Empties #5

Tomorrow marks the end of an era as Craig and I wave goodbye to our bathroom as we know it and welcome (roughly) two weeks of general chaos as it begins it's transformation from ugly duckling to beautiful swan. I. cannot. wait. With a general clear up taking place just this morning I couldn't think of a better time to share my recent empties with you...

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser in Ivory - I'm currently on my fourth bottle of the Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser since welcoming it into my life last April, my only criticism of my go to base would be that a bottle only hangs around for about two months. That said this tinted moisturiser would take some serious beating - thicker than any TM I've tried before, a little goes a long way to achieve that flawless, glows-from-within, natural finish. I can't imagine ever being without this complexion miracle worker.

La Roche-Posay Serozinc - This cheeky French number was easily the most talked about toner of 2013 thanks to skincare expert Caroline yet after using this for the last couple of months I must admit I'm on the fence. I adore the fine, refreshing spray mist and how it seems to soothe my skin after cleansing but personally I feel like that's all it does. Am I asking too much from a humble toner? Could this be down to the hype? Honestly I don't know and frankly I'm in two minds whether to repurchase or not. 

Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - As I frequently resemble a panda the morning after wearing mascara (FYI I don't wear mascara daily as I can't get to grips with wearing it to work with my glasses) I thought I'd give the Clarins offering a go after hating on almost every high-street eye make up remover I've ever tried. Now here's where I went wrong, I don't wear waterproof mascara or heavy eye make-up and I think this could be the key to using the Clarins IEMR. Don't get me wrong it removes nearly all my mascara without a struggle but the oily residue is not my friend. At £17 I won't be repurchasing but in no way am I product bashing, this just isn't the one for the gal who rarely rocks mascara.

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub - This could be is the most divine smelling body scrub I've ever tried, who doesn't want to smell like maple syrup morning or night? This scrub is not only fantastic value for money (this huge pot has lasted me months) but a brilliant body exfoliator that comfortably sloughs away dead skin cells without leaving your skin feeling stripped, just silky smooth. An easy repurchase, well done team S&G - I'm yet to try a product from you that I don't love.

Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Leave In Spray - I have a teeny amount of this leave in conditioner left which is awesome as it's become a real staple in my hair care routine. As someone with seriously thick and unruly hair, frizz has always been an enemy but since using this oil spray (along with a couple of other products) I've noticed a huge change in the finished look of my barnet, with frizzy days being mostly a thing of the past. I spray this sweet smelling oil liberally after washing my hair but before combing it through, allowing the spray to act as an all round nourisher and a detangler too. At £3.65 this is a serious bargain especially since it's lasted over six months. What else do I need to try from Dove?

REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser - Yes I've used another bottle of this seriously calming but not stripping cleanser from REN and I've got a replacement in my bathroom cabinet, that's how much I love it! I really need to control my product pumps though, I slap this on like it's going out of fashion which in some ways is a testament to how much I love this cleanser but not so much to my purse. You can read an in depth review of my favourite everyday cleanser here.

Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer - They say good things come in small packages and they weren't wrong, the Mineral Veil from Hourglass is the best primer I've ever tried by a mile and that's coming from an I-don't-need-primer gal, that's got to mean something right? Sure it's pricey but your make-up will not budge nor will your skin feel clogged. This tiny sample size lasted me a good few months so next time you attend a Space NK event you better hope there's one of these in your goodie bag. Hourglass, you've done it again.

Have you tried any of these products before? Are you tempted to give any a go?

The Repurchase & The Noob

Who'd of thought with September on the way out that I'd be sat outside bringing you a long overdue beauty post? I don't quite know what's going on with this weather but I for one am not complaining, especially when I've just eaten a crunchie blast ice cream - well it is a Sunday. Life's been going at one hundred miles an hour recently so it's lovely to have a lazy day, paint my nails and tell ya'll about my latest beauty buys.

