Empties July-December 2017

Nothing to declare, no PR samples featured.

Hi!

Last year I made a conscious effort to finish products, and I'm happy enough with how it went. This year, as part of my resolutions, I'm not buying any beauty products at all until I'm completely out of them, so my Empties will be featured again every few months.

In case people look at these and say "what the hell is this one at, showing us her rubbish?" - it's an idea that used to be popular on beauty blogs. It gives people a chance to use a product in its entirety and then give an opinion on whether or not they think it's worth a repurchase - rather than use something for a week and declare it Holy Grail.

January-March 2017 Empties
April-June 2017 Empties

BODY CARE

GLOV QUICK TREAT MICROFIBRE CLOTH
I got this in a subscription box and brought it on holiday last August. It's a tiny, tiny microfibre glove that fits on the top of your thumb - I thought it'd be completely useless, but it was a help in taking my eye makeup off.
Would I buy this again? NO
No. I'm not a fan of microfibre cloths for your face, no matter what the "experts" say - grand for the windows, not for my face. Also, anyone that claims your face is fully clean with a bit of water and a window cloth is lying to you. Use proper cleanser.

MOLTON BROWN COCO AND SANDALWOOD BODY WASH
I've used up a few shower gels but this was the only empty I kept - I was sparing this because it was so nice. I received it in last year's Look Fantastic Advent Calendar. A little goes a very long way, and the Sandalwood scent almost negates the need for perfume. It's lovely.
Would I buy this again? YES, ON SALE
It's €22 for 300ml, so I'd buy it if I was being very good to myself or if it were on sale. In that vein, if anyone knows of a cheaper (I'm talking €5) Sandalwood scented body wash, please let me know!

VASELINE INTENSIVE CARE COCOA RADIANT BODY LOTION
This is my favourite body lotion, both in this form and the spray. I'm getting slightly sick of the scent now because I've been using it for years, but it really keeps dry skin at bay and feels lovely on my skin.
Would I buy this again? MAYBE
I have a pretty good stockpile of this, and I would buy it again, but maybe in a different scent.

ORIGINAL SOURCE LIME & COCONUT BODY BUTTER
I'm a huge fan of Original Source products. This body butter smells like a Summer holiday - it's gorgeous, and wasn't greasy.
Would I buy this again? YES
Yes, I'd buy this over The Body Shop body butters. They're every bit as good, if not better, and are much cheaper and often on offer.

MASKS

PUREDERM EXFOLIATING FOOT MASK
I've featured this in my empties posts before - I use one every couple of months to get rid of dead skin on my feet. They're a pair of solution-filled plastic socks, designed to help with hard skin and callous removal.
Would I buy this again? YES
These are a staple for me now. I bulk buy them on eBay from an Irish seller, and I use them a few times a year. They're gross if you don't like peeling skin, but they really do work well.

VITAMASQUES HYDROGEL FACE MASK
I got this in a subscription box. Unusually, it comes in two pieces - one for above your nose and one for your chin. It promises 120 hours of hydration.
Would I buy this again? NO
No, personally in my case the claim was a load of bollocks. This did not make my skin feel extra hydrated for 5 days. I mean if you drink water you'll be hydrated for 5 days. This is over a tenner, and I didn't find it did anything groundbreaking, it just left my face feeling fresh the same as all other masks do.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY GODDESS SKIN CLAY FACE MASK
I received this with a Charlotte Tilbury order. It was a decent sized sample, there was enough in the sachet for a good application. This claims to give you "baby skin".
Would I buy this again? NO
In a previous empties post, I had a sample of CT magic cream. I ended up later getting the full size, and I was so disappointed. I always seem to enjoy the sample sachets more than the full sized product, so I won't be buying any more of her full sized skin products. I can barely remember using this sample so I'm presuming it didn't give my the skin of a baby (I'm fairly sure I'd have remembered that).

