Products I've used up | January 2016

My first empties post of 2016 featuring a variety of products starting with the last product to make it's way into the pile, Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo. This is an old favourite of mine but as I rotated products around my bathroom I'd shifted this larger bottle into my travel stash and would use to decant into smaller bottles I had. I took those smaller bottles to Florida with me and fell in love once again with this shampoo I'm definitely tempted to make a repurchase very soon. 

I'm a big fan of La Roche Posay and the Physiological Cleansing Gel* didn't disappoint for it's formula, packaging and ability to see when it was sadly coming to an end. Apparently the formula contains ingredients so gentle that they're used in contact lens solutions but that doesn't mean that it's too soft to remove all make up and grime from your face at the end of the day. 

Regular readers will know I'm loyal to Sure Maximum Protection for my deodorant needs but I'm not against trying new products. In this instance it was Dr Organic Coconut Oil Deodorant* which whilst not a competitor for my regular product was a pleasant one to use at night time. If you're a coconut lover this is one for you. Another deodorant I tried was from Soft & Gentle* and unfortunately it just didn't pack the punch I need either. Just call me sweaty betty!

Hot on the heels of the shampoo is L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Conditioner, both of which are great products for giving thick, glossy locks. Definitely one for the repurchase list. 

The MonuSpa Body Buffer* was a complete luxury product that I loved using and shows why sometimes it's worth spending the extra few pounds for bath time product. Whilst I have a healthy stash of Soap & Glory Body Scrubs to work through I will be considering a repurchase for when I want an additional pamper. 

I've had the Elegant Touch Drama Queen false nails have sat in a draw at home for some time and they finally made an appearance for a friends birthday dinner after Christmas. Despite my intentions of a full on manicure as usual time escaped me and instead I reached for these. Unlike the House of Holland nails I'd used these were much smaller in size and whilst still giving me talons I was able to 'function' much easier. They did mean I was unable to type as freely as I would like so I did soak them off the next day but it was worth it for a quick fix before a night out. 

Cocoa Brown Tan* is well known for being a well performing affordable tanning product and I can see why. I seem to have a rather large collection of tanning products without the frequent use and I'm trying to change that, hence Cocoa Brown's tanner finding its way into the empty pile. 

I used Bobbi Brown Corrector for years and whilst there is still a small offering left an end of year declutter I decided to put this in the trash. I haven't reached for it in months and other products are used with more frequency. Yes it knocks out the colour of my dark circles and will not sit in my fine lines but I have other products that I prefer these days. 

A product thats more function rather than one I have much to say on, Nails Inc Base Coat was my go to first step in my nail regimes. Again my end of year declutter highlights the abundance of nail products available to me so there is no need for a repurchase yet and I'm comfortable that many base coat products I've used do the same job.

As I enter 2016 I've decided I need to be more strict with my mascara and rather than flog to death, let them go when the time is needed. Two that have had the boot recently are NYX Propel My Lashes* which I loved and will repurchase when the time comes and L'Oreal Lash Architect Mascara* from Just My Look which I didn't. I didn't enjoy the spindly brush nor clumpy look of my lashes. One very much, for the bin. 

I had been using YSL Touche Eclat for years and repurchased constantly. As I became less brand loyal, or shall we say experimental with my product ranges this product fell to the back of the draw and I don't know how long it's sat there. I have used sporadically throughout the year but as part of the already mentioned declutter it was time to let go. Yes I have my eyes on that collectors edition, stay tuned. 

Whilst on holiday and browsing the Sephora aisles I dithered whether to repurchase Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black in full size knowing the small rollerball had reached the end of it's life. In the end I decided to hold fire, sure I'll be in the US later in the year when I have less perfume lining my dressing table. 

And finally is Ameliorate Skin Smoothing Body Lotion which was an amazing find last year. To target Keratosis Pilaris or chicken skin as it's known it's worth the price tag. I'm lucky that I only have a small patch on one of my legs but this cleared it up a treat. As usual with my usage I'm sporadic but nonetheless when used properly this product works a treat. The only reason I won't be repurchasing yet is I managed to pick up an alternative in the US, once again stay tuned!

*this post contains press samples 

2014 Body Favourites & Goals

As 2015 is well underway my main goal for the body (ignoring any such 'have a figure to rival a Victoria Secrets model' fantasies) is to use body lotion on a more frequent basis. Slightly dull but I think many of us will admit it's the one product in our beauty rituals we are less than diligent with and for some reason I have an abundance of.

That said I was better in 2014 than any other. It may have taken me a year to finish a tub of Clinque Body Butter but I am getting better currently using Roger & Gallet's Bots D'Orange* and the favourite of 2014 Ameliorate both of which I initially spoke of in this post.

As I mentioned in my earlier  post Ameliorate is a pricey body lotion which is not a luxury item but one with a purpose and that is to treat 'chicken skin'. These two elements were what encouraged me to use the body lotion regularly because when I did I saw results. Admittedly as 2014 came to end so too did my use of Ameliorate whilst my legs were encased in thick tights for warmth and due to working my through the tube at a rapid rate. I am now rather than using as my standard body lotion applying it directly to the areas I need it's help to prolong it's use and enjoy other lotions in my stash. The results are evident and as such this will become a staple product for me.

Unlike body lotions, body scrubs are something I use regularly and my favourite has to be Soap & Glory's Breakfast Scrub, the second tub I repurchased recently. I have used other scrubs such as one from St Ives, another from The Body Shop seen in my December Empties but it's the Breakfast Scrub I return to. It balances the right consistency of being coarse enough to exfoliate yet smooth enough to be comfortable - and of course there's the scent which is perfect for Winter. As we move into Summer I'm looking forward to diving into my tub of Sugar Crush I received for Christmas and if I win the lottery I'd love to purchase the Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub which is complete decadence should you have the budget.

