Empties: October 2019.

I feel like I didn't finish too many products in October. I used up thirteen full-sized and fifteen minis/samples.

Skincare.

I've included a bottle of Simple Micellar Water in this months photo. I actually finished it last month but it failed to be included in the photo then for some reason! I like this inexpensive and effective Micellar Water a lot for removing eye makeup and strong lip colours.

I used a tube of Dr Haushka Cleansing Cream. This is a bit of a misnamed product for me as it is actually a paste made of ground almonds suspended in oil that you let down with a little water and use as a gentle gommage. It is very gentle as it is made from ground almond rather than shells and it left my skin feeling wonderfully soft. However, it does smell a little funky as it is a natural formula and I did find it difficult to rinse it away thoroughly. I ended up using this as a morning face wash because I didn't find it effective as a makeup remover and it was easier to rinse odd pieces of paste from my hairline this way. It was interesting to try but I wouldn't repurchase.

I used three tins of thermal water, a large one from Vichy and two small ones by Evian and Avène. I use these to rinse my face after cleansing it as well as as a cooling hydrating mist. I liked them both, the Vichy one feels more minerally, the Evian one is a little minerally and the Avène one more purified.

I finished a bottle of Hello Organics Vitamin C Serum. This was a nice hydrating serum which also contained Hyaluronic Acid. It absorbed well and wasn't tacky, my skin was left nicely plumped. I didn't have any areas of discolouration or hyperpigmentation to treat but it kept my skin looking bright and evenly toned. I thought this was a good inexpensive daytime serum.

I was sad to finish my Votary Rose Maroc & Sandalwood Oil. It smelled gorgeous and a couple of drops of this at night meant I woke up to plump fresh-looking skin, it absorbed well and didn't feel heavy on my skin - a lovely blend. It's not a cheap oil but this lasted me for a long time as you only need to use a few drops.

I finished a full-sized Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes Eye Cream. It is a good all-round eye cream. I've used a few of these over the years and while there are other creams that may 'do' a bit more this one offers a good burst of hydration and depuffs while feeling comfortable.

I also finished a tube of  CO Bigelow My Favorite Lip Balm. I'm not sure if it is my favourite but I do like this a lot. It is very light in texture but feels moisturising and has a clear glossy finish.

I used up ten skincare samples, two of which were gel cleansers. Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser is a slightly foaming non-drying cleanser. It works well as a morning face wash and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight. Susanne Kaufmann Cleansing Gel is a slightly more creamier gel. I used this in the morning and also as a second cleanse. It left my skin incredibly soft. There's not much to choose between these two but I slightly prefer the Susanne Kaufmann one.

I love Natura Bisse Diamond Cocoon Hydrating Essence so much that I have bought a full-sized one. I use this before my serum in the morning for an extra boost of hydration and protection.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum is a super expensive liquid gel serum. It didn't feel bad but this was a tiny sample so its difficult to assess it properly.

I loved a sample of Nannette de Gaspé Baume Noir for Eyes. It was a stretchy pale pink cream that absorbed instantly. It had an instant tightening/lifting effect and kept my eye area hydrated for the whole day. I was very impressed with this cream but unfortunately, it is very expensive.

I used two samples of moisturiser. I love Drunk Elephant Prontini, it's possibly my favourite moisturiser, it has a light texture and is deeply nourishing. I used 37 Actives Cream as an occlusive layer at night, its a little too thick and oily for me and I find that it tends to sit on my skins surface rather than sink in. I'm not impressed with this one especially considering its price point.

I enjoyed 3Lab Perfect Neck Cream, it was a light gel-cream that absorbed well but it is not something that I would purchase as it is very expensive.

I'm always torn about how I feel about Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte SPF30. It is a tinted sunscreen, sometimes it can appear a little grey or make me look shiny, other times it works perfectly as a bare skin moisturiser. I think it probably depends on what I have on under it. Anyway, it falls into the group of products that I am happy to use but wouldn't ever buy.

I was impressed with the single Zitsticka Pimple Patch I used. I wore it overnight and it dramatically reduced the size of an under the skin bump which then failed to materialize as a pimple. Impressive!

Bodycare.

I only used two body lotions and a hand cream this month.

Soaper Duper Zingy Ginger Body Lotion was a cream that absorbed well and wasn't greasy.

It did a good job of moisturising my skin. It smelled nice and I could detect a little ginger but it wasn't the bright, zingy awakening ginger scent I was expecting which was disappointing.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Honey & Coriander Body Lotion was quite light in texture and I needed to use a fair amount of it for my skin to feel soothed. On the plus side, its pump bottle worked very well and I liked its lemony scent that was bright and uplifting without being too sharp.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lily Handcream smells of Lily of the Valley rather than pungent Tiger Lilies. I love the formula of these and the size of them is perfect for carrying in my bag. I have used countless tubes of these hand creams in various scents over the years.

Haircare.

I used two full-sized haircare items.

Acure Pear & Fig Conditioner was a nice thick creamy conditioner that left my hair soft without weighing it down. It had a lovely fruity scent that wasn't sickly which smelled predominantly of pear.

Philip B Lovin Leave-In Conditioner was a lightweight cream leave-in conditioner. Its Passionfruit, Lemon & Chamomile scent was gorgeous and I liked how it lingered in my hair but it didn't feel moisturising enough and my ends were still a little frizzy. I feel like this would suit baby fine hair but otherwise, it may not be enough.

I also used a sachet of Living Proof TBD Multi-Tasking Styler which was another leave-in conditioner. The first time I used this I used too much and it made my hair look lank, but when used sparingly it worked well.

Miscellaneous.

I used a mini Ilia Fade Into You Soft Finishing Powder which I loved so much I purchased a full size. It is the best setting powder I have ever used, it is totally invisible and my makeup lasted much longer whenever I used this.

I used a vial of Diptyque Eau Rose EDT. This is a simple rose scent, very delicate, not too sweet, and very easy to wear.

I also used two sachets of Beauty Blender Cleanser. This is a clear liquid soap for cleaning makeup brushes and sponges. It works well but I don't see the need to buy a specific product to clean brushes so it is not something that I would ever purchase.

And that's all for October. I'm hoping to have a bigger pile of empties next month as I have a few things that are almost finished.

Brand Love: Darphin.

Over the years Darphin has been one of those brands that, although I don't use any of their products on a regular basis, I keep on coming back to. I have tried many of the products from many of the ranges and I have loved everything that I have tried. 

Darphin is an older French brand (almost 60 years old) carefully formulated with high quality ingredients. Everything about Darphin products is so well considered, even the packaging. Some of their ranges are expensive but the pleasure of using them along with the results they give make them a justifiable indulgence. The fact that Darphin has so many loyal devotees (even though it is somewhat under the radar having practically no advertising presence and featuring infrequently in editorials) is testament to the quality of it's products.

  Recently I have picked up quite a few items from Darphin which I love using either together or with products from other brands to make routines that suit my skin's needs. I truly appreciate the quality of  the products featured here and they all are a great joy to use.

Azahar Micellaire Cleansing Water is perfect for sensitive skin and does a wonderful job of removing make up. I'm not a big user of micellaire waters but I find this one is good when used to lift strong lip colours and remove eye make up. It has a soft floral scent that is very relaxing.

Eye Make Up Remover Solution is exactly as promised on the bottle, both gentle and effective. I find this removes even waterproof eye make up almost instantly. There's no need to tug or rub the skin around eyes, it is not at all greasy and leaves eyes feeling clean and refreshed with no irritation or stinging ever.

Aromatic Cleansing Balm is one of my all time favourite cleansers! I used to use this regularly but it disappeared from the market for a while. Now it seems to be freely available again which pleases me no end as it is a real treat at the end of the day. It smells very spa like, warm and floral. With a drop of water added to it, it is the perfect consistency for facial massage and it rinses away easily, leaving my skin clean and very soft.

Darphin are renowned for their essential oil elixirs that target different needs. They are all wonderful but the best of the bunch for me is the total anti aging 8 Flower Nectar. It has a lovely consistency, is not at all sticky, absorbs well and leaves my skin feeling nourished yet balanced.

 This blend also comes in solid form as 8 Flower Nectar Oil Cream which is basically oil in solid form. I find this easier to apply and less wasteful but both products are fabulously indulgent. They both smell divine and are top of my list when it is time to shop for a new facial oil treatment.

(Just one word of cation - I was hesitant when I first used both of these and the cleansing balm as they are all strongly scented, but they were very gentle on my skin. However you may want to test these before investing if you are sensitive to essential oils).

I'm waiting to open Stimulskin Divine Eye Cream as I have a couple of eye creams already on the go but I have used it in the past and it is a favourite eye cream of mine. Packed full of peptides it takes care of my major eye concerns, plumping out fine lines whilst removing puffiness. Everything looks smoother so that dark circles appear less prominent and the whole eye area appears refreshed. I would buy this more regularly but it is somewhat pricey so this one is only on my shelves when I can find it on sale somewhere! 

  

Wrinkle Corrective Eye Contour Cream is much more reasonably priced and a jar of this lasts a long time. It is rich, creamy and replenishing. Although it does absorb well enough to be used during the day under makeup I like to use this as my overnight eye cream.

Hydraskin Essential is a creamy ultra hydrating moisturiser. I do find this to be too rich to use during the day but it is perfect to use at night over a serum. 

It is very rich but it never makes my skin feel congested or greasy. It smells lovely, feels comfortable and leaves my skin looking plump and juicy.

 Hydraskin Light is a gel cream that I find suits to my daytime moisturising needs. It works well under make up even in hot weather and I find that both of these products when used together as parts of day and night routines leave my skin looking fresh and lifted.

Exquisage Beauty Revealing Serum and Cream are part of one of Darphin's newer ranges. This targeted range is supposed to strengthen skin and boost collagen production, leading to a firmer, more radiant complexion. I haven't tried these yet but I am looking forward to opening them up before too long.

I find that I love everything about Darphin - the formulas, the fragrances, the way the products are intended to be used and even the luxurious packaging. It really is one of my favourite brands!

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner.

Whilst Rahua isn't the most expensive haircare range available it certainly isn't cheap and I try to stockpile samples of it whenever I can get my hands on them... So I was delighted when I received full sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner in my Christmas stocking this year. Not only is Rahua

something that I would most certainly call a luxury product it is a joy to use and it is extremely effective. It leaves my fine processed (colored) hair feeling very soft and silky yet still manageable.

The principle ingredient in Rahua is the oil of the rahua nut which is sustainably grown and harvested in the Amazonian rain forest by indigenous women. The molecules in rahua nut oil are smaller than in most other oils so they can penetrate into the hair shaft to bond and repair it which leads to stronger hair. They are also of benefit to the scalp which also promotes healthy hair.

Rahua products are organic and cruelty free. They are sulphate free so are kind to color treated hair as they cleanse it without stripping or damaging. They are also paraben and gluten free and vegan. 

The shampoo uses coconut oil and shea butter to gently cleanse the hair and contains quinoa extracts that capture and hold moisture in hair.

The conditioner, which can also be used as a leave in styling product to tame frizzy hair and hold it in place, contains moisturizing aloe and green tea extracts that help protect hair.

Both have a distinctive, delicious nutty fragrance that is a little woody thanks to the use of Palo Santo oil, an oil that is  extracted from tree bark and is much used in aromatherapy. 

As the shampoo is sulphate free it doesn't lather freely so you do need to work it into your hair and scalp a little. You don't need to use a lot of shampoo, you just need to spend a little time working with it. 

Similarly with the conditioner, you don't need a lot but it does work best if you leave it on for the recommended three minutes.

Both products rinse out easily leaving no product build up so my hair feels not only clean but fuller, extremely soft yet still sleek and manageable .Rahua is definitely one of my very favorite shampoo and conditioner combinations!

You can find Rahua at us.spacenk.com cultbeauty.co.uk or buy it directly from rahua.com

The shampoo is $32.00/27GBP for 275ml and the conditioner is $34.00/28GBP. 

Brand Love - Kiehls.

When considering favourite brands Kiehl's wasn't one that sprang instantly to mind but looking around the apartment the other day I realized that there's probably more Kiehl's products hanging around than anything else. 

I managed to gather up the above in next to no time and that was without grabbing any of Mr C&C'S numerous Facial Fuel products (There's enough of those for their own post!).

Why do I like Kiehl's so much? Well...

. They have an impressive range of products that covers hair and body care as well as face care - there's even deodorant.

