May 2019 Empties

Another good month for empties. Lots of items that have been hanging around for ages and that I wanted to finish off. I'm finally coming to the end of my large collection of products from The Ordinary. For me, it's definitely been one of those brands where I initially bought almost everything they released, but there have been very few (if any) that I'd go back to repurchase (possibly the Argireline and the Niacinamide).

Key:

 WR - Will repurchase or have already repurchased.

MR - Might repurchase at a later date after similar products in my stash have been used up first.

WNR - Will not repurchase. Either I didn't like this product, it didn't work for me or was just too expensive.

* Milk Makeup - Urban Defence Mask WNR

I was unbelievably excited when I spotted this in T.K Maxx last year. But, that was the only enthusiasm I mustered for this mask.

What a let down! It was the blandest mask I've ever tried and unfortunately such a massive tub to get through.

It smelled of a milky pudding and was cooling. And that's it.

I reviewed this here.

* Dr Jart - Ceramidin Lotion WR

The one item I'd choose if I was stuck on a desert island. My Holy Grail. My ride or die. etc.

This is such an amazing product. So intensely softening and hydrating, fits perfectly in any routine, applies beautifully, absorbs fantastically.

This mini size came in a Dr Jart Ceramidin trial kit in a Latest in Beauty Box. I've already repurchased the full size.

* Dr Andrew Weil for Origins - Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Lotion WNR

I was cock-a-hoop when I first got hold of this travel size of the Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Lotion, having wanted to try it for so long. Ingredients include Reishi Mushroom, Sea Buckthorn and Fermented Chaga which help to reduce visible redness and restore skin resilience. Sounds fantastic, right? But as much as it pains me to admit it (because I really wanted this to be brilliant) - it didn't really do anything for me.

It's soothing, hydrating and smells great, but there were none of the expected results. I didn't ever notice any reduction in redness. It was like using a basic hydrating toner. But I wouldn't spend £30 on a basic hydrating toner.

* Jurlique - Rosewater Balancing Mist MR

I really enjoyed using this mist. I'd use it primarily as a cooling facial spritz. I also love the scent of rose, so that was a bonus. I might repurchase at a later date if there was a really good offer, but I have other facial mists to use up first and others that I prefer over this one. However, it was nice while it lasted.

* Garden of Wisdom - Vitamin C 23% Serum & Ferulic Acid WR

I'm already on my second bottle of this and intend to keep repurchasing it as my daily dose of Vitamin C.

This was actually a replacement bottle from Victoria Health as the pump on my first bottle stopped working after just two weeks (I thought they had sorted out the bottle issues?).

I was previously using The Hero Project Vit C - 30 serum, but it was just a bit too oily to use in my morning routine (which is where I like to fit in my Vitamin C).

This however, is ideal. It's a creamy serum that absorbs well and plays well with other layers. After using it consistently every morning, I really did start to see a difference in my skin - much clearer, brighter and with a fantastic natural glow.

* Superdrug - Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic WR

I much prefer this budget Glycolic Acid Toner to pricier alternatives such as Pixi Glow Tonic. There's almost always a deal on in Superdrug, so this usually works out at less than £3.00 a bottle. It has a slightly artificial citrus scent, but it's not particularly off-putting.

* Raw Gaia - Hemp Glow Cleanser WNR

I liked this and enjoyed using it while I had it, but I could never quite place if it was best as a first or second cleanser. It didn't really have enough of a presence as either, unfortunately. Loved the lemon sherbet scent. Wasn't too keen on the lightweight creamy texture.

I reviewed this here.

* Evolve Beauty - Daily Detox Facial Wash * WR (*PR sample)

I absolutely love the Evolve Beauty Daily Detox range! This is exactly what I look for in a second cleanser. Gel texture which foams slightly when water is added. Gorgeous scent and lovely ingredients. It's a very gentle wash that manages to get the job done well.

I reviewed this here.