The TheraPearl Heat Pad* featured in my Sick Day Saviours post and is used monthly to tackle the stomach pain and back ache that only fellow women can sympathise with. No longer am I suffering in silence or waking up with a cold 'hot' water bottle in the morning.

Radox as a budget brand is one I love. I have worked for them for many years before I knew or saw 'beauty blogging' as a 'thing'. There shower gels are always found in my bathroom and cannot be found fault with. Having recently tried other budget bubble bath brands by way of trying other things I will certainly be returning to Radox as the others fell short in comparison. Yes I love my higher end versions of both shower and bath products but for everyday these more than do the job without compromising on quality,

Finally the Gillette Venus & Olay razor I initially reviewed in this post has become a real favourite of mine. Since receiving the initial sample of this product I have gone on to repurchase more blades as I've really come to enjoy using it and other razors have been neglected in favour of this. It gives such a great shave and whilst additional shower gel isn't needed and depending on the shower gel in question things can get a tad gunky I love how smooth my legs feel and the ease in which shaving is done.

There is my list of body products that topped my list for 2014, what would be on yours?

*PR Sample

Top Four Winter Body Lotions

Applying body lotions seems for many a beauty lover the most unloved task, myself included. I go through phases sometimes enjoying the ritual and others finding it a complete bind but it's something I want to change for many reasons. Today I have four different types of body lotion all which serve different purposes and as such have seen an increase in their usage.

Ameliorate Skin Smoothing Body Lotion link
I first heard about Ameliorate from the British Beauty Blogger and so intrigued was I that I ordered immediately. Ameliorate is your, shall we say treatment body lotion, it's main draw being that it helps improve Keratosis Pilaris what's more commonly known as 'chicken skin'.

I am lucky in that I don't suffer from this in great amounts but do have a patch on one of my legs from crossing them that over the years no exfoliating or body lotion applying has helped and I thought that maybe Ameliorate would do the job, so much so that I paid £27.50 for a tube of body lotion which wasn't sitting in the luxury bracket.

There were some high expectations from me on this product and I'm pleased to say that it met them. Due to it's cost and the realisation that it would have to be applied with frequency to do it's job meant that I have been rather diligent in application and as such have certainly seen a change in the skin's appearance in the area. Obviously I'm not perfect so I have had moments of not using this product and/or using the others that I'll mention so I'm happy that miracles haven't occurred especially as when I'm still crossing me legs and thus causing the main reason for the problem only so much can be done.

It was actually quite rewarding seeing the tube start to empty even if I am mindful of it's cost to replace which I will happily do so. If you suffer from exceptionally dry skin and or chicken skin this is definitely worth looking into.

Roger & Gallet Lait Sorbet Body Lotion* link
When I was asked if I'd like to try the Sorbet range from Roger & Gallet I was keen, especially as I'd always only associated them with soaps for some reason. It's one of those brands that seems to pop up at Christmas or in independent pharmacies that I'd never paid much attention to which will certainly change now.

There are four scents of which I have two, Bots D'Orange and Gingembre. As you can imagine due to my love of Citrus scents Bois D'Orange is my favourite and suited perfectly to this time of year as we move into Clementine and Satsuma season. Each Sorbet body lotion is enriched with botanical oils which help to keep skin hydrated as well as others to leave a luminous finish on the skin. These are my pamper time favourites and the pump bottle is perfect for ensuring tubes aren't slipping out of your hands. The texture is almost gel like yet thinner in that it glides over the skin and sinks in without having to stand around before you can pop clothes on - which is of particularly interest due to the colder evenings. All components of these body lotions makes using them a pleasure rather than a chore.

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Lotion* link
The Vaseline Intensive Care range of body lotions sits nicely in your no nonsense budget category. A particular favourite of mine is the Cocoa scent although lately it's been the fresh cucumber scent from Aloe Soothe Lotion that has been reached for on days when skin feels a little drier than I would like or I've been a bit overzealous with a razor. I like to use this on my knees and elbows which have slight psoriasis and find this does just the trick to cool the area. This would be amazing in the summer if you were to find yourself with a little sunburn and proved just as useful when I've burnt my fingers on the oven. You might expect a body lotion from the high street for only a few pounds would be watery or sticky but this range sinks into skin nicely and leaves skin moisturised.

How Now Brown Cow Gradual Tanning Cream* link
MooGoo Skincare is a brand I was not familiar with that hails from Australia and specialises in products for psoriasis and eczema suffers. Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow recommended How Now Brown Cow Gradual Tanning Cream in GOOP so I certainly thought it was worth trying. I always find it funny that we faux tan in Summer when the sun is out doing it's thing but come Winter and the festive season when there's more change of us being dressed in our finest and photographed to the max we look like Caspar the ghost. A gradual tanner was just the thing to see me through the next few months with a formula that still acts as a moisturiser for the skin. This is definitely a product for those wanting the subtle effects. Again like Ameliorate I probably do not use diligently enough to see myself go from Caspar to Gisele but it certainly takes of the edge of Winter skin and gives me a warmer colour in between faux tans. This is a very thick cream which does take some working into the skin so you would need to leave some time before popping your pi's on but the yellow tinge of the cream means you are able to see where you have applied. Don't be fooled into thinking my subtle talk means you don't need to wash your hands after this because I made that foolish mistake and was demonstrating some lovely brown patches between my fingers for some time! If you love natural products and a bit of colour to your skin this could be just the product for you.

So there you have some current favourites I'm using at the moment. Let me know in the comments if you're a diligent body lotion user or like me need some encouragement.

*PR Sample