Empty Products #20

The first empties of 2022 and my first empties in quite a few months! With the pandemic etc. I’ve slowed right down on how quickly I go through things and definitely don’t get to play with and use products as often. I will continue to write empties posts as long as my blog is active, there might just end up being more of a gap between installments!

Haircare

1. Function of Beauty shampoo

I will miss seeing this pink shampoo when I shower. I finished the matching conditioner in my last empties and this set worked really well for my hair. My third set arrived in September 2021 and I started using it in October 2021. I kept the five hair goals the same except for one, I switched nourish roots out for fix split ends. This shampoo lasted me about 6 months which does help justify the price of Function of Beauty a bit more.

Repurchase: Yes.

2. Wella Professionals Oil Reflections Light Luminous Oil

I started using this oil in May 2020 alongside the shampoo and conditioner from the Oil Reflections range. It contains 100ml of product, I wash my hair two or three times a week and I have long hair so that gives you a good indication of how long products like this can last. I didn’t use this after every single hair wash but for the majority I did. A little goes a long way and I found it applies best when the lengths are still slightly damp, but the oil can be applied to dry hair too. It helped to smooth the ends and keep hair looking sleek and shiny. The oil didn’t weigh my hair down or make it greasy. One of the main ingredients is camellia oil which gives off a lovely scent.

Repurchase: Yes, I would happily use this again.

3. Giovanni 2chic Frizz Be Gone Smoothing Hair Mask

This hair mask is housed in a lovely pink tube and the packaging is lightweight and sleek. The shea and almond oil give the product a nice scent but that’s where the positives stop for me. I didn’t hate this product but I don’t feel it did anything. It claims to have 20 benefits but I didn’t notice any major differences compared to now that I’ve stopped using this product, perhaps I’m not the target audience. I also think this may have caused an occasional skin reaction, areas of my neck and fingers would become dry and itchy and I had to apply hydrocortisone cream to calm things down. It may just have been a coincidence but something I did notice when using this mask.

Repurchase: No.

Skincare & Fragrance

4. Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser

I purchased this in 2020 when I needed a new evening moisturiser. I’ve used a couple of Clinique’s facial products in the past so I knew the chances of me not getting on with this were low. The moisturiser comes in a see through bottle with a pump so it’s easy to tell exactly how much is left. The moisturiser itself feels nourishing and lightweight and is also a good day time one for under makeup. Where the product falls down a little bit for me is the fact it doesn’t have SPF, I purchased this as a night time moisturiser to begin with so it’s not a big issue but when I started to use it in the daytime when I was getting closer to finishing it and wasn’t wearing makeup or foundation with SPF due to the Covid situation in New Zealand I realised I do like having a daytime moisturiser with SPF. Also, this is quite expensive compared to other moisturisers I’ve used in the past that I’ve liked equally as much.

Repurchase: Probably not.

5. Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier

This was the very first face mask I started using years and years ago and this is the third tube I’ve finished up. What I enjoy about Natio’s products is they are nice and natural, don’t contain ingredients that irritate my skin and are affordably priced. I do feel like this face mask has changed and I don’t love it quite as much as I used to. What I used to enjoy was being able to feel the clay set without irritation and still remaining gentle on my skin. Now the formula feels very thin like a watery lotion as opposed to a mask. Not ruling out purchasing this in future but it’s no longer my go to.

Repurchase: Not sure.

BODY

6. Eugaia Bloom Hydrolysed Marine Collagen – Passionfruit & Lime

I had never tried anything like this before and I was curious to see if I would like it and notice any differences. Eugaia is one of Shaaanxo’s brands. The product is made in New Zealand and it aims to support hair, skin, nails, gut health, joints and bone health. Ideally each tub lasts one month with one serving per day, I tried to have a serving most days but my tub lasted longer, some days I either forgot or didn’t have time. What’s great about this though is that it’s easy to mix and you feel like you’re being healthy. This is not a dietary supplement or meal repalcement and the flavour did taste nice, I didn’t get a weird aftertaste or feel grossed out when drinking it. The best part is that when you mix the powder with water there are sparkles from the kiwifruit powder. Overall I noticed a couple of differences: stronger nails and brighter, clearer skin (could be a combination of this and not wearing makeup). After finishing this flavour I purchased one of the Strawberry & Lime tubs but didn’t like it as much, it tastes sweeter and more artificial.

Repurchase: Undecided – the product is a little pricey but not as steep compared to others on the market. I would only consider repurchasing the Passionfruit flavour.

7. The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Strawberry Kiss body butter

I have tried both the regular Japanese Cherry Blossom and Strawberry body butters from The Body Shop and am a big fan of both! This scent is an amalgamation of the two and I would describe it as a floral strawberry. I purchased the body butter online so I couldn’t be certain if I was going to like it or not but after a few uses I was converted. This body butter isn’t part of the OG range and is slightly more expensive but it’s worth it in my opinion, the product feels extra luxurious and nourishing.

