I’m back with a combined beauty spend
report as I had a low spend month in February! If only they could all be like
that!
In February, along with a £20
subscription to the Liberty Beauty Drop Box, I repurchased two products. The
first of which being a Real Techniques Setting Brush. I honestly can’t
remember how long I had my original brush – it featured on my blog for the first time in 2015 and would have lasted many more years if I hadn’t lost it So mad at myself but I think I must have left it in a hotel room
because I turned my bedroom upside down and couldn’t find it. I use it daily so
picked the replacement up from Amazon as that’s where I found it for the
cheapest price at £6.07 (RRP £7.99). The new version has a pink base rather
than black and I would say it feels very slightly different though that could
be because mine was so old! Anyway, it’s the best size for setting under the
eye and eyelid too and I can’t recommend it enough!
I also just finished my favourite eye
makeup remover so grabbed another Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Removerfor £1.99 from Savers. If you wear waterproof mascara you
need this in your life! It’s a bio phase formula and the oil works to break
down makeup all while being super gentle, not stinging eyes or leaving a fuzzy
film over them! See more here! My total for February was £28.06.
Moving onto March now and as well as
another £20 billing for the Liberty beauty box subscription, I picked up three Revlon Colorstay Foundations for Oily/Combo skin in the shade Buff as it was on 3
for 2 in Boots. Normally this is £12.99 per bottle so instead of £38.97 altogether
it was £25.98 and because I had some vouchers from Christmas I only paid £3.37.
Side note, when are Boots going to introduce being able to use gift cards
online? So annoying. Anyway, this is my go-to work foundation as I don’t like
wearing my more expensive foundations when I am just working from home! I have
been repurchasing for years and it’s a great, long lasting, full coverage
foundation and Buff is a perfect match for me! I don’t wear much drugstore
makeup anymore, but this is one I always have in my collection! See more here!
Another trip to Savers for essentials
resulted in me picking up some more dry shampoo – the Schwarzkopf dry
shampoos feature heavily in my empties but I think I forget to add them
into my spend reports as to me they are quite boring but £1.99 can’t be beaten!
I also had a lovely trip to Prague in the middle of the month and took the
opportunity to grab the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara which worked out at £3.10.
Moving onto a few more exciting end of
the month purchases and I finally picked up the Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out
Freestyle cream blush in Petal Poppin that I have wanted for ages! It’s
usually £21 but Boots had 15% off and then a further 5% off for Mother’s Day
making this £16.96. Lastly, I made a Look Fantastic order for a backup of the Barry M lip scrub which is just as good as my old favourite from Lush! Unfortunately,
they didn’t have the mint flavour I wanted so I picked up bubblegum – it’s
usually £4.99 but there’s always a 20% off code! I also grabbed the Maison Margiela Replica Memory Box 10 x 2ml as I have wanted to smell these for
ages and this was £33 but I got 20% off too and also had a £5 credit on my
account so this haul cost me £25.01 altogether instead of £37.99.
My total for March was £70.43 instead of
£122.39 thanks to those discounts and gift cards and the total for the two months
was £98.49. I think I am due another beauty box from Liberty in the middle of this
month after which I might cancel the subscription. I have £80 in the account
now but have to say I don’t find their beauty section that good so I’m not sure
what I will pick up yet!
Finally ready for another empties post! I
find the first one of the year is always the hardest for me as I end up opening
so many new products round Christmas so this has been just over two months in
the making! I’m hoping now I’ve made a start on them the rest will come
quicker! Let’s get into the mini reviews!
Haircare
Schwarzkopf got2b Dry Shampoo
A constant repurchase for me, this is
cheap and cheerful and works well to mask my greasy hair giving me another day!
Already using my replacement!
I love the new packaging for this as it
much easier to distribute than the old pump but I don’t notice any difference
while using it unfortunately! I like to think it’s helping my scalp but I don’t
find I have a flaky scalp and my hair is still as greasy as ever so not a
repurchase for me!
Bodycare
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Lotion
I have been through a lot of these over
the last few years especially when I was on Roaccutane! It hydrates my skin all
day long, sinks in quickly and works to help lock moisture in the skin. It is fragrance
free which is great for sensitive skin but personally I prefer a scent, so I’ll
have a break from this now but repurchase in the future!
I’ve talked about the matching body oil a
lot but the body cream is also beautifully scented and so uplifting! It’s lightweight
and sinks into my skin quickly leaving it feeling hydrated and soft! Would
repurchase on offer! See my review on Instagram here!
Biossance 100% Squalane Oil
This is a multipurpose oil but I used as
a body oil mainly and really enjoyed it! It’s lightweight and didn’t leave my
skin feeling greasy and I always woke up to soft, supple skin. I’d say I prefer
the Elemental Herbology body oil over this as I do like a scent but would
repurchase this one again if on offer!
OUAI Melrose Place Body Crème
My favourite scent and if you have read
my blog over the years you will already know what a fan I am of their products!
This is a lightweight moisturiser but I found the scent didn’t last that long
on my skin unfortunately so I probably won’t repurchase unless I see it in a
set again or on offer as I’d rather just buy the perfume!
Nivea 3 in 1 Anti-Age Q10 Hand Cream
Loved this and have been through so many
tubes over the years. It smells so fresh, sinks in quickly leaving no residue
and leaves my hands super soft. I have a few other hand creams to get through,
but I will repurchase this in the future as it’s my favourite!
A simple, no frills cleansing balm, super
affordable, feels hydrating and removes makeup with ease! Unscented so good for
sensitive skin and that’s the only thing that lets this slightly down for me as
I do like a scent for a more luxurious experience but it’s a small price to
pay! Have a backup the brand kindly sent but I would repurchase this too! See full review here!
Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner
Been through a couple of bottles of this
now and I love it! It’s instantly cooling and soothing and feels gentle and
hydrating. Full review here and I will repurchase in the future once I finish
some other toners!
La Roche Posay Toleriane Ultra 8
This is so soothing and hydrating with a lovely,
fine mist. It is alcohol and fragrance free and has been formulated
specifically for sensitive skin and was another lifesaver while on Roaccutane!
See my full review here and I would repurchase in the future!
Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover
One of my most repurchase skincare
products of all time! The best eye makeup remover out there in my opinion and
really affordable too. Doesn’t dry the skin round my eyes out and makes light
work of waterproof mascara! Full review here and already repurchased!
By no means a necessity but I loved this
neck serum! It made the skin on my neck feel so soft and look much smoother! I
am becoming more conscious of aging now in my early 30’s and tech neck from being on my phone etc so this was a welcome extra in my routine! I
loved the roller applicator too! Would recommend this if you are concerned
about aging skin on your neck as it really made such a difference! Out of my
price range right now as an “extra” but would repurchase this in the future!
See my full review here!
While this was a lovely formula, didn’t
pill and I saw a brightening effect, I didn’t see much difference in some
targeted dark spots I had from old acne unfortunately, so the claims and price
of this serum just didn’t impress me enough to repurchase! Full review here!
A bit of an “it” ingredient from last
year but one I don’t get the hype with unfortunately! Lightweight but silicone
heavy, I just didn’t see or feel a difference with the hydration in my skin
compared to when I just use hyaluronic acid. I ended up using this on my chest
area as I just didn’t love it on my face. Full review here but I wouldn’t
repurchase!
Another one that’s not for me, I know
people love this hyaluronic acid but again it just doesn’t work as well for me as
other HA’s so I used this up on my chest. Hate the packaging, the cap gets
so messy. Affordable, so worth a try but not a repurchase for me.
Loved this SPF! Lightweight, contains
peptides and niacinamide, no white cast on my skin tone, no pilling, didn't sting my eyes and gives a
lovely base for makeup. Smells a little of alcohol but I didn’t experience any
sensitivity and I would repurchase! Full review here.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
So impressed with this! Picked it up on a
whim in the November sale and to be honest only use it a couple of times on my face
as I wanted to try it on the KP on the back of my arms. It did an amazing job
of keeping them smooth and bump free! The few times I used it on my face I was impressed,
and I will definitely be picking this up again when I finish a few other
exfoliating products and I hope they bring it out in a supersize!
NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex
My favourite hyaluronic acid and the one
I measure all others against - nothing works as quickly on my skin to inject
hydration and it lasts all day long! Full review here and I will repurchase
once I finish up a few others!
Really impressed with this eye serum, it
felt hydrating despite being a serum not a cream and I noticed less visible
fine lines and firmer upper lids using this consistently! Full review here and I have a backup
kindly sent by the brand but I would also repurchase myself!
Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask
Had this in my backup/sample drawer for
way to long and wanted to get it used up! I believe it’s discontinued now but
it made my skin feel soft and hydrated. Not a repurchase as it was pretty
pricey before being discontinued!
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
A cult classic and again a sample so I
can’t really give a full review on this unfortunately! The serum smelt a little
like burnt popcorn to me but the formula felt good and played well with my
other skincare products and makeup. It’s a Vitamin C serum and £145 for 30ml but
I couldn’t commit to it based on this sample size! Not a repurchase.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength
Daily Peel
Really nice exfoliating treatment with
Vitamin A too, my skin always feels and looks more refined the next morning
after use and I never experience any sensitivity. Pricey but worth it. I've been through a lot of these sachets now and I would
repurchase before an event!
Nuxe Reve de Miel
Not my favourite lip balm/treatment but I
got on better with it this time than I have in the past. Smells good and lasted
overnight for me (it hadn’t previously) but leaves me with horrible white bits
in between my lips when I wake up so I wouldn’t be able to wear it during the
day. Got it in the Cult Beauty lip edit last year and have finished all
the products in there now so pretty happy with myself! Read a more scathing review of it here!
This took me forever to finish despite
only being 22ml as I just don’t wear primer that often!
It’s a velvety (dimethicone) tinted
primer that worked well to even out my skin tone and ensured my makeup applied
smoothly. It leaveed a nice base but it’s not a repurchase for me as I find a
lot of my moisturisers and SPF’s do a good enough job of priming for me
already! Full review here!
Tropic Lip Love Nourishing Balm
Not a fan of the MLM nature of this brand
but my aunt gave me this one day I didn’t have any lip balm on me and I really
liked it! Long lasting hydration from the rosehip oil and cocoa butter, would
repurchase.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop
I know people love Glow Recipe but every
product I have tried has been so meh to me. This is a scrub/balm hybrid and contains
AHA’s to gently exfoliate. For me, this wasn’t hydrating enough, and the shade
is too bubble-gum pink for my liking. At £19.50 it ain’t cheap either. Not
worth it in my opinion and not a repurchase.
Huda Beauty Silk Balm Hydra-Plumping Lip
Balm in Blush
Another dud, this smelt like vinegar and
again didn’t offer long lasting hydration. Didn’t notice any plumping effect
either. Wouldn’t repurchase!
NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Dolce Vita
Love this! Smoothing and this is such a
lovely tint! Not quite as long lasting as the Charlotte Tilbury tinted balms
but will repurchase a full size once I finish a couple of other minis I have!
Full review here!
MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash
I’ve been trying to use up some mascara
samples I have and while I likes the wand on this and it gave good separation
it’s not waterproof and I was left with black marks under my eyes! Wouldn’t
repurchase!
Miscellaneous
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Love these, make such a difference in my
joints, already repurchased!
These worked so well to help me relax!
Loved the scent and they dissolved really well too.
The magnesium also helps to sooth tired
muscles so these were a firm favourite when I wanted to wind down and have some
me time before bed! Full review here and I would repurchase!
OUAI North Bondi Eau de Parfum
I love OUAI scents as
we have already discussed and I’ve been through a few bottles of this now but I
love Melrose Place even more so I won’t be repurchasing this straight away!
Full review here!
Phew, we are at the end! Let me know if
you have tried any of these and what you thought! Hopefully it won’t be so long
until my next batch!
