Empties: October 2019.

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

Skincare.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bodycare.

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

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

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

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

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

Haircare.

I used two full-sized haircare items.

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

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

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

Miscellaneous.

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

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

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

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

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 July 2019.

In July I managed to use up twenty-four samples and fifteen full-sized products.

Skincare.

I only managed to finish three full-size skincare items in July

I used my last bottle of the old formula of Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip which has been a staple for me for many years. It was great as a morning face wash. I loved its earthy scent and how cooling and refreshing it felt. It was particularly good for greasier skins, and it left my skin balanced and clean without being stripping. I don't dislike the new formula which is meant for all skin types but it is less liquid and clay-like with more of a gel type consistency that I don't find as refreshing. I'm happy to use the new version but don't see myself purchasing it sadly.

Ark Skin Perfector De-Stress Serum reminds me of Caudalie VinoPerfect Serum. It is a nice lightweight, wet-feeling, fresh-smelling serum. It feels very hydrating and was great to use after masks and treatments for calming my skin. The dropper system worked well but I did need to shake it before use as it tended to split (this was mentioned on the packaging, I didn't get a dodgy bottle!). It is a little pricy and I probably wouldn't buy it as I'm not sure how easy it is to get in the US but I did enjoy it immensely and found it a useful product to have in stock.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunscreen SPF70 is inexpensive and it works! Comfortable, no white cast, layers well with other products and it doesn't make my face look shiny. I have bought this many times previously and will do so again. I also like that the bottle isn't huge so it is easy to carry around and I don't have to worry about it going off. 

I used fourteen skincare samples, four of which were cleansers.

Drunk Elephant Slaai Cleansing Balm is great, it whisks everything away and rinses away cleanly leaving no residue. I like this balm a lot and it reminds me of Clinique TTDO Balm. However, I do like an aromatic balm so I'm not sure if I would purchase a full size of this simply because it is unscented - I realise this is a positive selling point for many people but it isn't for me I'm afraid.

 I finished a deluxe sample of the new Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip. It was good to try this and the old one side by side, but as I said I probably wouldn't buy this version although I am happy to use samples.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is an old favourite, a lovely gentle pink gel that smells like Turkish Delight. It is gentle, non-foaming, non-drying and effective. I would use this as a first or second cleanse but I mostly use it as a morning face wash. I have bought this many times and will continue to do so.

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra isn't an exceptional HA serum but it is a very nice one that I would definitely purchase in full size. I always enjoy this. It leaves my skin looking plump and hydrated and it works very well with other products.

Revivé Anti Ageing Eye Serum is very light and runny. It lasts for ages but I don't feel that it does much beyond hydrating my eye area. I expect more from an item at this price point.

Rodial Bee Venom Moisturiser is another spendy item. I finished two different-sized samples of this thick moisturising cream. It has a scent that reminds me of honey and it absorbs well and feels moisturising, It does prickle a bit on application which makes it feel a tad gimmicky, to be honest
 it is a little underwhelming for me considering its price.

Dr Dennis Gross AB Exfoliating Moisturiser is very light, almost lotion-like in consistency. I used it at night as it contains acids and while I didn't dislike this cream I didn't really form an opinion of it as I only used it for a few nights.

Drunk Elephant Prontini is a moisturiser with a light almost gel-like texture. I used this over serums during the day and mixed it with a little oil at night. It made my skin feel incredibly soft and balanced my skin not leaving it greasy at all. I don't often rave about a moisturiser but I think that this is exceptionally good and it suits my skin very well, I also found that I needed to use very little of this for it to be effective. I would definitely get a full size of this if I ever need to purchase a moisturiser (unlikely) and much prefer it to Drunk Elephant LaLa.

Dr Haushka Lip Care Stick is a solid lip balm in the manner of chapstick. It is made from castor and other oils and leaves lips with a little sheen. Its quite soft and I used this up fairly quickly. I felt like this was one of those balms that sit on top of the lips without really doing much and I needed to apply it fairly frequently. It's not something that I would purchase again.

 I used two samples of Natura Bisse Diamond Cocoon Pollution Protection Spray. It is a water weight spray that you apply over sunscreen or makeup before going out. It protects skin from pollution and also blue light. It felt nice and refreshing and sat well over my makeup but I'm not sure how effective it is given that it only deposits a fine mist on the skin.

Finally, Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Power C Sleeping Mask is a declutter. I actually thought this had oxidised when I used it but after reading many reviews online it doesn't appear to have. It is orange in colour and has an odd strong fragrance (I thought it smelled like a sweet dessert wine) that lingered on the skin. This gel-like cream seemed to sit on my skin whenever I applied a generous layer of it and when I tried to rub this in it tended to pill. Also because of its colour, I wasn't inclined to sleep in this on my white sheets. The only good thing I have to say is that the pump packaging was very efficient otherwise, it was a total bust!

Haircare.

I enjoyed Windle & Moodie Nourishing Treatment Shampoo with Rooibos and Argan Oil. The pump worked well as this was quite a thin shampoo. It lathered and rinsed well and left my hair feeling good. I actually preferred this to the matching conditioner and this bottle lasted me for a long time. I think I would repurchase this although I wouldn't rush out to get the conditioner from this range again.

I'm continuing to use up my stash of hair masks by repurposing them as conditioners. I used up three mini Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Masks in this way. It is a rich, thick, slightly oily feeling mask with a light berry scent. It did leave my hair feeling soft and feeling somewhat thicker but it also left my bath scummy with oil which was annoying.

I'm trying to transition to better (ie more expensive ) hair care but one drugstore item that I can't see myself giving up is L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil! I love this inexpensive leave-in hair serum/oil. It smells like Argan Oil, smoothes and detangles, keeps frizz away and leaves my hair feeling soft without ever weighing it down or making it appear stringy.

I used Oribe FeatherBalm Weightless Styler as a leave-in conditioner too. It smells divine as you would expect from Oribe and whilst it did detangle my hair and make it more manageable I found it difficult to know how much to use. If you have very very fine hair this may be good for you, otherwise, I would stick with Supershine because you just end up using too much of this version.
Living Proof Restore was a water weight leave-in conditioning spray. It worked well and didn't weigh my hair down, I liked this and was impressed that the pump on this sample was so efficient.

Sexy Hair Love Oil did work pretty well as a leave-in conditioner but it was very silicon like in feel and left a lot of build-up in my hair. I also hated the cringe-worthy name.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Glossing Mist is a declutter. I have had this finishing treatment sat on my shelf for so long. Every so often I will take it down and realise that the reason it is still on my shelf is that it makes my hair look oily when I use it.

Bodycare.

I finished six full-sized body products: two hand creams, two shower gels and two body lotions.

St Ives Purifying Sea Salt & Pacific Kelp Body Wash was surprisingly good considering how cheap it was (I think I paid 99cents for this as I found it on special offer and had a coupon!). This was a creamy body wash so it didn't make tons of lather but it was frothy enough. It had a fresh minerally sea scent and big chunks of sea salt for a natural exfoliation. I enjoyed this more than I expected to.

I didn't enjoy Olay Cleansing Infusion Body Wash, however. It was another creamy wash but it made my skin feel a little itchy after use and had silica for exfoliating. I bought this because I love the smell of ginger but it wasn't as gingery and zingy as I would have liked. Also, the silica scrubby bits stuck to my shower which was very messy.

I love Nivea Original Daily Moisture Body Lotion. It smells like classic Nivea and is very moisturising but it is one of the heavier lotions that Nivea make and is a bit too heavy for warm weather. Nothing wrong with this at all but it is much better suited to winter use.

What is great as a summertime body moisturiser is Bliss Grapefruit and Aloe Body Butter! While it is thick I wouldn't call it a body butter as it feels light in texture and the Aloe makes it more of a gel-cream. This literally melts into the skin and feels very soothing and hydrating. It has a subtle grapefruit scent that isn't too sharp and the Aloe lends it a cooling effect. I'm going to get more of this and I'm a bit gutted that I have stuck with the Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter in the past as I much prefer this one.

I used two hand creams. Grove Bergamot & Orange hand cream was lightly scented and had a light fairly runny texture. I liked this subtle orange scent and it did an okay job of moisturising my hands without leaving them feeling greasy. I love having mini Crabtree & Evelyn hand creams to carry in my bag, the formula is one of my favourites and this Festive Fig scented one smelled sweet and raisin-like without being lingering or sickly.

Makeup and Perfume.

