Makeup & Skincare Empties - February 2024

This has been a long time coming - lots of favourites in here but also some I never want to see again!

Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture Cream
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream
Sam McNight Lazy Girl
Urban Veda Radiance Day Cream
Babo Botanical Sheer Tint
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel
Nu Skin Toothpaste
Garden of Wisdom Hyaluronic Acid
Stila Glitter & Glow
Elvive Dream Lengths
Elf Camo Concealer
Tropic Smoothing Cleanser
Vapour Mascara
Lush Sleep Time Soap
Lush Honey I Washed My Hair
Nu Skin Activating Cleanser for sensitive skin 
Pai The Impossible Glow in Champagne
Tropic Elixir
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi
Oskia Super C Beauty Capsules
Kjaer Weis Suntouched Blusher
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Upcircle Cleansing Face Balm
Tropic Sunglazed Illuminating Shimmer Drops 

Naturismo

Too Faced Let's Play Doll Sized Palette

I love these 'doll sized' palettes. I thought I wouldn't but I bloody do. I chose this one as its got colours I don't have similar too and would suit my green eyes but I think I'd happily get the set. 

Purple

 I used to hate this colour but now it's one of my most-used. It brings out the green in my eyes and can look bold and fun with minimal effort. 

The Best Makeup Deals & Offers

Balance Me Firming Body Oil - I'm a bit unsure that firming body oils really do anything but the LimeLife one works beautifully so I would definitely give this one a go and it's had great reviews https://tidd.ly/3BuPhFn

Beauty Savings

My picks from the current sales and offers around at the moment

Look Fantastic - at the moment they have a great sale on but also add TAKE5 to get an extra 5% off most things

Bobbi Brown  Golden Illustion Eye Shadow Palette - this is a really good deal on a palette that will offer you a little more than your standard nudes but nothing to over the top. 

Christmas Gift Ideas - Make-up

Buying make-up for someone else is really difficult but it can be done with clever buying and maybe a bit of sneakiness. If you are too scared to buy actual make-up then I’ve put some brushes and other things below which are fantastic too. 

My husband has a tendency to panic-buy things whilst out Christmas shopping, if you do this to then my advice is to go somewhere with a lot of counters (Selfridges, House of Fraser, Debenhams) find someone on a make-up counter who's make-up you like and ask them what they'd recommend. Remember you don't have to buy it though!

If you are brave enough to buy a foundation (remember you won’t be able to return it once it’s opened) then a bit of spying on what make-up they own already will help. Look at all the foundations they own and write down the brand, the name of the foundation and the colour (so for example MAC, Face and Body, N20). The brand and the name should be obvious, the colour which may be a number, will be on the bottom or the back. If in doubt take pictures on your phone. Any make-up counter worker worth their salt should be able to match you a colour if you take them these details. 

I will add this to the list as soon as its available.I will also add things as and when I think of them.

• Real Techniques – even if your make-up addict has brushes I find I can’t have enough. Real Techniques brushes are easy to find (in Boots and online) and are not going to break the bank. I really recommend the Core Collection, the Starter Kit and the Expert Face Brush.

• EM-J Company – Everything you could possibly want if you are a professional make-up artist but also lovely personal brush wraps. I’m a huge Jiminy fan myself but there is really is something for everyone in these designs.

•  Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick – Eye shadow pencils are the latest trend and these are a great budget buy/stocking filler. Available in lots of lovely colours very long lasting considering the price. I have Bluffing which would suit all eye colours. . 

• CharlotteTilbury – there are more suggestions on my ‘What I’d Like’ recommendations but from what I've tried these are my top two. Filmstar Bronze & Glow – this suits all skin tones I’ve tried it on. The packaging is fabulous and would be a real treat for anyone who’s into make-up. Make-up Bag – this would be a lovely stocking alternative, stocking filler or present. I don’t have one of these by my god I want one.

• Urban Decay Naked Palette – I love this palette (and all the Naked Palettes) but for me it’s the original here that is the best to give as a gift for sheer variety of colours so something for everyone.

• Diorskin Star Fluid Foundation – If you are brave enough then this is a beautiful foundation that would make a lovely present (festively named!). It’s quite a full coverage so only get this for someone if they are a wearer of foundation! 

• Too Faced Cat Eyes Palette - some really gorgeous colours for those who love a bit of drama wet and dry formulas, matte and shimmer this is incredibly versatile with one of my absolute favourite gold/bronze shimmers from any palette. 

Me, me, me

Lucky me had a really great weekend. Post dog-death Miss B was a little morose. I did go through the 'I have no friends I'm all alone' stage and now am safely out the otherside. The weather definately helped but so did doing something different with my time. Rather than the usual Sunday with Mr J spent drinking and eating too much whilst reading papers we went with Miss M, to a car boot sale in Battersea. But wait, we went one step further, we took a table, some chair, a great picnic and what seemed like half of Miss M's flat and did some selling. I was a little dubious at first but it was so much fun. I would really recommend it. Proof that there is still cool cheap stuff to do in London. It nearly but not quite made up for the fact that I am living in a building site and have had no hot water for over a week. I'm running out of places to shower which is not good.

Am now facing the usual poverty which the end of the first week of the month brings. Have luckily purchased Mr J's birthday present but for some reason have no idea what I want myself... except about 100 different products of course but I just don't think that that can be my present from Mr J. However, it would be foolish of me not to browse under the circumstances. Here's what I've seen....

• Sue Devitt Beauty Eye Intensifier Pencil in Surat (£17.50). This deep shimmering bronze is great for adding definition and a bit of sparkle. It is smudge proof and waterproof so this works great as either and intensive liner or lighter for smokey eyes.
  



• Paul and Joe Serum (£22) a grease free intensive moisturiser. This frangrance free serum contains honey to aid moisture retention.
  
  
• Shiseido the Make-up Silky eye shadow quad in Lunar phases (£24)
  
  
• Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme Frosted (£17) used in the morning and evening this plumper contains the latest in 'lip plumping technologies'.

• Revlon Bedroom Eyes poweder liner in Fishnet Jet (£8)
  


• Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Body Spray (£13) can be used everywhere and even works upside down. Not wanting to be too gross but I want to try this on the hard to get bit between the shoulder blades!



• Bliss Love Handler (£28). This seems to be being recommended everywhere. It releases caffine over an extended period of time which increases your metabolism. Best used with FatGirlSlim...
  


• GHD Summer Travel Bag (£145) comes with a styler and heat proof pouch and some travel sized goodies. Terribly extravagent especially if, like me, you already have some GHD's but I can't help myself.
  



• Elizabeth Arden's Smokey Eyes Powder Eye Pencil (£12)

One thing I've noticed since getting older is that presents you saw your older relatives getting when you were younger and thought were rubbish you now really want. If anyone is stuck for what to get me, anything from L'Occitane, The White Company, Molton Brown, Jo Malone (... you get the idea) is perfect. The thought of a receiving a scented candle drove the seven year old me into a decline now I adore them. xxx