* Evolve Beauty - Superfood 360 Serum (*PR Sample) WR

This was one of the nicest hydrating serums I've ever used. I recently reviewed it HERE.

I have several more hydrating serums in my stash that I need to use up first, but I will definitely repurchase this at some point - and I'd opt for the full size version as I used this up pretty quickly.

*The Ordinary - Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG WNR

This product lasted well over a year. I felt that it lost it's efficacy over time. It was sometimes good at de-puffing but I never saw a reduction in dark circles after using this. I wouldn't repurchase this as the results weren't too mind-blowing. I do like a hydrating under eye serum, and although this was reasonably hydrating it dried with a sticky and almost 'tight' feeling. Other eye serums in my stash out perform this in every way.

* The Ordinary - Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% WNR
I bought this when it was first released alongside The Ordinary EUK 134 but didn't really understand what either product was actually for! And to be honest, I'm not that much clearer now!
This took such a long time to use up. It was a difficult product to fit into my routine for several reasons - one is because I never really grasped it's intent, other than knowing that Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid are both powerful antioxidants. It was also a very oily product that didn't really sit well in my routines.  It should have fit best in my morning routine alongside my Vitamin C serum but I didn't like to use it then as it made my face too greasy. I was unexcited about using it in my evening routine as there were other products (with more discernible results) that I favoured using. 
And finally, because it's one of those products where there weren't any noticeable results. I know that antioxidants are preventative and therefore any results may not be visible, but in all the time I used it, I could only surmise it was doing my skin good - there were never any signs either way that it was having any effect on my skin. I'm very happy that this is finally gone and won't be repurchasing.

* The Ordinary - Alpha Lipoic Acid 5% WNR
This was my very first experience of using an acid. I remember having to take it really slowly as this seriously burned for the first few uses! It took me so long to use up as I'd only use it once a week and other acid treatments started to jump the queue ahead of it.
Did it work? I absolutely cannot tell! It may have had some part to play in my skincare health over the past year, but nothing that I could pinpoint and give this definite credit for.

* Rodial - Stem Cell Booster Oil WNR
I've had this mini size Rodial Stem Cell Booster Oil for a while now but it's been overlooked in favour of other facial oils. It's not a bad oil at all. When I first started using it, I used it on it's own as a night time facial oil but more recently have been using a couple of drops in with a night time moisturiser. It's very light and quite a dry oil so would actually have probably been okay in my morning routine too. I'm afraid this just ended up being a victim of a very overloaded facial oil collection and just couldn't push it's way to the front. I would only not repurchase as I have a life time supply of facial oils still to use!

* Inka Berber Botanicals - Marmalade Mist WNR
This is a fantastic mist (came in the April Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box) but the honey blossom scent which on first application is gorgeous, stays around for quite a while and ends up becoming a bit cloying and overly sweet. It's a shame as it's such a lovely refreshing, hydrating and cooling mist, but I found the overpowering scent just a bit too distracting. The sample sized atomizer is great though - exactly the right level of fine spray that you want from a mist, so I'll definitely be re-using and re-filling it (with another mist) to keep in my handbag.

* Love Absolute - Rose Glow Balm & Clay MR * (PR)
This is one of the Love Absolute samples that I've been trying out recently for a review that I'll be posting next month. I'm totally enamoured by Love Absolute as a brand. They have a fascinating range of products and use the best natural organic ingredients from English wild flowers and fruit.
The Rose Glow Balm & Clay is an amazing multi-tasking product, doubling up as a facial cleanser and mask.

* Muti - Anti-Age Eye Ceam and Anti-Age Night Cream Plus WNR
As is often the case with specific 'anti-aging' products, both of these samples were just far too rich and heavy for my liking. Not everyone who's getting on a bit has uber-dry skin, yet this seems to be the default assumption.

* Vestige Verdant - Organic Peat Mask WR
This sample came in this month's Love Lula Box. This was an incredible mask containing just two ingredients - sphagnum moss and water. I got two uses from this sample sachet and it was enough to make me want to buy a full size of this (once I've finished off some more masks in my stash). I actually quite enjoyed the sensation of my face slightly throbbing when I wore this mask - you could really feel your circulation getting going!

