Empties March 2017 Part 1 – Makeup, Perfume & Facial Skincare

My Empties this month have come a little late, I did photograph them as I always do on the first day of the new month but it was such a huge one this month that the thought of writing and getting it up in the busy week I had last week was a total no go.

I challenged myself after seeing Stashy’s February Empties where she finished up one product a day, to take on the same challenge in March and I definitely did well, I’ve cleared out full size chunky items, and little packet samples of things which float around and annoy me once they’ve become a significant pile. I’ve split this into two posts to make this more of an easier chunk to tackle and digest. In this section I have 22 items, and definitely have more than 8 in my haircare & body empties so I succeed in my challenge.

Estee Lauder Peach Nuance Blush (review)

A lot of you will know how sad I am that this is now gone and empty. This is my all time favourite blush and it’s been discontinued, EL have bought it back in a very similar format so I have the new one but this one still makes me sad to have left the building, I’m borderline having a little funeral for it in the garden. There’s a little bit left on the edge but I feel like I’m ruining my brush smushing it into the edge to try and use up. Add to that it’s supposed to be a gradient blush from a yellow to a pink tone which mixed together is peach, and I can only get to the bright pink side means it’s not even the colour I love any more.

Repurchase?: would if I could, but I have the newer substitute already

Sleek Contour Kit in Light

I had this in my first products I’m trying to use up post, and if you saw that you’ll know that the contour side was pretty much untouched, and I was only actually aiming to use up the highlight side. I found as I was using the highlight I was also using the contour for ease and whilst I used the smaller highlight side up months ago I’ve decided to call it quits on the contour side. Both of these are okay but nothing outstanding in my opinion, similarity to the blush whilst there’s product still in the pan for the contour I feel like I’m having to dig my brush in too hard.

Repurchase?: No, I’ve served my time once and have no plans to reoffend

NYX HD Pressed Powder (review)

Bought at the start of January I was pleasantly surprised just how long this lasted. Pressed powders are something I’ve completely cleared my collection of and now only have one on the go at a time so I tend to get through that one really quite quickly, esepecially when it’s not a baked powder. This was actually quite nice, and I really enjoyed using it – I have found cheaper powders in the past I like probably as much for oil control but this one has a lovely finish for photography.

Repurchase?: not immediately but probably in future

NYX On The Spot Brush Cleanser (review)

This is probably the worst spot cleanser for brushes I’ve ever used. Terrible for every type of makeup I begrudgingly used this up but it’s a chore to use I do not recommend if you are my review of this you’ll see what brushes are like after various amounts of sprays.

Repurchase?: Nope, never again.

Laura Geller Spackle Primer (review)

I feel a little fraudulent featuring this as it featured in my latest products I’m trying to use up a few weeks ago, but I’ve been hardcore working on this for months prior to that post so I felt like I could include it even though I knew I was close to the end! I really enjoyed this primer, and was the one I gravitated towards daily as it was hydrating and a good all round egg.

Repurchase?: would recommend but not necessarily repurchase – I have two other Laura gellar primers I haven’t even touched in my drawer yet so I don’t see that happening for a long time!

I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THIS IMAGE OF 3 X MASCARAS 🙁  – You can see them in the Featured Image though, just.

Tarte Tarteist Mascara (review)

I wrote a review of this here, and featured it a few weeks later in a Three Posts I’m Loving, and Three I’m Not Post – The more I used it the more I loved it. It was a great all rounded and added a great amount of volume which is the thing I always want most as I already have a lot of length naturally. One thing I will say is it turned very quickly from still being great, to being dried up, it lasted a good three months of pretty much daily use, but it dries up with virtually no warning.

Repurchase?: Unlikely as I really enjoying trying new ones all the time, but I would recommend this, I would use it again if I bought it and I do want to now try more Tarte Mascaras

Clinique Lash Powder Mascara (review)

Where do I start with this one? It didn’t last very long in my collection, I tried and tried with it over a number of weeks and hated it every time I tried it.

Repurchase?: Helllllll No

My Little Beauty Mademoiselle Mascara

A more recent addition to my collection which I was really excited to try. One of the first items which I ever had in a My Little Box was an own brand mascara and it was seriously one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried, they kindly sent me a backup after pleading to find a way to get my hands on it. Sadly this one didn’t live up to expectation.

