April Empties

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution // Simple Eye Make Up Remover // REN Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser // The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner // Dove Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant // Impulse Body Spray in Tease // Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo // Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner // The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream // Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara // Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution - This is the second bottle that I've gone through. I love the stuff! I pick mine up from www.escentual.com and although the 250ml bottle is £9.99, they often have discounts available. I think I picked this one up for £7.50. This may seem expensive to some but it's the best Micellar Water I've tried and I've tried a few. I still have one more brand to try and I'll keep you updated if it measures up to the favourite. Something that I don't like about Micellar Waters is that they always state there is no need to rinse on the bottle. I think that is just lazy and is as bad as using make up wipes alone. *shudders*

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - Although, Bioderma is gentle enough to remove my eye make up, at almost £10 I'd rather use this which is less than £3. That way, my Bioderma stretches a little further. I actually picked one up in Tesco last week for £1.50. Bargain! Simple Eye Make Up Remover is gentle and effective enough for my sensitive eyes. I'm looking to get a waterproof mascara for my wedding day (I'm not planning on crying, but it's going to be a long, hot day and I want my make up to stay put). So I will report back on how effective it is at removing waterproof mascara as it claims to do so on the packaging. 

REN Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser - I bought this from Space NK which I think may have ignited my new skincare obsession! I decided enough was enough and I wanted to improve my skin. This was the first REN product I've ever tried but I'm going to be honest here. I was not impressed. It didn't help my skin at all. It didn't make it worse but I expected it to help it in some way. Caroline Hirons stresses not to use foaming products, although this didn't dry my skin out, I will always listen to the Queen of Skincare in the future!

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner - I've quickly become obsessed with this and I've already purchased another bottle. I use it morning and night after cleansing and I have seen a difference with my pores and the overall appearance of my skin tone. After attending a blogger event at The Body Shop, I was told that the Tea Tree Toner has become a very popular product recently and I can see why. It contains mattifying powders which leave your skin shine free. On days where I don't wear make up, I would say shine is kept at bay until around evening time. 

Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo and Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner - I'm loving using hair care products that contain no harsh chemicals and these offerings from Evo are perfect. They are sulphate, paraben, dea, tea and propylene glycol free. However, I didn't find the packaging great as when there wasn't much product left in the bottles, I found it really difficult to get it out. I loved reading the packaging though. So humorous. For example on the front of the conditioner is says "no more hiding your frizzy hair and no more inner shame... you're now a racehorse that's bolted from the stables gleaming with pride... run with it, feel the freedom, run with it... neighhhhhhh." I quite liked the scent but I can't put my finger on what it is. 

Dove Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant - A boring product alert but a necessity! I always opt for deodorants that are 'invisible' or leave no white marks. This is a great deodorant as I have used it before and I've never experienced white (or yellow) marks on my clothes. I never want to be caught in that situation. The scent is inoffensive and it keeps my underarms fresh! I was a little sceptical when the smaller cans were released but I have to say they last a long time. I don't know if it's just as long as I haven't conducted any scientific experiment but I'm pretty impressed. 

Impulse Body Spray in Tease - I picked up two more of these the other day as they were on offer for £1. As I said I always stock up when they are available for 99p or £1 and it's a fairly regular occurrence. This is my go to refresher during the day as I don't like carrying perfume bottles in my handbag. (I do want to pick up a travel atomiser so if you have any recommendations let me know.) Also I work in a school so it means I don't have to 'waste' my perfume on snotty children! 

The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream - Obviously, I got this at Christmas. I didn't think I would like the scent but I really loved it and hopefully it's available next Christmas so I can purchase a bigger tube. (Too early to think about Christmas, sorry!) The scent is really festive and is currently bringing back Christmas memories as I type this. The cream is a lovely texture, it isn't greasy and it soaks into your hands pretty quickly.  

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara - I've really enjoyed using this mascara. Initially, I thought the brush was too big but it's perfect. Maybe a little big for my lower lashes but I got around this by just using the tip. It claims to create 'super volume' which I would have to agree. I do have naturally long, curled eyelashes anyway but some mascaras have been too heavy and my eyelashes lost their natural curl. Not with this one. I was also worried about the name containing the word 'thick'. I didn't want clumpy eyelashes but this wasn't the case, it actually did a great job of separating my eyelashes. It's become one of my favourite mascaras I've used and I've already got a replacement in my stash! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - I don't know if it's because this is shade 2 and I'm still very pale or I'm just falling out of love with this lately. I can't put my finger on what it is. I have shade 1 in my draw so I will use that and see what I think then. Some days, I have chosen to just wear foundation over my blemishes. Although that means you can see them it means they have more chance of breathing and hopefully going away sooner. We shall see...

