Random Ramble,Spending Ban, My Stash, Cutting Back & Using Up

O.M bloomin G where did January go? I was just finishing New Years shift blinked and here we are!!

Anyway I have been greatly admiring the ladies (an gents) who have managed to do a January spending ban....I have definitely not!! See the evidence below.

With the best will in the world I could not do a spending ban when the January sales are on! I usually have to be good in the post Christmas budget but I got some pennies of Santa and my beloved MUA had 50% off, ELF has 48% off an Lovethymakeup had free P&P! So the #spendingban didn't happen. As I did go a bit mad (that picture doesn't show 2 orders I'm waiting on delivery for either) I have to re arrange my Make up cubby/storage area. This has highlighted just how much make up I have and how much I forgot I have!

So I am going to do a February spending ban and maybe It will help me cut back on my make up spending long term....maybe...possibly.....I doubt it but its worth a try!

Part of what I was planning on doing was a project 10 pan to thin some of my collection out. Picking a basket of products and using nothing but them in various ways for the week (so lots of FOTD) to help me fall back in love with things I have gathering dust. A few posts on my collection, hopefully some one might read it (this) an have some ideas for me.

If you have done a spending ban how did you get on? any tips for helping me through? did you try and make it last or treat your self at the end of it?

Thank you for reading.

MUA is brushing me up the right way!!

My lovely MUA order (yes more MUA) came on 8th December containing their newly launched make up brushes!

I have been so excited about these brushes! As you know I love MUA and their tremendous quality at an amazing price and was wondering how they would pull off something that can be so costly an maintain the brand's affordability. Well I don't know how they did it but they did! 

I didn't order them all, just the ones I'll get good use from.

Since they arrived I have used these brushes nearly every day! I have washed them several times and even let my 11 year old have a play to test their indestructibility! There has been NO shedding at all!

"E" brushes are for Eyes, "F" brushes are for the Face and "L" brush is for the Lips. I have used them as suggested and how I wanted to (aka grabbing the 1st one that will do).

The brushes them selves have a lovely long slim glossy black handle, black ferrule and black bristles (apart from the F2) which I love because white brushes, no matter how much I clean them always look stained an dirty after a few uses. 

 

 E5 (£1.50) - eye lash brush (what I call a spoolie). I use disposable wands on other people and wand from the bottle for my self. The reason I ordered this brush is because I use them to comb brows through before filling in to get the shape right and after to soften the look so my brows don't look to harsh.

E1 (£1.95) - eye shadow brush. I have used this to pat on powder shadow, cream shadow, primer, base, glitter, pigments and run the thin end under the eyes for a slight smokey look. I also used this for concealer on larger blemishes.

E7 (£1.50) - eyebrow brush. I have used this on my brows and as an angled eyeliner brush, it gives a great flick for a cat eye look, under the eyes, to get a precise line when doing a cut crease and to do some delicate application of concealer on the shadows caused by under eye bags. 

 F2 (£3) - foundation blending brush. For me this brush is a bit small to do a full face of foundation but I i did use as the instruction card said an it worked well when I had a little extra time, but in the pre school run rush I'll probably be sticking to my fingers, blending egg or coastal scents flat top kabuki purely for speed. I did use it for blending foundation in to the hair line, cream blush, powder blush, contour and highlight.

E2 (£1.95) -  eyeshadow contour brush. I have used it to contour the crease, highlight below the brow bone, blend concealer close under the eye and round the nose.

E4 (£1.50) -  eyeliner brush, I only use this for eyeliner. Its so perfectly fine just soft enough to allow a smooth flowing line but stiff enough to hold in place and not slide about. I love the lid can be used to extend the handle and actually fit securely at either end!

 

F3 (£1.95)  - concealer brush. I have used this for concealer, cream shadow, eye shadow base, to smudge out gel liners used as a base, glitters and pigments.

L1 (£1.50) - lip brush. As a rule I never use a lip brush an my self and rarely on other people but I did use it as intended and it works fine for that. It has a lid like the the E4 which again fits securely on both ends. I did use it to apply highlight to the Cupid's bow. brow bone, its the perfect size to put a little bit of sparkle in the inner corner of the eye, concealer on small areas, eyeshadow under the eye and doing a cut crease.

E3 (£1.95) - blending eye shadow brush. I used for blending, applying colour, under eye concealer and setting it with powder (not at the same time).

These brushes are fantastic quality for the price! I have paid a lot more for brushes that where no where near as good (didn't give me "Good Karma" if you get my drift). Are they the softest brushes I own? No. I'm not going to lie at say they out shine some really high end brushes but for the price they are way better than most people will expect! I have absolutely no complaints an the best compliment I can pay is.... I have ordered some duplicates!

An so my love affair with MUA continues!

 

Thanks for reading!

EPIC EMPTIES.....part 4!

Hands an Feet type stuff

 

Hand Therapy Concentrated Hand Balm 75ml  99p from Superdrug. When I was quite small I had eczema mainly on my hands an it flares up now and again, usually patches of irritated skin between fingers etc. So I usually pick intensive treatments for my hands. This is a really nourishing and definitely more of a balm than a hand cream, its a similar consistency to Vaseline. I cant detect any smell coming from it either which is good if you like unscented things. I usually put this on before bed with some cotton gloves and by morning my hands are lovely and soft. I wouldn't use this through the day or if I didn't have a good 30 mins of doing nothing to let it soak in as it tends to leave greasy / sticky marks until its fully absorbed. I have tried some of the more expensive high street hand balms, creams moisturisers etc and this is as good as any of the more expensive ones and better than a lot of them!

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Probably.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

  Is it good value? VERY good value.

 Sally Hansen get strong multivitamin nail strengthener £3.99 from most supermarkets or chemists. My nails can be quit brittle and peel and split. I liked this product as my nails didn't seem so weak during use. It almost seem to soak in, leaving a soft sheen to the nail not a hi gloss finish. I didn't like using it as an undercoat for darker polish as I still got a little staining. It definitely made my nails stronger but I have recently been using SH miracle cure problem nail strengthener which I'm loving.

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Not since I've tried "problem nail".

Would I buy it again? Yes.

  Is it good value? Yes.

 Tesco Nail Polish Remover 250ml £1.20 from Tesco. Not a lot I can say about this really. It does what it says on the bottle, removes nail varnish. No better an no worse than any other nail varnish remover. It readily available if you shop or live near a Tesco and its quite cheap.

 Is it likely to become my "go to" product? It already is.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

  Is it good value? Yes.

Nivea Age defying Q10 plus Hand Cream 30ml. I think I paid £1.20 for this in Tesco, but you can get it in any supermarket or high street chemist. I love Nivea products in general. This was kept in my hand bag because of its lovely small size. I used it through the day when my hands where starting to get dry and particularly in work after nipping the loo. I find the soaps in toilets incredibly drying. There is a perfume to it, light an flowery not offensive and not very strong and a lot better than the smell of the anti-bacterial soap in public / work toilets. 

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Maybe.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

  Is it good value? Yes.

 The Body Shop Lemongrass Foot Polish 130ml, I think it was about £5. I'm sure you cant get this any more or at least I've not seen it which is a shame as I totally forgot I had it! Found at the back of a draw I've used it 2 or 3 times a week for the last 5 weeks and fell in love with it all over again! Working nights my feet swell awfully, an being a chunky monkey they are under extra pressure from my jiggly bits so I do love a good foot scrub and treatment, I'm very surprised there isn't more foot stuff in my empties bag, I've probably thrown them away or put them "some where safe" 

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? It probably would if I could still buy it.

Would I buy it again? Yes, if it was available.

  Is it good value? I think so.

 Cracked Heel Repair Cream 25g, £3.29 from Superdrug. It smells unsurprisingly of mint as it has peppermint oil in. Mint is a mostly inoffensive smell and preferable to most people's foot smell. As I don't spend a lot of time trying to smell my feet I'm neither please or displeased by the smell but I do think a product dealing with whiffy trotters should smell nice and fresh so I like it! This is a lovely cooling cream an nice and relaxing to rub in but like my hands I prefer something thicker like a balm to leave on while I'm sleeping with my footsie socks on. (I'm painting a lovely attractive picture here aren't I :op)

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? I'd prefer some thing thicker but maybe.

