Recent Empties More Skincare

This will be my last empties from the products I used up whilst having a blogging break, they should go back to monthly - fingers crossed.

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser I haven't got much else to say about this. It is still my favourite cleanser, I have already repurchased two of these. If you want to see my full review you can here.

Caudalie Cleansing Water I have had this for ages as I got it the Christmas before last, you can see what else I got here. I held off using as it's expensive but decided to bite the bullet and give it a go. I must say I do like it, it smells amazing and doesn't dry out the skin unlike other cleansing waters I have tried. The only issue I have is price, I only use cleansing waters to take off my makeup. I don't think they cleanse well enough to be used alone and for that I don't see the point in splashing the cash. This doesn't do anything that cheaper brands don't apart from smell nicer. Now if money was no object I would buy this again, but sadly it is. You can pick up 100ml for £8.55 from feelunique.com.

Neal's Yard Power Berry Daily Moisturiser I picked this up with InStyle last year, as I am rapidly approaching 30 something that has Youthful Skin on it meant I had to try. I can't say that my skin looked more youthful but it does also claim to give you 'brighter dewy- looking skin' and it definitely makes your skin dewy maybe too dewy. I don't mind a bit of a glow but my forehead and nose were just really oily. If my skin was more on the dry side, I imagine I would have liked a lot more. It does have a scent but I liked it and was a light easily absorbed formula. This is available for £12 for 50ml from nealsyardremedies.com

L'Oreal Age Perfect Refreshing Toner I bought this as I am sure that this was recommended by Caroline Hirons. The first thing I noticed about this is the scent. It smells very strong and is not very pleasant, if it did wonders for my skin I could over look that. Sadly it didn't, it left my skin feeling tender and a bit red. I was tempted to stop using but I hate wasting products so carried on. My skin didn't get used to it and remained tender. Safe to say I wouldn't repurchase again. I am now on the hunt for a budget friendly toner I do like the Liz Earle toner but that isn't exactly budget friendly so if you have any cheaper alternatives please let me know. You can pick this up for £4.49 for 200ml from superdrug.com.

As always none of the above links are affiliate - just like to be helpful.

Recent Empties - Bath and Body

Another post on my empties I accumulated on my little break from blogging and this edition is on the bath and body products.

Avon Strawberry Sorbet Bubble Bath I have mentioned before in other empties how good Avon's bubble baths are, and this was no exception. Now they might not smell the most sophisticated but they create lots of bubbles and don't dry out my skin. They are also usually on offer in the brochures and are often real bargains.  I usually get the big bottles but this was only the smaller 500ml size. It still lasted ages and I would definitely purchase again. It is available from your local representative or from avonshop.co.uk for £4.00 (but as I said it's frequently on offer)

L'Occitane Mango Flower Hand Cream I got this as a freebie with a magazine back in October 2012, you can see what else I got here. This smells gorgeous and like all the other L'Occitane hand creams is practically a miracle worker. This can be a bit greasy if you apply too much and less is definitely more when it comes to this. The packaging also gets a big thumbs up as you can get all of the product out. This was limited edition but there are several other hand creams available from uk.loccitane.com I probably wouldn't buy one for myself but would make a lovely present.

Herve Leger Femme another Avon product and this one I have had for ages, I think I purchased this when I was an Avon Lady so many moons ago. I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of this, there was something in it that I wasn't keen on. The notes aren't on their website but it is described as 'enticing freshness, exotic florals and addictive honeyed woods' My personal feelings on this is that it is more of a mature scent. It lasted well on my skin and hasn't put me off Avon fragrances, I just wouldn't purchase this again. It is currently half price at £10.00 from avonshop.co.uk.

Soap & Glory The Scrub of your Life I have mentioned this a few times but not done a full review, which I should as I do love this. This summer I have tried to embrace self tanner well one of the gradual ones, and have found if I use this every few days it gets rid of any dry flaky skin. I am not going to say that it helped me get perfect bronzed skin but it wasn't a disaster. I also love these little travel sizes for holiday. I am not going away until October but will definitely take one of these. The large 200ml is available from boots.com for £7.

L'Occitane Fleur Cherie Bath and Shower Gel my best friend got me this for Christmas last year, you can check out what else I got here. I decided to take this away with me when I went to Cheltenham at the height of my 'troubles' the scent now both comforts and also reminds me of very upsetting time. The scent is very sweet and lingers. I didn't use as a shower gel just as a bubble bath, as I felt to wash it straight off would be a waste. I do love L'Occitane products but not the price tag, they are excellent gifts though. The full size 250ml is available from uk.loccitane.com for £14

Recent Empties #Makeup

Another post on all the empties I have collected whilst having a break from blogging and this time it's makeup.

MUA Pro-Base Fixing Mist I bought this after lusting over the Urban Decay setting sprays and thinking I would be frugal and try this budget one first. To be honest I am not sure whether this does much, I never really struggled with makeup lasting, but I do get a shiny T Zone. This hasn't stopped that at all, and I am not sure if it is really designed to. I have bought another one but  I have also just ordered an Avon version which is cheaper and bigger. If that doesn't work I am going to bite the bullet and get an Urban Decay one. This is available from superdrug.com for £5.

Benefit They're Real Mascara if you haven't tried this where have you been? I got this in either a beauty box or free with a magazine I can't remember now. As with the majority of reviews I love the look you can get with this. Your lashes are super black and dramatic, I also love the wand especially the spiky end which makes bottom lashes nice and easy. What I don't like with this is the hassle involved with removing. It doesn't matter what I use it takes several attempts to get rid of all traces of this. I just don't have the patience for that on a day to day basis. For a night out this is hands down my favourite mascara. I will continue to pick up these little samples but can't see me shelling out for a full size. Mascara is just not a product I am willing to spend a lot of money on. You can pick up the full size for £19.50 at feelunique.com.

Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm Primer another product that you can pick up samples from anywhere, I think that this is my second sample and I still have one unopened. This is also another product I am happy to pick up as a freebie but wouldn't hand over my cash for a full size. I don't think this does anything for my pores and I don't love the feeling of this. It also doesn't stop me from getting shiny. Like the setting spray I use a primer but never sure whether it actually makes that much difference. The full size is available from feelunique.com for £24.50.

Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base I have mentioned many times before that I have very oily eyelids. I can't not use a primer and even then can suffer from creasing. I bought this as I had previously been using the Urban Decay Original Primer, but found it worked best with Urban Decay shadows. I thought maybe this would work better with other shadows. It really didn't, this works amazingly with Urban Decay shadows and less well with anything else. Nars is not readily available in Norwich sadly and also this is more expensive then the Urban Decay so I won't be repurchasing. If anyone has any budget recommendations please let me know. This is available from houseoffraser.co.uk for £19.50.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Eye Cream in Ivory as well as suffering oily lids I have dark circles. This looked different with its focus in colour correcting so picked it up. I really liked this, my circles didn't vanish but were better. It was also a nice consistency for under eyes and once set didn't crease. The actual colour was a good match for me and generally I liked it. I am still on the hunt for something that will get rid of my circles 100% but I am starting to think that without a good few layers of different concealers that isn't going to happen. The only downside I found to this is that it didn't last very long, but I would repurchase again if on offer. You can pick this up from boots.com for £7.99.

Recent Empties #Skincare

A rather Ren heavy post today, the reason being is that I had a few mini sets from magazines to use up. Now these are small samples and some I haven't used for a while so might not be the most in depth reviews - sorry.

Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel buying and trying new cleansers seem to be my thing right now. At the moment I have four on the go, this is one of the more expensive ones that I have tried - so is it worth it. Well yes and no. This smells gorgeous as it is rose scented and is feel more luxurious then most. It also didn't dry out my skin or leave it feeling tight, but it didn't do anything amazing either. This is a product I wanted to fall in love with as it smells so good, but really it didn't do anything that my Superdrug one doesn't do for a fraction of the price. If you haven't seen my full review of that, click here. So for that reason I wouldn't repurchase. The full size is available from marksandspencer.com for £14.

Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream this promises to protect against free radicals and environmental aggression whatever that means. The thing I couldn't and still can't get over is that this is a protection day cream but doesn't include and SPF - is it just me that thinks that is weird? This does have a light but I find pleasant scent, and is a light texture which is quickly absorbed. Again as with the cleansing gel, I wanted to love this but just wasn't wowed by it. Maybe because I only had 10mls but I didn't see any real difference in my skin. I am glad I tried and have nothing negative to say, but I wouldn't rush to purchase. You can pick up the full size for £27 at uk.spacenk.com.

Ren Vita-Mineral Day Cream I liked this more then the previous one, for a couple of reasons. It seemed more hydrating than the Global Protection one and it reminded me a lot of the Caudalie Vinosource Sorbet that I loved, which I reviewed here. It too had the same light texture yet managed to be uber hydrating. Depending on what offers were on when I need to buy a new moisturiser it will be a choice between this and the Caudalie. If you like a light moisturiser but need a lot of hydration I would strongly recommend this.  The full size is £25 from asos.com.

Ren Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel now 3ml is not a very large sample and I didn't test this out for as long I would have liked but this didn't make any difference to my dark circles. I have always suffered with dark circles but recently they have got worse, probably due to everything that is going on. Maybe if I had a larger sample and therefore used for longer I would have seen an improvement. Has anyone else used this? The full size is £20.00 from marksandspencer.com.

As always none of the above links are affiliate links.

Recent Empties #Haircare

If you read my recent where have I been post, linked here you will know that I have quite a few empties to get through. I decided the best way to go through them was by category, and decided to start with the one I have the most opinions on - Haircare.

Just a recap I have very fine hair with a very sensitive scalp, so am looking for products to give me some serious volume, without making it look greasy whilst also being kind to my scalp.

So here is what I have used up

Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner for Flaky/Itchy Scalps I really think if you have a sensitive scalp that you can't go far wrong with Philip Kingsley, I love love love the shampoo in this range and have got through litres of the stuff. That said my scalp still plays up as it's seriously high maintenance. The only way my scalp behaves is if  I religiously use the shampoo, toner and a mask once a week. As soon as I stop my scalp goes back to being flaky and not very nice. This did help my scalp and as I haven't repurchased my scalp is currently playing up - why haven't I repurchased I hear you ask? Well it's just so expensive for how often I need to use it. 250mls retails at £19 and as I wash my hair daily I get through a bottle in less then two months. I have read somewhere that you can make your own scalp toner by mixing Witch Hazel and mouth wash but as yet I haven't dared try, in case I end up bald. I know I will repurchase this at some point I just wish it wasn't quite so pricey. If you do want to give this a try it is available from feelunique.com for £19.00.

Phyto Phytobaume Volume Express Conditioner for Fine Hair I bought this after this brand seemingly to be recommended by everyone in the beauty world. First up I didn't notice that my hair had any extra volume because of this. I still have visions of finding a miracle product that will make my hair bouncy, thick and full of volume. Alas this is not that product, but it isn't bad. As it is meant to be rinsed out straight away it is thicker then I am used to, and you do have to be careful not to put too much in but with the right amount it does make your hair less knotty and smoother. I can't really say that this is bad, it lasted ages seeing as I only needed a small amount but can't say it did anything special. If this was on offer I might be tempted to repurchase but right now still hunting for my Holy Grail conditioner.  You can pick this up from spacenk.com for £14.50.