Repurchase: I think so.

8. The Body Shop Vitamin E Body Butter

I remember trying this years ago and being a fan and I wanted to revisit and try it again ever since. I didn’t enjoy the scent as much this time around. The product itself isn’t bad and is up to the brand’s usual standard but I won’t be rushing out to buy this again anytime soon.

Repurchase: No.

9. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter

I had never tried anything from this range until this and I picked it up on sale at the start of the year as it was in the old packaging and The Body Shop is transitioning to the more sustainable eco-friendly new packaging. I love how fresh and zesty this has been for summer and I really enjoyed using it. The formula was lovely and felt soft and moisturising.

Repurchase: Maybe, I enjoyed the smaller size of this scent for something different.

10. Nivea Anti-Perspirant x2

You know the drill by now, these feature in every empties. Lately I have been alternating between the Clear and Silky Smooth roll ons.

Repurchase: Yes.

What was the last product you finished up?

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October Favourites + Highlights 2020

October has zoomed by! I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my tonsillectomy and I’ve been back at work two weeks already! I did get more spendy in October compared to a usual month and I haven’t been reading a lot either. I will still meet my Goodreads target of 40 books for the year but I want to spend more time reading again in November. I haven’t really been up to much this month, mainly sleeping, relaxing and taking it easy. It’s been nice to have time for self care.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Colourpop Easy Bake Ultra Glossy Lip – Easy Bake was released by Colourpop last year as part of their Strawberry Shake collection. This shade is a sheer strawberry pink that can be worn on its own but I love wearing it over top of lipstick for added shine. This is the perfect neutral gloss that looks good on top of everything without altering the lip colour underneath. The scent is nice, the formula isn’t sticky and goopy and the packaging is adorable!

2. Revlon – Gel Envy Nail Polish in Silky Negligee – I was placing an order online for magnesium for my mum and needed something else to add to the order to qualify for free shipping (it was a chemist website). I had seen this polish in a store the same day and snapped it up immediately. Silky Negligee is a glossy metallic silver grey and it looks stunning on. Two coats is perfect and the polish lasted for almost two weeks with Revlon’s Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat (which I have loved for years) applied over top. The polish was a little difficult to remove but nothing like removing glitter polishes. I also picked up another shade from the range called Standing Ovation (glossy metallic lilac pink) which I’m yet to try.

3. Trilogy Hydrating Jelly Mask – There is a facial oil from Trilogy I love and I saw this jelly mask on sale for half price so decided to give it a try. The mask contains rosehip, hyaluronic acid and manuka honey and it aims to smooth the appearance of skin as well as deeply nourish and refresh it. There is a little spatula that comes with the mask and makes it easy to scoop product out. The texture is like jelly and feels very cooling on the skin. Product is easy to spread and after a few minutes it sets a little but doesn’t feel uncomfortable. The mask only needs to be left on for 5-10 minutes and washes off with minimal effort. This is a lovely mask that I’ve been reaching for once a week and a little goes a long way.

4. The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom body butter – I purchased this body butter over a year ago and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it on the blog before! I didn’t start using it until around lockdown but the scent is gorgeous – it’s light, fruity and floral and a nice feminine scent to use after a shower. The texture of this body butter feels slightly more luxurious compared to the standard ranges The Body Shop is known for. The price point of this is slightly higher as well but it doesn’t bother me.

October Highlights

• It was nice to have a break from work after my surgery. I hadn’t had a proper break since February.
• Purchased some comfy tracksuit bottoms and the most gorgeous purple hoodie from Nike. You bet the first cold day that comes I’ll be wearing them!
• Finally got to watch Knives Out this month. Not going to lie though, I was a little disappointed. I didn’t like the fake accent Daniel Craig’s character had.

October’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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Black Friday/Cyber Monday Haul

I’ve never seen these big sales as an excuse to go crazy and buy items for the sake of it but if there is a sale on something I’ve been looking at purchasing or spot a good deal I’m likely to go for it! I have done a few hauls this year but the majority have only contained a handful of items. (I count less than 10 haul posts throughout 2019). I personally enjoy seeing what people pick up and what has either been on their wishlist or they’ve been intrigued to buy in the spur of the moment. Let’s get started!

1. Kylie Minogue Logo Hoodie (Peach)

Jumpers are one of my favourite clothing items, they are super comfortable and make me feel all snug and cosy. Band/artist merchandise is one of my favourite things to wear and I didn’t have any Kylie stuff. This is a simple peach coloured hoodie with Kylie’s logo on the front and back. It will look great with blue jeans and it will be good to pop on between seasons when the weather can’t make up its mind.

