January 2015 Empties

January 2015 Empties

Kleenex Shine Sheets – I talk about these all the time, they’re unfortunately discontinued but I did manage to find some in Home Bargain a while ago and so I stocked up on quite a few. I like to carry them with me just to keep the shine at bay, it means I have to powder less throughout the day. A pack of 50 sheets lasts me over a month & they’re handy to have especially in the warmer months.

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo – I bought this from the Poundshop & love to try a new dry shampoo. Since I had my hair cut into a short bob I don’t wash it as often and dry shampoo has become my best friend. This one did leave a slight white cast but it also did a very good job at absorbing the oil of 3 day hair. I liked how it gave my hair volume & texture too. I would buy the full size of this.

Molton Brown Thai Vert Hand Cream – I had the hand wash in the same scent & really like them both. I think I prefer the hand wash over the handcream. The handcream lasted me a whole year, its a little greasy but the scent is uplifting and fresh. I wouldn’t buy the handcream again. I think there are better quality ones available.

Grace Cole Pink Grapefruit & Watermelon Handwash* – OMG did this last me for ages. I decanted it into a smaller bottle, so it did’t look as industrial in my bathroom. I have to say the packaging might be a little large (500ml) but the product itself was really nice. It smells so fruity and tropical, it didn’t dry out my hands and left them feeling smooth and clean. I was quite impressed & its a brand I hadn’t heard of before but I will be checking out a few more products from them as they’re affordable and great quality.

Eucerin Micellar Water* – This was an effective makeup remover but I used it up quite quickly. It didn’t sting my eyes or dry out my skin. I do think the Garnier Micellar Water is better but this is still a great option if you are able to purchase it on offer. I reviewed it more in depth here.

January Empties 2015

Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment – I do like this & thought it was incredible, until I tried a few other hair oils & I realised that they were just as good. Moroccan Oil has a hefty price tag & I think the Avon hair oil, Dr Organic & OGX hair oils are all just as good.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask – I adore this mask & I like to use it as an overnight treatment if my skin is dry or needs a boost of hydration. Although I think this also works well as a face mask for 30 minutes. I get almost the same results. Its great as a winter mask, it gives your skin a little help combating the effects of the central heating.

Origins Clear Improvement Mask – Another great mask, I like to use this once a week to balance my skin and help draw out all the grime & dirt. It helps keep my skin clear & less oily. I think this is a staple in most peoples skincare regime. Its a mask you can always count on.

Jane Packer Fig, Sandalwood & Amber Perfume – This is a beautiful fragrance, I’m sad its all used up & will have to replace it asap. My favourite scent is Fig & this has Sandalwood and Amber thrown in too which make for a sophisticated beautiful fragrance. I have written a little more about the perfume & Jane Packer here.

Seventeen Back Lash Mascara – This is a really good jet black mascara. It didn’t clump or flake & when I wanted bolder looking lashes it was buildable. It gives volume and separates my lashes making them look a lot thicker. I would 100% buy this again. If you’re looking for a purse friendly mascara then I recommend this one.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

My Desk Essentials

I seem to spend a very large portion of my day at my desk staring aimlessly at my computer (out of the window if I’m completely honest). I thought you might like to see some of my desk essentials so rounded up all the items on my desk that I couldn’t live without day to day & took a photo or two of them.

My Desk Essentials

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist*

This is a very refreshing face mist and I spritz it so often throughout the day. I love how it stops my skin from drying out and the rose scent is very uplifting and calming. A few spritz of this leaves my skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated. I really enjoy having it on my desk & like I said I spray it so often.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets

I used these all the time last Summer but Kleenex discontinued them & I couldn’t find them anywhere, but I have since found a stash in my local Home Bargain & they’re selling the left over stock for 29p a pack. So you better believe I bought a huge supply. I like to have a pack of these with me just to dab on my T-zone so I don’t look like an oily mess as the day goes on. If you have a Home Bargain near you then get in there & buy a couple of packs. These are a god send for shine control.

Dried Fruit / Snacks

I like to snack on dried fruit or nuts at my desk & I always have a few packets in my drawer, I get so hungry & if I don’t have something marginally healthy to hand I will eat whatever I can find, that normally involves chocolate or something sweet. So these little packs of raisins are a good size for snacking on.

Burt’s Bees Hand Salve

I know Burt’s Bees do a Lemon Cuticle Oil too which I like but I have been using this on mu cuticles I find it a little too waxy for a hand salve & it takes some working in to your hands so I like to rub it in to my cuticles when they’re feeling dry. Its handy to have on my desk & its in such a little tin it takes up no space at all.

Crazy Rumors Black Cherry Lip Balm*

OMG does this smell so good & its extremely hydrating on the lips. It does a great job at keeping my lips moisturised. I don’t have to reapply it that much throughout but I like having it to hand & I just love the scent of it . Crazy Rumor offer a wide selection of flavours and they all sound lovely.

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Pocket Bac

I like to have hand sanitiser & always use this. This one smells sweet & the scent lingers for ages. I have a few of these from B&BW and just love how inexpensive they are and they have so many scents to pick from.

