Empties // July 2013

I love writing these posts because it gives me a sense of accomplishment, however small, of finishing some of the far too high pile of beauty products I have.

I managed quite a few this month and can't wait to use up more next month!

Dr Brandt Lineless Eye Cream - I really liked using this, I received this sample as part of a birthday gift about two years ago and it really lasted a very long time, (I don't use eye cream every day even though I should!) I would repurchase.

Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover - I like this, it's a biphase makeup remover and works well. I already have a large size and would repurchase.

Bioeffect EGF Serum - I know many bloggers rave about how amazing this is but apart from making my skin incredibly soft in the morning I don't think it did much. The sample was tiny though and I'm still quite young so maybe that's why I didn't see an effect? I wouldn't repurchase.

Coola Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF20 - I hated this unfortunately, I think because of the tint, me and tinted sunscreens don't go together. Would not repurchase.

Abahna White Grapefruit & May Chang Bath and Shower Gel - I'm glad this was used up as I've had it for so long, I wouldn't repurchase as it didn't lather up that well and the scent wasn't for me.

Nivea Pearl Beauty Anti- Perspirant Deodorant - a basic deodorant, probably would repurchase.

Boots Conditioning Nail Polish Remover - this is ok if you have pretty strong, resistant to anything nails, after using this I found my nails started peeling so I wouldn't repurchase.

The Body Shop Strawberry Body Polish - I love this stuff! The little grains exfoliate, it lathers up and smells just like stawberries. Can be a little overwhelming at first but settles down quickly. I have two more waiting to be used.

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes - I have around 10 of these thanks to the No7 vouchers that seem to always be around and I like the wipes, they stay hydrated for a very long time and I use them for pretty much anything. Good for sensitive eyes too.

Montagne Jeunesse Skin Heroes Dry Skin Mask - I really liked this, very hydrating for the skin, best used in Winter though I think unless you suffer with dry skin all year round. Would repurchase.

Yves Rocher 24H Comfort Nourishing Cream for Dry/Very dry Skin - This was a great night moisturiser, it absorbed very quickly and was very hydrating. I'm not sure whether I'd repurchase though because I don't have dry skin all year round. I'd also like to be able to purchase in a store, I've only found it online.

Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturiser SPF15/PA++ - This also took ages to use up and I have another to finish. It was great for everyday sun protection and moisturised well after cleansing, I don't think I'd repurchase for a third time though.

Nivea Smooth Nourishing Hand Cream - Love this hand cream, would definitely repurchase.

No7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-up Remover - I'm fed up of using this eye makeup remover, I think it's too oily for my liking and I don't really like the old packaging. I have about two more to use up thanks to the No7 vouchers, if this didn't go down by £5 I wouldn't buy it at all. I'd say it's pretty average.

What are your empties for this month? Link your posts below!

Amarya Beauty Box - October 2011

I received my lovely beauty box by Amarya yesterday and I was thrilled with the contents. Here's everything and my thoughts:

Lavera Eye Gel - sample sachet (1.5ml?) - price/worth unknown

terre d'Oc Powder Eyeshadow in 502 - Full size - £12.95

Dr Hauschka Daily Revitalising Eye Cream - 1.5ml sample - worth £3.35

Neom Organic Body Wash - 50ml - worth £4.25

Madara Eco Face Travel Set - Full size - £6.95

Total Value of Box: at least £27.50

Amount Paid: £10

Total Saving: £17.50

Here are my first impressions of the box:

I really loved opening it this month, it really and truly felt like I'd got a surprise birthday present, I'm not sure why though! Probably because I hadn't had a package in so long! Anyway...I'm happy with the box overall, very happy with the Madara travel set and as I have combination skin-tone I was impressed with Amarya, even though I secretly knew that everyone has got the same one. I've stored it away for when I do travel, I love the look of the Neom body wash and it smells nice too, think herbal scents. Although I haven't tried the Lavera eye gel or Dr Hauschka's eye cream, I don't like sample sachets to try the creams or any creams, because they dry out before I can utilise them properly - unless I transfer them to a little pot which are always occupied so hard for me to do. Finally the terre d'Oc eyeshadow, it's a loose eyeshadow in a very unique shaped pot and a very pretty colour. I think I'll use it as an all over shade on my lazy days!

Based on my first impressions this box gets a 9/10!

Thank you so much for reading, let me know what you think of your Amarya box, or if you haven't signed up, are you tempted yet? :)

August Empties - 2011

This month I have used up the following products, I was aiming for at least 10 empties every month but I guess I'll have to try harder in September! (Please click on names to be taken to the review post on my blog.)

1) No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser (200ml) - The first hot cloth cleanser I've ever used, I really liked this, it cleansed well and removed makeup too, the cloth with it was the only downside I think.

2) No7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator (75ml) - I've used this exfoliator a lot, I think this was my second tube, it's a lovely creamy exfoliator suitable for more sensitive skin as well.