Note: This item hadn’t arrived when the photos for this post were taken.

2. The Body Shop Warm Vanilla Body Butter

Vanilla is one of my favourite scents and The Body Shop tend to release a vanilla line as part of their Christmas range. I prefer musky, spicy vanilla scents when it comes to body lotions but this one is quite sweet. I tested a little bit of this body butter when it arrived and I like the scent once it’s had time to sit on the skin for a while. I can’t comment on how moisturising the formula is compared to others I’ve tried as I won’t be using this straight away but it seems to be up to The Body Shop’s usual standard from the small amount I sampled. This is the only item in this haul that wasn’t on sale.

3. xoBeauty Luxe Liquid Lipstick – Impavid

I’m sure you know the story by now, the xoBeauty liquid lipstick formula is my favourite – it is not drying at all and so comfortable on the lips. The liquid lipsticks were 40% off which took them down to roughly $15 (NZD) which is super affordable. Impavid is a deep, rich, cool toned red. I have a few red lipsticks in my collection and I’m currently in the process of evaluating them all by wearing a different shade each day to figure out which ones I most enjoy. As Impavid is new it will be sticking around.

4. xoBeauty Luxe Liquid Lipstick – Ineffable

I also picked up the shade Ineffable which is a neon, hot fuchsia and is the perfect Chanelle colour! Funnily enough I have less bright pink lipsticks than reds yet this is my favourite colour to wear. This kind of shade is my go to when I’m stuck and don’t know what to pick and I know it goes with whatever makeup I pair it with. This shade is a creme finish whereas other bright pinks in my collection are more of a satin/shiny finish and contain tiny sparkles.

Lipstick swatches:

Left to right: Ineffable and Impavid.

5. xoBeauty Round Eye Brush

I have been loving the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush lately for applying transition shades all over the lid and through the crease. The Real Techniques brush has nice dense bristles which really places the shadow where I want it to go and brushes like this work best for my small eyes as I don’t have a lot of lid space. Fluffy brushes are fine if I want a soft, natural look but I do like definition in the crease. I’m hoping due to the shape and look of this brush it will perform in a similar fashion.

6. xoBeauty Angled Eye Brush

I haven’t tried an angled eye brush before but the reviews on this one were really good. The head isn’t overly big so I think this will work well for carving out my crease and applying eyeshadow to the outer half of my eyes. This brush can also be used to apply and blend out concealer underneath the eyes or to apply primer to the eyelids – a good multitasker.

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Did you pick up anything in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?

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October Favourites 2018

October has felt like a busy month. We are heading towards the end of the year and this month has had many different things going on. I made some online orders (clothes and makeup), myself and my mum have been ill and I haven’t read as much as I would have liked due to busy pace. The past few weeks I’ve felt tired and haven’t eaten all that well due to being sick.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion – I purchased the Primer Potion from MECCA Beauty last month and I have been using it non stop! In this post it was love at first use and one month later I feel exactly the same. This is one of those cult beauty products that is worth the hype! Going into warmer weather this will help my eye makeup stay on longer. This primer doesn’t irritate my eyes and it’s just as easy to remove as it is to apply.

2. Kmart Iridescent Metal Straws – Metal straws are good because they are reusable but what’s cool about these ones is they are iridescent and change colour depending on the light. Sometimes mum and I make milkshakes if we have milk that’s going to go out of date and we don’t want to waste it. We’ve started using these straws in our milkshakes instead of plastic ones. The texture of the metal is different if you’re used to plastic but it’s no big deal. (FYI, I’ve reused plastic straws in the past too, I don’t always throw them away after one use).

3. Kylie Little Stars Duvet Cover – This duvet cover is actually for children but it doesn’t look like it. The duvet is a double and I don’t know about you but I never had a double bed as a child – I still don’t – it has the perfect amount of drop for my king single bed. The duvet is a lovely blush pink colour although it looks more cream in photos (the duvet was the backdrop for the main image). With this duvet set I got two pillowcases and three cushions and a couple of weeks ago I posted a picture of the cushions to my Instagram. The sparkly sequins are what make this set look more grown up.

4. The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Butter – I have only used this a couple of times already but I do like the scent. The scent is zesty and fresh and not like the girly, sweet ones I usually plump for. I bought this in a Boxing Day sale in December 2017 so I’m glad to finally start using it! I do think it is an appropriate spring scent and using this in winter would have been odd. I love the lime green colour of the body butter and the texture is super soft and creamy.

October’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in October?

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Final Haul of 2017

The last time I went shopping on Boxing Day was 2015. My brother and I ventured out early and there were people directing traffic to prepare for the influx of shoppers. In 2016 I worked on Boxing Day and in 2017 I was adamant I didn’t want to go shopping as I had to get up early for work the next day. Two days after Boxing Day though, my brother and I did end up hitting the shops. I didn’t spend much and everything I picked up was on sale!

