Empties #13

I was flat out for the 3 months from August to November which ran me right into the ground so the day after the kids school term finished in September I basically collapsed with a flu/virus thing. In that whole time I know my skincare routine took a beating so I’m surprised that I managed to use as many products as I did.

August’s empties

* Garnier Clean Sensitive 2 in 1 Gentle Make-Up Remover – third one finished this year and I’ll keep buying it as long as they keep making it. Unless they change it in which case I’m done. Garnier are you listening to me? Stop firetrucking with my favourite products!

* Batiste Mamba Dry Shampoo – one of my favourite scents in the Batiste line of dry shampoos, def repurchase.

* Batiste Oriental Dry Shampoo – a new scent for me, this fresh citrusy floral was lovely and it worked just as well as the rest of the line so I will repurchase.

* Rexona Invisible Dry Anti White Marks, Yellow Stains and Sweat Antiperspirant – the scent was alright but not my favourite and I actually prefer the scent of the aqua invisible one so I probably won’t repurchase this one. Oh and it works well as an anti-perspirant too.

* Garnier Pure Active Energising Cleansing Gel – I really liked the crisp citrus scent of this but it’s not really suited to my skin type and it wasn’t effective in clearing makeup residue as a second cleanse – I suspect that I may have a backup that I’ll still need to get through but I won’t be buying it again.

* Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes for Dry and Sensitive Skin – I bought these on sale as I don’t think they’re worth paying full price for but they do work well, or at least they have in the past but these felt drier than I remember so I had to scrub more which is a no go on my aging skin. I’m currently using a backup on days where I can’t be arsed taking my sweet time for a lengthy cleansing but I probably won’t repurchase these.

* NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Light 4, Deauville, sample – This was a second sample that I simply needed to use up as I’ve already bought the shade Ceylon which a better match to my yellow undertone.

* Too Faced Primed and Poreless Primer, sample – My pores are becoming more prominent as I age and while the Inglot Under Makeup Base works well, it tends to travel so I’ve been after a thicker silicone based primer. This worked quite well plus it plays well with everything else I put on my face and doesn’t slip around as much as the Inglot primer during the day so I finally splurged on the full size.

* Face of Australia Eye Primer – This works ok but it leaves white cast and needs to be set and used only with powder eyeshadows as cream shadows crease on top. I was happy to use it to the end but I won’t be repurchasing it.

* Avon Color Trend Dew Kiss Lip Balm in Dewy Rose – I had to throw out the remains of this as it just became a mess as I got closer to the end. Plus I didn’t really like the colour so no great loss I guess.

September’s empties

* Natio Clay and Plant Face Mask Purifier – I generally quite like a nice clay based mask and I’ve used this on and off but I think this type of mask worked better when my skin was much younger. At my age now it really doesn’t do anything so I’m getting rid of it.

* Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face Sunscreen, SPF 30+, sample – I’ve realised that I need to step up my sunscreen game so that I don’t undo all my good work on reducing my melasma particularly as we’re heading into warmer weather. I trialled this as I wanted something with decent SPF that also sits well under makeup and this works beautifully without leaving a white cast or smelling like sunscreen. Its consistency is a little thicker than a lotion but not as heavy as a cream and it absorbs really well without any tackiness. I feel like I’ve moisturised rather than sunscreened which is exactly what I was after and I’ve since bought a full size.

* CoLab Extreme Volume Dry Shampoo, London Classic Fragrance – I didn’t mind the slightly powdery, very faintly musky scent (as you may guess by now I’m lead by my nose alot) but I just hated this formula. It left my hair feeling awful and so brittle that I cringed each time I tried to run a comb or brush through it. I don’t think it was any more volumising than the Sheer and Invisible formula despite the added texture it gave my hair and I have another scent in this formula which I’m struggling to use so I won’t repurchase.

* Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo – One of my favourite scents and a staple in my hair care arsenal. Def repurchase again.

* Pantene Original Fresh Dry Shampoo – I wasn’t expecting much from this but it was actually a really nice dry shampoo that’s on par with Batiste. I loved the floral scent, it worked really well at absorbing oil and it brushed out well. I’m really impressed and will definitely buy this one again.
* Rexona Motion Sense Anti-Perspirant in Sexy Bouquet – I loved the strawberry and apricot scent of this and it worked well as an anti-perspirant  so I’ll happily repurchase this deodorant.

* Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate – A darker matte brown, this pencil was ok I guess. It had an average wear time on my waterline but wasn’t one I reached for often. Most likely won’t bother repurchasing.

* Black & Gold Cotton Make Up Pads – I bought these at IGA supermarket a while back and they worked well and were soft enough for facial use. The only downside is there aren’t any IGA’s near me so I might buy them again if I happen to be in one but I’m not going to go looking for them when the Priceline Beauty Essentials cotton pads are nicer, just as affordable and much easier to get a hold of.

* BareMinerals Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion, deluxe sample – This came in my last Mecca Beauty Loop box and I made a point to use this exclusively until the whole 7.5ml sample was used to really give it a go. I loved the airless pump packaging but it did absolutely nothing to my skin and even looking up product descriptions and reviews, I still can’t figure out what it was supposed to do for me. Will not be buying this.

* Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, deluxe sample – I chose this as a free sample with a Beauty Bay order along with the matching toner. It’s a lovely cleanser that left my skin feeling clean and refreshed. It works well as a post makeup second cleanse option and a morning cleanse and rinses cleanly leaving no residue which I really prefer. Super affordable and I’ve since bought the full size from Mecca.

* Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask with Lavender – I’ve used most of this but it’s too thin for my liking and doesn’t feel like it’s doing anything compared to the Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid treatment which I love, plus its way out of date so it needs to go.

October’s empties

* Maybelline Brow Precise Brow Pencil in Deep Brown – this pencil is OK, its softer than I prefer so needs constant sharpening and could be better at holding my brows in place but the colour is pretty good, I probably won’t repurchase it tho as the Anastasia Beverly Hills version is firmer while still being waxy, skinnier so it’s easier to use, holds my brows better and the colour is spot on.

* L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara in Black – this was crap, the colour was weak, the formula was thin and not the least bit volumising and I hated the plastic brush as it did nothing for applying the thin formula or building volume on my lashes. I even tried a bristle brush but it didn’t improve this mascara’s performance. Another mascara fail from L’Oreal for me and will not be buying it again.

* Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer, sample sachet – only got one use out of this as it dried out before I could try it a second time. Very average primer that is very expensive for what it is so I won’t be buying the full size.

* Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid – this lasted over 18 months so I’m pretty happy with that especially as I normally hate the waste you get when a product is soaked on a pad then wiped over your face – most of it winds up in the bin rather than on your skin. I like to use this on its own at night then follow it up the next night with a treatment like retinol and I have already repurchased.

* Skin Therapy Bee Venom Rejuvenating Night Crème – This didn’t do anything for me, it has a very thick texture and the wax in it becomes apparent as you try to rub it in. I did not enjoy using this and I wouldn’t repurchase.

* Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes for Dry and Sensitive Skin – This pack wasn’t as dry as the previous but still not enjoying using these and I don’t think I’ll repurchase these.

* Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 Wash Scrub Mask – It’s taken a whole year to use this. I’m finally on the last one now and won’t be repurchasing this as it doesn’t serve my needs anymore.

* June Jacobs Brightening Serum – After using this my melasma is so much fainter. It has really reduced the surface pigmentation on my cheekbones and I’m hoping that once I get a derma roller it will continue to work deeper into my skin. Currently using my second bottle and I’m really happy with it.

* Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser, sample – This was very meh for me - kinda thin and not overly moisturising. I wasn’t too impressed so won’t be buying the full size.

* Rodan + Fields Enhancements Micro-Dermabrasion Paste, sample – I wasn’t expecting much from this as I have moved on from manual exfoliants but this pleasantly surprised me. It is quite an intense scrub that left my skin feeling super smooth for almost 10 days after using it, a very generous sample that I probably could have split into two uses but I wanted to try it first as recommended. I have since bought the full size.

* Rodan + Fields Redefine Night Renewing Serum, sample –  I had high hopes for this as the ingredient list is pretty impressive but the silicone in it meant that it felt like it just sat on top of my skin instead of absorbing so I won’t be buying the full size.

* Rodan + Fields Redefine Lip Renewing Serum, sample – Very generous sample that I probably should have used over two uses again. I didn’t like this as it didn’t soak in and I felt like I had to keep my mouth closed the whole time plus it was still coating my lips when I woke the next day. Won’t be buying the full size.

* Rexona Motion Sense Shower Fresh Anti-Perspirant Deodorant – This works ok. I’m still on the fence about whether this particular stick deo is worth the extra step but I prefer using a stick deodorant with a spray deo and most drugstore brands have stopped making stick deodorants so I don’t have much choice. I just wish this was anti-white marks.

* Garnier UltraLift Day Cream with SPF 15 – My everyday moisturiser for a number of years now but as I age it doesn’t seem to be doing much and isn’t moisturising enough for my needs anymore, particularly this last winter. Currently using a backup but not sure if I will continue to repurchase as I’m just waiting for Garnier to discontinue it or change it. Looking for a replacement.

* Batiste Fresh Dry Shampoo – a nice enough scent that works as well as the rest of the line so I’ll probably repurchase.

* Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, sample – This was kinda thin and not anywhere as hydrating as it calms to be. I really didn’t reach for it as it was pretty average in my opinion and I won’t bother buying the full size.

Lots of staples as usual and lots of samples this time too. My tastes are definitely getting more expensive but maybe that’s just because I now need products with more potent ingredients.