Trimming My Stash - September 2019 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews*

I think am at the stage in my life when I should just stop making plans. I've talked so much lately about about getting back on track when it comes to blogging, and what happens? A fibromyalgia  / CFS flare / weird virus puts every single thing that I've tried to do in the last fortnight on the back burner. It seems like I've spent most of the last week or so in bed, and whilst I'm still feeling way less than 100%, touch wood, I'm feeling well enough at the moment to do a little bit of work so I thought I'd take you back a month, to look at September's beauty empties.

Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Raspberry & Rose Water Shower Gel - 250ml
Primark PS...Cuticle Oil - 10ml
Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand And Nail Balm - 30ml
AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo - 250ml
Philip Kingsley Elderflower And Rhubarb Body Building Shampoo - 500ml
AVON K Beauty Sugar Maple Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask - 1 x Mask
Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Corrector Pen
Primark PS...It's Oil Good Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes
Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - 010 - Ivory - 30ml
Boots Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 In 1 Cleansing Solution - 250ml
XBC XPEL Body Care Olive Exfoliating Foot Pack - 1 x Treatment

Total - 11 Items 

Even despite the fact that I've been so poorly this post seems to have taken forever to write. It's taken a lot of planning and lot of research, because I managed to finish a whopping 11 beauty products in September, which is by far my best performance of 2019 so far. It wasn't just the number of items that I finished though it was also the variety of items that I finished. I finished a really nice assortment of skincare, hair care and body care items, and I even managed to finish a make up product -go me!

1. Original Source Hydrating Water Infusions Raspberry & Rose Water Shower Gel - 250ml

The first product was a shower gel that I received in the April 2019 Fruity Or Floral edition of Glossybox UK. You can read a full review here and even though it didn't smell quite like I expected it to, it had a nice fresh, almost green scent, it foamed well and it didn't leave my skin tight or dry. It was also really economical to use, but if you're interested in trying it for yourself then I would definitely shop around, I've seen this particular scent in a variety of stores, including Asda, Boots, Superdrug and Poundland, at various price points ranging from £1 - £2.29.

2. Primark PS...Cuticle Oil - 10ml

Yes I finished another bottle of my go to cuticle oil. At around £1 a bottle it's probably cheaper than a bag of chips and it works. I've got about 1/4 of a bottle of this , and about 1/3 of a bottle of OPI Avoplex remaining so I think I'm going to need to purchase a couple of back up bottles sooner rather than later.

3. Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Hand And Nail Balm - 30ml

Next up another hand product and this was a product that I received in the 2015 Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar (You can read my unboxing posts here and here). I think that this was the first ever product that I've tried from heritage French fragrance brand Roger & Gallet, and it was a nice introduction.

Containing Shea butter, apricot kernel oil, and aloe vera, and fragranced with fig leaves, fig milk, and cedar wood, this formulation is free from colouring, parabens and silicone's. Despite the fact that it had a very rich and creamy texture it actually absorbed into the skin really quickly, leaving an almost protective but non sticky matte finish, I loved how moisturised and hydrated it made my skin feel and I loved the fruity floral, almost expensive fragrance type scent. I would definitely consider repurchasing this particular product. It's available on it's own for around £6.50 from various retailers including Escentual and Look Fantastic, and in a variety of gift sets from stores including John Lewis and Marks and Spencer.

4. AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo - 250ml

I'm a big fan of AVON as a brand but seriously they are probably the worst brand out there for discontinuing products! So many good products have been and gone over the years and now you can throw my favourite shampoo and conditioner into the mix!

I've been using their Anti Hair Fall range for a few years now and despite their relatively small price tag this range has made a real difference to my hair, so much so in fact that I can actually tell when I haven't been using it. Containing keratin, argan and bamboo extract, this shampoo smells gorgeous, and it works. Alas it seems to be no more, and it's started to appear in their sale supplements, so if you want to try then grab it while you can. From what I can gather it has two potential replacements, the new Loss Control range, and the new Reconstruction range. I've bought a few bottles to try but I've also stocked up on the Anti Hair Fall range just in case. Why AVON? Why?

5. Philip Kingsley Elderflower And Rhubarb Body Building Shampoo - 500ml

Now despite my loyalty to the Anti Hair Fall range, I do tend to switch hair care brands quite a lot, I love trying new things, and I'm always on the look out for the next wonder product. Another brand that I keep coming back to is trichology brand Philip Kingsley. Whilst Elasticizer is my real love,  I'm more than happy to use whatever comes my way.

