March 2014 Empties

Yep, so it's almost halfway through the month again and I'm only just getting to posting my empties for the previous month. I cannot believe how quickly time seems to fly these days!

Anyway, here's what I managed to use up during March as well as my thoughts:

1) KMS California Curl Up Conditioner - I was using this in conjunction with the Curl Up Shampoo but I always seem to finish conditioners before I finish a shampoo. Truthfully I didn't really notice any benefit to my curly hair after using this. If anything it made my hair seem less able to hold it's curl than normal so I don't think I will be repurchasing.

2) Jurlique Balancing Foaming Cleanser - This cleanser lasted for months and months and I really enjoyed the smooth, clean feeling I got after each use. My one main gripe and the reason why I probably wouldn't repurchase has to be the smell. It's got a very, very strong herbal smell that is just too overpowering for me and being that I suffer from migraines I had to steer clear of using this a lot because the smell could make me feel quite nauseous sometimes.

3) Jurlique Purely Age Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream - This was a very thick cream that I ended up using at night due to it being way too thick for my skin for day time use. It's one of those creams that you can literally feel sitting on the top of your skin so putting it on at night before bed suited me so I could go to sleep and not notice it so much. It did make my skin feel nice and soft in the morning but again it had a very strong herbal scent that was a bit too much for me on a daily basis.

4) Nivea Stress Protect Anti-Perspirant - I really love this deodorant and have already repurchased. Enough said.

5) Rubifresh Hydrating Body Gel - I didn't find this gel to be very hydrating at all but I have very dry skin that is prone to eczema so usually need quite a thick moisturiser to make my skin feel hydrated. It did have an interesting smell that was almost minty but unfortunately it's not something I would repurchase.

6)  Palmolive Ayurituel Joyous Shower Gel - This really seems to be the month of the bad smells for me! I thoroughly disliked the smell of this as it was way too intense for me. It reminded me of a shampoo type of scent and is not something I would repurchase.

7) Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub - I really like this scrub and have used it many times over the years in either a full size or sample tube. It scrubs thoroughly without feeling too scratchy or irritating my skin and is definitely something I would purchase again.

8) Avene Rich Hydrating Cream and Soothing Moisture Mask - I didn't have any issues with either of these products but also can't really rave about them either as the samples are a bit too small to really get much of an opinion from them.

9) Gaia Skincare Lavender & Frankincense Facial Moisturiser - I really liked this moisturiser for the handful of uses I got out of this small sample. The smell is lovely and it was light enough to use in the morning without making my skin feel too greasy. I would most likely consider purchasing this if the opportunity ever came up. 

So that's it for another month. Until I wrote out this post I didn't realise how many products were bothering me with their scent over the past couple of months. Maybe my nose is just a bit too sensitive or something??

Oh well, I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

Michelle xx

February 2014 Empties

Yes, yes, I know it's almost halfway through March now but I've seriously not had five minutes to myself lately to do this post any earlier. I know I decided a little while ago not to do empties posts anymore but I guess I kind of missed them.

Anyway, here is what I used up in February:

1) Polished London Dry Shampoo Bonny Blonde - I really didn't like this dry shampoo at all and don't really have much nice to say about it unfortunately. I wasn't a fan of the smell and it seemed to make my hair feel greasier when it was sprayed in rather than cleaner. Definitely not a product I will be buying again but unfortunately I have another one to use up because I went and bought two of them at Priceline for some reason last time I was there!

2) Flower by Kenzo Eau De Parfum - This is one of my most favourite perfumes and I am really sorry to see this go. Somehow it got knocked over on my vanity and ended up leaking out without me realising so no more perfume is left now. On the bright side my wooden vanity has absorbed all the leak and now smells really pretty every time I walk past!

3) Puretopia Pure Nutrition Essential Facial Serum - I loved this serum and really noticed a difference in my skin when using it. It felt softer, less irritated and always seemed a bit brighter. I always planned on doing a proper review but just never got around to it. It has a roller ball head that is supposed to help massage the serum into your skin but truthfully I never bothered using that and preferred to just smooth it on with my fingers.  This is definitely something I would buy again.

