Beauty Budget February

Every month I am trying to use up my ridiculous collection of beauty products before buying any more of that type, yep pretty much like the over done empties blog posts you see every month on every other blog. But I then add up what I've spent to try and get a hold of my walk into Boots and spend £25 problem. Here is the original Beauty Budget post.

Hair Care
Toni & Guy Red Brunette Conditioner was £2 in Sainsbury's around Christmas. It sounds perfect for my dyed red hair except even the added hydration of olive oil just was not enough for my dry hair. It did nothing to untangle and I was just happy to use it all up. I actually think it may have been discontinued as I cannot find it anywhere.  Herbel Essences are a clear favourite, Silicone free and back in its original packaging it can do no wrong, they smell amazing. I have used up two bottles of the the conditioner this month (Silk n Shine and Seriously Smooth) as well as the Moisture Balance Shampoo. Honourable mention to Batiste dry shampoos, I have used up my mini Blush which I carried around in my handbag and the Fresh scent. They are the best Dry Shampoos out there and always on offer. Of course the Wild scent in its leopard print bottle is my favourite. 

Skin Care

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator is something I have repurchased a few times, I'm not sure if it makes that much difference to my skin but love using it before bed. It helps to brighten your complexion by removing and build up and encouraging skin renewal. It is on the wishlist to repurchase. Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is something I have used since a teenager, it is very similar to the likes of La Roche Posay's Clarifying Lotion but much more drying. L'Oreal's Micellar Solution and Eye & Lip Makeup Remover were purchased a while ago, however I am prefering to use an oil cleanser to remove all my makeup at the end of the day so were reserved for lazy days. I still have one bottle of the Micellar Solution lying around somewhere as they were on offer in Sainsbury's!

The Sanctuary 5 min Thermal Detox Mask is an all time favourite, I have recently replaced it with one from the Body Shop which is pretty similar just not as good as completely drawing out all impurities. It warms on contact with wet skin and just makes your face feel really clean after using. Another Clarins product is the Pure Melt Cleansing Gel. This is one of the first cleansing gels I used and have repurchased several times. It transforms into a cleansing milk that easily washes away all make up.

I have a post later this week about my love for La Roche Posay, two products I have used up this month are Effaclar K and Effaclar AI. The first is meant to be used every day to help corrent uneven skin texture, gently exfoliating the skin. I didn't find it any more effective than my favourite Effaclar Duo. Effaclar AI is meant to be a targeted treatment, applied directly to the spot. Again I found it effective but no more so than Effaclar Duo so won't bother repurchasing either of these. I went a bit Effaclar mad when I realised how well it worked for me.

Misc

Rose Jam from Lush was in a Christmas gift set I bought in the 50% Boxing Day sale. It smells amazing, like Turkish Delight. I was gutted when I used up the tiny bottle as it is limited edition and am unable to get any more until next year! Givenchy Summer Vibrations is a fragrance from a few years ago, from a limited edition run in 2010 (!) It is a very sweet fragrance, one I have only ever used lightly in summer hence taking forever to finish the bottle!

I am addicted to Body Shop scrubs, the mango one smells amazing and is perfect for giving your legs a good scrub in the shower. The ultimate deodorant is this one from Sure, it may be pricey at at around a fiver but it really does the job. Even on a 14 hour shift.

And what have I purchased?

Herbal Essence Shampoo and Conditioner - 2 for £4

Tresseme Colour Revitalising Conditioner - £2.50 for 900ml, so basically a bargain.

The Body Shop Haul - £25

Maybelline Better Skin Foundation - £9 but used Boots Points

Blistex Relief Cream - £2.50 - Worst packaging ever, best lip cream for dry sore lips.

Total: £43 So not really much of an improvement on last month, but that Body Shop haul was just too hard to resist. 

Beauty Challenge - Month 1

I'm sorry if this is like every other empties post in the blogging world, but ya know this is more for me. See my original Beauty Challenge blog post here. The photos have gone a bit crap for some reason, i don't even upload to blogger so who knows. 

So what have I used up this month?

Hair

My favourite conditioner has to be John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner, I remember when it did the blogger rounds and I thought it really couldn't be that good. But my hair loves it! Very moisturising and leaves my hair tangle free and doesn't even weigh down my ridiculous mane. The added big bottle and pump make it even easier. I was actually quite sad to use all this up as it meant moving on to other conditioners in my bathroom like VO5 Revive Me Daily Conditioner. This did nothing for my hair. In fact I almost had to use a 1/3 of the bottle each time to even get a comb through my hair. But it was only a quid in Asda.

I am not usually that picky about shampoos, they all seem to do roughly the same job on my hair. My favourite has to be John Frieda Colour Protecting Shampoo which helps keep my red hair red. Sometimes I feel shampoos strip the colour from my hair but this helps keep it nice and shiny. I've also eventually used up all the hair dye conditoners and shampoos I had in a box saving for when I go places, but always forgot.

Makeup / Skincare

Beauty products are my biggest downfall. I can easily go into Boots and spend £20 in one fatal move. Not this month. I am slowly making it through my stupidly big stash of foundations I bought in the quest for "the one". First up is Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 51 which is a perfect colour match for me but I have two problems. It lasts about 3 hours top on my skin, it sinks in and vanishes. Second I am positive it is causing my skin to break out so bye bourjois healthy mix serum foundation. (Seriously, what is the difference between the two). YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation in BD20 is a perfect summer foundation for my skin, this shade is slightly off but I will defiantly be repurchasing in the summer months as it really wakes up my skin but find it too dewy for winter when I just want to have lovely matte skin.

L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer turned to water while being un used in my drawer for a month or two so it is being thrown straight out. It was an okay illuminating primer but I have a MAC version I prefer. Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care was a bog standard lip balm, nothing special except bright packaging. Oh and it melted while in my work uniform pocket.

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask this mask is amazing. It is full of fruit acids which help exfoliate your skin, it has a jam like texture it is very sticky to apply. But my skin loves it! My skin looks clearer and brighter even after one use. Only problem is the price. £30. I actually resisted using the last use of this for as long as I could but that's it, all gone.

Body

St Tropez Body Polish came in a gift set, nothing special just a exfolater. Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream is one of my favourite scents, I love washing in chocolate. I have done a full review of this range here.

Last but not least is one of my favourite scents, Gucci Guilty Black Eau De Toilette. My boyfriend actually picked this out for me. I find it almost impossible to describe fragrances, my best would be a dark fruity number. I find it quite sweet but dark at the same time! Sad to see it go but I do have quite a perfume stash to work my way through.

..and what have I bought?

Well I've been very good, ish.

Herbel Essence Shampoo and Conditioner - 2 for £4 in Asda

Soap and Glory Fab Pore Mask - £6.67

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation £21.50 (i know. I KNOW)

MAC Eye Brow Pencil in Spiked - £13. (i lost mine on NYE somewhere..)

total - £45.17. And I'm actually quite ashamed. Must do better in February.

Beauty Budget Challenge

It turns out I, like so many, are spending far too much money on beauty products I really don't need. Some are gifts but my biggest downfall is succumbing to the 3 for 2 offers in Supermarkets and Boots. They can be good ways to spend money but instead of just buying one pot of something I end up with 3 and have quickly spent double the original amount. It sounds thrifty but I am just stockpiling body butters and blushers with no end in sight. A Thrifty Mrs started a 1 year / £100 Beauty Challenge and I have decided to start something similar. I however have not set a limit but some slightly different rules for myself.

No buying anything new

I have shower gel everywhere, I may have even placed a cheeky Boxing Day Lush order which is yet to arrive. No buying shower gel I use all of this up. No more dry shampoo until I use the 4 bottles I have. You get the idea. Try and clear out my cupboards and boxes. This also means no new foundation until I use up my stash, this is the hardest bit for me as I've just found my perfect match in NW13 from MAC but still have a fair few numbers of foundations that will do just as well in the mean time. 

Stop with the expensive products I don't need

The problem with reading many many beauty bloggers is you start to feel like you need all these £30+ fancy potions and creams. Except they on the whole don't pay for all these potions and creams. It is unattainable to keep up with all the products that have fallen in their laps / onto desks. (A post on this another time). I know what works for my skin, I know a cream isn't going to remove my scars over night. 

No more nail varnishes / eye shadows / blushers

I have plenty of all these products, I do not need any more. I've had a huge clear out of nail varnish that had gone all gloopy. I cannot wear nail varnish most of the time due to placement so it is a waste of money.

Empties

I know I know, that monthly post that so many beauty bloggers do but if will keep me going throughout the year. 

In summary, stop wasting money on beauty products I do not need. Wish me luck!