Another month, another empties! Heh, I’ve used up quite a number of products over the last couple of weeks and thought I would share them with you today. I am hoping to pick up some new bits in the Black Friday sales and maybe even the Christmas sales, so I am ploughing my way through my stash at the moment. 😂
There is a mixture of hair care, body care, makeup, skin care and perfume in today’s post. It’s quite a long one, but I wanted to include as much as possible. If you are working your way through anything or doing Project Pan etc. let me know how you’re getting on and how you are finding it. I would love to hear from you.
Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Shampoo — My favourite shampoo. I’ve been using this since last year and it’s the best shampoo I have ever put near my hair. It does exactly what it’s supposed do, and leaves my hair feeling moisturised, soft, smooth and shiny. I adore this, and have already repurchased. I can’t be without it.
At €15 it’s not the cheapest, but it works so well that I’d pay €15 and double that for it! It’s worth it, especially if your hair is dry like mine is and you have a sensitive scalp that reacts to a lot of products
Amorepacific Botanical Radiance Oil — I had this cute mini from Sephora and finally got around to using it. I really liked it; it didn’t cause any irritation. Although it’s an oil, it didn’t feel greasy or heavy and didn’t sit on top of my skin. A really lovely product to use and one I’d repurchase if it wasn’t so expensive. It’s quite pricey. It’s $105 and while it’s nice and I liked it, I don’t think it did enough for my skin for me to spend that much on it.
Aveda Cherry Almond Shampoo & Conditioner — When I ran out of my beloved Alfaparf Milano shampoo, I had none and found these samples so gave them a go, and I regretted it immediately!
They irritated my scalp no end and left my hair feeling dry and stripped. I couldn’t even brush my hair because when I tried to, it was snapping left, right and centre. It was so bad that I had to put a thick layer of my Alfaparf Semi De Lino moisture mask in and leave it in all day, for two days in a row!
It was the only way I was able to restore some moisture and softness to my hair (and so I could brush it without it snapping. I would not recommend or repurchase the Aveda products. They are supposed to leave your hair soft and shiny, but for me, they did the opposite.
b. Tan Rocks ‘Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Dat! — This was something that grabbed my attention purely because it’s marketed as a 9-minute tan. Now, to say I was sceptical about it being 9 minutes would be an understatement. I had seen this tan (and others by the same brand) doing the rounds on Instagram and getting great reviews, so when I saw it on offer on Roches Pharmacy, I decided to give it a try and as I expected, it was not a good tan.
It did *nothing* for me, I was the same colour before and after. It just washed away down the drain and didn’t develop any further after I rinsed it off for 45 seconds. I’ve since given it to a friend who I hope will have better luck with it than I did.
Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara – If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I don’t like this mascara at all. It does absolutely nothing for my lashes. If you like natural lashes with a barely-there coating of mascara, you may like this, but it’s not for me. I much prefer a defined, full, volumised lash and this doesn’t give me that. If you can get a mini or sample before splashing out on a full size, I recommend that you do, otherwise, you could end up disappointed.
Benefit BadGAL Bang & Roller Lash Mascaras — Two of my faves! BadGAL Bang is a gorgeous mascara that gives me volume, definition, length and makes my lashes look great. I’ve only had a sample size of this, but I will without doubt be purchasing a full size. Expensive, but worth it, for me at least.
Roller Lash is another I adore. And I love the wand. It gives me similar lashes to BadGAL Bang, but the wand is a nicer shape and easier to work with. Again, I would absolutely repurchase this.
Bioderma Photoderm Max Cream SPF50+ — This is something I’ve been using for a year now and loved, however, in the last few weeks I’ve noticed that when I apply it, even without any other skincare products, it just rubs off. It does not absorb like it used to, it literally just rubs straight off, I can’t even rub it in. The tube I have now is a new tube, so I don’t know why it’s no longer working for me, but I’m not loving it. I might try it again in future, but for now I am using the Avène Sun Care Very High Protection Cream SPF50+ and I’ve finished a sample of Bobbi Brown’s SPF 50 Primer Plus Protection, and I really liked it. More on that below.
Bioderma Sébium H2O Micellar Water — This is a gorgeous micellar water. It’s gentle, non-drying and does a pretty good at removing the top layer of makeup. It’s a great product to use in the morning before going in with a second cleanser, too. In saying that, I prefer the other two micellar waters from Bioderma, they suit my skin better, but that’s because my skin is dry and dehydrated and this particular Sébium micellar water is for combination and oily skin. If you have combination or oily skin and want a micellar water, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask — One of the nicest and frankly best lip balms/masks I’ve used. It’s absolutely gorgeous and one I am 100% going to repurchase. It’s thick, but not gloopy and it melts down beautifully when applied to your lips. It has a gorgeous scent that is very slightly sweet (similar to honey), but not strong or overpowering by any means. It’s $26 for a tube, which isn’t the cheapest, but it’s one of the best so for me, it’s worth it. Highly recommend, especially if you have dry lips.
Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Eye Cream — I had a few samples of this to use and the only way I could really get use from them was as a lip balm. I tried it as an eye cream (review here) and didn’t like it at all. It just doesn’t give my under-eye area the hydration or moisturisation that it needs, but as a lip balm, it works well. Would I purchase a full size? Nope, because it’s pretty pricey at €56 / £48 for 15ml and I wouldn’t spend that kinda money on a lip balm when there are others I like just as much and more, and that cost far less.
Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Balm — I had a sample pot of this to use and got quite a few uses from it (about 8 I think) because it’s quite thick and so over the rest of my skincare I only needed to use a small amount. This was a really lovely product, it absorbed nicely, but didn’t disappear into my skin, I could feel that my skin was moisturised and felt really lovely afterwards.
It wasn’t sticky, greasy or uncomfortable and sometimes I used it during the day and my makeup applied over it really nicely and performed and wore as normal and without any issues. I would definitely consider purchasing a full size of this but at £68 / €86 it’s expensive, and I don’t know if it did enough for my skin to justify me spending that much on it. Maybe if I got it on offer or as part of a gift set it may be worth it, but on its own, I don’t think it is.
Bobbi Brown Primer Plus Protection SPF 50 — I had a sample of this to use and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a gorgeous consistency, that is creamy, but slightly sticky when applied. My foundations all applied nicely over it and looked really nice, too. I didn’t experience any issues with my foundations over this, they all performed as normal. I really like this and I am strongly considering purchasing a full size of it when I am finished some of my current primers. It’s not too expensive either, it is £24.50, which is pretty good, especially for a Bobbi Brown primer.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask — My first time to ever try a Briogeo product, but definitely not the last. This was wonderful. It reminded me a lot of my Alfaparf Nutritive Mask, but more intense and more moisturising on my dry lengths. I adored this, it smelt incredible and my hair looked and felt fabulous after I’d used it. It’s fairly expensive, but it’s worth it. If you are looking to invest in a good mask, this is worth checking out. I know £30 is a lot to pay out, but good hair care is worth it, especially if it works for you.
Catrice Prime & Fine Anti-Shine Fixing Spray — One of the best affordable setting sprays there is. I absolutely loved this and I loved the mist from this. It was so fine and didn’t drench my face, it misted just enough product out without overdoing it. Super cheap and works a dream. Despite being ‘anti-shine’, I didn’t find this mattifying at all. It left my skin with a gorgeous satin finish that didn’t look greasy, oily or shiny. I’ve already repurchased it.
Clinique Blackhead Solutions Self-Heating Blackhead Extractor — This was, in a word, useless. It did absolutely *nothing* for my skin nor my blackheads. I had about 10 sachets to use up, and I did, with zero results. My skin looked and felt and looked just as it did before I’d used it. It’s €26 for 20ml, and if you were thinking of getting it, I say save that money and put it towards a facial that will help your skin.
