Thursday, July 4, 2024

Empties 9- €700 Worth of Beauty Products

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples

**Repurchase/ Bought after trying a press sample

***Travel Size/ Mini

****Gift/ Gift with purchase


If this is your first time reading one of these empties posts I'll begin with a brief introduction. I've been doing these posts every 3 months for the past two and a half years as a way of keeping track of the products I buy and the ones I'm sent as PR samples. It has helped me to curb my spending and to realise where I can save money. It's also helped me to keep track of the myriad of products I test out. I like being able to have a reference of everything I've tried because often I'll forget how I felt about something or sometimes if I've tried it before. I wanted to provide my thoughts after completely finishing a product rather than just using something a few times and never talking about it again. It's supposed to be the antithesis to short form content which usually leaves me wanting more. I also mention the approximate price with links to where the product is currently in stock and at the best price. I mention the quantity, recommended shelf life once opened and the country of manufacture as those details are usually not always available on the brand's website. I'll be doing a round-up at the end breaking down the cost of everything I bought and everything that was a PR sample for full transparency. There are 24 products to get through, so let's get started. 



**Garnier Express 2in1 Eye Make-Up Remover 125ml, 6m, Made in Poland €4.99

I have already reviewed this in many previous empties posts so I'll keep it brief. I've mentioned before how I've continued to buy this because it does the job of removing waterproof eye makeup and it's inexpensive. I have since switched to another Garnier product, the Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water (the blue one for delicate skin and eyes).  It's a bi-phase liquid that easily removes waterproof mascara and the bottle is 400ml as opposed to the 125ml of this one. It works just as well and it's more cost effective so that's why I won't be buying the Express 2-in-1 Eye Make-Up Remover again. 


*Lancôme Eau Micellaire Confort 200ml, 6m, Made in France €31

This product appears to be discontinued as I can't find it in stock anywhere online. There's no point in going into detail about a product that is no longer available but I will say that I wouldn't have bought this myself as it's quite an expensive micellar water and my favourite Bioderma one is half the price. I don't usually use micellar water regularly but it's something I always have as it's handy to clean up graphic eye makeup or as an additional cleanser. 


*Naturium Fermented Camellia Creamy Cleansing Oil 103.5ml, Made in the USA €25.30

This was my first press drop from Naturium and I was so excited as I've become a fan of the brand over the past year. I've previously reviewed their Phyto-Glow Lip Balm and Multi-Peptide Eye Cream both of which I loved and this product was no different. It's a mixture between an oil and a gel so it's ideal for anyone who likes a cleansing balm or oil but it's less messy than an oil and more travel-friendly than a cleansing balm. You warm it up in your hands for about 8-10 seconds and apply it to dry skin, then emulsify it with water, rinse and follow up with a second cleanse. It removes sunscreen and makeup including waterproof products. The only other similar cleansers I've tried are the Lancôme Absolue Oil in Cleanser and the REN Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser. While I liked both of those cleansers, the Naturium is my favourite of the three and it also happens to be the least expensive. I'm a big fan of this texture and I highly recommend this one, it's especially good value if you manage to snag it with a 20% discount on Space NK. 


**IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup 3-in-1 Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm 100g, 18m, Made in the USA €39

I reviewed this in an empties post last year so I won't go into too much detail as you can read it here. I originally received one in a press drop and subsequently bought 2 more myself. This is the second one I bought and I received another one from the brand so I have another to use up. I won't be buying it again purely because of the price. I love the Beauty of Joseon Cleansing Balm (reviewed here) and it's a third of the price as well as the Naturium one above. I'm trying to save money on beauty products where I can so I'll probably be ordering one of those two the next time I need a cleanser. I think it's a lovely product but it's out of my budget at the moment. 



*Lancôme Advanced Génefique Yeux 5ml, 6m, Made in France €21 (Full Size 65)


I mentioned this in one of my empties posts from last year which you can read here. I'll be brief so I don't repeat myself too much but I loved using this eye cream. It's a gel-cream texture that promises to nourish, revitalise and plump the eye area. It contains pre and pro-biotic fractions and the results should be improved radiance, smoothness, appearance of fine lines and dark circles and repair of the skin barrier. I loved the results of using this eye cream. The skin around my eyes can be sensitive and I can suffer from dry patches and milia. I'm very wary of what I use around my eyes but my skin loved this formula. I'd purchase it myself if it wasn't so expensive. I can't justify €65 for 15ml but if your budget allows and you're looking for a good all-rounder eye cream, I recommend this one. 


*Boum-Boum Milk 3-in-1 Cream Spray 100ml, 12m, Made in France €68

This is a product I was truly sad to finish. I used it morning and evening for just under 3 months and I absolutely love the effect it's had on my skin. Boum-Boum Milk is a toner, serum and moisturiser in one. Described as a minimalist's dream skincare routine, it is a probiotic-based solution that claims it will rebalance, hydrate and soothe the skin. It has a 99% naturally derived formula that includes Fermented Birch Sap which deeply hydrates and protects the skin's natural biome for calmer less reactive skin and better cell regeneration. Glacial Water charged with key minerals that help to rehydrate and recover. Squalane which moisturises and restores the skin barrier while creating suppleness and bounce and Olive Leaf Extract which energises skin cells to operate at top function for smoother skin. It can be used on the face, body and hair and is great for prepping the skin for makeup or refreshing throughout the day. I loved everything about this product. Firstly, the packaging is incredibly chic as you would expect from Violette. Not a necessity by any means but it doesn't hurt. I love that it's multi-purpose and can be used as one step or before your usual moisturiser depending on your skin type. It's very calming and gentle, I had a message from someone on Instagram who said she uses both this and C'est La Cream as she has sensitive skin and they work really well for her. Violette has been a makeup artist for years as well as the Creative Director for Estée Lauder and now Guerlain. She has said that she wanted to create skincare that would work on all skin types and that makes perfect sense being someone who has probably worked on a huge array of skin tones and types over the years. I can imagine that it would be so convenient for Makeup Artists to have skincare that they can use no matter their client and not worry about how it will affect their skin or the subsequent makeup application. I'm a full convert to this product now and I can understand why it gets such great reviews. The fact that it lasted for almost three months of twice daily use makes the price a bit more palatable. I know it's expensive and I am seriously considering buying it myself even though I don't have much of a skincare budget. I have other toners and serums to use that I have been sent but once I'm in the market again, I would have no issue spending my own money on this because I think it's a truly unique and special skincare product. It's also available in a 50ml size which is €46 and there is a 200ml refill pouch for €105. 


Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid 50ml, 12m, Made in the USA €39

In my last empties post I mentioned my saga with the Rhode Peptide Lip Treatments. To briefly summarise, I bought two of the Lip Treatments as well as this serum last year when Rhode started shipping to Ireland. Both of the lip treatments were grainy to the point of being almost unusable. I still have an almost full one that I can't bear to throw away. I emailed their customer service with close-up photos and they gave me a refund. The whole experience has sadly sullied my view of the brand. Apparently, this was an issue with the first iteration of the Lip Treatments and it wasn't solved for the launch of the tinted ones which completely baffled me as I saw a lot of people talking about it. I wouldn't buy anything else from Rhode because I don't want to risk buying another faulty product. The Peptide Glazing Fluid is a hydrating serum that contains peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and marula oil. Considering the name and the claims that it is meant to instantly illuminate for a glazed finish, I was disappointed as I didn't have that finish on my skin when I used it. It didn't seem to do anything of note for my skin, perhaps it's just not hydrating enough for me. It might be a good introductory hydrating serum as it's fragrance-free and it's supposed to be good for sensitised skin. Another thing that annoyed me is that I paid €35 for it in October and it's now €39. The Lip Treatments have also increased in price by €3. I don't think they're worth the price, it seems you're paying for the aesthetics of the brand and the name behind it and I'd prefer to spend my money on the likes of Dieux or Naturium. 


*Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum 50ml,  12m, Made in Australia €85

When I first started using this I didn't realise the price. I was happy to evaluate it without knowing but after using it for a while and loving it I looked it up and I was both shocked and not that it is €85. It has to be one of the most expensive serums I've ever used but I can understand why. It's an industry-first formula that consists of both 14% Glycolic Acid and 1% Granactive Retinoid to accelerate skin renewal, plump, brighten and smooth the skin. Other ingredients include Coenzyme Q10 (which reduces uneven skin tone and the visible signs of aging and improves hydration), Australian Tazman Pepper (a Native Australian extract with anti-inflammatory properties helping to reduce the appearance of redness) and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 (assists with inducing collagen synthesis while protecting existing collagen in the skin giving a more plump and radiant complexion). It has a light creamy serum texture with a natural hibiscus scent. It's one of those products that makes a visible difference to my skin. The morning after using this I can see that my complexion is more radiant and even. I used it once or twice a week and it lasted for a long time. It's expensive and not something I could afford to purchase myself but if you have the budget, the formula is excellent and it's quite handy having a chemical exfoliant and retinoid in one product along with some calming and hydrating ingredients. If your skin can take those ingredients it could be a great one and done weekly or twice weekly treatment and that's all you'd really need to use. I'm genuinely going to miss this in my routine, without a doubt one of the best serums I've ever used. 


Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ 50ml, 12m, Made in Korea €12.09

I wanted to try this for ages as I'd heard so many good reviews of it. This is a chemical sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and a lightweight serum-like texture. It contains Centella Asiatica Extract (which aids in collagen synthesis promoting wound healing and skin regeneration, it also has soothing properties, protects the skin from free radicals and revitalises tired skin), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (soothes irritated skin and provides moisture) Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract (antioxidant and aids in preventing skin aging), Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide. It's best suited to sensitive, dry or normal/combination skin, it's free of  artificial fragrance, vegan and cruelty-free. I absolutely love this, so much so that I already bought and opened another tube of it. It's such a light and easy to blend texture and even with applying the recommended two finger lengths it doesn't take long to absorb or feel sticky or heavy. It's also excellent underneath makeup and doesn't interfere or pill with any foundation that I apply on top of it. Even though it has a lot of hydrating ingredients I find it works well in hot weather and I can imagine it would be great during the Winter months as it has those soothing and hydrating ingredients. I bought my second one as part of a set with the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun which was just over €20 on Stylevana. You can't go wrong with such great value for money. My order took three weeks to arrive so you just have to make sure you order in advance. I also love the packaging of this. It comes in a tube with a pump and it meant that I got every last drop out without having to cut it open and scrape the inside. As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of this sunscreen and I can see why it's so well loved across the board. You can buy a 15ml size if you want to try it before buying a full size. Definitely worth a try if you're looking for a good sunscreen. 


Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Natural Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ UVA/UVB 50ml, Made in Korea €11.39

This is a mineral/physical sunscreen that uses zinc oxide so it's ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol (prevents moisture loss), betaine (hydrating, helps to correct uneven skin tone) and inositol (moisturising). It's a thicker texture than the Skin 1004 or Beauty of Joseon and I found it ideal for using as my Winter SPF as it felt so hydrating and the texture didn't interfere with my makeup. I love all three but I would probably prefer this during Winter and the Skin 1004 during the Summer. I don't mind using chemical or mineral sunscreen so which one you prefer will depend on your skin type and texture preferences. Again it comes in a tube making it easy to apply and ideal for travel. They also have the Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sunscreen Stick which is for oily/combination skin and the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel which is better for dry skin types. 



**Ameliorate Nourishing Body Wash 200ml, 12m, Made in the UK €14

I have already reviewed this product in a previous empties post which you can read here. It's a repurchase and was part of a set of Ameliorate products that I ordered from Cult Beauty as it was particularly great value. I love this body wash, it smells incredible and it's ideal for anyone like me who hates applying body moisturiser after every shower as I find it quite a hydrating formula. It's soap-free, ph-balanced and contains natural omega oils and LaH6 skin hydration complex. LaH6 is lactic acid, urea, sodium lactate, serine, allantoin and hydrolysed milk protein, a combination of ingredients that are supposed to tackle dry, dehydrated, dull skin, rough or uneven texture, Keratosis Pilaris, itchy or flaky skin and ingrown hairs. I find this body wash combined with the Transforming Body Lotion mentioned below, make my usually super dry skin much more hydrated and smooth. I'd have no problem buying this again as I found it does what it claims it will and it lasts for ages. It comes in a few different sizes so if you're someone who suffers from very dry skin on your body it could be worth checking it out. 


*Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning Shower Gel 400ml, 12m, Made in France €63

I was sent the Lazy Sunday Morning perfume and it's become one of my favourite daily scents. As you might gather from the name, it's quite a fresh clean scent which makes it ideal for a shower product. There's something about having a matching shower gel and perfume that makes me feel like I have my life together. I loved using this product, it's definitely the most bougie shower gel I've ever used as you can see from the price. It's pricey but because of the size it lasted for ages! You can also buy a 200ml size which is just over half the price. This is not something I would buy myself purely because I don't have the money to spend that much on a shower gel. It's the kind of product that would make a great gift but I'd prefer the perfume and the 30ml size is pretty much the same price. 


*Clarins Aroma Tonic Treatment Oil 30ml, Made in France €15.60

I had never tried this product before and as soon as I opened it I was in love. It has the most intoxicating scent. It consists of 100% plant extracts including hazelnut oil, sweet-scented geranium, field mint and rosemary essential oil. I can't even begin to describe how incredible it smells, it's the ultimate at-home spa experience (not that I've ever been in a spa). This was a 30ml travel size but the full size is 100ml. It would make an amazing gift as it's not the kind of product you'd think to buy for yourself. I was truly sad when I finished this as the scent is so uplifting, it was such an experience to use. If you've never smelled this before, I highly recommend it, or maybe not because you'll just want to buy it.


Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion 500ml, 12m, Made in the UK €36

I'm currently on my second bottle of this moisturiser and I love it. It doesn't have the best scent and it's not the most sexy body moisturiser but it really does work. I have such dry skin, particularly on my arms and legs and this helps them to feel and look much more hydrated and smooth, especially combined with the Body Wash mentioned above. It also has the LaH6 complex and comes in a few sizes. I love that this 500ml size has a pump as it makes me much more likely to quickly dispense a few pumps and moisturise after showering. I don't know why but pumps are much more enticing packaging for body moisturiser. This one lasted for ages and I'm not even halfway through the second bottle. I can't use this on my legs straight after hair removal as it stings so I usually wait until the following day and use an oil on my legs instead but I've found it has definitely helped with hydration, texture and ingrown hairs. I'll definitely be buying this again (with a discount code obviously). 


*Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream 100ml, 18m, Made in France €27

Yet another product I've mentioned in multiple empties posts. This one was sent as part of a press drop for Clarins 70th birthday as well as the Tonic Treatment Oil above. They sent me a selection of their hero products like the Lip Comfort Oil and Double Serum. I won't repeat myself too much as you've probably read my thoughts on this already but it's a truly elite hand cream. I've been using it for about 20 years on and off and nothing else compares. They also have balm version which is a bit more of a rich texture and more suitable as an overnight treatment but I'll always continue to use this hand cream as it's such a great product. 


*Spectrum Luxury Vegan Soap (Pink Grapefruit and Bergamot) 60g, 6m, Made in Thailand €25

I bought the Spectrum X KJH version of this brush cleansing soap a couple of years ago in a bundle with the Brush Launderette Towel (something I can't recommend highly enough!) I reviewed it in my first empties post. I was recently sent some brushes and another launderette towel and this soap by Spectrum which was so nice because I've been using their products for a few years now. I gave the brushes and towel to my sister as it was something she was going to buy because I constantly recommend them to her and she's now a huge fan. I love this brush cleanser, it does such a great job at thoroughly cleaning my brushes and the tin has one side that has textured rubber on it so you can swirl your brushes around to remove any stubborn stains. While I love it I wouldn't buy it again purely because I went through it so quickly. I wash my brushes once a week and they only get used once as I'm quite particular about having clean brushes each time I do my makeup. I have a lot of brushes and because I wash them so often it wouldn't be cost-effective to use this product to wash them each time. I use the anti-bacterial Fairy to clean my brushes and it does the job well. Granted, it's not as chic as a pink grapefruit and bergamot-scented dedicated brush cleaner but it makes the most sense for me. If you don't own that many brushes or wear makeup too often you might like a product like this as it will last much longer. So as much as I like it I couldn't justify spending €25 on it when my basic, reliable and inexpensive Fairy does the job.




Act + Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox 89ml, 12m, Made in the USA €50

I had been hearing about the brand Act + Acre for a while and I was intrigued as the founder is Irish woman Helen Reavey, a tricologist and celebrity hairstylist. I'm always interested in Irish beauty brands and I was particularly interested because I've been trying to look after my scalp for the past couple of years since losing a lot of hair after my daughter was born. I usually use the JVN Pre-Wash Scalp Oil which I've mentioned a few times before in the blog. I bought the Cult Beauty Hair Edit last October and one of the big draws for me was this product as it was worth more than I paid for the whole box. I was dying to try this brand and there were some other great brands in there like Oribe, Olaplex, Aveda, Briogeo and Ouai. This is a weekly pre-wash treatment that you apply directly to your scalp section by section, a few drops at a time, massage in and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse well and double cleanse your hair. My advice is to not leave it on longer than that or your roots could be a bit oily after shampooing. It's best for people with a normal or dry scalp with any hair texture and concerns such as build-up, thinning and dryness. It is supposed to support the scalp's microbiome providing hydration to relieve dryness and soothe sensitivities. It helps to get rid of build-up which allows the scalp to breathe and in turn encourages healthy hair growth. Since I've been looking after my scalp I've noticed a big difference to my hair. It has grown faster, my scalp is less dry and my hair is more shiny with no noticeable split ends, something I had for years. I use it with my Manta Brush and I try to limit heat styling to a maximum of once per week. I'm not an expert but these changes have definitely worked for my hair. Of course, I have to compare it to the JVN Hair treatment. They do have some comparable ingredients like sunflower, basil, coconut and moringa oils but other than that the ingredients are different. The Pre-Wash Scalp Oil is €29.50 for 50ml so they are quite comparable in terms of price per ml. The Act + Acre has more travel-friendly packaging as the JVN one is glass. They both smell amazing. They promise to do very similar things for your hair and I would gladly repurchase either as they do last for a long time so you're getting value for money. Act + Acre is available in Ireland from their UK based website Act + Acre UK, Brown Thomas, Cloud 10 Beauty, Millies, Meaghers Pharmacy whereas JVN Hair is available on Space NK, Cult Beauty and Sephora UK so which one you go for may depend on accessibility and where you usually shop. 


JVN Hair Embody Volumizing Foam 200ml, 12m, Made in the USA €29

I haven't used a hair mousse in a while but I was curious to try this seeing as I've loved every other JVN Hair product I've used so far. I also loved the idea of a volumising mousse. I mostly used this in my roots and my crown on wet hair and diffused dry to give some lift at my roots. It definitely does what it claims to do and I loved what it did to my hair. My issue with this was the packaging, specifically the pump. I found it kept leaking, it took a few pumps each time to get any product to come out and overall it was just a bit faulty. I haven't looked into it yet but if this happened to other people I probably wouldn't buy it again because it was quite annoying and I lost an unknown amount from the leaking. This is the second time I've had issues with the JVN Hair packaging as the Shampoo pump wasn't working either, I had to email Space NK and they sent a replacement. It could have been a coincidence but it is something I had to mention as I always want to be transparent and give my experiences with products. I'd love to know if you've had any similar experiences. 


****Kérastase Paris Curl Manifesto Curl Enhancing Defining Gel-Cream 150ml, 12m, Made in Spain €35

I was given this as a gift for Christmas 2022 so I was using it for 18 months. It took so long to use up because I didn't open it for a while as I was using a different curl cream and I have few others on the go so this wasn't my dedicated curl cream. When I did start using it I was so impressed. I haven't used Kérastase products in a while as I found some of them were too heavy for my hair and left a residue, in particular their shampoo and conditioner. I was so impressed with how well this worked for my hair, creating softly defined curls. The gel-cream formula works well as it's lightweight. The formula contains coconut oil, shea butter, manuka honey and ceramide. They recommend using 2-4 pumps depending on the length and thickness of your hair. I usually use 4 as I find my hair can take a lot of product. I then diffused dry. As a side note, the scent smells like fruit salad sweets to me. I would repurchase this as I found it really worked and not every curl product is created equal. I now know that I can rely on this the next time I need to buy a curl cream. 


Umberto Giannini Weather Proof Finish Anti-Humidity Hairspray 200ml, Made in the UK €9.99

This product appears to be discontinued so I don't want to go into much detail about it. It worked really well as a light hold hairspray but I've since moved on to the Hair By Sam McKnight Modern Hairpray which does the same and more, even if it is double the price. I'm happy I found a replacement before I knew I needed to. 





Vieve Skin Nova Instant Radiance Primer 10ml, 12m, Made in Korea €15

I bought this as part of the Vieve Glowbe Trotter Set which along with this travel-size primer, also included a mini Skin Dew and Lip Dew. These were the first products I tried from Vieve and they left me so impressed that I've since gone on to add to my collection as well as having a long wishlist. Skin Nova is a skincare-makeup hybrid that hydrates, primes and illuminates. It contains beta-glucan (strengthens skin barrier, soothes redness and irritation and smooths) and niacinamide (minimises the appearance of pores, helps to improve uneven skin tone and promotes radiance). You can wear it alone, under makeup, mixed with your base for customisable coverage or on the body. It has light-reflecting pigments to give your skin a luminous glow and it makes makeup last longer. Other ingredients include Rose Water to balance the skin's natural oils while hydrating and Orchid Extract which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, soothes and hydrates. It's one of those great multi-tasking products that can do so many different things in your makeup routine. I love how it makes my skin look and how makeup applies on top of it. I was using it sparingly because I can't justify buying another primer but the next time I'm in the market for one, I'll be buying Skin Nova. I have a video applying all three products which you can watch here


MAC Fix + Stay Over Long-Lasting Setting Spray 100ml, 24m, Made in Belgium €32

I've had the original Fix + a few times over the years and it's great as a way to refresh your makeup or to take away any powdery look to the skin. It's not exactly a setting spray but this one is supposed to add longevity to your makeup. I don't have much to say about this, I don't really know why I bought it when I know I love the Urban Decay All Nighter. It was fine, it did the job but I prefer the Urban Decay one overall. They're quite comparable in price so it's going to be Urban Decay for me in the future. 


*Sweed Pro Lash Lift Mascara (Dark Brown) €25

At the beginning of the year, I was sent some products from Sweed and I was particularly excited to try their mascaras as I had heard so many good things about them. I mentioned both of them in my recent favourites video on YouTube. I'm so happy I chose this formula in the dark brown shade as I think it was such a great combination. As the name suggests, the Pro Lash Lift is ideal for anyone who wants to give their lashes a lift and hold a curl. I use an eyelash curler most days but this is one of the few mascara formulas that lifted my lashes without using a curler. It gives my lashes a lift, definition and length. It has more of a fanned-out, fluttery kind of eyelash look compared to the Cloud Mascara which gives more volume and impact. This is ideal for days when I'm wearing minimal or no eye makeup as it's almost an eye look in itself. It has an unusual brush that's quite thin which is excellent at depositing product right at the roots and inner corners. It allows you to coat each lash evenly, including the really small ones. I have an application video, which you can watch here if you'd like to see how it looks on my eyelashes. My sister also bought this mascara as she only uses tubing mascaras so the removal is easy. She loved it too and said it was the best tubing mascara she's ever tried, she's even more discerning than I am so that's high praise! I would definitely spend my own money on this mascara as I loved how it looked and I was truly sad when it started to dry out after about 5 months. The Cloud mascara started to dry out sooner so that could just be a difference in the formulas. I loved both and I think which one you'd like will depend on your preferences. 


*Sweed Cloud Mascara (Black) €28

Cloud Mascara is the more impactful of the two. A thin layer can give quite natural lashes but it builds up beautifully to give your lashes volume and definition. I got the black in this formula but it also comes in Dark Brown. This one is for people who like their lashes to stand out. You can apply one layer for some nice definition and length and then add extra coats for more volume and it layers so beautifully without clumping. The brush tapers to a thin point which allows you to easily coat the lashes in the inner corners. I have no hesitation recommending this mascara and I'd definitely buy it myself as I love how it makes my eyelashes look. 


The totals are as follows:


11 PR Products: €413.90

12 Products bought by me: €292.46

3 Travel/Sample Size 

4 Part of a Set

3 Repurchases

1 Gifts or Gift With Purchase: €35


The total is 24 products: €741.36


I finished these products over the three month period since my last post at the end of March. As I always mention, the amount of money I spent on those 12 products is much lower as I rarely buy anything full price. I probably didn't spend any more than €200 on the products I bought and I would imagine it was less as some products were part of sets (like the Ameliorate products, the Act + Acre Scalp Detox and the Vieve Skin Nova). If there's anything you'd like to see me try or anything you'd like swatches of, a Reel on or a blog post about, please do send me a DM on Instagram or leave a comment here. 

You can also visit my ShopMy profile to see collections of all my favourite beauty products by category. If you've made it this far, I want to thank you for taking the time to read such a lengthy blog post. I love putting these posts together even though they are quite time consuming so the fact that other people might find them helpful makes it so worthwhile. If you enjoyed this blog post or found it helpful and you'd like to support what I do, you can Buy Me A Coffee which helps to fund my work as a Content Creator. 


I'd love to know if you've tried any of these products and what you think, does your opinion differ from mine? Are any of them on your wishlist to try? 

Emma x



Sunday, May 19, 2024

Mint Green Sixties Inspired Eyes- Recreating A Beyoncé Look By Rokael Beauty

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples


I bookmarked this look to recreate as soon as I saw it. It’s one of the recent looks that Rokael Beauty did for Beyoncé, photographed by Blair Caldwell which you can see below. His looks for her are always incredible but this one stopped me in my tracks. Mint green and sixties inspired, it’s everything I love in a makeup look. If you don’t know, Rokael has his own line of lip products and lashes and they’ve been firmly on my wish list since they were released. The shades and textures look beautiful and the packaging is something special. Check out rokaelbeauty.com to see more. The sixties cut crease is so easy to do with the Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide Eye Pencils. I used Cinder Smoke as it’s a bit softer than black and topped it with Smoke and Mirrors from the Vega palette. I mixed a few shades for the mint eyes, mine is a bit more saturated but I still loved how it turned out. I used Lisa Eldridge Kitten Flick and Kitten Lash, the perfect liner and mascara for this kind of look. I finished the eyes with a few of the Sweed No Lash- Lash individual false eyelashes. I contoured my lips using two different NYX lip pencils and then added Songbird Gloss Embrace from Lisa Eldridge. The brushes make such a difference for a look like this, the MYKITCO and Spectrum Collections X KJH brushes make a look like this so much easier to achieve. I loved recreating this makeup, trying to find the right shades and wearing my hair a little differently than how I usually would to match the overall aesthetic. It was so much fun, sixties inspired makeup usually has a strong element of playfulness to me and that's one of my favourite things about makeup. 































By Beauty Bay Pastels Palette (Daze) (limited edition, similar here

Morphe x Nyane Palette (Yung Metsi) (limited edition, similar here)








Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof (02 Noir Intense) 











IT Cosmetics Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin Perfecting Brush (discontinued, similar here)

Zoeva 128 Cream Cheek Brush (discontinued, similar here

Spectrum Collections X KJH 08 (powder), 13 (eye blending), 18 (lips), 21 (eyes) 




Lancôme X Louvre Brush (limited edition, similar here









Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I'd love to know what you think of this look, would you wear it or are there any elements of it you'd wear? If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee


Emma x






Sunday, May 5, 2024

Maximalist Mermaid- Anam Cosmetics and Half Magic Beauty

This post contains affiliate links, if you buy something based on my recommendation using the links below, I will receive a small commission but it won't cost you anything extra.

*PR Samples


If you regularly see my content, you'll know I'm a huge fan of the brand Half Magic. I wrote a review of the products I bought from the brand when it first launched two years ago which you can read here. A few months ago they launched their Sparkle 911 Collection which included new shades of their Glitterpill Eye Paint + Liner, Magic Drip Glitter Lip Gloss and Sculptitude 2-in-1 Lip Liner. I always love seeing the campaign images for their collections and as soon as I saw the image below, I saved it so I could recreate it. I'm not able to buy any new releases at the moment as I'm not working (I'm currently a stay at home parent), so I used the products I already had to recreate this look instead of buying the products that were used. 




At the end of last year I was sent some products from a new Irish beauty brand called Anam Cosmetics. At the moment they have one product, their Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow which is available in three shades, Gold, Taupe and Teal. I filmed a video for Instagram swatching the shades which you can see here.  Their brand slogan is "áilleacht le hanam" which means "Beauty with Soul" in Gaeilge (the Irish language). "Anam" is the Irish word for soul (it's pronounced like the name Anna with an M at the end). Sustainability is at the heart of the brand. The packaging is fully recyclable and the glitter is biodegradable and made from plant-derived, renewable materials, completely plastic-free and vegan.  They are also cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny approved. On their website they have a Sustainability section with a breakdown of each ingredient and its purpose. I love seeing this from brands as I'm very interested in the ingredients that are used in cosmetics and skincare. When I'm writing a review I like to research the ingredients to see if the claims a brand makes about a product are legitimate. In the past few years there's been a surge in brands using greenwashing terms when marketing products. There's a balance between explaining why and how you are choosing to try to do things that make a difference to the environment and brands that scare monger and allude to other brands as being harmful. I appreciate that Anam has chosen to explain everything on their website and the brand has been founded on these principles rather than using them as a marketing ploy. I love seeing an Irish brand doing something different from all of the other Irish beauty brands, it's so refreshing. I've been loving using these eyeshadows. I included the application video of this look below so you can see me using the Teal shade. 

Anam Cosmetics Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow- Gold, Taupe and Teal


I had the Half Magic Face Gems that were used in the look and different shades of the Sculptitude Lip Liner and Magic Drip Lip Gloss, so I used those instead. I wanted an ethereal glow on my cheeks so I used the new Lancôme Idôle Tint in the shade 07 Earth Red mixed with Auric Glow Lust in Morganite and then added some extra glow using the KJH.Brand Hyper Shine High Lite in the shade Lite Pink. I knew I wanted glitter and glow on my eyes, lips and cheeks so I kept my base a soft matte using the Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation which is one of my favourite foundations. I intensified the freckles across my nose and cheeks using the NYX Micro Brow Pencil to give my skin more of a fresh appearance as the foundation has a bit more coverage. I loved how this look turned out and I think the Teal eyeshadow is perfect. This would be ideal festival/ gig makeup or even just for a night out (or to wear to do your grocery shopping if you're me!) You could use any shade on the eyes and change the gem placement depending on your eye shape. I'd love to know what you think!














*Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation (Porcelain 140)

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/Medium)

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer (Crème)

Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber)

Makeup By Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Light)

NYX Professional Makeup Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen (Ash Brown)

West Barn Co. Soap Brows Extra Strong Hold

*Anam Cosmetics Biodegradable Glitter Eyeshadow (Teal) 

*Sweed Cloud Mascara

*Sweed Satin Kohl Eyeliner (Bright) 

Half Magic Beauty Face Gems (Iridescent Sparkle)

Half Magic Beauty Face Pearls (Bold Metallic)

Half Magic Beauty Sculptitude 2-in-1 Lip Liner (I’ll Pray For You)

Half Magic Beauty Magic Drip Glitter Lip Gloss (Frosty B*tch) 

Kosas Revealer Concealer (01N)

Kosas Cloud Set Powder (Airy) 

*Lancôme Idôle Tint Liquid Eye-Blusher (07 Earth Red) 

Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer (Morganite) 

KJH.Brand Hyper Shine High Lite Kit (Lite Pink)

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown)

MAC Fix + Stay Over


*IT Cosmetics CC+ Skin-Perfecting Brush (discontinued, similar here)

Spectrum Collections X KJH 05 (blush), 21 (lips)

Rebeluna R14 Mini Domed Kabuki Brush (sculpting)

*bareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush 

KJH.Brand No. 1 Brush 

Real Techniques Setting Brush 

MYKITCO Pro 1.11 My Tiny Liner 

*Lancôme X Louvre (limited edition, similar here)

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush 

Half Magic Beauty Adornment Tweezers 

Surratt Relevée Eyelash Curler



Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I'd love to know what you think of this look, would you wear it or are there any elements of it you'd wear? If there are any specific product reviews you would like to see from me please let me know. If you'd like to support my work as a Content Creator, you can do so through Buy Me A Coffee


Emma x
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