Empties #8

Here are my next lot of empties!  The Easter holidays are nearly coming to an end, I'm so sad, loving being off - although I've spent about 80% of the time studying for my last uni exam.  It will be pretty stressful when I'm back at college as we've so much to do, and doing the Graded Unit in our own time, then also I am trying to study for uni most days too :(  I actually can't wait for the summer and it all to be over!!!

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water

Thoughts:  Toner is my favourite skincare item and this one is no exception, it feels so clean and refreshing on my skin.  I use it after cleansing and also sometimes I will just use it alone in the morning or if I feel like I need it.  £3.95/100g here.  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Yes.

The Body Shop Mango Body Scrub

Thoughts:  You can see my full review of this here.  I loved the smell but unfortunately it was just so oily, and I think was getting in my hair too, which was making it look really greasy :(  I got this for about £8 which was lucky.  £12.50 here.  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: No, I might do some research and try a different scent.

Lush Dorothy Bubble Bar 

Thoughts:  Dorothy is my favourite bubble bar!  I think I still have at least another one upstairs waiting to be used.  They are very cute to look at - blue with a rainbow on top - and I can get 2 baths out of one.  £2.99 here.  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Yes.

Origins VitaZing Moisturiser SPF 15

Thoughts:  I loved this product!  I often don't wear foundation because in general my skin is pretty good but I just need a bit of something to make me look less like a ghost.  VitaZing is a moisturiser with a slight pigment which gives a nice healthy glow.  I'm so annoyed that Origins aren't cruelty free :(

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

Mac Penultimate Eyeliner in Rapidblack 

Thoughts:  Felt tip liners are my favourite, along with gels.  This one was quite good to begin with as far as I can remember but I found the tip to be a little bit short.  

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

<3

Empties #7

I've built up quite a little collection of empty products again, but I'm grouping them together so technically it's still five ;) Also sorry about the crappy photos, I still can't afford a memory card haha!

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner

Thoughts:  I sadly didn't get on at all well with these, I did a review here where you can read exactly why.  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: No.

Lush Big Blue Bath Bomb

Thoughts:  My parents got me this for my birthday but I only just remembered about it recently.  I loved using this, it turns the water blue and it's got wee bits of seaweed in it too!  It smells lovely and it is just like being in a beautiful ocean!  £3.20 here.  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Yes.

Origins A Perfect World Moisturiser

Thoughts:  I didn't really like the smell of this, and it felt a bit too 'wet' on my skin.  

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

Origins Brighter By Nature Moisturiser

Thoughts:  I quite liked this as a moisturiser although I'm not sure about the skin tone correcting, didn't see any of that!  It's good that it has a high SPF in it.  

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No, but I probably would if they were cruelty free.

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

Thoughts:  This was fine, as foaming cleansers go...  I'm a bit scared of them now after that #bbloggers chat about skincare where Caroline Hirons said that foaming cleansers are not good for your skin!  

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: No.

Avon Ideal Shade Cream-to-Powder Foundation in Ivory

Thoughts:  I actually really liked this!  The only thing I didn't like was the smell, it was a bit gross.  It matched my skin tone well, and was so quite and easy to use.  It is supposedly a cheap dupe for the Urban Decay one.   

Cruelty-free?: No.

Repurchase?: Sadly not!

Une Eyebrow Pencil in B04

Thoughts:  This was too dark for me as the shade lighter was out of stock at the time.  I do quite like these pencils but they are very soft so need sharpening often.  Also they are like a long cuboid shape so the bit you sharpen is a square, which makes life interesting!  

Cruelty-free?: Yes.

Repurchase?: Possibly in an emergency!

<3

How Much Is My [everyday] Face?

I've been seeing a lot of these posts going around and I'm really curious as to how much mine is!  When it comes to my everyday make up I am very basic!  Mainly because I am so lazy and by no means am I a morning person so if there is a way for me to get an extra few minutes in bed I will find it!

Please note that the majority of these products are not cruelty free as I am just trying to use them up, as usual I will mention each item specifically.

I will mention each one in the order I apply them:

Origins VitaZing Moisturiser - £27.00 (not CF)
Mac Studio Finish Concealer - £14.50 (not CF)
ELF Eyebrow Kit - £3.75
Benefit They're Real mascara - £18.50
Covergirl Instant Cheekbones blusher - $5.29 (£3.33) (not CF)
Mac Blot Powder Pressed (although not anymore as it smashed and is now in a wee pot loose!) - £20.00 (not CF)

Total = £87.08

I am actually quite surprised at this!  However, A LOT of the prices have gone up, for example when I first bought VitaZing it was £25.  Also I got my staff discount on the Origins, Mac and Benefit items which is always a bonus.

If you've done one of these I'd love if you left me a link, they're so interesting to read :)

<3

Collection: Facial Scrubs

A couple of days ago it suddenly occurred to me that over the, ahem, years, I have managed to gather quite a few facial scrubs...

I am on a bit of a 'use everything up and start again' kick recently so I am now on a mission to try and finish these!  It is also partly because none of them are cruelty free!  It shows you how long I've had some of them for, I probably technically shouldn't be using a couple but they all smell fine to me haha!

I have two of these, one I got in a set along with a 30ml VitaZing and GinZing eye cream (For £25 I think, what a bargain, eye cream itself is £21!) and the other I got as a free sample - questionable!  I've not opened either of yet so I can't comment, however I'm not doing this as a review post anyway due to them all (not sure about St Ives to be honest...) having animal testing connections.  This is more of a 'why the hell do I have this many scrubs?!' post...

I have actually had this for so long!  Thank goodness I only got the sample size!  I bought this after seeing Fafinettex3 (I think that was her username, anyone else used to watch her?) or Aubrey on Youtube raving about it.  However I don't particularly like this as it has a very strong smell and the particles are quite rough and are not regular spheres so it is quite harsh on the skin.  It does leave my skin feeling soft afterwards but during it isn't very pleasant!

I think I bought this to help with blackheads on my nose.  I keep this one in my shower so it gets used slightly more often than the others!

I bought this one because I have what are called 'milk spots' under my eyes which are just like teeny white spots but they don't heal themselves and they just stay there always :( I read that salicylic acid is good for helping them and this one contained a higher percentage.  I don't even know if it works to be honest I only stuck with it for like 3 days...  So you never know, once I've finished this I may be milk spot free!

If anyone has any suggestions for cruelty-free scrubs when I (eventually) finish this lot please let me know!  I was thinking Soap and Glory?

<3

Origins VitaZing Vs. Soap & Glory Glow Job

Origins VitaZing is my staple daily item, I use it every morning before putting on my make up.  This is good for me as I am terrible as routines!!  However due to Origins' parent company Estée Lauder recently being put in the spotlight for either lying about animal testing, or starting it up again (I'm not sure of the details), I have been on the hunt for an alternative!

I really did not expect to find one at all to be honest, never mind one which is so similar!  I saw it mentioned on Behind These Closed Eyes' blog, and knew I had to go out and try this ASAP!  The product is Glow Job (oooh err!) by Soap & Glory.

Price:  VitaZing comes in at £26, however I used to buy it with my staff discount so got it for £22.10 (it used to be £25, and my staff discount used to be 20% so would get it for £20, booo!) and Glow Job is £9.

Application:  You only need a pea sized amount for both of these creams, any more than that and you can end up with streaky and uneven coverage.  VitaZing is easier to apply in that you just rub it into you skin and it changes colour - actual voodoo magic - whereas Glow Job contains bronzing balls which burst to release colour.  So for this one you need to apply it to your fingers then rub them together to burst all the balls (lol...) and mix in the bronzeness before putting it onto your face.  You do not want to just rub this straight on, you will end up with the beads bursting all over the place and it will be hard to make it even after that!

Appearance/Scent:  VitaZing is a beigey colour with tiny dark specks, and Glow Job is just pale white colour until the beads are burst and mixed in when it turns to a more golden tan colour.  Personally I prefer the smell of VitaZing, it is a fresher fruity smell where as Glow Job is sweeter, reminds me of something but I can't quite think what...

Packaging:  I prefer VitaZing's packaging for this one as it's a flip lid so much easier when you're in a rush in the morning!  Glow Job is just a twist on lid which can be awkward at times.  However, every morning when I go to use it VitaZing has a gooey, congealed bit at the nozzle which I need to wipe off before using which is really annoying! I'm sure this isn't really to do with packaging but just thought I'd throw it in there!

So here are some really awkward pictures of my face!

Without any face make up on

Wearing Origins VitaZing Moisturiser

Wearing Soap & Glory Glow Job

And my overall thoughts on them both...

VitaZing:  I prefer the application and smell of this but it is no longer cruelty free in my eyes and also has quite a hefty price tag!

Glow Job:  Love the price, it's also more accessible as it's available from Boots rather than an Origins counter.  It does have a more greasy feel to the cream which sank into my face however it left more of a residue on my hands.  It also doesn't contain SPF which is a bit annoying, however it means you can wear it for occasions where there will be photos taken and it won't make your face look shiny!

So to be honest I'd say they are quite interchangeable!  Except Glow Job is almost a 3rd of the price and it is most importantly cruelty free!

<3

Day 9. Your Nine Step Daily Makeup Routine

I'm going to be honest... I am terrible with routines!  So, hmmm, this will be interesting!  Okay so let's assume that this is a day where I have enough time to do my make up - minimally - but properly i.e. not on the train!

Rinse face (I don't cleanse in the morning... or at night - BAD!)

Apply Origins VitaZing Moisturizer and leave for 5/10 minutes.

Foundation: Avon Cream-to-Powder foundation in Ivory - I don't love this product but I did a big clear out so this is the only foundation I have left, it is nearly finished so I'll be getting a new one soon.  Hopefully Illamasqua Skin Base!

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 under my eyes.

Blusher: At the moment I am just trying to use up and old Covergirl one (not cruelty free) to get rid of it!

I then fill in my holey eyebrows using No7 Beautiful Brows Pencil in Blonde.

Lastly I apply my Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect mascara. 

 
but if I've got time... I like to put some liquid eyeliner on, I'm using MAC Penultimate Liner in Black, but NYX also do a really good felt tip one too.

Powder!  I am trying to use MAC Blot powder as I smashed it so it's just in a wee tub now all loose and I'm trying to finish it!

Yasss I think I managed to fudge 9 steps there!  Proud!

<3

Day 1. One Makeup Product You Use Everyday

Origins Vitazing Moisturizer:

I love this and I use it in the morning once I have rinsed my face, then I go and have breakfast, come back and apply my make up.  It comes out of the tube a creamy white colour and has tiny dark specks in it.  When you rub it into your skin it activates the pigments and they seem to adjust to your skintone giving a warm, healthy glow.  Cost £26.

Unfortunately, due to Estée Lauder resuming tests on animals, I will no longer be purchasing from Origins which means no more Vitazing Moisturizer, sad face!

Because I can no longer regard this as cruelty-free product I will include one which is, Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara:

This is my second tube of it and I really like it.  I have always struggled with finding a good mascara but this one has definitely been my favourite one so far.  The wand rotates and you can select which way you want it to go too which is useful!  The rotation makes it much faster to coat the lashes and also by holding it against the tips it creates good length.  Cost £11.99.

<3