NOTD: Greenberry

3 coats of Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in 'Greenberry'

I picked up a few Barry M Gelly nail polishes from Superdrug after initially trying to resist buying them. They were on 3 for 2, so I couldn't really pass them up, could I?! I chose Greenberry as I don't have any other colours like this. The colour is a gorgeous, vibrant Tiffany blue kind of colour with a tinge of green. I am currently wearing this on my fingers, but I think this would also look great on the toes with a pair of sandals or paired with a gold accent nail. The polish applied extremely streaky for the first coat, but became opaque on applying the second coat. I decided to do three coats for optimum opacity. The formula is really easy to use. It applies nicely and dries fairly quickly. The colour is really lovely and glossy, which I love. It has lasted fairly well on my nails. I hada few chips on the tips after a few days, but nothing too major.

Have you used the Barry M Gellys before? I also picked up Prickly Pear and Papaya, which I'm excited to try!

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy

Review: Botanics 100% Organic Face Oil

I bought this Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil from Boots for £4.99 (half price, original price £9.99) after deciding that my skincare routine was severely lacking a facial oil, as it was feeling rather dry and flaky a few weeks ago.

I currently use a few drops of this face oil every evening and occasionally in the morning if my skin needs that extra moisture boost. I like that it comes with a pipette to distribute the oil, as you can choose how many drops you need with minimal wasteage.

The facial oil has a strange smell. It isn't offensive or overpowering, just slightly strange. I think it may be the smell of rosehip, however I don't know what rosehip smells like, so I won't assume anything... I found that I got used to it quickly and don't mind it that much now.

The oil is a little thicker and isn't as runny as the Vitamin E Facial Oils that I have used in the past. I find that it doesn't sink into my skin that quickly and sometimes sits on top for a while (leaving you looking rather glossy), before finally sinking in and leaving my face feeling soft and moisturised. I did not find that this broke me out at all. This has really helped to get rid of any dry, flaky patches on my skin and I have noticed that my post acne marks are lightening and going away quicker (I think this in combination with some of the other skincare products that I've been using lately).

I think this facial oil is great and it has become a firm favourite in my skincare routine. The price is brilliant, especially if you catch it on offer and I love that this is an easily accessible brand, so you can just pop to your local high street and don't have to wait for online deliveries.

What's your favourite facial oil?

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.

The Staples: Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner

I have repurchased this eyeliner more times than I can remember. It's extremely easy to use and is perfect for eyeliner amateurs and pros alike. The eyeliner is like a pen, so it's easy to hold and the nib can give thick or thin lines (as you can see in the picture above), depending on how thick you want your eyeliner to be. The formula is super opaque and I find this lasts on me all day without smudging. This is also easy to remove with a swipe of Bioderma or a face wipe, so you're not left with a grey 'tattoo' after makeup removal. The eyeliner only costs £2.99 and Collection (I believe Collection 2000 dropped the '2000') is easily accessible to buy in the UK, which is great as you don't have to wait for online deliveries or go to special stores to buy it.

What's your favourite eyeliner?

Thank you for reading. xoxo, Joy