April 2013 empties: Vichy, MAC, L'Oreal, YSL Beaute, Simple Skincare, Creightons

Hey ladies!

Hope you're well and looking forward to the Bank Holiday coming up :-)

Here are the beauty products I used up in the month of April:

Skincare:

Vichy Normaderm Micellar Lotion

I've heard a lot of great things about the Vichy brand - especially the Dermablend foundation - but this is my first product from them. I needed a new Micellar water to remove my make up but opted for the Vichy version for oily skin instead of the normal one. It worked to remove my make up but it's nothing special - I prefer the scent of the Caudalie Micellar water so I'll probably buy that next time instead.

MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover (travel size)

I pop this in my travel make up bag to remove my make up after a night out and it works a treat. It's so much more effective than make up wipes and it does it really quickly!

Simple Kind to Eyes Makeup Remover

I ALWAYS come back to this! It's my favourite drugstore make up remover by far and I'll keep buying it when I need something cheap that always works.

Hair:

Creightons Perfect Blonde Intensive Shampoo and Conditioner

I don't have blonde hair but I dyed my ends lighter and I use this to keep them bright. They're only £1 each from Poundland and they're bloody brilliant - I always come back to them! I would definitely recommend picking some up if you have a branch near you.

L'Oreal Elnett Very Volume Supreme Hold Hairspray x 2

I've bigged up this hairspray before and I'll keep going on about it until the cows come home! I like my hair to look big and voluminous and this always works to achieve that look. I carry the travel size version around with me and I've got two or three on standby for when I run out!

L'Oreal Elvive Smooth & Polish Intensive Masque*

This is a lovely thick and creamy masque and it feels like a real treat when you apply it to your hair. It leaves my ends feeling soft and silky and I'd definitely recommend it.

Other:

Tesco Fruity Shower Gel

Another product I bring with me on my travels - it lathers up nicely and smells refreshing! I'd like to try the other scents for sure.

Wilko Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free

Considering this is Wilko's own, it works really well and I'd have no qualms re-purchasing it.

Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat #1

I was SO gutted when this ran out!!! I nearly cried... Not seriously but still, it's one of my favourite products and I'll continue to buy it. You get what you pay for with this product, it may be a bit pricey but it's SO worth it!

What did you use up this month? Leave your links in the comments :-)

Love,

Sophia

xo

* = PR samples

March 2013 empties: Caudalie, Clarins, Clinique, Dove, L'Oreal and The Body Shop

Hey guys!

Hope you're well :-)

It seems March was a product-heavy month for me as I have LOADS of empties - mainly skincare apparently! 

Here are the products I used up:

Skincare:

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner
I bought The Body Shop Seaweed range to clear up my skin as it's always worked for me in the past and it did a pretty good job this time too! I love the scent of this range as it's so fresh and clean-smelling and I've read that seaweed has healing benefits so I'd definitely recommend this popping this in your basket.
Caudalie Cleansing Water
I've used he Caudalie Beauty Elixir for about six months now and I'm not convinced it lives up to the hype - but this certainly does! It's a gentle micellar water-type solution that removes every trace of make-up. I have yet to try the infamous Bioderma but until then, I'll happily continue using this. 
Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover
As you will probably already know, I'm on the hunt for the Holy Grail eye make-up remover. I've tried so many I've lost count, but this one is definitely up there with the best of the best! As a contact lens wearer, it's really important that my eye make-up remover gets rid of EVERY trace otherwise it gets messy - and this certainly does :-)
Beauty Formula Radiate & Glow Brightening Facial Mask
I picked this up on a whim in Savers and it's actually pretty good! I popped it onto my skin for about 10-15 mins and my complexion looked noticeably brighter afterwards. Perfect for creating that elusive, supermodel-esque radiant glow!
Avon Clearskin Blemish Clearing Astringent Toner
This is a REALLY strong toner that I use when my skin is playing up. I know it gives it a good, deep clean but it does sting sometimes and I wouldn't recommend using it if your skin is cracked/severely blemished.
Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser
I loved this because it had a really nice rosemary scent and lathered up well. It was ideal for popping in my travel bag for excursions and I'd definitely re-purchase. 
Hair:

L'Oreal Elvive Smooth & Polish 60 Second Saviour*

I love things that work in like a minute because I'm one of those people that's ALWAYS busy so this was a real gem. I simply applied shampoo and conditioner as normal then added this to my locks before combing it through. It left my hair feeling SO soft!

Dove Intensive Repair Express Conditioner

I'm pretty loyal to the Dove Express Conditioner range because they do want they say on the tin - they work, quickly! I love the scent of this one - it's like the traditional Dove soapy smell - and I would definitely re-purchase it. In fact the whole Dove haircare range is pretty great if I'm honest.

Body:

Imperial Leather Citrus Burst Shower Gel*

Obviously, there's not much to say about a shower gel but this one lathered up nicely, smelt nice and lasted forever! So it gets a thumbs up from me.

What did you use up this month?

Let me know!

Love,

Sophia

xo

New hair! Dip-dye at home: L'Oreal Preference Wild Ombres in No 1 Light Brown to Dark Brown

Hey ladies,

I hope you're well and enjoying the spring weather!

So as you may or may not know, I'm something of a hair chameleon. From sunny blonde locks in the summer to the deepest burgundy come winter, I can't last a few months without changing my hair colour.

Most recently, I took inspiration from these celebs and ventured into the world of ombré...

I absolutely love dip-dyed ends on celebrities but for some reason I always thought the look wouldn't transcend into real life - on normal, non-famous people in other words!

Jessica, Lily, Caroline and Drew all have beautiful dip-dyed locks but of course they've all had their colour applied professionally and no doubt an expert hairdresser tended to their ends before these pictures were taken.

Nevertheless, the moment an at-home dip-dye kit landed on my desk, I immediately knew I had to give it a go and my younger sister agreed to help me out as it was my first time going ombré!

The dye in question was L'Oreal Preference Wild Ombres No 1 Dip Dye Hair Kit Light Brown to Dark Brown, RRP £6.00.

The dye was actually really easy to apply, but I didn't use the brush that was included after I heard a couple of horror stories about how it left an obvious line in your hair.

I simply mixed up the dye as per the instructions and applied it to the lengths of my hair (below my ear level) with my hands with gloves on. I used all of the dye that was included until the bottle ran out.

I left it on my hair for about 40 minutes and then washed it out with the intensive conditioner included.

The first thing I noticed was the condition of my ends. They were literally so knotty when I tried to wash it out, I couldn't even comb it through.

To combat this, I applied a lot of hair oil to the parts of my hair that the dye had coloured and blow-dried it - but it was still pretty dry.

Here's how it looked on the first day:

When I first dyed it (in the evening), I didn't notice much difference, but I could definitely see the colour the morning after. It wasn't exactly the colour I was looking for - nor was it the colour on the box - but it had dyed it lighter.

The ends were a reddish brown that certainly looked ombré but it was very subtle and my ends were still SO dry!

I've had my hair like this for about a week now and the main thing I'd say is that it requires A LOT of after-care!

My hair is generally in good condition but the dip-dye kit made it really dry and knotty. It's meant I've needed to apply a lot more intensive conditioner and hair oil than before.

Now, I'm happy with the colour of the ends but there's no doubt my hair is in a worse condition than before I used the dye.

I guess it's no more damaged that it would be if I had bleach highlights added professionally - but I suppose for some reason I just wasn't expecting it.

If you're looking to change-up your look for spring and you're on a bit of a tight budget until your next payday, I would definitely recommend giving this at-home ombré kit a go.

But be warned, it does make your ends very dry and an intensive conditioner is needed to repair the damage caused. I think I'll be taking a visit to the hairdresser to chop off my ends in the next couple of months!

Have you used an at-home ombré kit? Tempted?

Let me know over on Twitter now or in the comments.

Love,

Sophia

xo

TK Maxx beauty haul: Orly, Essie, Eyelure, Dainty Doll, Yardley, Elizabeth Arden, TIGI

Hey loves!

I hope you're having a great day :-)

Now I don't know about you, but the beauty section in TKMaxx is one of my many weaknesses! I literally cannot step in there without picking something up. It's definitely that 'get it or regret it' mentality that takes over!

Here's what I've stocked up on in my past few visits...

Nails:

Essie No Chips Ahead Chip Free Top Coat - £5.99

I literally must have like a thousand top coats but you can never have too many, right? I'm quite new to the Essie bandwagon - I'm more of an OPI girl myself - but I look forward to trying this out and seeing if it helps maintain my nail colour.

Orly Mani Mini Lacquer Trio - RRP £15.00 NOW £3.00

What a bargain! £1 each for Orly nail polish - that's amazing! Here's the colours that came in the three pack:

From L-R: Orly Prelude to a kiss, Jealous, much? and Faint of Heart

The baby pink shade (far left) looks like the perfect French manicure colour, while the mint green (centre) is great for spring as pastels are really on-trend this season. The grey shade (far right) isn't one I'd normally choose but I reckon I'll wear it more in the winter.

Make-up:

Katy Perry for Eyelure Lashes in Pretty - RRP £5.95 NOW £2.99

I've always been a Katy Perry fan, but since watching her documentary film Katy Perry: Part of Me, my obsession with her has skyrocketed! I'm one of those people who buy products just because they're associated with a celeb - Kardashian Kolor being one example - so I literally bought these so I could have eyelashes like Katy Perry! We'll see if that works...

Dainty Doll make-up set - RRP £24.00 NOW £7.99

I've never tried Nicola Roberts' beauty range Dainty Doll before but being a pale person - NC15 in MAC, if you're interested - I was intrigued to test out this range. The three pack included:

Lipstick in 006 Baby Love, Eyeshadow Base in 001 Frankie Girl and Cream Blusher in 001 Paper Roses

I think I'll do a full review of these products but for now I will say I'm a little underwhelmed. The eyeshadow base was very dry and the cream blush was too sheer. The lipstick was quite nice though - very soft and creamy in a 'my lips but better' shade.

Face and body:

Yardley London Royal English Daisy Eau de Toilette 50ml - RRP £9.99 NOW £5.99

I've always wanted this perfume ever since it was released a couple of years ago for Kate Middleton. I've heard Yardley is quite a historical brand in the UK and some of their scents aren't quite - but this one is just perfect for spring and really lifts your spirits!

Elizabeth Arden Deep Cleansing Mask - £4.99

I love to indulge in a face mask at the weekend as my skin gets very oily and this one is great for drawing out all the impurities and giving my skin a good refresh.

Hair:

TIGI Catwalk Headshot Shampoo and Conditioner - RRP £25.90 NOW £11.98

I first used this haircare range in the hairdressers and my locks felt amazing afterwards so I immediately picked this up when I saw it. It makes my hair so soft and silky and I'd definitely re-purchase!

TIGI Rockaholic Rock Out Shine Blaster - RRP £9.95 NOW £3.99

I used the TIGI Rockaholic detangler last year and I was really impressed so I thought I'd invest in this bargain hair oil! I add a little bit to the ends of my hair when it's towel-dried and it adds a lovely sheen to my hair.

Visited TK Maxx recently? Picked up any beauty bargains?

Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter now!

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

February 2013 empties: TIGI Bed Head, Dove, Batiste, Sanctuary, Caudalie, The Body Shop, Soap and Glory

Hey ladies!

I hope you've had a great Sunday :-)

February was a beauty heavy month for me so I have quite a lot of empties!

Here's what I used up this month...

Hair:

Dove Express Conditioner Nourishing Oil Care

I've raved about these express conditioners before (here and here) and for good reason - they're bloody AMAZING! I always use an intensive conditioner in the shower without fail and this one is just so quick and easy. You only need to apply the tiniest bit to the lengths and ends of your hair and it leaves it feeling so soft and silky.

Batiste Dry Shampoo Dark & Deep Brown

I use a dry shampoo a couple of times a week and I prefer to use these tinted ones as they don't leave the little white bits in your roots. This really works to bring your locks back to life!

TIGI Bed Head Brunette Goddess Conditioner

You might remember my recent CheapSmells.com haul where I talked about this Brunette Goddess range. The scent of these products is delicious - like chocolate fudge! It's no surprise then that I used this up pretty quickly this month.

Boots Coconut & Almond Intensive Hair Mask

This was actually a real surprise, it was only a couple of quid in Boots but I'm in love with it! The scent reminds me of summer and for that reason I will definitely be re-purchasing! It's also really thick and creamy and leaves your hair so soft.

Skin:

Sanctuary Spa Pore Refining Toner

I'm a bit hit and miss with the Sanctuary Spa Skincare range as not all of it suits my oily/combination skintone. This product however was perfect - I spritz it onto my face after cleansing and it leaves my skin feeling really clean, soft and refreshed.

Avon Clearskin Professional Deep Pore Cleansing Scrub

I've been using Avon Clearskin products for years - they're brilliant for the price they are. This works well as a face mask or scrub as it's thick and creamy. I like to apply it in the shower, leave it on for a couple of minutes and wash it off. It leaves my skin feeling properly scrubbed!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

This is a cult product in the beauty blogging community so I of course had to give it a whirl. I've found it doesn't really make much difference as a toner but it works best as a midway-through-the-day-spritz! I spray it onto my face after lunch to give my skin a quick refresh.

The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream

I bought this mini moisturiser in a four piece set from The Body Shop with a seaweed facial wash, toner and night cream. I found this day cream to be a little bit drying actually. It's more of a gelcreme consistency and it didn't feel like it properly 'sunk' into my skin. I think I'll be sticking with my Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturiser from now on.

Other:

Johnson's Baby Shampoo

I use this to wash my make-up brushes as it does the job perfectly for a bargain price. I've used MAC's make up brush cleanser in the past and this does the job just as well for a fraction of the cost.

Soap and Glory Hand Maid Hand Cleansing Gel

I am OBSESSED with this! Seriously, it's awesome. It smells amazing and it actually makes me want to use it ALL the time. I have like three or four of these on the go at the moment.

What did you use up in February? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter now!

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

CheapSmells.com haul - TIGI Bed Head Brunette Goddess and Superstar, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Hey ladies!

HAPPY FRIDAY! I hope you're having a brilliant day so far and looking forward to the weekend :-)

OK, so it's pretty obvious I'm a beauty product junkie BUT it runs deeper than that... I'm a bargain beauty product junkie! I love nothing more than rummaging the beauty shelves of TK Maxx or my favourite eBay sellers (legit, of course) for the biggest and best beauty bargains.

Hence where my CheapSmells.com haul came from...

In all honesty, I can't remember who introduced me to this site but as soon as I landed on the homepage, I knew it was love! High-end beauty at knock down prices? Too good to be true, right? Naaat!

Here's what I added to my basket... (as with all hauls, it unsurprisingly started with way more than this!)

TIGI Bed Head Brunette Goddess Shampoo (£10.95) and Conditioner (£6.35)

I was first introduced to the Brunette Goddess range in my local hair salon. The stylist used the shampoo and conditioner on my hair as she was washing it in the basin and I'm not lying, it smelt divine!

To be completely honest, the scent was one of the main selling points for me. It smells like chocolate fudge and it just makes washing my hair a dream! It also helps to prolong the dyed brown shade of my locks.

The only issue I have with this - and I'm the only one to blame here! - is that the shampoo is much larger, meaning I finished the conditioner months ago while I'm still working through the shampoo! Humph.

TIGI Bed Head Superstar Blowdry Lotion (£7.95) and Queen for a Day Thickening Spray (£8.45)

I have a slight - OK, major - penchant for big, voluminous locks! Think Cheryl Cole in her X Factor judging days, that's what I want my hair to look like!

I've found that you need a multitude of volumising products in order to achieve the Cheryl Cole big hair look.

First, start with a volumising shampoo and conditioner then add a volumising blow dry spray like the Superstar Blowdry Lotion (above).

It's a thin, runny liquid that's easy to apply and makes a real difference to the thickness of your hair!

I then spritz a little of the Queen for a Day thickening spray into my roots to give them a bit more volume and voila! Cheryl hair :-)

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free (£13.19) and Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment (£8.95)

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is well respected in the beauty industry and I'm not surprised!

I've had the Skin Protectant for many years now but I opted for the Fragrance Free version this time as I just fancied a change and I saw Cat Deeley tweet a pic of it. There's nothing unpleasant about the original smell or anything, as I say I just fancied trying something a bit different.

The Skin Protectant is kind of like a greasy oil - sounds disgusting but it is amazing! It's perfect for soothing really dry, cracked skin. My mum uses it on her hands because she works outside in the cold and her hands get really sore, but for me it's a little too thick for that unfortunately.

