Beauty Haul and Repurchasing

I've been harping on about spending bans and de-cluttering and here I am with a haul but I have my excuses ready…

L'Oreal Age Perfect Refreshing Toner link
My beloved Liz Earle Skin Tonic had reached it's end and I was too lazy to walk to my nearest Boots that stocks it. Instead I picked up L'Oreal's Age Perfect Refreshening Toner to keep me going until Liz and I could be reunited.
It pains me to say that the Age Perfect Smoothing Toner has been designed for mature skin and it wasn't why I chose this but I guess it can't hurt? I was more drawn to the anti-fatigue properties (Vitamin C hello) as I'm not known for the best sleeping habits and anything that can help with waking me up in the morning I'm all for. If you're interested in this product give it a sniff first as I like the somewhere between fruity and masculine and I'm sure there are some that will be offended by it.

VO5 Plump It Up Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion link
I said in May's Empties post here that I was thinking fondly of VO5 Amplifying Blow Dry Lotion so we knew it wouldn't be long until it made it's way back in my life. I use this blow dry lotion daily and find that it doesn't weigh my hair down and helps give me the lift I like from my hair whilst protecting it from heat damage.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo[+] link
Another repurchase that I have reviewed fully here. I've managed to cut my use of this wonder product to once a day but it's not one I feel I can do without in my routine. Another couple of months on and I'm still remaining blemish free and I put it all down to this little tube.

Barry M Cor Balmy Tinted Lip Balm link
Following my skin analysis from MyChelle and another similar skin assessment at a La Roche Posay event last month it was commented on how hydrated my lips were due to regular use of lip balms so I had to give the latest release from Barry M a try. Wow these pack a punch. I chose Jam Jar as we all know I like a red lip and I thought this would be handy on my desk at work as an easier reapplication of colour when I haven't got time that the lipstick would require. I think I'm going to like this creamy little beauty.

Peppermint Reviving Foot Soak link
I have picked up this product on numerous occasions then decided it was an unnecessary purchase but following a recent problem with one of my toes and the subsequent pressure it's putting on my feet I decided to treat myself to this foot soak to enjoy after a day pounding the pavement. I've yet to try it out so stay tuned for a review

So there you have my recent purchases, nothing to extravagant to speak of and all very necessary don't you agree. What have you treated yourself to lately?

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.