Empties #13

Last month was Empties #12 which means it is time for Empties #13!


At the beginning of June I went travelling for 2 weeks so of course I needed a can of Batiste dry shampoo to see me through it! This is a 100ml travel size too which means I could bring it on board the plane and it not take up too much room.


The Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturiser is something I have enjoyed using for years, whether this one or the grapefruit one, as it is good for acne prone skin. It is light, fresh and good for day moisturiser that will soak in quickly so you can start applying your make up!


Just over a year ago I was sent the Amphora Aromatics Seaweed & Aloe Refreshing Eye Gel to review. My favourite way to use this was to help remove my make up. You can click on the name of the product to learn more about it and my opinion!


Another seaweed product (an unintentional theme there!) is The Body Shop Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator. I used this in the shower only to exfoliate my face. I liked this product as it was a great exfoliant however it would sting my eyes a bit even if the product wasn't near them! The packaging of this has now changed.


Lastly is an Impulse body spray in the scent 'Be Surprised' Violets & Red Fruit. This is just one of your standard cheap body sprays that run out in a month or less. I don't like to use this on its own but rather in companion with perfume. 


Thanks for reading!

Haul | Travel Size Products

In June and July I am going abroad so I needed to stock up on some travel size products. All products mentioned are 100ml or under which fits in with the UK's guidelines on bringing liquids in your hand luggage.


The first item is simple but important- Carex Aloe Vera Hand Gel (50ml). I want to bring it with me so I can bring it out with me to make sure my hands are clean. I like the aloe vera one as hand sanitisers can be drying and I have sensitive skin so aloe gel helps to keep my skin calm. Pretty simple really!


The next item is a slight cheat. This item I already owned so I didn't buy it with the others but it is still a travel size product that I am bringing. This is The Body Shop Strawberry Shower Gel (60ml). It is the perfect size and the strawberry scent smells particularly fruity and perfect for summer.


Then is the travel size of Batiste Blush Floral & Flirty Dry Shampoo (50ml). The scent doesn't really matter to me but I use dry shampoo every week of my life so this is a necessity! The big bottles I usually buy are way too big to bring so this is a good size.


As someone with lots of baby hairs that stand up on end, I need hairspray. Likewise to my dry shampoo, my usual bottle is a huge bottle so would be no good for travel! This is the L'Oreal Elnett Satin Extra Strength Hairspray (75ml). The Elnett hairsprays remind me of my Mum as I always remember seeing them on her dressing table as a kid. When I used to do dance competitions she would use it on me so for that I just had to buy it when I saw it!


For heat defence, I picked up the VO5 Smoothly Does It Tame and Shine Heat Defence Spray (100ml). I actually didn't realise until after I bought it that this is for dry hair rather than wet hair which is when I had it in mind for, but it should be okay! I always try to avoid hairdryers but regularly use hair straighteners. 


Lastly is my all time favourite, Urban Decay De-slick Make Up Setting Spray (30ml). I buy this regularly on FeelUnique and love it for travelling. It keeps my make up in place well and I love it for hot weather as it has temperature control. It works wonders for stopping my make up from melting off in the heat! If keeping your make up in place on hot days is an issue for you then I really recommend this.


So that's it! Anything else I need travel sizes for I am just decanting from my full size products into empty travel bottles. 

Hair | Empties #9

Hello!


My 9th empties?! But this one is special, because this one is all about my empty hair products. If I had to pick something I liked the most about my appearance, I think I would choose my hair. I dye my hair and use straighteners on it often. So I do like to look after it!

• TRESemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray- This hairspray looks so manky now! A little goes a long way with this big can and I have honestly had it for years. I don't like to use hairspray all over my hair, but only on the baby hairs at the top of my head as they stick up too much for my liking naturally!

• Batiste Dry Shampoo Coconut & Exotic Tropical- My holy grail, my best friend, my saviour on a weekly basis. I can never express my love for Batiste dry shampoo enough. 

• L'Oreal Studio Line Hot & Sleek Heat Protector- I straighten my hair frequently so something to protect my hair from heat is necessary. It is a cream texture and goes on to damp hair with ease. I run it through with my fingers then use a comb to spread it evenly. Works a treat!

• Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Moistuire Kick Beauty Balm- I tried this sample size when it came in my goody bag from Bristol Fashion Week and I really loved it. I liked applying it to the ends of my hair because I suffer from split ends and it really made my hair feel thicker at the ends and looked after it! I also liked using it the front of my hair where I use the straighteners the most because sometimes the baby hairs can look a little frazzled. Great stuff! 

If you would like to read my previous empties post, click here. What are your haircare favourites?

Empties #8

I seem to go through products like nobody's business and it means I always have stuff to show you guys. How often is too often to upload an Empties post?


I've always got an empty can of Batiste Dry Shampoo in my posts, I swear. I use Batiste about twice a week without fail and I absolutely love it. This is the Original scent.


If you've read my posts for a while you might know that I adore the mango scent from The Body Shop. The Mango Body Scrub just looks and smells delicious! To honour my favourite scent, I used up The Mango Body Mist which you can read my review on here. 


Next is the Nivea Oil Free Moisturiser Day Cream. I picked this up in an offer on Nivea moisturisers and I loved it. It is so light weight and doesn't feel heavy or clogged up on the skin. It didn't sting my sensitive skin and soaked in quickly enough that I could apply my make up soon afterwards. Bonus! 


One of my favourite nail polish brands is Models Own. They have such a large range of nail polishes in kind of big bottles and they are always of nice quality. This is their top coat from their HyperGel range, which mimics a gel nail. There is still a little bit in the bottle but I can't reach it with the brush and the formula has gone super gloopy. However, I liked it whilst it lasted even though it was a bit thick!


Last of all is The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. Again, if you've been reading my blog for a while you might know that I love the tea tree range from The Body Shop for my acne prone skin. Whenever I had a spot coming I would cover it in this stuff! It's probably better to use at night time than before your make up routine because it does take a while to soak in but it really is the best choice for pesky spots. I wrote an ultimate guide to The Body Shop Tea Tree range which you can see here.


Have you used up a lot of products lately? I always find that I seem to finish things in an abundance all at the same time, rather than over time!

Hair | VO5 Nourish My Shine Bedazzling Oil Heat Protector

Howdy!

I'm not one really for hair products. As someone who dyes their hair, I like to keep my hair routine the same and healthy as possible to make my hair colour last as long as possible. I get afraid that if I change it up, something might go wrong with my hair or something might strip my hair of its colour. Sounds crazy I know, but keeping my hair colour vibrant is the most important thing to me about my hair.


I've used the same heat protector for years. 5 years maybe? 6? I have always used the L'Oreal Studio Line Hot & Smooth Cream. So when my Mum bought me something new instead of that I was nervous, but decided to give it a try.


This is the VO5 Nourish My Shine Bedazzling Oil Heat Protector. It is in a long bottle that claims to 'add intense shine & conditions' with a 'lightweight formula' which 'defends against heat damage'. I straighten my hair so this is important to me. In addition, hair colour can be known to make your hair drier so something that nourishes it is a bonus. The product contains glycerin which is known for moisturising properties. 


Because there is oil in it, the actual product separates inside the bottle. The bottom half is pink and the top half (the oil), sits on top. To use this you need to remember to shake it vigorously so the two halves mix. I then spray it evenly over the entirety of my towelled dry hair from roots to ends, ensuring that I cover it all. I've discovered that I prefer to do this after I have found my parting and brushed my hair, as opposed to before it. I find that if I do it after I have found my parting and brushed it out that it covers more easily and helps to flatten annoying little baby hairs that stick out. 


9/10 times I let my hair completely dry naturally, but occasionally I have to give it a helping hand with a hair-dryer to make sure my hair is dry in time to leave the house. Whether I use a hair-dryer or not, my hair is always left with a shine thanks to this product which I get complimented on frequently. My hair does not feel dry at all and instead feels soft and clean. I was worried that because it was oil that it would weigh my hair down and make it look greasy but fortunately it does not do this. It seems that you can't go wrong with this product and no matter how much you spray on, it will not weigh down your hair! Because I do like to put a lot on seeing as I have long hair. 