Saying that, it works really well as a glossy lip shine, highlighter, spot soother, burns healer - loads of stuff! It really is a top multi-use product.

It's also the second or third time I've bought the Eight Hour Hand Cream as well - I'm in LOVE with it! It's one of the best hand creams on the market in my opinion. It's enriched with the famous Eight Hour goodness and has the signature scent but it's much nicer and easier to apply. If you find the Skin Protectant too thick, the Hand Cream might be a better option for you.

Have you bought anything from CheapSmells.com before? What would you recommend? Let me know over on Twitter or in the comments below!

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

Primark SS13 haul: Leopard print, woodland print, metallics and cut-outs!

Hi girls,

I hope you're having a great Sunday!

Recently I took a trip to Primark and to be honest I went a bit mad! It was one of those times when you're just in the mood to shop, you know? The Primark I visited (in Bristol) was also really well laid out, not too busy and nice and breezy... In other words, perfect shipping conditions!

Here's what I picked up...

Clothes

Leopard print blazer - £7 (reduced)

I saw this in the corner of my eye and knew I just HAD to have it! Anyone who knows me will know I am a leopard print fiend and so this printed blazer suited me down to a T. I like to team leopard print with a red lip because I think it looks really chic, but it can also be worn with skinny jeans or leather trousers for a more casual look.

Woodland print dress - £25

This also caught my eye straight away! Without sounding snobby, I like things that look expensive - but actually aren't! - and this woodland print dress looked like something straight out of Zara. It's a little on the pricey side for Primark but it's worth it for the fashion-forward print in my opinion.

Cream shirt - £9

Just a really simple blouse that can be dressed up or down for work or a night out. The sleeves are a bit long but that's the price I have to pay for being a short-ass!

Sleeveless lace blouse - £10

I'm instantly drawn to anything cream/lace/sleeveless in the summer so this is perfect for me. I'll be wearing it over a simple tank and a pair of coloured jeans, or tucked into a floral skater skirt.

Shoes

Coral pointed heels - £10

My patent pointed court shoe collection is fast becoming an obsession! This coral pair will be ideal for adding a pop of colour to an all-white look in the spring.

Tan cut-out heels - £12

These to me look similar to something Miranda Kerr would wear! Tan heels also instantly elongate your legs and this cut-out pair allow my skin to breathe a little.

Metallic pointed heels - £6 (reduced)

I bought these because I love anything rose gold, but I've since spotted Jennifer Lawrence in an almost identical pair as she promoted Silver Linings Playbook pre-BAFTAs in London. JLaw teamed hers with an orange cut-out dress but that's a bit daring for me. I might wear them with an orange skater skirt I have lurking in my cupboard.

Tan cut-out pumps - £8

I picked up the pump version of the pointed heels for the same reason, but these are perfect for wearing on a day-to-day basis rather than on a night out.

Accessories

Nude shoulder bag - £9

I picked this up for work - I even went as far as taking my iPad out and checking it fitted in! Haha. I love the fact that the different straps mean it can be worn on your shoulder, across your body or on your elbow.

Floral shopper - £3

I bought this because I loved the floral print and it's perfect for wearing to the gym etc. The wipe-clean fabric is also handy for any spillages!

Nude clutch - £8

I already have loads of nude clutches but this is the first one to have rose gold detailing - so I had to have it! These are great for nights out in the summer.

Jewellery and hairbands

Gold collar tips - £1.50

These were an absolute bargain! You simply add them onto the collar of your blouse and it instantly jazzes up a look.

Neon hairbands - £1

Did I mention I was a huge neon fan? Ha!

Crochet headband - £2

I thought this would go nicely with the woodland print dress, above.

Travelcard holder - £1

I'm a commuter so this floral travel card holder went straight in the basket! Stylish AND practical? Win!

Sunglasses - 50p (reduced)

Wishful thinking here I reckon because I haven't had a chance to wear them yet but I'm counting down the days when I can!

Trainer socks - £2

Who DOESN'T want socks that have Amazeballs on them?!

Peace earrings - £1.50 and necklace - £2

This is a big trend for SS13 (I've seen similar pieces in New Look etc) it's a quick and easy way to jump on the look.

Have you hauled Primark recently? What did you pick up? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter now.

Love,

Sophia

xo