Late to the Party

    I only managed to finish off three of the six chosen products for my September Use it Up project, which was a bit disappointing.   I think it's probably safe to say that most of the products that I choose to use up, they're never my absolute favourites. So I won't be looking to re-purchase any of those that I managed to finish.   And isn't it strange that once you decide that you want to finish off a product, that you can actually start to actively dislike it?!   The Body Shop toner, the Ultrasun Face SPF and the Trifle Lip Scrub will all be rolled forward into next month's 'Use it Up' project. (Groan!!) 

Now the Autumn Equinox has officially happened, it's definitely time to switch up the weekly makeup bag to celebrate this time of year, which is my favourite season. But as much as I love Autumnal shades I usually just stick to them for my lips and nails, because try as I might, the warm shaded eye shadow palettes really, really don't suit me!     Heavy on the 20/20 Vision Project items this week - 7 out of the 8 of these are included in the panning project. * Under Eye Primer - E.L.F and Under eye Concealer - Missha - depite still looking full, I think the Missha concealer is nearly finished, I'm not getting too much product out anymore and it's starting to feel a bit drier. * Foundation - Holika Holika Gudetama Cushion Foundation - This is such a highly-scented foundation (but handily, I like the scent) which is unusual in a face make up. It's also too light for my skin tone and the addition of a dewy, glowy finish does make me look even paler. I

I know I'm starting to sound like a stuck record - but Skin Organics Beauty Box delivery day is my absolute FAVOURITE day of the month!   It's arrival this month coincided with me feeling pretty under the weather and quite miserable but I perked up no end after perusing and sniffing all the fab contents.   The Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box is a monthly subscription service offering a selection of five full/deluxe sample sized natural beauty, skincare and makeup products.   100% natural, organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly, cruelty free, ethically sourced and often from up and coming British Indie Natural Beauty brands, the products chosen are free from Parabens, Petrochemicals, PEGs (petroleum-based compounds), silicones, Sodium Laureth or Lauryl Sulphate, Phthalates, Propylene Glycol , Synthetic Colours and Fragrances, Triclosan,  Formaldehyde, Toulene, Benzophenone/PABA, Petroleum/Mineral oil, Alcohol,  Urea, PEG, PG/BG, Dioxin, Aluminium, DEET, Camphor, Talc and

Hot winds! The hint of approaching Autumn is in the air but the arrival of these strange hot winds this week has put the brakes on starting to think about Autumnal makeup just yet. I had already decided that I was going to pick a moderate coverage foundation this week after weeks of no foundation, BB Creams or very light coverage. And it felt quite weird having more coverage on my face. Not sure if I like it or not!     * Foundation - L'Oreal True Match in '2N' * E.L.F Under Eye Primer * Missha Under Eye Brightener *TonyMoly - Cats Wink Powder Compact * Illamasqua Gel Sculpt Contour Stick * Blusher and Highlighter (From Essence 'Eye & Face - Glow For It') - I would have de-potted the blusher and highlighter from this palette as I love those but not so keen on the eyeshadows. However, it's a fixed palette without separate pans, so I'll pan the blush and highlighter and then dump the rest of the palette. * Benefit Roller Lash Masca

I purposefully missed out the week 35 makeup bag as I couldn't wear any makeup last week as I had an eye infection (also had to throw my L'Oreal Lash Extatic mascara away to be on the safe side!). This made me realise that if I had to choose just one item of makeup to wear then it would be mascara - a full face of makeup minus eye makeup (and in particular, mascara) just doesn't look right! Being makeup free for a week was interesting for what it told me about my relationship with makeup. I didn't feel weird, self-conscious or naked going out makeup free at all which was actually quite liberating! If I missed anything, it was the ritual of choosing and putting on makeup. I've decided to have another free-choice week when deciding which palettes to choose. I'm also re-evaluating my Makeup Revolution New-trals v Neutrals palette to see if I want to keep or de-clutter (I'm veering mostly towards the de-cluttering side!).   * Under Eye Primer - E

September celebrates the Look Fantastic Beauty Boxes Fourth Birthday with this special Birthday Edit.   The Look Fantastic Beauty Box is £15 per month (Inclusive of P+P) BUY HERE   Let's take a look at the goodies you can take home from the party!   Box Design 3/5   A suitably celebratory shimmery holographic birthday box with a plain white box base. Not a keeper for me as I generally prefer the plain coloured boxes.     The Reveal! Excitement Score: 4.5/5   I was expecting a lot from the Birthday edit and the reveal doesn't disappoint. Some great brands and I can only spot one let-down (for me personally). Also comes with this month's issue of Elle magazine, a super-size tube of Parma Violet sweets (which I happen to love) and a card with a 20% off discount for the pre-order of the Look Fantastic Advent Calendar.     Eve Lom - Cleanser and Half Size Muslin Cloth Excitement Score: 5/5 This was the sneak peak given last month,

  Skincare and Makeup Empties   DC - De-cluttered WR - Have repurchased or Will repurchase (possibly at a future date) MR - Might consider as a repurchase at a future date WNR - Would not repurchase - ever!   * Beauty Kitchen - Loadsa Honey Face Wash ( DC )- Unfortunately, this had to be a de-clutter. I really tried with this face wash but the overpowering lemon and honey scent really stung my eyes and made it too uncomfortable to keep trying to persevere. * Rosewater ( WR )- There will always be some rosewater in my skincare stash, but I probably wouldn't repurchase this particular brand as there are many others out there to try and this one was slightly on the vinegar-smelling side. * Niod - Mastic Must (WNR)- This pungent nutty smelling face mask has been featured in two months of 'Project Use it Up' choices and I'm glad to say it's finally gone! Despite great online reviews, this didn't seem to do anything for my skin at all. *

    These are the products that I've chosen to try and finish off this month. Luckily, I don't seem to have any products that are earing the end of their shelf life but I still have plenty of products to use up from my stash.   * The Body Shop - Chinese Ginseng and Rice Toner I want to finish off this (and the Body Shop Vitamin E toner) as I don't think that either are doing too much for my skin. Hydrating? Yes, but not as deeply hydrating as other toners and lotions currently in my stash. I think after I've finished both of these up that I'll go back to The Body Shop Seaweed Toner - which, although not as hydrating, does provide a less astringent tone than my glycolic acid toners. They are both taking a while to use up though, so I'm not confident that I'll finish it off this month as there's still about half a bottle to use.   * Decleor - Micellar Oil Have been using this pretty much consistently for the past two months and it's

  * Decleor - Micellar Oil This is taking longer than I anticipated to use up. I've been using it pretty exclusively but still have some left so I will be rolling this over into the September selection. I have been missing using cleansing balms - especially when I have my new A. Florence Skincare balm that I'm dying to try! I'm getting bored with this micellar oil now. It does a reasonably good job but I do feel that it has been making my eyes very swimming and a bit sticky after use, so I have taken to using micellar water as an eye makeup remover before using this oil. It's not one to go on a re-purchase list.   * Rosewater This was pretty easy to get through as I've been using it most mornings as a cleanser and also to mix with clay masks. I probably wouldn't repurchase this particular brand but Rosewater is definitely an essential somewhere in my skincare routine.   * Espa - Hydrating Floral Spafresh Because this was such a small sample,