Skincare Empties - February 2020

I thought this was going to be a quiet month or empties but then came a flurry of finished products towards the end of the month!


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

* Ariul - 7 Days Vitamin Mist (MR)
I picked this up in T.K Maxx, mainly excited by all the fruit and veggie extracts in this mist. Did I feel that they did anything for my skin? No, not really. But it was a nice daily mist, with a fine spray and I'd buy it again for that reason if I ever saw it on sale again.

Cocorosa Beauty - Egyptian Neroli Cleansing Oil (WR)
I fell in love with this after trying a sample i a Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box - rushing out to buy the full size as soon as I finished the sample. This cleansing oil is the epitome of skincare making great self-care. The whole ritual whilst using this glorious cleanser is so relaxing and fulfilling - from the gorgeous Neroli scent, to the silky slip, the way that the oil removes all impurities and makeup, the ease of removal to the end results of soft and clean skin. One of my favourite first cleansers and I will be repurchasing in the near future.

* Guiltless Skin (Now Kri Skincare) - Illume Moisture Serum (WNR)
Whoops! I've had this open for so long that the brand have had a name change (now Kri Skincare) since I received this. Now this isn't a bad product at all - it's cooling, soothing and very hydrating. The problem was that I've almost stopped using hyaluronic acid or moisture serums on my face as I find that they make my oil-based products pill, and I'd choose to use an oil-based product over an HA product. So I only used this on my neck and chest - which it was great for - but I have a load of similar serums in my stash that need to be used up.

* Pure Savvy - Eye to Eye Revitalising Eye Serum (*PR Sample) (WR)
 I used this pretty consistently morning and night although there was a period where I had to use another  eye serum up before it expired, so I'm guessing that I got about 7-8 months of use from this bottle.
This is the product that swayed me towards eye serums over eye creams. It was so soothing and cooling and felt like wearing a gel eye mask all day! This was great for immediate de-puffing and also maximum hydration to my under eye area. This meant that my fine lines were less pronounced.
It's on the pricier side to what I would usually spend, but I think for the results and it's longevity, I'd be happy to spend more on this, so will be repurchasing after I've finished off a few more items from my stash.
Read a review here.

* Nudge Boutique - Saffron Glow Facial Serum (*PR Sample) (WR)
It was a sad day when I finished this bottle! This has to be my (so far) all-time favourite facial serum. It's such an incredible glow-giver and absorbs so well that I can wear it all year round under my makeup without making my face oilier throughout the day. Saffron is the star ingredient of this serum and it must be that which gives it such magical powers.
I have a few other oil-based serums to use up first, but there's no way I can go too long without having a bottle of this on my shelf!
Read a review here.

* Farryn Amber - Rose Facial Mask (WR)
This was such a huge pot of product that it took me quite a while to use up. I loved this mask - it was a great clarifying and softening mask. I also used it as a throat and chest mask too to brighten up and deep cleanse my skin. I've started to prefer ready-mixed masks but this is my favourite clay mask that I've used so I will be repurchasing.

* N.K Naturals - Winter Oil (WR)
Another product that I was sorry to finish up. I've had this for two winter seasons now (not using it as a sole facial oil) so it's lasted me very well. I think my favourite of the season oils so far - rich and sensual but absorbing well and playing nicely with other layers. I did use this in my evening routines for an all-night skin food. Have already ordered Nicola's Spring Oil ready for later in the month.
Read a review here.

* Sarah Chapman - Skinesis Dynamic Defence Day Cream (WR)
What an incredibly lovely product! This day cream was rich and nourishing, yet light to wear and absorbed beautifully. It was one of those instant glow-giver creams and my skin looked fantastic i the few short weeks that this small size lasted. If it weren't for the fact that I have abut two years worth of moisturisers in my stash, I would buy this in a flash. Absolutely amazing!

* DHC - Concentrated Eye Cream (WNR)
It's always hard to get a good feel for a product with these sample sachets. But generally you can get at least a week's worth of testing or more when it's an eye sample as you only use so little of the product. This was okay and it didn't make my eyes water. But after a week or so usage, it didn't give me much else to form an impression about.

* Ziaja - Natural Olive Eye Cream (WNR)
I love Ziaja for their budget, no-nonsense product range. They may seem basic but they usually do the job without and faff or sass! However, this cream was just a bit too basic for me. I think my ageing under eye area needs a bit more faff and sass than this cream offers.