Misc

* Eden Days - Jiggle Wiggle Soap WR

One of my favourite natural British Indie brands. I used this fab Jiggle Wiggle soap in the natural linen soap saver that I also bought from them. With organic Green Tea and essential oils of Grapefruit, Cypress, Rosemary & Geranium, this soap was a pleasure to use. If I had one teensy request - it would be that it was just a wee bit more of a stronger scent (like their Hawaiian Haven Body Butter).

* Bespoke Aroma - Uplifting Bath Tea Infusion WR
I'd much rather have one of these as a bath treat than something from Lush! This is my second Bespoke Aroma Bath Tea Infusion and I loved this as much as the last one.
Let it sit under running water (or just drift around in the bath tub) to impart all of it's gorgeous botanicals. And then you can use the tea bag as a flannel for a silky, smooth and fragrant body wash.

* Makeup Revolution - Duo Brow Pencil WR

As something that I use almost every day, this brow pencil was exceptional value for money at just £2.50. I have already repurchased another one. Comes with a slim triangular pencil at one end and a brush at the other.

* Weleda - Wild Rose Body Oil WNR
I like Weleda and am happy to use their products when they show up in beauty boxes, but I don't think I'd ever purposefully choose to buy a product (except for the Skin Food - that's a staple!) as to be honest, I find them generally forgettable (which is almost tantamount to treason!). They just don't really 'do it' for me. This small 10ml sample of the Wild Rose Body Oil was used up in a flash, which may be another reason why I didn't have time to get a real feel for it.

* Pixi - Flawless and Poreless Primer WNR
If I hadn't promised to have finished this up as part of my 20/20 Vision panning project, I would have de-cluttered this ages ago! I could see no benefit at all from this primer. It did nothing to help with base makeup application. It just felt like another unnecessary layer on my face.

 * A.S Apothecary - Body Elixir #33 WNR

I've got several empties this month that I absolutely loved but would not repurchase and this unfortunately is one of them. I've been hoarding and saving this for a while as it's such a gorgeous body oil. I did find that it applied better on damp skin as it's quite a heavy oil and didn't have a brilliant slip, which meant that I used too much up at a time when using on dry skin. The only reason why I wouldn't repurchase is purely down to price. I like to apply body oils quite liberally and this is just too pricey for me to use up so quickly.

And now on to a few products that didn't quite cut the mustard:

* Erborian BB Crème Au Ginseng
I wanted so hard for this to be great and tried so hard to make it work. Unfortunately, with great reluctance, I've decided it's time for this to go.
This has been given so many chances, but I realised that I was getting less inclined to keep on trying with it. Despite loving the Erborian CC Crème, this was just nowhere near the same. Everything that it promised to do for my skin - even out and mattify the complexion, moisturise and plump the skin, give a non-oily velvety finish to create a 'baby skin' effect - the exact opposite happened!
This made my skin so look badly textured. Not only did it show up every pore on my first but made my skin look rough too. Very little coverage and actually a bit greasy in texture. It gave me 'bad face' and ain't nobody got time for bad face!

* Dr Jart - BB Matte Contour - Corrector
I got this last December as part of the Dr Jart 123 Contouring Set. It's another product that I have willed to work and given multiple chances to, but again, I've got to concede that it's just not working for me. This is the concealer from the set. It's very cakey and exaggerates lines and pores - whatever primer I use with it. It starts my face off badly for the day and I never felt at all confident when wearing it. I'm guessing the other two products in the set might follow shortly. I have such love for Dr Jart skincare, but this was definitely a 'miss'.

* Mizon - Snail Recovery Gel

Another victim of an over-crowded moisturiser stash! This is one of the first Korean products I bought and it's long expired now. I wouldn't repurchase as my feelings about products with snail mucin in have changed since first purchasing this.