Monday, April 24, 2023

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. 

























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


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Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Empties 4- €1200 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/ Gift with purchase


If you have read any of my previous three empties posts you'll know what to expect here but just in case this is your first one I'll quickly explain why I like to write these posts. This is a much easier way for me to review products that I have been sent as PR samples or that I have bought myself. I try to include short reviews of beauty products in my Instagram posts but I don't get to write in-depth reviews or talk about skincare much. I like to wait until I have finished a product before I give a full review especially when it comes to skincare. I always find that finishing a product allows you to gather your thoughts more clearly and decide if the product was worth your money, or in the case of a PR sample, worth buying yourself. I think this is the first time that the PR products have outweighed the ones that I have bought myself. This is down to the fact that I've been consciously trying to use what I already have instead of buying new skincare myself. Of course, I love trying out the products that I'm interested in too but my circumstances have changed since my last empties post. I decided to leave my job to care for my daughter as it made the most sense for us both logistically and financially. Therefore going forward I'm probably going to be featuring more PR products than usual as I won't be buying as much myself. I also tend to get more expensive products sent to me than I would buy myself. For example, there's a cleanser in this post that costs €90, an amount I would never spend on a single skincare product, especially one that you wash off your face. You will, as always, still be getting completely honest reviews of products. I've been writing about beauty products online for almost 13 years and my integrity is everything so I will always give an honest review. Most people I know are trying to cut costs where possible and beauty products aren't a necessity but I know a lot of people still want to know about the latest products or if they should buy something else instead of what they're currently using. 14 of these products are repurchases and some I have already reviewed in previous empties posts. 

I always have a round-up at the end breaking down the costs of everything, PR products, those I've bought myself and gifts/gifts with purchase. I've chatted about why before but basically I like to be transparent about the products I've been sent and what they cost and what I actually use. As a consumer of content on social media, I find it frustrating to see people posting press drops with no follow-up content surrounding the products. I want to hear people's thoughts and reviews and that's why I started doing these posts. I said this would be brief so let's get into it.



Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid 30ml, 6 Months, Made in USA €28

I think I've featured this in one of my previous empties posts but I'll write about it briefly anyway. I've had a few of these now and I actually have a backup that I bought during a Glossier sale last year. I still love this and I haven't found anything that's quite the same. The texture is exactly what you'd think from the Oil Serum description. It has a slight iridescence to it too which makes me see it more as a makeup prep product than a skincare product. They recommend using two pumps in the instructions on the packaging but for my combination skin I use one pump. If you have dry skin you may like more and if you have oily skin you may want to avoid this. I will generally use this on days when my skin is more on the dry side and usually only in certain areas of my face, depending on the time of year and the condition of my skin.  I'm using different hydrating priming products at the moment but I can imagine I'll continue to buy this when I've used up the unopened one I have.


Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/ Medium) 4.5g, 18 Months, Made in USA €29.50

I don't think I should write much about this as it's not available here in Europe anymore. Becca as a brand is no more and Smashbox who is now producing this particular product, has pulled out of Europe. As much as I love this I wouldn't go to the trouble of having it shipped with a third party from the US. I actually bought a backup of this when I found out Smashbox was leaving Europe so I'm using a fresh jar but it lasts for ages so I doubt I'll need anything for a while. I actually bought the Fenty Corrector Stick in Rose Quartz as I'd heard that was great for blue/purple under eyes. 


about-face Light Lock Highlight Fluid (Fight or Flight) 15ml, 12 Months, Made in Italy €18

I bought this when about-face launched two years ago. I wasn't sure if I would like it at first as it's quite a molten metallic, high shine and high pigment liquid highlighter. However I really loved this product, so much so that I used it all up. Granted, it's just 15mls of product but you only need a tiny amount as it's so saturated. The shade I bought is the palest shade and it's quite an icy pale pink so my preferred way to wear it was mixed with a cool pink or berry liquid blush like Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze and Storm. It gives the ultimate "Cold Girl" cheeks for lighter skin tones. I would say the only thing to be careful about it that you might want to blend it in quite quickly or it does set and deposit more of the metallic pearl on the skin. I finished this a while ago but I did a big clear out of all of my makeup in January and decided to finally let it go. It's defintely a product I would buy again but I have quite a few highlighters at the moment so I'll wait a while. They also have a powder and a cream stick version of these highlighters if you prefer those textures.

