In Retrospect | February 2017

It's been a funny old month, hasn't it, February? I'm not really sure what's happened, I feel like it's passed by in a blur of rain and exhaustion... It's basically just been non-stop and I've been struggling to keep up - which is possibly why I've been ill for the last week or so. More whinging about that later, but for now let's have a little look back over the past few weeks...

Empties.

I think I've had another fairly good month for finishing products off - I'm trying to work my way through my hoard of body moisturisers, which is taking some doing! I've also seen off a few travel-sized tubes this month which is quite satisfying.

Will Repurchase: Una Brennan SuperFacialist Salicylic Acid Purifying Cleansing Wash | This is my favourite face wash ever. It's gentle, smells beautiful, and the salicylic acid really does help to keep my skin smoother and clearer. // Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask | I legitimately love this mask; it's super-hydrating and smells amazing. I already have a travel-size and will no doubt purchase it again (and again. and again.) once I've used that up!
Might Repurchase: Exuviance Triple Microdermabrasion Facial Polish | I'm not sure what I was expecting when I got this, but it wasn't what I got! I actually liked it a lot more than I thought I would, and am a bit sad that it's so bloomin' expensive! // Tresemmé Botanique Nourish & Replenish Hydrating Mist | I did really love this (apart from the bloomin' useless "mist" which was more like a super-soaker jet!) but I have to admit I love my Ojon Damage Reversing Thickening Mist more... But for a budget option, the Tresemmé ain't half bad. // Next Sparkle Eau de Parfum | Next do such gorgeous scents, especially considering their price point! This wasn't my favourite of the scents I picked up but I'd definitely buy a different one in future. // Tresemmé Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner | I love the scent of this and it did leave my hair super-soft. I'm just gutted the matching shampoo contains SLS! // Elemental Herbology Cell Plumping Moisturiser | Quite a nice moisturiser which wasn't too heavy and gave a good base for make-up.
Won't Repurchase: FCUK Cool Down Body Spray | I dread to think how long I've had this! I thought it was super cool when I first got this scent in about year ten but I've gone off it somewhat in the intervening decade... // Cetraben Lotion* | Not a fan of paraffin in my moisturisers so won't be buying again. // Amie Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturiser* | Man this went on forever! It was actually a perfectly nice, basic moisturiser which wasn't too heavy on my oily skin, but I probably wouldn't choose it again. // Skin Chemists Bee Venom Moisturiser | I won this in a giveaway quite a while ago now and, whilst it was a lovely moisturiser to use, I don't see myself shelling out £100+ on a new bottle anytime soon!

Sample Sachets.

I set myself the ambitious goal of ten sample sachets in February and have fallen ever so slightly short, using up nine over the course of the month. I still think it was a pretty good effort, though!

Tresemmé Expert Selection Beauty-full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner & Shampoo | This duo did leave my hair feeling nice but I can't use shampoos with SLS on a regular basis. Pre-Wash Conditioner £5.24/290ml here, Shampoo £5.24/500ml here // John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Shampoo & Conditioner | These were a bit too heavy for my hair and, again, I can't use SLS based products regularly. Shampoo £7.99/250ml here; Conditioner £7.99/250ml here // Nanokeratin Revive Invigorating Shampoo & Rehydrate Hydrating Conditioner | These were quite nice and I did like that the shampoo was SLS-free, but they're way beyond budget for me! Shampoo from $56/320ml here; Conditioner from $69/320ml here

Clarins Double Serum | I like the idea of mixing two 'halves' of the serum to activate it, although I suspect it's a bit gimmicky... That said, it did feel lovely on my skin! £55/30ml here // Vichy Idélia Eyes | Is it just me or do eye creams seem to last forever!? I swear it took me about three weeks to use this sachet! I quite like the Idélia range - this felt nice and light, and hydrated well. £23/15ml here // Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation | Do you have any idea how much of a novelty it is to get a foundation sample sachet in a magazine, in a shade I can wear!? I've previously tried this foundation so I already knew it doesn't last too well on my skin, but it's quite a nice formula and would suit less oily skins well. £7.99/30ml here

February Goals.
• Use ten sample sachets. Well, you can see above that I didn't quite hit my first goal! I'm rather proud of myself nonetheless (nine is pretty close, right!?) and I think I am finally getting into the habit of regularly having a shuffle through my little stash of samples and seeing what I can use up - instead of hoarding them for posterity...
• See friends at least twice. One pub evening, one random drive and one trip out for chocolate (separate occasions!) with a Warrior friend, one night in with my best friend, one after-work hot chocolate with a work friend, one tea out with my best mate from primary school, and one pancake party planned for this evening... I'd say I've smashed this one!
• Finish the two books I'm reading. You might have seen in my last post that I've finished them both! Hurrah for me - I'm now back on track with my goal of twelve books this year, so hopefully I'll manage to keep the momentum going through the coming months. Don't forget to have a peek back at what I thought of the two books I've read in February...
• Start practicing for selection tests/interviews. Erm. Whoops. Need to get on with this now as I've got to complete online selection tests in the next couple of weeks. I blame being ill!
• Sort my diet out. I'm calling this a semi-success. I've got much better in terms of taking healthy lunches to work, as well as sticking with my no-caffeine thing (which has annoyingly really helped my sleep patterns!), but I've been a bit too partial to cake and chocolates, which I really need to cut back on. Lent starts tomorrow, so I'll be cutting out chocolate altogether, as well as as much refined sugar as I can manage.
• BONUS: I've also achieved my January goal of being able to run 5km without having to stop and walk - yay!

February Loves.
I have to be honest and say my life in February has mainly revolved around Lemsip and my duvet, so I don't have an awful lot to share here. Disappointing, I know! However I did love Alice's post about the Colourpop Valentine's Day collection (check it out, you won't be disappointed!) and, as always, I'm girl-crushing all over pretty much everything Gwennan writes because she's a babe and her sense of humour is basically identical to mine so I find everything she says hilarious.
Things have been a bit quiet on The Indigo Hours, which wasn't planned, but I just couldn't find the energy to write while I was ill so ended up having a week off - but I did post about a fab face mask trio by Tropic Skincare, my reading list for 2017, and a gorgeous eyeshadow palette from MUA Cosmetics, so check those out if you missed them, yeah?

A post shared by Jess ▪ The Indigo Hours (@theindigohours) on Feb 24, 2017 at 3:04am PST

February in Summary.
I've spent the last week of February feeling very sorry for myself as I suffered through a particularly violent bout of manflu cold which basically floored me, but apart from that it's been a pretty good month for me! I've kept pretty busy both at work (big projects going on, eek!) and outside of work, including keeping up going to the gym regularly - I genuinely missed going while I was ill! I've been loving the lighter evenings and am looking forward to Spring now! How has your February been? I'd love to hear what you've been up to!

xo
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