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*PR Samples
**Gifts/ Gift with purchase
This is my third and final empties post of 2022. You can read my previous two posts here and here. Once again I meant to write this a couple of months ago but it's been quite a chaotic time lately so this is probably going to be a bit of a bumper installment. This time I'll start with makeup, then skincare, bodycare and haircare. Hopefully, it will be easy to scroll down and find what you're interested in reading about. If you've read my other empties posts you'll know that at the end I like to calculate how much I spent on products versus how much was sent to me as press samples. There are 68 products (some of which are multiples) so let's get started!
Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid 30ml, €28
This is one of my favourite makeup priming products. It's my second or third bottle but I didn't use it up as quickly this time because I was using other similar products. I particularly love this when my skin is more on the dry side. It's an oil/serum so bear that in mind if you don't like oils as it might be too heavy. It also might have an impact on the foundation or concealer you use on top of it but I've never had an issue. The instructions say to use two pumps but I find that excessive for my combination skin so I just use one pump which I find sufficient and it lasts longer that way too. I already have a backup of this product, so it's clearly a repurchase for me.
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation SPF 30 30ml (100 Neutral Fair) 12m, €56
I wrote about this foundation in the post I wrote at the beginning of this year reviewing every makeup product I tried last year. To sum it up, it was a beautiful foundation when I could get it to work properly on my skin. The finish of it really depended on how my skin was behaving and what products I used to prep my skin. It had a tendency to sit on my skin and not blend if it was already quite hydrated but then if it was a bit more on the dry side, it clung to my dry patches so it was a delicate balancing act, but when it worked, it looked great. It was just too much work for the price for me. I have more reliable foundations that are half the price so I definitely wouldn't repurchase it.
*bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (05 Sateen) 30ml 12m Made in USA €37
I really love this foundation. This was my second bottle of it and I've just opened a third. Granted, I was sent all three as press samples but I would gladly spend my own money on it as it's such a high-performance foundation and a great price point. It's the one I go to any time I want my foundation to last all day and not budge, or when my skin isn't great and I want more coverage. It also works well mixed with a serum or tinted moisturiser to give a more sheer coverage but still long-lasting wear time. If you're a fan of Estée Lauder Double Wear or Double Wear Light I think you'd like this one as it's somewhere in between those two in terms of coverage. You can see high-quality images of me wearing this foundation in this post.
Uoma Beauty Say What?! Weightless Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation (White Pearl T1N) 30ml 12m Made in Italy €35
This is another foundation I loved. It's exactly like the description, a soft matte finish but it doesn't look or feel dry. I wouldn't usually buy a foundation with the word matte in the description as I have combination skin and I prefer a more radiant finish and then use powder selectively to mattify. I don't know how well this would work for dry skin types but if you have combination/oily skin and you prefer a more matte finish I'd definitely recommend this foundation. It also has an excellent shade range, one of the best I've ever seen. The formula is slightly different for each shade bracket depending on the needs of that skin type which is something I don't think I've seen from any other brand. I would buy this again no problem but I am trying to use what I have at the moment. You can read my full review of this foundation in this post.
Daniel Sandler Watercolour Liquid Cheek Colour (Cherub) 15ml 6m Made in Germany €24
As you can see from the photo of this I didn't come close to finishing it and for shame. I really should have used this more but as mentioned above it has a 6 month life once opened and I found after that it didn't blend as well as it had before. This shade is more suited to fair skin tones, I know they have other shades that would probably work better on deeper skin tones. It's a sheer formula that can be slightly built up but you're not getting too much pigment. It blends seamlessly and gives a beautiful flush to my cheeks but I don't think I'd buy it again because of its expiry time. Liquids always need to be used up faster than powders and I know I wouldn't get through this in 6 months, not that you always have to go by these dates but my experience was that it started to not perform as well after that time. If this was one of your only blush products or if you are a makeup artist who gets through products quickly then I'd definitely recommend this, I just felt as though I wasted it and I don't want to do that with my products anymore.
