April Beauty Empties

Before, During and After: A New Shower Routine

I had a pretty big shakeup this month and decided to try out a whole new shower routine - I do partly do this so that I can review products to share with you, but secretly I just love trying new things! I've got my first ever Clarins product making an appearance but I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if you hadn't heard of the other brands. I just hope you enjoy hearing how I got along with everything!

Concoction Nourish & Protect ShampYou Black Pepper & Citrus* | rrp £14.00

I recieved this shampoo at a Hot Hair event that I went to recently and love the concept behind it  - you pick your base and then add in two "serums" to customise the shampoo to your hair. You can add colour protection - for blondes, brunettes or redheads - or other serums with moisturising, straightening, volumising, curling or scalp soothing properties. I recieved my shampoo in a goodybag and it came with the volumising and moisturising serum shots, which you add to the ShampYou base yourself. I do think that my hair has been in better condition this month and that the Concoction ShamYou has been a better fit for my hair than my previous shampoo. Despite containing SLS, I've found that it does feel more hydrating and smoothing than I'd expected without ever leaving my hair feeling weighed down. Overall, I am pretty impressed although I do think that the price is a little bit steep and the packaging definitely doesn't look luxurious enough for the price point. However, if you're interested in customisable haircare that's full of essential oils and silk amino proteins (which deeply moisturise hair) then you might enjoy trying something new - I know I certainly have.

Lovea Guava Body Wash | rrp £3.35

I've wanted to try one of Lovea's body washes for a really long time. I always see them on MyPure and LoveLula and they seemed like fantastic affordable cruelty-free options. I recieved mine in a beauty box so I didn't choose the scent and sadly Guava just isn't my jam. However, I have really loved the consistency - it lathers beautifully and a little goes a long way meaning that these generous 400ml bottles will last for ages. I'd definitely repurchase it in a different scent.

Yves Rocher Tradition de Hamam Oriental Velvety Skin Scrub* | rrp £24.00

I've had this body scrub in my collection for a while now and I thought it was about time I gave it a try. Initially, I was excited by the sound of the "oriental" scent it's alluring promise of velvety smooth skin. However, I really dont' like how it smells! It's a very heavy, musky scent that just doesn't really fit well with my typical early morning showers. Additionally, the scrub itself is formed of quite rough exfoliating particles in a slightly unsatisfyingly wishy-washy base. I find that when it's scrubby, it's too-scrubby and when it's not too-scrubby it just isn't scrubby enough - to me, it just never manages to reach a Goldilocks level of exfoliaiton. Whilst it isn't an entirely bad bodycare product by any means, and I've certainly tried worse body scrubs, it is an expensive product and I'd personally have been incredibly disappointed if I'd bought it with my own money. 

Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub for Smooth Skin* | rrp £29.00

This is where Clarins' Body Scrub comes in - it is the complete opposite of the Yves Rocher scrub. You apply Clarins' Exfoliating Body Scrub onto dry skin and gently buff the incredibly fine exfoliating particles into your skin before washing it away in the shower. I like to use this on areas of my body that are typically sensitive or feature skin that is quite thin, such as my decollatage and breasts, as well as my upper arms which often react to rough scrubs. In short, it was an absolutely beautiful exfoliating scrub and reminded me of the moment when I discovered facial microdermabrasion. Exfoliation, whether it's on your face or your body, really doesn't ever have to be rough - there are products out there for every area of your body which will leave you baby soft without damaging or irritating your skin. I realised that Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub is probably the best body scrub that I've ever had the pleasure of trying and it's sort of revolutionised my conception of body exfoliation. I know it's expensive but it's a lovely, lovely product and I'm all for investing in your skin - and your body is no exception.

Mio The Activist Firming Active Body Oil* | rrp £29.50

& Mio Future Proof Firming Active Body Butter* | rrp £35.00

I hadn't heard of Mio before recieving these two bodycare samples but I have to say that this brand has completely blindsided me. I had no real expectations - partly due to the fact that I initially found the packaging really unimpressive - but once I started using both products I soon realised that they're incredible moisturisers. I've never really bought into "firming" bodycare but Mio's Firming Active Body Oil and Firming Active Body Butter make a noticeable difference to the way my skin feels and I really do believe that they'd do wonders for the look of my skin in the long-term. The Firming Active Body Oil absorbed so quickly that I found myself looking forward to applying it - there was absolutely no time wasted and my skin felt wonderfully hydrated for days after use. Occasionally, I would follow up with the Firming Active Body Butter and my skin couldn't have been softer. Together they're incredible, especially for very dry skin. However, if you don't have dry skin then the Firming Active Body Butter might not completely absorb, leaving you feeling a tad greasy. You only really need to use one at a time for incredible results. Despite normally preferring body oils to butters, I do prefer the body butter as the results were better and more long lasting. These are another expensive discovery, but they'd be absolutely fabulous for anyone embarking on a weightloss (or weightgain) journey who's keen to keep their skin hydrated and firm, or equally for those with dry or mature skin. 

What products are part of your shower routine?

Spring Makeup: Lipstick Picks

Spring may not have officially yet sprung, but I've been changing up the contents of my makeup bag to include some more spring beauty picks. Today I'm sharing some of the lipsticks that I'm going to be reaching for over the coming weeks and months. I've tried to share a variety of colours because when it comes to lipstick I really do like to experiment! 

Topshop Lipstick in Whimsical

I consider Topshop's Whimsical to be somewhat of a beauty-blogging "classic". I saw so much of this lipstick when I first started blogging and when I finally bought it I found it so hard to wear! It's an incredibly pastel, retro coral-pink, and with some serious motivation it can look stunning. I think it's a gorgeous shade for the spring as it works well with minimal makeup as you can make your lips the real focus of your look. I think it would work well with RMK's Vintage Candy Cheeks Blush in 04* and a some heavy eyeliner. It definitely won't be to everyone's tastes but I for one am going to be wearing it out in the coming weeks and months!

Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in Nude Perfection

Nude Perfection looks like an incredibly dark nude in my swatch (especially compared to the bright colours surrounding it) but I actually find that it's a very easy-to-wear daytime nude. It's definitely has a bit of that 90's nude-lip trend going for it, but the formula is quite thick and matte which I think looks better on my lips than creamier lipsticks in the same shade. I also think that Maybelline's Colour Drama Velvet Lip Pencils last really well for such affordable lipsticks and they're quite easy to top-up as you can get away with really layering them up. All in all, I think it's a great purse-friendly option if you want to rock a dark-nude/neutral lip this spring.

Yves Rocher Moisturizing Cream Lipstick in Amethyste*

Oh yes! Now this is my sort of bold colour. It's a hot-pink raspberry (not at all amethyst-y) that doesn't just draw attention, it demands it. The formula of Yves Rocher's Mositurizing Cream Lipsticks is really thick and creamy and they apply like a dream. They don't really slip either, and if you can be bothered with lip liners then you'll find that you can get yourself quite a long-lasting finish. My only gripe with the range is that I don't find the colour chart on Yves Rocher's website terribly accurate so if you do decide to invest in any for yourself then I'd highly recommend googling swatches. Amethyste was actually one of Yves Rocher's winter lipstick picks but I spent the last few months obsessed with red lips so I never reached for it. However, coupled with either a shimmering neutral eye (courtesy of either  Bare Minerals Eyeshadow Palette in The Top Shelf, or Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette) I can see myself wearing this a lot.

Wild About Beauty Lipstick in Cherrie*

I've spoken about Cherrie before on my blog and posted lip swatches. It's another "winter" lipstick that I a) don't want to let go of, and b) I think works really well across the seasons. It's an incredibly bright red with just a slight orange tone. The formula is sheer-to-medium and you can either wear it as a sheer wash of red - which I think I prefer - or you can really layer-up for an incredibly bright lip. I like to add this into my "everyday" makeup when I want to look immediately more polished. There's nothing like a red lip to just give your makeup that little extra oomph and I quite like the sheer formula - I also find it so much easier to apply than heavy matte lips! No lip liner is really needed and you can really smudge it into your lips for a glossy, rosy finish. Obviously it depends on what lipsticks you like, but I'm looking forward to wearing Cherrie more over the next couple of months!


This post is actually the second in a four-part series so if you'd like to catch up on what you've missed then do check out my post on my Spring Blusher Picks! And let me know what sort of lipsticks you like to wear during the spring time, especially if you have anything you'd like to recommend :)

My Valentine's Day Roses

My Picks from Yves Rocher's Boxing Day Sale

I tried out some new products from Yves Rocher earlier this month and I really enjoyed them, I was especially fond of their Moisturising Cream Lipstick and Lash Plumping Mascara! If you're looking to try out some products from the brand then its worth noting that they've got a pretty good Boxing Day Sale going on at the moment with discounts of up to 60%! There are tonnes of discounts on all sorts of beauty products and I've shared a few of my top picks from their sale below.

Fruits Noir Eau de Toilette - £8.50 (reduced from £14.50)

Fruits Noir Silky Body Cream - £4.50 (reduced from £8.95)

Ultra Long Lasting Cream Eyeshadow - £6.25 (reduced from £14.00)

Radiant Glow Fluid Foundation - £6.50 (reduced from £14.50)

Cleansing Milk - £5.85 (reduced from £10.00)

Concealer - £3.85 (reduced from £8.80)

Have you bought anything in the Boxing Day Sales yet?

A Lipstick Overview

Over the two months or so, across my Blog, Twitter and Instagram accounts, I've featured a fair few lipsticks, but there have been seven main culprits. I thought that today I'd do a round-up of all these lipsticks as I thought that this would be a good way for me to help put them all into a larger context, helping you to identify which one(s) might be right for you.

left to right: Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*, Ilia's Lip Conditioner in These Days, Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Superstitious*, Glo & Ray's Lipstick in Fallin'*, Yves Rocher's Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba* and Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford Street Fuchsia*.

Best Natural Lipstick Formula & My Favourite Winter "Berry" Lipstick

The two lipsticks in these categories are Ilia's Lip Conditioner in These Days* and Living Nature's Lipstick in Summer Rain*. I definitely think that Ilia's Lip Conditioner has the best formula of any natural lipstick that I've tried so far - it's similar to Living Nature's in that they're both creamy and moisturising, but Ilia's Lip Conditioner lasts better on my lips and feels more comfortable to wear. However, I do absolutely love the colour of Summer Rain, it's just gorgeous and I'd definitely recommend it.

My Least Favourite New Discovery 

Sadly, I really didn't like for formula of my new Honeybee Gardens Lipstick in Superstitious*. It was patchy and difficult to wear, with the colour applying unevenly and fading irregularly. The colour was really gorgeous though and inspired me to look for something similar in a better formula! I think I've found something which I'll be sharing soon.

The Best Lipstick Formula of the Bunch

If you're looking for something easy to wear, something that feels lightweight on your lips but gives opaque colour that lasts well, then you need to take a look at Glo & Ray's Lipsticks*. I was very kindly sent the shade Fallin' and although it isn't my perfect colour, I do really like the formula. It isn't as long-lasting as matte lip products, but out of all my new finds it's the easiest and most comfortable lipstick to throw on as I can really trust it to wear well and stay looking good throughout the day.

Out of My Comfort Zone - but worth considering!

This month I tried too very "different" lipsticks - Wild About Beauty's Lipstick in Cherrie* and Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford Street Fuchsia*. Cherrie is and incredibly glossy, high impact, bold, bright, show-stopping red - a gorgeous find for red lipstick lovers and a perfect party makeup piece. It is, however, a formula that would work best for more natural shades and although I love the colour it definitely isn't for the faint hearted! Oxford Street Fuchsia is similarly out of my comfort zone as it's a very blue-toned pink, almost Barbie-pink, which I don't think suits me. However, I  do like the creamy formula and I'd definitely purchase other shades in the line. But, overall, I would repurchase Wild About Beauty's lipstick formula over Rimmel's.

Pretty but not Perfect

I've really enjoyed wearing Yves Rocher's Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba*, it's a very easy to wear pink in a sheer-to-medium coverage formula, giving either a wash of colour of a full-on lip depending on how much you apply. It isn't super creamy and I don't think it should really be called a "moisturising" lipstick, but it isn't drying either. However, if you are specifically looking for something hydrating then I'd recommend Living Nature and Ilia's lipsticks which are actually very nourishing on the lips!

What lipstick(s) have you been wearing this month?

New Additions from Yves Rocher

Yves Rocher is one of France's best-selling beauty brands and I was introduced to their products earlier this year. I was really impressed at their expansive beauty range, which features almost every scent and shade that you might ever want! Although the brand isn't readily available in the UK in terms of shop-fronts, it does have a very impressive website teeming with special offers and free gifts with purchase. A couple of weeks ago I was very kindly sent a couple of products to try out (the Flowerparty by Night Eau de Parfum, the Lash Plumping Mascara and a Moisturising Cream Lipstick in the shade Rose Alba) and I've shared a mini-review of each product below.

Yves Rocher Flowerparty by Night Eau de Parfum*

This is an interesting perfume, it's quite sweet but it's heavy and rich. As the name suggests, I'd definitely call this an 'evening' perfume as it's quite strong. It's sweetness comes from vanilla and bitter almond, and its muskiness probably comes from the star anise - although I don't think it smells much like liquorice at all. Overall, I really like wearing this perfume as I find that it lasts really, really well and as it's quite a strong scent a little goes a long way. The packaging also really reminds me of Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume range (which is one of my favourites) so that's also a selling point for me!

Yves Rocher Lash Plumping Mascara - Waterproof Black*

I've been quite impressed with this mascara, but I don't think that it entirely lives up to its claims. I like it because it offers quite a bit of length (which is what I tend to like) as well as some added thickness to my lashes, and it does so in an easy to wear formula that doesn't smudge throughout the day. It really is a wonderful example of a waterproof mascara as it sticks around on your lashes until you introduce a make-up remover. However, it isn't difficult to remove so you won't cause unnecessary stress to your delicate eye area. All in all, I don't think it offers that much "lash plumping" but I do love using it as an everyday, daytime mascara that gives me long-lasting length and colour without needing to be touched up throughout the day.

Yves Rocher Moisturising Cream Lipstick in Rose Alba*

When I received Rose Alba it wasn't exactly love at first sight as the colour (a baby pink with a cool toned frost) is very much out of my comfort zone. However, once applied to my lips I saw first hand just how pretty it is and how easy it is to wear! Rose Alba is a lovely alternative to all the red shades that I've been reaching for, it's a delicate shade and it has a formula to match. The Moisturising Cream Lipstick formula is very light, sheer and buildable - somewhat similar to Mac's Lustre formula, although Yves Rocher's formula is slightly thinner and less creamy. The formula is definitely better suited to lighter and more 'natural' lipstick shades as you do have to retouch and reapply the lipstick regularly to maintain an noticeable, opaque colour. That being said, Rose Alba is an easy shade to reapply and this hasn't stopped me reaching for it! You can see me wearing it in the image below, along with the Lash Plumping Mascara.

Have you tried anything from Yves Rocher before? Do you like the sound of the products featured in this post?

Fresh and Fruity: Yves Rocher Moment de Bonheur

Way back in the day my perfume of choice was DKNY's Be Delicious, which many of you may well be familiar with - the strong, fruity scent of freshly pressed apples. To me, Yves Rocher's new Eau de Toilette Moment de Bonheur* smells like a sophisticated update to my familiar apple fragrance. Moment de Bonheur is based in the scent of Rose de Grasse enhanced with sweet apple, all layered over a woody base of Virginia cedar essence. Together, these different fragrances merge into something fresh and fruity that, thanks to the woody base, is rich and multi-dimensional. This is a new release from Yves Rocher and I'd definitely recommend it for the spring and summertime - you can find it on the Yves Rocher Website for £38* (link here).

What's your favourite summer scent?

Review: Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Lash Plumping Mascara

Yves Rocher is a new brand on my radar. I haven't tried any of their products before but I have pursued their website (link here) and they make a whole assortment of beauty goodies! I'm always on the look out for new mascaras to try and having never tried anything from Yves Rocher before I was very keen to out their Sexy Pulp Mascara*. It comes in a typical black mascara tube - it's easy to open but very durable and the packaging hasn't become distressed after a few weeks in my make-up bag (they usually do). What's unusual about this mascara is the wand - the brush is quite large and dense, and has a very unusual shape. It means that the product is distributed quite thickly over the lashes (which does mean a certain degree of clumping, although it isn't too bad) but the curved shape of the wand really does offer a nice curl to both the upper and lower lashes (see my photo below). 

You can see me wearing Yves Rocher Sexy Pulp Mascara* in full 'face of the day' make-up looks  here and here.

This mascara offers an intense black colour and I find that the product lasts well on my lashes. However, I have quite hooded eyelids and I did have a little bit of an issue with product transferring onto my eyelid. It wasn't so bad that I didn't want to wear the mascara but on hotter, summer days it would probably leave me not wanting to reach for this mascara over others. All in all, I've really enjoyed my first taste of Yves Rocher make-up - I liked the packaging, the innovative mascara wand and the product itself was not disappointing. I'd definitely like to try more from the brand and if you're looking for a new mascara to try out you can find Yves Rocher's Sexy Pulp Mascara on their website here and from Baobella Boutique

Have you tried anything from Yves Rocher before?