Buy it!

Aveda Botanical Kinetics travel kit (includes purifying creme cleanser, liquid exfoliant, skin firming/toning agent and hydrating lotion) - Like most beauty addicts, I find myself permanently stalking Caroline Hirons blog. What she doesn't know about skincare is probably not worth knowing!  Anyway, Mrs Hirons mentioned these Aveda goodies as being good quality skincare at a decent price point, so when I spotted them in Debenhams with 10% off, I thought I'd give them a try. I'm really enjoying the collection as a whole, particularly the toners and my skin is looking pretty darn good as a result of it.  I'll report back after a bit more usage, but so far so good.

Armani Code Luna EDT and Kate Walsh Boyfriend EDP - I'll let you into a little secret - if I haven't worn one, I've worn the other - all month long! Talk about being a creature of habit and I'm not usually like that at all - especially when it comes to perfume!  Even though I usually like to ration my usage of Boyfriend as you can only get it in America (it's a a given that I will be stocking up while I'm on holiday) I've been using it like a crazy woman.  As for Luna, Boots.com  writes it up as: a "vanilla eau de toilette", fresh and floral, leaving a mesmerising wake. To lead in, bright citrus-like and sparkling bergamot notes, green accents of bitter orange essence, and a pear chord, crisp as fresh fruit. At its core, the orange blossom absolute - the real olfactory signature of Code Luna - combines with a stunning "moonflower", filmy and light as air. With the botanical name EphiphyllumOxypetalum, it thrives in areas of light and shadow. Cultivated in India, legend has it that it only opens and flowers during the full moon. Rare and mysterious, its whiteness is a reflection of its purity; it grows and blooms to its fullest in the moonlight. Doesn't that sound right up my street? Well that explains why I've used it to death this month.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector (combo to oily) -  as I've mentioned thanks to the new Aveda skincare, I've been having a pretty decent skin month.  So I've rediscovered the Miracle Skin Perfector as a daily base.  Is it a miracle? No! Does it perfect? Not entirely, but it does give a nice amount of (light) coverage and keeps the oil at bay.  I've also found it to be a nice mixing base. A few times over the month I have used it in conjunction with other foundations to great effect. What is not to like?  

Nivea in shower body moisturiser (dry skin) - when I heard about this I instantly wanted to give it a try.  While I love a gloriously thick body butter as much as the next person, there are times when I don't want to feel like a butter basted chicken!  I use my shower gel of choice and then slap this all over and rinse.  I've been using the dry skin version and I've certainly noticed a massive difference in the condition of the skin of my upper arms and elbows.  I think this is really great concept that can slot into your routine with minimal fuss. This product is genius. Hey, I'm busy/lazy (delete as appropriate) so it's winner for me.  Of course, there's also something very nostalgic about the scent of Nivea that reminds me of my childhood and that is never going to be a bad thing.

The return of the Epic Empties - part one

All I ever seem to post about anymore are empties and QVC - and even that's infrequent of late - so why change the habit of a lifetime! ;-)

Seriously, as I'm feeling the urge to blog I thought I'd start off with something I can do from my iPhone. I get too wound up with mechanics of blogging and need to get back to basics. Put simply, I'm interested in Beauty stuff and talking to like minded addicts about beauty stuff. Simples. So that is what I am going to do.

So today, I am going to chat about my empties *roll eyes* (a small selection of my massive stash which will probably have to feature in seperate posts), but I do have other things in the pipeline, I promise... And so we begin:

JLo Miami Glow perfume - this has been in my collection for years. It's a inoffensive summer scent that has a slight coconut tinge to it. I'm not sure ill buy it again, but I have enjoyed using it.

Gucci Guilty EDP - another scent I enjoyed and I got lots of compliments wearing this. Warm, classy, I will repurchase.

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector - smelled nice but did nothing for me. Won't repurchase.

bareMinerals Well Rested - I never really got the hang of this. Is it an eye brighter? Is it a concealer? I have another sample pot to use, so if anyone has any ideas how to use then please let me know. Undecided about this, but we'll see.