*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 118 ml, 6 Months, Made in Canada €32

I have both purchased this multiple times and been sent it in PR drops over the years. It's a cult favourite beauty product for a reason, it actually works. You definitely don't need to wear this every day but it's great for those days when you need your makeup to look fresh all day or for an event when you're wearing more makeup than usual. I alternate between this and the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Setting Spray as I find them quite similar. There are several versions of All Nighter now for different skin types as you can see below from the next product I finished. 


*Urban Decay All Nighter Vitamin C Setting Spray 118ml, 6 Months, Made in Canada €32

I think this version of All Nighter launched last year, as far as I know there are now 4 versions, the original, this new Vitamin C one which is supposed to brighten your skin and give extra hydration. There is also an Ultra Glow and Ultra Matte if you have dry or oily skin. I know Vitamin C was one of those trending ingredients last year and brands seemed to be adding it to everything. I usually prefer my skincare to be skincare and makeup to be makeup so I probably wouldn't repurhcase this one but I'd like to try the Ultra Glow to see how it compares to the original. If you're looking for a setting spray you can't really go wrong with All Nighter. 




Last year my sister asked me about tubing mascaras as she prefers wearing them and I can understand why. They're easy to remove and they tend to not flake or smudge as much as regular mascaras. I haven't used that many so I took to my Instagram stories to see if I could crowd source some options for her. One of the ones mentioned was this one from Essence. It's such an inexpensive brand that she decided to buy one for each of us (they were actually on sale too so I think she got both for less than the cost of one full price). I decided to test it out on my lower lashes because that tends to be the issue for me. I like wearing mascara on my lower lashes but I always have to compromise with some flaking or smudging. I was pleasantly surprised by this mascara. For the price I wasn't expecting much, I don't think you have to spend a fortune to get a great mascara, some of my favourites are "drugstore" price mascaras. However I have generally found tubing mascaras aren't as impactful as regular mascaras. I found the length and definition great with this one, it wasn't as volumising but I wasn't expecting it to be. I actually loved it on my lower lashes because I don't like them having too much volume. If you like a tubing mascara or if you're not too bothered about volume and you want an inexpensive mascara I don't think you can go too far wrong with this. I actually have a fresh one ready to go too.


Glossier Brow Flick (Brown) 0.48ml, 6 Months, Made in France €18

I was first sent this as a PR sample when it launched and I've bought it numerous times since. It's the brow product I use when I just want to softly add colour to the areas of my brows that are a bit sparse. I bought the West Barn Co brow pen last year and I've been using that for a while but I do have a fresh Brow Flick to use. I haven't tried that many brow pens but I don't need to because I love this one and I don't really want to waste my money experimenting too much with other brands when I really love this one. The West Barn Co. one is very similar, maybe a bit more pigmented. I like both products equally and would buy either, I just happened to buy a spare Brow Flick during one of the Glossier sales. I will probably buy Brow Flick of The Brow Pen in the furute depending on which one is cheaper or easier to order. 


Glossier Boy Brow (Brown) 3.12g, 6 Months, Made in USA €16

I bought this 6 years ago when I was in New York and I've since been sent it in press drops and have repurchased myself countless times. I have tried other simlilar products from Anastasia and Urban Decay and from the drugstore but I keep coming back to Boy Brow because I don't need to think about it. It's the product I use when I'm in a hurry to get ready and I just want to groom my eyebrows and add a touch of colour quickly. I'd be confident using this without a mirror and I'll continue to buy it until I find something that works better for me. 

Hindash Heroline Liquid Eyeliner 0.4g, 6 Months, Made in Italy €23

This is one of, if not my top product from this empties post. I bought this when it launched in the Summer of 2021 if I'm not mistaken. Most liquid liners tend to dry out after about 6 months if not before that but I was using this for over a year before it started to dry out. I may not have been using it as often as some poeple would but I used it a lot. In fact it was the only liquid eyeliner I used for that year. Previous to trying this, Glossier Pro Tip was my favourite liquid eyeliner and it's still a great one but Hindash has really succeeded in creating both a formula and packaging that surpasses any other liquid eyeliner I've ever tried. The brush is almost like an ultra thin calligraphy pen which means you can achieve the thinnest lines and the formula allows you to easily build it up without it getting thick and flaking or cracking. I am currently using a liner I was sent and one I bought from Half Magic because I was curious to try it but honestly I can't wait until they're used up so I can buy this again. I can't justify it at the moment because I have two open and they don't last too long before drying up so I want to use what I have before buying a new one. I rarely say this, but if you are someone who wears liquid eyeliner regularly and you like a brush tip over a felt tip, you need to try this one!


*Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara 2ml, 6 Months, Made in France (GWP) Worth €5

I got this in a press drop that had a Lancôme gift with purchase in it. It's a teeny tiny size but it lasted me for about a month and it reminded me how much I love Monsieur Big mascara. It's definitely one of my all time favourites. I have no plans to buy the full size any time soon. If I am going to treat myself to a high end mascara I usually do it after Christmas when the gift sets are on sale. I have lots of mascaras in reserve at the moment so it's one product I don't need to buy but I know I will buy this in the future at some stage as it really is a great all round mascara. 


*Urban Decay Inked Brow (Dark Drapes) 1.8ml, 6 Months, Made in USA €25

This was definitely not the product for me. It was too much liquid, too dark and too difficult to use. It's the opposite of Glossier Brow Flick. I acutally ended up using it to add my freckles back on top of foundation. I used it on a small brush and then patted it so it looked more natural. It might be the ideal brow product for some people but it just didn't work out for me. 



*Lancôme Bi-Facil Non-Oily Instant Eye Makeup Remover 125ml, 6 Months, Made in France €32

This is another product that was sent as part of a gift with purchase press drop. I absolutely love this and I had forgotten how great it is at removing waterproof or long-wearing eye makeup. I tried to only use it when I needed to because this is the kind of product you can go through really fast and that's the reason I wouldn't buy this myself. As great as it is, it's €32 for a product I will use up so quickly and it isn't a necessity unless you're someone who has to wear waterproof mascara or maybe if you have sensitive eyes and you don't want to rub them too much when removing your makeup. I'd prefer to buy a cleansing balm that has the ability to remove waterproof makeup so that I don't have to buy two separate products. Another case of a great product that I just can't justify spending my money on even thought I love it. 


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

This is what I'd recommend instead of the above product. I always buy this when it's on special offer so I end up getting two for the price of one. It doesn't remove waterproof makeup as quickly as the Lancôme one but it does the job and it's a much more palatable price. I've bought this time and time again and I'll continue to do so for the foreseeable future. I only wish it came in a bigger bottle. 


*Lancôme Absolue Purifying Brightening Gel Cleanser 125ml, 12 Months, Made in France €90

I've already reviewed this in previous empties post so I'll try to not repeat myself. I enjoyed using it, the texture is beautiful and it does what it claims to do. It does have a strong scent but I didn't mind it. The reason I don't want to write much about it is because of the price. There's no world in which I'd justify spending €90 on a cleanser. It's gone up in price from €84 since I last looked up the price in December. I just think no matter how good it is, there's no way I'd ever spend that money on a cleanser, literally something you wash off your face. I could maybe justify it for a treatment or serum but not a cleanser. 


*CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser 236ml, 12 Months, Made in France €15

I went to a skincare event before Christmas with a few brands including CeraVe and I was recommended to try this cleanser as I have combination skin. I had totally forgotten until halfway through the bottle that I actually already tried it when it launched two years ago. I suppose that should tell me something but I try so many different brands and products it's understandable that I won't remember every single one, especially something as innocuous as a CeraVe cleanser. I mean that in the best possible way. It's a product that does the job you want it to, it won't remove my makeup but it's a gentle cleanser for the morning or after you've removed makeup. After I remembered that I had already tried it I also remembered why I had never repurchased it. It had a strange scent which I've heard other people mention too. It's almost like a musty smell which I found offputting. This bottle definitely didn't have that strong scent, it had a slight scent but not the same as it had been before. I'd buy this again purely because it's such an easy product to use, my partner also used it so we went through it quite fast but you can ususally get it at a discounted price which makes it more affordable.  



I was sent a press drop of this cleanser when it launched last year. I usually like IT Cosmetics products and a cleansing balm is my preferred way of cleansing so I had high expectations of this. Thankfully it surpassed my expectations and I even ended up buying one myself before I had even finished the first one (and I just recently repurchased it too). I'm using a different cleanser at the moment that I already had in my stash and while I like it, it's just not as effective as this one. It's the only cleansing balm that's come close to my beloved Then I Met You one. Both times I've bought it myself has been with a discount as it is quite expensive. I think it ended up being €30 or less both times I've repurchased and that's probably the top end of what I'd pay for a cleansing balm. The Then I Met You one is more expensive which is the only reason I haven't bought that it a while. It's supposed to be a 3-in-1 product, a makeup remover balm, brightening cleanser (although to me those are the same thing) and a hydrating face mask. I just use it as a first cleanser to remove makeup but it does the job so well I don't really need to use a second cleanser, sometimes I'll use a tiny amount of this just to make sure everything is clean. As I mentioned already, brands seem to be adding vitamin C to everything, I don't think this product needs it as a cleanser isn't my preferred way to use vitamin c but it doesn't bother me. Just to note that it does have a rose fragrance as I know it can be a polarising scent. It's more of a fresh rose than a perfumed rose and I love it but it's something to keep in mind. 


REN Daily AHA Tonic 250ml, 9 Months, Made in the UK €34

I've been using this product for years as I've always found it to be a gentle way to exfoliate my skin. This is an AHA and BHA chemical exfoliant that contains lactic acid, willow bark extract and azelaic acid. It's supposed to exfoliate, brighten, tighten and hydrate leaving smoother skin and minimising the appearance of pores. I find it does what it claims to do and that's why I've continued to buy it for years. It also lasts for ages as I tend to only use it 2-3 times per week, althought you can use it every day if your skin needs it. This is a product that I will continue to repurchase unless I find something that works better for my skin. 


Ole Henriksen PHAT Glow Facial 50ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €48

This is one of those products that I was interested to try because of the hype. I bought a couple of these when they were in the Boots €12 Tuesday offer as it was such a great deal I thought it would be a good way to try it without spending too much money. I gave one to my sister and I didn't open mine until about a year ago because I was using other products. I have to remind myself to use my face masks because it's something I tend to forget as I'm not using them daily. As the name suggests, this product contains PHA (poly hydroxy acids) which are more gentle exfoliants than AHAs, they also don't make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Products with PHA are worth considering if you have sensitive skin or if you deal with rosacea. It also contains pink bentonite clay which I find to be an ingredient that works well for my skin. I found this mask very gentle and it left my skin looking more smooth, bright and it didn't feel tight afterwards. I wouldn't repurchase this full price purely because it is quite expensive but I may buy it again if I got another great deal on it. 


*Yonka Gommage Gentle Botanical Polish 50ml, 6 Months, Made in France €39

This is the first Yonka product I've ever tried. I attended an event with the brand last year and was sent home with a bag of products to try out. When we tried it at the event I was struck by the strong scent which to me, smelled very botanical and almost like the Dettol Liquid Anti-Septic. That probably sounds like a negative and at first it was quite an overpowering scent but after I got used to it, I loved it. If you're sensitive to scents in your skincare you may want to try this out first if possible because it's so frustrating to buy a product and hate the scent as it makes you not want to use it. I enjoyed using this mask, it left my skin looking brighter and feeling smoother. It's quite a gentle exfoliant which is going to really suit some people but others may prefer somthing stronger. When I mentioned Yonka on Instagram I had so many messages from people raving about the brand and this product in particular. It seems to be a real hero product for the brand. While I did enjoy it and saw results I can't see myself buying it myself because it is expensive and I have other masks that I prefer for my skin type. 


Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask 90ml, 24 Months, Made in USA €23

I think this was my third tub of this mask. I was first given it as a PR sample when Glossier launched in Ireland 5 years ago and I've purchased it at least twice since then. If you're looking for a hydrating mask but you don't want to spend too much, I defintely recommmend this. I've used it alternating with the Farmacy Honey Potion which I tend to use during the Winter months. Mook Mask is more lightweight so I prefer it for the warmer months of the year. It's a great one to use before I apply makeup if my skin is looking or feeling a bit dry as it gives a quick boost of hydration and therefore gives me a better canvas for makeup. Once again, this is the kind of product I tend to buy when Glossier have a discount code and I'm stocking up Brow Flick, Futuredew etc. I'd prefer to buy a tub of this than use disposable sheet masks. It's not a necessity but if you like face masks and you want to treat yourself, I love this product.



