Empties 3 # Part 2

Asda Protect Cream for Dry Skin:

I must go through hand cream at least every two months and I always like to try something new. This cream was ridiculously cheap (if my memory serves me rightly £0.79p) so I thought I would give it a go. The packaging reminds me of those medicated creams, very boring and straight to the point. At first the texture is quite greasy but once worked into the skin, its really moisturizing. The only problem I have with it, is that it takes far too long to work in, lets just say I wouldn't catch myself rushing to buy it again.

Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream:

After the hype around this on 'youtube' I decided to try the Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream & boy oh boy was I disappointed. It claims to nourish dry skin, which I have but I found it much too oily. It did however make my foundation go on smoothly in the Mornings, but by the end of the day my foundation as well as the rest of my make-up didn't look so fresh. I put it down to this cream! Big disappointment! 

Garnier Skin Natural Soft Essentials Comforting Cleansing Lotion:

I'll say this again but I'm seriously impressed with Garnier products. This cleansing lotion not only removes make-up effortlessly but it leaves my face feeling fresh, soft, subtle and alive! Its rose extract doesn't irritate my skin and using a cleanser has made a dramatic difference to my skin as opposed to when I was using facial wipes.

Estee Lauder Fluid Make-Up:

Luckily I only got a sample of this foundation! As much as I wanted to love the Fluid Make-Up, it just didn't look right on my skin. Everything else about it was perfect, it has a nice light consistency, was easy to apply with fingers or a brush, had a good price point and is a great alternative to the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. The shade was a perfect match, however it looked too ashy on my skin and it didn't last very well throughout a working day. 

Maybelline the Colossal Volum' Express Cat Eyes: 

Again I've already done a review on this mascara (http://elefont-at.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/meow-maybelline-volum-express-colossal.html) so I won't bore you too much about it but this is a super awesome product. It separates the lashes well and the curved wand catches the outer lashes to create that 'cat eye' look. It makes your lashes look natural but also gives you volume and length all at the same time! 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation (Shade56):

http://elefont-at.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/its-in-healthy-mix-bourjois-healthy-mix.html

I absolutely loved the original Healthy Mix so I was excited to try the Serum version but to be honest I couldn't tell the difference (maybe that's just me) between the two! When I wear this foundation I feel like I'm not wearing much make-up and I love that feeling. My face looks fresh & natural when wearing this foundation, it smells great and doesn't irritate my skin.I highly recommend everyone to try this as there's quite an extensive colour range. I like the pump on the bottle and the fact you can unscrew the pump to get the last bits of the foundation. 

If you've done an 'empties' post or video please link it in the comments so I can have a look and of course if you've used any of these products let me know what you thought of them x

Empties 3 # Part 1

So here I am with another 'empties' post. As weird as it sounds, I feel quite liberated when I finish a bunch of things up, I've never been one to horde things I can't stand it.
(Warning: this may be a long one)

Asda Dry Skin Hand Cream, Oilatum Nautral Repair Face Cream, Garnier Soothing Cleansing, Lotion, Silka Wax Facial Strips, Garnier Invisi Mineral Deodorant, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Maybelline the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara, Estee Lauder Fluid Make-Up, Bio Oil,  Boots Conditioning Nail Polish Remover Pads.

Boots Conditioning Nail Varnish Remover Pads (15 Pads):

These acetone free nail varnish remover pads are great for 'on the go' and for travel purposes, super super convenient. The solution is absorbed into the pads so there's no messing around with bottles or cotton wool, BUT I do think there pricy for what they are (£1.50) and I do get through them, very quickly! I also don't like the fact that my nails feel very dry after using them, therefore I won't be repurchasing them for that reason only. 

Silka 'Easy To Use' Wax Facial Strips:

If your Indian like me or of a olive skin-toned complexion with thick dark hair you may experience 'sidey's' more commonly know as sideburns (that word make's me cringe for some reason). I've contemplated getting Electrolysis or Laser but its far too expensive so I thought I would give these facial strips ago. You get 10 double sided strips with a sachet of Aloe Vera Post Wax Cream - it always annoys me that companies think one sachet is enough. Anyway these strips did a good job of removing the hair from my sidey's but I found that the next day that my skin would feel raised, patchy and red. My skin also felt dry, itchy and flaky and my foundation didn't sit well in those areas. For those reasons I wouldn't purchase this particular brand of strips again (sold in BodyCare) however I am open to trying other brands and other methods of removing facial hair so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. 

