PR / UNPAID AD - Tackling That Tache - Facial Hair Removal By Jolen*

I can pretty much guarantee that this won't be the prettiest blog post on your feed today, and I can also guarantee that it probably won't be at the top of your mental to read list, but life and beauty isn't all about pretty pictures and beautiful insta worthy products.

Ever since puberty kicked in with a growth spurt something else started to grow as well, and no even though they did indeed grow, I don't mean my boobs, I actually mean my hair, and sadly not the hair on m head!

As my grandma used to say, and my mam continues to say, you can't have hair on your head and not have it anywhere else! Body hair was never really too much of a problem for me, I just shaved it, creamed it, waxed it, or epilated it away, but my facial hair was a whole different gravy!

From the minute it started to grow it was dark and thick, and it was really obvious against my pale skin. The first thing that I ever tried was facial bleach and whilst it helped to disguise the hairs, it didn't get rid of them, so I moved to other things trying everything from tweezing, to various forms of electronic removal methods, to facial and body hair removal creams, and even epilating before finally settling on regular waxing treatments, which at last seemed to the get the little wires under control, at least in the short term!

As I've said before I'm pretty happy with the products that I've been using, but I was recently given the chance to try a couple of products from facial hair specialist, Jolen.

Like so many others my very first foray into facial hair management was with Jolen's famous Creme Bleach. With over 150 years of experience in helping people deal with their facial hair, it wasn't really that surprising that my mam who had already been using the product for years, bought me my first pot, and with those two little pots, my facial hair journey had officially begun!

As I say as time progressed I gradually moved onto other methods, and whilst Jolen have remained true to their Creme Bleach roots, they've moved on to, and have expanded their facial hair range to include two new products, a Facial Hair Remover Kit, and Face Wax Strips, and I was very kindly sent out a few packets to try,

Jolen Facial Hair Remover Kit*

Perhaps on the of the most popular methods for removing excess hair, hair removal creams are pretty simple to use, they can be a bit messy and smelly, but you just pop the cream on, leave it on for a few minutes, then you rinse it off, and voila hair be gone! 

Obviously you should always patch test any product that you use, but it goes without saying that the skin on the face can be a little bit more sensitive, and that can be one of the reasons that people often shy away from facial hair removal creams. If you've been a bit wary of creams in the past though Jolen have included something that might change your opinion, and ally some of your fears.

As well as full instructions the box contains a 19g tube of hair removal cream, and a 1.9g stick of Skin Guarding Balm, which contains beeswax, apricot kernel oil, aloe vera, cucumber extract, chamomile flower extract, safflower oil, and coconut oil, and is designed to be used before and after hair removal, to both protect, and nourish the skin.

Starting off with clean, dry skin, you apply a thin layer of Skin Guarding Balm to the areas that you are going to treat, before massaging it into the skin in circular motions, for around 20 seconds. It comes in a twist up style bullet so it's really easy to apply it has a balm like texture, and little to no scent, and it almost seemed to melt on contact with the skin.

After you've applied the Skin Guarding Balm, it's then time to apply the hair removal cream itself. The angled tip of the tube made it really easy to apply without a spatula, but you could of course use a spatula or even your fingers to apply an even layer of cream

Before 

On Application - Skin Guarding Balm

The white cream was of a good thickness so it didn't slip or drip. Unusually for hair removal cream it had quite a pleasant scent with only a small hint of ammonia. It initially felt quite cool on the skin but as time progressed the area did feel a little bit warmer, but there was no burning, tingling or stinging.

On Application - Hair Removal Cream

The instructions advise to leave it for between 5 and 8 minutes. I checked it by removing a little bit after 5 minutes but the hairs were still holding firm, so I ended up leaving it for the full 8 minutes. I actually used a spatula to remove the excess before washing the rest off with a muslin cloth and lukewarm water, before applying a little bit more Skin Guarding Balm.

After 

I'm going to be honest with you, I gave up using facial hair removal creams quite a while ago now. My upper lip hair especially was just too thick and dark to remove it effectively, so much so in fact that I actively switched to using body hair removal creams on my face (I know! I know!), and I only switched to waxing because I was having to leave it for longer and longer, and my skin was starting to get irritated.

It wasn't therefore too much of a surprise that there was a few hairs and a little bit of stubble remaining. To give this cream its due though it did remove quite a bit of all be it, quite long hair, which you can hopefully see below.

So if you want a completely hair free, smooth upper lip, and you have dark, wiry hair like mine, this particular product probably isn't for you, but if you have had a bad experience with facial hair removal creams in the past, particularly with regard to sensitivity, and you have lighter, or finer har growth, then this product could be something worth trying. I don't know whether it was down to the Skin Guarding Balm, but my upper lip area didn't feel dry or uncomfortable, and as I say I didn't experience any burning or stinging.

I did have a little play with this product though and I tried the hair removal on its own, without using the Skin Guarding Balm, and I actually managed to remove more hair and I ended up with a smoother finish. My skin did feel a touch more sensitive and tingly, but if your skin is stronger and your hair is thicker or darker then maybe skipping the first application of Skin Guarding Balm could be something to try.

The Jolen Facial Hair Remover retails at around £4.99 from Boots.

Hair removal is always a personal thing, and what works for one person, won't necessarily work for another, and so on, so for me it's always worth giving things a try. If you're still not convinced by hair removal creams, and if like me you're a waxer, don't fret, Jolen also do Facial Wax Strips.

Jolen Facial Wax Strips*

There is so much that I love about waxing, that every time I whip those hairs away I always wonder why I didn't start waxing my tache sooner! The finish is smoother, and compared to around a weeks smoothness with hair removal creams, even with my wires I can still get 3 or 4 weeks of smoothness.

The box contains an instruction leaflet and a total of 16 wax strips, which contain smoothing and nourishing chamomile and grape seed oil, and are dermatologically tested, and are suitable for even the most sensitive of skins.

Like with most wax strips, each strip is stuck to another one, so it initially appears as though you only get 8 strips in the box, and your first task is to slowly separate them out. The key thing with wax strips for me is to try and keep them in a warm place, because if they are too cold, it can be quite hard to separate them evenly.

I took the picture below after a period of illness, where I never left the house, so there is about 6 weeks worth of growth here, and hairs as you can see are pretty long and thick!

Before

All you do is apply one strip at a time to the area that you want to treat, rubbing it in the direction of the hair growth before taking a deep breath, holding the skin taut, and pulling the strip in the opposite direction to the hair growth, and then you repeat, repeat and repeat until you're done!

On Application

The strips themselves were nice and sticky and they adhered really well to the hairs and the skin, removing even the roots of the majority of hairs, and leaving very little wax residue in the process.

After I'd waxed my entire upper lip and chin, I washed my face with a tiny bit of tea tree wash, and some water to remove any excess wax, before dabbing the area with very cold water to close the pores and calm the skin.

After 

There are a couple of blood spots but that's not unusual for me and it was hardly surprising when you look at just how much hair I actually removed! My skin felt a touch tender which again is pretty normal for me but as a seasoned self waxer this was a quick and pretty painless experience.

I was so, so impressed with these strips, my upper lip was left feeling really smooth and with no obvious stubble, and they were also really easy to use. There was hardly any excess wax left on my skin and they remove even the longest hairs and even the roots, and as you can see below, from another session they also removed really really short hairs as well.

It might take a bit of practise to get your angles right, and at first you might need a little bit of Dutch courage to pull of that first strip, but there really is no need to go to a salon when it's so cheap and easy to wax your own chin and upper lip with these strips in the comfort of your own home.

I'm officially a convert to these babies and I've already stocked up on another 4 packets to take me through to the summer and beyond! The Jolen Face Wax strips come in a pack of 16 and are available for £1 from Savers, and for a little bit more from other retailers including Ocado and Express Chemists.

As I say this won't be the prettiest post that you'll ever read but it will probably be one of the most real. If you're happy with your facial hair all props to you, but if like me and you just want it gone, there are lots of products and methods out there for you try, including these two products from Jolen. If you have any questions or comments then please let me know x 

*Press Samples

Trimming My Stash - January 2022 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews*

I didn't really intend to post two empties posts in a row, but since this isn't going to be a particularly long post (compared to most of my other posts anyways!), I thought that since I had a little bit of spare time I'd try and get it out the way.

DR Docteur Renaud Mango Hand And Nail Repair Cream - 75ml

Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Gentle Gel Hand Soap - 236ml

Gelicity Gel Spa Just For Feet Jelly Foot Soak - Soothe With Lavender & Lemongrass - 40g - 1 x Treatment

Total - 3 Items

When it comes to beauty empties, January is usually a pretty barren month, so whether it was down to illness, or the fact that December was such a good month empties wise, it wasn't really too much of a surprise that I only managed to finish 3 items in the first month of the year.