NB: I visited a MAC counter with the intention of picking up some travel sized pigments but the shades I wanted were out of stock. Had I known full sized pigments were on sale I would have considered purchasing one or two since MAC is NEVER on sale.

Here’s what I did buy:

1. kikki.K Glass Vases 4pk: Love Life

I put these vases on my Christmas Wishlist and I was so happy when I saw them in store for 50% off! The colours are even nicer in real life and the vases are so dinky! Each vase could hold a few flowers but they also make cute decorations. To give you an idea of how small the vases are they are 50mm (5cm) high.

2. kikki.K Cards

I like to have backup cards for birthdays etc. so if one rolls round unexpectedly I’m prepared. I also believe you don’t have to spend a lot to get a nice card. I bought three cards, one cost 50 cents and the other two cost $2.50 (NZD) each. At those prices they’re a steal!

3. Glassons Boxy Cardi

Clothing is something I don’t need but I couldn’t resist this cardigan. The cardigan is more cream than white and I like the way the boxy style sits on my short frame. The straight cut suits my shape and the 3/4 sleeves are a plus, often full length sleeves are too long on me. The material is soft and fluffy and reminds me of my cat. (Yes, I did just write that sentence. I’ve said the same thing aloud too). I have worn the cardigan already and it will be a staple piece during the seasons between summer and winter.

4. Virgin Mojito Body Butter 50ml

I had a $10 off voucher from The Body Shop and it was my brother who liked the smell of this and made me stop and notice it. I hadn’t paid much attention to the Virgin Mojito range before but I know it is being discontinued so I wanted to try this body butter while I had the chance. I will use it when I stay at my boyfriend’s and my current 50ml body butter (Strawberry) runs out.

5. Almond Milk & Honey Shower Cream 60ml

A couple of years ago I reacted to the Shea shower cream and my legs haven’t ever been the same. My skin has always been sensitive but I can’t actually use shower gels or anything when I wash as it will react. I’m pretty sure that’s down to SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) which is the soap ingredient and what makes lather. I can only use soap when I wash my hands. I bought the travel-friendly size shower cream as SLS isn’t listed as one of the ingredients and this range is suitable for sensitive skin. I can’t try this out for a little while as I currently have heat rash – I won’t be able to tell if it’s making a difference to my skin until the rash clears up and I can try the shower cream on my normal skin.

6. English Dawn Gardenia Body Cream 200ml

The Body Shop is also discontinuing their Voyage fragrance ranges and these items were 40% off. I recently finished up my big 200ml body butter and had intended to use body lotions as I have a ton of those but this scent was calling out to me. The floral scent is lovely and not too sweet or strong. This is a body cream as opposed to a butter and the product feels silky smooth in the tub, the texture is less set and malleable if that makes sense. This body cream is luxurious and I urge you to try this range or test it in store before it disappears!

The three Body Shop items came to a total of $32.70 (NZD) with the 40% discount and the $10 off voucher applied.

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What did you buy in the post-Christmas sales?

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August Favourites 2017

As you may have read in my Life Lately #2 post August has brought about some changes. I left my job and started a new one a couple of days later so most of the month has been preparing for and leading up to that. August has gone very fast and been a bit emotional. I am looking forward to getting stuck in to my new job and getting into a new routine though.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Black Chenille Cardigan – I mentioned this cardigan in my Boohoo & Glassons Haul but wasn’t able to show it to you in black. I could only find an image of the blue online but the black cardigan acts as the backdrop for this month’s photo. Chenille is beautiful material and the cardigan looks lovely on. I intend to wear this a lot over the next couple of months before summer kicks in!

2. My Filoax/Stationery – Fun fact, Filofaxes and planners are what inspired me to start my blog! I have had my Hot Pink Domino in personal size for three years now and I still use it all the time. I have weekly and monthly layouts and normally plan at the beginning of each week, appointments, paydays etc. I find it useful to record my hours of work each day and on the monthly pages I record my blog views each week. I incorporated stationery into this favourite as I have been enjoying decorating my pages lately (I always used to) and personalising them with stickers and washi tape. I have a lot of washi tape!

3. Nescafé Vanilla Latte – I’m not usually a coffee girl but on a whim I decided to get a box of vanilla latte sachets from the supermarket. I tried and adored the Tahitian Vanilla Latte from Starbucks when it was out and I was reminded of that when I tasted these sachets from Nescafé. The aroma and taste isn’t as strong as other types of coffee and the coffee is nice and fluffy and smooth. I will repurchase these for sure.

