Empties Day – Makeup

Today I wanted to essentially get all my empties out of the way from October-December and I didn’t want to drag it out over loads of days but also didn’t want to do a super-long post. So there will be not one, not two, not three but four posts going live today – you can pick the topics that interest you the most. Here’s the makeup empties, I’m very proud of how much I used up this time round!

L’Oreal True Match Minerals Loose Setting Powder (review)
I wrote a comparison post after I tested three different loose setting powders at three different price points. This was the middle one and was my least favourite out of the three. I didn’t find it Mattified the skin enough through the day, whilst it did have a nice feeling formula – but it was the first to get finished up because the packaging was absolutely terrible. Chunky and didn’t fit in my drawers which meant I had to leave it out on my dressing table.
Repurchase? No

Becca Backlight Priming Filter
I got this in a past Tili Box and it’s something I’ve experimented a lot with and ultimately not enjoyed. I’m someone who likes a matte to satin foundation and I don’t love the dewy effect. I found mixing this into any foundations I tried did nothing, as a primer I felt the same – it also did nothing unless the foundation coverage was really light. I liked it most bounced onto the cheekbones as a highlight – but not enough to consider buying it. Not a product for me.
Repurchase? No

Freedom Pro Highlight (in Ambient or Diffused, I’ve had both in the past and I don’t know which this was)
I really enjoy the effect these powders have on the skin, especially for days when I want a more toned down or natural look. The one thing these Freedom dupes of the Hourglass powders let themselves down on is the packaging. The lid is so flimsy and ends up snapping off so easily. I probably wouldn’t repurchase them for that reason alone and consider buying the 10 times more expensive Hourglass option.
Repurchase? Unlikely

Bareminerals Foundation (Pro?) Samples
I’m pretty sure these are foundations samples from Bareminerals but I’m not entirely sure. The two shades that are open were too deep for me in itself, so I knew the one labelled deep was definitely going to be so I didn’t even bother opening! Not enough to tell if this was any good or not.

Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation (review)
I bought this after hearing lots of amazing reviews about it. It looked absolutely flawless on the skin but longevity wise it just wasn’t the best for oily skin for me. One thing that really lets it down is on packaging, it’s a high end foundation that’s in quite cheap, light packaging (which I could accept), but the tube is so rigid and a weird shape that it starts becoming a problem quite quickly to get product out easily. Normal-Dry skin would probably enjoy this, but the packaging is too much of a let down for me.
Repurchase? No 

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation
Firstly, I’ve just realised when I threw my empties away I didn’t separate this off to back to MAC (heartbroken). This used to be my favourite foundation – but the last couple of times I’ve had it I’ve felt like it’s not suited my skin as much as it used to. I really want to try Studio Fix Fluid next time I buy a MAC foundation as I’ve had that once and hated it on me, but I used it on my wedding day and it looked so good.
Repurchase? Maybe, but not for now

Real Techniques Bold Metals Diamond Blending Sponge (review)
The downside this sponge has always had is how easy it was to wash and get back to looking clean, and I just gave up this time round. Not it’s not meant to be tinged orange – it should be white. I liked this in theory – it has lots of different shapes and surface areas for doing different things, but the texture of the sponge was just so hard to wash out.
Repurchase? No

Illasmaqua Precision Ink Liner (review)
I’m gutted this is finished, high pigment,easy to apply and lasts perfectly through the day. The nib has the perfect amount of flex in it and with pretty much daily use (I’d average 5 days a week), it lasted me well over a year.
Repurchase? Yes, yes, yes.

Benefit Gimme Brow (review)
I’ve used my last back up of this so until Benefit release it reformulated I’m using up pencils in my collection. I love this for filling out my brows and giving sparse areas more volume. And no, the Essence one is shit sorry.
Repurchase? When it’s re-released, yes!

Pro Hygiene Collection Makeup Brush Cleaner (review)
I usually find that I run through spot cleaners for brushes pretty quickly, but was surprised this one lasted me from August until the beginning December. I liked this spot cleaner a lot, it was efficient and allowed me to clean approximately 200 brushes (everything from small shadow, to big fat fluffy powder brushes). Most importantly they dried instantly ready to be used again.

Repurchase? Maybe

MAC Oil Control Lotion (review)
New holy grail primer that keeps oil at bay all day long for me. I won’t be without this now (until my skin eventually flips and stops being oily one day)
Repurchase? Already have

The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone Primer
I still have a review coming of all the Ordinary makeup products so I won’t chat too much about this now. But I bought several of these tubes when I placed an online order (minimum order value!) and I was sure I was going to love it. This isn’t a traditional silicone feel primer and doesn’t feel as pore smoothing as others.
Repurchase? No

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
I’ve tried a lot of Laura Mercier primers over the years and have generally been impressed with them. This one was entirely forgettable though. Performance wise compared to others I’ve tried it didn’t compete.
Repurchase? No

Manna K Runway Ready (review)
This primer had some huge claims in terms of what it was going to do and it pretty much failed at them all. Highly expensive for what it is, let alone what it did.
Repurchase? Nope.

