August 2019 Skincare Empties

I surprised myself with the speed in which these empties gathered during August. I thought it might be quite a slow month, but as you can see, the empties really added up.


Key

WR - Will repurchase or have already repurchased

MR - Might repurchase at a later date.

WNR - Will not repurchase. Either it didn't work for me, I didn't like it, it's too expensive or it had ingredients that didn't suit my skin.

Skincare

* Nudge Boutique - Saffron Glow Cleansing Clay Mask (WR) *PR
I'm not the best at mixing clay masks but this one was quite easy to mix up into a gorgeous creamy soothing, cooling, brightening and healing mask. The Saffron petals used this in the mask give it the most gorgeous icy blue colour. One of my favourite, if not my favourite clay mask - you can read a full review here.
Just working through a few masks that are collecting in my stash, but this one will be a definite repurchase.

* Bravura London - Azulene Moisturiser (MR)
A gorgeous blue-hued moisturiser but one that didn't always fit into my skincare routine. It was a wee bit heavy for morning use and so I tried to use it in my evening skincare routine as a night moisturiser. However, this is an area of my stash where I have a lot of alternatives to this step. As such, I found that this had been opened for far too long and was nearing the expiry date. I started to use this up on my body.
It's a very soothing moisturiser - but not hugely memorable or one that I'd reach for a lot.
The 50ml size was just a bit too large to use up in time - I would repurchase this if it was available in a smaller/travel size.

* Garden of Wisdom for Victoria Health- Vitamin C 23% Serum & Ferulic Acid (WR)

Whilst I fully admit that I'm a total flitter when it comes to trying out new products, this is one product of a handful that is a constant. I'm now on my third bottle of this affordable Vitamin C serum and have already repurchased a replacement. I use this every day (either in my a.m or p.m routine) and its consistent and long-term use has shown some incredibly favourable results. My skin is the brightest and clearest that it has ever been and I've achieved that 'glow' that I was searching for from my products. I also feel that the overall redness on my face has diminished and my skin is so much more even-toned and textured. This is crazy good value too - at just £10 per bottle. I'll be sticking with this one for sure!

* Jane Scrivner - Skin Elixir (WNR)
This took me quite a while to use up because it was so difficult to use. Don't get me wrong, I really, really liked it but it was the worst oil for pilling and it seemed to clash with pretty much anything and everything I would use in the same routine with it. In the end, I tended to avoid using it for fear of the pilling, which was a great shame. Pilling aside, I loved this oil! The scent is perhaps one of the nicest I've come across in an oil and it absorbed well and made my skin feel great. But the pilling was just driving me mad! I ended up using it on my body, which felt like heresy, but better that than it expiring and having to be thrown away without using it at all. So sadly, I won't be repurchasing this, due to the difficulty in making it work in a routine.

* Naturally Thinking - Manuka Floral Water (WR)
Manuka Floral Water is one of my go-to products. Have already replaced this.
I primarily use it as a morning cleanser, but also to mix with clay masks and as a facial spritz. Fabulous stuff and such great value. I quite like these 30ml sizes (they last just over a month) as I do struggle with using large sizes up due to my excessive stash!

* Sanctuary Spa - 1 Minute Daily Glow Mask (MR)
I used this as an in-shower flash mask. It's not bad at all! Has a nice citrus scent and does a reasonable job of brightening up my fizzog in the morning. Would consider repurchasing in the future but I'm more than happy with the Pure Savvy Just A Minute Brightening Facial Mask and will likely stick with that one in the future.

* The Body Shop - Camomile Cleansing Butter (WR)
This is a well-loved and reliable cleansing butter for good reason! Velvety smooth, makes quick work of removing daily grime, makeup and SPF without irritation, is affordable and comes in a great re-usable/recyclable aluminium tin. One of my all-time favourite first cleansers.

Body and Hair Care and Misc

* SkinThyme - Thyme Out (WR)
This is our family holy grail summer time product! Have already re-purchased.
Thyme Out is an absolute miracle worker! The list of ailments it can treat seems never ending - Bug Bites, Eczema, Dermatitis, Rosacea, Acne, Cold Sores, Pet Rashes, Fungus, Psoriasis and any skin inflammation. It soothes and heals inflamed skin, can affect the appearance of blemishes within hours and support healthier skin irritated by bacterial, fungal or viral sources.
Nothing soothes insect bites as quickly and effectively as this product!

