March 2015 Empties

I've used up loads of products in the month of March guys, and i'm going to share them with you

This is the second bottle of the Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1 face wash and mask I've used up. It's a really nice cleanser that I used in the shower (or as a mask on individual spots when they randomly sprung up) and it's really gentle on the skin. It visibly tightens- but not uncomfortably- the skin, and it feels super soft after use.

The cleanser was Lancome Bi-Facil which was a gift, and I'd not spend this much money on it again because I find my Nivea Double Effects (see full blog post) is a similar idea with the blue oil and clear water, but much cheaper and I actually find works better.

The Garnier Pure Active Toner was really nice, I used it after cleanser to tighten my face and on spots as well as just to make my skin feel so much cleaner, in an almost chemical way, and the scent is very strongly chemical. I feel this improved the quality of my skin, and will repurchase.

Lastly here is the Sebium H20 by Bioderma; I usually get the more popular one that everyone has with pink accents (instead of the green), but I found them the same. No idea what the difference is meant to be. A nice, inoffensive (no scent) cleanser to remove makeup or clean the face in the morning.

I've said before that I use cotton pads to put my makeup remover on to remove makeup every day, and I literally don't care which ones I buy, just whatever's cheapest or what's in the house. These three   are Sainsburys, Waitrose and Simply Gentle.

Thee moisturisers, all amazing. The Soultions range (found on the Avon website) is crazily cheap and their moisturisers are amazing. I used up the complete balance night cream which is almost a gel, sinks in amazingly but still hydrates the skin, so is perfect for oily or combination skin. I also used up their ageless bloom eye cream which is super thick but does sink into the skin, and is nice hydration for the under eyes before concealer.

I also used up the Garnier Moisture Match for combination to oily skin, which is probably one of my favourite moisturisers of all time, if not the favourite. I recommend this so highly.

Makeup time- I've really been trying hard to use up makeup recently so bear with me.

The ELF lip liner in pink grapefruit is a crazy colour, but had a really nice texture, similar to that of the Rimmel exaggerate full colour lip liner in Eastend Snob, which I was really upset to finish seeing as  I used it on practically every night out seeing as it's a tiny bit darker than my natural lip colour, making it the perfect liner for me. The only negative to both these lip liners for me is that they both are retractable, and I usually find with retractable lip liners that you're paying around £6 in terms of the Rimmel one for a ridiculously small amount of product. I really didn't get much in it. So i'm on the hunt for an affordable 'your lips but better' pink, but in pencil form.

The tiny double-ended pencil up top was my holy grail eyebrow product for many months- the natural eyebrow duo effect pencil from Rituals. I can't remember the colour as it got sharpened away, but it was for blondes. It was a perfect ashy tone and had a light concealer pencil on the other end for going around the edges of the eyebrow.

Slightly below that is an equally pitiful-looking pencil- the NYX jumbo eye pencil in milk. This is the best eyeshadow base ever. It doesn't crease and because it's white it makes eyeshadow stand out and colours pop to their true potential. Plus, for me, a white eyeshadow base is the best option as even painterly is too dark for my skintone- I want something closer to my skin tone (sometimes I'd mix them to get my skin tone to completely cancel out the eyes). I've already repurchased it from the Makeupgeek website whilst buying eyeshadows from them (haul coming soon!). LOVE LOVE LOVE!

The tiny empty pot is a sample blush from Coastal Scents (in pigment form), it was a weird colour on my skin tone, a little too dark, but the feel was nice.

The Me Me Me dew pot I had was in Hollow Haze, a beautiful golden colour. I bought this after seeing Pixiwoo rave about them on youtube. Their consistency is moussy, whereas I prefer a stable base like the Mac paintpots or the Maybelline Colour Tattoos. They creased hugely in the contours of my eyelids. Use with caution- only put on a tiny amount.

I used up the ELF lip primer and plumper- not sure if i'd repurchase. The primer was basically just a concealer, and the plumper as with all lip plumping products is just a tingly gel that you're not sure if it actually has any effect at all.

