Superdrug Haul 007

Superdrug is one of those stores that I rarely go into unless it's something that I cannot get in Boots. I'm forever receiving their emails but their offers never seem to entice me until very recently when there were a few offers that I simply couldn't resist which is down to Superdrug celebrating their 5 Years of their Health & Beauty Card.

Long term readers will know that the Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser is one of the most talked about cleansers on my blog so it seemed only right to pick up two more especially when they were on offer. It's rich in natural Vitamin E and high in antioxidants and helps to defend skin against environmental damage. It's also one of the most creamiest cleansers I've come across that truly helps with dry skin. In addition to picking up those, I couldn't resist picking up two of the Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser. This is essentially a more radiant version of the Vitamin E except with a different scent altogether. It contains many brightening ingredients to help awaken your skins natural glow whilst being very nourishing on the skin too.

I've recently been getting into wearing fake lashes on a daily basis as I just love how they make my eyes look especially with a smokey eye. I'm very late on the band wagon to using the Ardell Demi Wispies but I've definitely made up for lost time as I picked up a multi pack which contains four pairs that can be reused multiple times. I actually got a killer discount on this which worked out to be the same price as two individual pairs by themselves. Luckily, I've got quite a few teeny tiny Duo Lash Glue samples as this multi pack doesn't come with any glue.

The main reason why I ordered from Superdrug is after seeing that they've recently brought out a Hyaluronic Acid Facial Spritz which everyone and their cat knows that Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water to help keep skin moisturised for longer. Considering that it was on a buy one get one free offer, it seemed rude to not pick up two. I cannot wait to start spritzing this when I do my skincare and who knows, it might even be a dupe for Hydraluron! 

May Empties 2016 || Products I've Used Up

I've finished up the Boots Build Up Removal Shampoo which I use every Sunday without fail to remove any product build up that may have occured during a weeks worth of styling. I've used up the Provoke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo that I use nearly every time I wash my hair in order to maintain my blonde and keep it looking fresh. I've finished up the Botanics 3 Minute Moisturising Hair Mask which did an okay job at conditioning my hair but it didn't really wow me. I've used up the L'Oreal Mythic Oil Hair Mask which did wow me at keeping my hair conditioned as I used it mainly as a conditioner instead of a hair mask. I've finished up the Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter which is one of my favourite body butters of all time as it just keeps my skin soft and hydrated for ages.

I've used up another Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel which long term readers will know that I use this to help achieve that silky soft feeling whilst shaving. I've finished up a Original Source Wild Cherry & Nettle Shower Gel which I absolutely loved using and am glad that I've got a few more in my stash. I've used up a Femfresh Daily Intimate Wash which all females should be using to clean those intimiate areas. I've finished up a Pretty Perfect Twist & Out Instant Nail Varnish Remover which is the only nail varnish remover I use to take off my nail varnish quickly and easily. I've used up the Boots Keep It Sweet Mango Jam Body Scrub which is a surprisingly good sugar scrub which costs barely anything!

I've finished up a Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Toothpaste which does the job at keeping my sensitivity at bay. I've used up two No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serums which I'm still noticing improvements with the more I use it. I've finished up a MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation which I really enjoyed wearing as I mixed it in with a radiant foundation to create the perfect full cover, radiant base. I've used up the Seventeen Stay Time Concealer which is one of my all time favourite concealers to use on both blemishes and under eyes. I've finished up the Magnifibres Brush On False Lashes which helped me achieve a fuller looking lash. I've used up three packs of the Ardell Demi Wispies which are fast becoming my favourite lashes ever! I've finished up the Avene Hydrating Serum which my skin literally drank up the second I applied it. I've used up a Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Advanced Serum which I used before applying Hydraluron to make my moisturiser go that little bit further.

I've used up two Gold Collagen Hydrogel Masks which I applied immediately after using a clay based mask to rehydrate my skin and make it feel hydrated for longer. I've used up a Primark Dark Circle Reducer Eye Patches which helped temporarily with my dark circles although the results were short lived. I've used up various face masks from Montagne Jeunesse including the Black Seaweed Peel Off, two Passion Peel Off, Manuka Honey Peel Off, Anti Stress Peel Off and the Brazillian Mud Fabric; all of which I would use again. I've used up the Cattier Pink Clay Mask which my skin didn't like and it completely ruined a muslin cloth taking it off. I've used up a Tea Tree & Peppermint Deep Moisturising Foot Pack which felt hydrating for a short period of time.

I've finished up three packs of the Wilko Maxi Oval Cotton Pads which are the only cotton pads I use. I've used up a pack of the No7 Quick Thinking Wipes which I use for everything but removing my makeup. Lastly, I've finished up the Nicki Minaj Pink Friday EDP that smelt good but I won't be repurchasing as I have far too many fragrances for one person.

