It's Another Haul Thing...

Bonjour!

Just a few bits and bobs I've picked up. First up is this lot from Sainsbury's last week - all on offer ...

A third off the Palmer's and half price Dove. Wondering what effect the Dove Intensive Repair will have on my mop, the Summer Glow is an old favourite but probably won't get to use it until next year now - rubbish! Sensodyne is so expensive at around £4 a tube I try to stock up whenever there's a half price offer on.  My teeth are sensitive at the best of time so always comes in handy - I'm also planning on whitening my teeth soon which always makes the sensitivity sky high at times and this toothpaste really helps takes the edge off it.

Couple of lippies with the buy one get one half price at Boots. I've gone for nudes - will swatch and post shortly.

Now believe it or not I didn't buy much in the way of clothing or footwear this summer - by the time the hot weather actually arrived I reckoned I could make do with what I had and only bought a couple of t-shirts from H&M and Primark (and one of the items below!). So ...

Jumper and boots from the new range at TU Sainsbury's - can't get out of the grey rut as you can see. Hope the lowered hem at the back doesn't make my bum look huge!  I love these boots and they're really easy to walk in but I'm actually wondering when I'll wear them - not exactly suitable for the school run! Maybe I need a few nights' out planned!

The leopard shoes were an absolute bargain at £9 in the M & S sale - love these! Again - need to get out more and get these worn!  Zara (pretend leather) jacket which I bought months ago at the start of summer and dithered around wondering if I was a) having a mid-life biker chick crisis or b) trying subconsciously to imitate Cher Lloyd! Anyway believe it or not it actually looks ok on my old frame - getting in and out of it is the problem as it's such a snug fit - there is clearly a knack to it which I'm working on!

So that's me done for a while. What have you been buying recently?

Jen x

April Favourites and Empties ...

Bonjour!

Better late than never... some empties, some favourites ...

Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner - a duo I've been using on and off for a while (nicked it from my mum!). Tend to save it as a treat for my poor old hair - full review to follow.

Marks & Spencer Essential Extracts Coconut Hand and Body Lotion and Shower Gel - £1 each for pity's sake - you just can't go wrong - brilliant every-day shower gel. Body lotion sinks in really easily - both do their job and smell great - will re-purchase without a doubt. Did I mention that they're only £1 each?!

Impulse Loving Words Body Fragrance - I usually pick up a couple of cans of Impulse whenever they're on offer at £1 and always carry one in my handbag for a quick spritz! I'd like to say it's an ideal fragrance now that Spring has arrived as it fresh and fruity - but of course we've had our 2-3 days of sun and warmth ... (not that I'm bitter or anything!)

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain in Honey - been a favourite for a while and is always in my handbag, so much so that the writing has worn off the tube. Really want to try out another lip stain - you can see my full review of this particular shade here.

17 Va Va Voom Mascara - great volumising mascara - full review here. Unfortunately it's been used for a while and dried up so will have to chuck. Would re-purchase as it's really well priced at £6.29 only I don't need any more un-opened mascaras just yet! Am I getting sensible in my old age?

Avon Glimmerstick Eyeliner in Cosmic Brown - this is a re-purchase and is coming to an end. It gets used most days if I'm honest for definition on the upper lid whether on it's own or mixed with another colour. It glides on dead easy, doesn't drag the skin and stays put all day. Had this in 'Blackest Black' as well (and seem to have lost it - very mysterious!).  Great price at around £6 (but usually on offer for less) so will re-purchase again.

Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream - kept this at work in my desk drawer to use as a hand-cream. Smells good, hydrates and softens. Will re-purchase but only when I've used up some of the other myriads of hand creams dotted around our house!

This is a favourite with me and the kids (and the girls at work too!) - hot bubbly chocolate - what more could you want?

So that's this month's lot - do you reckon by next month's Favourites/Empties we may have actually have had some decent weather for more than a few days?

Jen x

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain in Honey - Review

Bonjour!

I bought this Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (that's a mouthful alright!) in Honey ages ago - just as I'd started the Spend Ban - used  my Boots points! Think it was on offer at £5.99 rather than the usual price of £7.99.  I know everyone is probably familiar with the Balm Stains already so it's just a quickie (she says!)...

'Honey' is a soft dusky pink in it's 'crayon-like' form and feels like a standard waxy (not wet) balm once applied with a slight sheen and a subtle minty taste . It's sort of half-way - I guess - between a standard tinted lip-balm and a full on lippie.  It can be used to add a soft wash of colour or intensified to a deeper 'rosy' pink by adding more of the product but it doesn't seem (in this shade anyway) to stick to any dry areas. Either way the colour seems to deepen once on the lips and keeps 'em moisturised. It lasts pretty well - even after a good old cup of tea - however after tea and toast - tea and biscuits etc or even an apple/banana - that's me trying for a healthy snack!, I've needed to apply a touch of regular lip balm.  The 'stain' really does it's job though and sticks around for ages - a good few hours  - and then fades evenly.

I've found 'Honey' to be a really wearable 'everyday'' shade -  it's easy to apply, feels comfortable on, is very well pigmented (in my humble opinion) and adds long-lasting colour  - ideal for those days when you just want to add a bit of something but not have it 'in yer face'!

I seem to be pulling a dopey/pained face in this pic - (whichever way you look at it)... maybe I was dreaming of a far-away island in the sun (with internet access of course!) or maybe I was just dying for the loo and needed to get the darn photo taken first!

Have you tried out any Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains - which is your favourite shade?

Jen x

August Favourites!

Bonjour!

I didn't do my July favourites because I was on holiday so here a few of my fave products during July/August and a couple I've managed to (almost) use up!

Original Source Daily Scrub Cranberry and Honey - there's something about Original Source products that's truly mouthwatering and this is no exception! Smells like something you could spread on your toast/crumpet/pikelet/bagel! It's moisturising and provides a gentle yet effective exfoliation experience!

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Spray (sorry I seem to have lost the cover!)- this is described as 'a leave-in finishing treatment that performs like a hairspray'. I love this product, I only use it when my hair is pretty frazzled on the ends, it's like a conditioning treatment in a can with a bit of hold. I find the trick is to use sparingly on fine hair (which is probably why this can has lasted me ages), as with all Ojon products I've used it's pretty concentrated and a little goes a long way. Think it's been re-named though as 'Ojon Damage Reverse Finishing Spray'.

John Frieda Full Repair (Full Body) Shampoo and Conditioner - took these on holiday and then brought them home to finish off (have done so now).  This was a great duo for holiday as I felt it gave my hair a bit of extra protection and moisture in a hot and humid climate.  Not the best volume I've experienced but good on the conditioning front.

Dove Summer Glow Moisturiser (normal to dark) - I've used this moisturiser for a couple of years now, it's great for a bit of extra colour and also for topping up the old tan once you return from holiday. Doesn't give off that obvious self-tan aroma and I've not found it to be too orange in tone but you do have to remember to rub in well around any dry bits!

Chanel Bronze/Revlon Balm Stain/Glossybox Lipstick

Sanctuary Spa Skin Perfecting BB Cream - my ultimate summer BB, been loving this for a while now (that could be the start of a song title!).  It's still my morning 'pick-me-up' complexion wise, seems to keep that bit of holiday colour going. There's loads left in the tube for next spring once I need to 'warm up' my face. I'll definitely be repurchasing this one. You can see my full review here should you with to do so!

Olay Essentials Complete Care Plus Multiradiance Moisturising Lotion (Normal/Oily) - this is a regular re-purchase, especially for the summer months. Absorbs very easily, keeps my skin hydrated, contains SPF 15 and also light reflecting particles which help to give skin a bit of a lift. It's also a bargain in my opinion at £7.99/75ml and has lasted for ages.

Chanel Bronze Universel Sun Illuminator - gorgeous bronzer, a sort of gel/cream texture that gives a natural glow without any shimmer.  This pot has lasted for ages and is nearly finished as you can see. I was once told I looked 'really well' by a friend I bumped into at the supermarket, I can remember being gobsmacked  because I was feeling pretty run-down (as all mums do from time to time) and so put it down to having worn this bronzer on that day!  I told my friend as much! I've not blended the bronzer in (on above swatch) but just smeared a bit on my hand, I think the colour works well on most skintones (it was my 'English Rose' friend who recommended it to me!), hence the 'Universel' vibe!

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain (Rendezvous) - wasn't sure what to expect from this (it looks a bit like a wax crayon from my kids' younger days!),  I fancied something with an orange tone for summer but not too 'full on'.  This provides a wash of translucent colour with a slight sheen but can be built up if you want the colour to be more intense.  Tastes minty and makes my lips tingle! The only thing I would say is I've needed to use a lip balm beforehand because it does tend to cling to any dry areas on the lips (well it does on mine anyway!). Having said that, it is pretty long lasting and does live up to it's name in that it does 'stain' the lips!

Glossybox Lipstick (Glossy Pink) - absolutely love this lipstick, not had one in this tone for a good while and it's been perfect once I had a bit of a tan on my face! It's creamy and moisturising and lasts ok too. I've been a bit lipstick shy for a few years but this has made me want to experiment a bit more on the 'lippy front'!

Erm ... don't know how that got there!  Anyway, this is a childhood favourite of mine. We used to spread it thickly on a slice of bread and have for supper as a treat - very sticky and sweet! Something I like to indulge in now and again.  You'll probably know it's also fantastic when used in cake recipes ...will have to get onto that ...!

So what have been your favourites over the past month? Any childhood treats you'd like to share?

Jen x