Three lip stains I used up, two were Rimmel Lasting finish 1000 kisses ones (remember when these were the big hype?); in perpetual plum, and nothing but nude. They do stain the lips quite well, but anything with a felt tip applicator stops properly being effective after a few uses. The other was a Revlon just bitten stain in Frenzy, and it had the same problem. 

My first Revlon Lip Butter to use up was the one in Sugar Frosting, it's really pale but not too pigmented (the lighter ones really aren't) so I'd use it just as a subtle product. I wouldn't repurchase though- I really didn't like the texture of the lip butters, I found they looked really odd on the lips.

And finally I have the Maybelline one by one mascara. It was really nice, and I like the tapered applicator. I just have so many mascaras that I often feel overwhelmed.

In terms of haircare, I used up the Elvive Smooth and Polish detangling spray which is really nice to use before blowdrying/straightening as it also has thermal properties, and the Batiste dry shampoo in tropical scent which everyone seems to have. I'll probably repurchase both of these although my life doesn't depend on having them.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my empties that I've gathered up- let me know in the comments below what you've used up recently and if you plan on repurchasing!

January-February 2015 Empties

Empties!!!

During my dry months of not posting here (bad, I know), I had stored up many empties. So many that I even had to throw out one set of about 4 months worth before even writing reviews. Apologies for that, but I do still have a great selection of empties from the last couple months to share with you.

Haircare

Okay, I know I never mention haircare, but this is my ultimate favourite haircare product of all time. It's a shampoo, here I have the 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. Yes, it's Head and Shoulders. Sure it's known for being a product for people with dandruff, but I beg you all to give it a try. It works wonders on any hair, it smells amazing, nourishes your roots (very important seeing as my scalp has been dry recently due to bleaching), and leaves your hair feeling hairdresser-fresh. I will continue to repurchase this. Give it a go, you may change your views. It's not just for people with flaky scalps!

Skincare

I nearly always try out new cleansers, and this was one I tried out this year and the end of last year. It's the Garnier Pure Active gentle deep clean cream wash. It was amazing. It's perfect for sensitive skin as it has little fragrance and comes in a thicker cream consistency, to which you add water and massage into the skin. I really notice that after washing this off, my skin feels at least 5 times more smooth than it did before, having a much greater effect than other cleansing washes I have used. I may well repurchase.

Two spot treatments next. Both the Clearasil Rapid Action Treatment Cream and the Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick are extremely chemical. They smell chemical, they feel chemical when applied to spots, and yes they do give a burning sensation if you have an open spot. They are extremely drying (good if you have an oily spot like mine always are, but perhaps use in consideration if you have dry skin) and can cause flakiness on the skin. But when something burns me I really feel like it's working, and although it's always hard to tell with skincare, I think these did both help me with the occasional breakout.

Burt's Bees is slightly more expensive and definitely harder to get ahold of in the UK so I'll probably repurchase the Clearasil one or try out another brand's version- as most drugstore brands have a very similar product on offer.

Fragrance

Okay, bear with me because I know this is Justin Bieber's fragrance 'Someday', but this was my favourite perfume ever and one of the nicest scents I have ever smelt. It became 'my signature' and I really have to repurchase. It's sweet but not sickly sweet, slightly fruity, but still a bit perfumey without smelling like that classic grandma perfume that really just smells of... perfume. This and the Lady GaGa Fame perfume are my favourites of all time- both amazing scents this one just lasts longer on the skin.

Makeup

The L'Oreal True Match foundation was one of if not my first foundation. And it has been my favourite for EVER. It feels lightweight but gives good coverage, a satin finish and lasts really well on the skin. People rave about this all the time, but I somehow feel it still deserves more. It's really good. Really trying to use up foundations before I repurchase this one again, but I am so sure all I need in my collection is this and the Max Factor 3 in 1 foundation because these are the best ones I have ever tried (although I would like to branch out into higher end foundations at some point, sure).

