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

Hey Guys x It's the first of the month and that means that it's empties time again. I've been a busy bee this month sorting out my entire toiletry stash, so I know exactly what I've got and what I need to use up. and what needs to go in the bin. I've moved everything that's been opened and half used into the bathroom and my aim is to use those up before I start on anything new. I really love trying new things but toiletry wise I'm looking forward to rediscovering some old favourites and of using some products up. Speaking of which lets see what beauty items I managed to finish in July.

Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes
Nivea Daily Essentials Extra Gentle Eye Make Up Remover - 125ml
Easy Nails Fast & Fruity Acetone Free Nails Polish Remover - Peach Fragrance - 50ml
Balance Me Skin Brightening Exfoliating Body Polish - 220g
Fair Squared Vanilla Shower Gel - 10ml
Make Up Gallery Well Polished Cuticle Oil - 10ml
Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - 100g
OPI Chip Skip Nail Lacquer Chip Preventor - 15ml
Total - 8 Items 

Although I didn't managed to surpass or equal June's total of 14 items, I still pretty pleased to have finished 8 things. Again I've finished a nice variety of products including some body care and some skin care items, and I also managed to finish a few things that have been lingering on for a while.

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

Nuff said really, hot, and sticky weather, and lots of swatches to clean means another packet of these bit the dust

2. Nivea Daily Essentials Extra Gentle Eye Make Up Remover - 125ml

It always seems that I'm on the lookout for something beauty wise, and at the moment I'm on the hunt for a good, budge eye make up remover. Gatineau is my brand of choice but it isn't cheap so I'm on the lookout for something a bit cheaper. Recently my local Superdrug had an offer on their Nivea skincare so I picked this eye make up remover and the Nivea Daily Essentials Eye Make Up Remover. I've only managed to use this one so far, and I have to be honest and say that I don't love it. Don't get me wrong this stuff removes even the most hard wearing mascara, and long wear eyeshadow but like a lot of removers it makes my eyes sting and water. I'm going to give the other bottle ago but based on this one I'm not expecting a lot and my search for the perfect eye make up remover goes on.

3. Easy Nails Fast & Fruity Acetone Free Nails Polish Remover - Peach Fragrance - 50ml

This was an emergency purchase many moons ago on the way to a blog event. Three of my nails chipped before I even got on the bus and I needed something quick and easy to take my nail polish off. I bought this pot from Bodycare and an emergency purchase was about all it was good for. If I remember rightly it struggled to take the polish off, the quality of the sponge inside was really poor and it the tub leaked everywhere. I've been using it to remove clear  nail strengthener which was about all it was good for thankfully now though it's dried out and I can bin it. The only plus point was the peach scent - needless to say I won't repurchase!


4. Balance Me Skin Brightening Exfoliating Body Polish - 220g

This was a My Pure review product from way back in 2014 and I loved it. I love a good body scrub and that's exactly what this one is. I love salt and sugar based scrubs and this one is salt based, it was nice and gritty with a moisturising oil and shea butter base, this scrub had a refreshing and revitalising spearmint based scent. It left my skin feeling silky smooth and alive. Fabulous stuff - you can read a full review here. I don't think My Pure sell this in this format now but they have do have do sell a product in a tube that sounds almost identical x


5. Fair Squared Vanilla Shower Gel - 10ml

This was a subtly scented, moisturising shower gel that  was kindly sent and I recently reviewed in one of my Sample Saturday posts x You can read my full review here x

6. Make Up Gallery Well Polished Cuticle Oil - 10ml

This is the second bottle of this Poundland oil that I've finished lately and it probably shows my current obsession with cuticle oil. It makes such a difference to the state of your nails and at the moment I'm applying it numerous times a day. My favourite oil of all time is OPI Avoplex but it's pricey, this was a pretty decent accompaniment to my OPI but my new love is Primark's PS Cuticle Oil. It's the same price as this one and I prefer it so I'll only be buying this one again in an emergency

7. Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - 100g

What can say about this cult product from Lush that hasn't already been said! Snow Fairy is one of Lush's most popular products of all time. This pink sugary, sweet shower gel, which is packed full of fine glitter is a Christmas limited edition, So come December time me and my fellow Snow Fairy lovers try to stock on as much as we can for the year ahead. I've used it quite sparingly so far this year so I still have another small, and a medium size bottle to use up but come December, I'll definitely be buying more x

8. OPI Chip Skip Nail Lacquer Chip Preventor - 15ml

Ah Chip Skip, one of OPI's most misunderstood products and one of my personal favourites. I have heard so many people referring to this as base coat and then saying it's rubbish! Well that's because it isn't a base coat. If you can't get nail polish or strengtheners to stay on your nails then you need this. Chip Skip is a clear watery liquid that you paint onto your bare nails, it soaks into your nails, and then you apply your base coat and polish on top. What Chip Skip does is remove any of the grease and oils from your nail surface that can lead to your polish peeling and chipping. A lot of people recommend wiping your nails with either alcohol or nail polish remover instead but this product is much easier and less messy to use. I think it's makes a real difference and it's something that I will continue to use. A little goes a very long way and because it isn't a polish, it doesn't go thick or gloopy so you can use it till the very bottom of the bottle.

I'm pretty excited now I've completed my toiletry sort out, to get going, and to get some products used up. I've rediscovered a couple of half finished shower products that I'm going to start with and hopefully I'll manage to work my way through a few more products in August.

I know I mentioned Product 10 Pan in my last empties post, and although I'm not quite ready to start it, it is definitely going to happen next month. I've got a lot of beauty haul posts to go up and then hopefully I'll be able to start Project 10 Pan in September and get some of my make up used up. If you've posted an empties post on either your blog or on your You Tube channel then link me up so I can have a nose x

Trimming My Stash - July 2015 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Hey Guys x  I hope you all had a nice weekend, mine was quiet thankfully after a very hectic few weeks, sometimes you just need to kick back and chill. The working week resumes though and since it's the start of a new month it's time for my regular monthly empties post.

L'Occitane Cooling Hand Cream Gel With Organic Verbena Extract - 15ml

La Riche Directions Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Colour - Pastel Pink - 88ml

SBC Cotton Mild And Moisturising Shower Gel - 250ml

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo - 250ml

"OPI" Cuticle Revitalize Oil Pen - Rose

Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash - Sweet Vanilla & Cherry Blossom - 200ml

May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml

Soap & Glory Off Your Face 3 in 1 Daily Purifying Cloths - 25 Clothes

Molton Brown Skincare Creole Grass Anti-Ageing Hydra Creme - 50ml

Total - 9 Items 

In July I finished 9 items and I have to say I'm pretty pleased with that. I finished a nice assortment of items including few things that had there or there about for a long time.

1. L'Occitane Cooling Hand Cream Gel With Organic Verbena Extract - 15ml

I've lost count of how many tubes of L'Occitane hand cream I've gone through over the years and they've never, ever, let me down. The thick, and creamy original is my favourite, but I love trying out the wide variety of different fragrances and textures that they have on offer. This is one of the lighter textures products in the range, it has a gorgeous fresh almost lemon fragrance, and a light almost cream, gel texture. It feels lovely and cooling on the skin and it absorbs really quickly. Although it isn't as moisturising as some of the hand products in the range, it's perfect for summer, and for touch screen users. This was a little mini tube but I would consider repurchasing this one for daily use in the warmer months.

2. La Riche Directions Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Colour - Pastel Pink - 88ml

I've never seen you with pink hair I hear you cry? Well no you haven't but it wasn't for the want of trying - I'm currently growing out my blond streaks and since I had a tub of this left over from my mum's daring pink phase, I decided to cover my streaks in pastel pink dye. Did it work? well nor really, it barely took on even the most white blonde section of my hair :( Gutted :(

3. SBC Cotton Mild And Moisturising Shower Gel - 250ml

If you're a fan of Yankee Candles Clean Cotton, Soft Blanket or Fluffy Towels fragrances. Then you need this shower gel in your life. Designed specifically for sensitive skin, this creamy textured shower gel smells of pure freshness, clean sheets, and fresh air. It won't be to every ones taste and whilst I don't think that I would repurchase it's a nice product that leave you feeling fresh and clean.