It all started with three short words - gift with purchase, throw Liberty into the mix and you've got a gal with a pretty strong desire to blow one hundred and fifty of her fine pounds on beauty bumf. Now you guys know how much I love a gift with purchase, so much so I'm usually that girl stalking my local Space NK until they throw their seasonal beauty event but Liberty's GWP is actually out of this world! The only issue I had was the minimum spend but rather luckily my mum was in need of a few repurchases herself so we decided to team up and I even agreed to even gave her a few samples, how generous am I? So what did I buy to qualify?

It's not the first time the Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser has found itself on Cagney and Lace, and with good reason. Right now this baby is my base of choice and if I could only take a handful of products to a desert island this would certainly be one of them, bold claim right? Previously I announced this was difficult to blend but I must say I don't know what I was thinking. This blends like a dream with my Real Techniques buffing brush, lasts almost all day on the skin with barely any touch ups and provides a really healthy finish to the skin, neither too matte or too dewy. An easy repurchase.

Looking through my skincare collection I knew there was room for a newbie in my life so I decided to welcome the Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque with open arms into my bathroom cabinet. My skin has been a little off a lately so after seeing quite a few bloggers rave about the Parsley Seed range I was delighted to see that Aesop are on of the many brands stocked by Liberty. It's early days for this clay based lovely but I will say it smells absolutely divine, keep your eyes peeled for a full review soon.

Which beauty buys would make the cut if you were off to a desert island? Do you spend more than you anticipated just to get a gift with purchase?

Wednesday Wishlist #12

Don't you just hate it when the bank holiday zooms by in a flash? I really should be more sensible when it comes to bank holidays and take the rest of the week as vacay like one of my wise friends has - whoever says four day weeks go quickly, lied! As fun as the short lived bank holiday was I still don't feel as though I'm at my full strength, damn you bout of the sniffles and hello Vicks VapoRub. As it feels like Summer is saying it's final farewells I've been doing what any self respecting fashion-obsessed-lady does, making a head start on my Autumn Winter wardrobe.

1. Boxy Fur Gillet £65 - I definitely don't need another fur gillet in my life yet as soon as our eyes met across Topshop yesterday I just had to try this furry number on, big mistake. I now can't stop fantasising about the many ways I could layer this up and the many occasions I could wear it to - I will create some in my head in order to justify this one. Topshop has got it goin' on right now so if you're trying to save some pennies, take my advise and avoid like the plague.

2. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer £21 - As devoted as I am to the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer I can't help but ponder what this newb from Nars would be like in my make-up bag. I sometimes find the Collection concealer to be a little drying on blemishes, something I'm really struggling with right now so I do wonder whether they'd enjoy a bit of lux concealing especially when I've heard so many things about this baby.

3. Duffle Coat with Leather Sleeves £129 - Oh Zara, you've done it again combining my faves leather and tartan to make a coat that Paddington Bear would be proud to wear. Normally I'd be able to justify a coat quicker than you can shout Autumn Winter at Zara rocks (it really does) but right now I just can't - coincidentally my mum and dad are off to Barcelona next week where this dream boat is only 80 ish euros. You thinking what I am?

4. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation £32 - With my skin not playing ball right now my beloved Dior BB Cream and Hourglass tinted moisturiser just aren't cutting the mustard while my Nars Sheer Glow is just not the right shade for my ever so slightly warmed up skin. Enter the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation which sounds like the answer to my prayers and is a serious blogger fave. Me, sucked into the hype? Never.

5. Penny Printed Skater Dress £15 - Boohoo have cute dresses down to a tee and this folk-style printed skater dress has got my name written all over it. This is the perfect transitional piece working just as effortlessly with bare legs and sandals as I know it will with black opaques, a chunky knit and my new Topshop booties, oopsie!

6. Textured Crew Jumper £35 - Jumpers are my thang - I practically buy them all year round and really struggle to say no to a good quality knit, it's my inner grandma and the fact that I hate being cold. This fiery number from Warehouse looks like a hard worker going with everything from this seasons leather pieces, to a certain Boohoo skater dress and even with my fave boyfriend jeans.

7. Pointed Tassel Moccasin £25.99 - Oh my days, have you seen these? Have you seen the price? Enough said.

What are you lusting after this Wednesday? Do any of my Wishlist picks tickle your fancy?

Empties #3

My pulse keeps racing as I make eye contact with the almost over flowing Space NK bag in my bedroom, only for me to realise it's not full of box fresh beauty booty but instead packed to the brim with my empties, well a girl can dream can't she? Space NK bag, it's time for you to go. Here are my thoughts on everything I've used up in the past three months...

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream - If body cream could be a person then this SSBB would be Beyonce (who in my eyes is the modern day Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way). The pistachio and vanilla scent is sweet without being overpowering, the lightly whipped texture is perfection - who wants super thick body cream in this weather? Not forgetting the fact that you don't have to stand around waiting for this baby to absorb into your skin, it just vanishes all on it's own. As soon as I saw a glimpse of the tubs bottom I dashed to Boots and repurchased, it's that good. My only criticism is that I get through this at an alarming rate, note to self - must slather on less body cream.

Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay 1.5ml (sample size) - Jo Malone are the bees knees when it comes to fragrances and I was lucky enough to try a sample of the Blackberry and Bay scent when I placed an order with Jo Malone back in March. Now it's a rare day when I finish a scent (even one as small as this) so it's a real testament to just how much I love this scent, which FYI is incredibly fresh and fruity. If I didn't already have my Diptyque Roses fragrance I would have already repurchased this, it really is special.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser in Ivory - Tinted moisturisers have never really been my bag until I tried this one in Space NK, Harrogate. Now the first thing to get your head round is the consistency, it's pretty thick and to be honest a little tough to work into the skin. I dot the tiniest amount onto my cheeks, forehead and nose before blending first with my hands before moving onto my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Although it's certainly not the one when you're short of time I honesty don't think my skin has looked so flawless nor have I had so many compliments as when I wear this. I find this lasts all day on my skin, giving my complexion a real dewy, almost air brushed finish although I do find my nose getting a bit shiny come 4 o'clock. My advise? Get yourself a sample next time you find yourself in Space NK.

Elemental Herbology Cell Food - If your skin is lack lustre or feeling a bit under the weather then this baby is for you. As the brand name suggests Cell Food has a subtle herbal scent (but don't let this put you off, I actually kinda liked it) and a light, cream-to-water consistency which means it quickly absorbs into your skin. This is the first serum I've ever used where I've seen such a noticeable difference after just one application, my skin looked visibly brighter and even glowed! This is one for my Autumn Winter must-have list although I must admit I have one minor criticism, the pipette is a nightmare to use. You either dispense not enough or too much product, please sort this out Elemental Herbology.  

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser with SPF15 - After falling out of love with my Perfect Balance moisturiser I found myself on the hunt for a new day time moisturiser, enter Rodials Dragon Blood Moisturiser which could be the one. Not only does it keeps my skin plumped and hydrated all day long (that'll be the hyaluronic acid) without feeling heavy or uncomfortable on my sensitive/combination skin - apparently that's all down to the Dragon Blood but it also protects me from the sun with SPF15. At £45 it's not the most purse friendly but I can't imagine this not being on my bathroom shelf plus how amazing is the hot pink packaging? I'm tempted to try the Dragon's Blood Night Cream, well I do have some N-Dulge points.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in No.2 Light - Going through my Space NK bag to write this lovely post I counted not one, not two but four empty tubes of this brilliant budget concealer. I bet I'm preaching to the choir but if you've never tried one then why not? The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is neither too creamy nor watery and is great for concealing blemishes or covering up under eye bags. My only complaint is a tube doesn't seem to last me longer than a month but at £4.19, does it really matter?

Diptyque Roses Duet Candle - Well it was a sad day when this candle took it's last breathe, not only was this my first ever Diptyque candle but hands down my favourite candle scent EVER so serious sobs may have ensued when I realised that this pink darling has sold out everywhere. Oh Diptyque, why did you have to make this limited edition? The Roses Duet scent is super girly and to my nose, a mix of Baies and Roses. Will I be buying Baies and Roses and burning them at the same time? For the sake of my bank balance, I hope not.

Have you ever tried any of these products or have I now tempted you into giving them a go? 

Empties #2

How is it even Monday again? I can't believe how quickly the weekend has flown by in the blink of an eye. Today's the first day I've been out of the house in over a week and even though it was only a trip to see the nurse it made a nice change. After a week of recovery I'm finally starting to feel more like myself, hooray! 

It's been a while since my first empties post and I must admit I'm quite enjoying putting fingertips to key pad for a second. There's something quite satisfying about finishing a product and telling you all about it so without further a do here are just a few products I've finished over the past couple of months.

Bioderma Crealine H2O 500ml - Championed by everyone from the PixiWoo sisters to Lisa Eldridge I don't think there's a more talked micellar solution in the world of beauty. I love how Bioderma quickly removes the bulk of my make-up on days when all I want to do is to get into bed. I find the Bioderma Crealine incredibly refreshing and soothing on my skin but not the most gentle in the eye area. I've already repurchased the rather cute 100ml size (perfect for my upcoming holiday) from Escentual.com. You can hear more about my thoughts on Bioderma Crealine H20 here.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream (sample size) - I managed to get my mitts on this sample size as a gift with purchase when I bought the Origins GinZing mascara - not only was I pleased to get a freebie but to finally try my first eye cream. The light, almost whipped texture of the GinZing Eye Cream feels lightweight yet hydrating in your under eye area. As someone with combination skin I felt this gave me enough moisture however if you're a dry skinned gal this isn't the one for you. Although I miss this product in my morning routine I wouldn't rush to repurchase. £21 is pretty steep for the full size and I think there are better eye creams out there with my name on.  

Nars Sheer Glow in Mont Blanc - What can I say? Nars Sheer Glow is still my favourite, can't be without foundation and I doubt there'll ever be a day where this isn't in my beauty stash. Recently I've been wearing lighter bases like the Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser but I know I count on Nars for when my skin is having a bad day. Want to hear more glowing praise for Sheer Glow? Read my full review here. For quick reference I'm shade Mont Blanc in Winter and Deauville in the warmer months.

Elemis Pro Radiance Cream Cleanser 150ml - Currently my morning cleanser of choice, the Elemis Pro Radiance Cream Cleanser can be used day or night to remove all your make-up, definitely one to check out if cleansing balms aren't your bag. I apply the tiniest bit amount all over my skin before washing it off with water to really wake me up - I've never used a cleanser that brightens my skin quite like it. As with all Elemis products there's some really beautiful active ingredients like Sweet Brazilian Orange, Lavender and Patchouli which means this baby smells divine. An easy repurchase although not the cheapest at £29, this will last you ages!

Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue 100ml - Certainly not the most glamorous of beauty products but hey we all like smooth and soft feet, right? This heavily scented peppermint foot cream is lovely and moisturising particularly if you pop on a pair of socks after application - if peppermint isn't for you then I'd give this one a wide birth. As foot creams go this serves a purpose but I personally don't find this intensive at all. If you're on the hunt for a foot cream I'd go for Soap & Glory's Heel Genius instead - not only is it just as lovely but at £5.50 for 125 ml (compared to £9 for the Body Shop) it's a steal.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 10ml - L'Occitane is a brand I've always wanted to try so when I spotted a discovery set in John Lewis with two of the infamous hand creams in, a purchase was made. Through February and March I got really dry patches of skin on my hands from the cold weather and after trying tons of hand creams, this was the only thing that sorted them. The subtle Shea butter scent is just divine and on application the hand cream quickly melts into your hands without leaving them greasy. Perfect for those who suffer with dry hands and easily worth the £8 price tag (for 30ml).

