It was only natural after a mini hiatus I would have formed a little mountain of products that had been finished and used up, after holiday I used up a bought a few fair empties back with me – I had to savour one from the bin, family did not understand why I was bringing it home! Right – let’s jump in.
Skincare & Haircare
NARS Sheer Lip Treatment in Paloma (review)
Man this was over priced, a cheap feeling lip balm that wore away quickly an had a tint which was barely noticeable on the lips. It was put into my handbag and kept on my desk at work in a bid to get it finished and after religiously slapping it on my lips I managed to use this up quite quickly and move onto something different.
Repurchase? Hell will hath frozen over if this is purchased again.
Formula Absolute Total Lip and Eye Cream (review)
Recently reviewed but I loved this little pot, I’ve been a big praiser of the sleep cream from the same line, and this was lovely too. This I didn’t end up using as a lip cream, but solely used it on my eyes and thought it was a nice eye-cream that had noticeable effects – nothing too strongly de-aging, but a noticeably good at moisturising the eye area.
Repurchase? No immediate need to have one eye cream left in my collection, but I would rebuy in future.
Kiehl’s Calendula Oil Cleanser (review)
I’ve been a huge fan of Kiehl’s for the past few years but this has to be my least favourite thing that I’ve tried. It took me well over a year of determination to finish this up, and I was so glad when it stopped pumping and the last dregs dripped to the top when left upside down. I had a skin consultation at Kiehl’s and this is what they recomended for oily skin, it didn’t remove makeup basically at all, it smelt (and tasted – almost impossible to avoid as it foamed so much it would end up being inhaled and going down my throat) absolutely awful and I couldn’t pinpoint what it actually did. Hallelujiah, it’s finished though.
Repurchase? Take that as a big fat NOPE.
ARK Skin Essentials Hydrating Toner (review)
I’ve had this for longer than I should admit (my review was from 3 years ago), I’ve gradually over the past few months been wading my way through my collection of mists and toning mists that I never used. This one was quite effective, but I found it sometimes reacted with my skin when I used it with other products, which added a temporary red cast over my face and uncomfortable heat. I could never pinpoint what ingredient/s it was responsible for, but I wouldn’t repurchase for that reason.
Repurchase? No
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo 92ml
I was sent this through influenster and I was left quite impressed by it I found it to be an effective dry shampoo that added a rare boost to the root of the hair as well as drying out oil too. However it is a pricier option when it comes to dry shampoo and for a product which I have to use really frequently as I have to wash my hair every 2-3 days it’s something I do try to save money on. I ran through this can in about a week and a half. Worth a try if you don’t mind the splurge and you don’t have to use it as frequently as it is a good performer.
Repurchase? Maybe, but unlikely due to cost.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion Spray 45ml
I can’t quite remember where this appeared from, but it took a bloody age to finish, I think I’ve been using this once a week for about a year and I’ve only just managed to finish it up. On my recent list of products I’d like to finish up, I was glad to see if empty. Not the best salt spray, I didn’t find it added much texture to the hair and it was easy to overuse and turn my hair greasy.
Repurchase? Nope.
Schwarzkopf Gliss Liquid Silk Conditioner
One of my favourite hair care discoveries of the year and affordable too. A lovely conditioner which smells delightful. Currently working my way through the Gliss Range to try the different ones – but this is the one I’ve revisited most so far. Found for a pound in budget places like Savers and Poundland is one of the better low cost hair options I’ve tried. Like I said about the dry shampoo I wash my hair a lot and have dry, thick hair that requires a fair amount of conditioner to keep in manageable, low cost options are opted for when I find stuff that works!
Repurchase? Yes, definitely.
Makeup
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
I’ve tried the expensive, I’ve tried the cheap and the high end this is the gel liner I will always come back to. Highly pigmented, doesn’t dry out, applies nicely and affordable – HIGHLY recommend if you’ve never tried.
Repurchase? Yes, yes, yes. It’s giving me an excuse for a Boots spree which I’ve not done all year!
General Consumables & Body Care
Nutmeg Square Cotton Pads
I’ve spoken about these quite a few times this year – definitely the best cost effective cotton pads I’ve found at 60p a pack. I tend to only need one for removing my nail polish or using micellar water all over, so I’m not using 3 or 4 at once.
Repurchase? Already have
Bomb Cosmetics Coco Beach Coco Swirl
I was kindly gifted this at an event with my local shopping centre and I took it with me to wales, knowing the cottage we were in had a big roll top bath I would have an enjoyable bath experience in. This was… disappointing, it barely had a scent, it didn’t make the bath pretty in colour and nor was it a silky moisturising bath. Overall, a bit pointless.
Repurchase? NOPE, I’d be highly disappointed if I’d spent £3 on this!