I reviewed the original Philip Kingsley Body Building Shampoo back in November 2015, after receiving a pack of goodies from the lovely people at Philip Kingsley (read my review here) and whilst this product is basically the same it's just that little bit extra special.

It has the same volumising and lifting properties as the original only with a gorgeous fresh, and fruity rhubarb and elderflower scent. It was a lovely shampoo, you need such a small amount this huge salon size lasted for ages, and the gorgeous scent lingered on the hair for at least a day or two. Alas this particular scent is no longer available but every now and then Philip Kingsley do limited edition scents like this one, that are either QVC UK exclusives, or that launch first on their regular beauty shows. This years exclusive scent seems to be Rose & Lychee and the range is still available on QVC UK.

6. AVON K Beauty Sugar Maple Glass Effect Hydrogel Face Mask - 1 x Mask

Next up another product up from AVON and another one that now seems relegated to the sale brochure. From AVON's K Beauty range, this clear hydrogel mask contains coconut extract, coconut oil, Shea butter and aloe vera, it also contains sugar maple extract, which contains natural source AHA's to help remove dead skin, and to leave the skin dewy, hydrated, and with a luminous glow.

This is a two piece mask - one half for the top of the face, and the other half for the bottom of your face. All you have to do is peel the sticky gel masks from the plastic backing, and apply them to clean, dry skin for around 10 minutes.

Unlike a lot of paper and fabric masks, you don't get any drips but even though these masks adhere to the skin quite well, it's better to lie down during the treatment to not only keep the mask in place but also to take some out to relax and enjoy the treatment.

This mask had quite a sweet, almost coconut and vanilla scent. It felt slightly cool on application but it warmed up slightly on contact with the skin. and the gel almost seemed to dry out as time passed.

Like all hydrogel masks it was really easy to remove, there was quite a bit of moisture left on the skin but it massaged into the skin quite easily, and it absorbed pretty quickly, although it left a slightly sticky residue. My skin looks slightly pink in the picture but it felt really refreshed and hydrated, and it looked a bit plumper and as if I'd just applied a moisturiser. The regular price for this mask is £3.50 but as I say I spotted it in the latest sale supplement for £1.75.

7. Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Corrector Pen

Now I found this a few months ago whilst I was searching through my skincare stash, and since I'm so bad at applying eyeliner I thought I'd dig it out and give it a try. Basically what it is is a felt tip pen filled with, or soaked in eye make up remover. The double ended pointy nib was perfect for removing mascara smudges and for correcting wobbly liner. Unfortunately it dried out quite quickly and as you can see it got quite dirty. Yes you can use a cotton bud or even a make up brush soaked in make up remover, but the point and the portable nature of this pen made it a really useful item, all be it one that didn't last that long. Unfortunately this pen appears to have been discontinued but I'm sure I have something similar, somewhere in my beauty stash.

8. Primark PS...It's Oil Good Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

I've been shooting an awful lot of make up swatches over the last month or so, for some long promised and long overdue blog posts, and these tea tree based wipes have proved invaluable.  That said as devoted as I am to these wipes I'm really trying to get out of this "wipe" habit, so whilst I will definitely be picking up some more on my next Primark trip I feel that my love affair with these bargain wipes is nearing its end.

9. Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid - 010 - Ivory - 30ml

At last a make up item! Although I think I received this particular Italian branded bottle in a swap, this is a foundation that I've actually used on and off for a few years now, and it's one that I quite like. It has a nice texture, and it almost seems to even out my complexion, my pores don't look quite so obvious and the general texture and tone of my skin seems to look and feel smoother and more even. Apparently it's ideal for drier skin but I still like the finish and it wore pretty well on my oilier skin, all be it underneath several dustings of loose power. This particular colour was a touch warm for my skin tone, but it worked pretty well in the summer months, and with a bit of fake tan. I've got lots of foundations to use up including a few real loves so I won't be repurchasing in the the near future but that's not to say that I wouldn't buy it again.

10. Boots Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 In 1 Cleansing Solution - 250ml

Now I've had a mixed relationship with the Boots Botanics range over the years, and I still haven't quite forgiven them for meddling with one of my all time favourite eye make up removers (read my posts here  and here). Recently they've redeemed themselves slightly with their Cleansing Toner but when it comes to my eyes I'm still a little bit wary but giving them the benefit of the doubt I gave this a try.

I think I got it in a subscription box, and apparently it's one of the best sellers from the Botanics range. It's alcohol free, and it contains hibiscus and AHA's . It cleansed my skin with no problem, it was fine at removing make up, and it left my skin clean, fresh and bright. It did make my eyes sting a bit though so as I tend to use micellar waters all over my face, I probably wouldn't repurchase but it wasn't bad. If you're interested in trying it for yourself it retails at around £5.49 in Boots.

11. XBC XPEL Body Care Olive Exfoliating Foot Pack - 1 x Treatment

Finally a foot product, and I think I originally bought this in Bargain Buys, but apparently it's also available from various other retailers including Savers, Poundstretcher, and ebay. I can't remember how much I paid for it but I don't think it will have been much more than a pound or so. I originally bought this as a moisturising foot pack but even though it actually says the word exfoliating on the packet I didn't realise it was an actual foot peel!

"Formulated to moisturise and reduce callus build up, and cracked heels" the pouch contains a pair of plastic socks with a paper /  fibre lining, and adhesive  fastening strips for a secure fit. Containing mulberry extract, olive extract, rose flower oil and pomegranate oil, these socks had a lovely, slightly astringent apple like, fruity scent. The inside of the socks was very wet. After putting them onto clean, dry feet, my skin immediately felt slightly warm, and tingly, which should have been the first clue that these weren't moisturising socks!

After 20 minutes, which is quite a short amount of time for peeling socks, you take off the stocks, and also quite strangely for peeling socks, you don't need to rinse your feet. My feel looked slightly pink, and whilst my heels definitely looked less dry, they was no real difference moisture wise. I was pretty non plussed at this point because it still hadn't clicked that this was a foot peel, and then less a week later, this happened!

Apologies for the gross foot pack, but yes less than a week later all of the dry skin started peeling off the soles of my feet. The peeling process lasted for about a week. My notoriously dry heels, were still slightly cracked but my feet were generally a lot smoother, and the other calloused areas had all but disappeared.

Despite my initial confusion when buying and using this product, I am so, so happy with it. I used quite a few of these peeling products now and a lot of the more expensive ones haven't worked any where near as well as this one did. For the price, the performance, and the scent I really can't recommend these enough and I will definitely be making a repurchase.

So they were my very late September empties. I hope they were worth waiting for, as I said I finished a nice amount, and a nice variety of items. With only a few days left of October I don't think it's been anywhere near as successful a month as September was, but I can at least promise you that the post will be up a bit quicker than this one was x If you have any questions or comments let me know and I'll try and get back to you as quickly as I can, and I will see you soon with another post x

*The Post Contains Both Affiliate And Non Affiliate Links 

Trimming My Stash - November 2017 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Even though I've been opening my advent calendars every day since last Friday, I'm still finding it pretty hard to believe that we are nearly a week into December already. This year has been pretty much blink and you'll miss it for me and the last month of the year seems to have started at a 100 miles an hour.

Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter - 125ml
Primark PS Cuticle Oil - 10ml
AVON Mattifying Foundation - Ivory - 30ml
Beauty Bible Shower Gel - 200ml
Boots Damask Rose Sensual Body Polish - 200ml
Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner - 250ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes x 25 Wipes

Total - 8 Items

So I'm late again but I'm back and raring to go with my November empties post. I really wanted to hit double figures for only the second time in 2017 but unfortunately I fell just short and I only managed to finish 8 items. Still it was an improvement on October's total of 5 items so I'm not too downhearted. I managed to finish a good variety of items as well with a few skincare body, some body products, and one make up item making the final cut.

1. Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter - 125ml

Apologies that the picture isn't the best but get past that and if you can get your hands on a tub of this fabulous butter then do it! My bestie bought me a tub of this wonder cream after reading about it in a newspaper and it's AMAZING! Officially it's for mini people but this is without a doubt the best foot cream and dry bit cream that I've ever used! Containing olive oil and chamomile you can use this stuff from head to foot. It's sticky and rich but it absorbs eventually and it has a slight vanilla citrus scent. After a shower I've literally been slathering it on my feet and popping on a pair of fluffy socks, and after just a few hours my feet are a lot softer and a lot more moisturised. This product seems to have gone AWOL lately but I'm lead to believe that it's back and that it's just been repackaged as the Waitrose Mini Soothing Baby Bottom Butter which now retails at £3.20 and it is worth every penny! We just need the Waitrose store in Intu Eldon Square to start stocking it again now so I can get some more!

