Empties #8

Hey guys,

I have another empties post for you today.  I’ve used up a lot of my samples, although I have a few to get through and have bought some new skincare bits, which I’m enjoying for the most part.  I will have a haul soon, though I do have some other posts to go live first.   I’ve been on a mission to use up everything I had, as some I had for a while, some I just wasn’t enjoying and I also wanted to try some new products so I knew I needed to work through my stash before buying or trying anything new.  This is a lengthy post, so grab a drink (and and maybe a snack) and lets get into it. 

Avène Sun Care Very High Protection Cream SPF50+ — This is a nice SPF, I tend to use it instead of a moisturiser as it doesn’t layer well with any of the moisturisers that I have so I just use it alone, and only when I left the house. It has a liquid consistency, but when massaged into my skin it dries down quite a bit and can be hard to work into the skin, so you have to be quick with it.  It’s not a bad product, it’s just not one I would repurchase personally.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum — This was a nice, lightweight serum.  It felt nice, and smelled nice.  I didn’t find it to do much for my skin so I wouldn’t repurchase a full size in future.

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum — This was a beautiful, light serum that my skin loved, what I didn’t love was that it is highly fragranced. It didn’t irritate my skin, but it didn’t dissipate throughout the day either, it was always noticeable and I wasn’t keen on that.   This absorbed really quickly, but my skin felt hydrated with it. I really like this, but given the price, I wouldn’t repurchase only because there are many, many serums out there that will do what this does for a fraction of the price!

Clarins Fresh Scrub — I had a sample of this to use and I liked it. It was a nice scrub and had a nice creamy consistency and the beads weren’t abrasive on my skin. I wouldn’t purchase a full size only because I personally prefer liquid exfoliators but if I got it in a GWP, set etc. I’d use it.

Clark’s Botanicals Anti-Puff Eye Cream — This was a lovely, lightweight eye cream that left a velvety finish.  It absorbed quickly and layered well with my Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream.  I only had a few uses from the sample so I can’t speak for it helping any puffiness but it did feel nice.  I’m not sure if I’d buy a full size in future, just because I like the rich version of Clinique’s All About Eyes which helps with puffiness and hydration, so I’d purchase that over this as it tackles both at once.

Declaré Hydro Energy Hydro Balance — This was a lovely cream, but it wasn’t enough for my skin on its own, I had to layer it with another moisturiser.  It felt nice, it was lightweight and provided some hydration.  I wouldn’t purchase a full size in future.

Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced — This was a nice serum; it was lightweight and absorbed quickly.  It was very, very fragranced and it was overpowering.  I can’t speak for any anti-aging or skin perfecting benefits.  I wouldn’t purchase a full size in future.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Moisturiser — This is a gorgeous moisturiser.  It’s lightweight, moisturising, gives my skin a glow, layers well with other products in my night time routine.  It smells strongly of cucumber though, but I don’t mind that.  I wouldn’t mind getting a full size of this, but at £79 I’d wait until there is a sale before purchasing.

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream Moisturiser — A great moisturiser and a very sad empty.  I really, really enjoyed this and how well it worked for my skin.  It’s quite a thick/rich moisturiser and it worked better for my skin in the winter months, in the summer months I prefer the crème-gel version as it’s just a little lighter and better for warmer weather (for me, personally).

I got this as part of a set which I got in TK Maxx, and if I see it there again (when shops reopen) I will absolutely repurchase it because I loved it, and so did my skin.  I spoke about this in my March Hits & Misses (here).

Dripping Gold Medium Mousse Body Tan — This is a beautiful tan. I adore the colour that it gives me.  I love the scent and I love that it is not at all drying on me.  I do prefer the St. Tropez Purity Mousse tan so I would repurchase that before this, but I would repurchase this one also. Full review here.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Foundation — This is a gorgeous foundation.  It feels really lovely on the skin and it looks lovely on the skin. It doesn’t emphasise dryness or texture, it’s long wearing, it performs well and it doesn’t oxidise.  I may purchase a full size in future.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Primer — This is a lovely, lightweight primer and my skin loves it.  Foundation applies nicely over it, wears well, doesn’t break down or oxidise.  I may purchase a full size in future.

Fourth Ray Beauty Rose Face Milk — This is a lovely product and one my skin really loved.  It smells lovely, the rose scent is strong at all, in fact its barely noticeable.  I loved how my skin felt when I used this and it’s so affordable too.  I may repurchase at some point.

Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist with Rose Water — This was a nice facial mist, I really liked it but denatured alcohol is the third ingredient on the ingredients like and that’s putting me off because it can be drying and as my skin is already dry, it doesn’t need to be made drier.  I didn’t realise this until I was almost finished this mist and it has put me off so I wouldn’t repurchase in future.  I’ll stick with the Avène and LRP mists thermal water mists.

Herbivore Phoenix Regenerating Facial Oil — One of the nicest facial oils I’ve ever used and I’m pretty sure I will be purchasing a full size of it.  It’s not greasy, heavy, slippy or uncomfortable.  I love pairing this with my serums and moisturisers, it works wonderfully with them and my skin loves it.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Full Strength Peel — This was a nice cleanser, but it STANK!!  It was like apple vinegar!  Horrid!  It was great for really smoothing my skin and leave it soft and supple though!  I wouldn’t repurchase just because of the scent and the fact that Lactic Acid softens and smooths my skin just as this does, but doesn’t have a horrible scent and doesn’t cost a whole either!

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser — Another gorgeous LRP product.  LRP is one of my favourite brands for skincare and their Toleriane range is perfect for my dry and sensitive skin, too!  This product, just like every other I’ve tried from this range, is soft, gentle, effective and works wonders for my dry skin.

It’s great for removing eye makeup, it doesn’t sting or cause ‘cloudy eyes’, I don’t need to rub vigorously around my eye area to effectively break down and remove my eye makeup.  It’s not the best for waterproof eye makeup, but for non-waterproof it’s great.

Just like other products in the range, this is reasonably priced, regularly on offer and widely available.  Highly recommend, especially if your skin is sensitive and/or dry, this particular range is well worth checking out.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Intense Soothing Care Day & Night Creams — These are two gorgeous moisturisers that are very moisturising and soothing, as the names suggests.  They both lightweight, absorb quickly but don’t absorb entirely so my skin feels very moisturised after.  This is maybe the second time I’ve used and finished these moisturisers, and I’d absolutely repurchase in future.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water — I always have either this, or the Avène Thermal water in my stash, I adore them.  I love how refreshing they are on a warm day, straight from a fridge and a few spritzes, it feels so good!  I am currently using an Evian one, but I will repurchase this in future.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm — My favourite lip balm!  I love this as much as life itself!  It is so nourishing and moisturising on my lips, it smells divine (like oranges) and its affordable!  It’s a solid balm in the pot, but when massaged into your lips it melts down and isn’t sticky or gloopy.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum — I spoke about this serum on my Instagram (here) and I mentioned that I wasn’t a bit fan of it as I didn’t find it to do a whole lot for my skin, and I still stand by that. It feels nice, its lightweight, it smells gorgeous (like oranges) and it feels hydrating, but that’s about it.

I did only have a mini size to try so maybe with longer use (I used it for about 3-3.5 weeks, daily use) I may see some difference but given how expensive it is, I won’t be splashing out on it personally.  It’s not a bad product by any means, it just didn’t work for my skin.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash — I had a sample of this and got one use from it.  It was okay, just a basic face wash, nothing special.  It has a creamy-gel consistency and is white in colour, it lathers up nicely and has a nice scent.  It felt very slightly stripping on my skin so I think with continuous use over time it could well be drying on my skin, so on that basis I wouldn’t purchase a full size.

Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Scrub — One of my favourite body scrubs. Soap & Glory makes the best body scrubs and this is one I’ve repurchased endless times. It’s effective but yet gentle, it’s not abrasive and doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped or drier than it is. It doesn’t leave a layer of oil/grease/scum in the shower either. Highly recommend this.

Solait 2-in-1 Face Lotion & Lip Balm — This felt nice and smelled nice, but it pilled.  It was lightweight and absorbed quickly.  It didn’t leave any sticky or greasy feeling on my skin, and it didn’t feel or smell like sunscreen typically can.  If it didn’t pill I would 100% repurchase.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment — I had several samples and a mini of this to use and while they were alright, they were nothing special, they didn’t do anything more than The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid does quite frankly.  They smell absolutely awful; the smell was strong and overpowering and didn’t dissipate.  I could still smell it the following morning after I’d applied it and I wouldn’t repurchase on that basis alone.  I don’t like my skincare to smell as much as this does, its too much for me.

Superdrug Calm Skin Soothing Facial Wash — My favourite drugstore/affordable facial wash! I’ve gone through quite a few of these and cannot say enough good things about it!  It’s extremely gentle but yet my skin feels thoroughly clean when I use this to wash it.  I normally like to do a double cleanse, however there are some mornings where I am lazy and just use this to wash my face/neck and it does a pretty good job. Super affordable and was regularly on offer, too.  Unfortunately is has been discontinued, so I’m on the hunt for something similar.

Superdrug Simply Pure Hydrating Day & Night Serums — Two gorgeous hydrating serums, both are lightweight, and when layered with my other skincare I could sometimes get away without applying a moisturiser over top, depending on how my skin was each day. These are super cheap and I would consider repurchasing both in future.

I want (and need) more from serums but in a pinch or for something that just provides hydration these are well worth it.  They’re great with a little foundation mixed in if you just want a sheer coverage or a tint instead of a foundation.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid — This is a favourite product of mine.  It really smoothed my skin and helped with resurfacing.  It has an instant effect, I use it at night and the following morning my skin is baby soft, there is no roughness or dullness.  This is super affordable and something I will repurchase in future.  I have since bought The Inkey List Lactic Acid but I prefer this one and it’s the one I will repurchase in future.

Vichy Aqua Thermal — This was a lovely gel crème that I needed to layer with another moisturiser for added moisturisation.  It was very lightweight and barely noticeable on my skin.  I wouldn’t repurchase just because I need to layer it with another moisturiser and I have other moisturisers that I prefer that don’t require layering to give my skin the moisturisation it needs.

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