Beauty Box || May Birchbox 2016

Birchbox are definitely one of the better beauty box subscriptions out there as they routinely offer a good variety of products within each monthly box and they always have a theme for each month too! This month, Birchbox have been inspired by fantastic dreams so they've created a unique box design that you have to scratch away at the coating in order to reveal. And if you're ucky enough to have an extra special message on the top of the box then you've won a dream holiday which sadly I didn't win this time around ;) Let's delve into what Birchbox have delivered this month!

The first product that I spotted is the Spectrum Unicorn Tears Wonder Sponge (£4.99) which you had the option of choosing which colour you preferred - purple or pink. I personally wasn't fussed which colour I received as it really makes no difference. This is very much like the BeautyBlender in the sense that you have to dampen the sponge before using in order to create a flawless base. I still haven't got round to using any of my BeautyBlenders as I'm still obsessed with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge but as soon as I throw out my current sponge, I'll definitely be trying the Spectrum one out.

Next up is one product that I was most excited about seeing which is the Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths (£12) which are one of the most hyped up, expensive wipes I've come across! I personally don't use makeup wipes for removing makeup and instead use them for cleaning off foundation and the very occasional freshen up. I would personally never use these particular ones for removing makeup but instead I'll use them on days when I'm not at work just to freshen up my face.

I haven't really been wearing a full face of makeup for just over a month now so I'm wondering if the addition of the Eyeko Black Magic Mascara (£18) will make me start wearing it again. I remember that this was the mascara to use when I first started blogging as it helps to truly lift and curl your lashes whilst being completely smudge proof. I like how it's not like traditional mascaras and is instead in a squeezy tube!

The next addition in this months box is the Philip Kingsley PK Prep Polishing Balm (£18.50) that helps to tame frizzy hair and transform it so that it looks sleek and glossy whilst always delivering a shot of ProVitamin B5 and Vitamin A to nourish your hair deep down. I've never tried a polishing balm before so I've got high hopes for this as I do suffer with frizzy hair especially the day after I've washed my hair as it's so soft and frizzy!

Whenever I get a blemish, it feels like it takes forever to go away and when it does it leaves a red scar that also takes forever to disappear so I'm rather excited to see a sample of Puriskin Resurfacing Cream (£13.99) in this months box. This is one of those does it all wonder products that helps battle dry skin, blemishes, scarring, stretch marks etc and it helps to soothe and calm the area. I'm truly hoping that helps with a few blemish scars that I have which no amount of rosehip oil seems to be helping with!

The last addition to the box is a sample of the Givenchy Live Irresistible Fragrance (£44+) which smells really fruity and floral and is perfect for the summer months! As much as fragrance samples annoy me, I truly am grateful for them as they're handy to have in my bag for when I want to quickly spritz myself on a night out. 

How I Use Up Samples

Have you ever flicked through a beauty magazine and come across those one use wonder satchets of a shampoo and conditoner and just thrown it into the bin as you believe you'll never use them? What about when you've bought something from a beauty counter and they've thrown in a few samples that the sales assistant thought you would like to try? Well what if I was to tell you that those said samples could be the start of a great relationship as well as a brilliant way of trying lots of different products without having to splash out for them.

All my friends and family know that I love a good sample or three and I come home nearly every day with a few samples that the makeup girls think I would like and most of the time, they're right! Long term readers will have noticed that I have a Samples I've Used Up Post every single month just simply sharing what samples I've used up during that particular month.

I keep all my samples in two large jars and I routinely go through them and seperate them into what I want to use right now and what I want to use later on (in other terms, it goes straight back into the jar!) Now depending on what kind of sample it is whether it be makeup, skincare etc it'll go into a particular place until I'm ready to use it. If it is a rich moisturiser and my skin is feeling a little dry, it will find it's way into a acrylic lipstick holder on my skincare shelf ready for being used whereas if it's a micellar water and I already have a full size open, it'll go straight into a sample box in my skincare drawer. It may sound a little over the top but it's a little system that I've had in place and it truly works for me. As mentioned, I have a sample box my skincare drawer which is also the same case for my haircare drawer. In these half boxes is where I store all the samples that I want to use right now but not at that particular moment. I routinely go through it and see which samples I want to use and if there are any that I don't want to use then they go straight back into my sample jars for next time. 

By keeping the samples that I want to use right now in plain sight, this means that I'm using them up and going through them a lot quicker than if they were out of sight and therefore out of mind. Regardless of the fact if I have my full size ones open, if my skin is feeling dehydrated then I will use a sample of a rich moisturiser rather than using my full size light moistuiser. By sticking to this routine, I've come across products that I would have never tried before without having tried a sample of it before and I've fallen in love with some products that I've had to go out and buy the full size of it! This hasn't always been the case as there have been some occasions where I've wondered why I've used X product as it's made me break out etc. 

Do you use samples of products?