Disappointing Products Part 1 : Skincare

Hello Everyone, as you can see from above, I have amassed a hell of a lot of disappointing products. I didn't even realise how many I had until I emptied them all out. I have split them up into catagories otherwise this post would go on for ever! 

Part 1 is Skincare, and the rest shall be up over the next few weeks. 

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water : When I couldn't see my favourite Serozonic  in the aisles of Boots, I picked this up instead. 

This just did nothing for me, I know it's only a thermal water so it's not exactly full of life saving ingredients, but I feel like I would have got the same result for 7 quid cheaper by just splashing my face with tap water. It also made my skin feel a little dry.
I don't see the point in this, but Serozinc, is fantastic. 

Avene Thermal Spring Water : I have the exact same criticism! I liked that this was little and handbag size, but again it did nothing and made my skin feel even dryer than the LRP offering.

The Body Shop Pomegranate Softening Cream Cleanser : I know I appear to be bashing The Body Shop in the post- but they do have 2 products that are actually Holy Grail Status - The Camomile Cleansing Oil and the incredible Hemp Hand Protector. 

I hadn't tried a cream cleanser for a while so I picked this up on a whim but it just stung and burnt my skin.

I knew the moment I smelt it I was taking a risk - it has quite a strong artificial fragrance and I just knew my skin wouldn't like it.

Low and behold it burnt my skin, I did use it a few times to see if my skin was just having a off day, but nope, I can't get on with the fragrance. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask : I know I know, this has a proper cult following so I am probably one of the only people who didn't like this! 

It's not awful- it has a lovely peachy scent, absorbs nicely into the skin and it does add some moisture, but that's about it.

I have pretty much used the entire thing up so I have given it a good go, but it's not particularly hydrating so I am disappointed. Its nowhere near 'Intensive'. If you are looking for an alternative, try the Egyptian Magic Cream, it hydrates, heals and clears. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil : I gave this a real good go yonks ago and was using it nightly for a few months. It wasn't awful- it didn't irritate my skin or cause me to break, but I didn't see or feel any difference in my skin come morning. It was only when I started using the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Oil that I realised how hydrating some oils could be. After getting into Kiehls, I totally stopped using this.

The Body Shop Aloe Lip Treatment : I bought this after Essie Button raved about how it miraculously cured her chapped lips in an instant. I used to suffer from chronically dry lips so I picked this up a while ago and to be honest...I really, really don't like it.
I found the texture to be quite greasy and it just lay on top of the lips and hence it didn't actually moisturize or 'treat' them. If anything, I think it just dried them out more.
After discovering Nuxe reve de miel, I haven't looked back. 

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Skincare/Haircare : The Empties

I have been hoarding my empties for a while so I thought it was about time to do a post so I can actually get rid of this stuff!

Colab Dry Shampoo London Fragrance : This is the original formula and probably my 6th empty can.

I really like this dry shampoo- all the scents are perfectly pleasant (Monaco is gorgeous, definitely my favorite) but they all do a fantastic job of drying up some of the excess oils in your roots leaving your hair feeling really refreshed. 

It doesn't leave that horrible, heavy powdery texture that some dry shampoos do. 

It's cheap as chips as well. Just make sure you give this a good shake before you use it. 

Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Spray : I don't to tend to have a lot of luck with volumsing products and this hair spray was no exception. I have had this for ages and to be honest I am quite impressed  that I actually finished it! It's not awful- it does add some volume but made my hair feel crispy. I wont be repurchasing this.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm : This is a very rich cleansing balm that is loaded with essential oils. I didn't particularly enjoy using it in the morning- I prefer it for a night time cleanse after I have removed my make up as it does a good job of really getting any make up residue/dirt/grime etc off your face.

I do like this, but I don't think I will be repurchasing. If I use it too much it can be a bit too rich for my skin and leave me a little blotchy

I have found my favorite cleanser which is over a tenner cheaper than this, so I will be sticking with that.

Body Shop Chamomile Silky Cleansing Oil : This is easily my favorite make up removing oil. It's fairly cheap, doesn't irritate my skin in anyway and manages to remove all my make up- foundation/waterproof mascara- just everything. It's brilliant, I dispense about 2 pumps into my dry hands and massage onto my dry, made up face and it helps to loosen everything. I then wipe off with a warm flannel.

These last me for quite some time too- I have got through about 5 of bottles and I am already onto my 6th with another as back up in my cupboard.

Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Mist : You can see I really get through this stuff huh? This is a lovely gentle toner that doesn't make any outrageous claims, it just adds anther little layer of moisture. It is refreshing and although I prefer my Orico toner this little guy is a lot cheaper and more easily accessible, so again, I have back ups waiting for me.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads : I love these, for a full review click.

Garnier Micellar Water : 9 times out of 10 I will remove my make up with my Body Shop oil, but on days when I don't, I use this. I like this a lot more than Bioderma- I find it to be non irritating and it does do a good job of removing make up without drying out the skin.

I only ever use it to remove make up and then I follow with a proper cleanser. It's decent stuff and I am on my second bottle.

Percy and Reed Hair's Best Friend Totally Intensive Treatment Oil+ : This oil smells AMAZING. I wish this was a perfume because I would literally douse myself in it, it is so fresh and beautiful.

I really love this oil, somehow it manages to be incredibly light whilst moisturizing my hair and making it easy to comb and detangle. It's also silicone free so it doesn't make you hair feel coasted or heavy. 

I adore this and one hundred percent recommend. 

Clinique Smart Serum : I know this is only a little bottle- but I actually had quite a few of them so I did give this a good test.

I don't believe in its claims- I don't know how a serum can actually be 'smart'- Clinique say that the reason for the naming is that this serum has the ability to work out what you skins needs and then adjusts to those needs. Hence making it a serum that all skin types can use, thus it helps those with oily skin by helping reduce excess oils/blemishes but then adjusts itself for those (me) with dry dehydrated skin by deeply hydrating and adding in the much needed moisture.

I disagree.
The first few times I used this I liked it, I felt like it really help with the dehydration lines that I sometimes get around my eyes, but after a couple of weeks of using this alone morning and night my skin felt desperate for a drink. I was craving my Kielhs midnight oil and the moment I put it on my skin I felt immediately better. I definitely wont buy this, I feel its quite expensive when it didn't really do anything for me. Also it felt quite silicone heavy so I almost felt like I was putting some sort of primer on my skin. Its a no from me. 

Hydraluron : This is a much hyped/blogged about product so I had to try it. It has the highest concentration of Hyluronic Acid so I thought I would love it....but it's kinda....meh. 

I used to use it under my moisturizer and it did feel hydrating....but I don't know. I just didn't love it. I think its the texture that I can't really get on with.
I don't think my skin looked that much better for using it and I feel like its more suited to oily skin types as it has a very sticky consistency that seems to vanish immediately into the skin. 

I am glad I used this and finished it, but I wont be re-buying. I have other products in my stash that perform this task so much better. 

The Body Shop Hand Hemp Protector : I love this and I am already using the larger size of this. There is a full review here.

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream : This is my favorite moisturizer and I repurchased it as soon as I could. I can't cope without this in my life (a tad dramatic I admit) so I bought the jumbo size. For a full review click here.

Morocco Hair Oil : This tiny little bottle seems to last forever even though I use it pretty much every time after I wash my hair. I always repurchase this- it helps to detangle my wet hair whilst smoothing and conditioning it.
I can always tell when I have used this as my hair looks so lovely and sleek.

Nuxe Rev De Miel : Favorite Lip Balm of all time- click on this little guy if you want to read a full review. 

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body Cream : This is a lovely rich body cream that smells absolutely divine. I have the hand and body lotion as well so I am going to try to finish that up too! This is very pricey, but a lovely treat.

La Roche Posay Serozonc : I am on my second bottle, for a review click here.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel : This is my favorite cleanser! Believe the hype on this one, its a beauty. For more info click here. 


Phew that was a long one! Thank you if you stayed with me! 

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June Skincare Favorites

June has been a very good month for skincare! I have discovered a few new lovely things with a couple of repurchases thrown in for good measure. 

La Roche-Posay Serozinc : I know, I know, this is probably the most blogged about skincare item and chances are you are quite sick of reading reviews- but it has been a fave of mine so I had to add it in.

This is a repurchase and it is something quite lovely.

This toner only contains three ingredients; water, sodium chloride and zinc. I appreciate the simplicity and the lack of astringents, but it is the Zinc that is the hard worker here.

This is meant for oily/blemish prone skin, which I have not but it still works for me.

When I am having a dry skin day I go for my hydrating toners, but during the summer months when I am naturally sweating more, I end up with a few little bumps under the skin- the product really helps rid me of some of them. It's brilliant and now more widely accessible to us Brits in larger Boots stores.

Caudalie Premier Cru the Elixir : I had never heard of this facial oil until I was given a sample at Space Nk. Face oils are my thing so I was keen to try but I hadn't read any reviews so I had no exceptions or any clue what it was really meant to do.

Let me tell you, this oil brings the hydration and the glow. It's gorgeous, a full review is on it's way.

Orico Streetwise Coco Spritz : I have been on the look out for a hydrating toner for a while. I do love my Body Shop Vitamin E facial mist but I just get through it so rapidly and I wanted to try something new.

This is gorgeous- totally Amelia Liana inspired- she is one of my biggest enablers and when she compared it to the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary mist but twenty quid cheaper, I was keen.

It is lovely, again stay tuned for a full review.

Clarins Radiance Plus Body Golden Glow Booster : I am sorry to be so annoying today- but a review is also on the way for this one! Just a quick spoiler- I don't think I will be without this product from now on. I have never found a fake tan that I actually liked. This is fab.

Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche Body Lotion : This is the body cream that I have been adding the Clarins Booster to.

I have had this cream for some time but I am so bad at moisturizing my body- truth me told I am intrinsically lazy but due to the Clarins only working as a mixer, it has forced me into moisturizing and I love it! I am going to try my utmost to stick to my new routine.

I finished the perfume version some time ago, it's a real favorite with woody,citrus and floral notes- it's pretty but not headachey. I am not a huge floral girl but due to the top notes being citrus and woody, it gives it a bit for depth.

I tend to think that the that fragrance brands that release body lotions tend to be mediocre creams with the scent just shot through- this is not the case here.

This cream is deeply hydrating leaving skin silky soft whilst absorbing quickly.

Another plus is that mixing this with the Clarins gives you a fake tan that smells like Chanel. I'm sorry but that's the dream right? No horrid biscuity smell here.

The scent also lingers or a while, just lovely.

Egyptian Magic : This is another product I hadn't heard anything about but upon receiving a sample from Space NK I become hooked and was desperate to pick up the full size after it was finished.

Review soon.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads : This is another repurchase.

I ran out of these a couple of months ago and didn't really realize how much I was missing them!

These pads are pre-soaked with acids (Lactic and Glycolic) and after cleansing I wipe both sides all over my face in circular motions. I leave it for a couple of minutes and then go in with my facial mist.

I use these in the evening, usually 3/4 times a week and they do a lovely job of exfoliating the skin, leaving it brighter and smoother- it does help with those little milia bumps you get under the skin.

Exfoliating is also very important as it helps whatever serums/oils you put on after be more easily absorbed.

This is my favorite exfoliator but I don't like over using it. It is gentle, you don't really get any stingyness with this and I find 3/4 times a week more than enough to keep my skin looking fresh. It is not necessary for me to use this daily as it's a bit too much exfoliation for my skin.

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