Danessa Myricks Vision Flush (Bread 'n' Butter) 6ml €26
I actually bought this two years ago now and I probably had it mostly used up within a year but it's just taken me a while to clear it out of my makeup collection. I absolutely love this product. As with many of the Danessa Myricks products, it's multipurpose, which is probably why I used it up so quickly, I used it on my cheeks and lips. It also works really well mixed with a liquid highlighter to give it more of a sheen as it's matte. It's quite pigmented so a little goes a long way. It blends out beautifully and this shade which is a warm pink goes with so many different looks so I found it to be very versatile. I will buy it again but I have so many cream and liquid blush products at the moment, I want to use them first before repurchasing this. I have also recently been sent a PR sample of the new Hindash Color Fluid in the shade 'Heartist' which I think is quite a similar shade so I'll be using that for now.
*Clarins Fix' Make-Up Long-lasting Make-Up Hold 50ml 18m Made in France €29
This was a lovely setting spray with a light, rosy floral scent. It did the job of setting my makeup but overall I prefer the ones from Urban Decay, IT Cosmetics and Danessa Myricks so I'd rather buy those before this one.
**Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Dim Light) 1.4g 12m Made in Italy €27
I've seen people rave about these powders so I don't know whether this was just the wrong shade for me as I found it far too dark for my complexion. I got it as a gift so that's why I've held onto it for so long but this shade just didn't work for my skin tone. I'm just not the biggest fan of Hourglass. They've taken far too long to even try to be inclusive with their shade ranges and I also think their products are overpriced. But I suppose that's most brands unless you're a huge fan and don't mind spending your money on them. I've never been overly impressed and felt like I wasted my money, but that could be just the products I tried. I know people love this brand but I just haven't been excited enough by any of their launches to spend that kind of money.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Setting Powder (Light) 4g 24m Made in Italy €31
I bought this in a set with the concealer so I didn't pay full price but I did love this powder. In fact, I actually used it as my face powder because I really loved the finish. I don't apply that much powder so it lasted me for ages even though it's only 4g of product. That being said I wouldn't spend €31 on a specific under-eye powder, nor would I spend €31 on 4g of pressed face powder. So I'd say the set with the concealer was good value but buying both products separately is quite expensive, more money than they're worth to me. I have lots of powders to try out in my collection so I won't buy one for a while but as much as I loved this I don't think I could justify buying it at full price.
Refy Brow Pencil (Medium) 0.6g, €18
I really liked this, it was my second one and I would buy it again. The colour match is great and it's easy to use as it has a thin nib. There's not much more to say, I find most eyebrow pencils quite similar so it's just down to the price.
Glossier Brow Flick (Brown) 0.48ml 6m Made in France €16
I've mentioned this product many times before on my blog and I actually have a backup of this too. I'm using the West Barn Co. Brow Pen at the moment and I probably do prefer it if I'm honest. There's not much between them so again it just comes down to price. I did buy the West Barn Co. one at a discount so it probably worked out less expensive than the Glossier one but all in all I'd probably be more likely to buy the West Barn Co one again.
This is a good brow gel, it was the clear one so I tended to use it over brow pencil to avoid adding colour when setting them. I wouldn't buy it again purely because I have my Soap Brows which I love and is less expensive. The next two brow products which are in and around the same price worked better to set my eyebrows.
Refy Brow Sculpt €20
I had to try this after seeing so many people rave about it. I can see why it's so popular, it sets my eyebrows so well and has great longevity. It's a thicker texture and can leave a white residue so you just have to be careful not to overdo it but it has a little brush in the lid to comb your brows through after and shape them more if you want. I'd definitely buy this again.
Patrick Ta Major Brow Lamination Gel 5ml 12m €24.80
This product took me a while to get used to. I found it quite sticky and left a bit of residue at first but I just spent a few tries learning the best way to apply it, brush off any excess and it sets to incredibly well. Definitely one for people who want strong hold or have thicker, coarse eyebrows. It's the most expensive of the three I've mentioned here and always seems to be sold out. But if you can get it with the a 20% discount on Cult Beauty it's well worth it. I also found it lasted a long time before drying out. I will definitely buy this again once my Soap Brows is gone.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion 10ml 6m Made in USA €22
My favourite primer, I can't say much more. It just works. I've tried others but I'll always come back to this because I love the lightweight texture, it dried quickly and it lasts for ages. A forever repurchase!
*L'Oréal Paris Air Volume 30H Mega Black Mascara 9.4ml Made in Italy €15.99
I really liked this mascara, definitely one for those who love volume as the name suggests, it gives exactly that. I personally prefer Lash Paradise so I wouldn't repurchase for that reason because I prefer an all-rounder but if you love thicker lashes, I'd recommend this one.
*Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara 8ml 6m Made in France €29
I much preferred this waterproof formula to the regular one. You can't really go wrong with Lancôme mascaras and if you like a waterproof one, this is excellent. As you can see the brush is an unusual shape but it gives beautifully fanned-out and lengthened eyelashes. I probably wouldn't buy it full price but at a discount I definitely would when I'm looking for a waterproof mascara.
Isamaya Beauty Rubberlash Latex Lift Mascara 8.3ml 6m Made in Italy €35
I wasn't sure about this one at first but as I kept using it I liked it more and more. It doesn't clump but gives fanned-out, lengthened and volumised lashes. It's a really interesting and different brush and formula. I've never tried anything like it. I bought this as part of a set with the other products so I didn't exactly pay full price and as much as I liked it I just wouldn't pay €35 for a mascara, which made it even more sad when I finished it.
Glossier Pro Tip (Black) 0.47ml 6m Made in France €19
This was my favourite liquid liner for a long time but it has now been eclipsed by the Hindash Heroline. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great product but I just prefer the Hindash one and there's not much difference in the price.
Uoma Beauty Cleopatra Ink Liquid Eyeliner 0.5g 6m Made in Italy €20
I had too many issues with this. The first one I bought was incredibly dry when I first tried it so I contacted the customer service where I bought it and they sent a new one. That one was definitely better but it wasn't long before that one dried out too and I wasn't bothered contacting them for a replacement because it was such a hassle the first time. I don't know what the issue was but it just wasn't good enough for me so I wouldn't spend my money trying to find out if it was just a fluke. I was disappointed but I have my Hindash one now so I'm very happy with that.
Delilah Gel Line Eye & Brow Liner (Ebony) 2.3g 6m Made in Italy €25
This was an excellent gel liner, it had great staying power and was easy to use but I just don't think gel liner is the best option for me because I don't wear it enough and then it dried out when there was still a lot left. I'll stick to liquid liner, pencils and shadows from now on. But if you're someone who wears gel liner every day or again, if you're a makeup artist this is a great product. It's just not practical or cost-effective for me.
*Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 700ml 6m Made in Poland €10.99
I don't use micellar water much but as this was sent in PR I kept it to use on lazy makeup removal days. I also use it on a thin brush to correct liner or eye makeup and it works a charm, just make sure there's not too much on the brush. I probably wouldn't buy this size bottle myself but it is a handy product to have and I do rate this one as a great budget option. I'm using a different one at the moment but I'll buy the smaller size of this once I'm in need of a micellar water again.
Garnier Express 2in1 Eye Make-Up Remover 125ml x 2 6m Made in Poland €4.99
I love this product, it does the job of removing waterproof eye makeup remover well and it's such a great price point. I like to have a waterproof eye makeup remover on hand in my skincare collection because I often use long last products that require something extra to remove them. They're always on offer too so you can usually get them 50% off. This one works really well at removing waterproof mascara and other similar products. I'm using one that was sent in a press sample at the moment but I'll absolutely be buying this again.
Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm 100ml 12m Made in USA €36
This was a lovely cleansing balm, I don't have anything bad to say about it really, it smelled loevely and removed my makeup. I just didn't love it as much as the Then I Met You one, it has a thinner consistency which is maybe why I don't like it as much. There's not much money between them so I probably wouldn't buy this again for that reason.
*Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil 85ml 6m Made in USA €18
I really liked this, but overall I do prefer a cleansing balm so I wouldn't buy it myself. However, if you do like a cleansing oil this is a lovely one. It smells beautiful and it does an excellent job at removing makeup. This travel size lasted me a long time too so I can imagine the full size would be quite good value for money.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser 177ml, 60ml 18m Made in USA €17, €10
Another one I've mentioned time and time again. I've bought this, I've been sent it and I've bought it again and again. Countless bottles over the past almost 6 years. I just really love it. The pump packaging, the texture, the scent and the price. I don't always have it but if I need a cleanser and I'm making a Glossier order I'll buy it. I probably wouldn't specifically make an order just for this product but I still really love it. It's a simple and effective cleanser to use after makeup removal or in the morning. I know I will repurchase it again.