Eve Lom Cleansing Balm 100ml - Another pot bites the dust (this was in my last empties post too). It's safe to say I have an addiction to the Eve Lom cleansing balm. There's nothing better than massaging a tiny piece all over your face before taking a warm muslim cloth to remove the days make-up and grime. I really need to try the Emma Hardie equivalent so I can do a full comparison on the two and save a bit of money but so far I haven't been able to say no to Eve Lom. Watch this space...

Have you tried any of my empties? Which would you like to find in your bathroom?

Space NK Haul

So first and foremost let's get the obvious out of the way, today's post has the least original blog title you may have ever seen - one thing it does well though is state the obvious so hello Space NK haul. On Easter Saturday my mum and I finally ventured to Harrogate for our belated Mothers Day celebration, as predicted I spent more money than sense in Space NK. My mum and I both had pre-bookable make-overs which I would highly recommend - not only do you get to try a few new products and get your make-up done by a beauty boff you can also ask as many questions as possible - my lady Gemma was an absolute star and full of beauty info, perfect for a sponge like me to absorb. Like a right moose I managed to leave my camera at home (I blame the early train journey) but if you follow me on Instagram you may just see a few cheeky shots of my make-up. So let the readers see the beauty booty....

Cane & Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads - This is my second dabble into the Cane & Austin treatment pads after using the Acne ones before. I've only used these on two occasions so far but my skin already feels softer, smoother and most importantly clearer. The smell is by no means a bed of roses but I actually find these pads nowhere near as astringent as the Acne pads, I promise to keep you updated on these newbies.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray - Now I'll be honest, this wasn't a necessary, can't-live-without-purchase but after hearing my favourites Anna and Amelia rave about this dry texturising spray I was more than a little intrigued. While the lovely Gemma applied my make-up I quizzed here on Oribe - as soon as I heard this very spray was a favourite with the Space NK Harrogate girls I knew I had to have it. I can't wait to get spraying this into my newly trimmed locks for bad-ass volume, Space NK you're bad to my bank balance!

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser with SPF15 - As much as I adore my Perfect Balance moisturiser  from Elemental Herbology a girl has got to have options. Gemma used this on my skin pre primer and tinted moisturiser and the consistency was just beautiful - yes I get excited over moisturisers, plus how amazing is the name? Anything with Hyaluronic Acid always gets my vote so I can't wait to start trying this one out.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory - If there's one stand out product (so far I might add) then it's got to be this little beauty. Being a bit of a beauty blog reader-holic I'd heard all about the Hourglass Mineral Veil primer and luckily got my hands on a sample in a Space NK event goodie bag (it's utter perfection by the way) yet I never realised Hourglass had an entire make-up range. I've been wearing this tinted moisturiser for the last three days and I don't think I've ever seen my skin look so good, that's a bold statement right there. Consistency wise it's thicker than your typical tinted moisturiser so you only need the tiniest bit to get a lovely, slightly dewy yet natural looking coverage. It could be love!

Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzing Veil in Tropical Days - Now everyone and their dog raves about Nars Laguna Bronzer but I personally find it too muddy on my fair skin tone so when Gemma mentioned using bronzer I pulled a right ol' face. Cue an oh-my-gosh face when she applied this bad boy in all the right places - I needed it in my life but wanted all the other skincare purchases just a little bit more, what a conundrum. Bless my mum for deciding a bronzer was an appropriate Easter gift - fingers crossed I will never grace a blog post looking pale and ghostly ever again.

Even though five products may seem excessive there's even more Space NK bits on my mental birthday wishlist - I'm thinking of you By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge in Baby Bloom, Revive Moisture Renewal and the Eve Lom Travel Essentials Set. As happy as I am with my new goodies I'm now on a spending ban until my birthday, just twenty four days to wait and with Space NK N-Dulge points burning a beauty shaped hole in my pocket... bad things could happen.

Do you love Space NK as much as me? Which beauty buys are you longing to try?

