January Empties

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo // Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair // La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution // Simple Eye Make Up Remover // Skinetica Anti-Blemish* // Impluse Body Spray in Tease // Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin // Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer // Collection Colour Lash All Day Mascara in Clear // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder // 

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo - This is my second bottle and I would definitely repurchase. I am currently trying out the L'Oreal Ever Sleek range but if that doesn't live up to the high expectations set by Liz Earle hair care, I will be repurchasing. I love everything about this shampoo from the smell to the way it makes my hair feel. It doesn't contain any nasty chemicals so I know it is only good for my hair. I don't have any problems with it lathering up but if I feel like it isn't creating a lather, I just add more water rather than shampoo.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair - I also love the conditioner from Liz Earle. It comes in three different formulas so you can tailor it to your hair's needs. I use the dry and damaged version as my hair is so dry and damaged from years of heat and colour. I have reviewed the shampoo and conditioner in full on my blog, you can read it here.

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - I have tried several different Micellar Waters now. I like quite a few products from La Roche-Posay so I thought I would give it a try. I didn't dislike the product but I didn't love it either. I didn't feel it was worth the money as I had used drugstore versions that were just as good. La Roche-Posay's offering to the Micellar Water craze costs £11.50, which is quite expensive considering I wasn't wowed by the product. I don't think I would repurchased this again as I am in love with the Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution! 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - As Micellar Water is fairly expensive, I continue to buy Simple Eye Make Up Remover to remove my eye make up (obviously!) as it only costs around 3 pounds where as my Bioderma Micellar Water costs about £10 so I don't want to waste it on my eyes. Plus my eyes are super sensitive and I know that this make up remover doesn't sting them that much. 

Skinetica Anti-Blemish* - I think this is my second bottle of Skinetica and I quite like the stuff. It doesn't sting and it doesn't break me out. I would say quite the opposite and it helps to clear up my spots. It does contain alcohol but I never found it to be drying. Maybe if you have dry skin to start with just be cautious. 

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin - I love Liz Earle moisturisers. I have used this one along with the light version for oily/combination skin. I saved this one for my evening skincare routine so my skin had an extra boost of moisture overnight. The scent is lovely but not too strong if you're sensitive to scents. 

Impluse Body Spray in Tease - Still my chosen body spray for work. I do feel like I'm too old to still use body spray but it's always on offer for 99p and why waste my perfume at work when I work with children?! Does anyone else still use body spray over the age of 25? I love the scent of this and it actually lasts a fair amount of time for a body spray. 

Collection Colour Lash All Day Mascara in Clear - My £1.99 brow gel! It does the trick and it doesn't make my eyebrows crispy! I apply a little to each brow and go over with a brow comb which removes any excess. It keeps my stray eyebrows in place all day long. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer - As I find Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer too thick for under my eyes, this is my concealer of choice. I use the lightest shade and it gives an instant boost to my eye area. It helps to cover dark circles and adds dimension to my face by illuminating the eyes. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I suffer from oily skin so I like to apply a powder to set my make up and keep the shine away. This does the job perfectly at a bargain price! My skin isn't overly oily so I don't need to reapply throughout the day but it does keep my skin looking matte for several hours. 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products? 

Rachel x 
Lost In Lipstick

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August Empties

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel // Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo // Neal & Wolf Harmony Intensive Care Treatment // Soap & Glory Hand Food // Dove Invisible Dry Anti-Perspirant // Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer // Hugo Boss Orange Woman  // Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser // Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion // Skinetica Anti-Blemish* // Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel (sample)

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel - I started using this in January and I've only just finished it but it's not the only shower gel I used in that time. I absolutely loved this shower gel; it smelt delicious, it was the perfect formula and it was moisturising. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's in this years' Best Of giftset but if it's not then I will definitely be repurchasing. 

Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - I use this shampoo once a week or once every two weeks just to deep cleanse my hair. I've stopped using shampoo and conditioner with SLS in but some of the treatments I use, contain them. Eventually, I plan on never using products containing SLS but a few months ago, I went crazy and bought a lot of products so I need to use them up first. This is actually a really good shampoo and deep cleansing my hair. It removes any build up and I also use it if my hair is a little greasy. I actually have two more bottles as it was buy one, get one free a while back!

Neal & Wolf Harmony Intensive Care Treatment - I received this in a gift set one Christmas from my parents, along with a beautifully scented candle. Unfortunately, the candle burned a long time ago but due to my large haircare collection, this treatment seemed to last a lot longer. As my hair is in such bad condition, I applied this after conditioner to the ends of my hair. It provided it with an extra boost of moisture. I'm still undecided whether I liked the smell or not.  In my opinion, it smelt like glue! 

Dove Invisible Dry Anti-Perspirant - A random empty and not one I usually include in my monthly empties but I wanted to talk about it and I didn't want to write a whole blog post on deodorant! I prefer a spray deodorant as they are more hygienic than roll ons, however, long term they get on my chest and leave me with a nasty cough. Because of this, the majority of the time, I use a roll on but occasionally use a spray. I used this when it was in the regular can before it was compressed into a smaller can.  It's a fantastic idea to reduce waste and supposedly, they contain the same amount and you use the same amount as before, but I can't help think it didn't last me as long.  Does anyone else feel this way? 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another Cleanse & Polish. I've actually just bought the Limited Edition Grapefruit and Patchouli one, which smells delicious. However, I am having a few issues with the pump. It isn't dispensing a measured amount and I'm having to pump it several times to get enough for my face.  A tiny bit just spurts out each time. I'm guessing I have a faulty one.  

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion - This has been a lifesaver over Summer. I suffer from hayfever and it affects my eyes quite a bit. When I woke up in the morning, my eyes would be puffy and stuck together. I would soak two cotton wool pads and bathe my eyes for about five minutes and my eyes felt refreshed and awake afterwards. I definitely recommend Eyebright if you suffer from hayfever or something similar. It has only been a lifesaver at 6am and I've had a bad nights sleep. It helps me feel (and look) more awake!

Skinetica Anti-Blemish* - I have been very lucky that I have received two of these in goodie bags. So when this bottle ran out, I was able to continue using it. Although, it contains alcohol, it doesn't leave my face feeling dry. I use it at least once a day, sometimes twice, by sweeping a soaked cotton wool pad across my face and leaving it to dry before I apply the next step in my skincare. It only takes a minute to dry and I usually check Instagram while I'm waiting!

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel (sample) - I received this as a sample when I ordered from Clarins online. I first heard Lily Melrose talk about it and she seemed to love it. I like the formula how it was a gel and turned into an oil but I don't think it was suitable for my skin. Clarins suggests it's suitable for all skin types, just obviously not mine. It broke me out and gave me lots of little spots under the skin. 

Soap & Glory Hand Food - I will definitely repurchase this but I secretly hope it's in a gift set this Christmas! The hand cream sinks in perfectly leaving my hands feeling soft and moisturised. It's an added bonus that it smells delicious. Soap & Glory was a brand I only discovered last Christmas and I have definitely been missing out. Every product that I've tried so far, I've loved. 

Hugo Boss Orange Woman - I bought this perfume a while back, probably about two years ago. I was out shopping with one of my best friends and we spotted it, smelt it and bought it! It's lasted me as long as it has because at one point I had five different perfumes which I rotated. I kept it away from hear and out of direct sunlight which prevents perfume from expiring earlier. I love this perfume and I will probably repurchase at somepoint. I'm not very good at describing scents so I'll leave it to the experts! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - No empties post would be complete without a Collection concealer. This month it's the infamous Lasting Perfection Concelaer. One of these tubes seems to last me about two months. Maybe a little less but I do use it everyday and a lot as I have lots of spots to conceal!! 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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July Empties

