April 2018 Empties

Another good month for using up some of my enormous skincare and makeup stash. I obviously gained a few items from Beauty Subscription boxes and some free samples. Other than that, I was very restrained in my buying and didn't add any full sizes to the skincare inventory (although I might have bought a couple of new make up bits!).

 

Skincare Empties

 

 

* Bielenda Active Concentrate Plant Stem Cell vials - This was a box of ten x 3ml vials that I bought to use after dermarolling. Firstly, my God! It's hard to use up 3ml of serum in one go. But this watery, odourless serum did sink in very nicely and was a great soothing first step after dermarolling. I've been dermarolling for almost 12 weeks now and I'm not entirely convinced by it's efficacy for me. I've read so many reviews where people say that they wake up with healthy, hydrated, plumped and glowing skin - but for me personally, it's not made a tremendous amount of difference. Unsure whether to continue or not. But if I do, I probably wouldn't repurchase these as I think there are cheaper alternatives that could be used instead.

* Pyunkang Yul - Mist Toner - I absolutely loved this refreshing, hydrating mist toner. Doesn't pack as much as a hydrating punch as other toners but I always reached for this in moments of needing a quick facial pick-me-up. Although this is meant to be scentless, I could definitely detect a very pleasant, delicate, fresh scent, which added to it's appeal for me. Haven't repurchased yet, due to the sheer volume of other toners and mists to get through but I think this would be in my top three choices as a basic facial mist. I'm going to re-use the spray bottle though as this has the absolute ideal spray nozzle for a fine mist.

* Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ - I luckily already have a back-up of this, my holy grail of sunscreens. I came across this product early in my skincare obsession and haven't been interested in finding an alternative. This is just the best!

* Marcelle - Gentle Eye Make Up Remover - I got this in a subscription box and wouldn't buy a dedicated eye remover usually as I find Micellar water does just as good a job (if not better) than dedicated eye makeup removers. This one was nothing special and I was happy to have it used up.

* The Ordinary - Buffet - One of the more expensive of The Ordinary's serums - this was a good soothing and hydrating serum to use after acid treatments and dermarolling. However, after getting through an entire bottle, I can't say that I noticed it do anything remarkable for my skin and now it's empty, it's not a product that my skin has missed - so won't be repurchasing.

* Murad - AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - Another beauty box mini. I try and avoid using physical exfoliation, so this cleanser took a long while to use up. Despite not being a fan of physical exfoliants, this one was pretty gentle for twice weekly use and was/is one of the better exfoliators I have used. Won't be repurchasing though.

* Bee Good - Honey & Propolis 2 in 1 Cream Cleanser - Yet another beauty box mini! I do love me some Propolis, but I think I'd prefer it in a more direct, higher-concentrate serum. This cleanser was pleasant enough, and didn't dry out my skin, but I wouldn't repurchase.

* Korres - White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser - Another beauty box mini. As you can tell, I've been trying to get through minis so I can start buying full sizes of products that are on my wish list, rather than just getting through mediocre products! I liked the gel consistency of this cleanser - but again, nothing special about it.

* Garnier Essentials - Hydrating Day Care - I picked up several Garnier products when they were first launched at discounted prices. I kept this tub in my swim bag to use after swimming, but I would only keep it on until I got home and got to my 'proper' skincare routine. It just wasn't particularly hydrating or comforting. It also felt a little too greasy for a daytime moisturiser but not heavy enough for a night time moisturiser.

* Perricone MD - Blue Plasma Cleansing Treatment - This was my second bottle of this cleanser as when I first started on my skincare obsession, I really loved this stuff. However, as I explored more cleansing options I came to realise that this blue gel (which I used as a first cleanse) just didn't have the same sensory satisfaction as an oil or balm cleanser and I ended up wanted to just finish this off as quickly as possible. I think the problem with this cleanser was that it didn't feel 'heavy duty' enough, the texture was too much like a thick serum or lotion and it felt out of step as a first cleanser.

* Garnier Skin Active - Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash- This was re-purposed as a makeup brush cleanser as this cleansing gel absolutely stung my eyes when I used it for it's intended method!

* Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm - This is one of the best (but sadly also one of the priciest) cleansing balms - I used this little sample sachet up on a night away.

* Banila Co Clean it Zero - Another of the best cleansing balms - when I've gotten through more of my stash, I will be repurchasing a full size of this.

* Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum - I absolutely love this product, but as I can only ever afford these mini samples sizes, I don't use them as regularly as I used to. This is one of the products that you can't really pinpoint what is does exactly for your skin - you just know that it's great and your skin loves it! But saying that, my skin doesn't seem to pine for it if I neglect it from my routine. So maybe this is just an 'extra' rather than an 'essential'.

* SkinFood - Blanc Pearl Caviar Emulsion and Toner - I've used similar samples in these tough little bottles before and they are an absolute nightmare to get any product out of (I would end up dipping a cotton bud in and scooping product out). For that reason, these weren't completely empty, but the products didn't really warrant the struggle of getting them out!

