Empties – November 2019

Hi there! November is behind us, and today’s post is about my November 2019 beauty trash. 🙂 I used quite a few single-use face masks. I didn’t keep the empty sachets, but if you’d like to read about my latest face mask finds, click here. Onto the big empties!

1 Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash – I enjoyed this face wash, and I’d like to buy it again (once I’m at least halfway through my face wash stash).

2 Imperial Leather Relaxing Orchid & Ylang Ylang Infusions Bath Cream – this a lovely bath cream that I will buy again.

3 Jennifer Lopez Glow EdT – whilst I’m not a fan of the singer/actress J Lo, I’m enjoying quite a few of her fragrances. I can definitely see myself buying a big 100ml bottle of Glow again!

4 Max Factor Pan Stik 25 Fair – my holy grail foundation! And this is the original Pan Stik – not the stuff they sell now…

5 Superdrug Vitamin E Skin Care All Over Body Cream With Moonstone Extract – this is a lovely body cream. It’s a limited edition, but I have one more tub!

6 Nourish Protect Cooling Toning Mist – this is a very good face mist. I enjoyed using it! I’ll buy it again if it’s on special.

7 Good Things Spa Manuka Honey Nourishing Body Wash – another amazing body wash that I’d like to pick up again!

8 Boots Time Delay Deep Cleansing Facial Exfoliator – this stuff was good but not great. It’s been discontinued now, but I wouldn’t have repurchased it anyway.

9 Maybelline Black Eyeliner – this is a very good eyeliner. It may have been the last of the bunch or I might have a few more (I used to buy these in bulk). I’d buy these eyeliners again.

10 Boots No 7 Devil’s Delight Nail Polish – this is a good quality polish. I might have a backup (from one of the countless half price Christmas gift sets I bought over the past few years). Anyhoo… I’m happy to have finished another colour polish!

11 Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Day Cream SPF15 – this day cream was very nice. I’m sure I’ll buy it again!

12 L’Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths Detangling Conditioner – a very unspectacular conditioner. Repurchase? Nope!

13 Imperial Leather Moroccan Spa Orange Blossom & Argan Oil Spa Escape Bath Cream – another amazing bath cream that I’ll buy again soon!

14 Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature Organic Vanilla Silky Lotion – I enjoyed this silky lotion very much. I have 2 more bottles (old and new packaging).

I’m pleased with what I finished last month – I like to finish big bottles as well as small items like nail polish and eyeliner. I think I’ve done well again! Which products have you finished lately? Feel free to get in touch via the comments, and thanks for reading! 😊

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash

Hi there! Today I’m reviewing the face wash I’m using at the moment – Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash.

I think I’ve actually been using this face wash for almost 2 months now, so it’s definitely time for a review!

This face wash belongs to Boots Botanics’ All Bright collection, and it promises a brighter, more even and smoother complexion. It’s aimed at all skin types.

What else? This face wash contains hibiscus extract, which, according to Boots, is known for its brightening properties. However, the face wash also contain an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) which is proven to have exfoliating and brightening powers.

Since I’m using a number of very effective brightening products already, it’s not possible for me to say which product does what. But I’m satisfied that this face wash helps me maintain a bright and smooth complexion.

I also enjoy this face wash because it cleanses my skin gently, and it removes makeup and oil effectively and without irritating my skin.

I’m happy to continue to use this product, and I would recommend it if you’re looking for a face wash that contains AHA but that’s not to harsh on the skin. Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash is available as 150ml for £5.49. I paid £2.50 (clearance, old packaging).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Empties – May 2019

Hi there! It’s already the 3rd of June, so it’s time for my May Empties post. As always, I used a number of single use face masks. I didn’t keep the empty sachets, but if you’re interested, you can click here to read about my latest face mask finds. Without further ado, onto the big bottles, tubes and tubs! 😎

1 Nourish Balance Refining Toning Mist – I didn’t love this face mist, and I won’t be buying it again.

2 Palmolive Aroma Moments Just Fabulous – this is a lovely shower gel that I will buy again, no doubt! My husband used this shower gel too, so this is a shared empty.

3 Treacle Moon The Honeycomb Secret – another amazing shower gel from Treacle Moon. Another shower gel that I will repurchase.

4 Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel – this is one of my all-time favourite face washes. Unfortunately, it’s been discontinued ages ago, and this was the last tube I had. 😪

5 Beautifully Scrumptious Almond Body Butter – this is a nice body butter that I might pick up again.

6 Aussie Mega Conditioner – this is one of the best conditioners I’ve ever used. It’s not as good as the original Herbal Essences conditioners, but nothing comes close to those really. In any event, I will repurchase this conditioner (and the matching shampoo) for sure!

7 Original Source Passionfruit and Jojoba Milk Shower Milk – this is a nice shower gel that I might buy again.

8 Pantene Pro-V Youth Protect Rejuvenating Intensive Conditioner – one of Pantene’s best hair products! I would buy this deep conditioner again!

9 Superdrug Cranberry & Pomegranate Body Butter – this body butter was much older than I’d care to admit. It smelled and looked perfect, but I didn’t want to use it on my body – so I decided to use it on my feet instead. It did a great job! This body butter has been discontinued ages ago, and repurchasing it would be impossible!

10 Nivea Age Defying Q10 Hand Cream – a great hand cream! I have a few more of these in my stash!

11 Maybelline Eyeliner Chestnut (x2) – these are nice eyeliners. Now that I’ve finished these 2, I think I just have 2 or 3 more in my stash.

12 Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Acid Daily Cleansing Pads – I’ll be reviewing these very shortly! 😊

13 Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Buff – a simple and unspectacular nothing colour. I used this one as a base coat. I wouldn’t buy this polish again.

I’m happy with what I finished in May! Which products have you said goodbye to recently? Feel free to get in touch via the comments. And thanks for reading! 😘

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Empties – August 2016

Hi there! It’s the 1st of September – this means it’s time for the monthly empties post. Again, I managed to use use up quite a few products (I’ve done well this summer!), so here’s what I’ve said goodbye to in August.

1 Jennifer Lopez Live EDP (100ml) – I’ve worn this fragrance on and off for about five years. It’s one of my favourite fragrances and a guilty pleasure because in real life I try my best not to tell people that I’m in love with a J Lo fragrance. However, I’m happy to recommend this fragrance on my blog (Try it!) and I’m just as happy to tell you I have another 100ml back-up bottle!

2 NSPA Passionfruit Fragrance Body Mist (200ml) – I’ve used this body mist on and off since last summer – as a body and scarf spray. 🙂 It’s a decent fruity body mist. But I won’t buy another bottle because I’ve got too many fragrances and fragrance mists, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, simple, fresh, fruity and tropical body mist, I’d definitely recommend you try this one.

3 Alverde Grapefruit & Kiwi Body Spray (100ml) – I bought this body spray in 2010 and I’ve finally used it up. I actually liked this body spray. The fragrance is (well, was) 95% kiwi – very fresh, a little sweet and a little tangy! This one was a limited edition, so it’s no longer available. But I wouldn’t repurchase it anyway because I’ve got other fragrances that want to be used up!

4 Original Source Extreme Deep Clean Liquorice Body Scrub – I’ve used this one on and off since mid-July. If you love liquorice, you need to try this shower scrub. It’s brilliant. My husband likes this scrub too. And since he’s also used it a couple of times, this one is a shared empty. And yes, I have a back-up bottle. 🙂

5 I Love… Raspberry Vanilla Shower Cream – I’ve used this one on and off since May. It’s very nice! It’s sad that it has been discontinued. 😦

6 Imperial Leather Revitalising Grapefruit & Pomegranate Shower Cream – I’ve used this one on and off since mid-June. It’s a super refreshing shower cream that’s perfect for those summer days when it’s too hot to use a body lotion after the shower. Unfortunately this product has been discontinued and I can’t buy it again. But I’ve got at least two back-up bottles.

7 Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel – one of the best face washes I’ve ever tried. I’ve used this face wash on and off since mid-May and I’m very happy with the results. But I’ve used this face wash before so I knew how brilliant this product is. Unfortunately this face wash has been discontinued, so I can’t buy it again. But I have three tubes left, so there’s no need for me to panic.

8 Rimmel 60 Seconds 740 Clear – one of my favourite clear polishes. Applies like a charm, dries quickly…. I have several back-up bottles and I’ll continue to buy this polish for as long as I can find it.

9 Dove Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream – my go-to hand cream until it was almost empty and I forgot about it. But I’ve made an effort to use it up now. I really liked this hand cream. Too bad it’s been discontinued.

10 Herbal Essences (Rainforest Flowers) Sensuously Smooth Conditioner – one of the best conditioners ever made. It made my hair feel incredibly smooth and soft. This conditioner mops the floor with comparable drugstore conditioners that promise smooth hair! Whilst I have a few back-up bottles of the shampoo and the conditioner, I think it’s very sad that the wonderful Rainforest Flowers collection has been discontinued. 😦

11 Radox Brazilian Fusion – a decent shower gel that’s actually more of a shower cream. It smells of white flowers which is nice, but not very special. This empty is another shared empty (my husband used this shower gel a few times too last month). This shower gel has been discontinued – but I wouldn’t rush out to repurchase it anyway.

12 Bronnley Lemon & Neroli Body Lotion – a light moisturiser that’s perfect for summer. This lotion doesn’t feel sticky at all – and it’s paraben-free! Whilst I don’t think I’ll repurchase this particular body lotion (it’s £12 for 250ml), I would recommend it to anyone who loves the classic fragrance of lemon and neroli and who doesn’t mind spending a little more on a body lotion.

13 (no photo) – I’ve used several face masks (Superdrug, Montagne Jeunesse) – but as usual, I didn’t keep the empty (=messy) sachets.

So this is what I emptied last month. Not too bad, eh? This month is going to be awesome for empties as I’m making it a priority to use up several travel-sized products and to empty a few half full bottles, tubs and tubes which I have plenty of!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel & Skin Brightening Toner

Hi there! I’ve previously mentioned that I’ve got drawers full of toiletries with lots of untouched stuff from ages ago. My quest to use up at least some older products before buying new ones led me to these to (g)oldies: Boots Botanic Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel and Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Toner.

The Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel is one of the best face washes I’ve ever had. It’s incredibly powerful at removing make-up, grease and grime; at the same time it doesn’t feel harsh at all.

I can also see that this face wash really brightens my skin. I’ve noticed that the yellow patches just above my cheek bones have disappeared within a couple of weeks. This face wash is absolutely brilliant!

The Skin Brightening Toner does a really nice job too. When I use the toner, I can feel that it does something to my face. It doesn’t burn or sting, and it also doesn’t cause redness, but I can feel that it works.

I think that this toner, in addition to the face wash, really helps brightening my skin. I use it about two to three times a week only (it’s too precious), but I can see a big difference. This toner is amazing!

Now here’s the but… Boots discontinued these products when it revamped in Botanics collection. Boots has new products which promise to brighten skin, and I will certainly try them, but no matter how good the new products are, I’ll miss these oldies when they’re gone.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde