Project Pan #7: 6 Months Of Makeup Empties

I think it's time for another Project Pan post, don't you think? I love doing these with my makeup products. It's a fun way to 'shop your stash' without needing to buy anything new of course, and it's oh-so-satisfying when you finally use something up!

Regular readers will know that I've been doing Project Pans for a number of years now and they still remain one of my most requested posts. But if you're new to all of this and have no idea what a Project Pan is, let me quickly go over some details to help you catch up.

A Project Pan is where you choose a number of products to either completely use up or 'hit pan' on, within a certain timeframe. I first heard about the concept from several makeup community groups, but they have since grown to incorporate any type of beauty product from skincare, haircare to body care and even items like candles - you can basically do a Project Pan for anything that you like! 

I tend to focus mine on makeup as I like to include other beauty products in my monthly Empties posts (which are you can check out here). For this latest PP, I set myself the goal of using up 15 makeup items in 6 months, which sadly was a little too ambitious as I ended on 11, but nevertheless, I'll count it as an achievement anyway ;)

Here's what I used up:-

Tropic Tinted Skin Shade SPF 50 in Medium/Dark*

The only base product that I finished up was this Tinted Skin Shade from Tropic which is a fantastic tinted mineral facial sunscreen and one of my favourite products to use on a hot and sunny day - I think this is the second or third tube that I've gone through. I really loved the light-medium coverage, the SPF 50 sun protection and the fact that it didn't feel greasy or heavy on the skin. It's cruelty-free and vegan-friendly too. Repurchase? Definitely.

NYX High Definition Eyeshadow Base

I have quite oily eyelids so an eyeshadow base/primer is a must-have to prevent shadows from creasing. I decided to pick this one from up from NYX after reading so many positive reviews, and whilst it worked very well and is a much cheaper alternative, I still don't think it's as good as the Urban Decay Primer Potion, unfortunately. Repurchase? Probably not.

Lily Lolo Big Lash Mascara*

After being somewhat disappointed by Lily Lolo's Natural Mascara, I didn't have high hopes for their Big Lash Mascara, but I was pleased to be wrong! This is one of the best natural mascaras that I've ever tried, and I've tried a LOT! It lengthens, darkens, adds volume, doesn't flake or smudge and gives you big, full lashes. Amazing stuff. Repurchase? Yes.

Becca Ultimate Coverage Concealing Creme in Butterscotch

Words cannot describe how much I love this concealer and it must be the third pot that I've used up since discovering it a couple of years ago. A little goes a long way as it's so thick and pigmented (I've had this pot for well over a year), and I find that it covers up practically everything, but it's especially useful for stubborn blemish and acne marks thanks to its full-coverage abilities. Repurchase? Definitely.

bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara (travel size)

This was a great mascara - it separates, lengthens, adds volume, doesn't smudge or flake, but I only managed to get about two or three uses out of it before it dried up. I'm not sure if this happened because it was a travel size that I received in an online GWP, so I'd need to research reviews of the full-size to double-check before purchasing another. Repurchase? Not sure.

PIXI Lash Line Ink

Another product that dried up very quickly (in less than a month of opening it) was this liquid eyeliner pen from PIXI. I loved the richly pigmented formula and the skinny nib for creating easy cat-eye flicks, however, there are other liquid eyeliners out there that last considerably longer! Repurchase? I have another one so I'll use that up and see if the same thing happens.

B. Sculpt & Highlight Contour in 02 Medium*

It takes me forever to use up products like blushers, bronzers and highlighters so I was very pleased that I finished off this dual-ended contour stick from B. One end has a nude highlight and the other has a medium-toned contour shade (see swatches here), both of which are matte and cream formulas which blend effortlessly into the skin. Super easy to use and very convenient to have in your makeup bag, especially if you travel a lot. One of the best budget makeup products that I've ever used. Repurchase? Yes.

Living Nature Lipstick in Bloom*

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to lipsticks and will often carry a couple of different shades in my handbag and basically wear them to death! It's no surprise then that I used up this beauty from Living Nature. Bloom is a gorgeous everyday pink that looks particularly amazing in the Spring and Summer months. You can see a swatch of it here. Repurchase? I'm tempted but I have so many similar lipsticks that I'd like to finish off first.

NEEK Skin Organics Natural Lipstick in Come Into My World*

This lippie is more of a pale/nude pink that had a lovely matte formula. It's one that I would reach for when I wanted to pair it with a smokey eye for a night out and it looks equally as pretty just worn for every day - see a swatch here. Repurchase? Again, I have too many similar shades to use up!

Pacifica Devocean Natural Lipstick in Tenderness*

Another easy to wear, gorgeous everyday shade is Pacifica's Tenderness which is part of their Devocean Natural Lipsticks range. It's a little lighter than my natural lip colour but not as pale as the NEEK lipstick above, so it provided a good 'in-between' colour option. Repurchase? I'd definitely buy this again at some point in the near future!

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes (travel size)

Despite loving pretty much everything else from Charlotte Tilbury, this mascara was sadly a bit of a let down as I found it very clumpy and it gave me smudgy panda eyes (not a cute look!). Not for me. Repurchase? No.

Have you ever done a Project Pan?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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May Empties: Products I've Used Up

Another month is rapidly drawing to a close, so you know what that means - it's Empties time! I've managed to finish off a lot of products that I've had on the go for a while, plus a decent amount of travel sizes as my samples stash was getting a bit out of hand!

Samaya Kapha Anti-Ageing Cream* 

I thoroughly enjoyed using this daily anti-ageing moisturiser and my skin loved it just as much. Beautiful texture and perfect for morning use. Repurchase? I've been lucky to be gifted two of these in the past, but sadly it's way out of my budget to buy myself.

DHC Beauty Lift Eye Care Essence Roll On*

I've been using this on and off for the past couple of months and sometimes I love it, and other times I'll just reach for another product. I think the main reason is because it's such a light essence, it's not always hydrating enough for my undereye area, but I do like the cooling roll-on applicator. Repurchase?  Probably not.

Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment

This is my favourite mask from Glamglow, but I've never purchased a full-size tub because I seem to have accumulated lots of these travel sizes from various GWPs and beauty boxes! It's a brilliant treatment for congested skin and really does draw everything out. Repurchase? Already have a bunch of these minis!

Naobay Calming Face Toner*

It takes me ages to get through toner and I've had this one from Naobay on the go for such a long time. It's a gentle soothing toner which is perfect for when my skin is feeling more sensitive than usual, but I generally prefer toners in spray bottles to be honest. Repurchase? No.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion*

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm obsessed with the scent of Weleda's Pomegranate range and their Body Lotion formulas are just amazing. They sink in quickly and provide a lot of hydration. Repurchase? Yes, will definitely pick up a full-size at some point.

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm*

I often seem to have one of these in my stash somewhere and these huge pots always last me several months! A brilliant cleansing balm that removes all makeup and daily grime, as well as being lovely to use as a second cleanse product. Repurchase? Yes. 

Westlab Detoxing Salt Body Scrub* 

Another product that's taken me ages to use up is this body scrub from Westlab - the tub is huge! I loved using this before applying fake tan because it always makes my skin so much smoother afterwards. Repurchase? Currently using up their Reviving Salt Body Scrub at the mo. 

Melvita L'Or Bio Huille Extraordinaire 

Multi-purpose oils are something that I like to carry in my travel bag and Melvita's L'Or Bio Huille Extraordinaire is a firm favourite. You can use it on the face body and hair, and it smells absolutely delicious. Repurchase? Yes.  

Weleda Lavender Creamy Body Wash*

I highly recommend Welda's Creamy Body Washes for anyone who has dry skin and doesn't have time to apply moisturiser after a shower - these work a treat! The Lavender scent is lovely to use in the evenings to help you relax. Repurchase? Yes.

Epic Blend More Moisture Lip Balm in Grape*

These Epic Blend lip balms really do live up to their name and this one definitely saved my lips during those chilly Beast From The East storms! The grape flavour is super yummy too. Repurchase? Will do once I've made a dent in my existing lip balm stash.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

I've gone through a couple of these travel-size serums in the past (again, they seem to be a regular in GWPs and beauty boxes) and I really like it. Certainly helps to brighten up a dull complexion thanks to the Vitamin C based formula. Repurchase? Already have some more minis in my samples stash.

Dr Organic Virgin Olive Oil Hand & Nail Cream

This was OK but nothing amazing - I ended up mainly using it up as a foot cream. Repurchase? No.

Evolve Organic Beauty Superfood Shine Shampoo
This was OK, but I felt it was maybe better suited to a different hair type to mine as it left my hair a little frizzier than usual afterwards. I also tested out the matching conditioner but hated that one - it just wasn't moisturising enough for my dry ends. Repurchase? No.

Madara SOS Hydra Repair Intensive Serum*

I loved using this serum during those freezing months a while back, and I've finally just finished it up as I've been alternating it with a few others in my routine. It's definitely more of a cold weather essential for me, but if you have dry or dehydrated skin, you'll love it all year round I'm sure. Repurchase? Will do around Winter time.

Which beauty products have you used up this month?

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Project Pan #3: 6 Months' Worth of Makeup Empties

Project Pans are a fun way to use up products in your makeup stash, and they've become a popular hashtag across social media as beauty junkies from around the world share their makeup empties with each other. 

I don't know why, but it's strangely satisfying to finish off a beauty product like a face cream or a body lotion, and it's even more satisfying to finish off a makeup product, simply because they seem to last forever! My monthly Empties posts on here are some of my most popular and most read posts, so I've been starting to collect my makeup empties too and putting them in these 6 monthly Project Pan posts (you can check out my previous Project Pan posts here and here). 

The general idea behind a Project Pan is to select a bunch of makeup that you want to 'hit pan on' or use up within a certain time frame, but it's pretty flexible and you can set your own rules and goals. As I managed to finish off 20 products last time, I set my goal for 20 again this time around, but I fell a little short at 15! Nevertheless, I'm still very happy with what I did use up as it's cleared out some much-needed space in my makeup collection which is always a good thing.

So then! Here's a rundown of everything that I used up makeup-wise in the past six months, and whether I would repurchase them again or not.

Foundations, Primers & Face Products

• INIKA Mineral Foundation in 04 Nurture - Unsurprisingly, I only managed to use up one foundation as I have quite a lot that I rotate between which means that I never seem to fully finish off any! However, INIKA's Mineral Foundation is by far the one that I use the most as it gives such a beautiful, natural looking finish to the skin and this shade Nurture is a perfect match for me. I've been using this foundation for years and have gone through a good number of them over that time. I don't think I'll ever be without it now. Repurchase? Already have! 

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion - I have oily lids so an eyeshadow primer is a must for stopping shadows from creasing or fading on me. UDPP is a firm staple in my makeup bag and like the INIKA Foundation, I've also been using this for years. It never lets me down! Repurchase? I'm on the hunt for a cheaper alternative, any suggestions?

• Liz Earle Healthy Glow Powder in Nude - You know you're onto a winner when you realise that this is the second Liz Earle blusher that you've ever used up! This shade is such a perfect, everyday nude-apricot pink colour for the cheeks. I think I've had this one on the go for about two years and I'm very sad to see it empty. Repurchase? As much as I love it, as I have so many blushers in my collection to use up first, but I'd definitely pick it up again in the future. 

Mascaras, Eyeliners & Eyeshadows

• Givenchy Noir Couture Volume Mascara in Black Taffeta - A gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous mascara! It's been a long time since I was so impressed by a high-end mascara, but this beauty just hit the ball straight out of the park. Super pigmented, gives big volume lashes, doesn't smudge or flake and is just fantastic all round. Repurchase? The full size is a splurge, but I may treat myself if I see it on offer!

• Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Lash Building Mascara in Black - Whilst this is a good mascara, it doesn't build volume as effortlessly as the one above, and being in a similar high-end price bracket I would always pick the Givenchy over this one given the choice. Sorry LM. Repurchase? No. 

• Eyeko Black Magic Mascara in Black - Usually I'm a big fan of everything by Eyeko (especially their liquid liners), but this mascara fell short for me. I found it quite clumpy and it dried out pretty quickly. Repurchase? No.

• Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara in Black Ice - I'm still struggling to find a natural based mascara that works as well as mainstream ones, and sadly this Jane Iredale mascara wasn't good at all. It flaked, smudged, clumped and dried out quickly. Repurchase? No.

• Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer - I really enjoyed using this sample; it's basically a light brown tinted mascara which acts as a primer that you apply before your mascara. It gives your lashes a real boost and works with any mascara. Repurchase? Definitely considering buying the full size at some point.

• Illamasqua Precision Ink Eye Liner in Abyss - This is a fantastic liquid eyeliner. The nib is flexible but precise, and the formula is richly pigmented like a glossy black. No problems with smudging or fading and it lasts all day! Repurchase? Yes. 

• Maybelline 24h Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze - I finally finished an eyeshadow - hooray! Loved this cream eyeshadow as it was so easy to apply with just a finger and looks great swiped all over the lid for a quick look in the morning. Repurchase? I have so many eyeshadows and similar products to use up first, but again, it's something I would pick up in the future.

Lip Products

• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey and Precious - Remember when these were all the rage a couple of years ago on Youtube and the blogosphere?! I bought my fair share of them and these two shades have been my most used and repurchased. Honey is a great everyday pink and Precious is a simple nude/neutral that looks gorgeous with a smokey eye. Repurchase? Not right now as I have too many similar colours and lip products already!

• PIXI Tinted Brilliance Balm in Unique Pink - This was a cute little sample that I had in my handbag for a long time. Unique Pink is one of those shades that changes depending on the colour of your own lips so it looks a little different on everyone. It gave me a really pretty hint of pink and was nice to use when I just wanted a more subtle wash of colour on my lips. Repurchase? Tempted!

• Dolce & Gabbana Shine Lipstick in Precious* - I'm a sucker for a pretty rosy pink lip and this lipstick was just so perfect in many ways. The colour really suited me (see my swatch of it here), the formula was nice and moisturising, and the finish was lovely and glossy. Repurchase? I think this shade may have been Limited Edition, but I have similar ones from other brands in my makeup stash.

Nails

• Nail HQ Strengthener* - If you're looking for a budget friendly alternative to OPI's Nail Envy, check out this one from Nail HQ. I get the same results as Nail Envy but it's cheaper - yay! 

Have you ever done a Project Pan like this?

Have you tried any of the products that I used up?

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Beauty Box: Love Me Beauty - June 2017 review + 20% Discount Code

After seeing a sneak peek of one or two of the new products that have been added to June's Love Me Beauty edit, I couldn't wait to see the rest. 

If you're new to Love Me Beauty, they're basically a beauty subscription service where you can choose the products that you want. You're given 60 credits every month to spend in the current online edit and products can be from 10-30 credits each, depending on the size and brand (e.g full-size products will cost more than travel size samples etc). You also get a free makeup bag every month (the new June design is super cute as you can see above!) instead of a box, and there's the option to purchase add-on credits if you want more products.

This month's new edit is called #HelloSummer and there are some fantastic goodies up for grabs from high-end brands such as Perricone MD, Caudalie, YuBe, NUXE to name but a few. The range of products also appears to have almost doubled since last month, giving you more choice than ever before to kit out your summer holiday bag.

Below are just some of the products that you can expect to find in the new Love Me Beauty edit - some change throughout the month depending on popularity and stock levels, so move fast if something catches your eye!

Caudalie Divine Oil (15ml travel size - 15 credits)

I've been a long time fan of this amazing multi-purpose oil (check out my original review here) and these travel sized bottles come in so handy. You can use it on the body, face and hair, and I generally like to use a few drops on the ends and lengths of my hair as a leave-in conditioning treatment, but it's lovely to use all over your body as a pampering treat as well!

Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence (50ml travel size - 15 credits)

Although I really love Caudalie's Vinoperfect range (their Radiance Tinted Moisturiser is brilliant), this essence has managed to pass me by so I've been enjoying trying it out, and so far, so good. Use it after cleansing and toning, but before your serum/moisturiser for an extra brightening boost.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (10ml travel size - 15 credits)

If your skin is looking dull and needs a helping hand in the brightening department, you can also pick up the Radiance Serum from the same Vinoperfect range, and this works so well with the essence above.

Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion (50ml travel size - 15 credits)

As well as skincare, Caudalie do some amazing body and pampering products, and their Nourishing Body Lotion is a lovely body moisturiser to reach for during the summer months. It has a really fresh scent and leaves skin feeling silky soft.

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint (30ml deluxe travel size - 30 credits)

I was so happy to see this in the edit because I've been wanting to try it for ages! I've used Perricone MD's No Foundation Foundation and the No Concealer Concealer on and off for years and this Face Finishing Moisturiser Tint is somewhere in between a moisturiser and a tinted moisturiser if that makes any sense?! It's one of the brand's bestsellers and just gives a really subtle hint of colour to the skin - so nice to use when you just want a fresh face for the day. It also includes SPF 30 so it's perfect for your holiday bag.

PIXI Nourishing Lip Polish (full-size RRP £14)

To keep lips prepped and looking their best, PIXI's Nourishing Lip Polish is a make-up bag must-have, especially if you love wearing matte liquid lips like I do. It does exactly what it says on the tube, but in a gentle and effective way. Love it!

Love Me Beauty* is £10 plus £3.95 P&P per month - lovemebeauty.com

Special reader offer: Use my discount code beautywolfgirl20 to get 20% off your first box!

Do you subscribe to Love Me Beauty? 

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Skincare Review: Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner & Nourishing Cleansing Balm

Devoted skincare fans and avid followers of guru Caroline Hirons, will be more than familiar with Pixi's Glow Tonic which is a major cult product these days. I've tested it out for just under a month now, along with Pixi's Nourishing Cleansing Balm, to give you my own thoughts on this much-loved brand.

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Review: Latest In Beauty - The Capital FM Beauty Box

Latest In Beauty have teamed up with London's Capital FM and released a filled to the brim box of beauty goodies for a bargain price.  Let's take a closer look!

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Budget Beauty: You Beauty Discovery Box - September 2014 review

September's You Beauty Discovery box came through my letterbox yesterday and it's another packed to the brim box!  Let's take a look what's inside.

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