Empties - Products I've Used Up #2

I've started to really enjoy writing 'Empties' posts just as much as I enjoy reading them. It really makes me use up products in their entirety. 

I know that sounds obvious but I got into a bad wasteful habit of starting something, using it a bit & then moving onto the next product. My bathroom cupboards were overspilling with half empty items. Now I really try and use something up before moving on, It's a really satisfying actually finishing something all up completely. 

For anyone that's not too familiar, empties posts are simply the products you've used up, meaning you can give a pretty decent opinion on the items. So, let's jump right in. Here are the products I've used up over the past month or so and my thoughts!! 

Body 

Champneys 'Blissful Bump Body Butter' - £10

I had this towards the end of my pregnancy but just didn't use very much. It was nice but I didn't love it, probably because I wasn't a big fan of the smell. I wouldn't say it's a must have pregnancy product. 

Lush 'Lovely Jubblies Breast Cream'  - £16.95

Another product I got at the very end of my pregnancy but just didn't finish until now. Love this super moisturising cream, will repurchase for sure. Smells great, feels even better. 

Soap & Glory 'Sugar Crush Body Scrub' - £8 in a trio 

This stuff smells incredible! It's a beautiful scrub that's just on the right side of scrubby. Packed with brown sugar, sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains I enjoyed this and would happily pick up the full sized one next time. 

Champneys 'Spa Indulgence Mediterranean Bliss Bubble Heaven' - £14 in a gift set

Another so-so Champneys' product. Yes it was nice but I wouldn't rush to buy it again. It contains olive leaf, fig milk & green tomato. Not my favourite bubble bath combination! 

I love....'Coconut & Cream Bubble Bath & Shower Creme' - £3

I wouldn't normally include one of the shower gels I had used up but I couldn't leave this beauty out. I love coconut so for me this ticked a major yummy box. Actually a really lovely product for its very affordable price. I've already stocked up with another plus the hand soap in the same scent. 

Soap & Glory Hand Wash - £5 

Classic Soap & Glory scent, a really unmistakable smell. Lovely product. This came in a set with the Hand Food cream which I'm still working my way through.  

Face/Skincare 

SkinCeuticals 'Phlotetin CF Gel' - £119

I got this in my local beauty salon. This lightweight antioxidant serum gel is packed full of vitamin C. A really really beautiful product but on the pricey side. I would repurchase but I'm trying a few other similar products right now.

Simple 'Kind To Eyes Eye Makeup Remover' - £3.49

This was in my last empties and will probably be in my next. A great product at a fab price. Removes eye makeup easily and never stings. 

Garnier 'Fresh Clarifying Face Wash' - £3.60

It was a struggle to finish this, it was nice but not something I'd use again. Very fresh feeling but felt a little drying. Not ideal for my skin type. 

Lush 'Let The Good Times Roll Face & Body Cleanser' - £6.75

I absolutely loved this. It smelt good enough to eat. I found it a little too abrasive to use everyday on my face but for once or twice a week it's perfect. Another product I'll definitely repurchase. 

Lush 'Brazened Honey Fresh Face Mask' - £6.50

I really like the fresh face masks from Lush, this one left my skin plump and moisturised. The only downside is because you have to keep it in the fridge I kept on forgetting I had it. I would buy another fresh mask but will give a different one a go next time.

Makeup

bareMinerals 'Perfect Light Mineral Veil' - £20

One of my all time setting powders. Gives your makeup a lovely lightweight airbrushed finish. Perfect for touch-ups through the day too. Have already repurchased it. 

MAC 'Dazzleglass Lipgloss in Like Venus' -£17.50

This is really old, I found it in the bottom of a bag I hadn't touched for ages. I'm pleased I rediscovered it as I'm now reminded what a great lipgloss it is, super long wearing. Once I've used up a few others in my collection I would absolutely buy another. 

Hair

Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo - £2.29

I love me some dry shampoo. It seems like every drugstore brand is releasing their version which is great. This one smelt good, was clear which is a dry shampoo must for me, & did the job. Would happily repurchase. 

So, those were my recent Empties, a real mixture and a lot I would repurchase. Read my last empties post here. 

I'm off to use up some more goodies! 

Love Emma Sim

XOXO 

L  

Simple steps for sparkling skin

The other day I was asked a simple (& beautifully shallow) 'which would you rather' question: bad hair or bad skin? I first went 'ohhhh toughy' but when I took 15 seconds to think about it I opted for bad hair. 

When your hair is out of control you can bung on a hat, scrape it back, add a huge accessory and people are pretty much none the wiser. Your skin however is a totally different kettle of fish. Yes, makeup works wonders (thank god) but there's only so much it can do. 

To me, good skin is super important. I spend time, & money, to achieve the best possible results I can. At 35 I certainly don't look like I did in my 20's that's for sure. Ageing has absolutely begun (hello crows feet) but I'm going to put it out there to say I think my complexion is better now then it ever has been. 

Yes, I use a broad spectrum SPF30 all year round without fail. Prevention is better than cute and all that. Yes, I suffer from pregnancy related pigmentation on my top lip & forehead. Yes, I have super large dark eyebags from just having a baby. My skin isn't perfect whatsoever, far from it, but I have learnt a few really really simple things that I am convinced have made a huge difference. Here are some of the things I like to do which have worked brilliantly for me. 

Double cleansing in the evening

I used to be a wash and go-er, using just one facial cleansing product. This is totally fine if you're barefaced. However, if you're wearing makeup, or in my case a *lot* of makeup (hello SPF, primer, foundation, concealer, powder.....) I think it's a huge ask of your one product to remove ALL of that, along with oil, dirt, baby sick & dog slobber AND actually wash your face. 

I know that most facial cleansing products do claim to do just that but more often than not I'd still get traces of makeup on my cotton pad when I used a toner after washing. 

I now double cleanse. It's only added about 30 seconds extra my routine and really has made all the difference. You could simply use your facial wash twice. Or you could use two different products.

I now start with a micellar cleansing water to remove 90% of my makeup. My current favourite is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. It's only £4.99 for a decent 400mls (it claims to last for 200 uses and to be honest that's not too far from the truth). 

I pop a little on a cotton pad and quickly swipe it around my face. This removes most of my makeup with a few pads. 

I then use a facial wash. I've always really enjoyed actually washing my face with water, but what kind of product you use is totally personal preference. I can't get enough of the First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser. It's soft, gentle, creamy and leaves my skin feeling lovely and not at all dry or tight. 

At £14 it is a touch more expensive however if you've removed your makeup first you only need the smallest dot to clean your entire face. Since I started double cleansing my face wash lasts almost twice as long. 

So, the micellar water removes my makeup and then the face wash gets on in there, removes the final trace of makeup, oil & dirt and really cleanses my skin. Since I have been doing this I hardly ever break out now (touch wood). (The double cleansing method also works fantastically on your hair.)

Every now & then I also like to use my Clarisonic.

This is a super duper facial brush that uses sonic technology to give your skin the ultimate cleanse. This is an extremely pricey gadget that promises the best in facial cleansing & is supposed to be 6x more effective than manual cleansing alone. It's also supposed to reduce the appearance of pore size, fine lines & wrinkles. 

For £179 I was hoping for a face as fresh as a baby's but for me using this daily was just too much. However a few times a week, especially if I've been wearing extra heavy makeup is perfect. Would I say you need to all rush out and buy yourself a Clarisonic, probably not. There are a lot of cheaper equivalents out there but the concept really is great and I do enjoy the tingling clean feeling it gives me when I use it.

L to R: The Sancturary Brightening Facial Radiance Exfoliator, Sarah McNamara Beauty New York 'Miracle Skin Transformer Hydroactive Microderm', St Ives Gentle Apricot Scrub 

Use an exfoliator

Once or twice a week after I cleanse I like to use a scrub. Nothing too abrasive and a very light hand. It helps to remove any built up dead skin cells and leaves your skin with a new lease of life. 

I think the most important thing is to not over do it. You don't want to be scrubbing the living daylights out of your skin 7 days a week. Just once or twice a week with any scrub that suits you. I use both drugstore and higher end products and rotate them. A small amount of product and a gentle hand works well for me.  

A good facial moisturiser 

Once your skin is clean a good moisturiser really is important, no matter what your skin type. Even if you're oily or combination you need to add moisture back in. I use a cream high in vitamin A in the day - Environ AVST2 (I get mine from a salon). In the evening I love using Tarte's Pure Maracuja Oil. 

Buy yourself an age appropriate moisturiser that treats your main concerns and use it religiously. The same goes for an eye cream too. 

A weekly treat 

Once a week treat your skin to a face mask. Whether it's one to attack break outs, add mega moisture or just to refresh and even your skin tone, 15 minutes once a week is all it takes.

I absolutely love the Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment Masque by Glamglow. Yes, it's pretty expensive at £39.99 but you can easily get 10 treatments from one pot so if you look at it cost per use it's not too bad! This mask leaves my skin looking pretty incredible, it's totally worth all the hype! 

Water, water & more water

We've all heard it a million times before but if you drink a lot of water you will absolutely see a difference in your skin. It will be clearer and more plump. Hands up, I'm not always the best at this but when I do I notice the difference. 

So, these are the few things I do that have made a big difference for me. What tips and tricks do you like to do? 

Read about the Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil here. 

I'm off to slather on a mask, 

Love Emma 

XOXO