Good morning lovelies. It's officially Monday again. Yesterday I decided to de-clutter and started with my huge empties bag. It's been a good few months since my last empties post, so I accumulated quite a bit. Having a good clear-out is good for the soul, so here I come with a massive empties post. Let me know if you like reading them and if I should continue with the series?
SKINCARE
Cleansers & toners:
I've been busy using up in this category with couple of cleansers and tones in the category hitting the pan.
I enjoyed using No7 Cleansing Balm aimed at super dry to dry skin. It was a cream cleanser despite what it says on the tub, it worked ok but I wasn't blown away. It removed face makeup but I had to go back twice sometimes if I was having a full face day. I won't be re-purchasing as despite a great price, it wasn't something I'd ever go back to using. Not bad, just very average.
Sadly I'm saying goodbye to Aurelia Miracle Cleanser. This stuff is just incredible. I loved everything, the scent, the balm like cream formula and most importantly it cleansed so well! I have quite a few cleansers on the go right now, but I feel I'll re-purchase this one as it blew me away.
I've used up a pack of B. Pure Sensitive Micellar Cleansing Wipes. I don't use them for cleansing but I used these up for cleansing my hands after makeup application, removing swatches or when I used glitter and needed to clean up the fall out before applying base products. These were actually quite gentle and very soaked so a pretty great facial wipes if you ask me.
I really loved the Ecolab Anti-age Rejuvenating Facial Tonic. I'm super impressed with Ecolab as a brand and shopping with The Natural Skincare was always a pleasure, sadly Justyna is closing down the shop as she's moving back to Poland. The news hit me hard as I'm not only losing a great friend, I'll also miss her amazing shop! I've done a review on this toner so please check it out for more info, but I found the formula of this very soothing on my skin and I would happily re-purchase once I'm out of the toners I'm currently using.
Murad Age Refine Osmolyte Tonic was a deluxe sample and I really enjoyed using it. I took it with me for any overnight stays and it made my skin feel super hydrated after using it. Great little toner and I would happily re-purchase.
I've used up a sample of Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic. I really need to repurchase as I haven't had a full size for a while now. This is a great exfoliating toner and it truly makes a difference to the skin. Great at prepping the skin for overnight chemical peels or other AHA treatments. I'm currently using a Bravura Ginseng Toner and it's a great dupe, but I'll probably go back to Glow Tonic once I'm done.
Face Masks
I've been busy in this department. I love a good face mask and I use it at least 3-4 times a week, so it's no wonder I use them up pretty quickly.
In sheet masks I've used five of the Garnier Moisture Bomb. It's no wonder this mask featured in my yearly favourites but I really enjoy using it. It helped battle my dehydration and I the whole concept. When you put a sheet mask on, you just put your feet up and just chill for 20-30 mins. It's a great experience. I already have few in my drawer and I'm sure to re-purchase when I'll run out.
In the same category I also used up a couple of Tony Moly Avocado Nutrition Sheet Masks. I'm super impressed with Tony Moly masks and I'll be sure to stock up when I'm back in Spain later on in the year. I really enjoyed using these, they made my skin feel really soft and plumped afterwards :)
However I refuse to pay Cult Beauty prices on these LOL. In Sephora they're only 1.50 Euros and in UK £6.00, so the difference is massive. You can sometimes get these in TKMaxx for £1.99 so I'll have my eyes peeled :)
In TKMaxx I managed to grab these next masks. The Creme Shop Collagen Face Mask was really a hit and miss. In the beginning I really like them but after using it few times, they became average. I just don't see any massive difference after using these, so I rather save my pennies for something else. I won't be re-purchasing.
Lastly Boots Ingredients Sheet Masks are quite new on the market. I only managed to grab a couple of these Rooibos Enenrgising and Revitalising Sheet Masks. I really quite enjoyed using them. The cost is average at £2.50 per pop, they seem to be quite uncomfortable for the first few minutes, but that's only the sign of them working. My face was smooth and plump afterwards but the feeling didn't last too long and I needed to quickly apply the skincare. I'm not sure about these yet, so I'l probably give few more a go to form a final opinion.
With one of my Cult Beauty orders I got a sample of Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Mask and it was an incredible experience. My face felt firmer, smoother, pores were cleansed and visibly smaller and I loved the scent. I like the ideology of the company and what they stand for too, so I'll be sure to grab a full size when I'm able to shop again (aaah the spending ban joys). It's firmly on my wishlist!
With the tears in my eyes, I'm saying goodbye to another Glamglow Youth Mud masks. This is by far the best mask I've ever used. It just works. First when applied you get a tingling sensation, sometimes to the point it becomes uncomfortable. Any pain is worth the results though. Skin is clearer, firmer, lines are plumped out. It is like an iron for the face and I'll be re-purchasing it as soon as my spending ban finishes and I use up a little more in my mask collection.
And the final mask is the Lush Oatifix. I actually used up 2 and I'm nearing the end of the 3rd one, since my last empties. I don't go in to Lush without walking out with a pot of this. It's the best smelling and nourishing mask from Lush I've ever used. It's moisturising and soothing and I love applying it after a harsher treatments. I have one on the go now and I'll be re-purchasing too :)
Serums & Moisturisers
Looking at the empties before me, I realise there's something fundamentally wrong with me as I tend to use up a lot more of serums than I do a moisturisers. I love a good serum and I feel they are just more important than the follow up skincare I guess.
Dr Organic Organic Snail Gel Facial Serum was a good one. I really enjoyed using it and use it not only on my face but on my neck and decollate. I feel it made a difference to my skin and my mom also enjoyed using it. I already re-purchased on a whim in Holland and Barrettes. I'll be using it more for my neck and decollate as it's brilliant at firming the area.
I also used up Nip+Fab Viper Venom Wrinkle Fix. I really liked it and it was a great day serum. It had a gel like formula and sinked in pretty quickly. I won't re-purchase as I found other serum (The Ordinary 'Buffet') I like now but it was not a bad product especially at this price point.
The best for the last, sadly I used up (this very morning booo) Noxi Doxi Enhancing Serum Base. It was by far one of the best morning face serums I've ever used. Light formula sank in quickly and just worked so beautifully under moisturisers and makeup. My face felt hydrated and smooth and I'll truly miss this one. I have a lot of serums waiting a test but I would happily repurchase afterwards.
With great regret I say goodbye to Talika Photo Hydra Day Moisturiser. The formula of this cream-gel was something else entirely. It sank in almost instantly and provided such great base under makeup. It means to protect the skin against environment and it really did that It was one of the best to use on cold and windy days. I never got red if I was wearing this moisturiser. I'll re-purchase at some point for sure.
HAIRCARE
Maria Nila Luminous Colour Mask will be deeply missed in my haircare routine. I loved how it made my hair silky smooth and for the most incredible sweet scent. It was a spa for my hair and I'd love to get my hands on it again.
It comes as no surprise I used up an another pot of Lucy Bee Virgin Coconut Oil. I use it for everything, hair, cleansing and even shaving, so it's a all rounder for me. I love using it as a deeply conditioning hair mask and I usually go to sleep with a coating of it on Friday night, then wash my hair Saturday morning. It's truly miraculous treatment and I highly recommend you trying it.
BODYCARE
I love these Ecolab Shower Oils and I'll miss them dearly with The Natural Skincare Shop closing down. These are by far superior to anything I've ever used to cleansed my body. They're silky smith and super hydrating leaving my skin moisturised. All natural and with no SLS or Parabens are just made for luxury shower me time. They don't cost a fortune either, actually are dead cheap considering how long they last.
Intimate care
Sadly intimate care is rarely discussed on beauty forums. I made a switch no no paraben and no sls intimate washes ages ago and it really made a difference. It stopped infections and the drying out of the area causing the itchiness. I loved using Sylveco Sensitive Intimate Wash Gel. t's very gentle and didn't cause any reaction. It's quite small though so I now replaced it with a different one from Vianek. The natural formula is great and I highly recommend you taking the switch.
I also used up a tub of Sass Intimate Purifying Cleanser. The formula was similar to Sylveco, although less natural. Also the tub wasn't very handy as the gel was really watery and I ended up wasting the product. It's also twice the price of Sylveco and Vianek so I won't be re-purchasing.
Not technically an intimate care but for all the ladies out there suffering fro painful periods, this is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I suffer quite badly for the first 24-48 hours and Wilko Self-Adhesive Feminine Heat Pads have been miracle workers. It's only a pound or so and you get two pads. When the pain hits, you place a pad on your on material like your knickers or pjs, whatever you're wearing and most importantly pain is. I suffer badly with lover ab pains so I just place it on the inner of the top front of my boxers and let it work. First you'll feel the cooling sensation then within few minutes it'll warm up providing such a relief. Best pound I've ever spent.
Thank You For Reading,
Love
