January 2019 Empties

Quite happy with my empties pile for January. I was half in a 'use it up' mode of thinking and half in a 'find an established routine' mode at the beginning of the year.

Writing out and taking stock of my skinventory always gets me in a bit of a panic so it's always a time when I madly try to finish things up. However, there were a couple of products that needed to be gotten rid of this month due to expiration - so that's always a reminder to use things up before it's too late!

 

Key:

WR - Will repurchase/have already repurchased.

MR - Would consider repurchasing at a later date.

WNR - Would not repurchase (not necessarily because I really disliked something, but maybe it just wasn't suitable for another reason.

 

Skincare

 

 

* Ziaja - Natural Olive Cleansing Milk WNR - Since I prefer using a cleansing balm or oil for my first cleanse, I wouldn't repurchase this. But that said, for a cleansing milk (which I find a bit boring) this was really lovely stuff! The scent was gorgeous and it was easy to apply and wash off without irritating my eyes.

* Garnier Skinactive Micellar Water WNR - This used to be my absolute favourite micellar water until I came across the Superdrug B Micellar Water. I don't dislike this but just prefer the Superdrug one and have (and will) repurchase that one as my first choice from now on. 

* First Aid Beauty - Pure Skin Face Cleanser MR - This is my first time trying anything by First Aid Beauty and I can see why it's a popular brand. This is a lovely second cleanser with a creamy, almost pearlescent gel texture. Would like to repurchase at a later time.

* Balance Me - Pure Skin Face Wash WNR - There wasn't anything awful about this facial wash, but there was nothing particular exciting either! I usually move my more boring face washes to use up in the shower. This was one of those cleansers.

* Garnier - Essentials Day Care WNR - I bought this ages ago when it was on offer. It's awful stuff! I used it up purely after swimming just until I got back home where I would start my morning routine over again from fresh. In fact, it was so ineffective on my face I started to use it on my body, just to finish it off.  I only felt obliged to use it up as it was one of the products from my 20/20 Vision Panning project - otherwise I would have dumped it quick smart!

* The Ordinary - Agireline MR - This was one of my favourite The Ordinary products (my favourite being their Niacinamide). During the initial few months of use I definitely noticed the fine lines around my eyes and the more prominent static 11 lines on my forehead seemingly diminish. Unfortunately, the results seemed to plateau and this product seemed to lose it's efficacy. It was just enough hydration to use on my under eye area in the day without my skin looking or feeling too crepe-y.

* DewyTree - Madecassoside Melting Chou Mask WR - My only sheet mask from the whole month! I recently bought a box of 10 of these masks from TK Maxx and they are easily, the best sheet mask I've ever tried! I did a mini review here.

* PureDerm - Collagen Eye Zone Mask MR- In the absence of any hydrogel eye masks, I always have a pack of these cotton eye masks for a quick pick-me-up under my eyes. They're very basic but do give a degree of instant under eye hydration and brightening.

* Banila Co - Clean it Zero x2 WR - I chose this as my favourite cleansing balm of 2017, and it still remains one of my favourite cleansing balms. But these two mini pots had been sitting in my stash for quite a while and needed to be used up. I have a wish-list/waiting list of other cleansing balms that I would like to try that's a mile long, but this is definitely a balm that I would love to buy again one day.

* Evolve Beauty - Gentle Cleansing Melt WR - I requested a sample of this when making my last Evolve Beauty order as this was the product I most wanted to try. Absolutely loved this balm and will definitely be buying a full size after I've finished a couple more of my current cleansing balms.

* BuzzBalm - All Purpose Skin Cream WNR - I liked this when I first tried this sample pot. But after trying out more multi-purpose balms I realised that I wasn't too keen on the texture of this compared with others.

* Dames & Dimes - Chocolate Orange Cleansing Balm WR - This was part of a free samples set (just pay postage) available from Dames & Dimes. I also finished the sugar scrub sample, but I've already utilised that sample pot for something else! I really wanted to try the samples mainly because of this cleansing balm. It smells gorgeous! It's quite a heavy cleansing balm that did leave some residue after first cleansing, but I didn't mind this so much as any residue is removed after a second cleanse. Will be buying a full size when I've finished off another two partly-used first cleansers from my stash.

* Madara - SOS Hydra Mask MR - This mask was great for a quick burst of extra hydration either in the morning or evening.

* Skin Doctors - Potent Vit C & Vit A MR - I got several of these small sample boxes from Latest in Beauty boxes, containing one Vitamin C capsule for morning use and one Vitamin A capsule for evening use. I really liked these - even though they obviously contained silicone. These were more like a primer rather than a serum as they had that silicone, velvety texture when applied to the skin and they even had quite a degree of blurring to my pores and skin. They are quite pricey though and it would cost about £80 to buy a box of each. I'll definitely look out for any deals from Skin Doctors and then I may consider buying them again. I preferred the Vitamin C capsule to the Vitamin A.

 

Bodycare etc

 

 

* Sanctuary Spa - White Lily & Damask Rose Body Wash - WNR - using up some Sanctuary Spa items that came in a gift set. This was nice enough but not so nice that I'd purposefully look to repurchase it.

* Odylique - Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie MR - I loved this hand cream. I reviewed it here. Would repurchase after I've finished up more hand creams in my stash.

* By Nature - Manuka Honey & Bergamot Hand Cream MR - I found this in TK Maxx and was attracted by the scent of Manuka Honey and Bergamot. It was a really great hand cream although I did have to be careful not too squeeze too hard and apply too much product. Too much and it had a white caste that took quite a bit of massaging into my hands to remove, but when I used the right amount it was perfect! If I ever saw this in TK Maxx again I would definitely buy it.

* Ingenious Beauty -Ultimate Collagen +  WR - Another daily essential for me! I was quite reticent about the efficacy of taking oral supplements before I tried this. When this second travel size packet ran out recently, I felt slightly twitchy being without them. Have already repurchased a full size jar.

* Okko - Natural Foot Balm Stick WNR - This was one of the items from my January Skin Organics Beauty Box. I loved this, but as it was a small sample I used it up within a couple of days as I do like to slather balms on my feet for overnight intensity! I only wouldn't repurchase as it's not cost effective for me using these up so fast - foot balm is one of the items I do make myself as I use a lot of it.

* Rituals - The Ritual of Ayurveda Hand Balm - WR - This was one of my Feel Unique samples and I've already bought a full size. Love this hand balm - it's intensely soft and creates a beautiful velvety barrier o my hands. The scent of Indian Rose and Sweet Almond is a winner too!

* Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength Hardener WNR - This was one of the items from my 20/20 Vision panning project. I have no problems with how it performed but I have similar products already in my stash.

* Buff - Nuit - Sea Salt Body Scrub WR - I absolutely loved this body scrub. It came in a Natural Beauty Bo giveaway prize that I won. Really zingy, refreshing scent with quite bold exfoliation. I never needed to use a body oil or butter after using this in the shower as it left a great protective balmy barrier on my skin.

* L'Occitane - Supple Skin Oil MR - Beautiful and classic scented body oil. I preferred using this on damp skin for extra slip. Absorbs well and quickly so you don't have to hang around before getting dressed!

* E.L.F - Under eye Primer WR - This is one of my absolute daily essential items and I've already bought three back-ups of this during the recent E.L.F sale. It's an amazing product - any under eye concealer that would previously cake or make my fine lines look worse are almost 100% improved when using this first!

 

De-clutters and expired products

 

 

* TonyMoly - Black Gel Eyeliner -After sorting through my eyeliners and brow products, this was something I decided to de-clutter, purely because it didn't fit well in the small drawer that I keep those products in!

* Bravura London - First Cleansing Oil - Sadly, this has definitely expired and I had to throw it before even getting a chance to use it. A lesson in keeping control of my stash!

* Neal's Yard Remedies - Wild Rose Beauty Balm - Another product sadly well past it's expiry date. I do have another pot of this which has not been opened, so hopefully that's okay.

* Hema - Nail Varnish - I've been slowly going through my nail varnishes to try and get the numbers down, this was one of the casualties - I have a couple of similar shades.

* Makeup Revolution - Brow Pomade - Dried out in the pot.

* Essence - Clear Brow Gel - I never really used this so it was time to let it go.

* Sport FX - Definition Duo Eyeliner Pencil - Again, never really used and it had gotten quite dried up.

 

* Have recycled empty containers where I can and re-used some others.