*Skin Proud Refresher Hydrating Face Mist 90ml, 12 Months, Made in China €12.25

I used this because I had it but it's not something I would spend my own money on. For me, a face mist is mostly a sensorial experience, it's not necessarily a must-have for a skincare routine. I found the scent to be quite synthetic and sweet and while it worked for making my skin damp before applying serums, I didn't enjoy the experience of using it. I was looking forward to finishing it so that I could use a different mist. It's not a bad product by any means and you may love this scent, it just wasn't for me.


*bareMinerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum 30ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €47
 
I think I've had one of these in every empties post I've written so far. Thankfully the bareMinerals PR team had been keeping me stocked up but I've now run out and I know I love this product because I really miss it. I would have bought one myself but I have a few hydrating serums in my skincare stash that I have been sent so I'm trying those out first but nothing has compared to this so far. The ingredients just seem to work so well for my skin. I haven't had to yet, but I'd gladly buy this myself because I find it makes a difference to my skin. It's also great to mix with longwear foundations to make them a bit more sheer or hydrating. I use it on my lips before lip balm at night too. You can usually get a deal on this where the 50ml size is the same price as the 30ml size so definitely keep an eye out if you like the sound of it. 


*Lancôme Absolue Revitalizing Eye Cream x2 5ml, 6 Months, Made in France (GWP) Worth €65

This was another one of those products that came with a gift with purchase press drop. The full size of this eye cream is €130 for 20ml and these mini pots are 5ml. I used two of them and it's a beautiful eye cream particularly before makeup as it gives my eye area a perfect base for concealer. However, much like the Absolue cleanser, even though I loved the results I just couldn't justify the price. I could get a whole skincare routine for that price and I didn't find it any more effective than the Kiehls or IT Cosmetics eye creams I've used recently. I think it's only something you'd buy if you tried the small pot as part of a gift with purchase and you absolutely loved it and of course, if you have the budget for it. 



This was a great moisturiser for prepping my skin for makeup, especially during the winter months. I found the texture a bit too rich for the Summer months. However I'd never buy this myself because it had such a strong perfumed scent and it's quite a pricey moisturiser. 


*Lancôme Advanced Génefique Night Repairing Night Cream 50ml, 12 Months, Made in France €84

I was hoping I wouldn't like this because it's obviously so expensive but it did make difference to my skin in the mornings. It's one of those cult favourites because it does actually work. It has a light scent and a gel/serum/cream texture that I loved applying. Once again, the only reason I wouldn't buy this myself is the price. 


*IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Lotion 75ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €40

I've been sent a few of these over the years and it's one of my favourite moisturisers, especially for the warmer months. I have combination skin and I don't do well in hot weather so having a lightweight moisturiser is a necessity especially when you're layering it with sun protection and other products. It's a gel texture which I don't usually like in a moisturiser because I find they're not hydrating enough but this one is perfect. It's 75ml so it lasts for ages too, I think this one lasted me for 6 months. You can buy a 15ml version for around €12 too if you wanted to try it out first before buying the full size. I would have no problem spending my own money on this product. 


Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer SPF 30 30ml, Made in USA €22

I bought this as part of a set with a couple of other travel size Fenty Skin products so that I could try them out. Sunscreen can be very hit or miss for most people but I really loved using this especially under makeup. It's quite lightweight and blends in easily and I had no issues with my makeup on top of it which is huge win for me. It does have a light sweet scent which wasn't my favourite but it didn't bother me either. I'd gladly buy this again for wearing with makeup as it's rare to find a product like this at such a good price point. I'm planning on writing a blog post about sunscreens that work well under makeup as I know this is something people struggle with quite a lot. 


La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Barrier Repairing Lip Balm 7.5ml, 18 Months, Made in France €8.50

My lips were particularly parched this Winter and I needed something to wear at night to really lock in the moisture. I'm in two minds about this product, especially because I'm now using a lip balm that's sucking the life out of my lips. This product did a great job at keeping my lips hydrated and it's ideal to use at night as it's a thicker texture. The packaging was the only issue for me and I'm not sure if was just this particular tube as I've never used it before. I usually love this kind of tube packaging for lip balm as it's more hygienic than a pot but it was a struggle to squeeze the product out of the tube. I don't know whether it's because of the texture of the formula or there was some kind of air bubble in the tube but it did annoy me. It's a great product and price so I'd give it another try just to see if the one I had was a once off issue. If you've had a simiar issue, or tried this particular lip balm please do let me know. 


*bareMinerals Ageless Phyto-Retinol Lip Mask 13g, 12 Months, Made in USA €26

This is quite simlar to the above lip balm in texture and results but just in a pot instead of a tube. It's a case of would I rather pay €8.50 for annoying packaging or €26 for packaging that worked fine. I also love the Nuxe lip balm and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask which are less expensive and do the same job as this, so because of that I wouldn't buy this myself. Like I've mentioned before, it's not a bad product but there are other factors to consider. 




This was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. She very kindly gave me some Rituals products and they happened to be my favourite Rituals scent, Sakura. I've bought this myself many times, as well as numerous other products in both this range and others from Rituals. I absolutely adore this scent, it's a fresh, powdery and comforting floral and it makes me look forward to having a shower which is usually such a tedious but I suppose necessary task. She also bought me the shower oil which is a great product for using when your skin is dry but you don't have the time or inclination to moisturise your body. I have no doubts I'll be buying Rituals products in the future as I have been for years. 


*The Handmade Soap Company Shower Gel Lemongrass & Cedarwood 300ml, 18 Months, Made in Ireland €14

I was sent this from the Irish business Earthmother as part of a the Christmas campaign I did with Meta last year. I filmed an unboxing of gifts from Irish businesses including a hamper from Earthmother which included some products from The Handmade Soap Company. I gave some of them away but I kept this shower gel as I love the scent and I've used it before and loved it. I also love their candles, they have one in this scent and it's so invigorating. I'd gladly buy this again as it's such a beautiful product and it's always nice to support an Irish business where possible. 


**Kevin Murphy Angel Wash Shampoo 250ml, 12 Months, Made in Spain €27.50

My sister gave me this shampoo as it didn't work for her hair type. There was probably about two thirds of the bottle left when she gave it to me. I used it up a while ago and then reused the bottle to pour in the refill of the Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo than I mentioned in my last empties post. I really liked this, it worked very well for my hair which is fine, naturally curly untreated and uncoloured. I have no plans to buy this purely because of the price. My hair is very long at the moment as I haven't had it cut in almost two years so I go through quite a lot of shampoo and conditioner and therefore it doesn't make sense for me to buy expensive ones. Once it cleans my hair and smells nice I don't really mind what shampoo I use. I don't like spending a lot on wash off products like cleansers and shampoo and conditioner so I won't be purchasing this even though I really enjoyed using it. 


*Kiehl's Amino Acid Conditioner 500ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €37

Similar to the Kevin Murphy shampoo, I found this worked very well for my hair. My hair is quite dry but some conditioners can weigh it down and this one doesn't at all. It feels very light but still hydrating. Once again, even though I loved using this I wouldn't buy it because it's quite expensive although much better value than the Kevin Murphy products. Kiehls often do 20% off and it would definitely be worth buying then. 



I bought a set with this and the shampoo and conditioner in it when the range first lanched. I'm always interested to try products for curly hair and I really liked the shampoo and conditioner but the full sizes are expensive so I didn't ever repurchase them. I really like this, it did what I claimed and worked well when I diffused my hair. I would actually buy this again but I'm working my way through other curl creams at the moment. If you have curly or wavy hair I'd definitely check out this range, they also have a set for coily hair.


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

I love this product, in fact I'm already on my second bottle. As the name suggests, you apply it as a treatment before shampooing your hair. I like to apply it around 15-30 minutes before I have a shower and use my Tangle Teezer scalp brush to really massage it into my scalp and then let it sit in my hair for a while. You just have to make sure you wash it out of your hair well because otherwise you'll have very oily roots and thats not fun. I have found an improvement to my hair since using this. As I've mentioned I haven't had my hair cut in two years and in that time I've had pregnancy hair and post-pregnancy hair loss and I'm now at the stage where I have such long hair but also lots of regrowth. I don't use heat on my hair too often and I don't colour my hair or do any treatments so I really wanted something to help my hair stay healthy. It has rosemary extract which is one of those trending ingredients at the moment because it's supposed to help with hair growth. It also smells incredible! I bought this in a set with a travel size Air Dry Cream and Instant Recovery Serum from Space NK. I had a 20% discount code so it worked out at such a great price for the three products. So if you're interested in this product, keep an eye out for discounts for Space NK and I'd definitely recommend getting this set so you get to try out the other two products. I mentioned that I don't like spending money on wash off products but this one genuinely works so I've made an exception. 