. The prices range from very reasonable to the higher end. 

. Their products are suitable for both men and women. There's also a few items for babies and even Cuddly Coat Grooming Shampoo for dogs!

. They do a wide range of sizes from travel sized minis to huge one liter bottles of shampoo and body lotions. 

. Their packaging has a nice retro feel to it. It's very functional and whilst it is pretty basic I find that it doesn't feel cheap.

. Kiehls stores are always attractive and well laid out (I like to shop at the flagship 3rd Avenue store in NYC) and I find that the staff are well educated about the products they are selling. 

. They are usually pretty darn generous with samples.

. They have a recycling program that, while not as generous as it once was, is still worth taking part in.
.  They have a rewards system where each $100 spent gives you $10 off your next purchase. 

. They have great value for money sets which make lovely gifts (or you could buy one and keep it for yourself!). 

There really are too many good Kiehl's products for me to talk about in detail but some of my faves are #1 Lip Balm (currently four tubes of this in the house!), Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover, Ultra Facial Toner, Creme de Corps Body Lotion (all pictured above), Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, Amino Acid Shampoo and  Coriander Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub.

Overall there's a great range of products with something for everyone.
I'm a huge Kiehl's fan!

Favorite Drugstore Make Up Brand?

Whilst I could wax lyrical about drugstore haircare and body items (well hello there Herbal Essence, Dial and Nivea!) I have to admit that on the whole I'm not really wowed by drugstore make up brands. 

Honestly, I'd rather pay a bit more and have something that looks a little more luxe and feels more of an indulgence. Having said that, if I do pick anything up in CVS or Duane Reade it most often tends to be Maybelline.

Babylips in 'Watermelon' is my lip balm of choice in the summer. It's clear, has SPF 25 and smells and tastes like summer in a good way.

Another Maybelline lip product I like is Color Whisper. Not quite a lipstick, not quite a balm, this gives a hint of colour, is extremely comfortable to wear and feels moisturising.

Great Lash is something of a cult product - it's claimed that it's the best selling mascara in the world (I've no idea if it is or not!).  Now it's rare that I buy mascaras and whilst this isn't my all time favorite or anything it's a good basic one that costs around $5.00 so there is usually one to be found somewhere in my stash.

Color Tatoo Eye Shadow is an awesome cream eyeshadow that performs as well as any high end one as far as I'm concerned. The color range and pigment are good, its highly blendable and it lasts amazingly well.

I find the Dream range to be an excelllent 'brand within a brand' as it were. I'm not a huge fan of face powders but I am really quite fond of the Dream Wonder Powder. It feels almost creamy on application and gives a light to medium coverage which succeeds in evening out skin tone without looking at all powdery - I use this alone with concealer for a natural no make up look.

Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer  blends well and does a great job as a concealer but it's also a really nice highlighter that looks very natural and highlights without being sparkly  or too white. I also like the 'twist up click click' packaging of this - it works very well and it's clear so you can see when you are getting low on product.

Leaving the best to last my favourite Maybelline product has to be the Dream Bouncy Blush. Not only do they come in a great range of colours, they blend superbly and last really well. And they have that Play dough consistency that's fun to the touch.

So Favorite drugstore brand? Maybe its Maybelline...*

*I know, I know, I just had to though!

Brand Love - Sunday Riley.

There are so many great beauty brands out there... I love to mix and match products from them to create my own routines and I also love trying new things so if I have more than one or two products from the same range on the go at the same time then safe to say its a brand that I love.

Case in point - Sunday Riley. I've currently four of their products on the go and as it's one of the more spendier ranges out there that's a whole lotta love. Sunday Riley skincare is produced with a mixture of botanicals and technology and as far as I'm concerned it's a highly effective luxurious range that is a treat to use.

I've bought quite a few of their products over the years and the only one I didn't like was Start Over, their eye cream, which irritated my eyes like crazy - although excepting that it did work very well and did all it promised to.

Ceramic Slip is one of my favourite cleansers ever - it's just so refreshing and lovely to use and does a great job of dissolving make up and grime.

Their facial oils are the best - nourishing and luxurious - you literally need just a couple of drops so they don't work out as expensive as you may think. 

I love Juno (a great all-rounder and the first facial oil I ever tried) in the Winter and Artemis in the Summer (it really does balance my skin wonderfully) but I'm happy to use them both at anytime. I've had my eye on Iris (great for dehydrated skin) for a while and can't wait to try out Luna (retinol in an oil form/carrier - yes please!).

Good Genes is possibly the most effective serum I've ever used, it makes my skin look brighter and more radiant as well as plumper and firmer. This is an HG product for me and it's rare that its not not on my shelf.

Bionic their day/night moisturiser is on my shopping list for when I next need a moisturizer. Loaded with peptides and a host of other good stuff it's a lovely, comforting cream.

 Cashmere which I've used before is one of the few mineral sunscreens that don't make me breakout, it really is light and delicate feeling and sits well under make up.

Talking of make up... The SR make up range is a little more under the radar than their skincare but I'm about to splurge on their Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer as the one time I tried it I was very impressed. 

(I had a lip gloss of theirs once that was great - but other than that there's the whole well regarded make up range out there waiting for me to discover!)

Finally, although a whole host of people complain about the smell of many SR products, maybe I have a weird sense of smell but I really do love the scents of all of their products.

Brand love to the deepest degree!

Brand Love - Lipstick Queen

Ahh, lipsticks and glosses, who doesn't love them? They are a cheap(ish) treat to buy yourself and the quickest and easiest way to change your make up look. 

One brand that really brings it across the board is Poppy King's Lipstick Queen. This cult Australian brand for the most part offers great value for money whilst their higher priced ranges Silver Screen and Velvet Rope are pure luxury.

I have both glosses and lipsticks by Lipstick Queen and my only lip liner is from them. If I were to do a lipstick/gloss inventory they would be the most numerous brand in my collection. I receive a lot of free lip products but Lipstick Queen is the brand I most often purchase and I find myself using up whole bullets/tubes and repurchasing them I love them so much!

I first dipped my toe into the range when I bought Jean Queen Lipgloss, it's a natural raspberry pink that offsets the blue in denim. It's feminine yet not girly and was designed to wear with jeans - genius right? (There's also another range, Jungle Queen designed to wear with animal prints.) I followed up the gloss with Jean Queen Lipstick , that's how much I love it...

The most basic of the ranges are the Saints and Sinners lipsticks. Saints have 10% pigment, making them perfect for lipstick beginners. Sinners have 90% pigment providing full coverage for a bolder look. The formulas in both are great, non drying yet long lasting. I favour Saint Rose and Pinky Nude Sinner, but both ranges have a host of shades to choose from.

I recently bought a Big Bang Lipgloss. It's glossy and shimmery (but in a good way) and makes your lips appear more voluptuous.

The Invisible Liner I have is another pure genius idea that saves you having to buy a whole range of lip liners. (There is also a range of  Lip Liners that come in twelve colors that match the Saints and Sinners shades).

I also have one of their Chinatown Glossy Pencils, their moisturizing 'chubby stick type' pencil that's an easy too apply, but build-able, lasting gloss (and missing in action at time of writing!). 

Whether you're a lipstick novice or a seasoned pro Lipstick Queen has something for everyone! Why not pop over to us.spacenk.com and see if there's a Lipstick Queen product that takes your fancy? 

Brand Love - James Perse.

I'm definitely a 'jeans and t-shirt ' type person - in fact that's what I pull out of my closet nine times out of ten.

 JCrew, Splendid and Everlane all make great t-shirts but my favourite ones are by James Perse. Whist I have a variety of James Perse t-shirt styles (and some of their shirts) my all time favourite t-shirt is their 'relaxed fit vneck'. I've purchased them multiple times and will continue to do so until they stop producing them... which I hope they never do. 

The cotton is oh so soft, they wash well and don't go baggy or saggy so they last really well. 

Each season sees them in a variety of different colours but the perfect fit remains the same (I wear a size 1). The sleeves are just the right length - neither too short or too long - the deep v neck is very flattering and they hit on the hip making them the perfect length. They look great with jeans or shorts but are smart enough to wear with dressier outfits.  (And they're made in America!).

For sure they're not the cheapest t-shirt out there at $55.00 a pop but they really are worth the investment. Why not have a look at jamesperse.com next time you need a new tee.