Empties #7

Hi guys! So since I've been using up products like a crazy woman, I thought it was high time to share some of my empties with you! 

As you might know, I'm moving house in a month or so and have been trying to use up as many of my 'almost empty but not quite there yet' products that I'm sure every girl has lurking around her bathroom. Moving house is stressful enough without having to worry about taking 6 almost-empty bottles of shampoo with me!

First up is the B. Micellar Water which was the first ever micellar water I used. Since then I've moved on and tried different ones which I prefer but I would consider repurchasing this again. My full review is HERE. Next is the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash which I've actually already repurchased but somehow never gotten around to reviewing properly. I really recommend this face wash for use on a morning to get rid of any nighttime impurities and freshen up in the shower before a new day. At £3.99, it's already quite affordable but always on offer in Boots (link HERE).

Next is some more skincare - this Moisture Rich Face Cream from Balance Me is a small travel size I received free with a magazine. I was seriously impressed with how long this small tube lasted, although it didn't bowl me over with any incredible results. It's a nice, thick and creamy in consistency but because it didn't wow me I wouldn't repurchase because it's £24 for a full sized product. I first tried Philosophy Purity cleanser a really long time ago after hankering after it for ages, and you can read my partially disappointed review of it HERE.

As I'm writing this blog post I realise I haven't ever done a review of the Palmers Moisturising Body Oil, which is insane given how much I love this product! This is definitely on my to-do list as I've repurchased this and use it often. It's a great post-shower product for lazy girls/girls who don't have time to moisturise on a morning. £5.10 and it lasts AGES! Link HERE. No surprises that I've gone through another of my Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion given that it's my HG for curly hair. I've raved about this already HERE.

Finally a couple of odd balls - the Sally Hansen Insta Dri top coat rocked my world when I first started using it over 18 months ago. It helps my nails dry so quickly that I actually have time to do them even on those busy evenings when there are a million and one things to do, and none include sitting for 10 minutes waiting for my nails to dry! This is the second or third one of these I've gotten through and I can't recommend this enough (link HERE). And the almost unidentifiable Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - my all time favourite concealer (along with every other beauty blogger that has ever lived). Read my review HERE.

Phew - that's quite a few empties! Even as I write this post I have a lot of other products in the almost-empty category that I'm determined to use up before we move house! So watch this space for another empties post soon...

xx

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Meet Marzipan

Hi guys! I am so excited to be writing today's post, which is a little introduction to a new member of my family... if you follow Bee's Knees you'll know that I already have 3 cats - Marcel and O'Malley who are 9 month old kittens (post HERE) and Clementine who is my gorgeous 4 year old rescue kitty (post HERE).

But any crazy cat lady worth her salt knows that 3 is not enough cats! (I jest...) In fact we now have four kitties in our family because we accidentally acquired this gorgeous baby cat a couple of weeks ago - ladies and gents, meet Marzipan.

We definitely never intended to have 4 cats, I mean come on that's 20 legs to run around after without even counting Neil! But sometimes these things happen and honestly, would you be able to resist this beautiful little face?!

Marzipan was 7/8 weeks old when she came home with us - after I found her online where her previous owners had claimed she was 14 weeks old and they needed rid of her due to an allergy. I could tell she was nowhere near that age as soon as I laid eyes on her because she is tiny! She fit into the palm of my hand on her first night. Her previous owners were so unprepared for a kitty they were feeding her adult food, cow's milk (a big no-no as most cats are lactose intolerant) and didn't even have a carry case for us to bring her home in!

I'm happy to say she's now settled into our family and we can't imagine being without her! It was originally our plan to give her a temporary home until we could find new owners for her, but once we realised how young she is we didn't have the heart to be the source of any more instability in her short life. She's since been to the vets and is a pretty healthy kitten, full of energy and a joy to be around. Although I'm sure whenever I mention my four cats to any non-cat people in the future it may be met with rolled eyes, but I honestly can't picture our lives without this little madam in it!

xx

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Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polished

Hi guys! Today I'm sharing with you a highlighter that I have been using a lot lately. I picked this up at the end of last year after searching high and low for a creamy subtle highlighter.

I definitely think 2013 was the year of highlighter for me - I just started using it in my everyday routine and have built up quite a collection. But this has to be my current favourite..

The product comes in a little glass jar which I love - my absurd obsession with glass containers aside, I do think this packaging is sweet. I don't have that many products from the Topshop make up range but I am a fan of their unique and quirky branding.

As for the consistency, it's a perfect mix of cream and mousse which is delightful to use. It's not very thick once you apply it which is good because it's easy to avoid looking like a glitter ball. 

The colour of this product is perfect for my pale skin tone - it's a silvery gold with just a beautiful sheen and no glitter particles at all. My favourite way to use this is applied on the brow bone and cheek bones underneath powder foundation to make sure it's a subtle glow that accentuates my bone structure.

My favourite aspect of this product is the longevity - it lasts much longer than other similarly priced highlighters I've tried. Priced at only £9 it's a real bargain. I recommend this if you're looking for a product that will give a subtle glow that lasts all day long. You can pick up the Topshop Glow highlighter from Topshop stores or online HERE.

Have you tried this product before? Which is your favourite highlighter?

xx

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A Little Life Update...

Hi guys! Today's post is a bit of a rambly, chatty one that I've been meaning to post for a few weeks. It's been a few months since I sat down and had a chat with you guys about what's going on with me, and so much has happened in that time.

Okay, here goes, I can't hold it in any longer...

I'M* BUYING A HOUSE!!!!!

(*we, technically)

Yep, at last after spending almost my entire life obsessing about houses, perusing RightMove for hours on end, nosying in other people's houses on the street, I am finally taking the steps to become a home owner!

You might remember that I only moved here in August (2013), which was when I moved up to Leeds from London. We're renting out current house but after much uhmm-ing and ahh-ing decided to take the plunge when we found our perfect house for sale. It's not a done deal yet - those of you in the know will understand that there are lots of things that can go wrong with house buying in England, and until you've got the keys in your hand you can't be sure of anything! But we're currently speeding towards exchange with completion due to take place in mid to late February. Because we're renting we're going to keep this house for a couple of weeks after completion so we have some flexibility about moving and a bit of time to paint a couple of rooms and get everything ready.

So fingers crossed (touch wood, etc) in a couple of months' time I will be writing to you from my very own little house! I am so so excited about this big step, whilst still being a bit scared and nervous. This is probably the most serious commitment I have ever made with Neil.. but we're both really looking forward to owning the roof over our heads. If you'd like to hear more about this or see more home-related posts, let me know!

To keep up to date with my moving story follow me on Twitter @ElspethDaisy!

xx

ps. I hope you enjoyed the Fabulous Nails series that finished last Saturday - I absolutely loved sharing my favourite polishes with you and I'm currently planning what will replace these posts on a Saturday morning... watch this space!

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NEW Dove Express Treatment Conditioner Range*

Hi guys! Today I'm sharing some more Dove hair care goodies with you. I already posted about some products I was sent by the lovely people at Dove HERE, and I was really happy to receive some more items to try out and share with you guys! 

For me, keeping my hair moisturised is a big priority. I didn't share too much of my hair journey over the past 6 months or so but in short - I started out strawberry blonde, went blonde (really blonde) and then after a few months wanted to go back to being brunette and had a bit of an ordeal where I home dyed my hair pink and then had to use Color B4 to strip it down to white and re-dye it brown! My hair was pretty damaged to start with because of going blonde but after all that trauma it was horrendous. So lately I've been trying to find time to use a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week. Which made the arrival of these Dove Express Treatment Conditioners into my life incredibly timely.

I received three from the range - the Intensive Repair conditioner, the Colour Radiance conditioner and the Nourishing Oil Care conditioner. I was originally going to review these in three posts but I think it would be a little repetitive. So prepare yourself for three reviews in one post! In essence all of these products are a quick and easy way to incorporate a deeper conditioning treatment into your shower routine because you only need to leave them on for a minute or two. I tend to use these in the shower after shampooing and then turn off the water while I use shower gel, shave my legs etc and then turn the water back on and wash off! Simple, easy and so quick you don't have to get up early on a morning to give your hair some extra TLC.

First up, the Dove Intensive Repair Express Treatment Conditioner. The consistency of all these conditioners is slightly thicker than a regular conditioner and it almost melts into your hair on application. The smell is such a fresh cotton-y scent I adore using this because when I blow dry my hair afterwards it lingers on. In terms of how this helps my hair, it makes it feel a lot softer and it's not so frizzy but it does weigh it down a little. Sometimes that can be bad but because I have quite fine hair I sometimes prefer heavy duty products to help prevent fly aways. I wouldn't recommend using this more than once a week. 

Next, the Dove Colour Radiance Express Treatment Conditioner. This is aimed at damaged coloured hair, which is exactly what I have! The colour of the creme is pink-toned which for some reason I just love! It's a random little thing that makes me smile in the shower when I use it. In caring for my colour treated hair I try and use a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week, but since I started using this product I haven't really needed to. I'm seriously impressed with how strong and healthy my hair feels after using this. This product also claims to extend the life of your coloured hair which I definitely agree with - although that said I am a firm believer that any good conditioning treatment will help prolong your colour.

Finally - the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Express Treatment Conditioner. This creme has a golden yellow tone to it which I love even more than the pink one! I was super keen to try this one because, along with the rest of the world, I've gone crazy for oils in the past couple of years and find oils can work wonders on my damaged hair. That said, I was concerned that using this in conjunction with my usual Macadamia Oil healing oil spray would be too much and result in heavy, greasy hair. Thank goodness I was wrong! There's no greasy feeling after using this (provided you wash it out properly) and compared to the other two I've tried this conditioner makes my hair feel bouncier and more resilient.

Phew! We made it. I have been using these products for a while now - in order to test them thoroughly I used one at a time for a couple of weeks so I could report back to you on my experience with each one and their specific benefits. I hope this is helpful if you're looking for a simple product that's easy to incorporate into your busy morning routine.

Price-wise these are very affordable at just £3.99 each - one 180ml tube will last you a long long time (which is why I'm giving one of mine away to my Mum to use because otherwise I'd be using these for years!) You can pick these up from Superdrug or Boots in store or online HERE.

Have you tried any of the Dove hair care range yet? What do you think?

xx

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*PR sample

Fabulous Nails - Nice Neutrals

Hi guys! Today's post is the last in the Fabulous Nails themed series - boo! But to finish on a high, read all about some really nice neutral shades that are perfect all year round, but especially pretty around this time of year..

L > R:

Ciate Cookies and Cream, Maybelline Peche Rose, Ciate Pocket Money, No7 Highland Mist

L > R:

Barry M Mushroom, Models Own Nude Beige, Nails Inc Chester Street, Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Papaya, Models Own Utopia

Are you a fan of subtle, understated neutrals? Which is your favourite?

xx

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Soap and Glory Puffy Eye Attack

Hi everyone! Today I'm reviewing a product I picked up a little while ago (haul post HERE) - the Soap and Glory Puffy Eye Attack eye gel.

The packaging of this product is part of S&G's recent redesign, and whilst I don't like some of the packaging for other skincare items I actually think with this eye gel S&G have stayed true to their original brand message and style.

The eye gel comes in this teeny little white plastic pot. Although I'm a big big fan of glass jars for skincare and eye creams, this is quite inoffensive as plastic pots go!

I am quite new to the world of eye creams, having only started using one religiously about a year ago, and I haven't really used eye gels before, only eye creams. This was the main reason I picked this up in the first place. I was keen to see whether a gel would be more easily absorbed into my skin and feel more hydrating. 