4. John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo - 250ml

This was a product that I was sent for review purposes many, many moons ago, and due to the sheer amount of shampoos in my bathroom I've just got down to finishing it. You can read my full review here but I actually really liked this. It wasn't the most moisturising shampoo that I've ever used but it definitely left the hair looking much shinier and healthier.

5."OPI" Cuticle Revitalize Oil Pen - Rose

This was an ebay purchase from a few years ago, and I'm going to be honest I don't think it's a genuine OPI product. I've never seen cuticle oils like this in any OPI collection so I think it just might be an ebay fake. That aside though this was actually pretty decent, the pen was ideal for travel, and the oil itself had a gentle rose fragrance, and it felt really hydrating on the skin. I've actually ordered another one in a lavender fragrance from this ebay seller for a pretty bargainous 99p including postage.

6. Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash - Sweet Vanilla & Cherry Blossom - 200ml

This is something else that I was sent to review and another product that I love. You can read my full review here x but in my opinion these products make shower a much more luxurious and pampering experience.

7. May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml

This was something else that I was sent for review and yet again it was something else that I loved You can read my full review here but I've already bought some more x Don't forget if you're interested in trying these masks you can get 30% off any face mask package using the link and code louloufacemask30 before the end of August.

8. Soap & Glory Off Your Face 3 in 1 Daily Purifying Cloths - 25 Clothes

Although I don't use face wipes on my face that often, I always like to have a packet on standby for emergency cleansing and for cleaning up swatches. These were a nice thick, good quality wipe with that traditional Soap & Glory fragrance. They were nice but for what I use face wipes for I can't justify the extra expenditure so I'll be sticking to my cheapy Primark wipes.

9. Molton Brown Skincare Creole Grass Anti-Ageing Hydra Creme - 50ml

My final empty from July is something else that I was sent for review. This was a nice, although pricey moisturiser, that was intended for dry skin. It had quite a matte finish though so it worked pretty well on my oily / combination skin. Mummy Lou also liked this one on her drier, mature skin. Unfortunately Molton Brown appear to have discontinued their skincare line but you can read a full review here x 

As I say I'm quite pleased with this lot mainly because I've managed to use up a lot of lingering and older products. With any luck, you can expect to see a few more in the weeks and months to come as I plough my way through a mountain of half finished products and things that I've rediscovered because of the bathroom renovations - every cloud as they say x I love reading empties post so if you've written one lately leave me a link below, so I can have a read x

Life Lately And Trimming My Stash - June 2015 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Hi everyone x It's been a couple of days but I'm back with my June empties post. I'm glad to see the back of June if I'm honest, it's being a very stressful, rubbishy, up and down sort of a month. A slight case of the sniffles developed into a full on chest and lung infection that I'm still trying to get rid of, and that I've have subsequently passed on to my mum. Throw in the fact that the bathroom fitters turned up pretty much unannounced last week and left us without a bath or shower for over a week and you'll get some idea of where I'm coming from.

It's been a tough couple of weeks, and circumstances have not only affected my blog but they've also affected June's Trimming My Stash.

Avon Violet Bubble Bath - 1000ml

Mini MAC Zoom Lash Mascara - Black

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment - 100ml

Avon Blackberries And Vanilla Bubble Bath - 500ml

May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml 

May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml 

Total - 6 Items

Although I managed to finish 6 items, if things had gone my way it could have been a lot more. Illness meant that I just couldn't be bothered to carry out a full face, body and hair care routine, let alone wear a make up so I've still got a few nearly finished, products teetering on the edge 

I did manage to finish two bath products and a few Lush and Bomb Cosmetics pieces, but due to the bathroom fitters turning up at least a week ahead of schedule, I ran out of time to finish all my bath things and I've been left with a few bottles of bubble bath. I should be able to use the majority of them as shower products though so hopefully nothing will go to waste. 

