feeling lovely and smooth.

What did you finish in January?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Project Empties #8

Hey everyone! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and I hope Santa got you everything you wanted! :D

Today I have a few finished products to share with you. I've realised that I hardly ever have any finished make-up to show! So I really need to make more of an active effort to start working through my collection as I am trying to downsize. Let's hope there are some more make-up items in my next Project Empties post!


Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser Review: To be honest, this cleanser isn't really anything special. However I really liked it! It's super gentle, which was great for times when my skin was feeling delicate or when I broke out and it is pretty effective at removing make-up. I like that it's scentless and you get a generous amount of product for £8 or so. Would I repurchase? Yes
Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser Review: This had a strong cucumbery scent, which I didn't like and I didn't like the texture of it either. I liked that it was nice and gentle, so it's perfect for sensitive skin. It worked well with my Clarisonic, however I used it a few times on its own and didn't find that it was a particularly great cleanser. It didn't dry out my skin and left it feeling clean and soft.   Would I repurchase? No

No7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator Review: Here Would I repurchase? Yes
Clean&Clear Shine Control Daily Facial Moisturiser  Review: This moisturiser was a bit pants to be honest. It claims to help control shine, but I found that it made no difference. It is a light moisturiser, which I sometimes felt wasn't moisturising enough. It has a lovely citrus and zingy scent, which is nice for the mornings.  Would I repurchase? No
Boots Witch Hazel Review: I've been using this witch hazel as a toner or as part of my DIY toner. It's a great size bottle for only £2-ish and it has lasted me ages. Would I repurchase? Yes
Clearasil Overnight Serum  Review: I bought this on a whim, as I was looking at in Boots (for £7-something) and then saw it for sale in none other than Poundland! It made no difference whatsoever on my breakouts and I'm glad I only paid £1 for this.  Would I repurchase? No
Next Diamonds Review: This is supposedly a dupe of Dior's 'Miss Dior Cherie'. I'm not sure if it is, but it is a lovely sweet and girlie perfume. I thought it was a perfect scent for summer, so wore it loads through the summer and autumn months, before recently transitioning to a heavier scent (Chanel 'Coco Mademoiselle', in case you're wondering). I had this for approximately a year and a half and noticed that the scent changed a little as I neared the end of the bottle, so I would advise to get through this quickly if you do purchase it. It's a great price at only £6 for 30ml! Would I repurchase? Yes
L'Oreal Voluminous Review: Here Would I repurchase? Yes    Finished Products: 8 Accumulative Finished Items from December 2010 to December 2011: 40! What have you finished up recently? Thanks for reading. xoxo, Joy