Beauty Empties | December 2012

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black - definite repurchase 

This is a phenomenal drugstore/bargain mascara, and it's finally come to UK shores.  The wand reminds me of Lancome Hypnose and the formula is almost as dark and sooty as Make Up Forever Smoky Lash, without the price tags of either of these.  It's a fantastic all-round mascara which I use for both day and night - thickening, lengthening and holds a curl pretty well.  Next time you're in Boots or Superdrug, you have to give this one a go.

Original Source Vanilla and Raspberry Shower - maybe repurchase 

I forgot how delicious this smells until the empty bottle out to review and now it's been upgraded from a 'no repurchase' to a definite 'maybe'.  It's a real treat to use but I found I got through it very quickly, but you can always get these on offer so it's not too sore on the purse.  It's very moisturising and I prefer it to their more zingy shower gel offerings.

Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Repair Serum* - maybe repurchase

This is a really nice everyday serum.  I have a fuller review of this and the accompanying night cream coming up, but I got through this serum first as I found myself reaching for it every single morning.  It sinks in quickly and provided a great base for make up if I didn't feel like waiting for a cream to sink in.  Naughty I know as it doesn't have SPF in it, but in a rush it did the trick.  The blueberry smell is fresh and comforting.  I'm seriously thinking about picking this up again.

Garnier Body Summerbody Moisturising Lotion - Light Sunkissed Look - definite repurchase

As much I loved this self-tanner, it took me an age to get through it.  That had more to do with the fact that I'm very lazy with applying it and rock the Twilight look more than I should.  I've tried countless gradual tanners and this is by far the best budget option.  It has a fresh fruity smell with only minimal biscuity whiffyness compared to all your Dove, Nivea, Johnson's, etc offerings.  It sinks in extremely quickly, does a good job at moisturising, doesn't streak and gives a really natural tanned glow, even to my ginger skin which can end up looking orange.  If you are a tanaholic and haven't tried this one yet, you must. 

YSL Touche Eclat - maybe repurchase

I don't even want to admit to you how long I've had this radiance wand, but between you and me, it began 'not smelling right'.  That has more to do with me 'saving' it for special occasions rather than the longevity of the whopping 2.5mls of radiant liquid.  Since it joined my collection there have been so many other dupes coming onto the market - Sleek MakeUP, Aldi, L'Oreal, Collection 2000 to name a few really budget versions.  These give me pretty much the same effect as Touche Eclat.  I can only see myself repurchasing this to have a pretty gold wand in my handbag make up bag for touch ups, which has more to do with style than substance.

Yes to Cucumbers Daily Gentle Facial Cleanser* - maybe repurchase 

This was one of the nicest facial washes I used last here.  For a full review click here.  It smells divine - not as fresh as you would expect from a cucumber product but quite perfumed.  This may be an issue for those with sensitive skin.  Although it lathers up very well, it left my skin cleansed and soft, not tight.  A really nice product which I'd definitely repurchase, particularly if it was easier to come by on the high street.

The Body Shop Banana Shampoo - definite repurchase

This is an old classic which I think was revived by The Body Shop, but don't quote me on that.  Anyway, I'm glad it's back.  I would compare it to Aussie Moisture Miracle Shampoo, both in scent, lathering and hair cleansing properties.  I use Aussie so much I was getting a little bored and I think it's good to switch up your shampoo every so often - my hair is very oily and gets used to shampoos so quickly.  The Body Shop Banana Shampoo smells lovely, evokes memories and does a good job of cleaning hair without stripping it, and leaving it shiny and easy to comb through.  

I will be doing this 'Empties' series on a monthly basis.  It seemed like whole months passed in 2012 without me finishing so much as one product.  I'm not very loyal to products and flit between different skincare, makeup, hair products daily, but in 2013 I am going to be much more focused getting through my stash and I'll let you know each month how I get on.  I did pretty well in December, with no 'no repurchases' come across, but I'm sure there'll be some in the future.  

Have you tried any of my December Empties? What would you repurchase/definitely not repurchase?

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Review | My Best Body Skincare Find of 2012: Garnier Body Ultimate Beauty Oil Skin Perfector

Garnier Body Ultimate Beauty Oil Skin Perfector - £7.99

Where to buy? Boots in store or online or Superdrug

This impulse purchase has turned out to be my favourite body care product this year.  I've tried a million and one body oils, lotions, mists and sprays down the years and while they are nourishing, they are not practical.  I can't stand getting oil all over my pajamas, bedsheets, clothes - have you ever tried wriggling into skinny jeans with damp legs? Yeah...

This Garnier body oil is a revelation - the texture is gorgeous, it's supremely nourishing and skin softening and the scent is heavenly.  It's smells far nicer than more upmarket rivals and reminds me of a softer version of Juicy Couture Couture perfume, I tend to forgo perfume on days I use this as the fragrance is too divine to interfere with.  I struggle with super dry legs in the winter and have been using this body oil much more often than I used to with heavier versions.  It really is as weightless and non-transferable as it claims and contains a blend of Argan, Macadamia, Almond and Rose oil.  

Garnier is often on special offer at Boots so if you see it for £5.99 (what I got it for a couple of months ago) stock up!  I took these pictures only a few days after cracking into the bottle and you can see how much and I used (although a little goes a very long way) and the cap had already gone astray! The spray pump is great for going over your whole body, but if you apply it on a light carpeted surface like me, then you might just want to spray it into your hands and rub in to avoid oil staining. 

I cannot praise this body oil enough and so award it Holy Grail status.  You need this in your life.

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Some RnR with Aromatherapy Associates

Given my dry skin (on my body, shame about my oily face!) I didn't expect too much from this 'Body Gel' and thought it would be irritating and drying as it has a very strong scent, but I was proved wrong and it's turned out to be a lovely treat for my skin which I can apply at any time as it soaks in almost instantly.  I really noticed how smooth and soft it made my skin, especially on my legs.  

The gel is formulated from essential oils and water.  I love the combination of Geranium, Damask Rose Water and Evening Primrose, but I can see how it could be overpowering for some.  The aroma does fade after a few minutes, so you can layer perfume on top without too much of a clash.

It's meant to be good to apply after sun exposure to calm the skin, and I have to say I was skeptical of this, again because I thought the strong scent would irritate my skin, but it almost worked like a luxurious aftersun to sooth my angry skin.

My favourite time to apply it is after my morning shower as it's very refreshing.  A gel is just so much nicer to apply on hot summer mornings rather than dense moisturiser. 

Get it here, £27 for 200ml.  The price is the only drawback for me, but if it's within your budget and you like essential oils, it's a fabulous treat, and a little goes a long way.

I was also sent this trio of Little Luxuries to review.  They comprise Relax, Revive and De-Stress bath and shower oils which you can get in full 55ml size also, so it's a nice little taster set.  I also think for £12 it makes a lovely little Christmas stocking filler for someone special.  I saved this little set for ages, just keeping one or two of the little vials in my handbag to have a sniff throughout the day - Relax is definitely my favourite.  

The oils are quite overpowering, but once mixed in with your bath water (I wouldn't waste them in the shower) they really do transport you to a place of tranquility.

*PR samples provided for review

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Guest Post by Angel: Get Those Toes Out!

Hey everyone! I'm Angel and I'll be doing a series of regular guest posts here at Click & Make-Up! As you may have read on Friday's post, Kat and I go way back. We both started our blogs roughly the same time last year and it's become something we talk about all the time!

But let's get to my main post! Feets. I bet your feet have been cooped up in boots, trainers or wellies during the cold winter season. And I don't blame you! If you're in the UK you're likely to keep those boots handy for another month or so as the unpredictable British weather never fails to bring on a rainy day every now and again. But this week spring is truly here and I know many of you are itching to bust out those sandals and put your pretty toes on display. Last year I did a post on my blog on how to give your feet a cheap and cheerful home pedicure, so this year I thought I'd update an old classic!

You probably already have all the things you need at home, so no need to spend a huge amount of money at the salon! :)

• A shallow bucket, big enough to fit both your feet.
• Half a lemon.
• Bath salts (optional)
• Something to scrub your feet (ie. pumice stone)
• Nail brush (optional)
• Lotion or foot cream
• A towel

Make sure you've removed all your nail polish before you start. The pedicure will help you get rid of any nail polish residue. 

If you have a lot of rough, hard skin on your feet, you may want to use something made specifically for getting rid of this. I recommend the Ped Egg which is a hand held contraption that catches your dry skin in it's egg-like shell, ready to be disposed. You can pick up a Ped Egg at Boots or Superdrug. You'll want to use this while your feet are dry. 

Fill the bucket with hot water. You want it to be quite hot as this will help to soften any hard skin you may have. Throw in some bath salts, maybe a few drops of essential oils, why not light some incense while you're at it? This is a pampering session after all! 

Before putting your feet in, rub some chunks of a cut up lemon over your feet, concentrating on where you may have hard skin, such as the heel area. The lemon helps to soften the skin and also kills bacteria (and odour!). Once you're done pop those into the water too. Now, it's time to relax. Sit back with your favourite book or a magazine while you soak your feet in your home made spa. You can leave your feet to soak for as long as you wish, I recommend a minimum of 10 minutes. 

Once your feet are nice and soft, use a gentle pumice stone (or a foot scrubber if you didn't use anything too harsh to remove dead skin previously), and buff over the underside of your feet. Don't forget your toes! If you have nail polish residue then use a nail brush to get rid of this by brushing over your toes.

You can leave your feet to soak for longer or take them out and dry them off. I like to remove my feet from the water after I buff my feet as I don't like to leave them in as the water gets cold. 

This is the best time to cut and file your toe nails as they're soft and easy to manage. Apply your favourite spring coloured nail polish before your foot cream or lotion and you're all done!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, please leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of it. You can find more of my tutorials on my blog and on my YouTube beauty channel. Thanks for reading, remember to follow Click & Make-Up! as I'll be posting here again soon!

What's In My Shower?

Because I love being nosey and I'm sure you do too!

Yes, I have four shampoos and three conditioners on the go...what can I say? I'm a fickle product whore!  I would repurchase everything other than the Frederic Fekkai producsts and Jason Natural Jojoba Shampoo.  In-depth musings coming soon.

My favourite body products are The Pink Cow Coconut Creme - I'm on my 3rd bottle with no sign of a let up in my obsession with the scent or love of the creamy lather.  The Lush Iced Wine 'solid' shower gel is a faff that doesn't even smell too great, I got it in a 50% off set at Christmas and wouldn't bother repurchasing.

The Clean & Clear exfoliating daily face wash is a staple of my skincare regime which I've been using for about 4 years.  I can't find it on Boots.com so if it's been discontinued I will go Rambo on C&C - I can keep them in business alone by my love of this product.

I love my L'Oreal plastic scrublet, but wouldn't repurchase the face wash for the sake of it.

I bought 3 bottles of the Avon face scrub below thinking it was the amazing blue exfoliator they used to make, but it wasn't and I don't rate this one at all.

I can't be without my pink shower 'poof' - without it I would go through 10x the shower gel.

I must have tried every body exfoliating scrub under the sun before I gave up and started using the orange Body Shop 'scrubby gloves' as I call them. Forget expensive scrub tubs, these are all you need to slough off dead skin. They're the only thing that get off the last residues of fake tan. I use them with my Pink Cow shower creme so my skin doesn't get too irritated.

While I do love my Venus razor, I'm tempted to get something like a Mach3 - when you think about it, of course razor's made for guys are going to work better! But sadly they won't be pink.

I picked up my 'manual' Clarisonic face brush from Sephora for $5. It's far better than the dinky Body Shop one which I find to stiff. I use it with the Clean and Clear face wash.

I also have a big old wooden back brush, but it's huge and not too pretty so I'll leave it to your imagination!

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Lush-cious Bargains

I picked these up a couple of weeks ago when Lush were having a 50% off sale on their holiday giftsets.  I was in the Lush in Westfield the day after Boxing Day and everything was gone, but I found these beauties on the less-frequented Portobello Road branch.

On the left is the Stardust set and I knew I had to have the Gingerbread House when I saw it on a few blogs.   Stardust was £24.95 down to £12.48 and the Gingerbread House was £6.95 down from £13.95 - bargain! There were still a good number of sale bits left when I got mine so you may still be able to get lucky!  I got whipped up into a bit of a frenzy and panic bought the lip tints too.  

Look at the cute robin! The roof lifts off to reveal...

From left to right: Cinders Bath Ballistic, Gingerbread House Bubble Bar, Li'l Lush Pud Bath Ballistic, Candy Cane Bubble Bar. 

It was packed with the multicoloured Styrofoam bits you see below.  So far I've only tried the Gingerbread House Bubble Bar - it wasn't amazing I have to admit and made my bathwater a neony orange.  I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Lush - everything looks and smells so lovely in the shop, but when you get it home and into the bath the smell is not very strong and I'm not impresses with the texture sometimes.  I guess I go through phases with it.  I was all over it like a rash when I came across Lush in 2003, but went off it when I found that the soaps do 'go off' if you don't use them up within the first month or so (but they are billed fresh cosmetics).  Every year or so I do get lured back in, and so here we are!

The Stardust box is a bit boring when you get the wrapping paper off, but it will come in as a handy box for posting things!

And here's what's inside.  I mainly picked this up for the Lip Dip and Twilight Bath Ballistic.

Pretty things!

I used the Twilight Bath Ballistic the other night - Monday night baths are now a regular feature - it made my bathwater a pleasing pink, but had little scent - I hardly picked up on the Lavender.  Also, it's blue inside!  I'm sure I've tried the Candy Cane Bubble Bar in the past, or something very similar to it, and this is one product I really love - lots of creamy bubbles!

Looking forward to trying this much hyped shower gel...it smells like Bubblegum Lip Scrub, which at times can be a bit too sickly sweet.

I've barely made a dent in my other lip scrub, but this one tastes absolutely divine! It's sherbet, cranberry and lemon flavoured...noms!

Since Lush products smell best to me before they come into contact with water, I popped them into this flower pot (it used to house an Orchid) and now my bedroom smells divine! I don't leave them in the bathroom as mine gets very steamy from hot showers and the products would get damaged and go off quicker. 

After I took this photo I tied the silver ribbon from the Stardust wrapping around the jar to make it extra pretty!

Snow Fairy Lip Tint was half price, at £1.98 - again, like the shower gel it smells like Bubblegum lip scrub.  I find it a bit dry and it doesn't show up on my lips very well, so I wouldn't repurchase.

I was sneakily upsold It Started With a Kiss at the till and although it was £4.95 I really like it as it's a really bright colour on my lips and I get a compliment every time I wear it.  However I probably wouldn't repurchase this one either as it's dry, not as bad as Snow Fairy, but I take ages to use up lip products so it will have turned to dust before I come near to finishing it! For the best effect I apply a lip balm, and then the tint, but who wants to carry two products - you're better off with a Sleek Pout Polish.

Snow Fairy Lip Tint

It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint (I don't know why it hasn't shown up that vibrant, but trust me, it's post box red!)

Did you get any good steals in the Lush sale?