4. Canon 700D DSLR – I purchased the Canon 700D in July and I have been using it for blog photographs as well as test shots and personal images. I started on Auto Mode and through watching tutorials and reading articles online I quickly switched to Manual Mode. I have a better understanding of what the numbers for aperture, shutter speed and ISO mean now. Manual Mode does make a difference, if something’s not right it might only be one setting that needs changing and experimentation helps you learn and develop your style of photography. I really want to go on a day trip or outing with my camera and get some beautiful nature/scenery shots, that’s the next step.

5. The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter – This was a Christmas present from my boyfriend last year and I began using it in February. I was convinced I had mentioned this body butter in a favourites post already but checked back and saw I hadn’t. The texture of this body butter is soft but firm and is very moisturising on the skin. It has a lovely chocolate/cocoa scent which is quite natural, not artificial or overly sweet. I imagine it would work for males and females. The Body Shop has discontinued the Cocoa Butter range but if they bring it back I would repurchase the body butter in a heartbeat. I highly recommend it!

August’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in August?

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Inside My Overnight Bag

Every week I spend a few nights with my boyfriend and I have an overnight bag full of girly essentials. I leave the products in the bag so I’m not unpacking all the time and forget something when I re-pack.

I purchased the bag from Forever New in August 2016 and it is the perfect size to house all the products. The base is flat which allows products to stand up if I need them to and I love the shiny, silver material on the outside.

Onto the contents:

• Medication (not pictured): I take certain medications in the morning and vitamins in the evening. I unpack these each time as they need to be replenished frequently.
• Toiletries: I keep a toothbrush and OGX shampoo and conditioner minis at my boyfriends. I take my trusty Nivea ‘no white marks’ deodorant as this lasts well throughout the day and I don’t tire of the scent. 
• Moisturisers: Even when I’m at home I have a day moisturiser and a night moisturiser. I have travel size moisturisers by Simple (Radiance Brightening Moisturiser) and MAC (Studio Moisture Cream). Small sizes are convenient and last surprisingly long when they are only used a couple of times a week. I keep a 50ml tub of The Body Shop’s Shea body butter with me to pop on after showering as well as a tube of hand cream also from The Body Shop. Currently it’s Almond Milk & Honey.
• Beauty/makeup: A black elastic headband ensures my hair doesn’t kink and keeps my fringe out of my eyes when I wash my face/moisturise. I am trying to use up the last of my Pearly Shine lip balm from Nivea which featured in 2016’s Project Pan! I normally wear this during the day and no other makeup. On the rare occasion I do take makeup I keep it simple: concealer, mascara, a single eyeshadow and a lip product.
• Haircare: I wear my hair down most days but I opt for my black velvet scrunchie (not pictured) if I want to tie it up. I have a Tangle Teezer in Candy Cane for my hair. The Tangle Teezer is compact but takes practice if you’re trying to tie up hair, it’s not as effective as a hairbrush when styling a ponytail.
• Fragrance: I always spritz body spray over myself and my clothes before applying my main perfume. My latest favourite is Impulse Tease (not pictured) which combines red fruits and woods. I tend to switch between two perfumes – my Viva la Juicy atomiser or The Body Shop’s Strawberry EDT which I have been reaching for more lately over Viva la Juicy. The bottle is small and compact and fits perfectly in my overnight bag as well as my handbag.

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What would you include in your overnight bag?

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Empty Products #3

This is only my third Empties post in a year and a half. I published my first ‘Empties’ in November 2015 and it is one of my most popular and most read posts. I find it astounding how slowly I go through and use up products compared to other bloggers but in some ways it shows how economical I am. I like to amass empties until I have a decent number of them to share, I would never have enough to warrant monthly posts. Let’s get started!

Makeup

1. Rimmel Glam Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara

I purchased this mascara for $10 in March 2016. I didn’t start using it until a few months later but as with most Rimmel mascaras I was impressed. The mascara has two different wands and formulas depending on whether you prefer volume, length or both. I like the bright pink packaging and how secure this closes. I especially love the smaller length brush for my bottom lashes, it doesn’t smudge and get everywhere and adds a nice natural definition.

Repurchase: I can see myself picking this up again although it’s not my holy grail. At the moment I have a couple of other mascaras to use first.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair

I frickin’ love this concealer! As you can see from the image the writing has completely rubbed off the packaging but that’s a small flaw. This concealer is the perfect match for my fair skin and the formula is so creamy and high coverage. A few dots of this on my red areas and blemishes is all I need.

Repurchase: I already have! I think they may have changed the packaging because so far no writing has rubbed off.

3. Rimmel Super Curler Mascara

This is my least favourite Rimmel mascara that I’ve ever tried. I was so excited about this when I saw it on Instagram but it didn’t last as long as my other Rimmel mascaras and it didn’t curl my lashes. The only thing I liked about this mascara is the bristle brush as opposed to a plastic one – that’s the reason Rimmel mascaras are my favourite.

