Empties #19

Hello
The latest five to bite the dust:

• Sanctuary Hot Sugar Scrub
• Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm
• REN Clearcalm3 Night Serum
• Alterna Bamboo Hair Spray
• Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara

 

 

Hot Sugar Scrub - I wasn't 100% sure about this at first, it's a strange sensation when your body scrub starts heating up of its own accord. I really like this, it is a bit oily, the perfect amount of scrubbiness and has the classic Sanctuary scent.

Repurchase: Yes.

Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm - I'm pretty sure I've tried most of Botanics' products now, and this is a stand out product for me. The balm starts out solid but it soon warms and becomes oily which is great for an evening cleanse. I think the price point is great too.

Repurchase: Yes.

Clearcalm3 Night Serum - The Clearcalm3 range from REN is designed for troubled skin and while I didn't use this religiously I could feel a difference after using. I think REN is quite expensive, but if you have the money I would definitely recommend.

Repurchase: Not presently.

Bamboo Hair Spray - I'm not really a hairspray user, I wanted to use this up though and it does help me to hold a beachy wave throughout the day. Alterna is such an expensive brand so that immediately puts me off.

Repurchase: No.

Thick and Fast Mascara - A mascara is a mascara, am I right? This was okay - I wouldn't pay full whack but it was black enough, lengthening enough and curling enough. I just find them all the same really.

Repurchase: Probably not.

LUSH Jungle Solid Conditioner* | Review

Hello

It's well documented that I'm a huge fan of LUSH and their innovative ways, I recently shared Seanik with you and what better way to accompany a solid shampoo than with a solid conditioner?

Jungle is one of two solid conditioners that LUSH produce, the other being Big Solid Conditioner. Jungle is sold naked (yippee!) and can be stored in one of the shampoo bar tins or on a soap dish, which is how I keep mine.

The scent is a bit of a weird one, people either love it or hate it. I'm more in the middle, I don't love it by any means but it's tolerable. Jungle contains cocoa butter, fresh figs, fresh avocado, fresh passion fruit, fresh kumquat, ylang ylang oil, vetivert oil, cypress oil and cedarwood oil which admittedly sounds delicious, like a fruit smoothie for your hair. I just don't find that it transfers scent wise into what you would imagine, to me it just smells a bit herbal. As cocoa butter is the main ingredient for Jungle it is very conditioning and nourishing.

Jungle is used by warming it up a bit (in your hands, or briefly under the shower) and running the full bar through the ends of your hair. You can't really see it going in so it is hard to gauge how much you need but I have never used too much and ended up looking like a greaseball which was my main qualm. 

After drying my hair it is left super soft and shiny. I recently went away for the weekend and took a mini liquid conditioner with me and it just felt synthetic and weighty compared to Jungle. One of my colleagues has mentioned that my hair looks really shiny and in great condition which is saying something.

I would definitely repurchase Jungle again, mine is lasting forever and it only costs £3.50 which is average for a liquid conditioner. I'm glad I've made the switch to solid shampoo and conditioner and would certainly recommend giving it a whirl.

The Weekly Ramble #105

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The weekly face:

 

Poser alert. Woops. I only had a 2 day work week this week which is always amazing.

On Wednesday we went to the Trafford Centre to watch the new Avengers film, Age of Ultron. I absolutely loved it! I'm a major nerd anyway but when you have James Spader as the villain I'm always going to be sold. If you haven't watched it yet I would definitely recommend. We also were supposedly going shopping for birthday presents but no inspiration struck so we came home empty handed. Actually that's a bit of a fib, I ended up buying my first two Tsum Tsum's - Thumper and Blossom obviously.

Yesterday we had a huge Spring clean, the house looks well sparkly. I feel like doing nothing today but we are going shopping for housey stuff, the exciting life of a grown up eh? It feels like the weekend has gone super fast, I could totally go for a day between Saturday and Sunday. Or just work part time? I wish.

Makeup Revolution I ♡ Makeup Blushing Hearts - Blushing Heart Blusher | Review and Swatches

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I swear I'm not on commission for Makeup Revolution, I just think that their releases really knock it out of the park! Recently I spoke about one of their blush palettes but today I will be sharing with you something altogether fancier.