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara. This one dried up on me/ I used it up- it's always hard to tell exactly which. Although the brush is so tiny it takes a while to build up bottom lashes, it's cute and worth it, especially because I find when taking my makeup off after a night out I can't get it all off- meaning I always have regular makeup-less upper lashes and yet long spidery bottom lashes. It builds volume and length, and the fact it's so long lasting means you don't need to worry about mascara falling down all over your face. Not sure if I will repurchase straight away as bottom lash mascara still seems a bit gimicky to me- I'd rather buy a thin small waterproof mascara I can use on both top and bottom lashes.

The ELF lip liner and blending brush in Wine was quite nice. The formula was not too creamy and not too thick and waxy and of course the price of ELF products is extremely cheap. They don't have a massive colour selection but this was a deep purpley reddy brown (does that make sense?) which I could actually use for a variety of lipstick shades- as well as on its own all over the lip. The lip brush on the other end though isn't the best- seems to remove product instead of blending it out.

This was probably my favourite clear mascara or brow gel I have ever had. It's The Body Shop's Brow and Lash Gel, and I found it stuck down my brows and set them firmly in place without being as aggressive as the ELF wet gloss lash and brow mascara which really feels like you've taped down your eyebrows. Some people like that, but if you really don't want to feel like you've got loads of product on your eyebrows, this is the one. Will definitely repurchase.

Thanks for bearing with me, we've reached the final product. It's a strawberry flavoured Carmex lip balm. Carmex is hands down the best lip balm ever; it really sinks into lines and soothes, as well as smoothing out your lips, instead of just coating your lips and making them feel all glossy for a little while. This one also had an SPF which surprisingly is hard to find in a lip balm, but extremely important.

Hope this was somewhat interesting or informative to you guys- stay tuned for more posts and definitely more empties.

August Makeup and Skincare Empties!

I've used up so many things recently, and here I'm going to give a brief review/thoughts on each of them. I think seeing what products people actually use up is the most interesting thing ever.

Here's an overview!

Now I'll deal with the products in smaller sections.

Skincare:

First on the left are the Simply Gentle organic Cotton Pads. Sorry, this is really boring but these are what I use to remove my makeup every evening and cleanse in the morning. These ones are alright, to me it doesn't really matter which cotton pads I buy, I either buy the cheapest ones or just ask my mum to get some for me.

Top middle is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control 3 in 1 daily cleansing lotion. I use this not to remove my makeup, but after removing my makeup to just make it even cleaner and fresh. I don't know, it just makes my skin feel really very chemically clean, and I like having one product in my skincare routine that does this. The Garnier pure active pore purifying toner next to it is a very similar sort of deal. I didn't use them both in conjunction with each other, just switched up which one of these I used. I would repurchase both of them, I really liked them. I'd like to think they've been keeping my skin good and spots under control.

Underneath is the Witch naturally clear 25 cleansing and toning wipes. You may have seen these in a very recent haul of mine, they were gone within about three weeks which really isn't long. I used these not to fully remove my makeup, but after using a more effective makeup remover to take off the brunt of my makeup, I'd use one of these and swipe it over the face just to make it feel more clean. I did like these, and it's been nice to rediscover makeup wipes after over half a year of not using them at all, but in terms of makeup wipes I do prefer the other two ones I featured in that haul, the Neutrogena spot treatment ones, and the Simple ones. Those are amazing.

Bodycare:

These products are all from The Body Shop! Their bodycare products are obviously amazing and I love everything I have from them.

The two body butters are in Spiced Vanilla and Spa Widsom Polynesia (which I'm pretty sure is a really old-school one, I seem to have had it for absolutely ages and only just used it up.) In terms of formula, I think I prefered the Monoi Body Balm one, maybe because it's a balm rather than a butter it implies it's going to be more moisturising and sink into the skin better? Because that's what I found it did. I don't know if they even do this stuff anymore, but it was very nice. The scent was really subtle but fresh, and the spiced vanilla one was sweet and strong with vanilla, as I'm sure you can imagine. I have so many body butters that I'm not sure I'll be repurchasing any time soon, but I do trust the Body Shop heavily for body butters so if I ever run out I'll probably continue to buy from there.

