Empty Beauty Products #2

Hello! More empties to show you today, it's been quite a while since my last one but i don't go through that fast really (as much as i try to). I really wanted to use up as much as i could before i went on holiday so i could get lots of new beauty products there and here is what i used up..

Rose of Bulgaria Nourishing Hair Mask - Absolutely adore this! It smells lovely (like roses) and really hydrates my hair leaving it feeling smooth, tangle free and soft. I use this in-between shampoo and conditioner every single time i wash my hair as it really makes such a difference!

Would i repurchase? Yes, i just bought a new one from my holiday in Bulgaria.

Refan Melon & Apricot Hand Cream - What can i say, i can't praise this hand cream enough. It's my holy grail, favourite hand cream ever! It's like a butter so it's thick and so moisturising but isn't greasy. LOVE IT! 

Would i repurchase? Yes! I have just bought two more on my holiday to keep me going. 

Morrisons Glorious Colour Conditioner - Bit of a boring one but i absolutely adore it so i needed to share. It's such a cheap conditoner but works so amzing well to keep hair soft, shiny and hydrated. I can instantly feel the difference in my hair after using this. Hello glossy locks! 

Would i repurchase? Yes i will keep on purchasing it.

Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask - Aah i think most of us picked this up when it came free with Glamour a few months ago. I've only just got round to using it as i've been using the other hair mask above. I like this product, it leaves hair soft, smooth and tangle free but i find you need to use lots of product for it to really work so it empties really fast. 

Will i repurchase? No, it's not worth the price-tag as it goes so fast and my Rose of Bulgaria face mask is cheaper and works better.

Refan Mango Exfoliant - Love this. It smells like heaven in a tub and does a great job at exfoliating the skin making me feel as smooth as a babies bottom. It's not too harsh but does the job! 

Would i repurchase? Yes i have just bought another on holiday in a different smell :)

Nivea Soft Cream - I used to really love this moisturiser and have been through a few tubs. But, i'm just not loving it anymore. I find it way to thick for my face and prefer to use other moisturisers that smell nice on my body. My boyfriend really likes this though for himself. So a good product for a couple to share ;) 

Would i repurchase? No, i prefer other moisturisers! 

Lacura Aqua-Complete Serum - I have done a review on this here. Basically i really enjoy this moisturiser and does the job, smells lovely and is really cheap. It's great for the face and you only need the tiniest bit. I can't get the last of the product out the pump though! 

Would i repurchase? Yes, i already have. I have a new bottle ready and waiting.

Asda Skin System Vitamin E Toner - I don't like this product i think it definitely breaks me out. It's way to harsh for everyday use (although is good for when you want a deep clean) and my skin isn't sensitive in the slightest so it must be harsh! 

Will i repurchase? No, never.

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner - Finally used the remainder of this up. I adore this toner so much, it does a fab job of making sure the skin is really clean without being too harsh and stripping the skin. It smells nice, the spray bottle is great and it's great for toning/refreshing! 

Will i repurchase? Probably at somepoint in the future. Trying others for now. 

Simple Refreshing Face Wash & Simple Soothing Toner - These two products are like pea's in a pod. They work fab together and giving the skin a really good clean, keeping dirt at bay and preventing spots/blackheads. Great combo and they are also very gentle which is good! 

Will i repurchase? I have already got the full size bottles, yes. 

MUA Bronzer 'Shade 1' - I cheated slightly on this, it's not completely gone, oops. But i'll only get 2/3 more uses out of it. It's a really good bronzer for £1. It's quite orange and contains a bit of shimmer  but that's great for giving the skin a lovely sun-kissed glow. It takes a bit of building up on my skin-tone but nevertheless it lasts a long time on the skin and looks lovely. 

Will i repurchase? No, i prefer their new Bronzed Perfection or the 'Shade 3'. 

Hollister Crescent Bay Body Mist - I love body mists for summer and this is no exeption. This smells so delicious really bright, fruity and fresh. So sweet. Unfortunately most of this leaked in my box so most of it was gone :( But i loved what i had left of it.

Will i repurchase? Yes, it smells so gorgeous and summery! 

MaxFactor False Lash Effect Fusion - Let's keep this short: This is one of my favourite mascara's ever, it adds both length and volume making the lashes look amazing! It lasts all day, no smudging and has a nice size brush so you can get all the little corners. Perfect. 

Will i repurchase? Yes when i've used all the others lingering in my stash!

Wow, long post i know! Thanks for sticking with me. 

Have you used any of these products? What do you think?

Nail Care Routine! Favourite Products & Tips!

After years and years of being young and chewing at my nails i now finally have nails to be proud of. So, i thought it's about time to share some little tips and tricks and my favourite products that keep my nails healthy, strong and long.  

This nail care routine is sort of a new thing, this time last year i didn't bother with anything. I'd just paint my nails, remove the polish, paint them again etc. Now i really do look  after my hands/nails and there is a clear difference. So if you don't do anything?! START NOW.

Refan Hand Butter isn't easily available in the UK unfortunately (but you can get it here). Never the less i absolutely adore this hand cream - it's by far the best i've ever used. It's more of a butter than a lotion meaning it's really rich and thick so just adds so much moisture! And it still absorbs quickly and doesn't leave you with that greasy, slippery feeling (win!). I hate the feeling of dry hands so i apply this a few times a day and at night before i go to sleep.

 Burt's Bees Cuticle Cream is a new addition to my 'nail care collection' i received it for my birthday. I'm guilty, like a few of us, for not looking after my cuticles as much as i should. This has a balm like texture and takes a few rubs to warm it up. I just rub this into my finger tips (all over the nail, cuticles and around the finger) and let it absorb - it doesn't take too long! I found this has really helped strengthen my nails, keep them hydrated, smooth and moisturised. I try to always, always apply this to my nails after hand-cream.