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

Rachel x 

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Christmas Wish List

Can you believe how close Christmas actually is?! Only 42 sleeps away! Personally, I love Christmas and I cannot wait to put our tree up and decorate our house on the 1st December! I put together this mini wish list of things I am currently lusting after and I would love to receive any of them from Father Christmas. Perhaps the handbag may be wishful thinking, after all, we are getting married next year! 

1. Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede cologne £39 - The first time I smelt this beautiful perfume was at Vogue's Fashion Night Out in Manchester. Everytime I'm near a Jo Malone counter, I can't help but have a spray. I decided a long time ago that I was having Peonies in my bridal bouquet so this is the perfect scent for my wedding day. Also, when I'm married my surname will be Maloney! It's meant to be if you ask me! 

2. Mulberry Bayswater natural leather handbag £895 - I have been lusting after a Mulberry handbag for years but I'm still undecided whether to go for tan or black. I'd love one of each, haha. Because we're saving for our wedding, I'm pretty sure I will continue to lust after my very own Mulberry for a few years! 

3. Liz Earle Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil £15 - I recently started using Liz Earle Shampoo and Conditioner, which I love, so this is the natural progression. To be honest, it's either this or Moroccanoil as I have been using a sample sized bottle of this for a few weeks and I love it!

4. Soap & Glory The Yule Monty Gift Set £60 - I got the Soap & Glory Best Of gift set last year from my parents. Well I forced my mum to get it for me when I spotted it for £30 in Boots. I am going to hopefully get it for half price again this year! I love Boots! 

5. Michael Kors MK5128 Watch £180 - I think Michael Kors watches are beautiful and The Watch Hut have such great prices. Again I'm undecided whether to get gold, silver or rose gold. I think I'd have to try all three on and see which suits my skintone best. I don't actually own any rose gold jewellery but it is gorgeous. Maybe Father Christmas can help me decide...

What's on your Christmas Wish List? Have you got your eyes on any similar 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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P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway. 

May 2013 Favourites

Apologies for not posting my weekly Instagram update on Monday. I was on the laptop, making the mosaic image, when it died. We cannot get it to charge again so that means no update. There has been a few problems with it charging recently and we took it to a computer repair shop. The man replaced a part and for a couple of days, it worked perfectly. Now it has no battery left and will not charge. Luckily, I had already formatted this post on the laptop and it was just a case of typing up what I think of each product pictured above, which are obviously positives as they are my May favourites! Anyway enough rambling... On to the post!

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream - This was included in the Soap & Glory Best Of All Christmas gift set. Beforehand, I had never used any Soap & Glory products but I will definitely be repurchasing some of the products in the future and Hand Food is definitely one of them. I know hand cream is a boring favourite but I honestly cannot go anywhere without it. My friend even got me some one Christmas as a Secret Santa! This hand cream is the perfect texture, it smells amazing and it absorbes really quickly. It keeps my hands and nails moisturised until I next wash them.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Make Up Foundation - As I said in a previous post, I wasn't going to get this foundation as I wasn't a fan of the dewy look. However, when I saw it on offer for £4.99, I couldn't resist. I have been using it everyday since. It really does wake me up  in the morning and stops my face from looking puffy at 6am! A bonus is the smell. I have never come across a foundation that smells so nice! At the moment the shade is a little too dark for me but it's summer so it's ok. I will definitely keep my eyes out for the offer again so I can stock up! 

Vo5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir with Argan Oil - I'm about half way through this already and I only use two pippets in my hair. I have noticed that if I apply it to my roots, it makes them greasy. Therefore, I stick to the ends and gently comb through before styling. It helps to detangle my hair and smooths down any frizz. It's just a shame I can't use it on my roots as that's where most of my frizz is! 

MUA Undress Me Too Palette - I have posted a review of this palette on my blog. Altogether, I have four MUA palettes. The quality and pigmentation of the eyeshadows are amazing considering the low price of them. I continue to use all four, sometimes together picking and choosing shades to mix and match. Undress Me Too is a perfect dupe for Urban Decay Naked 2. Personally, I haven't used UD but if you search for comparison posts, the shades and swatches are so alike. When you compare the prices - £36 for UD and £4 for MUA, I know which I'd choose if I was you!  

SEVENTEEN Doll'd Up Mascara - I'll be honest, I only picked this up from Boots because I had a voucher. The voucher allowed me to get the mascara for £2. £2! It would be rude not to! I wasn't looking for a new mascara but I am so glad I've got it now. The wand is plastic, which I'd never used before but I am now a fan! The brush is also curved, which allows you to give your lashes a lovely curl. The mascara claims to give curl for 24 hours. I'm not sure how true this is as I don't leave my mascara on that long but for the time mine is on, I definitely have a beautiful curl. 