I really like the consistency of this product - as you can see it's a white gel that then turns almost into a liquid when you apply it to your skin. It's much easier to dab this light gel onto my eye area without being rough in comparison to a heavier traditional cream. It feels like it absorbs into my skin almost instantly which is great when I'm in a rush on a morning and don't have time to wait for things to sink in before applying make up. 

Most of all, this feels refreshing and hydrating on my skin. It hasn't magically removed my under eye circles but it does give the appearance of less wrinkles around my eyes, and on days when I've had little sleep it does reduce puffiness more than other eye creams I've used.

Overall I do really like this eye gel and it's definitely made me want to try other gels to see whether different brands are as good as this one. Price-wise, it's usually £12.50 which is expensive for the small size of the product but in the context of other eye creams is actually pretty cheap. It's usually on offer at Boots with other S&G products so I'd recommend trying to get it cheaper if you can. You can get this from your local Boots or online HERE.

Have you tried the Puffy Eye Attack before? Which is your favourite eye cream?

xx

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Fabulous Nails - Beautiful Blues

Hi guys! Today's post is another installment of my Fabulous Nails series, looking at the most beautiful blue nail polishes!

L > R:

Nails Ince Hotcomb Street, Ciate Power Dressing, Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Blue Plum, Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots in blue

L > R:

Revlon Top Speed in Royal, Kiko 335, Topshop Varsity, Models Own Freak Out

L > R:

Collection Hot Looks Vogue, No7 Stonewash, Models Own Aqua Violet

Are you a fan of blue nails? Which is your favourite?

xx

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The Body Shop Camomile Sumptious Cleansing Butter

Hi guys! Today I am reviewing this delightful Camomile Sumptious Cleansing Butter from The Body Shop. I have long been a fan of The Body Shop but sometimes I think their products aren't very up to date with trends and innovations in the beauty world. Well this product proves me thoroughly wrong...

Beauty balms have been around for a while, and many have been particularly popular with beauty bloggers. An obvious example is the Emma Hardie Amazing Face cleansing balm - a product that has been on my wishlist for a really long time! Unfortunately a lot of the most popular balms carry a hefty price tag which makes them out of reach for a lot of girls, including me! When I heard The Body Shop were bringing out a more purse-friendly alternative I couldn't wait to give it a go (nb: this product is called a 'butter' but is exactly the same as a cleansing balm which is why I'm calling it a balm!)

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptious Cleansing Butter is £12 for 90ml (HERE) but as you probably know, The Body Shop constantly has offers on and you rarely have to pay full price for anything. In fact I bought this with 30% off which made it a really affordable skincare option.

The packaging is really unique and pretty - I like the twist-open metal tin and it looks very pretty alongside my other essentials in the bathroom. As you can see from the photo above, the product itself is a very thick, opaque balm that you have to scoop out with your fingers. If you're using this for the first time, please don't scoop out a load of product like I did - you really don't need that much and you don't want to waste it!

Once applied onto your face with your fingers the balm begins to melt and sink into the skin - this is the best bit! I've never been to a spa or had a facial but I imagine this is what it would feel like - sumptious and exquisite on the skin. I like to apply this to my face before brushing my teeth, so the balm has a couple of minutes to sink in and work its magic. I then use a cotton flannel soaked in hot water to dab the product off my face, leaving my skin feeling fresh, clean and soft. You can really appreciate the camomile in this balm because it's so soothing and gentle - exactly what my poor dry skin needs at this time of year!

I have enjoyed using this product so far and it hasn't caused any adverse reactions in my skin. I think it's a nice option for girls with dry skin or perhaps more sensitive skin - compared to some more clarifying cleansers I have used this is a much gentler option. For the price it's a great option to try if you're new to cleansing balms like me, or even if you're just looking for a new brand to try.

Have you used cleansing balms before? What do you think?

xx

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