Empties 10- €1100 Worth of Beauty Products

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*PR Samples

**Repurchase/ Bought after trying a press sample

***Travel Size/ Mini

****Gift/ Gift with purchase

This is my tenth empties post and I'm so happy I've managed to continue this project for the past 2.5 years. It's been such a great exercise for me to do every three months to better understand my spending habits and what products I actually use and like. It's a great way for me to be transparent about the products I receive in press drops versus those that I buy myself. At the end of each post, I break down the totals of everything as I find it so interesting. Because of my work as a Content Creator I use more products than the average person but I still like to fully use up and review everything that stays in my collection. I have lots of videos showcasing products on my other social media pages but it's here where I give my final thoughts on products and whether I would buy them again. This month I have an added bonus as I started a YouTube channel a few months ago, so I have a video version of this post if it's easier for people to listen to or watch. We have 36 products to get through so let's get into it. 

*Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk 30ml, 24m, Made in France €71

Beach Walk is a scent that grew on me. I didn't love it at first, I wouldn't say that I love it now but I do really like it. I prefer how it smells after it's been worn for a while, I find it quite strong when it’s first applied. Beach Walk is described as a sunny and invigorated scent that evokes a walk along a sandy beach. The notes include bergamot, ylang-ylang, pink pepper, lemon, coconut milk, cedarwood and white musk. I would describe it as being floral, fresh, fruity and lactonic. It’s definitely more of a Spring/Summer fragrance but it’s heavier than other Summery scents I’ve had like Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess. I gave my mam a bottle of this because she absolutely loved it and I prefer how it smells on her compared to wearing it myself. It’s not something I would buy myself as there are so many other scents I prefer. 

*Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning 100ml, 24m, Made in France €140

I love this scent and I was so sad when I finished it. It's described as a clean and fresh delicate floral fragrance that conjures up memories of lingering Sunday mornings in bed. I would completely agree, It's like you've just had a shower with the best smelling shower gel and you get into a bed with crisp fresh sheets. It's comforting, light and airy but also powdery, musky and floral. It's quite inoffensive and easy to wear, I can't imagine anyone hating it. It's an eau de toilette so it doesn't last all day which is the only negative to me. If you like the Escentric Molecules fragrances or Glossier You, you might like this as it has some of the same comforting connotations. The Replica scents always have a Provenance and Period and for Lazy Sunday Morning it's Florence 2003 which was when I visited Italy for the first time and I actually went to Rome and Florence. I have fond memories of that trip even though it was a school art history trip and we stayed in some dodgy hotels. I would 100% buy this myself. 

**Glossier You 50ml, 24m, Made in the USA €96

I have mixed feelings about Glossier You. I love the scent. I first tried it in 2018 when I went for dinner with the Glossier team here in Dublin. I was given a bag of products and in it was the solid version of Glossier You. The following year the team returned for an event here and I was given the full size bottle and I was delighted as I adored the scent. I have since been stricken from their PR list and haven't tried any of their launches from the past few years. I bought this bottle in May 2022 and it was €58, it's now €96. I understand that prices everywhere have increased but for a product to almost double in price in less than 2 years is ridiculous. It's €39 for the 8ml size and €138 for the 100ml. It's described as a skin scent enhancer as it's mainly made up of base notes so it smells different on everyone. (I'd say this is true of most perfumes when applied to skin). The notes include pink pepper, ambox, iris and ambrette seeds. It's delicate, warm and comforting and it remains one of my favourite scents. I have read that it was reformulated since I last bought it and reports are that it doesn't smell the same. This combined with the price increase means sadly I won't be buying it again any time soon.

 

***/****Clarins Comfort Scrub 15ml, 18m, Made in France €12

I've reviewed this product in a few previous empties posts as I always seem to have a tube of it. My mam seems to always get this as a free gift with purchase and she gives it to me because she knows I like it. While I am a big proponent of chemical exfoliation, sometimes you want a good old facial scrub. This is the chic and classy distant cousin of a certain apricot scrub who shall not be named. It's an oil-based physical exfoliant that contains sugar microcrystals derived from beetroot. It also contains squalane and wild mango butter. I like this for helping to gently buff away any dry patches or flaky skin, it's great for the lips too. I wouldn't buy the full size because I do prefer a chemical exfoliant but I love the warming sensation and the vanilla scent. It's not a necessity but it's a lovely product. The full size is 50ml and €33. 

*REN Radiance PHA Exfoliating Facial 50ml, 9m, Made in the UK €38

I was delighted to receive this as a press sample earlier this year. I have been buying REN products for over ten years and I can't remember a time when I haven't had a REN product in my skincare routine. This product is both a physical, chemical and enzymatic exfoliant. It contains a naturally derived PHA (poly hydroxy acid) which is a gentler chemical exfoliant. It doesn't penetrate the skin as much as an AHA but instead works on the skin's surface. It also contains pomegranate enzymes and pomegranate powder to help exfoliate the skin. It is recommended to use it 2 or 3 times per week. You apply an almond-sized amount to damp skin, gently massage and then let it sit for 2 minutes before rinsing it off. I loved using this, it was great for when I felt like my skin was looking a bit lacklustre and I wanted to bring some brightness to it. It's so gentle, it feels refreshing and it left my skin looking smooth and radiant. I used it once or twice a week and it lasted for months. This is definitely going on my skincare wishlist as I loved what it did for my skin as well as the experience of using it. 

*/***Alpha-H Liquid Gold 30ml, 24m, Made in Australia €18.95

I've been using Liquid Gold on and off for over ten years now. It was one of those cult skincare products that everyone raved about in the early days of beauty YouTube and on beauty blogs before most of us knew what an AHA was. I'm sure anyone reading this has probably already tried Liquid Gold but to give a quick overview, it is a glycolic acid exfoliator. Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that helps with skin renewal as it dissolves the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. It also stimulates the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid and helps to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, open pores and uneven texture. According to Alpha-H, the low pH delivery system helps the glycolic acid to penetrate the skin more effectively and it's also why it can tingle slightly upon application. It is recommended that you go slowly and work your way up to using it three times per week. It is also recommended that you use it alone without applying moisturiser on top however you can follow it with a facial oil once it is touch dry if needed. This product is hyped for a reason, it works. I don't think 2014 me needed it as much as 2024 me needs it. I could definitely do with some skin cell turnover and this product really does what it claims it will do. After using it again having not used it in a few years I remembered how good it is and it's definitely on my list to repurchase once I need a chemical exfoliant again. I usually use the REN Daily AHA which has lactic acid and is gentler than glycolic but maybe I need something a bit stronger now that I'm tumbling towards a new decade.

*Kiehls Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Facial Essence 100ml, 12m, Made in Japan €52

I loved using this essence. It's not a product I usually buy but I think using this one has changed my mind (I have since bought a K-Beauty one which I'm using at the moment). Just in case you're not sure what an essence is, it's a skincare step that is applied after cleansing and before a serum or moisturiser. They tend to be a watery texture that gives added hydration to the skin and helps to prepare the skin for the rest of the skincare routine. It's not a necessary step but it may be something that you might like to use if it sounds like it could benefit your skin. I particularly liked it during the warmer months as it gave my skin extra hydration without feeling like I was adding layers of skincare. Most Summer days I would use the essence, a lightweight moisturiser and SPF. The formula of this one consists of ferulic acid (an antioxidant that helps the skin's natural recovery process to target visible damage), lactic acid (which gently exfoliates and improves moisture, the look of fine lines and uneven texture) and squalane oil (helps to replenish the skin's barrier). I used it once a day in the morning and it lasted for a long time. I noticed my skin felt smoother and looked brighter and more even. It also looked and felt more hydrated. I could genuinely see a difference while I was using this product which is not always the case with skincare. I'm not going to buy it myself because I'm using a K-Beauty one at the moment but when that is all used up I may consider buying this again because even though it's expensive it lasted for ages and I loved what it did for my skin. It also smells incredible and sometimes that's a huge part of the user experience. 

*Skin Proud Bright Eye Pomegranate Gel-Cream 15ml, 6m, Made in South Korea €18.95

I have tried a couple of Skin Proud products over the past 18 months or so and this one is my favourite so far. It seems to be a brand that is marketed towards a younger consumer base so I wasn't expecting much from this product as I usually need a lot of hydration around my eyes. I was pleasantly surprised as it has a light gel-cream texture but it felt moisturising and makeup applied very well on top of it. The formula contains shea butter, glycerin and niacinamide and it's made in South Korea which is a big green flag for me. I was using it in conjunction with an eye serum and a retinol eye cream at night so I don't know how well it would work alone. I probably need something more hydrating if I was using it alone day and night. I'll definitely need more during the colder months but if you have younger skin or not as many issues with the skin around your eyes as I have, this could be a great option as it has some good ingredients and it's reasonably priced. 

Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum 30ml, 12m, Made in the USA €64

This was my first time trying a Sunday Riley product. I got it in one of the Cult Beauty Edits last November so I paid significantly less than the outrageous full price. I didn't notice any big difference with my skin from using this product. Niacinamide is an ingredient that my skin likes because I have combination skin that can be quite oily in certain areas, niacinamide helps with pores and uneven skin tone. If I paid €64 for a 30ml size serum I would want to see results and I just felt a bit meh about this one. 

**Skin 1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ 50ml, 12m, Made in Korea €11.99

I reviewed this in my last empties post if you'd like to read it here. I won't repeat myself too much except to say I opened my third tube of this when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago. I love this product, it's perfect under makeup because the texture is thin, almost like a gel-cream consistency. The formula is hydrating and soothing so it gives your skin something extra and I think it will be great for the colder months too. I have a couple of other sunscreens to get through but I'll definitely be ordering this one again.

**Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 20g, 12m, Made in Korea €24

I'll forever repurchase this unless something better comes along. I apply this every night and it keeps my lips soft and smooth and hydrated and I never have issues with dryness or flakiness. It works well for my lips and it lasts for ages. I used to buy it from Cult Beauty but I now buy it from Stylevana or YesStyle because it is significantly less expensive. If you'd like to try it but you don't want to spend the money on a full size they have mini pots which is a great way to try it out. I love the Berry scent but I'd like to branch out and try one of the other ones. 

**O'Keefe's Working Hands Overnight Intensive Hand Cream 80ml, 24m, Made in the USA €14.49

I've mentioned this in multiple previous empties posts so I'll be brief. This is a great overnight treatment for really dry hands. It's a thick cream/balm and you only need a small amount so it lasts a long time. I'm using a different hand cream at the moment but once that's finished I'll be repurchasing this one as it works so well when my hands are very dry. 

*Garnier Body Superfood 48hr Nourishing Cream 380ml, 12m, Made in Germany €12.99

I've reviewed one of these moisturisers before here, it has a nice texture that sinks into the skin quickly and a fresh aloe vera scent. It's a lot of product and the price is quite reasonable. I don't like to spend too much on body moisturiser so I'd purchase this myself. 

**ZIIP Electric Complex Conductive Gel 80ml, 12m, Made in the USA €39

I bought this to use with the ZIIP Halo Microcurrent Facial Device that I was sent back in January. The kit I was sent came with a 50ml size of the gel and lasted a couple of months and then I bought this one. After finishing it I didn't want to spend €39 on another one (although I do have a discount code EMMAZIIP for the Current Body site that gives 10% off). I tried to be cheeky and I bought a conductive gel from another brand that makes microcurrent devices as it was a third of the price but it just doesn't work the same way. I find it drags a bit with that one so I'll go back to buying this instead. I'm planning on doing an in-depth review of the ZIIP Halo so in one way it's good to have that experience to add to the review. 

*bareMinerals BAREPRO 16Hr Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation (Fair 10 Cool) 8g, 12m, Made in the USA €40

It's hard to give this product a fair review because it arrived broken. I received it in a press drop from bareMinerals before they changed their PR company and I haven't tried anything from them since but I am a fan of most of their products. The original mineral foundation isn't for me, I much prefer this formula. I tried my best to make it work even though it was completely smashed but then my daughter dropped it and the powder went everywhere so it's not technically empty but I thought I'd write a quick review anyway. It's full coverage but you can make it more of a medium coverage by lightly buffing on a sheer application. There are 35 shades and they definitely skew on the lighter end, they could do with having more deep shades as is the case with most brands. This is a long-wearing, transfer-resistant formula probably best suited to combination/oily skin types. I wasn't expecting to like this at all because it sounded like the opposite of the kinds of base products I usually love but it felt and looked beautiful on my skin. It didn't look powdery and it was great for when I needed more coverage. I also used it to set any blemishes as it gave them extra coverage. I didn't get the chance to use it enough to give my full opinion but from what I tried, I liked it. If it sounds like something you'd like I highly recommend trying it at a counter if possible. You can see me wearing it here. 

*Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Multi-Use Concealer (06 Neutralizer) 6.8ml, 6m, Made in France €12.99

This isn't technically an empty but it's long past its recommended shelf life as I was using it for a while, misplaced it and then found it again. I removed the sponge tip applicator as I don't really like not being able to clean it. This shade is probably better suited to a different skin tone and I think a more neutral pale shade would work better on me, but I do really rate the formula especially if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a concealer. It's a good medium buildable coverage and the formula is hydrating. If you can find a shade it's definitely worth checking out this formula. You can see me wearing it here. 

**Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging 10ml, 6m, Made in the USA €24

There's not much I can say about this except that for me it will always be my favourite eye primer. Granted, I haven't tried too many other ones but every time I do I'm disappointed as they don't compare. I usually buy the Anti-Aging one as it has Dermaxyl to smooth eyelids and Kalpariane to plump, firm and hydrate. I'm currently using the original formula which was a press sample but once that's finished I'll be back to buying this one again. 

***/****Kosas Lip Oil (Jellyfish) 2ml, 12m, Made in the USA €10 (approx.)

This was a mini size that I got as a free gift when Kosas launched in Space NK. The shade jellyfish is their clear shade so it was a good way to try this formula. It's a thinner consistency than the Vieve and Clarins ones but still in the realm of a lip oil or gloss-balm style formula. It's comfortable and feels nourishing. The small applicator on this mini size was a bit annoying as I had to dip in a few times to coat my lips but that's obviously only an issue because of the mini size. I liked it but not enough to buy a full size. I have a lot of this kind of product and maybe if I tried one of the other shades I might like it better but I prefer the other lip oils I have in my collection. The scent wasn't my favourite either, it's a sweet vanilla which I usually like but it wasn't for me. The full size is 4.6ml and €23. See an application video here. 

*Clarins Fix' Make-Up 50ml, 18m, Made in France €30

I've reviewed this setting spray a few times before and I like it but I will always prefer the Urban Decay All Nighter and it's also better value for money as it's €34 for 118ml. It's not a bad product at all, it refreshes and sets makeup but I prefer the Urban Decay one. If you're interested in trying this they sell a 15ml size for €10.

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown) 0.09g, 12m, Made in South Korea €12

This is a great brow pencil, it has a thin nib and it applies easily. The shade is great for my brows and they have a great selection of 12 shades which is better than most high-end brands. It's a good price and lasts the same as brow pencils that are twice the price. I'll definitely buy this again once the one I'm currently using is finished. 

*Urban Decay All Nighter Extra Glow Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray 118ml, 6m, Made in Canada €33

There are now multiple iterations of the All Nighter Setting Spray including Vitamin C and Ultra Matte formulas. This one is infused with hyaluronic acid and agave extra to set makeup with a dewy finish. I love the original formula, I've bought it myself countless times and I've been sent it from the brand. I liked this glowy formula and I think it would be great for the colder months or for people with dry skin. I'll probably stick to the original formula but I did really like this one too. 

Half Magic Chromaddiction Eye Paint + Liner (Spirit Guide) 4.4ml, 6m, Made in Italy €29

Half Magic Chromaddiction Eye Paint + Liner (No Shame) 4.4ml, 6m, Made in Italy €29

I bought Spirit Guide when Half Magic first launched over 2 years ago and then I bought No Shame a few months later so I've had both of these much longer than the 6 month shelf life suggests. I used both almost completely and they're quite dried out now. I love both of these shades, particularly over the matte Chromaddication Eye Paints in Sky Juice and Wild Caught. They give the most spangly eye looks and they're amped up even more when you add their Glitterpuck on top. I've reviewed Half Magic in full on my blog so you probably already know I'm a huge fan and I would absolutely repurchase these two products if I had more of a makeup budget but I'm really trying to use only what's in my collection and not buy much new makeup. I highly recommend checking out Half Magic if you haven't yet and if you're a fan of dopamine, sparkly, fun makeup. They ship to Europe from their website but you can also buy more easily on Beauty Bay. You can read my Half Magic review here. You can see a video application of Spirit Guide here and a photo here and No Shame here. 

*Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara 8ml, 6m, Made in Italy €35

This is probably the best mascara I've ever used. I don't say that lightly because mascara is one of those beauty items that seems to be so difficult to get right because everyone wants different things. It made my lashes defined, lengthened and fanned-out. The slightly curved, tapered brush ensured that every tiny little lash was coated and it made my lashes look lifted and fluttery. It works well without a lash curler and even better with one as it holds the curl really well. It performs almost like a tubing mascara as it doesn't flake and it's long-wearing but not waterproof. When you apply a second or third coat it adds more volume but without clumping resulting in dramatic, wide eyes. I've never used a mascara that layers so well. It's usually all or nothing and it's hard to do both. That makes it incredibly versatile and a mascara that will work for so many different preferences. I used this mascara for almost 6 months and it didn't really start to dry out until about 5 months of us. I was using it a lot even though I had other mascaras open in my collection. The formula remained the same the whole time until it was nearing the 6 month mark. This is something else that rarely happens. I usually get a maximum of 3/4 months from mascara and they usually start to dry out or give a subpar performance after about 2 months. I was so impressed with how long it lasted. I think most people can agree that €35 is a high-end or luxury price for a mascara but given how long it lasted and its versatility, I think it's well worth the money. I have lots of application videos of this on my Instagram if you'd like to see it in use. I was so sad when I had to give in and retire this tube but it's definitely going to be my treat mascara in the future. I know it's difficult to test a mascara before buying but Lisa Elridge has once again completely nailed a new category of makeup for her brand!

*Clarins Wonder Volume Mascara XXL  8ml, 6m, Made in France €30

I liked this mascara at the beginning. It was volumising as the name suggests but I found it to be drier than I like quite soon after opening it. After I had been using it for a few weeks it didn't build on itself as easily as I would like and it got a bit clumpy and flaky. It was moisture resistant, not waterproof so maybe that long-wearing formula had something to do with the dryness but after about a month it was quite dry and I found it difficult to use. There are other Clarins mascaras I prefer and it didn't compare to the Lisa Eldridge one for me which was a little bit more expensive but so much better overall. 

Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream 200ml, 12m, Made in the USA €29.30

As you may have guessed, this is a cream that is supposed to define, moisturise and protect curls. I liked this product and it worked well, especially combined with the Defining Gel from the same range, however, I prefer the Kerastase Curl Manifesto Gel-Cream as it worked better for my hair type. If I was going to buy a more high-end curl cream I'd go for the Kerastase one instead. 

Umberto Giannini Heat Shield Frizz Control Heat Protecting Spray 200ml, 12m, Made in the UK €11.99

This is quite an affordable heat protectant spray that is also supposed to help with frizz. It's hard to say whether a heat protectant actually works but I assume it does as my hair is very healthy looking at the moment. I'll definitely buy this again as it's not expensive and it does the job for when I heat style my hair. I really like Umberto Giannini products and I've used them on and off for years, their curl range is great for when I don't have much of a budget to spend on hair products. It also smells lovely which is an added bonus. 

Hair by Sam McKnight Modern Hairspray Multi-Task Heat Protection Styling Mist 250ml, Made in the UK €28

This is a 3-in-1 product that provides heat protection, hold and texture. I bought it after finishing the travel-size Cool Girl spray as I wanted something that did more than just give my hair some texture. I don't heat style my hair too often so I didn't mind spending money on this product (albeit with 20% off on Cult Beauty). I haven't had a haircut since May 2023 and it's just not a priority for me at the moment so sometimes I will spend my beauty budget on haircare products that will help my hair and make it look its best. I have a hairspray and a texturising spray that I'm using at the moment and once those gone, I will most likely buy this again. 

**JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 147ml, 12m, Made in the USA €27

**/***JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 30ml, 12m, Made in the USA €7

I've gone through lots of tubes of this and I've mentioned it a few times in my empties posts. It's still one of my favourite hair products as it hydrates my hair without being too heavy and it helps to define my curls and give them shape. I'm trying to use up some other curl creams at the moment but once they're all finished I'll be repurchasing this one.

**JVN Complete Conditioning Mist 147ml, 12m, Made in the USA €15

This is another one I've repurchased a few times. It's a great multi-purpose product that provides heat protection and hydration. It can be used on wet or dry hair to help with frizz and protects against breakage, UV rays and colour fading. I like to use it to refresh my hair on day two or three after washing as my curls tend to lose shape and become frizzy. It's great at taming the frizz and giving my curls some moisture. I used it on my mam and my sister and they both bought it after seeing the results. It's such a great product that I will definitely repurchase soon. 

**/***JVN Complete Instant Recovery Serum 30ml, 12m, Made in the USA €14

I got this in a set with the Nourishing Shine Drops and the Blowout Styling Milk. It balances the hair porosity, strengthens, nourishes and protects against heat styling. It is essentially a hair primer that prepares the hair for any subsequent products or styling. I love this serum and I tend to use it when I'm heat styling my hair so it lasts for quite a while. This is another product I will definitely repurchase in the future. The JVN Hair products all smell incredible too which is an added bonus. 

*Hello Klean Hard Water Shampoo 350ml, 12m, Made in PRC €20

*Hello Klean Hard Water Conditioner 350ml, 12m, Made in PRC €20

I'm going to review these products together since I feel the same way about both of them. Hello Klean is a brand that specialises in products to optimise the water you use to clean your hair and body. They have filters for your shower head as well as body and hair products. Thankfully the water where I live isn't too bad, it's not as hard as it is in some areas of Ireland. My sister always comments on how her hair feels and looks much nicer when she's abroad and the water is soft. I really liked this shampoo and conditioner but I don't think I have hard enough water to notice a difference compared to any other shampoo and conditioner. My hair felt soft afterwards and they smell amazing but I'd rather buy the Davines Curl Cream again than buy these as I don't think my hair needs them. 

Davines LOVE Curl Cleansing Cream 500ml, 12m, Made in Italy €36

This is a co-wash product so you apply a generous amount, massage it in, leave it for 5 minutes and then rinse. It's aimed at curly hair because it cleanses the hair without stripping it or lathering. If you have curly hair, chances are it needs more moisture and that's why a co-wash is a great alternative to using shampoo and conditioner. Davines recommends that you use their Curl Shampoo and Conditioner or mask every three washes. I tended to use this every other time I washed my hair because I usually wash it a maximum of twice per week. I really liked the other Davines Curl products I've tried and this product is great because it lasts for such a long time. It also smells incredible. Davines is an Italian brand that has been operating since 1983 and specialises in hair products. I'll be keeping an eye out for a discount code so that I can repurchase this as I loved what it did for my hair. 

*Garnier Ultimate Blends Nourishing Banana Hair Drink 200ml, 18m, Made in Belgium €12.99

This is a liquid conditioner that you apply to the lengths of your hair, massage for ten seconds and then rinse. It coats the hair fibre (without silicones) for smoother and shinier hair. I've used this type of product before and I'm not sure that it's necessarily designed for my naturally curly hair. I think it would work better for straight or wavy hair. My hair tends to need more moisture and while I don't think this is a bad product it's just not what my hair needs. I prefer the hair mask in this range as it's more hydrating for my curls. They have a few different versions for dull hair and damaged hair, if it's something you think would suit your hair type you can usually find it on special offer for almost half price. It's not something I'd buy myself but I did just buy the shampoo and conditioner from this range which I quite like. 

The totals are as follows:

16 PR Products: €585.87

17 Products bought by me: €511.77

5 Travel/Sample Size 

3 Part of a Set

10 Repurchases

2 Gifts or Gift With Purchase: €22

The total is 36 products: €1119.64

I finished these products over the three month period since my last post at the end of June. As I always mention, the amount of money I spent on those 17 products is much lower as I rarely buy anything full price. I probably didn't spend any more than €350 on the products I bought and I would imagine it was less as some products were part of sets (like the Sunday Riley and JVN). 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

Shopping My Stash- A Look Using The Nabla Cutie Palette Midnight

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

The other night I started going through my makeup trolley (this IKEA one) to rearrange my eyeshadow palettes which were in a state of disarray. I ended up having an impromptu "declutter" of my entire makeup collection (not including lip products as they are stored elsewhere, although I do need to go through those too). I ended up trying to clear out anything that was bought pre-2020, especially creams and liquids. I got rid of all of my Glossier Cloud Paints as they were all at least 3 years old and they have an expiry recommendation of 6 months. I rarely strictly follow these recommendations but instead go by the smell, texture and performance of a product. However, I can't remember the last time I used them to be perfectly honest and as they are liquids I thought it would be better to make some space in my collection by clearing them out. I still think they are great products but I have other similar blushes in my collection and I prefer those shades as they are more nuanced and they are more suited to my complexion. I also went through my eyeshadow palettes and single eyeshadows. I archived (as in I'm keeping them for shade reference but I won't be using them) some that were bought in 2018/2019 and weren't performing as well like the Bodyography Glitter Pigments, some of which I'll definitely be repurchasing as they are such favourites of mine. If you want to see them in more detail I have plenty of posts featuring them in this blog. I've been trying to convince myself not to buy the new Natasha Denona Yucca Palette or the Isamaya Industrial 2.0 Palette so I went through my collection of palettes to find some things I haven't used in a while in order to attempt to satiate my lust for something new. One such palette was the Nabla Cutie Palette Midnight that my sister bought for me for my birthday in 2021 so it's almost 2 years old. I'm much more lenient with the expiry recommendations on powders so I'll be keeping this one for a while longer but I wanted to try it out again as it has been some time since I last used it. I haven't used this palette nearly as much as I'd have liked to and I wanted to play around with it some more. 

Despite its name, it brings to mind visions of the South of France. Of course, one of the shades is named Marseille which probably helps. The Côte d'Azur is one of my favourite places in the world (although I haven't got many places to choose from as my travels have been limited). I haven't been there in almost 4 years and I miss it so much. Over the past 8 years, I've been to Nice, Villefranche Sur Mer, Èze, Beaulieu Sur Mer, Juan Les Pins, Antibes, Monaco and Menton. I am hoping to finally go back next year with my daughter but until then, I'll have to make do with Azure coloured makeup. If you live in Europe you may also be experiencing quite a wet Summer and so the other day I wanted to brighten myself up with a colourful makeup look. It was the perfect opportunity to use this palette again and I'm always up for wearing blue on my eyelids. 

I started with some primer and then applied Quiet Storm across my lids from the lash line about halfway to my brows using my finger. I then blended that out using Air and applied Alma on my inner corner. I used Sapphire to deepen the outer corner of my eyelids and applied some of the Kosas Cloud Set Powder just under my brows to blend everything together. I took more of Quiet Storm on a flat brush and spritzed it with the Clarins Fix' Make-Up and added it to the centre of my eyelids for more intensity as it's such a beautiful shade. I decided to keep my lower lash line clean and added mascara to both my top and bottom lashes.

For my cheeks I used the Nabla Skin Glazing Powder which I'm quite certain is the only powder highlighter I own. I've also had that for almost 2 years too, I've used it so much and there is still a lot left. Another product I wanted to use again is the Patrick Ta Major Headlines Blush. I've had this for about 2.5 years and while I do love the formula I don't reach for it as often as I'd like because the shade is a touch too warm for me which you can see below. It's a cream and powder formula which you can use together or separately. I'd like to buy a different shade in this formula, She's Blushing and She's Flushed look like shades that would really work on my skin tone so they're firmly on my wishlist. I think this is another product that's going to be archived as there's no point in keeping something that doesn't work for my skin tone as well as I'd like it to even if I do like the formula. 

On my lips I've been playing with the new Lisa Eldridge Velveteen Liquid Lip Colours, I decided to mix Affair and Fawn on the back of my hand and buff it into my lips almost like a stain and then patted Gloss Embrace in Silent Sun on top as I felt this look needed something neutral but glossy. I've taken lots of detailed photographs of the Velveteens and I'll be writing a full review once I've tested them out for a while. 

A few things I've been loving that are more recent favourites and quite budget friendly are the e.l.f. Luminous Putty Bronzer in the shade Vacay Mood, the Rimmel Kind & Free Mascara and the NYX Micro Brow Pencil. I bought the Luminous Putty Bronzer after seeing Alexandra Anele using it and it looked and sounded like something that would work well on my skin type and tone. It's more of a cool toned bronzer which I find works really well on my skin as most fair bronzers are still too orange and warm for me and don't look natural. I've added a photo below comparing it to some other sculpting products I own. This is one of those products that adds some depth to my skin tone in such an easy way as it's quite sheer and blends easily so it doesn't interfere with the products underneath it. There are 8 shades which is more than some high-end brands. It also comes in the Putty Bronzer formula which is more of a semi-matte finish. It's only about €10 depending on where you buy it so it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the market for a new bronzer. The Rimmel mascara is one that I was very pleasantly surprised by as I wasn't expecting to like it. It gives my lashes length and definition and you can build it up for more volume too. It's not waterproof and the formula is more on the wet side so if you have straight lashes you may want to avoid this but if you're not concerned about your lashes holding a curl then this could be a good every day, inexpensive mascara. 

I decided to add some big yellow tassel earrings as this shade of yellow with the blue made me happy and it felt like a look I'd wear on holidays in the evening- slicked-back hair, blue eyeshadow and some bold earrings. 

Top row: eyeshadows alone. Bottom row: eyeshadows over primer

Nabla is an Italian brand and therefore the products are made in Italy. I tend to like cosmetics that are manufactured in Italy and many high-end brands are made there. This palette is also 100% vegan and cruelty-free and it's €25.50 for the 6 pans which I think is quite well-priced. As you can see from the photo above, primer really makes a difference in the performance of these shadows. I know not everyone likes to wear eye primer but I usually do as I find it both enhances the appearance and the longevity of eyeshadows. 

There was a difference in the performance of the formulas in this palette. The metallic and duochrome shades performed better than the pale ones which I found a bit dry and crumbly although once you blend them out they look beautiful, as you can see on my inner corner in the close-up shots. They're the kind of shades that are great for blending out the deeper blues. I've seen reviews where people have criticised the addition of the bronze shade Marseille, in a predominantly blue-toned palette but I love it and I know that bronze and blue work well together as they're such opposites. The photos don't capture the full effect of these shades on the eyes, especially Quiet Storm as it's a duochrome and looks far more impressive in person. There are five colour stories in the Cutie Palette range and at €25.50 I think they're a great option if you don't want to spend a lot of money. 

As much as I love the Skin Realist Tinted Balm, it only has seven shades and brands love to describe small shade ranges as being "flexible" so while I found a shade that works for me, I know there will be plenty of people who can't and therefore I can't really recommend it. They have a foundation which has 30 shades but it appears to be in the process of being discontinued. Nabla is one of those brands that I rarely see people talk about but I have enjoyed the products I've tried from them so far. Their new Beyond Jelly Lipsticks and single eyeshadows look beautiful and I've heard good things about their Brow Ambition pen. Apart from that there's nothing else that I'd go out of my way to try. In an oversaturated market it's hard to stand out but I wanted to demonstrate this palette as a means of "shopping my stash" and using the products in my collection that have been neglected. 

*Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer (Morganite)

Nabla Skin Realist Beautifying Tinted Balm (1 Fair)

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/Medium)

Danessa Myricks Vision Flush (Nutcracker)

e.l.f. Luminous Putty Bronzer (Vacay Mood)

Glossier Brow Flick (Brown)

Glossier Boy Brow (Brown)

Kosas Revealer Concealer (01N)

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion 

Nabla Cutie Palette Midnight (Quiet Storm, Alma, Air, Sapphire)

Surratt Beauty Relevée Eyelash Curler 

*Rimmel Kind & Free Mascara

Kosas Cloud Set Powder (Airy)

Nabla Skin Glazing Powder (Ozone)

Patrick Ta Major Headlines- Double-Take Creme & Powder Blush (She's So L.A.)

Lisa Eldridge Enhance and Define Lip Pencil (Affair)

*Lisa Eldridge Velveteen Liquid Lip Colour (Affair and Fawn)

Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (Silent Sun)

NYX Professional Makeup Micro Brow Pencil (Ash Brown)

*Clarins Fix' Make-Up

I'd love to do another one of these posts shopping my stash and using products that I haven't in a while so I'll try to pick out some older products in my collection and do it again soon. As I mentioned above I'm working on a review of the Lisa Eldridge Velveteens and I'm also putting together a detailed review of her eyeshadow palettes as I know some of them are out of stock and people are still looking to buy them. I have a lot of photos of looks I've created using the three palettes she sent me and I want to consolidate everything and review them properly now that I've been trying them for about 8 months. If there are any other reviews you'd like to see from me please do let me know.

If you'd like to support my work as a content creator you can do so through the Buy Me A Coffee website. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this post, I hope it was helpful. I'd love to know if you've tried any of these products and what you think of them.

Emma x

 

Empties 5- €1300 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

**Gifts from friends or family/ Gift with Purchase

This is my second empties post of 2023, if you haven't read the first one you can do so here. I decided to start these in-depth empties posts last year as a means of keeping track of my consumption of beauty products. I enjoy totting everything up at the end and seeing how much I spent versus how much I was sent as press samples. These posts are supposed to be the antithesis to short-form content that, by nature often doesn't allow for much detail. My attention span has gotten much worse over the past few years and I think short-form content on social media isn't helping. I spend more time watching long-form content on YouTube, listening to podcasts or reading articles and newsletters as I find more value in that kind of content. I do enjoy making makeup application Reels on Instagram and it's something that fits into my life at the moment as they're relatively easy (albeit time-consuming) to film, edit and upload. I would love to make YouTube videos going more in-depth with makeup applications and reviews but at the moment I don't have the spare time on top of everything else I'm already doing. My goal is to start uploading content for YouTube once a week and I feel that could be manageable.

I love writing about beauty and I think written reviews of products are still valuable and something I look for when researching a potential new purchase. Some of the following reviews are longer than others depending on how interesting I found the product. There are a few more flops than usual this time. Some new to me brands and products that have become quick favourites and some "meh" products that aren't memorable enough to warrant a repurchase. At the end, I break down the cost of everything including how many products were press samples or bought by me and how many were travel size and repurchases. There are 48 products to get through, so let's get started. 

Escentric Molecules Molecule 02 30ml, Made in England €55

This is one of my all-time favourite scents. I'm fairly certain this is my third bottle. I started my Escentric Molecules journey about 9/10 years ago with Molecule 01 which was one of those products raved about by YouTubers and bloggers at the time. I absolutely loved it and bought several bottles of it over the coming years. Then maybe 4/5 years ago one of the girls in work walked past me leaving behind the most intoxicating aroma that was oddly familiar, so I chased her down to find out what perfume she was wearing and it was this one. We had chatted about both loving Molecule 01 before and so she wasn't surprised when I asked her about Molecule 02. She didn't want to tell too many people about it because she loved and wanted it for herself which I completely understand. However I won't be gatekeeping here and I have to tell you that this is a scent unlike any other. It's replaced Molecule 01 for me, although I love both, 02 is my favourite. If you don't know about this brand they create scents based on a single molecule, hence the name. Molecule 02 consists of the molecule Ambroxan, described as having a "subtle sensual quality with a radiant, long-lasting dry down". Ambroxan has been derived from Clary Sage since the 1950s. This vegan Ambroxan is a crystal with a chemical structure identical to the ambrox derived from ambergris. Ambergris is a substance that is thought to be a by-product of the intestines of the sperm whale because of their cephalopod-rich diet. It washes up on shore or can be found floating in the water. When exposed to the elements and dried out, it has a musky scent that made it a desirable ingredient for perfumers for years as well as its ability to help with how well scent lasts on the skin. It is now a rarity and therefore one of the most expensive perfume ingredients. Nowadays, most perfumers use a lab-created equivalent. I recommend having a look at the list of perfumes that contain ambroxan on Fragrantica. It seems to be in a lot of traditionally "masculine" scents, although I never pay much attention to that, if I like a scent I don't care for whom it is marketed. I know that people say that it can smell different from person to person as the molecule mixes with your own scent on your skin. To me it smells comforting, like someone who smells naturally amazing. It's like that feeling of hugging someone and they just smell great but you can't quite put your finger on why. To me, it smells musky, creamy, clean and earthy. Escentric Molecules make discovery sets where you get sample sizes of all of their scents to try out. If you're ever in a department store that carries this scent, definitely check it out, it's so uniquely exquisite. I will most definitely be repurchasing it. 

Bionsen Deodorant Mineral Active for Sensitive Skin 150ml, Made in Italy €4.49

I mentioned one of the deodorants from this brand in one of my previous empties posts. I like this brand because of the scent and because they don't sting my underarms after hair removal (not directly after). There's not really much more I can say. I'm using the roll-on version of this at the moment and I like that too. I've been using this brand for years and I will probably continue to do so. 

*Yonka Paris Phyto-Bain Shower & Bath Oil 100ml, 6m, Made in France €41

I attended a Yonka Paris press event last Autumn which was my introduction to the brand as I'd never tried it before that. I absolutely loved the scent, which is predominantly lavender and of course, the texture which is a rich oil. It has that quintessential 'Spa' aroma that relaxes you immediately. I can't help but compare this to the Rituals Shower Oil reviewed below and the fact that this product is half the amount of the Rituals one but 4 times the price. I love the scent of lavender and I found this product to smell and feel quite luxurious and I looked forward to using it. However, I did use it more as a shower oil because I don't take baths too often. I did feel almost as if I was wasting it by using it in the shower. I think it would be a great product for someone who takes baths and wants the room filled with that relaxing lavender aroma. It comes in a glass bottle with a twist-off cap and I did find that slightly awkward to use, especially in the shower as I was worried about dropping it. I loved everything else about this product, however, I couldn't justify the price to buy it again for myself. As much as it was a sensorial dream, the price is always a huge factor for me. I love the Rituals shower oils and even though they may not be as cosmetically elegant as this one, I could buy 8 of them for the equivalent amount in mls of the Yonka one so it's a no-brainer for me.

**Rituals 'The Ritual of Sakura' Caring Shower Oil 200ml, 12m, Made in The Netherlands €10

I was given this as a gift for Christmas along with the shower gel in the same scent that I mentioned in my previous empties post. I've bought this product before in this exact scent as well as a few others. Shower oils are great for lazy days when I don't want to or don't have time to moisturise my body after showering. I have quite dry skin on my body and if I don't use a moisturiser it can feel rough and dry but this gives me some added moisture compared to a shower gel. As I mentioned when reviewing the Ritual of Sakura Shower Gel, I adore this scent as it's quite powdery and comforting. I love this product and I'll definitely buy it again myself at some point in the future. 

**Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter 185g, 12m, Made in USA €17

This was given to me as a gift when I was pregnant, around two years ago. I didn't actually finish it while I was pregnant, probably because my pregnant belly became too big and the weather was too warm to stand around moisturising my body after showering. I don't think body products aimed at pregnant women do anything too different than regular body products. This was a nice moisturiser but it wasn't particularly memorable and I don't think I'd recommend it over any other body butter or moisturiser I've used. It is fragrance-free and 99% natural if that's something you look for, particularly as you can be sensitive to certain scents when pregnant. It could be a nice gift for someone you know who is expecting but it's not something you need and I wouldn't buy it myself, pregnant or otherwise. 

*Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Body Cream 200ml, 6m, Made in USA €65

This past Christmas I was sent a press drop of a Laura Mercier gift set and this was one of the products in it. I gave the fragrance and Honey Bath to my mam and my sister and I kept the body cream. As far as I can tell the body range from Laura Mercier seems to have been repackaged (possibly reformulated). This jar from the gift set was 200ml, whereas the full size was 300ml and cost about €65. I absolutely loved using this product, the scent was just on the right side of gourmand for me. It had a rich but light texture, I think they described it as a soufflé, almost whipped texture. I found it ideal for the colder months when the skin on my body can be particularly dry. It left it feeling soft, smooth and smelling incredible and it made me look forward to moisturising my body which is not easy to do, especially in the winter when you just want to get dry and warm. It came in a glass jar with a twist-off lid, the new packaging looks like it could be plastic so a lot more practical but less luxurious. The new version is only 200ml as opposed to the original jar which was 300ml for the same price. It did last a long time, because it's quite rich, you don't need a lot of it. As much as I adored using this product and the feeling of luxury, I couldn't justify the price. I think the gift sets are good value at Christmas time if you know someone who loves body care and the Laura Mercier scents. I think it would be a great gift, but I wouldn't buy it for myself, for me it's too much money for a body cream. 

*Garnier Body Superfood 48H Moisturising Cream (Normal to Dry Skin) 380ml, 12m, Made in Germany €12.99

This is more my speed when it comes to body moisturiser. It's 5 times less expensive than the Laura Mercier one and almost double the amount of product. Is it as rich and luxurious and beautifully scented? Absolutely not, but it's much more affordable and doesn't make me feel guilty. Beauty products and their worth to the consumer can be largely based on the user experience but budget and value are also huge factors in your purchasing decisions. So while I enjoyed the entire user experience of the Laura Mercier body cream, this Garnier one is much less expensive and will last longer. I prefer to spend money on facial skincare, makeup, perfume etc. If a body cream smells nice and makes my skin feel moisturised that's all I'm really looking for when I buy them. I would buy this again because it worked well for my skin, it was great value for my money and it has a light, fresh scent. 

 

Palmers Cocoa Butter Hand Cream 60g, 12m, Made in USA €2.99

I've already bought a second tube of this because I found it to be a great product. It also has that cocoa butter scent which I love. I have used and loved the body cream and body oil by Palmers so I figured I'd try the hand version. I use this during the day after washing my hands (when I remember). It's gentle and feels nourishing which is all I really look for in a hand cream. At €2.99 you can't really go wrong. 

Flexitol Rescue Heel Balm 56g, Made in UK €9.99

I will definitely repurchase this balm as I've found it works well as an overnight treatment for my feet. As gross as it is, I know most people have quite dry feet so I like to exfoliate and remove the dry and dead skin and then lather my feet in this balm. It's not the sexiest product but it works at keeping my feet soft and smooth and therefore I will be buying it again. 

**Essie Spa Many Many Mani Intensive Hand Lotion 20ml, 12m, Made in France €2.50 (Full size €12.95 75ml) 

I got this as a free gift with purchase from Boots when I bought a couple of Essie nail products. I had never heard of it before but I'm always happy to have another hand cream. It's quite a rich texture that leaves your hands feeling nourished so I tended to use it in the evenings. As I've already mentioned I have very dry hands and cuticles so I need something very moisturising and I found this product worked very well. It was only 20ml so not a huge amount, but I liked it enough that I'd love to try out the full size. The only issue is that I found it difficult to find the full size for sale anywhere so maybe it's being discontinued or reformulated. I wouldn't go out of my way to try to find this if it's not available on any of the usual stockists but if I see it for sale again I might buy the full size. 

Essie Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil 13.5ml, 24m, Made in France €10.45

I've mentioned already that I have very dry hands and that includes my nails and cuticles. I had never tried a cuticle oil before using this one and I've had this for a couple of years now as I kept forgetting to use it. I love what this product does for my cuticles, it really moisturises the dry skin around my nails, it's the only thing that helps as a hand cream is usually not enough on its own. I think it was last year that Essie brought out a roll-on version of this cuticle oil. However, it wasn't in stock when I finished this one so I bought the L'Occitane Nail & Cuticle Oil instead. The Essie roll-on is actually a bit pricier than the brush-on glass bottle version, it's €17.45 compared to €10.45. The L'Occitane one is €16.95 but it's almost half the amount of the Essie at only 7.5mls, so I'll definitely try to find the Essie roll-on next time as it's a handy tube for keeping in my bag. 

REN Perfect Canvas Clean Jelly Oil Cleanser 100ml, 9m, Made in UK €29

I've had a few of these over the years and I think I've come to the realisation that although I really enjoy using it (the scent in particular) I just prefer an all-out balm cleanser. I find I have to go over my eyes a few times to get rid of all of my mascara. Granted, I do usually wear two layers and I could just remove it with my eye makeup remover first but I prefer the feeling of a balm or oil. So while I really like this product, there are cleansers I prefer so I don't think I'll be buying this again. 

*Lancôme Crème- Mousse Confort (Dry Skin) Comforting Cleansing Creamy- Foam 125ml, 12m, Made in France €35

This was my first time trying this cleanser and I enjoyed using it. At first, the rose scent seems quite strong but it dissipates to a more fresh, light rose scent which I found pleasant. It's a cream and foam hybrid which I don't think I've experienced before but it made a great second/morning cleanser as it left my skin feeling clean but not tight or dry. I can't see myself buying this to use again because I tend to spend less money on a second/morning cleanser. 

Garnier Express 2-in-1 Eye Make-Up Remover 125ml, 6m, Made in Poland €4.99

I know I've mentioned this before as I tend to go through these quite often. It's an excellent waterproof eye makeup remover and I'm already using another one. I use this more often in the Summer when I tend to favour waterproof and long-wearing eye makeup due to the warm weather and hayfever which makes my eyes water. I'll usually pick up a few of these when they're on special offer. It removes my eye makeup with minimal rubbing so my eyes don't get irritated. I'll continue to repurchase this again and again. 

*Lancôme Bi-Facil Clean & Care Nourishing & Soothing Instant Eye Makeup Remover 125ml, 6m, Made in France €32

I really enjoyed using this eye makeup remover. I'd never tried this particular formula before, it's meant to be more gentle which would be great for anyone with sensitive eyes. It does a very similar thing to the Garnier one and it's more than 6 times more expensive for the same amount of product. I didn't notice a difference in how easily they removed my waterproof eye makeup. They're also both owned by L'Oréal as is La Roche-Posay who makes a similar product and that's half the price of this one. I wouldn't buy this myself purely because there are much less expensive products that do the exact same thing.  

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Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant 100ml, 12m, Made in USA €39

I've had this product for longer than I care to admit and it's taken me so long to finish it because honestly I just don't notice a difference when I use it. I have had a bottle of this in the past and I think they reformulated it because this bottle had a different consistency. I preferred the older formula and I wouldn't buy this again because it didn't do what it claimed it would for my skin. I know this is a cult product for so many people but it didn't work for me. 