1. DR Docteur Renaud Mango Hand And Nail Repair Cream 75ml**

This first item is another one of those products that I rescued from the deepest darkest depths of my beauty stash, and it's another items that's so old, I'm almost too embarrassed to show you. I actually received this product as a press sample way back in 2014, and you can read my full review here.

I recently rediscovered it and there was about quarter of a tube left so I decided to use it up, and do you know what? Even though it was old enough to have started school, it was still as nice as it was when I originally opened it. The smell maybe wasn't quite as strong as it had been, but it was still pleasant, it was still lovely and creamy, and really hydrating. 

Obviously the packaging has changed in the intervening 8 years, but you can still buy the same hand cream directly from DR Docteur Renaud all be it in a slightly small 50ml size for around €9.90, and for about £9.60 from a site called Skin Evolution, and for about £6.51 from My Origines.

2. Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Gentle Gel Hand Soap - 236ml

One of the few good things that came out of 2021 was the official launch of Bath & Body Works in the UK. You've been able to buy it on the secondary market and from the odd website for a little while now, and whilst we don't have any standalone stores yet, you can now pick up some of your Bath & Body Works favourites both online and in store from NEXT Beauty.

Ever since the late 1990's when my godmother first brought me some Warm Vanilla Sugar bits back from Florida, I've been in love with the brand. In the intervening years I've picked up a few bits online and from the US, but having such easy access to brand over the last few months has been dangerous! Their festive ranges are by far my favourites and over the last few months I've stocked up on everything from candles, to shapeable soap, to sparkly body moisturiser, and of course hand washes.

I believe that Bath & Body Works do two different types of hand was, and this one is in their "Gentle Gel Hand Soap" formulation. You only needed less than half a pump of this clear gel, mixed with warm water to produce a gentle, non drying foam.

It is a really nice hand wash but the real selling point for me was the scent, even though I've been introduced to a lot of new scents this season, Winter Candy Apple is probably my favourite holiday scent from Bath & Body Works, and it's the one that I've been buying by any means possible for the last 10 years or so. Officially a combination of red apple, winter rose petals, candied orange, maple and cinnamon it has a gorgeous slightly spicy, festive apple and citrus scent that I absolutely love.

This retailed I believe at £7.50 which is a bit pricey for a hand wash but in my opinion it was well worth it. Other than on the secondary market you'll probably have trouble finding this one at least October / November time when it will hopefully return to stores. Not to worry though I still have lots of Bath & Body Works and Winter Candy Apple bits to use up, so you'll definitely see some more products in some upcoming empties posts x 

3. Gelicity Gel Spa Just For Feet Jelly Foot Soak - Soothe With Lavender & Lemongrass - 40g - 1 x Treatment

One of the most frustrating things about being a beauty blogger, is the fact that both products and brands are either discontinued or just seem to disappear overnight. The amount of things I've photographed, and researched, and then wham! all of that work is just wasted. 

The same thing happened with this particular product, I'd shot some pics and videos, and I was just finishing an Instagram post, and then nothing! The brands social media presence had gone, and after a little bit of digging I found out that the company had actually gone into liquidation :( Since I'd already gone to the trouble of shooting pics that I'd share them with you in this empties post x 

Gelicity were really famous for both of their kids and adults jelly baths - products that you could add to bath to give the water a fun jelly like consistency. I actually reviewed one of their bath products way back in 2013, but this particular product was designed specifically as a treat for the feet.

Containing lavender and lemongrass extract this pedicure treatment was designed to soothe tired and aching feet, as well as helping with odour and fungal problems

The box contained two sachets, 1 to create the jelly, and 2 to dissolve it. Sachet 1 contained pale blue crystals, that resembled salt or sugar. It had a slight spa like scent but it wasn't as strong or as evident as I'd hope or expected.

All you needed to do is to fill a bowl (not a foot spa), large enough to put both of your feet in at once. with 4 - 5 litres of warm water, and then you add the contents of sachet 1 and swirl it round a bit to mix it, and then you need to leave it for two minutes.

In those two minutes the water gradually turns into a thick purple/ lilac, semi solid, jelly like substance.

The instructions advise to give it a stir with your hands to break it up a bit. You can then really see the jelly bead like texture. Once you've done that it's time for the fun and pampering to begin!

Plonk yourself on a chair and just pop your feet into the bowl, and move your feet up and down, scrunch your toes up and enjoy the squish! Turn up the video volume for the full effect!

As well as being super fun, it actually feels really nice and relaxing squashing the jelly underfoot and squishing it between your toes.