JVN Nurture Hydrating Shampoo 295ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €21
JVN Nurture Hydrating Conditioner 295ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €21

I'm going to include both of these products together. I bought them in December after trying the other JVN products and loving them. I had a 20% off discount code for Space NK so I thought I'd try them out. I actually couldn't use the conditioner for a while as the pump was broken and wouldn't open so I had to email customer service with a video demonstrating how it wasn't working and then they sent me a new one. When I finished this bottle I kept the pump for the second bottle of conditioner so I get to use another bottle of it. I started using it by shaking the product out but the packaging isn't squeezable so that was quite difficult. It also meant that when I was almost finished it I struggled to get the last of the product out of the bottle. I did love using these products, they made my hair look more hydrated which is always the goal for me to help with frizz. As I've mentioned with other products in this post, I'd prefer to buy leave-in products like the serum below, the Air Dry Cream or Pre-Wash Scalp Oil. I found because my hair is so long, I went through these quite fast and if I was to buy them full price as well as the other hair treatment products I'd end up having a pricey routine. While I'd love to be able to afford to use these all the time I just can't so for that reason I probably won't repurchase. If you have shorter hair or if you like to spend money on your shampoo and conditioner, these are worth trying. 



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

I wrote about this in my last empties post and I feel the same way after using this travel size. I think this is a great product. I used it before Air Dry Cream and as I mentioned last time, it balances your hair's porosity so that other products can work more effectively and your hair retains it's moisture. It also works as a heat protectant. I'm using other products at the moment but I know I'll repurchase this in the future, I found it definitely helped my hair. All of the JVN products smell incredible too which is always a bonus! 



Biosen Deodorant Mineral Protective 150ml, Made in Italy €4.49

This isn't exactly the sexiest product, but it's a very necessary one. I've been using this brand for years mostly because they are for sensitive skin and I love the scents. I've used a couple of their deodorants and I've loved them. I don't feel anything strong about using aluminium free products, from what I've read it's a safe ingredient but as always it's completely up to you. I don't think I'll stray from this again after the debacle with the product below. 

Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel (Eucalyptus) x2 50ml, 12 Months, Made in the USA €20

I had heard very good things about this product and the brand in general and when Space NK had a sale last November I took that opportunity to try this deodorant. For some reason I decided to buy two thinking I would like them and I'd take advantage of the discount. Hopefully my experience with this product will teach me to never do that again with a product I haven't tried before. I started off really liking this, I'm a big fan if eucalyptus so I love the scent. It seemed to be working well but about halfway through the bottle I noticed that the skin in my armpit area was becoming discoloured and any time I used body moisturiser my skin there started to sting so badly that I had to wash it off. I wouldn't consider myself to be a particularly sweaty person and I don't usually notice any kind of body odour, my deodorant has always worked well. But this just didn't work. It was almost as if the more I used it the less it worked. I gave it a chance and finished the first bottle and started the next one but every time I shaved, applied moisturiser or used my usual deodorant my armpits would sting so much and even though my skin there can sometimes be senstive I've never had those issues before. Halfway through the second bottle I put it into the bag of empties and gave up. I had to wait a while before applying my regular deodorant again because after I stopped using this my armpits were still sensitive for a while. I learned a valuable and expensive lesson. I definitely won't be straying from my inexpensive deodorant again. 


*Casmara Body Moisturizing Cream 50ml, Made in Spain €3.50

I received this in a kit with some other travel size products and I'd never tried this brand before. I thought this was a great body moisturiser and it smelled amazing. I wouldn't buy it again because I think you can get similar for less money. I don't tend to spend a lot on body moisturisers and the full size is €15 which isn't expensive but I have cheaper products I love more like the one below. It's also hard to get your hands on this so that always puts me off unless it's a product I absolutely love. 

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Fragrance-Free 400ml, 12 Months, Made in USA €7.99

I bought this after I got a tattoo in September as it was recommend by the artist for my aftercare. I used to use the oil version of this for years as it was great for my dry skin, particularly on my legs. Once my tattoo was healed I kept using it all over my body as it was such a handy product being 400ml in a pump bottle. I also found it to be very hydrating. It's one I'm going to keep in mind the next time I need a body moisturiser. 


Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Softening Miracle Hand Scrub 70ml, 18 Months, Made in The Netherlands €12.90

I bought this at least a few years ago and I forgot I had it so it's going into my empties now even though I mostly used it up a while ago. I think I'll buy this again because my hands have been so dry for the past year, well for the past 3 years really. They never really recovered from how often I washed thme in work during the first year of c*v*d. It's an oil based scrub so it gets rid of any flaky skin without leaving your hands feeling dry. I used to use it in the evenings once a week and then applied a rich hand balm to lock in moisture.  It's not a necessity but I'm going to give it another go to see if it helps my hands. I know I've had at least two of these over the years and I do really like it. 


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

Following on from the previous product, I've bought a few of these too. I use it at night as it's a bit heavier than my usual hand cream. It's another one of those boring but necessary products that actually works. I have just repurchased this again and I'm sure I will continue to do so. 

The totals are as follows:

20 PR Products: €707.75

24 Products bought by me: €488.86

3 Gifts/GWP: €42.40

Repurchases 14

The total is €1239.01 for 47 products  

This is three months worth of empties but I've been using most of these products for a lot longer than that. As I've mentioned in my previous empties posts, I didn't pay full price for most of the items I bought. I usually stock up on products when I have a discount code so I wouldn't have spent any more than €400 on those products and it was probably a lot less than that. I tried to include links to the products where they were the best price and in stock. It's strange to add up how much I spend on beauty products and then see how much is sent to me for free. It's made me contemplate my consumption of products much more than I had prevously. I mentioned in my post in December that I was embarking on a three month no-buy. It's now been three months and I definitely did not succeed in not buying anything. I was quite good at restraining myself at first but then the dam burst and I ended up buying more than I should have or needed to. I managed to resist both Half Magic launches and the new Lisa Eldridge products. Towards the middle of March I picked up a couple of things here and there and then I made an order for some Dieux skincare because they launched international shipping. I also jumped to order one of the new Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oils because their products always sell out and I haven't tried the brand yet. I also ordered the new eyeshadow palette, Give Yourself Grace when I realised they're vegan as I've been trying to find good vegan eye products because of me (self-diagnosed) sensitivity to the ingredient carmine. I had to dispose of most of my eye products that were red, pink or purple because carmine is a red pigment and they had been irritating my eyes. 

So as you can see I have indulged quite a bit, although not as much as I would have if I hadn't been consicously trying to restrain myself but I'm still disappointed. I know going cold turkey probably isn't the best plan of action for me but I think taking a different approach might be better for me. Going forward my plan is to give myself a monthly budget with which to buy products that interest me for both review purposes but also products that I think will integrate well into my collection for the kinds of content that I like to create on social media. I also get sent some press samples of makeup, although not as much as skincare, it is enough to sustain my content. I feel that this will be a better way of me controlling how much I spend and insuring that I carefully consider each purchase without buying on impulse which can be an issue for me. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, my circumstances have changed and I am no longer earning money so I have to reign myself in which is never a bad thing. Any small amount of money I acquire from affiliate links goes straight back into the monthly budget. It's not much because I don't tend to share them that often but it's better than nothing. I've had multiple inquiries about whether I have or plan to do a patreon or substack but for now I'm sticking to this blog, although I may try something else in the future. I am planning on starting a Youtube channel so that I can film more in depth makeup applications and reviews. For now, I've set up a Buy Me A Coffee page so that if people want to support what I do, they can do so quickly and easily on that page. I've linked it in the bio on my Instagram too. 

If you've read this far, thank you for your patience and for taking the time to read this blog post. I'd love to know if it's been helpful or interesting or if you've tried any of the products I've mentioned. 

Emma x


Saturday, December 31, 2022

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!





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. 




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



Refy Brow Pencil (Medium) 0.6g, €18

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



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

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




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




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. 




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!





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. 




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.




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. 




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


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

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




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




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. 




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. 






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. 




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. 




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. 




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



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

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





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



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

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


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. 




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. 




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. 




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. 




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. 




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. 




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. 




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




The totals are as follows:

28 PR Samples: €954.46

38 Bought by me: €958.27

2 Gifts/ Gift With Purchase: €43

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

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

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

Emma x




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