4) Puretopia Pert & Plump Lip Cream - This cream is supposed to plump up your lips and smooth over fine lines but I really didn't notice much of a difference in my lips after using it. I have a lot of fine lines around my lip area and unfortunately I didn't see any difference in them at all. I don't think I would bother buying this again.

5) Ultraceuticals CC Cream - This was a sample I was sent in the Medium shade which is just way too dark for my skin. I used it a couple of times when I knew I was going to be home all day but have decided to throw it out without finishing it. I feel too much like an extra on Jersey Shores when wearing it. The cream itself still felt really nice and gave good coverage so I might try and buy the light shade one day to see if that is any better.

6) Nivea Visage Cleansing Wipes - I just love all Nivea products and the smell of these wipes always takes me back to when I was little and my mum used the classic face cream at night and I could always smell it on her. Such a great scent that I hope they never change. These are a product that i buy quite often.

So that's it for this month. I've been trying to use up some more full size products lately so am not having so many empties to deal with at the moment.

I hope everyone has a lovely week!

Michellexx

February Empties

Well, February was a pretty pathetic month for me as far as empties go. I've been trying to use very minimal products on my skin other than the absolute necessities lately due to how hot it has been. I think it has definitely paid off too becuase I've had the least amount of breakouts ever this summer even though my skin can be a total oil slick at this time of year.

Anyway, here is what I managed to get though during February:

1) Priceline Exfoliating 3 in 1 Facial Wipes - Holey moley! These are harsh on the skin. The first few times I used these I thought they were going to strip my skin to the bone but then I seemed to get used to them and they didn't feel too bad after that (maybe the nerves in my skin were permanently damaged, who knows!) Anyway, they certainly remove all traces of makeup as well as giving the skin a very good exfoliation on those lazy nights when you really love having something that kills two birds.

2) Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Cream - I have no idea where this sample came from but I decided to try it as a light daytime moisturiser when I didn't feel like using a tinted one or some BB cream. It feels lovely on the skin and makes it feel so soft during the day. I'd definitely rebuy this.

3) A'kin Jasmine Body Wash - These body washes are a favourite of mine and I buy them over and over again.

4) Mirenesse Power Lift Foam Cleanser - This super foamy cleanser was actually really nice to use and didn't dry my skin out or make it feel tight at all. It cleaned my face totally and this tiny tube lasted a surprisingly long time because you really only need a tiny amount of this stuff.

5) Klorane Shampoo and Conditioner with Pomegranate - I know it's hard to make a decision from using a product once but this really didn't impress me at all. My hair felt like straw and was so hard to get a comb through after using this. First impressions are a definite no-buy for me.

6) Kerastase Nectar Thermique - It's official, these are breeding in my bathroom. I swear I have used up at least 10 of these sachets and I still keep finding more. I've resorted to using it a bit like a leave-in conditioner now just to beat them at their own game and use the buggers up!

7) Avon Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Looking Glass Lilac - Yes!!! A makeup product finally used up!! It has taken me forever but I have finally done it. I decided a while ago to pick one pale or neutral lipstick that I can wear practically every day when I'm feeling lazy in an effort to start trying to use up some of my lipsticks and this is the first one I picked because it was fairly used up already. I'm not sure what the next one I'm going to aim to finish off will be yet......

So that's it for me for the month of February.

Have a lovely day!

Michelle xx

January Empties

Wow, am I the only one blown away by the fact we're already through the first week of February? I just don't get how quickly time seems to fly these days!

Anyway, January was another pretty productive month as far as getting through products was concerned. You'd think I'd be making a lot of extra space in my cupboards but they mysteriously just keep being refilled. I really don't know how that keeps happening...... :-)

So, here's what I managed to finish during the month of January:

 Hair Products:
1) Purist Dry Shampoo - I received this to trial but really wasn't a big fan. It made my hair feel sticky and completely unmanageable unlike other dry shampoos I've tried.
2) Ulittle Beauty Natural Repair Hair Masque - I don't really feel this did much for my hair and I felt I had to use half the bottle in one go to cover all of my hair because it didn't really distribute very well.
3) Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Conditioner - This is probably one of my favourite hair care brands and I am never disappointed when I use any variety of their Shampoo or Conditioner.
4) Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage & Colour Repair Shampoo - I previously reviewed this brand of shampoo and conditioner here and I have to say that I loved using it to the end.

Face & Body:
5) Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub - I have gone through so many of these samples because I just keep getting them for different reasons. I quite like this scrub and would probably buy it one day.
6) Aromatherapy Associates Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser - This was a nice enough moisturiser but the strong rose scent tends to be a bit much for me after a little while.
7) Nivea for Men Sensitive Anti-Perpirant Roll-on - Yes, this is a men's product but I received the whole Sensitive range to trial from Beautyheaven and my hubby doesn't like using roll-on deodorants so I decided to use this one instead as the light, fresh scent was nice enough for me and didn't clash at all with my perfume.
8) Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - This stuff smells so delicious that I wanted to literally eat my own skin once I applied it. I didn't use it like you're supposed to which I think is to rub it over damp skin and rinse like you do with hair conditioner, I just used it as a thick moisturiser after showering and loved it.
9) DKNY Be Delicious Eau De Parfum - This was quite a pretty and light scent that I really enjoyed using. It might be a new one to put on my perfume wishlist I think.
10) Lacura Renew Hand Cream with Q10 - I'm starting to get a nice appreciation for the Aldi range of skincare products. This hand cream was lovely to use and make my hands nice and soft and it also soothed any dry patches I had.
11) Rich Skincare Advanced Peptide Night Cream - I previously review this cream here and it is still probably one of the nicest night creams I have ever used. I'm already thinking of getting myself some more when I finish off some of the other creams I've accumulated.
12) Skin Doctors T-Zone Oil Control Cleanser - I loved this cleanser and noticed a huge difference in my skin after using it religiously for the past couple of months.
13) Rich Skincare Caffeine Eye Serum - I received his sample when I purchased the Night Cream mentioned above and it was a lovely light serum to use in the morning before applying makeup to de-puff the eye area and make me look a bit more awake.
14) Montaser Cosmeceuticals Eye Revival Cream - This technically isn't an empty but I just can't use it anymore. It irritates my eye area like you wouldn't believe and stings like there's no tomorrow. In the bin it now goes!

I wish everyone a lovely weekend.

Michelle xx 

December Empties

I have to apologise for not being around this week but my laptop needed some extra work and I wasn't able to upload any pictures onto it all week. Hopefully it's all fixed now!

So, I didn't really seem to get through that much in December as I normally do and I think it was because I was a bit fickle during the month and chopped and changed between products a lot. I know that's a bit naughty but tough!

Anyway, here's what I managed to get through during the month of December:

1) Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Conditioner - I've previously reviewed this Shampoo & Conditioner range and really liked it. It made my hair feel really soft and didn't irritate my scalp at all which was a great bonus.

2) A'kin Body Wash in Orange Blossom - I really love these body washes and have about three others in reserve already.

3) Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover - I have become a huge fan of this makeup remover and think that if you can get over how oily it feels then it really is a great product that takes off every speck of makeup without drying out or irritating the skin at all.

4) 4me Nail Polish Remover Pads - These pads are a great, versatile idea although they just couldn't stand up to the last insanely glitter-filled polish that I had on my nails. But, for regular polish removel, and as a convenient little travel alternative, I think these are awesome.

5) Bioderma Sebium H2O Solution - I much preferred using this to the Crealine version as it just seemed to work better and feel nicer on my skin. It's probably not something that I would repurchase though.

6) EmerginC Multi-Fruit Cleanser and Earth Hydrating Phytelene Cream - I took these on a weekend away as they took up next to no room in my cosmetic case. They seemed nice enough but the sample size is a bit too small to really tell.

7) Mememe Seventh Heaven Moisturising Facebase - I can't believe how long it took me to get through this tiny sample. A little of this stuff goes a really long way and it was a lovely primer that smells like citrus and really wakes you up when applying your makeup. I'd definitely repurchase this.

8) Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - This came in a magazine I bought recently but was in the Medium shade which made me look like a bad extra from Jersey Shore so I didn't really keep it on for long enough to see if I liked it or not.

9) Clinique All About Eyes - This is a lovely eye cream that I have used many times in the past. It always seems to be included in almost every Clinique gift-with-purchase so even though I've been through a heap of these I don't think I've ever actually paid for one directly. I might need to hunt down another gift-with-purchase again soon as it's one of the best eye creams I've used.

So there you have it. Nothing really exciting this month but hey, I'm still sad enough to get a small thrill no matter what I manage to use up every month :-)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Michelle xx

November Empties

November was a HUGE empties month. I just seemed to go through products like there was no tomorrow. Anyway, here's a little about what I used up in November:

1) Pangea Organics Eye Cream & Facial Cream Samples - I took these in my toiletries case when we went to Melbourne last week as they took up no room which meant more room for other things :-) These were both lovely products and smelled absolutely gorgeous too. I would definitely repurchase these.

2) Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask sample - This was a nice mask but nothing too special.

3) Naked Tan Goddess Bronze - I actually really like this tanning product which technically isn't an 'empty' but it's gone a very intense dark brown almost black colour now so I'm not game enough to try using it anymore, hence it's getting chucked.

4) Mirenesse Eclipse Age Defence SPF15 Daily Face & Neck Mineral Balm - I really liked using this and used it as a primer before my makeup after moisturising. I saw a lot of mixed reviews about this balm but it seemed to work really well for me and made my skin feel like silk which I just loved. The tint is barely even noticeable though so if I repurchased I'd probably just get the regular one with no tint.

5)  John Frieda Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray - All this did to my curly hair was make it crunchy which is one of my pet hates with curl products. Why, oh why can't they make a curly hair product that doesn't make my hair feel crunchy??

6) Chloe Eau De Toilette sample - Not a huge fan of this perfume. It was a bit too sickly smelling for me and reminded me of something that my mother would get better wear out of then me.

7) Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lash Extending Treatment Mascara - I was very sad the day this mascara run out as it was on permanent use for a very long time once I discovered it. Oh well, I have since replaced it with another mascara that I can't get enough of which I will be reviewing very soon.

8) Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil - I loved the way this lip balm made my lips feel but was always a bit disgusted by the taste. It just wasn't for me.

9) Rich Skincare Gentle Polishing Scrub sample and Ultra Hydrating Day Cream - I absolutely love all the products I have tried from this brand and shed a little tear when the Day Cream ran out. This is something I will definitely be replacing in the future.

10) So...? Sinful Body Fragrance - Every time I put this on I felt like a teenager again. I quite like this scent and mainly wore it on my days at home when I didn't feel the need to wear a fancy scent.

11) Clinique Turnaround Concentrate sample - This sample was way too small to really notice much difference in my skin after using this product but overall it seemed nice and left my skin feeling quite soft which I like.

12) Estee Lauder Resilience Lift sample - Again, the sample was way too small to really get much out of using it but it also seemed nice.

13) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush - I'm a bit of a latecomer when it comes to jumping on the dry shampoo bandwagon but now I'm there I'm definitely hooked. I seriously don't know how I ever lived without it.

14) The Body Shop Japanese Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel - A present from hubby a while back along with some other The Body Shop goodies when I was having a particularly bad skin week. I loved the smell of this body wash and love the way it didn't dry out my skin at all after use.

15) Garnier Mineral Deodorant - This is my go-to deodorant and it's always one I come back to after trying others as it never lets me down and doesn't clash with my perfume either which is a big winner.

16) You, Me & Every Body Sumptuous Skin Mousse for Dry Skin Relief - Sounds like it would be really moisturising for dry skin by the title right? Well, even though it was so much fun to use and a real novelty for my toddler, I just didn't felt moisturised enough after using this and sometimes applied it two or three times while still feeling a bit dry on my skin. A bit of a shame really....

So there you have it. My mega empties post for November.

Hope everyone has had a lovely week.

Michelle xx

October Empties

October was a bit of a mixed month for me. I kind of let myself go a little as I was super stressed to the max about my last CPA exam (which means I am now done people, DONE! As long as a pass that is....) and the fact that I picked up two new clients for my personal business which was great in one way but just very bad timing in another. Trying to do exam study around my regular part time job, minding our 20 month old and then trying to fit in my other work from home was a nightmare and I was not in a good place for most of the month.

Needless to say i am very grateful that the month of October is behind me now and look forward to getting back to living stress free again. That means more social time, more time with my little man and my hubby and more time to concentrate on this blog, Yay!

Anyway, enough rambling for one day. Here's what I managed to get through during the month of October:

1) Morrissey Body Balm - If there's one thing in my household that doesn't last long it's body moisturiser. This one had a lovely citrus scent and was a nice enough moisturiser but just not thick enough for my liking. It's probably a good summer moisturiser when you don't want anything too greasy or thick.

2) Kerastase Nectar Thermique - I've somehow manged to acquire a ridiculous amount of these sachets over the past year due to the monthly sample boxes and am very slowly getting through them all. This one was great to add to the ends of my hair after washing and seemed to stop a lot of my usual frizz from forming. I can't comment of how it works with heat styling as I haven't heat styled my hair in weeks!

3) A.S.A.P. Sheer Tint Moisturiser - This is another product that I have acquired a zillion samples of and am almost at the end of using them up. I really like this tinter moisturiser and the fact it has an SPF 15 in it as well.

4) Guinot Biological Peeling Radiance Gel - I received this as part of a sampler pack from Adore Beauty once and really have no idea what it's effect on my skin was. I think it's supposed to work as a  gentle exfoliating gel but I didn't really notice any difference after use so definitely won't be looking at purchasing it again.

5) Dove Invisible Dry Roll-on - Dove make some of the best deodorants and this one was no exception. I loved the fact I could wear dark colours with this one and get no white marks at all.

6) Evo The Great Hydrator Moisture Mask - I loved this hair mask. It worked wonders for my hair and the smell is just divine. One thing I just don't get is why Evo use these absolutely awful sample containers that make it damn near impossible to get their product out. It's so frustrating!!

7) Marc Jacobs Lola Eau De Parfum sample - This is a lovely perfume that was one I liked to wear during the day for work as it's not too overpowering. I'm looking at possibly buying a full size of this one or the Oh Lola one as the bottles are just so pretty too!

8) Puretopia Hand Cream - Another product I seem to go through like there's not tomorrow is hand cream. I have one in almost every room of the house as well as all my bags. This one was a definite favourite and I'm a little disappointed that it's now finished but can't justify buying it again yet as I have too many others to get through first. It will be mine again one day though!

9) Biolage Smoothing Shampoo - I was not a fan of this shampoo at all. It made my scalp itch like crazy and will not be something I will try again.

10) Aum Gentle Facial Foam Cleanser  - This was a nice gentle cleanser but I just didn't feel like my face was fully clean after use. It also had the weirdest consistency, kind of like runny snot or the white of an egg when it's not cooked enough. Just odd.

11) Garnier Miracle Skin Protector - I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this product. I love the way it goes on my skin and makes my face look almost flawless (on good skin days) without me needing to resort to foundation but I just can't stand the smell. It's just a scent that doesn't agree with me at all. If it came in an unscented version I'd buy a truck load!

So, that was me for the month of October.

Hope everyone has had a lovely week!

Michelle xx

September Empties

Ok, I know this post is a little late, but that's just the story of my life at the moment so I just have to deal with it.

September was a pretty sad month for empties and I didn't really get through much at all. I've been trying with all my might to get through all my samples lately so that's putting a bit of a dampener on the use of any full size products that I have.

