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: August 2019.

August is my birthday month and it has flown by. However, I did manage to finish quite a few products, in total I used up thirteen full-sized products and thirty samples or minis.

Skincare.

I only managed to finish four full-size skincare items.

Estee Lauder Daywear with SPF15 is something that I used to use sometimes in the distant past and I picked it up in an Ulta sale to see what I thought of it now. I still like its cucumber scent but that's about all, it felt a little greasy to wear during the day especially as I had to put another SPF on top - because really what is the point of including factor 15?

Rodial Dragon's Blood Eye Gel was a product that grew on me. I wasn't too impressed to begin with but over time I noticed that it softened fine lines in my eye area. It's a cool feeling gel that sinks in immediately leaving no trace of stickiness. I did run through this quite quickly though and the pump pot is quite bulky and uses a lot of plastic.

Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerine is basically what it says on the label - water, glycerine and rose hydrosol. This is super cheap and easily available from health food stores. The pump works fine and there's nothing wrong with this but it is kind of boring and basic. I've always been interested to try this and now I have but I wouldn't repurchase it unless I really needed a facial mist and this was the only option.

Green Leaf Naturals Aloe Very Gel is something that I use with my NuFace device. It is inexpensive and quite liquid in texture and I like that it isn't sticky like a lot of other Aloe products are.

I finished fifteen skincare minis and samples as I was away for a good part of the month.

Seven of these were from Drunk Elephant so I'll run through those first.

Beste #9 Jelly Cleanser is a foaming cleanser, its okay as a morning in the shower face wash but not my favourite. It feels a little ordinary and it can be a little drying, I'm happy to use up the minis of these that I have but I wouldn't buy this for myself.

I would buy CTango Eye Cream though! I love this creamy hydrating cream, it works miracles on my eye area and is one of my favourite eye creams.
I also love CFirma a protective brightening serum, it absorbs well and is good at reducing hyperpigmentation or maintaining your skin's brightness. I especially love it layered with some BHydra which is Drunk Elephant's Hyaluronic Acid product. There are cheaper HA products out there but this one is a very good one that I would definitely purchase.

I have been totally wowed by Prontini from Drunk Elephant. I would say it's my favourite moisturizer at present, it is a gel-cream that is packed full of peptides and it absorbs brilliantly. I've been using this by itself as a daytime cream and mixed with a little Marula Oil at nighttime - my skin drinks this combination up! I have used up two of my mini Prontinis and one Marula Oil. The Marula Oil is okay used like this but not something that I would see myself purchasing as I find it a little heavier than I like even though it is quite thin in consistency.

I have been loving Natura Bisse Diamond Cocoon Hydrating Essence so much. It is almost like a very light serum, thick enough to apply with my hand and I have been using it as a pre-serum. It feels comfortable on my skin, adds moisture and also protects against pollution and blue light. I'm going to get a full size of this soon.

La Mer The Lifting Eye Serum is a very lightweight clear liquid serum, it was okay but I didn't notice it doing much, to be honest.

Omorovicza Rejuvenating Night Cream was an excellent night cream. It didn't feel too rich but it was very nourishing, I'd put this in my group of favourite night time moisturizers - it reminded me of the Zelens Triple Z which is possibly my all-time favourite

Chantecaille Stress Repair Concentrate is a creamy eye cream that absorbs well and temporarily smoothes my eye area. I like this but it is super expensive.

I used samples of three masks. 
Eve Lom Rescue Mask is a deep cleansing kaolin mask. It has a medicated type of scent and it does dry out quite a lot but it doesn't dry my skin. My skin looks clear and even when I remove this and it is also good for clearing areas of congestion, or I have used a dab as a spot treatment. I've never bought this but I have used countless samples and always found them to be effective.

Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Mask had a whippy gel texture and was very highly perfumed. It was a basic hydrating mask, I found that it just seemed to sit on top of my skin and not sink in, leaving a sticky residue. This was a bust for me.

Biologique Recherche Masque VIP O2 was a thin milky mask. By itself, it didn't do much for me but people rave about using it in conjunction with the Masque Vivant so hopefully, I will get to try it again in that way.

Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF30 is something that I carried around to use as a sunscreen top-up during the day. It smelled like vodka and it stings if you get it in your eyes but it did offer sun protection. Definitely not a fun one to use for me but it did its job.

Haircare.

I managed to empty quite a lot of haircare during August. I used up four full sizes and six minis.

I used up two full-sized bottles of shampoo, both of which were drugstore and neither of which I much liked. They have been in my cupboard for ages and I have mostly used them for decants when travelling, I was happy to see them finally emptied! 
Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition had a pleasant tropical fruit fragrance and it produced an abundant amount of bubbles but it left my hair feeling very stripped, I wouldn't recommend this one to anyone I'm afraid. Herbal Essences Hydra-Licious Shampoo smelled of berries and probably my least favourite of the many Herbal Essence products I have tried over the years. It didn't strip my hair but it wasn't particularly hydrating.

I used a full-sized bottle of IGK Instafamous Blond Conditioner. I've had this a while because I only use it maybe every 10 days or so if my hair colour needs correcting. It is a purple conditioner that takes away any brassy tones. I love this thick conditioner it corrected my hair colour, left my hair in great condition, and unlike other purple hair products I have used it doesn't leave my shower messy or stained. I'd definitely get this again.

I used a full-sized Klorane Leave-In Detangling Milk Spray with Oat Milk. This was a water weight spray that had a fresh green fragrance. I sprayed it onto wet hair and it made combing it through very easy. I enjoyed this more than I was expecting too.

I used a mini of Philip B Peppermint Avocado Shampoo. This is very minty and awakening. It lathers and rinses well. I like this but it's not something that I would see myself purchasing a full size of as it doesn't stand out for me in any way except for its zingy scent.

I'm continuing to work my way through my stash of hair masks by using them as conditioners. Miriam Quevedo Platinum & Diamonds Luxurious Mask has a powdery perfume-like scent, it left my hair soft but using this every day was a bit too much as it is a very deep conditioning mask. Davines The Spotlight Circle is a quick 5-minute mask that I like. It is quite light and left my hair nice and soft. I also like the way this is packaged (although it doesn't reseal once opened) and its light fragrance was lovely.

Oribe FeatherBalm is a lightweight Leave-In Styling Cream that I used on damp hair as a leave-in conditioner. It is rare that I dislike an Oribe product and while this wasn't bad I found that it was so lightweight that I needed to use a lot of it so I would much rather use Supershine. It did smell very good though! 
Bumble & Bumble Repair Blow Dry is a leave-in creamy conditioner. I don't blow dry my hair but this worked equally well on air-dried hair. The fragrance had a slightly chemical scent but it wasn't noticeable on my hair.

The final haircare product I emptied was Ouai Wave Spray. This has Ouai's signature powdery scent and is the first wave spray I have used that didn't leave my hair crispy and crunchy. I applied this to damp hair, let it dry and it left me with soft piece-y locks. Very impressed with this one!

Bodycare.

I used four full-sized body products and one mini.

Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash is one of my favourite body washes. It's not cheap but I almost always manage to find it on sale after Christmas (usually in a set with its matching lotion). It has a 'clean' formula that leaves my skin feeling comfortable and a soft rose scent (it's not a green rose scent, it is somewhat sweet but it is very delicate and not overpowering). The sealed pump packaging of this works well and it produces a plentiful lather.
Rituals Ritual of Sakura Foaming Shower Gel is the best of the aerosol gel-to-foam body washes that I have tried. This is the only one that I have used that dispenses as a gel before foaming. The scent is quite a sweet rose, a little too sweet for me (I much prefer the Ren rose scent) but it doesn't linger. Overall I like these foaming gels and they are fun to use but I do find that I get through them very quickly and there are other fragrances that I prefer. 

Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive and Basil Body Lotion was very nice indeed. It had a fresh green lotion-like scent that I enjoyed and it sank in well leaving my skin soft and nourished. However, it was very thick, almost like a body butter, so the packaging of this one wasn't perfect and it spent all its life upside down so I could get it out of its solid plastic bottle which was a bit annoying!

Coincidentally I used a handbag-sized Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Cream in the same fragrance. I love the formula and format of these and they are frequently in my empties. I also used a mini pocket sized L'Occitane Hand Cream. This had a powdery fragrance and although it is quite similar to the C&E one I find it a little greasier in feel.

Makeup and Perfume.

I used one full-sized makeup product, a Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo. I love these for brightening my under eyes. They aren't really concealers, but they bounce the light back and imperfections appear lessened. The product is dispensed with a click onto a built-in brush so it is easy to apply and the formula is light and blendable and plumps out rather than settling into fine lines.

I used four perfume vials.

Versace Dylan Blue Pour Femme smelled like a fruity shampoo, definitely not my type of fragrance and the full size comes in hideous looking packaging.

Berdoues Azur Riviera is very fresh and aquatic. It has a summery vibe and is refreshing but it strays a little too far into aftershave territory for my liking.

The Harmonist Yin Transformation is an aquatic floral. It smells quite strong and has longevity but is a little generic for me. Its nothing special in my book and I must admit I was expecting something a bit more unique for the price this is.

Etat Libre d'Orange Cologne is a straight-up Cologne. It smells very 4711 on application then dries down to be more lemony. It isn't my favourite type of scent but it is very refreshing to use in very hot weather.

And that's all for my August empties. I'm on a mission to finish up lots of samples in September so I'm excited to see how that goes, wish me luck!

Empties: June 2019.

During June I managed to finish twenty-three samples and thirteen full-sized products.

Skincare.

I used up nine full-sized skincare items.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal is great for refreshing and rinsing skin and to use as an extra hydrating layer between products. Reasonably priced, packaged in an aerosol can this French pharmacy staple is a welcome addition to any routine and a must have in warm weather.

Emma Hardie Midas Touch Revitalising Eye Cream has a creamy gel texture and absorbs instantly offering immediate hydration and a temporary smoothing of the eye area. It was very nice but didn't stand out for me in any way and there are plenty of other (similarly priced) eye creams that I prefer.

I used two full-sized serum and one oil.

Vichy V Liftactiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector is a water weight serum that feels slightly tacky on application. I used this mainly for protection as I don't have any hyperpigmentation right now. Once absorbed it layered well with other products but I didn't see any noticeable difference in my skin. It comes in a tiny 10ml bottle and ml for ml works out to be more expensive than Drunk Elephant CFirma which surprised me. I was a bit disappointed in this one, to be honest, and wouldn't repurchase it.

 Kat Burki Retin-C Treatment Complex is an absolutely beautiful night time serum. It is a very lightweight 'wet' serum that has a wonderful white flower scent. I'm always on the lookout for a  retinol product that is effective, feels moisturising and doesn't cause redness or flaking - this is it! Worth saving up for.

Beauty Kitchen High Definition Facial Oil is a thick viscous oil scented with Anjelica that absorbs really well despite its thick consistency. I really liked this, it was plumping and moisturising and didn't feel at all greasy.

 I used two full-sized moisturisers up.

Tata Harper Repairative Moisturiser is a lightweight liquid moisturiser with a  fresh clean grassy scent. It is very nice but it's expensive - more than I would usually pay for a moisturiser so I don't see myself getting this again.

Beauty Kitchen Everlasting Radiance Moisturiser is nice and creamy. It feels very comfortable on my skin and absorbs well. This is a good inexpensive moisturiser with a clean formula that I would recommend and one that I would definitely repurchase if it was freely available in the US

Unanai Dermo Defence Mask is a basic Aloe mask that is very cooling and soothing. I found it great to use after a treatment or as a final mask in a three mask masking session. I have had this a while and ended using it up with my NuFace face firming device which needs an oil-free Aloe gel to conduct its ultrasonic waves.  Overall this is a very good basic aloe product that I liked because it wasn't at all sticky or tacky.

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I always carry a spray-on sunscreen for top ups throughout the day as needed in the summer. This one, Hampton Sun Continuous Mist Sunscreen SPF 35 was effective but I didn't enjoy its strong chemical fragrance and it stung my eyes if I got it in them or too close. I wouldn't repurchase this for those reasons - even though it worked well.

I also finished eleven skincare samples.

I used Biore Charcoal Cleansing Micellar Water to remove my eye makeup and it worked well.

Dove Gentle Cleansing Face Wash was a creamy cleanser that felt gentle. It was surprisingly good for a drugstore cleanser!

Fresh Soy Cleanser is a cucumber scented gel cleanser that I love to use as a morning face wash as it is very gentle and doesn't strip my skin. I've done well with samples of this one over the years!

Chantecaille Anti-Pollution Mattifying Cream is a mattifying daytime moisturiser/protector. It was a light gel that didn't feel stripping and prepped my face nicely for makeup.

I used two samples of very expensive face creams. 

Revive Moisturising Renewal Cream is an overnight exfoliating moisturiser and an old favourite of mine. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream is an extremely thick cream that I used at night. I found it was far too heavy for my skin. I also don't think that it warrants its rather astronomical price tag.

3Lab Super Eye Treatment is a lightweight gel that I actually really like but it is another super pricy product. There is no way I would (or even could!) buy this but I will be delighted to use any more samples that come my way.

Sunday Riley Good Genes is always a joy to use. It is one of my favourite ever serums and one that really makes a visible difference to my skin.

I finished three samples of facemasks.

Goldfaden MD facial Detox Mask is a deep cleansing mask that I love. It has zinc and camphor but is gentle, effective and not at all drying.

Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant looks, smells, and feels like Marmite! It's very odd but it is amazing. As soon as I washed this off I could see that my skin looked evenly toned, clearer and brighter and smooth.

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask is a nice hydrating mask that feels soothing. I like this but it is again something that I wouldn't buy as it is so expensive.

Bodycare.

I used up two full-sized body lotions.

Andalou Naturals Citrus Sunflower Body Lotion is so gorgeous. Fragrance wise it reminds me a lot of Fresh Sugar Lemon (perhaps a little bit less zingy?) It is very refreshing and did a great job of moisturising my skin - there was no stickiness whatsoever with this product which literally melted into my skin. This one is a definite repurchase!

Nip+ Fab Viper Venom Body Serum is more of a firming product and it wasn't quite moisturising enough for me. It was a thick waxy gel with a very faint fresh scent. It did absorb well and surprisingly given its consistency it wasn't sticky bit overall it was a bit of a miss for me.

Olay Whip Body Wash is a body wash that dispenses as a foam. It has a slightly fruity fragrance. This didn't feel all that cleansing to me and it left my skin feeling a little tight and itchy. I  also ran through this pretty quickly too so overall it is not something that I would purchase

I repurposed three face washes as body washes as they were all too drying for my face.
Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser worked well for me as a body wash and it smelled kind of spa-like which was nice. Bliss Rose Gold Rescue Gentle Foaming Cleanser smelled like face cream and also worked well as a body wash. Both of these produced abundant amounts of bubbles! Lancôme Creme Radiance was a thick creamy cleanser that was very frothy, it left even the skin on my hands and body feeling very tight and stripped. A reviewer on the Lancome website says it leaves their face 'squeaky clean' which I think says everything we need to know about this one!

I also finished 2 months worth of Goop High School Genes supplements. There are 5 pills to take each day and I like how these come packaged in daily doses. This version has a multivitamin, an Omega 3 capsule, an Alpha Lipoic Acid pill for enhanced antioxidant activity, a gut balance pill made with herbal extracts, and a natural metabolism booster. I can't honestly say that I noticed a difference when I took these to when I didn't but I'm pleased to have had a chance to try these somewhat pricy supplements and didn't suffer any ill effects from taking them.

Haircare.

I used up two full-sized and five minis/samples of haircare.

Windle & Moodie Nourishing Conditioner had a thick slightly oily consistency, contained green tea and cocoa butter and smelled lovely. The packaging was stylish and the pump worked well.
This did a good job of detangling wet hair but I found it wasn't moisturising enough for the ends which got a bit frizzy still. I wouldn't repurchase this one even though I love the brand as there are other luxury conditioners I prefer.

I used up a handbag sized Tressame Fresh Start Volumising Dry Shampoo. I'm not sure why I used this up when I have so many luxury dry conditioners but it was actually pretty good! There's a little bit of a chemical edge to its scent, and while it did add a good amount of texture and volume to my hair without leaving any white residue it, my hair did feel very matted after using this and I needed to use a clarifying shampoo the next day.

I finished three travel-sized conditioners.
 I love Beauty and Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Conditioner. It smells gorgeous, has a 'clean' formulation and performs like a much more expensive product.

I also liked Nature Box Coconut Oil Conditioner which was another drugstore offering. The coconut scent is slightly too sweet and synthetic but it left my hair extremely soft and manageable.

Sachajuan Colour Protect Conditioner is really lightweight - it is very runny and so you have to use quite a lot of it as it is difficult to work through your hair. I love the results, my hair is left hydrated and very soft and sleek but I dislike its strong chemical fragrance and it stung my eyes quite badly.

Davines Oi All in One Milk is a spray on leave in conditioner. It smells great and it works well but the formula always separates into a cream and a liquid no matter how hard I shake the bottle so I never use it as a spray but rather tip a dab into my palm and smooth it on that way.

I also used a tiny vial of Wella Cr Oil Reflections. I liked it well enough and it didn't weigh my hair down or make it look greasy but I probably wouldn't buy it, simply because it's not that easy for me to find.

Makeup and Perfume.
I didn't use up any makeup this month but I did finish three fragrance vials:

Loewe 001 Woman EDP is a warm, spicy, sexy, amber. It's really more of a winter scent but I like it a lot and am happy to wear it year round

Tory Burch EDP is a bright tangerine scent that's a little soapy. It is a refreshing summer scent albeit a little generic.
I didn't realise Paco Rabanne 1 Million EDT was an aftershave! It is a big amber fragrance that is strong and has a lot of projection and longevity. It is a very warm scent with leather and rose notes, I liked this on myself but wouldn't like it on a man.

And that's all my empties for June. It's a bit of a mixed bunch but I'm pleased with the skincare samples I finished - let us see how many I can use up in July!

Empties: May 2019.

In May I finished fifteen full sized products and twenty-one samples.

Skincare.

I used up two full sized cleansers.

I hated the packaging of Niod Sanskrit Saponins but liked the earthy smelling non-foaming cream inside. It rinsed away easily leaving my skin feeling comfortable. I bought this in a Black Friday sale and it was only $7.00 instead of $55.00. It was a bargain at $7.00 but I wouldn't pay full price for it even if they changed the packaging. 

Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultimate Cleanse lives up to its name. It is a beautiful balm cleanser that comes in a pump and it smells lovely. It turns washing your face into a spa experience and you only need to use a tiny amount so it lasts for ages.

I used two facial sprays. 

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist is lovely but not worth the high cost. I used one of these up last month too (both were gifted).

Vichy Thermal Water is a French pharmacy 'water in a tin' that is pocket-friendly. You can use this for many things - I like to use it for rinsing my face and misting over HA products for a little extra burst of hydration.

I was sad to finish my jar of Sarah Chapman Comfort Cream D-Stress. At first, I thought this calming moisturiser would be too rich but it absorbed brilliantly without any greasy feel. I absolutely loved this cream. It was good to use after a peel or treatment or if ever my skin was feeling tight or irritated. I'd happily use this every night however!

 I loved Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream. It absorbs well, doesn't sting, is very hydrating and appeared to depuff my eye area. It has a slight peachy pearlescence hue for cosmetic brightening and is an altogether excellent all round eye cream that I would definitely repurchase.

 Amazingly I managed to finish two lip balms!

Shea Moisture Shea butter Vegan Lip Balm was a thick balm that tasted of mint and ginger. It was so thick that it was a bit hard to get out of the tube, but it worked well and was inexpensive so I'd get it again.

Patchology Lip Service Gloss to Balm was excellent, one of the best lip balms I have tried in a while. It smelled and tasted of coconut and mint, looked like a clear gloss when applied and left my lips feeling soothed. I will definitely repurchase this once I have worked my way through all the lip balms I have floating around.

NuFace Gel Primer is an aloe gel that came with my NuFace tightening device. You need to apply a thin layer of this in order for the device to work but you can use a generic aloe gel which is what I am doing now as this one is quite pricy.

I used thirteen skincare minis.

Koh Gen Doh Cleansing Spa Water is a good micellar water, I use this for eye makeup removal but wouldn't buy it as there are more budget-friendly options available.

 I love Cle de Peau Softening Cleansing Foam. It is very soft and creamy, lasts for ages and removes makeup well

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Toner is a lovely gentle toner containing real petals. I'm more used to using a facial spray but this is very soothing and hydrating.

Revive Anti-Aging Eye Serum is a thinly textured eye product with a  pearly peach tone. It lasts for ages and is okay but not something that I would buy as it is very expensive. 

DermaE Vit C Concentrated Serum is lightweight and hydrating. It is inexpensive, I was impressed with this and think it is a  good budget-priced Vit C product.

Eve Lom Radiance Facial Oil is thick oil but it absorbs well. It smells a little oily but I liked this as an overnight oil, it left my skin looking plumped and radiant the next day.

Cerave Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF30 was quite thick but it absorbed well and was good for a drugstore sunscreen.

Zelens Hydra Shiso Balancing Moisturiser is a refreshing gel moisturiser that I like a lot. It is great to use in warmer weather.

Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream is another lightweight gel moisturiser which smells of roses and is very nice indeed.

Clark's Botanicals Retinol Rescue Overnight Cream is a gentle retinol which didn't irritate me at all. It has an almost balm-like texture. I used this by itself for a few nights and my skin was nice and soft in the morning.

Coola Makeup setting Spray SPF30 was a good SPF but it smelled like hairspray and stung my eyes. The spray mechanism on this mini didn't deliver a fine even mist - perhaps it is better on the full sized version?

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask is an excellent hydrating mask but it is very costly.

La Mer The Intensive Revitalising Mask reminded me of Sisley Black Rose Mask. It was very hydrating and left my skin feeling very soft but it is another very pricy facemask.

Haircare.

I didn't finish any haircare products during May - I think this is the first time this has ever happened!

Bodycare.

I emptied one full-sized and one sample of Kiehl's Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish. This scrub smells delicious and can be used either as a scrub on damp skin or as a creamy body wash. It's not something that I would purchase (because of the cost) but these gifted items were a real pleasure to use.

Kiehls Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter also smells divine. It is very nourishing - an expensive but rewarding bath time treat leaves skin soft and nourished.

Nivea Oil Infused Body Lotion is definitely oilier feeling than the original Nivea Body Lotions but it absorbs well and is very moisturising. This one has a warm soft vanilla scent which I enjoyed and while I was happy with this there are other body lotions by Nivea that I prefer.

Crabtree &Evelyn Hand Creams are frequently in my empties pile. They are the perfect size to carry around, the formula is nourishing and not greasy and there are millions of scents to choose from so I don't ever get bored of them. This one was scented with Rose & Pineapple which was a soft and refreshing perfume.

Makeup and Perfume.

I managed to use up two full-sized makeup items.
You will have seen Chantecaille Just Skin in the shade 'Nude' here before as I use it every day. It is a medium coverage Tinted Moisturiser which contains SPF15 and a whole host of good skincare ingredients that offer anti-oxidant protection. I love this so much, it would be my dessert island skincare pick!

Too Faced Insurance Eye Shadow Primer works well and lasts forever. It is very much like the Urban Decay one but lighter in texture. It was excellent but I think that I prefer an eye shadow primer that is applied with a doe foot as it pulls on the eye area less.

I used up two mini makeup products.
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is my favourite makeup primer. It does a fantastic job of prepping my skin and prolonging my makeup and it never clogs my skin or causes breakouts.
Mac In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara was excellent! I loved this mascara even though the brush was scratchy sounding when I applied it.

Finally, I finished four perfume vials.

I loved Byredo La Tulipe which was a fresh green floral that smelled exactly like tulips.

Diptyque Fleur de Peau is another scent that I love. It is slightly musky and smells like warm skin. It is very subtle and easy to wear, this one is on my shopping list.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Glacé is a fruity floral. It feels young and although it is a bit generic and not my usual sort of scent I do quite like it.

Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin is pinky red in colour. It smells like a somewhat musty rose and didn't last long on me. I normally enjoy rose scents but I wasn't too keen on this one.

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!

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!

 .

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.