ByTerry Baume De Rose - easily the most luxurious lip balm I've ever owned and I'm a lip junkie! This was a gift from Nic many moons ago and has long since been my bedtime lip balm. This lightly rose scented balm smooths dryness away overnight. Would I buy it? Probably not. Rose isn't my fave scent and I think it's a tad overpriced. Lovely, but overpriced.

Cutex Nourishing nail varnish remover - this was okay, it did the job, but I can't say I noticed it was particularly nourishing. Might consider repurchasing.

Leighton Denny Miracle Mist - does what it says on the tin.  Will probably repurchase at some point in the future.

Pout Liquid Highlighter in Love Glow - this has been hanging around for years too. Probably as long as the JLo Miami Glow! Made a concerted effort to use it up. I'm not even sure you can buy this anymore! Not sure I would anyway, there are others I like better (Benefit High Beam) 

Origins A Perfect World antioxidant moisturiser - this was a freebie from Origins when I recycled an old pot. How nice! I liked this, but kept it for nighttime as it made my combination skin a little oily for daytime use. Might buy it some time in the future.

Origins Spot Remover - another fairly ancient product! I can never really tell if this works or not. Maybe it's just a placebo. Who knows! Probably not going to repurchase.

B&BW PocketBac in Apple Lavender - you know I love these. I'll always have them on my person!! End of story.

So that's it for now, but it's certainly not the end of my empties!!  I'll be back for part two.. Part three... Part four... You get the idea! 

October and November Empties

Woah, it's almost December already! Where has this year gone? I totally overlooked October empties, so I've smushed them in with November. So here goes...

• Kings & Queens Cinnamon Orange, Honey and Jasmine mini shower gel's - I really enjoyed trying out this brand.  I bought this set of minis from TK Maxx in the summer and they were great for travel. All the scents were really lovely, there wasn't one that I didn't like.  However, I would say the packaging annoyed me. The bottles were quite rigid and that made it difficult to get the gel out whilst showering.  I'll have to check if the full sizes share the same fault, other than that I'd certainly repurchase.
• Simple Eye makeup remover - Love this. Have a back up.
• Philosophy 'I'm Dreaming of... White Cranberry' 3 in 1 bath/shower gel - really enjoyed bathing with this. Made really nicely scented bubbles. As you know, I love the brand and will repurchase if/when I ever run out!!
• L'Occitane 5% Shea, Ultra Rich shower cream - Gorgeously creamy shower gel that never stripped my skin. I love this and is smells like clean babies. I have another one already on the go, so will repurchase in future.
• Possibility 'Raspberry Pavlova' shower gel - I think I got this as a Christmas present from someone last  year.  It doesn't take a genius to see that this brand have attempted to rip of the iconic Philosophy branding.  This is not even in the same league as the Philosophy versions.  My skin felt a bit scratchy after I'd used it. I'm glad its gone and no, I wouldn't buy this again. 
• Armani Code shower gel - After falling in love with the perfume, I enjoyed using up the scented shower gel.  I wouldn't specifically buy these kinds of shower gels, but at least I am using them now.  I'll certainly repurchase the perfume though.
• No7 Microdermabrasion scrub - favourite scrub. Will repurchase.

• bareMinerals foundation sample - I'm just going through and using up bits and pieces. I like this foundation and will repurchase when the miniatures have departed. 
• Tarte multiplEYE Prime and Extend mascara duo - As much as I love the brand Tarte, I didn't like this duo at all! The primer was okay, if a little sticky. The mascara was awful. Really dry and unworkable for me and I tend to like a drier formula. Not for me, I'm afraid.
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara - now this Tarte mascara is amazing. I love the packaging, the product, the brush. Love! I have another one waiting in the wings, but think I'll have to stock up on this when I go back to the States.
• Garnier Pure Active spot-on roll-on - Hate this! Doesn't work, just dries your skin out. Will not repurchase.
• YSL Belle D'Opium EDP - Really enjoyed using this EDP, but it's not one of my all time favourites. Although, I did get lots of lovely comments from both sexes when I was wearing it. I just find there are other scents that are more 'me'. So at this stage, I wouldn't repurchase.