Repurchase: Nope.

4. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer

I don’t know what to say about this product because it’s been so long since I used it. I do think this product prolonged my makeup wear time and it didn’t react badly with my skin. It made my skin soft and a little bit went a long way, this primer lasted me over a year. This had a really nice smell to it as well.

Repurchase: Possibly. I’m not sure if this exact product is available anymore, I know Rimmel still do a Fix & Protect primer but it might not be the same one.

5. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

I dislike this product so much I didn’t even keep it for the picture, it went straight in the bin. In the beginning I liked this mascara, it gave good length and the brush was really good for wiggling mascara onto the lashes. This was such a pain to remove though, I’ve had waterproof mascaras before but nothing as stubborn as this. This became such a pain to remove I didn’t want to wear it so I chucked it out.

Repurchase: No, not even the washable version. Maybelline mascaras are expensive for what they are in New Zealand.

Body & SkinCare

6. Derma V10 Strawberry Body Sorbet

I picked up this for roughly $3 and considering the price it is a decent product. This tub lasted me ages and the strawberry scent is scrumptious! I do prefer body butters from The Body Shop as they are more moisturising and they have a range of scents to choose from. If you have normal skin (I have dry/sensitive) I’d say this would be a great budget alternative for you.

Repurchase: Maybe.

7. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

When I first started using this product I didn’t see any real benefits and as a result I would only use it now and again. This product featured in the Project Pan collaboration I did last year and when I was using it more often I started liking it a lot more. I use face mist after moisturiser and before foundation to give my skin that extra bit of moisture.

Repurchase: I’m undecided at the moment. I’m using a Vitamin C Face Mist and once I’ve finished that I can determine which I preferred or if I want to go back to primer instead of face mist.

8. The Body Shop Hand Creams: Wild Argan Oil and Vanilla Chai

I love hand cream, I like to have a stash of two or three at a time so I don’t run out. The Body Shop’s selection is incredible and their formulas don’t react with my skin. There are certain scents I prefer to others and out of these two it would be the Vanilla Chai. Vanilla Chai has a nice spiciness to it and a hint of milk chocolate. The Wild Argan Oil felt slightly less hydrating than the Vanilla Chai and had an almost medicinal scent.

Repurchase: Vanilla Chai  – yes (but it was a Christmas scent), Wild Argan Oil – no.

9. Simple Moisturisers: Light Hydrating and Replenishing Rich

I’ve mentioned numerous times on the blog that I have used Simple moisturiser for years and I continue to do so. I was trialing which one of the two I prefer and the Replenishing Rich was the winner.

Repurchase: Yes to both but I prefer to buy the Replenishing Rich moisturiser.

10. The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter

I bought this body butter in my 2016 Body Shop Birthday Haul and finished it in mid 2016. I love the scent and how soft this made my skin. It had a nutty, kind of cocoa scent and I imagine this would smell really nice on a guy too, it’s one of those gender neutral scents that’s not overpowering.

Repurchase: The Body Shop have discontinued the Brazil Nut range but if they bring it back, I’m buying another tub for sure!

11. Olive Pomegranate Hand & Nail Cream

This product has one of the nicest scents I’ve ever come across, it literally smells like bubblegum. Olive is a New Zealand based beauty/skincare brand but this is the only product of theirs I’ve tried. This hand cream contains more product than those from The Body Shop but overall I feel like The Body Shop hand creams are more moisturising.

Repurchase: I don’t think so.

Other

12. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover

This is probably my favourite nail polish remover that I’ve tried. It doesn’t smell like alcohol like most of them and it removes nail polish really well. The formula contains Vitamin E which also helps strengthen nails and keep them looking and feeling good.

Repurchase: Yes! I couldn’t find this when I purchased a replacement, so I had to settle for a Sally Hansen one.

13. Britney Spears Radiance Perfume

For some reason it takes me ages to go through a perfume. I got this bottle for Christmas in 2013 and finished it some time in 2016. This perfume has a similar scent to Juicy Couture’s Viva la Juicy (which is my favourite) which is probably why I liked it. I couldn’t find an affordable bottle of Viva la Juicy so I got this instead. The bottle looks like gem stones and is very pretty.

Repurchase: I want to buy another bottle but I can’t find it in store so I may have to resort to online, it makes a nice everyday perfume.

14. Revlon Fire & Ice Perfume

This perfume was an item in a gift set I got for Christmas a couple of years ago. This scent is difficult to describe. It’s very different to the type I go for, it’s more mature and not so sweet and doesn’t contain vanilla. This perfume does smell pleasant and again it’s a nice, cheap everyday one for work.

Repurchase: Probably not.