I probably kept my feet in the bowl till the jelly water went cold which was about 10 - 15 minutes, if the water was a bit warmer then I would definitely have kept me feet in for longer! When you've had enough, you just add the contents of packet 2 to the bowl, which is basically just sodium chloride, aka salt and the jelly will gradually start to dissolve. 

It doesn't completely return back to water, but it does basically turn into a slightly denser than water liquid with a few small jelly like beads suspended in at. At this point it's now safe to dispose either down the skin, or like I did down the toilet.

After removing your feet you just had to pat them dry (you can still see the odd bit of jelly clinging on!), and whilst there was no real change (bar immersion changes - wrinkles!) to the texture of my feet, they did feel refreshed and very relaxed.

This soak was really fun to use, and it was a really relaxing treat for achey or tired feet, and I would definitely repurchase it if I could! As I say this particular company has now gone in to liquidation but I think that there still are some similar products on the market. I've seen something similar in some professional pedicure videos on You Tube, and I've also seen something similar on eBay which I will definitely be trying out. If you know of anything similar out there then please let me know in the comments x 

So that was my very short January empties list! Not the best start to the year but as the saying goes things can only get better, well fingers crossed they can anyways As per usual let me know if you have any questions or comments, and of course it you have any jelly foot soak recommendations, and I will see you soon with another post x 

*This Post Contains Non Affiliate Links

**Press Sample

Trimming My Stash - November And December 2021 Edition - Empties, Mini Reviews, And A 2021 Round Up*

Hey Guys,  It's been a little while since I've posted any of 'my own' content, so I want to apologise for taking yet another unexpected break but I haven't been too well. About a month ago now I developed a really nasty chest, and sinus infection, and ended up with a course of antibiotics, and a steroid nasal spray which thankfully did the trick or so I thought! To cut a long story short I'm ill again with exactly the same thing, my immune system just seems to have given up the ghost! Although I was offered a telephone appointment with a GP next week, I actually want to see my GP face to face so she can try sort out my ailing body out for once and for all, so I've got to wait a little bit longer for an appointment, so fingers crossed I can hang on till then! In the meantime though for the sake of my own mental health I'm trying to avoid the horror and inhumanity that is the news, and I'm keeping hydrated and throwing myself into a bit of craft and some blogging x  

Before I get into today's post though it's time for cake and I want to say a very belated thank you to all of you. On the 12th February my blog celebrated it's 15th birthday - I can hardly believe that I've been sharing my life and my thoughts you for over 15 years now. It's crazy when you think about but as I slowly edge towards 2 million all time page views, I can honestly say that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys. So I want to say a huge, huge thank you to everyone of you for reading, commenting, sharing, and supporting my blog through thick and thin x 

So to celebrate my blogging birthday, all be it a few days late, I've got an epic empties post for you, and today I'm sharing both my November and December 2021 empties, as my final totals for Trimming My Stash 2021.

AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo - 250ml
Bubble T Peach Hand Cream - 60ml
Nair Wax Strips - Face - 12 Wax Strips
Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant - 50g
Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Masks - 1 x Pair - 5g
AVON ANEW Radiance Maximising Tonic - Vitamin C & Glycolic Acid - 200ml
The Body Shop Hand Cream Vanilla Pumpkin - 30ml

Total - 7 Items

First up lets take a little trip back to November; the month of fireworks, the start of winter, and of course in my world beauty empties. Although in comparison it wasn't the best of months, I still managed to finish a fairly respectable 7 items, including a few skin care items, a couple of hand creams, and 'sniff' a now discontinued haircare product!

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

I always knew that this day would come, and in November it finally did as I finished my very last bottle of the AVON Advance Techniques Anti Hair Fall Shampoo! From the first moment that I tried it, I fell in love with the fresh and fruity with a hint of mint scent, and I loved the effect that the combination of arginine and the keratin complex had on my hair.

For a 'budget' shampoo it made a real difference to my hair, and whilst I've found another Advance Techniques range that I love, when I eventually finish the remaining bottle of conditioner, I will remember this range with fondness.

2. Bubble T Peach Hand Cream - 60ml

Next up the first of two hand creams, and this one is from fruity tea and cocktail inspired brand, Bubble T. Back in 2021 I received a Bubble T Hand Cream in the fragrance Peach Bellini in the February edition of Glossybox UK, and I loved it! The scent was super sweet and fruity, and it was a great everyday hand cream. Alas when I came to try and repurchase it, like so many products that come in subscription boxes, I couldn't find it anywhere!

What I did find though was this Bubble T Peach Hand Cream, and do you know what? Apart from the size, it's pretty much identical! From the ingredients (shea butter and aloe vera), to the sweet fruity scent, there really isn't that much of a difference between the two. 

Thankfully this one is still pretty widely available and is available from various stockists including Beauty Expert and The Bath & Body Shop, where it retails anywhere between £1.99 - £2.99.

3. Nair Wax Strips - Face - 12 Wax Strips

When it comes to beauty products, 2021 was definitely a year of discovery, I tried lots of new things, and some of those products have ultimately already achieved holy grail status. Top of my new holy grail list is of course the Beauty Pie Sugar Scrub, but these bargaintastic facial waxing strips are right up there!

At just £1 a pack they do the job, and my upper lip is smoother than it's been in years! I wasted so much time and money on other methods when all I really needed was a wax strip,

I will definitely continue to buy these but in the last month or so I have been trying out a few different facial hair removal products, and one of them is also a potential repurchase, so these babies may have a rival, but more on that in a future post x 

4. Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant - 50g

This is another one of those products that I'm almost embarrassed to show you because it's so old! I don't know how long ago it was that I bought this, but I think that it must have came in a QVC UK kit when I purchased the brands famous Liquid Gold.Obviously from Australian skin brand Alpha-H, this is basically a micro exfoliator, designed to remove unwanted skin cells, as well as improving texture and reducing pigmentation.

Containing pineapple and green papaya enzymes, and bentonite clay, the bottle contained a fairly fine white powder. It didn't have a lot of fragrance, it just smelled ever so slightly fresh, and chalk like.

Designed to be used on cleansed skin, you mix a small amount with warm water until you get a creamy paste; you then massaged it on your face for around 1 minute before rinsing with warm water.

Whilst it didn't feel too scratchy or rough it definitely felt as though it was doing something to your skin. It did leave my skin a touch pink after removal (not unusual), but it felt very smooth and clean. As the name would suggest it was designed to be used daily, but I personally only used it once or twice a week.

I actually really liked this and how smooth it left my skin. I don't know whether it's down to my early experience with the much missed Japanese Washing Grains from The Body Shop, but I love products like this where you can mix a product to a paste in your hands. Unfortunately this product appears to have been discontinued but I still have a couple of similar products in my stash from both elf and Dermalogica to use up.

5. Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Masks - 1 x Pair - 5g

Next up another skincare product, and it's something that I spoke about quite recently. You can read a full review of these eye masks here, and to be honest it's safe to say that I wasn't that impressed.

6. AVON ANEW Radiance Maximising Tonic - Vitamin C & Glycolic Acid - 200ml

I know they go in and out of popularity but ever since I started using skin care 'properly' I've always used some sort of toner, and even though I usually have a few on the go at once, depending on how well my skins behaving, I always have some sort of glycolic or general AHA tonic in my routine.

There are a couple that I keep coming back to but like with everything beauty wise, I love trying new things and this is one of my latest discoveries. From AVON's popular ANEW range, this skin tonic contains vitamin C, glycolic acid and lactic acid, and is designed to exfoliate and brighten the skin.

This fresh and slightly fruity scented toner, does make my skin tinge just a tad on application, but in the period that I used it, it definitely made a difference texture wise, spots cleared up more quickly and skin definitely look brighter and less grey and tired.

As it contains both acids and vitamin C, it is recommended that you apply SPF if you use it during the day (which you should probably be doing anyway) but I mainly used this particular product as part of my nighttime routine.

I'm a big fan of products like this - I like how smooth and bright they make my skin, and I'm also a big fan of products that feel as though they are doing something. I've got a few other things to use up first but I've already repurchased this one, and if you fancy trying it for yourself, whether directly from your local AVON representative, or from their website, keep an eye out for offers because you can often get it cheaper than the £10 RRP.  

7. The Body Shop Hand Cream Vanilla Pumpkin - 30ml

The final product that I finished in November was quite a seasonal one, and it was another hand cream, this time from The Body Shop. Yes, it's a Vanilla Pumpkin product! For those of you who've never tried anything from this seasonal range - let me tell you, you're missing out!

Officially described as Madagascan Vanilla, blended with sweet, warm, baked pumpkin, with hazelnut, caramel, maple syrup and almond milk, it has a delicious warming, comforting foodie scent that just makes you want more.