* The Butterbar Soapery - Revive Body Polish (WR)
Without exception - the NICEST body polish I've ever tried. 
I would buy this again in a heart beat but it was a limited edition and is heart-breakingly not available to buy!
This body polish came in a Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box ages and ages ago (actually back in August last year) but I loved it so much that I really eked out my usage and saved it 'for best'.
I never used to like sweet fragrances in my body products but this Mandarin, Orange Peel and Cacao changed everything! It was the most amazing scent I've ever had the pleasure of smelling and I really, really miss it!

* Mystic Moments - Tansy Blue in Jojoba Oil (MR)
On finding out just how expensive Blue Tansy Essential Oil is, I opted instead to buy some of this Tansy Blue diluted in Jojoba. I didn't quite know what I wanted to use it for, but I just wanted it!
Without having a firm idea or set time for use, this was another product that was nearing expiration and still quite full, so again, I ended up using it on my body.
I just love the scent of Blue Tansy though and it's such an all-round healer that I think using it on my body was it's best use after all.

* Molton Brown - Vetiver & Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel (WNR)
I think this was possibly another beauty box inclusion. Either that or I nabbed it from my son's Christmas gift set!
As with all Molton Brown products, this had a gorgeous scent and made for a luxurious in-shower treat. I do prefer other Molton Brown scents though (Gingerlily - I'm looking at you!) so would re-purchase another scent over this one.

* Weleda - Skin Food (WR)
I'm very late to the party in appreciating the miracle worker that is Weleda Skin Food! 
I primarily use this on a stubborn patch of eczema on my wrist but it's a complete all-rounder. I used up two smaller sizes and recently repurchased the large size as I use this so frequently. One of my daily essentials that I now couldn't be without.

* Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (MR)
This little pot of cuticle balm lasted a good while considering that on some days I would find myself applying it as many as three times. It's not that I needed to keep re-applying because it didn't last long, but it became a part of an enjoyable and relaxing ritual. I kept it on my desk alongside a tube of hand cream.
Gorgeous smell - did a great job!
Might repurchase after I've finished off similar products already in my stash.

* Kurly Sue - Organic Shea & Argan Oil Body Butter (WNR)
Another recent Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box inclusion.
I loved the texture of this body butter and used it up quite quickly. I'd only not repurchase as I'm a bit of a scent fiend - particularly with body products, and this just didn't have enough scent kick for me.

* Sol De Janeiro - Brazilian Bod Buff (MR)

This body scrub has quite a gentle level of exfoliation and I think I would have preferred something just slightly more scrubby. I enjoyed the signature Bum Bum scent (and followed up with the Bum Bum cream to maximise the scent!). I used this 15ml sample up in one use, which does make me unsure about repurchasing a full size, as it won't last long for the price. This can also be used as a leave-on body mask before the shower, but I didn't fancy standing around in the nuddy for ten minutes to try this option out!

* Maybelline - The Eraser Eye (MR)
This is one of the few under eye concealers that doesn't look cakey or collect in the fine lines (which exaggerates any discrepancies!). I think it may have slightly oxidised over time but I can't be sure - it was just slightly more orange than my other concealers. May repurchase in the future after I've finished off my current under eye concealers.

Samples
I made a concerted effort to use up samples from my stash this month. But, I actually bought more samples from Love Lula and the Feel Unique Pick n Mix sample service. Sheesh! Will somebody please stop me?!

* DewyTree - Madecassoside Melting Chou Mask (WNR)
I'm down to one sheet mask a month now as I haven't been repurchasing any new ones and am just finishing those already in my stash.
This is my favourite soothing and hydrating mask of all time. The left over serum fills a 15ml pot and I can use the leftovers for over a week. 

* Darphin - Rose Aromatic Care (WNR)
One of my Feel Unique Pick 'n' Mix sample service choices.
I was a bit surprised to feel disappointed with this oil. I usually love anything and everything from Darphin. Not sure what my issue was - I was just a bit underwhelmed overall. This certainly doesn't come close to any of my many facial oils in my stash, so it's definitely 'out of sight, out of mind' for this one.