15. Nivea Invisible For Black and White Deodorant

I have used this deodorant for years and I still enjoy using it. I know I won’t start smelling throughout the day and it’s not sticky and doesn’t get all over the armpits of my clothes.

Repurchase: Of course!

16. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner

I purchased these 750ml bottles in June 2016 so that shows you how long I’ve had them. These big bottles are really good value for money, I only have to buy shampoo and conditioner about once a year. I find this shampoo and conditioner decent enough and it smells good but I don’t feel the Keratin Smooth makes my hair any smoother or straighter than before I used it.

Repurchase: I don’t think so.

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That’s everything that I’ve been amassing for the past year or so. You probably won’t see one of these posts for another six months or so, so I hope you enjoyed this one!

Do you enjoy reading empties posts as much as I do? Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products!

August Favourites 2016

Howdy everyone! Month number eight done and dusted! August has flown by super fast and I’ve been crazy busy (but a good busy) with travel, loads of new experiences and starting a new job. I’ve still found the time to round up my favourite things from August and I hope you enjoy!

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Alan Carr – Yap, Yap, Yap! – The whole reason I went up to stay with my brother in the first place was to see Alan Carr live. I have loved and watched Chatty Man for years (though I don’t think it’s as good as it used to be) and I’m so glad I got to see him in person. He was very funny and even though I was in Row R, I still had a great view of him and the stage. There was lots of audience interaction and he was so appreciative that everyone had come to see him. I would definitely go to see him again!

2. Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara – I purchased this mascara back in March but I didn’t start wearing it until July. I’ve been using it for almost two months now and for $10, it’s pretty good! Rimmel mascaras are my favourite anyway because the wands have proper bristles instead of plastic, silicone ones. I like the packaging of this mascara, it’s sleek and the bright pink means it won’t get lost in your makeup bag. For daytime, I’ve really been enjoying wearing two coats of just the length mascara, the wand is quite small but it’s perfect for getting into the bottom lashes. If I want volume as well, I will use both formulas but sometimes the lashes can stick together if I haven’t let them dry long enough between coats. To combat this I go in with the volume first because it is a thicker formula. I still prefer Scandaleyes Lycra Flex over this but it is a decent mascara and I wouldn’t rule out buying it again.

3. Iconic 2 Eyeshadow Palette – I ordered this palette in May as part of my Feel Unique & Makeup Revolution Haul and it took me almost two months to start using it, terrible I know! I got it around the time I lost my job at the pharmacy and I wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup for about a month so it sat there for a little while. When I did delve into this palette and start using it I was super impressed! This palette is predominantly shimmers which I like because I don’t have many of them already and I do like a sparkly eye! The pigmentation is really nice, fallout is minimal and the colours are gorgeous. If you’re undecided about getting the Naked 2 palette, give this dupe a go because I’m sure you will love it!

4. Derma V10 Strawberry Body Sorbet – This is another product I purchased back in March which I have been using since finishing up The Body Shop’s Brazil Nut body butter. The packaging reminds me of a yoghurt pot which is so cute and this smells absolutely divine! It’s a sweet strawberry but it’s not too sweet or overpowering, it’s subtle and blends into the skin nicely. The formula of this product is not what you’d expect, it’s light and almost feels whipped like a mousse. Application is easy, a little bit goes a long way and this doesn’t leave you feeling greasy or sticky while you’re waiting for it to soak in. A very well spent $3 in my opinion!

5. Dannii For Target Coated Leggings – Earlier this month I shared a clothing haul and these leggings were one of the items featured. The very first time I tried them on they felt incredibly comfortable, almost like a second skin. The length is perfect and the coated texture gives them wow factor and sets them apart from normal leggings. I have worn these a couple of times now and I’m a huge fan! They can be worn casually with a t-shirt and jumper or more dressed up if you’re going out. I’ve christened these my rock chick pants!

6. Revlon Lip Butter – Sweet Tart – I was meant to be being good and not buy lip products for a while but I just couldn’t resist! I spotted this lip butter and had to take it home with me. Sweet Tart is such an adorable and appropriate name for this Barbie pink shade. Barbie pink may sound scary but it’s really not. Sweet Tart is bright without being in your face and adds a pretty warmth to the lips. It has reignited my love for the lip butters and made me want three more… Oops!

August’s Spotify Playlist:

This month celebrates one year since I started making these playlists and posting them alongside my favourites. This playlist features some of my favourite artists of new and old.

Empty Products #2

I see quite a lot of other empties posts and I’m always amazed at how fast bloggers go through products. I don’t know whether I’m not using a product properly or if I’m being stingy but I seem to go through products at a snail’s pace in comparison. I’ve only got 10 products here and I’ve been building up this little stash since November 2015. If anyone can tell me where I’m going wrong and how to use up things quicker, please enlighten me!