Anyhoo, here is what I got through last month:

1) Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes - I loves these face wipes and could not get enough of their scent. They smell so fresh and after a big night out when one of these is wiped across my tired face it's so relaxing and makes me feel a little less feral before going to bed. They clean practically all traces of makeup from my skin and are moisturising enough that I can sometimes skip the night cream after using them if I am particularly tired and my skin still feels soft and smooth.

2) Audra James Botanicals Bespoke Body Oil and Calm Body Wash - I suffer from migraines and Audra make up a couple of blends for me a little while ago which included this relaxing de-stress body oil. It was such a beautiful scent full of citrusy goodness that I used to put in the bath and relax my migraine away with.
The Calm Body Wash was also a blend made to try and combat my eczema as I went through a particularly bad period where showering was torture. It was such a soothing wash that made me feel nice and clean without drying out my skin in any way.

3) Matrix Biolage Smoothing Conditioner - I didn't really like using this conditioner as it made my hair feel a bit straw like after use. Enough said....

4) Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion - Aveeno is a brand I have used often and have never been disappointed with. This is a basic lotion that is lovely on the skin and one that I would buy again in a flash.

5) Rich Skincare Caffeine Eye Serum - This was a lovely serum that I used every morning to reduce my dark circles and make me look like I got many more hours of sleep a night than I really did. It sinks in super fast and doesn't irritate the eye area in any way.

6) Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream - This was a tiny sample that was only good for one use but the one use I did get seemed nice. I'd like to try it again if given the chance.

7) Bioderma Sebium Purifying Foaming Gel - This was a great cleanser that didn't irritate my sensitive skin at all and left my face feeling clean and soft. I'd definitely purchase this as it's quite difficult for me to find a cleanser that doesn't irritate.

8) L'Oreal Youth Code Luminosity Serum - I loved this product and have it on my future want list. It made my skin really glow and left it feeling so soft and supple after use. Definitely a great product.

9) Avene Eluage Eye Contour Care - This seemed like a good eye cream as far as I could tell. I didn't really notice any obvious improvement to the eye area after use but it didn't irritate at all and absorbed fairly quickly. I think the size of the sample wasn't really big enough to get a good indication of how it worked though.

10) EmerginC Phytocell Cream and Kombucha Cleanser - I love this brand and have tried some of these samples before. They are definitely on my wish list for the future.

So, that's it for my September empties.

If you have an empties post I'd love to know about it!

Michelle xx

August Empties!

So, I've finally had the chance to collate all of my empties for the month of August and boy did I have a great month! Isn't it a little sad how satisfied we get from using things up?

Here is what I went through during the month of August:

1) Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash - I was lucky enough to get this to trial from BeautyHeaven and I have to say that I loved it. It came at just the right time of year for me as I always have the worst dry skin during winter. The smell of this body wash is to die for!

2) L'Occitane Body Lotion with Olive Tree extracts - This was a lovely body lotion that made my skin feel super soft after use. The scent took a little getting used to for me though as it seemed a bit strong at first until I adjusted. I'd definitely buy this again if given the choice.

3) Yes To Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser - I quite liked this cleanser as it did the job without drying out my skin or causing any irritation. Would buy again if I could get myself to stick with one cleanser for a while.

4) Mirenesse Power Lift Multi Action Silk Cleanser - Meh, I didn't really find anything spectacular about this cleanser and it didn't seem to cleanse my face to the point that I like. I probably wouldn't ever buy this again.

5) Bioderma Crealine H2O - I received this in one of my monthly sample boxes and was very excited to try it as I'd heard such good things....but..... I just don't get the hype (Sorry!) It just didn't seem to feel like anything to me other than fancy water and I can't see the worth in paying so much for just fancy water. I hope I'm not shunned from the blogging community for saying these things.....

6) Bellamer Eye Balm - I loved applying this balm around my eyes at night and felt it made the skin in that sensitive area feel really hydrated and firmer. This sample pot lasted me forever and was one I got in a monthly box somewhere along the line.

7) Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - This is technically a 'chuck out' rather than an empty. I just don't like this lip balm in pot form and don't enjoy using it. Also, during winter it seemed to go super hard due to the cold which made it practically impossible to use anyway!

8) Rich Skincare Deep Cleansing Milk - This was a cleansing milk that you are supposed to apply to a dry face and wipe off. I liked it but am not a fan of these types of cleansers as I'd rather use a regular cleanser in the shower.

9) U Little Beauty Top to Toe Body Lotion - I didn't like this lotion at all. I didn't make my skin feel moisturised one bit and I had to apply a second moisturiser after use to combat my dry itchy skin.

10) Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo - This shampoo literally made my hair feel like straw. I absolutely love the Evo hair mask but unfortunately this shampoo just doesn't seem to agree with my hair. Also, these bottles are like a practical joke as far as being able to get the product out.

11) Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty Eau De Parfum - This was a nice and light scent but not one that I would opt to wear often.

12) Sheercover Nourishing Moisturiser - This was a great mosturiser and contains SPF 15 which is a nice bonus but the smell of it is hideous! It's like stale sunscreen. If the scent could be altered to be a bit more pleasant I would buy this again, but not the way that it is.

13) Royal Moroccan Shampoo, Conditioner & Hair Serum - This is lovely stuff that I really wished I'd received more of. The serum smells divine and the shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel nice and soft.

14)  Nature's Gate Conditioner - I got this sample sent after purchasing something many moons ago and completely forgot about it. It was an ok conditioner but nothing to write home about.

15) Fendi Fendi Eau De Parfum - I have to say that I wasn't a big fan of this scent. Unfortunately I can't say whether it's because the smell didn't appeal to me or because I was blinded by rage because of the stupid packaging. Seriously, who ever thought of putting a liquid perfume in a sachet? My hands literally got coated in this when I opened it and the perfume run out everywhere. Stupid, stupid, idea.....

Anyway, there you have it. I'm exhausted just from looking back at all these things!

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Michelle xx

July Empties

So I had a great month during July using up some full size products as well as getting rid of some more samples.

Here's what I managed to get through in July:

* Dove Purely Pampering Body Wash - I am such a fan of all Dove products, especially their body wash. This left my skin feel clean without stripping it or making me feel dry and itchy. I absolutely loved the scent of this too.

* MOR Candied Vanilla Almond Body Butter - I have a little obsession with MOR body butters and this one is my favourite. It was a sad moment in our household the night I used this one up. I'll be looking to replace it very soon.

*Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Night Renewal Cream - This was one of the nicest creams I have used on my face in a long time. It ticked all the boxes in that it smells nice, absorbed quickly, didn't make me feel greasy and made my skin feel super soft.

* Lonvitalite 24K Gold Yulan Oil Facial Mask - I will be posting a review of this mask soon. Let me just say my skin has never felt so awesome after using a mask like it did with this one.

*  Montagne Jeunesse Anti-stress Fabric Facial Mask - These are such a great product for a budget price. I buy these often.

* Clinique Anti-blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer - This technically is being thrown out without being finished. I just don't like this concealer at all as it is quite cakey and seems to do nothing but enhance any fine lines on my face.

* Australis Pressed Powder - This is one of my favourite pressed powders and is also technically not finished. Unfortunately, I dropped it last week on the tiled floor in our ensuite and it smashed into a billion teeny pieces so became impossible to continue using.

* Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner - This conditioner didn't really do much for my dry, frizzy hair. Also, it was near impossible to get the product out of this silly hard plastic bottle which just made me frustrated.

* Pure Fiji Bodu Butter in Coconut - I absolutely love the feel of these body butters but am not a fan of the fake coconut scent.

* Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream - This cream made my face feel like the inside of a grease trap. Needless to say I'm not much of a fan.

* EmerginC Kombucha Cleanser - This was a lovely cleanser and after using the couple of samples I had I am tempted to buy a full size version of this.

