January 2018 Empties

 

 

 

I think this is the most empties I've ever managed in one month (lots of full sizes too!). It definitely helped making an inventory of my skincare and makeup and made me focus on using products that were almost finished, needed using up or that I just wanted gone so I can concentrate on other/better products.

 

 

Full sizes and Deluxe Samples:

 

* Garnier Micellar Water - This was a huge 750ml bottle. This still remains my favourite. I've replaced it with a different brand of micellar water currently, but nothing can be this classic for gently but thoroughly removing eye make up. Will repurchase when my current micellar water stash is used up (maybe sooner if I get frustrated!).

* The Body Shop Seaweed Toner -  I loved everything about this and will repurchase i the future when I've gotten through some of the other toners in my stash.

* Naruko - Raw Job's Tears Supercritical C02 Pore Minimizing and Brightening Lotion - The first product I bought expressly to tackle enlarged pores. Nope - did nothing for 'em. I removed this from my routine to see if I noticed any difference, and then promptly forgot about it for a few months. I think that gives you an idea of it's efficacy.

* Liz Earle - Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion - I embarrass myself when I think back to my initial impression of this. I was damn near OUTRAGED by this product. I could just not see the point of it - was it meant to remove eye make up? Was it some kind of eye lotion? What? What? But after finishing off the first bottle, I really started to yearn for it and came to understand it's place in my routine. Despite the fact that it has Aloe Vera in the ingredients (which can irritate my skin) this is just great as a soothing eye lotion (NOT as an eye make up remover). I promptly bought two more bottles (this is the first of those two replacements).

* The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel - I only ever pick these up when they're in the sale as they're a bit pricey otherwise. My youngest son adopted this as his, but I did sneak a use every now and then.

* Burt's Bees Cream Cleanser with Clary Sage - This was my second tube of this. The Clary Sage is one of the most gorgeous scents ever. It was a good cleanser - did it's job nicely without drying out my skin, but there are so many more I'd like to try next. 

* Bravura London - Revitalising Ginseng Glycolic Toner  - I fell hard for this from the first moment I tried it. I love this as a gentle (ish) morning glycolic toner. I promptly bought a full size back up of this and use it in my current routine.

 

 

These weren't empties but unwanted (the Inglot brown eyeliner gel had all dried up).

 

 

Deluxe Samples and Misc

 

* Sanctuary Shower gel - Part of a gift set - used up showering at the gym.

* Philosophy - Purity Cleanser - I really enjoyed this gentle cleanser. Would maybe consider repurchasing in the future.

* Polaar - Genuine Lapland Hand Cream - I used this at least twice a day over the past month. Perfect rich but absorbant and non-greasy hand cream or this time of year.

* Sulwhasoo - Time Treasure Renovating Serum ex - This grew on me the more I used it but by then it was empty! I might buy samples of this in the future, but couldn't afford a full size of it.

* Tropic - Super Greens Serum - This had such a pungent 'green' smell that I didn't really like to use it in my routine. Instead I used it as a pre-swim face protecting oil and it was great for that while it lasted.

* E.L.F - Lengthening Mascara - This cost a whopping £1 in the ELF sale last year. And it was a pretty good mascara too.

* Filorga - Time Filler Eyes - I absolutely LOVED this when I first started using it and thought it would be my new holy grail eye cream. However, after a few weeks, I just stopped noticing any difference - again, another case of becoming immune or inured to it. It's made me think that I should maybe rotate my eye creams every couple of weeks so they become 'stale' to me.

* Philosophy - Grace perfume sample - This didn't really move me at all - I can't even recall the scent.

 

 

Sheet Masks, Sachet samples and Wash-off face masks

 

I think I may have consciously not used as many sheet masks this month as my stash is quite low. I only have masks that come from my Mask n Chill monthly packs left. I liked the Espresso under eye masks but next time I think I'll go for some hydrogel patches again.