Empties: September 2018.

Because I concentrated on using up foil sachet samples in September my empties pile of full-sized and mini products was somewhat smaller than normal. Nevertheless, I did use up six full sized products and thirteen minis/ non-sachet samples. 

Skincare.

I only finished three full-sized skincare items but they were all great. 

I love Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. It is great at balancing my combination skin without leaving it feeling stripped or tight and I love how easy to use it is and how cooling it feels on my skin. It's not cheap but a bottle lasts a long time as you don't need to use much of it. I've gone through quite a few bottles of it over the years and already have a new one in stock. 

Caudalie Grape Water is one of my favourite 'waters in a tin'. It is refreshing as a spritz and I also use it to spray between layers of product and as a rinse after cleansing. The nozzle delivers a fine mist and the can is huge. I'm currently working my way through the face sprays that I already have but when the time comes I will repurchase this. 

Kane Serum Savant was an item I found on sale (normally this all-around serum is eye-wateringly expensive). I loved the futuristic packaging of this and while I didn't dislike the serum I can't say that I noticed it doing much to my skin. I'm glad I got the opportunity to try this but I don't think I would repurchase it even if I saw it on sale.

I used six samples of skincare, three of which were cleansers. Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser was too foamy and stripping for me so I ended up using it as a handwash. Tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel did a good job of removing makeup and felt gentle. It foamed ever so lightly without any drying effects but I wasn't too keen on the scent as it smelled a little washing up liquid like. I expected to like Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Cleansing Gel more than I did. I used it as a morning face wash and while there wasn't anything wrong with it, it was just a little underwhelming and boring to use.

Eve Lom Rescue Mask is a classic clay mask with a Eucalyptus like fragrance. It deep cleans without drying out skin and flannels off easily, it also does a great job of drawing out and drying up spots and blemishes. 

I used Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel as a serum. It is one of those products that seem to sit on the top of your skin and offer a temporary tightening lift but that's all it does. Unfortunately another underwhelming product for me that's not worth me buying. Natura Bisse Tensolift Neck Cream is lightly textured yet rich in feel. I don't dislike this but I don't feel the need for a targeted neck treatment so while I was happy to use this I would never buy it.

Haircare, Bodycare, Makeup and Perfume.

I used one haircare sample, Karite Hydrating Shine Day Cream. I liked this unscented leave in conditioner, it didn't weigh down my hair and left it detangles and nicely softened.

I used four bodycare samples, three of which were body lotions. Both of the Aveeno lotions (Daily Moisturising Lotion and Skin Relief Gentle Scent Lotion) were hydrating and soothing but a little boring. Free & Lovely Coconut & Rose Body Butter from Bodycology was a nicely textured cream that melted into my skin but I found the scent a little sickly. Molton Brown Shower Gel has a great formula and the 'Rose Absolue' fragrance of this one was lovely, a grown-up deep velvety rose and I liked it a lot.

I used up four makeup items. I'm gutted to have finished Kevyn Aucoin Single Eye Shadow in 'Soft Clay' #104 as these single powder shadows have seemingly been discontinued. This pale grey-pink shade has been my daily go-to colour for the past couple of years, not only was the colour easy to wear, the formula was great, very easy to blend with a strong long lasting pigment and very little fallout. ByTerry Terrrybly Growth Booster Mascara lasts all day and darkens, thickens and lengthens without getting clumpy. I've not noticed any extra growth in my lashes but it's a great formula that makes lashes look enhanced but subtly so.

Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo has a built-in click brush-type applicator that makes it easy to apply. It's easy to blend and doesn't settle into creases. I like to use this under my eyes, it minimizes the appearance of dark circles making my eye area and whole face look brighter. 

I'm not much of a face powder user but it was so hot and humid this year I found I needed one whenever I was wearing makeup. ByTerry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder is totally transparent and doesn't settle into fine lines. It is slightly mattifying which isn't my favourite thing but it did make my makeup last in the heat and it is so fine I couldn't feel it on my skin at all.

Finally, I used three vials of perfume. Hermes Twilly is a powdery white floral which I found a little heavy and old-fashioned. Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb is a strong yet sweet fizzy floral. It is much sweeter than my usual scent choices but there is something very joyful and fun about it that I like. Loewe Woman 001 is a warm sexy amber scent that I like a lot, there's something leathery about this one that I find quite seductive.

Added to the sample sachets I actually managed to work my way through quite a good amount of products in September so although it's a smaller empties pile than usual I am still quite pleased with it.