Empties – May 2023

Hi there! Today’s post is about all the products I said goodbye to in May. And here they are.

1 Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum – a wonderful serum. A definite repurchase!

2 Yves Rocher Oui A L’Amour L’Eau De Parfum – a really nice fragrance. I would buy it again, but unfortunately, Yves Rocher withdrew from the UK market.

3 Max Factor Pan 25 Fair – my holy grail foundation!

4 Herbal Essences Fruit Fusions Moisture Splash Conditioner – this was the last of its kind. Unbelievable quality! So sad that these amazing Herbal Essences products are gone.

5 Westlab Mineral Bathing Recover Epsom Salts With White Willow & Eucalyptus – these are really nice bath salts, and I can see myself buying them again.

6 Palmolive Naturals Almond & Milk Shower Cream – unfortunately, my stash of these is dwindling. One of the best shower gels ever! I’ve used it since the 90s, but it looks like it’s going to be gone for good very soon.

7 Superdrug Fruity Vanilla Ice Cream Shower Gel – unfortunately a limited edition shower gel which is sold out now. If it weren’t, I’d buy this beauty again.

8 Superdrug Clearly Youthful Triple Action Cleanser, Mask & Scrub – I liked this product a lot! Such a shame that it has been discontinued!

9 Astonish Bath Soak Refreshing Golden Glow – a nice bath gel. I will buy it again.

10 Westlab Salt Shack Mango Moods Bath Salts – these bath salts were such a lovely surprise. Unfortunately, these have been discontinued.

And this is it for May which was a decent month for Empties. June has started more than OK as well with 3 products finished since the 1st. So fingers crossed June will be a good month for Empties as well. 😀 Thanks for stopping by today! x

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Boots Botanics Revive & Protect Postbiotic Facial Mist With Black Tea & Kombucha

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Boots Botanics Revive & Protect Postbiotic Facial Mist With Black Tea & Kombucha for all skin types.

According to Boots, this face mist is rich in probiotics and postbiotics which help revive dull skin and provide hydration. The result is calm and balanced skin and a healthier-looking complexion. This face mist can also be used to set make-up.

I’ve been using this face mist for a few weeks now, and I think it’s quite nice. Whilst I don’t care for its scent, it’s not bad or annoying. It’s just not very remarkable.

I’m happy with the refreshing hydration that this face mist provides. I like spraying it over my face after I’ve done my make-up, but I mainly use this face mist as the first post-cleansing step of my skin care routine, morning and night. I just spray it on my face and then I apply my serum. Then eye cream, moisturiser and so on…

I would recommend this face mist. If you’re interested, Boots Botanics Revive & Protect Postbiotic Facial Mist With Black Tea & Kombucha is available as 100ml. It’s currently £6.99. I paid less as I bought it when it was on special.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Radox Crystal Calm Himalayan Salt Bath Salts

Hi there! Today’s post is about these Radox Crystal Calm Himalayan Salt Bath Salts with jasmine & hibiscus. These bath salts promise to help balance and detoxify the skin. You’re supposed to use 2-3 handfuls of bath salts for a bath.

I’ve given these bath salts a try, and I’m rather disappointed. These bath salts colour the water in a dusty pink shade which stained the bath tub. Not great if you have to scrub the tub right after a supposedly relaxing bath.

I didn’t like the scent of these bath salts at all. It just didn’t smell pleasant. I will use up these bath salts, mixed with nicer bath salts to mask the smell of these, but I wouldn’t repurchase them.

If you’re interested, Radox Crystal Calm Himalayan Salt Bath Salts with jasmine & hibiscus are available as 900g. I paid £2.99 (half price offer).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Marks & Spencer Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Marks & Spencer Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette. I bought this a few months ago when I sampled most of M&S’ new(ish) fragrances. You could say I had a power sniffing session. Whilst I disliked most of the fragrances I sampled that day, I thought this fragrance was nice. It’s been living – unused – in my stash since then. But I finally started to use it. And here’s what I think.

This fragrance contains the following notes: neroli, bergamot and musk. I generally like fragrances with these notes, but this one is an exception. This fragrance is just bad! What did I think I was smelling when I tested it? I guess my nose was confused after sampling so many fragrances…

What is this fragrance like? When you spray it, it’s immediately harsh and unpleasant – and breathing in this fragrance will make you cough. It’s awful. Once the fragrance has settled, it smells like an unrefined and cheap mess. It reminds me very much of those questionable bottom shelf hairsprays from the 90s. I wore this fragrance for one day only, I hated it instantly, and even my husband asked me if I could “forget” this fragrance at the office. Yes, that’s what I’ll do!

If you’re interested, Marks & Spencer Warm Neroli Eau De Toilette is available as 30ml for £6 and 100ml for £10. Also, this fragrance is vegan and certified cruelty-free (it carries THE Leaping Bunny logo).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

I Love… Peachy Passionfruit Nourishing Body Butter

Hi there! Today’s short post is about this I Love… Peachy Passionfruit Nourishing Body Butter. I’ve used lots of I Love… products in the past, and I generally liked their body butters, so why would I not give this one a try?

I think this body butter is amazing. It has a sunny, yellow, fruity fragrance which I know I’ll enjoy over the coming months. And the formula is simply gorgeous – rich and nourishing, but not tacky. This body butter leaves my skin feeling super soft without feeling like product – I love it!

I Love… Peachy Passionfruit Nourishing Body Butter is (or was) available as 200ml. I have several of these, so I guess these were from Poundland! 😀

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Empties – April 2023

Hi there! Today’s post is about all the products I emptied in April. I did a little better than the past few months. Now onto the products I said goodbye to in April!

1 Treacle Moon That Vanilla Moment Bath And Shower Gel – a lovely shower and bath gel. I have another bottle in my stash.

2 Aussie Mighty Mega Shampoo & Conditioner – one of my favourite conditioners. A definite repurchase (along with the matching shampoo).

3 Original Source Pink Grapefruit Shower – an old favourite. Unfortunately discountinued, but I think I have 2 more bottles in my stash.

4 Boots Extracts Cocoa Butter Body Butter – one of my all-time favourite body butters. Unfortunately discontinued.

5 Boots Garden Collection Rose Body Wash – this was a nice shower gel from a Christmas gift set. I would buy it again if I could.

6 Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glow Gentle Cleansing Milk – a very nice make-up remover. I will buy this product again!

7 Palmolive Memories Of Nature Berry Picking Shower Gel – this is a nice shower gel. Another repurchase.

8 Neutrogena Clear & Soothe Toning Mist With Turmeric – one of my all-time favourite facial products. Yes, I’ll stock up on this face mist!

9 Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil – not the best facial oil, but alright. I wouldn’t buy it again though. I’ve had better facial oils.

10 A’kin Sensitive Calming Day & Night Cream – I used this moisturiser on my feet as I couldn’t stand the smell on my face. Glad it’s gone. Wouldn’t buy it again.

11 Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm & Lift Day Cream With SPF 15 – this is such a lovely moisturiser! A definite repurchase!

And this is it for April’s empties. Not sure if May will be as good. I will finish 2 products by the end of this week, but there’s not much else looking anywhere near empty in the near future…

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Palmolive Memories Of Nature Berry Picking Shower Gel

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Palmolive Memories Of Nature Berry Picking Shower Gel.

I’ve previously had a shower gel from this collection – Flower Field – which I didn’t love. But I tried this one anyway. First of all, Palmolive shower gels are usually awesome. And secondly, who doesn’t love berries?

I’ve been using this shower gel on and off the entire month (I finished it this morning), and I think it smells very nice. It has a beautiful and refreshing blackberry fragrance.

I also like the gentle formula. The shower gel is definitely cleansing, but it’s doesn’t make my skin feel dry at all. Very nice!

If you’re interested, Palmolive Memories Of Nature Berry Picking Shower Gel is available as 250ml. I paid £1 (special offer, Superdrug).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Yves Rocher Oui A L’Amour L’Eau De Parfum

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Yves Rocher Oui A L’Amour L’Eau De Parfum which I started to use earlier this month. This fragrance has been in my stash for ages. I never even tried it because the girly pink box made me think of overly sweet fragrances aimed at teenagers. And, equally, it also reminded me of some rather old-fashioned floral fragrances without much finesse. Obviously, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but hey ho…

Alrighty! This fragrance contains the following notes: angelica, rose, cedar. That’s a rather short list! But let’s see if this fragrance is any good…

I think Oui A L’Amour is a lovely fragrance. It smells like vanilla-kissed roses with a whiff of citrus. It’s really nice! This fragrance has a fresh and modern feel about it. I’m glad that it doesn’t smell overly sweet, and that it’s not a loud and unrefined mix of all sorts of different flowers.

One thing I have to deduct an imaginary point for is the staying power of this fragrance. It lasts for 2-3 hours the most, and it doesn’t even linger on clothes or scarves. Since I got this fragrance as a free gift with purchase, I don’t mind spraying it rather liberally. But if you were to pay full price, I can imagine that the lack of staying power would be disappointing.

If you’re interested, Yves Rocher Oui A L’Amour L’Eau De Parfum is available as 30 and 50ml.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

Westlab Salt Shack Mango Moods Bath Salts

Hi there! Today is about these Westlab Salt Shack Mango Moods Bath Salts. These are limited edition bath salts which have moved from the supermarkets and drugstores to the bargain stores. I picked up my bag at my local B&M Bargains for well under £3 (can’t remember the exact price though).

How are these bath salts? I think they’re good but not great. They smell wonderful from the bag and for about a minute in the bath, but the fragrance evaporates into nothingness rather quickly. But they make for a decent bath. They’re just not special.

If you’re interested, Westlab Salt Shack Mango Moods Bath Salts are available as 1kg. I’d say if you find them for a low price, and if you don’t mind that their fragrance is short-lived, they’re worth buying. But I wouldn’t pay more than £3 for these bath salts.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛

100% Cruelty-Free – Montagne Jeunesse 7th Heaven Pink Oxygen Bubble Mask

Hi there! Today’s post is about this Montagne Jeunesse 7th Heaven Pink Oxygen Bubble Mask which I just tried.

This is a bubble sheet mask. Before you use it, rub the sachet to activate the bubbles. Apply the mask to a clean face and then leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Then remove the mask, massage the bubbles into the skin, rinse and pat dry – and that’s already it.

I’ve given this mask a try, and I was disappointed. The face mask didn’t create lots of bubbles, and the fragrance was borderline unpleasant. I can’t comment on whether I’ve received old stock. I had high hopes for this mask (I love all things grapefruit and I love bubble masks). Sadly, the mask did absolutely nothing for me.

If you’re interested, Montagne Jeunesse 7th Heaven Pink Oxygen Bubble Mask is available as a single use mask. The price depends on where you shop. I’ve seen this mask for between £1.25 and £1.99. This face mask is certified cruelty-free. It carries THE Leaping Bunny logo!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde 💙💛