 I used a full-sized bottle of Diptyque Philosykos EDT which I think is the best fig perfume, it is the perfect blend of sweet fig with a spiky greenness and creamy base notes. I always wear this scent in summer and have a mini backup in stock already. I will definitely be buying another full-sized bottle very soon.

I used up four perfume samples. Kate Spade In Full Bloom is a generic mixed floral scent with strong rose top notes. I found it to be not outstanding in any way and honestly it wasn't all that nice.

Giorgio Armani Si Passione is a strong, long-lasting fruity floral. This smelled quite apricot-like on me, it was an old fashioned department store type of scent that I found overly sweet and cloying, definitely not one for me. Juicy Couture Oui is a sweet fruity floral. It is youthful and easy to wear. I preferred it to the two above scents but it is still one of my least favourite offerings from Juicy.

L'Etate d'Orange Libre Cologne is a great warm-weather fragrance. It is very uncomplicated compared to other perfumes from this house, opening with strong classic 4711 Cologne like notes and soon becoming very lemony. I wouldn't say this is my favourite sort of scent but its very refreshing to have a spritz of in hot weather and its very easy to wear.

Finally, I finished two makeup items.

 I love Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara, it adds darkness length and thickens without ever clumping. It gives a very natural-looking enhanced lash but it is very expensive - more than I would pay for a mascara - so I'm happy that I frequently get samples of it.

Hourglass Ambient Primer in 'Luminous Light' is a declutter. I love Veil Primer from Hourglass but this one failed to impress and I've had it sitting around unloved and unused for too long. It did even out my base colour and add a highlight effect but I felt like it sat on top of my skin and didn't really bond with other products in the way that Veil does.

And that's all for my July empties. I'm hoping to use up a lot of things in August as I will have some purchases coming up soon as GWP season is upon us!

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!

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.

All the Empties: 2018.

In 2018 I managed to use up a total of one hundred and thirty-two full sized products and an astounding four hundred and thirty-eight samples! 

That's a ton of samples but I did do a 'Month of Foil' where I tried to use as many samples as possible and a hair product 'Month of Foil'. (And yes, I do still have lots and lots of samples!) 

Read on for a breakdown of full-sized products by type. No breakdown of the samples used though because I'll admit categorizing samples is too nerdy, not to mention complex, even for a list-lover like myself!

Skincare.

I used fifty-five full-sized skincare items. 

Eleven of these were cleansers along with two bottles of eye makeup remover.

My love of spritzes and facial sprays shows no sign of abating and I used up nine of them. I also used one full-sized bottle of Glycolic toner and one pack of Glycolic pads.

When it came to putting moisture back into my skin I did pretty well, using up three full-sized eye creams, three bottles of facial oil and nine tubes/jars of moisturiser. I also managed to get through nine bottles of serum of various types. 

I mostly use sachets and samples of masks but even so, I used up three full-sized masks. 

I could do better when it comes to sunscreen. I only used up two bottles but again I did use quite a few samples.

Finally, I made an effort to finish some of the many opened lip balms and treatments that I have hanging around and used up five of them.

Bodycare.

I always go through a lot of bodycare and this year was no exception. I used forty-four full-sized products.

I'm not big on body scrubs as I use a loofah but even so, I used up two tubes. 

Daily showers saw me getting through fourteen bottles of shower gel. 

I also slathered on fifteen bottles of body lotion.

Thirteen hand creams sounds like a ridiculous amount, but most of them were handbag sized ones.

Haircare.

I've been using more expensive haircare as a rule this year,  and I do find that I tend to use a lot less of it than I do drugstore products. However, I still used up twenty -three items, seven of which were shampoo and nine of which were conditioners. 

I also used up four leave-in conditioners/oils/serums and one large pot of hair mask.

I tend to 'wash and go' mostly so I only used one hairspray and one texturising spray.

Makeup.

Makeup takes forever to finish so I'm quite pleased that I used up ten items.

On my face, I used one primer, two tinted moisturisers and one concealer/brightener. 

I used up two full-sized mascaras and one single pan eyeshadow.

Finally, I finished two lipsticks and one lip gloss.

I wonder how many products I will use in 2019?

Empties: December 2018.

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

Skincare.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I managed to use up sixteen skincare samples.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bodycare.

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

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

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

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

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

Haircare.

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

Makeup and Perfume.

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

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

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

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

I used two perfume vials in December. 

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

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

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

Happy New Year!