OMG! I HAVE EMPTIES!!!

Hi!

If you've seen my snaps (snapchat: sharonleavy) about my overcrowded bathroom or you know me in any capacity at all, you'll know I'm a bit of a hoarder. I just like stuff - I go through phases of buying lipsticks, then shower things, then skincare - it's just the way I am, I get distracted and swayed very easily and I'm a marketer's dream. But I never seem to finish anything. Ever. It took me nearly a year and a half to finish a bottle of Micellar Water. HOW.

With that in mind, and the fact that I've never been able to do an empties post because I never have empties, I made a decision to consciously uncouple from my hoardy ways and make an effort to finish one product before moving on to the next.

Over the past three months - LOOK! I FINISHED THINGS!!!!

I got a serious thrill from seeing the empties box fill up, so much so that I'm making a definite effort to use up things that are on their last legs for the next time. Look at me, behaving in a normal human manner around the stuff! I'll go through everything and tell you where you can get everything, and if I'll repurchase it. I've taken most of the prices from Boots because they seem to have the best offers at the minute - this isn't a sponsored post, just in case it starts to look like a giant Boots ad. It's not.

Original Source Lime Shower Gel | Currently €1.40 at Boots
I seem to always have several shower gels on the go, but I finished this one completely. I love the scent of limes, and it compliments the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush range when I run out of the more pricey shower cream. Repurchase? Yep, I've another one almost finished and I'll be taking advantage of that Boots price!

Palmers Cocoa Butter | Currently €3.33 at Boots
I picked this up at the till in Boots one day, I hadn't used it in ages and forgot how much I really liked the smell. I chopped the bottom off to get the last bit out. Repurchase? Already bought the big pump one.

Sure Maximum Protection Stress Control & Sports Strength | Currently €3.60 each at Boots
My all time favourite deodorant. I was sent one of these (I think the green one) and I bought the other - I think I've gone through every one in the range at this stage. Repurchase? I've a fresh one in the bathroom waiting!

Ziaja Olive Leaf Concentrated Nourishing Cream | €5.99 at Original Beauty
I was sent this to try a while ago and I loved it. I gave it a proper review here. Repurchase? I will at some point when I get through some other moisturisers.

Daiso Make up Brush Cleaner | €7.50 on eBay
I don't usually buy this cleaner - I always get this one - so what possessed me to change from my Holy Grail is beyond me. This was fine - but it was like a pre-mixed version of my favourite one so the entire bottle only did one set of brushes. Repurchase? No way.

Essence Sponge Nail Polish Remover | €3.79 from Penneys/Pharmacies
This is fine, it went through a lot of nail polish before the little sponge started to break up. It's not as sturdy as the Bourjois offering, but for the price it works well to remove nail polish and it lasted ages. I used it for glitter a few times and had no major issues. Repurchase? I'm spoiled with the sturdiness of the Bourjois sponge, so I'll probably stick to it - sorry Essence!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water | Currently €4.00 at Boots
The world and its mother have used this, it does the job, I use it to take off the top layer of facial cement of an evening before I go in with a cleanser. It's fine, it works. Repurchase? I have a full one ready to go, but to be completely honest with you I'm bored with it, I won't be buying it again.

Tiger Balm | €3.75 from eBay
I know you can get this in Dealz but I don't know if it's the same stuff, the eBay seller I use is linked. I think you can get it in some chemists too. This is magic for migraine or headache sufferers - it freezes the area so that you can get some relief. I find this particularly great when I have one of those pukey migraines and my head pounds so much that I can't sleep - this soothes my head and lets me relax enough to sleep it off. Repurchase? Full one ready to go!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Pot | €21.99 at Boots
I bought this on offer at my local chemist for around €12 one day - I used it as a day and night cream and I adored it. It left my dehydrated skin feeling moisturised and hydrated. Repurchase? Yes, definitely. The more affortable Rich Tube at €15.50 is on my list for Autumn/Winter.

Catrice Nude Illusion Foundation | €8.49 at Penneys/Pharmacies
A really nice medium coverage foundation that blends well and lasts ages. What's not to love? Repurchase? I've another one ready!

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation | €13.95 at Cloud Ten
Did you know that you can buy sample pots of foundation from Cloud Ten beauty? Well you can. They're €1 each, and they give you enough for a decent application so you can try before you buy. That's what I did with this and a couple of Paese ones - I bought the full size of this Bourjois one and it has been my saviour during the heat. Containing pigments to help combat not only dark circles but redness and dullness too? Winner. Repurchase? I absolutely will.

Britney Spears Cosmic Radiance Perfume | €17 for 100ml EDP from Fragrance Direct.
With a musky sandalwood base, this has top notes of pear and mandarin. There's some tuberose in there too, and it all makes for a blend that you'd never peg as a celeb perfume. Repurchase? I have a 30ml bottle of this to use up - but after that, although I have loved you and enjoyed you, here is where I leave you, Brit. My perfume drawer is heaving and I'm a bit terrified they're all going to go off.

Bourjois 1 Seconde Volume Ultra Black Mascara | €12.99 from Boots
This is one of the best mascaras I've ever used. It's just gorgeous - it makes a huge difference to my lashes, and after I first tried it I didn't use any other mascara until this one was finished. I genuinely can't remember finishing a mascara in the last 15 years, so this is a rare, rare thing! Repurchase? You betcha.

Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Moisturiser | Full Size: €45 at Boots
I got this sample in a Glossybox and fell in love with it. It's just a beautiful moisturiser - the texture, the scent, everything. I love it. Repurchase? I have a full sized one waiting for me to pick up in Boots.

Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser | Full Size: €33 at Look Fantastic
This was another Beauty Box sample - I think it was one of the British Beauty Blogger boxes. I've never used a cleanser like this before - it's like a jelly that dissolves makeup effortlessly. Also fell in love with this. Repurchase? I bought the full size from Look Fantastic, it's gorgeous.

Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover | Full Size: €28.50 at Boots.
I got this as part of a set from Brown Thomas in the sales. It's a brilliant eye make-up remover, one of the best I've tried. Repurchase? At nearly thirty quid? As much as I love it, not a hope in hell.

Clinique Repairwear Sculpting Night Cream | Full Size: €76 at Brown Thomas
This was supposed to "define the look of facial contours along the cheeks and jawline, and smooth and firm the look of the skin on the neck and chest" - I didn't see any major difference from using it for the few weeks that the sample pot lasted. It was pleasant to use, sank in well, wasn't greasy or offensive, but nothing special. I mean I still don't have cheekbones, so.... Repurchase? Eh, for €76? No.

I also burned a few candles and tarts over the last three months - I finished one from Emma's Soy Candles but forgot to keep the jar. This one from Boyne Country Candles in the scent "Take me to Beverly Hills" was gorgeous. The Celtic Candles tart in "Champagne and Pink Grapefruit" was lovely to begin with, but it lasted so long that I was completely sick of it and dug it out of the burner to replace it with Yankee's "Vanilla Cupcake" tart. That got the boot last week in favour of Yankee's "Vanilla Lime". I'll definitely buy more from Boyne Country Candles - they're €12.50 and available at Dolledup.ie and on their website. Intrigued by the "Orange Cream" (AKA Super Split) one, it has to be said.....

Are you proud of me for finishing things? I also finished two bags of the Boots Cotton Pads. I wonder if I'll ever finish a nail polish or lipstick? Or an eyeshadow? Imagine finishing an eyeshadow!