Empties April - June 2017

Not sponsored or paid. Samples clearly defined.

Hi!

I promised myself at the start of the year that I'd start making more of an effort to use products up fully before buying any more, and I'm happy to say that it's going great. No more needless Boots or Chemist hauls at €50 a pop - it's made a huge difference to the amount of money I'm saving. Or, squandering elsewhere (looking at you, Etsy).

You can see my empties from January to March here:

Empties January - March


Here's what I got through in April, May and June:

***BODY/SKIN***

Moo Goo Milk Wash Gifted from Company

Melanie from MooGoo very kindly sent me a box of goodies about a year ago. I had been using some of them on and off, but wanted to finish this. MooGoo are free from sulfates, parabens and all nasty chemicals. There's not much in the way of a lather, but it's a pleasant wash to use. 

Would I buy again?

I would. MooGoo are one of a few brands that I know won't cause anyone in the house any skin irritation - one of my twins is very prone to allergic reactions from bath products so it's nice to have a reliable brand to go to.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

I bought this last year as part of an order I placed online. It's very sweet and has a hint of shimmer through it. It's also very bubbly.

Would I buy again?

Nope. Maybe if I had a Lush shop nearby, I'd buy more of their stuff - but I hate ordering online because I can't smell the products beforehand. Had I known this particular scent was this sickly sweet (it smells like Wham bars) I wouldn't have bought it. 

Sass Intimite Skin Concentrate

This is a soothing gel that you apply to your intimate area after waxing or shaving to reduce ingrown hair growth and itching. I reviewed it in full here. 

Would I buy again?

I've bought this a couple of times and I miss it when I don't have it - there's a noticeable difference in the degree of itching, so I will continue to repurchase it. 

Sure Maximum Protection Anti-Perspirant

I've mentioned this so many times at this point I'd say people think I work for them (I don't) - for me, it's the best anti-sweat product on the market at the minute and I will continue to buy it (in bulk when it's on sale). 

Rituals Ritual of Sakura Body Cream

I got this in a beauty subscription box or possibly the Look Fantastic advent calendar last year. It's a rich body cream that contains no parabens, this one smells like cherry.

Would I buy again?

Nope. It's very pleasant, but I found the scent a little overpowering. It does leave my skin feeling smooth, but so do other cheaper, less scented creams. 

Lancome Hydra Zen Moisturising Cream

I can't even remember where I got this, I think it was in one of those gift-with-purchase bags that Lancome do sometimes. It's an "anti-stress" moisturiser with SPF 15.

Would I buy again?

Nope. It was very thick and I could feel it sitting on my skin. It also stung like a scorpion if it got near my eyes, and it's nearly €50 for a full size pot. 

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

I got this in the Look Fantastic advent calendar - it's nice, it's a pleasant daytime moisturiser that smells of oranges. Very similar to The Body Shop Vitamin C one, maybe a little thicker. 

Would I buy again?

No. It's more expensive than The Body Shop one and it was just a nice moisturiser, nothing amazing. 

***FACE/HANDS***

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

Well, clearly it's not magic, it's just a sponge soaked in nail polish remover and put in a pot - but it's very handy and lasts ages. It works fast, and does the job.

Would I buy again?

Yep. I've tried the Essence one and while it's good, the Bourjois sponge is stronger and seems to work faster. I've bought this a few times and will buy it again.

Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray

This is the original one, I think there have been a few other versions released since (and with new packaging). A few sprays make sure that makeup stays in place even in hot weather.

Would I buy again?

I would. I've gone through a couple of these and tried a few other brands (I liked the L'Oreal one, I hated the NYX and Rimmel ones) but this is still my favourite setting spray and something I make sure to buy whenever I'm near Debenhams.

La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Fresh Mist PR Sample

This is a factor 50 SPF spray that dries clear. I used this during the heatwave in May and was very glad to have it, it can also be used to set makeup. It has both UVB and UVA protection.

Would I buy again?

If I wanted a facial SPF mist, I would choose this brand over another. 

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Cream PR Sample

Again, this is a high factor SPF that can be used on the face. It's anti-shine and dries quickly. 

Would I buy again?

Honestly? Not in the pump packaging. I found it hard to get out of the tube at times and I couldn't tell how much was left. I'd buy the formula, but in another package. I tend to break out in a heat rash even when using sun creams, and this didn't happen when using any of the Anthelios range. 

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Hand Cream

Part of The Body Shop's Wild Argan Oil range. This smells divine, really rich and luxurious. As a hand cream it did the job - left hands smooth and not too greasy.

Would I buy again?

I like The Body Shop hand creams, so I would, but only from the UK because as I've mentioned before, we are very much screwed over in Ireland when it comes to this particular brand. (30ml hand creams are £4/€4.50 in the UK and €9.95 here)

***MAKEUP***

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

An ultra black mascara that gives the effect of length and volume to lashes.

Would I buy again?

