Empties September 2019.

My aim in September was to try and use up lots of the sample sachets that I had accumulated over the past year. I'm pleased that I managed to use up 112 and my stash is now quite dramatically reduced.

Most of the sachets that I used were skincare and the biggest category was moisturisers and creams of which I used thirty-one. I used twelve sachets of serum, thirteen of cleansers and five of eye creams. I also used three sachets of lip balm and three single-use mask sachets along with one each of primer, essence, and sunscreen for a total of seventy skincare samples.

I also used four sachets of body wash and thirty-eight haircare samples which were all shampoo and conditioners.

In addition to the sachets, I also managed to finish thirteen full-sized products and eight deluxe sample-sized items.

Skincare.

I used nine full-sized skincare items.

I use Simple Micellar Cleansing Water to remove my eye makeup and strongly pigmented lip colours. It is cheap, effective and doesn't sting my eyes. I've tried this back to back with some expensive micellar waters and this one performs just as well so I will continue to purchase it.
(Not pictured)

I've used a few Rodial Glamtox Cleansing Balms over the years but it has been discontinued and sadly this was my last one. (I bought three on sale when it was discontinued as I loved it so much!) This balm was a lovely consistency with a soft lemon scent and it felt warming when you applied it to your face. It broke down and removed makeup well and emulsified into a milky substance that rinsed away completely with ease. It was an excellent balm and I'm sorry that I won't be able to use it again.

I finished two facial sprays in September. 

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner contains Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera so it adds moisture and calms the skin as well as feeling very refreshing. It has a deep floral rose scent which is heavenly, it is definitely the rosiest smelling of all the rose facial sprays that I have tried and that's a good thing in my book! It is a great spray for the price - I think it is around $12.00

Emma Hardie Plump & Glow Facial Mist also contains Aloe Vera and Hyaluronic Acid. This has a floral citrus fragrance and it is a truly lovely spray, however, it is on the spendy side and costs around four times the price of the Andalou Naturals one. Is it worth it? Well, I do like it better but I'm not sure I would pay that much for a spray, to be honest! The tube style packaging of this is pretty unique and it makes it very travel-friendly which is a plus, there is some left inside although that won't spray out - this is one tube I will definitely attacking with scissors!

I used a bottle of Vichy Mineral 89 which is a Hyaluronic Booster that you can use as a light moisturiser or as a serum or in addition to a serum. It's like a cross between a serum and an essence and I like it a lot. I have plenty of other products for now but I will repurchase this in the future as it does give my skin a plumpness and softens and fills fine lines temporarily. 

Manuka Doctor Radiance Serum is a lovely silky creamy serum that plumps and smooths skin. I liked this one a lot and used it during the day as it does have a slight light-reflecting shimmer in it. It worked well with other products and left my skin feeling comfortably hydrated.

I finished my full-sized Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Serum and also used a mini of it from The Littles kit. It is an AHA/BHA gentle chemical exfoliating serum for nighttime use. I like this a lot but there are other exfoliating serums that I prefer so I don't see myself repurchasing this right now. The packaging is excellent and it lasts for a long time, however.

Dr's BotanicalsMoroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil was wonderful. It is a blended oil with ingredients as diverse as Bakuchiol and Aloe Vera amongst others. It was very nourishing and absorbed beautifully. I also really loved the rose fragrance of this product and it is relatively inexpensive.

Beauty Kitchen 5 Minute Miracle Mask was a great quick mask that cleansed and moisturised. It felt like a creamy clay and wiped off easily. It was so fast and easy to use that I found myself using it in the mornings, I would simply put it on, brush my teeth and then it was ready to take off. This had a nice calming mallow scent that I loved and I also liked its airless pump packaging.

I finished five skincare samples including the Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos.

I used a sample of DHC Cleansing Oil. I have to say that this worked extremely efficiently and that this mini lasted me for some time as you only need a little but it was a very boring product to use. I like my evening routine to feel spa-like and this was simply too utilitarian for that.

I really enjoyed a mini Emma Hardie Protect & Prime SPF30. It was a lightweight runny cream that smelled of moringa and citrus and it worked well with everything I used it with. The SPF30 was adequate for me as I used it on days when I would be mostly inside.

There are so many La Roche Posay Anthelios products that they become confusing. I don't like all of them, some I actively dislike, but the Clear Skin SPF50 was a good weightless formula that I enjoyed.

Clark's Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask is a balm textured mask with a heavenly floral scent. I mostly use this over retinol products as an overnight mask and it works like a dream whilst I sleep. My skin is always clear and plumped the following morning.

Haircare.

As I mainly used sample sachets I only used up one haircare item and even that was a sample. Bumble & Bumble Straight Blow Dry is a protecting leave-in product intended to be used before styling hair but I found a dab of this in my damp hair worked well as a leave-in conditioner on air-dried hair also.

Bodycare.

I used four full-sized body products, one body wash and three body lotions.

Nivea Body Wash Care & Cucumber is scented with Cucumber & Melon. I love Nivea body products and this creamy shower gel smelled amazingly fruity and refreshing - a lovely bright awakening scent. This was a great drugstore buy that I will definitely repurchase. 

I used it with Nivea Aloe Vera Body Lotion which was a perfect lotion to use in the heat, it was light yet hydrating and had a fresh clean scent. This lotion felt very cooling because of the Aloe Vera but it didn't have any stickiness or tackiness.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Lotion is a gorgeous lotion with a delicate rose scent, it has a rich creamy texture and is intensely nourishing but isn't at all greasy. I also love that it comes in an airless pump.

Andalou Naturals Body Lotion 1000 Roses is another rich non-greasy rose-scented cream that does a wonderful job of soothing and moisturising my skin. If you are looking for a rose-scented lotion at an affordable price then this is the one for you.

Makeup and Perfume.

 I used up two makeup items and they were both from Hourglass. Their Veil Mineral Primer is my favourite primer, it does an excellent job of making my makeup stay in place and doesn't cause my skin to become congested. I've used many bottles of this over the years but this is the first time that I have bought the bumper-sized tube and I prefer it in this format, I already have another tube of this open. I used a mini Hourglass Caution Mascara, I really like this one, it thickens and lengthens quite dramatically and never flakes or runs.

I used two perfumes. 

A small vial of Miss Dior which I liked a lot more than I was expecting to. It is an aldehydic synthetic floral that is quite powerful, it reminded me of Putain des Palaces without the dirty undertones.

 I also used a handbag-sized Diptyque Do Son. This is a Tuberose scent that is quite strong and heady at first but it softens up nicely to become a very wearable floral that isn't sweet or sickly.

And that's it for December. I'm pleased that I got through so many sachets and still managed to use a decent amount of other products. I hope I manage to do so well in October!

Empties: February 2019.

February may have been a short month but that didn't stop me from producing a lot of empties! I managed to use up sixteen full-sized products, thirty-five samples and one sheet mask.

Skincare.

I finished eight full-sized skincare products

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser is one of my favourite cleansers. It is a light non-foaming gel/liquid with a zesty lemongrass fragrance that is perfect to use as a morning face wash. It's not the cheapest cleanser out there but you don't need to use much so a bottle of this lasts me a good while.

I used up two facial sprays. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Chamomile and Lavender was perfectly okay but I didn't find myself reaching for it that often for some reason. There was nothing wrong with this one at all but I much prefer the Rose facial spray from MB so I don't see myself repurchasing the Lavender one. 

I always have a spray canister of mineral water in my stash for rinsing, cooling down or making a hydrating layer between products. I'm not particularly fussy on which brand I purchase, it really comes down to whatever they have in CVS and lately it has been  Vichy Eau Thermal which I like a lot.

I finished three full-sized serums.  

I actually gave a little yelp of disappointment when I finished my bottle of Drunk Elephant C-Firma. I've been using this daily under a simple Hyaluronic Serum and a day cream, it is very easy to apply and sinks in beautifully, leaving my skin with a little extra glow. It protects my skin also. I've noticed a definite improvement since I have been using this serum and while currently, I have quite a few other Vitamin C products in stock I will certainly be getting this again in the future.

Ren Evercalm Anti Redness Serum is great to use in the cold weather. It is a wet serum that is hydrating and soothing, it also smells great.

Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic & Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum is a creamy retinol. I'm not sure of the percentage but it feels quite strong and I did get a little redness and flaking if I used it too frequently. However, it did appear to be effective so I can see myself seriously considering this when I need another retinol product.

Verso Super Eye Serum left my eye area looking a lot fresher. It's another retinol product (which normally I would avoid around my sensitive eyes) and while it was a bit too strong it did work. I didn't particularly enjoy this - it could leave my eye area looking quite red so I'm on the fence as to whether I would repurchase this one. Unlike the majority of eye creams, this is a big 30ml bottle rather than a 15ml bottle so it lasts a long time.

Lixir Vitamin C Paste is a quick morning face mask that you apply after cleansing and leave for a few mins before rinsing. I didn't notice this doing much my skin was already quite bright from the CFirma so maybe it maintained it) and I found an extra step in the morning to be a bit of a faff,  I'm also not sure how protecting a rinse off product can be. I'm happy I got the chance to try this but wasn't really impressed by it.

I used seventeen skincare samples in February.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is very effective at dissolving makeup. It is a really nice formula as well with Squalene and Lavender Oil. This small bottle lasted me for ages, I enjoyed this one! Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm is effective and very, very nice. I used this as a second cleanse and loved it.

Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes is a great all-around eye cream suitable for either day or night time use.

I used Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist 24 Eye Cream at night as it was quite a thick oily feeling cream that took some time to absorb. It was okay but I prefer something that feels lighter.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Neck Cream is a lightweight easily absorbed gel/cream. I was happy to use this but generally I don't see the need for a separate neck cream and I wasn't particularly keen on the smell of this one.

Maria Stella Maris Facial Oil was a blend of safflower and jojoba oils. It felt very heavy and oily and sat on top of my skin without sinking in. I didn't enjoy this oil at all unfortunately.

Dr Dennis Gross C+Collagen Deep Cream has a gel-like texture and a fresh scent. It was very moisturising while being light so you don't need very much - I liked it. Cowshed Quinoa Daily Moisturiser is also light feeling and fresh smelling. It is a great basic facial moisturiser that is pleasant to use, I always make sure to grab a couple of tubes of this after a Cowshed facial. I prefer La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream to the regular La Mer Moisturiser as it is much less oily feeling. Its powdery scent is comforting but it's just an okay moisturiser for me that does nothing to warrant its high price tag. I used two of these small samples.

I'm almost out of sunscreen so I'm using up the ones I have that I like the least! La Roche Posay Anthelios Ultra Light SPF60 is a little too oily for my liking and leaves a little bit of a white cast on me. I did use up three of these though because any sunscreen is better than none. Farmacy Green Screen SPF 30 is too heavy feeling for me and also left a white cast. It took a while to sink in as well. I didn't like this one much I'm afraid.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask is my favourite clay type mask. It rinses easily and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight. It's expensive but I have a full size of this as I like it so much!

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Warming Face Mask came in a single-use sachet. it smelled like coconut and had a honey-like consistency. It warms slightly on application warms slightly and rinses easily. My skin felt nice and had an even tone no tightness. I would get this again.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask has a slight tingle then feels cooling. I didn't notice any lifting effect but it was hydrating and was very nice to use. 

Patchology Just Let It Glow Sheet Mask fitted well. Strangely there was no extra serum in the packet. It contains Niacinamide but I didn't notice it having a brightening effect. It did leave my skin feeling nicely moisturised but overall it was just ok and the iridescent sparkly serum felt gimmicky.

Haircare.

I used three full-sized haircare items and eight samples.

Kerastase Reflexion Shampoo has a berry scent and made a good lather. It has quite a thin consistency so you don't need to use much. However, I didn't find it to be any different from a drugstore shampoo and it didn't feel particularly indulgent in the way that other luxury haircare brands do. I also didn't like the packaging - I thought that it looked dated and the twist off top was impractical and cumbersome.