Topshop Lipstick in Innocent - I have been wanting this lipstick for ages. For some reason, I would swatch it in Topshop but not purchase it! However one day, I decided to treat myself and I picked it up! I love Topshop lipsticks. The formula is so creamy and moisturising and they dry semi matte. I have three in my collection and this is definitely my new favourite lipstick. The shade is perfect during the day with just one application or it can be layered up for a perfect evening shade. 

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

April 2013 Favourites

Hi girls,

May has been such a busy month for me so far! I almost didn't post this at all because it's so late in the month. But I still wanted to share a few products that I have been loving with you. During the month of April, there were lots of products that I loved using. Luckily for you, I managed to narrow it down to just six products!

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel - I started using this shower gel in December. I don't use it everyday so I'm about halfway through. The scent is amazing. It contains natural mandarin peel extract and as an added bonus, it contains built in body lotion. My skin is super soft after using it and my feet, which are usually dry and cracked, are looking a lot better! My skin isn't really dry on my body but if you suffered from dry skin, you'll probably need to use a moisturiser as well. I want to get into the habit of using one but I always forget. Using this shower gel, for me, is the lazy way out!

Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning - I saw this raved about on blogs and YouTube so much, that I caved and purchased it. I must admit that I was worried at first - I am quite pale and I didn't want to appear too tanned especially with make up on top. However, I was pleasantly happy when my face just looked healthy and radiant. Another concern, as with any self tan product, was the smell. As I am pale, I only need to apply every few days. Because of this, the colour, and the smell, doesn't build up too much. It's very subtle and just what I like. I'm looking forward to using this in summer as my face doesn't really tan where as the rest of my body does (a little bit). 

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Repair Mask - I saw this on a couple of blog posts and thought it would be worth a try as my hair is dry and damaged. I love the texture of the mask and once I have rinsed it out, after about 5 minutes, my hair feels smooth and silky. I still use conditioner before I apply the mask as my hair is quite damaged from years of heat and colour but if your hair isn't as dry, you might want to skip conditioner. 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Celestial - A couple of months ago, I purchased two Rimmel Apocalips. I picked up Nova and Celestial. Celestial is definitely my favourite of the two and suits me better for daytime wear over Nova. If you've been hiding under a rock for a few months and haven't heard of the Apocalips, they're a new(ish) lip product from Rimmel, which is a hybrid between lipstick and lip gloss. The colour and lasting quality is that of a lipstick and the shine is that of a lip gloss without being sticky. They are a little bit moisturising as well. 

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream - As I mentioned in my haul post, I saw Llymlrs mention this a few times on her blog and in her videos. It was only £2.99 and I didn't have high expectations to be honest but I was blown away. The colour is beautiful and it lasts a few hours on the lips. It applies like a lipgloss but dries matte like a lipstick while still being moisturising.  I will definitely continue buying this product when it runs out and I might have to purchase some of the other shades!

Natural Collection Blushed Cheeks in Peach Melba - This is a product that impresses Lily Pebbles so it must be good! It's only £1.99 and the packaging isn't great but the actual blusher is beautiful. Peach Melba is a beautiful pinky peach shade and shows up as a beautiful, natural looking blush on my cheeks. I have been reaching for this almost every single day. The only improvement I would make is to make the pot bigger so my Real Techniques Blush Brush fits in easier!

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub - Review

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub £8

I have never used a Soap & Glory product before this. I really wanted to give them a try and see what all the fuss was about. Before Christmas, I was in Boots and I saw the Best Of All gift set on offer for £27! I decided it was the perfect opportunity to try the products as they were supposed to be their best selling products. I have tried a few from the gift set so far but this one has to be my favourite. Hands down the best smelling body scrub I have ever smelt! It's also a really great scrub and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. It contains smashed brown sugar, sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains, which all explain the delicious scent.

I always thought I only needed to exfoliate in Summer when my skin was on show. I now realise that it's still important to exfoliate in the colder months to keep my skin supple and smooth. I use a body scrub once a week in the shower and this has been my scrub of choice since Christmas. A little goes a long way and exfoliates a large area of my body, which means this tub will last me a long time. It doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and it doesn't leave a film on my skin. Although I don't need to moisturise afterwards, I still do so that my body gets a super duper pampering.

I find this exfoliator very gentle but I'm not sure if it's suitable for sensitive skin. It doesn't leave my skin with any red patches. I think it would be the perfect scrub to use prior to fake tan. I'm not a massive fake tan lover but I do like to use it every now and again in Summer. I mainly use the gradual tan as a daily moisturiser. This scrub would help to keep the fake tan looking natural as it gives an all over, even exfoliate. If you haven't tried this scrub, I definitely recommend you try it out. You have to experience the smell! Soap & Glory have created two other products in this scent and I'm dying to try them out!

Have you tried this scrub? What other products do you love from Soap & Glory?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick