Empties March 2019.

Although I only managed to use up twelve full-sized products in March, and a set of eye masks, I did manage to use up twenty-seven minis and samples.

Skincare.

I emptied just three full-sized skincare items.

Shiseido Benefiance Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam was okay as a first or a.m. cleanse. It wasn't drying or excessively foamy (it is more creamy) and like other Japanese cream cleansers that I have used I found you only needed a tiny amount so this tube has lasted me for quite some time. This contains a grain of some sort that felt like bran but I wouldn't call it an exfoliating cleanser. I did find it a little hard to remove completely as it was so thick and creamy and although there isnt actually anything wrong with it there are so many other cleansers that I prefer I can't see a repurchase.

I love Caudalie Vinisource SOS Serum, it is very soothing and supremely hydrating. It is very easy to fit into any routine, smells fresh and feels cooling. My only complaint is that I run through a bottle very quickly!

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Eye Recovery is a good multi-purpose eye cream which absorbs well and doesn't irritate my eyes. It used to be possibly my favourite eye cream and while I have others that I prefer these days I would repurchase it.

I was pleased to have used up eighteen skincare samples and minis.

Chantecaille Rose Eye Makeup Remover is delicately scented with roses and has a water-like consistency. I love how gentle this is when I use it, it works well but some waterproof mascaras don't always dissolve instantly. It is also very expensive  - too expensive for an eye makeup remover in my opinion so I relished using this sample.

I used up three samples of cleanser. Omorovicza Cleansing Foam is a lovely morning face wash with a light, whipped consistency and a neroli scent. Beauty Kitchen Seahorse Plankton Everlasting Radience Cleansing Gel is a gel/cream cleanser that reminded me a little of Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip. It has quite a strong scent that I enjoyed, is non-foaming and left my skin clean and very soft. I would happily repurchase this if it is ever sold stateside. Eve Lom Cleanser is a classic but it's not my favourite balm as I don't find it the easiest to rinse off completely and I'm not a fan of the scent.

I used two eye cream samples. Dr Dennis GrossHyaluronic Marine Dew It all Eye Gel is a creamy gel that is very light in feel. It is very hydrating, and smoothes and soothes the eye area. I like it so much I already have a full size. Derm Institute Youth Alchemy Eye is a thick cream that absorbs well. You only need to use a small amount of this as it is so rich. It has an immediate cooling and lifting feel to it that is a little uncomfortable but not offputtingly so. It is extremely expensive however.

I used three mini serums up.

Rodial Pink Diamond Instant Lifting Serum is an expensive serum that I wouldn't buy for myself as I don't feel that it does anything other than add a layer of hydration. Derm Institute Cellular Rejuvenating Serum is a fluid-like gel that melted into my skin. It had a slight chemical fragrance but felt cooling and hydrating and left my skin soft. I liked it a lot though it is another expensive one.

Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is a gentle nighttime peeling serum in a lightweight gel form This 5ml mini lasted me for ages. I like this serum and it definitely brightens my skin but I do prefer Sunday Riley Good Genes so would buy that in preference to this.

REN Glycol Lactic Mask is a gentle peeling mask with a jam-like consistency and apricot scent. I find it fun to use and it leaves my skin even and glowing. I like to use this as part of a three mask routine.

I used four samples of La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturiser. This is a basic moisturising fluid that sinks in well and is good to use as a  nighttime top layer or after treatments.

I also used a sample of Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream. This rich cream is easily absorbed, layers beautifully with other products and has a gorgeous white flower fragrance. It is pretty much the perfect face cream as far as I'm concerned!

I user a couple of samples of sunscreen both by La Roche Posay. I found Anthelios 60 Face and Body Activewear SPF far too thick and heavy to wear on my face, so much so I didn't even finish using the sachet. However, Anthelios Mineral 60 was very good. I found it to be light, non-greasy and very natural looking with no white or grey cast. It evened out my skintone rather than giving it BB type coverage but I did like it a lot and would get it again.

I used up a mini tube of Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Balm. I love these balms but they are expensive. They smell and taste pleasantly lemony, and the rose colour of this was a natural buildable pink. I love the sturdy metal packaging of these but the bullet itself is a little soft and easily broken, especially in warm conditions. 

Finally, I used a pair of 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Masks. These felt rubbery but fitted so well I forgot I had them on. I wasn't expecting to be impressed by these but they were amazing! They did a great job of smoothing fine lines and brightened and depuffed my eye area - they really perked things up and I would recommend using them before a big event even though they are quite pricey.

Makeup.

Its rare I finish a make up item so I was pleased to finish three this month.

NYX Nude Matte Shadow 04 Maybe Later is a powder eye shadow that wears and blends well. It has a good amount of pigment and was quite finely milled so there was very little fallout. This shade is a mid brown with a slight gingery undertone that I found flattering and easy to wear.

These two Dream Bouncy Blushes by Maybelline are both discontinued and I have to admit to keeping them and using them for longer than I should have simply because I can't replace them! Both of the cases are broken and they are getting a little dry but in their prime they were a dream to apply and blend with buildable colors. 06 Coffee Cake gave a natural sunkissed bloom and 45 Orchid Hush was a delicate pink with blue undertones that gave a healthy flush to cheeks. Easy to apply and wear, I'm going to miss not having these two creamy blushers around.

Haircare.

I only used up one full sized haircare item, Herbal Essences Bourbon Manuka Honey Conditioner, I thought that this was a good drugstore conditioner, it detangled well and didn't weigh my hair down and it had a nice fresh scent that was slightly floral.

I'm on a quest to finish up my many mini haircare items so I was pleased to get through nine of them in March. Vitabird Scalp Shampoo was a generously sized mini, it smelled like grapefruit and had a light runny consistency. This shampoo was SLS free but lathered and rinsed well. 

Philip B Oud Royale Shampoo has a curious stretchy consistency, it smells wonderful though and again lathers and rinses well - it is a pricey shampoo that feels very luxurious and it left my hair in great condition. 

Rahua Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner were lovely but I do prefer the original Rahua range. The hydration range smells very sweet, like an old fashioned candy but they worked well and left my hair feeling lovely.

I love the scent of Moroccan Oil products! The Structure Repair Conditioner was no exception and left my hair soft and manageable. 

Sachajuan Hair Repair is a quick (5min) hair mask that I repurposed as a conditioner. It was very thick and while I found it too rich to use every day It did condition well. I don't like the smell of Sachajuan products however as they smell quite chemical like and the fragrance lingers in my hair.

I finished three mini leave-in conditioners. I have used OUAI Leave In Conditioner before and really like it. It is far too thick to dispense from a spray nozzle so I always end up pouring a little into my hands and applying it like that. I've not used R+Co Waterfall before but I liked it a lot. This lightweight leave in cream smelled great and worked well, I was so impressed by it that it is on my wishlist! IGK Thirsty Girl was a leave in conditioner that came in an aerosol - a first for me! It took a couple of goes to gauge the correct amount to use but once I had I liked this and it left my hair feeling great, I was disapointed that it didn't smell of coconut though.

Bodycare.

I used two full sized body washes. OGX Extra Creamy coconut Miracle Oil Body Wash was indeed creamy. This lathered well, was non-drying and smelled like coconuts. The Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose Shower Gel had a slightly sweet almost almondy rose scent. It lathered up nicely and was altogether a lovely body wash.

The Body Shop Black Musk Body Lotion was nourishing without being greasy and sank in well but I found the scent a little too overpowering and a bit sickly. I'd get The Body Shop body lotions again - but not in this fragrance.

I finished two hand creams. The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream was a big tube of pale pink cream. I loved how this smelled, it had a fresh green rose scent but I didn't find it to be quite nourishing enough. 

There's frequently a handbag sized Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Cream in my empties! This time it was a Spiced Earl Grey version. I love the consistency of these creams and the packaging is perfectly sized for carrying around. I could definitely detect tea in the fragrance of this but I didn't find it spicy smelling, it was a clean and refreshing scent.

I was disappointed that I didn't finish too many full-sized products in March but I have quite a few things that I'm almost done with so perhaps April will be a bumper month for empties! 

Let's see!