I’ve broken my empty products into two categories; daily and not daily. Starting with not daily because there’s less of those:

1. TRESemmé Salon Silk Shampoo & Conditioner

I have had these big bottles of shampoo and conditioner since December 2015 and have not had to buy shampoo and conditioner for six months as a result. These aren’t empty quite yet but they are very close and I didn’t want to wait and hold onto them until ‘Empty Products #3’ because who knows when that will be! I have enjoyed using both of these, my hair does indeed feel soft and silky, the smell is pleasant and these are great value for money. The shampoo is about half the size of the conditioner but I shampoo the roots of my hair not the ends and I normally use twice the amount of conditioner just on the ends anyway. I wash my hair every second or third day so that gives you an idea of how often I use these.

Repurchase: Not straight away but yes.

2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Body Butter 200ml

Just thinking about finishing this body butter makes me a bit sad. I finished this around February and while I am happy with the Brazil Nut which I’m currently using, I enjoyed using the Vitamin E because of how hydrating and nourishing it was for my skin. I apply body butter on the same days I wash my hair. The skin on my arms isn’t the smoothest and I find using a body butter every few days in conjunction with a body lotion daily combats that and really helps. I personally am a huge fan of the Vitamin E scent but you might not be if you don’t like rose scents. The scent does fade though.

Repurchase: Yes, definitely! This makes a nice spring/summer scent.

3. Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover

To be honest, I was disappointed with this product. It’s not the worst nail polish remover I’ve used but I found I had to tip product out onto the cotton pad or the cotton ball for each nail. In the past I’ve been able to soak the cotton pad once and it does a whole hand. Trying to remove red nail polish was a pain, as I wiped each nail the cotton pad would come into contact with my skin and stain it. Another thing I didn’t like was the sticky residue it left on my skin, I had to wash my hands two or three times to get rid of it. I didn’t find it very nourishing either. I’m currently using another nail polish remover from Cutex and it is a lot better, my nails feel stronger and it doesn’t leave them sticky. One thing I did like was that this didn’t have a strong nail polish remover scent, it was almost vanilla-like.

Repurchase: Nope.

4. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ’15 Fair’

You all know how much I loved this concealer and it was pretty much the only one I used for the past year. I really liked the doe foot applicator in particular, it grabbed the perfect amount of product and one layer of the product was all I needed. I do think since using the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer that it is better for my skin. Looking back now, the Maybelline did make my skin oily sometimes and the coverage of the Collection is better.

Repurchase: Yes, on the whole it is a good concealer.

5. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation – 081 Fair Ivory

This foundation along with the Maybelline concealer above was my go to everyday combination. I still vow this foundation is the most perfect colour match for my skin and it saddens me that the formula was recently changed and this shade is no longer part of the range. If you like dewy skin, you’ll love this and it’s still easy enough to make matte if that’s more your thing. I’ll miss you Fair Ivory!

Repurchase: I would if I could! I purchased a bottle of 010 Light Porcelain in the new formula and thankfully, I’m liking that a lot!

6. The Body Shop Shea Body Whip

This is the second one of these I’ve used up and I’m going to say it is hands down my favourite product from The Body Shop! This is the body lotion I apply everyday before I get dressed and the scent is just glorious and the product soaks in very quickly. One of these lasts me about four months. The only negative is that once the product starts getting low it no longer pumps out. I end up removing the lid and tipping it upside down into a container to get the remaining product out.

Repurchase: Yes. I have a body lotion to use next which was a birthday present but I’ll be going back to this after that.

7. Impulse Into Glamour Body Spray

I used up one of these in my last empties post as well so I’ll keep things brief. I have purchased this particular scent for years and I love it! This is my first can of the smaller size and I do prefer the old, larger cans as you got more product.

Repurchase: Of course!

8. Nivea Invisible For Black and White Deodorant x 2

I have been using this deodorant for the past year or so now and I am a fan. This deodorant is a good all rounder: smells lovely, does it’s job and lives up to the promise of not leaving marks on your clothing. I find the formula nice too, it’s not powdery and doesn’t feel thick or heavy on the armpit. Being glass, it’s also really handy to see how much you have left.

Repurchase: Yes.

9. The Body Shop Shea Hand Cream

Hand cream is one of my favourite things to apply and I like to apply mine at night right before bed. The Shea range is my favourite from The Body Shop and one of the things I like about the scent is how subtle and gender neutral it is. This little tube will last you a couple of months and is perfect for popping in your handbag or keeping on your nightstand. This hand cream is lovely to apply and soaks in pretty fast so you won’t be sitting there not able to do anything à la a freshly painted nails situation.

Repurchase: For sure!

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Empties posts are some of my favourites to read! It also feels very therapeutic knowing you’ve finished a product and the thought of being able to crack into something new/go shopping for replacements. Have you tried any of the products mentioned here?