Empties #1

Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe weekly self-tan-Dark 30ml (Sample Size)

I got this a long time ago in a beauty box and put it in the back of my draw and forgot about it until recently. I really needed to give my legs some colour as its now summer so I'm wearing a lot more dresses but because I'm so fair I was worried it would be far too dark which is probably why I didn't use it in the first place however it gave a noticeable colour but was not too much and looked natural. It says its a weekly tanner but I was so pale i have been using a small amount daily and I have loved using it even more so because it smelt so nice.

£20.95 for 236ml 

Would I repurchase ? It is cheaper then I thought it was and you get a lot of mls for your money so maybe sometime in the future but not atm.

Boots Double Faced Cotton Wool Oval Pads 50 Pads

These have 2 different textures which is one of the reasons I get these ones as they are better for removing nail varnish but I also love the fact they are a bit larger then the round ones so you don't have to use as many to remove all your make up and such.

£1.89 for 50 pads

Would I repurchase ? Yes. I have so many times although Superdrug ones are just as good and Asda do some decent cotton pads that are quite large in the baby bit for cheap too.

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream 125ml

I have used so many tubes of this hand cream as it is the second best I have found after the Clarins one however is half the price. I love that I can get a mini one for my handbag for only £2.50 and it is often on offer in boots too which makes it even more of a bargain. 

Would I repurchase ? Yes. Although this is the big one I would be more likely to get the smaller one as its a great on the go product.

£5.00 for 125ml or £2.50 for 50ml


Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream 3g

I got this is a set with all the other Benefit skincare products which I have actually purchased once before and was not too keen on this cream as I found it too heavy. This time i actually found it really handy for dry patches however it is definitely more suited to people with drier skin.

Would I repurchase ? Maybe. I prefer the other Benefit moisturizer mentioned in this post.  

£27.50 for 48.3g

Benefit Triple Performance Facial Emulsion SPF 15 8.9ml

This is the best moisturiser I have ever tried and have had so many of the mini ones before which is great for travel and I also just love how cute they look . I have one more mini of this and my full size one has just run out too so this is the next thing on my list of stuff to buy.

Would I repurchase ? Yes. It is a must-have!

£20.50 for 50.3ml

Ollie xxx

May Beauty Favourites

Today both of us have decided to write a post together of the things we have been loving in the month of May. We have both picked our top 3 products and will tell you why they are so amazing below.

Jessica Brilliance Topcoat

This is a recent purchase but ever since getting it I have used it so often as it dries so fast so it makes me want to paint my nails more. It is not the most high shine but it is fairly long wearing so for me it is perfect. The bottle is 14.8mls and is just under £10 so not the cheapest but totally worth the price tag. 

Repurchase ? Maybe. I would like to try a different top coat next.

MAC Lipstick- So Chaud (Matte)

So I'm sure you know how amazing Mac lipsticks are however a Matte finish is not everyone's favourite but I think for a red lipstick staying power is what you want most. For me if it lasts a night out that shows its staying power is great and putting it to the test it does. So Chaud is not a very talked about lipstick but for my pale skin some of the other reds just were not right. Mac call this a reddish orange but I personally think its more red with a orange tint to it. This really is a must have lipstick to have in your collection because we all need a red.

Repurchase ? Yes if i ran out and did not have a better red to replace it with but it would be a Mac red lipstick for sure.

Benefit Box O' Powder- Dallas

This is a product I have had for sometime now but had put it in the back of my draws for months and forgot about it. I tried it again recently and feel back in love again its gives you a bit of a bronzed look which I need for sure but also a lovely summer glow. I am so glad to have this product in my daily routine again and even happier it did not hurt my bank this month.

Repurchase ? Yes. Again I would like to try a different brand first.

Ollie xxx

April Favourites 2013

This is my first favourites post I have done but I felt because I enjoyed reading them so much myself it had to be done. My must-have products really stood out to me this month which gave me even more incentive to write this post. 

Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder

Ive tried so many translucent powders now but I have not loved any of them so after loving Laura Mercier silk creme foundation i decided to try their face powder. I love the fact its pressed because loose powder goes everywhere and is not good for carrying around but it keeps me matte for longer then any other powders.

Repurchase ? Yes. I may try Soap and Glory first but I cant see its beating this.

Clean&clear Deep Cleansing Lotion

This did exactly what it claimed to do and for the price tag is amazing however I do prefer my Clinique one but who doesn't like to mix it up.

Repurchase ? Maybe at some point.

Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace

For a start this sleek blush palette is only £10 and has 3 blushers in which is a bargain in itself but they are so pigmented and the shades are amazing. I will be buying more sleek products in the future especially the blusher palettes.

Repurchase ? Maybe. But as if its ever going to run out!

Kenco Caffe Latte

My Non-Beauty favourite has to be this instant Latte by Kenco which was new in Tesco. I personally think it tastes better then any of the other shop brought ones but it is not as good at any coffee shop.

Repurchase ? Yes. For sure!!


Ollie xxx

MUA Power Pout Lip Colour Tints

MUA Power Pout Colour Intense Tint & Balm

So recently I went into super drug and spotted these beauties on the MUA stall for £3 so how could I not buy one. These colour intense tinted lip balms come in 6 colours, Justify(bright orange), Irreplacable(barbie Pink), Broken Hearted(Deep Pink), Crazy in love(Berry purple/red), Rendezvous(pinky nude) and Runway(coral). I purchased Runaway however I liked quite a few of the colours so it took me ages to choose but as they are only £3 I'm bound to pick up the other colours soon.

Runaway is a great coral colour although in the pictures is showing up slightly more pink on the lips. It lasts about 2 hours on the lips which for a £3 product is pretty decent. 

These are most likely going to be compared to the Clinique chubby stick Instense and Revlon Balm Stains which I would agree they are a similar concept. I personally prefer MUA's colour range to Revlon's however I do think they are missing a bright Red. They are more of a lipstick feel then the others too.

These Power pouts may not have as much staying power as either of the other similar products but at a fraction of the price I dont mind carrying it around with me as its so easy to apply. I like that it is a balm because it makes it more wearable in the day then a bright lipstick and they don't go patchy when they fade which is a plus. 

I will be getting more of these for sure because they are simply amazing, Crazy in Love will most likely be my next buy but it depends how similar it is to Revlon's Kissable balm stain in Crush as I own that already :D


Ollie xxx

Lush Ocean Salt & Angels on Bare Skin

Lush Samples

Getting samples is so handy because you can see what you think of the product before investing your money on it which I'm a massive fan of considering I'm a student who loves beauty. I went in looking for a facial scrub because although I have oily skin my nose and forehead area can be dry at times. I was looking at Ocean Salt and they offered me a sample and she suggested Angels on Bare Skin too. Angels of Bare Skin is targeted at people with dry skin but i had tried Dark Angels which is meant for people with oilier skin but was not the biggest fan. 

Angels on Bare Skin (£6.25 for 100ml)

This cleanser is mostly made of of ground almonds but has lavender in it too which really puts me off but if you like lavender then it might be great for you. I love the concept of it being a dry substance that you mix with water in your hands although it is slightly messy. I've tried this for a few days and I'm not convinced about it, its a nice product but I'm not sure its anything special so I don't think i will be buying it.

Ocean Salt (£6.95 for 100ml)

This facial scrub is mostly made up of salt along with some coconut and grapefruit which is quite a refreshing smell but it still has that lush smell which is okay. I love the grainy texture and my nose was a lot less dry within the first use so I think this may be a must have product in my skincare.

Ollie xxx

Battle of the Mascaras

Benefit They're Real Mascara Vs Clinique High Impact Mascara

For me mascara is a daily requirement along with concealer and foundation but which one is better?

So they are both high-end priced mascara with Benefit They're Real costing £19.50 for 8.5g and Clinque High Impact at a slightly lower cost of £16.00 for 8g. As I don't have full sized ones as I got them in gift sets either free with a purchase or for Christmas the cost is not an issue. 

No Mascara

Clinique High Impact Mascara
Cliniques Claim: High Impact Mascara is a multi-benefit mascara that adds maximum volume with definition and length. Specially developed brush and formula work together to dramatically thicken lashes while separating.

Benefit They're Real Mascara
Benefits Claim: Benefit They're Real! Beyond Mascara is the mascara that's beyond belief! This jet-black mascara lengthens, curls, volumises, lifts & separates lashes for a spectacular "out-to-here" look.

They both claim to add volume, length and separation but Clinique claim to add definition and benefit say their mascara curls too. I agree they both do add length, volume and separate the lashes but I feel Benefit wins hands down however I tend to wear that for special occasions or days i want a harsher look and the Clinique High Impact for day to day use. I personally would never purchase the Clinque mascara because I think drug store ones are more then likely just as good however I have brought the Benefit one before but when I next need a mascara I'm going to give some drug store ones a  test.


Ollie xxx

Clinique Anti Blemish 3 Step Solutions Review

Clinique Anti-Blemish 3 Step Solutions

Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam £14.50

Clinique's Claim: Step 1 of Anti-Blemish Solutions 3-Step System. Mild cleansing foam helps clear and prevent blemishes. Removes dirt and excess oil. Unclogs pores. Calms, soothes, reduces the look of redness. Skin feels soft, smooth, comfortable.

My Verdict: I agree it does remove dirt and excess oil and I do feel it does it in a calm and soothing way but I'm unsure if it really prevents blemishes. I have repurchased it a few times so I must like it enough considering the price tag but I don't know if its any better then a cheaper cleanser. 

Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion £17.00

Clinique's Claim: Step 2 of Anti-Blemish Solutions 3-Step System. Gentle, effective formula exfoliates to clear dead surface cells and reduce excess oil that can lead to breakouts. Unclogs pores. Oil-absorbing powders eliminate shine. Soothes irritation, redness.

My Verdict: This for me is the best part of the 3 Step System as I really feel like is cleans out any dirt in my pores. I've not found a toner I like quite as much as this and personally do not feel the Clarins one does anything in comparison. 

Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Moisturizer £18.50

Clinique's Claim: Step 3 of Anti-Blemish Solutions 3-Step System. Lightweight, soothing formula helps treat existing blemishes, prevent future breakouts, control excess oil. Creates a barrier against blemish-causing agents. Lightly hydrates to minimize dryness, peeling.

My Verdict: I love how lightweight and quickly it sinks in to my skin and the fact it treats blemishes while hydrating my oily skin but not making it greasy is a bonus.

I have also tried the anti-blemish solutions spot treatment gel too but I don't think its anything special or better then the cheaper ones out there so will not be buying it again. I plan to try the benefit treatment next to see if that works any better.

Ollie xxx