July Empties

I don't use dry shampoo very often so it's taken me forever to use the Superdrug Dry Shampoo in Head In The Clouds. The scent was pleasant and it did the trick. However, I don't think I would rush out and repurchase this straight away as I already have a few of these and I just dont use it enough. I'm sad to see that I've used up the eos Lip Balm in Lemon Drop as this truly is one of my favourite lip balms, ever! It kept my lips moisturised whilst providing SPF15 - what more could you want from a lip balm? Until May 2014 eos! ;) My next empty is CK One which I've had for the longest time ever! I'm making a conscious effort to use up all my perfumes before I purchase any more. The scent was nice and it lingered around however I don't think I would repurchase. I've been using up the Superdrug Natural High Radiance Balm as something to perk up my skin for those days where I'm not wearing makeup. It smelt good and it definitely did the trick at making my skin more radiant. I've used up another dry shampoo in the form of Batiste Cherry. I kept this one round Liams' and I only used this for when I had two/three day hair. It smelt nice, did the trick but just like with the other dry shampoo, I wouldn't rush out and repurchase. I've finally finished up the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Masque which I declared my love for a lot last year however a lot has changed! I didn't feel that it did much for my hair so I mainly used it for when I was washing my extensions.

I've become a little OTT with hand gel hence why I've used up two. The Active Clear Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel is one that I've kept on my skin care shelf where it was primarily used after applying my lotions and potions. It smells mainly of alcohol but I like to think it's doing the job well. The other hand gel I've used is The Body Shop Strawberry Antibacterial Hand Sanitzer which I've been keeping on my vanity. It smells of artifcial strawberries which lingers on the skin but it did a good job. I've used up a Pretty Perfect Twist and Out Instant Nail Polish Remover which has featured in many empties so I wont go into much detail apart from the fact that it does the job at removing nail polish quickly and swiftly. I've finished up a tube of Colgate Max White One which I didn't see impressive results. It did however make my teeth clean and it was on special offer. I've used up a packet of Lacura 3-in-1 Cleansing Wipes which for the record, I do not use to take off my makeup! I use it primarily to remove swatches from my hand and to just generally clean things up. Lastly, I've used up a packet of the Skin Therapy Large Oval Cotton Pads which are really good value for money! They're 65p for approx 50 and they do not fall apart like most cheap cotton pads. They're definitely my HG in terms of cotton pads.

What products did you use up throughout July?

Balance Me Radiance Face Mask

Face masks are only something that I've introduced to my skin care routine in the last four-ish months or so, well since April to be precise. I've dabbled around with the one satchet, one use wonders and I've lusted after many high end ones but it wasn't until the #NottsBBMeet that I finally found a face mask that I actually enjoy and love using despite it's rather herby scent.

When I first used this, I couldn't help but turn my nose up at disgust at the smell. It's got a rather distinctive herby smell when applying it which lingers on the skin throughout the duration of the face mask which has now started to grow on me. The scent may be down to the bespoke blend of angelica, rose geranium, palma rose, lavender and Roman chamomile oils which help to make the skin brighter which also softening, calming and cleansing the skin. Another thing that I didn't particularly like is the fact that it's a exfoliating face mask. You apply the mask to dry skin as normal but then using circular movements, massage it into the skin to allow the ground up walnut shells particles to gently slough away dead skin cells. I've never encountered a face mask like this but it's definitely worth it especially for the results it gives.

Like many face masks, they aim to give you smoother skin blah blah blah. However, this face mask truly gives you smoother skin. I've never felt my skin feel as silky smooth like this before and that is just after one use! Smoother skin after one use is not all that it gives - after using it twice a week for a fortnight, the majority of scarring on my jawline and down my neck from previous breakouts have completely disappeared, and my complexion in general is just a lot clearer and brighter. I'm sure that with continued use, the results will only get better in time.

Whilst the Balance Me Radiance Face Mask is rather expensive, weighing in at £18 a pop for 75ml, it is definitely worth it for the results especially in the long run. You can purchase this and other products from the Balance Me Range from the Balance Me website and Look Fantastic.

MAC Lipstick in Hue

When I was at the #NottsBBMeet back in April, a few of us paid a visit to MAC where some damage was done! I only picked up two lipsticks although I could have quite of easily picked up more if my bank balance allowed me. I personally find MAC lipsticks to be a little pricey with the constant price changes from £14.50 to £15 in just a matter of months.

Hue is one of MAC's more popular shades as it's raved about by fellow bloggers as being one of the MAC shades to have in your collection. Hue is described as being a soft, pale pink which is a fairly accurate description. It's a glaze formula which means that it's very sheer whilst leaving the lips with a glossy finish. Hue is one of those shades that can either show up on your lips or not and for me, it just about shows.

