December 2013: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

The last empties post of the year and it's a big'un! I finished off a lot of perfumes this month, just in time to stock up on more in the sales

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb: I adore this perfume, the price sickens me slightly when I'm handing over the money but it's such a long lasting fragrance and well worth it. My mum who never likes a perfume enough to wear it daily has now adopted Flowerbomb as her signature scent so I stopped wearing it as often as I used to but I always have a bottle in my collection. Does anyone know what the Zara dupe is called?

Repurchase? Yes. 

Thierry Mugler Alien: When Alien was first released I loved it but over time it started to bring on migraines as it's so strong. A family member loves it now so I've started buying it for her at Christmas, I love how it smells on her but on myself I find it too overpowering. It's a great Winter scent though so I'm sure I'll use up the mini bottle I still have lurking around.

Repurchase? Yes but not for myself.

DKNY Be Delicious: A really fresh scent that smells gorgeous on other people but on my skin it just doesn't work. There's a few different variations now though so maybe I should give one of those a try.

Repurchase? No

Diesel Loverdose: This is without a doubt my favourite perfume and has been all throughout 2013. Diesel isn't a brand I would head to in search of a fragrance but after getting a sample with a Debenhams order I was hooked! The mix of vanilla and liquorice is addictive and the staying power is great, on par with the likes of Alien.

Repurchase? Already have and always will.

NEXT Paradise Body Mist: Back in the day I found a scent from NEXT  that I loved, I loved it so much I stocked up on the gift sets in a sale but sadly it's been discontinued and I only have one bottle of the perfume left. :( it's great for days when I'm not going anywhere and don't want to use a more expensive perfume but still want to smell nice.

Repurchase? I would if I could.

Febreeze Vanilla Limited Edition Candle: I can't remember the exact name of this candle, it's something like Midnight Vanilla but I bloomin' loved it! The scent throw is on par, if not better than Yankee Candles plus I think it was on offer for a quid when I bought it.

Repurchase? If it's still available.

Yankee Candle Clean Cotton House Warmer Jar: Clean cotton will always be in my candle stash in some form. Love this scent, who doesn't want their house to smell fresh and clean.

Repurchase? Yes, I've already got a medium jar burning.

Yankee Candle Sparkling Lemonade Wax Tart: This smelt like the real thing, really fresh and lemony, it even smelt sparkling but as soon as I put it in the tart burner the scent completely changed, smelt more like bath/shower cleaner.

Repurchase? No.

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Watermelon & Eucalyptus Shower Gel: Stocked up on these in the sale aaages ago and I'm so glad to see the back of them now. Everytime I got to what I thought was the last bottle, another would appear. None of the scents really appeal to me and the shower gel itself is very watery.

Repurchase? No.

DGJ Organics Hair Juice Clarifying Shampoo*: A great smelling, reasonably priced, SLS free clarifying shampoo that got rid of any build up without stripping my hair. I used this once or twice a week depending on how many products I'd piled on my mop. You can see my review here.

Repurchase? Yes.

L'Occitane Mango Flower Hand Cream: I stock up everytime these come as a magazine freebie. The original version is still my favourite, I'm yet to find a hand cream that beats it.

Repurchase? Always.

Orhis Nourishing Face Cream*: This came in a BeTrousse box ages ago. I used it up a while back but forgot to include it in my last empties post. Unlike a lot of French skin care products, it wasn't anything special.

Repurchase? Not sure if it's available in the UK but no.

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Purifying Facial Wash*: This face wash has lasted such a long time as I only used it when my skin felt congested. It did help clear up my skin but is heavily fragranced which could cause irritation on sensitive skin if used daily.

Repurchase? No, I want to try a non foaming purifying cleanser.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra: Ended up with a few samples of this while in Paris and I love it! Still have another one to use then I'll buy the full size. It's a moisturiser for ultra sensitive/allergic skin.

Repurchase? Yes!

Mitchell & Peach Shower Wash*: I was planning to keep this for a weekend away but I'm a shower gel junkie and used it straight away. The scent isn't really my cuppa tea but it did lather well and left my skin feeling really nice.

Repurchase? No. It's too pricey at 20 quid, I would have to love the scent to spend that kind of money on shower gel.

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel: Can't remember too much about this other than it didn't irritate my skin.

Repurchase? No

REN Vetiver v7 Hand And Body Cream: Wasn't a lover of the scent and it didn't feel as luxe as other REN products. There are better hand and body creams out there, a lot cheaper too.

Repurchase? No.

SBC Echinacea Gel: The reason I bough this was to use on my temples for migraines instead of having to take painkillers all the time. I'd heard on QVC it's great for headaches and when you're stuffed up with the cold as it contains natural decongestants - menthol and eucalyptus. I swear by the Arnica Gel by SBC, it really helps with back pain but the Echinacea Gel didn't do a lot for me.

Repurchase? Not in this form but I might try the bath/shower gel.