Bio Oil:

I won't speak too much about this product as I've already done a post on it: http://elefont-at.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/must-have-bio-oil.html .I really think Bio Oil is a top product. I use it as a night time treatment regardless of wether I have any scars, discolouration or spots. It really hydrates my skin throughout the night and I've seen a vast improvement in the appearance of my skin. Although it may seem like an expensive product my 60ml bottle has lasted me over a year therefore I consider it an investment.I'm interested to see what other skin care oils are out there ... has anyone tried anything that rivals Bio Oil ? 

Garnier Invisi Mineral Deodorant:

There's not much to say about a deodorant is there? However what I will say is that this one doesn't leave any of those nasty white residue marks on your clothes, it smells nice and it doesn't leave that stinging sensation under your arms after shaving. What more could you want from your deodorant? 

I got through a lot this month so keep an eye out for Empties 3# Part 2. x

Latest in Beauty Haul

I'm yet to subscribe to a monthly subscription 'beauty box' but i've seen tons and tons of reviews on various versions of this trend. 'Latest in Beauty' however is a website i've visited on a countless number of times, I like this particular company as you can create a 'little beauty box'  where you can choose what goes in your box and you can also purchase larger samples of products at your leisure. 

Although the element of surprise is not there like your 'Glossy Boxes' or 'Jolie Boxes', 'beauty boxes' are always a gamble! Even if the box is worth £10 for 5 'luxury' samples how many of those samples will you really enjoy!

1 x Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 30 ml & muslin cloth 

1 x Thalgo Slim & Sculpt Expert Cellu Thighs 50 ml 

1 x Thalgo Slim & Sculpt Flat Stomach 50 ml  

Link to my previous post on 'Latest in Beauty':

http://elefont-at.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/latest-in-beauty.html

I was having an ocassionally browse on 'Latest in Beauty' and browsing always leads to buying - this is becoming a bit an unhealthy habit! When I saw the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish I knew I had to get it because so many people rave about it - there was really no better time! Also in my Liz Earle sample set there were some sachets of the Sheer Skin Tint in all three shades so that was a nice little surprise.

I also picked up the Thalgo Slim & Sculpt Expert Cellu Thighs and Expert Flat Stomach because admittedly I've skipped a few Zumba classes so a 'quick fix' wouldn't go a miss - I can dream can't I ? Unfortunately I didn't receive the Expert Flat Stomach! By mistake I was sent two Expert Cellu Thighs. I've contacted 'Latest in Beauty' so hopefully they'll send me the Expert Flat Stomach.

Have you tried any of these products? Do you think sculpting products work?  x 

A Nice Little Surprise In the Post

Although you can find 'Smashbox'Cosmetics in most Department stores in England, they have only recently launched their UK website.A couple of months ago I signed up to receive a free sample in honour of their website launch so when it came through the post it was nice little surprise as i'd forgotten all about it.

www.smashbox.co.uk 

The sample was a 7.1ml tube of Smashbox's Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer and to be honest I'm not a great primer user so it was a great product to try. It's a good sample size and so far I love it, so much that I'm considering purchasing the full size.

This primer is silky soft, gives you a nice glow and makes your make-up go on effortlessly. So Far, So Good! 

I've recently been thinking that in may be good to have a primer within my make-up collection for times when I need my make-up to last a substantial amount of time or for warmer climates ...

Has anyone tried this primer ? Or do you have any suggestions for other good primers? x 

L' Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipsticks

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a 'mini' review on the Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butters ,I wasn't too impressed with the results however I couldn't make the comparison between the Lip Butters and the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipsticks as I was yet to purchase some. Having now experienced the Caresse Lipstick I thought I would share my views on the product in the form of this 'mini' review  ...