I find that Hue can give just enough colour payoff to be noticeable as well as being rather subtle on the lips which is how I prefer my lipsticks. The wear time of Hue is only a couple of hours as once the glossy finish disappears, that's it which is a shame. I personally like to layer this over other lipsticks like Natural Collections' Apple Blossom or VIVOs' Barely There to give just a slight bit more colour but with more gloss.

Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream

Whenever I'm having a good skin day, I always opt to use a BB cream rather than a foundation as I like my skin to look as natural as possible with some coverage atleast. Whilst those are far and few between, I enjoy searching for my HG of a BB Cream which sadly the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream isn't.

The Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream is described as offering a novel skincare concept with a BB cream which makes you think that this asian BB cream actually has some skincare properties unlike our more traditional western BB creams. It claims to lighten the skin tone by healing any visible wrinkles and blemishes with its excellent skin-cover ability whilst preventing the skin from aging through its effective whitening and anti-wrinkle properties. Now whilst I don't have any wrinkles yet *touch wood*, I do suffer with blemishes especially when it gets to that time of the month.

On first impressions, this smells very floral which I wasn't expecting. It smells almost like a well known floral perfume which I cannot put my finger on. In terms of coverage, it has barely any coverage. It fails to cover a simple scar let alone blemishes which makes me question it's properties. I have the shade 21 which is a Light Beige which it definitely isn't! It's more taupe than anything which even makes the Ginvera BB Cream seem more of a foundation colour rather than bordering on grey. I've noticed that whenever I've blended in the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, my skin tone does not change colour unlike when I'm swatching it on the back of my hand. With that in mind, it does make a good base none the less.

Overall, I'm not that impressed with this BB cream in terms of colour and coverage which is definitely down to it being a more Asian BB Cream rather than a western one. However, I'm sure I'll find a way to make it work for me. You can purchase the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream from eBay where prices range from £4.20 to £28.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Nourishing Nude

I've always been a fan of the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm Lipsticks especially after I picked up my first two; Pink Satin & Caramel Comfort from America last year. It wasn't until I was on Pinterest, that I noticed the perfect nude lipstick in the form of Nourishing Nude which just so happened to be a shade that I didn't see at the L'Oreal stand back in America. After it sitting in my wishlist on eBay for months, I finally bought it.

Nourishing Nude is one of those shades that I would typically say is a my lips but better shade. It enhances your natural lip colour by giving it a glossy look whilst making the lips appear to be just one colour. What I like the most about this is just how moisturising it is. It's exactly like the infamous Revlon Lip Butters just a lot more sheerer whilst being much more moisturising. These are not to be confused with a lipstick however as they are just L'Oreals version of the Lip Butters.

I find that Nourishing Nude lasts on the lips for several hours which is the standard for typical sheer tinted balms. You can purchase Nourishing Nude as well as other shades from the L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm Lipstick line from eBay or if you're lucky enough to live in the States, from your local Walmart for £8.95. Please note that the price of these in the US varies from store to store and state to state.

Organix Macadamia Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, you will know that I'm a massive fan of the Organix Macadamia Oil - so much so that I'm already on my third bottle! So it wasn't until I was in Boots at the #NottsBBMeet back in April that I finally picked up the matching shampoo and conditioner. I'm already a big fan of their products and I loved using their Morcoccan Argan Oil Shampoo + Conditioner which saved my hair back in April/May time.

Both the shampoo and conditioner within the Macadamia Oil range is infused with nutrient rich macadamia oil which instantly hydrates and smooth parched, dry hair whilst the exotic sugar cane extract and bamboo extract help to soft and reduce the appearance of spit ends for a luscious, vibrant mane which has a brilliant shine.

I've thoroughly enjoyed using the shampoo as it's not too thick nor too light and it always leaves my hair feeling silky soft. However, I'm not too keen on the conditioner - it's far too light and runny meaning that I use up far too much than necessary. I'm not sure if I've got a dodgy batch of the conditioner but it's just not what I was expecting. It makes my hair feel a lot healthier and softer when combined with the shampoo don't get me wrong just I feel that Organix should make all their conditioners the same consistency.

I wouldn't say I've noticed a huge difference in my split ends apart from the fact that my ends don't feel quite as dry as before. The one thing that has definitely changed about my hair is how much shinier it looks after each use especially after using the matching hair oil. It also feels a lot thicker and fuller which is a definite improvement in my thin, limp hair.

The Organix Macadamia Oil Shampoo and Conditioner can be found at Boots and Superdrug for £6.99 each a long with the rest of the Organix range.

Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy

Remember when Clinique released their Chubby Sticks last year and everybody went crazy for them? And remember when Revlon released their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains shortly afterwards and everybody went ballistic for them? It seems that last year was all about the tinted balm lip crayons and it's only now that Bourjois have cottoned on and released their own version, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon. Seeing as I could never afford the £17 price tag for the Clinique version, I settled for Revlon and now own five of them varying from subtle shades of pink to a bright orange. I've always lusted after the Clinique Chubby Stick and it wasn't until I opened up my present from Sophie from Candy Cane Heart that I saw a Clinique Chubby Stick in Curvy Candy.

Curvy Candy is one of those pink shades that would look good on everybody which is down to it having very light yellow undertones. It's also one of those shades that I would class a "your lips but better" shade just with a tinge of pink to it which is ideal for people who don't like extremely bright lips. It is also a lot more tinted than a tinted lip balm. The difference between this and it's Revlon opponent, is that the Clinique version is far more moisturising on the lips. It doesn't cling to any dry patches nor does it feather or bleed throughout the day which does make the hefty price tag seem worth it in some aspects.

Despite how moisturising Curvy Candy is, it doesn't last long on the lips. I find that it lasts for almost three hours providing I don't eat nor drink whereas Revlons' version stains your lips therefore lasts a lot longer. You can purchase the Clinique Chubby Sticks from Clinique Online and John Lewis for £17 a pop.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

If you remember my #NottsBBMeet Haul post, you will have seen that I purchased the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. I thought that this will be my holy grail foundation, the only foundation I reach for etc. Sadly, I do not like it nor do I get on with it and I've gone more into depth in my review of it as to why I don't think it's worth the hype. A few weeks after that fiasco, I noticed that there were quite a few rave reviews cropping up of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation which I've had my eye on for quite a few months. Armed with little sample pots, I dispensed some of every shade into a different pot to take home to test out myself. A few days later with a gift card in hand, I walked out of Boots with shade 51 in hand.

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation is unlike most foundations as it's gel based. It's made up of a vitamin rich fruit therapy formula which helps to even out the complexion with an instant anti-fatigue result. It helps to erase any imperfections, smooth out any signs of fatigue and boost the skin's radiance for up to sixteen hours - all with an even, natural finish with no mask like effect.

Unlike other foundations, the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation feels extremely light on the skin when blending in and gives a natural finish whilst adding radiance to the face. It gives medium-ish coverage so it covers most imperfections such as scars. However a little concealer soon covers up breakouts if coverage is an issue. It has a rather fruity smell which may be an issue for some people however I personally don't have a problem with it. I find that shade 51 - Light Vanilla is a perfect match for my skintone which is difficult to find as I have neutral undertones (I think!) I've noticed that this doesn't oxidise nearly as much to make it noticeable. I don't normally use powder so I get roughly 5 - 7 hours wear out of it before I notice that it's disappeared in places. This is definitely making it's way to be holy grail status as it's absolutely perfect. However, I wouldn't mind giving the Radiance version a try next ;)

You can purchase the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation from both Superdrug and Boots for £10.99. 

At the time of writing this post, the Boots website doesn't seem to have it on their website anymore hence why I've linked the Radiance version instead.

Rimmel Apocalips in Nude Eclipse

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, you will know that I'm rather partial to a nude lip or three so when I heard that Rimmel were bringing out their Apocalips range and in particular a nude shade, I was over the moon. Sophia from Tattooed Tea Lady surprised me with two for my birthday, with one being Celestial and the other being Nude Eclipse.

Nude Eclipse is one of those nudes that I would describe as a dark beige which is rather like marmite - you either love it or hate it. In all honesty, I hate it as it doesn't suit me at all. I was expecting to have the same results as everybody else with it which was a pale pinky beige colour which looks stunning however due to having rather pigmented lips, Nude Eclipse looks like a lip colour that I would associate with older people. If you remember my review of the Collection 2000 Cream Puff in Powder Puff, then imagine Nude Eclipse being much darker than that.

Despite not being a lover of the shade, it does however last a impressive six-ish hours before it needs reapplying which is pretty good going for a lipstick/lipgloss hybrid. You can purchase Nude Eclipse and all the other shades from Boots or Superdrug for £5.99.

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Whenever you feel in need of a pick-me-up you can depend on this quick-fix treatment to come to the rescue in just a few precious minutes, leaving skin radiant and revitalised.

