Empty products #1

My little box of empties...

Facial Skincare bits...

Hair Related bits and bobs...

General Creepy baby faced products...



Hello Beautifuls

Apologies if this post seems a bit rushed but I am well aware of my lack of blogging recently and my absolute backlog of things I need to blog about but I shall try my best I promise...

 

I've been collecting this little stash of empty bottles, jars and packets for quite some time now and thought...'it's about time you wrote that empties post and said adios to the unecessary clutter my friend'

 

So to give you a quick overview of the products and my thoughts on them I'll start with the face related products. 

* Neutrogena visibly clear pink grapefruit daily scrub - I liked this scrub, I found it gentle enough for my dry sensitive skin and the exfoliant (a very fine sugary consistency) was gentle enough for everyday use.  It didn't dry out the skin and didn't leave that tight after-feel that some cleansers can do.  It is scented with a light refreshing grapefruity citrus scent but it's not at all overpowering and I found it to actually be quite uplifting in the morning.

 

*Clinique liquid facial soap extra-mild - This is the one for very dry to dry skin which should cater for me perfectly but somehow it just doesnt.  I find it's too gentle if that's even possible of a cleanser but what I mean is it just doesnt cleanse. I do however LOVE the gel version of the liquid facial soap, I would even go as far as to say it's probably the best gel cleanser I've ever used to date... Big statement! This cream version though..no no no!

 

* Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser - do I really need to bang on about this any more..? I love it, It's brilliant, I'll always have a bottle of this in my bathroom cabinet and if that's not enough for you.. HERE's the link to my full review

 

* The Body Shop Aloe Gentle exfoliator for sensitive skin - I hated this! I'm sorry body shop but this product really didn't react well with my skin, it broke me out something horrible and left my skin red raw despite being marketed for sentive skin and when I returned it to the store to ask for a refund or atleast an exchange incase the product was faulty...the sales assistant refused to help and said I should just continue using it until it 'got better'.  Erm anybody else out there think I'm crazy in thinking this stuff isn't going anywhere near my face again...?! So yes technically this isn't an empty product but I'm quite happy to put it in the bin and never look back!

 

* St Ives Apricot scrub - This particular bottle is so old it's in the old packaging before it was reformulated.  Have to say I much prefer the new packaging and new formulations as they now have a sensitive version but I like using this once or twice a week for a bit more of an 'intense' exfoliation.  It doesn't break me out, always leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh and is one of those products I know I can always rely on to do the job!

 

* The body shop Nutriganics foaming facial wash - This is designed to help combat the first signs of aging.  I'm not sure if I actually saw any anti-aging effects whilst using this however it is only and little 50ml bottle so who knows if it may have done with long term use.  To be honest I only got this because The Body Shop had a 3 for 2 offer on all their smaller products and this was my impulse free product...it cleansed fairly well, the foam was gentle and left my skin comfortable.  It has a bit of a natural light organic scent which was quite pleasant to use actually...

 

Hair related products...

* Rituals Sumo Force strengthening shampoo with Bamboo and Ginseng - I remember buying this a long time ago in the hopes that the strengthening vitamin and mineral formula would magically transform my thin fine hair into wonderfully voluminous thick locks but obviously that's not what they meant... What this shampoo claims to do is provide your hair with a little added boost of nourishment to help strengthen the roots and give your hair the leg up it needs.  Does it do that? I didn't think so until this bottle finished and now I'm missing it quite a bit and so is my hair, I just hope they havent discontinued this or I will be sad :(

 

* Alpecin double effect Shampoo for hair loss - To go hand in hand with my Rituals Sumo force I've also been using this caffeine based shampoo to help stimulate the growth of hair at the roots.  Yes I really want those long luscious locks and to be honest this shampoo works wonders.  I'd recommend this to anybody who is suffering with hair loss at the moment as you will notice a difference in the amount of hair you lose and the general strength of your hair.  I wouldn't say I lose more hair than the average person but because I have very fine thin hair I'd like to keep as much of it as possible for as long as possible and this is doing a brilliant job of helping me on my quest :D A word of warning though, it has a very strong scent which in the beginning gave me headaches like no other but the results were worth it and no I don't even notice the horrendous smell :D

 

* Batiste Tropical dry shampoo - This is the mini purse size can.  It smells to me a bit coconutty with a hint of pineapple..? anyody else agree? This does an average job of refreshing the hair and gives you another day without washing but then leaves you with greasy gritty hair the next day which needs to be washed asap!

 

And finally the misc odd bits...

 

* Johnson's baby Skincare Wipes - I generally keep a pack of baby wipes hanging around (I always feel baby wipes are somehow gentler because they're targeted towards baby's sensitive skin..?) just to freshen up the hands and face or for makeup cleanups and mishaps while applying and tend to go through them quite a bit.  There's not really much I can say about these except, they were fine, they have that 'baby product' smell, they did the job and the baby on the front of the pack is really creepy!

 

* Dermatological E45 Cream - I always have a tub or tube of this lying around and I think I always will, It's great for any dry patches on the hands, face or body and is specially formulated for dry skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.  It workes wonders on my dry sensitive skin and with winter fast approaching again..I'm keeping well stocked up on my E45 friend :D

 

Wow that was a long post, and now folks I'm off to do some serious recycling! Joy!

 

Until Next Time

Ciao For Now World

xoxox

 

Neal's Yard Remedies Skincare...

Hey there Beautifuls,

I apologise for the slight absence from the blogging world but yet again life has just gotten in the way a bit...you know how it is...work, sleep, more work, It's been tough (poor me!)

I recently instagram'ed ( esjaym for those that would like to add me, I am however a private user so I will have to approve) a pic of some skincare I was contemplating on a shopping trip and this is what I ended up picking up on my travels...

I've been using the Vitamin E and Avocado Night Cream every night for about a week now which isn't really long enough to give an in depth and full on review but so far...I'm loving it.  It glides on the skin and feels really rich and silky but sinks into the skin really quickly and doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy or oily.  It's really soothing for dry sensitive skin but claims to be aimed at all skin types.  This jar contains 50g and I got this on sale for £10 however RRP is £24 I think so a bit of a bargain there.

The Power Berry Facial mask was a bit of a spur of the moment thing but again, from the few times I've used it I'm impressed.  Again it's very soothing on the skin but has a sticky, tacky texture which is quite weird when slathering on the face.  It has tiny berry seeds which act as a very gentle exfoliator which my sensitive skin enjoys thoroughly.  When applying it should be on a dry face which feels really sticky and gooey and frankly a bit weird but that's ok, we all like a bit of weird if it's good for our skin right? However when washing off the water turns the product milky and really silky feeling on the skin and washes off like a dream leaving radiant, clean, fresh skin which doesn't feel at all tight.  This little jar is priced at £10 normally but again I picked this up in the sale for half price.  I've used this 3 times so far and have used about a third of the jar so I'd estimate a good 9-10 uses of this as you only need a thin layer.

I hope these little reviews were helpful for you.  I'm very fond of Neal's Yard skincare, they smell gorgeous and luxurious and feel really beneficial for the skin.  Has anyone tried anything from Neal's Yard? Any recommendations?

Until Next Time

Ciao for now
xoxox

Review...Boots No7 Essential Moisture Day Fluid...

Hey there Beautifuls

Another post for you and yes it is skincare related...

I'm a little bit skincare obsessed at the moment but have I found my 'can't live without holy grail absolute must skincare routine' yet...?

Sadly not

But here's another product I've enjoyed trying on my travels...

It's the Boots No7 Essential Moisture Day Fluid for Normal/Dry Skin

'Conditions and cares for radiant skin every day'

Blurb on the back:
'Nourish your skin every day with this gently caring, fragrance-free moisture lotion.  Light and easily absorbed, it glides on leaving skin soft, supple and smooth.  With soothing elderflower and caring vitamins E and F.'
'A little facial everyday...After cleansing and toning, massage over your face and neck.'

Well, that's not a facial I would pay for... But I have to say, the product is everything it says on the blurb.  Lightweight and easily absorbed yet still provides enough moisture even for my dry skin.  You get 100ml of product which is rather generous and is RRP'd at £10.00 which is do-able I guess but obviously I picked this up last month when those little £5 voucher gems were flying about.  So with £5 off it makes this product then totally worth the money and 100ml will last you a fair while.  I've been using this everyday for about a month now and have barely used 1/6 of the product yet.  It comes with a pump dispenser which is handy, hygienic, and one pump does my whole face. :D

I hope this review was useful for you and I thought I'd get it up seeing as I've been a bit naughty and bought some new skincare bits today...My reasoning behind it...? I needed cheering up and so did my skin! :D  Obviously pictures and reviews will be up once I've tried and tested but it is a brand I know and love and I'm pretty sure I'll love them.  It also helps that the lovely sales assistant was so helpful and threw in a few samples!

In other news...I have a twitter account...The link and feed is at the top of this page so please feel free to follow along and tweet me...I love getting messages from you gorgeous girlies!
Also I have Instagram...Now...I've had instagram since I've had my Iphone which is nearly two years now...I had it when nobody else did! haha but now everybody has it and loves it, I suppose I can tell you about mine...My account is set to private, because I want it that way and I will approve beauty blogger followers that want to follow I've just never really been public with my photos and it's taken a lot of courage for me to finally say...sod the world and their opinions, if you don't like me or think I'm ugly well...click unfollow and don't look at me! haha anyway my Instagram username is: esjaym for those that have Instagram and would like to follow...

And that's all for now folks...

Ciao for now World

xoxox

Review...Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

Hey There Beautifuls,

Left: 001 Honey Right: 005 Crush

I'm Going to jump on the Kissable balm stain bandwagon and I come bearing crappy Iphone pics n all! Yay! :D

I was browsing through superdrug oblivious to the release of these and spotted them...I have to say I stood a little dumbfounded for a minute and I was good and walked away (only to rush back the next day and buy the above shades...)

Yes I have no restraint or self control...

I have to say I'm really impressed with these, they have a minty smell which I like, and obviously the packaging is comparable to that of the infamous Clinique Chubby sticks.  They're currently on offer in both Boots and Superdrug for £5.99 which is an introductory offer (RRP will be £7.99)

The consistency is quite balmy to begin with but then turns a little bit waxy but the colour pay off is pretty good and wear-time is approx 4-6 hours before you need to reapply with eating and drinking which I can live with and I haven't experienced that 'drying-settle-in-the-lines' feeling which gives them a big thumbs up for me! :D

I initially wanted to pick up the Orange shade but I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone a little bit with these and I've not regretted it yet.

Have any of you tried the Kissable Balm Stains and if so what are your thoughts?

Until Next Time

Ciao For Now Beautifuls!

xoxox

Review: Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover

Hey there Beauts,

I feel like I've been slacking on the blogging front so much recently, and I've been sitting here thinking...

'What the hell should I blog about...?!?!'

So Instead of buying a bunch of spangly new products (coz lets face it...I have no money!) and Instead of trying to conjure up a new found love for something which in fact I actually hate I've just simply gone around and picked up a few things that I've been using for a while now and written some notes on them...

what they're like/pro's/con's/my thoughts/price and the rest is up to you...I figured It'd be up to you all to see whether or not you thought the product would suit your skin and whether you should give it a try and it would give me something to blog about :D win win situation!

So first up is the Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover with Iceland Moss.

I've had this product for a while and have just come close to finishing it (Thank the heavens!!) Thats not to say it's a bad product, it just leaves a very oily film on the face which I then feel the need to wash off asap!

It's formulated for delicate, sensitive skin in mind although it says all skin types on the bottle and claims to remove even waterproof mascara which I totally agree with.  Soaked on a cotton pad it just glides on the skin and removes everything that it comes in contact with but your skin is left slippery and very oily which is good for those with dry skin like mine but I like to have a clean face which is oil and goo free before bed.

Value for money-wise you get 150ml for £3.99 which I think is pretty good and a little goes a fairly long way depending on caked on your makeup is.

My thoughts would be...It's good, if you have sensitive dry skin and dont mind using an oily product on your face, it's also good if you wear a lot of heavy eye makeup and waterproof mascara and want a simple non-irritant way of removing it.  It's also very affordable and very accesible if you're in the UK.  If however you have oily skin and hate even the word oil being mentioned stay well clear of this!

Thanks for sticking by Es-Jay Makeup guys! It's been a hard couple of months and the struggle isn't over but I'm getting there and there are some lovely followers on here and on twitter that are making my days so much better with their lovely messages and comments so thank you!

You all don't know how much it means to me!

Until Next Time Lovelies

Ciao for now

xoxox

Review...No7 Melting Gel Cleanser

Hey there Beautifuls,  I have a quick review for you guys as you can guess from the title, It's the Boots No7 Melting Gel Cleanser for Normal to Dry skin.

Boots say...'The first step to beautiful skin is effective cleansing. Specially formulated to effectively clear away dirt and impurities, No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser leaves dry complexions feeling as soft and supple as normal skin.'

'The gel develops into a non-drying oil to protect the skin’s natural moisture levels and hydrate dry areas at the same time. It then changes into a light milk formula for easier rinsing, so skin is left residue-free and totally refreshed. What’s more, it’s enriched with rosehip oil to really lock in moisture and offer a fuss-free approach to truly tailored skincare.'

My thoughts? I like it but I'm not blown away... It does feel nice on the skin but used on a full face of makeup it only removes approximately 75% of the makeup (It tends to struggle with mascara and eyeliner) However used with a muslin cloth (if you have you're own because this isn't designed to be a hot cloth cleanser) you dont experience the panda eye problem so much.

You only need a small amount and the transformation from gel to milky texture is gentle on the skin and good for those with dry and sensitive skin like mine, however it does have a floral scent which can be quite over powering so if you don't like scented skincare products then I'd suggest stearing well clear of this...that being said it's in no way an unpleasant scent.

The best thing about this cleanser is the lovely soft supple feeling of your skin after you've cleansed, it doesn't leave a residue on the skin but it does feel moisturised yet clean at the same time.

This retails in Boots stores for £9 however with the infamous £5 off vouchers lurking around at present you can pick this up for £4 if you're quick.

Does anyone have any skin care recommendations? or anyone tried any of the other new No7 skincare range please let me know...

Thanks for stopping by, Ciao For Now World

xoxox

June Faves...

Hey there Beautifuls, wow have I been absent throughout the month of June! I know I know! I'm a bad bad blogger but although I havent been blogging throughout June, I've definitely still been trying out new products and re-discovering beauty gems and here's my list of beauty faves for this month...

I've been really enjoying giving my skin a bit of a break throughout the past month and just using either a very light foundation or a tinted moisturiser. I've re-discovered my love for my Origins vitazing moisturiser which when blended into the skin leaves a slight tint and evens the skin. aside from the tinting factor I actually feel this has been doing wonders for my skin too, 've had no breakouts and a generally even, glowy complexion and I do think this has had a lot to do with it.

I recently walked into my local Lush store having been absent from it for a while (too long obviously!) looking for a toner for my skin and was recommended the 'Breath of fresh air' toner. I have to say some have mixed opinions on the smell of this toner but I love it, it's a very floral yet light and fresh scent and is packed full of essential oils to benefit the skin. I was told that this would be good for dry and sensitive skin and could also help reduce redness which I genuinely believe this toner has done for my skin. I've been using it twice a day and is actually the highlight of my skincare routine (...how sad! haha!)

I've also been loving using Johnson's baby oil with camomile for my skin after a bath or sometimes even in the bath for a bit of extra moisture as my dry skin has just been horrible lately. I really like the smell of this oil but it is fragranced which could irritate some people. That's all I can really say about it...haha it's an oil but it really has helped the dry patches on my skin and although I normally hate that greasy feeling I've been powering through and just trying to get my skin back to some sort of normality.

On my nails this month I've pretty much just been re-applying Barry M's Peach Melba, I love this colour, it seems to suit my skin like no other pastel shade and the formula is pretty good, two light coats is all I need for a fair few days of no chipping unless I'm pretty tough on my hands in which case 2 days and they're chipped..I only have myself to blame though...

A favourite which has carried over from May has got to be my Naked pallette, If I've used any eyeshadows on the lids it's been from this pallette and nothing else, in fact, I've been using it so much that I'm now worried about having to buy another just so I have a backup...this can only mean bad things for my bank :(

I'm not really one to finish products no matter how much I love them but I really did love my Superdrug Vitamin E hot cloth cleanser to the very last drop, I've done a full review of it Here but basically if you have horribly dry and sensitive skin like mine then you should definitely consider giving this a go!

I feel like I keep apologising for being absent from my blog but life really has gotten on top of me recently...Thanks to all of you lovely lot for your wonderful, comments, tweets and messages and for sticking by me, I couldn't do it without you.

Please feel free to leave me any comments and questions and b sure to let me know what your faves have been for the month of June...

Also I'll be answering your Health related questions over on http://emmas-advice.blogspot.co.uk/ so be sure to check out Emma's blog and don't forget to follow it and send her your questions.

Until next time

Ciao for now world

xoxox