April Empties!

Bonjour!

Ok so I know I say this every month but did we really get to the end of April last week? A few weeks from now and we'll be half way through the year and the kids will only have a few weeks of school term left ... can't get my head round it!

April Empties then ...

Nivea Stress Protect Anti-Perspirant  - I've used the dry stick version of this and found it really effective (I am usually stressed anyway so need something potent!) - however this spray didn't quite hit the spot and definitely didn't perform as well as the little dry stick - so I won't be repurchasing.

Q Radiance The Fine Fragrance Body Spray - love these Fine Fragrance sprays for my gym bag - smells of fresh flowers, always welcome after a sweaty gym session! This is the second time I've emptied one of these out - this one was half price in Sainsburys so I snapped it up. Will repurchase when it's on offer again.

Tesco Softening Body Lotion - I have both this Cocoa Butter and the Aloe Vera formula permanently in place in the bathroom.  They're both so easy to apply (no excess rubbing here!), super cheap and last for ages - brilliant for every day use. Have repurchased many times.

Percy and Reed Bodifying Cream -  a great styling product, you can apply exactly where you want it, doesn't gunk your hair up unless you use far too much. Granted I do chop and change my styling products a lot (I have a fair few to use) but I only need one good pump of this for my barnet and it's lasted ages. Full review from last year is here

Biotherm Aquasource Deep Serum - the lovely Biotherm lady in Boots very kindly gave me these samples to try. I must admit Biotherm products fascinate me, especially the serums - it's all that aquatic and deep sea stuff I reckon. This particular serum is light and silky, smells amazingly fresh and left my skin really soft and hydrated.  Would love to try a full size someday to check out the long term benefits - just need to decide which one to choose first!

Aveeno Skin Relief Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion - I know this is technically a body lotion but I always have one of these round the house and slap it on my hands or any eczema prone bits when they feel extra sore. I can afford to be liberal with this big size - will repurchase.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - my skin seems to like all the Vichy products I've tried so far and this is no exception. I use it every morning under moisturiser to keep my skin hydrated - the bottle has lasted from November until the start of April.  Have already re-purchased. Full review here.

Gatineau Defi-Lift Revolumising Lipcare - my favourite bedtime lippie treatment - helps with fine lines around the lip area as well as being soothing, hydrating and conditioning - a great all rounder. Love it and my mum has already supplied me with another to use every night! Review here.

And one more regular empty ...

... another bottle of my beloved cumin seeds, I'm obsessed with the stuff and would use it in practically everything if I could! Needless to say I have repurchased ...!

What products did you use up last month?

Jen x

September Empties ...

Bonjour!

A bit late but here are the products I finished in September...

Gatineau Floracil Eye Make-Up Remover - I've not used a specific remover for eye make-up for a while but this little bottle was on offer from QVC together with a huge bottle of the same and a Gatineau cleanser which made the kit very affordable. Floracil is a very effective alcohol free eye make-up remover which can also be used as an eye treatment. I have the big size to open now - good job as I think I'm getting hooked!

Nivea Stress Protect Stick Anti-Perspirant - used this all through  the summer, also on holiday and have already re-purchased. It's one of the best I've used for the fresh and dry factor - wish it relieved my stress as well but that would be asking too much!

Tesco Nail Polish Remover Pads - cheap, cheerful and convenient. Removes polish absolutely fine - definitely repurchase.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion - if you read my previous post you'll know this is a favourite of mine and I've already gone and gotten another two larger sizes!

Rituals Cherry Blossom and Rice Milk Whipped Body Cream - from a previous beauty box. Lovely product, smell and texture etc. Just a bit pricey (£5/70ml) for everyday use though so won't be getting another just yet but I've really enjoyed using it!

Dove Summer Glow Moisturiser - this is my old bottle which I emptied a couple of weeks ago.  One of my favourite gradual tanners for the summer, works great for me, no orange or strong smell.  I've recently re-purchased as it was on offer.

Blistex Lip Brilliance - great for slicking on for work/school run/gym- whatever. Moisturises with a hint of rosy colour. Will repurchase.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo - a mini travel size which I took on holiday and recently finished off. Batiste always works well for me. Don't need to repurchase just yet as I have another couple of dry shampoos to use up!

That's last month's lot then. What did you use up in September?

Jen x

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion - Review

Bonjour!

The Aveeno range has been on offer (25% off) at Sainsbury's over the last week or so. I took the opportunity to stock up on one of my favourites - the Aveeno Skin Relief Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion.  My current 200ml tube has finished so I went for the 300ml pump bottle (and then went back a few days later and bought another to put away for a rainy day - I don't like to run out of this product!).

I don't use this as a body lotion unless I'm having one of my extra itchy, irritated skin episodes - it's kept in the kitchen/dining room and used as a hand cream.  It performs just as well, if not better, than many 'proper handcreams' I've used.  Although it's described as a lotion it has a creamy texture and is not at all thin or runny but still easily absorbed  - as you may be able to see from the above blob (every time I hear the word 'blob' I just think of Blackadder!) and speaking of 'blobs' that one up there is all I need for my hands in one go!

At times when my eczema has been playing up or when my hands are very dry and cracked from over-washing or stress this is one of the products which I know I can count on to soothe and rehydrate with no greasy residue. It's like locking in a protective layer of moisture on your hands - something I always crave - especially during the winter months.  There is no fragrance or fancy packaging but if you want a paraben free product that is extremely gentle and highly effective then this is a good place to start I reckon.  You can read about the naturally active ingredients included in Aveeno products on their own website here.

I have used and repurchased both the Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion and also the Daily Moisturising Lotion, which is a little lighter, for a while now. The Daily Moisturising Lotion was included in my Rescue Products post which you can see here. Both work well for me in place of the Aveeno 'official' hand cream (which I always seemed to get through in no time at all) and are very cost effective (especially when on offer) as they last for ages.  This 300ml pump of Skin Relief Lotion at £3.56 after discount was cheaper than the 200ml tube - not sure why but who's complaining?

Have you used any products from Aveeno? Which is your favourite?

Jen x

May Empties and Favourites ... (finally!)

Bonjour!

It's been (and still is) a very busy week with family/work commitments - which has left no time for blogging and probably makes this one of the latest 'Empties/Favourites' posts of in the land?  I'll just get on with it shall I...?

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion - all finished and will be re-purchasing, great for reviving tired, sore eyes - included this in my 'Rescue Products' which you can read here.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner (for Normal Hair) - I've been using this duo on and off for ages. Perfect if my scalp feels a bit stressed and flaky as I know it cleanses and conditions well but is super gentle. Had a bout of eczema on my neck recently and needed to use something I knew wouldn't sting when washing my hair in the shower ... needless to say I'll be repurchasing.

Aveeno Body Wash (for Dry and Sensitive Skin) - more of an 'empty' than a 'favourite', I've used it on and off. Has no smell and just cleanses gently, it's ok but I don't feel the same way about it as I do the Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion ...which I also included in my 'Rescue Products' so don't think I'll be repurchasing.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - sadly all gone, happily I've already gotten myself another - love this product. You can read me banging on about this lovely serum in my full review here.

L'Oreal Professional tecni.art Hot Style Constructor - (shopping my 'hair product stash' here ) -  I've had this for so long that the packaging has now changed!  It's a 'thermo-active spray for texture and hold' - provides heat protection (but not stickiness I might add!).  Works best for me to create that tousled 'I'm not trying too hard with my hair' look (famous last words) and  is ideal now I've  had loads of hair chopped off!  Just spray on damp or dry hair and do whatever you want really - can be used with hairdryer, straighteners and curling tongs so quite a useful multi-purpose product and one I would re-purchase (cost me £11.00 but I don't think that's too bad for a professional product?).

Revitalash Volumizing Primer - (got this ages ago in a kit from QVC).  I don't always use an eyelash primer but this works really well to give more oomph and volume to my lashes.  It's blue in colour, dries quickly so you can get on with your chosen mascara application and doesn't cause any clumping or flaking - good product.

Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara - an all-time favourite which has done it's stint. Great for volumising and defining lashes, no clumps and lasts all day. A good one to have on hand to sort out a 'bad lash day', used over the top of another mascara it sorts out any mascara clumpage - a great separator!


Oh ... and another favourite here ... which is literally being finished off by the hubby as I type this post!

Only the crumbliest, flakiest chocolate, tastes like chocolate never tasted before...all that and ice-cream - amazing!

Any of my favourites yours too?

Jen x

A Few Rescue Products ...

Bonjour!

These are products that I've used on an off (and re-purchased) for a while now- I find they each really help things along in their own little way ...!

Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner - my scalp is prone to itchy flaky areas at times if I'm stressed, run-down or have over-used certain hair products (I'm always subjecting my scalp to dry shampoo and hair powders). I just apply this cooling toner directly to the area/in the parting and it helps to calm the area down and temporarily stop those pesky flakes.

Simple Derma Intensive Relief Lotion - I usually stock up on this if it's on offer as it's a must-have if my eczema flares up  - the large bottle of lotion lasts for ages!  I also use it after shaving or if my skin is feeling a bit itchy and stressed (usually tops of my arms - no idea why) - it's perfume free and very gentle on the skin - it doesn't sting and stops any soreness developing.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion - I am a big fan of the Aveeno hand cream but found I was getting through one tube too many so I switched to buying this large 200ml tube of moisturising lotion. I keep this downstairs and use it as my hand cream. I find it just as moisturising as a regular hand cream and if anything more soothing/comforting plus the huge tube lasts and lasts.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion -   Great to sweep over tired/puffy eyes in the morning (yep that's me!) to wake em up or if I'm feeling really decadent to use as a compress/eye mask type thing on cotton pads and get back in bed and lie back on a weekend (get me!).  I don't use it as an eye-make-up remover as I wear too much mascara and it's only suitable for removing light eye make-up. Also brilliant during the hay fever season - myself and my son have used this many a time to refresh sore, itchy hay fever eyes.

Nivea Rescue and Care SOS Body Lotion - leaves skin smooth, silky and plumped.  I've found this to be especially soothing on my hands (again? - yes again - my hands get very dry in all seasons!). Really seems to help lock the moisture in and keep it there and so protects skin from drying and cracking. (I found it especially effective when the weather was extra cold - was great to apply before going out to keep hands supple).  Also good on knees, elbow and any extra dry bits really!

So that's my little arsenal of must-haves, there are a few others I favour but didn't want to bombard you with too many at once so I'll save them for another post!

What are your favourite 'Rescue Products' and why?

Jen x