Repurchase: Can’t, but wouldn’t

Korres Eye Primer 

I never got around to reviewing this, but I received it in a Look Incredible box last year, from the first twist up the texture this had me puzzled, with a really dry texture. It was really difficult to blend in to the lid with an almost lumpy texture which really needed massaging in and add to that I didn’t notice it helped make shadow last any longer either. I have two other primers which actually work so I decided to destash and ditch this from my collection.

Repurchase? That’ll be a no! 

Maybelline Brow Satin Pencil

Another one which only recently featured in a products I’m trying to use up, this was incredibly tempermental with breaking and the last little cm stub I had left to make my way through decided it was going to break off too. Not the worst brow pencil colour and texture wise, but it’s so bad for breaking I don’t think I’d recommend for that reason.

NYX Retractable Lip Pencil

I’m not sure what colour this is, I threw it away thinking I would find it listed in a haul, but I must never of hauled it as I can’t find any detail of it! This is a gorgeous colour but I’m binning it, the texture is horrible and like the pencil above huge chunks of it break off every time I use it and it’s really difficult to work with and drags horribly.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Night (review)

I absolutely loved the texture of this gel cream hybrid that was infused with serum. I found it not too heavy for my oily skin and worked really well for me both day and night.

Repurchase: Would recommend to try but I have so many moisturisers and will likely never need to buy one!

MeruMaya Melting Cleansing Balm (review)

I started using this in November, so this lasted a good chunk of time, it ended up being the cleanser I put in my shower and used it first thing before getting my face wet at all. I initially liked this but I’ve found it’s effectiveness of makeup removal depends a lot of what makeup I’m wearing as not everything it works well with.

Repurchase: Unlikely

Sephora Pomegranate Face Mask (review)

Reviewed only very recently so I won’t go too into depth, but this was a nice temporary skin pick up that brightened and softened my tired complexion.

Repurchase? Probably not, but worth a go if you’re already curious.

REN Instant Firming Beauty Shot

This came in my M&S Summer Beauty Box last year, and I was intrigued about this. It’s a tightening and firming treatment which initially feels like it’s working although that firm feeling wears off quite quickly.

Repurchase? No

Clarins Hydra Essential Cream

I was sent this sample through the post, I have no idea where it came from as I didn’t order it, this was fine, but nothing special for me. Not too much of a heavy texture and didn’t feel too intense for something that has Hydra in the name. Considering Clarins isn’t a cheap brand I would want to see some instant results really and this didn’t convince me enough to try.

Repurchase: No

Organic Surge Deep Cleansing Face Mask (review)

This was my second ever face mask friday, so that tells you how long it’s been in my collection. Whilst initially I recommended this I quite liked this, my experience in face masks have come a long way since and I used this frequently during March in a bid to use it up, and couldn’t pin point what it was doing for me. A big plus of this is a little goes a long way, I probably got 10-15 uses out of this sample sized tube at 30ml – with the full size being 50ml.

Repurchase: No

Garnier Ultra Lift Creams

I was sent a bunch of 30 of these to do a 30 day trial of them last year when this launched and I never got around to it, I have slowly been using them through the year in a bid to use them up once I’ve finished a full size between starting a new one. I don’t love the texture of these they feel a little greasy to me so I tend to use them in the evening rather than pre makeup. I think I only have a handful left now so hopefully I’ll be done with them soon!

Neutrogena Hydra Boost

Being honest, can’t actually remember what I thought about this, which is probably not a great sign. So I can add no further comments.

Emma Hardie Primer

I can however remember what I thought of this, I got so many uses of primer out of this packet it was really full and in the end the product ended up drying out after a few days before I could actually finish it up there was that much inside. Again I found this really greasy feeling and really didn’t enjoy the way it sat on my skin.

Mon Guerlain Perfume Sample

My friend Kara wrote a beautiful review about this perfume and I was ecstatic to be given a sample of this in my local Department store a few days after reading her review. I actually quite liked this and oddly the lavender in this which I normally find an irritant to my skin and nose didn’t cause any adverse reactions (although I was careful to spread on my clothes rather than skin). It probably wouldn’t be one I would repurchase (I think I’m becoming an exclusive Tom Ford lover at the moment), but I did enjoy using the sample I had. Definitely check out Kara’s review if you’re curious about this.

Sainsbury’s Boutique Cotton Pads

I’ve spoken about these in enough empties. Best Cotton pads I’ve ever tried, they don’t go fluffy and are excellent for everything from removing makeup to nail varnish.

Repurchase? Already stocked up on 2 more packets plus a 50 pack for honeymoon!


rachael-signature

FacebookInstagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr

Helpless Whilst Drying

Email: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com

Follow:
Share:

25 Comments

  1. Meza Mtshali
    April 11, 2017 / 7:17 am

    Hey beautiful ,enjoyed your blog post well written just followed your blog looking forward to more post

  2. Aoife.LR
    April 11, 2017 / 8:35 am

    I love empties posts, this is so good! I tried the Sephora face masks when I went to LA and they were so amazing, wish I got some more now! <3

  3. April 11, 2017 / 12:39 pm

    Wow! Wish I had that kind of commitment to work through that many products haha, I’ve probably accumulated about 2 empties in the past year and a half! Loved reading this x
    my latest post ♡

  4. April 11, 2017 / 3:14 pm

    RIP EL ombre blush!!! *A moment of silence*
    I am simply AMAZED how you use up nearly every last bit of product in those powders. Usually mine crumble way before I’m able to use them up.
    Good to know about the NYX On The Spot Brush Cleanser. I have one random from Winners (TKMaxx) and it’s decent.
    Oh that Korres eye lid primer looks disgusting!
    I’m probably going to try a Sephora sheet mask come VIB sale – which one do you like from them?
    How do you delete an image just like that? Isn’t there a recycle bin you can recover it from? My worst nightmare…

    • April 11, 2017 / 4:02 pm

      Most powders do seem to do that but neither of those two did, in always careful when I think they’re getting fragile not to travel with them to prevent shattering.
      Spot cleansers are so few and far between here, especially on the budget side I was hoping that NYx would be a great option freely available, but sadly it’s terrible!
      I liked the green tea one the most, I’m planning to pick up a few more in malaysia, along side all the k beauty brands I’ve been researching!
      I did it on my Mac at work during lunch, uploaded them to the post and when I came to write the next day I realised I’d deleted it. Was too late to rescue as if deleted it from my memory card, I could have rolled back my machine to find but for one image I couldn’t be bothered with spending an hour doing it haha

      • April 11, 2017 / 7:33 pm

        Green tea sounds good. I’ll have to try it. Thanks!
        Sucks about the photo from the memory card.
        You’re going to Malaysia? Have you hit up Harivain for tips? He lives there!
        https://fiercepaint.wordpress.com/

  5. April 11, 2017 / 8:09 pm

    I’m trying to do this as well, I have too many things open at once & cluttering the place up.
    Well done!

      • April 11, 2017 / 8:19 pm

        I’m an absolute sucker for a new product! Half the time I don’t even give a product a chance to work before I’ve moved on to the next miracle product!! Not this year, I am resolved 🙂

        • April 11, 2017 / 8:53 pm

          Me too. 3 years of beauty blogging caught up for me and my cupboard was overflowing! I’m so glad I’ve cleared a lot of it, feels so good using stuff up completely!

  6. April 11, 2017 / 10:35 pm

    I remember you mentioning the blush. So pretty. Hopefully the new formulas good😊 I loved the Tarte mascara. Mine is now nearly dried out😔 I find the brow satin hit and miss. Sometimes I like it other days I dont x

  7. April 12, 2017 / 5:31 am

    You did a great job! I rarely make it through stuff lol haha

  8. April 12, 2017 / 11:05 am

    I haven’t seen a good empties post in so long! I loved this… especially the ‘hell no’ sass when talking about repurchasing, haha! I rarely make my way through things so I think it would take me years to do a post like this ahah xx

    • April 12, 2017 / 12:29 pm

      Haha thank you, I always write down what my initial reaction is when I think of rebuying that, lots of natural sassiness comes out! The haircare and body are one is still to come for March, this months will be less significant though!

  9. April 17, 2017 / 1:42 pm

    Great post, love how you broke it all down! I need to do this too; I think I might clear out our bathroom cupboard and shift around all my sample sizes to get them used up and gone!! .xo

  10. Sherry Scribbles
    April 19, 2017 / 10:47 am

    This empties post was fantastic. Ive been using the Laura Geller colour correcting primer recently and I cant make my mind up about it if in honest… I also desperately want to get my hands on that Tarte mascara. It looks amazing!
    I also hate when a product I love becomes discontinued – whyyyyyyyy!
    Sherry x

Leave a Reply and Let's Have a Chat