I still remember Sophie from Candy Cane Heart being completely shocked that I didn't own any face masks and how I needed one or three in my life ASAP! Fast forward a few months and I now proudly own four with many more on my wishlist to buy. The Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask* was one of the goodies in our #NottsBBMeet goodie bags which has made me fall in love even more with the Liz Earle Range. With naturally active ingredients such as organic aloe vera, white clay, witch hazel and camphor oil to name just a few, this mask aims to leave your skin radiant in just a few short minutes.

What I like the most about this face mask is just how user friendly and mess-free it is. Instead of a squeezy tube, it's a bottle with a pump which means that only two squirts is all that is needed to cover a full face instead of squeezing out far too much and getting messy hands. When I first used this, I couldn't stand the smell of it. It smells very much like chemicalfied minerals with a dash of witch hazel thrown in however after using it a few times since, the scent has started to grow on me. I like to use this after washing my face and before cleansing to really perk up my skin. You're meant to leave it on for between thirty seconds to two minutes in which you will experience a slight tingling sensation which means that it's doing its magic. Depending on how much of a thin layer you apply, it will dry out but not so much that it will crack whenever you try to laugh.

After washing this off, I always notice how much brighter my skin looks and how any spots I have seem to have reduced in size and in redness. I've also noticed that my complexion in general looks a hell of a lot better before applying it. Although it's only a short fix solution, it does help in the long run with spots and helping to keep them at bay. I try to use this at least once a week and sometimes more if I've got quite a few blemishes.

You can purchase this face mask along with many other products in the Liz Earle range from Liz Earle online and John Lewis for £14 for just the face mask alone or £14.75 for the Starter Kit.

Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee

I have a crazy amount of the Revlon Lip Butters - I make it 11 which is crazy but then again, I've only bought one full priced as some were bought in America last year and others bought on 3 for 2 which works out a lot cheaper. There has only been one shade which I've been dying to get my mitts on yet never went out of my way to buy it which is Creme Brulee.

Creme Brulee is described as being a mid toned yellow based brown shade that has a rather glossy finish. As a nude lip lover, I really wanted to love this but sadly I just cannot get to grips with it. I personally find it to have little colour pay off if not any colour pay off at all when it comes to applying on my lips which is a shame as it's such a hit with many nude lovers a like. With this in mind, I only use it to layer over a nude lipstick to give it a glossy finish.

I personally find Creme Brulee to last roughly an hour or two on the lips before the glossy finish disappears which is a shame to when you compare it to another sheer lip butter like Pink Lemonade for example. You can find Creme Brulee as well as all the other lip butters in Superdrug or Boots for £7.99.

Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush

For those of you who've read what I got for my birthday, you will have noticed that I was spoilt and got two different brushes; the Limited Edition Real Techniques Brush Set from Liam and the Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush from Megan who I was so glad to have met in person at the #NottsBBMeet back in April.

The Japonesque Dual Sided 120 Brush is a unique dual-sided brush which has both a natural and synthetic side to it. The idea behind it is that it's perfect to both apply powders/creams/liquids to the face with the synthetic side whilst the natural side is perfect to blend it all in. Just to clear up which side is which, the cream-ish side is synthetic whilst the darker side is natural.

I've personally never got on with paint brush style foundation brushes as I find it to take forever and it never buffs in nicely so I much prefer using them with face masks. However what I like about the concept of this brush is if I were to go travelling, ideally it would do two options instead of one which means that I wouldn't have to take as many brushes.  In terms of how good it is, I would honestly say that it's not that great for applying foundation as I don't like painting on my foundation as it were as I much prefer using the RT Expert Face Brush for foundation. However, I do rather like the natural side of it for applying/blending in concealer under my eyes as it's the perfect side and density to do so. I haven't yet experienced any shedding whilst washing it which is good going in my eyes.

You can buy the Japoneseque Dual Sided 120 Brush as well as other brushes from the range from HQ Hair for a bargain price of £7.25 (at the time of publishing this!)

Topshop Lipstick in Whimsical

If you were to ask any avid Topshop lipstick blogger what their favourite shade is, I guarantee that most of them would say Whimsical. The reason for this is Whimsical is such a hyped up lipstick because it's the perfect peachy pink shade that many people crave. It's described as being a pinkish nude shade on their website which is fairly accurate when you look at Whimsical in the bullet. However when applying it, it transforms into such a beautiful pinkish peach that looks flattering on most skin tones. I'm most looking forward to wearing this in Summer, if we get any, as I bet it would look great with a tan.

I don't have any problems with Whimsical in terms of it being drying on the lips as after all, it is a matte formula. That's probably because I always apply lip balm before any lipstick which you should always do especially with matte lipsticks! I find that I can get about three hours wear on average with Whimsical which is good going for a decent matte lipstick. 

You can purchase Whimsical from Topshop's website and in store for £8.