I think it is more than a little obvious that Makeup Revolution have taken inspiration from Too Faced's Sweetheart Blushes when creating their own Blushing Hearts range, and who can blame them really? Realistically as they looked so similar that was what made me buy Blushing Heart so fair play to them! I know what you're probably thinking, a replica does not equal the same quality. I won't be able to compare like for like as I will not be dropping £24 on a blusher when I can get an identical one for £4.99. Bills to pay and all that.

Blushing Heart is a blusher which contains three shades within the pan, you can use them separately or swirled together, it's always good to have options girls! For this reason I think that the Blushing Hearts are perfect for travel and mine came with me recently on a weekend away and I had no issues with it shattering/making a general mess. Thumbs up from me!

Now I can wang on about fancy packaging until the cows come home but that isn't what really matters is it? The swatches above are as they are in the heart, top being left, middle being middle, bottom being right and the fourth one is a combination of all three. As you can see it is only the bottom/right shade that contains any sparkle so if that's not your thing you can easily avoid it. The pigmentation of this blusher is absolutely amazing and applies like a dream. I just swirl my brush around in all the shades and roll with it. The longevity is astounding too which sometimes you don't always get with a more budget blusher.

As you can see Blushing Heart has really perked up my ghost like pallor. 'Scuse the brows by the way, I was attempting a more natural look (why? indeed).

All in all I would definitely recommend picking up Blushing Heart, it is £4.99 from Makeup Revolution which is available in some Superdrugs. Although not mine, rude.

 

Bourjois Délice de Poudre Bronzing Powder & Highlighter 55 | Review and Swatches

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I don't know about you (but I'm feeling 22... not really - I'm 25) but once the sun makes an appearance it really accentuates how pale I actually am and I tend to use a bronzer in the Summer months. I'm usually very loyal to the original chocolate bronzer from Bourjois as it is pale for a bronzing product and doesn't make me look muddy or orange. So when I spotted the Bourjois Délice de Poudre bronzing powder & highlighter I thought I would give it a whirl!

The packaging is exactly the same as the normal bronzing powders, a sturdy cardboard which has a magnetised closing which makes it perfect for travel. It is also great for traveling as you are getting two products for the space of one, bonus!

I know people say that it smells of chocolate, it really doesn't. It smells like furniture polish but thankfully that doesn't translate onto the skin.

The bronzer half is as dark as I would be able to go as I'm so pale, what I'm trying to say is that it's still not really that dark. The highlighter half is subtly iridescent but never sparkly and looks gorgeous on the skin. I'm not skilled enough to attempt a contour but I don't think this product would be appropriate for that, more of just adding a bit of healthy radiance to the skin.

 

Bourjois Délice de Poudre Bronzing Powder & Highlighter is £7.99 and available from Boots. Will you be picking this up for the warmer months?

The Weekly Ramble #104

Hello

The weekly face:

What a grumpy bun! My skin has had a bit of an adverse reaction to something so I didn't fancy inflicting it on you guys!

I've been back on the fitness wagon this week (finally) and I'm so glad I am. Feel so gross when I'm not exercising and eating crap.

I also had my B12 injection this week but I'm still not feeling the effects, sometimes it can take a while but I just want it to get a wriggle on.

I'm off meeting my friend for lunch and shopping today in Liverpool which is always a delight!

May Wishlist

Hello

1. Philosophy - Fresh Cream EDT - Boots - £34.00

2. Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Lacque - Appechissant - Boots - £8.99

3. Ojon - Rare Blend Oil - Boots - £30.00

4. LUSH - Lust Gorilla Perfume - Lush - £48.00

1. I have read about Philosophy's latest fragrance on many a blog lately and knew I had to give it a spritz the next time I was in store. I absolutely love it, it is clean (like all of the Philosophy fragrances) but a little bit sweet too. Good enough to eat for sure. I may just spend my points on this one.

2. I have only just tried the original Rouge Edition lipsticks from Bourjois and I can't believe it has taken me so long. The Aqua Lacque range are more sheer and Spring appropriate. I think the shade Appechissant is right up my street.

3. My hair is in a bit of a state at the moment, my roots are getting greasy quickly (I've changed shampoo, never again) but they ends are so dehydrated and parched. I've heard good things about Ojon and I just really want to chuck any sort of moisture that I can at my hair presently.

4. Ahh, Lust. Lust has been a long time favourite of mine as it is primarily jasmine based. I do love jasmine, I think it smells super sexy. I recently had a spritz when I was at the LUSH Spa which has only fueled the obsession.