Sharpie / Pens

I’m a stationery addict so this Sharpie just represents my pen pot (which is jam packed full of pens). I love to doodle at my desk when I’m meant to be working or when I am on the phone (bad habit). Sharpies are my weakness and when I see a new colour I have to have it. Tell me I am not alone on this.

Notebook

I have an abundance of pretty notebooks and because I buy that many they often never get used so I have been making a point to get more organised and try to keep one on my desk & I also have one in my handbag. I have been loving Wilko’s for cute stationery lately and they nearly always have a sale on.

iPad

I don’t have a mobile phone (SHOCKER) so I tend to have my Ipad close by for keeping up to date with social media, emails and all that sort of thing. I like to read my books & magazines on here too, saves space & weight in my handbag. So this device comes everywhere with me.

Tea

I can’t go a day without a cup of tea. I tend to drink green tea of some description but I always have a couple of tea bags to hand. Let me know what your favourite cup of tea is.

If you have done a desk essentials post leave me a link or let me know your top 3 desk essentials.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

 

Summer Beauty Favourites 2014

Great Summer Products

These are eight of my favourite Summer beauty products, my most reached for and the things I just can’t live without as the weather gets warmer.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Facial SPF 50 £16.50 for 50ml – I have poured out my love for this SPF on my blog quite a few times now & I won’t apologise for it. I have convinced all my family to purchase the one thats best for their skin type (there are 3 options). I have the Anti Shine one & that dries to a Matte velvet finish. I have worn it for the entire month of May & June – in all weathers, rain or shine. Its a fantastic broad spectrum SPF, giving you the highest protection from both UVA & UVB rays. It wears very very well under makeup & doesn’t have that fishy SPF smell that quite a few sun care products have. I love the protection this gives my skin & also the fact that it won’t leave my skin looking greasy or feeling sticky. Its part of my daily skincare routine.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir £9.95 for 30ml – I have a love / hate relationship with this product as I have had a few bottles of this now & I do like it when I have it, although some days the minty scent is a little much for me especially in the morning. I like spritzing this when I feel hot, Its a nice and refreshing, but I think I have come to the conclusion & decision that I just like facial sprays / toners and won’t go out of my way to repurchase this one. So this Caudalie one I do like (its a little pricey) but this product is more included in this Summer Products roundup as more of broader I love facial sprays in the Summer to cool down & keep my makeup / skin feeling refreshed.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets – I love these & I was sad to hear Kleenex have discontinued them (cries). If you like them too & have a Home Bargain shop near you, they are selling them in there for 29p a pack & you best believe I have stocked up on many many packs. I get very oily in the warm weather & no one likes that look so I carry a pack of these in my bag just to blot away that excess oil throughout the day. These ones are very good & don’t lift off my makeup and I find them to be really absorbent. Each pack has 50 sheets so they’ll last me a good couple of weeks. So handy to have in your bag for those very hot days. I also got some Essence ones at a recent launch event. So I am excited to try those.

By Terry Baume De Rose Lip Balm £38.00 for 10g – This is a mini sample pot & is sadly almost all but gone. This leaves my lips so soft, smooth & hydrated. Its been my day time go to lip treat. My lips have been spoilt & now have a taste of the high life. I’m going to have to do some saving in order to be able to afford the full size of this. It’s worth every penny though, my lips are in such great condition even matte lipsticks have been applying like a dream, thats got to mean its worth the hefty price tag.

Elemis Treat Your Feet Foot Cream £6.00 for 30ml – No one wants dry nasty feet in the Summer. I am all about the sandals & flip flops when its warm, keeping it casual and I have to have my feet looking their best. So I have been using this Elemis Foot Cream from my British Beauty Blogger: The Dream Box & Its been working a treat on moisturising and keeping my feet looking smooth & feeling soft. Its very nourishing and not greasy. I put it on before bed & sleep in some small cotton socks & I have sandal ready feet by morning. This is a Summer must have for sure!

Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose £8.00 for 6g- I don’t like to wear too much makeup during the day when it is really warm as I always end up feeling like a hot sweaty mess, but I do like to wear something on my lips just to give them a little colour & its helps it to look like I have made more of an effort. These Korres Lip Butters are fantastic, not only are they hydrating but the colour pay off is pretty damn good too. These won’t hang around for hours & hours on your lips but still they will give you a pretty flush of colour & keep your lips moisturised too. There are quite a few colours but this Wild Rose one is a pretty red and is so easy too apply and looks great on. My go to summer lip product, it is always in my handbag.

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Colour in Blue Me Away – This is my most used polish for my toes, in the Summer this just looks so pretty and lasts a very very long time. I have got 3 weeks wear from it on my toes without it chipping or needing touched up. It reminds me of swimming pools, just a fantastic vibrant bright blue shade. I always get compliments on the colour & I love it.

dr.Organic Virgin Olive Oil Body Scrub £6.69 for 200ml* – I use scrubs all year round but in the Summer I get my (very white) legs & arms out a little more than usual & I like them to look as smooth & healthy as possible & this Olive Oil Scrub is so nice. It leaves my skin feeling soft & moisturised. Its a nice gentle but effective scrub and I use it daily as it helps to wake me up, get rid off all those dead skin cells and keeps my skin feeling very very smooth.

Let me know if you have been loving any of the products I’ve mentioned & also what your favourite Summer must have products are.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.