March Empties

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Conditioner - I finished the shampoo off last month and finished the conditioner earlier this month. As I mentioned in My Haircare Routine on shampoo, I got this in Christmas 2011. They lasted me as long as they did because I have so many other shampoo and conditioners and I tried to make them last as they are expensive! The conditioner is sodium chloride and sulphate free, which means no nasty chemicals on your hair. I'm not too keen on the scent. In my opinion it smells a little bit like chemicals?!? It did leave my hair feeling smooth and soft but so do other cheaper conditioners. Therefore, I will not be repurchasing. 

Charles Worthington Protect Heat Defence Spray - I actually really liked this heat spray and it lasted me a long time. I have used many different heat protectant sprays in the past and many left a residue on my hair. Even GHD spray, for different hair types, left my hair feeling sticky and it was too heavy. When I spray Charles Worthington Protect Heat Defence Spray, a light mist coats my hair and a little goes a long way. I am currently using Trevor Sorbie Heat Protector as I got it in a set from Boots but I will probably repurchase this in the future. You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

VO5 Hot Oil Give Me Moisture In-Shower Treatment - I have to admit, I purchased this because Lily from llymlrs.com raved about it so much. I love anything novelty and the fact I get to apply this before I wash my hair, excites me! What an exciting life I lead! I used this once a week and considering the thickness and length of my hair, one of the measured applications was enough. I had full intentions to repurchase this until I read Fee's post from makeupsavvy.co.uk. She did a test using VO5 Hot Oil on one side of her hair and olive oil on the other. According to her results, she noticed one difference and that was the side she used olive oil on was less tangled. I have already purchased a bottle of olive oil! 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - After reading my February Empties, the lovely people at Liz Earle informed me that 100 ml is supposed to be a months supply. This made me feel better as I was worried that I was using too much! It would be more economical for me to buy larger bottles but I purchase the monthly essentials and 100 ml is what's supplied. There's not much more I can say here without repeating what I've already said. If you want to know more, you can read my review here.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser Light - This is the fourth bottle of this moisturiser which I have finished in just over a year of using Liz Earle skincare. If that doesn't tell you how much I love it, I don't know what will?! The light moisturiser is suitable for combination/oily skin, which is perfect for my skin type. During winter, I used the moisturiser for normal/combination skin at night as the cold weather made my skin drier than usual. Since we are now in spring (and hopefully the weather will warm up soon!) I have started to use this morning and night again. It provides the perfect amount of moisture for my skin and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or heavy. You can read in more detail what I thought about this moisturiser here.

Impulse Tease Body Spray - As I mentioned in my January Favourites, I love this body spray. I've lost count of how many I have used but it's a lot! I always pick a few up when it's 99p and I currently have about 3 in my back up stash! They're the perfect size to throw in your handbag as well and I always have a body spray in there. (However, currently I have a different body spray which I am trying to finish off!) You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - It's safe to say this concealer has taken the beauty world by storm and it's definitely the best concealer I've used. At £4.19, who can complain. It is long lasting and provides great coverage on spots and blemishes. The only negative - it claims to last 16 hours, it definitely doesn't! But it does last quite a few hours. I use the shades fair and light. Although I have found light to be too dark on my skin in winter when my skin is at it's palest. Hopefully, as the weather warms up so will my skin tone and light will be suitable. You can read in more detail what I thought about this concealer here. You can purchase this from Boots or Superdrug.

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

February Empties

It's that time again - my monthly empties and what I think of the products that I have used up. Apologies for this being a little late. I wanted to photograph the products in the first weekend of March but I was super busy with the DIY that I missed the daylight! Then I was ill with a bug, but here it is! Better late than never! I finished a total of 7 products in February. Some of them are products I will use again and again but others are products I won't. 

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Shampoo - I have to say I have noticed a slight improvement in my hair recently but I have been using hair oil and hair masks on a regular basis. I won't be repurchasing this as I do not think it's worth the price tag. There are so many cheaper shampoos that are just as good and if I'm honest, I don't like the scent or the texture. I actually really want to try the Liz Earle Shampoo and Conditioner! With this months monthly essentials you get a free Shampoo, which is suitable for all hair types, and a conditioner for normal hair. I might have to purchase the one for dry/damaged hair just to try it! 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another empty Cleanse & Polish. I can't quite believe I'm using one of these a month! How long do they last everyone else? I use one pump every morning and evening. I will continue to repurchase over and over again. Although I am getting the bloggers itch, I keep reading reviews of other cleansers and I want to try them. But I am staying loyal to Liz Earle. Plus I don't want to change skin care and get more spots. Thankfully, this has reminded me that I need to make an order! You can read my review of the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish here.

Original Source Lime Shower Gel - I have really enjoyed using this, especially in the mornings as it's so refreshing. The Original Source shower gels are extremely cheap but I don't find them that moisturising. I definitely needed to moisturise after use. I'm not sure I would repurchase. If I did, it wouldn't be for a long time as I have so many other shower gels to use (especially after Christmas). I quite fancy trying some of the other scents as well - tea tree and lavender and tea tree and mint in particular. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - Another Liz Earle product! God I'm obsessed. This is another product that I have purchased over and over again and I will continue to for a long time. I'm looking forward to summer when I can spritz this onto my face all day long! Any excuse... I use this product twice a day. In the morning, after cleansing to close the pores and in the evening, after cleansing to close the pores and also to remove any last traces of make up. It's so refreshing and in the morning it helps to wake me up. Furthermore, it doesn't sting my face as it contains no alcohol. You can read my review of the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic here. 

Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Remover - These posts are going to get boring if I keep using the same products! Like I said last month, I constantly repurchase this product. Even though I have sensitive eyes, this eye make up remover is the only one I've found that doesn't sting my eyes. I wish Liz Earle would make an eye make up remover! I know the Cleanse and Polish is supposed to remove even waterproof mascara but if I use it to remove eye make up, I find that I need two pumps and I really have to rub my eyes. Firstly, I can't afford to use two pumps every evening and secondly, you should never rub your eyes! Therefore I will continue to use Simple as it costs about £2!

Sure Crystal Clear Pure Anti-Perspirant Roll On Deodorant - Deodorant is such a boring but necessary beauty product. I prefer spray deodorant but after a few months of use, I develop a cough. I have to say that roll on deodorant lasts a lot longer than a spray. I actually bought this a while ago when it was 3 for 2 in Boots and this is the second one I have used. I always buy deodorant to stop white marks as white marks on any colour clothes, especially black, is not a good look! This deodorant did not leave any white marks but as it's a roll on, I just had to wait for it to dry before dressing. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer - I absolutely love the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer but sometimes I find it a bit thick for using under my eyes. I bought the Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer as it's targeted for under eye use. As it's illuminating, it helps to hide any dark circles. I don't think this concealer lasts as long as the Lasting Perfection Concealer, but it's easy to pop in your handbag and top when you need to. I will continue to buy this concealer. I actually have a spare one in my drawer! 

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

My Haircare Routine - Shampoo

This is going to be a three part post - shampoo, conditioner and then after care/treatments. I love reading haircare/skincare posts so I thought I would share my routines and the products I use. First up is shampoo. I'm not loyal to a particular brand as I haven't found a miracle shampoo just yet. There are currently seven shampoos in my 'collection'. Is seven a bit excessive? They all have different jobs, well mostly, so I feel like they are justified! They are in no particular order. I photographed them in height order (roughly!). My hair is pretty dry and damaged from years of heat and colour. It's naturally curly and very frizzy but I often wear it straight. 

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Shampoo - This is almost empty. I'll probably get one or two more uses out of it. My mum got me the shampoo and conditioner last Christmas. They've lasted because I have so many other shampoos and I've tried to make it last as long as possible. This shampoo is sodium chloride and sulphate free, so no nasties are being put on your hair! I think it has quite a weird scent to it that I'm not so keen on. But it does leave my hair feeling super smooth and nourished.
Edit: Since writing this I have finished all of the shampoo!

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Shampoo - I think I picked this up in Boots because it was on offer, I can't remember though. I have used this shampoo before and I think it's quite good for the price. It's for dry, damaged and frizzy hair, which are the three words I would use to describe my hair! I don't have the money to use high end haircare products every time I wash my hair, so I use drugstore brands in between. This has a lovely fruity smell and leaves my hair feeling clean and fairly conditioned. Some shampoos make my hair feel really dry and knotty but this is quite moisturising for a shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Strength Super Strong Daily Shampoo - My parents seem to like buying me hair products for Christmas as this was in a set I received this year! I absolutely love this range. It makes my hair feel nourished and I have actually noticed a difference in the strength. I wouldn't describe it as 'Super Strong' just yet, but I have noticed less breakage. I have been finding I need quite a bit of both the shampoo and conditioner though, which is not good! I don't think they will last a lot longer. They leave my hair feeling soft, silky and shiny! It's like looking at someone else's hair! 

Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - I use this shampoo once a week, usually on a Sunday, as my detox shampoo. I can't afford Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo but I would love to try it out. Until then, this is a cheap alternative. My hair can sometimes feel heavy from build up as I do use quite a few products and this is great at thoroughly cleansing my hair. I like having freshly washed and 'squeaky' clean hair on a Monday. I do find it leaves my hair a little 'squeaky' but once I have applied conditioner I don't have a problem. 

Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Straightened Protection Shampoo - I picked this up just after Christmas in a set for £7 but I actually used Boots points so I got it for free! However, it wasn't till I got home that I noticed the shampoo was for fine/normal hair, which is the complete opposite of mine! It doesn't moisturise my hair and it actually makes my hair feel dry but it cleanses it so I use a hair mask when using this shampoo. I don't really have anything else to say about this. I would like to try the version for thick hair though. 

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo - This a fantastic product from AVON. I prefer it over other shampoo products from AVON. However, I much prefer the oil and mask from this range (more to come on these when I discuss the treatments that I use.) After just one use of this range my hair felt amazing. However, each time I've used it since, it just doesn't feel the same. Maybe in the long run I will notice a difference. This is my second bottle but I'm not sure I will purchase it again. 

Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo - Even though it's called twice a week brightening shampoo, I only use it once a week as I don't wash my hair enough times in the week to use it twice. That might sound disgusting to some people but my hair is very dry and I only wash it when it's greasy, which is usually 3 times a week. If I wash it any more, my hair would just be in worse condition. I use this shampoo along with the conditioner to keep my colour fresh so it doesn't appear brassy. I have noticed a slight improvement but there has been weeks where I've forgot and I desperately need to do my roots. I say roots but it'll look like I've had Ombre done soon!

How many shampoos do you own in your 'collection'? Do you recommend any shampoo based on my hair type?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick