February Empties

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Impulse Body Spray in Tease // Simple Eye Make Up Remover // B. Pure Micellar Water // Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel // 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic // No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico // La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. // Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara // Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical - I think I have mentioned this before on my blog but this is my favourite scent from the Batiste Dry Shampoo range. It's so fresh and revitalising so it wakes me up in the morning if I don't have time to wash my hair. As I have blonde hair, I don't get any noticeable tell-tale signs however I do understand that people with darker hair would have this problem. Batiste is the only brand of dry shampoo I have used and as I don't have any problems, I would continue to repurchase in the future.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - This is my very last tube of Effaclar Duo as I'm sure you're all aware by now it has been replaced with Effaclar Duo [+]. I love Effaclar Duo and I am loving Effaclar Duo [+] even more as it helps to combat my scars that have been left behind by spots. It's not a miracle product but after using it for about a month, I can definitely see a difference already. I would have repurchased this if it hadn't been reformulated but I will definitely be repurchasing Effaclar Duo [+] in the future.

Impulse Body Spray in Tease - Are you getting sick of seeing these now? Another month another Impulse Body Spray. As I have mentioned before, I just throw these in my handbag and use them on a daily basis at work as I work in a school. No snotty nosed children are experiencing my perfume any time soon! Tease is definitely my favourite scent however I am interested to know what your favourite scent is if you use Impulse body spray?

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - This is my go to eye make up remover as it is so quick and effective and it hardly stings my sensitive eyes. It only costs £2 or £3 and I pick it up from various places including Boots or even Morrisons when I'm doing the weekly shop! I am not sure if I mentioned this before but I don't use waterproof mascara so I cannot comment on how effective it is at removing waterproof mascara however it does a fantastic job of removing regular mascara along with eyeshadow and eyeliner.

B. Pure Micellar Water - I saw this in Superdrug and thought it was worth a try however I wasn't really that impressed. I have tried Bioderma and the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Solution and I much prefer those formulas over this one. I found it a bit too much like water if I'm honest whereas the others felt a little bit more than water (I have no idea how to explain that!). Plus I tried it on my eyes and they definitely weren't a fan!

Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Purifying Gel - I don't really know what to think about this product. I wasn't blown away however I wasn't disappointed; it was just a face wash. I used it every morning and evening until it ran out and it lasted about two months however I didn't really notice a change in my skin. It definitely didn't purify my skin and it didn't alter my spot situation. I wouldn't repurchase this again as I would like to try other cleansers on the market to find one that is more effective

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - I haven't repurchased this since running out however I think I may as we get into Summer as it is so refreshing. I usually repurchase this when I am running low however I am testing a few different toners to find one that helps to clear up my spots. I am currently finishing off Vichy Normaderm Purifying Pore-Tightening Lotion which I purchased with the cleanser. I love Liz Earle products but they don't get rid of my spots completely so I am on the look out for my holy grail products.

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico - I think this is my second bottle of this foundation and I have already repurchased it. However I think they have reformulated the product as I am not loving it as much as I used to. I first purchased this foundation in September 2012 when I was colour matched to this shade. I chose the Stay Perfect foundation as I liked the formula as I prefer a matte finish and this wasn't as matte as the Beautifully Matte range. However since I have bought my third bottle, the formula isn't as matte as it used to be, therefore I am thinking of giving the Beautifully Matte foundation a try. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. - This is an on the spot treatment that I used in conjunction with Effaclar Duo. I applied Effaclar A.I. on my spots and once it was dry, I applied Effaclar Duo all over my face. However I didn't really notice much of a difference and just felt like I was wasting my money using the two products together. Therefore I will continue to purchase Effaclar Duo [+] but leave Effaclar A.I. 

Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara - I bought this mascara from Boots when I had a voucher and I think I got it for £2 which was an absolute bargain as it is actually a really good mascara. It did a fantastic job of separating my lashes and adding length as well as volume. I currently have quite a few mascaras that are unopened but if I ever saw this on offer again I would definitely repurchase.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Another month and another Collection concealer. I have a stash of these in my drawer ready for when I run out. They last me just under two months which is not bad as I would probably chuck them out after that anyway as I use the doe foot applicator to apply it. In the Winter, I am shade 1 which is the lightest shade and in the Summer, I can get away with using shade 1 or shade 2.

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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June Empties

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser / Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic / Simple Eye Make Up Remover / Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner /Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask / Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer / Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara / Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray / Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another Cleanse & Polish! I actually ran out of this and didn't have a back up, nightmare! I had to use another cleanser and I broke out like crazy. Liz Earle for life! You can read what I think in more detail here. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - This has been amazing recently. When I wake up at 6am for work, my eyes and whole face is so puffy. (Thanks hayfever!) I just soak a cotton wool pad and sweep over all of my face and it does a fantastic job of waking me up and refreshing my puffy face! Read my full review here. 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - Another regular part of my skin care routine. This is the only make up remover that doesn't sting my eyes straight away. It only does if I don't cleanse straight away. I have been using Micellar Water to remove my make up before cleansing but I haven't had the confidence to try it on my eyes yet. I'm just worried it will sting. One day, I will give it a try!

Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner - This was a magazine freebie from Glamour. I think it was actually from last year but I only got round to using it recently. I'm not sure of the smell, I recognise it but I can't put my finger on what else smells similar. It's a very thick conditioner but it doesn't make my hair greasy or weigh it down. However, I have dry, thick hair so it may be a different story if your hair is the opposite to mine. 

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - At first, I was impressed with Avon Moroccan Argan Oil hair care but since using a variety of other shampoo and conditioner brands, mainly ones that are SLS free and learning more about sulphates, I have noticed a difference with the texture of my hair. So I will not be repurchasing again and I am not going to purchase anymore hair care with sulphates in. I still have some products left which contain sulphates, so I am going to use up those first. I don't want to waste them.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - If you haven't tried this concealer, where have you been and why not? It's £4.19 worth of amazingness! I always make sure I have at least one back up for when I run out. Usually I have two or three back ups because it can be difficult to find my shade so when I do find it, I go crazy! It works really well at covering up my blemishes but as I've said before, I find it too thick for under my eyes. However some beauty bloggers do use it under their eyes. You can read what I think in depth here.

Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara - When I made my usual Liz Earle order back in December, I received this as a free gift. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used. Mascara doesn't have a great shelf life and I know people only use them for 2/3 months but it did have 6 months on and it hasn't ran out or dried up so I continued to use it for six months because it is that good! It's fairly pricey compared to my usual Rimmel mascara but when my current back ups have ran out, I may have to repurchase it because I am missing it already! 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - I don't need to tell you again that this is my favourite body spray fragrance. I use it for work as I work in a school and I don't want to use perfume. Body spray is a nice alternative to perfume when the occasion just doesn't warrant wasting my perfume! I always keep one in my handbag so I can smell nice at all times. Does anyone else use body spray on a day to day basis but perfume for special occasions/evening? 

Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml - I bought this in September with some birthday money from Debenhams. I got the 75ml bottle as it was half price so it actually worked out cheaper than the 30ml bottle! (Don't you love it when that happens?!) I absolutely love the smell of this perfume and it's perfect for summer days as it's light and refreshing. At the moment I have four other perfumes so I don't currently need a new one. But I do have lots and lots of Boots points so I'm thinking about using them for a perfume. But there are so many different perfumes, I don't know where to start! I currently own Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Armarni Diamonds and Hugo Boss Orange. I absolutely love all of those so based on them do you have any recommendations? 

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Review

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19

I've never been particularly happy with the concealers I've used in the past. They have always been cheaper concealers from Boots or Superdrug. I was prepared to pay more for a higher quality product until I saw all the hype surrounding this product. I read numerous reviews on other beauty blogs which all raved about how great this concealer was. They claimed it was long lasting and provided excellent coverage. All for £4.19?! Only one way to find out...

I have to 100% agree. I'm on my second already and I have two others stocked up! Because of the price and status in the beauty world, they are quite hard to get hold of. When I go to Boots or Superdrug, they are either sold out of my shade or someone has decided to use them all. Who does that? I think Collection should maybe apply something to stop this from happening, then we would know if someone has already used the one we're buying or not. I think it's disgusting. Anyway I digress. Therefore, when I do see my shade I pick up two or three. They are often on offer 3 for 2 as well, which makes them even cheaper!

They come in four shades; fair, light, medium and deep. I use light as fair looked a little too fair for me. Even though it's soft and creamy, I only use this on my spots and around my nose as I find it too thick to use under my eyes. I don't mean it's too thick to blend but the skin around my eyes is extremely thin. I apply it before my foundation and I use the Real Techniques Foundation Brush to blend. The concealer is buildable so if I have a really pesky spot, I just apply another layer. I don't find it cakey at all and it blends quite well. It provides excellent coverage for a drug store brand that costs £4.19. Bargain! Collection claims it lasts 16 hours. I can't say I agree with this. It lasts a while but if applied in the morning, I do need to reapply if I'm going out in the evening.

This is my favourite concealer and I will continue to use it for a long time. I'm 25 and I still suffer from spots so that will be a long time then! If you have been hiding under a rock and haven't used this concealer, I urge you to nip down to Boots or Superdrug and purchase right away! Oh, just in case you were wondering, I use Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer under my eyes. I will review this soon.

What are you thoughts on this concealer? Which concealer is your favourite?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Everyday Make Up #2

Primer - Benefit the POREfessional

Foundation - No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico (review here)

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light

Concealer - Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer in Natural 

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent

Bronzer - Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzing Compact Powder in Light Matte

Blusher - Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Bronze

Eyeliner - No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil in Black

Mascara - Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black

Eye Shadow - MUA Undressed Palette (review here)

Lipstick - Topshop Lipstick in Rumour Has It

My last 'Everyday Make Up' post was posted at the end of September and some of the products that I use now have changed quite a bit. I love finding new products, especially when they are better than the ones I am currently using! The products that haven't changed are my bronzer and mascara. You can read what I think in my last post here so I won't go into too much detail. I am still looking for a new bronzer though. Even though this one is light matte, I find it too dark for my skin. Any recommendations?

I don't always use this primer, just on the days when my pores are looking particularly big! There are lots of primers out there these days and I want to try some others. So if you can recommend a good primer, please let me know. I had a Foundation Match Made consultation at the No7 counter in Boots. You can read about my experience here. I have been using this foundation ever since and I love it! I apply it with the Real Techniques Expert Brush and it provides great coverage with a matte finish. I think everyone who writes a beauty blog owns this concealer, but the Lasting Perfection Concealer is amazing! It provides great coverage over blemishes and spots and is so cheap. I find it's too thick to use under my eyes, so instead I have been using the Illuminating Touch Concealer. This is perfect for covering up dark circles and brightening the eye area. I use the Real Techniques Foundation Brush to blend both concealers. Even though I am using the Stay Perfect Foundation, which is matte, I still find I need powder in certain areas. The Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is perfect as it really is matte and doesn't appear cakey. I have used my Clinique blusher for almost two years now, but I recently decided I wanted a more neutral blush for the winter. I spotted this Rimmel blush in bronze and decided it would be perfect. I also use it for contouring but I am new to the whole contouring technique and I'm still learning! Any tips? I am honestly surprised at how good this eye shadow palette is. I love neutral eye shadows and you can create so many looks from this one palette. I'm also surprised I haven't hit pan with any shades yet as I'm always using it! This is my second Topshop lipstick and I love them both. The formula is so creamy and moisturising. Rumour Has It is a lovely nude shade perfect for the daytime.

Can you recommend a bronzer for my pale skin? Do you have any contouring tips for me?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick