Empties: December 2018.

I'll be rounding up my empties for the whole year in my next post but for now here's a look at December. I'm pleased with this the final pile of 2018 as I managed to finish twenty-one samples and fourteen full-sized sized products.

Skincare.

I can't believe that I haven't used Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm before! It used to be difficult to find in the U.S. but I'm happy to say that that is no longer the case as after having finished my first jar I think it may well be my favourite cleansing balm. It smells lovely, melts away makeup, rinses off with ease, and feels gorgeous on my skin. The only thing that I don't like about it is the oversized clunky feeling jar. I do have plenty of cleansers at the moment but I will definitely repurchase this at some point in the future. 

I had a sample of Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk in a gift bag and enjoyed it so much I went out and bought a full sized one almost immediately. I must admit that this doesn't do the best job of removing makeup but as a skin cleanser it is lovely with a consistency and slip that is just right for facial massage. I already have another bottle of this wallet-friendly cleanser as I enjoy using a milky cleanser in the winter when my skin gets stressed and dry.

The toner from the same range, Andalou Naturals Blossom+Leaf Toning Refresher, is another winner for me. It feels soothing and refreshing and has a floral scent with Geranium and Neroli notes that was very pleasant. The spray mechanism on this isn't the best as it doesn't deliver a fine mist so I decanted it into an older glass bottle with a good spray nozzle.

Vichy Eau Thermal is a drugstore product that often shows up in my empties. I always have one of these cans of water to hand as they are very useful. Not only can they be used as a cooling, refreshing spray, I like to use them if my skin is delicate or compromised, they are great to use to 'rinse' off products, and, of course, they are very hydrating.

Vichy V Mineral 89 has become a staple in my routine. I like to use this as a 'booster' applying a thin layer over serum, before cream, in the morning. This Hyaluronic Acid rich product holds moisture and leaves my skin looking and feeling plump and juicy.

I actually gave out a yelp of disappointment when this next product gave me its last pump! Drunk Elephant CTango MultiVitamin Eye Cream lives up to its hype, rich but not greasy, it absorbs instantly, and addresses all of my eye area concerns. I have a few other eye creams in stock but this is a product that is definitely on the repurchase list.

Tata Harper Purifying Mask was a very good clay mask that left my skin feeling clean and looking bright and evenly toned. I liked this a lot but it works out to be quite expensive - I was shocked when I saw how tiny the jar was! Although I loved the results I won't repurchase this because the cost per use doesn't make sense, even Omorovicza's pricey masks which I prefer, work out cheaper.

I managed to use up sixteen skincare samples.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is a pre-serum-serum which apparently makes your serum perform better. I did like this wet serum-like-lotion but I don't think I need to add another step to my routine. This one belongs on the 'happy to use but would never buy' pile!

Sunday Riley CEO Serum is an orange scented, creamy feeling, 15%Vit C serum. Easy to wear, I enjoyed this but didn't use it long enough to see if it gave results.

Dr Lancer Omega Hydrating Oil wasn't my favourite facial oil as it felt a little heavy and greasy, I used this as a final top layer at nighttime to seal everything in. I do enjoy the texture of Sunday Riley Luna more and this gentle feeling retinol pairs well with Good Genes at night, I'm not keen on the scent or the blue colour though.

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate is a basic moisturising milk. There is nothing wrong with this but I don't find it to be moisturising enough for my skin which becomes easily dehydrated at this time of year. My bad call with this one, I should have used it in the summertime.

Lancome Energie de Vie Water Infused Cream is a cooling gel cream. Although it is intended for daytime use this reminded me of a KBeauty sleeping pack and I used it as an overnight moisturiser.

111Skin Space Anti-Age Day Cream is such a heavy greasy cream that I can't imagine anyone using it during the day! It also has a strong chemical fragrance that I dislike. I did use this up as a night time top layer but only because I know it's expensive and didn't want to waste it.

Weleda Skin Food is a multi-use cream. It is another thick, greasy cream but I like applying a layer of this occasionally and leaving it to slowly absorb overnight if my skin feels very dry.

La Mer Moisturising Cream is yet another rich thick cream, it is okay but I prefer their Soft Cream (however I don't think that either of them warrants the high price tag that they carry).

Malin+Goetz Advanced Renewal Cream was lovely. I enjoyed its lightweight texture and lavender scent. It did a good job of moisturising my skin and left it feeling soft.

I love all of the standard Derm Institute skincare range but I can't say that their extremely expensive Youth Alchemy Cream stood out in any way for me.

Malin+Goetz Brightening Enzyme Mask is fantastic, it is quick and easy to use and instantly brightens. I also loved REN Wake Wonderful Night Time Facial, which made my skin look plumped and fresh the morning after I used it.

Tarte Tarteguard SPF30 was a little too greasy feeling and took a bit of time to absorb, I wouldn't buy this. It's rare that I don't finish a product but I failed to use up MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Cream SPF30. It felt extremely uncomfortable on my skin and made me look very grey, I really disliked this one! I used my last Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad. These are a super easy to use self-tanning facial product that leaves my skin with a touch of colour and increased radiance.

Bodycare.

I love REN body care so I was keen to try their new-ish Atlantic Kelp & Magnesium Anti-Fatigue Body Wash. It produced abundant lather and had a relaxing mineral/ozone scent but I'm not sure that it relaxed or soothed my muscles any more than any other shower product. I can see the bath products in this range being effective but if I were going to get another REN shower gel I wouldn't choose this one again as I much prefer their others.

Juara Candlenut Hydrating Shower Gel and Body Cream were both lovely. The shower gel smells creamy while the body cream has a more spa-like scent.

I've had this bottle of Weleda Pomegranate Body Lotion sitting around for a while. Honestly, it's not my favourite but I was determined to use it up! I find it to be too thick and oily and it never absorbs completely so the scent, which has a funky health food shop kind of note to it, lingers on your clothing.

Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream was an unscented body lotion that did a good job of hydrating without being greasy but it was a little basic and boring to use. It is very expensive and if I am going to spend a lot on a body product I expect it to smell wonderful and feel very indulgent, so this was a miss for me.

Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is something that is often on my empties pile. This doesn't leave hands greasy but does sooth and hydrate them efficiently. I also like its clean smelling eucalyptus scent.

Haircare.

I only finished one haircare item this month. I didn't even know that Crabtree & Evelyn made haircare but when I saw their La Source Revitalising Seaweed Conditioner on sale in TJ Maxx I thought it was worth investigating. It was a very nice lightweight conditioner with a fresh mineral scent that left my hair soft and detangled. I enjoyed this and will pick up more if I see it on sale again (I paid around $5.00) but I don't think that it is worth its full-price which is $20.00 or so.

Makeup and Perfume.

A wee sample of Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion lasted me forever. It does do an excellent job of keeping my eye makeup smudge and crease free but I prefer eyeshadow bases that apply with a doe-foot as I find they drag less on my eyelid.

Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser in the shade 'Nude' is my 'ride or die' face product. It is pricey but a tube lasts six months and as well as giving a medium coverage this helps protect and also improves my skin so it's well worth the cost as far as I'm concerned.

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is a very basic petroleum jelly balm. I feel that it doesn't actually do a lot for my lips but I have a few of these from GWP's etc lying around that I am trying to finish up.

Lipstick Queen Belle Epoque 'Belle Wine' was a very nice tinted lip balm which felt nourishing. The pigment in this wasn't too strong, the 'wine' colour wore as a deep yet wearable pink that I found to be both flattering and long-lasting.

I used two perfume vials in December. 

Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace is a warm and cosy scent with woodsy berry notes. I don't dislike it and it's very suitable for this time of year but I do always think that it would be much better as a scent for a candle.

Narciso Rodriguez Fleur Musc For Her was a very sweet powdery floral. Initially quite strong this faded very quickly on me which was good as I didn't much care for its overt sweetness.

And that's my final empties pile of 2018. If you like lists check back for my year-end round up of all the empties soon, and of course I'll be back at the end of January with another 'normal' empties post.

Happy New Year!