January Empties 2017

A little belated but my January Empties is up, goal for this year is to stay on top of my basket of trash and not let it get to the stage of what I did last year! This was the first post that I also played with my new camera lens, learnt some more stuff since using it a few times now, so here’s to better pictures moving forward!


Skincare

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Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Soap (review)

I’m now wondering whether my skin freak out in January is due to the fact I finished this up at the start of the month as when I used this up last time my skin flipped out too. I love this cleanser, and I’ve reviewed it not once but twice. It’s a seedy creamy cleanser that does a shit job of removing makeup, but an absolutely fantastic job as a daily exfoliator/moisturiser and it has some kind of magic for keeping my skin clear. I’ve purposefully not repurchased it for now as I have lots of cleansers I need to get through, but plan on restocking on it in the not to distant future, if my skin doesn’t clear up pronto it might be sooner than I plan.

Repurchase: Yes

Tony Moly I’m Real Lemon Brightening Mask (review)

I reviewed this not too long ago so won’t talk too in depth on it. This was a great sheet mask as a pre-makeup application (rare occasion that I’m able to afford that luxury!), this convinced me to try the whole line of masks from Tony Moly.

Repurchase? Already have!

Tony Moly I’m Real Makegolli Mask (review)

I think I must have chucked this by mistake, but in contrast this came following me ordering the full set of masks and I didn’t find that this one did anything for my skin.

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub (review)

I really enjoyed this scrub from Soap and Glory (Hoooooooray, a S&G product I actually like!). Reviewed just last week so won’t talk too much about it, but my only complaint was that it was a little thick and difficult to massage in.

Repurchase? Maybe

Sainsbury’s Boutique Super Strong Cotton Pads

I’m so glad sainsbury’s are making these again, the boutique cotton pads are the best that I’ve tried. I already now have a massive pack of 100 (which I’m running low on already, I don’t know what I’ve been doing with them this month). But this will forever be my favourite pads as they don’t break up and I can use just one at a time instead of 5.

Haircare

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Pantene Pro V Repair and Protect Conditioner

It’s been a long time since I used anything from Pantene, I asked ben to grab me a conditioner whilst he was doing the weekly shop and this was what he used. I liked this, but didn’t love it enough to go and repurchase.

Repurchase? Yes

Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo (review)

Not my favourite dry shampoo ever, this wasn’t as effective as I’m used to, but did leave my hair smelling great.

Repurchase? No

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

I rediscovered Aussie back at the end of November, the Moisturising shampoo has been a favourite as has this. A heavy duty 3 minute treatment (which I use most of the time when showering) keeps hair soft and smooth. I think all people pretty much have tried this, so I won’t harp on!

Repurchase? Already have another bottle in backup but trying to finish some others first

Garnier Ultimate Blends Honey Treasures Hair Mask Sample

Received in last months My Little Box I used this pretty much straight away. It wasn’t a big enough sample for me to use on my whole hair, but it did smell nice so I’d consider trying again!

Repurchase? Maybe

Fragrance & Nails

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Bluesky Soak off Gel Top Coat

A great topcoat that came recommended by my friend who professionally does nails. I got through this quite quickly thanks to also doing my mums nails for her now.

Repurchase: I’ve repurchased the no wipe version so I no longer need to buy gel cleanser.

Freak Illamasqua 

This was in my last products I’m trying to use up post. I remember having a sample of this in a Glossybox and liking it so bought the full size a couple of years later, I don’t know what I must have been thinking as this was horrible. I became ‘accustomed’ to it by the end of the bottle but at the start of using this regularly I could not stand it. It’s very strong and has very unusual notes, I wouldn’t recommend buying this blind at all as I think it’s a niche scent.

Repurchase? Erm, no.

Burberry Body

I’ve had a couple of samples since Burberry Body launched (which was a good few years ago) which I’ve never touched. I decided to try and use them up this month and have one still in my handbag. It’s a nice scent and I’m unsure how to describe it, it’s warm – but isn’t floral, fruity or spicy, just… generic?!

Repurchase? Unlikely

So… Eternal

I had one of these in my december empties from an event I got last year, and now used up the Eternal Version. These were nice enough to keep in my handbag for top ups, but I won’t be rushing out to get more. The Eternal version was feminine and floral.

Repurchase? Unlikely

Makeup

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Kiehl’s Actively Correing & Beatifying BB Cream

I was sent a sample of this alongside a bunch of others by Kiehl’s last year. What can I tell you about this… The Medium Shade was orange, it looked horrible on my skin and felt & looked really oily. It never set no matter how much powder I put on top and smudged and moved easily. I tried this for three days in a row and didn’t finish the sample but decided I definitely hated it, so off it went in the bin.

Repurchase? Yes… Just kidding NO!

