AD/PRESS DROP/AFFILIATE
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*PR Samples
**Repurchase/ Bought after trying a press sample
***Travel Size/ Mini
****Gift/ Gift with purchase
This is my 12th empties post and it's now been three years since I started writing this series. If you're not yet subscribed to my YouTube channel I am now also doing a corresponding Empties video so that you can watch or listen instead of reading if that's easier. There will be more details here, as I always add the product quantity, shelf life once opened, country of manufacture and the price. I also mention the amount of PR products versus those I bought myself just to be fully transparent. I apply a one in, one out rule to my skincare so that I can accurately evaluate how each product affects my skin. There are 41 products this time so let's get straight into it.
L’Oréal Professionel Paris Techni Art Pli Thermo-Modelling Spray 190ml, 18m, Made in Spain €19.95
This is a heat-activated spray that gives shape and memory to the hair. It can also be used as a styling primer. It can be applied to damp or dry hair before styling with a heat tool. It adds grip, hold and lift making the hair more voluminous. I’m not sure why I bought this as I don’t think I necessarily need it. I used it when I was curling my hair with a heat styling tool and I found it gave me more volume and helped the curls to last longer. My heat-styled curls tend to last anyway because I have naturally curly hair but this product definitely worked. I don’t think I’d repurchase it as I didn’t find it completely necessary for my hair type but if you have more straight and flat hair and you’re looking for volume and hold, I’d definitely recommend this product.
Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Detangle, Define & Refresh Spray 150ml, 12m, Made in the UK €14.95
I bought this a good while ago and then I was sent some products from the brand too. I used it on clean wet hair before styling and also to refresh my curls on day 2/3 after washing. It lasted for such a long time and I even started using it on my daughter's hair as she has quite tangly hair. She got so used to it that it became an important part of her bath routine. While I did like it, I have other similar products I’m using at the moment. I’m not crazy about the scent as it’s quite perfumed. That’s the only negative thing I can say as I think it’s good value and it does what it claims to do.
**/***JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 30ml, 12m, Made in Brazil €7
I’ve reviewed this multiple times too, this particular size comes in a set with a full size of the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil. I’ve bought the full size a couple of times too. I’m using a different hydrating cream at the moment but I will definitely buy this again in the future. It also smells incredible and I like that you can buy a smaller 60ml size to try it out before buying the 147ml full-size tube.
**JVN Complete Pre-Wash Scalp Oil 50ml, 12m, Made in the USA €29.50
This is my fourth bottle of this product in just over 2 years. The only other pre-wash scalp treatment I’ve tried was from act + acre and even though that one is more expensive because of the amount, they work out much the same. I’d happily buy either again, I tend to go for the JVN when there’s 20% off on Space NK. I absolutely love using this product about once a week or every two weeks particularly when I have been using styling products like dry shampoo. I massage it through my roots and scalp and sometimes I use the Manta brush in circular motions to help exfoliate my scalp. You leave it on for 15 minutes and then shampoo it out. I’m currently using another scalp product from Arkive but once I’ve finished that I’ll probably go back to this one because I love that it’s an oil and it makes my scalp and hair feel nourished. I recently had my first haircut in almost two years and my hairstylist commented on my hair being in great condition so I must be doing something right.
Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Food Nourishing Shampoo 350ml, 12m, Made in Italy €8.49
Garnier Ultimate Blends Nourishing Conditioner 350ml, 12m, Made in Italy €8.49
I’ll review these two together as they are pretty much the same thing. I’ve had this duo before and I bought it when it was a third off. It’s a great shampoo and conditioner if you don’t want to spend a lot and there’s 350ml as opposed to the usual 250ml so you’re getting a bit more for your money. I’d buy these again because I’m not too fussy about shampoo and conditioner and I prefer spending money on hair treatments and styling products. It has a light banana scent so if that's not your thing, I'd avoid this range.
**Ameliorate Smoothing Body Exfoliant 150ml, 12m, Made in the UK €21
I’ve reviewed this product before but I’ll give a brief description anyway. This is a physical and chemical body exfoliant containing biodegradable bamboo granules and AHA with a mixture of shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil to hydrate the skin. This product combined with the body lotion from the same range is an excellent duo to help reduce Keratosis Pilaris. You apply it on dry skin before showering to allow it to work before rinsing it off. It’s not something I use all the time but I sometimes buy it as part of a set which makes it better value.
**Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion 500ml, 12m, Made in the UK €36.10
This body lotion is formulated to smooth bumps, soften and protect the skin. Like the exfoliant, it contains AHA and sweet almond oil amongst other hydrating ingredients. It doesn’t get rid of my KP but it definitely reduces it, especially in combination with the above exfoliant. I’m using a different body lotion at the moment but I may go back to this one in the future as I found it lasted for ages because it is a 500ml size. The pump is also very handy and tends to make me more likely to apply it after every shower. I’m trying to use less expensive body products at the moment but if they did that set again I’d definitely repurchase these products.
****Rituals The Alchemy Collection Foaming Shower Gel 200ml, 24m, Made in Europe €10.90
This was a gift from my mam. I haven’t had a Rituals shower gel in ages, I used to always buy them so this was a real treat. The scent is based on Amber and Myrrh so it’s very warm, smoky and musky. I believe this particular scent was limited edition so I don’t know how much longer it will be available but it’s such a beautiful scent, it reminds me of Replica By the Fireplace and Autumn Vibes. I love Rituals products and they’re quite affordable so I may have to pick this up again if it’s still available.
****Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne 30ml, Made in England €64
This was a gift from my sister for my birthday, she bought it for me in the airport last year when we were going to the south of France. We both like to buy perfume when we’re going away to remind us of the trip. This was my first time being on a plane since February 2020 and she knew I was nervous so spending time browsing the Duty Free was so nice and relaxing. The last time I bought this perfume was when I went to Menton in 2019 and I love that the scent automatically makes me think of our trips to France. This is probably my favourite Jo Malone scent and it may be a cliché but I love it. I would describe it as fresh, fruity and woody. It's the kind of scent you can wear any time of the year. I’m sure I’ll buy it again at some stage in the future.
**ZIIP Electric Complex Conductive Gel 80ml €39
(You can use my code EMMAZIIP for a discount on all ZIIP products!)
There’s not much to say about this as it’s a conductive gel that I use with my ZIIP Halo Device. I did try a different (less expensive) conductive gel and it just didn’t work as well so I’ll be sticking to this one from now on. I don’t mind buying this as it lasts about 3 months when I use the device about 4 times per week. You can see my ZIIP Halo review here.
La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermallergo Yeux 20ml, 6m, Made in France €22
This is a very basic eye cream, in the best way. It is ideal for anyone who suffers from sensitivity or discomfort in the eye area. It’s lightweight, soothing and hydrating and it’s good value for money. It contains glycerin, squalane, niacinamide and probiotic-derived fractions to help repair the skin. If you’re looking for something quite simple that won’t irritate your eyes, this is a great option. I’d definitely buy it again.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3 Smooth & Lift Eye Cream 15ml, 12m, Made in the UK €53
I bought this product last year as I wanted to start using retinoids in my eye contour area. As you probably know, the skin around the eyes is the most thin and sensitive on the face and it tends to be the first place you see fine lines. I’m nearing the end of my thirties and I’m starting to notice those fine lines. I want to avoid any cosmetic procedures but still want to use skincare that will help my skin look its best.
I went with this product because I had seen great reviews of it and I like the matter of fact marketing from Medik8. This eye cream contains Twin-Encapsulted Retinaldehyde which is proven to work 11 times faster than traditional retinol. It targets the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discolouration, uneven skin texture and loss of firmness. The twin-encapsulation ensures both power and gentleness on the delicate eye area. The formula also contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid and chamomile extract to nourish the skin barrier, smooth and calm the skin.
The brand recommends that you build up use frequency gradually by using it twice a week for the first two weeks, every second night for the next two weeks and then every night. I have a different retinal-based eye cream to use up but once that’s done, I’ll probably repurchase this one as I found it excellent for my eye area. It’s expensive but it lasted for such a long time and you can often find it 20% off which softens the blow.
**Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 20g, 12m, Made in Korea €24
I’ve reviewed this product several times already so I’ll keep it brief. This is such a reliable product, it’s great value for money as a tub lasts me 6 months. I use it every single evening as an overnight mask and it keeps my lips soft and smooth all year round. I have a backup of this as I was given it as a gift for Christmas and I’ll definitely be buying it again myself when that one runs out. I order it from Stylevana or YesStyle now as it’s less expensive than the likes of Cult Beauty but not as convenient. This is one that completely lives up to the hype for me. I always buy the Berry one as that’s my favourite.
**Nivea Double Effect Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover 125ml, 6m, Made in Germany €5.99
I like this but I prefer the Garnier one and they’re around the same price. I’d happily buy either depending on which one was cheaper, I’m not too precious about it but if given the choice the Garnier one just beats this one.
**Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover 200ml, 12m, Made in France €10.99
I’ve bought this a couple of times before when in Sephora in various European cities. It’s an inexpensive waterproof eye makeup remover and I like this big size as I tend to go through this type of product quite quickly especially when using a waterproof mascara. I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy this as I have other similar products that are more accessible to me but if I was making a Sephora UK order I would buy it again.
*Rèphr Gentle Cleanser 250ml, 12m, Made in Korea €26 (concept store price €9)
I really enjoyed using this cleanser, much more than I expected. Firstly it comes in this sleek matte black aluminium packaging which is recyclable and refillable. It’s a light foaming gentle cleanser with no fragrance or essential oils and a low pH to maintain the skin's oil and water balance. It contains 15% glycerin so it doesn’t feel stripping or leave the skin tight, it also contains green tea extract, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and soybean seed extract. The name Rèphr comes from the word reference and the whole idea behind the brand is to create products based on community input and customer feedback. They want to create premium quality daily essentials to elevate a person's everyday life. You can really feel that with the quality and simplicity of their products. I’m a huge fan of their brushes which they kindly sent me last year and they have become my everyday staples. This cleanser was a pleasure to use from the chic and environmentally conscious packaging to the convenient pump and the elegant formula. If you’re curious to try their products but you’re on a budget, they have a Concept Store where you can buy their products at a significantly reduced price in exchange for honest feedback. It’s a great way for a brand to offer their customers quality products at an affordable price and in return they get 100% honest reviews about their products which allows them to make improvements or changes as necessary. As you can probably tell I have become a big fan of this brand I’m excited to try more of their products in the future.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch 24 Patches, Made in Korea €7.49
I’ve become a regular pimple patch user in the past 18 months or so. I am one of those people that has a habit of picking at my face, especially if I have a noticeable spot. I just can’t leave them alone and the only thing that has stopped me is wearing makeup. However, on no makeup days or overnight, these pimple patches are great for reducing those sore and red inflamed spots. If you’re someone who tends to pick at your skin I highly recommend trying pimple patches. These ones are available in Boots but I usually buy them when making an order from Stylevana or YesStyle as they’re a bit cheaper on those websites.
COSRX Master Patch Intensive 36 Patches, 12m, Made in Korea €16.99
See above! These are pretty much the same thing, I do prefer the patches with the tapered edges as I find they adhere to my skin a bit better but I’m not too fussy and they all do the same thing.
****Heimish Hydrogel Eye Patch Bulgarian Rose Water 24m, Made in Korea €18.61
I got these as a free gift with one of my Stylevana orders last year. I never would have bought these as I use the Dieux Forever Eye Masks and my eye serum instead of disposable eye patches. However, I absolutely loved using these as they had lots of serum and they stayed in place really well. I’ve tried a few different eye patches like these ones from Pixi and these are definitely the best I’ve tried and a great price too. I won’t repurchase them because I prefer my reusable Dieux eye masks.
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream 50ml €41
I got this as part of a Cult Beauty special box of skincare. I think the box of products was around €45 so it was very good value as the contents added up to around €200. I liked this moisturiser but I didn’t love it. It has a lightweight texture, almost like a gel-cream. It also has a very light fruity scent. It worked well at hydrating my skin without feeling heavy. I wouldn’t repurchase it purely because there are other similarly priced moisturisers that I prefer.
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water 150ml, 12m, Made in Korea €18
I loved this so much! I don’t usually have an essence in my skincare routine as I don’t find it necessary but this product has converted me. As the name suggests, it has a watery texture and I applied it into the palm of my hand and then patted it onto my skin straight after cleansing. It has ingredients that calm, even, smooth and deeply hydrate the skin. I found it particularly great during the Summer when I don’t want to apply layers of skincare but I still want my skin to be hydrated. Sometimes I would use this instead of or as well as a serum and then skip moisturiser and just apply sunscreen. I’m using an essence from a different brand at the moment as I received it in a press drop but as soon as I run out I’ll be buying this one again.
Beauty of Joseon is available at Boots now too so if you want to try out their products keep an eye out as they often have discounts.
**Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ 50ml, 12m, Made in Korea €12.99
This is my third tube of this sunscreen and I’ll definitely be buying it again. I’m using a couple of others at the moment but once those are used up I’ll order another one or even two of these. It’s a lightweight cream that absorbs quickly and doesn’t irritate my eyes. It sits very well under makeup and makes my skin feel hydrated. It’s one of the best SPFs I’ve ever tried and I can’t recommend it enough!
Votary Intense Night Oil Rosehip and Retinoids 50ml, 6m, Made in England €128.70
I didn’t know much about this brand and I hadn’t tried any of their products until I bought this as part of the Cosmetips X Katie Jane Hughes collection. It’s actually €177.60 on the brand's website but Space NK sell it for the above price. I’ll cut to the chase, I wouldn’t buy this again because it wasn’t incredible enough for me to want to spend so much money on it. It was a lovely product but just not worth the money for me.
*May Lindstrom Skin The Youth Dew 30ml, 12m, Made in USA €215
Obviously this is an unbelievably expensive product so I’ll start by saying even if this was the best serum I’ve ever tried I wouldn’t repurchase it because it’s completely out of my budget. Sadly for me, it’s a beautiful product that I thoroughly enjoyed using and I was so sad when I finished it. Firstly it has the most incredible natural scent that made it a pleasure to use. I could see a difference in my skin while I was using it and I love the whole user experience. It contains 21 oils and Coenzyme Q10. Despite all of that, it is so expensive for a 30ml serum. It’s expensive for anything. It’s not something I could afford to buy again and again even though it did last me a long time and I absolutely loved the results. Sadly I just don’t have the budget for a product this expensive.
*L’Oréal Paris Infallible Mattifying Setting Spray 100ml, 12m, Made in France €13.49 (discontinued)
This product seems to be discontinued now so I won’t write a full review. It’s not something I would have bought again as I don’t like a fully matte finish and if I do want a bit more mattifying I would use a soft matte foundation or more of my setting powder. I know there’s a new Infallible Setting Spray but I haven’t tried it yet. I much prefer the Urban Decay All Nighter.
*Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydra-Charged Complexion Prep Priming Spray 118ml, 6m, Made in USA €31.60 (discontinued)
This product is now discontinued so I won’t go into too much detail. I liked it but I prefer other primers and the coconut scent was a little bit overpowering. I like to add hydration with skincare so I don’t find this kind of product necessary.
*Urban Decay All Nighter Vitamin C Hydrating Setting Spray 118ml, 6m, Made in Canada €31.60
This iteration of the All Nighter Setting Spray was formulated specifically for dry and mature skin. It has the same waterproof, long-lasting, 16 hour wear of the original one but it’s more hydrating and addition of vitamin c helps to brighten the complexion. I’m still a huge fan of All Nighter and I’d probably buy this one to use during the colder months and then the original one during the summer.
*IT Cosmetics It’s Your Brush Love Instant Brush Cleaner 30ml, Made in USA €12.40 (discontinued)
I’ve reviewed this product before and it was discontinued then but I was given another small bottle of it last year at an IT Cosmetics event and I was delighted to have it again because it’s so handy for spot cleaning my brushes. I like to fully clean them every week without fail but this is a great way of giving them a little clean in between without having to wait for them to dry. I’d love to get an alternative to this product so if you have any recommendations for brush spot cleaners please let me know.
*Lancôme Priming Serum 24H Hydrating Solid Smoothing Primer 14.5g, 6m, Made in Korea €36
I was sent the refill for this primer without the case but I wanted to use it anyway and hoped it wouldn’t dry out. It didn’t dry out but I had to keep it in the box for extra protection. It’s a solid balm primer that almost melts into your skin when you scoop it out with the accompanying spatula. It definitely adds hydration to the skin before foundation however there are other primers I prefer so I won’t be buying this one myself.
*Surratt Beauty Dew Drop Foundation 19ml, Made in Japan €75
I reviewed the Surratt Beauty Surreal Skin Foundation on my blog 7 years ago and at that point it was the most expensive foundation I had ever tried. The Dew Drop Foundation is the same price on their website so it’s now tied for the most expensive foundation I’ve tried. I was so excited to receive PR from Surratt last year and I was particularly excited to try this foundation as I have heard so many great things and it’s the favourite foundation of HauteMess Tom, one of my favourite YouTubers. I’m going to make a bold statement that this is one of the best foundations I have ever tried. It is such a beautiful texture and finish. It’s a medium coverage and it slightly blurs my skin and makes it look its absolute best. I was sent shades 3 and 4, I gave 4 to my sister and I managed to make 3 work for me although it was definitely not the right shade. I did their shade matching quiz which matches me to shade 1.5 which is what I would have chosen myself. So right off the bat the shade was not right but I still used it (more so in the Summer) and was determined to be able to review it anyway. I’m sure I could have emailed them to ask for the lighter shade but since I had already opened the ones they sent I didn’t want to waste them. The next issue for me was the packaging. While aesthetically it is beautiful and in theory it should be great but in practice it was awkward and frustrating to use. It has a rubber button on one end and when you press it the formula drops out. I don’t know if mine was faulty as I’ve heard people say the same and others say theirs has been fine but it was so slow to drop out. I had to press down hard on the end of it and only the tiniest amount at a time came out. I ended up decanting it into a pot so that I could use it more easily. That was another reason I was put off using it even though I loved the formula. As you can see above it’s also only 19ml for €75. Most foundations are at least 30ml so that makes it such an expensive foundation and if it was perfect I might be able to forgive the price. There are also only 20 shades so there’s not going to be a shade for everyone. It’s so disappointing to love a foundation so much but it has too many issues to make it a product I would spend my own money on. If they fixed the packaging and increased the quantity to 30ml I would probably be on board with it but there are foundations I love just as much for less money and better packaging and shade ranges.
*Queen Musia 2053 Mascara 9ml, 6m, Made in Italy €30
This has the most amazing packaging of any mascara I’ve ever tried. It’s weighty and such a great colour, like the other Queen Musia products. The thing I don’t like is that I find it awkward to hold because of the square shape. Most mascaras are cylindrical and I’ve gotten used to that so it was always going to feel strange but I just find it a bit uncomfortable especially combined with it being weighted. It makes it difficult to twist around which is how I like to apply mascara. I could probably forgive all of that if the results were incredible but sadly this formula is just not for me. It does define and lengthen but I find it makes my lashes look quite separated and spindly. I found it difficult to achieve volume so it left my eyelashes looking quite lacklustre. I’ve seen other people loving this mascara so it may be that it's just not the right formula for me. For $32 I would want it to be amazing but it just didn’t work for me.
*L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara 6.4ml, 6m, Made in Italy €16.99
I’ve used this mascara before and I absolutely loved it. I’m not sure what happened with this one, maybe it was old or not sealed properly but it was so dry when I opened it that it was impossible to use. I would consider it one of my favourite drugstore mascaras so there was definitely something not right with it and therefore I couldn’t use it. I have a few different mascaras in my collection that are unopened so I won’t need one for a while but I would buy it again because I know I loved it.
****Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Long Up Mascara Super Waterproof 6g, 6m, Made in Japan €16.59
This is a Japanese brand, my friend bought it for me as a gift when she was in Japan last year. She actually bought the same one for me about 6/7 years ago when she was there first. This is a mascara that lifts and holds your lashes while providing length and volume as it contains fibres. It’s very waterproof so you’ll need an oil-based cleanser to remove it but it’s so long-lasting. I found that it lifts, curls, separates and lengthens my lashes while adding just the right amount of volume. It’s also very good value. There are a good few types of mascara from this brand that all do different things. If you like waterproof mascara or if you have very straight lashes, this could be a good one to try out. I’d definitely buy it again myself.
*L’Oréal Telescopic Lift Mascara (Extra Black) 9.9ml, 6m, Made in Italy €16.99
This mascara gives you quite lifted and fanned-out lashes. It definitely is extra black and therefore extra defining. It also lasts quite well and I didn’t notice much flaking at all. The brush is a little bit unusual and that’s probably the biggest reason why I wouldn’t buy this myself. It took some getting used to and it wasn’t my favourite kind of mascara brush, I prefer a traditional bristle brush. The mascara gives a beautiful look to the lashes but there are others I prefer over this one at this price point.
*Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara 2ml, 6m, Made in France €11.60
I’ve reviewed this mascara before and while I think it’s a lovely mascara I much prefer Lancôme Monsieur Big and Lash Idôle. You can’t go wrong with a Lancôme mascara as there is something for everyone, this one just isn’t my favourite.
Moomin X BBIA Never Die Mascara 7g, Made in Korea €15.99
This is very similar to the mascara to the Heroine Make one. It has a thin, curved brush that lifts and lengthens the eyelashes. It gives a very fluttery, fanned-out look and it’s also super waterproof. I found that if you want to build it up you have to do it quite quickly as it almost dries and sets and it’s hard to build it up once the first coat is dry. That aside, I loved this mascara and I’d happily buy it again.
*Hindash Color Fluid Ultra Shimmer (Boy Tears)
5g, 18m, Made in Italy €20
This product seems to be out of stock with all online retailers but I’m hoping it will come back in stock soon. I received it in a press drop 2.5 years ago and I should have included it in an empties a while ago but I kept thinking I could scrape a little bit more out of the tube. It’s part of the Color Fluid family of multipurpose liquid pigments. They can be used anywhere on the face and a little bit goes a long way. I’ve used this as a single eyeshadow, as a topper, as a highlighter on my cheeks, as a lip topper and an inner corner highlight. It has a slightly warm base with multi-faceted shimmer which gives the most beautiful wet-look effect. The only things I've tried that are similar would be Bodyography Glitter Pigment in Celestial and maybe Urban Decay Moondust in Space Cowboy (which I haven’t tried but the base pigment looks similar). I love how easy this is to use, because of the doe foot applicator you can be very specific with your placement but you can also blend it out with your finger or a brush. Similarly to the Half Magic Glitterpill, because it is a liquid there’s no mess or fallout so it’s easy to use for anyone who hasn’t tried a product like this before. It looks great alone but equally amazing over a base or another Color Fluid or a powder. I probably used this up a year ago but I was in denial so I’m finally adding it to my empties. I’m hoping it will be restocked soon as I miss having it and I don’t have anything else like it in my collection.
*Hindash Cosmetics Color Fluid Ultra Matte (Carve) 5g, 18m, Made in Italy €20
This is one of my most used and favourite makeup products. It is a multipurpose, concentrated pigment that you can use anywhere on the face. I mostly used it as an eyeshadow but I also used it mixed with other products (like the shade Thorn) to sculpt my face and mixed with Heartist and a liquid luminiser for a custom blush shade. It’s the perfect base for applying shimmer on top of because it’s matte and long-wearing. It worked great paired with Boy Tears. I was sent the four matte Color Fluid shades when they first launched and this one is my most used. Depending on your skin tone it could function as lots of different things. The only one I haven’t tried yet is Canvas but I definitely want to get that one once I’m finished my no-buy. It has lasted such a long time because it’s so concentrated so you only need the smallest amount. It’s been sold out for a while now and I definitely want to get it when it’s restocked. I highly recommend the Color Fluids, especially if you’re a makeup artist, you’ll get so much use from them.
Half Magic Beauty Glitterpill (Money Plz) 4ml €25
This is the second Glitterpill that I've tried. When the brand first launched I bought Microcosm and I loved that as it’s a holographic shade. There was however an issue with the formula of that particular shade that made it super watery and difficult to use so I didn’t get much use from it. When I placed a second order I bought Money Plz and I loved it and used it so much. It has a thin brush that makes it great for use as a liner either alone or over a base shade but you can also use it on a bigger surface area to make your eyes look even more spangly. I loved layering it with the Chromaddiction Matte and Shimmer for extra sparkly eyes. If you want to try glitter but don’t want to hassle or mess of loose glitter pigments or pressed glitters, this is the easiest and most convenient way to wear glitter as there’s no fallout or mess. I’ll definitely buy more of these in the future.
Half Magic Beauty Chromaddiction Matte Eye Paint + Liner (Wild Caught) 5.3ml, 12m, Made in the USA €29.50
This is one of my favourite eye makeup products. I have 4 shades, this one and Sky Juice (a periwinkle blue) are my two favourites. This is a great product to use as a base for shimmer and glitter and it was designed as such according to brand founder Donni Davy. It’s got quite a good pigment level (not as much as the Hindash Colour Fluids). It’s so easy to apply and blend and if you layer the Chromaddiction Shimmers and the Glitterpills on top, it’s the most eye-catching eye look that lasts all day. I know they added more shades but I haven’t tried them yet. There are bright shades and neutrals depending on your preferences but I absolutely love this product and I definitely want to replace it once my no-buy is finished.
The totals are as follows:
14 PR Products: €556.67
23 Products bought by me: €596.12
3 Travel/Sample Size
9 Repurchases
4 Gifts or Gift With Purchase: €110.10
The total is 41 products: €1262.89
I finished these products over the three month period since my last post at the end of December. As I always mention, the amount of money I spent on those 23 products is much lower as I rarely buy anything full price. The Votary oil, Ameliorate products and Glow Recipe moisturiser were part of sets where they were significantly discounted. I probably didn't spend any more than €350 on the products I bought. 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 Empties video