Cold Companions

Whilst I'm pleased to note we're now in Spring and daylight hours last a little longer I have still found myself with a sniffle or two as the weather struggles to make up its mind to be warm or cold. Only last week I left my tights and coat at home only for it to take a chillier turn and the rain started! When I get that sniffly feeling and fear a cold wants to attack I have a couple of favourite products I reach for to take a long hot bath.

First is the Ayumi Muscle Massage Bath & Body Oil* which I add to my bath and inhale the variety of essential oils that fill the bathroom. Of course if I were lucky I'd have a strapping young man available to offer me a massage which all Ayumi Oils are fit for but sadly a soak in the tub has to do.

Next is an old favourite, Molton Brown Eucalyptus Body Wash which I have been using for years. I had a panic recently when suffering from a blocked nose and couldn't find this as whether is psychological or not I always feel better after using.

Have you tried either or these products or have a recommendation for pampering myself when I feel a cold settling in?

Beauty Empties | February 2015

As I embark 2015 with the goal to use what I own rather than adding more I hope to see lot's featuring in my monthly Empties posts. Here's the latest look at my beauty trash.

Cafe de Bain Indulgent Bath Creme, Coconut Macaron link

Whilst having a walk round Waitrose the Cafe de Bain Bath Creme caught my eye and I decided to treat myself as a lover of coconut (and macarons for that matter). Unfortunately I found this bath creme a little blah. I didn't find the scent was strong enough and whilst lovely in the bottle it didn't translate to bath and as a final note the packaging was a nightmare to get out the bottle. Back to Radox it is. 

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Shower Cream link

I feel like this shower cream last ever FOREVER. I received it for Christmas a couple of years ago. Used it through Winter and then put aside until the last one and finally it's time for us to part ways. This was a wonderfully scented and thick product that made washing and leg shaving a dream. 

Molton Brown Hand Wash, Rose Granite link

Another product that went on forever and I feared would never run empty - the Mary Poppins bag of the beauty world if you will. So long did it last it's also changed names to Pomegranate & Ginger. I've mentioned before that Molton Brown doesn't really excite me these days and I can't say this hand wash did anything to reignite my love but it is a worthy addition to any sink. 

The Breath Company Toothpaste* link

Toothpaste isn't the sexiest of products but it can certainly make a difference to sexy scenarios - who wants to have nasty breath. That aside I really liked this toothpaste (read my review here) and found it preferable to the extreme mint taste of other products. I would've immediately repurchased but for having a tube of Colgate to hand and am now kicking myself as it was on offer in Boots a week or two back and no longer is as I head to needing to replace. Either way my preference is for this toothpaste. I find it less offensive in the mornings - particularly when I have a hangover and there is the danger of gag reflex from teeth brushing after a night on the tiles.

Impulse Body Spray, Vanilla Kisses* link 

A vanilla theme is forming with my recent empties as the 90s revived Vanilla Kisses made it's way into my empties pile. I sometimes feel a little old to be using Impulse but I do enjoy having a can sitting in my bedside table for a spray as I climb into bed. As a fan of vanilla this is a favourite. 

TokyoMilk Dark Tainted Love Perfume link

My review of this spontaneous purchase can be read here. I enjoyed using in it's initial stages but for some reason I decided that I wanted to get this bottle finished and using repeatedly I did become bored with it. Nonetheless it was nice to try a new fragrance but I did miss my Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. 

Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor Blade Refills link

I first received the the Gillette Razor and reviewed in this post and so taken with it that it appeared in my 2014 favourites post. I love the additional shave bars that accompany the blades and it saves slathering too much shower gel on when shaving. 

Vichy Idealia Life Serum and Eyes* link link

The Vichy Idealia range is one I've spoke about often and appears frequently in favourites posts. I love the Idealia range and it would have been promptly repurchased and back in my regime were it not for my testing other products.  