So what were the products that I finished in June and what did I think of them?

1. Avon Violet Bubble Bath - 1000ml

I'm a huge fan of these Avon Bubble Baths, they are really affordable, and they come in a variety of permanent and limited edition fragrances. This one was a full litre size of the Violet Bubble Bath. When I first used it I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't the strong Parma Violet fragrance that I'd anticipated but on reflection it was still a nice product with a pleasant violet aroma, without being too strong or too sweet. I think this was one of the limited edition fragrances but it's always worth taking a look at these when you see them in the brochure no matter what the fragrance. They are great value for money and they do exactly what you'd expect from a bubble bath.

2. Mini MAC Zoom Lash Mascara - Black

I'm not sure how big this was but it was a tiny little sample that I got with an online purchase. This is one of MAC's best selling mascaras and I got around 2 weeks use from this size. I've used the full sized version and whilst I don't think it's anything special or exciting, it's a decent mascara that separated and seem to lengthen the lashes. I'm not sure I would repurchase but it's isn't bad.

3. Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment - 100ml

This is a pre wash, hair mask that I love, and that Mummy Lou loves. I've used this for a few years now on and off and it's something that I will continue to use. I think Mummy Lou bought this one but I was recently sent a batch of Ojon goodies which included another pot of this magical substance so I'll do a full review for you soon.

4. Avon Blackberries And Vanilla Bubble Bath - 500ml

Another bubble bath from Avon and another limited edition. This one had quite a runny formulation and the blackberry and vanilla fragrance to me smelled quite fruity, and almost creamy and coconut like. Like all of the products I've used in the this range, a small amount of product goes a long way and produces a mass of bubbles, so these large bottles last a long time, and are good value for money. I think I only have one of these left, a strawberry fragrance, so I'll be using that one as a summer shower product.

5.May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml 

6.May Beauty The Incredible Face Mask - 10ml 

This is one of the reviews that I should posted a week or so ago. I was sent these masks to review and the review will definitely by live on the blog this weekend so if you have blemish prone skin, then stay tuned x 

So they were my June empties, if you have questions on anything I've used up please leave me a comment and I'll get back to you x 

Our new new shower room should hopefully be finished tomorrow and do you know what? I can't wait to give my new shower a try and to get some products used up x It's been a festival like existence in my own home and believe me it hasn't been fun especially since we've all been so poorly.

Speaking of which I just want to thank you again for your patience and good wishes during my poorly patch x I'm hoping to start posting regularly again from today and I'm going to try and get things back to normal. I've got a few overdue press sample, PR and brand reviews so they will probably go up first, but after it will be the usual mix of hauls, reviews and recipes x Thanks for reading and following and I'll see you soon x 

July Favourites...

Hi Guys
Just a little message to let you I'm still here, my cold has developed into a chest infection, alas no antibiotics for me  so I'm not feeling too hot. Normal posting will resume soon but in the meantime I thought you might like to watch my July Favourites video x



I'm still planning on getting my blog sale update up on Sunday but if that changed I'll let you know x Thanks for reading / watching and I'll be back soon x

Ooops!

Well I have wobbled a bit, OK some would call it cheating, but I wouldn't, not really...

Since last summer I have been on the look out for a long line / boyfriend style cardigan in white and low and behold the Spring / Summer copy of La Redoute has one

I have therefore taken a mini plunge and ordered it - classing it as an essential item (probably because I searched high and low for one and I am so pleased to have found it - LOL)

I have ordered it on a buy now pay July basis, and I qualify for a free cowl neck jacket which I can always ebay if I don't like, so there is a bit of method in my madness - I just have to hope I like it when it comes - otherwise the search will go on !