To Repurchase or Not To Repurchase?

LUSH Tea Tree Water Toner 100g - £3.95

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

When it comes to purchasing products, I rarely stick to what I know. It usually takes me a while to finish a product, so by the time it rolls around to needing a new cleanser/foundation/blusher/anything I can find an excuse to buy, I'm usually ready to try something new. I think I suffer from grass is greener syndrome, or something to that effect. Rummaging through my ever-growing stash of skincare and cosmetics, I was slightly embarrassed to discover that I have only ever repurchased two products - TWO. It appears that I'm just as fickle as I feared I was when it comes to product loyalty.

LUSH Tea Tree Water is a product that I used to use years ago, but drifted away from and recently rediscovered over Christmas when I worked at LUSH. I didn't instantly repurchase this, I have to admit. As much as I liked it and had a little panic when it ran out, I dabbled in a few toner samples I had kicking about in my skincare drawer. Unfortunately since I stopped using this toner, I've suffered from a horrible breakout on my chin. I promptly ran to LUSH and repurchased this, and my skin is already thanking me for it. My skin seems to just love the antibacterial properties of tea tree in just the right concentration that this toner water offers. I promise I won't stray again!

Ah, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer... I'm actually sick of hearing those 4 words stringed together in one sentence, but I am indeed a member of the fan club. Everyone and their dog seems to swear by this concealer and since I tried it last year, I haven't even bothered trying any other concealers - which is a mean feat for a beauty blogger, by anyone's standards. It just does the job for me. It covers my blemishes and any other areas of redness like a treat, although I do find it slightly too thick for the under-eye area. I'm on my 3rd tube of this and I can't see myself abandoning it any time soon. At £4-odd a pop, it's hardly breaking the bank and it ticks the boxes I need it to.

Which products do you always repurchase? Are you as fickle as I apparently am?!

A Nearly Naked Face

Apologies for the bad quality face shot - I need to wean myself away from the front-facing iPhone camera!

I'm not one of those girls who refuses to leave the house without make-up on. In fact, I've been known to roll out of bed and nip out to the shops with a completely bare face. But for those days when I'm feeling lazy, but it's likely that I'll bump into someone I know, I tend to go for a 'nearly naked' face using minimal products. And what better excuse to test out the aptly named new foundation offering from Revlon? I'm still not 100% sold on Revlon Nearly Naked foundation. I love the finish when it's first applied but I find longevity lacking on my skin. Equally, the Revlon Nearly Naked powder gets a thumbs up where application is concerned - it's a really nice, finely milled powder that doesn't apply cake-y or heavily. I'm planning a full review of this duo in the near future, I think I need to give it a couple more trial runs!

As always, I use Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer to cover up any blemishes or red areas that foundation hasn't covered. I'm loving Topshop Cream blush in Head Over Heels for adding a little pop of Spring colour to my cheeks - it's the perfect coral, and a little goes a long way! MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade is the most recent addition to my make-up stash, and I have to say I'm loving it so far. It seems to brighten up my dull skin with ease, but doesn't leave my face covered in chunks of glitter which I've found with other highlighters. Eyewise, I've stuck to my trusty MUA Undressed Palette using a shimmery bronze colour all over the lid to liven my eyes up a little bit. I smudge some Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Taupe on my lower lashline, chuck some Lancome Hypnose Star mascara on my lashes and brush a little eyebrow powder from the Look Beauty Brow Perfect palette on to my (currently in need of a good wax shaping) eyebrows and I'm good to go.

Most definitely not the most glamorous of looks, but it's a nice 15 minute job and I can run out the door - almost always accompanied by hair that's still a little damp, wavy and completely untouched by heat or styling products!

What are your go-to products for your lazy day make-up?

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February Empties

This might be cheating a little bit, but some of these empties are from January - shhh! I'm completely crap at finishing products, I seem to get bored and use something else especially when it comes to haircare. So I'm quite proud at the amount of hair-related empties I got through this month!

I finished the whole Lee Stafford Hair Growth range - shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment/mask. I had my hair chopped in January and it's grown leaps and bounds since. I really want to attribute that to these products, but it's most likely the fact that I had all my dead, dry ends cut off. Nonetheless, these products made my hair feel healthy and happy. I'd repurchase if they were on offer.

I was in Manchester for a couple of days in January and I bought the travel size John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner to take with me. Nothing much to say, they're okay. I wouldn't repurchase as they seemed to weigh my hair down a little bit.

I also finally managed to finish LUSH Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo - its main ingredient is beer, need I say more? It was great for my frizz-prone hair, but it's quite pricey so I can't see myself repurchasing it. Not keen on the smell either, was paranoid I smelt like an alcoholic tramp.

However, one hair product which I will repurchase is LUSH Jasmine and Henna Fluff-Eaze which I wrote a full review on here. The smell definitely isn't my cup of tea (it stinks) but I can't deny that my hair absolutely loves this stuff.

I kinda cheated with this one, I have to admit. I bought LUSH Ocean Salt scrub like years ago, possibly around 4 years ago (WHAT?!). I found it last month, it still smelt/looked the same as the ones in store (I swear these expiry dates are a marketing ploy) so I used it. Then I remembered just why I've had it so long without using it. My face hates this stuff, it's far too abrasive for my sensitive skin. So I flushed the remains and kept the pot so I can get a free face mask soon... Sneaky.

I also used up a little sample of REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleanser. Meh. Not much to say, it was slightly too drying for my temperamental skin so I won't be purchasing the full-size.

I'm gutted that I managed to finish the Boots Natural Collection Wild Strawberry body spray. It smells like the most synthetic strawberry smell going, but I really love it. I drench myself in what feels like a whole bottle everytime I leave the house, so I'm not surprised I've finished it!

And finally, I've gotten through another trusty Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. Every blogger's tried and tested, and subsequently loved concealer it seems. I've already repurchased a back-up of this!

How many products have you managed to use up this month?

PS: Did you know you can follow me via Bloglovin? I'm also holding a massive blog sale where you can bag a beauty bargain!