Colour's Available:

Electric Fuchsia, Prismatic Pink, Metallic Coral, 

Cheeky Magenta, Fashionista Pink, Lovely Rose, 

Aphrodite Scarlet, Nude Ingenue, Tempting Lilac, 

Sweet Berry, Fuchsia, Dating Coral, Rebel Red 

Unlike the Revlon Lip Butters the L'Oreal Caresse Lipsticks give you a nice 'wash' of colour across the lips as opposed to a full on colour. It's good for days when your at home or not doing much and just want a quick, effortlessly pop of colour. Admittedly I gravitate to lipsticks and love a matt finish to my lips, I've never ever been into 'glossy' finish products but I've quickly fallen in love with the Caresse Lipsticks and I will definitely be exploring the other colour's within the range.

My experience of the Lip Butters was that they had quite a sticky formulation and a mirror was essential for application, you had to work a lot more with the colour but it did leave a nice stain of colour as it wore off during the day. 

Top swatch: Revlon Lip Butter is Rapsberry Pie.
Bottom swatch: L'Oreal Caresse Lipstick in Aphrodite Scarlet. 

The Caresse Lipsticks on the other hand are totally opposite, you can effortlessly apply the colour without a mirror and the formulation is more of a tinted lip balm so it instantly gives your lips moisture and hydration however I do feel that they can sometimes feel a little bit greasy... but that maybe because I'm not use to the texture?

The packaging of the Caresse Lipstick's is 100% better than the Revlon Lip Butters. I feel the packaging of the Lip Butters are a cheap imitation of the Chanel 'quilted' pattern...does anyone else agree ? In all honesty though if the product is good I can always forgive the packaging. 

Both products are the same price at £7.99 but I would much prefer to spend my £7.99 on the Caresse Lipsticks. I feel I wasted money on my Revlon Lip Butter but thankfully I didn't go mad and buy all the shades !!! I highly recommend the Caress Lipsticks and definitely favor them over the Lip Butters .

Which do you prefer ? 

Lip Butters or Caresse Lipsticks ? 

Essie Dilemma

In my local TK Maxx I was lucky enough to get my hand on some Essie Nail Varnishes ... YES you heard right ! And the best thing is that I got three varnishes for £9.99. Considering one Essie Nail Varnish retails around the £7.99 mark I think I got a great deal !

Shades purchased for TK Maxx

BUT:

Here's the dilemma - I don't know the names of the shades I picked up and this is my main problem with shopping in TK Maxx! All the bottle's of varnishes were labelled up as either 'Tangerine' or 'Capri' - which are Essie Shades, but clearly there had been some kind of mistake. You can pick up a real good bargain from TK Maxx but the problem lays with the condition  products are left in !

Wishful thinking - I was secretly hoping that the shade's I picked up were the shades I was wanting (Cute As A Button, Ole'Caliante, and Watermelon)...like I said wishful thinking ! When I got them home I just ripped the labelling of all the bottles in hope that I would be able to establish the shades easily by going online or seeing them in person ... let me tell you it wasn't easy ! 

There are so many shades, swatches vary from site to site and the lighting in my local Boots is not the best that I'm not confident  in saying what the shades are for sure. I've whittled it down to a few shade that are similar but then again I could be completely wrong ... they may of been in a limited edition collection... who knows...? 

Cute As A Button, Peach Daiquiri, 

Capri, Too Too Hot

Ok so I've had my little moan, and I'm still in the same dilemma! Please can someone help me ? What do you think the shade might be, if there in the permanent line at that ? Are there any other Essie shade's you think I might like? x 

'Tip Of The Day' # 1 - Goodbye Mascara

We all the know the 3 month rule with mascara's ! After 3 months your meant to dispose of your mascara because its a product that can quickly collect bacteria - the longer you keep your mascara the more risk you have of getting an eye infection...and you don't want that !

 

However how many of us really chuck out our mascara's as often as we should ? If I'm being honest I can't keep track with mascara 'best by dates' and I just use mine until I feel like its no longer doing anything special for my lashes. 

If you notice that the smell and texture of your mascara has changed this is one way to tell you need to bin it ... ! However by accident I discovered another way to determine whether your mascara is ready to see the bin (or 'trash', if there are any American's reading this) ...It's just an idea but why not give it a go ? 

Step 1: With a wet wipe, wipe the formulation of your mascara of the wand until the bare bristles are exposed.

Step 2: Once the wand is completely free of mascara, dip the wand back into the tube, once and pull out again.

Step 3: If the wand is not completely coated with the formulation, it most likely that your mascara's dried up and you need to purchase a new one. 