Let me preface this quick review by saying I would never spend €84 on a cleanser. Ever. I just don't think spending that much on a wash-off product is sensible, unless you have a huge skincare budget. I would rather spend that money on a great serum. Although I don't think I've ever spent €84 on any skincare product. It's a lovely cleanser, but to me it's not worth the money. You can get less expensive Lancôme cleansers that are just as nice and effective.
*Casmara Deep Cleanser Multifunctional 3 in 1 50ml Made in Spain €21
This was a travel size that I was sent as a PR Sample goodie bag when I was nominated for an award earlier this year. I'd never tried anything from Casmara before, I just knew they were a Spanish brand. This was a lovely cleanser and the 50ml size lasted a while, but it just didn't wow me. I wasn't sad when I finished it and when I went to look up the price it seemed difficult to get hold of which is always off-putting for me. The price is good for the full size but I just wouldn't buy it myself.
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 100ml, €70
Like the Lancôme cleanser, I can't justify the price of this. I've wanted to try it for ages and I eventually got it in the Cosmetips X KJH bag. I would never have bought this at full price. It's a beautiful mist and it feels luxurious but it's too expensive. I didn't notice much difference using it and for that reason and the price I wouldn't buy it again.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml 12m Made in France €13.50
I much prefer this mist to the Omorovicza one. Maybe it doesn't do as much for my skin but I love the sensory experience of using it. The scent is quite polarising so I'd definitely try before buying but I've been using this on and off for about 12 years and it's something that I won't always have in my collection but when I do it makes me so happy to use it. And I suppose that's all you really want in a product.
*bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum 30ml x2 12m Made in USA €47
Another one I've mentioned again and again. I have one on the go at the moment too and I absolutely love it. By far the best hydrating serum I've tried. It doesn't contain hyaluronic acid but instead it has glycerin, squalane and niacinamide. It just really agrees with my skin and I notice a difference when I use it which is exactly what you want for this price. I've only bought this once because the gracious bareMinerals team have kept me stocked up but it's that one product in my skincare routine I have to have.
Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum 30ml 12m Made in Ireland €43
A lovely hyaluronic acid serum, but I much prefer the bareMinerals one above and therefore wouldn't buy this again. However if your skin loves hyaluronic acid, I would really rate this.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops 40ml 12m Made in Korea €35
Love, love, love! I am doing everything in my power to not repurchase this but I have other similar products I need to use up first. I had too many of the same kinds of products open and I didn't want them to expire so I'm trying to use what I have first but I'll definitely repurchase this. It's such a gorgeous product for wearing under makeup, especially when your skin is a little bit dry.
*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concentrated Derma Serum Niacinamide 30ml 12m Made in USA €25
This felt nice to use but it just didn't make a noticeable difference to my skin. Maybe it's just not strong enough for me but possibly a good option if you want to try niacinamide as an ingredient without spending too much.
*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dullness Concentrated Derma Serum Vitamin C 25ml 12m Made in USA €25
I think this was in my last empties and I'll say the same thing as I probably said then. It was nowhere near as good for my skin as the Pestle & Mortar Vitamin C. Like I said above, possibly suited to Vitamin C beginners or younger skin but it just didn't make a visible difference the way the P&M one does. I'm using a very expensive one at the moment so I'll be interested to see how they all compare once I've used that up.
Skyn Iceland Icelandic Youth Serum 30ml, 12m Made in USA €46
This one is a big no. I think it's discontinued too which makes sense. It smelled strange to me, almost like green tea but not in a good way. I also didn't notice any difference using it. I bought this much discounted so I don't feel too bad because I didn't pay full price but I just couldn't wait to finish it. I've tried other Skyn Iceland products and loved them but this just wasn't for me.
Another big win and a definite repurchase. I loved using this, it worked so well under makeup and I was genuinely sad when I finished it. I haven't repurchased it yet purely because I have a few facial SPF products I need to use first. I've tried a few Ultra Violette facial SPFs now and I've loved them all, there's something for every skin type.
Ultrasun SPF 50 Face Spray 75ml Made in Switzerland €21
I can't really say too much about this because my boyfriend used it more than me but he loved it. It's not a product I would use alone but more as something to top up when you're out and about. Very handy to have but it's important to fully apply sunscreen all over rather than relying on just a mist. I'd definitely buy this again.
Supergoop! Glow Screen SPF 30 50 ml, €36
This is one that I did really enjoy using and I liked it under makeup. It's a slightly tinted SPF with mica in it so it does have a light-catching effect. The shade is slightly too dark for me so I tended to use a lighter foundation shade over it to almost cancel it out. I wouldn't buy this particular one again purely because I find tinted SPFs involve more finesse than I'm willing to put in to my SPF routine. I want something easy that I don't have to think about. It may work well for someone with a deeper skin tone than mine. I prefer their Unseen Sunscreen and I'd like to try some of their other ones about which I've heard good things. You can get a 15ml size of this for €16.90 if you wanted to try it out first without buying the full size.
*bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Defense Radiant Tint Protective Moisturiser SPF30 PA+++ 50ml 12m Made in USA €45
I really liked this as an all-in-one moisturiser and makeup prep product as it gives a radiance to your complexion. The one thing I didn't like was the scent and I can't exactly describe it except to say I just didn't like it. I'd rather no scent than a bad scent so for that reason I wouldn't buy this myself even though I really liked the product itself. I couldn't find this in stock anywhere so perhaps it's been discontinued or is being reformulated.
*Kiehls Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream 50ml 12m Made in USA €46.50
I went to a launch dinner for this back in February and I was so excited I broke my one in one out rule and started using it straight away. It lasted for such a long time and was ideal for my Winter and Spring skin when the weather was still cold. I loved the texture and scent and I noticed a difference when using it. I'd definitely consider buying it myself but I have a lot of moisturisers to get through before that. It's definitely a stand-out moisturiser for me which doesn't happen too often.
*bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Face Cream 50g 12m Made in USA €60
This was a lovely moisturiser that I used at night. It left my skin feeling hydrated and it lasted a long time. There was nothing wrong with it at all, it's a perfectly good moisturiser, but I just preferred the Kiehls one above and it's less expensive so for that reason I wouldn't repurchase this one. However if you're someone who can't use retinol for any reason you might like this plant-based alternative.
Auric Plush Ritual Ceramide Lip Treatment (Bare) 3g 12m Made in Italy $32
I have mixed feelings about this one. It's a stunning lip treatment, I'd go as far as to say it's probably the best lip treatment I've ever tried. The packaging is so beautifully considered. The texture, scent and results you get from it are second to none. My issue lies in the cost to have it shipped to the EU and the amount in the jar. I tried to not buy this for a while but I was suckered in with a 15% discount code. Even with the discount, with added taxes, shipping and customs it ended up being about €60 in total. I wouldn't mind if it lasted the 6 months that the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask lasts for me. However for €60 you get 3g of product which is such a tiny amount. I used it every evening for 6 weeks and then it was gone. Which means it cost me €10 per week. For comparison, the aforementioned Laneige mask contains 20g of product for about €22. As much I loved using it and the results for my lips, it just doesn't make sense for me to spend that amount on such a small amount of product. If I lived in the US and got free shipping I'd definitely buy it once in a while as a treat or as a gift for someone because it's such a beautiful product. I have to hope that Auric eventually is stocked by a retailer here in the EU.
*bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Lip Mask 13g 12m Made in USA €28
This is my second one of these and I really like it to wear overnight, especially during the colder months. It's a thick texture that really keeps the moisture locked in. Once again there is nothing wrong with this product but I prefer the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask which contains more for less money.
*bareMinerals Ageless Lip Balm x2 3.3g 12m Made in USA €26
I used up two of these since my last empties post. It's a lip balm stick that I apply during the day because it's easier and then I like to wear a lip mask at night. I enjoyed using it but I found I had to reapply quite often as my lips need a lot of hydration so in that sense it probably wouldn't be cost-effective to buy it myself as I feel my lips need more from a lip balm.
Ultra Violette SPF 50 Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm (Nude) 15g 12m Made in Australia €18
This is the only Ultra Violette product that I didn't like, purely because of the scent. It just put me off using it because I could smell it so strongly. I think I would prefer an SPF lip balm without colour and in a less glossy texture too. I would say it's meant to be worn alone but I would always use it to prep my lips under lipstick or other lip products and it's too glossy and thick for that purpose. It could be the ideal lip SPF if you're wearing it alone as it comes in a few different shades. I'd try it first though to make sure you don't have the same issue with the scent that I had.
**By Terry Baume de Rose 2.3g 12m Made in France €16
I had heard such great things about the pot version of this so I was very excited to try it. I actually got this as a GWP when I ordered the foundation from the By Terry website. From the first use I really didn't like this. I usually like rosy floral scents but this was so overpowering and not a pleasant rose scent to me. I tried to use as much of it as I could but I don't think I finished the tube. It was just a travel size so thankfully I hadn't bought a full size or I probably would have given it away. You may really like this scent but I couldn't get past it enough to appreciate the product itself.
*Kiehls Super Multi- Corrective Eye Zone Treatment 14ml 6m €45
I really like this eye cream, I've bought and been sent PR samples of lots of different Kiehls eye creams and I've always found them to be very effective products. I would buy this myself no problem as I have quite dry under eyes and I like to buy a good eye cream to keep that area hydrated.
*L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Eye Serum 20ml 6m Made in Germany €30
I love this and I've already purchased a second one. It has an applicator with metal rollerballs to cool under your eyes so it's a lovely product to use in the morning. I use it under eye cream every morning to give some added hydration to my eye area and a couple of times a week I'll use a thicker layer with my Dieux reusable eye masks on top. As I mentioned already I do have quite dry under eyes so adding this step has really helped especially with how my makeup applies on top of it.
*IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream 15ml 12m Made in Korea €40
I really liked using this eye cream too. I don't have much to say except it's a good eye cream, if I was to choose between this and the Kiehls one I probably preferred the Kiehls but only just, they're quite similar in what they did for my eye area.
*Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches 30 pairs, 6m Made in Korea $18
I received these as a PR sample pre-pandemic and it took me much longer than it should have to use them up because I kept forgetting that I had them and then they seemed like a faff to use when I did remember. I did really like the results of using them when I did remember to use them. So when I finished the tub I decided to buy some reusable eye masks from Dieux in the hopes that I would use them more which I surprisingly have been doing. I really try to avoid unnecessary single-use items where I can and I think if you're someone who enjoys eye masks, the best option is to buy some reusable ones and a caffeine-based hydrating serum instead.
Nursem Caring Hand Cream 300ml, 75ml 12m Made in UK €24, €12
I think I mentioned my dry hands issue before but basically, I ended up with dermatitis on my hands during 2020 from washing my hands so often at work and they haven't really been the same since. To cut a long story short they began getting bad again when I was expressing milk using a pump for 6 months earlier this year and I was washing the pump parts up to 7 times per day at the height of it. I bought pair of gloves but often I was trying to wash them as fast as possible and I just forgot to use the gloves so my hands suffered. I wanted a basic hand cream that would nourish my hands and absorb quickly so I decided to try Nursem which is apparently a brand developed by nurses so I figured it would be a good one to try. I bought the 300ml pump bottle because I thought that would make it easier to use. I really love this, it's exactly what I wanted and because it dries in quickly and the pump bottle is such a handy (pun intended) way to dispense it, I find I use it more regularly than I would a different hand cream. I've since used up the smaller tube and bought a second pump bottle. So this is clearly a winner for me.
Flexitol Rapid Relief Hand Balm 56g Made in UK €6.99
I bought this when my hands were really bad during the Summer and it did a great job of helping them get back to normal. I used it as an overnight treatment and then the Nursem one during the day. I keep meaning to repurchase this to use at night but I've been trying to finish up another one I have before that.
Glossier Hand Cream 50ml 12m Made in USA €18
This was another big no from me. The scent is supposed to be an adapted version of the 'You' perfume but I really didn't enjoy the scent at all. I found it quite off-putting to use. I also didn't think the formula was particularly good for my skin but as mentioned above I do have very dry hands so it might be better suited to someone with normal skin on their hands. The only redeeming feature for me was the packaging which was quite cute. I also think the price is too expensive for what it is and the amount you get. It just wasn't for me.
*Clarins Aroma Revitalizing Silky Body Cream 200ml 18m Made in France €37
I loved using this, it came before the Summer and I'm fairly sure I had it used up after a month because I loved applying it so much. The scent is exquisite, so invigorating and the texture is beautifully silky as the name suggests. It's rare that I apply body lotion every time I shower but this product made me want to do that and that's a great product to me. I haven't repurchased it yet as I have a few other body lotions to use up first but I'll definitely buy it again when they're all used up. It's expensive for a body cream so definitely a treat or could be a lovely gift to get someone.
*Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Shampoo and Conditioner 250ml, 12m Made in UK €11.99 each
I'm always interested to try hair products specifically for curly hair and I did really like these two. They hydrated my hair without leaving a residue which is what I look for in shampoo and conditioner. They're priced very well too which I appreciate. The only negative thing I have to say is that the scent wasn't my favourite. It's like a perfumed coconut scent to me, rather than a fresh coconut scnet. I know other people loved it so it's just a very personal thing but I would buy them myself as it's difficult to find curly hair products at this price point.
I was sent both of these along with a full bottle of the conditioner so I could refill it. I ended up pouring the shampoo refill into an old shampoo bottle and it worked very well. They are expensive but they lasted such a long time so I can see that they would really appeal to people. I'd love to see a service from Kiehls where you could bring in your empty shampoo and conditioner bottles and have them refilled in-store at a discount alternatively. I'd definitely use a service like that. I know it wouldn't work for everyone but I know some people would love it.
R+Co Dreamhouse Cold Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray 89ml, 12m Made in USA €30
I really loved this product. I bought some of the R+Co X Ashley Streicher products because I follow her on social media and I love her hair advice and tutorials. I also loved the idea behind this wave spray. I found it worked well at adding hydration and texture without that dry, crisp feeling of a sea salt spray. Granted I already have curly hair but I found this gave me some extra definition. It also lasted a really long time despite only being 89mls. I'll definitely buy this again at some point but I have so many hair-styling products I need to use up first.
JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 30ml 12m Made in USA €10
I wasn't going to include the next two products because they were just travel sizes but I loved them so much I wanted to mention them. I've already bought a full size of the Air Dry Cream because I liked it so much. I apply it to towel-dried hair and then use a diffuser. It gives my hair hydration and I find my curls are more defined when I use it. I'm looking forward to continuing to use it now that I have the full size. I bought this in a set with a full size of the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil which is incredible too.
JVN Complete Instant Recovery Serum 25ml 12m Made in USA €14
This was also in the aforementioned set and I loved it too, it's a heat protector and primer in one. It contains ingredients that balance the hairs porosity so that it can retain moisture. It's supposed to be used as the first step in your styling routine. I definitely want to buy the full size of this too. All of the JVN products smell incredible too. I've just bought the hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner so I'm looking forward to starting them once I've finished my current products.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo 198ml Made in USA €23
I bought this in the Summer of 2021 with the intention of bringing it with me in my hospital bag when I had my daughter and then using it after as I figured I probably wouldn't get to wash my hair that often. It's still the best dry shampoo I've tried. I recently bought a Kerastase one because I couldn't find this in stock anywhere but I definitely prefer the Living Proof one, it works better than any of the others I've used and it smells great too which is a must with dry shampoo. I'll definitely be buying this again once the Kerastase one is finished.
The totals are as follows:
28 PR Samples: €954.46
38 Bought by me: €958.27
2 Gifts/ Gift With Purchase: €43
The total amount is €1955.73 for 68 products over 6 months. I used the average prices for the most part and I tried to include links to websites where the products were the least expensive and currently in stock. As I've mentioned in my previous empties posts I didn't actually spend that much on the products I bought. I bought most at 20% off at least and I know some were even less expensive than that. I've had some of these products for a couple of years too. I've spent quite a bit of money on beauty products this year but I've also been kindly sent a lot as PR samples too. I've been quite good at keeping my one in one out rule for skincare and I'm trying to do that with makeup and hair products too.
I want to reset myself for the beginning of 2023 so I'm embarking on a three month no buy. I have accumulated a lot of beautiful products over the past year, especially the past 6 months and I really want to make use of them and appreciate them. I also have a backlog of content I want to produce because I like to thoroughly test out products before writing full reviews and giving my definitive opnion. My goal is to spend the next few months using what I have and not lusting after new products. In that time I'm planning to make a list of any new products that interests me and then at the end of the no buy I'll see if I still want to buy any of them. I did this at the start of last year and it was a great way to challenge myself, I was determined not to break it and I didn't. Hopefully doing it for longer this time will be even more interesting.
If you've made it this far, I'd love to know if you've tried any of these products and what you think of them. I hope you all have a lovely New Year and thank you for all of your support, I appreciate it so much.
Emma x
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