*Clarins My Clarins Clear-Out Targeted Blemish Lotion 13ml, 9m, Made in France €19

The brand Mario Badescu has a well-known product called Drying Lotion that I've always wanted to try and it's very similar to this one in the delivery system and what it claims to do. It's a bi-phase lotion containing a liquid and a powder that you don't shake up, you dip a cotton bud into the liquid and then apply it to your face overnight. It contains salicylic acid (reduces the redness of blemishes) and zinc oxide (heals and absorbs excess oil). I wouldn't apply this on any broken skin so I mainly use it on those red, angry spots that tend to stick around. I found this product significantly brought down any redness and swelling and helped flatten the spots so that the texture wasn't as noticeable. I didn't use it that often, only as needed with certain types of breakouts so it lasted for a long time and I definitely want to buy it myself as it's such a great product to have on hand. 

*SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic High Potency Triple Antioxidant Treatment 30ml, 12m, Made in France €185

I was given this bottle at a press event last December. I started using it straight away because it's a product I've always wanted to try. I used it every day apart from around 3/4 days when I was away and didn't bring it with me. The instructions say to use 4-5 drops, so I used 5 as I have a bigger face and it lasted me 4 months. My jaw dropped when I looked up the price of this product. This is without a doubt the most expensive beauty product I have ever used in my life. When I first got it, I posted about it on Instagram and I can't remember the last time I had so many replies about a product. The majority of people were positive and said that they loved it and that nothing else compares to it. Since I ran out of this I've had continuous breakouts and I can't tell if it's because it was helping my skin or I'm just going through a rough patch with my skin. They have several serums for various skin concerns. The C E Ferulic is for people who want to address the signs of skin aging. As the name suggests it has 15% Vitamin C in the form of L-Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid. It claims to provide advanced environmental protection, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and firms and brightens the complexion. They recommend it for people with dry, normal, sensitive or combination skin and for people with sensitised, discoloured, dehydrated or aging skin. I found it did make a difference to my skin's overall texture and appearance. I have combination skin with some pigmentation, dryness and signs of aging so I like to use a vitamin C serum as I find it's an ingredient that helps to improve the brightness of my skin. I was sad when I finished this serum, as I always am when I finish a product that helps my skin. The big question is would I buy it myself? Most online retailers that stock this product sell it for €185. It lasted me for 4 months which makes it €46 per month. To me, that is expensive. I think most people would consider that expensive for a skincare product. As much as I think this product does what it claims to do, I don't think you need to spend €185 to get a good vitamin C serum. In fact, I know you don't because my favourite vitamin C serum is the one from Pestle & Mortar, which costs €76 for a 40ml bottle. That's also expensive but any time I've bought it has been when there was 20-30% off and it lasts me around 6-7 months. I would probably buy this again if it was less expensive but €185 is far too much money for me to spend on one product. I could probably buy an entire skincare routine for that price. I can't justify the price and I would never pay that much for a single skincare product no matter how good the product is for my skin. 

Emma Hardie Vit C Intense Daily Serum 30ml, 12m, Made in Switzerland €68

I started using this serum after the SkinCeuticals. I didn't find it as effective as the C E Ferulic and the Pestle & Mortar one is a similar price with more product in the bottle so I won't be repurchasing this one.

**Kinvara 24Hr Rosehip Face Serum 30ml, 6m, Made in Ireland €32.95

I bought and used up one of these on the recommendation of some of the girls in work and I did really enjoy using it. Not long before I left to go on maternity leave, one of my friends from work bought a second one for me as a gift as she knew I liked it. I didn't open it for about a year as I was using other serums. If you're into natural skincare, this brand is definitely worth checking out. They're also an Irish brand which is another selling point for me as it's nice to support local brands. It's quite concentrated so even though it's only 30mls it does last a long time. It's meant to calm and hydrate and has been recommended for people who have acne, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema. It contains vitamin E and plant extracts like evening primose oil, jojoba, rosehip, seabuckthorn, aloe vera, rosemary and sweet almond oils. It has quite a strong citrus scent which I loved but it's something to note as I know it won't be for everyone. This won't tackle specific skin needs but it does the basics if that's what you're looking for. While I do really like this product, I don't know if I'd buy it again as I prefer the bareMinerals Skinlongevity Serum.

*Kiehls Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 60ml, €47

I'm quite certain that I was sent a press sample of this years ago but I'm not 100% sure, I have tried their sun protection products before, you can read a review here. Like most people who are serious about sun protection, I have tried many different sunscreens over the years and this is up there with my favourites. First of all it's 60ml which is great as it's a skincare item you should be wearing a lot of every day. When trying out a sunscreen I look for SPF 50 because I'm so fair-skinned. I also want something I can wear alone and under makeup. If it doesn't work under makeup there's no point as I know I won't end up wearing it and I'll use a different one instead. I'd rather spend more money on an SPF I like than an expensive product elsewhere in my skincare routine. This one doesn't feel heavy and it plays well with any foundation I've tried over it. I like to apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before makeup where possible so that it has time to fully dry down and settle onto my skin before I start applying makeup . I've found that doing it this way means that I don't get dreaded pilling and my makeup sits much better on my skin throughout the day, especially if it's very warm like it has been here recently. Sometimes I use my serums (usually hydrating and vitamin c) and then apply this on top forgoing a moisturiser as I find this hydrating enough. I know that €47 is expensive for any skincare product but if you're looking for a good SPF, I'd recommend trying this out in person to see if you like the texture. As much as I loved this, I still think I prefer the Ultra Violette ones and the Supergoop ones I've used. I love the La Roche-Posay range too and they're more affordable.  I have a few others to try out now that this is empty and I actually have another two open that I've been using for the past while so I'll be reviewing those soon. I'm planning on writing a blog post about my favourite sun protection products as it's something I'm so passionate about. 

Dieux Auracle Reviving Eye Gel 20ml, 6m €40

I have been following the brand Dieux with great interest for a while now. I started by following one of the brand's co-founders, Charlotte Palermino who, if you don't know her, uses her account to discuss the beauty industry with a critical eye. She breaks down beauty myths and creates informative content that is both engaging and educational. I have been wanting to try Dieux since it launched and when they announced they had started shipping to Europe, I placed an order straight away. I have been using their Forever Eye Masks for almost a year now after buying them on Cult Beauty (that's the only Dieux product available through a European retailer). I have very dry under eyes and I was hoping that regularly using eye patches would help and it truly has. I use them with the L'Oréal Revitalift Eye Serum and they help to depuff and hydrate my eye area and it's meant that my makeup has been sitting so much better under my eyes. I'm using up a couple of eye creams that I was sent at the moment but once they're gone I would love to repurchase Auracle. The only thing that's stopping me is the additional cost of shipping and customs from the US as Dieux currently doesn't have a European-based supplier. They have recently been added to the website Soko Glam so I'll see if they have cheaper shipping. I did get 20% off my first order from the Dieux website and that brought the price down but without the discount it is quite pricey. I already want to repurchase their Instant Angel Moisturizer and I haven't even finished it yet so maybe buying the two products will make it seem a bit more worthwhile to place an order. I'm really hoping that they will be stocked on a more EU shipping-friendly website soon, I can definitely see them being added to Space NK in the future. If you've been curious about this brand, just know the products do not disappoint and I'm already a huge fan. 

*Lancôme Advanced Génefique Yeux Youth Activating and Light Infusing Eye Cream 5ml, 6m, Made in France €21 (Full size €64)

This was a small sample size that came as part of a gift with purchase press drop. I brought it on a weekend away with me in April and continued to use it until it was finished. It was only 5mls so it didn't last too long, but enough to know that it's a beautiful eye cream. It has a texture that's almost like a thick gel but it feels rich and nourishing. I used it in the evenings while I used my Dieux Auracle during the day. Once again the price is the only thing that would put me off buying this again because I loved using it and the results it gave the skin in my eye area. 

Glossier Bubblewrap 22ml, 6m, Made in USA €27 

This product has been discontinued for about two years now. I bought it just before they announced that they were no longer producing it. I won't talk about the product much because you can't buy it anymore so there's no point. I had this in my stash of eye creams and I only got around to using it at the end of last year, I figured I needed to use it up sooner rather than later as I had bought it over a year before that. Glossier never really gave an explanation as to why they discontinued it. I was disappointed when I heard the news as I really liked it. I had gone through a few in the two years since it had been released and I was confused as to why they would stop making a product after only two years. Of course, this exact situation has happened before with Glossier. All of the Glossier Play products were discontinued less than two years after its launch. I was probably one of the few people disappointed as I loved the line and I actually think it was ahead of its time in a way. I was a brand affiliate for a few years but I'm not anymore and tbh I think the past three years it has lost favour with me. Many products I loved are no longer favourites and have been replaced by better formulas, packaging and marketing. It's sad because I would have considered myself a big Glossier fan but that's mostly subsided and there are few products I would actually buy now. I don't see many of the people I follow mention them either and I haven't been all that enamoured with any of the recent new releases. I hope they manage to turn things around and come up with something that makes me want to buy from them again. 

 

*La Roche-Posay Toleraine Dermallergo Crème Daily Repair Moisturiser 40ml, 12m, Made in France €21.50

I received this as a press sample back in December and I started using it quite soon afterwards. It was a great moisturiser to use during the colder months. It has been formulated for sensitive and ultra-sensitive skin, skin that is allergy-prone or that can suffer from redness, tightness, itchiness and dryness. It's supposed to reinforce and protect the skin barrier too. I don't have particularly sensitive skin but I still found this to be an excellent moisturiser. It's also ideal for use in conjunction with acids and retinoids or if your skin barrier has been compromised. I love La Roche-Posay and I have used their products for years. I haven't had to buy a moisturiser in a long time but I would definitely buy this one myself. 