Next is the Moringa shower gel, and I love their shower gels. The scents are, as always, absolutely divine and I just really like using these body washes in the shower as they leave a slight scent and make me feel fresh and clean. I will 100% repurchase, they're not even expensive or anything, I think usually about £2.50 for a massive tub like that.

Hair and Nailcare:

In terms of haircare, I used up a product I've had for so so long, the much raved about Macadamia Natural Oil Deep repair Masque. It's an in-shower 10 minute hair mask. It's one of those products that you buy and it's so expensive that you're scared to use it, and very rarely do. I don't normally buy things this expensive, I normally just stick to drugstore, so purchasing this, especially as it's a haircare product, was very out of character for me. It is a haircare miracle. As mentioned, I used it very rarely on special occasions, and it really helped when my hair was feeling a bit dry and completely revitalised it, since my hair is naturally blonde and I dye it frequently dark brown. It immediately and in the short term (a few days) gave my hair new life, making it feel soft and smooth, but still workable. If I can find it within me to spend the money on this again, or if I can find it discounted at TK Maxx again, perhaps I will end up repurchasing this.

I also finished the Burt's Bees cuticle balm, and the sweet lemon scent is the most amazing thing ever, it's beautiful, if a scent can be. You may have seen it mentioned in my nailcare megapost, I swear by this stuff. I don't need to repuchase it as I already have a backup, a slightly bigger size too, but after that runs out I probably will. It basically just smooths down my cuticles and moisturises them, and I like to use this a few hours before painting my nails if I can be bothered. It's not a cream but more of a thick, moisturising paste. And yeah, I really liked this product.

Makeup:

It's hard to tell what the two powders even are because they're so grubby and worn down!

The top product is the Natural Collection pressed powder in the shade 01, cool. This was a really nice powder for the drugstore, as with the one under it which i'll talk about next.

Underneath is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in 01 Transparent. This is the second one of these I've used up completely, and I have a newer one I've just started using. I think that says quite a lot about my feelings towards this powder. It's the only one I've ever repurchased I think, I have so many powders but this one works fine for me. It does keep me matte and sets my makeup in place. I'm sure there's loads of better powders (I do prefer my Mac Mineralize Skin Finish natural), but this one is so cheap and convenient, and like I said, it does the job. So I will continue to repurchase.

The final product is the L'Oreal Super Liner Black Lacquer. This is hands down my favourite eyeliner ever. I repurchased it as soon as I got signs of it starting to dry up because I was devastated. Saying that though, this has lasted me for an eternity. Literally ages and I always use it when I go out (which you'll probably know if you've been reading my new set of posts I've been doing showing you some fun eye makeup looks I've been experimenting with because it features in every single one). It lasts all night, and trust me I've put this to the test, it's an intense deep black and it's so easy to use because it's somewhere in between a thin flexible liner and a stiff one- it bends amazingly and allows you to pretty much do a whole wing in one swipe. If you haven't already, I implore you to try this product, you won't go back.

**

So there are all my empties! I really hope you enjoyed this, let me know your thoughts below in the comments.

Batiste Dry Shampoo: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

Today I finished this tiny travel sized floral scented dry shampoo from Batiste that I've had for about 9 months.

A dry shampoo is a product to use on 3rd day hair or when your hair is getting a bit greasy but you're not quite ready to wash it fully in the shower yet. I don't use a dry shampoo loads, but I do get it. I'm just not quite as obsessed with the idea of it as some other people are.

I bought this tiny size to take to Reading Festival- dry shampoo is definitely a festival essential! No one wants greasy hair but having a shower at festivals is more of a challenge and effort than you'd expect.