Paco Rabanne, Lady Million* link | Givenchy, Very Irresistible* link / Jimmy Choo, Jimmy Choo* link

Each of these perfumes were from The Fragrance Shops' Discovery Box and taken away to Edinburgh recently when I was battling hand luggage liquid restrictions. Lady Million is an old favourite that I knew would not let me down. Givenchy Very Irresistible is one I've had samples of in the past and do enjoy and the only one to not make much of an impression was Jimmy Choo's same named scent. I always err on the edge of caution with sample sizes and was able to be somewhat over zealous with spraying as I couldn't managed with just two but with them available why not treat myself to more. 

Biosculpture Gel Remover* link

Finally we have the Biosculpture Gel Remover, simply an acetone formula used to remove your Biosculpture Gel Manicure talked about in this post. Little to say other than it did its job at removing the nails as instructed.

What has made it's way into your rubbish pile this month?

*PR Sample

Don't forget to enter my US  drugstore beauty giveaway here

November Empties

My favourite time of the month, it's empties time. It doesn't look quite the glamorous selection of products this month but there's a couple of reappearances and one sorely missed so lets dive in.

Sure Maximum Protection link
Are we bored of this one yet? I'm tempted to remove Sure Maximum Protection from my empties post but fear it's absence may lead you to believe I'm not using any deodorant. For the lowdown read this post.

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette link
I had mixed feelings on the Brow Wiz when I first purchased it. I used it sporadically and then the packaging let me down. The spoolie end would come off completely in the cap so I had to abandon it if I wanted to use the spoolie which meant it was able to get grubby in my make up bag. In amongst that time I started using the Sleek Brow Stylist which I enjoyed and that made me return to the Brow Wiz and I found how to work with it and it was love. Whilst in Vegas a few months back I picked up a replacement Brow Wiz knowing my current one was nearing its end and you can imagine my horror (yes first world problems people) when I opened the packaging and I'd picked up the pencil by mistake. So far the pencil is proving difficult to work with but I have a back up Sleek Brow Stylist which I'm relying on till I repurchase.

Victoria Secrets Phone Case link
A slightly rogue item to throw into my empties post but for some reason I put it into the pile and included it into my photo. Sadly this case has cracked so it's off to iPhone cover heaven for this slightly narcissistic case. Luckily I stocked up on my last Victoria Secrets trip so I have another but fyi the cover has cracked and my phone hasn't from whenever I dropped it.

VO5 Plump It Up Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion link
Another frequent entry is this beauty from VO5. You can read previous posts here and here. I haven't repurchased this yet as I'm testing a few other products and to see if I miss using it so stay tuned as I'll be sure to share with you.

Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry Scent Razor* link
I reviewed this razor not too long ago in this post and I can confirm that having used to 'empty' I'm even more of a fan and will be replacing the razors on my next trip to the drugstore. It was definitely handy to have although the size of shave bars is somewhat deceiving as they do start to disintigrate that they start flapping about so they're unusable. That said they lasted a sufficient amount of time to be worth my repurchase.

Molton Brown Rose Granati Soothing Hand Lotion now known as Pomegranate & Ginger link
I've had this hand lotion from Molton Brown so long it's changed names. I've also had it so long that it was purchased from QVC when they originally stocked the brand and have subsequent begun reselling. I've had this hand lotion in my bathroom, then moved to my desk at work in an effort to use up and whilst it was at it's end on my coffee table at home. It felt like it went on forever and I'm finally glad to see the back of it. Truth be told I wasn't that much of a fan of this hand lotion and will give it the benefit of the doubt that it's possible age could have a factor and if someone handed me a new bottle I wouldn't throw it back at them! I found the texture watery and greasy and a little certainly went a long way.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes link
Facial wipes and an empty pack at that, the horror. We all know the deal with facial wipes, they're not the best and even a lazy cleanser such as myself prefers traditional cleansers than a facial wipe but when I found myself staying overnight without my usual stash of skincare I popped into a supermarket wanting to spend as little money as possible for what was essentially one night and one mornings cleanse before returning home. And I'd add I'd like a pat on the back for even considering removing my make up at all. Anyway excuses aside I still couldn't reach for the own brand and instead went for Simple having seen them pop in skincare routines from one or two people. I was actually suitably impressed with these wipes which was completely unexpected. Considering I literally used the wipe for removing make up and was unable to follow up with toners and moisturisers I didn't find my skin was left tight at all. As such I used these for a couple of late nights and would happily repurchase these for future flights or mini breaks where I'm accepting of the lack of diligence to my skincare routine.