2. Primark PS Cuticle Oil - 10ml

For many years now I've been devoted to OPI's Avoplex Cuticle Oil but after discovering this little bottle of magic in Primark, I pretty much waved it goodbye. At only £1 a bottle this stuff is fabulous is contains Avocado oil, and it does it's thing. It absorbs into the cuticles and nails in an instant and it makes an instant difference to both the look and the condition of the cuticles and the nails. I've bought a few for family members in the past and like me they love it. If something is cheap it doesn't mean that it's awful and this product is a case in point - it's brilliant!

3. AVON Mattifying Foundation - Ivory - 30ml

Now I'm usually a big lover of AVON foundations but for some reason I just didn't get on with this one at all. It was just too thick , and I actually really struggled to squeeze it out of the tube. On the face it looked very mask like and cakey and whilst I do prefer a matte foundation this one was just too heavy. The only positive was the colour match. AVON are always changing their products, lines and formulations and this particular product doesn't appear to be in the current line. One bad experience won't put me off using AVON foundations in the future though and I already have a couple of new ones to try.

4. Beauty Bible Shower Gel - 200ml

Next up another product that I recently tested for Beauty Bible, again due to their restrictions I can't really talk about it on the blog or identify it! It was a shower gel from a largely natural brand and I really liked it but I wasn't a fan of the packaging.

5. Boots Damask Rose Sensual Body Polish - 200ml

I honestly have no idea exactly how old this product is. My mam was sorting through some of her beauty drawers and she gave me this to use up. I've tried and tried to teach her about body scrubs and exfoliating but I've eventually resigned myself to defeat, she doesn't get it and she doesn't see the point - a shower gel and a body mop will as close as she ever gets to giving herself a good scrub - at times I wonder if we're even related!! So I ended up with this pleasant rose scented body scrub which of course I managed to use up in less than a month. It was a cream based scrub with very small exfoliating particles, not my favourite formulation of body scrub by any means but I used it up. This own brand range from Boots seems to be long gone but I'm sure you could easily find something similar.

6. Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner - 250ml

Like so many bloggers and online dwellers I bought this product because of Caroline Hirons! It's a cult product and with good reason, from having relatively decent but slightly oily skin over the last 12 months or so, my skin has regained some of it's teenage angst! This stuff though has been a life saver, it's helped my knock some of those horrible hormonal spots on the head and it stopped my skin looking as dull and grey as it can do when it's craving a bit of sunshine. I will definitely buy this product again but at the moment I'm trying out the Superdrug Natural Radiant Glycolic Toner which is supposed to be pretty similar to PIXI Glow but without the price tag. I'll let you know how I got with that in a future post, oh! and if you are a PIXI fan then you might want to make sure your following my blog,  because I may have a giveaway post coming up in the next week or so that you won't want to miss!

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

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

Would it really be a monthly empties post on LouLouLand without any mention of these wipes? I think not. I'm hoping upon hope to get a few make up posts up before Christmas and make up pictures mean lots of swatch shooting and that means a lot of wrist and forearm wiping! These wipes are a real must have for me and I'm always finding new uses for them. I was actually in Primark this week though (haul post and video coming soon!), and I couldn't find these tea tree based wipes anywhere! I really hope they haven't discontinued them, I'll definitely be back in before Christmas so I'll have another look then and in the meantime I picked up a couple of packets of their micellar wipes to tide me over and get me through another couple of weeks of swatching and sanitising.

So they were my November empties, I'm planning on making a big push in the next few weeks to try and end my empties year on a high. Given my performance in 2017 as a whole, beating Novembers target of 8 items won't be easy but I'll give it my best shot 

Again I'm sorry that this post is so late - my time doesn't seem to be my own at the minute and my to do list is getting longer by the day but hopefully now that I've seen some friends before Christmas and that I've nearly finished my Christmas shopping. I'll have a bit of time to actually put the Christmas tree up, get some You Tube videos shot, and get some blog posts written - fingers crossed anyways x If you have any questions on any of the products that I finished in November then please leave me a comment below x

Reflections and Trimming My Stash - September 2017 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

So any lingering hopes of an Indian summer are long gone, now we're in October there is no denying that Autumn is here. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, the leaves are falling from the trees and you can now go into any supermarket in the UK and buy a pumpkin!