3) Olavie Chardonnay Wine Therapy Antioxidant Body Butter (30ml) - I received this in my Boudoir Privé box and I loved it, the only downside to this is the price for the full size, otherwise a fantastic, luxurious feeling, thick body butter.

4) Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel + Shampoo (100g) - I didn't love this shower gel, it says that it's a shampoo too, and it absolutely sucked at lathering as a shampoo for me. As a shower gel it was fine, I used it with a puff and it did the job well enough but again lathering up was an issue and the smell wasn't as addicting as it is in the Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

5) The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment (30ml) - I really like this, the only issue was that it makes me wake up to an exploded oil rig on my face...however it works very well. After I wash my face in the morning my pores look better and my overall complexion is improved. Works best with the entire Seaweed Range.

6) Simple Sun Sensitive Protecting Lip Balm (5g) - SPF 20 with 3star UVA protection, this lip balm is in a lipstick format and I love this. If I only were permitted to use one lip balm for the rest of my life (from everything I've tried so far...but then again I do have a lip balm addiction...) this would be it. Why? It glides on perfectly, no smudging, yellowing of the product, no seeping or separation of formula like some liquid lip balms, easy to use, one swipe is perfect and with added vitamins and SPF protection.

7) I managed to use up all the samples Amarya Beauty kindly sent and the perfume samples from Beauty Boxes.

Hopefully I will meet my minimum of 10 empties target for September! Thank you for reading :)

My first ever GlossyBox! June 2011

Hi!

Sorry I haven't been posting as frequently as I'd like to, I've had many busy days and some very lazy days so no blogging gets done! This post is going to be a little snapshot of what I got in this month's GlossyBox and my first impressions of the box, its contents and Glossybox in general.

This is my first ever GlossyBox, I ordered on 6th May and the email I received said I would receive a GlossyBox on 6th May! So I asked GlossyBox on twitter what this meant and it turned out that I wouldn't be getting one until June...I was very disappointed. I think as a brand new company it should have been prepared for such a high demand for the service and been able to provide for all those interested! When you usually order things, they are in stock unless stated otherwise and depending on delivery are received pretty quickly. I was very excited to receive my first box...

Onto the contents of this month's box and my first impressions:

There's a small leaflet(?) explaining what's in the box along with some discount codes on separate pieces for the brands in the box.

Here we have this month's 5 luxury samples... I could honestly go off on one about how damaging and unthoughtful it is for GlossyBox to have placed a £1.52, 50ml bottle of Batiste Dry Shampoo in Original, in the box but I will say so politely. GlossyBox advertise themselves to provide luxury samples, from luxury brands, Batiste is not a luxury brand. I cannot emphasise enough how disappointed I am again, especially as this box is/was a lot of customers' first box.

Next up, is an eau de parfum by Perles de Lalique, definitely a luxury brand thank goodness. The bottle is beautiful and I loved the packaging too, it's only 4.5ml but looks like a lot of perfume. Eau de parfum is the most concentrated form of scent available so it would be the most costly if bought alone, £68 for 100ml. The only issue I have with this is the scent itself, it's a sophisticated scent, but one for a much older lady in my opinion, so I'm not sure if I'll be keeping it or just using it up when I can.

In the little pouch is the Bioeffect EGF Serum, the wondrous skincare product from Iceland. This sample is worth £30, and a full sized 15ml vial is £125 and 5ml for £49. I would expect this to be for an older lady again but the leaflet does say it is for any age and any skin type so I will be trying this and hopefully reviewing it soon.

Next is the small designer nail lacquer by OPI in Coronation, the other one available was Extravagance. I really like this colour and the application seems to be good too, I will review this too, but very happy with this item!

Finally in my box was a 100ml bath and shower gel by Abahna, in the white grapefruit and may chang scent. I haven't much to say about this product as I have yet to try it out, so will put it in a review for you. For 250ml it is £17 so a luxury product for sure. Instead of the bath and shower gel there were many other possibilities of various items that could have been in the box, one of which being a Rouge Bunny Rouge lipgloss, that I wish I'd got!

The box itself I am impressed with, the sturdiness and classy décor is something I also love. It's perfect for storing various bits and bobs, and depending on future contents of GlossyBoxes I'd love to have a little stack of these filled with various items. They could also be used to house presents for other people. Love the box itself.

Finally, GlossyBox overall. Disappointed with the fact that I didn't receive a "May box" when I ordered in May, very upset with the £1.52 worth of Batiste - clearly not a luxury brand, disappointed again with the increase in price of GlossyBox from September, to £12.95, the extra £2.95 for P and P - no indication of this was given when advertising the box. Happy with the box itself and most of the items. For June, I give GlossyBox a 5/10. I will review items separately too.

Thank you very much for reading! :)

What was in your GlossyBox? Love/Like/Hate?

Click here to sign up!