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo // Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner // Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical // Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator // Anti-blemish Skinetica // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser // Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray // Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo & Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner - As I have mentioned in previous posts, I'm on a mission to improve my hair. I think my wedding, a year today, has kicked me into gear but also because I'm sick of my own hair and how unhealthy it is. I only want to use shampoo and conditioners which have no nasties in them from now on but I didn't want to waste all the other shampoo and conditioners I had left. The shampoo has a delicious scent and made my hair feel smooth, soft and silky (but that is what the harsh chemicals are supposed to do!) When I first used this conditioner a year ago  I loved it but I wasn't as clued up about ingredients then. I'm not an expert now but I just don't want to wash my hair in parabens and sulfates. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical - I love Batiste dry shampoo and out of all of the scents I have tried, this is definitely my favorite. It's just so fresh and clean. I have already repurchased this one but I have a few different scents in my collection now. I quite like the blonde one as it does a great job of disguising my roots! I don't use this on a daily basis - it is for emergencies only! My hair is pretty damaged and dry so I only wash it twice a week, anymore and it will become more damaged. However, some days it can be greasier than others (probably down to sulfates and chemicals in my shampoo and conditioner) and if I don't get the chance to wash it, I'll just give it a quick refresh and I'm good to go. (Please note, this is only on occasions and I'm not disgusting! A can of this lasts me forever!)

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator - I have already repurchased this as it really is gentle on my face and doesn't do any damage to my skin. I try and use it twice a week, usually before a face mask, to remove any dead skin cells. A lot of people are hating on the manual exfoliators these days but this one is full of natural ingredients and it contains fine jojoba beads which gently buff away the dead skin cells. The Liz Earle website states it is not suitable for sensitive skin so please bare that in mind. Sometimes I mix it with my Cleanse & Polish for an even gentler exfoliation.  

Anti-blemish Skinetica* - I received this in a goodie bag from a blogger event that I attended. It contains no harsh chemicals and the active ingredient is a highly sophisticated quaternary Ammonium Chloride compound combined with a Sylyl base. (How scientific does that sound?!) It does contain ethyl alcohol but I haven't found it to be drying on the skin. I applied this twice a day, morning and night before my moisturiser and I saw a difference when using it alongside La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - I caved into the hype surrounding this despite some people saying it did nothing for them or breaking them out, never the less, I purchased it. I have already repurchased it as I was amazed at the difference in my skin. The week or so between, before I managed to repurchase, my skin had returned to it's usual horrible self. This was confirmation enough that I needed to repurchase this baby. I originally purchased this in Boots while it was on 3 for 2 offer, however, I repurchased it from escentual.com when they had 20% off. So it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for offers.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser - I have been using this moisturiser for about a year now and I have repurchased over and over again. In the Winter, I use this moisturiser in the morning under my make up but opt for Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin at night. Throughout July, we have experienced some extremely hot days and I have been applying the light moisturiser morning and night. It is a lovely light moisturiser, as the name suggests, which is easily absorbed and doesn't clog pores. You can read my review here. 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - Another repurchase of mine. Body spray is something I wear on a daily basis when the occasion doesn't warrant perfume such as work (I work in a school) and popping to the supermarket. This scent is my favourite impulse fragrance and I always pop a few in my basket when they are on special offer for 99p!

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer - This concealer isn't as well loved in the 'blogosphere' than the Lasting Perfection concealer but I have been using it for just as long. I use this concealer under my eyes as I find the Lasting Perfection a little to thick for my delicate eye area. This one is illuminating so it doubles as a highlight and it is super easy to blend under the eyes. I find it doesn't crease either but I do set it with powder. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I love this powder and so do many other beauty bloggers. I get the shade transparent as I just want it to set my foundation/concealer and make my face matte. I use bronzer and blusher to add colour where I want it. It doesn't appear too chalky on the face and it mattifies my foundation. My only negative is the packaging - it isn't very sturdy which makes transporting it impossible. You can read what I think more in depth by reading my review. 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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My Skincare Routine - Morning & Evening

I love reading blog posts and watching videos of other people skincare routines. Although it can be dangerous, as I always end up adding products to my wish list! I know my current routine will change in the near future as I want to try more Clarins skincare as I always hear beauty bloggers singing their praises. This is a routine I have been using for a long time. I have been using Liz Earle for a year and a half now. My skin is relatively normal but I suffer from hormonal acne. 

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion // Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser // Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic // Anti-Blemish Skinetica* // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/Oily Skin // Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair // Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Recently, mainly because of hayfever, I have been waking up with puffy, swollen, itchy eyes. The first thing I reach for is Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion. It does exactly what it says on the label - soothes my eyes. It also helps me feel, and look, more awake at 6am. I already have a backup and I will continue to repurchase, it's a miracle product! 

My next step is Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. Like a lot of people, this was my first experience of Liz Earle as my mum bought me the starter kit one Christmas and my love for the brand has grown and grown! I have previously reviewed Cleanse & Polish so I won't go into too much detail but it's a lovely cleanser and really does remove dirt and make up - the evidence is on the muslin cloth! If my skin needs a little boost and I still don't feel awake, I will soak a cotton wool pad with Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and sweep it over my face and neck. It smells delicious and really does soothe and revitalise my skin. After this, I am ready to start the day. 

Some days I don't feel like I need Instant Boost Skin Tonic and instead I will use Anti-Blemish Skinetica*. I received this in a goodie bag that I was kindly given at a blogger event. I have been using it along with La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and the results have been amazing. I apply Skinetica with a cotton wool pad and sweep across my face. Once it has dried, I then apply Effaclar Duo just like a moisturiser. As I mentioned in my June Favourites, I don't know if it's the combination of the two or it's one product but they have really helped my skin. After a week of using both products, I noticed a massive difference in the appearance of my skin and my spots had reduced in size and quantity. 

During the warmer months, my moisturiser of choice is Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/oily skin. I have been using Liz Earle moisturisers for over a year now and since using them, I haven't had any dry patches of skin. I used to suffer from the occasional dry patch on my cheeks but they are now a thing of the past. However, being a beauty blogger, I read many many reviews and sooner or later, I will buy an Origins moisturiser. At the moment, the only thing stopping me right now is money and the amount of choice I have in making sure I choose the right one for me! 

I am almost 26, I'm old! I am starting to see lines around my eyes plus I don't sleep very well. I am an extremely light sleeper and I wake several times during the night. Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair helps  to repair the skin around my eyes and inject a little moisture. This is the only eye cream I have used and I do want to try others. So if you have any recommendations, leave them below. 

Before applying my make up, once my moisturiser is dry, I apply Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch. I suffer from quite large pores and this does a great job at smoothing and perfecting my skin for make up application. My skin almost feels like silk once applied. I use my fingers to apply this but I make sure they are clean. 

Evening

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution // Simple Eye Make-Up Remover  // Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser // Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator // Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask // Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer // Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic // Anti-Blemish Skinetica // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/combination skin // Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning // Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate

I begin my evening skincare routine with La Roche-Posay Micellar Solution. I use about three small cotton wool pads to remove my face make up. I keep telling myself, I will pick up the larger cotton pads but do I remember when I'm shopping? No! As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have sensitive eyes. I haven't attempted to use Micellar water on my eyes yet but one day I will be brave. Maybe once my hayfever has died down a little. 

Next, I remove my eye make. As mentioned several times previously, I use Simple Eye Make Up Remover. I have been using this for years as it's the only remover that doesn't sting my eyes instantly! I have to wash it off almost straight away but if I do I'm fine and it doesn't sting. It does a great job at removing mascara and eyeliner. It says it removes waterproof but I don't wear waterproof mascara or eyeliner so I can't comment on those claims. Hopefully, I will be able to get away with just using Micellar Water to remove all make up so I can cut down on the number of products used. Then I use Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish to remove any last traces of make up and take the day away. If I use the make up removers and Micellar Waters, there's not much make up on my muslin cloth but sometimes there is a little. 

Twice a week, I use Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator. This is my second bottle and it really is gentle but I make sure I'm really gentle and don't scrub my face. I keep reading more and more posts about the negative features of manual exfoliators and bloggers are raving about chemical exfoliators. But if I'm honest, the word chemical scares me! I'm thinking of taking baby steps and purchasing Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. I'm going to read a few more  reviews and make my mind up. 

After using the Exfoliator twice a week, I follow with a face mask. Usually after a bath/shower so my pores are open. At the moment I am using Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask. I really love it and I can tell it cleanses deep down. I leave it on for 10 minutes as suggested and then spritz Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer before removing with one of the sponges that are supplied. However, these are fairly rough so if you have sensitive skin, maybe use a muslin cloth instead. 

I follow with Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic to close my pores and soothe my skin. Then I use Skinetica again as it's recommended that you use it morning and evening. Once dry, I follow with La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo as I do in the morning. 

