Empties 9- €700 Worth of Beauty Products

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*PR Samples

**Repurchase/ Bought after trying a press sample

***Travel Size/ Mini

****Gift/ Gift with purchase

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Sweed Cloud Mascara (Black) €28

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

The totals are as follows:

11 PR Products: €413.90

12 Products bought by me: €292.46

3 Travel/Sample Size 

4 Part of a Set

3 Repurchases

1 Gifts or Gift With Purchase: €35

The total is 24 products: €741.36

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

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

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

Emma x

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

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

*PR Samples

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

YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Blur Primer 

Prada Beauty Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation (LC5)

Smashbox Under Eye Brightening Enhancer (Light/Medium)

Fenty Beauty Match Stix (Amber)

Makeup by Mario Softsculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer (Light)

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

West Barn Co. Soap Brows Extra Strong Hold

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Glide Eye Pencil (Cinder Smoke)

Lisa Eldridge Vega Eyeshadow Palette (Smoke and Mirrors)

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

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

Hindash Cosmetics Beautopsy Palette (Lines)

Lisa Eldridge Kitten Flick Liquid Eyeliner

Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara

Victoria Beckham Beauty Instant Brightening Waterline Pencil

Hindash Cosmetics Color Fluid (Heartist) 

Lisa Eldridge Elevated Glow Highlighter (Pink Moon)

Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Palette No. 4 All of Lavender Fog (Mauve Pink) 

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum (Light Cool 20)

Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof (02 Noir Intense) 

Kiss Strip Lash Adhesive

Sweed Beauty X Nikki Makeup No Lash Lash 

NYX Professional Makeup Lip Liner (Nude Truffle)

NYX Professional Makeup Suede Matte Lip Liner (Brooklyn Thorn) 

Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (Songbird)

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder 

MAC Fix+ Stay Over Spray 

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

Zoeva 128 Cream Cheek Brush (discontinued, similar here) 

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

Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush Concealer 57 Brush

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Blend Brush (No. 15) 

MYKITCO Pro 1.24 My Mini Smudge 

Lancôme X Louvre Brush (limited edition, similar here) 

West Barn Co. The Brow Brush 

Half Magic Beauty Adornment Tweezers

Surratt Beauty Relevée Eyelash Curler

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

Emma x

Fair Neutral Skin- Concealer and Foundation Swatches

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 

This is a blog post I've been wanting to write for a while now. I know it will only be helpful to people with skin tones very similar to mine but I wanted to post it anyway. One of the things I do when I'm researching a potential base product is look for images of swatch comparisons. Over the past few years in particular I've gotten quite adept at shade matching myself online. I find the swatches on brand websites can often be unreliable so I try to find swatches from online reviews. Particularly those that compare different brands as that's the best way for me to see if a shade might match me. Keep in mind that these are more saturated swatches than the amount of foundation you would apply to your face and they are dried down for the most part. It's not so much about the depth of the shades compared to the skin on my arm as it is about the tones and undertones compared to one another. Hopefully, this is helpful if you're looking for your shade match in the Kosas concealer for example and you know your shade in the Lisa Eldridge foundation, you can easily see if they are comparable. I know everyone wants different things from their foundation or concealer whether it's having the perfect match, one shade deeper, a concealer that perfectly matches their foundation or one that's a tiny bit brighter for under the eyes. As you can see the range of shades is quite wide as are the undertones. All of these shades work for me, some better than others. It completely depends on the coverage level too as a sheer skin tint is more forgiving if it's not an exact shade match because there's less pigment. There are a wide variety of brands here, drugstore, mid-range, high end and luxury. If you would like to see a full, in-depth review of any of these products with before and after photos, application techniques etc. please do let me know. I have dedicated reviews of the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream and Lisa Eldridge The Foundation. I've featured many of these products multiple times on this blog and on Instagram so if you want to see more you can use the search bar to find specific posts. I've posted two different swatch photos so you can see the differences in lighting. I have fair neutral skin and I like to match my neck more than my face because I have a mixture of undertones on my face as well as pigmentation and freckles which is why I can get away with such a variety of shades. If you have a similar skin tone to mine, you might find this helpful in some way. 

1. Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Concealer (N95)

2. Kosas Revealer Concealer (01N)

3. NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Serum Concealer (Light)

4. Sculpted Satin Silk Longwear Concealer (Vanilla)

5. *Note Cosmetics BB Concealer 

6. *YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen (1 Rose Lumière)

7. *Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Multi-Use Concealer (06 Neutralizer)

8. *Rimmel Kind & Free Hydrating Concealer (10 Fair)

9. *IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Nude CC+ Glow (Fair Porcelain)

10. *IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream (Fair)

11. *Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation (120N)

12. *YSL Beauty Nu Bare Look Tint (Nu 2)

13. *L'Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum (0.5-2 Very Light)

14. *Lisa Eldridge The Foundation (No. 5)

15. *Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free Natural Skin Perfector (0N1 Petal)

16. *bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (01 Fair)

17. *bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Foundation Stick (Opal)

18. Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation (140 Porcelain)

19. No7 HydraLuminous Moisturising Foundation (Porcelain)

20. LYS Beauty Triple Fix Serum Foundation (LN3)

21. Nabla Skin Realist Beautifying Tinted Balm (Fair)

22. *Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation Stick (Beige Albâtre)

23. Typology Tinted Serum (Type 1 Fair)

24. *Rimmel Kind & Free Moisturising Skin Tint Foundation (10 Rose Ivory)

25. Bodyography Oil Free Natural Finish Foundation (100)

26. Glossier Stretch Concealer (G11)

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and if you have any questions you can always send me a DM on Instagram. 

Emma x

If you want to support what I do you can Buy Me A Coffee here. 

Empties 3- €2000 (Almost) Worth of Empty Beauty Products

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

*PR Samples 

**Gifts/ Gift with purchase

This is my third and final empties post of 2022. You can read my previous two posts here and here. Once again I meant to write this a couple of months ago but it's been quite a chaotic time lately so this is probably going to be a bit of a bumper installment. This time I'll start with makeup, then skincare, bodycare and haircare. Hopefully, it will be easy to scroll down and find what you're interested in reading about. If you've read my other empties posts you'll know that at the end I like to calculate how much I spent on products versus how much was sent to me as press samples. There are 68 products (some of which are multiples) so let's get started!

Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid 30ml, €28

This is one of my favourite makeup priming products. It's my second or third bottle but I didn't use it up as quickly this time because I was using other similar products. I particularly love this when my skin is more on the dry side. It's an oil/serum so bear that in mind if you don't like oils as it might be too heavy. It also might have an impact on the foundation or concealer you use on top of it but I've never had an issue. The instructions say to use two pumps but I find that excessive for my combination skin so I just use one pump which I find sufficient and it lasts longer that way too. I already have a backup of this product, so it's clearly a repurchase for me.

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Foundation SPF 30 30ml (100 Neutral Fair) 12m, €56

I wrote about this foundation in the post I wrote at the beginning of this year reviewing every makeup product I tried last year. To sum it up, it was a beautiful foundation when I could get it to work properly on my skin. The finish of it really depended on how my skin was behaving and what products I used to prep my skin. It had a tendency to sit on my skin and not blend if it was already quite hydrated but then if it was a bit more on the dry side, it clung to my dry patches so it was a delicate balancing act, but when it worked, it looked great. It was just too much work for the price for me. I have more reliable foundations that are half the price so I definitely wouldn't repurchase it. 

*bareMinerals BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (05 Sateen) 30ml 12m Made in USA €37

I really love this foundation. This was my second bottle of it and I've just opened a third. Granted, I was sent all three as press samples but I would gladly spend my own money on it as it's such a high-performance foundation and a great price point. It's the one I go to any time I want my foundation to last all day and not budge, or when my skin isn't great and I want more coverage. It also works well mixed with a serum or tinted moisturiser to give a more sheer coverage but still long-lasting wear time. If you're a fan of Estée Lauder Double Wear or Double Wear Light I think you'd like this one as it's somewhere in between those two in terms of coverage. You can see high-quality images of me wearing this foundation in this post. 

Uoma Beauty Say What?! Weightless Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation (White Pearl T1N) 30ml 12m Made in Italy €35

This is another foundation I loved. It's exactly like the description, a soft matte finish but it doesn't look or feel dry. I wouldn't usually buy a foundation with the word matte in the description as I have combination skin and I prefer a more radiant finish and then use powder selectively to mattify. I don't know how well this would work for dry skin types but if you have combination/oily skin and you prefer a more matte finish I'd definitely recommend this foundation. It also has an excellent shade range, one of the best I've ever seen. The formula is slightly different for each shade bracket depending on the needs of that skin type which is something I don't think I've seen from any other brand. I would buy this again no problem but I am trying to use what I have at the moment. You can read my full review of this foundation in this post. 