Compeed Cold Sore Patches link
It was only Monday I referred to these cold sore patches as being my go to product for cold sore time. With two cold sores I went through these patches quicker than I would like but they did the job. A week later my cold sores have disappeared. Definitely give these a try instead of creams if you're a sufferer, I'm sure you'll be converted.

What products did you say goodbye to this month? I'm looking forward to seeing what the festive season's empties bring.

*PR Sample

October Empties

Products I've used up link

Halloween is upon us, Bonfire Night is on the horizon which can only mean one thing - Empties time. Let's take a look at the products I've used up this month.

Clinque Body Butter link

It's taken me nearly a year to use up this tub of body butter from Clinque and you can find my review here. In short it's thick body lotion which does the job but not a product I enjoyed, hence it taking me so long to get through. Ideal for the colder weather when you want something more heavy duty but if you're a fan of scented products this won't be top of your wish list. 

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation link

I did not like this foundation at all and thankful it was only a sample. I had a couple of these testers but didn't even get to the bottom of the first such was my dislike. It clung to any dry patch of skin I had, and I have little but it exaggerated ones I didn't know existed. 

imPRESS Nails* 

Short on time and heading out for the day I grabbed a pack of imPRESS nails to ensure nails looked tip top. After a shaky start if you read this post you will know I'm converted. And if you follow me on Instagram you will know my niece was a fan too!

Sure Maximum Protection link 

Mentioned countless times on my blog and it no doubt wins the award for most appearances in an empties post. I won't say any more but feel free to take a look at this post if you want to know why I'm a fan. 

Radox Mango Mayhem Shower Gel* link

Another brand that is mentioned many times by me is Radox. Mango Mayhem featured in my July Favourites post and was the perfect Summer staple. Stay tuned for more Radox goodness coming up soon.

Soap & Glory Hand Food link

Another hand cream bites the dust and I love both the scent and size of this tube of Hand Food from Soap & Glory. A recent trip to Boots to restock on some items meant that the full size of this ended up coming home to me due to a 3 for 2 offer and will now sit on my desk at work.

A-DERMA Sensifluid Micellar Water* 

I don't get excited about micellar waters beyond their use for removing make up and stepping in when I'm feeling lazy but I did get excited about the packaging of this product. Compared to L'Oreal and Garnier Micellar Waters which I love to use but struggle with their bottles this was able to perfectly distribute product onto cotton pads without spilling everywhere. That said despite being a good product for the price point I think it's unlikely I'll repurchase as I'm happier with the cheaper brands.

A-DERMA Hydrating Cream* 

I only reviewed this moisturiser from A-DERMA recently in this post so I won't say any more than this is a thumbs up for those who want a lighter product and is perfect for the Summer months. 

St Ives Apricot Body Scrub* link

Another reviewed product that you can read about here. There are no complaints from me about the product although it is like cement to remove from the bath if it dries. I liked this product and it worked well for me but I couldn't maintain excitement about it. I would repurchase for it's price point although when pay day hit I treated myself to an old favourite, The Breakfast Scrub from Soap & Glory as if nothing more than the scent lends itself well to the Autumn months. 

Molton Brown Blue Maquis Hand Cream link

Stay tuned for more Molton Brown Hand Cream empties as I'm just getting to the bottom of another bottle. I swear I've had a collection of Molton Brown hand creams in my possession for years - they just never seem to disappear. One sat in my bathroom and another in my kitchen. When neither of those destinations seemed to aid their completion I took them to work as the pump dispensers make for easy application. I find the formula of Molton Brown hand creams to be rather thin and runny which I don't enjoy and prefer cream than lotion. I wouldn't repurchase again, and certainly not in larger sizes but if you're looking for a product that will last a long time this might be for you. 