In the last couple of days I've been reminded of a song that we used to sing at this time of year in school assemblies and at Sunday school. The song is called Autumn Days and it's about been thankful for the harvest and those little things in life, and I think it's something that we can all live by. It's very hard at times to find any positives in life but they are always there even if sometimes they take a little bit of finding.

If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I'm currently doing the #365DaysOfHappiness project, it hasn't been easy it times but sometimes even the smallest and most innocuous things can lift your spirits, from a nice cup of coffee, to a fragranced candle, and knowing that it's only 82 days until Christmas.

I know, I know I've already started my Christmas shopping and I'm preparing to fill the shower with all of my festive toiletries, I love Christmas and it always makes me happy but in order to start using all of those cranberry, apple, and gingerbread smellies, I need to make space and get some bits used up. My October aim is to clear my shower of fruits and florals but in the meantime lets see what beauty products I finished last month.

Scrub Love Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub - Coconut Affair - 50g
Beauty Bible Cleansing Milk - 300ml
Superdrug Nourishing Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 250ml
Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara -10ml
Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation - Ivory 1 - 30ml

Total - 5 Items 

Okay, so five items isn't that amazing but I'm still really happy because of the type of items that I managed to finish. Make up items are always pretty thin on the ground for me, probably because I have so much of it that I never really use anything consistently but in September I managed to finish 2 make up products and some body and skincare bits, and as the slogan goes "every little helps"

1. Scrub Love Invigorating Coffee Body Scrub - Coconut Affair - 50g

These scrubs are absolutely everywhere at the moment, and I've managed to accumulate quite a few of them thanks to the various beauty boxes that I'm subscribed to. Billed as more eco friendly, these scrubs are basically just coffee grounds, with a few added ingredients (coconut in this case). I always assumed that these scrubs would have some sort of cream, oil or gel base but they don't, or at least this one didn't. It's basically looks and smells just like coffee grounds, with just a hint of coconut. I tried just taking a handful and rubbing it on my legs but I think I managed to lose more in the shower than I managed to use! I found the best way to use this was to tip a small amount into my hand and then I added a bit of shower gel to achieve a more spreadable consistency. When it comes to body scrubs I know what I like, and the number one thing that I look for is grittiness, this scrub is definitely gritty but it is just so, so messy! The floor of my shower room was literally covered in coffee grounds, and brown yucky looking splodges, I managed to get more of the scrub on the floor, on the shower screen and on the wall then I did on my thighs, and the shower trap, clogged up in an instant! This scrub would be amazing first thing in the morning, with the invigorating feel and the coffee aroma but for me I just can't deal with the mess and neither can Mummy Lou. I'll use the remaining sachets that I have but I definitely won't repurchase :( If you want to try this scrub for yourself then you can buy if from various retailers including Beauty Bay, Fragrance Direct, and Very.

2. Beauty Bible Cleansing Milk - 300ml

I think I've mentioned this in a previous post but I recently tested a batch of products for one of the most comprehensive beauty books on the market, Beauty Bible. If you're confused by all of the beauty products on the market then this is the book that you need. Basically it's a beauty review book, and for every edition the team behind the Beauty Bible recruit hundreds and hundreds of volunteers to try out every beauty product under the sun. I've done it a few times now and I've really enjoyed trying out a wide variety of new products. The only thing is that you're not allowed to talk about the product that you tried on social media :( which in this case is a bit of a bummer because this was one of my favourite products. So in brief it's a sensibly priced, cleansing milk and I loved it, and I would definitely consider spending my hand earned cash on it in the future x 

3. Superdrug Nourishing Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 250ml

I don't know if you've noticed but I'm starting to get into painting my nails again, after around 6 months of rubbishness, my nails are getting longer, stronger and they're looking pretty decent, so I'm taking advantage and painting and photographing them while I still can. I know it isn't the most exciting of tasks, but if you paint your nails, at some point you're going to need to take that polish off. 

I'm using two different polish removers at the moment, the Primark PS Love Your Nails Nail Polish Twist Pot, which I use to correct mistakes and to just remove one or two nails, and for everyday use and removing a full manicure I swear by this one from Superdrug. I've used this remover for years and the price has remained the same for the longest time. This acetone free polish is one of my holy grail products, it works, it doesn't smell too awful, and it's only £1.39 for 250ml. I love it so much that I even wrote a blog post devoted to it, that you can read here x 

4. Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara -10ml

I'm not having the best of luck with mascaras at the moment - During a recent optician visit I was diagnosed with dry corneas, due to a combination of both my facial nerve paralysis, and one of my current medications. My eyes can be a bit sensitive at the best of times but at the moment, they're particularly bad. I've tried and binned 3 mascaras in the past fortnight due to sensitivity and whilst I couldn't really class those as empties, I can class this one as an empty.