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Liquid Cheek Colour (Cherub) 15ml 6m Made in Germany €24

As you can see from the photo of this I didn't come close to finishing it and for shame. I really should have used this more but as mentioned above it has a 6 month life once opened and I found after that it didn't blend as well as it had before. This shade is more suited to fair skin tones, I know they have other shades that would probably work better on deeper skin tones. It's a sheer formula that can be slightly built up but you're not getting too much pigment. It blends seamlessly and gives a beautiful flush to my cheeks but I don't think I'd buy it again because of its expiry time. Liquids always need to be used up faster than powders and I know I wouldn't get through this in 6 months, not that you always have to go by these dates but my experience was that it started to not perform as well after that time. If this was one of your only blush products or if you are a makeup artist who gets through products quickly then I'd definitely recommend this, I just felt as though I wasted it and I don't want to do that with my products anymore. 

Danessa Myricks Vision Flush (Bread 'n' Butter) 6ml €26

I actually bought this two years ago now and I probably had it mostly used up within a year but it's just taken me a while to clear it out of my makeup collection. I absolutely love this product. As with many of the Danessa Myricks products, it's multipurpose, which is probably why I used it up so quickly, I used it on my cheeks and lips. It also works really well mixed with a liquid highlighter to give it more of a sheen as it's matte. It's quite pigmented so a little goes a long way. It blends out beautifully and this shade which is a warm pink goes with so many different looks so I found it to be very versatile. I will buy it again but I have so many cream and liquid blush products at the moment, I want to use them first before repurchasing this. I have also recently been sent a PR sample of the new Hindash Color Fluid in the shade 'Heartist' which I think is quite a similar shade so I'll be using that for now. 

*Clarins Fix' Make-Up Long-lasting Make-Up Hold 50ml 18m Made in France €29

This was a lovely setting spray with a light, rosy floral scent. It did the job of setting my makeup but overall I prefer the ones from Urban Decay, IT Cosmetics and Danessa Myricks so I'd rather buy those before this one. 

**Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (Dim Light) 1.4g 12m Made in Italy €27

I've seen people rave about these powders so I don't know whether this was just the wrong shade for me as I found it far too dark for my complexion. I got it as a gift so that's why I've held onto it for so long but this shade just didn't work for my skin tone. I'm just not the biggest fan of Hourglass. They've taken far too long to even try to be inclusive with their shade ranges and I also think their products are overpriced. But I suppose that's most brands unless you're a huge fan and don't mind spending your money on them. I've never been overly impressed and felt like I wasted my money, but that could be just the products I tried. I know people love this brand but I just haven't been excited enough by any of their launches to spend that kind of money. 

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Setting Powder (Light) 4g 24m Made in Italy €31

I bought this in a set with the concealer so I didn't pay full price but I did love this powder. In fact, I actually used it as my face powder because I really loved the finish. I don't apply that much powder so it lasted me for ages even though it's only 4g of product. That being said I wouldn't spend €31 on a specific under-eye powder, nor would I spend €31 on 4g of pressed face powder. So I'd say the set with the concealer was good value but buying both products separately is quite expensive, more money than they're worth to me. I have lots of powders to try out in my collection so I won't buy one for a while but as much as I loved this I don't think I could justify buying it at full price. 

Refy Brow Pencil (Medium) 0.6g, €18

I really liked this, it was my second one and I would buy it again. The colour match is great and it's easy to use as it has a thin nib. There's not much more to say, I find most eyebrow pencils quite similar so it's just down to the price. 

Glossier Brow Flick (Brown) 0.48ml 6m Made in France €16

I've mentioned this product many times before on my blog and I actually have a backup of this too. I'm using the West Barn Co. Brow Pen at the moment and I probably do prefer it if I'm honest. There's not much between them so again it just comes down to price. I did buy the West Barn Co. one at a discount so it probably worked out less expensive than the Glossier one but all in all I'd probably be more likely to buy the West Barn Co one again.

*bareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel 5ml €23

This is a good brow gel, it was the clear one so I tended to use it over brow pencil to avoid adding colour when setting them. I wouldn't buy it again purely because I have my Soap Brows which I love and is less expensive. The next two brow products which are in and around the same price worked better to set my eyebrows. 

Refy Brow Sculpt €20

I had to try this after seeing so many people rave about it. I can see why it's so popular, it sets my eyebrows so well and has great longevity. It's a thicker texture and can leave a white residue so you just have to be careful not to overdo it but it has a little brush in the lid to comb your brows through after and shape them more if you want. I'd definitely buy this again. 

