April 2014: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

If I've reviewed a product, I've made the product name clickable to take you straight to the post for more info.

Klorane Smoothing & Relaxing Eye Patches: I do like these but I'm still searching for 'the one' as far as eye patches are concerned. They're the best I've tried so far though in terms how how effective they are. The ingredients however, not so good.

Repurchase? Undecided.

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Skin Tone Perfecting Booster, Intense Hydrating Booster, Overnight Facial & Dynamic Defence Day Cream: If you've been a reader of my blog from 2012, you'll already know I'm a huge Sarah Chapman fan.If not, you can see my reviews here and here. Ultimate Cleanse is my pick of the bunch, I've gone through countless sample sizes as well as full size.

Repurchase? Not everything but most, definitely Ultimate Cleanse.

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum: Revitalash I liked but this, it did nada for me.

Repurchase? No.

Di Palomo Tuscan Rose Hand & Body Cream*: I used this only as a hand cream but it took too long to sink in and the scent wasn't my cuppa tea which is weird, I usually love rose scented products.

Repurchase? No.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara x2: LOVE!
Repurchase? Already have.

Eylure Dylash Lash & Brow Dye Kit: Been using this stuff for years but barely ever use it on myself now as I've finally found a brow pencil that matches the natural colour of my brows and when I use this, it just looks odd against the colour of the pencil but I still use it on my mum every month and it lasts aaaages. Would never pay to have my brows tinted now when you consider how cheap this is and how many uses you get. Click the link to read my review, there's also before and after photos.

Repurchase? Already have.

Caribbean Essentials Radiance Facial Spritz*: I love vanilla, this smells like vanilla = love. My skin adored this when it was going through a dry beyond belief phase as it's so hydrating.

Repurchase? Yes, probably during Winter though. 

SBC Collagen Gel: I've had travel size bottles of this and the 500ml bottles. Used it as both a mask at night and in place of moisturiser which I kinda liked at first but quickly went off it big time. Even though it's a light water based gel I found it sticky and wasn't able to layer it as they suggest.

Repurchase? No.

JASON Family Natural Sunblock SPF 45*: Using this took me back to being a kid. To me it smells like a banana-ish flavoured medicine, anyone know what I mean? This tube isn't completely but I'm sure it's out of date by now.

Repurchase? Not sure.

He-Shi Express Liquid Tan: I'm a bit of a cheat when it comes to tanning, I only apply it to the skin that's visible when I'm wearing clothes. Yup, I look ridiculous in the buff but who cares, it saves time and product which means a bottle of this liquid gold lasts me twice as long. Love the Express Liquid Tan, have recommended it so many times.

Repurchase? Definitely but I'm testing out a cheaper alternative at the mo.

Amie Bright Eyes Gentle Make Up Remover*: Not the most effective make up remover I've ever tried, takes a bit longer to get rid of my eye make up than I'd like but it is gentle as promised and smells good.

Repurchase? No.

NEXT Paradise Perfume: A few years back I couldn't get enough of this! The lasting power was great, as was the price but sadly it's been discontinued.

Repurchase? If I could, I would.

The Body Shop 100% Natural Lip Roll-On in Coconut: Another non empty but I'm sure it's expired by now. Loved it at first, especially the cooling metal roller-ball applicator but I've found so many other lip products I prefer.

Repurchase? Not sure if it's still available but no.

Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Dark Circles Eye Cream*: A brilliant, affordable eye cream. It hydrates without making the baggage are worse but the main reason I wanted to try this eye cream was because of the brightening of dark circles claim which sadly it didn't do for me.

Repurchase? Maybe but I'm not loyal to any eye cream.

Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturiser: The texture of this is heavenly, as is the feeling it leaves on the skin but like most things, the more often I used it it caused hives to pop up all over my face.

Repurchase? No.

The Body Shop Orange & Tangelo Candle: This smells unreal! Seriously, I can't explain how much I love it but, the scent throw leaves a lot to be desired. I made the mistake of lighting this half an hour before I needed to head out #EagerBeever which of course resulted in major tunneling. When the candle finally burnt out after a few weeks I was left with quite alot of wax so rather than chuck it in the bin, I removed it from the glass and used it in my oil/tart burner. When used in the burner the scent throw was amazing so now I definitely want to try the oil version.

Repurchase? Yes but not at full price, I always wait for a sale then stock up on home fragrance-y things from TBS. Plus I found an Ikea dupe which is much cheaper.

Air Wick Colour Change Candle in Pink Sweet Pea: Not my favourite candles by a long shot but when they're on offer I can't help myself. I usually love sweet pea scented candles but this was OTT, way too floral for my liking but the glasses do come in handy for storing liners. :)

Repurchase? Yes but in other scents.

Dunnes White Cotton Candle: Dunnes stores are only in N.Ire/Ire as far as I know. It's an affordable clothing store that also sells bits and bobs for the home. At under 3 quid this candle got the job done and lasted a REALLY long time.

Repurchase? More than likely, might try a different scent next time though.

Did you work your way through many things last month?