I haven't tried a lot of make up from Soap & Glory but other the past few years I've managed to acquire a few of their mascaras thanks to the Boots Star Gifts, and a few months ago now I decided to give this one a try and I have to say I was impressed. This mascara which retails at around £10 promises thicker fuller lashes and on me it delivered. It didn't dry my lashes out and it didn't feel heavy or clumpy, and whilst it didn't look as though I was wearing false lashes, my lashes definitely looked fuller, and thicker, and it didn't make my eyes run or sting. It wasn't the longest wearing mascara that I've ever used but I'll happily use the ones that I have and I would definitely consider repurchasing this one in it's own right.

5. Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation - Ivory 1 - 30ml

Now before you I say anything I know that this is an old, old bottle of foundation. I'm fully aware of that, and I know that you should really throw make up and especially liquids and creams out after so long. This still smelled okay and the texture hadn't changed so I kept as it and tried to eek it out for as long as possible. The reason why is that I loved this foundation, the colour match was perfect, the texture was perfect for my skin type, and it wore well on my oil prone skin. In this format this foundation has long gone. Collection, as they are now called does have a Colour Match Foundation in it's current collection (haha) but it's now in plastic, squeezy tube, and the shade names have altered slightly. At only £3.99 for 30ml it's well worth a try though, so I've picked up the shade Ivory and I'm hoping upon hope that it is just as good as this one was. If it isn't I'll be begging Collection to bring the original one back!

So they were my September empties, as I say I'm really pleased to have finished a few make up items, but in October I'll definitely be focusing on the bathroom, and trying to make room for both my festive shower bits, and my winter themed body creams. Which reminds me, if you are a bit obsessed with Christmas bath and body bits then check out tomorrow's post to see some of Lush's festive offerings x If you have any questions on any of the items that I've mentioned then please leave me a comment below x 

Cruelty Free Make Up Brushes From L.A.B.2*

Many moons ago now when I first started using make up, I wasn't too bothered about what I used to apply it. I used to use a combination of my fingers, cotton buds, and cheap scratchy make up brushes, and then I used to wonder why I was so bad at applying make up!

With age comes experience though, and now I know that you need good tools to achieve that professional look and finish. Yes, I still use my fingers every now and then but I've now binned all of my scratchy and plasticy brushes, and I've managed to accumulate a nice selection of make up brushes from all different price points, that actually do the job that they're supposed to. Based on my experience I don't think that price is a factor when you're buying make up brushes, yes you can pay a lot of money for a good make up brush, but here's the thing, you don't have to! 

One of the newest brush brands that I've came across is L.A.B. 2. Under the tag line "Live And Breathe Beauty", L.A.B. 2 produce a wide range of  "Luxe For Less" individual brushes, brush sets and make up applicators, that are both hypoallergenic and 100% cruelty free.

Embracing some of the most cutting edge technology available to them, all of their products are made to the highest quality standards available. Each brush consists of a titanium plated ferrule which is non corrosive, and double crimped to prevent wear and tear, and hair loss. Attached to the ferrule is a matte black rubberised handle which is easy to grip, looks good and is easy to clean. 

Where these brushes come into their own though, is with the brush hairs and the heads themselves. Every brush from L.A.B. 2 contains their unique Fibre Luxe Technology. All of their brush heads are created from the best quality synthetics fibres, which are specially designed to mimic the cuticles and feel of real hair. They are also designed not to lose the shape, and they're designed to last.

A little while ago now I was sent two brushes from the range to try out for you, and they've been a staple in my beauty routine ever since.

L.A.B. 2 Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt Brush

This quirkly named brush is one of L.A.B.2's eyeshadow brushes, and at just £4.99, it's one of the cheapest brushes in their line.

With a shiny black ferrule, and a matte black rubberised handle with the name and use clearly printed on it, this is a typical slightly stubby, dome shaped eyeshadow brush.

