Empties Post #1

Ahh I just want to say sorry for my lack of posts the past few weeks as things have been pretty hectic for me lately! Unfortunately my uni course doesn't finish in May like the majority, mine runs right through until September...but today is the first day of a lovely four weeks holiday! So...the past few weeks have been pretty crazy...I have been working on a busy hospital ward doing 13 hour shifts and having a 4 year old and lots of essays due in (hence the lack of blogging). I found out I passed my dissertation (yay!) and also got my first staff nurse job secured for when I finish in September....Woohoo! Finally, these last three hard, sweat, blood and tears have paid off and I could not be happier.  So here's the beginning of a lovely four weeks off with only my FINAL EVER essay to hand in next week, then from august my final 7 weeks as a student nurse before I'm in my blue nurse uniform...scary!  The flowers you can see in the photo are from my lovely fiancé for getting my first staff nurse job :)

So...I've got lots of posts scheduled but wanted to try this one first as I have seen lots of people write these kinda posts and find myself obsessed with reading everyone else's.  I also thought I would never be able to collect lots of empty products as I'm forever buying new stuff...but quite impressed with what I have used up (if not a little proud feeling ha)  Sorry about the quality of pictures, I cannot wait until September when I ask the other half to buy me a DSLR camera for my graduation present! So here's my first empties post..

 

Batiste Dry Shampoo Light & Blonde

I used to use the normal batiste dry shampoos with no hint of colour in like the cherry one but this is my second time using the hint of light blonde colour and I really like it.  Unfortunately it doesn't have the same lovely scent that comes with the other ones but for when my hair needs a little extra pick me up/volume or if I have been lazy after a 13 hour shift and cant be bothered to wash my hair..I find this is great to use especially behind my ears, for my fringe and on the roots.  I prefer using this one because as I have my hair coloured blonde the roots do show quite quick so sometimes this disguises my awful roots when it's time for the hairdressers again.  Definitely a repurchase product.

 

Rimmell Fix & Protect Primer

 I know this is a cheap high street product but for me the packaging is a little boring and not very appealing...Unfortunately I won't be repurchasing this just because for me the consistency was too much of a runny liquid.  By that I mean I usually like primers to be a thick consistency what you can feel literally drink up the shine on your face, but I felt this one just glided over.  And because of this I found my makeup didn't stay on that long as it would have with previous primers I have used.  I would definitely prefer spending a bit more money on a thicker consistency.

 

Aussie Colour Mate Shampoo

 Ahh how amazing is the peach smell of this shampoo? I could literally just soak in the stuff!  I bought this and the 3 minute mask (but that's not empty yet) and I really like them both.  Only little negative thing is I find this one states for coloured hair but I find it doesn't actually make my colour any better/shinier which is fine as I just put a mask for coloured hair on after.  But this definitely rinses all the product build up out my hair and I always feel it cleans it well.  Definitely repurchase....if not just for the smell!

 

Sheer Blonde Conditioning Treatment

 I've actually repurchased this for years now as I find it leaves my hair silky smooth, lasts much longer than the Lee Stafford masks, has a nice smell, and helps to calm the frizz down.  Firm favourite of mine!

 

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water

 This is the second small tube of this spring water I have tried and I couldn't be without it now....next purchase I make will be the much bigger bottle you can get.  I find this is perfect for me as it is for sensitive and irritated skin.  It's a very versatile product and can be used for many things including nappy rash, razor burn, after hair removal, sunburn, to calm down facial redness, after exercise, in summer, during travel, or to set makeup.  Personally I have been using it as more of a toner after I have cleansed my face I use this then put on my moisturiser.  It's great for making you skin feel soothing and clean, great for removing all traces of my makeup, and also for setting my makeup for special occasions (a bit like MAC Fix + spray).  Firm favourite of mine :)

 

Lee Stafford Hot Shots 4 Blondes

 I think I have said in a previous hair post these are great for toning your blonde hair to a more ashy blonde...I bought these in a 3 for 2 offer in boots, they are good and make my hair a lovely colour and gets rid of all the orangey tones, but have found cheaper alternative blonde toning products.

 

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment

 I really love this hair mask as I find it leaves my hair in great condition, super soft and silky...only down side is the small tub for the price.  This is the best mask I have used so far but think I am going to try the Macadamia one next!

 

Sudocrem Tube

 And finally, I tend to use sudocrem on my face when I feel a spot coming on (lovely, I know) and it really helps take the redness away and calms it down.  I used to use the little tubs of this but when these tubes came out I prefer to use these as I find them much more hygienic then sticking your hand in a tub, especially when its being applied on my face. A definite repurchase.