ESPA Lift & Firm Intensive Eye Serum: My eye area just felt tacky after using this, didn't notice any change for the better in the ol' saggy baggy area.

Repurchase? No.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara: (not pictured) My current favourite and it has been for a few months now. If a mascara can give a curl to my almost downwards pointing lashes and hold it all day, it's a good'un! It gives me length and volume too. Doesn't crumble into my eyes or irritate them at all, it's brilliant.

Repurchase? Already have, think I'm on my third tube now and bought the Lash Potion and Plumping versions to try.

Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse*: Another product I finished ages ago but forgot to include. Not the best conditioner I've ever used but I love most Macadamia products I've tried. You can read my review here.
Repurchase? No.

Trevor Sorbie Beautiful Volume Dry Shampoo: I usually use Batiste but this was on offer in Boots a while back. If you prefer a simple, clean scent from your dry shampoo rather than the various scents Batiste offers, go for this. It didn't offer more volume than other dry shampoo's I've tried before but it was nice enough.
Repurchase? If it's on offer again.

Essyta Lait Corporel*: An organic body lotion that smells a bit funky. It left my skin feeling nice and soft but other lotions work just as well.
Repurchase? No.

Did you get through many products this month?

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September 2013: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

 I was on a mission this month to use up all the candles I already had before buying any more. I got through quite a few, my empties bag has been clinking non stop with all the glass jars and everyone thinks I'm a weirdo but sure, it's all in the name of an empties post.

Betty Crocker Candles x4: There was 5 of these candles but as I was lining them up to take the photo's my cat thought he would swipe one onto the floor. I'm not sure of the exact scents, it doesn't say anywhere on the glass but they were from Poundland and I think they're Chocolate Fudge Cake, Coconut, Strawberry Shortcake & Caramel. They were only a quid each and had a decent scent throw.

Repurchase? Yes.

Yankee Candle Wax Tarts 'Bahama Breeze' & 'Winter Wonderland': Winter Wonderland is a complete pine fest, no idea why I bought it! Bahama Breeze was nice but not as nice as I was expecting it to be. Yankee Wax Tarts last such a long time, give off much more scent than a candle and are a lot cheaper than the candles.

Repurchase? Yes but in different scents.

Original Source Mint & Tea Tree Shower Gel: I love Original Source, it's one of the few shower gel brands containing SLS that I can use without having to worry about it irritating my skin. In the warmer months this was my go-to, it tingles, cools and really wakes you up. Great if you have a cold as the mint is so strong, it really clears your head.

Repurchase? Already have.

Beyonce Heat: I really didn't like this at first, think I only bought it as it was so cheap in the sales. The more I used it though it grew on me but it still isn't one of my favourites. Notes include magnolia, red vanilla orchid, almond macaron, blush peach and honeysuckle nectar.

Repurchase? Probably not.

Essential Care Organic Rose Petal Tonic*: This stuff is brilliant. Not only does it smell gorgeous but it worked wonders on my skin. It's moisturising without feeling heavy or greasy and can be applied over makeup throughout the day. You can read my full review here.

Repurchase? Yes.

Yves Rocher Culture Bio Refreshing Gel Cleanser*: For the first few uses I really liked this cleanser. It wasn't the best at removing eye make up but felt really cooling and refreshing on the skin so I started using it for my morning cleanse. It's free from parabens which is always good but after around a week I noticed the smell of alcohol was very strong then shortly after my skin started feeling quite tight after each use.

Repurchase? No but I have another one in the cupboard, not sure how I ended up with 2.

Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Face & Decolletage Oil*: I reviewed this oil way back in January last year (link) and still stand by everything I said. It's a gorgeous 100% natural oil that will suit almost every skin type and treat most skin concerns.

Repurchase? Yes, once I've worked my way through the rest of my oil stash.

Montagne Jeuness Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Strips: These get a mention almost every month. They're cheap and they work but are hard to get hold of. I can only ever find them in ASDA.

Repurchase? I'm stocked up.

Etat Pur Q10 PureMolecule*: This is one of those products that really give a healthy glow to the skin. I mainly used Q10 at night and every morning my skin looked hydrated, plump and healthy. Review.

Repurchase? At some point.

Green & Spring Nourishing Day Moisturiser*: I used this cream up quite a while ago now but only just found the empty tub. I really like Green & Spring, it's not the cheapest brand but I've liked everything I've tried so far and would recommend them. You can read my review here.

Repurchase? Not sure. I've found other moisturisers I prefer.

First Aid Beauty Body Moisturizer: This is probably one of the best body moisturisers I've ever tried. It's fragrance free and safe for sensitive skin and even though the formula is on the thicker side of things, it sinks in quickly.

Repurchase? Yes.

Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Cotton Pads/BootsCotton Wool Pads: I like both but the double faced pads are my favourite. They're slightly textured and make removing eye make up/nail varnish less of a chore.

Repurchase? Yes. I usually just go for whatever one is on offer.

JĀSÖN® C-Effects™ Super-C™ Toner*: This was my refreshing toner, it didn't leave any residue behind, sting or strip my skin and it lasted a long, long time. I love JASON, the products do their job well yet still remain gentle. You can see my review here.
Repurchase? The only thing I didn't like was that it can't be used around the eyes so for that reason I probably wouldn't buy it again.

I also used up 2 Yankee Candle Simply Home Votives in 'Lemon Cream' & 'Vanilla Frosting' they were reduced to 75p each in ASDA. I think the Simply Home range is slightly cheaper but I liked them both, they lasted much longer than I was expecting and gave off a good amount of fragrance.

Did you get through many products this month?

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What A Tart..

I burn what I like all year round. I don't tend to coordinate my scents with seasons and have been leaning more towards wax tarts than actual candles lately. Wax tarts look like flat, wickless candles but once they're heated by a tealight at the bottom of the burner they turn into any oily/wax. They scent a room within minutes and last a surprisingly long time. My favourite thing about them is being able to pop them out of the burner once they've solidified, store them away to use again and add another scent to your burner. They're also alot cheaper than candles and give you the chance to try a scent before commiting to a big candle.

Pink Sands

Fluffy Towels

True Rose

Sparkling Lemonade
Christmas Cookie

The one festive scent I have been enjoying is Christmas Cookie! I only have the small size but I'm sure I'll buy the large jar at some point. Lemon isn't usually a scent I would go for. It tends to remind me of household cleaning products but sparkling lemonade is beaut! There's a fizziness to it, it's like holding a glass of sparkling lemonade and sniffing it, as weird as that sounds. True Rose smells exactly like a true rose. Funny that. Pink Sands is a mix of bright citrus, sweet florals and vanilla. If you were buying a candle for someone Pink Sands would be a safe bet. I can't imagine it offending anyone's nose. Fluffy Towels smells exactly like it's namesake. If you enjoy burning Clean Cotton then chances are you'll like this too.

I know Yankee Candles aren't the most healthy candle choice out there but I enjoy sweet scents more than lavender etc which most natural candle brands seem to gravitate towards. If you know of any natural brands you think I would like please let me know in the comments.

What candle are you burning?
Have you tried any listed in this post?

Recent Purchases

Just thought I would show a few bit's I've picked up in the last few day's. Some I've had my eye on for a while now, some I needed and some that accidentally on purpose ended up at the till.

*This Works, Deep Sleep Pillow Talk Set

*Stila Eye Shadow - Kitten

*L'Oreal Elnett Satin Heat Protect Styling Spray

*Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base & Top Coat Duo

*LUSH Rose Jam Bubbleroon

*Cherry Batiste

*Soap & Glory Pulp Friction

*Yankee Wax Tarts - Cherries On Snow, Clean Cotton & Christmas Eve

*MAC Brow Set - Beguile (not pictured)
*Montagne Jeuness Nose Pore Strips x2

*L'oreal Colour Riche Nail Polish - 805 Mysteriousicon, 404 Scarlet Vamp & 818 Sweet Amethyst

Thanks to my Boots, Superdrug and Debenhams Beauty Cards I was able to get a few bargains plus I had a £20 Boots voucher.

And because it's almost Christmas I've been in the mood for baking. I'm not the best, I'm probably the worst. The only thing I can make (that is edible) is pavlova. My cakes and buns are similar in weight and texture to that of a brick so I've given up in that area but I LOVE shortbread and am determined to make some for Christmas. I've tried a few times and they either end up like rubber or concrete but I'm not giving up just yet and bought some cute cookie cutters to atleast make my feeble attempts look nice.

If you have any good shortbread recipes please let me know in the comments.

The Bath #3

 

Is it only me who prefers sweet/foody scents during the colder months? I prefer it all year round to be honest but even more so in Winter. I always light a candle while I'm in the bath but sometimes I don't have time to wait around while the scent fills the room so instead I went for my new Yankee tart burner. My friend bought it for me a few days ago, it came with a 'Clean Cotton' wax tart which is one of my favourite scents but I decided I was in a Christmas Cookie mood. I prefer tarts/burners to candles. As soon as you light the tea light you instantly get wafts of whatever tart you're burning. I cleansed and exfoliated while the bath was running and could instantly smell the sweet, sugary scent of Christmas Cookie. As I was on a sweet roll I decided to make it a sweet overload and add a great big dollop of Philosophy Double Rich Hot Cocoa to the running water. Hot Cocoa and Christmas Cookie mixing together with the steam smelt amazing, like walking into a bakers house! Unlike Philosophy Hot Buttered Rum I find Hot Cocoa to smell slightly synthetic. There's something slightly floral about it but maybe thats just my uneducated nose picking up notes that aren't even there? I covered my scrunchie/shower puff in the stuff, had a good scrub then applied a thick layer of Yves Rocher Anti-Agressions Mask (review to come) and almost fell asleep while it worked it's magic.

Ahh, I want to go do it all over again.

Do you have any bubble bath recommendations for me?