* Sebastian Penetraitt Strengthening and Repair Shampoo and Conditioner - I have never felt such a difference in the softness of my hair then after using these small samples in one application. I was truely amazed and am definitely going to get some of the full size shampoo and conditioners when I get the chance.

* Be in Awe Gentle Cleanser - This was also a lovely cleanser and it had such an interesting smell. I'd most likely buy this again if the opportunity came up.

* La Perla J'Aime Eau De Parfum - I didn't mind this scent but it seemed a bit more 'old lady' to me. I could picture it as something my mother would prefer to wear than me.

* CK Shock Eau De Toilette - I also didn't mind this scent but wouldn't buy it for myself. It was a little bit too sickly sweet for me.

So there you have it. I think I did really well last month!

Hope everyone else had a fabulous empties month :-)

Michelle xx

June Empties

So it's been so long since I did an empties post and I kind of missed keeping track of what I use up every month so am starting them again. I guess that's the OCD part of me rearing it's head.

Anyway, here's what I used up in June:

1) Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex - I wasn't impressed at all by this (hence the reason I never bothered reviewing it). I didn't notice any different in the texture or fine lines around my lips and actually think it irritated me more than anything if I wore it a few days in a row.

2) Burt's Bees Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream - Not a big fan of this either. It had a cooling sensation on the skin which I just found uncomfortable in winter and it seemed to burn a little around the edges of my nose . My skin also never really felt clean after using this either.

3) Avene Ystheal Emulsion - This was a sample and didn't make enough of an impression for me to want the full size product. It had a weird yellow tinge to it that I could see on my skin which I didn't like at all.

4) Be in Awe Shaanta Night Balm - This cream smells like cough syrup which I found just odd when putting it on my face. It did make my skin nice and soft but was just so hard to get out of the container. My thumb is now able to break rocks from pumping the top on this thing.

5) Lancome Genifique Youth Activator - This is a lovely serum that makes my skin feel so smooth and my pores seem to just disappear after use. I just wish I could afford a full size tube of this!

6) Davroe Lemongrass Detangler - I absolutely loved this product and used it every time I washed my hair before trying to put a comb in it. It left my hair nice and soft and stopped a lot of frizz from happening. I've actually missed it since I finished it so will be looking into getting some more I think.

7) Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Nectarine & White Ginger - I seem to use this deodorant religiously. I will try another in between and then always go back to this one. Unfortunately, this can is virtually full but the spray mechanism has seized for some reason and won't work so it has to be chucked, boo!

8) Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black - This is one of my most favourite mascaras and I have had so many of them over the years (I may have a bit of an obsession with getting Clinique gift-with-purchases and they always have one in there). My lashes always look so lush and long when I use this and it never clumps or smudges even after the longest or hottest day. I think the brush is awesome too.

9) Pure DKNY fragrance - I suck at describing fragrances so I won't even attempt to. I liked this enough to use up the sample but wouldn't buy it for myself. It just doesn't wow me enough.

10) OP Therapy Body Hydrator with Emu Oil - Oh boy, this has been a skin saviour for me since winter hit. It's such a lovely thick cream that makes my dry, itchy and eczema prone skin give a big sigh of relief when applied. It's supposed to be unscented but it still has a natural 'animal oil' kind of smell to it so isn't completely scent free. It just doesn't have any artificial scents added to it which I like. I will definitely be getting myself some more of this.

11)  Spa Fresh Blends Romantic Discovery Bathing Ritual - This was a gorgeous bath powder which had a lovely scent but I really disliked the 30,000 pieces of rose petal that was left behind in my bath each time I used it.

12) Emergin C Scientific Organics Phytocell Cream - I used this at night before going to bed and really liked it. There wasn't anything remarkably overwhelming about it but it was still a nice cream that left my skin feeling moisturised and soft at night.

13) Kerastase Resistance Ciment Thermique - I've had a few of these sachets to sample lately and I find it great to use when I straighten my hair but not for any other use. It's a bit too thick for my fine hair and weighed it down too much to use everyday.

So, that's what I managed to get through during June. It wasn't a huge month but good enough.

Michelle xx