Would I buy it again? Yes.

  Is it good value? Yes.

Finally empties all finished and the bag NOT full again....yet! If you stuck with me through all that have your self a cake/cuppa tea/coffee/apple/sticker to celebrate!! I know I am :o)

Please let me know any products you recommend!

Thanks for reading!

EPIC EMPTIES.....part 3!

Skin stuff (skin not including face that is)

 

 Shelly Soft feel Shave Gel 175ml £1 from Poundland. Picked it up because it was there! Works just fine, doesn't irritate my skin and doesn't have an overly strong smell. Foams up nice and thickly too.

  Is it likely to become my "go to" product? No.

Would I buy it again? Might do.

  Is it good value? Yes.

Gillette Satin Care Sensitive Skin Shave Gel 75ml £1 from Poundland. Picked this up with the Shelly Gel in case that one was pants. As its a dinky size its mostly been in my sponge bag. Nothing much to say about this one either really it does what it supposed to do thick lather no smell I can detect but neither of them will replace my favourite Tesco's shave gel, I lurrrrve the berry smell lol. 

  Is it likely to become my "go to" product? No.

Would I buy it again? Might do.

  Is it good value? From Poundland yes, not sure how much it costs normally.

 Avon Senses Sunset Body Scrub. I think about £2 from Avon. I'm not sure you can get this now. I found it in a bag at the top of my wardrobe with a load of stuff I really like and gift sets that "i don't want to run out of" I've now decided to sod that cos I could fall off a cliff before I've used half of it (there is a whole case of Soap an Glory!!!) anyway I am now sad I have none left. I love the bright zesty smell. It has little bits of "something" micro particle thingys for exfoliation, which I am always loving and left me feeling all clean and scrubbed and smelling like a fresh citrus cocktail. 

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Possibly if they still do it.

Would I buy it again? Definitely.

 Is it good value? Yes.

Sweet Snuggles Hot Fudge Body Scrub and Creme Carmel Body Creme. Both of these where in the above mentioned wardrobe bag and part of a set I got last Christmas from the kids. Really nice an god I smelt yummy!! body scrub was my fave!

  Are they likely to become my "go to" product? You can't buy them :o(

Would I buy it again? Yes if it was available.

  Is it good value? Don't know how much they cost.

Britney Spears Curious Body Souffle. 100ml again part of a set and in the bag. Now here's the thing, a while back I happened to say "those bottles on the Britney Spears perfumes are quite pretty" an ever since I've managed to get 1 if not 2 bottles or sets for birthday or Christmas ever since!! This year I have commented that a Porsche would like nice on my drive but I don't think it will have the same effect! So I've used it and its ok, not fantastically moisturising and the it doesn't smell awful but the smell doesn't last very long any way. So its ok...ish.

  Is it likely to become my "go to" product? No.

Would I buy it again? No.

  Is it good value? Don't know how much they cost.

Thanks for reading. 

EPIC EMPTIES.....part 2!

I really need to get my act together or my empties sack will be full again before I post this lot (mentally slapping self!)

Finally 2nd part, face!!

Montagne Jeunesse (not a clue how you pronounce!!) face masks average 15g of produce per sachet, depending on which one you pick up. I got a selection while they where on 2 for £3 in Bodycare.

These two are white and orange chocolate ones. Me an my middle monkey do "Facial Fridays" when I'm off on a Friday night (see my instagram for embarrassing evidence) occasionally depending on my shifts it is delayed to "slap it on Saturday". These 2 masks give you an urge to eat you own face! DON'T an not just because its freakish and Hannibal Lecter like but because as lovely as these masks smell the taste baaaaad!! I swear any tasting was done accidentally for the purpose if giving you a fully accurate blog!! To be honest I didn't have me contacts in an managed to cover both our faces and most of the bathroom in it!! Any way I'm not sure if these masks do anything life changing, but they are good for "having to relax" for the allotted time and great fun for me an the mini makeup addicts or friends etc.

Are they likely to become my "go to" product? Do people have a "go to face mask"? well I don't buy other ones so I guess so.

Would I buy it again? Definitely.

Are they good value? Yes.

Boots Essentials Cucumber Facial Wash. 150mls £1.50 from Boots (obviously) I love cucumbery stuff for my face, I don't exactly know why. It always seems fresh and clean. This wash is for all skin types. I use quite a full on exfoliation face scrub because of my dry skin and this for in between washes. It soft and gentle but leaves me feeling really clean. I do use and like other face washes but this is super cheap and easily available.

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? One of them, yes

Would I buy it again? Definitely.

Is it good value? Yes.

Bodycare make up remover wipes.25 wipes and I'm 99% sure i paid less than £2 for these on BOGOF. 

In all honesty I bought them by mistake. I ducked in to get some sticky baby finger wipes and they where in the 1st basket by the door. They do exactly what they say on the packet but I wouldn't use them on sensitive skin even my "ole leather hide" found the a little harsh after a while but as a stand by they are quite good as it took me a while to use 2 packets and they didn't dry out even being open for about 3 weeks! Bargain or not they cant replace my Neva cleansing wipes!

Are they likely to become my "go to" product? No

Would I buy it again?Hummm never say never with these I think.

Are they good value? Yes

 Purederm Deep Cleansing Nose Strips.

6 strips for £2 in B&M or Bodycare maybe Home Bargains...one of the discount stores. 

I don't get a huge amount of black heads round my nose, possibly because I use these or similar?? I've always been really conscience of blackheads and spots round my nose an have tried main brands. Purederm are no less effective than more expensive equivalents. When taking these off ALWAYS wet them! Next time some one is at the door an you think "I'll just whip it off quick" don't!! make them wait or just open the door!! trust me its never actually gonna be Chris Hemsworth and not anyone worth losing the top 4 layers of skin on you nose for!! There is a scarey / satisfying amount of unpleasantness plucked from my pores on removal...not sure if thats good or bad but it justifies me using them!

Are they likely to become my "go to" product? Probably

Would I buy it again? Yes

Are they good value? Yes

 Asda Skinsystem Night Cream

50ml £1.99 from ASDA. I mostly Use a lot of night creams for moisturiser. As Ive said many many many times I have really dry skin and I work nights so any "go to bed " moisturiser need to be worth its stuff as it goes on about 10am and them I'm up for the school run by 2.30pm so I need as much hydration and as concentration as possible. I have regularly gone to be with Vaseline smeared on my face for the very dry patches. I was going to say for it price this is a good product but bugger the price, at £10 a tub this would be a good product! My skin feels smooth, silky soft and well nourished when Ive used this. Its not at all greasy and soaks in well so no mush on the pillow case! Oh an it smells lovely! sweet and flowery but not to strong.

Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Probably

Would I buy it again? Yes

is it good value? Yes

For some reason there was a packet of my contact lenses in the bag too. Not sure why or how they ended up in there!?!? but yes they are awesome cos they let me seeeeee! :op

Thanks for reading!

EPIC EMPTIES....part 1!

Due to being a lazy numpty my empties bag is MAAAHOOOOSIVE so I've split it in to 4 posts: Hair, Skin, Face, Hands & Feet.

So here comes hair!

As you'll see with all my empty posts I'm very random, very fickle and generally use any special offers to try something new.

 

Palmolive Milk & Homey shampoo and conditioner for dry hair.

Shampoo 400ml and Conditioner 300ml . I paid £1.75 for each of them.

They smell nice but not amazing. My hair was clean but nothing more, didn't feel particularity "nourished" an I found the conditioner really thin and as I have dry/curly/coarse hair wasn't much good for me. 

Are they likely to become my "go to" product? No.

Would I buy it again? Probably not.

Are they good value? Yes (if you don't have unfortunate hair like me)

Head & Shoulder dandruff stuff.

Shampoo 500ml and Conditioner 200ml. I paid £2.20 for the shampoo and £2 for the conditioner. The shampoo smells like....well like Head and Shoulders, but its not the sort of product you by for anything other than dandruff. I was having a week of really dry and irritated scalp after a dose of flu (I always get hyper sensitive skin when I've been poorly). The conditioner has eucalyptus in it. Which was totally unintentional but fantastic! The smell is not strong enough to irritate but great in the shower for a snuffly nose! An it feels really fresh on the scalp! Deffo not something I'd wash my hair with before bed but feeling rough and having to go to work really helped, all tingly and wakey uppy!?! Unfortunately Head & Shoulders seems to make my hair dye fade/go flat/not last as long.

Are they likely to become my "go to" product? Not really.

Would I buy them again? Yes, for when I've been poorly and my head hurts.

Are they good value? Defiantly.

 

L'Oreal Elvive Anti - frizz conditioner.

I paid £2.50 for 400ml

It smalls like Salon shampoo/conditioner which I know is a daft thing to say but I'm pants at describing smells and that's the only thing I cant think of. It has Argan in so may its that I can smell. Its lovely and thick really soften an tames my hair, does exactly what it says on the bottle!

 Is it likely to become my "go to" product? Possibly.

Would I buy it again? Defiantly.

Is it good value? Defiantly.

 Head Candy Treat Me Right Shampoo (an conditioner but i threw that bottle out)

250 ml in both bottles and I paid £1 for each (in pound-land). So time to be honest, I bought them because they are purple, my favorite shade of Eeyore purple! (I LUUUUURVE Eeyore).

It smells of berrys and cherrys, which is not unpleasant. Same as the Palmolive feeling with this, it washed my hair but didn't do anything out standing...other than be Eeyore purple!

 Is it likely to become my "go to" product? No.

Would I buy it again? Probably not.

Is it good value? Yes, if you get it from pound-land.

 Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Straightened Protection shampoo (threw the conditioner bottle away....again),

250 ml in both bottles and I paid £4.50 for the shampoo and £5.20 for the conditioner.

Has a perfume to it, slightly magnolia smelling and a bit flowery, not offensive.

These products probably did protect my hair from heat....by coating it with so much product the heat couldn't penetrate it! I really really didn't like these products. With in hours of washing, my hair felt dry at the ends greasy at the roots, heavy and really unpleasant to touch. By the time I'd added the heat of my straighteners (which took hours) it was so bad. I persevered with it as my hair can be quite different depending on my hormone level (very greasy once a month, if you get my drift) but sadly no. Bottom of the bottles and still not impressed. It also took a good 2 weeks of TLC to get my head back to its naturally unfortunate unruly state.

  Is it likely to become my "go to" product? NO!!!

Would I buy it again? NEVER!!! 

 Is it good value? Not at all.

Herbal Essences Seductively Straight Intensive Mask.

I paid £5.25 for 200ml. It says it has pear extract and it does smell slightly fruity but mostly fresh clean with a slight perfume that doesn't linger after its rinsed out. It says to used it once or twice a week, I used it after every wash! Love it! Left my hair soft, silky, smoothed. Weather I straighten it or let my curls take over after using the herbal essences range I know I'm not going to have to much frizz to worry about! This is the only herbal essence product in my empties, not because I don't use a lot but because I know I like them and don't need reminding to pick them up lol!

Any hair recommendations for the a thick fluffy fuzzball please let me know!!

Thanks for reading!

MUA Brush on Concealer Pen

The MUA Brush on Concealer pen in Radiance is a bargain at £2. 

Its light and creamy formula may fool you in to thinking that its not going to give much coverage but no. The middle bottom swatch shows that when blended on my hand covers the blue of my veins amazingly. Its just as good at covering the dark circles and discoloration under and round my eyes, nose and odd patches too. 

It lightens an brightens but is not shimmery at all. There was no creasing under my eyes or the slight tacky greasiness (that some concealers have) acting as a magnet to mascara. The Brush does a fine job or applying the concealer but I'm not a huge fan of "built in brushes" so I have been blending it in with either a finger or small brush.
It has a slight fragrance but despite practically shoving it up the nose of everyone in my vicinity nobody can say what it is. Its not unpleasant and not noticeable even when used right next to my nose! If anyone can tell me what it is please do!!

Great with a bit of powder for a minimal day but lasts all day/night with a full face.

Very short post I know but nothing more I can say than this is a good product and I will be repurchasing as soon as it runs out!

Thanks for reading.