Biossance Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Balm 15g, 12m, Made in USA €14

I bought this from Cult Beauty late last year because I was already making an order and I knew I was going to need a new lip balm soon. My usual Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask wasn't in stock so I took a chance on this one, which was a mistake. I don't know what it was about this lip balm, but after wearing it at night my lips felt dry in the morning which I've never experienced before. I don't think it was occlusive enough for my lips, perhaps it would have been better as a daytime lip balm that you can reapply every few hours but it just didn't do what I needed it to and I found myself wishing it away. I didn't want to waste my money by not finishing it so I did. I was so excited when it was empty which is something I rarely say about a product. Sadly the next lip balm I started is even worse and I don't think I'll be able to use it up, I find it so horrible to use in every way. I have a mini Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask that I bought from Stylevana to keep me going. I won't be buying this again and I can't recommend it. 

**Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer 10ml €14.60

I was sent this by a friend of mine who is a makeup artist, Aisling Hickey. She mentioned that this is her favourite product to prep her client's lips for makeup and I asked her about it and the next thing I know she had very generously sent me one from her stash. I wasn't sure at first and I wasn't overly in love with the scent which is a very light, synthetic rosy scent. However, after using it for a while and then actually finishing the tube, I can completely understand why she loves this product so much. It's a great product to prepare your lips for lipstick as it gives instant moisturisation leaving your lips feeling soft and smooth. I usually applied it after I finished my skincare or before I started my makeup to give it time to do its work. I'll definitely buy it again at some point because I really enjoyed using it and found it excellent, particularly during the colder months or before wearing a matte or long-wearing lip product. 

*The Body Shop Cleansing Conditioner Jamaican Black Castor Oil 400ml, 12m, Made in Poland €14

I've never been sent PR from The Body Shop, but they contacted me a while ago asking if they could send me their new range for curly hair. Of course, I said yes because I'm always interested in trying products that are specifically for curly hair. I'm a big fan of a cleansing conditioner or co-wash as they cleanse my hair and scalp but leave it feeling moisturised which is ideal for curly hair as it tends to be drier. First of all, this smells incredible! One of the most heavenly scents I've ever experienced from a hair product. Jamaican Black Castor Oil is considered to be an all-around excellent ingredient for hair. It's sulphate-free and also contains shea butter so it's a very nourishing product for people with coily and curly hair. I just looked up the price of this as I started writing about it (just in case somehow you haven't noticed, price is a huge factor for me). It's quite a big bottle, 400ml for €14. I haven't bought anything from the Body Shop in years but I was expecting it to be more expensive so I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed using this product, I went through it quite quickly as I had very long hair when I was using it so I'd like to buy it myself to see how long I'd get from it as I only wash my hair twice a week max. This range is for sure one to look into if you have curly or coily hair.  

Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask 250ml, 12m, Made in Israel €40

I loved this hair mask. I have tried a few Amika products and I've found that they work very well for my hair type. I got this in the Cosmetips X Katie Jane Hughes bag that I bought last year and wrote about here. I probably never would have bought this myself because I don't tend to use hair masks that often but I can say with assurance that this is the best hair mask I've ever used. I don't always notice a difference when I use different hair products but this really made my hair look and feel better. I will definitely buy it again at some point as it's great to use before a special occasion or if you feel your hair is in need of some TLC. It's €40 for the full size but you can get a smaller 100ml size for €25.

Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil 60ml, 12m, Made in UK €23

This is a volumising serum for fine hair. It feels similar to an oil but it's not. It could be a good option for people with fine hair who want volume but don't want anything that will weigh their hair down. It also helps with frizz and humidity and gives heat protection. I can't remember when I got this, it was definitely a few years ago, I think it was in one of those M&S beauty bags. I don't think I ever would have bought this myself but I really loved it and it smells incredible too. It also lasts a really long time because you don't need a lot of it. It does have silicones which I know some people like to avoid as you can get build-up in your hair. I don't think I'd buy this again as I'm very happy with the JVN styling products I've been using over the past 7/8 months. 

JVN Complete Pre-Wash Scalp Oil 50ml, 12m, Made in USA €29.50

I reviewed this in my last empties post and I'm currently on my third bottle so I suppose that should tell you everything. I'm a big fan of this product. I buy it in a set for €27 which comes with a travel-size Air Dry Cream and Instant Recovery Serum. It works out less expensive than buying the full size on its own and I usually wait until Space NK has 20% off so it ends up being a really good deal. As I mentioned in my last review of it, I apply this to my scalp about 15-30 minutes before showering and use the Tangle Teezer Scalp Brush to massage my scalp in circular motions. I use it maybe once a week or any time I feel that my hair has product build-up and I want to really massage my scalp and give it some TLC. It's vegan, silicone-free and sulphate-free. It contains ingredients that promote a healthy scalp, remove product build-up, nourish the hair and soothe the skin. I've noticed less hair loss and an overall improvement in my hair since I started using this and therefore I'm going to continue to buy it. 

JVN Nuture Hydrating Conditioner 295ml, 12m, Made in USA €21

I mentioned this in my last empties and that the pump broke so Space NK sent me another bottle. Since getting my hair cut by a significant amount, I'm more likely to repurchase this as I wouldn't be going through it so fast. As a general rule, I prefer to spend more money on products that you leave on your hair or skin. I don't like spending too much on wash-off products. As more high-end shampoos and conditioners go, these are gorgeous, the scent in particular is divine. I may buy them again at some point when there's a sale on but for now, I'm going to use my hair budget on the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil, Conditioning Mist and Air Dry Cream.  

JVN Complete Conditioning Mist 60ml, 12m, Made in USA €8 (Full size €15)

This is a mist that you can apply to wet or dry hair as a kind of leave-in conditioner to give hydration and help smooth your hair without silicones. I prefer to use it as a refresher for day two or three hair to give my curls some extra moisture and help them keep their shape and calm frizz. I found it great for reviving my curls which is one of the biggest challenges of having curly hair, it looks great on the day you wash it and then the next day it can lose its shape. I definitely plan on buying the full size of this product. 

JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 147ml, 12m, Made in USA €27

I've gone through a travel size (60ml) and this full size since I first started using this at the end of last year. This is a product that you apply to damp hair and leave to air dry or diffuse and it's supposed to help with frizz due to an ingredient called hemisqualane that's an alternative to silicones. It gives definition to wavy, curly or coily hair without weighing it down and leaves it feeling soft. It's also supposed to improve hair health over time. I use this before air drying or when I use a diffuser and it really does help with definition, frizz and shine. I'm using another travel-size one that I got in the set I mentioned above from Space NK. It's a great way to try it out and now that my hair isn't as long I don't need as much which is going to help it last longer. Another definite repurchase for me. It also smells incredible as do all of the JVN products, they should make perfumes or candles in the scents.  

*Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter (Cosmic Rose, Crystal Nebula) 13ml, 12m, Made in Italy €33

I was sent both of these highlighters as part of the most incredible package of makeup from the Lisa Eldridge Summer Collection in 2021. I would say these have been empty for about 6 months so I went through 2 in 18 months. I have already bought a new one myself, the newest and palest shade, Pink Moon. It's a liquid highlighter product that is along the same lines as the Glow Lust Radiant Luminizer from Auric Cosmetics and the Hollywood Flawless Filter from Charlotte Tilbury. Plenty of other brands make these kinds of products but those are the two that I have used and loved and therefore naturally I'm going to want to compare them. Like the aforementioned two products, Elevated Glow Highlighter is a multipurpose liquid highlighter that you can use under makeup, over makeup, on bare skin or mixed with other liquid products like foundation or blush. I would say it's quite different from the other two in that there isn't as much pigment. It's predominantly skincare based so it's more sheer and the glow is more from the skincare ingredients. This makes it a much more friendly product for all skin ages. I had an extra one when it launched as I placed an order too so I gave one to my mam and she loves it and has since gotten her friends onto it. It's the first highlighter she's ever used because she said it's so flattering on her skin. As my skin has started properly showing signs of aging (a privilege) I'm more concerned with wearing makeup and formulas that glide over fine lines rather than sitting in them and emphasising them. This product makes your skin look plump with an ethereal sheen that's almost undetectable as makeup. It just looks like your skin is radiant. This may not be for everyone as I know some people really like their makeup to look like makeup, but more often than not I prefer people to comment on my skin rather than my makeup. If someone can look at my face and think my skin is naturally radiant, that's when I know the products are doing what I want them to do. Obviously, if I had a special occasion or event I don't mind wearing a bit more but I always like a more natural base and then spot conceal any blemishes or redness. I find that way I can wear graphic liner, bright colours and adornments and it doesn't come across as "too much" (not that I'd mind that). I use elevated glow in all of the ways I listed above whereas with Glow Lust or HFF I'd be more inclined to use those as a cheek highlighter on top of makeup or mixed with a liquid blush. I like to use Elevated Glow almost like a primer in select areas of my face and then I'll add some to my liquid blush like the Lisa Eldridge ones, the Rare Beauty or Hindash Color Fluid and it dilutes the colour and gives you an illuminating blush. It comes in a frosted glass bottle with a doe foot applicator that has a little dip in it which I find contains a perfect amount of the highlighter. I adore this product and I rarely use Glow Lust anymore because of it. I'll continue to use it as long as Lisa Eldridge makes it. Just to give some price comparisons, the Charlotte Tilbury HFF is €49 for 10ml, the Glow Lust is $46.50 for 35ml (you have to pay shipping and customs so it works out more along the lines of $65) and as you can see above the Elevated Glow is €33 for 13ml. In terms of value for money, formula, finish and ease of use, Elevated Glow is the winner. 