No. While I liked it at the start, it went clumpy fairly quickly and this happened both times I bought it, so I wouldn't buy again.

Bourjois CC Cream

Again, this is something I could get commission on at this stage - it's a firm favourite and I'll buy it as long as it's available. On that note - this has been discontinued in pharmacies, but is still available in Boots and via Littlewoods.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

This promises to give an effect that makes lashes look long and multiplied.

Would I buy again?

No. I didn't like this. I thought the brush was too small and the formula was very wet.

NYX Tame and Frame Brow Pomade

A brow cream to give colour and definition to eyebrows. I reviewed this and compared it to Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade here. 

Would I buy again?

No, only because I've switched to using a powder for my eyebrows. If I was looking for a cream product I'd buy it again. 

Code VLM Mascara

This has been hyped for a while, with many claiming it to be the best mascara out there. It's very black and gives length and volume.

Would I buy again?

Not a hope in hell, it's €15 for a mini. I didn't find it particularly great compared to other (cheaper) brands and was annoyed at myself for falling for the hype.

***HAIR***

CoLab Dry Shampoo - London

"Sheer and Invisible" dry shampoo with a crisp scent. 

Would I buy again?

Yes. I thought it was good value for money (under €5), it lasted ages, it did the job, the scent was lovely, and it didn't leave massive white marks on my hair. I really liked this and will repurchase.

Redken Heatcure Hair Treatment

A self-heating conditioning hair treatment that stops flyaways and reduces frizz. The treatment heats up when the sticker on the front of the pack is peeled off, then it can be applied to the hair.

Would I buy again?

Yes, I first received this in a Look Fantastic box and later bought the full pack (twice). I try to ration these but they're so, so good - my hair is notoriously frizzy and huge, this tames it down and I wish I could use it every time I washed my Hagrid-like tresses. Love the stuff. 

***MASKS***

Purederm Exfoliating Foot Mask
A pair of plastic socks filled with a liquid designed to help callous/hard skin removal. You pop the socks on, leave them for 90 minutes, and wash off. Within a week your feet will start peeling, shedding all the old skin and leaving baby-soft skin underneath.
Would I buy again?
YESS. I've 5 on the way from eBay as I type. I love these, I've been using them for years since they hit Penneys a few years ago. They sometimes crop up in chemists, but I like to have a few on standby. They're unreal, they work great, but maybe if you find the thought of shedding skin a bit icky, avoid these. If, like me, you can think of nothing more satisfying than sitting picking your feet with a face mask on and a glass of wine, then these were made for you!

Vitamasques Pomegranate Moisturising + Firming + Lifting Face Mask
I got this in a Look Fantastic box. It's a sheet mask infused with extracts of pomegranate, and claims to moisturise and lift your skin.
Would I buy again?
Nope. This was saturated with product - the mask kept sliding off my face. The scent was pleasant, the feeling when I removed it was pleasant, but I didn't notice any major improvement with regard to the moisture content of my face. It just felt clean, not particularly lifted or firm.

Nügg Hydrating Face Mask
A little pot that contains a generous application of cream mask. This one contains camellia seed oil and spirulina extract.
Would I buy again?
No. I thought it was gimmicky. The pot was expensive compared to other masks and while the size was generous, there wasn't any real way to store it for future use unless I used a plastic pot or bag. It was fine - it was a standard mask, no better than the ones you find in the Supermarket.

***MINIS***

Nuxe Melting Cleansing Oil
I think this was a sample that came with a Cloud 10 Beauty order. I don't really remember it being outstanding - it did the job, took makeup off. I wouldn't buy it.

White Glo Bright Nights Teeth Whitening Films
The film needs to be applied to clean, dry teeth and then left on to melt - while this did brighten my teeth, the film tasted vile and made me gag. I wouldn't buy again - these are from Penneys.

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Samples
I love the packaging of these, they're so luxurious. They were included with an order from Charlotte Tilbury, and there was enough in each application for a good sample to see what they looked like on my lips.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Sample
I had been saving this for a while because I was afraid I'd love it and then want the full size one (€90). Unfortunately, I did love it - I loved the way it felt on my face, I loved the consistency and I loved the scent. I'm not going to buy it unless by some miracle there's a discount (or she makes a smaller pot). It's gorgeous but it's not price-of-a-weeks-groceries gorgeous.

Charlotte Tilbury Scent of a Dream Perfume Sample
Awful. And, sod's law, it lingered longer on me than any perfume I've used before. I found it pungent and old fashioned, almost like the smell of a dusty room. I used the whole sample to see if I could make it work - but nope. It's how I imagine that cobweb-covered room from Great Expectations would smell. Or old Rose in Titanic.

So - that's it. I'll be back in October with a round up of the products I use up over July, August and September - I'm slowly making my way out of hoarding and into only buying things I really love. Am I finally a grown up?

If you've used any of this stuff, give me a shout and let me know what you think!