PENNEYS DEEP CLEANSING BUBBLE FACE MASK
I had seen people with these really weird looking bubble masks all over Instagram but could never find one. I spotted this in Penneys one day and said I'd try it (it's €1) - it foamed up really fast, it felt lovely, and it's probably one of the only face masks I've used that made my skin look (as well as feel) cleansed.
Would I buy this again? YES
Absolutely, I've picked up a few more since the first one so I have a couple to use. They're made in South Korea, which is never a bad thing when it comes to a face mask.

SCHWARZKOPF ESSENCE ULTIME OMEGA REPAIR INTENSIVE HAIR MASK
This was €2.99 in my local pharmacy, and I picked it up when I had run out of my beloved Kérastase mask. It's for damaged, depleted hair. It smells fantastic, and leaves my hair feeling beautifully soft. The pot is a great size - it's a really nice little hair product and such good value.
Would I buy this again? YES
I can say nothing bad about it - the claims, as with every other product here, are probably a bit on the generous side (aka waffle), but it's a nice hair product and felt good. The scent was lovely, and it lasted ages.

PERFUME/OIL

LANCOME LA VIE EST BELLE EDP
This was the scent I bought on Honeymoon in 2012 so it has special memories for me. I've repurchased it a few times and was lucky to be sent a bottle from the PR company a couple of years ago - this bottle was my last one, so it was used very sparingly.
Would I buy this again? YES
My husband got me a bottle of the other variation for Christmas (Légere) so I'm good for a while, but it's a perfume I'll happily repurchase.

DIOR POISON GIRL EDP
I bought this on holiday in 2016 and immediately loved the sweet, musky, grown up scent. It's the perfect going out perfume or a great one to spray on a scarf, the scent lasts for ages.
Would I buy this again? NO
I did really love it, but I don't think it's "me" enough to repurchase, if that makes sense. I wasn't bothered when I was coming to the end of it, so I did really like it but I'd try something else from Dior next time.

JESSICA PHENOMEN OIL
I'm nearly sure this was part of a competition prize that I won about 4 years ago, but I can't remember. This bottle has lasted so long - I only used it a couple of times a month to stimulate nail growth and keep cuticles from drying out, but it's supposed to be brilliant for anyone who gets gel nails regularly.
Would I buy this again? NO
It's a grand product, and if you're after something like this I'd recommend it, but personally I'm not concerned enough about my cuticles to buy a specific product, a bit of olive oil or castor oil would do me.

FACE AND LIPS

THE BODY SHOP DROPS OF YOUTH CONCENTRATE SERUM

This was my second bottle of this - I've a full review here, and I bought another bottle after that. It's a really nice, fresh facial serum to be used twice daily, and it leaves skin feeling youthful and soft. I really loved using this.

Would I buy this again? YES, ON SALE

I don't miss it enough to buy it again at full price. I liked it enough to buy it after I was sent a bottle, but I bought it on sale from the UK. It's lovely, but not €52 lovely.

LUSH SANTA BABY LIP SCRUB

A strawberry flavoured sugar scrub for lips. I bought this as part of my Christmas 2016 order and only ran out a few weeks ago. 

Would I buy this again? NO

It's messy, bits of it go everywhere, and it's just sweet sugar. An equivalent could be made at home very quickly.

SKIN CHEMISTS LONDON 24 HOUR AQUA REPAIR FACIAL SERUM

I got this in a subscription box. It's a velvety smooth facial serum that leaves skin feeling clean, hydrated, and plumped. I really liked this, some days I just used it instead of makeup. 

Would I buy this again? NO

It's far too expensive. It's £39 for that tube above - 30ml. I loved it but it wasn't as good as The Body Shop one, which is around the £25 mark in the UK. It's also heavily scented. 

VICHY AQUALIA THERMAL SOOTHING AND REPAIRING LIP BALM

I've written a whole post on this before (here) - it's one of the best lip balms I've found for chapped, sore lips. Thankfully mine weren't too bad this Winter, but this is still one of my go-to balms.

Would I buy this again? YES

It's good value (under €4), lasts ages and works well. 

VICHY LIFTACTIV NUIT MOISTURISER

I've used different Vichy moisturisers before - I usually pick up the Aqualia one, but I used this sample up over a few weeks. The pot was generous, the cream was thick and silky, and I had no complaints with it.

Would I buy this again? NO

I just didn't find it massively special, to be honest. I like the other ranges but this Liftactiv one wasn't impressive enough to go and hunt it down in a full size. I also found the scent very strong compared to some other Vichy products.

MAKEUP

MAC STUDIO SCULPT DEFINING BRONZING POWDER - "DELICATES"

This was a limited edition bronzer, and it was the perfect shade for contouring because it wasn't shimmery or too warm. It was a staple of mine for well over 18 months, and I used most of it up until I dropped it and shattered the rest.

Would I buy this again? YES

I can't, because it was limited edition, but I did buy the very similar shade from their Fruity Juicy collection last year, also called "Delicates". To my eye it's not 100% the same, but it's similar enough for me.

PS PRO ILLUMINATING PRIMER

Everyone seems to have gone mad over Penneys makeup over the past year. I don't get it - to me it's the kind of stuff you buy for kids who are just getting into makeup. I've never been overly impressed by anything I've bought there, and this was no different - hailed as a dupe for MAC's Strobe Cream, I bought it on holiday last year. My tube definitely was not a dupe, it was watery shite that made me look sweaty as opposed to dewy. 

Would I buy this again? NO

I'll stick to Penneys for socks and knickers, not makeup. 

CATRICE GLAM & DOLL FALSE LASHES MASCARA

I'm a big fan of Catrice, they're a decent brand with excellent prices. I've yet to try a bad mascara from them - this one gave lift and length, plus it was very black. 

Would I buy this again? YES

I'll always pick up a Catrice or Essence mascara over more expensive brands - I've spent a fortune on mascara over the years and it's all down to the brush, imho. Catrice do great brushes so I'd happily repurchase this (I've a waterproof one ready to go)

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER SETTING SPRAY

This is something I've bought for a few years now, and I'll continue to do so. It locks your makeup in place and stops it running off - a must for nights out or fellow sweaty people.

Would I buy this again? YES

I've another bottle on the go, I have tried a few other brands but this is the one I keep coming back to.

BOURJOIS 123 PERFECT CC CREAM

My all time favourite base, I mention it in every empties post. It has become a little harder to get a hold of lately, but it's still available online at Boots and Littlewoods. It's dewy, light, and gives wonderful coverage - nothing has come close for me.

Would I buy it again? YES

I get annoyed if I haven't a new one ready to go when I use one up, I'd be devastated if it were discontinued.

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX FOUNDATION

I use the CC cream regularly, but if I need a foundation I'll buy Bourjois quicker than any expensive one. This one is lovely, gives medium/high coverage, and feels nice.

Would I buy it again? YES

Bourjois are my favourite brand for foundations - I prefer them to ones I've tried from MAC, Estee Lauder and Armani.

CATRICE HD LIQUID COVERAGE FOUNDATION

This was okay, but I hated the dropper. I also found the foundation really thick and heavy, like a face mask rather than foundation. The colour was fine, and it lasted ages, but I could feel it on.

Would I buy it again? NO

It was just too heavy for me and I felt like the dropper was more of a hindrance than a help.

HOURGLASS VEIL MINERAL PRIMER

Alas, it is time to say goodbye to this. I adored it - it felt like silk on my skin. It made makeup sit better, the scent was lovely, it was just an all-round gorgeous product. I made it last ages by rationing it, but it was a dream to use.

Would I buy it again? YES

It's nauseatingly expensive, but if I ever become one of those people who has a capsule collection of one decent primer, one decent blusher, etc - this will be in there. This bottle was over €60 so it won't happen any time soon, but maybe if I stick to all my resolutions I'll have saved up enough to treat myself to a new one next year!

So - that's it, I'll be back in another few months with another pile of stuff to show you - have you tried any of these? What did you think?