Toni & Guy Prep Heat Protection Mist I bought this after deciding that all drugstore heat protectors are the same and thought I would give this a try as it says it has Anti-Static Control. This product has made me realise that not all heat protection is created equal, this for instance is awful. There I said it, lets get the claim that it can control static out of the way first. My hair was more static using this, so much so that I had to use something to try and tame it, which I never usually have to. I could just about cope with that but what drove me nuts about this is the packaging, the nozzle fell apart every time I used it. So it is safe to say I will not be purchasing this again, if you want to give it a try it is available from boots.com for £6.99.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray I got this free with Elle last year. I was so excited to try as have heard so much about the brand but never tried anything. Sadly like 99% of volumising products this was a disappointment. It did add some volume but was sticky and smelt funny. I can't describe what was wrong with the smell it just wasn't overly pleasant and quite strong. The other thing that let this down was the nozzle, it didn't spray an even fine mist which I feel contributed in the sticky result. I am glad I tried to cross it off the list but won't purchase this or the full size. This mini is available from boots.com for £8.50.

Please note that none of the above links are affiliate links 

November & December Empties

I am so far behind in posting my empties but here is what I used up in November and December.

Baylis & Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Hand Wash this is my second bottle and I will definitely buy this again. It lasts ages and smells lovely. It also doesn't dry out your hands. This has to be my favourite budget hand wash. I have bought another scent to try and I hope it is as good as this one.  This is usually £2.00 for 500ml but is on offer at tesco.com for only £1.33.

Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion Pore Perfecting I bought this in an attempt to minimise my pores and also fill in a few lines too. This seems to been reformulated since I bought this as this now seems to be a 'nude' shade now whereas mine was white. I wasn't amazed with this I am not sure whether my expectations were too high but I could still see my pores and well unfortunately I still had those fine lines too. I did like how my foundation sat on top of this and am now converting to always using a primer, just not this one. You can pick up the new formulation for £19 from debenhams.com.

TRESemme 24 Hour Body Conditioner I have reviewed this here and unfortunately I really didn't like this product. It wasn't terrible just didn't do what I wanted it to. If your hair is more manageable and less problematic I would give this a try. You can pick up a small 100ml bottle for £1.49 from boots.com.

Soap & Glory The Scrub of Your Life this came away with me to Lanzarote and has the gorgeous Soap & Glory scent. I was disappointed in the grittiness of this. I like my scrubs to be more gritty and rough. I have got another one of these but wouldn't rush to buy another one. You can pick up 200ml for £7 from boots.com. 

Benefit The POREfessional I have several of these little 7.5ml bottles and this is the first one I have used up. This is very similar to the urban decay one and has a very silicone feel on the skin. I am not sure whether I have giant pores but again they were still visible after using this. I also find that you have to be careful not to use too much or your foundation won't sit nicely on top. The full size is available from feelunique.com for £24.50.

Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Nourishing Softener I got this free with a magazine and to be honest I wasn't really sure what this was or what it was meant to do. I used this as a toner although it was thicker then any other toner I have used. As the name suggests this wasn't drying but I didn't notice any real difference in my skin. I can only find this on amazon.co.uk for £37.76 for 150ml.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua this is my Holy Grail foundation I have done a full review here. I have seriously missed having this in my arsenal, it feels so light on the skin but really does perfect your complexion. I will definitely pick up another one and and am tempted to try another Chanel foundation after falling for this. This is available from boots.com for £32.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic this is my favourite toner, I love the smell and the feel of this on my skin. When I stop using this my skin seems to play up more and just generally look a bit blah. I am trying to find a more budget friendly toner I like as much, but I cant. I have done a full post on the spritzer version here. You can pick this up for £13.25 from johnlewis.com.

Soap & Glory Clean on Me another product I took away with me. I love this it smells divine and foams well. I really can't find fault with this and would most definitely purchase the full size. The full size is £6 from boots.com.

Benefit Erase and Paste I suffer from very dark circles under my eyes and have done since I was a child. I heard so many beauty bloggers and vloggers rave about this so decided to bite the bullet and give it a go. I picked up shade 1 fair and it was a good colour match but unfortunately it didn't give enough coverage to erase my dark circles. I also didn't find this very good at concealing blemishes either. You can pick this up from feelunique.com for £19.50.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream this isn't my favourite shower gel but think it would be a good one for a family, if unlike me you don't mind sharing your products. I have written a full post which you can read here. I think my main issue with this is the price, I just think there are similar more purse friendly products out there. You can pick up 250ml for £14 from feelunique.com. 

October Empties

Right sorry it's late, but here is what I have used up in October.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution this is the second bottle I have been through and I still haven't written a full post - naughty blogger. Safe to say I like this, I haven't tried Bioderma so can't compare but can't see myself shelling out for that when this is so good. It is available everywhere including supermarkets but is currently on offer on superdrug.com for £3.32.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Lotion which I reviewed fully here. There is nothing really wrong with this product I just think for what it is it is expensive. My boyfriend really liked this, so maybe I am missing something. That said however much he likes it I wouldn't be buying the full size.

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser I have lost count of how many of these I have now got though but I have banged on about this here and countless other times. I have found my skin has been a bit oilier than usual so may try one of the other hot cloth cleansers they do. At the moment I am trying to use up all the small samples I have stashed away, but can't recommend this enough.

Estee Lauder Revitalising Supreme Global Anti-Aging Creme which is not something I would have bought but it came with a gift with purchase. I did write a full review here and I love the packaging as it looks so luxe, but the product itself did absolutely nothing for me.  It is seriously expensive so unless you have a sample I would save your money and try something else.

Rituals Honey Touch Rich and Nourishing Body Cream this has to be one of my favourite products of the last few months. It smells absolutely amazing and is gorgeous to use. I even cut this bad boy open so I could get ever last bit of this out. I have written a full post which you can read here. I don't need any more body lotions but this has made my Christmas list, so maybe I will be lucky and get the full size.