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[Click to enter my Klorane giveaway]

*PR sample

Klorane Smoothing & Relaxing Eye Patches with Cornflower

I've tried 2 or 3 eye patch products from different brands now and I have to say, none of them made much difference. I almost didn't buy these ones from Klorane, thought they would be just as pointless as the rest but I was pleasantly surprised. 

The box contains 7 sachets, each with 2 eye patches. They make all the usual claims - reduce dark circles, combat puffiness, decrease signs of tiredness. Anyone who hasn't used eye patches before, you don't have to worry about them dragging the delicate eye area when you remove them. They do stick but aren't sticky. It's hard to explain but they lift away from the skin easily with no tugging whatsoever. The patches should be applied to clean, dry skin and left to work their magic for around 20 minutes. They feel instantly cooling even if they haven't been kept in the fridge. My eyes look less tired, slightly less puffy, any dehydration lines disappear and the skin feels soft and smooth. My dark circles don't do a disappearing act sadly but I'm yet to meet any product hardcore enough to make much of a difference in that department. 

I usually reach for these bad boys when my eyes not only feel tired but look tired too. They don't leave any residue behind so there's no faff of having to rinse your face after. They aren't miracle workers but if you're like me and have an eye area that won't behave, they're a godsend. If I had to recommend eye patches from one brand, it would definitely be Klorane. BUT, yes there's a but. They contain some not-so-nice ingredients such as parabens and mineral oil which I didn't notice when I first bought them so even though they work, I'm not sure I would buy them again.

Have you tried eye patches before?

Klorane Smoothing & Relaxing Eye Patches with Cornflower RRP: 17, currently 13.50 from www.escentual.com

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October 2013: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

It's monthly empties post time again! :)

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution: I really like this affordable micellar water from L'Oreal. It removes mascara really well and hasn't caused my sensitive skin any irritation. As aslways though, this is my eye make up remover only. I always follow up with a proper cleanse and wouldn't suggest anyone use micellar water as their sole cleanser.

Repurchase? There's already a bottle waiting in the cupboard. 

Beyonce Pulse: I wasn't so fond of 'Heat' but 'Pulse' is my guilty please. It's sweet without being sickly, it's more of a light, clean, fresh sweet scent if that makes any sense at all. The only thing I can't stand is the packaging. That horrendous huge silver lid goes straight to room 101 every time a buy a new bottle.

Repurchase? I always buy a bottle when it's on sale and have a brand spankin' new bottle (minus the lid) in my perfume stash.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara 'Black': This mascara is my new favourite. It hasn't made a blind bit of difference to the condition or length of my lashes but it makes them look long, full, jet black and holds a curl all day. 

Repurchase? Definitely but I also want to try Le Volume De Chanel after Miss Boscy  recommended it.

Yonka Hydra No1 Serum & Cream x4, Masque x2*: These samples came in so handy this month while I was away a lot. I got over a weeks use from the serum & cream which came in 2 options - dry/sensitive and normal to oily. I didn't notice too much difference between the 2 formulas but if I had to pick which one I prefer I would have to go for dry/sensitive. They left my skin feeling really hydrated, didn't cause any irritation and I loved the texture. The masque on the other hand didn't suit my skin at all. When I first tried it out my cheeks where I have a lot of high colour instantly felt uncomfortable. They turned bright red and had a lot of heat coming from them so I had to rinse it off. I gave them to my mum who loved them though and is planning on buying a full size tube. Not sure what I reacted to but it's as shame as the masque was what I was most excited about trying.

Repurchase? The Hydra Cream & Serum for sensitive/dry skin, yes.

Santaverde Aloe Vera Cleansing Gel: This cleansing gel has been knocking around my beauty cupboard for quite some time now. It claims to be fragrance free but it smells like straight up apple juice which I love but will disappoint anyone who bought it based on it being fragrance free. I like this cleanser but don't love it, it left my skin feeling clean and never stripped but I have a real problem with the price. Yes Santaverde products are free from nasty ingredients but 22 quid for what can only be described as a basic cleanser just boggles my mind.

Repurchase? No.

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oil x2 'Support Equilibrium'* and 'De-Stress Muscle'*: I received the Aromatherapy Associates Miniature Bath & Shower Oil Collection last year. You can read that post here I loved the collection but like most things, I moved on and forgot about these magical oils from Aromatherapy Associates but with it officially being bath weather my love for oil has reignited. Instead of using one full bottle for each bath I now manage to get 3 uses from each bottle.

Repurchase? Yes. I'm going to go for a big bottle but still trying to decide on which scent to go for.

Hydra Expert Cream by Soins Experts*: Confession - I didn't use this up but it's still worth a mention. This came in the BeTrousse Christmas Beauty Box and was pinched by my wee granny when her usual moisturiser came to an end. She loved this stuff! Said she could feel her skin tighten from the first use and used it religiously untill it was no more. I looked everywhere for this brand when I was in Paris to buy her another pot but sadly couldn't find it.

Repurchase? The granny would, without a doubt.

Fresh Skin Vanilla Fragrance Oil: I bought a few fragrance oils a while back to make my own room sprays. You can read that post here. Vanilla is one of my favourite scent but for some reason this fragrance oil didn't do it for me at all.

Repurchase? Yes but in a different scent.

Etat Pur Enoxolone 280*: Enoxolone 280 is designed for people with very reactive and irritated skin. It adds instant comfort and reduces redness while it's on the skin. I found it to be really effective but was hoping it would get rid of my redness forever which it sadly didn't.

Repurchase? Maybe but I want to try a few other products for reactive skin first.

Klorane Smoothing & Relaxing Eye Contour Patches (not pictured): These featured in my Paris Haul and I'm pleased to report they're very good. A lot better than any eye patches I've tried before. The box comes with 7 packets each containing 2 patches. I was starting to worry about running out but I've since found out they're available from escentual and are currently on sale! :) A full review will be up soon.

Repurchase? Yes.

Weleda Millet Nourishing Shampoo*: One of the products from this months Love Me Beauty Box was this travel size shampoo from Weleda. I shampoo my hair twice each time I wash it so was only able to get one use from this tube which isn't enough to know if I really love it or not but it did give my hair brilliant shine and left it soft.

Repurchase? Maybe at some point but it isn't high up on my list of things to buy.

Brow Gel: I have no idea what brand this is, the writing has worn off but I know it was cheap, as are all the clear brow gels I buy. It was fine, done the job.

Repurchase? I've gone for the Natural Collcection Brow Gel this time which is also super cheap.

Boots Essentials Cotton Wool Pads x2 & Boots Double Faced Round Pads: I like both but prefer the double faced pads. The Essentials Cotton Pads come apart easier and sometimes leave bits of lindt behind on my lashes but they're really cheap and always on offer.

Repurchase? I usually just buy what evers on offer.

Classics Nail Polish Remover: I know you can buy this in some chemists but it's also available in one of the pound shops (the one with the blue sign) It's a huge 400ml bottle which lasts ages but it also works really well. Not bad for a quid.

Repurchase? Already have.

Febreze Cranberries & Frost Limited Edition Candle: Who knew Febreze made such good candles? I didn't! Picked this up on a whim along with another scent for under 2 quid from Semi Chem. I love the scent and for such a small candle it really has a great scent throw. It has a cleaner burn that most of my Yankee Candles and smells great even when it's not lit. My only grumble is how much wax is left over when the wick has fully gone.

Repurchase? Yes.

Betty Crocker Home Fragrances Large Candle in Apple Spice: This has to be the worst candle ever. It's still practically full but the wick won't stay lit.

Repurchase? No.

Glade Candle: I've had this candle so long that I now can't even remember the scent and there's no label with the name anywhere on the glass. It smells floral to me so lets just say floral. Not a scent I normally go for and probably wouldn't buy it again but it did burn well, every single bit of wax has gone.

Repurchase? Maybe in a different scent.

L'Oreal Ever Riche Shampoo Sample x2: Everyone seems to love this shampoo but I can't stand the scent! It's so overpowering and synthetic. It worked fine but no better than other shampoo's I use.
Repurchase? No.

What have you used up this month?

Have you tried any of these products?

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Have you entered my Paris skin care giveaway?

*PR sample

Paris Beauty Haul

I did plan on buying so much from Sephora but most of the brands stocked there are available in the UK and actually work out a lot more expensive in Euro's so as planned I headed straight to the Sephora own brand products (you all know how much I adore them) but only 5 things jumped out at me, plus a shower scrunchie as I'd forgot to pack mine. My hotel was central to most things I wanted to see and as soon as I got off the train which was very close to the hotel, Sephora was the first shop I saw. I had a bit of a fit and ran like a wild beast while trying to take a photo (you can see that attempt here) I think I came across 4 Sephora's in total with the one on the Champs Elysees (pictured above) being the largest. I did have better luck with the pharmacies though and they're so generous with samples.

Sephora:

Daily Make Up Brush Cleaner

Shower Scrunchie

Contour Eye Pencil 12HR Wear '13 Tiramisu'

Ultra Vinyl Lip Pencil '06 Strawberry Delish'

Rouge Shine Lipstick '04'

Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear '05 Beige'

Pharmacies:

La Roche-Posay Serozinc x2

Klorane Leave-In Spray With Citrus Pulp

Nuxe Creme Fraiche Masque

Avene Gentle Purifying Scrub

Yves Rocher Radiant Complexion Treatment

Klorane Leave-In Cream With Mango Butter

Yves Rocher Malaysian Coconut Eau De Toilette

Klorane Smoothing & Relaxing Eye Contour Patches

Yves Rocher Honey & Organic Muesli Creamy Cleansing Lotion

Yves Rocher Gentle Make Up Remover

Klorane Shampoo with Desert Date

Klorane Floral Lotion Eye Make Up Remover

Nuxe Melting Cleansing Gel with Rose Petals

I've only used a couple of the products but so far so good. I'll be reviewing most things once I've had a chance to really put them to the test and I did get a few things for one of you lovely lot so make sure to check back for a giveaway in the next week.

Have you tried any of these products?

What have you been buying lately?

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