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 #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

September Favourites 2012

I'm really sorry my September Favourites are a little late! Usually when I post my monthly favourites on here, I tend to upload a picture and link you to my Youtube channel as I do a monthly favourites video every month. I was thinking about this recently and I kind of felt bad for just posting a picture and then linking to a video, as most people aren't too interested in watching my Youtube videos. So I have decided to write a summary in the blogpost about the products I love each month:

I never thought I would say this, but I have been enjoying using this Revlon Matte blush in 'Perfectly Peach'. When I first bought and swatched it, I couldn't get over how unpigmented it was and it got relegated to the back of my makeup drawers. Recently I dug it out again in a bid to use it up and I discovered that with the right brush (I use the ELF stipple brush), it leaves a lovely natural looking peachy pink flush to the cheeks. It is a matte blush, but somehow adds a pretty glow to the cheeks. It lasts really well too, which is great.

I have been alternating between the Revlon Matte blush and Benefit Dallas this month. Dallas is a gorgeous red-toned blush, which is a bit like a mix between a bronzer and a blush. I used to wear this every single day and kind of forgot about it. But I'm glad I rediscovered this! It gives such a lovely colour on the cheeks and has a slight shimmer, which isn't obvious but gives a nice glow. I have a blog post (from over 2 years ago!) where I show a dupe of Dallas, so if you're interested then check it out here.

I finished my can of Batiste Original in the middle of the month and picked up the Batiste Tropical version. I definitely prefer this as it smells amazing (coconuts!) and doesn't leave that unsightly white residue on my hair, like the Original did. It gives my hair a boost of life when it's looking a little worse for wear on my second day and I have been using it more often than before.

I neglected my Clarisonic when I went home for the summer and I have been loving using it again this month. I took apart the brush head to make it better for precision cleaning around my nose and cheeks after watching Nur's video on Youtube (here). I feel like my pores look much clearer now that I've started using this again and my skin in general also looks clearer and more even. I have been loving using it with the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash, as it is a lovely cleanser that leaves my skin feeling soft and looking brighter. I am going to post a more in depth review soon, which I will link when it's live.

If you watch my monthly favourites videos on Youtube, you will know I always include a random favourite of the month. This month, I have been loving these Links of London style friendship bracelets. I have been lusting after a Links of London friendship bracelet for a while now, but couldn't justify the £150-ish price tag. My mum kindly bought these dupes for me when she went to China. I love the look of the bracelets, as they're a nice twist on a traditional thread friendship bracelet and look great dressed up or down. I have been wearing the red and pink one pretty much every day since I got them and I have found it goes with everything. They look great stacked with other bracelets and on their own.

What were you loving in September?

Thank you 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