Space NK Autumn Beauty Event

Happy Saturday guys and welcome to the weekend- woop woop! I hope you're all enjoying a hearty breakfast whilst you're reading this as that's what Saturday mornings are all about in my book. I've been so excited to write this post you wouldn't believe but in the words of Girls Aloud, life got cold or should I say I got cold. After long days at work the first thing I've been wanting to do is throw on the velour joggers (yes I own these- don't judge), grab one of the boys hoodies and snuggle up on the sofa feeling incredibly sorry for myself so I'm afraid this post is a little delayed but it's certainly one that's worth the wait.

Last Wednesday (26th September) my mum and I hopped over to Leeds to our favourite Space NK store for their Autumn Beauty Event. These are held roughly every season and come with the promise of a glass, or two of champers, personal one to one advise, product demonstrations and of course THE Space NK goodie bag. I've been to one of these beauty-tastic events before and the goodie bag was out of this world, unfortunately you do have to spend £100 or more to qualify so prior to the event I made sure I bought nothing beauty or make-up related even though I was crying out for shampoo and concealer. As an N-dulge member- the amaze loyalty points scheme where every £100 spend at Space NK equates to a £5 off voucher I was one of the first to hear about the event and booked my mum and I on sharpish.

On arriving at Space NK our coats were taken and drinks were swiftly poured as we began to peruse the beautiful selection of products- bucks fizz in hand. The shop had been organised into individual stations- one for skincare, body care, hair and make-up each looked after by a Space NK expert in that area. After my recent skincare trauma with Liz Earle I was on a mission- to restore my skin to it's former glory so whilst most of the attendees moved seamlessly around the stations, my mum included, I managed to grab a fantastic girl called Amy who gave me a mini Eve Lom facial along with some skincare advise. Here's what she showed me and what I subsequently purchased, whoops.    

My Space NK bag contains- Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser, Eve Lom cleanser, Cane & Austin acne treatment pads, Oribe moisture & control shampoo, By Terry touch expert concealer and a Laura Mercier creme smooth lip colour in pink dusk. Phew- I feel exhausted just writing down my many purchases.

Amy had bloomin gorgeous skin although this hadn't always been the case as she'd suffered with acne so I felt she was the perfect person to advise me on my skincare woes. Don't get me wrong my skin has never been acne prone but it does suffer from more than the occasional break out. I've been using all the products above for over a week and although I refuse to profess love so early- I am really enjoying every single product and have noticed a real difference in my skin. It looks much clearer and feels softer and I'm putting that down to the combination of the Eve Lom cleanser, the Cane & Austin treatment pads and the Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser. Amy also used one of the Clarisonics in my mini facial and I must admit it left my skin feeling incredibly soft and has left me wanting my own! I'm sure you've all heard about the Clarisonic but for those of you who've been hiding under a skincare rock it's an electronic device which deeply cleanses your skin and claims to improve the texture as help with breakouts etc.

My favourite non skincare purchase is the By Terry touch expert, a favourite of the beautiful Millie Mackintosh. This is a light reflecting concealer which can be used to conceal both the under eye area and blemishes. By Terry is a label sold exclusively in Space NK and was created by a woman named Terry de Gunzbury who created the YSL Touche Eclat- I think I may just be in safe concealing hands. I find this covers everything I need to perfectly without appearing cakey or going on too heavy.

With the £100 spend well and truly smashed- let's hope the boy doesn't read this, I was given one the event goodie bags, worth over £220 and yes that really is a mini Diptyque candle. I cannot wait to start testing all these bad boys although I must admit I'm already using the Hourglass mineral make-up primer and it's actually amazing- all the hype in the blogging world surrounding this one is certainly true. With goodie bags in hand and my mum sporting a rather sexy smoky eye look we dashed to the train station and hurriedly rummaged through our goodie bags sat on the train home.

If you ever get the chance to attend one of the Space NK beauty events then grab it with both hands. I've always found the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgable and I can honestly say I've never felt pressurised to purchase anything- unlike my experiences at some beauty counters. The product choice is out of this world and can be a little overwhelming but just grab one of the team and they'll be happy to help.

I hope you all have fun-filled and relaxing weekends, I'm off to join the hearty breakfast brigade. 

Do you enjoy shopping in Space NK as much as me? What are your favourite products?