Beauty Empties + Products I Regret Buying! Featuring MAC, Benefit and more!

Hello everyone! Over the past few days i have had a seriously good clear out within my beauty items. I decided to be ruthless and tried to free myself from the emotional attachment I've made with some products i don't even like!

Why is it that i cannot physically throw makeup away?!

Here are my empties and the products that i don't like that i DID actually throw in the bin.

There is no particular order to these empties. I personally prefer reading them randomly than having clear cut sections, so here we go!

Nivea Powerfruit fresh Shower Gel
I received this in a gift set at Christmas. Thinking nothing special of it, i used it a couple of weeks ago after i ran out of another shower gel. I am now a convert to this one!

I don't know why i like this product! It doesn't particularly have a scent or make my skin feel moisturised however when i do use this shower gel i feel so so so clean. I'm unsure as to whether i am only feeling like this because the phrase 'powerfruit fresh' is very inviting or this shower gel somehow manages to clean me better than any other product.

I will be repurchasing this very soon as this is officially empty!

Elegant Touch Moisture Balance Nail Polish Remover
I was excited to try this as the words 'moisture balance' really drew me in. I paint my nails alot and they really do need that bit of extra moisture brought back to the surface.

I extremely dislike this product. I am very disappointed as i love a lot of the other Elegant Touch items! This remover has possibly the strongest most chemical smelling scent ever. It literally chokes me every time i use it. It also is not especially effective at removing nail polish and involves alot of rubbing and buffing.

Even though i used the whole bottle up i saw no moisturising benefits, and will not be repurchasing this again.

Benefit They're Real Mascara
This has to go. It's completely empty and dry. This mascara is the first high end mascara i have ever owned! I went through phases of loving it then leaving it for a longgg time.

This mascara is overall a good product. It creates a nice wispy look to lashes and does not clump up at all. The brush is nice and it looks really good on lower lashes. However this product to me personally is nothing 100% special. I much prefer my Maybelline Lash Sensational, which is half the price of this one!

I would repurchase this again as it is not a bad product, and mine is so old that the new ones might contain a better formula.

Nivea In Shower Body Moisturiser 
I have very dry eczema prone skin and was looking forward to trying this out! This came in the gift set i received at Christmas with the Powerfruit Shower Gel.

This product is moisturising, i'll give it that. My legs felt lovely and hydrated when i got out of the bath. However i didn't feel clean. Instead of sinking into my skin it sort of sat on the outer layer and felt as if it was clogging up skin and building up on the outside. When i put my (black)trousers on a good 20 minutes after, it left a white layer all over my clothes and i had to get changed!

I definitely regret this product, it just has too many inconveniences for me.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation
A complete empty product. This is my second jar of this foundation and i have two more backed up in my makeup storage.

I cannot explain my love for this! This foundation is a dry skin lovers dream. It's glowy, healthy looking, moisturising and has an amazing smell that reminds me of holidays.

I have already repurchased this 3 times and will continue to do so for a long time!

Nivea Men Post Shave Balm
I'm sure you have seen the hype on this product. Nikkietutorials raves about this constantly along with many other beauty guru's.

I'm really really unsure about this product. I can tolerate the slightly manly smell, and it sinks into my skin nicely. However that's about it. I can't say my makeup has lasted longer with this on at all! I cannot actually tell a difference whether i use this or use nothing!

I will not be repurchasing this hyped up product as i personally cannot see what it is actually doing on my skin! Let me know your opinions on this product as it's left me a little confused. (Seriously!)

Blue Lagoon Moisturising Cream
I like this moisturiser. It has a gentle scent that is definitely not too over powering and it sinks in well. It's light enough to wear under foundation without looking greasy and does a great job at sinking in to any dry/damaged areas on my face.

I would 100% repurchase this as a light day to day moisturiser!

MAC Lipstick in Blankety
Ahhhhhhh my holy grail in life. I do not have much to say about this lipstick as i'm not sure i have the vocabulary to describe my love for it. I have gone through three of these in the past three years and will continue to do so for the rest of my life! This shade is my perfect nude, it's creamy, glossy, suits my dealthy pale skin tone and just completes any makeup look.

Ultimate Repurchase.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Reconstructer Hair Treatment
This hair product is unreal. Honestly i urge you to go and buy this whatever your hair type! My hair type is thick, long, and has bleach running through the under layers. This hair reconstructer has saved my hair's life. After using this treatment, my hair feels honestly like silk. It goes so soft, and so shiny and just feels restored back to the best quality it can be.

I desperately need to go out and buy this again ASAP! I can't be without it.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara
This mascara had to go as it was dry and old. I did really like it when i wore it, the big curvy brush gave my lashes so much volume and definition. However i probably wouldn't repurchase this item as i have since found better mascara's for me personally.

That's it for my empties! Please let me know your thoughts on the Nivea Post Shave Balm in the comments! Thanks for reading

How to (truthfully) grow long hair!

If you have ever tried to grow your hair, you will know deep inside that it cannot be done overnight and will take alot of time and patience (unless you have extensions.)

 However after growing my hair and then cutting it and growing it again over the years i have come up with my best tips that will actually work and help speed up the long boring process!

* Disclaimer*
I cannot promise you that these tips will work on everyone, as everyone has completely different hair and natural growth rates, but these tips have 100% worked on me personally and people i know, so if you are really desperate to add some more length they are definitely worth a shot!

the current length of my hair!

ignore my face in these embarrassing selfies but this is my hair transformation

SHAMPOO/CONDITIONERS
When you are trying to grow your hair it needs to be in its best condition to grow well. I have had highlights/bleach in my hair for over a year and its still in such good condition thanks to the shampoos and conditioners i use.

I have never ever loved any hair products as much as i do these! I have been using these consistently for 4+ years now and they are amaaaazing! These are the Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner by Herbal essences. They also smell amazing and the product itself is bright blue! My hair loves these so much, they keep my hair constantly hydrated, helping it stay strong whilst it contains bleach. I can use these for months without any build up and they do not make my hair greasy in the slightest like alot of other shampoos. These are honestly an amazing set to have in the process of growing your hair!

I use these l'oreal shampoo and conditioners on special occasions only, or if my hair is feeling unusually dry. I leave the conditioner on for a good five minutes and treat my hair to a rinse and repeat. This solves any issues with dryness and completely refreshes my hair if its feeling a bit ugh.

Another essential is a hair mask. Any hair mask will do, i used mine which was an Argan Oil Mask from B&M costing me only £1.99! I applied this and left it in my hair for about ten minutes once every three weeks. This just helps get your hair in the best condition it can possibly be!

WEEKLY HAIR ROUTINE
I wash my hair around 3 times a week. It is now so long and thick it doesn't need washing so often wooo! I usually wash my hair with cool-ish temperature water to keep it nice and shiny.

I let it dry naturally almost all the time i wash it, but if i am in a rush i will dry it around 70% with a basic hair dryer and leave the rest to dry naturally. This keeps my hair protected from the heat nicely and even though to start with i got annoyed with my frizzy hair, the longer it got the less frizzier it became.

HEAT STYLING YES OR NO?
This has played a big part in the growth of my hair. When it was short i was constantly straightening it as it kicked out at all sorts of angles and just looked a mess, but now its long it hangs down pretty much poker straight to my head!

I can't say i never used heat, because that's a lie, but i definitely cut down the amount i used! Around 6 days of the week i'd wear my natural hair, and then usually at weekends or days out i'd curl it with my tongs using heat protection spray.

I have discovered some amazing ways to curl hair without heat through this process and i am currently loving Bantu Knots more than anything, google them and give them a try they are beautiful when released!

HAIRDRESSERS VISITS
I hate going to the hairdressers. The thought makes me scared as everytime, i think i'm going to come out with all the hair i've just grown being cut off! I go around twice a year and just have a tiny tiny tiny cut to get rid of split ends.

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

• Find an up hairstyle you love and wear it as much as possible! I love wearing a high messy bun. This is great for if your hair is at that annoying stage where you are contemplating giving up and cutting it and is also great as you loose track of how your hair is growing as you are not constantly staring at it. 
• Use soft bobbles if possible! My hairs so thick one soft un-elasticated will not hold so i use three instead. Soft bobbles cause less damage to hair.

Thanks for reading! Hopefully these tips will help you in some way or another!

Chloe :)