Dior Miss Dior only a tiny sample but this packs a punch. This isn't a scent I would normally be drawn to but now this reminds me of my holiday, so have been using quite a bit. I do like the scent for a night out but doubt I will buy the full size. I am looking for an everyday fragrance which isn't too pricey so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know. I have done a full review on this which you can read here.

Sure Clear Aqua after using the Aloe Vera Sensitive version for months and being sick of the white marks I decided to try this one. I am happy to report that this has the same protection with an non offence scent and a great anti white mark formula  I have already picked up another one of these.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara was a bit of a disappointment, maybe I was naive in thinking that a mascara could actually help my lashes grow but this didn't  It also has a huge wand which I found difficult to use. This did give a nice natural look but I just couldn't get on with the wand. I have written a full post here.

September Empties

A bit late, but better late then never - right! I thought I was going to use up a lot of products in September as I went on holiday to Sunny Beach in Bulgaria but actually ended up using up very little whilst I was away.

Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo which regular readers will know is the only shampoo I use. I honestly can't say anything bad about this, other than it is a bit pricey, but it is worth it. A 1000ml seems to last me about 6 months and I do wash my hair everyday and my boyfriend does use this too occasionally.  I always buy mine from feelunique.com due to the free p&p and also these always tend to be quite well discounted in the sale.

Rituals Yogi Flow Foaming Shower Gel although I have two full sizes of these I hadn't actually tried this until last month. I actually brought this as I thought it could double up as shaving gel - it doesn't. This smells amazing but is not thick enough to really double up. It also runs out mega fast although this only a 50ml size. I will be interested to see how I get on with the 200ml. You can buy the 200ml from .feelunique.com for £8.50.

Mark Hill Holiday Hair Cover Up Protection Spray I fell in love with this product last year after going to Turkey so knew I had to bring away with me again. I did manage to burn my scalp this time but it was only a tiny patch right in my hairline which I obviously missed. This does make my hair very greasy looking which is alright if you are going to be round the pool or the beach but not really great for sight seeing. I did do a full post on this last year which you can read here. I will definitely repurchase and take with me when I go to Lanzarote.

Mark Hill Sunset Smoother Aftersun Conditioner another product I now won't travel without. This smells just like holiday in a bottle to me and I find is great for restoring my frazzled locks, after a day in the sun.  This is actually the same bottle I took to Turkey as my hair really can't handle too much conditioner. I take ages to get through even a small bottle. I have repurchased this already and would do again and again. I did a full post here on this.

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet I really loved this, this is so lightweight but so hydrating at the same time. It has a nice fresh scent to it which is not over powering and it just makes your skin feel better. If you want to read me wax lyrical about this some more then I did a full review here. I will definitely get this again as I have really missed using it.

Radox Bath Smoothies Tropical Tranquility last month was obviously the month I used up some of my favourite products, as I loved this stuff.  It smells gorgeous like a tropical drink and being Radox produces lots of bubbles. This is definitely a brilliant budget bath time treat as was only £3.15. I have struggled to find this at Boots or supermarkets since falling in love with it but it is still on superdrug.com. If you want to read my full review you can find it here.

I am not really sure how regular my posts will be at the moment. I am currently trying to finish off one unit of my AAT course and we have already started another so free time is a bit thin on the ground at the moment.

August Empties

First things first, sorry for the lack of posts. I haven't been very well and life has just been mega busy. I am also going on holiday soon so not sure how many posts will be coming up in the near future so apologies in advance. But here is what I used up last month.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer this was one of the first products I reviewed which you can read here. Its strange how much your opinions change but now I am full on addicted to this. It has been lovely to use in the summer as is so refreshing. I also think that although this might not brighten my skin I do think my skin looks better after using this. I will definitely repurchase this. It is available from johnlewis.com for £13.50 for 200ml.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream I liked this eye cream as it wasn't too heavy or greasy. It did also seem to work on my under eye circles however I didn't have the same results as I did with the Benefit It's Potent eye cream. For that reason I wouldn't purchase. You can read my full review here

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish my love for this has been well documented on here and you can read my very first post, which was a review on it here. This year I decided that as much as I love this, I just don't love how much it costs. I have since discovered the Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser which I am now using daily. I was keeping this for special occasions and then I realised that is crazy. Its taking up space and what type of special occasion was I waiting for. I will probably not buy this again but I still love this. This is available from johnlewis.com for £14.75 for 100ml.

Philip Kingsley Scalp Mask I won't say too much on this as it has been discontinued  but basically I loved this. I have a very problematic scalp and this stuff really helped. Philip Kingsley has brought out two different masks to replace this and so far I have tried one which I don't think is as good. I will write a full post on that, and I may have bought the other one as part of a haircare haul coming up soon.

No7 Completely Quenched Moisturising Body Lotion I have done a recent post on this here so I won't launch into another rant, but safe to say I didn't like this. Seriously save your money this stuff is not worth over a tenner.

Marks & Spencer Coconut Shell Smoothing Body Polish this is what inspired me to start the mini Monday series as this has been hanging around for years. I kept meaning to take it with me on holiday but I always seemed to reach for something else instead. I can't see that this is available any more but it smells amazing like summer in a bottle. I didn't really like anything else about this as I felt it was just too thin to be an effective scrub, but the smell alone was so good I soon used it up. If anyone has any recommendations for coconut scented products please let me know.

TRESemme Heat Defence Spray which is a bog standard edition to the pile. I have been trying a different brand this month which I think I may prefer but how effective these are I don't know. You can pick this up everywhere but I get mine from boots.com for the points.

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil another product I had high hopes for which I blame QVC for. I didn't really get on with this product, I didn't find it did anything for my hair. I am starting to lose the will to try and get any volume in my hair, it just doesn't co operate. I also have to say that although this is called no oil oil, it did make my hair look greasy if I used too much. I have done a full post which you can read here.

Nivea Extra Gentle Eye Make Up Remover after deciding that I should be more careful with what I put on my eyes I decided to get an actual eye make up remover. I tried one of those duo phase ones and didn't like the oiliness on my already oily lids. This is very gentle but does still remove normal mascara, I don't wear water proof so can't comment on whether it will shift that. It also doesn't leave any form of residue. Although I liked this I have fallen in love with Micellar waters so will probably just keep using them. This is available from boots.com for £2.39 usually £3.39.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair first up I was going to write a full blog post but I wanted to really test the product and by the time I was ready to write it, it had been reformulated. Anyway I loved this product, this seemed to calm down my forehead, which has always been a problem area. Since I have been without for about a month I have noticed my skin change again. My forehead is mega shiny again and not very smooth. This also really calms down break outs. I was planning on checking whether this was at duty free when I go away next week but now I will have my eyes peeled for its new version  Has anyone tried the new one I have read so many great reviews like on Beautymouth.com and viviannadoesmakeup.com

Sure Aloe Vera Sensitive Anti-Perspirant lastly the least glamorous product of the bunch, maybe I should just let you know if I change deodorant as this is seriously in ever empties post.

July Empties

Last month I felt like I used up a lot of products, so lets get right into what I used up.

Sanctuary Body Wash I love this stuff my only complaint is that I seemed to get through it rather quickly. It smells heavenly with the Sanctuary signature scent and is leaves the skin feeling beautiful. I would definitely buy this again and recommend to anyone who suffers with dry skin. I have written a full review which you can read here.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Micellar Solution I have wanted to try Bioderma for some time, but what with it being hard to get hold of and lets face it expensive, I have never taken the plunge. Instead I decided to try the L'Oreal version, and I am impressed. First up it has removed everything I have worn easily, secondly it doesn't leave any residue on my skin and thirdly I love the bottle. I know that is a random thing to love about a product, but I think more products should be rectangular. I am planning to write a full post as well as a comparison with the other Micellar water I have, so keeps your eyes peeled for them.

Soap & Glory Girligo Spray-On Body Moisturising Mist these seem to breed in my cupboards, I don't ever remember buying them, but yet somehow I have ended up with loads. This has the gorgeous Soap & Glory fragrance and is really good for a night out. Not only does it moisturise but also helps you smell divine. I don't need to buy anymore as still have at least one stashed away but if you love the original Soap & Glory scent I would recommend this. It is available from boots.com for £6.50 for 250ml (mine was only 100ml)

Molton Brown Energising Seamoss Bath & Shower I received this as part of a gift ages ago, and to be honest this was my least favourite scent in the set. I would say that this is the most masculine scent, although most definitely still unisex. This scent aside Molton Brown do make lovely bath/shower gels, you hardly need any and they lather up beautifully, meaning that they last ages. They also work well as both a bubble bath and a shower gel, unlike a lot of cheaper alternatives. I wouldn't probably buy myself any Molton Brown but do buy my boyfriend the Re-Charge Black Pepper Bodywash as a gift, as I know he loves it. My personal favourite is the Ultrasmooth Coco de Mer which I just adore. 

Clinique Repairwear Lift SPF 15 which was my last post which you can read here. Fortunately for me this seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet. I really didn't like this product as not only did I not feel it did anything but it also smelt awful. It really smelt like damp, so not sure why I felt I had to finish but I hate throwing things out.

Sure Aloe Vera Sensitive Anti-Persirant which seems to crop up in most empties, still love the fact that this has no real smell, still not loving the white marks but overall happy with it. I am not sure whether these compressed versions actually last as long as the bigger size, but if they are cheaper I pick them up.

Ed Hardy Original Woman EDP this was a Christmas gift years ago which although I don't dislike, didn't fall in love with. I really want to get through all my scents that I am not that keen on and try and have a smaller collection of fragrances I love. On the subject of fragrances I love, would it be weird for me to wear Bleu de Chanel? I honestly love that scent and could sniff it all day, but my boyfriend thinks I am crazy. Anyway back to the Ed Hardy this is a fruity floral which I just feel is a bit meh. It isn't overpowering or offensive, but isn't a scent that really excites me either. 

nspa Hot Cloth Polish I got this after it featured on amodelrecommends.com as a good budget alternative to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, which at one time was my Holy Grail cleanser. This is a good budget version in my opinion too, it isn't exactly the same but very similar. I do still perfer Liz Earle's but would recommend this to anyone with normal to oily skin, if you have dry or dehydrated skin I would recommend the Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser which I reviewed here over both. I will write a full review on this, I did plan to I just ran out of time.

Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner not a very glamorous product but one I know I should really use. I have mentioned on here several times that I have always had a problematic scalp. My scalp has never been completely clear and I hoped that this would help. To be fair to this product I have never used consistently. If there is one thing that I have learnt from my skincare, it is that you need to use products regularly and to give them a chance to work. I just found that if I was in a rush that this was an easy step to skip. I have decided that I need to pay my scalp and hair more attention. Instead of just shampoo, conditioner and a heat protection I need a proper routine. I might do a series of posts on the subject as have a number of concerns but basically at the moment I am at a lose. What I really need is a Caroline Hirons for haircare. If anyone knows of anyone please let me know.

June Empties

This month I have used up quite a few essentials.

MAC Brush Cleanser which is definitely an essential. When I was younger I was really bad about cleaning my brushes and just used baby wipes when they were proper minging - how I didn't develop a serious skin condition is beyond me. Now I deep clean my brushes weekly and use this to keep them clean and sanitary in between. I actually love the smell of this too, smells reassuringly alcoholic  This has lasted me over a year and have already repurchased.  This is available from maccosmetics.co.uk for £9.50.

Sanctuary Body Scrub as you guys know I love scrubbing my skin and this is a favourite of mine. Its rough enough to feel like its removing your dead skin cells yet gentle enough to use daily. It is also has orange oil so doesn't leave your skin feeling dry. I have a full size stashed away but would definitely repurchase.  You can buy the 50ml travel size from boots.com for £2.50 or 200ml for £5.50 here.

