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!

Project Pan Week 6: The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

Happy Monday and welcome to week six of Project Pan! Project Pan follows Stash Matters, A Brash Attitude, Curly Spring Blossom and I as we pick 12 products to try and hit pan on/empty over 12 weeks (11 in my case).

This week I’m talking about The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Face Mist. This is the second of three products from The Body Shop to feature as part of Project Pan.

About

I purchased this Face Mist in January 2016 as part of my Birthday Body Shop Haul. I can’t quite remember if I saw this on other blogs and purchased it because of that or if I just wanted to try it as a setting spray. (I think it was a bit of both).

My bottle of Face Mist features the old logo and packaging. The Body Shop have since updated their logo and the packaging looks nicer and more crisp. The lid and cap are black and by the looks of things there is now a label around the bottle. I’m not sure if the size of the bottle has changed at all but the old bottle is a nice size and wouldn’t take up a lot of space if you’re traveling and want something quick and easy to refresh your face.

From the website:

A quick skin pick-me up and excellent for setting make-up. Spritz it on for instant refreshment, moisture, and protection. With a delicate rosewater scent.

•  For all skin types

pros

• Doesn’t break me out or react with my skin
• Compact, handy size
• Feels refreshing when first spritzed

Cons

• Doesn’t do much for my skin
• Takes more than a couple of sprays to make skin feel properly hydrated
• Price

Chanelle’s rating: 6/10 – In all honesty this isn’t a bad product but it doesn’t wow me either! I don’t think I would purchase this again in future. It does feel refreshing when it is sprayed onto the skin but I don’t find it hydrates my skin or does much in the way of setting makeup. You do get 100ml of mist and I’m not sure how much you get in other setting sprays but I don’t feel the price is reflective of the product. You’re basically paying $25 (NZD) for rose scented water. Sorry, The Body Shop.

The Remaining products – Progress

1. Nivea Pearly Shine Lip Balm – I haven’t worn this lip balm at all this week, naughty naughty!
   
2. The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream – Used 2x.
   
3. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – Used 3x.
4. Britney Spears Curious – In Control – Used 2x.
   
5. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail – Used 2x.
   
6. Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier – Used 1x.
   
7. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair – Used 5x. I am close to finishing this product.
   
8. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Setting Powder – Didn’t use this week.
   
9. The Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter – Used 6x.
   
10. Cutex Strengthening Nail Polish Remover – Used 1x.

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Don’t forget to check out this week’s posts from my collaboration partners:

• Stash Matters
• A Brash Attitude
• Curly Spring Blossom

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Nighttime Routine

Over the past couple of months I have gotten into a regular routine and developed a nightly regime to help combat the effects of winter weather. In this post I will be discussing the products I have been turning to keep my skin, hair, lips and hands looking tip top! Let’s jump straight in!

Step One – Skin

I moisturise twice a day: morning and night and a couple of months ago I purchased The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream. Previously, I had been using my regular daytime moisturiser at night as well but I found that it didn’t seem to keep my skin hydrated enough and I wanted to try something specifically for evening use. I first read about the Vitamin E Night Cream over on Rachel’s blog and I’m so glad I gave it a go because it has been working wonders. I wake up with supple skin and no dry face. My makeup has been applying better too.

I use the Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream six nights a week, every night except for Sunday. Once a week I apply a face mask and I find my skin is hydrated enough without applying the Night Cream over top. I use Natio’s Face Mask Purifier which is a clay mask. This mask helps to unclog and tighten pores and my skin instantly feels smoother after removal.

If I have a blemish or spot I apply a little bit of DQ & Co.’s Love Your Skin Balm. It is formulated with Manuka Honey and Vitamin A to promote healing and minimise scarring.

Step Two – Hair

I like to keep my haircare routine simple and easy and for this I have been using Fudge Urban’s Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail. This is another product I picked up upon recommendation from a blogger; Karen this time. I apply a little more than a pea sized amount of product to my palms before dispersing it through the ends of my hair. My hair is long so I apply from the mid lengths to the ends. I absolutely adore this product for a number of reasons – smell and texture being the standouts. This doesn’t feel greasy to apply nor does it make hair look greasy.