* Evolve Beauty - Hyaluronic Eye Complex Sample (MR)
This si a fantastic eye serum - soothing, cooling and ultra hydrating. It's quite runny in texture compared with other eye serums that I've tried but it absorbs quickly and plays nicely with other layers. I would definitely consider repurchasing this after I've finished up other serums in my stash. Evolve Beauty are the best for their £1 sample pots (they also pop samples in with purchases). These little pots are great to get a good feel for a product before committing to a full size but are also great for short trips.



Bodycare, Hair Care, Makeup etc

* Schmidt's - Bergamot & Lime Natural Deodorant (WNR)

I had high hopes for this deodorant but I ended up being quite disappointed. I found this far too dry and draggy on the skin. Plus the product crumbled too easily, leaving an uncomfortable gritty texture under my armpits.

* Boho Vegan Cosmetics - Date Night Body Butter (WR)
I've tried a few of Boho Vegan Cosmetics body butters and body washes and my first ever pick, the Date Night Body Butter, I think remains my favourite. Boho make my favourite body butters for their fabulous scents and longevity (your skin still feels silky and cocooned 48 hours later and would probably last longer if I didn't shower!) but also for their funky swirly textures and presentation. Will definitely be buying this again but would still like to try other scents first.
Read a review here.

* Badger - Cuticle Care (MR)
Gorgeous stuff! I'd use this up to half a dozen times a day as it was so good at absorbing into my nails and skin without leaving my hands greasy. This little pot lasted for ages as you only need a tiny dab at a time. Great recyclable little tin too. Would repurchase at a later date when I've cleared similar items from my stash.

* John Masters Organics - Apricot Hair Milk (WR)
This travel size Hair Milk came in a Naturisimo Discover Box and it was an absolute winner for me. I've been using this as a leave-in conditioner and haven't needed to use an in-shower conditioner as well as this does everything I need it to.
It's unfortunately on the pricier side of what I like to spend on this type of product, but despite that, I will NEED to repurchase as it's so great. Leaves no residue and doesn't leave my hair feeling crispy. Smells delicious too!

* Madara - Skin Equal Foundation Sample (MR)
I got a good week's use out of this sample sachet. I really liked this foundation. I previously enjoyed a sample of the Madara Moon Tinting Fluid but this has quite a bit more coverage. It's very similar to my favourite CC Cream - It Cosmetics 'Your Skin But Better' and price-wise it's similar too. I'm undecided whether my next full size purchase will be this or the It Cosmetics.

* Angelface Mineral Makeup - Mineral Foundation Sample (WNR)
There's a very small window when my skin is exactly at the right point when it will take a powder mineral foundation without looking too cakey. So for that reason alone, I think that I'll avoid mineral foundation such as this in the future. But that's purely down to my skin - ymmv. I also chose a shade that was just too warm for my skin, which doesn't help the too 'obvious' coverage. Again though, Angelface Mineral Makeup (now known as All Earth Mineral Cosmetics) are great for their cardboard packaged sample sizes which give ample product so that you can get a good feel for their products.

* Inika Organic - Phytofuse Renew Avocado Hand Cream (MR)
This small sample from the most recent Naturisimo Discovery Box lasted just a few days. But I fell in love with this hand cream pretty instantly. Light yet intensely nourishing, it absorbs beautifully without leaving any greasy residue. Nothing to fault about this apart from its price! If it didn't have such a high price tag then I would have probably already made an order for it.

* Lola Makeup - Volume Mascara (* PR Sample) (MR)
Sadly not empty, but way past expired. 
I really enjoyed this mascara. It didn't give me the most striking and bold lashes that I usually strive for, but the more natural soft and fluffy lash look made a gentler alternative to my usually favoured black spiky lashes. It didn't smudge or flake and would stay put all day but also remove easily. So I'm definitely keeping this one in mind as a future purchase.

* Marc Jacobs - Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara (WNR)
Again, as with the Lola mascara, this isn't empty but has expired. I'm not so sorry about getting rid of this one though. It was smudgy and flaky and although it gave me quite a bold, black lengthened lash look, it wasn't great enough of a look to tolerate the smudging and transference.

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