Molton Brown Ultrasmooth Coco De Mer Body Lotion first up this smells gorgeous it is by far the best scent that Molton Brown do. The first time I used this was on holiday and it just takes me back. I was saving this for special occasions - does anyone else do that. But my lovely boyfriend bought me two full size bottles after he had to go away for work. This is quite thin but is still very moisturising and did I mention how good it smells.  You can buy 200ml for £18 from lookfantastic.com.

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream in Normal/Dry I bought this in the January sales along with some other No7 skincare. This is an alright moisturiser it wasn't holy grail but nothing wrong with it. I liked that it had a SPF and didn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I would purchase this again if I had a No7 £5 voucher, as I think for a basic moisturiser this is fine.  This is available from boots.com for £12.50 for 50ml.

Benefit B'Right It's Potent Eye Cream I have really fell in love with this product, it's the only eye cream were I have actually noticed a reduction in my dark circles. I will be buying the full size of this as soon as I use up all my other eye creams. I have written a full post, which you can read here.

No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream in Normal/Dry another mini product, which I got in the same set as the day cream. Unlike the day cream I was seriously underwhelmed by this, I really don't think it did anything. I just don't think that this was hydrating enough, in the morning my skin didn't feel hydrated at all. I wouldn't purchase this again. This is available from boots.com for £13.50 for 50ml.

Maybelline The Falsies Volum Express Mascara the only makeup product and it isn't technically empty but has dried out. I really liked this mascara as it can be worn both day and night. I do think that it dried up quickly but mascara isn't a product you should be keeping for months on end.  I would buy this again and have written a full post which you can read here.

Cutex Moisture Guard Nail Polish Remover I bought that as it claims to 'protect nails against breaking' I can't say that it helped mine. It was ok at removing normal polish, not so great on glitter. It also claims to include a nail whitening formula, as I don't leave my nails unpolished for long I can't say I noticed. You can get this from boots.com for £2.20.

What have you guys been using up?

April & May Empties

Firstly apologies for the lack of posts, I have had an exam which has meant I haven't had any spare time. Now that I have my life back I will be able to dedicate more time to blogging.

So what have I used up?

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser after being recommended this by Mez from mezmadeup.blogspot.co.uk I decided to give it a try, and lets just say its love. I honestly could go on and on about how much I love this. I even prefer this over my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which was my holy grail cleanser before discovering this. This is bigger, cheaper and ultimately and most importantly I think my skin prefers this. I will definitely be getting more of this and would recommend to anyone with normal to dry skin. You can read my full post here.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Shower Cream I have had this for ages, I got this as part of a set when I went to Bicester Outlet Village before I started blogging. This does say that this can be used on your hair but personally I think this is much too thick and heavy to be put on my fine hair. It contains 5% Shea butter and is very moisturising but the scent could be more luxurious in my opinion. I have got a larger version of this so I don't need to repurchase.  You can buy a set similar to the one I got from feelunique.com.

Treacle Moon Warm Cinnamon Nights Bath and Shower Gel another shower gel and my oh my did I love this. I love the smell so much that I am considering keeping the empty bottle just to sniff occasionally. As I said in my full post which you can read here. This isn't as luxurious and moisturising as premium brands but it is a fraction of the price, that isn't to say that this is drying or bad quality it just isn't Molton Brown. This was a limited edition version and I haven't seen it in my local Tesco's for a few months but I will definitely be trying out some of their other scents.

Sanctuary Foaming Bath Soak when I am stressed out there is nothing better then a nice hot bath with a good book or a magazine, and this is a favourite of mine. I love the scent of the Sanctuary products as I find it calming and comforting. This also creates a lot of bubbles and leaves skin soft. I have a few of these travel sizes and a larger 250ml so don't need to repurchase but am sure I will again and again. I have written a full post which you can read here.

Oral-B 123 Toothpaste a bit random and I don't usually include toothpaste, but I have really loved using this. I don't have the worlds whitest teeth naturally but do think they are looking better thanks to this. Its also nice and refreshing and leaves your teeth feeling clean. You can get this at all the normal places and think it costs around £1.25.

Lancome Hypnose Star I got this free with Tatler magazine in their September issue and due to the size had been saving for nights out, but think it is time to throw this out. I really liked this mascara and its unusual wand but can't see me repurchasing. I just think £21 for a mascara is bit steep.  I did a full post which you can read here.

Sure Aloe Vera Sensitive Anti-Perspirant I know this is only a deodorant but I love this stuff. I hate all the really synthetic smells a lot of deodorants have. This is just fresh and barely noticeable  The only niggle is the white marks, this doesn't claim not to leave white marks but they are pretty bad, guess I will just have to stop wearing so much black.

TRESemme Heat Defence Spray a bog standard edition to my empties but I use this practically daily, how effective these sprays are I don't know but I wouldn't dream of not heat protecting my hair.  I love that this isn't sticky and doesn't make my hair look greasy.

Philip Kingsley Body Building Conditioner my love for Philip Kingsley is well known, I won't use any other shampoo but conditioner I am not so fussy with.  I have had this ages as if I put too much conditioner on my hair just looks lank and greasy. It kills me to say this but I don't think that this didn't anything for my hair. When I bought this my hair was in a short bob and I don't think this gave my hair any extra body, later my hair was a good three inches below my collar bone and I just don't think that this was conditioning enough for my ends. I wouldn't repurchase this again but might try another of his conditioners.  You can buy this from feelunique.com

No7 Cleansing Body Polish I love daily body polishes as love that just scrubbed feeling and this has been one of my favourite so far. It is gentle enough to use daily but still feel like you have got rid of all the dead skin cells. There a couple of cons one is the smell, it really reminds me of baby wash and the second is the price. I am just not willing to pay £9.50 for this. I have written a full review here. If anyone has any cheaper alternatives please let me know.

