Trimming My Stash - February 2016 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Hey everyone x Welcome to the first day of spring and guess what a weather warning is in place for the North East for ice and snow! Well lets hope the old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb is true and that warmer weather is on it's way.

Even with the extra day thanks to leap year February is still the shortest month and it's another one that I'm pleased to see the back of. From today though I'm going to try and think more positively and try to look forwards and focus on the good things in my life rather than the bad bits. Before I do that the I'm going to take a quick look back at February's beauty empties.

Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish - 30ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes
The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser - 200ml
The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel - 60ml
The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter - 50ml
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - 400ml
Cien Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 200ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes
Total - 8 Items 

It's only the 1st March and we've already got a positive, I managed to finish 8 items in February which is one more than I did in January. I didn't manage to finish any make up items but I managed to finish quite a few body care and skincare items, including a few things that had been lingering on, so all is good.

1. Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish - 30ml

When I was choosing products for my My Pure reviews why oh why didn't I chose the larger size of this scrub, I love it and I'm really sad that I've used it up. I love sugar scrubs at the best of times but the scent of this one took it up to the next level. A lovely combination of natural oils, and sugar with the most beautiful tropical floral scent. If you love monoi oil or  the fragrance of  the Elemis Tahitian Tiare line, or if you fancy been mentally transported to a tropical island, then you need this product in your life. You can read a full review here x

2, Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes

You're probably sick of seeing these in my empties posts but I seem to go through packets and packets of these. Last month I mainly used them for quick and easy swatch clean up, and the fact that I used two packets should perhaps show you how many make up posts I have coming up so if you love make up reviews you're in the right place!

3. The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser - 200ml

This was something that I received in a goodie bag when I attended an event at The Body Shop way back in 2014. You can read more about this product and the event here but this product is a real classic. This creamy textured cleanser has a lovely rose scent, it removes make up and dirt with ease and it leaves the skin feeling silky soft. I've really enjoyed using it and whilst I wouldn't repurchase at the moment, it's something that I would consider using again.

4.The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel - 60ml

5.. The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter - 50ml

It's 3 in a row from The Body Shop, and their Glazed Apple fragrance is something that I've fell in love with over the last few months. Whilst not traditionally apple scented, this a sweet, sugary, mouthwatering, fruity scent that I've really grown to love, so much so in fact that I may have even licked my own arm! Don't try this at home folks eating body butter isn't good and unfortunately it didn't taste as nice as it smelled. These were just mini sizes, and thankfully I have a few full sizes to use up. If anyone from The Body Shop is listening please bring this back next Christmas - pretty please!


6. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - 400ml

I've talked quite a bit on the blog about micellar water's and of the ones that I've tried so far, this was is by far my favourite. It removes make up with absolutely no effort and it's really economical - you get a lot of product and it isn't expensive. Would I buy it again? I already have x -

7. Cien Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 200ml

This acetone free nail polish remover is from Lidl's own brand Cien. I love the dispenser and it works without drying the nail but I just can't stand the marzipan, almond scent it leaves on the nails, so unfortunately I won't repurchase. I will however reuse the pump action bottle with my favourite Superdrug remover.

8. Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes

Blah, blah' blah - what else can I say about these - they're  cheap and they have tea tree in them.

So they were my February empties, here's hoping I can keep up the good work and finish even more beauty products in March and maybe even a make up item or two x Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please leave me a comment xx

Trimming My Stash - October 2014 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Hi Everyone - Welcome To November - It's so hard to believe that there are only two months of the the year left, and it's scarier still when you think that there are only about 8 weekends till Christmas!-Where on earth has this year gone?

Like every month of 2014, in October I counted my empties and tried to trim my stash, and use up as many beauty products as I could. I already know that I'll be way down on last years figure but I'm still pretty happy with how October went.

MAC Blot Powder - Medium - 12g
Cien Nail Polish Remover Classic - 200ml
Bentley Organic Handwash With Cinnamon, Sweet Orange & Clove Bud - 250ml
Elemis Jasmine And Rose Milk Bath - 290ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes
Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash - 125ml
Nair Hair Removal Cream - 100ml
Total - 7 Items

Yes I finished 7 items in October which is one more than I did in September. I also finished a nice mix of products including body care, skin care and make up.

1. MAC Blot Powder - Medium - 12g

Yeah a Back To MAC ! Although MAC MSF Natural gets all the love and the plaudits, I prefer MAC Blot Powder. For me MSF Natural is just a bit too powdery. Blot Powder in my opinion is way better for finishing make up and taking down shine, without adding an awful lot of colour, or chalkiness. The shades are a little bit odd and medium would easily be classed as a light in most other brands but the finish is nice, it can be applied with a puff or a brush and it lasts quite a long time. Would I repurchase? To be honest at the minute the price of £20.50 is a bit prohibitive, so I'm going to be trying out some cheaper alternatives, but I would definitely consider repurchasing.

2. Cien Nail Polish Remover Classic - 200ml

A budget buy courtesy of Lidl - Although admittedly it did cost slightly more than my usual Superdrug remover ;) There are two different variants of this product this one that contains acetone, and an acetone free version which I also have. I meant to review these for you but for some reason I never got round to it. For a product containing acetone I actually found this product quite moisturising, and it certainly didn't leave the nails, white or chalky. I also love the push down, salon style dispenser. It was easy to use, and a lot safer spillage wise. Whilst I'm going to try to reuse the bottle, and the polish remover worked pretty well I don't think I'll repurchase - the reason? the smell! Described as a having a light almond fragrance, this product to me, reeks of marzipan and I hate marzipan!! It scented my nails, my hands and the bathroom, and it lingered it. Nice product, brilliant bottle, shame about the smell.

3. Bentley Organic Handwash With Cinnamon, Sweet Orange & Clove Bud - 250ml

This was a product that I reviewed for My Pure x You can read my full review here x

4. Elemis Jasmine And Rose Milk Bath - 290ml

A product from one of the Elemis sets that I always get (wahoo!) for my birthday and  for Christmas. I love the original Skin Nourishing Milk Bath formulation, and whilst this one isn't quite as versatile, the smell is to die for and it leaves your skin feeling super soft. It was a QVC exclusive for quite while and this size and a smaller one are still available in some all be it pricey sets but a larger 400ml size is also now available from Debenhams from a pretty scary £40! It a lovely product for a really pampering bathing, experience but for the price, it's pretty hard to justify, although if Santa's listening - Pretty please!

5. Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

Need I say anything else about there? Look them up, they contain tea tree oil, and their great for emergency, cleansing and refreshing, and for cleaning up swatches.

6. Balance Me Rose Otto Body Wash - 125ml

This was either a magazine freebie or a beauty box product. Although the range can be quite highly scented I really like Balance Me products and this was no different. It was a really nice body wash, it smelled nice and it wasn't drying. My only gripe is that smell was more rose geranium, rather than pure rose, but it was still nice and I would potentially repurchase x

7. Nair Hair Removal Cream - 100ml

The most basic one they do courtesy of my local branch of Poundland, and a real essential for me. I don't get on with shaving at all, and depending on my spoonie status, I don't always have the energy or can't stand the pain of waxing or epilating. The does the job and I don't find it too drying. I also quite naughtily use it on my face, because in my experience the facial versions just don't cut it on my thick, dark hair. I've already repurchased and will continue to do so x

So they were my October empties x I'm hoping I can do equally well in November and finish a similar variety of products. I already have a couple of skincare products and a mascara that I know I'll finish, so who knows what else.

Do you have a blog or a You Tube channel, where you do regular empties posts or videos? If you do leave me the link below x  Thanks for reading x