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick (Amber) 7.10g, 12m, Made in USA €24

I'm almost certain I first purchased this product halfway through 2019 and in the four years since then (what?) I've gone through two of them. I don't use it every single day but having said that it lasts such a long time. It's a great shade for creating shadows and sculpting fair skin tones. I have used other products similar like the Danessa Myricks Vision Flush in Nutcracker which is a cool-toned brown liquid colour product and the Hindash Color Fluids which I mix to create the shade I want. I love both of those products too but the Match Stix is so handy because it's a cream stick so you can apply it directly to your face or use a brush to pick some up and then blend it out. You'll find this in almost all of the makeup looks featured on my blog or on Instagram. A firm favourite of mine and I already bought a backup a while ago that I thought I would need sooner but as I said it last much longer than you think. 

about-face Smoothing Shadow Fix 12ml, 9m, Made in USA €15.25

I bought this to try out instead of my usual Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Every time I've tried another primer it hasn't been as good as the Urban Decay one. This one was quite similar to the UD one in its delivery system and texture. However, I found it more difficult to blend eyeshadow over it and that's not something you want from a primer. I have since repurchased the UD one and I don't think I'll ever stray from it again. 

 

West Barn Co. The Brow Pencil (Brew) 18m, 0.1g, Made in PRC €20.95

This is a thin nibbed, waterproof eyebrow pencil with spoolie brush on one end. It's one of the best brow pencils I've tried. I love that this one is waterproof which makes it ideal for use with the West Barn Co. Soap Brows. It doesn't smudge or get muddy which can sometimes happen if a brow pencil is too soft. Two of my other favourites are the Urban Decay Brow Beater (€21) and the Refy Brow Pencil (€18). The UD one is also waterproof, the Refy one doesn't appear to be but it has ingredients to help condition the brows as does the UD and this one. The UD one has 7 shades, the West Barn Co. has 5 and the Refy only has three. I have shade I like for all three and they're all quite interchangeable to me. I'd happily buy any of them again and to be honest it just comes down to price and availability. I highly rate the West Barn Co. brow products in general and I think in terms of value for money you can't beat the Soap Brows tin. I'm using a NYX pencil at the moment but I'd say once that's used up I'll go for one of the above again. West Barn Co. currently has a sale on their website with 30% off.

West Barn Co. The Brow Pen (Brew) 0.5ml, 6m, Made in South Korea €19.95

I mentioned in my last empties that it was a close tie between this and the Glossier Brow Flick. Since finishing this and using a new Brow Flick I will definitely be repurchasing this instead. It's easier to control, the shade is better and it lasts longer before drying out. It's also less expensive. Adios Brow Flick, you've been replaced.

DUO Quick-Set Striplash Adhesive 5g, 12m, Made in South Korea €7.99

This is a lash glue that comes in a tube with a plastic applicator. I find it easy to use and it's great for applying rhinestones that don't have self-adhesive. I'd probably prefer if the applicator was thinner at the end rather than flat as it would make it easier to apply a tiny dot for rhinestones but I'm sure most people use it for false lashes and for that purpose it works perfectly. It's also easy to remove and doesn't irritate my skin. I'm using a different one at the moment that I was sent as a press sample but I would definitely buy this again. 

Isamaya Beauty Browlacq Brow Laminator 4g, 6m, Made in Italy €36 

This has been empty since just after my last empties post. It's hard to say how long it lasted because I started using it at the end of July/ beginning of August last year so I was using it over the course of about 8 months as well as a few other brow products. It's described as a soap-like formula, it's clear like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze which I haven't tried but they look and sound similar. It's supposed to give a laminated look to your brows and that's exactly what it does. It comes in a glass jar with a little comb that is slightly curved. I didn't like the comb, I found the curve meant I missed some of my brows when combing through and it was too small for my liking. I only used the tail of the comb to get the product out of the jar and then I used a regular spoolie to brush it through. I also found it awkward to store and it kept going missing because it's so small. I don't like the full laminated look on my brows. I prefer them to look a bit more natural and textured rather than flat against my skin. You can definitely achieve both looks with this product depending on how much you use. I liked it but I didn't prefer it to my soap brows which is less than half the price of this and lasts much longer. 

*bareMinerals Maximist Mascara 9ml €23

I really didn't get on well with this mascara. It's a fibre mascara but I found it made my lashes look thin and then clumpy at the ends. I tried to build it up but I couldn't get the volume so my lashes looked strange. I wasn't a fan of the wand either and I found it wasn't the easiest to use. Their Strength & Length mascara is much better. 

Pat McGrath Dark Star Mascara 13ml, 6m, Made in Italy €32

I had this a few years ago and I absolutely love it. In fact, I think I remember saying it was one of the best mascaras I've ever used. Maybe this was a dud tube or perhaps it had dried out a bit somehow because it just wasn't as good as I remembered this time. I was so excited to have it back in my life, I bought it on sale so it was around €24, not extortionate but still a treat for me. I think I may have to accept the fact that Pat McGrath makeup is not for me. I loved this so much the first time I had it and when I look back at photos of me wearing it, my eyelashes look amazing but I won't be risking it again.

*IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes + 8.5ml, 6m, Made in USA €31

This is another mascara I didn't like on my lashes. It was quite similar to the bareMinerals one in that I found it didn't provide enough volume and if I tried to build it up it became a bit wispy but with clumpy ends. The wand wasn't my favourite, it was a bit awkward to use as it has a spiky ball at the end which meant I couldn't get right into the inner corner. I absolutely love their Superhero mascara and I'd buy that one instead. It could be the ideal mascara for someone else because we all like different things but it just wasn't what I was looking for in a mascara. 

**Illamasqua Infinite Masquara (Raven) 6.5ml, 6m, Made in Italy €13 (Full size 10ml €24)

Ilamasqua is a brand I haven't tried much at all, in fact, think the only other product of theirs that I've tried was a nail polish about ten years ago. I got this travel-size mascara in a goody bag that I won in a competition. I would say that this and the Lancôme Hynôse were my two favourites out of the 6 I've tried recently. It has a tapered bristle brush that gave me length and definition with enough volume, although I would have liked a bit more. It didn't flake as much as other mascaras listed here and that's another very important factor for me. It didn't blow me away but it wasn't as disappointing as some of the others and I think it's priced more in line with what I'd be willing to spend on a mascara. While I probably preferred the Lancôme one overall, I'd be more inclined to buy this one purely because of the price as they are quite similar products. 

*Benefit They're Real Magnet Mascara 4.5g 6m, Made in France €16 (Full size 8.5g €30)

This was a small sample size that I received in a goody bag at an awards ceremony last year. It's been a long time since I've tried a Benefit mascara and I can't remember loving any of their other ones. I found this awkward to apply because the brush is quite big but as it's a sample size the handle of the wand was short and I couldn't hold it properly and kept getting it all over my eyelids. I actually loved this at first, it gave me length, volume and curl and it almost looked like I had more lashes than I have which I suppose is where the "Magnet" in the name comes in. It seemed to coat every single tiny lash. However, after a few uses it seemed to dry out and become flaky and clumpy looking. I don't know whether that's because it was a smaller size mascara tube. You can buy this smaller size and it's €16 which is what I'd probably spend on a full-size mascara if even. The full size is €30 and I don't plan on buying it to find out if the issue was the small size. So while I liked how this made my eyelashes look, the formula didn't last and the wand was a bit awkward for me. 

*Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara 2ml, 6m, Made in France €11 (Full size 6.2ml €35)

Out of the 6 mascaras I tried recently, this was my favourite. I prefer Monsieur Big and Lash Idôle but this one was still better than the other 4 I tried. It gives great length and a nice amount of volume and it doesn't get clumpy when you build it up. I won't be buying the full size but I'd definitely buy one of the other two Lancôme mascaras I love, they make great mascaras and I don't think you'd be disappointed with any of their offerings. I like to buy the gift sets after Christmas because you can usually get them with about 20-30% off which is a bit more my kind of price for a high-end mascara. I can't see myself buying any of these 6 mascaras again as there are others I like better and are more in line with my budget. I don't like to spend too much on mascaras as they only really last 3/4 months before drying out and I'd rather spend more elsewhere in my makeup routine. 

The totals are as follows:

17 PR Products: €640.49

25 Products bought by me €609.55

6 Gifts: €90.05

6 Travel/Sample Size 

10 Repurchases

The total is 48 products: €1340.09

I finished these products over the three-month period since my last post at the beginning of April. I've been using some of them for two years or more. It's the same amount of products as the last time so I've finished almost 100 products in 6 months. As I always mention, the amount of money I spent on those 24 products is much lower as I rarely buy anything full price. I probably didn't spend any more than €400 on the products I bought and I would imagine it was less as some products were part of sets (like the JVN hair product)s and then discounted even further. The Amika mask for example, was part of the Cosmetips X KJH bag which was £549 worth of products for £115. After my indulgences earlier this year during what was supposed to be a no-buy, I've actually bought very little recently. It's mostly been stocking up on skincare using discount codes and I actually just repurchased the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y as I was missing having it in my collection. I'm saving my budget for the Lisa Eldridge launch in July and if I'm lucky enough to receive it as a press sample I'll redistribute that budget to buy something else for review. 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. 

I tried to include links to products where they are the best price and in stock. 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 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