So that is what I have been using up, I have also done a bit of shopping too so should be posting a couple of hauls soon.

March Empties

This month I seemed to have got through quite a few products.

Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalps Shampoo is the only shampoo I have found that doesn't irritate my scalp. I use daily and this litre has lasted me 7 months, I am also pretty sure my boyfriend uses it a lot too, so think it has lasted well. I love this shampoo and wouldn't be without it. I have already repurchased but am trying a couple of shampoos as I got as gifts at Christmas. You can get this from feelunique.com

No7 Instant Vitality Eye Roll-on I have had this for awhile and this seemed to last for ages. I wanted an eye cream to reduce my dark circles which no matter how much sleep I get are still there. To be honest I didn't notice a massive reduction when I used this but did like the feel of the metal balls and the light texture. I don't think I would repurchase I have a couple of samples that I want to use up. This has been repackaged and you buy from boots.com

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic this was part of set I received at Christmas I love this toner and have done a full review of the spritzer version here. I love the smell and do think that this is better then the No7 toner I used in between  I don't need to buy any as I was lucky enough to receive some as a birthday gift from my sister. I am going to keep this little bottle for when I travel.

TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray is my favourite heat protection spray, I like it because it is under a fiver, doesn't leave any residue in my hair and the nozzle sprays a fine mist evenly. I am not really sure how you much protection these actually provide but I always use something on my fine hair. I have been tempted to try some higher end heat protectors but until I win the lottery will have to keep using this.  You can buy from boots.com

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDT I love love love this. My boyfriend bought me this when he went to Paris for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (a big horse race) in 2011. I didn't realise quite how expensive this was until I had about a quarter left and wanted to buy some more! Since then I have been using sparingly but as I got 100ml for my birthday have started using again.

L'Occitane Rose Petals Hand Cream I was really impressed with this, it has really helped with my dry hands in this never ending winter. The smell is delicate and not overpowering, this was a limited edition scent but still seems to be available on uk.loccitane.com. I have done a full review here I won't repurchase as I have loads of hand creams to use up.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser I got this in the sales as I wanted to try a cheaper alternative to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish. I was disappointed with this, it wasn't bad just very basic. I have written a full review here. I have since started using the Superdrug version which I think is better and cheaper, so probably wouldn't repurchase this again.

No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-Up Remover was from the same set, it is a dual action remover which you need to shake. I know that I am incredibly lazy but the whole shaking it did annoy me. I also found this very oily and I do have oily lids so did worry that this might make them oilier. I am now trying a Nivea remover which I find less greasy and more refreshing. You can buy this from boots.com.

Palmolive Soft & Gentle Soft Jasmine & Coco Milk a bog standard deodorant which on the plus doesn't leave too many white marks on the down side stinks. It really smells fake and powdery, I will definitely not be getting this again.

February Empties

This month I have used up quite a few products that have been hanging around for ages

Gorgeous by Gok Shower Scrub which has been in my shower for months, I think I was given this as a Christmas present the Christmas before last. I thought that I could use this instead of a shower gel as do love to exfoliate but this is too abrasive for daily use.  Not the biggest fan of this or the range to be honest the gold lid all started to chip and flake and the scent is a bit over powering.

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner for Normal to Dry Skin I have had this absolutely ages this is the toner I had before I bought Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic. After using this have really missed the Liz Earle one, the scent is so much nicer and seems to actually do something. I think I will stick with Liz Earle in future.

Philip Kingsley Maximizer I did a post a full review here and the reason that this hasn't been used up sooner is the fact that it doesn't have any heat protection in it. To be honest most mornings I can't be bothered to use two products when one would suffice so this has mostly been used when I have been going out with a load of hair spray to keep the volume in. I won't repurchase as I am sure that there is something better out there, I just can't seem to find it. If anyone has any recommendations for volumising hair products please let me know.

Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser I used up this little sample I got with a magazine.  My full review is here and as said I wouldn't purchase as this just isn't hydrating enough for my skin, also the scent is rather over powering.  

Super Facialist by Una Brennan I am seriously impressed with this I wanted to find a cheaper alternative to my beloved Cleanse and Polish and I would definitely purchase this again. This is cheaper, bigger and lasts much longer. It also more hydrating which is perfect for the winter and my poor parched skin. For my full review click here

Soap & Glory Glam-A-Lot another product that has been hanging around for ages but not because it is bad just because I am fickle. I do love this and Mist You Madly would definitely recommend either of them for the price and most importantly for their scent. I have done a full review here

January Empties

At the beginning of the month I always worry that I'm not going to finish anything, but this month I seemed to have got through rather a lot of products, so lets get started

No7 Sumptuous Bath Soak as I said in my review post I wasn't really that impressed with this product considering the price, it was ok but think that Avon Bubble Bath is roughly the same quality for a fraction of the price.  The scent was also a bit of a let down as I think it smells like baby wash and prefer something more indulgent for a bath time treat.  I will not definitely not be repurchasing.

The Body Shop Divide & Multiply Mascara  isn't technically empty but has dried up and has been open for 6 months so think it is time to say good bye. I did really like this mascara and wore mostly for work as not too dramatic just enhanced your lashes and was really easy to apply to my bottom lashes. I would repurchase this but at the moment think I have a couple of unopened mascaras in my stash so will use them before hitting the shops.

Nivea Smooth Nourishing Hand Cream has lasted a lot longer then the other Nivea Hand Cream I bought at the same time - post here. But I think that the reason is that I enjoy my new job a lot more then my last one so only using when needed instead of god knows how many times during the day. I did prefer the Express Hydration version for work as it absorbs quickly but would definitely purchase both again as such bargains.

