Beauty - Beauty Buys I Regret/Empties

The idea for this blogpost (which I wrote up while I was still at home in Ireland BTW hence why all the prices for the products are in euros rather than pounds), was originally meant to be on empties (a beauty bloggers way of saying empty products you have finished) but as I've reviewed nearly all of the products that I have finished, it ended up being a list of beauty products I regret buying (with the exception of the Garnier make up remover, which is my only finished product).

Before I start, I should mention that I personally did not like these products. That does not mean that you, or anyone else will not like them either, it's my own personal opinion. I don't mean to be all negative either (I'm all about the positive vibes, people) but I am going to give my honest opinion on these products, as every blogger should about products.

Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2-in-1 Make Up Remover
OK so first up on my list is this Garnier make-up remover. I must be honest, I actually bought this product by mistake, I thought it was toner, because it's in a plastic bottle similar to many other toners, and I was in a bit of a rush in Boots at the time. Nowadays I can't live without my Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (see review of that product HERE) but at the time I purchased this I had never used liquid cleansing products before; it was always make up wipes to remove my makeup at the end of the day or night. As I had bought it, I decided anyways I may as well use it. As you can see from the photo, this product contains mostly clear liquid with this blue liquid sitting on the top. The blue liquid is a make-up removing oil and the clear liquid is a cleansing water. To prevent the mixture feeling greasy on your face, you must shake the bottle fairly well to combine the two things, soak a cotton wool pad and apply it to your face. It didn't sting my sensitive skin at all (yay!) and didn't sting around the eye area also (another big yay!).
Even though I shook the bottle until I was near blue in the face, I still thought this make up remover felt greasy on my face. When it dries on your face, it does feel rather refreshing but I still felt the residue of greasiness on my face and felt like the oil was clogging my pores! I persevered with it though, and managed to use it up and despite my concerns, it didn't cause any breakouts, so this is one of my emptied products, not a beauty buy I regret (despite the fact that all the shaking to do to mix the two liquids is a bit annoying). I bought  Garnier Micellar Water shortly after I finished this product, and it was the start of a beautiful relationship, so I didn't repurchase this product. But I think it's a decent enough product, not quite as good as the Garnier Micellar Water (will any product ever be as good as that Micellar water?), but still a good enough buy. I got it in Boots for €3.95.

Naturoil Argan Oil Hair Mask.
I've already done a haircare blogpost (see HERE), in which I mentioned Argan Oil. This oil from Morocco is famed for it's moistening properties and it's extract is added in everything from shampoos to hair masks. Shortly after trying out the oil I decided to try out the mask to see how that was. It is in a fairly basic brown plastic packaging and contains 220ml of this white product.
It smelled beautiful, so I was excited to use it. I applied it to my damp hair after shampooing and rinsing. However, as I was applying it, it felt like I was rubbing lard through it. Yuk! My hair felt immediately greasy after applying, and my hair is not greasy usually, definitely more dry and damaged, not greasy. I wrapped my hair up in a warm towel to see would it help but no - still greasy! I woke up the next morning and had to wash it again before I left  my house - it was like I had dipped my head in the deep fat fryer! It only cost €2 in the 2 Euro Shop (duh!) so I didn't feel too bad about it being such a bad product, but I think it goes without saying that I will definitely not be repurchasing! In terms of beauty buys I regret this is probably my number one regret, but like I said I won't be crying too much about it 'cause it was only cheap.

Essence XXXL Longlasting Lipgloss

I was on the hunt for a longlasting lipgloss when I came across this Essence one. It's marketed as lipgloss on the packaging as you can see. However, I applied it to my lips and it felt more like a balm, so I looked at the side of the product in which it said it was lipcream (false advertising much?). Aside from the fact it has a smell good enough to eat (like cotton candy!), I really don't have too much good to say about this product. It applies very strangely to the lips, and makes them look dry and cakey, and I really didn't like the feel of it on my lips. Like the Argan oil hair mask, it only set me back €2.29 so I really won't be complaining too much about it but I definitely won't be repurchasing!


Catrice Prime and Fine Eyeshadow Base
As a beauty blogger, I hear so much about primers not only when it comes to applying foundation but also when applying your eyeshadows to make both make up products go the distance, so I had to pick one out, if only to try it out. I picked up this Catrice one as it was inexpensive enough retailing at just €4.49, which is a steal compared to some of the more high end brands. As you can see from the photo, this product comes in a square-shaped, plastic bottle. The formula as you can see is neutral looking, has no particular colour to it. It smells quite neutral too, with no real smell to it. I applied it to my eyelid up to my browbone and applied it on the lower lashline. A really teeny tiny bit of this product got into my eye while I was applying it to my lower lashline and oh my - it stung the absolute bejaysus out of me! It just caused my eye to become so watery. When I tried it out another day, I felt it made the lower lashline area look dry and cakey. I didn't feel like it intensfied any eyeshadow colour at all. I'm not even sure did it improve the lasting power of my eyeshadows - my Catrice eyeshadows stayed put anyways day and night anyways. It pains me to say this as most of Catrice products I adore so much and Catrice is constantly a brand I keep repurchasing, from their foundation to their eyeliners to their lipglosses, but I just really didn't like this product whatsoever and I'd even go as far as to say it's basically a waste of four euro. Having said that, I do use it sometimes when I want don't want to use my concealer as an eyeshadow base, but most of the time I use a concealer as an eyeshadow primer and that does the job just as well.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

I think I was the last female on the planet to try out this product - I think every girl must have tried out this mascara. I also think it's one of those products that you will rant about or rave about. For example, my sister loves this product and repurchases it every three months (like everyone should with a mascara!) and it's currently out of stock on Boots.ie website. I think a little differently about it though...

I'll explain why. In terms of mascaras, this is a basic product. However, it's just that: basic. Everything from the packaging (which wouldn't look out of place in a Spice Girls music video circa 1997) to the plastic wand screams basic bitch. The wand isn't anything amazing, average size really. The real problem I have with this mascara is when you're applying it, and it's not with the brush (which is probably the only thing that saves this product in that it's easy to hold). Try as you might to not have too much product on the wand, when you apply it to your eyelashes you're left with what can only be described as a clumpy mess. I try not to judge others when it comes to beauty blunders, because we have all had them at one time or another (hell, I have them pretty much every time I wear makeup!), but I really really really don't like to see clumpy looking eyelashes on another woman. You know, when eyelashes look stuck together? Yuk, so not a good look. This mascara is unbelievable for creating that horrible clumpy look however, so if you wish to get that horrific look, then by all means, purchase this product! I'd advise you to not part with your €7.49 for this crappy product and invest in one of those Penneys brand mascaras for €2. You're better off, trust me.

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