I did notice a tiny bit more of a bitter almond scent to this hand cream, which as you know isn't my favourite scent, but it kind of worked for me for some reason. Combine the yummy scent with a shea butter, rich cream / gel hand cream, which absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling hydrated, and protected, and you've got a winner!

Alas this is a fall / autumn limited edition so it's currently unavailable anywhere else bar on the secondary market, and I have my fingers tightly crossed that it will be available again around September time.

So in November I managed to finish 7 items but could I end the year on a high and beat that total in December...

Lush Santa's Belly Shower Jelly - 100g
Ecooking Moisturising Serum - 10ml
AVON Care Calming Moisture With Tea Tree Hand Soap - 250ml
Kiehls Rare Earth Pore Minimising Lotion - 75ml
Berry Smooth Strawberry Foaming Salt Scrub - 240g
Skin Techniques Honey & Almond Reindeer Moisturising Foot Mask - 1 Pair x 28ml
Oh K! Nourishing Lemon Oil Cuticle Mask With Vitamin E - 10 Fingertip Masks
The Body Shop Satsuma Hand Cream - 30ml
Derma V10 Coconut Printed Sheet Mask - 1 x Mask
Derma V10 Argan Oil Printed Foot Pack - 1 x Pair

Total - 10 Items

Well, it turns out that I could, and whilst I couldn't quite hit the highs of Septembers total of 11 items, I still managed to finish a pretty impressive 10 items! Again it was a nice mix of products including some more skin care bits, some more long haulers, and as you would expect some festive items. 

1. Lush Santa's Belly Shower Jelly - 100g

First up one of those festive products that I just mentioned and it's a product from Lush, that I'd been eeking out since Christmas 2020! and no it wasn't a bottle of Snow Fairy! Instead it was a product that dare I say I think I actually liked more than Snow Fairy, and unfortunately it was a product that didn't return in Lush's Christmas 2021 inventory, I am of course talking about Santa's Belly Shower Jelly!

I think that it was probably the smell of this product that I liked more than anything else. Containing seaweed, red grape juice, apple juice, star anise, orange flower, bergamot, and rose, Santa's Belly had a gorgeous fruity, apple scent with just a hint of festive spices, that for me just screamed Christmas.

You only needed a tiny amount of this translucent red jelly squished up either in your hands or with a shower puff and some warm water to produce a mountain of creamy bubbles. It was fun to use and I loved the scent, come on Lush bring it back for Christmas 2022, you know you want to ;)

2. Ecooking Moisturising Serum - 10ml

Next up the first of 3 skincare products in December's list and it's something else that I've reviewed before. From the January 2021 edition of Glossybox UK came the Ecooking Moisturising Serum, and you can read my full review here. I'm still really loving hyaluronic acid based serums at the moment, and whilst this one did the job, I did find it a touch sticky and a bit expensive so I probably wouldn't repurchase.

3. AVON Care Calming Moisture With Tea Tree Hand Soap - 250ml

One constant of both 2020 and as it turned out 2021, was the impact that products like hand wash and hand sanitiser would have on our lives - you would honestly think that some people had just started washing their hands! Anyways like in 2020, in 2021 I tried a variety of different hand washes, and liquid soaps, and this was the year when I finely convinced Mummy Lou that communal bars of soap on the sink just aren't that hygienic.

This AVON offering was just one of the products that we used, and it was decent - nothing fancy but it cleaned the hands multiple times a day without leaving them feeling sore or dry. I do though have one slight issue with it - if you see a product that contains antibacterial technology, and vitamin E, and TEA TREE not only as an ingredient but also the name of it, then surely it's fair to assume that with tea tree being such a strong, distinctive scent, then you might say be able to smell it a bit? Nada! Nothing! Instead this had a fresh clean scent almost like an aloe vera product, and I personally couldn't smell even the tiniest whiff of tea tree. Great if you aren't a fan of the scent of it but maybe I've been spoiled by using the Australian Bodycare range, maybe it's a personal thing but if something contains tea tree and it's actually in the name of the product - I want it to smell like it!

Urgh! Rant over! Anyways if you want a nice clean smelling hand wash that must definitely does not smell like tea tree then this could be one to try. Again it's regularly on offer but you can get it for around £1.65 direct from your rep and from the AVON website, and there is also a matching hand cream available.