Nails Inc Kensington Hand Lotion if you hadn't guessed its been freezing here in the UK in January and my poor hands have been feeling the effect so I finally used up this gorgeous little hand cream.  It smells amazing and has made my poor little hands feel smoother but not sure about younger. I wish I could justify the £15 price tag for a 100ml replacement but I just can't plus I think I found something equally as lovely for a much more purse friendly price - post coming soon.

La Source Hand Recovery Scrub sorry another hand product but what can I say maybe I should buy a pair of gloves (although I have tiny thumbs so can't ever find a pair that fits) this was given to me from my sister with some of their other hand products and at first I wasn't overly that grateful until I tried this product. I love scrubbing my skin and had always just used body scrub on my hands but not after trying this. It is much gentler on your skin and is also very moisturising. I like to use this after I have taken off my nail polish as makes my hands feel really clean and smooth.  I would repurchase this but at the moment using a No7 version and heard that Rituals do an amazing hand scrub.  You can buy this one from crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector although I only had a small 7ml sample size I do think that I noticed a difference in the texture of my skin whilst using this although not noticed a visual reduction in my lines. I was really torn between buying 30ml of this or Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair but decided to give that a try and will be reporting back in about 6 weeks when the sales lady said I should be able to see a difference.  If the ANR doesn't work will definitely give the full size of this ago.

No7 Advanced Hydration Day Cream I have had this for quite some time and glad to have finally used up as this has been open for quiet awhile.  I stopped using this when I got my Liz Earle moisturiser I do like that this one has SPF in as its one less thing to worry about.  I do find that my forehead can get a little oily after using this but my nemesis has been playing up recently.  This isn't available any more but have got some more No7 moisturisers to try out which I bought in the sales.

Nivea Facial Cleansing Wipes which I am trying not to use any more as I know that they are not as effective as a good old clean with a cleanser, flannel and water but sometimes I am lazy. This a pretty bog standard think I may have said all I can say on wipes in last months empties - not to self stop using or at least stop using a pack a month!

November + December Empties

I have quite a few empties as I missed posting November's so here goes

Baylis & Harding Wild Rose & Raspberry Leaf Hand Wash this has lasted ages and have been very impressed with this. The packaging is very similar Molton Brown's, obviously I would love to have a Molton Brown hand wash but at £16 for 300ml I just can't justify spending that much. This is £2.00 for 500ml so brilliant value for money. Also love the scent it smells like a fruit tea, isn't overpowering and doesn't dry out your hands. I have already repurchased from tesco.com but have also seen in Boots and Debenhams too.

No7 Luxurious Foaming Shower Oil I am quite sad to have used this up as it does leave your skin very soft. Beware this doesn't really foam and the smell could be a bit more 'luxurious' but I did like using it. I am not sure whether I will repurchase as at £9.95 is quite expensive for what it is, but they often have 3-4-2 on No7 and those £5 vouchers so might buy again.

VO5 Blow Dry Lotion Amplifying Volume has been hanging around for ages but was determined to use up, as soon as I started using again remembered why it has been thrown back in my stash. I am sorry but I can't think of much nice to say about this product, the main problem with this is the spray head. When you use instead of a nice fine mist you just get one squirt that fires out, a few strands get drenched and that it is about it. I found it sticky so couldn't brush through and to be honest didn't add any volume to my hair. If anyone has any suggestions on what to use to get some volume in my fine hair please let me know. It seems that this has been repacked, and you can pick up from boots.com for £3.89

Nivea Dry Confidence not much to say about this, does seem to be kind to armpits, does leave white marks (although doesn't make claim not to) and doesn't smell too strong. Is currently on offer at boots.com

Soap & Glory Mist You Madly love this, it smells gorgeous, lasts well and is a bargain at £3.50 for 100ml. I am sure I will repurchase this at some point but at the moment trying to use up all those opened products I have floating around. Cannot recommend this enough though.

The Body Shop Lychee Blossom Body Butter probably not the scent for winter but this with the shower oil has left my skin super smooth and soft. Unfortunately this line is no longer available but do love The Body Shop Body Butters, I have a lot of body lotions to use up but will definitely get some more Body Butters in the futures. Which are your favourites?

Molton Brown Relaxing Yuan Zhi Bath & Shower this was gifted to me as part of a set and this was my second favourite scent, the best being Coco de Mer. Anyway this really is a luxurious bath treat, you don't need much and can use in the bath or shower. I like to use in the bath best really is calming and relaxing, if followed up with the Coco de Mer body lotion your skin is left feeling gorgeous. You can get this from moltonbrown.co.uk for £18 for 300ml I might ask for this for my birthday as is a lovely treat.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion I got this with my Naked Palette I used to use Clinique Touch Base for Eyes in Canvas Light but found that it dried out quickly and became crumbly.  I was going to repurchase this as works like a dream with my Naked Palette, but not quite so well with other brands. I have therefore bought the NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base which I am testing now.  My eyelids are very oily and as I said this works perfectly with Urban Decay shadows. You can get this from beautybay.com for £13.05 (in the sale)

No7 Advanced Hydration Night Cream this was in my September Favourites post and I have noticed my skin looking and feeling better since using this again.  It adds just the right amount of moisture to my skin without waking up with greasy skin, I will definitely buy another night cream my skin obviously needs more moisture at night. This is no longer available but I do have another No7 Night Cream to try.

Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes I used to use wipes everyday morning and night but since started reading beauty blogs have heard that they aren't great for your skin.  I now only try and use them when I am in a serious rush or to take my make up off before cleansing. These past few months I have been using them more and more which is naughty.  These are ok, I have the oil balancing as my boyfriend also uses them and has very oily skin and my skin in the summer is normal/combination. You can pick these up from boots.com for £3.20

Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes again not really sure what you can say about a cleansing wipe, I do prefer the smell of these but other then that don't have much to say on them. You can get these from  boots.com for £2.99

Well that seemed a very long post, I am looking forward to finally chucking these out, is a bit weird hoarding your rubbish but strangely satisfying seeing what you have used up.