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid (review)

Reviewed recently, so I won’t go too in depth. I made the effort to get this gone out of my collection last month as it was finally pale enough a colour match for me. Not my favourite foundation, but not the worst thing I’ve used either.

Repurchase? No

No 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara (review)

Again recently reviewed, this isn’t empty I just gave up trying to make it work for me. There was nothing exceptional about this mascara.

Repurchase? No

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Powder (review)

I quite liked this powder from Soap and Glory but I found that I used it up way too quickly, and the pan size was deceptively not deep at all, which meant I used this up in less than a month. For a £12 powder that was terrible.

Repurchase? No.

Benefit Gimme Brow (review)

This is the best brow product I’ve used, and the only product from Benefit I like. Easy & quick to do, minimal effort – adds volume/fibres where my brows are a little sparser and keeps them in place all day.

Repurchase? Already had 2 in backup! 

Packet Samples

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Missa Super Aqua Intensive Serum

I’m on an endeavor to use up lots of my foil packet samples, with hopefully a few a month at least being used up. I always keep them thinking that I’ll take them on nights away, but never actually do (and I go on nights away that rarely that it would still take me an age to get through them!). This was sent over from Chris when we did our swap last year, I actually enjoyed this, and found it nice and nourishing, I believe Missa is an asian skincare brand – but I know little about the line. It only gave me one use so I didn’t have enough to be converted to need to get a full size, but it was a nice one off use.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream

I don’t think we need to talk any more about this. This sample was what actually made me crack out that tube as I hated it that much I had to confirm it was as awful as I found it the first time.

Bioderma Atoderm Cleansing Gel

Didn’t like this at all, was expecting this to be a great makeup remover like Bioderma micellar water but sadly it wasn’t. It didn’t do anything noticeable to my skin in the 4 or so uses I got out of this tube.


    That was a longer empties than I thought it was going to be this month, I thought it was nice and small but it just took me an hour to write all those up!

Have you tried any of these before? How many empties did you use up in January?

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Helpless Whilst Drying

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27 Comments

  1. February 7, 2017 / 2:48 pm

    That Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Soap sounds great – I guess the proof is in the pudding if your skin start freaking out without it! (they got you hooked now muahaha) I’ll put it on my list of things to try from Mario Badescu.
    Those Sainsbury’s cotton pads sounds like something I’d like… I have a slight thing with trying cotton pads as you know. 😛
    You actually finishedFreak Illamasqua even though you disliked it? First of all, how do you finish a perfume so quickly? And secondly, how can you even stand it on your and your clothing all day long if you didn’t like the smell?
    I bought the full tube of Kiehl’s BB cream and had to return it. I used to LOVE their tinted moisturizer but they discontinued it. The BB cream broke me out and was yes, oily! I was so annoyed they discontinued the tinted moisturizer in favour of this awful product.

    • February 7, 2017 / 2:53 pm

      I failed to notice the smell of illamasqua after about an hour, even though it was still there. I started using it last October almost exclusively and it was a 30ml bottle, and I had used it several times before that. I did try to pawn it off on people who came round my house saying do you like this, but no one wanted to take it from me haha!
      Euch the BB Cream was horrendous, they put it on me when I went for a skincare consultation last year and I thought it might have been the combo with the moisturizer underneath, but by itself it was ghastly as well!
      Do try the cleansing soap! It’s lovely!

  2. February 7, 2017 / 4:35 pm

    I honestly don’t know how people produce so many empties lol. I have tried and I haven’t been able to lol. One product every other month or so lol so nicely done!

    • February 7, 2017 / 5:07 pm

      I whizz through haircare easily as I have to wash it so often! I seem to go through stages in makeup everything seems to run out at the same time so some months I’ll have one or two things then the next month I’ll have 12 ha!

  3. February 7, 2017 / 5:30 pm

    I am in love with the Benefit Gimme Brow too but there’s a much larger price difference with my drugstore love (Essence Make Me Brow – Malaysian Ringgit 12.90) as opposed to the Gimme Brow (Malaysian Ringgit 115!!!!). I cannot justify paying that much for it….

  4. February 8, 2017 / 5:01 pm

    I do love an empties post! I wanted to try the Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo, but I couldn’t really justify the price just incase it didn’t meet standards! I think I’ll just stick to my bog standard Batiste which has always done the trick! 😀 xx

    • February 8, 2017 / 5:17 pm

      I don’t get in with batiste as it always leaves a white cast in my roots (and if I get a brown one it ruins my ombre!) I’ve bought one of their new 2 in 1 ones to try out which came out last week, supposedly it’s invisible so fingers crossed!
      Aussie dry shampoo is my current favourite to beat! ❤️

      • February 8, 2017 / 5:41 pm

        Ahh yes I did see them the other day! – I was tempted to have a try but went back to my usual as it was on offer!

        DEFINITELY want to try the Aussie one though! Every single one of their products smell incredible! xx

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