4. Kiehls Rare Earth Pore Minimising Lotion - 75ml

This next product, is another one of those item that seems to have been hanging around my skincare drawer for what seems like forever! Way, way back in the day in 2016, I attended a fashion and beauty even in what was then Intu Metro Centre. At the event attendees we're invited to make an appointment with skincare brand Kiehls, for a complimentary skincare analysis and facial treatment, and this was one of the products that was recommended to me, and as I had some birthday money I bought it!

Designed for normal to oily skin, this moisturiser contained Amazonian white clay, and was specially formulated to minimise pores, refine the texture of the skin, and reduce oiliness. It had a lightweight lotion like texture, and a subtle fresh if again slightly chalky scent. It absorbed quite quickly and left the skin with a slight matte finish. Although it didn't completely erase my pores, it definitely made them less noticeable, and it was also a great base for make up. You can read a little bit more about it here.

Unfortunately, again, this particular moisturiser has now been discontinued, but the corresponding cleanser and face mask are still available. I did like it but that being said I probably wouldn't have repurchased it; My skin has definitely changed over the last few years, and whilst my pores are still screaming look at me, my skin is a lot less oily, and a lot more moisture hungry than it was back in 2016.

5. Berry Smooth Strawberry Foaming Salt Scrub - 240g

From quite a pricy purchase to the first of several pretty cheap ones, and like a few of the others this one is from Poundland. This was one of their Lush a likes and I think I paid around £1.50 for it. It was basically a foaming salt based body scrub. Each pot as you can see below contained a 3 layers of the same scrub only in 3 different colours, red, blue and yellow. Marketed as a strawberry scrub it actually had more of an artificial berry / grape / bubblegum like scent. It passed my scrubby test, it wasn't too harsh or drying and it was fun to use.

I do actually have another one of these to use up, and whilst you might still find it in your local store, I haven't seen it in my nearest branch for quite some time now.

6. Skin Techniques Honey & Almond Reindeer Moisturising Foot Mask - 1 Pair x 28ml

Next up the first of 3 festive themed masks, that I used over Christmas and new year. From a brand called Skin Techniques, I purchased this particular mask from B&M stores just before Christmas and it's the first of two foot masks in this post. Foot masks fall into two basic categories, peeling and exfoliating masks, and moisturising masks, and with vitamin E, and extracts of honey and lemon, this one was a moisture mask.

The pack contained 2 plastic socks with a super cute snowflake and reindeer design. Like with all of these masks you cut along the dotted line to open up the booties, and inside them was a fibre like lining and lots of slightly sweet scented creamy liquid.

It's advised that you wear them for about 20 minutes but I think I ended up wearing them for about half an hour (alongside my fabulous NYC Christmas PJ's). They felt quite cool and squishy, but the liquid had quite a slick moisturising feel to is.

After I removed them my feel felt very wet, and there was a lot of obvious liquid still on my feet. As per the instructions I massage the excess into my feet concentrating on my soles, heels, and nails, where it took about 5 minutes or so to fully absorb. There was a noticeable difference to my feet, the dry bits looked less dry and whilst my feet looked a touch pink, they looked more healthy and hydrated, and my feet felt super smooth even on my soles.

I was so, so impressed with these socks and since they do them in a regular, non festive version, for just £1 I'll definitely be buying them again.

7. Oh K! Nourishing Lemon Oil Cuticle Mask With Vitamin E - 10 Fingertip Masks

From feet to hands, and yet another seemingly discontinued product, this time from Korean inspired beauty brand, Oh K! Over the last 5 or 6 months, I've really struggled with dry hands, dry raggy cuticles, and dry brittle nails, I've literally used everything that I can get my hands on, thankfully I'm now seeing an improvement back way back in December I was getting a bit desperate, so when I found this cuticle mask, which I think came in a NEXT Beauty Box, in my stash, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Containing coconut and argan oil, as well as sesame seed extract, lemon juice, and liquorice root. these fingertip masks are designed to brighten and nourish the nails and cuticles. The outer sachet contained 2 sets of 5 plastic, fibre / paper lined pod like sheet masks (1 for each finger). 

To use them, you had to separate them from each other by cutting along the dashed line, and then you had to cut the bottoms off so you could put them on to clean, dry finger tips, like little finger puppets.

Before

Each pod contained a small amount of watery, cloudy white serum, which had a very subtle sweet scent. As you would expect they felt cool, wet and squishy. The plastic layer did have a tendency to split so I found easier and more practical to do one hand at a time.

On Application 

After removing the mask after around 30 minutes, there was a tiny bit of residue left on my nails and cuticles, which the instructions said to massage into the fingers. It was a tiny bit sticky and it took a little while to fully absorb but overall I was pretty pleased with the results.