This product does leave a bit of a white cast on your hair- it needs to be rubbed in properly otherwise you'll have white hair! I bought this when I was blonde, so maybe when I repurchase this I'll buy a different version- Batiste have one specially for brunettes which is a deeper coloured spray.

Will I repurchase this product? I already have a large bottle of this (literally half the size of one of my arms) in my hair products drawer. I'll probably always want to have a dry shampoo in my possession, and I've heard from everyone who's tried this that this is the best one out there. So I don't necessarily see me trying any other brands of dry shampoos.

Do you use dry shampoo? Which scent from Batiste is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

Bioderma Crealine H20: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

Today I finished this cleanser from Bioderma- I'm sure you've heard about this already as it's pretty much a beauty phenomonon here on the blogosphere.

I use a cleanser to remove makeup before bed, and freshen up my face in the morning before applying makeup.

I either buy mine from Amazon or Ebay, or preferably from a French chemist as it's so much cheaper.

This is so amazing because it's so gentle on the skin- it literally feels like water except for the fact that it removes makeup, even waterproof makeup. I like to use this mainly for the eyes or all over to remove any remnants of makeup after using a slightly more harsh makeup remover to get off the brunt of it- the one I use is the oil-based Nivea double effects. A full empty-review of that can be found here.

Will I repurchase this product? Oh I already have. In fact, this is about the 3rd or maybe even 4th one of these 500ml products I've used.

What makeup remover do you use? What's your favourite cleanser? Let me know in the comments below.

Funky Orange Shower Jelly: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

Today I finished this funky orange shower jelly that I received as a gift a couple of years ago.

It came in a set of 5 or 6 different scents and this was the final one I used up.

The term 'jelly' is quite appropriate as it's a more thick and gloopy but still a formulation that thins out and smoothly blends into the skin.

The scent was a sweet orange that stayed on the skin for a little bit, but only a couple of hours and it wasn't overpowering.

I'd describe this product as not amazing but not awful. Is it just me who has a sort of ambivolence to every single shower gel? I just haven't used one that I'm like 'wow that's amazing', for me they're all so-so.

This was from a gift set so I don't see me repurchasing this in the future but it was nice while it lasted.

What's your favourite shower gel? What else do you use in the shower? Let me know in the comments below.

Burt's Bees Body Wash: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

Today I finished: this Peppermint and Rosemary Body Wash from Burt's Bees.

This is slightly smaller than the normal size as I got it in a gift set a few months ago.

I used this to clean myself in the shower, it has a nice, fresh scent which might be a bit overpowering for some people, but I liked it. Also the formulation is quite thick but I found this was a good thing and not a hindrance.

I don't think I'll repurchase this as I have other body washes or shower gels ready to use, and others I probably prefer more than this. A good alternative but still a similar product to this are the shower gels from The Body Shop which I actually prefer to this.

What's your favourite brand? What product did you last use up? Let me know in the comments below.

Benefit Benetint: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

Today I finished this mini sample of Benefit's cheek stain Benetint.

I got the sample in an old box set I got as a gift many many years ago now- it was one of my first makeup products and I don't have any of the other elements of the box left.

The full size is around the £20 mark, as with most Benefit products.

I used this as a lip product as well as a cheek one, as it gives a nice natural flush to the lips without being a proper classic red lipstick or anything. On the cheeks I also noticed it blended out very well. Other cheek stains have the tendency to be really patchy, but this is not.

The little but firm brush which came with this product was amazing

Will I repurchase this product? I don't think I'll buy the full size because it's just not something I particularly need. But i can see the benefits -sorry- to using a cheek stain, and especially this one which is the best I've tried.

Have you tried Benetint? What's your favourite Benefit product? Let me know in the comments below.

Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish Remover: Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

When I completely finish a product, I upload a quick blog post reviewing it.

This is kind of a mixture of an empty and a 'i'm gonna have to get rid', as it's just not working as it used to.

Today I'm throwing out the Bourjois Magic 1 second Nail Polish remover.