Molton Brown Travel Reviving Cempaka Body Wash link

I took this bottle of body wash from Molton Brown to Las Vegas with me as it doubled up as both shower gel and bubble bath. I can't argue with Molton Brown for their range of products but I don't know if it's overuse over the years but they don't excite me like they used to. I would happily repurchase this product and if I received as a gift I wouldn't be disappointed but I'm not sure I'd rush out to replace.

Kiehls Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate link 

I recently stayed over at my brothers and grabbed this sachet to take with me rather than a full size product. I have used this product in the past and didn't quite get the results claimed but I'll happily use in it's sample size when needed.

What products did you use up this month?

June Empties

It's Monday, it's the first of the month so that must mean it's time for another round of empties. I haven't appeared to have used to many items this month and now I'm embarking on a spending ban of sorts (more sensible spending than ban shall we say!) so trying to use what I have in my stash rather than adding more items that I don't need nor have the time to use!

Enough rambling, on with the empties. First up is Molton Brown's Warming Eucalyptus and Ginger Salt Scrub. I absolutely love the smell of this scrub and have the matching shower gel which is a winter favourite when I'm suffering from a cold and was actually dug out of the cupboards last week when I had a bit of sniffle. This is a definite repurchase although likely later in the year read for the cold season - and of course I'm desperate to try the Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub receiving rave reviews from bloggers everywhere.

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is my desert island essential. This is the one product that I have repeatedly used and repurchased time and time again. Again I love the smell which lingers long after your bath or shower but more importantly how fabulously it leaves your legs when shaving. Having pre-beauty blogging times I was very lax with body lotions so this shower oil helped put some moisture back into my legs. The only negative with this product is that it's not ideal for the Summer months when tanning so I'm currently embracing new shower gels and body lotions to compensate.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner was a bit of a miss with me. I was given this as a freebie when buying my Kiehls skincare haul (see post here) a few months ago and glad I never added the full size to my purchases. I literally have nothing to say about this product as there was nothing significant to mention. I didn't enjoy using, my skin didn't acknowledge I had used and I could easily have been putting water on my face!

When I received VO5 Hot Oil* treatments in the post I was instantly transported back to being a teenager. I remember back in my younger days when I wanted to feel grown up, popping the oil in a mug of hot water before treating myself to a treatment - so glam! I'm actually typing this post with my hair wrapped up in a towel following a second hot oil treatment as they're just the Sunday night boost I need.

Unfortunately I cannot give a full review on the Rosa Arctica Youth Regenerating Eye Balm from Kiehls as there wasn't enough to use long enough but as a cream on the eye area it felt pleasant and no complaints.

You can see a full review on LUSH Sparkle Toothy Tabs here but I'm a fan but think I'll be reserving for travel only.

The next item was a BIG disappointment. Chatting with a fellow blogger I saw that Yankee Candle had brought some new scents out for Summer so I immediately purchased Yankee Candle Summer Scoop and Fireside Treats. Sadly I found that both were lacking in scent. I do love Yankee Candles but find they're hit and miss whether the smell is strong and in the case of these two - nothing! I thought it may have been me but mum commented that she couldn't really smell anything either. Currently I'm burning another newbie, Movie Night and my living room is filled with the smell of popcorn!

The Creme De La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion was another sample that I was impressed to be handed on one of my far to frequent trips to House of Fraser. Again I don't feel there was enough product to give a full review but I did find this quite a watery lotion that didn't feel particularly luxurious bearing in mind the price point. I'm not surprised they're having to charge so much for their products as on another trip a few days later they were once again handing out samples! I was a good daughter on the second occasion and handed over to my mum to use.

So there you have it, some thumbs up and thumbs down on the empties for June. As always let me know if you've any thoughts on any of the products I've discussed and if you have an empties post this month share your link.