After 

I don't know how obvious it is in these pictures (not very I don't think) but my nails and cuticles definitely looked more hydrated. The skin peels and hangnails were still there, but these masks were a nice treat that my dry and sore nails and fingers really appreciated.

8. The Body Shop Satsuma Hand Cream - 30ml

Sticking with hands and nails, in December I also managed to finish another hand cream, and it was another one from The Body Shop. From their underrated Satsuma range, this hand cream which contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, and Argentinian cold pressed satsuma oil, is pale peach in colour and it has a dense cream / gel texture. It's fairly easy massage in and whilst it feels a touch sticky at first, it quickly absorbs down and leaves an almost protective sheen on the skin.

As you would expect from a hand cream from The Body Shop, it does exactly what you want it to, but for me personally this ones biggest selling point has to be the scent. The satsuma range has quite a strong fresh sweet yet tangy citrus scent, it reminds me a bit of orangeade or an orange ice lolly I remember from my childhood. I don't think it's for everyone but personally I love it! This full 30ml size retails at £5.50.

9. Derma V10 Coconut Printed Sheet Mask - 1 x Mask

Finally I'm going to end December's countdown with the last two beauty products that I used up in 2021, as me and Mummy Lou ended the year with nibbles, Prosecco, The Meg! and a some festive themed pampering products !

First a face mask, and it was another Poundland buy, this time from Derma V10. I don't know about you but in 2020 and 2021 we went slight daft over gonks, so it seemed fitting to add a little bit of that fun nordic spirit to our NYE pamper party.

Containing vitamin E, chamomile, and aloe vera, this subtle coconut scented sheet mask had printed gonk. The mask felt very wet and slightly oily but despite that it was of a decent quality so it was fairly easy to unfold.

Alas no pics of Mummy Lou is either of her masks but initially it felt quite cold and wet but as you would expect it gradually warmed up to body temperature, and slowly started to dry out.

I removed it after about 20 minutes and there was quite a lot of excess serum left on my skin, but it was really easy to massage in, and within about 3 minutes it had pretty much all absorbed into my skin. It felt a touch tacky at first but that quickly subsided leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth and despite the salty snacks and alcohol, looking brighter and more hydrated - it was just what I needed after a stressful week and a bit!

10. Derma V10 Argan Oil Printed Foot Pack - 1 x Pair

Finally we come back to the feet again, with a coordinating gonk foot mask, also from Derma V10 and Poundland.

Containing argan oil, shea butter, and vitamin E, again this was a moisture mask, featuring a pair of plastic gonk design socks! Again sealed to prevent mess, cut open the socks and contained a fibre like lining, and lots of cloudy liquidy serum, that smelled vaguely of something like antiseptic or menthol.

Like all foot masks when you first put them on, they felt cool and squishy. This was another 20 minute treatment but I got engrossed by Jason Statham (I do not understand why everyone thinks he's attractive - he's not!) fighting Megaladons! so I probably left them on for nearer 40!

As expected there was a lot of excess liquid left both in the socks and again on my feet which immediately felt a bit sticky, when I started to massage it in but it quickly absorbed leaving my feet feeling instantly silky soft on the tops, and quite a bit smoother on the soles. They also looked visibly more hydrated, and the dry white patches of skin, had all be it temporarily disappeared.

So there you have it, I ended the last two month of 2021 by adding another 17 items to my yearly total, which was a good finish but who will did I do overall...

January - 6 Items

February - 4 Items

March -  8 Items

April - 7 Items

May - 7 Items

June - 10 Items

July - 10 Items

August - 10 Items

September - 11 Items

October - 4 Items

November - 7 Items

December - 10 Items

2021 Total - 94 Items 

Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you, in 2021 I managed to finish 94 beauty products, which utterly destroys 2020's total of 75 items; Not only that but it was my best yearly performance since 2013 when I finished an absolutely crazy 130 items!

I'm not sure that I'll ever manage to finish that many items again, but you never know! 2022 hasn't started off too well in any sense, but hopefully things can only get better! I'll be updating my January and February empties lists in my sidebar later today so you can keep tabs on my progress, and hopefully my January empties post at least should be up in the next week or so x 

If you have any questions or comments on any of the products that I've talked about in this post, or if you would like to share a link to your own empties posts or project 10 pan challenges, then please leave me a comment below x Thanks again for reading this epic post, and thank you again for your support, and I'll see you soon with another post x 

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