Pantene Pro v Foaming Conditioner Breakage Defense was also berry scented. It didn't feel very moisturising. I thought it was somewhat gimmicky and wouldn't recommend it.

I find the tube packaging of Phyto 7 Hair Cream a little odd as it is more of a milky lotion than a cream but it is an exceptionally good leave-in conditioning product that leaves my hair looking sleek and straight with no frizz. This is the first time in ages that I have used this but I will certainly get it again soon.

Aveda Invati Thickening Conditioner is a really nice conditioner. It left my hair feeling very soft and had a deep earthy patchouli like scent that I liked.

Davines Quick Fix Circle Hair Mask is a quick three-minute mask. I was a bit freaked out by the deep terracotta colour of this and while I appreciated the minimal packaging it was odd that it couldn't be resealed once opened. It did leave my hair soft and manageable though.

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask smells nutty. It left my hair straight and soft but not weighed down. I used two sachets of these as a conditioner and found them to be very good.

Pantene Pro-V 3 Minute Miracle has a lively fruity fragrance and works well as a conditioner.

Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Hair Mask was another three-minute mask. It had a lovely honey scent and a thick consistency. This intensive treatment was a bit too heavy for my hair.

Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Treat was a one minute mask with a fruity scent. This was good but I felt that it was a conditioner rather than a mask.

Oribe Dry Texturising Spray smells amazing and a quick spray of it is an instant cure for 'hat hair'!

Bodycare.

I used four full-sized and four samples of bodycare.

Rossano Ferretti Vivace 24/7 Hair and Body Shampoo was okay. I only used this as a body wash, it foamed nicely but I wasn't overly keen on its aftershave like fragrance. (I'm not a fan of multi-purpose products I'm afraid).

Dial 7 Day Moisturising Lotion - Soothing Care Collagen Infused was a huge bottle of unscented lotion. It absorbed well and was hydrating. Although it was a bit boring I would repurchase this as its cheap and effective with a pump that works well.

I love Korres bodycare. 'Japanese Rose' Body Butter had a lovely rose scent with touches of almond and cherry. It leaves my skin lightly veiled with fragrance and very soft. I  appreciate the 'clean' formula of Korres products and their easy-to-read way of labelling is very informative (see photo below).

I don't normally include hand soaps in my empties but I'm making an exception for the super pricy

Byredo Suede Handwash. (I got this by redeeming Space NK NDulge points, I would never spend $60.00 on a hand wash!) It smells divine as you would expect a Byredo product to, Suede is a strong white floral scent that lingers in the air, but otherwise, it's pretty unexceptional. The formula is SLS rich so it didn't condition my hands at all (although to be fair it doesn't claim to). I was also disappointed by the packaging of this, the plastic bottle feels rather basic and isn't presented in a box so it doesn't even make for a sumptuous gift. For the cost, I think a refillable beautifully boxed glass bottle would be more suitable. All in all, this wasn't worth the money (or points) for me. 

Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash smells of coconut and lathers well, I probably wouldn't buy this but I was happy to use it.

Garnier 3 in 1 SkinActive Day Night Mask smells delightfully of roses. Although it's a facial moisturiser I used it on my upper body as it contains shea butter which can cause me to break out. I found it worked well as a body cream!

Makeup and Perfume.

I used up four makeup items and three perfume vials.

Clinique QuickLiner '03 Intense Chocolate' is a twist up pencil liner. I haven't finished this but I'm letting it go as it has dried out. When it was useable I did enjoy it and I like having a brown eyeliner for the daytime as it is a little less harsh than black.

I found It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara to be claggy and clumpy. On the plus side, it was very black and didn't flake off during the day.

Hourglass Caution Mascara gave thick defined lashes but they weren't subtle, its a mascara to be used for a night out rather than during the day. I was impressed that it doesn't smudge and removes easily. 

Covergirl Katy Cat Eye Mascara had bulky packaging and a large brush that I found unwieldy. It was very clumpy - I disliked this mascara and barely used it.

Diptyque Eau Rose EDT is a fresh green rose scent that I like. It is light and easy to wear but doesn't have much longevity.

ETRO Rajasthan EDP  is another easy to wear fragrance. It is a powdery floral citrus, not unpleasant but I find it a bit boring.

Le Labo Another 13 is a sweet pear scent on application that dries to be warm and a bit musty but with clean notes like paper or linen. It is one of those non-fragrances (like Essentric Molecules) that I find myself a little puzzled by if I'm honest!

I must admit that I'm very pleased with February's empties. I managed to use up a number of things that I have had open for a while and I've made room for some new skincare and beauty goodies!

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Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter) Spring 2019.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box which ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis and money off coupons, the box itself is free but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers. Let's take a look inside the latest Trendsetter box.

Skincare.

Soo Ae Unicorn Glow Hologram Mask.

This sheet mask is cutely packaged and contains Black Charcoal and Niacinamide to cleanse and brighten. It also says it is a 'Hologram Mask' - I'm not sure what that means but I'm guessing that the serum is iridescent? I'm not a huge fan of sheet masks but I have got into the habit of popping them into my travel bag to wear before or after flying so I will give this one a go, even if I wouldn't have picked a shimmering unicorn mask out for myself!

Olay Daily Facials.

This is a dry cloth that you wet and use to remove make up/clean your face with. It is a 5-in-1 makeup remover, cleanser, toner, scrub and mask.

I will give this sample (one dry cleansing cloth) a miss because I'm not keen on its ingredients and I don't believe that one cloth can do what this claims to - I actually like doing a long skincare routine!

Garnier SkinActive 3-in-1 Soothing Day/Night/ Mask.

Garnier has certainly been pushing this product! I have had samples of it from all over the place. It is basically a moisturiser, its ingredients aren't all bad and it has a pleasant rose fragrance but Shea Butter is quite high on the ingredients list and it is not an ingredient that my face can tolerate. I think I will repurpose my many samples of this product as an upper-body cream. It's quite nice but not nice enough for facial use as far as I'm concerned (#skincaresnob).

Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel Cream.

This is a generously filled sample sachet. I need to research the ingredients before I use it as I don't like the ingredient list of Cetaphil cleansers. If its good I will use it, if not I will let it go. 

Bodycare.

Curel HydraTherapy Wet Skin Moisturiser.

These wet skin moisturisers are a favourite thing for Walmart to put in these boxes it seems as I've had countless samples of either this one or the Nivea one. Honestly, I'm not a fan of them as I never feel properly moisturised afterwards and I hate all that 'patting yourself dry' nonsense.  I will probably use this at some point just so it doesn't go to waste and I do appreciate that it is a generously sized 2oz sample.

Haircare.

Pantene Intense Rescue Shots.

This full sized item is probably the standout item in the box. It is a treatment that you apply to the hair after washing to treat damaged ends and prevent split ends. I think it is probably intended for people with longer hair than mine but I will try this out after researching to see that it is compatible with colour treated hair (there's a lot of alcohol products in this and I don't want them to strip my colour). 

Miscellaneous.

This time the box also contained a makeup bag. It was a kind of cheap and plastic makeup bag, bronze in colour with a small tassel and a Walmart logo on one side. It went straight onto my donate/throw away pile. I really do hope that this was a one-off and that they aren't going to waste resources sending out a tacky bag each quarter.

Overall. 

If I'm honest, I'm not particularly thrilled with this season's box. I go back and forth about cancelling this box and I'm always saying 'well, if the next box is terrible too, I will' and guess what? That next box is usually pretty good.  

It's only $5.00 four times a year and I do enjoy receiving something in the mail and opening it to see what's inside - so for the moment, my subscription will ride for another quarter. 

If you would like to subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so by going to walmart.com Details and sign up can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Empties: January 2019.

Oh hello! Well it feels like it was only just the end of the year to me but it's already February (aka 'First GWP month of 2019') and once again I've a bag of empties to share before I sort them out and recycle.

This month I managed to finish eleven full sized products and twenty-one samples.

Skincare.
I only finished two full-sized skincare items this month apart from sheet masks! I think that this is the least amount of full-size skincare products I have ever finished however, I did finish plenty of generously sized skincare minis and samples - ten in all.
One of the full sized items I finished was Algenist Genius Ultimate Melting Cleanser, a deliciously creamy gel-to-oil-to-cream cleanser. It was very very effective at removing makeup but worked equally well as a morning cleanser. It was also fantastic as a second cleanse as once melted it had a beautiful consistency that was perfect for facial massage and it was easy to rinse away. I have been very impressed by everything that I have tried from Algenist's Genius range.
I used a full-sized Caudalie VineActive Serum. I was a little disappointed in this as apart from being a lovely smelling wet serum that was nice to apply it really didn't do anything other than hydrate. Overall, I find that the more expensive products from Caudalie don't tend to do much for my skin, the cheaper hydrating ones are pretty good and in future, I will stick to these when buying from the brand.
I used Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for eye makeup removal only. I found that it wasn't as effective as Simple Micellar Water at removing stubborn waterproof mascaras. It was okay but I don't see myself repurchasing in the future.
Rodial Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser was a non-foaming gel cleanser which smelled kind of soapy. It was good to use as a morning face wash although I didn't notice any brightening effect from it.
I favour facial sprays over ones that you need to apply with a cotton pad but I did enjoy Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner, it felt very gentle and was refreshing.
A sample pack of ten First Aid Beauty (F.A.B.) Facial Radiance Pads was perfect for travelling with. I like these gentle exfoliating pads which contain Lactic and Glycolic acids and have purchased a full sized version of them in the past.
Cerave Moisturising Lotion was a very good basic moisturiser, it was thick in consistency, almost gel like, not at all oily yet very hydrating. It's an impressive moisturiser for the price and great if you are on a budget.
CO Bigelow Deluxe Facial Moisturiser is another good basic moisturiser. Lotion like inconsistency and slightly oily in feel it worked well for me as a night cream.
I used two small tubes of Zelens Hydro Shiso Balancing Moisturiser. I love anything by Zelens and this didn't disapoint. I enjoyed the feel of this light and easily absorbed gel/cream, it had a delicate fresh fragrance and it layered well with other products. I mainly used this one during the day with a serum under sunscreen and makeup.
I prefer La Mer The Moisturising Soft Cream to the classic La Mer The Moisturiser as it's lighter in feel and less oily but I still think it's only okay and definitely doesn't warrant the high price tag that it carries.
Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream is slightly waxy feeling but it absorbs and layers well, It's one of those products that I wouldn't pick out and purchase but I'm perfectly happy to use it as a nighttime moisturiser whenever I am given it in a GWP or gift bag.

I'm not a huge fan of sheetmasks.  I prefer a tradition mask that you apply and wipe off but I have a few that I have been gifted that I'm trying to use up. I tend to pop one in my bag when I go away for a work trip and wear them in the evening. I  finally used up a box of five VitaBird Dual Masks, which were okay, the fit was reasonable, and they contained a fair amount of serum but didn't do much apart from adding a little moisture to my face.
I wasn't so fond of a Lala Fox Honey Nourishing Sheet Mask, the fit was terrible and it contained a thick sticky gel that just appeared to sit on my skin without absorbing.

Bodycare and Perfume.

Love & Toast Honey Nectar Bodywash has a 'clean formula' produces a good amount of foam, and a pleasant soft honeysuckle and apricot perfume. This was okay, I would use it again but it wasn't outstanding in any way and there are other shower gels that I prefer.
I used another bottle of Nivea Express Hydration Sea Mineral Body Lotion. This is my favourite drugstore lotion, it is light, non-greasy, easily absorbed, fresh scented, very hydrating, and cheap. I always have backups of this one!
Malin+ Goetz Vitamin B5 Body Moisturiser is an oil-free formula that feels very fresh and hydrating. It has a light citrus scent (grapefruit?) that I liked. The only thing wrong with this sample was that the product was too thick to be packaged in a bottle and it was extremely difficult to get out.
Susanne Kaufmann Ringelblumenöl Body Oil is a truly lovely body oil. It has a fresh floral scent and feels like a dry oil when you apply it, absorbing instantly and leaving skin feeling very comfortable and soft. These aren't the cheapest body oils but you only need to use a little so these mini bottles do actually last for some time.
Rodial Stem Cell Hand Cream is a lightly textured non-greasy hand cream with a delicate rose fragrance, and sleek stylish packaging. I wouldn't pay full price as I think it costs around $30.00 but I always grab them if I see them in TJ Maxx where they cost $5.00.
I don't normally include supplements in my empties but I thought I would include the 30 pack of Goop 'Why Am I so Effing Tired?' here as they are mostly sold in beauty outlets. Firstly, I must say that I was given these by someone, there is absolutely no way that I would pay $90.00 for a month's worth of vitamins. I must also add that obviously the best way to get the nutrients that you need is by eating a healthy diet (which I do but I'm also not averse to topping things up with supplements as long as they are not harmful). Goop vitamins are packaged in individual daily portion packs, which aren't the most eco-friendly but are handy for travel. This formula is designed to increase energy levels as well as adding to general wellbeing. Each pack contained what I would call a multi-vitamin, along with an Omega 3 oil capsule, a blended capsule of herbal extracts, and a Liquorice Boost pill. They tasted pretty awful and I can't honestly say I noticed any change in my energy levels so I'm very glad that I didn't actually pay for them.
I finished five perfume vials, two of which were Byredo Eleventh Hour which I loved. This fragrance had notes of rum, plum and fig - it was basically Christmas in a bottle, very seasonally appropriate.
I'm a big fan of L'Etat Libre d'Orange perfumes and enjoyed the two that I finished. Putain des Palaces is a big dusty floral powder scent. It's not the type of thing that I usually like but I love this and would buy a full sized bottle - and I love the saucy name! Jasmin et Cigarettes is a straight-up blend of Jasmine and Tobacco. I like a dirtied up white floral and this one is very feminine and easy to wear.
Versace Bright Crystal feels bright and sparkling but it is a little too generic for my tastes

Haircare.

Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo has just the right amount of peppermint fragrance. It claims to be scalp stimulating and give volume and it was a nice shampoo but I don't think that it warrants its luxury price tag.
L'Oreal Elvive Colour Vibrancy Conditioner is a berry scented drugstore conditioner. I rather like the Elvive range and there are several formulas within it that I rate. I often get these if I find them on special offer and it's a perfectly fine conditioner that I have no problem to use.
Ouai Treatment Mask smelled fantastic and left my hair feeling nice and soft. I used this more like a conditioner rather than a mask and it worked very well in this way. ( I've a lot of hair masks that I'm intending to use up in this way as I never get around to applying them and leaving them on for 20 minutes or whatever no matter how hard I try!)
Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It (H)air Styler is a leave-in conditioning cream that also adds a little texture. It works well on my fine hair and I like that it adds a little body.  I have plenty of other serums/leave in conditioners at the moment but I will get this again at some point I am sure.
Ouai Hair Oil is a repeat empty for me and it's one of my favourite hair oils that smooths and hydrates my hair without weighing it down.
Living Proof Nourishing Oil didn't work great for my hair, it felt a little too greasy and left my hair looking lank. I was disappointed by this.

 I must admit I didn't finish up as much stuff as I was expecting to during January, but there are several things that I have made good headway into which I will hopefully finish very soon. I need a little room on my shelf for a few new products that I have incoming! 

CVS Beauty Day Giveaway: October 2018.

I love those random Saturdays (I never see an announcement about them in advance!) when you walk into your local CVS and the beauty consultant is hovering by a stand full of bags of beauty samples which are being handed out to anyone who wants one irrespective of whether you have bought anything or not. Beauty samples are some of my favourite small treats so of course, I pick one up for myself if I'm ever in store when they are giving them away! 

On a recent Saturday, I was given a bag containing money off coupons and all of the goodies pictured above.

Nature's Bounty Hair Skin and Nail Gummies. 

I must admit to being a little sceptical about supplements but these orange flavoured gummies certainly tasted great.

Cerave Moisturising Lotion. 

I'm looking forward to trying out this basic, gentle moisturising lotion as people seem to love this brand.

Love, Beauty & Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner.

I've used these before and not only did they smell good they left my hair in great condition. I'm actually using the LB&P Argan Oil and Lavender Body Wash at the moment and really enjoying it.

La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 (SPF60). 

This is a favourite sunscreen of a lot of people but personally, I find it a little uncomfortable to wear. I'm always happy to have samples of sunscreen though as I carry one around in my bag at all times just in case...

Invisibobble Hair Ties. 

You can't go wrong with free hair ties and my hair is currently long enough to tie back so these are a winner in my book. There are three in this pack and I'm pleased that I got to try the 'blond' colour of these so they really should be 'invisible'.

Vichy Mineral 89 Booster. 

I love this Hydrating Booster and have already used a couple of bottles of it! It's a basic Hyaluronic Acid serum/booster which I like to use in the morning on top of a Vitamin C serum before my moisturiser and sunscreen. Bonus points to this sample for coming in a cute sachet.

Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist. 

I love facial sprays and mists so it's no surprise that I have already used this up. This spray has a soft rose fragrance and I like that it doesn't contain any alcohol at all. It's very reasonably priced and a good alternative to the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Rose and Herbs that I frequently buy.

Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Renewal Deep Conditioner. 

I've used this quick conditioning mask previously and found it to be effective. I always need extra conditioners so I'm happy with this sample. 

Dove Dry Skin Relief Gentle Cleansing Face Wash. 

I will try this out as a face wash but I expect I will end up using it as a body wash if it proves to be at all drying or foamy. 

La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturiser. I really like this moisturiser, it's very gentle and I like to use it if my skin feels in need of some TLC. It is a great product to use after a peel or any sort of exfoliation as well.

I'm very happy with this little goody bag. It's a nice mix of old favourites along with some new products to try and it's a great little perk especially as it was completely unexpected and was free!

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Spring 2018.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis, and money off coupons the box itself is free, but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers.

There has been some problem with the shipping and distribution of these boxes of late but my Spring box arrived in a timely manner. Let's have a look inside...

Mini and Travel Sized Items.

Rembrandt 3 Day Whitening Boost Kit.

This is a set of six tooth whitening strips. It isn't an item that I ever use but I will pass them along to someone who does. I've received Crest White Strips in my Walmart box before but Rembrandt is a  slightly more upmarket brand.

Hello Toothpaste - Activated Charcoal (.85oz).

Hello Toothpastes are a fluoride-free formula, that contains no SLS and keeps the inclusion of 'unnatural' ingredients to a minimum. They are also cruelty-free and bear the Leaping Bunny insignia. I have had quite a few of these toothpastes in previous Walmart boxes and while they may not be the most exciting product, they always come in handy. I've read good and bad things about charcoal toothpaste but I am expecting this to be quite gentle and will at least try it out. 

Soft Soap Earth Blend Shower Gel 'Coconut and Fig' (2oz).

I love SoftSoap Shower Gels, they are one of my favourite drugstore brands. This Coconut and Fig scented one smells delicious, it's very summery and I look forward to using it immensely.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Lotion 'Sheer Hydration' (1oz).

Aveeno is another great drugstore brand and their body lotions not only hydrate skin very well they leave skin calmed and soothed. 

Samples.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish 'Macadamia and Rice Milk' (1oz).

I tried a couple of samples of this quite recently. I loved the scent and how it felt when I used it but I found that it didn't do a great job of softening my skin. My skin felt a little irritated afterwards and I needed to use a lot of lotion to relieve it. I may give this another try, but I may also pass it along to someone else.

Garnier Whole Blends Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner 'Oat Delicacy' (2x.34fl oz).

I'm not super excited about these two samples but sachets of shampoo and conditioner are always useful to take on trips and I will certainly use these two up over the coming months.

SOO AE Acai Berry Revitalizing Sleeping Mask (.35oz).

I must confess that I've still not used the Donkey Milk Mask by SOO AE that was in my last Walmart Box. This sleeping mask promises to brighten and renew and I will put both of these masks next to my sink and endeavour to use them up sometime this month.

Coupons.

There is a free hairband from Clairol attached to a coupon for a free box of Nice 'n Easy Hair Color. Unlike some coupons that Walmart includes this one is redeemable anywhere and although I don't currently use Nice 'n Easy I will use this token to pick up a box and try it.

There's also a coupon for $2.00 off a Rembrandt Tooth Whitening Kit and a chance to win a $100.00 gift card if you complete a Brand Share survey about our box.

Overall.

My last Walmart box was pretty uninspiring but I'm quite pleased with this box. At least the contents feel seasonally appropriate and the contents are Spring-like in feel and very Instagrammable! There are a few repeat items but I will use everything apart from the tooth strips. The inclusion of the coupon for a hair dye means that the value is here in this quarter's box and the Soft Soap mini is super cute! All in all, it is a definite improvement over my last box. Let's hope they keep up the good work and that the Summer box is as good as this one! 

You can sign up and subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter" and 'Classic' if you wish.

CVS Beauty Day Giveaway: Spring 2018.

Ah, CVS Beauty Day Giveaway! 

From time to time I will go into my local CVS and there will be a table full of free goody bags containing samples, minis, and money off coupons. I love samples, GWP's and free things in general so I always pick up one of these bags if I come across them!
In the past I always used to get an email notification about these Beauty Days, but for the past couple of years they just seem to pop up on random weekends. I think they are seasonal, that is four times a year, but I could be totally wrong about that, perhaps they are more frequent? I'm guessing that Beauty Days and their bag contents vary from store to store, but again who knows? 

Anyway, enough of my musings about CVS and their promo department, here's a look at what was  in the Giveaway Bag that I picked up last weekend...

The bag was rich in haircare samples - which is fine by me! There were shampoo and conditioner sample sachets from Nexxus (Kerafix Damage Healing), Carol's Daughter (Black Vanilla) and 

Love Beauty and Planet (Argan Oil and Lavender) along with a 50 ml mini of Aussie 3 Minute Moist Conditioner and a sachet of Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Repairing Hair Mask.

There were two skincare sachet samples: Garnier Skin Active Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturiser which can be used as a day cream, night cream or mask and Olay Regenerist Whip Cream.

There were also sample sachets of Amlactin Rapid Relief Body Lotion and My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Tooth Cleaning Powder along with money off coupons for $3.00 off Amlactin and Nexxus products.

I'm a little hesitant to use the My Magic Mud Tooth Powder as it seems a little faddish and I have read that charcoal powders can be too abrasive for use on teeth but I will use everything else in the bag. I'm especially looking forward to trying out the Love Beauty and Planet haircare and the Garnier Skin Active 3-in-1 cream looks interesting.

These bags are such fun and definitely a nice little perk to pick up unexpectedly don't you think?

cvs.com

Empties: March 2018.

Well hello!  

March seemed to simply whizz by and after an exceptionally slow start to the month empties wise I seemed to fly through products in the last few days. Let's take a look at the twelve full sized and twenty two samples that I finished in March.

Skincare.

This month I only managed to use up three full sized skincare items plus a sheet mask!

I dislike wearing most sunscreens so Lancome Bienfait UV 50+ was a pleasant surprise for me as it felt comfortable on my skin and provided enough hydration that I didn't have to use a daytime moisturiser under it. This oil free sunscreen left no white/grey cast on my skin and although there were a few products that made it ball up, it did layer well with most things, and it didn't cause me to break out once.

Vichy V Mineral 89 is so good! This Hyaluronic Acid rich 'booster' (I used it in the place of a serum) made my skin look plump and smooth, the huge 50ml bottle lasted for ages. This is such a good product for the price (it is under $30.00) and I love the fact that I can easily grab some in my local drugstore.

Mabel+Meg Enchanter Hydrating Eye Serum is another Hyaluronic Acid rich product. This clear gel didn't do anything for me besides providing a burst of immediate hydration to my eye area. I think that if you are younger and haven't many concerns about the area around your eyes you may like this, but if you need a little more help then I don't think this is for you. I also found that this had quite a runny consistency that wasn't the best for use around the eyes as it meant that it was quite easy to get it into them by accident.

Nature Republic Aqua Collagen Solution Sheet Mask was saturated with product and a good fit for my face but, honestly, I don't think it did anything in terms of making my skin feel softer or more hydrated. It actually made my face feel a little itchy when I was wearing it... I'm still not convinced by sheet masks I'm afraid!

Although full sized skincare empties were a little thin on the ground this month I did use up eleven skincare samples.

Omorovicza Cleansing Foam had a nice whipped mousse like texture. I quite liked this as a morning face wash, it didn't dry out my skin and was a luxurious start to the day, but I did find that it's strong Neroli/Cologne type scent was an odd pick for a facial product. This falls into the range of 'super expensive facial cleansers' and although it was nice enough I don't think that it is worth it's high price tag.

Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Peel and Sonya Dakar Flash Facial were both quick daily exfoliating products. These two gels both turned watery and then into a white balled up substance when rubbed over dry skin. I thought that both of these were somewhat gimmicky. I didn't notice any difference after I used them and I hated having to wash the balled up product from my face as I found it a somewhat messy procedure. I was disappointed by both of these.

I have used Caudalie VinoPerfect Serum before. I don't find that it does much in terms of brightening my skin but it does do a good job of hydrating it and I like the fresh smell and feel of it. It's a good daytime serum for me.

A good night time serum for me is Sunday Riley Luna. I don't love the smell of this but it is a lovely gentle retinol encapsulated in soothing Blue Tansy Oil, such a clever combination of products that suits my skin well and layers beautifully with my favourite Sunday Riley Good Genes to form a simple and effective night time routine.

3Lab M Serum is an exceptionally good serum. I love how this feels on my skin and how it makes my skin feel. I'm always happy to get 3Lab samples as not only do they produce results they are far too expensive for me to even consider purchasing!

I used three samples of face creams. Vichy Liftactiv Supreme was okay, nothing bad about this one but nothing special either. Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream is a gentle hydrating gel cream that is very lovely to wear as a daytime skin plumper. Kat Burki Bio Correcting Face Cream is rich and luxurious, it makes skin feel instantly softer and appear smoother. It is very good but it is another very expensive product.

I didn't experience any noticeable cooling effect from Lancome Energie de Vie Eye Gel but I did find that it made my whole eye area look a little fresher without irritating my eyes. I'm always on the lookout for the perfect eye cream and although this wasn't 'the one' it did impress me enough that I would buy a full size next time I see an enticing Lancome GWP.

Finally for skincare Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Mask was a non drying clay type mask that was easy to rinse off. It left my skin looking clear, even, and generally fresher and brighter. I didn't love it's strong menthol and citrus fragrance but I did like the results.

Two make up minis I finished this month were Chantecaile Brilliant Gloss in the shade 'Lucky' and Becca Ever Matte Poreless Priming Perfector. I love Chantecaille Brilliant Glosses, Lucky is very similar in colour to my favourite shade in the range 'Modern' although Lucky has a little more shimmer. These glosses last a long time on the lips and Lucky is a great colour to layer over lipsticks for a little extra glitz and glamour. They also have a proper brush rather than a doe foot applicator which I much prefer. I didn't finish all of the Becca Primer I'm afraid. I found that although it did have a blurring effect on my skin it made my skin feel tight and dry. It did make my make up last a little longer but it was simply uncomfortable to wear and made me break out a little on my chin. It is a silicon free formula but I found it made quite a lot of my products ball up - so much so that I had to wash my face and start again on more than one occasion which was very very annoying. I really disliked this primer which was disappointing as I had heard such good things about Becca products...

Haircare.

Herbal Essences is one of my favourite drugstore brands so it's no surprise to find two of their empties in my bag this month. I love the light coconut scent of the Hello Hydration Shampoo and have used countless bottles of it over the years. The Hydra-licious Conditioner was okay. It was quite a thick conditioner with a fruity berry scent that I liked but didn't find it outstanding in any way.

I wasn't too keen on Hempz Blushing Grapefruit and Raspberry Cream Shampoo. It's fruity scent was too sweet and sickly and it was very runny in consistency.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm was a 5 minute hair mask that I tried to use every ten days or so after a clarifying shampoo. It was very thick with a faint pineapple scent and rinsed away easily. My hair did feel quite soft whenever I used this and it didn't leave my hair flat or lank. The huge jar that lasted for a long long time and while I liked it well enough I can't see myself repurchasing this. (I use hair masks so sporadically that I can get by on the ones I receive as samples/GWP's etc).

Final haircare empty is a mini OUAI Hair Oil. I love this leave in hair oil, it is one of my favourite leave in conditioners that I find does a fantastic job of detangling hair. It never leaves my hair greasy looking either!

Body care.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Bath and Shower Gel was a lovely formula. It wasn't mega frothy but it certainly produced enough bubbles and it didn't irritate or dry my skin. The fragrance was a straight up Lavender scent so although relaxing it was a little too Granny-ish for me. I'd say that this was more of a long evening bath product rather than one for a quick morning shower.

I used two samples of Dove Exfoliating Body Polish. I thought that this felt very gentle and creamy when I used it and it had a warm nutty fragrance that felt very comforting. When my skin was dry it was a little softer but nothing like as soft as when I have used other scrubs. It also made me feel a little itchy which meant I needed to be a bit heavy handed with my body lotion to relieve it. I'm guessing it contained something that didn't agree with my skin but after initially being so impressed I didn't enjoy this product.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Body Lotion is a very lightly textured body lotion. I actually prefer something a little thicker and richer but I didn't mind it's 'barely there' fresh fragrance.

C Booth body products are some of my favourite and their Lemon Sugar Body Lotion didn't disappoint. It's not marketed as a 'green' beauty product but it does have a fairly clean formula and I like that it contains an exfoliant in the form of Malic Acid. It's a fabulous consistency, rich and easily absorbed without any greasiness, and I love the scent of this. I'm not sure if this intended to be a dupe for Fresh Sugar Lemon or not, but it smells rather similar...

I also used a sachet of Rituals Ritual of Sakura Body Cream (not pictured). This was very rich and thick with a soft sweet cherry fragrance - such a tiny sample though - it barely contained enough for just my arms!

My empties pile wouldn't be complete without a mini hand cream - almost every month I finish one up. This month I had a handbag clear out and finished three(!) all of them by Crabtree & Evelyn. A mini pocket sized 'Rosewater' and two handbag sized ones in 'Himalayan Salt' and 'Florentine Freesia' fragrances all of which were lovely.

I also finished up a big bottle of Molten Brown Hand Lotion in 'Gingerlily'. I loved having this fancy bottle of hand lotion around, it's lighter in formula than the C&E creams but still very soothing and effective.

Perfume.

I used up three perfume vials:

Vera Wang Embrace Periwinkle: Surprisingly I liked this! It had a powdery Iris scent and smelled a lot more expensive than it was.

Diptyque Fleur de Peau: This is a warm musk like fragrance but it's a very subtle musk, so much so that after an initial whiff I couldn't smell it at all. What I could smell of it I liked, it was warm and musky, but I'm not keen on these new style 'no-fragrance' type of perfumes. I like to wear my scents loudly!

Diptyque Benjoin Boheme: I liked this woody warm amber scent. There weren't any vanilla gourmande type notes to it which meant that this unisex scent leant a little more on the masculine side which I don't mind as I quite like to wear a masculine scent.

That's all for March. I'll be back with more empties at the end of April and I'm expecting there to be a lot of skincare ones next time around.

Product Love: Vichy Mineral 89.

I rarely buy skincare in the drugstore but when I do, with the exception of Nip+Fab Glycolic Pad, it is almost always something that is by a French pharmacy brand. 

The recent combination of extremely cold dry weather, wind, and coming inside to aggressive central heating has been making my face feel (and appear) more dehydrated than usual. I had been searching for something that would give instant and lasting hydration while being soothing and calming and the simple formula of Vichy V Mineral 89 Daily Booster is the one has been ticking the requirement boxes of my skincare needs of late! 

This clear, oil free gel contains 89% Vichy mineral water along with Hyaluronic Acid. Vichy recommend using this as a moisturiser but I find that it is perfect to use as a daytime serum sandwiched between spritzes of Vichy Eau Thermal before a daily moisturiser. Mineral 89 layers beautifully with other products (I haven't experienced any rolling or piling with it) and it preps my skin perfectly for make up. In addition it absorbs easily and doesn't feel at all sticky as some H.A. products have a tendency to. As a further bonus, due to the presence of fifteen minerals in Vichy spa water, both of these products help to strengthen skin while re balancing its PH and help to protect it from the effects of airborne pollutants and extreme weather conditions. 

Mineral 89 is easy to find in drugstores (I get mine from CVS/ cvs.com) as well as high street beauty retailers such as Ulta/ ulta.com. 

It's also wallet friendly, a 50ml bottle (almost double the size of most serums) costs $29.50. 

And if you are super dry and in need of lots of extra hydration the thermal water aerosol costs just $14.00 for 150g. I highly recommend that you buy both and use them together for optimum results.

 

All the Empties 2017.

My love affair with all things beauty wise showed no sign of abating in 2017 and I used a whopping total of one hundred and forty three full sized products and three hundred and eighty five samples! June's Month of Foil project accounted for one hundred and thirty two foil samples alone with the rest of the foil samples, minis and full sized products spread pretty evenly throughout the year.

Here's a breakdown of the full sized products that I used (because analyzing my use of samples and sachets is a bit too nerdy - even for me!)

Skincare.

I finished fifty eight items of skincare over the course of 2017. The largest category of which were, unsurprisingly, cleansing products of which I used thirteen in total made up of three milks, three gels, two balms, two creams, one oil, and one pack of wipes. I used one bottle of foaming cleanser which I re purposed it as a hand wash and I have included this in my count. In addition I used four separate eye make up removers, two of which were packets of pads and two of which were liquids.

I enjoy using facial mists and spritzes and used six facial sprays as well as four aerosol containers of fancy spring water. In addition to these hydrating toners and sprays I used four packs of glycolic acid pads and one bottle of glycolic toner.

I used ten bottles of serum and two bottles of facial oil along with nine facial moisturisers and three eye creams. I also used one bottle of Vitamin C powder.
Somewhat shamefully I only managed to use one full sized sunscreen but my daily make up and primer both contain SPF and I rarely sit in the sun and never sunbathe.

Body Care.

I used thirty nine body products of which eleven were shower gels and one was a bath oil. I also used one shower gel infused sponge. I need to moisturise after bathing and used up fifteen bottles of body lotions and three pots of body butter. As my hands are in water a lot I also slather on hand cream and I finished eight tubes throughout the year (some of these were handbag sized but I count these as full sizes as they retail as such).

Haircare.

I used twenty six hair products up in 2017.

I used a lot of sachets and minis during the year so there were only five empty bottles of shampoo but I did manage to use eleven bottles of conditioner! I used one tin of texturising spray, one salt spray and one hair spray. I also used three handbag sized dry shampoos which I used to add grit and texture rather than as cleansers. I used up one large pot of conditioning hair mask and three leave in hair oils/serums.

Make Up.

It takes so long to finish a make up product but I did try my best to finish a few things up and managed to empty fourteen. 

I used one primer and one eye make up primer. I used four other face products: two tinted moisturisers, one cream blusher and one highlighter. I used one single powder eye shadow, two eye liner pencils and two full sized tubes of mascara. I finished three lip products: a gloss, a balm and a liquid lipstick.

Miscellaneous.

Finally six products that I couldn't quite categorise: two facial sheet masks, one foot peeling mask, one bottle of perfume, one book of facial blotting papers and one bottle of top coat for nail polish.

I used up more products in 2017 than in 2016 so who knows what 2018 has in store!