 

Hope you enjoyed my first empties post, it was fun doing it :)

Let me know what you think

 

My Current Haircare || Favourite Essentials

Shampoo & Conditioners

I love to try out new shampoo & conditioner sets and often do but I ALWAYS end up coming back to John Frieda Sheer Blonde. It smells great, protects blond hair and is a affordable salon brand. I normally buy the standard sheer blonde but this time I came across the colour renew tone correcting one and decided to give it a go as it is a purple shampoo designed to target the brassy bits of blonde in your hair and turn it into a lovely creamy blonde colour. Don't know about your hair but when my colour is due at hairdressers it always seems to turn a bit brassy/orangey toned...yak! I really loved using these as it made my colour stronger & brighter. I also love the conditioning treatment and use this twice a week, leave it on for 5-10 minutes and it leaves my hair silky smooth & soft....this could easily be mistaken for a much pricier hair treatment in my eyes.  These are sold in Boots (£5.90 each), Superdrug & Asda but I tend to either buy them in Boots in their 3 for 2 deal or Asda have them sometimes 3 for £10 so you can get the mask with both these deals for free.

 

I first came across the Touch of Silver hair care range when I was reading a magazine and Lydia from TOWIE had a "My beauty regime" page and mentioned these optical brightening shampoos because at the time she had really platinum blonde hair.  They are only £2-3 in boots, and I tend to use these when my colour is due to eliminate the brassiness and it helps with the fading and dullness of blonde hair.  One is a daily maintenance shampoo designed to help get rid of all the product build up in your hair in between washes.  I tend to use this one every other day as I don't wash my hair everyday as it doesn't need it.  It also had Sunflower Seed Extract in to help protect against damage, whilst the optical brightener boosts shine.  I like the consistency of these as it is thick and lathers up really well on your hair with a small amount.

 

Hair Masks

The two ultimate Lee Stafford products I absolutely adore has got to be the Hair Growth Treatment & The Hot Shots 4 Blondes.  I think I decided to buy these two about 6 month back as my hair was becoming more brittle and noticed more split ends.  First of the hair growth treatment.....it describes it "a protein based complex to fertilize your follicles, creating a healthy environment on the scalp to help hair grow faster and reach its maximum potential length, with Pro-Growth complex for strength from within".......now who doesn't want longer hair right? I honestly think using this and hair oils has helped my hair grow faster, but also think using this as just a hair mask on its own (without the growing positive) is worth it because firstly it's a mask which instructs you to put it all over your hair (even on roots, without making them greasy) and secondly it leaves my hair feeling so soft, nourished and easier to manage, and really calms down my frizz.  I also think my hair feels stronger because of this beauty...I would definitely recommend it! I love this mask so much that when Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on I picked 2 of these mask pots and for a third freebie I decided to choose the Hot Shots 4 Blondes.  The hair growth treatment mask is normally £7.99, and the hot shots for blondes usually £7.49, so I got a good bargain! The Hot Shots are really good too...I like how they are in little separate packets for when your hair colour is in need of that pick me up (they also do for different hair colours not just blondes) however I don't think I would buy these separately if they weren't in the 3 for 2 deal as unfortunately I think my cheaper Touch of Silver Shampoos above do the same job for restoring my colour.

 

Hair Serums/oils

I was using Moroccan Hair oil and absolutely loved it...but unfortunately when it ran out I couldn't afford to buy it again at the time so bought these too serums/oils instead.  The Frizz Ease "3 day straight" serum is a dream...I put it on towel dried hair before blow drying and it combats all my frizz (trust me I sometimes look like I have a bit of an afro when I dry my hair) and also I find I don't have to straighten my hair after blow drying like I normally do...and it also keeps my hair straight until I next wash it...Bonus! I will definitely be repurchasing when I run out.  The hask argan oil I picked up in Primark for £2.50 as I had heard it was a bit of a cheaper alternative to the Moroccan Oil.  I find it does just as good of a job...and has this lovely orangey smell to it which I adore.  I will also be repurchasing this too.  And finally....I just wanted to mention my love of the tangle teezer....I've had this brush for about a year but could not live without it now....it gets rid of all my twisted knotted up hair without pulling it out and doesn't hurt like some of the other brushes I've used, it's easy to grip from the shape of it, and small enough for your bag...plus it looks cute! It's £10.99 in boots lovelies :) 

 

Let me know what you think of any of these products...if they work for you or not or if you thinking about buying them.