* TonyMoly Prestige Jeju Snail Essence - I know that some people go crazy for the skin repairing/healing properties of snail mucin but it's taken me over a year to realise that it doesn't really have a profound effect on my skin.

* Bielenda - Neuro Clicol + Vit C cream - I was looking forward to trying this moisturiser sample because of it's superstar ingredients, but as a moisturiser, it was just a bit too greasy for me. However, there is a night serum in this range, so I might end up buying that instead.

* DHC - Velvet Skin Coat Primer - Another primer sample to try out in a never-ending search for a primer that actually works! This has that velvety silicone texture, but I found it was just too 'slippy' on my skin and made it feel oily.

* HealGel eye cream - Another sample obtained in the quest for the perfect eye cream! This one wasn't it! It just functioned as a bit of moisturiser for my eye contour area - no bells and whistles on this product.

 

 

Sheet Masks

 

 

* Garnier Skin Active - Pure Charcoal Mask - A surprise favourite for me this month. I only picked this up as part of a 3 for 2 deal for Garnier products but have already repurchased. This is an ideal morning mask and leaves your skin refreshed, glowing and with noticeably reduced pores. The serum sinks into your skin nicely without leaving it tacky, making it an excellent under-makeup mask.

* A'Pieu - Watermelon Slice Sheet Mask - This, on the other hand, was the biggest disappointment. Bought for novelty value, that's all this sheet mask (or more precisely mini watermelon round patches) offers. The circular patches dried down very quickly and weren't particularly hydrating. I often find the novelty masks are pretty ineffective - must learn to avoid cuteness!

* My Scheming - Bulgarian Rose Whitening Mask - One of several I bought from eBay - these masks are great value (you can often buy them for around £1.30 each and you get one free if you buy five). Lovely scent, long-lasting serum-soaked masks and providing great hydration and brightness.

* Esfolio - Red Ginseng Mask - This is the strongest smelling mask that I've ever used. It had a very nutty smell - which I'm torn between loving and being irritated by! Good hydration - but nothing much else.

* Skimono - Foot Mask - This came in the Look Fantastic Beauty box. I've always wanted to try a foot peeling mask, however, this is NOT a foot peeling mask. Nice and relaxing, but the serum didn't really do too much to soften my feet.

* My Scheming - Rose Dew Moisturizing Mask - You really can't go wrong with these My Scheming masks. They don't give a whole load of impressive results but they are hydrating, relaxing and a great part of your skincare routine.

 

Hair/Body/Perfume/Makeup

 

 

* Good Things - Acai Berry Body Butter - Used up in my gym/shower bag. I think this was a T.K Maxx find - nice scent and luxurious, long-lasting buttery texture.

* Taya Red Clay Naturals - Miracle Balm - From a beauty box. I used this as a pre-shampoo hair masque whilst having a sauna. It was nothing special, I don't remember having a 'wow' moment.

* Dove - Derma Spa Massaging Body Roll-On - I picked this up really cheaply from a clearance shelf. However, it never dispensed enough product which made the massager really drag on my skin. I cut the top off and decanted the balm/gel to another pot and used it after swimming. But it left quite a sticky residue and wasn't as effective when not used with the massager.

* Pink Pepper & Amyris Hand Cream - This wasn't bad at all considering it came in a generic hand cream gift set. It was quite runny but it didn't leave a sticky residue on my hands.

* Patisserie de Bain - Sugared Violet Hand Cream - This was such an overpowering scent, but luckily I love the scent of violet! It was very rich and took a while to sink in, but this just meant that I took extra pampering time on my hands. I wouldn't repurchase though.

* Sanctuary - Green Lemon & Orange Blossom Body Wash - Another gift set item. Used this up at the gym. Nice scent, but nothing outstanding.

* Shay & Blue - Blood Orange perfume - This had a very strong scent that some days I've found too much and other days really loved it. My ambivalence towards the scent means that I wouldn't repurchase.

* Sally Hansen - Hard as Wraps Nail Hardener - Not an empty, but this had gone all stringy like spider webs and made a real mess every time I tried to use it.

* Inglot - Trio eyeshadow palette - Not finished but de-cluttered. This is really old. At one point I would wear these three brown shades day after day after day, but after an excessive eyeshadow palette hoarding habit, I have so many more shades like these that aren't so old and possibly out of date.

* L'Oreal - Lash Extatic Mascara - My absolute favourite mascara. The blackest black I've ever tried, lengthens and curls lashes with no flaking or smudging. Have already bought a back-up.

* Ruby Blush - A de-clutter - not a great colour for me.

* Lancôme - La Vie est Belle perfume vial - I love perfume samples, gives me the chance to try out scents I wouldn't necessarily think to try. I liked this one.