Declaré Hydro Balance Oceans Best Mask — I was recently given a sample of this and absolutely loved it! I managed to get four uses from it by sparing the amount used each time, but I have to say, I think this has replaced my beloved Lancôme Hydra Intense mask. I have been using Lancôme’s mask for years and love it, but I actually much prefer how this Declaré masks feels on my skin, and how it makes my skin feel the following day after I use it. It’s also gorgeous to use under makeup as a moisturiser/primer. My skin feels amazing and looks so glowy and radiant.
I love how makeup applies over it too. It applies easier and smoother than over this than over other primers/moisturisers and looks gorgeous. It’s also gorgeous mixed in with foundations, especially matte foundations (Fenty Pro Filt’r Original I’m looking at you👀) to take away a matte finish and give a glowy, but not greasy finish that looks beautiful and lasts all day. It doesn’t cause any issues with breakdown, gathering, emphasising dry patches etc. I just absolutely love this mask and at under €30 it’s a more preferable price point than Lancôme’s Hydra Intense, which costs £33 GBP.
Dior One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum — One of the nicest serums I think I have ever tried. This was beautiful to use and my skin absolutely adored it! I had a couple of sachets to use and even with those few sachets, I could see a difference in how radiant my skin was. It was so lightweight and absorbed within seconds, but it didn’t disappear once absorbed, my skin felt moisturised, soft and plump. Since I’ve finished the samples, my skin doesn’t seem to be as bright, so I think this is one that I will repurchase at some point – maybe in the Black Friday or January sales!? It’s pretty pricey at €89 for 30ml, but it worked so well that I think it is worth it.
Dolce and Gabbana Dolce Eau de Parfum — This is another of my favourite perfumes. It’s fresh, floral, feminine, summery and just a great all-year-round perfume. It is long lasting and a little is all that is needed. I would repurchase this, but I need to finish up some of my other fragrances before I purchase any new ones.
Dove Invisible Dry Anti-Perspirant Deodorant — I picked this up in a hurry one day and it is actually one of the nicest deodorants I’ve used. Nice scent, didn’t mark my clothes and helped with perspiration. It didn’t catch me in the throat like some aerosol deodorants can either. Cheap as chip and regularly on offer, I’ll definitely repurchase this.
Essnece Lash Princess Waterproof Mascara — The Lash Princess mascaras by Essence always get rave reviews whenever I hear anyone mention them, I honestly don’t think I have heard anyone mention a bad word about them to be honest and they are some that I have wanted to try for a while now, so when Essence released this, I decided to pick it up as I was in need of a new waterproof mascara anyway. To say I was disappointed by this would be an understatement to be quite honest. I do not like this at all.
The formula is very dry and flakes off while applying, so it’s very difficult to coat my lashes evenly. The wand I also dislike. It’s mainly the shape that I don’t like, it just doesn’t work for my eye shape, but that’s more my eye shape than the wand really. Anytime I have used this, I have had to put so many coats on that my lashes looked spidery and you could tell I had several layers of mascara on.
It was very inexpensive at under €5, but it’s still not one I would repurchase or recommend. There are other versions of the Lash Princess which I may try at some point in future.
Flormar ‘Bordeaux Scream #128’ Nail Polish — I got this maybe a year ago because I absolutely love the colour, but the polish itself isn’t great. It takes 3-4 coats to get almost full opacity. It doesn’t wear great either, it chips within 24hrs of application, no matter what base or top coats I use with it. I ended up pouring it into a Nails Inc one and mixing the two together as it was the only way I could use it.
I can’t remember how much this was, but it was under €6 I’m sure, despite it being affordable I wouldn’t repurchase or recommend. There are other affordable brands out there with similar colours that are better quality and longer lasting, so I’d definitely check them out over this. Plus, in TK Maxx you can gets the likes of Essie, OPI etc. at affordable prices too, so they are worth checking out.
Fresh Beauty Soy Face Cleanser — This was the first cleanser by Fresh that I tried and I really liked it and thoroughly enjoyed using it. It has a lovely fresh scent that I found uplifting. It was no good to break down or remove makeup in my experience, however, it was lovely to use as either a second cleanse in the evening or cleansing my face in the morning, which was my preference. I’d consider purchasing a full size of this.
GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment Mask — I’ve gone through endless minis of this mask. I like it, but I don’t love it. It has a gorgeous consistency that is fast absorbing, it’s non-sticky, non-greasy and it smells gorgeous. I just don’t find it to give my skin enough hydration. Whenever I use this, I always use it with my other skincare. On its own it just doesn’t give my skin the hydration and moisturisation it needs. I wouldn’t buy a full size of this.
Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo — My favourite dry shampoo! This is by far the very best dry shampoo I think I have ever used. It leaves no residue, colour or white cast on my hair and doesn’t leave my hair feeling dirty or weighed down. I love to spray it all over before bedtime, then tie my hair up and let it work its magic overnight.
Unfortunately, it is near impossible to find. I sporadically find it in Dealz, so tend to stock up when I do see it. I’m not sure if it has been discontinued or it’s just hard to find here in Ireland, but if you do see it, it’s worth picking up if you like a dry shampoo.
Hermès Twilly d’Hermes Eau de Parfum — This is a stunning fragrance. I’ve had a of this sample for a while and got 3 or 4 uses from it because it’s quite a strong scent, so only a spritz or two is needed per wear. It’s a citrusy floral scent, that is beautiful for the summer time. The times I wore this I had a few compliments and people asked me what perfume it was. It reminds me of Estée Lauder Modern Muse (original) because of how citrusy it is. It’s very long lasting too, I’ve worn it for a good 8-10 hours and it’s still very noticeable with minimal dissipation.
He-Shi Express Liquid Tan — I have had this for a while now and despite giving it multiple tries, I am finally giving it away. I don’t like this at all. It gives an okay colour, but it absolutely stinks and wears off terribly. The smell is shockingly overpowering and it noticeable even when the tan is wearing away.
It transfers like crazy and took endless hot washes to get the stains out of my bedding, and at that, they’re still there, but they’re quite faded. It doesn’t suit my dry skin whatsoever and frankly, I look worse when this starts fading and wearing off, than I do without any tan at all.
James Brown London Hair Revive Dry Shampoo — I have had this for a while now and I struggled to finish it up, but finally, I did. I love dry shampoo, can’t get enough of it, but this one, I did not like at all. Whenever I used this, it left my hair feeling very dry and what I can only describe as ‘rough’.
It was knotty and difficult to brush through. When I first used this, I thought maybe I had used too much, but every time I tried it after that it was the same thing. I kept putting it to the back of my drawer and every so often I would give it another try, only to be disappointed each time. I adore the Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo and every dry shampoo I use; I compare to that one. This James Brown one, isn’t even comparable in any way in my opinion.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Balm — I have been using this for the few months and if I’m very honest; I’m not a big fan of it at all! It’s okay, but that’s all it is, just okay. I’ve tried other lip balms that I much prefer to this. I don’t find it to be hydrating at all, it doesn’t really do anything for my lips.
It’s got an odd texture, it’s like a thick balm that turns to a gloopy oil type texture when applied to my lips, it’s not the worst, but it doesn’t feel particularly nice or comfortable. It comes off quite easily too, and the stains aren’t the easiest to get out (especially on your pillows). For something that costs $20 it’s quite disappointing, especially given the hype it gets. I wouldn’t repurchase or recommend; I much prefer the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask over this.
Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?
Thank you for reading, until next time, take care xx
Follow me on Bloglovin’, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
This post is not sponsored or affiliated with any of the brands or companies mentioned and all opinions are my own. No affiliate links are used in this, or any other post.