• Batiste Cherry dry shampoo - I use Batiste on a fairly regular basis and given that I love cherries, I thought this would be amazing.  But in truth, I tired of the scent fairly quickly.  It was nice enough, but I'm not sure I'll buy another huge bottle of this scent. Maybe I'll stick to the mini version.
• Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi bath/shower cream - I think Elemis products have to be the height of decadent bath time  This is just gorgeous. The Frangipani scent seems to linger for a long time on the skin (and in the bathroom). It's gorgeous and would make a lovely Christmas gift.  I'm not in the market for any new shower gels, but when I am, I'll be sure to pick this one up!!

August Empties

I'm getting quite good at this using things up lark!  Making a conscious effort each month to use up some of my stash, has made me truly appreciate the products that I really love and depend upon.  A 'separating the wheat from the chaff' if you will.    There are items that I have already or intend to repurchase.  I still want to try new things, I just am getting a bit better at reigning myself in and thinking - have you got something similar at home.

The flip-side of this coin is that I realise what I really cannot wait to get rid of.  It's usually the things that you like the least, that seem to take an eternity to use up.  Does anyone else find that?  So what have I used this month?

• Givenchy Ange Ou Demon - beautiful, classy fragrance.  I was upset that I'd used this up, then found another two new bottles.  So I'm happy again now! hehe.
• The Body Shop Vitamin E facial mist - this is okay.  I got it as a kind of make up setting spray, I don't think it was particularly successful for that.  But it is quite refurnishing just as a facial spritz. 
• Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Shine Protection mist - another meh product.  I have had this for forever. I love how it smells, but I'm not sure that it actually protects my hair from heat styling. I guess we will see if I notice a marked difference now it's finished.
• Urban Decay Primer Potion - this is one of those can't be without kind of products. Love this and can't remember what my life was before UDPP.
• Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara -  was okay. Nothing major.  This was a sample size I must have picked up somewhere. Certainly didn't wow me.
• No7 Extreme Length Mascara - love it. Read here

• L'Occitane 20% Shea Butter Hand cream - my number one hand cream. Would not be without this. Even got Parental Unit Number One (Mothership) onto this one now and she is not remotely bothered by things like this at all! Woah, what an achievement! 

• Origins Checks and Balances - I like this cleanser, but I don't love it.  It does exactly what it says on the packaging.  Only sometimes, my skin is left feeling a little tight and almost squeaky clean.  Does that make sense? I guess my combination skin is not it's target market and it would be more suited to oily skinned beauties. 
• Garnier Pure Active Exfo Brusher Wash - love the scrubby bits, they're great. Hate the packaging design and the actual product. I find it really cumbersome to use and quite difficult to get any cleanser on the Exfo Brusher.  Plus I find it a little too drying for combination skin. 
• Original Source Chocolate Mint Shower Gel - really like this although the chocolate brown colour was a little bit off putting.  Still, it made for a very refreshing, zingy bathing experience.  

• Alpha H Rejuvenating Cream - this is a nice moisturiser. Feels a little strange upon first application.  It's a bit tingly due to the inclusion of glycolic acid.  I'd buy this again.

What have you used this this month? Have you rediscovered any gems in your collection?

Belated August Favourites

I thought I might do a quick belated post on my August's Favourites.  There are products that you find yourself reaching for, they are not the most exciting, luxurious items.  But they are the products you depend on, on a daily basis. Here are a few of mine, that I have relied on in August.

• La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - I really like this solution for taking of my make up at the end of the day.  It's free from a lot of chemical nasties and really gets the job done without stripping your skin.  This can be used on face and eyes without any problems/reactions.  I'll certainly be re-purchasing.
• Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream/stick (both pictured) - I use the iconic 8 hour cream every single day.  I put some on my lips while I'm getting ready and let it sink in while I do my make up.  It's pricey, but it seems to last for ages.  
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer - Creamy, blendable and a great colour match.
• No7 Contour and Blending Brush - as good as many high end blending brushes on the market and if you get them with a £5 No7 voucher, they cost about £2!!
• ELF Shimmering Facial Whip (Lilac Petal) - I got this as a present from a lovely friend and I cannot believe that I hadn't tried it before.  I usually use Benefit High Beam, but when that runs out, I think I'll buy another ELF version.  It really is just as good, for a fraction of the price.  For £1.50 you can't grumble. The other bonus of the ELF Shimmering Facial Whip, is that it comes in a range of colours to suit all skin tones. Check them out here
• VO5 Miracle Concentrate - This treatment oil is amazing for the price. I think I paid £2.50 for this little bottle of liquid gold.  A few drops are all that's required for smooth, frizz free hair.  It's a staple in my haircare routine now. 
• Max Factor Miracle Touch Blush (Soft Pink) - I use this as a base to layer my blusher each day.  A little of this goes a long way and it also helps promote the longevity of any powder blusher choose to use afterwards.  You can of course wear it alone for a dewy finish.  
• Revlon ColourStay - Favourite foundation ever. FACT!
• OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go - great handbag essential.  The pen applicator makes it very easy to apply on the go.  I use it while sat on the train in the mornings.  It also makes your nail varnish super shiny.  
• No7 Extreme Length mascara - I think I got this from a little No7 freebie kit and threw it to one side without much investigation.  This mascara lengthens and separates perfectly.  I don't find it gives much volume. But I am fine with that. Now I've used up this sample size and I will repurchase - except for the fact I have a lot of mascara to try first. I will return to it though.  I really like the wand!
• Borghese duo fiber blending brush - I use this brush to apply the Facial Whip and the cream blusher.  I think it's fabulous.  Plenty similar brushes like this out there on the market, so find one that suits.
• Garnier Roll-On Anti Dark Circles - this product provides both treatment and immediate (light) coverage.  If you have really bad dark circles, you would probably still need to use a concealer.  But some days, I find this is adequate coverage for me.  

What are your daily staples? Or what have you been loving in August?  

Do I see a pattern??

As it's a Bank Holiday weekend and I am totally skint until payday on Tuesday (yup, bummer I know!) I have been enjoying a very relaxing (and cheap!) weekend in my PJ's.  Its given me time to catch up on lots of boring jobs at home such as cleaning and laundry etc, but I've also allowed myself a little me time.  So as  I was sat in the bath flicking through the September issue of Glamour magazine and I noticed this section with interest, entitled "Your new beauty best friends".  

One of the product recommendations was the Per-fekt Eye Perfection Gel (£38). Notice anything familiar?? Looks like metal tips are the applicator of choice for any product that relates to the eye area. In addition to Per-fekt,  brands such as Garnier are using a metal roller-ball as the applicator for their Eye Roll On with Caffine. As is Laura Geller, who I posted about recently. 

I've been using the Laura Geller Banish N Brighten for a little while now and I love the cooling sensation of the  Palladium tip. Its not in the least bit scratchy or irritant around the eye area. Its smooth and cooling on the skin. Its actually a very odd sensation.  No matter how long you leave it on the skin, it never really warms up to body temperature.  In fact, I really like gently running it around the eye area without the concealer. I use it (sans concealer) in the mornings after an application of eye cream to encourage a bit of de-puffing.  The concealer is ok. Its just a bit thin for my liking.  I would imagine it would be ok to use as a luminizer, but I haven't tried it like that yet. 

It does make sense why companies would embrace this application technique, as I certainly think the cooling metal does help de-puff the very sensitive eye area.  But thinking about it, wouldn't a cold tea spoon do the same job? What say you? Are these innovative eye products worth investing in?