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Concealer
I have a review of this coming, so I won’t talk about this too much. But boy does this last a long time – don’t be fooled by the tiny looking tube a little goes a long way and it took me close to 2 years to declutter from my collection.
Repurchase? Maybe (wait for the review!)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind (review)
I love this concealer – this is a gorgeous pink toned brightening shade which I loved under the eyes. My joint favourite high-street concealer.
Repurchase? Trying to avoid doing so immediately as I have so many to get through

Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer (review)
My other joint favourite concealer from the high-street! This is such a lovely glowy finish that again sits perfectly under the eyes. This is a lighter shade but I have had the darker shade in the past which also did work well for concealing spots and redness.
Repurchase? Yes, but same as above I need a big declutter in my foundation/concealer drawer so I will resist as long as possible!

Stila Major Major Lash Mascara (review)
I’ve been having quite the love affair with Stila this year and it’s a brand I’ve been going on a journey of discovery with. This however was completely underwhelming, I gave it three weeks of use before it was retired to the Empties.
Repurchase? No

Tarte Opening Act & Lights, Camera Lashes Mascara (review)
I’ve wanted to try this mascara for years, since it launched and I heard Fleur de Force raving about it. Sadly it didn’t live up to expectations and the primer didn’t do any more to make it perform any better. A big disappointment of this year for me (infact, it definitely should have been in my disappointing products of 2017)
Repurchase? No

L’Oreal Paradise Extatic Mascara (review)
Unlike the above this made it to my 2017 favourites – drugstore mascaras normally fail to impress me which is why this one ended up at the top of the ranks. This added volume and built up with layers well, adds length and separates. A great all rounder.
Repurchase? Maybe – I tend to always try new mascaras, but if I wanted something I knew I could rely on for some reason I would consider this. Even though I generally try to avoid L’Oreal

Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara (review)
Womp, womp, womp. Another let down – the packaging of this mascara is so strong it’s like false advertising for the product itself. The brush is near on lethal with it’s jaggerdy spiky bristles and it doesn’t come near to it’s volumising claims. All in all, a bit of a let down.
Repurchase? No


Urban Decay Deslick Makeup Setting Spray
I tried this for the second time – for some reason I cling onto hope that products will just magically start working for me, and unfortunately I don’t think Setting sprays make any ounce of difference for me. I ended up using this up more for eyeshadow in the place of fix plus which I had ran out of, but as a facial spray to make a full face last longer, it does not.
Repurchase? Probably clinging on for hope!

YSL Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover
This little sample size lasted me a good 4/5 uses, I restricted it’s use to when my makeup was particularly heavy for things like Stila Magnificent Metals which it took off the eye really easily.
Repurchase? No, but I will use the other one of these I have happily.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these and what you thought in the comments if so.
Check out my three other empties going up today…

Skincare Haircare Fragrance & Body

rachael-signature

FacebookInstagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr

Helpless Whilst DryingEmail: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com

Follow:
Share:

10 Comments

  1. January 10, 2018 / 7:45 am

    You’ve been on such a mission to use up product! Go you 🙌🏻 Completely agree about the illamasqua foundation – the packaging just makes it near on impossible to use! X

  2. January 10, 2018 / 11:30 am

    I keep seeing this “the ordinary” show up I should really look into it

  3. January 10, 2018 / 5:29 pm

    The L’Oreal powder does have the worst packaging. So bulky! I tried the Becca Priming Filter and couldn’t get on with it, I’m not a fan of Becca from the three things I’ve trier so far. I still need to try the Illamasqua Liner as I know you love it☺ x

  4. January 10, 2018 / 11:35 pm

    Have you tried the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders? I think they’re worth the money. Treat yo’self! 😉

    Aww too bad about the Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation, I love that foundation (am wearing it today, in fact!) I almost named it my HG but it does pose some blending challenges and I agree there isn’t much “squeeze” in the tube.

    You know what, I completely forgot that I bought that RT diamond sponge until just now. 😳 Need to try it soon.

    Is the Illasmaqua Precision Ink Liner discontinued? I was curious to maybe try it since your rave!

    I’m in the midst of finishing my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer soon too and I have to resist the urge to just repurchase it. Am thinking of getting the Nars Soft Matte to try.

    • January 10, 2018 / 11:41 pm

      I have swatched them in store yes! I’m on a no buy until March, but I’ll consider it then (I’m 10 days in and haven’t bought anything which is about as successful as I’ve ever been on a no buy 😂😂)

      I really like how it looks it just doesn’t have longevity for me, and when it starts disintegrating, it goes south very quickly!

      Nope it’s still available – I’m currently trialling the Stila one everyone loves! Definitely worth trying!

      NARS soft matte is also on my wish list I don’t think anyone has had anything bad to say about that concealer!

Leave a Reply and Let's Have a Chat