This product is I think £5.99 (but I technically got it half price because at the time it was on buy one get one free), and I got it from Superdrug probably around a year to two years ago.

This pot of magic (*not really magic) is a lifesaver and I will never return to the conventional 'cotton pad and nail varnish remover' method after using it. It's basically lined with a thick cushiony material soaked in polish remover which lifts off any nail polish when you put your finger in. I use what I explain as 'the dip and twist' method, where you rub your finger against the cushion as you twist your finger round. 

Does it remove nail polish in 1 second? Not really, and especially not for glitter. But there is no doubt that it is such a time and money saver.

With time, clearly it takes more effort to remove nail polish. Also, as you can see from the picture below, due to me using this hundreds of times before, the polish remover/water inside has become stained, and as a result leaves a purpley line on my finger where I have used the product.

However this mark does wash off after a few hand-washes, and leaves no permanent stain.

The cushiony thing inside is a bit battered now also.

It leaves a slight oil residue on the hands (which dries off though, it just takes a while), and a vanilla/almond scent.

Quick tip: If your tub is drying up a bit, just pour in some nail polish remover to top it up! I've done this and it means it lasts way longer!

Not quite working as it used to, gross non-permanent stain on my fingers, definitely time to throw it out

There is no doubt in my mind that I will be repurchasing this as soon as I throw it out, as being without this is just not something I want to experience.

How do you remove your nail polish? Will you be checking this product out? Let me know in the comments below.

Biore; Nose Pore Strips, Empty-Review

Empties: Mini Reviews

When I completely finish a product, I upload a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished a pack of pore strips from Biore. I bought them from Superdrug about six months ago.

Around the nose is the biggest area of concern pore-wise for most people, and this is definitely the case with me too. These strips get placed around the nose, left to harden, and when you peel it off it takes out any dirtiness that was clogging your pores previously. You'll see the little black dots left behind- it's quite gross actually.

Each came in a packet like this, and there were 6 in one packet. It cost around the £7 mark, which I thought was quite a lot, but there didn't seem to be many alternatives to this product in the 'drugstore' and I had heard many people talk about these from this brand, so I thought I would give them a go.

They're really easy to use and quick. I normally apply this and do a face mask on the rest of my face at the same time. 

It really does harden (like having solid paper mache on your nose), and peeling it off is therefore quite the task- it hurts, but it's satisfying. Afterwards I cleanse my face to remove any residue, and then moisturise. It leaves the skin feeling really smooth- just like freshly shaven/waxed legs hehe.

Would I repurchase this? Probably yes. It's not a necessity in my skincare routine but nice to use once in a while and no doubt these really work well.

Have you tried pore strips before? Are there any other good products from Biore you reccomend? Let me know in the comments below.

Burt's Bees; Deep Cleansing Cream, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream from Burt's Bees. I got this around two weeks ago in a gift set which I believe was bought online for about £12.

It is a rich creamy white cleanser, despite being thick still foams well. I used it with my Clarasonic in the shower and I absolutely loved it. It gave a tingling sensation afterwards and my face felt amazingly fresh and clean. My skin was glowing and smooth. 

This is a 20g size because it came in a travel pack set. The full size, 100g I think, can be bought here, and is £10.99 from their website.

Burt's Bees isn't too expensive as a brand (but more than drugstore), their products are amazing and great for the skin in the long term because of their natural ingredients. 

I'll definitely be buying more skincare items from them in the future. So far I've only tried their lipbalms, which are amazing.

Would I repurchase this? Possibly. It's a bit more expensive than I usually spend on a cleanser, and it's not the easiest thing to buy because i'll have to get it online, but it was really good.

Have you tried this product? What Burt's Bees products do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.

Burt's Bees; Hand Cream, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey and Grapeseed Oil Hand Cream from Burt's Bees. I've had this for a few months, and it was a present, I believe bought in a set from amazon.

It is a thick white cream consistency. 

It came in a package with a selection of 4 or 5 other Burt's Bees products.

This is amazing for hand and nail care. I also even used this as foot cream.