A Curved Nail File is a necessity to me, to keep my nails growing in a nice shape and making sure there are no jagged edges that will catch then break the nail. This was a huge problem for me before, i'd catch the nail tip and it would break leaving me with one random short nail. Now i file my nails whenever one snags, before i paint my nails and just when i generally think they need re-shaping. This is quite harsh - meaning it shapes the nail so easily, one swipe and it's done! I find this is better than repeatedly having to file across the nail. TIP: Don't go back and forth, go in one direction across the nail.

Last but not least, the 'gem' of my nail care products Avon Nail Experts Strong Results. This sort of kicked of my nail care routine, i started using this and saw the difference and it just went from there. This looks like a nail polish, but when you paint it on it doesn't dry like a polish it soaks in more like an oil. What i do is paint it on, then massage it into my nail with my fingers. It smells like vanilla which is nice too! I love this product and have found it has really helped strengthen my nails (they used to just bend) and helped them grow long too.


I'm not gonna lie, my nails are by no means amazingly long and as hard as nails. But they're a huge improvement from what they were this time last year. I now feel confident going out with bare nails and this is something i do often. It's good to give your nails a break - using the routine and leaving nails bare   really helps, i can stress it enough!!

Do you look after yours nails? I'd love to hear some more tips or product recommendations :) 

Also a little manicure kit like this is great too and handy for in your bag!

Empty Beauty Products #1

So, today i have my first ever 'empties' post. During the #bbloggers chat i asked if people liked them as i wasn't too sure about them myself but, you all seem to like them and i had quite a few empty products so i thought, why the hell not?!

Most of these products would never get a full in-depth review on my blog, partly 'cause some of them are slightly on the boring side (shampoo being one) so, i have mini reviews here instead :) 

Skincare

Skin System Young Skin Foaming Faciel Scrub - Available from Asda (here) - I bought this on a whim, literally just because i needed a face scrub and it was a £1. I've used all this up in about 2 months but i do use a lot 4/5 times a week. It's actually a pretty food face scrub, it has a nice amount of beads (not too little or too many) and they aren't too harsh. They exfoliate without hurting the skin and does a pretty good job of removing build up on my oily skin. I'm not going to re-purchase just because i want to try a different one!

Clean & Clear Deep Action Oil Free Cream Wash - Available Boots (here), Superdrug (here) or Home Bargains (£1) etc. - I had such a love/hate relationship with this cleanser. For short periods on time it would work so well at removing makeup and keeping my skin clear then at other times my skin was a spotty mess and they just wouldn't clear. Just so unsure about this product. My favourite thing about this was how refreshing it was - you could feel when your face was clean (handy!) it felt tingly and cold (like when you inhale after a minty chewing gum). I won't re-purchase as my skin was so up and down when using this.

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner - Available from Lush (here) - This is one product i can safely say i did enjoy. It was so refreshing, was great at removing excess cleanser/makeup and lasted a long time. This is actually my second bottle of this so it's definitely a winner. I use it in so many ways: toner, skin refresher, makeup setter etc. But, i'm going to purchase to Lush Tea Tree toner instead next time (supposed to be better for oily skin).

Hand/Body Care

Avon Naturals Renewing Body Cream - They actually don't sell this anymore. What am i going to do?! I am assuming this will be similar though. I've had this cream for so long and not used it until recently but it's truly amazing. It absorbs so fast, smells lovely and leaves my skin feeling moisturised and soo soft! I love this so much but won't be re-purchasing because, i can't.

Refan Melon and Apricot Hand Butter - Available here and here in different scents - This one is for my european readers as you can get your hands on Refan more easily! I got this last year on a holiday to Bulgaria, Refan is basically like their version of The Body Shop, it was amazing i bought quite a few things (regret not buying more). This cream was actually my nanna's but i stole it because it's just so moisturising. It's more of a butter so it's nice and thick - a little goes a long way and it smells delicious! I will most likely re-purchase this in a different scent off a website or in this scent if i ever find another Refan shop ;)

Hair Care

VO5 Gloss Me Smoothly Conditioner - Available from Superdrug (here) - I'll start by saying; this is my favourite conditioner ever. Yes is said it, it's my fave! It leaves my hair super soft, de-tangled and so smooth instantly. You need the tiniest bit and it seriously makes the hugest different. I use this after the hair mask i'm going to talk about next and it's the perfect combo. Although i don't think this conditioner has any long-term effects, i don't care, i am definitely re-buying it!

Rose of Bulgaria Nourishing Hair Mask - Available here - Another item that's hard to get hold of in the UK (sorry guys) but, if you go to Bulgaria you know what to get ;) Again, i love this product for my hair. I put this on in-between the shampoo and conditioner in the photo above and my hair just feels smooth, soft, tangle free and hydrated. Bye bye dry, knotty hair. Hello luscious locks. Not re-buying this just because i'd like to try some brands that are easier to get hold of!

Medipure Hair & Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - Available from PoundLand (£1) or here - This is my go-to shampoo, i've been using it for about 6/7months now (many bottles not just the one!) and i couldn't love it more. It's basically a copy of Head and Shoulders - well i think so anyway. I was so mad when i went to wash my hair and my boyfriend had used it all up and not told me because i hate washing my hair without it. As it says, it leaves the scalp flake free (my scalp has been terrible ever since i reacted to hair dye) and also gives it a really good wash. You need this if you have a dry scalp prone to flaking. Definitely re-purchasing without a doubt.

Anyhow let me know what you think, i love using up products so would you like to see more empties posts?