The hairs are very smooth and soft but they're very densely packed, which gives you a nice and firm, and easy to control brush head. The brush is perfectly shaped and it has the perfect texture to pick up any type of product, be it a cream, a pressed powder, or a loose powder, with ease

The brush head is probably a little bit too big for detailed work, but it's perfect for applying eyeshadow all over the lid, and for blending.

L.A.B. 2 Don't Get Mad, Get Even Foundation Brush

I was also lucky enough to be sent L.A.B. 2's classic foundation brush. and I have to say that I've really enjoyed using it. Like so many people I've been experimenting with different brushes, and blending sponges but sometimes you need to revisit the classics.

I say classic but other than the shape of this brush, there is nothing classic about this brush. With the rubberised, easy grip handle, and the synthetic brush hairs. This brush is an updated version of the classic foundation brush that we all know and love.

With a flat head and a slightly tapered edge, this brush is perfect for applying both liquid and cream foundations, and for getting into those tricky areas around the nose and mouth.

Because these brushes are synthetic, you can use them with creams and liquids without damaging the brush. I've washed the foundation brush a couple of times already, and with just a bit of detergent and a bit of water, and a little bit of pressure, it comes up as good as new and I didn't lose a single hair in the process - result! This brush is a little bit more expensive at around £9.99 but in my opinion, it's still excellent value for money.

Although I've only tried a couple of the brushes from the L.A.B. 2 line I have to say I'm impressed. The brush quality is excellent, and I particularly love the rubberised handles, and the synthetic bristles, These brushes are both hypoallergenic and cruelty free and they retail at a really competitive, purse friendly price point. Prices start at around £4.99 for an eyeshadow brush and only go up to around £19.99 for a full brush set. You can find out more about L.A.B. 2 via their own website and you can also buy the brushes from various retailers including Asda, Ocado / Waitrose, Amazon and Superdrug. Have you tried L.A.B. 2 brushes? Let me know your thoughts x

*Samples

An Overdue Collective High End Beauty Haul And Reviews

What can say, apart from welcome to the most overdue haul in history. I think I bought the first item in this haul at the end of April, and ever since then most of these bits have sitting waiting for their moment in the spotlight, so all I can say is I'm sorry for the delay, but as the saying goes better late then never.

I'm going to start with the first thing that I bought nail polish. If you're a nail polish obsessive like me then you will know that the majority of high end, and professional nail polish brands, release limited edition collections several times a year, and earlier this year OPI released their New Orleans collection. Normally I just pick up the odd colour that shouts out to me from each collection but in this case I really couldn't decide which shades that I wanted so I bought them all.

Retailing at around £12.50 a bottle, buying the full collection would have been a bit excessive, thankfully though QVC were selling a limited edition boxed set of all 12 polishes in the 3.75ml mini size. As much as love looking at all of my full sized polished, I have to be honest and say that I do love a mini, you can buy more of them and lets face it how many full sized nail polishes have you actually finished!

In fitting with the city itself, the OPI New Orleans collection is full of bright, vibrant colours with a few classics thrown, think of all of the strands of beads at Mardi Gras and you're about there.  I love my purples and blues and this kit contains some real beauties including I Manicure For Beads, Rich Girls And Po Boys, and Show Us Your Tips. You've also got a bright green in I'm Sooo Swamped, a metallic taupe, in Take A Right On Bourbon, and a whole row of pink, peaches, and corals including the fabulously named She's A Bad Muffuletta!

Unfortunately this kit was a limited edition, so QVC don't seem to stock it any more, but if you have a little look online or check with your nearest OPI stockist, then you might still be able to buy some of these shades in the full size. Obviously I be posting some nails of the days in the weeks and months, so if there is any particular colour that you would like to see first then please let me know x

Over the last few months I've also picked up a few of my nail care essentials including a new bottle of Avoplex Cuticle Oil, and a new Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File. Both of these products are real staples in my nail care routine and if I can't find either of them I get a bit twitchy. I've also been trawling the discount beauty stall in Intu Metrocentre and I've recently picked up a couple of Nails Inc Limited Edition polishes including this pretty floral, Queensgate Gardens, that you can see below

I love my pretties and something that I couldn't resist when it I saw it on QVC in April, was this gorgeous highlighting palette from US brand Tarte.

From their Rainforest Of The Sea collection, the Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette is beautifully packaged and it contains 3 highlighting shades

On the left you have Sunlight, a gorgeous pale golden champagne shimmer. The middle shade is Filtered Light, which rather unusually is a matte shade, it's a sort of pale, creamy sand colour and finally on the right you have Moonlight, which is just a touch warmer is officially described as a rosy pearl.