It sinks in and doesn't leave your hands feeling greasy, despite its thickness.

Would I repurchase this? A hand cream isn't really a necessity for me, and I have other ones i'm currently using, so probably not. But this is one of my favourite hand creams I've tried so far.

Have you tried this product? What Burt's Bees products do you like? Let me known in the comments below.

E.L.F; Mineral Mist, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Mineral Mist by E.L.F, which you can buy from their website. I've had it for probably around a year now.

This is meant to be a makeup setting spray, so to use after makeup application to make it last longer on the face. I've never tried a makeup setting spray that I've noticed makes a huge difference to the wear of my makeup, but it's something that's hard to tell.

It's probably around the £5 mark, which is really good, the packaging is nice and it doesn't spray too erratically. 

What I mainly used this for was for making powder eyeshadows more liquidy, as this makes them stay longer and appear more metallic. This is especially amazing with liners, use an angled brush, get some product and wet it. Also baked eyeshadows work even better with this method, they were meant for this! If you've never tried this technique before I highly recommend it, I can even do a whole blog post on it if you wish.

In terms of other makeup setting sprays I've tried, I'd prefer to use Fix + by Mac or the All Nighter by Urban Decay. Granted, they're a lot more expensive, but for actual makeup setting they are much better.

Will I repurchase this product? Probably not. I didn't really like using it as a makeup setting spray, but did like it as a medium for making powder eyeshadows into a more liquidy liner form, wetting pigmets for greater pigmentation or using as a fixing medium for glitter.

Have you tried this product? What makeup setting sprays do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.

Carmex; Moisturising Lip Balm, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm. I've had it for more than a year and you can buy it from Superdrug.

A lip balm moisturises the lips if they're dry, and is especially good to use before applying a lipstick to ensure an even finish.

It's around the £4 mark, and basically I love this stuff. No other lip balm even comes close to this for me.

You get a gentle sensation on application, and I don't know how but it seems to evaporate any dry or cracked skin- it's amazing.

Using up a massive tub like this is definitely an achievement, this lasts longer than any other lip balms I have ever bought.

This one is just in the classic scent, which I don't love loads, but it's different. I've repurchased it in the cherry flavour, and I've also tried the strawberry one but in the tube form. I think the cherry is my favourite. The one I have in the tube is perfect for popping in my bag, and also has a spf of 15 which is great.

Would I repurchase this product? I already have, and would continue to do so. This is hands down the best lip balm/ lip moisturiser I have ever tried.

Have you tried this product? What lip balms do you use? Let me know in the comments below.

Clean & Clear; Dual Action Moisturiser, Empty-Review

Empties: Product Reviews

When I finish a product I do a quick blog post reviewing it.

Today I finished the Dual Action Oil Free Moisturiser from Clean & Clear, which I bought over a year ago from Superdrug.

A moisturiser, as the name suggests, is a facial product that hydrates the skin, and therefore provides a smooth, clean base for makeup. If your face has dry patches, the makeup will cling there and look cakey. I use a moisturiser in the morning and just before bed after removing my makeup, as the act of removing makeup can dry out or distress the skin.

This is a product I really grew to love.

It's probably around the £4 mark and doesn't have much of an odour. 

It is a creamy white colour, not overly liquidy nor solid in texture. You only need a really little bit- as I demonstrated by the fact it's lasted me so long, and plus it's 100ml.

It sinks really nicely into the skin.

A few minutes after application you will feel an odd sensation, not really stinging or tingling, but somewhere in between. For me, this isn't something that annoys me in any way, in fact I quite like it, but you may be different. It lasts 5-10 minutes.

Would I repurchase this product? Definitely when a few of my other moisturisers run out.

It's one of my favourites drugstore moisturisers I've tried, I might perhaps do a whole blog post on my top drugstore skincare, especially moisturisers, so let me know if that's something you'd be interested.

Have you tried this product? What drugstore skincare products should I try? Let me know in the comments below.