I then reach for my moisturiser of choice. As the evenings have been hot, I've been using Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser but if my skin appears dry or dehydrated, I use Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin. If my skin looks lifeless and dull I will replace my moisturiser with Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate as it just gives my skin that extra moisture boost it needs. 

During Summer, I have been using Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning every other day to give my skin an extra glow. I am very pale and I use factor 30/50 on my face. But my face doesn't really tan anyway, I just get lots of freckles. So I apply this to a cotton wool pad and sweep it over my face and neck. It comes on as a beautiful colour in the morning and it's not too obvious that I have fake tanned my face. If you're scared of applying fake tan to your face. I definitely recommend this. 

What are your staple skincare products? Do you have any recommendations for me to try next? Particularly moisturisers, exfoliators and face masks.

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick 

June 2013 Favourites

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion - I got this in Autumn and I am still on the same bottle, although it has almost finished. It's not a product I use everyday though. In winter, I hardly ever used it, only if my eyes are tired and puffy. However with the arrival of Summer, we also say hello to hayfever. One of my symptoms is itchy eyes and when I wake up in the morning, my eyes are so puffy. I apply Eye Bright to two cotton wool pads and hold on my eyes for 5 minutes or so. The difference is amazing. I have already repurchased! 

Anti-Blemish Skinetica and La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - I have been using these together as new additions to my skincare. I am 25 and I still get spots but I'm pretty sure that it's hormonal acne. I have tried a lot of lotions and potions in my life but I've had no luck. However, about a week after using both of these products together my skin looked so much better and I only had a few small spots instead of the large red spots filled with pus that I'm used to! (Sorry for that image!) I'm not sure if it's a combination of both products or one in particular. All I do know is that I am going to continue to use both products as I love my clearer skin. I am thinking of doing a blog post about my spots and all the different things I've tried, would you like to see that? 

Lush Light Yellow Supplement - I have been using this for a couple of months now. I received it in a goodie bag from the Lush workshop I attended at the Sheffield Meet Up. I have been absolutely loving it as a foundation. We were told, if we wanted, we could mix it with our moisturiser and use it as a tinted moisturiser but I like a heavier coverage (due to my spots). There are several shades but I was matched to light yellow. It's a perfect match. When I apply it, it appears to disappear but my skin looks a lot even and some of my spots are hidden. I have one negative. Because of the size and shape of the pot, I am really struggling to get the product out now it is half empty. Has anyone got an tips for me?

Lush Emotional Brilliance Translucent Face Powder - This is another product that I received in my goodie bag. It is to be used with the colour supplements, once they are dry on your face. As with any powder, is it to set your make up and to prevent shine. In the pot it looks very pink and to be honest I was a little scared of using it at first. But I can confirm it is definitely translucent once applied to your face. It does a fantastic job of mattifying your face and setting your make up. Again, my one negative is getting the product out. I use my Real Techniqes Powder Brush to apply powder but I can't fit it in anymore now I've used half. Help please?!

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Blueberry - There has been a massive hype surrounding these nail polishes and I completely understand why. This is the second one I have tried and it is definitely my favourite nail polish shade at the moment. For the first time in a long time, I removed the chipped remains and painted my nails in the same colour. I think it looks really nice with my skin tone and it's a uncommon colour so I get lots of compliments on it. Without a top coat, it only lasts a day or so longer than a regular nail polish on my nails but I work in a school and I use my hands a lot! You don't need a top coat really because the polish is called hi-shine after all but if you wanted to prolong the wear time, I would recommend a top coat too. 

Dainty Doll Powder Blusher in My Girl - I'm not sure what's happening with Dainty Doll as I got mine from Fragrance Direct for only £1.99 instead of £13.50! I had never tried the brand before so when I heard about the massive saving, I knew I had to snap one up. I actually got two shades (You Are My Sunshine as well) but I definitely prefer My Girl. It is extremely pigmented. I only need a small amount of colour to create a pop of colour on my cheeks. If I only want a subtle hint of colour, I tap off any excess before applying. This leaves me with a more natural flush of colour. If Dainty Doll has been discontinued, it is a shame as the powder blushes are fantastic quality, especially for £1.99!!

What have been your favourite products this month? Have any of my favourites made your list?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick