Blanx White Shock Gel Pen and Mouthwash

Blanx White Shock Gel Pen* - 1.8ml/£10.99

Blanx White Shock Gel Pen is the whitening treatment without hydrogen peroxide that you can take anywhere! Exclusive Blanx White Shock Gel Pen formula with Actilux, the patented active that reacts to light, naturally whitening your teeth at every smile, all day long. Practical, safe, and doesn't damage tooth enamel. Apply the product directly on the enamel with the soft top of the pen. Leave for 15 minutes, then brush teeth to remove any residual gel. Repeat twice a day for 2 weeks.

I like the convenient concept of this, the shade scale it comes with, and that it caused no sensitivity. However, I didn't notice much of a difference in terms of whitening. Additionally, it was a little annoying to apply. The gel would mix with saliva, so you didn't know how much of it you were actually applying to your teeth. This also meant the soft top would get messy. Then, if you even closed your mouth a little, the gel would be removed. You don't get much product, either.

Blanx White Shock Mouthwash* - 500ml/£5.50

The only light activated Whitening Mouthwash in the world with Actilux, the innovative formula protected by two international patents. The light reactive formula of BlanX White Shock Mouthwash with Actilux removes bacteria, cleans and continues to whiten your teeth all day long. The more you smile, the whiter your teeth will get. 

I like this more, and will continue to use it. It's very refreshing and maintains a fresh breath. I'm not sure about the claims, or if it helps whiten my teeth, but it's still a good mouthwash.

Have you tried anything from Blanx?

Collective Haul

I handed in my last ever uni assignment yesterday and then panicked about my future, so today's shopping trip was much needed! I thought I'd also include some other bits I've bought recently. 

I'll start with the Primark T-Shirts dominating the photo. I mostly bought these for lounging around the house, but will probably wear them out, too. The two grey scoop neck ones were £2 each, while the rest were £3 each.

The Primark Beach Hut Pyjama Bottoms were £6. I've wanted them for a while, so thought I'd just get them today!

The Primark Cosy Socks were £2. Socks need no explanation.

The Primark Tights were £3.50. Expensive for one pair (compared to Primark's other tights), but they're the 'super silky opaque tights with 3D lycra for a perfect fit' ones which I love.

The Primark Pop-Up Laundry Hamper was £3. I also bought the Shower Curtain (£5) and Hand Towel (£3) in this design, but they're already in use! They add a pop of summer colour to the bathroom.

I then bought the Revlon Photoready Perfecting Primer (£8.99, normally £11.99) and Revlon Colourstay Concealer (£6.99) from Boots. I'm running out of my current primer and wanted to try a new one. This has mixed reviews, but so do most products, so I thought I'd try it out for myself. I also wanted to try a new concealer because the two I currently have are at opposite ends of the spectrum and I wanted something in the middle. The shade (fair) looks like a perfect match for my skin and makes one of my other concealers look orange in comparison!

The mint green/light blue sweatshirt at the bottom of the photo is from H&M and was £9.99. I prefer to keep the tops of my arms covered, but now that it's getting warmer, I can't wear jumpers. This is perfect because it's very lightweight and can be thrown on over a vest top.

The black and white aztec high waisted shorts are from New Look and were £11 down from £20, I think. They feel like great quality and were the only thing I ended up keeping from my order.

The Boston Warehouse Large Tumbler was £4.99 from TK Maxx. More than I'd usually pay for such an item, but I'd been looking for one for a while (my Primark no longer stocks them) and I loved the print.

The last things, in the top right corner, are from Poundland. I like the new Jane Asher range, so picked up the measuring cups & spoons, icecream/cake mix scoop, baking tray, baking sheet, and cake tin circles from it. The cake tin circles are so handy! I also picked up the oven glove and ice cube blocks. I already have some similar ice cube shapes and think they're so convenient. They don't dilute your drink and you can refreeze them.

What have you bought recently?

Empties #6 - Organic Surge Super Intensive Daily Moisturiser

First I finish a body butter this year, and now a moisturiser! Maybe I'll even get round to finishing a lip balm! (has anyone actually done this?). I wanted to dedicate an entire post to this empty because it's an achievement for me. I've never been big on moisturising. I'd use a new moisturiser for a couple weeks and get bored. Then I'd buy another and the same thing would happen. Organic Surge then had a sale (you can see my initial thoughts on my purchases here) and I couldn't resist the Super Intensive Daily Moisturiser for just £2.25 (down from £8.99, which is still affordable). It has taken me a year to finish, but I have been using other products, too, and I only started to regularly moisturise this year (with the motivation to look 10-15 years younger than I actually am when I'm older). This moisturiser is targeted towards dry skin, but my combination oily skin has been loving it as an over night treatment. This is because it's not greasy like other heavy duty moisturisers. It's still too heavy for me to using during the day, but works well at night. It sinks in straight away and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. It's also 98.99% natural, animal friendly, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Are you a fan of Organic Surge?

Decluttering My Makeup Basket #2

Before

After

The time has come to declutter my makeup basket again. If you didn't know, I have a basket on top of my beauty chest of drawers for my everyday products. Over time, this ends up being filled with much more! You can see my first Decluttering My Makeup Basket post here. Like I said there, no lip products are included here because they have their own section on my chest of drawers. They're organised in clear plastic lipstick holders, which I wrote a post about here. The eBay seller I bought them from has now lowered the price to just £2.87 including P&P!

So, many of the products that made the cut are actually the same as the ones in my first post (MUA's Cover & Conceal Concealer in Fair £1.50, The Body Shop's All in One Face Base in 02 £14, NYX's Cream Blush in Natural £5.50, ELF's Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light £3.95, Maybelline's Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze £4.99, L'Oreal's Perfect Slim Super Liner £6.99, and Maybelline's The Rocket Mascara £7.99). If you want to see my thoughts on them, just head over there. I'll be talking about the others here!

I'm currently using MUA's Undress Your Skin Flawless Primer (£5) because I've used all my others. This one has a weird silicone-y feel, which is different to the gel and cream formulas I'm used to. My concealer applies smoother, though, and I haven't experienced any creasing around my eyes. Still, I haven't been blown away by it, so am on the look out for others. I currently have my eye on the Revlon and Gosh ones, so if you've used them, please let me know your thoughts.

To warm up my complexion, I've been using The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer (£13, review here). It's soft, matte, and blends well. It's also light in colour, so you don't have to worry about going overboard (it does take some building up, though).

I haven't even opened it yet, but have NYX's Powder Blush in Taupe (£6) in there. I've heard it's a great contouring shade for pale complexions.

I'm still using my favourite NYX Cream Blush in Natural (£5.50), which I talk about in the first post, but am now also using Illamasqua's Cream Blusher in Dixie (£18, review here). It's not as creamy, but is still one of the best formulas I've tried. Beautiful coral shade, pigmented, blends well, and lasts most of the day.

I'm also still using my ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light (£3.95), which is one of my all time favourite products, but I've started using MUA's Clear Mascara (£1) to set it. It's cheap and it does its job!

I'm currently missing some eyelashes (sad times), so have dug out my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner (£7.99) to press into my upper lash line. I've had this for a couple years now, so was surprised it hadn't dried up! It's pigmented and lasts throughout the day.

What products are currently in your everyday routine?

Peaches & Corals

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie, MUA Blusher in Lolly, NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler, Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in 123 Soleil, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya, Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach

I'm so imaginative with my titles, I know. Shades of peach and coral are my favourite, so I thought I'd show you some of the best products I have in these colour families.

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Dixie - £18 - review here

This is incredibly pigmented, blends well, and lasts most of the day. It applies more pink than it looks in the pan, so the overall effect is warming and not in-your-face. It's not as creamy as my NYX ones, but it's still one of the best formulas I've tried. I bought this for £6.75 in the sale, so I'd definitely keep an eye out for their next!

MUA Blusher in Lolly - £1 - review here

This is the only orangey powder blush I own. It's a soft apricot with very subtle golden shimmer. It's soft to touch and blends well, but has a lot of fall out. Still, if you're thinking about trying an orange blusher, it's worth giving this a go first to see if the shade suits your complexion.

NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler - £5 - review here

My new favourite lip product. I normally dislike lipglosses, but this is something else. Pigmented, buttery, and lasts a few hours before fading evenly. I also have Apple Strudel, but don't like it as much. The colour is great, but it settles into the lines of your lips, which is a shame.

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick in 123 Soleil - £7.99 - review here

The formula of this range is similar to that of the Revlon Lip Butters, which I've become a fan of. 123 Soleil is an orange shade, but leans coral, steering it away from being garish. The formula's light, balmy, and lasts a few hours before fading evenly.

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya - £7.99 -  review here

This is a lot lighter, and is more of a peach/apricot, so looks natural. The formula is like the others, which I'm obviously a fan of at the moment!

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in Peach on the Beach - £7.99 - review here

I wore this a ton last summer. The colour is beautiful, and, again, the formula is light and moisturising. You can see what I prioritise in the warmer months!