All of these shades are silky soft and feel almost invisible on the skin.  Hopefully as you can see below even with with the matte shade Filtered Light the pigmentation is excellent.

Although Tarte are having a Today's Special Value day on QVCUK today, this palette doesn't seem to be in stock but I have been told that I might be back in the UK in the Spring, if you can't wait that long though then this palette is still available on the Sephora website and on Tarte's own website which also ships to the UK.

Whilst I still wish that Tarte was one of those brands that we could buy in a bricks and mortar store, I do like the fact that with QVC you always to get such a good deal on brands such as Tarte and Laura Geller. You normally get a bit of a price reduction or you get an extra thrown in. With this particular palette you also received the Rainforest Of The Sea Double Ended Highlighter Brush. In a beautiful metallic ombre design, this synthetic brush features a short, precision brush on one end and on the other end you have a fluffy angled brush. I have a few Tarte brushes in my collection now and they are all soft,  silky and strokeable. Again this particular brush is no longer on the QVC UK website but again it is available on both the Tarte and the Sephora website.

I love pretty things when it comes to make up but there is no point in apply pretty colours if you base isn't right. The last few products in this haul are all about creating that perfect canvas, through your make up base and through your skincare.

All of the product that I'm going to show you now, and all purchases that I was inspired to make after the Spring, Style Garden event and Intu Metrocentre earlier this year (You can read more about the event here). I going to go a bit out of sync though and I'm going to start with a foundation and probably the most expensive foundation that I've ever bought.

I own foundations at all different price points, and to me a higher price doesn't always mean a better product but in this case it is. At the Style Garden event I was lucky enough to have a mini Giorgio Armani Cosmetics makeover, and in an instant I fell in love with the foundation that the make up artist used on me. I debated and debated but eventually that little mink LouLou my alter convinced me to spend £42 of my birthday money on a bottle of foundation. It was a lot of money but I really do love the effect and the wear time on my often oil slick prone skin. This is the Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation in Shade 5. If you would like to see a full review of this foundation then let me know, and I'd be happy to do one for you.

My visit to the intu Style Garden also led to another couple of purchases, and they are purchases that have since became real staples in my skincare routine. After the event I was lucky enough to go for a Kiehls facial and skincare analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed the facial and instead of introducing ever single product that they recommended at once I decided to try two product to tackle one of my problem areas, my pores.

The first product that I got is one that I've used religiously every week since I got it. The Kiehl's Rare Earth Pure Cleansing Masque which retails at around £21.50  for a 125ml tub.

I love a good clay mask, and this one which is crammed full Amazonian white clay, and soothing aloe vera, and oatmeal, leaves the skin feeling super clean, and really, really smooth, and refreshed, and it even seems to help clear up spots and blemishes. I apply it with a mask brush so a little goes a long way, that said I'm already half way down the pot!

After trying out a little sample I also decided to try the corresponding moisturiser, the Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Minimising Lotion, which retails at around £26 for 75ml. This lightweight moisturising lotion acts and both a moisturiser and as a primer. Like the mask it's full of Amazonian White Clay, which helps to absorb excess oil, and to refine and smooth the skin. It's pretty lightweight and it's definitely not for you, if your skin is on the drier side, but since I'm combining it with night time facial oils, it's been a perfect addition to my spring and summer skincare regime. I love both of these products so much that the moisturiser has already featured in one of my beauty favourites videos.



As well as the products that I bought  I also got quite a few sample sachets to try, including the Midnight Recover Eye, Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Ultra Light Daily UV Defence Sunscreen SPF 50 PA +++, and 3 sachets of the Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate. Kiehl's are very generous with the sample so you might see some of those in a future sample Saturday post.

As per usual I've made a little You Tube so you listen to me prattle on about what I've bought so you can watch it below or via this link x



I still have so much to show you haul wise, the picture below might just give you a taster but all of my future haul post will be combined haul and review post so I can (cue horrible saying!) kill two birds with the one stone! I've got lots of Benefit goodies to show you, including some of their newest releases, I've also got some Jay Manuel products, some Kat Von D, some KIKO, some Charlotte Tilbury, some more OPI products and much, much more to show you over the next few months so make sure you're following for your beauty fix.

In the meantime if you have any questions or comments on anything on this haul, then please leave me a comment x Thanks for reading.