Chanelle’s Tip: I also like to apply this after I’ve straightened my hair to keep it looking slick, shiny and frizz-free.

Step Three – Lips

I have had this little pot of Strawberry Lip Butter from The Body Shop for a year now and there is still a ton of product left! I’ll admit, up until a few months ago when I started this routine I only used this lip butter off and on. I didn’t want it to get left by the wayside and just sit there until I remembered to use it so I’ve started applying lip balm each night before I go to bed. My lips don’t get dry very much but this ensures they stay even softer and won’t chap. The smell of this is divine and every night when I apply it I give it a sniff!

Step Four – Hands/Nails

Hand cream is one of my daily essentials and I actually picked up this one from (my old) workplace earlier this year. The Pomegranate Hand & Nail Cream contains 50ml of product which is a lot compared to others out there. This cost roughly the same price as a 30ml tube of hand cream from The Body Shop and has nearly twice the amount of product. Olive is a New Zealand brand which boasts all natural ingredients. Again, this smells absolutely divine (like bubblegum), and the texture is very moisturising. The product is non-greasy and soaks in quickly.

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As you can see, my nighttime routine is relatively simple. I don’t like to over-complicate things, I prefer to stick with what I know and I try to minimise the amount of products I use. Do you have a nighttime routine? What are your favourite products to use?

June Favourites 2016

It’s favourites time once again! Can you believe we are already halfway through the year?! If I could sum up June in one word, it would be odd – I’ve experienced both highs and lows. At the beginning of June I was enjoying time off from work and now as I type this post I am jobless. I had no idea it was coming when I returned after my time off and I was only back at work for 11 days until I got the news. I’ll direct you to Monday’s post if you’d like to read more. For the past week I have been job hunting and setting some plans in place. I don’t want this to be a negative time so I am focusing my energy on getting my learner licence and in just under two months I’ve arranged to go up and see my brother and spend time with him.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. Philips Moisture Protect Hair Dryer – This hair dryer featured on my Winter Beauty Wishlist and I have now purchased everything on it – yay! I have the matching white/rose gold straighteners which I purchased last year and absolutely love! This hair dryer is pretty powerful, it operates at 2300 watts and has a drying speed of 120 km/h. I do have to be careful where I point this so that it doesn’t knock anything over, it’s that powerful, but the end result is worth it. The best part about the Moisture Protect styling tools is the sensor to measure hair temperature and automatically adjust itself to prevent hair overheating. As a result you’re left with smooth, frizz-free, shiny hair. This hair dryer has a range of speed and temperature settings and also comes with two attachments, a concentrator and a diffuser.

2. Tanya Burr Lipglosses – I purchased three Tanya Burr lipglosses during a 3 For 2 offer on Feel Unique and I have been wearing these a ton ever since they arrived! The shades I purchased are I Found Nemo, Afternoon Tea and Picnic In the Park. I love them all but my favourite is definitely Afternoon Tea, it is the perfect subtle everyday shade with the slightest hint of pink. These glosses are great as they are nicely pigmented and don’t feel sticky on the lips. If you’d like to see me wearing each shade as well as swatches, CLICK HERE.

3. The Body Shop Black Musk Eau De Toilette – I talked about this fragrance last Friday but I will reiterate the main points here in case you missed that post. This fragrance is one I can see myself wearing a lot over the winter months as the warm tones make this scent sophisticated and the right mix between naughty and nice. The packaging of this perfume is also really nice and because the bottle is quite small it won’t take up much space in your handbag. If you’re a fan of musk scents I urge you to give this one a go!

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream – I purchased this product after encouragement from the lovely Rachel. She raved about how good this was and with the weather beginning to cool down in New Zealand I was on the hunt for something more nourishing and hydrating than my regular moisturiser and a product specifically designed for night time use. I haven’t a bad word to say about this little pot! You don’t need to apply much at all and it sinks into the skin quickly without leaving it greasy. I have been waking up with lovely, soft skin and I really notice the difference when applying my makeup.

5. I ♡ Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter – In May I FINALLY made my first Makeup Revolution order and it arrived approximately three weeks ago. My favourite product has to be this gorgeous silver/pink highlighter from I ♡ Makeup as it gives a lovely glow to my skin and is incredibly beautiful. I am a huge fan of the packaging and you get so much product – it will be a while before I hit pan on this!