Extras
Wilkinsons F.A.B Razor & Gilette Venus Non-Reusuable Razor
I don’t often talk about razors, but these two needed a mention. The Wilkinsons FAB razor is one which I was sent and is revolutionary in that it has blades that face both ways, I found it okay in smaller areas like the under arms, but on the legs for example it was very clumsy and almost counter intuitive to use. I really begrudge buying razor heads – I often am found stealing one or two from my mum’s cupboard (as is my sister, I’ll throw her under the bus to help save myself) but I found at the start of summer you could buy non reusable razors with the same Venus head in a pack of 3 for £3. Reusuable heads packs of three are normally in the £7-10 region price point, so this is a no-brainer. I hate the fact it feels more wasteful, but I could get 3 times the razors for the same price as a pack of 3. I found mine in Morrisons and felt this was worth a mini PSA.
So that’s all from this edition, I seem to have hit another empties wave and I think I’m almost at my next ten already in my basket (thanks to being a few weeks behind on posts). Any last products finished up in the next few weeks pre-move to save me packing is hugely appreciated. This set of empties took me over the £1,500 mark and my start of the year thoughts of maybe hitting the £2000 mark seem a little more feasible (whilst not necessarily desired) as I have an expensive perfume on it’s last few spritzes!
You can peek at my 2018 empties spreadsheet at any time by clicking here, and If you love an empties post and you haven’t been keeping up you can click here to see my Ten Empties series so far.
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Email: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com
I’ve always wanted to try Nars products
Candice
I’ve always wanted to try the Living Proof Dry Shampoo. Glad to hear it’s good, even if it’s pricey. Xx
Author
Yeah if you can snag it on sale one time it’s worth a try!
How lame about that Nars lip treatment! I like what you said about whether you’d repurchase it or not. 😆
Good to know about Kiehl’s Calendula Oil Cleanser, although I had no interest in it after not particularly liking the corresponding toner.
A round of applause for finishing up that Maybelline gel liner! I’ve never once finished a pot of gel liner… I always have good intentions but always go back to the brush type for liquid liners.
It’s so great that you’re tallying up the total price of all your empties for the year – quite impressive when you think about it.
Author
Ugh that NARS was rubbish – daylight robbery!
Yes I wanted the toner but was put off by your review, and the cleanser is bloody awful – stay away!
I don’t use gel liners as much as liquids, but have tried to finish it up over the past few months as it was so close to the end!
It’s a scary total – did not sign up for that price when I began, keep having to remind myself I have definitely not spent that much this year and it’s legacy products, PR, and stuff from beauty boxes which have bumped up the overall!
Glad I’m not the only one who swipes razor heads from their mom 😛 I hope I can find the same deal in the states, it’s kind of a waste to buy razor heads anyway and all the packaging they use… yeah, don’t care enough if it will save me some money!
That is super disappointing about the Bomb Cosmetics product, I always thought they were a more affordable option for your favorite, Lush, but not with that kind of lackluster experience. It should have at least made the bath water better!
Author
Hahah, that’s what mums are for I think, razor supply! This was the pack I ended up getting if it helps your search! https://www.superdrug.com/Toiletries/Female-Hair-Removal/Female-Disposable-Razors/Venus-Tropical-Disposable-Razors-X3/p/723292
Ugh Lush haha, no definitely not as impressive I think their bombs may be more impressive, but their melt was a waste of time, good job it was in a goodie bag!
I think I have a sample of that Kiehl’s Calendula cleanser! Good to know to steer clear of it (or if not, well I guess I could test it out and see how I like/dislike it.) 😝 I have recently been venturing out with Kiehl’s and whilst it is a lovely brand, it’s not a “wow” brand for me. I tried their cleansing oil and whilst I think it’s lovely and soothing on the skin, I feel like I’ve used better ones but maybe that’s just me.
I’ve strangely have never tried Gliss products before. I’ll maybe check them out but am assuming it has SLS? I am currently staying away from SLS in shampoo cos I’ve found that my scalp just dries out and flakes from it which sucks.
Author
Do try the sample and let me know what you think – at least you’ve only got a small sample to endure if you hate it haha! I do like a lot of Kiehl’s products – for a while I really loved a few – but it’s died back to just a solid like – I’ve found things I like that are a bit cheaper overall. I do still have a couple of standouts though, the Ultra Facial cream really works for me and the Cranberry and Tumeric mask really agrees with my skin too!
They do have SLS, I don’t think anything that’s 99p doesn’t haha! I’m thinking of going SLS free to encourage out my natural curls a bit more, I’m the opposite of you though, an utter greasy root and when ever I’ve tried cutting the sulphates in the past it’s backfired and I’ve had to wash my hair daily 🙁
I just might have to splurge on that dry shampoo!