Not only does it add shine but I feel like it does protect from heat. I always find that my hair colour fades the most and the quickest at the front of my 'fringe' because I always straighten that part of my hair everyday. However, since I have been using this I have not noticed the annoying faded part at the front of my 'fringe'. 


So overall I really rate this spray. It does everything that it claims to do and is sooooo much easier to use that the cream I used to use before! With the cream it was harder to cover my hair, felt like I used a lot of product and it would get all over my hands. I've been using this bottle for 4 months and it is still nowhere near finishing, whereas with the hair cream I used previous it would run out fairly quickly. I would recommend this to people who use heat on their hair and/or want to add some shine to their hair.


You can buy this 200ml bottle for the bargain price of £3.00 at Boots.

Favourites | The Best Hair Care & Perfume of 2015

So yesterday I posted my 'Favourites | The Best Skincare of 2015' blog post. Today I want to do the same thing, but with hair care and perfume! I'm not massively into hair products and perfume so this is a small post but it certainly deserved to be mentioned. If there is a review on a product I will link the review next to it for you!

HAIR PRODUCTS

• Batiste Dry Shampoo Original. My holy grail dry shampoo I've been using for years!   (review)

• VO5 Nourish My Shine Bedazzling Oil Heat Protector. A new one to my collection this year. I love it to protect my hair from the heat of hairdyers and straighteners and it certainly makes my hair shiny. 

• Schwarzkopf Moisture Kick Beauty Balm. Another new item to my collection after getting a sample at Bristol Fashion Week. I like to put it at the ends of my damp hair to help my split ends and keep the ends of my hair feeling nourished and not dry!

PERFUME

• Paco Rabanna Black XS. I first got this from my friend Antonia for my birthday and since then I have used that up and got another one. I love the packaging as it is quite dark and alternative (which is what I like) and I always get compliments when I wear it. 

What were your hair care and perfume favourites? My ultimate make up favourites will be coming next!

Empties #6

• Superdrug Tea Tree Foaming Facial Wash- This was bought at the airport in September because I didn't have any face wash for my trip and it lasted me a good two months! It just a simple tea tree foaming cleanser really, not much to say about it. I would say that I would use it again though.

• Boots Dry Shampoo 'Paradise Island'- I normally use Batiste dry shampoo but my local Boots didn't have any so I went for the Boots own one. I still prefer Batiste but it did the job and I used it all up. I think I found it a bit more 'chalky' but nothing I couldn't deal with.

• L'Oreal Studio Line Hot & Smooth Hot Straight Cream- I have gone through a million of these. It really suits my long straight hair and ensures it is safe from damage from me straightening it nearly everyday.

• Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel- I got this for my birthday in April and only in recent months got round to using it. It is quite a nice shower gel, smells subtly like roses and lathers up well.

• The Body Shop Mango Sugar Body Scrub- It was disappointing when I finished this scrub- I absolutely love it! It smells incredible and is good to use before shaving.

• Natural Collection Green Corrector Stick- Another item that I have gone through a million of. These will always feature in my empties post! I use it every time I use my make up without fail and it is definitely my holy grail item.

Boots Haul | Make Up & Holiday Necessities

Hello!

The other day I made a trip to my local Boots store with my Mum to replenish some make up items and stock up for my upcoming holiday. I spent a little bit more money than I ideally wanted to but it was worth it!

• Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive Day Cream SPF 15- 

I'm going on holiday in about a week's time and I needed a SPF for my face. I'm really picky about what SPF I will put on my face as some can cause me to break out. Most years I stick to Nivea, and this year I decided to go for a sensitive skin one. I have sensitive skin and this cream also claims to help redness, which I have a lot of, so I am looking forward to trying this.

• Tresemme Freeze Hold Hairspray 100ml-

Another item for going on holiday is this smaller sized version of hairspray. I have always used Tresemme hairspray so I got a smaller bottle to take on holiday. It's good because it is 100ml which is the amount of liquid you can take on a plane.

• L'Oreal Infallible 24hr Matte Foundation [Rose Beige]-

As the bad beauty blogger I am, I've always only used the same foundation. However, I'm finding more and more lately that the foundation that I use isn't really suitable to my skin type now which is kind of dry. I have been seeing so many good reviews over the past few months on this foundation so I have been dying to try it. I always want a good coverage matte foundation so hopefully this will do the trick. I used to always use the L'Oreal Infallible eyeliner in my high school days so I have high standards for this!

• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer [02 Cool Medium & 03 Warm Medium]-

This is my holy grail concealer and when I decided to change foundation I just couldn't convince myself to change concealer. I couldn't decide which colour would go better with my new foundation so I bought both 02 and 03 shades to try with it. Before that, I always used 03. I adore this concealer and it is certainly the concealer I recommend for anyone who suffers with acne, redness and scarring like I do.

• Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen-

My eyeliner (which is this one) is currently on its last legs so I thought I better buy a new one! I'm usually more flexible when it comes to liquid eyeliners and trying new ones but this time I decided to stick with something I know that works for me. I love doing winged eyeliner and this is my favourite liquid eyeliner to do that. What more can I say?

• Eylure Pro-Lash Individuals [Short, Medium & Long Length]-

Again, as the bad beauty blogger I am, I have never used false eyelashes. I've been wanting to for ages but always convinced myself I would be crap at applying them. However, then I think back to the days where I struggled with mascara and eyeliner- now look at me! But the reason I finally decided to get eyelashes was because I recently had an eye infection which meant I lost a large amount of eyelashes. It's to the point where I look like I don't have many eyelashes and they're super gappy so I decided to try my hand at individual lashes. Hopefully they will bring me more confidence with my eyelashes and totally change my eye make up!

• Carex Aloe Vera Refreshing Hand Gel-

If I had a pound for every time I have been out and wished I had some antibatcerial hand gel to use then I would be rich. My main reason to buy this was so I could take it on holiday with me in case I needed it but this will go straight in my handbag afterwards. I also find that I get ill a hell of a lot so I am hoping if I use this outside more I might find myself getting ill less.

• Boots Travel Bottles-

I didn't take a photo of these but I bought two travel bottles to put some of my usual Tresemme Colour Fade Protection Shampoo & Conditioner in for when I go away. I usually save smaller bottles from other products to use as travel bottles but I still needed another 2. I couldn't find a travel sized version of the shampoo and conditioner I like and I am too smitten with them to buy anything else!

So that's it! Have you used any of these items? Let me know!

4 Products I Always Repurchase

Batiste Dry Shampoo

After dabbling with a few dry shampoos at the beginning of my dry shampoo journey I finally settled on Batiste dry shampoo. Batiste has changed the hair game for me forever. Before dry shampoo I was washing my hair every other day and as somebody who sees hair washing as a chore, I absolutely hated it. But since using Batiste I only have to wash my hair twice a week. It has saved my life! It doesn't really matter to me which Batiste I use (there are various scents) but I usually go for the original one or the tropical one.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water was also a game changer for me as it persuaded me to give up the make up wipes for good. Before I discovered this I was still using make up wipes (oh the horror) and I never found my skin to be totally clean. However, now with the help of this, a cotton pad and my daily face wash, my skin seems a lot cleaner and I have less break outs. Yay! It also makes removing eye make up easier which is a plus.

L'Oreal Line Studio Hot & Sleek Heat Protect Cream

I have been using this after washing my hair for as long as I can remember. Definitely before even watching beauty YouTubers, reading blogs and my love for make up were even a thing.  I use this hair cream on damp hair and then brush it through with a comb. It protects your hair from heat and frizz for about 3 days, which is good for me as I straighten my hair quite a lot. It calls itself a sleeking balm and I couldn't agree more.

Natural Collection Green Corrector Stick

Finally we have the product that I NEVER skip in my make up routine. As someone who regularly suffers from acne and has red acne scars, this is a life saver for me. I put this on redness and the green counteracts the redness for a more flawless skin-tone look after foundation. What's great is that this stick is only £1.99 so I literally buy at least 5 at a time. I also sometimes get red dry patches on my neck and when I want to cover it up this also helps loads. Unless my skin ever gets better than I don't think I will ever stop using this.

So there we have it! Those are 4 products I always repurchase and have been doing so for years. As you can see they are game changers for me. If something works so brilliantly for you, then why give it up? They are holy grail products and will probably continue to be so for many years to come.

What are some products you always repurchase? Let me know!