June’s Spotify Playlist:

This is a playlist of two halves for a couple of reasons: there is a mix of male and female artists and one half of the playlist is emotional and ballad-y while the other half is happy and uptempo. It’s the perfect mix of my music taste.

P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

Blogger Made Me Buy It

One of my favourite parts of blogging is discovering new and interesting products and being able to try them out. When it comes to money and spending, 9 times out of 10 I will purchase a product for a specific purpose as opposed to buying it because I feel like it (although that has happened in the past). Today I have a handful of products to talk about that fellow bloggers have convinced me to buy. Keep reading to find out whether they’re as good as they have been made out to be!

1. Fudge Urban Miracle Ends Tropical Cocktail

I don’t tend to do a lot with my hair but I have changed that recently. I’m lucky my hair is in good condition so I don’t need to use a lot of product and I have a simple hair care routine. I apply this to the ends of my hair at night and when I first began applying it I noticed a difference straight away. My hair feels even softer using this product, particularly when I blow dry or straighten it. The best part about this is the smell. The smell is fruity and tropical but not overpowering in the slightest – I believe this scent would make a lovely body spray. Not only is this a nice smelling product, it does live up to it’s claims. It seals split and dry ends, repairs, conditions and nourishes hair and can be used wet or dry. Argan Oil hydrates hair and and helps to create a natural shine.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

2. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – Hazel

My natural brows are thick and quite dark but since buying this brow pencil there have only been a handful of times I haven’t reached for it and that’s normally when I’m having a no makeup day or wearing minimal makeup. I really like the shade hazel because the colour is not too dark, it blends in nicely with my natural brow colour and pulls on the auburn tones of my hair. I have had the pencil for three months now and have only had to sharpen it a couple of times. I do see the difference this makes to my brows even though it is subtle and I like it!

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (Clarina Beauty) 

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 01 Fair

This wee tube of concealer is often talked about in the blogging world and for good reason! I use the lightest shade which is perfect for my skin tone and the coverage and formula of the product is exceptional. This concealer doesn’t cling to any dry patches or crease and I find it really good for my complexion. It doesn’t break me out or make my t-zone oily and it is certainly a product I will be repurchasing!

Blogger who made me buy it: Again, Claire (Clarina Beauty) but there are a number of bloggers who sing its’ praises.

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

This is the product I have owned for the shortest amount of time out of everything on this list but it is fast becoming a firm favourite! I purchased this night cream a few weeks ago as I wanted to use something more nourishing and hydrating than my regular moisturiser at night time. I apply this after removing my makeup for the day and it is doing wonders for my skin. The tub contains 50ml which may not seem like a lot but I apply this sparingly and when I wake up my skin doesn’t feel dry and my makeup is applying better and looking nicer. The Body Shop’s Vitamin E range has a rose scent which you may not be a fan of (I am) but that pales in comparison to how good the product is. This soaks in quickly and doesn’t give skin a greasy feel while still keeping it moisturised and supple.

Blogger who made me buy it: Rachel (Rachel’s Beauty Talk)

5. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer – 01 Light Matte

If you’re extremely fair skinned, new to bronzers and looking for a matte bronzer to help contour or just to use all over the face, the honey bronzers from The Body Shop are a winner! I purchased this back in January as part of my Birthday Body Shop Haul and this is my go to when I’m feeling a little pale and just want to add a bit more colour to my face. It is pretty difficult to go over the top with this particular shade as it is so light but I don’t find myself needing to use a lot of product to get a good payoff either. I apply this using my Real Techniques Blush Brush as it is nice and fluffy and sweeps the product over my cheeks.

Blogger who made me buy it: Lauren (Styled By Lauren) and Estée (Estée Lalonde)

6. W7 Power Puff Makeup Sponge

Sponges have taken the makeup world by storm in the last couple of years and I picked up this Beauty Blender dupe at a makeup sale for $6 to see what all the hype is about. After using it I totally get the appeal! Sponges give a light, streak free finish and while I don’t use this sponge all the time it’s good when my makeup brushes have been washed and need time to dry or to apply my Max Factor foundation in the cooler months to ensure I don’t look orange because it is better suited to my skin tone in the summer.

