Catching up with a few empties!

Bonjour and long time no blog!

It just happens doesn't it - life takes over and then you lose your mojo (again) and you wonder when (and if!) you'll feel like blogging again - time permitting, whilst still buying copious amounts of beauty products, all of which would be ripe for a blog post but then you start to feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start ... and then you get the itch/urge, whatever you want to call it plus there is a large bagful of empties which are doing your head in and need to be chucked ... but in true blogger fashion you can't until you've blogged about them ... ahhh ... so here we are! Not all recent empties you understand but the majority from the last couple of months ... thought it would be a 'good place' to re-kindle the blogging habit and take it from here ...

Charles Worthington Strength and Repair Pro-Heat Milk - if  you follow me on Instagram you'll know I've just recently repurchased this. I'd used up my previous bottle and not got round to replacing it ... and this dragged on for a few weeks and then my hair started to split and break all over the place - could it just be co-incidence? If you read my full review of the Pro-Heat Milk here you'll wonder how I've ever lived without it! Be interesting to see if it works it's magic again - will keep you posted!

Tresemme 24 Hour Body Sky High Plumping Powder - I had a couple of these little bottles to use up and this is the last of them - this particular plumping powder works well to thicken up and texturise the look of my hair and the bottle has a little hole at the top which means it generally ends up where it's meant to be ie in my hair and not my shoulders! Sadly it appears to have been discontinued - typical - so I've had to buy another brand for now.

L'Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Volume Spray - I finished this a while ago and can't make my mind up about it! Sometimes it works and leaves my hair with volume and smoothness (and I like the fact that it contains heat protection) but sometimes not so much? The spray is really tricky to use and I can never get the direction and pump action right so end up spraying into my hands to apply ... which may be the problem ... for now I'll not repurchase as I have too many other volumising products to use up! 

Bioderma Hydrabio Micelle Solution - I've repurchased this one a few times - it's my current favourite micellar. Specifically for sensitive, dehydrated skin (that's me then) it cleanses and removes make-up effortlessly without drying out the skin and also works really well to remove my eye make-up gently without stinging the eyes. I always stock up on Bioderma when Escentual have their third off French Pharmacy so I'm ok for a while!

Maybelline Big Eyes Volum'Express Mascara - when I reviewed this mascara a while ago - here - I wasn't sure I'd repurchase because only one half of it works well! The 'bottom lash' part of the the brush does nothing for me!  However, I think it was on 'silly offer' so I relented and all I can say is the same again. The standard brush is brilliant for lengthening, volumising and curling the lashes but the mini brush - nothing.  I can't say I'll not repurchase again - I may do - just for the half of it but then again I may not!

Olay Essentials Complete Care Day Lotion - this is another that I've used for ages as my day cream.  With an SPF 30 it worked really well to keep skin hydrated without being overly greasy.  The reason for the past tense is because (sods law!) it's been discontinued so I've not been able to repurchase!

Pure Skincare Instant Boost Skin Tonic - I've used a couple of bottles of this so far as a hydrating toner and I love it but again it doesn't seem to be available from M&S at the moment so I've had to go for another brand ... not having much luck am I?

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum - I don't need to say anything about this one do I? I've harped on about it for so long and repurchased countless times. Needless to say I have another waiting in the wings ... although I have to admit I've recently got hold of another French Pharmacy hydrating serum to try, just to compare of course!

Alpha H Liquid Gold -  never got round to writing a full review on my Liquid Gold but I don't think I need to do I?  Everyone seems to be into 'Glycolic' and re-surfacing at the moment don't they - well this is my 'go-to' which I use twice a week in the evening, apply after cleansing and leave on 'neat' all night - it tingles but I've heard a bit of tingle is good! Helps with fine lines, wrinkles, open pores, dullness etc and gives skin a revitalised, smoothed,  more radiant appearance - I have a few 'spares' of Liquid Gold stocked up as I'd prefer not to run out! 

Vaseline Intensive Care Essential Healing Body Lotion - this is one of my new favourite body lotions which I've used over the last couple of months. Feels really comforting on the skin (must be all those 'micro droplets of Vaseline jelly'!), keeps dryness and itchy/irritated skin at bay and goes on in a flash with no greasiness or excess rubbing.  It doesn't have a particular type of 'scent' but just smells a bit 'clean and creamy' to me (does that make sense?) so doesn't clash with whichever perfume I use afterwards? I'm on my second bottle and I can't seen it being my last!

Original Source Coconut and Shea Butter Shower Cream - last but not least - what's not to love about Original Source shower products, especially when they're on offer for £1!  This one is a firm favourite, love the smell all year round - I'll definitely repurchase!

So ... as I said not every single empty from the last couple of months (I'd have been here all day!) but a decent selection I think!  Have you used any of this lot? What beauty products have you 'emptied out' recently?

Jen x

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - Review

Bonjour!

It's no secret that I love a good mascara and as soon as I heard that the Maybelline Lash Sensational was a) a decent dupe for Benefit Roller Lash and b) on introductory offer I had to go out and grab it - you get that don't you? It's meant to give a multiplied, layered, super-black look to the lashes - you get it now don't you?

The curved brush is plastic and packed with teeth-like bristles ranging from small to big and the overall size is much fatter and heftier than the Roller Lash brush (which you can see in my review here).  Huge brushes aren't always the best option for my pathetic lashes but I find the key is to scrape the excess mascara off all sides of the brush  really, really well,  if not it can clog lashes up as the formula is quite thick and creamy and you have to comb through.  However, now I've got the hang of it I'm really pleased with the overall effect.  It grabs all available lashes -  is jet black and gives good volume, length, curl and definition, and I love the impression of thickness to the base of the lashes so I don't have to grab my eyeliner all the time!  One to two coats is enough for me but it's easy enough to add an extra layer for more drama later on - as long as you remember to scrape - never forget 'the rule of the scrape'!  I've applied first thing in the morning and it's lasted all day and into the night with no flaking or smudging - even after a) a night out or b) I've fallen asleep on the settee for an hour or so (hate that groggy feeling when you wake up on the settee and remember you still have to remove your make-up!). What I would say is that you do need a good eye-make up remover - I have to saturate my lashes for a minute or so, once the formula is broken down it can then be wiped off without removing those precious lashes in the process!

Before and after the Maybelline Lash Sensational multiplying experience ... two coats on here - you can see for yourself which is which ...

If you read my blog you may remember that I've never really got on with Maybelline mascaras, always wanted to but it never quite happened until I tried the Maybelline Big Eyes.  I'm happy to report that this is another success - it's a great mascara both for everyday use and nights out, gives instant 'oomph' to the old lashes and is a very decent price of £7.99.  I love good lashes for not a lot of dosh!

Have you tried the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara? Which mascara are you enjoying at the moment?

Jen x

PS - A small edit!  I suddenly remembered this morning (whilst in church of all places - how bad it that!) that I'd not really mentioned how Lash Sensational compares to Roller Lash - given that it's meant to be a dupe and all!  The Roller Lash wand grips and pulls the lashes up in a way no other wand has done and gives more length and cleaner definition.  It's a good one if you're in a massive rush and more of a daytime mascara I'd say.  Lash Sensational gives the lashes a thicker, heftier appearance but you do have to spend a bit more time on the whole process.  I suppose it just depends on how much you're willing to pay. £19.50 is a bit steep for me so I'd be drawn to the cheaper option and just work at it until I achieve the desired results - but that's just me! How about you?