Let me know if you try this out and how you get on with it. If you guys have any other tips in relation to this post let me know down in the comments section, it will be much appreciated. AND if you like 'Tip Of The Day' let me know as I may try to make it a weekly or monthly thing. Hope everyone is having a fabulous day x  

Eye Think I've Found The One

First of all, I apologise for the lack of posts lately. I've just been busy with work but I wanted to get this quick review up(I promise i'll try to short & sweet) because I think I've found the perfect eye make-up remover ... I really don't think I'll go back to anything else - its that good ... honest !

The Garnier Skin Natural:Simply Essentials 2 in 1 Make-up remover (200ml) is a great multi purpose product that can be used to take off everyday face make-up as well as eye make-up - which is what I use it for. They do have a specific product for the removal of eye make-up (Garnier Simply Essentials: Gentle Eye Make-up Remover) however its the same price at £2.99 for 150ml worth of product, so it just made sense to purchase the 2 in 1 Make-up remover initially and I haven't looked back since

The solution comes in two parts; one oil based and other being a water based liquid which when shaken together creates the perfect solution to get rid of the make-up from your eyes. The oil, which is a blue based liquid breaks down the tough liner and mascara whilst the clear cleansing water refreshes the eye area, all in one step. 

It's enriched with plant extract and pro-vitamin B5 and the one thing that I really like about it is that it has no perfume or alcohol so there's NO WAY it can irritate my eyes. The make-up comes off so easily and unlike some eye make-up removers your not having to scrub and scrub. My eyeliner and mascara is off within seconds and there is no sign of residue in the Mornings. 

I won't say that it has improved the growth of my lashes but they definitely look much more healthier and glossier ... I do put this down to having found a skin care routine that I'm super happy with.I really rate this product, for the price its amazing! I've been really impressed with Garnier products lately ... see what products I use from the range http://elefont-at.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/garnier-lover.html . 

If you've used this product please let me know what you think about it ... x

'Wish List' # 1

Watching YouTube videos and reading beauty & fashion blog's is NOT a good thing for my purse !!! I just want to buy things ... lots of things, however there are a few things that I want in particular that I've had my beady eye on for quite some time. 

My Boyfriend and I will have been together 6 years this June, and every year we get each other something to mark this occasion (sounds cheesy... I know). I've pre-ordered him the new Arsenal shirt (football...great) so in return I'm hoping he will get me something from this 'Wish List'.

1.) House Of Harlow 1960 The Plated Five Station Necklace: £69.95
http://www.accessoriesonline.co.uk/designers/house-of-harlow?limit=all
2.) Zara Messenger Bag With Edging:£19.99

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/uk/en/zaraS2012/189512/674611
/MESSENGER%2BBAG%2BWITH%2BEDGING
3.) Burt's Bee's Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme £9.99 

http://www.burtsbees.co.uk/natural-products/body-hands-and-feet/almond-milk-beeswax-hand-creme.html
4.) Essie Nail Colour in Watermelon and Ole Caliente £8.50

http://www.beautybay.com/cosmetics/essie/categories/reds/
5.) Macadamia Natural Oil Hair Repair Masque:£30.95
http://www.beautybay.com/haircare/macadamianaturaloil/g/deeprepairmasque/  


Do you have a 'Wish List'? If so what's on it? And as always I hope you are all fine and dandy. x 

Free L'OCCITANE ?

Yet again Glamour magazine are giving away fabulous freebies with their June 2012 issue. The fabulous freebies being L'OCCITANE products ... yes you heard right ! So I thought I would give you guys a heads up before they fly off the shelves. Im super gutted I missed out on the free Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish sample in RED magazine so I couldn't miss out on this opportunity too. 

The products are from the 'Angelica' range and I choose the Hydration Cream because I suffer from dry skin, especially around my cheek area so I thought I would give this a go to see if it's any good. However I'm tempted to buy another two issues to get the other free products as they will be really handy for travel.  

Left to right: Eau Radieuse Face Toner (Worth £10) , Nettoyant Radieux Cleansing Gel (Worth £10) & Creme Radieuse Hydration Cream (Worth £14) 

I love the freebies you get with magazines but beware this 'skin treat' is only exclusive to WHSmiths (for £2.49) so I can imagine the issues selling quick time. Hope you get your copy and let me know how you get on with your free L'OCCITANE products. x