Blogger who made me buy it: Karen (Confetti and Curves)

7. Rimmel Asia Lipstick

I had brushed this shade off when I initially, it looked like other light pink-blush shades and I didn’t think I needed one in my collection. When I read it was a dupe for MAC shades like Mehr, Twig, Cosmo and Faux I was intrigued and wanted to try it! I thought why pay $40 for a MAC lipstick when I can get something similar from one of my favourite brands for a quarter of the price. As it turns out, Asia isn’t quite as pink as I first thought and makes a great everyday lip colour which is why it featured in my Nude Lipsticks 101 post. The pigmentation is outstanding and the formula is nice and creamy and long lasting on the lips.

Blogger who made me buy it: Claire (EclairsCares)

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I am impressed with all of these products and I tend to trust the opinions of my fellow bloggers – they haven’t led me wrong here! What products have bloggers inspired you to buy?

P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

Birthday Body Shop Haul

Happy Monday – hope you all had a lovely weekend! I’m extremely excited for the week ahead on Chanelle Hayley. It’s my 21st birthday this coming Sunday and to commemorate the occasion I have birthday related posts in store for you this week and next Monday. I’ve got a Body Shop haul, a makeup menu and a few other surprises up my sleeve – stay tuned!

Speaking of Body Shop hauls… Last weekend I popped into my local store armed with a list of goodies I wanted to buy. During birthday month I get a one time 20% discount and I also had a $10 off voucher yet to redeem. Long story short I saved quite a bit of money and it does pay to take advantage of special offers and schemes like that when you can.

What was on my list I hear you ask? My current body butter is almost finished so I wanted to get a replacement, I’ve wanted to try a makeup setting spray for a while and I’ve been promising myself I would pick up a bottle of the Strawberry Eau De Toilette. I also picked up one of the Honey Bronzers in the shade 01 Light after reading about it on Lauren’s blog.

1. Brazil Nut Body Butter 200ml

I have wanted to try something from the Brazil Nut range for the longest time and I can’t wait to get started on this body butter! This body butter is ideal for dry skin and has a decadent caramel scent which will make it perfect in the cooler months when my skin tends to be drier and needs moisture. There are three key ingredients in this body butter: Brazil nut, cocoa butter and shea butter. All three help to keep skin soft and silky. When I took this up to the counter, the sales assistant told me The Body Shop are discontinuing the Brazil Nut range. I’m not sure if that means it won’t be back in the future but if you want to try something from the range, get in quick so you don’t miss out! My only hope is I don’t fall too in love with this body butter.

2. Vitamin E Face Mist 100ml

If you’re not a fan of roses you might not like this face mist as it has a rosewater scent. The scent isn’t overpowering but if you have a sensitive nose you might think differently. This product is designed to be used as a pick me up for the skin and to set makeup. I have been using this for the past week and it is so refreshing. A couple of sprays is all you need and it doesn’t take long to set either. My makeup has been a bit tacky lately due to the heat and something like this is perfect for a quick spritz and instant coolness. I imagine this will also be nice in winter to provide an extra bit of hydration if skin is a little dry. I haven’t had a reaction to this product and it says it is suitable for all skin types.

3. Strawberry Eau De Toilette 30ml

I cannot get over how dinky and cute this bottle is! It may not seem like you get a lot but 30ml is one of the standard perfume bottle sizes. I absolutely love my Strawberry Lip Butter and I’d sprayed this scent on my arm on a previous visit to test whether I’d like it as a perfume and I do. The scent is fresh, fruity and sweet and works nicely as a summer scent. This EDT also contains real strawberry extract so the scent is a true strawberry not fake.

4. Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 01 Light Matte

Normally I steer well clear of bronzers as they’re either too shimmery, make me look orange or don’t apply evenly. When I read about this product on Lauren’s blog I thought it sounded too good to be true but upon swatching it in store it isn’t. The bronzer is pigmented but not so much that it applies heavily. I have been using it over the past week and I really like it. I have been applying it over my cheeks and forehead using my Real Techniques Blush Brush and it looks lovely and natural. If I knew how to contour I would use it for that but for now I’m happy. You don’t need a lot of product but it’s super easy to layer up if you want a more sun-kissed look.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products!