Patrick Ta Major Brow Lamination Gel 5ml 12m €24.80

This product took me a while to get used to. I found it quite sticky and left a bit of residue at first but I just spent a few tries learning the best way to apply it, brush off any excess and it sets to incredibly well. Definitely one for people who want strong hold or have thicker, coarse eyebrows. It's the most expensive of the three I've mentioned here and always seems to be sold out. But if you can get it with the a 20% discount on Cult Beauty it's well worth it. I also found it lasted a long time before drying out. I will definitely buy this again once my Soap Brows is gone. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion 10ml 6m Made in USA €22

My favourite primer, I can't say much more. It just works. I've tried others but I'll always come back to this because I love the lightweight texture, it dried quickly and it lasts for ages. A forever repurchase!

*L'Oréal Paris Air Volume 30H Mega Black Mascara 9.4ml Made in Italy €15.99

I really liked this mascara, definitely one for those who love volume as the name suggests, it gives exactly that. I personally prefer Lash Paradise so I wouldn't repurchase for that reason because I prefer an all-rounder but if you love thicker lashes, I'd recommend this one. 

*Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara 8ml 6m Made in France €29

I much preferred this waterproof formula to the regular one. You can't really go wrong with Lancôme mascaras and if you like a waterproof one, this is excellent. As you can see the brush is an unusual shape but it gives beautifully fanned-out and lengthened eyelashes. I probably wouldn't buy it full price but at a discount I definitely would when I'm looking for a waterproof mascara. 

Isamaya Beauty Rubberlash Latex Lift Mascara 8.3ml 6m Made in Italy €35

I wasn't sure about this one at first but as I kept using it I liked it more and more. It doesn't clump but gives fanned-out, lengthened and volumised lashes. It's a really interesting and different brush and formula. I've never tried anything like it. I bought this as part of a set with the other products so I didn't exactly pay full price and as much as I liked it I just wouldn't pay €35 for a mascara, which made it even more sad when I finished it. 

Glossier Pro Tip (Black) 0.47ml 6m Made in France €19

This was my favourite liquid liner for a long time but it has now been eclipsed by the Hindash Heroline. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great product but I just prefer the Hindash one and there's not much difference in the price. 

Uoma Beauty Cleopatra Ink Liquid Eyeliner 0.5g 6m Made in Italy €20

I had too many issues with this. The first one I bought was incredibly dry when I first tried it so I contacted the customer service where I bought it and they sent a new one. That one was definitely better but it wasn't long before that one dried out too and I wasn't bothered contacting them for a replacement because it was such a hassle the first time. I don't know what the issue was but it just wasn't good enough for me so I wouldn't spend my money trying to find out if it was just a fluke. I was disappointed but I have my Hindash one now so I'm very happy with that.

Delilah Gel Line Eye & Brow Liner (Ebony) 2.3g 6m Made in Italy €25

This was an excellent gel liner, it had great staying power and was easy to use but I just don't think gel liner is the best option for me because I don't wear it enough and then it dried out when there was still a lot left. I'll stick to liquid liner, pencils and shadows from now on. But if you're someone who wears gel liner every day or again, if you're a makeup artist this is a great product. It's just not practical or cost-effective for me. 

*Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 700ml 6m Made in Poland €10.99

I don't use micellar water much but as this was sent in PR I kept it to use on lazy makeup removal days. I also use it on a thin brush to correct liner or eye makeup and it works a charm, just make sure there's not too much on the brush. I probably wouldn't buy this size bottle myself but it is a handy product to have and I do rate this one as a great budget option. I'm using a different one at the moment but I'll buy the smaller size of this once I'm in need of a micellar water again. 

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

I love this product, it does the job of removing waterproof eye makeup remover well and it's such a great price point. I like to have a waterproof eye makeup remover on hand in my skincare collection because I often use long last products that require something extra to remove them. They're always on offer too so you can usually get them 50% off. This one works really well at removing waterproof mascara and other similar products. I'm using one that was sent in a press sample at the moment but I'll absolutely be buying this again.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm 100ml 12m Made in USA €36

This was a lovely cleansing balm, I don't have anything bad to say about it really, it smelled loevely and removed my makeup. I just didn't love it as much as the Then I Met You one, it has a thinner consistency which is maybe why I don't like it as much. There's not much money between them so I probably wouldn't buy this again for that reason. 

*Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil 85ml 6m Made in USA €18

I really liked this, but overall I do prefer a cleansing balm so I wouldn't buy it myself. However, if you do like a cleansing oil this is a lovely one. It smells beautiful and it does an excellent job at removing makeup. This travel size lasted me a long time too so I can imagine the full size would be quite good value for money. 

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser 177ml, 60ml 18m Made in USA €17, €10

Another one I've mentioned time and time again. I've bought this, I've been sent it and I've bought it again and again. Countless bottles over the past almost 6 years. I just really love it. The pump packaging, the texture, the scent and the price. I don't always have it but if I need a cleanser and I'm making a Glossier order I'll buy it. I probably wouldn't specifically make an order just for this product but I still really love it. It's a simple and effective cleanser to use after makeup removal or in the morning. I know I will repurchase it again. 

*Lancôme Absolue Purifying Brightening Gel Cleanser 125ml €84

Let me preface this quick review by saying I would never spend €84 on a cleanser. Ever. I just don't think spending that much on a wash-off product is sensible, unless you have a huge skincare budget. I would rather spend that money on a great serum. Although I don't think I've ever spent €84 on any skincare product. It's a lovely cleanser, but to me it's not worth the money. You can get less expensive Lancôme cleansers that are just as nice and effective.  

*Casmara Deep Cleanser Multifunctional 3 in 1 50ml  Made in Spain €21

This was a travel size that I was sent as a PR Sample goodie bag when I was nominated for an award earlier this year. I'd never tried anything from Casmara before, I just knew they were a Spanish brand. This was a lovely cleanser and the 50ml size lasted a while, but it just didn't wow me. I wasn't sad when I finished it and when I went to look up the price it seemed difficult to get hold of which is always off-putting for me. The price is good for the full size but I just wouldn't buy it myself. 

Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist 100ml, €70

Like the Lancôme cleanser, I can't justify the price of this. I've wanted to try it for ages and I eventually got it in the Cosmetips X KJH bag. I would never have bought this at full price. It's a beautiful mist and it feels luxurious but it's too expensive. I didn't notice much difference using it and for that reason and the price I wouldn't buy it again. 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml 12m Made in France €13.50

I much prefer this mist to the Omorovicza one. Maybe it doesn't do as much for my skin but I love the sensory experience of using it. The scent is quite polarising so I'd definitely try before buying but I've been using this on and off for about 12 years and it's something that I won't always have in my collection but when I do it makes me so happy to use it. And I suppose that's all you really want in a product. 

*bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum 30ml x2 12m Made in USA €47

Another one I've mentioned again and again. I have one on the go at the moment too and I absolutely love it. By far the best hydrating serum I've tried. It doesn't contain hyaluronic acid but instead it has glycerin, squalane and niacinamide. It just really agrees with my skin and I notice a difference when I use it which is exactly what you want for this price. I've only bought this once because the gracious bareMinerals team have kept me stocked up but it's that one product in my skincare routine I have to have. 

Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum 30ml 12m Made in Ireland €43

A lovely hyaluronic acid serum, but I much prefer the bareMinerals one above and therefore wouldn't buy this again. However if your skin loves hyaluronic acid, I would really rate this. 

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops 40ml 12m Made in Korea €35

Love, love, love! I am doing everything in my power to not repurchase this but I have other similar products I need to use up first. I had too many of the same kinds of products open and I didn't want them to expire so I'm trying to use what I have first but I'll definitely repurchase this. It's such a gorgeous product for wearing under makeup, especially when your skin is a little bit dry. 

*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concentrated Derma Serum Niacinamide 30ml 12m Made in USA €25

This felt nice to use but it just didn't make a noticeable difference to my skin. Maybe it's just not strong enough for me but possibly a good option if you want to try niacinamide as an ingredient without spending too much. 

*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dullness Concentrated Derma Serum Vitamin C 25ml 12m Made in USA €25

I think this was in my last empties and I'll say the same thing as I probably said then. It was nowhere near as good for my skin as the Pestle & Mortar Vitamin C. Like I said above, possibly suited to Vitamin C beginners or younger skin but it just didn't make a visible difference the way the P&M one does. I'm using a very expensive one at the moment so I'll be interested to see how they all compare once I've used that up. 

Skyn Iceland Icelandic Youth Serum 30ml, 12m Made in USA €46

This one is a big no. I think it's discontinued too which makes sense. It smelled strange to me, almost like green tea but not in a good way. I also didn't notice any difference using it. I bought this much discounted so I don't feel too bad because I didn't pay full price but I just couldn't wait to finish it. I've tried other Skyn Iceland products and loved them but this just wasn't for me. 

Ultra Violette SPF 50+ Queen Screen Lightweight Skinscreen 50ml 12m €41

Another big win and a definite repurchase. I loved using this, it worked so well under makeup and I was genuinely sad when I finished it. I haven't repurchased it yet purely because I have a few facial SPF products I need to use first. I've tried a few Ultra Violette facial SPFs now and I've loved them all, there's something for every skin type. 

Ultrasun SPF 50 Face Spray 75ml Made in Switzerland  €21

I can't really say too much about this because my boyfriend used it more than me but he loved it. It's not a product I would use alone but more as something to top up when you're out and about. Very handy to have but it's important to fully apply sunscreen all over rather than relying on just a mist. I'd definitely buy this again. 

Supergoop! Glow Screen SPF 30 50 ml, €36

This is one that I did really enjoy using and I liked it under makeup. It's a slightly tinted SPF with mica in it so it does have a light-catching effect. The shade is slightly too dark for me so I tended to use a lighter foundation shade over it to almost cancel it out. I wouldn't buy this particular one again purely because I find tinted SPFs involve more finesse than I'm willing to put in to my SPF routine. I want something easy that I don't have to think about. It may work well for someone with a deeper skin tone than mine. I prefer their Unseen Sunscreen and I'd like to try some of their other ones about which I've heard good things. You can get a 15ml size of this for €16.90 if you wanted to try it out first without buying the full size. 

*bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Defense Radiant Tint Protective Moisturiser SPF30 PA+++ 50ml 12m Made in USA €45

I really liked this as an all-in-one moisturiser and makeup prep product as it gives a radiance to your complexion. The one thing I didn't like was the scent and I can't exactly describe it except to say I just didn't like it. I'd rather no scent than a bad scent so for that reason I wouldn't buy this myself even though I really liked the product itself. I couldn't find this in stock anywhere so perhaps it's been discontinued or is being reformulated. 

*Kiehls Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream 50ml 12m Made in USA €46.50

I went to a launch dinner for this back in February and I was so excited I broke my one in one out rule and started using it straight away. It lasted for such a long time and was ideal for my Winter and Spring skin when the weather was still cold. I loved the texture and scent and I noticed a difference when using it. I'd definitely consider buying it myself but I have a lot of moisturisers to get through before that. It's definitely a stand-out moisturiser for me which doesn't happen too often. 

*bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Face Cream 50g 12m Made in USA €60

This was a lovely moisturiser that I used at night. It left my skin feeling hydrated and it lasted a long time. There was nothing wrong with it at all, it's a perfectly good moisturiser, but I just preferred the Kiehls one above and it's less expensive so for that reason I wouldn't repurchase this one. However if you're someone who can't use retinol for any reason you might like this plant-based alternative. 

Auric Plush Ritual Ceramide Lip Treatment (Bare) 3g 12m Made in Italy $32

I have mixed feelings about this one. It's a stunning lip treatment, I'd go as far as to say it's probably the best lip treatment I've ever tried. The packaging is so beautifully considered. The texture, scent and results you get from it are second to none. My issue lies in the cost to have it shipped to the EU and the amount in the jar. I tried to not buy this for a while but I was suckered in with a 15% discount code. Even with the discount, with added taxes, shipping and customs it ended up being about €60 in total. I wouldn't mind if it lasted the 6 months that the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask lasts for me. However for €60 you get 3g of product which is such a tiny amount. I used it every evening for 6 weeks and then it was gone. Which means it cost me €10 per week. For comparison, the aforementioned Laneige mask contains 20g of product for about €22. As much I loved using it and the results for my lips, it just doesn't make sense for me to spend that amount on such a small amount of product. If I lived in the US and got free shipping I'd definitely buy it once in a while as a treat or as a gift for someone because it's such a beautiful product. I have to hope that Auric eventually is stocked by a retailer here in the EU. 

*bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Lip Mask 13g 12m Made in USA €28

This is my second one of these and I really like it to wear overnight, especially during the colder months. It's a thick texture that really keeps the moisture locked in. Once again there is nothing wrong with this product but I prefer the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask which contains more for less money. 

*bareMinerals Ageless Lip Balm x2 3.3g 12m Made in USA €26

I used up two of these since my last empties post. It's a lip balm stick that I apply during the day because it's easier and then I like to wear a lip mask at night. I enjoyed using it but I found I had to reapply quite often as my lips need a lot of hydration so in that sense it probably wouldn't be cost-effective to buy it myself as I feel my lips need more from a lip balm. 

Ultra Violette SPF 50 Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm (Nude) 15g 12m Made in Australia €18

This is the only Ultra Violette product that I didn't like, purely because of the scent. It just put me off using it because I could smell it so strongly. I think I would prefer an SPF lip balm without colour and in a less glossy texture too. I would say it's meant to be worn alone but I would always use it to prep my lips under lipstick or other lip products and it's too glossy and thick for that purpose. It could be the ideal lip SPF if you're wearing it alone as it comes in a few different shades. I'd try it first though to make sure you don't have the same issue with the scent that I had. 