* Meta-Pora samples from Live in the Light
Daily Boost Hydrating Cleanser (WNR) - sample was enough for one use, so I got a very brief impression. I liked the slightly foaming gel texture and the scent and there are some great ingredients (Green Tea, Wheatgrass and Alfalfa Grass) BUT there was something that makes my eyes feel sore, even though I kept the gel away from my eyes. My skin felt very soft afterwards. This is almost £50 for 125ml, more than I'd spend on a cleanser.
Bright Day Vitamin C Serum (WNR) - Not sure of the Vitamin C percentage in this. There was a slight tingle on application, but Aloe is the first listed ingredient and that could be why I felt a tingle (sensitivity to Aloe). It will be hard to give a reasonable impression on this as the sample won't be able to show me longer term results so this is purely first impressions. I liked the scent - but again, the price would put me off (as does the Aloe in the ingredients). Slightly tacky after application but nice and smooth apart from that.
Smile Daily Eye Cream (WNR) An intensely rich eye cream, but it absorbed well so I didn't mind that. Unfortunately though, I wasn't able to finish the sample as the eye cream started to make my eyes water really badly after the third use so I gave up on it. The eye-watering is an issue I've been having with certain eye products recently (mostly in cream form) so I would say that this was a problem with me rather than a problem with the eye cream itself.
Wake Up Hydrating Mist (WNR) I really liked this mist, although only got two uses out of this sample. Although this contained Aloe Vera, this didn't seem to irritate my skin (I just cannot work out this Aloe Vera sensitivity! It seems quite random!). I loved the punchy Lemongrass, Lime and Bergamot scent - incredibly refreshing. There's a whole host of other great ingredients too, including Papaya and Quandong. BUT - at £39.95 for 125ml, I just feel this is far too pricey for a mist. So I won't be repurchasing.
Good Night Face & Neck Care (WNR) - Exactly what I expected from a night cream. Extremely heavy and rich. I enjoyed using it though, but I did wake up with slightly greasy skin, so this didn't absorb overnight as much as other creams/oils do.
I'd put this brand in the 'mid excitement' bracket but also in the 'too expensive' bracket. There are too many other products that I do a better job for a smaller price. If you want to try this sample set out for yourself - Live in the Light offer it for free.

* Joik - Sweet Orange & Mint Body Butter (MR)
This was on my wish list as I was interested in the scent combination of sweet orange and mint, so I actually bought this sample from Love Lula. However, this was a ridiculously small sample for a body butter. I hardly got enough out of the sachet to use on one arm! It's quite a thick body butter and wasn't the easiest to spread, so I really couldn't get much of an impression from this tiny sample. Worse still, I couldn't even get a good 'reading' of the scent - so I unfortunately have to remain undecided whether or not I feel it's worth a full size repurchase.

* Ziaja - Jasmine Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream WNR
I've been randomly picking out samples from my sample stash in an effort to use some up and maybe find some new favourites. When I picked this out, my heart did sink a bit when I saw that it was a night cream for dry, mature skin, age 50+. That generally means one thing - an extremely heavy cream! I wasn't wrong - it was exactly what I was expecting. Why is it that the later in the day, the later in life - the richer the cream?!
But to give credit where it's due - it might have been a heavy cream but it did at least absorb well rather than sitting on top of the skin and feeling suffocating as a lot of mature/night creams do. The smell was lovely too - more coconut than Jasmine.
But no, I wouldn't repurchase a full size. There are plenty of night creams out there that aren't so heavy but still do a great job of moisturising over night. And I definitely prefer a lighter cream.

* Rahua - Omega 9 Hair Mask WNR
I've never tried anything from Rahua before so when this sample of the Omega 9 Hair Mask turned up in the Naturismo Vegan Discovery Box, I was happy to get the chance to try it.
On application, this didn't feel like the ultra rich hair masks I'm used to and it rinsed out really easily (which was a pleasant surprise). So I did think that this was going to be successful where other hair masks fail on my hair - that it wouldn't leave my hair feeling heavy or crispy with residue. Sadly no, despite the apparent ease of rinsing out, I clearly didn't rinse well enough as my hair was a bit crispy with product residue once it dried. It did have a great shine - but condition-wise, there wasn't a really noticeable difference.

* Alteya Organics - Rose Otto Face Wash (WR)

This sample gave me two uses but I was in love at first use! This is exactly the type of second cleanser that I love. Slightly foaming gel with a gorgeous rose scent. Leaves my skin super clean and soft without any dryness or uncomfortable tightness. I do have a second cleanser that's next on my list to try - but this one is a definite future repurchase.

* Kimberly Sayer - Tangerine & Calendula Healing Light Night Cream (MR)
Now, this is much more like the kind of night cream I prefer! It is indeed, nice and light, with a gorgeous tangerine scent. Absorbs well and is non-greasy but still hydrating and I don't wake up feeling greasy. I would like to repurchase this but in reality, I have far too many night creams to use up first. It's on the list though!

And finally, a couple of de-clutters.
The Rosehip Seed Oil was a victim of too many opened products in my stash and had expired.
And the Wet 'n' Wild Brush had to go. Despite constant cleaning - this brush had started to smell cheesy. It has a couple of ominous dark patches too. Maybe something to do with the fibres? I've had the same thing once before with one particular Spectrum brush - it would never look/smell clean even after a thorough brush cleanse.