Models Own Nail Polish in Beach Bag - £5 

I have yet to review this, but you can see a swatch of it on my Instagram here. It's a neon pastel peach, which is difficult to photograph, and takes three coats. If it was more opaque, it'd definitely be one of my favourite nail polishes, ever.

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Papaya - £3.99 - review here

A bright peach that's opaque in two coats. It looks dull and dark compared to the others, but it is a beautiful shade.

Sinful Colours Nail Polish in Orange Cream - £1.99 - review here

This is the light peach in the photo, and it's one of my favourites. It has silver shimmer in, which I'm usually not a fan of, but it's very subtle and just lifts the shade. It takes 2-3 coats to become opaque.

Sinful Colours Nail Polish in Island Coral - £1.99

You can probably find a shade similar to this in every range, but I love it. Straight-up corals that change from orange to pink in different lights are my favourite. It takes two coats, too, which is great for £1.99.

What are your favourite peach and coral products?

Top 5 Under £5 - Eyes/Eyebrows

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze, MUA Eyeshadow in Shade 11, MUA Eyeshadow in Shade 1

I was going to do a 'Top 10 Under £10' series, but seeing as most of the products featured on Affordable Treats are under £10, I decided to lower the price! I haven't included mascara in this because my favourites are from Maybelline, which are around £8. I also haven't included liquid liner because my usual Collection one (£2.99) has dried up, and the one I'm currently using is a pricier L'Oreal one. There's also quite a few products in my collection that I've bought for less than £5 due to codes and discounts, but their retail prices are over £5, so it wouldn't have been fair to include them.

ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light - £3.95

This has recently increased in price, but is still affordable. I love it! I've been using the kits for years, but it wasn't until last year that I tried the shade Light. It's a much better match, and I use it everyday without fail.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze - £4.99

I don't wear eyeshadow on my lids, but do wear a little smudged along my lower lash line, and this is what I've been using for the last year or so. The colour is beautiful, it's still creamy, and it stays on all day. I also have Permanent Taupe, but I don't use it as often.

MUA Clear Mascara - £1

To set my brows, I use this. It does its job, and I don't fill the need to spend any more on something that will do the same thing!

MUA Eyeshadows - £1

Some of these can be a miss, but the shades above are buttery soft and pigmented. Shade 11 is a basic everyday neutral, while shade 1 is a nice inner corner highlight.

MUA Eyebrow Brush - £1.50

Another MUA product! This brush is thin yet dense, making it perfect for eyebrows and eyeliner. I used to use ELF's Small Angled Brush, but it was fluffier than this, meaning I couldn't be as precise with application.

What are your top products under £5?

The Body Shop Products Currently in My Routine

I've never considered myself a devoted fan of The Body Shop, but when looking at the brand's products in my routine, it looks like I am!

When applying my makeup in the morning, I use the All-in-One Face Base in 02 (£14) to reduce any shine and add a little coverage. As you can see, it's very well loved and I already have a back up in my draw! A more recent product of mine is the Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder in 02 Fair Matte (£13, review here). It's a light, matte bronzer that adds natural warmth to your face. It does need building up, though, so am considering trying a darker shade and using a lighter hand.

Before I leave the house, I spritz myself with one of the Body Mists (£7.50). I have six of these, but the two I'm using most at the moment are the Mango and Vineyard Peach (review here) ones. The Vineyard Peach one is a new product, and I love it so much already.

Throughout the day, especially after getting off the bus, I like to sanitise my hands. I'm currently using the Coconut Hand Cleanse Gel (£2.50, review here), which is summer in a bottle.

I shower in the evenings, and have multiple shower gels on the go. One of them is the Vineyard Peach Shower Gel (£4, review here). It smells like the rest of the range and I already have a back up of this, too. I've been using the Aqua Ultra Fine Bath Lily (£2) to apply it, which is great. It's softer than others I've used and creates a rich lather. I know some people hate these because they're a great home for spiders, but I've thankfully never found any in mine!

I've been using the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (£12, review here) and Silky Cleansing Oil (£10, review here) to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. I love them, and will more than likely repurchase both!

I've been trying to moisturise more after the shower, so have been using the Vineyard Peach and Raspberry Body Butters (£13). I have these two, and Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush Body Buttercream, on the go at the same time because I don't want them to go bad before I get round to using them. I've had to throw a couple out before because I forgot about them and they started to smell funny.

Two other products that I use, and aren't photographed, are the Organic Cotton Rounds (£2.50) and Paddle Bamboo Hairbrush (£8). The cotton rounds stay together better than others, so you don't need to use as many. I've used the paddle brush for years and it does its job perfectly.

I've given the full prices of the products, but I've never paid these. I usually buy them when there's a sale or 40-50% off! What are your favourite The Body Shop products?