**By Terry Baume de Rose 2.3g 12m Made in France €16

I had heard such great things about the pot version of this so I was very excited to try it. I actually got this as a GWP when I ordered the foundation from the By Terry website. From the first use I really didn't like this. I usually like rosy floral scents but this was so overpowering and not a pleasant rose scent to me. I tried to use as much of it as I could but I don't think I finished the tube. It was just a travel size so thankfully I hadn't bought a full size or I probably would have given it away. You may really like this scent but I couldn't get past it enough to appreciate the product itself. 

*Kiehls Super Multi- Corrective Eye Zone Treatment 14ml 6m €45

I really like this eye cream, I've bought and been sent PR samples of lots of different Kiehls eye creams and I've always found them to be very effective products. I would buy this myself no problem as I have quite dry under eyes and I like to buy a good eye cream to keep that area hydrated. 

*L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Eye Serum 20ml 6m Made in Germany €30

I love this and I've already purchased a second one. It has an applicator with metal rollerballs to cool under your eyes so it's a lovely product to use in the morning. I use it under eye cream every morning to give some added hydration to my eye area and a couple of times a week I'll use a thicker layer with my Dieux reusable eye masks on top. As I mentioned already I do have quite dry under eyes so adding this step has really helped especially with how my makeup applies on top of it. 

*IT Cosmetics Confidence In An Eye Cream 15ml 12m Made in Korea €40

I really liked using this eye cream too. I don't have much to say except it's a good eye cream, if I was to choose between this and the Kiehls one I probably preferred the Kiehls but only just, they're quite similar in what they did for my eye area. 

*Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches 30 pairs, 6m Made in Korea $18

I received these as a PR sample pre-pandemic and it took me much longer than it should have to use them up because I kept forgetting that I had them and then they seemed like a faff to use when I did remember. I did really like the results of using them when I did remember to use them. So when I finished the tub I decided to buy some reusable eye masks from Dieux in the hopes that I would use them more which I surprisingly have been doing. I really try to avoid unnecessary single-use items where I can and I think if you're someone who enjoys eye masks, the best option is to buy some reusable ones and a caffeine-based hydrating serum instead. 

Nursem Caring Hand Cream 300ml, 75ml 12m Made in UK €24, €12

I think I mentioned my dry hands issue before but basically, I ended up with dermatitis on my hands during 2020 from washing my hands so often at work and they haven't really been the same since. To cut a long story short they began getting bad again when I was expressing milk using a pump for 6 months earlier this year and I was washing the pump parts up to 7 times per day at the height of it. I bought pair of gloves but often I was trying to wash them as fast as possible and I just forgot to use the gloves so my hands suffered. I wanted a basic hand cream that would nourish my hands and absorb quickly so I decided to try Nursem which is apparently a brand developed by nurses so I figured it would be a good one to try.  I bought the 300ml pump bottle because I thought that would make it easier to use. I really love this, it's exactly what I wanted and because it dries in quickly and the pump bottle is such a handy (pun intended) way to dispense it, I find I use it more regularly than I would a different hand cream. I've since used up the smaller tube and bought a second pump bottle. So this is clearly a winner for me. 

Flexitol Rapid Relief Hand Balm 56g Made in UK €6.99

I bought this when my hands were really bad during the Summer and it did a great job of helping them get back to normal. I used it as an overnight treatment and then the Nursem one during the day. I keep meaning to repurchase this to use at night but I've been trying to finish up another one I have before that. 

Glossier Hand Cream 50ml 12m Made in USA €18

This was another big no from me. The scent is supposed to be an adapted version of the 'You' perfume but I really didn't enjoy the scent at all. I found it quite off-putting to use. I also didn't think the formula was particularly good for my skin but as mentioned above I do have very dry hands so it might be better suited to someone with normal skin on their hands. The only redeeming feature for me was the packaging which was quite cute. I also think the price is too expensive for what it is and the amount you get. It just wasn't for me. 

*Clarins Aroma Revitalizing Silky Body Cream 200ml 18m Made in France €37

I loved using this, it came before the Summer and I'm fairly sure I had it used up after a month because I loved applying it so much. The scent is exquisite, so invigorating and the texture is beautifully silky as the name suggests. It's rare that I apply body lotion every time I shower but this product made me want to do that and that's a great product to me. I haven't repurchased it yet as I have a few other body lotions to use up first but I'll definitely buy it again when they're all used up. It's expensive for a body cream so definitely a treat or could be a lovely gift to get someone. 

*Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Shampoo and Conditioner 250ml, 12m Made in UK €11.99 each

I'm always interested to try hair products specifically for curly hair and I did really like these two. They hydrated my hair without leaving a residue which is what I look for in shampoo and conditioner. They're priced very well too which I appreciate. The only negative thing I have to say is that the scent wasn't my favourite. It's like a perfumed coconut scent to me, rather than a fresh coconut scnet. I know other people loved it so it's just a very personal thing but I would buy them myself as it's difficult to find curly hair products at this price point. 

*Kiehls Amino Acid Shampoo and Conditioner Refills 1L x2 12m Made in USA €58.50 each

I was sent both of these along with a full bottle of the conditioner so I could refill it. I ended up pouring the shampoo refill into an old shampoo bottle and it worked very well. They are expensive but they lasted such a long time so I can see that they would really appeal to people. I'd love to see a service from Kiehls where you could bring in your empty shampoo and conditioner bottles and have them refilled in-store at a discount alternatively. I'd definitely use a service like that. I know it wouldn't work for everyone but I know some people would love it. 

R+Co Dreamhouse Cold Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray 89ml, 12m Made in USA €30

I really loved this product. I bought some of the R+Co X Ashley Streicher products because I follow her on social media and I love her hair advice and tutorials. I also loved the idea behind this wave spray. I found it worked well at adding hydration and texture without that dry, crisp feeling of a sea salt spray. Granted I already have curly hair but I found this gave me some extra definition. It also lasted a really long time despite only being 89mls. I'll definitely buy this again at some point but I have so many hair-styling products I need to use up first. 

JVN Complete Air Dry Cream 30ml 12m Made in USA €10

I wasn't going to include the next two products because they were just travel sizes but I loved them so much I wanted to mention them. I've already bought a full size of the Air Dry Cream because I liked it so much. I apply it to towel-dried hair and then use a diffuser. It gives my hair hydration and I find my curls are more defined when I use it. I'm looking forward to continuing to use it now that I have the full size. I bought this in a set with a full size of the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil which is incredible too. 

JVN Complete Instant Recovery Serum 25ml 12m Made in USA €14

This was also in the aforementioned set and I loved it too, it's a heat protector and primer in one. It contains ingredients that balance the hairs porosity so that it can retain moisture. It's supposed to be used as the first step in your styling routine. I definitely want to buy the full size of this too. All of the JVN products smell incredible too. I've just bought the hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner so I'm looking forward to starting them once I've finished my current products. 

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo 198ml Made in USA €23

I bought this in the Summer of 2021 with the intention of bringing it with me in my hospital bag when I had my daughter and then using it after as I figured I probably wouldn't get to wash my hair that often. It's still the best dry shampoo I've tried. I recently bought a Kerastase one because I couldn't find this in stock anywhere but I definitely prefer the Living Proof one, it works better than any of the others I've used and it smells great too which is a must with dry shampoo. I'll definitely be buying this again once the Kerastase one is finished.

The totals are as follows:

28 PR Samples: €954.46

38 Bought by me: €958.27

2 Gifts/ Gift With Purchase: €43

The total amount is €1955.73 for 68 products over 6 months. I used the average prices for the most part and I tried to include links to websites where the products were the least expensive and currently in stock. As I've mentioned in my previous empties posts I didn't actually spend that much on the products I bought. I bought most at 20% off at least and I know some were even less expensive than that. I've had some of these products for a couple of years too. I've spent quite a bit of money on beauty products this year but I've also been kindly sent a lot as PR samples too. I've been quite good at keeping my one in one out rule for skincare and I'm trying to do that with makeup and hair products too. 

I want to reset myself for the beginning of 2023 so I'm embarking on a three month no buy. I have accumulated a lot of beautiful products over the past year, especially the past 6 months and I really want to make use of them and appreciate them. I also have a backlog of content I want to produce because I like to thoroughly test out products before writing full reviews and giving my definitive opnion. My goal is to spend the next few months using what I have and not lusting after new products. In that time I'm planning to make a list of any new products that interests me and then at the end of the no buy I'll see if I still want to buy any of them. I did this at the start of last year and it was a great way to challenge myself, I was determined not to break it and I didn't. Hopefully doing it for longer this time will be even more interesting. 

If you've made it this far, I'd love to know if you've tried any of these products and what you think of them. I hope you all have a lovely New Year and thank you for all of your support, I appreciate it so much. 

Emma x